The Loud House: Lincoln Homecoming (English)

by Eddy the Black Star

Yeah, you've been alone. I've been gone for far too long. But with all that we've been through, After all this time I'm coming home to you. Never let it show, The pain I've grown to know. 'Cause with all these things we do, It don't matter when I'm coming home to you. I reach towards the sky I've said my goodbyes. My heart's always with you now.

3. PostData

Lincoln Homecoming.

A place to call Home (PostScript)

Later that day...

Lincoln thought, what was he thinking? Literally in everything that had happened that day, with a glass of soda in one hand and with the other surrounding Lily and Leni, who saw the cartoons. None of the programmings had caught his eye, so he decided that watching cartoons with his two sisters would be the right thing to try to spend the afternoon.

While Lily could not stop laughing at that sympathetic talkative sponge of square pants of cartoons, Leni could not keep her smile away from having a good time with family, Lincoln had a relaxed countenance. First, in the morning with his teacher Johnson, then with Clyde's parents, then get home and have a slight panic attack... And finally his moment of weakness in the car of Lana... He had to start overcoming his trauma. He had to start thinking about his sisters before him... They needed it and that was all he had to need to move on.

Yes, life was not fair... but at least he could make it more bearable. He had to recover himself, not for nothing had returned to his house, if not at that time Ronnie would probably be giving the news to his family that he had shot himself for reasons he never wanted to explain.

– Linc, could you come in for a few moments, please? – Lincoln heard his mother's voice coming from his room, that voice had taken him away from his thoughts. He left his glass of soda on the coffee table and stood up carefully to head to where his mother required him.

– Daddy, if you need help, tell me. Said Lily, preparing to rise as well.

– Oh No, don't worry Lyl, it's okay, it was just a little fall. – Lincoln responded with a passive tone, hoping that the sequels of his little white lie would not happen to older. But in the case of his sisters... Any small scratch, however insignificant it was, was a cause of disaster at home... Literally.

When he opened the door and saw his mother in a wheelchair in front of the window, facing the backyard, came the image of a woman who only liked the tranquility of the moments like this: She liked to remember her family, her husband. Their daughters running around, their son solving the little problems that used to happen. That's how she liked to remember his home, that's how he liked to remember the love of her life.
It had already rained a lot since then, but it seemed that it had only happened from yesterday to today.
– Linc. Come. – Called Mrs. Loud, the white-haired man approached his mother gently, to hold her hand and kneel in front of her.

– What's the matter, Ma? You need something? If you want me to bring you something, I can get it for you. – Lincoln replied, in a soft tone. While stroking a skin somewhat wrinkled and fragile by age with his thumb.

– Yes, I need something... But I wish I could talk to you first. – Rita looked at her son with eyes full of nostalgia few days.

– What is it, Mom? What do you need to talk about? – Lincoln looked back at him waiting for the words, no matter what they were, his mother's words were so important to him that he saw her weary day and night for them.

– Remember when you were young? – She asked, evoking again the memories of Lincoln, this time not of war or of lack, but when he was an 11 years old child living a normal life in the house Loud.

– Heh... Yeah. I remember very well. – there is no day that he doesn't remember what it was like to be a child, replied Lincoln smiling wistfully.

– You know? Whenever I see the sun shining on my window, it reminds me of you. To Lori, Leni, Luna, Luan, Lynn, Lucy, Lana/Lola, Lisa and Lily, it makes me remember you always from one side to another, I remember that you were a very special child, dedicated to your sisters and your friends. How I remember when you improvised your super-heroic suits. – Lincoln could not help smiling at those anecdotes, it was true. His life before was not the most perfect, it was chaotic and noisy, but it was his life, after all. And he couldn't have changed it for anything. – Ahhh... you don't know how much I miss those days. – In Rita's voice a very strong melancholy was noted for the past few days.

– Yes... I also miss them very much, Ma... – Lincoln responded with the same melancholy tone, he did not know what his mother wanted to get with what he said, but if it was something important or something I should tell her, all her attention was focused only on her.

– Tell me son... After your father... and after I had to spend more time working and less with my family, how did you feel about having to take care of most of your home time?

That question came in the most unexpected way possible... Your home as... It was his home, with no father or mother to take care of him, and much more to the people who lived in it, it was not secret that he had taken a very large role... more than he could have imagined. Lori had told him once that he couldn't keep the house under control, let alone make Cliff do his trash in his sandbox. But without a father or a mother, sadness and depression attacked everyone equally. Only Lily had been delivered from those memories... Even the most pre-crisis time.

– Well... I will not lie to you ma, at first it was very heavy to deal with so much responsibility, I tell you that sometimes I had no time for me... Or for school, you know that for a long period I was missing just to keep everything in order. Somehow, I understood what you and Dad did for us and that's why I always had a lot of appreciation... I mean, it shouldn't have been easy to keep a house of 10 girls and a Boy He heh. – Lincoln River more than anything because of the irony of the situation that happened in those times.

– He he heh. Oh My boy, you became mom and dad in a single day. – Lincoln's mother looked up to see her in the eyes. – I... Whenever I came home, all I expected was more work for me, you know. To clean the floor, the carpets, the walls, to do thousands of chores for the home that only I would subtract hours of sleep, but instead I found the house clean and tidy, the frets, clean, the washed clothes, the food made... Although I must admit that sometimes your seasoning wasn't the best, son. – Lincoln gave a little laugh to remember that almost every day they ate pasta to the Bolognese because seriously he stinks to cook anything that was not spaghetti. – But... I think I could never thank you for the sacrifice you made for us, for me and for your sisters. I guess it was also because sometimes, when I was back home, you were already asleep; I can't imagine how you could take care of everything without ending up the same or more tired than me. You did everything, the chores of the home, the lunches for all, studying and being a father to Lily... And... If I didn't have the time to tell you when I had the chance in the past, but now I want to. – Lincoln looked at those blue eyes that had become somewhat greyish by the time she spent and for all the hard work that wore her for a long time. – I'm so proud of you, and I know that if Dad had been there to see what you did, he'd be just as proud as I am. My boy Lincoln, you grew up to become a good man.

Lincoln, in the words of his mother, felt that his heart began to repair pieces that were scattered inside. The joy of his breast was combined with a very strong desire to release sobs of pure joy. He felt a very strong warmth in his chest and back and did not know how to respond to what his mother had told him. Finally, after so long he felt that a burden had been released, and one of his ghosts could now rest calmly. In the end, life itself was in charge of returning parts of him that he believed he had lost. And the first step was given to her by her progenitor.

– Thanks... You don't know how much that means to me. – Lincoln began to wipe his eyes with the sleeve of his green jacket. Mother Loud looked with a smile at her son and then she approached her, like the loving mother she was, to plant a kiss on her cheek.

– Thank you Linc... Thank you for coming back to us from that horrible, horrible war. – In the words of his mother, Lincoln raised Rita's hand just to accommodate a little kiss on his mother's skin.

– well... I promised my sisters and my mom, the least I could do was... fulfill my promise... Although – he looked at his biomechanics leg – I'm sorry I didn't come back completely. – and not only did he mean his leg.

– Linc, as long as you're here with us, the rest doesn't matter anymore. True? – Lincoln saw her in the eyes again. I wanted to completely nod to that... But how would you continue with your future without the help of your soul?

– Yes... You're right... They're just scars without significance. – Replied the Ex-soldier with a somewhat dull voice.

At that moment, a somewhat uncomfortable silence began to feel in the atmosphere. Until mother Loud again broke the silence with a petition.

– Linc... could you give me your father's ashes? – Lincoln looked at his mother with a raised eyebrow, that request, although it was somehow strange, caught a lot of attention-they are on top of that piece of furniture. – The mother Loud pointed to a chest of drawers and when she turned her gaze, she could see a metal container where her father rested in peace.

