Chandler put away the last mug in their new home in Westchester. He rubbed his hands together as he looked around to make sure everything was unpacked. Venturing into the living room to check on his wife, he saw her asleep on the couch. Chandler knew she was exhausted from everything that's been going on the past two days. Packing their apartment, having the twins, packing some more, and saying goodbye to the city was a lot to take in. Even when they arrived at the house Monica was determined to unpack everything while also taking care of the twins. He promised to get everything unpacked if she sat down and relaxed while their babies slept in their bassinets next to her. Chandler assumed she had fallen asleep not long after he started to unpack, honestly, he was relieved she was getting rest.
He quietly walked over to her smiling down at his sleeping wife before a tiny movement next to him caught his eye. Chandler turned his attention to the small baby boy looking up at him. He knew his son probably couldn't see him very clearly since he was only a few days old, but Jack was staring in his general direction which was enough to make his heart melt. Gently, he picked up the squirming newborn and held the baby close to his chest in his arms, glancing at his daughter to make sure she was still asleep before walking towards the stairs. "Hi," he whispered, walking up the steps carefully. "I don't think I've properly introduced myself. I'm Chandler, but you can just call me...Dad" he said softly as his heart started to race. He was a Dad now. Tears started to fill his eyes as he looked at the baby in his arms.
Chandler walked into the nursery and sat in the rocking chair that sat in the corner of the room. "Don't tell your mother that I'm crying, she'll never let me live it down" he chuckled softly. For the most part, he's been focused on getting the new house, getting everything ready for the children, and moving to the new house, he didn't have the time to process it all. Now that he sat with everything is taken care of, with his son in his arms, his emotions came up all at once. "Jack, I love you so much" he whispered to the baby that stared up at him. "I can't promise I'll be the perfect Dad, but I'll try my best. My Dad...he left when I was a kid" Chandler said softly, tearing up again. Now that he was a father, he couldn't imagine leaving his kids behind. He shook his head slightly trying to hold back from crying anymore. "I-I will never leave you. I'll stay here and support you through anything until you start pushing me away when you're a teenager" he chuckled.
Chandler stayed there rocking the chair slightly just watching his son wiggle in his arms occasionally as they stared at each other. Jack would grunt and gurgle making Chandler smile down at him making babbling noises in return as if it was a legitimate conversation.
Monica eventually woke up slightly startled that she had fallen asleep at all. She looked around the living room as she stretched looking for her husband when she noticed everything had been unpacked. Her eyes eventually reached the bassinet where she saw her sleeping daughter but noticed her son was missing. Panicked, she went to the kitchen, then the study, then going upstairs to the nursery where she saw Chandler. She relaxed seeing Jack in his arms, smiling at her husband, Monica walked closer. "Hey" she whispered, her voice hoarse from sleep.
Chandler looked up at her and smiled softly "hi. How was your nap?" he asked, smiling wider when his wife shook her head in disbelief.
"I didn't mean to fall asleep...But you were right I needed it" she admitted. Monica watched the sleeping baby in Chandler's arms avoiding looking at the smug look on her husband's face.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" he teased.
Monica sighed sitting on the arm of the chair, putting an arm around his shoulders. "You were right," she whispered with a defeated smile. "Don't get too cocky" she warned.
He chuckled looking down at his son in his arms. "We're parents" he mumbled as if he realized it for the first time.
Monica nodded in understanding "yeah we are. Does that scare you?" she asked, concerned.
Chandler shook his head "no. Not at all. It excites me. Especially when I get to do this with you."
She looked at her husband, studying his face as he was smiling down at their son. This was a different Chandler than the one she knew not king ago. It felt like yesterday he walked into her apartment proclaiming that he would be dying alone. The scared 25-year-old Chandler was now a slightly more mature father. It was unbelievable. "I love you Chandler," she said sincerely.
"I love you Monica" he smiled sweetly. The newborn in his arms shifted slightly before relaxing again with a sigh. "And I love you, Jack."
Crying filled the room from the baby monitor that sat on the dresser. Monica quickly got up and turned it down so the noise wouldn't wake her son. She glanced at Chandler who whispered a sarcastic "have fun." Monica shook her head with a smile and went downstairs quickly to tend to her daughter.
Chandler watched her leave feeling like the luckiest man on Earth. "I don't know about you Jack, but I think we're gonna be okay. Some days will definitely be harder than others, but just remember we're always a family. And your mother and I love you so much."