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.

15. Chapter 15

Cat's Corner: Hey Folks, Cat here! A new chapter written by me this time! Also less than 20K words! Something I want to try and do more of. The 'shorter' (still 14K+) chapters are quicker to write obviously and keep to one topic, in this sequence we're getting a look into the lives of some of the Safeverse sisters.

There's a Spanish translation of this story now! If you speak Taco originally over Burger, you can find it in my 'favorites' section. It's being handled by Blackdragonrider777!

I'm well into writing chapter 2 of 'The Lewdest House'.

Oh and also I get married later this month! (May 2023 that is if you're reading this in the future)

As per usual, reviews, comments, criticisms all are welcomed and valid. Hopefully you enjoy this chapter and hopefully this answers a few questions some of you might have had! I've been trying to steadily leave some breadcrumbs involving an important hidden aspect of the story, and more of them have been left here! But the main focus is just on the sisters, I hope you enjoy!

London England, Safeverse

When you love someone, truly love them, love them so much the very air they breathe is precious to you… When you love them so much seeing the slightest frown on their face causes you unimaginable pain… Then when you see them in real pain, you're left with nothing but the desire to move heaven and earth just to see them smile again.

She did love someone that much…

She had loved someone that much…

She had loved him so much…

And why wouldn't she?

She was the quietest member of such a noisy family. The one often forgotten about, the one hidden in the shadows, the one the others often found a little too weird and creepy to want to spend large amounts of time with…

The Spooky Loud, obsessed with vampires, witchcraft and graveyards.

But she was also the sensitive Loud, obsessed with poetry, stories, words and matters of the heart.

Her family loved her dearly of course. They spent time with her, but they were often wary of the 'gift' of fear she bought them when she was young. Reminders of mortality to help them embrace the joy of life.

She had frightened her parents so with her shock of black hair when she'd been born, and her unnerving stare for that matter. She brought them reminders of life through fear because she loved them.

She loved her family.

They loved her too, but sometimes they were happy enough to let her be on her own.

Which was just as well, Lucy enjoyed her solitude when she could get it. A soul like hers needed time to reflect, to ruminate and bring forth the thoughts inside of herself.

But there were times she didn't want to be alone.

There were times she didn't want to be forgotten about.

There were times she wanted to share what was in her soul with those she loved.

There were times Lucy Loud wanted a hug. Times she wanted a shoulder to cry on. Times she wanted to be reminded she was loved and cherished.

Out of all her family, it was her brother, her silly, thoughtful, dopey big brother who was always there to remind her.

It was her brother who never forgot her. It was her brother who always had given her the time, attention, and affection she so desperately wanted. Every time she needed it, even when she wasn't aware.

All of her sisters loved her, all of her sisters cared about her. But it had been her brother who had indulged her every wish, her every whim, every desire of her young heart. No matter what she needed, no matter what she wanted, he would drop almost everything to be there for her.

It had only been when she'd gotten older that she'd truly begun to appreciate everything he did for her. Oh, she understood when she was younger, and it was why she loved him so much. She was always happy to give him a hug, or a kiss of thank you. One of her rare smiles of gratitude. A poem in his honor. That was par for the course.

There had also been the dreams…

The dreams that started around the time she was 12.

She was slightly embarrassed by the first one she truly remembered. It was the first real sex dream she'd ever had…and she dreamed it was with her brother…

Oh she couldn't even look at him that day, her cheeks burned so much, and her heart beat so fast when looking at him. But eventually she accepted the dream for what it was…a metaphor of her love for Lincoln.

She knew she couldn't 'really' be with him. He had his girlfriend Ronnie Anne, but she accepted it as her unconscious mind showing her how deep the bond she shared with him was.

The dreams would come now and then over the years, a continuation of this relationship with Lincoln. Almost an entire other world dreamed in her head. The dream of their beautiful white-haired daughter Lupa being born. Raising the girl together, and the intense love they shared.

Her little fantasy world, with the greatest man she'd ever known.

Lincoln Loud went to greater lengths for his sisters than most brothers did. So why wouldn't she have dreams of a situation where they were together? Even if she knew it would never happen, it was her private little fantasy she indulged in.

He'd encouraged and nurtured her talents, he had sat with her, and helped her perfect her poetry and prose. He had even helped her submit her poems and short stories to various magazines and publishers over the years. He was responsible for helping her get the first big break in her young writing career. All because he used his amazing talents to help organize it all. While she was so young, while he was still in school himself.

Thanks to Lincoln, Lucy didn't even have to finish college. She was published her first year with a contract for several more books. She dropped out and never looked back. She remembered calling him up, gushing to him how happy she was, how she owed all of it to him. He was in his senior year at the time. He had been…slightly distant on the phone but congratulated her and told her how happy he was for her all the same. How he always knew she had it in her. He just had to point her in the right direction he'd said. It was her own abilities that had gotten her there.

She had wanted to take him out to dinner, come visit him to celebrate, spend some of that money she'd gotten on him. But he'd politely rebuffed it all. He had told her she needed to focus on the work now, he had his own trail to blaze.

She believed him, but it still struck her as odd. Why would her brother turn away her own offer of help? He had helped all of his sisters so very much, why didn't he realize it was his turn to be helped?

She had watched him so closely after that.

Some of the other sisters had begun to turn away from him by than. Complaining of how he didn't seem to have time for any of them anymore. Some even began to resent him at times, like Lola did.

But not Lucy.

She had kept tabs on him, she was always inquiring after his wellbeing to the only two people he really talked to.

Clyde and their mother.

She had seen him begin his slow descent.

He'd gotten the job he always wanted, only it turned out to be less fulfilling than he thought it would be. She watched him flounder and struggle as he pushed away his sisters one by one.

She had watched as every relationship he entered was destroyed by his own hand.

It was terrible to watch. Horrible really, and not in the ways Lucy enjoyed. This was no fun horror story, this was seeing the person she loved most suffer.

To see the boy who was once so open, close himself off, it was a transformation almost unthinkable to her.

But even as dark as things got with him, they never fully consumed him.

Every now and then, the real Lincoln would appear. Evidence he was there, the brother she loved so much, fighting to rise out of his darkness.

It would happen at family gatherings, and sometimes when she called him. Sometimes she would see that brother, the one who loved her so much, the one whose affection was like the warmth of the sun shining through.

It was always there for his niece and nephews. Lincoln never allowed his personal gloominess or distance from his sisters ever affect his relationship with the children. He was always the favorite Uncle. She could see how much he wished he could buy them better toys. But they all loved the art he created for them. Lily and Lincoln were the favorites of her sisters' children, and Lincoln never shirked responsibility there.

But for the rest of the family?

He was distant.

Too busy. Too involved in one project or another.

There was a horrible irony to all of this though.

Lincoln was one of the few unifying things left in her and the rest of her sister's lives. Or rather his absence was the unifying thing.

They were all so busy with their own careers, they rarely talked unless it was at family gatherings or the odd phone call. But she knew, it came up now and then, they all knew… Something was wrong with their brother.

They all knew he wasn't doing well, and none of them knew what to do about it.

Part of it had been the fault of Lincoln himself.

Where once his door was never locked, and they always felt they had access to him, he seemed to turn on a switch after he moved out…One that said, 'I'm too busy', unless it was directly helping them with some aspect of their career.

Luna invited him to come tour with her. See the world, go on an adventure. But he'd said it would distract him too much from his work. He had gone to all her concerts at home at first…but as he got older, she noticed the tickets she sent him went unused. After so many she just stopped sending them.

Luan invited him out to L.A. She even revealed to Lucy she wanted to hire him to write scripts for 'making lemons'. From there she hoped her Hollywood connections could get him into writing some of the Superhero movies and shows he loved so much…But she never got past the invitation stage before Lincoln shot her down. 'I don't want to make movies and tv shows, I want to make comic books' he had told her.

For a moment, he lived with Lori, and it seemed like things were better. It had happened when tragedy had struck of course, when Lori needed family the most…and despite everything else, Lincoln was there. The tragedy had been enough to knock him from his solitude and step up where he was needed. He was with them for half a year. The family would see pictures of the three of them together looking so happy, Bobby Jr, Lori and Lincoln. He'd even begun dating Lori's best friend Carol. But he ended up leaving…Right after Lori invited him to stay permanently with her and Bobby Jr in Florida.

