Meet The Fairmonts

by A.T. Gunn

When a new family moves into the neighborhood they hit it off with the Louds. However, things may never be the same in the Loud House again.

4. Chapter 4

Meet The Fairmonts

Chapter Four

New Addition And Visitors

It has been nearly a month since the Fairmonts moved in just down the street from the Louds and in that time the two families have become fast friends. It is as if both residents have been declared community property by the children of both families. There were times when all the Fairmont siblings were crashing with the Louds and other times it was the reverse.

It is early on a Saturday morning that finds the head of the Fairmont clan making his way groggily towards the kitchen for his morning pick me up. As he crosses to the coffee maker he turns to his left and looks into the living room. What he sees there startles him at first.

**What the actual f...?** his mind screams as his eyes scan the room. Here and there across the expansive space are several sleeping bags and air mattresses. To him is seems as if an invading army has bivouacked in his home. He then shakes his head as if to clear his sleep addled mind.

**That's right, the Loud kids.** he thinks with a smile as he pours himself a big mug of jolt juice.

Rebecca had asked him and his wife if it would be alright for them to have a sleepover. The two of them had joyfully agreed to their grown daughter's request. After all, they had more than enough room. He had initially thought that the house was way too much for his family. However, Alicia argued that they could use the extra space for entertaining guests and putting up friends and family that inevitably would visit from time to time. He was happy that he had decided to go along with his wife. He smiles to himself, **Like I ever really had any say in the matter.** He thinks as he takes a sip from his mug. **She's the boss and she knows it.** He chuckles to himself.

"You're chuckling to yourself this early in the morning." A voice says softly from behind him. "This has the makings of a momentous day, indeed."

Turning the big man sees his wife and a somewhat goofy smile plays across his scarred features. He is still amazed how even after several years of marriage the sight of her can make him feel like a high school kid again. He reaches into the cupboard and removes a mug with the name 'Lishi' emblazoned upon it. It was a gift from Leni to his wife and the thing is there's another one just like it in the cupboard at the Loud residence. He pours a healthy portion into said mug.

"You know I like it, right?" he wife says wrapping her arms around him from behind.

"Why, of course I do. Light and sweet, just like your lovely self." the big man replies.

Handing his wife her mug of coffee they turn and look out over the collection of sleeping youngsters. Alicia watches her husband as a broad smile finds its way to his face. She learns her head against his shoulder and practically purrs.

"Look at you. A house full of kids and you're grinning from ear to ear. The big, tough, Alexander Fairmont has a soft spot for kids." She takes a sip of her coffee and sighs. "I only wish I could have given you more."

"Lishi," he says while still looking into the living room. "We have two beautiful adopted daughters and you gave me the twins. In doing that you defied great odds. Hell, we have five children when you throw our son-in-law into the mix. I'm a happy man and what I see right now makes me even more so. I mean, look at them all broken off in their little groups. It would seem Rebecca and Ellen were holding court with all the older Loud girls. Nightfall together with Lana and Lola. She's taken on the role of mediator between them. Which she can do because she is like both of them. She's a princess and a tomboy rolled into one." His eyes continue to scan the room and his smile broadens as he points to a corner of the room. "And there are our two dark-lings."

Alicia cannot help but smile, "I'm so glad that Lance found someone that shares his interests. Rita's told me that she is glad that Lucy has done the same. She says that Lucy almost seems...happier since meeting up with our boy."

"Well, like they say, there's someone out there for everybody." Alex says and takes another slug from his mug. "Hey, hold up a minute. I don't see either Lincoln or Drake."

Alicia gives a little giggle, "Not to worry, my dear. I found them passed out in the playroom. I figure that they were playing video games well into the night. You know, those two have hit it off pretty well. It's like each is the brother the other never had."

"It's nothing short of a miracle in Drake's case. I didn't think that anyone other than Rebecca could get his head out of those damn books of his."

"You know, I think it's great that Rebecca, though she's nearly twenty two, still has the heart of a teenager. Otherwise we'd miss opportunities like this."

"Well, I know this much. We'd best start getting breakfast ready for this multitude." Alex says after which he downs the remainder of his coffee. "From what I've learned kids are almost constantly hungry."

Finishing her coffee, Alicia looks at the living room and then back at her husband. "Should I get them up?"

"No need, we'll let their noses wake them up. I remember when I was a kid there was nothing better on a Saturday morning than to wake up to the smell of my mom cooking breakfast."

With that said, the couple bends to the task at hand. Dozens of eggs and pounds of bacon and sausage are cooked up on their large six burner stove. The smell of the food wafts over the sleeping youngsters and as Alex predicted one by one they began to stir.

Rebecca is the first to rise and stretch. From her position on the couch she can see her parents as they busied themselves with preparing breakfast. She softly pads over to the kitchen and leans on the counter with a pleased smile on her face.

"Well, will you just look at the two of you. You really look like a couple of domestics."

"Good morning, sweetheart. Did you all have a good time last night?" Alicia asks as she hands her daughter a mug of coffee.

Taking the offered beverage the young woman smiles. "Boy, did we ever. We talked about darn near everything going on in our lives." She looks back over her shoulder at her still slumbering sister. "You should have seen Ellen. I've never seen her so open before. I'm beginning to think that the Louds are really good for us. I mean, look at Lincoln and Drake. Those two disappeared around ten or so and we didn't see them for the rest of the night."

