Title: Like Mother Like Daughter

Author: Lupa in Fabula

Disclaimer: I own Smallville, Michael Roesenbaum is secretly my lover, Pete is only a benchwarmer 'cause coach is saving him for the playoffs, and if you believe any of the aforementioned I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

Summary: This is a response to Nymph du Pave's challenge, General #5: what a Nell is really thinking.

Spoilers: Pretty much all episodes up to Legacy.

Feedback: As appreciated as those shots of the Smallville High boy's locker room in Shimmer.

Laura, Laura, Laura.

My whole goddamn life I felt like Jan Brady. Standing in the shadow of my perfect sister. The prettiest, most popular girl in her class. Did she even appreciate all the attention? Of course not. Life was so hard for Laura.

Did she ever think how it was for me, always being introduced as "Laura's sister."

But she was so fucking misunderstood. That stupid graduation speech. I'm not just beautiful and beloved – I'm deep and tragic. What bullshit.

I never made a difference here, but maybe my children will. Giving up on the world at eighteen. How very Laura. And Lana too, come to think of it.

Doesn't that stupid little flake even care how much I've sacrificed. She wanted me to keep the Talon as a monument to the memory of her mother. A monument to Laura, that's how my whole life has turned out. And that meteorite necklace. If Laura had been shot to death, that spawn of hers would insist on putting the bullet on display on the mantle.

Wouldn't surprise me if the little cunt started reading death poetry on open mike night at her precious little coffeehouse. Pink sweater sets with a Goth attitude, only Lana could get away with that kind of hypocrisy.

Only Lana or her mother that is.

The sweet little golden girl with her perfect husband and a boytoy on the side. Laura was the slut, but I got the reputation. Mother was right: give out the produce for free, no one's going to buy the farm. At least in my case. And after Lana got dropped in my lap, things only got worse. I'm a fucking single mother, and I never even had the fun of getting knocked up. Just like that bitch Laura to get herself killed and stick me with her brat.

Now I finally find a man that wants to marry me, and Lana doesn't like him.

I wonder if it's too late for foster care.