Meet The Fairmonts
Chapter Three
Encounter & Memories
9:10pm finds a rather relaxed Rita and Alicia with two empty bottles of Merlot sitting between them. The two mothers have had time to talk and reinforce the friendship they had forged earlier that morning. Looking up at the clock on the living room wall, Alicia realizes just how much time has passed during their talk.
"Oh, my goodness, Rita look at the time. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to keep you so long."
"Nonsense, Lishi, I've totally enjoyed our time together. I don't get the opportunity to talk with another mother at length these days."
"Well, regardless it's time I collected my son and made my way home." The albino stands and stretches.
"Will you look at that. Leni left her shoes down here." Rita says while shaking her head.
"Let me take them up to her. I'd like to say good night before I leave." Alicia says as she bends to pick up the teenager's shoes.
Rita smiles, "Very well, you'll find her in the first room to your right then you should be able to find Lance in the room directly opposite of the stairs."
The albino heads up the stairs, turns to her right and gently knocks on the door. She hears a soft, "Come in," in response. Opening the door she finds Lori sitting on her bed reading a magazine and Leni fast asleep.
"Oh, I brought her shoes and was going to wish her a good night but I see I'm a little late for that."
"Yeah, she literally collapsed after coming upstairs." Lori says while looking lovingly at her younger sister.
"Well, a hectic day and a full belly will do that do you." Alicia smiles as she looks down on her young friend's sleeping form. She then bends and placing teen's shoes on the floor next to the bed. As she straightens she stops and whispers, "Good night, sweetie." and she then places a small kiss on Leni's forehead. She turns to see Lori smiling at her.
"You really care for her, don't you?"
The tall woman continues to look at Leni, "Yes. Yes, I do. She is what my son-in-law, Drake would refer to as a pure soul. He says that her sort is truly rare in this world. She finally turns to Lori. "You have a good night, Lori. Now I'm off to wrangle up my son and leave you pleasant people for the night." She makes her way to the door.
"Door opposite the stairs." Lori calls out after her.
"Got it, thanks." Alicia says.
As she approaches said door she notices a sound. "Thump. Thump. Thump." When she knocks the sound ceases. "Yeah, c'mon in," she hears and does so. There she see Lynn holding a tennis ball.
**Guess that explains the thumping I heard.** "Evening, Lynn. I've come to collect my boy."
Lynn points to her left. "He's right over there."
Opening the door further, Alicia sees Lance and Lucy sitting on the latter's bed playing with something furry.
"Come on, Lance, it's time for us to go." The small boy hops off of Lucy's bed and rushes to his mother.
"I was just getting to know, Fangs."
"Fangs?" Alicia says with a somewhat confused expression.
"He is Lucy's pet bat. You have to admit that rates pretty high on the cool meter." The boy says with a wide smile.
"Yup, that really rates high, indeed." Alicia replies with a bit of a nervous laugh.
"There's nothing to worry about, Mrs. Fairmont." Lucy says in her monotone voice. "Fangs has had all his shots."
Alicia steps further into the room. "I'm sure that he has. May I see the little guy?"
Lucy holds the tiny bat out so Alicia can get a good look.
"I never thought I'd say this about a bat but...he's an adorable little thing. How did you come by him?"
"He became trapped in our attic and I realized that he seemed awfully young to be on his own. Luckily mom and dad agreed to let me keep him so long as I got him a clean bill of health."
"I told you that Lucy was absolutely the coolest, didn't I mom?" Lance says excitedly.
"That you did, little soldier. But now it's time for you to say goodbye to your hosts." Alicia prompts.
Lance turns to Lynn, "Thank you for having me over, Lynn."
"Hey, no trouble, little man. The pleasure was all mine." the athlete replies with a smile.
"And thank you, Lucy, for having me over and for putting up with all my questions. You have been more than kind." The boy says while nervously playing with the hair that hides his left eye.
Lucy gives him the tiniest of smiles, "It has been my pleasure to discuss the darkness with someone that is willing to listen. Guess we can continue tomorrow?"
The boy turns and looks at his mother with questioning eyes.
"If it's okay with Lucy's parents, it's okay with me."
Lance turns back to Lucy, "Wicked."
Lucy nods, "Wicked, indeed."
A few minutes later finds mother and son making the short walk to their home. Alicia wisely decided to leave her car in front of the Loud's residence due to having had a generous amount of wine earlier. For a short while they walk in silence. However curiosity gets the better the albino and she asks, "You like hanging out at the Loud's, huh?"
"Uh, huh." The six year old replies.
"I guess it doesn't hurt that one Loud in particular is interested in the same thing that you are." Alicia states giving her son a bit of a sidelong glance. In the illumination of the street lights she can see that her son blushes ever so slightly. "Yeah, that doesn't hurt at all."
"Mom?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Can I get a bat?"
**Okay, can't say that I didn't see that coming.** "I don't really know where to even begin looking for such a pet, sweetie. I mean, Lucy's bat was a rescue and I seriously doubt that the local pet shops have any."
"I see." the youngster says with his shoulders slumping slightly. "Too bad, it would have totally cool to have one for a pet."
As they come up to their front door, Alicia turns to her son with a loving smile. "I'll tell what, let me talk with your father about it and maybe...just maybe he can...procure you a pet bat."
"Oh, thank you, mom! That would be the greatest!"