"Not to worry, Beckers. Your mother found them conked out in the play room." Alex says as he turns and places a few more rashes of bacon onto the already piled high platter.

"Ahh, yes, video games." Rebecca says after taking a sip of coffee. "I'm really glad that Drakie has found something else to occupy his time. Lori told me that Lincoln really looks forward to the little trips that he and Drake make together. She said it's like..."

"Each is the brother that other never had."

Rebecca turns in surprise to see the eldest Loud sibling approaching from the living room. "Oh, morning boss lady."

"Morning, Scrappy." Lori replies with a smile. "Good morning, Lishi...Mr. Fairmont."

"Good morning, sweetie." Alicia replies as she shovels scrambled eggs onto a platter. "Sleep well?"

"Oh, very much so, thanks."

Alex looks at the young woman with a rather serious expression. "I've got a bone to pick with you young lady."

"Uh, what might that be?" asks Lori with her eyes darting back and forth.

"This Mr. Fairmont business has got to stop, Ms. Loud. I mean, Mr. Fairmont is my father, Galahad and he lives in Texas. You can call me, Alexander or Alex. Just don't call me, Al. I'm not really a fan of that one."

"Ohhhhkay, Alex it is then." Lori says as she mentally breathes a sigh of relief.

"Good." The big man says as he turns back to the stove and places several pieces of bacon into the frying pan.

With a yawn and a stretch, Drake walks into the kitchen. "Good morning ladies." He says with a smile. He then looks at Alex and frowns. "Morning, old man."

"How old are you, Drake?" Alex asks turning to face the younger man.

"I'm twenty four. You know that or has your memory bummed out on you?"

"Well, I am old as you constantly like to point out. But I've got a question for you, young blood."

"And what might that be?"

"Would you like to live to see twenty five?" The big man smiles a smile that somehow manages to be more chilling than any scowl Lori has ever seen.

"You know you wuv me, dad." Drake answers with a bright smile. "Now, may I please have some coffee?"

Alex reaches into the cupboard, pulls out a black mug, fills it with the brew from a second coffee maker and hands it over. "Here you go sport. Black, hot and strong enough to float an iron wedge. Oh, and for the record...Beckers wuvs you. Lishi...wuvs you. Ellen...wuvs you. The twins just freakin' adore you. Me? Well, I simply tolerate you for their sake."

Lori nudges Rebecca and whispers, "I don't get it. They act like they can't stand each other."

"And that's just it." Rebecca says, "They act like they can't stand each other. When the truth of the matter is that they've got a real bro-mance going on. Drakie is like dad's eldest son and each would storm the gates of hell for the other."

"Ohhhh, I get it." Lori says with a smile.

"Like a cup of coffee, Lori?" Alicia asks.

"Yes, thank you." Lori replies while looking at Drake.

"What," Drake asks while lowering his coffee mug from his lips. "Have I got something on my face?"

"Yeah, an ugly nose." Alex says while putting his frying pan into the sink.

Drake shoots his father-in-law a glare. "I wouldn't talk about faces if I were you, big guy."

Lori chuckles at their banter, "Nothing, I'm just trying to get used to your yellow eyes. I mean, it hasn't been that long since I first saw you without your shades on. This family really has it going on when it comes to odd eye color."

Hearing a stirring from behind her, Rebecca turns to see both Leni and Ellen rising and stretching together. "Good morning, ladies." she says.

"Good morning, Rebecca." Ellen says.

"Like, good morning, Scrappy." says Leni after a particularly long yawn.

A puzzled looks moves across Drake's face. "What's with this Scrappy business?"

"Oh, we were discussing the match Rebecca and Lynn had and how it takes someone pretty scrappy to hold their own against Lynn." Lori says as she hides a smile behind her coffee mug. A smile brought on by the disapproving expression on Alex's face.

"You're both a couple of damn wildcats. Rebecca you wound up damaging the Loud's residence and Lynn damaged your dental work. Dental work that I must say I have a lot of money invested in. Luckily the cost of the repair work in both cases pretty much balanced out." He then turns to Lori. "And don't think I didn't see that little smile of yours, young lady. I'm just lucky that your father is an understanding man." The big big man rolls his eyes and chuckles, "Then again, with ten daughters, how could he not be understanding?"

Alicia steps over to the group having put her frying pan in the sink to soak. "Well, that's that, breakfast is ready and it looks like the rest of horde is starting to stir. You were right about their noses getting them up."

In twos and threes the youngsters awaken to the smell of a delicious breakfast awaiting them. In their little secluded corner of the vast living room, Lucy and Lance stir, sit up in their sleeping bags and face one another. Each gives the other a tiny smile and a light caress on the shoulder.

"Did you sleep well?" Lance asks with slight blush.

"Very well, thank you." Lucy answers with an equally slight blush.

The pale boy stands and offers his hand to his guest, who takes it. He gives a tug to help her to her feet but he pulls just a tad too much and Lucy falls into him. Lance steadies himself and stops her tumble, however they find themselves in a clumsy embrace which they quickly break. Each stands with their hands behind their backs. Lance's one visible eye darts back and forth in its socket. Though he cannot see Lucy's eyes due to her black bangs, he figures that her eyes are doing the same thing and due to both their pale complexions their blushing cheeks are on full display. Each turns an eye towards the kitchen area and there they see that the eldest sister of each family has witnessed the incident. They both say, "Sigh", as they see that their siblings have big grins on their faces.

