Epilogue drabble to Dreams Can Come true.
"My wife's going into labor; I want a limo, back entrance, NOW!"
Rachel watched with inner amusement as Jesse went into full director mode with the St. James arrogance and decisiveness fully unleashed. As people scurried hurriedly to obey, Jesse returned his attention to Rachel, and to observant bystanders it was as if a switch flipped. Gone was the demanding director, and in his place was a doting husband, eyes full of love and concern. This was the Jesse that Rachel got to be with every day; the man who showered her with love and who would move the earth, moon and stars for her if he could.
"How are you feeling, Rach? Do you want me to carry you to the limo?" anxiety tinged his voice.
"I'm perfectly fine, Jesse. My water hasn't even broken. The pain just caught me by surprise and I panicked, that's all." Rachel was actually quite surprised at how well she was handling this. The euphoria of her win must have something to do with it because she actually felt unusually calm.
Twelve hours later, she wasn't feeling quite so composed; her hair was damp with sweat, her lower body wracked with what felt like one continuous wave of pain trying to tear her asunder. No longer was she benevolently viewing Jesse as the father of her precious child, but rather as the root cause of all her pain and suffering. In fact, if she'd had any energy left to spare she'd probably hit him with something-preferably something hard, that would inflict a degree of the same agony she was currently experiencing.
But then a brief moment of clarity would come as the pain dulled for a few seconds and she would note the extra paleness of his skin or the way he winced each time a severe contraction hit her, and a wave of love would wash away all those horrid thoughts. In fact, knowing Jesse, he was likely already planning to book an appointment for a vasectomy as soon as possible, in order to spare her from ever having to go through this again. If there was one thing in this world Rachel was sure of, it was Jesse's love for her and his wanting to spare her from pain. He was still overcompensating for that egging incident of years ago.
Finally after pushing for what seemed like hours, but was in fact barely twenty minutes, she heard the most welcome words: "the baby is crowning!" Rachel gave two more strong pushes and then suddenly she and Jesse could see, via the mirror, as baby St. James made his grand entrance into the world.
"Congratulations on your new baby boy, Mr. & Mrs. St. James!" Exhausted but elated, Rachel hung onto Jesse's hand tightly and waited with impatient anticipation as the hospital staff did a quick check of the newborn (one which baby was protesting vehemently). At last they placed the squalling baby on her stomach and covered him with a soft fluffy blanket.
After lovingly touching the top of his son's damp dark curls, Jesse broke his fascinated gaze and turned to Rachel, "I don't know who he's going to resemble but he's got my curls and your lungs."
Stephen Frederick St. James immediately quieted from his vocal demonstrations and turned his eyes upon his father. Rachel smiled contentedly and stroked the baby's soft skin. "I think he likes the sound of your voice. You do have the most soothing dulcet tone, well, except for when you're yelling at some poor actor who's fluffed his lines."
Jesse shrugged casually, "I only yell at the incompetent or the lazy, of which you are neither, my love." He returned his rapt attention to their baby. His arms were aching with the urge to hold their child, but this was mother/baby bonding time; he would get his turn soon enough. "I think he recognizes my voice from all my singing and talking to your belly over the past months. Speaking of voices, how is yours? You gave it quite the work-out today."
"You'd be yelling too if your body felt like it was trying to pass a watermelon."
Jesse immediately winced at her vivid description and leaned over to kiss her cheek tenderly. "As much as I adore our new child, I hated seeing you in pain and feeling so useless. So I completely understand if you feel like one child is enough. I "
Rachel cut him off immediately. "Don't you dare start talking about one child families or about vasectomies! The pain was completely worth it and already the memory of it is fading." She gazed adoringly at her new son for a moment and then glanced up at Jesse and grinned. "In fact, I think you'd better prepare yourself, St. James, because I foresee several more co-productions like this in our future."