Disclaimer: The Loud House and associated characters belong to Nickelodeon and Chris Savino.

Dark Beginnings

By Lola Presents

Chapter 7 - Adjustments

Lynn and Rita Loud were as different as night and day, despite any similarities they had. It was amazing that they found love, much less maintained it over the years, having eleven children along the way. One could suppose that their differences brought them together, filling in the gaps the other lacked, or as some would say, opposites attract.

Rita was downright level-headed. She was highly educated and motivated, paying attention to the finer details, such as balancing the budget, paying bills, and being involved with her children's lives. Responsibility, accountability, and obligation were high on her list, and while she didn't always succeed, at least she put forth an effort.

Lynn was more flippant in his attitude toward life. While some might describe him as effeminate, a better explanation was that he was childish. Lynn worked hard and played harder, but when it came to discipline, Lynn lacked the foresight and motivation to remain firm in his convictions. That and he was a bit squeamish, often leading to changes in direction.

It became evident early in their relationship, especially after Lori came along, that Rita would settle into the traditional disciplinarian role while Lynn would become the confidant and nurturer. In many ways, it was the reverse of societal expectations. At least when they got married. And though things had changed, they still tested social boundaries.

The unlikely couple had faced many trials while raising their children over the years, everything from arguments to broken bones. However, they now faced off against something for which even the most successful parents would have difficulty. How does one redirect their wayward children when the parents don't necessarily stand in unison?

While Rita wanted to end Lincoln's and Lucy's bizarre relationship, even she knew that such a harsh reaction might foster alienation and resentment, however temporary. Conversely, Lynn believed it to be a phase that needed to play out before their children concede, arguing that some lessons must get learned on their own.

Either path had pros and cons, and the solution wasn't as easy as snapping one's fingers.

Lucy and Lincoln sat solemnly at the foot of their parent's bed, their hands resting idly in their laps as they gazed at the floor, avoiding their parent's stares. While their mother sat in her writing chair with her arms folded and one leg crossed over the other, Lynn stood facing their cheval glass, a free-standing, full-length mirror, with his hands firmly in his pockets.

The room remained silent for several moments, allowing the gravity of the situation to sink into their children's minds. Though partly manufactured by their parents, the tension was palpable, and the two youngsters squirmed uncomfortably, daring not to sit too closely together as they contemplated their fates.

"Lincoln..." their father eventually sighed, removing one hand from its sheath and pinching the bridge of his nose. "You've done many things over the years that got you in trouble, but this..." he muttered, finally facing his kids, letting the innuendo stand. "Do you know how disappointed I am?" he asked his son. "I thought I made it perfectly clear that you weren't to pursue your sister."

"You did," sighed Lincoln, still not looking his father in the eye.

"And yet," Lynn replied, rolling his tongue against the inside of his mouth, "you did it anyway?"

"I did," sighed Lincoln again, not wanting to exacerbate things by lying.

The irritated father furrowed his brows and grimaced at his son. While the lad was being honest, usually deserving of praise, it unnerved him. Then, sitting on his heels, he looked up at his son, trying a more submissive stand to provoke more exposition from him.

"Why?" he asked Lincoln mournfully. "We talked about the legal and social implications," he reminded Lincoln, "nothing good can come from this."

Lynn's words agitated Lincoln, and he felt something stir within him, defiant yet honest. And lifting his head to meet his father's eyes, any shame or hesitation he'd felt leading up to that moment vanished.

"Dad," Lincoln confidently spoke. "While I understand and appreciate everything you tried to do, I'm in love with Lucy," he boldly stated, uncaring if it got met with opposition. "But you're wrong about nothing good coming from it. Love is the best outcome possible," he said, taking Lucy's hand in a show of solidarity.

Pursing his lips, Lynn stood, repocketed his hands, and turned back toward the mirror, almost symbolizing his mental and emotional reflection.

"I don't understand..." mused their father. "Neither of you has shown any sign of attraction before a few days ago. Have you considered that what you're feeling is a response to the trauma of the last few days?"

"Dad..." interjected Lucy, on the verge of tears. "Even if you're right, does it matter?" she emotionally questioned. "All love begins somewhere, even in the most unlikely circumstances. Does that make it any less beautiful?" she said, gathering herself.

"No, Lucy," Rita answered, taking her turn, "it doesn't. But there's a big difference between falling in love with someone who isn't related to you when you're older and what you two have," she informed her children. "There's a lot you don't know about what it means to be in a relationship," she said. "There's a lot of giving and taking, the occasional argument or disagreement, not to mention how hard it can be to reach a compromise," Rita espoused before taking a deep breath.

"As siblings, when you argue, you can walk away from it. What happens when you have your first lover's quarrel? Will you call it quits? That would be heartbreaking for the both of you, don't you think?" Rita asked. "We only want what's best for you and don't want to see you go through that, only to end up having regrets and resenting each other."

"Mom!" shot Lucy, letting go of Lincoln's hand and coming to a stand, pleading her case. "There's little about Lincoln I don't already know," she belted. "Literally," she added for emphasis. "Not only have I lived with him all my life, but I've spent most of that time silently observing everyone!" she exclaimed, pausing to breathe.

