Chapter 9

The Calm Before the Storm

-THE HOMECOMING ARC BEGINS-

They say all good things must come to an end. While this was unfortunate, the magical weekend at the park had sadly come to a close. The gang packed their bags (with Lucy cutely holding her stuffed bat) and loaded them back into Bobby's car for one final drive down the strip. Lucy looked forlornly out the window as several happy park goers got to continue their adventures, while others arrived, just starting theirs. She then peeked out the rear-view, with Lincoln joining her shortly after, as the car passed through the big welcome gate. The big landmarks in the background grew smaller and smaller, and eventually the gate, too. Lucy took Lincoln's hand and gently sat in silence.

Lori read the air and tried to cheer everyone up with more fun music and jokes. Lincoln felt himself getting into it a little more with each passing hour. Bobby as well, since despite his normally very upbeat and laid back attitude, he was dreading his return home. Traffic would undoubtedly be bad, and after the breakup the Casagrande household was undergoing a lot of family drama. So Bobby wouldn't be pleased to see his sister again. Still, he at least wanted to make the most of the time left! Lucy, however, was more somber than ever before. Throughout the rest of the ride that day, and even the dinner afterward, Lucy wouldn't speak a word. Alongside the headache she had developed, she didn't want to go back home. She didn't want to leave this dreamy vacation behind, she didn't want to have to put her relationship back in secret again. She just wanted to spend more time with her lover doing fun activities. It was difficult to let go. If the hotel night on the way up was the warm bread before the meal, than this would be a rather underwhelming dessert before an early bedtime. Lucy was known to be negative but this hit her hard.

Soon enough, it was time to tuck into bed for the night. Bobby and Lori had already passed out in the other bed while Lucy was huddled up in Lincoln's arms. She still remained silent as Lincoln turned off the light. Then an hour had passed, and yet neither of them were able to get any sleep. Lucy just stared at Lincoln's shirt while he stared at the ceiling. Something was wrong with Lucy, and he wanted to calm her down. It was time to speak up.

"Pssstt... Luce...sweetheart." Lincoln gently whispered.

Lucy remained silent.

"Luce... I know this is difficult." He said in the same tone. "It was such a good time! I know you're sad that it's over, but it's not the end!"

Lucy gently looked up at him, still silent.

"We had a wonderful time! Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened! At least, that's the mentality Clyde takes... But it's a good way of thinking!" Lincoln added, trying to encourage her. Lucy began to quietly sob into his shirt. But it was the first time she had spoken up all day.

"I-I know, but why does it have to end?! Why can't we just be there forever? Y-You and me, m-making magic and memories!" Lucy said, sobbing more and more with each word, prompting Lincoln to stroke her hair softly. It helped her calm down a little.

"L-Lucy, sweetheart, calm down, it's going to be fine...~" Lincoln said soothingly.

"A-Are you sure?" Lucy said, looking up with tears in her eyes. "B-But we have to go back home, to a life where we hide everything from Mom and Dad. I-I don't want to do that again! Not after this!"

"I'm sure~ We have our siblings on our side now, we'll find a way~ For now, let's smile at the memories we've made already, and enjoy this time we have together!" Lincoln said with a sincere smile, looking into Lucy's eyes.

Lucy finally stopped sobbing, gently rubbing her eyes and laying her head on her lover's chest. Finally she could calm down and rest easy. "Th-Thanks, sweetie~"

"I'll always be here for you, my little beacon~" Lincoln said softly, giving her a kiss and gently closing his eyes. The two began to sleep cozily and peacefully.

Still, Lincoln knew that what to do going forward would be a big hurdle, especially in regards to their parents. And that doesn't even include explaining things to Lana, Lola, and Lisa. It was going to be a very interesting situation, and despite calming her down now, he knew Lucy would want to be more open in the future. It's a difficult balance that they'll probably have to tackle sooner than they'd think.


The final day was nothing too special, though Lucy was thankfully in a better mood this time around. It was now Tuesday and while one would be concerned about school, Mrs. Johnson was reasonable and had nothing big planned for the past few days, so missing class was not an issue. Alongside more jokes and music, Bobby and Lincoln attempted another visit to K.R.'s, which Lori had to put her foot down on. They already had so much junk from there that the trunk was nearly bursting open! A very calm lunch was had, and by that late afternoon the gang was home once again.

