Lincoln and Stella had been classmates in high school, but they never really talked to each other until they were paired up for a group project. As they worked together, they found that they had a lot in common and enjoyed each other's company.
After the project was over, Lincoln asked Stella out on a date. They went to a cute little café and spent hours talking and laughing. From that moment on, they were inseparable. They went to movies, concerts, and even took a trip to the beach together.
As their relationship grew, they fell deeply in love with each other. Lincoln loved the way Stella made him feel alive, and Stella loved the way Lincoln made her feel safe and loved. They were each other's best friend and confidante, and nothing could come between them.
One day, while they were on a hike in the mountains, Lincoln took Stella to a beautiful lookout point. The sun was setting, and the sky was painted in shades of orange and pink. As they stood there, admiring the view, Lincoln turned to Stella and took her hand.
"Stella, I love you more than anything in this world. You are the most amazing person I've ever met, and I can't imagine my life without you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Tears streamed down Stella's face as she nodded her head. Lincoln slipped a beautiful diamond ring on her finger, and they embraced each other, knowing that they would be together forever.
Years later, as they looked back on their life together, Lincoln and Stella knew that they had made the right decision. They had built a beautiful life together, filled with love, laughter, and endless adventures. And they knew that, no matter what came their way, they would always have each other. They were each other's soulmates, and nothing could ever change that.
PS I love you. Lincoln and Stella had been working together for years as part of a special team of superheroes. They had always been close, but their relationship became something more over time. They found themselves drawn to each other, and they couldn't ignore the chemistry that existed between them.
One day, while they were on a mission to stop a villainous plot, Lincoln found himself in a dangerous situation. He was trapped, and it seemed as though there was no way out. But Stella refused to leave him behind. She risked her own safety to save him, and in that moment, Lincoln knew that he was in love with her.
After the mission was over, they sat down to talk about what had happened. They both knew that they had feelings for each other, but they were unsure of what to do next. So, they took things slow, going on dates and spending time together outside of work.
As they got to know each other better, they realized that they were perfect for each other. They shared a deep connection, and even though they were both superheroes with busy lives, they always made time for each other.
One day, Lincoln took Stella on a surprise date to a rooftop garden. They sat under the stars, surrounded by the beauty of the plants and flowers around them. It was a magical moment, and Lincoln knew that it was the perfect time to tell Stella how he felt.
"Stella, I know we've been taking things slow, but I have to tell you something. I love you. I've loved you for a long time, and I can't imagine my life without you in it."
Stella's eyes filled with tears as she looked at Lincoln . "I love you too, Lincoln . I've been trying to find the right time to tell you, but I was scared."
They embraced each other, and in that moment, they knew that they were meant to be together. They continued to work together as superheroes, but now they had each other to share the ups and downs of their lives with.
Years later, as they looked back on their journey together, Lincoln and Stella knew that they had found true love in each other. They had faced countless challenges and obstacles, but they had always emerged stronger, with a love that could withstand anything. And they knew that they would continue to fight for each other, no matter what the future held.
PS I love you. Lincoln and Stella had been friends for years, but he had always secretly harbored feelings for her. He loved the way she laughed at his jokes, the way she always seemed to know the right thing to say, and the way her eyes sparkled when she talked about things she was passionate about.
One day, while they were on a walk in the park, Lincoln finally mustered up the courage to tell Stella how he felt. "Stella, I know we've been friends for a long time, but I have to tell you something. I...I think I'm in love with you."
Stella's eyes widened in surprise, but then a huge smile spread across her face. "Lincoln , I had no idea you felt that way. I love you too!"
From that moment on, their relationship blossomed into something beautiful. They spent long hours talking on the phone and going on romantic dates. They went to the movies, the theater, and even took a trip to Paris together.
Lincoln loved the way Stella made him feel alive, and he knew that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. One evening, as they sat on the beach watching the sunset, he took a deep breath and got down on one knee.
"Stella, I love you more than anything in this world. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Tears welled up in Stella's eyes as she nodded her head, unable to speak. Lincoln slipped a beautiful diamond ring on her finger, and they embraced each other, knowing that they would be together forever.
Years later, as they looked back on their life together, Lincoln and Stella knew that they had made the right decision. They had built a beautiful life together, filled with love, laughter, and endless adventures. And they knew that, no matter what came their way, they would always have each other.
PS I love you.
Sure, here's a love fanfiction featuring Lincoln and Stella:
Title: Love Under the Moonlight
Lincoln and Stella had known each other since they were young. They grew up together in the same neighborhood, playing games and going on adventures. Lincoln had always admired Stella for her bravery and intelligence, but he never thought of her as anything more than a friend.
As they grew older, Lincoln and Stella's friendship deepened. They went to the same high school and shared many classes. They were always there for each other, through the ups and downs of teenage life.
One day, while they were out on a late-night walk, Lincoln couldn't help but notice how beautiful Stella looked under the moonlight. He realized that he had been in love with her for a long time, and he couldn't keep his feelings to himself any longer.
"Stella, there's something I need to tell you," he said, his voice shaking with nerves.
Stella looked at him with concern. "What is it, Lincoln ?"
"I don't know how to say this, but...I think I'm in love with you," he said, his heart pounding in his chest.
Stella was surprised at first, but then a smile grew on her face. "Lincoln , I had no idea. I've been feeling the same way about you," she replied, her eyes shining with happiness.
From that moment on, their friendship turned into a romantic relationship. They went on dates, held hands, and shared their deepest secrets. They were happiest when they were together, and their love only grew stronger with time.
Their friends and family were surprised by their relationship at first, but they soon realized that Lincoln and Stella were perfect for each other. They were supportive and loving, and always there for the couple when they needed them.
One night, while they were out on a date, Lincoln took Stella to their favorite spot in the park. It was a beautiful spot under the moonlight, with a clear view of the stars in the sky.
"Stella, I have something I want to ask you," Lincoln said, getting down on one knee and presenting her with a ring.
Stella's eyes filled with tears as she said yes. "Of course, Lincoln . I love you too," she replied, hugging him tightly.
They got married in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by their family and friends. Lincoln felt like the luckiest man in the world to have found his soulmate in Stella.
On a nice day in November, Randy and Lucy Carmichael brought a small, portable TV with a preview of a parade in Manhattan from last Thanksgiving playing. "Wow, Susie!" said Lil DeVille, "Being chosen to sing in the Gracy's Day Parade in New York City! This is big!"
"Bigger than big!" Phil DeVille agreed.
"This is as big as Dummi Bear's head from last year's parade!" Chuckie Finster chimed in. On the TV, the bear balloon was slightly wedged in between two buildings from its massive size.
"Sometimes I can't believe it," Susie Carmichael remarked, "I am representing the American Cheese Council!" She breathed deeply in an attempt to keep her cool. "Did you know cheese represents .02% of our national product?" As she talked, Angelica Pickles was filing her nails indifferently with a jealous scowl.
"Uh no," Dil Pickles replied.
"Really?" Lil said, now sounding bored.
"Interesting," Phil replied.
"Did you know that, Angelica?" stella Finster asked the blonde.
Angelica gave the Asian girl an innocent smile. "I'm sorry, I wasn't listening. I was just admiring my cuticles. Aren't they lovely?" When she put her fingers out, she spilled a latte on Susie's lap. "Oops."
"You did that on purpose!" stella glared at her.
"Did what?"
"I wish you guys could come to New York City, and cheer me on," Susie remarked as she cleaned her shirt and jeans.
"New York City?" Angelica smiled with ecstacy, "That sure would take the sting out of narrowly missing the chances to sing in the parade."
"Narrowly?" Susie said, "You didn't even make it past the first audition." Angelica then spilled another drink on her lap, making Susie stand up and glare at her.
"Were you talking to me?"
"Might as well forget New York," stella frowned sadly, "No way that's happening."
"Take the kids to New York City?" Charlotte Pickles exclaimed at another table with Lucy, Didi Pickles, Betty DeVille, and Kira Finster.
"Why not? We're not using the plane tickets the parade gave us," Lucy told them.
"But it still wouldn't cover all of us going," Kira pointed out.
"What if it was just the moms and kids?" Didi suggested, "This could be our last chance to bond with our adorable children before they turn to sulking, blood-sucking ciphers." They looked at the kids, before Betty spoke up.
"Well, if it's a bonding experience you want, why fly? Why not see the country the way I did? From the road!"
"That's a great idea, Betty," Lucy smiled, "We can drive cross-country."
"You in, Charlotte?" Betty asked the blonde woman.
"Ha! You kidding? I haven't driven cross-country since I was a college gal!"
Betty then came up to the kids with the rest of the moms behind her. "Guess what? We just decided to take all of you to New York City to see Susie sing!" All the kids cheered with joy, even Angelica.
"What's going on?" Lincoln Pickles asked them as he walked in the cafe, from a date with his girlfriend Rachel.
"We're all going to se the Gracy Day parade!" Chuckie told him with excitement.
"No way!" Lincoln smiled with estacy, "That's wicked awesome!" He turned to the mothers. "So how're we getting there? First class airfare?"
"Staying in swanky hotels?" Lil asked them.
"Better!" Betty said, "We're takin' an RV!" The kids' smiles and excitement faded away quickly.
"You've gotta be kidding," Angelica deadpanned after a couple seconds of silence.
"Just you and your mothers for a whole week!" Didi exclaimed as she smoothed Lincoln 's purple hair down, again.
"Wicked," Lincoln smiled nervously.
"Cheese!" Susie smiled. Lucy took a picture of the kids, who all had uncomfortable smiles except Angelica, who was scowling again.
"Um, c-can I invite another friend to come with us?" Chuckie timidly requested, "One more can't hurt, right?"
"I think I know who you're talking about," Betty smiled cheekily at him, "That new Shenzi girl at your school, right?"
"Y-yeah," He nodded.
"You guys sure are close for being "just friends"," stella used air quotes.
"What can I say?" Chuckie shrugged, "She's a wonderful girl." He turned to the mothers. "So, may I invite her?"
"Sure," Kira smiled.
"You surely can," Betty assured him, "Just keep the romance to a minimum, okay?" She teased him.
"There's no romance between us!" Chuckie blushed in embarrassment, "We're just good friends!"
"Oh, I'm just playin' with ya," Betty laughed, "No need to be embarrassed. Just pop the questioning to her, and hope she'll say yes."
"I will," Chuckie nodded, oblivious to how she said it.
Later before dinner, he walked to the Tuck residence, and knocked on the door. He heard light footsteps walk up, before the door was opened, revealing Shenzi Tuck herself. She was wearing black capri pajama pants, a black Akumu Ink "Delectable Tea Party" t-shirt, a matching hoodie with the same design on the back, black, white and red tuxedo socks that reached her mid-calves, black barbells in her pointy ears, and a red extension in her long, black hair, where her long bangs covered her left eye. "Oh, hi Chuckie," She smiled at him, "What's up?"
"Um, well I uh," Chuckie stuttered; Although they were just friends, she was the prettiest girl in their school in his eyes. He usually got a little tongue-tied when she was around.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I-I'm fine," He assured her, "It's just uh... my friends and I, and our mothers, are going to watch Susie sing in the Gracy's Thanksgiving Day parade, in person."
"Whoa, really?" Her eyes widened, "That's awesome! My family and I watch the parade on TV every year! You're so lucky!"
"Thanks," He smiled timidly, "And you can be too; You want to come with us?"
"Really?" Her jaw dropped a bit, revealing the braces on her teeth, "Oh, that'd be wicked awesome! I'll ask my parents! Come on in!" After opening the door further to let the redhead enter the house, the emo girl rushed in the living room. "Mom! Dad! Chuckie invited me to go with him and his friends to the Gracy's Day parade in Manhattan! Can I go, please?"
"I don't know," Chuckie heard her father, Friar Tuck from the living room, "New York City?"
"I'll be extra careful, I promise!"
Chuckie decided to intervene, so he walked in the living room. "We'll take very good care of her," He assured her parents, and her older sister, "I promise. So, can she go with us?"
"Hmm, well..." Friar Tuck still looked hesitant.
"Isn't Manhattan dangerous?" Felicia Tuck wondered aloud.
"I'll protect her from anything and everything," Chuckie told them, "No matter the cost."
"We can't let her miss this opportunity," 12-year-old Frankie Tuck chimed in, "She's always wanted to see the parade in person, ever since we were little."
"Our moms will be with us," Chuckie told them, "She'll be alright, I promise." He saw that Shenzi had a pleading look on her face.
"Well..." Friar Tuck then made his decision. "Alright, she can go." Felicia nodded in agreement.
"Yay!" Shenzi gasped and cheered, before she jumped on Chuckie in a huge hug from excitement. "Thanks, guys!" She smiled to her parents as Chuckie supported her with his arms and hands, "This'll be the greatest Thanksgiving ever!" She then jumped on the floor on her feet. "I'll go pack up now!" She dashed up to her room upstairs like the Road Runner in ecstacy.
"Guys, I-I'm glad you're letting her do this," Chuckie didn't know what else to say.
"Just take good care of my baby sister, Finster," Frankie told him, before she giggled. "That rhymes, sort of. But still, if she's hurt in any way when you're back home, I'm going to kick your butt."
"D-deal," He stuttered nervously. "Tomorrow, we're going to search for an RV to rent for the trip."
"You're going in an RV?" Frankie asked them, "That's neat."
"I guess," He shrugged, "We'll be gone for a week. I'll go tell Shenzi." He walked up the stairs, and saw the emo girl organizing some necessities clothes in her backpack and suitcase. Surprisingly, the former wasn't the one she always used in school. "Hey Shen?"
She stopped, and looked up at him. "What's up?"
"I just thought I'd let you know that we'll be gone for a week," He told her.
Her eyes widened again. "Whoa, really? How're we getting there?"
"Tomorrow, we're going to browse RVs."
"An RV? That's awesome! I've always wanted to travel in one!"
"Cool," He smiled, "I'll uh, I'll let you pack up. I need to get home for dinner."
"Okay," She nodded, "Bye Chuckie!"
"Bye, Shen."
The next day, Shenzi prepared herself for RV shopping. She changed into a black sleeveless playdress with a hot pink Evil Cupcakes skirt, a black short-sleeved hoodie, black and neon pink argyle knee-high socks, black knee-high sneakers with pink laces, black bow earrings, a pink extension, and a large, pink pleather bow in her hair. "Okay, I'll be with my friends! I'll be back when we're done browsing!" She called out to her parents and sister on her way out the door as she grabbed her handbag. After around a minute, her ride came so she sat in the back with Chuckie and Lincoln . "How come you guys are so mopey? RVs are awesome! I've always wanted to travel in one!"
"At least one of you is enthusiastic," Betty remarked, "RVs are the most convenient ways to travel cross-country. It's cheaper for one thing."
"Yeah, that is true," Lincoln shrugged.
"She does have a point," Chuckie said, "We won't have to pay for all those hotels."
When around a minute or two of driving passed, they arrived at "Cascabe Supreme", the RV lot. After a short while of searching, they saw a large, orange and yellow one called the "Cascade Supreme." Once inside, Lincoln and Chuckie were sitting on a two-passenger recliner with an air conditioner blowing on them. "Sweet," Lincoln remarked as the rest of the kids were exploring the RV. Phil looked in the refrigerator as Lil spotted a mysterious door.
"Guys! The bathroon has a spa tub!" stella exclaimed from the bathroom, sliding down in the spa tub in relaxation.
"I am finally beginning to understand the pioneers' spirit," Chuckie remarked as he turned an overhead AC on and off.
"What's this do?" Shenzi wondered aloud as she pressed a switch under the microwave. To Lincoln and Chuckie's surprise, the section they were in moved back, a TV came down from the ceiling, small doors opened from one wall to reveal DVD players, the door that caught Lil's interest came down to the floor, revealing a bed, and two tubes came up, popping a piece of candy out of each of them on the two pillows. In the bathroom, a safe fire brewed up in the fireplace, the microwave turned on, and a soda popped out of the arm of Chuckie's seat, so Phil caught it.
"Whoa!" They all exclaimed in awe.
"This is the greatest RV ever!" Shenzi smiled, "We should rent this one!"
In the driver's seat, Dil was viewing the security cameras, from where they saw their mothers outside. "Check it out; We can see where we're going, and where we've been to at the same time!" Dil pointed out to Angelica, who was lounging in the passenger seat. "I've been training myself to do that for over a year!" He then made his eyes lopsided to do so, but he wasn't able to fix his eyes. "Uh, Angelica?" She slapped him on the back of his head, so he was cured. "Thanks. Y'know, I'm kind of surprised you wanted to come on this trip," He then remarked to her, "What with Susie getting some televised facetime, while you're still being basically, I dunno, a nobody."
"Please Dil, Susie is my friend," Angelica claimed, "And I'd feel terrible if something awful prevented her from performing in the parade." All the while, Dil was switching between security cameras from front to back. Angelica then got an idea; When somebody stopped at the door, she swung it open, assuming it was Susie. But when she looked, it was actually Charlotte! "I thought you were...!" She was about to say when she saw Susie glaring at her. "Never mind."
"Okay, show's over," Betty helped Charlotte stand up, "Let's get goin'. We're going to have an early start tomorrow. And I mean early!"
The next morning, Shenzi struggled to keep her eyes open as Friar Tuck drove her to Lincoln 's house, where the trip would officially start. She slumped down so her face was in her lap, and she assumed that she dozed off right then and there. "Uh, Shenzi?" Her father's voice startled her out of her slumber.
"I didn't do it!" She exclaimed as she shot up.
He chuckled amusedly as she fixed her glasses. "Sorry about that, kiddo; You can sleep along the way."
"O-okay," She yawned, while rubbing her eyes as they burned slightly from fatigue. Her backpack and suitcase were in the seat next to her, filled up with necessities for the trip: Changes of clothes and jewelry, hair accessories, toothbrush, toothpaste, pajamas, underwear, hair brush, hair extensions, a blanket, and don't laugh, a toy or two. She set her backpack in her lap, and before long, she was out like a light again.
"Shenzi?"
"Oh!" She yelped, shooting up again, "S-sorry."
"Don't be, it's understandable," He assured her, "I'm not exactly alert myself." He then slowed to a stop in front of the Pickles house. "Good thing we're here." Stifling a yawn, she unbuckled herself, slung her bag on her back, grabbed her suitcase's handle, and stumbled out of the car.
"Well, here's my stop," She said awkwardly, not knowing what to say.
"I wonder where the others are," He remarked.
"Probably inside," She yawned. A second later, the garage door opened and the gang sans Lincoln , who was at a different car with Rachel, walked out yawning, trying to keep their eyes open and carrying their necessities for the trip. The mothers, who were surprisingly wide awake, followed them as Lucy's cell phone rang. An exhausted Stu clad in his pajamas waved goodbye to them, before he walked back in the house.
"Woo-hoo!" Lucy cheered, before she hung up and turned to the others. "That was Betty, everyone; She's on her way with the RV right now!" Meanwhile, Lil and stella were dozing off while sitting on the latter's large, green suitcase with Lil's head on stella 's.
"You be careful, sweetheart," Friar Tuck told Shenzi, who gazed tiredly at him, "I don't want you to get hurt."
"I will," She smiled sleepily, before they shared an embrace. "I'll see you in a week."
"Alright," He nodded, heading back to the car, "And we hope to see you on TV." With that, he entered the vehicle and drove off.
After she watched him go, she walked to her friends. More specifically, Chuckie. "Hi Chuck," She greeted him.
He looked to her, his eyes barely open. "H-hi Shen," He smiled sleepily at her, "Glad you could make it." She was wearing a Batman reveal tuxedo t-shirt, a black tutu skirt with a faux leather waistband, graveyard faux thigh high tights (although the nude color was different from her skin's), black hi-top sneakers that almost reached her knees, black star earrings, and a yellow extension. He smiled internally at her Kuromi backpack that held some of her stuff. Although he wasn't that much into Japanese culture, he did think that Kuromi was like Shenzi; Dark-looking, but cute on the inside. And outside. She also had a black rolling suitcase with white Hello Kitty heads, bows, and signatures all over. He was surprised that she wasn't best friends with stella instead of him; He could imagine them bonding over their love for Japanese icons.
"Lincoln ! Did you go to the little boy's room?" Shenzi snapped awake when she heard Didi's voice. "We're leaving." After Lincoln cringed in embarrassment, Rachel kissed him on the lips, before she went in her car.
"Did you see that?" Chuckie asked Shenzi in surprise, "Did you?" She nodded tiredly. "She kissed him! On the mouth, and everything!"
"Mm hmm," She mumbled.
"But I'm 13 months, 3 weeks, and 5 days older than Lincoln , and no girl's ever planted one on me. It's never gonna happen for me, Shen." He walked away from her sadly. "No girl's ever gonna wanna kiss me."
"You don't know that," She laid a hand on his shoulder in assurance, "This is a big country! I'm sure somewhere out there, there's a girl who finds you freakishly attractive."
"You think?" He smiled at her.
"Uh huh," She nodded, "Who knows? Maybe that girl lives in this very town." She moved her hand to his other shoulder, and her left to his chest.
"Hmm, maybe," He pondered on the possibility, making her smile with hope, "But I don't think Angelica is into me that way." Her eyes widened at that. "And I'm not into her either." He looked up when he along with the others heard a strange vehicle drive up clunkily. He walked back to the others as she stayed in place; She scowled and groaned at his cluelessness before she followed him. The group saw Betty drive the RV up, but to the kids' confusion, it wasn't the one they had explored yesterday. This one was green, and looked beaten up. Some small parts even fell off along the way.
Betty tried to roll her window down, but strangely, it stayed more than halfway up. "Feast your sockets on the Itex American Cruise Deluxe!"
"What happened to the nice, tasteful Cascade Supreme?" Lucy asked her.
Betty finally pushed her window the rest of the way down, before quickly regaining her composure. "Sold out. Besides, I got twice the size, for half the price! Especially for Chuckie's little date."
"Oh, we're not..." Shenzi was about to protest.
"Oh, I'm just teasin' you, Shenster." As the kids headed for the door, Angelica and Susie saw the right headlight pop out and hang by a wire. When Lincoln attempted to open the door, the knob came off in his hand, so he opened it with where the knob used to be. They were greeted by tattered furniture, "Come on in! Oh, and don't worry about that moldy bathin' suit smell; She'll air out." The kids plugged their noses at the awful scent as they entered the vehicle.
"Um, well, it is roomy," Chuckie remarked as Shenzi stood next to him on the stairs.
"Yeah," Lil agreed, "It-it'll still be fun." To her surprise, her foot sank in the floor!
"Guys?" Phil called out from outside, "Did you see this?" They looked, and saw that where the words were, most of the letters had fallen off. The only ones unintentionally left spelled out "I am crud."
"I am crud?" Chuckie quoted it with confusion. A couple of boys riding by stopped, and laughed at the vehicle, before they rode away, throwing a newspaper to Dil, who caught it. But then, the bumper fell off right under him, so he fell with it.
Later that day, the RV was going along a busy highway. "Ah, the open road!" Betty exclaimed as she drove the vehicle.
"According to Lipschitz, this could be our last great bonding experience with the kids, Betty," Didi pointed out, "I don't want to miss one natural wonder or cultural highlight."
"Ah, just as long as we make good time, we got a whole country to cross in 5 days."
"My, that is a lot of driving."
"That's why I brought along my own personal blend of beans," Betty patted a bag of coffee beans, "I call it Betty Blast. Couple swigs of this, and I'm good to go!" She looked up when Kira groaned in agony.
"Betty, I'm not feeling so good," She told her, with an arm on her stomach, "I think it was that burrito we had for lunch."
"Nonsense; You always find the best roadside chow in diner/car washes." At that, Kira rushed in the bathroom, and emptied her stomach.
"I'll be sure to write that down," Charlotte remarked.
The kids were doing their own thing as the hours seemed to drag on; Lincoln was playing with his video camera, Phil and stella were playing cards, Dil was gazing out the window, Susie was strumming her guitar, and Chuckie was simply moping. Shenzi was sitting next to him, simply holding a blue Tokidoki Mermicorno figure on the table. She was feeling mopey as well, but for a different reason; Why couldn't Chuckie see how she felt about him? She gave him hints that anyone could understand!
"Lil, are you gonna dribble that ball all the way to New York City?" Phil asked his sister with annoyance.
