Hi lovelies!
Well, I can't believe I made it. This has taken me almost a year (if you're familiar with Doc Manager here on FF, you know that your uploaded docs have 365 days. WATC Chapter 1 has 23 days left!) I said on Twitter that posting this final chapter is bittersweet, and it really is! While I'm glad it's done, I'm sad at the same time.
I really hope you've all enjoyed it, I have at times and other times I just wanted to quit! But I think that's true with any big project, right?
I've got a couple more stories in the works, although I don't know if one of them will work out. We'll see, it might still be salvageable. I'll keep everyone updated on Twitter, of course. :)
Again, thank you to ALL who have commented (good AND bad!) here and over on Twitter! Reviews are the greatest part of writing fan fiction, I truly mean that! I hope you enjoy this ending!
I'll be back around soon, keep an eye out here, AO3 and Twitter.
MUCH LOVE!
Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 5:32 PM
"Mommy," Bailey walked up to her mother, holding her favorite doll as she approached her.
Monica looked up from the box she was unpacking at her light-brown-haired, blue-eyed daughter, "Yes baby?"
"When is Daddy getting home?"
Monica smiled and checked her watch, "Very soon," she said, "would you like to help Mommy with dinner?"
Bailey's face lit up and she nodded enthusiastically, "Yes!"
"Okay, go put Lilly in her bed while we cook."
The small child nodded and ran to the living room where a plethora of her toys were scattered around. Monica watched as she gently placed the stuffed doll in its tiny crib, then ran back to her.
The half un-packed box was left that way as Monica took Bailey's hand and walked with her into her new chef's kitchen, a requirement for her as they looked for a new house. Chandler also got his backyard that was on his wish list with this 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom house just north of the city.
God, how she loved her life.
She didn't think she'd ever been this incredibly happy. She had a wonderful husband, a beautiful daughter, a seemingly perfect house, and friends that were her family.
She did miss her friends, but she knew she would see them as often as possible.
Joey was getting ready to move to L.A. after he received a great job offer. He didn't want to go at first, but after Chandler had convinced him that it was best for his career, Joey agreed, promising that he'd visit New York at least twice a year, and Chandler and Monica would visit Los Angeles the other two times a year. The married couple was throwing him a party to say "until we see you again" next week.
Ross and Rachel were planning their wedding, which Monica was helping a lot with. She was ecstatic for her brother and her best friend, and she knew they would make it work this time.
Phoebe met a great man, Mike, and was getting ready to move in with him. She seemed incredibly happy too.
They were all very, very happy.
"Alright Bails, what do we do before we start cooking?" Monica asked, after she moved a chair into the kitchen for Bailey to use.
"We wash our hands!" Bailey said, holding them out for Monica to pump some soap into.
Monica smiled and nodded as she pumped two times for her daughter's tiny hands.
"Alright will you please stir with this spoon while I cook the chicken?"
Bailey nodded and took the wooden spoon and began stirring as instructed. "Mommy, where did you meet Aunt Rachel?"
Monica smiled and put the first cut of chicken in the pan, the loud sizzle starting immediately, "I met Aunt Rachel in high school," she answered, "I've known her for a long time."
"Where did you meet Uncle Ross?" She asked, and Monica giggled and switched the tongs to her left hand to poke her daughter gently on her nose with her right hand.
"That's my brother, you silly goose."
Bailey laughed, a sound that Monica loved to hear, "Oh yeah!" She said, laughing again.
Monica looked at her, a beaming smile on her face, "Alright all done with that, thank you." She reached over the counter and got the lettuce, "Will you tear this for me?"
"How did you meet Uncle Joey?"
Monica flipped the chicken again and smiled at the memory, "I met Uncle Joey when Daddy put an ad in the newspaper for a new roommate and chose him. That's how I met Aunt Phoebe too, except it was Mommy who put in an ad for a new roommate."
"What's a roommate?" Bailey asked.
"A roommate is a person that you share a house with."
"So you and Daddy are roomsmates?"
Monica smiled, "Roommates," she corrected, "and no, me and Daddy are married."
"I don't understand," Bailey said, turning her head.
Monica smiled at her intuitive daughter, "So, for example. Daddy and Uncle Ross were roommates in college. They were two people that shared a room together. Then, when Daddy and Uncle Ross finished college, Daddy got an apartment and met Uncle Joey. And they became…" Monica paused for Bailey to finish her sentence.
"Roommates!"
Monica grinned, "Yes," she said, "and when me and Daddy fell in love and moved in together, Rachel was my roommate, but she moved in with Uncle Ross."
"And you married Daddy!"
"I did," Monica said with a smile.
"Like Uncle Ross and Aunt Rachel!"
Monica nodded, "Yes, they are getting married."
"And I'm the flower girl!" Bailey said jumping a little in her chair. Monica quickly put her hand on the back of the chair to steady it.
"Hey, no jumping," she warned, "I need my sous chef and she needs to be careful, okay?"
"Yes Mommy," Bailey replied, nodding slowly.
"Thank you," Monica said, smiling at her, then nodded toward the lettuce, "keep tearing," she encouraged, nodding toward the task.
