Part 9
"Twins?!" Rachel exclaimed after Chandler and Monica had made their announcement that night after dinner. She excitedly ran around the table and hugged her two friends, as the rest of the gang happily made their way over to kiss and hug the parents-to-be.
Ross hugged his little sister tightly and kissed her head. "I am so happy for you," he told her sincerely. Monica smiled up at him. "Thanks." Chandler watched them and thought about the fact that he and Monica were so lucky to have such great friends. He couldn't imagine sharing this moment with anyone else other than their closest friends.
"This is so exciting," Phoebe said to Monica. "I always knew you were going to have twins. I just had a feeling about it."
Monica smiled and looked over at Chandler, who was trying not to laugh.
"Do you know what you're having yet?" Joey asked them.
The group walked into the living area and sat down in their respective places. Chandler, Monica and Rachel all on the couch. Joey and his wife, Kelly, in the barca lounger, and Phoebe and Ross on the floor by the coffee table.
"Actually, it was too early to tell, but Chandler and I decided we want it to be a surprise." Monica told them, as she leaned her head on Chandler's shoulder. He kissed her cheek, then put his arm around her and laced his fingers through her's with his free hand.
"That's so sweet." Rachel replied as she looked at them.
"And we're so happy to be able to share this news with our best and closest friends." Chandler said. "Especially since Joey and Kelly could be here too."
"Thanks you guys," Kelly smiled. "Joey and I are really happy for you."
"Yeah, happy you hooked up on our wedding night." Joey laughed.
"Joey!" Rachel exclaimed.
Monica laughed. "Well, I guess technically he is right."
"See!" Joey said to Rachel.
An hour later, everyone left and Chandler helped Monica finish cleaning up the kitchen. Monica was pretty exhausted, and couldn't wait to crawl into bed with Chandler. Things were finally beginning to fall into place for them again, and in a few months they were going to be parents once more. She was really warming up to the idea of becoming a mother again, and even though she still had some fears, all she had to do was look at Chandler and she would feel better again.
Chandler was drying a pot and noticed she was starting at him and smiling. "What? Do I have something on my face?" He asked her.
She walked over to him and hugged him, resting her head on his chest. "No, I was just thinking about how much I love you."
He put the pot on the counter and wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes. "I love you too."
"I was also thinking about what Joey said." She continued.
"Refresh my memory." Chandler replied, as he began to stroke her hair gently.
"You know about us getting together on his wedding night," she laughed a little before continuing, "if we hadn't, we wouldn't be having these precious little babies."
Chandler held her even more tightly to him. "Actually, it was the day after his wedding, but who's counting? All I know is that I was never happier than in that moment. It's something I'll never forget, Mon."
"Me either." She looked up at him, took his hand in hers and smiled. "Let's call it a night, Bing."
No verbal response was necessary. He looked at her lovingly and let her lead him toward their bedroom. Before reaching their room, she flipped the light switch off and closed their door behind them.
******
The next five months seemed to just fly by. It was already August and Monica was almost eight months pregnant. She was feeling great, and considering she was having twins, she looked wonderful. She thought she looked like the size of a house, but Chandler made her still feel beautiful even though she couldn't even see her feet anymore. He was always doing nice things for her, like cooking dinner or bringing home flowers after work. She was more in love with him than she ever had been, and the feeling was mutual. Chandler couldn't wait for the babies to be born because he knew that would make their family complete again. He would have been happy if he and Monica never had anymore children. After Monica had told him she didn't want anymore children during the therapy session, he hadn't understood how she couldn't want more kids, but during their time apart he started to realize why she had fears. Monica, like Chandler, was very happy they were about to become parents again and all of her fears of something bad happening had subsided. She just wanted her twins to be healthy and happy.
Monica and Rachel were sitting in the apartment after having spent the day looking around the city for cute things to put in the nursery. Of course, they hadn't managed to find anything that Monica liked. They were both exhausted from all of their walking. As Monica sat on the couch, propping up her feet, Rachel made them each a cup of tea, then joined Monica in the living room.
