Modern Family

Chapter Four : The Morning After

Chapter Four : The Morning After

Tookie woke up on the cool tile floor of her bathroom, disoriented and groggy. The faint light streaming through the window indicated it was morning, but the chaos of the night before felt like a blur.

As she blinked away the remnants of sleep, she noticed Phil staring at her with a mix of concern and something deeper.

"You're pregnant, aren't you?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with urgency.

"What? No," Tookie replied, the words tumbling out too quickly, betraying the truth she was trying to hide.

Phil's brow furrowed. "You know I found you like this during your last pregnancy. I know this is a weird pregnancy thing for you."

Tookie sighed, feeling the weight of the world settle on her shoulders. "If I say yes, will you keep it a secret?"

"Absolutely not," Phil answered, his tone firm.

"Okay then, no," Tookie said, attempting to maintain her defiance, but her heart raced with the fear of being exposed.

Phil studied her for a moment, a knowing look in his eyes. "I'm guessing you're around three months or so."

Tookie remained silent, trapped between denial and the reality she was trying to avoid. With a gentle but firm grip, Phil lifted her off the floor and carried her into her bedroom, placing her on the bed as if she were a fragile doll.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. They both turned to see Jonathan stepping into the room.

"Hey, you disappeared last night, and Trinity said you weren't feeling good. I made you some tea," Jonathan said, his concern evident.

Phil raised an eyebrow, muttering, "Not another one."

Tookie looked from Phil to Jonathan, confusion knitting her brow. "Thank you, Jon," she said, accepting the steaming mug.

Phil shook his head, retreating into the bathroom to fetch Tookie's makeup removal wipes. "She's staying in bed today," he announced.

"Papa Phil, you can't make me stay in bed," Tookie protested, a hint of her usual fire flaring up.

"Yes, I can," Phil shot back, his authority clear.

Jonathan glanced between them, sensing the undercurrents of tension. "Are you sick?" he asked Tookie, concern flooding his features.

"She's more than sick," Phil interjected, his eyes darting to Tookie, who looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"What's wrong?" Jonathan pressed, his brow furrowed in worry.

"She's p—" Phil began, but Tookie interrupted. "I'm exhausted. I must have overworked myself this week," she said, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Phil rolled his eyes but proceeded to wipe her makeup off with a bit more force than necessary. Tookie squirmed, kicking her legs in playful protest.

Jonathan chuckled. "Let me do it," he said, stepping in.

"I can't escape y'all, can I?" Phil grumbled, moving away as he muttered about how he was giving away all his girls to one family.

As Jonathan gently wiped Tookie's face, Phil pulled out his phone, snapping a quick picture of the scene before sending it to their group chat that included April, Roland, Reeva, Kayla, and Tookie herself.

"This isn't what I think it is, right?" he typed, feeling a mix of apprehension and annoyance as the replies began to flood in.

"Hold on, I'm coming right now," Roland responded almost immediately.