Snow Way I Can Do This Without You.
Chapter One: A Bittersweet Day.
Hello, my readers! And welcome to the Reboot for my fanfic One Magical Weekend!
To get things started this story Snow Way I Can Do This Without You, follows on from Snow Way Down, yes the ending of season two. This AU will go over five stories, after this, I will begin publishing my original series Auburn Valley.
Before starting this story it is highly recommended that one reads, Sunday Skivvies, Lincoln's Confidant, Boys and Girls, Arcane Arts, and On Our Backs, all by Mr. TyeDye who has graciously allowed me to use them as background. Pay particular attention to how Luan and Lucy are shown as it has a big impact on this series.
Also, this should go without saying that being an AU it won't follow much if any of the events from season three onwards. However the Loud House fandom is full of idiots that are triggered by any deviation from canon, so if you like most season three depictions of the characters go read something else.
Now on with the show!
*~*~*~GROWING UP A LOUD~*~*~*
The storm was picking up, coating the land in a thick white blanket, a trio of cars braved the downfall trying to reach home. For the driver of the second car, the storm looked for all the world like the view screen of the USS Enterprise when the ship went to warp, the snowflakes looking like star lines forming a tunnel around the ship, of course, Harold McBride was a massive Trekkie. He'd taken to following the driver in front of them and another car had pulled up behind as they made their way home from the McBride's cabin in the mountains.
He looked over at is Howie Bear, the love of his life, and the man who put him back together again after losing Maxine. That he of all people would not only remarry but remarry to a man, that made Harold chuckle, it was a good thing his old buddy from the Marine Corps Lynn Loud was there to help him and reintroduce him to their former squadmate, Howard McBride. Harold let out a chuckle, wondering what the boys would think if they knew the trio were all inactive Marines and very different men before being unwilling guests of the People's Democratic Republic of Korea, that time had left the trio broken for some years, Lynn had never fully recovered mentally judging by the man's emotional state. Thankfully Rita was there to help hold him together.
"You okay Hair Bear?" from the corner of his eye he could see Howard had turned to look at him frowning his gaze wandering up and down, then he felt his husband's hand on his shoulder.
"Just thinking about our semester in South Korea," Harold said as he struggled not to let the weight of those memories press down on him.
"Hey!" Lincoln spoke up, in the rearview mirror Harold could see the boy's face breaking out in a massive grin eyes sparkling, "my dad did a college semester in South Korea!"
"We know," Howard nodded forcing a smile.
Harold jumped in to get the boy's attention off of Howard, "that's how we meet, we were even roommates. Why for a time the three of us were inseparable."
"So that's how you met!" Clyde said leaning forward, "and thanks to that I got to know my best pal!" Clyde exchange a fist bump with Lincoln. The display brought Howard out of his funk and elicited grins from both men. Howard's smile fell as he leaned forward looking out into the storm and he knew what Harold was thinking, 'we have to tell them and it's going to break their hearts.
"Hey Lincoln, what do you think of this infinity deck storyline that'll be coming out with this summer?" Clyde asked holding up his tablet to show a news article.
"Already pre-ordered it, we'll be done with school and can enjoy reading it in style. Already working to make arrangements to be sure I have a clear schedule to do nothing but enjoy it," Lincoln said.
"I'm sure my Dad's will let you come over," Clyde said his mind already drifting to lazy summer evenings on the porch swing, "soda, pizza, and late-night reading sessions."
Lincoln nodded grinning, "I'll start saving allowance and doing favors to make sure I'm free that week, it'll be okay with you guys right Mr. McB and Mr. McB?" Lincoln and Clyde looked hopefully at the McBrides.
"Boys, let's talk about that when we get out of this damn snowstorm," Harold said, drawing gasps, they'd never heard him curse before, but this storm was horrible. That said, Lincoln considered how the entire drive up to the cabin and back it was clear something was bothering both parents, and it wasn't just how overprotective they could be of Clyde, the way they shot guilty looks their way, how their smiles would fade a little seeing the boys together and the occasional sigh. He looked over at the boy who was his brother in all but name, his brother nodded knowing something big was about to be dropped in their laps.
