Lincoln was spending his Saturday the way many other kids did but few enjoyed, worrying about school. He had forgotten some homework here, understudied for a test there, and neglected a project somewhere else. Small mistakes made over a long period of time, but ones that nevertheless came back to bite him, as now he needed just a few extra points to get a higher grade. Luckily for him, he wasn't a troubling student, so his teacher was understanding enough to let him make up for what he missed along the way. The problem now was just how the hecking frick he was going to fit it all into his already busy schedule. Well, a man's got to do what a man's got to do, cut down on time with his family. Now if he could just decide who would so generously donate a few hours of attending their precious hobbies to let him stay home and study.

However, before he could decide, someone entered his room. Lincoln learned to identify who it was by how aggressive they were with the door, and how gentle they were with the knocking, so it surprised him when none other than his dad came inside. His parents, more than anyone else in the house, knocked and announced themselves before entering, so this entrance certainly surprised Lincoln, but it was nothing he worried about. Everyone makes mistakes here and there.

"Hey, dad, what's up?" Lincoln turned his head to look at his dad.

Lynn was looking like his usual self. Same clothes, same hair, same smile, only now he looked more tired. Lincoln wrote it off as the stress of the house wearing on him more. His Mom was working more overtime, so perhaps they were going through a tight period financially. Whatever it was, it was nothing out of the usual for a person to be tired living in the Loud house, it would be the second thing listed under required skills if it was a job, right below being highly noise tolerant.

"Nothing much, son." Lynn said, passing a casual glance around the room. "Say, son, how is that school project we started last week going, son?"

"Ah... not very well..." Lincoln looked down. "I've had plenty of schoolwork... and chores around the house... and helping my sisters..."

"Don't worry about it, son. I'm sure the two of us can finish it in no time." Lynn said confidently.

"Ah... sure, whenever you have free time..." Lincoln said.

"I'm free now, so why don't we get started." Lynn said before guiding Lincoln out of the room and down the stairs before the boy could protest.

"Wait, dad, I need to get the materials."

"Don't worry, I already got them." Lynn said.

Lincoln couldn't deny his dad's eagerness was starting to bother him, but if it was to save time, he had to admit he was impressed. Having ten kids is a hard task. Providing could be said to be a comparatively small problem. How do you give each of them enough attention, love, and care, so they not only aren't emotionally stunted, but also don't feel their siblings are placed before them? With incredible difficulty, that's how. If you wanted to have some time to maintain your sanity, it was downright impossible. Every second of every minute was a moment one of your kids could come into the room and ask for something, worst of all your attention. Because if they ask for your attention, that means someone else can't. So, when giving your attention to one, it was of the utmost importance you did it as effectively as possible, otherwise you risked starting a sibling rivalry, or as it was called in this house, carnage.

Lynn wasted no time in pushing Lincoln to the table and sitting him down, before sitting down himself right across him, the supplies and work from last time already there. Lincoln had a school project to make a model of the solar system. Last time, they prepared the supplies needed and made plans for how they were going to make the whole construction, as well as making a few planets. This time, they started by finishing off the planets that were missing.

"Say, son, when was the last time we spent time together, just you and I."

"Yesterday, I guess..." Lincoln said, knowing immediately his dad was talking about just being together.

"I mean when, was the last time we did something together, other than this project." Lynn said, not the least bit angry at the response Lincoln gave.

Lincoln thought for a moment. "Well..." he thought for a while longer, until he finished Earth and realized he was thinking for too long. "I don't know..."

The response didn't exactly bring confidence to Lynn. "Say, son, I haven't ever taken you fishing, have I."

"No..." Lincoln thought about it but couldn't remember if they did or not.

"We should do that some time. Go fishing. Just you and me. Father and son..." Lynn said before a long silence ensued.

Lincoln finished Mars, feeling more and more awkward. "Ah... I heard there will be a big game soon, maybe we could catch that?" Lincoln had no idea if there was any game soon, less a big one.

"Oh, who is playing?" Lynn asked, genuinely curious.

"Ah... I... I don't know, I just heard there was a big game..." Lincoln said. Despite this, he didn't see much of a change in his dad's face. At least not due to his comment. He did look more tired.

"We can still watch it, I don't follow sports much either way, so it doesn't make a difference to me." Lynn said, trying to sound optimistic.

"I'm not much of fan either..." Lincoln said.

"We don't have to do it if you don't want to..." Lynn said.

"I didn't mean I don't want to, I'm just... I don't follow it really, that's all..." Lincoln was honest but still felt that silence setting in. "So... uh... how is it in the office?"

"Ah, it's boring, you don't want to hear about it." Lynn said.

"Okay..." Lincoln said.

Lincoln finished Saturn and put the ring his dad made around it. They kept working in silence, finishing up the last few planets before starting to place them on the base.