Bailey nodded and resumed tearing, but the front door opened and Monica turned to watch the little girl's face light up, "Daddy!"
Monica turned down the stove and helped Bailey off the chair as she ran out of the kitchen, the lettuce left unfinished on the counter.
"There's my girl," Chandler said, hoisting Bailey into his arms as she ran toward him, "Hey Bailey Jo," he said, squeezing the little girl into his side as he hugged her.
"Daddy, me and Mommy are cooking supper and talking about roomsmates!"
Chandler walked into the kitchen, Bailey in his arms, then looked up at Monica, chuckling a little, "Oh yeah?" He kissed Bailey's temple and walked around the island and placed her back in her helper chair, "Which roommates are you talking about?"
Monica smiled at her husband, "She is hearing everything about our roommate arrangements before we moved in together."
Chandler grinned at her and wrapped his arm around Monica's waist, "You're the best roommate I've ever had," he whispered, then planted a kiss on her lips.
"Ditto baby," she murmured, then kissed him again.
Chandler smiled as he walked away from them, loosening his tie. He sat at the island and listened as his girls told him about their day.
A few hours later, Chandler finished wiping the counter and hung the towel on the stove handle to dry. He finally was able to do clean just how Monica liked it, or if she had any complaints, she no longer voiced them.
When he headed up the stairs Monica had just closed the story book she had just read with Bailey. He smiled and watched as his wife tucked in his daughter, in her small bed, her doll clutched close to her chest.
Monica leaned down and kissed her, "Sweet dreams baby," she whispered, "I love you."
"Love you Mommy," Bailey replied, and Chandler took his cue and walked into the room as Monica stood from the small bed. He kissed Bailey's forehead, "Good night Daddy."
"Good night Bailey Jo," he said, "I love you."
Standing at the door, Monica took Chandler's hand with a smile as he approached her, then flipped the switch on the pink wall, leaving only a night light to illuminate the room.
Chandler shut her door behind them, then kept Monica's hand in his as they walked to their master suite. He led Monica to their bed, then sat down on it and gazed up at her.
She smirked at him and let go of his hand to place both of hers on his shoulders, "What's up with you?" She asked.
He lifted an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"You're very smiley tonight," she replied, "not that it's a bad thing, I love your smile, but you just seem…different."
He hummed and smiled at that, then shook his head slowly and opened his legs wider for her to step between, "Nothing is up, I only have an idea I want to share with you."
"An idea, huh?" She said lowly, then locked her hands behind his head, "What kind of idea?" He gripped her waist as she put one knee on his left side, and one knee on his right, then climbed into his lap so that she was straddling him.
"I just had an idea that because our daughter is so beautiful and smart like her Mom," he said, and Monica smiled, "and we've got this wonderful house now that has four bedrooms."
"Uh huh…" she let her head fall back as he gently kissed the exposed skin of her chest, waiting on him to continue.
"So, what if we start trying to fill them?"
"With babies?" She grinned, all her teeth showing.
"Or game rooms," he quipped, then squeezed her hips as he smiled back, "my idea is that we should try for number two."
She turned her head at him, and tried but failed to fight a smile, "You want to try for another baby?"
He ran his hand up her side, "Yeah," he said, "we did pretty damn good the first time."
She chuckled, "That is true."
"I think you and I make some good product together." He wiggled his eyebrows at her.
"We do, but you know, our life will significantly change with a newborn around here."
He grinned and leaned forward to kiss her chest, "We can handle it."
She nodded, "You think so, huh?"
"Two? Easy. Wait until they outnumber us," he chuckled as he stared up at her.
She licked her lips, "So you're still sticking with four?"
He nodded, "Definitely," he ran his hands up her back, "and Bailey will be five in a few months. She'll be a great big sister."
"That is true," Monica agreed.
"So, what do you say?" He asked, curious about her thoughts on his brilliant idea.
She leaned forward and kissed him, pressing her lips hard against his, when she pulled away, she cupped his face and rubbed his cheeks, "I say let's have a baby."
"Yeah," he said, then made her gasp when he pulled on her tight and flipped her onto the bed, then got on his knees and crawled over her, "let's make lots of babies."
She giggled lowly, "Hey, easy tiger. One at the time please."
"Hmm," he leaned down and kissed her neck, "I make no promises."
Tuesday, April 6, 2004, 9:47 PM
Chandler shut the door to Bailey's bedroom and held his eyes closed, taking in a deep breath.
What a day.
He quietly walked to their bedroom and closed that door behind him too. He looked up at her and his heart broke even more.
He sat down next to her and rubbed her back, "Bailey's still sound asleep," he whispered, "she didn't wake up from the car."
"Okay," Monica replied.
He heard the sad tone of her voice, then slid his hands up and down her back a little. She stayed quiet, staring at the wall that was in front of her. "Mon…"
"No," she interrupted, holding up her hand, "I just…"
Chandler nodded. He knew her, he knew she needed to process, but the hour drive to her parents' house from the doctor's office to pick up Bailey and the hour and a half drive from her parents' house to their house should've been enough time.
He sighed and slid his arm down his waist, squeezing his eyes shut as the visit with the doctor replayed in his head.
