Jack crouched behind the hedges, his hood pulled tightly over his head as he stared at the Dunphy house. His breaths were slow and controlled, a habit ingrained from countless missions where silence and stillness had meant survival. His body pressed against the bushes, blending into the shadows as if he were part of them. Every movement was calculated—no unnecessary shifts, no sound to give away his position.
He had followed Alex after school, convinced that there was more to her than met the eye. Turner's outburst earlier had rattled him, and the way the teacher's demeanor had changed when Alex was mentioned? That wasn't normal.
Inside, through the living room window, Jack spotted Phil and Luke sitting on the floor, surrounded by action figures and plastic playsets. They seemed completely absorbed in their game, oblivious to the world outside.
"Okay, here comes Homelander!" Phil's voice was high-pitched and dramatic as he waved an action figure in the air. "The greatest superhero of all time!"
Luke groaned, grabbing a Tek Knight figurine. "Dad, no one likes Homelander! He's the worst! Tek Knight could totally take him down."
"Pfft, Tek Knight doesn't even fly! How's he supposed to defeat Homelander?" Phil said, pretending to make Homelander swoop in for an attack.
"He doesn't need to fly! He's rich and cool," Luke shot back, making exaggerated punching sounds as he bashed the figures together.
Phil gasped, clutching Homelander protectively. "Rich? Cool? That's just code for boring!"
"You're boring," Luke retorted with a grin.
Alex walked into the room, a book in hand, and rolled her eyes at the scene in front of her. "Seriously? This is what you two are doing with your free time?"
Phil looked up with a sheepish grin. "It's called bonding, Alex. You should try it sometime."
"Yeah, maybe bond with that Jack kid you keep talking about," Luke added, smirking.
"Jack Johnson?" Phil's expression shifted to one of mild curiosity. "Wait, you told me the kid who got into that fight with the other kid What was his name Miley? _That_ Jack?"
Alex sighed, sitting on the armrest of the couch. "It's Riley and yes, Dad, _that_ Jack. And no, he's not bad. He's just... complicated."
Phil tilted his head, his dad instincts kicking in. "Complicated? What's that supposed to mean? Is he nice to you? If he's not, you tell me, Alex. I'll talk to him—or, I don't know, call his parents?"
Claire entered the room carrying a basket of laundry, her expression sharp. "What's this about Jack Johnson?"
Alex groaned. "Nothing, Mom. Dad's just being nosy."
Phil explained the story to Claire;
Claire set the basket down, crossing her arms. "I don't want you hanging around that kid, Alex. He's trouble. Fighting other students? Bullying people? That's not the kind of person you should associate with."
"Mom, he's not—"
Claire cut her off. "Alex, I'm serious. If I hear one more word about Jack Johnson, you're grounded. I mean it."
Phil, ever the peacemaker, raised his hands. "Okay, okay, let's not overreact. Maybe Jack's just misunderstood. You know, like that kid who used to sit alone in art class in high school? What was his name? Oh, right—Phil Dunphy."
Claire shot him a look. "Phil, not the time."
"Just saying, Claire" Phil mumbled, turning back to the toys on the floor.
Alex, exasperated, stood up. "You guys are unbelievable." She stormed upstairs, leaving her parents to argue softly in the background.
Outside, Jack watched the entire exchange, a cold knot forming in his stomach. It looked like a typical family interaction, but his paranoia wouldn't let him see it that way. Something about the way they spoke, the timing of it all—it didn't sit right with him.
_They're watching me. They have to be. Why did they start talking about me_
Unbeknownst to Jack, inside the Dunphy home, Cam and Mitch were sitting on the couch, sipping iced tea and chatting with Phil and Claire. They had swung by unannounced, intending to drop off a casserole, but ended up staying to soak in the warmth of the Dunphy chaos.
Commentary Cam and Mitch:
"I have to admit," Mitch said, "watching Phil crouch on the floor, imitating action figure battle cries with Luke, it's kind of… sweet."
"Sweet? Mitch, it's downright heartwarming!" Cam clutched Mitch's arm, his eyes brimming with emotion. "Look at them. That's what a family is supposed to look like—Luke's silly grin, Alex's eye-rolling sarcasm, and even Haley upstairs probably ignoring everyone but still being part of it. It's so... _full of love._"
Claire, standing nearby with her hands on her hips, scoffed. "Love? It's mostly Phil being a man-child and me trying to keep this place from falling apart."
"Exactly!" Cam said with a dramatic flourish. "That balance! The chaos and the care. It's beautiful. Don't you think so, Mitchell?"
Mitch nodded, a rare soft smile playing on his face. "Yeah, I do. It's… inspiring, actually." He glanced at Cam, their eyes meeting in silent understanding.
Cam squeezed Mitch's hand. "Maybe it's time we take the next step. Seeing this... it makes me feel like we're ready. For a family. For... a child."
Mitch's lips twitched into a wider smile as he leaned into Cam. "You're right. Let's talk about it when we get home."
Commentary Ends-
Just then, Alex passed by on her way upstairs, muttering something about how loud everyone was. Phil, oblivious, gave her a cheerful wave, and Luke tackled his dad with a burst of laughter.
Cam sighed happily. "If that doesn't make you want to be a parent, I don't know what will."
Outside, Jack crouched low by the side of the house. It wasn't long before their easy laughter and genuine interactions began to chip away at his suspicion.
Watching them reminded him of something he couldn't quite name—a longing for something he had never fully experienced.
As Cam and Mitch shared a meaningful glance, and Phil continued to clown around with Luke, Jack felt a pang of guilt twist in his chest. What was he doing sneaking into someone's home like this? What was he even looking for? They weren't plotting against him—they were just living their lives.
Jack tightened his grip, then exhaled sharply, forcing himself to let it go. He turned and slipped away from the window as quietly as he had entered, making his way down the darkened street.
As Jack rounded the corner, his head still buzzing with conflicted thoughts, he nearly bumped into Jay Pritchett, who was walking in.
Jay narrowed his eyes at Jack, taking in his hooded sweatshirt and disheveled appearance. "Hold on a second. Who the hell are you?"
Jack froze, unsure of how to respond.
Jay's expression turned gruff. "Wait a minute... You're not sneaking out of Haley's room, are you? Because if you are—"
"No, sir!" Jack blurted, holding his hands up defensively. "I don't even know Haley"
Jay let out a cackle. "Oh! is that right, You look suspicious, kid. Why don't we have a chat inside the house"
Jack took a step back, shaking his head. "I was just… passing by. I swear."
Jay raised an eyebrow but eventually shrugged. "Fine. But if I catch you around here again doing something....."
"Yes, sir. Got it." Jack nodded quickly and walked away, his heart racing.
As Jay watched him disappear into the night. Jay chuckled and said, "Kids these days… always up to something."