Sorry for the long wait, but here is the first part of the epilogue.

Last time, following the final encounter with Alex, Lori and Bobby's child, Marty Loud-Santiago, was finally born. However, Castleton is now going through a bit of a crisis following Alex's second arrest.

I would like to thank DukeyDukeyDoo and Maikoh Locklear for helping me proofread.

Chapter 44: The First Days with Marty

[Over the course of three days, Lori and Marty had to stay in the hospital until everything was in order. Bobby, Ronnie Anne, and the Louds visited them frequently as did Albert on occasion. Things in Royal Woods were also slowly returning to normalcy following Alex's thinly veiled attack on the town.]

[Lynn also had to stay at the hospital to recover from her injuries. Her fingers had been reattached before Marty was born, but it would certainly be a while before she can make a full recovery. Whatever this would mean for her career going forward, no matter what, she felt that her efforts to help her brother save Ronnie Anne were well worth it, and now Alex was locked away once again awaiting his sentence.]

[On the afternoon of the first day, Lori and Bobby were visited by Leni, Carol, Becky, Dana, Chaz, Tad, and Errol. The girls gushed at the sight of the baby when they saw him in Lori's arms while Errol, Chaz and Tad stood by Bobby, giving their congratulations to him and Lori. Lori even allowed Carol to hold her son for a few minutes as Errol watched the display with a smile on his face.]

Chaz: "Hey, congrats, Bob."

Tad: "Yep. I say you and Lori did pretty well."

Bobby: "Gracias, guys."

Errol: "Not a problem, Bobby. You're a dad now, and since Carol and I are together, that makes me the baby's godfather, too, you know?"

Bobby: "I know, Man."

Tad: "You sure you got it everything handled?"

Bobby: "Yeah... I think Lori and I are going to do just fine."

[As the boys continued to chat, Carol was still holding Marty in her arms while Leni, Becky and Dana cooed over the newborn baby. Marty gurgled as he was being adored by the girls around him.]

Carol: "Oh, he's so cute. I can't believe I'm finally a godmother. Errol and I can't wait to have our own baby someday."

Leni: "O-M-Gosh, Carol! My nephew would totes love to have a little playmate!"

Becky: "Such an adorable little cutie. You did a wonderful job pulling through the pain."

Dana: "I'm so proud of you, Lori, and so is everyone else."

Lori: "Thanks a lot, you guys. But I owe it all to Bobby as well... And my mother."

[Leni then took Marty from Carol and held him in her arms. Chaz smiled as he watched his girlfriend nuzzle the baby.]

Chaz: "So cute."

Bobby: "I know, Chaz. I'm the one who made him."

Chaz: "I was referring to Leni, but Marty's cute, too."

[Bobby let out a small chuckle as he patted Chaz's back.]

[That evening, Leni brought Fiona, Miguel, Mandee and Jackie over to see the baby. Bobby stood beside the bed with his son in his arms while the others admired the little one.]

Mandee: "I can't wait to see him in cute clothing. I wonder what you have planned for him, Leni?"

Leni: "Plenty of ideas, Mandee. I really hope Marty will like them."

Jackie: "Maybe my little brother could play with him sometime, if Lori doesn't mind."

Lori: "Of course I won't mind, Jackie, just as long as I'm there to supervise."

Miguel: "Such a darling little baby, Lori. What do you think, Fiona?"

[Fiona looked at the baby for a few seconds before letting out a small smile.]

Fiona: "Not gonna lie, you guys, but Dana's right. He IS pretty cute."

Leni: "I'm super glad!"

[With that, Leni wrapped her arms around Fiona, who simply rolled her eyes. Miguel then leaned toward Bobby's ear and whispered into it.]

Miguel: "You know, Roberto, Fiona and I would be happy to tailor a suit for your wedding if you'd like."

[Bobby whispered back.]

Bobby: "Gracias, Miguel, but I think I'll take you word for it when I'm good and ready."

[Miguel could only nod in understatement as he knew that he didn't want to rush Bobby or Lori on their future, especially now that they needed time to adjust.]

[On the evening of the second day, Luna and Luan had brought their respective partners to see the baby. When Sam had her turn, she held the baby in her arms like she used to do with her little brother when he was a baby.]

Sam: "He really is a sweet thing, Lunes."

Luna: "What did I tell ya? Marty's a little bitty pretty one."

[Luna leaned her head against Sam's as she looked down at her nephew before touching the baby's cheek, making him smile.]

Sam: "You really know how to be a aunt, Luna."

[When it was Benny's turn, Luan showed her boyfriend how to hold the baby.]

Benny: "You must be so proud, Luan."

Luan: "Aunt I though?"

[Benny chuckled at his girlfriend's joke before the comedienne spoke again.]

Luan: "Why don't you lean over and give him a kiss?"

[Luan then playfully grabbed Benny's mouth with her hand and started squeezing his lips like a fish before speaking in a deeper voice.]

Luan: "Come here, little one. Let Uncle Benny give you a kiss."

[The baby giggled as his aunt played with the boy beside her. Benny then gave Marty a kiss on his forehead before Luan let him go.]

Luan: "I used to do this with Lincoln when he was a baby."

Benny: "I can definitely see why. You really know how to put a smile on a little baby's face."

Luan: "I know."

[Benny then leaned forward and kissed Luan on the lips.]

[Finally, on the third day, Lori and Marty were finally discharged from the hospital as was Lynn, who had been picked up by her family earlier in the day. Lori sat in a wheelchair and nuzzled her baby as Bobby wheeled her outside. On the way out, Bobby and Lori paid their hospital bills at the cashier's desk. When they finally exited the building, they saw their SUV in the parking lot, which was back in good condition. With Marty still in her arms, Lori got out of the wheelchair and sat in the passenger seat while Bobby took the wheel and drove out of the parking lot. The drive back to their apartment was pretty uneventful compared to everything that happened with Alex in the last three days.]

[As for Lynn, she would have to wear a splint on her hand for a few weeks, maybe even months. As a result, Lynn was not allowed to play anymore sports until she had made a full recovery. While she slept on the second day, she could've sworn that she heard Lisa say that she would invent something to help get her back on her feet.]

[As Bobby and Lori drove on, the new mother reflected on everything that happened during the last few days.]

Lori: "Those last three days were literally an experience, but I'll be glad to have some shred of decency when we get back home."

[Lori looked down at Marty and smiled.]

Lori: "And now that little Marty is with us, I think we may finally be starting that new chapter in our lives."

[Lori nuzzled her baby again and Bobby smiled as he took one short glance at his girlfriend and son.]

Bobby: "I know, Babe. I can hardly wait to see what lies ahead."

[When the family of three arrived back at Carlisle Park Apartments. Lori took the lead as she held Marty in her arms until she and Bobby reached their apartment door. Bobby noticed that the door was now fixed before taking the key and unlocking it.]

[As soon as Bobby opened the door, he and Lori were met with a surprise as the Loud Family, Ronnie Anne, the McBrides, Lincoln and Clyde's friend group and their families, Albert, Myrtle, Sam, the Ozmans, and even Deidre held a welcoming party for the new family. As Bobby looked around, the apartment looked spotless compared to what happened a few days ago, save for the confetti on the floor. There were also long tables set in the living room, some of them had pizzas that were ordered for the guests, and one table had a cake in the middle with the words "IT'S A BOY!" written in blue frosting.]

[Deidre's appearance had also changed during the last few days. The woman had washed her hair, which was now natural black, and cut it short.]

Lori: "What is going on here?!"

Lynn Sr.: "We just thought we'd give Marty a proper welcome. Plus, we also thought we'd fix the place up after your manager called us about the state it was in."

