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

Dark Beginnings

By Lola Presents

Chapter 9 - Sacrifices

The following morning was Friday, the last day of the week, and Lincoln left early with one goal in mind. Candler needed to know the truth if he were to back down and leave Lucy alone. After grabbing his bookbag, Lincoln headed toward the school.

After arriving on campus, Lincoln parked himself on the same bench Lucy sat on the day prior and waited until his target came lumbering down the sidewalk. Lincoln called out to him when the boy came within range, getting his rival's attention.

"Hey, Lincoln," Chandler muttered, sitting beside him. "What's up?"

"Listen," requested the white-haired youth. "I know you have feelings for Lucy, but I must ask you to forget about her. Okay?"

"Why?" sputtered Chandler. "She isn't married. Right? What's the big deal in trying?"

"Because she has a boyfriend," Lincoln informed him, "one that loves her more than anyone else in the world, and he wouldn't like you interfering."

"Interfering?" chuckled Chandler. "If she doesn't have a ring on her finger, she's fair game, and if she's having doubts about her current boyfriend, maybe that's a sign."

"You don't understand, Chandler..." sighed Lincoln, rubbing his face with both hands.

"What?" inquired the other boy. "What don't I understand?"

"Look," demanded Lincoln. "We've only recently become friends, and I like the new you. Please, don't make me regret this."

"Regret what?" chirped Lincoln's former bully. "You have done anything."

"Me!" Lincoln said, standing while tapping his chest. "I'm her boyfriend!"

Chandler shook his head with disbelief. He's heard that things like this happened in other parts of the country. His fellow students often shared jokes about living in Alabama. But never once had he considered someone he knew might engage in such activity, especially one he loved.

"Wait..." stammered Chandler, "...what?"

"Lucy and I are dating, Chandler, "Lincoln responded with less heat than his announcement. "We're in love, and quite frankly, we're already under a lot of pressure. I can handle it, but Lucy is more fragile. I don't want her getting confused or hurt. So, I'd appreciate it if you stepped back."

Chandler pursed his lips while considering Lincoln's admissions, then stood and faced him. While Lincoln internally braced himself for any repercussions that boy might dole out, none came. Instead, the saddened and bewildered boy put his hand in his pockets and faced Lincoln.

"Lincoln," he said. "She's already hurt and confused, and so are you. I hope you understand, but what the two of you are doing isn't right, and I can't give up, especially now. However..." he muttered, "...I will back off until you both see reason."

Then, with no further explanation, Chandler finished walking to school.


Later that day, Lincoln sat in his classroom, utterly oblivious to what his teacher was saying. All his thought center on his conversation with Chandler that morning. What had he meant by backing off but not giving up? And were they still tentative friends?

The school was only an hour away from releasing, and nobody had teased him about his relationship, let alone mentioned it. Could it be that his rival hadn't told anyone? That would be a first. The old Chandler would've spread the news across the state by now.

Maybe he truly cared for Lucy. It would explain a lot. After all, she would be devastated if suddenly everyone she knew started teasing her. More than likely, Chandler's silence was for her benefit, not his. Regardless, Lincoln faced a new enemy; time.

How long would it be before Lucy hit puberty and hormones started coursing through her body? What if she developed a wandering eye? Would their relationship be strong enough to withstand such treatment? Then again, she was already young and easily influenced.

Maybe Chandler was right, and Lincoln had unfairly influenced his sister. Lincoln sat and thought about the strife his family was going through. Of course, he hasn't aware that Lynn and Lola had begun to reconsider their stance. It wasn't fair that they should suffer for them.

As much as it hurt, Lincoln knew what he had to do. And when the final bell rang, he gathered his things and headed home.


As usual, the elementary student got released first and arrived home shortly before Lincoln did. Their older siblings would come a few minutes later, and Lincoln wanted to get this done before they arrived. With much apprehension and anxiety, Lincoln entered the house.

His younger sisters were still huddled in the living room, dumping the bookbags out on the coffee table and preparing to get their homework out of the way, when he walked through the door. Though only two smiled and waved, one of which beamed until she noticed something was wrong.

"Lincoln?" Lucy prodded, her face tightening. "Is something the matter?"

"Yeah..." muttered Lincoln sadly, heading for the stairs. "I need to talk to you in my room."

Leaving her things where they lay, Lucy rose and hurriedly chased Lincoln into his room. She knew how Chandler could be, and Lucy feared a relapse in his personality had left her brother shaken or threatened. After closing and locking the door behind her, she hugged Lincoln from behind.

"What happened, Lincoln?" she pleaded. "Are you alright?"

"I made a mistake, Lucy..." Lincoln admitted. "After seeing how Chandler's gestures made you question yourself yesterday, I confronted him," he filled her in. "I thought that if he knew you were dating somebody, he'd stop trying to woo you."

"Lincoln!" gasped Lucy, drawing back, holding her curled finger near her chest. "I am not questioning myself!" she barked. "I'm in love with you, and only you! And you can't blame anyone for reacting to such a sweet gesture. But that's all it was!"

