"Sorry Jack we're busy right now. Come back later"

With that the door slammed shut, causing the little boy to jump back. He frowned at the closed door. Jack had only wanted to ask his sister and cousin a question, nothing more. He pressed his ear to the door and could hear muffled chattering and giggling. He knew better than to go in, they were too busy doing 'girl' things.

The boy sulked as he made his way down the stairs. It was his grandmother's birthday so the house was full of her friends and relatives-most of which Jack didn't know, but that didn't stop them from pinching his cheeks and telling him how much he had grown.

He skirted round a group of adults who were gossiping loudly at the bottom of the stairs, champagne glasses in hand and walked miserably down the hall. There was nothing to do at his grandparents' house, no toys, no games, and in that moment, nobody to play with.

Peeking into the front room, Jack could see his parents and Aunt and Uncle cooing at the small baby currently sitting in Auntie Rachel's lap. Jack didn't understand why everyone was so captivated by his seven month old cousin, as far as Jack could see all he did was eat, sleep, and cry. His mother had assured him that when Lucas got a little older he could play with him, but for now he didn't do much. The small boy sighed heavily and trudged further down the hall.

Jack suddenly stopped, smelling the delicious food that was being cooked in the kitchen. He tiptoed around the bend and peered into the kitchen but immediately pulled his head right out. With his grandmother and her friends all in there helping, it was full of way too many females for his liking. And even though Jack's stomach grumbled at all the smells, he resisted walking in. His cheeks still hurt from the last time someone pinched them.

Jack moved his feet slowly and walked out of the house, shivering slightly when the cold air hit his face. On the opposite side of the porch his grandfather sat at a table with some of his friends, all laughing loudly. Not wanting to interrupt them, Jack wandered off into the garden. He came across an old, forgotten swing and sat down, full of thought. He bent his head and stared at his trainers, watching as he drew a line across the dirt with them. It was getting closer and closer to Christmas and Jack was getting more and more desperate. He knew his mother had got dad a present, Erica knew what she was getting him, even Ben and Emma had a gift prepared. But Jack had nothing. He sat there for a few minutes, until a shadow fell over him.

"Hello there Jack" Jack looked up to see his grandfather smiling down at him kindly. "What are you doing out here all by yourself?"

Jack shrugged and looked back down to the ground "Just thinking"

Jack saw his grandfather sit on the bench next to the swing out of the corner of his eye.

"Well you must be having some pretty big thoughts then"

"I guess" Jack replied dryly

Jack Geller regarded his grandson fondly "Can you tell me what all these big thoughts are? Or is it a big secret?"

"No I can tell you, but you can't tell daddy" Jack warned as he glanced up at his grandfather. "I don't know what to get my dad for Christmas" He said dejectedly

His grandfather nodded "I see"

"And I've tried and tried but I don't know what to get him! And mummy knows what she's getting him and so does Erica and Ben and even Emma! And I asked everyone but no one can help me! It has to be special!" Jack ended with a tearful wail.

"But you didn't ask me."

Jack's mouth opened in shock as he turned his head to look at his grandfather. "You're right. I didn't." His eyes grew big with the realisation as Jack put out a hand and tugged on his grandfather's shirt anxiously. "Grandpa, can you help me? Pleeassse," he remembered to add.

The older man looked at his grandson in amusement before putting a pensive expression on his face. "Weeelllllllll"

Jack's little face fell and he looked up at his grandfather in concern.

"I might be able to help you" He added, smiling when Jack's face lit up and he squealed.

"Really?"
"Really"

Jack jumped up from the swing and threw himself at his grandfather, hugging him fiercely round the middle.

"Thank you grandpa you're the bestest grandpa ever!" Jack jumped up and tugged impatiently at his grandfather's hand. He felt so relieved, finally, finally someone was going to help him, and his grandfather no less. Who Jack's opinion, after his dad (and his uncles of course) was the greatest man in the world.

"Can we start on it right now?" asked Jack in a rush, "We have time before lunch and I'm a good helper. Mummy told me. And Mummy is always right. Oh I know! We can make the present today and then Dad will be so happy because-"

"Whoa!" The older Jack put his hands out calmly as his face stretched into a grin, "Slow down there. Just give me a moment now. Your grandpa isn't as young as he once was."

Jack laughed. "Grandpa, you're funny," he said as he observed the many lines and wrinkles that dotted his grandfather's weathered face. "You were never young."

At his statement, Jack watched as his grandfather leaned his head back and let out a bark of laughter. "Is that so?" he asked fondly as he beamed down and ruffled Jack's messy brown hair. "Now, don't let your grandmother hear you say that son, she'll not take as kindly to it as I do."

Jack smiled broadly and giggled.

"So can we start then?" Jack was now jumping up and down in excitement as his grandfather got up off the bench and took his hand, leading him towards the tool shed at end of the garden. The older Jack laughed at his grandson's exuberance

"I think I know what we can do for your dad's present"

"Erica where's your brother?" Monica asked her daughter with a hint of worry in her voice. Erica just shrugged and went back to her conversation with Emma as the two of them helped themselves to lunch. Monica frowned and scanned the crowd once more, just in case she had missed him. But Jack was nowhere to be found. With one last look across the room she made her way upstairs and poked her head into each room. Still no sign of Jack. She slowly made her way downstairs, scouring the crowd for any sign of her messy haired five year old. Nothing. Maybe he went outside, she thought to herself as she walked out the back door. A group of her father's friends were talking loudly at the garden table. Her brow crinkled in confusion when she failed to see her father amongst them.

