Siege of Hearts

by D4rK Sid3

It all began with an innocent look that soared the sporty girl and the man with the plan down a path not meant for them to take together, searing their hearts under siege. LynnColn

1. Born Again

A/N: I couldn't resist the pull from this show and this particular pairing caught my attention, regardless if its incest. I am catching a break from my other stories to write something fresh and what a better way than this one? This fic will have several jumps of memories from date to another, so I will place precisely where the event took place to not confuse the readers thus I have decided to regress the possible time of the show a few years, I think late 90's definitely fits more with the actual show rather than mid 2000's. Bit of warning though, DO NOT let the beginning overwhelm you, the fic wont be a war fic. I welcome criticism and correction so feel free to say whatever you want to say through a review or send me a PM. The content of this story is a well-deserved M with Lynn x Lincoln pairing (Loudcest), without spoiling anything, let's get on with it.

Disclaimer: The Loud House belongs to Nickelodeon and I do not make any money writing this fic.

Summary: It all began with an innocent look that soared the sporty girl and the man with the plan down a path not meant for them to take together, searing their hearts under siege. LynnColn

A Siege of Hearts

Chapter 1

Born Again.

2nd Marine Division.

Second Tank Battalion, "Iron Horse", 'Company A "Anvil", 1st platoon 'Sword'.

Second Battle of Fallujah, November 2004.

Mid-day.

A square green reticle with two perpendicular lines zoomed on a tall twenty five stories building, five klicks or, 2.8 miles away from their position as informed by the reticle range finder. The once magnificent Al Habbaniyah Hotel used to be a luxurious hotel with international sponsors. A red rose in the desert, with beautiful white marble walls, Corinthian wood columns, fine hand carved granite floors, with luxurious rooms of all types to meet your fancy and a wonder of craftsmanship and architecture to withstand the heat of the Middle East and sand storms. Now it was a warfare torn hulk of concrete and steel, chunks of the multiple levels missing and dusty smoke poured heavily from it. The hotel was situated at the North side of the city and the Marine infantry platoons, the Army, the Brits and the recent liberated Iraqi's, who's armies had formed under free reign; fought tooth and nail just to go around Fallujah clearing path for the tank battalion and now, overlooking the massive street below them were four tanks at a standstill.

Their massive 65 tons of pure carnage were dressed for the occasions in tan camouflage for the theater of war. They were sitting on top of a sand dune just passes of Fallujah; sounds of battle all around them echoing like war drums. A young man at the gunner's seat sighed, observing the structure and slowly rotating the M1A1 Abrams tank turret with the joystick at his station, observing movement through the thermal sight along the floors and scratching at a spot behind his woodland camouflage body armor, but no relief came other than psychological. A man just behind him, suspended by the higher tank commander chair, looked down on his crew, a radio blaring on his tank helmet comms. The stench of death endured, along with the fragrant smell of cordite, stale air and the funk of four men trapped inside a steel beast for over twelve hours, but they managed; the constant hours of training and deployments overseas for more training had made their noses to completely ignore the smell and at the same time to ignore the roasting heat inside the tank. If it was hot outside, inside the tank it would be hotter without any air conditioner to compensate for it.

Arizona wouldn't even reach Iraq's knees over the heat.

"Command says we will attack shortly. It's almost go time gents" The tank commander informed his crew and the tanks under his command. "Swabble" He called at his left.

A tall and heavily muscled African American man looked right to his commander, his eyes scrunching in seriousness. "Aye Gunny"

"I want those shells loaded up perfectly, three seconds" He looked through his TC camera magnified at the target before speaking again. "Ramirez, drive swiftly, no hesitation, give me aggressiveness"

"You got it!"

Finally he turned to the young man below him at his feet "Loud"

The young gunner swerved his head as far as his tanker helmet, armored restricted torso and uncomfortable chair allowed him too, his chipped front teeth and murky blue eyes stared upwards, his face stained with war soot and sweat.

"I want precision and carnage. Whatever you find on these streets its dead. This whole street all the way to target area it's declared hostile. School kids, kittens, men and women, whatever the fuck we encounter here, we kill. You know the R-O-E, nobody should be here. You know our duty. No mercy"

The young man had never killed anyone, with this his first time in deployed for combat. He never expected the day where his tank battalion would deploy from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina all the way to Iraq and he never expected to be here in the first place, in the middle of a war zone. Given his happy urban upbringing, his gloomy memory still remembered that carefree child with platinum hair living inside a household with ten sisters, four pets and his parents, constantly meeting life as family and enjoying life at the fullest with his family like any child should. His melancholy of the events that led to his own destruction before everything went up to flames, tearing his family apart and what caused it made him stare at his tank commander, looking down at him; with a shake of his head, he got back into business. After three months of boot camp, extinguishing him and rebuild him to suit the needs of the Corp and an entire year training across countries like Germany, Sweden and Norway, the irate youth conflict's against the world kept going and in his mind, waking him up with a jolt of power; all the pain, misery, loneliness and memories that kept his mind raw and exposed even after all these years tore at his muscles, separated from bone and sinew, boiling with rage in an exhilarating moment that smashed through the dam of his spirit, spilling with no control.

"Aye Gunny!" He led on simply, squeezing and relieving pressure repeatedly in his gunner station, his fingers playing with the coaxial 'bravo' trigger.

