A/N: Here's the romance that we've all been waiting for. 28th week of pregnancy. And I'm pretty sure 'Bugaboo Cameleon' is an anachronism, so kindly ignore that (the anachronism, I mean :))!

Forever and a Day

Chapter 11

Chandler watched as his new roommate puttered around the living room of apartment 20, with a cleaning rag in one gloved hand, and a bottle of Lysol in the other.

She had widened her stance to balance the additional weight due to her ever-expanding pregnant belly. Her feet spread wide apart, her abdomen jutting through the thin material of her shirt, he could clearly see her protruding navel through the material, as she moved around carefully and as swiftly as a woman in her third trimester could. He smiled. By the looks of it, her body had adapted pretty well to the pregnancy.

She sat down next to him on the couch, squirting some Lysol on the coffee table, and began scrubbing it with utmost concentration. He watched her with amusement as she tried to remove an imaginary coffee ring on the table.

'Nesting', she called it. But he knew it was just an excuse for her to fully reveal the 'Inner Monica'.

Monica finally sighed and moved back to sit on the couch properly, holding her aching back. "You know what, I give up. This thing is never going to be clean."

"Sweetie, but it is clean." He put down the newspaper he was reading and moved closer to her, placing a hand on her back, massaging it lightly. "It seems to me like you've nested enough. Why don't you take a day off of work and get some rest?"

He had moved all his stuff to Rachel's bedroom which was now his bedroom. The other four had helped, Ross with some reluctance, Rachel, Joey and Phoebe, happily. Not many things had changed in the apartment itself due to the shifting, but Monica was not too thrilled with Chandler's Barcalounger sitting smack dab in the middle of her beautiful living room. That huge, black, hideous thing could never make a fan out of anyone other than Joey and Chandler.

"Yeah," she nodded, leaning in toward him, enjoying the caresses of his hand on her back. "I called in sick this morning."

"You're not sick, though, right?" he pulled away from her and asked her in concern.

"No. I am going stroller shopping with Rachel and Phoebe." She took his hand again and placed it on her back, urging him to continue whatever he had been doing. He moved his hand beneath her shirt and she sighed when his warm hand stroked her back. "God, this is better than any orgasm I've ever had."

He laughed, kissing her temple and pulled his hand away, again. "As much as I'd love to continue rubbing your bare back, I have to go to work. Not that people would miss me at work," he shrugged, adding as an afterthought, "but I need the money, now that I have a family to support."

She nodded, watching him stand up, wondering whom he meant by family. She hoped he meant her and their baby. She wanted a family. She wanted to be his family. "I'll see you tonight, then." She played with his tie when he bent down and kissed her on the forehead.

"I'll see you tonight," he echoed, smiling. "Have a good time shopping! And, I hear that if you're looking for a good stroller, 'Bugaboo Cameleon' is totally the way to go." He winked at her and turned to leave, but stopped and turned back to look at her again. "Mon, did I tell you that my mother is visiting us this evening?" he asked her, creasing his eyebrows.

Her eyes widened. "What!"

He stroked his forehead, sighing. "Sorry, I guess I should have told you sooner." He moved towards her again, placing his hands on the back of the couch. "But, yeah, she's coming this evening to see us. Apparently, she's here to promote her 'Euphoria Unraveled' and she wanted to see – and I quote – her grandchild." He tilted his head ever so slightly. "Is that okay with you?"

"That she's coming to see her grandchild?" she frowned.

"No." He shook his head. "Is it okay that she's coming?"

"Yeah." She nodded reluctantly. "But I am kind of scared."

"Why?" It was his turn to frown.

"I don't know… Maybe because I am carrying her grandchild?" she guessed. Chandler's mother had always been kind toward her, and if rumors are to be believed, Nora even had hots for her brother. Eww. But right now, she felt like a teenage girl who was about to meet her boyfriend's parents for the first time. And it didn't feel good.

He smiled, ruffling her hair. "There's nothing to worry about, Mon. She's gonna love you." He leaned in and spoke in a low, conspiratorial tone. "But if she offers you any pearls of wisdom on how to be a wonderful mother, don't take it."

She laughed, propping her back against the armrest of the couch, causing her shirt to ride up her belly. "I'll keep that in mind." She nodded.