Lucy notices that her friend is now looking down at the floor between them with slumped shoulders. The little goth reaches out and places a couple of fingers beneath the boy's chin and gently lifts his head. She looks into his exposed eye and smiles. Without saying a word she reassures her friend that everything is fine and that he shouldn't fret. He returns her warm smile and they both make their way toward the kitchen under the misty-eyed gaze of their eldest siblings.

Meanwhile a small figure stirs on an air mattress and sits up. Nightfall Fairmont greets the new day with a wide smile plastered on her face. She looks to her left and then to her right at the two Loud twins, Lola and Lana. She grips each by the shoulder and gives them a vigorous shaking.

"Wake up sleepyheads, there's grub to be had!" she shouts.

Lola rolls over and groans, "Arggghh! How can anyone be so cheerful first thing in the morning?"

"It's easy when you happen to be Lance's twin sister."

Lola gives her a totally confused look. "Please, Nightfall don't make me think. It's too early in the morning."

"First, Lola, it's 10 o'clock. Second, I, like yourself, I'm the polar opposite of my twin. Lance is kinda doom and gloom and I'm sunshine and biscuits."

"If you say so," Lola groans.

"I say so, indeed." she says with a bright smile. The six year old then turns her attention to Lola's twin, Lana. She shakes the girl somewhat violently, "C'mon sleepyhead, time to wake up and dig into breakfast."

Lana's eyes snap open and she sits up, "Food?" she says as she grabs her trademark red cap, slaps it on her head and stands up. "C'mon, Lola, time to chow down!"

Again the little pageant queen groans, "The two of them are going to be the death of me."

A few minutes later finds the entire congregation sitting at the Fairmonts' over-sized dining table enjoying a hardy Saturday morning breakfast. Chance has it that Alex finds the Loud family's resident genius sitting at his right. He finds himself smiling as the four year old places her plate upon the table and proceeds to climb into her boosted seat. As she settles into place she looks up at her host with a polite smile.

"Good morning, Mr. Fairmont and how are you this fine morning?"

The big man returns her smile, "I'm doing fair to middling, Lisa. By the way, you may address me by my first name. We don't stand too much on ceremony here."

Lisa adjusts her large glasses on her nose and replies, "I'm delighted to hear so, Alexander. I must admit that I had a rather enjoyable stay, thus far. I'm glad that my siblings talked me into accompanying them on this...what is it called again...oh, yes, sleepover."

"I must say that I was somewhat surprised when you walked in with the others. It was my understanding that you prefer your studies and projects to socializing."

"That is very true, my sizable neighbor, however my siblings informed me that coming to the sleepover would be the neighborly thing to do. So, I tagged along and as previously mentioned had a very good time."

Alex regards the child with his unflinching green-eyed gaze which causes the young scientist to unconsciously look down at her plate. She then clears her throat and looks back at her host. "H-Have I said something to upset you, Alexander?"

"No, you've done no such thing." Alex answers with a bit of a chuckle. "I must apologize. You see, I tend to study people and in doing so I make most of them uncomfortable. Alicia says it's because of the color of my eyes. Nature saw fit to give me these emerald green eyes and they can be as hard looking as said gemstones when I stare. It's just that I find you somewhat fascinating. I mean, you're what, all of four years old?"

Lisa swallows a mouthful of sausage, "That is correct, neighbor."

Alex nods, "Yet you have at least three degrees under your belt that I know of."

"Four." Lisa says after washing down said sausage with some orange juice.

"Four?" Alex questions a little incredulously.

"Four." the diminutive scientist repeats.

The big man gives a rumbling chuckle, "Four it is then. Anyway, such an achievement makes you something of an...oddity. If you don't mind me using that terminology."

"Alexander, I am a woman of science. So how the unwashed masses perceive me is of no concern to me. To me science is a religion. A religion that explains all things."

Alex, his meal now totally forgotten, props his elbow up on the table and rests his head in the open palm of his left hand and again scrutinizes the youngster. "That is one helluva bold statement, little one."

"Oh, now I have said something to upset you." Lisa says somewhat sheepishly.

"Not at all." Alex assures her with a smile. "I can understand someone with your...limited experience making such a statement."

Once again adjusting her over-sized glasses on her face, Lisa gives her host a rather incredulous look as she says, "What has my experience have to do with anything?"

This time instead of a chuckle, Alex actually laughs. The action garners attention from everyone at the table. He quickly regains his composure, smiles and places a hand on the little scientist's shoulder.

"Why it has everything to do with it, little one. You are a bona fide genius, no doubt. However you are still only four years old and therefore only know of this place. I, on the other hand, have been slogging through life a wee bit longer. I've traveled around this grim old world and I've seen things and people that sort of stand outside of the scientific norm."

Lisa cocks her head to one side while looking up into Alex's eyes and in them can find no deception. She reaches up and places her hand on his as it still sits upon her shoulder and says, "As I said before, I am a woman of science. I only believe what I can see and or examine."

