the eras of us ⎹ Lana Parrilla & Jennifer Morrison

Chapter 25

When Jen stepped out of the shower, a wave of warmth enveloped her as droplets of water cascaded down her skin. She couldn't resist halting at the mirror above the sink, her eyes immediately drawn to the vivid purple bruise on her cheekbone, contrasting sharply against her fair complexion.

Swallowing hard, the blonde battled the lump in her throat before her hand reached out to grasp one of the plush towels nearby, wrapping it around her body. Another towel was quickly snatched up to tend to her long, wet hair, the strands clinging lightly to her shoulders.

"Toothbrush," she muttered under her breath, trying to recall Lana's instructions about where to find one. With a deft movement, she opened a couple cabinets before spotting a gleaming new toothbrush. As she began brushing her teeth, her thoughts were a whirlwind. What was Marcus doing now? Was he searching for her or indifferent to her absence? She had no clear answer, both scenarios seeming equally possible and leaving her unsettled.

"Jen?" Lana's voice called out from another room, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Startled, the blonde leaned closer to the door. "Yes?"

"Pancakes or waffles?"

"Neither," she replied, not really feeling hungry or well enough to eat.

There was a pause, then the brunette's voice chimed in again, "Both, then. Got it."

Jen couldn't help but smile. However, when she glimpsed her smiling reflection in the mirror, she couldn't help but cringe slightly. Shaking her head to dispel the conflicting emotions, she finished brushing her teeth.

When the blonde had finished, she wrapped herself a little tighter in her towel before stepping out of the bathroom, leaving a trail of soap-scented steam behind her. She threw the towel she had used for her hair into the laundry basket, leaving it to fall damply over her shoulders.

Making her way downstairs and into the kitchen, Jen breathed in the delicious smell of a sweet breakfast. She observed the way the brunette was busy flipping pancakes and waffles simultaneously, a sight that made Jen chuckle.

"Multitasking at its finest," she remarked with a smile, leaning against the cool marble countertop.

Lana grinned back, though her words momentarily faltered as her gaze wandered down to Jen's towel-clad figure.

"I was serious, though," the blonde mumbled, unaware of the scrutiny, her focus fixed on the stove. "You didn't have to make me breakfast, especially-"

"Oh, nonsense," Lana interrupted, finding her voice again. "You know I love pampering you."

The corners of Jen's lips curled into a playful smirk, her eyes twinkling with affection as she glanced back at her ex co-star. "Yeah, I know."

"Good," Lana replied, a warm smile softening her features.

As she finished preparing breakfast, the tantalizing aroma filled the whole house. The brunette plated the pancakes and waffles with a meticulous touch, arranging them in an artful display to make it look as pretty as possible. However, despite her focus on the food, she couldn't help but sneak glances at Jen's almost naked body. Her eyes lingered on the way droplets of water glistened on the blonde's skin, tracing a delicate path down her shoulders. Lana's heart fluttered slightly, a warmth spreading through her chest and making it's way between her legs.

Trying to distract herself, the brunette put some final touches on the breakfast spread. She added a dollop of whipped cream to the pancakes and drizzled maple syrup over the waffles, the sweet scents mingling in the air.

"Breakfast is ready," Lana announced, trying to keep her voice steady as she gestured towards the table. "Let's eat before it gets cold."

Jen turned away from the kitchen counter, a grateful smile on her lips as she joined her ex co-star at the table. And again, the brunette couldn't help but notice the way the towel clung to Jen's damp skin.