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More Than a Sister	By : Trillhouse Category: +G through L > The Loud House Views: 6299 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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
- 2
- 3
- 4
Chapter 3 - Perfect

Lisa's little stunt ended up taking Lincoln out of commission for the rest of the week. She managed to convince the rest of the family that he'd just come down with a bad fever, which he supposed was true enough… his entire body felt as though it were on fire, as if the grotesque swelling in his nether regions wasn't bad enough. Lisa assured him that meant the serum was working, not that it made him any happier about the situation.
Thankfully, by Friday night both the fever and the swelling had gone down, and now Lincoln was resting comfortably in his bed, browsing the web on his laptop. Clyde had brought him the homework he'd missed, but he figured he'd do it over the weekend… after all, he figured he deserved some leisure after the week he'd had.
Lincoln was just about to fire up some Ancients of the Storm when he heard a knock on his door. "Come in!" He called out, only to sigh loudly as none other than Lisa herself walked in, clipboard in hand. "…Hello, Lisa." He grumbled.
"No need for the attitude, brother." The little girl replied flatly. "You seem to be back to your usual self, at any rate. Any swelling?" Lisa lifted up his blanket to check, only for him to swat her hand away.
"Knock it off, Lisa." Lincoln huffed. In truth, he couldn't be too mad at her… she had only been trying to help after all, even if her methods were unorthodox at best. Still, the discomfort he'd suffered the past three days left him sore in more ways than one. "I'm fine."
"Good. Well, as long as you've got your computer out," She began, reaching into her pocket. "I'm going to need another sample."
"No." Lincoln groaned.
"Lincoln, I need to make sure that the serum worked as intended." Lisa sighed, setting an empty vial down on his dresser. "Have you been able to maintain an erection?"
Lincoln scoffed and turned back to his laptop, slipping on his headphones. He didn't want to deal with this right now… he knew she meant well, but quite frankly he'd shared more than enough private information with the girl already. Lisa frowned, seeing she wasn't about to get a clear answer from him.
"…Very well. I have other methods." Lisa produced her highly-modified tablet and began to fiddle with it; a moment later, Lincoln's game closed on its own and his web browser opened, displaying hardcore pornography. Lincoln gasped and slammed the laptop shut, while Lisa just stared down at her tablet in displeasure. "Hmm… troubling. The nanobots are detecting no change in blood flow to your-"
"Will you knock it off?!" Lincoln snapped, his cheeks beet red. "My thing is working just fine, alright?! Now go away-" Lincoln was interrupted by yet another knocking at his door.
"Linky?" Spoke none other than Leni from the other side. "Can I come in…?" Lincoln immediately felt his anger dissipate as he heard his sister's gentle voice. He flashed Lisa a warning glare before responding.
"U-uh… yeah! Come on in!" Lincoln replied. The door opened and Leni stepped inside, a concerned expression painted on her face; she forced a bright smile as she laid eyes on her brother. "Hey, Leni. What's up?"
"Hi, Linky~!" Leni greeted her little brother as she bounced over to the bed. "Are you feeling better…?" She asked with a hint of trepidation in her voice.
"Yup, all better now! Thanks to you, of course." Lincoln said with a grin. Leni, of course, had been his most regular visitor over the past several days, going out of her way to care for him in any way she could. While the ice packs and homemade soups did little to actually improve his condition, they'd certainly helped to keep his spirits up.
Leni's face lit up at Lincoln's words. "Yay~!" She cheered, wrapping him into a big hug. Lincoln felt his cheeks heat up again as his big sister's chest pressed against his; Lisa simply smirked as she glanced down at her tablet.
"Ah, there it goes."
"Oh… Lisa, I totes didn't see you there!" Leni said sheepishly as she broke off the hug. "Did I, like, interrupt something…?"
"Not at all, sister. I was just on my way out." Lisa said, clearing her throat. "Lincoln, I'm glad you're once again in good health. Do remember that 'matter' we discussed." She flicked her eyes over to the vial on the counter as she spoke. "Until then, don't do anything… reckless." Lisa added with a sly note to her voice, before shuffling her way out of the room and leaving her two older siblings alone.
Lincoln sighed in relief as Lisa finally left. Leni, however, still looked a bit worried. "Linky," She began, placing her hand against his forehead. "Are you, like, sure that you're alright? You're all red…"
"I-I'm fine, really." Lincoln assured her, laughing nervously. "Anyway… what's up? Is Lori home yet?"
"Well… about that." Leni frowned slightly. "Lori called earlier… like, something came up and she won't be back till tomorrow night."
"Something came up…? Is she-"
"She's fine!" Leni assured him. "She said she'd have a big announcement to make, so like… do you think Bobby finally popped the question?!" Leni guessed with big sparkling eyes, practically hopping up and down in excitement.
"I… doubt that." Lincoln chuckled softly. "I mean, they're only 19…"
"So?" Leni pouted. "Age doesn't matter when it comes to love~!"
"Uh…" Lincoln coughed. "I dunno if I'd say that…"
"Anyway…" Leni began, fidgeting slightly. Lincoln knew this behavior… it was the same she always had whenever she wanted to ask for something. "Since Lori's not gonna be around till later on…"
"Yeah?"
"Well… like, I was wondering if you'd want to go to the mall with me?" Leni asked hopefully, looking at him with those beautiful blue eyes of hers. Lincoln felt his heart skip a beat, not that he would have said no even without the puppy-dog eyes… if nothing else, he owed her one for caring for him.
Of course, that was far from the only reason he wanted to spend time with her.
Still, Lincoln was feeling somewhat playful tonight. "I dunno…" He said, pursing his lips in mock thought. "I mean, I told the boss I'd come in to the office Saturday."
Leni's face fell. "The office…? B-but it's the weekend!"
"I know, I know…" Lincoln said, giving an exaggerated sigh. "But you know how the boss is. He's been on my back lately about my sales numbers being too low… as if he could do better, right?" He scoffed. "I might be able to get Paul to cover for me, but…"
"No… it's okay, Linky." Leni sighed softly. "I wouldn't want you to get in trouble for my sake… we'll just go to the mall another time." She sounded legitimately disappointed, and Lincoln was tempted to end the charade right there; but on the other hand, this was too much fun. As she left the room, he began counting down in his head.
Five, four, three, two…
"Wait!" Leni shouted, bursting back into the room right on queue. "Lincoln, you do not have a job!"
"N-no, I don't." Lincoln admitted, snickering into his palm. "You got me."
"I told you to stop teasing me…" Leni pouted, puffing her cheeks out slightly. Lincoln couldn't help but smirk; only Leni could look so cute when angry.
"Sorry, sorry…" He apologized as the last of his chuckles faded away. "Of course I'll go to the mall with you." Leni's frown instantly disappeared, a wide grin spreading across her face as she leapt forward and hugged Lincoln tightly.
"Yay~! Thank you, Linky!" She squealed excitedly. Lincoln wheezed, his spine popping audibly as Leni squeezed him too tightly; he had no idea how such a dainty girl could be so strong. He wheezed as she let him go. "I can't wait~" She giggled. "You're totes overdue for a wardrobe change."
"Yeah, it'll be… wait, what…?" Lincoln gulped.
"Nothing, nothing!" Leni said, waving her hand dismissively. "I'll see you in the morning, then. Good night, Linky~" Leni leant over, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before prancing off to her room.
Lincoln groaned, lying back against his pillow. He knew what he'd heard, and he dreaded it. As much as Lincoln was in touch with his feminine side, he was still a boy, and he hated trying on clothes. On the rare occasions he bought new clothes for himself, his only criteria was that he could put them on… if they were a bit too baggy, so be it.
But Leni? She was thorough to a fault, and past shopping sprees with her had resulted in hours upon tedious hours spent in the fitting rooms, trying on what felt like every article of clothing in the store. Granted, he always ended up satisfied with what she picked for him, but he still wished he could just skip the fitting… Leni knew all his measurements by heart, after all.
Oh well, he figured. He could handle a few hours of boredom if it made her happy. Besides, Leni always went out of her way to make their mall trips worth his while… unlike, say, Lori, who would generally just treat him as her own personal butler.
Speaking of Lori, Lincoln couldn't help but wonder what she was up to. The more he thought about it, the more Leni's hypothesis made sense… he could totally imagine Lori forcing Bobby into an early proposal. Still, something in his gut told him that wasn't the case.
Well, he supposed that question would be answered tomorrow night. For now, he had some gaming to catch up on. He picked up his laptop and flipped it open-
…Oh. Right. The porn.
Lincoln sighed. He wasn't sure what troubled him more… the fact that Lisa had the ability to remotely hijack his computer at will, or that the young girl already had access to such explicit content. He idly wondered if she actually looked at it herself, but he thought it best not to explore that line of thought.
Lincoln's cursor hovered over the 'X' on the browser window, but he found himself hesitating. His eyes flicked over to the vial on the dresser. As reluctant as he was to comply with Lisa's demands, he knew she wouldn't stop hounding him until he gave her what she wanted. And besides… it had been a few days. With a grunt, Lincoln hopped off his bed and snatched the vial from the dresser.
This time, he was sure to lock the door.
The next morning, after everyone had eaten breakfast and run off to their own activities, Lincoln returned to his room to change. Normally he would just throw on some clothes and be done with it, but today he found himself actually trying to make himself presentable for once… after all, Leni took pride in her appearance, and he figured he should at least look worthy of being in her presence.
