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

What Love Creates

By Lola Presents

Chapter 9

Lisa took an open seat near the lobby security guard as possible. While she was exceedingly intelligent, she was also aware of how atypically thin and weak she was. Spending all those years behind books and handling test tubes wasn't conducive to building muscle mass, and the girl knew she wouldn't be able to defend herself if someone should try to abduct her.

Not being allowed in the emergency room was expected, though. There was a lot to do, and the staff consistently ran around, not to mention additional people's potential health risks. Still, the relative quiet of the lobby gave her time to reflect, unlike at home.

Lisa considered her brother and sister, as well as their relationship. Nobody could deny that it was unusual, both from a social perspective and that of biology. Most humans are ingrained with the idea of repulsion to their siblings, just so these situations wouldn't happen.

Whatever wires got crossed was irrelevant, she surmised. It happened, and now her siblings were in love, one of which was about to give birth. Lisa calculated the odds of deformity, mental and physical limitations, and potential personality disorders for a few moments before deciding that the exercise was pointless.

In what condition their baby turned out was unchangeable at this juncture. Besides, it usually takes several generations before inbreeding produces noticeable results. Sighing, she twiddled her thumbs, waiting for the rest of the family to arrive.

Rita, the Loud matriarch, was the first on the scene, having chartered a cab straight from Dr. Feinstein's office to the hospital.

"Any word?" questioned the woman as she rushed up to Lisa.

Lisa shook her head. "Nothing yet, mother," responded the girl. "But I suspect that will change soon. They've had plenty of time to see her through triage."

Rita sat beside her daughter and took a deep breath. "I'm not ready for this. I mean, with my own, I had no choice. But this is going to be my first grandbaby. I won't be around all the time to take care of it. What if something happens?"

"Now, mother," consoled Lisa, patting her mother's leg. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. You and our father have raised us well. Lincoln is smart and responsible, for the most part. You have little to worry about."

Rita sighed. "You're right," she admitted. "It's just hard, you know?"

Before Lisa could reply, her father strode in with Lucy, Lana, and Lily in tow. "I'm sorry we're late. I couldn't find a good parking space for the van," he apologized. "Any news?"

"Not a thing, honey," answered Rita. "Perhaps we should..."

"Mom!" Lori called from the entrance as she walked in with Lorianne in her arms, interrupting her mother. They were followed shortly by Leni, Luna, Luan, and Lynn. At that moment, the double metal doors opened, and Lincoln walked in, looking very tired and stressed.

"Uncle Lincoln!" screamed Lorianne, bolting from Lori's arms, only to cling to her uncle's leg, sitting on his foot. The display incited jealousy in Lily, who copied Lorianne's actions. Lincoln now stood, unable to move, one girl on each leg.

"Girls!" he pleaded, ruffling their hair. "Please, I can't walk! Everyone take a seat, and I'll fill you in."

It took a moment of staring each other down, waiting to see who would leave Lincoln's legs first, before Lincoln pried them off himself and sat down. The pair settled on sitting on the floor by his feet, glowering at each other.

"Alright, settle down," instructed Lincoln amidst the clamor of the assault of questions that came his way. "Lola is doing fine. Her contractions are about four minutes apart and closing. They've hydrated her and have been monitoring her. Everything seems stable. However…"

Everyone gasped.

"At the moment, they are wheeling her in to get an ultrasound," he announced. "There is some concern that she may require a caesarian section."

Lynn swooned and passed out into Rita's arms. Naturally, Rita was prepared for such a display, though she'd hoped against it happening. As many kids as they'd had, one would think the man had grown a pair somewhere along the way.

"Oh, no," cried Lana. "If they cut her open, she'll have a huge scar and won't be able to compete in her pageants anymore!"

"CUT HER OPEN?!" screamed Lily and Lorianne as they began sobbing.

"Lana!" scolded Lincoln. "Look what you did! Besides, scar or no, Lola will always be the most beautiful woman in the world!"

Woman. That word had never left Lincoln's mouth before regarding his sisters. He used to reserve its usage for females much older than him. Now, it took on an entirely new meaning. It wasn't about age or some perceived difference in age. Instead, it was about life status, accomplishments, and respect.