"I'm afraid your chances of conceiving a baby are less than 2 percent."
Chandler and Monica looked at each other with confusion, "What?" Monica asked, but her husband stepped in.
"I'm not sure we understand, doctor," he said, his voice shaking a little, "we had a baby. Four years ago, a beautiful, healthy baby girl. And when she was conceived, we were using a condom."
The doctor looked up at him, "I'm sorry?"
"I guess we just don't understand how we had sex with a condom 4 years ago and we got pregnant, and now you're telling us we can't get pregnant?" Monica said.
He sighed and folded his hands over his abdomen, his brown eyebrows furrowed tightly together, "I think you were very lucky that night," he said, then gestured to the results of the fertility tests, "because according to this, there's hardly any chance of natural conception."
Chandler and Monica looked at each other, and Monica turned back to the doctor, her voice breaking as she spoke, "Lucky?"
Dr. Lowell leaned forward, "Mrs. Bing, I know this is probably hard for you to hear, and I'm sorry. But, while your chances aren't great, you never know. Maybe you can strike gold twice."
Monica wiped a tear from her face, "So, it's not likely we'll get pregnant again?"
Chandler shut his eyes, not really wanting to hear the negative news again. But he knew his wife wanted to be completely sure she had all the information correct.
"No, I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head, "but, there are other options…"
"I think we should go," Monica whispered, touching Chandler's arm gently.
Chandler shut his eyes again, then rested his head on Monica's shoulder next to her head. She leaned against him, letting the tears pour out of her eyes.
"We'll figure this out," Chandler whispered, and continued to rub her back soothingly, "we will, babe," he promised.
She sniffed once and to his surprise, nodded just a little, "I know," she whispered, her voice breaking, "that was just…"
"Really hard to hear," he finished for her, and they both lifted their heads to look at each other.
"Yeah," she said, looking into his beautiful eyes. She knew he was right; they would figure this out, but it didn't help her current feeling of failure. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, shaking her head.
"Oh, sweetheart," Chandler replied, lifting his hand to cup her face, "it's nothing you did, or I did…"
"We made one, though," she said, her palms flat on her legs as she still tried to figure out how they were just told they most likely couldn't make another baby, "we have a beautiful, healthy daughter."
"I don't get it either baby," he whispered, his eyes closed as he fought the pain in his heart. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek, "come lay down," he encouraged, pulling gently on her shoulder.
She looked up at him again, swallowing hard. She kicked off her shoes and so did he, a rarity for put-things-in-their-place Monica. They maneuvered to the middle of the bed, both still fully dressed in their outfits from the day.
He grabbed the throw that was folded neatly at the end of their bed, unfolding it over them as she curled into his chest and he wrapped his arms around her.
"We're going to figure this out," he said again in a quiet whisper. She nodded against him, shutting her eyes and inhaling his scent.
"I don't want a surrogate," she told him, which surprised him a bit. He didn't expect her to want to talk about options tonight, and it really surprised him that she just said she didn't want someone else to carry their potential baby.
He lifted and dropped his eyebrows, then gently squeezed her hip beneath the blanket, "What about a sperm donor?" He asked, his voice shaking just a little, "We could find a good one, way better than my not-working sperm."
He expected her to laugh, but she didn't.
She opened her eyes instead, tilting her head up to look at him. He looked down at her, and the serious look in her eyes cut through him.
"No," she said sharply, "if I can't get pregnant again with your baby, then I don't want to be pregnant at all."
He tilted his head at her, "Honey…"
"No," she interrupted him, her voice firm. She backed up a little so she could see his face fully, "there is no one else that's better than you."
"I think we can…"
"Chandler," she interrupted again, not wanting to hear any more options about sperm donation. It was absolutely out of the question.
She knew her husband wasn't a perfect human, because there was no such thing. He was flawed and had his quirks just like every other living being on the planet.
But if there was one thing she knew, Chandler Bing was perfect for her. And she didn't want some other man's sperm to make a baby.
"No," she finally continued, shaking her head, "I'm not doing that."
He pressed his lips together, nodding slowly. He didn't really want that either, but he did want to fix the problem of his won't-get-off-the-Barcalounger sperm and give his wife a baby.
But he knew the look in her eyes, and he knew he'd never be able to convince her that a sperm donor with some other man was a good idea.
"Okay," he agreed softly, nodding his head again.
She sighed and moved closer again, then intertwined her legs with his, "Okay," she murmured.
"That leaves adoption," he said, and he felt her nod again.
"Yes," She looked at him again, tears pooled in her eyes. She cracked a tiny smile, "let's find a baby that needs a home and give it one. A good one. A loving one."
"You sure?" He asked, tracing a finger down her face, "I know how much you loved being pregnant."
"I did," she agreed, "but I'll also love being a mother to a kid that needs one, even if it didn't grow in my belly."
He smiled back at her then lifted his hand to brush some hair out of her gorgeous face, "You're such a great mom," he whispered, then leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"And you're such a great dad," she replied, whispering into his chest, "that little girl in there is crazy about you."
"We're both crazy about you too," he responded, tangling his fingers through her hair.