"He's moving around, isn't he?" Chandler asked, watching her bump closely. Although he couldn't see a clear outline, he could make out an amorphous form moving around restlessly.

"Since five in the morning," she replied as she too looked down at her belly. She looked up at him again. "And you need to go to work." She patted her stomach, smiling. "Don't worry, he'll still be here when you get back. You can watch him then."

"We really need to stop calling him 'him'. For all we know, he could be a 'she'." He grinned and leaned in to kiss on the cheek. "But you're right. I do need to go to work." He opened the door to leave, and just before he left, he turned to her again with a smile. "Don't forget. It's 'Bugaboo Cameleon'."

~.~

But the 'Bugaboo Cameleon' didn't come cheap. Even though she loved her unborn baby, spending that much amount of money on a stroller seemed too extravagant. She glanced at the gorgeous stroller wistfully and moved along the aisle.

"Mon, we need a list." Phoebe tapped her on the shoulder to gain her attention.

"What list?" She started picking the essentials like onesies, nappies, bottles, and wipes. Maybe she'd have to come with Chandler to pick out a stroller.

"We're throwing you a baby shower in two weeks, remember? Do you want us to invite your mother?" Rachel's attention got diverted when she saw a hot pink, stuffed crocodile. "Oh, Mon! Look at how cute this is! You're totally buying this." Rachel placed it in the shopping cart.

On the second thought, Rachel wasn't too different from a child, herself. Monica smiled, shaking her head. "Yeah, you can invite my mother. Can I give you the list tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sure." Phoebe nodded, pulling Rachel away, whispering something in her ear. Rachel nodded in agreement and they both turned their attention to Monica again. "Mon, can you take care of this? We need to do something. We'll meet you at the check-out counter."

"Okay…" she said slowly, wondering what these two were up to. Only when she turned to see her cart after they left did she realize that she was done shopping, at least for now. It wasn't like the baby was coming tomorrow.

She paid for the items using her credit card, all the while looking for her missing friends. When she turned around, she saw them standing behind her, grinning widely, hiding something behind their backs.

Their contagious enthusiasm carrying over to her, she moved toward them, her curiosity piqued. "What?" she asked them grinning.

They moved aside, revealing what was hidden behind them. "Ta da!"

The 'Bugaboo Cameleon' in yellow.

Phoebe and Rachel were looking at her like two kids in a candy store, waiting for her to react. "We know you loved it." Rachel smiled at her softly.

"Guys," she croaked, feeling a rush of unexpected emotions. "Thank you so much. I love it!" She pulled them into a hug. "I love you both so much."

"We love you, too, Mon," the girls whispered, still locked in a tight embrace, oblivious to the stares that they were receiving.

~.~

"So, I see that you've purchased the stroller." Chandler greeted her, lightly running his fingers along the handle of the said stroller.

"Yeah, it's a gift from Rachel and Phoebe," she smiled weakly from her place on one of the kitchen chairs, feeling too tired to even move.

"Wow, that's… that's really sweet of them," he smiled back, placing his suitcase on the kitchen table. "How are ya today?" He stroked her hair.

"I have an insatiable hunger, but everything, both edible and inedible, makes me nauseous. I am fat, I have a heartburn from hell, I haven't slept properly in two months, my back hurts, my feet hurt, and I cry for just about everything. In a word, I am miserable," she finished, resting her head on her folded hands, looking away from him.

She did sound miserable, but he was not going to tell her that. "Oh, honey, you're pregnant. That's what you're," he tugged at her hand, urging her to stand up. When she did, he pulled her towards the couch as he sat down with his back resting against the armrest.

"Yeah, same difference," she mumbled, nudging him to move further back, and sat between his legs, leaning back against his chest. "You know, I'd prefer period pains any day over this."

He chuckled, intertwining their hands, noticing how perfectly her slender fingers fit between his. "Just two more months, Mon, and you'd be back to your period pains!" he said enthusiastically.

She leaned her head to one side to glare at him. "You did this to me," she accused, pointing at her abdomen with their entwined fingers

"And I am not sorry about it." He shook his head solemnly. Her glare intensified as she stared at him with incredulity. "No, no," he rushed to explain his statement. "Not because of that night!" He thought for a few seconds and added, "But, boy, was it a great night…" When she slapped his hand, he returned to reality. "I meant the baby, Mon. I am not sorry that we made a baby together," he kissed her hair.