"Uh huh," She replied, "87. I'm going for the book of world records. All I have to do is keep this ball off the ground, and Alvin Freemont's 1998 Sydney to Melbourne record is dust." She headed for a different area in the RV as the others watched her.
"Four," Phil set a card face-up on the table. "I wish we had that RV with the plasma screen and 600 channels and satellite TV."
"The moms wouldn't let us watch it anyway," Lincoln pointed out, "Remember the Lipschitz rule: No electronic devices. No cell phones, computer games. Nothing but long stretches of open road to numb our minds."
"Oh, it's not so bad," Shenzi remarked, "Doesn't excessive screen time give you guys headaches? I get them. Besides," She turned to the window, "How often do we get to see the world right before our eyes?"
"You've got a point there," Dil agreed.
Meanwhile, Angelica witnessed Susie practicing her song in the bedroom. Kira came out of the bathroom feeling better, but when she heard Susie's song, which was about cheese, she ran back in the bathroom. "Talk about mind numbing," Angelica remarked.
"Boy, are you guys sticks in the mud," Dil remarked about his brother, the twins, and the Finster siblings, "This trip's gonna be epic. You wanna know why? Because this is the south west, my friend. Home of UFO crashes, nuclear test sites, frozen alien bodies hidden in government hangers. And well, with all my missing socks, we are talking the freaky capital of the freaky world! Then I say... look, Bigfoot!" The others looked out the window, and saw that Dil was actually incorrect about the last part.
"Uh, Dil? That's just a really hairy guy with his shirt off," Shenzi pointed out in disgust. Kira had come out again, yet ran back in the bathroom upon hearing the emo girl's comment.
"Dil's right," Lincoln said to them all, "I'm getting down on this trip before we've even started." He then turned to his camera. "Hey, look what I pulled off the 'net." He gave a sheet of paper to stella .
"The 100 most upchuckingest thrill rides in America?" stella read the title out loud, as the others looked interested.
"And we'll be passing at least half of them," Lincoln informed his friends. All of a sudden, the RV screeched to a stop, so he fell back on the couch.
"Okay everybody, first stop," Didi announced to the group.
"Where is it, Mom?" Lincoln asked her, "Crazy Canyons?"
"Whiplash Willows?" Chuckie chimed in.
"An empty restroom?" Shenzi asked sheepishly.
"Even better! Welcome to Clifford, California; Onion capital of the west!"
The kids were bored out of their minds, as they were dragged on a tour in an onion museum, with a tour guide who sounded as bored as they were, if not more so. "It's the onions, right?" Lil asked her twin brother when he was sniffling with tears in his eyes.
"No," Phil replied, "I'm just bored to tears!"
The tour group then headed for the gift shop. "Don't touch anything, kids," Didi told them; She swung her purse on her shoulder, and accidentally knocked over a mountain of onions, before all of them went down. The group exited the gift shop, as they all sniffled from the onion smell permeating the air.
After Chuckie, Shenzi, and Phil exited, Chuckie spotted an attractive girl standing by herself next to a car. "Watch the Finster magic at work," He smiled to his friends before he walked to the girl. Shenzi furrowed her eyebrows as a feeling of... something filled her up. "Hi."
"Hi," The girl greeted him back.
"Have you been eating onions?" He asked her. Now offended, she slapped him and walked away angrily. "Ow," He laid a hand on his now aching cheek. Shenzi facepalmed at the whole scene.
"Okay everybody," Lucy got their attention, "Photo op!" The dull tour guide went to take a picture of the group in front of the "World's Biggest Onion" sign.
As the guide slowly counted, Phil grabbed something from the concrete. "Hey, look! A flattened lizard!"
"Eww!" Shenzi grimaced, as Kira rushed away to the restroom. Just then, the photo was taken; It showed Kira running off, Didi smoothing Lincoln 's hair, and Shenzi making a grossed-out face.
On their next stop, they looked at the World's Widest Christmas Tree. In a photo op with the group, Kira had rushed to the bathroom yet again. "Dil, don't touch," Didi scolded Dil when he grabbed an ornament off the tree. She put the ornament back, but the rest of them, along with the lights had fallen off, followed by the pine needles, and the star.
"Isn't it wonderful how well our girls are getting along?" Lucy asked Charlotte.
"I know!" The blonde woman smiled, "Angelica hasn't shown one hand of jealousy about the parade."
In the restroom, Susie entered one of the stalls, initially unaware that Angelica was watching her. Angelica sneaked over, and used a broom to keep the door closed, but Susie saw her. So she sneaked out of the stall and out of the bathroom, locking the door from the outside in an act of revenge. "Hey! Susie, you locked the door!" Outside, Susie barricaded the door with a trashcan. "Susie? Susie?" Outside, the RV drove off, unknowingly without her. "Susie?"
Their next stop was the world's biggest ball of string. "486, 487," Lil counted her ball dribbles as the group boarded the RV again. "488, 489..."
Lincoln saw a man bungee-jumping from a crane a distance away. "Hey Mom, why can't we go do that?"
"You'll hurt yourself," Didi replied as she brushed dirt off his shirt.
"Besides, you can do cheap thrill rides anywhere," Betty told him, "Where else but in Needlestone Nevada could you have seen the world's biggest ball of string?" As she boarded the RV, Didi unknowingly had the end of the string ball on her shoe, so the door closed on it. When they drove off, the string ball went with them, before it completely unraveled. The two guys in charge of the exhibit stood in terror, before one of them started raveling.
That night, the kids were planning on sleeping in a large tent, while the mothers slept in the vehicle. Clad in their pajamas, the boys and Lil were preparing their sleeping bags for the night. Shenzi had accidentally forgotten hers, so Chuckie allowed her to sleep in his with him. She was wearing a black sleep camisole, black sleep leggings with white polka dots, pink and black Victoria's Secret ankle socks, and black barbells in her ears. Her hair was extension-free.
Lincoln was simply looking into his video camera again. "It's official; This trip is a bust," He remarked.
"Four hours in the Museum of Mayonnaise," Lil agreed, kicking her soccer ball while laying on her sleeping bag. "When do we get to do what we wanna do?"
Phil was naming off weird things as he rummaged through his backpack. "What is that?" Shenzi asked him in disgust.
"My collection," He replied, "I'm so bored, I'm exploring my interests as a budding naturalist... or a chef." He held a wiggling tail up to her face.
"Ew!" She exclaimed, quickly crawling away from Phil and to Chuckie.
"What is it with moms, anyway?" Lincoln wondered aloud, "Why do they have to be all over us, all the time?"
"Yeah, what's with all these photographs?" Chuckie agreed.
"Memories?" Shenzi shrugged timidly.
"And the "don't touch anything"s?" Lil used air quotes.
"And why are they always coming at you with their spit?" Lincoln wondered aloud, "On your face, in your hair."
"I'd get grounded for spitting on someone's hair," Phil remarked.
"When's my mom going to realize that I'm grown up?"
"I dunno," Dil chimed in after a couple seconds of silence, "I kinda like it when Mom wipes my face with a saliva soaked tissue. It's like a warm, wet "I love you."" The others stared at him at the last thing.
They looked towards the door when it was zipped open, revealing stella outside. "I was over at the bathrooms, and guess what I found digging in the garbage?"
"Hey, I was here the whole time!" Phil exclaimed.
Turned out, stella found a small, brown and white dog! "I went to every campsite, and no one knew him. He must be abandoned."
"Mom said you can keep him?" Chuckie asked her in surprise.
"No way," She shook her head, "So I figured I'll sneak him in."
"Oh boy," Shenzi mumbled, while fiddling with a plushie she had in her lap.
stella turned to the dog. "Come on, Pumpkin." She crawled in the tent and laid on her sleeping bag as the dog followed her.
"Well, one good thing: We're out in the fresh air, and not stuck in the crudinator," Lil pointed out, and everyone agreed with her as they started settling down to sleep. Lil then kicked her soccer ball in the basket on the tent to continue her mission tomorrow. Since the tent was filled up with everyone, almost, Shenzi laid on top of Chuckie, and to her relief, he didn't protest. She was light anyway. As they drifted off to sleep, a new problem came along: Bugs. After having to smack themselves at least a hundred times, they decided to forget about sleeping in fresh air; After the door was pulled open, they sleepily walked out of the tent. The order was Lil, Lincoln , Dil, Chuckie, Shenzi, Phil and stella with Pumpkin.
In the bedroom, stella tried to find a good bed to sleep on, but all of them seemed to be taken. None of them seemed to want a bedmate. "stella ." She looked up, and saw Lincoln sitting on the bunk on the right side of the room, on the top. "Come on up; You can sleep here with me," He whispered to her.
"Thanks," She smiled up at him. With her toy in tow, she climbed up the ladder and laid on the mattress, remembering to make room for her best friend. "Night, Lincoln "
"Night, Tuck." She giggled at his rhyme, before drifting off to sleep. Chuckie smiled when she hugged her toy to her face and neck. It was Kuromi as a baby in a black cradle. It was adorable, just like her
The next morning, Betty was the first to wake up. "Up and at- Ohh! Mother of mayhem!" The rest of the mothers woke up to Pumpkin making a huge mess in the RV. Phil opened the door to the bedroom, and the kids saw what had happened. Chuckie was staying on the bed, as Shenzi was still peacefully asleep.
Just then, the dog grabbed Phil's backpack in his mouth. "Ah! My collection!" The brunette boy yelled, before he engaged in a tug-of-war with Pumpkin. "Give it, you little fleabag!" Soon enough, Pumpkin let go of the bag, as Phil sat on the counter away from him. Kira looked to stella , who giggled nervously as the others stepped out.
Chuckie looked to Shenzi, who was still out like a light. "Um, Shen?" He gently shook her shoulder, "It's time to wake up."
"Hmm?" She looked up at him with her eyes drooping. "O-oh." She yawned and rubbed the fatigue out of her eyes. "M-morning."
"Morning, Tuck."
Once she was alone, she changed into a regular outfit for the day. Betty had started driving while she was changing, but she kept her balance.
"Because of this morning's dog mishap, we're a little behind schedule," Didi told the kids, "So I've mapped out a tour of the world's most amazing natural wonders you'll ever see." She laid a map on the table the kids were sitting at.
"You'll all have precisely six minutes at each stop, or I'm takin' off without ya," Betty warned them.
Chuckie blushed when he saw Shenzi's outfit after she exited the bedroom; black and dark blue zebra-print skinny jeans, a simple black cropped t-shirt, a polar blue extension, a Tokidoki Mermicorno hair bow, black bow earrings, and black lace-up combat boots.
The group took photo ops at the Hoover Dam, a canyon, a Petrified area, a cave, a doughnut shop which Kira ran from sickly, and a giant fire hydrant enjoyed by Pumpkin and some other dogs. At another stop, Shenzi watched from the gift shop as Chuckie approached a girl on a bridge. She didn't know why she felt so weird; It wasn't like they were boyfriend and girlfriend or anything. So why did she feel so lousy? Did she actually want to be his girlfriend? "Hi uh, my name is Chuckie." He sat on the rail of the bridge. "I'm uh, traveling across the..."
The girl turned around, revealing to be a middle-aged woman. "Hello, Mike."
"W'aah!" Chuckie screamed in shock, "Oof!" The woman watched in concern as he fell off the bridge, and into the river. Thankfully, he wasn't hurt; Shenzi and their friends helped him out of the water.
"Man, could this trip get any worse?" Lincoln wondered aloud. And sure enough...
"Look what we found in the gift shop!" Betty called out, walking to the kids with Charlotte, as they wore blue caps with the bridge on them. "Matching hats!"
"Doesn't this just scream "tourist" in a tacky, yet trendy kind of way?" Charlotte remarked. They put more hats on all of the kids, Shenzi's making her ears fold down.
"Oh yeah, this'll really help me with the ladies," Chuckie muttered to himself. Another photo op was taken of the group, with all of them wearing the hats. They had also stopped at a giant chair sculpture, with hats that resembled it, a giant cowboy hat, and a giant silver horseshoe with matching hat, while Dil made a goofy face by stretching his mouth horizontally and sticking his tongue out.
Soon, they stopped at the Grand Canyon. "Ah, the Grand Canyon," Didi admired the sight, "You know Lincoln , it takes 4 billion years for Mother Nature to make a rock tower like that."
"And you're going to make me stand here and watch her make it, aren't ya?" Lincoln asked her in a deadpan.
Lil was feeling nervous, while still kicking her ball, as Pumpkin started growling. "stella , can you try to control that stinky little mongrel?"
"It's not my fault," said stella , "If Phil didn't carry around his bag of death..."
Sure enough, Pumpkin slipped out of his leash, and bit on Phil's backpack. "Ow!" He shot up with a yell. He fell face-down in the dirt, accidentally knocking Lincoln down as stella tried to control the dog. After noticing some audio coming from Lincoln 's video camera, Phil took a peek. "Whoa!" He exclaimed as Lincoln tried to take the camera back, "I love this movie!"
"Uh oh," Shenzi muttered quietly.
"Movie?" This caught Lucy's attention, "Didi, I thought the kids weren't supposed to zone out on this trip."
Didi turned to her oldest son. "Lincoln ?"
"I downloaded a DVD," He confessed, as Phil continued watching, "I needed something to get my mind off leaving Rachel."
"And the Grand Canyon wouldn't do it?" Didi exclaimed, her last two words echoing.
"Not like Revenge of the Grim Comber Five," Phil smiled. Kira rushed to a trashcan and emptied her stomach for what seemed like the hundredth time to her.
"Nice work, Betty," Charlotte sarcastically remarked, "From now on, I pick the lunch spots."
"Oh well, look who's getting' all loaded off, fancy girl!" Betty retorted.
Susie whistled to get everyone's attention. "Excuse me! But have you all forgotten what this trip is for?!" Her last word echoed in the canyons.
"To make you even more insufferably perfect than you are?" Angelica replied with annoyance.
"And to promote the good work of America's hard-working cheese producers!" Susie answered her own question, ignoring Angelica's comment.
"And it was about us moms getting closer to you guys," Didi chimed in.
"Well, I'm sick of getting close," Lincoln decided, "I'm sick of being told what to do. And I'm sick of having a mom!" He finished with metaphorical bang. Dil gasped in shock as his older brother stormed away. He looked to his mother, who looked hurt and guilty.
"Maybe we should be going," Didi smiled nervously. As the group headed for the RV, Didi tossed a pebble behind her back, unknowingly causing a tower of rocks to tumble down.
That night in New Mexico, the kids sat on rocks around a campfire. "What you said to Mom, T, about you not needing her; Harsh," Dil remarked.
"Yeah well, wait 'til you're older," Lincoln retorted, "You'll understand."
"I will never understand not loving my mommy," Dil crossed his arms.
While no words were exchanged, a strange boy came up to them. "Hey, you guys seeing the Curtain of Tears tonight?" He asked them, "I need a ride."
"Curtain of Tears?" stella smiled with interest.
"What's that?" Shenzi asked him.
"Oh man! You've never heard of it?" The kids shook their heads. "The story is: This Indian princess, Soyiani ditched out some bogus dude her dad wanted her to marry. So her tribe left her behind the Star of Death by the red rock not too far from here."
"Whoa, talk about harsh," Dil commented.
"They say she cried so many tears, the geyser was made in that spot," The boy continued telling the story, "Every year at midnight, it blows and you can see the princess rise in the mist, and hear her screams echoing in the rocks." The kids were incredibly intrigued. The boy then walked away from them.
"Guys, did you hear that?" Dil smiled with excitement, "A genuine apparitional sighting! With water feature!"
"Finally, something we wanna do," Lincoln remarked.
"Our moms aren't gonna let us go out in the desert alone at midnight," Lil pointed out.
"Oh," Phil frowned with disappointment, "Yeah. We might touch somethin'."
"Well, we can always sneak out after they go to sleep," Lincoln suggested.
"Sneak out?" Shenzi's eyes widened, "I can't even sneak into the kitchen for a glass of water. The floor is too creaky, and my parents are light sleepers."
"Sneak out?" Susie walked up to them, "What for?"
"To see a real-life dead Indian princess," stella told her. "Out in the desert."
"Sounds epic," Susie smiled, "But I dunno if it's such a good idea. I gotta sing in New York in 4 days, and I don't even have my song down yet."
"Maybe Susie's right," Lincoln sighed reluctantly, "We don't even know how to get there. We better bag it."
"Kids?" Didi walked up to them, with the other moms following from the RV.
"We want to apologize to you kids," Lucy told them.
"We haven't been listening to what you guys want to do," Didi added in.
"So tonight, we're goin' to a real southwestern fiesta!" Betty finished.
At the fiesta, the group of kids and mothers watched a Mariachi performance while sitting at a long table. "Uh huh! Show me how it's done!" Kira exclaimed as she danced to the music.
"Mom, stop it!" stella protested in embarrassment.
But soon enough, the mothers were invited on the stage, so they started dancing in front of the bands, as the kids watched in horror. "Ugh, that's it!" Lincoln exclaimed, "We have to get away from our moms."
"Oh boy," Shenzi muttered to herself.
Later that night, the mothers were out like lights from all the fun they had at the fiesta. After Dil gave the signal, the kids' plan went into action; They stuffed clothes in their sleeping bags to fool their mothers into thinking they were sound asleep until they came back from the geysers. Shenzi stuffed some extras in the top right bunk, so it looked like she was next to Chuckie. When stella stuffed a shirt in, she grew concerned at the large lump it created. "Does that shirt make me look fat?" She quietly asked Angelica.
"I hope this works," Shenzi whispered.
"Whatever is it you're dragging me into, it'd better be worth it," Angelica glared at the preteens after Phil opened the back window. One by one, they climbed out the window and headed for their destination. "We've been walking an hour, and I haven't seen any red rocks. You've been conned." All of a sudden, they heard a howl in the distance.
"What was that?" Shenzi jumped on Chuckie in fear, effectively surprising him.
"Nobody worry," Dil told them, "I'm on lookout." He paused, before Lincoln hit the back of his head to snap him out of it. "Thanks," He smiled.
"Whatever it is, it's probably checking Phil's bag of bones," Lil remarked, "I told you, you should've left that thing!"
"I did," Phil retorted, "But you came anyway!" Lil bounced her ball on his head in retaliation.
"Okay that's enough, you guys," Shenzi glared at both of them, "Or we're going back."
"Who made you the boss?" Phil glared.
"You stop it!" Chuckie glared hard at him, keeping his voice down, "Don't talk to my best friend that way!"
"I shouldn't be doing this," Susie muttered worriedly to herself, "The entire cheese industry is counting on me."
"Yeah, I'm sure a whole economies will collapse if you don't sing about sour milk," Angelica said with sarcasm.
The group stopped and looked down from a ledge; They saw a group of people around a campfire.
Meanwhile, Betty woke up in the RV, and looked at the road. "Would you lookee here?" She said to no one, "No traffic. Well! Time to rack up some miles!" After checking her watch, she climbed down the ladder to the floor, and drove off, completely unaware of the kids' absence. Just before the RV started moving, Pumpkin jumped out and on the road.
"9,625," Lil counted her ball kicks, "26, 27..."
"Hey T," Dil piped up, "Meet the Rogers." Triplet boys wearing alien hats and t-shirts walked up, and all said "hi" in turn. "They were cloned, and abducted by aliens! This place rocks!" Lincoln was skeptical of the story, but kept it to himself.
As Susie practiced her song, Angelica was humming loudly to throw her off. "Angelica!"
At the geysers, Chuckie was sitting with a girl who had short blonde hair, and braces on her teeth. "And then, you see this bicuspid?" She held her mouth open, "They had to scrape the gum three times before it was right."
"Which headgear did they give you?" Chuckie asked her. "The G-Force Twister, or the Mandible Mangler?"
"Mandible Mangler."
"Ohhh. Me too," Chuckie replied quietly, "Nice night."
"Yeah," She agreed. Chuckie then "absentmindedly" set his hand on hers.
Shenzi frowned sadly as she watched them from a distance. Why couldn't she tell him how she felt about him? Why wasn't she in that girl's place? She knew him a hundred times longer than that stranger did! It wasn't fair; Why didn't Chuckie see her the way she saw him? She then saw Chuckie lean towards the eager-looking stranger with his lips puckered. Tears filled her eyes as she witnessed the scene. But she flinched when a geyser suddenly shot up! She stifled giggles upon seeing Chuckie jump on the girl's lap in fear. The rest of the gang watched in awe as two more geysers shot up with the first one, and they saw an apparition of a girl riding on a horse, associated with a feminine, ghostly scream. After the geysers ceased, the gang cheered happily.
"Did you see?!" Lil smiled with excitement.
"And the part where..." stella added.
"I know!" Lincoln exclaimed. "And then when the..."
"I was so close," Chuckie said to Phil, "I could almost feel her overbite on my cheek." Shenzi's excitement was replaced with depression once again, from listening to her best friend, not to mention crush, swoon over a girl he didn't even know; She teared up again, but kept it from the others.
When they came back to the parking lot, they were horrified to find it empty! "Oh no! It's gone!" Susie yelled in despair, before they all gasped in terror.
"I don't get it! The RV was right here!" Lincoln exclaimed.
"Maybe my mom went to fill up the tank?" Lil suggested, trying to keep her cool.
"Maybe someone stole it!" Chuckie said.
"The "I Am Crud"?" Angelica put her hands on her hips, "Please!"
"I think Angelica's right," Shenzi blinked her tears away, "Not even Al Capone would steal that junkbox."
"Or maybe it was payback for what Lincoln said to Mom," Dil theorized, "And we've been left behind just like that Indian princess!"
"How long you think we're gonna last if we take turns lickin' this fuzzy mint?" Phil took a peppermint, which had hair on it, out of his pocket.
"Okay, okay, let's not get all wacked out about this," Susie suggested, "We'll just hike over to the rangers' station. There is a perfectly good explanation for this." The gang then walked away as she stood in place. "I hope."
Meanwhile, the next day, Betty was driving the RV along the roads, still oblivious to the lower number of passengers. "Ahh, a hundred cups of blast on the wall, a hundred cups of blast!" Betty sang to herself as she drove. "Rise and shine, buttercups!" The RV stopped at a gas station with the sign for the world's largest pecan.
"Where are we?" Didi asked Betty after putting her glasses on.
"Brunswick, Missouri!"
"Not the home of the world's largest pecan!" A squirrel was biting at the exhibit outside.
"Yep, while you lazy heads were sowing Zs, I covered almost 600 miles! And you know what? I can do another thousand!" But then she fell asleep instantly, her head landing on the horn. She shot up, before leaning back in her seat.
Didi then decided to wake up the kids. "Wakey, wakey! Time for cakey!" She unzipped Lincoln 's sleeping bag, and was shocked to see it filled with a bunch of clothes. "Ohh!" The other moms checked their childrens' sleeping bags, and found clothes in there as well. Kira screamed when she found a fish skeleton in stella 's.
Betty then snapped awake. "How's my drivin'? We in Missouri yet?"
"Yes!" Lucy yelled, "But our kids are back in New Mexico!"
Betty came in the bedroom, and saw the clothes in the sleeping bags. She then took command. "Didi, man the map. Lucy, grab me a cup of joe!" She then jumped in the drivers' seat. "We're turnin' this baby around!" She tried to start the RV, but it broke down right then and there.
Meanwhile, the kids were sleeping all around in the rangers' station. stella and Angelica were laying on the table, Dil was on two chairs, Lincoln was awake at the desk, Susie was awake as well and looking extremely nervous, Lil was sitting in a chair, using her soccer ball for support, Chuckie and Phil were sitting on a bench, and Shenzi was on the floor by the bench, next to Chuckie with her head near his legs. Chuckie was smiling and mumbling in his sleep, before he unknowingly started kissing Phil's cheek.
"I'm sorry, Susie," Lincoln said to her, "I know you worked really hard to sing in this parade."
"Don't sweat it, Lincoln ," She assured him, "We've still got 3 days to get to New York. I'm not worried."
"I thought you kids might be hungry," The ranger walked up with a box of bread for them, "I'm Ranger Wind Walking Little Feather, but you can call me Klaus."
"Klaus?" Susie crossed her arms.
"Easier to program in the speed dial." He set the bread down.
"You know where our moms are?" Lincoln asked him.
