Thank you for reviewing, and please review again! Or else I'll bring Kathy back and have her and Chandler live happily ever after. I can do it! I have the power! Just kidding, anyway, enjoy the story. Oh and the song in the last chapter is by the Bangles, and is called "I will Take Care of You"
Disclaimer: I don't own them.
"Monica?" Chandler came into the apartment a day later and looked around for Monica. She came out of Audrey's room holding the baby in her arms. He smiled when he saw both of them.
"Hi Chandler," she said.
"We need to talk," was his response.
"I know. Let me put Audrey down for a nap," Monica told him and walked back into the nursery and a minute later emerged baby free. Chandler had taken a seat on the couch and was fiddling nervously with the pillows. Monica sat on the chair and looked at him expectantly to start.
"Listen, about the other night," he said. "I was serious when I said that I want to be Audrey's father. I want to be there for her. I want her to call me Daddy."
"I want that too. We have to tell the gang somehow though," she added.
"They'll understand," Chandler told her taking her hand. She nodded.
"Ross might not," she said wistfully. "Its doesn't matter though, does it?" He nodded his head in agreement with her.
"Okay," she said. "What do we do about us?" She asked the question that he himself could not ask. He wanted to be with her. Had wanted to be with her for a long time now. He was completely, hopelessly in love with her. He had been for a while, and only Joey knew about it. It was more then a crush, and when she would go out with these guys who treated her like dirt, he wanted to hurt them for hurting her. Especially Richard, when she was with Richard, he was so jealous. Every time she kissed him or hugged him, or looked up at him with those bright blue eyes, Chandler had wished it had been him that she was looking at. He nervously fidgeted again wishing that he knew what she was thinking.
"Chandler, I...." Monica trailed off not knowing what to say. Not knowing how to tell him that the night that Audrey had been conceived had been the best she had ever had. Better then Richard. And that she had felt something in that kiss the other night. Something that she had never felt before. She felt safe in his arms, and when he was holding her, she felt like there was no where else that she should or wanted to be. When he would so casually place his arm around her when they were sitting on the couch together would make her heart beat a thousand times faster then it ever had. So now she looked at him, waiting for him to say something, anything, that would make her know that the feeling was returned in some way.
"Monica," this was it. It was now or never. He took a deep breath and exhaled and then looked into her eyes. "I want to be with you." There he had said it. Now he just had to wait and see if the feeling was reciprocated.
"Really?" What was that in her voice? Was that a tinge of happiness? He nodded ever so slightly to let her know that he was serious, that he did in fact love her and want to be with her. "Oh Chandler."
"Is that an 'oh Chandler look what you've done now'? Or was that an 'Oh Chandler, I feel the exact same way'?"
"I feel the exact same way," she told him leaning in and kissing him. He returned the kiss and held her tightly in his arms as she cried into his shirt. The emotions that had been building up had just been too much and she had let go and he allowed her to do just that. She finally sat up and wiped off her eyes and smiled at him. Audrey began to cry and Monica stood up and walked into the nursery and came back out.
"Do you want Daddy to hold you?" She asked her daughter. Their daughter. Monica placed the baby in his loving arms.
"Hi sweetheart," he whispered. "I'm your daddy. I will take care of you." Monica wiped the tears that were once again falling down her face.
"We have to tell the gang," she told him.
"I know. Tonight, we'll tell them tonight." She nodded and sat down next to him and watched her daughter. He kissed her gently on the temple and then kissed Audrey the same way. They had to tell their friends tonight, but how?
That night at dinner, Monica sat nervously in her seat. Rachel was holding Audrey and fussing over her.
"Look how cute you are? You are the cutest little girl in the whole wide world, yes you are, yes you are," Rachel continued in this manner as Phoebe was trying to let her hold Audrey.
"You've had her for the entire time! Its my turn," she whined. "I have no mother, let me be a surrogate one to this baby!"