Master Gunnery Sergeant Phillips "Snowman" Dunkar, 'sword' platoon leader of a four tank platoon was a character just like him. A man rigged for military compliancy with over 22 years of military experience; he had been everywhere and had seen everything. He was THE MAN with a plan, often the plan of getting his Marines to get through everything while at the same time, serving his orders to a high degree of efficiency with an ice cold demeanor. Yet off duty, he was a very laid back individual with a heavy allure to wander lust, adrenaline rush, racing, sports mixed with a highly competitive streak of video games. He was also a literature, comics and a history buff fanatic just like him. It was due his way his experience and his caring about the wellbeing of others in his battalion that he fit in his role so well, like if it was meant for him. It was not easy for an individual for his first baptism of fire. Most began with a single shootout on the distance. It was entirely the reason why Lincoln at the age of 19 years old felt so secure with him around regardless if they were about to assault a massive building through a heavily armored street. The mile and a half o' death stretched up before him, riding a 65 ton heavily armored behemoth, giving his trust entirely to Dunkar, the high command and the Marines, his brothers that were around him, thinking about the same thing that was going through his head. He felt readier than ever to defend his brothers, to whatever they could throw at them.

Lincoln turned sharply to Swabble at his upper left. "Give me HEAT"

"HEAT coming up!"

The man slammed his palm behind him, opening the loader's work area, exposing the 42 rounds of ordnance. He took the 40 inch round on his muscled arms like crawling a baby, a 60 pounds baby and swiftly turned his torso, placing the road on the loading bay. Using his fist, fingers tugged to avoid dismemberment of his digits, he pushed the round into the chamber, the steel bay closing with a solid clank of steel. Sitting down again, he pressed a lever to the left of the bay.

"UP!"

"We got word from Command that some remnants of the Republican Guard are between the insurgents we'll encounter today, even though it has been a year since they were disbanded. There is a lot of heavy ordnance, is perhaps at that building, also serving as an IED factory. We're Oscar Miking that building through the street with our other three tanks in our platoon. 1st Marines, 8th Battalion, 3rd platoon have our backs and it's attached to us for the operation; infantry is clearing back corners, RPG nests and other pockets to give us clear room to engage through the hot zone, but at this rate we don't have the luxury of time to completely clear the area, we need to get this shit done. In twenty seconds we're moving through that street and fire on that hotel at 1 klick of it, gentleman…prepare to pop your cherries" The tank commander said through the radio, briefing his crew and the other three tanks on his command; his entire platoon was an army by itself with enough firepower to conquer a small city. The sheer combined of rounds were 168 main 120mm rounds, 3600 rounds of 12.7x99mm (fifty cal) and approximately 41600 rounds of 7.62 Nato. The platoon that he commanded was enough to forbid any irrational thoughts lingering in his mind, other than the enemy was completely fucked when they light em up.

The Marines muscles flexed, up and down, the rigors of combat filling their veins with adrenaline and in mental preparation of the charge across the insurgent infested streets of Fallujah.

Corporal Lincoln Loud exhaled, his fingers dancing on the red T handle that served at the trigger of the main gun, blinking and magnifying on the building at 8 power magnification as he tapped the secondary button of his joystick that controlled the coaxial machine gun next to the main gun, liquid fire cursing through his veins, his eyes peeled off completely dedicated to the target in front of him, without blinking.

"Ramirez, gun it. Drivers, forward, forward. Full throttle. Platoon with me, maintain dispersion. Over."

"Solid copy 3-1, moving" Answered a tank commander under his command.

A clank of steel powered the powerful jet turbine engine whirling with power and propelling the armor on the road leaving a heavy vapor trail coming off the armored steel coil that protected the engine, their tracks crushing everything in its path unopposed. As the Marine infantry saw them moving out, they charged at the opposite street providing parallel security at their flanks and an eye on the field for them. Dunkar heard the voice of one of the infantry squads about possible enemy contact at the side of the road by a stretch of dirt and palm trees where a compact community housing with a small plaza in the middle, perhaps wide enough to store five tons of ammo and several mortars. Thanking the squad leader, he marked the spot in the map screens attached to his TC station, quickly drumming his fingers on his uncomfortable chair.

The tank platoon started its advance down the dune in an inverted V formation through the wide and desolated road, with Lincoln's tank at the head. The ride turned out to be smooth for the first half a mile that they traversed through the deserted and war torn streets, yet through their comms they could hear the sound of battle and heavy automatic fire power disrupting their advance; anti air batteries still remained deeply through the center of the city and no matter how much ordnance the Air Force threw their way, the insurgents had a way to cover and shield them so well that nothing short of plain view could spot them. It didn't help that their cities were nothing short of a city fortress. With the environment, the sand storms, heavy winds and the swelling heat, all their buildings were constructed with steel reinforced concrete to withstand the elements but turning every structure into a possible enemy stronghold.