"We're not gonna make it home in this mess," Harold said as he followed the car in front of them into a parking lot, containing a few buildings surrounded by a thick wood, "thank you Jesus a hotel, and a diner!" the hotel was a beige building of about four stories, next to it was a building with a wooden facade designed, Lincoln assumed, to give a Southeastern or maybe Texan feel, "I'll get us a room…"
"...and I'll take the boys to get us a table," Howard finished and the pair nodded. Lincoln loved how the two men were so perfectly in sync with one another, the pair were of one mind and body, Lincoln hoped someday to find a woman that he could enjoy such a relationship with.
The men got out of the car, the first thing Lincoln noticed was how silent it was, the snow was coming down hard but other than some cracks from trees in the surrounding wood and the rumble from the engines of passing snowplows it was silent. Lincoln had mixed feelings, the boy sighed and shook his head, his sisters were not gonna like this.
"Lincoln?" Howard said, kneeling down and look in the boy's eyes, "Lincoln!" he gave a gentle shake and a light tap to a cold cheek, "Come on boy don't zone out on us yet!"
"S… Sorry!" Lincoln said blushing, "just well it's Lily's… Umm…"
"Birthday," Howard smiled, "Lily's birthday is the day after tomorrow and your sisters are none too happy you got to come with us. Well, they are free to as bad as they want, your Dad and Mom overruled them and now The Good Lord has overruled us all with this storm he decided to send." Not many of the sisters realized the McBrides were devout Episcopalians both men being ordained Deacons, as Clyde would be one day when he was old enough. Lincoln's family were Catholic, but they didn't really practice it much besides the occasional Christmas or Easter church visit. Lana was the only one to take it with any enthusiasm but most of that was just the odd prayers at night that annoyed Lola or whoever else was sleeping in the same room as her.
The diner was massive on the inside thick green carpets with a red diamond pattern laid over it, the room was dimly lit, booths with green leather seats were set into the walls and matching chairs filled the room. The dinner was almost totally empty besides a few truckers and a group of Asians with one brown-haired white guy that Lincoln could swear he recognized but couldn't put a name to them. A waitress came up to them, a short plump woman with a friendly smile, blue eyes, and blonde hair to take their drink orders, tea for the adults, and cokes for the boys. After she walked off Howard called Lynn Sr., "hey Lynn! Yeah everything's okay old friend, but this snowstorm has us ducking into a hotel, we'll be home again sometime tomorrow. Yeah, Lincoln was worried how his sisters would take it," there was a pause as Howard nodded along, "I'll remind him," more nodding as the drinks arrived along with Harold who kissed his Husband's cheek before sitting down, "thanks Lynn and he might need that, wanna speak to him? Oh, right I'll tell him."
Howard ended the call and smiled at Lincoln, "your Dad's sorry he couldn't chat, but wanted me to remind you that he and Rita wanted you on this trip more than you wanted to come and if the girls have an issue with that and want to start trouble, they can think it over while being grounded."
"Wow," Lincoln said, "that's a little extreme isn't it," his parents weren't exactly disciplinarians in fact sometimes Lincoln felt they let him and his sisters get away with too much by any standard, especially his sisters, to be fair he was sure his sisters felt he got away with too much.
"Well Lincoln," Howard swallowed, "you see that's because…"
"HEY!" One of the truckers, a man of massive built whose shirt was so small his belly button could be seen, something Lincoln found disgusting.
"YOU TWO!" He snapped at the McBrides, "WHATYOUDOINWITHTHEMBOYSHERE!" He stabbed a sausage thick finger at Lincoln and Clyde.
"I'm sorry could you repeat that," Howard asked.
"I SAID!" He roared and Lincoln caught the stench of unbrushed teeth, cheap beer, cigarettes, and other things he didn't wanna think about. "WHAT. YOU. DOING." He slammed a fist on the table between words, "WITH. THE. BOYS. HERE."
"This is our son and his bes…" Harold started but was cut off as the man pounded the table repeating his assertion.
"I believe he was trying to answer you," the man Lincoln thought he recognized earlier had come over, he was Asian a bit shorter than his father, dark hair and black eyes with wrinkles from frequent smiling in a roundish face. For some dang reason, the guy made him think of Yoshi Himato from Ninja Turtles right down to a purple shirt that almost looked like a Kimono and gray pants, and the man standing beside him was white with tanned skin curly brown hair, green eyes, and was almost as tall as Pop-Pop, dressed in blue jeans and a My Hero Academia shirt. Realization finally hit him, Lynn's martial arts teacher Master Jin San and Daniel "Danny" Davis his top student and assistant teacher.