"You know, its not that easy to decorate when we don't know if its for two boys, two girls, or a boy and a girl." Rachel told her, as she set her cup on the coffee table.
Monica laughed. "Its been very tempting, but Chandler and I really want to be surprised."
"Ahhh! Come on, I can't take the suspense! You should call your doctor and find out right now!" Rachel exclaimed.
"There is only like a month left. Plus we don't want any of that pink and blue stuff anyway. We want something fun. You know like orange walls, or clouds or something." Monica pointed out.
"Yeah, I like that. Actually you know what, Ralph Lauren has the cutest little animal print baby stuff. I can bring some by this week if you want. We really need to get the nursery ready."
"That would be great. Thanks." Monica smiled.
"Have you decided on any names yet?" Rachel asked, picking up a baby name book.
"Well, I am picking one and Chandler's picking one. And we're not telling the names we picked until they're born."
Rachel smiled. "That is too cute. So what names have you picked?"
"Nuh-uh. Not telling. Chandler gets to hear it first."
"Come on! I'm your bestfriend!" Rachel replied.
"Yeah, my bestfriend who has the biggest mouth!" Monica laughed. "You'll find out soon enough. I have the best names picked out."
"So one for a girl and one for a boy?" Rachel asked, not giving up just yet.
"Yep."
"What if you guys pick the same names? Maybe you should each tell me the names you picked so I can tell you if they're the same."
"Its not going to work, Rach. You will just have to wait like the rest of the group."
"Fine! You are no fun at all." Rachel sighed, as she crossed her arms. Monica laughed and began to read the newspaper.
"Ohh, listen to this." Monica said, sounding a little upset.
"What?"
"There is this chef convention next month in Boston that I've always wanted to go to. They usually have it overseas every year. Of course the one year they have it here I can't even go. Unless.." she started, getting her hopes up a little.
"Chandler would never go for it."
"Oh, who says! He might.." Monica replied, as Chandler walked in.
"He might what?" Chandler asked, assuming she was talking about him. He walked over to his wife, sat down next to her the couch and planted a kiss on her lips.
"Well, its just that there is this chef convention next month in Boston…."
"Absolutely not!" Chandler butted in before she could even finish.
"Why not?"
"Mon, you're going to be ready to give birth. And the doctors even said that with twins the chances of going into labor prematurely is higher than with just one baby."
Monica sighed. "You're right."
"There will be other chances for you to go another time. Just not when you're about the have two babies."
"I know." Monica agreed. She managed to pull herself up, with a little help from Chandler. "I'm going to take a nap. I'm pretty tired. Rach, thanks for going with me today."
"No problem!" Rachel replied, as she and Chandler watched Monica walk into the bedroom. "We need to do something to cheer her up. Is there anyway you guys can go to Boston?"
"I just don't think its a good idea."
"Well, maybe we can decorate the nursery and surprise her."
"Now that I think is a good idea. But where do we start?"
Rachel smiled. "You just leave that all up to me. By the end of the week you will have the best looking nursery on this side of the Hudson River."
Chandler looked at Rachel awkwardly.
"Oh, whatever!" She said knowing she made no sense. She stood up and headed over to the front door, then stopped. "Hey, Chandler, what names do you have picked out for the twins?"
He looked at her and shook his head.
"Damn it!" She said, before leaving.
Chandler and Rachel, with the help of Phoebe spent the next couple of weeks getting everything together for the surprise nursery. Even though Monica was perfectly healthy, the doctor had told her to spend as much time as she could resting because they didn't want to risk her going into premature labor. So while Monica was sleeping, the three would get together and make plans for who would do what. Phoebe had found the perfect store that sold hand made furniture. Chandler picked out two white wooden cribs, a white rocking chair, a changing table mirror and dresser that all matched. Rachel found beautiful orange and white gingham material for curtains, blankets, and sheets for the cribs. One of Phoebe's friends, who was an artist, also offered to paint animals on the wall for them. He drew giraffes, elephants, tigers, lions and monkeys, which made the room complete. Now all it needed was two sleeping babies. Three weeks after they had started their project, the three stood in the room and smiled at their accomplishment.
