Lily

Marcus followed Alex and her family into Mitchell and Cam's house, casually glancing around as they entered. He had seen the place briefly in passing, but stepping inside gave him a better feel for the home—stylish, well-kept, and filled with an underlying nervous energy.

"Alright, everyone, let's gather in the living room," Mitchell announced, clapping his hands together. He was clearly anxious, though trying to keep it together.

Marcus found a spot beside Alex as the rest of the family shuffled in. Jay stood near the back, arms crossed in his usual skeptical stance, while Claire hovered near Mitchell, clearly eager but impatient. Phil, naturally, was filming everything.

Cam entered the room, beaming, and cleared his throat dramatically. "Well, we wanted to bring you all here today because we have some very exciting news to share…"

Mitchell inhaled sharply and blurted out, "We've adopted a baby."

A brief silence followed. Marcus glanced around, gauging reactions. Jay's eyebrows shot up. Claire's eyes widened in surprise. Phil looked like he wanted to cry. Haley was trying to process. And Alex, ever the logical one, was nodding as if piecing everything together.

Then, Cam clapped his hands, excitement bubbling over. "And not just any baby! A beautiful baby girl. Everyone… meet Lily!"

He stepped aside, revealing the tiny baby in a car seat.

"Oh my God!" Claire gasped. "She's adorable!"

Phil was already tearing up. "Look at that little face…"

Jay blinked a few times, clearly at a loss for words. "…Huh."

Meanwhile, Marcus stood back, taking in the scene. "That's a big reveal," he muttered to Alex.

"You get used to it," she deadpanned.

Marcus watched as Cam and Mitchell beamed, taking turns fussing over Lily while the family's reactions varied wildly. Claire immediately leaned in, already cooing at the baby. Phil looked like he wanted to hold her but was waiting for permission. Haley and Alex shared a look, probably communicating via sibling telepathy.

And then there was Jay.

Jay, whose expression barely changed, gave a slow nod. "Well… that's a lot to process."

Mitchell's face tensed, but before he could say anything, Marcus, ever the observer, saw Cam's expression shift slightly—like he was ready to step in.

"I'm just saying," Jay continued, hands up, "it's a surprise. But… hey. A granddaughter, huh?"

Cam's defensive posture relaxed as Jay took a step closer to get a better look at Lily. The tension in the room eased, and Marcus could tell the moment was about to settle.

"Alright," Cam said, grinning, "who wants to hold her first?"

That was Marcus' cue to step even further back.

---

As the family took turns fawning over Lily, Marcus stood by, blending into the background as much as possible. He had learned quickly that in this family, staying out of the chaos was an art form.

Alex, standing beside him, sighed. "Well, at least the project excuse is still working."

"For now," Marcus said, popping a lollipop into his mouth. "But let's be real. You know your mom's gonna rope us into something."

Alex groaned. "Don't remind me."

And with that, Marcus prepared himself for whatever insanity came next.