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The Shadow of his Heart	By : Catspeaker Category: +G through L > The Loud House Views: 12692 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own The Loud House, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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- 23
Cat's Corner: Fresh Update everyone! Did you all watch the Loud House Movie? I did! I loved it! I think my favorite part was the focus on Lincoln and Lily's relationship. It was probably the cutest thing and confirmed so many of my own headcanons about the two. Then I read an interview with the director and found out I wasn't crazy! That indeed had been one of the central themes they wanted to showcase, Lincoln and his big brother relationship with Lily! I have a baby sibling that's the same age difference that Lincoln and Lily have, it brought back a lot of warm nostalgic feelings for me watching the two.

Lori Santiago was laying on her couch at home, laptop balanced against her pregnant belly, filing documentation for a trial that was set to start in January.
With the Holiday season now in full swing, any current cases for the courts were getting pushed back until the beginning of next year. This didn’t mean she couldn’t make the file clerks downtown at city Hall do their jobs, however. While she had promised her husband and family she would take the last month of her pregnancy off, she had only taken that mandate as meaning not going into the office, not going down to the courts, and not doing any leg work herself.
As far as Lori was concerned, she could still make herself useful to her boss Helga, even if she was laying back on the couch with her feet up enjoying a pint of ice cream while she did so. But then, Lori had to remind herself, Helga wasn’t her boss anymore (even if Lori still thought of her in that manner) Helga was her ‘partner’.
Mrs. Shortman had informed Lori just before she went on maternity leave, that as soon as she returned, she was going to be recognized as a full partner of Shortman, Sanders, and now Santiago. This was provided Lori took 4 months off after the birth of her child. That was the deal.
Not working almost seemed like torture for Lori, at least at first. But then when she truly considered it, she honestly appreciated it.
It would be nice to devote herself to her newborn child after they came into the world, and if she was being even more honest, she was enjoying the time at home with her Husband, children, and extended family.
But that didn’t mean she still couldn’t help her ‘partners’ out from home by helping file a little paperwork here and there. It was a move Lori knew Helga wasn’t happy with, after telling the young mother to ‘take it easy’, but would be grateful for all the same.
As she worked and took an occasional spoonful of ice cream, her children Marco and Lina played in the living room together while some educational children’s program played on repeat on the tv.
She took a moment, yawned, and stretched her arms up over her head, bringing her fingers together and cracking them before turning her attention to her children.
She smiled as she watched Marco set some blocks down in front of Lina, and then give her a hug.
Marco was such a good older brother to Lina already. He was gentle and protective of her even at his young age. As a first born herself she couldn’t wait to teach him all his responsibilities the eldest sibling had right alongside of her Husband Bobby.
Lori truly enjoyed being a mom.
She loved it in fact.
She loved it even more than being a Lawyer.
But then, she’d been the eldest of 11 children, she’d been used to being responsible for children most of her life. It only felt like a natural extension of her previous role of big sister to move on to being a Mom herself.
That being said she was starting to realize maybe her and Bobby should slow down on the baby making.
Well, they should still practice the baby making of course! They should practice all the baby making they wanted! But maybe slowing down on actually having children wasn’t a bad idea.
Lori was finally starting to realize she didn’t REALLY need to match her mother’s record.
That and while their apartment was spacious, there was only so much room in it. If they had any more kids, they’d end up needing to move out for space reasons, and it was so easy and convenient with Bobby’s family market literally being attached to the same building as their apartment. He was a 5-minute walk up and down the stairs to go to work and come home.
It was also nice being so close to the rest of their extended family who lived in the same building. The Casagrandes were always helping Bobby and her out. Always willing to babysit, or help cook, or just offer advice as more experienced parents.
Much as Lori had grown up in the suburbs, and part of her even missed it, she was a Santiago now, and by extension a Casagrande. She loved her life in the city, and among her adopted family.
But then, nothing was impossible. There were homes in the city they could potentially start looking at. Homes big enough for more potential future Santaigos to grow up in.
She was getting sidetracked; she didn’t need to focus on this right now.
Lori was broken from her self-reflection by the sound of her phone vibrating on the lamp stand next to the couch. She reached over and picked it up, a little surprised to see who was calling her.
It was Lynn of all people. Lori hadn’t been expecting her to call.
Well, Lori had been needing to talk to her about a certain brother and the upcoming college situation anyway, so this was a lucky coincidence.
Flicking the accept button she put the phone to her ear and spoke up.
“Hey Lynn!” She laughed softly, “I was just literally thinking of calling you!”
Lynn sounded a little surprised, caught off guard by that as she responded.
“Uh, hey Lori” Lynn said slightly nervous “I think I know what it’s about too.”
Lori smiled sympathetically, even if Lynn couldn’t see it. She knew how uncomfortable this subject matter was, but it was still a necessary thing considering the circumstances. She gave a soft sigh.
“Yeah, I figure you probably do. I got a call about the plan to send Lincoln to Wolverine University, and, you know why we need to talk about that.”
She could hear Lynn swallow on the other end, she was pretty sure her sister was nodding in reply.
“Yeah, I know Lori. It’s why I called. I wanted to talk to you about it, and, about Lincoln.”
Lori paused, this was a delicate and sensitive subject for her younger sister. She hadn’t expected her to bring up Lincoln so directly either. Lori wanted to be nothing but understanding to Lynn while still enforcing the boundaries she had set down for the younger sisters.
“Well Lynn. I’m proud of you taking the initiative like this and calling me about it. It really shows a level of trust I can place in you. But you know I have to ask. Are you going to be able to handle that? Having him around you every day again?”
There was a long-drawn-out sigh on Lynn’s end, and Lori could tell her sister was wrestling with something heavy, very heavy. But there was also something else in her tone, a strange sort of acceptance, or resignation maybe. Lori wasn’t sure.
“Yeah Lor. Yeah, I think, I think I can finally handle it.” Lynn paused. “You know I visited home this weekend, right?”
Lori nodded softly as she responded, “Yeah, I heard. Believe it or not, I’m glad you did. Mom and Dad missed you, I’m sure our sisters missed you, and I know Lincoln did.”
There was a bittersweet smile in Lynn’s voice as she responded, “I know, I know. They all did. He did. It was good to see everyone again, good to see him. I should have never stayed away like that.”
Lori responded in her kind tone, “I literally never wanted that for you Lynn. They need you around there, He needs you. He’s going to need you more than ever when he’s there with you at the University. Lincoln’s never been away from home like that, never been away from his sisters. You know as much as we all relied upon him growing up, and as much as our younger sisters rely on him now, he relies on us just as much. It’s going to be a completely new experience for him. Not being surrounded by his family, not having us as a constant everyday purpose to look after.”
