-BG: In the newer seasons, Lynn and Lincoln both go to middle school. The age of the characters isn't that important to the story. I only aged them up so Lori would be out of school. I don't know how important that will be later, but she is working in the restaurant instead of going to college.


Lincoln sat in the back of the Whites' car, in complete silence. They had been driving for almost ten minutes, and the adults hadn't tried opening their mouths. Both seemed to do is anxiously stare out the windows, eyeing the locals they passed by.

"So... Where are we going?" Lincoln asked anxiously.

Does he call them mom and dad? It would surely mean a lot to them, but it didn't feel right to him. Would it though? They might see him expecting to waltz into their lives and act like he was there all along, with no effort put into it. Crud, he shouldn't have said anything, now they will think he is unthankful. Or that he is impatient. Or that he wants to get this over with as quickly as possible. Wait, those are the same. Not important! What can they say?

"We don't know." They wouldn't say that. "You'll see." Hopefully. "Is there somewhere you want to go?" Burpin' burgers? No, that is fast food. Some fancy restaurant? No, that is fancy. Then again, they could be fancy people. He isn't a fancy person! "Get out..." Lincoln's mind froze on that thought, cold sweat running down his back.

Walter and Sophia froze on the question. They had no idea. Some fast food, kids always like that. No, then he will think they are simple or cheap. A fancy restaurant? Then they would think they are snobs. Why does it have to be somewhere to eat? lunch is still far away. Maybe take him to the park. Nice scenery, pleasant atmosphere, fresh air... They can take a walk, talk a bit, and then sit down wherever is the closest when lunch comes around. Why do they have to eat something? Well, they can't take him to an arcade. They wanted him to have fun, but the most important thing was to get to know them. So, any place with three chairs would do.

Okay, Walter, you have this, he reassured himself. "Is there somewhere you like to go?" Dang it! Now he thinks you didn't prepare.

Lincoln started sweating bullets. By how they were dressed, they clearly weren't stuck-up snobs fancy, but they clearly weren't the type of people to go to fast food for a more formal event, which this was. Why are they making him pick? He can't pick some restaurant, as they might think he is trying to judge how deep their pockets are. And if he picks the worst place, they will think he is either a cheapskate or extremely humble. And everyone knows those people are always hiding something. They will think he is trying to sugarcoat himself. Now he might be a kind self-conscientious angel, but just wait till he gets a bit more comfortable, and he will be the worst demon hell could conjure. Why didn't they just take him to the city? Then he wouldn't have to worry about any of this.

"Lincoln, are you okay? Do you want me to turn on the air conditioner?" Sophia asked, looking like he collapsed dead on the seat.

"Y-yes... No- N-No... I- ah... " Lincoln said. He doesn't want the air conditioner! He wants to... He doesn't know! He wants to go two weeks back in time! Maybe... AGH!

"Walter, he's stuttering, pull over!" Sophia screamed. Her husband slammed the breaks the first chance he got.

Their worried looks only made his situation worse. Now they think he has problems! Well, he does, but not one that makes him do this. Actually, no, it seems he does. Get it together Lincoln, he scolded himself. "Can I... a-... I can't do this!" Lincoln said. He hurriedly unbuckled himself and ran out of the car. The couple called for him to come back, but it only made him run faster. Even better! Now they think he hates them!

Once he thought he was far enough away, Lincoln sat by a tree. With some luck, they will pack up and leave. After this, there is no chance they will want him. He just demonstrated he has panic attacks when he is alone with them. Why? Why couldn't he remain calm? Why couldn't he not mess this up? It was an easy home run! Just pick a bench in the park and talk to them for a while, maybe grab an ice cream when you are done. It was that simple, and he managed to mess it up this badly. Would the McBrides let him stay in the attic? He'll pay rent if he must, he doesn't care anymore. After this, he isn't getting adopted. Whoever else comes, he'll just mess it up too. And this was with them being his real parents. A random couple would have noped out long ago.

"Lincoln!" Sophia yelled.