"I sent my guys out looking for the RV," He told them, "Won't be hard to find something that butt-ugly."
"Chuckie, get off me!" A now awake Phil griped, before he pushed the redhead away, effectively waking him up and alarming him. Shenzi was snapped awake by his leg bumping her head. The phone rang as the rest of the kids woke up.
"Ranger Walking Wind Little um... Klaus here," He corrected himself, "Yes. They're right here."
He gave the phone to Lincoln . "Mom?"
"Lincoln ?" Didi answered in the RV, "Oh, thank heavens you're alright! I'm sorry!"
"No, I'm sorry Mom," Lincoln apologized guiltily, "Where are you?" After receiving an answer, he turned to Klaus. "They're in Brunswick, Missouri!"
"Home of the world's largest pecan?"
"When're you coming back for us?" Lincoln asked Didi. "A couple days?! We'll never make it to New York in time for the parade!"
"Wow," Lil remarked sadly, "Sorry, Susie."
"Yeah, tough break," Angelica smiled, "So, where's the nearest 4-star luxury hotel?" Shenzi put her hands on her hips and shook her head in disgust.
"I'll take you over to stay with my family," Klaus offered, "I'm heading up to Raton for a big inner tribal meeting."
"Hold on, Mom," Lincoln said to Didi, before turning to Klaus. "Is Raton anywhere near where our moms are?"
"It's in the right direction, but you'd still have hundreds of miles," He told them with a map in his hands.
"Can we go with you?" Lincoln requested.
"We've gotta get Susie to New York to sing on the cheese float in the Gracy's Day parade," Shenzi explained, as the girl in question had a pleading look.
"Susie, Susie, Susie," Angelica glared, "What will it take to kill this "can do" attitude of yours?" She looked to Lincoln .
"I can get you as far as Denver," Klaus told them, as Angelica groaned in exasperation.
"Mom?"
"I heard, and I'm sorry, but we can't let you travel hundreds of miles alone," Didi told him.
"You've got to!" Lincoln insisted, "I can't let Susie down; I can handle this!"
Didi then made her decision. "Alright."
"Thanks," Lincoln smiled in relief, so the rest of the gang sans Angelica and Shenzi cheered with joy. Angelica was too jealous, while Shenzi was too personally depressed.
Soon, Klaus was driving a red minivan with the kids inside. Susie was sitting shotgun, Lincoln , Chuckie, and Angelica were in the middle row, while stella , Phil, and Lil were in the back. Shenzi was squished in between Phil and stella from lack of a full seat for her, but she looked too mopey to care. "You have that credit card number your mom gave you to buy our tickets to Missouri?" Lincoln asked Chuckie.
Chuckie reached into his red hoodie pocket, and took out a small sheet of paper. "Here it is, as good as money, my man." Lincoln stashed the paper in a pouch around his neck, then zipped up his own hoodie to seal it.
"You okay, Shenzi?" stella asked the emo girl, "Aren't you happy? We're going to find our moms!"
"Y-yeah, I'm happy," She nodded, "It's just... I guess I'm still a little tired." She timidly averted her gaze to her hands to avoid eye contact.
Meanwhile, Pumpkin was running after the minivan.
In Klaus' hometown, the kids enjoyed a show put on by Indians marching around a campfire, with Dil joining them enthusiastically. "Good news," Klaus told them, "I found ride to the Rockies that will take you to Denver. So, here." He held out a mound of clothes to them.
"What're those?" Phil asked him.
"Those are snowsuits," Klaus replied, giving a set to each of them, "The roads to Denver are snowed in. You are going by dogsled." Angelica looked nervous at that, while the others were enthusiastic.
And sure enough, they did just that. Lincoln , Phil, and a scared Angelica were on one sled, Chuckie, Dil, and Shenzi were on another, and Susie, Lil, and stella were on the last one. Lincoln was completely oblivious to his pouch coming off, and falling in the snow with the credit card number.
Meanwhile, the mothers were at an auto shop where the RV was being repaired. "I'm beginning to think letting the pups trave hundreds of miles alone wasn't such a hot idea," Betty remarked nervously.
"Me too," Kira agreed.
"My Angelica may seem tough, but she's just a scared little girl with an inflated sense of self-entitlement," Charlotte said to Lucy, with tears in her eyes.
"What do you think, Didi?" Lucy asked the orange-haired woman.
"I think Lincoln was right, and Lipschitz was wrong," Didi admitted, "Sometimes you've got to give your kids space." They nodded in agreement. "We did our job right, we would've raised right, capable children."
"What do you mean you lost the credit card number?!" Angelica glared at Lincoln , "How're we gonna get to Minnesota?!"
"Missouri," Susie dully corrected her.
"Whatever state our moms are in!"
"The paper must've flown out of my pocket when we were sledding," Lincoln guessed.
"10,463," Lil counted, "10..."
"Lil!" Everyone exclaimed in annoyance.
"Sorry," She apologized, "Break." She then stopped kicking the ball, but held onto it.
"Come on, guys. We can do this!" Lincoln urged his friends, "You want to prove to our parents we're grown up, don't you?"
"No-o-o," Dil shook his head, "Right now, I'd be happy having Mom gently tuck me under the chin, and tell me everything's okay."
"Look, I picked up a map," Lincoln took a map out of his pocket, "Now, we're here." He pointed to Colorado.
"In that state shaped like a board game box?" Phil asked him.
"Colorado?" Shenzi corrected the brunette boy.
"Yes," Lincoln nodded, "And our moms are here."
"In the state that kinda looks like a shoe?" Chuckie asked him.
"Missouri?" Shenzi chimed in again; She didn't know how they couldn't identify the states on a map.
"Yes," The purple-haired boy replied, "All we have to do is figure out how to get across that big, flat state between them."
"Oklahoma?" This time, the emo girl rolled her eyes.
"Don't they teach you guys geography anymore?" Susie wondered aloud.
"I have a simpler answer," Angelica announced, "Give up. We have no money, no cell phone, and our moms are hundreds of miles away. Face it; Susie's shot at the big time is history."
Susie frowned miserably at that. "No! I'm not giving up!" Lincoln yelled in determination, before he saw something: Hot air balloons. "I have an idea."
Later, the kids were riding in hot air balloons in their reunion mission. Lincoln , Shenzi, Chuckie, and Dil were in one with a guide, while Susie, Angelica, Phil, Lil, and stella were in another with a guide. "Looks like we're not in Kansas anymore," Shenzi remarked.
"Nope," Dil pointed down, "That's Kansas; Look." She looked, and saw a field with "Kansas" cut in it, associated with interesting crop circle designs. Lincoln looked behind him, and saw a terrified Chuckie sit against the basket in fear. In the other balloon, Lil was continuing her kicking, but her ball flew out of the basket! Using quick wits and her head, she hit the ball back in the basket, and continued her mission. On the ground, Pumpkin was still going after them.
Soon enough, they were back on the ground, with the balloons tied to stakes. "That wasn't so bad," Chuckie assured himself with a chuckle. But then he saw an attractive girl nearby; When she looked at him, he pulled on the string absentmindedly, but that caused the balloon to collapse on him and the basket. He tried to escape, but he was too late. Shenzi didn't feel obliged to help him, and she didn't know why.
"I found a guy who said he can take us to the next town," Lincoln told everyone. "We can call our moms from there, get the credit card number, and arrange a ride."
In the western-like town, they stopped in a general merchandise store for help. "So, let me get this straight: You have no phones?"
"No," The store employee shook his head.
"No faxes?"
"No."
"Not even electricity?" The store had candles on the ceiling instead of light bulbs.
"What, are these people living in the 1800s?" Angelica wondered aloud.
"Yes, they're Amish," Susie answered her, "They don't believe in modern things."
"Not even... blow dryers?!" The blonde exclaimed in horror.
"No," The employee answered her.
"What kind of nightmare is this?!"
After hearing dialogue that they didn't understand, they turned and saw a young Amish boy.
"Cha," Dil replied, "Mother took a ride in the cart in Brunswick."
"Brunswick?"
The gang were confused as Dil and the Amish boy were in a conversation that they didn't understand.
"You understood all that?" Lincoln asked Dil when they were done.
"Cha," He nodded, "Don't be shushly."
That night, they all slept in a thankfully quiet barn on cots. Angelica, who was wearing a sleep mask, fluffed her pillow in her slumber. Lincoln was still awake however, feeling guilty about what he said to Didi.
"Lincoln !" Dil said, but was ignored, "Hey T!" He finally had his older brother's attention. "Olden the lights!" Lincoln turned the candle off, before he and his little brother drifted off to sleep.
Little did everyone know, Shenzi was awake as well, but for a different reason: She was confused. Why did she ignore Chuckie when he needed help? Usually she'd be the first one to help him from anything. So why was that time an exception? Was she mad at him for not knowing her feelings? It wasn't like he was a mind reader; He couldn't know how she felt unless she told him. But she couldn't; It would ruin their friendship, especially if the feelings weren't mutual. She wished it was easier to tell him something big like that. Deciding to worry about it tomorrow, she went to sleep.
The next morning, the kids were woken up by a crowing rooster. To Dil's surprise, Lincoln 's bed was already empty. After the barn door was opened by the Amish boy, Lincoln came rushing in. "Guys, I got us a ride to Brunswick, Missouri!" He announced.
"Ja," The Amish man chimed in, "Big pecan."
The ride turned out to be a covered horse buggy driven by the Amish man with a young girl. Lil, stella , Susie, and Chuckie were sitting at the right side, while Shenzi, Phil, Dil, Angelica, and Lincoln were at the left. "I guess this thing doesn't have overdrive?" Lincoln asked the man.
"Would be plain."
Chuckie noticed that the girl smiled down at him, so he fixed his hair a bit, and stood up behind her. Shenzi slumped her face on her hand in anger. "So uh, Ester is it?" The girl giggled, but Chuckie gasped in fear when the man held up a pitchfork. "Uh," He chuckled nervously, "I'll be sittin' back here."
"You said you'd do it, and you did it, Lincoln ," Susie smiled at the purple-haired boy, "Thanks."
All of a sudden, the buggy roughly hit a rock, and Lil fell out on the road! But she still managed to keep her soccer ball off the ground. The kids waited as the man investigated the damaged wheel. "Ooh, check it out!" Phil grabbed a tiny skeleton, "Genuine Amish roadkill! Alright." He stashed it in his backpack.
But then a bear came out of the woods, and towards the kids! "Phil?" Lil said in fear, "It wants your backpack!" Phil tried to back away, but he tripped over a rock, so he was trapped. "Phil, it wants your collection! Give it to him!"
But then, Pumpkin jumped out of the bushes! "Pumpkin!" stella exclaimed with joy. The puppy bravely faced the bear as Phil escaped with his backpack. Pumpkin attacked with random bites, before holding onto the bear's tail, so it ran in circles. Although he had fallen on the ground, the bear walked back in the woods. "Pumpkin!" The puppy jumped in stella 's arms and licked her cheek joyfully as the rest of the gang gathered around Phil.
"I was so scared," Susie said.
"Are you okay?" Lincoln asked him.
"I told you guys he was a great dog!" stella exclaimed, "He tracked us all the way, just to save us!" But then, the puppy jumped down, taking Phil's backpack with it, proving her last statement incorrect.
"I don't think we had anything to do with it," Susie shook her head. Pumpkin took the Amish skeleton out with his mouth.
Later, the group were walking along a road, getting more and more exhausted along the way. Phil was licking the peppermint, Lil was bouncing her ball on her head, and Chuckie was looking at a map. "Who's up?" Phil asked them once he was done. He held it out to stella , but she grimaced in disgust.
"Guy with the beard made it sound so easy," Lil remarked, "Does anybody have any idea where we are?"
"We're right here on Route 66 north," Chuckie replied, before he turned it around, "Or Route 99 south?" Shenzi facepalmed.
"Two words: Homeschooling," Susie said.
"Well technically that's one word," Shenzi pointed out.
A gust of chilly wind suddenly hit them. "I'm cold," stella shivered. Lincoln said here take my jacket and gave it to her tan she said she was tired I'm tired," Lil stopped bouncing her ball, and held it in her arms. Lincoln took both of them one on one shoulder and one on the other
"I'm thirsty," Susie added raspily.
"I'm ugly!" Angelica exclaimed about her messy hair, before another gust blew by.
"I wonder what our moms are doing right now?" Lincoln voiced his thoughts.
"Probably worrying about us," Shenzi answered.
"I bet if my mom was here, she'd have something to eat," Lil remarked, "They always have something to eat when we're hungry."
"
"It's the purses," Phil chimed in, "Moms are like, pack mules of love."
"You guys ever catch your mom sneaking into your room at night, just to watch you sleep?" Dil asked them, and they agreed with him. "It's creepy, but like in a good way."
"You guys ever think what it'd be like not having a mom?" Lil asked them.
"Been there, done that," Chuckie replied solemnly.
"Me too," Shenzi nodded.
"I'm sorry guys," Lincoln turned to them, "This mess is all my fault. I wanted to prove something, and now we'll never get Susie to the Gracy's Day parade on time. It couldn't get any worse." But just then, with a clap of thunder, it started to rain. Lincoln then sat on the ground defeatedly as the group were quickly drenched. "I. Want. My. Mommy!" He finally screamed, before they all started sobbing in despair, with Susie hugging Dil. Even Shenzi was; Despite her knowing that Felicia was at home, she still missed her dearly.
Angelica however, stayed strong. For now. "Oh, you pre-teens are pathetic!" She then broke. "I want my mommy's... credit card!" She sobbed, as stella hugged her in comfort.
But just then, a familiar RV drove up! The kids never thought they'd cheer when seeing the "I Am Crud" until that night in Mexico. As the kids reunited with their mothers, the clouds parted to reveal the shining sun. "Oh Momma, I missed you!" Susie kissed Lucy's cheek in joy. Shenzi didn't know who to go to, so she headed for Kira; The Finsters were like a second family to her, so it felt right.
"Lincoln , I'm so proud of you!" Didi exclaimed after hugging Dil, "Look how far you came!"
"Ah, no big D," He smiled, before he broke slightly and hugged his mother.
"Okay everyone, we've still got 4 states to cover before we're going to get Susie to the parade on time!" Betty announced, before the kids gladly entered the vehicle.
"Ah, the "I Am Crud"," Phil smiled, "There's no smell like home."
"Hold on, everybody! We're on Betty time now!" But as she drove, Pumpkin ran out in front of the RV!
"Pumpkin!" stella exclaimed in horror, "Look out for Pumpkin!"
In a panic, Betty swerved to avoid the puppy, but crashed into a telephone wire pole. "Is everyone okay?" Didi asked them all.
Outside, Betty had found a payphone. "You sure? Okay. Yeah." She then hung up, and headed back to the RV. "They can't get anyone out here 'til tonight," She told Lucy and Susie, "Bein' the day before Thanksgiving. It just doesn't look like we'll make it in time."
"I'm sorry honey," Lucy comforted Susie when she started to cry, "Maybe you can get in the parade next year."
"But we worked so hard to get here," Susie protested, "We came so close. I memorized 357 kinds of cheeses!" The kids frowned miserably as they listened to her.
Lincoln then went from sad to angry. "What are you people, quitters?" he glared, "I didn't ride dogsleds, balloons, for 3 days to give up now!" he then whistled, and an onion truck stopped on cue. "We need to get to New York, and you are gonna get us there!" he commanded the driver with as much determination as he could muster up. The group gazed in surprise at his sudden selflessness. "What're you waiting for?"
"Clifford, California. Onion capital of the west," Didi read the words on the truck trailer, before they all boarded. As they rode along, the kids and mothers were sniffling and tearing up, but not from the onions.Lincoln said does anyone want to hear a song they all said ok he said he was going to sing this after the parade but know is a go time to he said this is for stella she looked surprised by what he said here is the song
My love for you is like the most beautiful sprout,
Your face reminds me of smart butterflies,
Together, we are like spagetti and basil.
Oh darling stella ,
My beautiful sprout,
My smart turnip,
The perfect companion to my spagetti soul.
Roses are red,
Skies are blue,
I like sunsets,
But not as much as I love dancing with you!
Oh darling stella ,
Your lips are like Nice flowers on a summer day,
You're like the most Caring queen to ever walk the zoo.
Your smart butterflie face,
Your basil soul,
Your Nice lips,
Your Caring queen being...
How could I look at another when our beautiful sprout love is so strong?
she went to him and kissed him she said she did not know you loved me he said i have sense we were kids than he said well you be my girlfriend and she said that she would love to be his girlfriend
"Wait! I gotta go to the bathroom!" Phil suddenly yelled out while they were in Ohio.
After that stop, they arrived at their destination! "After everything you did to get here, especially riding in an onion truck for 14 hours, the parade committee wanted to reward you with special luxury suites." The service woman gave Susie a room key. "On us."
"Suites?" Shenzi smiled as they headed for their rooms, "Awesome! I've always wanted to stay in one!"
Lil frowned when people showed disgust at them, while plugging their noses. "Boy, people sure are snooty around here," She remarked to Phil.
"It's the onions," Shenzi told them, "We're permeated by the smell from riding in that truck."
Later in the suite, Phil, Shenzi, and Chuckie were jumping on the bed, now wearing their pajamas. Shenzi had a pink Victoria's Secret mesh cropped t-shirt, black and pink argyle Drama Queen boxers, black and pink tube socks, and black barbells. The rest of the kids were in their Pjs as well; Lil was balancing her ball on her head, while stella was enjoying the view from the window, while clad in an orange robe and blue slippers with a white towel on her head.
"Lincoln , I just wanted to say thank you," Susie said to Lincoln , "You didn't have to do what you did, ."
"Well I can top it; You're welcome," Angelica smiled.
"One question: Why?"
"Because I know, that if I ever got a chance to sing some cheesy song on national television for hundreds of millions of people around the world, I'd want you to have my back."
"Hundreds of... millions...?" With that Susie passed out on the floor in fear.
"Lincoln said are you ok
she was
"Isn't this suite awesome?" Phil asked , Chuckie and Shenzi after they stopped jumping, and simply sat on the bed.
"Uh huh!" Shenzi nodded. She scooted up to Lincoln , and hugged him from the side, effectively surprising him and Chuckie. "It is truly sweet."
Chuckie filled up with confusion; Usually she went to him. Did she like Lincoln instead of him?
That night, the bed Chuckie chose was the last one available for Shenzi to sleep in, and even though she felt uncomfortable around him, she pushed her feelings aside and slept in the bed anyway. As she was out like a light, Chuckie smiled as he watched her. She looked so cute when she slept, especially when she had a plush toy in her arms, like she did now. It was the same one from the RV; Baby Kuromi in a cradle. Not only was she cute when sleeping, she was beautiful too. He thought back to the day they first left Lincoln 's house. When she said that a girl who "found him freakishly attractive" might live where they did. Did she mean...? Nah. A beautiful girl like her would never be into a boy like him. He fell asleep, deciding to worry about it after the parade.
The next day, the parade was in full swing, with giant balloons and the classic float of a turkey dressed like a pilgrim. The gang clad in winter clothes watched with anticipation as girls in Santa dresses danced the can-can along the road.
"Man, I can't believe we had the entire United States at our feet," Phil remarked to Chuckie from his right, "And you couldn't get one girl to kiss you." Shenzi was at the redhead's left side, wearing a Jack Skellington moon dress, matching bling earrings, black opaque tights, a black winter jacket with brown fur trimming the hood, black sneakers that almost reached her knees, and an orange extension.
"Aw, don't feel so bad, Phil," Chuckie assured him, "I've decided it's not that important. I mean, after all the exciting stuff we've done the last couple of days, kissing a girl just doesn't seem like that big a deal anymore. Besides, it's not like it's ever going to happen. I just know it." Shenzi listened to him vent, as her frustration grew. "I'm going to grow old, and die alone. I'm lucky that those girls even talked to me. I'm never going to find the one. Not in Mexico, not in Wilmington, Colorado, not even at ho...!" The emo girl decided to make her move. Something she should've done a long time ago; She turned towards him, grabbed his face, and kissed him on the lips! His eyes were so wide, he thought they were going to pop out.
But with his hands on her shoulders, he shut his eyes and reciprocated for who knows how long. Little did they know, they were vaguely shown on TV!
At the Tuck residence, Frankie's eyes widened and her jaw dropped when she saw her baby sister kissing Chuckie. On TV! "Finally!" She exclaimed, as Felicia and Friar Tuck watched in shock. "I can't believe they finally kissed!"
In New York, Shenzi and Chuckie separated after almost half a minute. "Chuck? You know how before we left Lincoln 's house, I said that maybe a girl who likes you lives where we do?"
"Y-yeah," He nodded, still a bit dazed, "Did you mean...?"
"Yep," She nodded, "I meant me."
"A-all this time," Chuckie stuttered, "I was just coming up to strangers like some kind of creep, when... you had been there the whole time."
"Mm hmm," She nodded again, before pulling him into an embrace. Not being caught by surprise, Chuckie hugged her back. After they separated, he had an arm around her shoulders as they watched the parade.
When the cheese float came, with Susie and Lincoln up front with a mouse ears headband, tail, and grey gloves, the gang including the new couple cheered loudly for them. After she finished her song, which she sang perfectly, the gang cheered again. than Lincoln said this one is for stella she blushed than he said it is her favorite song
You could never know what it's like
Your blood like winter freezes just like ice
And there's a cold lonely light that shines from you
You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use
And did you think this fool could never win
Well look at me, I'm coming back again
I got a taste of love in a simple way
And if you need to know while I'm still standing you just fade away
Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
Once I never could hope to win
You starting down the road leaving me again
The threats you made were meant to cut me down
And if our love was just a circus you'd be a clown by now
You know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
"It was definitely worth the drive!" Didi exclaimed, before she accidentally knocked over a trashcan. It rolled on the road, making a man on stilts stumble back and a girl balancing on a ball roll back and fall in front of the turkey float. The float came to a stop, but apples fell off of it, making the balloon holders slip around and let go of the balloon strings. Another man on stilts fell on a man in the audience, who also fell on Lil in a domino effect.
The gang watched in anticipation as her soccer ball flew up in the air, but to their disappointment, it fell on the sidewalk. The record attempt was history. Lincoln , Dil, and stella turned to Lil, who looked like she was going to burst, but she simply picked up the ball, and happily started over. "1, 2, 3..."
On the way back in the RV, which was actually on the trailer load on a semi truck, the whole gang was singing Betty's hundred cups of blast song cheerfully. Shenzi, Chuckie, and stella were sitting at the right side of the table, while Phil, Lincoln , and Dil were at the left. Susie and a jealous Angelica were standing up, as well as Lil who was kicking her ball. Pumpkin was there as well. After the excitement died down, Shenzi smiled up at Chuckie. "That was the best time of my life."
"Which part?" He smiled back down at her, "Kissing me? Seeing the parade in person? Traveling in an RV like you always wanted?"
Her smile grew. "Everything." She kissed his cheek.
"I just can't believe that I didn't realize you were talking about yourself before we left," Chuckie remarked, "I feel like an idiot."
"You're not an idiot," Shenzi shook her head, "I should've just told you how I felt right then and there. It was my fault; I was just too nervous to tell you."
"How come?"
"I... I was afraid that if you didn't like me back, it would've ruined our friendship," She shrugged.
"Shen, our friendship can survive anything," He assured her, "Even... romance." She perked up at that. "After we're home... do you want to um, get a hamburger? Once the festivities are over?"
"I'd love to," She smiled. After turning in the seat, they shared a kiss once again, like the one they had during the parade, although this kiss was shorter. They separated after a few seconds. "Thanks for inviting me on this trip."
"No problem," He smiled lovingly at her, "It wouldn't have been the same without you."
She laid her head on his shoulder, so her hair's green apple scent hit his nose. "You know one thing I'm looking forward to, now that the parade is over?"
"What's that?"
"Our first Christmas together." She laid a hand on his chest over his winter jacket.
"I'm excited for that too," Chuckie said, "But... let's wait until after our Thanksgiving dinners to worry about that, 'kay?" He brushed some strands of ebony hair from her face.
"Okay." She blushed when his hand touched her cheek.
"Also, Shen?"
"Yeah?"
"You were right."
She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "About what?"
