Luan trudged along the sidewalk. Everything around her was a gray haze and all the sounds indistinct. She went into Flip's Food and Fuel for a snack to shut her stomach up. She didn't even pick. She just grabbed something off the shelf where the food was. As she approached the counter, two big men cut her off. The haze lifted slightly as she heard them.

"Wait," Flip said in confusion. "Pay day is next week!"

"Mr. Giuseppe has some big projects coming up," said one of the men, "so he had to move up pay day so he can focus entirely on them. Though we're just letting you know. You have three days."

Flip smiled. "That's no problem. You guys know I'm good for it. I always pay up. Even give all you boys special discounts."

"That reminds me," one the men said as he turned to look around. He saw Luan and frowned. "What are you looking at?" he growled.

"Nothing," she replied, though it came out as "Nugh."

The man grabbed her by her shirt and lifted her off her feet. "What did you say?" he asked as he glared at her

"Don't mind her," Flip told him with a strangely concerned expression. "Poor kid's just stuck in her own little world."

"Say," the other man said in curiosity, "she looks familiar…"

The thuggish duo looked her over. Luan started to tremble at what was coming next.

"Yeah," the man who's recognized her said. "That's the girl from the news a while back. The Last Loud."

Luan didn't have the strength to cry out loud, but the tears streamed down her face. She had wanted to be known for being a great comedian and entertainer. Now she'd be known for something horrible.

"What are you assholes doing to her?!" a new voice said sternly.

Though her tears Luan saw Luna's friend, Sam.

"She's suffered enough," Sam told the goon as she glared at him and stepped toward him. "Just leave her alone."

Sam and the thug glared at each other. Each one looked ready to spring in action.

"Look, look!" Flip said, trying to defuse the situation. "Let's not make a fuss. Just put the kid down and let her be. I'll throw in some free Flippys!"

There was a pause, then Luan dropped to the floor as the goon let her go. Sam rushed to her side to help her up and take her outside.

"Damn Giuseppe thugs," Sam remarked. "It's bad enough they're ruining this town without hurting you." Her expression softened as she hugged Luan. Luan felt some warmth go through her. She put her arms around Sam as she continued to cry. Sam backed up to smile and wipe her tears away. Before she could say anything, Luan's stomach growled. She'd dropped her snack at Flip's.

"Let's got to my place to get you something to eat," Sam told her with a warm smile. "And where are you staying tonight?"

"Uh dunnuh," Luan replied.

"Well, you can stay with us tonight."

Luan just nodded.

Sam called them a taxi to take to the Sharps'. The taxi driver looked back at them in curiosity.

"Say," he said to Luan, "don't I know you from somewhere? You look familiar."

"She gets that a lot," Sam told him.

They arrived at the Sharps' and went inside. Luan wasn't even sure what Sam bought her to eat. She didn't even taste it. But it quieted her stomach. Sam put her on the couch.

"Would you like to watch some TV? Maybe the comedy channel or find some old sitcoms?"

"No," Luan said with some oomph in her voice as she closed her eyes. The comedies and sitcoms she's once loved were now torture to her. Laughter had been her entire life. Now it was gone, like everything else she'd loved.

Sam's expression became sadder as she cradled Luan's face. "Okay. Then you can just lie here for a while until supper, okay?"

Luan nodded. She lay down and covered herself with the blanket Sam bought her. A few minutes later she got off the couch and got behind it, curling up and covering herself with the blanket. She didn't want to be in the way of anyone who needed the couch. Sure enough, the sound of children's voices signaled that Sam's brother Simon and his friends were there. The she tuned them out as they played, watched TV, and worst of all, laughed. Her hearing became more acute when she heard her name.

"Where's Luan?" Sam asked.

"Luan?" Simon asked. "You mean Luan Loud?"

"The las—" another kid started to say.

"Please don't call her that," Sam said, scolding them. "She has to hate that. She doesn't need any or reminders of…what happened. And she's staying for the night."

"Aw man!" Simon whined. "Ya know I don't know how to act around her."

"Act natural," Sam told him, "and be as nice as you can. That's what she needs the most."

"Why are you helping her?" one of Simon's friends asked. "I thought it was her sister you friends with."