"I know his faults, and I can live with them. Likewise, he knows mine, and we owe it all to being siblings," she told her parents. "Unlike you, who had to get to know each other, we already do. There aren't any surprises lurking around the corner," she argued, taking another deep breath.

"Look..." she murmured, preparing to finish her diatribe, "we know the risks, but we're still in love. What do you want us to do, silently forget it and move on? Well, I'm sorry, but we can't do that. People search their whole lives for this, and we have it! Right now!"

"Lucy's right," declared Lincoln, standing beside his sister and wrapping one arm around her waist. "We know it's unusual and illegal, and we aren't stupid. It's not like we're going to flaunt it publicly," he announced. "And even if things fall apart later, don't we deserve a chance? All we have to do is make it through a few years. There are places where it's legal we go later."

While Rita's and Lynn's children made good points and showed a high degree of understanding, the base elements remained. The social and legal implications weighed heavily upon their minds. As a juvenile, any legal action would likely get dismissed with leniency toward Lincoln. Likewise, Lucy was only three years younger, not enough to warrant accusations of pedophilia.

Nevertheless, Lincoln and Lucy were children, and the impetus to resolve the situation rested on their parent's shoulders. Taking a few cleansing breaths, Lynn faced his children, standing tall and folding his arms. As feared, his children were adamant in their desire to be together, and any resistance now could entail rebellion on their children's part.

"Alright," he said softly. "Your mother and I have discussed the matter, and while we don't completely agree, we wanted to get your side of things before deciding how to handle things," he announced, taking another long breath. "We're willing to look the other way for now," he said, "however, that doesn't mean you won't be under scrutiny," he told them sternly. "If we have any reason to believe that you're engaging in intimate activity, it's over. Do you understand?"

"Dad!" Lincoln declared, growing despondent with the discussion. "She's nine!" he complained. "What do you take me for, a fool? I've already turned her down once and won't hesitate to do it again," he offered. "I love her, Dad..." he mumbled. "The last thing I'd never do is hurt her or put her through something she isn't ready for."

"Fine," interjected Rita, not entirely happy but reasonably assured they'd be safe. For now. "But don't expect us to defend you against your siblings. If you want to live like adults, you must accept responsibility and handle your own affairs."

"I think we're done here," sighed Lynn, dismissing his children and gesturing toward their door. "Now, if you don't mind, your mother and I have a few things left to discuss."

Stunned but tentatively happy, Lincoln and Lucy left their parent's room hand in hand. And once the door had closed and locked behind them, both breathed sighs of relief. Whatever their unspoken reasons were, their parents allowed them to express their love, though, with their awareness of the situation, any chance at any time alone would be fleeting if not non-existent.

And as they rounded the corner to the stairs, several shadows dashed away in the upstairs hall. Ignoring their eavesdropping siblings, they made their way to Lincoln's room. Leaving the door open, they flopped onto his bed, still holding hands.

"What now?" breathed Lincoln, glad to be away from his parent's accusing stares.

"We live our lives as best we can," moaned Lucy, scooting closer.

"Do you want to play a video game?" Lincoln asked, looking at his sister sideways on the bed.

"While I don't usually support violence against the undead," she smiled. "I could use a distraction."

Grinning, Lincoln pulled himself up and began setting up his console, happy to share his passions with his sister. After eagerly inserting the Annihilation II cartridge and setting up a fresh two-player save, he began stepping Lucy through the controls. Before long, the incestuous siblings sat happily working their way through the game's levels, aiding each other as they went, ignorant of their sister's glare.

As Lynn stood, leaning against her doorframe with her arms folded and her brows furrowed, she struggled to understand her sibling's feelings for each other and their parent's decision. Their parents just put Lucy and Lincoln through the wringer for the most bizarre thing that ever happened in their home, yet they came out smelling like roses, and the tough girl was troubled.

If they loved each other so much, why weren't they kissing or groping each other? Instead, they say there playing video games. Nothing made sense. If Lynn had a boyfriend, they'd be making out under the pretense of wrestling. The more the sports-minded girl mused over the situation, the more confused she became, and her curiosity eventually got the better of her. Strolling over to Lincoln's door, she leaned against the frame.

"What do you think you two are doing?" Lynn prodded, aggravation in her voice.

"Oh, hi, Lynn," chirped Lincoln, concentrating on his shot, his tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth.

"Just shooting monsters," Lucy added, unconsciously weaving back and forth as she moved her character around some obstacles.

"Why?" spat Lynn with disgust.

"What do you mean?" asked Lincoln, a little annoyed as he hit the pause button.

"Shouldn't you be getting all lovey-dovey or something?" accused their sister.

"Lynn..." sighed Lucy, sighing deeply. "There's more to being in love than that," she expounded. "Being around the one you love and doing things with them should be enough. Don't you think?" inquired the exasperated girl. "You don't have to make out all the time."

Lynn cocked one brow at her sister.

"Yeah," agreed Lincoln. "Do you see Mom and Dad kissing all the time?" he posited.