"The perks of traveling in an RV," He replied, "It is nice to see the world right before your eyes like this." He gestured to the window.
"I told you so," She giggled, "I told all you guys."
"Yep you did," Lincoln nodded, before he leaned back in the seat, "It's quite relaxing."
"I knew it all along," Dil smiled widely.
"Plus it's much easier to achieve my record," Lil chimed in, "35, 36, 37..."
"Hey Mom?" Chuckie turned back to Kira.
"Yes, Chuckie?" She smiled at him.
"For our next vacation, can we take an RV?"
"We'll see," She giggled, along with Shenzi.
"I hope we do," stella said, "It was much better than I expected. I'm going to miss this one, even though it's crud." Everyone agreed with her.
That night, everyone fast asleep, including Betty since she didn't have to drive, except for Shenzi and Chuckie. Shenzi was wearing a white and hot pink Disney Princess emojis nightshirt, black and white plaid pajama pants, black lace ruffled ankle socks, and black barbells. Her baby Kuromi was in her arms once again. "Like I said before, this was the best trip of my life."
"I'm glad you liked it," Chuckie smiled down at her, "I wonder if we were on TV?"
"Probably," She shrugged, "If we were, then it's guaranteed that our families saw us... y'know," She giggled, before she yawned and rubbed her eyes under her glasses.
"Let's talk more tomorrow," Chuckie suggested; He gently took her glasses and set them with his on the super tall two-layered table.
"G'night... boyfriend," She smiled, surprising him.
"G-g'night girlfriend," He smiled back. After he kissed her cheek, she laid on his chest, snuggling in his blue and purple pajamas. Chuckie set his chin on her head as he stayed awake with his arms around her. He set one hand in her soft, dark hair that reached her lower shoulders, with the other on her back. To be truthful, he had a crush on her too, like she did with him, but like her, he was afraid to tell her. He didn't want their friendship to go down the drain should he do something stupid. He couldn't lose her. He looked down further, and smiled when he saw the plush Kuromi between him and his new girlfriend. He loved how she wasn't afraid to look childish in front of their friends; She was truly one of a kind. After planting a kiss on her head, he drifted off to sleep with his face partially in her hair.
After a few days and nights passed, their surroundings started to look familiar again. They were home! Along the way, Shenzi and Chuckie discussed how they would break the news to her family, and Chaz. They finally decided to tell them together, after their Thanksgiving dinners. That evening, after dropping the Pickles off at their respective homes, the truck stopped in front of the Finster house. Chuckie, stella , and Kira stepped out on the sidewalk, but Shenzi caught up with her new boyfriend. "Bye Chuckie," She smiled at him, her hands in his.
"Bye Shen." He kissed her cheek over her long bangs, "Have a good Thanksgiving."
"You too." She pecked his lips before re-entering the RV. Chuckie smiled dreamily as he watched her go.
"Chuckie?" He flinched when stella nudged him. "Come on, let's get in there!" And with that, they and Kira rushed into the house.
Meanwhile, Shenzi's heart leapt with joy when the truck stopped in front of the Tuck residence. "Here's your stop, Shenster," Betty announced, "Thanks for comin'."
"No problem, thanks for letting me come." She smiled, her backpack and suitcase on her before she walked out of the RV and on the sidewalk. As she stepped on the porch, she heard the truck drive away, before she used her house key to unlock the door and opened it. "Anyone home?" She called out as she entered the kitchen and set her backpack on a chair.
She heard stampeding footsteps before Frankie dashed in, followed by their parents. "Shenzi!" She yelled excitedly before grabbing her in a tight embrace.
"Hey, honey!" Felicia joined the embrace from behind their oldest daughter.
"How was the trip?" Friar Tuck hugged Shenzi from behind.
"It was great!" She smiled, "Did you see me on TV?"
"Did we ever," Frankie smiled cheekily, "We saw Chuckie as well. Way to plant it on him, sis!"
"Are you and Chuckie getting together?" Felicia asked her.
"How about I tell you guys tomorrow?" Shenzi suggested, "I'm kind of tired at the moment."
"Okay then," Friar Tuck nodded, "You just head up to bed, kiddo. You need it after that long trip."
"Thanks guys," She smiled, "'Night!" After trudging up the stairs and brushing her teeth, she entered her bedroom and flopped on her bed, not realizing how much she missed it until that very moment. Although sleeping in the RV was fun, she missed her own bed. After changing into her pajamas, she just sat on her bed, taking in her familiar surroundings. Although the trip was a lot of fun, it was good to be home. As she laid face-up in the soft as clouds covers, she thought of Chuckie. The boy of her dreams was finally hers forever! Hopefully forever... no, not hopefully. She knew for a fact that they'd be together forever; They'll get married upon reaching adulthood and start a family. She was sure of it.
In the Finster household, after a joyous reunion with Chaz, everyone went to bed for the night, Chuckie and the girls deciding to tell Chaz about the trip tomorrow. Chuckie laid in his bed, which he had missed, thinking about Shenzi. He couldn't believe that the girl of his dreams was finally his forever. He knew that they would never ever break up. They'll get married, and start a whole new generation of Tucks and Finsters. He was sure of it. He had to convince Chaz, who had seen the kiss on TV, to let him explain with Shenzi by his side after their respective Thanksgiving dinners.
One thing's for sure: Shenzi and Chuckie, heck nobody, was ever going to forget the cross-country journey to the concrete jungle
stella parents
It's been two months since Lincoln and stella confessed their feelings for each other, and things have been going great between them.
When the rest of the island found out, they were happy for the two, and congratulated them. Commodore Smurkturkski wanted to have a celebration in their honor, but they politely declined. It's not like they were getting married for something like that to happen.
Lincoln was currently out in the field on a training mission, along with Rod and Brody. stella was at HQ observing the training while Speedy and Bea directed the cadets on what to do.
"Alright cadets, now try it out on your own until you think you've mastered it." Speedy told them.
"You got it, Speedy!" The three replied, before ending communication.
"Is there anything I could do, Speedy?" stella asked.
"Hmmm... not really. I don't really have anything for you right now, stella ." Speedy replied. "But if you want, you could-" he was cut off when the screen began to ring. It wasn't the alarm, just a regular call.
"I wonder who that could be." Speedy wondered as Bea answered the call.
"Hello? Is this Top Wing Academy?" asked a female penguin that appeared on the screen.
"Mom?" stella asked, a little confused as she approached the screen.
"Oh! It is!" the penguin, who is stella mother, happily exclaimed. "Hi stella , dear! Hello Speedy, hello Bea." she greeted the three.
"Hello Priscilla. Nice to see you. Can we... help you with something?" Speedy asked, wondering why his student's parent was calling all of a sudden.
"Oh, no Speedy. I don't. I just wanted to talk to my little stella ." Priscilla replied.
"Mom... I'm not little anymore." stella whined.
"I know, sweetie. But you're still my little stella ." Priscilla stated.
stella sighed. "I'll accept that. So, what did you want to talk about?"
"Um... is it possible for us to talk in private?" Priscilla asked.
"Uuhh..." stella looked to Speedy and Bea for answers.
"I'll transfer the call to the video screen at your bed, stella ." Speedy stated, as he pressed icons on his tablet.
"Wait... we have those?" stella asked.
Speedy chuckled. "Better get going. The screen will pop up once I press the transfer button." he told her.
With that said, stella quickly made her way to her sleeping quarter. Once she was gone from the room, Priscilla let out a distressed sigh, which caught Speedy and Bea's attention.
"Everything ok, Priscilla?" Bea asked.
"I hope so, once I'm done talking to stella ." Priscilla replied.
"Ok Speedy! I'm in the room!" stella yelled out.
"I'm sure whatever it is, you two will work it out." Speedy told her, about to press the 'transfer call' button
"Thanks, Speedy." Priscilla replied, before she disappeared from the screen.
"Priscilla looked really upset. I hope whatever it is isn't too bad." Bea stated. Speedy nodded in agreement.
-
With stella
stella saw a small screen slowly pop up next to her photo of her and Anyu. Soon after, her mother's face came into view.
"Hello again, mother." stella greeted her mother again. "So, what did you want to talk about?" she asked.
"First of all, how are you, dear? And how's life at the academy?" Priscilla asked.
"I'm doing great! And it's super cool! Speedy, Bea, my friends, the islanders... they're all really cool!" stella happily replied.
"I'm glad to hear that sweetie. But remember, you have a family. You have to come visit us from time to time." Priscilla told her.
stella giggled. "Yea, I know. I'll have to ask Speedy for some time off for me to visit. By the way, where's dad?" she asked.
Priscilla expression and tone soon changed. "He's... around."
"Mom? Is everything ok?" stella asked, noticing the change.
Priscilla sighed. "Actually stella ... I need to talk to you about your father."
"Why? Did something happen?! Is he ok?!" stella asked worriedly.
"Calm down, stella . Your father's fine. It's... actually something that he did... well... almost did... that I need to tell you." Priscilla stated, looking at her daughter nervously.
"What is it?" stella asked, curiously.
"First, you need to promise me you won't get too upset about what I'm about to tell you, sweetie." Priscilla stated.
"That depends..." stella replied, raising an eyebrow in suspicion.
Priscilla sighed, knowing that her daughter would get upset.
"stella ," she started, "Your father... almost... promised you to another penguin."
stella froze and eyes widened when she heard that. It took her a few seconds to recover from the shock.
"He. Did. What?!" stella asked, as calmly as possible.
Priscilla knew she heard, but wanted confirmation. "He almost promised you to another penguin." she repeated.
stella took a deep breath to calm herself a bit, then asked as calmly as possible. "With who?"
"I believe his name was, Bobbin?" Priscilla replied, a bit unsure.
"Bobbin?" stella asked. "You mean blobby Bobbin?!" her anger starting to show.
"Um, yes. I think that's what your brother said you kids called him." Priscilla replied.
stella growled in anger before letting out a loud and long squawk.
-
In the control room
Lincoln , Rod and Brody had returned from their training mission and where being assessed by Speedy.
"Great job, cadets. You're getting better with every training session." Speedy told them.
"Well, we are learning from the best." Lincoln told him.
Speedy chuckled.
"By the way, Speedy. Where's stella ?" Lincoln asked.
"She's in the sleeping quarters. She's-" Speedy was cut off by a loud squawk.
"Woah! What was that?" Rod asked.
Lincoln gasped. "That sounded like stella !" he said and quickly flew out of the control room towards their sleeping quarters.
Rod and Brody were about to follow, but Speedy stopped them.
"Why'd you stop us. Shouldn't we be worried. stella could be in trouble." Brody stated.
"Here at HQ?" Bea asked and giggled.
Speedy chuckled. "Don't worry you two. stella is fine. She's just talking to her mother." he explained.
"Oh. So... why didn't you stop Lincoln too?" Rod asked.
"One. I wouldn't have been able to if I tried. Two. It's about time stella introduced him to her family." Speedy simply stated with a smile.
--
With stella
"HOW AND WHY DID DAD THINK IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO PROMISE ME TO BLOBBY BOBBIN?! OF ALL THE PENGUINS, WHY HIM?! HE WAS THE WORST PENGUIN IN MY HATCH YEAR!" stella screamed.
Priscilla said nothing and allowed her daughter to let out her anger.
She let out another squawk in frustration till she heard a knock on the door.
"stella ? It's me! Is everything ok? I heard you scream. Can I come in?" Lincoln asked on the other side of the door.
stella gasped. "He's already back from training?" she thought. She soon turned her attention to the screen and whispered to her mother, who had a confused look when she heard the new voice.
"Don't move and don't say anything." stella whispered to her mother.
Priscilla wasn't sure what was going on, but nodded and stayed still.
stella let out a heavy sigh to calm herself a bit more, before answering.
"Yea, I'm ok, Lincoln . You can come in." She replied.
Once he got the ok, Lincoln opened the door and quickly flew over to her and sat on her bed next to her.
"Are you alright, stella ? I heard you squawk. What happened?" Lincoln asked worriedly.
"I'm ok, Lincoln . Really." stella said with a smile to reassure him.
"stella , that squawk sounded like your angry squawk. What happened?" Lincoln pushed on. stella sighed.
"Ok, ok. I'm not ok. I was just talking to my mother and she told me something that made me really angry." She started,
Lincoln tilted his head, wordlessly asking 'what was it'?
"She told me that my father almost promised me to another penguin." She continued.
Lincoln 's eyes widened, and he felt his heart sink a little upon hearing that. But he let her continue.
"And if that wasn't bad enough, he almost promised me to the WORST penguin in my hatch year!" stella yelled, her anger coming back full swing. "I mean, how could he... he didn't even... ugh! If I still had my baby feathers I'd he pulling them off right now! AH!"
"Woah stella , calm down." Lincoln said, gently grabbing her cheeks to try to get her to calm down. He'd never seen her this angry before.
He began to gently caress her cheeks with his thumbs in order to calm her down, a technique that usually worked. stella closed her eyes at his gentle caress, then inhaled and exhaled before placing one of her hands over his which rested on her cheeks, telling him that she had calmed down. Lincoln gave a satisfied smile at this.
"I guess this penguin was really that bad, huh? I've never seen you this angry, stella ." Lincoln said, his hands still on her cheeks to make sure she stayed calm.
stella opened her eyes and looked up at Lincoln . "He was. At least from what I remember about him. He was the meanest penguin in my hatch year. He'd pick on all of us and felt he was better than us because he was the biggest among us." she replied. "And, the thought of being promised to him by my family is just..."
Lincoln kissed her forehead, telling her that everything was ok. She smiled and looked up at him.
"Thanks, Lincoln . I could really use some comforting right now." stella told him.
Lincoln chuckled and re-positioned himself to sit behind her. She sat between his legs as he wrapped his wings around her waist from behind, pulling her closer to his chest and nuzzled his head on the side of hers, at which she happily nuzzled back.
"Better?" he asked.
"Much." she replied.
stella mother watched quietly in shock at the display of affection between her daughter and the other bird.
stella looked across at the top of her bed and saw that her mother was still on the screen.
"Oops. I forgot mom was still on the call." she thought.
"Lincoln ?" She started, to get his attention
"Mhm." he replied.
"Um... don't get mad or too embarrassed, but... my mom may have seen our entire display of affection." stella told him.
"W-what? W-where is she?" Lincoln nervously asked.
stella pointed to the small screen in front of them. Lincoln looked and saw an older penguin, smiling and waving at them. He gulped and became red with embarrassment and tried to hide his face behind stella , which didn't work.
"stella ..." Lincoln whined a bit.
"Sorry, I forgot she was still there." stella apologized.
"There's no need to be shy, deary." Priscilla said to Lincoln , who turned his attention back to the screen. Despite being seen by stella mother, Lincoln kept his hold on stella .
"stella , who's this charming and caring young fellow you manage to get yourself?" She asked, smiling at the two.
stella blushed slightly. " Lincoln , this is my mother, Priscilla."
"P-pleasure to meet you, ma'am." Lincoln nervously and politely greeted stella mother.
"Mom, this is Lincoln . He's... well he's..." stella paused, still blushing.
"He's the one you chose, isn't he? I can tell after what I just saw." Priscilla giggled. "Nice to meet you too, Lincoln . So, he's the reason you rejected the others, huh?" she asked.
"Yea. Wait!... You know about that? Is that why dad tried to promise me to Bobbin?" stella asked.
Priscilla frowned. "Yes. They all told us that you rejected them. Your father was worried you'd be the only one without a mate by the time you return from the academy. Bobbin was the only male left."
stella frowned, now understanding the situation.
"I see. I should have figured he had his reason for doing this. I would have asked why, but I guess my anger got the better of me when I heard who it was he tried to promise me to." stella stated. "What made him not go through with the agreement?"
"You'll have to ask your father that." Priscilla stated.
"Could you please call him, mom?" stella asked.
"Of course, dear. I'll go get him." Priscilla replied, about to go and find her husband, but was stopped when Lincoln spoke up.
"Um, excuse me, stella , Ms. Priscilla?" Lincoln started, to get their attention. "S-sorry to interrupt, but s-should I leave? B-because this seems to be a family matter and... I feel like I'm intruding." he stated.
stella and Priscilla giggled, which confused the blue-jay.
"You are family, Lincoln ." stella told him, as she wrapped her wings around his which were still wrapped around her and nuzzled under his beak.
"I am?" he asked, blushing at stella show of affection.
"Yes, you are, dear. You became family the moment stella said 'yes' to you." Priscilla stated and smiled. "I'll be right back," she said, going out of view for a moment.
"I guess I missed that bit of information during my research," Lincoln said softly to stella .
stella giggled.
Lincoln soon let out a heavy sigh, as if he had been holding his breath. This worried stella .
"Are you alright, Lincoln ?" she asked.
"Yea, I guess." He trailed off.
"Lincoln ," she said softly and worriedly, as she placed a hand on his cheek.
Lincoln sighed, "I'm sorry, stella . I guess I'm just a bit nervous. I didn't expect to be meeting your parents so soon. I know I would have to meet them eventually, but I hadn't prepared myself for it yet. I've always worried about if they would accept me as your chosen partner since I'm a different species." he explained, tightening his hold on the penguin, but not too tight.
"To tell you the truth, Lincoln , I've been worried about that too. I was worried about whether or not my family would accept you and if yours would accept me. At least I know my mom's ok with it. We just need to know what my dad thinks. And of course, I'm worried about if yours will accept me or not." stella admitted.
Lincoln gave a gentle smile. "I can assure you, stella , my family will accept you. That is something I'm not worried about." he told her.
"How are you so sure?" she asked.
"Let's just say, my species has a history of going off with other species." he told her.
"Really?" she asked in surprise.
"Yup." he replied, nuzzling the side of her head. "So you have nothing to worry about on my end."
stella giggled as he nuzzled her. She leaned into him to nuzzle back.
"I love you, stella ." Lincoln whispered to her lovingly.
"I love you too, Lincoln ." stella replied lovingly as well.
Unbeknownst to the two love birds, while they were having their moment, stella parents had returned and were watching the interaction between the two with interest.
"Now, how can we say 'no' to that?" Priscilla spoke up to get the two's attention.
Lincoln and stella were startled and quickly turned their attention back to the screen and saw both of stella parents looking at them with a smile. Lincoln and stella blushed and gave a nervous laugh at being caught again.
"Sorry to interrupt your moment, sweetie. But I had to get your attention." Priscilla told them.
"I-it's ok, mom." stella replied, still blushing. "H-how much did you see?" she asked.
"We saw... and heard plenty, sweetie." Priscilla replied.
"Enough to get my approval, sweetheart." Phil stated.
"Really? You mean, you're ok with me choosing a blue-jay as my partner?" stella asked her father.
"Of course! It's your life, sweetheart. Your choice." He replied with a smile, but frowned soon after. "And... I'm really sorry for what I almost did to you, stella . I just didn't want my little girl to be alone."
"It's o-ok, dad. Mom told me why, so I understand." stella told him. "But, why didn't you go through with it?" she asked.
Phil sighed. "For two reasons. I realized I was violating your rights and that I should have spoken to you first about why you rejected all the suitors. Second, Bobbin declined the offer."
This surprised stella .
"He did?! Why?" stella asked. She was happy to know that Bobbin declined, but was curious as to why.
"Something about being afraid of you. I know, it surprised me too." Phil said, seeing stella reaction. "Did something happen between you two, stella ?"
"Not anything bad as far as I can recall. The only thing I ever did was defend some penguins by standing up to him to leave them alone. Shortly after that incident, I left to come here to the academy." stella explained, then realization struck her and she frowned. "Maybe I unintentionally hurt him with the things I said."
"What did you say to him, sweetie?" Priscilla asked.
"I don't really remember. It's been a few years since the incident. But he obviously remembers what happened. Mom, dad, you know I would never hurt anyone." stella stated.
"Of course we do, dear. Not intentionally." Priscilla replied.
stella sighed. "I may not remember what happened, but can you ask him and apologize to him for me when you see him" stella asked.
"Of course." Priscilla replied.
"So, stella ... who's your friend?" Phil asked with a smile.
"Oh, right. Dad, this is Lincoln , my boyfriend. Lincoln , this my dad, Phil." stella introduced them to each other.
"H-hello there, sir. It's a pleasure to meet you." Lincoln greeted with a wave.
"Hello Lincoln . Nice to meet the bird who made my daughter reject all the suitors from her species." Phil said teasingly, which made Lincoln a little nervous and uncomfortable.
"Dad!" stella scowled, sensing Lincoln 's uneasiness.
Phil chuckled. "I'm just teasing, Lincoln . Sorry if I made you uncomfortable, but it is nice to meet you. Now, I don't need to ask or tell you to take care of my stella , because I've already seen and heard for myself how much you care about her."
Lincoln nodded.
"So, what did you give her?" Phil asked.
Lincoln smiled, knowing what he was asking. "stella ," he simply said, looking down at her.
stella giggled and showed her parents the necklace and bracelet she was wearing.
"Oh my! stella they're beautiful. *gasps* Are those kelp-icer pendants?!" Priscilla awed.
"Wow! That must have cost you a fortune, Lincoln ." Phil exclaimed.
"Actually," Lincoln started, blushing and rubbing the back of his head, "I made them myself." he told them.
stella parents eyes widened.
"Really!? You made them yourself?" Priscilla asked.
"Yup. He did. And that's what makes them extra super special. Besides, I would have said yes to him anyway, even if he didn't give me a courting gift." stella said, nuzzling him under his beak. Lincoln chuckled and nuzzled her back, not worried that her parents where watching.
Phil and Priscilla smiled at the two.
"We can see that you two truly do love each other. Not only did we hear you both say it, but your actions sstella volumes. Lincoln , the way you flew into the room when you heard stella squawk and was able to calm her down, and stayed with her, proved to me just how loyal you are to her. And stella , you eased his worry of meeting us and being accepted. That is indeed true love. Being there for each other and supporting each other." Priscilla explained.
"And from now on, you also have our support, sweetheart." Phil stated.
"Thanks mom, thanks dad." stella thanked them.
"Yea, thank you." Lincoln also thanked them.
"You're both very welcome. I'm just glad we were able to settle everything." Priscilla stated. "Anyway, I think it's time we made our leave. It was nice meeting you Lincoln ."
"Same here." Lincoln replied with a smile.
"And, stella ? We hope to get a visit from you soon, sweetheart. And make sure you bring Lincoln with you." Phil told her.
stella giggled. "I will dad. Bye now. Love you."
"Love you, too, stella . Bye. Bye Lincoln . See you soon." Phil and Priscilla said, before ending the call. The small screen went back down once the call ended.
"Well, that went better than expected." Lincoln stated, still holding on to stella .
stella giggled and kissed his cheek, making him blush and chuckle.
"Well, we got their approval. So I guess that officially makes you my penguin and me, your blue-jay." Lincoln stated.
"I like the sound of it." stella replied with a giggle.
She kissed his cheek. "I love you, my cool high flying blue-jay."
"And I love you, my super slick penguin." Lincoln replied, with a kiss to her forehead, as they continued their affectionate embrace.
In the control room
"So, I'm guessing everything worked out?" Speedy asked, looking at the screen. Bea, Rod and Brody were also in the room.
"Yes, it did. Better than we expected." Priscilla happily replied.
"We can see that she's in good wings." Phil said.
Speedy chuckled. "I take it that means you approve of her and Lincoln 's relationship?"
"Yes we do. We were able to witness for ourselves just how much he cares about her." Priscilla stated.
"That's Lincoln . He's always looked out for stella , and even more so since they got together. That's just how he is naturally." Bea stated.
"We're just happy our little stella found her soulmate. Speedy, I know you'll continue to look after her as well." Phil said.
"Of course, Phil. You and Priscilla have nothing to worry about. Take care now." Speedy replied.
