Hello, my lovelies! Sorry for not updating for so long, bu I was away on vacation and didn't bring my computer. Here's another sweet chapter for you!
Chandler entered his soon-to-be home, only to face Monica frustratedly crumpling some papers.
"And hello to you too, honey!" He greeted his girlfriend in his characteristic mocking tone.
Monica glared at him.
"What happened?" Chandler asked when Monica didn't greet him back.
"It's all your fault! Urgh!" Monica groaned, taking another piece of paper from the half-used notepad.
Chandler couldn't remember having done anything to upset Monica. On the contrary, if he recalled correctly, he'd left her very pleased the night before. So, what could she be blaming him for?
Cautiously not upset a pregnant Monica even more than she was already, Chandler approached the couch, noticing the book that was open by the coffee table: "Baby names," he read on the title.
"Nothing goes well with Bing!" Monica finally winced, plopping herself on the couch.
Chandler took a moment to follow Monica's actions. First of all, of all the possibilities for Monica's frustration, he would have never guessed this to be it. And secondly… She wanted the babies to have his last name? It had never crossed Chandler's mind to have kids before this whole situation with Monica, and even after that, he had never stopped to think about it. Knowing Monica planned the baby to have his last name made everything feel real. As if the reality that he would be a father in less than five months had just sunk in. It was real. They were so close to having not one but two babies.
Tenderly, Chandler took Monica's hand in his and rubbed the palm with his fingers, which instantly calmed her.
"Want to start from the beginning?" Chandler asked. Monica looked at him.
"I guess there's no need for much explanation… After you left this morning, Rachel started to ask some questions, and suddenly, it felt weird to refer to the babies as the babies. It's been around a month since we know the babies' genders, and we still refer to them as the babies. Maybe we should start discussing names for them."
Chandler agreed with Monica. An image of two babies wrapped in a blue and pink blanket smiling directly at him sprang into his mind, and even if Chandler had only fully realized he was going to have two kids a mere second before, it did indeed feel weird to refer to them as "the babies" even though they'd been doing it up to that point.
"I'm sorry I started to look without you here," Monica interrupted his thoughts. "But I wanted to already have some options when the matter came up."
Chandler couldn't understand why Monica was apologizing for caring about their babies. It only showed how much she cared about them, even if they weren't born yet. He couldn't be happier about it. He wanted his kids to have the things he didn't get as a child. He wanted his kids to grow up in a family that loved them. Speaking of which…~
"You want our kids to have my last name?" Chandler asked, avoiding the term babies.
Monica smiled at him.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"
Chandler was taken aback by Monica's simplicity.
"Well… we never planned on this happening, and it's not like we're married. We weren't even dating when it happened…" Chandler started, only realizing later the words that left his mouth.
"I know, but we are dating now." Monica interrupted. And I've been seeing how much you're changing for them, and I'm sure you will be a wonderful father. I am so proud of you, and I want our kids to be proud of their father, too."
Chandler had no words. He looked at Monica, who smiled at him with her eyes so full of love, and he couldn't imagine having a family with anyone besides her. His arms wrapped around her.
"Thank you," He murmured against her hair. Then, he leaned down and touched Monica's rounded stomach.
"And I won't disappoint you guys. I might not be perfect, but I promise to be the best father I can."
They could have stayed like that forever. However, there was a thought in the back of Chandler's head nagging him. It sounded too unlike Monica to not have something already planned. She always had to have control of every situation, and knowing she wanted to be a mother forever, Chandler couldn't believe she hadn't planned her baby's name already. Without thinking, he spoke.
"I thought you would have the names chosen since you were a kid."
"Well…" Monica said, looking at him. She didn't need to say anything more. Chandler could read her like an open book.
"You planned your kids' names when you were a kid?"
"I had them chosen since I was five," Monica admitted. "But I don't want to use them…"
"Why not?" Chandler asked, puzzled by Monica's statements. "Oh gods, don't tell me they are named after some kind of edible thing," He joked, even if a part of his brain wasn't, remembering how passionate about food Monica had been since she was a child.
To Chandler's relief, Monica laughed at his question.
"Don't worry, I would never name our kids after food," Monica assured him. "But that's not the reason," She added before Chandler could come up with one of his quips.
She sounded serious, and Chandler let her speak instead of interrupting with a sarcastic comment.
