"Sweetheart?"
The boy felt himself gently shook and murmured in displeasure. Sadly, the hand grasping his shoulder was not deterred, and the insistent motion drew him from the depths of his dreamless slumber.
"Lincoln, honey?" He groggily turned his head to see his mother's features illuminated in the early morning light. "It's time to get up dear."
Surely it wasn't? The light from his window was too dim, making everything seem dreamlike, it seemed like the sun hadn't even risen properly yet.
"I'm taking you to school today." His mother pre-emptively answered his questioning features. "Lynn and I agreed that I would take you today, but you need to get up early, okay?"
Why does Mom need to- his memories came back; the laundry, rushing to his room and crying like a baby into his pillow until he slept like one. His face even still felt a bit raw and his navy-blue beanie firmly ensconced his hair, he had jammed it down over his ears just in case someone tried to take a peek again.
"Lynn's going to talk with Lori later. But right now, we need to get you ready to go or I'll be late for work, alright?"
He distantly nodded and his mother dipped down to give him a quick peck on the forehead before she left, lightly closing his door to avoid waking the rest of the house. Lincoln quickly stumbled out of the bed, lightly landing on his feet to reveal himself still in the previous day's clothes.
It was fine; he wouldn't have slept well and he had to change either way. He quickly found a new set of his standard getup from his boxes with a new beanie and quietly made his way to the shower.
Thankfully Luna's lesson had stuck and the mechanical mess of a tap system gave up the precious hot water without much of a fight, letting the boy have a blissful few minutes to sit there and enjoy the first proper hot shower he'd had since moving into this madhouse. He'd have to remember to set his phone for an early alarm in the future, that way he could get his without having-
Yesterday.
Yesterday's events still weighed heavy on him. He was sure Lori didn't like him, anyone could see it; but he wasn't trying to bother her and he didn't have any more of a choice in this than she did. There was no reason to just grab his-
There was a knock at the door and he froze.
"Lincoln," his mother's voice came through the door. "You need to hurry or I'll be late."
"Okay mom," he quickly finished up. This is hard on Mom too; I can't make her late as well! With that though he rushed to brush his teeth (nasty before breakfast but they were in a hurry) and caught sight of his visage.
He looked awful, with nasty bags under his eyes. But there really wasn't anything that could done about that but to splash his face and maybe swap his beanie for a less used one, as he had prepared.
Rapidly pulling on standard orange and blue attire, he stuffed his slightly damp white-blonde locks under the inconspicuous brown one he used to wear at Hazeltucky.
Inconspicuous in orange?
Well, he'd liked orange from before, and after the incident he could exactly ask his mother for a wardrobe change. They weren't rolling in money.
Shaking off the thoughts he grabbed his schoolbag and came downstairs. There was already a plate of Bacon and Eggs with a glass of juice ready for him in the kitchen, his mother quickly munching down some herself with a mug of coffee in her other hand.
"Thanks Mom." He quickly went to eating himself, tasting the familiar home cooking of his mother over Lynn's for the first time in days.
"You're welcome, dear," his mother smiled at him, before catching the clock in the corner of her eye and blowing on her coffee. Noting her speed Lincoln quickly matched it and before he knew it, they were in the familiar five seater she'd had in Hazeltucky, pulling away from the madhouse they now called home.
"Do you have your school things dear?"
"Yes," he'd put everything together on Saturday.
"That's good, that's good…" her eyes were tired, and as the morning light strengthened the little wrinkles that usually seemed minor drew deep, making her seem a decade older.
"I'm sorry." He murmured.
"Why?" Her eyes glanced at him for a moment. "You didn't do anything wrong."
"You got up really early and had to take care of me" like always. She always had to take care of him because he couldn't do anything after-
"That's what Moms are for silly," she sighed. "And I don't mind, it makes me feel useful in my old age."
"You're not old!" He protested, "you're only-"
"Don't use the number young man or I'm turning around." She grumbled, but with little upturns to her lips.
"Okay..." he couldn't help but let out a little laugh at the faux-grump from his parent. "But you're not old and you're always helping and you always take care of me so I'm sorry for-"
"That's enough." Her voice suddenly firmed. "I don't want to hear that."
He faltered, and she proceeded.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. Lori… made a mistake and Lynn will talk with her so something like yesterday doesn't happen again." She relaxed slightly as they pulled into the Royal Woods Elementary parking lot, and she turned to him as they stopped. "Now; today I could drive you and if we have to, we can do it again, and you know I don't mind.
