Hi, everyone. This is my second attempt at a Friends fanfiction, so I hope you like it. The first one I wrote was about Ross and Rachel, who have been my favorite couple for a long time. But, lately, I've been watching reruns of the show and, although I've always enjoyed them, I suddenly realize how great I think Monica and Chandler are together. They make a cute couple. : ) So I decided to write this fanfic. It's more dramatic than the other Friends fanfic I wrote, but I wrote "soap opera style" fanfics for a long time. Maybe this one will be a little better. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it...

By the way, in this story, Monica and Chandler have been married for three years, and Rachel was never pregnant. However, Ross and Rachel have been married now for about a year. Joey and Phoebe live together in his apartment. Personally, I'm a Joey and Phoebe fan, but in this fanfic they're just friends. (Ross, Rachel, Joey, and Phoebe don't really factor into the story much, but I thought I'd let you know where they are in case you're wondering.)

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters from Friends. They belong to their creators.

And I'm posting all six chapters, and the epilogue, at once. Okay, I think I'm finally finished rambling. I hope you like it

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Blessed

Chapter One

"Any news?" Chandler asked as he entered the apartment and spotted his wife in the kitchen.

"No, nothing at all," Monica sighed and walked over to greet him. "How was your day?"

"Uneventful, as usual," he chuckled. "Yours?"

"Very stressful. I kind of wish I had been at work today. All this waiting around with nothing to do has driven me crazy."

"You're telling me that you couldn't find anything to keep you busy?"

"Well..." She hesitated. "I did clean up a little around here... Twice."

"I thought it smelled especially clean in here." He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. He could feel her beginning to sob into his chest and he stroked her hair gently. "Oh, Mon, it'll be all right. We've just got to think positively, okay?" He slowly pulled away from her and looked into her eyes. He wiped a tear from her cheek, then smiled at her. "If all else fails, you've got Joey. He's a big enough baby for all of us," he teased, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

"Yeah... Yeah, you're right," she smiled weakly. "I'd better finish dinner. The gang's coming over in half an hour." She went back to the kitchen and continued the dinner preparations.

"Really?"

"Uh huh. Ross and Rachel have something they want to tell all of us, so I thought we might as well do it over dinner."

"Are you sure you're up for that tonight?" he asked as he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

She turned around to face him. "Chandler, whatever we find out, I'm gonna have to learn to live with it. And if it does turn out to be bad news, we're going to have to tell our friends. It might be a little weird if they don't know what's going on."

"Hey guys," Joey said as he came into the apartment. "Is dinner ready yet?"

"Joey, you're half an hour early," Chandler informed him.

"What does that have to do with anything?" he questioned.

"No, it's not ready yet," Monica answered, looking up from her task.

"Monica, have you been crying?" Joey asked worriedly.

"Of course not," she lied. "Chandler, will you finish this?" she asked and handed him the knife she had been using. "I've got to go to the bathroom."

"Sure, honey," he called after her while watching her disappear into the bathroom. He sighed, thinking about what he and his wife had secretly suffered over the last several months. Although it was hard for him, it was much more difficult for Monica. Besides that, keeping their troubles from their best friends made it even harder. And now, after all those months, they were on the verge of discovering the solution to their problem - if there was one.

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A little later, the six friends were gathered in Monica and Chandler's apartment. After a leisurely dinner, they all made themselves comfortable. Ross and Rachel were cuddled up on the couch. Monica was sitting on Chandler's lap in the chair. Joey and Phoebe were playing checkers at the coffee table.

"Joey, look at them," Phoebe began, gesturing toward the rest of the group. "Just a couple of boring, old married couples."

"Well this boring old couple is about to get a little more exciting," Ross declared.

"Oh, is this your big announcement?" Joey asked excitedly.

"Yes..." Rachel smiled and looked at her husband. "Ross, do you want to tell them?"

"Sure," he smiled. "We're having a baby!"

"That's great!" Joey and Phoebe exclaimed in unison.

"Congratulations," Chandler said, forcing a smile.

"I'm- I'm really happy for you," Monica added, trying to hold back tears. "Excuse me," she said quietly and went into the bedroom.

"I'm sorry about that, guys," Chandler apologized as he stood. "I'll be right back," he continued and followed Monica into the bedroom. He knew this wasn't easy on her. It certainly wasn't easy on him.