"I have the names planned since I was five. And I always said those were the names I would give to my kids. Because I always thought about how they were MY kids. But now that it is happening, I realize these babies are not only my kids. They are also yours, and you should have an opinion on the name. I want us to choose a name together."
Chandler didn't know how to react to Monica's words. He felt honored, happy, and loved at the same time. Compromising her dream name so that Chandler could choose the name of their kids was one of the most selfless things Monica had ever done for him. No one had ever had such consideration for him, and Monica didn't give other control of any situation. And from how he spoke, Chandler could sense she hadn't given the matter much thought. She talked as if there was no other option than them choosing the name together. After all those months they'd been together, he still wondered how he was so lucky to love such a wonderful woman and that she loved him back.
Chandler couldn't trust his mouth to say how touched he was by Monica's words, so he opted to show her. Still struck by the mixed-up emotions, he kissed her.
"I want to at least know the names anyway. Is that okay?" He asked when the kiss ended.
"Daniel for boy and Emma for girl," Monica answered immediately.
He regretted asking the second he had the answer. Suddenly, the same picture of their babies surged in front of him. Only this time, it felt different. The blonde baby in the blue blanket stared at him with his light blue eyes, and Chandler couldn't picture him having any other name than Daniel. However, the name "Emma" didn't sit right with the little girl. How could he say to Monica he didn't like the name? Even if they wouldn't name their little girl Emma, he couldn't say he didn't like Monica's dream name. It would crush her.
"Everything alright, honey?" Monica said, sensing Chandler's quietness.
"Yes… I was thinking…" He said, opting for not speaking the whole truth.
"About the names?"
Chandler had trapped himself in a dead end. He had to tell Monica the truth.
"I loved the name Daniel," He started. "We can look at other names if you want, but I really liked Daniel ."
Monica smiled widely at him. But her smile quickly dimmed.
"And what about Emma? You didn't like it, did you?" She said, answering her own question before Chandler could do it.
"It's okay, honey. I was prepared for it. That's why I want us to choose a new name together. One that we both like."
Chandler had thought Monica would be mad or sad. He hadn't expected this reaction. She had changed so much in the past five months that he sometimes wondered if she was the same person.
"I haven't thought about it at all," Chandler admitted.
But Monica wasn't bothered by it. She grabbed the book from the table and placed it in Chandler's lap.
"How about we both write down some names we like and then compare which ones we have in common?" She suggested.
The rest of the evening passed, and the names seemed infinite. Were there really so many girls' names? Chandler couldn't even recall hearing some of them. Charlotte. No, too old school. Emily. No, too much British sounding. Leah. It could be worse. Paisley. Too hard to pronounce. Hannah. That one didn't sound so bad. The pattern repeated for several hours until he finally reached the end of the book.
They'd agreed to list the names that evening and discuss them the next day. However, neither of them could wait much longer. It was now two in the afternoon, and Chandler and Monica lay awake in Monica's bed with the bedside lamp on, looking at the scribbled-down names. They'd managed to narrow down the list, and of all the names, one stuck in Chandler's ear.
"I really like Sarah," he murmured, absently playing with Monica's dark hair.
Monica looked at Chandler, thinking for a moment. Then, her lips curved in a smile.
"Sarah Bing. It does sound nice. And I really like Sarah, too."
They looked at each other.
"Daniel and Sarah. I think the names suit them," Chandler declared.
Monica nodded.
"Yeah. I think we have decided on our babies' names," She added, smiling brightly.
Then, Monica adjusted her position before tensing.
Chandler noticed the subtle change and immediately got worried.
"What happened? Is everything okay?"
Monica stood silent for a second.
"I have been having these weird fluttering sensations today. I didn't know what they were, but now, I think it's the babies moving." She said, her hands over her stomach.
"You know what? I think they moved now because they approved the names," Monica added, laughing softly.
"Well, that settles it then. We've officially chosen our kid's names," Chandler joined on Monica's playful tone.
"Yes. I can't wait to meet Sarah and Daniel," Monica said with a yawn. "Now we need the second name."
"I think we should leave it for another day," Chandler said with a yawn of his own.
Monica didn't complain, as she almost immediately was fast asleep. Chandler kissed her cheek.
"Good night, Mon." Then, he placed his hand on Monica's stomach.
"And good night, Daniel and Sarah."