A/N: Hi, everyone! Hope you're all doing well! I've been so lazy when it comes to writing lately. I suppose because work leaves me so drained and all I want to do is watch Rob Dyke YouTube videos and play No Man's Sky. Anyway, I wrote a little something to keep the story moving. Enjoy!

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SIXTEEN

Say It If You Mean It

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The morning started off with angry, frustrated screams from the tiniest member of the Winters-Peyser household. Another little tooth could be seen popping out of pink gums without mercy and the outcome was horrendous.

Lana paced around the living room with the boy in arms, bouncing him up and down to try and get him to calm down. Meanwhile Wendy stood in the door way, hands on her hips, a frustrated look upon her face.

"Lana—"

"Will you stop?" Lana snapped, "He's going to be fine. It's just mild discomfort." She said, repeating the words the doctor had told her when she called him earlier that morning. "It's all a part of growing up."

"But Lana, he's in pain." Wendy argued.

"He'll be fine!" Lana placed her hand on Johnny's head as he buried his face in the crook of her neck and cried louder. His little hands clutched her shirt tightly. He had not wanted to leave Lana's arms and screamed bloody murder when Wendy tried to take him from her.

"How do you know that?"

Lana scoffed, "And you call yourself a child expert? Wendy, he'll live." Wendy shook her head and made a b-line for the phone. Lana rolled her eyes, "And who are you calling now?"

"My mother." Was the only response Lana received.

Lana glared at Wendy, "Are you serious? Why would you do that? That woman lives to knock me down a few pegs."

Wendy shook her head as she dialed the perfectly memorized number, "She's not going to judge you. I'm only going to ask her what we could give him for the pain—Mother? Hi!" A smile crossed her face when her mother answered the phone on the other line, "How are you?"

Lana turned her back on Wendy with a shake of the head and exited the living room to leave her to her call.

Lana took Johnny to the bedroom Wendy told her parents was hers and sat him upon the bed. Johnny looked up at her with big blue eyes drowning in tears. His cheeks and nose were rosy red and drenched in tears. He had the most pitiful little look and Lana couldn't help but to feel guilty in a way.

"What am I going to do with you, hmm?" She gave him a sheepish smile, trying to lighten the mood with soft humor.

Johnny whined and hiccupped. He raised his little arms to be picked up and Lana obliged. He immediately nestled his head on her shoulder and gave a heavy sigh, calming his cries.

Lana rubbed his back, "Teething is no fun, I know."

Johnny gave her another little whine.

"It's terrible." She agreed and calmed him, "The worst."

Those little moments she got alone with her son were special to Lana. They had an affect that was enough to calm her demons. She just wished Wendy's witch of a mother didn't put her in such a mood.

Mrs. Peyser had grown a bit accustomed to Johnny's presence in her daughter's life in those eleven months. She had come to know how much Wendy loved the boy but Lana could see the child bothered the woman. It was as if she was jealous that Lana had a child and Wendy did not.

She often made comments such as, "When it's your child you will understand."

"Wendy, when it's your baby—."

"When you have a son —"

Lana couldn't stand the woman. It made her feel as if Johnny was not valid. As if his existence in Wendy's life meant nothing. And it angered Lana how Wendy never stood up to her mother. She only laughed and brushed it off.

Wendy came into the bedroom moments later to find Lana brooding to herself and a sleeping Johnny in her arms.

"My mother said that a chilled spoon—" She stopped when she saw Johnny asleep and lowered her voice, "How did you get him to fall asleep?"

"Oh, I don't know." Lana answered with a deadpan expression, "Mother's instinct, I suppose."

Wendy went up to her with a half wounded look. "Lana, don't be sour. You know my mother only means well."

"You know Willis from the office?" Lana asked.

Wendy frowned not sure where she was getting at but nodded, "I remember him vaguely."

"Well," Lana made her way to the door, "He always complained about his mother in law and I never understood him until now."