"That, Lisa, is a fair enough statement. One that I..." Alex is interrupted by ringing of the front doorbell.

"I've got it!" Rebecca says heading for the door.

"Sorry for Lisa's argumentative attitude, Alex." says Lori. "She just can't help but try and show off her big brain."

Lisa opens her mouth to give a rebuttal to her sibling's statement when she is suddenly silenced by a hand on her head that she calculates could crush her cranium with very little effort. She turns toward Alex and he gives her a wink and a smile.

"There's nothing to be apologetic about. I found our little discussion to be quite refreshing. What's more, I look forward to have more such sessions."

"As do I, my large friend." Lisa says with a smile.

Meanwhile Rebecca has opened the front door to reveal a large box with legs. At least that's what it looks like to her upon first sight. Then a face pokes out from behind the parcel and Rebecca's face breaks out in an incredibly wide grin.

"Hello, dear. It is so good to see you again." the face says.

Rebecca emits an ear tweaking squeal and starts hopping up and down in excitement. "Aunt Vicky! Aunt Vicky!"

Her aunt winces and then smiles. "I'm happy to see you too. Now, could you please take this while I get my bags?"

"Oh, sure. Not a problem." Rebecca says as she takes the box from her aunt and turns her head toward the dining area. "Hey Drakie, come here and get Aunt Vicky's bags for her, please."

It seems that Drake appears within mere seconds of his wife's request. "Victoria, what a pleasant surprise." The young man says as he gives her a hug.

"Victoria?", she says with a bit of a frown. "Drake Temeson, how many times do I have to tell you to call me, Vicky? Victoria makes me sound like an old woman."

The young man chuckles, "Sorry...Vicky, now let me get your bags."

"That's more like it," she says as she pats him on the shoulder. "Hmmm," she says with a sly smile as she gently kneads his shoulder. "It would seem that you've bulked up a bit since the last time I've seen you."

"Yeah," he says with a bit of a blush, "your bother has put me on a regimen for just that reason. He told me that in order to perform properly the mind and the body must be maintained" He then turns to his in-law and whispers, "Don't tell him I said so but...he's right."

"Oh, he'll never hear it from me, dear." She chuckles as she turns into the dining area. "Now, let me say hello to my other nieces and nephew...Oh, my..." She stops dead in her tracks upon seeing the very large group at the table. "Alicia...Alexander, don't tell me that you've adopted all of these children."

The big man roars with laughter at his sister's assumption. "No, Vicky, we haven't. Not officially anyway."

Alex's statement causes the Loud children to chuckle and giggle. They can't remember a time when new neighbors had so quickly become friends. Their father had told them that the situation gives a new meaning to the term 'fast friends'.

Alicia steps forward, "It's so good to see you again, Vicky," she says as she hugs the somewhat plump woman to her. "I see that you're traveling solo this time around."

Vicky looks into her sister-in-law's eyes with a smile. "I love Dale and Lon to death but a girl's gotta get away on her own every once in a while."

"Aunt Vicky", Ellen says as she makes her way toward her aunt with Nightfall in tow.

"There are my other beautiful nieces. My word Ellen, you get taller every time I see you. I'm starting to have to look up to you now." She hugs her niece so tightly that it causes the young woman to slightly wince.

"My goodness, you may be smaller but you hug just as fiercely as dad does."

"We older generation Fairmonts are born huggers, deary." Vicky says with a grin as she takes a knee to get down to Nightfall's level. "Look at you. You're just as dark and beautiful as your mother is fair and beautiful." she says running her fingers through the youngster's hair which is as dark as a raven's wing. She then proceeds to hug her. "You know, Lonnie misses his big cousin."

"I miss him, too." Nightfall says as she plants a kiss on her aunt's cheek.

As she hugs her niece, Vicky sees the last of her family present. "Come here, Lance. Come and give your auntie some sugar, my special little man."

The young boy smiles and lowers his head as he feels Lucy give him a gentle nudge from behind. He, however, reaches back and grabs her hand taking her along with him. As his aunt embraces him and he kisses her cheek she asks, "And who might this be, Lancelot?"

"This is my good friend, Lucy Loud. Lucy, this is my Aunt Vicky." Lance says in a quiet tone.

"I am pleased to meet you Lucy." Vicky says as she holds her hand out to the young goth.

"And I you, ma'am." Lucy responds as she takes hold of Vicky's offered hand.

It is in the moment that their hands touch that both females notice something about each other. The woman leans in closer to goth and whispers, "There would seem to be more to you than meets the eye, Lucy Loud."

"I can say the same about you ma'am." Lucy whispers back.

Neither female notices the slight smile that creeps across Lance's face. The smile, however, is quickly dropped as his aunt turns to him and places a hand on his shoulder. "I've got something for you." she says with a kind of impish grin. "It's in the box that your sister brought in for me."

The boy ambles over to said box which sits on the dining room floor. It stands about three foot high and is eighteen inches wide and the same measurement in depth. Lance takes passing notice that the top is ringed by a series of small holes as he removes it. Looking down into the box the boy's eyes go wide with amazement and joy. "Lucy, come see!" he exclaims as he removes the containers front panel to reveal a cage.

"It's a bat." Lucy states in her monotone voice.