Lana didn't even beat around the bush. She was always bold. She told her brother flat out she missed him and wanted to see him. She brazenly invited him to come live with her at the ranch she owned in Tennessee. But Lincoln shot her down too, said if wanted to live on a Farm he'd talk to Liam.

Lucy had thought…maybe that was the issue.

Maybe Lincoln didn't want to leave Royal Woods…

And while Lucy sometimes traveled for research purposes, she was one of the few in the family that still lived in Royal Woods too, or at the least had her permanent mailing address listed there.

She traveled with her money. She saw the places she wanted to know about. To really feel what they were like for her books. Transylvania, Japan, The Andes Mountain range.

But she always came back to Royal Woods. She didn't see any reason to leave the home she loved so much. She had her own house near the Cemetery, but she was still in her 'hometown.'

In her naivety she figured Lincoln was just too attached to his familiar surroundings in his struggles. That he too didn't want to leave Royal Woods. That's why he had returned home wasn't it? It wasn't just about his struggles. Struggles she was far too aware of.

She knew he wasn't doing well financially, more than the other sisters knew.

Lincoln was proud, he kept his misfortunes close to his chest. He didn't want handouts, she knew that.

Even with Mom and Dad giving him the house and Vanzilla, he only took them begrudgingly, because he had no other options. Only the family in Royal Woods truly understood how bad things were for Lincoln. He always put on a false front around the rest when they would come visit.

The other sisters also didn't really want to know either.

That was part of it.

They all shared a measure of guilt to a degree.

Lincoln was responsible for their success. It was their own talent and skill, but it was Lincoln who coached them in how to best apply it. It was Lincoln using his amazing family management skills that directed them to the right people, at the right time.

Lincoln had all but been their talent manager for each and every one of them…And knowing just how bad he was doing would force them to realize how much they'd abandoned him and one another.

That was their sin, and Lucy knew it.

The Royal Woods family also understood they dare not bring it up around the others anyway, because it would upset Lincoln.

He didn't want pity. He didn't want help, and he didn't want to stop what he was doing.

That was the mistake Dad had made too, in offering him a management job. Father had simply misunderstood his son was a creature of passion, just as Lucy herself was, he would rather live in a cardboard box then give up doing what he loved…

All those moments, all those missteps from her sisters and parents, and Lucy had thought she would be the one, the true one to reach her brother and bring him back into the light. Lincoln wanted to stay in his familiar surroundings, and he needed to keep creating art.

He had been such an inspirational focus and figure for her novel series…She came up with the perfect plan, one that would let him indulge his passions, and allow him to be with family that truly loved him. He wouldn't be alone, he wouldn't be forced to subsist on ramen and saltines, he would have a clean and neat environment, one that was orderly as they both preferred.

Lucy already knew all his habits, just as he knew all of hers. They could live comfortably together, a beautiful duality…Light and Dark, Day and Night. Two halves of the same coin. They could create such beautiful art together too. It would be as close to the dreams as she could get. The dreams she still had to this day. The dreams where they slept together in their parent's bedroom, and raised Lupa together.

How naïve she had been.

How wrong she had been.

Lincoln was too far gone.

She had never, ever, felt her heart break like it had in that moment. She had never felt such raw pain. Her favorite person in the world, telling her he never wanted to see her again. Her favorite person looking at her with disgust. The person she loved most, saying he hated her. It was like being stabbed directly in the heart. She had wanted to claw her ears off to stop hearing those hurtful words. She had wanted to die in that moment.

She had hated him too shortly after that.

Or at least she tried to hate him. She tried to conjure up the raw fury and anger that Lola presented, but that didn't work. Instead, she'd fallen into a deep depression, one that had even caused her latest book to be delayed. A morose dark cloud that had fallen her since then. The worst part was the dreams didn't stop.

It was like clockwork, every nine weeks she would have the dreams where they had a life together. She didn't know why the dreams still happened after her brother tore her heart to pieces, but it made it impossible to hate him. It just made her reminiscence on the happier days of the past.

Every time she would be reminded of the precious moments they had together while they were young, she would tear up and cry again.

It was her publisher that suggested she get out of the country, and why she was visiting the United Kingdom now. Out of sight, out of mind. It was so hard to exist in the same city as her beloved brother after that incident. She had been so afraid of accidently running into him somewhere.

So, travel sounded perfect. She had always wanted to visit England anyway. She spent her time there well. She had toured the Tower of London, as well as Ripper Street, and several of the most 'haunted' places. She had been planning on heading up to Scotland and Loch Loud, to see if the old family ghosts were still around.

Until she had received the text message.

'I know a lot of things were said in the heat of the moment. Things I still regret. I only hope you don't hate your only brother. I'm sorry.'

It had given her a panic attack the first time she'd noticed and read it.

She had gone back and read those words over and over. So short, so simple. But it seemed so….unreal.

Lincoln was just as good with words as she was. But this was no lengthy apology, as she would normally expect. But she knew what he was doing, testing the waters.

She didn't know how to react. Her panic had seized her, and she had spent the rest of the day in her hotel room trying not to hyperventilate. She had rocked back and forth and felt agonizing indecision grip her. Memories of all the sweet times with Lincoln, memories of him looking down at her and breaking her heart so easily. Memories of another life together that could never be,

She wanted to forgive him, of course she did. She wanted to forgive him in a heartbeat, throw her arms around him, hug him so very tightly. Bawl his name out, beg him to say he still loved her.

But she also wanted to block his number, never speak to him again. Make him suffer how she had suffered.

She didn't know what to do. That was the only thing she knew. She didn't know what to do.

She had to talk to someone else.

….

Gainesville, Florida

It was mid-afternoon as Lori Loud-Santiago strolled through the halls of her lovely Floridian home on the way to her son's bedroom. A lovely home indeed, larger and trendier than the one she grew up in, and the one she had lived in with her husband. A sprawling one level house, with lots of hardwood floors, open spaces and wall to wall windows. All to take in the beautiful Floridian weather, well beautiful when it wasn't as humid as a soggy armpit.

But that was okay, she was used to soggy armpit weather. That's how it felt in the summertime back home in Michigan.

Back home in Michigan.

That thought had strolled through the blonde professional golfer's head more than a few times over the last few years.

Despite having lived here for five years, and despite having lived years before in Illinois, Michigan kept coming back into her mind as home. Michigan with its hot humid summers, and it's almost unbearably cold winters. Royal Woods, Michigan was still home in her mind.

Maybe It wasn't that Royal Woods was home, it was that family was home, and her mind just associated the city and her old house, the places where her family was from, as being 'home'.

Of course, less and less of her family lived there now. Only her mother, father and three of her siblings. A far cry from the thirteen that had once resided there.

Her thoughts had been on family a lot lately, family and a decision she was facing down. A decision that would…upend some lives possibly.

A truthful revelation.

Once, years in the past her smartest sister had placed lie detectors all over the house in order to force her family to always speak truth with one another. It had of course, been a disaster. The young genius hadn't realized all the little white lies families tell one another in order to keep the peace and not hurt each other's feelings.

Sometimes a lie that had been told to avoid causing pain, could end up bringing about more in the long run. That lie had to be removed, and the painful truth revealed to bring about healing.

And the Loud family? It needed some healing.

It was a secret only a few were supposed to ever know the truth of. A secret one conspirator had already taken to his grave. But even her deceased husband didn't want to hold this secret in his heart forever. As grateful as he'd been at the time, to finally have his own child, every year that passed he had always brought up the idea of revealing the secret.

'We can all be a family babe. Together. We'll always be our little Mijo's Mama and Papa, but he should know his mother and father too.'

Her husband's words reflected in her mind as she turned the corner and looked into the open bedroom door of her son, Bobby Loud-Santiago Junior.

Bobby Santiago Sr had been the sweetest and most loving man she had ever known. Their son shared the best traits of all his parents.

Bobby was 11, almost 12. He'd favored the Santiagos when it came to the color of his skin, the shade of his hair, and his grandmother's nose. He had favored the Louds when it came to his bright blue eyes, freckles, and smile.

