"Sometimes shopping can be difficult, but I'm sure you'll learn fast, Lily." The second born of the Loud siblings told her little sister. "I hope to see the day where I can see you do it for yourself."

"I can't wait!i." Lily replied.

Lily and Leni, both blonde, cute and a little naive, were away from the others running from store to store, taking clothes and leaving them to take other clothes in a seemingly never ending cycle. Rita, the matriarch of the family, had all her attention on her little daughters, but soon she too got caught in the shopping fever when a beautiful summer dress was displayed in front of a shop. Oh my gosh! Lynn will love this! she thought, fantasizing about the look in the face of her husband once she put on the dress.

Speaking of Lynn, he and Lincoln were watching over them as well, though they too got distracted at times. What was the matter? Lincoln thought, they could take care of themselves, can't they? It won't hurt anyone if we sit for a little bit.

Both father and son looked for a place to rest their tired feet; keeping up with eleven girls inside a mall sure was energy draining. They found a place at the very heart of the mall, it looked like keeping an eye on them wasn't going to be that hard after all.

"Say, dad," Lincoln spoke. "Do you think that there is a remote possibility that the girls can finish their shopping in less than six hours?"

"I'm afraid not, son," Lynn responded, earning a sigh from Lincoln.

"We gotta do something, we can't just stay here all bored while they catch all the fun."

The patriarch of the Loud family tried to think of something to do, but got interrupted when his stomach growled. "You wanna go and eat something? Whatever you want, I'm so hungry I could eat a whole cow right now."

There were a lot of restaurants and food stands in the mall, but ultimately Lincoln decided for the nearest place. "How about Chinese food?"

"Sounds like a plan. Let's go."

They walked in direction to the Smiling Dragon Chinese Buffet. Once they entered and ordered the food, they started to chat with other customers; turns out they all were in the exact same situation as them: their wives (mothers and sisters in the case of the kids) were too busy shopping around and exploring the stores while they had to wait. You know what they say about suffering? It gets easier when it's with others. Well, maybe suffering it's a strong word but you know what I mean.

Lincoln ordered a beef and chicken chop suey while his dad had a noodle soup with vegetables and soy sauce. They ordered a bowl of rice and shrimps on the side. They talked about many things: music, sports, politics, girls, everything a son and father can talk about and had a good time. Lincoln really appreciated his father, the only man in the house besides him. He seemed to be the only man who understood him; after all, he raised him and his ten sisters.

"Hey, dad."

"Yeah, son?" Lynn Sr. asked, finishing what was left on his plate and placing the chopsticks on the side.

"How can you keep up with eleven children?" Lincoln questioned. "Do you ever get tired?"

Lynn knew that, judging by the look in his son's eyes, he was serious. Maybe it was time to teach him a little lesson.

"You see, Lincoln, sometimes there are things that one cannot explain with words; the best way to learn is from experience. In other words, I believe you must be a parent yourself to understand. One thing I can tell you is: when something so pure and innocent is under your responsibility and protection, you understand you gotta do everything in your power to keep it safe. It all surges from love; since the time I held Lori in my arms when she was born, I understood what the real meaning of love was." He placed his hands on his stuffed belly. "You've taken care of your sisters, and even when it is similar, it's not the same as taking care of a son or daughter. I do all that because I love you all, and I want the best for you."

Lincoln understood (or so he thought), and once more he admired his father's patience and ability to take care of his offspring. And even more he admired his mother, who went through the beautiful curse of pregnancy for over ten years. He agreed that a sister was not the same as a daughter, but they were similar; after all, who cheered up Lucy? Who carried Lynn on his back when she was injured? Who helped Luna find the courage to get on the stage? Who earned Luan and Lola's appreciation and still had time for himself? He did have some experience.

"I guess you're right." Lincoln said. "Hey, we gotta get back to check on the girls."

They walked back to the benches at the center of the mall. There they met with Leni, who carried bags and more bags of clothes, makeup and other stuff. She looked happy, but…

"Uhm, Leni," Lynn Sr. said, looking all around them. "Where's Lily?"

Lincoln looked around as well, amazed at how his father noticed her sister's absence so fast. He didn't even remember that Lily was with Leni to begin with.

"Eh? Wasn't she with you two?" Leny responded. "She told me she'd go and join you guys at the bench."

"But we went to eat something," Lincoln explained.

"Alright, alright" Lynn Sr. spoke in an effort to calm everyone down. "Let's spread and look for her. If any of you see your mother or the girls tell them that Lily's lost. Let's go!"

