Welcome back everyone! Originally this chapter was going to be even longer but we decided to split it up due to length and wanting to get it to everyone soon. On to the reviews!

Mike the Red Engine: You're most welcome! Hope you love what we do to... I mean with him... -eyes dart back and forth-

jster1983: Good catch! We already had this worked out.

DreadedCandiru2: Fun fact we actually had this planned out before Middle Men this season has been weird given other thinks like how I created Skyla in November 2017 and then Stella appears. Two Asian girls with similar sounding names, have had a few people think Skyla is a Stella rip off for that reason, even if mine was before both White Hare and Stella's naming and redesign.

MrNonesense: Cover art is by Petrus-C-Visagie.

Samtastic 3.0: You hit the nail on the head and yes we are going to see more Sister vs. Lincoln and other issues the show brings up but never wants to address.

SpartanXHunterX: Oh trust me we already have several sequels planned.

On a side note I am beyond happy at how much the Miyamoto family is being received. Expect more of them.

Legal Stuff: Loud House is owned by Nickelodeon.

Skyla, the Miyamoto family and Temple-Shrine are my own creations.

Corey MacMillan is the creation of Mike the Red Engine.

~*~*~Lincoln~*~*~*~

If Kat or Skyla would have asked for a list of unlikely suspects Lincoln would not expect to see walk into the Miyamoto house, it would include a number of celebrates, and perhaps a mythical creature or two. Tea with the Loch Ness Monster? Maybe root beer and pizza with Bigfoot? Yeah, that might have come to mind long before the thought of Corey Macmillan walking through the front door. Still, he could not say it was an unwelcome surprise. Their brief encounter in the past seemed decent enough, and Corey certainly did not look like the kind of kid who a jerk at all. Even if he was just being polite at the time, Lincoln had enjoyed their conversation.

"Yeah," Lincoln looked over at Alex and smiled as the older boy let a blushing Lily sit in his lap, "guessing they told you everything?"

"Aye, the young lass in Alex's arms Lily then?"

"Nope," Lincoln grinned, "it's the other little girl see the resemblance."

Lynn Sr frowned and was about to chastise Lincoln for such an insensitive joke when Corey and several of the Miyamotos let out a laugh at his son's joke, making the Loud Patriarch wonder why there was such a knee jerk reaction to discipline his son?

"Good to see you have a sense of humor Koji-kun," Skyla placed an arm around the boy, "I was starting to worry I'd have to give you a grumpictomy."

Kat quickly took her spot on the other side of Lincoln, snaking her arm around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder. She wanted to make a joke, say something about how it was great to know that his sense of humor was still intact. For some reason, she found it hard to make a joke at that moment. Her brain felt like mush, like she had spent the day tossing popcorn in her mouth and binge-watching whatever was next in her queue on Netflix. Each thought she had was like walking through hip-high mud.

Lincoln blushed at the girls as Corey went over to Lily and knelt down looking at her arm, "Lynn did this to you did she?" he let out a sigh, "and here I LIKED the girl, but this…" he shook his head. He did like her. A lot. Hell, he had spent the better part of the past few years trying to get the girls attention, but after this? Well, he began to wonder if he would ever be able to stomach even the sight of her again. "This is just disgusting. Wait till Marcus hears about this, he's libel to knock her block clean off come next match." The Scottish boy ruffled Lily's hair getting a giggle from the littlest Loud then returned to the table and smiled at Lincoln. "Not one but two lasses on your arm eh?"

"I'm still not sure what's going on myself… But I think I like it…" Skyla never did answer his question about what they were. He'd need to ask her again later.

Corey flashed a grin. "Don't blame you one bit, enjoy it. Skyla and Kat are good ladies, they'll be good to you. They've talked about you on and off for a long time now." Corey's words made Lincoln do a double take. He'd only just met them a little while ago, like last week. Why would they have been talking about him for a while? His look of confusion must have been transparent as the girls stepped in.

"Not surprised you don't remember," Kat told him, getting a nod from Skyla.

"Okay," Lincoln looked to both girls. "Now I want to hear the story."

"Not much to tell really," Kat said, "I had just transferred from New Horizon's Academy to Royal Woods Elementary. I was lost, again, which still sort of baffles me, I mean it's such a small school." Kat said with a blush.

"A lot easier to do than you realize," Lincoln told her. "The layout of the building makes things really confusing. I mean my little sister Lucy's homeroom is to the left just as you walk in. In most schools across the country, that would be an office."

Lincoln had remembered getting lost a few times, taking a turn where he should have gone straight. The building was like a large maze with shiny floors and metal lockers. Each nook and cranny held a secret of danger, there were bullies in that school, as there were among many schools across the world. Those bullies had places they liked to hide out in, like their own territory. He had wandered to close to one of those territories before, getting his block knocked off.

"For the life of me, I'll never understand that reasoning," Lynn Sr. cut in, "You find the office all the way past the Kindergarten." He shook his head. "Just makes no sense to me."

"Bureaucracy," Shinjiro said, "when has Bureaucracy ever really made sense?" This got a chuckle from the adults and older teens.

Mr. Miyamoto nodded for Kat to continue her story, getting a smile from the young girl.

"I was lost and bumped into Lincoln, who pointed me in the right direction. He helped me again a few other times and I started to get a small crush." Kat explained.