"Pheebs, you already used your mother today," Rachel told her ignoring her pleas. Monica smiled at her two friends and then at Chandler who was gripping her hand. Monica cleared her throat and everyone turned to look at her.
"Um...I have something that I want to tell you," she said. "I didn't go to the sperm bank to get pregnant with Audrey." They all looked at her confused. "I had someone I knew help me."
"Who?" Rachel asked.
"Me," Chandler's voice clearly stated. They all looked from Monica to Chandler, and then back to Monica. "And don't get judgmental on Monica, I told her that I would rather me be the father then someone that she didn't know."
"Why didn't you tell us before?" Phoebe asked.
"Because I was going to raise Audrey on my own," Monica said. "I didn't plan on anyone knowing who the father was."
"Why did you change your mind?" Joey asked.
"I wanted to be Audrey's father, and not just her mommy's friend," Chandler said. "One look at her and I knew that I couldn't live without her in my life or Monica." He smiled at Monica.
"Are you two?" Rachel asked. Monica nodded.
"Oh wow," Ross said trying to take it all in. He looked from his baby sister to his best friend to his niece and then back at Chandler. Chandler and Monica waited on baited breath for his reaction. "If you hurt my sister in any way, I will hurt you ten times worse do we have an agreement?"
"I'd never hurt her Ross," he said. "I love her."
"What?" Phoebe asked in disbelief that her commitment phobic friend just announced that he was in love.
"What?" Monica asked. He hadn't told her that before. She had figured, but the words had never come out of his mouth.
"I love you Monica," he said softly looking into her eyes.
"I love you too, Chandler," she told him back. The baby cried and the gang laughed at the break in the tension and Monica leaned over and picked her up out of Rachel's arms and calmed her down.
"I would just like to tell two of my best friends, who I knew should get together and was just waiting for them to wise up and realize it, that I'm so happy for you guys," Joey held his glass up for a toast.
"Hear, hear," Ross chimed in. Chandler kissed her and then looked back at his friends who were watching closely.
"Can we have some privacy?" He asked.
"Oh yeah, sure." They turned away and Monica giggled as Chandler kissed her again.
"What do you think about this dress?" Monica asked Rachel coming out from her room in a black dress and a string of pearls. Her dark hair was pulled up and curled and she had pearl earrings on. She looked more conservative then usual, but as Rachel gave her approval, she looked great. There was a knock on the door and Rachel ran to answer it and Chandler stood there looking great in a suit and holding a bouquet of red roses.
"Is Monica ready?" He asked. Rachel laughed.
"Yes she is, would you like to come in? Like I've ever had to ask you that before!" She moved away so that Chandler could come and see Monica standing there and his mouth dropped open.
"You look..." he struggled for the words to compliment her. "Gorgeous."
"Thank you," she said smiling. "You don't look too bad yourself." He grinned and gave her the roses and she put them in a vase as he ran into the baby's nursery to say goodnight to his daughter. Monica went over the numbers with Rachel one more time before Rachel threatened her bodily harm if she didn't leave. She kissed Audrey and Chandler led her out the door. They got a cab and rode to the restaurant, and he held the door open for her. He could see the men staring at her, and he ignored them as he found that he could do that when he was with her. As if she was the only thing in the entire world that mattered to him. The doctor had given her the okay a week ago that she was all healed, and Chandler had wanted to take full advantage. He wanted the night to be romantic though, and so he took her to her favorite restaurant and was thoroughly enjoying her company. She sat across from him laughing at one of his stories and she knew what being completely content felt like. His eyes lit up when he was telling her a joke and she laughed at the appropriate parts and just loved watching him. After dinner, he asked her if she wanted to walk home.
"That would be nice," she agreed and he slipped his hand into hers and they began to walk down the street.
"Look at that cute jumper," Monica pointed out in a window. "Wouldn't that look adorable on Audrey? I'll have to remember to come back and get it."
