Disclaimer: The Loud House and associated characters belong to Nickelodeon and Chris Savino.
Why Love Fails
By Lola Presents
Chapter 9
"Well, what are you standing around for?" exclaimed Lola. "Let's go!"
Lynn pulled out the keys as he rose, followed by his wife, Rita, who merely sighed with apprehension.
"Wait..." Lola stopped them, thinking to herself. "Let me try that again. May we see him if it's not too much trouble or too late?"
"Alright, who are you, and what did you do with my sister?" quipped Lori. "Lola would never consider circumstances like that."
Lola shrugged and formed a small smile.
"I don't know," she admitted. "I just feel... different."
"I think, under the circumstance, that a visit is acceptable," announced Lynn as he headed toward the door, smiling at Lola as he passed her.
"Yay!" chirped Lola, bouncing slightly.
"Well, good luck, Mrs. Loud," offered detective Bryce as Rita showed him out. "I hope things go well for you and your husband."
Lori, Bobby, and Lorianne hopped into their car and pulled out, heading toward the hospital, while Lynn, Rita, Lana, Lisa, and Lily took the van. Lucy stayed home to care for Nova, who was asleep upstairs. Lucy didn't particularly like hospitals, though she had to admit they were full of ghosts, which wasn't bad.
The group arrived at Lincoln's door around eight-thirty, preparing themselves. None had seen Lincoln except Rita and Lola, and they didn't know what to expect. For that matter, Lola didn't either. It had only been a day, and the swelling couldn't have receded that much. Still, for him to be awake was astounding, and Lola hoped for the best.
*knock*
*knock*
Lola cracked the door and peered in.
"Lincoln?" she asked pensively.
"Lola?" came a weak and raspy voice. "Come in."
Lola entered, followed by most of her family. He didn't appear to be much better, though maybe a little. The only discernable difference was that he was sitting upright and awake and smiling. Well, an attempt at smiling anyway. The swelling on his left side prohibited a full grin. His eyes beamed, though, at the sight of Lola.
Lola grinned from ear to ear, not paying one bit of attention to his healing wounds, and bolted to him, wrapping her arms gingerly around his neck, and kissed him on his cheek several times.
"I'm so happy to see you up!" Lola declared. "How are you feeling, baby? Does it hurt? Is there anything I can do?"
"Uh, stop hugging so hard?" he muttered, chuckling. "Ow!"
"Oh, right!" exclaimed Lola. "I'm sorry. I'm just so happy to see you!"
"It's alright. I'm happy to see you too," Lincoln announced, smiling and glancing around. "Where's Sunshine?"
"Huh? Oh, she's with Lucy at home right now," Lola informed him while pulling up a chair and laying her hand on Lincoln's arm. "Sleeping like a baby."
"Well, that's good," Lincoln said weakly, then coughed once.
"Wow, you got banged up good, eh?" observed Lana, almost giddy. "Those are going to leave some cool scars."
"Lana!" snapped Lola, turning to face her twin. "Who cares how he looks! I'm in love with who he is, not his appearance."
"Oh, for goodness sake," shot Lori laughing. "If somebody doesn't get rid of this imposter, I will."
Lola glared at Lori, though it was full of warmth.
"What are you saying, Lols? That I'm not cute?" joked Lincoln.
"Of course you are, sweetie," soothed Lola beaming at him. "But, you'll always be cute to me."
"Lincoln!" gasped Lily as she approached his bedside, beginning to tear up. "Are you alright?"
"I've been better, but the wounds will heal," he explained. "And, they said the swelling should be gone in a few days. I'll be good as new. Well, almost."
"What do you mean?" stammered Lily.
"Well, I still can't move my right side," Lincoln tried to explain without causing alarm. "Much, anyway. I can, but it's only occasionally. Dr. Webber said the more I move it, the better it'll get."
"Me see! Me see!" cried Lorianne, standing beside Lily, who looked at her niece.