Lynn’s voice sounded surprised hearing Lori go on like that, “You mean, you actually approve? You, think it’s a good idea?”
Lori gave another soft sigh as she responded, “Yes, yes I do. It’s time for Lincoln to be on his own. He needs to learn independence, not because he’s dependent on us, but…okay well he is dependent on us but in a way, he shouldn’t be, and it’s our fault. He doesn’t think he has a purpose if he’s not looking in on his sisters, and not taking care of us. Lincoln needs to figure out who he is outside of his relationship to us.”
Lynn knew Lori was right.
Lincoln had been a mostly selfless brother growing up, always putting his sisters before himself most of the time. He’d had his moments of selfishness here and there just like anyone else, moments where he wanted to be first for a change, but overall, he’d been dedicated and devoted to all of them.
Lynn knew this. Lynn also knew it had bothered him and made him struggle with his own identity more than a few times over the years. She knew Lincoln often wondered what set him apart, what made him special compared to the rest of his family, and who he even was without them.
Lynn responded, solemnly “He deserves this.”
Lori nodded again, “He does. Which is why Lynn, I need to know. You really can handle this right? Because this is a big responsibility. You’re going to be taking care of him again. Like you did back in school, and I know that’s going to be difficult for you considering—
Lynn cut her off, “Considering how I feel about him. Lori, it’s okay. This weekend, this weekend I made my peace with it.”
Lori hadn’t expected to hear that from Lynn. She paused for a moment once more, before she responded, “Lynn. What do you mean by that?” Her voice was still kind, still sympathetic, but curious all the same.
“I mean, I know I can’t have him. I love him, and I know I’ll always love him, but I’m okay with not being with him like that. This weekend I came to terms with it. I’m just happy being in his life again, being his big sister.
Lynn replied.
Lori took a deep breath. She almost couldn’t believe what she was hearing, but part of her felt so relieved. So very relieved. One of the sisters with the ‘problem’ had now resolved her issue. At least it sounded that way and Lori hoped it was so. It meant there were just two, two Lori had to worry about instead of three.
“Lynn, I can’t say that I fully understand how it must feel, but I know it had to be difficult for you. But it shows a level of maturity, growth, and understanding on your part.”
Lori heard Lynn suddenly give a soft small sniffle as she responded, then she heard Lynn choke it back, “Yeah, Yeah, it’s just. It’s just, a quarter in the game of life coming to an end for me.”
Lori smiled at the sports metaphor. Even in her sadness, Lynn was still Lynn.
Lori responded in her soft understanding tone, “There’s still plenty more quarters for you to play Lynn.”
She heard Lynn laugh, a slight trace of sadness to it, “Yeah, I’ll survive, even if I know I’ll be sad about it for a while. But I’m happy Stinkin and I are close again. I’ll take care of him Lori, I’ll be there for him, as a sister is supposed to be. A regular sister.”
Lori gave a wry grin and chuckled, “There’s nothing regular about you at all Lynn. You’re extraordinary in everything you do. I know Lincoln will be in good hands.”
“The best Lori.” Lynn responded.
Lori chuckled again, gave a soft sigh and changed her tone, “Now, if only Leni could come to the same conclusion.”
Lynn gave a small laugh of her own in response, “Well you know Leni. Leni and reality only have a casual relationship with one another.”
Lynn heard Lori snerk, and Lynn herself giggled softly, then continued. “But, come on Lori, it’s Leni. You really think she would ever be, a real problem when it came to this?”
Lori gave a soft groan of frustration before she replied.
“If there’s one thing I know about my old roommate, it’s to never ever underestimate Leni. For all we tease Leni about her being…well Leni, she’s nowhere near as dumb as we sometimes like to think. Remember, this is the girl who ended up as assistant store manager at Reniger’s clothing boutique and interned as aide to the mayor of Royal Woods all before she was 17, and now makes more money than all of us working in one of the most cutthroat and competitive industries in the world.”
Lynn paused, as if she was really taking in the scope of all of Leni’s accomplishments for the first time.
“Wow, when you put it like that. Are we sure this is the same sister who’s clumsy as hell, literally thought Scotland was named after a guy named Scott, and sometimes walks into walls when she’s not paying attention?”
Lori laughed softly, “Yeah that’s her. But Leni is a force of nature when she manages to yank her scatterbrained focus onto something she wants. That’s why she has that casual relationship with reality. She’s more than capable of making reality bend to her will when she disagrees with it.”
Lynn seemed stunned, now finally understanding just how impressive her older sister was, even in light of the rest of them, “You know, she wanted us to share him? She told Lucy and I, the three of us could be with him and all take care of one another.”
Lori pinched the bridge of her nose as she listened, she’d once made the mistake of trying to rate how bad each of the three sisters had it for Lincoln, but she’d eventually realized it was a futile gesture, as all three had it terrible, but in their own unique way.
“That, doesn’t surprise me. It also just reminds me of how dangerous Leni is in all of this.”
Lynn sounded shocked hearing that, “Leni? Dangerous?!”
Lori quickly clarified, “Not physically dangerous, no but. But I’m convinced if Leni sat Lincoln down, and explained the depths of her feelings, Lincoln would end up agreeing to a relationship with her, because it’s Leni and because he was always so protective of her.”
Lynn continued to be slightly taken aback, frowning as she listened.
When she called Lori she hadn’t been expecting this level of candid conversation.
“You make it sound like Lincoln would agree out of a sense of obligation.”
Lori took a deep breath and prepared her response, “That’s exactly what I’m saying Lynn. That’s exactly what I’ve been hoping you, Leni and Lucy would end up realizing. Let’s say for a moment there’s some crazy world where you can break every taboo and one of us could date Lincoln, one of us could really be with him, make a family with him. Could you ever be one hundred percent sure he was doing it because he was in love with you, or because he felt he had to out of a sense of duty?”
Lori knew Lynn was frowning now. She knew her younger sister was turning that realization over and over again in her head.
“I… I don’t know Lori. I honestly don’t know.”
“Exactly.” Came Lori’s reply.
Lori sighed and continued, “None of us could ever know if Lincoln was with us because he was literally in romantic love with us, or if he was being regular Lincoln Loud, the boy who’d do anything for his sisters. This is without even taking in issues of jealousy among us over who got to be with him, and the resulting hurt feelings over who he would end up choosing. Not to mention being so selfish as forcing him to choose between us all in the first place.”
Lori could hear Lynn replying softly, as if she finally understood what Lori had been trying to get across to her and her other sisters all this time, “I...Lori, I never, I never thought about it like that.” There was a brief pause before Lynn spoke again, “Lori, what do you mean by us…”
Lynn trailed off, almost afraid to give full voice to the question on her lips, to what Lori was implying. She had thought it had only been herself, Leni and Lucy…but what Lori was saying, did she mean what she thought she meant?
