Chapter 3
When Chandler woke up the next morning, he found Monica sitting with her back against the headboard, scowling.
"What's wrong?"
"Are you not happy that I'm pregnant?" she demanded.
"No, sweetheart, of course I'm happy."
"You didn't seem like it last night," she informed him. "I thought I was telling you the most wonderful news. Your reaction, or should I say non-reaction, hurt me."
Chandler moved closer to his wife and pulled her into his arms.
"The news caught me off guard," he admitted. "I just...I wasn't expecting to hear...well, that you're expecting."
His attempt at a humorous response fell flat.
"What is it, Chandler? Did you not want another baby? Because if that's the case, you should've said something a long time ago."
"I did want...I do want," he quickly amended when he saw the fire flash in his wife's gorgeous blue eyes, "another child. I was hoping we'd have another baby sooner than this."
"Well, maybe you had something to do with that, mister."
"I know, I know. I'm sure I did. But to be honest, when it didn't happen as we had originally planned, I kinda gave up on the idea. I began thinking about what I would do after Colleen went to school full-time. Now, with another child on the way, it changes things. But it's nothing we can't adjust to, right?"
"How does this baby change your plans?"
"I know I haven't shared much of this with you because I wanted to surprise you one day, but in between my freelance jobs and when Colleen started pre-school, I began to create my own comic strip. I've only written a few complete strips and I know they need a lot of work, but it's something I really want to pursue."
"Chandler, I can't believe you haven't told me about this. I want to see what you've written. I want to share in your vision of this comic strip being born."
"I hope you won't be upset, but I'm not ready to show you my work. And now, it doesn't really matter anyway because my first priority is my family. That means taking care of you, Colleen, and this little one who will be joining us. I'm absolutely thrilled you're pregnant, Mon. I can't wait to be a father again. I'm sorry I hurt you last night."
"You're forgiven," she said, intertwining her fingers with his. "I can't wait to be a mother again, too. It's going to be so wonderful to have another child to love. But, Chandler, becoming parents again doesn't mean you have to put your dream on hold. Our marriage succeeds because we work as a team. And that's what we're going to do. I don't want you to give up on your comic strip because of this baby. We'll find a way to make this work. I promise you we will. I love you so much, Chandler. I don't want something as precious as a baby to come between us."
"I love you, Monica, and I always will. Nothing will ever change that. I won't let it."
*~*
Joey and Colleen got an early start to their day. After eating pancakes and drinking her milk, Colleen got dressed and waited for her uncle to take her to the park. Once there, he pushed her higher and higher on the swing; she squealed with delight and kept asking to be pushed higher. At one point, she thought sure she could touch the clear blue sky.
When she'd had her fill of the swings, she moved on to the slide. She tried to talk Joey into sliding down with her, but he told her he was too old and that his body would be sore for a week. She laughed and let him hold her hand as they took their time walking through the crowded park.
They stopped at a street vendor who was selling hot dogs. Joey bought one for each of them. They sat on a park bench and tried to be neat about eating their lunch before giving up.
"There's no way to eat a hot dog without getting some on you," Joey concluded.
Colleen laughed when he tried to wipe her top, and his only accomplishment was smearing the mustard more.
"It's okay," Colleen said. "My mommy knows how to wash this."
"Well, sweetheart, should we head back to my place so your parents can pick you up? I'm sure they miss you."
"Yeah. I guess I should go home. I had a great time, Uncle Joey. Thank you for letting me stay with you and for taking me to the park. I love you."
"I love you, too. I had a great time with you."
And he had. He hardly got to spend any time with his sisters or their families because they lived in all areas of New York and led very busy lives. He had been so afraid that Monica and Chandler and Ross and Rachel would slowly ease him out of their lives because he wasn't married and didn't have any children, but they hadn't. They couldn't have been more supportive, especially when he'd been dumped at the altar.
He told himself to stop thinking about Natasha. He'd had a great day with Colleen. He would not spoil it with thoughts of his ex-fiancée.
A little while later they arrived at his apartment. When he opened the door, he received the surprise of his life. Sitting in his recliner, looking lost and forlorn, were Phoebe Buffay and her three-year-old daughter Lily.