The family came out to happily greet them as they piled out of the car, aside from a tired Bobby who was basically slumping around.

"Linky! Lucy! Lori! We missed you so much~!" Lola said sweetly, dancing up to them and hugging Lincoln warmly.

Lana quickly joined her, giving Lucy a hug. "So good to have you back!"

"Awwww~" Lincoln said happily, patting both of their heads, while Lucy simply giggled. "You two are the sweetest! How was the house this weekend?"

"Pretty good I'd say!" Lana said with a thumbs up.

"Pretty GOOD?!" Lola turned to her, clearly annoyed. "My nice ribbons got covered in PAINT!"

"DUDE! I already apologized six times!" Luna added, arms spread as she gave a look of annoyance to Lola, who promptly returned the same expression.

"And that will be the LAST time you help Dad paint the paneling! You dropped an ENTIRE BUCKET!" Lola began to freak out more.

"But The Gavinners are in town! Dad promise to pay for it if I helped, there were some sweet tickets on the line!" Luna said.

"THOSE TICKETS WERE NOT WORTH RUINING MY WAND!" Lola said in anger, tackling Luna as a fight cloud broke out, which bounded into the house.

Lori rolled her eyes and followed them inside. "Ugh, literally a minute after we arrive. I'll deal with it..."

Lincoln and Lucy simply chuckled.

"Same as it ever was, eh Luce?" Lincoln said, Lucy smiling in response.

"As always sw-...Lincoln~" Lucy said, quickly catching herself.

After that little charade, Lynn Sr. and Rita turned back to their middle children and happily smiled.

"So, kiddos! How was the trip?" He said with a proud tone.

"You'll have to tell us all about it over dinner!" Rita added, giving both of them a hug.

Lynn Sr. then looked over to notice a very worn-out Bobby who was hobbling past them. "and Bobby, you're welcome to stay for dinner, you're gonna need it! We're having my famous Lynn-guini and clams!"

"Th-thank you Mr. Loud...!" Bobby said, gently giving him a thumbs up in approval. Everyone happily laughed as the parents helped their children unload the car and bring everything inside. Soon enough everyone was seated at the table enjoying a warm meal and telling stories of what happened on the trip. Lori decided to hold off on telling the details of the incident to Lynn and Rita, not wanting to spoil the joyful mood of the dinner table. Aside from Lily throwing a piece of bread at one point, everything went smoothly!

...Then there was Lynn Jr., who was notably absent from the festivities. Ever since that car had pulled up she was in a sour mood, sulking in bed, and listening to the muffled sounds of laughter coming from downstairs. The girl with the normally big appetite was in no mood to eat, and that was telling. As much as it sickened her to think about what Lincoln and Lucy might've been doing while they were gone, she found it nice to be away from them for a few days, and to have their room to herself. Though it all went by so fast, even without a game to keep her occupied, and things were brewing in that head of hers that could drive her family Lynn-sane.


A couple of weeks had passed since the big trip, and the two lovebirds were becoming acclimated to their usual routines again, sneaking in some lovey-dovey time whenever they had the opportunity. The reward from the Cappy Challenge had just arrived, too! Bobby decided to split it between the two families like before, with several cases of both common variants, along with plenty of Orange and Grape, going to the Louds. Lynn Sr. especially was pleased with all of the free beverages, and planned on hosting a BBQ party with some of the reserves! Lucy gently fed some to Fangs, and it quickly became his favorite drink! Meanwhile, the other half was added to the Bodega's stock and (despite getting trapped in the milk case AGAIN), Bobby was able to put several varieties proudly on display. They proved to be a hot item, and the brief but welcome period of extra business did a lot to help calm the family drama down. A win-win for Bobby!

Speaking of celebrations, Lincoln and his buddies had just arrived at Royal Woods Elementary's annual Spring Fair! Lucy decided to go with her friends in the Morticians Club (as she, Boris, and Dante loved carnival games), but gave Lincoln a warm kiss before the two left the house! As Lincoln was washing up in one of the school bathrooms, Clyde pulled him aside for a moment, wanting to get something out of the way before the fun.

