October 2, 2001. Tuesday.

Chandler looked at his wife for what could have been the last time. She had dozed off on the couch during the movie and now the movie was over. Chandler tried to memorize everything about Monica before he had to leave the next day. As he was looking at her, Monica woke up with tears in her eyes. She looked at Chandler and saw him gazing at her too.

Monica had to say these words. "Chandler?" Monica reached out her hand. "I love you."

Chandler took Monica's hand immediately. He moved to sit next to her on the couch. They looked at each other silently. After a few moments, Monica started to lean towards Chandler slightly. Chandler softly grabbed her face and gave her one slow kiss. Not patient enough to walk over to the bedroom, the couple stayed on the couch. Despite wanting each other that second, they went slow. Both needing to be with each other for as long as possible.

October 3, 2001. Wednesday.

Chandler boarded the small aircraft filled with a dozen more men. Everyone looked the same in their uniform. Chandler wondered if he would ever be recognizable in the sea of men that all blended in with each other.

Chandler turned around to run back to his wife for one last kiss. He grabbed Monica's hand, spinning her around to face him.

"Chandler." Monica could only make her self say his name, nothing more.

Chandler pushed her hair back from her face. "I'll see you in six months."

Chandler then kissed Monica passionately, both of them losing their balance.

Monica then broke the kiss that could be their last. "I love you, Chandler."

"I love you, too, Monica."

Chandler's heart started to break when he thought about their last moment together. He wondered if he would, in fact, see her in six months.

~.~

Monica, Rachel, Joey, and Ross were stuffed inside of Phoebe's grandmother's old cab. Monica was in the middle of Rachel and Phoebe in the front seat. Ross and Joey were sitting in the back.

Rachel kept looking down at her stomach while Monica's head was lying on her shoulder. Ross's hand was on Monica's shoulder and Joey was fiddling with Monica's hair. Phoebe's hand was on Monica's hand.

Everyone wanted to comfort Monica and Monica knew it. "Thank you."

~.~

That night, Rachel showed up at Ross's apartment with news she had to tell him. Ross obviously thought she was there for another reason.

"Listen, Rachel. I know that night we had a few weeks ago was wonderful but I don't think it is right for us to get back together right now."

Rachel sighed. "What?"

Ross continued babbling. "I'm sorry. It's just that this whole Ross and Rachel love saga is kind of exhausting and…"

Rachel decided she needed to cut Ross off. "Ross! I… am pregnant."

Ross stared at Rachel, his whole body frozen with shock.

"And you're the father, by the way, but you got that."

Several minutes later, Ross hesitantly reached out his hand to touch Rachel's stomach. Rachel glanced up at him when she saw the look of delightful surprise on his face. Rachel smiled when Ross looked up at her.

Ross then kissed Rachel and pictures of them with a baby flooded his mind.

Rachel cleared her throat after their short kiss. "Now, I want you to be as involved as you want to be."

"With our baby? Our baby?"

Rachel nodded. "Yeah."

Ross and Rachel looked at each other, unsure of where to go from here.

October 9, 2001. Tuesday.

Monica was cooking breakfast for herself when Rachel and Joey walked into the apartment. Monica took one glance at them then added a few more eggs to her pan.

Joey sat down at the kitchen table. "I can not believe that Chandler hasn't called."

Monica rolled her eyes. "Joey, he's at war. I'm pretty sure he won't be calling as much as we'd want. I haven't even spoken to him yet."
Rachel joined Joey at the table. "Yeah, Joey. Monica's right and besides, Monica has barely spoken to us in the last week."

Monica turned around, holding a spatula. "Oh, poor you, Rachel. My husband is at war and I miss him a lot but here, let me paint you some sunshine to brighten up your day. You're already pregnant with a bundle of joy anyway, why do you need me?"
Rachel looked at her friend with hurt in her eyes. "What?"

"I don't know." Monica started to cry so Rachel went to hold and console her.

