A/N: I am sorry it's taking me this long to update, but that's the way it'll be for a few more weeks.

32nd week of pregnancy.

Forever and a Day

Chapter 12

"You know, I still don't know why people say yellow is gender neutral." Several little dots of yellow paint covering his pale blue T-shirt, Chandler commented to Monica as he inspected his own handiwork. He had to admit, the room looked great. "I like yellow!" he exclaimed out loud and turned to see Monica smirking at him.

"Well, hopefully, that means yellow is not really gender neutral." She laughed, taking a sip of her orange juice. She felt the baby make himself known by the tiny kick he gave her. He liked orange juice.

The baby had started to get a little bit lazy ever since it'd crossed the five-pound mark. At first she'd worried, but the doctor had explained that it was perfectly normal since the baby now had lesser space in the womb to move around as it grew.

She wrote the kick count on the notepad next to her telephone and turned to face Chandler, who was now inspecting their Christmas tree. "Eight in one hour," she announced as she came and stood near him, admiring her decorated tree.

"Two more to go, then." He smiled as he kissed the side of her head, wrapping an arm around her waist.

The guestroom, which had acted as Chandler's bedroom, had been turned into the nursery, and was now filled with the baby's stuff. They both gave this as the reason when anyone asked why Chandler slept in Monica's room every night.

The real intent was very different, though, and they didn't possess the energy to explain to everyone what had changed between them over the course of these eight months.

They were in love, but they were yet to admit it to each other. It made sense to wait until the baby came, to decide what the future held for them. After all, they had all of forever to figure things out.

"So, what did you get Joey for Christmas?" she asked him, her arms encircling his waist as she leaned against his shoulder. They'd all decided on Secret Santa in order to avoid getting crappy, abysmal gifts from Joey and Chandler, two years in a row. She'd picked Phoebe and he'd picked Joey.

"Silence of the Lambskin." He brushed away the smeared paint on her arm, where it came in contact with his shirt, noticing that she was looking at him clueless. "Oh, it's porn," he shrugged, explaining.

She shook her head, expressing her distaste at his choice of Christmas present. "I thank the Lord everyday that you didn't pick me for Secret Santa."

"Hey!" he exclaimed, hurt. "It's Joey. When you gift someone a thing, it should be something that they would get the most use out of."

"Oh, yeah," she said sarcastically. "That explains the ribbed condoms I got last year."

"Yeah, that was Joey's idea" He grinned sheepishly. "Sorry about that."

She smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him close, at least as close they could possibly get with a huge barrier between them. "You're forgiven."

He grinned, his fingers rising to touch her throat. "Can we move this to the kitchen?"

"Why?" she asked softly, her gaze lingering on his lips as he leaned in.

"'Cause there's a mistletoe, right there." He pointed at the small twig that hung in the kitchen.

"We don't really need mistletoe, y'know?" she whispered back, standing on her toes to reach his lips.

"Oh, thank God," he murmured, closing the gap.

If kissing was an emotion, she'd have said that it was the most beautiful one of them all. Slow and unhurried, soft and gentle, his kisses held a promise of their future together.

They drew apart, looking down at her pregnant belly. "Nine," he smiled, counting the kick. The baby, somehow, always sensed it when its parents kissed.

She smiled back, feeling the deep blue of his eyes draw her closer. "Chandler…" she started, but they sprang apart as the doorknob turned. If only their friends knew how to knock.

"Hey, guys!" Ross, who was now newly-single, entered, looking surprisingly upbeat. Maybe it was the spirit of Christmas Eve. "How are the parents-to-be?"

"Peachy!" Smiling falsely, nervously, Chandler turned his attention to the yellow stain on his shirt. The couple had turned a deep crimson, feeling like teenagers caught making out.

"Well, you do look 'peachy'," Ross remarked, referring to their blushed cheeks. "Oh, hey, you've painted the nursery!"

"Yeah, we thought it was high time." Chandler shrugged.

Ross nodded, realizing what a completed nursery meant. His best friend and little sister were indeed shacking up, what with sleeping together and all (he hoped it was just in the literal sense). He wanted to talk to Chandler about it, but with Monica around, it didn't feel right to start such a conversation. He decided he could have a word with Chandler, sometime later, when Monica was not around. "Great." He nodded. "I am gonna go to the coffeehouse, you guys want to come?"

"Sure," Monica nodded, moving toward her brother.

"Okay, but I don't think I can come out looking like this." Chandler motioned to his paint-stained T-shirt. "You guys get going. I'll be along in a few."

