Happy Season 25, everybody! 8D

Bob wrung his hands nervously, wondering how on earth he could pull this off.

I must be firm. Must resist any homicidal urge I have. Must convince them that Cecil's . . .

He shut his eyes.

Possessed by a demon.

"God, what have I done?!" He turned halfway to run off the front porch of the Simpson household before Marge opened the door.

Both stared at each other in shock before she screamed, "AH! SIDESHOW BOB!"

She tried to shut the door; he put his foot in it. "Wait! I have not come here to try to kill you, I swear!"

"Get out of my house! What do you want?!" She backed up into the home as he opened the door. "And shut the door if you must come in, you're letting in bugs!"

He did so, and held up his hands. "Please, I need help."

She eyes him distrustfully, hands pulling at the side of a white apron thrown over the black petticoat most women chose to wear for this season's festival. "Why would you, of all people, come to us, of all people, for help?"

"Believe it or not, I have come to…" he shuddered, attempting to spit out the words like they were poison. "To…dammit, the word won't come out…."

She relaxed a little, seeing that he had no visible weapons on his person. So is this just another one of his tricks, or what? "To what?"

He sighed. It was just too hard to say. "I'm trying to say protect, but it isn't exactly the right word."

If I tell them the truth, then they'll think I'm insane for sure. As if they already don't know.

Now she just looked confused. "But I thought you hated my family."

"I do," He shrugged. "It's my brother, you see."

Bob explained what happened in the hotel, leaving out the paranormal subjects. He did tell her what Cecil had said, gaining her interest and fear for the kids.

She listened, and was somewhat relaxed—though still suspicious of his motives—at the end. It seemed like he was telling the truth, but was reminded of all the times he had lied, too. She went over in her head all of the ways this could end up—him leading her and the kids there to be slaughtered, Cecil coming and Bob turning on them so they could be slaughtered, and most other endings in which they were slaughtered. But why not just threaten her now? Why not wait until the kids were home to come here?

Marge accused, "So you're trying to protect my children? But I thought you wanted us dead!"

"It may not sound reassuring as of right now, but I still do." He scowled and crossed his arms. "And as soon as this is over…"

She nodded. "I get it. So you're proposing a treaty." It was a statement more than a question.

He nodded. "And if I'm out of the country with my family, then there will be an even longer time before we somehow meet again. Hint. Hint." Tuscany had not been forgotten.

"Right, right. So save my children from Cecil, and save Cecil from what again?"

He shook his head, face cool and relaxed. "I don't know what it was. It sounded like whoever he was talking about controlled him. But will you trust me on my word?" He held out his hand.

"Hardly." She glared. "Why should I believe you won't help him when the time's right? Or as soon as this whole thing is over, you and your brother will turn on us? Why should I trust you?"

"Because in all of the times that I have plotted to kill Bart, I never wanted him to actually suffer in pain, like Cecil will surely do. You want your children's safety, and I want my brother back. Is it a deal, or shall I simply walk away, leaving you without help to the power of a man more likely to hurt your children than I?" He outstretched his hand again.

She considered it, and then heard Maggie crying upstairs. Marge nodded, shook his hand, and hurried upstairs. "Fine. Deal. You might as well," she yelled from upstairs, "make yourself at home, now. I'll need to go pick up the kids in a few minutes too, so I think it best you aren't the first thing they see when they come home."

Both knew what that meant, and both knew who that meant.

The school bell rang, and everyone ran outside in a rush of shouts and cheers. The majority of the crowd ran to the one bus Springfield Elementary had, and the others either walked home or rode the bus.

Bart and Lisa were among the walkers, unlike all of their friends who were bus riders. However, Marge was there, and had Maggie with her.

"Mom?" Lisa asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Do you realize how embarrassing it is for you to show up here? The bullies can see us!"

"I . . ."

Want to tell you Sideshow Bob is in our house, and I've agreed to a treaty..."

"I just wanted to - to walk you guys home. Did you hear about those murders last night? The bodies were all decapitated, an-and I just wanted you guys to come home safely. Is that a crime?!"

Bart held up his hands, "Jeez Mom, calm dow-"

"Never tell a woman to calm down, it just makes is worry more!"

All in all, it was a slow walk back home.

When they got there, Marge stood at the front door with the keys. Lisa had gotten Maggie. She turned to the children before putting the key into the lock. "Kids…I want to tell you something before you come into this house."

Both looked into their mother's eyes and saw no traces of humor. Lisa was the first to speak. "Mom, what's wrong? You didn't walk us home because of those murders, did you?"

"Has somebody died?" Bart asked, "Grandpa passed away in Lisa's room, didn't he?"

"Why would he pass away in my room, why not yours?"

"Because he likes your Malibu Stacy dolls . . . which kinda grosses me out. You know, one day he was in there, and I saw him—"

"Nobody died!" Marge exclaimed, "And Grandpa is not attracted to your dolls, Lisa. It's just that, well…brace yourself. Somebody we don't exactly like or trust is in here, and I'm still debating whether or not it was a mistake to let him inside in the first place."

"Who is it?" Both asked in unison.

"Mr. Burns?" Bart asked.

"Moe?"

"That creepy guy that's always hanging out outside the Arcade?"

"No, he isn't any of those people! Let me unlock the door, and prepare yourself for the worst." She opened the door.

Even Marge walked in hesitantly, looking around carefully. After a moment of staring into the TV room, she relaxed some and motioned the kids over. "I promise you guys, I'm not insane for doing this."

They both screamed in unison the usual Sideshow Bob greeting as he slowly approached the front entrance.