"Hey buddy, before we go, do you have a moment?" Clyde asked.

"Of course! What's on your mind? ...is it Lori again?" Lincoln asked, with a sigh in that last part.

"No no, that's for another time!" Clyde said, waving his hands, not even denying it. "It's about you and Lucy..." Suddenly Lincoln's hand shot up to his mouth.

"SHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Do you want the whole school to find out?!" Lincoln whispered frantically. Clyde took a deep breathed and sighed to reassure him.

"S-Sorry, was a bit loud there..." Clyde rubbed the back of his head. "Anyway, nobody's in here... Have you told your parents yet? I've been worried sick about this, and how they'll react."

"N-Not yet, I'm still figuring it out." Lincoln said.

"You can't just keep putting it off, you're just delaying the inevitable!" Clyde responded, sounding very serious. "Dr. Lopez says to never leave these things bottled up and..."

"Dr. Lopez has never been in this kind of relationship! She wouldn't know!" Lincoln said, interrupting his friend, making him gasp defensively.

"How could you say such a thing about Dr. Lopez?!" Clyde said, freaking out a bit. Lincoln took a deep breath and placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him down a bit.

"I'm sorry, Clyde, I didn't mean to snap at you... I just meant that this is a delicate subject." Lincoln said, sighing. "This is something that I have to plan carefully, make sure it's just right. You know how my parents are, both can be very strict, and dad very emotional."

"But what's the worst that could happen? They aren't going to throw you out on the street, or send you two to separate orphanages" Clyde added. Lincoln simply shook his head.

"You never know. Then again, they DID once say that they could never bring themselves to send any of us away." Lincoln thought to himself.

"You mean with the Easter Tie fiasco?" Clyde inquired.

"Yep, that's the one." Lincoln said with a nod.

"So what's the worst that could happen?" Clyde said, with a bit of confidence. "It's not like they'll forbid you from seeing me or the others either!"

"I know, but it isn't THAT easy..." Lincoln sighed. "I'll think of something, don't worry!"

"I hope you do that soon!" Clyde responded. "If you don't someone else might..."

Lincoln paused for a moment. "True, but only you and my older sisters know, and they wouldn't spill the beans...!"

Suddenly a knock was heard on the door from outside.

"Guys, are you alright? The fair's about to start, let's go~!" Said Stella, from the other side of the door.

"Y'all don't wanna make us late!" Liam added.

"Sorry guys, we'll be right there!" Lincoln shouted. The two boys washed their hands and exited the bathroom, joining the rest of their friend group in the hall. "Let's have some fun!"

"Trust me, it'll be fun alright!" Rusty said, sporting his usual smirk. "Because the Rust Man is gonna score some sick prizes at the carnival games! Gotta impress the ladies with my godly aim!" He proudly boasted.

"Yer tellin' me! I gotta try them myself, y'all never seen how well I can throw a cow pie!" Liam said in response, resulting in a glare from Rusty.

"Come on, man!" Rusty said. "You can't upstage me!"

"Aw shucks! Don't worry, Rusty, we're all in this for some good ol' fashioned fun! There's plenty to go around!" Liam said cheerfully as the group walked outside. The fair's music could be heard loud and clear, and the gleeful cheers of elementary school students were ringing all over the school grounds. The group happily made their way to the games, while a nearby Boris and Dante were wielding water guns and competing at the local duck shooting game. Great festivities, along with the smell of popcorn and hot dogs, created an air of excitement and fun!


Though back at home, things were much different. Lynn was sitting on her bed, sporting a grumpy expression as she tossed a tennis ball at the wall and back. Muffled sounds could be heard from the other rooms, but even Luna's all-out jam was not enough to faze her. Every bit of spare time was spent in her room, pondering to herself or exercising. Anything to get her mind off of something that just wouldn't leave. She then spotted an empty bottle of Nuka Grape and picked it up. The sight of it made her stomach go in knots, it was essentially one of the symbols of Lincoln and Lucy's relationship. Channeling all of her frustration into her arm, she pushed her window open and chucked the bottle at full force, followed by a loud snapping sound coming from Mr. Grouse's driveway. He happened to be pulling his car out at the time and the glass fragments punctured his tire.

