One Good Deed, (Adopted)

by SamSadi

After escaping from his "adoptive" father, Lincoln has been living on the streets for the last two years. He spent all that time by himself in the silence, that was until he made one decision to save a random girl in a random alley. He didn't realise how loud his life was about to get. (Minor changes, to go with my normal writing. Original story by MutedBadger)

5. Chapter 5

Author's Note

As I had said in the previous chapter's author's note. This will be darker than the original, I'm working my way to more, and have been peppering some in here and there. To address the concern, no, I will not be going into that kind of story with Lincoln, if thats what the reviewer was concerned about. His adoptive father will not have sexually abused him. I didn't feel MutedBadger was going to go that way, and I want to try to at least stay close to what they were doing.

Lincoln Loud

A cold bone biting breeze flowed down the alleyways, causing Lincoln to curl his legs closer to his chest. The alley he had stayed in during the event seemed to have become a spot for someone else. And based on the needles and baggies on the ground around the area, he didn't want to come across whoever was there now. He had been ran out of the playground where he had been sleeping inside one of the tube thing. It wasn't warm exactly, but it did keep the bone chilling wind out.

It had been about a week since he had hung around with the Loud family, and kinda wished he could go back to that. Wishing he could be a part of that family, wishing that he had his family. His hand moving to his neck, before pulling out a silver chained necklace, holding the metal in his hand, savoring the metal being warm from being against his chest. It was all he had left that connected him with his mother and father. Even their faces had begun to blur in his mind. Maybe because he had lost them so long ago. He once had a picture, but had lost it when he had to vacate a spot he was staying in a while back.

Lincoln had wanted to start a fire, something to keep him warm. But a couple nights ago he hear the ramblings of a druggie moving about in the alley, and he had hid behind a dumpster. The addict sounded pretty violent, throwing things and slamming stuff on the ground. Maybe he didn't get his fix, who knows. He didn't want to find out why, he had his own problems

He had stood staring at the fence that engulfed the abandoned neighborhood that he had lived in. Lincoln had thought that there were still neighbors holding out, still living there. But it seemed that maybe him not seeing anyone in a while finally made sense, and in his absence a fence erected around it. Not that him being there would have stopped it. He had made his way around the fence to see why it was there.

He had scanned the fence for any sign as to why it was there. Was there some illness? Maybe asbestos? Gas leak maybe? But no, when he had circled the neighborhood to the road leading to it, he had found his answer in the form of a billboard with a generic looking neighborhood on it, and the caption under it. 'New Homes Coming Soon" Along with the website, and number to see about buying a house.

He had managed to squeeze through, and pack as much of his stuff as he could. And managed to make it back out, and ended up here in the alley.

Lincoln pulled his legs closer to his chest, wrapping his arms around them, wondering what he was going to do, now that his only shelter was gone. Which if he couldn't make a fire, was not good with winter being here. It wouldn't be long before the first snow fell. Lincoln picked up a rock and threw it against the wall across from him, in frustration. He flinched as it echoed down the valley. He had asked a few of the homeless people that he knew, that were harmless. Well, as harmless as a person with nothing to lose can be. What he was able to gather was the fact that squatting was apparent in the neighborhoods, and unlike himself, the others had turned the houses into drug dens. Or worse, whore houses.

When he had first became homeless, he had an older role model, never knew the males name. Lincoln couldn't remember the older guys name, but everyone called him Skippy. Lincoln listened to Skippy, about the 'do's and do not's' of being homeless. Taught him how to pickpocket, and panhandle. But he remembered that Skippy was a few years older than him, which at that time, wasn't very much. Skippy had worked in a few houses like that. Doing things that he shouldn't have to earn money.

Lincoln remembered the look on the older boys face whenever he came back from doing that. Every time his eyes shined a bit less. He helped Lincoln, though at that time, he didn't understand what was happening. But he knew now. He knew drugs were bad, but he hated those whore houses now that he understood. Because they took his only friend. And even if he was too innocent to know what was going on, Skippy did that to help him, so he held that guilt on his shoulder. And some nights he still had nightmares, when he entered that house, and found Skippy hanging from a noose. Now that he was a bit older, he realized that every time he earned money a piece of him broke, until there was nothing left.

His home was going to be tore down because of places like that. So, in a way, he understood why people disliked homeless people. While not all of them were like this, a majority of them were. So, they were going to tear down the houses, and redevelop the land to build more houses, all at the expense of his home. He always knew that any day he could lose his home. But he imagined that it was going to be due to it falling down completely, and not for a number of years.

