Without Sin: All Star Edition

by Catspeaker

Lincoln Loud struggles to make ends meet as a comic book artist. His sisters have all gone on to better things, all except Lisa, just released from Prison. An experiment designed to get her back into the limelight sends him to a dimension where he has children with his sisters. These unthinkable circumstances are his new reality. Inspired by Red Herald's story.

13. Chapter 13

Cat's Corner: This is a big looong chapter. Don't feel like you gotta read it all in one sitting. The events that happen here are very important though. Drink it all in for the greater story. There's some very controversial material here, and I hope that I've pulled it all off. I hope you enjoy it, but more I hope it all makes you feel something.

In anycase, Reviews and comments are always appreciated, I love reading them and hearing them all! This story is one year old now, and I hope the ride has been worth it. There's more track to go, but we're making real progress! Until next time everyone!

SINVERSE SUNDAY MORNING

Lincoln held a cup of coffee in his hand as he stared out the back window of the Kitchen. He'd made the coffee Irish of course, it wasn't after 4 o'clock and technically wasn't 'quitin' time. But it was his day off, and he could drink all he wanted on his days off. Besides, after the evening with Lana he had he DESERVED a little whiskey with his coffee. Not much mind you, just a shot or so. He didn't plan on being wasted around the kids, but a little buzz would brighten his day. Especially after all those dreams too.

Breakfast had already come and gone, and while it wasn't afternoon yet, it wasn't exactly early in the morning anymore either. Lincoln didn't know the exact time, maybe it was about 9 to 10 am or so, but he didn't care at the moment. Just looking outside at the backyard with his whiskey flavored coffee in hand was enough.

The backyard here had so much more life compared to the one back home. Toys, bikes, and sport's equipment were placed here and there in the yard, indicating recent use. The grass was freshly cut too. Clyde and him took turns mowing the lawn during the warmer months and both always put it off to the last minute. Here some of the kids took turns keeping it fresh and neat. There was just so much more life to it compared to the overgrown patch with crab grass that indicated minimum use in his world.

Hell, Lacy was in the backyard with Lizy right now. The two girls were playing together. Lacy carrying Lizy on her shoulders and running around the yard. The little long haired blonde girl had her arms out like an airplane or some kind of bird. Lincoln guessed more likely a dinosaur.

Either way the two were cute and it made him smile seeing them having fun together. He loved seeing the kids spend time together. It reminded him so much of the past. Even if his own life felt rather lonely by comparison.

Granted he wasn't alone at the moment. Someone else was keeping him company.

The company he had in the kitchen right now was the sister whose 'week' it was.

Lily.

Which was all kinds of awkward in it's own manner.

Suffice to say, Lincoln understood that back home, he had a special, close relationship with Lily. One that he was actively avoiding as of late out of shame and embarrassment. But before his failures there had been a time when Lily was his favorite sister.

That was partially a lie…. They were all his favorite sisters. All of them in their own way.

But Lily was the baby of the family, and Lincoln had actively SPOILED her more than any of the others. She had been the one who could (and still did) melt his heart the easiest. She was the one he would do anything for.

She had come into his life at just the right time… Still a child but responsible enough to take care of her. Changing diapers, feeding, playing with her, teaching her things. When he felt like he could have the most impact on one of his siblings. Lily got the full Lincoln Loud experience growing up.

In those younger years with her, he had loved nothing more than sitting her in his lap while they played videogames together or watched movies and cartoons. Or did any kind of activity with her. Most people wouldn't think hanging out with a baby for hours on end could be fun and enjoyable…But Lincoln had absolutely loved every minute spent with her as they grew up together.

He loved all his sisters, but Lily was his weakness, his kryptonite.

She could just call his name in her cute little voice, starting with 'Wincoln! Wincoln!' before she finally learned to pronounce the L correctly and he'd come running.

Even when she'd adopted her 'punk art chick' style, with her mohawk, big boots and fishnet stockings, every time he looked at her he still saw the little girl that followed him around everywhere. The little girl who just had HAD to have her big brother's attention more than anything else.

Lily had cockblocked him and Ronnie Anne on more than one occasion while Ronnie was visiting. But she was just so lovable and sweet, he couldn't get angry at her.

That was why he avoided her now.

Which he was are of.

It wasn't a subconscious thing. He wasn't lying to himself or making excuses.

It was an active, purposeful avoidment of her. He avoided his baby sister because she looked at him still with such bright eyes and such adoration and he felt like a total failure.

It's difficult to be someone's Hero when you don't think there's anything particularly heroic or noteworthy about yourself.

Which is what made standing in the same room as this other Lily so dang eerie.

This Lily didn't look at him in that way. There was no hero worship.

He picked that up right from the get go. Not that he expected adoration, or fawning endorsement, but most of the sisters he'd spent time with here looked at him with at least some form of longing…Not for him per say, but who he represented. Who they thought he was supposed to be.

But not Lily. She looked at him with no expectations, just a general friendliness and slight caution. She treated him as if he really were just a house guest.

It was refreshing in a lot of ways because she had no expectations of him.

But at the same time it made him feel…sad for some reason.

All he could think was that her and her Lincoln must not be as close as his Lily and he were. Which felt like some kind of failing on the other Lincoln's part. Yet at the same time maybe it was a good thing they weren't close.

After all, this Lily wasn't part of the weird sex cult with her sisters and brother. At least not anymore. Maybe she was sort of at one time, but she didn't have any children with him….Him being her brother of course, not HIM him. Which meant she was more free of the strange shared sin the others had.

She'd even gone so far as finding love outside of the family. At least that's what everyone kept saying. Normally in this situation Lincoln would think that's something that should be celebrated. But given the evidence, it didn't seem like she found love so much as some horny guy who knocked her up and fucked off. Someone taking advantage of her naivety most likely.

Which meant she was another casualty of the Loud family here. One less fucked up than the others, but still fucked up all kinds of differently.

Like the way she dressed. Which just made her development almost seem…stunted.

Girl was 19 and dressed like she was 12. Overalls, long dresses in bright colors…typically purple. It had the effect of making her look younger. A stark contrast from his own 'baby sister' who could pass herself off as 25.

Other than that though, she was definitely Lily. She sounded, smiles, and even acted like his Lily. And just like back in his own world the kids all loved her. Back home his nieces and nephews all loved their 'Aunt Lily'.

The big difference here though was none of them even called her Aunt.

Lisa was only three years older than her and all the kids called her 'Aunt Lisa'.

But Lily? She wasn't 'Aunt Lily'. She was just 'Lily' and sometimes 'Big sis Lily'. They all deferred to her. They all listened to her. But they didn't treat her like she was some real adult authority figure. She occupied some strange nebulous role halfway between eldest sister and Aunt.

Her thought train was interrupted by her breaking the silence between them.

"So…things with you and Lana sounded like they got a little…awkward last night."

Lincoln looked back at her, cup in hand and chuckled in response, "That's one way of putting it."

Lily smiled, "I can sort of understand your frustration on one level, but it's difficult for me on another. I just grew up knowing my brother always loved his sisters. Loved them more than anything. With that in mind I think what Lana did was sweet in some ways. She just wanted to make you feel like you were home, welcomed and loved."

Lincoln looked over at Lily askance, "I remember saving the school's frogs from dissection with Lana. I remember making a soap box derby car with her and racing it. I remember helping her save wetlands, and taking care of pets together. I remember her always dirty, and smiling in her coveralls and t-shirts. It's hard for me to square that wholesome image of her In my head, with what I saw. A buxom, beautiful blonde dressed as one of the sexiest comic book characters I had fantasies about as a boy."

Lily looked back at him and grinned, "Sooo you did think she was sexy..."

Lincoln frowned as he looked right back at his sister, "That's dirty pool Lils." Before he looked back at the window, "But I guess I did sort of walk into that one."

Lily only giggled, her laugh musical and adorable just like it was in his own universe, "Come on, you never thought any of your sisters were pretty growing up? You never thought any of them were sexy? I just can't believe it. You had to at least be a little curious. Our Lincoln always comments on us being the most beautiful and sexy women in the world."

Lincoln turned and sighed casting his eyes upward, "I'm gonna need more whiskey for my coffee."

This seemed to catch Lily by surprise as she regarded him warily.

"Hold on, did you really add whiskey to your coffee this early in the morning?"

Lincoln stared back at her, then turned away with a shrug "It's my day off".

Lily sighed and shook her head, "You know that sets a bad example for them." She stared out the window as if to emphasize her point.

Lincoln rose his eyebrow and frowned, "They don't know I have whiskey in my coffee."

Lily frowned too, looking a little frustrated, "You know what I mean. All the drinking you do around them. The smoking too. You're setting a bad example for them."

Lincoln looked straight at Lily for several long moments as if taking what she said in, before he burst into high pitched, uncontrollable laughter.

He stared right at her for several moments, laughing and shaking his head… Even as Lily looked first angry, and then confused.

"What, what!? Why are you laughing at what I'm saying?"

Lincoln only continued to laugh as he walked over towards the cupboard, reached in and fetched the bottle of whiskey, "I'm gonna need more of this." He simply replied.

Lily continued to look miffed, especially seeing the alcohol and Lincoln hated how cute she looked doing it. His baby sister's pouts were the cutest thing in the world. Or maybe he was just conditioned to see them that way.

"I don't get it! Why are you laughing at me?!" She replied in that sweet, cute voice that could get him to do almost anything.

Lincoln sighed. He had wanted to be meaner. He had wanted to launch into a tirade about all the Sins of her particular Loud family and lecture her, but he just couldn't do it. The fact she was his baby sister, even if from another universe, stayed his hand. He decided on a softer touch instead.

"Lily, I think I'm the least bad example you have in this family right now, even with my drinking and smoking."

Lily looked sideways at Lincoln for a moment, before she suddenly got what he was implying, and a deep red flush crossed her cheeks. She put on her angry pout, that still looked so cute to him, as she folded her arms and looked away.

Lincoln only smiled as he went on in a gentler tone, "I'm not trying to be mean to you here Lils. I'm really not. But honestly, it's amazing the kids aren't messed up anymore than they already are."

That seemed to catch the young woman off guard. She turned and looked back at him, shock in her expression, "Lincoln! That's just mean! What do you mean more messed up than they already are?!"

Lincoln sighed and looked down at the cup of coffee in his hand. It was a subject he'd begun to think about more the longer he was here. The kids and their problems. He took a sip from his cup, frowned and turned fully to face Lily.

When he spoke, in was in a softer, morose tone.

"Lily, the kids…They're great, okay? They really are, I mean that, but…" He trailed off for a moment, frowned and then rattled off quickly, "Liena is deaf, Lupa is a full on albino, Loan has severe anxiety issues, and Lacy has more learning disabilities then I can even remember. These poor kids are paying the price of their parent's sins. Brothers aren't supposed to make babies with their sisters."

Lily only looked back at her brother's doppleganger with disappointment. As if she expected something much greater from the man. The look made Lincoln feel guilty, but her actions would make it worse.

She rose her hand up and began to count off on her fingers.

"Liena is a great cook, even better than Dad was, and shows more responsibility than any of us ever did at her age. Lupa's a talented artist, with even more potential than you and I. Loan could probably make it as a pro-gamer and is more organized than her mother, and as for Lacy..."

Lily took a deep breath, "Lacy has athletic scouts already looking at her for college, but more than that, she has the biggest heart I've ever seen, she's genuinely the sweetest person in the world and that's better than any other trait."

Lincoln felt guilty as he watched Lily stand up and fix him with a shaming stare. He felt himself beginning to almost recoil, like vermin being exposed to the light. He looked away to consider her words.

But Lily wasn't done, she went on as if to really reaffirm her points, "Liby's clever as a whip and can solve any puzzle, Lemy builds robots pete sake! And Lyra has more musical talent than her mother! I can't believe that the Lincoln Loud of any universe would look at something so superficial as being differently abled and conclude these kids were better off not even existing!"

