A/N: Thanks for the love, everyone! I know it took me like ten million years to get little butterball here but he's finally arrived! I hope everyone's doing well and Haily94 I wanted to congratulate you on your internship! That's super awesome and I hope it's going well. I'm super happy my simple little stories bring you guys a little bit of joy.
Enjoy the next chapter :) Also, working on a new chapter for Dear Mother so keep an eye out!

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THIRTY-FOUR

WELCOME HOME, JOHNNY

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It took Oliver another ten minutes to fully calm Lana down and by that time Ms. Nora had returned. She sat with Lana and checked her vitals, calming her with reassuring words. Hours of labor had worn Lana down and her mind had gone into a frenzied panic. They did a couple of breathing exercises together and when Lana was a bit more calm, the assistant helped her to the bathroom for a quick shower to help her relax and cool down.

The April showers had rung true that year in 1966 and the rain had begun to fall upon the house with heavy taps. The sky was cloudy and a little gray but the sun still peaked behind gray clouds. Meanwhile Lana showered, Ms. Nora turned her attention to the little newborn baby boy. She gave him a full body wash with a towel and a large bowl of warm water, checked his vitals once more, weighed and measured him.

"Eight pounds, six ounces. Twenty-one inches." She placed the slightly fussy baby now dressed and snuggled in a blanket back in Oliver's arms. He had been less than pleased with being bathed and had let everyone know about it, "He's going to be tall, this one."

The baby boy whined and gave little grunts until he settled in his father's arms, happy to be wrapped in warmth once more. Oliver looked at his son in his arms and he felt a lump lodged itself in his throat. He was a hefty little baby but he felt so small in his father's strong arms.

"Thank you." Oliver told her whole heartedly, "For everything."

She smiled at him, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze, "No need to thank me, Doctor. Your wife did all the work." She looked at the little boy, "So does this little one have a name yet?"

"Not quite but almost." Oliver answered.

"Take your time, Doctor. I'll leave that paperwork for you to fill out whenever you see fit."

When Lana came out of the shower, Ms. Nora helped dress her and get back into bed. She made sure there was no extra bleeding and then helped Lana in the task of feeding her son for the first time. Lana seemed confused but her motherly instincts caught on quick and the little one spared them on his massive wrath. While Lana fed the baby, Ms. Nora wrote down a list of things to do and watch out for in the next couple of hours. She warned Oliver that if anything was off to rush Lana to the hospital and call her immediately. She said she'd stop by later in the late evening to give mother and baby another check up but was optimistic that everything would be okay.

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Lana sat on the rocking chair he had purchased a month before, quietly waiting while Lana fed their boy. Lana silently watched the little boy, running her fingers through his soft, downy hair, whispering sweet nothings to him. Oliver caught when she whispered very softly to him, "I'm sorry." and kissed his forehead. After that, she leaned back and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Oliver stood from the rocking chair and went to her side. He carefully picked up the baby from Lana's arms and covered her to make sure she kept warm. He kissed the top of her head and whispered an "I love you."

Oliver slowly paced around the room with his newborn son in arms. The little boy too had fallen asleep just like his mother after his first gluttoness feeding but even then Oliver couldn't help but to watch him. Lana's panic attack had terrified him but it made Oliver realize that she was already a better mother than his own ever was. He doubted his birth mother had cared at all about him being taken away by random strangers and instead, insisted on it.

Oliver studied his son's sleeping face and smiled. It felt unreal to him that he was holding his own flesh and blood in his arms. It truly amazed Oliver the journey he had found himself after meeting Lana at Briarcliff. If he had not seen her that day, if he had not chosen to help her, that little boy would not be alive and well in his arms. If it wasn't for Lana, Oliver wouldn't have a family.

The baby slowly stirred from his sleep and opened his eyes, looking up at his father with a sleepy haze. His eyes held the dark hue all newborns were born with and Oliver couldn't wait to see them lighten and shine. He smiled at him, "Hello, son." He spoke in a soft tone, not wanting to wake Lana. She needed all the rest she could get, especially with all the sleepless nights coming their way.

The baby slowly blinked and squirmed about. He felt strong and Oliver didn't doubt his kicks had truly done some damage in utero. He had really given Lana hell all those months.

Oliver studied the infant. His hair was a dark chocolate brown. He had been born with a decent amount of it. His skin was fair and he had the cutest button nose. "You don't look like a Morris, do you?" Oliver mused, thinking of the nickname he had playfully given the infant before his birth. Lana had not been a fan of the name and she'd ring him out to dry if he actually put it down on the birth certificate. Of course he wouldn't, Oliver already knew the perfect name for his son.

Oliver looked over at Lana, the idea of adoption was far out the window and had been for months. He couldn't be more relieved about that. How could Oliver ever part with his son after holding him in his arms? There was no going back after that.

