While writing the second chapter for my other fic, 'Big Brother Lincoln,' I decided that Lincoln should've had a pretty bad first date and telling Lucy about it would help her. I also realized that there was an opportunity for a quick and cute Ronniecoln fic. So, Enjoy!
Ah, Love. It is one of the most complicated emotions that a human possesses. Its complexities are nothing new to Lincoln Loud, the white-haired boy with 10 sisters. A few months prior, he had confessed that he had a massive crush on his friend, Ronnie Anne Santiago. Luckily, she reciprocated his feelings, and they sealed their new status with a kiss. Their families were ecstatic when they heard the news. However, Lincoln and Ronnie Anne practically begged that they not meddle in and interfere with their relationship as they try to take things slow and steady, especially with them being a long-distance couple.
Lincoln Loud slouched in his desk chair, staring at the text message he had just sent to Ronnie Anne Santiago:
"Hey, RA. I know we decided to take things slow, but I've been thinking about how we haven't really changed what we do when we hang out. I thought that we should go on a 'date.' Just the two of us?"
The seconds dragged like hours until his phone buzzed. Her response popped up:
"Sure, Lame-O. When?"
Lincoln's heart leaped. This was the moment he had been both dreaming about and dreading. He quickly typed back,
"Does next Saturday work for you?"
and hit send before he could second-guess himself.
Ronnie Anne's reply came fast: "Yep. I'll ask my mom if we can come visit next week. Where should she drop me off?"
"She can drop you off at my house. My sisters all have stuff that day, so there won't be any meddling. :)"
"Alright, then. See you next week, Linc."
With the date set, Lincoln's mind started spinning. This wasn't just another hangout. This was their first date as more-than-friends, and he had to make it perfect.
Usually, Lincoln's sisters were eager to "help" with anything remotely romantic. Lori's lectures on etiquette, Leni's fashion advice, and even Lola's unsolicited tips on "winning her heart" would flood in uninvited. This time, though, Lincoln got lucky. Lori had a college exam, Leni had a fashion show, Luna had a gig, Luan had rehearsals for a school play, Lynn had practice, Lucy had a mortician's club meeting, The twins were going to a classmate's birthday party, Lisa was speaking at a scientific conference in another city, which also meant that Mom and Dad were there to help her. They were also taking Lily.
"Finally, I can plan this without twelve opinions," Lincoln muttered to himself as he texted Clyde for backup.
"Clyde, we have a code Celadon."
"On my way"
Clyde arrived an hour later, clipboard in hand. "I can't believe you're finally going on a date with Ronnie Anne and that none of your sisters are gonna be there to bother you!"
The next couple of days turned into a montage of Clyde's attempts to prepare Lincoln. They practiced conversation starters in front of the mirror.
"What do you think about pineapple on pizza?" Lincoln tried, flashing an awkward grin.
"Too polarizing," Clyde said, shaking his head. "Try asking about her favorite band."
They rehearsed table manners using Clyde's dad's fine china, which ended with Lincoln spilling water everywhere. Clyde didn't seem fazed.
"It's good practice for handling unexpected situations," he said, scribbling on his clipboard.
By Friday, Lincoln felt somewhat ready—if not overly rehearsed.
When Saturday evening came, Lincoln waited nervously on his couch, waiting for Ronnie Anne. He heard a knock on the door and quickly went to open it. When he opened the door, she stood there wearing jeans and a purple sweater (more date-appropriate than her usual hoodie). Lincoln, in his orange button-up shirt and kahkis, suddenly felt a little overdressed.
"Nice outfit, Mr. Fancy Pants," Ronnie Anne teased, though her grin softened the words.
"Uh, thanks," Lincoln said, scratching the back of his neck. "You look great." They started walking and they started up a conversation to pass the time.
"So, where are we going, Lame-O?"
"Really? I'm taking you on a date, and I'm still lame?" Lincoln teased
"You'll always be a lame-O, but at least you're my Lame-O," Ronnie Anne answered back. They both blushed at that, as they were still getting the hang of this relationship thing. Lincoln fake coughed to take the attention away from that comment, "We're going to a place that's pretty significant to our relationship."