But we do have to live together now, and that means you and Lori as well. At least until she goes to college anyway. If everything goes well Lori and you will be having a talk tonight, and me and Lynn can be there if either of you feel like it."
Lincoln swallowed and felt his fingers reach for his beanie before he stuffed them back down again. His mother's hands closed over his clenched ones and gently pulled them apart to clasp one.
"It's okay to be scared dear, but Lori doesn't know about what happened in Hazeltucky; none of them do. I think she deserves a chance to say sorry at least; don't you?"
"… Is Lynn going to tell her?"
Her lips twitched for moment. "No dear, not yet. Not until you're ready; but it's only fair that Lori knows that there is a reason why she should avoid some things."
He swallowed despite his dry mouth and nodded. "Okay, I guess that's fair. I shouldn't have just r-run off anyway, she was just trying to-"
A bus suddenly pulled in, the first of many to come.
"It looks like we have to cut it here sweetie, unless you want your classmates to see you with your mom," she chuckled, drawing her hands away. "Luna has agreed to meet you at the front today, and she'll walk you home."
"Couldn't I-"
"No walking on your own yet, I don't want you getting lost." She shook her head. "Maybe if things don't work out with Lori- and I think they will. But for now, you need to go out with one of your new sisters, it'll be a good way to get to know them as well."
"I guess that makes sense," he muttered ruefully.
"I'm glad that you see that sweetie," she raised a hand, then drew it back lest she stroke his arm before his classmates. "And I know all of this is hard on you; and I want you to remember that I'm proud of how hard you're trying to make things work anyway."
He went a bit pink under the praise, "t-thanks Mom."
"Now go out there and put your best foot forwards for your first day," She gently pushed him towards the door and he took his cue to leave.
Lincoln felt like eyes were staring him down from every angle, but that was business as usual for him in Hazeltucky too, and for worse reasons. He rapidly made his way into the main hall where Clyde was already waiting for him.
"Hey Lincoln, glad to see you here bright and early." The honour student cheerfully observed. "Not everyone takes their education seriously."
"Y-yeah." It was probably best not to let him know the actual circumstances of his early visit. "I just wanted to make sure I didn't get lost."
"Well, that's some fine diligence you have there Mr-"
"Oh h-h-hi Ms DiMartino," Clyde spluttered, suddenly coming to pieces as he started behind Lincoln. Quizzical, the beanie-clad boy turned to face-
Easily the prettiest teacher he had ever met. She couldn't have much past college, her skin glowed with a natural tone, her eyes sparkled with warmth and her caring voice was soothing even to his anxieties.
"Well, hello there Clyde, and hello to you as well young man, I don't believe we've met before. I am Ms DiMartino, I substitute at this school and sometimes manage some of the extra-curricular activities run afterschool." She smiled at him and he felt himself flush again. "I heard that we were getting a new transfer from Hazeltucky, but I wasn't expecting you to be so prepared. I must admit; I was expecting someone… rowdier. This is such a pleasant surprise."
"I-I, ummm" He stuttered, for once not consumed by his usual anxiety, but a new kind.
She let out a smooth laugh, but not something laced with spite. "Well, it seems that we're running close on time, and we both have classes to get to, so I'll let you boys go for now, but I look forwards to seeing you both in class."
And with that she departed on distressingly well shaped legs, leaving the two in a haze until the bell broke them both from it.
"Crap!" Clyde gasped, then looked both ways in case another teacher had heard him. "Let's get going, but that's Ms DiMartino, bane of everyone who likes girls."
"Bane?" Lincoln blinked as he followed the other boy to his class. "But she seems… nice."
He honestly didn't want to admit what else she seemed like.
"Yeah, she really is, but I've seen more prize-winning students fail in her classes than anywhere else." The honour student grimly asserted. "Unless you're all into guys, she's an automatic half of your grade gone."
"I think you're exaggerating."
"Take a class with her and see what a test is like, then tell me I'm exaggerating." Clyde sighed, and pushed their classroom door open, revealing an otherwise filled class and a female teacher with red hair sitting at the front desk, thankfully frumpier than Ms DiMartino.
"Ahh, I wondering if you were sick Clyde, it's not like you to be late- and you must be Lincoln," the teacher beckoned him with a friendly wave. He approached as Clyde peeled off to an unoccupied seat.