Lincoln came to see him, was no bigger than a jug of water, and was made of solid bronze, something rusty by the time, but when removing the lid saw the ashes of his father... Then he realized that his mother had never found a way to say goodbye to him. How could she? If when she was at home, she could hardly have time for her, much less when Lincoln had gone to the militarized academy. She wanted the right time to let the ashes go away when her whole family was together.
She wanted her daughters and son to be there so she could say goodbye a father who was gone before his time.
Lincoln loaded the small bronze bowl and put it gently into his mother's hands.
She, looking at him again, in her hands simply hugged him and stroked the lid gently, as if she had her husband's head back in her arms, dreaming together with the stars over the sea.

– Thanks, Linc. – Rita began to recharge herself in her wheelchair while thinking of the love of her life.

How they had been known by letters from a secret admirer, how they had begun the dream of a life by living together. How they got married on receiving the news that they would be parents, the miracle of slowly forming a family, the constants awakened at midnight when their girls needed a diaper change or breast milk, the constant months waiting for a new girl. How Lynn Signor confused his last older girl with a child and that's why Lynn Jr. had put him on. And when their daughters were 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2, respectively, the first and only child of the family was born, so as not to leave the father alone in a house full of girls... They already had five girls and a boy, hey. Why stop there? Although this time they took some more time at the end with 5 older girls, 5 youngest girls. As a child of the middle. Finally, they could say that they had enjoyed a full life, an active sex life and that both had enjoyed without hesitation or denial. Among them there was only love and enjoy every moment of that love, even the smallest sign of affection was kept and sealed in her heart... The love of her life rested in her arms like thousands of nights where only they cared, and that the world lost meaning.
And he was just waiting for her sitting by the riverside to dance once more under the stars. At that time a cough attack came suddenly to Rita, who even with her lungs and her trachea male, refused to release the container where her beloved husband rested.
Lincoln faced that he saw the need to hold his mother's trachea with his middle thumb and forefinger to help her breathe again. She was breathing deeply trying to fill her lungs with air, so she slowly recovered her breath.

– Are you all right, Ma? – Lincoln asked worried to see her coughing so dry. That was not a normal cough, as if his lungs were already badly damaged or sick.

– Yeah... Yeah, son, don't worry. – his mother responded by breathing with some difficulty. – I'm sorry if I worried you, Linc... But it's time to take my meds. – Rita regained her normal breathing while Lincoln still saw her as worried. – Linc... could you be a love and bring me some water? – Lincoln at the request nodded his head.

– Of course, mom, wait a minute – Lincoln got up and started walking towards the door. But before he left completely, he looked behind his back to see his mother in front of the window with his father's ashes in his arms. She was fine, she just liked to remember her father... She had to be fine, yes, that was supposed to be.

– Oh Lynn... Our child has returned home, he is already at home... And every day I feel like I'm closer to you. Rita said with a trail of nostalgia in her voice, while gently stroking the bronze of the vase. -Now that our child is at home... you don't know how much I want to dance one last piece by the lake once again.

Outside, Lincoln kept thinking about what his mother had told him. He was to be proud to be the example of how to surpass adversity, that was a good thing; When all else failed, he got up to face fate, he had to do it again.
Anyway, his life didn't belong to him anymore. It belonged to them.
Absorbed in his thoughts, he came to the kitchen, where he met Leni, who did the same for what he had come. Pour water in a glass.

– Oh... Hey Leni, what are you doing?

– Oh well, I had to take my pills, Linky. – Leni showed a vial of pills.

– Oh, I see. Heh heh how convenient, mom asked me to bring her some water to take her pills. – He said, as he approached his sister.

– Oh, well, would you like me to give you a glass? She asked her older sister as she took another glass from the cupboards.

– Well, if you would be so kind... – Replied Lincoln with a smile, to which Leni began to serve him water. Lincoln at the time saw the orange boat of pills and took them: "Antidepressants", he thought to see them. Sooner or later he and she would have to talk about this, maybe it could help her to overcome her depression and perhaps she would help him to refind a part of himself. He would find a way to help her, she always found a way... Although seeing the label of the pot was done something strange... painkillers? Why would she take painkillers?

– Uh... Len – she called her sister as she finished serving the water.

– Yes, Linc? – Leni closed the faucet and saw him holding his pills.

– Why are you taking painkillers? – She interrogated her by pointing the flask.

– Oh... Ehhh No, it's not for nothing, Linc. – Leni said quickly to give him the glass of water.

– How not? Anything hurt, Len? -Lincoln asked again with some concern. Her sister diverted her gaze for a few moments, just to smile again.

– Not really. Well, yes, but it's just a little headache, don't worry I'm fine. – Leni gave him the glass with water while he kept his smile. Lincoln was not very convinced about the headache, although the painkillers served for that in the first place... He used to take them when his lost limb was starting to sting. And it wasn't much fun actually.

– Very well Len. – Lincoln took the cup and returned the bottle of pills to his older sister – Just remember not to take many, as they are not going to help you remove the headache, they will only make it stronger. He added, laughing below.

– Oh, don't worry, Linky, I'm already a big girl. He he heh. – Leni also Laugh to that. Something that encouraged Lincoln to laugh with her too.

– Je je je... Well, I'll see you in a minute. – Lincoln said, slowly coming out of the kitchen. He gave a discreet look through the frame to his sister, hoping that everything would be okay, and in effect, everything seemed normal. He sighed and again went to his mother's room.

Although when Lincoln retired completely, Leni's smile disappeared. The girl took the lid off the boat and took out two pills, then took her water and ingested the medicine with the help of the water. Then, it was reloaded with the wall with the sadness and to feel the pain to leave little by little... He looked down on the ground with disappointment and sadness, next act, put his left hand in the eye on the same side, and at that moment, the tears of both began to fall... And she felt in her palm how the tears wet her hand, she did not give sobs or much less a short breath... I just wanted to cry over everything I'd lost because of a bad decision. Everything that Richard had done to him... everything that bastard had snatched from him.

Meanwhile, Lincoln was returning to his mother's room with the water ready.

– Here's Ma. – Lincoln put the glass glass in his mother's hands.

– Thank you love... Another favor. Could you give me those pills? – Lincoln's mom pointed a boat among several. Lincoln didn't know what he was talking about, so when he approached the furniture of the lamp, he pointed his finger at his mother's point. – Yes, those. Give please, son. – Lincoln took the boat and took the lid off, giving his mother two pills. – Thanks son – Rita smiled and then took her meds. Lincoln smiled to be able to help his mom with her medicine, although he could not help but take a look at the label of the pot... "Imatinib". As with Leni, Lincoln was confused... And the confusion ended up being a very powerful shiver on his back... He recognized what that medicine was for, they were pills to treat diseases like cancer... Lincoln opened his eyes as dishes and nervously looked at his mother.

– Uh... Mom... – The voice of Lincoln was heard nervous. While she quietly ended up taking her water. – You have...? Ahem... do you have anything else to ask of me? – Lincoln tried to stay calm, couldn't really be that, right?

– Oh Yes, look I know you just got back from... You know, but I wish you could go to the market and buy some stuff. – Said Mrs. Loud with some grief, but, quite the contrary, Lincoln shake his head cheerfully.

– Don't worry, Ma, you know I'm here to serve and help. – Rita smiled at her son's words, with a sign asking her to push her chair to the furniture in her bed where her purse was, and the former soldier obeyed. From the little wool bag he took two hundred dollars.

– I need you to get a couple of things we're done, Linc. I think Lily made a list, tell her to go with you, okay, honey? – Rita looked back at her son, who nodded and quickly seated a kiss on her forehead.

– Of course, Ma. Now we'll be back. – Lincoln got up and went to the exit door, but not without first hearing his mother's voice speak to him for the last time before leaving.

– I'm so proud of you, Linc, in every way. – Lincoln stopped dry to see her... His expression said it all... Her mother was proud of the man she had become, and she was still turning.

Lincoln returned to the room where his sister continued to watch caricatures, though it seemed odd to him not to see his older sister until he saw her enter the room again.

– Hello girls, how are you doing? – He asked Lincoln smiling while taking his green jacket off the couch.

– I'm all right, daddy. – Answered Lily with a smile.