Thanks to their thermals, the dust and black plumes of smoke across the streets did not deter their view and that's when the battle truly began. The aforementioned complex up ahead immediately opened fire at the advancing column, peppering their armor with useless small arms fire; hearing the tiny pings on their armor, the inside crew was not even worried as multiple RPG's, HEAT (High Explosive, Anti-tank) rocket propelled grenades impacting their armor from the front. The tank shook but continued on undaunted, the armor so strong that an RPG impact could be whipped down with some hot soapy water, elbow grease and a wet rag. Lincoln immediately zeroed the 120mm main gun at the second story of a house without waiting for an order, catching the edge of figures hiding behind the windows and the flashes of red and orange illuminating them. He had fired many times during Armor training in Kentucky but never against a live target, nevertheless, the enemy that was currently trying to kill them was a reflection of the Rifleman's creed, something he learned from the very first day in boot camp…I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will…

The baptism of fire began.

"ALL UNITS. ENGAGE! RIGHT FLANK! FIRE! FIRE! HEAT!"

The red T handle veered left, a colossal tremor banged through the tank, the recoil still shaking the tank as the round sailed at a speed of 5000 feet per second, the feed tray expulsing with a flash of smoke an empty needle cap casing impacting against the tray shield and into the steel basket below. As the red flaming speck flew through the air towards its intended target, Lincoln wondered, where everything went so horribly wrong to find himself here; sailing from a happy home that he ruined, no path and a non-plausible future, torn asunder from what he felt was right and still does regardless. Through the consequences of his fallout, he damned it all to hell, selfishly taking her down with him through a path not meant for them.

Moving through the air, the flaming red speck guided itself through an open window, like a soccer ball into a goal post shot by a grinning brunette with a red and white jersey…

His mind flashed where it all began.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Seven years ago.

Royal Woods, Michigan

July, 1997.

Summer vacation, 7pm

In the Loud household something was happening that quiets the warfare that was the house with all the individual family members and their brash everyday noise giving honor to their family name. Yet today, something special was happening that quieted the usual ruckus of the house, to the relief of Mr. Grouse, the ever grumpy but kind neighbor of the family. And that special moment was just happening in their living room. The lights had been turned off with the curtained windows opened, the pale moon light reflected a mass gathering of people around a table, the soft red and orange glow illuminated their faces; smiles were directed to a single individual with platinum hair that sat in the middle of the table, staring at a chocolate and vanilla cake with a number 12 alight blue candle on top.

A gathering of happy celebration, something that only occurred once a year and you would never get back.

Time.

Sixteen years old Luna Loud, the musical prodigy fingers danced on the cords producing the pleasant take of 'happy birthday'. A large smile was on her face before she started singing, filling the household with joy.

"Oh happy birthday, happy birthday!

Oooooh Happy Birthday, dear Lincoln

Happy Birthday to you"

The referred boy blushed crimson as his family and friends gathered closer, eyes twinkling with excitement.

"Just a day, just another year.

But in our eyes you are the best.

We´re gonna love you, gonna love you above the rest.

Oh, Oh...Lincoln…

May good times always smile on you.

May happiness always come your way.

We´re here to love you.

We´re here to celebrate your day.

We wish the best of what the best can be.

All the best"

Lincoln's smile widened a little more, a heartfelt happiness spreading through his body, elated beyond belief.

"We wish for you that all your dreams come true

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to you.

Happy Birthday just for you.

Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday.

The years may come and the years may go.

But that won´t change what we already know.

You´re such a great brother. And in our hearts your love will grow. Grow... "

Her fingers immediately picked up speed for the finale, an arpeggio building beyond the capability of an acoustic guitar making the smile slip from everyone's faces replaced by an odd look. Luna was so into the song, closing her eyes that she never notices her public's utter confusion.

"Count on us when you're feeling down.

In times of trouble we will hold your hand.

You're such a great brother. And we will love you until the end.

End, end...

We wish the best of what the best can be.

All the best. We wish for you that all your dreams come true.

Oh Happy birthday to youuuuu! YEAH!"

She ended the song with a shredding slap of her palm, euphoria flooding through her veins, dropping to her knees, punching the air with the devil horns.

A deep silence reigned in the living room. The expected applauses that fueled her passion never came, opening one eye she scanned her 'crowd', flames illuminating the room and met with estranged expressions on their faces. A short bark directed her attention before Charles, the small white terrier of the family got on her lap and started licking her face. Her mood flattened immediately.

"Well at least I know my number one fan is always cheering for me" She stood up letting the happy dog back on the ground, who continued running in circles around her boots.

Their father had a more than usual confused expression.

"How do you get a guitar player to turn down? Put a sheet music in front of her"

Luan immediately cracked laughing with her dad, soon the rest of the family laughed with them. Luna huffed blushing but then chuckled at her slip up; she always got excited with playing music, it was hard to not escalade her passion.

The boy with the platinum hair stood up to hug his embarrassed sister.

"It was a beautiful song, all the way to the end, you rock it hard!" Luna hugged him back laughing. "Glad you like it dude"

"Yeah just don't the ROCK through the window. Get it?" The jokester added.

Everyone groaned at Luan's joke.

"Take it home Lincoln!" Lynn raspy voice screamed with a grin. "Make a wish already!"

A pair of lips sucked air before blowing it on the cake up front, the candle extinguishing immediately. There was a chorus of applause in the Loud household, friends and family surrounding a laughing Lincoln, conjuring to celebrate an event that only happens once a year. As the smoke dispersed from the candles, his family, Clyde and Bobby congratulated him; Lynn in true Lynn fashion, her hand 'slipped' and gave him a strong push towards the table, almost slamming his face on the chocolate and vanilla cake if he hadn't paused his descent with his palms against the wood surface; grunting he turned around angrily, but his glare immediately softened at her amused expression, then to indignation as she proceeded to give him a rough noodgie grinning and falsely trying to dip his face into the cake over and over again.

