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

Guest: It's called conflict. It sets up upcoming and future events. Get a grip.

Bohemian Serenade

By Lola Presents

Chapter 7

The internet had come alive overnight with exposition, accusations, and calls to boycott the show in NRG Stadium that night. Fans and former fans flooded Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with their thoughts. While some continued to be supportive, others were downright insulting. The worst part was the images that got reposted a million times.

Returning from the imagery now planted in everyone's brain would be difficult. Luna knew this. However, she also understood the gravity of the situation. Luna would have to pull out all the stops to stifle the public outrage. Lying had never been one of Luna's strong suits, and she didn't relish the idea but now was not the time for morality.

Trying to get any meaningful discussion or consensus regarding how to proceed was difficult. Everyone's phones rung constantly, hardly giving them a chance to say two words to each other. Hopefully, everyone was running damage control, but it was near impossible to tell as most were fielding calls themselves and couldn't listen in.

"Luna!" barked Rita over Luna's phone. "We just heard the news from Lori! Is it true? Are you sleeping with Lincoln? Why would you do that?"

"No, mom..." sighed Luna, lying through her teeth. "It's not like that. It's..."

"Don't give me that!" exclaimed her mother. "I saw the pictures! It sure looks like it! What about Sam? That poor girl is probably heartbroken! I can't believe you!"

"Mom! Calm down!" screeched the young woman. "I'm not having an affair with Lincoln!" she continued as she got another incoming call, this time from Bill. "Listen, my manager is calling, so I have to go. I'll call you back later, okay?"

"Luna, baby!" belted Bill. "What the hell is going on?"

"Nothing is going on," lied Luna for the second time. "It's not what the pictures look like. I promise."

"Well, it better not be! Otherwise, we might have to drop you and your brother," he scolded her. "We run a tight ship and don't want to get into legal entanglements, you understand."

"Drop us?" repeated Luna, furrowing her brows. "After all the shit Sam pulled, this is where you draw the line? Listen, this is your fault anyway. Where were the guys that were supposed to be guarding the trucks? Or were they too busy doing drugs to do their job?" she yelled.

"Calm down, Luna!" called the man on the other end of the conversation. "We can fix this, but you'll have to do a news conference. I've already called the station, and they're sending a van soon. Get ready, and I hope you make it a good one for your sake. I'll be watching."

"Lincoln!" gasped Clyde once he'd gotten hold of his lifelong friend. "What the hell, man? How could you have sex with your sister after scolding me for years about my feelings for Lori? You're a right git. Do you know that?"

"Clyde?" responded Lincoln questioningly, having answered his phone blindly for the fifth time. "No..." he stammered. "Of course not. Why would you think that?" he asked in return. "It's all a misunderstanding. You know how the paparazzi like doing shit like this, taking something mundane and turning it into a freak show."

"Mm," hummed Lincoln's friend. "I don't know," he said. "The two of you looked pretty cozy in those images."

"Look, nothing happened, alright?" Lincoln pleaded. "Have I ever lied to you?"

"Yes," replied Clyde, furrowing his brows behind his phone. "Several times over the years. Though, I have to admit, not so much recently."

"Okay, well..." sighed Lincoln, noticing Luna signal him to cut the call short, moving her finger across her neck. "I have to go, buddy. Sorry, but we'll catch up soon."

A short time later, the band stood behind a small podium provided by the news crew. Luna stood behind the many microphones, dressed to the nines and ready to make her statement, while Lincoln stood off to the side, waiting for the debacle to conclude. Several guards now stood firm, separating the paparazzi and journalists from getting too close.

Finally, the field producer gave the signal to begin, and a hushed pall fell over the crowd as their anchor started his spiel.

"Good morning," he said. "I'm Glen Warren with FOX 26 news, and I'm here with Luna and the Moon Goats for an exclusive statement regarding the overnight developments," he announced before turning toward the podium.

Luna took a deep breath and approached the mic, laying her hands on the podium in an open gesture, signifying she had nothing to hide.

"I'm sure you all have many questions," she began. "However, we have a schedule to keep, so I'm going to make this short," she informed everyone, causing a murmur among those gathered. "I've seen the images, as you have, and heard the rumors. But what you see isn't always what you think. We have our good friends, the paparazzi, to thank for that. No, I am not having an affair with my brother. The fact is, I found out that he's dating my ex, Sam, and I got upset. As my brother, he was only comforting me. That is all. Thank you," she finished, turning from the mic and heading back to the coach.

As the crowd erupted into near chaos, Sam and Lincoln glanced at each other. Nodding at her, Lincoln took her hand and followed her to the podium.

"Hi..." muttered Sam, unused to fielding news conferences. "Listen. I'm sorry you didn't get the juicy story you wanted. But it's true. Lincoln and I are a couple now."

"Miss Sharp!" yelled one of the reporters, shoving her mic over the podium. "Do you have any reservations about Lincoln being close with his sister? You have to admit those images were pretty revealing. And, are you concerned about how your fans will react?"

