A/N Thank you so much for all of the lovely responses to the eventual proposal!
It's all happening for Mondler now, so this is another big chapter. I absolutely LOVED writing this one, so I really hope you enjoy it too.
Thank you, as ever for continuing to read!
"Baby still hasn't arrived then?" Gunther unhelpfully observed as Chandler and Monica entered the busy coffee house.
Chandler held out a protective arm to assist his fiancée's safe passage through the melee of coffee drinkers towards their usual couch as he quipped jovially, "Oh, the baby actually arrived last week, Gunther. She just shoplifted a watermelon."
The sniggers of both men were short-lived however, as they cowered beneath Monica's contemptuous gaze.
Gunther cleared his throat uneasily and scuttled nervously away towards the counter as Chandler attempted to assuage his uncomfortable and ill-tempered fiancée with a gentle kiss to the forehead and offers of tea and cake.
Monica was now five days past her due date and she was already beyond tired of having the fact that she was still in possession of a cumbersome bump, instead of the promised baby, repeatedly pointed out to her.
Her level of discomfort was increasing by the day and she was struggling to keep her distemper and impatience under control.
Whilst Chandler felt like he was walking on eggshells, he was generally doing a pretty good job of alleviating her irritability, forgetting only occasionally that any attempt at pregnancy related humor would not be well received.
He could however, feel a degree of accusation in Monica's eyes whenever she looked at him now; she had been telling him repeatedly that both she and Ross had arrived within two days of their respective due dates, and Chandler was beginning to suspect that she felt he was entirely to blame for their baby's apparently unpunctual genes.
"Hey Sweetie, how are you feeling?" Rachel asked with a sympathetic tilt of her head as her friend approached.
"Big." Monica snapped cheerlessly, her lips quickly resetting into a tight pout.
"Oh, I'm sure it won't be long now." Rachel attempted to soothe.
"Hey, maybe it will arrive on Valentine's Day!" Joey proposed with an oblivious grin, tucking into the heart-shaped iced cookie that Central Perk were selling in honor of the upcoming celebration "That would be cute!"
Monica's dangerous eyes locked on him with livid incredulity.
"I'm sure the baby will have arrived way before then, Joey!" Rachel scolded, her eyes wide with alarm, a little scared on the Italian's behalf, as she awaited Monica's inevitably stinging response.
"Yeah that would be great wouldn't it, Joey!" Monica seethed "Just what every chef wants. A birthday party to arrange on the busiest day of the year!"
Joey raised his eyebrows and sank a little lower in his seat, keen to escape her wrathful stare.
"Are there any natural remedies you can try to speed things along? Herbal tea or anything?" Rachel suggested gingerly.
"I tried them all." Monica replied dejectedly, "I ate an entire pineapple yesterday because someone told me it would soften my cervix. I've had a hot bath every night. I've tried spicy food. It just doesn't want to come out. I'm going to ask my doctor for a membrane sweep if it's not here by Friday."
"A membrane sweep?" Joey began to query looking intrigued.
"Don't ask" Chandler warned him darkly.
"Isn't sex supposed to help?" Rachel asked with a smirk.
Chandler and Monica eyed each other reproachfully.
"Well yeah, so they say," said Monica as she regarded her fiancé through narrowed eyes, "But unfortunately, somebody needs to be wined, dined and wooed like a little princess before they'll put out, apparently..."
Chandler rolled his eyes as Joey and Rachel exchanged an amused glance.
"I don't need to be wined and dined Monica, I just need not to be yelled at" Chandler corrected, "I'm sorry, but I'm just finding the "black widow" vibes a little off-putting."
She shot him a sarcastic scowl and flung her head back onto the back of the couch in frustration.
He smiled teasingly as he leant over to kiss her cheek, "Look, maybe if you're a good girl later..."
Rachel stifled a snigger and stroked her friend's hair with a comforting palm as Chandler earned himself an angry glare and a loud scoff.
Monica huffed as she shook Rachel's hand away, and hauled herself to her feet.
"I think I'm going to head home," she said quietly, "Somebody else can drink my tea."
"Oh come on Honey, I was just playing!" Chandler told her.
"I know. I'm tired that's all" she replied despondently, "I'll see you all later."
Rachel and Joey regarded her consolingly, neither daring to speak another word, despite the apparent ebb of her rage.