"Our family is going to be great, no matter how it's put together." Monica pressed a kiss to his neck and nuzzled into his chest, still holding onto him tight.
Chandler took in and let out a deep breath, "Yeah baby," he said, a tiny smile forming on his face, "it is."
Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 5:45 PM
Chandler and Monica walked into Bailey's bedroom, her hand in his as she followed him. Bailey was sitting at her small table in her bedroom, coloring in her new unicorn coloring book.
"Daddy, Mommy," she said, pointing at her book, "look what I colored!"
Chandler looked down at the book and nodded, "Great job Bails," he said, smiling at her.
Monica smiled as she squatted down next to her daughter, Chandler mimicking Monica's position on the other side of Bailey, "It's beautiful sweetheart," she said, gasping a little, "let's put it on the refrigerator when you're all done, okay?"
"Okay!" Bailey replied, smiling that Chandler-like megawatt smile.
Chandler stood and held out his hand for Bailey to take, "Come here for a second, sweetie," he said, "Mommy and Daddy need to talk to you."
Bailey nodded and took her father's hand, then walked with both to her bed. Chandler lifted her up the short distance and sat her down while Monica sat next to her. Chandler sat on the other side of her and smiled at Monica.
Monica smiled back and wrapped an arm around Bailey, "Do you remember when we talked about how Mommy and Daddy wanted to have a baby and you would be a big sister?"
Bailey smiled and nodded at her mother. Chandler smiled at both of them.
"Well, sometimes Mommies and Daddies can't have babies," Chandler continued, "and Mommy and I had you, but now, the doctor says that we can't have another baby," he explained.
Even though Monica had heard that sentence so many times now, it still wasn't easy to hear. She swallowed hard and was glad that Chandler was telling Bailey this part of this story.
That pouting face that still broke Chandler's heart into a gazillion pieces came over Bailey's small face, and Chandler swore his lip quivered when he saw it.
"I'm not going to be a big sissy?"
Monica slid her hand to Bailey's back and rubbed it gently, "When mommies and daddies can't have babies," she said, "sometimes they can go and adopt a baby to bring home."
"What does adopt mean?" Bailey asked.
"Adopt means that we talk with a bunch of different people, and we go through some work to bring a baby home with us to keep, forever," Chandler tried to explain.
"And Mommy and Daddy talked with all of the people and signed all of the paperwork," Monica continued, then leaned down and kissed Bailey's cheek, "So, sweetheart, you will be a big sissy," Monica said.
Bailey bounced up and down happily, clapping her small hands, "Today?"
Monica shook her head, "Not today," she answered, "but we're thinking this week, maybe."
Bailey gasped and jumped off her bed, running over to the table, "I want to draw baby sister a picture!"
Chandler slid over and wrapped his arm around Monica, "But what if it's a baby brother?"
Her small face scrunched together with confusion, then relaxed when she figured out the problem, "I'll color two!"
Monica giggled as Bailey sat down and began to color a new page, "She acts just like you."
Chandler nodded slightly, "Thank God she got your looks, though," he said, chuckling a little.
She bumped her shoulder against his, "I definitely see some of you in there. Her chin looks like yours, her mouth too."
He smiled, agreeing with his wife. He did see some of himself in Bailey's features, particularly when she smiled. "Daddy, come color with me!" Bailey said, proving his point as she beamed at him.
"Baby two will be here soon," Chandler said to Monica, then leaned over and pressed a kiss to her temple before he walked over and sat down at the too-small-for-a-grown-up table and picked up a crayon.
Monica crossed her arms and leaned against the wall behind her, "Very soon," she whispered, a smile on her face.
Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 3:12 PM
"I can't believe this," Monica whispered, holding the baby boy in her arms, a tear running down her face.
Chandler looked up at her and smiled, in disbelief himself, "Me either, he vocalized, shaking his head. He put his finger in the palm of the baby's tiny hand, the small fingers wrapping around it making his heart swell.
"Two babies?" Monica said, her voice breaking. She put her hand on top of the pink blanket in Chandler's arms.
"Two babies," Chandler confirmed, because she wasn't dreaming.
She leaned her forehead against his as another tear streamed down her face, "I love them already," she whispered to him, "they're so beautiful."
"And healthy," he added, smiling at Erica, named after the birth mother, in his arms.
"I can't wait to let them meet Bailey."
Chandler smiled and nodded, "She couldn't decide if she wanted a sister or brother."
Monica chuckled and finally lifted her head, "She gets both," she whispered.
"Hey guys," Rachel said, slowly entering the hospital room, then gasped when she saw the newborn babies in her friends' arms.
Ross followed with a new car seat, a request from Monica and Chandler when the unexpected second baby was born.
"Hey," Ross said, keeping his voice down.
"Come in and meet your niece and nephew," Monica whispered, a giant smile on her face.
Rachel happily took the baby with the pink blanket from Chandler and gazed down at the tiny human, "Oh, she's so beautiful."
"This one is pretty great too," Ross said, moving closer to his wife with the blue blanketed baby in his arms.
