Thick smoke, the smell of blood, the smell of burning gun powder, metal casings hitting the ground, explosions, the smell of burning flesh, shouting in the background, and a bitter loneliness. A few times every month these sights, sounds, feelings, and smells plague Lincoln's dreams. Then he finds himself in the familiar darkness of his room, drenched in cold sweat. He would gasp for air a couple times, punch his pillow, and begin his odyssey down the apartment building to the kitchen, left with darkness and silence as his only companions. If the dream wasn't too egregious he would just walk downstairs, get his water, sit on the couch for a while, then go back to bed after he calmed down. If it was vivid, or bad like tonight, he would check on his children and their mothers. Loan was still up, gaming, talking trash on her headset. He smiled, wished she would be this outgoing offline, and left his daughter to her game. Lori was sleeping peacefully, sprawled out in a pose that Lincoln thought looked uncomfortable, She had thrown some of her cover off, which he returned over her, causing her to smile.

Next he looked in Reina and Bobby's room, across from their mother Ronnie Anne. Reina had moved into her brother's bed and was wrapped around him. He looked uncomfortable and she looked upset, but both were sleeping all the same. He smiled, seeing the parallels between himself and Lynn, hoping that they ended there. He peeked in on Ronnie, she was snoring lightly. He ran his hands through her hair and she smiled and swung her fist through the air. She must have known it was him. He kissed her cheek and left them alone. Darna and Stella were next, Darna had fallen out of her bed, so Lincoln gently lifted her back to her mattress, covered her back up, and patted her head. Stella had flipped on her back and was snoring loudly, so Lincoln moved her on her side to help her breath better and gave her a light hug.

Lacy and Lynn were both snoring in rooms next to each other. A chorus that to anyone other than Lincoln would cause fear they were walking into the den of a bear and it's cub, but to him it was one of the sweetest sounds. Lacy was a perfect mirror of her mother which caused him to chuckle. Same sleeping pose, same snoring rhythm, even the same expression on their face. He knew if he got too close either were libel to pull him into a bear hug and he would be stuck there for the night.

Lyra and Lemy were alone in their room, sleeping in the same bed as usual. Lyra was cradling his head and gently stroking his long dirty blonde hair which was free flowing as Lyra had started making him take that old bandana off when he was sleeping. Lincoln looked at the bandana, hanging from the bedpost, and ran his hand over it smiling. Across from them was Lina, half off the bed and some of her hair in her mouth. He lifted her, placed her back in the middle of her bed, and straightened her hair up slightly before covering her back up. He looked over to the room that Sam and Luna usually shared and sighed. He knew they'd be back from tour soon, probably with souvenirs and a massive paycheck that they'll give to him so they don't waste it on booze and, 'cool looking useless shit,' instead of food, clothes, or the taxes on the apartment. They were the most responsible irresponsible people he knew. He patted both kids on their shoulders and walked out to Luan and Liby's unit. Luan was obviously dreaming of being on stage, giggling occasionally at her own jokes, which Lincoln found adorable. Liby fell asleep with a copy of, 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,' in her arms. Lincoln smiled when he saw the book, so many memories, but when he looked up to her face he saw discomfort. It only took him a second to realize her headgear was stuck on her pillow. He freed his daughter, seeing as she relaxed, and moved on.

Leni was asleep in her room with her eye mask on, paper's strown about with different designs of clothing on different member's of the family. Lincoln stacked all the papers together and placed them on her sewing station. He kissed her cheek and didn't notice her shift her mask as he walked out. He entered Liena's room where the previous days clothes were set next to her door. He kissed her forehead and quickly exited, not interested in seeing his daughter's nude body anymore than he already had when he had to come to her room for anything. Lyle and Bed were sleeping in their bunk beds peacefully, Ben on bottom bunk and Lyle on top, knowing that Bed was a light sleeper Lincoln gently touched both their heads and exited. Leia was sleeping alone in her unit, Lola currently being in a pageant down in Chicago, asleep with her phone on her face, obviously fallen from her hand, with texts between her and her friends plotting something Lincoln would rather not know. He turned off the screen, tucked her in, and pinched her cheek lightly, causing her to grin.

He had finally reached the kitchen for that glass of water. He decided to take it with him as he descended into the two subfloors. Lincoln chugged the water when he reached the door to Lucy's room, it was no surprise he had to leave the door slightly cracked just to see his sisters ghostly visage in her nightgown, sleeping above the covers with her arms crossed over her chest. He smiled as he brushed her bangs aside with his hand and gently placed a kiss on her lips. In the room next to her his daughter slept in a similar fashion, but with her hands to her sides. He reached to grab her cheeks, but she caught his hand. She spoke softly in her sleep.