Lori seemed to understand what Lynn was asking and replied.
“Lynn, when I felt like the ugliest girl in the entire world. When I had those thick glasses, acne break outs all over my face, braces over my big teeth, and all the awkwardness of being a teenager, do you know who told me I was beautiful every single day? And who also made me believe it too? Of course, you know. It was Lincoln.”
Lynn’s voice came softly, “Lori…”
Lori continued, “Yeah, it was never as bad as you three, but even I thought for a moment, if only he was a little older. I thought, if only I could meet a boy like him. If only he was a little older or I was a little younger.”
Lori sighed, frowned and continued.
“Do you know how often I felt proud of him every time he outsmarted all of us, or was able to negotiate and navigate all our demands on him? What I loved even more was how he always said, 'helping your family is even better than outsmarting them.' He's always been such a sweetheart. Do you know how much I loved hugging him and making him smile when he was little? How much I still adore being his biggest sister? He was a clever and cute boy, and he’s become a handsome and smart man. I understand to some degree, all of us do, Luna and Luan too. But that’s why…”
Lori trailed off, then pulled in a deep breath and spoke with straight conviction, “That’s why I’ll protect him with everything I have Lynn. I’ll protect all of you, I love all of you. But Lincoln is our baby brother. He’s my baby brother Lynn. It’s my job to keep him safe.”
Lynn was absolutely stunned by what Lori had just said. It took several moments for her to recover and process everything she’d just heard. Particularly the admittance Lori had just revealed. But when her mind finally caught up with her mouth. She could only think of one thing to ask.
Her voice came in a soft question, “Lori…do you think, if you hadn’t met Bobby. If you were still alone now, and you saw him as he is, full grown the way he is. Do you think that…”
Lori responded immediately “I don’t know Lynn. Maybe I would have it just as bad as you do. I can’t say for certain, because I did meet Bobby. Just like Luna met Sam, and Luan met Bennie. I know that doesn’t sound fair in some ways. But that’s life Lynn, it’s literally not fair.”
Lynn groaned softly in reply, as if all the frustration of life was hitting her at once.
“I know. I know. I know that more than anything now.”
Lori smiled softly as she replied, “Lynn, I have no doubt you’ll meet your own Bobby, or Bennie or someone who even means to you what Lincoln does one day. I know it’s tough. Maybe it’s just because he’s the only boy among so many of us girls. I don’t know, and I don’t think I ever will. What I do know, is that I want you and him and the rest of our sisters to be happy. I want us all to be happy and I want us all to stay just as close as we all were back home living with Mom and Dad.”
Lynn’s reply was soft but filled with so much emotion. “That’s what I want too Lori. More than anything. I miss those days, all of us together.”
Lori responded with nothing but warmth, “I know little sister, I do, and hey Christmas we’ll all be home again. It’ll be cramped, and I’ll have a new baby to show off, but I can’t wait for us all to be under the same roof once more. But as much as I’m enjoying this heart to heart, I have to ask you something important now.”
Lynn’s reply came swiftly, “It’s about Lucy, isn’t it?”
Lori waited a moment, and then responded, “Yeah. I’ve got a handle on Leni, at least I’m pretty sure I do. Keeping her in New York and just, hoping, praying she meets some handsome sweet creative like her, but I have a handle on her. We talk every day. Lucy though, she doesn’t reach out to me as much, she’s not as close to me as she is you, our younger sisters, or even Lincoln for that matter. I always dismissed her crush as being the least dangerous given her being so young, but she’s at that age now. She’s at the age-“
Lynn picked up where her sister was leading, “She’s at the age a 19-year-old guy will start taking her advances seriously.”
Lori gave a minor groan, “Yes, and I like to think Lincoln growing up around all of us, he would be used to being surrounded by pretty girls all his life. That he’d be somewhat, resistant to it.”
Lynn laughed nervously, Lori didn’t know why, it seemed a little strange.
Lynn spoke up, “Yeah, I think he is, but um, you know I did see him checking me out a little while I was visiting this weekend. N-n-nothing to be concerned about! Just that, you know I work hard to keep my body this way and I think I uh, saw him checking my butt out. Probably doing it without even thinking about it you know? He’s a young guy, of course his thoughts are going to go there, I’m sure though, really sure it doesn’t mean anything, I think. Just, him being a normal boy and all.”
Lori frowned to herself, Lynn was really running at the mouth now, nervously no less. It was a little suspicious.
“Lynn, are you sure there isn’t anything you need to tell me?”
Lynn groaned softly and replied, “No Lori, No, trust me. Lincoln and I, we settled things. There’s nothing to worry about there between us.”
Lori rose her eyebrow. Lynn hadn’t mentioned Lincoln before when she brought up ‘coming to terms’ with her feelings for him. Now, now Lori was…curious, and maybe just a tad worried.
“Lynn, what happened over the weekend? Did, did you talk to Lincoln about your feelings? Did something happen between you two?”
Lynn responded with agitation, raising her voice.
“It’s private Lori! That’s all you need to know. It’s private and it’s between me and Lincoln! but like I said, it’s handled and it’s done. That dream of mine, it’s over! But I won’t betray Lincoln’s own privacy on the matter!”
Lori wasn’t sure at all what to think about that. Her curiosity was raging, but at the same time she knew Lynn wasn’t lying to her. She also knew as worried as she could be, and as concerned as she could be, her siblings were afforded their own privacy on certain matters. It wasn’t her place to pry into things more than she had to.
Lori spoke soothingly in reply, “Okay Lynn, I’m sorry, I really am. I already said I know it was difficult for you. But Lynn, I have to know, do you think there’s a chance that Lincoln could be tempted by a girl like Lucy? If you already said you know he looked at you in a certain way…then, well I’m just going to say it. Lucy is a beautiful girl, and she’s exactly the type of girl Lincoln likes, you and her both are.”
That took Lynn aback once again. This entire conversation had been one full of uncomfortable and yet also reassuring revelations for her.
“Wait, you think, me too?”
Lori continued in that soothing tone, “I know my younger sibling’s types, and in particular Lincoln’s own. More than he himself knows it.” Lori gave a smirking chuckle.
“He likes Tomboys and sensitive girls. You already know which one you are. Lucy is a sensitive girl, a very sensitive one, and a very pretty one at that. And even I’m aware dorky boys like him are attracted to that whole goth thing Lucy has going on. So if you think Lincoln was checking you out, what are the chances he would be attracted to Lucy, even knowing who she is.”