"I have about the same story," Skyla chimed in, "he helped me find my missing necklace."

Lily spoke up, "so if I might ask: Why didn't either of you become friends with Dearest Brother then?"

Kat and Skyla exchanged glances and began to blush.

"Well .." Kat spoke up. "I was going to, but then that girl guru business happened. Wish I knew the girls had stolen your chocolate for the pies and you had acted out of desperation."

"Wait, you mean to tell me the girls ate all of that chocolate?" Rita looked to Lincoln. "Like ALL of it?"

"Every. Last. Bit." Lincoln spat.

"And they never bloody well paid him back for it," Lily added crossing her arms.

Lynn Sr. pinched the bridge of his nose, just more to bring up. It was too late to punish the girls now, but the could still talk to them about all of this. They had to realize what they were doing to their brother. At least it seemed as if Lori was starting to come around and see things as they were.

"Sorry Lincoln, but I will talk to them and I'll pay you back for the chocolate." Lynn Sr. told his son.

"Thanks, Dad, but you don't have…"

"No son," Lynn Sr. waved his sons comments off, "your mother and I have let this go on for far too long. It's time we put our foot down. We've not done right by you or the girls." His father sighed.

"Pardon me Dearest Father, but how have you done wrong by the rest of us?"

Lynn Sr. smiled at his youngest daughter. He felt a swelling pride in his chest, as well as the dull ache of a father who had missed out on much with his family. He could not say how Lily had started to become the young girl she was becoming, work had taken him from his family far too often. He wondered if Lori was really more of a parent to the younger kids than he and his wife were. Their systems may have been flawed, but at least they were there, could he really say the same on his own behalf?

"We put far too much on to Lori to raise all of you," He told his daughter. "That wasn't her job, that was ours, even if work takes us away a lot, we still should have made time. In addition, it seems we've let many of your sisters get away with murder when it comes to Lincoln, just think of what would happen if they tried something like this with a boy outside of our house, not to mention any sons they end up having."

"I beg your pardon," Shinjiro spoke up, "just so I can understand the whole situation here. Lori's the oldest correct?" Lynn Sr. nodded. "Aren't some of the other girls close to her age, or at least old enough to bear some responsibility?"

Rita let out a labored sigh. The kind of sigh a mother with too much on her hands would release as if that single breath would somehow relive the amounts of stress and pressure weighing her down. "Leni's our second oldest." There was a pause as she collected her thoughts, searching for the worlds to describe their daughter. "She is sweet, but she lacks… well..."

Alex leaned over and put his hand over Rita's, giving her a comforting smile. "Form what Lilly's told me, Leni's a lot like me at my most ditzy." There was a look of concern on Lily's face as if she had spilled some sort of dark secret her family tried to keep hidden. "Don't worry Lily I'm sure your family understands," Alex hugged the little girl making her blush brighter.

Both Lynn Sr. and Rita smiled at their daughter, to reassure her that things were indeed okay.

"Lily told me about her sister after I started for the house and this tree just jumped out in front of me." He let out a laugh.

"Alex!" Both Akari and Ami cried, reaching their brother's side in a manner of seconds, checking him for injuries, which just made the young man laugh more. He loved the attention that his family gave him, as they were both supportive and concerned about his daily actions, even if they overdid it.

"I'm fine girls, honest," He smiled at them. "It all worked out well for me, as it often does." The squirrel from earlier jumped for his front shirt pocket and climbed up to his shoulder, twitching its nose as it sniffed the air around the girls. "See? Even made a new friend. Named him Bob."

Rita thought for a second, she recognized the squirrel from her time doing community service, she started to say something when Shinjiro spoked up, "Okay everyone, we're getting off topic here." The Miyamoto Patriarch's words made the squirrel look in his direction then climb back down into Alex's front pocket.

"Please continue your story Skyla, this seems pertinent to the rest of this discussion," Shinjiro told her.

Skyla nodded, telling them about how she had been helped a few times by Lincoln around the school. Simple things like where the bathrooms could be located and shortcuts to get to class or the lunchroom. His kindness and sincerity drew her affection towards him almost immediately. She had wanted to approach him and confess her feelings but was pushed away by the rumors about him and Ronnie Anne being an item. Rumors that had seemed to start from his own sisters. Why they were so determined to pair him up with a girl who bullied him was beyond her.

"Did you ever even like that girl?" Kat asked.

Lincoln thought about it for a moment. It was a complicated answer. Were there feelings towards Ronnie Anne beyond just friendship? Yeah. At one point there were. He could not deny the fact that their kiss at the restaurant was magical. And even though she hit him the next day at school, he knew that was only because he wanted to avoid the teasing. Though he was pretty sure there was a better way to deal with that. Still, she did it for him. Perhaps if the bully routine had ended after they started to hang out more, if she had put more effort into trying to be his girlfriend instead of the girl that knocked him around and kissed his boo boo. Maybe if things were different they could have been more than friends. However, life didn't work like that, and here he was.

"For a little while yes, but things like the Sloppy Joe down my pants … well, I get bullied enough at home. Really don't need it with a girlfriend as well." His voice was filled with a sadness that a little boy should not have to carry with him, it tugged at the heartstrings of those who listened

Rita found her self annoyed with her daughters' actions, spreading rumors and trying to play matchmaker for their brother. Their actions had nearly cost him the chance to be with one of these wonderful girls, all for someone who was just a little thug. Thankfully fate had a way of working its way around obstacles, and he was now getting the chance to get to know them.

