Disclaimer: The Loud House and The Casagrande's are owned by Nickelodeon.
Chapter 12. Old Friends, New Lives.
After Luna was released from the hospital. Lincoln his wife his three sons and two sisters when out to eat at a local diner. After entering the diner a certain female state trooper looked at them and noticed Lincoln's white hair. This trooper was wearing a grey Michigan state trooper uniform with a hat and all. She had dark skin with black hair worn back in a ponytail, and wore reflective shades on her face. However both Lincoln's his white hair and facial complexions caught her attention. Then also noticed two of the women accompanying him. After a stair for a while she dropped her head and looked down before the family could even notice.
As the Loud/Louder family was sitting down for their meal Lincoln said.
"So Kate any place in particular you want to visit while we're up here in Michigan?" Lincoln asked
"We'll ware are you planning to go next?" Kate asked
Lincoln looked and Luna and Lynn and the two looked back at Lincoln.
"We're going to find out where our other sisters are." Lincoln said.
Unbeknownst to the family the female state trooper was listing in on their conversation. She was looking away pretending not to listen. But glancing at the occupants every now and then.
"We have ten aunts altogether. Do you know what had to the other eight?" Michael asked
"I have no idea, But I think I know where I can find out." Lincoln said
"Were?" Jeffrey asked
"Before the whole….incident we living in a town called Royal Woods. We may still have contacts there." Lincoln said.
"How far away is Royal Woods?" Kate asked
"It's only about a fifteen minute drive from Detroit. Infect it's considered one of the suburbs of Detroit." Lincoln explain.
"So going back to where it all started bro? I like that idea." Luna said
"Sure everyone will love to see the girls who kicked their only brother out of their own house." Lynn said in a dejected tone.
"Now, Now Lynn, I've already forgave all of you for your part. I'll be more than happy to explain everything to them." Lincoln said
"Lynn does have a point bro. I mean she spent five years in juvie, I've spent two years in prison. Not many people are going to be as welcoming to us as they are welcoming to you." Luna said
All the time the female state trooper was listening to every word in the conversation. She knew the family very well, and the sisters very well, and not just from the news reports twenty years ago. As she listen in on the conversation the family was getting ready to go their own way.
"So um Dad is it alright if we go to the water park?" Jeffrey asked
"There's a water park about a few miles from Royal Woods. We can go there as you, Aunt Lynn, and Aunt Luna got to see what happened to your other family." Michael explain
"If you don't mind!" Kate said
"Not at all. I can rent a car. We'll drive down to Royal Woods while you four go have fun at the water park." Lincoln said.
With that Kate took the three boys down to the water park as Lincoln went to a car rental place to rent a car so that he Luna and Lynn can continued on their deration. Unbeknownst to the three that they were being watched by a state trooper. After Lincoln got the rental car he, Lynn, and Luna got in and the four drove off to Royal Woods. As soon as they go onto the road the state trooper came out flashing her lights. As soon as Lincoln saw the State Trooper with the lights flashing behind him he was in disappointed. But he did pull over to the side of the road. As soon as the state trooper got out she walked over to the car Lincoln and his two sisters were in.
Lincoln rolled his eyes back in dismay. He thought to himself. "Best Case Scenario, Five Hundred Dollar Fine. Worst Case Scenario, Licenses Suspension."
As soon as the female state trooper was standing outside his car Lincoln rolled down his window and then the trooper asked. "Excuse me sir can I please see your driver's license."
Lincoln pulled out his wallet and shown his drivers licenses to the state trooper. The Trooper took one good long look at the driver's license then she asked Lincoln to step out of the car.
As soon as Lincoln stepped out, the state trooper looked at Lincoln and said. "You're originally from the state of Michigan and you were adopted by a family in Illinois is that correct?" She asked
Lincoln eyes opened wide and he said. "That's correct! How did you guess?"
At that moment the state trooper removed the shade's from her face and said. "It's been a while. Lame-O."
Lincoln jaw dropped at the realization that the State Trooper was none other than Ronnie Anne Santiago.
