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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
- 23
- 24
- 25
Cat’s Corner: Hey everyone! Been a while since the last chapter, but as some of you know I wrote a chapter for my other story so that took a little bit of time. After that, I took a little break. Watched Squid game like everyone else, played some videogames, watched the latest Loud House episodes, and worked…worked a whole lot! Staff shortages mean lots of mandatory overtime tiring the cat out ☹ But I’m excited to bring you this chapter, and I hope you all enjoy it! As per usual, hearing your thoughts and opinions, comments and or criticisms means so much to me. Thank you for your patronage to my little story. With the November novel challenge coming up I’m going to be doing my best to try and write as much as possible! So the next chapters should come more quickly!

Last Saturday
Clyde McBryde sat in the spacious and stylish living room of his parent’s home, watching his girlfriend pace back and forth, biting at her fingernails while looking back at him. There was a look of nervousness to the pale raven-haired girl which was making him feel more and more uneasy by the moment. She’d been doing this for about a minute now, just walking back and forth, biting the tip of her thumb and glancing at him. A few times it looked like she was ready to say something, only for her to stop and shake her head. Three times now she’d gone, “Okay…” before turning and pacing once more.
Suffice to say, Clyde was on edge.
Normally it was good to be home, it was great to be back in familiar environs. Much as Clyde didn’t mind his dorm life and had made new friends, Royal Woods and his parents’ house would always feel like his real home. It was the place where his Dads lived, the place where his Nana Gail was, the place where his best friend, surrogate family in the Louds, and girlfriend all resided.
Stereotypes were a complicated thing. Often, they could lead to misunderstanding, prejudice, and wrong assumptions. What was the old saying? Assuming makes an Ass out of u and me. But given all that, there was often a kernel of truth to some of those stereotypes. While Clyde knew his Dads were individuals with interests and backgrounds that bucked what people thought of when it came to homosexual men (Heck, his Dad Harold had been a college athlete playing both Football and Baseball) he also knew when it came to certain things…yeah his Dads kinda fit the stereotype of being well, upper middle class suburban gay men.
They loved antiquing (Something Clyde ended up enjoying as an activity with them), Cats, Haute Cuisine, art, sensible but stylish clothes, IPA beer, and interior decorating. To this end, his two fathers had excellent taste and had made their one-story ranch home trendy and inviting. The home clearly had been built in the late 60s and featured the spacious open air living area of that time. The main room led directly to the kitchen, which itself was bordered by a small bar countertop, complete with stools. The dining area was directly next to the kitchen, a small circular table covered by white tablecloth and four chairs (An interesting contrast to the giant rectangular dinner table the Loud family used). A large indoor potter was next to it, full of blooming flowers year-round, with the backwall being all glass leading to the backyard.
The room eventually turned into the proper ‘living area’ with a white shag carpet, really reinforcing that throwback to 70s look, with a circular light blue couch surrounding a large flat screen 4k TV.
Clyde’s fathers, Harold and Howard were currently out running some errands together and returning Harold’s mother Gail to her senior living apartment. They were always overjoyed when their son came home to visit, and practically smothered him with affection (Well, more Howard did, Harold was a little more in control of his emotions. ‘Hare-Bear’ had to frequently remind his ‘Howie’ their son was a young adult now and needed his space) and last night when Clyde had come home for the weekend was no different. They took Clyde out to one of his favorite restaurants with Nana Gail, asked him about all the goings on at college, and then went home and played a cooperative board game together with Nana Gail who spent the night.
Clyde loved his fathers. Being older he understood the stigma they faced as a gay couple (an inter-racial one at that) and adopting a child, but they had done their best to shield him from encountering any of that while growing up. He understood he was also lucky to have grown up in an environment as progressive and forward thinking as Royal Woods as well. Clyde knew, if it wasn’t for them, he would have grown up an orphan, most likely, a ward of the state. His life would have been starkly different in every single way. Instead, he grew up the best way any child could, with two loving parents.
So what if his parents were two men? Those two men had given him a home and loved him just as much as the Loud parents loved their 11 children. Clyde had birthday parties and Christmas presents. He had vacations and family trips. He had parents who nurtured his hobbies and skills. He had the love and support of two adults who wanted nothing more than the very best for their child.
Clyde understood he was lucky. When so many kids grew up in broken homes, or with parents who couldn’t even be bothered to invest in them, or even worse, abused them, he had grown up never knowing what it was like to not have your parents in your corner. Clyde didn’t need to know who the donors of his genetic material were, he never had an interest, he knew who his parents were.
However, that didn’t mean Clyde didn’t enjoy some space away from his Dads either though! Sometimes his Dads’ love could be a little cloying. Especially his Dad Howard, the nurturer to Harold’s provider. Howard, much like Lynn Sr, was a very emotional man, and had the hardest time letting Clyde be independent. But as suffocating as Howard could be at times, Clyde also remembered Howard was the one who kissed his boo-boos when he was little, who hugged him and sang to him when he had nightmares and stayed home with him when he was sick. Howard also found his son’s forays into love absolutely adorable, Harold did too of course, but again being the more level-headed of the two, was more subtle with his interest and encouragement to Howard’s outright cheerleading of his son. So, while time with his Dads was great, and even time with his Dads and girlfriend could be fun. Time WITHOUT his Dads and WITH his girlfriend could be even more fun.
Which thankfully both understood and made sure to give to Clyde. With the very embarrassing disclaimer coming from Howard in the form of, “Clyde, sweetie, as much as we want to be Grandparents one day, we’d prefer if you waited until you were done with college, and also didn’t impregnate a Highschool girl. It’s not that we wouldn’t love you, but that would probably overly complicate your life.”. While his Dad Harold had simply nodded grimly and added, “What we’re saying son, is please don’t have sex without a condom.”
That completely mortifying experience was thankfully a while ago, but the two made sure to remind their son of it often.
Haiku had come over shortly before his parents had left to take Nana Gail home and run their other errands. After pleasantries were made, and Howard and Harold were gone Clyde did the first thing most men want to do with their girlfriends after going long without seeing them. He wanted to get a little action, something Haiku typically responded enthusiastically to.
Clyde had started in on kissing Haiku’s pretty neck and pulling her close, something Haiku would typically giggle girlishly before stretching her neck out and giving a more sensual moan. It was one of his ‘go-to’ moves next to the combination butt slap/grope, and the arm over the shoulder pull back into an embrace. But this time, Haiku only gave a half-hearted smile. When he’d noticed his girlfriend wasn’t as into their typical affectionate play, he’d done the appropriate thing, pulled back and asked her what was wrong.
All of that led to his current predicament. His pretty, short, gothic girlfriend, in her flowing black dress, looking like a younger Morticia Addams, pacing back and forth, saying she needed to tell him something, something important.
