Chandler and Monica spent most of the night wondering how they were going to tell the others. They had decided that Ross should know first, away from the rest. He was Monica's brother after all.
The next day once they knew he was home from some Dinosaur Convention, they went to see him. Just before Monica was about to knock, she hesitated "Monica, what's wrong?" Chandler was wondering why she had paused, they had discussed in great length about this. He hoped that she wasn't about to have any second thoughts.
"I think we should tell them about Emma." Every time she mentioned that name her heart skipped a little. But she knew that this was the right path for them.
"I thought you wanted to wait?" he pulled her away from the door; the last thing they needed was Ross to overhear, or have a sudden urge to leave his apartment finding them outside his door.
"I know what I said Chandler, but I don't think I can go through this again, I feel sick to the stomach about the whole thing. You were right, it's best to get everything out at the same time."
"Are you sure about this Mon?" he brought his hand up to her face, cupping and lifting it slightly so he could look into her eyes. He was happy to go along with anything she wanted, he just wanted to make sure, she knew what that actually was.
Her hand moved over to his, holding it to her face "Yes Chandler, I'm sure. Come on let's get this over with. The quicker we tell everyone, the quicker we can meet our daughter." Monica moved them back over to Ross' door brought her hand up, taking a deep breath, then knocked defiantly on the door.
As soon as Ross opened the door, he was a little confused as to why they were both there. His friends hardly visited his apartment.
"Hey Guys, I was just about to come over to yours Mon, I got great gift for everyone." The other two were not looking forward to those much, knowing Ross' gifts that involved his work.
"Actually Ross Chandler and I were hoping to talk to you. Alone." Monica was nervous, her hands were shaking. Chandler placed a hand on her lower back, guiding her to the couch, and then thought he'd better sit down too.
"Sure guys, what's up?" Ross was too busy emptying his suitcase full of his hotel belongings, to notice the tense atmosphere of his two guests.
"Ross could you sit down for a moment please?" Monica was getting annoyed with him, it wasn't his fault, but she was reaching the end of her tether, and it was only lunch time. It was going to be a long day.
"Oook." Ross knew that look of Monica's, he knew better than to argue. "What did you guys want to talk about?"
Monica didn't know where to start, she thought that she had it all sorted in her head, but sitting here now, she didn't have a clue. Chandler could tell she was having trouble forming the words, so he thought it was about time that he spoke up. "Well Ross, try and stay calm, but the thing is, Monica and I are together." There he had said it.
Ross was now very confused, maybe this was one of Chandler's jokes that he just didn't get "Of course you are, you are together on my sofa. Now what did you want to tell me."
Chandler sighed, for someone so smart Ross could be fairly stupid sometimes. He guessed that he would have to spell it out for him. "No Ross, I mean we are together." With that he took hold of Monica's hand, he gave it, what he hoped was a reassuring squeeze.
Ross started laughing, hard. Monica and Chandler could only sit there watching him have what seemed to be a start of a breakdown. They looked at each other wondering what they should do.
"Chandler you are so funny. Yes let's play a joke on Ross, it was very good. I almost believed you." Ross knew what he had heard, but there was no way that Chandler could be serious.
"Listen Man, I'm not messing around. I am in love with her ok. I love her." Chandler was starting to get annoyed at this point, and there was so much more they had to say.
"It's true Ross, I love him too." Monica's voice was quiet, but Chandler thought he could never get use to hearing those words, he let go of her hand to but his arm around her instead. He would have liked to do more, but given Ross a stroke, was not the plan.
Ross just sat there, utterly still and silent. Though Chandler was sure he could see his best friend's face turning purple. "Um Ross, you OK?"
There words were reaching Ross' mind, but he just couldn't comprehend them, he went to speak but all that came out was a squeak, he brought his fist up to his mouth and tried again "When?" was all that he could manage.
Monica hoped that Ross wouldn't ask that question first. It was a little complicated to answer; she looked over at Chandler, who nodded his head for her to continue "That's not the simplest question to answer, but it started properly whilst in London."
Ross was trying really, really hard to control his temper; he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose "What do you mean properly Monica?"
"There was this time when you and Chandler were back in college, it kind started then." Monica was dreading his reaction; she could see how much Ross was trying to keep it together. Also knowing her brother, she knew that he would burst any second now.
