A day later, it was like nothing had changed in the three years that Tag and the others had been apart. Joey, Ross and Tag were at the bar of the coffee house, laughing at several different things. Phoebe was being herself with Taylor, thus practically scaring her away. Emma and Juliet were on their way of becoming fast friends, even if they were just talking about smells in the place and the strange mustache on the man beside "Juliet's daddy."
"S, it's really nice to see you guys again." Tag said as a waitress brought him the latte he had ordered. "I miss hanging out with you guys."
"Same. So tell us, what happened with you and Robin? How'd you meet? What have yo been up to in the past couple of years?" Rachel asked. She was trying to keep a smile on. Even though she loved Ross more than anything, she missed the adventure of being with Tag. She needed an appropriate relationship, which was what she now had with oss.
"Well, I left the city for a bit to see my folks, and we all got invited toa family friend's barbeque, and that's where I met Taylor." Tag replied, glancing at Taylor a few feet away and smiling. "We were together for a year before Jules came along."
"So the girls were born a year apart." Ross noticed. "Isn't that funny how that kinda worked out, then Taylor and Rach are pregnant at the same time. You said she's three months along, right?"
"Uh huh."
Ross chuckled. "Hm. We have kids one year apart and it's one month for the kids on their way."
Tag raised his eyebrows. "Yeah, I guess so!"
Ross nodded. "So do you guys know what you're having?"
Tag shook his head. "No, Taylor wants to know, but I want it to be a surprise, and she went with that. I have a feeling I'm gonna have to hold her back when she gets her ultrasound when we're finally able to see what it is. Hell, it may be tough for me not to look, too. Who knows." He shrugged, then looked back at Taylor. "Isn't that right, babe?"
Taylor glanced back. "What?"
"Baby's gender." Tag replied.
"Yeah. I'm fine with not knowing, as long as it's healthy I'm happy, you know?"
"Amen to that." Monica agreed. "That's how I was and now look at me. One boy, and one girl, both healthy."
Taylor grinned. "That's great. You have wonderful kids, by the way."
"Thanks. Juliet's not too bad herself."
Taylor laughed. "Thanks right back to you, then."
Monica nodded. "Hey, I don't mean to go from this to personal, but I gotta ask. How do you guys handle being unmarried with one kid and another one on the way? Your parents don't wanna kill you?"
"No. Tag and I both come from parents who were unmarried, so it's fine with them. We're also older than our parents were when they had us, so…"
"That's wonderful. Sounds like you have great families, too."
Tag snorted. "Same as everyone's as far as mine goes."
"He means 'yes" Taylor cut in, getting out of her seat and walking over to stand next to Tag.
Chandler smirked. "Nah, that's kind of questionable with the scooter and plant… and…."
Monica shot him a look.
Chandler stopped. "…Then again, I shouldn't talk because of what I have to deal with."
Tag opened his mouth.
Chandler shook his head. "You DON'T wanna know."
Tag raised an eyebrow, then nodded slowly.
Taylor laughed. "You people are crazy. I love it."
"Then welcome to the family, hon." Monica replied.
Taylor laughed again. "Thanks again. I'm sure it'll be a riot." She looked down when she saw Juliet running over to her. She scooped the girl into her arms when Juliet reached her. "What is it, sweetie?"
Juliet leaned over and whispered something in Taylor's ear.
Taylor nodded. "Alright, Jules, but we're coming right back after, okay? Give daddy a kiss before we go." She moved her arms so Juliet could lean back and give Tag a kiss on the cheek. "Be back soon, daddy."
Tag smile.d "Where are you guys going?" he asked.
"We're gonna go get ice cream next door. We'll be back in a couple of minutes."
Joey, who had only heard "ice cream", bolted over. "Can I come?!"
Taylor shook her head. "Sure, come on. Anyone else wanna come? I can bring stuff back, too."
Rachel shrugged. "Just bring back a couple of pints of vanilla and we're happy."
"Okay." Taylor nodded. "Be right back."
--
Later on, Monica invited everyone to the house in Westchester for dinner. The girls and Jack found their way the play room, and Monica kept a baby monitor in the kitchen to keep an ear on them. It was the most productive way to cook a nice meal and be able to have adult conversations. Tag and Taylor had made themselves comfortable in the spacious living room, while Monica went to go start cooking, with Rachel at her side. Chandler had went upstairs to set the kids up with anything they wanted to play with that was on a shelf they couldn't reach. Tag seemed to have his full attention on something outside, his body completely pressed against the side of the couch facing the window. When Taylor noticed, she leaned forward. "What?" she asked.
It took Tag a moment to realize she had questioned him. He snapped out of the trance, then grinned at her, more so than he had been when he was looking out the window. stare out the His body was pushed up against a chair that was next to the window, as he pointed to where it was he had been staring. "Those two dogs next door are doing it." Tag replied, before looking back out.
Taylor gasped, as her eyes followed where he was pointing. Two dogs were in the back yard of the house next door, well, doing it, just as he said. "You find this funny?" Taylor said, as Tag continued to grin, " I hope the kids don't see this from upstairs- and you, there's something wrong with you if that's what you've been staring at this whole time." She laughed, betraying the disgusted tone she was trying to set.
"Please, sweetheart," Tag looked at her, "The window has to be above their heads. There's no way they can see two dogs doing it out the window."
There were footsteps on the stairs, and Chandler appeared. "What's going on?" he said, walking over to them.
"Two dogs are doing it in the place across from here. Have these guys heard of curtains?" Tag told him, looking back out the window.
Chandler dug his hands into his pocket, and nodded. "Not many have," he replied before wandering over to the window to confirm Tag's story."Yeah, the dogs always get at it once in a while ," he said, "The kids think they're dancing, or that's at least what Monica tells them. Two and a half year olds will believe anything."
"Remind me to tell Juliet when she asks," Taylor said, shifting to lean against Tag so she could tuck her feet into the corner of the couch.
"Looks like you're getting new neighbors," Tag told Chandler, as the black-haired man continued to survey the surrounding apartments. "The house with the frisky dogs has moving trucks in the drive way. I think they're moving."
"What?" Chandler launched himself at the window. "YES! They're moving! I've hated them for ages!"
" What did they ever do to you?" Taylor said, " As far as you're concerned they have the coolest dogs ever."
" They're not very nice people," Chandler said, " One of the twins threw a ball into their yard and they wouldn't let us get it back."
"Could be worse. They could've tried to pop it or something." Taylor offered.
"They did the next time it happened." Chandler cut her off.
"Ah." she said, " I'm kind of happy they're moving, too."
Chandler chuckled, " You have no idea," he said.
" What's going on over here?" Monica said, as she and the two other women, Ross, and Joey walked behind her, " What are you all staring at?"
Chandler pointed towards the window, " Those horrible people next door are moving," he told her, excitedly.
" The house with those dogs?" Rachel asked, and Monica nodded.
Joey laughed, taking a bite of the meatball sub he had in his hand.
Monica had just noticed this, and gave him a stern look, " You realize we're eating soon," she said, " And you just ate ice cream?"
" Mon, please," he waved her off with the hand that wasn't holding the sub, " I'm Joey."
Monica shrugged, " You're right, my bad," she admitted.
" Where does he put it all?" Taylor wondered aloud.
" I've actually been wondering that myself," Chandler said.