Decisions (Modern Family)

[Jay's POV]

He and Gloria were sitting on the couch talking, the kids were at school and he gets to spend time with an incredible woman, everything was going great.

"...And that's how you get out of cuffs," Gloria finished with a smile, clearly proud of her demonstration.

I chuckled, impressed. "Hahaha, excellente."

We both shared a laugh, the atmosphere light and easy. But as the laughter faded, something weighed on my mind. I wanted to bring up a certain topic, but hesitation kept me from speaking. Gloria must have noticed, because she turned to me and asked, "Ayy, Jay, say what you wanna say?"

I chuckled nervously, the words coming out slower than I intended. "Gloria, you and I have been seeing each other for quite some time now."

She nodded, encouraging me to continue.

"Well, I think…" I hesitated again, feeling the gravity of what I was about to say. "I think it's time I introduce you to my family. What do you think?"

Gloria went quiet for a moment, her eyes thoughtful. She took a deep breath, clearly weighing the importance of this step. After a brief pause, I finally spoke, voice soft but sincere. "I know it's a huge step, but I think it's time."

She sat there, her posture tense for a few seconds, before exhaling loudly, as if releasing the weight of her own thoughts. "Si, You're right. It feels like the right moment."

I let out a breath of relief I didn't even realize I'd been holding. 

'Huh! Must've been more important than I let on', I thought to myself, feeling the tension between us ease.

I glanced over at Gloria, who was still deep in thought. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve as she avoided eye contact, her brow furrowed just slightly.

I raised an eyebrow, noticing the shift. "Is there something else, Gloria?" I asked gently, giving her the space to speak.

She hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath, her gaze finally meeting mine. "Jay… there's something else we should talk about." Her voice was quieter now, almost unsure.

I waited, not wanting to push her, but my curiosity grew. "What's on your mind?"

Gloria shifted a little on the couch, clearly weighing her words carefully. "It's about Javier," she began, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I know it's a big step for us… and for me, too, introducing me to your family. But I need you to understand something about my past."

I nodded, giving her an encouraging look. "Gloria, whatever it is, I'm listening."

Her eyes flickered briefly away, as if searching for the right way to say it. "Javier… he's the father of Manny and Vincente. Even though we're not together anymore, he's still part of my life. It's complicated." She paused, taking a deep breath. "We were together for four years. When Manny was born, he started spending more time away from us, and when I got pregnant with Vincente, we started to drift apart. Eventually, we divorced. He's a good father in his own way, but... he's unpredictable." She trailed off, her voice soft, as if she was still trying to make sense of it all. "I just want you to know what you might be walking into. I don't want you to feel caught off guard."

I reached over, gently taking her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. "I understand," I said, my voice steady and reassuring. "I'm not worried about the past. What matters is what we have now." I gave her a soft smile, trying to ease some of her tension. "I'm not asking for anything more than that."

Gloria gave me a small, grateful smile, though I could see the concern still lingering in her eyes. "I just needed to say it, Jay. You're important to me, and I don't want any surprises later."

I nodded, squeezing her hand once more. "I appreciate you being open with me, Gloria. And I can promise you, I'm not going anywhere."

Gloria started to chuckle softly, a light smile breaking through the tension on her face. "Vincente said you would say something like that when I asked him what to say."

Hearing that, I couldn't help but laugh too. "Smart kid."

'Gosh, I like that kid a lot', He was sharp, thoughtful, and had this way of seeing through people that made him seem older than he was. It wasn't like I disliked Manny—no, on the contrary. Manny was a good kid, kind-hearted and passionate in a way most adults couldn't even manage. But Vincente… there was something about him. Maybe it was his quiet confidence or the way he looked out for his mother without being told.

I glanced back at Gloria, who was watching me with that soft, knowing smile she always had when she caught me lost in thought.

"You've got great kids, Gloria," I said sincerely. "Both of them."

Her smile widened, and she gave my hand one last squeeze before leaning back into the couch cushion with a sigh, the weight of the earlier conversation seeming to lift from her shoulders.

"Thank you, Jay," she said softly.

"Now, why don't you show me how to get out of cuffs again, but this time let's change it up a little."

Gloria smirked.

[Judgment Day]

A station wagon and a Prius drove up to La Casa de Jay. The engines turned off, and the Dunphy and Pritchett-Tucker families began piling out of their cars.

"MOM! Did I have to come?" Haley whined dramatically as she stepped out of the car.

Claire gave her an unimpressed look, crossing her arms. "Yes, Haley, because your grandfather invited us, and trust me, you don't want to disappoint your grandfather."

Alex, stepping out of the car and adjusting her glasses, smirked. "Oh yeah, Haley, because there's nothing cooler than missing an opportunity to compare split ends with palm trees while pretending you understand adult conversations."

Haley rolled her eyes. "Ugh, nerd."

