Chapter Ten: Reconciliation and Improvements
Lincoln sighed, sinking down into his chair. He was a bit depressed. He'd been alienated from his family. He now had two masters he had to learn from and when Christmas break was over, Jordan and Lucy would be going back to college. Lucy sat down with him, cuddling up with him.
"Linc… I know you're depressed. I don't blame you. We've been separated from our parents. But you still have Jordan and me. And I'm sure that our sisters will come and visit us. When has Mom and Dad telling us we can't do something ever stopped us?
"We're Louds. We do things our own way. And I'm sure that every sister from Lori to Lily will come see us around Christmas." Lucy said, kissing Lincoln lovingly on the lips. Lincoln sighed.
"I know they will. But that's not the point. This will be the first Christmas that I won't get to be at our parents' house, celebrating with them. Sure, they'll stop by. Sure, they'll come and hang out for a while. But they all have to get to their own families. I may be a Vampire now. But as Edwin said in the episode where Blake dies, family is important." Lincoln said. Lucy chuckled, sitting on Lincoln's lap.
She kissed him adoringly. Jordan sat down next to him, stroking his chest lightly.
"Are you thirsty? It's been almost a week since you've had any blood." Jordan said softly. Lincoln shrugged. He was doing alright. He had to go see Nearra that night. So he would have her take a look at him. She would decide how far along he was. He actually had to get going soon. Even though he didn't really want to. It wouldn't be a long night if he could avoid it. It was the 23rd of December. He had to get ready for Christmas with the family that he had left.
There was a knock on the door. Lincoln sighed and started to get up. Jordan stopped him though and went to the door.
"Hey… Lori, Leni, Luna, Luan, Lynn… It's great to see you. Come on in." Jordan said. Lori smiled, walking into the house.
"Hey, Linky… I know that you're not going to be at Mom and Dad's house this Christmas. But we really wanted to see you. We'll come by again on Christmas, I promise." Leni said.
"And I'm like, really sorry that I outed you and Lucy." Leni said guiltily. Lincoln gently put Lucy aside and hugged his older sisters.
"It's really good to see you." He said. Luna raised an eyebrow. She could tell Lincoln was upset.
"Linc… You okay?" She asked. She was fairly perceptive and even before she got her bionic organs, she was able to read people. Lincoln sighed.
"Yeah… I'm fine. I guess being kicked out of my family's home before Christmas is just hard.
"And once Jordan and Lucy go back to college… Well, I won't even have them to keep me company." Lincoln said. Leni smiled.
"Well… You could go back to college as well." She said.
"You literally wanted to get Masters' Degrees in art and writing, right?" Lori asked. Lincoln sighed.
"I did. But unfortunately, I don't think I can anymore. I have a confession that I need you to *promise* me you won't tell a single soul." Lincoln said.
"I like, totes promise. This time you can trust me." Leni said sweetly.
"I got bitten by a Vampire the night of my graduation party." Lincoln said. The sisters were silent for a long minute before they started laughing.
"Come on, Linc… I may not be the smartest in the family, but I'm not gullible. If you don't want to go back to college, you could like, just say so." Leni said. Lucy gripped the couch. Lincoln didn't need this. He didn't need to have his confessions being doubted like this.
"I'm not lying." Lincoln said, opening his mouth and showing off his fangs, letting them come out. He was shown how to retract his fangs so that they weren't visible as anything more than slightly elongated canines. He practiced so that he could do it at the drop of a hat. Lynn looked at the fangs, tapping on them, gripping them in her thumbs and forefingers and trying to pull them out, having no success.
"Holy shit. So what? Now that we know, you have to drink us dry? Turn us into your Ghoulish slaves? Make us Vampires as well?" Lynn asked. Lincoln actually laughed at this.
"No, no… Whether you become a Vampire or not is your choice as far as I'm concerned. I wasn't given a choice. I was turned against my will. But I won't turn you against your will." Lincoln said.
"No, rather I just want you to know why it would be hard to go back to college. Lisa would have to make a very strong sunblock. I've been using sunblock to go out in the sun, but my skin still feels like it's on fire." Lincoln said. The girls nodded along with his explanation. There was soon another knock on the door. Lola and Lana were there with Lisa. Lola had driven them over.
"Elder Brother… I wish to apologize. Normally, I would have modified our parents' memories as to your… Incestuous relationship with Lucy. However, I already did that once, and I can only do what I do if they trust me and allow me to 'show them my latest invention'. I am currently attempting to make the nanomachines able to isolate certain memories. However, to applicate that, I would need access to the backs of their necks. I wish for the opportunity to do it, since while I do not believe in petty, childish notions like Santa Claus or even Yule, I would like to have our whole family together for the holidays.
