Author's Note

I might have started adding things early. The story will remain the same, however, It might be darker than you remember it.

Lincoln

The line for Luna to autograph something, wasn't just long, it was extremely long. Like the places he went to get free food sometimes from churches. It was so long, and he had been waiting in the line for over half an hour now. He usually only waited in like for free food, but he had already dedicated two days to this task, so he was going to see it through. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, to try to move the muscles in his legs.

He had been trying to come up with what to say to Luna when he reached the table. The last she saw him, he was sure she was thinking that he had just assaulted her sister. Again, he hoped that the girl had told her sister that he had been helping her, one can hope because the security looked big, and he didn't feel like being tackled.

As he inched closer to the table, his nerves grew with each inch gained. Part of him just wanted to leave the case here, and hopefully she would find it. Or would someone just end up taking it. No, he had to do this himself. But then he started thinking again.

'What am I doing? I'm just a homeless kid, returning a dumb case, that I took in the first place. Normal people don't do that. I should leave. The dummy probably isn't that important to them, Yeah, I'm jus-'

"Hey dude, yah alright over there, Luv?" he hear the raspy, yet feminine voice, before him snapping him out of his own thoughts. He finds himself at the front of the line facing the person that he was been trying to get to, for the last two days. The very person he had just been debating even talking to. He must have been walking with the movement of the line while thinking without realizing.

He feels a slight push from behind, maybe encouragement to continue. Maybe the person behind him thought he was star struck, and was too scared to go forward.

This was the first time that he had a close look at the girl. Her face dotted with freckles, which blended into her light brown skin, this rocker must get a good amount of sun, maybe with enough events like this. Her brown eyes, soft and kind. Paperclips adorn her ears as earrings which suited her look., around her ears was her brown hair, in a pixie cut style. She wore the same outfit as she had on the poster, this must be her signature look.

"Heh, not much of a talker are you, Luv?" She smiled at him, "Don't worry, Dude. I'm just plain 'ol Luna Loud. Why don't I sign your case?" She continued bringing the marker closer to him,

"No!" he puts his hand out, stopping the marker from getting near the case. His sudden outburst caused the rocker to jump for a moment, clearly startled. "Sorry... I'm not here to get anything signed, I just wanted to give this back to that girl, your sister."

The brunette looked confused for a second as she looked him over, her head tilting to the side. He unclasps the case, opening it to reveal the contents, the creepy dummy that had been in his care for the past two days. Her expression becomes unreadable, and he began to sweat. Readying himself to run if she decided to call security.

'She's about to scream out for security,' he thought. He was going to get tackled by guards at least three times his size.

He was about to bolt, when she swiftly leaned over the table, and pulls him into a tight embrace. Which confused him to no end.

"You're the kid who was there, you saved Luan that day. Thank you so much." So much emotion in her voice, and tears forming at the corner of her eyes., While keeping him in an almost death grip.

"It really was nothing," He said after escaping her grasp, and taking a step back. His left hand coming up to the back of my neck nervously rubbing it. He fails to keep eye contact with her as he continues to mumble. "Anyone would have done it."

"Not only did you save her, but you found her case, and brought it back, dude. Luan was devastated when she thought it was gone," she continued on ignoring what he said

"But..." He started

"Hey, Imma be done with this in about five, why dontcha wait around, and then you can return Mr. Coconuts personally, Dude. She would love to meet the person who saved her." That didn't sound like a very good idea to him, but even before he started to protest, she was already guiding him to a chair next to her at the table, before the line continued on.

'How in the Hell did this happen?' He wondered to himself, He had just wanted to return the case, not hang around for too long. He could leave, but that would be rude, plus getting past all the people in line would draw a lot of unwanted attention to himself.

The five minutes went by in a blur as person after person presented a notebook, or instrument for her to sign. Luna herself gave everyone the same excitement and vigor. She seemed to have a never ending supply of those two traits. Though, as she wraps up with fan standing at the table, when the guard announces that the time is over. And a chorus of groans come from the crowd. She finally turned to the boy, a smile on her face as she takes his hand pulling him to his feet.

"C'mon, Little Dude. Let me introduce you to my family," She says while turning around and leading him in some direction, he hoped that she was sure of where she was going, because he had no clue where he was. But based on how confident her stride was, he was sure she knew where she was going.

