8. Chapter 8

Chapter 8: No Solace

Disclaimer: I do not own Loud House or any form of media related to it, it is rightfully owned by its respective companies or owners.

AN: HEY YOU GUYS! I'm back once again! And I here go give you what you came her for! Now, I know you guys are kind of sick of these introduction chapters as of now. But don't worry, because these introductions will be over soon. And then we'll get into Lincoln's past and what his family has been doing without him. Probably have a few flashbacks and who knows, I might do a chapter or two about some certain episodes from the show. But only time will tell though. Anyways before I get to answering some questions, I want to apologize for any spelling mistakes or errors I make in the last chapter. You see, when I was writing the last chapter, I may have kind of rushed it a little. Because I knew that you guys were waiting for that chapter for awhile. So I just thought I push it a long a little faster. But now I see I kind of made a mistake on my part. And for that, I apologize. I promise I'll try better next time. OK, now time to answer your questions! To wakasta, I don't think Lincoln is adopted. But if you mean in this story, then no. If your talking about the TV show though, I don't know if that's true or if it's just a theory going around. To Thunderstrike16, Mew Shadowfang, avatarbending and anyone else I might have missed. Thanks for telling me and showing me those pictures, I had no idea about those things so thank you. To Austin 'SirAuruda1st' Bass, yeah if you want to. Because I'm good with anything, but you don't have to do that if you don't want to. And that would look to be all the questions in the reviews I saw, if I missed some I am deeply sorry I did. Because you see after I posted the last chapter forgot that some people's reviews might not show because I didn't moderate them first. I guess it slipped my mind because I was so tired when I finished that chapter. So yeah, sorry about that. OK… let's get to what you guys cane here for. Oh and once again, thanks for all the love and support you guys give me. Even though I don't deserve it, it's really appreciated and welcomed. Anyways… ON WITH THE CHAPTER! Enjoy!

Meanwhile Upstairs

Now as Lincoln had finally made it upstairs, the white haired 20 year old couldn't help but feel a little surreal. Since it has been ages since he's been in this house and this hallway. For him, it looked like it hasn't aged a day. But he knew that was a lie, well for him anyways. It had been 9 years and things do change. For better or worse. Soon after about a minute of taking it all in, Lincoln's attention was caught by the loud music. As he turned towards the source of the music, which was a room down towards the end of the hallway. And if he remembered correctly, that room was Luna's.

Shorty after thinking about it over, Lincoln decided to make his way towards the room where the loud music was emanating. As he was making his way there, Lincoln couldn't help but feel immense worry and a tiny bit of fear. In his mind, there was no way that his reunion with Luna was going to be pleasant. But unfortunately he didn't have a choice in the matter frankly. He knew that arguing with it with his mom would be useless. So, it was ether this way or him spending the next hour being scolded by his mom. Both he didn't like one bit. Now, as Lincoln continued to think over this whole mess in his head. He almost completely forgotten the room he was heading towards.

"OK… this is it." Lincoln said to himself softly as he stared at the door handle, and as he was staring. The music was still getting a little louder, and after about a full minute of waiting. Lincoln took another deep breath to try and calm his nerves, he then began to reach towards the handle of the door. While trying to completely prepare himself for what awaited him. Unfortunately though, that didn't seem to be the case. Since Lincoln suddenly stopped halfway while he was reaching for the door handle… when all of a sudden he heard the sound of another door opening… from right behind him.

"I swear Luna, if you don't keep it down I going to shove that guitar down your throat! I'm trying to talk to Bobby but I can't because of you!" Someone yelled out in a very frustrated tone with a very feminine voice as the door behind Lincoln was beginning to open. Now, after being totally caught off guard by the door beginning to open and the voice coming from behind it. Lincoln didn't have a clue what to do. So, he only did what anyone would do. He quickly turned around to face the door that was opening from behind and started to briefly panic. He then started to look for ways to escape. As he tried his best to find ways of getting him out of this current situation, Lincoln had started to realize something. He started to realize that he knew that voice in some way. But he couldn't put his finger on it though.