He had a little bit of a tummy. The boy needed more exercise. Too many snacks, too much time playing videogames, watching his shows, reading his comics. Not enough sisters pulling him in ten different directions to keep him slim and trim. Lori wanted to work with BJ on that, she'd have to make up for the lack of an athletic sister.

She wondered if her brother knew how much Lynn was responsible for keeping him thin.

The boy's room reflected his personality too of course. Very neat, tidy, organized, everything in its place. Everything in its place being comic books, sci-fi novels, fantasy posters, his laptop, and his mecha models. Lots of mecha models proudly displayed.

Lori was far more aware of certain aspects of 'geek' culture thanks to her brother…She even liked some elements of it herself. While BJ had inherited a lot of his interests from Lincoln, the Mecha thing was something that was all his. The boy was fascinated by giant robots and loved putting them together.

He would display them proudly, stage them in mock battles together, and even 'film' them with crude stop motion animation effects and his own voice overs for the dialog.

It certainly made buying gifts for him easier.

Bed freshly made, Bobby Jr was currently standing in the middle of his room, at the special table he'd gotten specifically for putting together his models. It had adjustable height settings, an extendable lap attachment, and a non-stick easy to clean polymer top.

Bobby loved it. Almost as much as the models he put together on it.

Of course, most notable, the boy was only in his underwear.

Eyes squinting, tongue sticking out of his mouth as he held a piece of tiny plastic between a pair of tweezers and carefully placed it on the model he was working on. He had a penchant for near nudism much as his 'Uncle' did when he wanted to concentrate.

Honestly, Lori swore Lincoln would have preferred to go around naked if he could, and Bobby seemed to have inherited that trait from him.

"Bobby Loud, where are your clothes?!", The mother spoke in a slightly annoyed, but playful tone.

The boy turned around after placing his piece, giving a great big sigh of relief, before he addressed his mother, "Mooom! That was a really difficult placement! You could of messed me up!"

Lori rolled her eyes as she placed her hands on her hips, "I waited until you were done. Now, like I said, clothes, where are they?"

Bobby took on a slightly sheepish expression, his cheeks red as he rubbed his neck, "Moooom, I told you, I just, like relaxing like this! Without the fabric in the way I can focus on nothing but me and the Gunpla! Really visualize it in my head! I become one with the Mecha and it tells me how it needs to be built!"

Lori sighed as she placed her fingers to the bridge of her nose, "Listen here you little beaner. There's going to come a point where you running around in your underwear stops being cute and starts being concerning. What are you going to do when you need to concentrate in school? You can't just take your clothes off! Not to mention, any girls you want to hang out with are going to be upset if you just start stripping in front of them!"

Bobby scoffed as he looked embarrassed, another flush coming to his cheeks, "Come on mom. I don't even know how to talk to girls…"

Lori only smiled, "Bobby Jr you come from a line of men who have never had trouble when it comes to talking to women."

Bobby continued to look bashful, "You say that, but Uncle Lincoln doesn't have a girlfriend."

Lori's face fell a little as she sighed and nodded her head, "I know…but he could if he put himself out there. You can't use the Uncle Lincoln defense all the time."

Bobby looked skeptical still, "Are you sure about that?"

Lori nodded, "Yes, I'm sure. The problem with your Uncle Lincoln is he doesn't try. It's like he doesn't want one."

Bobby looked up, his brow furrowing under his dark hair, "Maybe he doesn't. Maybe that's why he broke up with Aunt Carol."

Lori was taken aback as the sudden reminder of her brother's brief relationship in Florida was mentioned.

Carol Pingrey, Lori's best friend from Highschool and her neighbor down here in Florida no less. Lincoln and Carol had started up a relationship while he was living with Bobby and herself. But Lincoln broke things off after…certain things had happened. Little more than a week after he'd returned to Michigan.

Lori sighed and a sad expression came over her lips, "I don't think Uncle Lincoln knows what he wants. But if he did, he could probably get it."

As she spoke she couldn't help but look at the boy in front of her as déjà vu caused tingles down her spine.

His hair was darker, his skin a little more mocha…but those freckles were unmistakable, those eyes…his front teeth. She was staring at her little brother again. The bright, cheery, helpful, smart and sweet boy from her youth.

She just prayed Bobby would keep his uncle's youthful spirit and get none of his bitter soul.

Bobby only looked back at his mom and gave another shy smile, "Well, I know when it comes to girls what I'd want at least."

Lori couldn't help but be intrigued. She loved being a mother so very much. She knew why her mother had 11, and she wished Bobby Sr and her could have had more. She was fascinated by every little aspect of BJ's life from the moment he was put in her arms.

"Oh, you already know what your type is? Go on, tell me, mom wants to know!"

Bobby only looked even more embarrassed as he finally managed to get out, "I think I'd want someone just like you Mom. You're the sweetest, most loving and awesome woman in the world. Dad knew that. So any girl that wanted my heart would have to be like you."

Lori felt her heart melt. She really did have the sweetest boy in the world as her son. He was so much like his father.

She suddenly wrapped her arms around the boy and picked him up in a hug, raining kisses on his cheek and head, "Oh, my little man! You say that to the right girl and you'll melt their heart!"

Bobby laughed and flushed, smiling as he pulled away, "Mooom, come on now! You're embarrassing me!"

Lori giggled in response as she kissed the top of the boy's head yet again, "Oh come on now, it's just you and Mom, nothing for you to be embarrassed about!"

The whole scene filled Lori with a sense of nostalgia. A memory from decades ago, before she even knew Bobby Santiago.

When she was an awkward 13 year old girl, with acne, glasses and no curves. When a little boy with white hair said he had the prettiest, sweetest and bestest big sister in the whole world.

She kissed the laughing smiling boy one more time on his cheek. Bobby responded by giving his mother a hug.

Lori put him down a moment later before she took stock of things, "You have everything all packed for our trip to Michigan?"

Bobby nodded looking excited, "Who's going to be there?!"

Lori counted off on her fingers, "Well you already know you're gonna see Grandpa Lynn and Grandma Rita, but Aunt Lynn will be there with your cousin L3, Aunt Luna will be there with your cousins Mick and Sam, and also your Aunt Lily, and your Aunt Lisa."

Bobby's eyes went wide, "Whoa, Aunt Lisa?! The evil scientist?!" The way Bobby said 'evil scientist' was indicative in no way of the boy thinking his aunt was evil. Quite the opposite, he said it in reverence, as if suddenly Lisa was the coolest person in the world to him.

Lori rolled her eyes again and sighed, "Yes, Aunt Lisa, she's not an evil scientist by the way. Don't call her that when you see her either young man."

Bobby still looked unconvinced, "Well yeah but, you told me about all the cool things she did growing up, and she was cloning people!"

Lori groaned as she replied, "Aunt Lisa got caught up with some things she shouldn't have. She's not allowed to do any super science for the moment, and she's technically not allowed to leave the state. That's why she's living with Uncle Lincoln right now and not us."

Bobby suddenly took on a very sobering look as he spoke up in a questioning tone, "Where are we staying when we visit up there?"

Lori knew what Bobby was hinting at, her own expression turning slightly dour, "Aunt Lucy's house, like usual."

Bobby's question was already expected, "Is Aunt Lucy going to be there too?"

It was the unspoken reality of the Loud family. How certain members couldn't be around certain others. Lana didn't want to be around Lola. Lincoln and Lucy were on the outs. Leni? She barely spoke to any of them and hadn't even been in North America for almost half a decade.

"No, Lucy's still in England right now."

Bobby nodded his head, "Mom, can I stay with Uncle Lincoln?"

Lori felt her heart sink, and the tears almost began to well up in her eyes. Bobby adored Lincoln so much. It was like the boy knew, on some unconscious level what Lincoln really was to him. Lincoln loved Bobby too, and years ago, he almost stepped into the role he always should have.

Lori choked back those tears and kept her smiling face for the sake of her son, "I don't know Bobby. We'll see. But it might just be better if we stay at Aunt Lucy's anyway. You can visit Lincoln as much as you want while we're up there."

Bobby nodded his head again, seeming satisfied before he hit her with another one, "I wish things were like they were when you were younger. When all my Aunts and Uncle wanted to be around each other."

Lori sighed, "I wish it was that way too Bobby. Every single day. But the Louds just aren't as close as the Casagrandes I'm afraid."