The destination soon became apparent as they arrived at a small area set up in the middle of food stands, similar to a crude food court in the mall. Weaving in and out, he bumps into one with his hip, resulting in a bottle of ketchup falling to the ground, to which he bends down to pick it up, muttering an apology as he was once again lead away.

"Here we are dude." He hears Luna say behind me, as she pushes me slightly forward, "Let me intoduce you to the Loud Family.

The boy turns around and takes a step only to stop in his tracks. Sitting down at the tables that were pushed together, were eleven people. Two adults, and the rest were girls. That wasn't what had caught his attention though, it was the fact that the majority of them he knew. Well, not knew, but had seen them and had contact with them these last two days, with the exception of the adults and two of the girls.

"Guys, look," Luna began only to be interrupted by the girl in red and white jersey that he had played in the park with yesterday. He remembers her name is Lynn.

"Hey, I know you. You're the kid that kept the creeper off me, and played soccer with me." Before he could say anything in response to that, someone else spoke up from the table.

"He also helped Leni pick up things at the entrance earlier too." That one wasn't true, but he wasn't going to tell them what he had been doing.

"He won Lola her tiara!" The overall twin had jumped up, with an abundance of energy. "He totally wrecked those bottles, the dude was so mad to have someone win."

"Well, it seems that you have made quite the impact on some of our daughters, why don't you introduce yourself, son" He assumed this man was the father, as he spoke up above his daughters.

"Well, my name is, Lincoln." Lincoln says rubbing the back of his neck again out of nervousness. Because they were still looking at him, as if they expected more. Then realization hit him, they were looking for a last name. Thinking quickly he looked around when he spotted some rocks on the ground near the table. "Rockstin, Lincoln Rockstin."

"Well, Lincoln, I would like to thank you for the things that you have done for my darling daughters, these past few days" the father said with a kind smile. That was the first sincere 'thank you' he had gotten from an adult in a very long time. In fact he couldn't recall the last time it had happened. He couldn't help but smile.

"Hey, Linc, don't you have something for Luan?" Luna whispers to me, though the girl in yellow turned her head, maybe having heard her name, or noticed her case. She's staring straight at him with an indescribable expression. Working up some courage, he pushed himself forward, Lifting the case, and setting it down softly on the table in front of her.

"Hey, sorry about taking this, it was kind of spur of the moment thing. And when I realized I had it, well I went looking for you." He mumbles as he opens the case, pushing the dummy closer to her.

"I never thought I would see Mr. Coconuts again!" she says with hesitation, and her voice thick with emotions. "I thought I might have to go solo."

"What do ya mean , Doll? You're act is fifty percent me." Luan makes the puppet answer her, as the table groans, and a few slam their heads on the table.

Before anything else could be said, his stomach growls loudly, interrupting everyone. Every set of eyes turn to look at him, and he feels his face get hot.

"Hey, Lincoln, why don't you join us?" Lynn says happily patting the seat next to her eagerly.

"I, uh, don't have any money on me," he mutters, while he did have money, the food stands here looked well out of his price range, and if he wanted what little money he had to last, he had to keep it.

"It's on us," He hears the father say from farther down the table. "It's the very least we can do, after all you've done for our daughters.

'Well, I was thinking about keeping the money for food. Should I really turn down a free meal?' Looking over at Lynn, she is still tapping the seat next to her,. Looking around the table, he sees more than one set of puppy dog eyes staring at him, most notably from Lola, Lana, and Leni. He sighs to himself, as he sits down, picking up a small menu on the table.

Looking around he notices that the place was quite big for a vendor that would normally be set up in an event such as this. When he noticed that the sign above the stand read Lynn's Kitchen. That was the name of the restaurant where he got all the food from yesterday. Then he noticed that there were two waiters.

'Yeah, this place seems fancy.' He almost didn't even wanna see the prices on the menu. He studied the menu as if it were life and death, the prices were kinda high.

"Anything you want, Lincoln. Don't worry about the cost, Lynn's Kitchen is my restaurant. So, no need to be frugal." The father chuckles, suggesting a couple things. When the waiter came by, he simply ordered a burger and fries, and a drink.

"So, Linc man, are you here with family?" Luna asks, while digging into her own meal with enthusiasm. Then again, after being on stage for hours, and signing all those autographs, he was sure that she was more than hungry.