"Anything looks cute on her," he said smiling at the thought of his daughter. He walked her home and found Rachel asleep on the couch. They woke her up and she smiled as she slipped out the door to leave them alone. He walked over to the stereo and put on some soft music as not to wake Audrey up. Monica came out of the nursery after checking on Audrey and smiled when she saw what he had done. He opened his arms to her and she made herself comfortable in his embrace. They rocked slowly back and forth to the music.
"Why don't you ever sing to me?" She asked teasingly. "You sing to Aud, and I feel left out."
"Well, we wouldn't want you to feel left out now would we?" She shook her head and he thought before opening his mouth to sing to her.
I never had no one that I could count on
I'd been let down so many times
I was tired of hurting
so tired of searching
until you walked into my life
and it was a feeling I'd never known
and for the first time I didn't feel alone
you're more then a lover
there could never be another to make me feel the way you do
and oh we just get closer
I fall in love all over
every time I look at you
and I don't know where I'd be without you here with me
life with you makes perfect sense
you're my best friend
you're my best friend
you stand by me and you believe in me
like nobody ever has
when my world goes crazy, you're right there to save me
you make me see how much I have
and I still tremble when we touch
and oh the look in your eyes
when we make love
you're more then a lover
there could never be another to make me feel the way you do
and oh we just get closer
I fall in love all over
every time I look at you
and I don't know where I'd be without you here with me
life with you makes perfect sense
you're my best friend
you're my best friend
You're more then a lover
there could never be another
to make me feel the way you do
and oh we just get closer
I fall in love all over
every time I look at you
and I don't know where I'd be
without you here with me
life with you makes perfect sense
you're my best friend
you're my best friend
ohhh, you're my best friend
The words made perfect sense to her and she smiled when she took them all in.
"Who sings that?" She asked.
"Tim McGraw," he told her smiling. "I thought it fit for us." She nodded and hugged him closer to her.
"Want to take this in there?" She asked nodding her head towards her bedroom door. He nodded.
"If you're ready," he added.
"Completely ready." He swept her up into his arms and she squealed with delight as he carried her into her bedroom.
"So how are things going with you two?" Ross asked Chandler. Audrey was almost five months old.
"Good," Chandler told him. "Things are going really well." Ross nodded. Chandler had the baby that day while Monica was trying out going back to work. Rachel came running into the coffee shop and picked up the baby out of her carrier and hugged her close.
"Hi Audrey," she said sitting down with Audrey still in her arms.
"You're baby is so adorable," an older woman told Rachel.
"Thanks, I was in labor with her for..." Rachel started.
"She's not hers," Ross cut in. "She's my niece."
"And my daughter," Chandler finished. "There's her beautiful mother!" Monica walked in and kissed Chandler hello and reached out her arms to Rachel for Audrey. Rachel reluctantly handed her over.
"I was just saying that your daughter is so cute," the woman told Monica.
"Oh thanks," Monica said brightly smiling.
"What's her name?"
"Audrey," Monica answered.
"Oh Audrey Hepburn was always my favorite," the woman said. "May I hold the baby?" Monica looked at Chandler who shrugged and gently handed her baby over to the older woman. Audrey seemed content in this woman's arms.
"She loves you," Ross said looking at his niece.
"Well, I used to be a nanny," the woman admitted.
"Really?" Monica asked. Chandler and her were considering hiring someone to watch Audrey so that she could go back to work. She really didn't need to, but Monica loved her work and wanted to go back. She was going stir crazy staying at home.
'Uh-huh, my name's Marie," she said still looking at Audrey. "I should probably go." As if Chandler knew exactly what Monica was thinking, he spoke up.
"Do you work?" He asked Marie.
"No, I'm retired."
"Would you consider being our nanny?" Chandler asked. "We were looking for one." It only took Marie a minute to decide.
"Oh I'd love it!" Monica grinned.