One of the men smiled as she approached them. Monica couldn't remember the man's name, but was sure he lived down the street. He met her worried expression with a knowing look on his face.

"You looking for Jack?" He asked gruffly. He pointed over his shoulder in the direction of the garden. "He went down that way"

She thanked the man and walked to the bottom of the garden, knocking on the door of her father's tool shed. The raised voices and loud noise she had been hearing as she made her way down the garden suddenly stopped at her knock. A few seconds passed before the door opened a few inches and a small face looked out.

"Mama?" asked Jack, surprise evident on his little face. "What are you doing here?"

For a moment Monica thought about reminding her son that she was here for the same reason he was, her mother's birthday, but decided against it. With his hands covered in a mixture of paint and dust, and a large streak of dirt on his face, Jack didn't look to be in a humorous sort of mood. She looked at him in amusement before saying. "I was looking for you, lunch is ready"

"Ooooooh" said Jack eagerly as Monica tried to stifle a smile. That was her son, always ready for food. Jack pushed the creaky shed door open a bit more, being careful not to let her see inside as he said. "Can we have lunch out here?"

"No sweetie, all the food is inside"

Jack's face fell and he looked back into to shed pleadingly. Barely a second passed before her father emerged, his hands also covered in dust. He put a hand on his grandson's shoulder and smiled down at the little boy.

"Oh come on Monica let him. I don't think your mother would be too happy to see us this dirty anyway." Jack said. The younger Jack looked up at his mother, begging her to say yes with his wide brown eyes.

Monica let out a slight laugh at the pair of them. "Ok then, but dad you have to make sure Jack finishes his green beans."

Jack's face fell at that. If there was one thing he hated more than anything it was green beans.

"Of course Monica" The older Jack said as he ushered his grandson back into the shed.

"what are you two doing in there anyway?" Monica had to ask. Her father just smiled and looked back into the shed.

"Afraid I can't tell you that Monica, you'll have to ask Jack"

"It's a secret mama!" A small voice called from inside the shed, a moment later Jack emerged, wiping his hands together to get rid of the excess dust. "I can tell you but you hafta promise not to tell daddy"

Monica smiled at the uncharacteristically serious look on his face. "I promise"

Jack looked around and beckoned his mother closer, she smiled at the little boy and crouched down to his level.

"I'm making a Christmas present for daddy" he whispered in her ear. She watched in amusement as he scanned the surroundings, looking like he was expecting Chandler to jump out at any moment. "And it's gonna be the bestest present in the whole entire world, way better than Erica's! but it's a s'prise"

Monica smiled softly at her son. He was now rocking on the balls of his feet with a huge smile on his face, clearly very excited about the present.

"Is that so?" She asked, wiping away the dirt on his face.

"Uh huh" He nodded enthusiastically. His hair flying every which way. "Mama can you help me hide it? Daddy can't find it. Look I already wrapped it, and Grandpa didn't even need to help me that much! This is gonna be the bestest present ever!"

Monica couldn't help but laugh at her son's eagerness, she glanced up at her father, who was looking down at his grandson fondly. "I'll hide it in the car for you sweetie" she promised.

Jack jumped up and thanked her, before running back into the shed. He returned a minute later with a small package clutched tightly to his chest. Jack hadn't been lying when he said he wrapped the gift himself. Monica couldn't tell what there was more of, sellotape or paper. She briefly wondered where they had got the wrapping paper from, but Jack's animated chatter brought her out of her thoughts.

"Mama look, look!" He exclaimed, waving the present under Monica's nose, an ear-to-ear grin on his face. "Can we go hide it now?"

Monica rolled her eyes and took his grubby hand in hers. "Let's go put it in the car then."

Jack grinned and skipped towards the house, his mother and grandfather in tow, still talking about how good his present was, and how much better it was than Erica's. Once they reached the car Jack hid the present under some coats, emerging a second later with a grin on his face.

"This is the best present ever!"

Monica smiled when she entered the living room and spotted Jack and Chandler sitting together on the sofa, both sporting huge grins as they stared at the picture frame in Chandler's hands. For Jack had given his father an amazing Christmas present , a picture of him and his dad.

Jack had just turned five when the photo had been taken, and Chandler had declared the day a complete success. He insisted on family photos being taken once a year, and that year they had moved from the studio to a nearby park. And Monica had to agree, some of the best photos of their little family had been taken that day. Jack was looking up at his father with a look of total adoration in his eyes, and Chandler was grinning like he had the whole world in his hands.

The picture was incased in a wooden picture frame Jack had made and painted with his grandfather. Monica couldn't tell who was prouder of the gift. Jack, Chandler or her father. She chuckled over the pair, her heart warming at the sight.

"Lunch is ready" She informed the room. Within seconds the house was filled with noises, as the children scrambled to wash their hands and their parents stepped over the multiple toys and gifts that littered the floor. Monica stood off to the side slightly, watching all the action. She smiled softly as her eyes drifted to her twins talking loudly with their cousins about everything they got that morning, and Emma, Ben and Sophie trying to top that by telling them what they got for Christmas. She almost didn't notice her husband come up behind her.

"Merry Christmas Mon." He said, wrapping an arm around her and kissing her on the top of her head.

"Merry Christmas," she replied as the two of them stood there watching their family, both smiling broadly with love and affection shining in their eyes.

Please leave a review if you can, think of it as a Christmas present to me :)

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas and I wish you a happy new year xx