When Chandler woke up the next morning, he found Monica sitting with her back against the headboard, scowling.
"What's wrong?"
"Are you not happy that I'm pregnant?" she demanded.
"No, sweetheart, of course I'm happy."
"You didn't seem like it last night," she informed him. "I thought I was telling you the most wonderful news. Your reaction, or should I say non-reaction, hurt me."
Chandler moved closer to his wife and pulled her into his arms.
"The news caught me off guard," he admitted. "I just...I wasn't expecting to hear...well, that you're expecting."
His attempt at a humorous response fell flat.
"What is it, Chandler? Did you not want another baby? Because if that's the case, you should've said something a long time ago."
"I did want...I do want," he quickly amended when he saw the fire flash in his wife's gorgeous blue eyes, "another child. I was hoping we'd have another baby sooner than this."
"Well, maybe you had something to do with that, mister."
"I know, I know. I'm sure I did. But to be honest, when it didn't happen as we had originally planned, I kinda gave up on the idea. I began thinking about what I would do after Colleen went to school full-time. Now, with another child on the way, it changes things. But it's nothing we can't adjust to, right?"
"How does this baby change your plans?"
"I know I haven't shared much of this with you because I wanted to surprise you one day, but in between my freelance jobs and when Colleen started pre-school, I began to create my own comic strip. I've only written a few complete strips and I know they need a lot of work, but it's something I really want to pursue."
"Chandler, I can't believe you haven't told me about this. I want to see what you've written. I want to share in your vision of this comic strip being born."
"I hope you won't be upset, but I'm not ready to show you my work. And now, it doesn't really matter anyway because my first priority is my family. That means taking care of you, Colleen, and this little one who will be joining us. I'm absolutely thrilled you're pregnant, Mon. I can't wait to be a father again. I'm sorry I hurt you last night."
"You're forgiven," she said, intertwining her fingers with his. "I can't wait to be a mother again, too. It's going to be so wonderful to have another child to love. But, Chandler, becoming parents again doesn't mean you have to put your dream on hold. Our marriage succeeds because we work as a team. And that's what we're going to do. I don't want you to give up on your comic strip because of this baby. We'll find a way to make this work. I promise you we will. I love you so much, Chandler. I don't want something as precious as a baby to come between us."
"I love you, Monica, and I always will. Nothing will ever change that. I won't let it."
*~*
Joey and Colleen got an early start to their day. After eating pancakes and drinking her milk, Colleen got dressed and waited for her uncle to take her to the park. Once there, he pushed her higher and higher on the swing; she squealed with delight and kept asking to be pushed higher. At one point, she thought sure she could touch the clear blue sky.
When she'd had her fill of the swings, she moved on to the slide. She tried to talk Joey into sliding down with her, but he told her he was too old and that his body would be sore for a week. She laughed and let him hold her hand as they took their time walking through the crowded park.
They stopped at a street vendor who was selling hot dogs. Joey bought one for each of them. They sat on a park bench and tried to be neat about eating their lunch before giving up.
"There's no way to eat a hot dog without getting some on you," Joey concluded.
Colleen laughed when he tried to wipe her top, and his only accomplishment was smearing the mustard more.
"It's okay," Colleen said. "My mommy knows how to wash this."
"Well, sweetheart, should we head back to my place so your parents can pick you up? I'm sure they miss you."
"Yeah. I guess I should go home. I had a great time, Uncle Joey. Thank you for letting me stay with you and for taking me to the park. I love you."
"I love you, too. I had a great time with you."
And he had. He hardly got to spend any time with his sisters or their families because they lived in all areas of New York and led very busy lives. He had been so afraid that Monica and Chandler and Ross and Rachel would slowly ease him out of their lives because he wasn't married and didn't have any children, but they hadn't. They couldn't have been more supportive, especially when he'd been dumped at the altar.
He told himself to stop thinking about Natasha. He'd had a great day with Colleen. He would not spoil it with thoughts of his ex-fiancée.
A little while later they arrived at his apartment. When he opened the door, he received the surprise of his life. Sitting in his recliner, looking lost and forlorn, were Phoebe Buffay and her three-year-old daughter Lily.