As the second minute of pacing ticked on, Clyde’s own panic and nervousness began to rise. She just kept pacing! Ruminating, rubbing her forehead, looking back at him, as if she was trying to figure out how to tell him what was on her mind.
A dawning horror began to come over Clyde, as he could only think of one thing that would have his girlfriend this nervous about talking to him. Something he was not prepared for at all, the thing all young men feared would happen before they were ready. The very thing his parents kept warning him about.
He just blurted it out.
“Oh my god, you’re pregnant aren’t you!?”
Haiku stopped, turned, looked at him strangely, brought her gloved hand up to her lips, and began to giggle softly before it turned into a full body laugh on her part. She shook her head.
“Oh, Goddess no Clyde! No, it’s not that at all!”
Clyde breathed out a sigh of relief, his whole body relaxing as he put his hand up to his forehead.
“Oh thank god that’s not the case. Oh man, I was worried there, you being still in High School, me a freshman in college, I just didn’t think I could handle something like that right now… Not that I wouldn’t take responsibility!” He quickly added, sounding worried as if he’d said something offensive, “Baby girl you know I’d take care of you and do everything I could to make sure we—”
Haiku put her hand up and cut her boyfriend off, “Clyde, Clyde, stop it, it’s okay. I know you’d do the right thing If I ended up pregnant, if I even decided to keep it while we’re both so young. No, Clyde that’s not what this is about.”
Clyde frowned and looked curiously at his girlfriend.
“Then what’s got you so on edge baby girl? Usually, you’re happy to see me.” Then he added, “Usually you can’t wait to get your hands on me.”
Haiku rolled her eyes and smiled playfully before she took a deep breath and faced him.
“Okay, first off I need you to do something. Something for me, and something for Lincoln and Lucy.”
Clyde only continued to look puzzled, of course he’d do something for them. Anything they needed. Those were three of the most important people in his life!
“Baby, you know you don’t even need to ask that, of course I’d do anything for the three of you. Mostly anything, if you’re in legal trouble it’s best you don’t say anything else, that way I can’t be compelled to testify against you three on the stand. You didn’t kill anybody by accident, did you? Wait, don’t answer that! We can get ahold of a lawyer first!”
Haiku groaned and put her hands to her forehead.
“No Clyde, that’s not it either. Goddess why do you always jump to the most extreme thing? Ugh Just, if you get asked about this weekend, Lucy and Lincoln were with us the whole time, okay?”
That caused another frown, and even more curiosity to come from Clyde again. What the heck was Haiku asking him this for? Lincoln and Lucy needed an alibi? An alibi for what?
“Baby girl, why would we need to do this for Lincoln and Lucy. Please tell me they’re not doing anything illegal.”
Haiku gave a slightly awkward smile, as she brought her left hand over to her right arm and rubbed it nervously.
“Well, technically where they’re going it’s not illegal.”
That…did not assuage Clyde’s fears or nervousness at all. That only made it worse. What the hell was Haiku going on about?
Clyde responded in a very soft, but clearly concerned tone.
“Haiku, what are my best friend and his little sister doing that’s technically legal wherever they’re really going?”
Haiku kept that nervous smile on her lips as she gently raised her hands palm forward towards her boyfriend.
“Okay, Clyde, what I’m about to tell you…” She trailed off, gathering her thoughts, trying to think of how to put this. “Just, please keep an open mind. Please keep a very open mind.”
Clyde suddenly had a very sinking feeling in his stomach.
Tuesday Afternoon, the week of Thanksgiving, the road to Great Lakes City.
Lincoln’s red suv trundled along the freeway, heading Southwest on his way to visit his elder sister Lori and her family. Sitting next to him was his little passenger and sidekick, the light of his life, his baby sister Lily.
The nine-year old’s attention was currently focused on the gamestation she held in her hands, her little pink tongue sticking out the side of her mouth as she furrowed her brow in concentration. Lincoln knew she was currently playing one of her favorite games, Pocket Monster, and judging by her look of concentration, she was trying to capture a rare monster to add to her stable.
It was going to be a drive that was just under three hours to get to Great Lakes, and the two had left shortly after Lily had gotten out of school. It meant spending five nights away from home, but in the company of their big sisters Lori and Leni (who they were told would be visiting over Thanksgiving as well) along with their niece and nephew Lina and Marco. Of course, there would also be the extended family of the Casagrandes who always treated every member of the Loud clan as one of their own when they visited.
Lincoln had only allowed Lily to eat a light snack after getting home, instructing her the Casagrande family Matriarch Rosa would most likely have prepared food for their arrival. Lily was well aware of the traditions and manners of Hispanic families, and how their ‘Abuela’ (for Rosa considered all of the Loud children her extended grandkids after Lori and Bobby had officially married) would take it as a personal offense if they didn’t arrive hungry and ready to eat.
Lily didn’t mind. The little girl had been a frequent visitor to the Casagrande home, and she loved her Abuela Rosa’s cooking. Rita took trips out to visit her eldest daughter and see her own grandchildren several times a year (With Lynn Sr going when he could get away from the Restaurant) and always brought Lily with her. The Loud Matriarch wanted Lily to have a relationship with her elder sisters, especially those she had been too young to remember before they moved out.
Lily must have caught the monster, because she gave a little sigh of triumph and relaxation, and a moment later shut her game down placing the gamestation in her lap. Swinging her feet casually on the edge of the seat she turned and looked up to her big brother.
“Lincoln…” she began simply enough.
Lincoln looked over at his little sister with a smile, she probably had something important she wanted to ask, she almost never used his full name in such a tone unless that was the case.
“What’s up Lilster?”
Lily looked thoughtful for a moment before she asked her question.
“Do you miss when everyone lived at home together?”
Lincoln looked a little surprised at the question, before he looked back out over his steering wheel. Lily was asking him about the old days, the days when all his sisters still lived at home with him, before Lori moved out, the first to go.
God, he was what was it… 12? Yeah, he’d been 12 before she left. Lily had just turned 2 before then. It seemed so long ago, and yet he could remember it all so clearly. The nostalgia struck him so hard in that moment. Remembering all of them together. The people he loved most, his sisters, all with him, from the eldest to the youngest. It was a brief period that only lasted just shy of two years, from the time he was 10 to when he was 12, but it was currently… the happiest time of his life.
Then Lori went off to college, Leni after that, then Luna, then Luan, and lastly Lynn. One by One, filtering out of the home. He was supposed to be the one after Lynn, before his parents asked him to stay.
He’d been resentful at first, but now he was glad he’d stayed. Not just because of the developments between Lucy and he (though that was certainly part of it), but for all his sisters. He only realized now he was getting more time with them, and they were getting more time with him. Before he really went off to join the adult world.
Still, he did miss those days often. Dashing through the crowded halls, dodging girls like ping-pong balls just to make it to the bathroom on time.