Nate: "You're most welcome, Bobby."

Bobby: "That's really great, you guys. Mucho gracias."

"Oooooh, there's the little guest of honor right now!"

[Myrtle walked over to Bobby and Lori as she eyed the blue bundle in Lori's arms while Albert followed her. Then she extended her hands before Lori handed Marty to the older woman. Myrtle held the baby in her arms and gave him a long kiss on his forehead before handing him back to his mother.]

Myrtle: "Thanks a bunch, Lori! Your Pop-Pop really meant it when he said that Marty was adorable."

Albert: "Thanks very much... But, you know what's equally great, you guys? When I returned to Sunset Canyon, I found out that the higher ups actually fired that blowhard Sue and had her banned from the premises."

Myrtle: "Oh, you should've seen how happy Scoots was, and boy did everyone party hard!"

Lori: "What about everyone else? Who's taking care of them now?"

Albert: "There's no need to worry about that. Sue's daughter has taken over as head nurse."

Bobby: "What's her name?"

Albert: "It's Sasha, and she used to work the front desk."

Myrtle: "She's a tough young woman, but pretty fair compared to her mother."

Albert: "I think this could be the beginning of a new dawn for everyone at Sunset Canyon."

Lori: "That's good to know. I literally don't know what went on back then, but maybe that's for the best."

Albert: "I wouldn't worry too much about it, honey. Sue can't control us anymore, not after she tried to shelter herself from that whole fiasco."

[Deidre, who had overheard the conversation, began to ponder about this Sue character.]

Deidre: "So... Whoever this Sue was, she was once employed at Sunset Canyon... I dunno what exactly happened over there, but I've got a funny feeling that I know that woman. I might need to talk to Rita about this soon."

Rita: "Hey, Dee!"

[Deidre snapped out of her thoughts as Rita approached her.]

Rita: "Aren't you going to say something to Lori?"

Deidre: "Of course, Reets. Lead the way."

[With that, the two women walked over to Lori side-by-side.]

Rita: "Lori, you remember my old friend from high school, don't you?"

Lori: "Yeah. Back on the highway a few days ago."

Deidre: "Hey there, you two. That's a cute lil' kid you have."

[Deidre looked down at Marty with a smile.]

Lori: "Thanks."

Deidre: "By the way; Say hello to your new neighbor. Apartment B2, right where Koch used to live."

[Lori and Bobby looked at Deidre in surprise.]

Rita: "Isn't that great?"

Lori: "That's good news, Mom. But..."

Rita: "Is something wrong, honey?"

Lori: "Oh no. It's nice that Deidre's living next door to us. But..."

[Lori then turned her attention to Deidre.]

Lori: "You won't mind the noise coming from our home, would you? We have a baby after all."

Deidre: "You kids let me worry about that. Besides... You'd have to have no soul to be mad at this little guy."

[Deidre leaned forward and tapped her index finger on Marty's nose, making the baby smile.]

Bobby: "That's muy understanding of you, Miss Deidre."

Deidre: "Hey, any friend and family of Rita's is my friend and family."

[Deidre leaned forward and tickled Marty's chin as she said this, making the baby giggle.]

Lynn Sr.: Speaking of family, we're just one person short."

[At that moment, there was a knock on the front door.]

Lynn Sr.: "That must be him now."

[Lynn Sr. walked over to the door and opened it to reveal Leonard, who was just catching his breath.]

Leonard: "Sorry I'm late, Lynnie. Traffic was like a school of bass."

[Lynn Sr. walked up to his father and the two men hugged each other.]

Lynn Sr.: "It's alright, Dad. I'm just glad you made it."

[As soon as Leonard entered the apartment, the Loud kids all ran over to their paternal grandfather and hugged him.]

Luna: "Good to see ya again, Gramps."

[Leonard chuckled.]

Leonard: "Same to all of you."

[Leonard then noticed Lori along with the baby in her arms before walking over to them.]

Leonard: "And there's the little minnow right there."

[Lori handed Marty to his paternal great-grandfather as the elder Loud held the baby in his arms and looked down at him with misty eyes.]

Leonard: "Hey there, little fella. I'm your great-gramps."

[Lynn Sr. walked next to his father and put his arm around him as he looked down at Marty.]

Lynn Sr.: "What did I tell ya, Dad? He's so cute that I even named my latest menu item after him."

[Leonard let out a soft chuckle when he heard what his son said before wiping his eyes.]

Leonard: "Just like the rest of the family."

[Bobby then slowly approached Leonard before introducing himself.]

Bobby: "I don't think we've been properly introduced, Senor Leonard. I'm Bobby."

[Bobby extended his hand to Leonard before the older Loud patriarch shook it.]

Leonard: "Pleased to meet you, kid! You did a real swell job giving me a great-grandchild."

Bobby: "A little earlier than expected, but thanks. Your granddaughter is such an amazing woman."

Luna: "Well, now that we have a full house, let's celebrate good times! Come on!"

[The party went on as anyone would expect. Lincoln did some of his party tricks that he did at Lori's party two years ago, making Marty giggle. Luna gave Bobby a new guitar after hearing about the loss of his old one and Bobby played music for his son. The baby liked watching his father's singing as he played his new instrument. A few minutes later, Lincoln, Clyde, and Ronnie Anne showed the baby to their three friends, who properly congratulated the white-haired boy and the young Latina.]

Liam: "He sure is a handsome lil' youngun."

Rusty: "Boy! I yell ya, all the girls in school will go nuts when they see you with the baby, Lincoln."

[Ronnie Anne tightly wrapped her arms around Lincoln as she scowled at Rusty and spoke to him through gritted teeth.]

Ronnie Anne: "Don't give him any ideas, Rusty!"

[Rusty raised his hands in defense.]

Rusty: "Woah, hey! I'm just kidding, Ronnie Anne! Chill!"

[Zach then leaned into Clyde's ear and whispered into it.]

Zach: "I think someone's a little jealous, wouldn't you say?"

Clyde: "Very likely."

[As all this is going on, Deidre was on the couch chatting with Zach's mother, who also used to be a part of Rita's high school friend group.]

Deidre: "I have to say, Alma, your son is quite a character."

[Alma let out a small chuckle.]

Alma: "You have no idea, Deidre."

Deidre: "So how have things been since I was away?"

Alma: "Well, this might be a little strange, but..."

[Alma leaned forward and whispered into Deidre's ear.]

Alma: "My husband and I have been on the lookout for aliens."

Deidre: "Right... Is Patty still around?"

[Alma nodded.]

Alma: "Oh yes. She's the lunch lady at Royal Woods Middle. Zach and his friends go to school there."

Deidre: "No kidding? Well, I'll be sure to pay Patty a visit when I take Clyde there."

Alma: "Clyde? The McBrides' son? Why is that?"

[Deidre looked left and right before she leaned forward and whispered into Alma's ear.]

Deidre: "I know this is sudden, but... I'm actually Clyde's mother."

[Alma's eyes widened when she heard this.]

Alma: "Really?"

Deidre: "Yep. I'm going to tell it to everyone very soon. I just hope that Clyde and his fathers handle the news well."

Alma: "I'm sure that Clyde and Harold will. But if you ask me, I think Howard will need plenty of time to process it when he finds out."

Deidre: "Right."

[Meanwhile, Lori was speaking with the Ozmans regarding what happened in the last three days. Leni, Luan, Lana, and Lisa stood nearby as they listened in on the conversation.]

Lori: "So, how bad was the damage?"

Mirah: "It was pretty bad, Lori, but nothing that your family couldn't handle."

Nate: "You should've seen how well your little sister in the overalls did."

