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

When Love Speaks

By Lola Presents

Chapter 9

Lincoln was sound asleep when Lola entered his room. Quietly, she closed the door behind her and locked it. Lola then turned and watched her brother's covers rise and fall peacefully. Quietly, she sauntered over to his bed, drew back the covers, and slipped in beside him.

Lola first draped one arm over his midriff. Lincoln flinched mildly, snorting in the process, but did not wake. The girl waited a moment, then laid her right leg over his. Whatever her brother was dreaming about was enough to keep his attention captive. His slumber remained uninterrupted.

"Lincy?" she whispered in his ear. "Baby?"

Smacking his lips, Lincoln ascended into reality and blinked several times.

"Lola? You shouldn't be here, love," Lincoln whispered. "Not like this. What if someone caught us?"

"Don't worry, I locked the door," Lola announced. Then, propping herself up on her elbows, she began whispering. "Did you mean what you said earlier? You know, whatever happens, we'd see it through together?"

"You know I did," Lincoln replied.

"Then I see no reason to wait any longer," countered Lola as she pressed her lips against his.

The warmth of her body and the gentleness of her touch coaxed Lincoln into resigning authority over himself and fully embracing her, returning her affection. Lola, fueled by passion, pressed against his mouth eagerly, leaving him breathless.

Lincoln ran one hand through her hair and the other up and down her back.

Grabbing the blankets, Lola pulled them up and over the two of them, where they remained hidden from the world for more than an hour, immersing themselves in each other.

"Wow," was all Lincoln could say as they lay next to each other later.

Lola giggled.

"Wow?" she repeated. "More like the most amazing thing I've ever experienced."

Together, they cuddled, unmoving, until every last ounce of their pent-up energy drained from them.

"Lincoln?" asked Lola quietly. "How did you ever find my tiara, anyway?"

"I called a few of your former competitors," Lincoln explained, lolling his head to look at her.

"So, who had it?" Lola inquired.

"Lindsay Sweetwater," he told her.

"What?" gasped Lola. "You called Lindsay? My arch-nemesis? And how do you even have her number?" Lola asked starkly.

"I didn't," Lincoln assured his sister. "I called the pageant matron first. She wouldn't give out any numbers, though. So I gave her a message to forward to everyone. Not long after, Mrs. Sweetwater called and told me she had it. I gave her our address, and she delivered it to me."

"When the heck did all this happen?" queried Lola.

"When you were in the hospital," Lincoln replied. "When I saw how upset you were, I figured you'd be even more shocked at the loss of your award."

"Wait," requested Lola. "So, you've had it since that first night and didn't give it to me until today?"

Lincoln sighed but smiled.

"Yeah, I was going to hand it right over," Lincoln informed her, "but once you got back, you started talking about giving up your dreams. I figured I'd use it to remind you that yours are just as important as mine."

"God, I love you, Lincoln Loud," Lola said, clinging to him tightly. "I love you too, Lola-bear," he responded.

With nothing more to say, the two fell hard and fast asleep.

Lincoln woke, still early and dark out. Yawning, he got out of bed and donned his pajamas, which got cast to the floor during last night's romp. He visited the restroom, took a quick shower, and returned to his room.

"Lola?" he whispered, rocking her shoulders. "Lola-bear?"

Lincoln's sister picked her head up and looked around.

"Mm, what?" she stammered.

"You should get cleaned up and in your bed now," urged Lincoln. "Don't you think?"

"Oh," she mumbled, still half asleep. "Yeah, right."

Lola got up, put her nightgown back on, and repeated Lincoln's actions a few moments earlier. Once satisfied, she crept into the room she and Lana shared and slipped into bed.

As for Lincoln, he was far too alert now to return to sleep. Instead, he made his bed and sat down to read through his employee manual. His first day was just three days away, and he wanted to prepare thoroughly.

Of course, he still had a few papers to sign, but those could wait. Doing so would only take a moment, and he needed a more significant distraction from the events earlier that night.

He and Lola had made love. Their path forward was forged and sealed. Whatever that meant. They could never take their actions back, instigating a feeling of uncertainty about him. What if they had an argument or fell out of love?

They'd go the rest of their lives knowing that they had done something that the vast majority would look upon disapprovingly. What if Lincoln's employer found out? Lincoln was beginning to second guess himself, and it was not a pleasant thought.

Eventually, as it does every day, the sun rose, and beams of yellow warmth replaced those of the cold moonlight. As if on cue, he heard low noises rumble through the home, building as the moments went on.

Lincoln sniffed the air and could smell his father's cooking. Soon, his dad would announce breakfast, and everyone would stampede downstairs if they hadn't already.

Deciding to try and beat the rush, Lincoln put away his papers and headed to the kitchen. While his mother made the plates, his father prepared bacon, egg and cheese omelets, blueberry muffins, and orange juice.

"Here you go, son," Rita said, handing Lincoln a freshly adorned plate.

"Thanks, mom!" he said, exiting and landing in the living room to watch television as he ate.

After finishing their meals, everyone deposited their plates and cups into the sink, where Mrs. Loud had already set up a washing station. Busily, she cleaned things so the basin didn't get too full. While she worked, she listened to some of her kid's chats.

"That was some party," exclaimed Luna.

"It could've been better. Too bright and noisy," moaned Lucy.

Luna replied by punching her gloomy sister in the arm gently.

"Nah, bro," she said. "You just have to learn to live a little."

"I know what you mean, Lunes," added Lana. "Lola was so excited! I don't think she even slept last night. She was in bed when I went to sleep and there when I woke up. But I got up to use old sloshy at some point, and she wasn't in bed."