The alley where he sat now, behind a dumpster, was his home at the moment. Luckily it was just a narrow alley like before, just enough room for the garbage truck to drive in and dump it. He had to crawl over the dumpster to get behind, because unlike the other place during the carnival event, the alley was more narrow, which would be more protection while sleeping, but made it difficult to get in and out of behind it.

Lincoln flexes his fingers fighting off the numbness, looking up. The temp seems to have dropped a bit, and the red blotches on his skin gave him concern. He'd have to get gloves. Moving his fingers causes his finger joins to hurt and pains in them, and it was almost noon. He knew that he had to get prepared for the cold. Maybe lift some of the small propane takes for his little heater. Maybe if he was lucky, he could get one of the bigger ones from someone's grill outside. With it being winter, they may not even notice until winter was over.

'Either way, I have to get out of the cold for a bit,' Going to the mall to get a few things to help him through the winter. Lincoln grabbed his duffle bag, and packed the items he was able to salvage from his old hideout, along with the items that he had used. He didn't want to leave anything behind. He'd find somewhere to stash his bag at the mall.

He crawls over the dumpster, and swiftly moves in and out of the alleyways until he made it to the mall's parking lot. Slipping past people, trying not to make eye contact with anyone of them along the way. Once he stood before the gigantic gray building, he made his way to the main door.

The mall, it provides a large amount of items for every customer. Any usually over priced to the point he didn't feel too guilty, since the people here usually had a lot more money than they needed. Lincoln knew deep down one day everything would go digital, and stealing money would be almost impossible unless you had the equipment to do so. But aside from plentiful merchandise, there were plenty of targets, especially this time of the year. Holidays approaching, and people out buying gifts for people. The mall was a good place to warm up in the winter, as long as he didn't look shifty, or looked like her was loitering. Or the mistake me made one time almost a year ago, falling asleep on one of the benches. He stuck to pickpocketing in the mall, because if he got caught shoplifting, he'd lose his one sanctuary from the cold during the winter.

'When was the last time I received a gift?' He wondered to himself. His silver necklace was from his parents, but that wasn't the last gift he had gotten. Shortly before Skippy had taken his own life, Skippy had given him a blanket, and a swiss army knife. Which he still had both to this day.

The door opens with a wave of warm air radiating out of the building, that kinda made him want to find somewhere to curl up and sleep. But he knew better than that. He quickly makes his way in, and over to a bench that he sits down on, as he scanned the people coming and going. He makes a couple passes, getting a couple dollars here, and there. Always picking targets that looked like they had a lot of money. His guilt wouldn't let him to steal from someone that needed it. He wouldn't wish his life on anyone else. Even if he was sure that a few bucks wouldn't bankrupt them, he didn't want to take that chance.

After about twenty minutes, he figured that he had done enough any more and he might be noticed. With the money that he had managed to liberate, and decided to hit the food court and get something in his stomach. He hadn't eaten today, and it'll be good for the security, that was starting to pay attention to him, to see him spend money. That usually got them to leave him alone. Because if he was spending, in their eyes, he wasn't stealing.

Heavenly is the only thing I can say about the meal that I had. He hadn't had warm food since that day with the Loud family. That and with the cold weather, it seemed to heat his very core. While he was letting his meal digest, he sipped on his soda a bit, and counted through his money. Seeing how much he had made. To anyone looking, he would look like a boy, counting his allowance, to see what he could afford. After the meal, he should have enough to buy a coat, not a very good coat, but better than the thin one he currently wore, a pair of gloves from the dollar store, and maybe if the dollar store had some, warm thick socks. Those would go a long way this winter to help keep him alive. He takes the last few bites of his meal in front of him, enjoying the feeling of being full for the first time in a week.

'Well, this is probably the last good meal I'm going to have for a while,' he sighed to himself He scoops up the money, and stuffs it into his pocket, moving in and out of the tables towards the exit of the food court, Rushing out to the main path that leas to the other store in the mall. Stores upon stores line the walls on either side of him. Though none holding what he was looking for. Until he found a shop that looked like it had what he was looking for. He ducked into the store. A random clothing store. Lincoln weaves his way though the racks, looking for winter wear. When he felt uneasy again. He felt as if someone was watching again. Lincoln looks over his shoulder, fearing that at any moment, 'he' would jump out from behind a clothing rack. He couldn't see anyone that would cause his anxi-

Lincolns thoughts were cut off when he collided with something, or rather someone. He hears and 'omph', He bounces up to his feet and rushes over apologizing, offering to help whoever it was, when he notices a pair of very familiar white sunglasses..