"I'll admit that's part of it." Sam's voice became sadder. "Luna was a great friend, and a really great musician. She could've—" Sam stopped her as some more emotion creeped into her voice. "Besides, I hate seeing Luan like that. Her puns could be annoying and her pranks could be bad, but it…it hurts seeing someone who was so vibrant and lively be…like this." There was a pause. "I can't even begin to imagine what it must've felt like. And I don't want to. If I'd come home and found you, Mom and Dad…I have no idea what I'd do. So she needs all the support she can get."

"Okay," Simon and his friends said with uncertainty.

Luan heard Sam leave.

"Uh, should we leave?" some of Simon's friends asked.

"Yeah," Simon replied. "I don't wanna be around Luan any more than I have to be. I mean, I feel sorry for her, but she's still a total downer. Kind of creepy too."

"Hey," the other boy said, "Sam's right. You try seeing THAT, and see what it does to you."

Luan didn't get to hear the rest as they left. Though it wasn't long after that that Sam's parents and someone else came into the living room.

"—not in trouble," the voice of a young man said. "Dad's just having to rearrange his schedule and had to bump payments up. Sorry, but something had to be rearranged and collections seemed easy. At least we're giving you a head's up."

"But we won't have the money in three days," Mr. Sharp said in concern. Even fear.

"Couldn't we get an extension to make up for it?" Mrs. Sharp asked pleadingly.

"I'll talk to Dad and see what I can do," the young man told them. "You have been model clients. You pay up on time or earlier, so we can probably make a deal of some kind. Heck, you're even almost done paying off your debt. That's worth something."

"Oh," Mr. Sharp said, "thank you Mr. Giuseppe!

"Please, Mr. Giuseppe is my dad. I'm Ron. Though let's make this clear: no matter what happens, you better pull through."

"Yes, sir!" Mr. Sharp replied.

"Oh, and another thing: earlier today your daughter gave some of our boys some attitude. We really don't like it when people give our boys attitude."

"W-We'll have a talk with her," Mrs. Sharp told him.

There was a pause. Ron must've been giving them a look for effect. "You better. Because the things went VERY badly for last people who gave us trouble. We had to eliminate the entire family."

Luan's attention went up and she felt some energy go through her. Ron dropped his voice, but she could still hear him.

"I killed twelve people in under half an hour. So four of you shouldn't a problem…"

"Wait…" Mrs. Sharp said in a mix of realization and horror. "Are you talking about the Lou—"

"Oh," Ron replied. "I'm not saying that. I'm just giving you fair warning about what happens to those who displease or defy us. More than those poor bastards and bitches got. So tell your daughter to watch her mouth, and be sure to pay up as soon as possible. You'll be hearing from us soon."

He left. Mrs. Sharp started to cry.

"What are we going—"

Luan didn't stay to hear the conversation. She quietly left the living room and Sharp home. For the first time in a long time she felt more energetic. More focused. An urge to do something. She looked around and saw Ron getting into a shiny, expensive car with two other men. Her mind raced as she noted the way it was facing and where it could be going. Keeping out of sight of the people in it, she ran ahead of it for a short distance. She constantly looked back to where it was. She also looked for something, anything, she could put in the roa—an empty beer bottle. Excellent!

She felt a tingling as her facial muscles as her lips curled up. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she was…smiling.

She heard the engine and saw the car in the distance. She ran across the road, slowing down enough to lay the bottle in a good place. Then she watched from the other side in the shadows waiting.

The loud pop of the tire as it ran over the bottle was one of the most beautiful sounds she'd ever heard. The car spun around in the road, then came to a stop. She'd hoped it would crash, but oh well. Ron and the other men got out. Ron's livid face made Luan's smile grow. She would've like to have watched as he swore and his friends/lackeys tried to calm him down, but she had to leave. She felt a sensation in her chest and throat and had to get away before he heard her. She frantically looked around for somewhere private as she ran, even as she let out some snorts.

She found a big yard, went over the fence, fell down on her knees, and laughed. Laughed loud and hard. Laughed so much she shook, tears of laughter streamed down her face, her sides hurt, and her throat became dry. She didn't care. This…this was the wonderful feeling she'd had most of her life that she thought she'd never experience again.