"Small world," Lincoln said nodding to the men getting a bow from Master San, and Danny touched his forehead.
The man turned and roared, "MINDYOBUISNESSS!"
"Seeing others harassed is our business," Master San said in a calm voice, almost like a late-night radio DJ, Lincoln knew this trick it was supposed to help calm a situation down, it didn't seem to be working here, now to think of it he couldn't recall it ever working.
"YOUKNOWWHATTHEYDOINWITHTHATBOYTHERE!" The man's yelling was getting on Lincoln's nerves, thankfully blue lights had appeared outside, a snowplow was clearing a path down the road, two Highway Patrol cars right behind it, with a third and fourth coming, someone had called in the Calvary. This fat jerk was going to need all the help he could get.
"Well if you'd let him reply," Master San tried again but was cut off by the man grabbing his shoulder, and then this massive tub of lard and muscle was tossed over the shoulder of a small-framed man only half his size tall like Lincoln would toss a garbage bag, he chuckled at the comparison.
"Find it funny Master San can fight?" Danny asked, grinning down at Lincoln.
"No sir, I've seen what he can do, "I was just thinking that's how I handle garbage bags at home."
"Only so many ways to take out the trash little dude," Danny said as the police arrived, Master San nodded to them and flashed his Sheriff's deputy badge (Honorary) at the man on the ground.
"If you had let me finish," Master San said in the same voice he used for his students, "I'd have added as an Honorary officer of the law, this is my business."
To Lincoln's surprised an officer from Royal Woods was with the Highway Patrol Officers, he must be new, Royal Woods was small enough Lincoln at least knew every officer by face, the name tag read Miyamoto. Another Asian man, Lincoln thought, seeing a lot lately. Maybe I'm just now noticing it. For the longest time, it seemed all Royal Woods had was whites, blacks, and Hispanics, until recently.
"Good to see you again Sensei," One Patrolman built like a linebacker with blonde hair and blue eyes bowed, Master San, taught several police officers, "what happened here?"
"This man was harassing the little brother of one of my pupils and his friends, Trooper Longarm," Master San nodded to Lincoln, "I'd overheard him saying he was going to 'curb stomp me some gays,' well, he used stronger terms, and 'set them, boys, right before they get corrupted.' I'm glad you came so fast, but, how?"
"We were already close by when the call came in," Officer Longarm said, "matter of fact we planned to stop here for something to eat. Looks like we'll be eating at the station thanks to this man."
"You better," the fat man muttered, "never let me catch you needing a tow…"
"Make a note," Miyamoto said, "attempted assault on a couple for their sexual orientation, threatening minors, and threatening an elderly man of color. That's two hate crimes and a crime against minors, Sir," Miyamoto leveled an icy glare at the fat man, it made Lincoln think of that time he'd seen a great white shark at the beach, while underwater. That glare made the fat man back away on all fours, "you'd better have a good lawyer or you won't be towing anyone for a very long time. Yes a very long time indeed," Miyamoto then hauled the man to his feet with no further comments and manhandled him out of the building.
"We will be in touch Deputy San," The officer named Miyamoto said.
"Glad you were here sir," Lincoln smiled at Master San. True San's dojo made Lynn an even worse bully than she already was but he never put the blame on the kindly Sensei, it just seemed wrong somehow.
"As am I, bigotry is a virus destroying this nation," Master San replied as the rest of his party walked over. Jade, master San's daughter reached over and ruffled Lincoln's hair.
"It's good to see you, little guy," Jade said, her bright green eyes and pixie cut black hair with dark blue highlights shining in the lights, "IN-CON!" "IN-CON!" Sofia, Jade's infant daughter clapped the words and giggled before trying to reach for him, Lincoln took the girl and promptly was assaulted with sloppy kisses from the girl.
"Seems my little Sofia already has a boyfriend," Carlos, Jade's husband grinned. The short stocky Mexican was a fellow comic geek as was Jade and the few times Lincoln was forced into Master San's Dojo, as yet another attempted to turn Lincoln into an athlete scheme was tried by his family, thankfully he'd gotten along well with Carlos, Jade, and Danny during his time there and they occasionally asked about him through Lynn. Too bad their kindness and tender sides hadn't rubbed off on Lynn much. On the plus side Master, San had ended his parents' attempts to turn him into an athlete, at least for now.