"So, before we move on to whatever is coming up next," Lincoln said. "can I ask one question?"

"You just did," Kat said, getting a frown from those around her. "What? Did humor just suddenly die around here?"

"If it did, you killed it, Kitty," Skyla smirked, getting a playful slap from her friend.

"Go ahead Lincoln, ask your question," Shinjiro said, smiling at the banter between the two girls.

"Why didn't you tell me all of this at Burpin' Burger?"

Both girls looked at each other, neither one really knowing what to say. It was a good question. A damn good question really.

"Hmm, I'd guess it was because we were both just taken off guard by everything that had happened. We weren't thinking of the past and our feelings at that moment, at least not where they came from." Skyla said.

"Yeah, and we figured we would have time to tell you later, but things kept getting piled on, what with the family drama playing out and all," Kat added.

"Lack of focus is something that troubles us all, I would say it's something you will grow out of, but it happens to the best of us." Shinjiro smiled.

"And the rest of us." Lynn Sr. added, with a smile of his own and a slight nod to his new friend.

"Well said Lynn, if I may call you that?" Getting a nod Shinjiro continued, "so we know why Leni can't help Lori more, but what of your other daughters?"

Rita wondered why they were being so open with their family's issues and concerns. They had just met this family, yet things felt as their relationship went back to their college days or something. It was if they were all just old friends having lunch together and catching up.

"Well," Lynn Sr. started, "Luna is our third eldest daughter. The problem and I hate using that word, is that she is often lost in her music and her dream of being a rockstar."

"Sometimes I worry that she is falling into drugs, but haven't seen any warning signs yet, other than being out really late," Rita added. "But with the local music scene, and most of the concerts taking place in bars or pubs, … " She sighed.

"Have you considered imposing a new rule?" Helen spoke up. "Say, anyone who is out to late has to take a drug taste when they get home. It's the rule here."

Rita nodded, liking the idea instantly. It would be more for Luna, but it could appear as it is for anyone caught out late.

"Even if she did remove her head from the clouds sometimes, she had not proven herself to be the most reliable of the girls." Lynn Sr. stated. "The few times she was left in charge she let her younger siblings do whatever they wanted, and the house was a mess."

"I don't remember that," Lily said.

"Because you weren't born yet honey," Rita told her.

"Was that when Lori was out of town for that Golf tournament and I spent the night at Clyde's?" Lincoln asked, getting a nod from his father.

"We grounded everyone except Leni, seeing as how she was in her room the whole time trying to work on a puzzle." Lynn Sr. said. "I remember Leni felt bad that she didn't get in trouble either like we were showing her preferential treatment. It was the last time we left Luna in charge, turned out she spent the whole time sexting a girl she'd just meet."

"As for Luan .. well." She looked to Lincoln and Lily, "Promise you will both keep this to yourselves for now."

Lincoln nodded, as did Lily, both beyond curious as to what secret their mother was about to spill. There was a mild bit of excitement that built up within them both, like being able to sit at the grown-up table. It was the feeling that their parents were not looking at them as children right now, no they were part of the adult conversation.

"Luan our fourth oldest, suffers from a rare form of brain damage," Rita said, looking at the shocked expressions on the faces of her children. "She was born premature, but for the most part, she is a normal, happy girl. However, as a result of the damage, she has a literal addiction to humor. I'm ashamed to say we let her get away with murder every April Fool's day. Pranksgiving as she calls it."

"It's he… heck on Earth I tell you." Lily told the room.

"In this context Lily, I'd let you say hell," Rita told her daughter.

"Sir, if I may ask," Corey spoke up, "Why are you telling everyone here this bit of information, as I suspect you haven't even told the lass herself yet?"

"We kept it a secret from Luan because we didn't want her to feel different, out of place or anything. We wanted her to grow up thinking she was just a normal girl, and we have seen news like this turn a child's life upside down." Lynn Sr. responded.

"We kept it from the others because even our oldest children have issues keeping secrets," Rita added.

Lincoln was not surprised, even he had the misfortune of spilling a few secrets from time to time. Of course, he always got the disappointed look from the girls, despite them doing the same thing.

"We certainly understand," Akari said, "But you may have to tell her at some point, as it seems to be affecting the lives of those around her."

Both the Loud parents nodded in agreement.

"And well Lynn seems to speak for herself I dare say," Helen said.

"A tall order to fix indeed, but if you'll have it we can help," Shinjiro said. "That's why we brought Corey here to help Lincoln deal with Lynn using him and his sister as her personal punching bags" He nodded to the Scottish boy.

"Aye, seems the Lass is outta control, but that's where I come in." He flashed that trademark smirk. "Ahm an expert at knocking Lynn on her rear end. Ye give me a few weeks and she won't be able to touch you." Lincoln smiled at this. "Heck lad come to my dojo, maybe in a few years, you can even beat her at the tournament. Sooner if ye have any experience."

"Well, I did spend some time at Rising Sun, but well, it's…" Lincoln blushed.

"A black belt factory? Aye it is, but you might have picked up a few things, maybe even learned something from Lynn, once overheard her saying she loves sparing with you."