Bobby smiled before he looked confused, "Well yeah, except for Ronnie Anne…" Bobby frowned, "The Aunt I've never met."

This conversation was beginning to head into directions Lori didn't want it to. The direction of family secrets Lori and Bobby Sr had tried to protect Bobby Jr from. She needed to distract him.

"Well, since you were good and got everything packed up, why don't you put some clothes on and join me in the living room? We'll play some video games together and I'll order pizza for lunch."

Bobby smiled as he threw his arms around the blonde woman's waist happily, "Awesome Mom! Thanks!"

She patted the boy's head before she pulled away, "But I'm not going to take it easy on you in Smash Siblings!"

Bobby chuckled as he grinned up at her, "Yeah well, I've been practicing online with Aunt Lily! So I won't go easy on you either!"

Lori smiled again as she made her way out of the room, "Okay pro-gamer, we'll see how good you do."

There was that competitive streak in him. Bobby was a sweet boy, but challenges got him excited. Lori knew where he got that from. He got it from Her. It was just a shame she didn't want anything to do with him.

At the same time, Lori understood why. Ronnie Anne needed to be away, because giving him up had been the hardest thing she'd ever done. She didn't want to interfere with Bobby Sr and Lori raising him. She was afraid it would cause him confusion.

And Lincoln? Poor Lincoln continued to remain ignorant of it all.

Lori was broken from her musings by a phone call. She pulled her ever present phone from her pocket and looked at the screen.

Lucy was calling her.

Los Angeles, California

Lynn Loud-Czernovich laid back on the workout bench as she pressed a seemingly impossible set of weight above her body.

Sweat ran down her arms, arms that were like corded steel, muscle chiseled from stone. It wasn't the excessive bulk of a body builder or a powerlifter, but as if her arms were made of nothing but solid muscle. Twitch reflex muscle, for athleticism, speed, and power.

All her body was like this. Shredded abs you could grate cheese on. Arms that could tear apart oil drums. Legs capable of kicking through a steel door. The picture of maximum athletic efficiency. Even her hair was cut short and set into tight braids on the top of her head.

It was a far cry from the look she had when she'd been pregnant a few years ago. When she'd let her hair grow long again, when she let her body get softer, and far more feminine. She still did light exercise, but she'd been surprised by how…pretty she had felt in that period.

But she'd put in the work immediately after pregnancy to get back into shape. To get back into fighting form even greater than before. She was a weapon, a living weapon meant to destroy her competition.

Which she did, winning the four matches she'd had since her pregnancy decisively.

Her next fight was in 6 months, and she needed to be ready.

A grudge match against the number one competitor, Chloe 'Cyclone' Carmichael.

Funny thing was, Lynn was friends with Carmichael and respected the hell out of the other fighter. Carmichael was the opposite of her, an overachiever and academic powerhouse that had gotten a full ride academic scholarship, compared to Lynn's athletic one. Carmichael only got into fighting after she graduated.

She'd also married her childhood sweetheart.

Another difference between the two women.

Her real last name was Turner, wife to the comic book creator of the same name. The very one who was a friend and peer of her brother no less. That had even been how Lynn had met Chloe outside of the ring.

It had been when she was pregnant and staying with Lincoln. Chloe had been in town with her husband for a convention and the two decided to visit Linc.

One of the similarities they shared was the continued use of their maiden name in public. Carmichael used it for the same reason Lynn did, it rolled off the tongue and was just part of her brand. The only difference being, on legal paper Chloe's last name was Turner. No hyphen like Lynn had insisted in her own marriage.

'Timmy can be a real pain in the butt, but I wanted his name. I wanted to be a Turner. Even if Chloe Carmichael sounds better.' The blonde fighter had explained.

Chloe had known her brother Lincoln for a few years by then and had been shocked when she realized Lynn was his sister.

She'd thought Lincoln and Lynn were married at first. Lynn even played into it. It just was so much fun making Stinkin squirm like that as she called him honey, sweetie, and darling. Chloe even teased him about not ever bringing up his MMA wife. Lynn played along like that with Lincoln for almost a full hour before the truth came out they were siblings.

They had all hit it off and it had a great couple of days together. Chloe even talked about all of them getting together and hanging out at some point to do it again. Carmichael enjoyed her husband's creativity and passion. Just as Lynn enjoyed those aspects of Lincoln. They had even posed together, pregnant and all while Lincoln sketched them.

But she'd had to decline the invitations that came afterwards. Her husband had no interest in comic books and superheroes. No interest in hanging out with the Turners. Comics and Superheroes were only for children according to him. She didn't know if she should just go with Lincoln to hang out with another couple. It would have been a little strange.

That and Chloe was her rival too. John said it would hurt her sales and brand if she was seen hanging out with her too much.

No, better to play up a hatred of one another, get the crowd ready for blood.

Lynn knew Chloe wouldn't hold back based on the fact they were friends. They respected one another way too much to pull punches. They wanted one another at their best.

But Lynn didn't like the idea of having to pretend she hated one of her best friends. One of the few friends she still had.

Her old BFF Margo had gotten pregnant so young and got caught up in the teen mom thing. Lynn had called her stupid for being irresponsible and ruining her athletic scholarship. She knew Margo was now a gym teacher back in Royal Woods, but the two didn't really speak.

Then there were her sisters.

All of them were busy with their own lives and careers, they rarely talked to one another anymore. The ones she spoke to most were Lana, Lucy, and Lori.

Lana and Lori were athletes in their own right. Lori was also the eldest who seemed to take the most effort in at least keeping tabs on everyone. Lori was also a mom like her and was great for parenting advice.

Lana understood the thrill of risk, of doing things nobody thought you were capable of. Of participating in a sport that was dangerous to the body. Lynn had been the only one who hadn't chastised Lana after her bad accident a few years back.

As for Lucy, spooky was still someone Lynn felt most comfortable talking to and confiding in compared to anyone else. Sharing a room for so many years, despite their age difference, despite the ocean of difference in personality, it united them.

Lucy was the person Lynn could talk to anything about. She was the only one who could help her out with understanding her own emotions and feelings. Particularly when it came to their brother.

But Lynn didn't want to rely on them for everything. They were all busy, they all had their own lives. They all had their own careers.

Besides, Lynn had her husband John to rely on…

And John? Well John was the definition of a 'MAN', all caps.

6ft 6, a mass of muscle that seemed to come alive from a Mountain. As if he'd walked right out the side of it and shook all the dirt and gravel off his body.

He'd joined the marines right out of Highschool, was taken into the Navy Seals shortly after. Came back and got his MBA and went right into fighting. He was about ten years older than her, charming with everyone he met, always knew what to say, and the fans loved him.

He liked to golf, hunt, and fish in his downtime, and also managed all of his and her assets, licenses, and money at the same time. Her parents, especially her Dad, loved him, and he got along with all her siblings well enough.

He was the opposite of her father and brother in so many ways. He never cried, had no interest in what he called 'childish' things, and was much more interested in the here and now, rather than dreams and fantasies.

And that had been what she'd wanted. Someone who wasn't like the men in her life.

She'd said it again and again, she didn't want the soft, emotional, artistic types like her Father, her Brother, and even like her sister Lori preferred. She'd told herself they couldn't handle someone like her. They weren't capable of restraining her Lynn-Sanity.

John had no problem with that. He was quite capable of restraining her, controlling her, making her better.

He was also the father of their daughter, Jennifer Lynn Loud-Cernovich.

He'd been the one to insist on breaking the L tradition too. She'd come around to seeing his point anyway. Like he said, her brother could name his kid a 'Lynn' if they really needed to keep that tradition going. He let her give Jenn her middle name though. So it wasn't like he couldn't compromise.

But, now and then, Lynn missed some of those creative aspects and softer parts of the men in her family. She did like some 'childish' things. She did like to dream. She enjoyed superhero movies and comic books. She absolutely loved there was a comic book character created after her, and religiously kept up with everything involving the full deck.

She had every issue her brother drew.

She knew his heart was probably breaking over all the changes to the lore. She knew her brother, he cared about these things. He poured his heart and soul into it along with his art. She knew why the lore was important, why it mattered to the stories. She knew why it hurt people like her brother. How it effectively changed the character they loved, made them a completely different one just using the old name.