Phil emerged from the driver's seat, stretching his arms. "Alright, team Dunphy, let's remember: smiles, compliments, and let's not talk about real estate unless Grandpa Jay brings it up first. Got it?"

From the other car, Mitchell stepped out, adjusting his button-up shirt. "Okay, everyone, let's try to be on our best behavior. No passive-aggressive comments, no arguments, and please—let's keep it together for at least an hour."

"Mitchell, relax!" Cam said with a wide smile as he carefully stepped out, smoothing his boldly floral shirt. "It's going to be fine. But first, do I look okay? Is my shirt too floral? Should I have gone with the pastel? Or… should I have gone with the vest?"

Mitchell sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Cam, you look fine. Like a very confident, very… floral couch."

"MITCHELL!"

Mitchell turned sharply, spotting Claire marching toward him ,Haley and Alex trailing behind.

"Claire," Mitchell said with a tight smile. "How lovely to see you, and how equally lovely to hear you… from across the driveway."

Claire ignored his sarcasm. "Do you know what we're walking into? Because I'm sensing awkward family dinner vibes, and I have two teenagers who'd rather be literally anywhere else."

"Hey!" Phil chimed in cheerfully. "I, for one, am excited. Nothing brings people together like good food, forced small talk, and light tension simmering just under the surface."

"See?" Cam added, clapping his hands together. "Phil gets it. Now, let's put on our best smiles and remember: we're here to blend… like a perfect smoothie of love and acceptance!"

Haley squinted at Cam. "Did he just compare us to a smoothie?"

Alex smirked, flipping a page in her book. "Yeah, except Haley's the artificial sweetener, and Luke's the weird protein powder no one asked for."

Phil's grin faltered. "Alright, team. Let's huddle up, deep breaths. We can do this."

From inside, Jay let out a sigh, still watching through the curtain. "Why do I feel like this is already a disaster and they haven't even walked through the door yet?"

Gloria appeared beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's going to be fine, Jay. They're your family. And besides… How bad could it be?

Outside, Luke emerged from the backseat, a juice box in hand, and casually asked, "Hey, does anyone else feel like we're about to meet a boss level in a video game?"

Phil clapped his hands together. "Alright! Time to face our final boss—Grandpa Jay!"

The group started walking towards the front door, their chatter overlapping and chaotic as they approached the Pritchett family home.

The Dunphys and Pritchett-Tuckers stepped into Jay's house, their chatter fading as their eyes locked onto the scene in front of them.

Jay stood in the living room, his hands tucked into his pockets, wearing a stiff but somewhat proud expression. Beside him stood a gorgeous woman with cascading dark hair and an effortless confidence.

"Uh… hi, everyone," Jay said, clearing his throat. "Glad you could all make it."

The unfamiliar woman gave a warm smile, though her grip on her hands betrayed a hint of nervousness.

Claire was the first to break the silence. "Dad… are we interrupting… something?"

"No!" Jay said quickly, his voice a little too loud. "No, uh… everyone, this is Gloria." He gestured towards her, and she stepped forward slightly, her smile widening. "Gloria, this is… well, everyone."

Gloria gave a polite wave. "Hola, everyone! It's so nice to finally meet Jay's family. He talks about all of you all the time."

Phil stepped forward eagerly, his signature charm in full force. "Hi, Gloria! I'm Phil, Jay's favorite son-in-law, realtor extraordinaire, and… hugger!" He extended his arms wide.

Gloria chuckled, accepting the hug politely. "It's nice to meet you, Phil."

"Wow, Dad," Claire said, her eyebrows raised. "You didn't tell us you had… company."

Mitchell leaned toward Cam and whispered, "Why do I feel like we just walked into the first act of a telenovela?"

Cam nodded solemnly. "Mitchell, I'm getting major telenovela energy here."

Jay shared a nervous grin with Gloria. "Well, you remember when I told you I was seeing someone…"

Everyone nodded in unison, eyes locked on him.

"Well, that someone is Gloria. And we've been dating for a few months now."

The room went silent for a beat. Claire's eyebrows shot up as she processed the information. "Wow." She huffed out a breath, her voice teetering between disbelief and mild amusement. "First of all, Gloria—lovely to meet you. You seem… very nice."

"Thank you!" Gloria said warmly, though her smile carried a flicker of nervousness.

Claire continued, her hands gesturing vaguely at Gloria. "Second, Dad… when you said you were seeing someone, I pictured someone like… like… well, not her!"

Phil jumped in, smiling brightly in an attempt to ease the tension. "What Claire means is… Dad, congratulations! Gloria seems fantastic. And clearly, she has great taste." He shot finger guns at Jay before turning to Gloria. "In men. Great taste in men."

Cam gave an exaggerated sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness, Phil clarified. I thought he was talking about curtains or something."

Mitchell pinched the bridge of his nose. "Cam, please."

