Don't Own AHS

A/N: Hi, everyone! I didn't realize how long it has been since I updated. So in the spirit of Christmas I decided to work on a chapter! I hope you're all doing well and are enjoying the holidays.

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TWENTY

Winter Wonders

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The pace at the office never stopped. It seemed like a never-ending circle of chaos; especially around the holidays. The office was adorned with multiple wreaths and a few mistletoes that Lana had avoided like the plague. It was a week before Christmas and Lana was knee high in reports and articles. She had snagged a somewhat interesting story on a man who dressed as Santa Clause and burned his house down to collect the insurance money. The story itself was a little out there but it was something.

Lana collected her notes and stood from her desk in her way to the break room. Just above the entrance of the door was mistletoe. Lana rolled her eyes and crossed the threshold.

"C'mon, Sweetheart. Where's your holiday spirit?" Don Matthers was bothering Lou's new assistant. The poor girl had only been there three weeks and she had already been bothered by multiple of the reporters.

Lana made her way to the coffee and poured herself a cup, "Don, leave the girl alone."

"Winters, I'm just teasin' her is all." Don interjected. He was a young man in his late twenties, rather on the annoying side. He went about the place like he owned it. Still, his style was messy and he didn't pull in too much hustle. Lana wasn't impressed.

"Why don't you go tease, McAllister. I know you two are constantly up each other's asses."

Loy's assistant, looked at Lana and bit back a smile. She was a shy young thing and Lana wondered how she had made it in the office so long. Perhaps she was stronger than she looked.

Don scoffed. "Wait, you crossed the door too, Winters."

"Yeah, not even in your dreams. Get out of there, Don." Lana gestured her head towards the door.

Don shook his head and left the break room with his tail between his legs.

"Thanks." The young woman sighed once Don had left, relieved to be left alone.

"Don means well but he's an idiot. Don't mind him, Miss—?"

"Rachel." The young woman answered coming forth.

Lana smiled at the bright-eyed young woman, "Rachel." She spoke her name with a welcoming tone, "Well, it's nice to have finally met you."

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Lana parked the car on the driveway of their snow-covered house. Winter had been relentless in Boston that December but all the white snow made the simple neighborhood look like a winter wonderland—or so Wendy had said.

When stepped out of the car, closed the door and went to open the trunk where she had purchased a few more Christmas gifts for Johnny. It would be his second Christmas and Lana hoped it went a lot better than his last. Lana still felt a lot of resentment during the past holidays, she still struggled to shake her time in Briarcliff off but that was something too hard to forget so easily.

Alas, she didn't want it to cripple her. Not for another season and not for another year.

It was strange the way things had changed so drastically. And not with Briarcliff but with just Johnny alone. Before their house smelled like the devil's greens whenever Wendy was home on vacation. Now the house smelled sweet with lit candles and baked goods. It was odd how a child suddenly turned one into a master baker. Lana would have never guessed.

On that day, the house smelled like pine from the freshly cut Christmas tree and gingerbread. It was like stepping into another dimension for Lana. It all seemed too good to be true, like a scene out of a movie she'd hate to watch because it was not her reality. However, now it was and it felt more foreign than ever. Still, she tried to leave her skepticism outside in the cold and enjoy her life for what it was.

Johnny was napping in his play pen by the Christmas tree. His tiny, pudgy hands had yanked off all the ornaments on the bottom already. Nothing in the house was truly safe from a walking baby with a curiosity that would kill a hundred cats.

Lana reached into the playpen and caressed his face. He was such a sweet little cherub when he slept. A true little darling. It was hard to believe who his real parents were. Lana almost forgot.

"Oh, you're home." Wendy came from the kitchen, "I thought I heard the door close."

"Yeah, I'm home." Lana let Wendy come to her and they kissed hello.

"Finally. This place has been a zoo without you."

Lana laughed, "I can imagine."

Johnny began to softly stir from his sleep. When he opened his eyes, he looked up at Lana and smiled a sleepy smile. He raised his hands to be picked up and so Lana obliged.

"Hi, sleepy boy."

Johnny giggled sleepily and rested his head on Lana's shoulder.

"Oh, sure, be sweet to Mommy but be a little devil all morning." Wendy teased the boy.

Lana laughed, "We're raising a little monster, I'm telling you." She stopped at her words, realizing what she had said and kissed Johnny's head. He would be far from that.

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CHRISTMAS EVE 1966

Johnny liked to harass the little bit of presents under the tree. He'd pick them up and walk them around the house, dropping them in random places and sticking them in his mouth, wetting the wrapping paper. He was dressed quite dapper in corduroys, a button up, suspenders and a bow tie to finish it all up. All to look his best for his mothers' Christmas party. It was the first time he would meet all of their friends.

Lana spent much of her time that day writing at her desk. She had completely forgotten the Maniac manuscript hidden in the room and worked on what other pieces she had to get through. The Santa arsonist had been convicted and a trial was to be set up. That would bring in a lot of work, Lana knew.

Lana also wanted to forget about the Christmas party they would be hosting in their home later that evening. She hadn't seen the majority of their friends in a long time and was nervous as to how they would treat her. She knew they all knew what had happened to her and that she had decided to keep her son. What she didn't know was how they would react to it all in person. Lana could care less but she would be a liar if she said it didn't make her nervous.