"I think you can agree that it would be a much more pleasant holiday if we're all together." Lisa said. Her no-nonsense, matter-of-fact way of talking was always a bit refreshing. And Lincoln knew that Lily would probably want to see him and Lucy for Christmas as well. And he wanted to be with his family for Christmas. Lincoln sighed, hugging Lisa.
"It's okay. You do what you have to do. If it works, I appreciate it. If it doesn't, I understand." Lincoln said. Lisa smiled.
"Anyhow, I wish to continue my experimentation on you. I believe that I can create ways to further enhance you as a Vampire. Increase your physical potential, reflexes, reduce the frequency of your need for blood, increase your ability to go out in the sunlight. It will never be comfortable. But it will be a bit less dangerous at the very least hopefully with my intervention." Lisa said.
"I see… And how painful will these experiments be?" Lincoln asked.
"Well… There will be a recovery time after each one. But my aim is to help. Not to harm." Lisa said.
"I'll naturally put you under for each one so that you do not suffer unnecessarily." Lisa said.
"My desire is to enhance your life… Or unlife as it might be. Not diminish it." Lisa said. Lincoln nodded, sitting down and letting Lisa draw his blood. She took out an apparatus and drew out a number of vials of Blood, observing that it was darker than human blood and seemed to swirl. She nodded, putting them into what looked like a refrigerated carrying case.
"Thank you, Elder Brother. I feel that I can advance Human as well as Vampiric research." Lisa said.
"By the by, I would like to accompany you into the city of Detroit one night soon in order to confer with Vampires other than yourself. Perhaps you would permit me to confer with your Sire." Lisa said.
"Absolutely not. There is 100% no way I am letting that psychotic piece of nutjob near you." Lincoln said. Lisa chuckled, pulling out a suit. It wasn't her Advanced Combat Suit, though she was working on integrating the aspects of this suit into it.
"This… Is… A UV Ray Suit. Hyperspecialized for entering into Vampire infested areas.
"I can turn the suit on and it will grant me UV light for up to twelve hours." Lisa said.
"I created it specifically so that I could go with you into the city. In the event that your Vampire friends decide I'd make a better meal than a science partner, I can merely think a thought and the suit will turn on. Lisa turned on the suit. Lincoln roared in pain as his skin started to redden and peel. Lisa turned the suit off, smirking at Lincoln as he gasped for breath, shocked at the sudden burst of agony.
"Wow! That… Lisa, wow… Damn!" Lincoln cursed.
"Indeed. This suit will grant me strong protection against any nocturnal blood sucking parasites."
Lisa chuckled and took the suit off.
"Furthermore, it will grant me protection against the cold. It completely seals me in and traps heat with near absolute effectiveness." Lisa said.
"Furthermore, I would like the opportunity to implant Lucy and Jordan with bionic organs and my UDOM." Lisa said.
"While they lack Vampiric physiology, I believe they would benefit from the organs." Lisa said.
"How can we get operated on?" Jordan asked.
"I'm not allowed in the house." Lucy said.
"In the house. Technically, the bomb shelter/laboratory under the backyard is not in the house." Lisa said. Lincoln nodded. He didn't think that Rita and Lynn would be willing to split those same hairs. But he would talk to Rita and Lynn about the issues. He called them. It would be a tough sell. But he was sure that he would be able to do it. He was the man with the plan. He was a true Slytherin.
"Lincoln? Have you decided to break up with Lucy?" Rita asked hopefully. Lincoln sighed.
"No. I'm not going to be doing that." He said softly. He'd long since come to accept that this was how he felt. But she was almost making him feel guilty about his feelings for Lucy.
"No. Lisa has offered to implant Lucy and Jordan with her bionic organs. But we'd need to come to the house for a time in order to get them implanted. I'm already implanted, but I'd want to be there for Jordan and Lucy. I know you said we're not allowed to come over. But we'd only be there for a brief time.
"We wouldn't be showing our affection for each other. We'd simply be there for the surgery and once Lisa was convinced that we are good to go, we'd leave." Lincoln said. Rita thought for a long moment.
"Let me think about it. I'll talk about it with Lynn and we'll get back to you." Rita said. Lincoln nodded. He was hoping that she would let them do it right away. But he understood why they weren't willing to agree immediately.
-0-
"I heard the phone call. Lincoln wants to bring Jordan and Lucy over for the purposes of having Lisa enhance them with bionic organs." Lynn said. Rita nodded, sitting down with him. She wasn't sure that she should let him think that he had won by letting him come home for any reason. However, she was sure that if they didn't let them do it at Lisa's laboratory, they would find another place to do it. And she was sure that wherever Lisa did it, it would be just as good as the laboratory. On the one hand, that meant that they could refuse and it would make little difference. Rita sighed.