"Lana." Wendy said disapprovingly.

Lana put the baby to nap in his crib in their actual shared bedroom and Wendy followed. "Are you mad I called her?"

Lana didn't bother to turn to look at her when she spoke. She kept her attention on the boy as she settled him into his crib. "I just don't see why you have to constantly bring her into our business."

"Well, I just thought—"

"Wendy, she's not his grandmother. Please don't act like she is."

Lana's comment instantly hit Wendy like a whip. She stepped back, feeling a cold feeling pour over her followed by a hot sensation in her ears and face. Lana regretted her words right away but the damage was done.

"Are you serious?" Wendy sounded almost in disbelief.

Lana sighed. "Not in front of him. He's sleeping."

"Fine. Outside then."

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Lana closed the bedroom door behind her and faced Wendy right there in the hallway.

"You know my mother cares."

"Your mother doesn't like me and she sure as hell doesn't see my son as her grandson."

"Why are you doing this?" Wendy demanded.

She knew Lana had been in a mood for the past few weeks and she wanted to know why. At first she had ignored it, hoping that it would blow over and Lana would figure it out on her own like she often did but that did not happen.

Lana let go of the doorknob. "I just don't want her in our business. That's all. Johnny is our son. If we're going to raise him I'd like to do it without her two cents."

Lana pushed past Wendy and headed into the living room.

"I'm just asking advice from a woman who's had children before. It's not like we can't contact your mother!"

Lana stopped immediately and turned around like a hard whip. "Don't."

Wendy glared at Lana but then her gaze softened. She gave out a soft, long sigh. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

"No, you meant that. Don't take it back now." Lana warned her.

Wendy placed one hand on her hip and the other rubbed her temple. "We shouldn't be fighting like this. Please, I don't want to fight."

Lana turned her back and sat on the sofa. Wendy sat at her side. "What is going on with you? You've been itching for a fight all week? What the shit, Lana."

Lana rubbed her temples with both hands, "I know, I know. I'm sorry. It's just…."

"It's just what?"

Lana lowered her hands and looked at Wendy, "Sometimes I feel like you're not letting me do this."

Wendy frowned, "Do what?"

"Be a mother to my son."

Wendy wanted to laugh because it sounded ridiculous but she kept from it. "What? What makes you say that?"

"You're always second guessing my decisions when it comes to the baby. You micromanage every single little thing as if I have no idea what I'm doing."

"Lana—"

"No. Listen." Lana cut her off. "I'm a mother for the first time in my life. Something I sure as hell didn't plan. I don't have any experience with children like you do and I know he's your son too but…but I wish you'd let me do things my way. For once."

Wendy held her gaze. "Do you really feel that way?"

Silence.

"Lana?" Wendy pressed her.

She finally answered, "Yes."

Wendy pulled away. "I—I…I'm sorry."

Lana glanced at her. "Thanks…"

"Well, that explains your shitty ass mood." Wendy half joked.

Lana glared at her but the two burst out in laughter. Wendy calmed her laugh, "I don't know what I'm doing much either. I guess that's why I run to my mother all the time."

Lana reached towards the coffee table for her packet of cigarettes and pulled out a single stick. Wendy dug into her purse that she had left on the sofa and lit the cigarette for Lana.

"I'd run from your mother." Lana muttered.

Wendy chuckled, "Don't start."

Lana smiled. "That woman rubs me the wrong way and you know it."

"I can say the same for your boss."

"Lou is a terrible human being but he's manageable. Your mother is the definition of hell."

Wendy laughed and slapped Lana's leg. "Don't push it or I'll have the right mind to invite her to dinner tomorrow."

"Shoot me." Lana said sarcastically.

Wendy leaned in and kissed Lana's cheek. "You're a marvelous mother."

"Only you think so."

They then heard Johnny crying from the bedroom.

Wendy gave Lana a crooked side smile, "I think he does too."