Lana: "I managed to get your bathroom back in tip-top shape before you got back."

Leni: "And I was able to fix the crib and the stuffed animals, including Lola's bee."

Lori: "What about Blue Bear?"

[Blue Bear was Lori's stuffed toy from when she was little. She had passed the bear down to Marty before he was born since he would probably need it more than his mother did by now.]

Lisa: "I'm proud to say that your former security bear was out of harm's reach. It is as if the intruders barely even noticed it."

Luan: "I guess you could say that he was the BEAR minimum!"

[As usual, Luan laughed as nearly everyone else groaned.]

Luan: "Get it?"

Lori: "I do... But aside from that, I'm happy that Blue's okay."

"Hey, you two."

[Bobby and Lori looked over to see Albert and Deidre approaching them.]

Albert: "You mind joining me and Deidre for a bit?"

Lori: "Sure thing, Pop-Pop."

Bobby: "Talk to you later, Nate."

[Lori and Bobby followed Albert and Deidre over to the couch. Bobby and Lori sat on the left and middle cushions and Albert sat on the right while Deidre leaned on the arm rest next to Albert.]

Albert: "So how are you and Bobby enjoying the party?"

Lori: "It's nice. You guys didn't have to go through all this trouble."

Bobby: "Yeah, Mr. Booke and Miss Deidre."

Deidre: "It was Lynn Sr.'s idea, kids."

Albert: "I just wish that T-Bone could join us, but he's got his hands full taking care of some contract."

Bobby: "Contract?"

Albert: "What? Did you not hear? T-Bone's been exonerated and now he's got a new job in the bounty hunting department."

Deidre: "Al's right. From what I've heard, my former boss and his family had skipped town during the riots, so now he's T-Bone's first assignment for the R.W.P.D.. T will be handling things in his own way, of course. He'll be pretty busy, but he says he'll be dropping in from time to time to see how we're doing."

Albert: "Plus, I've made sure that it was part of his job to protect any of you from harm whenever he stops by... Free of charge, of course."

Lori: "That is literally wonderful news, you guys."

[As Deidre looked over the partygoers, particularly Clyde and his fathers, she noticed the boy looking over at her with curiosity. Knowing that she couldn't keep her secret anymore, coupled with the presence of Clyde's fathers, Deidre stood up, picked up a spoon and glass cup off the table, and tapped the spoon on the glass to get everyone's attention.]

Deidre: "Okay, everyone, gather 'round!"

[Everyone stopped and turned their attention towards Deidre. Lincoln was still holding Marty in his arms as he looked at Deidre while Clyde approached the woman.]

Deidre: "Thank you! Now I have something to say regarding Clyde McBride, and I've been putting it off for a few days since I returned to this town. But after careful consideration, I think now's the time to come clean."

[Deidre then looked down at Clyde as the boy looked back up.]

Deidre: "Now, Clyde, before I tell you everything, I want you to promise me that you will not freak out over it, and the same goes for your fathers. Can you do that?"

Clyde: "I guess so... I kind of have been anticipating what you were going to say since the LSR Incident. So whatever happens next, I'm ready for it."

[Deidre smiled for a bit before looking over at Harold and Howard.]

Deidre: "What about you, Mr. and Mr. McBride? Anything you wanna say before I start?"

[The two McBrides looked at each other before turning their attention back to Deidre.]

Howard: "We'll try to keep calm once you have your say, Miss Hayes."

[Harold put his hand over his husband's shoulder.]

Harold: "I'm right here for support, Howie. But in any case, Deidre... We're ready."

[Deidre then turned her attention to Rita.]

Deidre: "Rita?"

[Rita looked back towards her family before looking towards Deidre again.]

Rita: "I'm listening, and so is my family."

Deidre: "Alright then... Here it goes."

[Deidre took a deep breath before she began telling her story.]

Deidre: "It all started over 10 years ago, back when I was a detective in the Detroit Police Department..."

Flashback, 13 years ago...

[Deidre is sitting at a table in an interrogation room with another woman sitting across from her.]

Deidre: "I was in charge of interrogating a woman who had connections to a child trafficking ring, but when she got under my skin, I ended up shooting her dead."

[In a fit of rage, Deidre quickly got up from her chair and pulled out a gun before shooting the woman in the forehead as the scene cut to an apartment where an intoxicated and depressed Deidre sat on the couch being cared for by Palmer.]

Deidre: "I fell into a depressive state following that incident, but my handler at the time showed sympathy for me and tried to help. However, I was in such a drunken state that I took advantage of his kindness. Then one thing led to another and I ended up becoming pregnant."

[Deidre then kisses Palmer on the lips and they both start making out on the couch. The scene then cuts to Deidre in the bathroom as she looked at the pregnancy test she held in her hand and was shocked to see the lines meaning positive.]

Deidre: "When I told my handler about the pregnancy, he said that he had his own family to worry about and told me to keep it secret from the public eye. I didn't live in a very nice neighborhood at the time, and I had no one to help me, so I decided to give my child up for adoption as soon as he was born in the hopes that he'd live a better life."

[The scene then cuts to Deidre lying in a hospital bed as a nurse held an African-American baby in her arms before walking out of the room with him.]

Deidre: "Nine months later, I had given birth to a baby boy before the nurses took him away, but not before I took one brief glance at him."

[Deidre looked on at the nurse with tears in her eyes as she disappeared with the baby.]

[The scene then cuts to a large building with the sign St. Willow's Orphanage on the front as Deidre approaches it.]

Deidre: "My son was taken to the St. Willow's Orphanage and I stopped by day after day to see how they were treating him. They were very kind people."

[The scene cuts to Deidre inside the orphanage before approaching a nun.]

Deidre: "By the end of the first week, I went to the orphanage to learn that my son was no longer there. When I asked the nun who ran the place, she told me that he was adopted by two men and taken to their house in Royal Woods."

[Deidre stops by the McBride House and looks through the window to see the two men caring for the baby.]

Deidre: "I made my way to the address to check on my baby, and when I looked through the window... He was very happy in his surroundings. And as long as my child was safe, I knew that one day, I would have the chance to reunite with him."

[Deidre smiled with a tear in her eye as she watched her son being cared for by his new family as the flashback ends.]

Back in the present...

Deidre: "So, that's pretty much the short of it... The McBrides gave my son a happy life... Something that I wasn't able to do at the time. However... I was able to give my child a name before he was born... A name that all of you are familiar with..."

[Almost everyone was silent as they stared at Deidre. Howard's eyes were wide as he stared in shock. Leni was crying her eyes out over the story.]

Leni: "That was, like, so beautiful. Who knew that Clyde had a brother?"

[Lori put her arm on Leni's shoulder.]

Lori: "No, Leni. I think Miss Hayes means something else."

[Clyde's eyes were wide with surprise as he started piecing things together.]

Clyde: "So... the baby in your story... and my two dads... You don't suppose...?"

Howard: "It can't be..."

Rita: "Deidre... That baby..."

Lincoln: "Clyde, Miss Hayes...? Is she...?"

Deidre: "Yes... I was the one who gave the baby his name. Mr. McBrides; Your son... is in fact... He's my son."

[The whole room fell silent as everyone stared at Deidre with shock and awe. Howard was so overwhelmed by this news that he practically fainted in his husband's arms. Clyde continued to stare up at the woman with shock and surprise.]

Rusty: "Woah, man... Didn't see that coming."

Clyde: "So... you're actually my rea- *ahem* You're my biological mother?"

[Deidre smiled as she looked down at her son with tears forming in her eyes.]

Deidre: "That's right, sweetie. What do you think?"

[Clyde stood still for a few moments as he kept trying to process this new info.]

