Chapter 4: Birth
Jimmy Fallon had always assumed that nothing could scare him. He knew how to fight fear and keep control of his emotions. And he had always assumed that he could do the same when this night came.
He couldn't.
It was the undeniable truth that he was terrified beyond his wits. He wanted to go into his and Sumia's room and be with her, but Mario said he could work better if Jimmy Fallon didn't collapse in a panicked heap while the Italian plumber was trying to help. If he had stayed with Sumia, he had to admit that he probably would have just vomited and passed out. So, he was confined to the living room downstairs, where Marth, blissfully unaware of what was happening to his best friend, had collapsed on the couch and was snoring the daylights out of himself. All he could do was sit and wait. He felt so useless. He didn't even know how Sumia was able to handle it. Here he was, freaking out,and he wasn't even getting the worst part of it. Sumia was. And yet, all she had done was smile, tell him she loved him, and watched as Mario shoved him outside the bedroom.
He nearly keeled over on the couch in a dead faint when he heard her give a little yelp, which she quickly shushed. He wanted to pass out, and he wished he was stronger. But he wasn't. All he could do was curl up in a ball in front of the fireplace and tremble. He reluctantly uncurled from his fetal position on the floor when there was a soft knock on the front door. He opened it, hoping that he still didn't have wet-looking eyes. Flora darted in out of the rain, followed by Felicia. Flora removed her cloak and put her arms around Jimmy Fallon in a comforting hug.
"How is Sumia?" Flora asked softly, so as not to wake up Marth.
Jimmy Fallon swallowed before answering, trying to keep his voice steady.
"I... don't know... she's been up there for about two hours now. I'm... I'm really worried, Flora." Jimmy Fallon replied.
"Keep your chin up, Jimmy. I'm sure Sumia will be alright. Sometimes, these things take a little more time then we'd like them to." Flora said, smiling sympathetically.
"I've been waiting for nine months already! And we were both praying for so long before that... and I..." Jimmy Fallon said, clutching his dark brown hair in his hands.
He collapsed on the couch, shuddering as another pained cry drifted through the door to the bedroom. Felicia sat next to him and gently trailed her fingertips along the brown haired man's back, trying to soothe his trapped sobs away.
Just then, a very small wail echoed down the stairs. Jimmy Fallon stood straight up and stared at the door to the bedroom, hardly daring to believe it. There was a seemingly endless silence, and he felt like he was going to explode. But then, like everything was happening in slow motion, the doorknob turned from the inside. The door slowly creaked open, and Jimmy Fallon held his breath as Mario stepped out, his hair a bit mussed and his eyes tired, but his face beaming.
"You can go in now." Mario called from the top of the stairs, snapping his medicinal bag shut.
Jimmy Fallon nearly killed himself bounding over the couch, tripping his way up the stairs, and throwing himself into the bedroom. He heard Marth cursing at the racket his friend made, and Felicia and Flora laughing softly, but he didn't even register anything beyond the sight in front of him. Sumia was propped up on clean fluffy pillows. Her long gray hair was tangled and damp with sweat, and her eyes were red from lack of sleep, but she looked absolutely radiant to Jimmy Fallon. She beamed at him as he paused near the doorway, almost afraid to touch her in case he hurt her. Sumia held out a hand, beckoning Jimmy Fallon forward. And suddenly, he was right next to her, holding her tightly and feeling all of his fear wash away as she wrapped an arm around him. Jimmy Fallon wanted to break down and sob, although he had no idea why. He was happier then he had ever been in his life. Sumia kissed him over and over and over again, and he'd never been so at peace before.
"I love you so much... both of you." Jimmy Fallon whispered.
"I love you too, Jimmy. Always have, always will." Sumia said, snuggling herself closer to him.