With no time to waste they all walked in separate ways. Lincoln, finding incredible how calmed his father was in a situation like this, wanted to prove to himself that he could understand what he talked about. He tried to think like Lily would, trying to think where she could have gone.

I'd first go where I said I'd be, with me and dad at the benches. he thought. Upon not finding us, I'd wait there for us to arrive, but I'd be scared to be left alone so I'd try to find somebody I know. If I was with Leni then chances are that I'd go with her again…of course! Don't worry, Lily; your big brother's coming!

Lincoln knew Lily would follow Leni anywhere; she was her favorite sister and the one she's attached to the most. Leni knew very well that the best dresses were at the farthest part of the mall; it was a 'girls thing' Lori once told him (you won't get it, now get out of my room, twerp). Following that line of thinking, the man with the plan headed towards his destination.

Once in the store he started to search every corner, every stand filled with dresses, every little part where a girl as small as his sister could've gotten into. It didn't take him long to spot a blonde girl with a cowlick just like his; she stood near a female police officer.

Lily tried to explain that she was lost to the law officer, but her sobs prevented her from speaking clearly. She knew she had to wait for her family at the benches, but the huge amount of people around scared her. She tried to return with Leni, but forgot in which store she was. The officer tried to calm her down so she could notify the manager about a 3-24 (lost child) until she heard the little girl scream.

"Lincoln!" she cried as she raced towards his brother's arms.

"Wait sweetie! Is he…" the officer looked at the white haired boy with narrowed eyes. "Aren't you too young to be her.."

"I'm her brother," Lincoln explained, clearing his throat.

"Oh, ok." The officer said, now a little more relaxed. "I guess you can take good care of her, just be more careful next time. Have a nice day!" She waved them goodbye and left the place to carry on with her routine.

Lincoln checked on her to see if she was injured, but as soon as he kneeled to have a better look she threw herself at him, burying her face on his chest and letting her tears flow freely.

"I'm sorry Lincoln!" she lamented. "I wanted to go back by myself but instead I got lost... I was so scared…I'm not ready for this!"

Lincoln hugged her tightly, rubbing her back in an effort to calm her down. "Don't worry, Lily, your big brother's here."

Lily felt so safe in those arms that protected her. She was thankful for all the things Lincoln did for her, now and since forever. She remembered all the times her brother came to her aid, all the times he supported her and taught her to do things. He has been there for her even when she didn't asked, like the time when he attended to her school's play in first grade, when she scraped her knee and he came with a first aid kit, when he taught her to make cookies or the time they both rescued an injured baby squirrel. He's never abandoned her.

"Thanks a lot, Lincoln, I don't know what I would do without you…" she wiped away the tears. "I love you so much…"

They hugged for a little while, finding peace and love in the arms of the other. Unbeknownst to them, one of their sisters observed them from afar…

Lucy was looking for Lily just like her other sisters, the only difference being that she was actually trying. You see, as soon as dad told them that she was lost, they all spread all around the mall to cover more ground. Lori walked around with her eyes glued to her phone, Leni, feeling responsible, began to desperately look for her until a beautiful dress caught her attention. Luna went to the music store, Luan to the novelty shop, Lynn ran towards the subway stand, Lola and Lana fought over which store they had to go: Lana said the pet store while Lola opted for the beauty salon, and Lisa made her way to the parking lot (where, by sheer coincidence, an epic rap battle was taking place). What did they have in their head? Their little sister was lost and they use it as an opportunity to continue spending money or wasting time.

She headed for the places she thought a kid would like, searching first on the candy shop and then the toy store, and after not finding her there she decided to help Lincoln. The last time she saw him her brother was running towards the dress shop at the end of the hallway, she might as well go and give him a hand.

Upon arriving, she met with a police officer walking out of the shop.

"Nevermind, her brother found her." she heard the officer say while holding her radio close to her face. Well, it looked like Lincoln found her first. Lucy walked into the store and looked for her brother; she hopped on a stool and began to scan the place. After finding a white spot not so far she climbed down and made her way towards him..

As she walked, Lucy couldn't help but think about Lincoln, about what she felt for him. Was it love? She wasn't sure; the little experience she had with love ended up with the boy she had a crush on taking her heart and smashing it into pieces.

But again, her brother came to the rescue. He took those pieces, put them together again one by one and glued them until it was as good as new. With Rocky it was a stupid school romance; deep down she knew it wouldn't last (though she had no idea it would end up that bad). But what she felt for Lincoln was real, and she was damn sure about that. He was the stars that shone bright on her moonless nights, the poet whose beautiful words melted the ice of her cold heart and left a permanent fire that warmed her and gave her the will to carry on, the knight in shining armour that came to rescue her from the evil dragon.