But she didn't really have anyone to talk to about these things.

And Lincoln…

He was just so…so… so Stubborn.

She knew she was going to see him on mother's day. Jenny would be happy, she loved her Uncle Lincoln so much. John and he however, well, Lynn was aware her brother and husband didn't have a whole lot in common. John would probably be too busy schmoozing with her sisters though, so it shouldn't be a problem.

She hoped at least.

She finished her set of reps and placed the heavy barbell back on the holder.

She was covered in sweat and her muscles burned, but it was a good kind of burn. She sat up and slowly stretched her arms.

They had their own cook, their own maid, and even their own nanny to help with Jenny. Lynn preferred being hands on with her daughter, spending as much time with her as she could. But John had insisted on the nanny, so Lynn could focus on her workouts and keep in fighting shape. Once again, they compromised.

She was looking forward to feeding her daughter and spending the rest of the afternoon with her when her phone started to buzz with a call.

Picking it up, she noticed Lori on the other end.

She answered.

"Hey Lori, what's up?"

"Hey Lynn, how's L3?", Lori's voice came soft, friendly.

Lynn only sounded partially annoyed when she responded, "Lori, you know her name is Jenny." Lynn still preferred the name L3 herself, but out of respect for John she tried to get her family to refer to her daughter as Jenn.

Lori's reply was ever so slightly smug, "I know that's what John wanted to name her. She'll always be Lynn the third to the rest of us."

Lynn decided not to push the issue and carry on, "L3 is fine, I was just about to go feed her lunch, this a social call?"

Lori's gentle sigh told Lynn everything she needed to know, "Wish that it was, but no there's more to it… It's about Lincoln…"

Lynn paused for a moment, her heart fell into her stomach as any number of horrible scenarios played out in her mind. She replied, "What about our brother?"

There was another pause on Lori's end, making Lynn continue to fear the worst, before finally Lori spoke up.

"He apologized to Lucy…"

Lynn fell silent again. On one hand she was relieved nothing bad had happened, but on the other hand, she was shocked to hear about this development. It seemed almost unreal. She didn't know what to say.

Luckily, Lori picked up on the silence and went on.

"Yeah, I know. Lucy called me first because of the time zone difference, but she'll probably call you late tonight to talk about it."

"He did? Really? For real?", Lynn continued flabbergasted.

"Yes Lynn, He did. Lincoln's been…acting a little… strange it seems. But a good kind of strange from what Lily's said.", Lori continued.

"Wait, what do you mean by what Lily said?", now Lynn's curiosity was afire.

Lori's reply only confused Lynn more, "Lily called me too. She's moving in with Lincoln and Lisa."

Lynn stopped where she was, bringing her hand to her forehead in disbelief. She almost dropped the phone, "Wait, hold on, what?! Lincoln agreed to let her move in?!"

Lori's own surprise was evident in her tone, "Like I said…strange. Lily used the phrase, 'Old Lincoln'."

Lynn was left speechless yet again.

Lori continued, "I don't know. Maybe he's on drugs now? Or the Alcoholism has gotten out of control. I just know I'm worried. Normally I'd be happy to hear he's reaching out to Lucy like that, but asking Lily to move in too?"

Lynn finally replied, her tone hopeful, "Yeah it's a little strange, but maybe it's a sign. Maybe Lisa moving in with him caused all of this. How long has it really been since Linc had to take care of any of us?"

Lori sighed, "I thought that once too. When he was taking care of me and BJ a few years ago. He seemed like the old Lincoln again, then out of the blue he dropped everything and left."

Lynn began to get worried and agitated all at once, "So are you saying you're afraid this might be a phase? That we're setting ourselves up for disappointment?"

Lori was trying to calm her down, "I don't want to think that Lynn, I really don't. But he's done this before, he shows signs of wanting to be involved and then pulls away. Maybe because we did it to him."

"What do you mean by that?", came Lynn's terse response.

When Lori replied, it was in a matter-of-fact tone, "…Lynn you showed up at his door pregnant, completely upended his life and lived with him for months before running off literally the day after your baby was born."

Lynn felt her heart squirm in her chest. A strange uncomfortable and confusing sense of guilt filling her.

"What was I supposed to do Lori?! John came to pick me up, it was John's child! John's, not Lincoln's! Was I just supposed to tell L3's own father, sorry we can't leave, I need to give my brother more time with me and this baby?!"

Lori sounded like she was desperately trying to keep her patience, "Lynn we're dancing around the real subject now and you know it."

Lynn's heart filled with rage, rage at herself and self-loathing, she snapped back.

"I'm not the one raising his fucking Kid for him Lori! I'm not the one wishing he would have stayed behind to play Mommy and Daddy with me!"

There was silence on the phone, and Lynn felt instant regret for her outburst. Her emotions were a jumbled mess, and yet she knew her eldest sister had suffered the worst out of all of them with the death of her husband.

She was the first to speak up.

"I'm sorry Lori, I'm really sorry, I just… I don't know what came over me."

Lori sighed again, "It's alright Lynn, and I mean it… I really do. I know why you're frustrated. Even if you don't fully know it yourself."

Lynn sounded as if she was practically desperate as she spoke up, "Then tell me Lori. Why am I getting frustrated? Why does everything feel like it's wrong? Why do I get so angry when it comes to Lincoln and all of us?"

Lori sounded sympathetic as she responded, an older sister trying to comfort her younger, "You have to face that truth yourself Lynn. A truth most of us don't want to face. Something….I really think Lincoln didn't want to face either."

Lynn was quiet for a very long moment. Lori was too. Both were dealing with feelings, emotions, and regrets.

"It was easy for you. You had Bobby."

Lori nodded her head on the other line, even as she replied, "I know. I know I did. Just like Luna had Sam. Just like Luan had Benny. They were our rocks. Then none of us had them, and Lincoln was there."

Lynn's confused morass of feelings continued to assault her, as the topic drifted and yet felt centered at the same time.

"Do you regret it?" she asked, her voice starting to break slightly.

"Regret what Lynn?" Lori responded, uncertain with the way they were bringing up so many taboo thoughts and secret memories.

"The fame, the fortune? Do you regret any of it?" Came Lynn's response.

Lori was quiet a very long time, before she spoke up, "Yes. I regret what's happened to our family."

Lynn sounded almost lost as she responded, "What do we do Lori? I don't know what to do. I love my daughter, and I enjoy the fights, I really do… but I… I think of my happiest memories, and they involve all of us. They involve the times we're together…But I made this life, we all made these lives…"

Lori gently sighed as she responded, "I know Lynn, I know…I didn't want to turn this into an existential crisis though. I just… I just wanted to talk to you about Lincoln."

Lynn was quite blunt when she spoke back to Lori, "Lincoln is our existential crisis, Lori. He's the fucking root of everything wrong. It all goes back to him, you know it. When Lisa went away, it changed him."

Lori's response was swift, "That may have been the catalyst, but no Lynn, we can't put all of this on Lincoln. We're the ones that made these choices. We were the amazing Loud sisters. All Lincoln did was…was…push us, help us achieve our goals. Make us the best we could be."

But Lynn seemed resolute, "That's exactly what I mean Lori. Why did we do it though? Because of Lincoln! We wanted to make him happy! We wanted to make him proud of us! Lori, he's the only boy out of all of us. The only boy, right in the middle! Even I'm smart enough to know that was always going to make our relationship with him different than other siblings."

Lori began to sound frustrated herself, "Lynn, I really do think this is all important, I do. But I don't know if this is the time to discuss it."

Lynn began to huff, and sound frustrated herself, "When are we going to discuss it Lori? When's the last time you talked to Leni? When's the last time Lana and Lola spoke? How come Luna always seems like she's to busy for any of us to visit?"

Lori fired right back, "How come you never bring L3 over to play with Bobby?"

Lynn fell silent once more….

Lori sighed, "I know Lynn, I know. But right now, as messed up as we all are, I'm worried about what I'm hearing with Lincoln. We're going to see him soon, we need to pay attention, find out if there's anything weird going on with him."

Lynn frowned, "Why haven't we talked to Lisa about it?"

Now it was Lori's turn to be silent.

Lynn sighed, "Yeah, I never went and visited her either."

Lori sounded as if guilt was gnawing at her, "Only Mom, Dad, and Lily went to see her."