Lynn was quiet again. Quiet enough to worry Lori. Lori really wanted to know what happened over the weekend with Lincoln and Lynn, but still wasn’t going to pry.
Lynn took a deep breath, and replied, uncertain.
“I don’t know Lori, I just don’t know. I know they’ve become close again, since the breakup with Melanie. From what I’ve seen on their social wall, they spend a lot of time together.”
Lori responded, the worry evident in her voice.
“So I’ve seen myself. What happened with her during the weekend while you were visiting?”
Lynn answered with a frown.
“She didn’t spend any time at home while I was there. We talked and then she took off to hang out at her friend’s house the whole weekend.”
Lori frowned too.
“She was the one who called me and told me about the Christmas Gift for Lincoln. She was jealous, worried about you getting more time with him than her, like she was afraid of him being taken away. Then there’s what Lola told me.”
Lynn sounded almost angry as she responded.
“What?! Lucy’s the one who snitched!? After I trusted her?! And what did Lola say!?”
Lori rolled her eyes.
“Lynn, relax, this isn’t Prison, Lucy didn’t rat you out to the warden or something like that.”
Lynn scoffed unconvinced.
“Considering things Lori, yeah she kinda did.”
Lori sighed and ran her fingers down her face.
“Just, relax Lynn. Yes, Lucy was the one who told me, but need I remind you, it should have been YOU who told me first. You know that. Not that it matters now, I believe you when you say you’re going to be able to handle it, but you are literally a pot calling a kettle black.”
Lynn was frowning. Clearly unhappy because she knew what Lori was saying was right.
Lori continued.
“Anyway, Lola told me she’s a little concerned about what she’s seen between Lucy and Lincoln as of late. Some of the things they’ve been doing together. I dismissed it at first, I had to believe Lincoln was mature enough to not parade his pretty little goth sister around like she was his girlfriend, but…with what you said Lynn..”
Lynn spoke up.
“Lori, you can’t think, you can’t think Lincoln would actually…” Lynn trailed off.
Lori responded with obvious worry and agitation of her own.
“I don’t know Lynn! That’s the problem! I don’t know! Not with how cryptic you’re being about Lincoln and you resolving your feelings.” Lori countered.
Lori sighed and went on.
“At the very least, Lola is afraid they’re forming a codependent relationship with one another. Lincoln was in a very vulnerable spot after he broke up with Melanie. I heard all the details from Lola, Lana, and even Lilly of all people. At first I was happy Lucy was stepping up and taking care of her older brother like that. Now, now I’m wondering if I should be worried.”
There was silence on the other end. An uncomfortable silence as Lori waited for Lynn to say something, anything. After what felt like an eternity, Lynn spoke up in a soft tone.
“I don't think, Lincoln would.”
Lori waited several moments taking in Lynn's words before she replied.
“I want to think he wouldn't either Lynn. But are you sure?”
Lynn frowned and responded with almost pain in her tone.
“Yes Lori, I'm sure. It's impossible, he knows that. He knows nothing good could happen. There wouldn't be any future there. He's aware of it.”
Lori sighed to herself once more, placing her hand to her forehead again. She could pick up the pain in Lynn's tone, in her voice and she was nothing but sympathetic. But Lori was also a realist, she had to look out for her younger siblings, and that often meant tough love as well.
For their own good.
“Okay Lynn. I believe you. All the same, it's probably good to get him away from her for a while. I don't doubt that Lucy is enjoying every moment she spends with Lincoln right now, but if Lola is right and it's just an emotional co-dependent relationship that's forming, time apart is going to be what's best for both. Especially when he moves out next year.”
Lynn gave another sigh as she responded, “Yeah, I doubt she's happy about that. She loves him Lori. He's her big brother, she looks up to him more than she does any of us. More than you.”
Lori nodded, “I'm aware. But that's why it's best to get them apart for a weekend or more. That's why he's coming here to Great Lakes City for thanksgiving.”
Lynn sounded surprised, “He's not going to be home for thanksgiving?”
Lori responded, “No. I'm sure you were looking forward to seeing him, but I haven't seen him for a while, and Bobby and I want him and Lily to come down and visit us. I hope that doesn't bother you too much Lynn.”
Lynn shook her head, “No, no it's actually, it's actually kinda good. I need to talk to Lucy about a few things. Some very important things involving Lincoln. I think, if I tell her what happened, it might help her come to grips with her own feelings.”
Lori smiled sounding relived, “I think that might be good for her too. Maybe talking to her about your own personal journey with him is exactly what she needs to hear.”
Lynn gave a long sigh, “I can only hope. But what about the situation Ronnie Anne?”
There was a cautious, curious tone in Lynn's voice as she brought up her brother's old girlfriend. One Lori was able to detect right away. Lori knew she had to pick her words carefully here, mostly because she didn't want to rub salt in the obvious emotional wound Lynn currently had.
“Lincoln and Ronnie have started talking again. It was Bobby and I that pushed them to do so. We want them to be friends once more, for Marco and Lina's sake more than anything else.”
Another pause. Lori couldn't be sure how Lynn was taking that information. It was one thing for Lynn to come to the conclusion she couldn't be with her brother, it was another to blatantly say Lori was hoping Ronnie and Lincoln would have some sparks fly between them.
Finally, Lynn spoke up.
“That's, good. They used to be so close, and Ronnie Anne's a good girl. She was always good to Stinkin.” There was a slightly soft, sad laugh that came from Lynn as she continued, “Only girl I ever thought was good enough for him. She's no joke.”
A soft gentle sigh of relief came from Lori's lips as she responded.
“Yeah, she is good. I know, I see her every day. She's more like him than anyone really knows. Always putting her family before herself.”
There was another pause, followed by a bittersweet tone in Lynn's voice.
“Maybe...they can put each other before anyone else, and they'll both finally be with someone who deserves them.”
Lori gave a soft sweet smile. She couldn't believe what she was hearing from Lynn, part of her was so proud at what her younger sister was doing. Trying to move on from her troubled heart in the best interest of her younger brother.
“Maybe Lynn, Maybe. We'll see.”
The two fell into talking about a few more things. Lori exercised caution to Lynn when talking to Lucy about Lincoln. But in the end, she went away from the conversation satisfied. In just another week she'd finally get to see her little brother again after so long. She smiled to herself, remembering when he was so much shorter than her, even after she moved out. Only how in the last two years he shot up to stand taller than her.
He'd still be her little twerp still, no matter what. But she couldn't wait to see him and her baby sister Lilly. Lily had only been just over two when Lori had moved out, and she treasured every moment she got with her youngest sister. The holiday weekend was going to be great for all of them.
