Meet The Fairmonts

by A.T. Gunn

When a new family moves into the neighborhood they hit it off with the Louds. However, things may never be the same in the Loud House again.

1. Chapter 1: Moving In

Meet The Fairmonts

by A.T. Gunn

Chapter One

Moving In

It is a bright, warm early summer's day in the community of Royal Woods, Michigan. With summer vacation being out for about a week there are already youngsters milling about the streets and well manicured lawns. At 1216 Franklin Avenue we come upon the unassuming abode of the Loud family. An aptly named family when one realizes that within the walls of this home resides a family of thirteen. Yeah things can get pretty loud around this residence.

It is on this morning that the Loud's middle child, Lincoln notices something going on across the street and a few doors down. A large moving van reversing onto the driveway of a house that has stood empty for a number of years. Throwing open the door to his room he runs smack into the line that forms everyday in front of the bathroom.

"Hey," he says, "Someone is moving to the old Benson house."

"Really?" Luan says with a yawn as her right hand scratches her butt.

"Ugh! Luan, don't be gross!" Lincoln says.

His sister simply shrugs at his comment and yawns again. "Do you know why I scratch like that?" Lincoln simply stares at her. "Because I'm the only one who knows where it itches." Lincoln groans along with the rest of his assembled siblings.

"But really, you should see the size of the moving van. It's freakin' huge!" Lincoln throws his arms open wide to emphasize his words."

Lori, the eldest, gives him an exasperated roll of her eyes. "Lincoln, if you've seen one moving van, you've literally seen them all."

"Oh, you think so?" Her brother says with a bit of a smirk. "Well, it's parked in the driveway and it still almost reaches across the street."

Lori's eyes widen at this and "Oh." is her only comment.

"Hey," Lana says, "Maybe we should check out the new neighbors out later on today."

"I don't know." Her twin, Lola comments. "What if they're...you know...icky?"

"Sheesh, Lola I'm not saying that we have to hang around. I'm just saying we do the neighborly thing."

"She does have a point there, little dudette." Luna interjects. "We are the neighborhood's largest welcome wagon, after all."

"Fine. Fine." the little blonde concedes, "We'll go and say hello to the icky neighbors later."

Lincoln puts his hands on his hips and looks down at his younger sibling. "You're all heart, Lola."

Lori suddenly turns to the bathroom door and pounds on it. "Leni! Move your butt!"

So after a hearty breakfast and getting permission from their parents, the Loud children make their way over to the new neighbor's house. The first thing that they realize is that the moving van has no company logo or even a phone number. As a matter of fact the vehicle is just painted a sort of satin black. Lincoln also notices the banks of LED lights.

"Hmmm," the youngster says to himself, "must be for visibility at night."

Leni turns to him, "Did you say something, Linky?"

"Oh, I was just figuring about all the light." He points them out to his sister. "They must be so the truck can be easily spotted at night. Otherwise this thing would be like a hole in the dark."

"Yeah," Lynn puts in. "I mean, if Darth Vader had a truck...this would be it."

As they get closer they notice a smallish blonde female taking stuff form the van to the house. She is very slight of build with a unruly shock of hair. She wears a pair of well worn jeans and a pink baby tee that exposes a slim and tight mid drift. Lynn realizes that the shirt has some pink sequin writing on it.

Lynn being the consummate tomboy laughs. "Bet it says something like "Princess" or something just as sappy.

"Uhhhh, I don't think so." Lori says. "Look!"

Lynn takes a second look and the smile drops from her face. The baby tee reads, 'Daddy's Little Monster'. "Wow, gotta admit I didn't see that coming.

It's a that moment that the girl in the tee shirt notices the approaching Louds. She places her load down on the grass and walks toward the approaching group.

"Greetings." she says. "As my dad might say. What can I do ya for?"

Lynn shoves Lincoln forward. Her not too subtle way of electing him as spokesperson for the group. The tee shirted girl gives the cutest little giggle upon noticing the tomboy's move on her brother.

Lincoln extends his hand. "Hello, my name is Lincoln Loud and these are my sisters. We've come to welcome you to the neighborhood."

