Disclaimer: I do not own The Loud House, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
A big family gets even bigger
Chapter Eleven: Mourning Pains
It was the day after the Santiagos got back from Great Lakes City, and Lori was leading her younger sisters Luan, Lynn, Lola, and Lisa over. They were all carrying various foodstuffs. "I literally can't believe that dad would just blab about what happened to Bobby's family rather than let Bobby and his folks cover explaining what happened," Lori said, "It would have been better if they explained everything in a controlled setting."
"Daddy... daddy said that a bunch of relatives of Bobby's and Ronnie Anne's were killed," Lola said with a worried look, "And that the big traffic accident in Great Lakes City a while ago is to blame. What all happened exactly?"
"I think that we ought to do as Lori said and let Bobby and his folks explain," Lynn replied.
Nodding once in agreement, Lori said, "Thank you, Lynn." The Loud sisters walked up to the front door of the Santiago residence and knocked, but the sisters aside from Lori were surprised when Lincoln answered the door.
"Lincoln?" Lola said, "What are you doing here?"
"I along with Stella, Sid, and Astrid are all over to try and make Ronnie Anne feel better," Lincoln said, "We'll inform the guys in our friend group about the details later. But right now Ronnie Anne needs all the support and love that can be given, and no way will I not be there for Ronnie Anne."
The Loud sisters were touched by how dedicated Lincoln was to Ronnie Anne. Lincoln then waddled to the side inside of the Santiago residence in order to let in the Loud sisters. When they entered and the door closed behind them, Lori said, "We brought some stuff for my Boo-Boo Bear and his family. Where can we put it?"
"On the dining table where the stuff Aggro and Allison brought is at," Lincoln replied, "Allison already left, but Aggro is still here. He and Bobby are best friends, also Aggro has proven surprisingly great at making Carlitos calm down."
Lola arched a wry eyebrow. "Carlitos?"
"That's the name of Bobby's and Ronnie Anne's toddler little cousin," Lori explained, "Carlitos and his older sister Carlota had to move from Great Lakes City to Royal Woods due to literally losing the rest of their family in that horrific traffic accident in Great Lakes City."
As the Loud sisters made their way into the Santiago residence, they spotted Aggro sitting cross legged on the floor, his arms folded over his chest and his head nodded forward a bit as he had fallen asleep. A male Hispanic toddler of at most two years of age, with a tuft of orange hair on his head, and he wore only a white t-shirt and red shorts, was asleep in Aggro's lap, leaning against the male Ace twin.
When the Loud sisters made it to the dining table, they saw a crying female Hispanic teen about the same age as Bobby and Lori sitting next to Bobby as he tried to console her. The Hispanic teen girl had black hair in a ponytail, and she wore a sleeveless dress of greenish blue. She also had a mildly thick body, but she was nowhere near the level of plumpness of the Alverson siblings. Lynn felt that the Hispanic teen girl weighed less than most any of the Alverson siblings except Lily and maybe Lana as well.
Lori and her sisters got the attention of Bobby and the Hispanic teen girl when they had set the foodstuffs they brought over onto the table. "Bobby, Carlota, how's it going?" Lori asked.
Bobby unlike the now identified Carlota wasn't crying, but his expression was still resigned. "We're still trying to come to terms with the fact that we lost four members of our extended family all at once," Bobby said, "It's especially tough for Carlota here because she lost her parents and two of her younger brothers."
"She looks like she's into fashion," Luan said, "I bet she'd get along swimmingly with Leni."
Carlota sniffled a bit. "Y-Yeah, Bobby told me about his best friend's girlfriend. She sounds like she knows fashion inside and out."
"If you don't mind sharing," Lynn began, "Do you know what caused that car crash in Great Lakes Ci-"
"Racism."
Lynn stopped short when Carlota bitterly spat out the word. "One of the gangs in Great Lakes City was chasing a Latino woman, who got into her car and drove away as quickly as possible. She in her haste and panic to flee that gang caused the massive traffic accident that killed my parents as well as my little brothers CJ and Carl." Gesturing to herself, Carlota said, "I only survived because I was at home at the time, looking after Carlitos who was sick."
"My apologies," Lisa began, "But how does racism of all things play a part in all of this?"
