Monica and Phoebe went over to Ross and Rachel's apartment to break the news that they were in love and going to have a baby together.
"You're what?!" Ross was shocked to his very core.
Rachel was stunned too, but shushed him, lest he wake little Emma up from her nap.
"Sorry, honey." Ross watched her go check on Emma, then just stood gaping at Monica and Phoebe. "I mean, um, did I--did I hear you right?"
Monica nodded, holding hands with Phoebe. "Yeah, you heard us. Soon Phoebe and I are going to have our own little baby together."
"Yeah, but you're saying you're lesbians too?"
"Uh-huh." Monica nodded again, and shrugged. "Or maybe bisexual. It's still kind of early for me to know." Monica looked to Phoebe.
Phoebe smiled and kissed her happily. "Who cares, honey, as long as you're with me!"
Rachel returned from Emma's room and stood near Ross, murmuring to him that Emma was still asleep. "Good. Thanks." He kissed her and put his arm around her shoulder.
Rachel returned the embrace and joked, "So what did I miss, huh? Monica's not already pregnant, is she?"
Ross's eyes opened wide, while Monica and Phoebe just laughed.
Phoebe replied, "No, we need to go back to the sperm bank to do that. But we're gonna do it soon, don't you worry about that."
Eager for the gossip, Rachel asked, "So, like, how did this happen? What's the story? Did you have a drunken night like Joey and Chandler?"
"No!" Phoebe shook her head and was quite proud. "We weren't drunk at all. I, um, I told her that I love her, and she thought about it, and then we, you know, tried stuff out."
"Yeah," Monica giggled too, before adding, "Oh, and we know this all seems kind of sudden, but it's been a long time coming actually."
Phoebe nodded and sighed, looking into Monica's blue eyes. "It's destiny."
Ross was still amazed and had to sit down. Rachel followed him to the couch, and Monica and Phoebe took seats as well.
"How're you taking it, Ross?" Monica asked.
He shrugged. "Okay, I guess. It's just--Well, Carol announcing that she was a lesbian was one thing, and now my sister too! And Phoebe! *And* Joey and Chandler. I mean, has the whole world gone gay?"
Monica laughed. "Must be something in the water."
"Yeah, or else we're really in the Twilight Zone!" Ross laughed. He sighed and spoke more seriously, "Anyway, um, I'm happy for you guys."
"Me too." Rachel smiled and hugged them. "Congratulations!"
Ross frowned and wondered, "How are you gonna tell Mom and Dad about this?"
Monica shrugged. "Maybe Carol and Susan can give us some advice on coming out. Anyway, think of how happy this news is compared to the news of my divorce! I mean, Joey and Chandler can live happily ever after for all I care!"
"I hope they do," Phoebe said seriously, and looked a bit sad. "I talked to Joey today and they're having some problems."
"What? Why?" Ross and Rachel both asked.
Monica was bewildered too. "What problems? I'm out of their way."
"Yeah, um, but it's not that simple," Phoebe said. "Remember when they didn't show up to the meeting last night? They were having a huge fight, and Chandler was trying to work things out."
"They weren't just too chicken to face us?" Rachel asked.
"No, it didn't have anything to do with us! Well, maybe a little bit to do with Monica."
"What do you mean?"
Phoebe explained, "Well, you see, from Joey's point of view, he and Chandler weren't just cheating on you, Mon; it was also like you and Chandler were cheating on Joey, only all the time, and not in secret. It really hurt Joey having to be happy for you guys and having to keep his feelings inside."
"What feelings? I thought they were just screwing around until now."
"That's just what they told you, so you would maybe forgive Chandler. But no, it was love, at least on Joey's part; Chandler on the other hand just wanted to keep everything casual and secret. Then, okay, London happens, and suddenly Joey's not good enough for Chandler anymore. He even got dumped on the flight back."