"I think she's going to love it. Thank you guys so much." Chandler told them, as they walked toward to the doorway continuing to look around the room.
"I only wish my own room had looked this good." Rachel commented.
Monica walked out of her room and noticed the three of them. "What are you guys doing?" She asked, rubbing her eyes.
The three immediately jumped into the living room, quickly closing the door behind them.
"Nothing," Chandler replied, sounding very guilty.
"What's going on?" Monica asked, seeing right through him.
Rachel and Phoebe looked at Chandler. He walked over to Monica and took her hand. "We have something to show you. Its a little surprise we've been working on."
"What is it?" Monica asked.
"You'll see." Phoebe smiled, as she walked over to the door and opened it.
Monica stood in the doorway of the most beautiful nursery she had ever seen. Tears began to form in the corners of her eyes. "I can't believe you did this. It looks so amazing." She turned to Chandler, Rachel, and Phoebe and gave them each a hug. "I mean, how did you manage to do all of this?"
"A little here and there, while you were resting up." Rachel told her. "Are you sure you like it? We can change anything you want."
"No, I love it. Its so perfect. Thank you guys so much." She smiled, and leaned in and kissed Chandler on the cheek, then put her arm around his waist. Suddenly a weird expression came over her face, and she placed her hands on her stomach.
"What is it?" Chandler asked her, getting nervous.
"I think its time." Monica replied.
"Whaaat?" Chandler exclaimed, starting to get a little panicked.
"Don't worry, it's not too early." Monica reassured him. "Rachel can you run into our room and grab my bag? Phoebe please call a cab."
The girls ran in opposite directions, and Monica helped Chandler sit down on the couch.
"Are you okay?" She asked him.
"Yeah, you?"
"So far so good." She laughed as she watched Chandler trying to catch his breath. "Chandler, I'm the one whose going into labor here. Okay, I'm going to need your help, so you have to be okay."
"I am, just a little shocked all of a sudden at how fast these nine months flew by." He took a deep breath and composed himself, as Phoebe and Rachel both ran back to Monica's side.
"Cab is on the way." Phoebe reported.
"And I've got your bag." Rachel told her.
"Okay, let's go have these babies!" Chandler smiled, as he stood up and took Monica's hand.
****
"The position of the babies look good. I think we can do this naturally, Monica. You still have the option of a C-section, but it would be better for the babies to be born naturally." The doctor told Monica after checking the read-out of the sonogram.
"Yes, I definitely want to do this naturally." Monica said, through a contraction, as she clutched onto Chandler's hand tightly.
Wincing in pain as she released his hand, he replied, "Are you sure you want to do that, honey?"
"Yeah," she told him, a little out of breath.
"Okay, you're at eight centimeters." The doctor told them. "I'll be back in a few minutes to check on your progress." The doctor exited, leaving Chandler and Monica alone together. He took the opportunity to tell her how great she was doing.
"In no time we're going to be holding our babies." He said as he leaned in to kiss her cheek tenderly.
Monica smiled up at him as he placed a cool rag on her forehead. "I can't wait until they get here."
Chandler removed the rag and kissed her forehead and then after placing the rag back again, he kissed her cheek softly again. "I love you."
She was about to reply, when she was struck with another contraction. "Oww. This one really hurts. I feel like I need to push."
"I'm going to get the doctor." Chandler told her, and was practically out the door before he had finished his sentence. A moment later, he was back with a nurse and the doctor was not far behind. "She said she needs to push." Chandler explained to them. Monica smiled up at him, even through her pain, and thought about how cute he was to be so concerned for her well-being. In the meantime, the doctor had checked Monica and agreed that it was time to start pushing. Chandler took his place next to Monica and helped her to sit up a little before grabbing hold of her hand and placing his other hand behind her neck.
