Two weeks had passed since Marge had gone to see Ned and so far Marge was feeling a bit better. Ned seemed to be her personal psychologist, helping her with whatever she needed. She had gone to see him six more times during those two weeks, and twice she visited him at the Leftorium while the kids were in school. Marge was no longer crying as much but everyone could still feel the emptiness inside her. Everyone knew that it would be a while before she felt true happiness again.
The kids had noticed this change in their mother as well and it felt refreshing to them. They didn't have to see her cry over a meal or a good movie with a loving husband and wife. But Lisa and Bart knew they had to find counsel in someone and both agreed that a week afterward they would talk with Rod and Todd about their feelings over loosing a parent themselves.
It was during recess after lunch when Bart walked out of the cafeteria looking around for Lisa. He had not seen her during lunch and wondered if she had gone off to her special spot to read a book by herself.
Sure enough, he found her, nose deep into a book, tears falling down her face.
"Lisa! You shouldn't read anything sad right now," said Bart as he walked over.
"It's not my fault Bart, this book is about vampires and I didn't realize the main character Bella would do such a thing to her father in the end here," said Lisa as she pointed out what was going on in Twilight.
"Oh great, you're a fan too?" asked Bart.
"Not particularly, I find Bella strange, she should really go after that Mike character," said Lisa as she wiped her face of the tears that had fallen.
"Well I guess that's good to know, you still wanna talk to Rod and Todd?" asked Bart.
"Sure, have you seen them today?" asked Lisa.
Bart looked around; he knew both of them where at school today, Todd had been answering most of the questions during math today. It was so annoying listening to smart kids.
"I did see Rod by the water fountain when school started this morning," said Lisa.
Bart continued to search and he did find them the only problem was, they were not alone. They were over by some rocks that many of the kids liked to play on during recess, Jimbo, Dolph, and Kearny were there too, but he knew that it wasn't because they wanted to gossip.
"Oh great the losers are going to get pummeled," said Bart.
"Well go stop it, who knows maybe they will talk to you after being saved," said Lisa who gave him a quick shove so he could get a move on.
"Yeah that would work, you wanna come with and give me support?" asked Bart.
Lisa looked down at her book for a moment then up at Bart. He usually had a good way to keeping the peace. "Sure, this book is annoying any way," said Lisa.
Bart then led the way down the hill toward his neighbors who were by now pinned against the wall looking worried and unsure of what to do. Once Bart was close enough, he gave Jimbo a heavy shove on the shoulder.
"Hey man, who's trying to interfere with our negotiations?" asked Jimbo as he turned around after regaining his footing.
"That would be me, and I would suggest you three leave those two alone if you know what's good for you," said Bart.
"Oh yeah, you and what army?" asked Kearny who towered over Bart while he punched his fist. Dolph and Jimbo were right behind him, smirking and ready to punch the underachiever out. Bart looked up at them nervously, in his act of bravery, he had forgotten how much taller they were and tougher. He now felt like a mouse trapped by three very hungry eagles and there was no escape.
"Him and this army," said a voice behind them.
Bart and the bullies turned around to find Todd looking a bit angry while Rod just stared wondering what was going on in his brother's head.
"Oh look, the wuss wants to fight too, should we let him?" asked Dolph.
"I bet he will fall down in two seconds," said Jimbo who gave Todd a small shove.
Todd fell back and was quickly caught by Rod. "Why are you doing this Todd?" he asked.
"Because if he wants to help us then I say he is a good neighbor. Plus Dad said they would come to us eventually," said Todd.
"Oh that's right, you guys loose another parent then you all will be orphans, and then we will call you little orphan morons!" said Jimbo.
The bullies then started chanting "Little Orphan Morons" Making Bart, Todd, and Rod get very angry. Lisa was even showing her anger by ripping pages out of her book, as a way of staying out of the mess.
Todd ignored the remarks and moved forward to give Jimbo a punch in the face. Because of his size though, Jimbo quickly stopped him by pressing his palm against Todd's head while Todd kept trying to move forward, both his fists flailing out to hit Jimbo, only to hit air. The bullies laughed before Jimbo pushed Todd backwards where he quickly landed in some mud and looking a bit surprised by what just happened.
Finally Bart moved forward, fist in the air, ready to hit whoever made his target. It was Kearny. Kearny did not see him coming right away and did move in time as Bart's hand met just under his eye, sending Kearny sprawling back against the rock. Kearny fell in a heap and lay there stunned.
"Hey you don't do that to our leader," said Jimbo as he moved forward casting a shadow over Bart who was now cornered once again and with no way out.
Before Bart knew it, both Jimbo and Dolph were on him. He did not have any time to fight back before he finally blacked out.
