Disclaimer: I do not own Modern Family and have no association with anyone involved in the show. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
****
"Finally, I thought they'd never leave." Haley sighed as she watched their parent's car disappear around the corner.
"That's gratitude for you." Alex quipped, turning around and heading into her new apartment.
"Hey, I didn't say I wasn't grateful." Haley complained, "It's just that-"
Alex cut her off by pulling her into the apartment and into a passionate kiss, and then smiled at her when she broke it, "I know what you mean. I was just teasing you, it's what we do."
"That..." Haley nodded, and then grinned, "And doing it."
Pretending to be offended Alex opened her mouth and pulled a face, then pulled back so she could punch Haley in the arm. Which of course caused Haley to giggle, although she rubbed her arm which made Alex feel a little guilty.
Then she wordlessly walked into the centre of the room and looked around. Naturally it wasn't very big, especially considering part of it was a kitchen and the only other two rooms in the whole place were bedrooms, one of which they would never use, but could never get rid of in case their family found out the true nature of their relationship.
But it was still bigger than their first love nest, the childhood bedroom they had shared growing up, and Alex loved it.
Of course Haley had to ruin the moment by wrapping her arms around her from behind and beginning to kiss her neck, causing Alex to sigh and scold her sister, "Haley, cut it out."
"What?" Haley frowned, stopping immediately, "Why?"
"It's our first time alone together in a place of our own. Can't we just savour the moment?" Alex asked.
"That's what I'm trying to do." Haley argued, "I mean, what better way to celebrate than with sex?"
"I don't know, how about cuddling? Or talking?" Alex argued back.
There was a brief pause, then Haley stepped forward and tried to take Alex into her arms, Alex only letting her after she said, "I'm sorry, you're right. I want this relationship to be about more than sex. I really do. But God Alex, you look so good. And our family stuck around for so freaking long."
Alex smiled, "You would rather set up everything without them?"
"God no! But the entire time I thought about fucking you. Which is totally your fault, because as much as you try you just can't hide those big boobs and fat ass. Especially not from me." Haley whined, before sighing, "But I appreciate the lessons in control, I want to be a good girlfriend for you. So, what do you want to talk about?"
"Actually, I just want to sit on our couch, in our apartment, and cuddle. Is that okay?" Alex asked softly.
"Yeah, it's okay." Haley said softly, leaning in to peck Alex's lips and then smiling, "Anything for you baby."
*
The next hour or so was actually quite nice as Alex got to rest her head against Haley's chest with her sister's arm around her, the two of them just snuggling together and enjoying the moment like any other couple would.
Then Haley suggested they watch some TV, which Alex had been fine with it first, but then Haley used it as a distraction to try and feel her up, and that increasingly annoyed Alex.
Of course the entire time she really wanted to give in, but she was determined to have a proper romantic evening with her girlfriend, so she shot Haley down every time, and eventually made her cook their dinner as punishment.
Not that it was that much of a punishment, as Haley had become shockingly good at it over the past year. Their parents were even trying to push her into pursuing it as a career.
Little did they know that Haley was doing it to become Alex's perfect little housewife, something she liked to tell Alex teasingly whenever the younger sibling brought up the subject. The idea had always delighted Alex, especially now she got to watch her in their little kitchen from the comfort of their couch.
Although throughout that preparation and the eventual meal there was growing tension between them, one that had maybe started before even they were left alone together, and eventually things reached a breaking point.
"Can we have sex now?" Haley asked when Alex finally finished eating.
Alex consider just saying yes, but asked, "Can I have desert first?"
"How about I have you for desert?" Haley offered flirtatiously.
"Really? You're so desperate you'd use a line like that?" Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Yes." Haley whined, "I mean come on Alex, wasn't the whole point of moving in together was so that we could have sex any time we want?"
"No, the point of moving in together was so we could move forward with our relationship." Alex snapped, becoming angry, "You know, the one you claim to care about, but clearly don't."
"Oh please, you don't even believe that." Haley shot back.
"Don't I?" Alex huffed.
"I... I don't know." Haley sighed, "I know I don't act like it sometimes, but I thought I proved this relationship really is more than just sex to me."
There was a brief pause and then Alex sighed, "You have."
"Then what's the problem?" Haley asked, then after a pause pushed, "Is it really so bad that we're still all over each other? Because I'm pretty sure still wanting to have sex is a good thing for a long-term couple, not a bad thing."
There was another pause, and then Alex asked, "So you think about it then?"
"Think about what?" Haley frowned.
"The long-term?" Alex asked softly.
"Not really." Haley shrugged, "But I never have."
"Why not?" Alex pushed.
"Because I didn't think I'd have one." Haley admitted, and then when Alex gave her a look almost laughed, "Come on sis, is it really so surprising? You literally got all the brains in the family, to the point I'm surprised that Luke isn't retarded, meaning that while the sky was always the limit for you the rest of us had to be content with living in the moment. Especially as I never thought I'd actually have a chance with the one person I truly wanted. Then, when we actually got together... it was so amazing that I wanted to savour every minute of it, and not waste my time dreaming about a future that would probably never happen."
There was yet another pause and then Haley asked, "Why wouldn't it happen?"
Again there was another pause, longer than any other, and then Haley admitted, "Because it was always too good to be true, let alone last."
"Oh Haley-" Alex began.
"You were always better than me Alex." Haley continued, "Always smarter, always nicer, always just... better. And so good. You were always so good Alex. To good for me. And when I didn't think you could get any better you turned into a literal goddess who could have anyone she wanted, including her own sister. How was I supposed to believe you'd settle for me for even a moment, let alone for the long term?"
Taking Haley's face in her hands Alex looked directly into her sister's eyes and swore, "Because you're the only one I've ever really wanted. I promise you that. And we can have everything."
"How?" Haley asked softly.
There was a brief pause, the briefest so far, and then Alex said softly, "Just so you know, this isn't a proposal, or something we have to do any time soon. It's just something I've been working on. Okay?"
"Okay." Haley nodded.
"Okay." Alex repeated, taking a deep breath before explaining, "If, if one of us legally changed their second name here, or better yet in another state, then we could get married in Las Vegas. There has to be someplace where they don't do background checks, and even though we probably wouldn't be able to have anyone else we know there we would be legally married. No one could know, but we'd know, and that's all that would really matter. Then after a few years of living together and not finding 'the one' we could adopt, or could even get pregnant. I am thinking you, but we can discuss it at the time. The point is we tell our family we want to be single parents, but when we actually get it we freak out and insist the other starts acting as the other's wife. Our family would totally think it's weird, but I think we can convince them to play along if it's for the good of a child. Then we'll move to a new place, introduce ourselves to our neighbours as a married couple, and just... be together. And who knows, by the time Mom and Dad are really old maybe everyone will forget we're really sisters. I bet Luke will, especially if we start acting like a couple around everybody for the sake of our children. Because yeah, I want more than one, and... and this is too much for you isn't it?"