May 19, 2001

The day of Monica and Chandler's wedding and Chandler was nowhere to be found yet again. He had been acting strange at the rehearsal dinner, but Phoebe hadn't really been paying attention although it seemed like now she should have. Ross had spent the night looking for him and could not find him and now it was the day of the wedding. Phoebe decided that maybe she should go help find him although part of her didn't want to...she almost hoped they would not find Chandler. She was so sick of him. They had spent three months helping him overcome this latest battle with addiction. Three months of staying up all night, making sure he was safe and now he had run off. She felt like she wanted him to stay lost but there was pregnancy test. The one she and Rachel had found in Monica and Chandler's trash. Monica was pregnant and because of that, Phoebe knew Chandler needed to be found.

Phoebe and Ross were walking back and forth around the streets of New York. They took cabs to Chandler's office, the gym, Central Perk, everywhere. They could not find him anywhere. Ross was pacing back and forth in front of the pizza place that Phoebe and Chandler called their lunch place, running his fingers through his hair.

"I don't...I-I don't...I can't-he cannot run out on my sister. I will kill him," Ross said.

Phoebe didn't laugh this time. Ross had given Chandler a whole strange big brother speech the night before about how if Chandler hurt Monica, he'd kick Chandler's ass. It had been funny and strange for Ross to make a speech like that, but now it wasn't all that funny.

"Well, where do you think he can be?" Phoebe asked.

"I don't know. And you know what's worse?" Ross asked.

"What?" Phoebe asked.

"He's clean. He ran off and he's sober," Ross said.

"I know," Phoebe said.

"I...I don't get it. I just...it's...I've known him for fourteen years. Fourteen. I've had enough. When does someone else get to be the center of attention."

"Well, today is his day to get attention," Phoebe said.

"Which he is supposed to share with Monica. Right now, we're not thinking of Monica."

Phoebe opened her mouth and quickly shut it. She was thinking of Monica. It was because of Monica that she was looking for Chandler at all. That damn pregnancy test.

"Okay, well...think. Where else can he be?" Phoebe asked.

Phoebe kept looking at Ross, waiting for an answer. She tried to think herself, but couldn't think of anything. She kept looking at Ross when suddenly a look came over his face. He shook his head.

"He's in Scarsdale."

"What?" Phoebe asked.

"Come on. I know where he is. G-d, I'm an idiot."

"Wait, Ross...Scarsdale is almost an hour away and has a toll road."

"I know. He'll owe us money," Ross said as he hailed a cab and gave the driver an address. Phoebe wasn't sure what was going on but she trusted Ross. He seemed to know exactly where they were going.

About an hour later, they pulled up in front of the largest house Phoebe had ever seen in her life. It didn't look like a home at all. It was a community, it took up several blocks. Ross didn't seem as fazed by the massiveness as she did.

"Where are we?" Phoebe asked.

"This is his home."

"Wait-"

"The house he grew up in. Come on."

Phoebe followed Ross to the front door. Ross knocked and a small Hispanic woman opened the door with a smile.

"Hi, is Chandler Bing here?" Ross asked.

"Yes, he's in-"

Ross didn't wait for a response, just shoved past the woman. Phoebe smiled and muttered an apology as she followed Ross past a wide, wooden staircase and opened two big double doors and walked in. Phoebe saw him immediately. He was staring at a movie screen. Phoebe recognized the movie instantly as being one of the old Monty Python movies. Chandler had shown her them years ago. She had found them very funny but why was he there? Ross and Phoebe ran down the aisle and towards Chandler both taking a seat by him. Ross looked ready to punch him. She noticed as he made a fist and took a deep breath.

"I am going to kill you," Ross said, sounding very methodical. "Are you really going to do this?"

"Does she know?" Chandler asked, staring straight ahead.

"No and she doesn't need to know. We need to get back," Ross said.

"No. No...I can't. I can't do this," Chandler said.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Phoebe asked.

"She's gonna leave me. If we become the Bings, she's gonna get fed up and leave. My parents were the Bings and they crashed and burned. If she leaves...no...no...I can't...I-"

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Phoebe asked, ignoring the freak out.

"If this fails-" Chandler said.

"Are you really that insecure?" Ross asked.

"Yes," Chandler said.