"A pallid bat, to be precise." Vicky interjects. "They're quite plentiful down in Texas and this little lady is a rescue. She was being cared for by a friend of mine when I got word from your father that he in the market for a bat as a pet for you."

"You hear that, Lucy?" the boy says turning to his friend. "She's a rescue just like Fangs!"

The young goth gives her friend a tiny smile and says, "Wicked."

The boy lifts the cage up with Lucy's help places on the dining table where everyone can get a good look at his pet. Lana and Nightfall push their way in to take a closer look.

"Looks like Fangs has somebody to hang with now." Luan quips with a chuckle and receives gentle rap on the head from Alex for her troubles.

"Oh, wow," Leni says as she squints through the bars. "She totes looks like she has bangs."

Lori takes a closer look. "She literally looks like she does."

"Think of a name for her yet, sweetheart?" Alicia asks.

Lance looks from the bat, to Lucy and then back to the bat. "I'm going to call her...Desiree."

At this an audible gasp from the Loud siblings with the exception of Lucy, who remains as stoic as ever.

Leni clasps her hands in joy, "That is like, totes adorable!"

Alex, looking totally lost, simply asks, "What?"

Lori places her hand gently on the big man's forearm, "Desiree, is Lucy's middle name."

"Oh." Alex says with a nod. Then his eyes open wider and he repeats, "Ohhhhhh." He then looks at his son with a smile and a wink.

Lucy and Lance turn and look at one another. The goth, blushing slightly, reaches out and places her hand on Lance's right shoulder and he does the same to her. They both then bring their hands down the other's upper arm in a light caress, down their forearms and finally ending holding hands.

"I am honored." Lucy says.

"And I am honored that you are honored." Lance responds.

Alex's brow knits. "What...?"

"It's a goth thing, lover." Alicia whispers. "Just go with it."

Lance then turns back to the cage. "What do you think, Desiree? Do you like your new name?"

To everyone's amazement the little reddish-brown bat emits two high pitched squeaks as if answering.

Meanwhile a black SUV makes its way through an abandoned industrial park just outside the Royal Woods town limits. The driver swings the large vehicle around to the back of one of the structures and parks near its loading dock. The driver side door swings open and a woman emerges from the vehicle. As she does the SUV's suspension rebounds as it is relieved of her considerable weight. She then walks around the back of the vehicle and opens the passenger door. As she stands at rigid attention a man in a tailored suit emerges. He stands about four inches shorter than his chauffeur and isn't as thickly muscled.

"Thank you, Arclight."

The woman gives him a curt nod and closes the door. She then turns and follows her employer through the door beside the loading dock. The duo then descends down a stairwell which opens into a long, dimly lit corridor. From one end of said corridor voices can be heard.

"We've got HQ breathing down our necks, Cousins. We've got to make a move on the Louds and we've got make it really soon."

"Shut up, Harding," Cousins barks, "I'm in charge of this task force and I, and only I say when we go! You got that?"

Cousins notices that the young woman is about to reply when suddenly her face goes ghostly white. The task force commander turns around and finds himself practically face to face with...

"M-M-Mr. Garibaldi?" Cousins stammers.

"Yes, Mr. Cousins, you are indeed in charge of this task force. Therefore you are the one who receives all the praise when it succeeds and alternately all the blame when it fails." Garibaldi says in his silky smooth mid European accent as he steps forward and Cousins steps back. "Or, in your particular case, when it fails to act." Taking off his stylish glasses and removing a microfiber cloth from his breast pocket Garibaldi proceeds to clean the lenses. "Would you be so kind as to...enlighten me as to why this rather simple mission is not yet completed?"

"S-Sir, we have already lost one operative in our attempt to secure one of the targets, Leni Loud."

"Oh? This is the first I'm hearing of this. Why is that?"

"I-I didn't figure that you'd want to be bothered with s-such a trivial m-matter, sir."

"You are correct in your assumption of it being a trivial matter. However, The Council, you see, has been giving me no end of shit concerning your inaction. Now...I'm sure you're aware of the old expression that shit rolls downhill." He waits for a reply but upon receiving none he continues. "No? Well, simply put...I get shit from The Council and you..." He replaces his glasses and shoves his face right into his subordinate's. So close that their noses touch. "...get shit from me. It is simply the time honored way the world works. Now, how did you lose your operative?"

"S-She was intercepted by one of the F-Fairmont crew. We believe it was the second in command, Alicia Fairmont."

At this news Garibaldi backs off of Cousins. "The Fairmonts?" He says with some measure of surprise. "We got no reports of them even being in this area. They're supposed to still be in New York."

Seeing that his superior is somewhat taken aback by the news seems to embolden the panicky Cousins. He shakes himself and tries to regain some degree of his composure. "Precisely, sir. We didn't expect to have to take on the Ranger Organization's elite group. What's more, the Fairmonts have entwined themselves into the target family's very structure. They've moved in directly down the street from the target. Therefore, making their response time to any threat practically instantaneous, sir."

Garibaldi slowly nods his head as he smiles and comments in a rather whimsical tone, "Oh, Alicia, Alicia, Alicia." He chuckles, "As troublesome as you are beautiful. What a loss we suffered when you went rogue, my dear." He then sighs and focuses once more on Cousins. "Well, that is neither here nor there. The Council has made their feelings on the matter quite clear. Crystal clear, in fact. You are to be replaced."