"Gus'?" Ronnie Anne guessed
"Come on, you expect me to take you to GGG on our first official date as a couple?"
"Eh, you've done worse"
Lincoln rolled his eyes as they kept chatting away until, 15 minutes later, they got to their spot: Jean Juan's French Mex Buffet
"Jean Juan's?" Ronnie Anne said, surprised. "Why here?"
"It's the one-year anniversary of the double date Lori and Bobby took us on so we could make up. I know it seems cheesy, but I thought it'd be better if we came here and had a good time on our own instead of being dragged here by our siblings," Lincoln said, scratching the back of his head.
Ronnie Anne blushed, remembering the whole ordeal that transpired a year ago between her, Lincoln, Lori, and Bobby. However, her boyfriend's reasoning was sweet, and she did like the restaurant. She playfully punched him in the shoulder, "Of course, you'd remember that it's been a year since then. It's cute, Linc. I appreciate the sentiment."
They both smiled as they went inside and went up to the hostess.
"Hi, reservation for Loud?"
"Oh, Mr. Loud, I'm so sorry, but the table you had reserved was destroyed after two customers got into a fight, and one of them put the other through the table."
"You've gotta be kidding me. Are there any other tables available?"
"Unfortunately, no. All our other tables are occupied already"
"Dang it," Lincoln frowned.
Ronnie Anne put her hand on Linc's shoulder. " Hey, Linc, it's okay. Let's go somewhere else. How about the ice cream parlor that's around the corner?"
"Sure, I guess," replied Lincoln, still sad and mad about the fact that their date was nearly ruined because of two idiots fighting.
They decided to leave, but rain began to pour as soon as they stepped outside.
"Dang it," they both said simultaneously
They ran through the downpour, but when they got to the ice cream parlor, there was a sign on the door that stated:
Closed for the day due to gas leaks
"Seriously?" Ronnie Anne groaned.
"Well, this is going great," Lincoln said sarcastically. "What the heck do we do now?"
"Gus' Games and Grub?" Ronnie Anne suggested
Lincoln shrugged. "Might as well."
Things finally started looking up at Gus', which was open. They ordered pizza and played arcade games. Ronnie Anne trounced Lincoln in every game they tried. Unfortunately, there was still an awkward tension between the two. Ronnie Anne's Mom came by to pick her up, while Lincoln decided to walk home after the rain stopped. They didn't say much, but they did part ways, with a hug and Lincoln kissing Ronnie Anne on the forehead.
The next evening, Lincoln sat on his bed with his laptop open, waiting for Ronnie Anne to answer their video call. The familiar ringtone played, and then her face popped up on the screen. She was lounging on her couch, munching on a bag of chips.
"Hey, Lame-O," she greeted, smirking as usual.
"Hey," Lincoln replied, trying to sound casual even though his stomach was in knots. "How's it going?"
"Not bad," she said. "You?"
"Oh, you know… still thinking about last night," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
Ronnie Anne snorted. "Yeah, it wasn't exactly a five-star experience. Our table getting powerbombed by some idiots, the Ice cream parlor being closed, the pouring rain, and Gus's pizza being meh. Real romantic vibes, Lame-O."
Lincoln winced. "I know. I really wanted it to be special, but it just didn't go how I planned."
"Linc," she said, rolling her eyes, "it's not a big deal. It's just one date."
"Yeah, but I wanted it to be perfect for you," Lincoln said, his voice softening.
Ronnie Anne sighed. "Look, long distance is already hard. If every time we hang out will be like last night, maybe…" She paused, her tone turning teasing. "…we should just break up."
Lincoln froze, his heart dropping like a lead weight. "Wait, what?!"
Ronnie Anne burst out laughing. "I'm joking, you dork!"
"Wha—Ronnie Anne! That's not funny!" Lincoln protested, clutching his chest like he'd been stabbed.
"Aw, come on, it was a little funny," she said, smirking. "Relax. I'm not going anywhere. But seriously, don't stress so much. I'm fine with things being a little messy sometimes."
Lincoln tried to laugh it off, but the comment still stung. Even if she didn't mean it, the idea of breaking up was terrifying. "Yeah… okay. I'll try not to overthink it."