Lincoln’s eyes started getting blurry. His vision distorted. He realized his eyes were tearing up. His heart suddenly ached.
He brought his hand up, wiped at his eyes, cleared his throat, gave a soft sigh and nodded, “Yeah I do Lils. I really do. It was pretty crowded, the house felt so much smaller, we had to fight for the bathroom, but it was a lot of fun. Your sisters and I, we did so many things together.”
Lily put her head down, her pretty pale hair was held up in a small ponytail, but a few errant strands fell over her cheeks.
“I wish I could remember it all. It makes me sad. It makes me so sad Lincoln. I wish I could have been there with all of you.”
Lincoln felt a pang of sympathy for his baby sister. As much as she was doted on and spoiled by all her siblings, he recognized given her age, she did miss out on a few things involving the family. Especially those involving their older sisters.
He reached over and gently ran his fingers over the top of her head.
“You were there Lily, I know you don’t remember it, but you were there. With all of us, and we never forgot that. You should hear the trouble you got into right alongside the rest of us.”
Lily looked up and gave a half-hearted smile, it wasn’t a full one, but it was better than no smile.
“I know Linky, but it’s not the same. I can’t remember it.”
Lincoln nodded his head softly as he replied.
“Yeah, but your big brother and your sisters do, and we’ll always be happy to tell you those memories. There’s plenty of pictures of those days still! Besides, you see your big sister Lori pretty often thanks to Mom and Dad, right?”
The little girl nodded her head, giving a slightly bigger smile, before she gave a cute little pout. It wasn’t an exaggerated one either, Lincoln could tell she was feeling longing in her heart. Longing for her family.
“I miss Leni, and Luna and Luan. I was so happy to see Lynn, but I want to see the others too Linky! I miss them.”
Leni, Luna, and Luan. Those were the three sisters who were absent the most. The ones whose life journey had taken them the furthest from home.
Lori wasn’t exactly in the neighborhood, but she made the trip back ‘home’ often, and her other family visited when they could (except for Lincoln of course, he’d let fear and paranoia involving a girl he’d once been deeply in love with keep him away for too long).
But with Luan and Leni in New York, they were lucky if they were able to see them more than once a year. Luna’s Band at least swung through the Southeast Michigan area every 4-5 months or so, not only to play live venues but for each of the Moon Goats to spend some time with their respective families.
But all the same, Lincoln knew exactly what Lily was saying, he felt it as well.
“I miss them too Lily. With all my heart. But it’s kind of part of growing up. Leaving home and making your own way in the world. But you know everyone comes back home for Christmas, you’ll see them all then.”
Lily nodded her head and looked back up to her big brother.
“That’s my favorite time of year, cause everyone is home and I never feel lonely. All my big sisters are home and we have so much fun together.”
Lincoln returned to giving those gentle comforting touches to Lily’s head as he nodded in agreement.
“That’s my favorite time of the year too Lils. But remember, all your big sisters love you, and they all miss you too.”
Lily gave a soft, long sigh as she nodded to herself again. She was quiet for several more moments, before she turned to look up at her brother and spoke again.
“Linky?”
This time her voice contained a hint of worry, enough to make her brother turn to look towards her once more. His look said enough, it told Lily to ask her question. But he wasn’t prepared for what she asked next.
“Are you going to leave soon?”
She asked the question with such trepidation, such worry and fear in her voice. She looked up at him with her big eyes that had always shown with such admiration for her big brother. Eyes that said he could do no wrong.
Lincoln didn’t think he deserved the way she looked up at him. But he had looked up to Lori in just the same manner, part of him still did.
Now those eyes that typically viewed him as her own personal superhero, looked at him and silently communicated one simple message.
‘Please don’t leave me big brother.’
Lincoln’s heart only ached more in the face of that question, and the way his little sister looked at him. Suddenly he found himself forcing back tears at the sheer worry that was present in the little girl’s voice.
He cleared his voice, coughed to get a better hold of himself. Doing his best to prevent his voice from cracking.
“I…I wasn’t planning on it Lily. I think I’m gonna be home for at least another year.”
Lily reached up and took hold of her brother’s arm, she hugged it tightly to herself, as if she believed if she held it long enough and tight enough, her big brother would never leave her.
“I don’t want you to leave like all the others Linky. Everyone is going to leave me, I’m going to be all by myself.”
Each word struck Lincoln’s heart like a blow to the chest. He wasn’t blind, he understood he was Lily’s favorite. Just as she was his. They both loved the rest of their sisters equally in a sense, but the two had a special bond. It was there the moment their mother had brought her home and he first got to hold her in his arms.
That tiny little bundle looked up at him with her big blue eyes, with the same turkey tail in her hair he had, and she smiled. Lincoln understood he would do anything in the world to make her happy, and to keep that smile on her face.
Lily in turn adored her big brother just the same. She had to show him everything, she had to tell him about everything, she had to share every important detail of her life with him. His approval, his encouragement, it meant everything to her.
It was this moment Lincoln realized, he would miss Lily most of all. Taking her to school and picking her up afterwards wasn’t just a favor he did for his parents. It was a part of his day that brought him genuine joy. When he was with the sister he connected to most, the real one, the one whose love he shared that was completely pure, that brightened his day.
Lincoln quietly understood Lily was more important to him than Lucy. How could she not be? Lily was the most important person in his life.
A part of him felt guilty about that. But another part of him felt sudden relief, as if it was vitally important that remain true. If Lucy ever became more important than Lily in his mind, something about him would be fundamentally lost.
This truth made him uncomfortable. Because part of him didn’t like knowing Lily was more important to him than Lucy. Part of him wanted to show it was Lucy who was the most important sister in his life now. But no matter how much that part of him yelled, railed against this truth, it continued to fail.
He didn’t like that feeling. So he put the battle on hold for now, and focused on the young girl in front of him.
It was a heart-breaking bit of knowledge to have. But Lincoln knew he had to leave home one day and Lily needed to understand that.
He made his voice softer as he spoke, knowing the seriousness of the conversation. Lily was remarkably smart and mature for her age, but she was still a child.
“Lily, you know I’ll never truly leave you. No matter what happens, I’ll always be your big brother, and we’ll always see each other again.”
Lily continued to grip his hand tightly, looking up at him. She wanted to believe his words, and she probably even did, but it still wasn’t enough.
Lily’s voice came sad and low.
“It’s not fair Linky.”
Lincoln rose his eyebrow.
“How is it not fair Lilster?”
Lily looked up at him and released his hand, the young girl wiped at her eyes sniffling a little.
“You all got to grow up together. You all got to play together and have all these fun adventures. It’s not fair Linky. Cause you’re in the middle you got to be with everyone the longest.”
Lincoln was taken aback by that statement. He hadn’t expected to hear that from his baby sister, but he knew in a way she was right. Being the middle child, he did in a sense have the greatest amount of time with all his sisters as a whole. Staying home another year on top of it all had only made that more so.