"Well, what did I say, son, the two of us can do it in no time." Lynn said happily.

Lincoln passed a glance at the clock, it really wasn't that long, compared to what it would have taken him alone. "Thanks dad, I really couldn't have done it without you."

"Thanks..." Lynn smiled at Lincoln before looking back at the model. "Look at it... a little happy big family... of planets. . . . . ." Lynn's smile dropped. He blinked twice before a tear rolled down his eye.

"What's wrong dad?" Nothing was wrong, his dad was just emotional. He would tear up over the smallest of things. It could get annoying at times, but it was still rare enough where it felt special to provoke that reaction from him.

Lynn slammed his head on the table. "Nothing..." he said through the cries. "Nothing... nothing... nothing!" he said, slamming his hand on the table every time, making the flimsy model shake. "Everything is fine... everything is just perfect!"

"Dad, if something is wrong, you can tell me..." Lincoln leaned over the table. "I promise I won't tell mom or the others, whatever it is." he said in a hushed voice.

Lynn looked up, showing Lincoln his shaking lips and swollen eyes. He took a long look at Lincoln and a smile came to his face before he slammed his head down again and started to cry.

Lincoln sat back into his chair. Whatever it was, he didn't cause it, or at least he hoped. Because this looked to be serious. Did his dad lose his job? If he did, it would explain his outburst. In this house, his parents would be stressed out of their minds over having to take sick days, being unemployed must be killing him, especially if he didn't tell mom yet.

And speaking of her, Rita walked in, as if summoned. Immediately, she skipped the announcements and pleasantries and went to comfort her husband. "Lynn, honey, what's the matter?"

"Nothing, honey, everything is fine." Lynn said, trying hard to hide his tears.

"Honey, there is a puddle on the table, I think we are past the point of concealing it..." Rita said with a comforting smile. "Come on now, you can tell me. Whatever it is, you know I can't be mad at you."

Lynn eased his crying, but he didn't look at Rita. "Can I ask you something..."

"Of course, you can." Rita said, gently stroking his back.

"Is it true?"

Lynn left Rita confused. "...Is what true?"

"Is it true..."

Rita was confused. "Honey, is what true?"

"Is. It. true..." he repeated, unwavering.

"Lynn, sweety, you are starting to scare me..." Rita said.

Lynn stood up, now looking at Rita dead in the eyes, with a face barely holding together. "Is it true?"

"Honey, I have no idea what you are talking about!" Rita said, slightly panicking.

"Is Lisa telling the truth!"

"About what?!"

"About you! About our kids! About Lincoln!"

"What about them?! What about me?!"

"Is he my son!?"

The room became dead silent.

"What..." Rita could barely whisper.

"Is Lincoln. my. son?" Lynn repeated.

"Lynn what are y-"

"Don't lie to me!" Lynn hurled the model off the table, crashing it to the floor. "I saw the results! Lisa did them over! I sent them to the lab! I saw the papers!"

Rita was dumbfounded. "Lynn... what... what are you talking about..."

"Why Rita!? Why would you do this, after twenty years… more than that... I... I..." Lynn began to tear up again. "How could you!?"

"Lynn, honey, please, I don't know what you think you saw-"

"Think? THINK!? I don't think anything!" Lynn pulled out a folded-up paper from his pocket and slammed it on the table. "I don't need to think anything I have the results to spell it out!"

He lifted his hand and Rita read the paper. She covered her mouth and slowly put the paper down before sitting down. "I... Lynn..."

"What's going on..." Lincoln said through his own tears.

Both adults looked at him, having completely forgotten or not even noticed him to begin with.

"Lincoln, go to your room." Lynn ordered.

"But-"

"Honey... just... just go, please, okay?" Rita said, struggling to keep a sentence straight.

"I..."

"LINCOLN! GO TO YOUR ROOM! NOW!" Lynn screamed out.

Lincoln jumped up and ran, whipping the tears off his eyes, so lost in what he just heard that he failed to notice his sisters spying on the conversation and trying to comfort him. All he could think about was what his dad just said and doing it before he said it like that again. He nearly fell trying to get into his room and slammed the door behind him. For a moment, he stopped to see if someone would come after him for what he just did. However, all he heard was muffled arguing. Lincoln slowly locked the door and crawled away from it. His mind seemed blank for a moment while he recuperated his breath. But in just the second after that, a million thoughts raced through his mind.

Why would his dad ask something like that? "Is Lincoln my son?", echoed in his mind. Of course, he is, who else would he be? If he was adopted, or conceived through "donation", he would have no need to ask, and his mom would never cheat on his dad. Still, his hair was white... and he never saw all the resemblances everyone kept pointing at. He couldn't see them when it was in relation to his mom either, so that didn't prove anything. Right? No, there was nothing to prove. He knew how's son he was, there was no doubt about it. He was a Loud, born and raised. What was this then? The only thing it could be. Fricking Lisa.