"So you're the welcome wagon, eh?" As the girl takes his hand and shakes it, Lincoln is struck by two things. One, is the fact that she's only about as tall as he is. Two, are her eyes. He's never seen anyone with amber colored eyes before. "My name is Rebecca. Pleased to meet you and your...sisters. Holy jumping Hanna there's a lot of you."

She causally steps over to girls and looks them all over. "Sorry for staring." she finally says but I've got a little game I like to play when meeting a new family. Now let's see if I can pull it off."

"What are you planning on doing?" asks Luna.

"Oh, I'm going to see if I can guess your order of birth. In descending order, that is." She locks eyes with Lori. "Oh, you're too easy. You're the oldest."

Lori looks at Rebecca. "Oh, that's just a lucky guess."

Rebecca shakes her head. "No ma'am. Luck doesn't even enter into it..."

The blonde takes a moment to realize why Rebecca has paused. "Oh, sorry. My name's Lori."

"Lori? Lovely name. But as I said luck had nothing to do with it. It's the way that you stand. Your very stance reeks of authority. You're the big lady in charge. Am I right?"

"Well." Lori responds a little sheepishly.

"Now sunshine, you're next on the birthday train." Rebecca says to Leni.

"Wow, you're good." The second eldest Loud sibling says.

"And you're the sunshiny heart of this family." says the little blonde.

Lincoln smiles and says, "That's our Leni, alright."

Rebecca returns her gaze to the group. "Hello, number three and your name is?"

"Luna," the rocker responds.

"Ahh, named for Earth's traveling companion." Rebecca says with a smile. "Let's see, we have the authoritative one, the sunshine and you're obviously the rocker in the family. You strike me as the easy going type. However, still waters indeed run deep. You've got a heart so large that your body can barely contain it."

"I'll vouch for that." Lincoln pipes in.

Rebecca turns to the white haired boy and then with a raised eyebrow looks back to Luna. "Hmmm, do I detect a bit of a...special relationship here?"

"Totes." Leni says, "These two have had a special bond since pretty much the day Linky was born."

Rebecca again turns to Lincoln and her amber eyes practically sparkle as she says, "Linky? Oh, I like that. I hope that we get to know one another well enough so I can call you that, as well." At that Lincoln can only blush. Again, their new neighbor turns her attention to the group. Her grin turns into a full blown smile. "Number four, c'mon down!"

"Luan Loud, at your service." Rebecca can barely contain a chuckle as she looks over Luan as she pumps her arm in a hearty handshake. She is taller than her by at least a head and seems to be made up of not much more than arms and legs. She then looks to the ventriloquist's dummy the young girl is carrying. "And who might you be?"

"My name is Mr. Coconuts, toots." the dummy answers.

Rebecca looks Mr. Coconuts right in the eye, "I asked because I once dated a guy from New Jersey that dressed a lot like you." The little blonde then gives a little shudder which solicits a sidelong look from the dummy as it slowly turns its head toward the blonde. Luan, however, is surprised to see Rebecca doing the same slow turn with the same lidded eyes. Then as their gazes meet they both give the same surprised expression. This causes both girls to melt into peels of laughter.

"Oh great, there's two of them now." Lori says shaking her head and face palming.

Luan wipes away a tear from her eye. "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

Rebecca replies in the worst Bogart impression ever. "Here's looking at you kid."

From behind the pink tee wearing blonde, "That one should get old Humphrey turning in his grave." As Rebecca turns the Louds notice a young man moving toward them. He is ever so slightly taller than Rebecca and his physique is thin but wiry. The older Loud girls get a good look due to the fact that he is sans a shirt.

Rebecca rolls her eyes, "Will you please put a shirt on. You know that your skin and the sun don't get along all that well." Turns back to the Louds. "I swear ever since he started working out with my dad he thinks he's Mr. Universe or something." The girls notice that he was indeed pretty pale making the fact of his extremely dark hair or the more striking. On his eyes are a pair of very dark, very custom looking shades.

The young man dabs the perspiration from his face and torso with a kerchief. "You're supposed to be helping unpack the van but instead I find you out here goofing off."

With a tiny gasp and a look of shock on her face, Rebecca turns with her hands on her hips. "I'll have you know that I am not goofing off. I am getting to know some of our new neighbors." She playfully punches the young man in the chest.

Leni giggles and then asks, "Is he your brother?"

