I'm finally back after a five-day hiatus. However, during that period, realizing the adjustments of responsibilities on my personal life, I will have to lower my submissions every week from 5-6 to 3. But still, I will try to give updates for every story.

Plus, I will try to catch up with the newest Loud House episodes and raise my thoughts about them, especially the polarizing one, "Brawl in the Family" as it went in the same route as "One of the Boys".

For now, here is an update of "The Other House".


After a festive dinner with the Larks, Lincoln walks home with a chocolate pie as a take-home treat. Before he leaves, Lena rushes to him to ask him something.

"Lincoln, wait! Hey, I was thinking if we can hangout again tomorrow, by the park?" Lena asks.

"I don't see why not," he responds.

"Great! You'll never believe what I'm going to show you," Lena says, then suddenly hugs Lincoln as a friendly gesture. "Thanks for being there, my friend."

"You too," Lincoln warmheartedly responds.

"Hope you enjoy the cake. I bake it with help from sis," the 11-year-old Lark kids mentions before going back to her own house, "See you tomorrow!"

Stunned by her overly friendly attitude, Lincoln takes delight as he watches Lena go back to her own house. He cannot believe what he had gone through tonight. It was astounding for him.

As he arrives in the Loud house, he sees the house dark. So he switches on the lights, to which he discovers his sisters just standing by and angry, waiting for him to arrive.

"Where have you been, Lincoln?" Lola interrogates her brother.

"Uhmm what's the fuss about?" Lincoln inquires of out of curiosity.

"Oh, what the fuss say, huh?" Luan angrily spouts.

Suddenly, Lynn knocks him to the floor with her foot, as part of confronting him. "What have you been doing so late bro?"

"Okay, if there's anything I missed, I'm sorry, okay?" Lincoln spouts hastily, "I was just with the Larks."

"With the Larks?!" Luna utters in bafflement.

"Why are you literally hanging out with them?" Lori asks him glaringly.

"It was just a blackout. I need to help them," the 11-year-old admits, while being pushed by Lynn to the floor.

"So, if it means befriending our neighbors, should it really mean lending them a hand?" Lynn catechizes.

"Well, they need it at that time. What else could I do?" Lincoln answers while feeling Lynn's foot pushing his face.

"Let him go, Lynn," Lori orders, to which Lynn responds. "Do you even literally know what time it is, Lincoln?"

Lincoln checks out the clock to see it is not that dangerous as it seems. "It's exactly 10. At least I didn't last beyond."

"Better be lucky that I needn't stomp you more to the floor!" Lynn blurts.

"You could got have us worried Lincoln. What if you were kidnapped by robbers?" Leni shares her concern.

"No, Leni. Kidnappers kidnap kids, not robbers," Luna corrects her.

"Oh. So…what if you get robbed by kidnappers?" Leni says, driving Luna to facepalm.

"Look. I'm know I shouldn't have left you guys hanging. I apologize," Lincoln sincerely discloses, "Are we cool now?"

However, his sisters do otherwise, glaring at him and sinking in the feeling of jealousy that Lincoln grows a bond with their more undistinguished new neighbors.

"It takes a protracted time interval for our individual sentiments to be lodged in our collective mindsets. So, it takes time," Lisa comments.

"Whatever she said," Lana agrees.

"Well, whatever. Dishes on the sink," Lori says, as the girls stubbornly return to their rooms.

Lincoln checks out the kitchen and sees towers of dishes just standing by to be washed.

"Lori, but there are a lot. And it's 10!" Lincoln assesses complainingly to Lori.

"Dishes on the sink!" she insists, "That's what you literally get for missing out on us." Then, Lori, along with the other sisters, enter their rooms and slam their doors.

Bummed out, Lincoln drags himself to the kitchen sink and starts cleaning. "Sheesh, what's the problem with them? They know I'm doing chore, so why they have to against me hanging out with them?" he wonders, but quickly shrugs it off. He then dials Lena from his phone as his new nightly routine when washing the dishes.