"No, um, my parents were busy today, so I came here on my own." He kept his answers vague as he stare in front of him, as the meal is placed before him. He had eaten part of a burger yesterday, thinking that it was the best thing he had ever tasted. And in fairness, it was the best thing that he had ever eaten from a dumpster. So, he thought he was prepared when he bit into his burger. It almost brought tears to his eyes. But he had to keep it under control. He didn't want to have to answer any questions about why food would make him tear up.

"Huh? So, you're here by yourself? That sounds a bit lonely, if you ask me." Lynn says from beside him, while pushing some of her fries around. Suddenly she sits up straight, and turns in her seat facing him, "I know! Why don't you come with me, and we can both check out some stalls together."

"Sure," he couldn't find a reason to say no, and they just bought him lunch. So, he felt that he owed them something.

"Hey, I wanted to check out some stalls too!" Luna piped up on his other side. He assumed she hadn't had a chance to check out the event.

'Wait, what did I just agree too?' He wondered

"Yeah, I wanted to go too!" Luan adds, while not taking her eyes off the case that Mr. Coconuts was in. He wondered what was bothering her. It probably wasn't any of his concern, what was his concern was that he had just agreed to spend the rest of the day here with three of the Loud sisters.

...

After he had finished eating his lunch, it didn't take long for Luna, Luan, and Lynn to hurry him along, Lynn actually pulling him along behind her. So they can explore the carnival.

Lynn decided that she was going to take the lead for the first part of their adventure. Leading them to a game that required you to bring a hammer down, as hard as you can, to try to ring the bell at the time. He believed it was called Test of Strength in a couple carnivals he had been to, this one was called High Striker, but seemed to be the same concept.

"You can't be serious, Lynn. This is a test of strength. Of course you're gonna pummel us!" Luan snickered at her joke, while the other groaned, while he chuckled, that was actually a good one.

"Don't encourage, Luan. But, sure, I'll go first." Luna said while handing the fee to the employee in charge of the game,

Luna walks up to the area marked out where to stand at, and lines up her swing. The hammer swings down, with a surprising amount of force, but then again, some of the amps, and instruments weighed a decent amount, so he wasn't too shocking that the rocker was strong. His hits the target and the little ball flies up close to the bell at the top.

"Whoa Luna, that's impressive." He couldn't help himself as he clapped his hands along with the other two Loud girls. Luna takes a bow, and hands the hammer back the the employee, making her way back to their group.

Now it's Lynn's turn, paying the fee, she takes the hammer, also lining up her swing, and brings it down with more noticeable force than Luna had displayed. And the little ball comes so close to the bell, but falls back down, coming just shy of it's mark. Lynn lets out a cheer, as he is treated with the silly victory dance, she displayed during soccer.

Luan decides that she didn't want to play, stating there was no point. If her sisters couldn't there was no way she could.

"Told you, Lynn always wins at these type of games." Luna said with a look saying that she knows all too well what the outcome was going to be before it even began.

"Hey Linc, your turn, don't worry I already paid the guy." Lynn said as she held out the hammer to him. He makes his way to the spot he was supposed to stand and looks at the game. There has to be some trick with the game. Something so simple. Then an idea hits him. This game isn't about strength, it's about accuracy. It's designed to make you think it's strength, because when you hit as hard as you can, your aim isn't great.

He grips the mallet, as far down the handle as he could, and judge how far away he was from it, giving him the best chance to hit it as dead on as he could before raising the mallet. He swings it down making contact with the platform just where he wanted it. The ball soars up, going, going, until the bell lets out a loud ding, causing all three girls to gape at him as he turns to look at them.

"Whoa, Dude, how'd you do that?" Luna gestured at the machine behind him.

"How did you beat me?" Lynn asks eagerly, probably trying to figure out what he did due to her being obviously stronger than he was.

"It's all about accuracy, and not about how hard you hit it." He said to the girls as he comes back with his prize. Not knowing what to pick, just just picked the cool looking Lucha Libre mask. Once he made it to them he noticed Lynn looking at the mask with something akin to desire. Lynn had paid for his go, and he really didn't have any use for the mask. He would end up losing it, he held it out for Lynn.