Luna and Lucy both raised eyebrows. Then, without warning, Rita hurriedly turned off the water and left the room.

"Uh, oh," said Luna, looking at Lucy.

"What?" replied Lana, confused.

A few moments later, Rita returned to the kitchen, heading straight for the basement holding a wad of bed linens. The three girls who remained at the small kitchen table watched in horror as she moved. Their mother's face scrunched in disgust, but she said nothing.

Thirty seconds later, they heard the washer begin filling, the rush of water muffled by the walls. Not long after, their mother emerged from the basement and walked out of the kitchen in a huff.

Hurriedly, Luna and her sisters got up and followed, curious about what was happening. Though, they kept their distance so as not to become involved. However, both Luna and Lucy had an idea of what was up.

"Lincoln," Rita addressed her son as he watched television. "My room. Now."

Gazing oddly at his mother, Lincoln knew something was amiss and would probably not end well. Getting up, he followed her into the master bedroom, where Rita closed the door.

"Sit," Rita instructed her son.

Lynn, who was going over the budget, looked over it.

"What's going on?" he asked in confusion.

"We have an issue," informed Rita. "Lincoln here decided to ignore our rules and did something he shouldn't have."

Looking over the ridge of his reading glasses, he peered at Lincoln, sitting in the same chair he had several days before.

"Oh?" queried Lynn, prodding his wife to explain.

"Yes, it seems that he and Lola, um, how do I say this, had sex last night," Rita said, struggling with her words.

Talking about sex itself wasn't an issue. However, it got slightly uncomfortable when doing so around one's child.

"What? No, we didn't," declared Lincoln, attempting a bold-faced denial.

"Lincoln, enough," demanded his mother. "I'm not an idiot. I overheard Lana saying Lola had left her bed last night, so I checked your sheets. I know what the after-effects look and smell like!"

Lincoln grimaced. The thought of his mother discovering their actions seemed way too personal, especially in that way. His cheeks flushed, and he began to feel uneasy.

"How could you do this?" asked Lynn. "You know we disapproved of your relationship in the first place, but we allowed it in favor of family unity. We only had a few simple rules, and you couldn't even follow those. We asked that you keep things light in the home and nonexistent in public."

"But…" Lincoln stammered. "I was sleeping, then Lola slipped into my room and fired me up."

"Don't you dare try blaming this on her! She's thirteen! She's young, hormonal, and reckless," yelled Rita. "What'd you think was going to happen? That she was mature enough to know when to stop? That was your job! We trusted you!"

The admonished youth hung his head.

"I'm sorry," he sincerely and regretfully apologized.

Sighing and pinching the bridge of her nose, Rita continued.

"I'm sorry, too, son," she said. "However, given what it is, we cannot allow you to remain here. We'll have to ask that you move in with Aunt Ruth. No debate. Please, have your stuff packed by noon."

"I understand," Lincoln acknowledged sadly. "Is there anything else?"

"Yes, once you've gone, we expect you to maintain distance from Lola," Lynn replied. "Do not attempt to see or message her. Otherwise, we may have to take more drastic measures. Is that clear?"

"Very," Lincoln nodded.

Rita pointed toward the door, indicating that he should leave.

The downtrodden boy stood and left their room, closing the door behind him. His entire world had come crashing down around him, and it felt like his chest would implode. He'd done everything correctly and checked all the boxes. But one little mistake took down the whole building.

He passed by Luna, Lucy, and Lana as he went upstairs to his room.

"Sorry, dude," Luna called out as he made his way through. "That was harsh."

Reaching under his bed, Lincoln pulled out an old suede suitcase, placed it on his bed, and shoved everything he could find into it. Clothing, comics, and personal effects filled the case to the brim. Finally, he slammed it shut and locked the clasp.

"Are you going somewhere?" asked a voice timidly from behind.

Lincoln looked over his shoulder, eyeing Lola.

"You could say that," he replied angrily, a small trickle of liquid running down his cheek. "Mom and Dad are kicking me out."

"What?!" Lola cried, running to her beloved and hugging him tightly around the waist from behind. "Why?!"

Lincoln gazed down at the small arms encircling him and couldn't help but feel deep remorse at everything that had happened. "The sheets. We didn't change the sheets, and Mom found out..." he whimpered.

He turned in her arms and held her close.

"I'm so sorry, Lola," he cried. "I should've refused. It was sweet that you wanted to know me that way, but I never…" Lincoln cried before bawling, unable to hold back his emotions any longer, triggering Lola's own.

"I'm sorry," Lincoln repeated after kissing Lola passionately, damning his parent's rules. "But I have to go."

Forcefully pushing Lola away and walking through his door was the hardest thing he had ever had to do. He would've rather cut off his hand than do it. Yet, it was unavoidable.

The young beauty pageant queen stood silently for a moment, her arms still outstretched. Once they'd fallen, she bolted out of Lincoln's room and ran down the stairs to stop him.

"Lincoln! Wait!" she screamed. "You can't go! Not now!"

But Lincoln was already entering his car, and by the time Lola threw open the front door, he was pulling out of the drive, trying desperately not to look at her. Lori and Leni arrested their little sister as she dashed across the lawn to intercept him and hold her in place.

"LET! ME! GO!" demanded Lola as she struggled to free herself.

Eventually, the car vanished from view, and Lola was released, falling onto the ground, and crying her heart out. Reaching one hand feebly into the air, she called to him.

"Lincoln…" she mouthed breathlessly.

The End

Please stay tuned for part two, What Love Creates!