Wendy came into the room with Johnny in arms. "Excuse me, Miss?"

Lana glanced up from her typewriter; she had been so entranced she hadn't even heard Wendy enter the room with the baby.

"Can you watch him, please? He's causing a storm in the living room."

Lana frowned, "Wendy, I'm working."

"Working? You're supposed to be getting ready for the party."

Lana glanced over at the clock. It was barely five but the sun was already setting. The party was to start at seven. "I have plenty of time, relax."

"Shit, Lana. Did you at least wrap Johnny's gifts from Santa?"

Lana looked at her with a confused frown and Wendy just knew. "Seriously?"

Lana closed her eyes for a moment, "I'm sorry. I forgot. I'll do them after the party."

"Lana—"

"Hey, he's only one, he doesn't even know what's going on. He won't care."

"Well, I care."

Wendy walked over and plunked the boy down on her lap. "Fine. At least watch your son then." She turned to leave the room.

"Hey, he's yours too!" Lana called out after her.

"Sorry, Mother Wendy needs a break!"

Lana sighed and looked down at the baby. He reached over, grabbed the papers she had finished typing on and yanked them off the desk, spilling them on the floor. "Oh-oh."

Lana gave another heavy sigh. "Why are you like this?"

"Oh-oh."

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The house was full with multiple women dressed in what they deemed to be their Christmas finest. Some wore dresses and others wore dress pants. A few men also intermingled through the crowd, laughing and having drinks. Johnny was safe in his mother's arms, looking at one person and then at the other with concerned eyes. It was the first time they had so many people in their home.

"Oh, he's precious." One of Wendy's friends from college commented to Lana.

"Thank you." She replied.

"Good thing, huh?" She joked but Lana frowned in response.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, Sharon, no." Another woman said and grabbed the woman named Sharon, taking her away to the kitchen.

Lana rolled her eyes and turned to the record player currently playing Billie Holiday. She reached over for her glass of wine and took a long drink. Johnny reached for it.

"No, no. Drinking is for mommy. Not for baby."

Wendy emerged from the kitchen into the living room, laughing from something Cynthia had just said. "Goodness, Cynthia is a mad woman."

"I know a thing or two about man women." Lana muttered, "And Cynthia ain't one of them."

Wendy noticed Lana's rigid expression and became concerned, "What's the matter?"

"Between everyone ignoring me like the plague and Sharon insulting me while complementing Johnny? Oh, I'm not sure."

"Don't let Sharon get to you. You know how she gets when she drinks."

"I know." Lana looked at Johnny, "And he's more than precious. He's marvelous. Aren't you, Mister?"

Johnny smiled at pointed at a laughing couple. "Oh!"

Lana kissed his cheek. "I'm going to go change him."

"I'll go with you." Wendy followed after her.

Lana laid Johnny on their bed and began to change him. "I live for the days in where you can wipe your own butt." She told him.

Johnny just stuck his fingers in his mouth.

"The party is going great, isn't it?" Wendy asked.

"Yes, it's fine." Lana answered, "Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. She finished changing his diaper and grabbed his pants.

"Are you having fun?" Wendy went up to Lana taking her free hand.

Lana faced her, "There's wine, music and some people I actually can stand. Of course I'm having fun."

Wendy kissed her lips, "Good." She said when she pulled apart. "I love you, you know."

"I know. Of course I know."

Wendy gave Lana's hand a soft tug. They heard a soft thud followed by quick foot steps and looked up to see a pants-less baby heading towards the door.

"Oh, no you don't." Lana went after him. "This is not that kind of party."

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Lana handed the baby off to Wendy while she mingled amongst the rest of their guests. Many of them were genuinely happy to see her again. They asked about her work and discussed how quickly the times were changing. The seventies were approaching and so much had changed already.

Lois served Lana a few mixed drinks and she and Barb talked about Barb's book club. Lana had thought about joining but with Johnny she couldn't even fathom having any free time but she did give Barb some good suggestions. There was a game of white elephant followed by more drinks and games.

"Wow, you two are very lucky." Said Eleanor Allister. A mutual friend of Lana and Wendy's from years prior.

"For what?" Wendy asked.

Lana held Johnny in her arms. He was sucking on a candy cane Lois had snuck to him while his mothers' weren't looking.

"Having your own family." Eleanor answered. She looked over at the woman next to her and smile adoringly at her. "Carmen and I would kill to have a little one of our own to complete our family."

Lana and Wendy looked at one another. "Oh, Eleanor. Times are changing, perhaps one day you will. Who knows? I mean we didn't know we would. Did we, Lana?"

"No." Lana shook her head, "He definitely wasn't planned or expected."

"It's strange how little miracles appear from the most hideous of things." Carmen said, looking at Johnny with awe.

Lana nodded in agreement. "He does make it all feel worth it."

Wendy smiled at Lana. She thought the same about the boy.

"And look at those precious eyes. Like sapphires." Carmen cooed.

"We truly envy you, Lana. We really do." Eleanor sighed.

Lana gave them a half smile for it was all she could muster. Of course they envied her precious baby but she knew neither of them would want to go through the same thing Lana did to end up with him. Hell, sometimes she wondered herself if she would do it all the same to get him in the end.

He looked at her with those gorgeous blues and cracked a little smile.

Maybe she would. In every single version of reality.