Chapter 4: Emma or Nothing

Chandler settled the suit coat over his lithe frame, straightening the lapels. It was early morning, and he was standing alone in his kitchen. In this hour or so after dawn, the house – indeed, the entire apartment complex on Bedford Street – held an odd sort of tranquil quiet. Like a calm before a storm. It was an odd feeling, especially in the Villages, much less the city that never sleeps.

The front door of Apartment 20 opened and Joey poked his head in, pursing his lips grimly. He too was dressed in a coat and tie.

"Hey. You ready?"

Chandler nodded, the bob to his head nervous. "Monica's just finishing up. Getting Emma ready too."

Joey stepped into the apartment. "Do we have to bring the kid to court? Why not just leave her with Judy and Jack?"

Chandler shrugged. At this point, other than Joey, Phoebe and Mike, his in-laws were probably the only people he and Monica would trust with Emma.

"This entire court case concerns Emma. Besides, bringing her with us might give us an advantage. Everyone will see how Monica is with her."

Joey nodded. There was a moment of silence. "You know," he finally chuckled ruefully. "I'm starting to wish I had played a lawyer for something. It would have looked good on my résumé anyway."

Chandler laughed, clapping Joey on the shoulder. "Pheebs and Mike will be meeting us at the courthouse. He's taken care of everything." Though he had never tried a family law case in his life, Mike had agreed to act as counsel on behalf of the Bings and Emma. Phoebe's now-fiancé had been meticulous in filing the affidavit attesting to the Thanksgiving discussion of guardianship. It would be the performance of a lifetime, Chandler imagined.

These thoughts seemed to also be on Joey's mind. "Hey, maybe I could coach Mike, you know? Don't just act like the lawyer – BE the lawyer!"

Chandler side-eyed him with a smirk. "I'm pretty sure Mike knows what he's doing."

Monica now came bustling out of the master bedroom, Emma in an adorable little dress and balanced on Monica's hip. Chandler fought not to stare at his wife's own dress: it was red, his favorite color on her, and hugged her figure in all the right places while also managing to be conservative. She was sporting a pearl necklace, which Emma was now adorably grabbing for and trying to stuff the pearls into her mouth.

Glancing up at the boys, Monica grimaced nervously. "Well? How do I look?"

Chandler smiled. "Like a mother." She beamed at him gratefully, and he cleared his throat. "You both look…. beautiful."

Joey glanced between the couple almost knowingly, and stepped forward, holding out his arms. "Here: give her to me…. I'll put her in the car…." Chandler and Monica had bought a minivan some weeks ago. Shopping for a car with Monica had been quite the amusing experience, as she had gone over every inch of every car they were shown, asking rapid-fire questions surrounding child safety to the flustered car salesman. The Nissan Quest they had settled on was safe, reliable and understated, because "no way in hell are we driving our niece around in a Porsche!" Chandler would be lying if he said he wasn't a little disappointed by his wife's declaration. They had tried to give the Porsche back to Jack following Ross's passing before eventually deciding to sell it to Joey. Needless to say, the struggling actor was very pleased.

"Wait!" Chandler lunged for the car booster seat he and Monica had also bought. "You'd better take this."

Joey accepted the car seat, doing his best to balance both it and a toddler as he exited out into the hallway. Monica watched them go, biting her lip, her gaze laser-focused on Emma until the last.

Chandler watched her. "He's not going to drop her," he placated, slight amusement in his voice.

Monica turned to her husband, biting her lip. From the fear in her eyes, it was clear she wasn't just concerned about Joey's ability to carry a baby and booster seat down a flight of stairs.

"Hold me…." she pleaded. She melted into his arms, resting and nuzzling her head against his chest. "Hold me the way you did that night in London, so long ago, when there was nothing but our love – no family politics, no plotting…." Chandler settled his chin on top of her head. "No death," she whispered, and his grip tightened.

Husband and wife held each other, watching through the bay windows as the sun continued to rise fast and unabated into the sky.

This was it, Chandler decided. This was his entire world wrapped inside his arms. He loved this woman so much! Nothing mattered more to him than her happiness. Though delivered to her in tragedy, Emma had given Monica a taste of her dream. He'd be damned if anyone tried to take that away from her, as he knew Monica would be too.

I'm going to protect you, he vowed silently. Both of you. No matter what it takes.

The Bings and Emma met Mike and Phoebe outside the courthouse. Chandler was fiddling with his sports coat – a clear nervous tic.

