Alright everyone I posted this chapter last night and it got some backlash and that is fine. I am not going to change anything, rather I will clarify something. First someone who posted a review felt I meant to say all religious people were brainwashed or something like. That is not at all what I meant, I meant that the church he was in was specifically designed in a bad way. I made it very clear I did not blanket every religious group person or belief. As for feeling bad about disliking the belief that gay people deserve to burn in hell and rot; I will not apologize for that. That was not a miscommunication at all. Every other thing else was obviously not sent off in the right way so I am sorry. I project a lot of things that happened to me in the fanfic. I find the personal touch helps me along. I could go on, but I don't want sympathy. I want to explain things. I should communicate my messages better in the future if you guy's came out thinking I thought anything but a few select radicals in religion were the problem. That being said I will never apologize for despising homophobic people simply for hating gay people for prejudicial reasons. Anyway I hope this helps make things more clear
The recording was grueling and painful to listen to. Lincoln and Ronnie were brought to tears from hearing the screams of the silently cut Leni who clearly had plenty of bruises that the naked eye couldn't see. Lincoln looked to Leni and said "Oh my god. I am so sorry. This was building up for some time. We were never taught. I knew for a few days but the years of torture...I wa- I want to take it all back..."
Leni looked to Lincoln while she cried and her obviously hoarse voice could barely manage the words "It-It's Okay. I got through this long. I shouldn't have lost my temper. I didn'"
Sydney was mad "Leni don't, just don't. You had a right to be mad. This was objectively hurt. We care about you. Stop with the self-deprecation".
Leni continued to smile and said "It's really okay. I know what I am and who I am"
Lincoln and Luna and every other older sister hugged her and Luan said "It's not okay and now we know who you are and we will not ever patronize you again. please smile again because it's the most wonderful part of our day. We hurt you and we will do better...I am sorry".
Leni hugged them back and said "Thank you"
Everyone went to their respective rooms and went to sleep. It was an oddly peaceful night considering the bombshell dropped last night.
Lori went to Leni's bed and held her "It's okay to weep. You held the family up, your cheerful luaghter, your wonderful smile. You were our Atlus. We took you for granted".
Leni silently cried and held Lori as she slept.
Lynn looks over to Lucy and say's "goonight Lucy"
Lucy responded "I know.."
Lynn was confused and a little nervous so she asked "W-hat do you mean". Lynn did not expect to squirm to two simple words. She could handle punches, kicks and headlocks. The fear of being found out was nerve racking.
Lucy just said "You like girls. Nothing wrong with it. None of my business".
Lynn was glad she pulled the band aid and glad she was cool with it
Lucy than spoke again "Also sorry about linking your soul to the spirit world"
Lynn was scared "What did you just say"
Lucy liked this sensation. She felt acknowledged in her peaceful witchcraft. "I speak to the dead and can do things with the link. I discerned you were lying with a lock of hair I "accidentally" pulled from your hair. From than on I was told what I seeked was in the vents to Lori's room. I thanked the spirits and sure enough that is what I found out".
Lynn laughed nervously "Thanks, but what do you mean link".
Lucy said "If I want to use magic on you again I can. Don't worry I won't abuse it...I wouldn't make me mad though".
With a gulp Lynn went to sleep and made a note to discuss this with Lori tomorrow. She went to sleep soundly. Luan and Luna were having a terrible time getting to bed because they felt so bad.
Luna said "God I feel terrible"
Luan said "Yeah I feel terrible; we let this whole thing slip us, I am an asshole"
Luna half jokingly said "Story of my life"
They laid in bed and in silence and Luna said "Can you stay strong. Leni are you doing okay"
The morning rose and everyone greeted Leni normally. They wanted to change; not to accommodate her until it feels forced. Leni wanted normal and she earned it. Lincoln went up to her and said "Hey Leni, are you feeling any better"
Leni smiled and said "Yep, thanks for asking".
Everyone ate breakfast and split up for school. Lincoln went to school to talk to Ronnie Anne "Hey Ronnie, want to eat before seeing the girls and Ronnie shrugged and nodded.
School ended and Ronnie and Lincoln hung out at Burping Burgers Lincoln thought for a moment as he played with his fries "So Ronnie, do we have a gameplan...Subtle or direct".
Ronnie looked to him and said "I don't know I would just say she likes girls. They are 4. Anything more is obsessive".
He nodded. That out of the way. They went on to talk about Ronnie's family. Ronnie loved talking about them and Lincoln loved hearing about it. It made him happy. They finished and headed to his house. Upon entering they went inside and Lincoln said "We may be able to get Lisa's help".
They entered and Lisa said "No time to do anything. I have an essay to finish and a lecture to prepare. I don't mean to be rude but please leave"
They obliged feeling defeated all they could do was walk to the twins room and knock. They both yelled "come in".
