Lincoln sleeps a lot, way more than mom and dad ever let them sleep! Or, at least, Lana thinks he's sleeping. She's not sure what else Lincoln could be doing in such a small bedroom, he didn't come with any toys or games, just a little suitcase of clothes.

But he's always in his room and that's not fair! Lana has been waiting way too long to have a brother in the house! Besides, she and Lola were fostered too, the family warmed up to them right away!

Mom and Dad had sat she and her twin down and explained it was different. The twins were so young when they came to the home, they lived here more than half of their lives now. Even though she tried, Lana doesn't remember much of her life before they found home.

But if she could just talk to Lincoln, she could tell him there was nothing to worry about! Everyone was annoying, but nice. They weren't mean or anything to be scared of.

Mom and Dad said the girls had to let Lincoln come to them, they couldn't just jump on him.

So Lana waited almost a full week (her parents should be proud!) before she went to Lincoln.

He opens his door and looks down at her and...isn't Lincoln almost 11, like Lynn? He isn't as tall as Lynn, he isn't much taller than Lana, which, she decides, is a good thing.

"Hi Lincoln!" She almost yells. Lana knows she should be quiet but it's hard with how excited she is. "Wanna come outside with me? We can mud wrestle!"

"Uhhh," he speaks much softer than she does and looks around his room before answering. "Sure."

Lana grins up at him, toothless and wide, and Lincoln gives a small smile back after a moment.

Lana reaches out to snatch his hand and pulls him out of the closet - err, his room. Her hand almost circles his whole wrist, but Lana doesn't notice because she is far too excited.

They dash down the steps, Lana leading the way and Lincoln putting up no resistance. Lori stares at them instead of her phone, but doesn't stop them, while Mom and Dad smile hesitantly.

Outside, Lana throws her shoes off, wiggles her toes in the grass and dirt and feels the sun on her skin. For as long as Lincoln has been living with them, Lana doesn't think he's ever explored their yard. He doesn't really go anywhere in the house.

Unfortunately, the neighborhood had been cursed with beautiful, sunny weather the past week, not a rain cloud in the sky, so there's no mud to wrestle in. That's okay, Lana decides, she and her new brother can do something else.

"Wanna dig for bugs?"

Lincoln gives her an odd look, one Lana is very familiar with, but sits down in the grass with her, kneeling so softly that he jeans hardly leave an imprint. Lana gives him a wide, toothless grin before ripping out some grass and shoveling the dirt with her hands. After a moment, she doesn't see a second pair of hands assisting her, Lana looks up and freezes. Lincoln is nearly as white as his hair, teeth chewing on his lip as if it were bubblegum. He's not facing her, just looking over his shoulder at the house.

"Lincoln?"

He whips back to her, eyes wide. "Are...are we allowed to- to do this?"

Lana tilts her head. "Do what?"

"Ruin the yard?"

She looks around the yard and wonders if Lincoln needs glasses like Lisa does. The yard is already messy. She and Charles have already dug holes everywhere they could. There are still tire marks from when Leni drove the car through the yard instead instead of up the driveway. A handful of Lisa's experiments have left their marks while Lynn's equipment was never put away where it was suppose to go.

"Sure we are. Most of like to play outside." Lana doesn't understand why Lincoln is so nervous, but it's making her nervous too. "No one cares."

"But it might be- be different if I- I do it."

That doesn't make any sense. "Why?"

"Because I'm... I'm not part of the family."

His voice isn't sad or soft, but the way he says it upsets Lana in ways she doesn't understand. Mom and Dad never treated her or Lola different. Luan either. None of the other kids they fostered either. Why did Lincoln think he would be treated differently?

"Mom and dad aren't like that." Lana crosses her arms and scowls. "They're fair to everyone."

Lincoln blinks at her and decidedly changes his mind. "Okay. Sorry. I'm sorry. Sorry."

Lana uncrosses her arms and stops her pout. Lincoln sounded... almost scared. But that didn't make sense. He was older than her, bigger too. Why would he be afraid of her?