As the music coming from Luna's room continued to play as loud as it could from behind him. Lincoln stood his ground, since he wasn't looking for a way to escape anymore. But was trying to figure where he remembered that voice. Meanwhile as he was doing that, the door he was facing continued to open. His attention was then placed back on the task at hand. He quickly looked to the door as it was now completely open, and then someone started to come through it. And it was then Lincoln suddenly felt his heart tighten as his breathing began to get heavy. As if he had saw a ghost.

In a sense, he was right. Because for Lincoln… it was like seeing a ghost. A ghost from his past, a ghost he left behind and slowly forgot about. However, even after all these years. There was no way Lincoln could forget that face. A face that would be with him forever. The face of his little sister, his sister Lori. At first, Lincoln couldn't figure out why that voice seemed familiar. But now it all made sense to him. It was Lori all along.

After a brief few seconds of taking it in, Lincoln started to look at Lori more closely. And he could tell that out of everyone, it was Lori who grew up the most. The girl he was seeing right now in front of him was the same little 8 year old girl he left all those years ago. What he saw was a beautiful young woman who seemed to be a little shorter than himself, while being a little taller than Leni. She had large blonde hair like their mom had, probably something that was passed down like he had with Pop-Pop's hair. She wore a light blue tanktop with brown cargo shorts, blue slip-on shoes, and had blue eye shadow. She was also wearing pearl earrings. And if Lincoln could be completely honest with himself, he had to admit she was very attractive.

'Man, she and Leni probably have all the guys attention where they go to school at! Not sure if that's a good thing on my end though.' Lincoln thought as he kept his gaze on his sister. Who still somehow didn't take notice of Lincoln. Now, if Lincoln was a betting man. He bet that the reason why her attention wasn't on him yet was because she was currently on her phone. If he had to guess, she was probably texting someone.

'Probably this Bobby guy she's talking about… wait? Who is this Bobby guy anyways!?' Lincoln thought with puzzled expression as he tried his best to figure out who this guy Lori was talking about. And how come she's even talking about some guy anyways. While Lincoln was in his own thoughts and trying to figure out everything. Lori continued to text on her phone with a light scowl on her face as she kept walking towards her destination. Which was most likely Luna's room. But while both Lincoln and Lori were preoccupied with their own problems, both had seemingly forgot watch their surroundings. And of course that meant both brother and sister couldn't see each as Lori bumped right into Lincoln. Shortly after that, Lori lost her balance and was about to fall to towards the floor. But luckily Lincoln could count on his reflexes and caught Lori just in time before she made contact with the ground.

"Whoa there, I got you!" Lincoln exclaimed in surprised tone as he caught Lori just in time by grabbing her around the hips. Quickly after that, Lincoln brought Lori back to her feet. Which caused the blonde 17 year old girl to be pulled a little bit closer towards Lincoln. And after this Lori had an extremely surprised expression on her face. She then slowly looked up to see who caught her, and boy was she deeply shocked to see who it was.

"Man you almost took a tumble there. Eh Lori?" Lincoln said in a soft spoken tone as he looked down towards Lori, while giving her a small but bright smile. Now, as Lincoln continued to look down at his sister, he saw the shocked expression on her face. Just like from the rest of the others earlier. An expression that Lincoln was happy to see from Lori of all people. Sure he saw it on all his sisters down stairs, with the exception of Lynn of course. Who turned out to be pretty darn mad at him when she laid her eyes on him for the first time in 9 years.

Lincoln of course thought he was fortunate enough to see that Lori didn't feel the same way Lynn did. But he wasn't trying to speak so soon since their interaction with one another wasn't over yet. Shorty after thinking that, Lincoln suddenly felt the gentle touch of hand on his right cheek. This quickly caught his attention and so he slowly started to look down to see Lori looking back at him, with her hand gently touching his cheek.

"T-that really is you, isn't Lincoln." Lori said in a soft and shaky tone as she kept her gaze up towards her brother. Who didn't know what to say. Who could? It had been so long since he's seen or heard anything from his family. And above all Lori. So yeah, Lincoln was a little speechless. So he decided to use actions other than his words.