"Huh?! My dang tire's popped!" He said in frustration, opening up the window of his car and shaking his fist. "WHAT THE HELL, LOUDS!? Keep your dang glass OFF MY PROPERTY!"

Lynn simply looked in silence and closed the window again. Flopping on her bed, arms spread out, she groaned, looking deep into her own thoughts.

"Uggghhhhh, why can't I stop thinking about it?!" She said in frustration, looking up at the ceiling and hitting herself in the face.


Before Lucy was born, Lynn was actually Lincoln's closest sibling. All of the sisters would protect Lincoln and help him feel better whenever he cried. Everyone loved him! But Lynn Jr. felt the closest bond with him, and for awhile Lincoln reciprocated that. They would eat together, take baths together (exemplified by a photo that Lynn managed to back up before Lincoln mistakenly deleted his collection of childhood photos), play little games together, and even shared the same room! Middle siblings tend to bond more, and was that more true than ever here. Everything was right in Lynn's world, just her and her adorable baby brother!

But just a few years later things took a turn for the worse in her eyes. Their parents bought Lucy home from the hospital, and for the first time Lincoln saw himself in a position of responsibility, and as a big brother he did all he could to help take care of Lucy, even when she wasn't feeling well. This closeness to Lucy meant he spent less and less time with Lynn. She would try to get in on the games Lincoln and Lucy would play, but often times would end up too rough, resulting in Lucy crying and a scolding from Rita. Her resentment for Lucy as an obstacle would only grow once Lynn Sr. and Rita decided that Lincoln should have his own space. The closet down the hall was refitted into Lincoln's room, and who moved into their old shared room in his place? None other than little Lucy! It was a constant reminder that would continue to haunt her on and off.

Now, Lincoln wasn't ignorant of Lynn, he still loved her very much as a sister. They still spent time together every so often, and they even collaborated in the Loudest Yard operation. But she could tell that they were much more split than they used to be. He really only hung out with her when the sibling group was hanging out together. Because by herself, he had some issues with how she behaved. She was overtly competitive, and while she's recently began to learn for the better, her intensity and occasional gloating could still be a turn-off. She can also be really rough with him for no reason, which was the kind of thing that helped push him and Ronnie Anne apart just a few months prior. She would often physically assault him for little to no reason, or often for petty ones, and made threats that frightened him. While she did suffer in similar ways when starting middle school, she had zero excuse for taking it out on her family. At one point she even nearly broke Lincoln's arm, and in another instance threatened him with a wooden bat. Things she regretted but never stopped doing.

Now, sometimes she'd channel it into a form of training regime, trying to help her little brother in her own special way, and while it'd work sometimes, other times it would just frighten Lincoln off, especially when he'd just want a free moment to read a comic book or play one of his games. She knew that Lincoln would be pushed around from time to time and she wanted to make him stronger. Because she really liked what kind of man Lincoln had become. Intelligent, brave, kindhearted (if a little selfish on occasion, but who isn't?), and honestly quite handsome. Considering how little she interacted with others aside from her own teammates, and small circle of friends, Lincoln was the only guy her age to play a major role in her life, and that has some serious effects. She saw the sacrifices he was willing to make for his family, and how hard he was willing to work to achieve his goals. Even if he occasionally took shortcuts, he'd always work to right any of his wrongs, and could interact with others in meaningful ways. Two things she herself felt she could never do. In a way, he completed her, and eventually resulted in her falling in love.

Let's not forget the time they shared a room during her and Lucy's fight. They were squabbling over their clashing lifestyles and habits, but Lynn had a secondary motivation in mind, hoping she'd be put in Lincoln's room, and even trying to move herself in permanently before Lincoln put his foot down. She enjoyed every moment of it, from the Lucha wrestling to sleeping in the same bed. Lincoln didn't enjoy it, but Lynn relished in ever second of it. She wanted to show Lucy just how close she and Lincoln supposedly were.