"Bye everyone." Phil and Priscilla replied, before ending the call, happy to know that their daughter had found happiness to move forward with her future Lincoln and stella asked if they could have a week off speedy said that they could Lincoln and stella said that they were going to her house they said ok they went to Lincoln 's FlLincoln wing and took off to her house once there stella saw her friend playing in the snow she saw the jet land and she saw it was stella and a nother bird she walked up to them hugged stella and asked how he was stella said he is Lincoln and he is my boyfriend she said nice to meet you. my name is sunny stella parents come out to see how was toking and they saw stella and Lincoln they went inside stella 3 little sisters ran and hugged her and they asked how is he they got down to there level and she said he is my boyfriend Lincoln they said nice to meet you stella said they were ruby and sunset and abby he said nice to meet you it was their bed time they went to bead 1 hour later Lincoln and stella were watching a movie with her parents and they heard stella sisters start to cry and Lincoln said that he had it and went to check on them he sang a song
It's holiday time
The most special of seasons
So come gather round
To remember the reason
It's not all the gifts
The food or decorations
But the Spirit of Love
That marks this celebration
So come walk with me
Sing along and you'll see
On this holiday
Let love light the way
You need nothing more
Than those you adore
On this holiday
Let love light the way
We all have our ways
Of observing this evening
Yet each of us shares
Something we all believe in
What makes this one night
Out shine all of the others
Is sharing our joy with our sisters and brothers
So come sing with me
All together we'll be
On this holiday
Let love light the way
And down every street
Are new friends we can meet
On this holiday
Let love light our way
Every December
As we honor all our traditions
It's nice to remember
That it's not a big competition
So let love be your mission
The night outshines all the others
With our sisters and our brothers
So come walk with me Sing along and you'll see
On this holiday
Let love light the way
As we stand around the tree
All together we'll be
On this holiday
Let love light the way
You need nothing more than those you adore
On this holiday
Let love
Let love
Let love
Let love
Let love light the way that stopped them from crying he walk out to the living room and stella said how did you get so good at singing he said a lot of practice stella parents came in and said how was singing stella said it was Lincoln and they said nice voice Lincoln said that he was going to the next island to get some thing's he went and got stella and her sisters some phones then he went back to stella's house and gave her the phone and gave her sisters phones to here parents and said they get them when they are older than he got a call from his mom she asked him how to get his sister's to stop crying he said put the phone on speeker and he started to sing a song that went like this
It's holiday time
The most special of seasons
So come gather round
To remember the reason
It's not all the gifts
The food or decorations
But the Spirit of Love
That marks this celebration
So come walk with me
Sing along and you'll see
On this holiday
Let love light the way
You need nothing more
Than those you adore
On this holiday
Let love light the way
We all have our ways
Of observing this evening
Yet each of us shares
Something we all believe in
What makes this one night
Out shine all of the others
Is sharing our joy with our sisters and brothers
So come sing with me
All together we'll be
On this holiday
Let love light the way
And down every street
Are new friends we can meet
On this holiday
Let love light our way
Every December
As we honor all our traditions
It's nice to remember
That it's not a big competition
So let love be your mission
The night outshines all the others
With our sisters and our brothers
So come walk with me Sing along and you'll see
On this holiday
Let love light the way
As we stand around the tree
All together we'll be
On this holiday
Let love light the way
You need nothing more than those you adore
On this holiday
Let love
Let love
Let love
Let love
Let love light the way
she said thank you and were are you at my girlfriend's house he said that they would meet her in 2 days she said ok and thanks again for get them to stop crying he said that he would always be there for her Then They went to bed In the morning Lincoln was the 1st one up so he made breakfast for the Penguin family They smelled something cooking and went to see what it was and found out that Lincoln made them kelp-icer pancakes and smoothies they all said thank you to Lincoln they finished the meal and Lincoln said that he was going to do the dishes and stella asked him if he would like some help he said yes stella went on a run with her parents and Lincoln made the family some kelp-icer meatloaf they got home and eat they finished the meal and the parents did the dishes They all went to bed in the morning stella sister's asked if they could go back to headquarters for a few weeks and the parents said if it is ok with them you can they said that only if you are good at Lincoln 's house for 3 days they said ok they went to get their things together and then they went to Lincoln 's house it was dark when they got their so they slept in the FlLincoln wing in the morning Lincoln was sitting on the wing of the FlLincoln wing when his younger sister saw him and she hugged him and said when did you get home he said last night he lay her down and said go back to sleep she did the rest of the family woke up stella woke up and saw Lincoln on the wing of the FlLincoln wing she went out and sat down with him he gave her a cup of iced coffee then he said my family should be up and he took his sister in his arms and carried her in to the house and said anyone order a little blue jay they hugged him he said he had 4 surprises for them he went out and told stella he would take 2 of her sisters and she take one she said ok they walked into the house he said mom,dad,summer,connie and amaya this is my girlfriend stella and her sister's ruby and sunset and abby they said nice to meet you then Lincoln and stella took them to his room to let them sleep then they went to the living room and talked to his parents 1 hour later Lincoln heard crying coming from his room and said that he had it and he went to the room stella sisters said that they had nightmares so he took them out to were stella was he said they had nightmares he asked his parents if they could watch them for the night well him and stella went out on a date they said that they could stella and Lincoln went out on their date then they went back home and went to bed the next morning speedy called him and said sorry to cut the time off short but we need you back at headquarter he said ok picked up stella and her sister's and took them to the FlLincoln wing and left a note on the refrigerator for his parents that said they had to go back to headquarters
Top wing Lincoln s parents
It's been three weeks since stella and Lincoln spoke to stella's parents and got their approval of their relationship. And the two young birds couldn't be happier. But, although Lincoln told stella that his family will approve of their relationship, she couldn't help feel a little doubtful.
stella and Brody where out on a rescue mission, while Lincoln and Rod stayed behind.
"I think I'll head down to the Lemon Shack. I'm getting kinda hungry." Rod stated. His belly growled shortly after, causing him and everyone else to laugh.I think I'll join you, Rod." Lincoln said. "I could use a snack."
"Awesome! Let's go!" Rod exclaimed. But before they got a chance to leave, the alarm went off. "Aw, come on!" he whined, walking up next to Speedy and Bea as they answered the call.
A gray goose appeared on the screen.
"Hello Captain Gander. What's your emergency?" Speedy asked.
Honk. Well, it's not really an emergency. I just wanted to find out if cadet Lincoln is available." Captain Gander stated.
"Yea, I'm available. Do you need help with something, Captain?" Lincoln asked.
Honk! Indeed we do. We need an extra pair of wings to help direct traffic at the airport. This is one of our busiest times of the year." Captain Gander explained.
"Oh yeeeaa... it's summer time, and we get a lot of visitors coming here for vacation. So the airport tends to get a little... hectic, around this time." Bea clarified.
"Oh! Maybe I can help too. I can make sure the area is clear for landing." Rod exclaimed.
Great idea, Rod." Speedy told him, then returned his attention to the Captain. "The cadets are on their way captain."
"Wonderful! See you soon! Honk!" Captain Gander replied, before ending the call.
"Time to earn our wings!" Lincoln and Rod called out, before leaving HQ.
At the airport
Lincoln and Rod got to work the moment the Captain gave them instructions of what to do. And, boy were they busy.
"Wow. Captain Gander wasn't kidding. The flocks just keep coming." Lincoln said to Rod through his watch, while he directed traffic in the air.
"I know. I've never seen this many visitors at once." Rod replied, making sure the ground was clear for the next flock.
At Headquarters
Brody and stella entered the control room after returning from their rescue mission.
"Great job on that rescue cadets." Speedy told them shortly after they entered the control room.
"Ha-kaa. It was too easy." Brody replied.
stella giggled. "Well, we did have a little trouble. But it wasn't anything we couldn't handle." she added.
Speedy chuckled. "That's what I like to hear."
stella and Brody then noticed the absence of two birds.
"Hey, Speedy? Where are Rod and Lincoln ?" Brody asked.
"They're at the airport helping Captain Gander with traffic control." Speedy replied.
"Oh! Maybe we should go see if they need some extra pairs of wings." stella stated.
"Primo idea, stella ." Brody agreed
"Why not? I'm sure Captain Gander would be more than happy to have more help." Speedy stated.
"Cool! Hey Brody, since we can't use our vehicles, how about a race." stella said
Brody chuckled. "You're on, stella ." he replied, getting into position.
"Ok. Ready, set, go!" stella called out, both dLincoln ing out of HQ.
Speedy and Bea chuckled and giggled at the departing cadets.
At the airport
"That's the last flock, Rod." Lincoln said over his watch.
Once the flock had landed and cleared the area, Rod gave him the all clear for him to land. Lincoln acknowledge this and brought the FlLincoln Wing in for landing. Once he did, he took off his helmet before he got out and flew over to Rod who was talking with the captain.
"Thank you so much for your help, cadets." Captain Gander thanked them.
"It was no problem Captain Gander." Lincoln replied.
"It's what we cock-a-doodle do!" Rod added.
Captain Gander nodded and thanked them again before leaving.
"How about we head over to the Lemon Shack now, Rod." Lincoln suggested.
"Yea! I'm super hungry now." Rod replied.
Shortly after, Lincoln was suddenly tackled to the ground.
"Whoops. *giggles* Sorry about that, Lincoln ." stella laughingly apologized as she lay on top of the blue-jay after crLincoln ing into him
Lincoln chuckled and sat up. "It's ok, stella . What's the hurry?" he replied.
"A race, that's what." stella giggled as Rod and Brody walked up to them.
Brody chuckled. "stella and I were having a race to come meet you guys. Aaaand... she won." he stated.
"As usual." Rod added, folding his wings.
"You guys win sometimes." stella said, while getting up off Lincoln and helping him get back up, at which he thanked her.
"Yea, sometimes. You and Lincoln have more wins under your wings." Rod stated.
stella giggled again. "Well, that is true. But anyway, the reason we're here was to see if you guys needed any help. But," she looks around to see the airport empty. "It looks like you're already done."
"Yup. And we were just about to head to the Lemon Shack. So you got here just in time." Lincoln told them.
"Cool! So what are we waiting for? Let's go!" stella exclaimed
But before they could make a move, Lincoln was once again, tackled to the ground.
"Ugh. Why do I keep getting tackled today?" Lincoln asked as he lay on his stomach while feeling 3 light weights on his back. After he had said that, he heard giggling.
"Finally caught you, Lincoln !" they said
Lincoln 's eyes widened when he heard the voices He craned his head to the side to look behind him, and saw 3 blue-jay He gasped.
"Sunset,ruby and summer?" Lincoln asked in an excited disbelief.
With the other cadets
"Who are they ?" stella asked.
"Don't know. But it looks like they know each other." Rod replied, as the three continued to watch.
With Lincoln
The yellow clad blue-jays giggled in response before getting off Lincoln . Lincoln finally got up to get a better look at them, before they excitedly embraced him with a hug, at which he chuckled and hugged back.
"I've missed you, Lincoln ." They told him.
"I've missed you, too, sis's. You've really grown." Lincoln replied. "What are you doing here? Don't tell me you came here on your own." he asked in a worried tone.
"Now you know we'd never do that, Lincoln ." he heard a voice say above him. He looked up to see two adult blue-jays coming towards them, before landing in front of the young blue-jays.
"Mom! Dad!" Lincoln happily called out.
"Hi Lincoln honey!" his mother exclaimed, pulling him in for a hug.
"Hey there, son. It's great to see you. How are you doing?" his father stated.
Lincoln chuckled. "It's great to see you guys too. And I'm doing great." he replied while still in his mother's embrace. "What are you guys doing here?"
"We were on our way back home from visiting a friend. So we figured since we're passing by Big Swirl, we'd stop and give you a surprise visit." his mother replied, letting go of him.
"Well, I am definitely surprised, and happy to see you. Let me introduce you to my friends and fellow cadets." Lincoln told them, flying over to the others. His family close behind.
"Sorry about that, guys." Lincoln told the other cadets.
"That's ok, Lincoln ." stella replied.
"I'd like you guys to meet my family. This is my mom, Rosanne. My dad, James, and my little sister's, sunset,ruby and summer ." Lincoln introduced his family.
"I'm not so little anymore, Lincoln ." sunset,ruby and summer stated, causing the rest of the family to chuckle.
"Mom, dad, sunset,ruby and summer . These are my friends, Rod and Brody."
"Hello." Rod greeted.
"Hi-ya." Brody greeted.
"Nice to meet you, cadets." James replied.
"Yes. Very nice. But... what about her, Lincoln ? Isn't she your friend, too?" Rosanne asked, gesturing to stella .
"Well..." Lincoln started. stella giggled, causing Lincoln to chuckle nervously.
"Mom, dad, sunset,ruby and summer ... this is stella . And she's... more than just a friend. In fact, she's very special to me." He continued, earning a smile from stella . "She's my girlfriend, my chosen forever partner." he finished.
Lincoln 's family gasped in shock at the news. stella became worried from their reaction, until.
Lincoln 's mother squealed with excitement. "Oh, my boy's all grown up!" exclaimed, pulling Lincoln into another hug. "I'm so happy for you, honey!"
"So am I. Congratulations, son." James told Lincoln .
Rosanne let go of Lincoln and turned her attention to stella .
"Hello dear. It's an absolute pleasure to meet you."Rosanne told stella .
"The pleasure is all mine. I'm really glad to finally meet you." stella replied.
"I have to admit, I wasn't expecting this from you, Lincoln ." James stated. "I mean, a penguin?"
"James!" Rosanne scolded her husband.
"Dad!" Lincoln exclaimed, seeing stella worried expression.
"I don't mean it in a bad way. I mean, I know our kind has history of going after other species, but... none of them have ever gone after a flightless bird." James explained.
"Does... that mean you don't approve of me?" stella voice quivered. "But... I thought-"
Oh no, dear! That's not what he's saying!" Rosanne exclaimed. "We approve, 100%. What he meant, was our species has history of going after other bird species, but they are normally other flying birds, like cardigans, blue birds, finches and other similar birds."
"That's right. What I was saying, is that Lincoln just became the first blue-jay to choose a partner that's the complete opposite of him." James explained. "I do approve of you, stella . I'm sorry if I made you feel like I didn't, even though I already said I did. My fault for the confusion."
"Thank you. It means a lot to me to get the approval of Lincoln 's family." stella smiled at them.
"Well I don't approve!"summer exclaimed, causing everyone to look to her.
"summer ?" Lincoln asked, giving his sister a confused and hurt look.
summer said nothing else and flew off.
summer , wait!" Lincoln called out to her, but she had already disappeared into the island's shrubbery. "Wow, she's gotten faster. His other sister's said they approved of her
"She's been practicing. But, I don't understand why she would say that." Rosanne stated sadly.
stella frowned. "Maybe she just doesn't like me." she sadly stated.
"I don't think that's the reason, stella dear. But we won't know unless we find her and ask her." Rosanne told stella . "James, Lincoln , we better go find her."
James and Lincoln agreed. Lincoln then turned to the others and asked them to look after his sisters they said they will
"Are you sure, Lincoln ?" Rod asked. "You'll have a better chance if we were all looking."
"I'm sure. I'll meet up with you guys later." Lincoln replied as he flew a littleabove his friends with his parents.
"Ok, if you insist." Brody added.
"Lincoln , wait!" stella called to get his attention. "I'm going to help look for her, too!"
Lincoln parents' eyes widened at this, but said nothing as Lincoln slowly descended towards the penguin.
"I know I'm the reason she flew off, and I know you're worried of what might happen between us if I find her. But I can handle myself." stella continued as Lincoln landed in front of her with a gentle smile.
"I know you can, stella . That's why I'm not stopping you." Lincoln told her. "I know when you set your mind on something, there's no stopping you. Also, you've got a very keen eye when it comes to finding things. I hope if you do find her, that she'll be willing to listen to you."
"I hope so, too. Thanks, Lincoln ." stella replied.
Lincoln gave a soft chuckle before placing a kiss on her forehead. "Be careful, ok?"
"Of course!" stella happily replied.
Lincoln flew over to his parents, then looked down at his friends.
"Brody and I are heading over to the Lemon Shack now. If we happen to see her, we'll let you guys know." Rod told them as he and Brody,sunset,ruby sat in the Road Wing.
"Thanks, guys." Lincoln thanked them. "Ok. Mom, dad, stella ; let's go!"
Lincoln and his parents took off in the direction sunset,ruby and summer went; stella slid down the path leading to the nearest river; and Rod and Brody went in the direction of the Lemon Shack.
With Lincoln and his parents
"I don't understand why summer would say that. I thought she'd be happy for me." Lincoln said sadly while looking around to find his sister, while he and his parents flew just below the trees.
James and Rosanne looked worriedly at each other, then to their son.
"You really do love her, don't you, son?" James asked.
"stella ?" Lincoln asked, looking up at his parents, who nodded in response. Lincoln sighed. "Yea... I do. And... sometimes, I feel like I'm a little too much in love with her."
"We can tell." James stated.
Lincoln tilted his head in confusion at his parents.
"We saw the necklace and bracelet she's wearing, honey. It looks like your work, but it looks like you really went out of your way to make them for her." Rosanne explained.
"Oh... those." Lincoln blushed, looking down, away from his parents. "They're... they're my courting gifts."
James and Rosanne's eyes widened. That just confirmed everything.
"Say no more, Lincoln honey. We understand." Rosanne told her son.
"Absolutely, son." James added. "Now, let's find your sister."
"Right. We should split up. We'll cover more ground that way." Lincoln suggested.
James and Rosanne agreed. They went in one direction while Lincoln went another.
With Lincoln 's Parents
"I've never seen Lincoln so torn. You can see his feelings toward stella are very strong." Rosanne said.
"And his sister, who he also loves dearly, just disapproved of her." James added.
"If he feels this way because his sister doesn't approve, imagine if we didn't. He would have been in absolute distress." Rosanne worriedly stated
James sighed. "Let's find sunset,ruby and summer so she can clear this up." he said, as they continued their search.
With stella
"Now... if I was a flying bird, where would I hide?" stella asked herself as she swam through the river while looking along the river banks. "Hmm... I'd probably hide somewhere where I can blend with the environment."
stella thought for quite a while of where the young blue-jay could of gone. Her eyes widened when she thought of a place, then giggled at the possibility that she was actually there.
"It's worth having a look." stella said, swimming more through the river till she got to the area with the path she needed to take. She jumped out of the water and followed the path.
When stella got to her destination, she was surprised at what she saw. Sure enough, she found the young blue-jay sitting in the flower patch of yellow daisies. She had one of the flowers in her hand, twirling it around while staring at it absentmindedly.
"I can't believe I actually found her here." stella thought.
She slowly approached the young blue jay and called out to her with caution.
"Um... hi, summer ." stella greeted to alert sunset,ruby and summer of her presence.
summer eyes widened as her head shot up from looking down at the flower she was holding. She turned around and saw the penguin her brother was fond of, standing at the edge of the flower patch with a smile on her face.
"Y-you... h-how'd you find me?" summer asked.
"A lucky guess." stella beamed.
summer frowned and turned away from stella . She continued to twirl and stare at the flower in her hand.
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence between them, until summer spoke up.
"I know my family's looking for me. I just... needed some time to think." She stated.
"About what? If you don't mind me asking." stella asked.
summer sighed. "About you and my brother."
stella wasn't surprised that was the reason.
"I know he cares strongly about you." summer turned to face stella , who had kept her distance from her. "The necklace and bracelet you're wearing... he made them for you, didn't he?" she asked.
"Yea... he did." stella replied with a smile. Looking down, she held the pendant of the necklace to look at it. She looked back toward summer who was looking back at her thoughtfully.
summer got up from the flower patch and approached stella . They were almost the same height. stella was taller by about an inch or two. summer stared at the necklace stella was wearing observantly. She then let out a defeated sigh when she was done.
"He really does love you... probably more than you know." summer told stella . stella tilted her head in slight confusion. "He only makes these for the important girls in his life. He's made a necklace for our mother and grandmother, and he's made me a bracelet." she showed stella the bracelet with a summer ice cream pendant on it, as she continued. "But, he gave you both. And when I look at them, I can tell he poured his heart and soul into making them for you.
"He... he did?" stella asked, looking at her necklace and bracelet. "I know he made them, but... to know that he put his heart and soul into making them for me..." stella trailed off, then thought. "I can't help but wonder."
summer nodded. "I'm sorry about the way I reacted." she started to apologize, causing stella to look back at her. "You probably think that I don't like you, but... that's not it. I just... I just wasn't ready to let go of my brother to someone else. We're really close, and... I guess I'm a bit attached. He's done so much for me. Always looking out for me, helping me when I needed it, making me feel better when I was sad or hurt and he even told me that if I ever had a nightmare to come to him and he would sing a song to me that went like this I will always be there to protect you I will always be there to lend you a had I will always help you when you need help I will Always be There In case you get scared I will Never Leave your side until you get better I will never leave you alone And if you have Nightmares I Will Always be there to hug you And if you need advice about boys I'll be there to Help And if that boy breaks your heart I will be there to teach him a lesson And if you need somebody to hug When times Are Tough I will always be there so that you have someone And if anyone be mean to you I will beat them Up And if anyone Humiliates you I will teach them A lesson and he always said I was his favorite and only flower. And... I guess the thought of not being his favorite and only flower anymore... made me react the way I did. That was selfish of me, and I'm sorry, stella ."
"I see." stella stated. She then smiled at the younger blue-jay. "I accept your apology, summer . But... I can assure you, you are still his favorite and only flower."
"But... he has you now. The one he fell in love with. That would make you his new favorite flower." summer said, tilting her head in confusion.
stella giggled. "That's true, but Lincoln has never once called me a flower. He calls me 'his penguin' or 'his super slick penguin'. And I call him 'my blue-jay' or 'my cool high flying blue-jay'. So, I think he only has that saved for you."
summer continued to stare at stella , unsure what to say.
"If you don't believe me, you can ask him. I'll give him a call to let him know I found you, and where we are. Is that ok?" stella stated.
summer nodded.
stella called Lincoln . He was relieved and happy when she told him she found summer . She told him where they were. He found his parents and the three made their way to stella and summer location.
"Your family's on their way. Anything you want to do while we wait?" stella asked.
"Umm... do you mind if I made you an apology welcome flower crown?" summer asked as she began to pick some of the daisies by the stem.
"I don't mind. But... what do you mean 'apology welcome'?" stella replied.
"It's my apology and welcome to the family gif." summer replied as she began to put the flowers together to make the crown.
"Oh. Ok." stella replied. She sat in front of summer and watched as she made the flower crown. In almost no time, she was done. "Wow. That was fast."
summer giggled and placed the flower crown on stella head.
"How do I look?" stella asked.
summer giggled. "Like the penguin my brother fell for."
stella giggled as well.
summer !"
Both summer and stella looked up at who had called the young blue-jay. It was her mother, along with her father and brother.
"Hi mom, dad... big brother." summer shamefully greeted her family, looking at the ground to avoid eye contact, especially with her brother.
"We were worried about you, sweetheart." James stated. I know... and... I'm sorry," summer slowly looked up at her family. "Especially to you, big brother. I'm really sorry for the way I acted. I just..." she explained to her family the reason for her behavior.
"Oh, summer ... No-one can ever take your place." Lincoln said, as he stood in front of his sister. "Yes, stella is special to me, but so are you. She's the one I fell in love with, but you're my sister. We have a bond that can't be broken. Even when we find our significant other and have our own family one day, you'll always be my favorite and only flower." he told her.
summer eyes began to tear up when Lincoln said that, before she jumped at him to hug him. Lincoln caught her and hugged her back.
"I love you too, big brother. But..." summer said, ending the hug and looked up at Lincoln . "If you ever have kids, wouldn't they become your new favorite flowers?" she asked.
stella and Lincoln blushed when she said that, while Rosanne and James giggled and chuckled.
"Let's not think that far ahead, ok sis?" Lincoln stated.
"Ok!" summer happily exclaimed.
"See, summer . I told you." stella told her.
summer smiled and nodded toward stella .
"I'm glad you two are getting along." Lincoln stated.
"So am I." stella replied. "By the way, Lincoln ; can I talk to you for a moment? Alone?"
"Um... ok. Sure." Lincoln replied, a bit curious of what she wanted to talk about.
They walked a short distance from Lincoln 's family, where they were sure they couldn't be heard, but could still be seen.
"What is it, stella ?" Lincoln asked, when they stopped and stella had turned to face him.
stella let out a heavy sigh. "Lincoln ," she began. "While your sister and I were getting to know each other, she told me something that got me thinking." she said, as she looked down and gently took hold of the pendant of her necklace.
Lincoln saw this, and got a little worried and curious of what his sister could have told her.