"Hey Lynn, do you want this? You did pay for my go, and I had to pick something." He turns to Lynn holding out the mask to her. Her cheeks turn red as she accepts it muttering a quiet, 'thank you',

"Are you sure you don't want to have a go, Luan?" Lynn asks her sister, changing the subject, hoping that it would take notice off of her pink cheeks.

"Na, I can never nail these kinda games. Just can't swing it." Luan said with a smile while looking at her two other sisters, who groaned in response. Lincoln on the other hand chucked, which seemed to shock Luan, that she got a laugh.

"Your turn to pick a game, Luna" Luan mutters softly looking away from the boy, who noticed the pinkening of her cheeks.

Luna looked as though she was thinking about what game she wanted to play, even going as far as placing a finger against her chin. Just as fast as she touched her finger to her chin, she moved it away snapping her fingers.

"Dude, I know just the game we should play." Luna then darted off, him and her sisters hurrying to follow the rocker girl.

As we make our way too wherever Luna was leading us, he felt a cold chill go up his back. It felt as if someone was following him, or at least watching him, and the sisters. He cast a glace around as they followed, though careful not to lose Luna and the others. Just when the feeling gets to the point I feel like someone is staring a hole in my body. I'm feeling paranoid. 'He' could be here, and with all these people, blending in. He came to a halt, looking around again trying to find the source of his uneasiness, he jumped feeling a tap on his shoulder

"Whoa, you alright, Linc?" Lynn asked him, clearly shocked at his reaction.

"Uh, yeah. Just was lost in thought trying to figure out what Luna has in mind.' He chuckled a little nervously, brushing the feeling of being watched off. Maybe it was Lynn looking at him.

"Well, by the looks of it, I'd say she was heading to the dunk tank." Lynn exclaims while her hand points to the booth that Luna and Luan were currently walking towards. By the time they arrived, Luna had already paid for her turn, and was being handed her three baseballs.

"What's this? C'mon, you can't hope to dunk me,' The man said mockingly at Luna, trying to get a reaction. When people are peeved, they usually stop thinking. When Luna missed her first shoot, he laughs amused by her throw, as it went to far to the left.

"You throw like you sing.' The guy taunts again, as he swings his legs while sitting on precariously on the seat hanging over the water. Luna narrowing her eyes at the comment, at first Lincoln thought she was going to throw wildly again, until she closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath. Possibly from years of going up on stage, was a way to calm her down, and focus. Luna winds up and throws her pitch, hitting the target dead center, sending the man into the water. Laughter cut off as he realizes that he was falling.

Lincoln, Luan, and Lynn all cheered as the sputtering man resurfaced, as Luna pumps her fist in the air in triumph.

"You showed him, Luna." Lynn patted her sister on the back, obviously proud of her normally, non-sporty sister.

"What a wave to make him eat his own words." Luan snickered, causing Lincoln to chuckle a little.

Lynn was the next to step up to the dunking booth. Lincoln wasn't surprised as the guy went in the water all three times, while Lynn muttered something about messing with her sisters, and making fun of them.

Lincoln followed behind, at the pushing from Luna and Lynn. He felt bad about them wasting their money on him. After all, he hadn't been honest with him, and the only reason he was really in the event, was the fact that he had stolen Leni's ticket. They had paid for his lunch, even if it was Mr. Loud's restaurant. They had already been more than generous. Then when Lynn started in wanting to see what he could do, Unfortunately, he did not do as well as Lynn. After missing his first, and second throw, he managed to still miss his third. Clearly, not some of his best work.

Luan surprising him as she seemed excited to try. Lincoln didn't imagine that this would be her kind of game, but didn't argue the point. To be fair, he didn't really know her other than very brief encounters. Though, considering that her sisters were also shocked by her actions, and even more surprised when Luan hit the target, dunking the guy every time. She didn't even break a sweat.

"That was a piece of pie!" Luan giggled turning towards him, and her sisters, then noticing the shocked expressions on their faces. "What? I throw pies in people's faces all the time. I need to have good aim to hit them."

He didn't even want to ask why she would even be throwing pies at people. It seemed like a waste of food to him. Though, as he looked at the girls he was with, thought about their parents, that family. It seemed to be doing alright. So, wasting food, might be something they could afford to do. The mother didn't speak much, but the father did. It reminded him of his parents. His hand moving to his neckline rubbing something softly.

