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

Who Love Chooses

By Lola Presents

Chapter 1

Nova stood before her mother, full of anxiety. They had discussed this day all summer, and though she was looking forward to it, there was also a sense of dread. She would no longer have her mother and father looking out for her every second of every day, but she'd have to contend with more rules. It was difficult enough dealing with the ones her parents laid down.

Lola looked her over until she was satisfied; her last act was zipping up her baby's pink coat. Nova had grown a lot over the past five years, but she was still relatively short and petite, just like her mother. However, much to her mother's dismay, Nova's hair had darkened from blonde to dark brown since birth. In the right light, her locks sometimes appeared black.

"Alright, Sunshine," inquired Lola. "Do you have everything? Paper, pencils, crayons, binder, and backpack?"

Little Nova sighed forlornly.

"You know I do, mom," she said. "You put it all together, remember?"

"Just making sure, honey," Lola said, hugging her daughter one last time. "I can't believe you're off to the first grade! It seems like only yesterday you were crawling around, getting into trouble every five minutes."

"Mom, we talked about this," Nova reminded her mother.

"Hold up, missy," called Lincoln as he wheeled into the foyer from the kitchen. "You forgot this."

Lincoln held out a brown paper bag for his child.

"Oh, right," remembered Nova. "How could I forget lunch?"

"It's alright, Sunshine," Lincoln smiled. "You're just excited."

Just then, the sound of the school bus brakes announced its arrival. Nova shored up her backpack and said her goodbyes.

"Bye, Mom, Dad!" she chirped before walking out the front door, a slight bounce in her step.

"Well, Linc," Lola sighed. "She's off. How do you think she'll get along with the other kids?"

"Pft," sputtered Lincoln. "She'll kill it. I'm sure. She's a Loud, after all. Stop worrying. Besides, I'm sure Clyde will keep an eye on her."

"Clyde?" repeated Lola, turning around. "I didn't know he returned here after graduating."

"Yup," announced Lincoln. "He'll be one of two first-grade teachers. At least for now. He wants to move up to middle school at some point."

"Great, he'll turn her into a dork, just like you," teased Lola, grinning from ear to ear.

Lincoln leaned back in his chair and grinned more deviously than Lola.

"You know, we're home alone..." Lincoln said, fluttering his brows. "Wanna make up for all those sleepless nights?"

Lola smirked and briefly pulled her nightgown open, flashing her small chest at him, then quickly closed it again.

"There," she said smartly, waving him on. "Don't you have work to do? Go on! Shoo! I have to get busy baking the cookies for the P.T.A. meeting later this week."

Lincoln sighed but agreed, then watched his wife sashay into the kitchen. It was amazing how well she'd taken to motherhood. It was like she was an entirely different person.

Well, not entirely.

Lincoln had insisted that she get back into pageantry shortly after his accident. At first, she reluctantly did so to please her husband. However, once she finally won an event, it was as if someone had replaced a long broken fuse.

Of course, her first love was her family. Nothing came before it. She always went out of her way to ensure their safety and happiness. At times, Lincoln had to reel her back or go broke from all the stuff Lola showered upon them.

It wasn't only stuff, though. Lola spent a vast amount of her time engaged in conversations with them, showing interest in her family's pursuits and generally bonding. Such was Lola's purpose in life since she spoke with her old pastor.

Of course, the change didn't happen overnight. There were rough times along the way. But with the help of Lincoln, her siblings, and the pastor to look to, she became an evenly-keeled person. Except in the bedroom, where she let her inner beast free.

Lincoln peered around the corner for one more gaze at his wife, dutifully at work mixing ingredients in a large bowl. Then turned and wheeled himself down the hall to the guest room, which served as a home studio.

His employers were most understanding about everything that happened and extended an unusual offer to him to remain on board as long as he kept working from home. They even collected enough donations for a computer, digital tablet, and pen with special software for him. He could adjust the tool's sensitivity to accommodate his limited mobility and email the results.

Lincoln would've preferred being at work, but this was a close second. At least he could pause and spend time with Lola when he hit a block. As long as Lincoln got the specified work done that day, nobody cared what hours Lincoln worked. It wasn't like he had to punch a clock.

Nova rode the entire way to school with her bag in her lap, frantically glancing at the other kids. Unfortunately, she saw nobody she knew, which made her nervous. Nova was situated in one of the rows nearest the bus's front and could feel numerous stares landing upon her.

Was her hair messed up? Did she smell bad? She didn't think so, but anything was possible. Maybe it was like her father said; first-day jitters. Eventually, the bus pulled up to the elementary school, and the doors opened.

Finally, she could put some distance between herself and the other students. Hastily, she stood, pulled on her bag again, and headed for the exit. One step down, one step closer to prison, she thought. Two steps down, two steps closer to fate. Three steps down, and wham!