"Well," Lincoln sighed, "I wouldn't call it sparing. But yeah mom and dad made me practice," he air quoted, "with her. Mostly I stand there, and she pounds on me."

"So, she ever she you how to throw a punch? Any holds or moves?" Corey asked.

"Yes and no. She used moves and punches on me but never showed me how to use them," Lincoln replied. He rubbed his shoulder, a spot where she had put a beating on him a few weeks ago.

"So basically, just smacking you around eh? Family sanctioned bullying in other words," Corey thought for a second, "Shinjiro-sama?"

Lynn Sr. didn't like the fact that Corey called it "Family sanctioned" as if they just gave the okay for their daughter to beat up their only son. However, they didn't really step in either. Though they had no idea just how bad it was, maybe if Lincoln or one of the girls had come to them, they would have stepped in, but of course, that was all just hypothetical now.

"Yes, Corey?"

"You still got that sparing room set up in that one guest house aye?"

"That I do my boy."

"Lincoln, you'll love this part. We are going over there, and you are gonna get to wail on me with everything you got. Then we can see about teaching ya to defend yourself better and if your parents are okay with it get ya started at my dojo."

"Corey, I don't know if we can afford…" Lincoln started but his father cut him off.

"We keep money set aside for this sort of thing Lincoln and really your mother and I would like to see you out of the house more. We worry you shut yourself up too much, one reason we agreed to let Lily room with you, didn't want you playing video games all day."

"He doesn't play nearly as much as everyone thinks Father Dearest, don't believe me as for Dr. Loud's security tapes." Lily half spat, to say Lily had issues with Lisa would be like saying the sky was blue.

"She turned those cameras back on? After we told her to stop?" Rita pinched her nose.

"Her argument is they are different cameras," Lincoln explained, "after a while, we just got tired of it."

"Lynn, we have a lot to fix…" Rita looked at her husband.

"We do, but one step at a time." Lynn smiled.

"A healthy attitude to have," Akari said.

"Lynn? Rita? Why not come with us while Lincoln and Corey do their thing? We can get the paperwork out of the way for Lincoln's appointment tomorrow and I think my twin wanted a word with you." Ami motioned for the door. The reminder of dental work made Lincoln pale.

~*~*~*~Lynn Sr and Rita~*~*~*~

As they left the Miyamoto household Rita's mind drifted to her only son. She'd always wanted a boy and knew that Lynn had wanted one as well. They were so overwhelmed with joy on the day that Lincoln was born. Though she soon realized how lonely it was going to be, to a certain point, for the only boy in a sea of girls. She had wanted to give Lincoln a little brother, yet that simply had not been fates plan for her family. A part of her had hoped that maybe she could find a brother outside of the family, perhaps with this Corey boy, or even Alex and his brothers.

With the twins leading the way, they followed, walking two houses down before entering the gate to another home. Ami saw the confusion on their faces spoke up.

"It's quicker getting to my office if we go out my back gate. Akari lives next door on my left and Rurik our eldest brother on the right, our second eldest brother Haruto lives across the street." She told them.

Rita looked to her husband, both sharing a smile as they thought the same thing, hoping that when the time came their children wouldn't all move far away. Maybe Lincoln would marry Skyla and like her sisters and brothers live here, close to home so they could visit on Sundays for a nice family dinner. A parent could certainly dream.

They cut into Amis backyard, which looked like what Rita would imagine a Japanese park may look like, yet smaller. Cherry trees scattered about, providing shade for a few benches just off a stone path that snaked around the backyard.

They came to a back gate, which let out into a small park, which shared some similarities to the backyard they came from. The same trees scattered about, along with others that neither Rita nor Lynn could identify. The same stone path winded around the park, though much larger than the narrow one that was found in the backyard they came from. Lynn Sr. noticed a sign that encouraged adults playing on the equipment after dark, as long as they kept it down.

"That's an odd sign." Lynn Sr. mused.

"Yes, sometimes at night my siblings and I play on the swings," Ami said. "It was installed at our Father's insistence. It seemed a few outsiders had a fit over us using the park."

"They still complain form time to time," Akari added, rolling her eyes.

"Outsiders?" Rita asked.

"Yes, all are welcomed to visit Temple-Shrine, originally you needed permission to move in here," Akari explained. "It was open to all as long as they professed belief in one of the religions calling our community home. These days by law everyone is welcome," Akari sighed, "for better or worse."

"Better or worse?" Lynn looked at their hosts.

"Some folks move here and become a real boon to the community, they fit in as if they've always lived in or around here," Akari explained, "others," she hesitated, "others seem to just want to start trouble. Try to make us out to be racist or bigots so they can get their fifteen minutes of fame and sue the community to get rich quick. So far those attempts have failed."

"Recently," Ami picked up where her twin left off, "there has been talk of turning this into a gated community. Literally, hiring guards and everything and closing the area off to non-guests and non-residents after dark."

"Has it gotten that bad?" Lynn Sr. asked.

Akari smiled at Lynn Sr. "not yet, but some worry about it. Then, of course, you have Christians and Atheists wanting to see an end of our community. The Christians because of the Eastern faiths and the European Polytheists that are central here. The Atheists want us gone because a community with religion as it centerpiece offends them by its very existence. They see us as a violation of the constitution. They quote the first amendment like our Buddhist residents chant mantras or Catholics pray the rosary. Never mind we are a religious community and are not stopping anyone else from practicing. As long as you leave us alone to worship, I don't care if you worship no gods, one god or a billion."

