Modern Seduction

Author's note: I am committing a great sin with this story, a shameful act that reflects poorly on me as an erotica author.

I have written fanfiction. Please forgive me.

The request comes from FarWind5604. While I typically have zero interest in writing stories with other people's characters, I took this request as a personal challenge. It aligns with my desire to write at least one story for each of Literotica's categories (fanfiction, check!), but I also wanted to see if I could write fanfic that meets the same quality standard as my other stories. I'll let you be the ultimate judge, but I'm surprisingly pleased with the result.

For those unfamiliar, the long-running sitcomModern Familyis the source for this story. Watching the show isn't necessary to understand what's going on, but it does provide extra context for those who might want it. Of note, this story diverges from the show's timeline around season 9. Be forewarned, there may be continuity errors despite my best efforts.

Special thanks to HannahBaird for loaning me an easter-egg from one of her stories. Also, an extra apology to everyone involved with the making ofModern Family. I am deeply sorry for taking your wholesome family sitcom and turning it into something reprehensible.

And the usual disclaimers: all characters are fictional, similarities to real-world people/events are purely coincidental, everyone involved is of legal consenting age, etc.

***

Claire closed her bedroom door, locking it behind her. She'd neglected the lock once before, and it had come back to bite her: her kids had barged in unexpectedly, catching Phil and her in the act. The kids' intent was pure: bringing breakfast-in-bed, but the results were traumatizing for everyone. It was not a moment Claire ever wanted to relive.

"Wow. You look even better than the day we met," Phil whistled appreciatively at Claire's half-naked form.

"Probably because I'm not behind the wheel of a car that just hit you," Claire teased back, recalling their first encounter. For all her husband's faults, his utter dedication to her had never (really) been in doubt.

"Mmmm," Phil hummed as Claire climbed onto the bed with him, his eyes tracing over her body. "I don't know about that. The idea of you coming at me with the force of a multi-ton machine? It's kind of hot..."

"Stop it," Claire laughed, leaning in towards Phil, their faces almost touching...

Claire's phone began to vibrate loudly on her nightstand. She sighed internally; while motherhood had been full of unwelcome interruptions like this one, they never got easier.

Phil sensed her irritation. "It's okay. You can answer it."

"No. Whoever's calling can wait fifteen minutes."

"Fifteen minutes? I didn't know you were expecting a marathon," Phil grinned.

Claire didn't reply, just planted her lips against Phil... while doing her best to ignore the incessant buzzing from behind her.

The two of them exchanged a single slow passionate kiss; as they pulled away, Claire's phone mercifully fell silent.

"Okay, that's much better," Claire said.

As if in response, the phone began buzzing again.

Claire felt her frustration begin to boil over.

"At least see who it is. Maybe it's important?" Phil offered soothingly.

With a groan, Claire flipped herself over, reaching for her troublesome device.

"Oh. It's Manny."

Manny was Claire's step-brother. Technically-speaking, at least. Despite being siblings, Manny was three decades Claire's junior, a quirk of Claire's dad remarrying a woman younger than Claire herself. Claire had been very uncertain about Manny at first, but the kid had always been shockingly mature for his age... an old soul in the fullest sense. After he had inadvertently played therapist for her during one of their early conversations, Claire found her natural dislike for her unwanted sibling melting away. When Manny later insisted on calling her 'sister' ("step implies not real"), Claire accepted it wholeheartedly.

But that kid had grown up--he was a college student now.

Claire answered the phone.

"Manny?"

"Hey, Claire! I apologize for calling so late, is this a bad time?"

Claire's gaze flickered to her half-naked husband making sexy-eyes at her.

"No, no not at all. What's going on, Manny? Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, everything's great! Well, kind of. I was actually calling for a favor."

"Uh, sure. What do you need?"

"Well... this is really embarrassing, but here goes. I pledged Lambda Delta Beta at the start of the semester..."

"Wait, you joined afrat?!" Claire broke in. The thought of old-soul Manny participating in rowdy Greek life was completely out of character for him.

"I did. But LDB isn't a normal fraternity. They're focused on art and learning. They're even named after Leonardo da Vinci! And before you ask, there's no 'V' in Greek, so beta is the closest letter."

"Hey, give me some credit, I went to college too. I know the Greek alphabet." Claire reminded him.