Starting from that day on, Lincoln officially bonds with the Larks. Every after school, Lincoln either passes by the Lark house or gets fetched by Lena, who takes him to check out her neat stuff or hangout somewhere. She would invite him to join to listen to her mom's and dad's mixtapes, or to dig through their vintage items, or to read under-the-radar books and comics, or to lie down by their grassy yard, or to jam through rock songs, or to obsess over talking about random stuff (from politics to toothpaste preference). Just what a young hipster would tend to do.

They both encounter a problem from one or more of the Lark sisters, and Lincoln helps resolve it through application of the lessons he learned from his sisters. And the Larks cheer him for his effort. Lincoln gets home late and goes through dishes duty. And another day continues this , Lincoln has a fair share of moments with the Larks. And to the tune of "And She Was" by Talking Heads, an 80's rock classic that Lincoln got hooked on (thanks to Lena's recommendation), among them are:

Lyra looking for a perfect vest to wear, and Lincoln giving her a jacket that he sew.

Loui trying to open a metal cookie jar, and Lincoln offering her help, only to accidentally splatter the cookie to her face.

Lani attempting to trap a snipe, only for Lincoln to have his hand trap on it.

Lincoln and Lena getting Lulu to smile again after she gets upset of her lunch.

Lacy lecturing Lincoln and Leah about the importance of volunteerism as a core intelligence.

Lois taking Lincoln, Lena and Lexi for shopping.

Lexi setting up a booby trap for delivery personnel to step on, only for Lincoln and Lena to get trapped themselves.

Lois teaching Lincoln some basic dance moves.

Leah and Lani taking a shot at baking with Lincoln, only for their creations to fail.

Loui, Lena and Lincoln listening to the latest songs from Smooch.

Lacy and Lara trying to fix the drainage pipes with Lincoln, only for them to get splashed.

Lyra giving Lara a makeover, with the assistance of Lincoln.

Lulu appreciating Bun-Bun as Lincoln shows her his favorite plush toy.

Leah painting a portrait of Lincoln.

Lani getting taught by Lincoln how to fly a kite, with Lena, Loui and Lyra witnessing this feat.

The Larks on a road trip with Lincoln to Niagara Falls.

Lincoln, Lena, Loui, Lani and Lara cosplaying for a convention.

Lincoln lending a help to Lyra and Lacy, for Leah to participate in a school play.

Lincoln, along with Lois and Lulu, assisting Lexi to ride a bike.

And Lincoln joining them in their "best picnic ever".

Those are definitely great times for Lincoln. As Lincoln's relationship with the Lark gets deeper, the Lark sisters (or more specifically Lena) treat him like their brother. No wonder their constant invitations for him on hangouts, out-of-town trips, dinners and family moments that their parents become appreciative for.

All the while, Lincoln's sisters get more concerned of Lincoln's constant absence in the family. They observe that in dire times of need, Lincoln is not there to support any of them. Whether Leni is sewing a new outfit, or Luna is composing a new song, or Luan brainstorms a new joke with a punchline, or Lynn needs a practice buddy for her sports practices, or Lucy tries to craft a new poem, or Lana is repairing a damage or a malfunction within the house, or Lola is practicing for her beauty pageants, or Lisa is conducting her experiments that need assistance, or Lily wants someone to play with, Lincoln is not there for them. The sisters are dismayed of Lincoln's absence but Lori is the more infuriated. With this, she takes Lincoln's bond with the Larks with a serious glare.

The next day, after school, Lincoln bonds with Lena at the playground, where they both hangout at the swings that are overlooking the Royal Woods suburbs.

"Such a breathtaking view, isn't it?" Lincoln utters.

"Sure is," Lena agrees, "Though we have the same view, only the skyscrapers are blocking it. Sometimes, I just cut them out of the picture, just to appreciate the view." Lincoln laughs at Lena's opinion. "It's true."

