( Lincoln Loud )
Lincoln made it home after leaving the grocery store. He hadn't gotten anything for dinner, he hoped that Lucy was alright with whatever they had in the kitchen. Then again, neither him, nor Lucy, was very picky when it came to eating. He went into the living room, sitting on the couch. From the sound above his head, he assumed Lucy, and the Mortician's Club were upstairs doing something. He didn't min d. He looked around. They had finally gotten everything they needed, and now it was in danger. If he didn't do this right. If he didn't handle this just right, they could lose it all, and each other.
His eyes fell on the phone that Lori had given him. Maybe Lori could help him out with this. Or one of the Loud Sisters. Between all nine of them, they had a vast knowledge. He picked up the cellphone, and looked through the contacts, wondering only slightly who, 'Bobby Boo Boo Bear' was. This had to have been one of Lori's old phone. He called Lori.
"Hello, Lincoln! It's literally such a nice surprise to hear from you." Lori's voice came over the phone.
"Thanks. Lori? Can... I need to talk to you, and your sisters, maybe your parents too. I'm not too sure." Lincoln sighed.
"What's wrong? I mean, yes. You can literally come by. I stopped by for dinner at the house. Are you free now?" She asked.
"Yes, I'll let Lucy know where I am going." Lincoln said getting up, and going up the stairs to let Lucy know.
…
Lincoln sat in Leni's room, that was once Lori, and Leni's room, All the older sisters, and Lisa were sitting either on the floor, or on various beds facing him. Lana, Lola, and Lily were not in the room. As they wouldn't understand the situation. This was what they called a 'Sister Meeting'. Lincoln explained the situation to the girls a few moments ago, and they seemed to be absorbing the information, or trying to think up what to say.
"Well, I say what you should do is, stand the lady up then pretend you forgot if you ever see her again." Lynn stood up putting her fist in the air as if she had scored a goal.
"Lincoln told her that he works at the restaurant, Lynn. So, she'll literally know where to find him, that won't work." Lori sighed putting her face in her palm.
"Oh," Lynn sat back down.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to. I was taken by surprised." Lincoln hung his head in shame. He didn't mean to say anything like that. "I mean, that she would come to live here, where Lucy and I ended up, what are the odds?"
"It's okay!" Leni got up from her bed and sat behind him on the floor pulling him into her lap, while he struggled. He had learned that Leni was affectionate though he had no clue how strong she was. "Linky is so honest. We can't be mad about that!"
Everyone put their faces in their palms.
"How about I get Chunk, and have a concert. Maybe if we rock hard enough, she'll forget?" Luna said, twirling a drumstick between her fingers.
"She cared for him and Lucy. While your music is powerful, it'll be hard to make her forget Lincoln, or Lucy." Lori said.
"Well, how about we trick her?" Lincoln looked up to Luan. She had this sinister look in her eyes, and a smirk. Something that he hadn't seen in this girl before. She was funny, and easygoing. Yeah, sometimes her jokes were over embellished. "Remember..."
"No!" Whatever Luan was about to say was cut off by all the girls.
"Fine." Luan huffed a little and looked around.
"Actually. Maybe we could trick her." Lisa started, "We could get someone to pose as Lincoln and Lucy's adoptive parents."
"But who could we get to pretend to be their parents, that we could trust?" Lori asked.
"I could be Lulu, and Linky's mom." Leni raised her hand high in the air.
"Someone of more advanced age," Lisa put her hand on her sister's shoulder. Leni pouted and just hugged him tighter.
"What about mom and dad?" Luan asked looking over to Lori.
"They do know about Lincoln and Lucy. And we do trust them." Lori said thoughtfully.
"Miss Parker might believe that." Lincoln looked up from his Leni cage.
"I could forge the necessary documents should it come to that." Lisa said, starting towards to the door. "I will go and get started on the paperwork,"
"I'm gonna go practice in my room, catch you later, Lincoln. " Lynn left through the door. "Let me know if I can help!"
"Time to go home, I guess. Gotta make sure Lucy gets dinner." Lincoln attempted to get up, only to have the hold from Leni to tighten.
"Leni, Lincoln has to go now." Leni tightened her grip yet again, Luan pulled out a pack of shiny buttons. "I need these put on my blue shirt. Who ever shall I get to do that."
"Me! Me me me!" Lincoln was almost tossed aside as Leni shot up to get the buttons. Fashion really was the girls passion. He knew that Leni was different. He wouldn't call her stupid, because she was not. Distractable? Yes, she was easily distracted. And anything fashion related usually did it.
"C'mon." Luan quietly took him out of the room, and out into the hallway. "Leni sure does like to cuddle. Luckily, she embraces fashion more than you. Get it? Embrace."
"Yes, we get it..." Lincoln heard a collective of sighs throughout the house.
"So, you can take some food back to the house with you, since it's getting late." Lori said following them out, with Luna not far behind.
"Oi, Leni gets in the groove with fashion. She's brilliant at it too." Luna not far behind. " But, cha'know, it's her jam, man. Look, little dude, wish I could have 'elped more. If ya need anything though. Feel free to ask me."
"Thanks, Luna." Lincoln smiled, he knew all the Loud sisters wanted to help him, but he also knew that not all of them would be able to.
"Rock on, lil bro." Luna went on into her room. "Don't forget to grab some grub."