"She told me, that you only make one of these..." gestures to the necklace and bracelet. "...for the important girls in your life. But... mine's different. She told me, not only did you make both a necklace and a bracelet for me, but that you poured your heart and soul into making them." stella told him, then slowly looked up at him. "I know you tell me everyday that you love me, but... do I really mean that much to you, for you to go to such lengths to make them for me? What if... w-what if I d-didn't return your feelings? What would you have done with them?" she asked.
Lincoln was a little taken aback by what stella just said, but he understood what she was saying.
"Hmm... I understand what you're thinking stella . Yes, you do mean that much to me and more. It took me quite some time to understand the strange feelings I started having for you. When I finally understood and accepted how I really felt about you, it took me almost just as long to figure out how I was going to confess. That's what led me to do research on the penguin courting ritual, which caused me to make my gifts sooner. I... I did consider the possibility of you not returning my feelings. Although I would have been heartbroken, I'd still give you one of them as a birthday gift. Because you're my best friend, which makes you an important girl in my life." Lincoln explained.
"But, you don't need to worry about that. You returned my feelings," he gently cupped her cheek with his hand, "and have made me the happiest blue-jay I've ever been."
stella eyes began to tear up. "Oh! You!" she pounced on him, tackling him to the ground. "You sweet talker." she smiled as she sat on his belly.
"Hey, I was just being honest." Lincoln defended himself as he tried to sit up, which caused stella to now sit on his legs.
"I know." stella smiled, and booped his beak, earning her a confused look from him.
stella giggled. "You're so cute when you're confused."
"Oh ho. Why you slick little..." Lincoln was ready to get back at her.
stella squealed as she tried to get away, but she only had time to turn around before he caught her by wrapping his wings around her waist.
"Gotcha!" he exclaimed, as he pulled her back towards him, causing her back to rest on his chest. They both gave a happy laugh before nuzzling each other.the other cadets brought his other 2 sisters to them
With Lincoln 's family and rode and brody
Rosanne smiled at the sight of the two. "I think weve seen enough, wouldn't you agree, dear?" she asked her husband.
James chuckled. "Indeed." he agreed
"Does this mean we're leaving? Already?" sunset,ruby and summer asked.
"We've been here longer than we should, sunset,ruby and summer . And we need to get home before it gets dark." James told them
They asked if they could stay with Lincoln for a little while and he could bring us back home wene he has had enough of us their parents said if he wants you to stay you can
"...Ok..." sunset,ruby and summer reluctantly agreed.
The five birds flew over to the young couple.
"Lincoln ?" Rosanne called to get their attention.
Lincoln and stella stopped their nuzzling and looked up just as the three birds landed in front of them.
"Oh! Mom, dad, sunset,ruby and summer . Sorry we left you guys there." Lincoln apologized. He let go of stella and they both got up.
"It's alright, son. Your mother and I both know what you two are going through." James replied with a wink.
Lincoln and stella blushed
He said I'm just happy to have been able to see you all again. And being able to introduce you to stella ." Lincoln replied.
"And what a pleasure it was! And we know you are both very happy to be together. We did just see it for ourselves." Rosanne teased. "You'll take good care of my son, won't you stella ?"
"Of course!" stella happily exclaimed
"Wonderful! And Lincoln , I know you'll take good care of her as well." Rosanne stated.
"Absolutely!" Lincoln replied.
"Good to hear. Well, we best be off." James said.
". "Don't take too long to visit. And make sure you bring stella with you."
Lincoln chuckled. "Sure thing,
"Bye! Fly home safely!" stella called out while waving at them.
"Let me know when you get home!" Lincoln called out to them.
"Will do! Bye son!" James called out in response
Once his family were almost out of sight, Lincoln turned to stella .
"So, stella ? What did you think about my family?" he asked.
stella giggled. "Well... despite the little hiccup with your sister, I'm happy they accepted me.Lincoln chuckled. "Told you. So now we have the approval of both our families, we have nothing to worry about. So we can just keep moving forward with our relationship
2 weeks later Lincoln and stella were laying on the ground writing poems wene Lincoln felt 3 little weights on his back he looked back at them and he said ruby,sunset and summer he got up and hugged them and said did you guys come here alone then he heard this you know we would never let them come alone he looked up and saw his parent's he said that he was happy to see them they asked if he could watch his sisters for a few weeks and he said yes they asked how is this you are with he said that he would tell them at the Lemon Shack he took stella put her on his back and started to go up but one of his sisters grabbed his large he asked if she could fly yet and she said no he asked his younger sister if she could fly but she said no so he took them told them to put their arms around his neck he called the other cadets and told them to meet him and stella at the Lemon Shake they said ok one sister on one side of him and the other one on the other side he had some trouble getting off the ground but he made it work they were all most at the Lemon Shake when he saw rod and brody they saw him carrying two blue Jays and stella he landed he said I would like you to meet my family this is sunset and ruby they said nice to meet you and they are may sister summer and my mom connie and my dad Steven they all said nice to meet you then Lincoln said now that we are all here I have something for stella that I have been working on for a long time he got on one knee and asked Ronda to play a romantic song than he took stella by the hands asked her to be his girlfriend and she said yes I was waiting for you to ask me everyone said how cute it was he said drinks are on my everyone got Lemon smoothies he saw speedy and Bea coming down the trail and he said he would need two more Lemon smoothies he gave them the Lemon smoothies then he said I well have some little guests staying with me for a few weeks speed said ok They went back to headquarters he ordered 2 kelp-icer smoothies and gave one to stella his sister's asked him what it was he said it is a kelp-icer smoothie with energy drink in it they asked if they could try it he said yes just a sip they loved it they went back to headquarters and he introduced them to speedy and Bea he asked if he could use the verarolrealaty room with mates on the floor to teach this to how to fly speedy said yes he could then he went and got his bed then went to the verarolrealaty room with it he started to teach them to fly they were done for the day it was late his sister's fell a sleep he took them and the bed back to the room once there he saw that stella and summer were sleeping so he put them to sleep kissed them good night left them a note that said that he went to get their stuff and that he would be back in two hours he kissed stella that woke her up he said that he would be back in two hours and then he left he got to his hometown got the stuff and went to the store and got some energy drinks and then he went back to headquarters he was on his 2 energy drink and he saw stella she said that his younger sisters just started to cry I tried to get them to stop but I couldn't so I went to see if you were back he went to the room and saw that the other cadets were trying to get them to stop crying then he went to them held them and started to sing a special song to them that went like this
It's holiday time
The most special of seasons
So come gather round
To remember the reason
It's not all the gifts
The food or decorations
But the Spirit of Love
That marks this celebration
So come walk with me
Sing along and you'll see
On this holiday
Let love light the way
You need nothing more
Than those you adore
On this holiday
Let love light the way
We all have our ways
Of observing this evening
Yet each of us shares
Something we all believe in
What makes this one night
Out shine all of the others
Is sharing our joy with our sisters and brothers
So come sing with me
All together we'll be
On this holiday
Let love light the way
And down every street
Are new friends we can meet
On this holiday
Let love light our way
Every December
As we honor all our traditions
It's nice to remember
That it's not a big competition
So let love be your mission
The night outshines all the others
With our sisters and our brothers
So come walk with me Sing along and you'll see
On this holiday
Let love light the way
As we stand around the tree
All together we'll be
On this holiday
Let love light the way
You need nothing more than those you adore
On this holiday
Let love
Let love
Let love
Let love
Let love light the way
that stopped them from crying the other cadets said how did you do that well i'm the only one In my family that could get them to stop crying for a few weeks now I have to go meat Bea for our sunrise run he left he got to the hanger he meat Bea there she said she tried to get them to stop crying but couldn't he said he sang them a song she said that is way they stopped crying she asked him were he went he said that he went to get them some clothes from home they went on the run on the way back he stopped at the Lemon Shack and got 9 Lemon smoothies 6 with energy drink in them and 3 without they went back to headquarters and they went to the control room and found everyone was their he gave them their smoothies and said something to say thanks for dealing with the crying last night then he went to their room and he gave stella her smoothie and said thanks for dealing with the crying last night then he gave his sister's their smoothies then they asked him were he went last night he said that he went to get them some clothes from the house they said thank you he got a call from an old friend he said that are in the hospital and are asking for you and your sisters he said he would be there in 2 hours stella and him were the only ones up he asked her to come with him and his sisters to the hospital she said she would he picked up to of his sisters and stella took the other one he left a note with brody that told them were he was going they left and 2 hours later landed in the parking lot of the hospital his sister's were awake and he said they had to wait outside of the room well he talked to his parents they did they asked if he could adopt his sister's he said I would have to talk to speedy about that her let me call him he should be up by now it is day time their he called speedy and asked him he said yes you can he hung up the phone and his sister came in his parents told them that they might not make it so Lincoln said he would adopt you so you are going to stay with him they said ok then the machine started to beep so they had to wait in the waiting room they did then Lincoln saw the doc he said they did not make it his sisters started to cry he asked if he could try something that allows worked on other people the doc said yes he rubbed his hands together it did not work so he took his sisters to the house to get there things then they went to the HQ the next day they arrived at HQ speedy asked did they make it Lincoln said no now if you do not mind I have some calls to make and a funeral to plan he went to the rooftop to be alone he called his uncle and asked him to spread the word that his parents were gon and that he was planning the funeral he said ok I well Lincoln said that the funeral was in 3 months he said ok then Lincoln went to the lemon Shack stella saw him live to go their she said she was going to check on Lincoln at the lemon Shack and she left
At the lemon Shack Lincoln sites at the bare and asked Ronda for a kelp icer smoothie with energy drink in it she said ok then he said he was going to be up for a week ahead asked way he said that his mom and dad he was planning the funeral she said she was sorry to hear that he drank the smoothie and was about to leave when he saw stella coming down the road he asked Ronda for 2 more kelp icer smoothie and 2 kelp icers she said yes and got them he gave 1 of each to stella then they went back to HQ they got their he heard his sister's crying so he went to the sleeping room and went in and saw the others were trying to get them to stop crying he went up to them got his getar and played them this song
It's holiday time
The most special of seasons
So come gather round
To remember the reason
It's not all the gifts
The food or decorations
But the Spirit of Love
That marks this celebration
So come walk with me
Sing along and you'll see
On this holiday
Let love light the way
You need nothing more
Than those you adore
On this holiday
Let love light the way
We all have our ways
Of observing this evening
Yet each of us shares
Something we all believe in
What makes this one night
Out shine all of the others
Is sharing our joy with our sisters and brothers
So come sing with me
All together we'll be
On this holiday
Let love light the way
And down every street
Are new friends we can meet
On this holiday
Let love light our way
Every December
As we honor all our traditions
It's nice to remember
That it's not a big competition
So let love be your mission
The night outshines all the others
With our sisters and our brothers
So come walk with me Sing along and you'll see
On this holiday
Let love light the way
As we stand around the tree
All together we'll be
On this holiday
Let love light the way
You need nothing more than those you adore
On this holiday
Let love
Let love
Let love
Let love
Let love light the way
That got them to stop crying he told pinky if she needs him to tell brody to get him he went to the roof with his sleeping bag stella asked if she could go with him and he said yes they went up to the roof speedy got a call from stella's mother she asked if she could speak with stella he said she left her watch here but I can transfer the call to Lincoln 's phone she said ok he did Lincoln answers the phone she asked if she could speak with stella he gave the phone to her she asked how Lincoln was she said you will find out when I come to see you I well ask speedy for time off but I have to bring his sisters she said ok she hangs up the phone stella went to the control room to ask speedy for some time off he said ok I well give you 4weeks off she said me and Lincoln and his sister's are going to my house they got in the flLincoln wing and went to stella's house it was night time when they got their heard crying So they went in and went to see what was going on her mom was sleeping they saw her and hugged her But they were still crying so Lincoln said let me try something that always worked on my sisters and he sang them this song It's holiday time
The most special of seasons
So come gather round
To remember the reason
It's not all the gifts
The food or decorations
But the Spirit of Love
That marks this celebration
So come walk with me
Sing along and you'll see
On this holiday
Let love light the way
You need nothing more
Than those you adore
On this holiday
Let love light the way
We all have our ways
Of observing this evening
Yet each of us shares
Something we all believe in
What makes this one night
Out shine all of the others
Is sharing our joy with our sisters and brothers
So come sing with me
All together we'll be
On this holiday
Let love light the way
And down every street
Are new friends we can meet
On this holiday
Let love light our way
Every December
As we honor all our traditions
It's nice to remember
That it's not a big competition
So let love be your mission
The night outshines all the others
With our sisters and our brothers
So come walk with me Sing along and you'll see
On this holiday
Let love light the way
As we stand around the tree
All together we'll be
On this holiday
Let love light the way
You need nothing more than those you adore
On this holiday
Let love
Let love
Let love
Let love
Let love light the way
That stopped them from crying stella asked if they wanted to sleep with her They said yes so they all went out to the jet to sleep In the morning stella's mom went to wake them up but sir they were not and bed So she went looking for them and saw the jet she were up to the jet and saw that stella Lincoln and Lincoln sisters and stella sisters were all sleeping in the jet They woke up and went into the house and stella introduced him as her boyfriend He said nice to meet you but I have To go and plan my parents funeral stella's mom asked is there anything I can do to help he sorry yeah can you take care of my sisters for me while I go plan the funeral and she said yes I can take care of your sisters for a few hours for you then he went out to his jet and got some pen and paper and stared at your writing down stuff to say at the funeral stella went with him and got one of his famous drinks then went to back into her house her mom asked what it was she was drunk and she said it was something called iced coffee with energy drink in it she said can I try it and she said yes She loved it Lincoln wrote down a song to sing at the funeral Then he went inside and met stella's father she in turn to host him as her boyfriends and He said nice to meet you stella's father asked her what gift did he give you she said nothing yet but he has something he has been working on for me for a while Lincoln left to go get anu Then they went back to her house she saw stella playing in the snow and ran and hugged her It was the next day and it was stella's birthday Lincoln gave her the necklace and bracelet that he made himself Her parents asked were he got them and he said he made them himself because he really your loves stella and wanted to give her the best courting gift he could He said he also has something else for her and her sisters and anu He went out to the jet and got their cellphones and gave one to each of them and said know you guys can get ahold of stella anytime you want instead of Calling speedy you can call this number and gave her parents her number than stella and her sisters and anu hugged
Harper was now ateenager, thirteen years old. For his birthday he decided to go on another ski trip with his family and friends. He was determined to start his teen years with less cowardice, and figured that a good place to start would be to practice skiing.
They went to the same place they did before, the mountain resort. It was fun at first, they all went skiing played their Five Corners game, had a snowball fight, and various other activities. Well except for Angelica obviously, she stuck with the spa and other related recreations. This went on for a few days. About two days before it was time to leave, the gang got a new idea.
"How about tonight we go outside and observe nocturnal animals?" stella suggested.
"Sure, if it's okay with our parents." mallow agreed.
"Count me in. You want to come to Harper ?" Lincoln said.
"Well normally I'd refuse but I am trying to be braver so sure." Harper said, a little nervous but willing to join his friends. "I mean the dark can't hurt you."
"Right, and we'll take anyway so it should be fun." stellasmiled.
"I'm game." Sarah nodded.
They went to their parents, who were all relaxing in the resort's dining area. Angelica and Susie were there too, along with bonnie . He wasn't at home sick because technically they were out on a birthday celebration, not a vacation.
"Mom, is it okay if we go out to observe nocturnal animals?" Lincoln asked. "We'll bring ."
"Well...I don't know, even with you could get lost." Didi hesitated. "And there are coyotes and other predators out there..."
"Come on Deed our pups know how to take care of themselves." Betty said.
"How about Susie joins them? That is, if she wants to go." Lucy, Susie's mom, suggested.
"Sure, sounds like fun." Susie smiled.
"Well, okay then." Didi agreed.
"Great, come on!" stella said excitedly, leaving the room.
Susie and the other Rugrats followed. They all went to their rooms to grab , bundled up in jackets, mittens/gloves, and hats, and headed outside.
It was a lot of fun, even though they didn't see many nocturnal animals. Most of them were scared off either by the glow of the or by hearing them coming. However, they were able to spot some owls, raccoons, and a colony of bats. They continued for another hour, but then Sarah shivered.
"*Whew, it's getting really cold out." He put his arms around himself to warm up.
"No kidding, we are at a ski resort." mallow smirked.
"Still, Sarah has a point. We should head back before our moms start panicking about us catching pneumonia." Lincoln jokes.
The others chuckled and started to head back, when Harper stopped.
"Did you guys hear that?" He asked.
The others stopped.
"Hear what?" Susie asked.
"I thought I heard something move over there." Harper pointed diagonally behind them.
"It was probably just another nocturnal animal." stella shrugged.
But then, they all saw a dark figure starting to walk towards them.
"Looks more like a person to me." mallow said. "Maybe it's a traveler who got lost and needs a warm place to stay."
Just then, the dark figure picked up a really heavy branch and stepped into the moonlight. Susie and the Rugrats gasped, this guy was wide-eyed and had a crazy frown on his face! He also had messy hair and torn clothing.
"Kids..." He said in an abnormal voice. "I HATE KIDS!"
He charged at them with the heavy branch over his head like it was a club!
"That's no lost traveler that's a lunatic!" Susie gasped.
"Run!" Lincoln ordered.
They all started to run back towards the resort, the lunatic following them and shouting random bad things about kids.
"For your information the two of us are teenagers!" Harper called back, pointing at himself and at Susie.
The lunatic showed no sign of hearing Harper .
"I don't think he has enough sense left to understand that." Sarah muttered.
Meanwhile, back at the resort Angelica and the adults were now in the lounge drinking hot cocoa. Bonnie was already in bed. The radio was playing classical music, the kind that wasn't too energetic yet also didn't put you to sleep right away. Suddenly, the music stopped.
"We interrupt this program to bring you an urgent message." The voice on the radio said. "A kid-hating lunatic has escaped from NutBox Asylum. He was last seen near Holm Oak Mountain. Parents please keep their kids locked inside at night. If you see a crazy looking guy call the authorities right away."
"Holm Oak Mountain!" Chaz gasped. "That's where we are!"
"THE KIDS!" All the adults cried out before rushing outside; Angelica followed.
Susie, and the Rugrats had a great head-start, and it looked as if they were going to make it back to the resort in time. Unfortunately, stella suddenly tripped! Her cry of pain alerted the others.
"Kimi!" Harper gasped.
The lunatic stopped and raised his branch at Kimi! Harper tried to run to stella's rescue, but Lincoln beat him to it...by actually pouncing on the lunatic with an angry cry! and a gun in his hand and said you are under arrest Harper stopped and he, Susie, sarah , and mallow stared, beyond shocked. Lincoln was actually fighting the lunatic, trying to take his branch away! They had never seen Lincoln act like that before.he ssid Harper get stella out of here
Around the same time, the adults reached where Susie and the Rugrats were. They saw Lincoln fighting for stella safety, and also stared at the scene. Chaz, Kira, and Harper then went over to stella and helped her up.
"Are you okay stella?" Kira asked.
"I believe so, except I think I sprained my ankle." stella said, resting her injured leg by only standing on the toes part.
For a moment, it looked as if Lincoln was going to win, but then the lunatic tossed Lincoln off! Lincoln hit his head on a rock and fell to the ground unconscious! Susie, Angelica, the adults, and the other Rugrats gasped! The lunatic was now going to hit Lincoln with the branch! But then, stella suddenly rushed towards Lincoln and the lunatic and knocked him out with a different branch that she picked up nearby! stella then collapsed to the ground; she was so determined to save Lincoln that she temporarily forgot about her ankle.
Everyone rushed to them. Didi and Stu picked up Lincoln and carried him towards the resort. Chaz and Kira supported stella so that she could get medical treatment at the resort too. Harper followed them. Lucy, Randall, Howard, and Drew walked Sarah , Mallow , Angelica, and Susie back while Charlotte called the authorities on her cellphone. Betty stayed, holding the two branches in her hand just in case the lunatic might wake up. He didn't, he stayed knocked out until the authorities arrived. They put the lunatic in a straightjacket and transported him back to the Asylum. Charlotte and Betty then headed back to the resort.
Lincoln didn't have that bad a bump, so he was just put into his bed with an ice pack on his head. stella had to get her ankle put in a slight cast. Other than that, there were no casualties
The next day, Lincoln continued sleeping for most of the day. Stu, Didi, Harper and Bonnie took turns spoon-feeding Lincoln broth so that he could keep his strength up.
stella rested on her bed, and at one point mallow and Susie came in to check on her.
"Are you feeling any better?" Susie asked.
"A little, except I'm so worried about Lincoln." stellasaid, putting down the magazine she was reading.
"Oh I'm sure he's fine, the doctor who bandaged you did say that Lincoln should be awake sometime today." mallow said comfortingly.
"Even so...girls, I have to tell you the truth."
"What is it?" Susie asked.
"I...I'm still in love with Lincoln. I lied when I said that I liked him for 'a second'. Actually, I've been in love with him all this time, but never admitted it for fear that it would harm our friendship. And then when Harper reacted like that back when you all found out that I carved those initials on the basement wall..."
"I had a feeling you still had feelings for him." mallow smirked. "No one has a crush for just 'a second'."
"Wait what?" Susie said, confused.
stella and Mallow told her the story of the TP and KF incident. stella then added that she had mostly 'forgotten' about her feelings for Lincoln on purpose back when she first fell in love with him, but the TP and KF incident 'reminded' her.
"Girl this is great! You should tell Lincoln the first chance you get!" Susie smiled.
"But what about Harper ?" stella pointed out.
"Don't worry, I'll keep him occupied and convince him that it's a good thing." Mallow smiled. "I did have a slight feeling that you two would make a great couple."
"Thanks mallow ." stellasmiled.
Later in the afternoon, Lincoln woke up with a slight headache. Harper , who was taking his turn to give Lincoln broth, found out first.
"Hey Lincoln, how are you feeling?" He asked, pulling up a chair to the bed.
"I've felt better." Lincoln chuckled. "How's stella"
"stellafine, except for a sprained ankle and worrying about you. Of course she would be worse off if she hadn't saved you after you got knocked out. Everyone else is worried too actually. Do you want me to get them?"
"Not yet, I need to talk to you first."
"What is it?" Harper asked.
"You're probably wondering why I attacked that lunatic like that last night."
"Well, I do have to admit it was unlike you." Harper agreed.
"It was-it was because of Kimi. Seeing her in danger like that...I just snapped." Lincoln admitted. "You see I...I love her."
Harper looked surprised, but not angry. Even so Lincoln quickly spoke up:
"But if you don't approve I'll back off, I remember how you freaked out during that TP and KF incident so..."
Harper raised a hand, smiling.
"No Lincoln, actually this is great." He said.
"Really?" Lincoln said, surprised.
"Yeah, listen during the TP and KF thing I overreacted big time. Instead of being jealous I should've been happy with the idea. I'm really sorry."
"It's okay, at least it worked out in the end. Wait a minute, 'happy of the idea'?"
"Yeah, you see if any guy is going to end up with stella it should be you. You're the best guy for her. Plus, I wouldn't mind having you for a brother-in-law." Harper grinned.
Lincoln, annoyed and amused, took the extra pillow off his bed and flung it at Harper .
"Hey watch the glasses!" Harper laughed.
"Well watch what you say, come on Chuck we're not even in high school yet." Lincoln chuckled back.
"Still, the way we've gotten along together...remember back when we believed Angelica's ridiculous story about family trees and thought that we came from the same tree?" Harper chuckled.
"Yeah, though it was understandable that we believed her. We still had a lot to learn about expressions and such back then."
"True." Harper nodded. "So, anyway, you should tell stella your feelings when you're ready. I think she might've lied back when she said that she only liked you for 'a second'...I've learned that if she says things whenever she's annoyed or angry she usually doesn't mean them."
"Okay, when I'm feeling better and the two of us are alone I'll tell her. You can bring everyone else in now."
Harper did. Stu, Didi, Bonnie , and stella were very relieved to see him awake. So were the others, but not as much comparatively speaking.
"Bro it was awesome how you saved stella, you must've been like an action hero!" bonnie smiled.
"Nah, just a good friend who didn't want to see her hurt." Lincoln chuckled.
"We are proud of you for saving stella but please be more careful next time." Didi added.
"Come on Deed, Lincoln did a selfless thing back there let's not scold him for it." Stu said.