Section Break
Ronnie Anne sat back in her desk chair, purple lined cat eared head set on, in front of her gaming laptop. She’d be surprised if she knew she had the exact same make and model that Lincoln used. More she had the exact same mindset he had when he’d purchased his, that it was ideal as both a college resource and a gaming computer for the next few years.
Even more than that, she’d earned hers in almost the same fashion he had his own. Pulling shifts down at her family business (The neighborhood Bodega in her case rather than a family Restaurant) and saving gift money from relatives. Ronnie and Lincoln even used the same brand of gaming mouse. The only real difference between them in their choice of gaming equipment had been in headsets, with Ronnie opting for the ‘cuter’ Neko model.
It was a reflection on how the two's mindsets were in synch when it came to one of their shared passions.
Right now, Ronnie was logged into an old childhood favorite of hers, a game she spent countless hours logged into with Lincoln but hadn’t opened in years. A game Lincoln’s little sister was now playing and loved, the pixel based wilderness exploration and building game, Cavecraft.
Ronnie Anne was logged in with Lincoln and Lily at the moment as well, the three of them playing together in a freshly generated map set on a special ‘survival mode’ chosen by Lily. Lily was sparse on the game details as she wanted it to be a surprise for both Lincoln and Ronnie, but the 9-year-old had been positively ecstatic at playing with them both.
Right now though, Ronnie was waiting, waiting with a smug smile on her face. She knew a moment was coming, one she couldn’t wait for. She’d told Lincoln to start building a starter cabin for the three of them, while Lily and she began to gather resources. She told this to Lincoln knowing one undeniable fact.
Lincoln was absolutely terrible at building structures in the game.
Well, that wasn’t completely fair. He could build perfectly functional buildings. It’s just they had more in common with the brutalist architectural style of the old Soviet Union than anything else. His buildings were always squat, ugly and barely functional.
More, Ronnie Anne couldn’t stand watching Lincoln build things either. He did it in such a haphazard way with little thought to a grand plan. It seemed almost out of character for someone like Lincoln who was so very good at planning. But then Ronnie had to remind herself, Lincoln had almost failed every wood shop project he was assigned back in school. It was only through the help of his Mother, Leni and Lana that he squeaked by those classes.
It seemed that inability for crafts in the real world translated to the virtual world as Lincol often didn’t even care about matching materials in the game either. Even when Ronnie Anne had helped by setting up a plan for Lincoln to follow, he'd still make mistakes.
It’s what eventually led to them splitting the in-game work, with Ronnie being the master builder, and Lincoln gathering resources and making all their equipment.
But Lily didn’t know just how bad her big brother was at this, and Ronnie Anne just wanted to bask in Lily’s pure reaction when she took notice for herself. Up until now, Lily was convinced her brother was good at every videogame. He was a master at the notoriously difficult and unforgiving Bloodsouls games, a simple little game like Cavecraft should be a breeze for him, right?
Cavecraft had a very simple graphical interface and style.
Everything, from the buildings to the trees, to the clouds, to the animals, including the characters in it, appeared to be made out of simplistic blocks with different patterns.
Lily’s block person had a pale head with blonde top and two little white and blue dots for eyes. Her torso block had a lilac color pattern in the shape of a tank top dress over a white shirt underneath, that flared out into a blocky skirt with two pale blocky legs with pink blocky shoes on her blocky feet.
Ronnie Anne’s block person was a light brown with blocky black hair that even had a blocky ponytail coming off the back, with a pair of white and brown dots for eyes. Her block torso had a dark purple pattern representing a hoody, with her blocky legs covered in a blue jean pattern, with big black blocky boots.
The two had been off in the blocky forest, using their blocky axes and picks to gather resources, materials and food items their characters would need to survive and prosper in the game.
This had been by design, Ronnie Anne had wanted to give Lincoln a handful of minutes to get started on their first shelter, so Lily could really appreciate the true ugly glory of how frustrating her brother’s sense of design was.
As their two blocky characters walked together side by side, Lilly was regaling Ronnie with the items they would need for this game mode.
“We need to start building fences right away! Also, we should make an underground pen for the animals, we don’t want to leave them out…for THEM to find!” The little girl cackled.
Ronnie’s block person looked towards Lily as they walked, a question in Ronnie’s tone, “Lily, just what is this game mode we’re playing? What are we preparing for, whose them?”
Ronnie was pretty sure Lily was grinning as she replied, “I can’t spoil the surprise! Just know we gotta have as many defenses as we can, and weapons, and armor and supplies! We only got 5 days before the first attack!”
Ronnie was starting to get a better idea on what the game mode might be about, and it sounded fun to her. Now she was wondering if she shouldn’t have let Lincoln waste their precious time on a building they most likely wouldn’t end up using. But no, it didn’t matter, Ronnie wanted Lily to see it all the same.
As they left the block forest and returned to the flat meadow where some blocky cows grazed, they came back into view of the little patch they had claimed as their home base.
There he was. Or at least, there was his avatar. Lincoln’s block figure with the same pale texture as Lily’s only with a stark white hair pattern, but the same white and blue dots for eyes. His block torso was covered by an orange shirt pattern, while his block legs had the same jeans pattern Ronnie Anne’s wore. He had simple blocky brown shoes for feet.
Currently, the blocky Lincoln appeared to be almost floating in the air, as he walked along the wall he was building, adding block after block to the structure he had been working on. It was a patchwork squat square made up of mostly wooden blocks, but a few representing stone, rock, and even sand.
The block Lily froze in place and began to hop up and down as the young girl’s voice echoed in a yell of shock and surprise.
“Lincoln! What are you doing?!”
Lincoln’s block man turned in their direction, a hovering block of sand in it’s arms.
“What? I’m building the shelter like you told me too.”
The Lily figure began to hop up and down again in place as the little girl almost sounded panicked.
“Lincoln! That’s! Oh my gosh Linky! Tell me it’s a joke! You! Linky you have dirt and stone and wood in one wall! Where's your foundation!? You don’t have a foundation built!”
Lily sounded positively distressed seeing the monstrosity that Lincoln had started, the hopping up and down in frustration only made it cuter to Ronnie.
The cherry on top was the sheer dumbfounded way Lincoln’s own block person looked back from the structure, to the two of them again, and his puzzled voice came back.
“Well yeah, it’s not the prettiest, but I was just using the materials on hand, I just wanted to get something up, we can worry about making it look—”
And then his little sister was cutting him off. Hopping in place once more.
“No, No, No, No Linky! Ugh! You build it right the first time so you don’t have to do that! Why would you think sand and rock and wood work together! How can you be so good at all the other videogames and so bad at this!?”
Ronnie couldn’t stop herself, she began to laugh hysterically as Lily’s block person ran over to the structure and began to start breaking it down on the spot.