They came to the edge of the park. Ami and Akari looked at their guests and smiled.

"So, this is where we part ways," Ami said, she looked to the left and nodded across the street. "My office is across the street there." She told Rita.

"And mine is down the block," Akari said, pointing further down the street.

"Must be nice working so close as well," Rita said.

"It is, we often meet at that teashop over there for lunch." Ami said, pointing at a small shop with a banner sign that said, 'Lucky Star Tea.'

"Sometimes our family joins us," Akari pointed out.

Lynn Sr. looked at his lovely wife and smiled at her. He went over and kissed, gently on the lips. "I'll see you in a bit sweetheart."

"Not complaining, but what was that for?" Rita said in a dreamy voice.

"To assure you that I am not going to run off with our lovely host." He smiled. "I only have eyes for you."

~*~*~*~Rita~*~*~*~

Ami's office was a small single-story building with an honest to goodness Koi pond out front and a couple of benches. Ami told her it wasn't unusual for patients or parents of patients to wait outside either for their children or for their turn in the chair. Rita could see why she wouldn't mind sitting by the pond herself.

They entered the building, and Rita instantly noticed the typical layout of most Dentist offices. A TV hung silently on the wall looking more like some odd pop art piece than an actual television. There was the receptionist's desk, which was unmanned at the moment, and some waiting chairs. The chairs were those ones with metal frame and the soft blue cushion on the seat and back. Dr. Feinstein had the chance to get those but opted for the hardwood ones, which were both cheaper and matched the other cheap furniture in the office. The magazines and newspapers being up to date was a surprise. There was also a play area for children and an aquarium with exotic fish. Looking around Rita saw another one of those small shrine buildings on a high shelf like in Shinjiro and Helen's place, a cute ceramic cat with a paw raised and above the entrance to the treatment areas a pair of statues.

"The aquarium helps keep my patients calm, especially the little ones," Ami told Rita seeing her attention drawn to the fish, "come." Ami led Rita past the reception desk, which had modern computers for filing, unlike the shelves that sat behind the desk at Dr. Feinstein's office. How many patients had slipped through the cracks because they lost a file?

The treatment rooms were arranged in a circle, the equipment was some of the most advanced Rita had seen, all of its top of the line. Dr. Feinstein preferred to use gear until it was falling apart, and even then duct tape was pretty handy in the office. Being a bit of a grease monkey like her husband and daughter Lana she understood the uses of duct tape, but not in a medical setting.

"I try to update everything every couple of years," Ami told Rita, "I especially like our new chairs. Designed to be comfortable for the patients and ease for us to work on them. When I was younger my first dentist had this chair that always left me with a neck ache after he was done," she smiled, "always lead to a headache."

As the tour continued, something that Rita had noticed was how each room had its own anesthesia system. Both nasal and full-face masks, it was unusual and something about it unnerved Rita a little, she had nothing against the use of gas in dentistry but this seemed a more than a bit excessive than she was used to. Though now to think of it, she had gassed Lori simply for talking too much during an appointment and really any chatty patient, or overly nervous patient.

Ami turned and smiled at Rita following her gaze, "yes we do use gas a lot in this office. Not only a good money maker but it attracts a lot of patients who normally wouldn't come to a dentist. On a personal note, I cannot stand a single one of my patients being in pain, or anyone really. The more painless and pleasant I can make my office the better."

Rita noticed the kind and caring tone in the young woman's voice, like a mother trying to protect her children for the harsh elements of a cold world. This was something that she could identify with, as well as respect.

They entered Ami's office, a decent sized room with large windows that looked out into a small garden. From a tree hung a bird feeder, which seemed to attract many different birds that fluttered about and chirped and sang.

The office was painted a soft lemon color, which gave it a very warm and inviting feeling the moment Rita stepped in. Ami motioned her to have a seat in front of the gray and black desk that Ami walked around, sitting in a large leather office chair. Rita looked around, seeing pictures of family and what she took to be her friends, all lining the walls. Aside from the pictures, also hung on the walls were here qualifications.

Ami pulled a drawer on her desk, reaching in and taking out some paperwork. She placed it on the desk and slid it over to Rita for review.

"Just the usual forms to fill out," She smiled at the older woman. "Also, would you mind if I used gas on Lincoln? He seems to be freaking out over the visit."

"If you can talk him into it, after the first time he seemed to be against its use. Never could figure out why. The first time he said it was the best thing to come from having to have his tooth removed…" Rita paused as she began to wonder, not for the first time, his reasons behind the sudden change in attitude towards sedation. "I'm starting to wonder if maybe my girls have something to do with that," she let out a sigh, wondering how much more damage they would be responsible for.

Ami reached over and laid a hand on Rita's and smiled, "I'll take care of him and I'm sure you'll get through this, so while I have you here any chance, I could talk you into coming in say Tuesday for an interview? I know Dr. Feinstein is going to retire in the next few years so why not take up a new job? I can assure you I pay better."

"I'd like that," Rita smiled back.

~*~*~*~Lincoln~*~*~*~

Lincoln leaned over and grabbed his knees gasping for breath. He'd wailed on Corey with everything he'd learned at Rising Sun and from Lynn. As far as the preteen was concerned, he sucked, he was waiting for the Scottish Black Belt to tell him he was hopeless and beyond the point of being trainable when a bottle of cold water was handed to him. He twisted the cap and sucked down the cold liquid like a man who had spent weeks in a hot desert.