"I'm sure you do," Manny agreed breezily. "Anyway, to get them to accept my pledge, I mayyy have mentioned that I've got this amazing girlfriend who's super sophisticated. If I wanted to be seen as the artsy brother, wise beyond his years, I had to commit to the part, you know? But then they wanted more details... pictures, messages, things like that. I thought I pulled it off, but now for initiation night, they want to see my girlfriend in-person. They're hinting that if she doesn't show, I'll be seen as a liar and won't get initiated!"

Claire shook her head. "Well then, Manny, maybe you shouldn't have lied."

"I know, I know. I just really wanted a door opened into the art world. Some of the alumni brothers are doing big things right now. I couldn't miss out!"

"I still think you should just be honest. Fess up. Explain why you lied. I'm sure they'll be understanding," Claire said, swatting playfully at Phil who had begun tickling her calves.

"Sorry, Claire, that's just not an option. I really need this."

"What do you need exactly, Manny? Please tell me this isn't about Haley again. You haven't been passing her off as your girlfriend, have you?" Claire asked, groaning inwardly as she remembered Manny's awkward crush on her eldest daughter.

"No..." Manny hesitated briefly. "The woman I've been passing off as my girlfriend is, well, you."

Claire was stunned. Manny joining a frat had been surprising enough. But him passing Claire off as his girlfriend to his college buddies? That was pure insanity.

Manny, sensing Claire's shock, quickly continued. "I know how it sounds. I know it's messed up for a million different reasons. But you're mature. You're experienced. You're a real woman I know, not just a made-up fake from the internet. And it worked. The guys were very impressed with you. And with me, for pulling you."

"Manny, I... I don't know what to say," Claire finally replied, doing her best to process what Manny had revealed.

"I know it's a lot," Manny agreed. "And I'm sorry to have involved you. But I really need this. Come to Initiation with me. Pretend to be my girlfriend for one night. And then you can fuss at me all you want. I'll do anything. Please, Claire?"

"Manny... I can't go to your frat initiation! Especially not as your girlfriend!" Claire replied. "And you're right, it is messed up that you'd even ask. But because I love you, I'll forget this conversation ever happened. Now, go to bed. Get some sleep."

Manny sighed defeatedly. "Okay. Sorry to have bothered you. Good night, Claire."

"Good night," Claire echoed, setting her phone back on the nightstand.

Phil stared at Claire's distraught state and grinned. "Wow. What was that about?"

"You're never gonna believe this," Claire said, then recounted her conversation.

"Oh, honey, you probably crushed his spirit. You didn't even consider his request!"

Claire wasn't sure what she expected Phil's reaction to be, but it wasn't this.

"Of course, I didn't! Why would I?"

"Because he's family? And as family, we help each other out when someone needs it," Phil shrugged.

"Not like this, we don't!" Claire replied. "How are you not bothered by this? Manny is trying to pass your wife off as his girlfriend."

"Oh, it's not that serious. Manny's just trying to play it cool for his college buddies. You remember what that was like, right?"

Phil took Claire's hands into his own, cradling them reassuringly.

Claire allowed herself to be mollified. "Yeah, yeah, I guess I do. I still think it's messed up, but I guess I understand."

"Besides," Phil continued. "It's kind of a compliment. Being shown off as the hot older girlfriend to a bunch of college kids? Proves that you've still got it."

To punctuate his point, he brought Claire's hands to his mouth, kissing them sensually.

"Well, I guess when you put it like that..." Claire said, the familiar warmth returning to her lower belly...

"Besides, it might have been kind of fun to hear about you terrorizing a bunch of college boys on their initiation night..."

"Stop it," Claire admonished, before pulling Phil into a deep kiss.

Their lovemaking that night proved that Claire indeed still had it.

***

Manny sighed as he put his phone away. He'd hoped Claire would have gone along with his request from the get-go, but he wasn't naïve. He knew it was a long shot. She was much older than him, she was his sister, she'd been happily married for longer than he'd been alive... Not to mention Claire was objectively very attractive and Manny, well...