"Leni?" He was sure this was the older shapely female's name. He looked over her making sure there were not injuries from the unfortunate accident. She seemed to look fine, and even in her seafoam green dress, the only difference is a nametag.

"Linky!" Once finally up, she wraps her arms around him with seemingly super human strength, ad his face was buried between her bosom. Lincoln realized that he couldn't breath for two reasons. One, his face was buried between Leni's bust, and even if it wasn't hard to breath, Leni was squeezing the air out of him. Just when he thought his tie on earth was over, he was released, and he took in a deep breath of air. "I, totes, haven't seen you in like, forever! Are you here for clothes? I can totes can help you!" Pointing to her nametag.

'I don't know, Leni." Lincoln wheezed out, still trying to catch his breath. "I"m not here for too much, I'm only here for a jacket, nothing else. "He rubs the back of his neck, not even sure if he would even be able to afford a jacket in the place now that he got a better look around.

"I totes know a good jacket for you, wait right here!" With that, Leni vanishes into the store swiftly. Just as suddenly as she vanished, she reappeared holding an orange jacket in her hand., as well as a bunch of clothes that he had no intention of buying. Maybe she had grabbed them for something else while getting the jacket. One trip and all. "Try these on."

"Leni, I told you, I just need a jacket, I don't afford all this." He waves his hand in the direction of the small mountain of clothes that she had dumped into his arms. The last part more true, based on the quality of clothing.

"Please, Linky, can you try them on for me?" She gave him puppy dog eyes, holding her hands together and tears forming at the corners of her eyes. Lincoln didn't have the heart to say no. He'd try them on, but he wouldn't buy them. Plus, this gave him more reason to be in the warm mall. So, he'd try them on.

It didn't take long for Leni to perk up when he agreed, and was being pushed into the closest dressing room. He Still didn't know how Leni had managed to maneuver him around all the racks without an accident. Whatever the reason he was happy that it didn't. Looking through the clothing that she had handed him, he selected a pair of blue jeans, that when he tried them on, fit him like they were made for him. Leni might be somewhat dimwitted, as he had witnessed from the few meetings, and how the young goth girl, Lucy, he thought it was, had lead her around. Matters of fashion, Leni seemed quite formidable. Lincoln slips off his shoes, that he noticed even if he couldn't afford them, he might start saving for another pair. He picks up the white sneakers, with red strips on the side, slipping them on. Like the pants, these fit him perfectly. Next article of clothing was an orange polo. Well, Leni picked it out, and so far, everything else had fit and looked good. Slipping it on over his head he looked in the mirror.

'Well, maybe orange is my color.' He thought admiring himself in the mirror. He straightened his clothes, brushing out any wrinkles before stepping out of the changing room.

"I totes knew orange was your color, Linky!" Leni clapped her hands together, with a wide smile on her face, as she looked him over. "These are definitely a keep."

"Wait, Leni. I can't affor-" Lincoln started to protest, only to be interrupted.

"Don't worry. The clothes are Totes on me. They are perfect for you., It would be like a crime for you not to have them. And I don't wanna go to jail."

"Leni, that's not how it works, you wouldn't go to jail. Plus I can't accept that. Plus I hadn't done anything for you in return for them." He tells her, as much as he would like to wear the clothes, even now he enjoyed the warmer clothes on his skin. As much as he wanted to keep them, he knew he shouldn't take advantage of Leni. Her kindness didn't deserve that.

"Linky," Leni's voice was soft, but serious. Something he never imagined that he would hear from her. Serious didn't seem to be her things. "Luan told us what you did for her, at one of our sibling meetings. I might not always understand things, and it's totes frustrating. But I understand what you did for Luan meant a lot to her. And my other sisters, who understood better, said Luan was lucky you were there, because something bad was going to happen. Luna, Lynn and Luan took you out and had fun. But I didn't get a chance to thank you. I don't know much. And I'm told I"m a little spacey. But this is what I can do. This is what I understand. Please, let me thank you."

"I guess," he thinks to himself, feeling bad about it, but knowing these clothes would help him survive the winter. Another gift. He barely knew this young women, but this would be items that he cherished. Didn't seem like much, but to him they meant something. In a cruel world, you got to hold onto the small things. "Only if you promise to let me pay you back for them."

'Well, I don't know how I'm going to pay her back,' he thought to himself. But it seemed like something a person would do.

