AN: So another chapter for you guys. I was a little hesitant about doing this turn of events, but I think this will be good in the long run. It gives Chandler and Monica an opportunity to bond over their similar situations. Tell me what you all think of it, though. Please R&R!

Disclaimer: I own no one. They all belong to Bright/Kauffman/Crane.

Chapter 15: Welcome Back

Three Years Later…

Chandler was sleeping soundly in his bed one morning as he faintly heard the door to the room slowly open. He pretended to still be sleeping as he felt the bed shift and he felt someone start to shake him.

"Daddy," he heard the small voice whine as he slowly rolled over.

"Why can't you be like other three year olds and sleep past eight?" he looked at the little face and smiled.

The past few years seemed to go by in a flash; and before Chandler could comprehend any of it Sophie was walking, talking, potty-training, and becoming her own unique person. As time went on, Chandler could see bits of Katie coming out of her. Thankfully, the bits of her that made him fall in love with her. But everyone told him that she had more of his traits.

"I have a dress fitting today, daddy." Sophie told him.

"Yes. Of course." He slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes. "But we need to get some breakfast first so we have enough energy to deal with everything today."

"I want pop-tarts." Sophie ran out in front of him.

"But you're getting milk." He called after her as he followed behind her.

Next week, Ross and Carol would be getting married; Chandler's the best man, and Sophie is the flower girl. Today they had their fittings. In a few days would be the bachelor party; which won't be much since Chandler doesn't have much to spend. Then would be the wedding, the week-long honeymoon for the happy couple, then the new school term would start. It was the final year for the three of them before they had to get actual jobs. Chandler could've finished up his courses over the summer if he had wanted to, but he decided not to. He wanted to graduate with both Ross and Carol next Spring. Truthfully, he needed another year to depend on his mom and her financial support.

Chandler took the pop-tarts out of the toaster and put them on a plate for Sophie, poured her a glass of milk, and took them to the table. He spotted Sophie playing with her Fisher Price doll house that he had managed to scrounge up enough money for so she could have one to play with.

"Time to stop playing and come eat." He told her as he heard a light knock at the door

Monica Gellar pulled up to the curb behind the familiar-looking mountaineer. She had driven almost non-stop the last three days to make it here in time. She slowly got out of the car and stretched out her legs before ascending the front steps. She knocked softly as she heard some noise from inside.

"Sophie, stop playing with your doll house and go eat your breakfast." She heard him say as he opened the door and spotted her there. "Hey, there."

"Hi." She said softly. "I wasn't sure if you would be awake yet."

"Sophie barely sleeps late." He held the door open for her. "Come in."

"Thank you. I just got into town."

"You came here first?"

"I don't feel like dealing with my parents right now. And Ross would probably side with them."

"I don't mind you hanging out here." He assured her as they walked in to see how Sophie was doing with breakfast. "Sophie, you remember Monica. She's Ross' sister."

"Hi." She smiled at her as she continued to eat.

"You've gotten so big since I saw you last." Monica told her.

"Tell me about it." Chandler said. "So have you had breakfast yet? I was just going to have some cereal. We also have toast-"

"Toast is fine." She watched him put a couple slices in the toaster and poured himself a bowl of cheerios and offered her some milk. "No thanks."

"Want to go to the fitting together?" Chandler looked at her as he handed her the plate of toast. "I have to drop Sophie off at the dress shop anyway."

"That'd be great. Thank you." She told him as they all ate in silence.

"So what's going on?" he asked her once they were all done eating and Sophie went back to playing with her doll house.

"What do you mean?" she helped him clean up.

"You look more stressed than you should be just for having to see your parents in a little while."

"Ok. There's another reason why I came to see you first. I figured you of all people would understand."

"What do you mean?" he watched her go to the counter where she left her purse and pulled out some pamphlets.

"I'm keeping something from my family." She showed him the pamphlets.

"You're-" he looked at her and she nodded.

An hour later after Chandler talked with Monica for awhile about her situation, they all climbed into Chandler's car and drove across town to the bridal shop. Chandler walked Sophie into the shop as they searched for Carol and the other bride's maids.

"There you are," Carol came out to them. "Monica, you're back. Ross and your parents have been wondering when you would be coming back."

"Don't tell them yet." She looked at both Carol and Chandler. "Give me another couple of hours."

"I'll try." Carol told her. "We're all supposed to meet up later tonight for supper."

"I should get to the tux fitting," Chandler told them as Monica took Sophie's hand. "I'll be back to get her in about an hour."

"She'll be fine. Just go." Carol told him and he reluctantly walked out the door after he exchanged a look with Monica, and got back into his car.

"So he's one of those overprotective fathers then?" Monica asked as she saw him pull away.

"He has good reason." Carol told her. "One of the kids in Sophie's daycare class was kidnapped a few months ago."

"Oh my god. What happened?"

"His biological father took him from the playground when all the kids were playing outside. The father's parental rights were taken away and he didn't take it well. Luckily they found the boy the next morning, but the whole thing shook Chandler up quite a bit."

"That's understandable." Monica walked to the back of the shop with Carol as the gowns were brought out and they all tried them on.

