Time seemed to stand still as Marge tried to get out of the way of the car that was coming toward her. Unfortunately, she didn't get out of the way in time and as the car behind her tried to slam on the brakes, it slid forward instead, hitting the rear side of Marge's car. This in turn cause a car behind that one to slam on their brakes and hit the car that hit Marge, and then another to do the same thing. Finally the fifth car was able to stop just in time while another sixth car barely missed that one.
Marge sat in her seat, dumbfounded by what just happened and amazed that the accident was not worse. It took her a minute to get her bearings back, but when she did, she realized that Lisa was crying and her motherly instincts kicked in. Marge turned to the backseat where she strapped Lisa. The seat was still in the same place, but she could see that right window and part of the back window was shattered. The glass did not look like it had fallen off the window, but Marge quickly grabbed Lisa to be sure and brought her to the front seat with her. There she stayed, while the rain continued to fall down outside feeling safer in there and waiting for police and fire to arrive.
Lisa continued to cry, but it turned into a soft cry, one that showed she was fine and willing to fall asleep again in Marge's arms. She stared down at her for a long time, smiling at Lisa and happy that they both got out of that unscathed. Hopefully everyone else in the accident did too.
She was so heavy in thought that she did not notice the figure making its way toward her until it knocked on her window. Thinking it was one of the other drivers; she rolled it down, only to find Homer standing there in the rain looking very concerned.
"You okay?" Homer asked.
Marge stared back at him in shock before replying. "Did you follow me here?"
"Yeah, but I wasn't part of the accident. I just want to try and help you. But do you mind if I come in there out of the rain and talk?" Homer asked as he tried to shake all the water out of his hair.
"Sure," Marge said as Homer made his way around to the passenger side and jumped in. He was soaking wet and looked more like a drowned dog than a human being. Marge wanted to help him dry off, but all she had was a small blanket that was Lisa's. Homer took advantage of it though and cleaned as much as he could off before the blanket was just as damp.
"Just so you know, I'm not moving from this spot until we have a nice long talk," Homer said as he handed Marge the blanket. She just tossed it in the back; she would just have to dry it off later.
"I'm okay with that, I just got really nervous just thinking about how Artie betrayed me like that, how he just didn't show any signs until I figured it out. I'm afraid it will happen again and that I will have to fend for myself," Marge said sadly.
"I understand Marge, and just so you know. I would never, ever do that to someone especially someone that I feel a connection with. I just think it's cruel, and the guilt I feel after doing something like that is unbearable. If I did do something that terrible I would make sure things ended okay and that you wouldn't have to struggle through it," Homer said as he stared back at Marge.
Marge was about to reply, when there was a knock on the window. Both jumped in surprise before Marge pulled down the window. This time an African American man in a policeman's uniform stood in front of him. According to his badge, his name was Lou and he looked a little concerned.
"Everything okay in here?" Lou asked.
"Yeah, we're fine. Do you mind giving us a few minutes, I need to talk to her," Homer said with a nervous smirk.
"Uh…sure, I'll give you five minutes," Lou said as he walked away while Marge rolled up the windows again and turned to Homer.
"Well that is very sweet what you said before the policeman came over, and I know I should have stayed at your place and ignored that weird feeling," Marge said.
"Besides, if I didn't care, would I drive all the way out here to find you?" Homer asked.
"Probably not," Marge said.
"Exactly, I've known and admired you for far too long to let you run away like this. And after seeing that other half of the heart, I'm beginning to wonder about us," Homer said.
"What do you mean?" Marge asked.
"Well think about it, we've actually known each other since we were ten and fell in love. We did not see each other again until another eight years, but when I saw you it was the same feeling I got when I met that little girl by the lakeside. I felt so terrible for abandoning her like that, she was too innocent and kind hearted to be forgotten and thrown away. She didn't deserve that, and still doesn't now. Until I met you, I always thought of that girl and wondered what became of her. Now I know," Homer said.
Marge could not help but blush a little at Homer. He had cared about her all his life without realizing it until now. There was no way she could walk away from him now. "It's good to know that after all these years; you wanted to apologize to me for what happened. I just thought you wanted to bring a girls hopes up and dash them to bits like many of the men I knew years afterward."
"Hell no! And after that night at the prom, well once school was over, I couldn't stop thinking about you. And I sort of have a confession to make…" Homer began but was quickly interrupted by the cop who knocked on the window once again. Marge pulled down the window and let Homer do the talking.
"Times up, we need to talk to everyone about the accident and exchange insurance. Moving these cars out of the road is important too," Lou said.
"Can't the insurance thing wait just a little longer, and go ahead and call tow truck, this is a very important conversation that just can't wait any longer," Homer said as he pulled out his wallet and began to look through it until he found the biggest bill he could find, a twenty dollar bill that he was glad to give to Lou to just keep him out of the way.
"Sir, it's a punishable offense for bribing a police officer," Lou began before looking around and then taking the money out of Homer's hand. "But since no one saw that, I will let you go. One dollar for each minute, twenty minutes, got that?"
