Late to the party

> "Lily, I cant thank you enough for looking after Lulu for me. These deadlines are killing me."
> "It's fine." Lily playfully punched her big brother in his now limp arm. "You should just asks for extensions, your stuffs worth the wait."
> "I wish they felt the same way. Feels like all they do is complain when I dont get the work and when I do get the work they point all the problems with it." Lincoln felt like he was going to melt into wall from all the pressure.
> "Well you got it done, if you really wanna relax, we could go see a movie or something. Maybe get some dinner. Get away for a bit."
> "Its a nice thought, but I think i'm just going to collapse on the couch for a couple of hours." Or minutes depending on when his kids needed something. Not that he was complaining.
> "Okay. But maybe... when your not so tired, we could go for a walk. Just do stuff. Whenever."
> "Thanks Lily. I'm fine."
> "You sure you dont want me stick around? I could make some dinner."
> "Liena got that covered. But thanks again."
> "I mean I know I got classes, but I could stick around and do some stuff. Maybe some light housework."
> "Lily."
> "Or maybe I could help some of the kids with their homework."
> "Lily please."
> "I mean I was kinda sick of my old dorm anyway. You think the attic has some roo-"
> "LILY STOP!"
> "What?"
> "..."
> "..."
> "... We ca-"
> "I WANT A BABY TOO!"
> "We talked about this."
> "No! Bullshit!Bull-fucking-shit! You and Lori talked about this. I was 3! I couldn't even form full sentences. How could I argue?"
> This conversation had been repeated and argued and repeated again. He wished he had the energy to argue. But he just parked himself on the couch, as she vented to him.
> "You're always saying 'But Lily, we need at least one person to have a normal life' so you go ahead and dump it on the youngest. Woo boi, how considerate of you!"
> "You know that's not why."
> "Because everyone else took a ride on the log. But by the time I turn legal, you decided to shut the baby factory down."
> "We did it for you."
> "How do you think that makes me feel Lincoln? Everyone, not just family, girls from around the block have your kids. Friends of friends, girls you barely know. Spat out your fucking spawn. But Lily. Nope. Not even a pity fuck."
> "I can't risk it."
> "Whats the matter Evel Knievel? Afraid you won't clear the jump the 50th time around?"
> It wasn't as if Lincoln didn't love Lily. He loved the whole family, sex or no sex. But Lily, she was practically like a daughter to him.
> He was no saint. No argument there. But he had to set standards. All these kids, they were his responsibility and he dumped them on the woman he left to bare them.
> He was here now. Here to do good, or at least make up for the time he wasted.
> To put that on Lily. No, he could never do that.
> But she didn't see it that way. To her it was a club, a special privilege only a few dozen women had gotten to be apart and even when they stopped there was plenty more who kept coming back.
> But Lily. Oh no. Not precious little Lily. She's a 21-year-old baby with who hasn't had sex in months and needs a fucking fix but apparently, the town bicycle won't give her a ride.
> It was all bullshit. Got to keep one pure. Such a load of crap.
> "Look. You are important to me. I love you Lily. But this, we cant do this. I cant do that to you."
> She stood there. Glaring at him from across the coffee table.
> Lincoln just stared back. They had been here before too. He remember the last time they had conversation was Thanksgiving. His sisters could only watch then, a mix of guilt and shame. No one wanted to say to it too lily, some had even suggested they let her in. Get it out of her system.
> But they couldn't. That was the slippery slope.
> You keep one. You end up with ten.
> Lily walked around the table. Standing right over Lincoln.
> When did she get so tall?
> "Lincoln. I'm an adult."
> "I know."
> "I got a drivers license, I'm going to college, I have a life."
> "And I want you to have a full life. Which is why-"
> Lily slammed her hand over Lincolns mouth. He tried to push it away but he was tired. So tired.
> "And as a self-reliant adult. I think I get the right to make my own decisions."
> "L-lily what-whats."
> "How did like that little drink I made you?" Oh no. No. No, no non ononooono. Not again. please not again. Not Lily. "It my own special blend."
> "Please. Not like this. We can- weee- We can talk about this."
> "I wish we could have. We could have talked about a lot of things. But I think I'll make the decision this time." Lincoln grew heavy. He almost wanted to cry. He never asked for any of this.
> The moment Lincoln was out. Lily wasted no time taking off his pants.
> Huh, he still wore the red undies. Just like the old times.
> She honestly never imagined she'd be here. Have this chance. Always someone to tell her no or get in the way.
> Not this ti-
> "Aunt Lily?"
> Lizy stood at bottom of the stairs. Looking at her aunt, the woman prone over her unconscious father.
> "H-hey my little monster. What are you doing up? I thought you were napping?" Apparently not hard enough.
> "I had a nightmare. I wanted to talk to daddy." She noticed her father now deep asleep. "But Ill go back to sleep."
> She turned around, but felt an arm pick her up before she could leave.
> "Its fine." She let out a heavy sigh. "You wanna nap with your daddy?"
> "No. Daddy looked busy, I know I'm not suppose to stay when daddy is with one of mah auntys." Lily didn't know if she knew what she was talking about but she wasn't going to press it.
> "No. I was... Your dad worked really hard today and I was just helping him take a cat nap."
> "Really?"
> "...Really."
> Lily set Lizy down next to her father and grabbed a nearby pillow to put under lincolns head. By the time she looked back Lizy had already wrapped one of Lincolns arms around her. Both of them sleeping soundly.
> She put the pillow under Lincolns head and woke Lizy just a little.
> "Lizy, hey Lizy."
> "Myeah?" She was already half-asleep.
> "When Lincy wakes up, tell him... I'm sorry."
> "Mkay." Lizy nodded as she nuzzled back into her spot. Lily grabbed her bag and walked to the door. Taking one last look at her brother.
> She was proud of him.
> She wished she could say the same for herself.
> They watched as Lily slumped her way to her car. Driving off a bit fast then the speed limit would allow.
> Taking a drag. Lupa blew a stream of smoke out the window.
> "Gotta admit, did not imagine she'd actually go that far."
> "Temptation can make anyone into a monster." Lyra noted, watching the car as long as the view from the window would allow.
> "She just needed to get her rocks off."
> "But it isn't what he wanted."
> Lupa tossed the cigarette out the window.
> Lyra prayed for her aunt's soul, as she prayed for everyone.
> "If anyone gave a shit what he wanted, we wouldn't be here."