Ronnie continued laughing, even as she spoke up,
“I’ve waited for this for so long Lame-o! Oh god, your little sister is killing me right now!”
Lincoln sounded annoyed.
“Ha Ha you two, yeah laugh it up. I don’t see what the big deal is, all that matters is if it’s standing up and can protect us from creepies at night.”
Lily yelled back, annoyed herself apparently.
“No Linky! You have to plan for the space you'll need! And, and If it doesn’t look good then what’s the point of even playing!?”
Ronnie Anne continued to laugh as she responded.
“I’ve been trying to tell your brother that for years.”
Lily groaned again.
“Oh my gosh Linky, just, just let Ronnie and I build the cabin! You go gather resources!”
Ronnie was still laughing.
“Yeah Lame-O, leave this to the girls.”
Lily excitedly chipped in.
“Yeah, the girls! We build things better than you boys do!”
Lincoln groaned softly, it sounded as if he was rolling his eyes.
“Lily, are you just going to keep ganging up on me with what ever girl happens to start picking on me again?”
Lily gave a soft giggle into her headset as she responded to her older brother’s plea.
“Mmayybee..”
Ronnie perked up curiously.
“Oh, another girl was bullying you recently Lincoln? What the heck! You know I’m supposed to be your bully!”
Lincoln gave an annoyed sigh once more in reply.
“It was Lynn, when she came back to visit last weekend. Lily and her teamed up on me.”
Lily giggled, Ronnie Anne laughed as she went on.
“Okay well, since it’s your big sister Lynn, I guess I can allow it. But just remember, I’m the one who’s in charge of bullying you Lame-o! Though maybe we should start putting Lily in charge of picking on you.”
Lincoln gave a mock gasp in reply.
“First Lynn, and now you Ronnie Anne? You're both trying to turn my greatest ally against me?! Lily, you're supposed to be my sidekick! Not my bully!”
Lily was positively delighted, giggling into her headset.
“But Linky! It's fun teasing you!”
Ronnie Anne started to cackle in response, almost falling out of her chair.
“She's got you there Lame-o! You're practically bully bait! With those earnest eyes and those aw shucks freckles of yours.”
Lincoln shot back.
“Hey Ronnie Anne! You got freckles too!” he huffed.
Ronnie Anne smirked smugly as she replied.
“Yeah, but I also don't look like I came right out of the advertisements for Ovaltine circa 1940 either.”
Ronnie Anne continued to laugh, Lincoln sighed, Lily spoke up again.
“What's Ovaltine?”
Lincoln replied.
“Honestly Lils, I don't know. It's some old drink or something. Ronnie's just saying I look like a dork.”
Ronnie Anne cut in.
“A cute and wholesome dork Lame-O, I'm saying you look cute and wholesome at least! Besides, your reactions are why it's so fun to tease you, I think even Lily is figuring that out!”
Lily giggled as she replied.
“Yeah! Linky you're funny and cute when you get mad when Ronnie and Lynn tease you!”
Lincoln responded with something of a huff, his block figure having been standing by as Lily finished demolishing his structure.
“Oh, is that it huh Lily? Here I thought I was your big brother and you looked up to me!”
Lily's little block figure turned back in Lincoln's direction, and hopped up and down once again as the girl replied.
“I do Linky! I love you! You're my favorite big brother in the world! But, you're funny when girls tease you! You get all cute! Besides, girls only tease boys they like Linky! We wouldn't tease you if we didn't like you!”
Ronnie Anne smirked in her seat back home.
“Right out of the mouth of babes. You heard her Lame-o, you should be proud having all these girls push you around.”
Lincoln gave another sigh as he replied.
“Oh yeah, definitely proud of that one Ronnie Anne. Hold on a second, I need to step away from the keyboard.”
Lily and Ronnie Anne both replied in Unison.
“Okay.”
Lily and Ronnie then turned to one another as they both began to work on making a proper foundation, Ronnie Anne speaking up.
“So you mentioned something about us needing fences and an underground pen for animals to protect us from THEM, who ever THEM is, right?”
Ronnie Anne couldn't be certain, but she was pretty sure Lily was nodding as she replied.
“Yeah, we need to make sure we have weapons and--”
Lily's voice cut out for a moment as her focus seemed to go elsewhere.
“Linky, what are you doing and—GAhhhh! Linky! Staaaaphhhh!” Lily called out followed by the sounds of the Nine year old laughing hysterically. Ronnie Anne wasn't sure what was going on, but Lily was laughing, and then she was squealing girlishly in the background.
Her headset must have come off, as Ronnie could only hear the sounds of feet, Lily laughing and squealing, and then Lincoln's voice in the background yelling playfully at her.
“Whose in charge? Huh? Whose in charge?!” Lincoln challenged her.
Lily squealed and laughed in reply, “You are Linky! You are! Staaph! I'm sorry! I won't pick on you anymore!” She laughed and laughed.
“That's what I thought! You just remember you've got a long way to go before you can take me on you little dork!” Ronnie Anne heard Lincoln say.
Lily was still giggling and laughing like crazy in the background. She heard Lincoln give several exaggerated big kisses to her and a few moments later she heard him putting his head set back on as he must have returned to his room.
“Alright”. He said. “I'm back now, just had to take care of that little errand.”
Ronnie Anne smirked.
“Oh, going and picking on your little sister huh?”
The Sound of Lily's giggling quieting down could be heard as she slipped her own head set back on and spoke up.
“Yeah! Linky was mean, he came in here and started tickling me and picking me up!”
Ronnie Anne gasped in mock surprise.
“That absolute brute! Lincoln, how could you?!”
Lincoln scoffed as he replied.
“Just had to remind my BABY SISTER how the pecking order in this house goes.”
Ronnie Anne chuckled as she replied.
“Right, Right, let me guess it goes Lily, then Lola, then your Mom, then you, then your Dad, then Lucy, then Lana, and finally Lisa because she just doesn't care.”
Lily giggled again, Lincoln responded nonplussed.
“Exactly, glad we got that all cleared up.”
The three then jumped into actually playing the game properly then. With Lily and Ronnie Anne working together and making a cozy and defensible cabin for their characters. Lincoln went about gathering supplies, taming animals and crafting weapons and armor for them. All the while Lily being vague about what was coming, even if Ronnie Anne and Lincoln had at least an inkling about what might be happening.
Beds were an important item in Cavecraft. They were used to quickly heal if your character was injured, but more importantly, if they died, it was where your character respawned back on the map.
When Lincoln's block person walked back into the cabin that Lily was currently expanding on, he looked and noticed there were only 2 beds. 1 that was a Lilac color, and one that was larger than the other and a red color.