"Stu is right, Kira and I really owe you for saving stellalife." Chaz agreed.
"Same here." stellasaid.
"You? Nah, Harper told me you saved me after I got knocked out. We're even." Lincoln smiled.
The others expressed their praise for Lincoln's actions. They hung out with Lincoln for a while, talking about what to do next. They first decided to stay until Lincoln was better. However, Angelica then mentioned about a dance that she wanted to participate in. Even though it was taking place about a couple of days later everyone agreed.
The next day, stella went outside for a breath of fresh air. She couldn't go far due to her ankle still being sprained, so she just hobbled over to the walkway on the first story of the resort. She leaned on a balcony and gazed at the view. Lincoln was now well enough to go outside too, so he went out onto the walkway and saw stellathere. He gazed at her for a moment, then went over to her.
"Hi." He smiled.
"Hi." stella smiled back.
They enjoyed the scenery for a while, both of them working up the courage to admit their feelings.
Meanwhile, Harper was inside when he saw Lincoln and stella through a window. Mallow , Sarah , Bonnie , Angelica, and Susie saw Harper seeing Lincoln and Kimi. Mallow and Susie immediately went over to him.
"Now Harper I know that you were against Lincoln and stella ending up together before but..." Mallow began.
"Relax guys, I'm a supporter now. I was being stupid last time." Harper smiled.
Angelica and Bonnie hadn't heard of the TP and KF incident, so they were confused. Everyone else told them the story, and then Mallow told them that stellastill loved Lincoln. Harper added that Lincoln had feelings for stella and was glad that stella returned them. They all then watched the window.
Lincoln and stella finally got the courage to admit their feelings...at the same time.
"There's something I have to tell you." They both said together.
They then looked at each other, stunned, and burst out laughing.
"Wha-what did you want to tell me?" Lincoln gasped, still trying to stop laughing.
"You go first." stella was still laughing a little.
"Nah, ladies first."
"But a gentleman can go before a lady if the lady allows it." stella retorted.
"Okay fine, if you want to be like that." Lincoln pretended to be insulted.
"Hey you started it." stella retorted good-naturedly.
"Actually we both did." Lincoln corrected her.
"Oh yeah."
They laughed again, though not as hard as before, and took a few moments to calm down.
"Okay, how about you go first this time and I'll go first next time?" Lincoln suggested. "We'll do it alphabetically."
"Works for me." stellasmiled; then she became serious. "Lincoln, back during the TP and KF incident...when I said that I liked you for only 'a second' I lied."
"You did?" Lincoln was surprised; then he remembered what Harper believed about that moment and stopped being surprised.
"Yes, actually I loved you three years ago, I continued loving you...and I still love you." stella admitted.
Lincoln smiled.
"I love you too." He said.
stella smiled back.
"Really?" She said.
"Yeah, after that incident, when we all went out Trick-or-Treating together, I realized that I had developed feelings for you." Lincoln explained. "But I was still dating Rachel at the time, so I decided to 'forget' about my feelings for you and stick with being friends. Ended up working better than I thought, I completely forgot about my feelings for real until I saw you in danger. Seeing the lunatic about to seriously harm you...I snapped. During my fight with him I started questioning my actions, and that's when I remembered my love for you. I realized that I'd rather be dead then see you hurt. If you had gotten seriously hurt it would've broken my heart."
stellagazed at him, she was so touched that tears started to form in her eyes. Lincoln noticed.
"Hey, you okay?" He asked, a little concerned.
"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine." stella wiped her eyes. "It's just that...that was beautiful. Truthfully I felt the same way when I saw you knocked out, I even forgot about the pain in my ankle until the lunatic collapsed onto the ground unconscious."
Lincoln was now really touched, and had to wipe his eyes. Then he looked like he had just thought of something
"You know, I think my feelings for you was why I wasn't hurt when Rachel moved away." Lincoln realized. "I subconsciously must've thought that I finally had a chance with you. But then when she dumped me for real, it was mostly her words and not her dumping me in general that really hurt me."
"Yeah...sorry about the misunderstanding." stellasaid. "I really did feel bad when you were hurt for real."
"It's okay, and I am sorry for hurting you and our other friends when I lied beforehand." Lincoln said.
"It's cool."
They hugged. They continued hugging for a while, enjoying each other's warmth. They then gazed at each other...and kissed. Lincoln was overwhelmed, this was more powerful than any kiss he had gotten from Rachel. He then realized that stellawas the one, the one he would be spending the rest of his life with. stella realized it too after she got used to the power of Lincoln's love.
Inside the resort, Harper and most of the others pumped fists or high-fived with quiet cheers. Angelica was indifferent, mostly because she was jealous that Lincoln had two girlfriends before she could have even one boyfriend. Bonnie didn't join in the cheers, but he did smile proudly.
"Way to go bro." He said.
Eventually the adults found out and they all supported the couple. Chaz was especially relieved, he was hoping stella would find somebody trustworthy and sincere. Even though her friend Z turned out to be a really great guy the whole thing did have an impact on Chaz... he said i have to go see your mother and ask her something he went and asked if she could make a kimono for him for the dance she said yes and did
The dance was an evening dance, combined with dinner. Everyone dressed in their best. Lincoln wore his kimono and sarah , Harper , and bonnie didn't wear tuxedos, it wasn't that formal, but they did wear their best shirts and pants. mallow , stella Susie, and Angelica of course dressed up. Angelica wore a pink gown, Susie wore a green one, and mallow wore blue. It was stellawho really stood out though, she wore a kimono with lotus flowers on it. She also had her mom style her hair in a simple Japanese bun. stella didn't wear the makeup though, she just stuck with her natural look.she saw Lincoln in a kimono and said is that what you asked my mother about he said yes
Everyone enjoyed the dance, but no one more than Lincoln and Kimi. Lincoln's breath was taken away by stella beauty, and they danced almost all the dances. Especially the slow ones.
Harper didn't dance that many dances, as he couldn't gain the courage to ask the girls there. That was the one thing he wanted to work on the most: his fear of girls. Then at the last dance...well, it was the slow dance. Lincoln and stella and the other couples there danced it of course, but poor Harper was off to the side. He hadn't felt this lonely since the mommy and kid dance during the reception of Lou and Lulu's wedding. He watched Lincoln and stella dance, happy for them but also really sad. However, he wasn't the only one not dancing. Sarah wasn't dancing either, but by his own choice. And then Mallow came up to Harper ...
"You okay?" mallow asked.
"Huh? Oh hi mallow ." Harper said, distracted. "Yeah I'm fine, I just want to join them in the dance, but I'm too scared to ask a girl to dance with me."
"What if a girl asked you to dance with her?" mallow suggested.
"Yeah, that'll be the day." Harper scoffed.
"Well there's a girl who's asking you right now." mallow smiled hintingly.
"Who...?" Harper turned to mallow . "Wait a minute, are you saying that you...? Is this a pity invitation?"
"No." Mallow shyly looked away. "It's a sincere invitation."
Harper was beyond stunned. Mallow understood why, and led Harper out onto the dance floor. Lincoln, stella and Sarah noticed and watched Harper and mallow with surprise. Mallow helped Harper find his rhythm, and they started to dance. Soon, Harper got used to it and found himself enjoying it. Then when he looked at mallow , it was like he was seeing something new.
"So...you like me?" Harper wanted to make sure.
"No...I love you." mallow admitted.
They had just danced passed Sarah when Mallow said that, so Sarah overheard. Sarah dropped his mouth open, but then closed it, smiled, and shook his head. Harper was surprised too, though he didn't recover as quickly as Sarah did. Lincoln and stella overheard too and smiled. They were glad that Harper finally found a girl who loved him, and they were amused that it ended up being a girl they had known for about twelve years. Heh, irony.
"Really?" Harper found his voice.
mallow nodded.
"I just...always found myself connected to you, but it wasn't until last year that I realized that I had fallen in love with you." She explained.
Harper smiled.
"Weird...I had always found myself kinda connected to you as well but never even thought of the idea of us becoming a couple. I guess it's because we're friends and all." Harper chuckled.
"Yeah." Mallow smiled. "Hey, remember the time Angelica 'married' us when we were babies?"
"Yeah, even though it has its downsides it was fun. I actually liked being married to you...even if it was just for the day." Harper smiled.
"Downsides?" Mallow frowned as if she was thinking. "Oh yeah, Angelica saying that we couldn't play with Lincoln and Sarah anymore. That definitely was the worst part of the whole thing."
"Yup, but fortunately we were able to get around that."
Harper and mallow continued talking, and Harper realized that he had fallen in love with mallow . Eventually, they kissed.
After the dance was over, the couples and Sarah walked back to their rooms.
"So sarah , you cool about me and mallow ?" Harper asked.
"Sure dude, I'm not like mallow who ruins a relationship just because she's jealous." Sarah smiled.
"Hey!" mallow protested. "Come on, I already apologized for that! Besides, that was months ago."
"Well if I ever get back together with Wally..." Sarah said.
"Don't worry, I'll let you two date without interfering." mallow cut in; then she froze. "Wait a minute..."
"Whoa, you still love Wally?" Lincoln said.
"Yeah, and I think she might still love me back, I'm not sure." Sarah smiled. "Wally and I only stuck with being friends so that we can be three friends instead of a couple and a sister."
Mallow hugged him.
"Ew, sister germs!" Sarah gently pushed her off.
mallow just laughed.
"What you did, with Wally, was really selfless." She said. "You know Sarah , you may be gross and immature, but you do have a good heart."
"mallow 's right, that was cool of you to put her feelings before your feelings for Wally." stellasmiled.
"Eh, what can I say." Sarah shrugged proudly. "If there's one subject I can make good decisions in, it's the subject of friendship."
Everyone else just smiled and continued walking to their rooms.
The next day they prepared to go home.
Time passed, and the two couples continued to date. Most of the time they double dated. It wasn't long before it became triple dating, because Sarah got back together with Wally.
"Hey Wally." He said to her one day before soccer practice.
"Hey sarah , it's been a while." Wally smiled. "Say, I've noticed that mallow and Harper are dating."
"Yup, same with Lincoln and Kimi." Sarah nodded.
"I hope that doesn't make you lonely." Wally said, a little concerned.
"Me? Nah." Sarah shook his head, smiling. "Actually I was thinking that we could get back together. mallow 's cool with it now and...I still love you."
Wally smiled.
"I still love you too." She said.
They hugged.
The first triple date was a blast, and at the end of it Sarah and Wally had their first kiss. mallow chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Sarah asked.
"Nothing's funny, that was just a happy laugh." mallow said. "You see any girl who can handle kissing a guy who likes gross things has to be the one for him. Meaning..."
Sarah and Wally blushed.
"You mean sarah and I might...?" Wally hesitated.
"Now obviously not, but in the future who knows?" Mallow shrugged, smiling. "I will tell you this: I would like to have Wally for a sister."
Sarah and Wally shyly looked at each other, still blushing, and smiled.
The three couples continued dating all the way into high school. It wasn't always triple dates, sometimes a couple wanted to go on a date alone or one or more of the group couldn't make it, but either way they all had fun.
Eventually they all graduated. Lincoln of course still wanted to become a director, but had trouble landing a job. Sarah became a scientist in the field of mold. Mallow continued soccer, but not as a player. She wanted to stay in town with the others so she became the new soccer coach for their old middle school. Harper joined the police force, as the only major talent he had ever shown was mystery solving. stella decided to become a stunt person, this way she could get in a lot of action without being away from Lincoln and her other friends too often. Angelica became a reporter for a fLincolnion magazine, while Susie obviously became a famous singer. After Bonnie graduated he became a marine biologist, specializing in dolphins.
One evening, Harper took Mallow to a park. They sat near some flowers (fortunately Harper 's sinuses had improved by that time). Harper then kneeled and took a ring out of his pocket.
"Mallow , ever since I was two I had hoped of finding the right girl. But it amazingly took me eleven years to realize that you were the right one the whole time." He said. "Now that I know that you are the right one, I don't ever want to lose you." He held the ring up. "mallow , will you marry me?"
"Yes, of course I will." Mallow smiled. "You know this time we're going to have a real wedding."
"Yeah...I hope I can memorize the vows. They seemed simpler back when we were babies..." Harper joked, putting the ring on mallow 's finger.
"You'll do fine." mallow chuckled. "Besides, we don't have to be that traditional, we can write our own vows."
"True, but I'd prefer the traditional ones since you don't have to worry about picking the wrong words." Harper smiled. "We can just say the 'have and hold' and all that and skip the 'I dos'."
"That's a good idea, we already said the 'I dos' when we were babies so saying them again would feel redundant." mallow agreed.
They had a grand wedding. Their parents split the cost and chores of the wedding. Howard handled the catering, while Betty booked the church, reception site, and a few other things that needed to be ordered (trust me, you do not want to get on her bad side). Mallow and Kira took care of what the decorations should look like, but let Harper and Chaz have second opinions on their choices. Harper and Chaz also took care of the invitations. For the honeymoon Harper and Mallow picked Florida, where they could relax on the beach but also have adventures in the swamps.
However, they were planning to have their honeymoon much later, since they wanted to be at their friends/families weddings. Actually, the group decided to take all their honeymoons at the same time, even if they were at different locations. That way they can share their adventures and photos online through e-mail and web videos instead of boring each other later at home with home movies. And also, that way no one would be home wishing they were on an adventure while the others were. After all, they had always shared their adventures before and even if they couldn't be together they weren't going to let that stop them now.
Lincoln and stella married next, since Lincoln wanted to get a job as a director first. Fortunately, after many tries he finally got a job at a studio where he could work his way up to head director. Everyone went out to celebrate, since they knew how frustrated Lincoln was about not finding a job before. They went to one of the fanciest restaurants in town, and had a lot of fun eating and talking. They then toasted Lincoln and his new job.
"May Lincoln become the most famous director ever!" Harper said, raising his glass
"Hear hear!" Everyone else chorused.
Lincoln then stood up.
"Thank you everyone, this is one of the best nights of my life." He said. "But it won't be the last, I hope."
He took a small box out of his pocket and turned to stella who was sitting on his left. He dragged his chair away so that he could kneel onto the ground.
"stella the years we've been together have been more wonderful than I ever could have imagined, and I don't want it to end." Lincoln opened the box, revealing a ring. "So, will you marry me?"
A few of the adults, like Chaz and Howard, started crying with joy.
"Of course I will." stellasmiled, trying not to cry.
Lincoln slipped the ring on her finger, got up, and they kissed.
Later, Lincoln and stella discussed what kind of wedding to have. They decided on an American wedding, except stella the maid of honor (her mom of course) and the bridesmaids would all wear kimonos. However, Lincoln had a plan to surprise stella and for this he needed Kira.
The day of the wedding, Lincoln was getting ready when Harper and Sarah knocked on his door.
"Come in!" Lincoln said.
They opened the door, only to be surprised: Lincoln was wearing a black mens' kimono!
"Lincoln, I...wow." Harper was touched that Lincoln would do this for Kimi.
"Whoa, you actually look good in a kimono." Sarah was surprised. "And here I thought they were only for girls."
"Thanks." Lincoln grinned. "Kira helped me pick out the right one. She's keeping it a secret though, I want to surprise stella at the altar."
"And boy will she be surprised!" Harper said. "In a good way I mean."
"Come on men, time to get Lincoln to the altar so he can tie the knot and hang." Sarah joked.
"sarah , come on, we know you're thinking of marrying Wally." Lincoln smirked. "No more 'ball and chain' jokes okay?"
"Okay, geez, can't a bachelor have his last few days of fun before he marries the one he loves?" Sarah retorted good-naturedly.
The three of them chuckled as they entered the altar. Once there Lincoln surprised all the guests (except for Kira obviously) with the outfit he picked. The wedding march started, and stella started to walk down the aisle in Chaz's arms. Her birth father stellaand Chaz were happily surprised upon seeing Lincoln's outfit. Tears almost formed in stellaeyes, and she smiled at him with love once she reached the altar. Chaz took his seat next to Kira, and the ceremony began.
For Lincoln and stella's honeymoon, they went to Paris, France. After all, if Lincoln's dad hadn't been called to Paris about his robot Reptar and if stellamom hadn't been working for that company, Lincoln and stella might have never met. And this time, Lincoln and stella planned to enjoy Paris and Euro Reptarland without a bossy evil lady ruining things.
Sarah and Wally married next. Sarah wasn't the traditionalist when it came to romance, instead he kept it simple. He did add his own touch though, instead of taking the ring out of his pocket he pretended to take it out of Wally's ear. After that no words were needed, Wally knew what he was asking and accepted his unique proposal.
Their wedding was traditional, except a lot simpler. Sarah and Wally only said 'I do', none of the rest of the vows. And their reception was a real bLincoln, people popped crackers and snakes-in-a-can and only one dance was a slow dance. That dance was for couples only. Sarah and Wally later had fun feeding each other cake - with their hands. Their honeymoon also took place at a swamp in Florida, except it was a different part of Florida.
Years passed, and the couples had kids. Lincoln and stella had a son named Jerry, Harper and Mallow had twins (Mallow became very sympathetic to her mom because of that) named Max and May, and Sarah and Wally had a daughter named Penny Their kids became the new Rugrats.
stella finished cleaning up the smoothie. She swept up what she could on the floor with the broken glass and scrubbed the rest away. Once she was finished she looked at the time seeing a half an hour had passed by. "Lincoln, ready to go?" She asked up the stairs. When she didn't get an answer she frowns lightly. "Lincoln?" She called his name again before walking upstairs to the spare room. Seeing the door slightly cracked she knocks politely before opening it. "You okay?"
Lincoln was sitting on the bed with his arms resting on his legs. He looked a little worried. "I... I don't know. What if I hear something I don't like? What if my anger gets the best of me and I snap?"
stella walked over and sat down next to him. She placed a hand onto his thigh. "Hey, it's going to be okay. Besides, I'm going to be right by your side. I'll help keep you calm and even answer some of the questions this doctor might ask if you don't want too. I'm going to be with you every step of the way."
Lincoln looked down at her hand and slowly takes it into his. "I guess I'm just a little nervous."
"It's okay to be nervous. Some people avoid going to therapist because they are too scared of what they might hear. But hearing the truth is something that can make a big difference in your life. Trust me, this will be great for you." stella smiled standing up holding onto his hand. "Come on, we should get going. Since there aren't any scheduled appointments it's first come first serve kind of thing."
Lincoln stands up with her in his still and sighs out. "What are we going to talk about?" He asked grabbing his jacket.
"I don't know, I guess that will be up to you and the doctor. I can't make that decision for you Lincoln. All I can do is be there as support. Everything has to be up to you even if I am able to answer some of the questions. Everything that is happening right now is happening to you not me." stella let's go of his hand. "I'm grabbing my phone real quick and getting changed. I'll meet you in the car." She kissed his cheek gently for going into her room.
Lincoln let out another sigh as he slowly walked down the hallway to the stairs. He looked up at the family photos that stella had on the wall. Staring at each one as he took one step at a time down, Lincoln suddenly gripped the railing of the stairs glowing pink once again. He felt anger fill his body. "... No... Stop it." He spoke softly taking a deep breath in. The glow quickly faded away and he continues the rest of the way down the stairs not looking at any of the photos. He opened the front door and headed off to the Dondai. "God I just want this day to be over." He groans out unlocking the car and got inside. He sat in the driver's seat and stared out at the road ahead of him. He blinked silently as flash images of the photos back inside the house came into his head. With another heavy sigh, Lincoln closed his eyes just letting it happen as his body glowed once again not understanding why he was getting angry. His breathing got extremely heavy as he continues to sit silently in the car waiting for stella . "Why... Are you making me feel like this?" He grunted through his teeth as he clenched his fists.
stella opened the door to the passenger side and sat down. She looked at Lincoln and gasps lightly seeing him glowing again. "Lincoln?"
"What?!" Lincoln replied with anger in his voice.
stella gulped lightly. "A-are you feeling okay?" She asked softly being really scared having never seen her friend this angry before.
"I'm fine." Lincoln opened his eyes. They were pink in color with white diamond-shaped pupils. "Just taking a moment here." He chuckled lightly as he went to start up the car.
"It's like we were frozen in time..." stella looked down at her phone frowning more. "Do... Do you still want to go to the therapist? It's probably closed by now."
"It can't hurt to check." Lincoln puts his seatbelt on and leans forward finally started up the Dondai and drives off down the road. "Where am I heading?" He asked.
"I can't really remember the name of the place but I know what building it's in. Just keep going straight until you see a light, then turn left and it should be on the right side." stella explained as she still tried to process what had just happened to them.
Lincoln looked over noticing that she was shaken up about what happened. "You okay?"
stella shrugged her shoulders as she continues to stay silent.
Lincoln wanted to help her but had to keep driving. He turned on the radio and it started to play one of her favorite songs.
stella giggled softly as she looked out the window. Soon she started to sing along with the music.
Lincoln smiled softly as he stopped at the red light. After it turned green and he turned left he saw the building that they needed to go to. "Wow, you weren't kidding on how close it was."
"Looks like it's still open too." stella takes her seatbelt off as Lincoln parked the car. She looked over at him with a faint smile. "You ready?"
Lincoln stared at the building for a good minute before turning the car off. "Might as well be." He slowly got out of the car.
stella gets out and closed her door. "Remember Lincoln, I'm right here."
Lincoln locked the car up before going over to stella 's side to hug her.
The sudden hug took stella off guard for a moment. "What?" She giggled lightly.
"Nothing." Lincoln lets her go before heading inside the building. He walked through the door and looked around at the dimly lite room. "Whoa."
"I know, it feels so cozy in here." stella smiled brightly seeing how warm feeling the place was.
"That's what I want for my clients. A warm welcome to a safe place." A male's voice is heard. He stood up from behind the check-in desk and walked over. "Hello, I'm Dr. Adrian Carmichael, you can call me by either of those names." He held out his hand to shake.
Lincoln shakes the hand lightly. "It's nice to meet you, Dr. Adrian. I'm Lincoln, and this is my girlfriend stella ."
stella shakes the doctor's hand after Lincoln. "It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise, it's rare for me to see people come in this late." Dr. Adrian smiled. "What brings you two young rascals into my building this late?" He asked.
"Um... Well, I... Uh.." Lincoln got extremely nervous.
stella held his hand gently into hers trying to comfort him.
Dr. Adrian hums lightly as he watched Lincoln's reactions. "Okay, I can see that you're the prime suspect of being here. Lincoln, I can assure you that this is a safe place and what is said here stays here. There is no reason for anyone shape or form outside my building to know of this."
Lincoln nods his head listening to the doctor. "I'm sorry, it's just that I'm not like any of your other clients. The problems that I have are way beyond compare."
Dr. Adrian nods his head as he listened to Lincoln. "Why don't we sit down in here since we're alone and you can tell me about yourself." He picked up a clipboard and a pen. "This little form here is just a patient sheet. It's just a list of basic information."
Lincoln looked behind him at a set of comfy chairs and sat down in one of them with stella next to him in the other.
stella leans against Lincoln's arm as she held onto it. "Is it okay if I stay? Lincoln is... Very um... Well, he's..." 1
Dr. Adrian held up his hand to quietly silence stella . He stared at the two silently for a moment. "All is welcome here. If it is Lincoln's wish to have you then you may stay."
Lincoln lets out a very shaky held in breath of air. "S-sorry, this is just my first time ever doing something like this. I'm not someone that likes to talk about my problems."
"And that's okay, I'm here to break that barrier. I'm the type of person that went to school to get a piece of paper that tells me that I'm here to listen to those in need. This is who I am what I do." Dr. Adrian leans back in his seat. "Let's slowly crack this barrier of yours with simple information." He pats the clipboard in his lap. "Does that sound like a plan?"
Lincoln chuckled lightly. "Sounds good to me."
"Great, first off let's start with your first and last name, age, and birthday." Dr. Adrian clicked the pen and waited.
"Okay, Lincoln Universe, 19, August 17th." Lincoln spoke slow enough for the doctor to write.
"Oh, happy late birthday." Dr. Adrian chuckles. "Now, I'm going to ask you a set of questions, on a scale of zero to five, zero being that this hasn't happened, five being constantly happening, you answer to the best of your ability, okay?"
