Epilogue: The Four Of Them
Chandler and Monica & a New Life
"Can you believe Chandler and Monica have been together for 6 years?" Phoebe said suddenly, coming back with a big mug of coffee.
"I know, right? It's unbelievable." Joey added so quickly it looked as if he was having similar thoughts before his friend said anything.
It had been a couple of days since the couple left for a new house in Westchester, and the four of them gathered at their usual spot in the coffeehouse. Since the moving, they've been talking every day on the phone, and a little housewarming party would be held on the weekend. It would be then one week not seeing Monica and Chandler every day, but the rest of the gang was okay with that. They all decided it would be best to leave them alone, at least for the first few weeks – they had two babies, after all, and had just moved in to a new house. They needed some time to adjust.
"And to think we always thought Chandler would be the last one to get married." Rachel laughed.
"Hey, you know what I just realized? Chandler and Monica are parents, I'm married, you guys have a daughter and are living together… Hey, Joey, don't you think it's time to settle down?"
"No way", he scoffed. "You're not allowed to go through the commitment tunnel with more than one woman, so I'm not even close to being ready to settle down." The girls just shook their heads at him, Ross laughed.
"I know who's the next couple to get married though." Phoebe hinted, not so subtly winking at Ross.
"Phoebe!" Ross was clearly nervous, than mustered a very intense puppy face when tentatively looking at Rachel. She didn't seem fazed at all.
"Oh, honey, come on. After living together and having a child together with you, I don't think it's that necessary to slow things down."
"That's what I said!" Joey whined, memories of the non-proposal from two years earlier making him wince.
"Hey, do you think Chandler is freaking out with taking care of the babies?" Ross wondered out loud, earning laughter from the other three people.
"I don't think so, I think he managed to get ready for that right under our nose", Rachel said in a wistful tone.
"They've come a long way, haven't they?" the paleontologist was so into his emotional thoughts he didn't see the noticeable touched faces on the rest of the group.
"They're both so weird and crazy…" Joey mused "I guess that's why they work out so well."
"Do you think we'll ever have what they have?" Phoebe's thought unintentionally slipped from her mouth before she sipped the last of her coffee.
"Honestly, Pheebs, I don't know. But let's hope we have something that is pretty close." Rachel intertwined her fingers with Ross's, giving him a little nudge. "Well, I gotta go to work."
"Actually, me too."
"Boy, you just reminded me I have an audition."
"Ooh, and I've got a massage client."
The gang got up, ready to leave.
"I wonder what we'll get those guys as a gift in their golden anniversary." The blond woman said as she grabbed her jacket.
"Do we have to give them presents for that? It's Monica and Chandler!" Joey whined, the rest of the group laughing as they left Central Perk.