Looking to Lori's little sisters, Bobby said, "Things for the Latino community over in Great Lakes City... ain't exactly good right now. The other races hold the Latinos more or less wholly responsible for everything going wrong in Great Lakes City. It's the main reason my grandparents moved from Great Lakes City to Royal Woods and my Grandpa Hector reopened his bodega here, they didn't wanna deal with that racially driven hostility."
"From what Bobby told me," Lori said, "There's a total of four gangs that are committed to carrying out hate crimes against the Latino community in Great Lakes City. Three Latino gangs formed as a result of the four original gangs literally being racists, the three Latino gangs work primarily to fend off the four original gangs and protect Great Lakes City's Latino community."
"So... so it's race that's at fault," Luan said, "The Latino community in Great Lakes City is essentially being bullied by everyone else there."
"That's literally an accurate assessment, Luan," Lori remarked.
Luan looked conflicted on what to say next, but it was clear she wasn't amused. "That's just dumb," Luan finally said, "It makes no sense at all to be mean to and bully a Latino person solely because they're Latino! How is what's going on over in Great Lakes City any different from what Lynn, Lola, and I were doing to Lincoln and his sisters when they all first moved in with us?"
Lori was surprised that Luan was comparing the fatphobia that Luan herself along with Lynn and Lola first showed when the Alverson siblings first moved in to the racism that's going on over in Great Lakes City. But the oldest Loud sister relented as she realized Luan had something of a point. Fatphobia and racism are both are different forms of discrimination; regardless of the form it takes, discrimination is just plain wrong.
"...Both how you plus Lynn and Lola had first acted towards the Alverson siblings," Lori said to Luan, "And what's going on over in Great Lakes City, are literally bogus. But you have one up on the racist idiots over in Great Lakes City, Luan. You recognize that it's dumb. You also look like you literally are not going to take part in either."
"Darn straight I'm not going to discriminate!" Luan declared, drawing cheers of agreement from Lynn and Lola as well.
Bobby and Carlota both looked touched by the solidarity that Lori's younger sisters were showing towards them. "You girls are great," Bobby said, "I'm guessing it's Lori's influence."
Lori was about to speak up, but she stopped short when Aggro was heard calling out, "Yo Bobby! Care to come collect the little one? I need to get up and use the bathroom." The Loud sisters plus Bobby and Carlota came over and saw that Aggro was awake, but he was still in the exact same position that he was seen in earlier. Carlitos was still asleep against Aggro.
"Sorry, dude," Bobby said as he gingerly scooped up Carlitos, "But thanks again for helping out right now. My folks and I really need it."
Getting up, Aggro replied, "It's no trouble at all." Aggro then went to go use the bathroom.
Looking around after Aggro left for the bathroom, Lynn said, "Hey yo, where did Lincoln waddle off to?"
"He's probably in Ronnie Anne's room with Ronnie Anne and the girls," Bobby replied. The younger Loud sisters, after getting directions from Bobby, went down the hallway to find Ronnie Anne's room to see how the plus sized Hispanic girl was doing.
In a word, terrible.
Ronnie Anne was sitting on the side of her bed, clearly crying, as Lincoln, Sid, Stella, and Astrid all stood around to comfort her. A box of tissues was on Ronnie Anne's left and a pile of snack cakes on Ronnie Anne's right. There was a trash can on the floor directly in front of Ronnie Anne to receive the used tissues and empty snack wrappers. Rosetta, Ronnie Anne's Servantbot, stood in the corner of the room.
Stella was about to say something, but stopped short due to a knock at Ronnie Anne's door. "Rosetta, get the door," Ronnie Anne said, able to control herself just enough to issue a clear order to her Servantbot.
"Affirmative," Rosetta replied, going to open the door. When she did, Ronnie Anne and her guests were surprised to see that Lori's younger sisters were there.
"I see that your Servantbot is working well, Ronnie Anne," Lisa said as she took note of Rosetta returning to where she stood in Ronnie Anne's room. Turning back to look at Ronnie Anne herself, Lisa went on, "But that's not why my sisters and I are here. We were filled in on what had happened to your relatives who lived in Great Lakes City. I am so sorry about the loss your family suffered."
"Yeah, it's totally bogus," Lynn agreed, "Especially with what's still going on over in Great Lakes City. You don't see bogus stuff like that here in Royal Woods."