Lynn let out a soft bitter laugh, and only realized now she'd been crying for the last few minutes, "We're fucking terrible sisters. Terrible. We used to be so good too, but we didn't even go and visit our little sister when she was stuck in prison. We let one of our baby sisters rot alone."

Lori waited a moment, the sound of her own sniffling coming as she responded, "I think… this Mother's Day might be good for us. We need to talk, about Lincoln, about each other."

Lynn frowned again as she looked down at her feet, there was a problem that would get in the way of talking to her sisters. Her husband.

"Lori, I don't know how free to talk I'll be with John around."

Lynn could tell Lori was frowning as she responded, "Lynn, your husband shouldn't have any issues with you wanting to spend some private time with your family."

Lynn sighed, "It's not that… it's just, after we visit he'll probably be pushing for us to move on. We have fights coming up we're training for…promotions to consider…"

Lori was clearly running out of patience, "Okay Lynn, you talk a big game about us being bad sisters. About wanting to fix things, that means doing the work."

Lynn winced, "Lori I—"

"Don't you Lori I me, Lynn," Lori interrupted her.

"I mean it, I love you, I love all of you. But we all need to do the work." Lori sighed."

"Listen, I'll see you in Michigan, how you arrive there will let me know just how much this stuff really bothers you."

Lynn needed to know one more thing, "Wait, Lori before you go. How's Luna doing, is she coming and bringing the twins? We could ask her what she thinks of all this too."

Lori's response was soft, and concerned, "I wish we could Lynn, but Luna is dealing with Chantelle falling off the wagon again. I don't want to stress her out over all of this. Keep all this Lincoln acting strange stuff away from her, she'll just beat herself up over it…and you know we don't want her…."

Lynn finished her sentence, "Falling off the wagon again herself. I get it Lor." Lynn sighed, no small amount of despair filling her as she reflected on her broken family and the wounded members within it, "Keep things cool for Luna."

Lori was probably nodding on the other end, "Right. Okay, I'm going to go now. I love you okay?"

Lynn nodded on her end as she replied, "I love you too Lor."

The two hung up and Lynn looked around the personal gym she in the fancy mansion she lived in. There were weight machines, treadmills, heavy bags and even a functional octagon and boxing ring. All for her and John.

She reflected on how she knew her sister Luan lived in the same city, and yet neither of them had ever visited one another's house.

San Francisco California

Sam Loud stood in front of his bedroom mirror, carefully applying a light coat of eye shadow to himself with the precision of a surgeon. He'd recently dyed his typically long unkempt brown hair into a harsh deep black, and had styled it into what was known as an 'emover' in reflection of his current mood.

Sam, much like his birth mother, much like his twin brother Mick, loved music. Every and all kinds of music from classical, to hip hop, to pop, to country, to opera. His birth mother had instilled a love of that music into him and his twin brother Mick from the moment they were born.

In particular though, Sam enjoyed emotional, almost nihilistic music, particularly the pop-grunge sound of the last millennium and the emo music of the early parts of it. It was an era from before his birth, though bands which made their names playing that sound still toured, and he'd been fortunate enough to see some of them in concert and even get to meet them, thanks to connections and money of his mother.

Sam loved his family, in particular he loved his twin brother Mick more than anything else in the world. The two were very different in their music tastes and temperament, but they did love playing together and spending time with one another. They had their own secret twin language, and shared thoughts and feelings with one another more than anyone else.

But in particular, Sam loved his mother. Luna Loud portrayed a popular image across the world as a rough and rowdy, hardcore punk rock chick that took no prisoners and had everyone in the world desiring her. She was a beautiful siren whose smokey voice could sing the most sweet and soothing lullaby, or loud, energetic rock songs that made you want to get up and dance. She was a larger than life legend that loomed over the world. A living Goddess worshipped by millions.

While the Moon Goats as a whole were a household name, it was understood Luna Loud was the real talent among them, playing lead guitar and singing lead vocals. Some people might think having her as a mother would be intimidating.

But if you were to ask Sam and Mick, both of her sons would let you know, nothing could be further from the truth. Luna Loud was one of the most warm, sweet, personable, relaxing and genuine people you could ever meet. She wore her heart on her sleeve, loved and liked easily, and was slow to anger. She was just 'Mom' to the boys. The best, most loving and wholesome mother they could ever ask for.

Sam and Mick didn't even have a real sense of how popular around the world their mother was until the last couple years or so. Despite living in a large house, a mansion really, despite never having to want for anything, Luna had seemed to have deliberately shielded her boys from that world. She did her best to keep her rock and roll fame and status as separate from her role as caregiver. She had gone out of her way to be nothing but a devoted and caring mother to her two sons.

Sam could never remember a time when his mother wasn't there to kiss boo-boos, sing away bad dreams, or give hugs and cuddles of appreciation.

Sam and Mick loved their mother dearly and had no complaints about her. She was the most important person in their life after one another.

This love extended to the rest of their family too. Family they didn't see nearly as much as they wanted to, but remained important to them all the same.

Their little cousin L3 was so cute, and so smart for her age. She was always so happy to play with the twins. Their older cousin BJ looked after them like the big brother they always wanted. He would always show them something cool from anime, or sci-fi or a videogame.

Sam and Mick understood they had yet another cousin, one by the name of Bethany who was the daughter of their Aunt Leni…but they rarely saw those two.

But, If it were up to the twins, they'd hang out with their cousins all the time, just like their mother had grown up with all her siblings.

Those siblings who made up their Aunts and their Uncle. Aunts who were so much fun, so loving and sweet to them, and all who were amazing in their own ways. Each one some incredible talent, as if the last name 'Loud' meant destined for greatness.

And an Uncle who was the epitome of awesome. An Uncle who always made them the coolest pictures, and would play with them, talk to them, and hang out with them whenever they saw him. He was the biggest male influence outside of their Grandfather Lynn, their 'Uncle' Sully who played Keyboard in their Mom's band, and 'Uncle' Chunk who was their road manager.

Overall, Sam and his brother Mick had a pretty good life. They never wanted for anything, they had a great Mom, and their extended family during the (rare) times they saw them was awesome too. Realistically speaking, Sam knew he and his brother didn't have a lot to complain about….

Except when it came to their second Mom….

Chantelle.

Sam knew he was named after his birth mother's first real love, the girl who had been a pivotal founding member of the Moon Goats and who had stolen Luna Loud's heart. A girl named Sam Sharp.

In a lot of ways, Sam felt he had to live up to all of the wonderful things he heard about Sam growing up. Just as he knew his brother Mick had to live up to their mother's awesome Mentor and legendary rock Icon, Mick Swagger's example.

If there was one thing he took seriously in all of this, it was making sure he was in tune with his mother's emotions, as he figured Sam would be.

And he knew Chantelle, his other mother, was a source of turbulent emotions for Luna.

Chantelle had come into their mother's life when Luna was still reeling from the loss of Sam. She had been nothing more than a roadie, a groupie before then. A die hard Moon Goats fan that traveled from city to city with them and had a job helping set things up.

But when Luna was rudderless and uncertain of her life, when she was losing herself completely in Booze, Chantelle had been there to pick her up, clean her off, and get her ready to go on stage. Chantelle had been there to make sure Luna was presentable, and make sure she didn't drink too much to perform.

These were the good traits the woman had. She became a responsible partner that had gotten Luna clean, and led to her improving her life.

The only problem was…Chantelle herself had her own demons, her own addictions. One completely different from Alcoholism like their mother had, but one that existed all the same.

It was Ironic how Chantelle could be the most responsible in the family, and then lose herself completely in her own addiction. But it was there, and the boys were aware of it, as much as their moms tried to hide it. Chantelle loved them too, but the boys were aware of arguments between their moms regarding them.

Sam knew his mother Chantelle sometimes felt othered by them not sharing any biological traits with her. Sam and Mick did everything they could to make her feel like their mother, and most of the time it worked, but now and then…when the three were out in public together, they would get stares… stares that were asking, what was this black woman doing with two white boys?

Sam knew Luna wasn't really happy. He knew Chantelle wasn't really happy. He knew the Loud family as a whole was missing something, he just couldn't put his finger on it. He didn't know what it was, and so the only thing he could do…. was black his hair, put on eye shadow, and express this sadness through his self and his art.