"Honey stop!" Rita Loud, the family matriarch laughed at her daughter antics, quickly trying to contain a happily bouncing Lily blowing saliva bubbles, not understanding the occasion but sharing the happy atmosphere. The twins, never to pass the moment to mess with their favorite brother tried to imitate the sporty girl behavior only to be held back by Lori as she waved Lynn away with a grimace; the eldest of the Louds winked at Lincoln as he grinned but then laughed as she gave him her own noodgie, although far more lovingly.

The round of applause did nothing to stop an euphoria that tried to swallow him whole. Not only because he was just a mere year from becoming a teenager, but now because he had more company to share it with. Clyde was there like always, glued by the hip to him; he was like his brother in more ways than one. And while they disagreed and fought sometimes due his tendency to have a 'lunatic moments', it was due his years of friendship that he had managed to stay afloat through thick and thin.

It was such a shame that Ronnie Ann couldn't come to his birthday party. Due her falling grades, the family had opted instead to enroll her in summer courses to strengthen her knowledge before going back to school once the summer ended.

Ronnie Ann, the girl he had dated briefly was still one of his best friends and owner of one of his best memories in his short life. The very first girl that liked him as much as he liked her, even though both had a rocky beginning, it elated into something more meaningful. But it wasn't meant to be. Just before the year ended, the Santiagos family moved to Portland to support Bobby's uncle business and it was at least five hours by car from Royal Woods. The separation hurt him more than when his family decided to kick him out for the silly notion that he was "bad luck" last year and the wound still felt raw, but they remained as dear good friends parting in good terms from their relationship, talking through a new thing that was a sensation in the nation called AIM and with a little bit of help from his extremely smart sister Lisa, they had set up a web camera. It wasn't the state of the art, but it didn't have to be. As long as he saw her face, everything would be good with the world.

But for him, it was not a good bye, it was a see you later. Their relationship was perhaps short, but he treasured it all together along with the memory of their first kiss, followed by some more and who knows? There was always the future. Their mutual separation was another nail into his childhood coffin, slowly he felt approaching adulthood through maturing, yet deep inside his motions were completely exaggerated, just at the tender age of 12 summers.

With passing time, his life was changing, riding the new high of change and he felt he was prepared for whatever the destiny's hand dealt but not entirely for what Lori said to him and her family a month before his birthday.

She would be the very first to leave the nest. Regardless if her younger siblings first celebrated her departure would end the bossy and nagging fame that was brought upon herself; it only took a sniff from Lori to make almost all of them to break down in tears. The twins had clutched her legs threatening to never let go unless she stayed and only a crying Luna and a sad Luan had pry them off to no veil, they had her pretty good. After half an hour of crying, they stayed asleep between her arms. That very same day, they had a family dinner with his mom's neighborhood famous lasagna to talk about her future. She had tact of experience when it came to managing and regardless of what her family members thought about her, she found that she loved management, administration and business. Due her extremely good GPA, the Michigan State University had accepted her with a scholarship to their parent's relief and pride.

For years his parents had saved money from their pay checks exactly for their extended family, that it was still a growing pool would give the next person in line an opportunity when it came their turn. Leni was next in line and everyone knew in what direction her fancy was, at 17 years old, in just less than a year, her turn would come and hopefully with her career, her clothes designed by her would be in every famous celebrity wardrobe and in every single fashion show.

His oldest sister Lori and Bobby stayed together only because the Central Michigan University accepted her and Bobby was a mere half an hour drive from where he lived in Portland. Finally his odd job mean streak ended when he started working for his uncle and he could finally buy a beat up Honda Civic that was so-so reliable. Lincoln couldn't help but to admire that the changes of Bobby's life were met dead on. He forced himself to learn about mechanics and giving his extended family where he was, he absorbed everything like a sponge and learned what he had to do for repairs rather than take it to a mechanic half assing a job and charging high rates for things that might not even fix it. The car might not be the most perfect car in the world, but it was his first and now it was easily fixable if something broke down by his own hands.

Lincoln only wished he had the conviction to do the same thing. He was a boy in growth surrounded by his friends and family, it was only natural to feel sad at the prospect of their sisters leaving the house hold and making it...less loud.

In a highly ironic turn of events, a voice would be extinguished from the house hold and while it didn't meant that she wouldn't be there anymore, the house would be very different without their older sister, regardless of her attitude; she was one of the gears that held the entire family together. Thanks to her, there was order and her advice had helped everyone than once to get out of a sticky situation and she still did it to this day.

Of course she would keep in touch and visit whenever possible, but still...Lincoln and the others couldn't help but to feel devastated and saddened by her departure.

Lynn Sr and Rita were perhaps the most affected ones. His parents, bless their hearts, loved all their children above anything else in their life. To see them go was like a blow to their faces that welled their eyes with tears, yet this was life. It was exactly what life had to be, it had to go on. They couldn't stay together forever; they all had to take their own way when that time came.

With this realization, Lincoln felt a pang of hurt in his chest. The next sibling in line turn would come and the same pain would be in the hearts of everyone so for now, he was grateful that he was still a preteen, holding unto his childhood for a little longer.