Rebecca laughs and jerks a thumb in her companion's direction. "My brother? This lump? Oh, heaven forbid! No, this is my husband, Drake Temeson."

The Louds suddenly look as if they'd be collectively smacked in the back of the head with a 2x4. "Your husband?!" Lori shouts. "Just how old are you?"

"Me?" Rebecca says pointing at herself. "I'm 21 years old. Soon to be 22."

"B-But..." Lincoln stammers.

Rebecca sighs. "Yes, I know. I have a growth issue. I haven't grown in height since I was..." Turns to her husband. "...17?"

Cocks his head to one side, "Hmmm, actually I think it's more like since you were 16. That's when we first met, remember?"

Rebecca's face scrunches up, "Really? I haven't grown since I was 16? Then again, you haven't gotten much taller since I've known you." Turns back to the Louds. "Just goes to show that we were truly meant for each other. We're both vertically challenged." She looks down at her chest and shrugs. "Well, at least my boobs got a bit bigger." The group shares a good laugh at her statement.

Lynn bounces forward. "C'mon, which one of us is next on the birthday train?"

"Why you are, of course." Rebecca replies with a smile. "You're all about sports. To you sports is not a thing to be followed but a religion to be practiced."

"Oh, c'mon, how can you figure that just by looking at me?" Lynn says folding her arms over her chest.

"Your battle scars. You display them proudly like badges of honor." The little blonde says pointing out the many visible scrapes, bruises and slight lacerations. "So either you're the clumsiest girl on the planet or you participate in a shed load of sports."

"You are good." Lynn says giving Rebecca a crooked smile.

"Well, it doesn't hurt that one tomboy can normally pick up on another one" Drake says with a chuckle.

Lynn's eyes brighten. "You used to be a tomboy?"

Rebecca goes to answer but finds herself cut off by her husband. "What used to be? She still is, at heart."

"Sheesh! You break one guy's hand in high school and you're labeled for life."

A broad smile races across Lynn's features. "You broke a guy's hand?"

"Listen I gave him every chance to remove his hand from my person. He didn't, so I broke it." Looks at the Loud females. "What can I say? I don't liked to be pawed." The girls give a cheer and gather around her patting her on the back and shoulders. Leni goes as far as to hug her.

Lincoln turns to Drake, "I think you've just lost your wife to my sisters."

Drake nods in agreement. "And you've just picked up another sister."

Rebecca finally is able to disengage from the Lincoln's siblings. "Wooo! Leni is a lot stronger than she looks." She places her hands on the back of her hips and bends backward. "I think she bent my spine a little."

"Sorry about that." Lincoln says, "Leni can get a little...overenthusiastic with her hugging."

Rebecca smiles and gives Lincoln a dismissive wave. "So'kay. I've survived worse."

"Okay, whose next?" the twins says in unison.

Rebecca waves her hand. "That totes easy. It's this guy." She says as she places a small hand on Lincoln's shoulder. "Middle child. The lynch pin of the family. Being the only male sibling makes you special to these ladies. You are both big brother and little brother. I'm sure it can't be easy all the time." She gives him a smile and a little wink.

Drake gives the boy a nudge. "Don't let her incriminate you kid. The wolves are listening."

Lincoln looks at his sisters and Rebecca can pretty much see the love he has for them in his eyes. "No need to say anything my good fellow. I read your face." She now looks over the remainder of the girls. "To be honest it gets easier from here on. Hello, little miss darkness."

"Hello. My name is Lucy."

"Well, Lucy I'm willing to bet that you have the prettiest eyes hidden behind those bangs." The little blonde says as she takes a knee in front of the little goth Loud. "Not easy being the...different one, is it?"

"No, it is not." Lucy answers in a whisper.

Rebecca puts her hands on the youngster's shoulders. "Well if you ever need to talk with someone who knows about being different. You know where I live."

"Thank you, Rebecca." Lucy says as she gives her new found friend a quick hug.

Lola pipes up, "You'll never guess which one of us is the older twin."

Rebecca places her right arm on top of her abdomen. She then rests it's partner's elbow atop it and rest her chin in the palm of her hand and taps the end of her nose with her pinkie. "Well, it certainly isn't you, princess."

Lola's mouth falls open. "Whaaaaat?"