She looks at their house again, Lori is leaning against the window in their sight, but too distracted by her phone to notice anything going on outside. Lana wonders if it's better to just go back inside, she's suddenly very uncomfortable and Lincoln is too.

No. Lana Loud has waited too long to have a brother. She will not give up on him after one awkward moment.

Some wiggling movements in her shallow hole catch Lana's eye. Perfect!

"Here!" She reaches down and scoops up a some roly polies with one hand and reaches for Lincoln with the other. He doesn't fight her or pull away, just allows her to guide his hand wherever she wants it. Lana dumps some of the small bugs into her foster brother's hand, keeping some for herself. She rests their palms next to each other so they can both watch the creatures uncurl and crawl around once more.

"There are roly polies," Lana explains with a grin, "but Lisa calls them armondi- wait, no. Armadili-. Arma...something. I forget. But she's says they're not bugs, they're crust-a-ceans." Lana sounds the word out as best she can and thinks Lisa would be proud of her. "And they eat their own poop!"

Lincoln gives something that might be a laugh and Lana grins. The two of them watch the bugs squirm around in their hands, uncurling and moving around excitedly.

"These are cool," Lincoln says softly, as if he doesn't want the bugs to overhear him. "Thank you, Lana."

She smiles and then pauses. "Haven't you ever seen a roly poly, Lincoln?"

He looks up at her quickly before looking away, fascinated with the bugs roaming his hand. Lana is so glad he doesn't freak out like Leni and Lola did. He seems actually interested in the bugs, in what she has to say and show. "I don't think I have. At least, never up close like this."

"Here." Lana wiggles her fingers for Lincoln to give her back the bugs. "I'll put them all in my pocket." She touches her denim overalls as if to prove it and Lincoln carefully pours the roly polies back into her palm. He draws his hand away, but Lana grabs him again and brings his hand close to her face, even closer than she brought the bugs. "Woah! Where did you get these scars?"

She can feel Lincoln stiffen immediately. His wrist is strained and hand curled. Lana looks up at him, but he's not looking back; instead, Lincoln is staring at his own hand, seeing the scars on his knuckles and fingers only, as if he forgets Lana is even there.

There are little healed cuts on his knuckles and some raised skin that looks like burns and are those teeth marks? Of course, she and Lola fight sometimes, and it's hard to bite with so many teeth missing, but they've never left scars with their mouths. They've never left scars at all. You're not suppose to scar people. You're not suppose to have as many scars as Lincoln does.

Lincoln gently tugs his hand back, even though he is clearly uncomfortable. Lana guesses if she wanted to stare at his hand some more, all she has to do is grab it back, but she doesn't want to test it out.

He doesn't say anything, he doesn't look at her. He just tucks his hands under his legs and breathes shakily.

All Lana does is stare at him. She's suddenly very uncomfortable with Lincoln again and she think she should feel bad for that feeling. She doesn't know what to say or what to do, but anything would feel wrong right now. He seems very sad and lost and she doesn't know how to make him feel better. Lana pushes back on her haunches and stays silent. What's the nicest way to ask Lincoln to go back inside?

"Hey, guys?" Lori's voice sounds as shaky as Lana feels. "How about you come in and wash up? We're having dinner soon."

Lana nods, still quiet and pushes herself up immediately. Lincoln follows slowly behind her. Lori gives them both an odd look as they pass her, but doesn't say anything.

At dinner, Lana doesn't fling her food like usual. The table may be loud and disruptive, but Lana sits beside her twin and is grateful for the familiar presence of her other half. She whispers to Lola to eat quickly so that they can go upstairs, but Lana doesn't say anything more. It doesn't feel right to talk to anyone about what happened with Lincoln, it almost feels like a secret. But she tells Lola everything (even if she is a snitch) and Lana needs help figuring Lincoln out and there's no one she trusts more than her twin.

Ah, ending this was weird and funny. I tried for a while but nothing came to me. I have to work on concluding things better.

Anywho, I originally planned for Lana's piece to be sweet and a scene of bonding, but it just kind of fluctuated between fluffy and dark. It can't be too easy too quick, right? I tried to keep the writing simple for a 5 year old and I think I did that well.

Let me know what you'd like to see with the other girls!