…And maybe a small part of him wanted to impress her too.
Lincoln put on the nicest casual shirt he had; two-toned, black on the bottom and orange on the top, with long sleeves. He matched that with one of the few pairs of black jeans he had that weren't worn or frayed, and as for shoes… well, he didn't really have much choice there. It was either his usual sneakers or the same dress shoes he wore to the prom, which still had flecks of red paint stuck to them. So, sneakers it was.
Finally, he spritzed himself with some cologne. He tried combing his hair back, but without gel it was a fruitless task… and he wasn't about to go that far. This was just a trip to the mall, after all, not a date.
Yep. Not a date at all.
Of course, everything he wore now had been picked out for him by Leni on of their past shopping sprees. Her keen eye for fashion was something he could never hope to match on his own, and he couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. She always went out of her way to pick out nice clothes for him, and yet he rarely used them, preferring to stick to the same old junk he always wore.
Lincoln jammed his hands into his pockets and eased into a relaxed stance, doing his best to look cool and casual as he stood before the mirror. He had to admit, he looked pretty good… the change of clothes made him look more mature, more like a man and less like the boy he was. He wasn't sure why he didn't make more of an effort to dress himself on a day to day basis…
…Until his eyes wandered up to his face.
That's right. Lincoln groaned as he withdrew his hands from his pockets, slumping his shoulders. What was he doing…? Of course he didn't look cool. Of course he didn't look mature. As much as puberty had enhanced his appearance, no clothes could change the fact that he was Lincoln Loud… freckled, buck-toothed Lincoln Loud. At best, he was 'cute'… and at worst, he was downright goofy-looking. When Lincoln looked in the mirror, all he could see was a dork in denial.
Lincoln's bout of self-loathing was interrupted by a thud against his door, accompanied by a girlish "Ouchies!" Lincoln rolled his eyes; Leni may have gotten better over the years, but she still tended to walk into things from time to time.
"You okay, Leni?" He asked as he opened the door.
"Y-yeah…" The young fashionista had fallen flat on her rear, a sheepish expression on her face as she rubbed her forehead. Lincoln just chuckled under his breath and offered her his hand, which she gladly accepted. "Thank you, Linky~" Leni giggled as her little brother gently pulled her to her feet. "I wasn't paying atten-" Her voice caught in her throat as she laid eyes on Lincoln. She blinked in surprise, eying him up and down before her lips pulled into a broad grin. "Lincoln, you look great!"
"Y-you think so…?" Lincoln stammered, blushing lightly. Leni nodded enthusiastically, positively beaming with excitement.
"Totes~!" Leni assured him. "You look so cool! But… now I feel underdressed…" Leni pouted slightly. Lincoln had no idea what she was talking about; Leni looked pretty as ever, clad in a deep blue sundress that he swore must have been the exact same shade as her eyes. Her hair and makeup were perfect, and her sunglasses sat perched atop her head as usual. It may have been a relatively simple ensemble, but Leni rocked it.
"Don't be ridiculous," Lincoln said. "You look gorgeous." Leni blushed a deep red at his compliment, and Lincoln found himself following suit. "I-I mean…" Lincoln laughed nervously as he tried to walk it back. "I mean, you look really nice." He averted his gaze as he realized Leni was staring at him with that dreamy look in her eyes again. "A-anyway… are you ready to go?"
Leni blinked a few times, snapping out of her daze before smiling sweetly. "Yeah!"
"Then, shall we?" Lincoln asked, offering her his arm much as he had at the prom. Leni blushed again, but nonetheless took his arm with a gentle grin.
"…Yes, I understand. I'll be there as soon as possible." Rita sighed as she hung up the phone, just as Leni and Lincoln came down the stairs. "Oh! There you two are... just in time."
"Hey, Mom… is something wrong?" Lincoln asked with a hint of concern, noticing the stress evident on his mother's face.
"Dr. Feinstein just called," Rita explained. "There's an emergency patient coming in and he needs my assistance. It should only be a couple of hours, but… would you two mind taking Lily with you today? There's nobody else who can watch her…"
"No probs~!" Leni replied cheerfully.
"Y-yeah… we'll take her." Lincoln agreed, forcing a smile. He couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed; he'd been looking forward to some alone time with Leni. Still, Lily was a good girl, and it's not like he really had any choice in the matter.
"Great… thank you." Rita breathed a sigh of relief. "Let me get my things, I'll drop you off on the way. Lily!" She called to the toddler, who was kneeling at the coffee table; Lily took a moment to finish her outline before she looked up from her drawing. "Come on, sweetie. You're going to the mall with your brother and sister."
"Mall!" Lily cheered excitedly, hopping to her feet. Lincoln smirked; like the rest of the Loud sisters, she loved the mall despite her young age. For Lincoln, the mall was more of a means to an end, but he couldn't help but find the little girl's enthusiasm to be somewhat contagious.
"Okay, everyone out!" Rita ordered as she pulled to a harsh stop in front of the Royal Woods Mall. Lincoln staggered out with Lily in his arms as the door slid open, followed by an equally-queasy Leni; Rita was an ungraceful driver even at the best of times, but when in a rush her trips were downright nauseating.
Still, at least one of her passengers seemed to enjoy the ride. "Again! Again!" Lily giggled, clapping happily.
"I should be finished within a few hours, so just give me a call when you're ready to be picked up." Rita said. "Now, Lily, you be on your best behavior. Listen to Lincoln and Leni, no running off on your own, and no talking to strangers, okay sweetie?"
"'Kay." Lily replied with a wide grin, practically hopping with excitement as she took Lincoln's hand.
"And Lincoln, here." Rita added as she offered her son a small wad of cash. "For looking after Lily. Enjoy yourself, alright?"
"Thanks, mom." Lincoln said as he gratefully accepted the money.
"See you kids later! Be safe!" Rita leaned out and gave Lincoln a kiss on the forehead before speeding off, leaving the siblings coughing as she kicked up a cloud of dust.
"So, where to first?" Lincoln asked Leni as they headed into the mall, each holding one of Lily's hands as she walked between them.
"The department store, of course~!" Leni said with a bubbly grin. Lincoln wasn't sure why he even bothered to ask; the department store was Leni's go-to destination for shopping. This was hardly surprising, as it offered pretty much everything anyone could possibly need, to the point where Lincoln often wondered why the mall bothered having any other shops at all.
As they made their way towards the far end of the mall, nearly every employee they passed stopped to greet Leni; it was hardly surprising that she knew everyone by name, considering that the mall was practically a second home to her.
"So, like, I need to get a few things first… and then we'll take care of you, sound good?" Leni asked.
"Y-yeah… sounds like a plan." Lincoln muttered half-heartedly. He'd hoped that having Lily with them would discourage her from going all-out on clothes shopping, but clearly that wasn't going to be the case. Still, Lily didn't seem to mind, cheerfully hopping up and letting herself dangle from her sibling's arms. Lincoln grinned softly and swung the little girl slightly, eliciting a giggle from her. He wondered if he had been so carefree at her age, but unfortunately his memories of those early years were limited to a few brief, yet vivid moments in time.
The gentle sound of piano music filled the air as they arrived at the store. Leni, of course, was sure to say hello to the pianist Chet on the way to the ladies' wear department.
"Leni Loud, as I live and breathe~!" A flamboyant voice called out from across the department, and a thin, wiry man weaved his way through the rows of clothing with an exaggerated strut.
"Morris!" Leni greeted him cheerfully, and they shared a hug, Morris giving her a light peck on each cheek.
"Thank God you're here. If I had to deal with one more bedraggled frump today I was literally going to die." The stylist bemoaned, rolling his eyes. "If only all customers had your fashion sense."
Leni giggled at that. "Oh… Morris, you remember my little brother Lincoln, right?" She said.
"H-hey Morris… 'sup?" Lincoln said nervously, giving a small wave. He could still remember the last time Morris had tried to give him a makeover; the man had meant well, but his taste in men's fashion was clearly better suited towards a more… colorful crowd.
Morris raised his eyebrows in surprise as he took notice of Lincoln. "Weeeell, look at you! I always knew there was a trendy little fellow hidden in there somewhere."
"Er… thanks?"
"Well… it's a start, at least." The stylist added, pursing his lips and tapping a finger against his chin. "It might be enough to impress the common folk, but if you really want to stand out, you're going to need some work. God, you would look fabulous in an ascot…"
"A-actually," Leni cut in, apparently sensing her brother's discomfort. "I was going to help out Linky myself. But… I could totes use a little help, if you don't mind!"
Morris' face lit up. "Oh, absolutely! We just got some new items in that you would look simply divine in…" Morris flitted off with Leni following close behind, leaving Lincoln and Lily behind. Lincoln smirked, grateful to his big sister for the save.
While Morris tended to Leni, Lincoln idly browsed the aisles with Lily in tow, glancing among the women's clothing with disinterest. Lincoln was more in touch with his feminine side than most boys his age… living with ten sisters would do that to you. Nonetheless, he always felt out of his element here, which he supposed was only natural. If anything, it was encouraging that no matter how much he was 'one of the girls', he still had at least some shred of masculinity.
"Link'n!" Lily called up to him, tugging on his pant leg. "Link'n, look!" Lincoln glanced down at his baby sister, only to find that, much to his chagrin, she was holding a woman's bra over her chest. "Boobies!" She giggled.
"L-Lily, stop that." Lincoln sighed, taking the bra from her. "And where did you hear that word?"
