Timeframe: A few months after the Loud Prom.
Vanzilla stopped right in front of Camp Mastodon. The aged van's engine sputtered to a stop, One by one, the Loud family stepped out, stretching their limbs after the drive.
"There's my little minnows!" Leonard bellowed. The younger Louds immediately rushed forward, colliding with their grandfather in a group hug that nearly knocked him off his feet.
"Careful there! This old fisherman's not as sturdy as he used to be!" Leonard chuckled, regaining his balance. His eyes landed on Lincoln, and a knowing smirk crossed his weathered face. He gave his grandson a playful nudge with his elbow.
"Say, my little minnow, word travels upstream that you've caught yourself quite the catch!" He said. Lincoln stammered.
"How did you find out, gramps?"
"Your sisters couldn't help but let it sleep during out last call. So, who is it? is it that Ronnie girl Lori won't stop fussing about?" Leonard guessed. Before Lincoln could respond, the rumble of another engine drew everyone's attention. A slightly aged Impala pulled up behind Vanzilla.
The driver's door opened, and out stepped a figure that made Leonard's eyebrows shoot up. A young woman emerged, her curves accentuated by form-fitting denim shorts and a white t-shirt that hugged her body, revealing a glimpse of her navel. Her brunette curls were tied in a pony tail and she had a pair of sunglasses on her head. She scanned the crowd until her eyes found the young loud male.
"Linky!" she squealed, rushing forward with surprising speed for someone in boots with heels. Before anyone could blink, she had Lincoln wrapped in a tight embrace, his face buried in her ample chest.
"Mmmphhff!" came Lincoln's muffled response. The Loud family stood slack-jawed, while Leonard let out a low whistle.
"QUIN! THERE'S LITERALLY PEOPLE WATCHING!" Lori shouted.
"Wow,Now that's what I call a trophy catch!" Leonard commented.
"Quinlan, you're going to suffocate him." came an exasperated voice as Cristina stepped out of the passenger side, rolling her eyes at her sister's display of affection. Quinlan released her grip slightly, allowing Lincoln to breathe but keeping him close.
"Sorry, sweetie. I just missed you so much during the drive." She said as she gave him a smooch on the lips. Leonard cleared his throat, catching the couple's attention.
"Lincoln, my boy, you might want to be careful. Wouldn't want your girlfriend seeing this display." Leonard joked. Lincoln's face reddened as he gestured to Quinlan.
"Uh, Gramps... this IS my girlfriend."
There was a moment of silence as Leonard's eyes darted between the two, taking in their obvious age difference. His mouth opened and closed several times before he found his voice.
"Well, chum my buckets! Loud men really do know how to reel them in, don't you? Must run in the family!" he burst out laughing while nudging at Lynn Sr. who nervously began laughing. His eyes darted towards Rita, who was giving both of them a deadpan look. Lincoln scratched the back of his head nervously.
"Gramps, this is my Honey Bee." Lincoln said as he warped his arm around Quinlan's waist. Earning a blush from the curvy blonde. "Her name is Quinlan Timber. And that's her sister Cristina." He said as he pointed to the small redhead behind her.
"H-hi Mr. Loud." Quinlan said, suddenly seeming shy despite her earlier display.
"No need for the formalities! call me Leonard! he replied with a wink." Leonard said with a thumbs up. "Though I must say, you're a bit more... developed than what i expected my grandson to brings home."
"LEONARD!" Rita scolded again.
"What? Just making an observation!" Leonard defended, holding up his hands. "Like comparing a minnow to a... well, never mind."
"Hey QT, why don't I show you to your cabin? It's just up the trail." Lincoln quickly interjected.
Quinlan's face lit up. taking his hand in hers. As they walked toward the cabins, she deliberately swayed her hips, Aimed at her little bunny who wasn't starring in that direction, but drawing more than a few stares. Cristina let out a heavy sigh and followed behind them, muttering under her breath.
"Well, I'll be barnacled!" Leonard mused, watching them go. "When Lincoln said he had a girlfriend, I was expecting someone more... his age."
"We were surprised too." Lori admitted. "But Quinlan actually really sweet once you get to know her. We made sure to establish some ground rules. but..."
