A/N: Hi, everyone! Yes, I'm alive haha. My apologies for the delay on my updates. I moved out recently and have been adjusting and settling in to my new norm. However, I finally found some time to sit down and write down this chapter that I've been imagining since practically the beginning lol. Anyway, I hope you're all doing well and keeping safe and I hope my updates bring you some good during these crazy ass times.
To PauMarquez13- A fanvideo? Wow that sounds cool! I'm lame so I don't know much about those. What do they consist of?
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40
THE LEGENDS
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Lana swore those days had been some kind of dream. A dream she never wanted to wake from. Johnny had been such a blessing to their lives that Lana didn't want to remember life before he arrived. However, not every moment was picture perfect. Infant cries and feedings had replaced the nightmares during the night and her worries had changed to someone other than herself. The life of a first time mother was a different kind of exhaustion but Oliver was always there to help her.
Johnny had grown much in those last few weeks. His eyes had remained a brilliant cobalt. His skin was fair but his hair was dark. They would have claimed it pitch black if it weren't for the sun that had exposed the shade of brown that was barely visible. His personality grew by the day and Oliver noted that he was taking after his mother. He couldn't walk and he could barely crawl but he was fearless and eager to move about. He had definitely inherited her pluck.
It had rained that morning- the weather had been odd that month. Oliver hadn't even bothered to wash his car for the chance of rain had been high.
Lana sat on the floor of the living room; Judy was purring at her side. She had become accustomed to the tiny human that had infiltrated their home and even sought out his company, She loved to be curled at his side and his loud cries no longer startled her. Oliver had been a little worried but Judy had all the patience in the world for the infant.
Lana laughed delightedly as Oliver sat across from her, holding baby Johnny upright as if he was standing. His chubby legs dangled above the carpet and he had his hands at his mouth. Johnny giggled and squealed up a storm, thinking it to be the funniest thing ever. There was just something about his baby laugh that made Lana laugh that much more.
They were playing "peek a boo" with him and they were simply and utterly smitten with their boy. Oliver's heart warmed at the mere sight of Lana's smile when she looked at their son. He couldn't imagine what they'd be doing that moment if they had not kept him. He didn't want to even think about it.
Lana brushed Johnny's nose with a finger, "You have a lot of laughs, don't you?" She took him from Oliver's hands and steadied him on her lap, keeping him upright. "Where do you keep them all?" She tickled his belly and he laughed even harder.
"He thinks you're funny." Oliver teased lovingly.
Lana exhaled an amused huff, "Well, that makes one of us."
She looked at Johnny's smiley face. Now that he was a couple of months older, there were so many more things he could do. He had started to smile and then he began to laugh soon after. He was more alert and smiled whenever he saw either of his parents or Judy. He couldn't get enough of Judy; she was the most fascinating thing he had ever seen.
Oliver smiled at this. Johnny seemed to bring out a special type of happiness in Lana that he thought he would never see. She seemed more at ease and had slept fine during the night. Once in a while she'd wake from a night terror but a trip to his crib set her straight. Just the sight of him sleeping was enough to calm her demons. Oliver was grateful for their little chicken. His son brought him an endless amount of happiness and pride too. Holding the boy made him feel whole, as if his lonely and empty childhood hadn't been for nothing.
"I think you're funny too." Oliver told her.
Lana raised a brow at Oliver, "I"m your wife. You have to say that."
Oliver chuckled, his tone greatly amused, "Oh, do I?"
She nodded. "Yes." She turned her attention to Johnny and lifted him upward so he was resting against her chest. "Oh, you plucky chicken." She kissed his temple. "You need to slow down on the growing."
Oliver smiled warmly at them, "That's alright, Sweetheart." He said as he stood to his feet, "If he gets too big, we could have another one." He leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
Lana instantly turned red and looked up to see him, "Another one?"
Oliver just laughed in good humor. Johnny was already a handful, he didn't think they were ready for another one so soon but it would be nice to give Johnny a sibling at some point in the future. "Maybe one day."
Lana stood to her feet and Judy followed. "Maybe one day." Lana repeated, thinking about what it would be like to have another child in their lives. It would be a shame to waste the new beginning she had been given after all.
Oliver sighed after exiting his study with his briefcase in hand. He was heading to work but had wanted to spend some time with his family before he headed out. He looked at the watch on his wrist and frowned, "Well, I have to head out now if I want to make it in time for my first appointment."
Lana sat Johnny on her hip and turned to Oliver. She always looked a little sad when Oliver announced his departure. Oliver knew it was because she would miss him but also because Lana longed to work. Being a reporter and a hard worker was in her blood, that had not changed so she was restless at home. Johnny kept her greatly entertained and preoccupied for motherhood was its own full time job but he knew Lana longed for that thrill of a lead or a story.
He walked over to her and kissed her forehead. "You should write something while he naps."
Lana attempted a smile for his sake. "Sure."
Oliver looked her over. Over the last few weeks he had been teaching her how to drive but she had yet to gather enough confidence to do it on her own— not that she couldn't without her license but it was one step closer to normalcy. To her old self. She was beginning to do things on her own now and had strolled with Johnny through the park while Oliver ran errands. Just one step at a time.
"We can take another drive when I come back? Maybe to the park?" Oliver suggested.
"If it rains?" She asked, looking out the window with skepticism; Judy rubbed herself against Lana's ankles.
He kept his smile firm, "Well, a little water never hurt anyone." He kissed her forehead again and then her lips. "I love you both."
Lana smiled, "We love you too. Don't take too long to get back to us."
