Two Days Before the Wedding

They had chosen a date: December 22. Monica had no problem getting Rachel and Phoebe on board to help her whip up this wedding in three weeks. Even Judy helped. She was the one who found the quaint little hall they were going to use for the reception. They had even managed to find a minister who agreed to marry them so close to Christmas in his small church. Monica had applied for the marriage license, which was given to her on the same day, and all they had to do was wait 24 hours before they got married.

Chandler had even flown to find his father and invite him to the wedding. Monica had insisted he should since Charles was still his father and should be included. Chandler had already been thinking about trying to reconnect with his father, so he went along with it. This gave him the perfect excuse to reach out. He still had the thought hanging over his head that he could have died and never gotten the chance to make amends with his father. It wasn't a perfect relationship, but at least they were talking again.

"Wow," Chandler said now, surveying the hall. Ross and Joey were standing on chairs hanging up the silver and gold intertwined banners around the perimeter. Rachel and Phoebe were blowing up the red and green balloons. Charles and Nora were pinning the table cloth on the head table. Jack and Judy were bickering with one another over which star looked better on top, the little one or the bigger one. He was balancing on a chair, each star in a hand held offset on the wall.

"It's really coming along, isn't it?" Monica asked. He nodded. The babies kicked in response too, making her laugh. "Our children agree."

"I wish they could see it," Chandler said. "Are you sure you're not going to be bothered by looking at yourself on our wedding day all pregnant and...bumpy in that dress?"

"Nice save, Bing," Monica commented, knowing he had almost said "fat" instead. "And no, it won't bother me. We can always retake pictures on another day, but I am perfectly happy to get married while pregnant."

"As long as you're sure," Chandler said, kissing the side of her head fondly.

"You're not thinking we should wait, are you?"

"No! I'm just making sure you're all right with this. That's all."

"Well, I'm perfectly all right with this," Monica smiled. "Lots of people get married while pregnant. It will give me that extra glow." She smiled, and Chandler had to admit she really was glowing.

"Okay," Rachel said, coming to join them. She was out of breath. "I can't blow anymore balloons. I have no air left."

"Maybe you can give my parents an opinion on whatever it is they're fighting about over there?" Monica suggested, gesturing.

"Sure," Rachel nodded. She went over to them, listening to their arguments as to why the star they thought would be better on top should be on top. In the end, Rachel found a medium sized star as a compromise, and both Jack and Judy "aahhed" at her solution, smiling and nodding. Disaster averted.

"Ouch! Joey!" Ross yelped.

"Sorry," Joey said. His smirk didn't imply he was sorry, though.

"What's going on?" Chandler asked, joining them.

"Joey keeps stabbing me with the safety pins," Ross complained.

"It's an accident," Joey insisted.

Chandler knew full well it wasn't, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he busied himself with helping Phoebe move tables and set them up where they wanted them. The red tablecloths draped over them easily. Phoebe set the candle and wreath center pieces on each table after they were finished. Monica came up behind them and added the cutlery and plates. Charles and Nora had finished and claimed they had to turn in early. Chandler was grateful they had helped at all and didn't say anything.

"This room is like Christmas itself," Phoebe commented.

"I know!" Monica said gleefully.

Chandler went to answer his now ringing phone and walked away from the group to talk. Monica watched him, wondering if it was about their house offer. They had managed to find one in the neighborhood that Gemma had suggested to Chandler. Monica had to hand it to Gemma, she knew a good neighborhood when she saw one. Monica felt that twinge of sadness again, remembering that Gemma was gone.

"I can't believe you guys are going to move," Phoebe lamented when she and Monica were alone. Rachel was still helping Jack and Judy, and Jack was now emphatically waving his arms around about something while Rachel did her best to look interested and Judy looked bored.

"Well, we can't stay there," Monica sighed. "If we had one more bedroom, we might have. And what about you guys? You're going to travel! You must be so excited."

"We are," Phoebe grinned. "We're going to Italy first."

