Chapter Three: Settings Things Straight

Most of the Loud sisters were still in the living room. Obviously waiting for any news about their brother from their parents or even with the hopes of being the first ones to greet him as soon as he came back home. Leni was on the couch playing with Lily. She had to do her best to distract the baby girl who was still upset that her brother was hurt. Luckily simply lifting her gently with her feet on the infants stomach and holding her hands in hers worked wonders. Each time Leni lifted her up Lily squealed with glee then giggled as she was slowly lowered down again. Lynn sat right back down on the same spot she was earlier, bouncing a baseball off the wall and catching it as it came back while Luan was distracting herself with another joke book.

Lola was karting around in circles going through the kitchen, then the dining room and finally the living room and making sure to drive by the front door with each trip, slowing down briefly then reentering the kitchen to repeat. Lana was playing with all the pets. Even her exotic pets like her reptiles and her ant farm. Like her sisters this is another distraction while she waited for her parents to return with their brother. Luna was in the kitchen and listening to music on her headphones with the volume on full blast. Both to keep herself busy and to not think about how angry she was at Lori for hurting Lincoln. Lucy was not in the vents now but she was still writing her poems and Lisa was now downstairs in the living room reading a medical book.

Obviously trying to guess the full extent of Lincoln's injuries based on what she had seen. It had been hours since their father had taken Lincoln away and everyone was still worried sick about him. All of them were dealing with a mix of concern for their brother and anger at Lori for what she did to him. On more than one occasion Leni actually had to intervene if Luna or Lynn tried going up stairs to start something with Lori. She understood how they felt but she didn't think that beating her up would solve anything. So all they did was sit and play the waiting game. The least favorite game in the family. But just as Lola was about to whine again about the situation, Leni's cell rang and when she answered they all dashed in to listen in on the call.

"Hey Dad..." she said with her smile returning. "Yeah everyone's fine, we all finished eating and we're just waiting on you now...How is he?" he asked him. The girls began to look a little uneasy when they watched their sister's smile slowly fade into a concerned frown. "Oh...Oh poor Linky...Is he coming home?...Yeah...Yeah I'll tell them...Okay thanks Dad." she said before hanging up. She then looked around at her sisters who waited eagerly. "Guys they're on their way back and they're close. Dad says that Linky is very tired and very sore. So when he gets here he wants us to remain calm, to not crowd him or make too much noise. We're allowed to hug him but we need to be gentle okay?" she asked with everyone looking at one another concerned.

The girls went about doing what they were doing before in the living room and simply wait just like before. Eventually Lana took a sneak peak out the window and when she saw Vanzilla pulling up into their driveway she smiled and turned to her sisters.

"Guys! They're back!" she shouted pointing at the window.

In an instant, Leni, Luna, Luan, Lynn Jr., Lucy, Lola, Lisa and Lily all crowded around the window with her to look out and see as Vanzilla pulled in. They watched as it was fully parked before their dad exited the driver's side with their mom leaving the passenger's. Both parents came over and opened up the door where their brother was and when they saw him their jaws dropped. Leni told them that their dad said he was pretty banged up and they remember seeing their brother earlier today after his big fall but even they didn't expect him to be coming home in such a state. His right arm resting in a sling with all his fingers in splints, his left leg wrapped up too and needing a crutch to lean on just so he can get around. The bandages on his face from the cuts.

Lynn Sr. and Rita had to help him get down as he climbed out of the massive van. They watched as he staggered forward on his crutch. It was obvious that it was going to take some time getting used to this. He even almost fell over and his parents rushed to stop him but Lincoln regained his balance on his own and gave them a look. Like he was saying 'Don't worry, I got it.' It was heartbreaking for all of them. Both Luna and Lynn switched from shock to anger instantly and turned towards the stairs with one thing in mind. Leni knew instantly what they were up to and rushed quickly to cut them off. Her arms spread out and giving them a disapproving glare.

"Get out of the way Leni." Luna snarled.

"No." she replied determined.

"Leni stop defending her!" Lynn Jr. shouted angrily. "You saw what she did to Lincoln so you know she deserves what's coming to her!" she yelled.

"I know you're all angry with her, I am too. But we need to let Mom and Dad handle this." she told her, not backing down.

"Either you move out of our way on your own Leni or Lynn and I will help you." Luna warned.