Oliver gave her one last smile and nod before he left through the front door. Lana stepped out onto the porch and waved him off with Johnny in her arms. Seeing his car drive off made her feel just a little bit forlorn but she knew he'd be back before she knew it.
Lana looked at Johnny who was drooling all over himself. "Hmm. What should we do now? Huh?" She wiped his lip with her thumb and returned inside the house, closing the door behind her shut.
Just as Oliver's car drove out of the neighborhood, another car drove in from the opposite direction.
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Every single step up to the house was a blur Wendy barely recalled. It took every single ounce of her strength and determination to make her way up the porch steps of Thredson's residence. She stood in front of the door and tried to breathe but every single breath felt short. Her hands were hard at her sides and her lips were in a stern line. She felt the uncertainty begin to rise in her chest but she held herself firm. Her heart begged her to turn back and run, able to cope with the idea that Lana could truly be home but her mind remained steady and determined. She wasn't going to step off Thredson's porch without answers...without a word about Lana.
She needed to know if Lana was alive and where she could find her. Wendy took in a deep breath and lifted her fist. Her hands were shaking but no matter how much she tried to refrain from doing so, her hands just trembled even harder. Enough was enough.
Wendy knocked on the door.
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Lana sat Johnny down on a blanket in the living room and sat across from him. He had managed to sit up by himself but was still a little bit wobbly. He reached over and grabbed the rattle Oliver had gifted him when he was much younger. He shook it a couple of times and then stuck it in his mouth.
Lana watched him carefully, still amazed by his existence. She brushed his growing hair out of his forehead and smiled gently at him. "What do you have there, Chicken, hmm?"
Johnny looked up at her and grinned. He then babbled and looked down at his rattle. "I guess one day you'll be too big for me to call you that." She said softly and slowly began to drift off into her own thoughts until there was a knock at the door.
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There was a moment of silence so Wendy knocked again, harder that time. Then, before Wendy knew it, the door opened and she was standing face to face with Lana Winters herself. Wendy froze; her mind ceased to stop working for a few seconds as it short circuited. She couldn't believe her eyes. Was she dreaming? No, it wasn't real...it couldn't have been.
Lana smiled at her and she settled a baby higher in her arms. "Hello, can I help you?"
Wendy's lips parted. There she was. Her precious Lana. However, there was no hate or resentment in her eyes like the last time she had seen her at Briarcliff. No. There was none of that. However, there also wasn't any recognition. Lana looked at her as if she was meeting her for the first time.
It was then Wendy noticed the baby boy in Lana's arms. It took her mind another second to realize that the boy looked a lot like her despite his brilliant blue eyes. He was a beautiful boy, not even a year old.
Wendy tried to speak again but she couldn't find the words muddled in her confusion. She had expected to be greeted by Thredson, not by Lana herself. Her heart was pounding so loudly that Wendy barely heard her question.
"Hi…" Was the only word Wendy could muster but she felt so blindsided. What was happening?
Lana looked around the porch. She had greeted a couple of other visitors before, however, they usually held bibles and were dressed in black and white. Lana had learned to not fear the religious. Not everyone was like Sister Jude.
Nonetheless, this woman didn't look like a religious person. Far from it, actually.
The baby boy fussed a little but Lana soothed him. "Hello." She greeted Wendy, "What can I do for you?"
Wendy took a step back. Too many thoughts were running through her mind. Did Lana not recognize her? Was she pretending not to know her? Of course not, Lana was a perfect sleuth and a generous liar but not even she was that great of an actress.
Why was she holding a baby? Lana, a mother? Heaven would burn first, Wendy thought. It was a ridiculous notion. Besides, Lana was lesbian. She wasn't attracted to men and she sure wouldn't have a physical relationship with one.
Wendy cleared her throat, not really sure what to say. "Is...is this not the Thredson residence?" She finally found the courage in her voice.
Lana frowned lightly as a look of confusion and question crossed her expression. "Yes, this is it."
Wendy felt her entire body go cold. "Is the doctor in?"
Lana tilted her head slightly, "Are you one of his patients?"
Wendy felt her eyes begin to fill with tears and she laughed nervously, "Something like that. But not exactly. Just an old colleague." She lied.
Wendy didn't get it. Lana was just conversing with her as if she were just a random woman at the store. Nothing but a stranger.
"Oh, unfortunately he's not home at the moment. He headed to his office. I could give him a call?" Her eyes held such empathy; she seemed like a whole new person. But God was she still as beautiful as ever. She seemed to glow in a way.
The last time Wendy had seen her at Briarcliff, Lana was pounds lighter, to the point where she looked sickly. Her face was pale and gaunt and her hair was matted. There was a crazed look in her eyes and it appeared that she hadn't been bathed in days. Now she looked like a whole new woman. Like her old self but not quite.
The baby cooed in her arms and Lana rubbed his back. Wendy couldn't help but stare at him as her brain rewired itself. She felt a very heavy feeling at the bottom of her stomach when she looked at that little boy. He was definitely not something she had been expecting to see when she knocked on Thredson's door.
Wendy bit her bottom lip, forcing down the feelings that were raging inside of her. Lana was living with Thredson in his house. She had a child in her arms that had his dark hair. Was he-? Were they-?
"Thank you but...but I couldn't impose." She stepped down the porch. "It's nothing that can't wait."
Lana's expression fell, "Oh, well, okay, you have a good day then."
Wendy stepped down from the porch and looked over her shoulder as Lana turned her attention to the baby and closed the door, leaving Wendy completely dumbfounded and confused.
She stood there, staring at the front door. "What the fuck just happened?"
