A/N: Hi, everyone! Sorry, I had planned to update sooner but you know, life happens. This chapter is a bit short but I wanted to update something. Anyway, enjoy!

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TWENTY-FOUR

You Belong to Me

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"You know I've always wanted to have a child of my own." Her voice was like soft timber in the night. "And to me, Johnny is my own…"

There was a moment of silence between them. Lana didn't dare speak first. Her mouth was the reason they were out there that night. Underneath the light of their porch, unencumbered by their sleeping neighbors, the truth could come out.

"I want us to be a family. A complete family. I guess I'm being a fool for wanting my parents to see him as their own flesh and blood." She chuckled to herself, "Hell, it took you a long time to see him as your own."

Lana frowned at this, "You know what situation I was under. You can't blame me for that."

Wendy dropped her head, "I know. I'm sorry. I just...I get angry and jealous. I...I mess up."

"I do too but that doesn't mean I can ignore reality. Your parents, they're not going to accept you and I. They're just not. You know that and I know that. So what makes you think that they'll accept him?"

Wendy met Lana's eyes. This time it was she who didn't speak.

"I don't want my boy to go through that sort of rejection. He'll already have a lot to deal with when the time comes."

"We can try-"

"How?" Lana interrupted, "How do you want to try? Do you want to tell your mother the truth? Finally? Because that's what I did, with my own and look where that took me. I haven't seen them in years. They don't even know they have a grandson." She shook her head, "And if they did know, they still wouldn't accept us."

"My parents would never-"

"Wendy! That's what I told myself!" Lana almost wanted to laugh. "I too thought that they would accept me for me. Now, if you want to commit to this family- your new family, you have to be willing to sacrifice those who will not stand for what we do."

"Is it so impossible to have it all?"

"I'm afraid so, kid. I'm afraid so."

The two women sat in silence.

Wendy brushed a tear from her cheeks. "I just love him so much. More than I thought I would. And it's hard because I know he's not my own. Truly my own. And in some weird way, I won't ever be enough."

"Don't you dare talk like that." Lana warned her.

Wendy shook her head, "I can't help it. Lana, I just can't help but to wish for this. I want to call him my son without the doubts of others. I want to tell people that he's mine without them sayin, 'oh, he must look like your husband then'. You have no idea how many times that has happened and how much is pisses me off."

"Wendy…"

"He looks like you, and yes, he looks like him too. I remember his face from the papers and from the tv. He's the perfect mixture of two people who don't love each other. How do you think that makes me feel?"

"It's not like I wanted it...you know that. You sent me there."

Wendy closed her eyes. "I'm sorry. How many times do I have to say it?"

Lana remained silent. Sometimes it wasn't enough.

"Do you truly forgive me?"

"I told you I did. I do." Lana said without hesitation. "But this isn't about that, Wendy. This isn't about who Johnny looks like. It's about who he sees worth being in his life. Whose raising him." She placed her hand on Wendy's, "And that's us. That monster is dead and will never be a part of Johnny but you will. You think the kid cares that he looks like you? No. He couldn't give a shit."

Wendy smiled.

"He loves you and he loves me and it's something that's unconditional. It's nurture, it isn't nature."

"I just get so lost in myself sometimes."

"I know you do."

Wendy sighed, "I know it's ridiculous wanting him to be a part of my parents' lives. I guess I just want him to have some normality. If he isn't going to have a traditional family, I wanted him to have grandparents, at least."

"Not every child has grandparents, Wendy."

"Yeah, well, I thought it would be nice."

"Besides, your mother is hell and scorn in one. That woman looks at our child like he's the result of sin and burden. And don't you dare deny it."

Wendy became ashamed, "I wish she was different."

"I wish too."

The silence took over again. This time it was Lana that glanced up at Wendy. She had remembered every inch of her face and could recall it in her dreams. "Wendy?"

"Yes?" She met Lana's gaze.

"Just know that if you ever deny us again, you'll never see us. Do you understand?"

Wendy became rigid. She held Lana's gaze, "I would never." She leaned in and kissed Lana's lips, "You belong to me. The both of you."

Johnny tried to reach the stethoscope in the doctor's hand. He chuckled lightly and placed it on the little boy's bare chest.

"I'm just concerned that he's not talking at the level he should be." Lana explained.

"Some children take longer than others. Is he making regular sounds?"

"Yes. Well, he mumbles a lot of words."

"He shouldn't be long now. Just make sure you encourage him to speak whenever he wants something."

"Will do."

Lana left the doctors with Johnny in arms. It was a simple check up, still, she was just a bit relieved the doctor had calmed her nerves about Johnny's speech. Lana wondered if it was something he had inherited from Oliver. She was sure he hadn't received much care in the orphanage. He had told her after all. The way he was raised in the institution had stunned his growth in many ways.

Lana buckled Johnny up in the car. "Can you say, Mommy?"

Johnny looked at Lana and pointed at her, "Ninny!"

Lana sighed, "No, not kitty. Mommy."

"Ninny."

"Oh goodness. Sometimes I feel like you do this on purpose." She closed the back door on hopped into the driver's seat. "Maybe your Mama and I will take you on a nice vacation soon. This city is getting too stuffy. Some time away would be nice," She glanced back at Johnny, "Wouldn't it?"

He gave her a big grin, "No!"

"That's the spirit!"