Life was good, and it got better with presents. On the kid's table, bundled on a pile were his. One by one, his family and friends took their respective present and lined up on the table where Lincoln sat.

The first one was his dad holding a medium sized box with a single red and white wrap. He accepted immediately tearing on it. The boy gasped with a WOW of excitement, the Play Station box trembled in his hands, setting it aside he hugged his dad.

"I love it!" With an huge grin he patted his shoulders. "You're the best dad"

"Glad you like it, I was sure to buy some games, they are inside the box" Coming closer to his son, he tilted his palm across his ear. "I bought you some…unquestionable violent games that your mother wouldn't approve, it will be our secret"

The platinum haired boy smirked as his dad stepped away, Lincoln showed the box to his friend Clyde.

"Dude, everyone wants one of those. I'll bring mine and we can link it, got the accessories to do it" His friend grinned imagining the sweet gaming sessions in the summer bumping his fist together with Lincoln. It was another advantage of sharing the same interests; with the promise of more fun in the middle of the summer. In his case, Clyde had a large flat envelope decorated with comic strips wrap, the boy accepted immediately admiring the colorful wrap with a smile tugged at his lips; carefully he opened the package digging inside and pulling it to his eyes which widened the size of dinner plates.

"Oh my god! Ace Savvy, world detective on 3d!" His mouth salivated while his hands shook in excitement. The special edition arc featured plastic printed pages in 3d format which included 3d glasses labeled 'detective eye' with all sort of goodies and clues that would be sure to keep him entertained perhaps through the whole month with the ten number special. He hugged his friend, happy tears coming off his eyes.

"You are a kind of soul Clyde" They snickered together bumping fists one more time. Lori took his pace and the African American child mouth curled struggling to say something to her but failing, he retired his arms akimbo and looking aside.

Brandishing a smile, Lori she offered a flat envelope decorated with cartoony cars. He accepted it without a word, Lori's hand still holding the envelope, just smiling tenderly at his older sister.

"I hope you enjoy this from me not so little brother anymore, from part of me and mom" Her eyes blinked tears and finally she released the hold on the package.

Lincoln opened it with care, careful to not tear the envelope, opening the seal and digging through its contents feeling a piece of paper within pulling it for everyone to see.

The green face of Benjamin Franklin met his surprised gaze.

"This...this is...WOW!"

"Woah buddy! That's a fortune" Clyde said clenching his teeth, barely able to hold the gaze of the exchange that was happening between the Loud siblings with certain envy. Slowly his crazy streak towards Lori had deteriorated a notch, though his attraction and the pull towards her was still there.

Lincoln laughed hugging his sister with excitement. "I cannot accept this though...you are moving out from home and you probably need the money more than I do"

She smiled warmly. "Nah, don't worry about it. I will be fine living abroad. Besides, Bobby has my hand in this as well" When he was mentioned, her boyfriend took her close to him by her shoulders.

He nodded vigorously. "We been together for three years...and we saved enough to get our own apartment and move in together!"

There was a chorus of Awwwwwww….

"Oh Boo-Boo-Bear" They hugged pecking their lips briefly. A vocal YUCK went through the room and the sound of something that sounded like an axe been sharpening to a fine edge. Ignoring his best friend clenching his teeth, Lincoln chuckled.

"I'm happy for you Lori"

The couple separated smiling briefly at Lincoln.

"Well enough, I am sure that you cannot wait for your next present in line!"

"As if" Lynn groaned. "Hurry this along! We all want cake!" A chorus of agreement rang through the room.

The boy grinned. "Bring on the presents!"

Next in line was Leni. "My brother is growing up into a fine gentleman" She brought with her a medium square package.

Her wrap immediately told her that it was hers alright. As the more artistically inclined of the family, she ALWAYS had a very interested ways to wrap presents. This time, she had taken a clear sheet of paper, shading different strokes with colored pencils so when they joined at the end of the wrap, it said his name perfectly with a cool realistic doodle of him right at the middle. His eyes betrayed his excitement at the quality of her work, truly impressed. He was more than careful to open the pieces of tape that held her wrap together and set it aside to pin it on his wall.

Looking at the gift, it was a book with a cutting board and ingredients. The title read, cooking for dummies.

"Like, I don't know if dummies it's a bad word or not. But in the couple of months you've been experimenting with the kitchen and this is gift towards me and the whole family, we do not want anyone dying of food poisoning, that's totes awesome" As she said this, her expression was so giddy as she was speaking about how nice the weather its outside or if she was holding a box of puppies.

Leni could be either the most dimwitted of all of the Loud siblings or sometimes the most sadistic one of them.

The white haired boy shook his head, amused or insulted, they didn't know which.

"Thanks Leni! Good present"

She did a quick dance, tugging at her sunglasses to not let them fall, hugging him around the shoulders. "I am so happy you like it!"

She retired and the next to take her place was the still heavily embarrassed musician, holding a large rectangular box wrapped in purple luminescent paper decorated with music signs.

"I know that as my brother, you always force yourself to please us in more than sibling could, seriously dude, you got the patience of a saint...and I kinda drag you since you were young enough to share my passion for music, but I think that you deserve this for all the Rocking years not only about music, but through the good and bad moments. You are my number one groupie" She gave him the box which he immediately accepted, tearing on the envelope.

