Monica was working on several lists on her phone in Google Keep, trying do a last-minute brain dump before bed. While Monica still loved a good pen and paper list, she really enjoyed being able to share lists with Chandler and the kids.
"I'm really glad we are doing this now," Monica told Chandler as he climbed into bed with her. "Planning our trip is a nice distraction from the kids and college."
Chandler gave her a sideways look and cocked an eyebrow.
"What?"
He shook his head, smirking at her.
"I could have been much, much worse!" Monica said, playfully smacking his arm. "Ross and Rachel cried every day, from the time Emma graduated high school until the weekend they moved her into her dorm. And she stayed closer to home than Jack and Erica are! And both of ours are leaving! At the same time!"
"I'm just giving you a hard time," Chandler said. "You know I'm a mess about them leaving, too. What's left on the lists?"
"Well, I think both kids are done shopping," she began. "But I don't think either of them has started thinking about how to actually pack."
"Well, I know someone who excels at that kind of thing," Chandler said, kissing her hair.
"I'm really glad their move-in days are different weekends. I can't imagine having to divide and conquer that," Monica continued on. "My parents want to take us to dinner before the kids leave. We need to buy those outlet converter things. Let the bank know we'll be in Europe."
Chandler was nodding along.
"We need to suspend the cable and internet, that sort of thing. Most of the neighbors already know," he said. "I asked the kid across the street to shovel the driveway and sidewalk while we're gone. Told him I'd Venmo his dad."
"Smart. I hadn't written any of that down yet," Monica said. "I love it when you talk logistics to me."
He grinned happily.
"Learned from the best," he said, winking at her. "I think now that we found a place to stay, have the flights booked, that kind of stuff, everything is just details. We're going to Paris, not Mars. Ross, Rachel, your parents - they'll all be close if something comes up with the kids."
"Oh!" Monica said excitedly. "I started a list of all the stuff we need to do once we're there."
"That actually sounds like a fun list," he conceded.
Monica moved closer to Chandler as he grabbed his glasses on his nightstand. The Eiffel Tower, the Lourve, food & wine tours, London, Italy.
"Italy?" Chandler laughed. "You can't just put a whole country on our to-do list. I don't know that we could see all of Rome in a weekend."
"I can, too, put a whole country on the list," Monica said and pointed to the word. "See? I put it right there."
"I've been thinking Ireland would be really cool," Chandler said. "I want to do a ghost tour somewhere, too."
"Really? A ghost tour?"
When Chandler nodded an enthusiastic yes, a lightbulb went off for Monica.
"I have an idea," she said. "Why don't we make separate lists, rank them in order of priority, then compare lists!"
"Not alphabetical?" He asked. "Or proximity to the apartment?"
"No, that doesn't make sense because --" Monica caught him smirking and realized he was teasing her again. "I hate you."
She whacked him with a throw pillow, and moved to turn. off her light.
"Je t'aime, babe," Chandler told her.
Monica was driving Chandler and the kids into the city, to meet her parents, Ross, Rachel and their kids, for burgers and beers.
"Emma said they're running late," Erica said, reading from her phone in the backseat. "Uncle Ross is pissed."
Monica gave Chandler a look.
"Great," Monica said. "Pissed off Ross is my favorite."
"Mom, can I drive back?" Jack said. "I've had my license forever and you never let me drive in the city."
"We'll see, hon," Monica told him.
"C'mon," Jack begged. He swatted his sister's knee. "You and dad can have drinks at dinner, and then me and Eri can chauffeur you home!"
"Ew, no," Erica said. "I'm not getting in the car if mom and dad are going to make out in the backseat."
"Shut up, Erica," Jack whispered through gritted teeth. "You owe me."
Monica looked at the kids in the rear view mirror while Chandler peered over his shoulder.
Erica flicked her brother's ear.
"He's being stupid," she told their parents. "But he's right - you said you'd let us drive last weekend when we went shopping, but then it rained and you changed your mind."
Chandler and Monica shared a look. Having twins had been the best surprise of their lives - Chandler often joked they got a 2-for-1 special. But the twins were only a few weeks old the first time Chandler had accused them of ganging up on him and Monica.
"Mom said we'd see, guys," Chandler said. "Let's go have dinner."
Jack and Judy were waiting in the restaurant lobby when the Bings arrived. Hugs were exchanged as Judy gushed over her grandchildren.
"Jack, let's go ahead and get a table, now that most of us are here," Judy said.
Judy turned toward her daughter.
"Oh gosh," she began. "When we dropped you off at college, I couldn't have imagined this - that we'd be sending your kids off to college and sending you and your husband off to Europe at the same time."
"You make it sound like we're all dying," Monica said. "Erica is moving in this weekend, but Jack doesn't leave for another week. Chandler and I don't leave for almost another month."
"I know, but once it starts, it all happens so fast," Judy lamented. "It all goes so fast."
Judy looked like she might cry and Monica felt emotional as well, but the Ross/Rachel crew blew in at this point.
Once they were all seated and had ordered, Ross proposed a toast.
"To new chapters," he began. "Jack, Erica - college will be some of the best years of your lives. I mean, your dad and I met our freshman year and look where we are —" Ross began to choke up, but cleared his throat to power through.
"When I introduced you two," Ross said to his sister and brother in law. "All those years ago, back in our freshman year - I had no idea this is where you'd end up."
Chandler and Monica shared a look; Jack and Erica rolled their eyes at their cousins.
"To the Bings and their new adventures," Ross said, raising his glass.