Lincoln couldn't shrink back any further from the indignation of his little sister, he was already against the kitchen counter, and Lily wasn't even being that cruel to him. Yet every word she said hit home and made him realize just how terrible he sounded.

But then she twisted the knife even further.

She looked at him with those eyes he was used to, those eyes that said he could do no wrong back home, and told him directly, he had done wrong as she spoke her next words.

"Ya know, some of these kids even look up to you. That's what gets me. They talk about you in glowing praise. Imagine if one of them heard you talking about them like that? Like something was wrong with them!"

Lincoln felt even worse now in the face of this inquisition. He began searching around for something, anything to show Lily he wasn't some heartless monster. The last thing he wanted was for her to think he was a bad person. The very fact he would care about her approval would bother him later.

"I'm not, I'm not saying… I…" He stumbled with his words, not even sure what he was trying to say, "It's just that…" he trailed off again, before he finally just countered, "Lils, the way they were all made wasn't right!"

Lily stood her ground, staring at him defiantly, "Are you saying it would be better if they didn't exist at all? Now that you know them? Would it be better if they were never born?"

Lincoln was emotionally frustrated with the line of questioning, he couldn't even face Lily, in this emotional argument, she had him on the proverbial ropes, and her questions continued to make him feel horrible as he couldn't find any sort of appropriate response.

"I'm not saying that! I'm not saying that at all!"

Lily moved forward, she was right up against him now, invading his space. He'd never seen his own Lily like this. She was a slight girl, she looked so young, was so young, but she might as well have been a giant right now compared to himself.

"Then what are you saying Lincoln Loud?! That it'd be better if it never happened? It would be better if the sins of your family were removed and the fruits it resulted in vanished?!"

Lincoln finally found his footing. He turned, pressed right back against the girl. Pressed back against the girl he could never hurt, never raise a hand against, never even raise his voice against in a hostile way. Lily was the only sister that he'd never lost his patience with. Never been in a real, serious, argument with. His heart felt like it was being torn asunder, but he wouldn't go down that easily.

"I don't know Lils! I don't know! All I know is, a wrong that leads to something right, is STILL WRONG!"

He had yelled the last part out, taking Lily by surprise. Making the girl step back.

Lincoln was panting, looking apologetic, but still standing his ground as he continued, "I draw comic book Superheroes Lily. I've loved them all my life. Wrong, is still wrong. I can love those kids and still know the way they were created wasn't right. You know it on some level too, it's why you got out of it."

Lily looked back with an appalled expression, one of her eyes going up, "W-w-what? What do you mean by that?!"

Lincoln was on the offensive now, stepping forward, "I mean what I said. You know it's wrong on some level too. It's why you found another guy to knock you up rather than become part of your brother's twisted harem."

Lily's mouth fell open in shock. She stared back at the man wearing her brother's face, anger and indignation beginning to fill her.

Lincoln pressed on, "I think you went a little extreme in rejecting your brother. You didn't have to find some guy to sleep with and get knocked just to show him you know he's wrong, but you did it all the same."

Lily went quiet, still looking at him as if he's said one of the worst things he ever could. She slowly shook her head, her hands coming up in front of her face, "Lincoln, you know nothing, absolutely nothing at all."

Lincoln sighed and folded his arms, "I know where I come from I love you. Probably more than any of the others. I always have. I want you to succeed more than anything. All I want is the best for you, and I come here and I see…" he trailed off, actually feeling pain in his heart as he considered the terrible future he was convinced Lily was setting herself up for.

"I see that you're ruining your potential by making yourself a single mom and it fucking breaks my heart Lily. It breaks my heart!"

Tears began to fill Lily's eyes, something Lincoln hated, but he was in tough love mode now he told himself. It was better to rip the bandaid off then give her sugar coated lies.

She sniffed and looked back at her brother, balling her hands into fists as she yelled back at him, "I am not going to be a single mother, I AM NOT! HE LOVES ME! HE LOVES ME!"

Lincoln was taken aback by the outburst, he'd never heard his sister's voice reach that high and loud before.

She glared at him, hurt and tears in her eyes, she brought her wrist up, wiped at her face as she sniffed, "I am not! He loves me! You don't understand anything! You don't get it at all!"

She ran from the room as she began to break down and sob. Bawling her eyes out.

Lincoln stood stock still and watched, feeling lower than snake balls. He'd just made his baby sister cry.

That was good ole Lincoln Loud.

The man who broke his sister's hearts.

He really needed a cigarette.

BURPIN BURGER

Lincoln sat in front of his office computer, meticulously putting in supply orders for the month, and going over employee payroll. It was something he could have delegated to Liam, and in the past few weeks had done so a couple of times, but lately Lincoln had found he'd begun to enjoy taking a personal touch. There was something invigorating about seeing what the most ordered items in the store were, seeing how many hours his employees put in, and also granting their differing requests for vacation time and shift switches. He would wonder and muse about why they wanted the time off, what was going on in their own lives, and their interactions with everyone at the store. His employees were always happy to speak with him, so he often already knew the answer, but it was always something to put it into practice.

'Jody has a big date this Saturday.'

'Paul has a birthday party on Friday.'

'Mark is going on a family trip with his parents this weekend.'

Lincoln had been unhappy at the idea of working at the store at first, but it quickly became one of his favorite places to be. It was the chance to interact with normal people, to get away from the insanity he was surrounded with back home. It made him feel more connected to reality. More than that though, the illustrator was a natural at running the fast food joint and the people within it, and he was even partially unaware of how much joy it had begun to bring him.

Anyone who really knew Lincoln would have told him, it wasn't surprising how easy he fell into the role of managing the Burpin Burger. For all intents and purposes, the employees barely noticed a difference between their old boss and the new one. He seemed a little surlier at times, and a few knew he had picked up smoking, but most of them believed it was probably stress from taking care of so many children. Children that weren't even his own! Because despite his seeming a little more morose now and then, despite a little more profanity, and a slightly darker sense of humor, he was still fundamentally Lincoln Loud.

He was still someone who didn't yell at his employees, who didn't break them down, or treat them as disposable. He built up those underneath him, and praised them when their work was great. He offered measure correction when their work didn't meet standards. He helped out around the fryers and even manned the register just as the original Lincoln they were used to did.

Because that was the thing, Lincoln couldn't stand being a freeloader. He couldn't stand taking advantage of others…and as much as he saw the Job ran itself, he wanted to keep up appearances, but more feel like he was doing something. That he was contributing to the group.

All of this was thanks to the environment he'd grown up in of course. Taking care of all of his sisters, helping out at the family Restaurant, being the head of the Journalism Club at school. All of these events had prepared him and given him real leadership skills…and over time Lincoln was surprised to find a strange sense of…satisfaction in the role.

He liked seeing the smiling faces of his customers and employees. He still felt terrible for this universe's Liam, but he was happy to hang out with him so often, and know he was personally helping his friend out. It was a strange familiarity. Lincoln had to catch himself a couple of times when they would reminisce about the old days together, to not bring up anything from his own universe. But here it was nice to talk to Liam every day, unlike back home where they mostly just tagged each other in social media posts outside of the yearly 'guys trip' him and the old gang would get together for.

As he sat back in his chair he began to really look into Liam's file and how long he'd been working for his double. It'd been for about two years now, and looking into the history, he saw Liam had started off as a normal crew member like everyone else.

His double had fast-tracked him into management. But then, looking at Liam's record, the man had earned it. He always stayed late when needed, picked up extra shifts, never called in sick. He was a model employee. Really, he could probably run his own store.

Which when Lincoln began to dig deeper, he discovered his double was preparing him for just that. He'd already sent off several high recommendations to corporate and signed him up for additional training. The other Lincoln had been considering the same thing to help his friend. Train him up as much as possible and give him his own store.

Lincoln leaned back in his chair, tapping a pen to his lip. He hated to admit it, but his double was good, really good at managing things. He should have taken the regional manager job. It would have made more money and he'd have a direct hand in making sure people like Liam got recognized for their hardwork.

But it would mean traveling more. It would mean not being home as much, and that was holding him back. For a moment, Lincoln was reminded of his father. Lynn Sr had put off his dream of being a chef because he wanted to provide for his family and children. He'd worked decades in IT, making sure the family was stable financially before he even tried to start going to his real passion.

That's what a real man did.

That's what a real Father did.

He put his children before himself. Before any other dream, he put his family first, making sure they had food in their bellies and shoes on their feet before he did anything for himself.

Lincoln felt guilty.

He had the sudden realization he had not been fair to his father.

Lynn Loud Sr had done everything he could for his one and only son. He had given him a home, he had given him a vehicle, and he'd even offered him a job.

But at the same time, Lincoln had rejected and rebelled against him, because taking that job felt like he was admitting he was a failure. Admitting that he had amounted to nothing, unlike his sisters, and that he needed someone else to take care of him.

How do you live up to the man that sacrificed so much for your happiness and success? How do you live up to the man who was a great Father, the definition of what a Father is supposed to be, what a man is supposed to be…and you knew you fell short in his eyes?

He loved his father, but he hated the man at the same time. He hated the man that had put his family first for so long, just like Lincoln himself had, and yet somehow managed to find success and achieve his dream. Somehow had managed to make more money, and find even more reflected success in his children.

Lincoln couldn't do that. He couldn't face his father. He couldn't stand next to him and know he had failed. Know his father looked at him as a disappointment.

Especially when he saw his face everyday when he looked in the mirror.

That was something every boy faced one day. One unrecognizable unavoidable truth. One day, they looked into the mirror and saw the face of their father staring right back at them.

Whether their Father was kind or cruel, successful or a deadbeat, smart or stupid. Every boy when they became a man, realized they were their father's son. No matter how they might embrace or try to escape it.

Lincoln had seen that in himself, twice over. He had put his sisters before himself and pushed them all to success, just as his Dad had.

And he had seen it in his double, who despite the unthinkable family situation he had created, put his children before himself and any other dreams he had.

In the secret recesses of his mind…Lincoln hated thinking that the other him, the one that had fucked his sisters, the one that had children with each of them…was more of a man than he was.

That thought came about now and then since coming here. Since seeing these children, the ones that belonged to him and his sisters, and he hated it. Just as a part of him hated how much he liked these kids.

He was picking up the slack of his missing twin. He realized he had fallen into the role of caregiver and provider easier than he ever thought was possible. He was doing the same thing with these children their real father did. These children who were his own, but not his own too. He worked, and he labored, and he went out of his way to take care of them.

The worst part of it all though?

He liked how it made him feel.

He liked cooking meals, he liked checking homework, and he liked helping them out. He liked seeing them smile, and succeed, and look at him in a way that reminded him so much of how his sisters used to look at him.

He felt a strange, almost alien sense of fulfillment he hadn't felt in years. All because of these kids.

Lincoln was interrupted from his musings by Liam poking his head into the office. He'd begun leaving his office door open to let his staff know when they were free to approach him with anything. If the door was closed it meant he didn't want to be bothered unless it was something unavoidable. As of late, his office door stayed open more than it did closed.

"Hey Boss, You got yerself some special visitors!"

Liam smiled at him with his buck teeth, as Lincoln looked up from his chair and nodded in response. He had tried to get Liam to stop calling him 'boss' the first few weeks he was here, but Liam had reminded him 'they'd already had this conversation multiple times, and it was just a force of habit on his part'. Lincoln eventually figured out his friend wasn't going to stop doing it and realized his double had probably come to the same conclusion.

Even a month into it, it was still strange to see Liam as his subordinate. On their yearly boy's weekend together, Liam often had to try and disguise himself to not get bothered by the frequent sports fans and autograph requests he got. Now the guy who was the richest among his friend group seemed to be the poorest.

It was sad, but just like his double had before, he'd do his best to take care of Liam. With that thought in his head, he got up and started to make his way to the front. 'Special visitors' typically meant other members of The Loud family.

At least once a week one of the sisters would stop in to check up on him. So far he'd been visited by Lori, Leni, and Lola. Lola had told him it was usual for the sisters and some of the kids to drop in and visit, so they were just keeping up appearances. Lincoln thought it more likely they were spying on him and making sure he wasn't fucking anything up.