Arching a wry eyebrow at the Loud sisters, Stella said, "Weren't you girls aside from Lisa harshing on Lincoln and his sisters because they're fat? At least when they first moved in with you guys."
Sighing, Lola said, "We know, we know. We were being similarly as bad. But we're better now! We aren't mean to Lincoln and his sisters about their weight anymore! And we're never mean to anyone about their race!"
"Yeah, we got it that there's a lot of gang violence over in Great Lakes City," Sid said, "Heck, it's the reason my family moved from Great Lakes City to Royal Woods, to escape the gang violence. Mind you the violence wasn't aimed at me or anyone in my family, but my parents still didn't think that it was a great place for us, so we moved here."
"Is there going to be a service?" Lynn asked, "If so, we'd like to come to offer condolences."
"It's going to be on a school day, so I doubt you'll be able to get out for it," Ronnie Anne said, "But thanks for the sympa-" Ronnie Anne was cut off when Lisa walked over and hugged her, or at least tried to, but Lisa's four to five year old arms were not enough to go around the very well fed Ronnie Anne's considerable belly.
"In my scientific opinion," Lisa said, "You need hugs. Lots of them." That touched the hearts of everyone else present, and they all tried to come in for a group hug. But it was too many people, so Ronnie Anne first had just Lisa and Lincoln, then the other Loud sisters, then lastly the trio of Stella, Sid, and Astrid.
"Wow, Lisa's been surprisingly sweet as of late," Luan said, "She's usually a dry, emotionless mad scientist." Gesturing to Lincoln, Luan said, "I think you and your sisters moving in helped to bring out the best in Lisa."
"As well as bring out the best in the rest of us," Lola said, "I mean, we had our issues before you all came into our lives."
Lincoln nodded once in understanding. "Well you all had been great to us in return, at least after we had that heart to heart talk," Lincoln replied.
...
Lori eventually had to take her younger sisters and Lincoln home, but they wished Bobby and Ronnie Anne the best, especially as they had to add Carlota and Carlitos to their number. "What makes the literally bogus deal that Bobby's family suffered even worse is that Carlitos is going to grow up without being able to really remember his parents and older brothers," Lori said, "He's hardly older than Lily right now, so he's not going to remember any specific details from this time."
That actually broke the hearts of the Loud sisters and Lincoln. Carlitos is too young to be able to remember what all happens during this time period in his life. He's going to grow up not being able to remember his parents and older brothers. It'll be up to Carlota to keep the memories of her and Carlitos's family alive. "Hey Lori," Luan began as Lori was still driving, "Maybe you can invite Carlota to the high school party we're gonna throw? She deserves a break."
"...Huh, that's not a bad idea," Lori replied.
"And I can look into seeing if I can stay over at Ronnie Anne's for the night on the night of the party to help with looking after Carlitos if need be," Lincoln said, "You did say you didn't want Lynn and everyone younger than her taking part in the party, remember?"
"Ooh, I bet it'd be literally cute to see you and Ronnie Anne taking care of Carlitos together," Lori said, "And yeah, that does sound like a good plan."
"But that business will have to wait," Lynn said, "Because the Santiagos will need time to get over what had happened." Everyone in Vanzilla nodded in agreement as the Loud family van continued to drive off for home.
A few days later during the school week, Lincoln and his friend group all noticed that Ronnie Anne was absent. "Hey yo, is Ronnie Anne alright?" Rusty asked.
"Ronnie Anne and her family are... going through a lot right now," Lincoln explained, "The girls and I all know what it is, but we're gonna let Ronnie Anne herself explain things when she's back in school tomorrow."
The boys could all tell that it was something big, so they respectfully kept their mouths shut and agreed to wait for Ronnie Anne to tell them. Lincoln also took the precaution of telling Lucy, Lola, Lana, and Lisa to not say anything about what the Santiago family is going through; all of the girls at the Loud family residence, Loud and Alverson alike, were now aware of what happened, and all of them were rightfully upset on behalf of Bobby and Ronnie Anne.
They were especially upset on behalf of Carlota and Carlitos, both of whom had lost essentially everything, also Carlitos is too young to really realize what's going on.
...