"Whoa! On the plane?" Monica sat up. She could remember the flight back from London, when she and Chandler had wanted to have sex in the bathroom, but Chandler never showed, and had been sitting next to Joey when she returned to their seats. Chandler had told her afterwards that they were having some trivial discussion, and he just couldn't get away.
Phoebe nodded. "Yeah, um, Joey wanted to make Chandler commit to him and reveal their secret affair to everybody, but Chandler kept fidgeting and avoiding it until he finally said that they should stop sleeping together and just be friends. It broke Joey's heart."
"Oh." Monica frowned and felt bad. "On the plane." She shook her head sadly.
Ross thought back. "I don't remember Joey acting depressed after London."
"Did anybody notice when they were sleeping together either? No. Anyway, we were all busy after London. You were obsessed about Emily, Rachel was obsessed about you, Monica and Chandler were doing each other, and I was giving birth to triplets."
"Ah, that's right!" Rachel nodded. "Poor Joey, if he was as bummed over Chandler as he was over his crush on me..."
Phoebe sighed. "It was even worse when Joey found out that Chandler was seeing Monica instead, and he hated having to keep your secret for you. He hoped that you guys were just a fling, but then you got all serious, and he couldn't say anything. I mean, Joey tried to accept that you guys were together for good, and just move on, but it was really hard, and then Chandler finally started feeling something back for Joey. That's how Vegas happened."
Ross shook his head. "Man, why couldn't Chandler have just gone back to Joey then and saved the six of us a lot of trouble?"
"I know," Phoebe nodded and sighed, "but Chandler couldn't decide how he felt and couldn't commit, at least to Joey. I guess he overcompensated by proposing to Monica on the roll of the dice."
"Yeah!" Monica snorted in disgust. "Talk about two-faced!"
"At least you didn't get married that night," Rachel said, thinking of her own drunken nuptials with Ross. She smiled at him, then looked serious again. "You'd think that sometime between Vegas and your actual wedding Chandler would have come clean."
"Yes!" Phoebe exclaimed. "That's exactly what drove Joey crazy too. He felt awful about the cheating and he really wished that Chandler would just tell Mon the truth and leave her, but it never happened. Um, and now Joey resents that whole scene Chandler made when Mon caught them, saying that they weren't serious and begging her not to divorce him. Joey's thinking about not taking Chandler back."
"Whoa!"
"That bad?"
Monica sat back. "Wow. So Chandler doesn't have it as easy as I thought."
"Nope. He's definitely in the dog house. I mean, Joey even wonders whether--well, if you hadn't finally caught them cheating, Mon--maybe Chandler would still be deceiving you and sweeping Joey under the rug again."
"Damn, and I thought you and me had problems!" Rachel said to Ross. "Talk about missed opportunities and bad timing."
Ross nodded and squeezed her hand, thankful that they were able to work past their whole history of jealousy and stupidity. He was not going to fall into that trap again if he could help it.
Phoebe shook her head. "If only something could be done about those two. They should be happy now that we're all happy, you know?" She gestured to all of them.
Each couple hugged each other closer and nodded.
***
The gang went across the street to Joey and Chandler's apartment. When they knocked at the door, it took a minute for Joey to answer it, dressed in a robe.
"Oh, sorry!" Monica said. "We, um, we wanted to tell you guys some news."
"Oh, okay." He shrugged. "Come in. I'll get Chandler."
The gang came inside, and whispered to each other when Joey went into his bedroom. "Hey, maybe they made up."
"Not necessarily," Phoebe said.
Joey returned with Chandler, also wrapped in a robe. Somewhat embarrassed and confused, they sat down with the gang in the living room.
"So what's the news?" Joey asked.
Monica sat closer to Phoebe and took her hand. "Well, we're--we're in love now."
"What?!" Chandler sat up.
Joey blinked and looked at Phoebe. "It's not just you anymore?"
"No," she smiled and kissed Monica. "It's two of us now."
Chandler turned to Joey. "You knew already?"