Yeah…forget what I said; that last one sounds like something Lola would say.

She arrived with her brother, just to witness with wide eyes hidden behind her bangs how he embraced her little sister tightly. Lucy didn't know why, but she felt like her whole world fell apart.

What is…? She pondered. Why is he hugging Lily like that? Just like he hugged me?!

Lucy backed up a little bit. Why do I feel like this? It's only normal for him to help our sisters, that's what a brother does. Then…why do I feel like something broke inside my chest?…

Lucy couldn't withstand this anymore. Turning around she began to walk back from where she arrived.

Lola walked while fixing her dress and hair; the argument she and Lana had for which place they would go first ended up pretty much like every other argument: in a fight.

They fought until their father stopped intervened. He told them to stop fighting, and if they can't come up with an arrangement they could go on their own like everyone else, which they reluctantly accepted. Lana ended up going to her filthy, barn-smelling place while Lola decided to avoid the beauty salon and actually went to search for Lily.

It wasn't a surprise that Lily got lost while under Leni's care; it had happened in the past but those times it was inside the house and when Lily was way younger. She wasn't mad with Leni; she understood her big sister wasn't the smartest and could sometimes be careless. But she had a golden heart and a strong maternal instinct; Leni may not know how many things are made, she may not know how the Wi-Fi she uses every day works. But she knew very well how to cheer up everyone when they were sad, she knew how to make the most delicious cookies they've ever tasted. Hell, if anyone had a special occasion but couldn't decide what to wear, she'd come up with something that would blow their expectations and wouldn't expect anything in return.

All her siblings had something that made them special, but if she had to pick one, it was her brother.

Lincoln.

The sole mention of his name made her heart flutter. She hasn't forgotten the time when she gave him the gift; she cherish that memory with her heart because that was when she realized that...

While lost on her thoughts she spotted Lucy walking right in her direction; maybe she'd like to join her, searching for someone all alone can be quite boring.

"Hey Luce, you mind if..." Lola started, but Lucy didn't even seemed to have noticed her. She passed by without uttering a single word.

Lola may not be the closest sister to Lucy (that's Lynn's place), but she knew that something was going on with her. And it had to be really bad for Lucy to not notice she was talking to her. Hm, she came from that store, might as well go and see what happened. the blonde thought.

After walking for a while she entered the store; women grabbing dresses, other just chip chatting, some of them fighting over a dress, nothing out of the ordinary. Lola liked dresses herself, but she never understood how could someone could be so...

Her whole world halted as she spotted the person for whom her heart beat. What was he doing in a dress shop? For the matter, what would a man do in a...

Then she realized he wasn't alone. In her arms was the reason her sisters and father were so desperate around the store: Lily.

On one hand she felt relieved that she was safe. But on the other...

She saw as they broke the hug; she saw the look in the eyes of her little sister, the same look in her eyes when Lincoln accepted her gift, the same look of...

Love.

"I-It can't be…" She said, taking one hand to her mouth. "She's so young…well, so am I, but…"

Lola shook her head. "Wait, what am I thinking? Why-Why do I feel like this?" she asked to herself. "Why do I feel this way for him? W-What's happening?" she thought. She felt guilty because, like Luan said, Lincoln didn't belong to any of them; he was their brother and his duty was to help them all whenever they needed, just like it was their duty as sisters to help him. But then, why did she had that strange sensation in her chest? Why did she felt as if something was taken from her and crushed to pieces? Why did she wanted to cry?

She finally understood why Lucy didn't even noticed her; she herself didn't feel like talking to anyone right now. You know, maybe it was for the best if she followed her example, and with that she walked out of the store while trying to hold her tears.

Lincoln broke the hug, informing his sister that it was time to go. Lily accepted, but only if he carried her piggyback. At first he hesitated, but then she used her secret weapon: her puppy eyes. If he thought Lana or Leni had beautiful eyes, man, Lily's were on another different lever. After a little while they returned to the benches where their family waited for them relieved that Lincoln had found Lily. As a reward, Lynn Sr. promised Lincoln to raise his allowance.

Lincoln felt proud upon feeling his parental side, which meant he understood how his father felt every single day. While most of the sisters were happy, there were a couple of them who didn't take their eyes off their brother throughout the ride home as he played with Lily.