Disclaimer: I do not own AHS.

A/N: Thanks for the positive reviews, everyone! I really like the turn this story is taking and how my ideas for it are forming thanks to you guys. It's gonna be a good one, I think!

Ps. I have no patience for editing so excuse my half ass excuse for editing if you come upon a typo lol
Also, I can't remember where it was but someone asked me about Fear the Walking Dead and yes! I did see it! I'm a sucker for anything TWD. Comics, video games, spin-offs, you name it. TBH, Walking Dead had me more psyched than AHS last season. Yikes, right? Anyway, ranting done. Enjoy!

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FOUR

Sweet Child

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"Ms. Peyser! Ms. Peyser!" The children came running to the door, pounding on it like their lives depended on it.

"My goodness, children. What's the matter?" Wendy opened the door, alarmed.

"Ms. Peyser! Your friend's dying!" They cried.

"What?" Wendy was confused, "Lana?"

She found Lana on the ground, slightly leaning against the tree, crying out in pain. There was a little boy at her side, the smallest of the bunch. He clenched and unclenched his little hands and looked all directions, not sure what to do. The other children had made his stay with her to make sure she didn't die.

"Lana!" Wendy rushed to the woman's side, "Benny, what happened?" She asked the little boy.

"Her tummy's gonna pop!" He stammered, afraid for Lana's sake.

"Benny, go to your mom and tell her to call 911! Hurry!"

Without a word, Benny ran off.

"Lana, baby," Wendy held onto her, "Is it time? Is he coming?"

Lana looked into Wendy's eyes, "Don't leave me."

Wendy brushed her face, "I won't. I won't."

Approaching sirens and the frantic voice of Wendy were the last things Lana heard before she became lost in a haze of pain and fear. And it was the sound of a newborn's cry that brought her back to reality.

"Congratulations, Ms. Winters." The doctor's firm voice came amidst the shrills of new life. "It's a boy."

Lana remained frozen, staring up at the white ceiling. She was covered in cold sweat and wet locks of hair stuck to her cheeks and forehead. She took deep breaths, feeling a strange numbness take over her shaking body. She could hear the cosmos laughing at her from above, mocking her life as if it were a mere joke.

A nurse took the now clean boy and approached Lana. She put her hand up almost immediately when she heard him come too close. With all the strength she could muster, Lana sat up. "No." her voice shook, "I don't want to see it."

"Oh, but Ms. Winters—"

"Don't." Lana cut her off, "Just take it. Take it away."

The nurse saddened and laid her eyes upon the baby boy that continued to cry for his mother. "He needs you." She muttered, hoping to make her care enough to hold the child.

Lana lay back down, inhaling, "I'm not its mother."

The nurse nodded and took the boy away.

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Wendy watched the crying newborn from behind a clear glass. She saw his tiny frame shake violently from the fear of being outside of his mother's womb for the first time. Wendy cried despite the large smile on her face. She had never seen something so beautiful.

According to the doctor, the boy had weighed in about six pounds and was twenty-one inches long. He looked awfully small, however and had a set of lungs that Wendy couldn't believe. The nurse that took the baby into the nursery stepped out. Wendy perked up when she saw her, "How is he?"

The nurse smiled weakly, "He's fine. A little exhausted from being born but he should be fine."

"He's crying so much. Is something wrong with him?"

The nurse gave out a little sigh, "He's just a little lost without mama, is all."

"She didn't want to see him, did she?" Wendy's heart broke when she asked the question.

The nurse shook her head. "No. She did not." She then forced a smile, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to fix him a bottle."

"Of course." Wendy stepped aside and let the nurse pass. She then turned her attention to the tiny baby boy with the paper bracelet around his ankle that read "Baby Boy Winters".

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When Wendy stepped into Lana's hospital room, she found her wide-awake with her eyes set upon the wall. "Lana?" She spoke softly as to not startle her.

Lana slowly turned her head and smiled weakly, "Wendy…"

Wendy went to her and hugged her, "Oh, baby." She kissed the top of Lana's head, "You did wonderfully."

"Yeah? I guess I earned myself one hell of a smoke then."

"You had to take that walk alone, didn't you?"

Lana sighed heavily, not wanting to get into an argument.

"You scared the neighborhood children half to death."

"I'm sure they'll live."

"I don't think poor Benny will ever be the same." Wendy smiled lightly and stepped aside. She brushed a lock of hair behind Lana's ear and slightly beat around the bush. "I saw him."

Lana became rigid. She looked away as if she didn't care.

"He's beautiful." Wendy smiled softly, "Did you hold him?" She knew Lana hadn't but she wanted her to admit it herself.

Lana locked eyes with her, "Don't pretend like this is something to celebrate."

"Lana you just gave life." Wendy reminded her, placing her hand upon Lana's.

"Yes, to a monster." Lana took her hand away. She knew the words were ugly when she spoke them but she found them to be true.

Lana was feeling so many emotions in that instant that she didn't know the difference between them. She felt fear. Fear for the child and fear of him. Of him because he was Thredson's child and Lana wasn't ready to face that memory just yet. Fear for him because even though she wanted nothing to do with him, she feared what would become of him.

Her dreams plagued her of a future in which the boy would become his father. He'd come to her house at night to murder her. Lana had dreams of the boy peeling her skin off while she was still alive and the thought of it sickened her. They sickened her more than anything but not as much as the thought of raising him and loving him. Still, she couldn't help but to wonder what would become of him.