Homer nodded before Lou walked away. He watched him go for a minute before responding again. "So what was I about to say?"
"You had a confession to make."
"Oh right, well remember the girlfriend I had in Key West?" Homer asked.
"Of course, she was very pretty," Marge said.
"And I miss her a lot sometimes, but my mind was always on you and when you showed up that night in Key West, I got upset because I finally had gotten you out of my mind and I was ready to move on to the future. But when I saw you again, my feelings for you returned and Jenna got upset, and well…that was the end," Homer said sadly remembering that night with a heavy heart.
"But she seemed so forgiving, I mean I could understand how she wanted to continue with schooling, but giving up on you like that, you two seemed to work out really well," Marge said.
"Yeah I know, I sort of regret it but she was right, I wasn't going to stay in Key West for long. There are other things out there for me, things I can't expect and just be surprised about," Homer said with a sigh.
"I bet you were surprised when you saw me at school," Marge said.
"Oh you know I was, in fact I'm actually glad you haven't put a restraining order on me, since I seem to stalk you everywhere I go," Homer said with a grin.
"Nah you seem harmless enough," Marge laughed as she shoved Homer a little.
Homer couldn't help but laugh either. For a moment, both were silent as they watched the rain fall from the broken down car, the lights of the emergency vehicles illuminated around them. It seemed like a harmless traffic accident, no one seriously hurt, a very good sign, and one that Marge was grateful for. For the longest time, both of them sat there thinking about what to say to the other. Homer still had those feelings for her, one that told him he needed her more than ever. She made his life complete it seemed. But was that the same thing Marge felt? Marge liked Homer, but because of what Artie did, she was really not ready to dive deep, maybe stay in the shallow water for a little while.
"Would you give me a chance?" Homer asked after a few minutes.
"What?" Marge asked as she came out of her thoughts.
"Would you give me a chance?" He asked again.
Marge looked at Homer; his eyes showed that he wanted to hear the right thing. He looked like a lost puppy dog that she found and had followed her home for so long. She had run into him so many times, that there had to be a reason for it, they had done it since they were ten, it had to mean something. But there was that issue of waiting to sign the paperwork with Artie, the issue of moving on too soon. The issue of whether or not it would last and if her heart would be broken again.
"Can you give me some time?" Marge asked nervously.
"Artie huh?" Homer asked.
Marge nodded and let out a sigh before shedding a tear. Just thinking about how she thought he was the man of her dreams gave her an achy feeling in her chest, all those years of being together wasted and thrown away like an old newspaper. She needed someone to talk to now thanks to what she had gone through in only a weeks' time. She needed someone to lean on, and even though she wanted some time to think about it, she leaned up against Homer and started to cry on his shoulder. Homer looked at her shocked; Lisa was still on her lap watching her mother with curious eyes as well. Marge was finally going to Homer for something and he suddenly felt very accomplished, as if what he had hoped for all these years had finally come true, too bad it was because of a broken heart. Carefully he put his arm around her and hugged her tightly, letting her cry her eyes out. While he began to sing a new song he had been hearing on the radio by one of his favorite artists Bob Seger called "You'll Accomp'ny Me". It was one line in particular though that made Marge listen carefully.
"I see you smiling in the summer sun," Homer sang. "I see your long hair flying when you run."
"And you saw that, when you were with Jenna?" Marge asked before he could continue.
"I did," Homer said.
"And now that the two ten year olds have found each other again, you've made your mind up that it's meant to be?" Marge asked trying to remember the lyrics too. She had heard the song enough times as well to remember most of it.
"It's always been a feeling inside me that it's meant to be, ever since that day in detention. You had never been in detention before, and yet you had to get in trouble just that once so our paths could cross one more time. I was meant to see your beautiful face again, you were meant to see me again. We were meant for each other Marge we got to be! If not then how come we keep running into each other like this? Is it really just a coincidence or has this connection between us been written in the stars somehow?" Homer asked.
Marge lay there on Homer's shoulder, dumbfounded by what he said, he was right, there was no denying that. And now that she knew him better, talked to him more, saw that he was willing to help her get to the hospital on time, she couldn't disagree. "It does make you wonder."
"Marge, I just want to be with you, I want to be a part of your life, and if you even reject that idea, I really don't know what I should do," Homer said as he felt a tear fall down his face. "I need you Marge! I need you like the earth needs rain! I need you like the day turning into night! I need you like you need me! Don't deny that, there has got to be a reason why you came to me."
Marge sat up again and looked back into Homer's eyes. They were a dull brown, but they had so much sincerity in them that it was hard not to let go. He had a nurturing feel to him that Artie never seemed to possess. She had loved Artie, and she had thought the feeling was mutual until he admitted his affair. Her pain was her pain, her sadness was her sadness. Artie never actually cared; they only married because they wanted to. He helped her with things because that was what he had to do, not what he wanted. No other reason, only because they had been together for so long, dealing with homework and never getting mad at each other somehow. They had a child, but only Marge showed affection to the little miracle.