"Ronnie Anne!" Lincoln said with surprise.
"These Days people refer to me as Officer Santiago. I notice you have two women in the back seat of your car?" Ronnie Anne said
After a while Luna and Lynn were getting worried about Lincoln. He was talking to the female State Trooper who pulled them over less than an hour ago. Lincoln told the two to get out because the state trooper wanted to have a word with the two. After reviling herself to be Ronnie Anne the two were in a state of panic. But Ronnie Anne reassured them that they had nothing to fear. After a brief talk Ronnie Anne decided that all four should meet at a rest stop only a few minutes from where she pulled them over.
After the four pulled into the rest stop The State Trooper Ronnie Anne asked Luna, Lynn, and Lincoln why the three were back in Michigan.
"So why did you come back here even after what…They did to you?" Ronnie Anne asked
Lincoln took a calm breath and explained. "About six months ago Lynn bumped into me at a ball game. I know it was about twenty years cense the whole incident. At first I just brushed her off told her she had the wrong person. She then found out were I lived and drove down to my house. I literally wanted to kick her out but she kept pleading with me and begging me."
Lynn looked down with shame as Lincoln continued his story. "After telling me how life was treating her. How she can't keep a job because she was that 'monster' who use to beat her little brother. How her juvie record became known to practically everyone. I did sympathize with her, I felt sorry for all the trouble she suffered because of the trial."
Lynn pressed her lips together looked down and said. "The day I crossed paths with my brother. I just couldn't leave him…After What I did to him in the Past…I just had to tell him how sorry I was."
Lincoln placed his hand on his hand on her shoulder and said. "I felt so sorry for everything she went through that I brought her into my house and adopted her into my family."
To say Ronnie Anne was not moved from Lincoln's story would be untrue. She then turned her attention to the other sister. "So Luna how did you end up here."
Luna made a jester to Lincoln stating that she'll explain her side of the story. "After the trial I went down a dark path of drugs and alcohol…Dug addiction which cost me my lover…and landed me in prison. I was serving a five year sentence when Lincoln visited me in the slammer. Turned out I was sent to the same prison were our mother was staying at. I was also held at a five hundred dollar bail. Bro was kind enough to pay my bail and get me out of prison."
After Luna finished her story Lincoln then had to ask. "So what's your story Ronnie Anne?"
"Officer Santiago." Ronnie Anne corrected.
"Sorry, Officer Santiago." Lincoln said.
Ronnie Anne still delivered her story to the three Loud Siblings. "After the trial in which your family gain worldwide infamy. My family moved to Great Lakes City were we lived with our grandparents who own and operate bodega down town. Bobby still works there even after twenty years."
After mentioning her brother's name Lincoln had to ask. "Speaking of Bobby. Did Lori and Bobby…"
Before Lincoln could finish Ronnie Anne stopped him. "Unfortunately because of the trial and the publicity that fallowed, Bobby broke up with Lori. He went on to marry Carol Pingrey. You probably remembered her from Lori's high school."
Luna, Lynn, and Lincoln both froze in thought. They knew Carol Pingrey alright, and how she would beat Lori in every competition the two entered. Her name brought back memories of their eldest sister constantly complaining and competing with the one girl whom seemed to have shown her off in every competition ever. The three loud siblings shook at the memories of those ordeals.
"So…Um…what happened to Lori after the two broke up?" Lincoln asked
Ronnie Anne gave a puzzle looked. "Hmmm…I'm not really sure what happened to her, But Bobby still works at the bodega in down town Great Lakes City. He's probably there right now."
This news did spark Lincoln's interest. "Do you know the address?" he asked
"Of course, I use to live there after all." Ronnie Anne said as she pulled out a piece of paper and wrote on it, then handed it over to Lincoln.
Lincoln then looked back at his two sisters and asked. "How would you like to make a detour and visit and old friend?" he asked
Luna looked at Lynn, and Lynn looked at Luna. "Sure, Why not!" Lynn said.
Shortly after the meeting with State Trooper Ronnie Anne Santiago. Lincoln, Luna and Lynn both jumped into the rental car and drove off to Great Lakes City.