"You're right," sighed Lana, taking a seat on the floor beside the weeping, scared girls. "I'm sorry, guys. Listen, they probably won't even have to, okay? And if they do, it'll be a small one. I promise."

Sniffling, the kids nodded in understanding. However, their awareness was now on edge. Every time a door opened, they stared fearfully and expectantly.

For a few moments, all was calm, save for the lobby hustle, and Lincoln rested his head against the wall. The day was only half over, yet, he felt like he'd been up for two straight days. Everyone remained relatively calm and quietly talked, not wanting to bother the soon-to-be father.

As Lincoln rested, his father came around and decided to fetch some coffee from the cafeteria. Upon returning, Lincoln had just rejoined the living, and Lynn handed him a cup.

"Here you go, son," Lynn said. "You looked like you could use this."

Happily accepting the drink, Lincoln smiled at his father. "Thanks, dad," he said. "I do."

Lincoln thought about his childhood and how difficult it must have been to raise such a large family. The young man, filled with hope and fear, now looked upon his father with new respect. Lincoln's child need not be perfect. He was sure they would cut up and act out, need discipline and love, and realized that none of it was nearly as exhausting as waiting for them to arrive. Here he was, about to be the father of one, and was almost dead on his feet. Lynn has done it eleven times!

As Lincoln finished his thought, a man in white emerged from the doors leading into the belly of the hospital. "Lincoln Loud?" the man called.

Lincoln handed his coffee off to Luan, stood, and rose to meet the man. "Yes, sir," he said, extending his hand. "That's me. What's going on?"

"Hello. I'm doctor Miller," he said, shaking Lincoln's hand. "It looks like things are going to be touch and go. Miss Loud has elected to attempt a natural birth. However, we have a team on standby for an emergency caesarian section if one is needed."

Lincoln nodded and gulped, suddenly overcome with fright. "I understand. When can I see her again?"

"Right now, if you like," announced the doctor, motioning toward the door. "We're getting ready to move her up to the natal floor. Just follow me."

Lincoln grew more nervous with every step he took, following the doctor down a corridor, up an elevator, down another hallway, and eventually into Lola's private room. All he could think about the whole way was what might go wrong. Would he lose her? What if they lost the baby? A terrible feeling of guilt and remorse coursed through him. Yet, outwardly, he remained stoic.

"Augh!" yelled Lola as they entered. "This fucking hurts!"

A nearby nurse reviewed the monitors as Dr. Miller rushed to her side. Seeing her distress, he placed his hands on her belly, located the baby, and tested her contractions.

They weren't stopping and came one after another. Soon, a loud beeping sounded.

"Fetal distress!" exclaimed the nurse as she rushed from the room, yelling instructions.

All Lincoln could do was stare blankly. All life seemed to leave his body. He knew what would happen and couldn't force himself to respond. That was until Lola noticed him.

His young lover reached out to him, tears of pain running down her cheeks. "Lincoln…" she said in a near whisper, beckoning him with her hand.

That one simple word snapped the man back into reality, breaking the spell of silence that had enveloped him. Shaking it off, he stood by her side, holding her hand tightly. He leaned over and kissed her head.

"It's going to be alright, Lols," he said reassuringly. "This might be new for you, but this is their job. Trust them, okay? Trust me."

Lola nodded and pulled him close as another contraction hit.

When Lincoln noticed what was happening around him, the caesarian team had moved into the room, erecting a cloth shield, blinding Lola and Lincoln to what was about to happen.

"Alright, miss Loud," the anesthetist said. "We're going to be numbing you now. It'll pinch, but you won't be able to feel anything at all in just a moment."

Lola nodded and clenched Lincoln's hand again as they injected a potent local anesthetic and remained that way until it took effect. It didn't take nearly as long as she thought it would, and she began to relax.

Lincoln didn't dare look. He knew full well that he would pass out and wasn't about to leave Lola alone. Instead, Lincoln turned her head toward him with his palms, cradling her face. He leaned in close, partially to restrict his view but also to let Lola know he was there, for better or worse.

"I love you, Lola-bear," he whispered over the commotion a few feet away. "Concentrate on my face, alright? Tune everything else out. I'm right here and not leaving."