– Eh... I'm fine, too, linky, thanks for asking. – Leni replied, smiling slightly in a forced manner.

– I'm glad to hear that, girls. – Lincoln then put a hand on Lily's shoulder. -Hey Lyl, mom sent me to buy some things and told me that you had a list of what was needed.

– Oh Yes, in fact, yesterday I was waiting for Lana to come to buy them... but we no longer had time. – replied the girl with a distressed grin. –But... Once you're here, let's go, Daddy. -Lily rose from the armchair to go to her father's side.

– Well, let's go then. – Lincoln Guded to the exit until he looked over his shoulder to see his older sister with a false smile. – Hey Len, you want to join us? – He asked the eldest sister, hoping for a positive answer, to help her get distracted for a while.

– Uh... No Linky, do not worry, I'm okay. – Said Leni smiling to his younger brother.

– Hey Len... Come on, I know that going to the market is not like going to the Mall, but at least it will be fun, we will pass the time together, and we can talk about what you like. – Lincoln tried to encourage his elder sister, who saw him discreetly. She didn't really feel like going out, much less after taking the painkillers, much less in the Lana's truck, so she responded by shaking her head in denial.

– N-No Linky... Thank you, but the truth right now I feel tired and... you know, I have a little migraine. – Leni insisted on the same smile as before. Lily, though she knew she was taking pills for depression, didn't mean she felt much better in the progress of the day.

Lincoln sighed for that answer. He understood that perhaps his sister still needed time, and of course she was not going to harass her with unnecessary questions, much less would compel her to accompany them if she did not want. So Lincoln nodded his head. Since Chico had understood that it was not good to insist on his sisters more than they should, if they needed their space and time, should respect it.

–Ok Len... If you need anything, let me know, okay? -Both brothers exchanged smiles.

– Yes Linky, don't worry, have a lot of fun in the market. Leni simply said, what Lincoln took as the definitive answer on his part, and then he left with Lily desiring that, when he returned from shopping, Leni at least had something to say about everything.

Both sons Loud climbed into the van of one of the twins and placed their seatbelts.
– Lyl... would you like to tell me something about Leni? – The former soldier asked, hiding the concern for his elder sister.

– Uh... Well, she... – Lily turned to see her window with some grief – She... She's been a little sad about some of the events that happened... She doesn't like to talk about it, she doesn't like to be reminded. – She finished saying more grief... and much sadness in her words.

– Oh... I understand – Lincoln then deflected his gaze as he put the key in the starter relay. – Do you think she... can tell me what happened? He asked again with a certain thread of concern emerging from his throat.

– Yes... But I don't recommend it, daddy... Leni... Leni can't just talk about it without crying. – Lily replied, just remembering her sister that way summoned one of the worst episodes of Loud House in the absence of the home brother.

Lincoln then put a hand on his little sister's shoulder, demonstrating her eternal support for her and all her sisters.

– Quiet small... If it's hard for you to talk about this, I understand. In due time I will try to talk it over with her. I agree? – Lincoln saw her again in the eyes and before that, Lily nodded her head trying to make sure her eyes didn't start to burn because of the pain of memories. Well. That's my little girl. – he finally said to start the wool truck and the first turn started, like the first time.

– Wooohh! Err... don't you think we need some music? – Lincoln said, something more relaxed to avoid a much sadder scene than it already was. – Let's see what's on the radio... – The former soldier turned on the van's radio and went past the stations, until he found a known song. Luna used to touch her occasionally, and that was many times.

―The Doors Riders on The Storm. ―

– Great... well. – Lincoln started snapping his fingers with the rhythm of "the Windows" – good rhythm, huh? – He said looking at his little sister, who nodded and shook his head slowly with the song – Luna used to play that song long time ago, Lyl. I know the letter from start to finish.
Riders on the Storm, riders on the Storm.
Into this house we're born,
Into this world we're thrown,
Like a dog without a bone,
An actor out on loan,
Riders on the Storm...– He sang Lincoln softly, driving the van to the supermarket while humming the tune.

His eyes focused on the road, hands on the steering wheel, a foot on the accelerator pedal, the prosthesis waiting for the support of the knee to step on the brake. and his mind traveling in memories. Seeing her sister playing the songs of her favorite bands and favorite artists, mystics (Misfits), MetalliC. A (Metallica), Megaslay (Megadeth), Smooch (Kiss), Judeau priest (Judas priest), Nevermind (Nirvana), the Windows (The Doors), Puma (Pantera) , The Hawks (the Eagles), King (Queen), The Rolling Stars (The Rolling Stones), Pink Flois (Pink Floyd) The Ladybugs (the Beatles), Jim Maurice (Jim Morrison), John Leno (John Lennon), Paul Mccarnold (Paul Mccartney) David Boury (David Bowie, The Black Star, Diamond Dog, The man Who Sold the World, Star man, Major Tom, etc.) And of course, Mick Swagger (Mick Jagger). Oh, Luna was passionate about Rock and Metal, and more for British artists, who had adapted the accent in addition to his father. There was No day when she grabbed her guitar, which she affectionately nicknamed "The Cowgirl from Hell" and would like to replicate each of the tunes of her idols. "What times those," Lincoln said as he drove through the streets imagining a rainy day, with the radio song and imagining his sister playing his guitar on an afternoon like that. They were memories like those in which Lincoln was only interested in sitting, watching the sunset and smiling at life for another day, perhaps with a cold beer at his side, perhaps with a cigar. The order of the factors did not alter the product.

When we got to the supermarket, the parking lots were full, and Lincoln couldn't pick one in particular... Although the places for people with disabilities were free... So... looking at your situation, why not park there? So, he just drove the van into blue space. Something a police officer didn't overlook, and more when he didn't see the card hanging in the rearview mirror. Lincoln came down from the van along with Lily to go by the hand to the supermarket.

– Gee, I didn't think I'd see this kind of attitude in my supermarket. – said the police officer approaching both siblings – You know, son, I'd believe that if you didn't have both legs or you didn't have an arm, but that you're teaching your daughter is nothing nice. Huh. – Lincoln stopped to see the officer, who was looking at him with a grudge – You know what you did could get you fined? Or worse, you know what you did could make them take that nice pickup you got? Don't you realize how much you hurt people who really need that space? – The officer replied, with a somewhat arrogant smile.

– Ah, don't worry, officer, even if I don't seem to have a disability, that's why I had to use that space. – Replied Lincoln, returning his smile with all the confidence in the world, was not afraid of the officer and had no reason to show him fear.

– Ah yeah son? All right, show me your permission to take over the handicapped place. – He challenged the officer, knowing that the man in front of him would not have any certification, card, license or permit in his trousers. But, unchanged, Lincoln just deflected his look to the right to see the van, looked at her for a few moments and then looked at the officer.

"Would you like to see my permission?" Lincoln asked with the ace under his sleeve.

– Please son, let me see your "disability". – the officer insisted.

– Okay then. Welp! –
Lincoln hit the knee of his full leg to the ground to raise his trousers on the right side, and then the officer swallowed his words when he saw the ghost member of Lincoln, swallowed saliva and distressed scratched his head for just looking at the prosthesis of the Peliblanco.
– There you have my permission, Officer. – Returned Lincoln, with a grimace of victory on his face. To which the officer was speechless. – Can we go to buy now, please? – there was No doubt that Lincoln used all the sarcasm he could give the officer at that instant. Rubbing his victory on the man who judges without knowing the facts first.

– Uh... Yes... Yes, sir, excuse me.

The embarrassing apology of the police officer was music to the ears of an ex-soldier who was not afraid of the one who accused him of false appearances, an act that made Lincoln go back down the sleeve of his trousers.

– Thank you, officer, have a good afternoon. – The Ex-soldier responded arrogantly, proving once again why no one could judge him without knowing him before, as he returned to take the hand of his little sister to buy the missing food.

During a time of shopping, Lincoln already had the cart full of the necessary things of the household, such as fruits, vegetables, meats, cereals and other more personal things for the older girls of the household. Lily's list was almost complete, just buying bread, bath deodorant and toilet paper.