It broke his heart again as he saw Lily understand she would be the last to leave. Lily knew, baring something extreme happening, she would be in the house alone, with only their mother and father eventually. The house would steadily get emptier and emptier, until she was the last to leave the nest.
The little girl was fretting about being all alone already.
Here, with the little girl who had ruled his heart from the first day he held her, he knew he had to do everything in his power to try and reassure her.
“Lily, how about I make you a promise?”
Lily’s sniffles stopped momentarily. The girl was being brave, she didn’t want to cry, he could see that. She was doing her best to not be a ‘big baby’ in front of her older brother.
“What kinda promise?”
Her voice was hopeful as she looked to Lincoln.
He smiled softly in return at her.
“No matter where I am, no matter what time it is, no matter what is going on. If you call me, I’ll come. When ever you need me, I’ll be there for you. It’s my promise as your big brother.”
Lily continued to look at Lincoln with that hope in her eyes. She smiled.
“Anytime I want? For any reason?”
Lincoln nodded and smirked.
“Anytime you want Lily, no matter where I am or what I’m doing. I’m never going to abandon you. Even when I do have to go away to finish college, if you need me, I’ll be there.”
Lily gave a small smile and nodded her head.
“Okay, I wish you could just stay and live with me forever Linky, but getting to see you anytime I want is also good.”
Lincoln laughed at his little sister, reached over once more and patted her head.
“You know, you might not believe this, but one day you’re going to have your own circle of friends and want to spend time with them more than your dorky big brother.”
Lily continued to smile a little larger, folding her arms and shaking her head.
“Un uh! No way! You’re cool Linky! I’m gonna want all my friends to meet you!”
Lincoln laughed once more as he placed his hand back on the steering wheel.
“Lily, you and Clyde are probably the only people in the world who think I’m cool.”
Lily gave a soft giggle as she shook her head once more, putting her little chin up with pride.
“Well, the people who don’t think you’re cool are dumb Linky! You know all the best anime, and videogames, you’re a really good artist and you’re smart!”
Lincoln smirked looking at his little sister. He could see he’d put her in a better mood.
“Well, Lils, you’re pretty smart too ya know! You’re also a way better artist than I am. You also like all the best videogames and Anime, so that means you’re ultra-cool too!”
Lily continued to beam happily. Being called ‘cool’ by her big brother made her feel on top of the world. Lincoln found it adorable. It was just more reason he loved her so much.
Lily piped up.
“I guess that means we’re the coolest people in the world Linky!”
Lincoln laughed again and nodded.
“I guess it does Lil. You and me are the coolest people in the world.”
“And Clyde too!” Lily added.
Lincoln continued to chuckle and nodded once more.
“Yes, and Clyde too.”
The two fell into a comfortable series of casual conversations then. Lily had been effectively cheered up, and Lincoln felt better about himself, reaffirming his bond with his baby sister. They spoke about videogames, and movies together, and Lily’s dreams of what she wanted to do when she grew up. All of them revolved around art in one aspect or another.
Much like the rest of his sisters, Lily had expressed a clear talent she excelled at. Art in all its forms was where she excelled. Lincoln himself wasn’t a terrible artist. His love of Comic Books and Manga had spurred an interest in it, and he was very good, for a hobbyist. He might even be able to make a serious go at it, if it was his true passion.
But Lincoln had discovered the written word, and in particular journalism was where his passion lain. Exposing the hidden truth of things, finding out the reasons behind events, sharing that information with the public, that’s what interested him. That and Lily, well Lily at 9 years old expressed a command of artistic sensibilities that was beyond her years.
The little girl understood proportion, lighting, and shapes far better than many artists twice her age. She liked to draw, she liked to paint, and she even enjoyed sculpting with clay now and then.
Being a young girl with little money, Lily often resorted to her art projects as presents for the rest of her family. There was a period she felt guilty about this. That she couldn’t get her older sisters or older brother what they really wanted, and instead gave them a dumb old drawing or painting. But each time she gifted one of her siblings or parents a Lily Loud original, it seemed to bring tears to their eyes. She always seemed to capture exactly what her chosen giftee’s emotions and moods were so perfectly. Lily was slowly beginning to understand and appreciate her ability, while remaining humble about it.
As they grew closer to their destination, however, Lily’s attitude changed. No longer was she lamenting over the eventual departure of her older siblings, and no longer was she talking about the things she usually did with her big brother.
Now, Lily was regarding him with something of a smug and knowing smirk. Her eyes slightly half-lidded as if she knew a secret he didn’t.
Lincoln picked up on the change in demeanor as their conversation topic shifted, but wasn’t sure what Lily was thinking about, until she spoke up once more.
“Linky, are you looking forward to seeing Ronnie Anne again?”
That, did catch Lincoln off guard. While all of his sisters remembered his relationship with Ronnie going back to when they were both 11, Lily had been too young. Lily had been too young to ever remember a time when Bobby Santiago and Ronnie Anne Santiago lived in the same neighborhood as the Louds, and dated two of the Loud siblings.
Lily had only been 6 when Ronnie Anne had officially been Lincoln’s girlfriend, and still lived so many hours away. It surprised him to suddenly be grilled by his baby sister on this topic.
Lincoln actually felt a little flustered as he glanced at the little girl, and then forward over the steering wheel once more.
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again, her, Bobby, Rosa and Hector, all the Santiagos and Casagrandes” he tried to deflect.
But Lily was undeterred.
“Yeah, but I bet you wanna see Ronnie Anne most of all!”
The little girl giggled as Lincoln looked back to her, increasingly flustered.
“And how would you know that, Lily? Huh?”
Lily seemed unphased by his question, looking up smugly.
“Cause I talk to her more than you do Linky! She’s missed you a whole bunch!”
That was another strange realization to come across Lincoln. It was true. Lily had actually seen Ronnie Anne in the last three years more than he had. Lily being a frequent visitor with their mother to see Lori, meant by extension Lily saw the Casagrandes more as well. Did he just think Ronnie Anne avoided Lily every time she came over?
No that didn’t make any sense. So Lily had been talking to Ronnie for years while Lincoln had been too much of a coward to even face her again! She really did know what she was talking about!
Lincoln sighed softly and then groaned.
“Okay, yes I do want to see her again. But as friends Lily. Ronnie Anne and I are really good friends.”
Lily didn’t seem convinced.
“It’s okay Linky! You can wanna kiss her again! Ronnie Anne is lots of fun! She likes video games and anime, and she’s a really good skateboarder, and she’s really nice, but really tough!”
Then Lily got an even smugger smirk as she added with a knowing tone…
“Aaandd she’s real pretty!”
Lincoln felt himself feeling bashful at the last statement from his little sister. Yes, Ronnie Anne was pretty.