"No, Lucy. That's not all it is," Lincoln said, finally facing his sister. "You're young and impressionable, and I feel like I've stolen you away from the world before you've even had a chance to see who's out there. Maybe I'm not the one for you. Besides..."

"Besides, what?" Lucy whimpered, nearly in tears at the implications of her brother's words.

"In the heat of the moment, I confessed to being your boyfriend," Lincoln told her. "Chandler knows. How long will it be before others find out? You've seen how our parents and siblings reacted. Do you want more of that?"

"No. Of course, I don't," Lucy admitted, reaching for Lincoln's hand. "But our relationship doesn't concern them. Ultimately, it's between us."

"No..." sighed Lincoln, dropping Lucy's hand as he sat on his bed. "I think..."

"Lincoln..." sobbed the young girl. "What are you saying?"

"Lucy..." hesitated Lincoln, "...I'm breaking up with you."

"What?" gasped Lucy as she broke into tears. "Why? I don't understand!"

"That's the problem, Lucy," Lincoln told her. "People change over time. What if we continued on this path, and you get pregnant later, then realize I'm not the one for you? Our child will grow up in a split home. How do you know I'm the right person for you when you haven't seen what the world has to offer?"

When Lucy nothing but emotional sobs, Lincoln continued.

"Lucy..." Lincoln pleaded. "I love you with all my heart, but I need to know that you love me the same way. I can only be assured of that if you get out there and see. And if you still feel the same about me in a few years, then we'll talk."

Without another word, Lucy spun on her heels and bolted from the room, her long black hair flowing in the air before disappearing into her room. While Lincoln had done what he thought was in Lucy's best interest, it pained him no less, and he bellowed into his pillow.


When dinnertime came, neither Lucy nor Lincoln showed up. Lynn and Rita took it upon themselves to find out why. Soon, the news spread throughout the family that Lincoln and Lucy had split up. However, the news was just as unsettling as hearing they were dating.

It came as a shock for Lola and Lynn, as they knew how much the two loved each other. Their remaining siblings were stunned, not one of them understanding why. They had been against their union from the beginning, yet felt saddened for them both.

Maybe Lincoln's selfless sacrifice changed their hearts. Or, perhaps, deep inside, they had accepted their relationship. Either way, Lincoln held firm to his decision and refused to engage Lucy until she was older and could make a more informed decision.

The following nine years were tough on both of them. Out of a need for companionship, Lincoln and Lucy both dated various people over time. The other would retreat and cry whenever one announced a new date. Still, neither voiced their love for the other.

There were times when both were dating others simultaneously. There were also times when only one was currently dating. But the times when neither dated were the hardest. Both would lay around the house, tormenting themselves until something forced their attention.

Eventually, Lincoln graduated and left for college, where he earned a degree in digital art. Similarly, Lucy finished high school. However, Lucy never planned on going to college, already knowing what she wanted to do. Instead, she took a position at the local mortuary as expected.

Then one day, something happened.

Lincoln walked through the door as Lucy arranged new displays in the showroom, and she stared at him intently. Despite having matured and grown into a responsible and reasoning young woman, Lucy's heart fluttered, and her breath hitched.

"Lincoln!" she gasped as she stared at her brother's adult form. "I thought you were in Newark! What brings you here?"

"Would it be out of the ordinary if I said you?" Lincoln offered, leaning against the closest casket.

"Please, don't say things like that, Lincoln," Lucy said, turning her attention to a nearby flower arrangement. "What we had when we were children was amazing, but that was years ago."

"You know..." Lincoln muttered. "I haven't dated anyone since high school, and I'm still in love with you."

"Lincoln," Lucy forced. "I..."

"All you have to do is tell me to leave, and I'll walk out the door," he informed her. "Whether it's because you don't love me any more or because you're with someone. I'll respect things either way."

"It's not that, Lincoln," whimpered Lucy. "I stopped dating once you left home. The only reason I ever did was that you wanted me to," she offered solemnly. "I'm still single, and yes, I'm still in love with you," she announced quietly before facing her brother. "But you already turned your back on me once. How do I know you won't do so again?"

Then, Lincoln did something Lucy never would've expected. Getting down on one knee, he produced a small, black velvet box and presented it to her.

"Lucy?" he whispered affectionately. "Will you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me?"

Lucy trembled and dropped the flowers she held while struggling to remain standing. While her tears turned from those of regret to joy, Lincoln was none the wiser regarding the emotions behind them until Lucy dropped to her knees to meet him as an equal.

"Yes!" she blubbered through her tears, accepting the gift of an eternal union from her brother. "Oh, God! Yes!" she cried, lunging forward and embracing him.


As adults, Lincoln and Lucy found their family more accommodating to their relationship this time around. Though there were still some minor complaints and concerns, they were consenting adults who now lived together in Newark. There was little anyone could do to oppose them.

Without legal support, Lincoln's and Lucy's married was only ceremonial, but it meant the world to them when their parents offered to host the event in their backyard. Inviting only family and close friends who'd accepted them, they left for their honeymoon in Vegas afterward.

And though they may have had dark beginnings, bright futures lay ahead.

But that's another story...

The End