She looked a little mollified, but she was still glaring at him. "Should I really like you right now?"

"I am afraid so." He grinned, placing their entwined hands on her belly, caressing it gently. "Once the baby comes, you won't even remember this part."

They stayed in silence while she lay in his arms contentedly, but she broke the silence a few moments later.

"How much of that night do you remember, anyway?" she regretted asking him that, the instant she said it. Some things were forbidden territory and you'd be better off if you didn't tread into it.

This was one such thing.

He deliberated over her question, feeling caught off guard. All, he wanted to say, but he stuck with what sounded safe to him. "I remember kissing you," he said softly, pulling her closer against him. "You?"

"Most of it," she replied, her voice just above the audible range, both of them feeling the atmosphere tense up. They could feel the strange silence enveloping them, unsettling them both.

Suddenly, his lips were on the juncture of her nape and shoulder. Neither knew how his lips had gotten there, nor did they know what they were doing there still. Their entwined hands on her bump came to a still.

She inhaled sharply, the abruptness and intimacy of the moment affecting her in more ways than it should. He breathed in slowly, the intoxicating smell of her skin reminding him of that night. He parted his lips slightly, as he kissed her there.

"I remember making love with you, Mon," he murmured, his lips moving against her skin as he said it. He didn't know whether it was the wrong thing to say, although he knew that it sure as hell wasn't the right thing to say. But he didn't care. All the almost kisses and those innumerable moments filled with sexual tension had reached its breaking point. Some things had to be said.

She closed her eyes tightly, her heart thudding against her ribs in a slow, torturous pace. But she slowly opened her eyes, her brain reaching an impulsive decision.

This felt right. The feel of his arms around her, the feel of his lips on her. It felt as right as it'd felt of the night of their baby's conception.

She tilted her head on his chest to face him, her eyes locking with his. He leaned in, his lips brushing her cheek, slowly making their way towards her lips. He kissed the corner of her mouth, his breath warm on her skin, as he inched his way towards her lips, which she parted invitingly in anticipation.

When he reached there, someone knocked the door.

This time, they didn't move apart in haste. They knew there was more to the moment. They knew that this was just the beginning.

She sat up slowly, breathing hard. "I guess that's your mother," she smiled, noticing his flushed face. He nodded slowly, as he stood up and helped her to her feet.

She went to the door, with him following her, and she opened the door to reveal a very excited looking Nora.

"Monica!" his mother cried, pulling Monica into a hug before she could respond.

Monica laughed, hugging the impulsive woman. "Hello, Mrs. Bing."

"Nora. Please, call me Nora." She pulled away from Monica and turned to her son, who'd moved to close the door, with a smile. "Honey, how are you?"

"Fine, mom. I am fine." He hugged her, feeling a little nonplussed due to the sudden change of atmosphere. "How was your flight?"

"Terrible." She shook her head, but turned toward Monica and smiled, pointing at her belly. "But this makes it all worth it."

Monica smiled back and motioned towards the living room. "Why don't you come in? Would you like something to drink?"

"No, that's okay, dear." She glanced at her watch. "I am actually in a hurry. I wanted to see how my grandson or granddaughter in there is doing." She motioned to Monica's belly again, grinning excitedly. "May I?"

"Sure, sure." She nodded, feeling the baby kick as it felt its grandmother's touch. "Kicking. Kicking away." She smiled at Nora.

Nora laughed, pointing at Chandler. "When I was carrying him, I never used to feel a thing. Even as a fetus, he was incredibly lazy."

"Thank you, mother." Chandler patted his mother's arm, smiling sarcastically.

"Do you know the sex?" Nora asked, turning from her son to Monica.

"No," she shook her head. "But we've picked out names."

"Oh, yeah? Do you mind telling me what they are?"

"Emma or Erica, for a girl. Daniel or Jack, if it's a boy," Chandler smiled widely, placing an arm around Monica's waist, pulling her closer.

"Beautiful, elegant names." Nora nodded her approval. "They sound strong and honest."