"You know...Chandler...I can't...okay, look if Monica hasn't left you by now, she isn't going to but the rest of us are pretty damn close. I mean, fuck...we just spent three months trying to make sure you were safe and okay. What else is it gonna take? You're gonna destroy the one thing you've wanted for as long as I've known you because you think she'll run out on you?" Phoebe asked.

"And you know...if you do run out, that's it. We can no longer be friends. That's a fact. If you run out on my sister...you are no longer my friend," Ross said.

"I-it's just-I mean...this...It's too huge...this whole thing is too huge. I can't-"

"Okay, Chandler listen... right now...no one has a lower opinion of you than I do. Okay, but you can do this. You can make that leap. You can make this work. Stop being so goddamned self destructive. You know this won't end. There are plenty of people out there who can make marriage work. Ross and Monica's parents. People do make it work and besides...there's another reason you have to go back," Phoebe said.

Phoebe didn't wanna break Rachel's promise but she knew what she had to say. She had known Chandler for long enough to know the words to make him come back, to make him look at what he was doing. She hoped Rachel wouldn't be mad but she felt she had no choice.

"What?" Chandler asked.

"Monica's pregnant," Phoebe said.

"What?" Chandler asked.

"What?" Ross asked.

"Rachel and I found the pregnancy test in the trash. Monica's pregnant...and...do you really wanna be that guy? Do you wanna be like my dad...or yours? You really wanna be like that? I know you love her so much and I know no one will work harder to make their marriage work than you and Monica will. Yeah, you'll be the Bings, but you'll also be the Gellers. You're marrying Monica. You think she's gonna lose at marriage?" Phoebe asked.

"I'm gonna be a dad?" Chandler asked.

"Yeah."

"Oh crap," Chandler said.

"So...you wanna go get married," Ross said.

"Not to you," Chandler said, giving him a smirk.

"He's coming back to us," Ross said.

"Seriously. Chandler, when will you stop this?" Phoebe asked.

"I can do this. What the fuck am I doing? No, no...I don't wanna be that guy. If she's pregnant, I need to be there...and I love her so much. Ross, I do. I love her...I can't...not having her would just be..."

"Let's go. Stop...just stop," Ross said.

"I'm sorry, Ross," Chandler said.

"I know. Come on...ready to go?" Ross asked.

Chandler nodded and stood up. He looked at Ross and the two men hugged. Phoebe smiled as the three walked out of the movie theater, turning off the movie and walking out to catch a cab. It took them an hour to get back into the city, but soon they made it. Phoebe walked into the apartment just in time in seemed as Rachel was about to crack, but instead Rachel covered and the wedding plans continued almost without a hitch.

Perhaps it had been Joey being flustered that had caused him to slip and mention in the midst of his officiating that Chandler had run out. He was still in his soldier costume, having raced off the set to be there in time to officiate Monica and Chandler's ceremony. He was most certainly flustered, having forgotten his notes and when he announced that Chandler had taken off, there was a gasp. Chandler's eyes widened as Phoebe and Rachel exchanged a look. Joey seemed barely aware of what he said. When Monica said her vows, Phoebe could tell Chandler was nervous and when Monica ended with a snide remark, Chandler took a deep breath. Phoebe knew he was thinking on his feet. He was good at that. Incredibly good at that and once again he succeeded, telling Monica that he would always be there. Phoebe teared up a little, knowing how happy both of friends were at that moment and it almost made up for what had happened earlier. Almost.

After the ceremony was over and everyone left to attend the reception, Ross, Rachel, Joey and Phoebe returned to share a moment with Chandler and Monica before all the craziness began. Neither Chandler nor Monica could stop smiling.

"I can't believe this. It's amazing. You're married," Rachel said.

"I know. We're married," Monica said.

"And...okay, I wanna say something. I'm an asshole," Chandler said which led Ross, Joey, Rachel and Phoebe to all agree. Chandler let out a laugh, "I am so grateful and lucky to have each one of you. Please know that and I am so sorry for what I pulled today. I love this woman," Chandler said giving Monica a kiss. "I got scared not because of committing but...because I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you, Mon-"

"You're not losing me. I promise you. It doesn't matter how badly you fuck up...I'm in this. I'm not leaving this marriage. You are my husband. The fact that you could run off before the wedding and I still married you, that's your proof," Monica said.