After all, he was a part of her too.

"Please don't say such things." Wendy took a step back, "He's your son."

Lana kept her gaze from Wendy and landed them out the window where she could barely see the rest of the city. "I don't want to talk about this."

"So what? You're just going to let them take him?"

Lana thought of the faceless nuns and the men in white coming to take her infant. "Yes." She said firmly. Her stomach twisted and churned at the thought. There was a guilt beginning to form inside of her.

Wendy looked at the woman she loved. It was hard to go against Lana because Wendy felt she still owed her so much. She was constantly begging for Lana's forgiveness but when she saw that little boy lying there so helpless, Wendy couldn't help but to yearn for him.

There was a knock on the door followed by the sound of infant wails. Both women looked up instantly to see the nurse with the boy bundled in arms. "Excuse me, Ms. Winters, I hate to bother you but he needs you."

Wendy was about to take a step towards the boy but Lana stopped her. "No. I told you I didn't want to see it."

"Please. He's very hungry and the formula upsets his stomach. He isn't taking it well."

Wendy itched to take the baby and hand it to Lana. She couldn't stand to hear him cry so pitifully.

"He needs you." The nurse took a step forward, "Please. Just this once. The poor thing hasn't stopped crying."

Wendy looked to Lana. Lana closed her eyes and gave out a sigh. "Alright." She extended out her arms to take him, "But just this once, I won't do it again."

The nurse quickly handed Lana the boy and stepped out before Lana could change her mind. Wendy went to aid Lana but she stopped her, "Wendy, I don't want you to see this." She met her gaze, "Please…"

Wendy swallowed any pleas she had and exited the room, leaving Lana alone with the boy.

When Wendy closed the door behind her, Lana sighed. "Let's get this over with…" She loosened her gown and let the infant latch on to her. The boy latched on instantly and continued to suckle as if his life depended on it and it very much did. Lana became tense and leaned her head back upon the pillow, closing her eyes to fight the tears that raced down her face regardless. All she could think about was Oliver Thredson suckling at her chest.

The feeling was sickening and Lana felt a surge of anxiety through her but she calmed herself and after what felt like an eternity, the boy finished and dozed off in her arms. Lana quickly covered herself and with all the bravery she could muster, took a gander at the newborn.

He was so small and frail. His skin had become fair; a fast change from the pale blue color he had been born in. His little head was covered in soft light brown hair and his eyes were closed; he had little bags under his eyes like the majority of newborns fresh out of the womb. He had a little button nose and a pair of lips that were too sweet to ignore. Lana felt that mothering urge break free inside of her and she brushed a finger along his bottom lip. He was so soft it nearly broke her.

She took her finger and ran it along his cheek. He reacted immediately to her touch and his lips jerked into a smile, showing off his pink gums. Lana heard babies smiled in their sleep but she never would guess that it could look as heavenly as it did in that moment. She sighed and the tiniest but weakest smile danced along her lips as she continued to caress the boy's cheek with the tip of her finger.

"I will admit that you're a sweet one…" Perhaps it was the exhaustion talking or maybe the intense set of hormones raging through her body that made her say something as such, "It's hard to believe I made you…" The tears began to overflow and she sniffled.

The baby's smile faded and he squirmed in her arms, giving out a tiny growl as he made himself comfortable. Lana's heart broke even further. "I'm sorry little one." She leaned forward and kissed his forehead, "We would only be a burden to each other." She leaned back upon the pillow and closed her eyes, fighting off the exhaustion that overcame in the end.

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When Wendy opened the door, she found both mom and baby fast asleep. The sight of Lana with the baby in arms was enough to melt Wendy. She couldn't help it and went over to Lana's bedside. She smiled down at the boy and carefully took him out of Lana's arms.

The boy squirmed again, bothered at being removed from the comfort of his mother's warm arms.

"Hi, baby boy." Wendy wandered away from the bed and to the front of the room by the second window so she could see him beneath the soft October light.

Lana roused from her sleep. The first thing she saw when she woke was Wendy cradling the infant in her arms. She stayed quiet and continued to watch.

Wendy smiled adoring at the boy, "You are so beautiful, aren't you?" She whispered to him but Lana could hear her so perfectly. Wendy cried silently with a smile, "You beautiful, beautiful boy." She leaned down and kissed his forehead, inhaling in his brand new scent.

Her words broke Lana's heart. He was a beautiful child, which she couldn't deny.

"Just like your mother." Wendy sniffled but continued to smile. She lifted her hand and stroked his little hand with her finger, "I wish we could take you home." She stopped herself before her voice broke. When she found the strength she brought his little face and whispered something to him that Lana did not hear.

When Wendy looked up, she found Lana awake. She gasped, "Lana, you're awake."

"Wendy, you know we can't take him home…"

Wendy noted that she had referred to the baby as "him" and not "it". She found hope in that somehow.

Wendy went to Lana's bedside, "Lana, please—"

"I said no. Why can't you understand that?" Lana looked into her eyes, "Why can't you understand that I can't raise the son of a maniac?"

Wendy held her gaze. "Because he's a part of you too." She said firmly, "And because I love him so much already." She lowered the baby for her to see. "Look at him, Lana. Look at how sweet he is. Don't let him go."

Lana looked down at the boy and felt her heart shatter into a million pieces.

"Don't let him become like his father."