Leni wasn't intimidated and instead crossed her arms. "Do you both want to get in trouble with Mom and Dad?" she asked. Neither of her sisters answered but only looked equal parts annoyed and angry. "Because that's exactly what's going to happen if you do what it is I think you're about to do. Now let it go and let Mom and Dad handle this. Or do you guys actually want to get grounded?" she asked them.

Thing is both her sisters did think quite seriously about it. The both of them really wanted to march upstairs right now, kick Lori's door in and give her a piece of their mind. In fact they probably wouldn't have even had a problem with it if their folks grounded them because part of them thought it was really worth. But in the end they decided against it. Luna was hoping to catch another concert real soon with her friends including Sam and Lynn had a baseball game in less than a week and neither of them wanted to miss out so the backed off. Instead they figured they'll get back at Lori later somehow and for now focus on their brother. Right now he needed all the love and attention they could give him after everything Lori put him through.

As soon as their father opened the door and Lincoln entered, Lola and Lana, forgetting what their sister said earlier about being gentle rushed in crying "LINCOLN!" before tackling him in a hug. The rest of the girls rushed in to join the group hug. And while they meant well Lynn told them to be gentle for a reason as Lincoln started shifting uncomfortably in the group of girls.

"Owowowowow," he grimaced as he felt several of his younger sisters squeezing his sore ribs.

"Girls girls please!" their dad said urgantly trying to get them to back up a bit.

"Give Lincoln some air. We told you that he's very sore." their mother scolded.

The girls all dashed back slightly embarrassed as Lincoln regulated his breathing. "Okay, okay I'm fine now." he said feeling the pain in his chest subside with a few breaths.

The Loud sisters were torn up inside because of this. All day long they were so worried about him and now that he's back home they couldn't even give him a proper hug without hurting him. They watched with heavy hearts as Lincoln carefully made his way over to the couch and they all followed soon after. Lincoln sat in the middle of the sofa with Leni to his left and Luan holding Lily to his right. The rest of them crowded around but made sure he still had some space to relax.

"How bad is it Lincoln?" Lucy asked, sounding slightly more emotional than her usual monotone.

"Did you really break something?" Lana asked him also sounding really worried.

Lincoln let out a sigh. "Thankfully not." he answered. "But I do have several fractures in my arm, leg and fingers. I also had a head concussion and my ribs are bruised. I needed some stitches too but that's all." he said sounding down. And a little angry too.

"You schould conschider yourschelf fortunate Male Schibling. There are worsche injuriesch one can experiensche after falling down the stairsch." Lisa told him adjusting her glasses. "I've already ran the numbersch. A full recovery will moscht likely be between schix to eight weeksch." she told him.

Lincoln sighed again. "Yeah that's what the Doctor told me." he replied.

While the girls talked with their brother the parents looked to one another and decided now was the time to go upstairs and deal with their oldest child and the only daughter who wasn't downstairs at the moment. And boy did the two of them have a lot to say to her. Rita started upstairs first followed by her husband but both stopped briefly to turn and sure enough, they were being followed. Luna, Lynn Jr. and Lola were about to come up to with eager expressions on their faces. However they were all stopped dead in their tracks by the disapproving stares their parents were giving them. Lynn Sr. and Rita both turned and placed their hands on their hips as they stared down three of their daughters.

"Luna, Jr, Lola, did your Mother and I ask you three to come with us?" Lynn Sr. asked in a calm yet stern tone.

All three took a step back, hands behind them and shook their heads looking down. "Stay downstairs, leave this to us." Rita warned them calmly but firmly.

They all nodded and returned to the couch to keep Lincoln company. Sure they were a little disappointed that they wouldn't get to see their folks bite Lori's head off but they figured they'll get a chance to take a jab at her later. Right now they all wanted their brother to be comfortable. And after everything he'd been put through he definitely needed it. Leni sat by her brother and allowed him to lean into her while she hung an arm from his shoulder, holding him close. Luan sat with Lily on her lap and the baby girl was talking baby gibberish and expressing her own form of love and affection to her brother. Lucy sat next to Leni and kept a close watch on him, Luna and Lynn stood behind the couch, the twins sat in front of him while Lisa sat next to Luan.

And while the girls were busy comforting their brother, Lynn and Rita headed upstairs to have a much awaited discussion with their oldest. Now Lori up until this point remained in her room, sitting on her head and in a state of depression and worry. The guilt from what she did to her little brother had brought her to the lowest she had ever felt in her life. And when she heard Lana announce from downstairs that Lincoln was home she had to fight as hard as she could to keep herself from running downstairs to see him. As much as she wanted desperately to see if he was okay she knew she wasn't allowed to leave her room until her parents came to speak with her first. She heard them coming so now it was finally time for her to bite the bullet.