Bart awoke a few moments later with Principal Skinner standing above him looking concerned but pleased to see he was still alive.
"You okay Bart?" asked Skinner.
Bart sat up, everything felt sore and he felt something warm trickle down his chin. Bart touched it and was shocked to find blood on his hand. He quickly discovered that he had received a fat lip, and his right eye was only halfway open and it didn't look too great already.
"I guess so, but ow!" said Bart.
"I went to get Principal Skinner just as you were about to be pummeled, you were lucky they didn't do more to you and you can thank Todd for that." said Lisa who then pointed at Todd who was also shaken up while holding his arm and covered in mud. The bully's were standing nearby being blocked by Mrs. Krabapple from getting any closer. They would most likely be suspended for a few days.
"Well you two need to go to the nurses station and we will call your parents, Todd you might have a hurt wrist. And you are all suspended for the rest of the day, Lisa you too," said Skinner.
Todd said nothing but let Rod help him up as he and Lisa escorted their brothers to the nurse's center to get patched up. Along the way Bart peered over at Todd with his good eye and gave a small smirk.
"Wow Todd, I didn't know you had it in you," he said.
"Yeah I don't know what came over me either, one moment I was glaring at those bullies with an evil eye, the next I found myself on top of the stupid one and smacking his head, before he flipped me on my back and twisted my wrist," said Todd.
"Could you be more specific?" asked Bart.
At that, all four kids laughed.
Bart had been quickly given an ice pack for his eye, his lip had stopped bleeding just before entering the room but now it felt sore and painful. Todd had only sprained his wrist and was given a wrapping so he would not have to move it too much. Once they were all patched up they all walked to the front office to wait for their parents.
"I find it odd that I am getting suspended the rest of the day, but I guess Skinner felt it was for the best since I did kind of provoke you," said Lisa as she sat down.
"Yeah, but that means Mom doesn't have to pick us up twice," said Bart who let out a heavy sigh, mainly because he was still shocked over what had just happened. He never imagined his neighbors helping him out in a jam like this.
"Just so you know, you two are very brave with what you have been through," said Rod.
"Yeah we try to be," said Lisa as she watched Bart adjust his ice pack on his eye.
"I don't know how many times I cried for mom after she died at night, it seemed like a year," said Todd.
"I think it was only three months but it was still forever," said Rod.
"How did you guys get over it?" asked Bart as he adjusted the ice pack making sure he had a nice big ice cube on his eye. He then flinched before letting out a sigh of relief.
"Dad helped us, just like he helped your mom, you can probably learn from him if you ask him," said Todd.
"Yeah we'll probably get around to it," said Bart in an unconcerned voice. He wasn't as interested in seeing Flanders as Marge was.
"Oh and one more thing, your mom seems very smitten with our dad, I was watching her leave our house yesterday and she would not stop hugging him and telling him how glad she was to have him around," said Rod.
"Oh that probably doesn't mean anything," said Bart.
"Think about it, she has been happier since she has visited him," said Todd.
"But that's because your dad is helping," said Lisa.
"I would watch though if I were you, when Dad fell in love with that musician he had that look like he wanted to be with her forever. It looks like your mom has that," said Todd.
Bart and Lisa both gave each other concerned looks, what if their mother was already finding someone new to love. It just didn't seem right to them, not so soon any way. To both of them, finding a new love should not happen until at least the third year or if the love was strong, not at all. Lisa then turned to the door and saw Ned coming up the steps.
"Speak of the Devil," said Lisa when Ned opened the door. Rod and Todd gave her an "unsatisfied with her statement" look. "Speak of the saint?" Rod and Todd then nodded.
They waited as Ned announced he was here to pick up his kids and when he entered the room, they all looked up at him with sheepish faces.
"Nice to see you all are getting along, too bad you're getting suspended for it, what did I tell you about turning the other cheek?" asked Ned with a stern face yet his voice did not sound too upset.
"Sorry Daddy, I don't think that would have worked out well though since we would have been pummeled either way," said Rod.
"Yeah those bullies never take no for an answer," said Bart.
"Oh well, its all behind us now, time to head home. Bart, you and Lisa are coming with me too, your mom did ask since she is making dinner for all of us tonight," said Ned.
Bart and Lisa's eyes widened at the statement, which was a feat for Bart under all that ice pack. They both turned to Rod and Todd who looked at them nervously.
"That's one sign," said Todd in a whisper.
Lisa and Bart both gave each other worried glances; Marge had never invited Ned over unless it was an apology for something. But it could also be for thanking him for helping her out, whatever it was they would keep an eye out for any signs of affection.
Lisa and Bart hoped that the drive would be nice and quiet so they could calm down after that fight on the playground, but they soon learned that Ned had other plans.