Manny had grown up believing that showing confidence counted for a lot--a lesson imparted early by his mom--but all the confidence in the world wouldn't change his appearance. He wasn't ugly, exactly, but his weight did him no favors. It seemed that most of the blessing his body had received went to a place he couldn't show off among polite company. Not that Manny was complaining; being secure in his... masculinity... did a lot to reassure his fluctuating self-esteem. But still... it wasn't the same as being conventionally attractive.

Ironically, Claire had been one of the few women not related by blood to have seen his physical blessing. A late-night run-in involving an open robe had given Claire an eyeful of Manny's equipment. Her mortification aside, it had been a formative moment for Manny... the first step in his evolving views of his much-older 'sister'.

Then, the following year, Manny had caught a glimpse of Claire's naked body in a texted photo (thanks to Phil's bumbling). She was too far in the background--and his glance too quick--to allow for any real appreciation, but it was enough of a tease to set Manny's curiosity ablaze.

Manny found it extremely ironic he'd been so interested in Haley, when Claire had been right there the whole time; a sexier, more mature version of his crush. And once his fantasies about Claire started, they didn't stop. By the time Manny turned eighteen, his desire had become unbearable. Claire-as-fantasy was no longer enough.

He needed the real thing.

But how? The odds were stacked against him in every conceivable way.

But Manny was not a quitter. He planned... then eventually, he acted. The phone call was the first step.

Since Claire had shot down his invite, though, that meant it was time for his next move.

Manny would reach out to his mom the next day.

***

"Claire! How are you?" Gloria's cheerful voice lilted through the phone. Her distinct Colombian accent was a long-familiar sound to Claire's ears.

"I'm good! What's going on with you?" Claire replied, doing her best to match Gloria's energy.

"Having a lovely time enjoying the house while Jay is out running errands. Listen, I don't want to waste your time," Gloria said, her voice becoming serious, "I heard Manny asked you for a favor last night and you told him no."

Claire groaned inwardly. "Yes. Yes, he did. And yes, I did. But did Manny tell you what he asked?"

"Of course! He said he wanted you to be his date for his fraternity initiation... and you turned him down cold."

The disappointment in Gloria's voice was clear.

But Claire wouldn't be guilted. "No. No. He didn't just want me to be his date. He wanted me to pretend to be his girlfriend! In front of his college friends!"

"Same difference!" Gloria replied, poopooing Claire's protestation. "The point is, he needs you, Claire, and you're letting him down. So what it's in front of his friends? So what if you have to do a little acting for the night. It's harmless! They're kids!"

"Technically, they're adults," Claire pointed out, but Gloria had moved on.

"Listen, Claire, I love you so so much. And it breaks my heart that you don't do this for my little Manny. Just one little favor for one night. It would mean so much to him. And to me."

Despite her reluctance, Claire felt her resolve giving way in the face of Gloria's pleading.

"Okay, okay. I'll think it over some more. But I can't agree to anything unless Phil's okay with it too."

"Of course not! Ask Phil. I bet he'll agree with me that you should go. And when you do, you'll be my favorite one of Jay's daughters forever and ever."

"I'm Dad's only daughter," Claire pointed out.

"Exactly. So, I hope you agree and you tell me all about your fun night afterward!"

Gloria then ended the call, leaving Claire wondering what the hell had just happened.

***

"It's up to you, honey, but Gloria's right. It would mean the world to Manny. Besides, it might be fun," Phil shrugged.

Despite her better instincts, Claire had followed Gloria's suggestion and reapproached Manny's request with Phil, sure that his earlier support had been made jokingly.

But Phil hadn't been joking. He really did support Claire accepting Manny's invitation.

"What part of spending a night at a frat initiation with a bunch of college boys, pretending that Manny is my boyfriend, sounds like fun?"

"I dunno," Phil said. "How many people our age get invited to college parties? And how many women get invited to a fraternity initiation at all? It's kind of an honor, really. Plus, you'd get to spend a night reliving the good ol' days. You remember the fun we had, right?"

Phil shot Claire a knowing smile, then winked.

Despite herself, Claire found herself smiling back. "Yeah, but that was fun because we were still young and reckless. I'm not either of those things anymore."

"You could be. For one night, at least," Phil pointed out. "And I think it might be good for you to blow off some steam. You've definitely earned it."