The doctor instructed Monica to give him a little push and she did as she was told. "Okay, we already have a head," the doctor stated.
Monica looked up at Chandler and they smiled at each other. "I can't believe it." Monica said to him, through tears. Chandler was starting to get emotional as well. Monica pushed again and a moment later, the first baby was born.
"It's a girl." The doctor told them, as he held the baby up who was already crying very loudly.
"It's a girl. I have a daughter! We have a daughter!" Chandler exclaimed as he kissed Monica on the cheek, who was just speechless.
"Congratulations." The doctor smiled. "Now one down, one more to go. Okay Monica, I think we can do this one with just one or two pushes because the other baby is already coming."
"Okay," Monica replied. "I'm ready."
A couple of pushes later, the cries of a second baby were heard. "You have another daughter." The doctor told them.
"Two girls! We have twin girls!" Monica happily exclaimed as she pulled Chandler close to her.
"Oh thank you, thank you so much. I love you." Chandler told her as he pressed his cheek next to hers.
"I love you too." Monica smiled.
Two nurses brought over their babies, who were wrapped in pink blankets and had little pink caps on their heads. Chandler held one, and Monica the other.
"They're perfect." Monica said, as her eyes filled with tears again.
"Yes, they are." Chandler agreed.
A few minutes later, the nurses took the girls to the nursery and Chandler stayed with Monica until she feel asleep. The he went into the waiting room to see everyone. By now Monica's parents were there, and of course Ross, Rachel and Phoebe.
"How is she?" Judy asked.
"She is great. She's sleeping."
"We saw the girls. They are beautiful." Rachel smiled, as she gave Chandler a hug. "I can't wait to see Monica."
"You guys can all see her as soon as she wakes up. I thought she needed to rest up a little."
"Of course." Judy said, as she gave Chandler a hug as well. "We're very delighted you are married to our daughter. You've made her so happy."
"Thank you. That means a lot to me." Chandler told her.
A little while later, Monica woke up to find Chandler sitting right beside of her holding both of their daughters in his arms. She smiled at the sight of her family.
"And there is mommy." He said to the girls. "She is awake now."
"Hi." Monica said. "How long was I asleep?"
"Not too long. But long enough for me to miss you." Chandler replied, as he placed the babies in her arms.
"Awww. They are so little."
"I know. And they are beautiful. Just like their mother."
"Like their father." Monica said as he lovingly kissed her forehead.
"There is one matter of business we need to discuss." He smiled.
"You mean their names." Monica smiled.
"Yep. Now we get to reveal the names we picked."
"Okay, you go first."
"Alright. So its for the first born, which is this one right here," he said pointing to the baby in Monica's right arm, "Brittany Madison Bing."
"Oh, Chandler, that is so beautiful." Monica told him, as she looked down at the baby and smiled.
"Brittany because, well we fell in love in Britain. And Madison because I know how much you and Rachel love to shop on Madison Avenue." He laughed.
"I love you so much. And I love the name."
"Me too. Okay, your turn."
"Okay, so baby number two. Mandeline {author's note: pronounced Manda-lyn} Claire Bing. We can call her Mandie for short."
"Mon, that is so cute. How'd you come up with that?"
"Its like a combination of our names. And you know, she's a combination of us."
"Its perfect." Chandler smiled, as he kissed Monica on the lips. "Okay, now I am going to get the others so we can introduce them to the newest Bing members." He left and returned shortly with the gang.
Rachel smiled and ran over to see Monica and the girls, followed by Phoebe and Judy. Ross, Jack and Chandler followed them over to the bed.
"We would like to formally introduce you to Brittany and Mandeline Bing." Monica told him.
"Awwww. Those names are so cute!" Rachel exclaimed with tears in her eyes. "Now I am glad I waited. Its so much better finding them out this way."