Lori and the others watched as Quin pushed his head closer to her chest.
"She still gets carried away.." Lori added.
"I can see that." Leonard chuckled. "Then again, that's not the wildest Age Gap i've bore witness too."
Lincoln and QT moved around, unpacking their belongings.
"Ugh. I can't believe we have to share the cabin with the others. I was hoping for some... Alone time with my Linky." Quinlan sighed dramatically, flopping onto one of the twin beds. Lincoln set down a heavy duffel bag, wiping his brow.
"Mom's idea. She's still a bit wary after what happened after the Loud Prom." Lincoln nervously said, his cheeks reddened as he busied himself with another bag.
"You know, this place is pretty special to my family. Did you know it almost closed down twice?"
"Really?" Quinlan sat up, genuinely interested.
"Yeah." Lincoln nodded, unpacking some clothes. "The first time was when Mr. Rinsler wanted to retire. Gramps saved it then by taking over. Then there was this whole thing with the staff quitting. But we helped him figure out how to run it properly. Dad and Gramps have so many memories here."
"Mmm...And now you want to make some new memories with me?" Quinlan hummed, watching him work. Lincoln paused, turning to face her with a soft smile.
"Every moment with you is already a cherished memory, Honey Bee." Quinlan clutched her chest, swooning dramatically.
"Oh, Lincoln! Your sweet talk always gets me!" She said, blowing a kiss at him. Lincoln chuckled, turning back to the bags. Behind him, Quinlan bent over her purse, deliberately swaying her hips side to side as she rummaged through it.
"You know, we could still find some private spots around the camp..." she said playfully. Lincoln's face burned as he tried to focus on unpacking.
"Honey Bee, i don't think that's a good idea. One of my sisters might keep an eye on us. And believe it or not, Gramps has eyes everywhere."
"He seems fun though. Did you see how he took the news about us? Much better than most people do." Quinlan continued, still swaying.
"Yeah, Gramps is pretty cool about- oof!"
The cabin door swung open, hitting Lincoln's shoulder as Cristina entered, dropping her bags with a thud.
"Sorry, Lincoln! Didn't see you there." She Apologized and ran up to check on him.
"It's fine." Lincoln rubbed his shoulder. "We were just unpacking and talking about camp activities."
"Oh?" Cristina raised an eyebrow. "What's the plan?"
Quinlan straightened up, still bent over her purse. "Well, I was thinking we could-"
"Um...Sis? We know you've got a big butt, you don't have to shake it like that." Cristina interrupted, crossing her arms. Quinlan rolled her eyes but stood up properly.
"Lay off, I was just looking for something." She said.
"Sure you were..." Cristina muttered. "Hey Lincoln, could you help me unpack too? Since you're being so helpful and all."
"Of course!" Lincoln moved toward Cristina's bags.
"And sis. if you're done putting on a show, maybe you could actually help too?" Cristina added.
"Fine, fine. But I still need to find my sunscreen..." Quinlan complained but joined them.
As they worked together, Lincoln accidentally bumped into Cristina while reaching for the same bag. Their faces ended up inches apart, causing Cristina's cheeks to flush bright red.
"Sorry!" Lincoln quickly backed away. Cristina just gave a shaky thumbs up, her heart racing from the brief proximity.
"You okay there, sis?" Quinlan asked, a knowing smirk on her face.
"Perfectly fine!" Cristina squeaked, diving into her unpacking. Lincoln looked at Quin, Who simply shrugged with a knowing grin.
The entire Loud family busied themselves setting up chairs and equipment along the shore. Leonard stood waist-deep in the water, teaching some of his grandchildren the finer points of hand-fishing while the others lounged on the beach.
"Come on in, Lincoln! The water's perfect for catching some whoppers!" Leonard called out, waving enthusiastically to his grandson.
Lincoln, now dressed in orange swimming trunks and an open white button-up shirt, shifted nervously from foot to foot. His eyes couldn't help but drift to Quinlan beside him, who had traded her denim shorts for a revealing bikini bottom while keeping her now-damp white t-shirt.
"Looking pretty wet behind the ears there, Lincoln!" Luan quipped with a snicker. "Get it?"
"Can I just get a fishing rod?" Lincoln asked hastily, his cheeks burning. Leonard shook his head with a laugh.