Lincoln started back to the changing room, when Leni suggested he wear the clothes out, using a pair of scissors cutting the tags off, carrying them to the counter. Didn't seem like a bad idea. With new clothes on, he could hit the bathroom, and wash up a little bit, and pass as a normal person in the mall. New clothes, clean, some pocket money if he needed to buy something to keep guards off his back,

When he got to the counter, he found Leni ringing up the tags, and the jacket. Lincoln kept wondering how long it would take to pay her back, then he saw that she had another bag full of clothes. He wanted to argue, but figured that it wouldn't do any good. He'd just end up owing Leni for life, he thought as she handed him the recipt.

'Yeah, Leni owns me.' Lincoln thought looking at the total. 'Leni isn't an airhead, she's a evil mastermind, and are buying people for her future army.'

"Leni, I want to thank you again. This means a lot to me," he said, before Leni envelops her into a hug.

"Thank you for saving my little sister." Leni pulls back from the hug, "OMGosh, I forgot! Luna, Lynn, and Luan were totes sad that you hadn't visited yet.

"Oh, Uh sorry. I've just been a bit busy lately. Things at home have been complicated, "Lincolns mutters feeling even more guilty since he hadn't planned on visiting them, and not where Leni was buying him clothes. He thought they had just been being nice to him for saving Luan. He really didn't think that they really wanted him to stop by. That was just some thing that happened in books.

"It's totes okay. Just come over soon, Okay?" Leni asks, releasing him from a hug, that was much less crushing than the first one.

"Sure, I'll try to as soon as possible." Not wanting to add more to it. And maybe it would be nice to visit them. Good food, company, he hadn't had company since he'd been with them. He hadn't really noticed it before, but it was lonely on the streets. Maybe he had gotten used to it. Or his habit of talking to an imaginary person had made him feel less alone, and he never realized what he was missing.

"Great! I totes can't wait to see you tomorrow." With that Leni vanishes into the store before Lincoln could say another thing.

'Wait, tomorrow? I never agreed to visit tomorrow! Yeah... these girls were evil masterminds.' He thought as he put on the jacket, and left the store.

The bathroom as nice and quiet with the exception of the soft dropping of water from the faucet. The sound of the droplettes hitting the water below echoing off the white tiled walls of the room. One of the only bit of serenity that he had, in this bleak time in his life. The light above his head flickered a moment, leaving him in darkness, before it returned. It wasn't a place that a child should be raised in, but it was what he had.

Lincoln stood on a stack of magazines and looked in the mirror, that was attached to the wall above the sink. His eyes wandered over each mark that was now nothing more than thin white lines, to some more recent ones that were red, and scabbed over. Every time he looked in a mirror, it reminded him of the situation that he was in. Reminded him that his parents were gone. That he was with 'him'. His small finger traced over one, flinching as the sting from being touched. Lincoln often wondered if he deserved the punishments. He had to admit, that he did forget the rules sometimes. That maybe he did eat more than his adopted father told him he could have, but sometimes, he was so hungry. He shook his head, and looked away from the mirror. He started to hate mirrors. The light above goes out, leaving him once again in darkness. In that moment, nothing existed but him, and he felt relief, before the light returned, and reminded him where he was.

Lincoln turned to the tub, turning on the shower, before stepping into the tub, letting the cold stream wash over him. Lincoln shivered a little, and caused little bumps to spread over his body. When he had first come to live with his adopted father, he used to complain about the cold water. Now, he didn't even remember what a warm bath was like. But after he complained to his 'father' and he was beaten for the first time for complaining about what he was provided, he didn't ever bring it up again about the cold water, and learned to enjoy what he had.

Lincoln loses himself with the repeated sensation of the water hitting his face and body. Like there was nothing else around him. The sound of the water hitting the tub around him, and the plastic shower curtain covered all the noise around him, and it was all that existed. No cars outside. No yelling neighbors above him. Just him, and the water.

Then a forceful knock at the door brought hi back to reality, and an angry voice about what will happen f the water bill is too high.

Lincoln sat up looking around franticaly, as the rain falls on him from the sky. Explaining why he was dreaming about a shower. He sighed, knowing that he should have slept in the dumpster last night. Though, when he had laid down the night before, the sky was clear, and had gotten caught up in looking up at the stars, that he had fell asleep. Whimsical thoughts was the reason that he was now soaked. At least the clothes that Leni had bought him were in a waterproof gym bag that he had bought just for the clothes the afternoon before. He wanted to keep them in the best shape he could. His sleeping bag, and blanket though. Well, he would go to the laundry mat, and dry them. The ones a few blocks from where the Louds neighborhood was located even had a space behind the dryers that he could stash some of his things. Without his hideout, there really wasn't anywhere else he could leave his things.

