Leni, Luna and Luan had their heads down as they were chewed out by Rita and even Lynn Sr had to admit that the book had to be dropped on them; grounded until they can pay back the bill from the laser tag facility and they would be doing jobs to help pay it back. Then after learning that for her part of the scheme; Luan had gotten the monkey found in the store from Lana who had 'borrowed' it from the zoo so she was grounded. Plus an apology to Lincoln in front of them who was torn between feeling sorry for them for the trouble they were in and being frustrated with them for meddling and messing things up. Lori had a smirk about it as she watched.
The trio of meddling girls were silent afterwards and Leni knew that Lori was still too angry to bother her as they were in their room.
Days later Rita and Lynn Sr were at home with the kids at school when they heard a harsh knock on the door; Rita answered it and was stunned to see a stern looking blonde haired man in a business suit with glasses. "Larry; didn't expect to see you unannounced like that so soon! Why don't you come in!" Rita greeted as she let her ex-husband in. "Lynn; this is Larry and Larry this is Lynn." Rita introduced them as Lynn Sr got up and took Larry's hand to shake with a smile as Larry's face didn't change.
"Rita told me a little about you but I would like to hear more; no need to make things complicated with me marrying your ex and with us having the kids here with my daughters." Lynn Sr said with a smile as Larry sat down on the couch his face not changing making them nervous.
"Well, my brothers and I run our own law firm together. Us 3 in charge and we do most of our business in Great Lake City but we do plenty of business here as well. Leon has taken a case with this internet webcomic artist who is suing this coffee establishment for using her copyrighted characters for promotion without any permission from her. Leon served the notice a few days ago." Larry said as they listened in.
"Wow, that's something... I can tell you about what happened to me at my work recently..." Lynn Sr said but Larry put up a hand telling them to let him continue.
"Leon had a funny story to tell me on the phone; he was going back to his car and near the establishment there is the laser tag place which I have taken Lincoln to recently. Leon was near enough to witness these 3 girls get thrown out and banned." Larry finished and the colour drained from their faces as they knew what he was talking about. "Care to explain what has been going on since you moved in here? I want honesty Rita; if I am not satisfied with the answers then I can talk to Lori. Considering if Leon was right about how she reacted to all this happening; I don't think she would perjure herself to her own father." Larry demanded and Lynn Sr was trying to come up with something to say.
"Okay Larry... Things have been difficult... I asked the kids to give it all a chance but they are struggling... Things are chaotic and Lori pretty much hates it here." Rita admitted with a sigh and Lynn looked like he was about to correct her. "I am not an idiot Lynn; Lori hates it here! She is not used to things being this hectic and what the girls get up to; she pretty much put herself in charge of looking after Lincoln. Lisa tried to operate on Lincoln and you let her off her punishment early; plus there is Lynn's roughhousing with him and how the both of you are trying to turn him into a sports boy! That state he was in..." Rita continued on as Larry had a glare on.
"Be grateful that I am not strangling you right now for what appeared to have happened to my son and putting my daughter through Mr Loud. I know that Lori is usually calm but can get frustrated when things spiral out of control so I can only imagine what her normal mood is. Plus I got my hands on this." Larry said opening up his briefcase and bringing out a file labelled 'LOUD SISTERS' and it looked to be struggling to keep from bursting open due to how full it was.
"Mr Loud; my brothers and I have been in business for a long time since we started our firm. Our firm and services come highly recommended for high value clients, it really wouldn't be too much trouble to convince a judge that MY children will be better off with me." Larry said as Lynn Sr was shocked and Rita sighed.
"You can't do that... We are having bumps but tear apart the family as we are getting used to this..." Lynn Sr complained as Larry gave a humourless laugh.
"Will Lincoln have to go to the hospital for surgery before that happens or Lori be bald from tearing her hair out?" Larry asked as they had no answer. "This keeps going and I use their history and this file to show that Lori and Lincoln aren't safe here! I can imagine that there could be consequences like if the judge or authorities want to question your own guardianship but there are consequences to actions." Larry said as Lynn Sr's face was now frozen in fear.
"But how about ripping them away from their friends as well as their new sisters..." Lynn Sr asked as he unfroze his face and Larry brought up a picture of an apartment building that they knew wasn't too far from the neighbourhood.
"My sister in law Moonbeam owns this place and there are 2 apartments permanently reserved for me and Lewis for our families. They would get plenty of space and no need to say goodbye to their friends or move schools." Larry said without missing a beat and they noticed how prepared he was coming here.
"I know this looks bad but we can turn it around; we can be firm... Moonbeam?" Lynn Sr asked but then looked confused as he noticed the name.
"Her parents are hippies but that's neither here nor there!" retorted Larry as he looked at them as they whispered to eachother.
"Larry, I admit that it's not been ideal and I did think about sending the kids to live with you but I am sure that we can stand our grand and be more firm with how things are. I promise that if things become too much then we will agree to let you take them." Rita said as Larry gave a smile that he had perfected whenever a judge gave a verdict in favour of his side.
Hours later Lincoln ran through the front door being chased by Lynn Sr; "Lynn; I just want to relax and play video games! Plus a new comic afterwards..." Lincoln complained to her as Lynn had a football ready with Lori ready to tackle down Lynn if she gets close to Lincoln.
"Come on dad... You know we have to toughen Stinkcoln up..." Lynn Jr said but was stunned by the face that Lynn Sr was putting on along with Rita.
"Lynn... Let Lincoln do his own thing, we shouldn't be forcing him through all this anyway..." Lynn Sr said as the girls and Lincoln blinked and stared at Lynn Sr as if he was someone else. Lynn Jr looked dejected and Lincoln decided to put it out of his mind as he went to set up his games console.
"Ready for 1 on 1 action; busy at work doesn't mean that I have gone sloppy with the controllers." Larry said making himself known with a smile with the Loud sisters wondering who this was but the Lyman siblings instantly ran to embrace him.
"Girls we have a guest; Larry here is... Lori and Lincoln's father." Rita explained as they looked at the way that the two had greeted them, Lynn Sr sighed at the display.