– All right, we just have to buy a couple of things and we're done, Daddy. "– The smiling little girl said, guiding the man through the halls of the market."

– I hope so, Lyl, that we have for this month and next. – Lincoln responded ironically. – I tell you something? When all our sisters and I came to do the shopping loooooooooooong time ago, we got into big problem for a box of cereal. I think it was... Zombie Bran – mentioned with a couple of laughs – Oh My God, we got into a titanic problem with the store manager and with mom for that.

– Oh yeah, Daddy? And what happened? – Lily asked with her infinite curiosity.

– Well... Let's say that the girls and I had differences with respect to breakfast and then... It all became a mess, mom scolded me, and in the end I couldn't get the cereal. – Lincoln scratched His chin by remembering that event, but then smiled to remember what his sisters had done for him – but then the girls came the next day with the cereal Box Je Je, we had a lot of fun that day.

– Ah... Yeah, he he... I would have liked to be there... – Lily diverted her gaze somewhat sad at not being able to remember that same baby day.

– Hey Beautiful – Lincoln took his little sister from the chin to see it – you were there, I say yes, maybe you don't remember it because he heh you were very small, but I still remember your face of zombie when we all started to play like this. You know? Reminding you like that and others that way... reminds me of the good times, one was much simpler and without so many problems in between. He finished saying Lincoln with a smile that Lily also shared.

– I love you, Daddy. – Lily answered cheerfully to her father.

– I love you too, sweetie. – Lincoln gave a little kiss in the forehead to his little sister.

– Speaking of sweetness... – Lily looked back on the side with some grief – We could... You know... buy a candy bar? Lily looked back at her brother, who with a little laugh responded joyfully. Something that Lily took as a no before listening to her father again.

– Of course, we can Lily, in fact, makes me want chocolate right now. – Lincoln caressing his little sister's head and uncombing a bit. Her blonde hair. Something that pleased her so much – let's go.

– Great, thanks Daddy! – The little girl exclaimed, running cheerfully to the shop's candy store. Something that made Lincoln keep smiling. It was in those little moments, where he could remember with a great inner peace what it was to be a child, the emotion of eating sweets, the stomach ache when eating too many, getting excited by little things that, even if they were momentary tastes in the mind of a boy or girl, were things that were enjoyed for hours, and always came to that conclusion of wanting just a little more.

– just don't get too far from me Lyl, stay close. – Lincoln said quietly as he followed the little girl through the aisles of the supermarket. Sigh of relief to see that her sister nodded and reduced her speed, and then relaxed her body in the cart, her elbows perched on the handlebars, as well as her body resting on the cart to keep pushing.

The Loud boy could not say that his life after the war would be an ordeal. On the contrary, his life could start again from scratch... Although the only problem was the past he was dragging and the problems that had been raised at home during his long absence... No one said it should be all bad... But much less they said that everything would be like before.

Oh, how I did not yearn for those days that were gone... It was already becoming something old, but the mere fact of remembering a simpler and better life was something that he missed with all his mortal soul.

Then both father and daughter picked sweets. Lincoln loved sweets, like every child who grew to blows of fate, he loved the sweet feeling on the palate, even made him feel thirteen years younger. While filling a small part of the cart with candy and chocolates, people sometimes stopped near the man barely returned from the war, trying not to think anything bad, because it was not very common to see a man buying candy next to a blonde girl. Some even tried to think that the former military was a loving father who enjoyed buying and eating sweets... While others hoped he was not a pervert who was seducing an innocent victim.

–… And the chocolate bars know very well, they have chocolate cream inside and when you bite it and you feel it, it tastes very tasty daddy. – Said Lily with a smile while Lincoln listened in the same way.

– Yes, I believe you, I used to eat ice cream sandwiches when I went to primary – Lincoln responded with the cart to the top of home products, food and candy.

– Yes... I wish I could be... sincere with you... and to tell you this daddy and is that it is... So to speak, a faulty taste. – Lily veered her gaze to the side of the aisle, something that caught the veteran's attention – I haven't told mom, Lana or Leni... And I'm a little sorry to have to tell you.

– Uhuh? And what is it, Lyl? – Lincoln glanced askance at his little sister, who was still diverting her gaze.

– Well... Is that in the recess I usually buy many bars of chocolate... In fact, you could say that I am addicted to them, and that is my favorite sweet... I don't like to admit it... But they are so delicious, Heh... Even, on one occasion, Sasha told me that the last time she saw the vending machine in the cafeteria there were not many left, and he heh who knew where the majority was, and when she asked me, he he heh when she asked me if she could check my backpack , there he found half he he he – Lily could not stop to remember with joy those moments with her friend – Sasha then told me that I had a severe addiction to chocolate bars, and that afternoon we spent eating bars until it was a he he. I told her to take it, but she refused, and when I continued to insist she broke it in half and gave it to me... She's the best friend I could possibly want. Lily recounted with a certain thread of nostalgia in her voice... Something that made Lincoln remember himself years ago with an African American boy little accepted by the school society just like him. A brother of the soul.

– I understand Lyl... I really understand. – Lincoln responded with a false smile. And he didn't notice, but they were passing near the appliances.

– Yes, she's a good friend. You should meet her one day, it's very cool and... – At that moment Lily looked behind her back when she heard a gunfire, something that petrified the ex-soldier, recognized the shots, was a Russian-type assault Ak47... – Ah is that the new Call of Battle? Lily asked to go to the appliance area.

As one of the gusts that had reached him and he had been given on the shoulder and on his right shoulder blade. The man was completely paralyzed. In an instant he stopped being at the mall, and was again in a two-year battle. He felt the suffocating agony of having a hot bullet lodged in his back and a wound that bled and stained his uniform. Lincoln grabbed his shoulder trying to soften the feeling, until he fell to his knees. The AK-47 shots never meant anything good, he distinguished the shot of one, only by the sound it provoked, and could distinguish an AK-47 from an AK-103 assault that sometimes his squad mates or patrol carried, two equal but different weapons.

But when he shot, he recognized when an ally was in trouble, or when they were to attack, and there was nothing in this world that he hated more than the shot of an AK-47... The same with which he suffered several terrible wounds during several years of battle...

The same with which his brother had been riddled. He felt a hand on his shoulder and was expected to see Clyde. But then he saw another man who was looking at something worried.

– Hey buddy, you okay? – asked the guy. Lincoln could not distinguish between reality and a lucid memory. There I could see how the image of man was distorted forming Clyde's.
"Linc! Where did they get you? " The soldier breathed agitatedly as his mind returned to play a very bad time in one of the most traumatic moments of his life, feeling the pain, fire and bullets embedded in his skin and bones.

The voices were not coherent, the shots were still flying around... Until it stopped... Seeing a mother on the floor crying desperately, holding a small body, the body of a little boy who had been hit by a damn bullet, a bullet that had been shot by someone with a M4 Carbine rifle... Shot in self-defense... Or simply by not recognizing a child of a damned radical with a gun in his hands... Lincoln then looked around... Lily... where was Lily? The taste of the blood in his mouth was so thick... The pain of his shoulder increased... His despair soared... where was his daughter? Where was your sister?

– Li... Lily... – Lincoln then rose to see a crowd around him, but not his sister. – Lily! – Lincoln screamed looking for her around. But she did not answer, and the former soldier continued to stare desperately everywhere – Where's My Daughter!? – Lincoln's cries denoted pain and despair at the same time – Where's My Daughter!? – Lincoln yelled at the people around him, some were trying to calm him down, others were also starting to look for the girl and others were moving away from that crazy man. No one knew it had happened to give another moment that white-haired man lost control of his emotions. Until at that moment Lincoln felt a hand taking his hand as he looked down he saw the little blond hair with a face of concern – WERE'S MY DAUGHTER!?

– Dad? I am here. – Said Lily in a very troubled tone, and with an uneasy expression to see her father with desperate eyes. Lincoln knelt down and saw her again, she was alive, she was fine. He didn't have a single scratch on his face or his arms, much less on his clothes. She was fine...