"Amy is already inside with her lawyers," Mike explained. Next to Chandler, Monica stiffened. Her grip tightened around Emma, if that was possible.

"What do you think they'll come at us with?"

"From the evidence I've been shown, they're couching their case from a financial perspective, attempting to demonstrate that Amy has the monetary resources to provide for the child."

Monica started to laugh derisively. "Of course, she would…." she muttered.

Mike smiled and laid a comforting hand on her shoulders. "Don't worry. Whatever Amy has in her arsenal, we can match it – and more." He didn't elaborate on what 'more' meant, but he seemed confident, and that was good enough for Chandler. "Remember, everyone: this is a bench trial – no jury. Almost all custody battles are."

Phoebe now stepped forward, smiling kindly and with her arms outstretched for the baby.

Monica shrunk back, immediately cursing herself.

"Let Phoebe watch the baby, Mon," Chandler encouraged.

Monica glanced at her husband. "Will I get her back?"

"I understand this is hard, but we can't bring her into the hearing," Mike explained patiently. "While it might be good optics for our side, the court seeing you with Emma could still give us an unfair advantage."

Monica reluctantly nodded, and passed Emma over to Phoebe, who seemed to understand her friend's pain.

"Nothing's going to happen to her," the masseuse promised. "I'll be waiting right outside."

"Joey?" Mike turned. "You can either wait outside with the girls or join us in the hearing. It's up to you."

Joey seemed torn, glancing between Phoebe and Emma, then at his closest friends. His gaze locked with Chandler's. "I'll go wherever I'm needed most."

Monica drifted forward. "Stay with my daughter," she requested. At Joey's blinking, she flushed, glancing around at them all. "I mean, my niece. Look after my niece."

Joey smiled and nodded. "I know what you meant, Mon."

She smiled weakly and kissed him on the cheek. Then she floated over to where Emma was squirming in Phoebe's arms, reaching for her aunt. Monica seemed to be one second away from bursting into tears, as if she had lost the little girl already, and she stooped to kiss Emma's little head fiercely. "I love you!" she whispered along her baby-soft skin.

The group finally entered the courthouse. The corridor alone carried an air of imposing majesty. Down at the far end of the hall, Monica spotted Amy with her lawyers, and the pair of women happened to lock eyes. Monica's gaze was cool, steely; she let Chandler curtly nod for the both of them.

Husband and wife sat on a bench with Mike to wait. Monica felt hot tears pool behind her eyes, and she angrily wiped them away.

"Mon….?"

"I hate her," she hissed. "I hate that she's doing this. That she's arrogant enough to think…." She couldn't finish.

"She's Rachel's sister," Chandler pointed out, trying to find the positive somewhere.

Monica shook her head. "Rachel was ten times the woman she is! And I was more Rachel's sister than that wench, or even Jill!"

Chandler nodded in agreement, stealing a glance down the hall to where Amy was huddled with her lawyers. After a long silence, he posited:

"Do you think, if Rachel hadn't run out on Barry, that she would have ended up like that? Like Amy?"

Monica sniffled. "I don't think so," she answered. "I knew her in high school. Back then, Rache could be a snob sometimes, but I never doubted that she was my friend." She wrung her hands in her lap. "I think Rachel had the courage and foresight to see that while she had a privileged life growing up, it wasn't a full life. So she went and found that full life for herself."

Chandler stole an arm around her, feeling Monica lean against him, and he kissed her hair. "We're going to win, sweetie. If any lawyer looked at you and thought that Amy was more suited to be a mother than you, well that lawyer would have to be high, and I don't mean just high on the bench!" Monica laughed wetly.

The hearing doors opened. Next to them, Mike stood and straightened his suit coat, shouldered his briefcase. He glanced to his friends and clients. "Let's go…."

Across the hall, Monica spotted Phoebe and Joey with the baby. Joey was making a game out of the water fountain, pressing the button really fast and making a jet spray shoot out. Emma squealed and clapped her hands in delight. Monica chuckled and shook her head fondly. Phoebe spotted her and, beaming, lifted Emma's fat little fist so the toddler could wave at her aunt. It was the last thing Monica saw before she stepped into the hearing room and the oaken doors closed behind her.

Inside, Mike gestured the Bings over to one side of the courtroom. Jack and Judy Geller were already seated there, as support, and they hugged their daughter and son-in-law warmly.

"They can't seriously be letting this case go forward?" Jack pontificated, loudly enough that Monica had to shush him. "The girl has no standing!"

