Hey, everyone. A delay, again. But as you can see it is because this chapter got a bit longer as usual. It just got on and on and on. I couldn't find the right spot to stop. But finally, here it is. Just one last thing. I have made a tiny, little change. So The Darkness is now referring to herself as 'us' instead of 'me'. Just that you know and not get confused. If you don't know what I'm talking about then I have altered it in the older chapters. That's all, so have fun with this chapter.

Disclaimer: The Loud House belongs to Nickelodeon.

Chapter 19

Hello darkness, my old friend

Lincoln observed his surroundings. He was floating in pure nothingness as a feminine figure comes out of nowhere and startled him.

"It's you," Lincoln said after he has calm down after this little jump scare. And again it felt so familiar with her.

"Long time not seen, my dear," the young woman greeted him. She gave him a soft and warm smile.

"Yeah, it's been a while."

"Why have you avoided us?"

"Because I don't need you anymore."

That makes her laugh. "You don't need us? Oh, Linky. Oh sweet, sweet, Linky. Of course, you need us. More than you thought. And you want us. Deep down in your heart, you already know that you wanted us right from the beginning."

"No, I don't need darkness in my heart. What I need and what I want is my family. My parents, who always loves and supports me, and all my great sisters."

Lincoln tried to get away from her but to no use. She can easily appear in front of him.

"Lincoln," she said in a warm tone as she lays her hands on his cheeks. "What you say only proves my point. Didn't you see it? Look closer, Linky." She comes closer to his face, but before she can kiss him he awakes from his slumber.

Lincoln observed his surroundings. He founds himself in the middle of the sleepover he had with his sisters. As he hears a yawn he looked to little Lily who was snuggling at him. As his body has risen up he must have woken her.

"Sorry, Lily. Didn't want to wake you up," he apologized at her.

"Good morning, Linky," she said sleepily while rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "How did you sleep?"

Lincoln smiled at her. Everyone would be grumpy getting up so soon. But not Lily. She always is nice and full of energy.

"I have slept very well, thanks to all of you. And you, my little angel?"

Lily snuggled closer at her brother. She always is happy when someone calls her that. But she absolutely loves it when Lincoln is calling her his angel.

"I had the best sleep in my life. I wish I could always sleep with my cool and great big brother."

"Aw, thank you, Lily. You're also a cool and great little sister." Lincoln laid an arm around her and both are laying back. It still is too early in the morning to stand up. Even their parents aren't up yet.

"Linky? Did you had a bad dream again?" Lily asks worriedly.

"Huh? How did you come to this idea?"

"You had risen up so quick what had woke me. Isn't this a sign for waking from a bad dream?"

Seriously, this little girl is way smarter as she should be. Must be Lisa's influence. Or a result of one of her experiments? Hopefully not.

"I... I had a strange dream. It wasn't a bad one. Just one I didn't fully understand, that's all," Lincoln told her, to calm her.

"Maybe I can help you figuring it out?"

Lincoln chuckled. "That is sweet of you. But I think I will figure it out on my own sooner or later."

"Okay, but the offer still stands," she said and rested her head on his chest. He strokes softly through her blond hair.

One by one is waking up. They had brought their sleep bags back to their rooms and then made ready for the day.

Since Lily was the first one already finished, because like the rest she hadn't to bring her stuff back, she is making breakfast with Lynn's help, who was the second in the bath.

Lynn Sr. and Rita was the first one who had got their breakfast because they have to go to work.

As the rest had finished they all sit at the table and eating.

"So," Lori began to speak. "What are your plans for the day?"

"We want to play with Lincoln in the backyard," Lola and Lana saying happily in unison.

"Well, too bad, but Lincoln will spend time with me. He has to become fit again and I will gladly help him with it," Lynn told her two younger siblings.

"I don't want to disappoint you dude, but Lincoln and I will rock in the garage," it came from Luna.

Than Lucy intervenes in her typical monotone voice, "I do believe he is spending his time with me to express his thoughts out in poetry to get it off of his tortured soul."

And so nearly all of his sisters are arguing with each other about with whom he will spend time. This had made him annoyed. He clenched his teeth and his fists trembled. He tried to not yell at everyone. It comes to a halt as Lori is coughing loudly to stop the wild mess which is her sisters.