"Oh, Linc," Lola cried. While she couldn't feel any pain, she could feel movement and pressure. The sensation was nauseating, and she began to convulse. "What are they doing? It feels like they're taking my insides out. It's so cold."

"I'll explain it later," Lincoln instructed, pressing his forehead against hers. "Right now, you need to do the breathing exercises for your anxiety. Throwing up isn't an option at the moment."

For what seemed an eternity, the pair breathed together perfectly in synch. Oblivious to what was happening, it took the nurse a moment to get their attention.

"Ahem," coughed the lady holding a rather large, white burrito. "Would you like to hold your child, miss Loud?"

Lola could still feel the doctor doing whatever he was, but she no longer cared. "Yes, please!" she exclaimed brightly, a twinkle in her eye like Lincoln hadn't seen since her first pageant win.

Lincoln stood as the nurse handing the bundle to Lola, smiling with pride, though he hadn't even seen his child correctly yet.

Lola had a weird half-smile on her face as if trying to laugh and hold back tears simultaneously. Cautiously, she folded the little blanket and peered at her newborn, not knowing what to expect. And though Lola had been confident she would have a boy, the infant turned out to be a little girl.

Instantly, Lola's damn broke, and the waterfall began. "Oh, honey," she sputtered. "She's so beautiful! Come, Lincoln," she said, trying to pull him over by nodding her head oddly. "Look how little and sweet she is!"

Lincoln leaned over Lola, careful not to jostle her too much, for he knew she'd just received numerous stitches. Laying his eyes upon his daughter made him nearly forget, however. He caught himself before leaning too heavily on her.

"I have no words," the young man admitted. "She looks a lot like you. So, of course, she's beautiful."

Having completed the operation, the doctor left the room, and the nurses were busy ensuring Lola was covered and took down the shield. Shortly, the resident nurse approached.

"Mister Loud?" she asked to get Lincoln's attention. "In a few moments, your wife is going to get sleepy. We're going to have to take the baby to the nursery. You might want to use this time to inform your family."

"About what?" stammered the giddy father.

Lola laughed and popped his arm lightly after handing the baby to the nurse. "Seriously?" she snapped, still smiling. "You know, gender, weight, length, and time. You silly goober."

"Oh, yeah!" exclaimed Lincoln. "I knew that. I was only testing you."

"Sure you were," yawned Lola. "The information should be on the chart."

"The chart?" Lincoln asked timidly.

Lola rolled her eyes sleepily. "It's a clipboard attached to the bassinet."

"Oh, right," said Lincoln, leaning in and kissing her deeply. "Good job, baby. I knew you could do it. You get some sleep, alright? You've earned it."

Lola's return kiss was light and weak, and the girl fell asleep shortly after. Lincoln stood there, lost in the glow Lola didn't know she was exuding. Laying there with a goofy grin on her face, her hair a tangled, sweaty mess, Lincoln couldn't see anything but beauty. Kissing the top of her head once more, he left the room.

Lola drifted off to sleep before Lincoln could make it back downstairs. Eventually, he got to the lobby, where his family was waiting.

Unfortunately for him, two little girls immediately glommed themselves around his legs again.

"Girls, please!" he exclaimed, stirring those trying to get some rest. "I've had a long day, alright? If you let me go, I'll buy you some ice cream once things settle down, I promise."

"Okay..." Lily and Lorianne said despondently, releasing their grip on their uncle's legs.

Lincoln took a seat just as people began asking questions. In turn, he answered them and relayed all the information he could recall from the chart.

"But, what about the name?" prodded Lori and Luna.

"Uh," murmured Lincoln, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, but we haven't discussed it much. There was always something else happening."

"Well, what is she doing now?" asked Luan.

"Sleeping," answered Lincoln. "And boy, does she need it. Listen, guys. She will be sore for a few days, so I will need you all to be very careful around her. Don't lean on her or press on her belly. And yes, you may have to do favors for her. I know it'll be just like when she was a kid. But this time, she is going to need it."

The assembled family all nodded or verbally agreed.

"So, when can we see her and the baby?" asked Leni.

Lincoln blew a breath, releasing the tension of the day. "Let's go to the cafeteria and eat dinner. I'll see if she's up after that, okay?"