Clyde: "I... I don't know what to say. Why didn't my dads tell me about you?"

[Clyde then looked over at his fathers.]

Harold: "Because you never asked us about it, Clyde. We only found you at the orphanage, and even then we didn't know who really brought you into this world until now."

[Clyde looked at Deidre again as his eyes began to fill up with tears, feeling a mix of happiness and confusion.]

Clyde: "Mom... Is that really you?"

[Deidre nodded before getting down on one knee and putting her hands on Clyde's shoulders.]

Deidre: "Honey... I know it's been so long since I last saw you, and I know you must have a lot of questions about me, but I want to make up for all that lost time if you give me one chance. In the meantime... How about we start by hugging it out?"

[A smile formed on Clyde's face before he quickly hugged his newfound mother. Deidre then wrapped her arms around the McBride boy and rubbed his back. Lincoln smiled at the sight as did the rest of his family and the Santiago siblings.]

Clyde: "I can't believe you're here after all these years."

Deidre: "I can hardly believe it either, sweet pea... Oh, we have so much that we need to catch up on."

[Lincoln took one glance at the readers.]

Lincoln: "How do you like that? My best friend, reunited with his mother... Truly this is a day to remember, aside from Marty's birth, of course."

[Rita then got on one knee and put her arm around Lincoln before pulling him close to her.]

Rita: "Yes, Lincoln... I'm glad that you and Clyde are best friends, and that's one of the two things his mother and I have in common."

Lincoln: "That's good to know... And the other thing?"

Rita: "We both have wonderful sons and they both take after us."

[Rita then kissed her son on the forehead.]

Rita: "I love you, Lincoln."

Lincoln: "I love you too, Mom."

[After a few moments of hugging, Lincoln and Rita looked back at Clyde and Deidre before the mother of 11 let go of her only son and stood back up.]

Rita: "Well, I'm happy that you two finally found each other. I know what you did long ago was hard, but... Deidre, I'd really appreciate it if we could properly patch things up."

[Deidre looked at Rita as she wiped the tears from her own eyes. Then she let go of Clyde and stood back up as she faced Rita.]

Deidre: "For you, Rita Loud, anything. BAKAD for life?"

Rita: "BAKAD for life."

[With that, Rita and Deidre grabbed each other's hands before hugging it out over their rekindled high school friendship while their respective sons glanced at each other with smiles on their faces.]

Lincoln: "The same goes for us! Right, Clyde?"

Clyde: "You know it! Clincoln McCloud, brothers from different mothers!"

[Lincoln and Clyde gave each other a high five before putting their arms around each other.]

"Hey, don't leave me hanging, bros! Proud father of a new baby boy, remember?"

[Bobby walked behind Lincoln and Clyde and took a knee before wrapping his arms around the two boys. Lincoln then handed Marty back to his father and the young Latino scooped the baby in his arms before Lori stood beside him and kissed him on the cheek.]

[Once Rita and Deidre broke from their hug, Deidre looked over at Harold and Howard. The slender McBride man was mumbling as he slowly opened his eyes.]

Deidre: "Thank you both so much for looking after my son. I always knew he would be in good hands."

Harold: "It was our pleasure, ma'am. Seeing our Clyde reunite with his flesh and blood is truly a sight to behold."

[At that moment, Howard stood back on his feet and folded his arms as he glared at Deidre.]

Howard: "Yes... So happy that you're now in our son's life."

[Rita noticed the look on the slender McBride's face and grew concerned as did Clyde.]

Clyde: "Is something wrong, Dad?"

Rita: "You're not jealous of Deidre, are you, Howard?"

Howard: "No... What is there to be jealous of? It's just that... How long does she plan on staying?"

Deidre: "As long as I'm able to, Mr. McBride. I have a lot of catching up that needs to be done."

[Deidre tousled Clyde's hair affectionately.]

Rita: "And I'll be sure to bring her up to speed on everything that's been going on. After all, we have been pretty close in high school."

Deidre: "Don't I know it?"

Luna: "I kinda hate to cut this reunion short, and it was pretty sweet and all, but what say we get back to celebrating li'l Marty?"

[Howard sighed.]

Howard: "I guess you're right, Luna. We've already been through enough drama these past few days and we need a break."

Harold: "Thanks, Howie."

[And with that, everyone went back to the party. However, Howard still couldn't shake the feeling of concern for Clyde that had been lingering ever since he found out who Deidre was. A few minutes later, Harold found Howard in the kitchen watching Deidre and Clyde.]

Harold: "Are you feeling okay, Howie?"

Howard: "Harold, I know this may seem crazy, but I think I need to book an urgent appointment with Dr. Lopez soon."

Harold: "You're still worried about Deidre, aren't you? Howard, I understand your concern, but from what I've seen, Deidre doesn't have any ill-intent. After all, she did save our son from a terrifying experience."

Howard: "I know, and I'm thankful for it... But... I just don't want Clyde to end up being crushed if she ends up hurting him. What if he begins to rebel like with that ghost hunting show? What if he-"

[Harold grabbed his panicking husband's shoulders and looked him right in the eyes.]

Harold: "Howard, I have my concerns as well, but we can't just judge Deidre right now. From what I've seen, she seems really happy to have Clyde back in her life. Even Rita is happy to have her back. But all the same, Clyde is our son and he still loves us."

[Howard sighed.]

Howard: "I guess you're right, Hare-Bear. But still, as soon as we leave, we'll have to have a talk with Clyde on what might happen. He needs to be more aware of those circumstances."

[Harold knew that his husband still had his worries, but he knew it had to wait since the celebration of Marty's birth was still going on.]

Harold: "Good idea, Howie. I'm sure that Clyde will understand."

[With that, Harold kissed his husband's cheek.]

Meanwhile, at City Hall...

[Mayor Davis sat at her desk while the chief of police, Ferguson Marshall, stood by her. The older Caucasian man was in his early 60s, doughy and dressed like a typical police chief. He also had graying black hair on his balding head and a matching graying black mustache.]

[Just then, there was a knock on the door.]

Davis: "Come right in."

[The door opened and Castleton walked in.]

Castleton: "You wanted to see me, Madam Mayor?"

Davis: "Yes, Sergeant. Have a seat."

[Castleton approached the mayor's desk and immediately sat in the chair in front of it before Davis spoke again.]

Davis: "Your chief has told me all about your recent actions, and we couldn't be more proud of you. Thanks to you, order and peace have been restored to our town."

Marshall: "Sergeant Castleton, you did a fine ass job putting Santiago behind bars again. The people of Royal Woods are nearly finished picking up the pieces. Hopefully this'll be the last time that bastard tries this shit. And don't you worry. We've doubled our efforts to ensure that he doesn't attempt to escape again."

Castleton: "Yeah... But I couldn't save Joseph and Lang. They risked their own lives to try and save mine... and I let them down."

[Marshall frowned when he was reminded of Joseph and Lang's untimely demises.]

Marshall: "It's a shame what happened to them, really. They were good officers. But you shouldn't be blaming yourself for that. I'll be sending their families my regards."

Castleton: "I'd appreciate that, Sir."

Davis: "The chief and I have been talking, and we think you deserve a promotion and an accommodation for your efforts."

Marshall: "The mayor's right! Sergeant Ian Castleton, for what you have done in the line of duty, I hereby promote you to police lieutenant."

[Marshall reached into his pocket and pulled out a badge before showing it to Castleton. The police sergeant stared at the badge in the chief's hand and then at the mayor before giving his final answer.]

Castleton: "With all due respect, sir... I can't accept this..."

[Marshall's face fell when he heard what Castleton said.]