Nova found herself toppling forward over another student who'd stopped suddenly. Nova landed in a heap, arms tangled with whomever she collided with, and looked up into the faces of laughing children.

"Dang, it!" she hissed, scrambling to upright herself.

Nova wasn't supposed to use the "D" word, so she used her father's favorite replacement instead. He'd said it a million times before, and its use grew on her. Now, she said it in response to every unfortunate event.

"Gee, I'm sorry," said a slightly slurred voice.

Nova peered down after standing to see a frail-looking little girl lying at her feet. The girl had red, curly hair, freckles, and big buck teeth. Indeed, people would pick on this girl even worse than herself.

Nova considered the girl and decided she needed a wing girl if only to keep the bullies off herself.

Not that Nova was stuck up or a bully herself. She was timid, however, and didn't have her mind set on making friends. Still, having someone to talk to would help. Slowly, she extended her hand.

"Hi, my name is Nova," she announced. "Do you need help up?"

The little girl accepted Nova's gesture suspiciously but was surprised to be treated kindly.

"Hi, I'm Calliope," the girl stated. "Calliope McBride."

Something about the girl's last name struck a chord in Nova's brain. She'd heard it before, numerous times. Now, Nova was even more curious about the strange kid.

"McBride?" Nova repeated. "I know somebody with that name. Well, my dad does. His best friend, Clyde."

"What a coincidence," exclaimed Calliope. "That is also my dad's name. And, he teaches here now. It should make for an interesting class, don't you think?"

Nova feigned choking.

"Sorry, but no," she admitted. "I love my daddy, but to have him as a teacher? No way!"

"Oh, it's not that..." Calliope began saying. That is, until the bell rang. "Come on! We'll be late!"

Together, Nova and Calliope ran to their first class of the day, taking seats next to each other. Soon, the desks were full, and the students in them talked loudly, paying no attention to the dark-skinned man taking his place at the head of the class.

"Ahem!" the man coughed, setting his briefcase down on his desk and popping it open.

All eyes were on him; two sets, in particular, knew the man. One gazed lovingly at him; the other fretted.

"Welcome, children," said the man. "My name is Mr. McBride, and I'll be your teacher this year. Let's get to know each other a bit, shall we?"

The students groaned, none of them willing to speak out loud on their first day. Calliope raised her hand and waved it furiously, trying to get her father's attention. Of course, he noticed her immediately but wanted to see who else might volunteer. When none did, he chose for himself.

"What about you, miss?" he said, pointing at Nova.

"Here we go…" whispered Nova as she stood up.

The class spent the first part of the day telling each other their names, a little about themselves, and claiming their assigned cubbies, in which they placed unneeded things. Then, Clyde had them recite what they knew of their alphabet and numerals. From there, he took note of each student's abilities for later planning. Finally, recess came, and the children moved out to the playground, where Clyde kept a vigilant eye on them.

Lola was in the kitchen, taking out the third batch of gingersnaps, when a soft knock sounded at the door. She placed the pan on a towel she had laid on the counter to cool and answered the door, wondering who could be calling this early in the day.

"Hey, sis!" chirped Lana. "Mind if I come in? My boots are clean. I promise!"

Lola laughed, as Lana wasn't wearing boots but a pair of lovely pumps that went well with her floral bodysuit.

"No, thanks. I don't want any." Lola said, teasing her sister before inviting her in. "Of course, you can come in, silly."

Lana sniffed the aroma that wafted throughout the house, and she began to salivate.

"What is that amazing scent?" Lana asked as she wandered into the kitchen. "Cookies!" she squealed, heading directly for them, only to be blocked by her twin.

"Uh, uh," Lola chirped. "These are for the P.T.A. meeting."

"The what-a-what?" Lana asked. "Since when do you take part in things like that? You hated school!"

"Yes, well, a lot of things have changed," Lola told her sister, taking two cookies from an earlier batch and sitting down at the table. "Speaking of change, you look amazing! Did you get attacked by a gardener, or are you trying to attract every man in Royal Woods?"

Lana blushed and posed for Lola. "Thank you! Do you honestly like it?" she asked. "Leni made it for me. I wasn't sure about it, but if you approve..."

"Honey, it slays. Trust me," Lola informed her twin, offering her one of the cookies. "So, what brings you our way?"

"Well…" Lana said sheepishly. "I wanted to ask you something, but I don't know quite how."

"Open your mouth and speak," instructed Lola. "That's how I do it. Come on. It can't be that difficult. You're talking to your twin, you know. I'll understand."

Lana considered her sister for a moment before going forward.