Lorianne was a curious child, always into trouble for getting into things she shouldn't. She was also susceptible to people's emotions. Perhaps being around two large families prepared her for that. Maybe it was something else entirely.
Either way, Lily wasn't sure how Lorianne would react and looked to Lori for some hint about how to proceed. When Lori nodded slightly, Lily picked Lorianne up and sat the child on her hip.
"Lincoln?" said Lorianne, looking over her uncle, surveying the damage. "You has a lot of booboos!" Are you broked?"
Lincoln winced a little as he couldn't help but chuckle. He tried his best to hide his discomfort and failed.
"I do, don't I, Ree?" agreed Lincoln. "I'm one big booboo."
Ree was Lincoln's nickname Lorianne, which Lincoln based on her name, minus the "Lo" and the "Anne."
"But, I'll be fine soon," Lincoln added for reassurance.
"And in a few days ago, me can still hug you?" Lorianne asked insistently.
"Of course, Ree," Lincoln replied warmly, understanding what the little girl meant, despite her apparent mistakes regarding time and pronouns.
For all her adventurousness, Lorianne was a bit behind academically. Neither Lori nor Bobby were sure if the cause was neurological or environmental. Nonetheless, the girl was as sharp as a tack. She wasn't stupid by any stretch of the imagination. She merely had problems with language, often substituting words for others, or making up words entirely, primarily when she didn't know a suitable one.
Her speech patterns often made Lorianne seem younger than she was, but the family overlooked it. The children in first grade, however, did not. As a result of their teasing, the youngster often felt outcast and became shy in public. Of course, things were fine at home, where she was comfortable.
"Hey, little brother," Lori greeted Lincoln warmly. "How's it going? Is there anything I can do for you?"
Lincoln peered up at his childhood warden.
"Mm, not that I can think of," he replied. "That is unless you want to check in on Lola and Nova every once in a while. At least until I get out of here."
Lori nodded curtly.
"I'll be glad to," Lori responded. "But don't be surprised if I clean your place up a little while I'm there. I know how sloppy you can be."
The whole family laughed out loud at Lori's statement, even Lola, who remained quiet, allowing her family to get a word in with Lincoln. They had come all the way here to see him, so who was she to monopolize his attention?
"Well, I'm glad you're feeling better, honey," interjected Rita in a typically maternal voice. "But we have something to tell you if you're up to it."
Lincoln nodded as much as he could without pain.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be," he said, hoping it wasn't bad news regarding his condition.
Some doctors prefer telling the family something terrible before advising the patient. If presented by a group of loved ones who have accepted the information well, the patient will be more likely to respond positively.
Rita cleared her throat a few times, bolstering her resolve, trying not to choke up.
"Your accident wasn't a mechanical failure, honey," Rita informed Lincoln. "It was... deliberate."
Lincoln furrowed his brows.
"Wait, what?" he murmured. "Who would..."
"Son, it was Ronnie Anne," announced Lynn as his wife began to falter.
One couldn't blame Rita, though. The Santiago child had seemed a part of their family for many years and was incredibly close to Lincoln at one point. Many of them suspected that they'd end up together, especially Lori. However, that was not to be. Instead, they remained friends. Or so they thought.
"Are you sure?" gasped Lincoln incredulously. "I mean, I know she was rough around the edges in her younger days, but this? Any idea why?"
Lola sighed, smashing her lips together in a tight smile, and raised her brows.
"That would be me," Lola admitted. "Well, us. You know, being together. The whole sister and brother thing? She still had feelings for you and didn't take the news well."
"You can say that again," exclaimed Lori. "You should've heard the things she called you. She didn't want anyone to have you if she couldn't. Who knows."
Lincoln then remembered a brief conversation with Ronnie Anne some time ago. It wasn't so much a conversation, though, that required dialog. Ronnie spewed some insults at him when she initially heard about Lola and him. But that was months ago. She'd have gotten over it by now. Right? He guessed not.
"Bobby?" inquired Lori, looking for the young man.
Lori's husband had yet to say anything and leaned against the counter.