Unlocking and pushing the door open the albino announces, "We're home!"
"It's about time, too." Her husband says from his seat on the couch. "I was just about to send out the hounds to drag you guys back. And by hounds I mean Rebecca and Drake."
"Hey, we heard that, old man!" Drake's voice can be heard coming up from the basement through the open doorway.
"I'm trying to care less about that annnnd I can't." Alex responds as his son climbs onto his lap.
"Dad could you possibly find me a pet bat?"
"A pet bat? What the hell brought this on?" His father asks with a look of total confusion on his face.
"Lancelot," Alicia says with her hands on her hips. "I told you that I'd speak to your father about it."
The youngster looks his mother in the eye and answers, "Well, since he's right here I figured that I would save you the trouble."
His mother rolls her eyes and shakes her head. "Little Lucy Loud has a pet bat that she rescued from her attic." The woman smiles at the memory of the little chiropteran. "It is the cutest little thing."
Alex looks at his son and sighs, "A bat is a pretty tall order, son. Even if I could locate one you'd have to learn how to care for it."
"No problem there, dad. Lucy could teach me what I need to know."
Alex notices a bit of a twinkle in his son's eye. "You really think a lot of this girl, don't you?"
The boy lowers his head and blushes at his father's question. "W-Well yes...I-I do. She is very informative on topics that I'm interested in."
The big man chuckles, "Okay, Mister Man, I'll send out some feelers and see what's what."
"Thank you, dad." The little boy lays his head against his fathers chest.
"As for now, I want you to get ready for bed. I'm sure you'd like to get an early start on seeing your friend again tomorrow."
The white-haired boy jumps down from his father's lap, "Wicked." he says and hurries off.
"Wicked?" Alex says turning to his wife.
"Oh, it's something that Lucy says when she finds something to her liking."
"Well, I find it, wicked that our boy has finally found someone he can relate to. I really thought that he was going to wind up like Drake. Spending all his time in the basement with his head stuck in a bunch of dusty old tomes."
From the basement, "Again, I can hear you, old man!"
"And again, I'm trying to care less and still can't." The big man looks to his wife with a smile, "So, did you have a good time with your friend today?"
"Yes, I did. However, something happened that almost spoiled it. They made a play for Leni."
Alex's eyes arch in surprise. "They made a play, already?" His wife nods in reply. "This is a lot sooner than I figured they'd attempt a move."
"Well, according to McTaggart..."
"McTaggart?!" Alex interrupts. "I thought that red-headed bitch was dead. I mean, I threw her off of a building myself."
"You've got to remember who and what we're dealing with, my love. They patched you back together and you did far worse than take a tumble off a six story building. Anyway, according to her they're kind of desperate for new blood. It would seem that we're taking a toll on them."
"I take it that she's no longer functioning at this time?"
Alicia gives her husband a sinister looking grin. "Indeed, my dear. I drowned her good for nothing butt in a toilet."
To this Alex lets out a rather raucous laugh. "Quite fitting that you finished off a turd like her in a toilet."
"What's all this about turds and toilets?" Drake asks as he and Rebecca emerge from the basement.
"The Colony made a move on Leni today at the mall." Alicia says with a somewhat worrisome expression.
Rebecca cocks an eyebrow, "They made a move already?"
"My thoughts exactly." Her father says. "We were figuring on at least another week before they'd make their presence known." He steeples his fingers and taps them to his upper lip. "We have to take for granted that they've already cased the Loud residence and they definitely know we're here. We may have to tell the Louds about this situation far sooner than we thought. I was hoping to get to know them a bit better first."
"I don't get it. Why go after Leni?" Rebecca inquires.
"Leverage." Drake answers. "What better way is there to assure an individual's cooperation than to threaten he or she with their family."
"Precisely, Drake, it's the best leverage in the world." Alex rises from his seat, crosses the floor and looks out the front window toward 1216 Franklin Avenue. Rebecca steps up beside him and takes hold of his massive hand. She then looks up at her father, "How do you want to play this big guy?" Without taking his eyes off the Loud residence he answers, "Close to the chest. We proceed according to the original schedule for the time being. The Colony knows that we're here and that might buy us a little time while they regroup." He looks down at his daughter and gives her a crooked smile. "We continue with Operation: Good Neighbor."
11:30 am finds Lance accompanied by Rebecca and Drake making their way to the Loud residence. The young boy walks up ahead of his escort with a rather uncharacteristic spring in his step. Drake nudges his wife to gain her attention.
"Someone is an rather chipper mood this morning."
"I know." Rebecca says with a smile. "You know, I think that lil' bro is crushing on Lucy." She turns to her husband, "Is that normal for a six year old?"
Drake shrugs, "If I've learned anything about your family is that normal isn't in its dictionary. Besides, hasn't your Aunt Victoria always said that Lance has an old soul?"
"On many occasions. Then again, you have to take into consideration that Aunt Vicky isn't really the definition of normalcy."
"Too true, lover. Toooo true." He says as he nuzzles Rebecca's ear which causes her to flinch and move away from him. "Cut it out, Drakie! You know that my ears are particularly ticklish. Her husband gives her a mischievous grin. "I know, that's why I did it."
Meanwhile up ahead of the couple, Lance meets up with Lucy on the porch. They gently caress each other's shoulder in greeting.
