Chapter Three: Too Late?


Chandler grabbed Monica's arm. His steady gaze made her feel silly. What was wrong with that moment? Why couldn't she just ring them, and get it over with? Chandler should be the one who was holding a grudge against her parents-after all, it was him who they didn't like, yet he seemed to want her to contact them, to tell them her fantastic news.


She smiled. "OK, you win," she said, reaching for the phone. "I guess it can't hurt.. hey, maybe they'll decide they like you after all!" she said hopefully.


"I don't care about that," he said, crouching down next to her. "Mon, I know what it's like to lose contact with your parent. It's happened to me with both my parents at some point. But you know what? It'll turn out alright in the end. Everything happens for a reason. Maybe you're right. Maybe this will bring us closer together."


Monica nodded, and dialled the number that she had spun round and round in her mind for the past few weeks now, wondering whether to ring it. She heard the ringing. Once. Twice. Three times. On the fourth ring it was answered. "Hello?" asked Jack Gellar's voice.


"Hi... Dad..." Monica faltered, not really knowing what to say, not wanting to come straight out with the life-changing news. "How are you?"


"Monica!" Jack exclaimed, feeling a little emotional. His daughter hadn't rung them for several months. It was always him who had to ring her, or persuade Judy to ring up for a quick word. "I'm very good thank you sweetie, all the better from hearing from you. And yourself?"


"Well, that's what I was ringing to tell you about," she said, quickly adding "Don't worry, it's nothing bad. Is.. is mom around? I'd like you both to hear this from me."


Jack was confused, obviously, but went to find Judy, who was in the kitchen baking for the dinner they were hosting later on that day. "Judy," he hissed, his hand over the mouth piece of the cordless. "It's Monica. She's got some news for us."


Judy couldn't help but smile. No matter what it had appeared to her daughter, she loved her with all her heart and needed to hear from her every now and again to keep her sane. "What kind of news?" she hissed back, drying her hands and then reaching for the phone. Jack shrugged in her direction, then came to stand next to his wife so he could listen to what Monica had to say.


"Hi Monica," Judy said, feeling tears pricking in her eyes. "How are you?"


Monica breathed in sharply. It was now or never. "Mom... Dad...I'm pregnant!" she screamed, unable to keep it in. All these months of trying for a baby, being told they might never have one... and finally, she was pregnant. Finally, she didn't feel like a freak of nature. She was able to have her own children, wihtout any scientific help. She felt normal.


There was silence at the other end, and at first Monica thought that her parents would be cross with her. But then she heard Judy crying, and Jack talking excitedly.


"Oh my god Monica! You're pregnant? That's wonderful!" he exclaimed sincerely. "Your mother and I... we're so happy for you. Our little Harmonica Judy! She's going to have a baby! We're going to be grandparents!"


Monica decided not to point out at this point that they were already grandparents of two children, Ben and Emma, but instead sighed with relief at the joy of her parents. She was so nervous that they would be angry for some reason.


"Monica? Monica, it's you mother," Judy said, her voice catching. "Look, Monica, I just want to... apologise. For what I said... that day. I think... you and Chandler, you're going to ..." She couldn't carry on. She was so happy for her daughter, and so emotional, she couldn't speak. She handed the phone back to Jack.


"Monica, your mother is so sorry for what she said. You and Chandler will make wonderful parents, I'm sure of it. WE'RE sure of it," he added as Judy hit him. Monica nodded. Chandler smiled to himself. He was right. He was always right. This baby was going to do more than bring joy to his or her parents. He or she was going to bring the whole family closer together.


Monica put the phone down. "They're coming to visit next weekend," she said. "Oh Chandler, she was so sorry. She couldn't stop apologising. I really think she means it." She hugged her husband tightly, knowing she had him to thank for the apologies and the plans to meet. "Chandler, I love you so much, you know that don't you?" she said, unsure.


"Of course. I love you too," he said, kissing her on the tip of her nose. "And everything's going to be fine. I promise you," he said, hugging her back. He loved nothing more than making his wife smile. Finally, it looked as if everything was going right for her.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Rachel hugged her friend. "Honey, that's great," she said. "You're finally making it right with your mom. You won't regret it.


She knew how much the argument had hurt Monica, and how, deep down, she had missed her mom a lot. She was so happy for Monica, now that everything seemed to be getting better.


"Thanks Rache," said Monica, smiling, and patting her stomach. "Who'd have thought that a little foetus would have brought THIS much joy?"


Rachel grinned. "You should get Phoebe to write a song about it," she laughed, stroking Monica's stomach. "Or perhaps not."


"So, how are things with Ross?" Monica asked gently. "Is he with Emma today?"


Rachel sighed. "I don't know Mon," she admitted, answering Monica's first question. "I mean, sure, we are getting on great, we're practically best friends now, but recently... it's just felt like we should really be more than that. He's taken her to Central Park today for a walk. Isn't it hard to believe that she's nearly one year old? That must mean that you've been married nearly two years now."


"Two years in a month," Monica said, smiling. It was the happiest day of her life, her wedding day. "What are you planning for Emma's birthday?"


"Oh I don't know," said Rachel, in thought. "It has to be something special. Ross is going to get out the camcorder so we can show her the video when she's older. If I were her, I think I'd cringe at her parents making fools of themselves. Poor thing!"


"Well, it's this week Rache," Monica laughed. "You'll havw to think quick."


Rachel nodded. "Don't you worry Monica. I'll think of something."


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


"Emma's crying," Chandler hissed.


"Wassamatter?" Monica mumbled, half-asleep.


"Emma. She's awake. Oh why did we agree to look after her?" Chandler pretended to be annoyed, but he was secretly thrilled at the chance to practise being a dad. Emma's party had been rather a strange and tiring occasion, and Ross and Rachel felt severely tired afterwards, and Monica and Chandler offered to look after her while they went home to have a rest, and then they would come to Monica's apartment and stay with them the night, so they could be with Emma. Monica was feeling tired out, and had also gone to lie down. It was only 7pm, but it was quite dark and the lack of light made Monica feel sleepy.


"Because you love Ross and Rachel?" Monica asked, rolling over. "Go away Chandler, I'm sleeping."


Chandler chuckled and went to look after Emma, yawning himself. He wasn't sure why he felt so tired, and then remembered he had got hardly any sleep the previous night, what with his midnight conversation with Monica. Every now and again, when they couldn't sleep for whatever reason, they would talk about anything, from toilet-roll to what they were going to decorate the baby's room with.


Chandler looked at his watch. Hardly any time had passed. He gazed down at Emma. Smiling at her, he thought how happy Monica had been lately. Finally, she was getting on with her parents.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


"Are you sure they won't mind?" Judy asked, as Jack drove along.


"Of course not! And if there's no room at their place, we'll book into a hotel. Come on Judy, it's just what Monica needs. A nice surprise. And we're going to be nice to her. No criticisms. OK?"


"Me? Criticise?" Judy looked shocked. "How dare you suggest such a thing Jack!" She patted his arm playfully. "I'm not overly-critical. Am I?"


Jack merely grunted in response. He turned to his wife, smiling. "I don't mind," he said. "I love you for what you are Judy. You're a lovely, sensitive woman... even if you are a critical little thing at the same time!"


Judy smiled, then turned. A wave of horror passed over her, as she saw the van driving towards them. Jack was still turned looking at her, guessing where the road was. "Jaaaaack..." she cried. As Jack turned, his face turned white. The van kept on coming towards them...


To be continued...


I'm sorry about that ending, I'm not very good at writing that sort of thing. I'll make it up to you all by making the rest of it as good as it possibly can be. Thanks for all your nice reviews so far. ^^