"Oh, yeah," Bobby said quietly, stepping forward. "Hey, bro. I'm sorry about all this."
"It's alright, dude," Lincoln consoled him. "It's not your fault. Besides, I'm still kicking."
"Uh, yeah..." said Bobby solemnly. "It's just... never mind."
Lori gave Bobby a concerned look. She could always tell when something was bothering him but decided not to press it in public. There had already been too much drama recently, and Lori had no intention of adding to it.
For the next hour, the group conversed lightly about many things, none of which were significant. The dialog merely served as a stress reliever and brought people out of their defenses due to Lincoln's condition and physical appearance.
A nurse eventually stopped by to remind them that visiting hours would be over soon and that perhaps they should spend their time preparing to leave. Not wanting to trouble the staff, everyone gathered their things and said farewell.
"I love you so much, Lincoln," Lola cooed sweetly, kissing him gently on the lips. "You get some rest and get better, alright? I'll take care of everything else."
"That's about all I can do, Lols," he chuckled, looking over himself. "But I will. I'll be chasing you around the bedroom again soon. I promise."
Lynn began whistling and turned to leave, ignoring the statement. The girls, on the other hand, all groaned or turned red.
"Unless that's in a splint, too," joked Lana as she walked for the door.
"Alright, 'Luan,'" responded Lola, blushing as she guided her sister through the door frame. "This way, miss jealous."
"Hey!" exclaimed Lana in a controlled whisper. "Shush, you!"
Lincoln watched them leave and waved as he did so. It wouldn't be long before the nurse came in to review things before turning out the lights, and he took some time to reflect.
Things were constantly changing in his family. It had been that way since he could remember. However, nothing changed as fast as it had during the previous year. How much could things possibly change from here on out?
He considered how his relationship with his sister nearly tore the family apart and how their love for each other eventually brought them back together. Then there was Ronnie Anne. What a shock that was. Though, in retrospect, she always had acted with what seemed to be jealousy when he associated with other girls, even if she didn't speak out.
He mostly ignored it, however. If Ronnie wasn't going to say anything, she didn't have any reason to complain. It wasn't as though the girl flung herself at him or gave him hints. Instead, she always pushed him away, insulting him.
Lincoln sighed deeply, not believing he'd never understand the female mind. Well, all but Lola's. He knew everything about her at this point. Having spent all those years together as youths gave him incredible insight into who she was. Not only superficially, but the honest Lola.
He loved her with all his heart and couldn't wait to get better so he could return to providing for her. But, if there was one thing he wanted most, it was for Lola to follow her passion, and he decided then and there that he wasn't going to settle for anything less than reintroducing her to the pageant business.
She could dote on him all she wanted and change everything about herself, but he knew her true calling. Just as his passion was being an artist, hers was making the best of herself. Now that she was older and more mature, he felt Lola could pull it off inside and out.
As expected, a nurse walked in and took note of his vitals.
"Doing alright, Mr. Loud?" he asked politely.
"Yeah," responded Lincoln. "My cheek is more than a little sore, if you know what I mean. But I was happy to see my family. I guess I went overboard smiling."
The nurse chuckled as he replaced the bag attached to Lincoln's I.V. pole. "That can happen. You're a lucky young man, though. I've seen a whole lot worse in my years. Keep that positive attitude; you'll be home before you know it."
"Thanks," said Lincoln before struggling through a deep yawn.
"Have a good night," instructed the nurse as he lowered Lincoln's gurney, turned out the lights, and left.
Soon, the new batch of painkillers the nurse had infused his I.V. with kicked in, and Lincoln drifted off to a peaceful, painless slumber.
It took two weeks for the swelling to dissipate entirely, partially due to frequent visits from Lola and Nova, and occasionally Lana. Their presence stimulated him to move more often, aggravating his wounds. Of course, he wouldn't have had it any other way. In the end, he healed relatively well.
