Disclaimer: As usual, I don’t own any of these characters, I only own the plot.

Monica let the letter drop and went over to Chandler. "That bitch!" she cried.

"Bitch or not, she’s left me," Chandler said, his face creased with sobs. "And she’s left her three-day-old son, and I can’t care for him by myself and…" He was babbling now. Monica stroked his head.

"Oh, sweetie," she whispered. "Don’t worry. You won’t have to take care of Matthew by yourself – I’ll help, and so will Ross and Emily. And it’s not as if you’ve never seen a baby before. You even changed a diaper earlier," she joked.

"I-I can’t do this," Chandler sobbed. "I know you’d help, but – a baby needs his mother."

"A baby doesn’t really need two parents, you know," Monica replied. "I’m raising Daisy without a father, and I’m managing."

"But you’re a woman," he whined. "I mean, women are better at that sort of stuff than men."

"Maybe they are, but what are you gonna do about it?" Monica pointed out. "I guess you’re not planning on becoming a woman…" She left the point open.

"No, but – I don’t have to keep him," Chandler hesitated to say. He couldn’t bear thinking about giving up Matthew, but he knew that he wasn’t the best person to take care of a baby.

Monica gasped. "No, you wouldn’t!" she cried. "You couldn’t be so mean! You wouldn’t do that!"

"I might," Chandler sighed. "I-I don’t want to…"

"Then don’t!"

"But – well, I’m not in a fit state to care for him now, and if I can’t care for a baby, I can’t care for a child, can I?" He got up. "No use discussing this now. I’m going home. I’ll think about it, and see you later." He left the apartment, not letting Monica speak in Matthew’s defence.

Monica stood staring at the door. She couldn’t believe that he wanted to abandon his own son. Ever since Ross and Emily married and Joey moved away, she and Chandler had become very close, so close that Kathy and Richard had become jealous. When Richard died and Rachel and Phoebe hit the big time, the friendship had been even closer. Chandler was always there to comfort her, and they knew everything about each other, just like they had done in the old days, before they met Joey and Phoebe. Maybe now she would have to comfort Chandler like he had done for her, when Richard had died just before she found out she was having his baby.

After a few minutes thinking, Monica realised that little Daisy was asleep on the sofa. She picked her up and carried her into the nursery. As she did so, she thought a little bit more. Daisy had been Chandler’s idea of a name. When Monica had rejected it, he had written the poem Daisy Chains. After reading that, Monica had realised how much Chandler meant to her. If calling her child Daisy was what he really wanted her to do, she would. And she didn’t regret it. Daisy wouldn’t have suited the name Amy, which was the name she had liked. Chandler had been right then – but he wasn’t right now. She was sure of it.

She came back into the living room and turned on the television. An early morning show was on, and the two people being interviewed were Phoebe and Rachel. She couldn’t believe it – why hadn’t they told her? Then she realised. They hadn’t really spoken for a few months. No arguments, they were just so busy – all of the old gang was. Joey was shooting his newest movie, starring Kate Winslet – which he was very excited about – and Phoebe and Rachel had just finished their first European tour. They were in LA now, working on their second album. Monica began to focus on the show.

"So, Ms Buffay, Ms Green, what is your favourite of all your songs?" asked the reporter.

"Well, I’d have to say that I like Smelly Cat," Phoebe smiled the smile that Monica knew so well. "I wrote that about fifteen years ago when I was living on the streets, and it has some special meanings for me."

Rachel seemed deep in thought. "I think I like Smelly Cat, as well," she said. "I mean, that was the song that gave us our big break, and it also brings back the days when we used to spend ages in this coffee house, Phoebe playing her music, and we had this great crowd of friends…"

"Who were they?" the reported interrupted.

"Monica Gellar, her brother Ross, Chandler Bing and Joey Tribbiani," Rachel told him.

"The Joey Tribbiani?" was the next question.

"Uh-huh," Phoebe nodded.

"Ah, Ms Buffay, that brings me nicely onto my next question," the reporter said. Monica smiled; she was enjoying seeing her friends again.

"Yeah, what is it?" Phoebe asked.

"Is there any truth in the reports that you are carrying Mr. Tribbiani’s child?"

Phoebe nodded. "Yes, that is true."

"Ohmigod!" Monica whispered. "Phoebe and Joey? I have to ring Emily." Emily was the woman she gave all her gossip to, now that Rachel was never around. She caught up the phone, listening with half an ear to ‘Smelly Cat’ which Rachel and Phoebe were now belting out.

"Smelly Cat, Smelly Cat, what are they feeding you?"

"Hello?" asked the English accent of her sister-in-law.

"Emily, hi!" Monica said, chirpily. "Listen, I have some news for you – loads of news!"

"Monica, it’s six in the morning," Ross’ voice cut in, probably on the extension

"Ross, you will not believe this – neither will you, Em." Monica sounded convinced. "Guess what? Phoebe and Joey are having a baby!"

"What?" cried Ross, his wife echoing his cry.

"Yeah, I know," Monica continued. "I just heard it, on some breakfast television show. It’s great, isn’t it?"

"Well, it does make up for you waking me up at six," Emily laughed.

"Bu-but you know what they say," Ross added. "You can’t believe everything you hear on T.V."

"Ross, I heard Phoebe say it – with my own ears," Monica assured him. "Seriously."

"Ok," Ross replied. "Can we go back to sleep now? I’ve got a big day ahead of me." He put down the phone with a click.

"Bye," Monica said to Emily.

"I’ll see you later, Monica," Emily said, and put her extension of the phone down.

Monica sighed, and turned off the TV, which was now advertising a new type of Barbie doll. The last thing she needed was for Daisy to see that. As a single mother, approaching December and Christmas, Monica was dreading it. She could barely afford to pay her bills, let alone buy presents for everyone she knew. Ross, Emily and Chandler understood this, and had refused to accept anything, but Monica couldn’t face telling her parents, or her three very rich friends. She didn’t want charity.

As she thought, there was a knock on the door. She opened it, and saw Chandler outside. He had a sad statement on his face, and was holding his son.

"I’ve made a decision." His voice sounded older, and tired. "I want you to adopt Matthew."

Ok, please review, the next part should be up in a few days’ time. What do you think of it so far?