The white box had a Yamaha brand symbol on the end, but his excitement grew with the picture of an acoustic guitar on the box.

"It took me a cut of my bucks playing gigs, but you earned it, dude"

Lincoln's hands shook. "Wow...I don't know what to say"

"Dont...just hit it up"

The platinum haired boy took no time in tearing into the box, pulling the leather hard cover digging for the guitar inside. It was a guitar carefully oiled and painted with a heavenly smell of wood. Admiring it for a few seconds, he pulled it from the case and immediately played a few notes for some of the few songs that she had written. Of all the Louds, just she and he had musical mastery and it showed. He stopped for a few seconds to slowly tune the guitar and played a few more notes before setting it aside and closed the case.

"I love it fellow rocker"

Luna threw a screech and together they did air guitars and devil horns laughing together earning a few chuckles between the group.

Next in line was Luan, giggling as she carried a small box handing it to Lincoln. He flipped it, shook it, looking for hidden switch that would throw a pie at his face or shock his hand and risking everything, he pointed the box at the ceiling and opened it squinting his eyes mentally preparing for the inevitable...but nothing happened.

"Hahahaha! I knoooow. I am so predictable, but no tricks come from this Loud...this time"

Seemingly approving of his carefulness, Luan excitedly motioned to peek inside.

It was a glass cube with his name on it and a slogan 'to the best of us', printed with soft fabric. He remembered a place that recently opened in the mall that has as their specialization to print designs, words or names inside different plastic shapes; he remarked excitedly about it when they discovered it and apparently Luan remembered his excitement.

"Thanks Luan! I like it!" They both hugged each other.

"Geez finally" Exclaimed Lynn with an indignant tone taking her place with a medium sized rectangular box; beyond appearances she felt excited at her turn. She hadn't bothered to wrap the white box in anything but she had taken a black sharpie and wrote WINNER on every surface she could get her messy hand writing on. The box was labeled with a sports themed design with the slogan, go big or go home dweeb. As he turned the box around, Lynn saw it with apprehension, his attention and opinion was all that mattered to her.

As the girl close enough to his age and regardless of her rough attitude towards him with the constant wet willies, roughhousing, tackles and screaming matches she didn't mean anything by it and he knew it, Lincoln and Lynn were the closest of the Loud siblings, almost inseparable and even though their expanding years drove them apart, with barely any similar ground to stand on, she treasured his company altogether. Lincoln was perhaps the most selfless boy…no, man that she knew. He always placed the needs of others before his, pleasing them, plastering his attention to them sacrificing his own free time, money and sometimes his blood if there was an accident then came back for more….and all of them took it for granted, the guilt ate at her. Even before he was born, she remembered caressing her mom's stomach when she was just two, just waiting for his baby brother to arrive to this world, hoping to be the very best of her sisters. His opinion mattered and meant the world to her.

She knew that she has little to not touch with femininity. She was loud as her last name, a hard ass smug athlete, a tomboy, roughhousing goddess, completely immature with lack of manners. Her stubborn personality mixed with a terribly short fuse and competitive to no end made her annoying to the vast majority of people she talked to, driving away what little friends she possessed away. She had the bad habit of turning EVERYTHING into a sport and she played to win her own games, but that was that, Lincoln took her as she came and NOBODY except for him accepted the whole package. She accepted who she was and perhaps would never change her spots, but Lincoln was perhaps the most important person in her whole life and to her, his happiness was better than any trophy she could win or any competition she could carry on single handily and that was the hardest challenge of her life, make him keep that smile.

Lynn sighed with anxiety, hoping to hurry him already and just dig for the prize.

He accepted the gift immediately smiling and for a few moments their gazes met accelerating her heart beat. Hazel met blue in a true fashion of comprehension, a look reserved between them convening emotions and understandment between them. A smile hung on his lips as he looked away, remembering all their good times over the years and if he had looked back, he would've seen the warm smile on her face without any ill or mischievous intentions pumping her heart in an euphoria only felt when she was rushing to make the winning score in a game. She attributed it to her nervousness of his opinion and the shadow of odd and confusing feelings that had been born since last year were crushed, mauled and thrown in the valley at the back of her mind. Lincoln looked at her once more and opened the box, digging through the contents of it, feeling around it, he felt a hollow metallic surface. Curious, he took a hold of it and pulled it out to the open. It was a silver trophy that was stained with the passage of time. The right handle had been pinned with screws as the cast had been broken in the past, but his attention was caught on the faded plate in the front of it.

Lynn Loud Jr

1992

1st place

The sport in which she won had been polished away; instead it said 'Best sister to her brother, Linc'

He remembered that day. He was 7 years old in 1992 and the school of Royal Woods Soccer team was playing, The Red Eagles vs Royal Maltese's, another high school district at the other side of town and the last one in the tournament between schools in the city. As long as he could remember, Lynn was always dragging him to play sports with her. From catching a football with his bloody nose to sometimes being her personal goalie post leaving the imprint on the ball welled on his skin. That day was murky with a storm brewing in the distance with several parents complaining to their respective coach about rescheduling the game for clearer weather. She started screaming at the top of her lungs that she came here to win and no puny storm would hold her back and if they left, they would leave as cowards. Whatever effect it had on the crowd, they stayed, marveled at the sporty spirit that she possessed. They won the tournament that day with her scoring three out of four goals versus zero from the other team. Her entire family was rooting for her but most of all, he was screaming like a madman for his sister as she dashed through the field swerving from player to player, a grin always on her face, mighty kick sending the ball soaring into the net.

