AN: Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long since I last posted. Crazy past few months as I'm sure you all have experienced as well. Hope you like this chapter. PLZ R&R!
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Chapter 25
Chandler sat in front of his computer doing research for his first blog post as he ate the pasta that Terry had left for him. He knew it would only be a matter of time before his dad was up here trying to talk to him. He and Monica also needed to talk about when they would announce the pregnancy since they had just had their appointment.
"What the-" the computer screen suddenly went black and he saw his uncle's face pop up on the screen.
"Uncle Max," he accepted the video call. "What are you doing?"
"I was doing some work, but then I saw your name on my online contacts. You usually aren't on here at this time."
"Yeah," Chandler mumbled.
"And it looks like you're eating supper in your room. What happened? Which one of your dads are you mad at? Did my brother do something?"
"No he didn't. That's the problem."
"Explanation please,"
"Monica and I had our first prenatal appointment today. He didn't come. Terry did, but he didn't."
"No wonder you're upset,"
"So you don't think that I'm overreacting?"
"Of course not, kid."
"But you're still going to defend your brother,"
"Your dad is not great at all that emotional stuff. That's why Terry is such a great fit for him. I think that will change once his first grandchild comes along, but you have your work cut out for you."
"Got it," Chandler sighed.
"So what else are you up to?"
"I have a class assignment where I have to keep a blog. I'm just doing some research for the first post."
"What's the blog about?"
"I couldn't come up with anything at first. Then Joey suggested that I do it from the perspective of a newly married expectant teenage father."
"Interesting,"
"Does that interesting mean that you approve?"
"That depends,"
"On?"
"Does Monica approve?"
"She gets approval of everything I post."
"Then I approve too," Max smiled at his nephew. "Just know that this will have an impact at your school and everywhere you go. Not necessarily in a positive way."
"I am well aware. Today was awkward as everyone saw our posts yesterday."
"Right. The marriage announcement."
"It did go better than we expected."
"And Monica's parents?"
"They showed up here last night. Ross ended up packing a bag and staying overnight here." Chandler continued to tell his uncle what all had happened the past few days.
After supper ended, Monica started upstairs and towards her room as she heard Chandler talking. She slowly opened the door and spotted him sitting before the computer as she saw his cousins James and Jenna on the screen as they sat on Max's lap.
"There's the little woman," Max smiled as Chandler turned back and smiled at her.
"Hi guys," Monica joined Chandler at the computer.
"Hi Monica," Jenna waved at her. "When can we see you again?"
"I don't know,"
"We'll be down for Chandler's final game soon," Max told them. "Like we've done every year since he started playing."
"Next week is the last game," Chandler told him.
"We'll be there," Sherry joined her family in front of the computer. "Then we'll treat you all to ice cream or something afterwards."
"Sounds good,"
"We'll let you get back to your research," Max told them. "We'll talk to you again soon."
"Bye," they all waved as the video call ended.
"So do you feel a little better after talking to your uncle and his family?" Monica looked at him as he returned to the internet page he was scrolling through before the video call.
"Maybe a little," he sighed. "Uncle Max said that he's always been like that, even when they were growing up."
"So then you know that means he's not going to change anything overnight,"
"Yes, I know that. Can we talk about something else now please?"
"Sure," she noticed the webpage. "What are you doing?"
"Doing some research for my first blogpost," he told her. "I have to have it in soon."
"Anything written yet?"
"No," he looked at her. "So when do you want to announce it?"
"You mean about the baby?" he nodded. "I don't know. There didn't seem to be any big blowout from our marriage announcement so far."
"It might be easier just so announce everything at once,"
"People will assume they know everything about why-"
"Which is why I'm doing the blog," he told her. "To set the record straight. To get it out there in the public."
"How would we even go about it?"
"What's going on?" they both looked back and saw Terry coming into the room.
"Not knocking?" Chandler looked at him.
"Sorry. I figured you wouldn't let me in if you thought it was your dad."
"I wouldn't have thought it was dad," Chandler told him. "I don't expect him to come up here to talk about this situation because he never does."
Terry looked at Monica and she gave him a look as she shrugged. Chandler turned back to his computer as he brought up another webpage.
"So what are you guys doing?" Terry asked them.