"Guess what, my dad is going to see if he can..." (The youngster looks a little unsure of himself.) "...What is that word mom used last night? Oh, yeah! See if he can procure me a pet bat."
Lucy gives her friend a genuine smile. "Wicked." She then turns and leads the boy into the house.
"Looks like the lovebirds have already engaged each other and gone inside." Drake says jokingly.
"Oh, give them a break, crazy boy. It's just a little harmless infatuation." The little blonde says before suddenly coming to a stop and looking to her right.
"What's up, Beckers?" Drake says as he walks back a few steps to see what she's looking at. What he sees is Lincoln around the side of the house with one of his sisters. "Looks like they've got some kind of sparring match going on."
"C'mon, let's go check it out." She moves off toward the side of the house.
"Beckers, need I remind you that we're supposed to be picking up your mother's stuff and her car?" When his wife doesn't respond he simply sighs and trots to catch up with her.
"It's his sister, Lynn. By all accounts the girl is a total sports freak." She watches the match very closely. **Hmmm, Lincoln's doing fairly well. Good block of her kick. Nice parry of her right hand. Ohh, no! He left his counter out there too long. She's going make him...Ohhhh! Pay for it.** Lincoln drops to one knee due to Lynn's blow to his ribs.
"You were doing pretty good there, Link." Rebecca says helping the boy to his feet. "Until you left your right counter hanging out there. I knew she was going to nail you for that mistake.
"You could follow things that closely?" Lynn asks.
"I've learned a couple things sparring with my dad." The blonde says running her hand along the right side of Lincoln's ribs. "You know, Lynn, your brother isn't the biggest guy in the world. You might consider pulling your shots a little more." Lincoln winces as Rebecca's fingers test the point of the blow's impact."
"What are you talking about? I pull my shots plenty. I'm just trying to toughen him up some, is all." Lynn retorts with some irritation creeping into her voice.
"It looked me more like you're trying to tenderized him, like a steak." The blonde says looking back at the athlete with a smirk.
"Wha...You talk like I'm trying to hurt him or something!" Lynn's voice starts to climb in volume.
"I'm just saying that you've got to learn to pull you blows more or you could accidentally hurt him." The older female replies with an exasperated tone.
"Yeah, well, what do you know? You're just a blonde bimbo that likes to dress like a prissy little princess!"
"Lynn! Stop this now and apologize!" Lincoln shouts.
Rebecca's back straightens and she does a slow turn toward the athlete. "Blonde bimbo, eh?"
Drake immediately recognizes the tone in his wife's voice. "Beckers, don't!"
"It looks like my past just won't let me be." Rebecca says as she kicks off her shoes. "You weren't listening the other day, were you." She pulls off her T-shirt revealing the sports bra beneath. "You and I aren't really that much different you know." She pulls the padded gloves off Lincoln's hands and slips them onto her own. "I spent most of my life fighting people who bullied me because of my size. Ninety percent of whom I kicked their asses for them on the first try. And the other ten percent? I kicked their asses on the second try." The little blonde begins to dance around the athlete. She back peddles left then right.
"Rebecca, please! Do not do this!" Drake pleads.
"What's wrong, pale boy? Afraid I'm gonna damage you wife's pretty little face?" Lynn teases.
"Stay out of this, Drakie. It's between me and little miss must be the best. She doesn't even realize that she's only good at beating on her less experienced brother or competing with jerks in a gym. Jerks that probably never had a street fight in their lives. Well, battle princess, it's time someone took you down a peg or three and I'm thinking that I'm just the bitch to do it."
"Big talk from somebody that only seems to know how dance around in a cir..."
Lynn's statement dies in her throat as the little blonde suddenly flashes forward smashing her shoulder into the chestnut haired girl's chest. The impact sends Lynn slamming up against the side of the house. She clears her head just in time to duck a right hand that smashes into the wood cladding of the house. The impact leaving a sizable hole.
Lynn's eyes go wide upon seeing the damage. She's even more amazed that the blonde doesn't even seem to be fazed after hitting the house. **What the hell is going on here? She had to break every bone in her hand but she's still on the attack.** A blow goes whizzing just above Lynn's head and the athlete counters with a blow to the blonde's midsection. Lynn hears a satisfying "humph" escape her opponent's lips and she smiles. **Gotcha!** However, her smile doesn't last very long as Rebecca brings her left elbow smashing into Lynn's face. The force of the blow sends the Loud family's athlete sprawling onto the grass. Rebecca resumes her fighting stance as Lynn shakes her head in an effort to clear it. She sniff and then wipes her nose, looking at the back of her glove she sees that it has come away bloody.
"Hey, no fair! You elbowed me in the face!" Lynn shouts as she gets back to her feet.
"This ain't no gym, ponytail. That elbow is what street fighting is all about. You caught me with a good shot and I countered with what was immediately available." Rebecca responds while once again bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Believe it or not, that was a love tap. So, what do you say jock? You wanna quit now or are you still looking for a shot at the flyweight title?"
"I'm Lynn Loud Jr., you bleached blonde bitch! I don't know the meaning of the word quit!"
"Then maybe it's time that this bitch taught you the meaning of the word. C'mon, bring it you wannabe bad ass."
With a furious scream of anger, Lynn launches herself at her opponent. She lands on her left foot and spins into a roundhouse kick. Her sneaker clad foot crashes into the little blonde's jaw as blood erupts from Rebecca mouth.