"I'll come with you" Chandler swigged a painfully hot glug of coffee as he stood.
"No, stay here." Monica insisted, "I'm just going to take another bath."
Chandler took her hand and gave a nod towards the door, indicating his unwillingness to leave her alone.
"I'm sorry I pissed you off" he told her gently as they emerged from the coffee house into the cool air.
Monica struggled to wrap her coat around the bulk of her bump, and shook her head "No. I'm sorry for being so grumpy. I don't know how you put up with me."
"You're allowed to be grumpy" he told her sweetly, moving to stand in front of her and tugging at the zipper of her maternity coat in an attempt to help her wrap up.
"Chandler, I'm really scared." she suddenly blurted out, her watery eyes staring into his face imploringly.
He paused and regarded her softly, his bottom lip dropping open slightly as he waited for her to continue.
She shook her head uneasily, her lashes grazing her cheeks as her gaze dropped to the floor.
"I'm desperate for it to happen, but I'm also really terrified. What if I can't do it? And what if something goes wrong?"
"Of course you can do it," he told her with the utmost confidence "You're the toughest person I know, Mon. If that wimpy accountant from my office can have a baby, a tiger like you is going to smash it out of the park!"
"Not all births are straightforward though, Chandler. Things can go wrong. I love this baby so much, and if anything happens to it -" she suddenly sounded breathless with panic.
"Hey!" he cut her off with a kiss and brought his hands to caress her bump, smiling as he immediately felt a little jab of tiny knee or elbow.
"It's all going to be fine, Mon. You've looked after this baby so well, and she or he is going to be safe in your arms in a matter of days. In a matter of hours maybe."
He moved his tender fingers to cup her face.
"I'm not surprised that you're scared, Honey; it's only natural; and I wish I could help you get him or her out of there, but I promise I'll be there with you every step of the way while you do it. And you can yell at me for knocking you up as much as you need to".
He was relieved to see a smile tug at her lips, although her eyes remained somewhat somber, and they glistened with trepidation.
"I'm glad that you knocked me up" she told him softly, squeezing his hand firmly as they continued their short journey home.
Monica winced as a twinge of pain shot through the hardness of her bump, her hands instinctively moving to cradle the taut swell.
She had been experiencing these mild tightenings on and off over a course of days, and was increasingly hopeful that they were an indication that labor was finally drawing closer.
She flopped back onto the sofa and picked up a magazine from the pile on the coffee table, in the vain hope that she might garner sufficient levels of concentration to be able to distract herself with some banal make-up tips or fashion recommendations instead of continually obsessing over childbirth.
She heard the apartment door open behind her and Chandler called out to her in greeting.
Her eyes continued to scan the glossy page of her magazine as she called impatiently over her shoulder, "Right Bing, I don't care what you say, me and you are doing the deed right now. No excuses. You put this baby in here, so you can damn well get it out -"
"Errrr! Honey!" Chandler interrupted her urgently, as loudly and succinctly as he was able, "Your dad's here to see you!"
Monica's head swiveled around in horror to meet the deep brown eyes of her father who was standing uncomfortably at the side of her flustered fiancé.
"Hey Dad," she smiled grimly, exchanging an embarrassed look with Chandler, as each man approached to take turns planting a kiss upon the top of her head.
"Hello Sweetie" Jack greeted, pretending not to have heard his daughter's opening demand, "Still no baby, huh?"
"That's very perceptive of you, Dad." she remarked sarcastically, "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I met Richard and Marcus at an Italian place in SoHo earlier. It was a little farewell lunch for Richard actually: Did I tell you he's going to Africa to do some volunteer work for a charity? It sounds very exciting-"
"Good for Richard!" Monica interrupted him with a slight snarl, unsure as to why her father thought she would be remotely interested in any new developments in her ex-boyfriend's life at such a key point in her own.
Jack raised his eyebrows and shot a somewhat startled glance towards Chandler, who returned an awkwardly apologetic half-smile.
"Well. He and Marcus said to wish you luck anyway..." Jack trailed off.
"Thanks" Monica muttered with a dismissive roll of her eyes.
Her face suddenly contorted with discomfort and she shifted on the sofa as her abdominal muscles strained once more.
"Are you OK?" Chandler dashed to her side in immediate concern.
"Yeah, just a twinge" she assured him mildly.