"I'm Mrs Johnson, I'll be your teacher for this year. Principal Huggins informed me about your situation earlier, luckily for you we had a few less students this year so you can share a class with Clyde." She motioned to some papers on her desk, he spotted some of his details on one. "Well start the class with a brief introduction, if you don't want to answer any questions-"
"I can" he affirmed. This was his chance to turn over a new leaf, he probably wouldn't ever be popular but he could avoid the mess from last time by starting strong.
Starting okay.
Maybe.
Mrs Johnson nodded. "Glad to hear it, we'll keep things quick and then let you get started. If you have any questions then please ask, we know that Hazeltucky does things differently so if we're ahead or behind then you need to let us know."
The teacher quickly stood, taking one paper with her and the pre-class chatter died down. She motioned for Lincoln to join her and he awkwardly did so, feeling the gazes for real this time as he faced the many eyes staring into him. The woman looked upon her charges and drew in the breath for the projection every teacher had to learn;
"Good morning class, I hope you all did your homework for tomorrow's test-"
A quiet groan echoed through the class.
"But before we get started today, I would like to welcome a new classmate to our room;
This is Lincoln Loud-"
What?
"T-that's not right!" He quickly corrected, or rather tried to. It came out as a harsh whisper that withered into the class.
"Oh?" Mrs Johnson blinked, then glanced at the paper in her hand. "Oh, dear that's right- sorry Lincoln; this is Lincoln Alvarsson. He's transferring in from Hazeltucky Elementary and will be joining our class, I hope you'll all make him welcome here."
A hand shot up from a boy with bright red hair.
"Yes Rusty? Did you have a question for Lincoln?"
The boy nodded. "So, you're not a Loud?"
Lincoln flushed slightly, "n-no. My last name is Alvarsson."
"Oh, okay then," the boy put his hand down, seemingly disappointed and murmurs went through the class.
"AHEM," the class fell to silence. "Does anyone else have any questions? No?"
There was silence, and Lincoln stood awkwardly until Mrs Johnson gently nudged him, "there's a seat next to Clyde and Stella, you can sit there for now."
He jerkily nodded and made his way next to the boy he recognised, Clyde nodding as their eyes met, and a girl in a white shirt emblazoned with a red star. He heard Ms John son begin the lesson as soon as he planted himself in his seat and quickly got his stuff ready.
"Hey!" A sharp whisper caught his attention, a quizzical look revealed it to have come from the girl called Stella.
"Hello?" He answered uncertainly.
"Hi, so I thought you were the Loud sister's brother?" The girl asked.
"Stella I'm not sure we should be doing this right now," Clyde interjected, eyeing the still nervous boy between them.
"Relax Clyde; Mrs Johnson's busy at the moment." Sure enough the teacher in question was absorbed in dispensing her lesson to the distracted elementary schoolers.
"Why do you want to know?" Lincoln asked.
"Well The Loud Sisters are kind of local celebrities," Clyde informed with a self assured tone, apparently forgetting the class rules in favour of informing the ignorant.
"Yeah, they're all super talented and have adventures every week!" Stella continued with enthusiasm. "When word got around that it would be 'The Loud Siblings' from now it was the talk of the school!"
"Local celebrities?" He had seen the variety of interests his various soon to be step sisters had, but he had no idea if they were 'super talented' as Stella had suggested. Then again, he'd barely met them; Luna had seemed pretty capable with her guitar and the next-to-youngest seemed way too smart for her age so maybe they were all prodigies of some kind? "I guess I can see that…"
"So, you know about them already? I guess you would know about Lynn at least since she always wins against-"
"Clyde and Stella do you have something to share with the class?" Ms Johnston stared them down.
"No Mrs Johnson!" A well practiced stereo rung out from both sides of the boy.
"I'm glad to hear it, let's keep it that way."
The class continued relatively normally from there, but Lincoln was left to wonder again exactly what kind of family his mother was marrying them into.
Lori absently tapped at her phone, Bobby and everyone else from her high school were online but they still had tests to study for. So, there she was; sitting at the kitchen table while Leni worked on some mysterious project in their room, assorted textbooks around her while she took 'breaks' to moan about her 'not so free time' with her friends.
Oddly enough despite the hours that had passed she still hadn't made much of a dent in the pile.