"Dang! Lynn got her really good with that one." Lincoln says to Drake.
"Watch." Drake whispers.
Lynn sees the entire thing as if in slow motion. Her foot smashing into her opponent's jaw, the eruption of blood as the soft tissue within Rebecca's mouth is sorely traumatized and the beginnings of a stagger. **Ha! I have you now miss know-it-all!** The athlete moves in for the coup de grace with her right armed cocked back like a gun waiting to be fired. However at the last moment the blonde plants her left foot to stop her stagger. Lynn would later swear that she could actually see Rebecca transferring her weight into her left arm. That she saw a snarl play across the blondes delicate features as her left arm began to move forward. She could see her opponent's hips begin to rotate as she brought the missile of flesh and bone to bear on her.
However, at the last possible moment Rebecca opens her fist and hits Lynn with an open hand to center of her torso. The impact stops the athlete dead in her tracks. Lynn feels the air leave her body in a rush and her vision starts to grey at the edges. Rebecca then spins to deliver a devastating backhand blow."
"REBECCA NO!" Drake shouts.
The blow stops a mere inch from the side of Lynn's head. The athlete looks into her opponent's eyes and sees a twinkle there. The blonde then lowers her fist as the athlete drops to her knees gasping for air.
"Lynn are you all right?" Lincoln says rushing to his sister's side.
"I'm...I'm...I'm." Lynn responds between gasps and then she pukes up her breakfast. "I'm...sick." Another rush of bile fills her mouth and she vomits again. However, after a minute or so the waves of nausea finally subside and the athlete can really catch her breath. She looks over at Rebecca who is being chewed out by her husband. **What the hell is she made of?**
"Becky that was dumb." Drake says pacing back and forth in front of his wife. "Dumb and Dangerous. It was Dumbgerous!"
"Oh, you're going to lecture me and use a word like dumbgerous?"
"Words are my primary weapons." Drake says with a shrug. "But seriously what if you had injured that poor girl?"
"Oh, c'mon, Drakie." The young woman says rolling her eyes and folding her arms over her chest.
"Don't Drakie me. You let your temper get the better of you...again."
Rebecca gives her husband an incredulous look. "I...did...not! I was in control the whole time. I would think that would have been obvious to you. All she has is a bloody nose and some temporary nausea. I'm the one with the friggin' damage. I think that...brat actually loosened three of my teeth with that kick of hers." The young woman holds up her left hand as her tongue moves around inside her mouth. She then spits out a fragment of a tooth into the palm of her hand. "She broke one of my molars."
"What about the hole in the side of the house, huh?"
The blonde rolls her eyes again, "I missed on purpose, you doofus! The same goes for the blow that sailed over her head. I wanted to see what she had to offer. I didn't want to break her spirit, Drake. I just wanted her to treat her brother a little better, is all."
Lynn having heard the rather loud and animated conversation turns to her brother. "Linky, I'm sorry."
The boy looks at her with confusion etched across his face. "Sorry, about what?"
"For using you for a punching bag. The princess over there is right. I should go a little easier on you. After all, I'd never forgive myself if I really hurt you. I guess the princess really did teach me a lesson. She just used a method that I would easily understand."
"Well, she did say that the two of you weren't all that different." He says while helping his sister to her feet. "After what she said about her childhood I would think that she's driven to prove herself just like you are."
Lynn sighs, "I guess should've listened to what she was saying but you know me. You have to prove things to me physically."
"Where the hell is my other shoe?" Rebecca shouts while looking around.
Lynn looks around and spots it only a couple feet away. She picks it up and exams it. **Looks like something that Leni would wear. How can she be so girly but so tough at the same time?** "Over here, princess!"
Rebecca turns and looks at Lynn. For a long moment she just stares but a smile breaks across her face and then she shakes her head. "Okay...jock, you've earned the right to call me that." Stepping up to Lynn the blonde takes the offered footwear. She then places a hand on Lynn's shoulder and uses the athlete to steady herself as she puts her shoe on. However, she doesn't remove her hand when she straightens up and looks the chestnut haired girl in the eye and smiles. "Get it now, Lynn?"
Lynn simply nods and returns the blonde's smile.
"Then it was worth a broken tooth." Rebecca pats Lynn's shoulder and gently turns her towards the street. She walks with her arm around the younger female's shoulder. She nonchalantly slings her top over her left shoulder. "I originally came here to drop off my brother and pick up my mom's car and things she left here last night. Now I guess I have apologize for putting a hole in the side of your house."
Behind the two young women, Lincoln and Drake walk together. Lincoln, totally flustered, turns to Drake with questioning eyes. "What's with them? A few minutes ago it was like they were trying to kill each other and now they're walking together like they've been friends for years. I don't get it."
"It's a warrior thing, Lincoln. They've tested each others mettle and now respect each other as equals. I know it's weird but it's a kinda code. It's something that Beckers gets it from her father."
The quartet step up onto the porch and are immediately set upon by the other Loud sisters with the exception of Lucy. Unbeknownst to the recent combatants their match was observed from the dining room window.
"Wow, that was some sparring match you two." Lana shouts.
"When you hit the side of the house I literally thought that the wall was going to cave in." Lori says.