"Thank you and to the rest of you...Phoebe, Joey, Ross, Rachel...I am so, so sorry. I promise to get my head out of my ass and be far more grateful that I have friends like you and thanks for not giving up on me. Thank you for being there these last three months. Thank you for always being there. I know I have not made it easy...I want you guys to be okay with me again," Chandler said.

"We are. We always will be...it's just...can you please start make it easier for us to be your friend...'cause that would really help us out," Rachel said.

"Yeah. That would," Joey said.

"I will do my best." Chandler said.

"Alright...now, can we please celebrate?" Monica asked.

Ross, Joey and Rachel agreed and all hugged Chandler and Monica, but Phoebe remained stoic. She could not get past what Chandler had done. It angered her more than she thought it could. She had never thought he would do something like that. Chandler must have noticed Phoebe's expression because he walked over to her, giving her a look.

"Do you hate me?" Chandler asked.

"No. It's just...you ran out. I mean...the stuff with the drugs and then you running out, it's just..."

"I'm happy, Phoebe."

"You are?"

"Yeah."

"You're actually happy?" Phoebe asked, wondering if she had ever heard him say that.

"Why wouldn't I be? I just married Monica."

"And you're gonna be a dad," Phoebe said.

"No, I'm not."

"What?"

"Monica's not pregnant," Chandler said.

"But I found the-" Phoebe said before biting her lip and looking over at Rachel who was talking to Monica, smoothing out Monica's veil. "Oh."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Did you really find a pregnancy test in the trash?" Chandler asked.

"No...no...I...never mind."

"Pheebs?"

"It's nothing."

"Wait...is Rachel pregnant?"

"No."

"Are you?"

"No."

"Okay, Pheebs. It's gotta be one of the three of you. I'm doing power of deduction here.."

"I don't know...let's just focus on today, alright," Phoebe said, gently stroking his arm and kissing him on the cheek.

"Alright...okay, I'll find out soon enough. I just wanna make sure you don't hate me."

"I don't."

"Okay...'cause, I mean, I know our friendship has changed a lot over the years, but I still think of you one of my favorite people."

"You're one of my favorite people too, Chandler. If you weren't, I wouldn't get as mad."

Chandler nodded as the two hugged, tightly and the went to join the rest of the group. Phoebe kept glancing over at Rachel who kept absentmindedly touching her stomach. It all seemed so crystal clear now. It was not Monica at all. It was Rachel.

"It's you," Phoebe said.

The wedding reception was going on and Phoebe and Rachel were sitting side by side, watching as Monica and Chandler share their first dance together. Rachel looked over at Phoebe, she had been glancing through some note cards for their "I Told You So" speech.

"What?"

"Monica's not pregnant. Chandler told me and I'm not pregnant...and even though I never took Sex Ed, I'm going to assume that Joey, Ross and Chandler aren't pregnant. That leaves you."

Rachel let out a sigh, "yeah, it's me."

"Oh my G-d, Rach."

"But Pheebs, I don't wanna talk about this. Not now."

"Whose the dad?"

"Phoebe."

"This is a big deal."

"I know. I don't wanna discuss it now. Please? I wanna give our speech," Rachel said.

"Alright," Phoebe said, letting out a sigh as they continued to watch Chandler and Monica finish dancing. Her mind was swirling as she tried to comprehend what Rachel was saying. She tried to focus on Chandler and Monica, both looking so happy. They walked back to the table and sat, both beaming.

"So, you two gonna do your speech now?" Monica asked.

"Yes," Rachel said, standing up and giving Phoebe a look. Phoebe nodded and stood as well.

"I've been waiting for this forever, Chandler grinned as he clapped his hands together. "It's why I decided to not run out."

"Too soon," Monica said.

"Sorry," Chandler said.

Phoebe and Rachel walked towards the front as people began tapping their glasses.

"Hi, I'm Rachel. I'm the Maid of Honor."

"I'm Phoebe...a bridesmaids and we both consider Monica one of our favorite people."

"Yeah...and Chandler," Rachel said.

"Yeah. He's okay," Phoebe said.

"Thank you," Chandler yelled.