"Are you sure?" Chandler regarded her closely as Jack grabbed the TV remote and made himself comfortable next to his daughter on the couch.
"I'm pretty sure I'll know when I'm in labor Chandler!" Monica retorted briskly, attempting to ease the tension in her bump with a firm but gentle rub.
Chandler raised his hands to signal his defeat, before crouching in front of her and tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Hey listen, Rachel said a woman from her work recommended a little Bangladeshi restaurant that does really good, really spicy curry. I thought I could go grab you one for dinner? Maybe that might help kickstart things? I could head over there now while your dad's here?"
She glanced cautiously towards her father, checking that he was fully absorbed in the TV, before leaning close to Chandler's ear and whispering with a smirk " Is this just your way of avoiding going to bed with the "black widow"? "
Chandler chuckled and murmured "All in good time my love. Curry first. Do you want something with chicken? Or lamb?"
"Chicken I think" she replied stiffly, her brow furrowing as she squirmed and rubbed her belly once more.
Chandler regarded her more seriously now, "Are you sure you're OK?"
"Yes Chandler!" she told him, her eyes wild with exasperation "It doesn't even hurt, it's just uncomfortable! I'll know when the baby's coming."
He sighed thoughtfully as he appraised her beautiful, obstinate face; concluding that she genuinely did not appear to be in any pain or distress.
"Right. Well, I won't be long" he assured, giving her hair a quick ruffle as he headed for the door.
Monica had been truthful in her assessment of the abdominal cramps she had been experiencing, but things suddenly began to intensify, and Chandler had only been gone for around twenty minutes when she finally began to consider the possibility that the increasingly painful sensations could actually be a sign that she was nearing labor.
The tightenings in her abdomen were beginning to feel progressively stronger, they most definitely hurt, and they seemed to be happening at least every seven or eight minutes now, causing her to groan harder each time.
She glanced towards her father, who was completely engrossed in a documentary about The Battle of El Alamein and remained completely oblivious to her pain.
Monica was reluctant to panic him unnecessarily, feeling sure that she could keep her concerns to herself until Chandler returned with the curry, but her eyes grew round with alarm and she let out an involuntary gasp as she felt a gentle popping sensation deep inside her belly and a warm wetness suddenly pooling between her legs.
She pulled herself immediately up from the sofa: She would find this laughable later, but the very first thoughts that entered her head were centered around protecting her upholstery.
Her father's inquisitive eyes turned towards her in stunned concern as she admitted quietly "Dad, I think my water just broke."
Jack flew out of his seat as if it had been set aflame "Oh my God!"
"Dad! It's OK!" Monica placed a calming hand on his arm "It doesn't mean anything will happen soon. Labor can take hours. Days even... But I do think I might be having contractions too..."
"OK. It's all alright." Jack placed his hands on his daughters shoulders, breathing deeply and trying desperately to maintain his calm "Shall I take you to the hospital?"
She shook her head adamantly "I'm not going until Chandler gets back. My contractions aren't that painful yet, so there's plenty of time. He shouldn't be long."
Jack tensed as Monica's words faded into a pained grunt. She bent double and dropped to the couch panting through the strong cramp that wrenched in her belly.
"Could you please see if Rachel's home though?" she managed to ask her father, who was frozen to the spot, staring at her in petrified silence.
Both Jack and Monica were relieved to discover that Rachel was indeed at home, and she proved to be a much needed calming and pragmatic presence.
She swiftly helped Monica to change out of her damp clothes and placed the hospital bag that had been carefully packed weeks ago next to the door, all ready for her eventual departure.
But there was still no sign of Chandler.
Rachel watched worriedly as Monica leaned forward, bracing herself against the kitchen counter, as another agonizing contraction caused her to heave in pain.
Jack was pacing the room, phone in hand, having called Judy to inform her of the situation.
Despite her considerable exertion, Monica was still able to throw a look of fury in his direction, her groan almost turning into a roar, when she heard him say "No Judy, I don't think she is just being dramatic... "
"Honey, I think I'm going to head towards the restaurant to find Chandler", Rachel eventually decided, as Monica's symptoms seemed to be gathering exponential pace and gravity. "I think your dad should take you to the hospital now, and Chandler and I will meet you there."
Monica shook her head defiantly as her contraction eased and she drew herself up tall.