"Daddy..."

He rolled his eyes, smiling, took her hand and kissed it gently, causing her to smile. He'd have to do something about her eventually, but seeing that smile she rarely showed made him feel like it could wait just a little while longer. He went across to the boiler room where Lana decided she wanted to stay, against her older brother's many protests, on a hammock. She was tied up in it as usual, snoring loudly, so Lincoln gently untied her and marveled at how she remained asleep during the whole ordeal. He moved across the room to what would have been a maintenance office at one point in time, now Lizy's room, as she fell asleep propped up against the bed with her camera open, looking at a video of her going into a tunnel where the wind was producing a loud moaning. Lincoln smiled as he heard his daughter scream something about a monster and charge in. He closed the film, marveling at her imagination that rivaled his at her age, and lifted her into her bed. He descended to the final floor, Lisa's lab. He was unsurprised to find her sleeping at her desk. He frowned when he saw Lulu sleeping in a chamber with her pacifier in her mouth he didn't quite understand and sighed.

He lifted his second youngest sister's small frame in one arm, holding her against his body, and opened the pod, grabbing Lulu with the other. He opened the door to her, 'sleeping quarters,' with his foot. There was a cute mobile with rocket ships and robots, Todd was running around in a body only slightly reminiscent of his original body with fully operational human like hands and treads in place of his old tricycle wheels.

"What's up, man?" he asked as he saw him enter, "The doctor get too engrossed in her experiments again?"

"Yeah... on our daughter none the less."

"I assure you, Lulu can handle it."

"Mhmm," he agreed as he gently laid Lisa in her bed, and placed Lulu in her crib, "Doesn't mean I have to like it."

"...Couldn't sleep could you."

He shook his head, "I'll be alright in a few."

"They all appreciate you... you know that, right?"

"I know Todd... I know."

He returned to the living room and sat on the couch, elbows on his knees, fingers interlaced, and thumbs on his temples. He debated turning the TV on... but it would just be background noise at this point. It never got any easier, repressing memories, but usually one of his sisters would wake up when he was like this... like she was in tune with his emotions. Sometimes others would as well and attempt to make him feel better in their own way. But she was always the best at it. As if summoned from nothing he felt her arms wrap around him from behind.

"Nightmares again, Lincy?" Leni asked as she placed her chin on his head.

She felt as he nodded, "Yeah..."

She climbed over the couch and wrapped her legs around him, placing her head on his back, "I heard you come in. Followed you for a little while. You're, like, so cute when you check on everyone, you know that?"

He smiled, "You think so?"

She nodded, "It's so totes adorable that the only thing that calms you is us."

"It's the only reason I did anything after... you know..."

"You were such a good new father, even though you were still so young."

He sighed, "You know... I still feel bad-"

She shushed him, "Big sis is here now..."

He grunted, though he was still smiling. She never let him apologies for it, even though the entirety of her involvement was his fault. She was far too understanding, far too sweet... far too good for him. But her mere presence was enough to make Lincoln feel better. As scatterbrained as Leni was her simplicity made her the one he was most comfortable around. She was the exact opposite of Lucy in her methods. She would usually innocently do something, like ask Lincoln to wash her back in the shower, ask him to help her with her sewing the dress she had been wearing completely in her underwear... ask him to watch her model. She would dizzily be unaware of her surroundings, until something was very obvious. Poking her in the back, hitting her side, or just being in plain view. Then, like it was almost second nature, she would begin servicing him to ease his... burden. He always felt guilty, but that smile would make him melt in her hands... like it had all those years ago.

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Lincoln felt conflicted. He wanted all of this to stop, but had no idea how he could end this and salvage the other things. Lynn and Lucy had begun a friendly rivalry for his affection, both trying to pull him in opposite directions. Lucy wanting to spend time together, reading horror comics, writing poetry, watching tv, and taking each other's presence in. Lynn was constantly wanting to train with him, play sports with him, and go to events like wresting with him. In some ways it seemed like nothing had changed and his sisters were, once again, vying for his attention, but then there were times they wanted... less familial affection. Lincoln knew that he was in trouble when one sat next to him and the other sat slightly away from them, glancing over their shoulder, be it in the living room, out on the porch, or anywhere they could congregate. Then Lincoln knew that the other would be crawling up him, kissing whatever they could get ahold of unil they climbed to his mouth. To Lynn and Lucy's credit they were very apologetic when they did so, but they did it all the same. That wasn't to mention night time.