"In the six years I've observed my family's own twins I've noticed that the younger twin tends to try to usurp the perceived power of the elder by being more demanding or, as you just did, talk over the elder." She then smiles prettily at the younger twin.

Luna laughs, "She shot you down, Lola. Hey, Rebecca do your twins fight all the time like Lola and Lana?"

"They didn't at first and that was because Lance was extremely introverted. However, as grew older he began asserting himself more where his twin sister is concerned." She turns and calls toward the house. "Lance. Nightfall. Can you two step out here for a moment, please?" After a few moments. "No, not right now." Is the reply in a high pitched female voice. "C'mon, Nightie. I asked nicely and everything." The reply comes almost immediately. "Well, that was nice of you to do so but..."

Then it comes. A voice so loud and booming that seems that very house itself has found a voice. "Get your butts out there and see what your sister wants. NOW!"

Drake pumps his fist, "Damn, I wish I could do that."

"W-What the heck was that, a b-bear?" Luan stammers.

Drake shakes his head. "Oh, it's nothing as pleasant as that. That was the voice from on high."

"That was my dad." Rebecca says. "And his no nonsense voice. Ahh, there's the twins now."

Stepping out of the house the twins make their way to the group on the lawn. They are both six years old and about the size of Lola & Lana. They are both fair skinned but where Lance's hair is as white as Lincoln's, Nightfall's is as black as Lucy's. Though hers falls half way down her back.

"Well, why didn't you say that we had company, sis?" Nightfall says with a smile. "Oh, look Lance they have a set of twins, too." She steps over and extends a hand to Lola. "Nightfall Fairmont, pleased to meet you."

Lola shakes the girl's extended hand. "Lola Loud and the pleasure is all mine." Lana pushes her way in and shakes Nightfall's hand. "How're doin'? Name's Lana Loud." Lola rolls her eyes. "Yeah, little miss fix it of the upstate area." Nightfall laughs, "Like working with your hands, huh? Well, I've no problem with that."

Lola's face falls. "Oh, no. Say it isn't so."

Nightfall shrugs. "Sorry, but like my big sis here, I'm a bit of a princess and a tomboy."

Rebecca quickly looks around. "Where did Lance get off to? I swear that boy is real spook." Lori taps her on the shoulder, "Look over there." Rebecca looks in the direction indicated and a smile breaks across her face. "Well, I'll be dipped."

Everyone watches as the quietest members of both families introduce themselves. "Hi, my name is Lucy." With a slightest of smiles the littlest of the Fairmonts responds, "Please to meet you Lucy. My name is Lance. It's short for Lancelot. You know, like the knight." Lucy's lips curl into a tiny smile. "Wicked. I like your hair." The boy self-consciously plays with the bang that covers his left eye. "Thanks. I like yours too."

"That is literally the cutest thing I've ever seen." Lori says.

Drake moves over to stand next to the eldest Loud. "Lance hardly ever speaks with anyone so readily."

"No kidding. Rebecca adds. "This is downright forward of him...and I think I like it."

Leni leans in between Lori and Drake, "OMG! They are totes adorbs."

From behind Leni a silky smooth female voice is heard. "Who is it that is, as you said, totes adorbs?"

Leni turns as she answers. "Like, my sister Lucy and the little Fairmont boy. Oh, my."

Lori looks a her sister and then at the person she's addressing. "Oh, my."

Rebecca turns. "Oh, hi mom."

"Hello, sweetheart. Why didn't you let me know that we had neighbors visiting?" she says looking out over the assembled group. "My name is Alicia Fairmont and I'm the grand old lady of the family." She looks at Leni and smiles. "Oh, a fellow sunglasses fashionista, I see." She lifts the brim of her sunhat, slips her shades to end of her nose and peers over top of them giving Leni a little wink.

The teenagers eyes go wide and a smile spreads across her face. "Oh...my...Gosh! You have bunny eyes!"

To this the 6'4" female erupts into a fit of laughter. "Bunny eyes! Well, I've found my favorite." Alicia says as she hugs Leni to her. The big female does indeed have 'bunny eyes'. Her pale skin, her long luxurious shock of white hair and the eyes tie it all together. Alicia Fairmont, mother of four is indeed a full fledged albino.

Meanwhile Nightfall and Lana are moving off from the group. "Hey mom, Lana and I are going around back to check out The Beast." Alicia gives a little wave. "Okay, but try not to get underfoot back there."

