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

Who Love Chooses

By Lola Presents

Chapter 6

The celebration lasted well into the evening. Lola whipped up some dessert, and Lana dug through their hall closet for board games. Now that Lorianne could communicate better, it made sense to let her show off her new skills.

Sometimes, Lorianne would get too excited and forget to use the visualization exercise Lincoln taught her, but nobody minded. The girl's cheeks hurt from smiling so much when things began to settle. As Lana started cleaning up the games, Lorianne got her mother's attention with a soft pat.

"Mom," Lorianne asked, glancing at her fingers and wiggling them as she spoke. "Can. We. Sleep. Here. Tonight?" Then, changing hands, she added, "Please? Nova. Invited. Me."

Still in the early stages, Lincoln suggested she keep her lists short. Perhaps four to five words. Considering the girl paused between words, a more concise list was best. As Lorianne became more efficient, she could increase her word count and use both hands. Perhaps, one day, she would no longer need the technique.

"I don't know, honey," replied Lori. "They've already got a full house, and there are no extra beds."

"Nonsense," declared Lincoln, who overheard their conversation. "There are two new and unused bedrolls in the attic. If you're willing to fetch them, you can camp out in the guest room."

"The attic?" repeated Lori, squirming.

Lincoln nearly forgot about Lori's fear of the dark until now. Wanting to have a little fun at her expense, he pressed on.

"Yeah," he said, grinning. "But they are way in the back, in the dark corner. While you're up there, you might even find Lucy."

"Uh-uh, no way am I going up there," declared Lori, folding her arms defiantly.

"Please?" begged Lori's daughter, giving her mother the puppy-dog face.

Lori grimaced but relaxed her arms.

"Fine, but if Lucy pops out and scares me, I'm punching her," declared Lori before heading for the access panel in the hallway.

"No, you won't," laughed Lincoln as Lori pulled down the hatch. "I know you better than that."

"Yes, I will," retorted Lori, unfolding the stairs. Lori slowly began to climb the rungs but stopped near the top.

"Lucy? Ghosts?" called Lori. "I swear if you startle me or say boo, I will punch you right in the face. Do you hear that?"

Lincoln, Lola, and Lana watched and listened with amusement, chuckling hysterically at Lori. Finally, after much hesitation, Lori disappeared into the attic, and for a few moments, everything was quiet.

Before long, the remaining adults began to grow concerned and gathered around the attic stairs. As they assembled, two bedrolls came tumbling down upon them. One landed in Lincoln's lap. The other bonked Lana on the nose as she peered up.

"Sorry!" called Lori, stepping back down. "Sorry! I didn't know you were standing there."

Once down, she picked the rolls up and handed them to Lorianne and Nova.

"You two, please set these up," Lori instructed. "And have fun!"

"Girls, there should also be some extra pillows and blankets in the hall closet should you need them," Lincoln added before they vanished.

The two Loud children then hustled off while Lori closed the attic hatch.

Soon, things were quiet again. It was late, and people were getting sleepy. Everyone gathered once more before bed. In turn, they finished their coffee, or hot chocolate in the children's case, and began yawning.

"I'd better call Dad and let him know we'll be staying here tonight," announced Lori, pulling out her phone. Lori pushed "call" by her father's name and waited for him to pick up.

"Hi, Dad?" she said. "It's Lori. I wanted to let you know we'll be staying at Lincoln's tonight. Lorianne is having a sleepover with Nova. Yes. Right. I'll see you tomorrow. I love you guys."

It took longer than intended due to the children's excitement, but Lola and Lori eventually managed to get their kid's teeth brushed and ready for bed. Afterward, they exchanged kisses and hugs, and everyone parted.

Nova entered her room and, typical of a five-year-old, bounded into bed with a giant leap. Lorianne followed her cousin in and unzipped her bedroll, which lay neatly on the floor next to Nova's bed.

"Goodnight, Ree," Nova chirped. "Sleep tight."

"Goodnight. Nova," said Ree happily, snuggling into her sleeping bag.

The adults remained in the hallway for a moment, listening for signs of mischief. With none heard, they also broke.