"No can do, little minnow! We're doing this the old-fashioned way - just like I taught you last summer!" Leonard boasted. With a resigned shrug, Lincoln waded into the cool water. He focused intently on the surface, trying to spot movement beneath. After several minutes of concentration, he managed to snag a modest-sized fish with his bare hands. As he examined his catch, his mind wandered to potential dinner preparations. Most traditional fish recipes didn't appeal to him. He briefly considered suggesting s'mores instead. But then he remembered Quinlan's stern lectures about sticking to his diet plan.
'At least Michigan has salmon.' he thought. 'That's healthy enough to-'
A splash interrupted his culinary-related thoughts. Quinlan emerged from the water like a goddess, water cascading down her curves as she triumphantly held up two impressive fish. Her wet shirt clung to every contour of her body.
"These workout routines are really paying off!" she exclaimed proudly. "What do you think, Sweetie?"
"Buh...buh...buh..." Lincoln's brain seemed to short-circuit at the sight. Quinlan struck a playful pose, clearly enjoying his reaction.
"Like what you see, honey? Your Honey bee's quite the fisher!"
"Uh, sis?" Cristina called out, pointing at her sister's chest. Quinlan glanced down and let out a surprised "Oh!" Her white shirt had become completely transparent, revealing the silicone pasties beneath. Rather than seem embarrassed, she giggled and made a show of covering herself with one arm while still holding her catch.
"Oops! Sorry about the show, sweetie!" she said with an exaggerated wink. Lincoln spun around so fast he nearly lost his balance in the water, his face burning bright red. His sisters' reactions ranged from Lori's exasperated face-palm to Lynn's wolf-whistle to Lucy's monotone "Sigh." Beneath the water's surface, Cristina sank lower until only her eyes remained visible. She glanced down at her own still-developing figure and bubbled out a frustrated groan.
"Come on, puberty! Any day now would be great." She groaned to herself.
"Sorry everyone, my shirt was pretty tight so I couldn't wear a bra underneath. The pasties were the best solution I could think of!" Quinlan explained, seemingly unbothered by the situation while Lincoln continued to face the opposite direction.
"LITERALLY too much information!" Lori groaned, covering Lily's eyes.
"Maybe we should focus on getting wood for tonight's bonfire." Lincoln suggested quickly, his voice cracking slightly.
"Excellent idea, my boy! Nothing beats telling ghost stories around a roaring campfire. Just watch out for poison ivy - and the occasional bear!" Leonard called out, wading back to shore.
"B-bears?" Cristina stammered, finally emerging fully from the water.
"Oh, don't worry your pretty little head about it, They usually stick to the deeper parts of the forest. Usually." Leonard waved dismissively. Quinlan wrapped a towel around herself and pulled Lincoln close.
"Don't worry, sweetie. I'll protect you from any big bad bears!" she cooed, nuzzling his cheek. Lincoln's face turned an even shade of red.
After changing into dry clothes, Lincoln, Quinlan, and Cristina headed into the woods with Lisa tagging along to "document the local flora." Quinlan had changed into a cropped yellow sweater that still showed off her midriff, while Cristina opted for her usual attire.
"Stay within shouting distance!" Rita called after them.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, Quinlan kept finding excuses to press against Lincoln while "checking for suitable branches." Cristina trailed behind them, occasionally making gagging noises at their displays of affection.
"Based on my calculations, this location should provide optimal fuel sources for our evening's combustion activities." Lisa declared, adjusting her glasses while scanning the ground.
"In English, please?" Cristina asked.
"We should find good firewood here." Lincoln translated.
"Precisely, elder male sibling," Lisa confirmed before wandering off to examine some mushrooms.
"Look at this one, Lincoln!" Quinlan called out, bending over dramatically to pick up a branch. "Is it big enough?"
"Um, yeah, that looks... good." Lincoln managed, trying to keep his eyes on her face.
"For heaven's sake, sis..." Cristina complained.
"What? I'm just gathering wood." Quinlan replied innocently.
