A/N - Thank you for your reviews, and I hope you like this chapter. I'm not sure that it came out as well as I had hoped, but please let me know what you think...

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The Gift

Chapter Thirteen - Some Good News and Some Bad News

"This is perfect," Monica said quietly as she glanced around the completed nursery. "It's just how I always imagined it would be," she continued and felt Chandler wrap his arms around her from behind. His hands rested on her very large stomach, and she placed her hands on top of his. There were only three weeks to go before the babies' due date, and everyone was very excited about it. Chandler had just put the finishing touches on the nursery, and they were ready for their babies to come home.

"I'm glad it turned out the way you wanted it," Chandler said and kissed the back of his fiancee's neck. "Here. Sit down," he added and helped her over to the rocking chair in the corner of the room. Once she was seated, he kneeled down beside her and leaned up against the wall. "I guess we're ready."

"Yeah. I guess we are," Monica agreed, rubbing her swollen stomach. "I can't believe we've made it this far."

"You mean 'us' or with the babies?" he asked curiously. Chandler knew that he couldn't believe either of them. First of all, he had been terrified for most of Monica's pregnancy. After the first one, he was surprised that they had made it almost to the finish line this time. Secondly, he couldn't believe that he was actually engaged to marry the most wonderful woman he had ever known.

"Both," she replied. "I'm so happy that we're together, Chandler, and that we're having these babies. I don't think you'll ever know how happy you make me," she smiled at him, and wiped away a few tears. She couldn't help laughing lightly.

"What? What are you laughing at?" he asked, confused.

"I'm sorry," she chuckled. "I was just thinking that I'm always crying lately. It's kind of funny."

"Well, if you say so," Chandler shrugged. "But I really don't like it when you're upset."

"Honey, I'm not always upset... It's just these hormones, I guess. I'm so emotional... I can only imagine how much crying I'm going to do when these babies get here," she smiled.

"Just three more weeks and we'll find out," Chandler replied. "I can hardly wait."

Monica was silent for a minute before she spoke again. "Chandler, maybe we won't have to wait," she said quietly.

"Why? What do you mean?" he asked nervously, jumping up from his spot on the floor.

"I think my water just broke."

"Now? But the babies aren't due for another three weeks. You can't be in labor now. It's not time."

"Tell that to the babies," Monica said and tried to stand up on her own. "If you're not gonna help me, I'm going to the hospital on my own. Even if it's a false alarm, I'd feel better knowing that I'd seen a doctor."

"Of course, Mon," Chandler replied and helped her stand. He carefully led her into the living room, picked up the bag that she'd had packed for weeks, and helped her out the door. "I guess we're about to become parents..."

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"Monica, you are definitely in labor," Dr. Collins informed her after the exam. "But I think we need to talk about something," she continued, looking from Monica to Chandler, then back at Monica.

"Is something wrong?" Monica asked worriedly. "Will the babies be okay? I know it's early, but -"

"Monica, your babies are going to be fine," the doctor assured her. "However, I think that it would be best for both you and the babies if we did a cesarean."

"If that's what you have to do, then just do it. Just please tell me that the babies are going to be okay," Monica pleaded. Chandler squeezed her hand and waited for the doctor to answer.

"They are early, but I think that they will be fine. Both babies appear to be perfectly healthy, and I have no reason to believe that they'll be born any differently."

"Thank you, Dr. Collins," Chandler smiled and rubbed Monica's arm gently. He could tell that she was still having doubts about the birth.

"You're very welcome... I'll be back a little later to check on you, and we'll see what we can do about the cesarean," the doctor said before leaving the room.

"It's gonna be fine," Chandler said and kissed the top of Monica's head. "We're finally going to be a mom and dad together."

"Yeah, finally," Monica sighed. "I'm just a little anxious to have them out here and in my arms. I want to see for myself that they're perfectly healthy."

"You'll see soon enough," Chandler promised her. "I hope they look like you," he added after a moment.

"Like me? I hope they look like you," Monica replied. "They need to have your eyes. You have incredible eyes."

"And your smile. I love your smile."

She gave him a smile for that remark, then grimaced as another contraction came over her. She took his hand and tried her best to breathe through the pain. It wasn't helping.

"This hurts so much," she groaned, squeezing Chandler's hand as tightly as she could.