Lincoln slowly started to move his right hand up towards his cheek where Lori's hand was currently located. Shortly after about a second later, Lincoln had his hand placed gently above Lori's. Which was still on his cheek. He then placed his gaze back Lori who had a speechless expression as tears looked like they were going to fall from her eyes. Lincoln then gently with a slow pace brought his other hand up towards Lori's cheek. Now, both brother and sister could help be lost in each others gaze.

'Wow, she really has grown into something… and I missed it. But, I'm here now.' Lincoln thought with a sudden and new stride as he kept looking down at Lori. Who now had tears coming down her face. After seeing this, Lincoln couldn't help but feel terrible. If there was one thing that Lincoln didn't want to do. It would be to cause his sisters to cry. Now, as Lincoln was about to say something. Lori's expression slowly stated to change a little. After a little while, Lori's expression was now one of indifference. Like there was no emotion at all on her face. And soon after that her tears suddenly seem to stop, which soon caught Lincoln's attention. But before he could say or do anything, Lori started to speak.

"This for leaving." Lori said with a whisper as he inched closer towards Lincoln, who looked puzzled at first. But that changed when he saw the look on her face as it quickly disappear into a light scowl. After seeing this look on Lori's face, Lincoln thought for the worse and he was right. Because all of a sudden he felt a great deal of pain… right where his crotch was located! As of a result of that, he quickly looked down to see that Lori had kneed him right in his lower regions! So, he reacted the only way he could!

"ARUGH!" Lincoln exclaimed loudly in pain as his whole body began to feel full force of what Lori had done. So much so that he was now slowly getting on his knees as felt like he was going to fall down to the floor. He then quickly brought one of his hands down to floor to help keep his balance as he was reeling from what had Lori did to him. While he used his other hand to help guard his crotch in case Lori wasn't done with her attack. But luckily for him that didn't seem to be the case. Since the only thing Lori seem to do as of right now, was to look down towards her kneeling brother with a scowl on her face. And a fierce glare along with it.

'OK! Didn't see that coming!' Lincoln thought in pain as he was no beginning to process what had just happened. Now after about a few solid seconds of trying to recover from the attack on his lower regions? He took a couple of deep breaths as he let out a loud groan afterwards. Lincoln then tried his best to get up but had little to no success. So he decided to look up towards Lori, who still had that scowl on her face as she kept glaring down at him with a little bit of hate and disgust.

"Nice to see you too princess!" Lincoln said with a groan as he was still feeling the affects of him getting kneed in the crouch. But even with the pain he was feeling, he couldn't help but try to be a smart ass. Thus why he called Lori a princess. Because he knew she couldn't stand it when he called her that. And just like he predicted, he saw the look on Lori's face immediately disappear and was replaced with a shocked expression and a light blush on her cheeks. But eventually that expression and blush went away. Shortly after that, her scowl and glare returned but was much more heated than before.

"You have some nerve to show your disgusting face around here. Especially after what you did to this family you good for nothing bastard!" Lori said with a tone mixed with anger and disgust as she kept her glare placed on Lincoln. Who after hearing his sister's hate filled words, looked a little hurt and a bit shocked by what she said. But that changed when he thought long and hard by what she said.

"No, not nerve. Just regret Lori, just a whole lot of regret." Lincoln said simply as he looked up at Lori, who still had a scowl and glare on her face. And had no signs of going away soon. After awhile later, Lincoln proceeded to take another deep breath like from earlier. He then tried once again to get up but was having a hard time at first. But luckily he powered through it and began to slowly get up. After a few seconds of struggling a little, he had finally did it. Lincoln was now back up to his feet, however he still had one of his hands on his crotch. You know, just in case Lori wasn't done letting out her rage at him.

"So, how is this going to work? You wanna keep berating me and tell me what a piece of trash I am? Or do you want to keep venting your anger on me physically?" Lincoln asked with a pained filled huff, since he was still feeling a bit of pain from getting kneed in his family jewels. Who could blame him? He then looked to Lori as he was waiting for her response. But after a minute of silence and not hearing a answer. Lincoln decided to keep speaking, while Lori continued glare at him some more.

