"I can't believe you're six months along," Rachel commented at the breakfast
table about a month later. "This is so incredible."

"I know," Phoebe agreed. "In three months there's going to a little Mondler
waking you up in the middle of the night!"

Chandler, Monica, and Rachel stared at her in confusion.

"What?" Chandler finally asked.

"Mondler," Phoebe repeated. "You know -- MONica and ChanDLER. MONDLER. Joey
helped me."

"Ah," Monica said, nodding as though she understood.

"Hey, you guys," Ross greeted as he came into Monica and Chandler's
apartment.

"Hi, Ross. Hungry?" Monica asked. Chandler, who was standing behind his
girlfriend, shook his head in an exaggerated way.

Ross smiled. "No thanks. I just ate."

"Too bad," Monica muttered. "We were having mustard pancakes. They're quite
good actually."

"Yeah, I'm really full," Ross said quickly. He pulled out a piece of paper
from his coat pocket and waved it at Monica. "Can you believe that our
parents have been married for thirty years?"

Monica snatched the paper away from him and read it to herself. She burst
into tears.

"Oh, honey," Chandler murmered, going to her instinctively. He pulled her
into a hug and took the paper away from her.

"What's wrong?" Ross asked.

"I didn't get an invitation," Monica moaned. "My parents hate me. I didn't
marry a lesbian but instead got pregnant and now they hate me."

"What?" Ross scoffed. "They *do* not . . ."

* * * * *

"I can not *believe* you two!" Ross shouted at his parents later that day.
"I thought you and Monica made up over a month ago."

"She shouldn't have stormed out on us at dinner," Jack said. "That was very
disrespectful."

"Yes," Judy agreed. "And getting herself pregnant. Did we not teach her
enough to use protection? This child will be born in wedlock."

"Mom, *I* was *concieved* in wedlock too!" Ross pointed out. "Monica's doing
no worse than you were. And she's a responsible adult! You were just eighteen
when you got pregnant!"

"Ross, why are you shouting?" Judy asked, scolding him slightly.

"Because you're so cruel to Monica. She's your daughter for God's sake. When
she found out you didn't invite her to the anniversary party you know what
she did? She burst into tears."

"Pregnant woman hormones," Judy explained.

"Does it really matter?" Ross snapped. "Just make up with her, okay? Until
you do . . . I don't really want to talk to you anymore."

"Ross," Jack warned. "That's no way to talk to your parents."

"And you shouldn't talk to Monica the way you do. Bringing up *Richard* just
to hurt her?" Ross shook his head. "I thought you were better than that,
Mom."

And with that, he left his parents' house; not speaking another word.

* * * * *

Chandler hummed to himself as he came into his apartment after work; he was
in a pretty good mood. He'd gotten the next day off so he could spend all of
it with Monica.

"How's my gorgeous girl?" Chandler greeted to the dark haired woman sitting
on the couch, reading.

Monica looked up from her book and smiled. Chandler came over and kissed her
softly on the lips.

"I talked to my mother today," Monica said a little quietly.

Chandler instantly felt mad. "What did she say?"

"That she was sorry."

"*What*?" Chandler demanded, his jaw dropping.

"I know! I was shocked too!" Monica said, standing up. She groaned and
immediately sat back down again, clutching her back. "Apparently Ross talked
to our parents today. I'm going to get an invitation to their party in the
mail within the next day or two."

Chandler leaned over and kissed her again. "God, do I love you."

"What?" Monica demanded.

Chandler thought about it. "Um . . ."

"Did you just say you love me?"

"No!" Chandler said quickly. He mentally kicked himself. She had just seemed
so happy when she was talking. He had talked without thinking.

"But you just said--"

"I did not," Chandler disagreed. "I-I . . . have to go."

Monica looked a little hurt as she smiled at him. "Sure. See you later,
okay?"

"I guess."

After Chandler shut the door to his apartment he burst into Joey's. "Oh, my
God, Joe!" he yelled. Joey turned around from watching some football game.

"What? This isn't your apartment anymore. You can't just burst in here
without calling first," Joey said a little grumpily as he flicked the TV off
with his remote.

"I just told Monica I love her!" Chandler blurted out.

