Chapter 18: Siblings

The rest of the Simpson family reluctantly stayed with Roseanne and the Stillsons. Homer was the only one who somehow managed to enjoy himself, mostly by eating as much as possible. Marge mostly catered to Maggie while she kept trying and failing to think of a way to get Lisa to come back home. As for Bart, he tried to get to know Sarah but she, having already known what he did to Lisa, refused to even look him. This didn't really hurt Bart that much, it probably would have ended in pain like the rest of his relationships did anyway.

He spotted Lisa sitting by herself next to the lake. He let out a heavy sigh and approached her.

"Hey Lis! Can I sit here?" He asked.

"You may." Lisa stated, not even looking at him.

"Lisa." Bart began. "You know I really am sorry about what I did. And I know Mom and Homer are sorry for not sticking up for you."

"And I've already accepted your apology. What more do you want?" There was a touch of venom on her voice.

"For you to come back with us already." Bart admitted.

"Why is it so damn important that I come back?" Lisa argued. "So you can prank me again?"

"No!" Bart denied. "Because it's where you belong!"

"This is where I belong!" Lisa stood up and turned to face Bart in a single second, fury in her eyes. "Surrounded by people who actually appreciate the person I am instead of mocking me. People who don't sell my room to a corporate phone company without so much as telling me! People who don't weaponize Christmas to try and reconvert me because I'm a Buddhist. People who don't show my baby pictures to everyone at school!" Lisa slowly approached Bart as she listed off her grievances, poking him hard in the chest at the last one mentioned. Needless to say, Bart was surprised but what was even more alarming was Lisa falling into an even deeper depression than ever.

"Lisa." He asked cautiously.

"It's not like I'm any better." Lisa muttered. "Remember when I tried to get you to quit meat by guilt-tripping you over Lou?"

"Oh yeah!" Bart answered thoughtfully.

"Or that time I filed a restraining order against you and made you live outside?"

"I sure do." Bart replied. "I was pack leader of the stray dogs for like five weeks."

Lisa began to tear up. "Bart, we're terrible people aren't we?"

"We sure are." The two siblings sat down again. After a while, Bar spoke again.

"You remember when we had to compete against each other at ice hockey?" Bart asked.

"I do." Lisa sniffed. "Dad was so mad."

The two siblings shared a laugh.

"Bart." Lisa asked again in a more serious tone. "Are we bad people?"

"Of course we are! We're the Simpsons!" Bart shouted. "But whenever we get into trouble, we help each other not be so bad and then we're less bad." Bart stood up. "And Lisa, you're the least bad of us all. That's why we need you. So you can help us be less bad too."

"Bart." Lisa wiped the tears from her eyes as Bart held out his hand.

"What do you say Lis? Will you come back?"

Lisa took Bart's hand and got back up. But before she could answer, Selby burst through the bushes, panicked.

"Selby!?" Lisa shouted. "What happened?"

"It's my Dad!" Selby cried. "He's gonna kill the bird!"