"The Beast?" Lori asks looking more than just a little concerned.

"You needn't worry, dear. The Beast is just the nickname for our family transport." The Fairmont matriarch reassures the teenager. Her attention is then drawn to her shirtless son-in-law. "Drake, dearest, would you mind putting a shirt on or do you want me to jump your bones right here in front of the neighbors?"

Drake suddenly has a bit of a coughing spell. He then clears his throat, "I'll...uh...be right back."

Rebecca watches her husband beat a hasty retreat to the house. She then turns to her mother, "Muh-THER, you really have to stop doing that to him. You know acting like that gets him all flustered and what not."

Alicia gives her daughter a rather girlish giggle. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, I just can't help myself sometimes. I mean he's always been small of stature but now that he's been working out with your father he's buffed up somewhat."

"I'll say." Lori blurts out almost unconsciously."

Rebecca turns to her with a totally shocked expression. "Am I going to have trouble with you concerning my husband, Lori?"

"W-Well, I...you...uh see." The eldest Loud sibling stammers and finally sighs, "I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that. It just popped out on its own."

"That's okay, Lori gal, cause in a few years I'm going to dump that lump of a husband and steal this fine specimen away from you." Rebecca pulls Lincoln to her side. "I mean, look at this cutie." The little blonde takes the young boy's arm and leans into him. "Whaddaya say, big guy. Ever considered a fling with an older woman?" The only male Loud sibling turns beet red and begins to sweat. "Oh, he's just so sweet. I'm going to dip him in my coffee."

Drake returns wearing a black Monster Energy Drink shirt just in time to hear his wife's comments about her plans for Lincoln. "So I step away for a minute and when I come back I find that you have designs on my wife, Mr. Loud."

"No, sir! I-I haven't any d-designs whatsoever!" The flustered youngster replies.

With a laugh and slap on the back, Drake relieves the youngster of his anxiety. "No probs, Lincoln. I'm just jerking your chain."

"I can't believe that Lance has been talking with Lucy all this time." Rebecca says. "I mean, it usually takes him two or three days to warm up to people."

"It's pretty much the same with Lucy, as well." Lori says. "Maybe each feels the other has something in common. Anyway, it's good to see."

"So, Lori, is there any more of you at home or is this it?" asks Alicia.

"Just two. Our sister Lisa said she had something going on and had to stay home to monitor it. Then there's Lily, she's one year old and stayed with mom and dad."

"I can't wait to meet them and your parents. Meeting you and your sibling has been a real experience."

Drake chuckles, "Welp, that's that. The Loud siblings now has themselves two mothers."

Rebecca nods in agreement. "Oh yeah, that's for sure." Turns to Lori and Leni (the latter finding herself still in Alicia's embrace) You see when you're young and she likes you she tends to get a little...motherly. But not in a bad way. See how she's latched onto Leni? That's it, Leni. You and I are sisters now."

"I just adore her honest reaction to my eyes." Alicia gives the teen another little squeeze. "There was no trying to hide her feelings. She was just simply...overjoyed. We are going to be great friends, aren't we Leni?"

"If you say so, ma'am." Leni answers.

The tall albino's face takes on a rather shocked expression. "Ma'am? Oh, Leni that makes me sound so old. You have my permission to call me by my first name. Alicia. After all, we're going to be fashion buddies, right?"

"Right you are, Alicia!" Leni responds with a wide smile. "Like, the local mall won't know what hit it when we're through!"

Meanwhile, Lana and Nightfall have made their way around to the back of the house where they come across a small group of vehicles.

"Your family sure has a lot of cars, Nightfall." Lana says as she looks the collection over. "All we have is Vanzilla."

"Vanzilla?" The little raven haired girl questions. "That's a strange nickname for the family car."

"Well, I think that it came off the line somewhere in the middle of the last century and it's a real monster to keep running." Lana says as she looks over a red Corvette convertible with a creamy white interior. "Wow, this is really nice."

"Oh, that's my mom's car." Nightfall says as she laughs. "Dad says that she's got the whole midlife crisis thing all backward. He says that he's the one that should be buying the sports cars in the family." She steps over to a big, black Cadillac Escalade. "This is, as my dad calls it, the Family Truckster."