"What?" Joey demanded. "You idiot! Okay, okay . . . this is fixable . . ."

"Really?"

"No!"

"But I . . . I think I do," Chandler said softly. "I mean, I *know* I do.
But if I tell her she's going to want a commitment and--"

"Whoa, whoa, dude. Aren't you living with her?"

"Well, yeah," Chandler admitted.

"And isn't she having your child?" Joey asked.

"Uh-huh," Chandler muttered.

"Okay, so, do you call either of those things commitment?" Joey patted his
friend on the back. "I hate to break it to you, man, but you are definately
in a commitment."

"But we only slept together *once*," Chandler said, freaking out. "You can't
be in love with someone you slept with once."

"What did Monica do when you told her?" Joey asked.

"She was shocked."

"Are things going to get awkward? You know, now that she finds out you like
her in a more-than-friends way?" Joey asked.

Chandler paused. "Um, Joey. I know I should have told you . . . but Monica
and I have been dating for almost three months now."

"*What*?" Joey demanded, hurt. "You didn't tell me?! You've been banging
one of the sexiest--"

"Hey," Chandler warned.

"Yeah, sorry," Joey said. "Wait. I'm still pissed at you. You should have
told me!"

"You're right, I should have. Now tell me what to do."

"Maybe I don't want to anymore," Joey said, folding his arms.

"Hey. What's up?" Rachel asked, coming into the apartment.

"Chandler and Monica have been going out for three months and they didn't
tell us!" Joey accused.

Chandler did one of those hand movement things that only he can do and Rachel
looked at him in shock.

"Is this true?" Rachel asked. But, already knowing the answer, she didn't
pause for him to answer. "I can't believe Monica didn't tell me. I mean, no
wonder she's so happy in the mornings. Having the best sex she's ever had
at night . . ."

"Whoa, wait a minute," Chandler commanded. "I'm the best sex Monica's ever
had?"

"I know, unbelievable, right?" Joey asked.

"Wow," Chandler muttered, looking quite pleased with himself.

"You're seriously sleeping with Monica?" Rachel asked Chandler, a little
dazed.

"It's much more than that," Joey answered for Chandler. "He's in love and he
just told her."

"Joey!" Chandler bellowed. "God, I told her I didn't say it. And besides,
Monica and I haven't slept together since London. We just . . . have very
friendly hands."

"Yeah, baby." Joey winked at Chandler.

"Shut up. Shut up, now," Chandler told Joey. He turned to Rachel. "I *do
not* love her."

"Yes, you do!" Rachel jeered. "Oh, my God. Chandler's in love, he's shacking
up with the girl, and he's gonna have a baby!"

"Please, give me a heart attack," Chandler said sarcastically.

"Yeah, you're absolutely right," Rachel said quickly. "Sorry. Don't freak
out and dump Monica."

"I would never do that," Chandler said seriously.

"Aw . . . he *does* love her!" Rachel said again.

"Who loves who?" Phoebe asked as she and Ross came into the apartment.

Chandler did his hand thing again to try and stop Rachel, but it didn't work.

"Chandler loves Monica," Rachel said, sounding excited at the new gossip.

"What?" Phoebe asked, sounding excited as well.

"What?" Ross demanded, dead pan. "And what makes you think she has any shred
of a feeling for you."

"They've been going out for three months," Rachel said.

"God, Rach, can't you just *shut up*?" Chandler sighed.

"You've been going out with my sister behind my back?" Ross asked, his voice
going a little too high for a normal person. "You-you've been sleeping with
my baby sister in her delicate state?"

"We haven't slept together," Chandler said, exasperated. "Why the hell do you
all keep asking me that? Is that all you think a relationship is based on,
sex?"

"Well, you *are* a guy," Rachel pointed out.

"So, you're in love with Monica?" Phoebe asked. "This is so huge! I mean,
like, mega-watt huge. Did you tell her?"

"Yeah, he did!" Joey said, patting Chandler on the back.

"I did," Chandler admitted. "But I got freaked out and took it back."

"But you meant it, right?" Joey asked.

Chandler didn't hesitate. "Yes. I did."