The next day at Royal Woods Elementary School, all of Lincoln's friend group met up in try library for a private discussion, where Ronnie Anne explained to the boys who didn't have the story what the story was. "Your aunt, uncle, and two of your cousins?" Clyde said, he and the other boys all looking very much shocked, "Holy geez, Ronnie Anne! I am so sorry to hear what all your family had lost!"
"I did hear about that massive traffic accident that took place in Great Lakes City," Zach said, "But to think someone we know had lost family in that horrible deal."
"You said that two of your cousins are still alive and they were moved from Great Lakes City to Royal Woods," Rusty said, "How are they doing?"
Ronnie Anne looked like she was still sad, but was over it enough to not cry. "...Carlota and Carlitos had adjusted well enough," replied the plus sized Hispanic girl, "And Carlota had just enrolled into Royal Woods High earlier this morning, although it's mostly a transfer from her old high school over in Great Lakes City."
"What grade is she in?" Liam asked.
"Twelfth," Ronnie Anne replied, "Same as my brother Bobby and his girlfriend Lori."
"There's not exactly a lot of time left between now and the end of the school year," Rusty said, "Your cousin is not going to have a lot of time in her new school before she graduates."
Gently shaking her head, Ronnie Anne said, "I don't think Carlota cares about that."
"Boys, Ronnie Anne and her folks are still trying to adjust to the loss that they suffered," Sid said, "We shouldn't be pestering her with a million and a half questions."
Stella was about to say something, but stopped short when she and the others saw, surprisingly enough, Chandler come walking over. He was carrying a plastic shopping bag full of stuff, and oddly enough Chandler came alone. "What do you want, Chandler?" Rusty said, he and the boys as well as Sid and Stella immediately suspicious of Chandler and on the defensive.
Chandler merely held up the bag he was carrying, as if offering it to the group. "I got it that Ronnie Anne was out yesterday for some bad reason but I don't have the details," Chandler said, "All that I heard on the matter from Astrid is that it's really bad. I was figuring a gesture like this would help to make Ronnie Anne feel better."
Chandler allowed Lincoln to collect the bag, and the plus sized boy looked into it. "...It's a bag full of various snacks that Ronnie Anne likes," Lincoln said.
"Yeah I asked Astrid about it," Chandler remarked, "Anyway, here's hoping that Ronnie Anne will feel better soon." Chandler then turned around and left.
After Chandler was gone, Rusty asked, "Astrid, what did you tell Chandler?"
"Only that Ronnie Anne and her family were having a bad time," Astrid said, "I didn't give any details on what happened. But I did give Chandler details on what snacks Ronnie Anne likes because he said he wanted to help Ronnie Anne feel better because he knows I care about her. I think Chandler is simply trying to be nice."
The rest of Lincoln's friend group was STILL suspicious of Chandler, but for now they were going to let it slide. They could tell that Chandler was wanting to maintain peace, and he was (seemingly) acting in good faith. Also Ronnie Anne was hungry, so after the group left the library she devoured all of the snacks Chandler brought for her.
But Lincoln and his friends, aside from the girls who were distracted, were still suspicious of Chandler.
Later that day after school, Lori after she got her sisters and the Alverson siblings home went over to the Santiago residence, actually bringing Lincoln with her. Lori's knock was answered by Maria Santiago, the mother of Bobby and Ronnie Anne. Maria had a resigned look in her eyes, a look that denoted that, at least for the moment, Maria was mostly emotionally dead inside. "How are things going for you, Mrs. Santiago?" Lori asked, concern clear in her tone and expression.
"I got it that my family will be receiving the urns containing the cremated remains of my brother, his wife, and two of their sons by Monday of next week at the latest," Maria said, "My mom is insisting that they're put up at the apartment she and my dad has. I can't exactly blame my mom for wanting that, she loves the family so much."
Lincoln held up a bag he and Lori brought; it contained various goodies for Maria, Bobby, Ronnie Anne, Carlota, and even something age appropriate for Carlitos. "We brought some stuff for you guys," Lincoln said, "Lori said that she wanted to do something."
Maria nodded once in understanding. "Thank you. You know, we really did get lucky when Bobby caught Lori's eye. And then you caught Ronnie Anne's eye." Maria stepped to the side to let Lori and Lincoln into the house. "If there's one thing keeping me going right now," Maria said, "It's the fact that my family and I are receiving so much love and support from all of our friends. I'm also drawing strength from how Carlota and Carlitos are now residing under my roof.