Chandler and Monica watched as their family admired the new Bing babies. He looked over at her and she back at him, "Congratulations Mommy," he whispered to her, then planted a kiss on her lips.
"Congratulations to you Daddy," she replied, pecking his lips again.
Saturday, September 18, 2004, 9:49 PM
"Bailey," Monica whispered, "Bailey, wake up sweetie," she encouraged again, tucking some hair behind her daughter's ear with her free hand.
Chandler and Monica had arrived home after spending time with Ross and Rachel, then over to Mike and Phoebe's, allowing them to meet the new Bings. Jack and Judy were at their house, babysitting Bailey for them. After about an hour of spending time with their grandparents, a bottle and diaper change for each of them, it was time for them to head upstairs and meet Bailey.
Bailey groaned a little and opened an eye to peek up at Monica.
Monica smiled, "Wake up sweetie," she said, "there's someone you should meet."
Bailey's eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at Monica, blinking her blue eyes a few times to adjust to the lamp Monica turned on in her room.
"Is my baby brother or sister here?" She asked as a slow smile that looked the same as Chandler's crossed her face.
Monica smiled back at her daughter and looked up at Chandler, who nodded and passed her Jack, still wrapped in his blue blanket.
"Boy is blue, a baby brother!" Bailey said, placing her small hand on the baby's arm.
Chandler grinned and squat down next to the bed, nodding at his daughter, "Very good Bails, you have a baby brother."
"This is Jack," Monica explained, "Do you remember who he's named after?"
Bailey looked up at her mother and nodded again, "Grandpa!"
Monica and Chandler smiled at each other. Over the last few months, they had been teaching Bailey all about their family, and she was doing an excellent job of learning them, "That's right," Chandler said to Bailey, pressing a kiss to her temple, "great job sweetie."
"Do you love your baby brother?" Monica asked, unable to contain the smile on her face.
"Yes," Bailey said, holding Jack's small hand in hers.
"We have another surprise for you," Chandler said, then stood to his full form, "wait right here and close your eyes," he said.
Monica adjusted herself a little further down Bailey's bed, allowing Chandler enough room to sit in between them. He walked out to the hall and returned moments later with Erica, then sat down in front of Bailey, who still covered her eyes with both hands.
"Okay, on the count of three, you can open them," Chandler said, glancing over his shoulder at his wife.
The two of them counted down from three together and Bailey moved her hands from her eyes. The young girl gasped when she saw a baby in a pink blanket that her Dad was holding. She peeked around him to see that her Mom was still holding a baby too.
"A girl baby!" She exclaimed, bouncing a little in her bed.
Chandler nodded at her, smiling, "That's right," he said, "you've got a baby sister and a baby brother."
"Two babies!"
Monica giggled and lifted her left hand to wipe a tear away, "Two babies," she said to Bailey.
"This is your sister, Erica," Chandler said, watching as Bailey touched Erica's arm. He glanced back at Monica, who smiled and looked down at Jack. "I know you're going to be the best big sister to them, aren't you?" Chandler asked when he turned back to their big daughter, cupping Bailey's cheek with his free hand.
"Yes!" Bailey said, then moved her legs from beneath the covers and ran over to her small activity table in her room. She picked up two pieces of paper, then hurried back over to her parents that sat on her bed holding her new siblings.
"Oh sweetie," Monica said, looking at the papers Bailey held in her hands, "you did a great job!"
"Thank you, Mommy!" She said, smiling brightly, "One for Erica," she said, laying the paper on top of Erica's pink blanket, "and one for Jack!" She did the same for her brother, then stood back and beamed at them.
Chandler collected the papers from atop the blankets, then turned back to Bailey, "We'll hang these on the refrigerator, okay?"
Bailey nodded happily, "Okay Daddy," she said.
"Okay, Mommy and I wanted you to meet your brother and sister, but I think we all better get to bed."
Bailey's face fell, "But I want to spend time with the babies," she said.
Chandler looked at Monica, then back at her, "This little boy and girl are your family now," he said, smiling at her, "you're going to have a lot of time with them."
"And Grandpa and Grandma are still here," Monica said, "they're sleeping now, but they'll be up when you wake up for breakfast in the morning."
"Yay!" Bailey replied, "Grandpa promised to color with me."
Chandler chuckled, "Okay, so, let's all go to bed so we can see them in the morning."
"Okay," Bailey finally agreed, then walked over to the bed. Chandler and Monica stood up, and Chandler held open her covers for her to crawl in. He squatted down and kissed her.
"I love you," Chandler said, then watched as Bailey leaned forward and gently kissed her sister's cheek, "Sweet dreams baby," he whispered, his voice breaking as he fought tears. He couldn't look at Monica, he knew there were tears streaming down her face.
He stood up and Monica took his place, and Bailey repeated the action with her baby brother.
"Goodnight sweetie," Monica said brokenly as the parents walked out of her room.
After they put the sleeping twins into the crib in the bedroom closest to theirs with plans to go get another crib tomorrow.
Chandler wrapped his arms around Monica as soon as they shut their bedroom door, both holding each other tight.
"When I suggested adoption," Monica said into his chest, her voice broken, "I never thought we'd…"
"Get two beautiful babies," Chandler finished for her, threading his fingers through her hair and holding her close.