Claire sighed. She still didn't love the idea, but she found herself becoming worn down. "There's no way this works like Manny expects it to. I know he's trying to pass me off as the sophisticated older woman, but I'm not just a little older... I'm practically a grandma compared to him. I'm gonna ruin the atmosphere for sure. No college boys are gonna want me at their party, or initiation, or whatever it is."

"If Manny says they want you there, I'm sure they want you there."

Claire started to reply, but Phil cut her off gently. "Look, I'll support you no matter what. But I think you should give it a shot. At least go with Manny; make him and Gloria happy. Then if you don't like it once you're there, just come back. That way you can say you tried."

Claire's last resistance failed. "Okay. Fine. I can try. Not sure how I'm supposed to pull off being the girlfriend of an eighteen-year-old college student, but I guess that's not my problem. I just can't believe you're pushing me to be someone else's date."

"Oh, c'mon, honey, it's Manny we're talking about. The most offensive thing he'll do is read you some bad poetry."

Claire laughed.

Maybe Phil was right. Maybe going with Manny would be fun after all. Maybe it would be a harmless night of bad poetry, bad food, and college kids making fools of themselves.

***

Manny was overjoyed when Claire told him that she had reconsidered. Claire still had her reservations, but hearing Manny's excitement over the phone was enough to reassure her that she'd done the right thing.

There were still details to be ironed out, of course, but Claire had committed. Her 'date' with Manny was happening.

She did have one final question, though.

"What am I supposed to wear to this?"

"Something semi-formal. Flattering but classy," Manny answered dramatically. "Do you own a black dress by any chance?"

"Manny, I'm a grown woman who lives for the rare moments she gets to go out. What do you think?"

***

The day of the initiation, Claire found herself growing increasingly nervous. Not about the initiation itself--Claire was quite confident she could handle a bunch of college kids--but because she was afraid that she wouldn't be accepted. It was silly... but Claire found herself wanting to fit in. To prove that she was still cool. To prove that she was still fun. To prove that even approaching fifty, she could mingle with the trendy youth of the day.

Phil had been right. A woman her age being invited to a frat initiation was an honor. And now that Claire had allowed herself to be flattered, she feared that she'd fail to meet the expectations that had been set for her.

What had Manny told everyone about his 'girlfriend'? Who was Claire supposed to be? Would Claire even be capable of playing the part?

Claire channeled these emotions as she got ready for the night, doing her best to embody the role of sophisticated older girlfriend. Shower. Light makeup. The black dress... long enough to be modest but form-fitting enough to be alluring.

Phil, supportive as always, had whistled approvingly as she showed off her look.

"Honey, I promise you, those college boys will be eating out of your hand. You'll fit in just fine."

Claire appreciated the reassurance, but Phil's comment made her uneasy. "You sure you're okay with this? I know Manny's harmless, but his friends might not be. I don't want to put myself in a situation that would make you uncomfortable."

"Don't worry about me, honey. I'm proud of you for doing this. Besides, the thought that college boys might be interested in my wife? It's kind of hot."

Claire rolled her eyes. "Is that Phil talking or is that Clive Bixby talking?"

"Depends. Who do you want it to be... Juliana?" Phil teased, addressing Claire as her adventurous alter-ego.

Shortly after, Claire began the drive to Manny's college. By the time she arrived at his dorm's parking garage, she was a mess of emotions. Excited. Nervous. Annoyed that she'd allowed herself to be talked into this. Proud that she'd stepped outside of her comfort zone.

She texted Manny about her arrival and stepped from the car.

The campus was surprisingly bustling, college kids crisscrossing the sidewalks around her. None of them gave Claire a second glance. While it was reassuring that she didn't stick out like a sore thumb, it was also disheartening that she didn't attract notice either. She remembered her own time in college, where the boys couldn't seem to keep their eyes off her.

She resisted the urge to return to her car and head home... but only barely.

"Claire!" Manny's voice interrupted her.

Claire turned around to find Manny walking towards her. He was dressed in a sharp tie-less suit, quite fashionable but nonetheless jarring, given his young age.

They exchanged a hug.

"Wow, Claire, you look absolutely fantastic," Manny said looking over her appreciatively.

"Thanks," Claire smiled, more pleased by his compliment than she should have been. "And you're looking like quite the handsome young man yourself."

"Thank you, thank you," Manny replied with a slight bow. "I'm so happy you came out tonight. You have no idea how much it means to me."