Marshall: "What do you mean you can't?"

Castleton: "I'm sorry... But after everything that's happened during Alex's attack, and especially what Koch did to protect me despite his past actions... I feel like I need to retire."

[Castleton took out his badge and put it on the mayor's desk.]

Marshall: "It's about Palmer, isn't it? Son, I heard about what happened to him and how he threw away his own career. Hell, that son of a bitch had me tied up in the station's basement during that whole attack! I'm very sorry that all of this had to happen. He was one of our most decorated officers, but he really didn't have to sell us out."

Castleton: "For what it's worth, Sir, I'd rather not talk about him."

Marshall: "Castleton, I know he was like a father to you, but he still needs to answer for his role in Santiago's scheme. Plus, with that new bounty hunter Bonneville on the search, we'll have him dealt with as soon as he's brought back to town."

[Marshall sighed as he looked away from Castleton.]

Marshall: "I expected this kind of shit from Kochner, but Palmer? And after over 30 years on the force, too... Just when you think you know somebody."

[Marshall then looked at Castleton again before clearing his own throat.]

Marshall: "My point is, you shouldn't let all of this get to you. You are a hero to this town. The people need somebody like you."

[Castleton looked down for a few moments before looking back at the chief.]

Castleton: "Thanks for trying, chief. But... I really need to be alone for a while. It's been a long week."

[And with that, Castleton stood up and took one last look at Mayor Davis before walking out of the office. All that Davis and Marshall could do was watch Castleton until he was out the doors.]

Davis: "That poor man."

Marshall: "He might be onto something, Madam Mayor. This town may be close to healing from its wounds, but it's going to take some time for Castleton to heal on his own... And I can't really say that I blame him."

[The mayor could only let out a sigh, knowing that Marshall had a point. With Palmer's betrayal and the deaths of Joseph and Lang, it was going to take some time for Castleton to fully recover from his experience.]

Meanwhile...

[The party ended at around 6:00 in the evening and everyone else left for their respective homes (In Leonard's case, back to his boat). As soon as the McBrides were outside, they all got in their minivan with Harold doing the driving, Howard in the passenger seat, and Clyde sitting in the back. Once everyone was seated, Harold pulled out of the parking lot and drove back to their house. On the way there, Howard spoke to Clyde.]

Howard: "Clyde honey? Can I ask you something?"

[Clyde looked over at his slender father.]

Clyde: "Yeah, Dad?"

Howard: "What is your honest opinion of... your mother?"

Clyde: "Well... After hearing her backstory and the circumstances behind her leaving me, I think she wants to be a part of the last six years of my childhood."

Howard: "I see... And where does this leave me and your father?"

Harold: "Howie!"

Howard: "Sorry, Harold."

Clyde: "Don't worry, Dads. This won't change who I'm living with until I reach adulthood."

[Howard started tearing up again, but tried to stay strong through the conversation.]

Harold: "Well, your father and I have been talking about Deidre, and we probably think that you should keep an open mind about her."

Clyde: "What do you mean?"

Howard: "We're happy that you finally got to meet your mother in person, but you are aware that she has...anger issues, don't you?"

Clyde: "You mean when she attacked those women outside Mr. Santiago's hideout? I think she was trying to protect me, even though I didn't know who she really was at the time."

Howard: "We are aware of that. But if she does anything...hurtful to you, you come to us. We just don't think you should be rushing into this whole thing, especially with someone with a checkered past."

Harold: "That doesn't mean we'll be quick to judge her just yet. We will be allowing you to visit her every so often for your sake and vice versa, but just remember to keep an open mind. You understand?"

Clyde: "Don't worry about it, Dads. I'm going to let things run its course. Besides, it'll be a good chance to know more about my mother."

Howard: "We understand, Clyde. We just don't want you to end up disappointed or heartbroken if Deidre turns out to not be who she says she is."

Clyde: "Yeah, I know you guys are looking out for me, but I still should see for myself if Deidre's worthy of being my mother, if that's okay."

[Howard started getting emotional and looked over at his husband.]

Howard: "Look at our son taking the initiative, Hare-Bear. He's really growing fast."

[With that, Howard buried his face in his hands and started weeping.]

That night...

[At around 8:00 that night, Bobby and Lori came into the nursery as the blonde held a sleepy Marty in her arms.]

Bobby: "What a celebration that was."

Lori: "Yeah... But it was literally exhausting. I need some sleep as much as Bumblebee does."

[Bobby pulled Lori close as he rubbed his face against hers.]

Bobby: "We ALL do, Babe."

[Lori approached the crib and put her son in it before covering most of him with his blanket. Then she gave her blue teddy bear to the baby for him to sleep with.]

Lori: "Good night, sweetie. I love you."

[Lori then kissed Marty's forehead before taking a few steps back. Bobby then leaned over and gently rubbed his son's head.]

Bobby: "Buenos noches, hijo. And dulces sueños. Sweet dreams."

[Bobby then turned on the mobile before he and Lori quietly left the room and carefully shut the door behind them. After that, the two young parents went to their room and got into bed. As they laid in bed, Bobby smiled as he looked into Lori's loving eyes.]

Bobby: "Can you believe it, Lori? We have a nice home all to ourselves, and we have a child of our own."

Lori: "I know, Boo-Boo Bear... Literally amazing... Could our lives get any better from here?"

[Bobby put his hand on Lori's cheek as he continued to stare into her eyes.]

Bobby: "I guess we'll find out soon, Babe. Just close your eyes."

[Lori did so as she and Bobby leaned closer until their lips locked with one another. Lori then wrapped her arms around Bobby as they made out. Bobby then rolled onto his back and Lori was now on top of him as they both continued to show their love to each other. This went on for a few minutes before both of them were about ready to sleep. Lori laid right beside Bobby as she fluttered her eyes.]

Lori: "Good night... Papa Bear."

Bobby: "Oh, Babe... I love it when you call me that. Do you mind if I call you Mama Bear?"

[Lori giggled as she snuggled up to Bobby and rubbed her index finger on his chest.]

Lori: "You can call me anything you like, Daddy."

[And just like that, Lori gave her boyfriend one more kiss on the cheek before closing her eyes and drifted off to sleep. Bobby then put his arm around his sleeping girlfriend as he closed his eyes and went to sleep as well.]

A few hours later...

[Bobby and Lori were sleeping soundly in their bed when the unmistakable crying of an infant was heard from the next room. Lori groaned as she slowly opened her eyes and sat up in bed. She and Bobby expected something like this on their first day of parenthood, as with many first-time parents.]

Lori: "Of course there literally has to be a wake-up call this late."

[Lori then got out of bed and made her way to the nursery to tend to her son's needs.]

Lori: "Coming, sweetie!"

[Lori walked into the nursery and approached the crib before she leaned over and lifted her crying son out of it.]

Lori: "Mommy's right here, little one."

[Lori then sat on the rocking chair and started rocking her son.]

Lori: "Shhh, shhh... There, there, little bumblebee. It's alright."

[After a few minutes of rocking in the chair and humming to her baby as she rubbed his head, Marty had finally calmed down and fell back asleep. Lori stood back up and put the sleeping baby back in his crib along with the blue bear. She then left the room and shut the door as quietly as she could before getting back into bed with Bobby.]

[Bobby and Lori had managed to get another hour of sleep before they heard Marty crying again. This time, Bobby was the one to get up.]

Bobby: "I got it, babe. You just try and get some more sleep."

[Bobby then got out of bed and walked to the nursery. As soon as he approached the door, he was so tired that he bumped into the doorway.]

Bobby: "Ow!"