All of this rolling together, it's no surprise why her resentment near-exploded once Lucy had gotten to him first, despite her begrudgingly accepting their relationship to save face. But she was not pleased, and she knew that Lincoln could sense this to degree. She held onto hope that he'd eventually realize that she loved him just as much as Lucy. But that moment never came, and she's found herself increasingly more desperate to take Lucy's place. This was one competition where she was not willing to throw in the towel and accept defeat. To her, she was Lynnsanity, and she had to win.


Eventually, the sporty teenager pulled out her laptop, which was covered in pennant stickers and had a slight crack on the screen. Opening it up, she checked her friends list online and Margo was quick to message her. Chatting with Margo was always a good time for her, spending time with her best friend could help take her mind off of anything. Without any hesitation she clicked the chat window, putting on some sports music alongside it to pep herself up a bit.

Margo: "Yo, Lynn! What's up? We haven't seen you at practice these past few weeks! Something on your mind? It just hasn't been the same without you around."

She gently smiled and wiggled her fingers, pressing them to the keyboard in succession.

Lynn: "Nothing much, just some things..."

Margo: "Just some THINGS? It's not like you to just skip all of these opportunities to play! I'm your friend, you can tell me what's bothering you..."

Lynn: "Really, it's nothing, bud, don't worry about it...~!"

Margo: "Lynn... this is serious. You aren't yourself at all.."

Lynn thought for a moment and continued typing.

Lynn: "It's not something I can talk about..."

Margo: "Well, this conversation isn't over until you do..."

Lynn had a decision to make. She could tell Margo the full story and brace for drama and the potential of an embarrassing reveal. Another would be to close the laptop now, but she didn't want to just blow off her friend. Maybe a compromise could be reached. Revealing some information but not too much.

Lynn: "Fine... you win..."

Margo: " :) "

Lynn: "It's just about my brother and sister..."

Margo: "Lincoln? What did he do?"

Lynn: "Well, I feel we aren't as close as we used to be, not even nearly that... I feel like I push him away..."

Margo: "Well, you are hard on him. You've attacked him several times unprovoked..."

Lynn: "I know, it's a bad habit, but even when we're being amicable, he prefers Lucy every time. It's been like this for YEARS! I used to be his closest sibling until that gloomy little bat came along!"

Margo: "..."

Lynn: "What, Margo?! Are you gonna take their side?!"

Margo: "Are you aware of what they did lately?"

Lynn: "I am! He chose Lucy to go to that stupid amusement park with him instead of me!"

Margo: "Nuka World."

Lynn: "Yeah, that's the one..."

Margo: "I happened to be there this weekend as well, not that you would know since you weren't at practice..."

Lynn: "It can't be as fun as Dairyland..."

Margo: "It's a tough call... but that's beside the point. Take a look at these pictures I took!"

Lynn: "What are pictures of rides and food going top do to help any of this..."

Margo: "I knew you'd say that... take a look in the background here..."

Lynn watched the screen as several photos popped up in the chat. The first one was a shot of the Romeo and Juliet performance, with a point of view from one of the further back rows. The focus was on the actors, but between two patrons on the side, it was clear as day. Her little brother and sister were locked in a kiss, embracing each other sweetly. She couldn't believe her eyes and began to type furiously.

Lynn: "WHAT THE HELL?! THOSE TWO WERE KISSING IN PUBLIC?!"

Margo: "I guess so, probably assumed that nobody around the park would know them."

Lynn continued to look through the photos, Margo having followed a similar itinerary through the park by chance. She scanned them carefully. The Reptile House, the Interstellar Theater, Oswald's show, the Mystery Mansion, even the fireworks show! All of these photos showed the two lovebirds kissing, holding hands, and all sorts of other public displays of affection in varying parts of the frame. She couldn't believe her eyes, this was worse than she thought. But then something came to her, something she would eventually come to regret.

Lynn: "I've got plans for these photos... Thanks a TON, Margo!"

Margo: "Wait, don't tell me..."

Lynn: "Oh I am! After dinner, my father's gonna get a little slide show!"

Margo: "Come on, Lynn, calm down! There HAS to be another way!"