Meanwhile Miles away in Great Lake City. A thirty-seven year old store clerk was manning the front register. He had a full beard and looked exactly like his father Arturo Santiago did when he was his age. As Roberto 'Bobby' Santiago manning the front register his wife of fifteen years Carol Santiago 'Nee Pingrey' came in.
"Hello Roberto!" Carol said as she through her arms around her husband.
"Hey Babe, You know my break isn't until another five hours!" Bobby said as he hugged his wife right back.
"Don't worry about it. I can wait." Carol said with a smile.
About three hours later a car pulled up outside the bodega and three people got out. A man with white hair, and two women. As the three walked into the bodega the man's white hair stood out more than he thought. Immediately both Bobby and his wife took notice of it.
"Lincoln! Lincoln is That You!?" Bobby asked with surprise.
At first Lincoln didn't recognize Bobby because of the beard but after looking at him a second time he had to ask. "Bobby?"
Bobby got out from behind the register and the two embraced in a hug. "I can't believe it! It's been so long!" Bobby said
While Bobby did recognize Lincoln. However his wife Carol recognized the two women who were with Lincoln.
"What the hell are they doing here!?" Carol asked
"It's alright…Carol?" Lincoln asked as he turned and saw Carol.
"We've talked things over with Lincoln." Luna said
"He already forgave up for what we did to him all those years ago." Lynn said
Carol stared Lynn dead in the eyes with a serious glare. It was almost like she was glaring daggers at her. "Oh Really?" Carol asked
"It's true! We did talk things over and we've reconciled out differences." Lincoln explained
Carol looked back at Lincoln and said. "After high-school I did a report on the whole "State of Michigan vs. Loud" case. I do distinctly remember certain details from that case involving Lynn."
Then she turned back to look at Lynn. "Details that landed you in juvie." Carol continued
Then Carol looked back at Lincoln. "If anything I expected you above all people to be the very last person on the planet to forgive her for what she did to you." She finished
Lincoln looked back at Carol. "It had been over twenty years now. After twenty years we've realized to hold onto a grudge after such long period of time is kind of pointless." He said
Carol smiled at Lincoln. "You know I'm actually very proud of you. Either way you should never harbor a grudge against anyone it's not healthy. To take the step to move on even after the hell she put you through. I can only imagen that Lynn suffered the same hell in Juvie she put you through." She said.
"So Bro what brings you here?" Bobby asked.
"I ran into you sister on the road. She pulled me over and was just as surprised as Carol was when she found out I was with my sisters, well two of them anyway." Lincoln said
Bobby smiled at Lincoln. "Oh yah, Sis been doing a lot of round cense she became a state trooper." He explained.
"So anyway the reason I've returned to Michigan is to reunite with my family and reconcile with them." Lincoln explained.
Lincoln would spend the next hour explaining everything to Bobby and Carol, about his up bringing in Deerfield Illinois. How he was adopted and now goes by the last name Louder, How he got married and now had three sons, and how he ran into Lynn at the ball park and everything that happened after the two reunited. How the two went down to the Michigan State Penitentiary's to visit their parents each of whom are doing well behind bars. Finally how they encountered Luna at the same prison where their mother was and her story.
Bobby and Carol both took it in. At first they didn't know what to think. Then a thought came to Bobby's mind. "My Uncle Carlos is a Professor, He lives upstairs in the apartment. I'm sure he'll love to hear your story." Bobby said.
As Bobby escorted Lincoln and his two sisters up to the apartment they were met by an artist who was working on a painting.
"Hello Bobby who's your friends?" she asked.
"This is Lincoln Loud and his two sisters." Bobby said
At that moment the artist dropped her supplies and a look of sheer horror fell on her face. "You Mean…." Before she could finish her sentence Bobby corrected her. "Don't worry they work things out. He's forgiven them for what they did."
"Hello and you're…" Lincoln asked.
"I'm Frida Casagrande Bobby's Aunt." She said
In the next room they found a man wearing a silk robe smoking a pipe reading a book in a rocking chair. He wore thick frame glasses, and had silver black hair.