"Well, that seems life as a city girl," Lincoln comments.

"Oh Lincoln, you don't know the life of a city girl," Lena replies intuitively, "Parents absent 24/7. You have to cook your own breakfast, lunch and dinner. You get to have the flat by yourself. By yourself. Alone."

And just by hearing Lena's frank confession, Lincoln is shocked at such revelation of her lifestyle back at San Francisco.

"I'm just playing with you, Lincoln," Lena admits, to Lincoln's relief, "Am not a city girl. My friend is. We're not from downtown. Actually, we're more from the outskirts by the bay. We used to have big house for whole family. Too bad he gone away."

"Who gone away?" Lincoln inquires of , she pauses midway, catching her own breath from what she is about to reveal. "He's gone now. You don't need to know, Lyndon."

"Lyndon?""Uhmmm…I…I meant Lincoln. Sorry, hehe. Just had 'London Bridge' ringing in my head. London Bridge is falling down…falling down…falling down…hehe."

After Lena clearly covers up a near revelation, Lincoln wonders what is going around her. Though he understands Lena's attitude, he doesn't buy her excuse, making him dismiss yet rethink what she had shown.

"Anyway, Linc, have you ever thought what you like to be when you grow up?" the 11-year-old Lark asks.

"Well, I thought about being a comic book writer, since avid fan right here," Lincoln shares, "But I was thinking if I could work as…a scientist I guess?"

But Lena chuckles about that revelation, "You, a scientist? I mean, good, but why a scientist?"

"Look, I haven't thought about it. There's nothing in my mind. The rest that I have but haven't decided are whether a rock star, a fashion designer, a comedian, a handyman, a poet, a marathon man, a CEO of some company, a beauty queen coach, or a babysitter," Lincoln exposits, "And now that I think about it, I am starting to miss my sisters. I mean they are my sisters. Sure they tend to meddle around. They tend to annoy me. They pester me. They even made me bathe in molten cheese, just to get the car keys. But, I love them. It's hard not to miss them."

Despite Lincoln being sincere about his feelings to his beloved sisters, Lena gets worried about this. So, she opts to swerve him from such topic. "Well, touché Lincoln," she utters.

"What do you mean?" the 11-year-old boy asks.

"About knowing what you like when we grow up. I haven't thought of a career too. Have lot of options, but none. Nothing in my mind," Lena discloses. With that, Lincoln smiles at her as a sign of empathy. Then, they continue to witness the sun setting.

Afterwards, Lincoln and Lena journey home through their bicycles. With an exchange of goodbyes, they both contently walk back to their respective homes.

However, just as Lincoln enters the Loud house, Lori springs out of the bushes from hiding (complete with binoculars and camouflage gear) on a coast clear and sneaks towards the premises of the Lark house. And with a concerned demeanor, she knocks on the door, to which Lois answers.

"Oh, Lori. What brings you here?" Lois greets her.

"May I have a word with you, Lois?" Lori insists.

"Uhmm sure," Lois invites her neighbor in.

"Want to join us? We're having UNO night."Lori then glances on the Lark sisters (particularly Lacy, Lara, Lyra, Lexi, Loui and Lani) playing UNO cards. At this round, Lacy draws a +4 card to Lyra.

"That's strike +4 to you, Lyra! Hehe," Lacy utters.

"Awww, well, I'm sure there are no useless cards this time," Lyra says as she gets four UNO cards, "And there are."

Back to Lori, she demands, "Can we take this somewhere quiet?" Lois then takes Lori to the kitchen, where Lori confronts her with this, "Okay, stop this foolishness now!"

"Uhmm what are you talking about Lori?" Lois wonders.

"You literally know what I'm talking about, Stepford sisters of doom," Lori reproaches Lois.

"Stepford sisters? What?"