Cousins feels his blood run cold as he utters a choked, "No."

"Granted," Garibaldi continues, "the Fairmonts are a stumbling block but one I feel you should have figured a way around by now. Arclight."

With a speed that belies her bulk, Arclight is upon the hapless Cousins before he can even react. Grasping the man by the throat she effortlessly lifts him off the floor with only one hand while Cousins gags and gasps for air. He pounds on the woman's arm with all the strength he can muster, however it is to no avail.

Garibaldi turns to Harding who is now visibly trembling. "Ms. Harding," he says in an almost soothing tone, "you were quite correct when you stated that you needed to move quickly. The more time that is given to the Fairmonts will allow them to entrench themselves. Therefore making them all the more of a problem to overcome." A choked sound interrupts him and he smiles at Harding. "Please, excuse me." He turns and nonchalantly says, "Arclight, if you would be so kind as to close your fist."

The large woman once again curtly nods and complies. The muffled sound of bone and cartilage being crushed is heard as Cousins convulses and then goes limp. Arclight then casually drops the corpse to the floor.

Garibaldi nods in satisfaction and returns his attention to Harding. "Now, be a dear and have that cleaned up. Then I want you to assemble your team and plan your strategy for completing the mission at hand. I'll be checking in from time to time. Good day to you, Ms. Harding."

"G-Good day, sir." responds Harding.

"Come, Arclight, I have an old friend to see...about a little girl."

Back at the Fairmont the morning has pretty much settled down to a somewhat lazy afternoon. After talking at length with all the Loud children and catching up with her nieces and nephew's goings on Vicky sits with Alicia. The two women enjoy each other's company over a bottle of chardonnay while, seated at the kitchen's island having their third cup of coffee, Alex and Lori look on.

"They seem to enjoy each other's company." Lori says after lowering the coffee mug from her lips. "I've heard that sisters sometime resent their sisters-in-law."

"Yeah," Alex says with a nod, "I've personally known a few that were that way. Luckily Alicia and Vicky get along swimmingly." He chuckles, "I sometimes think that they joined forces specifically keep me in line."

"You know, I would have figured that your sister would be tall. I mean, she's not even as tall as I am."

Alex raises an eyebrow and then smiles. "Well, that's because we are technically half-siblings. Though neither of us thinks of it that way."

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to pry." Lori says feeling a bit embarrassed.

With a dismissive wave of a large hand, Alex dispels the young woman's feelings. He turns fully to the eldest Loud child with a wide smile.

"Look, you have nothing to feel bad or funny about. You're old enough to know what goes on between young lovers. Well, I was conceived when my mother and father were young and foolish. I am that brother from another mother. He left New York for Texas totally ignorant of my mother's condition. She told me that she didn't want him to feel as though she was trying to trap him into anything."

"But...what did your mom's family think of her situation?"

"Oh, boy. Now you're talking about a real mess. Mom's mother had died bringing her into the world, so it was just my mom and her father."

"So she was an only child, then. He must have really loved her."

"Yeah, you would think but you'd be dead wrong." Alex says with a bit more conviction than he intended. He sees the young woman's eyes go wide for a moment. It was as if she actually could feel the contempt he felt. The big man forces himself to smile as he places a comforting hand on the teen's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Lori," he says and then sighs.

Lori returns his smile with a genuine one of her own as she places her hand on his forearm. "No, I'm sorry. I obviously touch on a sensitive subject."

"Not your fault, sweetheart. I'm forty-four years old and what my grandfather did still makes my guts churn."

"I take it that things didn't go very well."

"Now, there's the understatement of the century. Dear old grandpa turned his back on her. His medieval views on what was proper demanded that he'd do so. He abandoned her to have and raise a child on her own."

Lori's hands fly to her mouth as she gasps in shock. "Why that miserable bastard," she whispers more to herself than to her host. "OMG, I'm sorry! I literally didn't mean to..."

"Yes you did." Alex interrupts, "And I'm here to tell you that you have a higher opinion of him than I do. To say the least he's not one of my favorite people on the planet."

"Oh, he's still alive then?" Lori questions and takes a sip of coffee.

"Yeah, the old bastard just won't die it seems. Maybe he's just too damn ornery to die. I'll tell you this, the day he finally kicks off I want to attend the funeral."

Lori sputters into her coffee mug in surprise. "You want to attend his funeral? I would think that..."

"My dear," Alex interrupts once again, "not counting the twins I am the old cuss' only living blood relative."

"His only living...? Oh, that means that your mother..."

"Yes. Mom left this world quite some time ago. I was around Lincoln's age when she succumb to what I believe was a broken heart. Not from my father leaving but from her father turning his back on her the way he did. She actually still loved the old fart." Alex then sighs with a mixture of sadness and anger. "A father is supposed to love and protect his children. Not cast them out into the cold world because of a mistake."

"But Alex, why would you still want to attend the man's funeral? I mean, you literally made it crystal clear that you don't care for him."

"And I don't. I'd go just to make sure that the old bastard was indeed dead." The big man chuckles. "Hell, I may just pound a stake through his heart just to be sure."

The eldest Loud child just stares at her host with her mouth agape.

