A/N: Seriously, I can't thank you all enough for all the positive words I have been receiving on this story and on Dear Johnny. It really means a lot, guys. Seriously.

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TWELVE

Take On the World

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Lana became used to the crying and the overnight feedings. She became used to having a little being in her arms for what seemed like hours on end. The smell of dirty diapers barely fazed her and accidents on her clothing became a norm.

Being a mother had become the norm.

And even though she was becoming used to motherhood, there were things that came with motherhood that Lana struggled to get a grip on.

Doubting was one of Lana's main weaknesses. She doubted her decisions as a mother; she doubted herself. She kept those doubts silent but Wendy could see them. She could see them every time Lana hesitated on a decision, whenever she redid a diaper or when she paced back and forth in the room.

"You're doing a good job, Lana, relax." Wendy told her endlessly.

"He's fine."

"He'll be okay."

"Don't worry."

Were just a few things she found herself repeating.

"I'm just making sure." Lana would reply.

The beginning of March had melted the last lingering bit of snow and brought a daily sunshine that lasted well into the afternoon. However, a small chill still lingered in the air.

On that March morning, Lana paced back in forth in the living room with her attention out the window. It was Sunday and they were expecting company. In her arms she held Johnny settled against her hip. He held a toy to his mouth. At five months, he had become very vocal and made multiple little noises including the occasional growl. He was well on his way to sitting up by himself but still couldn't and wobbled whenever he tried.

Wendy came into the room. She was dressed in a casual dress and her hair was done. "Lana, will you stop pacing? You'll make Johnny dizzy."

Johnny turned at the sound of his name. His doctor said babies his age started to recognize their names.

Wendy took Johnny from Lana and sat him on her hip. She kissed his cheek.

"You know how I get when your mother comes to visit." Lana took another glance out the window, "It's like waiting for the rapture."

Wendy scoffed but bit back a laugh, "Lana, please be nice."

Lana turned from the window to face Wendy. When Johnny saw her he flashed her a gummy smile.

Lana melted at the sight of her boy and opened her palms to him. Johnny squealed with glee and Wendy handed him over.

"You know how important it is to me that you and mother get along." Wendy went on.

"And where are your teeth?" Lana asked Johnny, "His teeth should be coming in."

"Are you listening to me?"

'The book said—"

"Lana!" Wendy cut her off, grabbing her attention. She laughed and went up to her, "Lana, his teeth will come in when they're ready to come in."

"And how will we know?"

"When he won't stop screaming bloody murder, that's when." Wendy went past Lana to the window. She glanced down the street but saw no car approaching.

Lana lifted her head off of Johnny's where she had been resting it for a few seconds and looked to Wendy. "Why? Are you finally going to tell your mother about us?"

Wendy froze and turned around to meet her gaze. "Lana….please…"

Lana scoffed. "You promised you wouldn't hide us from anyone anymore. Do you remember?"

"Yes. But hiding this from the neighbors is different than hiding it from my parents. You know how they are."

"You act like I've never told you about mine." Lana retorted.

"Yes, well, I actually want to stay in contact with my family." As soon as Wendy said that, she regretted it. "Oh, baby, I'm sorry."

Lana took a step back, "I'm going to change my son now. Let me know when the queen of England arrives." And with that Lana left the room.

Wendy shook her head but didn't follow her. There was no use in arguing and Lana would come around.

Lana closed the bedroom door behind her with much frustration.

"I swear to the heavens that woman drives me insane." She laid Johnny on the bed in front of her. "Can you believe the nerve of her?"

Johnny kicked his little legs and looked up at Lana. He laughed and gurgled, blowing little raspberries. Lana sighed and her heart once again melted the way it had begun to do every single time she saw her boy. Lana guessed the day it began to happen was the day he smiled at her. There was something deep inside of her that cried out to her child. It was loud and overbearing with a strength that would not be ignored. It was such a strange feeling that it often overwhelmed and scared Lana.