"Lynn!" Lily replied cheerfully. Lincoln groaned; of course it would be Lynn. He'd have to be sure to have a talk with her later. He held up the bra and looked at it, suddenly aware that he'd never actually held one before. He'd never really stopped to actually consider them before, either. He recalled once accidentally walking in on Lori when she was changing, and how she'd freaked out and covered herself… and yet, she'd had no problem wearing an even more revealing bikini around him. Sometimes, the world just made no sense to him.
That said… now that he actually thought about it, he couldn't help but wonder what Leni's bra looked like, and especially how she looked in it. He gulped as he felt his cheeks start to heat up; he was soon lost in his own fantasies as Leni approached, several items of clothing in her arms.
"Linky, do you like that?" She asked innocently, snapping him out of his daze.
"H-huh…?" Lincoln looked at her, then back to the bra in his hands; his eyes went wide, his face turning red as a tomato. "I-I…" He sputtered. "N-no, I was just… Lily was…!"
"It's cute!" Leni said with a smile. If she found anything weird about this, she certainly didn't show it. "But… it's a bit too small… hey, Morris!" She called out, grabbing Lincoln's hand and raising it above the clothing racks to show him the undergarment. "Do you have this in my size?" Lincoln was absolutely mortified, and did his best to shrink down out of sight among the racks.
"Of course I do, darling!" Morris replied without hesitation. "You sit tight and I'll snag one for you." Lincoln found it slightly odd that Morris apparently knew Leni's cup size by heart, but he supposed the man was an expert.
Leni turned back to Lincoln with a grin. "See, Linky~? You totes have good taste." Lincoln could only nod feebly in response. Quite frankly, he wished he could just disappear. "Anyway, I'm going to go try these on… coming?"
"Er… yeah, sure…" Lincoln mumbled. As he meekly followed his sister to the changing rooms, there was only one thought that managed to cut through the sheer embarrassment he was feeling:
THAT was TOO SMALL?!
Lincoln sat just outside the changing rooms with Lily, bored out of his mind. He would play a game on his phone, but he had given it to the toddler to keep her occupied. Leni would periodically come out in a new ensemble, asking for his opinion on it… of course, she looked amazing in all of them, and he was sure she would buy all of them as usual. If nothing else, Morris certainly knew what suited Leni.
Still, as bored as he was, Lincoln couldn't help but notice that she wasn't taking as much time as usual. It hadn't even been half an hour before she was finished, exiting the changing room with two outfits in hand.
"I'll take these!" She said cheerfully, handing them to Morris; Lincoln hadn't even noticed that he was there.
"Fabulous choices! They'll be waiting for you at the counter when you're finished." Morris grinned broadly. "Now, are you positive you don't need any help with little Lincoln?"
"Oh, no. Thank you." Leni giggled. "Like, I'll take it from here." Morris nodded in understanding and, just as suddenly as he had arrived, he was gone. Leni turned to Lincoln with a smile. "Ready~?"
"Um… yeah, I guess. Come on, Lily." Lincoln slid out of the chair, his little sister obediently following him. "You're done already?"
"Mmhm!" Leni nodded.
"That was fast," Lincoln noted. "And you're only getting two? Didn't you like the other dresses?"
"Well… yes, I did." Leni admitted. "But we're not just here for me today!"
"Oh…" Lincoln felt a pang of guilt. "Leni, you don't need to hold back on my account. I have money-"
"Lincoln…" Leni grinned, pressing a finger to his lips to silence him. "Don't worry about it. I'm doing this because I want to." Before he could say anything further, Leni grabbed his arm and pulled him along with her to the boy's section. "Now come on~!" Whatever protest he may have had died on his lips as he saw just how excited she was about this. Lincoln simply sighed and gave in.
"What do you think of this? Ooh, and this…? Omigosh! Look at this!" Leni was positively giddy as she browsed, not even letting Lincoln get a word in edgewise as she picked out clothes for him to try. Not that he was trying to, mind you… he was more than content to let the master work. "Ooh, ooh…! Definitely this~"
"Um, Leni…" He finally spoke up as the pile of clothes in his arms reached his neck. "Don't you think this is a bit much…?"
Leni frowned slightly, tapping her chin in thought. "Hmm… you're right. You can go to the changing room now, Linky." Lincoln breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll pick out some more while you're trying those on~!" Leni added.
"R-right… thanks, Leni." Lincoln groaned as he headed for the fitting rooms, leaving Lily with his older sister. So far, this was going pretty much exactly as he expected… not that he wasn't grateful.
He used his leg to shut the door behind him and set the clothes down on the bench. In all honesty, this was the first time he'd actually looked at what Leni had selected… quite frankly, he wasn't even sure where to begin. There were polos and Henley shirts in various colors and patterns, most incorporating orange to some extent… slacks and jeans in black and several shades of blue, and, most bafflingly, a pink button-down shirt with a phoenix design on the back. He had no idea what she'd been thinking with that one.
Well, no use delaying the inevitable. Lincoln removed his shirt and slipped on one of the Henleys, pale orange with navy blue sleeves. He matched that with one of the dark blue slacks, only for it to slide down his waist; he clicked his tongue in frustration as he removed the belt from his jeans and put it on. The realization that he'd need to do this for every pair of pants he tried on only served to agitate him further.
Once he was finished, he looked in the mirror. He looked… fine. The clothes were nice enough, and they were certainly comfortable, but he just looked fine. Lincoln frowned at his reflection; was this really it? Was he so awkward looking that even nice clothes did nothing to help?
"Linky~! Can I come in?" Leni asked as she knocked gently at the door, snapping Lincoln out of his thoughts. He opened the door to reveal his sister carrying an even larger stack of clothes, and they practically fell out of her arms onto the bench. "Phew, there… that should-" Leni suddenly gasped as she looked at her brother. "Lincoln, what are you doing?!"
"Uh… trying on clothes?"
"You can't match that shirt with slacks, Linky!" Leni scolded him. "It's too casual, it goes better with jeans! Here…" Leni picked out a dark blue pair of jeans from the pile. "Try these instead."
"Okay, okay…" Lincoln sighed, taking the jeans from her. He waited for her to leave, but she just… stood there, looking at him expectantly. "U-um…" He cleared his throat. "Do you mind…?"
"Do I mind what?" Leni asked in that sweet, innocent voice of hers.
"I need to change."
"I know!"
Lincoln sighed, massaging his temples. "…I need privacy."
"Oh…" Leni laughed nervously, backing out of the room. "Sorry, Linky… I guess you're not a kid anymore. I'll be right outside~" With that, she shut the door. Lincoln chuckled softly before looking down at the jeans in his hands. Surely a change of pants couldn't make that much of a difference, right…? Lincoln shrugged and pulled off his belt, followed by the slacks, and slipped on the jeans. Once the belt was back in place he looked at his reflection again and…
…Huh.
It did look better. In fact, it looked good… really good. He could totally see himself wearing this regularly. Leni seemed to agree; she beamed at him as he opened the door. "Wow, Lincoln, you look great! Like, don't you think so too Lily?" She asked the little girl in her lap. Lily nodded, a big toothy grin spread across her face.
"You think so?" Lincoln asked, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
"Totes~! That one's a keeper for sure."
"Well…" Lincoln glanced back at the rest of the clothes. "What do you think I should try next?"
One by one, Lincoln worked his way through the outfits Lori had picked. Leni would suggest a combination of top and bottoms, he would try them on, and invariably both he and his sisters would like it. Maybe it was just because he was maturing. Maybe it was because he wanted to look good for Leni. Either way, he wasn't complaining. He looked good, and he found that it made him feel good.
However, this one shirt proved to be a bit of a roadblock. It was a short sleeved button-down shirt with an orange, black and blue tartan pattern. A nice shirt, but it just seemed… off, somehow, even paired with the jeans Leni suggested.
"Hmm…" Leni hummed in thought as she eyed him up and down. Clearly, she thought the same.
"Well, I guess this one just isn't-"
"Shhh." Leni cut him off. She looked completely focused as she set down Lily, got to her feet, and walked into the changing room. Lily followed close behind.
"Uh, Leni…?" Lincoln couldn't help but take a step back, intimidated by his sister's intense gaze. She reached out and, to his embarrassment, began undoing the buttons on his shirt. "L-Leni?! I-I can do that myself…!" He stammered, red-faced; Leni however paid him no mind. She was in the zone, and nothing could snap her out of it until she'd figured something out. Lincoln just sighed in resignation and looked away, doing his best to ignore the sensation of her soft, delicate fingers brushing against his bare skin.
Leni pulled the shirt off of him and began rifling through the various t-shirts she had picked out. Lincoln felt incredibly awkward standing there bare-chested… puberty had brought a modesty that he had lacked as a child. That said, he doubted he'd feel as self-conscious if it had been anyone other than Leni in the room with him. As he glanced over at his reflection, he felt the confidence he had just moments prior slip away in an instant.
Pale skin. Freckled shoulders. Scrawny build. Even with the slight musculature beginning to take form beneath his skin, he knew it'd never amount to much; he had little taste for athletics, after all. Lincoln had never really thought about his body too much before… he'd always known he was a bit goofy looking, but now? Now, he felt sick to his stomach. No wonder Ronnie-Anne had broken up with him. How could anyone want to be with someone that looked like him?
Especially someone as perfect as Leni.