Either way, he had to make sure he always came off as happy when he saw them.

As he rounded the corner of the back rooms and came up to the front counter though, the smile almost fell from his face.

Standing there on the other side of the counter waiting for him was none other than his sisters Lucy and Lynn, along with his children Lupa, Lacy, Lyra and Lemy (not his children, not his children, he reminded himself).

It wasn't so much the appearance of the kids that set Lincoln aback however, even if he was only on 'courtesy' terms with Lyra, he was in good with Lacy, Lupa, and Lemy.

No, it was the double trouble in the form of Lynn and Lucy. His double's 'main wives' from what he remembered.

Lynn was dressed in a light red zip up hoody and grey sweatpants and sneakers, while Lucy wore a long black knit sweater with a black plaid skirt that went to her ankles. Lynn was clearly doing her best to not just outright glare at him. Her face instead was stuck in a pout that almost made it look like she was trying to get special attention from him…

It reminded him of how she pouted at him once when he'd gotten really sick the day he was supposed to help her practice before one of her big games in Highschool. She was more upset about him being ill than him missing practice with her. She'd ended up skipping the game entirely to take care of him.

It was kind of cute all things considered…It reminded him of just how much Lynn loved him when they were kids. He remembered how he had felt so bad about it, but she just kept telling him to take it easy. They'd watched movies together while she doted on him. Seeing that look made him want to give her a hug and tell her everything was fine…

Whoa there Lincoln…

You're just remembering the Lynn from your dreams, the one back at your own world. The sister you miss, not the one here who looks like she'd tear off your balls given half a chance. He quickly squashed that down and remembered how much the Lynn here hated him.

As for Lucy though…Seeing the way she smiled at him so softly made things…complicated.

Lucy's smile was understated and subtle, but for those who knew her, it spoke volumes. She WAS happy to see him, even if Lincoln had no idea why. It was a genuine smile that communicated a pure satisfied joy. His Lucy had worn it at different times in her life. She had worn that smile the last time he saw her…before he made her cry in a way he'd never heard before.

But now faced with his 'family' It was Lucy who spoke up first, her voice so very soft, yet carrying her affection hidden within, "Good afternoon, dearest brother. The children only had a half-day today, we've decided to treat them with some artery clogging, heart attack inducing deliciousness."

Lynn chimed in looking to the kids with a smile, "Yeah the little pipsqueaks deserve to pig out on junk now and then. Lacy will make sure they burn it all off anyway, won't you sweetie?"

Lacy beamed up at her mother with a proud smile and nodded, "You bet Mom! Hear that guys? Mom says I get to make you all feel the burn!"

Lupa, Lyra, and Lemy just collectively rolled their eyes at the excited girl.

The Burpin Burger was definitely junk food, but even their mother and father used to treat him and his sisters to it. Of course, mow that he was older, he knew it was more likely it was on those nights neither felt like cooking, but they really did appreciate the greasy, calorie-rich food. It seemed like his sisters continued the tradition with their own kids here.

Lincoln nodded and played a long, looking at his kids arrayed in front of the counter, "Oh, so rather than a good home cooked meal, you'd rather have greasy burgers and chicken tendies?" He gave a mock sigh and look of disappointment.

Lupa was the first to respond, sneering playfully, "Don't make me choose between chicken Tendies and you Dad, you'll lose every single time."

A sudden flush came to the albino girl's freckled cheeks as she realized what had just come from her mouth. Lynn, Lyra and Lemy just looked at the girl with some small amount of shock. Lucy's smile, however, grew into a full grin, complete with teeth showing as she placed her hands reassuringly on her daughter's shoulder.

Lincoln felt a small amount of warmth come to his own cheeks, and his heart began to feel tight in his chest. It was a strange feeling, a mix of love, pride, joy and contentment. A feeling he'd only felt a few times in his life. Most notably from Lily when she was a baby and from his nephew Bobby Jr. But it was there. Loan had made him feel it too.

A moment later he felt embarrassed of course.

Actually, he felt like full on cringing over how happy that word had made him feel. Just as happy as when Loan had called him that word. He didn't like how happy it made him feel because he knew it was false.

They weren't HIS children, they weren't HIS children. He had to remind himself of that, remind himself he didn't hold that role, and he was stupid to feel some strange… reflected pride in being called that or seen like that by them.

Still, he had to keep up appearances in front of his coworkers all the same, so he played right along with the albino girl.

"I don't know Lupa, you think you got more Pretty Princess Points then your older sister Loan has? I mean she's pretty much a master at the game. She might deserve those tendies more."

Loan quickly recovered, brushing off the incident as if nothing had happened, folding her arms as she replied, "Pshht, as if Loan could beat me in a game of Pretty Princess Points. You know I'm your favorite…" and then Lupa got a smug smile as she dragged the next word out, "Daaaaaddd…."

During the earlier parts of Lincoln's arrival in this twisted fun-house mirror dimension, he had wondered how the kids didn't trip up and call their father by his true title, rather than 'Uncle' while in public. Until he had learned, Lincoln had adopted nearly all of his 'nieces and nephews' on paper. The only one he hadn't yet was Lulu, and Lincoln wasn't even sure about the legality of her on paper. In either case, legally speaking, Lincoln was their father, biologically he was too, but the public didn't know that. It allowed the children to refer to their Lincoln as Uncle or Father in public and feel no need to explain themselves to anyone. Hiding in plain sight.

Yet, even with his employees understanding the 'situation' at the Loud Home…with upstanding community member Lincoln Loud adopting the children of his sisters, Linc knew it was best to keep the talk away from the others. Especially with the 'D' word being thrown around so casually.

Lincoln moved out from the front of the counter, as the family moved as a unit towards the corner tables of the restaurant.

Only Loan had referred to him as Dad until Lupa now…and Lupa had done it unintentionally. Of course, after noticing how embarrassed it made him feel, she was really going all in.

Lincoln began playing along with the little game despite himself, "Oh I don't know about that Lupa. My favorite? Obviously, Lulu is my favorite. Besides, you really think you can beat Loan when it comes to pretty princess points? You know she gets way more bonus points from the difficulty setting she's playing on…and besides Lemy has you beat in Good Boy Points. If anyone gets the tendies, it's him."

Lemy chuckled, getting a smirk on his lips, "You know you can't REEEE nearly as good as I can Lupa."

Lacy looked between her two siblings, an excited expression on her lips, "Hey! I wanna play, I bet I can get more points than any of them! What kind of game is it, what kind of game?!"

Lupa put her hand to her chin, rubbing it back and forth as she examined her sister, "I dunno Lacy… I don't know if you're enough of a degenerate to really near those Pretty Princess Points. Our room is way to clean."

Lynn looked at all of them with a stand-offish expression, "Lucy, can you translate any of this dork speak for me? Pretty Princess Points? Good Boy Points? Tendies?"

Lucy only looked back with an amused and uncertain expression, and shrugged "I'm afraid I'm just as lost as you are Lynn. Apparently, this is a language and game known only to some of our children and their father."

It wasn't lost on Lincoln that Lucy referred to him specifically in that manner, even while they were in private. He didn't know if it was intentional or not.

Lyra cleared her throat as she interjected, "Sadly, I'm afraid I know some of what they're speaking. It's some kind of gamer lingo and internet slang having to do with the acquiring of chicken tenders."

Lemy harumphed at his older sister, "Tendies Lyra, Tendies. It's all about the Tendies. Loan knows."

Lyra sighed as she rubbed her temples, "Sometimes I worry about Loan's influence on you Lemy. Heaven help me, if I ever find out you're peeing into bottles rather than waiting to use the bathroom…"

Lemy put his hands up defensively, "Whoa, whoa, no way! Peeing into bottles!? I'm not that bad!" He folded his arms and looked off, "Besides, why would I do that when I can just go outside and pee on the tree?"

Lyra groaned, "We have three bathrooms in the house Lemy! We don't live in the dark days our parents did!"

Lemy only fired right back, "Lyle and I still have to wait because of you girls taking so long! Besides, Dad used to do it…"

Suddenly, all five women looked up at Lincoln.

Lincoln only looked back with his hands up, "What can I say? We had one bathroom and I had the anatomy that let me go wherever I wanted. Besides, Lynn, you and Lana used to do it too."

Lynn suddenly flushed horribly as she glared daggers at her brother, "Stinkin! I swore you to secrecy on that!"

Lincoln only laughed, "I know, I know you did, but don't be looking at me like you're perplexed about this new information when you were doing it too!"

Lacy interjected, "Hey! No fair Mom, I wanna pee on the tree like you and Dad too!"

Lynn placed her hands gently on her daughter's shoulders as she spoke with a sigh, "Yeah well, not everything your Dad and I did was something you should emulate…"

Lincoln thought about saying something about siblings sleeping together being one of them, but didn't want to cause an argument with Lynn at the moment.

Lynn went on, "Just, listen to your older sister Lyra, she's right, you got three bathrooms, no need for you to pee on the tree."

Lacy still looked a little crestfallen, as if she was being kept from doing something fun, folding her arms together, "No fair."

Lincoln looked at the girl, and there was a part of him that wanted to hug her so much. She was adorable in her pouting, even over something as ridiculous as this topic. Lacy was such a sweet and innocent girl.

Lincoln gave a playful sigh before he looked at his children and then back at Lacy, "Okay guys, I'm sorry, but I have to revise what I said… Lacy has way more Pretty Princess Points than the rest of you. She's full on ready to start peeing on trees."

Lacy looked up, her big blue eyes shining with sudden surprise, "W-w-what, what does that mean Uncle Linc?"

Lincoln smirked and reached forward patting the girl on the head, "It means you won the game Lacy! You get the tendies!"

Lacy looked back with a large smile at her sisters and brother present, "Oh wow! I didn't even know how to play, and I won? Really?!"

Lupa and Lemy only smiled back at their sister and nodded, Lupa speaking up, "I gotta admit Lacy. You got me beat. I'm not peeing outside."

Lemy smirked and nodded too, "Yeah, looks like we couldn't compete with you once again sis!"

Both were humoring their sister, but it was with no malice.

Lacy let out a sudden squeal as she jumped in place, pumping her hands up and down, "Oh yay! I won! I won! Oh but don't worry, I'll share my tendies with you! It's no fun if I get them all to myself… Oh what are tendies again?"

Across from the table they were sitting at, while Lacy celebrated and her siblings humored her, Lynn fixed Lincoln with a strange look. Her eyes glancing at his own, her mouth set straight. He had no idea what was going through her head.

But Lucy only smiled at him, before she leaned over, squeezed Lynn's hand, then whispered something in her ear.

Lemy, however, stopped with the revelry and looked up to Lincoln with a questioning expression, "So wait, when I said Dad told me… I uh, I mean I didn't mean you Uncle Linc… and you also said you knew Aunt Lynn and Aunt Lana used to use the bathroom outside too… But you were talking about your Lynn and Lana weren't you?"

Lincoln suddenly had the realization hit him, his brow furrowing in concentration for a moment before he responded, "Yeah I did, come to think of it. But, the way you reacted Lynn, you obviously did the same thing my Lynn did."

Lynn folded her arms and frowned as she stared across at him, "Well obviously we didn't do everything the same." She glanced down to her daughter then, looked back at him with a smug expression.

Lincoln felt slightly embarrassed before he responded, "Well yeah, okay, but it's just… the similarities between our two universes are starting to be eerie."

Lucy only smiled as she leaned forward and suddenly placed her pale hand atop his own, "Beloved, no matter what universe you're from…You are my Lincoln, my brother, and the one who holds the key to my heart."

Somehow he could feel her gaze, even with her bangs obscuring his eyes. She was looking right at him. Right into his soul, and all Lincoln could do was stare back…and suddenly he was somewhere else…with her, but not her.

It had started with the invitation to coffee at the burnt bean…then inquiring after his health with worry on her lips.