"Alright, so you know how Lori, Leni, Luna, Luan, Lynn, and Lucy all had plans for when they turned eighteen?" Lana asked, somewhat cautiously.

"Yeah?" Lola asked, prodding her sister for more information. "Lori went to college, Leni moved into regional management, Luna is touring, Luan is still here in town doing gigs, Lynn got an athletic scholarship, and Lucy is an undertaker. So?"

Lana put her hands between her knees and started sweating bullets.

"Well, I kind of don't," she admitted. "Mom and dad said I need to get a job or find another place to live. Five months of doing nothing was enough, according to them."

"So, find a job," Lola chirped. "I'm sure someone with your mechanical aptitude could land a job just about anywhere."

Lana stood and began pacing, swinging her arms back to front as she went.

"It's just I'm not ready," Lana admitted. "I spent my youth working on machines and other stuff, but never on myself. I'd rather find a new place to stay while discovering who I am."

Lana's confession stunned Lola to the core. Never did the latter imagine her sister as unsure about herself. Lana was always the one who knew what to do and wasn't afraid to do it. If only Lana knew that her sister was mirroring her thoughts regarding herself.

"Lana!" gasped Lola, coming to a stand. "That's nonsense. You are the most self-assured person I know. Maybe I should talk with them."

Lana took her sister's hands and made the puppy-dog face.

"Please?" she begged. "Can't I stay here for a little while?"

Lola sighed. Of course, she wanted to say yes. She always did. But this time, doing so would require Lincoln's grace as well.

"Stop that! You know I have a hard time saying no to a pouty face! I'll tell you what. You can stay for the night," Lola informed Lana, "but I'll have to discuss any long-term commitments with Lincoln."

"Oh! Thank you! Thank you!" screamed Lana, jumping up and down while hugging Lola.

"What's all the commotion?" asked Lincoln, rolling into the kitchen.

"Hi, Lincoln!" beamed Lana. "Long time no see. What's up?"

"Oh, nothing much," he replied, happy to see her. "The usual, just working. What have you been doing? It's been a few weeks since I've seen you."

"Pretty much nothing," she replied. "Literally."

Lincoln cocked his head uncertainly as Lana came over and playfully sat in his lap, draping her arms around him.

"Miss me?" she teased him.

Lana established that she fancied Lincoln nearly five years ago. In the months immediately following his accident, she spent a lot of time helping Lola nurse him back to total health, and as expected, the sisters talked.

At first, Lola was uncomfortable with the idea, but eventually, their twin bond asserted itself, and Lola accepted it as long as Lana kept things platonic. Of course, Lincoln had no idea and put up with the occasional inappropriate comment as Lana being Lana. But seeing Lana snuggled up to him ignited something in Lola's brain.

It occurred to Lola that Lana never did follow up with Clyde, which was a moot point now that he and Penelope were married. What was more interesting was that she couldn't recall Lana ever having dated after that. Lola was going to have to fix that.

That's when Lola got a bold idea, deciding to put "operation-get-Lana-a-date-and-mabye-laid-and-think-of-a-shorter-name-for-this-operation" into effect.

That's also when Nova came bouncing through the door, forcing any further thought into submission.

"Hey, Sunshine," said Lincoln as Nova ceremoniously dumped her book bag onto the table. "How was school."

"Not as bad as I figured it would be," Nova said, grabbing a cookie. "I met somebody."

"Oh?" chimed Lana, standing back up and stuffing the remaining bite of her cookie into Lincoln's mouth. "Is he cute?"

"Aunt Lana!" exclaimed Nova. "No, she's a girl!"

"Well, is she cute?" continued Lana.

"What is it with this family?" pondered Nova, taking a giant chomp out of her treat, hoping to avoid having to answer more stupid questions.

"Tell me about her, sweetie," asked Lola in her best mom's voice. "Is she nice?"

"Oh, yes!" Nova said through a mouthful of crumbs. "She's not like the other kids, all judgy and stuff. Her name is Calliope McBride."

Lincoln nearly spat out the remaining cookie crumbs upon hearing the name.

"McBride?" he declared. "You mean Clyde's kid?"

"I think so, yeah," mumbled Nova, finally taking a seat. "And we're in his class together."

Nova's head barely cleared the table's edge, as small as she was, but that didn't sway her from trying to sneak another cookie.

"Sorry, sweetpea," announced Lola, moving the tray away from Nova's reach. "The rest is for something else."

"Now, why don't you start on your homework while the adults talk," Lola instructed her daughter.

Nova grimaced but did as her mother said, unzipping her bag and pulling out some alphabet tracing paper and a pencil.

"Lincoln?" asked Lola sweetly, once satisfied that they were free of Nova's attention. "How would you feel about Lana staying with us for a while?"