Joey nodded. "Yeah, um, Phoebe was telling me this morning about being in love with Monica." He shrugged and sighed. "Turns out you weren't the only one."
Chandler winced but said nothing, since they weren't alone.
"We won't be much longer," Phoebe said. "It's just, um, that Monica and I have also decided to have a baby together."
Joey and Chandler were both shocked.
Phoebe continued. "Yeah, and we'd explain it in more detail, but we don't want to keep you guys too long." She looked to Chandler. "Joey told me about what's going on with you two lately, and I explained it to everybody."
Ross nodded. "Yeah, that's why all of us came over. At first, we were really furious at you guys over this whole cheating thing and the divorce."
"Especially me," Monica said.
"And don't get me wrong, we are still mad. But, um, well, now we know a little more, and can see that it wasn't all fun and games for you guys."
Monica nodded and leaned closer. "And Chandler, and Joey--I'm, I'm just so happy with Phoebe now that I'm not gonna hold a grudge against you two. I mean, what you did to me was still awful and it still hurts, but given time, I can see myself eventually forgiving you guys and being friends."
"Really?" Joey was surprised.
She nodded and repeated, "Given time. It'll be a loooong while before we can completely trust you guys not to lie and keep big secrets from us. I mean, it's worse than when Ross flipped out and secretly didn't get the annulment from Rachel!"
"Much worse!" Ross commented in a sulky way. Rachel put her arm around him and smiled patiently.
Monica sighed. "Anyway, until we can all be friends again, we just wanted to let you know what was going on with us, and to tell you that you are not gonna be banned forever from speaking to us. --Unless you do something like this again."
"Never!" Joey and Chandler responded emphatically.
"Good!" The gang finally got up to go, and there was a moment of awkwardness because they didn't feel they could hug like they normal. They coughed and mumbled goodbyes as they headed out the door.
Phoebe lingered and touched Joey's shoulder, whispering, "About being backups..."
Joey shook his head. "No, I'm fine. Be happy with her."
"Thank you!" Phoebe kissed his cheek and said, "Good luck with him."
"You're what?!" Ross was shocked to his very core.
Rachel was stunned too, but shushed him, lest he wake little Emma up from her nap.
"Sorry, honey." Ross watched her go check on Emma, then just stood gaping at Monica and Phoebe. "I mean, um, did I--did I hear you right?"
Monica nodded, holding hands with Phoebe. "Yeah, you heard us. Soon Phoebe and I are going to have our own little baby together."
"Yeah, but you're saying you're lesbians too?"
"Uh-huh." Monica nodded again, and shrugged. "Or maybe bisexual. It's still kind of early for me to know." Monica looked to Phoebe.
Phoebe smiled and kissed her happily. "Who cares, honey, as long as you're with me!"
Rachel returned from Emma's room and stood near Ross, murmuring to him that Emma was still asleep. "Good. Thanks." He kissed her and put his arm around her shoulder.
Rachel returned the embrace and joked, "So what did I miss, huh? Monica's not already pregnant, is she?"
Ross's eyes opened wide, while Monica and Phoebe just laughed.
Phoebe replied, "No, we need to go back to the sperm bank to do that. But we're gonna do it soon, don't you worry about that."
Eager for the gossip, Rachel asked, "So, like, how did this happen? What's the story? Did you have a drunken night like Joey and Chandler?"
"No!" Phoebe shook her head and was quite proud. "We weren't drunk at all. I, um, I told her that I love her, and she thought about it, and then we, you know, tried stuff out."
"Yeah," Monica giggled too, before adding, "Oh, and we know this all seems kind of sudden, but it's been a long time coming actually."
Phoebe nodded and sighed, looking into Monica's blue eyes. "It's destiny."
Ross was still amazed and had to sit down. Rachel followed him to the couch, and Monica and Phoebe took seats as well.
"How're you taking it, Ross?" Monica asked.