Then came the proposals, first business…her voice so eager... come work for me…draw the graphic novels for my books, we'll make so much money, you won't have to worry about anything anymore… Then, came the personal proposal…sell the family home and come live with me. You're not well. I want to take care of you.

I'm lonely in my house by myself.

I miss you.

I love you.

His Pride. His stupid foolish pride. His anger. His misunderstanding. Words he said that he could never take back. His little sister crying, crying in a way he'd never seen any of his sisters cry when it came to him. The look from her like he had torn her heart right out.

Another vision…Happier times. She's only 9, and she's snuggled up in his lap. He's 12, his arms are around her. They're reading one of her pony books together. It's her 'darkest' secret. He's the only one who knows about it. The only one she can share these things with. The only one who won't judge her or tease her for it. She's so happy. She calls him the best brother ever. She kisses his chin, he squeezes her around the waist, and then kisses the top of her head.

She's on the floor of the Burnt Bean, staring up at him. A beautiful, young, deep, woman…Her hair has parted, and he can see her blue eyes full of pain as he rejects her again. As he tells her he never wants to see her again.

He's back in the present.

Lucy, this other Lucy, looks at him with nothing but love and compassion. Nothing but patience and understanding. It unnerves him. He wonders if she knows, does she know how cruel he was to her back home?

Does it even matter considering her families crimes and everything they've done? Does he really even care or want their approval?

He was broken from staring back at Lucy and her soft smile by Lemy's voice.

"Well that's not too weird if our dimensions are Quantum neighbors of one another."

Lincoln looked back to Lemy, glad for the distraction, "Huh? What are you going on about Lem?"

The young rocker looked to his surrogate father, unaware of any mental turmoil going on, and just trying to be helpful, "Multiverse theory Dude. Yeah there's probably a ton of universes out there where we might all exist, but the situations are waay waay different.. but like, the universes that are closer together, probably have more in common… Know what I'm saying?"

Lyra beamed down at her little brother, brushing her hand in his hair, "I prefer it when you showcase what you've learned from Aunt Lisa more than what you've learned from Loan."

Lemy gave a slightly embarrassed flush at the doting and attention from his big sis, but played it off.

Lincoln frowned, "Okay, maybe, but there's a pretty big set of differences between our worlds here. I didn't pop into the universe where everything was the same except, I have black hair and Lucy has white…I popped into a universe where all of you made some very big life altering decisions that were VERY different from what I and my family did in my universe."

Lupa smirked as she spoke up, "Which is why your universe sucks. Cause I'm not in it, and Charlie isn't in it either."

Lynn only added along in a sarcastic tone, "Yeah, a universe where Stinkin and my sisters don't care about one another anymore… Sounds so much better…"

Lucy suddenly interjected, "Lynn, I don't believe that's the case at all. Lincoln loves his sisters, he's just gotten lost and confused along the way Perhaps it's our job to make sure he-

"Alright, alright, alright…" Lincoln interrupted waving his hands back and forth in front of him, "enough theorizing about our two universes and why it happened or not."

Lyra took hold of the crucifix around her neck, squeezing it firmly as she looked at her faux-father with conviction in her eyes, "Everything happens for a reason Uncle Lincoln. We must trust that God has a plan."

And then the girl cleared her throat in a manner that indicated she wanted the floor. Lyra had been nothing but polite to Lincoln since his arrival, but he was pretty certain she'd be polite with anyone, even a serial killer judging from her personality. He could tell she still hadn't made up her mind about him.

Still, politeness was better than outright hostility, so Lincoln didn't see any reason to be antagonistic towards the girl, "Lyra, what's on your mind?"

The girl looked somewhat nervous as she considered her query to the man that wore her father's face, reaching up to brush her long brunette hair back behind her ears before she spoke up, "Uncle Lincoln, while I don't wish to impose, I have… a favor to ask of you, for my sake and for Lemy's."

Lemy looked up from where he had been sitting in his chair, in Lyra's direction with a curious expression matching Lincoln's own. Then he responded before Lincoln could.

"Lyra, what are you…" and his eyes took on a wide look of recognition, "Ohh! That! Come on Lyra, he doesn't need to do that."

Lyra frowned at her little brother, "He doesn't need to do anything Lemy, but it would be nice if he did do it considering he is the only substitute we have for Father at the moment."

Lincoln winced slightly but put his hand up, "Lem, relax. Let your sister ask me. If it's important to her, then it's important to me."

Lucy seemed to beam at hearing that response from Lincoln, Lynn only shot him a suspicious look. The rest of the kids all seemed happy hearing that response.

Even Lyra shot him a soft smile as she nodded her head, "Thank you Uncle Lincoln. Our father is an active volunteer at the Church that some of us attend."

Lincoln raised his eyebrow, "Some of us?"

Lyra nodded, "All of the Loud family are parishioners, through only Mother, myself, Lemy and Leni are regular attendants. Alas, the rest of our family don't keep to the covenant as well as they should."

Lynn and Lacy suddenly took on a guilty look as Lyra glowered at them, Lucy only smiled, and Lupa shrugged her shoulders, "Sorry sis, if I go into a church too much, I'll eventually burst into flame."

Lincoln rose his eyebrow, "Leni goes regularly too?"

Lyra smiled and nodded, "Oh yes, Aunt Leni helps run the nursery. She's wonderful with the children."

Lincoln didn't know if he should be surprised or not hearing that. He just blinked a few times before he winced slightly and began to rub the back of his neck, "I'm fine with doing some volunteer work, but I've never been one for regular church attendance…"

Lyra sighed and nodded her head, "I can't say I was holding out much hope you'd be more religious than father. That being said, much like you he did more volunteer work with the church than regular attendance. The lord will know you by your deeds after all."

Lemy piped up, "Mostly he goes on the weeks it's our Mom's turn, oh and the holidays, but that's when Dad makes everyone go together."

Lincoln nodded his head, brow furrowing as he thought of his sister Luna. It wasn't like she was actively anti-religious, but she wasn't exactly the holy roller type either. Outside of a few gospel songs she thought were particularly pretty sounding, she was never the church type. He knew she was here, but it still came across to him as strange.

Lyra continued, "As it is, our Church is having its yearly spring food drive, and we'll be holding a special celebration in the park to also attract new members. Father has always helped out when Sister Samantha has asked."

Lincoln looked surprised again as he heard the name Samantha, before he brought his hand up once more, "Hold on, Samantha, Samantha who?"

Lynn was the one who answered, "Sam Sharp. Luna's old girlfriend from High school."

Lincoln looked positively shocked as he heard that name, Lynn seemed to notice his expression and looked curious, "I'm guessing you know her back where you're from? Is she married to Luna or something over there?"

Lincoln nodded then quickly shook his head, "Yeah uh.. I know her, but she's not with Luna. Anyway don't worry about it." Lincoln didn't want to bring up the morbid knowledge that Sam was dead in his universe. Her and her entire family had been killed in an accidental house fire. It had devastated Luna at the time.

Lincoln continued, "If this is about volunteering to pass things out, or greet people or whatever your real Dad did, I'll do it to help keep up appearances."

Lyra smiled but then shook her head, "It's more than that…Though I appreciate you willing to step up. Father would…sing with myself, Mother, and Lemy whenever Sister Samantha asked him too. He has a beautiful voice."

Lincoln's eyes went wide, before Lynn cut in, "I don't know about this one Lyra. He might of ruined his voice with all the cigarettes and alcohol he takes in."

Lincoln frowned, but then looked away, "I… yeah I used to sing, but I haven't done it in a long time. My Luna used to say I could have been lead singer in a band if I was into music as much as she is. But, it's been a while…"

Lyra only seemed to look encouraged by this new, "So then, much like our Father, you can carry a tune and know how to alter your pitch?"

Lincoln began to look slightly panicked, putting his hands up, "I'm real rusty Lyra, I don't know if you can entirely rely on me here."

Lemy cut in, "Come on Uncle Linc… the only reason I'm willing to do it, is because Dad was going to make me, I'd feel a lot better if you came and did it too."

Lyra interjected with disappointment, "Lemy!"

Lemy sighed and looked back towards Lyra, "What? I'm just not feeling the 'holy spirit' as of late Ly, it's nothing personal."

Lupa put her hands to her cheeks in mock shock, "What's that Lemy?! The power of Jesus and the lord no longer appeals to you?! You the boy who loves Heavy Metal?! I'm absolutely shocked…"

Lucy reached over and touched her daughter's shoulder, "Lupa, you're not helping right now."

Lincoln interrupted before things escalated into an argument. He could see Lyra was beginning to fume, "Alright, alright, I'll do it…I'll just need some practice and training. Lemy you're going to be there too, for your mother and sister if nothing else."

Lemy gave a soft groan and looked away, "Fine, fine. I'll be there. Least I won't be suffering alone."

Lacy smiled and spoke up, "Don't worry Uncle Linc! I'll help you practice with singing if you want!"

Lyra practically beamed with pride, "As the good book says, a child shall lead them."

Lynn sighed as she reached over to reassure her daughter, "That's very nice of you sweetie, but our voices sound like nails on chalkboard, it's probably best you let the others help him practice."

Lacy looked only slightly crestfallen as she slumped her shoulders, "Awww man…" The girl wanted to be as helpful as possible and look for excuses to hang out with him as much as she could it seemed.

Before anyone else in the family could add anything to the conversation, a commotion up at the register caught their attention.

Two large burly men, one with long greasy black hair and a mole on his upper cheek, the other with brown hair in a fauxhawk were standing in front of the register together, clearly having cut in front of a young woman with short red hair and an old man with grey.

The employee at the register was one of the old women who worked for Lincoln, pass the age of retirement, but still needing income beyond what she got from social security. Her name was Mary.

The old man was the one who spoke up, "Hey! You can't just cut in front of us like that!"

The black haired thug turned around and walked right up to the skinny elderly fellow, purposefully bumping him with his barrel chest, "What's that geezer? You got something you wanna say?"

The old man almost fell over, wobbling in place, and backing down, shaking his head. The younger woman in front of him didn't even bring herself to look at the two.

The black haired giant turned back to his friend as they both began to glare down at Mary with sneers.

Lincoln recognized them immediately.

Hank and Hawk from Hazeltucky.

Two bad news bruisers who used to cause trouble back in his own neighborhood of Royal Woods. He hadn't seen the two in years though, not since his sister Lynn had put the fear of God into them when she was 19. Last he heard Hawk was doing time in Jackson Prison, and Hank had died of a drug overdose after he lost his scholarship playing college ball.

Yet here they were in this crazy universe, alive and well. Judging by the rough flannel jackets and stained grey hoodies they were wearing, the two were laborers of some kind.

As he glanced back at his family, he saw the look of worry crossing Lynn and Lucy's faces.

It was Lynn that spoke up, "Aren't those two supposed to be banned?"

Lucy frowned, "They must know Lori's not anywhere in the area."

Lincoln looked back to his 'sisters' with some concern, "Okay, I know those two back in my own universe, and they're bad news. What's the deal with them here?"

Lacy took on a deep frown, looking scared as she responded, "They like to cause trouble for Dad. They're bullies. Auntie Lori told them they would get in trouble if they ever came back after last time."

Lincoln rose his eyebrow, "They come in here just to bully me?"

Lucy took on a deep saddened expression, her face falling, "Yes, you and the staff if you're not available. No violence has occurred, but they tend to brow beat anyone in the area and scare your staff and customers."

Lincoln looked annoyed.

He hated bullies.

He had always hated bullies. But he'd always been able to handle them in his life. When he was younger, it was often by out maneuvering them, getting them caught up in their own schemes and uniting others against them. When he got older, he preferred the more direct approach.

He began to stand up, when Lynn of all things reached out to grab hold of his arm, she looked genuinely worried, "Lincoln, I know we have our differences, but these guys live for nothing but trying to hurt you when they know you're here. Just stay back here and we'll let them buy their food and get out. We can call Lori later about it."

"HURRY THE FUCK UP!" Hawk yelled slamming his fist down next to Mary's register. The old woman jumped as she went to ringing up their order.