Lincoln stammered incomprehensible things when he saw her well. He alone with his eyes reflected a fear as real as not being able to see his little girl again. Lily then took her father's cheeks into her hands. The touch was real, Lincoln stopped breathing restlessly and concentrated on her, on her blue eyes, on the blonde of her hair. Fingers and palms between her cheeks... She was real, it was something real, pain and visions not, just something that her mind had thrown back by the sound of a damn gun.

– I'm here, Dad... – said the little girl while her brother calmed down. This hugged her, hugged her hard trying not to hurt her, but she did it to cling to her and the reality of today. She was real, she was real, nothing that had happened a few moments ago had been. Just an illusion of a war wound you couldn't see, but you could feel it in your eyes. In his embrace he tried to cling to something real. To something truly real. When the former soldier began to recover a little of his sanity, he saw around the people who looked at him as a strange guy who screamed without need, they thought he was crazy... The looks of the people who judged without knowing their pain surrounded him... The bloody gossip people who whispered things, things about the psyche of the ex-soldier. Things they said, but they didn't understand their own accusatory words.

– Lily... Let's get out of here – Lincoln got up taking the hand of his little sister and pushing the shopping cart.

– Uh... Yes Daddy...-Lily did not understand what was happening with her dad, I could not understand, first in the car and now that in the market. What was going on with Lincoln? Why did it seem so... mentally unstable? Why were you crying or worrying about nothing? Why was it that only a few moments away from him had put him so badly?

Lincoln, for his part, felt from all directions the incriminating looks that saw him as a madman while they went to the box, as they passed by the row, and even looked on the screens of the security cameras... The eyes that saw him only judged him as a madman, the whole world judged him as a dirty criminal.

But how could he judge them too? I felt like they were looking at him as actually a murderer, a war criminal. A murderer of innocent children who were in the crossfire. A murderer was the true word that described the man who walked free. He didn't even try to deny it, he deserved it, everything he deserved, because his hands were so stained with blood that what he really wanted was to be judged for his crimes against human life. The mere fact of feeling besieged by those incriminating eyes was enough. Then, when they had finally packed things in a couple of egg boxes, Lincoln paid and just waited for his change to get out of there at once, he no longer wanted to see that rabble again that had turned against him with eyes of disgust and repudiation... Lincoln and Lily simply withdrew with the box full in the arms of the former soldier, who without saying anything to anyone and much less without wanting to talk about what happened, he left to the truck. Lily still did not understand what had happened to her father, even when asked, he did not want to answer. I didn't know what to answer...

I didn't know how to talk to him about everything that had happened in the Afghan desert... Lincoln could no longer hide it, and keep pretending that nothing happened would not suffice, he could not keep attributing all to the lack of his leg. She just didn't know what to do, what to think or how to tell a girl her age what it was like to have to snatch lives with a gun in her hands, or what it was like to see her friends die, or much worse... What it was to have to snatch the lives of people who were just beginning to live, just like her who barely entered adolescence. Both were upset, greatly stressed by the emotions of the day and for all that had happened, and one thing was certain, both were hungry, needed to eat urgently. So Lincoln had to make a stop at the favorite fast food restaurant of him and all his sisters. The Burp Burger. Both had chosen a table next to the window where Lucille had been parked, Lincoln looked at her little sister while she also hoped that her father would start talking. She needed to know what it was that mortified her dad so much. She needed to know what that was... What Lincoln had so locked up in his heart. And if it wasn't enough for Lincoln to be quiet on purpose, Lily had the words on the tip of her tongue. The problem was that she didn't know how to start the conversation.

Lincoln just passed his hand on the chin looking for a solution, something to help him start... how to start a conversation you do not want to have? Maybe going to the point... Maybe talk to the truth and already, there was not much science in that... Or maybe start with something less strong but just as painful.

– Do you know Lyl...? – Lincoln started trying to regulate his voice – Some time ago, when you were a baby and I was 11 years old, I remember that Dad brought me to this same restaurant on my birthday... Or well, a few days after my birthday. At that time the girls and I did not worried much about money, bills to pay, class schedules and work and above all we focused more than anything to be happy. Well, maybe I'm lying about the money, the girls and I used to fight even for a miserable penny on the couch. Je JE... A whole adventure just for a penny. – Lincoln River in the nostalgia of those memories while Lily listened attentively to him speaking of several years in the past, when the future seemed to smile to the Loud family, and his real father.

– Dad... He he... Dad had asked us the family combo, but no, I insisted on the Super Mega Cheeseburger three feet, je Jeh... I thought... I thought I could finish it all by myself, but when I filled up, dad looked at me and said... – then Lincoln imitateded the grave of his father's voice pretending to imitate the scene. – "Lincoln, I told you to eat the Jr. Cheese Burger." And I was from: "Dad I swear I can, I only need three bites, je je je. And dad said "Yes, you're missing three bites, but crocodile" ha ha ha ha ha! – Lily like her father also laughs at that irony of the anecdote.

-In the end, I could not finish Lyl, Dad had to help me, even he could not do it and had to give half to mom. And she could not, so they had to distribute the burger among the girls, only so we could finish with that Super Mega Cheeseburger 3 foot He he he he heh. –Again river the former soldier to the girl who smiled melancholy for not being able to remember that day with his Full family.

– Je je... I'm... I'm glad to hear that, Daddy. – said Lily, lowering her head pitifully. – I would have... I would have liked to be there... Or at least remember what it was that day. – The little girl could not share her father's happiness as much as she wanted. She could never get to know the man who was supposed to be her father.

– You were there Lyl... You were... so small, you were a little baby in a world as small, and I know that asking you to remember is very difficult for you... – Lincoln took the hand of the girl, who was on the table – I... I can barely remember his face... His voice... The way he looked, I know we have thousands of pictures of dad in the house, but... Sometimes I would give anything to hear his voice again... There are days when I would give my life just for... To see him walking around the house again, with his so ridiculous ties, he heh... See it... Just make the food, or watch the sports channel... God... I would give anything just to talk one more day with him... – Lincoln breathed deeply and slowly while trying to evoke details of his father's face. An image that always seemed obstructed by an object, a situation... or by simply not seeing beyond your shoulders – Lynn... He was a good father... My God, he was the best father I could have asked for... But he had to go... It was not my fault, it was not the fault of Lori, Leni, Luna, Luan, Lynn, Lucy, Lana, Lola, Lisa or yours... It wasn't our fault. – Lincoln swallowed saliva heavily as he tried to avoid crying for his dad, the dad who left one day and more never came back – but... sometimes I tell myself that... If there were fewer mouths to feed in the house, perhaps he would not have been so desperate and afflicted to give us a stable life... But he knew what he was doing when he had all of you and me... But... There should always be a, but... And the worst thing is that sometimes when one is wrong, he thinks that by sheer luck of fate or life cannot go worse. But I guess when something goes wrong it can always go a lot worse. – Lincoln covered his eyes with the unoccupied hand, only to prevent tears from escaping while Lily was already suffering from his father's words.

– Daddy... Don't cry, please don't cry. – She asked Lily to wrinkle her little face for that dreadful feeling in her heart.

– Lyl... You... You understand I'm not your dad, right? Or at least I'm not the father you should have remembered... right? – Lincoln asked, looking at his sister, with sobs nodded with his little head.

– Yes... I know brother...-Lily swallowed saliva while the pain intensified inside, she wanted to break in tears as the day before, but in a public space that was very difficult – I... I know dad was gone a long time ago... I know I grew up without him. Our sisters had a lot of time to enjoy their company... of their love and understanding... But I can't remember anyone but you, Linc... I know I don't have a dad... But it made me so happy to think that somehow just having you was better for me. You were always my dad. – Lily ended up talking sobbing, so she had to tell her, she was hurting to have to say that to him.