"Lorster, can I have a moment?" Her father poked his head into the kitchen, looking slightly nervous.
"Can it wait? I'm literally busy at the moment." She finished up her latest post and returned to her work, forgot to ask Dana about that equation. Looks like she was going for an explanation online again, not the answer of course because she was better than that.
"It's important." He sounded serious; a quick look confirmed it. The careful way he held himself with his hands stuffed into his pockets and a reluctant focus to his eyes outlined his disposition.
She sighed and put the phone away, "it's about the thing from yesterday, isn't it?"
Her father gingerly took a seat opposite to her. "I'm afraid so."
"She already jumped down my throat you know, we can probably skip this."
"Maybe," for a moment she thought she was home free, then he settled firmly into the chair and continued. "But I want to hear your side of things as well."
She let out a snort. "Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Literally everyone who knew was giving me the stink eye last night." She leaned back with narrowed eyes, "I don't remember anyone asking about my side then."
"And I'm sorry for that," he assured her bringing out his hands to reach for hers. She pointedly folded her arms, and he awkwardly drew back. "We should have talked with you before all of this happened-"
"Why?"
"- we just though it- what?"
"Why would you need to talk with us before 'this' happened," she began drumming her fingers, her mind pulling details together. "I don't remember anything else happening before last night, so what's going on?"
Lynn's brows tightened for a moment, "Lincoln has some… things going on with him. Nothing major, I don't think anyway, and we just need to make some adjustment-"
Adjustments? He already had the closet, they had to live with the boy and deal with his dog and overprotective mom. Why would he need anything else?
He was just quiet (really quiet), and stayed away from the rest of the house. Almost never meeting her or anyone else's eyes and constantly wearing that hat like needed it-
"Oh. My. God."
"It's not like he-"
"He's 'special needs' isn't he!?" Lori pushed herself from her chair and paced in frustration. "Your girlfriend's son is special needs and you didn't tell us!"
"He's not like that-" Lynn was cut off again.
"That's why he's so… quiet and spaz- freaked out about that stupid beanie!" His eldest rounded upon Lynn again. "And you didn't even tell us!"
"That's enough Lori." Lynn took a moment to breathe, and remained calm. "Sit down, please."
Lori glared down, before taking her seat.
"Lincoln isn't 'special needs', or autistic or anything else like that," Lynn clasped his hands. "He just has some things to work through."
"What 'things'?" Lori persisted. "If we're living together then we need to know, you can't just- why didn't you tell us before!"
"They're things that he doesn't like talking about. Things that happened back in his home town, and that he can tell you about in his own time." Lynn tried to reassured his eldest. "It's not something you should talk about if the other person isn't comfortable with it."
"Well, I wasn't 'comfortable' when you let Rita and a boy move in." Lori snapped. "I knew things were going too fast, and you didn't even- you won't even-"
She got up again, this time to leave. "You know what; fine. You want to keep your secrets that's literally fine, I'll just stay out of his way, he can stay out of mine and we'll be just peachy until college."
Her father reached for her, "Lori I didn't mean to-"
She stanched her hand away from him and stormed away, only half to turning to look back at him upon grasping the front door handle.
"You want me to say 'sorry' don't you? Because I hurt her special boy's 'feelings'." She snapped, roughly pulling the door open on flimsy hinges. "That's what you and your girlfriend want, well I can do that. I'll literally do it when I get home, but this conversation is over until you're 'comfortable' letting me and the other ten people who live here know what we're getting into."
She left the door swinging.
"-And that guy over there is Chandler McCann, he's the most popular guy here. If he likes you, you're in any party you want but don't get on his bad side or you'll end up like Sticky Jim." Clyde had spent most of the lunch break explaining the social hierarchy of Royal Woods Elementary to him.
"Sticky Jim is that guy in the corner," Stella pointed to a dour boy sitting alone, far away from anyone else.
Lincoln chewed down his 'burger' (what kind of meat it had would hopefully stay a mystery) before asking. "What happened to him?"
"You don't wanna know," the boy named Rusty shuddered.
"Poor Jim," Clyde shook his head. "We all knew it was a setup but he wouldn't listen."
He sat in a group with Clyde and his friends at a table next to the cafeteria wall, fresh light illuminating them from a window behind them. They were all boys except for Stella, and half of said boys had some shade of orange-red hair despite being unrelated. He couldn't exactly call it odd with his own shade, but it sure stood out to have three gingers at one table.