There was little way they could prevent Lucy and Jordan from getting the organs. And if the girls wanted them, then what reason did Rita and Lynn have to stop them from getting them. Both were adults and had the right to make their own decisions. However, they didn't need to encourage what they considered an immoral lifestyle by allowing Lucy and Lincoln to come home. They didn't have to tacitly approve of Lincoln's and Lucy's incestuous relationships by allowing them in the house.
"What do you think, Lynn? I'm inclined to not allow them home. Maybe by taking a hardline stance, we can encourage them to see their errors." Rita said. She wondered if she was being judgmental though. On the one hand, she was sure that Lisa could provide them with scientific advances that would allow them to have physically and mentally healthy children. After all, Lisa had created a vaccine for many strains of HIV and even those strains that weren't vaccinated against by Lisa's vaccine were shown to be fought against when said person was vaccinated against HIV.
She had created treatments for cancer that were proven far superior to anything previously on the market. Treatments for cancer that could cure even extremely difficult cancers like pancreatic cancer, mesothelioma, esophageal cancer and so on. Her invention of nanomachines and serums that affected accelerated healing allowed for many treatments that were previously though impossible. She had used her inventions and Lana's expertise to do repairs on the house. Rita and Lynn were considering moving across town to a slightly smaller house.
They had the money to do it. Lynn's restaurants were extremely successful and Rita had published multiple books. Her first book, the one about the white haired adventurer was being made into a movie. And there was talk of making it a movie series. One movie for each book. Rita was talking to Netflix about a series about it. Either way, they would be coming into a brand new source of money. For Rita, the money was secondary. But still nice to have after having to be so conservative for so long.
"I'm sure that whatever Lisa wants to do, she'll find a way to do." Rita said. Lynn nodded. He didn't necessarily like the fact that Lincoln and Lucy were seeing no consequences for their relationship so far. But they had done the right thing by ensuring that they didn't encourage it by allowing them to stay at the house. Or had they done the right thing? Kicking their own children around the Christmas season? Lynn knew that Lucy was Pagan and that she celebrated Yule. But the point was the same. Lynn worried how Lincoln would handle it when the three were separated again after the Christmas holidays.
Lincoln was a strong young man. But losing his family and then both his partners going back to college. Would Lincoln be going back to college? Or was he done after his Bachelor's Degree? Lynn knew that Lincoln of all people could afford to continue college. He could spend his whole life going to college and probably never run out of money. His Full House Gang had really done that well. Lynn was almost a little jealous of how successful Lincoln had become even before his 13th birthday. All his kids were successful, in fact. Lynn knew that… Overall they had done a good job raising their kids.
He wasn't happy that Lincoln and Lucy were in a sexual relationship. But overall, they didn't have sex in their house. So it wasn't hurting the younger kids. He knew that Lisa knew about it. But she was mature beyond her years and it only made sense that she as the scientist of the family would know about it. He looked over at Rita, who seemed to be having the same thoughts.
"Are you starting to feel guilty about disowning Lincoln and Lucy?" Lynn asked. Little did either of them know that Lola and Lana were testing out invisibility suits, listening in on the conversation.
They were also testing the telepathic headphones that Lisa had invented. They were a little bit glitch once you got beyond about 60 feet of each other. But they were useful and Lisa was improving them.
"Looks like Mom and Dad are having second thoughts about booting Linc and Luce." Lana said telepathically. Lola nodded.
"Definitely. I can't read their minds. But from what Dad said, it seems that's right." Lola replied.
Rita sighed.
"Yeah… Maybe we were a bit hasty. As long as they're not displaying romantic or sexual affection in the house, I don't see how it hurts the other kids. I doubt Lily really even understands. I mean, she's a smart girl. But she's also 12. There's a good chance that by the time she understands Lucy's and Lincoln's relationship, she'll be a bit older and ready to understand it. At least then we can explain that while Lincoln and Lucy are like that, it's not the best thing for other people to imitate." Rita said.
"Yeah. And especially around the holidays. Especially after the strange and bad things that happened to Lincoln. Did you notice that he didn't eat any of my cookies at the party? Do you think he was still just suffering from trauma or do you think something worse is going on?" Lynn asked, seeming worried that Lincoln had tried the cookies and didn't like them.
"I'm sure if Lincoln had eaten them, he would have loved them." Rita said kindly.
"All of our kids grew up on your recipes. They're delicious, sweetie." Rita said.
"Aww… Thanks, honey. Yeah. You know, as much as we don't like Lincoln's and Lucy's relationship, I think we should invite them back so we can at least have a candid chat on what's acceptable in this house and what isn't." Lynn said. Rita nodded, kissing Lynn lovingly. She picked up the phone, calling Lincoln again.
