Christmas Gift (Loan Loud)

In the middle of Royal Woods Mall stood the largest Christmas tree that little Loan had ever seen and so she stared intently at it, with big round eyes. Silent, motionless, she was transfixed. "Loan, sweetie, grab hold of my hand." Her mother called out and Loan tentatively took hold of Lori's outstretched hand, using her free hand to grab onto her mom's skirt. "Hey now, you're literally going to make me trip up, doing that." Lori chided her little girl, but Loan stayed silent. With a sigh, Lori slowly began to walk towards a nearby shop, with Loan placing her tiny feet wherever her mom's used to be.

Though it took them ten minutes longer than it should have, Lori and Loan had made it to the nearest gift shop; with Lori guiding her young daughter inside, they entered.

Now though most kids might gasp at the sight of Christmas within the shop, Loan didn't make a sound. Her eyes, however, and a biting of her lips, was very much telling that she wasn't immune to child-like wonder. She began to wander off, arms outstretched towards the nearest Santa cotton doll, until Lori noticed. "Loan, no." Lori stated, a hint of worry in her voice, as she was never quite aware of how to deal with a child, when all they wanted to do was explore. With a sigh, Lori held out her hand and, with a nod, Loan grabbed hold. This time, Lori held on, sure that Loan would wonder off again, given half the chance.

Taking Loan around the gift shop, by hand, made things twice as slow. It irritated Lori somewhat, but she had always been thankful that Loan had never been a big screamer. Kids are all about taking the rough with the smooth, her mom would always say, and to this end, Lori couldn't really ask for more from Loan. Truth be told, as she looked down at her only daughter, she felt a pang of guilt. Loan was downcast, but didn't even know how to express, so she just looked down at her feet. For a kid Loan's age, maybe shopping errands was a bit much.

So, Lori knelt down to Loan's height and looked her in the eyes as she spoke gently and softly. "Sweetie, why don't you pick something for yourself. I'll buy it for you." A stranger wouldn't be able to tell that Loan was elated. But, a mother always knew. Even though Loan was still silent, slow and steady with her footsteps, Lori could tell how happy Loan was, as Loan bounced her tiny hands up and down.

Once Lori had finished her shopping list, and Loan had taken a Santa doll from the bottom self, they left the gift shop, left the mall and then left the plaza. Loan had been belted into the back seat, and was happily playing with her doll, while Lori made her way to her younger sister, Luna Loud's, place. Now and again, they would pass by a group of people and Loan would use her doll to wave at them. An action that kept her preoccupied, until they finally reached Luna Loud's.

Once again, even though they had long since left the shopping mall, Loan grabbed onto Lori's skirt with one free hand. "Loan, you've been to this house before. Why're you so nervous?" Lori asked, but Loan only looked down. Lori was just about to do her best to comfort Loan, when the house door opened. "Lori!" Luna cried out, as she stood in the doorway. Holding a baby in one arm.
"Ah, happy holidays, little sis." Lori replied, trying to make her way towards Luna, as Loan dragged her heels from behind.
"Not so little now." Luna chuckled, as she used her free hand to grab a hold of one breast. Lori only smiled, as she waited to be invited in. "Oh, come in, come in." Luna ushered, as she realised she was keeping her oldest sister and niece in the cold. With a nod and a smile, Lori trudged inside, with Luan stuck on her mother like glue.

Once inside, Loan made herself at home. "Where's Lincoln?" She asked, as she took off her jacket. An act made harder by having to manoeuvre around Loan. "He just called to say he's snowed in at work." Luna explained with a slight grumble, as she sat down. "Loan, come sit beside me!" She then added, once she realised Loan was staring. Lori, seeing a moment to make Loan a little less dependent, gently pushed her daughter towards Luna. Loan toddled forward and then sat at the opposite end of the couch that Luna was sitting on.

Nervous, she looked away from her aunt. But, when curiosity proved to be too much, she looked back and saw that Luna was smiling. "Say, Loan, my arm is getting tired, why don't you hold Lyra for a while?" Luna inquired in her best mom voice. Lori however, wasn't convinced. "Er, Luna, maybe that's not-" But she was cut off by Luna, who was already shuffling closer to Loan.
"There you go, put one hand on her back and another on the back of her head. That's right." Luna kept one hand on Lyra, until she was absolutely sure that Loan had a good hold of the baby. Then she let go and Loan held onto Lyra all by herself. Luna beamed as she watched the pair and Lori couldn't help but beam herself as she watched Loan take on a responsibility she never thought she would be able to handle. For a brief moment, Loan made a half smile, as she held Lyra and they met each other's gaze.