The siblings nodded and he waited until the door closed behind them. He entered the bedroom and opened the drawer that Monica had allotted for his clothes. Reaching for the back end of the drawer, he retrieved the red velvet jewelry box, opening it to check whether its content was safe. Closing it again, he moved to the bed and placed it beneath his pillow.

He'd wanted to give it to her ever since he bought it, but tonight was the night. He just hoped it would change her opinion of his gift-giving abilities.

~.~

The tension between Ross and Rachel had diminished to a very large extent, and all the six were now in the coffeehouse, together, after a long time. Chandler thanked the Christmas spirit again.

"I am bored," Monica sighed and turned to him. "Can we rent a movie tonight?"

"Oh! Oh! I know what movie you should rent!" Joey said enthusiastically, but Monica cut him off before he could continue.

"A movie that is not 'Die Hard'?" she asked Chandler again, ignoring Joey's childish pout.

"So you just assume that I would say 'Die Hard'?" Joey asked, offended. When everyone shrugged, implying that that was their obvious guess, he looked even more miffed. "I was actually going to say 'Die Hard 3', but whatever."

Monica rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and I was thinking more along the lines of Bill Pullman wooing Sandra Bullock." She turned towards Chandler again. "What do you say?"

It was not like he had a say in it, but he nodded anyway. "Anything for you." He kissed her cheek and sat up straight. "But all I need now is some coffee. Do you want something?"

She bit her lips, contemplating the question. "Blueberry muffin." She said finally as he got up. "Oh, wait!" She grabbed his hand as he turned to leave. "Two. Two blueberry muffins." She let go of his hand and caressed her stomach fondly, smiling at him. "I am eating for two now. So two."

Chandler chuckled. "Yeah, and that's why I though we could tell Ross that you were just getting fat again."

She smacked his butt in return, and muttered, "You better get away from me before I can stand up."

This was Ross's golden opportunity. "Wait, I'll come too." He leapt off his chair and followed Chandler.

"Should I make it two coffees?" Chandler asked his friend who'd sidled up next to him.

"Dude, what are you doing?" Ross demanded in a low, accusatory tone.

"Umm… Getting coffee?" Chandler answered uncertainly.

"No. I mean, what are you doing?" he repeated, emphasizing a few words for Chandler's benefit. When his friend stared back, clueless, he sighed. "You and Monica, Chandler. What are guys doing?" he explained his question more patiently

'I love her' was on the tip of his tongue, but he pushed it back, opting instead for turning a light shade of red. "Nothing. We're doing nothing." He shrugged, failing miserably at his attempt to be nonchalant.

Ross raked his fingers though his hair in frustration. "Look, you're my best friend, and I really wish I wasn't having this conversation with you. You guys are having a baby together, and I cannot be more thrilled for you both. But…" he trailed off, sighing, his fingers working through his hair again. Asking about two adults' sleeping arrangement was a lot more complicated than he'd thought it'd be. Especially when one was his sister. He realized a moment later that he didn't really care about Chandler sleeping with his sister (in the literal sense, but the figurative meaning was what had brought this whole scenario upon them, in the first place) but what he actually did care about was that, neither of them should end up hurt as result of all this.

"Here you go." Gunther placed the coffee and the muffins on the counter as the two men stared at each other apprehensively.

Chandler finally broke the staring contest. "Ross, if you're afraid that I'd leave your sister to bring up a child on her own, I'll tell you that I am not planning on doing that." Chandler patted his friends arm comfortingly. "She means a lot to me, Ross. I am not going to mess this up." He shook his head with conviction.

Ross smiled slowly, nodding, wondering from where Chandler had acquired his new bravado. He patted his friend's arm in appreciation. "Thanks, man." He turned his head, his eyes lingering on Monica for a few seconds. His head snapped toward Chandler again, his eyes narrowed, the look on his face, once again accusatory.

"What now?" Chandler asked dubiously.

"You love her!" Ross hissed. But his eyes widened as he understood the implication of the notion. His best friend and his sister! "Oh, my god! You love her!" he exclaimed, happily and a little too loudly. "Don't you?"

Gunther, who knew nothing about the topic under discussion, and Rachel, who knew everything about the same, looked at Chandler, from behind the counter, in anticipation for his reply. Chandler stared at the three faces, dumbfounded. He could feel a sense of utter relief when he heard Monica's voice break the tension with 'What's taking you so long?'