Looking up, Lincoln saw he ran a circle. He wanted to get up and run away again, to save them the trouble, but Sophia got to him first. Her hug was rivaled only by the fiercest his sisters gave him, and even then it put many to shame.

"Are you alright? Why did you do that?" she asked. Something about her voice was weird. It was cracking at times. But that R, it seemed sharper than usual. "If we did something, you can tell us, please." she begged. She let go of him, allowing Lincoln to see the tears forming in her eyes.

Lincoln struggled to put his thoughts to words but decided to just cut to the chase. There is no point delaying it, so he might as well save them the trouble. "I... I can't do this."

"What do you mean?" Walter asked. "Are you feeling well?" Did he get car sick? He wasn't driving fast, but it could have been the road. He didn't feel it being that rough, but Lincoln might have a weaker stomach.

"Yes, I... I can't do... this. I'm not ready. " Just get this over with, he told himself. The sooner this is over, the sooner they can all go back to their lives. Lincoln ruffled his hair, leaving it a bit shaggier than usual. "I want you to be my parents, but I don't know if I can..." Lincoln chuckled to himself. "I spent the entire day yesterday trying to prepare for today, and I did nothing. I don't know what to wear, I don't know what to say, I don't know what to do. All I know is that I had one chance, and I blew it."

"Lincoln, we understand if you are nervous." Walter said. "We are, but you don't need to do anything."

"We want to see who you are." Sophia added kindly. "We want to know who the real Lincoln is, the quirks included."

"But I don't want to be Lincoln, I want to be someone you will like." Lincoln said. "I know it sounds like lying, but I... I don't know anymore..."

"Lincoln, we will love you no matter who you are." Sophia said. "You don't have to be someone you aren't for us. You don't have to do anything you don't want to, you don't have to act how you don't want to, you don't have to dress how you don't want to... All you have to do is be who you want to be, and we will love you."

"But what if you don't like who I really am?" Lincoln asked.

"We will." Walter assured him. "How would you like to just sit down and show us who you really are." Walter pointed at a nearby bench and offered Lincoln a hand to get up.

Lincoln hesitated. They meant well, but their words didn't really reach his brain. Being yourself is a fine message, but his need for validation was still too strong. He wanted to give them someone he wasn't, and likely never could be. PHDs, ten languages, billionaire CEO... He wanted to be someone they would be proud of. Instead, he was a kid who reads comics in his underwear and had a few odd skills here and there. Was he too hard on himself? No! He had to be absolutely perfect for them to take him in. Otherwise, he was just as good as any other kid, worse even. Sure, he was their son, but that doesn't mean much when they have known each other for a week.

But they didn't want any other kid, they wanted him. They came all the way here for him. They came out here to meet him. They wanted him to be their son.

"O-Okay." Lincoln got up and followed the adults to the bench.

"Let's start with something simple, okay?" Walter asked kindly. "How do you like your eggs?"

That was easy. "Scrambled with bacon."

"Those are my favorite as well." Sophia said. "What do you like to do in your spare time?"

"Well, I play games, read comics, hang out with my friends... nothing that special." He might have forgotten to mention a certain detail about the first two, but that was a habit he had to outgrow. He was twelve for crying out loud, he was too old to go around in his underwear.

"What's your favorite game?" Walter asked.

"Muscle Fish." Another easy ball. "It's about a fish-man who fights crime." he added.

"You'll have to show me sometime." Walter said warmly. "I've gotten rusty though, so you will have to be a bit patient while I get back into the game."

"You play games?" Lincoln got a bit more excited than he could justify. His father never played video games, neither did any of his sisters. Most gaming any of his family would do was playing match-three on their phones, and he didn't consider that real gaming.

"Not as much as I used to, but I still have some of my older games." Walter said. "I think I might still have my old Gameboy even."

"Cool..." He's going to get along great with Walter.

"So, Lincoln, how do you do in school?" Sophia felt a bit excluded by the boys, so she decided to bring the ball to her court.