He shrugged. "Okay, I guess. It's just--Well, Carol announcing that she was a lesbian was one thing, and now my sister too! And Phoebe! *And* Joey and Chandler. I mean, has the whole world gone gay?"
Monica laughed. "Must be something in the water."
"Yeah, or else we're really in the Twilight Zone!" Ross laughed. He sighed and spoke more seriously, "Anyway, um, I'm happy for you guys."
"Me too." Rachel smiled and hugged them. "Congratulations!"
Ross frowned and wondered, "How are you gonna tell Mom and Dad about this?"
Monica shrugged. "Maybe Carol and Susan can give us some advice on coming out. Anyway, think of how happy this news is compared to the news of my divorce! I mean, Joey and Chandler can live happily ever after for all I care!"
"I hope they do," Phoebe said seriously, and looked a bit sad. "I talked to Joey today and they're having some problems."
"What? Why?" Ross and Rachel both asked.
Monica was bewildered too. "What problems? I'm out of their way."
"Yeah, um, but it's not that simple," Phoebe said. "Remember when they didn't show up to the meeting last night? They were having a huge fight, and Chandler was trying to work things out."
"They weren't just too chicken to face us?" Rachel asked.
"No, it didn't have anything to do with us! Well, maybe a little bit to do with Monica."
"What do you mean?"
Phoebe explained, "Well, you see, from Joey's point of view, he and Chandler weren't just cheating on you, Mon; it was also like you and Chandler were cheating on Joey, only all the time, and not in secret. It really hurt Joey having to be happy for you guys and having to keep his feelings inside."
"What feelings? I thought they were just screwing around until now."
"That's just what they told you, so you would maybe forgive Chandler. But no, it was love, at least on Joey's part; Chandler on the other hand just wanted to keep everything casual and secret. Then, okay, London happens, and suddenly Joey's not good enough for Chandler anymore. He even got dumped on the flight back."
"Whoa! On the plane?" Monica sat up. She could remember the flight back from London, when she and Chandler had wanted to have sex in the bathroom, but Chandler never showed, and had been sitting next to Joey when she returned to their seats. Chandler had told her afterwards that they were having some trivial discussion, and he just couldn't get away.
Phoebe nodded. "Yeah, um, Joey wanted to make Chandler commit to him and reveal their secret affair to everybody, but Chandler kept fidgeting and avoiding it until he finally said that they should stop sleeping together and just be friends. It broke Joey's heart."
"Oh." Monica frowned and felt bad. "On the plane." She shook her head sadly.
Ross thought back. "I don't remember Joey acting depressed after London."
"Did anybody notice when they were sleeping together either? No. Anyway, we were all busy after London. You were obsessed about Emily, Rachel was obsessed about you, Monica and Chandler were doing each other, and I was giving birth to triplets."
"Ah, that's right!" Rachel nodded. "Poor Joey, if he was as bummed over Chandler as he was over his crush on me..."
Phoebe sighed. "It was even worse when Joey found out that Chandler was seeing Monica instead, and he hated having to keep your secret for you. He hoped that you guys were just a fling, but then you got all serious, and he couldn't say anything. I mean, Joey tried to accept that you guys were together for good, and just move on, but it was really hard, and then Chandler finally started feeling something back for Joey. That's how Vegas happened."
Ross shook his head. "Man, why couldn't Chandler have just gone back to Joey then and saved the six of us a lot of trouble?"
"I know," Phoebe nodded and sighed, "but Chandler couldn't decide how he felt and couldn't commit, at least to Joey. I guess he overcompensated by proposing to Monica on the roll of the dice."
"Yeah!" Monica snorted in disgust. "Talk about two-faced!"
"At least you didn't get married that night," Rachel said, thinking of her own drunken nuptials with Ross. She smiled at him, then looked serious again. "You'd think that sometime between Vegas and your actual wedding Chandler would have come clean."
