Lisa listened from her room as Bart slammed the door. She was glad the fight was over but saddened the night had to end that way. Her mother probably had the most wonderful time in months only to have it ruined by Bart. Her brother always seemed to cause some sort of problem and she was amazed that he hadn't done worse things since their father died.
Lisa gave a heavy sigh; she was tired but not tired enough to go to sleep. It had been a great night with Bart and Maggie. They watched a Disney movie, had a nice TV dinner and had a little fun putting Maggie to sleep. She was surprised Maggie hadn't woken up from all the ruckus; she guessed that she was a heavy sleeper. Lisa sat on her bed thinking for a moment, should she talk to her mother or Bart? No, they needed to be left alone; they needed to sort their own problems out.
Lisa sat at the edge of her bed, thinking about the last words her father told her. "You need to be brave Lisa." But how could she be brave? Her whole world had fallen apart. The last few months had been so hard as she tried to get on in life without her father. Being brave was a lot easier said than done. Lisa gave a heavy sigh before letting the tears slowly flow down her face. What was going to happen to the family now? Had her mother really fallen in love with Ned Flanders or was it something that Bart was taking too seriously? She knew her mother would not do that, not so soon after her father's death, she just wished Bart understood that.
Finally Lisa decided to confide in the only thing she knew would not be angry at her for being near her and that was her saxophone. It was sitting there all alone on the far corner, she had not played it in a few days and already dust was starting to settle. She hated it when that happened; it made her feel neglectful of her music. Quietly she picked it up; made sure everything was in order and began to play the first song that came to her mind. "Tears in Heaven."
At first she played softly, it wasn't too loud and usually her mother commented that her music was soothing enough to fall asleep through. After a while though, her mind began to race with all the energy and emotion she had left that day and began to play like she was in a concert hall. It was alright though, Marge did not come knocking at the door to tell her to quiet down and Bart did not bang on the wall.
When her mind came back to reality, Lisa looked over at the time and saw how late it was, it was now one in the morning, she should had been asleep hours ago. It was amazing how ones feelings could make someone keep going at what they loved. Quietly she unstrapped the saxophone and put it back on the stand before turning out the lights and hiding herself deep in her covers.
Sleep came fast to her and in no time she found herself deep in REM sleep as her dreams began to come to her. Soon she found herself standing all alone in a beautiful meadow, birds were singing all around her, butterflies landed on soft petals and a tiny stream flowed through with tiny little goldfish jumping in and out of the stream.
Lisa looked around at the beautiful sight, she had never had dream as beautiful as this before, she felt at peace as she romped through the flowers stopping to pick some and smell their sweet smell. What made this dream even stranger though was how real the smells were, she could smell the lavender before she could even pick it up and the birds looked so real she thought she could actually grab one and sing songs with it.
She continued to wander, running up hills and chasing butterflies that seemed think it was a game when she walked by. She was enjoying her feeling of happiness as she ran up another hill, when she reached the top she realized how much higher it was from all the other hills she had been running up. She looked around to see where she would go exploring next when she saw a figure sitting alone down by the stream. Lisa stared at the figure with a puzzled look, it looked like a young man, in his early twenties just sitting there watching the stream flow by.
"I wonder who he is," said Lisa to herself as she walked down the hill hoping to meet the stranger. Hopefully nothing bad would happen in which the dream would turn into a nightmare.
Carefully she made her way over until she was a few feet away from the stranger. It took her a moment to get the courage to speak up but she finally did.
"Excuse me sir, what do you call this place?" she asked.
For a moment the stranger did not respond and before Lisa decided to try and ask again he stood up and faced her.
"It's good to see you again Lisa," he said.
For a moment Lisa did not recognize the stranger. He looked to be about twenty-four with short brown hair, and he wasn't skinny but he wasn't fat either, just the right enough size to tell that he enjoyed food. That was when Lisa realized who it was.
"Dad?" Lisa exclaimed in a breathless tone.
Homer only smiled as he pulled out his arms to show that he was ready to give his daughter a hug. Lisa gave him a tear filled smile and without hesitation, she ran forward and gave him the biggest hug she could muster as Homer grabbed her in his arms and did a little twirl in the field.
"Oh Dad I miss you so much," said Lisa.
"I know Lisa, I wish I can come back, there was so much I wanted to do with you as you grew up," said Homer who let out a heavy sigh, he did not want to cry in front of his daughter when she needed him more than ever.
Lisa said nothing for a long time but enjoyed her loving bond with him. Finally she realized that seeing someone again didn't have to be sad, they could find ways to have fun.
"Let's go for a walk and enjoy the meadow," said Lisa as Homer let her down and quickly grabbed his hand.