"You're gathering something alright..." Cristina muttered under her breath. Lincoln raised an eyebrow, but shrugged. As they gathered wood, Cristina kept finding herself gravitating closer to Lincoln whenever Quinlan was distracted. Her cheeks would flush pink each time their hands nearly touched while reaching for the same branches. At one point, while Lisa was documenting some rare fungi and Quinlan had wandered ahead to scout for more wood, Cristina found herself alone with Lincoln. Her heart began racing as she watched him sorting through fallen branches, completely focused on his task. The sunlight filtering through the leaves cast a warm glow on his white hair.
Cristina stared. Her eyes dilating, her mouth hanging slightly agape and her chest tightening with a familiar ache. Almost unconsciously, her hand drifted toward his as he reached down for another branch. Her fingers were mere inches from his when-
"Elder brother unit! I require your assistance in documenting this particularly fascinating specimen!" Lisa's voice cut through the moment like a knife. Cristina quickly withdrew her hand, her face burning. Lincoln, oblivious to what had almost happened, straightened up immediately.
"Coming, Lis!" he called back, offering Cristina a friendly smile before heading toward his younger sister. Watching him walk away, Cristina let out a heavy sigh. Her hand fell limply to her side as she tried to squash down her feelings. She knew it was pointless. She already had her chance, but her sister had snatched him up. If only...
As they continued collecting branches, Lincoln noticed Quinlan seemed to be leading them further from the others. Every time he suggested heading back, she'd spot "just one more perfect piece" slightly deeper into the woods.
"Honey Bee, I think we should-" Lincoln started before Quinlan suddenly pressed a finger to his lips.
"Shh! Did you hear that?" she whispered, pressing against him.
"Hear what?" Cristina asked skeptically.
"It sounded like... rustling. Maybe we should stick very close together." Quinlan said, wrapping her arms around Lincoln protectively.
"The only rustling I hear is you trying to-" Cristina's sarcastic response was cut off by a very real crashing sound in the underbrush nearby.
All four of them froze. Even Lisa looked up from her specimen collection.
"Fascinating! That sound pattern suggests a large mammalian presence." Lisa observed with scientific detachment.
"You mean like a BEAR?!" Lincoln squeaked. The rustling grew closer. Quinlan tightened her grip on Lincoln, who was trying to remember what to do in this situation. What did Rip Hardcore say again? Fight back, get on the ground. Which one's applied to which bear again? Cristina grabbed onto Lincoln's other arm.
The bushes parted to reveal...
"Luna?" Lincoln exclaimed in relief.
"'Sup, dudes?" Luna emerged, carrying her guitar. "Found this rad clearing perfect for practicing. The acoustics are stellar!"
"Oh thank goodness." Cristina exhaled, reluctantly releasing Lincoln's arm.
"You guys okay? Looking a bit spooked." Luna noted.
"We thought you might be a bear." Lincoln explained.
"Nah, just a rock star looking for some inspiration in nature. Though I did see some pretty big tracks back that way." Luna said and then pointed out.
"And on that note, perhaps we should return to the campsite. I think we've gathered enough..." Lincoln suggested.
"Agreed!" Cristina said quickly, already moving in the direction of camp. Quinlan, however, seemed reluctant to let go of Lincoln.
"Aww, but we were just getting to the good part of our wood gathering expedition." she pouted, pressing closer to Lincoln. "Besides, I'll protect you from any bears, remember?"
"While I appreciate the sentiment, Honey Bee. maybe we should save the adventure for when we have more daylight." Lincoln said, gently disentangling himself. Luna strummed a quick chord on her guitar.
"I could serenade your journey back to camp." she offered with a grin.
"That won't be necessary. The approaching crepuscular period typically marks increased predator activity. A hasty retreat would be advisable." Lisa interjected, closing her specimen notebook. As if to emphasize Lisa's point, a distant noise echoed through the trees. The group quickly gathered their collected firewood and began the trek back to camp, with Luna taking up the rear, occasionally playing soft riffs. Though she couldn't help but steal glances at Quin's sizable hips.
"Stay close, sweetie. It's getting darker, and we wouldn't want to get separated." Quinlan whispered, managing to wrap her free arm around Lincoln's waist despite carrying her share of branches.
"We can literally see the campfire smoke from here, sis." Cristina rolled her eyes. And indeed, the warm glow of the evening campfire was visible through the trees. As they approached, they could hear Leonard's booming voice.