"It's not crowded for you, is it?" Lori asked, "I mean there's you and Bobby and Ronnie Anne and Carlota and Carlitos. That's five people."
"My house can handle five people no problem," Maria replied, "In fact, I'm more worried about your household having a high headcount. Bobby tells me you have four sisters and your dad, and during the summer you'll be gaining a step-mom, five step-sisters, and a step-brother. That's thirteen total people living under one roof."
"We're managing just fine right now," Lori remarked. As Maria talked with Lori and Lincoln, Carlota came walking out with Bobby and Ronnie Anne following her. Ronnie Anne was holding Carlitos who was asleep against her.
Looking curious, Carlota said, "What are you guys doing here?"
"We're still literally worried about you guys," Lori said, "I can tell from how I've seen you at school that you're still torn up over what happened."
Nodding once, Bobby said, "Yeah, Carlota has taken things really hard. She's still crying at least once a day over what happened. Of course, I would be lying if I said that I've stopped crying about it, but Carlota, she's taken it the hardest out of everyone in our family."
"She lost everyone except for her youngest brother," Lincoln remarked, "I can't blame her. No-one can lose so much like that and NOT be upse-"
*yawn* Lincoln stopped short when Carlitos woke up in Ronnie Anne's arms, stretching a bit. Looking around, Carlitos spotted Lincoln and immediately reached a hand out towards the plus sized boy, crying out for him.
Chuckling a bit, Ronnie Anne said, "I think Carlitos wants Lincoln to hold him. Can you handle him?"
"I've held Lily plenty of times before, Carlitos should be no different," Lincoln replied before Ronnie Anne waddled over to Lincoln to hand Carlitos off to him.
However, right as Ronnie Anne handed Carlitos over to Lincoln, he barely had Carlitos in his hands before Carlota snatched the Hispanic toddler boy away. "No!" Carlota practically hissed at Lincoln, "You can't hold Carlitos! Same goes for you, Lori!"
"Carlota, what the heck?" Bobby said, "You know full well Lori and her siblings are good!"
Pointing at Lincoln, Carlota said, "I thought that he wasn't one of Lori's siblings!"
"He's going to be when their parents have their wedding during the summer!" Ronnie Anne scowled at her older cousin, "And I'm not liking this tone and hostility you're taking towards Lincoln! I would of flattened you by now were it not for how you're holding Carlitos!"
Maria turned to her teenage niece, a look of concern on her face. "Carlota, there's no need to be so hostile towards Lori and her brother! And what's wrong with letting Lincoln or Lori hold Carlit-"
"He's all that I have left!"
Everyone stopped short when Carlota suddenly cried out. "He... Carlitos..." Carlota said as tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, "...He's all that I have left. Mom and dad and CJ and Carl, they're... they're all gone. Carlitos is all that I have left, I don't want to lose him too!" Carlota then began to break down in tears, requiring Maria to receive Carlitos from her.
Bobby and Ronnie Anne walked Carlota over to the dining table to sit her down, both of them understanding full well how Carlota feels. Even Maria looked understanding, knowing full well how much the rest of the family means to Carlota. So for her to lose nearly everyone in the household she used to live in... it's a devastating blow.
"Carlota..." Lori said, getting Carlota to look at her with teary eyes, "...You have every right to be upset. Granted it's not an excuse to be hostile towards people who are literally only trying to help, but you're distressed, and it's completely understandable. You just need to open up and let all of the people who want to help you... well, help you."
Carlota sniffled a bit. "...I guess not all white people are racist bastards."
"Yeah, that stuff is over in Great Lakes City," Lori said, "You won't be finding any such racially driven hostility here in Royal Woods." As Carlota was calmed down, Maria seeing that Carlitos still wanted to be held by Lincoln handed him off to the plus sized boy. Carlota jumped a bit when she saw her aunt hand Carlitos off to Lincoln, but Maria and Bobby reassured her that Lincoln won't do any harm to her baby brother.
Lincoln, as he held Carlitos, remarked, "Huh, there actually is something different between holding Lily and holding Carlitos."
Arching a curious eyebrow, Lori asked, "What is it?"
"Carlitos weighs a lot less," Lincoln replied, drawing a few chuckles from everyone.