"I was hoping we would do that," said Homer.
Lisa smiled back at his statement; she was so glad he was acting like a father rather than in her old dreams where he usually did something terribly stupid and embarrassing. As tightly as she could, Lisa held Homer's hand as she led the way toward a lake that looked inviting and fun. Homer was right behind her the whole time, never slowing down like he once did; for once he was a healthy person.
Lisa soon reached the lake a little before Homer did, it did not take her long to find a cliff that was large enough to jump down off of but small enough to keep her from waking up to this wonderful dream. She looked down at the edge and then at Homer who made his way to a nice quiet spot next to a willow tree and soaked his feet in. Lisa waved at him and he waved back before she took the plunge.
Lisa's whole body became submerged into the water and for a few moments, Lisa floated as she looked at how clear the water was around her. She could see all the way to the bank of the lake and Homer's toes as they moved back and forth through the water making rippling movements. Lisa contemplated for a moment about swimming straight over to knock Homer in when a school of fish suddenly swam by.
They were very thin fish, almost like needlefish, long pointy mouths and tails with some of the most beautiful colors she had ever seen. Some were a mixture of purples and blues while others were almost blending in with the crystal clear water. Lisa watched as they circled her, tickling her feet and hiding in her hair. Lisa giggled under the water and watched as several of them swam through the bubbles with much delight. Then without any explanation, they twirled in circles creating hundreds of bubbles, and then disappeared. Lisa stared back puzzled at what she had just seen but then remembered that someone more important was nearby.
Lisa looked back to where her father had been sitting on the bank watching her; he was still there and still making ripples along the water. Lisa smiled and swam like a mermaid toward him, leaping out of the water with as much spray as she could before smiling up at him.
"Thanks for bringing me here Dad," she said happily.
"Any time Lisa, it's a great place to think," said Homer as Lisa held onto his legs while he bobbed her up and down in the water.
Suddenly, Lisa grabbed Homer's legs and before he could grab onto something, Lisa dunked him underwater. Homer quickly came back up and waited as Lisa slowly rose back up for air as if acting like Ariel in The Little Mermaid. When Lisa finally showed herself, she had a beautiful water flower in her hand with a needlefish biting down on it like it was the stem. She handed it to Homer who gave it a quick sniff before the needlefish let go and dived back in the water, leaving only a small stem and the flower behind.
Homer looked at the flower and then smiled at Lisa before putting it in her hair. Lisa admired it from her reflection and then moved forward to hug her father tightly. Homer then pulled her off and held her hand.
"Why don't we get out of the water and watch the sun set, and we can talk about anything you want," said Homer as he began swimming back to the bank. Lisa quickly grabbed him by the shoulders and rode on his back toward the shore.
Lisa quickly jumped off when they reached the roots of the willow tree and made her way to a soft green patch where she lay down on her back and watched the leaves of the willow flow back and forth with the wind. Homer soon joined her and for a long time, they were both quiet and content. Lisa soon realized that this was a special dream, one where her father could talk to her as long as they could and she had to take advantage of that situation.
"So why is it that I see you in your younger form?" Lisa asked as she looked toward Homer who was still staring up at the sky.
Homer did not respond right away, he just looked up at the willow tree and then turned to Lisa with a smile. "Because when you go to heaven, you assume the form of when you were the healthiest and apparently it was about a year before Bart was born," said Homer.
"Oh I never thought of that, and that reminds me do you think Bart took Mom's night out a little too hard?" asked Lisa hoping that her father would give her a straight answer.
Homer turned to Lisa with a sad face; he just wanted to have a peaceful dream with Lisa but with Lisa's quizzical nature there was no way that was going to happen.
"He did yes, but that's because your brother has been holding all his emotions in. He's trying to be brave and be the man of the house like I told him to, but he is taking it too far. Now I know that crying in front of people makes you sound like a wimpy man, but sometimes its good to let all your feelings out, you need a shoulder to cry on once in a while," said Homer .
"But what about Mr. Flanders, is Mom really falling in love with him, or is it in Bart's mind?" asked Lisa hoping her father would not go out on a rant about stupid Flanders.
"Your mother has confided in him, and the more he helps the more she feels better around him. But I have also watched them and what may seem like love is just your mother finding happiness to ease the pain. I know it wasn't easy for you guys to watch me slowly die and I know it was worse for your mom who watched me take my last breath. Being with her in spirit is not as easy as it sounds, but Flanders is a good friend and he knows how to make things better," said Homer.
"So it's just friendship then?" asked Lisa, even though her father sounded convincing it was still hard to interpret.