"I know your plans. Hogging Lincoln's attention to yours, so you can take him for us? So you can zap him and eat his brain?"

"Okay, Lori. You may have gone overboard."

"You know what I'm talking about!"

"Okay, hold your horses. Let me make it clear. We are not stealing Lincoln from you."

"Oh really. Well, can you care to explain these to me?!" Lori then shows her phone to Lois of pictures of Lincoln hanging out with the Larks, most prominently with Lena.

"Hmm…Seem to spot a white hairline on Lena's hair. Need to remind her of that," Lois sarcastically comments.

"That's not literally the point!"

"Okay, look. Maybe, Lincoln just wants quality time with us. But that doesn't mean he doesn't like to bond with you."

"Oh, so you presumed he wants to spend with you more than us?!"

"No, I wasn't thinking that way but…"

"We'll see about that Lois. I'm not done with you! You and me, duke it out tomorrow. Dance off! We'll literally see who the better one for Lincoln is." At that dare, Lori walks out of the house, glaring at Lois conspicuously. Lois is just puzzled at what Lori threw at her. Though she finds this troubling, she shrugs it off for a while.

Back at Lori, only then as she gathered her sisters for an emergency Secret Secrets Club meeting that she realized she actually challenged Lois to a dare. But still, she keeps her intuitions at full force.

"We have important matters to discuss, ladies," Lori enunciates.

"Yeah, will you hurry up? I have Friday night football to tune in," Lynn mentions.

"Set that aside, Lynn. So, do you know who's missing with us tonight?"

"Ooohh…Ooohh," Lana raises her hand, wanting to answer, "Let me guess. Lucy's not here. She told me that she's off to her private moment."

Then suddenly Lucy appears right behind Lana, frightening her in the process. "I'm here Lana. That was a while ago. But Lori persuaded since this is of 'urgent matter'."

"No Lana, it's Lincoln. Lincoln's the one I'm talking about. And as of the moment, he's still doing dishes. And literally chatting with one of our neighbors."

"You're not the only who spotted him doing that," Lola supports Lori's case, "Last time I walk to the fridge to get orange juice, I saw him video-chatting with some Lenka girl."

"You mean Lena?" Luna clarifies.

"Or whatever. And I heard them making out," Lola hastily shares, to the shock of the sisters.

"Awww isn't that cute?" Leni comments.

"No Leni. It's not cute! He's dating from one who is not Ronnie Anne!"

"Okay, that is not cute."

"See what I mean? Lincoln's gone most of the time because he's hanging out with the Larks. And it's not going good. It literally looks like they are stealing Lincoln from us. And we have to take action, now!"

"But how? We can't just barge in their house and tell them 'Stay away from Lincoln!'" Luna points out.

"In addition, we're a nuisance when it comes to neighbors, so that's a difficult defense to fight at court," Lisa notes, making her sisters puzzled of her justice system metaphor, "What?"

"No worries about that," Lori assures, "I have a plan. I challenged Lois to a dance showdown tomorrow."

"You what?!" the sisters react altogether.

"Lori, do you even know how to dance?" Lynn asks.

"I have…experience. Man, what was I literally thinking back then? Maybe, it's the temper talking."

"Boy, that shows a downside of your plan. Hehehe," Luan laughingly remarks, causing Lori to get annoyed, "But seriously Lori, how can you beat Lois? She's like a pro."

"I know. But we have to do this, for Lincoln. We need to force the Larks to stay away from Lincoln or else. And I've just got the plan," Lori says this while taking notice at innocent Lily. Foreshadowing there. "Now who's with me?!"

Before they could respond, the sisters ponder on Lori's plan of action if this is the best option they could take. But since Lincoln is at stake here, considering he has been missing in action in the Loud house, they have no other choice but to go for Lori's suggestion to reclaim their brother.

"We are!" they utter.

"Good, now let's bring our brother back!" Lori proclaims, sending the Loud sisters to their battle cry.