"So romantic," Monica smiled. "Then Paris?"

"Of course!"

"I never thought Joey would be the type to travel," Monica mused.

"Me either, but this whole thing really shook him up. He has a three page bucket list now."

"He's not afraid to get on a plane?"

"I don't think he's thought about that, but we can't let the fear of flying consume us," Phoebe reasoned. "Otherwise they win again, right?"

Monica didn't say anything to this. She was scared to get on a plane after what happened in September, but she knew Phoebe was right. Fear was powerful, but it didn't have to take over if you didn't let it.

"I think you need to separate those two," Rachel said, rejoining them. "Every decision is a bicker between them."

"All right," Monica agreed. "I'll give them different partners."

She went over to do so, leaving Rachel and Phoebe alone together.

"You have a certain type of glow about you, Rachel," Phoebe noted, peering at her.

"Do I?" Rachel asked nonchalantly. She met Ross's eyes across the room, and they shared a secret look. She had become pregnant almost instantly after telling him she wanted more children. They hadn't told anyone yet, and she was roughly three months pregnant.

Phoebe gasped then.

"Rachel Karen Green...I mean Geller...are you pregnant?"

"Shhhh!" Rachel said, pulling Phoebe along to a quiet room. "Not so loud!"

"So you are?!"

"Yes, but don't tell anyone. Ross and I are going to announce it the day after the wedding."

"That's three whole days," Phoebe complained.

"I know, but I trust you can do it since you kept Chandler's love for Monica a secret, right?"

"Ah, you got me," Phoebe sighed. "All right, but if someone asks..."

"They won't ask you."

"That's what you think," Phoebe chuckled.

"Hey, girls," Monica said, poking her head into the room. "Less chatting and more decorating!"

"Yes ma'am," Rachel said, saluting.

"Hey," Chandler said, coming up to Monica then. He was beaming.

"We got it?" she dared to ask.

"We got it!" he cried, nodding vigorously.

"Oh my God!" Monica exclaimed. They grabbed each other's arms and started to jump up and down until Monica stopped after the second jump due to the babies.

"What? What is it?" Jack asked, seeing all the fuss. He had tape stuck to his face and fingers now. Joey did too. It was easy to figure out they were new partners in the decorating adventure.

"We got the house!" Monica shouted, raising her fists in the air.

"Congratulations!" Judy called. Rachel and Phoebe squealed and jumped up and down while Ross came over to hug them both.

"We're both house owners now," he beamed. "Isn't this exciting?!"

"Very," Monica agreed. Ross and Rachel were in the process of taking over Jack and Judy's house. Everything was finished, and all the paperwork had been signed. Jack and Judy were moving out, and then they could move in soon after. The parents were just waiting to finalize the sale of their new, smaller place.

Chandler looked at his friends and soon to be in laws. He felt blessed, and he took the moment to revel in their glory until Monica ordered him to start helping again.

It was almost midnight before they were finished.

The Eve Before the Wedding

Monica was gazing at her dress when Phoebe popped her head in the room. She had stored it over at their apartment so as not to risk Chandler snooping and finding the dress. She was going to move it back to her place that night when Chandler went to stay at Joey's while Phoebe stayed at Monica's. Rachel had asked Carol to babysit Daniel for the night so she could join them too. It would be their last girls' night in the apartment, which made Monica almost cry just thinking about it.

"It's so beautiful," Phoebe sighed with a smile, looking at the dress splayed on the bed. It was a loose fitting dress of course, but it still looked amazing on Monica. The person who worked on it did such a good job that you almost couldn't tell Monica was pregnant wearing it. It had capped, lace sleeves, and the bottom of the dress had diamond like beads sewn throughout it. The bodice had lace on it as well, which set it off.

"It'll all be over in 36 hours," Monica said sadly.

"But the memory will last forever," Phoebe prompted.

"Yes, you're right," Monica nodded, smiling. "It will."

