This chapter is shorter but is pure fluff, so please don't be mad at me for the time it took to update...
"It feels strange, doesn't it?"
Monica turned around to see Chandler standing against the empty room's door.
"Yeah. It definitely does feel like the start of a new chapter," Monica answered, eyeing the empty space around her.
"And how do you feel?" Chandler asked, taking a step closer to Monica.
Instinctively, Monica put her hands on her stomach.
"I feel like we need to paint these walls," she said.
His arms, then, were around her. The weight of Chandler's body against the bump between them should have felt uncomfortable, but instead, it felt soothing, as if he knew she needed it.
"Only that? In about three months, our babies will be here. Sleeping in this very room. I thought you would be excited about planning the nursery décor," Chandler declared, eyeing Monica.
Monica sighed. Chandler wasn't wrong. For weeks, he'd come to the apartment to find Monica plopped on the couch surrounded by décor magazines. She wanted the future nursery to be absolutely perfect. After all, her life dream was about to come true. However, now that Rachel had officially moved out, looking at the vacant room resurfaced every doubt she'd put behind her mind a few months before.
"It feels small," Was all Monica answered. "Not just the room. The apartment. I know I could raise two kids here, but it feels small. And for now, one room is okay, but someday, they will need separate rooms."
Chandler stayed silent for a moment.
"I understand how you feel. And I will support you 100% if you want to move out one day," He said.
Monica looked up from the embrace, directly at his concerned blue eyes.
"But how? I don't have the money to move out. And two babies are going to be a huge expense over the years. I won't be able to save enough for it. And I love this apartment. I know I will have to say goodbye one day, but know, too, it won't be easy." A tear slowly rolled down her face.
"I know how you feel. I've only lived here for a week, but this apartment has been my house for longer than that. But we're not moving yet, so you shouldn't worry about it now. You're already stressed enough with everything we still need to get ready," Chandler said, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
The gesture was enough to make Monica smile.
"Look, Mon," He caught her attention again. "I have already some money saved. I know that getting everything you need for two babies will be expensive, but I think we might be able to put a down payment for a house. It won't be a big one, and will have to be out of the city, but still…
He didn't finish his speech because Monica threw her arms around Chandler's neck and pressed their lips together. The kiss felt slightly salty, but it was the most perfect Monica could recall.
She poured all her love and gratitude into the kiss. She knew Chandler had changed: he was more mature, and Monica knew he loved the twins as much as she did. She knew he would stay with her through everything, but what he'd just said… He was offering to buy a house with her. Offering a future with her.
"It sounds perfect," Monica said when they broke apart. She didn't question his proposal. She wouldn't question the fact that she had someone by her side who loved her as much as she'd always wanted.
A few months ago, she wouldn't have said anything. What Chandler was suggesting was a huge step forward in their relationship. One Monica would have never thought about, at least seriously, because it was dangerously close to the scenario that wouldn't leave her head for the last six months. At first, she had been scared. Scared that Chandler would change his mind about her, their relationship, and the babies, that she was falling too deeply in love with him, and that the picture in her mind would never come true. But now, she wasn't scared of it anymore. She knew Chandler still had some challenges to overcome. But Monica knew, too, that what she once imagined as just a fantasy would eventually become reality.
Oh gods. Their family. It was getting real. And deep down, that's what she wished for. And she knew there was no one else she wanted that with. Even if their house were small, it would still be perfect because, in the end, it was the home they built together.
"I've started to think about this since the day we discussed this with Rachel," Chandler admitted shyly, breaking the silence between them. When he didn't continue, Monica did.
"And aren't you scared?" She asked. "I am so proud of you and, above all, grateful, but this is a big thing."
"I thought I would be. But somehow, I'm not. I was scared when I found out we were having a baby. And then I was scared when I realized my feelings for you had changed. And when I figured there was a remote chance you felt the same way. Believe me, a few months ago, the slight reference to commitment would made me panic. But then, this amazing relationship with you came, and now, the only thing that scares me is the thought of losing this, of losing you. So, no, I'm not scared. I'm sure I want this. You, our babies, for as long as you let me."
Monica sometimes still wondered how lucky she was to have such a wonderful boyfriend.
"I love you," She said, although it wasn't nearly enough for what Chandler had just said. "And I won't let you go anywhere while you let me."
And just like that, the idea of a house in the suburbs where they could raise their kids was craved in Monica's head. Because deep down, she knew it would end like that for them. Chandler didn't need to say anything else because she knew. One day.
"What else have you thought about?" She continued, his tears now dry.
Chandler didn't hesitate.
"Two more kids in the future. And maybe a cat."
Oh. Monica and Chandler had never discussed their future so openly. For the past few months, Monica had had a growing feeling that her relationship with her best friend would be permanent. But hearing him talking about their future, in what would probably be a few years, with as much certainty they would still be together as her…
"Why not a dog?" She opted to ask, lifting the gloom that filled the room a few seconds before.
Chandler stayed silent for a moment, pondering over her question. Then, he finally spoke.
"I'm afraid of dogs."
Monica laughed. Not a soft laugh, but a loud one. She has known Chandler for around 10 years. He was her best friend, the father of her babies, and probably would be so much more in the future. Why didn't she know such a trivial fact about him?
"I'm sorry. I just realized I didn't know that about you," Monica apologized. "But in that case, a cat is fine. Unless the kids want to have a dog someday…"
"I hope they won't ask for it then…"
"I don't know… It's going to be four against one.
"Well…, I'm glad I still have some years to get used to the idea."
They just stayed like that, wrapped in each other's arms, enjoying each other's presence.
"When can we start looking for a house?" Monica broke the silence. Because after their conversation, she couldn't wait to make their life together come true.
However, surprisingly, Chandler was the voice of reason.
"Whenever you want. But I don't think you're in a condition to do it now,"
She hated it when he was right.
"You're right. Moving is a big change. And two newborns, too. We stay here for a while longer. But maybe next year we can start to look out for a new home. We need to focus on the babies right now."
"Sounds like a good plan to me," Chandler agreed. Then, he looked around the empty pink walls between them.
"So… Do you know already how the nursery will be?"
Monica knew better than to question the sudden topic change.
"I was thinking about painting the walls green?"