For all her disgust, Lynn stood in awe. However gross their love was, they seemed to have an even keel, something she never expected. And for once, she began to relax, even if only slightly.

"So..." she mumbled, moving her mouth awkwardly. "You two really do love each other, huh?"

"Is that what this is about?" sighed Lincoln, setting his controller down, getting settled for the discussion that would follow. "Listen," he began. "Other than being siblings, we're a perfectly normal couple. Alright?" he informed his imposing sister. "Yes, we're in love, but that doesn't mean we can't control ourselves."

"It's just..." moaned Lynn. "...weird..."

"Okay," chirped Lincoln, leaning against his bed. "How?" he challenged.

Lynn stared, furrowing her brows again but not at them. Rather, herself. The truth was, she didn't know why it was weird. It just was. At least, it was supposed to be. Right? Yet, as much as Lynn expected otherwise, her siblings sat there doing completely normal things. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all. At least they weren't groping each other.

"Hey, Lynn..." called Lincoln calmly. "Do you want to play with us? I can set up another controller and add you to the game," he offered, hopeful that participation would lighten her mood.

"Me?" Lynn gasped in surprise, unconsciously forming a slight smile. "Thanks, but I'm not into video games," she said, relaxing her stance. "Besides, I need more time to think about things," Lynn said before turning and walking off. "Have fun," she absent-mindedly said.

Confused and discouraged, Lynn walked into the kitchen, desperately trying to unravel her feelings about her siblings. On the one hand, incest was supposed to be wrong. On the other hand, she didn't see any reason for concern after witnessing them together. Had society been unfair?

"Mom?" the offset girl asked of her mother, who was busy cleaning the kitchen counters and putting away the morning implements. "Why do people say incest is wrong?" she inquired timidly. "I mean, besides being illegal?"

Sighing, Rita stopped what she was doing and set down her rag before facing her uncertain daughter. Then, leaning against the counter, she tried to explain as best she could.

"Honey," she began. "It's a complex issue that dates back to the days of harems when fathers would take their daughters for themselves," she recounted from memories of sociology in college. "In such cultures, the genetic pool became too thinly distributed, leading to eventual congenital disabilities so severe that few children survived."

"But..." sighed Lynn, her ultimate question still not answered. "Being in love with someone doesn't always mean having children together," she offered. "What about adoption?"

"Yes, well..." muttered her mother. "I suppose that is an option. But cultural ideologies become encoded over time, and it's exceedingly difficult to change the mass's opinions," she explained. Then, cocking her head, her tone changed. "Do you remember that movie, 'Men in Black,' where that guy said, a person is smart, but people are dumb? It's like that."

"So, what you're saying is that it isn't inherently bad," assumed Lynn, "as long as people are aware of the risks and are smart about it?"

While not precisely Rita's intention, considering her distaste for the idea, she couldn't deny Lynn's assertion. Had Rita gotten her way, her children would've separated, which would've been the end of things. Now, even she wasn't sure. Lynn's line of questioning and her response challenged her understanding and beliefs on the matter.

"I..." stammered Rita. "I don't know," she admitted. "Look, I have a lot of chores to do. Can we talk about this later?" she asked, returning to scrubbing the countertops.

"Sure..." conceded Lynn before turning and walking off, leaving her mother to her business.

After getting discharged that morning, Chandler's parents ceremoniously picked him up, still unwilling to show any emotion or empathy. While they had every intention of prosecuting the Louds over recent events, they staved their desires at their son's emotional and steadfast behest.

While they didn't understand his declarations of love for the unseemly girl born from lesser stock, they realized that his testimony would destroy any chance they had in court and abandoned the idea. Instead, they insisted on therapy. And in some small way, let Chandler know that they cared.

Recognizing that their son's actions weren't typical, especially for one claiming to be in love, forced them to face up to all the accusations of harassment that people had issued over the years. Still, they let him know that, without a doubt, he was their biggest disappointment.

Sitting quietly at his desk, still adorned with bandages, though fewer than before, the recovering boy doodled idly in an open notebook when their butler walked into the room carrying a tray with his dinner on it.

"Sir?" the man said, getting the boy's attention. "You dinner?"

"Oh, right," muttered Chandler. "Thanks, Gregory," he chirped as he moved his binder aside, allowing the man to place the tray on the desk.

"If I may, sir?" the man offered, gesturing toward Chandler's drawing. "She's quite lovely."

Taking a deep breath, Chandler exhaled slowly before answering, running his fingers through what remained of his hair. Gregory was the only person he felt comfortable enough to confide in until recently, when he began to open up to Lincoln.

"Yes," Chandler agreed, nodding curtly. "She is. And once I've healed, I will do everything I can to win her heart."

"Realistically speaking," asked his butler, "do you think that's possible, considering what happened?"

"I don't know," sighed Chandler, lost in thought as he stared at his portrayal of Lucy. "But I have to try."

"Then I wish you luck," offered the man standing at attention nearby. "Should you need advice, I am at your service, sir."

And as Gregory turned on the spot and left his young master's room, small tears began falling from Chandler's eyes.