The Artist and His Muse

Chapter 25

Edited

The hospital waiting room was quiet. More than one visitor had given the room an odd look. At least their shirts said "Uncle" on them so they wouldn't be confused for a room full of waiting father's. Namjoon had joined them and miraculously had worn his shirt as well.

"In case there's pictures," he reasoned.

"It's been three hours," said Hobi, pacing the floor. His arms were folded across his chest and he kept looking at the boring, white clock on the wall. The TV in the corner was set to some home shopping network, more for noise than anything. No one could pay attention to it anyway.

A doctor walked past the room and Jin jumped up and ran into the hall, catching up with the doctor in seconds. He was back quickly, shaking his head. "Sorry, he's not the doctor we are looking for."

Namjoon was scrolling through his phone as usual. "You guys need to calm down. Someone might mistake you for being the dad." He gave the boys a bored look and went back to his phone. Sara had explained a lot to him on the way to the hospital and so he was a bit more informed than this room full of knuckleheads. Jenna had demanded Sara be in the room with her as her birthing coach, so she had also been prepping at home for weeks.  Everyone knew Taehyung would be better if there was backup involved.

Sara had come out only once looking quite frazzled. "It's going good," she had exclaimed with a thumbs up. She had grabbed a snack from the vending machine and wolfed it down. The room of guys just stared at her eating like an animal as she struggled to swallow and looked at them. "What? I can't eat in front of her! They won't let her eat and I have to get back in there!" She had leaned over and kissed Namjoon quickly before running back down the hall.

Jimin went over and sat down next to Jungkook, whose leg was bouncing up and down. "You okay, Kookie?"

"Yeah. I'm just nervous for her, that's all. I mean, she's bringing another human being into the world. I've heard it's a hard job. I just wish there was something I could do for her, you know? She's always been such a good friend for me and I feel like I'm leaving her to do this alone." He leaned forward on his knees, putting his hands together.

Jimin patted his back firmly. "Believe me, from what I remember from health class in school, you don't want to be in there." He giggled and Jungkook did as well.

"You're probably right. I wonder how hyung is holding up?"

The two fell back against the couch, laughing as they imagined Taehyung's current physical and emotional status.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If they could have only seen Taehyung right now, the other members of BTS would be amazed and proud of their alien.

"Babe, just hold my hand. It's going to be ok," he cooed as he brushed Jenna's hair out of her face.

"It...it just hurts! I can't do this. I can't." Jenna cried and blubbered in between contractions.

"Jen, the doctor said you can have that epidural anytime you want." Sara tried to speak softly and remind her friend of her options for pain management.

"I can do this! Billions of women before me have done this with no pain management! I can do it too!" She grit her teeth and bore down throughout the next contraction only to end up in tears again.

Taehyung leaned down close to her face, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Jenna, look at me," his low voice compelling her to look into his face. "You are a strong woman. You're an amazing woman. I will never think anything different about you. I will never consider you weak or less of a woman if you choose pain management. Do you hear me? You are not a quitter or a weakling! You're just using the resources available to you to help bring our son into the world. I love you so much. You're doing such a great job. I could never imagine doing what you're doing right now." He rested his forehead against hers and felt her sob.