"Those were some sweet moves dudettes." Luna chimes in while clapping a hand on Lynn's shoulder. "Looks to me that you've met your match, little sis."
"Yeah," Lynn says somewhat sheepishly, "I have to admit that the princess here is pretty darn good."
Rebecca gives the Loud athlete a one armed hug and smiles, "Thanks and you're not bad yourself...jock."
Leni clasps her hands cheerfully in front of her, "Yayyy! Everybody is still friends. This calls for like, a celebration!"
Rebecca looks at the others a little perplexed. "I'm not getting this. I mean, you guys aren't upset about me and Lynn's throw down?"
"Oh, heck no." Lola says with a dismissive wave of her hand. "It all falls under Sister Fight Protocol."
Drake leans in closer to Lincoln and whispers, "Sister Fight Protocol?"
"It's kinda crazy." Lincoln shrugs. "I'll explain it to you later."
"That's nice except for one little thing." Rebecca says holding up her hand. "I'm not your sister."
"Hmmm." Luan says giving the little blonde and appraising look. "Let's see. Blonde and kinda short tempered." Looks at Lori who rolls her eyes. "Not to mention quite athletic." Looks at Lynn who simply smiles. "Are you kidding? You're like two sister rolled into one. Maybe we should call you Lorynn. Ha! Ha! Ha! Get it?"
Rebecca looks at the comedian with a dead pan expression. "Yeah, I got it. Though I'm not sure I want it."
Luan's mouth drops open in a display of mock shock. "Wow, you're harshing my mellow over here."
Rebecca chuckles, "Let me make it up to you. Pizza for everyone...on me." She takes t-shirt and waves it in the air as everyone cheers. As the group files into the house Rebecca turns to Drake, "Do me a favor, honey and get in touch with mom and let her know that we'll be staying a while."
"Not a problem, Beckers." Drake responds holding up his cellphone. "I just finished texting her." His phone gives off a couple of beeps, he looks down and reads his mother-in-law's response. "Not a problem, sweetie. Just don't forget to bring my bags home as well. Ohh, I love it when she calls me 'sweetie'."
"I do believe that 'sweetie' was meant for me." Rebecca says as she pulls her shirt back on and fusses with her unruly, spiky hairstyle.
"I beg to differ, dearest. After all, I did send the text from my phone. You know that I'm your mother's sweetie."
"Well, we'll just discuss this with the old bear." Rebecca counters with a smirk.
The young man cocks and eyebrow, "Now I see no reason to get your father involved in my affair with your mother."
To this Rebecca bursts out laughing. "You? An affair...with my mom? Now that's the best joke I've heard all week. You run and hide whenever she even slightly teases you."
Lori smiles, "Have to take Rebecca's side in this, Drake. "I mean, I literally witnessed how flustered you got when she teased you the first day we met."
"Okay, you've got me there." The young man rubs the back of his neck. "It's just that..."
Drake's statement is interrupted by the sound of doorbell. Upon opening it they find...
"Nightfall?" Rebecca says with surprise showing in her voice. "What are you doing here?"
"You're kidding, right?" The second youngest Fairmont says as she steps over the threshold. "Mom mentioned that you were throwing a pizza party over here. There's no way I'm going to miss..."
The little girl stops dead with her mouth hanging open when her eyes fall on Luna. Well, more specifically on what is in Luna's arms. Slowly a wide grin takes over her features and she starts hopping from one foot to the other.
"Baby! Baby! Baby!" The six year old shouts as she rushes toward the third eldest Loud sibling. "She's so cuuute! What's her name? Can I hold her?" She squeals practically bouncing in front of Luna.
"Easy little dudette." Luna answers with a smile. "Her name is Lily and yes, you can hold her. But first I have to change her."
"Oh, no problem there. I can handle that easy peasy."
The rocker looks to the little girl's older sister and cocks her eyebrow.
"Not a problem, Lune. She's actually quite good with the little ankle biters. My Aunt Vicky and Uncle Dale haven't long had a baby boy and Nightie takes over his care whenever they visit."
The Loud children look on as the little six year old deftly places a blanket on the couch cushion and lays the one year old gently down on it. "Did somebody go poopie in her diaper?" The infant coos and giggles in response. "Not to worry, Auntie Nightfall will clean you right up." When the youngster removes the soiled diaper her nose crinkles but she still manages to smile. "Phew! Stinkeroo! How can something so little make such a big stink?" Lily giggles and blows a raspberry at Nightfall which causes the raven haired girl to laugh. With practiced expertise the youngster's hands move without wasting a single motion. She holds out the soiled without taking her eyes off the task at hand. "Outgoing!" Lincoln takes the item from her and she resumes her work. Plucking a moistened wipe from its container she thoroughly cleans the infant all the while quietly humming to herself. Finally she gently takes hold of both the baby's ankles and lifts her little bottom off the the blanket. "Incoming!" says as she slides a fresh diaper into place and fastens it. "There, all clean little one."
"Amazing." Lori say in a hushed tone as Nightfall lifts the baby and holds her to her all the while humming.
Drake smiles at the scene and quietly whispers, "Alicia says that she's going to be a wonderful mother one day."
Lily yawns and lays her head against Nightfall's chest. "Aww, somebody's sleepy. Where's her crib?"
"Come, follow me." Lisa says as she turns and leads her guest upstairs.