"We're trying to decide if now is the time to announce the pregnancy," Monica told him.
"So soon after the marriage announcement?"
"We figured it might be better if everything is out in the open,"
"And it's our decision," Chandler mumbled.
"Yes it is," Monica agreed.
"You're right. It is your decision." Terry told them. "I will let you get back to it."
Terry left the room and Monica turned to Chandler and smacked his arm.
"What?" he looked up at her.
"I understand that your dad has always been like this. So why don't you go to him?"
"You mean seek him out? I've tried that in the past."
"And what happened?"
"He'd find an excuse to leave the room and he would continue to avoid me until he thought the issue was dissolved."
"Can we come in?" they heard Carol's voice on the other side of the door.
"Come in," Chandler called and she came into the room, followed by Ross, Joey, and Phoebe. "What's up?"
"Terry thought you might need us," Carol told them as she flopped onto the bed.
"He said you're planning on announcing the pregnancy now?" Ross looked at them as he pulled a chair over.
"Might as well get it out there," Chandler mumbled.
"So how will you announce it?" Phoebe asked.
"We have no idea,"
"Wait," Monica went to her purse and pulled out the sonogram that they had gotten that day at their appointment. "Take a picture of this and post it."
"All right," Chandler grabbed his phone.
"I want to see," Carol reached for it.
"Hold on," Chandler snapped a few pics of it and handed it over to her. "Just be careful."
"What are we even looking at?" Joey asked.
"This peanut shape," Monica pointed it out to him. "That's the baby."
"That's it?"
"It's only eight weeks. It will look more like a baby as it grows."
"So will you guys find out if it's a boy or a girl?" Carol asked.
"We're not sure yet," Chandler told them as he typed away on his computer.
"Though it would make it easier for the baby shower," Monica told him.
"Baby shower?" Chandler looked at her.
"I saw Terry making notes. I have a feeling that we're having one no matter what we tell him."
"So how about this?" Chandler brought up his Facebook page and they all gathered closer. "I put special announcement with the sonogram picture and I say you're eight weeks along and explain how developed it is."
"Sounds good to me,"
All right," Chandler hovered the pointer over the post button and looked at Monica one more time. "Now are you really sure?"
"Yes, just post it." she told him.
"All right, here we go." Chandler hit a button on his keyboard.
"Let's get out of here," Carol got up suddenly.
"What?" Ross looked at her.
"Let's not sit around waiting for the notifications to come through on our phones. Let's go for a walk around the neighborhood or something."
"I'm in," Joey got up followed by Phoebe and Ross.
"It would be good exercise for the baby," Monica looked at Chandler. "And it looks like you could use some calming down. A walk would be perfect."
"Fine," Chandler sighed as he reluctantly followed everyone out of the room and downstairs.
"Everyone leave your cell phones and other devices," Carol told them.
"Who made you boss?" Joey looked at her.
"Bad move dude," Chandler told him.
"What's going on?" Terry came out of the kitchen with Charles right behind him.
We're going on a walk around the neighborhood," Carol told them.
"And she's making us leave our phones behind," Joey grumbled.
"Why?" Charles looked at them.
"We announced the pregnancy on social media," Monica told them. "Carol decided that we needed to take a breather instead of waiting for the backlash that will inevitably come."
"When did you decide to do this?" Terry asked.
"We've been talking about it for awhile," Chandler said as he started to follow everyone outside.
"Chandler," Charles stopped him. "I think we should talk."
"Why?" he glared at him. "I know the routine well."
"Routine?" Everyone filed out of the house to wait for Chandler and Monica outside.
"Something happens that makes you uncomfortable and me upset, you avoid me while I try with all my might to talk it out, then a few weeks later we're on talking terms again because you realize that I have forgotten about it." Chandler explained as Monica took his hand and squeezed it tightly. "Well I will not be forgetting about this anytime soon."
Charles stood shocked as Chandler and Monica walked outside and he turned to look at Terry, who gave him a knowing look.
"I told you," he told him. "He's not a little boy anymore. He has grown up a lot in the last few months. He will not be letting this go so you better find a way to talk to him and find some common ground with him."
Chandler was silent as they all slowly walked down the sidewalks and side streets near the house. Monica kept a hold on Chandler as he slowly calmed down the farther away from the house they got.