The rest of the lesson had gone by quickly enough, Hazeltucky seemed to be more than a bit behind Royal Woods but Mrs Johnson had agreed to come up with learning plan to let him catch up within a month or so. She was a nice woman, if a bit weird; she hadn't seemed to be joking when she suggested getting Lisa (the kindergartener) to tutor him.
Maybe she'd been thinking of another sister and he just fumbled up their names again. The girl seemed smart, but Nobel prize smart? Surely it had to be one of the older ones if it was real.
"Yeah, and don't mess with Ronnie-Anne neither," chipped into a another, this one with a 'folksy' accent. "She ain't popular like Chandler, but she'll mess you up just as bad or worse!"
"Yeah, she's the Royal Woods Queen of Mean!" Asserted Rusty. "She'll spank anyone who looks at her the wrong way!"
"Yeah, and you knew that when you tried to hit on her," Stella reproached with a frown. "Now she hates all of us because she thinks we were in on it."
"She doesn't hate you," Clyde asserted.
"Because I wasn't here when you tried it." Stella pointed out and they began a back and forth about why Ronnie Anne apparently targeted their group. Quickly the rest of them started chiming in with other tales of her (hopefully exaggerated) ferocity.
But while they were eager to share horror stories, unlike the other times they had discussed a person they weren't pointing out the student in question.
"Which is one she?" He asked quietly, wanting to avoid the 'purple menace' as Rusty had dubbed her.
"Oh, she's not here right now," Clyde grimaced as he ate his own 'burger'. "I heard that she got in another fight this morning and had to go to the principals' office."
"Do you think she'll get suspended?" The rustic boy asked.
"Don't think so, from the sound things the other girl started it." Stella drained her juice box before continuing. "Looks like Terry from fifth grade thought her boyfriend was cheating on her."
"Boyfriend?" Lincoln asked in confusion.
"Not really, no one's really in a 'relationship' around here." Stella did finger quotes around relationship. "But Terry has a crush and she heard that he was talking with Ronnie and she got really jealous."
Lincoln shivered, that kind of thing was actually common in Hazeltucky. Maybe they started early in his home town, but all kinds of 'adult' things were done in or around his school and the fights they caused…
"I-is everyone okay?" No don't stutter.
"Oh yeah, Terry got in her face and tried to take swing and then- WHAM!" Stella suddenly smacked her hands together, making him jump a bit. "Ronnie Anne just slapped her to the ground, and Terry started crying."
Clyde whistled. "Wow, and I thought she was supposed to be tough."
"So did she."
Clyde froze, and the table fell silent as a Hispanic girl loomed behind Clyde. She wore a purple hoodie and a slight smirk as Clyde trembled. "Talking about me behind my back McBride?"
"N-no Ronnie Anne," Clyde turned to face her with a plastered on smile. "We're just letting Lincoln know how you took care of Terry from fifth grade-"
"Oh yeah… I guess that makes sense," Ronnie Anne tapped her finger to her chin as if thinking. "Gotta let the new kid know what's up after all. That's you, right beanie boy?"
Lincoln froze as the new girl's eyes turned to him, with a 'playful' look he recognised as preceding his many embarrassments at Hazeltucky.
Ronnie Anne's slight smile flattened to neutrality. "Hey, do you see anyone else in a beanie? I'm talking to you."
Stella quickly intervened even as she started sweating bullets, "don't mind him Ronnie, he's just shy and it's his first day-"
"I wasn't talking to you." Ronnie advanced, ignoring Stella and glaring at Clyde as he reached a hand out to slow her down. The honour student quickly retracted it as she approached Lincoln, staring him down. "I said; 'that's you, right beanie boy?'"
Lincoln swallowed, seeing the nervous expressions from around the table and opened his mouth to reply. "I-I- y-yes."
The girl frowned and a memory of getting slapped down in Hazeltucky flashed back into his mind.
"Well, make sure you speak up when I'm talkin' to you. I might think you're ignoring me on purpose," the girl smirked again. "Since you're new here I'll let it slide this once, just don't do it again or I'll have to teach you manners."
Lincoln swallowed and dumbly nodded, mostly healed bruises aching in remembered 'lessons'.
"Now," Ronnie plopped down next to him, wordlessly displacing the redhead with glasses who scooted away without his lunch. The girl promptly took his as yet unmolested burger and bit into it as she spoke. "I've heard different things about you… Lincoln, was it?"