"Wow," Luan says as they watch the trio of girls head upstairs, "I've never seen Lily take to someone so quickly before."
Luna smiles and says, "It would seem that the Fairmonts and the Louds are meshing rather well." She casts an eye at Lynn and Rebecca standing together and takes note of the bruises and scrapes on both of them.
She chuckles before adding, "Though it's evident that some of us mesh a bit more roughly than others."
"Amen to that, my sister." Rebecca says while clapping her hand onto Lynn's shoulder. The athlete turns and extends her hand which the little blonde shakes heartily. It is then that they hear it. The entire group goes quiet as a small voice can be heard drifting down from the second floor.
Sleep little baby. Sleep without fear.
You can do so because your big sister is here.
She will watch over you through the night.
She will watch over you till the burning of the new morning's light.
I will be here when you wake to see your blue eyes shining bright.
So sleep little baby. Sleep through the night.
Luna wipes a tear from her eye and sniffs, "Dude, she has a beautiful little voice."
"And what a beautiful lullaby." says Leni. "Did you like, sing it to her when she was a baby?"
Drake pipes up, "Ohh, no. Becky's singing would give children nightmares."
"Harsh but true." The princess says with a shrug. "That little ditty was sung to her by my sister, Ellen."
"Ellen?" Lori asks with a puzzled look. "We thought that..."
"That's right, Ellen was running an errand for mom first day you guys came over. You all never met the second of the Fairmont kids."
"Oh, we've got to meet her." Lola cries.
"You've got that right." Lana says.
"I also concur." says Lisa descending the stairs. "I would certainly like to meet the author of such a soothing piece."
Rebecca nods, "Very well. Let's see if we can get her to come over here." Turns to her husband. "Drakie, phone, if you please." The young man slaps his phone into her hand. "Thank you, my dear." She dials, holds the phone to her ear and waits. "Hello, Ellen, it's me, your loving sister...Whaddaya mean, 'Midnight your voice has gotten deeper?'...Ha. Ha. Very funny sis. Listen we're going to have a pizza party at the Loud's. I was wondering if you'd like to join us?...Ohh, c'mon, Ellie. Pleeeasse. They all really want to meet you...You will? Thanks sis. See you in a few minutes. Love ya." Hands the phone back to Drake.
"Oh, goody she's coming." Leni says clapping her hands happily.
"Now, I warn you that she's shy and quiet so don't push her too hard. Give her a little time to get comfortable with you all and she'll open right up."
"Gotcha." Lori says, "Now you heard her. Everyone on your best behavior. That means no pranks, Luan."
Luan's face falls, "Dang it. I was going to use the old joy buzzer to break the ice."
Rebecca snaps her fingers, "Oh, there's something else I need to tell you..."
The ringing of the doorbell interrupts her and she watches as Lana leaps up to answer it. "It's the pizza guy and...some lady."
"Some lady?" says Lori as she gets up to investigate. The pizza delivery man and Lana pass by her on their way to the kitchen where they meet up with Rebecca who pays for the delivery. Lori looks at the young woman in the doorway as she approaches taking stock of her. She stands at least as tall as Luna and her long black hair is done up in a very long braid that hangs to one side falling to her waist in front of her. She wears a light blue nearly ankle length dress with a high bodice and long flowing white sleeves. She stands with her hands loosely clasped in front of her and on her right hand Lori notices two rings. On the middle finger is a square cut emerald and on the ring finger is a large opal. Once in front of her the blonde takes note of the woman's nearly flawless, dusky skinned beauty.
"Can I help you?" Lori queries.
With a slight bow of her head the woman responds in a small, eloquent voice laced with an undoubtedly East Indian accent. "I am Ellen Fairmont. I'm here on an invitation issued by my older sister on behalf of the Loud family."
Lori is slow to respond due to the fact that she's noticed the woman's most striking feature. She has large, expressive eyes that are the shade of rich, hand-rubbed mahogany. However the sclera of her left eye is absolutely black. The tall blonde is brought back by the sound of her guest clearing her throat.
"Oh my, you were staring at my eye, weren't you?" The young woman asks with a smile.
Lori smiles nervously, "I-I...I'm so embarrassed. I'm sorry."
Again, Ellen gives a slight bow of her head, "That is quite alright...Lori, right?"
"Yes, how'd you guess?" Lori says while beckoning Ellen to come in.
"Oh, my sisters and brother described you all to me quite well." She says following Lori toward the living room. "They are quite taken with your family."
"Well, we're pretty taken with..." Lori stops dead in her tracks at the sight of an completely empty living room. "Where the heck...Oh. Right. They're probably all in the kitchen divvying up the pizza. Please, come with me, Ellen."
Lori and Ellen make their way to the kitchen where, indeed they find the others. As a group they had already each grabbed a preferred slice of pizza. As Lori enters the kitchen with their guest everyone turns towards them and immediately freezes in mid motion.
Ellen rolls her eyes and looks at her older sibling while folding her arms in front of her. "Rebecca, I can take it for granted that you neglected to tell them about my eye."
"Sorry, Ellie, my bad." Rebecca says around a mouthful of sausage and cheese pizza. She looks at the faces around the room. Drake then nudges her from behind to spur her into action. She steps over to and stands next to Ellen facing the others. "What's wrong? You guys don't think that we look like sisters?" She questions while putting an arm around her sister's waist.