– I know I'm not dad... I know I'm not our dad... But I love you as if you were my daughter, I tucked you in the evenings when I slept in your crib... "Sniff" I prepared your lunch when I took you to daycare... I... I cried with pride and with some grief when I saw you enter primary for the first time... "Sniff" – Lincoln covered his mouth while sharing tears with his baby girl. -I know I'm not dad... I repeated it over and over, and another, and again for twelve years... But when you saw me and ran towards me, with your little smile and hugged me, and you said "I Love you Daddy"... I... I realized how much I had to protect you... No longer because it was what dad would do... But because it was what I wanted, because I really wanted to be your dad... And no matter what happens, no matter how much it hurts that you do not remember our dad... And... and no matter what others or the world says... In my heart you will always be my baby... – Lily gave a little sigh to hear those words coming from her father figure. – and I want to remain your dad, I want... I want to keep seeing you grow... I want to be there when you need a shoulder to cry, a helping hand where you can trust, a hug when you need, I want to tell you that everything will be fine when someone break your heart, I want to be there when you graduate from college, I want to be the grandfather of your own sons or daughters... And, above all, I want to remain as your father... – He ended up saying Lincoln with a smile wrapped in melancholy and in the pure love he had for his baby.

– I... I just want to tell you... that no matter what happens... – Lily smiled with great joy to his dad. – Linc... You in my mind and in my heart will always be my father... – Lily also squeezed her father's hand by showing her all her love and trust. Both were left sharing a small moment that they did not notice the presence of the waitress, who saw them with watery eyes. Lincoln, upon noticing, tried to wipe his tears with the sleeve of his jacket.

– Oh... Uh... Excuse me... We were just talking... – Lincoln pointed to the tray that the lady was holding. – Is that our order?

– Uhh... Ehhmm... Yes... – the waitress said by placing the tray on the table. They stared at them for a few moments until they deigned to say something – I... Uh... I hope you enjoy your meal... So, what... I know you're a good father. – That said, she withdrew from there trying to clean up the makeup he had run between his eyelids.

Lincoln understood that perhaps she was not a bad girl, but I should have told them that she was there, more than anything because it was a family affair and between them two. Lincoln sighed developing his burger and Lily began to do the same. They were both hungry, but still had the previous talk clinging to their thoughts and hearts. Now the second part of his conversation was missing... Something Lincoln still hesitated to tell his little sister... But if she wanted to understand at least a little of what her father had done and lived for 5 years, I had to say it... in a slightly kinder way than it actually was...

– Lyl... – Lincoln started talking after his first bite to his burger. Do you remember when I left? – The little girl looked at her father with some confusion... Although I could assume what I wanted to get into with that.

– Yes... I remember, Daddy... That day you promised me that you would return... I didn't understand why you had to leave. I could barely understand it, when mom spent more time at home and Lori had gone back to college... I realized that you were gone so that mom and our sisters would recover a little of their previous lives... And when you came back from the military academy at Christmas, they were the best weeks of my life... I could spend time with you... You told me about the things you had done and learned, at some point I also wanted to be part of the military school... – Lily gave a little bite to her hamburger while Lincoln finished tasting his bite with a little smile.

– No... I don't think you want to ever join the Navy, Lyl... – Linc said in a somewhat dull tone, something his sister wanted to ask, but he still did not finish his bite – but yes... I remember those times, my body officer when he was not an idiot gave us time to return to home... Although that did not prevent him from being a bit... – Lincoln sighed a little by remembering his hard training as a soldier.

– Bad? – Lily answered a little unknowingly at her father's words.

– I was going to say Ass**le, but... Yes, it was... Either way, I think we trained that way so hard because we were going to see and do things that... God... – Lincoln gulped heavily knowing that the little he was going to tell his sister was even too strong for him.

– What's wrong, Dad? Lily innocently asked, but somewhat intrigued by that sudden pause from her father.

– Eh... Dang... Let's say that... Let's say that while I was away... for so long... – Lincoln put a hand on his forehead, what he was going to tell Lily was not easy for him, because somewhere he believed that if he told his little sister... she would also begin to see him as a murderer. – Lyl... A man can do anything to survive, even the worst... the most aberrant... the hardest that not many could bear...

– Eh... I don't think I understand, Dad... – said Lily confused.

– I know... And I hope you never understand what it's like to have to do horrible things to survive, for the orders you get... or for your country... Sometimes you have to do things that... You can't imagine what you would do under normal circumstances... But in a war there is nothing like right or wrong. Just do what it takes to live another day...-that last sentence had said more to himself than for his little sister, who stopped to see him carefully... something did not like that phrase. And with some grief swallowed the piece of hamburger that had been chewing... I wanted to ask you a very important question. Something she was almost completely sure of, but she needed to ask that question.

– Dad... When you were in the war... – Lily squeezed The fabric of her coveralls into her hands. – you... Did you kill people?

In hearing that question, Lincoln could not help feeling a slight shiver, he hoped not to say it that way... But it was necessary to tell him why he should never think of joining the militarized.

– Yes... I killed many people in Afghanistan... – he answered with guilt, but sure of what he was saying, he would not say figures, how he had done it, or whether they were men, women or... children... Much less if those who were innocent deserved to die.

– Uh... – Lily swallowed a little saliva in a very heavy way. – And... Were they bad people...? He asked, feeling a very strong shiver walking his back, to which Lincoln asked her to give him his hand, to which she acquiesced timidly, clenching her father's hand heavily in hers.

– Lyl... Small... I want you to understand something. – Lincoln sighed with sorrow within his afflicted soul... But I needed to say those things to your little sister. – In a war... there's no such thing of good or evil... Only decisions and actions, whether good or bad no matter, when someone wants to kill you, you cannot allow that, you must preserve your life at the expense of others... Yes... Sometimes you must do things... bad, to save your life... – Lincoln sighed as he kept explaining everything to his little sister. In a calm and relaxed way, he had to confront one of the most painful ghosts of his being.

– but... You're a good person, daddy... You are... You helped all of us. – said Lily without believing what her brother was telling her. That he had done horrible things to other people... And by saying that there was neither good nor evil, that means that among "the bad", there were also those who never intended to do wrong.

– Lyl... Sometimes good people should do bad things, things they would not like to do... Things that one if you had another option, you wouldn't... – Lincoln swallowed saliva heavy, trying to overcome the difficulties to be honest with Lily – But when someone comes to you... trying to take your life, you can't just argue with it, and less in a language That you don't know and maybe you'll never know... It is not the method that we should choose, but when someone in front of you has a gun in their hands and plans to finish you, it is no longer a question of what is right and what is not, it is a matter of not wanting to die. – Lincoln scratched his forehead, feeling the sweat of his skin.

– Sometimes the best decision is not the right one, Lyl... Sometimes the best decision is... To think that it is to save your own life, without thinking about everything else... To think that what you do, no matter how bad, is the right decision... That is for a common good and that... sometimes... there are people who must die so that another can live. – he finished explaining partially covering his face with his right hand – I know it's not fair... But when I had to shoot, I tried not to think they were people... that were objects or something... And every time I shot, I felt like I was doing it to protect you, our sisters, our mom and you... I held so much to that idea that I really began to believe that so killing would become easy... – Lincoln then took a short pause to think those words, those words that came out of his mouth, those words that hurt him deeply...
– But killing is never easy... It shouldn't be easy... Taking a life is something that haunts you forever... Some are stronger in this kind of thing, others manage to cope... But I can't, sometimes I wish I had died in combat... to live like a war criminal... – he said to himself as he looked down with sadness and disappointment, something Lily did not want him to say... But he did it because inside he felt like a dirty criminal.

– Don't say that, Dad... Don't say it... – said Lily feeling her brother's words pressing heavily on her chest – her... I guess I understand Dad... But I don't want you to die... I don't want to lose you again. – Little Loud," he continued, pressing his brother's hand hard, not wanting to let go again in his life, not wanting to leave it again.