"I'm kidding, of course." He watches as Lori breathes a tiny sigh of relief. "About the whole stake thing anyway." he adds with a smile that can only be described as mischievous. The gesture cause Lori to break out in a fit of laughter.

Alex chuckles as he turns away from his guest and moves toward the kitchen cabinet. **Well, a least she's learned to talk with me without that goofy expression she used to have on her face.** He reaches up to the top most shelf and removes a bottle containing a clear liquid.

"Oh, what's that, Alex?" Lori asks.

"This? Oh, it's called Anisette. It's just a little something I use to sweeten my coffee now and again. Would you like a little in yours?"

The young woman's face scrunches a bit at the question. "Um, isn't that a liquor?"

"Well, it is a technically a liqueur."

"There's a difference?"

"Certainly. This stuff as a much lower alcohol content and is much sweeter than hard spirits. So much so that it is best consumed when mixed with something else. Tell you what I'll put some in your coffee and if you don't like it, no harm done."

The teen's brow knits in thought as she watches her host pour a small amount of the liquid into her coffee. He then looks at her with a wide smile, "Go on and give it a try," he says.

"I don't know, Alex. I'm not old enough to drink." Lori replies with some nervousness slipping into her voice. She looks down at dark beverage with trepidation as she feels her neighbor's eyes on her. She then, with a sigh, looks up as she pushes the mug toward him. "Sorry but I'm going to have to say no."

Looking up at Alex, Lori expects there to be a look of disappointment on his face. She is surprised, however, to see a wide smile on the big man's face. Slowly realization dawns on the teenager.

"You were testing me, weren't you?" she says with an incredulous expression.

"Indeed I was. You see, I found coming up that peer pressure was a breeze to ignore. I did what I wanted when I wanted and my peers be damned. However, the pressure of an adult that I thought something of was a different story." Alex says as he takes the mug and pours the contents into the sink. He then refills it with coffee and prepares it just the way his guest likes it.

"Bedivere Fairmont, that's my uncle, is the one that started me drinking alcohol. A habit, I'm sorry to say, I still have. He also started me smoking cigars annnnd I still enjoy a good one every now and then."

Handing Lori her coffee, Alex retakes his seat next to her. He then chuckles, "What gets me is that the old coot had the nerve to be ticked when I kept raiding his liquor cabinet. My father told him that it was his fault for introducing me to the stuff in the first place."

"Serves him right," Lori says with a giggle.

"That's just what Daisy said."

"Daisy?"

"Oh, she's my stepmom and one of the sweetest women on the planet. Though when I first met her I didn't appreciate that fact."

"Oh, I take it you didn't get along with her at first." Lori says after taking a sip from her mug.

"Now talk about stating the obvious. I was all of eleven years old and I was totally at war with the rest of the world. In my eyes, Daisy was this upstart that had taken my mother's place in my father's heart and I hated her and him for it. I was a total jerk."

"Well, you were only eleven years old and you were, therefore, looking at things with the eyes of a child," the teen says with a pretty smile as she places a sympathetic hand her host's forearm.

"You're exactly right. But I still look back on those times and inwardly cringe. Daisy showed me nothing but sympathy and love and I responded with nothing but bitterness and hatred. How she kept her cool is beyond me. Anyway, dad didn't have a lot of choice in the matter. The authorities put me in his care and Daisy wasn't going to have it any other way. That alone should have clicked in my prepubescent brain the she was on my side but it didn't. I hated her, my dad and everything about having to move half way across the country to live with them in Hondo."

"Hondo? I can't say that I've ever heard of it."

Alex chuckles, "I would have been very surprised if you had. It's a small town an hour or so outside of Dallas. My uncle owns a horse ranch there."

Lori smiles, "I just can't see you on a horse ranch."

"I know, weird, right?"

"Did you do any bronco busting?" Lori asks with an arched eyebrow.

"Indeed I did and a few broncos busted me. I'm telling you I never knew that dirt could be so hard."

Lori breaks into a genuine belly laugh and Alex gives her a warm smile in return.

"Yeah, there was this one particularly ornery stallion that my uncle named, Stormy. That cuss fixed so I limped for a week."

The statement causes the teenager to break into another fit of laughter and Alex chuckles along with her.

Finally, the teen regains her composure and while wiping a tear from her eye ask, "I take it he was the one that no one could break?"

"You're absolutely correct, Lori." Alex says after take a pull of his drink. "Though, he would allow me and only me to ride him after a while. I'd like to think that it was a case of mutual respect between the two of us but I think that old Stormy just got tired of throwing me off his back."

The big man's young guest simply stares at him for what seems an eternity. She then adopts a deadpan expression and says, "You're crapping me, right?"

Alex recoils slightly at the question but answers with a smile, "Nope. There ain't no crappin' going on around here, Miss Loud. If you don't believe me, ask Vicky. She was there to pick up the pieces every time I was thrown." He looks into the living room at his sister conversing with Alicia. "I couldn't ask for a more devoted little sister."

It was in that moment that Lori realized what she and her neighbor had in common. Love of family. She could see the warmth in Alex's eyes as he spoke of his sibling. She, too felt that way towards her siblings. Sure they drove her crazy at times but, hey didn't all siblings do that?

"Why you're just a big softy, Alex," she says with a sly smile and lidded eyes.