Lincoln said "Um hey we got to talk...It's about a secret!"
Lola was intrigued "Ooh; do go on my fine sir. Here I will get you some tea. What is it. Does someone like someone"
Ronnie replied "Yes, actually. I will get to that".
Lana was into it now and she said "Lola hurry with the tea this is getting good".
Lincoln was getting nervous and Ronnie could tell and with a silent nod she took over "Girls, listen closely. Lynn is well different".
They looked at her confused Lana said "Why, does she pick her nose and eat it".
Ronnie giggled and said "No, Lynn kind of well...Likes girls like Bobbi and Lori"
They looked at her confused and said "So...is that bad?"
Ronnie was quick to say "No not all. It's great that you see this as no big deal".
They just shrugged and said "We just assumed it was normal".
They were really confused and even more so when Ronnie and Lincoln both hugged them and Lola just said completely vexed "What is going on".
Lincoln and Ronnie laughed and left content with their work. They decided to spend the rest of the day wondering town to hang out.
Lori and Leni discussed plans to talk to Pops and Leni just said flat out "We are going to have to bite the bullet and tell them the truth..."
Lori said "yeah, you're right".
They went down the stairs and Rita was about to go Jogging and Lori stopped her "Hey mom can I take Vanzilla to go see Pop-Pop"
Rita was confused and said "Why, this is not normal for you two." Rita said quickly; still embarrassed about her behavior towards Leni.
Lori heeded Leni's word's "To be honest. One of our sister's is gay and wants to come out to Pop-pop"
Rita just sighed and said "No, I am sorry".
Leni was hurt and said "I had to make her smile again, she looked so hopeless and lost. Why can't we".
Rita just said flatly "Pop-pops is well; old fashioned and I once had no idea until I brought a gay friend home. I had no idea that there was more than one gay person in the house, surprising, not that I care, anyway It made him very mad to hear it than and it would make him mad to hear it now".
Lori was pretty mad but not at Rita "Why would he get mad it's none of his business".
Rita just shrugged and said "He was brainwashed. The church Pops was raised in was crazy and very hateful when came to homosexuality. He was brainwashed into being a hateful person. I was a christian too. I knew better though. I knew better because I went to school and knew gay people every lie I was told was shown to be false. Dad never got the chance to interact until it was too late. They home-schooled him to hammer the point into him to be just like them. I wanted to be a better person so as soon as I married your father we switched churches; I always knew it was too late to change that and instead I just avoid the subject...You should do the same. I love him but he has a lot of problems...Who is it by the way".
As they left crestfallen Leni turned to her and said "Lynn, it's Lynn".
Lori and Leni go to Lynn's room and knock "Hey I don't know if you talked to Luan yet"
Lynn replied "No, why what's up".
Lori just said "We need to talk".
Lori sat Lynn down and carefully explained how pops could not be told about her secret and why.
Lynn felt very sad and said "Will he hate me".
Lori said "No. Don't ever tell him. Listen, He was brainwashed. Don't get me wrong, I am not defending his beliefs. I am just saying he was raised in a household that forced horrible opinions into his head. He had no choice and by the time he did have a choice they successfully molded his whole being".
Lynn said "If there is a god I think he hate-"
Lori said "If there is a god...He did not do this to pops, his parent's made him like this and he chose to not change, you can still love him and care about him while despising these hate filled beliefs and the method's used to force them on him"
Lynn nodded and said "If I avoid the subject will I be fine"
Lori said "Yes, you should be"
Just than Lynn Sr. knocked on the door "Sweetems Lynn are you in here...Can I come in to talk to you".
Lynn was slightly shook from the news and Lynn could guess why "I am sorry about pops...I really am".
He hugged her and sang "So you're standing on a ledge, it looks like you might fall..."
It calmed Lynn and surprisingly Lori as well
Lynn stopped and looked Lynn in the eyes and said "You and me I want to hang out with you and discuss this with you".
Lynn said "Well I planned on telling Luan".
Her dad said in a cheeful tone "We can tell her together".
Lynn Jr smiled and said okay.
They headed to Burpin burger and ate while eating Lynn Sr said "There is nothing wrong with what you are. Pops is misguided. He is lost".
Lynn Jr began eating and said "Thank you for caring".
Lynn Sr said "I am a good Dad after all. Pop-pop is too, he is just backwards on some things".
Lynn Jr nodded half halfheartedly and said "I like Margo".
Lynn Sr smiled and said "Well the first thing you need to do is find out if Margo likes girls or guy's...look I want you to know, if you need advice, or help you
always could and always can trust us to give it to you".
Lynn Jr hugged him and said "Thanks dad, I love you guy's'
He just laughed and said "Ditto"