"I..." he started but Luna had already disappeared into her room. He looked up to Lori. "I have food, thanks. I don't want to be ungrateful, because I appreciate everything you guys have done. But I don't want to keep taking from everyone."
"Dad made mac and cheese balls, to go with dinner. And everyone is crazy about those." Luan ruffled his hair. "Even Lisa, who usually only eats her nutrition paste stuff, because eating regular food is too time consuming, loves these things. And peanut butter sandwiches, but none of us seem to do it right."
"She's just picky, don't worry about it, Luan." Lori patted her sister's shoulder. "But at least take some mac and cheese balls with you. Dad literally makes a LOT of them."
…
Lincoln was nervous about this meeting. He had about fifteen minutes before Miss Parker got there. All Luan had told him that they had it covered. He wasn't sure what that had meant. Luan had always seemed completely normal, except for the pun loving nature. But the look in her eyes at the thought of tricking someone, had him just a tab bit worries.
Lucy hadn't made it there yet, Luna was bringing Lucy to the restaurant. Lucy would have come with him to work, and would have been content to find a dark booth to read, while they waited for Amy to arrive. Though, the other sisters had different plans for Lucy. He didn't know what it was, neither did Lucy. Every thing had worked out well so far.
Lincoln had decided to work that morning to make a little more money. One day's wages didn't seem like much. But if things went sideways he had enough to get him and Lucy away if need be. He had managed to get him and Lucy here with a lot less. Even if they managed to get away with it today, there was always tomorrow.
"Lincoln!" Becky's voice caused him to jump a little. As he looked up to the lady.
"Miss... I mean, Becky, Hello." Lincoln wasn't sure what to say, he looked around, hoping one of the Loud sisters would be near that could help. Or that Lucy had arrived. Though at the moment, he couldn't see anyone.
"Y'know, I actually know the owners of this place." Becky said as she sat across from Lincoln in the booth. "I went to school with some of the Loud sisters. Speaking of sisters, where's Lucy?"
"Oh, she's on her way. Luna is bringing her, Oh, she's one of..." Lincoln started.
"Luna Loud? Oh, I know her. Everyone knows Luna Loud, the hardest rocker in Royal Woods." Becky finished. "Did you meet her here? Since you help out here?"
"She's Um..." Lincoln was thinking as fast as he could. And coming up short.
"Dude! I know you!" Luna's gravely voice makes it to his ear, causing Lincoln to look up, and Becky to look over to Luna. "You're Lori's friend."
"Luna! Hey, I was just sitting here with a boy that used to be in the orphanage I worked at, waiting for... Oh yeah. You're bringing Lucy!" Becky had stood up to greet Luna.
"Miss Parker. This is a dreary surprise. Lincoln had told me that he had stumbled upon you, but it is still such a surprise to see you." Lucy had finally appeared around the corner, followed by a couple of the Loud sisters who looked worse for wear. Lucy didn't seemed to be rumpled.
Leni came in with her arm bandaged, much thicker than any doctor would bandage it, it was almost done comically exaggerated. Leni, the usually more mellow of the sisters seemed to watch Lucy wearily.
"What happened." Lincoln asked looking at the sisters, and to his sister.
"Well, I explained rationally, that I did not..." Lucy was interrupted by Leni who rushed over and clung to Lincoln's arm.
"She bit me, Lincoln!" Leni was almost in tears, where she hadn't even looked sad before, maybe weary. Then he looked at his sister, then to Leni, then to the rumpled sisters.
"You tried to take her black clothes away, didn't you?" Becky asked, looking bemused. Lincoln sighed looking to Lucy, who was looking away. And a bunch of surprised looks from Lola, Luna, and Lana. Lincoln was sure Leni would also be surprised if she wasn't currently hiding behind him, which didn't do much good, as she was quite a bit taller than him. "She did that when she was little too. Lincoln was the only one that could persuade Lucy into things."
"I told them no." Lucy said flatly.
"You're too old to be biting." Lincoln said softly.
"It is very effective though." Lucy countered.
…
Time passed while the Loud Sisters, and Miss Parker talked. Catching up on everything from the last few years. Which seemingly kept Miss Parker distracted her from questioning him, and or Lucy. Every now and again, she would ask something of Lucy and himself. But since the Loud sisters were old friends, instead of old wards, they had more in common, but all things must end.
"So, Lincoln. Weren't your new parents supposed to join us?" Becky finally asked the question he had been dreading.
"Well, Dadster is in the kitchen. Mum's at work." Luna jumpped in, just as Luan returned to the table after finishing showing customers to a table.
"Lincoln didn't tell you?" Luan asked sitting down where she could still see the front counter in case she was needed.
"I don't... wait you mean?" Becky looked around.
"Yep, Lincoln and Lucy are our adopted brother and sister." Lana jumped in her mouth full of food.
"Ugh, Lana, at least finish chewing and swallow before you talk." Lola looked to the table in shame.
"But, I wanted to explain..."
"Linky and Lulu is family!" Leni seemed so happy as she hugged Lincoln, and Lucy, though still keeping anything away from Lucy's mouth.
"Lincoln has mentioned you a lot, I guess I should have figured it out." Becky started.
"Becky?" Lori had shown up, later than anticipated, but she may have ran into trouble at work.
"Hey, Lori." Becky said getting up and hugging Lori.
"You were the orphanage lady?" Lori asked, seeming confused.
"Orphanage lady? That makes me feel like I'm old." Beck chuckled.