"Silent treatment, really? Didn't expect that from you of all people. Thought you might want to lay into me, like Lynn did." Lincoln said as he kept looking towards Lori hoping to get a response. But that didn't seem to be happening, since Lori just seemed to be unusually quiet and kept glaring at him. Probably hoping that he might crack under her gaze, like what she uses to do when they were younger. However, that didn't seem to be the case. Since the both of them weren't kids anymore.

"Bet you want me to say I'm sorry, and give you more of a reason to say you hate my guts. To say I regret leaving you guys. Is that it?" Lincoln asked simply as he began to fully recover from his "personal injury". He then kept his gaze towards his sister, who still looked the same like last time. So, Lincoln decided to change as he kept speaking.

"Well… I am sorry that I left all of you the way I did." Lincoln said as he began to speak what was on his mind, but he knew that he had to be careful for what he said. Since Lori wasn't like the rest of his sisters. So just simply saying he's sorry and crying won't win her over. And so, he had to think differently and say what was truly on his mind. Also most importantly, say what his heart was telling him.

"But, I'm not sorry for the reason why though." Lincoln said as he looked to Lori, who looked deeply surprised at first when those words left his mouth. In fact, if Lori was being honest with herself. It almost made her heart tighten in sadness when she heard those words. And of course that immediately changed when she felt immense anger as she began to process what Lincoln's words meant. And she was going to yell at him or even attack him once again like last time. But she never got the chance since Lincoln started to speak again.

"The reason why I'm not sorry Lori, is because I knew that if this family wanted to stay a family… it had to keep being one without me." Lincoln said in a shaken tone, and almost immediately after saying that. Lori was now completely shocked by Lincoln's words. And was now also deeply confused by what Lincoln had said. So, she decided to keep quiet and listen to what he had to say.

"You and I both know that back when we were younger and there was just the 6 of us, things were… different." Lincoln said as he used the word "different" as loosely as possible.

"Things were rough for all of us, since dad was laid off at the time and mom couldn't yet find a job yet. And over time… I got tired of it. I got tired of seeing you guys being miserable and unhappy." Lincoln said in a soft and still shaky tone as he continued to speak. While Lori just kept being silent as she stood there listening to what her brother had to say.

"So, I had this crazy plan to try and make things better. A plan where all of you got to eat more and get to do things we couldn't do when I was still around. A plan where you guys could be happy… a plan where I wasn't in the picture." Lincoln said sadly as he looked towards the ground, since he couldn't bare to see what Lori's expression was. So, he kept going on what he had to say.

"The plan I had was… that I run away. I run away from home and from all of you. Not because I was unhappy or that I hated anyone of you. No, I ran away because… I thought at the time… maybe if mom and dad had one less mouth to feed. And one less kid to take care of… maybe things would get better." Lincoln continued as he kept looking down at the ground with shame and a little bit of sadness.

"So, yeah… that was my plan. I would just leave in the middle of the night while everyone was in bed sleeping. And, I went through with it. I left all of you without saying a word, without leaving a letter… and without saying goodbye to all of you. My girls… my sisters… my family." Lincoln said as he felt like his chest was tightening by each word he said. But even though he felt like stopping, he decided to power through. He then proceeded to take a deep breath as he started to speak once again.

"I… do regret leaving you all the way I did. You deserved much more than that from me, a lot of things from me in fact. But, I don't regret the reasons Lori. Because if I had to leave to make sure you all had a better life and were happy without me. Than I would do it all over again. Because, I love you… all of you. And I would have done anything to make sure you were happy. Even if that meant I couldn't be with you." Lincoln said in a whisper like tone as he tried his best not to cry. While keeping his gaze down at the floor.