He finished putting on the eyeshadow just as his younger twin brother came through the door to his room.

The boys had separate rooms, but were almost always together anyway. Rooms they were told, that were far larger than the ones their mom and aunts had growing up. Rooms they didn't need to share. But Sam and Mick wanted to share them anyway.

Sam's room had his guitar stand and guitars set aside against the wall, his bed, morose colors, and posters showing classic grunge era and emo bands. He had his own videogame system just as his high strung brother did, and a collection of his Uncle's comic books.

Mick was the carbon copy of his brother, though he looked far different at the moment. Mick was far more genteel and proper than Sam, despite his rockstar name. Their mother Luna had once said Mick was just like her at that age, so there was a chance he would end up changing his interests… but for now his ever present purple bowtie and white button up was on…His dark brown hair neatly parted.

Mick looked to his brother Sam with an eyebrow raised, his voice coming with an upper crust British lilt, "Emo again? I don't know if I can handle you being fake sad for the next couple months. Couldn't you switch back to your Ska persona? You're more fun in that one."

Sam sighed as he placed the eye shadow down, turned and looked back at his freckle faced brother, "Can't do that Mick. The emotional wavelength of this house is just way too off dude."

Mick went over and flopped on his brother's bed, "What are you talking about? Our mothers have been in perfect harmony the last week or so. No arguments or anything."

Sam once more sighed as he braced himself for what he was about to reveal to his twin. "There's a reason for that Dude… Mom's been using again. She's been trying to hide it, but I caught her. Only a matter of time before our other Mom finds out and all hell breaks loose."

Mick sat up and brought his hands to his face as his shoulders slumped, "Right before Mother's Day too."

Sam walked away from his bedroom dresser and mirror before he slumped right down next to his twin, "Hey, it's still going to be fun alright? We're going to see BJ and L3 and Grandma Rita and Uncle Lincoln."

Mick idly kicked his feet as he sighed, "I know, and Aunt Lily too. It should be fun, but Mom is going to be thinking about this the whole time. She's not going to have any fun, she's going to be preoccupied with thoughts of our other Mother slowly killing herself."

Sam winced and sunk his shoulders, "That's a bit harsh dude."

Mick shook his head, "I won't mince words on this matter brother. Our mother escaped the demon drink Alcohol, it almost destroyed her life before us. Our other mother is going to end up dead if she continues on this road, and I can't help but feel like somehow this is our fault."

Sam looked to his brother shocked, before he took hold of him by the shoulders, "Hey! Don't say that kind of stuff bro! It's not our fault! You know how hard her life was! She doesn't even have her own Mom to celebrate Mother's Day with!"

Mick only breathed out from between his lips, "That's most likely the reason why she began to use once more in the first place dear brother. You know how uncomfortable she gets around our family in the Louds because her own doesn't really exist."

Sam frowned and looked down at his feet, "Mom isn't going to take this well."

Mick shook his head, "No, No I don't think she's going to at all."

…

Luna Loud sat in the parlor of the mansion she owned, in a high backed velvet chair holding an old photograph in hand, and a teacup in the other. She'd just gotten off the phone with her sister Lori a few minutes ago.

The Parlor was all in burgundy, fancy, English Victorian style, complete with solid oak table and fine china serving dishes. All of the mansion was like this, following a classical British style that favored Luna's interests and would have been approved of by her sister Lucy. The mansion even had its own staff of butlers and servants who prepared meals for Luna and her family, as well as kept the place neat and tidy. They too dressed in Victorian servant aesthetic, but didn't go about with fake accents. Luna was committed to her Brit-o-phile lifestyle, but didn't want to go too overboard.

The 'servants' were also hired by a company and only worked shifts at the home. Lynn might of had a live in Chef, Nanny, and Butler, but Luna thought it was a little weird to have non family live in her home. That being said, she wasn't a cook, and cleaning wasn't her strong suit and she had more than enough money to pay other people to handle those simple things.

A far cry from the days long ago, when her and the Moon Goats had to share a filthy hotel room while they toured, trying to make a name for themselves…and even further back than that, when she shared a house with 10 siblings and they were all responsible for different chores.

It was the photo that was really making her think back to those halcyon days of her youth. The days filled with noise, arguments, laughter and lots of love. A photo taken when she was 16, one of the last times all of them were together. Before she turned 17 and Lori, the first, had moved out of the house.

Right before Lisa would move out and stay at the Lab facility and start the trend of Louds leaving home and exploding in success.

They had all taken it pretty hard when Lisa moved out and decided to stay at the Lab facility. The young genius had been offered the position and said she would have better resources and a less chaotic environment to pursue her science career in. The family took it hard to lose two members so close to one another. But, she remembered, Lincoln took it the hardest. Of all of them, he had been the most certain she'd come back.

Her little bro had prized himself on being the one that took care of all his sisters. Older, and younger, it didn't matter… Lincoln saw it as his guiding purpose to make sure his sisters wanted for nothing, and needing nothing. It wasn't like he saw himself as a servant, but as if he needed to protect them, and assure their contentment. Which was why he took Lisa leaving so personally, like he failed her in some way.

Maybe it was because he felt like she was saying she didn't need her big brother. Luna didn't know.

All she knew was this picture was taken before Lisa left, and before Lori left. When all of them were still happy together, before Lincoln shifted his focus to pushing all his sisters onwards towards succeeding at everything they wanted to do.

Success that seemed to pull her family further and further away from one another.

Luna always tried to make excuses for herself at first when it came to this. Why she hadn't tried hard enough to keep her family in her orbit. She was always on tour she told herself. The Moon Goats had to go where the money was, they had to go where they could be seen, HEARD, and watched.

It made sense the first few years, always being on the road, waiting to get really discovered and hit it big. She couldn't always be there for the rest of her family. Not when she was in Vancouver, or down in Dallas and they were back in Michigan.

There were phone calls, conversations here and there, and when she swept back into her hometown of course the family showed up. They came to her concerts, went backstage, hugged her, took pictures congratulated her.

But over the years, as her sisters found their own success, they had less time to show up at her concerts. They didn't have time to take her calls. They got wrapped up in their own careers, their own lives, their own fame and fortune.

It had been the hardest with Luan.

Luan was the sister Luna felt closest too. The other performer in the family, the other sister who knew what it was to stand in front of a crowd and feed off the energy of adulation. Who lived to entertain others and change their lives.

Luna and Luan used to share tips with one another all the time for charming a crowd, getting over stage fright, and talking about what venues they dreamed of playing.

Luan had even made it big herself, and disavowed any notions of women not being funny. Luan was genuine too, she sold out every venue she played, and her tv show was a success…and yet, they barely talked anymore. They lived in the same state and played phone tag every few months or so. Leaving messages for each other. But outside of the occasional family get together on the holidays? They rarely talked.

Maybe it was because Luan wasn't a mother like Luna herself was? Maybe that was the great divide between them. She didn't know, she just knew Luan wouldn't be at the Mother's Day get together… the only ones who would, were the mothers of the Loud family.

Sans Leni of course.

Leni was still in Europe with her model boyfriend and their beautiful adopted daughter.

Leni must have realized the truth. There was no point in coming back to see the 'old' family, because the old family didn't exist anymore.

Luna was ashamed at herself for that thought. She wanted the old family back, she just…didn't know how to go about doing it…or even if it was possible.

In a lot of ways, she felt isolated from her sisters and brother. That isolation was somewhat her own fault, given she was embarrassed about her turn as an alcoholic, and embarrassed about…her wife.

The elephant in the room that Luna was doing everything she could not to think about right now.

Traditionally speaking, after Bobby's death and Leni moving to Paris, Lynn, Lola and her were the only ones who had 'spouses' at the family functions.

And of those surviving spouses, only Lola's husband Paul really felt like he 'fit in' naturally with the rest of the family. Luna had loved Bobby Sr dearly, everyone in the Loud family did…but Lynn's husband John?

Luna couldn't stand him.

It was something she kept to herself. He was just too…too… Alpha male.

He dominated every room he was in, it wasn't like an overt thing, but just this subtle energy he put off that harshed Luna's mellow something fierce.