After another two weeks of physical therapy, he was ready to leave the hospital. At least, that's what the therapists said. He was willing to bolt after the first week, not being one to sit still for too long. Unless he was reading a comic or creating one, that is.
The accident didn't leave him without compromise, however. His spinal injuries left him unlikely to regain complete control of his right leg, but they didn't rule out the possibility of continued outpatient therapy. Luckily, most of the swelling was to his lumbar region, and his right arm's functionality returned almost immediately.
One month after the incident, Lincoln sat in the family van as his mother and father drove him home. Lana made some adjustments to the seating and added a hydraulic lift to accommodate Lincoln's fancy new wheelchair. He insisted he'd be fine, but Lola would have none of it, wanting the best for him.
The closer they came to his house, the more excited he became. At the same time, apprehension set in. How was he going to work? Hell, how was he going to GET to work? Despite being emancipated, Lola couldn't drive him as she wasn't old enough for a license. Would he even be able to rush to Nova's aid should she need it?
He hadn't thought about such things while in rehab, but they now came crashing through him, and he began to panic. He was about to voice his concerns to his parents when they arrived, pulling into his vacant driveway. Oh, that's right. He no longer had a car, either.
"Well, son," Lynn said. "We're here. Are you ready? Everyone is waiting for you. Leni, Luna, Luan, and L.J. are here as well."
Lincoln sighed. Whatever would become of him and his family was up to fate to decide. The only thing he could do was face it with a smile and optimism.
"You bet, dad," Lincoln announced. "Let's do this."
Mr. Loud opened the van door and prepared the lift while Lincoln unlocked his wheelchair from its moors. Once free, he wheeled his chair onto the makeshift elevator and waited for it to reach the ground. Lincoln wheeled himself up the slight incline to his front porch, not wanting assistance, where a newly constructed ramp awaited him.
Finally acknowledging that he needed help, Lincoln relaxed as his father pushed him up the stairs and into the home. But he didn't stop there. Lincoln looked around and became confused when he saw that nobody was present.
"Uh, dad," Lincoln asked. "Where is everyone? I thought you said they'd be here."
Lynn said nothing and continued pushing his son out the back door.
"Surprise!" everyone yelled. "Welcome home, Lincoln!"
A few bangs sounded as Lana lit some firecrackers, and smoke filled the air as Lucy ignited some incense. Lori was preparing a celebratory cake shaped like Lincoln's old car, as it appeared after the accident.
"This is..." Lincoln began, laughing, "really unexpected, and I appreciate it. But, Lori, what's with that cake?"
"Oh, this represents your past," his eldest sister said. "We're going to destroy it. By eating it, of course!"
"You're so silly, but I love you," Lincoln said. "Thanks."
Lola then approached him and handed him a familiar felt box.
"Here," she said. "Let's do this now. In public. In front of everyone."
"Are you sure?" Lincoln asked timidly.
Lola nodded insistently.
"I've talked with pastor Richards, and he's agreed to perform the service, despite legal restrictions," Lola said, beaming brightly. "He said something about fudging our address."
"In that case," Lincoln said, using his arms to lift himself and slide to his knees.
Everyone gasped, not expecting him to do so, considering he was still healing. Indeed, such an effort would be uncomfortable, if not downright painful. And even though it did cause him some discomfort, he forged ahead.
"Lola," Lincoln said, opening and extending the box to her, "would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? We've been at each other's side for so long now that it feels like we are already married. We've seen each other through rough times and celebrated the great ones together. I can't see a future without you by my side and me by yours. We've learned and grown a lot as one, and I don't plan to stop now. So, what do you say?"
Lola began crying, this time tears of joy, and she didn't try holding them back. Her tears, what Lincoln would later refer to as liquid love, streamed around her blushing, rosy cheeks as she accepted the ring from Lincoln, then cupped his face in her small, delicate hands and kissed him properly and deeply in front of everyone gathered there.
"Yes, Lincoln," she happily squeaked out, nodding nonstop. "I will."
The End
Please stay tuned for part four, Who Love Chooses.