-0-
Lincoln took a deep breath, taking Lucy's and Jordan's hands, going into his parents' house. He didn't fully know what to expect. But whatever it was, it probably wouldn't be good. Maybe they had called the police after all and Lincoln, Lucy and Jordan would have to hightail it out of town. Maybe they would have to hightail it out of the country even. He really hoped that they wouldn't. Especially not so quickly. He had a lot of precious things in his home that he couldn't so readily just dispose of. They walked in to see Rita and Lynn sitting on the couch, waiting for them. Lisa went to prepare the lab for the girls.
"Lincoln, Lucy, sit down. Please." Lynn said solemnly. Lincoln sighed, sitting down with Lucy.
"Is everything alright?" Lincoln asked.
"Well… Yes. We've decided that we were a bit hasty to disown you like we did. You've been through some real trauma, Lincoln and you need family around you to help you recover." Lynn said. Lincoln sighed. They didn't know half of what he had been through. But for now, it wasn't important.
"So… We're going to allow you and Lucy to come to the house again." Rita said.
"However, we have some hard rules. You aren't allowed to kiss, have sex or even hold hands while you're in our house." Rita said. She felt that it was a fair demand to make.
"You can kiss and hold hands with Jordan while you're here. But not with Lucy." Lynn said. Lincoln nodded. That was a fair thing to ask. In fact, he wouldn't have made his relationship with Lucy obvious when they were in Rita's and Lynn's house anyway. He could understand the importance of keeping things low-key. Lucy seemed more distressed by their dictate. But she didn't say anything.
She continued to listen.
"Are we agreed on that?" Rita asked. Lincoln, Lucy and Jordan nodded.
"Good. Now, I also wonder why you didn't have any of my cookies at the Christmas party." Lynn said to Lincoln. Lincoln sighed. He wanted to continue to lie. He didn't want to expose his parents to this world, especially if it could mean that they would be in danger because of it.
"I just wasn't hungry." Lincoln lied. Rita raised an eyebrow.
"You're always hungry for your father's cookies." Rita said. Lincoln looked around. He really didn't want this knowledge for them. But he could tell that this was the hill Lynn Loud Sr. was willing to die on. His cooking was extremely important to him, and the fact that one of his own kids wasn't eating his food hurt.
"Can you promise that you won't freak out when I tell you?" Lincoln asked.
"I really can't stress enough that I need you not to freak out." Lincoln said.
"Of course. We didn't freak out when we found out you were having sex with Lucy." Lynn said.
"Well, we didn't freak out much. Well… We got over the freak out quickly." Lynn corrected.
"Anyway… I didn't not eat your food because I don't like it. I didn't eat it because I physically am unable to. I'm a Vampire. I can only drink blood." Lincoln said. He was sure that neither of them would believe that right away. He would have to show them proof.
"Son, we may have been born. But we weren't born yesterday. Vampires are just fantasy." Lynn said.
"No. We're not." Lincoln said, showing off his teeth. Lynn reached out, shocked at how they had simply come out of his mouth like that.
"Can I touch them?" He asked, looking them over as best he could. Rita seemed intrigued as well.
"Do you show up in mirrors and photographs?" Rita asked. Lincoln chuckled.
"Yes and yes." Lincoln said.
"Those old legends about Vampires are bullshit." Lincoln said.
"I can't actually tell you that much about Vampires. I'm probably already breaking Vampire laws by telling you I am one. But I don't want you to think I don't like your cookies. I love them. But I physically can't keep them down. Vampire drawbacks." Lincoln said sadly. He was distressed that he would never get to enjoy Lynn's cooking again. Lynn nodded, hugging Lincoln.
"You're not gonna be like, 'now I have to kill you', are you?" Lynn asked with a laugh.
Lincoln laughed as well.
"No, no! Actually, I'm happy that you know. This way I can just be open with you guys." Lincoln said. He smiled and pulled away.
"We have to get up to Lisa's lab to get ripped open and experimented on." Lucy said, seeming to be more excited about it than she really should have been. The three went up to Lisa's lab and Lincoln sat outside with Lucy while Jordan went under the knife, taking off everything except her panties.
Lisa's process was fairly fast, finishing within forty minutes before bringing Lucy in.
"Okay… Your turn, Elder Sister." Lisa said.
"Elder Brother, Jordan will need to remain on the bed for at least six hours. Since it is night time, I'm permitting her to sleep here. I will provide warmth via heating units. Lucy and Jordan will rejoin you tomorrow morning when I am certain that they are fully stable." Lisa said. Lincoln nodded.
He left the house, heading to Nearra's house, where he assumed that she would be training him in his physical abilities and combat abilities.