After teaching Barney a lesson, the time had already reached the eve of graduation.
"Chandler, let's go."
Adam pushed open the door to Apartment 520 and called out to Chandler.
"Alright."
Chandler leaped up in response.
"Where are you guys going?"
Ross asked curiously.
"Adam is graduating from medical school tomorrow, and his family is coming to attend his graduation ceremony. We're heading out to pick them up now," Monica explained.
"Doesn't Adam have a car?"
Ross asked, surprised.
"Do you think one car is enough to fit so many people?"
Joey, who had seven sisters, immediately understood the situation.
"How many siblings do you have, Adam?"
Ross chuckled.
"I have no idea."
Adam replied with a darkened expression, "We'll talk about it when I get back. Chandler, let's go!"
Without waiting for Ross to ask more questions, he dragged Chandler out the door.
His reaction had everything to do with a certain "little bird" who had told him over the phone last night that his mother might be having another baby—again.
---
### New York Airport
"Adam!"
As soon as the direct flight from Texas landed, a petite figure dashed toward Adam.
"Charlie."
Seeing his fourth sister, Adam's previously gloomy face finally brightened. Smiling broadly, he opened his arms to welcome her.
The 11-year-old Charlie giggled as she threw herself into Adam's embrace, planting a big kiss on his cheek.
Chandler and Matthew, standing nearby, watched with envy.
Chandler envied Adam for having such an adorable daughter-like sibling.
Matthew, on the other hand, longed for a little sister like that himself.
The Erickson family was full of towering, rugged men who played their own brutal version of "ice basketball"—a chaotic fusion of hockey and basketball with no real rules, just a bunch of giants roaring and roughhousing. He had never seen such a cute little sister before.
That's right—Matthew had come along, too, since he also had a car.
Adam had booked the plane tickets for his parents and siblings, so he knew that his and Chandler's two cars wouldn't be enough to transport everyone.
"Adam!"
At that moment, his mother and the rest of the family arrived.
"Mom."
Adam's face darkened again.
"Heh heh."
Teddy and Gabe, his second sister and third brother, snickered at his reaction.
His mother looked a bit embarrassed, while his father, standing at the back, simply smiled awkwardly.
"Chandler, Matthew, let me introduce you."
Adam wisely changed the subject, introducing his friends to his family. "This is my mom, Amy. Mom, these are my good friends, Chandler and Matthew."
"Hi, Mrs. Duncan."
"Hi, nice to meet you."
His mother greeted them warmly.
"That's my dad, Bob."
Adam continued, pointing out his family members one by one. "This is my second sister, Teddy; my third brother, Gabe; my fourth sister, Charlie; and my fifth brother, Toby."
"Hey there."
Chandler and Matthew greeted them one by one.
"Teddy, Gabe, introduce your plus-ones yourselves."
Adam turned to the unfamiliar faces standing next to his siblings.
"This is my boyfriend, Spencer," Teddy said, pulling her high school sweetheart closer.
"This is my girlfriend, Danielle."
Gabe spoke proudly.
Adam glanced at Danielle and frowned slightly. She had a decent figure and appearance, but there was something about her aura that he didn't like—her eyes were too flirtatious, the kind that seemed to send signals to everyone around her.
However, he didn't say anything. Gabe was already in his twenties and hadn't turned out badly—he was still as sharp and quick-witted as he had been as a kid. As long as he didn't go astray, Adam didn't feel the need to interfere too much.
"Alright, let's get to the hotel and settle in first."
Adam took charge. "Teddy, you and Spencer ride with Chandler. Gabe, you and Danielle ride with Matthew. Mom, Dad, you take Charlie and Toby and ride with me."
"I want to ride in the Porsche."
Gabe immediately spoke up when he saw Chandler's car.
"If you don't want to ride with Matthew, you can take a cab or the bus."
Adam wasn't about to indulge him.
"Listen to your big brother," their mother scolded Gabe.
"Okay, okay."
Gabe raised his hands in surrender, muttering, "Pregnant mom is terrifying."
With that, the three cars formed a convoy and headed toward the Four Seasons Hotel.
---
### On the Road
Unlike in Eastern countries, in the U.S., when family or relatives visit, they usually don't stay at the house unless specifically invited or if only a couple of people are visiting. Instead, they book hotels.
For example, whenever Nora visited New York, she never stayed at Chandler's place—she always booked a hotel.
This way, personal living habits remained undisturbed. Everyone had different routines, and suddenly cramming together could be inconvenient. Staying at a hotel was simply more comfortable and practical.
In Adam's past life, this had also become a growing trend in major cities back in the East.
As living standards improved, people no longer felt the need to "make do" with uncomfortable arrangements.
They could afford better options now.
---
### Inside the Car
Adam focused on driving.
His father, Bob, sat in the passenger seat.
His mother, Amy, sat in the back with Charlie and Toby.
"Adam…"
His father sneaked a glance at Adam's still-darkened face, looking a little awkward.
"Hmph."
Adam simply grunted.
"Well… we didn't plan this. It was an accident…"
His father tried to explain.
"This isn't the first time."
Adam said irritably. "The first time was an accident, and the second time was also an accident? Mom is almost fifty! Do you know how dangerous this is for her health?"
"I know."
His mother spoke up directly. "It really was an accident, and you can't blame your father. No matter how high the risk, I'm having this baby. Another sibling means another family member, and I'm not afraid of the risk."
"One basketball team isn't enough for you?"
Adam scoffed. "Now you want a volleyball team? Or why not go all the way and form a soccer team? Just because you're not afraid doesn't mean the risks aren't real. If something happens to you, what about Charlie, Toby, and the still-unnamed sixth one?"
His mother instinctively hugged six-year-old Toby tighter, unable to argue back.
In big families, the mother was often the glue that held everyone together.
With his mother's energy and warmth, their family remained close, happy, and full of love.
But if anything happened to her, their tight-knit family might fall apart.
Adam had seen this firsthand in both his past life and this one.
That's why he so desperately wanted his mother to live a long, healthy life.
His frustration wasn't just about the pregnancy—it was because his parents were being reckless.
Of course, Adam also knew it was because his parents were still deeply in love.
Otherwise, at nearly fifty, how would they even end up in this situation?
After all, while no birth control method was 100% foolproof, the odds of such an "accident" happening at their age were incredibly slim—practically impossible unless their… frequency… was exceptionally high.
And that only happened when a couple was still passionately in love.
---