Lana looks into the vehicle's interior, "Hey, this baby's been modified to seat an extra three passengers bringing it's capabilities from seven to ten passengers." She feels along the exterior with her tiny hand. "Wow, whoever did the work really knew what they were doing. I can't see or feel a seam anywhere. It's as smooth as Lily's butt."

"Hmmm, sounds like someone really knows her onions."

Lana freezes in her tracks at the sound of the disembodied voice. It is the same that they'd heard earlier but without the edge of annoyance it held then. The little Loud sister makes her way further along the back of the house. Past the little gold colored Miata that Rebecca uses for tooling around town and heavily modified Hummer H3. Finally she comes across the biggest vehicle in the collection. It is a full out six wheeled military monster. "Lana Loud, meet...The Beast." Nightfall says with a bit of a flourish." Lana stares and a whispered, "Wow" escapes her lips. "Yeah, the old girl kinda takes your breath away, doesn't she?" Lana continues to stare open mouthed. "Yeah, but not as much as he does."

The youngster watches while the patriarch of the Fairmont family works on the engine of the of the huge vehicle. She watches as he secures a part using a torque wrench that's longer than she is. He's wearing a wife beater t-shirt so she can see muscles that look like bridge cables flex under the skin of his shoulders and arms. Once he is satisfied as to the installation of the new part he turns to the six year old. "Well, you're a might younger than I figured for someone so knowledgeable about custom auto work." The big man wipes his hands on a rather dirty looking towel and extends a hand toward her that could easily envelop her entire head. "Name's Alexander Fairmont and who might you be?"

Lana continues to stare only now it's the scars on the left side of the big man's face. He quickly picks up on this and with a smile says, "Got this mug from being on the wrong side of a very cranky claymore mine. I'm lucky it didn't take my fool head off. Claymores can be temperamental like that." His statement causes Lana to chuckle and then laugh. "There, that's better." The little blonde extends her tiny hand and his engulfs hers and the ice is officially broken. "My name is Lana Loud, sir." Alex looks down at Lana with a pleasant smile. "Sir? Well, I must say that it's refreshing to hear someone so young with good manners." Looking to his daughter and then beyond. "Hey, Munchkin, where's your brother?"

"Oh, him?" Nightfall replies with a wicked little grin. "He's busy talking with...a girl."

"Really?" Her father says with a shocked look. "Do me a favor and check the sky for pigs."

"It's the truth. Impossible as it may sound. He actually walked off with Lana's sister Lucy. Hey, need any help with The Beast?"

"As a matter of fact, Munchkin, I do."

"Give me a minute to duck inside and put on my overalls." With that Nightfall leaves her new found friend with her father.

Alex turns back to The Beast with a shake of his head. "Well, I'll be damned. Will wonders never cease? Lance actually speaking with someone he just met...and a girl no less."

"Excuse me, sir." Lana says taking a few steps closer. "But what's the big deal about your son talking with my sister?"

The big man turns back with a chuckle. "You see, Lance is painfully introverted and normally gives someone he's just met a polite hello and not much more."

"Oh," Lana says, "He sounds a whole lot like my sister, Lucy. We call her Spooky. She tends to keep to herself most of the time."

"Hmmm, maybe that's it." He says looking around. "Now where did I put that blasted...? Oh, there you are." Reaches down a picks up a box. "You know, that whole kindred spirit thing. You sister wouldn't happen to be a budding goth, would she?"

"Oh, she most certainly would. That's why we call her Spooky. Oh, a new starter motor, huh?"

Alex smiles, "I was right. Someone really does know her onions. Say, you wouldn't happen to know about replacing on of these things, would you?"

"Are you kidding? Old Vanzilla chews up starter motors like nobody's business. My dad's shown me plenty of times how to change one out."

"Well, hallelujah with a whoop and a holler! Do you mind getting a little dirty? I'll make it worth your while."

"Heck, I'd get dirty for nothing!" Lana says with a big grin. "Just show me where the tools are ."

"They're right there up against that wall. You'll be needing a 1.25" socket and don't forget your eye protection, little one."

Lana picks out the prescribed socket and attaches it to a small electric impact wrench. She gives the trigger a couple squeezes and with a grin lies down on a nearby creeper and rolls under the massive vehicle. "Wow you really are a big one, aren't ya girl?"