But Homer was so different. Her pain was his pain and her sadness was his sadness. Both were crying now and both knew that there was no way one was not leaving without the other. They needed each other no matter what. For some reason she knew that his heart would never break hers, nor would she do that to him. He had already met Lisa and already they seemed to share a bond between each other. In fact, at that very moment, Lisa was gripping his shirt tightly, possibly because she was between them but she didn't seem to want to let go when Marge tried to pry her off. She couldn't say no, Homer broke her heart once, but it was an honest mistake and he never wanted to do it again because it hurt him. He was right, they were meant for each other, if she was going to someone else, would she cling to him the way she was doing it to Homer?
"I need you too, Homer!" Marge replied before she leaned against him again and started crying her eyes out. "Just like you I'm starting to wish that that night ended differently.
Homer let her cry on his shoulder while he rocked her back and forth. Lisa between them, never making a sound, they just watched the rain fall on the widow and illuminate with the red, white and blue lights. They did this until Lou once again knocked on the window.
"Can't take any more bribes or give you more time, so step out of the car please," Lou said.
Homer and Marge did what they were told. Quietly they got out, while they did so, Marge handed Lisa to Homer before taking out the car seat and handing that to him as well. "Can you put this in your car, and bring Lisa with you. I'll just go work on some paperwork and be right back."
"Will do," Homer said as he clutched Lisa tightly and ran to his car out of the rain. It wasn't raining as hard as it had been, but it was a good idea to get out of it, just to keep Lisa from getting too cold.
Homer carried Lisa to his car, and put the car seat in the back. He stared at it for a moment, wondering how exactly it needed to be buckled. Never having the experience of watching someone do a car seat, he decided to play it safe and left it there in the back before going back to the driver's seat with Lisa.
For a long time, they both sat there, Homer watching the rain and waiting for Marge while Lisa cooed in his lap, happy and content. After waiting for as long as he could, he decided to keep himself occupied and looked down at Lisa who had a cute little smile on her face. Homer smiled back and tickled her a little under her chin. Her tiny hand took Homer's finger and she began to suck on it happily.
"How can no one love you, Artie must be missing something in his brain. Yeah I bet your father pushed it out while he discovered that his job was more important or something," Homer said.
Lisa let go of his finger and cooed again before drooling. Homer could not help it, but he decided to hold her up and bounce her a little bit. Ever since he ran out to get Marge, he had forgotten that his back had hurt so when he lifted her, his back suddenly gave out and he was stuck in the position with Lisa high in the air like some lion prince being shown at a ceremony. Lisa didn't seem to mind though and let out a happy giggle before poking Homer in the nose.
"Heh thank God you don't mind this," Homer said as he tried to lower his arms. He was finally able to, but not quickly enough because moments later, Lisa spit up what had been her banana mash and milk only a few hours ago.
"You seem to like doing that don't you," Homer said as he wiped his chin and chest of baby vomit. Lisa only giggled. "Oh well, that's what happens when you have kids."
Marge finally returned after the long wait looking a little tired but overall glad that things were taken care of.
"Everything alright?" Homer asked.
"Yeah, my car's gonna be in the shop for a few weeks. I was the one who sort of started the accident. But since it was dark and rainy they said since there were no major injuries, they won't press charges," Marge said.
"That's good, you don't need any more headaches," Homer said as he handed Lisa over to her.
"No, but was Lisa good while I was gone?" Marge asked.
"She barfed on me but she seemed to enjoy me," Homer said.
Marge could not help but laugh a little, already she was having some memorable times with Homer and Lisa, more so than when Artie was with her and that was just before he left.
"So where to?" Homer asked. "Your parent's house?"
"No I'm ready to go home, and I would like you to come with me," Marge said.
"Well I sort of have to since I'm driving you," Homer said with a sheepish chuckle.
"Oh yes that's right, but it's going to be lonely in the house tonight, come stay with me. We can talk about things and get to know each other better. Doesn't that sound nice?" Marge asked.
"It sounds amazing!" Homer replied.
Finally after so many years, Homer was going home with Marge. Was it going to last? He sure hoped so; he wanted to give her a good life, a fun life, and an amazing life. What he had dreamed about for so long had finally come true and he didn't want it to end. He wanted to remain faithful and loyal and to be a good role model for her daughter Lisa. He knew he could do it, he waited this long, he did not want it to change. Life was finally heading in the right direction for him and hopefully for Marge too. And he could not wait now to see what the future held.
A/N: Believe it or not, this is the third revision to this chapter. Well actually the second. I started writing it like this the first time. Thought I had a better idea, rewrote it, didn't like it and came back to this. So I hope you all liked it and found it to be a worthy scene between the two. And for the many months that I worked on this story, I listened to "You'll Accomp'ny Me" by Bob Seger more times than you can count. It's basically the theme to this story, I just never revealed it, I wanted to keep that a secret until now. And I'm not done yet, one more chapter to go, it's more of an epilogue really, but I felt it needed one of those just because. So yeah I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and are willing to see one more from me before my time is up. So please review when you can and have a great week.