He’d always thought she was pretty. No that was an understatement, he always thought Ronnie Anne was beautiful.
Beautiful in this defiant way of societies expectations. Beautiful and fierce, yet feminine all at once. Ronnie rarely wore dresses, always preferring jeans or shorts, yet also preferred feminine colors like violet and light pink. She wore hoodies, and knee-high socks. She didn’t wear make-up very often, but she had purple streaks in her dark hair.
She was a leader, she was bold. She gave just as good as she got, and she didn’t expect anyone to treat her with kid gloves.
Yet she was also kind and compassionate. Sweet and affectionate.
It really made Lincoln at times wonder why the heck she’d fallen for him of all people so hard.
But then he also remembered she had a temper, took offense at things which were never meant to be, and was self-conscious about her image as a tough girl, to the point of over compensating if she was being perceived as too ‘soft’.
Still, Lincoln couldn’t disagree with what Lily was saying.
“Yes, she is pretty Lily. I know that. She used to be my girlfriend.”
Lily looked at him with that matter-of-fact smug smile and spoke.
“I bet you’ll want her to be your girlfriend all over again after our visit Linky!”
Lincoln felt such a range of emotions at these words, a complex tide that made him uncomfortable, embarrassed, and giddy all at once. Uncomfortable knowing the truth of his current relationship, and how that had to remain a lie to his family. Embarrassed at his little sister teasing him about his old girlfriend, which only made him realize he still had unresolved feelings when it came to her. And giddy, giddy at the possibility of Ronnie Anne still being interested in him.
Because as much as he said he was dedicated to Lucy, as much as his little goth sister held his heart, Ronnie Anne had it first. Ronnie Anne still meant something to him, and he couldn’t just let those feelings go.
“Well, let’s not jump to any conclusions Lily. It was a few years ago now, maybe Ronnie Anne and I just want to be friends.”
Lily didn’t look completely convinced, but she didn’t seem like she wanted to annoy her big brother on the issue.
“Okay Linky, but she’s really cool, and we all think you two should get back together!”
That caught Lincoln by surprise and caused him to raise his eyebrow as he turned and looked towards his little sister.
“And just who is ‘we all’ huh?”
But Lily shut her hands over her mouth and shook her head, giggling.
Lincoln had a fairly good idea who might be behind what she was getting at, but wasn’t completely sure. He didn’t take any offense to it, or get upset. He understood it well enough, Ronnie Anne was a great girl, of course his family would love for him to get back with her. Well, all of them except for Lucy of course.
Lincoln decided to turn things back around on his baby sister though.
“Oh mum’s the word, huh Lily? Well, alright, I guess if I’m gonna get together with Ronnie Anne, that means you’re going to get together with Carlitos right? We Louds and Casagrandes need to strengthen our family bonds with multiple pairings!”
Lily’s reaction was to suddenly turn red and slap her hands to her cheeks. The girl squealed as she looked away and shook her head.
“Oh my gosh Linky! Carlitos and I are just friends!”
Carlitos was the youngest cousin of Bobby and Ronnie Anne, and about 6 months younger than Lily herself. He was the youngest son of Bobby and Ronnie’s Uncle Carlos and Aunt Frida. Carlos Casagrande was the son of Hector and Rosa, and the older brother of Ronnie and Bobby’s mother, Maria.
Given Lily’s frequent visits to the Casagrande Apartment building to visit Lori and her children, she often spent lots of time playing with Carlitos over the years, given how close they were in age. Carlitos was a very sweet and intelligent boy with a flair for acting and the dramatic. With a very vivid imagination, Lily and him always got along well together, and enjoyed the time they spent along side one another during their visits.
Lincoln wasn’t done though.
“That boy’s going to be an award-winning actor one day Lils. You better lock him down now while you still got a chance! Just think you could be living the jet setting life in L.A. you with your own private studio while he’s just off the set of his latest movie.”
Lily’s cheeks couldn’t get any pinker, and the little girl had buried her face in her hands, giggling softly and shaking her head.
“No Linky! Stop! You’re embarrassing me!”
Lincoln only chuckled in response.
“See, now you know what it’s like.”
The rest of the trip went well, and the two arrived safely in Great Lakes City early evening.
Early Evening, Casagrande Apartment Building
It had been Bobby who had greeted Lincoln and Lily, standing outside of the yellow brick apartment building that made up the home of the Casagrandes as well as its bottom floor being the location of their family owned market.
Lincoln hadn’t seen Bobby in almost a year. He almost didn’t recognize him with the fresh beard he was sporting, it helped add an air of maturity to his typical boyish features. Clad in his green flannel shirt and blue jeans, he had smiled brightly when he saw Lily and Lincoln.
Lily with her pink backpack over her shoulder had happily greeted her big brother Bobby, and Bobby had been more than happy to return the hug. Bobby was family, and his heart was so great he genuinely missed seeing the Loud siblings.
Of course, after Lily and Bobby had said their greetings, it was Lincoln’s turn. Lincoln’s brother-in-law took him in one of his crushing hugs, lamenting it had been too long since he’d visited with Lincoln bashfully agreeing.
After that, Bobby had smiled and told him there were some people waiting to see them both. A short trip up the stairs with Bobby helping carry the light luggage they’d brought with them, they entered the apartment of the Santiagos. After stepping through the entryway and turning the corner Lily and Lincoln were greeted with the sight of family it had been too long since they last saw.
Lori and Bobby’s apartment followed the same model as the other deluxe family suites within the building. A large open spaced living room, a separate kitchen with a pass-through window linking the two, and a hallway leading to the three bedrooms and bathroom. It was all hardwood floors with pastel oranges and yellows making up the colors of the walls and ceiling.
Bobby and Lori had decorated their home with pictures of their family, and of themselves from the time both moved to Great Lakes and going back to their days as teenagers together in Royal Woods. A large grey couch, similar to the one the Loud family once possessed was placed against the far wall, along with a matching grey love seat and recliner.
It was technically more seating than Bobby and Lori needed, but frequent visits from the rest of Bobby’s family meant the extra seating was often helpful.
But it wasn’t the décor that was important to Lily and Lincoln right now.
Standing in the living room were three of the most important women in Lincoln’s life.
First was his big sister Lori, eldest of the Louds, wearing a dark blue, white polka dot maternity dress. Her thick blonde hair perfectly coifed as always, and the pearl earrings she’d favored all her life hanging from her ears.
Lori was the sister Lincoln looked up to the most. The one who provided the model of what a Loud child was supposed to be. Lincoln even as a young adult himself, still saw Lori as a role model. He still subconsciously sought her approval.
Lori had been such an influence on his life. She had been a second mom to him in most respects. Lincoln could never remember a time he had a babysitter that wasn’t his elder sister. She had fed him his first taste of ice cream, she had patched him up when he was injured, she had hugged him when he was scared, she had talked to him about girls.