"No," sighed Sam, rolling her eyes at the cameras as they continually flashed. "People are going to have their opinion. That's the way it's always been. A few pitched a fit when Sully and Mazzy began dating too. So what? And, no, I'm not concerned. Lincoln's family has always been close. That's what makes them so unique," she told the masses. "Besides, things get a little crazy on tour, you know? We have to dress in close quarters. It's part of the job, and we're used to it. Now, please. There's nothing to see here," she said, turning and leading Lincoln away, hand in hand.

Safely within their fancy bus, everyone began to decompress as the crowd slowly began to disperse, and the news teams broke down their equipment. And within a few hours, their social media accounts began to ignite, taking a different tone this time. Accusations and innuendo gave way to arguments between those who were relieved and who were rooting for Luna and Lincoln.

"We have some strange fans," noted Sully, chuckling at some of the comments on his feeds.

"Why do you say that?" quipped Maz. "I think it's cute that some of our fans want to see them together."

"Well, you've always been a little off in the head," teased Sully, putting his phone away, satisfied that the immediate threat had gotten diverted.

Neither Sam nor Lincoln bothered to check their accounts. However, Luna glanced at hers long enough to see all the new posts about the new couple the media dubbed Linsam, then turned it off entirely as she stepped into her cabin. After pulling her shades, Luna sat on her bed and began crying. Everything she'd ever wanted was now in Sam's court.

For nearly a decade, Luna wanted to boldly and proudly confess to her brother and live the rest of her life in his arms. She had even gone so far as to rent a small apartment in Ohio and changed the address on her license during her preparations to fetch Lincoln, having planned on telling him after the tour ended.

But now, like it or not, she was in Sam's arms. At least publicly. Luna knew that her brother was in love with her. Anyone who doesn't consider their partner's feelings at least once, wondering if what they have is true, is not in love. And her brother had done that over Sam. Still, Luna hadn't come to terms with her feelings regarding the matter.

On the one hand, she wanted Lincoln to herself. On the other hand, she once had intense feelings for Sam and wanted her to be happy. But now, Sam was the one reaping the glory of her relationship with Lincoln. And that's how it had to remain for the immediate future, at least until the tour was over.

As the tour bus pulled out between two eighteen-wheelers, carrying their gear, Sam held Lincoln's hands in hers and stared at Lincoln, biting her lip. Her eyes glistened under the recessed lighting that illuminated the lounge. And, to ensure their future safely, Sully and Mazzy closed any shades that remained open.

"It's official now," Sam cooed, unaware of her friend weeping in the other room. "They're calling us Linsam. Isn't that the cutest thing ever?" she said, leaning in and kissing him before bouncing on her heels. Then, dropping his hand, she wrapped her arms around him, pressing her ample mounds against his chest. "I love you so much..." she sighed.

While Lincoln returned her affection and smiled, his heart was in turmoil. Did he love her? Absolutely. However, he was concerned about his sister. That fact was, he was in love with her more than Sam. At least, that's what he kept telling himself.

He'd fallen for Sam once he realized that he'd never be able to date his sister legally and that she probably didn't feel the same. After all, she'd never said a word to him about it. They had hidden their feelings for each other so well that neither knew how the other felt until recently.

However, Sam was a free target, except for dating Luna at the time. Of course, he'd dropped more than a few hints Sam's way over the years, but she'd never taken much notice of it. At least, he hadn't thought so. Now it seemed that it only fueled her desire for him.

Then, there were Luna's concerns to worry over. Was Sam genuinely in love with him? Or was he a trophy to be won? Now hardly seemed the appropriate time to bring something like this up. However, his chest hurt under stress, and he could no longer silence himself. He needed to know.

"Sam?" he cooed, not wanting to seem accusatory. "There's something I'd like to ask you. May we talk in your cabin?"

"Of course, you sly dog..." Sam cooed back, grinning broadly and fluttering her brows, getting the wrong idea entirely.

After aggressively pulling the young man into her room and pulling her top off, freeing her perky breasts, she kissed Lincoln passionately, forcing him against the door. Finally, she pulled away and licked her lips.

"Now, what is it you wanted to talk about, love?" she asked, chewing her lip as she stared expectantly at him, separating herself from him to continue undressing.

"Sam..." Lincoln sighed, taking a seat on her bed. "Luna's upset," he told her, furrowing his brow. "Not only does she want me for herself, but she's wondering if I'm a trophy for you. For whatever reason, she's convinced that you've always wanted what she had, and I don't know what to think."

Pursing her lips, Sam curbed her sexual appetite long enough to consider his words. She was genuinely in love with him and had been for years. But she still cared about Luna and didn't want to see either of them hurt.

"I understand," Sam sincerely offered, sitting beside him. "I have to admit that for a while, I did. But that only revolved around the fame and fortune aspect of things. Not you. You weren't even in the picture back then," she continued. "Lincoln, I'm in love with you. You're not a trophy, you're a person with feelings of your own, and anyone who'd treat you that way is an ass."

Lincoln looked at Sam as she stared lovingly and understandingly at him.