'No,' He told himself, he couldn't think about them right now. He may get emotional, and that is something he didn't want to have to explain to the sisters.

"So, Luan. What do you have in mind?" He asked, because so far the sisters had all picked things, and it seemed that it was Luan's turn. Plus the added benefit that it would occupy his mind, so he wouldn't think about his parents. Luan looked around, seeming trying to pick a place for them to go. Before she pointed to the Ferris Wheel, just past a few stalls ahead of them.

"Wait, you're kidding me right?" Lynn groans looking at her sister. "The Ferris Wheel is sooo boring!" She had started to continue before being interrupted by Luna flicking her ear.

"That's a rockin' idea, Sis." Luna voiced her opinion, while shooting Lynn a dirty look. Lincoln just shrugs his shoulders and goes along with them. Lynn kicking loose rocks, as they continued, clearly bummed out. Maybe he was bias on the matter, because he had never been on a Ferris Wheel. Maybe when he was too young to remember it, but he never remembered being on one.

They make it to the line for the Ferris Wheel, the line seemingly short, and was currently loading passengers, and didn't have to wait very long. When it was her turn, Luna, and Lynn got into the first pod. He guessed that there was only room for two people per pod, maybe some kind of safety issue. Suddenly he jumps when Luan grabs his arm.

"Hey, Uh, Lincoln, do you mind riding with me?" Luan asked him, her voice quiet. He didn't have a reason not to. So he nodded, and entered the next pod with her, as Luna and Lynn had before them. After a few more people being loaded in the other pods, does the ride begin. He notices that Luan was rubbing her hands together, and she seemed nervous. She kept looking between me and the scenery below, which would have held his attention more, if he hadn't spent enough time on roof tops in the area, that he had seen most of it before.

"Lincoln," Luan starts, looking directly at him, which he returns his focus. " Y'know I never got a chance to thank you for what you did. I mean, It was super brave what you did for me. I was frightened, and I'm sure they would have... well, I can't tell you how relieved I was when you came around that corner. Just when I thought that something really bad was going to happen. You show up, and save me. And just when I was thinking these past two days, that I could never repay you, you come and bring me Mr. Coconuts, y'know he means a lot to me. It was when I first got into comedy, and I didn't know if I would go very far with it, when one year on my birthday, Mom, Dad, and my sisters got me Mr. Coconuts. I don't thin..."

"You already repaid me though, Luan." Lincoln couldn't let her continue, she looked on the verge of tears, and he didn't really know how to deal with a crying girl. "You repaid me by giving me one of the happiest experiences of my life. I can't remember the last time I was able to have this much fun, or ate this much food." Lincoln looked up making eye contact with his co-rider, "It's all thanks to you, Lynn, Luna, and everyone."

Having finished, he looked up into Luan's eyes again, before she grabs him pulling him into a hug. He flinches a second out of reflex, not being used to being touchy feely, She whispers a soft thank you, be for releasing him just as the ride comes to a stop. They make their way over to Luna, and Lynn. Luna looks at Luan with a look that he couldn't make out, but he assumed she had know what Luan wanted to talk with him about, and why she choose the Ferris Wheel.

"Hey, Dudes, I got a text from dadster, He wants everyone to meet up. Says its time to pack it up, and ride out." Luna says as they make their way to them. Luan nods glancing at me once more time.

"Hey, Linc, if you're ever near 1216 Franklin Avenue, drop by and come hang out." Lynn says with a smile on her face, looking hopeful. The road sounds familiar, so there is a chance he had been around there before. He can always check a map at the library. But he didn't think that he would be any time soon. He didn't want to tell Lynn and ruin those smiles from all of them. But, he didn't fit in with these people. He wanted to, but he wasn't worth their time.

They wave a goodbye, which he returns with a smile, letting his hand fall as they disappear into the crowd

'Guess I should go,' he thought to himself, as he shouldered his backpack he had been holding, and made his way through the crowd.

It was a long way back to the hideout, he knew that it would be, but today it was different. He had a nice time, with friendly people, ate warm delicious food. He got to see what it felt like to be a normal kid for a moment. He's saddened a little, doubting that he would ever see those girls again, and decides not to think about it. As he continues he fails to notice a fence around the neighborhood. When was there a fence here?

'This isn't good," He thought to himself.