She guessed it was her mothering instincts that had become attached and over protective of her baby.

She sighed, watching the boy's gummy smile.

Perhaps Wendy was right. Perhaps it wouldn't be smart to tell her mother the truth. Knowing Mrs. Peyser, she would ruin their lives with her nuisance and Lana wanted her family to stay together for Johnny. Maybe they would wait a little while longer before telling her parents. After all, there was no rush.

Still, Lana did want Wendy to eventually face her parents just like she had once faced hers.

"I guess I'm just overreacting, aren't I?" Lana asked Johnny as she undressed him.

"Ah!" Johnny babbled in response.

Lana sighed, "Giggle and laugh now, kid because life won't be so easy for us once you get older."

Lana changed his diaper and changed him into little overalls and a clean shirt. She could already imagine all the things Mrs. Peyser would say about her being a "single mother".

"Lana, hurry! She's here!" Wendy called from the living room.

Lana groaned and picked Johnny up from the bed. "Feel free to cry whenever you want, little boy." Lana told him, "I'll be needing it."

The three women and the baby sat in the living room having lemonade and little sandwiches. Just like Lana had expected it, Mrs. Peyser hadn't been so thrilled to see her and had greeted her with a fake enthusiasm that Lana could see straight through the woman's teeth. But of course, she was truly happy to see her daughter and greeted her with a hug and multiple kisses.

"It's a lovely home you have here. I'm sure I've told you that before." Mrs. Peyser commented as Wendy served her some lemonade, "You redecorated, didn't you sweetheart?"

Wendy smiled, "No, Mother. Lana did."

Mrs. Peyser looked to Lana and the true happiness left her eyes. "Oh. I see." She cleared her throat, "Well, it's very lovely."

"Thank you." Lana forced a smile. She sat Johnny on her lap and he tried to reach for a toy on the sofa next to them.

Mrs. Peyser exhaled and set her attention on Johnny. "That is a very handsome boy you have there, Ms. Winters. Wendy told us you gave birth back in October."

"Yes, thank you."

Mrs. Peyser studied him a little more. "Those are some mighty blue eyes, does he get them from his father?"

Both Lana and Wendy froze. Wendy shot horrified eyes at Lana but Lana flashed a fake smile.

"No. I'm afraid he didn't inherit anything from his father. It's a good thing too."

Wendy laughed nervously and sat next to Lana.

"Johnny has been a blessing in our lives, Mother. He is just the sweetest little boy. Would you like to hold him?"

Lana looked at Wendy like she had offered to give Johnny away to the mailman. Wendy only gave her a pleading look and Lana once again put on that fake smile. She handed the boy over to Wendy who took him over to her mother.

When Johnny noticed he was being handed over to Mrs. Peyser, his little face scrunched up and he began to cry.

"Oh, Johnny, no." Wendy said in means to comfort him. She tried to hand him over once more and he cried louder.

"Oh, dear, don't frighten the boy." Mrs. Peyser said.

"He just doesn't know you." Wendy took him back to Lana.

Once he was in his mother's arms he stopped his crying.

"I'm afraid he's not very fond of strangers." Lana said with the same smile Mrs. Peyser gave her. "I hope you don't mind."

Mrs. Peyser was a bit offended by the comment but kept a tight expression, "No, of course not. That means I should visit more often." She turned her attention to Wendy, "Your father and I would like to see you more often, Dear. You just never invite us over."

"It's a shame he couldn't come with you today." Wendy admitted. She knew her father was friendlier when it came to Lana. She was sure he liked her enough and he always had a way of balancing out her mother's viciousness. It truly was a shame.

"Well maybe next weekend you'd like to drive up and see him."

"Of course." Wendy smiled.

Mrs. Peyser turned her attention to Lana once more. "So, Wendy tells us that you're going to raise the boy on your own."

"It's what I've been doing, yes."

"And how is that working out for you?" She said this in a way as if she expected Lana to admit that she was struggling.