"Yes!" Phoebe exclaimed. "That's exactly what drove Joey crazy too. He felt awful about the cheating and he really wished that Chandler would just tell Mon the truth and leave her, but it never happened. Um, and now Joey resents that whole scene Chandler made when Mon caught them, saying that they weren't serious and begging her not to divorce him. Joey's thinking about not taking Chandler back."
"Whoa!"
"That bad?"
Monica sat back. "Wow. So Chandler doesn't have it as easy as I thought."
"Nope. He's definitely in the dog house. I mean, Joey even wonders whether--well, if you hadn't finally caught them cheating, Mon--maybe Chandler would still be deceiving you and sweeping Joey under the rug again."
"Damn, and I thought you and me had problems!" Rachel said to Ross. "Talk about missed opportunities and bad timing."
Ross nodded and squeezed her hand, thankful that they were able to work past their whole history of jealousy and stupidity. He was not going to fall into that trap again if he could help it.
Phoebe shook her head. "If only something could be done about those two. They should be happy now that we're all happy, you know?" She gestured to all of them.
Each couple hugged each other closer and nodded.
***
The gang went across the street to Joey and Chandler's apartment. When they knocked at the door, it took a minute for Joey to answer it, dressed in a robe.
"Oh, sorry!" Monica said. "We, um, we wanted to tell you guys some news."
"Oh, okay." He shrugged. "Come in. I'll get Chandler."
The gang came inside, and whispered to each other when Joey went into his bedroom. "Hey, maybe they made up."
"Not necessarily," Phoebe said.
Joey returned with Chandler, also wrapped in a robe. Somewhat embarrassed and confused, they sat down with the gang in the living room.
"So what's the news?" Joey asked.
Monica sat closer to Phoebe and took her hand. "Well, we're--we're in love now."
"What?!" Chandler sat up.
Joey blinked and looked at Phoebe. "It's not just you anymore?"
"No," she smiled and kissed Monica. "It's two of us now."
Chandler turned to Joey. "You knew already?"
Joey nodded. "Yeah, um, Phoebe was telling me this morning about being in love with Monica." He shrugged and sighed. "Turns out you weren't the only one."
Chandler winced but said nothing, since they weren't alone.
"We won't be much longer," Phoebe said. "It's just, um, that Monica and I have also decided to have a baby together."
Joey and Chandler were both shocked.
Phoebe continued. "Yeah, and we'd explain it in more detail, but we don't want to keep you guys too long." She looked to Chandler. "Joey told me about what's going on with you two lately, and I explained it to everybody."
Ross nodded. "Yeah, that's why all of us came over. At first, we were really furious at you guys over this whole cheating thing and the divorce."
"Especially me," Monica said.
"And don't get me wrong, we are still mad. But, um, well, now we know a little more, and can see that it wasn't all fun and games for you guys."
Monica nodded and leaned closer. "And Chandler, and Joey--I'm, I'm just so happy with Phoebe now that I'm not gonna hold a grudge against you two. I mean, what you did to me was still awful and it still hurts, but given time, I can see myself eventually forgiving you guys and being friends."
"Really?" Joey was surprised.
She nodded and repeated, "Given time. It'll be a loooong while before we can completely trust you guys not to lie and keep big secrets from us. I mean, it's worse than when Ross flipped out and secretly didn't get the annulment from Rachel!"
"Much worse!" Ross commented in a sulky way. Rachel put her arm around him and smiled patiently.
Monica sighed. "Anyway, until we can all be friends again, we just wanted to let you know what was going on with us, and to tell you that you are not gonna be banned forever from speaking to us. --Unless you do something like this again."
"Never!" Joey and Chandler responded emphatically.
"Good!" The gang finally got up to go, and there was a moment of awkwardness because they didn't feel they could hug like they normal. They coughed and mumbled goodbyes as they headed out the door.
Phoebe lingered and touched Joey's shoulder, whispering, "About being backups..."
Joey shook his head. "No, I'm fine. Be happy with her."
"Thank you!" Phoebe kissed his cheek and said, "Good luck with him."