Once he had packed everything up, and made his way to the laundry mat. It was empty, usually was this early in the morning. Even the part where you could drop your clothes off was close this early. Which worked out for him, no one would see him shift the loose panel beside the dryers, before stashing his most of his things. He threw his sleeping bag into a washer, along with his blanket, and pillow. Normally he wouldn't waste the time, but he worried some dumpster muck was absorbed into it, and since he hadn't had to buy a jacket, he might as well spend a few dollars and get them clean. Before starting the washer, he decided since he was paying for things to be washed, he'd change into his new clothes, and toss any of his old clothes, into the washer. Once he had, he inserted the coins, saw an old bottle of detergent in the trashcan. He picked it up noticing that there was a little still in side, he added some water, shook it, and poured it into the washer before closing it.

Lincoln looked around still no one about. One of the good things about this place, it seemed no one stole any clothes from the washers or dryers. Granted, a few times when he had to wash something he had thought about stealing a big blanket from one of the dryers, but anyone who used these places anymore couldn't afford having a washer or dryer in the home, and he couldn't take from someone who didn't have much,

He makes his way out of the laundry mat, looking around. He spotted a restaurant with an outdoor section. A few people sitting there, under the canopy as the rain continued to fall. He made his way over to the outdoor section, sitting down in a dry seat. Looking up he noticed that it was a little after ten am, a bit early to head to the Loud's house. So, he would grab a bite to eat, then possibly liberate some money.

When the server come to his table, he was done looking over the menu, and just asked for a glass of juice, and a doughnut to go. He thanked her, as she went into the restaurant to get what he ordered, as he pilled out a few bills to pay for it. While she was gone he noticed a the people at the table next to him was leaving, tucking money into the leather bound book on the table. He quickly got up, and pulled a ten out of the wad of money. Making it back to his table before she returned with a smile, a to-go cup, and a small bag for his doughnut. He handed her the ten he had swiped and told her to keep the change. And made his way to liberate some money.

The rain had gotten a bit heavier. It was just his luck, it had seemed as if it was going to stop before the bottom fell out, and it began raining harder. But he was where he was supposed to be. Standing outside of a two story house, with a non attached garage. Both painted white, black shingle roof, and a roofed porch attached to the front of the house. There were toys scattered across the front yard. Frizbees, and horseshoes Bikes, and a set of roller skates. A rope swing hanging from the tree in the front yard. It looked perfectly lived in.

'1216 Franklin Ave' Lincoln thought for what felt like the millionth time. He had been standing there in the rain for quite a while staring at it. Did they really want him there, or was Leni just being nice?

"Sigh," a vocalized version of a sigh came from next to him, and he about crapped his pants, as he let out a very unmanly squeal, that if anyone ever asked him about it, he would deny until his final breath. "I also like to stand out in the rain, allowing it's cold to envelope my body while I ponder my own existence. However, I believe that if you stand out here much longer, you may catch your death."

"You... Jesus Lucy, you scared the hell... heck out of me." Lincoln said trying to get his heart to stop trying to escape his chest.

"I'm constantly reminded I have that effect on people," The goth girls looked like she had a hint of a smile on her face. It seemed that she liked the fact that she could scare people. And usually he would find it neat that she was stealthy. But as his heart was going back to a normal rhythm he didn't find it so endearing. "Well? Are you coming in?"

She looked at him, or at least he assumed that she was. Because of her bangs he couldn't actually see her eyes, so it was more of a guess since her face was pointed towards him. He argued, and jogged up the path that she had used making it to the porch. Lincoln follows her into the house behind her, half expecting to be greeted by a bunch of people. Lucy leads him over to a couch, and motions for him to sit, while she vanishes into the house, before returning with a couple towels. Once he was handed on, she began drying off herself.

"That should help us dry some, her voice was monotonic but still it was the first real voice that he had heard talking to him in a while. The server doesn't count because she wasn't going it because she wanted to.

"I was in the neighborhood, and decided to drop by to check on everyone, and see how everything is. How everyone was doing, and all." he told Lucy as he began to dry himself off.

"Sigh, Leni, Luna, Luan, and Lynn are not here right now, Lincoln. " Lucy says, then continues furthering my disappointment, "And they won't be back for at least a few hours."