He nodded quickly.
"Yeah, that's right. So anyway; I heard that the Loud Sisters were getting a brother, pretty big news around here since half the stuff that goes on in Royal Woods gets started them," She swallowed and grinned. "They're real local legends; but since a week ago we've all been hearing that it'll be 'Loud Siblings' from now on. Talk about a surprise, you wouldn't think a guy would have time for dating with ten kids.
But hey, he's a guy, apparently, they have 'needs'," she briefly stopped to glare at Rusty before continuing, and Lincoln felt hot anger build at the implications upon his mother before he stuffed it down again. "So, I guess it makes sense and we're not hearing about any other transfers so hey 'this is the guy'. But apparently, you're not 'the guy' 'cause your name is different, so what gives?"
She waited for a moment, and Lincoln realised she was waiting for him. "M-my-" he took a breath to steady himself. "My Mom is marrying Mr Loud, so we moved here."
The rest of the table suddenly became more interested.
"So, you are the guy." Ronnie took another bite. "But you're not a Loud yet?"
"No!" He could help but snap. "And I'm not going to be!"
Ronnie stopped at his tone and carefully drew the burger away from her mouth. "Don't shout at me."
"I-I didn't-"
"Shut it." She starting listing off her points with her non burger bearing fingers, flicking out one for each. "So, let's get this straight; your mom is dating the Loud dad, she's moving here to marry him and you're living together in that house I guess; but you're not taking the name until she's married?"
"I'm not taking the name at all." He affirmed. Alvarsson was always his name, it was Pop-pop's name too and knowing that Mom was changing hers made him feel… a bit sick. Like she was giving up part of her herself to become Lynn's. "But the rest is right."
"Good to know," the girl reconsidered the burger. "But I gotta ask; why not?"
"Why would I?"
"I dunno, to fit in?" She shrugged. "If your mom changes her name then you'll be kinda' an outsider won't you?"
Lincoln frowned, but persisted; "I don't mind. I like my name and I'm not changing it for anyone."
Ronnie stared at him, and he trembled at her impassive gaze but refused to break it. Finally, she gave another smirk and pushed herself up and away from the table.
"Thank for clearing that up 'not a Loud', guess the school'll still be calling them the 'Loud Sisters' after all, even if you're going to be their brother." She stalked behind and stopped, he twisted to meet her again but her hand suddenly clamped down to hold him in place. "But seriously; don't shout at me again."
He suddenly felt the back of his pants pulled open and the girl shoved something both solid and damp down there.
He yelped and tried to wriggle free but only succeeded in spreading the mess as she laughed, releasing his shoulder as she went to walk off but suddenly stopped. Lincoln had jumped up and desperately tried to claw out the mess without exposing himself, but as he pulled chunks of hamburger from his underwear, he caught her curious expression and stopped.
Why was she-
Her eyes weren't matching his.
They were slightly above.
He abandoned his mostly empty underwear, the band snapping it back into place and his clean hand reached up with trembling fingers. No, the beanie was still in place if a bit loose- on the left side anyway but on the right-
He felt a few sweat-soaked strands poking from underneath, probably jostled loose when he jumped up. The cafeteria had fallen silent, apparently the entire school was eager to watch the new boy be shown up by the school bully.
Innumerable eyes attached to hundreds of students, everyone from first to sixth grade looking right at him in silent judgement, his eyes spotted the one Clyde called Chandler pointing him out to his friends.
Every one of them could see his white hair poking out from the lopsided beanie.
His secret hadn't lasted a day.
Lincoln felt his insides turn to water and he bolted out of the cafeteria, snickering laughter suddenly rolling out from behind him.
A/N:
Blueperson2021 here:
Special thanks to SpartanXHunterX for allowing me to adopt Moving In. I enjoyed it thoroughly as a reader and hope to do it justice as it's new writer. Spartan was kind enough to provide his planned plot details and I have been working with him to build a plan for the future chapters.
Also thanks to: Nuuo and my Unnamed Associate for giving this chapter a read over and Crismoster25 for allowing me to use their art as the thumbnail as in the original.
For my readers of my other works, Alone Time Denied and my Oneshots Collection has been updated with this fic, and Lincoln's Alone Time will be updated later this month. Lynn's chapter has already been plotted and the first five thousand words have been written, I should have time to finish it next week.