"I can't believe that after all this time, you two are finally getting married," Phoebe said. "Well, again. I guess you guys did get married once."

"When we were drunk," Monica pointed out.

"Yes, but it still counts."

"I don't even remember it!"

"You have the tape to prove it."

"I have hidden that tape," Monica said. "I might even destroy it one day."

"Why haven't you?"

"Because," Monica replied. "Chandler says some really sweet things despite being wasted, and I like listening to them."

"Well, here's to a wedding you'll actually remember," Phoebe said, nudging her friend.

"Pizzas are here!" Joey called, entering the apartment with a stack of five pizzas.

"Um, you do know it's just the three of you, right?" Monica asked. He stared at her as though she was from outer space.

"The Joey Special is mine," he said. "The other three are split with Ross and Chandler."

"I see."

"We better get this dress moved and tucked away before Chandler sees it," Phoebe suggested. She helped Monica put it back in its zipped, plastic bag and carried it over to her apartment for her.

Monica paused in front of Joey, who was already digging into the pizza.

"You'd tell me if Chandler was freaking out, right?" she asked. He sucked in the dangling piece of cheese with his lips like a vacuum.

"Of course," he nodded, his mouth full. "But he's totally fine. He's better than fine actually."

"Good."

"You're not getting cold feet, are you?" Joey asked worriedly.

"Goodness, no! I definitely have warm feet," she answered with a smile.

"Good," he smiled back. Then he went back to wolfing down more pizza, so she left him to it.

Later-Monica, Rachel, and Phoebe

"Remember the time you had to switch apartments?" Phoebe asked, laughing.

"That stupid rooster," Monica laughed.

"What happened to the birds?" Rachel asked, suddenly realizing they weren't there anymore.

"Chandler had to take them to the 'farm,'" Monica answered with air quotes. "We told Joey they're running wild with other ducks and chickens."

"Aw, poor birds," Rachel said sadly.

"A lot of memories here," Phoebe commented. They were in the living room. Monica was on the couch while Phoebe sprawled on the floor. Rachel was sitting in the arm chair, her feet propped up on the coffee table.

"Yes, but it's time for someone else to make some memories here," Monica said. Her hands were crossed over her belly.

"This has been such a long journey," Rachel noted, looking at both of them.

"It really has, but it's been so good," Monica nodded.

"Except when you and Chandler got divorced," Phoebe pointed out.

"And when you lost your baby," Monica added, looking at Rachel.

"Richard dying," Phoebe said. "Finding out you couldn't have children."

"Chandler getting left at the altar," Monica said, remembering. "But that was good for me in the end. And him."

"The fires," Phoebe grimaced.

"The towers," Rachel said softly. They were all somber for a moment, remembering every single one of those moments in detail.

"But I got pregnant," Monica said after a moment. "So miracles do happen."

"Yes, they do," Phoebe agreed. Rachel nodded as well.

Monica swallowed her tears. While she felt sad for leaving and having everything change, she also felt very happy and ready for a new adventure in life.

"I wonder what the guys are doing over there?" Phoebe mused.

Ross, Joey, and Chandler

"Put it out!" Ross shouted. Joey aimed the fire extinguisher at the flaming ball quickly, putting out the blaze.

"Me next, me next!" Chandler chanted. Joey tossed him another ball, and Ross lit it. Chandler threw and missed the target completely. Joey put out the flames fast before it got the couch to catch fire.

"I told you fire ball was fun!" Joey exclaimed. He high fived the boys, and they grinned at each other as they sipped their beer and ate their pizza.

"You're gonna finally join the ranks of married men tomorrow," Ross said, clapping Chandler on the back. "How's it feel?"

"Kind of surreal," Chandler admitted. "I mean, I married her once before, so I know I can do it."

"That's right," Ross said, narrowing his eyes. "You did marry her once before. You know, if you hurt her..." He set down his beer at this point, looking Chandler straight in the eye. "I will seriously hurt you."

Chandler blinked, staring back before he burst into laughter the same time Joey did.