"Heh, bet I look like a mess right now. Look at me, I can't even look at your face because how much of a coward I am. I… shouldn't have came back… I bet you of all people would be happy still… if I had just died out there rather than coming back. Look at me… I'm a waste of life." Lincoln said simply with a tone filled with shame and regret. While his words would have seemed shallow and grim at first, he said those words it the best way he could have said them. Now, while he knew he shouldn't have said such things. Lincoln didn't seem to care, since it almost looked like he meant every word. His expression was that of sadness, regret and of shame. However, that quickly changed when he felt a sharp pain on his right cheek! As if he had just been slapped, and after about a brief second later. He finally figured out that he was indeed slapped, slapped by Lori.

Lincoln was so surprised by this, he didn't know what to do. So, he only did what he could do. He decided to put his gaze back towards Lori, and so he did. But when he lifted his head to see Lori. He was shocked to see what awaited him. What Lincoln saw wasn't the same scowling Lori who was glaring at him only a few minutes ago. No, what he saw was something completely different. He saw Lori, who had tears running down her face as he still had her glare still placed on him. But this time, it felt… more different. Before Lincoln could say a word or do anything, it would seem like Lori had beaten him to the punch.

"Don't you ever say that again, do hear me!" Lori exclaimed in a shaky but loud tone as she looked to Lincoln with an expression of both anger and sadness. Which by all means took Lincoln by shock, since he was expecting a lot of things from his Lori when he was finished speaking. But he wasn't expecting what he was seeing right now in front of him.

'Well, I was kind of expecting the slap… but not this. No way I expected this from Lori of all people. And boy does she know how to slap, man that really stung.' Lincoln thought as he slowly brought up his hand to touch his now swore cheek. He then turned his gaze towards Lori, who seemed to have a lot more to say than what she did say. So, Lincoln thought it was just plain right to see what she had to say to him. Since she did the same with him.

"I don't care that you're sorry, you hear me! I really don't! But don't you ever say you are a waste! Do you hear me!" Lori said in a forceful and anger filled tone as tears continued to fall down her face. Before long after she said that, she slowly made her way up to Lincoln. Who still seemed a little bit shocked about what happened but after awhile he seemed to have gotten his act together. He then decided to keep quiet since he knew that Lori wasn't done with him yet.

"After what you did to this family, I can't never forgive you. But that doesn't mean I hate you." Lori said as her tone began to quiet down a little as she looked started to look down at the floor like Lincoln did with her earlier. But after she awhile later, Loti lifted her head to see Lincoln. Who seemed to be shocked by what she had said. But remained quiet as he could look back at Lori who continued to speak.

"Even after what you did to this family, what you did to me. I still love you… because you're my brother. And after what you told me… after you told me why you left. I can't help but think your not the bad guy here." Lori said softy as she looked back at Lincoln. Who couldn't help but feel surprised to hear those words from her. Especially after what he's done to her and their family. At first, Lincoln thought this might be leading up to something like what had happened to him and Lynn earlier. But that didn't seem the case when Lori suddenly took a step back, while tear kept falling down her cheeks.

"But, that doesn't mean your not guilty though." Lori said simply as tried her best to avert Lincoln's gaze. But couldn't help it as she locked her eyes with his.

"I can't just forget everything like it never even happened Lincoln. I just can't. After all the time and pain we went through, what I went through!" Lori said as she gave a heated glare right at Lincoln, who still had a very neutral expression as he let Lori continue what she was saying. But even though his expression said it otherwise, Lincoln was hurting on the inside by what Lori was saying. Because he knew that all of it was true. Even though he didn't want it to be.

"I had to grow up without my big brother! I had to help mom and dad when you left us! I had to fill in your role as the mature and loving older sibling! I had to learn the hard way about high school when you weren't there to tell me! I had to go through the worse days of my life without my big brother there to comfort me and tell me everything is going to get better! I HAD TO BE HERE WHEN YOU WEREN'T HERE!" Lori screamed at Lincoln as she started to let out all her anger and sadness with her words. And the only thing Lincoln could do was stand there and take it all. All the pain and sadness, all because of what he did to her. What he did to all of them. And unfortunately for Lincoln, Lori's rage filled rant wasn't over yet.