"I love our family," she replied, lifting her head to look up at him, "I'm the luckiest woman on the planet."
"I love us too," he said, smiling back at her, then leaned down to kiss her as a tear ran down his face.
What a wonderful life.
Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 2:34 PM
Monica carried a tray of freshly made hamburgers and hot dogs and made her way outside to the patio where Chandler, Mike, Ross, and Joey stood around the grill, each of them sipping on a beer as they watched Ben, Bailey, Jack, Erica, and 2-year-old Emma run around and play in the back yard.
"More burgers," she announced, then traded trays with Ross for the already cooked burgers for the ones that needed to be cooked.
"Thanks babe," Chandler said, then leaned over to kiss his wife.
She smiled at him and nodded, then headed back inside.
"You guys are like, the greatest team," Mike said, shaking his head in disbelief. He bounced his nine-month-old son, Devin, on his hip, "I mean, Phoebe and I are good, but you two have it down."
Ross and Joey nodded in agreement, "Yeah," Joey voiced, "it's like you're a well-oiled machine or something."
Chandler chuckled and looked at the children playing on the swing set and bouncy house Monica had delivered as he used the metal spatula and placed more burgers on the grill, "I think it's because we both got the life we wanted," he told the group, "and it's not perfect. The two of us bicker over stupid stuff and argue because I left my socks on the floor or because she fusses at me about leaving the socks on the floor." He laughed with everyone, because it did sound just like them. "But I'm still crazy about her, and she's crazy about me."
Ross looked at him, "You think you'll go for another kid?" He asked, taking a sip of his beer.
Chandler shrugged, "Ah, I don't think so," he told them, then smiled at Phoebe as she passed him to get Devin from her husband, "We wanted four, but we've got our hands full with an eight-year-old and two four-year-olds."
"You sound like such a domesticated dad," Ross said, impressed.
Chandler chuckled, "Yeah, well, the parent life will do it to you."
"How's life going in L.A., Joe?" Ross asked.
Joey grinned, "Really good," he said, "the movie was a hit and I've gotten a lot of offers since."
"Yeah? That's great man," Ross said, Chandler nodding behind him.
Joey nodded, "I miss you guys, though," he told them, "I'm really glad for throw down parties like this where I can see everybody."
All the men laughed, "I think this is how our parties will go now, at least for the foreseeable future," Mike said, pointing toward the yard full of their children.
"When are you gonna get started Joey?" Chandler asked, lifting his eyebrows at him.
Joey chuckled and ran a hand through his hair, "Ah, well, I don't know. I'm not even sure Alex wants kids."
"Really?" Mike asked, surprised.
"Yeah," Joey replied, then shrugged.
"Are you okay with that?" Chandler asked, then flipped two burgers. He was quite proud of himself, becoming the grill master that he was.
Joey bobbed his head, "I don't know," he answered, "I love kids, I love all of your kids, but I don't know how good of a father I'll be."
"It's definitely something you learn," Chandler informed him, remembering his own doubts about being a father many moons ago, "but once you're holding that little baby in your arms, you just get it."
Ross and Mike nodded in agreement, "Yeah," Mike said, "you do."
Joey nodded again, "I think it's a discussion we should have after I ask her to marry me," he said, then took a long sip of his beer.
Chandler held a patty on his metal spatula in the air as he turned to look at his former roommate, shocked, mirroring Ross's expression beside him.
"You're going to ask Alex to marry you?" Ross asked.
Joey chuckled at their expressions, "Yeah," he said, trying to fight the blush he knew was coming onto his cheeks, "I think it's time. I love her."
The three men exchanged looks for a moment, then met their friend's brown eyes, "That's awesome man," Chandler said, smiling at him. Ross and Mike both planted a hand on each of Joey's shoulders, happy for their friend.
Just then, the doorbell rang and Ross nodded, "That'll probably be Mom and Dad," he told Chandler.
"Yeah," Chandler said, then checked his watch, "Will you please go let them in?"
"Sure," Ross said. Mike followed, leaving Chandler alone with Joey.
"I can't believe you're ready to get married," Chandler said, shaking his head, "doesn't it seem like yesterday we were living in that apartment thinking we'd never settle down?"
Joey laughed, "Honestly man, I don't think you ever thought that. I think you were always looking for a wife, a family."
Chandler chuckled, because he supposed his friend was right. "Yeah, but dude," he slapped Joey's shoulder, "you asking Alex to marry you is huge!"
He wanted the feeling he had about Monica and their children to happen to all his friends, and it seemed like Joey was on the way to it.
Joey grinned, "It is," he said, then lifted and dropped his eyebrows, "I've got the ring, and I think I know what I want to say, but I need to find the perfect place to take her."
Chandler smiled, "I'm excited for you," he flipped two more burgers and nodded to the tray on the picnic table behind Joey.
Joey held it out for him, "Thanks man," he said.
"I'm bummed she couldn't come with you," Chandler said, placing the burgers carefully on the tray, "you know the girls want to meet her and grill her with all kinds of questions."