Hank added, "Hey, where the hell's the white haired Cuck at?! Tell him his buddies wanna see him!"

Lincoln looked back at Lynn, reached over and gently pealed her fingers off of his arm, before he stood up fully.

Lucy attempted to reach for him as well, "Beloved…wait.." She whispered out, but it was too late, Lincoln was already marching towards the two men, a frown on his lips.

When he reached the pair, he folded his arms and cleared his throat, "Didn't I tell you guys you were banned from this Burpin Burger location?"

Hank and Hawk both swung around to look at Lincoln. Hawk, was the first to speak up, "There's the little cuck right now! Aww we're reeaal sorry Mr. Loud! You know we were just fussin and havin a good time. We didn't mean anything personal by it!"

Hank grinned, the mole under his right eye sticking out as he added, "Yeah man, come on. Let things slide, we're not here causin' any trouble."

Lincoln was silent for a moment, looking at both warily before he sighed and dropped his hands to his sides, "Alright, I'll let you two stay, but you're going to have to go to the back of the line. We have rules here at Burpin Burger."

Hawk looked at Hank and started to laugh again, "You here that Hank? He has rules here at Burpin Burger. Seems like we might have broken a few rules."

Hank put his hand up to his chin as if puzzled, "But we didn't break any rules Hawk. The kind people behind us let us get in front of them. After all, we're in kind of a hurry."

Hank turned his sneering gaze towards the older man and young woman, "You did tell us we could go to the front of the line, right?"

The young woman nodded her head, looking scared, "R-r-right, right, I don't mind waiting."

Hawk looked back towards Lincoln, "See? No problems here. Feels kind of rude you singling us out like that Loud. I think we deserve some kind of compensation for that, don't you?"

Lincoln sighed again, and this time put his hands on his hips, "Look guys. My patience is starting to run thin here. You either get in the back, and act like normal customers or you get the hell out of my store."

Hank let loose a low whistle before looking at his companion, "Damn, you here that Hawk? Little Mutant Cuck over here grew a backbone since last we saw him."

Hawk chuckled, "Watch it now Loud. You're treading into dangerous territory. You're the guy whose always needed his sisters to rescue him. The sniveling little bitch who takes care of their spawn. I bet you don't even know who the fathers are, your sisters just spread their legs for whoever and you're the one cleanin up after them."

Lincoln suddenly felt himself filling up with rage, his face turned red, and he was pointing a finger at both before he realized it, "Hey, shut the fuck up about my sisters! Say what you want about me but leave them out of it!"

Hawk and Hank only laughed back at Lincoln, towering over him as they were by at least six inches or so. Hank was the first to speak up, "Jesus Loud, wake up. Your sisters are whores. Maybe if you admitted that you'd get a little more respect. But you just smile and take over for whatever kid they end up squirting out. Shit, one of them might even be one of my kids. Who knows. She'd never tell you if I fucked her anyway."

The irony was that Lincoln knew the truth. Technically, he was the father of all of those kids. Which oddly made him feel more in control again, rather than playing into the anger and frustration the two bullies were attempting to instill within him. Lincoln took a deep breath and fired back.

"I doubt it. You're still the two whiny kids who ran away crying and screaming from a corn maze back on Halloween years ago. Something tells me you couldn't get them even if you were the last guys on Earth."

It was Hawk's turn to respond as he jabbed a finger in Lincoln's direction, "Now you shut your damn mouth Loud! That's old news, we were kids. Why don't you crawl back behind the counter and get us our burgers before we really get angry."

Lincoln had enough. He was tired of trading barbs with the two Neanderthals, and he knew given the interactions they had with his double, they'd never kowtow to him. Which gave him an advantage in some ways, but right now he already knew what was coming. His own pride wouldn't let him play the part of the cowed nerd, no matter how much trouble his Detective Sister might be able to get the two bullies into later.

He stepped forward and leaned right up into Hawk's space. Pressing his chest against the larger man's, glaring up at him, and narrowing his eyes. Lincoln spoke in a rough, low tone, "Get the hell out of my store, right now, or I will make you leave."

Lincoln had an idea of what he was doing, an inkling of one. It was dangerous, he was putting himself squarely in their crosshairs. Doing something stupid to prove a point, but his anger and his pride prevented him from seeing any other options at the moment. Directly invading the man's space was challenging his masculinity, he was goading the men into taking physical action.

He got exactly what he expected…

Hawk didn't take kindly to some white haired nerd who ran a Burpin Burger, one he'd been bullying most of his life, invading his space and challenging him like that. His hands came up automatically, and he made to shove the man against him. With how large he was and how strong, he knew the shove would take Lincoln off his feet, throw him back against the wall and leave him on the floor.

Only, when his hands came forward… they never made contact with Lincoln's chest.

In the split second it took Hawk to make the decision to shove Lincoln, the white haired man's hands had already moved forward in anticipation. Moving up, with his fingers and hands held straight and firm, Lincoln casually intercepted Hawk's arms, knocked his aim completely aside, and left the large man's body completely open and exposed for what came next.

Lincoln's knee flew up, and made contact with Hawk's groin….hard.

Hawk let out a wince of pain and his body reacted as his balls were smashed up against his pelvis. This alone wasn't enough to take him down, he was far too angry, and rage had a habit of dulling pain.

The problem was, the Lincoln he was facing also knew this instinctually. He knew this from the years of MMA training and coaching he'd done with his sister Lynn. Most importantly, he remembered the philosophy that came with deciding to engage in violence.

It was a quote from famed MMA fighter Tim Kennedy that summarized it perfectly. 'Never fight unless you have to. But if you're going to fight, fight like you're the third Monkey on Noah's ark…and brother, it's starting to rain.'

Overwhelming, explosive violence. No mercy, no quarter, no trying to look cool or be the 'bigger man', fight until your opponent is crumpled in a heap before you. It was completely different from the theatrical violence he drew in the pages of Timely Comics.

Before Hawk could even react with rage and use his greater strength against Lincoln, his opponent had already clasped his hands behind the bully's neck and locked them together. This had taken place the moment he doubled slightly over from the groin hit. Lincoln dragged the man's face downward with all his might, while bringing his knee up again.

There was a sickening 'crunch' sound that could just barely be heard by everyone in the room. Lincoln had shattered the cartilage of Hawk's nose, breaking it. But Lincoln didn't stop with one knee. There was no referee to break up the action. He jackhammered his knee several times into the bully's face. Over and over. Hawk went from only groaning in pain, to screaming in a short amount of time.

All of this transpired in the span of seconds. Most people who are not trained to handle violence or emergencies have a moment of shock when it happens in front of them. The brain in disbelief in what's happening in front of it. For Hank this was no different. Hank stood stock still for several seconds as he watched his best friend get brutalized in front of him. All of this did was allow Lincoln those precious extra seconds to really put Hawk out of the fight.

But snap out of it, Hank finally did, and he was angry.

Angry his best friend was getting hurt, angry this fucking mutant cuck would dare throw hands at them. He needed to remind the dork of his place…his probation officer be damned.

Hank ran at Lincoln with his fist curled back behind his shoulder, it wasn't a proper punch by any means, but Hank had speed, weight, and Lincoln's hubris going for him. Hawk had dropped fully to his knees, his hands coming up to cover the fountain of blood that was now spilling from his nose and mouth.

Hank caught up to where his friend was and completed his swing on Lincoln. Instinctively, Lincoln's hand shot up to try and defend himself, but only caught part of Hank's arm. The rest of that meaty fist made contact with the side of his head.

It didn't matter that Lincoln was trained how to fight. All the drills and practice in the world didn't matter when a 300lb 6'6 fist slammed into the side of your head. Lincoln had slowed it down somewhat with a partial block, but he still took the blow.

He went staggering off to the side, away from Hawk, and fell over completely. He could already feel the tooth that had been knocked loose, and the bruise beginning to form on his face. He was lucky he didn't get knocked out from the punch. But then, Hank and Hawk were bullies, they didn't have formal training.

They also didn't follow real fight philosophy, because Hank seemed pretty sure that was all it would take to remove Lincoln from the fight. He was already making his way over towards Hawk, trying to help him up.

That was his mistake. Lincoln wasn't finished.

His mouth filling with blood, and acting on nothing but rusty ingrained reflexes, Lincoln staggered partially to his feet, and took off at a charge towards Hank while he was distracted.

Hank didn't have time to react as Lincoln's shoulder made contact with his ribs in a football tackle and knocked the wind from him.

Hank was big enough, large enough, strong enough, he would have been able to handle a tackle from someone Lincoln's size with only a stagger, even with getting the wind knocked out of him. But that was the problem, Lincoln wasn't doing, 'just' a football tackle. He was doing a take down. The moment he made contact with Hank's body, his arms shot down and grabbed hold of Hank's left leg, lifting it by the knee at the same time.

This resulted in Hank losing his balance and spilling onto his back, Lincoln sprawling on top of him.

Hank was thinking now…which was an indication he was losing this fight. He was so in shock, his body didn't know what to do anymore, his mind was racing, trying to figure out what the hell happened to the man they had cowed into hiding in his office a month before, where his big cop sister had to scare them off.

By contrast, Lincoln was not thinking.

He hadn't had a thought in his head since he decided to provoke Hawk purposefully. Everything since then had been raw instinct, and emotion. It was anger, real raw anger, pride, his personal deadliest sin, Pride, tangled up with the need to show this world he was not a victim. The desperate need to exercise agency in a place he had very little control.

He had already climbed up and over Hank's chest, and locked his legs on either side of the man. Just as Hank's thought finished flitting through his head, Lincoln's fist made contact with his face. Then his other fist did. Then he was hit again.

Lincoln was astride the man, reigning his fists down atop his head, letting gravity and his upper body weight really bring them down. Hank managed to throw up one punch that caught between Lincoln's hands and popped him in the chin, but it was from the floor and carried none of the impact his earlier punch did.

Still he split Lincoln's lip with the blow, which only infuriated Lincoln further. Lincoln decided to punish the man by hitting him even harder. He started windmilling his arms, bringing them back as far as he could before fully slamming them down into Hank's face. The next blow sent a spray of blood all over his lobby floor. Blood splattered all over his hands. His chest, and dripped from his face.

The entire restaurant fell silent as those in attendance watched in horror. Lincoln was only seeing red.

Liam had come running from out the back, reaching over and grabbing hold of Lincoln's arm, "Boss! Stop! Stop! He's had enough!"

But Lincoln ignored him, pushing the man back. Anger at everything wrong in his life, everything he hated about himself had filled him. He wasn't beating Hank anymore. He was beating himself, trying to destroy himself over the impotent frustration that wouldn't leave him.

He slammed his fist down on the hamburger meat that was once Hank's face. All he saw was his own face. Despite having blown up the man's nose, blackened his eyes, busted his lips and cracked his teeth. Lincoln wasn't even aware he was crying right now. Or that he had begun the moment he'd tackled the man.

He was going to keep attacking the man beneath him when a single voice called out in distress.

"Dad! Stop! Stop! Dad you're not supposed to be the Bully! Please stop!"

Lincoln looked over and saw Lacy standing beside him. The girl had made her way towards him away from everyone else, despite the violence.

The freckle faced girl with his eyes and Lynn's nose. The one with the long light brown hair that was the perfect blend between his own and Lynn's. The girl he had never seen fully look sad or cry before, who always looked at the sunny side of things, and was always eager with a hug.

She was looking at him, and the tears in his eyes. The first of his 'children' he had met here. The one he had truck when he arrived.

She stood before him, sniffling herself, "Please Dad, you're the good guy, not the bad guy. Please stop."

Lincoln looked down at the broken man underneath him. He looked at his hands afterward. His knuckles were purple, swollen, and bleeding. He looked back at Lacy.

An intense self-loathing filled him. One even stronger than before. One stronger than any he'd ever felt in his life. Only re-affirmed when he looked at the rest of his family who looked at him with combinations of shock and fear.

Lincoln's tears became worse, his face turned up in pain, more emotional than physical as he realized what he'd done. His hands came to his face as he cried. His shoulders hitching as he hated himself and everything else in the world.