"I'll be right over!" he said brightly, carrying the coffee and muffins as he moved away as fast as he could from the three people who were looking at him like he was their prey. "Here." He handed the muffins to Monica, feeling Ross's gaze on his back.

Yes, he was in love, but he was not going to admit it to three gawking creeps!

"Thank you," Monica murmured, smiling softly, holding his gaze for a moment too long.

Yes, he was in love, but she would be the one to hear him say it first.

~.~

"Mon, sweetie, wake up." Chandler whispered, patting her on the shoulder lightly as she slept beside him on the couch.

She opened her eyes reluctantly, groaning as she did. Her eyes opened to a blank TV screen. "What happened to 'While You Were Sleeping'?" she questioned him sleepily.

He chuckled. "'While You Were Sleeping' ended while you were sleeping." He helped her into a sitting position. "You can watch the rest of it later. Tomorrow is Christmas, so we'll have to wake up early." Helping her to her feet, he grasped her hand tightly. "Let's go to the bedroom."

She followed him obediently, feeling more awake now. "What time is it?"

"Around nine." He lifted the covers as she got into the bed and then crawled in beside her. "Are you still sleepy?" he asked nervously, his fingers lingering on the box beneath his pillow.

"Not really," she shook her head, smiling.

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Mon, umm…" He pulled out the box from underneath the pillow. "I kinda got you something for Christmas."

She propped herself on her elbow and turned on the bedside lamp as she started to say, "Chandler, you really shouldn't hav-" but when her sight fell on the box, she stopped abruptly. Something told her that it would be more than whatever she'd expected. She glanced up at him uncertainly.

"Aren't you going to open it?" he smiled, holding up the box to her. "It's not condoms, I swear."

She took hold of the box from him after a few seconds and opened it slowly. She inhaled sharply at what was inside, her fingers trailing along the length of the gold chain with a locket in the middle. "Chandler, it's beautiful," she whispered reverently.

He moved closer towards her and flipped open the locket for her to view what it held inside. On one side, it contained a small picture of Monica holding Ben on the day he was born, with Chandler standing beside her. The other side was empty.

"We can add a picture of our baby here," he said softly, pointing at the empty side.

She glanced up at him, smiling. "I love it, Chandler." She kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."

He closed the locket and took the chain from the box to clasp in around her neck. "You're welcome," he murmured as they lay back down.

She fingered the locket again, flipping it open.

He pointed at the picture again. "I borrowed it from Ross," he whispered. "'Cause you know, that was the night." He grinned nervously. She snuggled closer as he continued. "I remember thinking at that moment, 'She's going to be the most wonderful mother, ever'."

She looked up at him, surprised, and glanced down at the picture again. In the picture, she was looking down at Ben. She remembered feeling almost like a mother as she'd smiled down at the child at her breast. She inspected it closely again, this time focusing on Chandler alone. His arms were wrapped around her, exuding a gentle possessiveness. He was not smiling for the camera. He was smiling down at her.

An overwhelming, unfamiliar emotion choked her as she pulled herself closer to him. "Chandler, I…" she breathed, wanting to say more, but the words evaded her.

"Yeah, Mon?" he smiled, brushing her hair from her face as he gazed into her eyes.

She shook her head simply before she leaned in to kiss him.

The baby kicked two times, in quick succession, as their lips met. He drew back grinning, pecking her lips two more times. "Somebody's chaperoning," he chuckled, pulling her closer as she laid her head on his chest, wrapping an arm around her, over her belly, protectively. "Goodnight, Monica."

"Goodnight, Chandler," she smiled against his chest as she fell asleep.

~.~

She woke up for the second time that night with an incredible urge to pee. Pulling herself away from Chandler's embrace reluctantly, she fumbled her way through the darkness, finally managing to enter the living room.

She flicked the light switch on and made her way to the bathroom. The reflection in the mirror made her smile. The locket shone brightly under the light.

She touched it again and moved to the toilet. Hiking up her nightdress, that's when she saw it.

Several streaks of red, curving their way down her calf. She was bleeding, quite heavily.

She stared at her leg mesmerized. An overwhelming sense of surreality descending upon her, she stared down at the blood, unmoving.

She bent down and pressed her fingertips against one of the red lines, bringing them up to her eyes to see. The redolent smell of iron filled her nostrils, the blood looking almost black under the light.

This was no dream.

She stood frozen, a slow numbness spreading through her body.

She stood frozen, hoping her baby was still alive.

~.~.~