"I'm serious!" Ross cried. "I know kara-tay!"

"It's karate, genius," Chandler rolled his eyes.

"You wanna dance, brother?" Ross asked, getting into position.

"Knock it off," Joey ordered. "If anyone can take any of you, it's me. Chandler, just promise him you won't hurt Monica so we can end this nonsense and get back to fire ball!"

"I will never hurt your sister," Chandler promised Ross, who finally stopped bouncing like a boxer waiting to strike.

"Thank you," Ross bobbed his head. "That's all I wanted to hear."

"Okay, my turn," Joey said, picking up the ball with his oven mitts again. Chandler lit it, and he threw it. Ross was the one to put it out this time. They hooted and hollered like teenagers, playing fire ball until they eventually grew tired and fell asleep.

The Wedding Day

"I'm getting married today!" Monica shouted as she waddled out from her bedroom. Her babies were getting heavier as the days went on. She couldn't wait until they were born. As much as she loved being pregnant, she was eager to not be pregnant anymore too.

"Woohoo!" Rachel whooped from the couch. She had offered to stay there while Phoebe took the guest room. She sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"It's snowing!" Phoebe cried, bursting out of her room then. They all looked out the window as the soft flakes fell gently. Phoebe brushed the Christmas tree branches out of her face as she looked. They had set it up a few days earlier.

"It's going to be a great day," Rachel said, patting Monica on the back. "I can feel it."

The girls made breakfast together and talked more about their favorite memories. Rachel had checked in on Daniel, who was doing fine. Carol and Susan were bringing him and Ben to the wedding since Rachel was the maid of honor.

"Mrs. Bing in t-minus four hours," Phoebe said, nudging Monica.

"I can't wait," Monica grinned. The babies kicked then, making her laugh. Rachel and Phoebe took turns feeling the kicks.

"They're excited too," Rachel smiled.

"What was it like?" Monica asked Rachel and Phoebe. "Giving birth?"

They both looked at each other first before looking back at Monica.

"I'm not gonna lie, sweetie, it was painful," Rachel said. "But it was so worth it."

"It will be worth it," Monica agreed. She looked at her friends and felt like she was finally in a club that she always wanted to be in. Both of them had given birth, and now she would too.

"At least yours gets to come home with you," Phoebe said a little sadly. She still saw her nieces and nephew, but not as often as she would like.

"Aw, Phoebs," Rachel said, rubbing her back softly. "You'll have mini Joey and Phoebes running around in no time."

"That's the plan," Phoebe grinned finally.

They talked more about children and babies until it was time to start getting ready for their wedding.

Joey, Ross, and Chandler

"Stand still," Ross ordered as he fixed Joey's tie. Chandler was already prepped and ready to go. He felt nervous, but it was a good nervous. He had heard the girls already leave their apartment to head to the church. They were to wait until they got there before joining them so as not to see Monica in her dress.

"You know you could have officiated your own wedding, right?" Joey said to Chandler after Ross was finished with him and began working on his own tie.

"I'd rather be in my wedding than officiating," Chandler replied. There was more he could add, but he refrained.

"I guess, yea."

"Hopefully you won't get left at the altar, eh?" Ross smirked.

"Why would you even bring that up?" Chandler asked crossly.

"I don't know. It seemed amusing to say at the time."

"She wouldn't, would she?" Chandler asked, panicked. Kathy leaving him for another man at his wedding had been hard enough. If Monica left too...

"Dude, she's crazy about you," Joey assured him. "And she's carrying your twins. She can't run very fast if she did leave."

"Haha!" Ross laughed, high fiving Joey. It was rare for Joey to manage a good joke.

"Guys, I'm serious," Chandler said. "She's too good for me."

"You have got to stop saying that," Ross chastised. "You're perfect for each other, and my sister is not going to bail on your wedding."

Chandler felt a little better. Joey and Ross finished getting ready, and they left for the church.