– I want you to know Lyl... That I did all this for you... by our Sisters... by Mom... So that they could walk free... I... I did that because when the situation seems to never improve, when you know that little by little the home crumbles... Sometimes you have to do things that... You would not do if you had another option, but when there are no more options to watch as everything crumbles desperately before you... In desperate cases they always require desperate measures. – Lincoln sighed again trying to make his voice not break through the excess of dead memories in his heart. Memories of a time without dad or mom.
– I did what was necessary to give you and others a future, Lily... And with my decision came many things... The girls returned a little to their "normal" lives. Mom spent much more time at home... And then... They no longer had to worry about food, Lyl... When you see that by your decisions to break your back every day to give the best to your family bear fruit... At least you can say it was worth every moment of suffering you spent fighting... That's always been the most important thing to me Lyl, it's always been the most important thing. – Lincoln explained to her little sister, who nodded her head slightly. She could understand what her father wanted to tell her.

Sometimes, to save everyone, one has to sacrifice so that others can survive and prosper, so that others could live a less complicated life, it was not the action that would save everyone in the end... But either way, as long as you could save the majority, only the one who would die would leave everyone with his conscience clean... Although for Lincoln death still did not pose his cold and pious hands on his cheeks, offering that consolation of leaving the world with clean conscience and free of sin... No, he still had a job to do, as hard and painful as he was. Either way, his life no longer belonged to him... Now it belonged to them, whom he swore to protect and serve without hesitation a single second.

and to die or not, it was no longer in their hands, now they would be their saviors, or their doomers. Whatever it is, Lincoln again had a door open to him. Start a new life from scratch. Doing everything right this time, doing it because it was right, finally was the right thing, although he just wanted the days to be longer and the moments to take his Python were less difficult.

Soon after, fed and satisfied, both Loud brothers were coming home. It had been a very long day and it seemed that lately Lincoln days were like that. He could not complain, in advance he knew that settling some unfinished business in his life would not be any moment. It had to take time to accommodate those words and ideas so that when the moment of truth was given, I should not hesitate. The army had taught him that: when it's time to face it, not to be afraid. Face the situation with the forehead high and swallow the fear and insecurities. So they had trained him, so he had lived, because if all the world failed and he too, then there would be nothing more to do or to fight. Just doing it because there were really no more options left.

―Hey Hey My My Battleme―

Little time later they were seen coming home. Little Lily looked at the sun hiding in the sunset, while the radio sounded with a soothing song, who said goodbye to that day with tranquility and serenity. Lincoln was driving on a lonely road, seeing the world and time passing slowly, but at the same time quickly before him.

It was like seeing the world from a window, the same had sufferings, sorrows and horrible things, but also had moments of tranquility, happiness and undoubtedly beauty. As a sunset seen from a somewhat rustic red pickup, with the radio sounding softly, with a perfect song to finish the day and as the wind between his albino hair, as the ability to free his mind of things that sometimes were only to be said to feel little PO Co closer to home. Lincoln then released his right hand from the steering wheel, just to squeeze his little sister's hand into hers, Lily felt his brother's touch and flipping over to see him gave him a smile. And before the sight she smiled too. Well, Dad was back home, just sharing a little moment together.
As if this life was formed by small moments, and the rest was too much.
This life... Oh, this life of little moments, both joyful and painful. But as long as I could hold a little hand by his side, and I could share those little moments. He would still have a place... A place to call home.
When he got home, Lincoln took the shopping box inside, while Lily preferred to listen to the end of that song with the side of his door open. Just waiting to see that the sun was completely hidden, and thinking of the conversation he had had with his father.

For all that he had told him, the revelations he had given him, and in the meantime he thought of everything, he observed the identification plates he had given him. Then that was the life of a recent graduate of the war, or at least that of his brother... A constant and perpetual phantom pain for every thing he had done... He could understand his reasons, but his actions were most difficult to understand. Perhaps it was true what some people said, to understand a person with a lot of pain in his heart is to live all that lived... But she was no longer sure if she wanted to live that life of death and loneliness that no one else would know. The pain that no one else would live. Like a latent pain that no one can see or hear, but there it was, silent but latent.

Lincoln left the house shaking his hands with each other, there was nothing left but to turn off the engine of the truck, close it with insurance and return both home.

– Well, Lyl, is there nothing left in Lucille? – The veteran asked his little sister, who shook his head, and saw him taking the keys to turn off the van, just after the song ended up ringing on the radio. – All right, let's go home. – Lincoln pressed the door lock button to secure it like Lily, who had his father's plates tightly grasped on his right hand.

– Dad... – Lincoln turned to see his daughter at that call. She raised her hand to him with a gift, and then the former soldier opened it to feel her plates back in her hand. He frowned slightly at the latter and looked at his sister with confusion. – I wanted... to give it back... – Lily smiled slightly as Lincoln looked back at him.

– Lyl... I... I thought you liked it – Lincoln mentioned lowering the tone of his voice, into something that Lily nodded.

– Yes, and I still like it a lot, but... – The little girl swerved her eyes to the ground, she clasped her hands on her back with some grief – But... Little by little I have seen the weight that loads... And suddenly they became too heavy for me. – Lily sighed when she looked back at her dad. – but... That weight I felt makes me understand what you have done, what hurts you and what I know I will never understand... And I really don't know if I'll ever understand... – At that moment the little girl hugged her father with as much affinity as she used to do as a child. – but... that doesn't mean I can't try to understand you... – those last words made Lincoln smile, who hugged his daughter with a trail of joy and nostalgia.

The pain, when it is shared, could always be made more enjoyable and more so while this same is shared with the people you love, they can help you recover and heal.
Lincoln took her by the hand and smiled at him.

– Let's go back home Lyl... To our home. – Lincoln and Lily headed to the doors of the Loud House. Lincoln held a small handyman on his right and on his left his plates, which hung from his hand. I was coming home, no longer had a desert uniform, no longer held an M16 type M4 carbine, now held something that really wanted to cling, the little hand of a girl who loved and loved him no matter their demons and ghosts.

While both were walking to house 1216, Franklin Avenue, located in Royal Woods in the state of Michigan. A place they both called... Home.

December 12th of the year 20XX

Dear brother, you've been gone a few years. I miss you very much.

Things at home have not been the best, but at least we still stand, literally this year without you... God, we all have changed a lot, fortunately I am well, I am very well actually, although I would like to say the same about the others. Luna has been a little fragile since you left, Luan has tried to improve the mood of the house, even at times, at least she stays as positive as she can, that's good.

Lynn... Well, she's not having so much fun to say, and it doesn't help Lucy to go on without saying a single word. Lola and Lana have changed a lot, you can't imagine little brother. Lisa, that Brainiac, is so busy with her studies and experiments as to show emotion... Although I know that in the background is not a machine without feelings and misses you, we all miss you very much... And Lily, your departure has been the most painful for her. He always asks me questions like "When's dad coming back? Where is he? Will it be okay? "... In fact, the only Christmas gift she asked for was for you to come back home... It hurts Me to say yes, indeed you will be well and you'll be back soon... I feel that I lie on many occasions to make you feel good... And I know you're there struggling, I'm not stupid and I know the reality of a battlefield... I don't say this to others, but I'm afraid I'll never see you again, little brother. Never to hug again, not to hear your voice again. I'm so afraid of never knowing again about you again, stay safe Lincoln... I love you very much, little brother.

And I am so afraid to lose you, I do not know if I'll be strong enough to accept another death in the family and I know that if you do not return, this will destroy us all... Just keep yourself safe, that's all I ask of you, little brother. I hope that... Come back so we can all meet next to the fireplace, with a cup of hot chocolate and blankets, to wait for the arrival of Santa Claus. What I wouldn't give for a Christmas more like that.

We all wish you a Merry Christmas, little brother.

With Love; Lori.

Yesterday.

That weekend was... Silent, another work proposal that had been rejected still resonated after a week. Lynn Loud Signor continued to mark some works that at least were fruitful. Whatever it was to keep a house standing that was slowly falling apart as the months passed. They had barely been able to pass father Loud's first month of unemployment. Scratching the pennies as if they could at least continue to pay the outstanding bills.

Although that really didn't help at all.

Lincoln looked at his father worried... The boy needed to help more than anything. Next month they had to pay for the gas, and the electricity was already going to be cut, while the TV was already disconnected, pure static could be seen on all the channels that were once available. And the damn cupboards were getting less food. That was the most troubling thing for the father, who was desperately trying to find something... Just something, even what was looked better than nothing.

