Looking Back: A Continuation Of  "Comfy Clothes"

Author: Alely7

Summary: Monica and Chandler look back at certain events of their life together.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters and this is purely for enjoyment.  No profits will be made. 

Foreword: I don't think any of these happenings have already been done, but if they have, I am sorry and I did not know.  I am still kind of new at writing, so I am warning you now that this might be not great.  This is a continuation of one of my other stories, Comfy Clothes, and you might want to read that first, even though I don't think it is absolutely necessary.  This first chapter is basically just filling you in on their lives, so the next chapters will be much longer and they will have actual storylines.  Anyway, please read and review! Thanks!

Chapter 1:  Life Right Now

Chandler turned the corner and spotted his two-story house at the end of the street.  He pulled into the driveway and parked his suburban.  He walked inside, dropped his briefcase and hung up his coat, only to be bombarded by his four young kids.

"Hey guys!! How was your day?"

"Great Daddy," all of the children chirped at the same time. 

            Chandler looked lovingly at all of the kids.  The twins looked just like their mother.  And the boys looked just like him.  They had grown up so fast, even though they were still young.  Chandler patted their heads and headed towards the kitchen.  When he arrived, he saw his wife of eight years standing there, peeling carrots.  He snuck up behind her and kissed her neck, just like he had every day since they had been married.

"Chandler, why do you always do that? Even though you do that every single day, I always get scared to death."

"Mon, it's only because I love you. Plus, it is kind of a tradition.  Even before we dated I thought about how I would do this everyday."

"I love you too, sweetie.  And I don't want you to stop doing it, because it is special."

"Do you know what today is?"

"Yes."

"You know what I was thinking about doing after dinner?"

"What?"

"Changing into my sweats."

"Awww, how cute.  You are irresistible in those sweats.  I can't believe that our first kiss was ten years ago today.  I am so happy, and all because of those comfy clothes."

"Yea, thank god Kathy broke up with me and you lost your job, otherwise we might have never realized how perfect we are for each other."

            Monica smiled and gave her husband a quick peck on the cheek.  She then called the children into dinner.  As she sat down at one side of the table and Chandler sat down at the other, she surveyed her family.  In the eight years they had been married, they had had twin girls and two boys.  Brenan, the eldest, always sat next to his father.   They were very much alike, and Brenan, even though he was only seven, had already developed Chandler's sense of humor.  On the other side of Chandler sat his daughter, Libbit, also known as Lellie, a combination of her first name and middle name, which was Ellie.  She was daddy's little girl and she and her sister were very different, but luckily, they still got along very well.  Her five year-old twin sister sat next to her on one side and her mother on the other.  Sierra loved to bake with Monica and she also loved to keep things clean.  She even had her dolls organized.  Chandler often joked about how Monica and Sierra were so similar.  Lellie was the opposite of Sierra, and her room was always messy.  Lellie was quite the little tomboy.  And lastly, there was little Traten.  He was only 3 years old, but he was already very smart.  Both Monica and Chandler thought that he was some sort of child prodigy.  He could already read and both parents were very excited.  While the family of six ate dinner, each of the kids went around and said their best moment of the day.  This was their special tradition.

"Okay, Sierra, why don't you start today.  What was the best part of your day?" Chandler asked.

"Me and Mommy made cookies!" The five year-old stated proudly.

"Wow, sweetie, that's great!  Can't wait to have some for dessert.  Lellie, your turn."

"I beated Brenan in soccer!"

"No she didn't, she cheated.  And anyway, it's beat, not beated." Brenan interjected.  He obviously hated to lose against his younger sister.  He was also sort of like Ross, he always correct grammar.

"Brenan, that's enough." Monica admonished.

"But…" He began.

"No buts mister," Chandler told him.

"Fine Dad."

"So, Brenan, what was your favorite part of today?"

"Well, today at school, I tied Sam's shoelaces together and he fell when he got up.  It was so funny."

"Brenan Cox Bing! What have I told you about playing jokes on people! You know that you are not allowed to do that!"

"Jeez, relax, Mom.  I was just kidding.  My REAL best part was when we got twenty extra minutes for recess.  Take a chill pill."

"Brenan, don't talk to your Mom that way.  No dessert for you tonight.  Finish your dinner and then go do your homework.  But first, apologize."

"Sorry Mom."

"Now, Trate, what did you like best sweetie?"

"I saw T-Rex bones with uncle Ross." The three-year stated matter-of-factly.

"Aw, Mon, he's gonna be a paleontologist, isn't he?" Chandler said half-joking.

"Well, at least he won't be a data processor."  Monica said, a bit annoyed.  She was happy that Traten was so smart and she knew that he could be whatever he wanted to be when he grows up.  She wanted Chandler to encourage him too.

Chandler gave her a hurt look, but she just ignored it.  The rest of the dinner went by smoothly and when they were finished, Monica and Chandler cleaned up while the kids played with their black lab puppy, Logan.  The two adults talked about their day and made sure the schedule was set for tomorrow.  Chandler dropped the kids off at school on his way to work and Monica picked them up on her way home.  That was how it always was, but still, every night, they both needed to make sure it would be the same for the next day.  When they were almost cleaned up, Chandler volunteered to put the kids to bed.  He found Traten sitting in front of the television with the discovery channel on, but the boy was asleep.  Chandler picked him up and carried him to his room. He put his pajamas on and tucked him in.  Then Chandler found the girls in the playroom, and picked them both up, one in each arm, and brought them to the room they shared.  After reading them two stories, the little girls finally agreed to go to sleep, but not without asking for numerous things, such as water and their favorite stuffed animals.  Lastly, Chandler went in search of Brenan, and he knew that this would be his biggest problem.  Every night, Brenan put up a fight about going to bed.  He said he didn't want to go to bed at the same time as his sisters, even though his Dad explained to him that he got an extra half an hour.  Chandler found him on the computer, playing a video game.  Brenan begged his Dad to let him finish, and Chandler, being the softy that he is, permitted this.  After the game, Chandler was very pleased to find that Brenan went to sleep easily.  Given the extra amount of time, Chandler went down the hall to his room and made sure everything was perfect for later on.  With everything in check, he went downstairs to find Monica reading on the couch.  He went up to her and picked her up, carrying her up the stairs and into their room. 