The Ceremony

Monica felt nervous as she stood waiting to go down the aisle. Her father was standing beside her, her hand on his arm. Rachel and Phoebe were standing behind her in their gold brides maid dresses.

"You ready, sweetheart?" Jack asked.

"I am. Is it normal to be this nervous, though?" she countered, wiping her brow.

"It's one of life's biggest events," Jack said. "If you weren't nervous, I'd be concerned."

Monica nodded and held his arm tighter. She could feel the babies stirring as well, as if they could sense her nervousness.

The organ started playing, cuing their entry. Monica smiled as they walked slowly down the aisle. She saw Chandler standing there looking proud, his hands folded in front of him. Joey and Ross stood tall next to him.

Jack gave her away with a kiss on the cheek before going to sit beside Judy, who took his hand and wiped the tears already starting in her eyes.

Monica looked at Chandler, and he smiled at her. She smiled back, and the minister started the ceremony. When it was time for their vows, Chandler pulled out his piece of paper and started to read.

"Monica," he said. "We've walked a long path to get here, but we're finally here. I'm not scared at all. In fact, I'm excited. There is so much more in life that is going to happen, and I get to be with you and tackle them together. You're the most beautiful, smart, amazing woman I know, and I'm so lucky to get to be called your husband. I love you, and I'm ready to cherish you forever."

Monica felt like crying, and she could see Chandler's eyes were a bit wet too. She cleared her throat, pulling out her paper now.

"Chandler," she started. "I always just thought of you as the goofy guy across the hall until one day you weren't. You became something more, and I was afraid to tell you for so long. It wasn't until I found out that you felt the same that I felt brave enough to tell you. Ever since, we have grown closer together, and I just know we will stand strong together as we face the challenges that are going to come our way. You're my best friend, I love you, and I can't wait to start this journey of life with you."

They could hear sniffles in the crowd now, but Monica managed to keep from crying. They exchanged rings, and then the minister announced them husband and wife.

Their kiss felt different somehow, but it was a good different.

Everyone cheered as they held hands and walked back down the aisle together as husband and wife.

The Reception

Monica had tried dancing a little but grew tired easily. She sat and watched her family and friends dance together and laugh. The original six, though, were sitting at the table with her.

"I'm still seeing spots," Joey complained. They had their photos done, and the flash the photographer had used had been blinding.

"It'll go away," Monica promised. He still rubbed his eyes anyway.

"Look at us," Phoebe commented. "All married."

Chandler reached to hold Monica's hand, and she smiled at him. Ross was drinking champagne with Joey and Chandler. Phoebe was too. Monica noticed Rachel was not. She squinted at her friend.

"Rach?" she asked.

"Yea?"

"Everything okay? Just water tonight?"

"Oh, yea. I'm not in the mood for alcohol right now," Rachel answered. She took a sip to hide her face behind the glass. Monica raised a brow.

"Are you pregnant?"

"What? No!" Rachel denied.

"Rach, just tell them," Ross said, chuckling.

"We agreed not to until after the wedding," Rachel insisted.

"It's a theme with us," Monica said. "Weddings equal pregnancy announcements."

"All right, all right," Rachel caved. "Yes, I'm pregnant again. Three months along."

"That's great!" Chandler cheered. "Our babies will have a cousin close to their age."

"You're moving into a bigger house just in time," Monica noted. Ross nodded.

"Dad told us we can move in the beginning of February."

"I won't be able to help you move," Monica warned.

"That's all right," Ross grinned. "I've got Joey." Joey flexed his muscles on cue, grinning as well.

"I can still help organize boxes," Monica offered.

"Great because I suck at that," Rachel replied.

They sat there in silence then, watching the other guests. Ben was dancing with Carol while Susan was swinging Daniel around and making him squeal. Jack and Judy were attempting some kind of foxtrot together while laughing. Chandler's parents were getting along, which was a blessing. All in all, it was a wonderful day and night, a little bit of light after so much darkness.

Without saying a word, they all reached to hold one each other's hands.