Joey laughed, "Yeah, she couldn't get off work," he said, shrugging a shoulder, "I think she kind of thought it might be a tad weird too."
Chandler furrowed his eyebrows together, "What? Why?"
"I don't know," he answered, "she said this is my family and we're so tight, I think she thought she would feel out of place."
"Ah, that's ridiculous," Chandler said, "she would've been asked a hundred questions, no doubt, but I'm sure we will love her."
Joey chuckled and ran a hand through his hair, "Maybe next time."
Chandler nodded, "Yeah, maybe."
"Hey, Grandpa's here!" Jack announced, walking out into the backyard, and all the kids flocked to him.
###
Monica groaned as she felt her stomach flip for the second time that afternoon. She had slipped away to her bathroom earlier and got some antacids, attempting to calm her stomach. She didn't need this today; there were too many people at her house for her to get sick.
But they weren't helping, and her stomach decided to let her know with vengeance.
"Mon, are you okay, sweetie?" Rachel asked, patting her sister-in-law's arm, concern over her face.
Monica put on a weary smile, "Yeah, I'm fine," she said, chuckling a little, "why do you ask?"
"I don't know, you seem a little pale to me," she said.
Monica put her hand on her stomach and frowned at her, "Do I?" She said, and both Phoebe and Rachel nodded. Monica's frown increased a little, "Bailey had a stomach virus that she got at school a couple of months ago, then Chandler had it, now I think it's my turn."
Rachel and Phoebe looked at each other worriedly and Phoebe put her hand on her arm, "You want to go lay down?"
Monica waved her hand, "No, no, I'll be fine," she insisted.
But seconds later, the world's most awful feeling swept over her and she put her hand over her mouth and ran full speed to the nearest bathroom.
As expected, she felt hands run through her hair to hold it back as she heaved into the toilet.
Once she finally finished, she flushed the toilet and moved backward until her back hit the wall in the small half bath.
Phoebe shut the door behind her so that the multiple people visiting the Bing's residence wouldn't interrupt them for a few minutes at least.
Rachel wrung out a cool washcloth and put it on Monica's forehead as Monica attempted to catch her breath.
"Virus huh?" Phoebe questioned.
Monica nodded and swallowed hard, "Yeah," she said, placing her hand on Phoebe's knee, "Bails and Chandler had it too," she explained again. She gasped a little, "oh, God, did my mother see me?"
Rachel shook her head, "No, she's out back with everyone."
Monica sighed, "I don't think I should cook anything else," she murmured, "I don't want to get anybody sick."
Rachel and Phoebe shared a look, "You're sure it's not something else?" Rachel asked softly, dabbing at the sheen of sweat across her friend's forehead.
Monica rolled her head toward her old friend, "What?"
Phoebe cleared her throat, "What if it's not a virus?" She asked.
Monica shook her head, "I'm sure that's it," she told them, then finally took a deep breath, "but I'm okay." She said, then patted Phoebe's knee and moved Rachel's hand from her forehead. "Come on, you guys should get the coleslaw made."
Rachel and Phoebe looked at each other again with a frown on their faces, "Mon, sweetie," Rachel started as she watched Monica stand up, "I don't think this virus has outlasted your exaggerated disinfecting and cleaning for two months."
Monica turned her head, confused, "I don't understand what you're saying," she said, "what else could it be?"
The other two women stood up and stared at Monica like Chandler used to stare at Joey until he understood.
"Guys," Monica replied, chuckling at them, "I'm not pregnant." They both lifted their eyebrows at her, "I'm not," she insisted.
"How do you know that?" Rachel asked, "Have you taken a test?"
Monica shook her head, "No, I don't need to. The doctor told me and Chandler we couldn't have another baby."
"You didn't know you were pregnant with Bailey either," Phoebe pointed out.
"I wasn't sick with Bailey," she reminded them.
"That doesn't mean you wouldn't be sick with a second child," Rachel said, holding out her hand.
Monica shook her head and ran a hand over her face, "There's no way I'm pregnant," she said, almost most to herself than to her friends.
"Will you just humor us and take a test, please?" Phoebe asked, "I mean, if you know it's negative, then you get to be right, and you know how much you like to be right."
She lifted her head to look at her blonde friend, "Fine," she said, rolling her eyes a little. Her two friends were annoying her a bit. There was really no need in taking a pregnancy test.
She wasn't pregnant. There was hardly any chance.
Rachel grinned, "Don't we need more ice?"
"We do," Phoebe said, "let's go out and get some."
"Get mustard too, please," Monica said, opening the door to the bathroom.
Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 3:09 PM
Monica walked outside where her three children and husband were playing. Jack held the yellow puffy bat in his hands as he waited on Chandler to pitch the wiffle ball to him.
She smiled as he took a big swing and a miss, then made her way to the two-person swing that was positioned perfectly under a big shade tree.
"Okay son, let's try again," Chandler said, showing Jack the ball, "one, two, three," he counted, then tossed the ball toward him. Jack swung the bat again and connected with the ball, then Bailey jumped with excitement at first base.
"Run to me Jackie!" She said, waving at her younger brother.
Jack began to run to his sister and Erica stepped up to the plate.