"I'm impressed lad," Corey said through his thick accent. "Not the best I've ever seen but it's clear you picked up some good stuff." He took a seat next to Lincoln, who had finally given in to his wobbling legs. "If you really hammer down you could compete as a black belt in the tournament this year. Wouldn't that put Lynn in her place to lay her flat out and win first place?"

Corey's words burrowed into the young boy's brain. Beat Lynn? Was that even possible? Well if anyone knew it was the man sitting next to him.

"Are sure I am good enough for that?" Lincoln asked, doubts still cluttering his mind and holding back his own self-esteem.

"I wouldn't lie to ya lad," Corey said, slapping him on the back in a friendly gesture. "If ya really sucked, I would ya." He flashed that smile that Lincoln knew got Lynn's blood boiling.

Lincoln looked at Corey, his mind and his heart on opposite sides of this argument. It was his gut that settled it, telling him to trust the young man and take the help.

"It's a deal! When do I start?"

Corey got to his feet, helping Lincoln to his. "We can start up this coming weekend, I'll talk to Takaoka Sensei, he's the best. Strict, but the best." He said.

Corey stuck out his hand to Lincoln, who took it and they shook on the deal. Corey's cellphone rang.

"Excuse me lad, important call and such," Corey said, stepping away.

As he did, soon Skyla and Kat and moved in on their territory.

"Koji-kun you were great!"

"I think Lynn is in for a shock Snowflake!"

Both girls embraced the boy who returned their affections, he could get used to this.

Corey returned. "I gotta head out, good meeting you again Linc, we are gonna have some fun the next few weekends, get ready, now I'll be hitting back." He grinned.

Lincoln felt a surprising sense of sadness as the Scottish boy left. He had not known Corey all that well, yet he felt a connection as if they were on the verge of a friendship that would help define who Lincoln would come to see himself as.

"Come on, let's head back in," Skyla said, leading Kat and Lincoln back to the house.

When they entered, they found Lincoln's parents standing with the twins, in the middle of a conversation that quickly ended once Lincoln had arrived.

"Good, we wanted to see you before we took off," Rita said.

"You guys are leaving so soon?" Lincoln walked over and embraced his mother.

"Yeah, we have to get back before your sisters burn the house down, and we really need to talk to them." Lynn Sr. said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wad of bills, handing them to his son. "Have fun with your friends, and make sure to keep an eye on Lily, why not let your lady friends take you clothes shopping, I'll leave your cut of the clothing fund with Shinjiro and Helen.

They hugged their children then headed for the van.

"You think Lincoln knows both girls are interesting him?" Rita asked her husband.

"Maybe," Lynn Sr. said. "Though I wonder if he knows that Skyla is interested in a polyamorous relationship and seems to have Kat on board. Reminds me a lot of Uncle William. Maybe I should tell Lincoln about him sometime."

~*~*~*~Lincoln, Skyla, and Kat~*~*~*~

Lincoln soon found himself back in the guest house with Kat and Sklya. They were all sprawled out on the floor and looking up at the ceiling. The young boy's mind was filled with images of his upcoming dentist appointment with Ami. The butterflies in his stomach had suddenly gotten much bigger and much more violent, as he stomach growled and gurgled.

"Hungry little one?" Skyla asked.

"Hmm, we never did order that food." Kat pondered.

"We should order it now, I doubt you will be up for it tomorrow after Ami is done and all," Skyla said. She turned to noticed that Lincoln was now sitting upright and looked very pale. "Lincoln?"

Both girls sat up and scooted over to Lincoln, checking on him. His eyes had that far away look like something was grabbing his attention for just beyond the moment. Something reaching out from the past and snatching his full attention.

~*~*~Three years ago. Lincoln: Age Nine~*~*~

The front door clicked and creaked open, Rita Loud and her young son Lincoln entering the house. Lincoln held his palm to his cheek, still a bit numb, yet there was a low dull throbbing coming from where he knew the drill had been about forty minutes earlier.

"Okay honey, head on upstairs and lay down," Rita said, her hand on his should. "I'll be up a little later to see if you want to try some broth or something."

Lincoln nodded and stumbled up to the room he once shared with Lynn and Lucy. He gripped the railing, his head still a bit loopy from the gas he had been given earlier. Stuff was a godsend, making the appointment more endurable. As he continued his way towards the room, he noticed a familiar dark form come from shadows and wrap her arms around his waist.

"Feeling better?" Lucy looked up at him, brushing the bangs from her face, a pair of piercing blue eyes stared back at him.

"Yeah Spooky," Lincoln smiled at her. "Still a little out of it. Dr. Feinstein gave me gas for this." The sentence had not lingered long in the air before he heard a mocking laugh come from behind him.

Lincoln turned around to see his older sister, Luan, standing in the hall. Her hair was in pigtails and she wore a yellow dress with pink knee-high socks. Dangling from her hand was a Yo-Yo, which she was trying to get to work, it's lack of doing so caused her face to scrunch and distort into a look of frustration. The look softened to one of devilish mischief once she looked upon her brother in his discomfort from his dental visit.