Gloria chuckled lightly, her natural charm beginning to settle everyone's nerves. "It's okay, Claire. I understand—it's a surprise. Jay told me how important this introduction was. And honestly, meeting all of you… well, it's just as important to me."

Claire turned to Mitchell, her voice lowering slightly. "Mitchell, you're being awfully quiet over there. Usually, you're the first one to jump in with some judgmental quip."

Mitchell raised a hand defensively. "Oh, don't worry, Claire, I'm fully judging—internally. I'm just trying to process this… dynamic." He gestured vaguely between Jay and Gloria. "It's like… like someone re-cast our father in a completely different genre."

Claire smirked. "Right? It's like if Dad walked out of a Home Depot commercial and into a telenovela."

Mitchell nodded. "Exactly! And suddenly, there's a very attractive leading lady, and honestly, I'm not sure if we're supposed to root for him or assume he's the villain."

Claire stifled a laugh, covering her mouth. "Okay, okay, we're being mean. We need to stop."

Mitchell sighed and straightened his posture. "You're right. Dad looks happy, Gloria seems… lovely, and honestly, if this is what makes him happy, who are we to say anything?"

Cam patted Mitchell on the back. "Look at you, Mitchell. Growth. I'm so proud."

Mitchell rolled his eyes. "Don't make this weird, Cam."

Gloria chuckled lightly, her natural charm beginning to settle everyone's nerves. "It's okay, Claire. I understand—it's a surprise. Jay told me how important this introduction was. And honestly, meeting all of you… well, it's just as important to me."

Gloria chuckled lightly, her natural charm beginning to settle everyone's nerves. "It's okay, Claire. I understand—it's a surprise. Jay told me how important this introduction was. And honestly, meeting all of you… well, it's just as important to me."

Hearing Gloria, everyone's heart collectively melted. Even Claire's shoulders relaxed, and Mitchell gave a small approving nod. The atmosphere was finally settling into something that resembled normal.

And then Jay, in true Jay fashion, cleared his throat and said—

"And she's got two kids."

The room froze.

Claire's smile went rigid. "I'm sorry, what now?"

Gloria adjusted her dress, calling upstairs, "Manny! Vincente! They're here!"

Phil blinked rapidly, his smile faltering. "Two… like one kid, and then another one?"

Cam gasped dramatically, clutching Mitchell's arm. "Mitchell, plot twist! Plot twist!"

Mitchell swatted Cam's hand away. "Cam, not now!" He turned to Jay. "Dad, are you just… dropping information grenades now? Was that not something we could've eased into? Like, 'Hey, this is Gloria. Isn't she great? By the way, kids exist!'"

Luke's eyes lit up. "Wait, does this mean we have new cousins? Are they cool? Are they dangerous? Please say dangerous."

Alex rolled her eyes. "Luke, they're not characters from a video game. They're children."

They all turned towards the stairs, two kids were coming down.

Manny, dressed in a pressed polo shirt and khakis, and Vincente, wearing a sharp little blazer, descended the stairs side by side.

Manny stepped forward cautiously, clutching his shirt. "Hello, everyone. I'm Manny Delgado. I enjoy poetry, fine dining, and long walks on the beach."

Claire stared at Manny, then at Jay, then back at Manny. "Dad, did you… adopt a forty-year-old man in a child's body?"

Before anyone could respond, Vincente stepped into view, hands casually tucked into his pockets, his small blazer sharp and pristine. He tilted his head slightly, his smirk borderline mischievous. "Hola. I'm Vincente. Eight years old. Future mogul. Pleasure to meet you all."

Phil gasped. "Oh no, he's confident. I wasn't prepared for confident."

Cam clutched his chest. "Mitchell, is this what charisma looks like in child form? I'm overwhelmed."

Mitchell muttered under his breath. "We are so outnumbered."

Gloria, watching her boys stand their ground, smiled proudly. "See? They're good boys. Very polite, very smart."

Claire, still processing, pointed weakly between Manny and Vincente. "Okay… okay… two kids. Got it. Just one question: Are they always… like this?"

Manny gave a polite nod. "Always, Mrs. Claire. It's a lifestyle, not a phase."

Jay sighed, rubbing his temple. "Claire, just grab a brownie and sit down before you pull a muscle trying to figure this out. You will get to know them more."

Phil clapped his hands together, his smile returning. "You heard the man! Brownies, people. Let's go!"

As everyone shuffled toward the living room, Luke sidled up to Vincente. "So… you ever blown anything up?"

Vincente smirked. "Not yet. But stick around."

Alex, overhearing, muttered, "Great. Another Luke."

Gloria gave Jay's arm a gentle squeeze, her warm smile making everything feel just a little more at ease. And despite the chaos, Jay couldn't help but smile back.

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Sorry there was not more dialogues, I'm still trying to see how one character will respond.

I'm trying to capture their personalities, if you have any suggestions to improve then state them.

Thank you for reading!!!