Lori had done everything a big sister was expected to do, and then some. Her maternal warmth and love for her younger siblings was evident on how she still checked in on them and made sure they were doing okay, even after being married and having her own children.
It was said women were the kin-keepers when it came to family. It was the matriarch of the family which held it together over distances. It was the matriarch who made sure the extended family returned home for important celebrations. Rita had been the one who’d been in charge of such things for so long, but more and more Lori was taking up the mantle. Lincoln couldn’t think of anyone more qualified to do so.
Standing next to Lori, wearing the smile that lit up every room she inhabited, was his second oldest sister Leni. The genuinely sweetest of the Loud sisters next to Lily, the sister who matched Lincoln when it came to a willingness to help others. The sister who had done an admirable job of taking over running things after Lori had left, in her own uniquely Leni style.
Businesswoman and fashionista, the Loud sister who defied societies expectations of what a ditzy blonde was supposed to be able to do. Leni was currently dressed in a pair of dark blue skinny jeans hugging her shapely legs, with a seafoam green button up shirt. Her ever present circular white sunglasses perched in her long platinum blonde hair.
Seeing both of his eldest sisters filled Lincoln with a sense of longing, nostalgia, warmth and love he hadn’t felt in so long. After the conversation with Lily during their drive, seeing them again hit harder than he thought it would.
Both sisters rushed up to him and Lily wordlessly, and the four embraced one another so very tightly. It was a reunion of only four out of eleven, but it was still wonderful.
They didn’t say any words at for a very long moment, the four siblings simply held one another tightly. Bent down ever so slightly so Lily could better hold back and be held in turn. There was nothing but simple noises at first, wordless sounds of familial love transmitted between the four as they basked in the presence of one another.
The Loud siblings, for as many as there were, had all been exceptionally close growing up, and that had never changed between all of them. Each of them held a piece of their other siblings’ hearts. It was only when all were united, did they truly feel whole.
It was Leni who spoke first. Her voice was cracking, she was already tearing up.
“Oh my gosh you two! Lincoln, Lily! I missed you both so much!”
Leni gave a soft, giddy, happy laugh as a sniffle came from her, so happy to see her brother and baby sister.
But it was Lori who had begun to full on sob.
Lori had inherited her father’s overly emotional nature, and she was already crying as she held the embrace with her three younger siblings.
“My closest sister, My Baby brother and my Baby sister! I have you all together now! Oh I missed you so much! I’ve been literally counting down the days to this moment!”
She placed kisses on both their cheeks, her body hitching. Leni followed her elder sisters lead, showering her younger siblings with kisses as the four continued to squeeze one another tightly.
Lily caught up in the emotional reunion was unable to contain her own. She had seen Lori two months ago during an overnight stay with their mother, but it had been almost a year since she’d seen Leni. The young girl just couldn’t hold in her happiness. Her heart felt like it was going to burst, and she broke into happy tears surrounded by her family.
“Lori! Leni! Leni, I missed you so much! I missed you!” Lily sniffled as those tears ran down her cheeks.
This caused Leni to start crying more openly too, as she placed more kisses on Lily’s head, and then on Lincoln’s as well.
“Oh, my little Lily! I’m sorry for not being home sooner! You’re getting so big! I’ve missed you and Lincoln, I missed all of you, but I’m totes here for you both!”
Lily smiled up at her two eldest sisters. There was 15 and 14 years apart between them respectively, but there was no distance between the love the three sisters shared for one another.
Even Lincoln couldn’t completely hold back the upswell of emotions being shared between them. There was a time he only came up to his older sisters’ waists, when they picked him up and carried him around. Now, here he was, a full head and shoulders taller than both.
Yet he felt small before them.
No that wasn’t the right way to put it. Or maybe it was. He felt like that little boy again, running around their waists, looking up to them wide eyed and with admiration. Knowing he was safe with them, in the love they shared for him. They were his big sisters, and they had always taken care of him.
Even though now he was bigger, and he would be the one to protect them if they were ever threatened, he felt comforted, embraced by their sisterly affection. He was their baby brother, and he understood he always would be no matter his size.
“Lori, Leni, it’s been too long. I’m so sorry for not visiting you, both of you sooner.”
The four gave each other another firm squeeze, before gently releasing each other.
Now it was time for individual hugs.
Lori grabbed her baby brother and squeezed him tightly to her, even with her pregnant belly in the way. She leaned up and kissed his cheek, then his forehead, before she placed her hands on his cheeks, looking him over with a smile.
“Oh baby brother, what matters is you’re here now. We can make up for lost time. You’ll always be welcome in my home Lincoln, always.”
Lincoln smiled, reaching up, wiping at his eyes as he nodded.
“I’m going to make it a point to visit more.”
Leni had scooped Lily up in her arms like the girl weighed absolutely nothing. Showing off that freakish strength she seemed to possess that even gave their sister Lynn pause.
Leni gave more kisses to Lily’s cheek and slipped her fingers into the back of her pale blonde hair, her other arm about Lily’s waist, and was rocking back and forth with her. Lily was returning the affection, arms around her big sister’s shoulders.
“I’ve missed you soooo much Lily! I feel so bad not getting to watch you grow! My cutest sister!” Leni laughed softly in between kisses.
Lily only giggled back.
“Are you going to play with me and Marco and Lina?”
Leni giggled and nodded, “You totes know I am!”
Leni had a natural gift with children. Maybe it was due to her silly nature, but she had zero difficulty in relating to them, getting involved with their play, and increasing their fun no matter what their age. Lily had always enjoyed playing with Leni, Leni had always been willing to play with her, no matter what game or how old she was.
Leni put Lily down, and Lori released Lincoln, only for them all to switch places.
Lori reached down to hug Lily tightly. Lily responded with a tight hug around Lori’s shoulders while being careful about her belly.
Lori spoke first after giving her another kiss on the cheek.
“Marco and Lina are going to be so excited to see their Aunt Lily again. How’s my little last but not least sister doing?”
Lily giggled and responded naturally.
“I can’t wait to see them and give them hugs! I’m doing good first but not the worst sister!”
It was a little exchange Lori and Lily often shared with one another. All of the Loud siblings had a unique bond shared between them, in Lori and Lily’s case it was their status as the eldest and youngest sibling. The first and last child.
Leni embraced Lincoln tightly, and he did the same. His second oldest sister placed her head against his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his torso. She breathed in his scent and rocked back and forth as she held him.
“I missed you Linky. I’ve missed my baby brother just as much as my baby sister.”
Lincoln had an inkling of an idea of why Leni had missed him so. He was aware of the affection Lynn, and Lucy shared for him. He was told of the affection Leni also had for him.
But he couldn’t detect anything but a genuine sisterly love coming from her in these moments. No hidden feelings of wanting or expecting anything more from him. It was the purity and sweetness Leni radiated everywhere she went.