"That she is, Lana but the starter motor is kinda hard for a big lug like me to get to." Alex starts to unbolt the intake manifold from the top of the engine. "I'm pretty sure you know that I just can't take this thing to the local mechanic and put up on the lift."

"Hey, guys! I'm back!" announces Nightfall as she return in a set of black overalls with "Monster In Training" embroidered on the front.

"Good timing Munchkin. You can give Lana a hand changing out the starter motor."

"Yes, sir!" The youngest of the Fairmont clan makes for the front of the vehicle when she hears her friend exclaim, "Dang it!" This stops her in her tracks. "Problem, Lana?"

"Just the usual. Four bolts hold it in place and wouldn't you know it's the fourth one doesn't want to budge."

"Say no more. Penetrating lube and a ratchet wrench. What size?"

"One and a quarter inch."

"Gotcha!" The little girl effortlessly leaps the fifteen or so feet to the tool cabinet. As soon as she lands she feels her father's eyes on her. She sheepishly turns to see him shaking his head. She mouths, "Sorry." and retrieves the items she needs and walks them back to her friend. "Here you go, Lana." She looks back to her father to see that the disapproving scowl has been replaced by a smile.

"Thanks, Nightfall." Lana says as she sprays a healthy amount of penetrating lube on the offending fastener. "I guess we've no choice but to wait for the lube to do its job."

"Oh, I don't know about that, Lana. Let me have a crack at that sucker." Nightfall says while crawling under the massive vehicle. She slaps the ratchet on the bolt and gives two pulls before it comes loose.

"Whoa! My dad always said that you had to wait."

Nightfall simply shrugs, "It was probable just some surface rust on the threads and it melted away as soon as the lube hit it."

"Whatever," Lana shrugs. "let's get this bad boy changed out."

Working together the elder twin of the Loud family and the younger twin of the Fairmont clan finish their task in short order. Upon inspection, Alex commends them for making sure that the teeth of the starter motor meshes properly with the teeth of the flywheel. "Very good ladies. I've known professional mechanics that screw up with that little detail. A job very well done." He turn and the sight of the two miniature mechanics spattered with engine grime and oil causes him to chuckle. He then reaches into his back pocket and takes out his wallet and from there he takes two fifty dollar bills. Handing one to each girl he says, "Cheap at twice the price."

Lana's eyes go wide, "Geee thanks, Mr. F."

"Thanks daddy." Nightfall squeals as she jumps up and down.

"You're very welcome. Now, Munchkin take Lana inside so she can..."

"Lana are you back here?"

"Yeah, Lori!"

The eldest of the Loud children comes around the corner. "I think we've taken up enough of the Fairmonts' time. We'd best be heading ho...Oh my!"

"Greetings, Ms. Loud. Welcome to Casa Fairmont. Lori, is it? My but the females in this family just keep getting prettier and prettier.

The seventeen year old just stands in place and utters a rather goofy laugh.

"Hello! Earth to Lori!" Lana shouts. That snaps the young woman out of her seizure-like moment. "Oh, sorry. Uh, we'd best...Wait a minute. How did you get so dirty?"

"I'm sorry but I take full responsibility for that." He takes a few steps to close the gap between Lori and himself. "She's a fine little mechanic and she was helping me work on this old heap of mine." He extends a hand. "Name's Alexander Fairmont, Ms. Loud." Lori offers her hand but instead of shaking it he takes it in his massive right hand, holds it for a couple of seconds and then places his left hand atop it. Looks into the blonde's eyes and daintily bends over and plants a small kiss on the back of her hand. Once again her eyes unfocus and she emits that goofy laugh. Lana walks over and swats her sister on the arm. "SNAP OUT OF IT, WOMAN!" Once again the teenager's eyes focus and she shyly looks down at the ground between her and the towering patriarch of the Fairmont clan.

Well, as I was saying before the lovely Ms. Lori showed up. Munchkin, take Lana inside so she can clean up a little. I certainly don't want to send her back looking too filthy. That would be a black eye against me with her parents."

The youngest Fairmont takes her friend by the hand and leads her into the back door of the house.

"It really wouldn't be a black eye against you, Mr. Fairmont." Lori says with a rather timid voice, "She's always coming back home with dirt or mud all over her."