He felt paranoid that some of his other sisters were the same way. He began reading into every little thing, trying to figure out a way to divert their affections, lest he be stuck in this situation with another of his siblings. He felt like he had no control of his situation and every plan he had to escape this sinful relationship was backfiring. Worse still, he didn't know if he really cared that much that they were. He was starting to enjoy the attention, and who wouldn't? What person doesn't want someone to be so in love with them that they would risk everything just to be with them? But he knew it was still wrong, so he still fought it... but he was starting to surrender. It wouldn't be till one faithful event with his second eldest sister that he truly lost the battle. He had escaped from Lynn and Lucy briefly, thanks to the intervention of Leni.

They were sat on the couch, Lynn crawling up him with a hungry look in her eyes as Lucy peered over the cushions, making sure the cost was clear, "Don't worry Little bro... I just need a little," she promised as their lips were inches apart.

"O-okay..." he relented, pinned up against the arm rest.

She was closing the distance when lucy tapped her with her foot, causing her to stop, "Seriously?"

She watched as Lucy nodded and quickly separated from her brother with a huff, Lincoln sighed in relief when the angel that saved him appeared behind the couch, "Lincy! There you are!"

"O-oh! Hi Leni!" he greeted in relief.

"I need you! I've got so many fashion designs I need your opinion on!"

She grabbed his shoulder and pulled him over the couch, "Wow! Easy Leni!"

"Hey!" Lynn protested swiping at his leg, "We were in the middle of something!"

Leni froze and turned to her, "Oh-em-gosh! I'm sorry... what did you need him for?"

"W-well..." she turned to Lucy who shook her head and sighed, "It can wait..."

"Awe!" Leni cried out hugging Lynn, "Thanks little sis, I'll bring him back! I promise!"

She gripped Lincoln's hand and rushed up the stairs, he wasn't certain that his feet ever touched the ground before they reached her room. Lincoln relaxed on her bed until she began removing her clothes.

"I've got several styles I've thought about posting about, but i need, like, a second opinion!"

She was wearing a teal frilly bra and panties, Lincoln was able to take in most details of the scallop pattern before she was dressed again in her first outfit. A cool summer outfit with a similar colored top with an extremely low cut pair of blue jean shorts with her usual white sunglasses. The combination convinced Lincoln she was trying to seduce him as well.

"So what do you think?"

He was frozen in fear, "I-I... it's great... but don't you think... it may be too revealing?"

"Revealing?" she looked in her mirror, "I don't see anything I didn't already know about... I'm confused..."

"N-Never mind... I-it's great!"

"Okay!" she smiled as she striped her clothes off again, making Lincoln freeze as she quickly changed her outfit to a light flowing seafoam sundress that was slightly above her knees and accentuated her bust line, "How about this?"

"I-I... it... You look great in it!"

She noticed his nervousness, "Lincy? Is something wrong?"

"N-no! W-why? Why would I be nervous?"

She tilted her head, "I mean... I don't know... I guess there's not one!"

Lincoln swallowed what little moisture he had left in his mouth, "I-I guess so..."

She laughed, "Gosh Lincy, you can be so weird sometimes."

He nodded, "I guess I can..."

How long would this continue? How long until she too attacked him? He knew that the others were far less subtle than this. But how long had he underestimated Lucy? She was his little sister, but she had been plotting for God knows how long. Could Leni be the same? She always seemed more in tune with her surroundings than most of her siblings gave her credit for? Was this all just a ploy?

These thoughts plagued Lincolns mind as his older sister went from one outfit to the next, completely innocent to the events that surrounded her brother. Outfit after outfit that, in any other circumstance, would play to her beauty and her brother would absolutely agree looked amazing on his simple older sister, were wrecking havoc in his corrupted mind. She was recognizing the subtle signs of discomfort as the fashion show went on. After an especially elongated time in her underwear, looking for a top she had misplaced, her worry got the better of her. She sat next to her brother, putting her hand on his. Then pulled him into a comfortable hug.

"Lincoln, if anything is wrong you know you can tell me, right?" she assured him.

This, to his paranoid mind, was the last bit of proof he needed. She was after him too. He couldn't keep being taken advantage of, but he also couldn't hurt his sisters. He had to take charge before she did. He did the only thing he could think to do. He looked into his naive older sister's eyes briefly before bringing his lips to meet hers, and sealed his own fate forever.