the eras of us ⎹ Lana Parrilla & Jennifer Morrison

Chapter 15

"Are you okay?" Josh queried as he entered the kitchen.

The blonde turned her attention towards him, offering a nod with a smile. "Yeah, I just feel the alcohol."

"Really? Remember those days when you, Ginny, and I went into that random bar, and you could down one shot after the other without even feeling tipsy?"

Jen chuckled at the memory. "I do. Well, tequila is my weakness, and Lana has like a thousand different types."

A chuckle escaped Josh as he stepped closer to his former TV daughter, gently placing a hand on her upper arm. "Do you know how glad I am that you two don't hate each other anymore?"

"We—We never hated each other... it was—" Jen sighed, her expression reflecting a mixture of emotions as she shrugged, unsure of how to articulate her feelings.

"Complicated? Yeah, we all noticed."

"Did Lana ever tell you what happened? That I was the one who started to ignore her out of the blue?"

Josh shook his head. "No, she didn't talk to anyone except for Bex, I believe. We never knew what happened since you didn't want to tell us either."

"Yes, but that's not so unusual, right?"

"Right," the actor agreed. "You've always been a private person, and Ginny and I never took it personally. We knew you loved us, and I hope you know that despite our lack of contact over the past years, we love you too."

The blonde couldn't suppress the welling of emotions as her eyes teared up. She had to swallow hard to keep her tears from spilling over. "Yeah," she whispered, a small, heartfelt smile gracing her lips. "I know that."

When the two embraced, Jen couldn't restrain a tear rolling down her cheek. The sensation was comforting, familiar—a bit like home. It reminded her of the days spent on set, enjoying moments with her co-stars and leisurely days off amidst the breathtaking nature of Vancouver, particularly those spent walking the dogs with Lana.

Lana. Memories flooded her mind—shared breakfasts, lunches, and dinners during the times when their connection was strong. Days filled with the simple joy of spending every moment with Lana, from waking up beside her to falling asleep with their fingers intertwined. Sometimes, they'd cuddle, and other times, the brunette would gently stroke her long, blonde hair.

"Hey," Josh's voice interrupted her reflections. "No need to cry." He smiled, delicately wiping away the tears on her cheeks.

"I'm not—" Jen paused, realizing tears had indeed fallen. With a soft clearing of her throat, she smiled up at the man before her. "It's the alcohol."

"Right," the actor chuckled. "Alcohol does make one more emotional. But you know what helps?"

"Hm?"

"More alcohol."

"Did someone say alcohol?" Lana's voice suddenly chimed in, her amusement palpable. Her hazel eyes lingered on Jen for a few seconds before shifting to Josh. "Your wife misses you on the couch."

"On my way," he chuckled, playfully caressing Lana's arm as he passed her on his route out of the kitchen. She responded with a warm smile, and once the actor exited, she strolled over to Jen, studying her with a curious intensity. "Were you crying?"

"Oh, uhm, no. Just a few tears after, well, Josh and I sort of had a moment, and then I thought about... things."

"Things," the brunette echoed, her tone carrying a subtle depth.

"And the tequila really doesn't help," the blonde tried to inject a note of humor, and it worked — Lana's lips curved into a genuine smile.

"Want more?"