Lincoln had always been impressed at her tenacity to never surrender, if she was giving 110% something always push her that made her give 200%. After all, she was one hell of an athlete combined with a mean streak of energy; she could go all day long.

The judge gave her that trophy as well as the medal for the best player of the season. The crowd came lifting her between hands, high, high in the air as they cheered her name.

"Lynn! Lynn! Lynn!" They chanted.

The expression on her face is something that will be forever remain in his memory and to this day, no matter how many times they discussed, fought around the house wrestling, all the red pelts, the punches on the shoulder, the name calling, the noogies, the Dutch ovens and the constant drag around to be her punching bag, it was all worth it, through thick and thin, he was her brother and that beautiful smile would forever lighten up his day. For all her rough around and tough persona, Lynn was a big softie and a sensitive person on the inside…just like Ronnie Ann. The last thought made him shiver at the comparison, especially since she was his sister, you shouldn't compare your own sister with a girl you dated. There would be time to feel confused later.

"It was my very first trophy in a sport. I was just nine years old when I earned it. My first time rushing through the field in a competition getting my team to win the tournament, the euphoria of the people that filled with joy and strength"

He smiled with nostalgia. "And the medal for the best player in the season"

Lynn was extremely happy that her younger brother remembered and he accepted the trophy happily as her heart did cart wheels in her chest as he crawled it to his chest as if was the most fragile thing in the household.

Feeling stupidly giddy despite herself, Lynn Loud wasn't known to be compassionate among her peers, her hand took hold of the other handle and grinned pulling the trophy towards her. Lincoln still holding the other handle tugged it back to him starting a tug and pull game with his sister. Confused, he sent her a glare but then his eyes dilated as wide as plates. The savage expression on her face was the one she put every time she was rushing to make the big win, score the winning goal and take the trophy home.

"Don't get too comfortable with it; the day will come when I'll win it back…unless you can defend your trophy from me"

She heard her mom clearing her throat, non-too happy about her declaration but she ignored it knowingly, Lincoln was not a pushover and very deep inside, they were cut from the very same cloth. Her brother's expression twisted from shocked to a wide grin that immediately matched the very same one she was giving him, increasing her appreciation for him.

"Oh….you are on. I am going to make you eat those words but for now…" He slapped her hand away grinning nonchantly. "I'll take my trophy"

She hummed in indignation, turning around rapidly, her ponytail slapping him on the face. Grunting he sent a death glare on her way and she met it looking over her shoulder with a malicious grin in kind.

Lucy took her place with a sigh. Her expression was unreadable on her pale face but to the surprise of everyone, her ever present stoic frown started to slowly twist into something else, it was a hard battle but the feelings that conveyed this special gathering overpowering the cynical interpretation of the whole world at least for today. Her lips changed into a tiny smile, tugging at the corners of her lips. Her brother hummed in appreciation, expressing herself was perhaps the most difficult of traits for her but to his shook her pale hand lifted one of her bangs, exposing her magenta pupil, her odd and most embarrassing trait that would remain hidden through most of the day, it was just on this very special occasion where she would allow the people present to gaze on her shame.

"Sigh…dear brother. Heath these words that are about to fall upon thy. Away from my life outlook I walk away because you dear brother makes the sun to light up my day"

She cleared her throat pulling a piece of paper from her sleeve.

"Every morning as I wake up I think of you,
as the hero that came into my life.
More and more you appeared to me when I was in strife.
Afraid I could not live without you in my life.
I only prayed every day and every night.
to have a brother like you by my side.
When I was hurt so many times.
you never let me down.
therefore I am proud.
to call you a true brother.
Even though I know you're not supposed to care much

I know you do too plentiful
Remembered you see.
As my brother the person who saved my life.
forever the memory will seem right"

Her voice had a musical tone to it as she receded her poem. Never had they ever seen the cynical Loud to articulate her poems with such joy in her expression. But as soon as it was over, her face lost its shine and the happy expression disappeared. Shaking her head, her bangs covered her expression one more time. She did a curtsy for the family receiving an abundant applause.

"Your talent gets better every year. I really liked it"

She flashed him a quick smile and if he had peeked behind her bangs he would've realized that she was blushing. Without any word, she walked back to the group.

The Twins were of course were on a predicament on the decision of what to get their favorite brother, Lana and Lola with the clash of personalities fought for hours about what Lincoln would love in his special day. After not been able to decide on a present individually they had the bright idea to combine their passions and personalities into one unique gift, bouncing their way to Lincoln, they gave him a small blue and pink box. They looked quite giddy when he opened it and fetched a teacup painted to look like a frog with careful written lettering "its froggy time". Lincoln was seriously touched at the gesture, he put his arms around the twins and hugged them; they eagerly seek the comfort of his warmth body giggling happily.

"I love it, thanks for the gift girls"

"Glad you like it, or I would make you do it" Lola did a cutesy twirl of her pink dress with a deathly glare. Lana immediately tried to imitate her sister tugging at the seams of her coveralls, getting ditzy with the sudden move dropping her red cap. A deep croak sounded from the inside and to the surprise of Lincoln, a green blur jumped from her headwear into the cup held in his hand. The frog looked at him doing a 180 with his head and in shock he almost dropped it, placing carefully on the table he threw the reptile a confused frown.

