Ethan wasn't sure when exactly the Pritchett living room had transformed into what felt like a bustling family fair, but now that it had, there was no going back.
Claire and Mitchell were mid-debate over how long to roast a turkey, even though no turkey was involved in the evening's dinner. Gloria was holding up two nearly identical sets of earrings, asking for fashion input as if she didn't already know the answer. Phil was… somewhere. The man had been chasing Manny's remote-controlled helicopter since dessert.
And Ethan?
He was sitting on the couch, a plate of flan balanced on his knees, half-listening to Jay explain the history of the living room rug.
"This was imported from Turkey," Jay said, patting the ornate pattern like it was a treasured heirloom. "Handwoven. You can tell by the knots. See that? No machine could do that."
Ethan nodded, trying to feign interest, but his attention kept drifting to the soft background noise—Manny explaining a poem he'd written to a very patient Haley, Cam humming while helping Gloria in the kitchen, and Luke trying to stick grapes into the ceiling fan to see if they'd fly.
Jay sipped his scotch, then glanced at Ethan. "You're the quiet one, huh?"
Ethan gave a small smile. "I guess."
"You're like a ninja," Jay said. "Just sitting there, soaking it all in. That's not a bad thing."
Ethan wasn't sure if that was a compliment, but he nodded politely. "I like watching people."
Jay leaned back, thoughtful. "Reminds me of Mitchell when he was younger. Always reading a room before saying anything. Except you don't seem quite as... anxious."
"Thanks?" Ethan said, unsure.
Jay chuckled. "It's a compliment. You seem solid. Your dad's a goofball. Love the guy, but he talks like he's in an infomercial. You're... more grounded."
Ethan looked down at his plate, a quiet warmth spreading in his chest. Jay wasn't one to toss compliments lightly. He might not have called Ethan "kiddo" or tousled his hair like Phil, but he was paying attention. That mattered.
"Do you ever get tired?" Ethan asked him. "Of all this noise?"
Jay took a long breath. "Sometimes. But when you get older, you realize that the noise is the good stuff. It means they're here. You learn to enjoy it—even when it gives you a headache."
Just then, Claire poked her head into the room.
"There you are!" she said to Ethan. "Alex is looking for you."
"I'm right here," came Alex's voice from the hallway. She had a spiral notebook under one arm and an expression that screamed frustrated genius. "I need your opinion on this joke. It's for the school newsletter. You're good with words."
Ethan set down his plate and followed her into the hallway.
"What's the joke?"
"It's a pun," she warned. "I know, I know. Lowbrow. But they want something 'accessible.' Here: 'I asked the librarian if the library had any books on paranoia. She whispered, "They're right behind you."' Thoughts?"
Ethan gave it a moment. "It's solid. Classic setup, smart punchline. Definitely your style."
Alex looked pleased. "That's what I thought. Luke said it was 'creepy and nerdy.'"
"That's basically your brand," Ethan said dryly.
Alex smirked. "Exactly."
They walked a few steps down the hall, away from the bustle. Ethan noticed she'd slowed her pace a little.
"You doing okay?" she asked suddenly.
Ethan blinked. "With...?"
"The talent show. The attention. Everything." She looked uncharacteristically hesitant. "I know being the quiet one in this family can be exhausting."
He paused. Then, in a voice softer than usual, he said, "It's weird. I like order, schedules... control. But lately, I've been trying to... loosen that grip."
Alex nodded, serious. "It's brave. Putting yourself out there, even if it's just for a few minutes. I admire that."
Ethan gave her a look. "Coming from you, that means something."
She nudged him lightly. "Don't make a thing of it."
"Too late."
They returned to the living room to find Cam setting up a photo op. He had declared it "Dunphy-Pritchett Family Memory Night" and was herding people like a flamboyant sheepdog.
"Everyone! Group photo! Let's gather in family subgroups and then do a wide shot. Claire, stop hiding behind the ficus. Jay, smile like you're not holding in a sneeze. And Gloria—darling, perfection as always."
Gloria beamed. "Oh, Cam. You always know how to make a lady feel like a queen."
"Queen Gloria," Cam said dramatically. "Ruled by the power of hoop earrings and eternal elegance."
Gloria gave Ethan a wink as he walked by. "You have a beautiful voice, mi amor. I can't wait to hear you sing on stage."
"You haven't even heard me sing yet," he replied, a bit shyly.
"I don't need to," Gloria said. "I can see it in your face. You sing from here." She placed a hand over her heart.
Just then, Luke ran through the room with a dish towel tied around his neck.
"Behold!" he cried. "The Great Lukini escapes the confines of responsibility!"
He dove under the dining table. Cam turned to Ethan and whispered, "At least he's using his powers for good tonight."
After the photos—some blurry, some shockingly decent—everyone drifted back to their own corners of conversation. Claire sat beside Ethan with a warm smile, a cup of decaf in hand.
"Your cousins are a lot, huh?" she said.
Ethan exhaled. "It's like watching live theater. With snacks."
Claire laughed. "Well, just know you're the calm in the middle of this storm. That's a gift."
Ethan glanced around the room. Gloria was teaching Luke how to sway his hips. Haley was showing Cam how to take a 'casual but effortless' selfie. Jay was dozing with his feet up. Phil was trying to teach Manny how to moonwalk on the kitchen tile.
In the chaos, Ethan saw something else: balance. Even in the noise, there was a rhythm. Each of them moved to their own beat, but somehow, the melody still worked.
He thought of the song he'd written—Pompeii. How it had started as a reflection on destruction and rebuilding, but now… maybe it was more. Maybe it was about these moments, where the world felt messy but real.
He picked up his phone and jotted a lyric into his notes app:
"Some nights fall into rhythm, not because they're quiet, but because they're loud in all the right ways."
Claire peeked at his screen and smiled. "New lyrics?"
"Maybe," Ethan said.
She put an arm around him. "It's going to be a great show."
He looked up at her, at the swirl of family around them, and smiled.
"Yeah," he said. "It really might be."