And here it is! Week 1 is finally complete! I hope you enjoy!

R&R!

Chapter 7: A Date With Lori Loud

"So… what's the plan, Michael?" Bobby shoves his hands in his pockets, while looking up towards the setting sun.

"I don't know…" Lincoln sighs, before shaking his head, "To be honest, I didn't think she'd actually say yes."

The Latino boy raises an eyebrow in curiosity, "Why's that, bro?" He turns to his fear.

"Well, that's simple really." He turns to his friend, "Remember, she thinks… or at least though I was a creep!" He shakes his head, "And now she's happily going on a date with me, as if she were waiting for it!" Though he can't help, but think, "Yeah… this is gonna be pretty awkward if it goes any further from here…"

"Oh… well if I were in your place bro, I'm sure I'd be cheering my brains out or something." Bobby chuckles.

"I doubt you would be." Lincoln sighs, "Anyways, the date's gonna start over here." He walks over to a nearby bench, "I'll be waiting for Lori here, ok?"

"Ok." Bobby nods in understanding, "So what do you want me to do?"

"Well… if having to watch Rom Com's with my sisters has taught me anything, it's that if you wanna get a girl to give you the time of day, you're gonna first know what she likes and dislikes." The boy motions towards a nearby tree, "I need you to wait for her behind that tree, ok? And when she finally comes by, I need you to listen in on everything we talk about and take note about what we do."

"Uhh… isn't that a bit… you know, creepy?" The Latino boy rubs his head, unsure of just how to respond to his friend's orders. "You know…since this is a date and all… wouldn't Lori want some privacy?"

"He's already thinking of her… the crazy guy…" He waves him off, "Don't worry, I'm just going on this date to help you get her later, ok? Besides, how hard can it be?!" He throws his head back and laughs, "I just have to make this the worst date possible and then she'll never wanna see me again."

Reluctantly, Bobby rakes a deep breath, "All right Michael… I guess that isn't that bad of an idea…" His voice trails off uncertainly, before he steps behind the tree, allowing Lincoln to hop on the bench and wait, "Now, I just need Lori to come by so we can start our date…"

"You know this isn't gonna work out, right? She's your sister for Pete's sake!" Lincoln quickly kicks himself, "To be honest, I don't even know why she decided to accept my offer for a date… I mean come on! It's like she… has a crush on me for some reason…" He sighs, "I feel like Eddie Puss right now…"

A few minutes pass with that, before the young, blonde-haired girl finally steps into the park and approaches the boy, "Hey."

"It's now or never!" Lincoln immediately perks up, "H-Hey Lori." He hops to his feet, "How are ya?"

"I'm doin' fine… you never told me your name ya…" She chuckles.

"I'm Michael." He rubs the back of his head, "So… you ready for our date?"

Lori nods, "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't." She then turns and begins walking, allowing Lincoln to walk along side her, "Got any plans?"

"I was thinking that we could just have a simply walk through the park." The white-haired boy shrugs, "I mean, given what we've been through the past few days- you know, with school and family and stuff- it'd be nice to just unwind and have a good time."

The girl considers the idea for a moment- after all, she has never heard of a date being so simple! And yet, she finds herself simply shrugging, after all, if couldn't hurt, now could it? "All right then, sure."

"Awesome." Lincoln chuckles, before shoving his hands in his pockets, "Come on… you need to make her hate you…" He sighs, "By the way… I'm sorry for breaking in your home the other day… really, I am…"

For a moment the girl thinks, before she replies, "You already apologized for that."

"I know… It's just… I know that I probably scared the heck out of you and your family." He awkwardly rubs the back of his head, "Esspecially your dad…"

Lori waves him off, "Actually, you don't need to worry about my dad much. That's just how he reacts to everything."