"Yeah, well, nothing could be as fancy as Chandler," he remarked and turned to look at Monica. "I know you were shocked on hearing 'Muriel', but do you know what my mother's initial choice of middle name for me was?" When she shook her head, he continued. "Holly. She wanted it to be Holly."

Nora shrugged as Monica laughed. "What can I say? I am a huge fan of 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. Charles convinced me to name him Muriel, instead, after his own mother."

"Would you like me to name our son 'Holly'?" Monica asked him, placing a hand on his cheek.

"What do you have against our baby?" he asked her in exasperation, as both the women laughed. "Fine, gang up on me."

Monica yawned slowly, glancing at the clock. "This is getting ridiculous. It's just eight, but I'd have no trouble falling asleep now."

"Then you probably should." Nora suggested. "This is one period of your life when you can do almost anything you wish. And you're probably keeping the baby up."

"Oh, but…" Monica trailed off, ticking her fingers among the three of them.

Nora waved her hand. "Oh, don't mind me. I am going to be in New York for a while, I can even drop by some other time."

Monica nodded. Any other time, she'd have been reluctant to leave a guest, but she understood that Nora might want to have a word with her son, in private. "Goodnight, then. It was great seeing you, Nora. Maybe we could do this again sometime?"

"Absolutely." Nora hugged her, and when she pulled away, she stroked her bump. "Take good care of my grandchild."

"I will." She nodded, smiling. "Goodnight, Chandler." She kissed him on the cheek and left for her room.

He watched her as she walked away, wondering whether they'd ever talk about what had happened between them, before his mother had turned up. When he turned back to look at his mother, he noticed that his mother was looking at him strangely. "What?"

"You love her, don't you?" his mother asked with a knowing lilt in her voice.

He stared at his mother stunned, his face turning a quaint shade of maroon. "What? No!" he protested, shaking his vehemently.

Nora smiled lightly, shaking her head as she disapproved his denial, her gaze on her son's face unwavering.

Chandler sighed deeply. "Mom, that's ridiculous! I don't love her." Off his mother's look, he continued, "Okay, maybe on some level, I do love her. You know, as a friend, as the mother of my child. But I don't love her..." he ended it weakly.

She went closer to her son and took his hand in hers. "Chandler, I write about love for a living. My version of it may be a little exaggerated, yes, but I still do know what love is. I find it with different men, every week, but you've managed to find it with one woman, which will last the rest of your lives." She stroked his cheek affectionately. "I don't know when you'll realize that, but I really hope it'll be soon." She kissed him on the cheek and walked to the door. Just before she closed it behind her, she turned to look at him again. "Think about it."

~.~

He was in his bed, three hours later, but sleep eluded him. He stared at the ceiling in the dark, thinking about what his mother had said.

Despite all of her foibles, he loved her, and he knew that despite all of his, she loved him back. Even though she, along with his father, had screwed up his childhood, he knew she only wished him well. And there was no one who could hit the nail right on the head as well as his mother could.

He wasn't in love, was he?

He turned to look at the door when he heard it creak open timorously. "Monica?" he called out.

"Yeah," she replied softly, closing the door. She crawled into the bed as he moved to make room for her. "Would you mind if I slept here with you?"

"No." He snuggled closer to her, underneath the covers, and wrapped an arm around her. "Bad dream?"

"No," she shook her head and laid it on the crook of his shoulder. "Couldn't sleep."

Their hearts beat in unison as both of them stayed awake. She whispered into the silence. "Chandler?"

"Yeah, Mon," he pulled away from her slightly to look at her through the darkness.

She propped herself on her elbow as she leaned over him. "I remember kissing you." She entwined her fingers with his and brought them to her lips. "I remember making love with you," she whispered, leaning in. Her lips brushed against his in a soft, tender kiss, just a flutter of two pairs of lips.

At the lip of a black hole, 'time' holds no meaning. It lingers forever, leaving you to live one moment, for all eternity. She wanted time to freeze, just like it would there.

But they pulled apart, content with the delicate kiss. They knew they'd stay awake, even through the soporific silence. They knew they'd be content with just lying in each other's arms.

He closed his eyes, reaching a conclusion.

His mother was right.

He was in love with Monica.

~.~.~