"Guess Hops felt ignored eh Lana?" Lincoln rolled his eyes.

The last but no least the smartest of the siblings, Lisa simply gave him a vial. Unsure what to do with this, he looked at her face confused. Flipping the vial, the liquid bubbled dangerously under pressure and afraid that something might go….kabloomy, the cluster of people feeling the electricity in the air backed away.

"Dear…we just fixed the floor last week" Rita sighed watching helplessly as her beautiful floor would be destroyed once more. It was true that due her brilliant intelligence, several government agencies had started offering the family jobs with high payout benefits, such funds would not be available for her for at least a decade and a half; but its primary role of those funds were to go for repairs.

The smart Loud pursed her lips. "Thisszh it's a powerful formula that I have been performingsh for quite a while. It will allow the user shhuper strength and speed for at leashht five hours. I know you like every male child likezz to recreate your super heroes adventure or what not. But I thought of giving it to you Lincoln" She licked her lips, her eyes studying his expression.

Slowly he accepted the vial. "Any side effects?"

This is where her expression turned sour immediately alerting Lincoln who quickly handed it back to her.

"I am that predictable?" She murmured to herself sighing at the end. "Well, the mizshhce that Lana caught for me quickly started exercising at alarming rates, tearing off theirsh enclosure before…dropping in a long and permanent nap" She held her hands to placate the scary expression that went through his face. "But…I am shure that a human heart can take it?"

"Jeez Louise don't you have I dunno, something more innocent like a death ray that blows Linc to a billion pieces braniac?" Lynn sarcastically said crossing her arms.

The genius quickly put the vial at her pocket with an angry grunt pulling another one. Squinting his eyes the white haired boy saw a piece of paper within it. Confused, he took the vial, pulling the cord and digging inside. Flipping the paper to the other side, his confusion grew at the message.

'Valid for one favor'

"….Uh…you lost me Lizz"

The short brown haired spectacle girl grinned smugly. "You mustsh know that even at the tender age of 5 I hold various PHD's. Various government agenchies have already offered me jobs within their ranks to sherve the world in need. It pays handsomely…and when I have my own research company in years from now, that paper givesh you a solid favor within my power to do as you wissh. Like all the comics that you want mailed to you or prank someone using the government and its assets. That, of course will take time but it will pay by itself when the time comessh"

"Right" Lincoln lifts an eyebrow entirely confused but pocketing the vial; she might had her quirks, as they say, the intention it's what counts and he was never going to reject them, whatever they were in need or comfort, he was always there for them. "Thanks Lisa"

"You are quite welcome Lincoln" Lisa smiles briefly walking back to the group.

The matriarch sighs in relief. "Well I guess that's everyone, it's time for the cake"

An angry gurgle resounds through her ears. Lily's small hands were extended to the birthday boy. Her eyes were scrunched in an angry manner, her tiny digits flexing towards him. Their mom sighed, Lynn especially rolled her eyes at having to spend more time standing there without any cake thanks to that poop factory.

"I guess she wants to gift you something too eh?" Rita cut the distance between the baby and her chuckling brother.

He took her between her arms, quickly she nestled her soft growing blonde locks on his face, giggling with happiness.

"Li-Li-Nghhh….poo poo" Horrified he quickly shoved her back to his mom.

"That's not a gift, it's a nightmare"

The baby giggled with amusement.

With a sigh, Lincoln slapped his hands together.

"Well, cake time"

With a chorus of agreements, the family, Bobby and Clyde sat down on the big table, his mom handing him the knife. As a tradition he had to make the first cut, steeling himself he brought the knife down swiftly cutting the layers all the way to the bottom. There was a white flash, looking away from the cake he smiled at the sight of his older sister Lori holding a polaroid camera, shaking the image that had been printed from within with a grin. Rita took over to slice the cake evenly, serving it with green gelatin sweetened with condensed milk.

Lincoln stared at the sight around the table. The happiness, the laughter and the smiles reminded him that he would grow up but he was glad he was still a child; it put into perspective why he would not care if he was still on the 'baby table' or the choirs that annoyed any child because it took time from their hard earned summer. In his short life he mused that he still had a lot to learn and experience, but as long as he was with his family and most trusted friends, he could face any obstacle. That is until due his distraction he felt his face dipping forward unto his cake. A deep harsh laughter made him sweep angrily to his left with pieces of chocolate stuck to his face and his hair made a green gelatin mess; his sporty sister clutching at her sides, bend over laughing hysterically.

"LYNNNNNNNNNNNN!"

A/N: Before we continue on the next chapter hopefully released very soon…this is not a war fic regardless of what you just read, they are necessary scenes to build the panorama that I have for this story, some people do not like them and that is ok; it is a medium sized period, so expect more, however not all of it while Lincoln is in the service about war, the motives why Lincoln is THERE in the first place will be naturally be revealed yet it is not the focus of the story, the focus is naturally surrounding the pairing. As always, constructive criticism is welcome, but I will be glad to read any reviews or PMs that readers send me, eager to answer whatever questions you may have as long as they do not reveal what I have planned. Cheers everyone.

D4rK.