'I wonder what he did to finally make them back off,' Lincoln thought as he nuzzled the girl and soon got Clyde to join in as they took turns bouncing the girl, ruffling her hair, and playing with her.
"Little dudes will make a fine set of fathers one day," Danny smiled, "you two wouldn't be?" The tall dark-haired, green-eyed man wiggled a finger back and forth.
"Nope," Clyde said, "although if I was Lincoln would be my first choice."
"Ditto," Lincoln replied, "I'd be my first choice too," that got a round of laughs and Sofia calling Lincoln silly, "seriously, sometimes I wish we were, it would make life so much easier for us."
"True, but I'm sure you'll both find fine ladies to marry," Master San took his granddaughter back but not before she pecked Lincoln on the nose one last time, "we are making an early start for tomorrow, my regards to Lynn, maybe we will see each other tomorrow on the way home."
"Goodnight sir!" The boys chorused and Lincoln did his best to bow from where he was sitting, if Lynn had been there she would have said it as disrespectful and tried to make him pay like the last time he was there, but Master San chuckled and bowed back.
The McBrides stood and shook the men's hands, and Jade leaned offer and peeked Lincoln on top of the head and embraced Clyde making both boys plush.
Five minutes after Master San and family left food arrived, burgers all around, Lincoln looked over to Howard and Harold, "so what was going on with dad being so extreme over this?"
*~*~*~GROWING UP A LOUD~*~*~*
Lori made her way through the chaos of the house, her head throbbing in pain from Lisa's rap music that was blasting currently, to drown out the fuss of the party preparations. Their parents were getting food, Lana and Luna were working on the decorations, Luan was preparing entertainment, a show she and her assistant Lincoln would put on for them.
"Hey!" Lynn called to no one in particular as she was hauling tables into position, "any idea when Stincoln is supposed to be home!? It's getting late and the golden boy should have been back from his special vacation!"
Lynn was beyond enraged Lincoln got to skip out on all the hard work, double so because their parents had been so supportive of him going, "I still say we need to teach the jerk a lesson for leaving us with all this work!" Lynn snarled.
"YEA!" Lola spoke up from where she and Leni were going over balloon and streamer placement, "it's not fair he gets to just come in and enjoy the fun! It's not HIS party."
"You two are welcome to punish him," Lori smiled, "I think he's getting away with murder too, just remember," Lori leveled her best big sister glare at them both, "he has mom and dad's full support to do this, and they've made it clear if ANY of us retaliate it's two months grounding. That includes me, and I'm out the door in five months. Think about that."
"Grounded for two months," Lynn finally said, repeating the words in shock as she tried to comprehend it.
"What kinda dirt does he have on them?" Lola finally said, "HOW did he get that kinda dirt?"
"I think it's something more than dirt," Luan walked over to join them, "the McBride's have something serious going on, from the looks on their faces when they were talking to mom and dad it was like they were discussing a funeral. Also, I overheard Linc try to back out, but mom and dad weren't having it. They said this was big and he'd be back in time to help out and he'd end up doing the lion's share of the clean-up anyway."
"What?" Lynn spat, "taking out the trash has always been his job, no matter how big the mess the wuss."
"Well switch jobs with him if it's so easy," Luan replied, that shut her up, "anyway something big is going down, I bet we were supposed to be told, and then for some reason mom and dad forgot, stress from the party or thinking the other already told us what was going on."
Lori nodded, Luan had a point, they weren't being told something, then her phone buzzed, thinking it was a text from her Boo-Boo bear she pulled out her cellphone and sighed.
DAD: Honey, Mr. McBride called me. They are stuck in this snowstorm at a hotel so they won't be home till late tomorrow.
Lori texted back a thank you for letting them know and sighed pinching her nose, "he won't be here till tomorrow…"
"WHAT!?" Lynn stomped a foot in frustration, "that means he won't have anything to do besides a few of the fun jobs!"
Lori hissed leveled a glare at the jock, "do you SEE that storm out there? I'd rather him miss out on all the work than get hurt coming home," Lori looked out the front windows as the snow was up to the front porch now.
"Yeah," Lola said looking it over, "my Prince would freeze out there," Lola put a hand on the glass and let out a sigh.
"YOUR Prince?" A monotone voice spoke sending Lola flying up into Lori's arms.