"What's the matter?" She mocked, "Lil' Lincy couldn't take it like a man?" Luan's grin was cold, like a serial killer staring down her victim. In this case a serial prankster. "And here I thought you were a boy. HA! Gas I was wrong!" She laughed at her own joke, something Lincoln often wondered about.

Lucy led Lincoln to her room but a fist slammed into the door frame, the arm it was connected to barring Lincoln's path. The first and arm belonged to Lynn who was propped up against the door frame to her and Lucy's room. She was eating an apple, slowly biting and chewing as she looked at Lincoln.

"Where do you think YOU are going, mister? This isn't your room anymore." She nodded to the converted closet.

"Come on Linc, I'll stay with you tonight." Lucy let Lincoln lean on her as she led him away from the older girls. The twins and even little Lisa had come from their rooms at the commotion and gathered around their big brother.

"What, seriously?" Luan's tone had a touch of hurt as if she were surprised that her younger sisters seemed to be taking his side. "You're a wuss!" She looked at Lincoln, a cold grin spread across her face. "You are supposed to be a man, but you need to be protected by you're little sisters. Heh, guess you are a girl after all."

The commotion soon attracted the other girls, like sharks drawn to blood, soon it was a teasing frenzy. They mocked Lincoln, calling him a sissy, a pansy, and a lot of other names. The younger girls clung closer to Lincoln as he closed the door, terrified of what they'd just seen.

Lucy clung to her brother, as the twins braced locked the door, a look of fear etched on her face. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

~*~*~*~Present Day Lincoln~*~*~*~

The girls looked on in horror after Lincoln had finished telling his tale. He left out a sigh, wondering about his sisters. He didn't understand what he did to deserve all of that. The feelings bubbling up in him were complicated, to say the least. He loved his sisters, even when they were acting the way they did. They were family, but he wondered if they loved him. There were moments it seemed like they did, and then there were a lot more moments when they seemed to treat him more like an object than a real person.

"They did what!?" Kat yelled, "every time I think I've heard it all something else comes along!"

"How ironic," Lily had her arms crossed and a severe look on her face, "I know Luan and the rest of our sisters get gas for dental work, a few even for cleanings. Bloody sexist sisters."

"Sorry girls didn't know I was speaking out loud. Also, Lily, the girls can't be sexist…" Lincoln started to repeat the lesson the girls had drilled into him, girls cannot be sexist against men, because sexism requires privilege and power and girls have neither.

"Why not?" Skyla interrupted, "because they're girls? Who told you… Wait of course they'd teach you that…" Skyla sighed pinching the bridge of her nose, "it's a miracle you haven't turned into a first-rate misogynist."

"Look, I get that they can be .." Lincoln started to say.

"Total bitches?" Kat added, getting a look from Lincoln.

"Let's go with brats." Lincoln smiled. "But they are not all bad. I refuse to think that they are just terrible people who … who don't love me."

Kat and Skyla joined Lily by his side. Skyla put her hand on his shoulder and smiled at him.

"No one is saying they are terrible people," Kat told.

"But they have and still are mistreating you and need to relearn how to love you," Skyla said. "You had a lot of strong bonds with them at one point, I can tell because there is still love in your voice when you mention them. But there is also a lot of hurt, a lot of pain. Those bonds are cracked, and it's going to take time to repair them."

Lincoln found himself enveloped in a warm embrace, two girls that seemed to love him, and one little sister that he knew for a fact did. He felt safe with them, wanted and cared for. It was a feeling that he did not know how much he missed until it was slowly working its way back into his life.

"Anyway, enough of them, tomorrow Ami is treating you, and then we are going to care for you," Skyla said, pulling from the embrace.

"That's right mister, soon as she's done with you and we got you back here it'll be time for some cuddles," Kat smiled.

"So, Dearest Brother sit down, get comfortable and decide what you want to eat. I am going to find Dearest Jade and play and leave you to your girlfriends," with that Lily smiled kissed her brother's cheek and skipped to the door.

Lily's words had an impact that felt like a slap across the face. Lincoln had been wondering about that since the time they called, granted it was a germ of a thought at the time. Now he was with two lovely girls that both seemed to show interest in him, and he was left wondering who he would end up dating if anyone. Of course, the other thought was a 'what if?' that many guys would seem to have, or so the boys at school would often talk about. What if both girls wanted to date him? What if he could date both girls?

"So." Lincoln sighed, the words lingering on his lips. "Are we dating? I mean, like are ALL of us dating?" He asked.

Both girls looked at each other and smiled.

"Do you want to date us both Snowflake?"

Before Lincoln could answer Skyla laid a finger on his lips, "think Little One, think long and hard before you make a choice. Do it for you, not us."

~*~*~*~Luan~*~*~*~

Luan sat on her bed and looked at the object on her desk. It was something small and seemingly meaningless. Something she just discovered while digging through a box of junk in her room. There she saw it, pulled it out, and within seconds she was drowning in a tidal wave of memories. Memories that pulled her down to a time she wished had stayed forgotten.

The small red Yo-Yo sat on the desk and mocked her much the way she once mocked her little brother. Though the names it called her in her head were far worse than what she and said to Lincoln. And of course, unlike her brother, she deserved it.

She had mocked and teased Lincoln for getting gas while at the dentist. The dentist. A person and place that instilled fear into a lot of children and even some adults. Who didn't have even a tiny bit of fear? What with the needles and drills, the sounds of those instruments, the smell of the smoke as the drill worked its way in.