"All right, guys, I know we all want to spend literally a lot of time with our great brother. But I literally think it should be his decision which whom he will spend time. Aren't you all agreeing with it?" The last part Lori said more threatening at her sisters. All are nodding to her satisfaction in agreement.

Lori looked at Lincoln, "Good, so thins this is settled down, with whom you want to spend time, Linky?"

He is looking at his sisters. He doesn't feel like doing something particular, so it was hard to choose one of them. Then he remembered that he had to go to Dr. Lopez again to tell her that he will use her service. And since he felt better when Clyde was with him there so he also could spend time with him too.

"Eh, I hope you all aren't disappointed, but I think I'll spend some time with Clyde. Since all this started I hadn't spent much time with him in this vacations."

"Don't worry, Linky. We all understand it. Just have a good time with him, all right?" Lori tells him soft and kindly.

"Thank you, Lori. I'll make it up to all of you again. I promise."

After Lincoln and Clyde coming out of Dr. Lopez practice, they decided to go to the arcade and play some games.

"You know, I'm glad that your folks help you with all of it and that your dad will pay for your sessions with Dr. Lopez," the young boy with glasses and an Afro says.

"Yeah me too. My sisters and I also had last night a big sleepover in the living room. It was really nice."

"A sleepover? That is a cool idea. Wish I had could be there too. I would lay right next to Lori," Clyde said in a loving tone and nearly fainted.

Lincoln, annoyed like always about his best friend falling in love with one of his sisters was taking advantage of it and beaten Clyde's character in the fighting game they were playing.

"Hey that was unfair," protested Clyde.

"Hey, not my fault that you still fainted when you think about my older sister. Maybe we should play a coop game instead," Lincoln defended his action.

"Yeah, sounds like a good idea to me."

Both are playing some more games while joking and laughing. You could say they have a blast of a time.

After something that felt like two hours, they stopped playing, grabbed themselves a nice drink and sitting outside on a bench.

"Ah, that's life, isn't it, Clyde?" said Lincoln satisfied as he let himself fall butt first on the bench.

"Yeah, it truly is. I'm happy that you are more of your old you again."

"Me too. But I must confess that I miss a bit my dark style. I really had liked it."

"To be completely honest with you. It wasn't that bad. Unusual, but not bad at all. But in my opinion, your old style still is the best and suits you way more than everything else."

"Have I at one point told you why I wear orange all the time?"

"Yeah, it is because Leni had said that it fits you so good. If I had a nice sister like her who said something like this to me I think I also would wear always the same."

"Well, you haven't a sister like her but you have a brother and he thinks that your shirt is fitting you also as well."

"Really? Who is my brother?" Clyde asks obliviously about the obvious thing.

Lincoln frowned. "I was meaning myself, Clyde. I'm your bro or have you forget it?"

"Oh, yeah, right. Sorry, bro. And thank you for your kind words."

"Anytime, buddy."

Meanwhile in Lori and Leni's room.

"All right, guys. It's literally time to set some rules," said Lori at the group in front of her.

"Rules? What for rules?" asks Lola.

"And why?" added Lana.

"Maybe no one of you had noticed it, but your little fight at the table was too much for Lincoln. I think he had literally held himself back to not yell at us again. We have to give him some free space," Lori explained to everyone, especially at the one that had the fight this morning.

"Oh," it came in unison from all and they all looked down in shame.

"So we have literally to make some rules to prevent this from happening again."

Lori turned a chalkboard which she had borrowed from Lisa. On it stands some rules.

"First rule. No fighting in front of Lincoln. This counts especially for you two," Lori looked at Lola and Lana.

"Wha—We don't fight that much!" both saying defending at the same time.

"Yes you do," it came from everyone except Lily.

Lori coughs to get the attention back. "Second rule. No one of us is claiming Lincoln for himself. It will always be his decision with whom of us he wants to spend time."

Lucy raises her arm to get permission to say something.

Lori pointed at her, "Yeah, what is it, Lucy?"

"We all know Lincoln. When he has to choose one of us he will never be able to do it. He always tries to give us the same amount of attention."

All are noting to Lucy's statement.

"That is literally true. So I have made a simple schedule where everyone gets a day for himself and Linky."

"Let me guess. As the oldest one you get the first day with him then Leni and so on," Luna said to Lori. It was always this way.