Lincoln rolled into his room and parked his chair beside the bed. Then, bracing himself with his hands and using his left leg, he came to a stand. Lincoln pivoted on the spot, then sat down on the edge of the bed.

Pulling off his shirt, shoes, socks, and pants, he reached for his flannel pajama bottoms and pulled them on. Then, lifting his right leg with his left, he hoisted himself into a seated position against his pillows and pulled the covers up to his waist.

Lola stepped from the master bathroom, ready for bed, which for her meant utterly nude. Lincoln stared lovingly at her, admiring her body as she walked over to the door to ensure she locked it and finally moved around to her side of the bed.

As usual, she laid down on her belly, pulled the sheet over her butt, and folded her arms upon her pillow before laying her head upon them. For the second night in a row, Lola beamed at Lincoln as he reached for his graphic novel. She couldn't help but become bothered. Lincoln was everything she ever wanted in a man.

Lincoln was intelligent, thoughtful, loving, honest, and, most of all, loyal. The previous night, Lola asked him about his feelings for Lana, and though it took a little prodding, he admitted his feelings for her twin. She also knew that Lana loved him as much as she did.

But Lincoln had chosen Lola. Of course, that decision was probably due in part to how much time they spent together as children. What if the shoe had been on the other foot? Would Lincoln have ended up with Lana? What if there had been no apparent time preference? How would Lincoln have chosen, and would he have chosen at all?

Lola continued to gaze at Lincoln, her eyes misting over, a warm smile on her face. Though it didn't happen frequently, Lola had a moment of philosophical clarity where she likened herself and her twin to food.

When going shopping, Lola could choose hot dogs or hamburgers. And, if she had enough money, she could get both. Of course, neither would mind being left behind due to being food and not humans.

She then began to wonder how she would've felt if it had been her that got left behind and began to understand just how badly Lana needed him. How her twin held up all these years was beyond Lola's ability to comprehend, and subsequently, she began to feel something new and unexpected.

"Why should he have to choose?" Lola thought.

In another room, lying snug within her bedroll, another young heart beat frantically, thinking about everything that occurred to her over the years. Her thought included her past and present, most notably, recent events.

She couldn't consciously recall when her abuse began. But thanks to Dr. Chavez, she had an idea. According to the M.R.I., she sustained her injury roughly seven years ago, which meant she was five years old when it began.

"Five... Years... Old…" she thought, holding her hand in front of her face in the dim light.

No wonder she had nightmares about the pain. Being forced into such acts at such a tender age was unforgivable. It hurt like hell, and not being allowed to cry or call out made things worse.

It did not hurt in later years, though. As the years passed and Lorianne's body grew, it became tolerable. Even though the thought of her father assaulting her made her want to vomit, the sex was pleasurable.

Not having a choice was what hurt the most. Had Lorianne a say, she would've declined. But how can you say no to someone much bigger and more forceful than you, especially someone who has authority over you?

She wished with all her heart that her father could've been more like her Uncle Booboo. What a silly name. But it was her unique name for him. The first time she recalled seeing him was after his accident. Like her, he too was a victim of violence, and she immediately felt a kinship with him.

During the past five years, she used Nova as an excuse to visit. How it wasn't apparent to others, Lorianne couldn't fathom. What could a five-year-old and a twelve-year-old have in common? Sure, she was fun to play with, and yes, they did have a few things they shared. But it wasn't as if they were best friends.

Booboo, on the other hand, understood her. When he gazed at her, it was as if he were peering into her soul. He never once raised his hand or his voice to her. He never talked down to her or treated her condescendingly.

Lorianne brought his memory into focus as she finally closed her eyes. He sat before her, an inviting smile on his face and his adorable brown eyes lighting upon her. He bore an expression that told her nothing was impossible if only she believed.

She knew Booboo loved her, as he told her frequently, and she loved him.

"Wait…" was Lorianne's last thought as she fell to slumber.

"Why should anyone have to choose?" Lola thought more concisely.

Suddenly, an old memory surfaced. Lola and Lana were in their room five years ago when Lola received partial information and falsely accused Lana of hurting Lincoln. Something like that must have stung terribly, considering how much Lana loved Lincoln.