"Here!" Leni exclaimed as she pulled out a white t-shirt with an abstract black graffiti-like design in the lower right corner. She pulled it over his head without hesitation and he had to awkwardly wriggle his arms up and through the sleeves. The t-shirt was surprisingly sheer, made of a much thinner material than he was used to… it was a lot smoother against his skin and he had to admit it was pretty comfortable.
"And now wear this over it!" Leni handed the button-down shirt back to him. Lincoln sighed and slipped it on. He began to button it, but Leni took his hands to stop him. "No, no… leave it open." Leni looked him up and down again before smiling and clapping her hands together. "Perfect!"
"Yeah… it's nice." Lincoln mumbled as he looked in the mirror again. It did look good, but… he was still himself. Leni noticed his glum demeanor and her face fell slightly.
"You don't like it…?"
"No, I do. It's just…" Lincoln hesitated, looking away and running his tongue along the back of his teeth. "It's just… what's the point?"
"What do you mean?" Leni asked, tilting her head to one side. Lincoln frowned deeply; he didn't feel like pouring out his heart now, in the middle of a department store of all places… but Leni's pleading gaze pushed him onwards. He never could say no to her.
"I mean… even if I dress nice, what's the point? I still look like… this." Lincoln gestured towards himself.
Leni's brow furrowed in confusion. "But you look great, Linky."
"No, the clothes do." Lincoln sighed. "I look like a dork. I'm… ugly." He spat, the last word feeling like poison on his tongue. Leni gasped, her eyes widening slightly as her hand shot up to her mouth. Then, to Lincoln's bafflement… she began to laugh softly, her expression growing mirthful. "W-what…? What's so funny?!" Lincoln snapped, feeling slightly hurt by her apparent amusement.
"S-sorry…" Leni managed to squeak out between giggles. "It's just… you really are growing up."
"Huh…?"
Leni's laughter trailed off and she smiled at him sweetly. She sat down on the bench and patted it, offering him to sit down next to her. Lincoln reluctantly complied; he was still a bit offended by her laughter, but he could tell there had been no malice in it. Leni folded her hands in her lap and took a moment to consider her words before continuing. "Lincoln," She began, "It's totes normal you would feel that way. Like, everyone does at your age."
"Really?" Lincoln asked. Leni nodded.
"Really. You're growing up really fast right now, and so is your body. It's, like… hard to keep up with, sometimes." Leni gave a short laugh. "When you're a kid, you just kind of blend in with everyone else, right? But now you're starting to become… you. Right now, you might not like how you look. But you will, I promise. It was the same for all of us… Lori, Lynn, Luna, Luan… everyone."
"Even you…?" Lincoln was surprised; yes, puberty had hit Lori hard, there was no doubt about that. She'd gone through a very rough patch before she became the pretty girl she was now. But Leni? Lincoln couldn't remember her ever being anything but beautiful.
"Even me. I was like… all tall and thin, remember? I looked like a string bean." Leni chuckled bashfully. Lincoln could vaguely remember her going through a sudden, rapid growth spurt, but he never thought she looked weird. "I felt really bad about it," She continued. "I started to, like… hate myself. But mom sat me down and told me all this, and I never forgot it."
Lincoln mulled over her advice for a bit. It was a bit unexpected for Leni to give such sage words of wisdom… especially as of late, he had grown accustomed to being the one to comfort her. But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. He could remember Luan holing herself up in her room, bemoaning her large teeth and forehead… especially once she'd had to get braces. Lynn had, to his shock, begun to fret over her lack of femininity, as had Luna.
"And, Lincoln… you don't have anything to worry about. Y-you're…" Leni fidgeted with her hands, a light blush creeping along her cheeks. "You're totes handsome. I-I think so, anyway…" Lincoln felt his face grow hot. She'd called him handsome before, at the prom… but he'd figured that had just been his well-groomed appearance. Something about the way she said it now made his heart pound in his chest. He looked towards the mirror, anything to avert his gaze from Leni; as he met his reflection, he stopped to look at it closer.
His face… wasn't that bad, really. A bit dopey, but perhaps not ugly. His overbite was nowhere near as bad as it had been two years prior, only peeking out slightly from beneath his upper lip. His freckles were a trait he shared with Lynn and Luna, and, in all honesty… he found both of them to be quite cute. And while he was certainly prone to the occasional pimple, he never broke out the way Lori used to. Lincoln stood up and smoothed out the overshirt he was wearing. It did look good, he realized.
It looked good on him.
He recalled something Lori had told him when he first started going through puberty… one of rare occasions where she had approached him as a loving sister, offering her insight free of snark. Lincoln, this is gonna be a rough time for you, she had said. You're going to feel stuck… not a boy, not a teenager, and definitely not a man. But it gets better. Lincoln smiled softly; in a way, Leni had just told him the same thing.
"Thanks, Leni." He said, giving his sister a big hug. "I feel a lot better." It was the truth; sure, he didn't really think he was attractive by any means, but maybe he'd get there eventually. And even if he didn't think so… Leni certainly did. He knew her well enough to tell when she was speaking honestly. Leni returned the hug with a loving smile.
"I'm hungry," Lily chimed in, interrupting their moment. She'd been so well-behaved that Lincoln had almost forgotten she was there. He chuckled softly, realizing he was pretty hungry himself.
"Me too… I could eat." He said.
"Me three~" Leni agreed. "I guess we should… wait!" She gasped. "One more!" To Lincoln's disappointment, she picked out the pink shirt.
"Um, Leni…" Lincoln muttered. "It's… pink."
"Yep!"
"I'm a guy."
"Lincoln," Leni scoffed. "Pink is for everyone." She ignored his protests as she pulled off the tartan shirt and practically had to wrestle the pink one onto him. Lincoln hadn't felt so ashamed since the time she'd made him try out her 'manotard'; he couldn't even bear to look at his reflection. "It's nice," Leni said, her hands on her hips as she studied him. "But something's missing." As Leni struggled to think, her eyes fell on Lily. The toddler was playing around with a grey newsboy cap that someone else must have left in the room. "Lily, you're a genius~!" Leni took the hat and placed it on Lincoln's head.
"L-Leni, stop…" Lincoln grumbled in shame, but Leni paid him no mind. She looked at him silently, her lips spreading into an ecstatic grin. She gripped his shoulders and turned him to face the mirror. With an annoyed grunt, he finally glanced up at the horror that awaited him.
Lincoln stood frozen in place for a moment, his expression impossible to read. He looked… cool. Rather than looking feminine, the pink overshirt seemed somehow rebellious in a way… combined with the hat and t-shirt, he looked downright hip and grungy. He could only imagine that Luna would approve of the look.
"…Wow." Was all Lincoln could gasp out.
"See?" Leni giggled, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Handsome~"
The three siblings sat in the food court, Lincoln and Leni on each side of their baby sister. Lincoln had a cheeseburger with fries, while Leni had opted for a 'healthier' grilled chicken sandwich; Lincoln didn't have the heart to tell her just how many calories were actually in the thing. Not that it mattered… Lincoln had never seen the girl put on weight regardless of what she ate, something that Lori had often professed her jealously over.
Lily, meanwhile, had chicken nuggets. Despite her apparent hunger, she was barely touching her food, instead focused on doodling on her placemat. Lincoln couldn't help but watch in awe as she worked. Despite her color palette being limited to the red, yellow and blue crayons that came with the kid's meal, she managed to make them work. For skin tones, she started with a light coating of yellow and layered it over with red, before licking her thumb and smudging the two colors together. It wasn't perfect, of course, but it was surprisingly clever for a three-year old. He felt slightly jealous… as much as he wanted to be a comic book artist, his work had barely improved over the years. Lily, on the other hand, was a natural.
They'd ended up leaving the store with eight shirts and four pairs of pants for Lincoln, as well as the two outfits Leni had picked for herself; and the bra, to Lincoln's embarrassment. The total had come to well over $300, and Lincoln couldn't help but feel guilty… but Leni, generous as ever, had insisted on paying for it herself. He at least managed to convince her to let him cover lunch, but that didn't even come close to making up for it.
"Omigosh, Leni!" A familiar voice rang out. Lincoln looked up and his eyes went wide; it was Rochelle.
"Rochelle~!" Leni greeted her friend excitedly. She got up and gave Rochelle a big hug as the girl set down her own tray of food. "Like, so good to see you!"
"Sames~" Rochelle said with a smile. "So what brings you here? Getting some new clothes?"
"Well, yes… but mostly for Linky."
"Oh…?" Rochelle glanced over at the table and her eyebrows arched in surprise. She hadn't recognized him at first; the boy had opted to wear his new ensemble out. Her eyes narrowed into a half-lidded, sultry gaze as she eyed him up and down. "Oh, wow… hey there, cutie." She smirked, giving a small wink. "Looking good."
"H-hey, Rochelle…" Lincoln rasped out, waving nervously.
"Mind if I join you guys?" Rochelle asked.
"Not at all~!" Leni beamed happily; Lincoln felt his heart drop into his stomach. Rochelle, of course, opted to sit right next to him, her arm brushing against his as she took her seat. He was sure it had been intentional… while he may have been uncertain about Leni's feelings, there was no doubt in his mind that Rochelle had flirted with him at the prom. Even now he could feel her eying him with a predatory gaze, and he did his best to focus his attention on his burger.
"Lily, you remember Rochelle, right?" Leni asked her little sister.
"Mhmm…" Lily mumbled, looking up quickly and giving the girl a friendly smile. "Hi!" Then, she was back to her doodling.