"Normally I would do that, yeah. But I had to think about it. And I believe this time we should mix this a bit."

"What do you mean by 'mix it a bit'?" Lisa questioned Lori's choice of words.

"I mean that we don't make it from oldest to youngest or otherwise. But both of it. One day he spends time with one of the younger ones and the next with one of the older."

"That sounds surprisingly clever. Also considering it came from you," Lisa said surprised about it.

"Have you said I'm dumb?!" Lori hisses at Lisa.

"I just said that this is a very good idea."

"Sure. Anyways. The schedule is pretty easy. First will be Lily, then me, then Lisa, Leni and so on. But it doesn't mean that you have to. If you have something important to do, Lincoln wants to spend time with someone else or wish to be a bit alone we can swap. Also if he wishes or you already do something with someone of us, the two or three of you can spend time with Lincoln. Have anyone still a question about the schedule?"

Leni had raised her arm, but Lori could already guess that she has to repeat everything to her. So she told her that she will do it after everything is finished.

"Third rule. At least one of us should be always at home and have their phone with him in case something happen to Lincoln again. I don't want to think about it, but we should be prepared for everything. Lincoln still has his problems."

Everyone didn't like this thought, but they all know that Lincoln still need help. And they are ready to help him. No matter what.

"And the fours and last rule. He will sleep every night with one of us together. It was only two nights so far. But it was two nights in a row. So far it looks like he only can sleep well when he is with one of us. Is everyone okay with this rule?"

"Of course sis," it came from Luna.

"You can bet on it that I'm okay with it," said Lynn.

"Oh, I would love to," Lola said dreamily.

"Yeah, sleepovers with Linky is fun," squealed Lily.

And all the others also give their okays to it. Also Lisa, who still isn't much for it, but wants to help her brother as well like the rest of them.

As Lincoln was back home, he was going to his room. He wanted some times for himself. Mostly to think about his dream.

"Why is she coming back? Why now? I finally start to get the control back. I don't want to fall for The Darkness again. But then again, why does it feel so familiar with her? And what does she mean with I wanted her right from the beginning?"

Lincoln thought back and tried to see her form in front of his inner eyes.

"Something about her reminded me about someone. But why and more importantly who? I should remember if I had seen someone like her."

A knocking at his door took him out of his thoughts. "Come in," Lincoln said.

The door opens and Lori comes into his room. "Hey, Lincoln. I wanted to tell you something the others and I had decided."

Lincoln looked curious about what Lori was meaning. She told him everything about the rules they had settled down and that he can if he wants, sleep every night together with one of his sisters.

It still embarrassed him to sleep in their beds like a little kid just because of some bad dreams. But so far it had helped him and he didn't want to have something like this one day ever again.

"I understand. Thank you for your help and that all," Lincoln said warmly to his oldest sister.

"No need to thank us, Linky. It is pure natural that we will help you with this. We're family, we will stand this together till the bitter end."

"I'll never understand how I could ever stop believing that you love me."

"Oh don't worry. If this all is over and you're better again, we will remind you about making this up again," Lori said teasingly.

Lincoln could say that she just is joking. But he decided to take it seriously and that he will one made up to it.

"Eh, Lori. Can you do me a favor and sent Lucy to me?" Lincoln said before Lori was leaving his room again.

"Sure, will do that. If I find her," Lori said while scratching the back of her head and is going to look for Lucy. Lincoln chuckled about it and then heard something from his vent.

Lucy is climbing out of it and brush off the dust from her short dress. "You do not have to look for me, my dear brother." It was surprising that she still fits in the vents.

"I should Lori say that you are here," Lincoln mentioned.

"Oh, just let it be. It would be funny, letting her search for me and then finding me here," Lucy said and gives Lincoln a wide toothy grin.

"You have a strange sense of humor," Lincoln mentioned while raising an eyebrow.

"Anyways, you wanted something from me?"

"Yeah, but first. Were you spying at me again?"

"N-no. I just was there for—" Lucy stammered.

"It's okay, Lucy. I will not yell at you again. You just wanted to look that everything is okay with me, that I haven't a relapse. Am I right?"

"Sigh. You are right." Lucy looked defeated at the ground.

"I understand that you still are worried about me and I'm happy that you're looking after me," Lincoln said softly as he takes her into an embrace.