"...and there I was, face to face with Moby Rick himself! The very same fish that took my big toe!" Leonard was saying, gesturing dramatically with a marshmallow on a stick.
"Did you catch him, Gramps?" Lana asked excitedly.
"Well, little minnow, that's a story for another-" Leonard paused as he spotted the returning group. "Ah! There's our wood gathering party! And just in time - these stories always sound better with a proper fire!"
The group deposited their collected wood near the fire pit. Quinlan made sure to bend over extra slowly while placing her branches down, earning another exasperated sigh from Cristina and a few knowing smirks from the older Loud sisters. Along with a concerned look from Lori and Rita. She promised, right?
"Now then. who's ready for some proper camp cooking? I've got some fresh fish that's just begging to be grilled!" Leonard said while rubbing his hands.
"Actually, Gramps, I was thinking maybe we could try something a bit different with the fish? Maybe some grilled salmon with lemon?" Lincoln suggested.
"Oooh, trying to stay healthy even at camp? That's my man!" Quinlan beamed, squeezing Lincoln's arm.
"She's really got you whipped, Little bro..." Lynn coughed into her hand, earning a glare from Quinlan.
"I think it's sweet. Totes relationship goals and stuff!" Leni defended.
As Leonard and Lynn Sr. began preparing the fish, the rest of the family and guests settled around the campfire. Quinlan immediately claimed a spot on one of the logs, patting the space next to her for Lincoln. Before he could sit down, however, Cristina quickly plopped down in the indicated spot.
"Sorry, sis." Cristina said with fake innocence. Quinlan's eyes narrowed slightly, but before she could respond, Lincoln settled down on her other side.
"There's room for everyone." he said diplomatically.
"How about some camp songs?" Luna suggested, strumming her guitar. "I've got this new one I've been working on..."
"Actually. I thought we might share some proper camp stories first. And I know just the one - The Legend of the Mastodon Ghost!" Leonard declared.
"Ghost?" Lucy and Lincoln perked up immediately.
"Oh yes." Leonard's voice dropped to a dramatic whisper. "They say that on nights just like this, when the moon is high and the wind whispers through the trees, you can still hear the trumpeting of the ancient mastodon that gave this camp its name..."
As Leonard launched into his tale, Quinlan snuggled closer to Lincoln, resting her head on his shoulder. On his other side, Cristina seemed to inch slightly closer as well, especially during the scarier parts of the story.
"...and some say, that the ghost still roams these woods, searching for campers who dare to venture too far from the fire's light!" Leonard concluded. A sudden rustling in the nearby bushes made several of the younger Louds jump. Quinlan used the opportunity to practically climb into Lincoln's lap, wrapping her arms around him protectively.
"Don't worry, sweetie. I've got you! "she cooed.
"Um, Honey Bee? I think you're crushing me a little..."Lincoln squeaked, his face reddening.
"Oh! Sorry!" Quinlan loosened her grip but didn't fully let go. Cristina watched the display with a mixture of annoyance and something that looked suspiciously like longing.
"How about we lighten the mood with some s'mores?" Rita suggested, producing a bag of marshmallows. the younger Louds cheered in unison.
"Just one for you, Lincoln." Quinlan reminded him gently.
"Aw, come on! He's at camp! Let him live a little!" Lynn protested.
"I don't mind." Lincoln assured them, though his eyes lingered on the marshmallow bag.
"Here." Cristina suddenly said, breaking her s'more in half.
"We can share mine. One half won't hurt your diet too much, right?" She said. Before Quinlan could object, Lincoln had already accepted the offered treat with a grateful smile.
"Thanks, Cristina!" Lincoln said. Quinlan's eyes narrowed slightly at the exchange, but she quickly masked it with a sweet smile.
"You're right, one little treat won't hurt. In fact..." She leaned in close to Lincoln's ear, whispering something that made his entire face turn bright red.
"W-what was that about treats?" he stammered.
"Nothing!" Quinlan said innocently, though the mischievous glint in her eye suggested otherwise. The evening continued with more stories, songs, and careful monitoring of Lincoln's marshmallow intake. As the fire began to die down and the younger Louds started nodding off, Rita announced it was time to turn in.