"It is quite obvious that she is your adopted sibling." Lisa says adjusting her glasses on her nose.
Ellen nods with a smile, "That is correct. However..."
"She's not the only adopted daughter." Rebecca interrupts.
"Rebecca was the first one that mother and father adopted." Ellen says putting an arm around her sister's shoulder and pulling her to her in a one armed hug.
"A story I just might get around to telling you guys one day." Rebecca says taking another bit of pizza.
"And the twins?" Lola asks.
Ellen's face seems to light up at the very mention of her two younger siblings. "Oh, Lance and Nightfall are mother and father's only naturally born children. The strange thing is that it's a miracle they are here at all. Mother wasn't supposed to be able to bare children. But a year after I was adopted, Lance and Nightfall were born."
Rebecca nods her head, "Yeah, so mom defied the odds twice over by having twins."
It is then that a small voice can be heard from the head of the stairs. "Is that Ellie, I hear?"
"I don't know. I guess it could be." Ellen answers with a wide smile.
With a squeal of pure delight, Midnight runs down the stairs and launches herself at her older sister who easily catches her in mid flight. "I'm so glad that you came over, sis. Guess what, they have a one year old here and I sang your lullaby to her and she went right to sleep."
"Very good, little one." Ellen says as she hugs the six year closer to her. "I am so very proud of you." She then looks at the group in front of her as if searching it. "Midnight, where is your brother?"
As if on cue there is a thump behind Ellen, Rebecca & Midnight. "I'm right here, Ellen." says Lance jumping down from a vent high in the hallway wall followed immediately by Lucy.
"And whatever were you two doing in there?" Ellen asks a her brother hugs her around her legs.
"Oh, nothing much. Just communing with Lucy's great grandma Harriet."
"Really now." The second eldest Fairmont says looking to the eight year old Loud.
"Indeed," Lucy responds in her monotone voice, "she stated that she was happy that I had a new friend and that there was more to him than meets the eye."
"Did she now?" Rebecca says as the three sisters share a look.
"Well, what say we move this party into the living room?" Lori pipes up filling the awkward silence that had suddenly developed.
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea." Rebecca agrees while casting a passing glance at the little goth girl.
A few minutes later with the pizzas sitting on the coffee table and the group spread about the sizable Loud living room the talk eventually focuses on Ellen.
"Those are two very beautiful rings you're wearing." Lola states.
"Why thank you. It is nice of you to say so." She fingers the emerald. "This one was given to me by father before I came to this country. He told me that it went well with my complexion."
"Why don't you tell them about how you met dad, Ellie." Rebecca says with an impish grin.
"Oh, I'm sure they don't want to hear about that."
"Oh, yes we do!" says Lana as she moves a little closer to the young woman. "C'mon...give."
"Very well." Ellen responds with a slight roll of her eyes. "It was about seven years ago in India that we met. Father was in New Delhi on business when he...'cough'...caught me with my hand in his back pocket trying to take his wallet."
Lana's eyes light up as she places both her hands on Ellen's leg. "You were trying to lift the big guy's wallet? What did he do?"
Flashback seven to a shop in New Delhi, India.
The big man claps his hand down on the youngster's arm and lifts her off her feet. "Who the hell does this belong to?" He asks in a great, booming voice.
The shopkeeper angrily flashes forward toward the child. "How dare you, you filthy little beggar! You insult me by trying to steal from my customer in my shop!" He then seemingly goes to strike her.
"Hey! Dude!" Alex says protectively transferring the girl into the crook of his left arm as if she were no more than an infant and holding his right hand out toward the approaching shop owner. "She tried to pinch my wallet. So, I hardly see how that's an insult to you. What's more, you are not going to strike a child. Not in front of me, unless you want some of the same?" The irate man shrinks away from them. "What's your name kid?" The youngster answers in her native dialect. Alex turns to the shopkeeper with a questioning expression.
"It roughly translates to 'she of the cursed gaze'." The shop owner says as he returns his place behind the counter.
"'She of the cursed gaze'? That's a helluva thing to call a kid." He gently holds her face between his thumb and index finger and gently turns her head so he can look more closely at her left eye. "Hmmm, most likely nothing more than a slight genetic defect." He continues to look into her eyes. "Hell, I think she has beautiful eyes."
Flash forward to 1216 Franklin Avenue, Michigan, USA
Ellen chuckles, "It was a that moment that my stomach decided to let its presence and condition be known. I mean, it growled like and angry dog. Father simply smiled and took me to an outdoor restaurant where we sat and ate together. It was during that time that I noticed a gentleness in his eyes. A gentleness that I felt compelled to trust. He said that he had to call me something so, he decided on Ellen. He said that it was the name of his first wife and that she had been loving and gentle soul."
"Oh, that is literally the sweetest thing I ever heard." Lori says while wiping away an errant tear.
"After my belly was full he took me back to his hotel. To say the least the hotel manager didn't like the idea of a dirty little street urchin coming into his establishment. However, father can be very convincing when he wants to be. He told the manager to just charge him double and that there would a fat tip in it for him at the end of his stay."
Luan chuckles, "Money talks and BS walks."
"That is very true, my friend. Even in India." Ellen says with a bit of a chuckle. "Anyway, father was there for two weeks and for that time I stayed with him and got to know him fairly well. I know that when one first meets him, one is immediately intimidated by his size and his somewhat...gruff manner. However, once you get beyond that you discover that he's a...a...Darn! What is the term I'm looking for Rebecca?"