He held her just as tightly as he looked down and kissed the top of her head.
“I should of came out to visit you, you and Luan. I have my own car, I could do it.”
Leni pulled back from their hug still smiling. She reached up and placed her long slender fingers against his freckled cheek.
“It’s okay Linky. It’s hard for me being out there away from everyone. But it’s okay. You have your own life. I’m lucky to have Luan. But Linky…” Leni trailed off and gave a soft sigh, “You and I, we have a lot to talk about. But that’s for later.”
Lincoln was a little surprised hearing that. Leni sounded like it was something serious she wanted to discuss with him, but he felt no trepidation, no worry or fear. Leni made him feel comforted just with her words and her smile.
He nodded.
“Of course, Leni. I want to talk to all of you.”
The siblings parted completely now that they had exchanged the greetings they really wanted, and Lincoln finally found his attention drawn to the last woman in the room.
Lincoln didn’t know what he would feel when he saw Ronnie Anne again, truthfully it was a meeting he was looking forward to and dreading at the same time. They had talked, often, since re-establishing contact with one another, and not a day went by they didn’t leave some kind of message or text for one another.
But meeting in person was different than texting or hearing each other’s voice.
He looked, and there she was. Leaning up against the hallway frame, her arms behind her back. The girl with the coffee-colored skin, chocolate brown eyes, and cute little freckles on her cheeks. Her long dark-brown hair had been shaved on the left side, leaving it to flow like a waterfall down her right, dyed with the familiar purple streaks evenly between the larger collection of dark brown. Her plush lips were pulled up in a slightly ironic and shy smile as she regarded him.
Lincoln had always been a fan of those lips.
How many times had Lincoln kissed them? How many times had he felt those same lips on his neck? Over his ear? Heard them whisper sweetly to him in that smokey voice Ronnie possessed.
Did he ever know any girl like Ronnie Anne?
She was wearing a magenta hoodie, left open, a black t-shirt underneath. A pair of well-worn black denim jeans, frayed at the knees, and her converse sneakers.
She was everything he loved about her, only more of it. The three years since last seeing her had made her all the more impressive. As if she had embodied everything he fell in love with, and only increased the magnitude.
This was the girl that bullied him relentlessly in 5^th grade because she didn’t know how to handle the overwhelming crush she had on him.
This was the girl who became his best friend, and then his very first girlfriend.
This was the girl he’d given his first innocent kisses to.
This was the girl he’d given his first real kiss to.
This was the girl who he’d given his virginity to.
All in exchange for her own on each occasion.
This was the girl who knew him in ways no one else did for the longest time. She was the first girl outside of his family who knew he had freckles on his butt. About the mole on his inner thigh.
The girl who first knew his partial albinism extended to all of his body hair.
She was his first love, and he had loved her first with the innocent mutual affection and infatuation of children, to the burning unchecked emotional passion of a teenager.
Now looking at her, looking at the girl who had been so important for his youth, seeing her again as they had both taken steps into early adulthood, it practically knocked the wind out of him.
She had never stopped being beautiful in his eyes. That was his first realization. This girl turned young woman who radiated the confidence that she could take on the entire world, and win. He saw that confidence in her, even as it was quiet right now, even as he recognized something else.
A bashfulness, a shyness as she looked at him.
His heart yearned for what was once more, and in that moment, he completely forgot about his relationship with Lucy. For one moment there was only the girl that made his heart quicken, whose smile cheered him up more than any other. Whose body when shared with him, had been the most exciting gift he’d ever received.
Lincoln looked right back at Ronnie Anne. Those chocolate eyes meeting his azure blue, and they shared an immediate reaction.
A flush covered their cheeks, their smiles both turned even more bashful, and a soft embarrassed laugh came from both.
“Hey Ronnie Anne.”
“Hey Lincoln.”
They both laughed softly again, and looked back at once more shyly.
It was a greeting they had exchanged so often. It had formed shortly after the two had begun to officially ‘date’ back in 5^th grade.
The natural extension of the embarrassed mutual happiness of seeing the person who made butterflies flit through your stomach. The greeting that spoke of being so happy to see the person you just couldn’t stop smiling around.
For the moment, nothing else existed but the two of them. They only recognized each other.
So focused on the complicated and yet giddy emotions that flowed through both of them.
Completely unaware of the four sets of eyes that were now watching both of them with baited breath.
Lori, Leni, Lily, and Bobby all stood together silently, and watched it all play out in front of them.
Lincoln regarded Ronnie, just as she regarded him.
Before either one knew it, their bodies moved of their own accord.
They stepped right up to one another, looked into one another’s eyes…and then wrapped their arms around each other in a sudden intense hug held between both.
Ronnie Anne squeezed Lincoln so tightly, unable to stop the pounding in her heart. She buried her head against his shoulder while she clung to him. Lincoln did the same, he held Ronnie Anne as if he was embracing a long lost dear and true friend. Because that’s exactly what Ronnie was, only more so.
In that moment Lincoln had another of many revelations which had struck him today, he realized what a complete and total fool he had been to stop talking to Ronnie Anne. He felt such a warmth and affection from her, the understanding of someone who got him, who got all his strange little quirks and eccentricities, and embraced them.
Ronnie Anne cursed herself for being so cowardly she never tried to speak to Lincoln during those three years. More, she felt an over flowing of emotion within her. She felt…slightly confused.
There was a part of her that thought she should still be mad at Lincoln for the way he let things end. She should still hold him accountable, even if they had rekindled their friendship online. And a part of Ronnie Anne really did want to do that. She wanted to get the straight truth from him, she needed to know why he really let things end the way he did between them.
But right now, all she could focus on was just how good it felt to hug him again, and be hugged by him in turn. To be hugged by the boy who never felt threatened by her personality, never felt intimidated, accepted all her rough edges, and even enjoyed them.
She could tell he seemed to be feeling his own mix of emotions right now. The hug between them felt amazing, and it felt necessary, it felt like an unspoken apology on both their parts.
But they needed to talk, they needed to talk about the uncomfortable situation that involved their break up. Because as it was right now, hugging him like this, it felt like they never broke up. It felt like her Lincoln had finally come back to her. Her Lame-o had just been gone for a long time, and now he was here again with her.
She gripped him even more tightly, and she felt him return the gesture. There was a growing desire to kiss him. She was almost tempted to pour her heart out to him here and now, demand why he let something so good like what they had slip away. Because he had been worried she would have left him?! Stupid, dumb Lame-o.
But she remembered where they were, and who was watching them. Now was not the time. There would be plenty of time for them to have that talk, and confront those unresolved feelings between them.
Slowly, reluctantly the two began to pull back from one another. A tiny voice within both urged them to keep holding one another, to keep hugging, as if they could repair three years of miscommunication if they simply held one another long enough. But they pulled back far enough to face one another again.