"God, she's adorable." Rochelle grinned. "I remember when she was just a tiny little thing."
"They grow up so fast, don't they?" Leni giggled. As the two talked, Lincoln tried to ignore the girl beside him; even while chatting casually with her best friend, Rochelle was still managing to rile the poor boy up. She was sure to lean just right to give him a view of her cleavage, she brushed her hand across his back sensually as she reached over to ruffle Lily's hair, she crossed her legs and slid her foot against his thigh… somehow, she'd managed to get her shoe off without using her hands. It wasn't so much that she made him uncomfortable… quite the opposite, really, as his tightening jeans would attest to. Leni, of course, was oblivious to all of it.
A gentle nudge from Rochelle forced him to glance in her direction. She plucked two cherry tomatoes from her salad and popped them into her mouth, rolling them around on her tongue suggestively and giving a soft moan. Lincoln felt a lump in his throat, his face turning beet red, but he couldn't look away; finally she tilted her head back and swallowed both tomatoes whole, making a visible bulge in her throat as they traveled downwards. She licked her lips and smirked at the overwhelmed thirteen-year old. "Love tomatoes." She said in a low, sultry tone.
Lincoln slammed his palms on the table in exasperation, biting his lip hard to distract himself from the growing shame down below. The sudden jolt startled his sisters. "Linky, are you okay…?" Leni asked, concerned.
"Y-yeah… just thought I saw a bug." Lincoln stammered, giving a nervous laugh. This seemed to satisfy Leni, and she gave a warm smile before returning to her sandwich. Rochelle just chuckled softly; as much fun as it was to tease the boy, she knew when it was time to back things off a bit.
"So, Linky…" Something about the way she said his name sent a shiver up his spine. "I hear you've been helping Leni with her studies."
"Uh… y-yeah, a bit." Lincoln breathed a small sigh of relief, glad that the conversation was taking a normal turn for once. "I mean, as much as I can…"
"She says you're really smart." Rochelle said with a grin.
"W-well, I don't know about that…" Lincoln scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"You are, Linky!" Leni assured him.
"So… you think you're gonna be ready for the finals, Lens?" Rochelle asked, her tone slightly more serious.
Leni chewed her lip. "…I'll try my best." Lincoln's brow furrowed. He didn't like the uncertainty of her answer.
"I'm sure you'll do fine." Rochelle replied supportively.
"Yeah," Lincoln agreed, smiling gently. "There's still time, and I'll help whenever you need it."
"Thank you, Linky." Leni grinned sweetly.
"By the way… where are you going to college, again?"
Rochelle's question made Leni freeze, her chicken sandwich inches away from her mouth. She slowly lowered her sandwich, the smile gone from her face. "Um… Royal Woods Community College." She muttered quietly.
"…Huh…" Rochelle blinked, surprised at her answer. "I thought you were going to one of those fancy artistic schools… didn't you want to be a fashion designer?"
"I-I do…" Leni mumbled softly. "I tried. None of them… none of them accepted my portfolio." Lincoln looked away, his hands balling into fists. He couldn't blame Rochelle for asking… he was a bit surprised that she hadn't told her friends about this, but then again it was still a touchy subject for her. She had worked so hard, and he had helped a lot himself… quite frankly, he couldn't believe that not one of them had accepted her.
"O-oh." Rochelle frowned, clearing her throat. "Well… you can always try again, right?" She said, forcing a smile. "I'm sure you'll get in… your dresses are amazing."
Leni simply nodded silently, eyes still downcast. Lincoln felt an aching in his heart; he'd known how upset she was at not getting in, but the revelations on prom night made clear just how many layers there were to her pain. Leni felt inadequate, and getting rejected by twelve different universities couldn't have helped that. Even now, he knew those feelings of self-doubt still lingered. Lincoln reached over and took her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze, a small reminder that he was there for her. Leni seemed to calm down a bit from his touch. She looked up at him and felt instantly comforted by his kind smile, and couldn't help but return it.
Rochelle paused mid-chew, looking at the pair with a narrowed, analytical gaze. Compared to the rest of her friends, the promiscuous girl was surprisingly perceptive, and almost immediately she noticed something was up. The body language, the gentle blush creeping across both their cheeks, the way that Leni rubbed her thumb across the back of Lincoln's hand… oh yeah. Something was up, alright.
"Lily, you've barely touched your food!" Leni chided. Lily barely acknowledged her, completely focused on her drawing. Leni sighed, dipping one of her little sister's chicken nuggets into the honey mustard and offered it to her. "Here… eat." Lily shot her a look of mild annoyance as a glob of sauce landed on the placemat; clearly, she'd been planning to draw there too. Nonetheless, she leaned forward and took the whole nugget into her mouth, chewing it idly as she returned to her drawing. "Lilyyy, you'll choke!" Leni whined, though there was a faint smile on her lips all the same.
"Here, Lily… you've got a little schmutz." Lincoln said as he wiped some sauce from the corner of her mouth.
"Schmutz…?" Leni asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Schmutz." Lincoln repeated, holding up the sauce-covered napkin.
"…Schmutz…" Leni muttered, apparently lost in thought for a moment before grinning. "Schmutz." She giggled. Apparently, she found the word amusing.
Rochelle finally swallowed the salad in her mouth. Seeing the two of them laughing together, caring for Lily… it was like they were a family. Well, they were, but it was like they were a married couple, and Lily was their child. Strangely… it didn't seem wrong to her. She rested her cheek against her palm watching them with a coy smirk on her face.
"Hafta potty." Lily mumbled.
"Oh… I'll take you!" Leni said sweetly, hoisting the toddler out of her booster seat. "We'll be right back~" She told the others.
"Take your time," Rochelle grinned, waving her off. "I'll take care of your little brother while you're gone." Lincoln gulped, feeling beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Leni, however, simply smiled before walking off with Lily. "So," Rochelle began, leaning towards him with a seductive smirk. "I'm really digging the new duds."
"Y-yeah… me too." Lincoln stammered, grinning nervously. He couldn't bring himself to meet her gaze; even looking away, he could feel her eyes on him. "Leni picked it out."
"I bet. She really knows her stuff, doesn't she?" Rochelle reached over and stole one of his fries, popping it into her mouth. "I like it. Real men wear pink, you know." She winked at him, and he laughed nervously. God, he was cute. Rochelle didn't consider herself a cradle robber, but she definitely preferred shy guys… the fact that he was younger than her was just the icing on the cake. Still, she knew what she'd seen, and she wasn't about to interfere. She chuckled softly, leaning back in her chair. "...Don't worry. I don't intend to get in the way of this little thing you've got going on."
"Little… hey!" Lincoln snapped, red-faced.
"Oh my God, not that." Rochelle laughed, though, given the circumstances… she could understand the confusion. "I mean this thing between you and Leni."
Lincoln went pale. How could she know?! "W-what're you…" He sputtered unconvincingly, "What're you talking about…?"
"I'm not blind, you know." Rochelle giggled. "I can tell from the way you look at each other."
Lincoln's mouth suddenly felt very dry. He grabbed his soda and took a big gulp before speaking again. "…We're not together." He mumbled, his voice hoarse.
"But you'd like to be." It was a statement of fact, not a question. Lincoln groaned, burying his face in his arms. "Hey… relax." Rochelle said softly, resting a hand on his shoulder. "It's cute."
"Please don't tell anyone…" Lincoln grumbled.
"I won't," Rochelle assured him. "But… have you told her?"
"…No." Lincoln admitted, turning his head enough for one eye to peek out from his arms at her. "Not yet."
"Well, what're you waiting for?" Rochelle asked. "Go for it."
"What if she doesn't feel the same?" Lincoln sighed. "She kissed me after the prom, but… this is Leni we're talking about. What if it didn't mean anything?"
Rochelle rolled her eyes. "You're not giving her enough credit, y'know. If she kissed you, what more proof do you need?" Lincoln still didn't look convinced, and Rochelle squeezed his shoulder gently. "Sometimes you've gotta take a chance when it comes to girls. If you get shot down, you get shot down."
"It's different, though… this isn't just some girl. She's my sister." Lincoln frowned. "What if she freaks out? What if she hates me?"
"I don't think Leni can hate anyone." Rochelle said with a smirk. "Did you know that Joanna's sitting with us at lunch now? Leni invited her."
"What?!" Lincoln shouted, making a few people glance in his direction; he shrank down a bit sheepishly. "Joanna Hawthorne?" He hissed, clearly not pleased by the situation. Leni hadn't mentioned this.
"That's the one. She's not so bad, really… bit rude at times, but I think she's trying to get better. Point is," Rochelle leaned forward again, her voice low and surprisingly soothing. "If Leni could forgive a bitch like that… how could she possibly fault you for something you can't control?" Lincoln chewed his lip in thought. She made good points; Leni was kind and forgiving to a fault. "Besides… I'm sure she feels the same way. Call it woman's intuition."
Lincoln's eyes met hers. "You think so?"
"Oh, yeah. Bit of a shame, really…" The black-haired beauty sighed, giving an exaggerated shrug. "You're totally my type, but I'm not about to step in on another girl's territory. Not that I could compete with Leni anyway." Lincoln managed a smile despite the burning in his cheeks.
"…Thanks, Rochelle." He said as he spotted Leni and Lily walking back to the table. "Really. You've… set my mind at ease a bit." At least SOMETHING'S at ease, he added in his head.