[Bobby put his hand over his forehead, rubbing the spot that hit the doorway. It took a few seconds for Bobby to regain his composure before he opened the door to the nursery and walked in.]

Bobby: "Hey there, son... I'm here. Now, what seems to be the-"

[Bobby leaned over the crib and was about to pick up Marty when he caught a whiff of something foul coming from the baby before grimacing.]

Bobby: "Yep... That must be what's troubling you."

[With that, Bobby lifted Marty out of the crib and carried him over to the changing table. The baby stopped crying and looked up at his daddy as he removed the dirty diaper and dropped it in the trash can.]

Bobby: "I used to do this with your Tía Ronalda when she was your age."

[Bobby then got the baby powder off the shelf and powdered Marty's lower regions, then he got a fresh diaper and put it on the baby.]

Bobby: "That should do it. Now just a little more on your cheeks."

[Bobby put more powder on his hands before gently patting Marty's cheeks. The baby then let out a tiny sneeze and Bobby chuckled before picking him up again.]

Bobby: "There we go, mijo... All clean. Hopefully this'll be the last mess you make for tonight."

[After rubbing his nose against Marty's and making him giggle, Bobby put the baby back in his crib as he fell back asleep. Bobby gently patted his sleeping son's head before quietly leaving the room.]

Two hours later, in Apartment B2...

[Deidre laid in her bed as she had her hands over her ears to block out the shrill cries of an infant coming from next door. She had heard it two times earlier and tried to tune it out, but she could still hear the baby's wails through the walls.]

Deidre: "Damn... I know Reets' grandkid is a little angel and all, but who'd have thought he'd be so loud?"

[Deidre then went through her end table drawer and took out a pair of Noise-B-Gone earbuds before putting them in her ears as the baby's cries were then replaced by the sounds of the ocean.]

Deidre: "There... Much better."

[Deidre shut her eyes and sighed with relief before peacefully going back to sleep.]

[Back in Apartment B3, Lori came into the nursery once again to tend to her crying son. She approached the crib and lifted her baby out of it before looking down at him.]

Lori: "You're hungry, aren't you, Bumblebee?"

[Lori then lowered one of the straps of her nightgown and exposed one of her breasts before Marty latched onto it and began to feed. Lori smiled warmly as she nursed her son before sitting down on the rocking chair again.]

Lori: "Such a good boy."

[After about a minute of breastfeeding, Lori patted Marty's back and the baby let out a small burp before falling asleep on his mother's shoulder.]

Lori: "There... All better."

[Lori got off the chair before putting the baby back in his crib. Lori then started rubbing Marty's head gently as she spoke to him again.]

Lori: "Now, please try and get some more sleep, Sweetie. Your daddy and I need enough to start our day."

[Then she quietly left the room and carefully shut the door once again before returning to bed, hoping that she and Bobby can have some peace and quiet until morning.]

[Another hour had passed before the crying started once again. Lori groaned and put her pillow over her head in a thin attempt to block out the noise while Bobby got up and sat on the edge of the bed.]

Lori: "I swear, this is literally the fourth time tonight. And I thought that Mrs. Bernardo was just exaggerating."

Bobby: "Don't worry about it, babe. I'll handle it."

[And just like that, Bobby got out of bed and made his way to the nursery, trying his best not to bump into any walls this time. When he got to the nursery, he walked over to the crib and picked up his crying son before he started walking around the room with him.]

Bobby: "Boy, you're really keeping you mami and I up all night, are you? You've had your diaper changed, you've been fed... How about I sing to you? Huh? Maybe my soothing voice can help you get back to Dreamland?"

[Bobby began singing a lullaby in Spanish as he cradled Marty while walking around the house for a few minutes. It was that same lullaby he sang to Lily while he and Ronnie Anne were living in the Loud House, the very same one his mother used to sing to him when he was younger. The sound of Bobby's voice was enough to lull his son. When Bobby arrived in the living room, he had finished his lullaby and looked down at Marty to see that he was now fast asleep. Bobby then sat on the couch, feeling too exhausted to take Marty back into the nursery or to go back to bed with Lori. He then looked down at the sleeping baby and smiled.]

Bobby: "Finally... You know, Marty... For a little one...you sure take...after...your...mama..."

[And with that, Bobby laid on his back on the couch and fell asleep. Marty rested on his father's chest as he continued sleeping while his father's hand rested on the baby's back. Bobby had no idea it would happen, but despite some of the sleep he lost, he had both of his loved ones lay with him on the same night.]

Dream...

[Deidre sat at the edge of a beach as she stared at the night sky. The full moon shone over the waves as Deidre basked in its beauty with the breeze blowing against her hair.]

"So, how's life been treating you?"

[Deidre turned her head to the left and saw Vee standing beside her before frowning.]

Deidre: "Great... What did I do this time?"

[Vee sat down next to Deidre on the sand before she spoke again.]

Vee: "I'll tell you what you did, Dee. You finally owned up to your past misdeeds. You told Rita everything and she forgave you, then you told your son the truth, and he reunited with you. I'm honestly impressed."

Deidre: "And... Your point is?"

Vee: "My point is, and I don't want to sound like some talking beetle or anything, but... You've let your conscience be your guide. And as far as I can tell, this is a good start for you."

Deidre: "Thanks, I guess. You've really changed your tone."

Vee: "Don't thank me just yet, Dee. There's still lots to do now that you've settled back in home sweet Royal Woods."

Deidre: "We've been over this already... But what's next?"

Vee: "Well, I got to thinking ever since Alex Santiago's rampage. From what I could observe, your old pal Rita has a family of 11 kids now... 13 if you count her eldest daughter's boyfriend and his sister. And after what that big fuckwit Alex tried to pull on the town, I think it might be a good idea to lend a helping hand or two to Rita and her fam. Especially the family that Lori and her boyfriend had just started."

Deidre: "You mean... act as some sort of nanny to Reets' family and her new grandbaby?"

Vee: "Nanny, babysitter, guardian, call it what you want. But I'm sure you'll figure it out after a good night's sleep."

Deidre: "Well, it'll take some getting used to, but I get your point."

Vee: "As you should...but you'd certainly be a better candidate than the other woman."

[Deidre raised an eyebrow at Deidre.]

Deidre: "What are you talking about? What other woman?"

Vee: "Someone from your childhood, that's all I can say right now... But I get the feeling you'll find out who it is soon enough..."

[Vee stood back up before looking down at Deidre.]

Vee: "Anyway, I better let you go for now. You have yourself a good night, and I'm sure you'll figure out what to do in the morning."

Deidre: "Fair enough, I guess... Good night, Vee."

Vee: "Nighty-night, Deidre-mite!"

[And with a snap of Vee's fingers, everything faded to white.]

The next day...

[At around 8:00 A.M., Bobby and Lori came into the kitchen looking very exhausted. Both of them had bags under their eyes and their hair was a mess. Lori started making coffee for both her and Bobby while the young man sat at the table with Marty in his arms.]

Lori: "I never knew taking care of a baby would literally be this hard..."

Bobby: "I know... Back then, we had supervision. I just wish Jill was still around."

Lori: "Yeah... Lisa did a good job creating and maintaining her. Makes me wonder how she would've handled Marty if Alex hadn't tried to screw things up again."

Bobby: "Me too... This whole parenthood thing is quite a challenge... Though, it IS quite rewarding, to be fair."

[Lori gave a small smile to Bobby.]

Lori: "True... I saw you both on the couch last night. It was literally an adorable sight."

[Lori sighed as her smile faded.]

Lori: "It's just a shame I didn't have my phone with me."

Bobby: "Yeah, that would've been a sweet memory. Maybe next time."

