I do not own The Loud House. All rights belong to Nickelodeon.

Chapter 8

The four missed the bus back home but were okay walking home since they wanted to talk more. The sky was bright with an orange sunset that shined bright yellow, orange, and red colors all over the clouds. The sunlight made their shadows long on the sidewalk.

"Lincoln, can I ask something?" Stella requested.

"You may," Lincoln answered.

"Actually, I want to ask two questions. First question; is there really no way to avoid Lynn calling you bad luck? Would it make a difference if you told your parents?" Stella asked.

Lincoln sighed, "At first, I saw visions where I lie to take advantage of the situation to get some time to myself and away from all my family's activities that I'm dragged into. They believe the lie so much that when it gets out of hand, and I tell the truth, they don't believe me. Then I saw visions where I didn't lie about it, but Lynn pushes harder to make everyone else believe it behind my back. I even see visions where I try to warn the others about this, but none of them believe me. They think I'm crazy. So, it makes no difference. They believe Lynn and I get kicked out. I try to convince them I'm not bad luck by showing up to Lynn's game, where she wins, and the only way I get in undetected is to be in that stupid squirrel costume. As you saw in one of the light orbs, that backfires, and they think it's good luck, so I'm forced to wear it all the time . . . even in the blazing sun where I get heat rashes. Their superstitions take over like a virus, and my words don't bring them back to reality."

"So, it's inevitable? There's no other way to convince them?" Clyde asked.

"There is one way . . . I show them my powers. That avoids the bad luck incident, but it paves a bad path arguably worse than the bad luck one," Lincoln said.

"What do you mean? What happens if you show them your future vision powers?" Stella asked.

Lincoln looked down as they walked with a look filled with dread.

"They use me for my powers to benefit them. I saw visions where they buy lottery tickets, then make me use my powers to see all the slots scratched out so I can tell them which ones to scratch to win, which is cheating—their greed skyrockets. Then my sisters use me to tell them the answers to their tests, how to win sports and beauty pageants, etc. . . . and what's worse is I'm the blame for every bad or unfortunate thing that happens. They assume that I see everything and anything bad that happens to them; they think I could have warned them. So, they treat me like a jerk. Basically, I go from being their luck trinket to being their crystal ball and golden payday," Lincoln explained.

"Oh man," Ronnie Anne groaned while rubbing her eyes.

"Eventually, we get caught with the lottery ticket scandals, and I end up in juvie as well. I see visions where I show them that and how they treat me, but they blow it off like, 'Oh, now we know what happens, so we can avoid it,' but it still does happen. There's no outcome where we don't get locked up, and I don't get treated like a jerk."

"Sounds like showing them your powers is worse. At least in the bad luck path, you don't go to juvie," Ronnie Anne stated.

Clyde shook his head, "So, it's either bad luck or being used as a crystal ball? Either way, they treat you like an object and not a person?"

"If there was a third option, I didn't see it in my future visions. Besides, even if we could prevent this, who's to say it won't happen again in some other way? The point is, if my family is capable of abandoning me or using me, then maybe I should question whether or not they're the kind of people I'd want to be with. Would you want to live with your parents if they were capable of being cruel enough to kick you out? No, you'd rethink and do some soul-searching," Lincoln replied.

Clyde didn't say anything as he stared at Lincoln with a look.

Lincoln sighed, "I'll keep looking in my future visions to see if there's a way, but it hurts my head the more I try to unlock new visions."

"I see. That brings up my second question. What will happen to your family exactly?" Stella asked.

This got Ronnie Anne, and Clyde's attention.

"What do you mean?" Lincoln asked.

"Like, if you go through with this and let Lynn poison your family against you and kick you out of the house, and then we call the police, what will happen to your family?" Stella questioned.

"What do you think will happen? The parents will go to jail," Ronnie Anne stated.

"Yeah, I know that, but I mean the details. Not just the parents, I mean, the whole family. The parents, the sisters, the baby Lily, and you, Lincoln. What will happen when the authorities step in, and word gets out? Did your future visions show that or not?"

Lincoln took a moment to think and remember. His visions did show what would happen afterward, or at least he saw glimpses and images.

"Child abandonment is a felony, and in the state of Michigan, that's ten years in prison. However, when that happens, there are additional charges, such as child endangerment, neglect, and abuse. In the sense of my family locking me out of the house where I'm forced to sleep outside in the backyard can be considered Fourth-Degree child abuse where my parents failed to feed or shelter me properly. If I got hurt outside, then that's Third-Degree child abuse. That's a year to possibly life in prison. Child neglect alone is a year," Lincoln explained.

They walked slowly as Lincoln continued.

"I've seen visions where they're charged with just what they did to me and ones where they did to me along with child neglect for my sisters, which puts more time on their sentence. Either way, I've seen the hammer crack down hard on my parents, the press destroys their reputation, and I didn't see any visions of where they get out. So, most likely . . . they die in prison and never see freedom."