Luna was bisexual, though she did tend to favor women. There were boys who got her wet though, men that made her excited. John was not one of those men. More than that, she could swear, John was the type that would say something like all Luna needed was a good hard 'dicking' from a 'real man' to turn her off women forever.

She could tell some of her siblings felt the same way. Lincoln could barely stand to be in the same room as the man. Lola seemed bored of his very presence, and Lori looked at the man like he was a giant child playing pretend.

Lana seemed to like him though, and Lynn was all about him.

The thing was…she had the sneaking suspicion that some of her sibs might feel the same way about Chantelle.

Chantelle loved to party, she was great in a mosh pit and amazing with her tongue. But she also seemed like she had her shit together when Luna had really started to pay attention to her. She basically had taken up Chunk's position as head Roadie when the large older British man became the road manager for the band.

Chantelle always directed everyone perfectly, had the sets and stage up and ready and more importantly, took notice when Luna was having real problems staying sober. When the rest of the band was too afraid to say anything to her, it had been Chantelle who cleaned the puke off her, sat her down and had a serious conversation about her future.

Luna had looked at Chantelle like an angel descended from Heaven, meant just for her, to help her get her life on track and not ruin the good thing she had with the Moon Goats.

That good thing being multiple multi-Platinum records. Worldwide fame, recognition and more money than she knew what to do with.

The two started snogging after that, and moved on to full dating shortly after. Chantelle was always there to get Luna ready for the stage, ready for her interviews, ready for awards ceremonies, practice, anything.

Chantelle was practically her life coach, they ended up getting married… and that was when Luna discovered Chantelle's own secret.

The reason why the woman was always there, always up and active and full of energy, always seemed focus and like she could take on anything… was a cocaine addiction.

She'd started off using small amounts of it for energy and focus in keeping the other roadies on task and making sure the band had everything it needed. But as she fell into the role of being Luna's personal therapist, best friend and assistant… she'd started using more and more, as if she felt like she couldn't keep up with Legendary Luna Loud without a little assistance of her own.

That overdoes at the wedding had been an eye opener, along with a wake-up call. Chantelle ended up spending her honey moon in an expensive clinic dedicated to getting her clean, while Luna waited patiently…

And it seemed like it worked! After an extensive stay, and regular meetings with Narcotics Anonymous, Chantelle had gotten clean, and the two started their married life together.

Shortly afterwards, two wonderful boys were born to Luna thanks to an anonymous donor.

Things seemed fine all things considered…Luna loved being a mom. She adored her boys so much, and Chantelle was such a great co-mother to them.

There were photos of the four of them in all the trade magazines and websites. The happy, inter-racial, LGBT family out and about on vacation and touring… going to the movies together.

But Luna was lying to herself that she didn't see the cracks forming from the beginning.

She fell off the wagon again when the boys were three and had to go away for another stay at the clinic.

Then there were the problems with the Loud family. The clear uncomfortableness she had around them. Her own was all but non-existent, and she'd latched on to Luna in an almost obsessive manner. She attached to Luna like a lamprey when around them and rarely let her have time with them. She was the number one fan that had gotten to marry the dream celebrity she was always into…

And that was the thing, it sometimes bothered Luna, because Chantelle didn't know her as 'Luna Loud' girl from a family of 11, musician and brit-o-file… She only knew her as 'LUNA LOUD' frontwoman of the Moon Goats, celebrity extraordinaire.

And Luna herself had doubts about their relationship sometimes, wondering if she just latched onto the first life raft she came across.

All this musing was continuing to put off what she knew she had to talk to her wife about.

The drug use.

Chantelle was using again, Luna knew it. She hadn't noticed it at first, which meant most likely Chantelle had been using again for a while, and it was only now that she was getting sloppy. Luna blamed herself for not catching on, not realizing one of the staff was dealing. She just hoped the boys hadn't noticed yet.

Luna took a deep breath and steadied herself, it was time to confront the problem head on.

Luna stood up from her table, clad in a dark purple robe, teacup in hand as she made her way out of the Parlor and down the hall of her spacious mansion. Climbing a set of stairs with floral print carpeting running up them, she made her way towards her wife's office, hovering just outside a moment or two to steel herself again, before she took hold of the knob and entered inside.

Chantelle was a beautiful woman with dark ebony skin and bright green eyes. She was tall, and lithe, with a slightly athletic tone, and a pair of breasts that almost seemed too big for her tall thin frame, but only added to her sex appeal. Her dark hair was long and straightened at the moment, falling over her shoulders.

She was sitting at her desk in the office, wearing the clothes she had on the night before, blue jeans and a purple crop top, her face buried in her laptop as she clacked away at the keyboard.

Chantelle looked up, seeming a little surprised and smiled at her, "Hey honey, what's goin on?"

Luna gave Chantelle a withering stare as she responded, "You didn't come to bed last night dude."

Chantelle looked puzzled for a moment, almost guilty, as she made to play it all off like it wasn't a big deal, "I didn't, what time is it?" She stopped what she was doing and seemed to check the time, turning and laughing, "Oh you know, I just got so caught up in things, I lost track of time."

Luna sighed and nodded her head, the disbelief was palpable in her response, "Yeah, that's the reason."

Chantelle gave her a quizzical expression, as if she had no idea why Luna was upset, "Baby, what's the problem? I've just been looking at private schools for Mick and Sam, haven't you been talking about wanting to get them enrolled in a proper school? Or are we gonna keep using private tutors forever."

Luna began to look upset, the matter of school for the boys was a testy one. Luna didn't want them to go far, but Chantelle had argued they needed to get out of the house more, "Yeah the problem is, you want to send them off to the UK for boarding school Dude!"

Chantelle rolled her eyes, trying to speak in a more logical tone "It would do the boys some good, get away from here and this environment. Come on Lunes, you have to cut the cord sometime! You're going to smother them if you keep them latched around your waist like this! We can't keep bringing them on tour either! That kind of environment isn't good for kids!"

Luna looked back at her wife, losing more of her patience, her sons were her life, more so even then the band. Or maybe a small part of her knew Chantelle might be right, still she couldn't help but throw an accusation back at her, "Yeah well dude, I'm thinking it's more you're starting to realize you're well on the way to crash and burn, and you don't want our sons to be around to see the wreckage!"

Chantelle looked positively hurt at the words spoken by her wife. Her face scrunched up as she did her best to respond in kind, "What the hell Luna?! What is this about? You know I love the boys! I thought you'd love the idea of them going to a British school like you always wanted to! If you want a closer private school, we can choose one, or hell, we're rich enough, we can move to Britain to be closer to them while they go!"

Luna stepped into the office, and placed her cup down on the table, all her attention on the woman at the desk, she needed to get to the heart of the matter. She slammed her hands down on the desk and leaned in close, "This isn't about the private schools bruh. You know that. You're losing it again, you're burnin the candle at both ends and you know you can't keep doin it forever."

Chantelle folded her arms, looking defensive, it was clear Luna had touched a nerve. She even seemed to understand what Luna was referring to, but was trying to play things off in one last desperate attempt, "And what do you mean by that Luna? Huh? What do you mean by that? What are you trying to infer here?!"

Luna prepared herself for what was coming next, on some level she figured Chantelle already knew but was still trying to deflect. She took a deep breath, looked into her eyes, and told the truth.

"I know who your dealer is, I called the house cleaning agency and had him fired."

Chantelle looked like she had been struck. Panic began to seize the woman, and she stood up suddenly, horror on her lips as she spoke without thinking, "You had No right to do that! No right at all You-" before she caught herself, stopped and seemed even more horrified at her own actions.

Luna just looked sad, putting her face into her hands, feeling her emotions coming on, tears starting to stream down her cheeks, "How many times are we gonna go through this Channy? How many times am I gonna have to keep sending you back to that clinic? How do you think Mick and Sam are gonna take this? What are they going to say when their Mom ODs?"

Chantelle slumped back down into her seat and just started to cry, her shoulders shaking, "I'm so sorry Lunes… I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."

Luna looked back at her wife, taking a long hard deep breath, "Yeah… I am too. Guess you won't be coming with us to Royal Woods…"

Luna turned around and left the room, wiping at her own cheeks. She missed her family, she missed Sam. She missed her life before the fame and fortune and glitz and glory.

She just hoped seeing everyone again would make her feel better.