And yet, once they knew the truth, nobody mentioned it again, and Lola never apologized. Lana merely brushed it off as another childhood spat.

So like her.

Lola could no longer take the emotional strain of her conflicting emotions, and something sprang to life within her. Something beyond selflessness. She looked up at Lincoln, his nose buried in his novel, and decided.

"I'll be right back, baby," Lola announced as she slipped out of bed and loosely put on her pink bathrobe.

"Mmmm," murmured Lincoln. "Alright."

Lola padded from the room, not wanting to rouse anyone. At least, nobody other than her intended target. Lola donned her robe and tiptoed into the living room, where her twin lay, two of her limbs dangling off the couch and partially covered. Lola made her way over to her sister and gently nudged her. Lana only rolled her head, so Lola tried again.

"Lana," Lola said, a bit louder but soft enough not to disturb the others. "Lana, wake up!"

"Huh? What?" Lana gurgled as she sat up. "What's going on?"

The light blankets fell away from Lana's chest as she rose, exposing her sheer blue nighty. The only other garment she wore was white cotton panties.

"I need you in the bedroom," Lola said quickly, grabbing Lana's hand. "Come on!"

Thinking something might be wrong with Lincoln, Lana sprang to her feet and ran after Lola. Why else would Lola wake her up in the middle of the night with her robe hanging open?

After Lola opened the door and Lana rushed in, the former stepped in and closed the door, locking it behind her.

"What's the problem?" Lana inquired, looking around frantically. "What's up?"

Lincoln gawked at Lana, unable to move. Most of all, he was shocked at the goofy grin Lola wore. His eyes narrowed.

"Lola…" he asked, shielding his eyes from Lana's presence.

"Lola!" barked Lana. "What's the big idea? You drag me in here in the middle of the night, and nothing's wrong?"

"Oh, there's a lot wrong," Lola cooed as she stepped beside her sister.

Lola clasped her hands around Lana's left arm and began slowly bouncing on the balls of her feet, occasionally fluttering her brows.

"But I'm about to fix that," Lola finished.

Lana looked at her sister while trying to cover herself, blood rushing to her cheeks and nerves coursing through her body.

"What do you mean?" Lana asked, trying to ignore Lincoln in his entirety.

"Do you remember when Lincoln had his accident?" Lola inquired, biting her lip with anticipation.

"Duh," spat Lana. "And if you don't get to the point, I'm leaving."

"The point is, I never apologized," Lola admitted, still slowly bouncing by Lana's side like an anxious schoolgirl. "And I know how much that must've hurt, considering how much you're in love with..."

"Lola!" gasped Lana, stopping her sister from revealing her deepest secret. "That's between you and me!"

"Well…" cooed Lola, turning her gaze toward Lincoln, whose mouth hung open. "It turns out he's in love with you too, and since we're twins..."

"What are you saying," gasped Lana, losing her strength before taking a seat on the bed.

"Lana!" Lincoln finally exclaimed. "It's not..."

Lana turned to face Lincoln, only to realize they were inches apart. Yet, despite the awkwardness of their situation, neither moved.

"Is it true?" Lana whispered. "Do you love me?"

There was a short pause as Lincoln looked at Lola. Her expression told him everything he needed to know.

"Yes," Lincoln admitted timidly. "But..."

Suddenly, Lincoln and Lana felt their heads gently moving forward, not of their accord, but under the direction of Lola's palms. As their faces neared, and they began to feel each other's heat, their pulses began to rise.

Eventually, their lips brushed upon each other, the taste driving them beyond rational control, and they gave in to one of the most sensual kisses Lola had ever witnessed. Lola watched for a moment if only to ensure the moment was real and not an illusion. Satisfied with their mutual happiness, Lola slowly backed out of the room.

"Have fun," Lola whispered as she closed the door behind her and headed to the couch.

Neither Lincoln nor Lana heard either Lola's parting words or the door closing behind her. For that brief, blissful moment, only they existed. Their souls entwined with one another, and their hearts perfectly synchronized.