Before he felt a pair of young feminine arms wrap around him in a tight hug.

Lacy was hugging him. Despite the brutal display and knowing he wasn't her real father. Lacy was trying to comfort him. She was the first contact he'd ever made in this twisted world, and his first interaction with her had been elbowing her in the face. Now, despite everything, she was trying to tell him he was the good guy.

He knew that wasn't true.

He hadn't been the good guy in a long time.

But he clung back to the young teen with a desperation he didn't know. He hugged the girl back, who kept a death grip on him.

Moments later he felt two more pairs of arms wrap around him.

Lupa, and Lemy had joined their sister in hugging him.

Despite the self-loathing, despite the intense hatred for himself, it couldn't last under the assault of affection from the kids hugging him. Before he knew it, he was hugging all three in return. Hugging them and squeezing them with all the affection he had. His hands going up into Lemy and Lacy's hair both.

Slowly he opened his eyes, he looked back to see Lucy, Lynn, and Lyra still standing back, watching him.

Lyra's face was still one of shock, Lynn was surprised, but Lucy never lost her enigmatic smile.

Lincoln slowly stood up and looked down at the three of his kids who had come over to hug him. He placed his hands on Lacy and Lemy's shoulders. Lupa between the other two.

"Sorry you three saw that. I set a bad example there."

Lupa smirked as she reached up and pat her father's arm, "Heh, least I know you're a worthwhile servant I can unleash on my enemies. No one will oppose Queen Lupa Loud if her father can do that!"

Lemy chimed in, "Yeah! It's alright dude, we all lose it sometimes…Also that was Metal as hell!"

Lincoln sighed, and smiled despite himself "Yeah maybe, but it's still bad, you know that right."

Lemy smirked, "Yeah, yeah sure I know… but it's still Metal."

Lacy looked back up to Lincoln, "It's okay, I know they were bullies. But you gotta make sure you don't become a bully too. You promise me that?"

Lincoln looked into Lacy's eyes, seeing all the adoration and worry the girl had for him, and felt his heart squeeze in both a pleasure and pain he'd never felt before. He swallowed, his cheeks still fresh with his own tears, and nodded.

"I promise Lacy, I promise you I won't become a bully."

Lacy smiled and she was hugging him again before he knew it, "Good! That's how I know you're my Dad, just like aunt Lucy says."

Lincoln looked down at Lacy again, his eyebrow cocked before he looked back towards Lucy once more. Just what was she telling these kids?

Lincoln looked back to Liam and sighed before he frowned and nodded his head, "Sorry Liam…I should of stopped when you grabbed me."

Liam, ever the brightful man, only smiled at Lincoln, "Aw boss, you don't need to apologize. I can tell these boys got yer dander up. You might of went a little overboard but they'll be thinkin twice before they darken our doorstep again!"

Lincoln nodded, "Yeah… speaking of which…"

Lincoln released his grip from his kids and turned to the men who were bleeding, groaning, and moaning on his lobby floor. He grabbed each by the shoulders of their jackets and began to drag them out towards the exit.

The two pitifully whined, afraid Lincoln was about to unleash more violence upon them, but provided no resistance as he opened the exit with his shoulder and proceeded to roughly toss both of them out, "And Banned from the store means Banned from the store!" He yelled at both as they landed on the pavement outside and slowly began to pick themselves back up.

Moments later Lincoln winced, as his adrenaline began to fade and the pain from the fight really began to settle in. He was certain he'd broken more than one of his knuckles, his lip was bleeding and his mouth was full of blood too. He was going to lose a tooth and the side of his head was swelling up now.

He winced and slowly just sort of slid down against the door, holding the side of his head.

Liam began to look concerned, as did his kids, "Boss! I'll get the first aid kit!" Liam turned to the rest of the staff who were watching in stunned surprise, "Come on now! We got burgers and fries to make!"

The staff went back to their duty as Lucy, Lynn, and the kids came over to Lincoln's side. It was Lynn who reached down and helped him to his feet. She looked at him like he was almost an alien, in this moment he seemed to demonstrate how he was both nothing like, and exactly like the man she called her brother and husband.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Lynn asked incredulously.

Lincoln looked back with some small amount of surprise, before he chuckled, then winced from the pain…

"From you."

…

It had been Lily who insisted on taking him to the emergency room for his injuries. Lincoln really didn't want to admit how much pain he was in, but it was pretty significant, and Lisa wasn't home. She was out for her regular interview with her parole officer, while Lynn and Lucy stayed home with the children. Which meant Lily had been the one to really notice just how hurt Lincoln was and how he was trying to hide it.

The pain from the fight was getting worse, the left side of his face had turned a deep ugly purple, and his eye on that side had begun to swell up something fierce. He'd of course thrown back some Tylenol with an (un)healthy amount of booze to take the edge off, but Lily had decided that wasn't enough.

So now the two of them were in Vanzilla together, while he held a bag of ice against the side of his face and the awkwardness of them sharing the space while Lily drove him to the Beauregard ER was almost worse than the pain.

The first few minutes of the ride were held in silence. Lynn, Lucy and the children had seen them off. Complete with Lulu having to be pried away from his body. The baby girl was beside herself in worry seeing her Daddy injured… and she had begun to cry the moment he got home and she noticed his 'boo boos'. Her siblings had gently pulled her away from clinging to his neck while she had cried, 'Dada has boo boos! Dada has boo boos!' over and over again. She'd peppered him with kisses while she cried and nuzzled him, and that too had made him feel even worse.

But after they'd gotten on the freeway, Lily had broken the silence with her disappointed tone, "So…Is this you setting more good examples for them?"

Lincoln frowned, or at least tried to without hurting his face too much. He looked out the window, "Fair point."

Lily just sighed and shook her head, "What were you thinking Lincoln?! You know how big those two meat heads are! You could have gotten hurt even worse than you are now! Why would you do something like that?!"

Lincoln sighed again, wincing as he did, "I don't know what I was thinking. I was thinking I was angry, and these two bullies needed to be taught a lesson. Your Lincoln lets them run roughshod over him. I'm not like that."

Lily gripped the steering wheel harder as she frowned and shook her head, "That's not what my brother does."

Lincoln looked back, still holding the ice against his face, "Oh, that so? Then what does he do, let those two get away with whatever they want?"

Lily looked annoyed, "Lincoln, my brother doesn't avoid fights because he's a coward. He does it because he's a Pacifist."

Lincoln responded, sounding curious, "Pacifist? Really? What does that mean? I mean of course I know what a Pacifist is, but what do you mean by that exactly?"

Lily stared ahead at the road, "I mean as in he believes and practices the Philosophy of Pacifism, complete and total non-violence. He's not hiding in the back office when they show up. His employees sequester him back there because they know he'll offer himself up as a sacrifice if the worst comes to worst."

Lincoln frowned again, looking back to Lily once more, "Why? Why would he do that? You can't just keep turning the cheek with bullies, eventually you have to do something about them."

Lily frowned as well, before she shook her head sadly, "My brother isn't a coward, and he isn't stupid. He just abhors violence."

Lincoln only looked to Lily more curiously, she noticed and continued, "He was in the Peace Corp for 3 years Lincoln. Over in Africa, in some of the worst places. He doesn't tell us about what he saw and did over there, but we all know it must have been horrible. He came back unwilling to engage in any kind of violence."

Lincoln turned over that information in his head.

He remembered when he was a kid, he didn't like violence and tried to avoid it at all costs. But the combination of training with Lynn, and his outlook on life meant he was more willing to engage in it than before. This hadn't been the only street fight he'd been in either.

He had lashed out at perceived 'bullies' on more than one occasion. Most notably a couple of years ago outside of a convention, against a couple of 'fans' who were complaining about Clyde 'black washing' an anime character he was cosplaying as.

Yet this other Lincoln had taken another path. He'd apparently seen enough horrible things he would rather get hurt himself than subject others to violence.

He wasn't sure which of them was the better one.

Lily kept going, "It's why Lori was the one handling it. She probably would have had enough to get jailtime for Hank for violating his probation."

Lincoln rolled his eyes, "Yeah well, I don't think they'll be coming back anytime soon anyway."

Lily growled, "That's not the point!"

Lincoln winced, he really didn't like upsetting Lily, no matter what dimension it was, but he was beginning to think the two were like oil and water, "Lily, I don't want to argue with you, okay? I really don't."

Lily looked over at Lincoln, and there was pain in her features, "Then why did you do it? Why did you do it knowing it was wrong? IS that the example you want to set for the kids? Would your Lily have wanted you to do it?"

Lincoln saw the pain in his baby sister's face, and realized she was upset because he was hurt. That he had gotten hurt. She didn't hate him, or even despise him, despite the arguments they had gotten into. Her questions left him feeling even more shamed.

He looked down, and hid his gaze behind the pack of ice on his face, "No, it's not. It's not what I want for the kids…and my own Lily would have been upset at me for doing it too. Probably even more than you are."

Lily gave him a weak smile in return, "She sounds at least as smart as me then."

Lincoln tried to smile back, but winced, before he went on, "She's brilliant, but that's not the point. I just, I felt angry, angry at them for the way they talked about your Lincoln and all of you."

Lily looked surprised hearing that, she looked back at him, "I thought you hated all of us, especially him."

Lincoln frowned again as he tried to figure out his own complex emotions, "I do, I mean no I don't. I don't know. But weirdly, knowing the other me is a Pacifist makes me even more angry about those two messing with him. Like, they probably know it too, and they came in to purposefully goad him…why?"

Lily closed her eyes for a brief moment, before she responded, "I think because they're jealous of his happiness. They're day laborers who don't believe someone like my brother should be happy. But he is, and for bullies like them who hate their own lives so much, they don't think he should be."

Lincoln nodded in return, seeming to understand what she was saying. He knew all too well about misery loving company, and how jealous one could become when seeing someone else they looked down upon living their best life.

Kind of like he did for the other Lincoln.

That was some uncomfortable realization.

Lincoln spoke up, "I also…felt like I deserved to get hurt."

Lily looked at him briefly, positively aghast, "What?! Why would you think that?! Why would you think you deserve to be hurt?!"

Lincoln looked down, a miserable expression coming to his lips, "Because…. Because I'm not well Lily. I'm really not. I'm all kinds of fucked up, and I deserved it for making you cry."

Lincoln felt his emotions coming on, emotions he didn't have control of anymore. He sighed, as he reached up and wiped at his eyes, "God, I don't even know why I'm telling you this. I hate myself. I hate who I am, but I don't know what to do. I don't know how to change and I don't want to change because I'll have to admit how wrong I am…and all I have going for me is that I'm typically right about things. But I know that's not completely true either… I'm just so fucking lost…and…and it's because you're the only sister I have that's still in my life and loves me."

Lily looked back to Lincoln even more shocked than before. She noticed the tears running down his cheeks.

"You're the only one left Lils. The rest of them, they don't care about me anymore. They stopped a while ago, and I probably deserve it. But you still love me over there, and you still think I'm the greatest thing in the world still, but I'm such a failure I can't even face you. I'm afraid you're gonna see through me one day, I'm afraid you're gonna figure out your big brother isn't that great, and then I'll have lost all my sisters. I won't have any left, and…and…"

Lincoln realized he'd begun to sob and did his best to hold it back. Bringing one his free hand up to wipe at his face.

When he looked back at Lily, all he saw was an empathic, sympathetic look that made his heart break.

Lincoln laughed slightly through his tears, sniffed and went on, "And I was an asshole to you, and made you cry. I made my favorite little sister cry, and you're the most innocent one here. Just like back home. I don't think I could handle it if you hated me here too Lils. Even if you're not my Lily. I don't think I could handle any Lily hating me, because I love you so much."

Lily looked shocked, and her cheeks took on a deep flush, before a soft smile crossed her face. When she spoke, her voice was so soft, and so very kind, "Have you told your own Lily this?"