"Anytime." She grinned, before leaning in close and whispering into his ear. "And hey… if things don't work out," She began, and Lincoln shuddered as he realized her hand was dancing along his thigh. "Give me a call. I will rock your world, little boy." And with that, her hand slid to his inner thigh…
…And she grabbed a handful of his junk.
It only lasted a brief moment, but it may as well have been hours; Lincoln's brain shut down completely, a feeble drawn-out croak emanating from his parted lips. Leni helped Lily back into her seat before sitting down herself. "Back!"
"Heyyy, Lens!" Rochelle smiled mischievously, putting an arm around Lincoln's shoulders. "Your little bro's really something, you know that?"
"Oh, I know~" Leni giggled, apparently not noticing Lincoln's delirious state.
"Aaanyway…" Rochelle got to her feet, taking a moment to stretch. "I'd better be on my way. See you Monday, Leni… let's try to get in a couple more study sessions before the finals, yeah?"
"Of course!" Leni said. "But like… no more of those funny cigarettes. I felt weird afterwards…" Leni pouted slightly.
"Eh… we'll see." Rochelle snickered into her palm. Even if it was just a contact high, Leni had been an absolute trip.
"Wait!" Lily cried out. She held up the placemat for the girl, beaming at her; she'd drawn Rochelle. Again, it was a surprisingly good likeness.
"Oooh! Is this for me?" Lily nodded, and Rochelle smiled brightly. "Thank you! You're really talented, aren't you?" She patted the little artist on the head, making her giggle. "Well, goodbye to you too, Lily. And you too, Linky~" She shot another sly wink in Lincoln's direction before heading off, waving at them one last time.
"Isn't she great?" Leni asked, before noticing that Lincoln was still in a daze. "Linky?" She asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"O-oh… yeah." Lincoln grunted, snapping out of it. He began ravenously devouring his burger, desperately trying to ignore the searing heat in his cheeks… as well as elsewhere. Just once, I'd like to have a normal day.
As Vanzilla pulled into the driveway, the presence of a second car indicated that Lori must have arrived. However, it looked… different. "Is that… Bobby's car?" Lincoln asked, and Rita gave a small smirk.
"Yes it is," Rita chuckled. "They asked me not to tell you… they wanted to keep it a surprise."
Lincoln grinned broadly. Even though they weren't in contact as much anymore, Bobby was still like the brother he never had. He hadn't seen the boy since Christmas, and had missed him quite a bit. Lincoln suddenly noticed that the seat was shaking a bit, and he glanced over at Leni; she was positively vibrating with excitement, her eyes wide and sparkling.
"L-Linkyyyy…." Leni squealed. "Do you know what this means?!" It quickly dawned on Lincoln what she meant. If Lori had a big announcement to make, and had seen fit to bring her boyfriend along with her… Leni may have been right. Either way, he supposed he'd find out soon enough.
"Bro!" Bobby exclaimed as Lincoln walked through the door. He immediately got up from the couch and dashed over, embracing him in a bro-hug. "How you been, man?"
"Great, Bobby. Good to see you." Lincoln said happily as he returned the hug.
"Looking good, lil' guy." Bobby said with a grin. "Stylin'."
"Yeah, no kidding." Lori agreed as she joined the pair. She gave her little brother a hug before playfully pulling down his cap over his eyes. "Let me guess... Leni?"
"Of course…" Lincoln grunted as he re-adjusted his new hat. He could only feign annoyance for a moment before smirking at his older sister. Since starting college, she had noticeably mellowed out… her teasing had become less callous and more affectionate. She still called him twerp from time to time, but quite frankly Lincoln wouldn't have it any other way.
"Loriiii!" Leni cried as she walked in, immediately diving into her big sister's arms. She squeezed Lori tightly, making her wheeze.
"L-Leni…" Lori gasped. "Too tight… I'm-"
Prrrt.
Everyone looked at Lori in surprise, Leni letting go of her. Lori coughed, averting her eyes in embarrassment. "…That was my shoes." She grumbled. Lincoln and Leni shared a laugh; clearly, some things never changed.
"Hey, Leni." Bobby greeted her with a hug and a friendly kiss on the cheek.
"Hi, Bobby~" Leni smiled. "Ooh, you've grown out your beard!" She said, brushing her fingers across his chin; indeed, his boyish scruff had grown into a well-trimmed goatee. "Facial hair is totes back in."
"Yeah?" Bobby chuckled softly. "I wanted to grow a full beard, but Lori said no."
"Because you'd look stupid, darling." Lori groaned, before leaning against him and lovingly tickling his chin. "This is perfect." Bobby blushed, and Leni nodded in approval.
"Lori, Lori!" Lily reached for her big sister as Rita carried her inside. Lori smiled warmly and took the little girl into her arms.
"Hey, Lily!" Lori said sweetly as she gave the toddler a soft squeeze, kissing the top of her head. "Did you miss me?"
Lily gave a toothy grin and nodded before burying her face against her big sister's chest. Lori chuckled and embraced the girl gently. Lincoln could only smile at the sight; though she'd been a bit harsh towards her other siblings in the past, she'd never been anything but motherly towards her youngest sister… for the most part, anyway.
As the others chatted with one another, Lincoln turned to Bobby. "So… how's Ronnie-Anne?"
"Oh… uh, she's good." Bobby said a bit nervously. He'd heard from Lori how upset Lincoln had been over their breakup. He frowned slightly as he scratched the back of his head. "Are you… okay, though?"
"I'm fine, man. I'm over it now." Lincoln smirked, holding up his palm in assurance. "Is she happy?"
"Yeah, seems so." Bobby sighed in relief.
"Then there's nothing to worry about." Lincoln assured him. "I've moved on."
"So… does that mean you've got your eyes on someone else?" Bobby wiggled his eyebrows, giving the boy a nudge with his elbow. "No wonder you're all dressed up."
Lincoln laughed nervously, blushing slightly. "A-ah… well…" He stammered. He'd need to change the subject before Bobby pressed him for more info. "S-so what's this big announcement?"
"Oooh, ooh, yes…!" Leni gasped, hopping up and down excitedly. "Tell us, tell us!"
"At dinner," Lori said with a chuckle. "I want everyone to hear."
Their father had set up the long table for the occasion, usually reserved for holidays; after all, having everyone together like this was rare. He had made stuffed peppers, one of Lori's favorites… as well as a meatloaf, to the relief of some of the younger Louds. Despite the simplicity of the dish, he knew how to make it delicious.
"So, so, so… what's the announcement~?" Of course, Leni had to ask almost immediately. Lori and Bobby exchanged a glance, smiling sweetly at one another. He placed his hand over hers, and she grasped it lovingly.
"Well… okay." Lori cleared her throat. "Bobby and I…" Leni leaned in eagerly, her eyes wide and shining. "…We got approved on an apartment! We're moving in in two weeks!" Lori stated excitedly.
"Oh, congratulations you two!" Rita gasped. "Where is it? Is it nice?"
"It's about fifteen minutes from the university," Bobby explained. "It's pretty good for the price."
"We'll make it work," Lori assured them.
"Well, that's boring." Lola huffed. "I thought you two were finally getting hitched." Bobby and Lori blushed, looking away. Lana just groaned and shook her head; clearly, her twin had been going on about this for a while. She took a bite of her meatloaf as she ignored her sister, chewing to the best of her ability. Lola's front teeth had grown back over the past two years, and while Lana's had as well… she had quickly lost others. If anything, she had fewer teeth now than she had in the past.
"N-now Lola…" Lynn Sr. stifled a cough. "They're young still. It's too early to think about that." Lori rolled her eyes; while her father liked Bobby a lot and considered him part of the family, he still tended to get a bit too protective of his firstborn.
"Daddy, you're too old fashioned. Times have changed." Lola scoffed. "Seriously, Bobby…" The little princess gave him an annoyed look as she leaned forward, her elbow on the table. "What's the hold up? Put a ring on it already." Bobby scratched his arm, chuckling softly in embarrassment.
"Wait… I thought you guys were still saving up?" Luna asked. "You sure you can afford it?"
"Well, about that…" Bobby smirked.
"That's the other announcement." Lori finished for him.
"Well, out with it!" Luan urged.
"Well…" Bobby mumbled through a mouthful of stuffed pepper; he swallowed before continuing. "Mi abuelo… er, my granddad, I mean," He clarified. "He decided it was time to retire."
"Oh, dear…" Rita muttered, concerned. "What happens to the bodega, then? Is it closing?"
"Nope." Bobby grinned. Everyone waited with bated breath.
"Stop leaving them hanging, Bobby." Lori scolded him, giving him a gentle elbow to the ribs.
"Okay, okay… easy, babe." Bobby laughed. He puffed out his chest proudly, a confident smile on his face. "You are looking at the new owner and operator of the Casagrande Market."
Everyone, even Lola, gasped in shock. "Holy shit, dude, really?!" Luna said with a big smile.
"Luna, language!" Rita scolded her before beaming at Bobby. "Oh, Bobby, I am so happy for you."
"Yeah, congrats, bro!" Lincoln gave him a fist bump, grinning excitedly. He felt proud of the young man… becoming a manager was always one of his goals, but owner? That was a big deal.
"Wow… only nineteen and already running a business. Good for you, son." Lynn Sr. seemed impressed by the news, and he looked at Lori with a sly grin. "I agree with Lola, honey. You need to lock him down."
"Oh my God, dad…" Lori groaned, burying her face in her palm.