"They really are great names," Ross and Phoebe agreed.
Chandler sat on the edge of the bed next to his wife and daughters, and was absolutely beaming. He couldn't imagine his life getting any better than this.
CUT TO SIX YEARS LATER:
"Mandie, Brit please come in here!" Rachel called from an unfamiliar kitchen.
"What are they up to?" Phoebe, who was sitting at the table, asked her.
"I think they are playing dress up." Rachel replied, as she continued to stir something in a pot on the stove.
"I still can't get used to this place. I mean even though Chandler got that huge promotion at work, I never pictured them moving into an elegant penthouse like this." Phoebe laughed.
"I know, but they've been here for three years now. I'm used to it, I think it suits them. Especially since the other place was getting too small for them."
"True, plus they wanted to stay in the city, so where else could they have moved?" Phoebe replied.
A few moments later, a little girl, a spitting image of Monica, appeared in the kitchen. Her hair was long and black like her mother's, and at the moment up in a ponytail. Her eyes were a beautiful light blue, and when she smiled after noticing Phoebe sitting at the table, her two dimples appeared in the same exact places as her mother's.
"Brit, where is your sister?" Rachel asked her. "Your mom and dad will be here any minute."
"She is in our room. Mandie!!" Brittany yelled. Shortly there after, another little girl came running into the kitchen carrying a doll. She, unlike her fraternal twin sister, had shoulder length light brown hair that she was wearing in two braids. Her eyes were light blue and beautiful like her sister's, and looked just like their father.
"What?" Mandie asked.
"Mom and dad will be here any minute," Brittany informed her.
"I just about have dinner ready. Mandie I need you to help Phoebe set the table for me and Brittany, please go wake up your sister. She was watching TV and fell asleep and its time for her to get up."
Brittany sighed and headed into the game room. She returned a few minutes later, with a little girl, about age two whose hair was messy from her nap, was sucking her thumb and carrying a doll of her own. She looked as if she was about to cry, not happy about being woken up from her sleep.
Rachel held out her arms and smiled. "Come to Auntie Rachel." She said, as the little girl ran over to her and let her pick her up. Rachel sat down in a chair at the table next to Phoebe with the little girl in her lap.
"Natalie is such a baby! And she sucks her thumb." Mandie exclaimed.
"Am not!" Natalie replied.
"Now be nice." Rachel told the girls. "Natalie is little and you guys are her big sisters."
"We're home!" Chandler was heard yelling from the front door. Natalie jumped down from Rachel's lap and ran with her two sisters to greet their father.
"Daddy!" They all yelled.
"Shhhh." He said to them in a whisper, " Now you have to be more quiet. Remember what I told you."
"Yes, where is mommy?" Brittany asked.
"She and Ross are coming right now." Chandler told them, as he placed a couple of bags by the front door.
"Here we are." Monica said smiling at her girls. Chandler walked back into the hallway and took her hand, helping her out of the elevator. Ross was behind her carrying a car seat. They all entered the apartment and Ross greeted Rachel and Phoebe.
"Well, where is the baby?" Mandie asked.
"Yes, can we see him?" Brittany asked.
Monica and Chandler smiled at each other and led their girls over to the couch. Chandler lifted the sleeping baby out of the car seat and placed him in Monica's arms after she sat on the couch. The twins, one on each side of Monica, smiled at the baby she was holding. Natalie sat in her father's lap and looked curiously at him.
"This is your little brother, Michael." Chandler told them.
"He is little." Natalie told her daddy.
Chandler smiled and nodded in agreement with Natalie, as the three sisters looked over their new brother and seemed to approve. Monica and Chandler looked at each other and their expressions silently told each other how much they loved each other and their life together. Their family was now complete and nothing could ever take away their happiness.
THE END!
I hope you enjoyed the series! Your feedback was greatly appreciated and still is! Email me and let me know what you thought of the final part. Thanks!