"Are you all right, my child?" a raised voice asked over the laughter.

She stopped to look up to see a priest standing over her with a very concerned expression. It was then she realized she in a churchyard.

"Actually, Sir" she told him as she wiped her tears away, "I feel the best I have in a very long time." Her thoughts started to arrange the words. "I was feeling so TIRED and DEFLATED all the time. Now I'm having a laughter BLOWOUT!" she laughed some more. God, how she'd missed puns! Though the reverend didn't seem to notice.

"T-That's very nice," he said with a kind smile, though a little confused.

He was nice enough to stay as she finished. He seemed like a kind man. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Well…now that you mention it, could I please use your bathroom? I'm this close to wetting myself. Something to drink would be nice too."

He let her inside and she rushed to the bathroom. He had a cup of water waiting for her when she came out.

"Thank," she told him with a grateful smile. "Now I need to be getting back. The family I'm staying with must be getting worried."

"Would you like to me give you a lift?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No thanks. It's not too far."

As she made her way back to the Sharps she felt like a weight had been lifted off of her. All this time she'd been wallowing in despair when she should've been taking action. The gray haze she'd been in was fading. Now she a purpose. A mission…

She quietly went into the Sharp house to hear yelling.

"…ere bullying her!" Sam shouted. "They probably would've hurt her! I wasn't going to stand for it. Not after all she's been through."

"Normally that would be fine, honey," Mrs. Sharp told her, "if had had been anyone but someone working for the Giuseppes we'd be proud of you. But—"

"Every scumbag in this town works for the Giuseppes!" Sam retorted. "That's why they call it 'organized' crime."

"Sam, please!" Mr. Sharp said with some fear in his voice.

"It's not like they have our house bugged," Sam replied with a snort. "Besides, everyone knows that's what they really are. They're ruining Royal Woods and no one's doing anything about it. Hell, I think some of the cops are in on it. Though what matters is that Luan needed help." She sniffled. "She still needs it. She lost…everything…It has to be so horrible. I wish there was something—anything—to help her." Her voice started to crack. "And…and…and I really miss Luna too…" She tried to keep herself from crying.

Luan quietly went outside, then came back opening the door louder. "Hello?" she called out.

The conversation in the other room stopped as Sam came to greet her with a concerned expression.

"Where have you been?" she asked in concern.

"I'm sorry," Luan replied. "I didn't want to bring things down and went for a walk to clear my head. It finally worked. I had an eppy—epipip—"

"Epiphany?" Mr. Sharp asked.

Luan nodded. "Yeah, one of those. It finally hit me…my family wouldn't want me to live like this. Well…maybe Lucy, but even she'd have her limits. They're all gone…but I'm still here. I need to live my life. I owe it to them carry on."

Sam's eyes were shining as she hugged Luan. "That's wonderful, Luan!"

"Thank you," Luan replied as she hugged the other girl. "For everything. You, the McBrides, the Santiagos, Pop-Pop, Aunt Ruth, even Mr. Grouse. You've all been taking turns taking care of me. You don't even have to as much as the others. Our families weren't that close, but you still see about me when you can. You have to miss Luna dearly too."

Sam nodded as her eyes misted.

"You, Clyde, Margo, little Darcy, Bobby, Ronnie Anne…you all lost someone you care about too. We need to help each other share this burden."

Some tears ran down Sam's face, though she was smiling. She hugged Luan again, stronger this time. Then Luan's stomach growled. There was a pause, then they laughed.

Sam turned to her parents. "Hey—"

"On it!" her father told her as they went into the kitchen.

Later, as Luan helped Mrs. Sharp set the table.

"…Luan?" the older woman said.

"Yes Ma'am?"

Luan could see it on her face. She wanted to tell her what Ron had told her. To let her know the truth about what happened. It quickly changed.

"I'm glad you're feeling better."

"Thanks. So am I."

Later that night as she lay in bed, Luan's mind went through several scenarios for her next move. Ron Giuseppe would pay for what he did her family. His father too. Surely he'd been involved. Besides, they'd done so many bad things they had it coming. Luan smiled as she drifted to sleep. These would be her greatest pranks ever…