"Good," she said. "Now, let's talk about something else before your brain explodes."
After the call ended, Lincoln sat motionless on his bed, staring blankly at the screen. Ronnie Anne's words echoed in his mind: If every time we hang out is gonna be like last night, maybe we should just break up.
He groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I can't mess up again. I have to get this right."
For the first time in days, he wished for his sisters' chaotic but well-meaning support. If anyone could help him turn things around, it was them.
He took a deep breath, grabbed his phone, and , against his better judgement, sent a group text to his sisters:
"I need help planning a date for Ronnie Anne. Please don't make it a big deal, but I really need you. all of you."
The response was immediate. Within minutes, Lincoln's room was filled with his sisters.
"This is so romantic!" Leni gushed, holding up a handful of outfit options. "We'll totally make you look fab."
"Simple but classy is the way to go," Lori advised, crossing her arms. "You don't want to overwhelm her."
"We need a playlist!" Luna chimed in. "What's the vibe, bruh —chill or sappy?"
"Food!" Lynn Jr. declared. "You can't go wrong with snacks."
Lincoln raised his hands, trying to calm them down. "Okay, okay, one at a time!"
The Loud siblings worked together over the next few hours to plan the ultimate date. Lucy suggested a nighttime setting for a "romantic underworld atmosphere," while Lisa provided a portable star projector to create a celestial backdrop. Luan pitched jokes, most of which were vetoed, and even Lily offered some finger-painting artwork to "decorate."
By the end of the night, Lincoln had a plan: a picnic at the park under the stars, complete with Ronnie Anne's favorite snacks, a cozy blanket, and music courtesy of Luna's portable speaker. Lincoln also asked Lori to have Bobby find a good park, and he helped by telling them about a Park with a beautiful view close to the Casagrandes' apartment. Bobby had also agreed to step out during that day to set up the whole thing so Lincoln could take his sister there immediately upon arrival.
Unfortunately, the second date had to wait for two weeks, as traveling three hours here and there was a struggle. The evening of the date arrived, though, and Lincoln stood in front of the Santiago family's apartment, holding the picnic basket. Ronnie Anne came out wearing her trademark hoodie and jeans.
"Alright, Lame-O," she said, raising an eyebrow. "What's the plan this time?"
"You'll see," Lincoln said, smiling as they headed to the park.
When they arrived, Ronnie Anne stopped in her tracks. The blanket was spread out under a tree, illuminated by soft string lights and the star projector. A small portable speaker played one of her favorite songs in the background.
"Whoa," she said, her voice softening. "You really went all out."
Lincoln scratched the back of his neck. "I wanted to make up for last time."
She turned to him, a rare look of genuine appreciation on her face. "This is amazing, Linc. You didn't have to do all this."
"I wanted to," he said. "You're worth it."
They sat down, and Lincoln unveiled the food: her favorite candies, sandwiches, and churros he'd picked up from a local vendor.
"You really did your homework, huh?" she said, smirking.
"Maybe I had some help," Lincoln admitted, thinking about his sisters and Bobby.
As the night went on, they talked and laughed like they always had, the tension from their previous date melting away. When the stars were bright above them, Lincoln pulled out Luna's acoustic guitar.
"Wait—you're playing for me?" Ronnie Anne asked, leaning back with a grin.
"Don't laugh, please," Lincoln warned. He strummed the chords and sang a simple, heartfelt song about their relationship and how much she meant to him.
By the end, Ronnie Anne was smiling so wide it almost hurt. "Okay, Lame-O, you've officially outdone yourself." She leaned over and planted a soft kiss on his lips, which left both of them blushing.
As they packed up, Ronnie Anne bumped his shoulder playfully. "So… when's the next date?"
"Whenever you want," Lincoln said, grinning.
"Cool. But next time, I'm picking the spot—and you still owe me ice cream."
"Deal," he said, laughing as they walked off into the night.
This fic was written in a day, so if it seems kind of rushed, I apologize. But when I came up with the idea, I decided to get it done asap because it would just keep gnawing at me, lol.