Lincoln’s hands rested in Ronnie Anne’s own. They had refused to completely let go of one another, and held each other’s hands gently while smiling more assuredly at each other.
“I missed you Lame-o” Ronnie said softly.
“I missed you Ronnie Anne.”
Ronnie flushed again, looked away and released her grip on Lincoln’s hands.
Then she brought her fist up, and punched him in the arm, smirking as she did so.
“That’s what you get for going so long without talking to me! I haven’t had anyone to keep my skills sharpened against in Muscle Fish fighter! And Sid? Sid can’t keep up with me in Dance Dance Resolution! I need to beat you down some more just to make sure I haven’t lost my edge!”
Lincoln gave a slight flinch from the punch, then folded his arms looking back at her smirking in return.
“Oh, do I detect a challenge being thrown down at me? Are you sure you can beat the Man with the plan Ronnie Anne?”
Ronnie Anne laughed, grinned baring her teeth, and nodded her head.
“Don’t you know it Lame-o! You got a serious butt whuppin coming your way! But we’ve got some time. Maybe tomorrow we have some rematches for old time’s sake.”
Lincoln continued to smirk as he nodded in return.
“Sounds good to me Ronnie Anne. You’re not gonna be able to rely on that touch of death combo with the Mariner anymore since they patched it out!”
Ronnie smirked smugly.
“As if I needed something like that to kick your butt!”
Lincoln was grinning fully back at his rival. Suddenly three years slipped away as if they never happened. He was standing with the prettiest girl in the world, his favorite person to play videogames with, the girl he gave his all against in competition, and only made him admire her more when she beat him.
“Well, you prepare yourself for a nice big slice of humble pie Ronnie Anne! Cause the W is going to me!”
There was an energy and excitement between them. One that made them both feel lighter on their feet, ready to take each other’s hand and run off to the next adventure together.
And then Lori’s voice broke the moment.
“Ahem, speaking of pie, we have that and a whole assortment of food Rosa made for dinner for all of us. Rosa and Hector decided to let us have dinner together privately while you two get settled in, but afterwards she’s looking forward to seeing you both, Lincoln…”
Lincoln felt himself blush again. Ronnie Anne did too. Both looked away, and brought their attention back to Lori.
The moment may have been over, but some of the magic was still there. But both needed to catch their breath. Both needed to re-organize their thoughts, take stock of their feelings.
Ronnie covered for both of them, “We have time Lame-O, we’ll make sure we cover everything we missed with each other.”
Lincoln gave a soft measured response, smiling in return and nodding his head.
“I’d like that Ronnie, I really would.”
A pang of guilt shot through Lincoln. A pang of remembrance of Lucy.
Lucy was his girlfriend, not Ronnie Anne.
Lucy was his love. His sweet, soft spoken, morbid and introverted little sister. His beautiful and precious, loving partner. She was the one who had risked everything for him, and here he had almost completely forgotten about her. He inwardly frowned and felt so conflicted.
He couldn’t let himself get caught up in Ronnie Anne, as wonderful as it felt. As intoxicating as she could be.
Could he?
Regardless, he knew they needed to talk about things. No matter what he had with Lucy, he owed it to Ronnie Anne to hash out their unfinished business. For now though, it was time to eat.
Ronnie Anne had dinner with all of them, not ready to stop hanging out with Lincoln just yet. The early evening was covered by delicious food, and casual conversation catching up on things. As dinner was winding down to its end, Lori began to speak up about sleeping arrangements.
“So I hope you don’t mind Lincoln, but we got you on the couch. Bobby put our old pull-out bed in the guest room, Leni and Lily you’ll be sharing it.”
Leni, frowned and then suddenly spoke up.
“Linky can share it with us too.”
Lincoln looked back, blinked in surprise as he gazed at the serenely smiling face of his second eldest sister.
Lily must have thought the idea was grand because she threw her hands up in support.
“Yeah! Linky can share the bed with me and Leni! It’ll be fun!”
Leni laughed and leaned over, hugging Lily, grinning as well.
“It’ll be just like a sleep over! We can stay up together and talk and play games!”
There was no convincing Lily otherwise, sharing a bed with her big sister and big brother was everything the nine-year-old could want. There was nothing better to a child then getting to cuddle up with the older members of their family and sleep next to them knowing they were safe and loved.
Lori looked a little…concerned however. She winced slightly and looked from Leni, to Lincoln and back again, before she gave her misgivings.
“I don’t know you guys…I don’t know if there really would be enough room for all three of you there.”
Only to have her Husband throw in his two cents.
“Oh come on Babe, that thing is huge! They’ll be fine together. Besides, I get your sister, she’d probably want to drag you into bed with them too!”
Leni laughed and nodded her head.
“Totes for real! I missed all three of you so much, I just want to be as close to my sisters and brother as I can be while we’re visiting.”
Lori looked around again, and a moment later she gave a soft sigh, smiled and nodded her head.
“Oh alright you three, I suppose it is a King size. There’s plenty of room, and I guess it means we don’t have to worry about waking Lincoln up if we stumble into the living room during the morning.”
Lincoln looked back towards his sisters and smiled as well, giving a shrug.
“Guess I’m bunking with my sisters. Wouldn’t be the first time.”
Wolverine University Dorms, that night.
Lynn Loud sat on the edge of her bed, staring down at her phone with increasing anxiety.
She had to make the call, she knew she had to make the call, but she just kept chickening out about it. There was just too much at stake now, and Lynn had to lay it on the table to the one sister who needed to know it all most.
Lucy.
She had to call Lucy and tell her to pick her up tomorrow.
Normally Lynn would have just ridden back home with Margo, but Lynn had told Margo to go on back home that night without her. Begging the excuse that she needed to finish a paper for one of her classes, and she’d just have her sister pick her up tomorrow.
But the truth was, she needed time alone, away from everyone else to talk to Lucy.
It was just, Lucy didn’t know she was going to be picking up Lynn just yet. Lynn hoped Lucy would agree to it, but she figured when she mentioned why it was so important, Lucy would agree to.
Lynn needed to talk to Lucy.
It was vitally important. She needed to tell her what happened. She had to come clean to her younger sister, because now…
Well now, everything was going to change, and not necessarily for the better. She knew Lucy was the only person in the world who would understand what she was going through.
She just hoped her little sister didn’t decide to kill her when she brought it up on the way home.
Well, it was now or never. Time for Lynn to swallow her fear and put skin in the game once more. Time to get ahold of her old roommate, and start what was probably going to be a very painful process for both of them.
Lynn hit the call button on her phone, put it up to her ear, and waited.
“Hey Luce. Yeah, I know a little weird hearing from me. But listen, I need you to pick me up tomorrow, there’s something very important we need to talk about.”
Lynn paused before she added.
“It’s about Lincoln.”
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The Shadow of his Heart