Alex chuckles, a sound that seems to rumble up from his barrel chest and comes spilling out of his throat. "A real tomboy, eh?"

"Very much so." Lori responds with a pretty smile.

"I should go and see you guys off." Alex says with a grin. "I mean it's the least I can do considering I put your little sister to work."

As Lori returns to the group out on the lawn all Loud eyes are drawn to the mountain of bone, muscle and skin that walks behind her. He indeed casts a rather long and deep shadow. Standing at all of seven feet tall while looking as wide as the front end of a Peterbilt tractor-trailer and tipping the scales at 330lbs.

Leni notices that Luna's jaw has gone completely slack. So she turns to see what her sister is looking at. "O..M..G." she says. Alicia turns and matter of factly comments, "Oh, that's just my husband, Alexander." Twitch spins around happily, "Hey, papa bear! Finally finished fussing around with that old rust bucket?"

"For the time being, princess." he answers. "Oh, for the love of...Alicia, let the poor girl go."

His wife looks at him with a mock pout. "No! She's my favorite and we're going to be great friends. She said that I have bunny eyes!"

With a smile plastered on his face, Alex looks at the teenager in question. "Really...bunny eyes?" Leni looks up into big man's green eyes. "Well, she does, doesn't she?" The big man chuckles, "That she does but you're the first one to point it out."

Pulling the teenager to her in a one arm hug, Alicia says, "Most adults tend to skirt the issue of my eyes. They act as though they hadn't even noticed them."

Leni puts her index finger to her chin and looks up into the albino's bunny eyes. "Isn't that like kinda...I don't know...stupid?"

"Yes. Yes it is, my dear." Alicia replies with a smile. "So, Leni, what say I let you show me around the local mall tomorrow?"

"O...M...Gosh! We can like make a day of it." The teen responds gleefully clapping her hands.

"Well, it is now official." Rebecca says shaking her head. "You guys have lost a sister."

"Or, like you said earlier, we've gained a second mother." Luna says.

"That might be a good thing when one considers how big your family is. I mean, your folks can probably use all the help they can get." Drake jokingly says.

Alex nudges his daughter. "Where the heck is your brother?"

"Not to worry Mr. Fairmont. He and Lucy are just sitting together on our porch." Luna says as she points in the direction of the Loud residence. "It looks like they've taken a liking to one another."

Rebecca arches an eyebrow, "No offense meant but you sister looks somewhat...emo."

Lincoln laughs, "Really? What was your first clue? Lucy has been like this almost her whole life."

"Well, that explains it." the Fairmont matriarch says. "About a year ago my little Lance starting taking interest in all things dark. He went as far as to request he be allowed to dye his hair black. I threw the brakes on that idea. I, however, did allowed him to get his hair styled the way he wanted."

"Oh, I think that his little half bang is like totes cute." Leni says. "Alicia, I noticed that his and Nightfall's eyes are like...crystalline blue but their complexions are nearly as fair as yours." Alicia smiles at her new found friend. "And you're wondering why they don't have eyes like mine." The teenager simply nods in response. "That's due to their father's genetic contribution. Nightfall and Lance just missed being true albinos like me. Their eye color is what mine would be if not for my albinism."

Suddenly the air is shattered by an ear piercing whistle. Rebecca turns to her father and snaps, "DAD...I've asked you time and time again to warn us before you do that!"

The big man looks around rather sheepishly, "Oh yeah. Sorry about that everyone. My bad."

About thirty yards away young Lancelot Fairmont suddenly stands and looks in the direction of the whistle. He then looks back to new friend. "It would seem that I have to go now. I really enjoyed our little talk Lucy"

"As did I Lance." Lucy replies with the hint of a smile. "You're pretty cool for a little kid."

The six year old blushes and absentmindedly plays with his half bang. "Well, I think you're pretty cool, too. I would really like to hear more about your Great Grandma Harriet. She sounds like a really cool lady."

"Oh, she is." Lucy replies and flashes true smile at her young friend. The youngster returns her smile while blushing even deeper. "Well, I"ll be seeing you, Lucy Loud." With that the young lad turns and walks away. Lucy watches his retreating form. "Sigh. He has an old soul." The little goth girl stands up, brushes off her black dress, turns and enters her home.