[By that time, the coffee had finished brewing. As Bobby stood up and put Marty in his bassinet, Lori poured some coffee in her mug before pouring the rest into Bobby's mug. She then took Bobby's mug and handed it to him before taking her own mug and joining Bobby at the table. As they were halfway finished with their coffee, Bobby spoke to Lori.]

Bobby: "Then again... Maybe we do need a little bit of help with the baby."

Lori: "Bobby, I appreciate what you're suggesting, but let's see if we can manage for the day..."

Bobby: "Alright... I just wanted to try and make our lives a little bit easier."

[Once they had finished their coffee, Bobby left for work at his job at Lynn's Table while Lori stayed at home with Marty. It was going to be a pretty long day for the new mother, but she might as well make the best of it until Bobby got back.]

Later, at Lynn's Table...

[Business at Lynn's Table has been going strong since its establishment months ago. In honor of his grandson's birth, Lynn Sr. had added Spinach & Marty-choke Dip to the appetizer's section of the menu and people were enjoying it.]

[During the tenth hour, Bobby was going around waiting on tables and taking orders at the restaurant. However, due to the lack of sleep from last night, he ended up either giving orders to the wrong customers or dropping food and beverages, which led to a few complaints.]

[During lunch break, Bobby was chatting with Grant and Kotaro in the kitchen.]

Grant: "Pretty rough start for you, huh Bobby?"

Bobby: "You're telling me, Grant... The baby's been keeping me and Lori up last night. I could hardly keep up with the orders."

Kotaro: "Well, I've never had any kids of my own, so it's kind of hard to understand where you're coming from. Maybe you should speak to Chef Lynn about this."

Bobby: "I don't know, Kotaro... I don't want to come off as needy."

Kotaro: "I'm sure he'll understand, Bobby. After all, he IS your son's grandfather."

Bobby: "I know that, but..."

[Just then, the door to Lynn Sr.'s office opened and the patriarch of the Louds spoke.]

Lynn Sr.: "Bobby, could you come into my office, please? I want to have a word with you."

[Bobby complied and followed Lynn Sr. into the office.]

Lynn Sr.: "Having a little trouble with work, I take it?"

Bobby: "I'm so sorry about this, Lynn. Lori and I hardly had any sleep last night with the baby."

[Lynn Sr. stood up and put his hand on the young man's shoulder.]

Lynn Sr.: "It's alright, Son. Rita and I have had our fair share of restless nights whenever our babies are concerned. It's all a big part of parenthood and all we can do is make the best of it. But, if you would like to take a little break, I won't stop you from doing so. Kotaro can handle the rest of your duties."

Bobby: "Thanks, but I need to be able to provide for my family. I can handle a few more hours of waiting tables until my shift's over."

Grant: "Now that's some dedicated parenting right there, Bobby! Especially at your age!"

[Grant had been watching through the door while it was cracked open.]

Bobby: "Thanks, Grant!"

Lynn Sr.: "I think you should get ready for the next shift, Grant! I got things handled here!"

Grant: "Understood, Sir!"

[With that, Grant shut the door again.]

Lynn Sr.: "He's not wrong, you know? But all the same, the man of the house needs some time for his family."

Bobby: "I know, but..."

Lynn Sr.: "Tell you what, Bobby. You can head home right now and take the rest of the day off. No need to worry about your salary being cut. As of right now, you'll be working here from Nine to Noon. Sound good?"

[Bobby thought for a bit before giving a smile to the father of his girlfriend.]

Bobby: "Gracias, Sir. I really appreciate the offer."

[Bobby extended his hand to Lynn Sr., and the patriarch of the Louds gladly took it.]

Lynn Sr.: "Hey, anything for my grandson, and the father of my grandson. Family is what matters, after all."

[And with that, Bobby collected his pay from Lynn Sr. and started to leave the office. And as Bobby approached the door, Lynn Sr. spoke.]

Lynn Sr.: "If you and Lori need any help with Marty, just let us know!"

Bobby: "I'll keep that in mind!"

[As soon as he was out of the office, Bobby walked through the kitchen where Kotaro was waiting before the man walked beside him.]

Kotaro: "What did I tell you, Bobby? If Lynn Loud Sr. ain't a family man, I don't know who is."

Bobby: "You sure you have everything under control from here, Kotaro?"

Kotaro: "I got everything handled from here, Bobby. You just enjoy your time off and make sure your family is satisfied."

Bobby: "Gracias, Kotaro. Take care!"

[Bobby went outside before returning home. For the rest of the shift, Kotaro managed to handle things at the restaurant without Bobby despite a few hiccups.]

12:30 that afternoon...

[Bobby parked the SUV in its usual spot before getting out and shutting the door. He then made his way up the stairs to the second floor before reaching Unit B3, where he heard the familiar cries of his infant son coming from behind the door. Bobby took the key out of his pocket, used it to unlock the door, and walked in to find a very exhausted Lori with a crying Marty in her arms. Upon looking at his girlfriend, Bobby noticed that her blonde hair was a complete mess compared to earlier.]

Bobby: "Hey, Babe. How were things while I was away?"

[Lori simply shot Bobby an angry glare.]

Bobby: "I guess that was a pretty dumb question... Forget I said that. I think I better give you a break now."

[Lori sighed and handed Marty over to his father before walking over to the couch and sitting on it. While Bobby went into the nursery with Marty, Lori picked up the remote and turned on the TV. Channel 3 News was on and newsman Tucker was just giving a report on the aftermath of the LSR's attack on Royal Woods.]

Tucker: "With the new charges in the aftermath of the attack, it appears that Alex Santiago will now be eligible for execution by the state of Ohio. Preparations are underway and the death penalty will be announced when his time comes. Until then, Santiago will be kept under strict watch and maximum security. In other related news, Captain Warren Palmer of the R.W.P.D. has been apprehended in a diner in Hazeltucky by bounty hunter Terrance Bonneville and is being taken back to Royal Woods where he will serve jail time. Palmer had been secretly involved in Santiago's attack on our town and is expected to testify against him in the coming weeks. More on that after these messages."

Lori: "Good... I literally hope that'll be the end for that bastard this time."

[Lori then looked in the direction of the nursery. By that time, the crying had ceased, much to Lori's relief. As she looked back at the TV, Lori started thinking about her baby.]

Lori: I really hope Marty doesn't ever have to know the truth about Alex. Not while he's still so young, at least. But if we have to tell him, hopefully in his teen years, Bobby and I will have to think about the best way of doing so without upsetting him.

[At that moment, Bobby came out of the nursery and walked behind the couch. Bobby then leaned forward and started to massage his girlfriend's shoulders, making her sigh with bliss.]

Bobby: "So, how are you enjoying your break?"

Lori: "Thank you, Boo-Boo Bear. I'm sorry about earlier. It's been really stressful taking care of so much around the house... Especially the baby."

Bobby: "It's fine, Babe. It happens to all of us."

Lori: "I know. But, I also know that we're not alone in this."

[Bobby let out a small chuckle at his girlfriend's words.]

Bobby: "I'm glad you think so. Your father let me get off work around lunch hour so I could help you out, and he let me keep my pay."

Lori: "Well, you are a part of his family in a way."

Bobby: "I know. It's great to have family in high places."

[Once Bobby had finished massaging, he sat next to Lori on the couch before putting his arm around her and pulling her close as they watched the news. After about a minute, Lori spoke up.]

Lori: "So, Bobby... I've been doing some thinking about what you said at breakfast, and you might have a point. Maybe we do need a little help in raising our child. But I don't know if I'm ready to have my family watch him. The book says that the baby should still be with their parents for at least a few more weeks before they can be left with any of his relatives."

Bobby: "Well, what can we do until then?"