"Chandler, I am not one of the children.  What the hell are you doing?"  Chandler just smiled.

"I have a surprise for you," He said.

"I have a surprise for you too, but first, what have you got for me?" She smiled.

And with that, Chandler opened the door and placed Monica on the bed.  He went to his drawer and picked up a very small piece of paper.  Then he went to the closet and retrieved a very small, velvet box.  Lastly, he went under the bed and took out a large, but flat box.

            He sat down on the bed and handed her the piece of paper.  On it was written, "A five letter word for love".  Monica looked at him puzzled and went over all of the words love in different languages.  The first one that worked was amour, which was French. 

"Amour? Love in French?" She asked.  Chandler smiled.

"How does a trip to Paris sound?" He asked excitedly.

"Are you serious?  I would love to go to Paris!"

"Then pack your bags baby! We leave next month, on the 3rd.  Everything is settled.  Your parents are babysitting and I called your boss to ask for time off."

"Aw, Chandler, this is so great, but can we afford it?"

"Well, actually, that is another one of my surprises.  I got promoted today.  You're looking at the new managing director of my department.  Doug left and I got his job! I get a huge, new office, two secretaries, and a very large raise."

"That is wonderful sweetie!"

"Okay, okay.  I know I rock, but here is the next one," Chandler laughed.

"You didn't need to do all of this.  The trip was more than enough."

"I know, but I wanted to.  So here you go."  As he said this, he handed her the flat, large box.  Monica lifted the lid and found a big, brown, leather book.  She opened it and inside she found the title page that said, "Our Story".  Chandler had made a scrapbook of their life.  The first few pages were of them when they were just friends.  They really did look like a couple back then though.  Chandler always had his arms wrapped around her.  The next pages were of when they dated.  Following that were a few of the pictures from the weeding.  Then the births of all of their children.  After this, there were many blank pages.  She looked to Chandler for an explanation.

Chandler, noticing her look, explained, "I wanted to leave room for us to fill in the rest of our life. Turn to the last few pages."

Monica did this and noticed that he had a picture from each of their previous anniversaries lined up in chronological order.  Then there were a few more blank pages, which Monica presumed were for upcoming anniversary pictures.  On the last page were Chandler's vows from their wedding,

Monica, you are my beginning and my end.  I want to wake up every morning

with you beside me and I want you to be the last person I see and talk to before

I go to bed each night.  You complete me and my years with you so far have

been the best of my life.  I want everything I do to be with you.  I know that

we can overcome everything, so I know our love will last.  Just like that clerk

said two years ago, our love will last forever.   

"Oh, Chandler.  This is wonderful.  It must have taken so much time."  He then clicked a picture of them using a tripod he had previously set up. 

"Well, I have been working on it for a few months now.  I'm glad you like it.  Now, time for number 3."  He handed her the small, velvet box.  When Monica opened it, she couldn't believe how beautiful it was, and she was almost afraid to touch it.  Chandler picked it up and fastened it around her wrist.  It was a platinum bracelet with the names of each of their children engraved on the inside.  On the outside, there was a pattern of diamonds and sapphires covering a majority of the bracelet.  Monica was so overwhelmed that she started to cry.

"Thank you so much," She managed to get out in between tears.

He pulled her into a hug and never wanted to let go.  He should be the one thanking her, he thought.  After all, he was married to the most amazing woman in the world, he had four wonderful children, and he was truly happy.  His thoughts wandered back to the time they had first gotten together, when they were both going through hard times.  He laughed inwardly at the irony.  He was so thankful, and he would do whatever he had to in order to express his gratitude. 

"Chandler, I think we need to take this back."  Monica said.

"What? Why, do you not like it? If you don't, you can pick out whatever you like."

"No, I love it.  It's just, well, I think we need to add another name." Monica smiled.

"Do you mean what I think you do?"

"We're having another baby!" Monica said very excitedly.

"Wow, that's great!  When did you find out?"  Chandler was also very excited.

"Yesterday, but I wanted to tell you today, on our anniversary."

"Then we certainly will need to take this bracelet back.  Do you think we will be adding a girl's name or a boy's?"

"Girl's.  And if I'm right, I think we should name her Riley Madelyn.  I love that name."

"I like that name too.  But if it's a boy, how about Perry Wyan.  It's kind of different, but so are all of our kids names."

"Sounds great.  Aren't you excited to do all of this again?  The shopping and preparations.  I can't wait!"

"Me neither.  It will be great," Chandler said as he kissed his wife, and then her stomach.  "Thanks."

"For what?" She inquired.

"Everything.  Today at work, I was thinking about everything in our life so far, and I am so unbelievably happy, thanks to you.  So, I'm saying thanks."

"No prob," She kidded and he laughed.  "Umm, Chandler, I was thinking too, and well, I know this is a weird question, but is there anything you would have changed these past ten years?"

"Yep.  Two things."

To be continued.  The next chapters will be about Monica and Chandler looking back, hence the title.  I know the names are different, but they are what I want to name my kids, so I thought I would put them in here-haha.  Just so you know, the next chapter might not be for a little while because of school.  The only reason I started this now is because I had a no homework weekend, but I will try to write as quickly as possible.  Please read and review. Thanks!