"No, I'm not going without Chandler." she affirmed "It's not that painful yet, I'm probably still way off."
Monica sounded progressively less convincing in her assertions and her mounting anxiety was becoming ever more obvious. But she remained staunchly committed to waiting for Chandler, terrified by the idea of facing the delivery suite without him at her side.
"If you could please go find him that would be great," she beseeched Rachel hoarsely.
Rachel eyed her dubiously "OK, but if the contractions start coming any faster you have to go to hospital Monica. Please? I swear I'll get Chandler to you, OK? I promise I will. I know exactly where this restaurant is, so I'll be super quick. Don't worry."
She wrapped her arms around Monica who squeezed her tight with gratitude, swallowing back a biting sting of tears that bothered the backs of her eyes.
As Rachel departed, Monica made her way mournfully back towards the sofa and felt a high-pitched sob escape from her throat.
"What if she can't find him and he doesn't make it back in time, Dad? I can't do this without him"
Jack hurried to her side and took her protectively in his arms.
"Hey! First of all, my little Harmonica can do anything, so I don't want to hear any more of that. But Chandler will be there." he told her with a confident nod.
"I never met a more excited father-to-be in my whole life, there's no way he'll be away from your side for too long. You got yourself a good one there." he planted a comforting kiss on top of his daughter's head.
"I know" she responded tearfully, leaning into his shoulder.
"And until he arrives, you'll just have to make do with your old Dad. I might not know what Lamaze is, but I promise I'll be right here with you, doing my best, for as long as you need me. OK?"
Her father's sweet affection quickly eroded any pretension of strength Monica had left, and she dissolved into his embrace.
"God, I'm so frightened Dad. What if I can't do all of this? What if I'm not ready?" she whimpered, pressing her face into his jumper, finding some comfort in the familiarity of his scent.
"Oh Honey, nobody ever feels ready for a baby." Jack told her with a sympathetic frown "I remember when you arrived, I didn't feel ready, and that was after we'd already had Ross!"
"It was different with you though. I never expected a little girl..." he told her wistfully "I'd never been able to picture it. I'd always imagined that I'd have a football team of strapping sons... "
"So you'd already been disappointed once then..." Monica managed to quip through her tears, never one to pass up an opportunity to crack a joke at her brother's expense.
Jack chuckled but told her "I wasn't disappointed. I just didn't know what the hell I was going to do with you. They handed you to me, and you were just so different from your brother... He was a very hairy baby... You just seemed so delicate, like a little doll, and so fair... beautiful... Just like your mother. "
He hugged her a little tighter and his eyes began to glisten in reminiscence.
"And then you opened those big blue eyes and you just stared at me. You didn't cry, you just looked right at me, like you were really taking me in."
He blinked hard and gave an emotional choke.
"I just knew right then and there that I would do anything for you".
Monica squeezed him back appreciatively, but then her abdomen cramped with such vigor that it took her breath away.
Jack rubbed her back and looked anxiously towards the clock.
"Honey, I really think we need to get you to the hospital now." Jack told her, the idea of overseeing an unplanned home-birth sending a wave of terror down his spine.
But then the door clattered open and Chandler stumbled breathlessly into the room, gathering up first Monica and then her hospital bag at breakneck speed.
"Rachel's holding a cab." he managed to pant as he wrapped a guiding arm around her, pausing for just a second to shower a series of relieved kisses across her face "You ready?"
"Of course she's ready. She was born ready." Jack answered with absolute certainty on his daughter's behalf.
When Chandler thought back to the births of Ben, and the triplets, he recalled a sense of time passing quite slowly.
There had been long conversations in waiting rooms, watery cups of coffee to consume, phone calls to make; and he had assumed that his own child would arrive in a similarly leisurely fashion.
But as he frantically escorted a heavily panting Monica into an examination room it soon became apparent this was to be a somewhat different experience.
"OK Monica, you're fully dilated we need to get you ready for delivery," a nurse told her, glancing urgently at her colleagues who immediately scrambled to prepare Monica for the imminent birth of their child.
"I'm afraid your labor is a little too advanced now to consider most pain relief options, but we will fix you up with some Entonox to breathe in, which might help ease your contractions a little," the nurse informed her, before remarking "You've done very well to manage the pain for so long at home. Most women come in to see us much earlier than this!"