It took about an hour and a half to make their way to the cafeteria, order their food, and eat. Then, they milled around, chatting with each other. Most of it had to do with Lola or the baby. Everyone seemed to have forgotten about Lincoln leaning tiredly against a wall.

Soon, Lincoln's father approached, wanting to catch his son alone.

"Hey there, kiddo," he said, chuckling, as he leaned against the wall beside him. "Rough day, eh?"

Lincoln heaved a slight chuckle, making his head nod. "You can say that again. How did you ever do this eleven times?"

Lynn rested his head against the wall. "It wasn't easy, son. But, there are some things I want to tell you."

"Yeah?" prodded Lincoln, expecting some speech.

"When your mother and I started having kids," mister Loud said softly, "we didn't know what we were doing. Of course, we did our best and learned a lot of things along the way. You and Lola will make mistakes too. But don't beat yourselves up over them. Learn from them instead."

"We will," conceded Lincoln.

"Besides," Lynn added, "you have us to fall back on. Don't hesitate to ask if you ever need help or advice."

"Thanks, dad. That means a..." Lincoln got out before his phone beeped. He'd finally gotten around to replacing that blaring Ace Savvy ringtone. It was a bother at work, and several of his co-workers asked him to replace it.

"Yes?" said the young man into the device. "Alright. We'll be right up! Love you!"

All eyes were on Lincoln. Half looked expectant; the other half bore a hint of trepidation.

"Guys! Let's go meet the baby!" Lincoln announced. "But! You all have to behave and be quiet. That means no fighting or arguing."

Obediently, they fell in line behind Lincoln as he led them upstairs to Lola's room. Well, as much as they could. The bunch always had difficulty being quiet or taking orders, especially when given by Lincoln.

Lincoln entered first, asking the others to remain outside for a moment to see if Lola was decent. There was a new bassinet beside Lola's gurney, one with a warmer. His love was nestling their child in her arms as it fed.

"Ah, I see you're going to try breastfeeding," Lincoln announced his presence quietly.

Lola looked up at him smiling. "Yeah. I didn't want to, but they said I needed to for the first few days and that I'd get used to it. It's supposed to be better for her than formula."

Lincoln waited until they were through and Lola was covered again before beckoning the others. As quiet as was reasonable for them, they encircled the bed.

"How ya feeling, Lols?" asked Lana, concerned.

"I've been better," Lana's twin answered. "What about you, guys?"

"Enough with the chit-chat!" spat Lynn Junior. "We wanna see the baby!"

Lola laid the bundle on her chest, as her belly was sore, and carefully unwrapped it. The tiny girl lay there, blinking and moving her arms around slowly. Occasionally it would grip whatever came in contact with her hands, usually the blanket. A small tuft of blonde hair lay upon its head, staring at the interlopers with bright blue eyes.

Every heart in the room melted at the sight of the new Loud member. The cumulative effect was almost palpable. A sense of relief and ease cascaded over them. The baby had all its toes and fingers and was healthy.

"So…" prodded Rita. "Do you have a name picked out?"

Lincoln and Lola met gazes and blushed a little.

"What doe she look like to you, Lincoln?" asked Lola. "Our sisters made some suggestions before, but they were honestly kind of dumb."

Lincoln peered at his baby as it clung to his finger. The only thing he could think of was how she made him feel.

"She looks a lot like you, Lola-bear," he said. "When I look at her, she bursts with brilliant radiance, just like you. You know, like how a star explodes."

Lisa pushed her glasses up onto her nose. "That would be a nova, Lincoln," she said flatly.

Lincoln and Lola looked at each other, understanding each other's thoughts without speaking.

"That's it, then," Lola announced. "Her name is Nova. Nova Loud."

"Ehem," chirped Luan. "She needs a middle name, you know."

"Well, duh," chimed in Leni. "It's Marie, right?"

"Nova Marie Loud," Lincoln and Lola said together. "We like it."

The crowd of people closed in on Nova, adoring her at least until a nurse came in and needed to take some measurements.

"Well, honey," Lynn said. "We best be going. You two take good care of little Nova, alright?"

"You got it, dad," smiled Lincoln.

"Of course," agreed Lola. "I'll never let anything happen to her."

The End

Please stay tuned for part three, Why Love Fails.