Rachel patted her back repeatedly. "It's okay, Monica. I'm sure he'll be fine. Even though it is, well, you know, Chandler." Rachel felt Monica tense up a little. "I'm sure he'll be fine."

Joey went to join the hug. "Yeah. And can't you email him?"

Monica sniffled. "No. He doesn't have internet access."

"Well, can he call?" Rachel asked.

Monica smiled a sad-happy smile. "Once a month. We planned for him to call on October 22nd so I'm making sure I don't have any plans that day. Anyway, do you want any eggs?"

Joey replied very enthusiastically. "Sure!"

~.~

Later that night, Monica was sitting on the couch when Rachel walked in with Phoebe.

"What are you doing here?" Monica asked.

Phoebe pulled out a grocery bag from behind her back. "We brought you some ice cream and a lot of movies."
"Why?"

Rachel jumped up and clapped her hands. "We're throwing you a slumber party!"

Monica smiled at her two best friends. "I'll get the popcorn."

Rachel and Phoebe smiled as Monica went to pop the popcorn. Rachel ran over to put the DVD in as Phoebe got the bowls and spoons for the ice cream.

October 22, 2001. Monday.

Ross, Joey, Rachel, and Phoebe were sitting in Monica's living room when the phone rang. Joey jumped up to answer it. Chandler?"

Chandler's mood was instantly brightened. "Hey, Joe!"

Joey jumped up. "Monica! It's him!"

Monica ran out of her room and grabbed the phone. "Chandler, oh my god! You're still alive!"

Chandler laughed. "I know. You're husband has lasted almost twenty days. I miss you."

Monica sighed. "I miss you, too. Hey, Ross wants to talk to you."

Ross took the phone from Monica's hands and started walking towards Rachel. "Hey, Chan! Rachel and I want to tell you something."

Ross held the phone out for Rachel to speak. "I'm pregnant and you are talking to the father of my child!"

Chandler, on the other end of the line, started laughing. "Hey, that's great. Congratulations you two."

Ross was about to thank Chandler when Phoebe took the phone from him. "I know. Isn't this great? So, Chandler, have you met any hot soldiers for me?"

"Oh my god, Pheebs. Like you wouldn't believe."

Phoebe started to laugh and Chandler blushed.

Chandler cleared his throat. "Can you, uh, put Monica on the phone please?"

"Sure."

Phoebe handed the phone over to Monica. "Hey, again. Listen, I think it's really great that you're doing this, Chandler."

Chandler felt a surge of pride rush through him. "Thanks, Mon. I miss you so much."

"I miss you, too. And Chandler?"

"Yeah?"

Monica sighed. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Monica was about to say goodbye when a thought came to her. "So… I'll talk to you on Thanksgiving?"

Chandler nodded until he realized Monica couldn't see him. "Yeah. Bye." Chandler quickly hung up the phone.

Monica heard the line go dead. "Bye, Chandler."

Monica sees Chandler walk through the door of the apartment wearing his uniform. Chandler rushes to her and kisses her.

Monica's faced was flushed when they paused the kiss. "I missed you."

Chandler kissed Monica again. "I missed you."

Chandler goes back to kissing Monica. He then notices that she is wearing sheer lingerie. Monica falls back onto the bed that Chandler hadn't realized was behind her. Chandler joins her on the bed and, without knowing, the two are naked together.

Together. Finally together.

October 31, 2001. Wednesday.

Monica's Halloween party was in full swing. Rachel was talking with Joey while watching Ross talk to Mona, his girlfriend, out of the corner of her eye. Phoebe was flirting with a man dressed as the solar system. Monica was drinking her third drink that evening and was beginning to feel a little tipsy. The doorbell rang and Monica stumbled over to answer it.

"Trick or treat!" screams a little girl dressed as Dorothy from Wizards of Oz.

"Aww, you look so cute." Monica smiled and handed the little girl a handful of candy. She was about to close the door when a man's voice stopped her.

"Where is my treat?"

Monica looked up at the handsome man she had not seen in years. In her drunken state, Monica walked into the hallway and closed the apartment door behind her. "Hi, Richard."