"Oh…" He continues, "Still… I'm sorry…"

"It's fine." She blushes, "You know… I've always dreamed that a boy would be brave enough to climb into my bedroom to see me…"

"Heh… yeah…" Lincoln rubs the back of his head, "I just… well I didn't know how to get your attention any other way." Though he still kicks himself, "Dangit Lincoln! Why are you lying so hard?!"

The duo simply walk in silence for the next moment, the duo both blushing- seemingly unsure of just how to continue their conversation.

Though, of course, Lincoln finds a way, "Heh… before I ran out of your home, I saw some of your siblings…" He turns to her, "You have a big family, huh?"

She sighs, "Yeah… So far, I've got five sisters and a brother."

"Wow…" his voice trails off, "That's just like my family."

Lori raises an eyebrow in curiosity, "Oh? Why do you say that?"

"I have ten sisters and I'm the only boy out of all of them." He can't help, but chuckle at the idea."

"Wow…" Her eyes go wide, "You parents were even busier than mine have been!"

"Yeah… they were…" His voice trails off, before he turns back to her, "But, I'm sure that they're workin' on it, right?"

The girl shrugs, "Well... from the looks of it, they are." She shakes her head, "My mom is pregnant again. Probably with another girl."

Lincoln raises an eyebrow, "Why do you say that? It's like you have no hope of having another brother!"

"I'll be honest, I don't." She looks up, "I mean it is six to one at this point. The chances of having another girl are kinda slim-to-none."

"Why does this feel frustrating?" He shakes his head, "Heh… I see your point."

"Still… no matter what happens, in the end, I'm gonna have to be the one to take care of her…" her voice fills with a hint of hopelessness. "After all… I'm the oldest and it's my job…"

"It can't be that bad, now can it?" Her companion raises an eyebrow in curiosity, "You know… to have all that power over your siblings, making sure you can tell them what they can and can't do. Then, when your parents go away and leave you in charge, you get to put them all to sleep." He looks her the eyes, though she continues to look forward, a sad expression forming.

"Yeah… that's what it always looks like." She rubs her arm and looks away, "You are in charge! You get to tell your many siblings what to do! You're the boss!" She then flares her arms for emphasis, "But… when you have as many siblings as I do… well.. We always end up treading a fine line between order and everything falling apart."

"Wow… This can't be Lori… Lori is the queen of no! She always loves being in charge! It's like she was born to do it!" Lincoln turns to face forward once more, before continuing onward. In the distance, they can see a small fountain- its clear waters glowing in the near-evening light. "Come on, it can't be that bad!"

She sighs, "Michael… can I tell you something? Or trust you?"

"Of course." He chuckles, "In a family as big as mine, privacy is something we all love having." He then wraps his arm around her, making sure to bathe her in his welcoming heat.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to handle all the siblings my mom and dad are giving me…" She shakes her head, while her eyes clothes and her voice fills with fear.

Surprised is the last thing Lincoln had expected to feel this day. Lori Loud, the oldest of the eleven Loud Siblings, stands wrapped around his arm, admitting her fear. Of course, he knew what she has to deal with- after all, he had taken her job for about five minutes! And yet, he still finds himself looking on, shock filling his body.

"Look… I know that we just met and I slapped you and stuff… but I… well…" She looks into his eyes, "I feel like I can trust you for some reason… I don't know why…"

"Because I'm your brother… that's why…" He smiles, "Don't worry Lori, I'm sure you'll be able to handle it all."

Yet, the young girl remains silent, seemingly unwilling to accept his reassurances.

Lincoln mentally sighs in response, "I don't know if this date is going well or not… Lori feels comfortable with me so…" He then stands up straight and continues walking, making sure to keep his comforting hand wrapped around her.

Soon enough, they stand before the fountain that rests in the center of Royal Woods Park, with Lori looking into its waters while Lincoln leans back against it, "Lori…"

"Yes?" The young girl answers.

"You're gonna be all right, ok?" He assures, "I know I just met you too, but…" He rubs the back of his head, "From what I've seen and heard of you well…" he starts to blush, "Am I seriously gonna do this? She's my sister! But… why do I feel like she's just a random girl?"