Her sister, who is sitting on the floor leaning up against her husband, looks over at her. "I think the term you're looking for is...teddy bear."
"Yes. Yes, that is it. Teddy bear. After the first week, I told him how I was driven from my village after the death of my parents in a flood."
"Wow, that was way harsh dude." Luna says with probably more force than she meant to use.
"Luna, you have to understand that I was born in a village not a small town like here. My idea of running water was the little stream that ran out back of our dwelling. What you think of as a superstition was pretty much like a religion. For them my eye was proof that I had been touched by evil. I even began to think that my father believed that. He became more and more distant towards me as time went on." The young woman pauses and her expression seems like her thoughts have drifted back to those times.
It is Lola that breaks the brief silence when she reaches out and lays her hand on Ellen's and asks, "Ellen, what is your given name?"
"My mother named me, Satya which in Sanskrit means truth or truthfulness. I use the name Ellen to honor the father who adopted me and brought me into a new a world. Satya is now my middle name which I keep to honor the mother who bore me."
Ellen feels strong yet gentle arms slip around her shoulders from behind. "That's like, so beautiful, Ellen." Leni says as she places her cheek to Ellen's and hugs her.
The dusky skinned woman reaches up with both hands grips Leni's forearm. "Thank you," she says, "mother was right when she said that you were a loving person."
From her vantage point across the room, Rebecca notices, to her relief, just how relaxed her sibling has become and she smiles. **This is very good. She is opening up to them a lot quicker than she did with me six years ago.** She watches as Lucy points to the opal ring which rides on her sibling's right ring finger and asks her about it.**Uh oh,** she thinks, **Here comes the acid test.**
"Oh," Ellen says with an almost shocked expression. An expression that Lori immediately notices. "You don't have tells us," she says, "I mean, if it upsets you."
"No, it is alright." She touches the emerald. "This represents my coming to this country and the start of my new life. This," she touches the opal, "This represents my...my first and so far only love." She brings the ring to her lips and gently kisses it. "His name was Richard Haas. However, due to a head full of brick red hair his nickname was Brick. He's the young man who had his hand broken by Rebecca." She looks across the room at her sister who just shrugs and says, "Like I said, I don't like being pawed."
Ellen laughs, "Well, luckily for me by time I came into the picture, Brick and Rebecca had become fast friends. So much so that Brick took it upon himself to look out for me. He reminded me of father in the sense that he was also large but very gentle. He really helped me acclimate to life here in America. Well, one thing led to another and friendship blossomed into love. I remember how nervous he was when he met father the night of our first date." She giggles at the memory. "It wasn't like he'd never met him. They had met several times before. I suppose that he was so nervous because it was officially a date."
"That's it exactly." Rebecca pipes up. "I remember that night. Poor guy was sweating bullets. Dad did all he could to assure Brick that he was totally cool with him taking Ellen out but it just didn't seem to register."
The two siblings exchange a smile as Ellen continues her tale. "We were dating for about six months when, for my seventeenth birthday, he presented me with this beautiful opal ring. He said that it belonged to his grandmother and he wanted me to have it. Of course I told him that I could not accept such a beautiful family heirloom. Well, he finally convinced me that he'd discussed with his mother and that she had agreed with him gifting me the ring. Both families agreed that we were good for one another. I helped him with his studies and he helped me navigate my new life here."
Again, Ellen falls silent. However, this time a pained expression crosses her dusky features and tears begin to form in her eyes. Both sets of twins take notice move in closer to comfort her.
"It only a week after that, I lost him." She picks up a napkin from atop one of the pizza boxes and dabs the tears from her eyes. "He'd beaten off three hooligans defending me. Unfortunately one had stabbed him in the back. Brick died there in the street...in my arms. I tried returning the ring after the funeral but Mrs. Haas wouldn't have it. She said that her Richard had chosen well and that he had told her that he knew that I was...the one."
Lori gasps, "You mean...?"
Ellen gives the blonde a sad smile as she nods, "He was going to ask for my hand when we were old enough. So, I always think of this ring as my engagement ring."
"It was like you were the princess and he was your knight." Lola says with a sniffle as she snuggles closer beside Ellen and wraps her arms around her waist.
Rebecca looks as a crooked smile breaks across her features. **The little ones always gravitate to her.**
Ellen smiles and wraps an arm around the little girl's shoulder. "That is a good way to look at it, little one. He was indeed my knight." She then breaks into a bright smile. "But enough with sadness. Let us celebrate the melding of two families in friendship." She raises her soda can, "To friendship!"
The others follow suit raises their drinks, "To friendship!"
Rebecca get up and steps over to Lynn, "To friendship, jock."
Lynn smiles, "To friendship, princess."
Lance turns to Lucy, "To friendship, Lucy Loud."
The little goth gives him a tiny smile, "To friendship, Lancelot Fairmont."
Author's Note:
Boy this chapter went on longer than I thought it ever would. But it was like it was writing itself and I just couldn't figure where to break it off. So I just decided to go with the flow. I would like to take time to thank my good buddy Seth for his help and for giving me the whole 'dumbgerous' bit. It's great to have someone you can bounce things off of when you're writing.