Chapter Text
The One With New Years Eve
The One After LA Chapter 9
Notes: Starts off on New Years Eve 2015 and then Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Emma, Erica, Ivy and Kerri go wedding dress shopping. I own no characters from Friends. The only characters that I created are Phoebe and Mike's children Mike Jr, Ivy and Kerri. I also don't think it is specified in the show where Carol and Susan live but I always assumed they did not live in the same area of the city that the rest of the characters lived in.
January 31st 2013 was cold and snowy but inside Rachel and Emma's house it was full of warmth joy and love. David and Joey had offered to help cook dinner and everyone else was relaxing in the living room having appetizers and pre dinner drinks.
"What are people's new years resolutions?" Rachel asked
"Hopefully none as embarrassing as Ross wearing leather pants." Chandler said holding back a snicker at the memory..
"When did that happen?" Phoebe's son Mike Jr asked.
"New Years Eve 1999. Ben was four years old."
"That sound super douchy Uncle Chandler" Mike Jr said
"It was." Chandler snickered under his breath at the memory.
"To be fair I think what made it funny was the fact that the pants were too tight for him." Rachel reminded Chandler.
"Poor Uncle Ross." Jack whispered
"Don't feel too bad for him honey. he sort of deserved it." Monica said/
"I've got one." Erica said
"What is it?" Phoebe asked
"Take a new elective next semester that will challenge me."
"Such as?"
Erica smiled at her aunt. " Actually I'm thinking about Intro to Guitar Aunt Phoebe. I want to learn to play just like you used to at Central Perk."
Phoebe bent down and hugged her niece tightly. "I'm so excited to hear that sweetheart."
"What about you Em?" Jack asked his cousin.
Emma stared down at her socks. "Umm...well I like this guy at school and there's a winter dance coming up at the end of next month. I'm really shy about asking him. Courage is something I could use."
Rachel's eyes lit up with excitement. "Who is it sweetheart?"
"Steven Litman I know you don't get along with his mom well Uncle Chandler." she whispered.
Everyone looked awkwardly at Chandler.
Chandler sighed. "Janice and I have certainly had our issues sweetheart but that shouldn't make you scared to ask her son to the dance. The worst he could do is say no."
"I'm afraid of that too actually." Emma admitted.
"If you're scared to ask him by yourself I'll go with you to their house for moral support."
"Really? You will?! Thank you Uncle Chandler."
" I love you my girl." Chandler said kissing her forehead softly
"I love you so much, Uncle Chandler.." Emma squeezed her uncle tightly.
Dinner was ready about 20 minutes later.
"Mom are you excited for your anniversary trip to Greece?" Emma asked
Rachel nodded and squeezed Joey's hand under the table. "Uncle Joey and I can't wait to celebrate honey."
"Aunt Rachel, how come we don't see Uncle Ross anymore?" asked Mike Jr.
Rachel sighed. "He is so stubborn about working on his temper issues honey. It is really not a safe situation for any of us to be around him.""
"But will we ever see him again?"
Chandler cleared his throat and looked around the table at Phoebe, David, Rachel, Joey and Monica.
" If you uncle cooperated with the family therapy and the anger management classes then we'd definitely lift the child custody restrictions Mikey."
"Doesn't he love us though Uncle Chandler?"
Chandler let out a heavy sigh. "Absolutely. I think he really needs to prove his love to you kids though as far as I'm concerned. Over the years he certainly has proven other wise."
"When are we seeing Ben again?" Emma asked
Monica grinned. "Carol called me to wish us Happy New Year. You'll never believe it. Ben is getting dual citizen ship and moving in with us."
"So that means he'll live in London part time with Carol and Susan?"
Monica nodded. "Ben is finishing high school here and plans go to college at NYU."
Rachel bristled. "He's aware that Ross teaches there right?"
Monica nodded. "He's very aware of that fact Rachel. I am pretty sure Ben wants to be an activist for Gay Rights so he'd be studying something related to that?"
"What would make him choose that major?" Phoebe asked.
Chandler cleared his throat again. "Carol told us that Ben came out as gay recently. He's been having a hard time with this transition being so far away from us. He's very afraid to tell Ross."
Rachel's heart broke. "Poor Ben."
Monica squeezed her husband's hand under the table. "We need to let Ben know that we support him no matter what. Can you kids do that for me?"
Emma, Jack, Erica and Mike Jr nodded. "Of course we can Auntie Monica. He's the best brother ever." Emma said.
"Is Ben going to eventually tell Uncle Ross that he is gay Mommy?" Erica asked.
Monica sighed heavily. "I'm not sure honey. I am very afraid of how Uncle Ross will react to this news. I haven't told him yet."
Do Grandpa Jack and Grandma Judy know?"
Monica nodded. "Yes, I told them recently. Luckily they are more than willing to put their hurtful actions for parental favoritism toward Uncle Ross aside so support Ben in his coming out journey."
"What does that mean Mommy?" Jack asked.
'It means that I felt bad my whole life because your grandparents favored your uncle over me."
"So that's why the adoption by Grandpa Richard was so hard for Uncle Ross to deal with?" Erica asked.
Monica bristled. "The reason why Uncle Ross never accepted Grandpa Richard as part of our family was because of the fact that Grandma Judy had an affair with him before I was born. I found out in 1998 that Grandpa Richard was my birth father."
Emma's jaw dropped. "So you don't talk to Grandpa Jack anymore Auntie Monica?"
Monica shook her head. "Of course I do sweetheart. Despite the fact that I wasn't his birth daughter he always loved me no matter what. Celebrating Fathers Day can get a little tricky sometimes though because Uncle Ross does not want to have a relationship with Grandpa Richard and Uncle Tim."
"That makes me sad Mommy." Erica whispered
Chandler put his arm around Monica. "It makes Mommy sad too princess. Uncle Ross turned out to be not a nice person unfortunately. We really wish he'd stop acting like such a stubborn idiot and realize how much his behaviors has negatively impacted his relationships with the rest of our family."