Her parents opened the door and let themselves in before Lynn closed it behind them. Lori turned her head from where she was sitting on her bed to see both of them looking really mad. Both had angry scowls on their faces with her dad crossing his arms over his chest and her mom with her hands on her hips. At first nobody said anything as they both just looked angry and disappointed in her. The both of them could tell by her hair being a mess and her makeup running down her face that she felt awful for what happened. And they were at least happy to see that she regretted her actions. Rita briefly brought a hand up and motioned her finger as a gesture of 'Come Here' before putting her hand back on her hip. Lori did as she was told and stood before them.

The two were silent for only a moment before her father finally spoke. "You know why we're here and what this is about?" he asked staring her down. Lori only nodded her head in response. And that was when he asked the soul piercing question. "Why?"

It took one hundred percent of her willpower to not break down and start crying again. And even then she could feel her eyes stinging again. "I...(Sniff) I don't know." she sobbed as she wiped one of her eyes with her hand. "I never meant for any of this to happen Dad...(Sniff) I was just so angry." she told him wiping the other.

"Lori you put your little brother in the hospital!" he yelled angrily while she flinched. "Multiple fractures, bruised ribs, a head concussion and he needed stitches! Lori he's incredibly lucky because it could've been much much worse! I don't care how angry you were with him! I don't even care if you had a good reason for being angry with him! He's incredibly lucky because it could've been much much worse! I hope you got what you wanted out of this!" he scolded.

"I didn't...(Sniff) I didn't want any of this Dad." she sobbed again.

"Oh really?" Rita replied, getting her daughter's attention. "I'm surprised to hear you say that." she told her with her eyes narrowing in on her.

The younger blonde looked confused by that. "Surprised? Why? I never wanted to hurt him this badly. What makes you think that I wanted this?" she asked sounding shocked.

"Well from what Lincoln told us, you sounded like you never wanted him around at all." she answered with her foot tapping the ground. "Is that true Lori? Did you really tell your little brother that he was just an accident and that you wished he was never born? Or was Lincoln lying about that on the way home?" she asked her.

At this point the seventeen year old could no longer control herself and immediately started crying again. Her face in the palms of her hands as she wept bitterly before them. However she did shake her head answering her question. She did say those things to him before she assaulted him and she regretted every word that came out of her mouth. Rita had no sympathy for her at this very moment and responded by reaching forward and grabbing her firmly by the ear and yanking her forward with Lori whimpering from her mother's tight grip.

"Look at me Lori Loud! Look at me!" she shouted furiously. Lori managed to turn her head just enough to look her mother in the eye. "I am only going to say this once so listen very carefully. Since the day I married your father and the both of us started a family together I have never regretted it. And since that day I have given birth to eleven babies. It hasn't always been easy. There have been days that have been very difficult but for us it's always been worth it. I love each and every one of my children, my son and all my daughters. I have never regretted it, no matter what any of them may have done I would never consider any of my children an accident or wished I never had them. Even after everything you've done today I still wouldn't say something so horrible!" she shouted tugging her ear a little harder.

"I am beyond disappointed with you Lori Loud! Just what the hell were you thinking?!" she shouted.

"I wasn't." she cried while still whimpering from the strain on her ear. "I was just so angry I have no idea what came over me." she sobbed again.

"Obviously." she replied before letting her go at least. "You will be punished for this properly but first you are going to march straight downstairs, you are going to look your brother in the eye and you had better give him the most sincere apology you've ever given. Right now!" she ordered. Lori nodded while rubbing her ear to sooth the pain it was under moments ago while walking between and past her folks. She then let out a sharp yelp when she felt her mom swat her backside on the way out the door. "Get going!" she barked.

Being seventeen Lori wasn't expecting that. It had been a long time since she had gotten one of those but she picked up the pace and did as she was told, heading downstairs. As she made her way down with her parents right behind her she immediately felt all eyes on her. And it was definitely an uncomfortable feeling given the circumstances. She walked past everyone and stood in the middle of the living room before finally turning to her brother and the very moment she saw him her heart broke again. Her parents did just tell her what kind of injuries he suffered because of her and the guilt of being the one who caused it definitely weighed heavily on her heart but seeing it for herself now increased that weight a thousand times over.