"Well, I think this calls for a celebration." Her father said as he got to his feet. "I'm cracking open some wine."
"Lynn!" Rita gasped. "They're underage!"
Lynn Sr. frowned, considering her words for a moment… then simply shrugged. "Screw it." He hurried off to the liquor cabinet, and Rita sighed in exasperation.
"Make it a good one, at least!" She called after her husband. Despite her reservations, she had to agree… this was cause to celebrate. She noticed Lynn, Luna, and Luan looking at her expectantly, and she frowned slightly. "…Fine." She reluctantly agreed. "But only a little bit."
"Rock on." Luna and Luan high fived.
"And Lola, you can stop looking at me like that. The answer's no." Rita chided as Lola gave her puppy-dog eyes.
"No fair," The little princess huffed, crossing her arms and sulking in her seat. Everyone shared a laugh at that.
…Everyone except Leni.
Lincoln glanced at his sister; there was still a grin plastered across her face, but the excitement she'd had only minutes earlier was gone… her smile was empty, joyless. Lincoln's brow furrowed in concern, and he realized that she hadn't actually said anything since Lori told them the news. He gave her a gentle nudge. "You okay…?" He asked under his breath. Leni simply nodded, not looking at him.
"I'm totes happy for you two," She said to the couple across from her, smiling sweetly. "Congratulations."
"Thanks, Leni." Lori replied, returning the smile with far more authenticity. "We're really excited." She leaned over, sharing a loving kiss with her boyfriend; Lola, Luan, and Rita gave a gentle 'Awww~' at the sight, while Lucy, Luna, and even Lisa smirked gently. Lana and Lynn just gagged.
Leni, however, just retained that same expression as she returned to her food, picking at it and taking small bites. Lori was too caught up in the moment to notice just how fake her sister's smile was… but Lincoln wasn't. He frowned, but decided it wasn't best to push the issue right now. Not with everyone around.
Lincoln lay in his bed in his pajamas, staring at the ceiling. He sucked his teeth as he mulled over the evening's events. His parents had gotten drunk, of course… there was no such thing as temperance with those two. Lori and Bobby both got quite tipsy as well, as did Lynn, despite only having less than half a glass. He'd never had figured her for a lightweight. Even Lincoln had been allowed a couple of sips… not enough to have any sort of effect on him. Quite frankly, he didn't really see what the big deal was; it was bitter and lukewarm, with a taste like unsweetened grape Kool-Aid.
Leni had been one of the first to retire for the evening, preceded only by Lucy. He'd followed, of course, but she'd gently brushed him off and assured him that everything was fine. He knew it wasn't, but somehow he couldn't bring himself to interrogate her.
Lincoln sighed and turned onto his side. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was a few minutes before 10:45, but he just didn't feel tired. He didn't feel like 'relaxing' either, even after the encounter with Rochelle earlier in the day. He closed his eyes and tried to get some sleep. He could only hope that Leni would feel better in the morning.
A light, gentle rap on his door foiled his attempts at sleeping. He groaned; he should have figured it wouldn't be that easy. "Not now, Lisa." He grumbled.
"It's me." The quiet voice of Leni spoke. Lincoln sat up immediately, feeling a strange mixture of relief and concern.
"S-sorry. Come in." He said apologetically. Leni opened the door and shuffled in. She looked downcast, the false smile gone from her face, and stood before him in her nightgown; despite the sheer fabric, he felt no stirring in his loins this time. Not when she looked like that. "…Hey." He said softly.
"…Hi, Linky." She spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Neither said anything for a moment, and she wouldn't make eye contact with him. "I, um…" She began, shuffling her feet sheepishly. "I was lonely."
"Isn't Lori with you?"
Leni shook her head. "She fell asleep on the couch with Bobby." Lincoln frowned at that. He could hardly blame her, but still… she should make time for her sister. Lincoln swiveled around so he sat on the edge of his bed, and motioned for Leni to take a seat too. Leni complied, daintily sitting beside him. He waited a bit to see if she would say something first before speaking.
"Are you… upset that they're not getting married?" He asked, knowing already that wasn't the case. There was no way she'd be this broken up over that. Confirming his suspicions, she shook her head.
"I am a little, but… no, it's not that." Leni said quietly.
"It's because she won't be around as much, isn't it?" Lincoln guessed. Leni chewed her lip slightly before giving a small, almost imperceptible nod. Lincoln sighed softly, placing his hand over hers. "Leni… you knew this was coming."
"It's too soon." Leni muttered as she fidgeted with her hands in her lap. "I'm not… I'm not ready."
"Leni… it's not about you. It's Lori's life." His words were the harsh truth, but his voice was gentle. Leni's frown deepened.
"I know that, Lincoln." Leni whispered as she balled her hands into fists, clutching the fabric of her nightgown tightly. "I just… I need her…"
"Leni…" Lincoln said softly, placing his hand over hers. "You're stronger than that. And I'm still here, remember? So is everyone else."
Leni bit her lip, shaking her head again. "No, Lincoln. I'm… I'm not." She sniffled, looking down at the floor. "I'm not strong. I never will be. Even if you're here now… you'll leave too. You all will. And I… I can't."
Ah. That's where this was coming from. Lincoln exhaled softly. "Leni, you're not going to be stuck here forever." He looked at her, an encouraging smile on his face. "You'll get accepted into a good university next ti-"
"No."
Lincoln blinked. The way she had said it… there was more to it than just self-depreciation. "What…" He began, his mouth feeling dry for some reason. "What do you mean…?"
At first, Leni said nothing. She sat staring at the floor, motionless save for the subtle movement of her pupils. "…I lied." She said at last, almost too quietly for Lincoln to make out.
"…About what…?" Lincoln asked apprehensively. Somehow, he had a bad feeling about this.
"A-about the portfolio." She muttered, wringing her hands. "I… never sent it," She admitted, practically spitting out the words. "Anywhere."
Lincoln remained silent, his brow furrowed as he took in what she had just said. It suddenly dawned on him that he had never seen a single rejection letter… she hadn't been rejected. She simply hadn't sent the portfolio out.
She'd never even applied.
"…What." Leni shrunk back slightly; he couldn't hide the note of anger in his voice. He was angry… beyond that, he was disappointed. He stood up, pacing away from her with his hand against his mouth. Leni just hung her head in shame. "Why?" He asked, the question coming out in a harsh rasp.
"I'm sorry I wasted your time." She mumbled quietly.
"I don't care about that!" Lincoln snapped, making the troubled girl flinch. "I care about you! Why would you throw away all that effort?! Why wouldn't you even try?!"
Leni felt sick. She couldn't bring herself to look at her brother; even if she were to try, her vision was starting to go blurry. "I-I…" She whimpered, trembling slightly. The edge vanished from Lincoln's expression in an instant. "I'm sorry…" Leni got up and reached for the door, but Lincoln grabbed her arm.
"…Why?" Lincoln asked again, gentler this time. He couldn't stay mad at her… even if he was disappointed. She was hurting.
She needed him.
Leni didn't resist as her brother pulled her to him, nor as he wiped the tears from her eyes. "Leni, look at me…" Leni glanced up, her bleary gaze meeting his kind eyes. Her lip trembled and she had to choke back a sob.
"I was…" She sniffled softly. "I was scared."
"Of what?"
"Of being alone."
Lincoln frowned deeply. "Leni, you'll never-"
"I will!" Leni cried, pulling her arm from his grasp. "If I leave, I'm alone! If I stay, you'll all leave me! W-whether I stay or go, it won't matter… either I'll be alone now or later…" Leni dropped to her knees, letting the tears flow freely. She wailed loudly, and Lincoln had never been more grateful for the soundproofing Lisa had installed throughout the house.
"L-Leni…"
"Don't you get it, Lincoln?" Leni sobbed. "I-I'm not like Lori… I'm not smart, I'm not capable… it doesn't matter how 'talented' I am! I-it doesn't matter if I can make a… a fucking dress!" Lincoln's mouth hung open; he had never heard his sister use such language. "I can… I can barely manage things now, even with your help… how can I manage on my own?! Tell me, Lincoln!"
Lincoln's breath came out in short breaths as he looked down at his sister, her body heaving with loud, pathetic sobs. It felt like someone was twisting a knife in his heart; he knew perfectly well that she'd been struggling, even after their little pep talk at the prom. But clearly, this was worse than he had thought possible. The fact that Leni of all people had all of this pain bottled up inside… it made him feel sick. How long had she felt this way?
Lincoln kneeled down and embraced Leni, pulling her against his chest. She wrapped her arms around him tightly as she broke down, each anguished wail piercing Lincoln to his very core. But he didn't cry; he couldn't. Not now. Not when she needed him.
In truth, Lincoln had no answer for her. She was right, in a way; as long as she felt this way, she couldn't be on her own. Not yet. But he couldn't leave it at that. He knew she was better than that… he felt it. She wasn't some idiot. She wasn't broken. She wasn't incapable.
She was perfect… she just didn't know it.
Lincoln let his sister cry until she ran out of tears. He wasn't sure how long it took… it could have been a few minutes, it could have been an hour. It felt like an eternity. She kept her face buried against his chest, her shoulders lurching with the occasional dry sob. Lincoln rubbed her back gently. "Are you okay?" He asked quietly; Leni silently shook her head. Lincoln sighed softly and ran his hand up the back of her head, lightly stroking her head. Leni shuddered at his touch before relaxing, her body practically melting into his as his fingers ran through her silky golden locks.