They parted and opened their eyes. The connection they felt laid bare, and an understanding arose between them. Lana would never be alone again, and her heart swelled with passion. They smiled at each other, and Lana leaned her head forward, resting it against Lincoln's.

"How long?" Lana asked breathlessly.

"Always," Lincoln mouthed.

Lana peered up at her new lover from under her bangs as desire guided her hands. Lincoln stared back at her, piercing her soul so intensely that Lana felt intoxicated.

Lincoln reverently reached up and cupped Lana's cheeks, pulling her into another kiss as she lifted herself, shifting her weight and bringing herself fully onto the bed.

Lincoln scooted forward and laid back as Lana straddled his legs, eager to explore his body. Beginning with his face and neck, she traced the contour of his body, first with her fingers and then her mouth, gracing it with tiny kisses.

She moved backward as she committed every nuance of Lincoln into her brain. Upon reaching his abdomen, she hooked her finger under the waistband of his pajamas and underwear, then pulled them down around his ankles.

Lincoln's member, already engorged, pulsated as blood flowed vigorously through it. Lana eyed it keenly as she came to a stand near the foot of the bed. Slowly, she pulled her nighty from her flesh and over her head, gyrating her hips as she did so.

Throwing her garment aside, she took a few steps forward so Lincoln could get a better view of her. He placed his hands on her surprisingly smooth skin and moved them slowly and sensually up her thighs until his fingertips brushed against the fabric of her panties.

Lana gazed down upon him and smiled as his cock began to throb, desiring only to bury itself within the girl above him. His balls tightened and moved within their flesh container when Lana started to lower her panties.

Once off, she tossed them aside, not caring where they landed. The lovers locked eyes and smoldered for a moment, letting the passion build. Then, Lana gingerly stepped off Lincoln, turned around, and straddled him again, lowering herself onto his face.

Just as Lincoln felt the cool, soft skin of Lana's belly press against his chest, the frantic girl took his cock into her mouth, savoring his taste as though he were some exotic dish.

Returning the favor, he wrapped his arms around her legs and pulled her flower to his face. Her juices leaked as he pushed his tongue into her most sacred place and enticed her from the inside. Lincoln's chin pressed against her clit with every movement he made, the rough stubble upon it stimulating her further.

"Oh, fuck," whispered Lana, pulling off him to gasp for air. "Yes…"

Lana sat up and supported herself, holding onto the headboard, moving with Lincoln's oral onslaught, pushing his tongue ever more profoundly into her, and ground herself onto him.

With strength and agility that Lana didn't know he possessed, Lincoln lifted her with his arms, turned her around, and lowered her form against his. He then wrapped his arms around her and rolled over on her.

"Lincoln!" sighed Lana, her conscious self losing to the depths of desire.

Lana reached out tenderly and drew him in for a deep, wet kiss as he lined himself up with her entrance. Fluid gushed from her as she felt Lincoln's cock push past her vulva and seat itself into her depths like a sword in its sheath.

His length and girth seemed ready-made for her, and it gave her no quarter when it came to rest. Slowly, Lincoln pulled out and repeated the move much faster and more forcefully. Lana moaned, arched her back, and closed her eyes, enjoying their union.

Soon, Lincoln felt a familiar twinge deep within his core. He looked at Lana, and from her expression, he could tell she was close too. He continued to pick up his pace until he could no longer resist the sensation bearing down on him.

With one final thrust, he emptied himself into his sister, shuddering as several spurts flowed forth. Lana held her breath for the duration, releasing it only after his offering ended.

Rolling off of Lana, Lincoln fell back onto his side of the bed, breathing heavily. The workout had taken a toll on his one functional leg, which now ached.

Lana, barely able to move, turned her head toward Lincoln, beaming brightly. She was sore but happy and entirely glad to have waited this long. No man had ever touched her, especially the way Lincoln had.

Finally, Lincoln let out a long-held breath and began to relax. Lana, beginning to regain control of her body, leaned into him, draping one leg and arm across his form.

"I love you, Lincoln," Lana cooed sweetly, nuzzling his neck.

"I love you, too, Lana," Lincoln replied with a smile.