"Shhh," Alex says, gently pressing a large finger against her lips. "If you blow my cover, my family will eat me alive."

"I know what you mean." Lori responds with a laugh.

Alex goes to take another hit off his beverage but realizes that his mug is empty. "Top you off?" He asks as he rises a makes his way to the coffee maker.

"Yes, please." Lori responds.

At that moment the front doorbell sounds. "I'll get it!" Nightfall calls bounding toward the door. Alex is returning to Lori with coffee carafe in hand when the room hears, "Daddy!"

With a look of confusion twinged with alarm, Alex places the container down and makes his way to the door. Lori cranes her neck slightly as she follows the big man with her eyes. She hears him as he approaches the his second youngest child an questions, "What is it sweet..." The question dies on his tongue. Then she hears his voice change. It shifts into an almost guttural growl. "What the actual fuck?" Now Lori Loud is no stranger to such language. Hell, there were times when she, herself had dropped the 'F bomb' but is the way her neighbor voiced it that shocked her. It seemed that it was dripping with venom and hatred. She notices that Alicia has gotten up moving toward the door and though she was but a guest in their home, Lori found herself doing the same.

What she could see is that Alex had moved his daughter back behind him and Alicia was lifting the little girl and holding her close. As the teen approaches, Alicia turns and wordlessly hands her daughter off to her. Without hesitation, Lori takes Nightfall in her arms and immediately notices that the child's gaze hasn't once left the direction of the front door.

"Do you know what's going on, sweetie?" she asks the child.

"That's a bad man, Lori. A really, really bad man." replies Nightfall.

The teen feels her heart stutter for a moment in her chest. She tries angling herself as to get a better look at the individual. From what she could make out the visitor wasn't as tall as her host. Looked like he stood about six and half feet tall. The suit he wore made him look all the world like someone peddling insurance or some such thing. However, standing to one side and slightly behind him was a woman or at least she thought it was a woman. Her hair was in a military style buzz cut and she had very broad shoulders and stood nearly as tall as Alex. The suit she wore, Lori noticed, was definitely cut on a masculine bias making her look that much more intimidating.

"Now she literally looks like she can thump." Lori whispers.

"Yeah," Nightfall whispers back. "She certainly does."

The blonde teenager's gaze move from the large woman to matriarch of the Fairmont clan. Though she cannot see the woman's face, Lori can almost feel the tension radiating from the albino's form. As if every fiber of her being was on alert. Alicia Fairmont was like a coiled snake ready to strike. In contrast her husband, though the tension of the situation was practically palpable, seemed to be in a state of relaxed alertness. If such a thing is even possible.

"Lori, you're squeezing me too tight." Nightfall whispers.

"Oh, sorry sweetie." Lori apologizes.

Alex gives his visitor a crooked smile and says, "Joseph fucking Garibaldi. What brings you down from your ivory tower to mingle with us...common folk?"

Garibaldi returns Alex's smile, "Why you do, old friend." He then turns his dark eyes to Alicia. "Or more precisely your lovely wife does. How are you, Alicia? Lovely as ever, I see."

Alicia eyes narrow as she spits back, "Still playing the part of The Council's lap dog, I see."

Garibaldi chuckles, "Charming as always."

"Let's cut to the chase, Joseph." Alex growls, "What is it you want here?"

Garibaldi lifts and eyebrow. "Why, I figured I'd save us both some trouble and ask you to hand over the little girl."

An audible gasp escapes Lori's lips as she pulls Nightfall to her chest. "He wants to take you away from your family?"

Nightfall stares into Lori's blue eyes and with a frown slowly shakes her head.

"Ain't gonna happen, Joseph." Alex says with a grin. "So, I suggest you go back to The Council, slink under the table, crawl between the legs of your masters and service them." The big man winks. "If you get my meaning?"

The pleasant smile Garibaldi had be wearing falls from his face and his eyes narrow. The big woman at his side takes half a step forward. However, a quick shift of Alex's gaze stops her dead in her tracks.

"There are leash laws in this town, Joseph. I suggest you put one on your bitch before she gets her ass chewed."

Garibaldi raises his left hand and the woman returns to her previous position. He then gives the lapels of his jacket a small tug as his smile once again returns.

"You are a fool, Fairmont. We will have her and if we have to do so over you and your family's broken bodies..." He turns and starts to walk toward his car but turns back with a sinister smile, "So much the better."

Together Alex and Alicia watch as the SUV pulls away.

"Well, I guess that's that." Alicia says with a sigh.

"Yes, the gauntlet has been thrown down." Alex replies nodding his head.

Stepping back into the house and closing the door they both find Lori still protectively holding Nightfall to her.

"Alex. Alicia." The teen begins with a confused look. "Who were those people? What's this all about?"

"First off, I would like for you to calm down." Alex says placing a hand on the teen's shoulder. "Second, I'd like you to call your parents and ask them to come here." The big man takes a deep breath and then explosively exhales. "The time for clarity has come."

Author's Note:

I must apologize to anyone following this story. I hadn't realized that between my procrastinating, RL crap and the fact that this chapter seemed to fight me tooth and nail it had been eight months since I posted. I'm terribly sorry about this and will endeavor to release chapters in a more timely fashion.