Lucy got red and couldn't manage to say something. She just felt something she thought she would never ever feel in her life. She was purely happy.

As Lincoln separated from her again he looked at her. "I hope you can help me with my dream I had last night."

"You mean the one that you could not figure out?" She still looked down because she was afraid that he could see her blush.

"You have heard me and Lily?"

"Yes. I also was awake, but did not want to disturb your and Lily's cute little moment."

"Thanks, I guess."

"So, tell me about this dream."

"Well, to be honest, there isn't that much to tell. I was floating into pure nothingness than this woman showed up. It was The Darkness. For some reason that I don't understand she looked familiar to me but I can't say where I could have seen her before."

"Hm, can you describe her to me?" Lucy asked suspiciously curious.

"She is very tall, slim and somehow elegant. She has long, dark-blond hair what is made into a ponytail. Her skin is pale like yours but also with freckles. She also has a bit of a six-pack I think."

Lucy was thinking, trying to paint the picture Lincoln was describing in front of her inner eyes.

"Sigh. I am sorry but also I can not remember seeing someone like this. But you are right. It does sound in some way familiar."

"See? I told you. Too bad that you also can't help me. Hm, maybe Haiku has an idea."

"I can contact her and ask her if she has time for us."

"Thank you, Luce."

As said had Lucy called Haiku. To their luck, she had time for them. So both were again in the familiar place called The Black Coffee.

Lincoln had changed back to his more darker style. He wants to be his old one, but in some way, it hurts his eyes to see those lighter clothes all the time. Also, he had spent so much on those new clothes that it would be bad to not wear them now and then.

"Hello, Lucy and oh what are my eyes seeing here? Lincoln, you are back at your goth attire?" greeted Haiku both of them, seemingly glad about Lincoln's choice of clothes.

"Hey Haiku. You know that I have changed back to my old style?" asks Lincoln surprised.

"Yes, Lucy had told me about your condition and everything. I hope it is okay that I know about it," explained Haiku afraid that Lincoln could have a problem that others know about his depression.

"Yeah, yeah. It still is strange to me. But I think it is good that you know. Had Lucy told you everything?"

"Yes, I have. Also what had happened in the bathroom," told him, Lucy. Not sure if it was a good idea to tell her best friend everything without Lincoln's permission.

"It's okay, Lucy. Makes this all a bit easier now."

Lucy and Haiku got relaxed as Lincoln told them that he was okay with it.

"Good. So how can I help you? Lucy said something about a woman in your dream." Haiku tried to get the focus on the reason they were there for.

"Yeah. I think that she is The Darkness whom I had let into my heart as I was with Isaac. The thing is that it felt so familiar with her."

Lincoln told her everything he had told Lucy before.

"Hm. This is an odd description for a person. It sounds more like you have mixed several persons into one," Haiku suggested.

"Several persons mixed into one? Huh, hadn't thought about that before. But then, which persons?"

"Only you can answer that. Since The Darkness will take shape of what your heart is desiring, only you can say who those people can be."

"Do you have chosen what you want to order?" a bored voice was asking.

Lincoln was turning around to look who was asking as he saw the red hair. "Isaac."

"Oh, hey little fella. How is ya going? Hadn't recognized you. I'm still used to your black hair."

While Lincoln was more chilled about seeing Isaac again, glared Lucy and Haiku at him. Well, he assumed that was what the former one was doing since he couldn't see her eyes.

"Huh, looks like I'm still not popular with these two ladies," Isaac said with a slight chuckle.

"Well, I'm doing fine so far. Thanks to my awesome sisters. I also go to a therapist to get some help with my, well you know," Lincoln told him.

"Good to hear that you're doing well. Also nice to see you back in black," Isaac said and winked at Lincoln.

"Eh... Y-yeah. I thought I will fit better in here with it," Lincoln said, not sure how to interpret this wink.

"You do, Lincoln. And not only do you fit in her very well. The clothes self fits you also as well," Haiku praises Lincoln, who is becoming red.

Wait, is Haiku flirting with Lincoln? No, it can not be. She has her beloved one. She would never betray him. Or would she? Thought Lucy to herself.

"Well, anyways. Do you want something? Lavender-tea again for you or a glass of water?" Isaac asks.

"Yeah, I think I'll take tea. And you Lucy?"