Dad brought her up briefly, she did some tests. It doesn't take another Lisa to figure out it was an ancestry test. Lincoln wondered briefly what mistake she made this time. Lisa made a lot of mistakes that served as reminders of her true age, but they never even came close to making their parents fight. Sure, there were arguments, but neither ever raised their voice even a decibel higher. Come to think of it, Lincoln couldn't remember if they ever had a fight. They argued more recently, but even then, it wasn't this.

He had to see those tests and find out what mistake Lisa made. Going up to the door, he heard his parents again. It wasn't loud enough to understand, but every so often a curse would come through. It shook Lincoln's confidence in his plan, but he continued. He opened his door just enough to see his sisters hiding at the top of the stairs. Lori was hugging the twins, both of whom were trying to cover their ears and whimpering; Lisa was holding Luna's leg while Lucy hugged her from the other side; Lynn and Luan were standing on brink of tears; and in the case of Leni and Lily, it wasn't clear who was comforting who.

Lori was the first to look at him, and one by one the rest noticed her reaction. Lori and Luna were the only ones who hadn't cried, and Luan looked just about ready to. Each and every single one of them ate away at Lincoln's soul. Knowing that he was, if even tangentially, responsible for this was too much for him. He withdrew back into his room slowly, unable to look away from them. He wanted to go and join them, to cry, to hug them, to have someone tell him it was going to be alright, and to tell them the same. But he knew he wasn't welcome there. He is the reason they are crying in the first place.

Lincoln sat on his bed and brought his legs closer to his chest. He still heard his parents from downstairs. One day, this will be a great laugh. They will sit together at some Christmas or Thanksgiving, or someone's fortieth birthday, and reminisce about that time they had a big fight over a miscalculation. But today it wasn't the least bit funny. Why were they even fighting anymore? By now, they should have realized the obvious. Lincoln prided himself on understanding adults well, but he knew his understanding didn't span all possible scenarios, and this was definitely one which he knew nothing about. It will be like in those shows, as cliche as it sounds. Mom and dad have a fight, dad sleeps on a couch for the night, in the morning everyone realizes they were wrong, and make up. It can be anything, just as long as they stop already!

Lincoln covered his ears and tightened himself into a ball. Just then, all the noise went quiet. Lincoln was frightened by what this meant. Careful not to cause too much noise, Lincoln went to the door. He pressed one ear to hear and what he heard made him fall back. A herd disbanded, meaning only one thing. Lincoln crawled back as someone approached his door.

"Lincoln, come with me." His mother didn't bother to knock, to announce herself, or even tell him what she was doing, she only grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him away. As they passed through the hallway, Lincoln saw the doors opening more and more and his sisters coming out to see what was going on, following to the stairs, but not a step further.

Lynn was in the dining room, crying at the table. "Where are you going?" He looked up with a pitiful face. At hist best days, he wasn't an imposing man, but now his attempt wouldn't make a sadist laugh.

"None of your busyness." Rita restrained herself from starting another fight. "I'm not talking to you while you are like this."

"Rita, wait!"

The two were already out the door. Rita dragged Lincoln away while calling a taxi. Lincoln couldn't focus one bit on the call. He saw his dad collapsing back on the table and his sisters coming to comfort him. Their attempts didn't help, but they were all better than his. Lynn, however, was the only one who wasn't. She made an obligatory attempt, but her full focus was on Lincoln, and sending him the most frightening glare she could muster. As the taxi drove them away, she was the only thing Lincoln could look at. She didn't need to open her mouth to tell him what it was for, he knew full well.

The taxi drove them away from the house and Lincoln looked at the neighborhood, not really present enough to see any of them. "Mom, where are we going?" he asked worriedly.

Rita only glanced at the rear-view mirror.

"Mom, what is going on?" Lincoln knew he would be better staying quiet and waiting, but he couldn't, not after what just happened. He needed to know something, anything.

"Mom..." he made one last attempt.

"You don't need to worry sweetie, everything is okay." Rita told him, but even in his desperate state he couldn't believe it.

I know I might catch some flak for the outburst Lynn (Sr) just had, and for Lynn's (Jr) ark everyone saw from a mile away. I won't lie to you when it comes to my ideas, they are very unbalanced. While I have a book's worth of ideas for one part, most of the rest will be quite cliche. And that's okay, I don't need to reinvent every bit of the car to make a good car, but I do need to write something in A/N, so you get this. For Lynn's (Sr) part, it's due to how I decided to write the story. We're reading Lincoln's POV, so a lot of context will be missing. This isn't so I can be a lazier writer, so you have a more accurate experience. A kid going through something like this wouldn't know half the things going on behind the scenes, so they would be confused and surprised by how it all plays out. But that's enough padding out the length for now.

I will see you next time, to show you things I don't want to spoil. Chao!