Luan shuddered.

It was such a hypocritical thing to do, after all, most of the girls got the gas when they went. Yet, for some reason, she felt the need, the desire to tease him. Luan remembered one sisters' only meeting where it was decided to make sure that Lincoln did not grow up to be one of those sexist jerks that they all hated dealing with at school and other places. The ones that treat women like dirt and sex objects. The ones that blame women for all their problems in life. Yeah, it seemed like a good idea, but in doing so, she began to wonder if they were turning him into that by trying to keep him from becoming that.

Did they really have to hover over him and make him think that anything a man did was bad and that everything a woman did was good? Where was the balance? Years of studying comedy helped her to learn that you couldn't take the stage and do a twenty-minute set on the same damn topic. You had to balance your act, toss in some day to day jokes, maybe something nerdy or political, or hell even some prop gags. Give them a variety.

Seemed to her that they should have been doing that with Lincoln. After all, he had no real male role models in the house. Well, there was their Dad, but even he seemed to act more like one of the girls at times. At least, they didn't see the manly stuff with him. Then there was Bobby but as Ronnie Anne had joked, he was more like a little brother than a big brother.

It fell to them to show him that stuff, and god how they failed. It was just so hard because they could not move past their own jaded feelings, which got passed on to Lincoln. In trying to ensure he didn't grow misogynist they'd become sexist themselves. She hadn't believed it was possible to be sexist against men, but here they were, just as bad as any of the jocks in high school cat calling the girl who grew boobs over the summer.

She hoped it wasn't too late. She hoped they could fix this, mend the bridge and repair the bond they all shared with their only brother.

~*~*~*~Lynn Sr.~*~*~*~

On the drive home, Lynn Sr. wondered about his family. His daughters had started to take over the house, of course, they did have the number advantage, but still, it wasn't their house. It was his and his wife's. They were the parents, the ones who were supposed to run things and lead the way. Yet somehow, they ended up handing over control to Lori, who was out of the league in that area. It was unfair as well, as she had her own life to prepare for, college, maybe Bobby, and hopefully a family of her own.

The thought of his little girl growing up and moving on pinched at his heart and made him want to tear up. She was their first, and soon she would leave them to go out into the world. Did they do a good enough job with her? Teaching her how to navigate the world out there. God, he hoped so. However, the way things appeared at home really made him wonder.

They stopped at a light near the intersection close by where Lincoln and Lori used to go to rent their video games. That was back when Lori was still into things like that, and back when you could still rent movies and games without going to a Redbox or signing up for an online service. Just pop in, get your game or movie and go home. Family trips to Major Video were fun back then, the girls wanting to find the latest Disney movie and Lincoln trying to decide between a game or some cartoon. He would like to go back to those old days before all the problems started, but that would mean giving up Lucy, the twins, and of course Lisa and Lily. He couldn't do that.

"Thinking about Major Video again?" Rita asked.

Lynn looked over and smiled. She knew him. Not a lot of couples out there that could tell what the other was thinking, but Rita always seemed to know.

"Yeah."

"You know you romanticize those trips." She smiled. "I remember the screaming, the bickering, and the terrible smell of burnt popcorn." She laughed.

"But you would do it all again wouldn't you?" He asked.

"With you guys?" She paused as if pondering the question long and hard. "In a heartbeat."

The light turned green and they continued their journey back towards the house, mentally preparing to deal with the girls.

"So, what did you and Ami talk about, besides setting up Lincoln's appointment." He asked.

"Thinking of getting a job with Ami," Rita said.

"Really? You ready to leave Dr. Cheap … I mean Feinstein."

Rita laughed, knowing full well how much her husband had disliked Dr. Feinstein. Of course, some of that came from the terrible root canal the man did on Lynn Sr. Kind of hard not to hate someone who caused that much pain.

"Well, that does seem good." Lynn Sr. said.

"They do seem like lovely people, and I think I would enjoy working with Ami," Rita said. Rita frowned a bit, wondering if maybe they were indeed a better family than hers.

Lynn Sr. put his hand on his wife's thigh and smiled at her.

"You think we are screwing up our kids?" She asked.

"I think a lot of parents screw up their kids a little." He told her. "We might have pushed them a little closer to that edge than I am comfortable with, but I have faith we can bring them back from the brink."

Rita leaned over and kissed her husband on the cheek. "I love you."

"So Akari's going to do a few tests tomorrow," Lynn told her, bracing for the other shoe to drop. "She thinks he might have a form of depression."

Rita stared at her husband, her face a blank slate. She blinked and looked out past Lynn, past the city streets they passed, and beyond the town of Royal Woods. She was lost in her thoughts, trying to process the words she had just heard. Her baby boy might have a form of depression. What the hell else could go wrong?

Well folks hope you enjoyed the chapter. A lot of the actions of the sisters are based on stories I've read from men that grew up in large families as the only boy along with conjecture from the show.

After Sleuth or Consequences I've wondered where Lucy's fear of being teased came from, that's when me and Zoinks decided that it showed be addressed here. Seeing her brothers torment and the older sisters being like sharks to blood with teasing. Especially when you realize in this setting especially it's been Lori who has done most of the parenting and how cruel children and younger teens can often be.