"Daddy, please…." Monica begged. Everyone glanced back at the other side of the courtroom, towards the Greens. There were Leonard and Sandra, sitting in solidarity with their daughter. Monica fought the urge to glower at them, even as her heart twinged.

"They're supporting their daughter," Chandler murmured low in her ear.

"Yes," Monica purred coolly. "The wrong one." Chandler nodded in understanding and complete agreement.

Jill arrived almost too late, bustling into the courtroom seconds before the doors were ordered closed. Scurrying up the middle, narrow aisle, the youngest Green daughter suddenly paused, glancing between the two camps. She locked eyes with her sister for a moment, her expression unreadable.

Then she turned and came over towards the Geller-Bing camp. A few gasps went up from onlookers and guests who were there to see the proceedings – the kind of legal nerds and even law students who watched cases from the balcony.

Jill walked right up to a stunned Monica and hugged her.

"Why…. why are you doing this?"

Jill drew back. "Because no one is speaking for Rachel, let alone Emma. What my sister is doing is wrong." She glanced between Monica and Chandler. "I know I don't know you that well, but Rachel spoke nothing but highly of both of you, and well…" She blushed.

Chandler hugged her. "… Thank you."

Jill nodded. Then she took her seat.

"All rise!" called the bailiff. "The Honorable Douglas Gorman presiding!"

Judge Gorman took his place on the high bench. "My understanding is that this is a custody dispute concerning one Emma Sandra Geller-Green, born April 4th, 2002. I shall allow the defense the present their case first."

Mike cleared his throat and rose. "Your Honor, Mike Hannigan for the defense. I am here representing Mr. Chandler Bing and Mrs. Monica Geller-Bing, and will be arguing that they be granted custody of the child on their behalf."

"How are the defendants related to the child?"

"Aunt by blood and uncle by marriage, Your Honor."

"May I ask why they are pursuing custody?"

Mike cleared his throat again. "Your Honor, custody is being sought on account of the tragic death of the parents of Emma Sandra Geller-Green, on April 4th, 2003 – the child's very first birthday." Pathos-filled murmuring filled the viewing box above; there were even a few audible sniffles. "Ross Geller and Rachel Green were tragically killed in a vehicular accident while driving back home with their daughter's birthday cake. Since that horrific night, Mr. and Mrs. Bing have taken on the responsibility of raising their niece, in accordance with the wishes verbally expressed to them by the deceased in the months before their tragic deaths."

Judge Gorman shifted some of his papers. "I see no such wishes expressed, according to the separate Last Will and Testaments of Dr. Geller and Ms. Green."

Monica watched how Mike gulped. "Your Honor, these were unforeseen and tragic deaths. Mr. Geller and Ms. Green did not revise their Wills to enumerate their wishes on guardianship…."

"Objection!" Amy's lawyer bawled out. "Your Honor, does this not prove that no one can know the minds of the deceased regarding who they would have wished to raise the child in the event of their deaths?"

Judge Gorman frowned. There was a heart-stopping pause. "…. Objection denied. Mr. Hannigan: you claim that there was a conversation between the defendants and the deceased regarding guardianship of the child."

"Yes, Your Honor." Mike held up a piece of paper. "I have here a sworn affidavit, signed by witnesses, attesting to a conversation that took place on Thursday, November 28th, 2002, between Mr. and Mrs. Geller-Bing, Dr. Ross Geller, Ms. Rachel Green and Ms. Amy Green…." Gasps and murmurs went up in the courtroom; across the divide, Amy stiffened, and her jaw dropped, clearly thrown.

Judge Gorman cocked an eyebrow, intrigued. "The plaintiff was present for this conversation?" He turned towards the Greens and their representation with interest. Leonard appeared to be fuming, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

"Your Honor: permission to submit this sworn affidavit into evidence?" Mike asked.

"Objecti…..!" Amy's lawyer didn't even finish before Judge Gorman sent him an indiscernible look.

"…. I'll allow it." Mike stepped forward with the affidavit.

"Signed by the following witnesses: Mr. Chandler Bing, Mrs. Monica Geller-Bing, Mr. Joey Tribbiani Jr., and Ms. Phoebe Buffay."

Hearing Phoebe's name made Monica suddenly blanch. Phoebe attesting as a witness, plus Mike acting as their lawyer, potentially posed a problem: wouldn't the engagement of Phoebe and Mike suggest a conflict of interest? She exhaled shakily. It was too late to turn back now….