"I've known Mon since we were a couple of six year olds and I officially became friends with Chandler when he was twenty five, although he acted like a six year old. Chandler and I though have had a few run ins over the years. He and I actually went to camp together when I was eleven and he was twelve and he was such an awesome person. As many of you know, he's a bit prankster and he's also very protective so if you hurt one of his friends, he will prank you. That is his revenge. I wasn't very nice to once of his friends in camp so he filled my bed with peanut butter. Years later, he covered my car with peanut butter. It took two months to get out, Bing. But um...despite his jokes and his pranks and he is the funniest guy I know, he's also one of the sweetest. He's always there with a hug and a kind word or a joke and I am so happy that we are finally friends and okay, in camp, you gave me a friendship bracelet," Rachel said as she held it up, "you said that if I ever needed a friend, I'd just have to look at it and know I had one. I said at the time that I would think of Sean Cassidy. Well, it's been twenty years and when I look at this, I no longer think of Sean Cassidy. I think of you...and Monica...you are...I can't even...I am honored to be called your friend. You are a sister and seven years ago, I showed up needing a place to stay and you took me in with open arms, no questions asked and I will never be able to thank you enough. I love you, Mon...and okay, I have something else. Um, Phoebe and I have thought forever that Monica and Chandler would be getting married one day and I found this," Rachel reached into her purse and pulled out an old faded piece of notebook paper. "This a MASH game. If you can see it. Monica and I did this when we were high school seniors. I think we were bored. I found Monica's game. Now, I don't know if you guys can see this but okay, Monica, you were gonna live in a mansion, own a dog, live in New York, have 25 children...better get working Chandler...and you were gonna drive a Volvo and your husband...is Chandler. She loved you even then, Bing and MASH doesn't lie. I told you then I thought that one day you would be marrying him and it thrills me to no end to say these words to you...I...told...you...so. To Monica and Chandler."

Phoebe smiled as everyone clapped for Rachel. Rachel put everything back in her purse and looked over at Phoebe, nodding for her to continue.

"Alright, Rach...okay, Chandler and Monica in many ways I owe my life too. Chandler...what a lot of people don't know and I am going to tell this and I'm sorry, Bing. I grew up homeless. I spent ten years not having a place to call my own and I managed to work a little bit and save enough money for one semester of college. I had gotten my GED years earlier. I was on the subway once coming back from class and I saw Chandler. I had actually run into him years earlier when I was sixteen. He was behind me in a movie theater and paid for my ticket for the worst movie ever made...it was called, Hot Dog: The Movie. He asked for my number after and I couldn't give him one. But when I saw him again on the subway when I was twenty one and he was twenty. I told him all about my life and he ended anonymously paying for not only the rest of my education, but my books and the state exam I would have to take. I am licensed masseuse because of Chandler Bing. Yes, he is the funniest guy in the world and he does freak out easily...but he's got one hell of a heart and okay, Monica...see when I was almost done with school, I figured I would go look for a place and I saw this ad in the paper and this girl asked me to be her roommate. I had no phone number, no bank account, there was no way for her to do a background check...all she had was my word and she took me in, immediately giving me a home, giving me friends and giving me family. Monica, you're amazing and so are you, Chandler and the two of them together...I owe the world to and I also knew they would get married one day. I knew from the moment I met Chandler and the way he talked about Monica. They were friends for a long time before they got together and if Monica would date another guy, he would hate that guy when the relationship ended. He would look at me and go, 'you don't break up with Monica. If you date Monica, you keep her and you never let her go' and he would always say, 'when I have my chance, I will do everything in power to never let her go'...Monica also always loved him. She always knows exactly what to say to calm him down and he knows what to say to calm her down and years ago Monica told me that if she and Chandler got married, I could stand up at her wedding at say these three things. One, Monica is the worst roommate ever...I love you, but former homeless girls don't really care where the guest towels go, two...you're also the greatest friend I've ever had and three...I told you so."

"To Monica and Chandler," Rachel said as she reached for a champagne glass. Phoebe looked over at her, wondering if she was actually going to drink. As everyone followed suit, Phoebe watched her closely as Rachel merely touched the glass to her lips but did not drink. They walked back to the table as Joey got up and walked towards the front to say his speech.

"You okay?"

"I deserve an Oscar for that," Rachel said.

"Rachel."

"Phoebe...please, Joey's speaking."

"I know...it's just...okay, are you going...are you going to keep this one?"