"Yeah?" She speaks with a hint of pain in her voice.

"You're a smart girl. You know just how to keep things in check, despite how crazy everything gets." He chuckles, "And that you're great at video games." While he thinks, "Even better than me when we're older…"

"Thank…" Her voice trails off."

"I need to cheer her up…" Lincoln begins to scan the scene. From what he can see, random people simply run around, simply enjoying the autumn weather. There are couples pushing their children's carriage while more children simply run around playing whatever games they can come up with.

"Ice cream! Fresh Ice cream here!" A man shouts.

"Well that's convenient." Lincoln pushes himself up, "I'll be right back."

Lori looks up in confusion.

Quickly, Lincoln runs over to the man, "Two chocolate ice creams pelase!"

And within seconds, they exchange what is required, before Lincoln rushes back, the treat in hand, "For you."

Lori stares at the cone and sweet for a moment, before taking it in her hand and smiling, "Heh chocolate, my favorite." Before she begins to lick it, "Thanks Michael."

He shrugs, "It's the least I can do, after everything." He chuckles, "Thanks for giving me this chance, Lori."

"No problem." She chuckles as well, "Thanks for listening to my rambling, I know I can be long winded and stuff…."

"Incoming!" A loud voice shouts, preventing Lincoln from answering.

"What the-" The boy turns to face the source, "I don't remember seeing anyone playing with a ball." And yet, before he knows it, a bright red ball smacks Lori in the side of the head, causing her to lose her balance.

"Lori!" Lincoln shouts, unhesitating to grab her arm, "Don't worry I got you!"

The blonde-haired girl takes a breath, before Lincoln suddenly pulls back, forcing her to stumble forward… as well as causing him to fall back. And before they know it, they land on the nearby grass, with Lori on top of Lincoln and the duo blushing madly in embarrassment.

"Heh… Thanks for the save, Michael." Lori begins to play with her hair.

"No problem." 'Michael' answers, before chuckling, "Sorry about the ice cream."

She chuckles, "Haha, don't worry about it." Before she forces herself up and offers her hand to the boy- which he happily accepts.

Soon, the sun finishes its nightly descent, allowing the street lamps to flicker to life.

"Anyways… thanks for the talk." The young girl blushes.

"No problem." He answers, rubbing the back of his head as he does so.

Lori then sighs, "Look… I found you cute… that's really the only reason I agreed after everything you did…"

The boy can feel his heart sink.

"But…" She rubs her arm, while looking into his eyes, "I had fun… let's do this again some time."

Lincoln's heart begins to beat faster, "S-sure. Let's talk about it tomorrow. You have to get home, right?"

The girl nods and smiles, "Yeah. Let's talk about it tomorrow." She then hugs him, before breaking off, "See you at school!" Before she turns and runs away, allowing Bobby to break free of his hiding place.

"So, that looks like it went well." He quips.

"Yeah…" he waves at the young girl in his midst, while his eyes begin to go wide with realization, "I'm dating my sister… That means I really am the boy that came six years ago!"

23-5-12-16 9-20-'19 15-6-6-9-3-9-1-12: 12-9-14-3-15-12-14 8-1-19 7-15-14-5 6-21-12-12 5-4-4-9-5 16-21-19-19 6-15-18 12-15-18-9.

A/N Lincoln has finally realized the truth! Good on everyone who figured it out early! Now all he has to do is survive this all!

Review Responses:

gamelover41592: Thanks! And yep! Sometimes you just gotta go for it!

BoukenDutch: Heh good point. All I do know is I took the first 2 yesterday and I've passed them both!

celrock: Heh this chapter answers that. Thanks!

364wii: Heh, I wonder why Lynn's at the bottom.

Dreaded Candiru2: Heh I don't get it!

painfulldarksoul: Thanks! And don't worry. I made a promise and I'll see it through!

Finnjr63: Thanks!