The bandages, the casts, the sling he had to rest his arm in, the crutch he had to use to get around now, it was all so painful for her to see. Lincoln looked at her and while he was no longer afraid of her like he was earlier today he was now mad at her. And she couldn't blame him either. Big sisters should never do something like this to their little brothers or their younger siblings in general. And if it wasn't Lincoln's expression which made her feel uncomfortable it was everyone else's. Leni, Luan, Lucy, Lana and Lily looked unsure. They didn't look as mad at her but they definitely didn't look happy to see her either. The others however looked really steamed with her. Especially Luna and Lynn who both sat to Lincoln's left and right.

Almost like they dared her to even so much as try hurting him again. Lori tried her best to compose herself but it was really hard for her to do. Her eyes were stinging from the tears forming out of the corner of them.

"Lincoln." she finally said wiping one of her eyes with the palm of her hand. "I know I hurt you really badly today...(Sniff) And it wasn't just what I did, it was the things I said too...(Sniff)" she sobbed as she brought another hand up to wipe her other eye. "You probably hate me right now and I literally deserve it...(Sniff) But I am so sorry...(Sniff) For everything." she said as her tears were now trailing down her face faster than she could wipe them away. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry I'm so sorry Lincoln." she sobbed again as she forced herself to look him in the eye. "But please believe me that I never wanted any of this to happen and I didn't mean the things I said at all." she pleaded.

"Lincoln you're my precious baby brother and I love you so much. I wouldn't to give you up for the world I swear. Can you ever forgive me?" she pleaded as she hugged her arms to herself and cried pitifully in front of him.

All eyes were on Lincoln for the moment. Even Lori looked at him when he didn't say anything at first. But instead he forced himself up and started putting as much distance between himself and her as he could by making his way to the stairs. The angry scowl on his face told her exactly what she needed to know. Rita however stopped Lincoln before he left the room and looked to her son with concern.

"Lincoln, honey I know you're angry at her right now and you have every right to be but can you please answer her? I think she at least deserves that much." his mother told him.

He didn't say anything but he looked up to her and nodded before making his way back to to stand right in front of his oldest sister. He looked her in the eyes while she waited for what felt like forever for him to finally say something. And when he did it made her heart sink.

"I don't know if I can." he answered coldly. "And even if I could I'm not sure if I should." he said anger swelling up in his voice.

This only caused another wave a sadness and grief to wash over Lori. "Lincoln please?" she begged. "I can't...(Sniff) I can't change what happened but if I could I would. All I can do is say I'm sorry and try to make things right...(Sniff) Please please please Lincoln please." she cried.

He was quiet for a moment as he was thinking on that but then looked off to the side, almost like he couldn't even look at her. "I want to believe that." he grumbled.

"Lincoln it's true!" she protested sounding shocked.

"Is it?" he shot back. "I know I was purposely saying whatever I could earlier to try and make you mad Lori but let's be honest, you get angry really easy! Sometimes it takes almost nothing to set you off. Is this what you meant when told me once that you were going to turn me into a human pretzel?" he asked showing her all his casts and bandages.

"I didn't mean it." she said so low it was barely above a whisper. "Lincoln please, if you can't forgive me now can you at least give me a chance to earn your forgiveness? Please Lincoln I'll do anything." pleaded again as more tears rolled down her cheeks.

Lincoln was still pretty mad at her but he could deny that she at least sounded like she really regretted this. He was quiet for a couple more moments before he sighed heavily. "I need some time to think about this Lori." he said look back to her one last time. "So just give me my space, I'll let you have yours and when I feel like I'm ready to talk to you about it again I'll let you know. Sound fair?" he asked.

Lori nodded and looked down in shame. She could tell that this issue was going to take a long time and hard work on her part to try and make things right with him. She then looked to her parents who didn't look as angry anymore but they both definitely looked like they had more to say.

"So what happens now?" she asked them.

"Your father and I will tell you your punishment in a minute Lori. But first we both have something we need to talk to you and all the girls about." their mother said as both parents now stood in the center of the living room.

The other girls weren't expecting them to want to talk to them about what just happened. All of them waited eagerly before their father finally spoke. "Girls, your mother and I have had plenty to talk about on the way home and we've both come to an important decision. We're bring an end to the Sister Fight Protocol. Permanently." their father told the sternly.

[Author's Note] Well it took me a while to finally have this chapter up but it was worth it. I really hope that you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. As always thank you all for reading my stories, please leave me a Review and let me know what you thought of the chapter and if you have any other thoughts, ideas or just wanna talk send me a PM. I enjoy hearing from my readers.

This is Dragon1990 signing out :-)