"We will have to see references," she added. "But you're so good with her. Here's my number and call us." Marie nodded and handed Audrey back to Monica.
"I will do that," she told her and walked out of the coffee house.
"Are you ready for dinner tonight?" Chandler asked. Monica nodded as she placed Audrey back in her carrier and got up to get a cup of coffee.
"You guys go out a lot," Rachel said. "What's so special about tonight?"
"Are you going to propose?" Ross asked. He knew that Chandler had the ring. He had bought it two weeks ago, and was waiting for the right time to propose.
"What?" Rachel exclaimed this being the first time that she had heard about it.
"No," Chandler told Ross. "But I am going to suggest that we move in together."
"Well, you practically live over there anyway," Rachel said. "I think that you should propose." Monica came back over so Chandler shushed them both and gave her a kiss.
"I should go get ready," Monica said standing up. "Rachel, will you help me pick out my outfit?" Rachel nodded enthusiastically. Before she walked out following Monica and Audrey, Chandler grabbed her arm.
"Don't tell her Rachel," he said. "We all know how you like to gossip. Please, I want this to be a surprise."
"Fine," Rachel said walking away. They got to apartment 20 and Monica put Audrey in her playpen and walked into her bedroom. Rachel walked in behind her noticing all the things of Chandler's that were scattered around. His watch was on the dresser top where he had forgotten to grab it that morning. A shirt and pair of pants were folded on the chair near his side of the bed, and she could smell his cologne throughout the room mixed with Monica's perfume. It was a nice mixture, it was a mixture of them. The two of them together as a couple. Monica walked to her closet and pulled out a red dress.
"Do you know where he wants to take me?" She asked Rachel.
"Somewhere nice," Rachel answered hoping that Monica wouldn't ask her any more questions in case she spilled and let Monica know the reason Chandler was so excited about that night. He didn't need to be, she was right, he practically lived there anyway. The next step was marriage in her eyes, and she knew it wouldn't be long before that would come up too. Monica placed the red dress back and pulled out a dark blue one instead. She held it up and Rachel who shook her head.
"The red one," she told Monica. Monica nodded and pulled another red one out and held up both for Rachel to see.
"Which red one?"
"The sleeveless," Rachel told her. "I'll go check on Audrey." She left the room and went back into the living room where Audrey was sleeping. She picked the baby up and smiled at her. "Soon, little one, both your parents will live here. Won't you like that?" Audrey's gurgle was all the answer that Rachel got and she put her back into the playpen and Monica came out.
"Can you help me with my hair?" Monica asked. An hour later, Monica's hair was pulled half up and curled. She was ready to go. Chandler knocked on the door and Rachel opened it up. He didn't need to knock, he never did, except on their dates. He walked up to Monica and kissed her.
"You look gorgeous," he told her. "Where's Aud?"
"In her room sleeping," Rachel told him.
"I'm going to say goodnight to her and then we'll hit the road," Chandler told Monica.
"Okay, let me just grab my coat," Monica told him.
"Have fun tonight," Rachel told her friend.
"I will," Monica assured her. "I always do. Ross will be over at eight and then you can go out on your date." Chandler came back out and Monica ran into the nursery for one last kiss goodbye and then Chandler led her out of the apartment.
"Bye," Rachel called after them and she smiled as she closed the door. Ross came in twenty minutes and Rachel was all set to go.
"Guess what?" Ross told her.
"What?"
"Chandler might propose tonight. After you left the coffee house he thought about it and he said that maybe you were right that he just needed to propose."
"That's great! I'm so glad I made her wear the red one tonight," Rachel said. "I should go. Audrey's sleeping and she had her bottle, she should be good for the rest of the night. Oh, call me when they get home. I want to know if he went through with it!" With that she left the apartment and went out on her date wondering if Chandler was brave enough to do what everyone knew he wanted to do.
To be continued....
****So what do you think? Is Chandler going to propose? Please review and tell me! ****