Stella and Clyde got chills hearing that while Ronnie Anne nodded in understanding. If there's anything the justice hates more than ordinary criminals, it's those who harm children, that's for sure.

"And your sisters?" Clyde asked.

"I've seen Lori charged as an adult for failure to report a crime and aiding in a crime. She's sent to a state prison for a year. My other older sisters all go to juvie for close to a year. Lynn gets five years for assault & battery, and threatening harm when she threatens to beat me with a baseball bat if I don't go to her game. All my younger sisters go to separate foster care homes, and the same goes for my older sisters when they get out of juvie. However—"

Everyone slowed to a stop. As they listened, Stella, Clyde, and Ronnie Anne, all had pensive and serious faces.

"—before they get locked up, they lose everything and everyone. Bobby breaks up with Lori, and she's rejected from Fairway University. Sam disowns Luna after she's kicked out of the band. Leni's friends don't ever speak to her. Luan loses Benny and her comedy business. Lynn gets blacklisted from every sport. Lucy loses her poetry society club and all her friends. Lola gets banned from all beauty pageants. In fact, all of them don't go to college. No college will take them. When they get out, most of them have a hard time finding a job, and some even have to go out of state to find work where no one recognizes them or knows them. All of this puts an unbearable amount of stress, plus the realization of what they did to me adds guilt to their sub consciences. Throughout their lives, I've seen visions, mostly images where they're filled with regret, guilt, and self-loathing. Some, like Luna, resort to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain . . . and none of them ever find love. The Loud name is a curse name after the trials. The news and media have spread it all over the country, and some places worldwide have heard of the famous court case. Lynn gets the worst of it because she's the one who starts all this. All my sisters hate her, disown her, and curse her for what she did. I've seen short visions where they're screaming at her and want me back – where they blame her for driving me away. Lynn realizes the gravity of her mistake and takes it harder than the rest. I've seen images where she doesn't live a long life."

"What do you mean?" Clyde asked.

"I saw a vision where she's curled up by some garbage cans resting against a dumpster in an alleyway with an empty bottle of whiskey in her hand and . . . she's not moving or breathing. She's just sitting there in the cold as the snow covers her. She looks like she's barely in her thirties. It's like a scene from the 'The Little Matchgirl' animated short."

Clyde took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, "Oh god."

Ronnie Anne's eyes widened, "Wow. That's rough. A sad ending for a bad person. How fitting."

"Lincoln, tell me you're not gonna let that happen," Stella said.

"I'll do what I can, but I can't control her," Lincoln said.

"So in other words . . . their lives are ruined forever. That's what's going to happen if we allow this. Your parents lose their freedom, and the public tears your sisters apart," Clyde said.

"In a nutshell, yes. The only one that makes it out okay is Lily. She's just a baby, so they don't punish her. She goes to college and becomes an artist. I've seen visions where we stay in touch. Of course, when she grows up, she asks questions about her parents and our sisters. So, I'm sure you can imagine how uncomfortable that conversation will be," Lincoln explained.

"And you? What happens to you, Lincoln?" Stella questioned.

"I get adopted by a kind and loving couple who have struggled to have children of their own. They know what I've been through and give me therapy sessions with a doctor. In time, I recover and live a normal and peaceful life."

Lincoln knew that Stella wanted him to tell her about them and what they saw in the kiss.

"There's visions where there's a possibility where you and I become a couple. It's not determined for sure, but it's possible. If it does happen, we live a happy life together," Lincoln said.

Stella looked away at the sky in deep thought before turning to Lincoln, "Do we have children together?"

Lincoln nodded, "Yes, a son and two daughters. They're beautiful. They look like us. I've seen visions where our children play with Clyde's and Ronnie Anne's kids."

Clyde and Ronnie Anne raised their eyebrows.

"What?" Ronnie Anne spoke.

"We have kids together?!" Clyde questioned.

"No, not together. I mean, I've seen you, Clyde, with your son, who looks just like you, and Ronnie Anne with her daughter. Here, let me show you the light orb," Lincoln explained.

Lincoln summoned a light orb and showed them that possible future. Stella felt one of her heartstrings tug when she saw her older self with Lincoln and their children. Lincoln and Stella held each other close as they looked into each other's eyes before they kissed. The light orb showed the kids running around, laughing and smiling. Clyde and his wife were squeezing their son a hug while Ronnie Anne planted a dozen kisses on her daughter's face as she giggled. Clyde and Ronnie Anne's eyes glistened as they saw the future vision.

Stella nodded, "You're right . . . they are beautiful."

"We look so happy," Ronnie Anne spoke.

"We really do. I can't believe I'm really going to be a dad," Clyde said with a warm smile as tears formed in his eyes, "I get a little boy."

"And I get a little girl. I wonder if she'll be as tough and sassy as me," Ronnie Anne added.

They both chuckled.