"Why would Leni invite me over, when she wasn't even going to be here?" Lincoln asks with confusion. Seriously, he had come here because the older blonde had told him everyone had been waiting, and then she isn't even here, nor had she explained to anyone.

"Lincoln, if there is something about Leni that you need to know, it's the fact that Leni is an airhead. My dear sister has a big heart, but she is a bit dim. Not that that diminishes our love of her." Lucy explains as if it's a common fact, and seemingly surprised that he didn't know.

"Well then, I guess I should leave then. I am sorry." He was saddened. Yes he was hesitant about coming here. But he had hoped to hang out with everyone. It had been a rough week, and it would be nice to be around all that positive attitude. He sadly handed the towel back to Lucy, thanking her for the towel.

"Sigh, you should probably stay until the storm passes over though. I haven't known you long enough to be able to put a nice service together for you if something bad happens." Lucy said sounding as if indifferent as she picks up a remote, looking through the channels. "But, it would be safer."

Maybe she wasn't being indifferent. Maybe this was just Lucy's personality. Maybe this was her being concerned for him. He went over her options and decided that she might be right. He should wait out the rain in the comfort of a warm, dry house.

Lucy seemed to be almost transfixed with the television, causing Lincoln to turn his attention to the screen to see what has her captivated. It seemed to be some sort of a ghost hunter show. He had heard about it from a group of kids his age at the mall once, while he was following them to see what he could lift from them. Lucy seemed interested as well. He couldn't argue with it, even if it didn't seem to have any real ghosts in the show. It kept his attention for several minutes until Lucy spoke up.

"Sigh, Lincoln," Even though he shouldn't have, since it was her home, he had forgotten that she was there. Lucy was just so unnaturally quiet. "You wouldn't happen to have a word that rhymes with sleep, would you?" She was tapping a pencil against a notebook, neither of which he had noticed.

"Well, there is keep, deep, weep, cheap, creep, leap, and heap." He thought about it a moment trying to think of more, knowing there were. But coming up empty, "I'm sorry if none of them are any good. Hey, if you don't mind. What are you writing?

"Poetry. Sometimes a few of my friends get together, and we talk about our poems, and read them to each other. We discuss how sad the world is." Lucy's pencil never leaving the notebook as she answered. Though, she still seemed to be a little guarded. With him being a stranger still he could understand that.

"Wow, that is really awesome. I don't think that I could do that even if I tried." He smiles to her. "I don't know anyone that writes poetry. You wouldn't mind reading me one would you?"

"None of my sisters have any interest in my activities. Some find me spooky, and not in the good way." Lucy goes quiet a moment as if thinking. "Why would you want to hear one?"

"I just thought it would be neat to hear an original poem. Y'know, before anyone else heard it. It might be cool to one day see a book in a store, and then I'd be able to say. See this poem here, I got to hear it first. That would be so cool." Lincoln said looking at the girl, who just stared at him, or again, he assumed that she did, before looking down to her book.

"The coffin is black, empty and deep,

but she has promises to keep,

Until then she shall not sleep

she lies in bed with ducts that weep

she rises from her bitter bed

with thoughts of sadness in her head,

she idolizes being dead

facing the day with never-ending dread."

It was sad. It reminded him of Skippy, his friend had never done poetry, but he could feel the emotions deep in the words. He felt like that sometimes. Though he never idolized being dead, but he assumed that death would come for him sooner than it did a lot of other people. While he didn't want to die, he accepted that he probably wouldn't make it far into adulthood, if he even made it that far.

"That was fantastic, Lucy!" He didn't want her to think he didn't like it. "I mean, it was a little sad, but it was one of the best poems I have ever heard. Y'know, one day, I will see a book with you in it. I know it." They sat and talked about poetry, or Lucy had Lincoln come up with more words for her when she got stuck. It was entertaining, and kind of let him see what it could be like if he grew up in a regular family, and maybe had a little sister. Looking outside, he noticed that the rain had cleared up, "Thanks for letting me stay here, But it is time for me to head back now. I enjoyed hanging around and helping you."

"Sigh, I must admit it was rather enjoyable to discuss poetry with you Lincoln. You've made my world a little less dark." Lucy said sounding maybe a bit more upbeat than usual. Though it was hard to tell. "I hope you come back to us soon."

"Don't worry, I will. Tell everyone I stopped by, and that I said hi" Lincoln said as he made his way out the door. He was surprised that he actually meant it.