Chandler rushed into the tuxedo shop and found Ross and the other groomsmen in the back of the shop. He was handed a garment bag and went to try it on his suit.

"Is my sister in town?" Ross asked him as the tailor made adjustments on Chandler's suit.

"Why are you asking me?" he looked at him.

"I drove by your place and saw her car there."

"Fine. She got into town a little while ago. She didn't want to deal with you or your parents yet, so she stopped by to catch up with me. I dropped her and Sophie off at the dress shop together."

"Why doesn't she want to see me? My parents I can understand, but-"

"Because you usually take your parents side over hers."

"I just hate being stuck in the middle of all of them." He sighed.

"So try to stay out of it if you can." He told him. "Just so you know, I told her she's welcome to come over to my place whenever she wants to get away from your parents. Sophie kind of got attached to her in the few hours she was there."

"I can't control anything that she does," Ross told him. "Just don't do anything stupid."

"Why does everyone feel like they have to lecture me about everything that I do?" Chandler grumbled. "Just because I became a teen father, doesn't mean that I'm going to screw up even more. Don't you think I've learned from my mistakes?"

"I'm not lecturing you because you're a teen father. I'm lecturing you because she's my little sister and it's my job to protect her if I have to."

"Oh." He sighed. "Sorry about that little outburst. I guess I'm still a little bit on edge because of the last run-in with your parents."

"How's Sophie doing after that?"

"She doesn't want to see them again. There is a chance she might kick them at your wedding."

"I'll try to keep them under control."

Chandler went to the dress shop after he was done with his tux fitting to pick up Sophie and Monica. He walked in and saw Sophie running around obviously from a sugar high. He scanned the shop and saw Monica sitting in a chair near the dressing rooms as Carol knelt before her.

"Is everything ok?" he asked as he approached them.

"Carol knows." Monica told him. "What I told you earlier."

"I figured it out." Carol told him. "She got sick when the owner brought out these pastries. I convinced everyone that she was jet-lagged from driving for so long."

"Thank you." Monica told her. "But everyone will figure it out eventually."

"So me and Chandler are the only ones that know so far?"

"Nana knows, but she promised not to tell anyone."

"You should probably see a doctor about this as soon as possible." Chandler told her. "So you can find out if everything is ok. And so you can go over all your options with a professional."

"I already told you what I plan on doing." Monica looked at him.

"I know, but a doctor can help you with your decision."

"He's right." Carol told her.

"I'll call my doctor and see if he recommends anyone." Chandler told her. "I need to get Sophie home and give her lunch, and try to lay her down for a nap. Which I don't think she will from the looks of it. Thank you for sugaring her up."

"I only gave her one pastry." Carol told him. "But she snuck two more. She definitely has a sweet tooth."

"I know this." He glanced at Monica. "Are you up for a car ride now?"

"I'm doing better." She assured him and she stood up and followed him as he gathered up Sophie and they started outside. "Carol, I know it's a lot to ask-"

"I won't say anything to Ross or your parents." She assured her. "It's your news to tell."

"Thank you." She followed Chandler and Sophie outside and climbed into the front passenger seat.

The next morning, Chandler dropped Sophie off at the house of one of her daycare classmates for a play date. He drove Monica to the Family Center and waited with her in the waiting room for her to see the OB-GYN. She started trembling as Chandler read through some parenting magazines to pass the time.

"This is so nerve-wracking." She mumbled. "All of these women are older than me. They probably have a plan; and they're with their husbands or boyfriends."

"Stop worrying about everyone else." He looked at her. "So you never did mention the father."

"For good reason," she sighed. "Let's just say that I'm not proud of some of the things that I did in Florida. And the one good thing he did for me is the reason why we're here in the first place."

"Sorry for bringing it up."

"It's fine." She sighed. "By the way, you're not coming in with me."

"I didn't think you'd want me to. I'm just here for support."

"Thank you,"

"Monica Gellar?" the nurse called.

"Here I go," she slowly stood up.

"Good luck." He told her as she followed the nurse down the hall.

Chandler finished the one magazine he was reading and started on another when he saw the door to the back rooms open and a nurse approach him.

"Are you Chandler Bing?" she asked him.

"Yes. Is everything ok?"

"Ms. Gellar wants you to be present for the consultation. If you'll follow me…" he got up and followed her to the back rooms and she opened a door to an office where Monica was sitting in one of the chairs before a desk. "He should be in here shortly to talk to you."

"Thank you," Monica said as she walked out.

"So how'd it go?" Chandler asked her.

"He said everything looked fine. He just went to get some information for me."

"So how far along are you?"

"Almost six weeks."

"So not very far at all."

"Hello. I'm Dr. Shaw. You must be Chandler," he came in and shook his hand. "Monica tells me that you've helped her out a lot."

"I know what she's going through. I became a father my senior year of high school. She doesn't need to do this on her own."

"I agree," Dr. Shaw handed a thick packet to Monica. "I've gathered all the information I think you'll need. It'll be very helpful to you in the coming months."

"Thank you." Monica clutched it to her as the doctor went on to tell her how she should be eating and what she should do right now.

AN: So what'd you all think? I know this is a little risky because this story is supposed to be about Chandler dealing with parenthood, but I think this will be good. Please R&R!