"LUCY! Stop doing that!" Lola spat, getting a smile from the gothic girl.
Lucy went on, "your prince huh? That's a new one… But I do like it. Lori, preparations for drinks are complete as is the guest list, such as it is. Aunt Ruth can't make it because of the storm, in fact, it looks like this is going to be just everyone in the house."
Lori sighed, four days of work for nothing, and Lynn for some reason had it in for Lincoln, she wasn't sure what was going on there but suddenly she'd started acting almost like she hated him right around the new year and Lori couldn't figure out why.
Lori put Lola down and let out a sigh as Leni walked up to her.
"Too much stress is going to give you wrinkles Lori! Go take a nice long hot bath, relax put on some soothing music, I'll make Lisa stop with her stuff for a bit and we can all watch TV and take a breather. Make it a sisters' night since Lincoln isn't here," Leni said.
Lori nodded and smiled, "good idea, let's get some of this stuff out the way so Lily can stretch her legs, being cooped up in Lisa's room can't be fun."
"Maybe we should have done this when she was older?" Luan said, "a surprise party for a toddler even a brainy one is sort of a waste."
Lori nodded, "I'll be in the tub if anyone needs more."
As Lori lounged in the bed, the girls watched a rom-com that was on TV, most didn't pay it any attention. For Lynn's part she was enjoying this time with just her sisters now that the work was over, although most of it was spent discussing racing with Lana as well as baseball, Lynn might be able to turn the girl into an athlete sometime soon. She was already showing an interest in skateboarding, a good sign, as she looked around she saw Lucy staring at her tarot cards.
"Yo Spooky, whatcha see happening?" Lynn walked over and looked at the cards. Ten of cups, the tower, and death. She noted, "those don't look good at all."
"Indeed," Lucy nodded hugging Lily who had crawled over and looked at the cards.
"Game?" The toddler asked smiling at Lucy.
"Sure," Lucy smiled, "but these aren't playing cards."
Leni took Lily up, "I'll get the Uno deck! By the way, what does that mean?" She nodded to the cards. They look scary…"
"Ten of cups is right now," Lucy said explaining the reading she was doing, "sometime either right now, or tomorrow we get the tower card, a big disruption, rarely pleasant. Then after that…"
"Someone's going to die?" Lynn asked making Lily cower into Leni.
"None of this!" Luan came over and gathered up Lucy's cards, "sorry kid but this isn't the time for your Funeral Parade." Luan said a little more stern than usual.
"It just means a big change is coming and…" Lucy started before being cut off.
"Of course there is a big change! Our little Lily is gonna be two!" Luan said, "I'll put these in your room, go get in the circle for Uno!"
Lucy obeyed reluctantly, something big was coming and she didn't like it, she looked around, "sigh."
"Oh come on!" Lisa spat sitting next to her, "you really believe all that mumbo jumbo?" Lisa shook her head.
"More accurate than your science," Lucy replied, "every time I turn around scientists are changing stuff up, even publishing papers on stuff you dismissed just months before as stupidity at best, conspiracy theories at worst! Seems like the conclusions always line up with who's paying for the research too."
"Take. That. Back!" Lisa said, then Lori was between them smelling of cherries and other fruits, wrapped in towels.
"Okay, you two!" Lori said, "break it up. Lisa, over there now," Lori point at the other end of the circle, and Lisa trotted off.
"Sorry," Lucy started, and Lori silenced her with a look then smiled and leaned close, "Lisa has got to learn to respect different world views." Lori patted her back before speaking up, "we got a brother-free night now let's play girls!" There was a cheer from the sisters and the game was on.
*~*~*~GROWING UP A LOUD~*~*~*
"I don't think…" Lincoln patted his belly, "I can eat another bite," dinner had been followed by dessert, chocolate sundaes all around. The boy sipped away at his soda while the McBrides enjoyed an after-dinner coffee, next to him Clyde let out a happy sigh, "that was good," then blushed as a burp escaped him.
"Good one!" Lincoln chuckled, Clyde's dads let out a chuckle, this had been a perfect vacation, admittedly Lincoln was still dreading returning home, the thoughts ran through his head, 'my sisters probably have some sort of 'lesson' planned for me. Sorry, won't be enough most likely, like with the earphones they are gonna want me terrified, broken, and humiliated. Never mind the time Luna did the same thing but with her music, never mind Luan's yearly hell, never mind Lynn's sore winner attitude, never mind…'
"You okay there Lincoln?" Howard asked, he had a thrown as did Harold and Clyde, "you're clenching your jaw and balling up your fists."