"Alright, ready Erica?" Chandler said and tossed the ball to his daughter.
Erica missed too, and Monica smiled and stood up, "Here, Mommy will help you," she said, and moved to stand behind her daughter.
Chandler grinned and picked up the ball again, then tossed it gently. Monica helped Erica swing and the ball trickled out towards Chandler. He quickly picked it up and threw it as far as it would go, "Home run!" Chandler yelled dramatically, "everybody run home!"
Bailey, Jack and Erica all began to run in a semi-circle to home plate.
"Dogpile Daddy!" Bailey said, tackling Chandler.
All three of them giggled and plopped on top of their father. Chandler began to roll around and wrestle with them, which was one of his favorite things to do, Monica was sure of it.
"Okay, ice cream for the winners!" Monica said moments later, and the kids stood up and clapped excitedly.
Chandler grinned at her, "What about for the losers too?"
She leaned over and gave him a kiss, "Only because you're so cute."
He chuckled and sat up so that he was on his butt, "I'll take a prize later tonight too," he wiggled his eyebrows at her.
She winked at him, and action she still knew drove him crazy, even after all this time. "Alright, I'll go get the prizes!" Monica stood up and headed inside.
"Alright," chandler said, breathing hard, then held out his hand, "good game guys," he gave Bailey a high five, then Jack and Erica too.
"Daddy, let's go play house!" Erica said, pulling on his arm.
Chandler glanced over at the small multicolored house in the yard and groaned when he thought about his back as he bent over and tried to get in there.
"After ice cream, why don't you and sister and brother play and me and Mommy will watch, okay?"
As always, Bailey came to his rescue, "Erica, you can cook dinner for us in the kitchen!" She said.
Chandler grinned and put his hand on Bailey's back. She was the best big sister.
"Ice cream!" Monica called, and the three kids ran to her, leaving chandler on the grass. He groaned as he stood up, stretching his back. Maybe he was getting too old for wrestling on the ground.
"After you finish," Monica said, passing each of them one ice cream bar each, "please put your trash in the trash can, okay?"
The Bing children nodded and Monica watched as they each went to the yard, heading for the swings. Monica followed chandler to the swing for adults and passed him a chocolate ice cream bar too.
"Thanks babe," he said, then groaned as he sat down, "I think I better give up my wrestling career with the kids."
Monica giggled and snuggled into his side as he put his left arm around her. She crossed her legs and he did too, then began to rock them in the swing slowly. "They do love to wrestle you, though," she informed him.
"I'm getting too old," Chandler said, taking a bite of his ice cream, "I think I better just stick to wrestling you on a soft, cushioned surface."
Monica smiled and lay her head on his shoulder, looking at their kids as they quickly ate their treat. She turned her head to look up at him, "Unless we can't wait and have sex against the door again," she murmured, and he looked down at her and smiled.
He remembered the night she was speaking of, the one where they both teased each other and when he kept whispering things in her ear, knowing they couldn't satisfy their need for each other until they put the kids to bed.
He barely got the door closed before she was all over him, pinning him to the wall next to the door as she devoured his mouth.
"Mmm, there are exceptions," he said, then kissed her.
She licked her lips from the chocolate she could taste from his mouth. It grew silent between them as they watched all three children run to the trash can to discard their trash, then back to the playhouse.
"Do you remember the night we conceived Bailey?" She asked, playing with the hem of his t-shirt.
He chuckled, "Of course I do," he said, then squeezed her shoulder, "it was our first time having sex."
Monica nodded, "And now we were standing up against that wall, next to the beautiful window?"
Chandler finished his ice cream and stuffed the trash in his pocket, "Yes," he said to answer her question, "I don't think I'll ever forget any detail of that night."
"I think that's the trick," she said to him, which confused him.
"What?" He asked and looked down at her.
She was watching their children play. Erica had just served Jack a delicious looking plate of dirt and twigs. She smiled as she watched Jack sit on the ground and pretend to eat what his sister made.
"Standing up must work," she continued, still staring at them, almost in a daze.
Chandler furrowed his eyebrows together and chucked at her, "Honey, what are you talking about?"
She swallowed hard and looked over at him, "The girls went to the store to get a few things yesterday," she told him, "we needed ice, mustard, and she bought this while she was there too." She pulled a plastic stick out of her pocket and passed it to him.
The look on his face as he studied the result on the test nearly took her breath away.
She smiled at him, reached over and took his other hand, then placed it on her belly, "I'm pregnant," she whispered.
Chandler's jaw continued to hang open, and she felt a tear fall from her eye, "You're pregnant?" He finally asked, then a huge smile crept across his face, "Oh my God, that's incredible!" He said, then cupped her face and kissed her in rapid succession.
He kissed her cheek, then her forehead, "I'm in complete shock," he whispered, unable to contain the smile on his face, just like hers.
"I know, me too," she whispered, holding onto him as tightly as possible, "I didn't think we could ever make it happen."
"You're having my baby," he whispered back, "when we were told we couldn't!"
Monica shut her eyes as more tears streamed from them, unable to keep how incredibly happy she was inside anymore.
"What are the chances?"
THE END