"Lisa," Homer said calmly as he patted her hand. Lisa looked back at her father, the man she never thought would see again even in dreams. Just looking him in the eyes right now made her want to cry.
"What Dad?" Lisa asked as a tear fell down her face.
"Your mother loved me very much, you saw how she was after I left, she was miserable. She can't be miserable forever and finding the perfect friend like that is like one in a million chance, your aunts couldn't help, neither could my dad, or even a regular psychologist, she needs someone who has had that experience," said Homer.
Lisa let out a sigh, he was right about that. Marge had spent a few days with Patty and Selma, talking about how she felt, but both of them were not very good supporters; they believed that a good margarita would cure that problem right up. It actually made Marge more miserable than she was. Causing her to get sick and spend a day next to the toilet while Lisa and Bart helped her the best way they could.
"Don't worry any more; let your mother have some fun. She'll soon learn that Flanders is way too goody-goody to fall in love with and it will probably be many years before she even wants to find anyone at all. It may not even happen, we were that close," said Homer with a smile.
Lisa smiled back and gave her father another huge hug. "Oh Dad, I wish you were this convincing when you were alive," said Lisa.
"Me too Lisa," said Homer as he hugged her tightly.
"So did you really hate Flanders?" asked Lisa
Homer stared at Lisa and gave her a sheepish grin one that usually meant he was guilty of something. A grin that Lisa missed terribly. "I was jealous of him, he was a nice guy who even in the worst times had and still has the biggest smile on his face. Willing to do anything for his friends no matter what it takes. He never gives up on anything and you need a friend like that to help you get out of a jam," said Homer.
"Yeah he's a great guy, we are lucky to have him," said Lisa.
"Yeah most neighbors would go about their own lives, taking care of their own family. Not Ned though he will do anything for you, he's like a second father," said Homer.
"Heh, but I will never call him Dad no matter how hard he tries to be a father figure, you're the only father for me," said Lisa who then moved closer to Homer and hugged him tightly. Homer smiled and put his hand on her back, stroking her lovingly.
Both lay there under the willow tree, listening to the wind rustle and the sound of birds chirping. Lisa did not want this dream to end, she had never felt so at peace and she missed moments like this when she was alone with her father. Father daughter moments used to be the best times for her.
She lay there thinking about the last one she did have with Homer, it was three weeks before he had died. It had been one of his good days as he sat up in bed and played scrabble with Lisa. Lisa had won the game of course but it was one of the longest they had played together taking almost three hours and engaging in a heartfelt conversation as they tried to come up with the right words. Once the game was over, Lisa read a story to Homer but only got halfway before he fell asleep. But Lisa was okay with that, her father was frail now but at least he was able to have enough energy to have one more moment with his daughter.
Her thoughts were soon erased when Homer suddenly spoke. "It's getting dark."
Lisa gasped and jumped up to see the landscape around her, it was slowly changing different colors as the sun began to set, she could sense that her dream was almost over and she did not want that to happen, there were too many questions forming in her mind and she didn't want to leave her father again. Not when she feared that her dreams would take her somewhere else the next time she went to bed.
"Will you visit me again someday?" asked Lisa as she continued to stare at the horizon wishing that time would stop.
"I will try my best Lisa, and don't worry I will always be with you," said Homer.
Lisa was now getting nervous at the fact that it was time to leave she kept holding her father tighter and tighter before he had to pry her off. Lisa looked up at her father with sorrowful eyes as he stood up and began to walk away. Lisa could not let this happen; she had to talk to him one more time.
"Dad wait!" she finally said.
"What is it Lisa?" asked Homer as he turned around toward her.
"I have one more question."
"Well make it quick, the sun is rising in your world."
Lisa let out a heavy sigh, she did not want to cry at this goodbye, she wanted to remain strong ready to hear what her father had to tell her.
"What's heaven like?"
A/N: Out of all the chapters I have done so far, this one is my favorite and I hope it was yours too. I'll let you guys decide in your own minds what Homer might have told her, it might be a little corny but I don't care I wanted Homer to make some kind of appearance. Hopefully Lisa can relay what he told her to Bart, but I won't tell you if she does, you'll have to find out for yourself. And I know the part with the fish was kind of wierd but hey its a dream, dreams are supposed to be wierd. And I probably used the word hug too many times, I apologise if that is the case.
Alright and now I have to make a suggestion. There is a rewritten story in this section that is being put back up called "Death of a Simpson" by CalculatedChaos. So far only five chapters have been up but I am already drawn to it. Please take your time to read that one as well, he deserves some attention. It's got Sideshow Bob in a non slash way, thank God!
Well that's all for now, please review and let me know what you all thought of this. I will update again next week sometime, so be on the lookout.