"Sorry," Lincoln blushed and looked down, "just thinking of what my sisters are going to do to me when I get home. I mean I am skipping out on the preparations for Lily's birthday."
"You're parents gave their blessing," Howard said, "and your father already has a nice long list of punishments ready if they try to teach you a lesson. Especially as this was partially their idea for you to come, which brings us to another thing," Howard sighed.
"So," Clyde leaned forward resting his chin in his hands, "is this the part where you finally tell us what's been bugging you two?"
Harold nodded, "yeah. I'm afraid we got some bad news for both of you."
Both boys leaned forward as time seemed to slow to a crawl, both of the fathers looked like they were getting ready to tell Clyde his grandmother died, Lincoln reached over and offered his friend a pat on the back and got a small smile from the boy.
Howard finally broke the silence, his words sounding like a judge condemning a criminal to death, "we are moving to Hawaii in a few days. Part of the trip to the Cabin was to get it ready for its new owners, but Howard, Lynn, Rita, and I agreed you boys deserved one last outing together. I doubt we'll see you again before we leave Lincoln, almost everything should be packed and on its way over."
Lincoln nodded he was numb, it was like a gut punch, his vision was blurry and he wasn't sure why, Clyde sniffed a little as tears ran down his eyes.
Harold gathered them up with his eye as Howard went to pay for the food and get some more for later, there he bumped into Daniel who was looking over at Lincoln.
"Little Dude alright?" Daniel asked, "he looks like he just lost his best friend, so does his best friend." Daniel knew of Clyde by reputation if nothing else.
"In a manner of speaking sir he has," Howard sighed, "his like a son to me and my husband, and we just told Lincoln we are moving to Hawaii in a few days and they probably won't see each other again after we drop Lincoln off, not for a long time anyway."
"Poor Dude," Daniel said, "that's gotta be painful," he shook his head.
"It is," Howard said, "friend of his I take it?"
"Well his sister Lynn, I'm a senior instructor at her martial arts school," Daniel explained. At those words Howard's eyes lifted and his jaw dropped, one would be forgiven if Daniel had told him he was a member of a street gang.
"You okay sir?" Daniel asked.
"Yes, it's just, Lincoln has always described that dojo as a bully academy. So has Clyde for that matter, and well given how Lynn can act, and I must apologize it was wrong of us to take Lincoln at his word without seeing for ourselves and after you helped us tonight," Howard sighed and hung his head in shame.
"None of that now, is Lynn being a pain to Lincoln at home?" Daniel said.
"Lot of roughhousing, I know Clyde's come home with a bruise from her a time or two. Me and my husband would freak out, of course, we've had an overprotective issue we are trying to get under control," Howard said, "according to Lincoln, Lynn and two of his little sisters jumped on him for trying to watch TV while the other girls were fighting," Howard finally let out a chuckle, "listen to me, Lincoln complains about normal sibling behavior and we take it way too seriously."
Daniel laughed along with him, "we get it all the time. A brother teases his sister and gets popped and we are the problem, or we get blamed for what siblings have always done to each other. Sure they'll both look back on it and laugh. Still, I'll make a note to talk to Lynn, make sure she isn't abusing what we teach her, it does happen from time to time. Here let me get that," Daniel took the check.
*~*~*~GROWING UP A LOUD~*~*~*
The game of Uno had ended, followed by a second and a third. The sisters had started to break off into small groups as Lori made rounds checking up on everyone.
Lily had fallen asleep in Leni's lap, while she and Lola looked over a fashion magazine. Off to the side Lisa and Lana were looking over some machine or another, 'it's about time those two bonded over shared interests,' Lori thought to herself.
Entering the kitchen Luna was getting a drink for herself Luan and Lucy. Seeing Lori, Luna grabbed another drink for the eldest girl, "thanks, seems everyone had a good time," Lori said.
"I'll say!" Lynn entered, "when was the last time we had this much fun?" The girl walked with a spring in her step.
"I'm glad you had a good time," Lori said, "but I dunno if I'd say it was any more fun than any other night we all hang out."