"Tio Carlos." Bobby asked
The man looked up and noticed his nephew Bobby and the person with the white hair standing next to him. He shut the book he was reading his mouth fell open and the pipe fell from his mouth.
"Is he who I think he is?" Carlos asked
"Bobby?" Lincoln asked
"Lincoln this is my uncle." Bobby said
Immediately he sprung up from his rocking chair and greeted Lincoln. "Professor Carlos Casagrande Sr. You Must be Lincoln Loud! The boy who made headlines throughout the country over twenty years ago with the trial. 'The State of Michigan vs. Loud.' I have always wanted to meet you in person." He said as he ran over to shack his hand.
Needless to say both Luna and Lynn were starting to get sick on how Bobby's relatives kept bringing up the whole trial of 'The State of Michigan vs. Loud' Even though it was the darkest day in their families history. Even though it was the trial that would send Lynn to Juvie and start Luna down a path that would eventually land her in prison. The Casagrande's were praising Lincoln like he was a hero or a big name celebrity.
"So um… who are your friends?" Carlos asked as if he didn't realize them at first.
"These are my sisters Luna and Lynn." Lincoln said.
A look of sheer horror fell on Carlos's face. "The same Lynn who use to beat you with her baseball bat and was sent to juvie for it?" He asked
With both rage and embarrassment Lynn said through her teeth. "YESSS!"
"I thought you were a sociopath. I mean I've studied the behavior of sociopath's and from what both the video of the trial, the news report, and the testimony from the trial afterwards. Lynn pretty much is a text book definition of a sociopath." Carlos explained
Lincoln looked at Lynn seeing how this was effecting his sister Lincoln stepped up and said. "Lynn is Not a Sociopath! Yes What She Did Was Wrong, and Yes She deserved to be punished for it! But everything that happened afterwards was completely different. She regretted everything she did. She couldn't even keep a job because of it. She had no friends no one ells to turn to. The night she came to my house begging for my forgiveness! I…I just couldn't throw her out." By this time Lincoln was fighting back tears.
After hearing this from Lincoln. Both Carlos and Bobby stood silent. They were amazed how not only did Lincoln forgive the sister who caused him so much pain, But it seemed to them as if he was also defending her. Protecting her from all the negative publicity she endured throughout the years. As for Luna and Lynn the sister couldn't be more prude of their little brother. They knew why he was defending them. He recognized them as his sisters and they were a family again.
"Could you explain each of your situation to me after the trail. I want to get to know each of your stories." Carlos said.
For the next hour like they did with Bobby and Carol. Luna, Lynn and Lincoln explained their history to Carlos. He was very intrigued about everything that has happened to them afterwards, how Lincoln got married and started a family of his own. How Lynn couldn't even keep a job for herself because everywhere she went someone recognized her from the media. How Luna became addicted to drugs and how it casted her the life of lover and how it landed her in jail. After hearing Lynn and Luna's testimony it was not hard to see why Lincoln forgave them and accepted them back into his life. In fact it was hard for Carlos not to feel sorry for Luna and Lynn after what they went though.
"You know Lynn…I'm going to be blunt…Everyone makes mistakes…it's in our human nature to err. Even in judgment we all make mistakes from time to time…Maybe…Maybe if I got to know the full story early on I would not have been so Judgmental." Carlos said.
"It alright. Believe me I've gotten far worst from my days as an elementary school custodian. Even Lucy wouldn't talk to me." Lynn explained.
At that moment Lincoln turned his intention to Lynn and said. "Lucy! As In Our Sister Lucy!"
"Well Yah, I use to work as a custodian for Royal Woods Elementary for a number of years. Lucy landed herself a job as an English teacher there. Every time we pass in the hallway she'd give me the cold shoulder. Even I thought it was rude considering the fact we were roommates at one time." Lynn Concluded.
Lincoln then turned Carlos and asked. "Does Royal Woods still have summer school?"
A.N. My classes start next week. This will be the last time I'll be updating this story for a while. I will be rapping up "Life with Lincoln" soon.