The babe slowly closed his eyes and his breathing came to a calm. No doubt he must have been exhausted from the entrance he had made so Oliver laid the yet to be named baby boy to sleep in his cradle next to the bed. He then walked over to Lana and placed his hand on her forehead to feel her temperature. She felt a little warm but nothing to cause a panic in his professional opinion. He knew home births could be tricky but his son's birth had gone well. He had been late in his arrival but the midwife was pleased with his health overall. Oliver would be sure that she paid them a visit in the morning as well. He wanted to make sure Lana was doing well and at her state of mind, a hospital would only serve to frighten her more. He didn't want to risk that.

Oliver stepped out of the room and went to the kitchen to make himself some coffee. Judy jumped down from the book case and ran after Oliver, meowing at him to be fed. Oliver leaned down and picked her up in his arms, "Hey there, girl." He he scratched her chin, "Ya hungry?"

Judy purred in response. She must have been wondering where Lana was. Oliver fed Judy and then commenced to make himself some coffee and some lunch for Lana for when she woke up. Oliver took his strong cup of coffee and sat down in the living room to take in the last ten hours. He sat, listening to the pitter-patter of heavy rain falling upon the house. He felt like he was in some kind of dreamy haze and the stillness of their home made it all surreal. Their lives had just changed for the better.

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Lana had slept like a heavy rock at the bottom of the ocean. When she slowly opened her eyes, the throbbing soreness of her body brought her back to land; she felt like she had no energy left in her bones.

"How are you feeling?" She heard Oliver's voice and looked up to see him standing by the bedroom door. He held a plate and a cup of juice. He looked sleep deprived but happy no less. Lana sat up with a jolt, wincing at the pain of her sudden movement. "Hey, easy now." Oliver placed the things on the nightstand and gently laid her back against the pillows.

"Where is he?" Her eyes scanned the room for the child.

"He's in the cradle, sleeping. You should be doing the same." He spoke gently.

Lana leaned back against the pillow and scrunched her face at the pain in her legs and lower back. The boy had been a little over eight pounds but childbirth had been no walk in the park either. "How is he?" She had dozed off with the boy in arms and had woken up without him so she was a bit startled.

"He's fine." Oliver smiled, "A very strong boy."

Lana could see the pride in Oliver's eyes; it was hard to ignore. She relaxed and let out the breath she had been holding, "I feel like I got hit by a train and got dragged fifty miles down."

Oliver chuckled, "That's to be expected. The second is always easier, or so I hear."

"Second?" She gasped, eyeing him rather offended, "Hold your horses there, Doctor."

Oliver laughed lightly, relieved to see her regaining her sense of humor. "Sorry."

Lana closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them, she didn't look at him. Instead she averted her gaze and her expression turned hard. "I could have hurt him." She referred to the incident.

"No, don't." Oliver took her hand in his. "Lana, don't begin to doubt yourself."

"What if I was alone with him? What if-"

"Hey, no." He stopped her train of thought before it derailed off the tracks. "That will not happen. Do you hear me?"

Lana looked into his eyes and trusted him without a moment of hesitation. She looked to the cradle and a sense of excitement filled her, "Can I see him?"

"Of course."

Oliver gently picked up the boy from his cozy spot in his cradle and softly laid him in his mother's arms.

"Hi there, baby." Lana murmured to him. She ran the tip of her finger over his little closed fist. He was much cleaner than the first time she held him and looked so shiny and new. Lana tilted her head to the side, marveling over the tiny human she had grown in her womb. "What took you so long?"

"You sure did give your Mama hell, didn't you, Johnny?" Oliver asked the baby.

Lana's eyes quickly darted up at him. "Johnny?" A smile slowly brushed her lips and her eyes gleamed. "You mean it?"

Oliver sat at her side, facing her, looking down at their boy. "Yeah, I think it fits him quite well." Oliver knew Lana's love for Johnny Cash. His music seemed to be the only thing that calmed her during the last weeks of her pregnancy that had caused the boy to be well overdue. And not to mention the name had been the first on the list. She had mentioned it to him as well one night before she dozed off to sleep. He just wanted to make sure what they were having before choosing the name.

Lana looked back down at the little one, "Hello, Johnny. My little boy." She leaned down and kissed his plump little cheek. He squirmed about and made a soft noise but didn't wake. Lana looked back up at Oliver, "He'll be happy with us, won't he?"

"Of course he will." Oliver caressed her cheek with his thumb, "He's going to be a very happy and very loved boy."

Lana nodded in agreement. Oliver moved to sit at her side, letting her get comfortable under his arm. Lana rested her head against Oliver, inhaling his comforting scent. She felt her heart bursting at the seams. It felt as life was finally repaying her for all the misery and mistreatment.

Lana cuddled against him, eyes upon their little Johnny Boy, "I love you, Oliver."