Chapter Text
“What are you doing?” she laughed at the way her son jumped from his hiding space behind his trailer, she had been looking for him since his scene with Lana had ended. She often ventured out of Jared’s trailer on set in order to watch what was happening live, of course to do so she had been sworn to utter secrecy and had to sign a truck load of contracts when her son had first landed the role but it was all worth it to see him so happy and doing what he loved.
“Mom!” he whined as he placed a hand to his frantically beating heart, “you promised you wouldn’t do that anymore!” and it was true, she was often playing tricks on him and jumping out from behind things in order to scare him.
She shook her head as he peered around the side of the trailer once again at whatever had caught his interest so strongly, “well you said you’d stop getting all sneaky!” she retorted jabbing him lightly in the ribs sending a tremor of laughter bubbling through his body, “what are you looking at anyway?” Poking her head around the trailer, above her son’s head, she found his source of fascination. “Honey, I thought we talked about this…”
He rolled his eyes before moving back to face his mother, she just didn’t understand, she didn’t see what he saw. “I know but-“
“No buts!” she raised her eyebrows and shook her head at him, “this has gone on long enough, you need to stop it before you say something you shouldn’t”
“I’m not going to say anything, it’s not my place but I just wish that they’d see how good for each other they are!” he was looking to the ground now, “I won’t say anything I promise.”
She ran a hand through her son’s hair affectionately, “are you still going over to Lana’s for tea tonight?” it wasn’t uncommon for the actress to invite her son over, she had become almost a second mom to the boy over the past couple of years and it warmed her heart at how caring the woman was when it came to Jared. He had become especially important to her in recent months due to the split from Fred, the brunette had been heart-broken at first, the usual fire that once danced in brown eyes had disappeared for a while but with every passing day people were starting to notice that she was slowly coming back to herself with the help of her friends and the cast, though the two now were practically synonymous.
“I think so…want me to go ask?” he hoped his mother didn’t read too much into his eagerness to see Lana, he had just promised not to say anything but he hadn’t promised not to keep trying in other ways and he most definitely would…starting now.
“Sure, I think I’m gonna head off soon, you’ll be okay?” he nodded in response and took off around the side of the trailer, faced with the site of Lana and Jennifer still talking animatedly as they had lunch in their named chairs. The backdrop of the Neverland set looked awesome and he couldn’t help but smile as he neared the two.
“Are you actually still on that?” Lana laughed as she shook her head in disbelief, the grilled chicken salad on her lap long since forgotten as she talked with the blonde, “I told you it was an accident!”
Jennifer scoffed in response as she took another bite from her Panini, “see you say that, then you say it was characterization work, which may I say is a terrible cover for the fact that you set me up for a mouthful of shrubbery!”
“And what if I had huh? What exactly are you going to do about it?” green eyes narrowed at the challenge but before she could retort she spotted Jared making his way over.
“Hey Jay,” she smiled warmly at the boy as she rounded the brunette’s side, her arm instinctually moving up to pull him into her side in a welcoming hug. Even after she had squeezed the boy and let loose a little she didn’t take her arm away as she pressed a quick kiss to his temple. He smiled joyfully at the contact; she was exactly how Regina was with Henry with him, affectionate and always willing to show her love, she was awesome. With Jen it was parallel with Henry’s relationship with Emma, he knew she loved him, she just didn’t really do hugs etc. and that was fine with him.
“You okay sweetheart?” Lana asked, her thumb rubbing circles on his arm, he wasn’t even sure she realized she was doing it anymore; it was almost natural to her. He nodded his response and she spoke again, “you still coming home with me for dinner tonight?”
“Yep, Mom wanted me to check because she’s leaving soon,” he replied whilst leaning on the arm of her chair, he had one of his own but he hated the loose backs, he always felt like he was going to fall out of them…it was cool to have his name on them though.
“Oh sure, I need to arrange a girls day with her soon anyways,” she spoke more to herself as a reminder than to him.
“What’re you doing tonight Jen?” Jared asked feigning nonchalance, he watched as Lana turned to face the blonde once more to listen also, this might just work.
She simply shrugged in indifference before replying, “Probably just grab a take-out and chill”
“Oh…” Lana started, Jared was fighting hard now to stop his triumphant smirk from showing, the brunette was too nice for her own good, it was what he had been counting on, “well if you’re free, why don’t you come over too? Would that be okay with you honey?” she turned back to Jared hoping she hadn’t made him feel left out or any less special with her inviting someone else.
“Yeah, that sounds cool” he replied still feigning nonchalance but all the while staring at Jennifer’s expression. Lana turned once again to look at her expectantly. He watched the same smile grace Jennifer’s face that he had seen only directed at the woman still cuddling him into her.
“Sure, why not”
Operation Morrilla was a go-go