"YOU LEFT ME! YOU LEFT ALL OF US! YOU SAY YOU LOVE ME, YOU SAY YOU LOVE ALL OF US! THAT YOU WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR US! THAN WHY WEREN'T YOU HERE WHEN WE NEEDED YOU!? WHEN I NEEDED YOU!" Lori screamed at the top of her lungs. As she kept going all in on Lincoln, who seemed to be cracking by each word she said. And from there it only seemed to get worse, since it looked like Lori wasn't done yet. Not by a long shot.

"WHERE WERE YOU WHEN LUCY WAS BORN!? WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE TWINS WERE BORN!? WHERE WERE YOU WHEN LISA WAS BORN!? WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOUR 11 MONTH OLD LITTLE SISTER WAS BORN!? WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU WEREN'T THERE TO HOLD THEM WHEN THEY CAME HOME FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME!?" Lori continued to scream at Lincoln, who could only keep taking all the verbal punishment she gave him. And slowly it was beginning to take a huge toll on him, word by word was hurting him to his very core. So much, that tears were threatening to fall from his face. All of it, all of it was too much for him. As every word was beginning to process through his head, Lincoln had finally decided enough was enough.

"WHAT DO WANT ME TO SAY LORI!? TELL ME RIGHT NOW AND I'LL SAY IT! BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TO STAND HERE AND LISTEN TO THIS! I CAN LEAVE RIGHT NOW IF YOU WANT ME TO! JUST SAY IT!" Lincoln yelled as he looked down at Lori with anger in his eyes. Which totally caught Lori off guard, so much so that she almost felt fear when she saw the look in his eyes. Because she never once saw a look in her brother's eyes like the one she was currently seeing right now. If she had to be honest with herself, it frightened her a little bit. But Lori wasn't a coward, so she decided not to back down not even a little to a still distraught Lincoln. In fact, Lori decided to say something that would probably even make Lincoln more upset than he already was.

But before she or Lincoln could say or do anything, both brother and sister began to hear a door begin to open. And that door so happened to be located right behind where Lincoln was standing. And while that was happening, Lincoln slowly started to realize something. The music that was playing loudly in Luna's room had came to a stop. In fact, as Lincoln began to think harder on it. He suddenly started to realize something else, something very important that he almost wanted to punch himself for forgetting it. Lincoln had figured out that the music coming from Luna's room… had stopped playing long ago! As he began to remember it more clearly this time, he remembered that it stopped when he abs Lori began to talk! Which could only mean one thing!

'Oh no, please don't tell me she heard us arguing! Oh please no!' Lincoln thought as he began to panic when he came to the conclusion of what was happening and going to happen. But before he could do or say anything. The door slowly began to open.

To Be Continued

AN: Oh… I'm a turd ain't I!? Oh man, I know some of you want to probably punch me right in the face right now for leaving all hanging like that. Well, I wouldn't blame you. But for all seriousness here, that was one hell of a chapter I wrote. Like man, you wouldn't believe the hell I had to go through to finish this. Well, anyways enough about me. Let's talk about Lincoln and what happened and what's going to happen. Now, I don't think I got to explain what's going to happen or what just happened. But I'll humor you guys. OK, Lincoln went up stairs, he soon met up with Lori completely by accident. Lincoln and Lori had a cute moment, than Lincoln got kneed in the nuts by Lori. Which you got to admit, was a bit uncalled for but at the same time well deserved too. Then Lincoln and Lori started to talk and it soon got escalated. And then as it was about get even more escalated. The door behind Lincoln started to open and the music stopped. In fact it stopped a little while ago too. And so, yeah. I think all of you can put two and two together. Anyways, sorry for any mistakes I did but please forgive me because I'm really tired. Training hasn't been good to me and work has been hell too. So yeah, sorry. Oh, and thanks for reading and all the support you've guys have been giving me. Even though I don't think I deserve it, its welcomed and appreciated. OK, don't forget to leave a review and if you have questions or even suggestions. Leave them in a review or PM, if you do PM me I'll try my best to respond back. Alright… see ya until next time!