Lincoln looked at Lily as he spoke up.
“Uh Lily, whose this bed for?”
Lily turned from the lamps she was putting on the walls and looked back to her blocky brother.
“That's for you and Ronnie Anne! They have big beds that two people can bind themselves too! You two can share that one! Mine is this one!”
As if to emphasize her point, the Lily's figure leaped across the blocky cabin's spacious main room and landed on her Lilac square bed, and began to jump up and down and spin around on it.
Ronnie Anne had been outside, digging some trenches and putting spikes in them when she over heard the conversation and moved her blocky figure inside the cabin to look for herself.
“Huh, what was that you two?” She asked.
Lincoln's block person looked back at her as he spoke. Ronnie Anne could tell he was nervous.
“Oh uh, Lily took the liberty of making our bed for us. Seems like they added a new type of spawn point since we last played. A double bed two people can bind to.”
Ronnie Anne felt herself flush slightly, as she responded just as nervously.
“Oh, that uh, that's a good quality of life improvement huh Lame-o? I remember we used to have to build the beds right next to one another to make it look like it was a bigger shared bed.”
The Lily figure hopped from her bed, to the one she had made for Ronnie and Lincoln, and began to bounce and spin on top of it as she replied cheerfully.
“Now you don't have to do that! You two can just share a bed without having to do the old weird work arounds!”
The game lingo about work arounds was enough to at least break some of the embarrassing atmosphere brought about by Lily's hand.
Ronnie spoke curiously.
“Just what do you know about work arounds and that sort of thing Lils?”
It was Lily's turn to scoff now.
“Uh, I'm Nine but I'm not a baby Ronnie Anne! I read about the game's history and old versions! I watch the viewtube videos about it!”
Ronnie Anne rolled her eyes as she spoke.
“God Lame-O, I understand she's your favorite, but did you have to make her as big a dork as you are?”
Lincoln spoke up in a matter of fact tone.
“Listen, I didn't become the 3^rd best Junior magician in all of Royal Woods until I started incorporating Lily into my acts. Who needs a lovely assistant when you have an adorable assistant. Lily's my good luck charm, and one day, she will surpass me.”
Ronnie Anne was pretty sure Lily was blushing by how quiet she got on the line. While Ronnie had grown up with her extended family after moving to Great Lakes City, with lots of cousins, she knew it wasn't the exact same thing Lincoln had with all of his sisters.
She knew the relationship between Lily and Lincoln in particular was, special. That little girl meant everything to her Lame-o (Not her Lame-o she had to correct herself). It was, adorable to see in action.
Ronnie Anne decided to save Lily from any further embarrassment though.
“Well, she already kicks your butt in Cavecraft Linc”
Lily giggled, and chirped up.
“Yeah, I do!”
Lincoln gave a soft chuckle of his own.
“Yeah, you do. Alright, thanks for the bed Lily, but we better get back to work.”
Lily spoke up in a sing song teasing voice then.
“If you and Ronnie need some aloone time, you just let me know Linky! I can build you two a separate room!”
Ronnie Anne flushed, Lincoln went quiet for a moment. Before he could be heard clearing his throat.
“Ha ha Lily. Alright, what do we need to do now?”
The three went back to building and preparing once again, and on the 5^th in game night, Ronnie Anne and Lincoln were not disappointed. A red blood moon came up over the sky, and a hoard of zombie pig men descended on their little farm house with all of it's traps.
Lily squealed and laughed as she directed Ronnie and Lincoln in defense of their homestead, and the three ran back and forth, setting traps, rebuilding fortifications and entering into combat with the undead blocky pig monsters.
They managed to survive that first night though, with their Home still intact and no deaths from any of them. That was when Lily informed them the next horde would be even bigger and stronger 5 days later. The three decided to save their game then, and promised to keep playing together later.
However, before they wrapped things up for the afternoon, Lincoln suddenly spoke up.
“Holy Sh-er Crap! Ronnie Anne you won't believe what I found!” He shouted over the head set.
Ronnie Anne perked up curiously.
“Huh? What's that Lincoln?”
Lincoln continued excitedly
“It's our old Cavecraft map! The one we spent the longest time on! I still have the old save file!”
Ronnie Anne was shocked. The two of them had stopped playing Cave Craft around the time they were 15, about half way through the lifespan of their relationship.
They had just moved on to other games by that point and were playing other things together. Though both always had the idea they'd come back now and then to check on the game.
Then they'd broken up, and Ronnie.... Ronnie had never played Cavecraft again until now.
Lily spoke up excitedly
“Load it up Linky! Load it up! I wanna see it!”
Ronnie Anne felt a warm wave of nostalgia wash over her as she responded as well.
“Yeah Linc, load it up. It'll be nice to see where we left off.”
Lincoln spoke softly, almost bashfully in reply.
“Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a look. We were pretty advanced though if I remember.”
Ronnie chuckled.
“Yeah we were, total end game, I think we were conquering the underground levels of Heck at that point.”
Lily responded with a gasp
“You guys mined down to the center of the earth where Heck was and started taking it over?!”
Lincoln laughed as he began to load the map up for the three of them.
“Oh yeah, I may not be able to build things as good as you and Ronnie Anne are, but I'm still good at fighting things in the game.”
Ronnie smirked as she replied.
“Your brother isn't completely helpless Lils.”
The map loaded up before them, and they were greeted by what was, at least in terms of Cavecraft, an amazing sight.
A giant blocky white marble Castle, surrounded by high walls with crystal clear fountains, battlements topped with canons and guards with bows, and a drawbridge greeted them. A paved road led to a giant elevator that had a make shift sign which read 'Straight to Heck!' on it rested before it.
Lily basked in the sight as her little blockyself jumped around in shock and surprise. “Wow! You two, this looks awesome!”
She then turned and looked at her older brother and his girlfriend (In Lily's mind at least)'s figures. Both were clad in crystal blue armor that seemed to glow and had blocky swords surrounded by blocky fire.
Ronnie Anne and Lincoln turned and regarded one another.
Ronnie Anne spoke up first.
“We could of used these in the fight with that horde of zombie pigmen, huh Lame-o?”
Lincoln laughed as he jumped and did a little twirl in place as well.
“Yeah, certainly would of made things easier. At the end of the night most of my weapons were broken and I was down to using the wood pick axe.”
Ronnie laughed.
“Yeah I know right!?”
Lily hopped up and down excitedly
“I want to see the inside! I want to see the inside!”
Ronnie smirked in her seat as she spoke up over the mic.
“Well, you heard her Linc, best not to keep a girl waiting.”
