Chapter 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

                                    

                                          
The One with the Cake

Chandler woke up to the sound of baby Joey crying, his bleary eyes barely able to make out the clock on the nightstand. It read 2:37 AM. He groaned softly, nudging Darcy gently. "Your turn," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.
Darcy, who was the head nurse in the pediatric ward and no stranger to sleepless nights, sighed and rolled over to get out of bed. "Alright, alright," she said, her voice tired. "I've got him."
Chandler watched her for a moment, his love for her and their newborn son making him feel a mix of gratitude and exhaustion. He lay back down, trying to catch a few more precious moments of sleep before the day truly began.
By the time the sun was up, the apartment was a flurry of activity. Baby Joey had finally fallen back to sleep, giving Chandler and Darcy a moment to sip their coffee and prepare for the day. They were both running on fumes, but the sight of their son sleeping peacefully in his crib made it all worth it.
"I can't believe Emma's first birthday is today," Chandler said, leaning against the kitchen counter. "It feels like just yesterday Ross and Rachel were bringing her home from the hospital."
Darcy smiled, her eyes softening. "I know. Time flies, doesn't it? Speaking of which, we should probably get ready. We don't want to be late."
In Monica and Joey's apartment, the excitement was palpable. Monica was bustling around, making sure everything was perfect for Emma's party. She had always been the meticulous one, and today was no exception.
"Joey, did you pick up the cake?" Monica called out from the kitchen, her voice carrying an edge of panic.
Joey looked up from the couch, where he had been playing with their dog. "What cake?" he asked, a look of genuine confusion on his face.
Monica's eyes widened in horror. "The cake! The one we ordered for Emma's birthday! Joey, we can't have a party without a cake!"
Joey jumped up, realizing his mistake. "Oh no! I'll go get it right now!" He grabbed his jacket and rushed out the door, determined to fix his blunder.
Meanwhile, across town, Ross and Rachel were trying to wrangle a very active Emma. She had recently started walking, and the new freedom had made her even more of a handful.
"Come on, Emma, we need to get you dressed for your party," Rachel said, laughing as Emma toddled away from her.
Ross swooped in, scooping Emma up in his arms. "Gotcha! Alright, let's get you into your party dress."
As they dressed Emma, Rachel looked over at Ross, her expression thoughtful. "Can you believe she's already a year old?"
Ross shook his head, smiling. "No, it's crazy. But she's amazing. Just like her mom."
Rachel blushed, giving Ross a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, Ross. You're not so bad yourself."
Back in Chandler and Darcy's apartment, the couple was trying to juggle their new roles as parents with the demands of everyday life. Chandler was on the phone with his boss, explaining why he needed to take the day off for his niece's birthday, while Darcy was packing the diaper bag with military precision.
"Alright, I think we're ready," Darcy said, zipping up the bag. "Let's go celebrate Emma's big day."
As they arrived at Monica and Joey's apartment, they were greeted by the sight of balloons, streamers, and a very relieved Monica. "You made it!" she exclaimed, hugging Darcy tightly. "And you brought baby Joey!"
Chandler grinned, adjusting the car seat that held their son. "Yeah, we're barely getting any sleep, but it's worth it."
Rachel laughed, nodding in understanding. "I remember those days. It's tough, but you'll get through it."