Lincoln nods his head slowly. 'Here we go.' He thought to himself getting nervous.
"The following questions must be answered depending on how you have been feeling within the past two weeks." Dr. Adrian reads from the paper.
Lincoln lowered his head with a sigh. "That might be a little hard considering I've been awake for two days now."
"I'm sorry?" Dr. Adrian looked up a little confused.
"Lincoln woke up from a coma two days ago. Everything that has happened to him within those two days is why he is here." stella explained as she rubbed Lincoln's hand to comfort him.
"Wow, that's very surprising to hear actually." Adrian wrote on the paper. "I'll just make the note here that you've had this experience. Can I ask how the coma happened?"
Lincoln clenched his hand onto the armrest of the chair. "We'll get to that later."
Dr. Adrian raised an eyebrow with a slight nod. "Okay... I'll be right back. I need to grab another paper." He stood up and went to the desk.
stella frowns looking at Lincoln's face seeing that he was getting upset. "Please don't be like this. He's just doing what needs to be done."
Lincoln takes a few deep breaths to keep himself calm. "I'm trying okay, this isn't easy for me. No one knows me like you do."
stella laid her head onto his shoulder. "I know Lincoln, but let him get to know you like I do. Let another human into your life that can help you more than I can."
Lincoln lifts his hand up to stroke the back of stella 's head. "Okay... I'm not going to hide anymore. I'll talk."
"Great!" Dr. Adrian walked back over with another clipboard. "I'm starting to see the picture here Lincoln. The problems that you're having are causing you to have anger but you also seem to be having an issue with being opened. I think you might be a little depressed."
"The anger for sure but... Depression? I'm not so sure about that." Lincoln shakes his head not completely agreeing with him.
"Uncertainty is one of the biggest blocks with depression. We think that we're alright and nothing is wrong but deep down inside we're hurting." Dr. Adrian explained.
Lincoln sat back in his seat getting a little chilled hearing this. "W-wow..."
Dr. Adrian nods his head. "It's amazing what we can dig up with just a little explaining and some questions. I have two new sheets here that are full of questions to help us figure out how you feel about multiple different things. I'll leave it up to you which one you want to answer first, the depression or the anger?"
Lincoln thought for a while before answering. "Let's do the anger one, that's the reason why I'm here in the first place."
"Understandable." Dr. Adrian flipped the pages around. "Let's see..." He reads the page silently to himself. "Alright, I'm going to read you a line. You answer them with either a one, two, or three. One, being no or very little. Two, being very little to a lot. And three being a lot to constantly. But in your case, let's factor this to one being that you haven't don't it at all, two is that I wanted to do this of felt like doing this, and three is I've done it. Sound fair?"
"Sounds easy enough." Lincoln chuckled getting nervous again.
"Take your time to answer." Dr. Adrian smiled softly as he began. "Has shouted at someone that I care about or is close to me?"
"... 3" Lincoln answers.
"How many times and to who?" Dr. Adrian asked.
"I've done it to my brothers, a friend I guess, and stella ." Lincoln explained.
Dr. Adrian nods his head as he writes his notes. "Has become physically ill due to anger?"
"... 1" Lincoln answers
"Has broken something due to anger?" Dr. Adrian asked.
"3." Lincoln lowered his head.
"What did you break?" Dr. Adrian asked.
"I broke a glass in my bare hand by squeezing it." Lincoln explained.
"Did you cut yourself?" Dr. Adrian looked up a little concerned.
"I did, but stella was able to get the glass out and I healed it." Lincoln smiles.
"Healed?" Dr. Adrian tilts his head.
"Here we go." stella giggled.
"Well doc, I'm not just a normal human man." Lincoln lifts his shirt up to show his diamond. "I'm part of a race of people that are known as Gems. They have powers and abilities depending on who they are and what they were made for. I'm a special Gem known as a Diamond and that gives me a special healing power that no one else has. I got those powers from my Mom."
Dr. Adrian nods his head as he listened to Lincoln and then looked surprised. "Oh, you're that Lincoln Universe, from Beach City."
"Y-yeah." Lincoln lowered his shirt a little confused.
"I've seen your little TV commercial about your Gem Town you helped build. Curiosity got the best of me and I took a tour of the place and learned a lot from a lady named Pearl about Gem people and who you are and where you came from. She even handed me this nifty little booklet about Pink Diamond." Dr. Adrian explained as he reached into his coat pocket and pulled it out.
"Wow, so you know a lot more about Gems then I thought you would have. That's awesome." Lincoln lightened up once he heard that this human doctor knew a little about who he was and what Gems were. But suddenly a hint of fear hit him and he frowns feeling heavy that the doctor knew who his mother was. Lincoln slowly started to glow pink and sink into his seat.
stella gasps lightly seeing this happen so suddenly. "Lincoln?!"
Dr. Adrian sat up in his seat slowly. "Is everything alright there Lincoln?"
"Yeah... My Mom is just a really heavy topic." Lincoln spoke softly lowering his head more to hide his face.
"It's okay, we don't have to talk about her just yet, let's finish up these questions and see what happens from there." Dr. Adrian spoke calmly to see if Lincoln's emotion would change.
Lincoln slowly nodded his head as the glow faded away.
stella let out a sigh of relief. She went back to rubbing her thumb on top of Lincoln's hand.
"Alrighty, where was I?" Adrian looked back at the page. "Ah, here we are. Has exhibited road rage?"
"I possibly would have if it wasn't for stella stopping me." Lincoln answers.
"Explain." Dr. Adrian began to write.
"Well on our way over here I was having my "glowing fit" and I was just about to start driving. She stopped me and was able to calm me down cause she knew that the moment I started that car something bad would have happened." Lincoln explained.
"He wasn't himself sitting in the car. He even raised his voice a bit at me when I stopped him." stella put in her thought about the question.
"Has he yelled at you before?" Dr. Adrian asked.
"Once, and it was because I was pestering him about something that he didn't want to talk about." stella explained.
Dr. Adrian nods his head slowly as he wrote on the paper. "Next, has threatened to strike or hit someone?"
Lincoln thought about this for a moment. "1?"
"1??" Dr. Adrian repeated back. "You sure? You seem very unsatisfied with that answer."
Lincoln shrugged his shoulders. "I don't think that I've got anyone, and if I did then I don't remember."
"Fair enough. Has quarreled with others?" Dr. Adrian asked.
"What?" Lincoln raised his eyebrow confused.
"Have you been in heated arguments or disagreements?" Dr. Adrian reworded his question.
"1." Lincoln answers slowly still unsure about the question.
Dr. Adrian paused for a moment before writing on the paper. "Has made someone leave a situation due to anger?"
"1." Lincoln answers.
"Has made others afraid of self because of anger?" Dr. Adrian asked.
Lincoln slowly looked over at stella before lowering his head with a sigh. "3."
"Has had information withheld or changed due to the concern that self would get angry?" Dr. Adrian asked.
"1." Lincoln answers.
"Has been in trouble with the law?" Dr. Adrian asked.
Lincoln chuckled lightly at that question. "1."
"Has felt remorse or guilt from behavior during and after anger?" Dr. Adrian asks.
"3." Lincoln answers.
"And lastly, has lost connection with friends and family due to anger?" Dr. Adrian asks.
"1." Lincoln answers.
Dr. Adrian hums lightly as he made his final notes on the paper and flipped it with the other sheet. "Alright, onto depression. The following questions will be answered with a yes or a no depending on how you have felt within the last 6 months. For this one Lincoln, I will ask that you think back before your coma, even farther just to get six months, understood?"
Lincoln nods his head slowly. He started to feel heavy again. "Can I get some water?"
Dr. Adrian nods his head. He stood up to leave the room to get the water.
"You're doing great Lincoln. I'm really proud of you for making it this far." stella smiled softly.
"I know, me too... But I just feel like there is going to be that one question that will just get to me." Lincoln looked down at himself shaking lightly. "When he mentioned that he knew about my Mom it made me so uncomfortable for some weird reason."
"I would be uncomfortable too if some stranger knew my Mom. But my Mom is well known for being a doctor. And your Mom is well known for being a Diamond. There are just things that can't be kept hidden and people will we don't know will find out." stella explained. "It's normal."
Lincoln looked up seeing the doctor come back with bottled waters for the two of them. "Thanks."
"No problem, let's get back to it shall we." Dr. Adrian sat back down in his chair and lifts the paper back up. "Okay, remember yes and no only. Are you satisfied with your life?"
Lincoln bites his lower lip staying silent.
"Lincoln?" stella looked over wondering why he was silent. "... Do you want me to step outside for a while?"
Lincoln sighed softly as he looked at her. "Sorry."
"It's okay, I have to call my Mom anyways. She just got home and is filling up my message wondering where we are since you're not supposed to be outside." stella kissed Lincoln's forehead gently as she stood up. She walked outside to talk to her Mom on the phone.
"Are you ready now Lincoln?" Dr. Adrian asked.
Lincoln nods his head as he sat up confident now. "Yes."
"1. Are you satisfied with your life?"
"No."
"2. Have you dropped many of your activities and interests?"
"No."
"3. Do you feel that your life is empty?"
"Yes."
"4. Do you often get bored?"
"No."
"5. Are you hopeful about the future?"
"No."
"6. Are you bothered by thoughts you can't get out of your head?"
"Yes."
"7. Are you in good spirits most of the time?"
"Yes."
"8. Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you?"
"Yes."
"9. Do you feel happy most of the time?"
"Yes."
"10. Do you often feel helpless?"
"No."
"11. Do you often get restless and fidgety?"
"No."
"12. Do you prefer to stay at home rather than go out and do things?"
"No."
"13. Do you frequently worry about the future?"
"Yes."
"14. Do you feel that you have more problems with memory than most?"
"Yes."
"15. Do you think it is wonderful to be alive right now?"
"..."
"Lincoln?"
"Can we skip that one for now?"
"Of course, and if you don't want to answer then say skip. 16. Do you feel downhearted and blue?"
"No."
"17. Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now?"
"Skip."
"18. Do you worry a lot about the past?"
"Yes."
"19. Do you find life very exciting?"
"Yes."
"20. Is it hard for you to get started with the day?"
"No."
"21. Do you feel full of energy?"
"Yes."
"22. Do you feel that your situation is hopeless?"
"Yes."
"23. Do you think that most people are better off without you in their lives?"
"Skip."
"24. Do you frequently get upset by the littlest of things?"
"Yes."
"25. Do you frequently feel like crying?"
"No."
"26. Do you have problems concentrating?"
"No."
"27. Do you enjoy getting out of bed in the morning?"
"Yes."
"28. Do you prefer to avoid social occasions?"
"No."
"29. Is it easy for you to make decisions?"
"... I'm not sure."
"30. And lastly, is your mind as clear as it used to be?"
"No."
Dr. Adrian hums lightly as he looked at the paper.
stella came back inside and sat back down. "Did you guys get everything done?"
"Yes, we just finished. I'm tallying up Lincoln's score here and..." Dr. Adrian went back to humming before lowering his clipboard. "Well Lincoln, I think it's safe for me to say this and it's that you do have a problem here."
"I know." Lincoln frowns lightly. "Is it bad?"
Dr. Adrian flipped the pages around. "Well let's have a look here. Your anger questionnaire is surprisingly all over the place. Your results are so scattered that they are mostly one's and three's even with some of them being a little uncertain. You clearly do have an anger issue here, but it only occurs to happen during a certain topic or situation in your life. It's random."
Lincoln nods his head understanding.
"And your depression sheet... Let's see... Your score was Eleven. But, you did skip a total of four questions, which depending on your answers would have caused this score to vary up to fifteen. Be that as it may, your score is putting you in the moderate depression area by one point."
"Th-that's good, right?" Lincoln asked.
"Yes and no. If you were to have scored a ten or lower you would be considered normal. The amount of stress or anxiety that you were feeling is completely normal for a human being. But the fact is that your score is an eleven just because you failed to answer four questions is what is putting you in the moderately depressed area. If it was just eleven I would give you a few suggestions on how to make things better for yourself but it's not a solid eleven, do you understand?" Dr. Adrian asked after explaining.
Lincoln nods his head again. "I do.. i-it's not that I didn't want to answer those questions, it's... It's the fact that they were both a yes and a no."
"And that's okay Lincoln. Depression is something that affects everyone in a variety of different ways. Not one case is exactly like the other. With the current situations that you're having that I still have no idea of what they are about, I'm starting to think that this whole anger and depression thing didn't just come out of nowhere. I'm starting to think that you've been depressed for years and it's only now becoming a problem. You see Lincoln, even if you were to have a normal score, those scores can still cause a lot of stress and anxiety that keeps them in a safe area but there will be that one thing that can shoot them over the edge." Dr. Adrian explains. "Remember how you were feeling when I pulled this out of my pocket?" He lifts up the booklet of Pink Diamond.
"Y-yeah..." Lincoln shakes lightly as he stared at it. He clenched his hands onto the armrests again.
stella noticed this and tried to step in. "Sir, please don't talk about this."
Dr. Adrian lifts his finger to shush stella as he stared at Lincoln. "Quiet please or I'll have you leave."
stella gulped lightly as she slowly moved away from Lincoln's side.
"Lincoln?" Dr. Adrian sat back in his seat and crosses his leg over the other and folded his hands into his lap.
"P-please don't." Lincoln shakes his head almost begging.
Dr. Adrian smiled softly with calm written all over his face. "... Tell me how you feel about your mother."
Lincoln's body glowed brightly as he clenched his hands breaking the armrests with his fingers. He lowered his head with a loud grunt and hissed through his teeth.
stella yelps lightly and covered her ears when she heard the wood crack.
Lincoln takes in and lets out shaky breaths of air as he stared at the floor. "... Mom..." He spoke softly.
"... Lincoln." Lincoln's voice shifted into a female when his name was spoken.
"Lincoln?" Dr. Adrian called his name hearing this female voice. "Can you sit up for me?"
Lincoln lifts his head up slowly. His right eye was pink with a white diamond-shaped pupil. "... Mom?" The left side of his face looked scared as he sat there.
"I'm sorry Lincoln." Pink Diamond's voice came through after Lincoln spoke.
"What's going on?" Dr. Adrian asked being a little nervous.
"I'm his mother, and I came out to tell you to stop." Pink spoke with a stern voice.
Lincoln narrowed his eye. "No, you need to stop! I'm sick and tired of you taking over my body to do whatever the hell you want! If your this damn powerful then why the hell couldn't you figure out how to make your own damn body to give me a normal life!?" He yells.
Pink blinked her eye silently.
"My whole life I've been paying for your mistakes! I've been making up for all the shit that you caused! Do you honestly think I wanted that kind of life?! Having to be blamed for everything that you did cause your damn diamond was on my body?!" Lincoln tears up as he continues to yell. "I had to grow up in a damn van for twelve fucking years cause you couldn't figure out a different way to have me. And living with the Gems, sure it was the best thing to ever happen to me. But the moment I started to learn about my powers I was the target of everyone from Homeworld! I was in countless situations where my life was threatened because everyone thought I was you! And to make things worse! When everyone finally figured out that I was Pink Diamond, I was in even more danger than before!!" Lincoln lowered his head. "I had to give up a simple human life and fix everything that you caused because you were too scared to fix them on your own." He sobs lightly.
"Scared?" Pink finally spoke. "I wasn't sc-."
"YES YOU WERE!!!" Lincoln yelled out causing the room to shake.
Dr. Adrian stood up slowly and walked over to stella . "Come, let's back away for the moment."
stella slowly got up from her seat and stood at the front desk ten feet away.
"You were scared!! Why else would you fake your death?! I'll tell you why! It wasn't because you wanted to save this damn world, it's because you were running away!" Lincoln glared up. "You ran away because the Diamonds gave you what you wanted but the moment you saw the beauty on this planet you tried to convince them to give you something else and they wouldn't allow it. You were sick and tired of getting the no and answer and they told you to get over it or they would take over. You were fed up and you ran..."
"Lincoln that's not true." Pink spoke softly. "Yes, I tried to convince that I didn't want the planet anymore but the damage was already done. The kindergarten that I started was almost halfway complete and that was the day I went down to the planet with Pearl and disguised myself as a Rose Quartz Soldier. I wanted to see what I was doing... And when I did I knew it was wrong. What we were doing was wrong and the only reason why we were doing it was because of Black Diamond. Remembering who she was I wanted it to stop and the only way I could do that is if I rebelled, so I changed into Rose Quartz and lived the life Pink Diamond couldn't live."
Lincoln sat in his seat silently for a while. "... But why... Why would you bring me into a world of hatred and lie?"
Pink let out a long sigh. "I was in love Lincoln... I was still young and naive despite the age I was. I wanted to make your father happy and give him a family since he clearly had nothing. You saw how his actual family treated him. You know what he went through. I was giving him something that he lost, and in a way, I lost it too. I lost Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst... I lost my home... I lost what was my true family being the Diamonds the moment I rebelled... I wanted a family again even if it meant not being there visibly."
Lincoln lowered his head slowly. He had no idea that his mother felt like that. He always that she was super fun and outgoing lady with joy and happiness all the time.
"Lincoln, I'm sorry I've caused you so much stress in your past years and in your current. I was just looking out for you with all the lies and secrets that are still coming towards you. I just wanted what was best for you." Pink spoke softly.
"I know... But things are different now Mom. I'm an adult now and I don't need that protection anymore. It's my turn to make my own decisions without you being in the back of my mind to influence them. The Gems have a new leader now and it's me." Lincoln hugged himself. "I love you... But you need to let me live my life now." Everything went silent and Lincoln's glow slowly went away.
stella slowly walked over and knelt down in front of Lincoln to look at his face. "Lincoln? Are you okay?"
Lincoln lifts his head up smiling softly. "Yeah, she said she loved me too and said I will always be here when you need me."
stella smiled softly and got up to hug him.
Dr. Adrian walked over with a chuckled. "That was eventful. Why don't we call it a day."
"I'm sorry you had to see that." Lincoln stood up wrapping an arm around stella .
"No need, we've made a lot of progress even if it was just to discover what was going on." Dr. Adrian held out his hand to Lincoln. "I want to see you again Lincoln. Why don't you come back in a week or two and we can see if things are getting better or worse."
Lincoln shakes his hand. "Sounds like a plan."
"It was nice meeting you, Dr. Adrian." stella shakes his hand after Lincoln. "I'll be sure he comes back."
"If you need to contact me if the office is closed then here is my number." Dr. Adrian handed Lincoln a card. "Try and keep things calm for now. But if something happens and you can't get to me please call."
Lincoln puts the card into his pocket. "I'll be sure to put to add your number to my phone later." He looked at stella with a faint smile. "Ready to go home?"
stella nods her head as she walked with Lincoln to the door. The two of them wave at the doctor as they left. "I think that went well."
"Me too, even though I don't think anything was resolved I feel like a weight is slowly lifting off of me." Lincoln unlocked the car.
"Really? Not even the little talk session you had with your Mom?" stella asked looking a little concerned as she got inside.
Lincoln sighed when he sat down. "I don't think she'll be staying away for too long. I mean it would be nice to just live my own life but she'll always be around."
stella nods her head slowly as she buckled up. "I guess you're right."
Lincoln started up the car and headed back to stella 's house. He was silent the whole way back and even when they got home and went inside. Lincoln walked upstairs slowly with his hands in his pockets and a frown on his face.
stella followed him quickly. "Lincoln."
Lincoln looked over his shoulder as he opened the door to his room. "Yeah?"
stella walked up to him slowly. "You look a little stressed still."
Lincoln shrugged his shoulders opening the door. "I think I'm just gonna go to bed early."
"You didn't even eat today." stella watched him walk into his room.
"I'll be okay, it's not like I haven't done that before." Lincoln started to take his jacket off.
stella stood silently for a moment. She looked towards the stairs hearing her Mom in the Living Room watching TV. She walked into the room and closed the door even locking it behind her.
Lincoln looked up hearing the door close and turned just in time to watch stella lock it. "What are you doing?"
stella walked over and reached her hand up to rub Lincoln's cheek. "I can feel your sadness, Lincoln. What's wrong?"
Lincoln frowns lightly and placed his hand over hers. "I'm sorry... But I just can't bring myself to cheer up after what just happened."
stella blushed lightly. "Can I cheer you up then?" 1
Lincoln looked a little confused. "How?"
stella slowly used her other hand to run it across Lincoln's crotch as she kissed him softly on the lips.
Lincoln blushed deeply feeling the hand and moans softly into the kiss. He slowly slipped his hand up under stella 's shirt.
stella pulled away quickly. "Lincoln wait." She gently grabbed his hand.
"What? Was I moving to fast again?" Lincoln asked.
"No... I'm just... I'm still a little scared to give up my virginity. But I know that I can do something else for you that won't make me so scared." stella smiled softly as she pushed Lincoln back to the bed.
Lincoln chuckled lightly as he sat down. "Is that so?" He scooted to the edge of the bed taking his sandals off.
stella got onto her knees on the floor between Lincoln's legs and smiled up at him. She slowly started to undo his pants.
"Isn't your Mom home?" Lincoln asked looking at the door.
"She's watching the news. She'll sit there and watch the whole thing without saying a word." stella giggled. "We have about an hour of alone time~." She smiled up at Lincoln and pulled his jeans down.
Lincoln smirked lightly as he watched her. "You're really going forward with this huh? Not backing out?"
stella shakes her head as she slowly reached through the opening of Lincoln's boxers. "I think you deserve a little stress reliever." She blushed lightly feeling her hand touching Lincoln's member. "And to tell you the truth, I've touched this a few times during your sponge baths at the hospital while you were in your coma."
"Geez, I probably smell. Why don't I take a shower before you do this." Lincoln tried to stop her feeling a little self-conscious about the way he might smell.
stella blushed deeply as she slowly pulled his member out of the boxers with her hand. "It's okay Lincoln..." She leaned in slowly and licked the tip.
Lincoln gasps lightly feeling a weird sensation go through his body. The blush on his face deepened as he watched stella .
stella felt a tingly sensation go through her body when she tasted the member for the first time. It was salty and had a faint odor to it but she didn't care. She licked the member from the tip down to the base just above the area the pubic hair touched wanting to taste more.
Lincoln tilts his head back panting lightly. "How do you know how to do this?"
stella pulled back for a moment. "I watched a couple of videos. There really wasn't much to do when I sat by your side for endless hours of the day." She blushed lightly admitting this. "I just wanted to learn a few things."
Lincoln chuckled lightly as he looked back down at stella . He ran his fingers gently through her hair. "I wouldn't mind seeing a few of those things that you've learned."
stella nods her head as she stared directly into Lincoln's eyes taking the tip of the member into her mouth. Her eyes dimmed with lust with a slight blush on her cheeks as she slowly bobbed her head forward and back.
Lincoln bites his bottom lip gently as he watched the girl he loved doing this sort of action to his body. His body slowly grew hot as the weird sensation that he was feeling before grew stronger. "stella ~" He called her name gently gripping the bed with his free hand. His soft moans echo slightly in the room. "That feels really good~"
stella takes the member deeper into her mouth after she noticed that Lincoln was enjoying this moment. She stroked the rest that she didn't fit in.
"Ahh~!" Lincoln jolted forward feeling the new sensation of pleasure shoot through his body. He clenched his eyes and grunts lightly feeling something coming out.
stella 's eyes widened when Lincoln came in her mouth. She wanted to pull away but then there would be a mess. Getting a little embarrassed from this she slowly pulled away and held it in her mouth covering it with her hand looking up at Lincoln.
"Sorry! You can spit it out, I'll clean it up later!" Lincoln got onto his knees after he noticed what he just did.
stella blushed deeply as she made a big swallow.
Lincoln sighs softly. "You didn't have to do that."
stella wipes her mouth. "It's okay, it wasn't that bad anyway." She blushed looking down at the floor even more embarrassed.
Lincoln chuckled lightly pressing his forehead to hers. "Thank you."
stella wrapped her arms around Lincoln gently hugging him. "You're welcome, Lincoln." She stood up slowly. "I'm going downstairs to make sure my Mom didn't hear anything. If you want you can take your shower now." She giggled unlocking the door and slowly left the room.
Lincoln chuckled lightly getting off of the floor pulling his pants up with him. He grabbed the pajamas he wore last night from the other side of the bed to change into after he got out of the shower and headed off to the bathroom.