[Lori thought for a moment before something came to her.]

Lori: "I think we need to hire a nanny or a nurse or something. Just enough to last us for a week at least."

Bobby: "Sounds like a plan. You just take care of posting that ad while I do the rest of the housework."

Lori: "And Marty?"

[Bobby leaned his head on Lori's shoulder and put his hands over hers.]

Bobby: "You just leave him to me, Babe. You deserve the rest of the day off."

[Bobby gave Lori a kiss on the lips before getting off the couch to take care of the chores. Lori smiled with a blush before getting off the couch and going into the bedroom.]

[As soon as she entered, Lori got her laptop before laying on the bed to set it up and work on the ad. As she was working, she got a video call from Rita. Lori answered the call as her mother appeared on the screen. The matriarch of the Louds was sitting on the living room couch at the Loud House as she looked at Lori through her laptop screen.]

Rita: "Hi, honey! How are things with the baby?"

Lori: "It's been pretty stressful. But I guess that's literally to be expected on the first days of parenthood."

Rita: "Don't I know it? So, how is Bobby doing?"

Lori: "Bobby's taking care of everything around the house for the rest of the day and here I am having some time off. Trust me, I literally need it."

Rita: "That's good to hear. Your father told me that he gave Bobby the rest of the day off work after lunch."

Lori: "I know, Mom."

Rita: "And he also told me that Kotaro handled things pretty well without Bobby."

Lori: "That's good. I'm sure he and Grant are doing a good job."

Rita: "So, what else has been going on with you?"

Lori: "I was just working on a job opening for a nurse. Bobby and I still need a little extra help with the baby this week."

Rita: "That's nice, dear, but are you sure? We could come over and give you kids a hand if you like. Besides, I'm sure Marty would like to see his Grannie come over."

Lori: "I appreciate the thought, Mom, but no thanks. Bobby and I want to wait a few more weeks before we let you babysit Marty. We've read about it in the book."

[Rita let out a small sigh of disappointment.]

Rita: "I understand, Honey. I know that parenthood is tough, but just remember that your family is right here when you need them."

Lori: "Yeah, I know. You'll be seeing Marty again soon, though. I promise."

[Rita smiled as she heard that little reminder from her eldest daughter. Just then, the familiar sounds of the twins bickering came from Rita's end, prompting the mother of 11 to turn her head to the noise for a few moments before looking back at the screen.]

Rita: "Well, I better go now. The twins are having another argument. There's no rest for motherhood."

Lori: "Okay, Mom! Take care! And tell the others I said hello!"

Rita: "Alright, Honey! Just don't be strangers! Bye!"

[And with that, the video screen disappeared and Lori went back to work on the ad. She and Bobby needed the help to get them through the week and they had to hope that somebody would answer. They also had to hope that this person was also good with children, especially babies.]

[But little would Bobby and Lori know that the ad may pose more of a problem than they would realize.]

Meanwhile...

[Sue was all by herself in her apartment bedroom as she sat at her desk looking through her social media account on her computer. Her account had been flooded by hate messages ever since she got fired from Sunset Canyon following the attack from Alex's bikers. The recently unemployed woman was no longer wearing her nurse's uniform and was currently wearing a white T-shirt along with blue jeans and brown loafers. As Sue kept looking through the messages, she banged her fist on the desk in annoyance.]

Sue: "The nerve of those people! After everything I've done to ensure their safety, everything I have done to make sure that place doesn't go under, they blab to the police?! I'm not heartless! Don't they even know that I'm a caring person?!"

[Sue then put her hand on her forehead as she began to take deep breaths. After taking a few moments to calm herself, Sue looked at a photo of her young adult daughter that was sitting on the desk beside the computer. She was once the secretary of Sunset Canyon, but has now taken her mother's position as head nurse of the home following her firing. Her anger slowly turned to sadness as she stared at the photo.]

Sue: "Oh, Sasha... Why can't you understand why I did what I did? You didn't have to cut me off like that."

[Sue's anger returned when her mind returned to one of her patients, as well as those associated with him.]

Sue: "Damn that Albert Booke for putting me in this position! And damn his friends and family too! It's all their fault that I'm out of a job!"

[Sasha was among the staff that was being held hostage by the bikers. After Sunset Canyon was secured by the police, she refused to say a single word to her mother and walked out of the building.]

Sue: "I swear, if that white-haired old CIA spook hadn't shown up, I'd still be running Sunset Canyon as normal! But now I can't walk within 15 feet of that place without the risk of getting sued, and it's all because of Albert, his meddlesome grandson, and the rest of those... those... THOSE WRETCHED LOUDS!"

[As Sue finished her rant, she lowered her head and breathed for a few seconds before looking through the computer again with a sulk. She wanted to get even with the Loud Family, but she didn't know how.]

[As she continued looking, Sue then noticed an ad for a nurse. Out of curiosity, she looked over and saw that it was from one Lori Loud. She had seen that name before while going through Albert's family history back when she still worked at Sunset Canyon, and she knew that Lori was still pretty young to be having a child.]

Sue: Wait a minute... That's the eldest child of the Loud Family, isn't it...? I didn't believe what Albert said about her being pregnant months ago, but... I guess he wasn't just crying wolf after all. Still though, that stuck-up teen brat can't take care of a baby... Especially since that whole biker fiasco was all her fault in the first place! If that baby was mine, I'd show them a thing or two about parenting!

[As Sue continued to look over the ad, an idea formed in her head as she stroked her chin in thought. Finally, Sue smacked her head as realization struck.]

Sue: "That's it! If I get this temp nurse job for Lori and her boyfriend, I can take care of their baby myself! And then everyone will be sure to forget all about this biker nonsense, especially Sasha. I'll be able to show my face in public again if they see my sweet and nurturing side. This job is my one-way ticket back to normalcy, and by God I'll take it!"

[Sue then clicked on the ad and filled in all the info she made up. Once her application for the job was filled out, she submitted it.]

Sue: "And done! That should convince those kids that I'm perfect for the job! They'll never know what hit them."

[Sue leaned back in her chair and rested her legs on the desk, feeling content with her plan.]

Sue: "I'd say that Susan Shrood is still motherly material... Especially compared to a teen girl who couldn't keep her legs closed. Oh yes... I can take care of the precious little darling... Even if I have to keep him for myself..."

[Sue let out a small chuckle as she was still lost in thought. Whatever she was planning with Bobby, Lori, and their newborn child, it was probably not going to be very good.]

With Rita and Deidre officially becoming friends again and with Deidre reuniting with Clyde, her long-lost son, this story would've come to a close. However, there are still a few loose ends starting with Sue, who is ready to take on the job as temp nurse for Lori and Bobby. But just what exactly is Sue planning to do? Is Castleton really stepping down from the force? And just how will Deidre help protect Lori and Bobby's family? We'll just have to wait and see.

MoreABoutThomas: We'll see how things turn out.

boygenius2020: Yep.

Gamelover41592: Thank you.

Geo Soul: I neither confirm nor deny.

Batdude365: Most people in Royal Woods will probably be more concerned about Alex and his crimes. Some of the Loud family's friends might as well, but they probably won't forget the fact that Lori's baby is here.

Guest: We'll see.

wollyworld: Thank you.

tylerdunkley82: We'll see where things go from here.

alexloud808: Well, as I said before. Whatever trauma Alex has experienced as a child, it does not excuse his actions in the present.

DarthWill3: Not sure if Lynn's career will be ruined completely.

Guest 2: We'll see.

Guest 3: Indeed he is.

Guest 4: If you mean epilogue, it's coming real soon.

Ellis97: They'll be raising Marty, of course.