"Then, I can only see one reasonable solution," he told her. "I know that you still care about each other. I see it in your eyes and how you look at each other. Things will only feel complete if you two get back together. I can't continue knowing how you feel about each other, only to stand back and watch as the jealousy continues."

"Lincoln?" prodded Sam cautiously. "What do you want? Do you want her, me, or both of us?"

Lincoln sat, his hands in his lap, carefully considering his response. Sam's forthrightness and emotional sensitivity had convinced him that she was sincere in her love for him, which made a world of difference for him. However, a lot rested on her willingness to reunite with his sister. And for once in his life, he considered what he wanted without imposition.

"I'm in love with both of you," Lincoln finally said after taking a deep breath.

For better or worse, Lincoln had made his mind up and stated his objectives publicly. It was now up to Sam and Luna to decide what they wanted. He would have to wait until then to take any further action.

Sam averted her gaze as she considered her feelings. Then, Sam stood and continued to undress. Lincoln was right, she still loved Luna, and their stalemate had to end. For that to happen, Luna needed to make sure Luna understood how sorry she was and that she wanted her back.

"What are you doing?" sighed Lincoln, concerned that Sam might have just brushed his concerns off.

"I'll be right back," Sam chirped. "I'm going to get Luna back!"

"Naked again, I see," observed Mazzy as she walked down the narrow hall, half-naked herself. "You know, if you're not careful, you'll give Sully a heart attack."

"What?" gasped Sam, stopping momentarily at being taken off guard.

"Sully..." Maz repeated as their breasts touched. "You make him uncomfortable."

"I thought you guys believed in free love," cooed Sam. "Like me."

"Oh, I'm fine with it," replied Mazzy, staring at Sam's eyes. "Only, he isn't."

"I see..." sighed Sam, wedging her way past the percussionist. "Can we talk about this later? I have a date to keep."

"In Luna's room?" quipped Mazzy, stepping out of Sam's way.

"Uh, yeah..." muttered Same before knocking on Luna's door.

"Whatever," mumbled Mazzy as she walked off.

"Who is it?" called Luna upon hearing the knock, quickly drying her eyes and sitting up.

"It's me, Sam," spoke the girl softly. "May I come in? I need to talk to you."

Sighing, Luna stood and unlocked the door, then stood back.

"Come in," she tentatively said as the little handle turned and the door opened. "What do you want?" she asked, furrowing her brows at Sam's naked body.

"Nice way to greet a friend," Sam observed. Then, closing and locking the door behind her, she faced Luna with her hands clasped. "I'm sorry," she conceded. "For everything. I admit it. I was being a jealous bitch. But not regarding Lincoln. I'm in love with him and have been since long before we started fighting," she informed the stunned girl. "The thing is..." she continued, pausing to reflect before acting.

Then, without warning, Sam threw her arms around Luna, kissing her passionately and deeply as Luna fumbled to maintain balance and return the kiss, resulting in both of them falling onto Lincoln's bunk.

"I'm still in love with you, too," admitted Sam, propping herself up and staring lovingly at the purple-clad girl. "I want you back, so we can all be together. Please?"

Luna's already watery eyes burst again, tightly shutting as her tears flowed. "You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that!" she cried. "Only, why did it take Lincoln to break you of your coke habit and not me?" she whimpered, still unsure about herself.

"Don't be silly," sighed Sam, touching her nose to Luna's. "I love you both. But at the time, he and I weren't fighting. We were, so, naturally, I didn't listen."

"God, I miss you," Luna whined as she wrapped her arms, weak from emotional distress, around Sam's neck, pulling her into another sultry, wet kiss.

Now supported only by her elbows, Sam's hands mingled with Luna's hair while Luna's hands moved down Sam's back toward her butt, kneading them vigorously as things heated up between the two. Finally unable to take any more, Sam reared back, pulling Luna to a stand, and eagerly helped her disrobe. Then, ready for love, they dove back onto the bed.

"What about Lincoln?" whispered Luna through partitions in their kisses.

"Next time," Sam whispered back breathlessly. "Right now, this is about us," she informed her girlfriend before turning around and resting her pelvis on Luna's face.

Without argument, Luna began pleasing Sam's slit with expertise and precision. Having known each other for years, they knew each other intimately and required no further words to conduct themselves as they made wet, sticky love on Lincoln's bed. After nearly an hour of hot, sweaty sex, they parted and stood, looking at the mess they'd left on Lincoln's bedding.

"Should we clean it?" asked Sam, biting her lip.

"Nah," teased Luna. "I get the feeling he's going to get used to it being like this, with both of us constantly wanting him."

"So..." prodded Sam, wanting a final confirmation. "We're good? I mean, we're all three together?"

"Bah..." chirped Luna, chuckling at Sam's pensiveness. "With an apology like that, how could I refuse?"

Then smiling and batting her eyes, Sam made a suggestion. "Maybe next time, we can all three go at it, huh?" she said. "And then, if he's into it, we can 'toast' our little ménage à trois."

"Dude..." sighed Luna, smirking at the suggestion. "I don't think he's into that. But, we'll see..."