"Remember! stay alert! You never know when the Mastodon Ghost might come trumpeting through!" Leonard called out as everyone headed to their respective cabins,
"Very funny, Gramps!" Lincoln called back. He felt a tug on his hand. He noticed both Quin and Cristina walking faster towards the cabin.
Once inside, Quinlan immediately claimed the top bunk of one of the beds.
"Linky, could you help me up?" She extended her hand with a sweet smile.
"Of course, Honey Bee." Lincoln moved to assist her. The cabin door swung open as Lynn and Lucy entered, deep in discussion about whether ghosts could possess mastodons.
"Just saying, it would make an epic poem." Lucy insisted.
"Yeah, yeah. Just keep your spooky stuff to yourself tonight. I need my rest for tomorrow's hiking expedition." Lynn replied, claiming one of the lower bunks. Taking advantage of the distraction, Quinlan tugged Lincoln closer.
"Help me up real quick before everyone else comes in?" she whispered. Lincoln nodded and created a step with his hands, helping boost Quinlan up to the top bunk.
"Thanks, sweetie. Want to come up for a quick goodnight kiss?" She winked down at him.
"I uhhh..." Lincoln started, but Quinlan was already reaching down to pull him up.
"Just one little kiss. For sweet dreams." she insisted. Lincoln glanced around nervously, but Lynn was busy arranging her sports equipment while Lucy had her face buried in her poetry journal. Cristina appeared to be very intently organizing her sleeping bag, though her shoulders seemed tense. With a resigned smile, Lincoln allowed Quinlan to help him up onto her bunk. She immediately wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close.
"I had fun today." she whispered, nuzzling his nose with hers. "Even if we didn't get much alone time."
"Me too, Honey Bee. Though maybe try to keep the shirt incidents to a minimum?" Lincoln chuckled nervously.
"Sorry, Baby. But you're so fun to tease!" Quinlan giggled, then pressed her lips to his in a tender kiss. Lincoln melted into the kiss, momentarily forgetting their audience as Quinlan's soft lips moved against his. Her hand came up to cup his cheek, deepening the kiss slightly. Quin had hearts in her eyes as she relished in the feeling of his lips. She never got tired of this.
A loud crash suddenly jolted them apart. Below, Cristina had "accidentally" knocked over Lynn's baseball bat collection.
"Oops! So clumsy of me! Lincoln, could you help me pick these up? You're so good at organizing things!" Cristina called out with obviously fake concern.
"Hey! Be careful with those!" Lynn protested, jumping up to inspect her bats for damage. Before Lincoln could respond, the cabin door burst open again as Lola and Lana tumbled in, arguing about proper marshmallow roasting technique.
"You're supposed to get it golden brown, not set it on fire!" Lola insisted.
"But the fire makes it taste better!" Lana countered. Lincoln used the chaos as an opportunity to quickly climb down from Quinlan's bunk, though not before she snuck in one more quick peck on his cheek.
"Sweet dreams, my little bunny." she cooed.
"Goodnight, Honey Bee." Lincoln replied, helping Lynn and Cristina gather the scattered bats. As everyone began preparing for bed, Quinlan leaned over the edge of her bunk to catch Lincoln's attention one last time. She winked and blew a kiss at him.
"Lights out, everyone!" Lynn announced, flicking the switch. In the darkness, Lincoln could hear the various sounds of his sisters settling in. From above his bunk, Quinlan's voice drifted down one final time: "
Goodnight, my sweet Lincoln."
"Goodnight, my Honey Bee," he replied.
"Goodnight, Lincoln..." Cristina's voice came from her sleeping bag, so quiet he almost missed it.
"Goodnight, Cristina," he responded. As silence finally fell over the cabin, broken only by the sounds of the night and Leonard's booming laugh from somewhere near the main lodge, Lincoln found himself smiling despite his tiredness. Despite all the chaos and awkward moments, he was genuinely happy to be sharing this camp experience with his girlfriend. Even if said girlfriend did seem determined to give him a heart attack with her antics. A soft snore from above indicated Quinlan had already fallen asleep. Lincoln closed his eyes, his eyes slowly feeling heavier and heavier until he too fell asleep.