Lana smiled widely before she answered, "Phenomenal. You know, I realized that women can do just about anything without the help of a man. It's…endearing."

"Lana!" Wendy gasped and covered it up with a nervous laugh.

"What?" Lana asked, "The seventies are approaching and it is a time of change. The following years will be very progressive. Don't you agree, Mrs. Peyser?"

Mrs. Peyser hesitated to answer but in the end she gave a nod, "Yes. Progressive."

Johnny cooed and stuck his hand in his mouth.

"Aren't you afraid that your little boy will miss having a man around?" Mrs. Peyser took a drink from her lemonade.

"Mother—" Wendy was about to speak when Lana cut her off.

"As a matter of fact, I'm not. He won't be the first or last child to grow up without a father."

"I'm just saying that—"

"Being fatherless is not a handicap, Mrs. Peyser." She looked at Wendy and gave her a smile, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I should put him down for his nap."

Lana stood and left the room with Johnny. Once she was down the room and out of sight, Wendy turned to her mother.

"Mom…"

Mrs. Peyser only shrugged.

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Lana found herself exiting through the garage with Johnny in his pram. She couldn't stand being under the same roof as Mrs. Peyser. The woman was unbearable and she always needed to put her two cents into every situation that didn't concern her.

Lana took in a deep breath of the March air. She needed to calm her nerves and just couldn't bring to accept someone like that in her family. And it wasn't the fact that Mrs. Peyser was offending her, it was that in some way, she was offending Johnny. Lana didn't need anyone to pity her child. Being without a father was not the worst thing in the world.

"I hope to God that woman isn't in your life, son." Lana told the boy as she strolled down the street.

A car drove by and turned into one of the driveways. Lana could hear children playing in the backyard of one of the homes. It was a beautiful day despite the awful human being taking up space in her home. Lana knew Wendy would be upset that she wouldn't return right away but in that moment she didn't care.

Lana heard Johnny coo and looked down to the baby in the black pram. He smiled when their eyes met.

Lana rendered and smiled, "You're just all smiles and rainbows, aren't you?"

Johnny cooed again, reaching out his little hands to her.

"You don't even need to nap." Lana sighed, "I just needed to get out of there…" She looked at Johnny again, those blues gleaming behind long lashes. "It'll be tough having me as your mother. I can assure you do, JB. But there is no way I'll ever end up like that woman. I can promise you that."

Johnny squealed.

Lana smiled again. "You and I, we'll be just fine."

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When Lana returned to the house, Johnny was asleep in his pram and Mrs. Peyser was just leaving. Lana faked another smile and asked her to come visit soon. Of course she didn't really mean it and Wendy knew that but Mrs. Peyser was non the wiser.

The two women stood in front of their home and waved her off as she drove the car out of the driveway and down the street.

Lana stayed silent and headed inside. Wendy followed after her.

"Well, that was fun." Wendy laughed nervously when she closed the door behind her.

"I'm going to put him to bed." Was all Lana said.

"Lana." Wendy followed after her, "I'm sorry. You know how my mother is."

Lana took Johnny out of the pram and rested his little head on her shoulder. "Oh, I know how the infamous Mrs. Peyser can be. Just please, don't bring that woman into our home anymore."

Wendy laughed and Lana did too. Johnny stirred and whined.

"Shh, shh." Lana calmed him. She looked at Wendy and took a few steps closer, "I'm sorry. Okay, I just…she can say whatever she wants about me, but not about my son."

Wendy's heart swelled whenever Lana called Johnny that. It meant she was accepting him. Of course she had been since they had brought him home but now she owned up to it.

Wendy kissed Lana's lips. "I'll talk with her. I promise."

"You better." Lana warned and they both laughed again.

Johnny stirred again and that time began to cry.

Lana groaned taking him to his cradle, "You know it took me two blocks to get him to go to sleep."

Wendy only smiled, "Let me help you."