Ross stood up and started to pace "You are supposed to be my best friend and you are sleeping with my SISTER. MY SISTER! MY BEST FRIEND AND MY SISTER, I cannot believe this"
"Look Ross I'm sorry, I'm not sorry that this is happening between us, just sorry I didn't talk to you about it first, but we have been worried about you. You had a lot to deal with, plus we didn't really know where this was heading. But now we do, so we are telling you about it." Chandler walked over to Ross whilst saying this, he did feel bad. However like he said he wasn't sorry for being with Monica.
"There is something else too Ross." Monica's voice came from the couch behind Chandler. It was Chandler's turn to close his eyes now, when he saw Ross' face to that comment. He was too sure how much more his friend could take; also he was fully expecting Ross to punch him any second.
"There is more, how can there be more. You didn't get married did you?" Ross said this to Monica, but he was glaring daggers at Chandler.
Monica stood up, standing in-between her brother and her boyfriend "No Ross, we aren't you... At 18.." Monica was finding the words to tell him the truth exceptionally difficult to leave her mouth. Chandler put his hands on her shoulders, giving her the strength to continue. She wasn't alone any more.
"Yes Monica at 18?" Ross was getting less patience as the seconds ticked by.
"Ok, at 18 I found out that I was pregnant. I gave the baby up for adoption, without telling anyone. Including the father." There she had told him, sort of.
"What! Monica why did you never say anything. I am your brother; I would have been there for you." It didn't click with Ross right away, until he remembered her earlier comment "Wait a minute, who in hell was that father?" He knew, of course he knew, but he waited for them to confirm it.
"Look Ross, I didn't know at the time you have to believe me on that one." Chandler tried to make Ross understand. It wasn't working Ross wasn't listening to anything Chandler was saying.
He was angry, this had probably been the angriest Ross had ever felt. "How dare you." With that he brought his fist up, and connected it to Chandlers face. "Ouch, son of a bitch." That had been the first time he had ever punched anyone, he hadn't known it was going to hurt as much as that.
"Ross what the HELL!" Monica turned around to knee by Chandler, who was now on the floor clutching his nose.
"Don't tell me he didn't deserve that." Red Ross was in full swing now.
"No Ross, he didn't. Chandler didn't know about the baby until last night. It wasn't his fault." Monica had lost all fear now. Who did Ross think he was reacting like that, she wasn't a kid any more that needs protection off her big brother, not that she got any of that when they had been younger.
"Monica its fine, I kinda deserved." Chandler wanted to make peace before a full Geller war started.
"Yeah you did." Ross said smugly, for his first punch it had been a good one.
Monica had gone to get ice, fast. She didn't want to leave those two in a room alone very long. Chandler winced when the ice cold touched his face. "Just what we need a bruise, great first impression I am going to make."
"It be ok Chandler. Maybe we can cover it up somehow." Monica glared at her brother.
"What first impression do you need to make?" Ross didn't want to care, but he couldn't help himself.
"If you must know. The Grandmother of the baby showed up last night, she wants us to meet our child." Monica kept the details vague for him, knowing how much it would wind him up not knowing.
"You are going to meet you...your Child?" Ross had trouble getting his head around the fact that he was saying "Your child" to Monica and Chandler.
"Yes, and now Chandler has to meet his daughter with a black eye, thanks to you."
Ross sat back down, he felt like his knees were going to give way with all the information that had been revealed. So not only were Monica and Chandler apparently a couple, they had a daughter too. He was speechless, how had this been kept quiet all these year. Thinking back to that time, he guessed he should have caught on to something. The clues had been there. Monica missing all the family time, he barely saw her once she had gone to college.
"You mean I am an Uncle?" he didn't mean to voice that, but it had just hit him. The reality of the situation.
"Yeah you are." Monica replied softly.
Ross took a good look at the couple, the way there were acting, they seemed very close and this obviously being very serious, surprisingly for both of them. "Fine, I am going to have to get use to this." He pointed between the two of them "But if you hurt her Chandler, I swear to god..." he didn't quite know how to finish that sentence, but Chandler would get the drift.
"Ross, I mean it when I say that I love her. I am not going to risk losing that. I promise." Chandler answered with full sincerity. There was no choice but to believe him.
"Good, I don't like it but I see I have no choice... So tell me about the baby." Ross meant what he said, he would try his best to get use to seeing his best friend and sister together, and he may just be able to do it, if he didn't think too much about it.
Monica and Chandler explained everything to him, not leaving anything out. At the end of the visit Monica was glad that she could finally tell Ross everything, it felt like a weight that had been on her shoulders for the past 10 years had been lifted, she felt like she could breathe a little better. They still had a lot of people to tell though. Some reactions were going to be better than other. Her parents in particular were not going to be easy to tell.