That evening at the Loud family residence, Lori was meeting with her sisters and the Alverson siblings in her and Leni's room. "Alright everyone, I literally have an announcement," Lori said as she began the sibling meeting.
"I... I think your overuse of the word literally may be a sign of something being wrong with you," Lynn said, looking mildly confused, "You... you may wanna get it checked out."
Giving Lynn an unamused look, Lori said, "Comments like that are part of why you aren't allowed to come to the high school party that we're throwing, which by the way is set for this Friday!"
"The party's actually happening!" Luan exclaimed, "Holy geez I can't believe it!"
"That being said, everyone aside from Luan, Luna, Leni, and myself needs to find plans to keep them out of the house for the party," Lori said.
Holding up a hand, Lola said, "Adelaide Chang invited me, Lana, Anna, Winston, and Skippy over to her place for a slumber party that night."
Shrugging, Lynn said, "Meh, I can literally ask Margo or Paula to let me crash with one of them." Lynn then shot Lori a smugly amused look, although Lori who could tell Lynn was mocking her was not at all amused by it.
"I can see if I can stay over at Ronnie Anne's place that night," Lincoln offered.
"I'll let Rocky know the date of the party so he can ask his parents to let me stay over that night," Lucy said.
"I can ask Darcy if I can stay over at her place that night," Lisa remarked, "I've never been to a slumber party before, so it'll be good field research."
"And we'll put Lily down for a nap before the party starts," Lori said, "Perfect, everything is going to be great. Oh Lincoln, before you go to Ronnie Anne's to keep out of the party, I'm going to need you do let me borrow Jarvis."
Nodding once, Lincoln said, "It shouldn't be a problem."
"Lincoln has had his Servantbot temporarily follows the orders of others before," Lisa said, "It should work just fine."
"Ooh, ooh!" Lana said, "I have an idea for a prank that Lola and I can pull on Adelaide's older sister!"
Shrugging, Luan said, "Ooh, you have a prank planned? What is it?"
"Yeah Lana," Lincoln remarked, "Adelaide's older sister is my friend Sid, so I'm worried about what sort of mischief you and Lola have planned."
"Yeah, what do you want me to do with you?" Lola asked, looking mildly suspicious.
"I'll tell you about it at school tomorrow with the rest of the kids going over for the sleepover," Lana said, "It'll be brilliant!"
Shrugging, Luna muttered under her breath, "Meh, I bet it won't beat the prank that Sam pulled on the Changs a while ago."
Perking up a bit, Luan said, "Did you say something, Luna?"
Gently shaking her head, Luna replied, "Oh no, it's nothing."
"Well hopefully there will be no funny business at the high school party we're throwing this Friday," Lori said, "Especially considering it's going to be the first real break that Bobby's cousin Carlota has had ever since she lost most of her family in the massive traffic accident that took place in Great Lakes City a while ago. I want things to be perfect for her, she's been through a lot and could literally use some time to unwind."
Gesturing to Lori, Lynn, said, "I'm... I'm serious, this overuse of the word literally might be a sign of something being wrong with you."
"Do you want to be turned into a human pretzel, Lynn?" Lori half asked half threatened.
Getting the idea, Lynn said, "I'll be quiet."
END, CHAPTER ELEVEN
Author's notes;
This chapter sees the Loud sisters meet Carlota and Carlitos Casagrande, the only surviving members of their family as their parents and brothers were killed in the massive traffic accident that took place in Great Lakes City a few chapters ago. As it turns out, the core cause of the accident is actually racism levied against the Latino community in Great Lakes City, even seeing gang violence that has caused others to move out of Great Lakes City and into the much safer Royal Woods.
But Carlota is still suffering from the loss of her family, to the point she gets snappy when Ronnie Anne tries to hand Carlitos off to Lincoln as Carlota doesn't want him or Lori for that matter to hold her baby brother. Carlota then breaks down, but she's given understanding and support to help her get through things. The road to recovery is going to be long and harsh for Carlota, and she may not be the same afterwards. A lot of things may not be the same afterwards. But that's life.
The chapter ends with Lori announcing that the high school party she and the other older sisters are planning is set for that Friday, so the siblings discuss plans to keep them out of the house that night. The next chapter will actually see the party itself finally happen, and it'll reference the episode where Lori hosts her fancy party. Until then, take care.