What could they do? What were they going to do? While Rita wore out days working even overtime to keep at least a little of the human dignity they should have, Lynn Sr collected working letters that rejected him, needed new and experienced blood, not a man who was already crossing the Third level of life. What the hell should a father do to support his family without having to resort to extremes that no family should cross?

What was it? Maybe... That... Keep looking and waiting until the last penny of the house disappeared definitively and the hunger began to be more and more strong... If there was any way out, please let someone tell you.

Lincoln approached his father to put a hand on his shoulder as a token of support. Something his father took in his hands... His boy was still there with him... Demonstrating solidarity and strength, while his other daughters were already aware of reality, a very crude reality to the shortcomings they never had, to the scarcity they never knew until that time, until the silence and painfully flooded the house. Until that moment they realized that their problems did not mean anything compared to what was a world where dad could no longer contribute to the house.

And getting to work to keep the problem from getting bigger was no longer an option, now it was the obligation of alike...

If none could contribute, he would try not to deteriorate anything else that was tottering.

Lincoln sighed as his father returned to his newspaper. That day he remembered that he had to take out the garbage, went to the kitchen and found the bag of the dumpster half empty, that was not very rare and there were many things to consume with a refrigerator with provisions that were scarce little by little. Lincoln went from room to room, the living room, the dining room, the basement, the sitting room and every basket or boat was almost empty or completely empty.

And the thing didn't stop until we got to the hallway on the upper floor.

Going to check out Lori and Leni's boat, she heard a little talk. Lori wanted to get a new job, but could barely with the one I had in the arcade and continue studying. Leni was still trying to win a chance at the nearest boutique in town to try some luck, although that did not seem to smile at her, who did not have enough knowledge in a job to know that she needed to ask for schedules, days of Job, pay much less give the full job interview. Leni seriously wanted a job like this, but felt useless not being able to do it for her... way of Being... Lincoln went unnoticed because both were focused on the lack of money and job opportunities.

Lincoln then went to the Moon Room and Luan to check the trash cans, the same there was almost no garbage, but seeing them both were... Empty, there were no jokes, no music... There was nothing, just thoughts and sighs in the wind, Luna had not been able to attend the concerts of his favorite bands because there was simply no what, Luna still wanted to go, to enjoy the luxury that could not be given... And seeing that sign in the bar in the village where they asked people to give a show made her think more at home than their needs. Luan, although he tried to improve his mood as always, but could not, even she knew that making jokes or jokes in times of full absence was not in good taste. Besides, even if she wanted to do them, what would she do? Spend resources they no longer had to do jokes that would not be funny? Make jokes about the plight of the home? To improve humor with things that really couldn't be arranged by just asking? Even a comedian like she knew when it was time to stop and start thinking about how to contribute. Lincoln only greeted Luan, who nodded smiling slightly, while Luna solo kept looking at the window of his room, playing a song to return to a carefree past.

Lincoln sighed and passed into Lynn's room and Lucy to look at Lynn who threw a ball in the air and then caught it. She, like, Lucy had nothing to say or do, she knew that the situation at home was not improving and the silence was proof that none was willing to say a single word. Less Lucy, who looked at the darkest abyss of her life before the lack of hope in the house, she used to talk about it as if nothing when they had abundance, but now she faced the true face of the abyss, so dark and so depressing that she had never known , he had only spoken to him, but had never seen his true face, his true sorrow, the true face of the lack of hope and fear of the future. Lincoln again went unnoticed in front of both those who roamed on their own worlds.

Lola and Lana... Well, as always, they fought for anything, but the main theme was more than anything that both the wool pets were too rare to be able to keep feeding and that Lola's things were just as expensive as the bills to sell. Lincoln did not try to interfere, they would realize sooner or later that none would be right in their arguments and both would not yield their animals or things so easily. Lincoln just pulled the garbage bag out of the room, which was just as empty as the others and left.

Then, checking Lisa's room, she checked the bank accounts of the loud parents, they were all in zeros, only one still had money for another month at the house loud, but from there nothing else. Though little Lily could not understand what was going on in the house, she was so accustomed to the noise and constant making and undoing of the things that she was even strange to her.

Lincoln started loading it as the garbage he wore was not even an impediment to spending at least a little time with her.

– Hi Lily, how are you feeling? – Lincoln asked with a smile as he was leaving the room with his little sister in his arms. – As you see, things are not going very well in the House, in fact... I think you've already noticed. – Lincoln smiled at the little what made her smile too-Je Jeh, at least you keep your joy. – Popo. – Lily answered with the same smile on her face, and Lincoln opened the door of her room to take out the little trash bag from her room.

– Yes he he... It must be nice to be a baby, carefree, without problems, without having to worry about things like money... Hell, I'd even like to be you again. So, things would not weigh me as much as now... – Lincoln began to descend the stairs again with the little rubbish he had been able to get out of the boats...
"How nice it would be if the world were to be as easy as before." Lincoln thought, placing the bags in the garbage pail outside the house.

He tried to check the mail to see if something had come, and to his surprise was the job his father had seen as an accountant in the newspaper ad, that made him smile, that seemed to be the spark of hope that they needed at that time.
Lincoln accommodated Lily better in her arms to run back home.

As he entered with that face of illusion, he handed over the envelope to his father, who turned away everything he was doing to then smile. Lynn Sr began to open the letter with excitement hoping this time was the good one. Then when I took the letter out of the envelope, he began to read and... Again the seal of rejected... Again hope faded in the air. Lynn Loud Signor would meet again with disappointment, his old friend. Lincoln was also disappointed to think that Dad would have a job again. Lynn sighed with fatigue, passing his hands across his face and eyes, was despondent, but he was not going to give up just because she was again rejected. He had to be strong for his family, so Lynn Sr put a hand on his boy's shoulder as he looked at his son and daughter with a smile letting him know that everything would be fine... Everything was supposed to be okay. He had to show that everything would be all right, he would do the impossible to give back to his family. He was just hoping that the law firm he had marked in the paper was that golden nugget they needed... They just needed a miracle, only one and the house would be like before... Although Lincoln was said mentally that...

There'll be another time.

PostScript.

And well, here it is. The postscript. Sorry for the Long Delay but… Work and School are killing me, lemme tell you that

One more year we're going, can you believe it? Because I don't. A year ago it had not occurred to me that Homecoming would be a very emotional story. I had a very different idea of what it was supposed to be.

But... Here we are, with more than 50.000 visualizations, and with many favorites and reviews.

Let's go for another year. One more year, boys and gals! And what better way to make this story become much bigger than it already is?

A few months ago I had an idea, something different from what many could do.

So I hope you like it because I have something to announce.

I want to make a dynamic call: Write a letter to Lincoln, that's right, you dear and beautiful audience can contribute to the history of Homecoming. The dynamic is very simple. You can take the identity of one of the Sisters of Lincoln, mother and even Ronnie Anne. and write a letter to young Loud. Imagine writing a letter to a loved one and making your voice heard. You can contribute to the story also to make this project a service to the community. All cards will appear in the following episodes from now on and will be given credit for their participation to the authors of the letters.

So if you want to participate, send a message to the mail.

Blackanddarkfirestories or by private message.

We can all make Homecoming a much bigger story than it is.

Also have a look at Loud House S.A.M.C.R.O. It is a story to share but that will have many references of this series and vice versa.

Visit Also to my editor FHix on its Facebook pages, Deviantart and Fanfiction makes a lot of cute and interesting content, plus very nice stories.
Follow me in deviant, do not raise much, but... Lately I will be uptakeing designs and illustrations of LH Sons and Homecoming... it's Something!

ArrobaObscurum-Draco

I thank you so much for all your visits, comments and green. Really guys and girls, I love them all, I wouldn't do this without all the help and support they give me.

Guys, girls, thank you all. Here the real artists are you. Without you I would continue to publish stories without constancy or relevance. Thanks a lot.

Of his friendly neighbor.

The Amazing Eddy spider.