"Okay... I guess." Nothing they taught him was hard, nor even moderately difficult. The biggest problem is that he has ten sisters, creating the worst possible environment to concentrate in. He never faulted them for it, it wasn't like he wanted to study, but he still wished he didn't have to go to Lisa's bunker to prepare for exams. "I don't like it a lot, but it's mostly easy."

"I'm happy to hear that." Sophia said. She didn't like school, no normal kid does, but she was always a good student. "How do you feel about moving, I hope it isn't that hard on you."

"I mean, I don't like that I have to leave Royal Woods, but I think I will be okay." Lincoln said. "One of my friends lives in Great Lake city though, so I think I'll be fine." He had to remember to call Ronnie Anne to break the news to her. It would be slightly awkward to move into your friend's city unannounced.

"That's wonderful." Walter said. "I know it's going to be a bit hard at first, but the city will grow on you quickly."

"Okay..." Lincoln thought for a second. Could he ask something now? He didn't want to sound like he was trying to pry into their lives, but a question or two wouldn't hurt. After all, they are here to get to know each other better. "So... uh... what do you do in your free time?"

"We watch TV and spend time with Winter." Walter said. "We do have a busy schedule, but we will always make time for you, both of you." he added.

"T-Thanks..." Lincoln felt slightly uncomfortable. He didn't want to be a burden on them, financially or timewise. That shouldn't be a problem though, he is self-sufficient. "What kind of music do you like?"

"Mostly rock, but we do listen to other things." Sophia said. "What about you?"

"I like rock too." Lincoln said. "My favorite band is SMOOCH."

"I love them." Sophia said happily.

"YEAAAAAH! Take my advice and don't be a mooch. Grab life by the lips and give it a smooch! WHOOOOO! Give it a smooch!" Lincoln and Sophia sang while Walter laughed at the sight.

"You said you liked Ace Savvy, right?" Walter asked.

"Yeah..." Lincoln nodded.

"Can you tell me something about it? I have seen it before, but I was never that into comics to pick it up." Walter said.

"O-Okay..." Lincoln took a deep breath before beginning.

For the next, however long, he told his parents about Ace Savvy. Being the fan of the franchise he was, Lincoln went into more detail than may have been appropriate. But they never looked too lost. Walter followed along with no problems, and even Sophia, who was clearly not a comics lover, only asked a couple of questions. When he tried to explain half of this to anyone else in his family, they would either ask a question every two seconds or stop listening after two seconds. The only exception was Lily, but Lily would listen to Lisa talk about math for two hours. Actually, as long as they were talking, she would listen.

Walter and Sophia were happy that he was even talking to them. The more they talked, the better he got to know them, and the better they got to know him. By the end, all the fear had left him. The Whites, no, his parents, were nice people. He could see they genuinely wanted him, and that they wouldn't leave him, not even for a night. They loved him, and he loved them. It might be a bit early to say that, but he certainly liked them, and he will grow to love them soon enough. Their talk was interrupted by Walter getting a text, making him wrap up the party.


Lincoln returned to the Loud house, now a Loud White. It was a long road, it was a bumpy road, and he made more than a few missteps. But his troubles are now over. Tonight he feasts, for tomorrow he is a new man. Tonight he will sleep soundly, knowing he will wake up in a new loving family. With new parents and a new sister. Speaking of Winter, there she is. She must have gotten together great with her sisters, as she looks like one of them, Lucy. Though it was not the new Lucy.

Winter says on the front porch, Lori by her side. She tried to comfort her, but with no success. His parents rushed out of the car, immediately starting an argument with Lori. They weren't shouting like the family he so got used to, so he couldn't make out what they were saying. They were clearly not happy, however. As he got out, more confused than angry, Lincoln saw the other sisters coming to back up Lori. But his parents weren't deterred. The ten-headed beast paled in comparison to them, as no one even scraped their shoulders. And, in the middle of all of it, Winter sat with her head in her hands, blankly looking in his direction. After a short while, she got up and got into the car, not saying a word to anyone.