Rachel gave Phoebe a look and took a deep breath. Phoebe knew she had pushed a little too far.

"I'm sorry," Phoebe said.

"No, it's fine...I...I just...it's a shock. It happened and...it wasn't planned and there was protection...I don't know. I just...I need a friend."

"You got one."

"Thank you...now let's listen to Joey profess his love for Chandler," Rachel said.

Phoebe smiled as she reached down to squeeze Rachel's hand. They turned towards Joey who was talking about how much Chandler meant to him and how happy he was for his friend. He talked about how Chandler used to be his Wing Man, although he sucked at that and then brought up the first time he had ever met Chandler which was apparently not when they were first roommates but when he was at a Halloween party at Joey's home in Queens. Chandler had been seventeen, Joey eighteen.

"You know what's strange?" Rachel asked.

"What?"

"We're all linked, the six of us? We all go back...even without realizing it. I mean, Chandler and you met when you were kids, Joey and Chandler met...you met Monica and I. Chandler was in and out of my life...and then of course, Monica, Ross and I...and you and Joey met a couple times...I know we mock you for all that spiritual stuff but...the six of us were meant to be friends, weren't we?"

"Yeah. It seems like it."

"And now...this group is going to have an addition," Rachel said.

"That baby will be so loved, Rach. They'll have Monica as an aunt and Chandler as an uncle. That kid will have awesome organizational skills and be able to pull off the greatest pranks ever...and that kid will have you as a mom and you will be fantastic."

"Thank you, Phoebe."

The two hugged as Joey walked over to Chandler and hugged him and the party continued out on the dance floor. Phoebe kept to her word, not bringing up anything else with Rachel and just enjoying the wedding. Rachel seemed to be doing the same thing. although she seemed quieter, even Monica had picked up on the mood change and was going to ask until Chandler walked over to her.

"Mon, they're cutting the cake," Chandler said.

"Okay...but Rach, this isn't over," Monica said.

"Go eat cake please," Rachel said.

"Are one of you going to be eating two slices of cake?" Chandler asked.

"What?" Monica asked.

"Chandler," Rachel said.

"It's my wedding. I can ask as many inappropriate questions as I want," Chandler grinned.

"You're on thin ice, Bing," Rachel said.

Chandler grinned as Monica pulled him off. Ross and Joey walked up behind them.

"Twenty bucks says he smashes her in the face with the cake," Joey said.

"Oh no...he already knows he's in trouble over what happened earlier. He wouldn't do that. She'd kill him," Phoebe said.

They watched closely as Monica and Chandler cut the cake. Phoebe smiled as Chandler very gently fed Monica a piece of wedding cake. She was going to say something when Rachel touched her arm.

"Oh, G-d...I know that look," Rachel whispered.

"Me too," Ross said.

Monica had raised an eyebrow, ran her tongue over her teeth as she stared directly at Chandler. She picked up a big handful of cake and proceeded to smash it in Chandler's face. Chandler began laughing as the other four cheered. Monica was grinning.

"I can play," Monica said as the two kissed.

"They're gonna make it. They're gonna be fine," Rachel said.

"So will you," Phoebe whispered.

Rachel smiled as they watched Chandler retaliate by smashing a little cake in Monica's face. The two continue to share kisses as they wiped off their faces and walked onto the dance floor while the cake was being served. Phoebe could feel the tears fill her eyes as she looked at them. She looked over at Rachel who also seemed to be crying as well. Ross noticed and grabbed Rachel's hand, pulling her onto the floor. It was then Phoebe noticed the look on Rachel's face as she stared at Ross. Something in her eye told Phoebe the truth and at that moment, she knew exactly who the father of Rachel's child was.

"Oh my G-d."

"What?" Joey asked.

"Nothing."

"Dance with me, Pheebs."

Phoebe nodded as Joey pulled her on to the floor and placed his arms around her. She rested her head on his shoulder and began to feel sad. She was now thirty three and still single. Her marriage to Duncan had crashed and burned. She had three babies but had to give them up. Rachel was pregnant. Monica and Chandler were married. She kept wondering when it would be her turn. While she was happy, there was something missing. A part of her that still felt a void and dancing with Joey, it became more and more apparent that she knew what it was. She wanted a husband of her own. A husband that wanted her. She wanted kids that she didn't have to give up. She wanted a family.