Chapter 3: Chandler
It was already almost 8:30 in the evening, and Chandler was just getting home from work. Since Monica had quit her job to take care of Jack and Erica, Chandler was having to work more hours to make up the difference in income. After all, it was expensive caring for twins. Still, there was nothing he enjoyed more than coming home to see his wife and two kids.
"Gosh, who would have thought that Chandler Bing, the commitmentphobe, would have a wife and two kids and be happy about it?" Chandler thought to himself as he unlocked the door to their house. "Honey, I'm home." he said with a smile as he came in house.
"Oh, hey Chandler." Monica said as she walked out of the kitchen. "Dinner's ready whenever you are." Watching tv didn't work as a good distraction, so she had decided to make dinner for Chandler instead.
"Really?" Chandler said with a surprised look on his face. Usually when he got home, at least one of the babies was still up, so he usually ended up making dinner while Monica finished putting the kids to bed. "That's great. I take it they both fell asleep easily tonight?"
"Yeah, well they spent the day with Phoebe and Mike, so I imagine they're pretty exhausted after that." Monica answered. However, Chandler noticed that she seemed somewhat distracted, and that she wouldn't really look at him.
"Everything ok?" Chandler asked.
"Yeah, I'm just tired." Monica said hastily. "Let's eat."
"Ok." Chandler said. They grabbed their plates, sat on the couch, and ate the meal mostly in silence. Monica had made her chicken parm (one of her best dishes), but something felt off about dinner. Chandler just couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"That was a great dinner, Mon." Chandler said. "I really appreciate you making it. I know you must be tired."
"Hmmm? Oh yeah, I'm glad you liked it." Monica said halfheartedly.
"Mon, are you sure everything is ok?" Chandler asked. "Wait, you didn't cook dinner for me because you didn't like how I was cooking did you? I mean, I know you've been getting sick in the morning because of my cooking, but I swear, my dinners are much better. They've never made you throw up!"
"Chandler, it isn't that at all." Monica said with a laugh. She then realized she might as well bring up the elephant in the room now while she had a chance. "Actually, about that…I kind of figured out that it wasn't your cooking that was making me sick."
"Really?" Chandler said. "I knew I could cook!" he exclaimed as he threw his fists in the air. "Wait, what's the problem then? You're not…sick, are you?" he asked slowly, instantly starting to think of the worst possibilities.
"No…well…" Monica stuttered, trying to figure out how exactly to explain the situation. She finally decided to just hand Chandler the pregnancy test. "Here." she said slowly as she looked away.
"Rachel's pregnant?" Chandler said, clearly confused. "Gosh, you'd think Ross could control himself by now."
"Why does everyone think that test is Rachel's!?" Monica yelled as she got up and started pacing.
"Well, you know how it went last time. Everyone thought it was your test, but it was really Rachel's. Besides, if it isn't Rachel's, then who's….." Chandler stopped mid-sentence. "Wait. Monica…is this yours?"
"Mmm hmmm." She replied with tears in her eyes.
"So…you're pregnant? We're having another baby?" Chandler said as all the color drained from his face. He slowly got off the couch and walked over to the window, looking out at their backyard.
"I just took the test today, Chandler." Monica said as she followed Chandler to the window. "I had no idea I was pregnant. I found the test while I was cleaning and decided to take it so I wouldn't be wasting it when I threw it away. I've been freaked out too ever since I saw it was positive. I mean, can we even handle it? Three babies? We thought two was tough, but this?" She stopped, realizing that Chandler was still looking out the window, lost in thought. "Chandler…please say something. You're not upset, are you?"
Chandler turned around, clearly confused. "Mon, why would I be upset?" he said slowly. "I mean, we're having another baby." As he said that, a smile spread across his face. "That's good news."
"But Chandler, three babies. Three babies! Can we really handle this?"
"Monica, you sound like I did when I found out we were having twins." Chandler said with a laugh, before his expression got serious. "Wait, is that why you're scared? Were you afraid I would freak out like last time?"
"Yeah." Monica said softly. "Plus, I'm just not sure we're ready for this."
"Mon…" Chandler said slowly as he pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her. "Remember what you told me when Jack and Erica were born? It doesn't matter if we're ready or not. We've been waiting for this, and we didn't think this was ever going to happen. This is our child. You're pregnant with our third child."
Monica remained silent, holding onto Chandler and breathing softly as he continued.
"I mean, we've always dreamed about having four kids, right? Now we're one kid closer. True, it's a bit sooner than we thought it would happen, but still…it's our baby. Monica, you've been wanting this for as long as I can remember knowing you. And I am so excited for us, Mon. Everything's going to be alright, ok? Besides, how great will I look driving a mini-van down the street?"
Monica laughed as she pulled away and looked into his eyes. As he looked back, he softly said, "I can't believe this is happening."
"I know!" she said with a big smile on her face. "I'm pregnant. I'm going to have a baby!"
Chandler smiled at her. "Just hitting you now, isn't it."
"I guess." she said with a smile. "I was so scared that I forgot to be excited."
"It's ok to be excited and scared at the same time, Monica." Chandler said with a laugh as he sat down on the couch. "I mean, I can't judge. I was the one who almost ran out on our wedding. Talk about fear and excitement. Or more like plain old fear" As he said it, Monica gave him a glare. "I swear, it's because I was afraid of being related to Ross." She continued to glare at him, and he conceded. "Fine, still too soon to crack jokes about it."
She sighed as she sat down and cuddled up next to him. "We'll be able to do this, right Chandler?"
"Of course we will. I have complete faith in us."
"I love you, Chandler." she said softly as she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"I love you too, Mon." he replied. As Chandler looked at her, he realized that she had fallen asleep. That gave him time to think about just how far they had both come in the past few years. A few years ago, there was no way he would have been able to handle something like this. But what he had said to Monica tonight was absolutely true. He knew they could do this. Sure, he was scared. But like he had said earlier, it was ok to be scared and excited at the same time.
He leaned his head on his sleeping wife. His pregnant sleeping wife. He thought about how they would tell their friends the good news. He thought about what the next nine months had in store for them, and what the next eighteen years after that would bring.
And he could not be happier.