"Well, everybody told me that contractions would be "unbearable": That they would be so painful I wouldn't be able to speak when I was having them," Monica explained defensively as she donned the hospital-issued gown, breathless from her last contraction and feeling a little embarrassed that she had left it so late to seek medical attention, "But I could bear them, and I could still speak. So I guess I was waiting for it to get even worse before I made a big fuss".
Chandler shook his head in indulgent disbelief, before informing the nurse dryly "She's not "most women". She has a freakishly high pain threshold. And she can always speak."
The nurse chuckled as she began to set up an array of monitoring equipment "Well, I shouldn't think you have very long to wait now before you meet your baby."
A shock of exhilaration electrified Chandler's ribcage, and he just had time to brush Monica's lips with an emotional kiss before another contraction began to overwhelm her body.
Monica had read all of the baby books a thousand times over. She had attended all of the classes, researched all of the optimum birthing positions and practised the breathing techniques; and yet nothing could have prepared her for the reality of childbirth.
Everything she had studiously learned evaporated from her brain within seconds of arriving in the delivery suite, her mind taking a back seat as her body took complete control of this most primitive of tasks.
She did not think she spoke a word throughout, not to the medical staff, not even to Chandler, as she felt herself retreat to a previously unknown place, deep within the recesses of her psyche.
It was as if she began to exist on some strange liminal plain, unable to engage with anything outside of her own body, as she rode wave after wave of increasingly excruciating contractions, practically unaware of anybody else in the room; not visualizing her ultimate goal; not thinking about anything at all, in fact. Just living this most visceral of moments.
Chandler could only watch through wide fearful eyes, feeling completely helpless, as he pushed sweat-drenched strands of hair from her exhausted brow, offered unacknowledged whisperings of love and encouragement, and provided a hand for her to grip at with white knuckles.
Seeing the person he loved most in the whole world in such tremendous pain was more profoundly affecting than he could possibly have imagined, and he was completely awestruck by her strength and bravery.
When the baby eventually began to crown, and he was encouraged by the medics to watch as his new son or daughter emerged into the world, he found himself unable to breathe; he simply could not comprehend how Monica's already physically spent body was possibly going to manage this improbable feat; and he was almost able to feel the unbearable stretching of her flesh as if it were his own.
At this point, he would not have blamed her for being angry with him for having put her in this position in the first place, but still she toiled on with unseeing eyes, the gutteral noises emerging from her throat increasing in volume with every contraction.
Monica had read about the "urge to push", but when it finally happened, it still took her by surprise. It was a feeling like no other: A unique bodily compulsion so acute and uncontrollable it felt entirely animal; so blind-sidingly different to anything she had ever felt before, it was almost ecstatic; a signal that this relentless battle was nearing its end.
As the doctor compelled her to push without inhibition into every remaining contraction, Chandler felt the atmosphere in the room immediately change. The medical staff suddenly seemed consumed with a sense of urgency that told him they were approaching the dangerous summit: This was the part that had to go right.
He could feel tears of panic building behind his eyes as he watched that last formidable push; the veins in Monica's forehead were straining at her skin; she was mauve with effort and contorted with pain, as their baby finally slid into the waiting hands of the doctor.
The mewling cry that immediately reverberated around the room, hailing the arrival of healthy new lungs, was the most magical sound either Monica or Chandler had ever heard, and they collapsed against eachother, their eyes trained desperately on the mercifully smiling doctor who bundled the slippery, purplish form of the tiny infant into a fluffy towel, and straight into to Monica's eager arms.
"Congratulations, you have a beautiful, healthy little baby boy!" he told the couple warmly.
As soon as her eyes landed on that crumpled little face, a rush of world-shattering love evanesced Monica's considerable pain.
"I can't believe you're here!" she whispered through elated tears, "I love you so much,"
She gazed into the nascent blue eyes that seemed to know her already; as they reached deep inside of her, seeking her comfort and connection.
Both parents watched in awe as their son's rosebud lips rooted instinctively at her chest and a nurse stepped in to assist the baby's shell-shocked mother to establish his latch.
Chandler peppered her blissfully exhausted face with kisses "Look what you did!" he managed to whisper, "God, I am so proud of you Monica. You're unreal, do you know that? You're just amazing. Just look how beautiful he is."
He brought his hand to cup the baby's soft head, with a gentle reverence, seemingly concerned that the immaculate, brand new human might shatter beneath his touch.