Before Lynn could even respond, the sounds of commotion could be heard from outside the door, along with plenty of barking.

"CHARLES, YOU RETURN THAT PAPER RIGHT NOW!" Lori shouted, in hot pursuit of the family dog. Looks like he had swiped something from her desk.

Lynn: "Gotta go, family stuff! See you later!" She typed, before quickly closing the laptop and opening her bedroom door.

"The hell's going on out here?" Lynn asked bluntly.

"Charles, give me that, back! One moment you're literally Snoopy, the next you're a deranged mutt!" She said, trying to grab the paper from Charles, who was resisting in a form of Tug of War. Lori's phone rang right on cue, prompting her to let go as Charles barreled down the hall and into the bathroom.

"Uggghhhh, poor timing, Bobby!" Lori then looked to Lynn. "Could you get that back from Charles real quick?"

"Don't worry, sis, I've got you covered!" Lynn said in response, running towards the bathroom. That hefty evidence really lifted Lynn's spirits.

Lori, unaware of Lynn's agenda, smiled and flashed a thumbs up before heading into her room to chat with Bobby. Meanwhile, Lynn ran into the bathroom, only for Charles to bolt out between her legs. She was about to give chase when she noticed a slightly damp piece of paper sitting on the floor.

"Huh, looks like this is what Charles took from Lori..." She said, as curiosity struck. Gently she unfolded the slightly crumpled piece of paper. `Incident Report - Nuka World Medical Department` it read at the top in big letters.

"Hmmm, Lucy did mention having one of her fainting spells at the park... let's see here..." She said, pondering over it and continuing to read. Lucy would sometimes withhold details, and thus Lynn wanted to see if there was any useful information left behind.

"Fainting... blood loss... anemia...yadda yadda yadda." She said, grumbling at each word. Until she got to the list of associates. It was about to shock her just as much as the photos did.

"Lori Loud - Older sister. Bobby Santiago - Lori's boyfriend and family-friend, Lincoln...SPOKES?!" She said in disbelief. "What the HELL?! 'BOYFRIEND?!'"

Lynn nearly tossed the paper down in absolute shock. Not only did they show affection publicly, but they lied on an official incident report. Granted, it's not like it was a life-or-death legal document, but it was still some excellent ammunition for later.

"Stinckoln lied about his name, and on an official report! It's even signed by the doctor! If all else fails, dad is going to have to believe this...~" Lynn said, sporting a smirk afterwards that would not fade for the rest of the afternoon.


Even throughout dinner, that smirk of anticipation would not fade, and it made everyone at the table uneasy. Except Rita, though she had to stay late at the editor's office for a special report, so she was absent from dinner. Lynn Sr. was especially shaken when Lynn turned to him and asked to talk to him after dinner. While it was unsettling, Lynn Sr. was never afraid of his children, but considering how strange Lynn had been acting the past couple of weeks he couldn't help but feel concerned. When dinner was finished, the two Lynns made their way into the master bedroom and closed the door. Both sat on the bed while Lynn Sr. put a hand on his daughter's shoulder. He wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on.

"So, LJ..." He said, looking down at her with worry in his eyes. "what's been on your mind, Kiddo? You just haven't been the same these past couple of weeks..."

She looked up at him and set her computer aside, her smirk temporarily fading. Gotta wait until the right time to present that evidence. "You see, I feel like Lincoln and I aren't as close as we used to be, and I feel like I've been replaced..."

"You really think that?" He patted her on the shoulder. "Lincoln loves you, just as much as he does the rest of the family! What makes you feel that way?"

"Well, i-it's because..." Lynn said, looking down at her knees.

"Is it because of Lucy?" Lynn Sr. said, with curiosity.

"Yes... Even since she was born, though these past couple of years it feels especially big..." She said, stretching her arms out.

"Well, to be fair, you are too rough with him. Your mother and I have had to punish you several times. He loves you, but it's no surprise you could be pushing him away..." He said, provoking a glare from his daughter.

She gently sighed and looked up at him once again. "I-I just want him to be a champion like me..."