"Then go tell her!" Joey encouraged.

"I can't," Chandler sighed. "I can't do it."

* * * * *

"Hey, guys," Monica said as everybody but Chandler came into her apartment
a few minutes later. "Rachel, you are going to be so happy. I need to go
shopping for a formal dress for my parent's party."

Rachel folded her arms. "Well, maybe I don't want to go with you."

Monica looked at her friend curiously. "You did hear the word shopping in
there, right?"

"I can't *believe* you didn't tell me you've been going out with Chandler!"
Rachel accused, hurt leaking through her voice as she whined.

Monica's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

"Chandler told us," Joey said.

"I can't believe him!" Monica said, looking flustered. "Look, I'm sorry,
Rach. And all of you. I guess we just didn't want to say anything because
we weren't sure where we were going to go with it. And then we figured you'd
be mad at us after about a month when we realized we weren't doing it just
for fun, but because we actually felt something for each other."

"Oh." Rachel paused. "I just thought you didn't trust me."

"I don't," Monica said. "But that has nothing to do with it."

Rachel gave Monica a look. "Come on, Mon. Let's go shopping. We can talk
about your sex life there. Pheebs, you coming?"

"I'm there," Phoebe said.

"Can I come?" Joey asked. "It sounds like fun."

Monica gave him the classic Ross-finger-without-the-finger before slamming
the apartment door in his face.

"Dude," Ross warned Joey.

* * * * *

"Hello, Monica, dear," Judy greeted her daughter two days later at the party.

"Mother," Monica said politely as she kissed her mother on the cheek. Things
with Chandler had gone smoothly over the past two days. He hadn't mentioned
his slip of words and she decided not to mention it either. The only
difference was that they could kiss in their friends' presence.

"Mom, happy anniversary," Ross said and kissed his mother on the cheek as
well.

"Oh," Judy said, waving her hand as if to say he was saying too much.
"Monica, how far along are you now?"

"Six months," Monica mumbled, staring at her feet.

"And how is your boyfriend?"

Monica was shocked that her mother was being more than tolerant of her --
almost . . . friendly. "Chandler's doing good. Thank you for asking."

"Where is he?"

"Oh . . . I didn't know you wanted me to bring him," Monica said, a little
surprised.

"And it's a good thing too," Ross said. "Because he's busy doing something
else right now."

"Really?" Monica asked. "Would you care to enlighten me?"

"Can't," Ross said.

"Oh, isn't this just pleasant?" Judy sighed. "Monica, we're very sorry that
we disowned you for that period of time."

"You disowned me?"

"Uh-oh. Mood swing," Ross warned.

Monica began to cry. "I can't believe you'd do that!"

* * * * *

Monica opened the door quietly to her apartment a couple of hours later,
after the party; hoping not to wake Chandler up.

But Chandler was sitting at the kitchen table, looking nervous and confused
and excited at the same time.

"Hey," Monica said softly.

"Monica," Chandler said, sounding amazed. "Monica, I have to talk to you."

"Um, okay," Monica said uncertainly.

"I was scared the other day," Chandler said. "But I do love you. I don't know
how, but it happened."

"I love you too," Monica whispered as her voice choked up.

Chandler stood up and pulled something out of his pocket. "Monica, I love
you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I'm never going to leave
you or our baby, do you understand."

"Yes," Monica said breathlessly as Chandler, in what seemed like slow motion,
kneeled slowly in front of her.

"Monica." He clicked open the jewelry box. "Will you marry me?"

Monica stared at him in blissful shock.

"I know it's really, really soon," Chandler said quickly. "But I figured we
could get married after the baby's born, you know? And I know that I'm
ready for it. Just like I was ready for our child. When I think about it, I
have no idea how it's even possible, but I love you and I know that this is
right."

"Yes," Monica whispered hoarsely.

"Yes?" Chandler asked in barely contained excitement.

"Yes!"

Chander placed the ring on Monica finger and stood. "I love you," he
whispered as his hand carressed her face.

"I love you too," Monica whispered back, her eyes shining with tears of
happiness.

The two kissed a long, slow, loving kiss. One that neither had ever
experienced before. The kind of kiss that is reserved for those in love.