From there, Ronnie Anne and Lincoln took Lily on a tour of their virtual Castle and all of it's secrets and fun things the two had put into it. Everything from a dungeon, to a swimming pool, armory and lots and lots of rooms.
Lily didn't know why, but it all felt so familiar to her. She didn't know why it felt familiar, but she swore, she had seen it before.
“Linky, where is this Castle from?”
The nine year old asked curiously.
Lincoln responded with a smile in his tone.
“It's our family Castle Lils.”
Lily responded with a shocked tone.
“W-w-what?!”
Lily was aware her family originated from Scotland, that was where the Loud name came from. More, that the family had taken a trip to the country years ago, one she was far to young to truly remember sadly. But, she was aware there was a town, with a castle their family had descended from. She had seen lots of pictures, and knew the family was on friendly terms with the current duke of the town.
Lincoln spoke patiently.
“You were only 2 when we took the trip to Scotland and Loch Loud. But it's our family Castle, I told Ronnie Anne all about it and she rebuilt it in the game. That's why it's so familiar to you. You don't remember it much, but Ronnie Anne did such a good job bringing it to life, that's why it feels that way to you.”
Ronnie Anne beamed a little proudly at that before she spoke up.
“Heh, well, I figured if we were going to live in a castle, even if it was just Cavecraft, might as well be your family's castle.”
Lily sighed softly.
“I wanna go back to Scotland again Linky! It wasn't fair, I was too young, I don't remember everything that happened!”
Lincoln responded in soothing tone to his little sister, Ronnie could picture the patient smile on his lips.
“Aww, we will one day again Lily, I promise. But for now, you can kinda see what it's like in here.”
Lily must have taken that to heart, because her little figure suddenly made a beeline for the main room in the central hall. Towards the last room she hadn't seen yet. The one that had a large heart half colored purple and half colored orange on it on the door.
Lily spoke excitedly
“What's this Linky?! Why is there a heart on it!?”
Ronnie Anne felt her cheeks flushing once more. She knew exactly what it was. But she wasn't sure what she should say. It was a little embarrassing to come out and say this was the pretend virtual room she shared with Lincoln in their pretend castle together.
Lincoln came to her aide though.
“That's uh, that's the Duke and Duchesses room.”
Lily didn't even hesitate as she pushed open the door and stepped in. The virtual room was the largest bedroom in the castle. It's floor was checkered in orange and purple, and the walls themselves were orange colored wood from the floor to halfway up, before becoming purple masonry.
In the center was exactly what Lincoln and Ronnie Anne had been talking about earlier. Two beds, built right next to one another. One purple, One orange, so close they seemed to be one. Above it was a large pixelated painting of what was very clearly Ronnie Anne and Lincoln dressed in royal refinery, holding hands.
Lincoln and Ronnie's figures stood in the middle of the room, as Lily ran about it, looking over everything. She stopped and seemed to gaze at the bed, then directly up at the picture above it. Her voice rang out.
“Awww! That's so cute! You two are the Duke and Duchess! That means you were maaarriieed in the game!” Lily giggled girlishly before she began to sing, “Ronnie and Lincoln, sitting in the tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!”
Ronnie Anne felt her face flushing, hotly. Her heart was beating faster than it had in awhile. In fact, the last time it had beat this fast had been... when Lincoln and her had spoke to one another again for the first time in so many years.
Ronnie Anne could hear Lincoln swallow nervously as he gave an anxious chuckle.
“Yeah, yeah, okay Lily, Okay. I think it's time you got started on your homework, don't you?”
Lily stopped with her singing giving off a soft and disappointed “Awww...” sound. It tickled Ronnie that she'd just said the same phrase in excitement moments early.
Lily groaned and nodded.
“Okay, Okay Linky. But only if you come help me!”
Lincoln gave a playful sigh as he responded.
“Alright Lils, since you're twisting my arm so much.” He paused and his figure turned and looked towards Ronnie Anne.
“Well Ronnie, I had a lot of fun this afternoon, I think Lily did too.”
Lily's figure bounced off the bed and came running up to Ronnie Anne's own, moving forward up against her and back again.
“I had so much fun Ronnie Anne! I'm giving you a hug right now in the game, but they haven't given us that emote yet!”
Ronnie Anne laughed, and then repeated the gesture in game to Lily's figure.
“It's okay Lily, here I'll give you one too. I had a blast, this was so much fun. Hey, Lily, you're going to bring your gaming laptop with you on thanksgiving right?”
Lily's little figure jumped up and spun around in place excitedly.
“Yes! Yes! I can't wait to see you, and Bobby, and Lori, and Maro and Lina, and Carlitos and CJ and Abuela Rosa and Abuelo Hector and everyone else!”
Ronnie Anne felt like she was going to slip into a diabetic coma from all the sugar and sweetness that was just pouring off of Lily.
“Well, they all can't wait to see you either Lily, or your big brother.”
Lincoln spoke up.
“I think it's going to be fun, it's going to be nice to see everyone again, and to see you again Ronnie Anne.”
Ronnie felt herself flushing fully once more, as she spoke up softly.
“I can't wait Lame-o. I really can't wait. Well, I'm gonna log off for now. I'll see you two later.”
Lincoln responded.
“Alright Ronnie Anne, catch you later!”
Lily chirped up.
“Bye Bye Ronnie! It was fun!”
Ronnie Anne logged off then, pulled her headset from her ears and placed her face in her hands, breathing deeply as she did.
Her heart and tummy were so warm. Butterflies were flitting through both. God, why did he have to be so cute? Why did even the sound of his voice, watching him interact with his little sister, why did it make her heart beat so fast? Why did those 3 hours seem like so much fun and go by so fast?
As she leaned back in her chair, she heard the chirping sound of a message being sent to her over Cavecraft's in server messaging system.
It was from Lily.
It read simply...
'I think Linky still likes you!'
Out of the mouth of babes. Why did that message fill Ronnie Anne with so much hope? So much hope she didn't want to feel? She was still pissed at the Lame-oh for dumping her in the first place three years ago. At least, she was supposed to be pissed at him!
But she couldn't bring herself to be angry about it! Annoyed, but not angry! Gah! How long would this white haired dork rule her emotions like this?!
Ronnie groaned as she rubbed her face and sighed. She was looking forward to, and dreading Thanksgiving.

Cat's Corner: Next Chapter is going to be a Fluff and Smut focused one with Lucy and Lincoln's big date. Then we're jumping right into the Thanksgiving Arc! After the Thanksgiving Arc we'll be in the final chapters of the story! So we're about 70% through at this point? Thanksgiving is going to a few chapters though with all the events that will be happening there, and then it'll be break next speed into the endings! See you all at the calm before the storm!
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The Shadow of his Heart