"Except HE wasn't here," Lynn said, "we need more girls only nights."
"You sure that's not just jealousy talking?" Luan asked, "I still think something was going on that we weren't told about."
"But it's still true, last time we came close to this much fun was 'bring your daughter to work day,' or the time mom took us all out for a day, or the father-daughter dance. Face it we have our best times without him around." Lynn said.
"What are you getting at?" Luna asked.
"Just that we need more girls only nights without him around to mess things up," Lynn said.
"When has Lincoln messed things up?" Luan asked.
"In no particular order," Lynn began listing, "the Sister Fight Protocol, the Pictures online, the limo, how he was a spoiled brat and faked having bad luck, the pool, when we hoarded all the time with Bobby, eating our peanut butter out the jar, almost ruining your business Luan," at the mention of that even Luan held up a hand.
"That one was partially my fault, I was the same way and should've guided him better. If you'll remember when we shared that story I mentioned that," Luan said.
"And the pool was partially my fault," Lori added, "remember Senior swim? We made a big deal about Lincoln kicking us out but did anyone say a word when it was me doing the same?"
"Also little dude made up for all of those," Luna said.
"What about meddling in the protocol?" Lynn said.
"Okay most of them," Luna amended, "we never did get an apology for that event."
"Exactly! But seriously do we ever have that much fun with Lincoln around? When he's here things always get loused up, I mean sure we had some misadventures with mom but not like when he's around," Lynn said, "so Lori can we have more girls only stuff, besides you know Lucy's getting to be that age, and maybe you can pass some stuff along to Lisa, Lily, and the twins."
Lori pondered this, "maybe, but I don't like how you are still holding a grudge over some of this stuff, it's over already. Anyway, we should turn in we got a busy day tomorrow."
Slowly the girls began to break off and head on to bed, as she was heading upstairs Luan leaned close to Lori, "hey what's up with Lynn? She acts like she hates Lincoln?"
"No idea," Lori replied, "I plan to find out after all of this."
*~*~*~GROWING UP A LOUD~*~*~*
The trip from the restaurant was done in silence, they arrived in Royal Woods in record time, pulling up to the curb of 1216 Franklin Street Lincoln stepped out gathering his things and embracing Clyde.
"...I… Lincoln, I," Clyde swallowed.
"I know," Lincoln nodded, "I know."
"We've had your things separated from Clyde's," Howard said, "and we'll send them on through your Dad."
"I'll gather up Clyde's after the party," Lincoln promised, "and…"
"I'm sure, your Dad can bring them over, sorry it was so sudden," Howard swallowed, "we felt it would be easier this way. Well," the McBrides embraced Lincoln, "you take care of yourself Lincoln."
"You've been like another son to us," Harold said.
With a nod Lincoln headed in tears in his eyes as the McBrides drove off, entering the house his ears were assaulted by booming rap music as he entered he spied Lola and Lana in the living room.
"Hey girls!" He called out getting icy glares, the kind that brought on an 'if looks cold kill' comment. Cold, black faces, they looked at him for a bit and returned to what they were doing.
Heading on into the house he went up the stairs and turned towards his room to drop his stuff off, he opened the door and something hit him from behind, hard, sending him to the ground he tried to get up but was forced back down.
"HEY!" Lincoln cried out, "get off!"
"Hey… Get off…" A voice repeated back mockingly.
Great, Lynn.
"Not now Lynn," Lincoln said, "I'm not in the MOO-AGGGH!" Lincoln was forced back into a submission hold.
"Well," Lynn Jr. sneered, "look who finally decided to come home."
*~*~*~TO BE CONTINUED~*~*~*
Friends, I hope you enjoy this short story and the planned sequels. Before we go I want to pass on some character notes I have that will be helpful.
Haiku's real name is Cassie Prudence Pearson her parents are Nathan and Cassandra Pearson, she has one little brother named Giles Alphonse Pearson, who worships the ground she walks on.
Darcy Helmandollar has Arya as a middle name. As of this writing, her ethnicity hasn't been shown so I have her family is East Indian/Central Asian with some German not too far back in the family tree. Indian people don't get much representation outside of convenience store clerks. Whatever ethnicity they end up giving to Darcy, this will be what she is in Growing Up A Loud.
Girl Jordan's full name is Jordan Penelope Talbot.
That's all, for now, see you in two weeks folks!