Lincoln laughed again softly through his tears. Crying made his face hurt even more, but he couldn't get it to just stop, "No, No I haven't. I'm a coward, I'm afraid to say all of this to her. I'm pushing her away and turning it into a self-fulfilling prophecy but I don't know what to do."

Lily gave him a gentle smile as she responded, "I really think you should. I think that's probably the thing she wants to hear most in the entire world."

Lincoln tried to smile back again, "You think so?"

Lily nodded, "I know so… Because it's what I would want to hear more than anything in the world."

Lincoln sniffed again, and nodded several times, as if that was exactly what he needed to hear right now.

"I don't hate you either." Lily said.

"You don't?" Lincoln asked in a surprised tone.

Lily smiled and shook her head, "No, I never did." She breathed out, "I know you were just saying what you said, because you love your Lily so much. You really do think what our family did was wrong, and you wanted to protect me from it. That same big brother energy and need to protect your Lily came out that way. You saw me here and wanted to save me."

Lincoln breathed out, getting a little more control of his emotions and nodding his head.

"But Lincy…" Lily said in the affectionate tone and manner he was so used to, the one that melted his heart so much, "You don't need to save me. There's nothing here to save me from. You need to understand I participated in everything with the family, fully willing and wanting to. I only stopped because my boyfriend gets me exclusively."

Lincoln looked back at Lily, and his face, as bruised and beaten as it was…said everything.

"Can you forgive me? For being an asshole like that?"

Lily smiled back at him.

"I already have."

She reached over with her left hand, taking hold of his own, and squeezing it.

The two rode the rest of the way to the ER, hand in hand.

….

A nurse had already been in to see Lincoln and take his vitals. Thankfully it wasn't a busy day at the ER so Lily and Lincoln were able to get seen right away.

At the moment the two were sitting together in silence, Lincoln up on the examination table, with its white sheet of paper running down the middle of the beige Naugahyde. Lily sat in an uncomfortable metal chair right next to him.

The doctor was due to come in soon, but the Nurse had already made it sound like they were gonna want to take X-rays and run a battery of tests.

The ice bag Lincoln had taken with him was mostly melted at this point. Lincoln even looked partially annoyed at being here. Lily only smiled at him pleasantly while nagging him about his health.

"Don't complain, you got yourself into this Mister."

Lincoln groaned and nodded his head, "I know, I know."

The door to the room opened, and a feminine voice with the barest trace of a Spanish lilt began to speak, "So, what's the damage going on here, I'm seeing something about a fight-"

Lincoln Loud recognized that voice instantly, and Doctor Ronnie Anne Santiago stood stock still in her purple scrubs as she stared ahead at the white haired man and his blonde sister sitting in the room.

Ronnie Anne looked down at the chart she held in her hand, as if to confirm what her eyes were already telling her. She's only ever known one person with white hair exactly like that in her life.

Lincoln looked like a deer caught in headlights, and only stared back silently, just as stunned.

Lily looked back and forth between the two with confusion.

Ronnie was the first to speak…

"Lincoln…Lincoln Loud?"

Lincoln felt his good cheek turning red as he tried to smile, awkwardly, back at the woman in front of him, "Hi Ronnie Anne."

That only seemed to stun the woman even further…as if she hadn't expected him to even know her name.

God she was beautiful.

It was all Lincoln could think as he stared at the Latina Doctor in front of him. Her caramel skin, her long black hair held back in a neat ponytail…She had one large purple streak going down the front to the tip of her bangs. The light dappling of freckles on her cheeks accentuating those brown eyes he could stare into for hours. Stare into and see the secrets of the universe.

She was staring right back at him with equal intensity, before a moment passed, and her voice from bike him from his reverie. She sounded, curious, impressed, and maybe even a tiny bit sad.

I'm surprised you remember me."

Lincoln chuckled, then winced, trying to shoot her a winning smile despite his obviously swollen face, he gave her his full attention, making her seem like the most important being in the universe right now. His response was so genuine, Ronnie never doubted it, "How could I ever forget you?"

Lily was looking even more confused as she watched the display happening in front of her. She kept staring at Ronnie Anne, then back to her brother and the dopey expressions both currently held.

Ronnie Anne visibly blushed, then quickly pushed it down, "I didn't expect you'd still be living here in Royal Woods."

Lincoln gave a soft shrug playing it cool, "I went away for a while… few years even, but eventually found myself back home. You know how it is." It was a version of the truth.

Ronnie nodded in return and sighed as she held the chart up against her chest with both hands, hugging it close, "Same thing for me. No matter how many years I was in Great Lakes, Royal Woods still feels more like home."

Lily finally interrupted the two, "Hold on a moment, you two know one another?"

Ronnie Anne brought her attention fully to Lily and a look of recognition began to come over her, "Wait a moment Linc, don't tell me, don't tell em…" and then her lips turned into a bright smile, "Oh my god is this Lily?!"

Lincoln laughed again and nodded, "Yup, that's her. My baby sister. She grew up a little as you can see."

Ronnie smiled and shook her head, "I almost thought she was your daughter there for a second. She still looks so young!"

Lincoln chuckled as he responded, "Yeah the way she dresses doesn't help, but I can assure you she's 19 years old and almost finished with her first year of college."

Ronnie Anne kept smiling and let out a low whistle, "Wow…Lily's in college now… The last time I saw you, you were 2 years old. Now you're 19." She looked right at Lincoln as she chuckled, "We're getting old, aren't we Lame-o?"

Lincoln flushed as he heard Ronnie call him those words. The last time she'd ever called him that was 10 years ago, when she had walked out of his life for good. He completely lost track of her a year or two after that. God he missed her so much, and seeing her here, listening to him call him that nickname, it made butterflies fill his stomach.

Lincoln responded, "Yeah, we are Ronnie Anne, we are. But some things get better with age, don't you think?"

Ronnie Anne seemed to catch what she was saying too, because she looked right back at him with a heavy flush on her own cheeks.

"Maybe they do Linc, maybe they do."

Lily interjected again, "Okay, I'm confused."

Lincoln looked over with an apologetic smile, "Sorry, sorry Lily… You probably don't remember her, but, this is Ronnie Anne… she…" and he hesitated a moment, wondering how to quantify it. He had no idea what happened between Lincoln and Ronnie in this universe, but it happened early probably since Lincoln was a father at 12 years old. He didn't know how long he kept his friendship with Ronnie before it faded, so he tried the safe route…

"She's an old friend. One of the best."

Ronnie gave a soft sigh, "Yeah, until I had to move away sadly. I guess I shouldn't of expected us to stick together after moving three hours away and Lori breaking up with Bobby. Life happens."

Lori broke up with Bobby?! That almost seemed impossible to Lincoln. What was worse, he knew the reason Lori broke up with him. To molest her little brother and get knocked up. That was positively sick…Did the Lori here rob him of a normal life? A life that could have been filled with Ronnie Anne?

He didn't want to think about it right now, especially with Ronnie Anne and Lily being present.

Lincoln just gave a sad shrug and smile, "Yeah, life happens, I guess. But look at this, here we are running into one another again, and you a Doctor no less! Doctor Santiago, just like your Dad!"

Ronnie Anne folded her arms and smiled, flushing heavily once more "Yeah, thanks. Took a lot of work, but I got it done."

Lincoln smirked with the good side of his face, "Maybe it's fate us running into one another again."

Ronnie Anne rose her eyebrow, but grinned right back again, "Maybe it is Linc, maybe it is."

Lincoln laughed and then winced, and Ronnie Suddenly looked as if she remembered WHY she had come into the room again, "Oh, ack, sorry Linc!"

Ronnie was quickly came to his side, and back to her investigation, her gloved hands very gently pressing and prodding different parts of his face, causing him to wince and hiss. She frowned after doing so and took out her Ophthalmoscope, holding open his swollen eye and looking in.

"Geez Lincoln, what truck hit you?"

Lily spoke up, "From what I heard, you should see the other guys."

Lincoln added, "Yeah, you should see the other guys."

Ronnie Anne reared back slightly looking shocked and skeptical at the two, "Lincoln Loud… getting into fights?! How much have you changed?"

Lincoln put his hand up trying to quickly explain himself, "It's not a regular thing for me Ronnie, I swear. It just sort of happened by accident. But I'm hoping it doesn't happen again."

Ronnie Anne breathed a sigh of relief as she nodded, "Good, glad to hear it. If you want to come visit me here again you don't need to get beat up." She smirked as she stood up, putting the Ophthalmoscope away, "I know I haven't been around to watch your back like I used to when we were kids Lincoln, but I remember you having a million sisters doing it too. How did you end up getting into a fight?"

Lily folded her arms and smirked, looking at Ronnie, "By being a dummy and NOT relying on his sisters like he knows he's supposed to of course."

Ronnie grinned, "Sounds like the family isn't happy with you getting into fisticuffs Linc."

Lincoln sighed and nodded, "Oh they've been letting me know."

Ronnie continued, "Well you need to listen to them, you've got a very nasty contusion and I want to get you into X-ray. I think your orbital socket might be fractured."

Lincoln looked shocked, "Wait, really?!"

Ronnie nodded, "I don't know who you picked a fight with… The Crimson Chin? But they rocked you pretty good, I hope you gave as good as you got."

Lincoln slowly brought his hands up and showed off his knuckles. Now it was Ronnie's turn to look shocked…

"Holy shit Lame-o!" She then quickly caught herself, wincing and looking at Lily and him both, "Sorry, sorry. But yes, we definitely need to get you into x-ray, and I can tell you're in a lot of pain. You're just playin the tough guy like you did when I punched you."

Lincoln smiled and grinned through the pain, "In the eye, on my front lawn, with all my sisters watching might I remind you."

Ronnie laughed, "Yeah but that was only because you kissed me! Right on your front lawn, with all your sisters watching, might I remind you!"

Lincoln only continued to laugh and smile, "Well that was because you'd been flirting with me non-stop! What was I supposed to do?"

Ronnie gave a slightly guilty expression as she shook her head, "Nothing, you did everything exactly how you were supposed to. That's why you got my number." Then she poked him in the chest, "But we're not kids practicing at flirting anymore. No more fighting tough guy."

Lincoln only continued to smile as he gazed back at the Latina Doctor, "Whatever you say Ronnie Anne."

"Oh my gosh you two, just get a room already!" Lily interrupted beginning to sound exasperated.

Both Lincoln and Ronnie blinked in embarrassment and surprise as they looked from the younger woman present, and back at each other again.

Ronnie slowly back peddled to the door, reaching behind her with her free hand, holding the charts with her other, "Uh yeah so, I'm gonna get you x-rayed, and a couple other tests and I'll be able to figure out what we're going to do from there. In the meantime, we'll get you something for the pain." She paused, looking at the door then back at him, "I.. I have other patients I need to see, but I'll come check back on you in a bit."

Lincoln grinned through the pain, nodding his head, "You better, I don't want to wait a whole decade again just to see you once more."

Ronnie Anne rolled her eyes and smirked, "It's been longer than a decade Lame-o." She slowly backed out through the door, never taking her eyes off of him, like she was afraid he wasn't real.

Lincoln couldn't stop smiling, even with how much it hurt his face. He kept staring at the door, coasting along on happy feelings. They were flirting, both of them had been flirting with one another, and it felt so awesome. His heart felt light.

Then he turned and looked back at Lily who was frowning, looking concerned, and a little confused.

Lincoln rose his good eyebrow, "What?"

Lily sighed and looked away with a pout as she folded her arms, "I don't know… it's just… weird seeing that okay? It was like I was watching my brother cheat on me."

Lincoln stared right back at her, "Okay that's going into my collection of sentences I wish I never heard directed at me."

Lily rolled her eyes, "You know what I mean! I think… it's just that… My sisters and I have always been everything Lincoln has ever needed. He's never made passes or even looked at other women for as long as I can remember… and here I see you, him, you, whatever, but you going goo-goo eyed over some woman who isn't part of the family."

Lincoln only continued to stare, before he replied with a one-word statement said very plainly, "Gross."