"I understand that..." He said, pulling her into a hug. "But do learn to to respect Lincoln and Lucy's bond, too. They have more in common than they thought they did, and Lucy has seemed happier than ever!" That last bit got to Lynn. Suddenly that smirk came back as she picked up her computer. "...LJ? That's very disturbing, I don't like that look..."

The sporty girl stepped up close. "Do you want to know WHY that's the case? Well, look at THIS!" Lynn said, thrusting her laptop in her father's face on that last word. He picked up the computer and carefully examined the photo. It showed Margo waving in front of Fizztop Mountain while Lincoln and Lucy were in the background, holding hands.

"Oh, looks like Margo went to Nuka World, too! I hope she had fun!" Lynn Sr. said excitedly, completely missing the point. Lynn facepalmed in frustration and pointed to the picture again.

"You're missing the point! Look in the background!" She said, her father following her finger and catching sight of the two lovebirds.

"S-Sorry about that, kiddo." He put a finger on his chin. "Lincoln's holding Lucy's hand, that's actually very smart! Amusement parks can be big and hectic, so holding onto her is a good idea! My boy is becoming a very responsible young man!" He said proudly, prompting a frustrated groan from his daughter.

"Ugggggghhhhhh, responsible huh?!" She said, almost mockingly. "Well, how responsible do you think it is for him to KISS HIS OWN SISTER?!" She said, flipping to the next photo in the album, the Romeo and Juliet picture from before. Her father was absolutely shocked cold, and his overemotional side began to kick in.

"Wh-WHAT?! TH-THIS CAN'T BE!" He said, scrambling a bit in his spot. Lynn smirked, knowing that she had her father right where she wanted him. She, almost maniacally, scrolled through picture after picture. The father of eleven grew more and more in shock and disbelief as the pictures continued. Oswald's show, the battlezone, even a few miscellaneous dinner shots of them feeding each other. It all came to a grand finale when that romantic kiss under the fireworks came onscreen. He never even considered the possibility of any of his children committing to an incestuous relationship. It was just too absurd to him, something you'd only see in history books. But the first stage of grief is disbelief, and this his more stern side began to come forward.

"No more, NO MORE!" He said, shaking his arms before crossing them, giving his daughter a stern look. "This has to all be a joke! A prank! You had someone doctor these up, LJ, didn't you! To make your siblings look bad, out of JEALOUSY!" His finger was pointed right at the girls freckled nose.

"WELL?!" Her emotions flared up even more, prompting her to yank the incident report out of her pocket. "If you won't believe that, then explain THIS?!" She said, tossing the paper right at her father's pointed nose. Still with a stern look, he read over it carefully. Initially everything seemed to check out.

"This is just the incident report for Lucy's fainting spell...and it looks like Charles got hold of it...what does this have to do...OH MY GOD!" He said, freaking out as he got to the associates. "BOYFRIEND?! SPOKES?!"

"I thought the same thing when I found it!" Lynn said in response, sporting a sly smile.

"And Lori kept this hidden from us, too?!" her father asked.

"Indeed she did, this report was apparently pulled from her room!" Lynn responded with a nod.

"I take back what I said..." Her father said, with anger but a hint of sadness as well.

"Do you know what you are going to do?" Lynn asked, sounding somewhat innocent.

"Oh I KNOW What I'm going to do! LJ, head back upstairs, later I owe you an apology..." He said, folding the report up and placing it on his dresser. Lynn giggled mischievously and almost aggressively, as she ran back upstairs to her room.

Up on the second floor, the air was so much more joyous, all of the siblings gathered together in Lori and Leni's room, hanging out and telling stories, while eating snacks. Lucy, of course, sat next to Lincoln, as he shared exciting stories of his time at the fair, along with some hilarious and embarrassing stories of things Rusty did! But it is what they'd hear next that would send chills throughout the entire house.

"LINCOLN ALBERT LOUD! LUCILLE HARRIET LOUD! GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!"


And here we are, the climax begins! Get ready for a very interesting situation ahead, as the battle lines are drawn!

I apologize for the delay on this chapter, the last couple of weeks have been very hectic. But compared to what I had to cover in the Nuka World chapters, this was a nice way to ease back into the routine!