"Huh? Oh eh. I will also take a cup of tea, please," Lucy stammered.

Haiku takes the last sip of her cup. "I also will take another tea, please."

"Alrighty then. Three cups of tea." Isaac takes Haiku's cup and is going.

"Maybe he also can help me with that. He was the one who had brought me to The Darkness after all," Lincoln mumble at himself.

"I am not quite sure about it, Lincoln. Your depression had shown more drastically after you had spent time with him and his group," Lucy said quietly to him.

"Really? Hadn't noticed it really." Lincoln scratched his chin. "But you were the one who had seen it in the first place. So you know what you are saying. But I don't believe that Isaac had something with it to do. He isn't that bad."

"Not anything is how it looks on the outside, Lincoln. Especially danger is something that shows his true face only when it is too late," Haiku told him.

"I understand. I know you two are just worried about me. But my tummy says to me that he is okay. If I should be wrong you are near me. I won't be alone with him, okay?"

Both girls are nodding at him. As Isaac had brought them their tea had Lincoln asked him if they can talk after his shift was over.

Even after Lincoln's words, didn't like Lucy the idea of him talking with the red-haired guy. He still was a mystery to them, he was giving Lincoln free too easily without a reason. And Lucy believed that Lincoln's faster sinking into his depression had something to do with the young man. With other words, she trusted him not one single bit.

"Isn't that so, Lucy?" said Lincoln. Those words drag her out of her thoughts.

"Huh? What had you said, Lincoln?" asked Lucy to get the context.

"I had told Haiku that you had written a lot of poems in the last time," he repeated at her.

"Oh. Oh yes, I did. I had a very creative period the last time."

"This is not that surprising, knowing about the last events you two were going through. You have gone through a lot of emotions and nothing is better fuel for the inner fire of writing inspiration as strong emotions," Haiku explained to them.

"And how are you doing so far?" Lincoln was asking the elegant girl.

"To be fully honest, it could be better. I am facing a really frustrating blockade. Even my beloved one cannot give me inspiration as usual."

"That sounds tough. I wish I could help you. But even after you two had said that my poem wasn't that bad. I still think Lucy would be a better help than me."

"Do not make yourself smaller as you are. Lucy always said what a great help you are and how much she appreciates your help with her poems."

"Really?" Lincoln asks surprised and looked at Lucy who was blushing enough that even Lincoln was noticing it.

"So, maybe you can help me too," Haiku added.

"Well, I'm glad when I can help my friends."

After more talk about poetry, the emptiness of life and the typical topics from Lucy and Haiku had Isaac ended his shift and was in the good old corner of the cafe for the talk with Lincoln.

Haiku and Lucy still had their eyes on them just in case.

"All right, snow white. What can old me do for you?" Isaac said in his typical nonchalantly way.

"God, you didn't know how much I envy you. You still don't have a single care in this world."

"So this thing with you having depression wasn't just a bad joke."

Lincoln could swear that Isaac's look at him had changed for a split of a second. But maybe he just had imagined it.

"Too bad for me, but it is true. And it isn't easy. I'm still afraid that I might scream at one of my sisters again or even worst."

"Well, I had hoped that The Darkness would help you with your problem. But this way isn't for everyone."

"Yeah, I have figured this out on my own. But speaking of. She is the reason I want to speak to you."

Issac is leaning forward to listen carefully. "I'm all ears, little fella."

Lincoln told him about his dream. The way she looked to him, the things she had said to him.

"My friend had suggested that she may be a combination of different persons, but I'm still couldn't figure out who. I had hoped you had an idea since you know so much about The Darkness."

Isaac leaned back again, scratching his chin and was thinking. "Hm, I think you should focus more on her words."

"Her words? What do you mean?"

"You had said to her that you didn't need her because you have your sister, right?" Isaac asked for confirmation.

"Yeah, something like that."

"What she gave as a response is what aroused my interest."

"Her response?" Lincoln asked not getting the point.

"She had said that your words only proves her point of needing her. I don't know your sisters, but maybe the form which The Darkness had chosen is a combination of your sisters."

It took some seconds for Lincoln to realize what Isaac had suggested and with that, his eyes become wide as plates.

"My, my sisters?"

As always, tell me what you think about it. Only with your help I can become better and so my story.

Stay tuned and have a great day.