"He's perfect" Monica agreed with a whimper, unable to tear her eyes from the magical little form at her breast.
"I can't believe we have a son" he pressed an intensely lingering kiss against her temple as he stifled a sob of his own.
"Our little baby Jack?" he checked
"Our little baby Jack." she confirmed, managing to tear her eyes away from the bewitching face of her precious little boy, just long enough for her lips to capture those of his father.
The next few hours passed in a giddy daze.
The brevity of Monica's time spent laboring in hospital meant that their friends and family had not had time to congregate en masse, arriving instead in a steady stream that punctuated baby Jack's constant desire to feed in such a way that Monica's own chances of eating or sleeping were pretty much zero.
Not that she cared.
For as long as her eyes were locked upon Jack's sweet features she really felt that she wanted for nothing.
Jack Senior had been ready and waiting at the hospital throughout of course, and by the time Judy arrived, she found her husband tear-stained and emotional after having been the first to be introduced to his tiny namesake.
Rachel was also on hand, and it was not long before Phoebe dashed in to join her too.
Chandler became concerned at points that the two women might come to blows as they practically wrestled the baby from each other's arms, desperate as they both were to lavish the tiniest member of their gang with affectionate cuddles.
Ross arrived with a slightly daunted Ben in tow: The little boy was initially delighted to find that Aunt Monica and Uncle Chandler had dutifully provided the male cousin he had repeatedly requested, but was ultimately rendered slightly disappointed by the discovery that Jack was currently far too small and static to be considered much use as a playmate.
Joey was the last one through the door, his puppy dog eyes full of tears as he cradled the progeny of his two best friends, too overwhelmed to speak very much at all, communicating his joy mainly via the medium of proud back slaps and bear hugs.
As much as he had enjoyed showing off their beautiful boy to all and sundry, Chandler was quietly relieved when a nurse informed them that visiting time was over and he was finally able to enjoy some coveted alone time with his perfect little family.
He practically had to force-feed Monica with some hot buttered toast, having no real idea how she was continuing to exist after the astonishing physical onslaught he had witnessed her endure.
Encouraging her to sleep proved even trickier: It took quite some time before her adrenalin levels began to trough, and Chandler was able to convince her to place their freshly-fed and sated little bundle into the crib, in touching distance of her bed, where she was able to lie and gaze into his dreamy face until her own eyelids finally began to droop with exhaustion.
The uncomfortably rigid plastic chair he was confined to felt more akin to a throne to Chandler, as he sat in contented ecstasy, his eyes flitting adoringly between the two people that completed his heart.
After a while, Jack began to snuffle and stir, a lamb-like bleat signalling his displeasure at finding himself alone and too far away from the safe, warm body he was accustomed to being joined with.
"Hey, hey, hey" Chandler hushed softly as he cupped Jack's down-soft head in his palm, supporting the velvet creases of his neck as he lifted the fussing infant's tiny, fragile body from the plastic crib and carefully cradled him in the crook of his arm.
He smiled down at Monica, who was observing him intently. Her eyes had fluttered wide open in immediate response to the first hint of a cry from her precious baby, and Chandler was all ready to hand Jack over, to be soothed by his mother's love and competence.
But Jack had already quietened, the warmth and security of his father's arms proving sufficient to calm his whimpers on this occasion, and Chandler watched in surprised awe as his son's perfect little face relaxed into a sleepy pout.
A dreamy smile of gratitude tugged at Monica's lips, her eyelids drifting closed once more, confident that their son was safe and settled against his father's chest.
Chandler had always felt nervous around newborns, shying away from holding them, terrified by their frailty, and certain that they would pick up on his ineptitude, and complain about it by loudly vocalizing their mistrust; so he was quite overwhelmed to discover that he was able to respond to his own child with an instinctive confidence he could never have foreseen.
He had not had to ask Monica, or a nurse, how to pick Jack up, or hold him, or move him about in such a way that might pacify him: He just knew. And the fact that this miraculous little entity was able to find immediate comfort in his arms; that for Jack, Chandler was enough; made his heart swell and tears of wonderment began to gather in his eyes.
Any niggles of doubt he had harbored that fatherhood would not come easily to him were melting away at an astonishing rate: Loving this little boy felt like the most natural thing in the world.