"Listen, Leni…" He said in a soft, soothing voice. "Maybe you're not ready, yet. That's fine. I'm sorry I yelled at you, I just…" Lincoln looked away for a moment, chewing his lip as he gathered his thoughts. "If I'd known you felt this way, I would have done something sooner."
"…Don't apologize, Linky…" Leni mumbled, her words muffled against his chest. She sniffled and turned her head to the side to speak clearly. "T-there's nothing you can do. I'm just-"
"Yes, there is. I'm going to help you, Leni."
Leni sniffled again. "…How?"
Lincoln frowned. "I… don't know." He admitted. "But I will. I promise. You do want to get better, don't you?" She nodded, and he kissed the top of her head. "Then I'll figure out a way, somehow. I'm… good at thinking on my feet." Lincoln chuckled softly.
Leni swallowed the lump in her throat and looked up at her little brother. Even if he didn't know how yet, she felt the sincerity in his words. She knew he would try his hardest for her sake, and she felt guilty… he was so young, yet for how much she relied on him he may as well have been twice her age. "I don't deserve you, Lincoln…" She whimpered, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "Y-you do too much for me already."
"I don't mind," He assured her. "I want to help you, because I care about you. I care about you more than anyone else." He cupped her cheek and gently wiped the tears from her red, puffy eyes with his thumb; she closed her eyes, placing her hand over his.
"…You're not supposed to have a favorite sister, silly." Leni said, a tiny smile finally returning to her face.
"Maybe…" Lincoln shrugged. "But I do." Leni opened her eyes and looked at him; his expression was so kind, so loving that it made her heart hurt. She looked away as a light blush crept along her cheeks.
"Why do you have to make me feel this way…?" She muttered softly, barely more than a whisper. But Lincoln heard; his breath caught in his throat for a moment, but he forced it down.
"…What way?" He asked. Leni didn't respond; she merely fidgeted awkwardly, chewing her bottom lip. Lincoln wasn't sure why… maybe it was due to Rochelle's encouragement, or maybe the wine had affected him more than he thought… but right now, he didn't feel nervous. Something seemed to push him onwards. "Is it why you kissed me?" There it was, at last. The big question, the one he had struggled to ask for nearly a week. Leni stiffened up, her brow furrowing.
"…Don't ask me that, Linky." She managed to squeak out, her voice cracking. But Lincoln pressed on.
"Why not?"
Leni hesitated. The silence was almost deafening, the only sound coming from their faint breathing and the gentle rustling of their bodies against the carpet. "B-because…" She stammered, pulling away from him slightly. "It's, like… not right. If I tell you… you won't want to be around me anymore."
"Leni… please." He pleaded quietly. "Tell me." He already knew why, of course… he could feel it. But he needed to hear it from her.
Leni's face scrunched up in a mixture of fear, uncertainty, and shame. She looked as though she might cry again, if she had any tears left to shed. "I…" She gulped, shutting her eyes. "I love you."
Lincoln felt his heart stop for a brief moment. Hearing the words out loud, in that tone of voice… it was as if all the air was sucked from his lungs. He took a deep breath. "As… as a brother?"
Leni sniffed, hanging her head. "…As more."
Neither said anything. Lincoln sucked his teeth as he let it set in. It was all out on the table now… she'd confessed her love for him. He had to do the same.
But words wouldn't be enough.
Lincoln leaned forward, taking her cheek in his hand once more. Her eyes opened and met his as he turned her face towards him. Lincoln was acting almost automatically, as if he were being guided by some outside force... but he just let it happen. It felt right.
"L-Linc-" Leni was silenced as Lincoln captured her soft lips with his. Her eyes shot wide open, but she made no attempt to pull away, slowly, she let her eyes drift closed as she leant into the kiss. Lincoln's other hand slid around to her back, pulling her closer, and she gladly obliged. All too soon, they had to break away to catch their breath; it came in heavy gasps as they gazed upon each other, their eyes filled with love, longing…
…Desire.
The siblings kissed again, Leni raking her fingers through her baby brother's snowy white hair; his hand slid down her back, feeling every contour of her perfect body through the thin fabric of her nightgown. He felt something soft and wet probe his lips, and he accepted her without hesitation. Their tongues intertwined and their saliva mingled together; Lincoln could taste the strawberry gloss on her lips, and the lingering scent of cologne drove Leni wild.
Leni whimpered into his mouth as his silky tongue lapped against hers, pulling Lincoln against her tightly. It was as though she were driven by a desperate need to feel her brother's body against her; to know that he was hers, that he was there… that he was where he belonged. They couldn't be any closer if they tried, their bodies melding together in a mass of heated flesh and lust. They broke away again and Lincoln buried his face into her neck, making her shudder in pleasure as he kissed her neck.
That was it; Leni couldn't take it anymore. She dove onto Lincoln, pushing him to the ground as her lips claimed his yet again. His hands slid down her back and settled on his big sister's shapely cheeks, giving them a firm squeeze, making her pull away and arch her back with a loud gasp. The two lovers panted for air, their faces red their body's glistening with sweat. Slowly, Leni looked down into her brother's eyes. She was straddling his waist, his hands firmly planted on her hips; she wanted him, and he wanted her. It would be so easy.
And yet… the same instincts that had driven them this far told them not to carry things further. It wasn't time yet… they weren't ready. Neither needed to say a word. Their lust-filled eyes settled into a half-lidded, loving gaze, gentle smiles crossing their faces. Leni slowly leant forward, using her hand to keep her hair out of the way as she shared a soft, tender kiss with Lincoln. She lay against him comfortably, his arms settling into a gentle embrace around her. For a while, neither said anything; they simply enjoyed the moment.
"…Linky…" Leni was the first to break the silence, her voice small and quiet. "Is… is this wrong…?"
Lincoln frowned slightly. "Does it feel wrong?"
Leni nuzzled against his chest, shaking her head. "…No. It doesn't." Lincoln smirked softly; that settled that, then. "But… what happens now…?" She asked, looking up at him.
"I guess we're a couple now?"
"No, I mean… what do we do? Like… do we tell the others?"
Lincoln winced; that was a pretty tough question. "…No." He sighed. "Not yet, anyway." He knew that, ultimately, they would need to come clean about their relationship… there's no way they'd be able to hide it forever. Still, Leni seemed satisfied by that answer, and she relaxed into his arms again. "Do you want to stay here tonight?"
"On the floor…?" Leni asked, making Lincoln chuckle.
"No, Leni… on the bed." He clarified.
"Oh. Yeah, that'd be totes better~" She giggled. It took a few moments for them to finally get up; they didn't want to leave each other's side for even a second. But soon, they were lying together in Lincoln's bed, on their sides with Leni's back pressed against her brother's chest. His arms were wrapped around her from behind, and he could only marvel at how relaxed her presence made him feel… as though she had been the one thing missing this whole time.
"Linky… do you really think I can get better?" She asked.
"No," Lincoln's answer made her tense up. "I know you can." Lincoln finished, planting a soft kiss on her shoulder that made her jump.
"L-Linkyyyy…" She muttered, pouting slightly. "You're teasing me again…"
"I know," He snickered softly. "But you like it, don't you?"
Leni smirked, closing her eyes and shifting closer against him. "I do~"
As Lincoln lay with his older sister in his arms, he couldn't help but mull over the absurdity of the situation. She was his sister, five years his senior… legally an adult, while he was little more than a child. And yet… they were in love.
The more he thought about it, the more he started to understand. If there was one thing that defined the Louds, it was their passions… from the moment his sisters opened their eyes, it had immediately become clear who they would grow up to be. Leni had quickly taken an interest in fashion, Luna had been drawn to instruments as if by instinct… all of the girls had their thing, and it showed.
But Lincoln had always been the outlier. He had no 'thing', no singular interest… there was nothing that defined him as a person. Instead, he fit into whatever role was needed at the time; for Lola, he could be a pageant coach. For Lucy, he could provide critique and inspiration. For Lynn, he could be a training partner… even if he wasn't particularly cut out for it. But maybe he'd been looking at things all wrong. What defined him, above all else, was his love for his sisters. He knew each of them deeper and more personally than anyone else, and he would do anything for them; in fact, nothing made him happier than making them happy. He loved them, and each of them loved him just as much... even if things got a bit tense at times.
So maybe, just maybe… falling for one of his sisters wasn't that crazy. He'd always needed that bond, that connection with someone… something deeper than mere attraction. With Ronnie, he'd had to fight to feel some semblance of a bond, beyond friendship of course. But with Leni, that bond was already there. It always had been, since the moment she first laid eyes on him as a newborn baby. She'd decided right then and there that he would always be precious to her, and perhaps he'd even felt the same at a subconscious level.
Lincoln could hear the soft breathing from Leni signaling that she had drifted off to sleep. She hugged his arm against her chest, her lips resting softly against his knuckles, and Lincoln smiled; he nuzzled her hair gently, taking in the flowery scent of her shampoo. He could feel the softness of her breasts against his arm, and her backside pressed against his groin, and yet he felt no arousal. Not even the slightest stirring in his loins, despite his current situation… only the warmth and comfort of his lover. For him, that was all the evidence he needed; he was in love with his sister. And he felt absolutely fine with that.
For the first time in weeks, sleep came easy for Lincoln Loud.

Author's Note:
Wow, this one ended up a lot longer than intended. It may seem like the end, but don't worry… this story ain't over yet.
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More Than a Sister