"You're doing great, Mon," he encouraged. "It'll all be over soon... I wish I could do this for you. You've been through enough already."

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Monica managed to breathe through yet another contraction, then closed her eyes and rested her head on the pillow. "You're so wonderful. Thank you for being here," she said quietly, obviously exhausted.

"I wouldn't dream of being anywhere else," he assured her and brushed her hair out of her face before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I'm gonna be right by your side when our babies come into this world - and for the rest of our lives."

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but we're ready for you, Monica. It's time to meet these babies," Dr. Collins said when she entered the room.

"Thank goodness," Monica sighed. "I've been waiting way too long for this."

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"All right, Dad, look right over here. Baby number one is on the way out," the doctor informed Chandler. Seconds later, she held a tiny baby up for him to see.

"Oh, Monica, she's so beautiful," he said with tears in his eyes. He was sitting in a chair by her head. He leaned over and kissed her forehead gently. "She looks like you."

"A girl," Monica whispered. "We have a girl..."

"And here comes baby number two," the doctor continued. "Looks like you've got another little girl," she informed both Monica and Chandler.

"Daddy's little girls," Monica smiled, looking over at Chandler. "Go check on them."

"I don't wanna leave you," he replied. He wanted to see his daughters, but he didn't want to leave Monica's side.

"I'll still be here when you come back," she answered. "Just bring them over so I can see them."

Chandler kissed her again, then went over to look at the two tiny babies. The nurses had just finished cleaning up the first one and, before Chandler knew what was happening, the little girl was in his arms. "Hi, baby," he whispered. "I'm your daddy," he continued, tears beginning to run down his cheeks. He and Monica had been through so much to become parents together, and now it had finally happened. They were the proud parents of two healthy baby girls.

Another nurse led him back to his chair beside Monica and handed the other baby to him once he was seated again. Monica turned her head so she could see the babies, and felt tears flowing freely down her cheeks. She'd wanted to be a mother for most of her life, and she always knew that it would be an incredible feeling. But she had never dreamed that it would be this incredible. "They're so beautiful," she whispered weakly.

Chandler could tell that she was exhausted. He looked up from the babies to Monica. "That's because they look exactly like their mother," he said. Monica smiled at him, and he smiled back at her, then looked back down at the babies.

"I think this is the best gift I've ever gotten, Chandler," Monica said quietly before closing her eyes.

It was then that Chandler heard the medical staff in the room begin to bustle around Monica, rattling off medical terms that he didn't really understand. Two nurses came over to him, took the babies, and led him to the other side of the room. "What's going on?" he asked worriedly. "What's wrong with Monica?"

"They're doing everything they can, Mr. Bing. She's in good hands," a nurse answered, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you come with us while we take your daughters to the nursery?" she said.

Chandler still hadn't taken his eyes away from Monica. "No. I can't leave her," he replied.

"You need to leave the room. They can take better care of her if you just step out for a few minutes. Everything will be okay," the nurse tried to convince him.

"Fine... Fine," Chandler agreed reluctantly and followed the nurses and his babies out of the room. Soon they were in the nursery. Chandler looked up and saw his friends standing outside the nursery window. He smiled slightly, his eyes still glistening with tears, then looked back down at his babies. After gazing at his daughters for what seemed like an eternity, he stepped out to talk to Joey, Phoebe, Ross, and Rachel.

"Hey, man. What did you have?" Joey asked excitedly.

"Babies, Joey," Phoebe answered, as if the answer was obvious. "Oh. Boys or girls. Yeah," she continued once she realized what her husband meant. "The pregnancy is throwing me off," she said, placing her hands on her slightly protruding stomach.

"Well, they're both wrapped in pink blankets. I think I'd have to guess they had girls," Rachel said excitedly.

"I've got two nieces," Ross smiled and patted Chandler on his back. "Congratulations, Chandler."

"Thanks." Chandler finally spoke to his friends for the first time since entering the hallway and, for the first time, they noticed that he wasn't smiling like a new dad should be smiling.

"What's goin' on?" Joey asked, concerned.

"The babies are doing great, but... Something must have gone wrong with Monica. She's still back there," he answered quietly. "I'm so scared," he admitted, allowing Rachel and Phoebe to bring him into a hug.

"Mr. Bing?" The voice of Dr. Collins brought Chandler away from his friends. He looked at her, then listened as she continued. "I have some good news and some bad news."