And then launched right into speaking again, "She's not just any woman Lils, she's Ronnie Anne Santiago… and judging by the fact she's Santiago it means she's either divorced or never married."

Lily continued to look judgmentally at her brother.

Lincoln went on, "Lils this woman is the love of my life! I've had feelings for her since I was at least 11. I knew I full on loved her when I was 13! I dated her for six years of my life!"

Lily looked back at him and sighed, "Lincoln… Do you hear yourself? You're almost 30 and you're pining over a girl you stopped being with when you were 19."

Lincoln frowned as he stared right back, "Oh? And I bet you know who I should be pining after instead?"

Lily winced at the implied undertones as she breathed out again, "No, no it's not that. It's not that I'm Jealous…" She frowned, stopped, and thought, "Okay yes I'm a little Jealous in a weird way, but it's also about you not moving on….AND here's the big thing…."

Lily paused as Lincoln looked at her expectantly.

Lily gave him a sad and sympathetic expression, "She's not your Ronnie Anne Lincoln. As important as she was to you in your own world…This is a different woman. She's our Lincoln's Ronnie Anne. An old friend maybe, but one he never fell in love with to the extent you did."

Lincoln huffed, folding his arms, "She doesn't know that."

Lily nodded, but went on, "And you plan on going back to your universe, right?" That's your goal, isn't it?"

Lincoln knew what Lily was getting at, but he just didn't want to spoil his happy mood, he just didn't want these feelings to end right now dang it! Couldn't she just let him have this right now and throw the bucket of water on him later?!

He nodded, pouting, his shoulders hunching.

Lily reached forward and took his hand gently, "Do you really want to start something up with her, and then have to go? Leaving her with a you that doesn't feel that way about her? It'll cause problems for our family, but more it'll break her heart if she falls in love with you and then you suddenly don't want to be with her."

Lincoln almost teared up, but he held his emotions in check. He just suddenly felt sad. A deep, longing, mournful sadness, and it wasn't related to his depression either. It was the realization he saw the woman he loved, who seemed so…eager to see him again, so ready to welcome him back into her life…and he couldn't have her.

Lincoln breathed out silently, "It's not fair."

Lily squeezed his hand again, "I know it's not. But I'm here for you."

Lincoln looked over towards Lily and gave a weak smile. It told her he was accepting her, and more, was happy she was here for him. Maybe she wasn't his Lily exactly, but in this moment, she was the Lily he needed.

….

After X-rays, blood work, and some pain killers that really helped take the edge off, Lincoln came away with his official diagnosis. Minor fracture to his orbital socket, three broken knuckles, one loose tooth, and severe bruising.

Doctor Santiago prescribed more painkillers and a couple days of rest.

As Lincoln was checking out, Lily excused herself to use the bathroom real quick. Lincoln waited at discharge and signed paperwork while handing his bankcard over for the copay.

As he stood in the small alcove and sign out area a familiar faced popped her head in from the hall and looked at him, "Hey…uh, Linc…"

Lincoln looked back at Ronnie Anne and felt his heart lighten all over again. She had undone her ponytail and her raven-brown hair flowed over her shoulder as she gazed at him.

He swallowed and responded, "Ronnie…"

She stepped fully out into the hall, bringing one hand up to her shoulder and unconsciously twirled a strand of hair around her finger, "I know this is… probably kind of weird and awkward…so I waited until your baby sister was gone, but um… I was wondering if maybe you... wanted to exchange phone numbers? Maybe we could, hang out some time, catch up on things?"

She winced, she was so embarrassed, and she was so hopeful. So beautiful and brilliant and everything he loved about her. The forward Tomboy who got tongue tied.

He remembered what Lily said. He remembered she was right. Everything rational inside of him, told him, this was a bad idea.

He smiled and pulled out his phone, "Of course Ronnie Anne. You still play Muscle Fish?"

Ronnie Anne laughed and smirked, "Please Linc, do you mean am I still gonna whup your ass at Muscle Fish…and the answer is, yes, yes I am."

….

It was late in the evening, and everyone in the Loud House was fast asleep at the moment. All but two people that was.

Sitting on her brother's bed, alone in his bedroom at the moment was Lily Loud. She sat with her phone in front of her, texting back and forth between herself and her lover.

It had been quite the strange series of days since her arrival earlier in the week. Clashing with the Lincoln from another world, listening to him as he tried to convince her that her boyfriend didn't really love her.

Lily knew now he was only doing it out of a sense of protection, a sense of love he held for his own Lily. And in that sense, she felt a little jealous.

She could see it in his eyes when he looked at her. He looked at her, and there was a spark there, a worry, a love that wasn't present in her own brother's eyes.

Oh she knew her big brother Lincoln loved her. He said it enough, and he had expressed it enough. She knew she was important to him, she just wasn't as important to him as his own children were.

Which was to be expected of course, they were his children, of course they would be the most important people in the world too him. But she also knew she wasn't as important as the rest of her sisters were either…

Because after all, they were the mothers of his children. So of course they were important, of course his love shone so brightly for all of them.

But her? Lily? Former baby of the Loud family? She wasn't really the youngest, she wasn't one of his kids, and she wasn't one of his wives either. She just wasn't important, she was the least important member of the Loud family…

And it broke her heart so often. It broke her heart so many times that she would cry herself to sleep over it.

She had memories, vague memories of at one time being the apple of her brother's eye. She had vague, instinctual feelings of what it was like to be so loved by him, so protected by him. She didn't even notice right away when it began to fade.

When his attention began to wander more and more away from her, and towards his 'nieces'. Loan was the first, and she was barely younger than Lily. Only 2 years. But shortly after that came Liena, and then Lyra.

And then her brother was more worrying after them than he was giving her attention.

She didn't know at the time they were his children. She just knew her big brother found her nieces and eventual nephews as more important than she was.

And she wanted her brother's love. She wanted it so very badly. She wanted her sisters too of course. But they were all getting caught up with their children and each other's children… and Lily? Lily just began to fall to the wayside.

Even her mother and father tried to help with their grand children and had less time for her.

So Lily did the only thing she thought she could do. She put her all into being the best and most helpful sister and daughter that she could. She went out of her way to help with all her nieces and nephews to take care of them, and so hope that maybe… Maybe her family would see her worth, and look at her with love again.

And that seemed to work at least for a little while. Her older sisters and Lincoln were always so happy for her help. Always so happy she volunteered to babysit so much. But she knew they were hiding something from her. More and more she realized they were doing something behind closed doors Mom and Dad weren't supposed to know about.

But she loved them and wanted their approval, so she never told. She even helped cover for them so they would love her more…and when the truth came out, when she was finally let in on the family secret…(more, it was she ran across it and they couldn't hide it anymore) it finally made sense why they were so wrapped up with one another and forgot about her!

It just made so much sense, her family loved each other, they all loved each other so very much! Her big brother adored all of his sisters, so much he had made babies with them! She knew now, and she also knew one day her time would come. One day her brother would make her his wife too. She would really get to join the family then, she would really become one with them, and her brother would treat her and love her the way he did the rest of his sisters.

Only…

That day never arrived…

And then the news Lincoln was getting a vasectomy came out and she knew the truth.

She just wasn't important enough for him. She wasn't good enough to be his wife. She wasn't good enough to have one of his children.

She was lucky the family loved her enough to keep her around as the 'helpful' Aunt. The 'biggest' sister of the new Loud generation… Even though she wasn't really one of them.

She was almost content to stay like this too, suffer quietly, never bring it up, just be happy they let her be part of the family still, and that Lincoln would deign to have sex with her still when she made herself cute enough for him.

Until she found her current love, who saved her from a world where she thought she'd be forever alone. Always in the shadows chasing the love of a brother who didn't want her.

But that was the difference between her brother and the new Lincoln.

The new Lincoln looked at her in a way that made her feel important. Made her feel special. She knew right away. He loved his Lily. He loved her with all of his heart. She wasn't the least important sister to him, it was just like he said… the exact opposite, the most important sister.

If she didn't love her boyfriend so much she would of fallen in love with him when he broke down in Vanzilla with her. He was flawed, and messed up, but he cared and he had so much love. To hear him, hear another version of her brother… speak about her with such passion, such love, and such worry… to hear him say he couldn't stand the idea of her hating him, no matter the universe…

It stirred something deep inside of Lily.

She loved him.

Maybe not romantically (okay maybe a little bit romantically) but in that moment he felt more like what her big brother Lincoln was supposed to be, more than her own had in years.

It was a shame she couldn't tell him about her relationship though. He just wouldn't understand, at least not yet.

But maybe, maybe in time he would, and maybe she could even win him over to support it. But that would have to wait for now. For now was alone time with her man. He had been so hard to convince to come down right now, she'd had to end up resorting to a little emotional manipulation…but that was okay, she'd make sure it was worth his time.

The door to the bedroom slowly opened up, and Lemy Loud began to peek his head in, looking at the low and soft lighting of his father's bedroom. There sitting up on the bed, wearing only a light purple tanktop over her soft breasts, and a pair of lace violet panties, was Lily Loud.

Her soft blue eyes went half lidded as he stepped in wearing only his boxer shorts and closed the door behind him.

He looked so nervous, so very cute, his young body was slowly developing, and he was getting tall, very quickly. Yet he was still so nervous and uncertain when he was alone with her. She could just eat him up. Much like she had the very first time they had made love. He had been so difficult to convince, he was such a good boy, but she had done so. He was always playing so hard to get.

"There you are…" She practically cooed to him, reaching her left hand up and slowly sliding her right strap down.

He looked back at her with his large brown eyes, and swallowed nervously, "Lily…I… I don't know if this is a good idea. W-what if, what if Lincoln comes down and looks in here…"

But Lily was already standing up, moving off the bed and heading right to him, she slipped her hand over his bare shoulder, fingers caressing and massaging the thirteen year old boy's skin.

"Shhh, don't you worry about any of that right now. He's knocked out on painkillers, he probably won't even get up to make breakfast in the morning. We're perfectly safe my love…"

She leaned in and kissed his lips. It took a few moments but he kissed her back. They pulled back from the kiss and she only gazed back at him with such adoration.

Lemy's eyes looked down at their feet. He was practically shaking as she reached up and pulled down the other strap of her shirt, pulling her top down completely, letting her soft full breasts slip free. She reached down and took his right hand, bringing it up to cup her tit as she smiled at him. He always needed a little encouragement, but he loved touching her when she finally got him to do so.

"Besides, don't you want to take me in your father's bed? Prove that you really own me? Who knows when we'll get this opportunity again Lemy."

She let go of Lemy's hand, which was now squeezing and caressing her breast on autopilot. The boy looked as if he was struggling internally. He always had his little objections to their relationship, but she knew deep down he loved her. She knew even with his protests and his occasional cold shoulder, he loved her and wanted to be with her.

After all, they'd had sex numerous times now, and he'd even managed to get her pregnant. Sure, she had lied to him about being on the pill, but the fact his sperm had managed to take in her womb was only proof of how much they were meant to be together.

Lemy was the only one who had ever looked at her with the eyes that said she was important, that she mattered…and so she would have him, family rules be damned.

They would understand one day. They would understand when they saw how happy the two of them were together.

Lemy was still struggling internally, but she saw how hard his dick was getting. Her hand came down and clutched it through his boxers as she leaned over and started kissing his neck…her voice was soft honey in his ear…

"There we are… there's the real you… the honest you. It's telling me what you really want right now…"

Lemy let loose a small noise that sounded like a gentle whine, before he solemnly nodded in return. Lily grinned, and took hold of his hips. She was still taller than him, still stronger. Even though she knew that wouldn't be the case for very long.

But right now, she picked him up by the waist, turned him around and sat him on the bed. Her hands went up to his hips and she took hold of his boxers while grinning up at him from her knees.

"I love you Lemy Loud. I love you so much, and I can't wait for our baby to be born…"

Lemy was quiet, as he often was during his sessions like this. She thought it was cute. He almost always let her take the lead. That was okay, she would always take the lead in their life together. He belonged to her, and she loved him forever.

Nothing would change that or ever get in her way.