Lincoln walked up, "Stella . . . I don't want to pressure you into being with me. You've always been a wonderful friend, and I want the very best for you. I want you to live a happy life. If I were to be your partner, I'd do everything to be a good husband and father, but I understand if you don't want that with me. It's okay if you want to spread your wings to—"

"No," Stella spoke.

She then held Lincoln's hands. Lincoln didn't expect that as he looked up at her.

Stella explained, "Lincoln, you were the first person to show me kindness when I came to Royal Woods. Do you remember the first time we met on the bus? You talked to me when nobody else would. I felt like you actually saw me for me and not just for my height. You're not perfect, but you've always made up for your mistakes and helped people like today. Chandler and his thugs were picking on us, and instead of saving yourself, you stood up for us."

"Yeah! Even though it was a little scary how you beat them up," Clyde added.

"Shh! Let her talk," Ronnie Anne shushed as she put her finger to Clyde's lips.

Lincoln and Stella turned back to each other.

"If I'm being honest with you, Lincoln, I've had feelings for you ever since that day we met on the bus. I was afraid of what would happen between us when we became friends. I was afraid things would get awkward, so I didn't say anything, but now . . . I'm more afraid if I never say how I feel," Stella said.

Lincoln's eyes glistened as she continued. The side of her head and face glowed from the orange sunlight. A cool gentle breeze blew into them, ever so calmly moving their hair. Stella gently held the side of Lincoln's face, and he savored the warm feeling as he gazed into her eyes.

"I don't want to be afraid to go after what I want. My mind says no, but my heart says yes. You've looked out for me ever since I moved here to Royal Woods. Now I want to look out for you. I want to protect you, Lincoln. I want to make you happy as you've made me happy. I want to do all that because . . . because I love you," Stella stated.

Lincoln softly gasped, and his eyes began tearing up while his face turned red. Ronnie Anne's eyes were wide open, and she screamed into her fist. Clyde's jaw dropped with a smile, and he had a hard time containing his excitement.

"Oh my god," Lincoln uttered, "I'm really happy right now!"

Stella giggled at that. A tear rolled down his face.

"I love you too, Stella!" Lincoln yelped.

They hugged each other tight.

"Oh, Dios Mio, will you two kiss already?!" Ronnie Anne questioned.

They both looked at her before turning back to each other.

"I mean, can I kiss you? Please?" Lincoln requested with a blush.

Stella giggled at him, nodding, "Yes, Lincoln, you can kiss me."

Their lips met gently as their eyes closed. Clyde raised his arms in victory, quietly hollering, 'Yes!' Ronnie Anne did the same thing. The two even hugged as Lincoln and Stella continued to kiss as they held each other.

They both eased up to look at each other before softly laughing and hugging each other. After a while, they continued to head home. Lincoln and Stella were holding hands as they walked. The two lovebirds couldn't stop smiling.

"I don't know if it's because we just became a couple after telling each other we love each other, but . . . I really like being close to you, Stella. Like I don't want to do anything else except be with you," Lincoln spoke.

"I feel the same way . . . about you, I mean," Stella replied, blushing.

"Oh, you two got love sickness bad. Like patient zero bad," Ronnie Anne joked.

Then they approached the road where Lincoln's house was just down the street.

Stella's smile faded, "Which is why I don't feel comfortable letting you go, especially to that house . . . with all those people. Lincoln, are you sure you'll be okay? You didn't see any future visions where they physically harm you, right?"

Lincoln shook his head, "No, not yet, at least. Yeah, we fight like most siblings, but it's never gotten to the point where one of us needs a medic or a doctor."

"Okay, but if something else happens, don't bother calling. Just come straight to my house or theirs. You guys are cool if Lincoln needs a place to stay, right?"

"Of course! He's stayed over at my place before," Clyde answered confidently.

"That's the plan anyway, isn't it? When the bad luck incident happens, he comes to one of our houses?" Ronnie Anne asked.

"Yeah. Listen, guys, thanks again for having my back, but you can't tell anyone about my powers—no one, not even your family. You three are the only ones I've told and shown," Lincoln stated.

"Your secrets' safe with us. It's just that you must keep yourself safe," Ronnie Anne replied.

"We won't tell. Besides, who would believe us?" Clyde pointed out.

"That's true," Lincoln agreed, "Okay, I'll see you guys tomorrow. Be safe."

"You too," Stella said.

The two kissed one last time, and Lincoln headed home. For the first time in a long time, he felt true happiness. The kind that makes you feel safe and content. As he approached the front door of his house, he felt a sharp pain in his head. For a moment, he saw himself in a hospital and his sisters crying out to him. He saw Lynn's face as tears were streaming down her face.

"Lincoln, please! We love you!" Lynn cried.

Lincoln shook his head and groaned in pain. Then after a few moments, the pain went away. What was that? A chill went up his spine, giving him goosebumps.

"Maybe there is a third option where I can save my sisters," Lincoln said softly to himself.