"It will be all right," Monica told him. "He'll eventually talk to you."
"Not according to Uncle Max,"
"What did he say?"
"That my dad has always been like this and he doesn't see him changing anytime soon."
"Then you shouldn't expect a lot so that you're not disappointed."
"It's hard," he sighed.
"I know," she lay her head on his shoulder as they continued to walk down the sidewalk.
"Guys!" they heard Joey call and looked back at the rest of the group who had lagged behind to give them some privacy.
"What's the matter?" Monica asked as they all caught up to them.
"I think the word is out," Carol told them. "That same car keeps circling the block."
"It's passed us at least five times," Ross added.
"Did you recognize them?" Chandler asked.
"I think it was Richardson from the soccer team," Phoebe told him.
"And I think that's dad," Ross saw another car drive down the street.
"He's heading for the house," Phoebe said.
"I'll call Terry," Chandler started to retrieve his phone. "Or I would call if I had my phone with me."
"Want to head back?" Monica asked him.
"Nah," he shook his head. "If he does show up there, I'm sure we'll hear about it."
"He's circling back around," Carol said and they all watched as the oldsmobile slowed down as it got to the group.
"So I heard you announced everything," Jack looked right at Chandler and Monica as he stayed in the car.
"What about it?" Monica stared back at him.
"So it wasn't enough to announce that you got married? You had to embarrass us even more by announcing the pregnancy as well?"
"As usual, you are making it all about you and mom," Monica shook her head. "No concern for your daughter? Though I shouldn't be that surprised by now. That's how it's always been. No matter what I ever do, Ross' accomplishments and your standing in the community will take precedence."
"I suppose this was your idea to plaster your business all over social media," Jack looked at Chandler.
"We both came to the decision together," Chandler told him.
"And what makes you think that I don't have a mind of my own?" Monica snapped. "No one controls me. I wanted to announce it."
"Why now?" Jack demanded. "After you already announced the marriage?"
"We wanted everything out in the open,"
"Your grandchild is perfectly fine by the way," Chandler said. "Thanks for asking."
"Tom's here," Carol announced as they all watched a squad car pull up behind Jack and started out of the car.
"Terry must have seen him driving around," Joey said.
"Hey kids," Tom smiled at the group. "Terry called and asked me to patrol over here just in case."
"Thank you," Chandler told him.
"Is he bothering you guys?" Tom looked at Monica.
"Yes," she said firmly.
"He's upsetting her," Ross stepped forward. "That's not good for her right now."
"Oh yeah," Tom smiled at Chandler and Monica. "Congratulations, you two."
"Thank you," Monica smiled at him.
"You need to move along now, Mr. Gellar." Tom told him.
"One moment," Jack looked at Ross. "Will you be coming home tonight?"
"I'm not sure yet," Ross told him. "If I do, I'll be back by curfew."
"Move along," Tom repeated.
Jack looked at his daughter one last time before starting up the car again and pulling away from the group. Chandler squeezed Monica's hand as Tom smiled at the group and pulled away as well. Monica smiled at Chandler as they all looked concerned for her.
"I am fine," She told them.
"Do you want to go back?" Joey asked.
"Not yet,"
"Why don't we go for a walk around the block," Chandler told her as he glanced at the others. "You guys can go back if you want to."
"We'll see you back at home," Phoebe told them as the four of them turned and headed back in the direction of the house.
"So?" Chandler looked at Monica as they started down the sidewalk again.
"What?" she looked back at him.
"Do you want to talk about what just happened?"
"I don't know," she sighed.
"I'm a good listener,"
"I know that they're-disappointed about everything, but it would be great if they were a little excited about their first grandchild,"
"I know," he held her as they walked down the sidewalk.
"I mean, will it just get worse as the pregnancy goes on?"
"I can't answer that because I don't really know how your parents think."
"And what if one of these confrontations turns physical?"
"Then I will be there with you," he told her. "So will everyone else."
"I know," she sighed deeply.
The couple ended up walking around the block several times until it started to get dark outside. They slowly made their way back to the house, where everyone was waiting for them.
AN: So what did you all think? I hope you liked this. I will try to post again really soon. PLZ R&R!