Judge Gorman studied the document. He read, partly to the court and partly to himself. "Ms. Amy Green expressed her desire to raise Emma in the event of tragic circumstances…. Ms. Rachel Green denied this request, instead expressing her preference, in conjunction with the child's father, Dr. Ross Geller, that their daughter be raised by her paternal aunt and uncle: Mrs. Monica Geller-Bing and Mr. Chandler Bing….." He glanced up.

"Mr. Hannigan: have you any further evidence to present to this court?"

"Yes, Your Honor: I have written testimonials attesting to Mr. and Mrs. Geller-Bing's abilities as parents, and their ability and willingness to provide a stable home for the child."

Judge Gorman nodded. "I shall now read the personal references into the court record."

And so he did. With each one, Monica felt her eyes flood with tears. There were testimonials written by Joey. Phoebe. Her parents. Chandler's parents. Gunther from the Central Perk coffeehouse. Richard Burke. Even Jill Green. When Monica glanced at Rachel's sister, Jill just smiled.

Finally, with all of the glowing and praising words entered into the record, Judge Gorman turned to the Green camp. "The plaintiffs may now begin their arguments for custody."

For a moment, there was silence. Then Amy's lawyer rose.

"Your Honor…. We wish to settle."

Judge Gorman cocked an eyebrow. "I beg your pardon?"

"We wish to make a deal with the defendants."

Mike, Chandler and Monica all looked at each other. Mike nodded grimly. "Chandler: come with me."

Monica touched her husband's arm, concern in her eyes. Chandler just nodded. "Stay here." He bent and kissed her lips quickly, before following Mike to the other side of the courtroom.

Amy and her lawyer approached them. Studying Rachel's sister, Chandler fought to keep his expression passive. He felt as though they were two warring pirate camps about to parlay.

Amy finally glanced up at Chandler, meeting his eyes. "I no longer wish to contest custody. I…. I withdraw the suit."

Chandler's eyes widened. Amy turned to her lawyer and nodded.

"The conversation at Thanksgiving did take place, exactly as they said." She turned to Chandler. "You and your wife can keep Emma. I… I just want one thing in return."

Mike and Chandler glanced at each other. "Name it," Chandler clipped.

Amy bit her lip. "I want to visit Emma. I want to be there for her, more than I've been." She winced. "Is that OK….?"

Chandler's mind raced. Finally: "Excuse me, I need to go speak with my wife."

He hurried back over to his side of the courtroom. Monica stood up anxiously to greet him; Chandler whispered in her ear. Drawing back, there was a moment before Monica nodded. Chandler hustled back.

"…. My wife agrees. You and Jill both have visitation privileges."

Amy deflated in relief, looking near tears. "…. Thank you. And, I'm…. well, I'm sorry…."

Chandler felt the last of whatever animosity he had felt towards this woman seep out of him. He smiled. "It's never too late to do the right thing, Amy. I think Rachel would be proud of you." Amy smiled weakly.

Amy's lawyer and Mike approached the bench. They spoke to Judge Gorman in hushed tones for a long time. At last, Judge Gorman cleared his throat.

"Plaintiff has withdrawn her suit. I shall therefore grant custody of the child to Mr. and Mrs. Geller-Bing." The gavel came down hard.

Chandler only partly refrained from doing his happy dance. In tears, Monica threw her arms around her husband's neck and soundly kissed him.

"God bless you, Chandler Bing!"

The respective parties filed out of the courtroom. Joey and Phoebe stood up anxiously, Emma held between them.

Chandler smirked. "…. We got her."

Joey let out a ragged cheer. Phoebe nearly tackled Mike, who seemed in a kind of daze that he had actually won his first case of this type. Beaming, Monica held out her hands and Joey dutifully passed Emma into her arms. Monica buried her face into her niece's curls, sobbing quietly.

Glancing up, she happened to catch sight of Amy and the Greens at the other end of the hall. Jill was speaking with her sister and parents quietly, likely explaining her reasoning for caucusing with the other side.

Holding Emma, Monica softly approached. Amy glanced up and froze when she saw her.

Monica smiled kindly. "…. Would you like to hold her?"

Amy grinned emotionally and nodded. Monica couldn't deny that she felt the slightest bit of apprehension passing her child off to the woman, but Amy appeared happy to have this time with Emma.

Amy nodded to Monica gratefully. "…. Thank you."

Monica nodded back. "You're welcome."