The metallic clatter of a medical trolley crashing along the corridor outside caused Jack to startle ; his whole body flinching and his little arms jerking sideways in reflex.
"It's OK!" Chandler soothed with a soft chuckle, amused by his son's ninja moves, rocking him gently as he walked with him towards the window.
"It's just a noisy trolley. You don't have to be scared. You know Mommy and I would never let anything happen to you" he assured in gentle tones, watching as the baby's arms slowly relaxed, his miniscule fingers curling into fists and coming to rest against the gentle rise and fall of his chest.
Chandler dipped his head to press his lips adoringly against Jack's smooth forehead, inhaling him deeply.
He had heard Monica and Phoebe wax lyrical about that "newborn baby smell" on many an occasion, and recalled watching with scathing bewilderment as they had passed around Ben, and then more recently, the Buffay triplets, pressing their noses against their tiny heads so that they might take in a lungful of that supposedly heavenly scent.
But he got it now.
Chandler could practically feel the oxytocin flooding his body as he absorbed the intoxicating, entirely unsynthetic aroma that was innately Jack: It was a scent that was at once brand new and yet strangely familiar, provoking deep within him some primal urge to nurture and protect.
Chandler knew right then that his whole life had been leading up to this very moment. The love that pulsated through his entire being was beyond what he could ever have imagined. There was nothing he would not do for the tiny human that lay with trusting vulnerability in his arms; he had no doubt that he would defend him with his own life if need be.
The precious responsibility of fatherhood already made him feel like a better, stronger man: Gazing into the little face that he knew would spend a lifetime looking to him for unconditional love and guidance inspired Chandler to make a vow to become the best possible version of himself; he felt renewed by a sudden determination to cast aside his self-doubt and cynicism and rise to the challenge of being everything their son undoubtedly deserved.
He glanced back towards Monica, drinking in her serene perfection and feeling a surge of intense gratitude that she had bestowed upon him the greatest of all gifts.
As his gaze returned to their treasured son, he told him in a whisper, "You're the luckiest little boy, you know? Because your mommy and daddy think you're the most precious thing in the whole wide world and we love you so, so much."
His eyes prickled with emotion as he traced a gentle finger across the infant's velveteen cheek
"And I can tell you, that being loved by Mommy is pretty amazing: The best thing that ever happened to me, that's for sure. ... But you probably know that already. I know you guys have been pretty tight for 9 months"
"But you really are lucky Jack, because with a Mommy like that, you are always going to know how special you are, and how smart you are, and how capable; because she'll tell you every single day.
And Daddy will too.
And you'll believe it, and you'll be able to go out there and chase any dream you ever have and you'll be able to be exactly who you want to be"
He gazed wistfully out of the window at the unstoppable hum of the city, and the wide world beyond, imagining the limitless possibilities available to the brand new, completely untainted human nestled in his arms.
"You know, you started out way over that way? Thousands of miles away across an ocean! You're our little London Baby. Maybe you'll go back there one day? Or maybe you'll cross other oceans? You can do anything you want. As long as you promise to always come home and tell me all about it".
Chandler's eyes drifted in the direction of his office; The place he spent so much of his life, bringing him security and a decent wage, but so very little satisfaction or joy.
He wondered for a moment how his own life may have been different if he had enjoyed the same kind of self-belief and confidence that he and Monica would try desperately to bestow upon their son.
"You won't feel like Daddy felt," he assured his son in a hoarse whisper "You're never going to feel like you're not good enough; And you won't lose your way; Mommy and I won't let that happen."
"You'll go to amazing places, and you'll do incredible things." he promised with certainty.
"And when you make mistakes, me and Mommy won't judge you; because we probably made them all already; but we will help you figure them out. Mommy's real good at that, she's super smart and she's great with the good advice."
"And when you're sad, we'll look after you and Daddy'll be silly and make you laugh again: Because that's one thing Daddy is really good at."
He wandered back towards Monica and eased himself cautiously to a seated position, perching on the bed next to her, taking great care not to wake either mother or son.
He smiled indulgently, unconcerned by the solitary tear that spilled down his cheek, as he brushed the tip of the little boy's nose with the lightest of kisses.
"You're going to have the best life, little man. I promise. The three of us are gonna have so much fun together."
A/N I hope you enjoyed it - I remember at least one person saying they were hoping for a baby girl, but I hope you're happy enough with little Jack!