"Bart I know you thought getting into a fight would make you seem tougher but that doesn't always solve your problems," said Ned once they were away from the school.
"What? I wasn't fighting because I was sad, I was fighting because I wanted to help out Rod and Todd," said Bart who then grumbled under his breath.
"And that was very nice of you to help, but you could have helped them by walking away and keeping the peace. I know you've had a rough month and I know what its like to loose someone you love and when that happens, you don't think clearly so you end up doing things you regret," said Ned.
"But trying to keep the peace is impossible with them, even if you try to back down they will sill fight you, call you names and just treat you like crap. I knew what I was doing and I don't regret it," said Bart as he adjusted his ice pack again while he let out a huff.
"But remember the martyrs in the Bible; they were ridiculed for not fighting back, but they didn't care. A lot of people find them very brave," said Ned.
"Yeah right then they died," said Bart as he rolled his eyes. Even though Bart had half his face covered by an ice pack, Lisa could still see him glaring at Ned and she knew why.
"Just try to be more careful next time, you don't want your mother all in a tizzy over you guys, you are all she has now," said Ned.
Bart said nothing but continued to glare the rest of the trip. Ned could sense that Bart was not happy with his fatherly attitude and kept his mouth shut the rest of the way home. Even Rod and Todd who both decided it was best to stare out the window. Todd holding his injured wrist while Rod would count how many trees he saw.
Lisa and Bart were very happy when Ned finally pulled into the driveway once they got home. It felt too awkward to be around him at the moment and both wanted to have a short amount of quiet time in their own house before dinner.
Once they got out of the car, Bart and Lisa quickly thanked Ned who informed them he would be over in a moment. Bart only rolled his eyes and grumbled as he followed Lisa to their house.
"He's not our father but he sure is trying to act like one, thinking he can take over right away what a moron," said Bart.
"Yeah I don't like that either, Dad would have congratulated us for standing up to someone," said Lisa.
"Yeah he would have picked us up and taken us for ice cream," said Bart who then licked his lips at the thought of a really good ice cream cone.
Lisa only nodded as she opened the door and both their nostrils were filled with wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. Marge had not made anything this delicious smelling in a while and both were glad to finally have a good meal after more than a month.
"Hi mom," said Lisa sheepishly when she entered the kitchen.
Marge had been busy chopping some celery for the salad she was making but quickly stopped what she was doing and turned to the kids with a look of annoyance on her face.
"So you both got into a fight," said Marge.
"Actually I just watched, Bart did most of it," said Lisa as she stared at Bart who was still holding the ice pack on his eye. He wasn't sure how long he needed it on; he just knew that it was making him feel better.
"You can probably take off the ice pack now Bart, and let me look at your eye. That lip looks like it might stay swollen for a few days," said Marge.
Bart took off the ice pack and looked back at Marge with a half open eye, already it was starting to turn black and very swollen. Marge touched it only a little but Bart quickly flinched before backing away.
"Sorry Bart, it looks like it will be black and blue for a while, please don't try that again, I can't stand worrying about you guys more than I am," said Marge as she turned back to her celery cutting and let out a sniffle. Now that Homer was gone, her kids were the only things that mattered and if they were gone she knew her whole life would be ruined.
"Sorry Mom, they were trying to hurt Rod and Todd, I had to do something, oh and Ned will be over shortly," said Bart hoping to change the subject.
"Oh good, and I just wanted to let both of you know that Mr. Burns check came in the mail today," said Marge who also decided that talking about fights was not a very good idea right now.
"Oh! How much did we get Mom?" asked Lisa knowing that whatever the price was, Marge would still be unsatisfied, she just wanted Homer back.
"Forty-two thousand dollars," said Marge with a slight happiness in her voice but also one who really didn't care.
"What are we going to do with it any way?" asked Bart hoping that his Mom would get him a new bike or a new car.
"I'm saving it for when you three go to college or at least two of you," said Marge knowing how Bart never showed much interest in college.
"Great idea Mom, I don't want to miss out on that," said Lisa.
Marge only murmured in agreement and went back to fixing the salad. Bart and Lisa decided to stay out of her way and walked to the living room where Maggie was standing there waiting and showing off a drawing she did. She quickly put it down when she saw Bart's eye.
"Barty, I thought you weren't allowed to put makeup on," said Maggie who had always called Bart "Barty" and had gotten in trouble once for trying to put lipstick on Bart when he was sleeping on the couch.
Lisa laughed while Bart gave his littlest sister a big hug. "Its not makeup Maggie, my eye just hurts," said Bart.
Maggie gasped and gave a worried look. "You're not gonna leave like Daddy are you?" she asked.
"Don't worry Maggie, I won't leave you," said Bart who gave Maggie a quick little hug.
"Yay! You want to color with me now?" asked Maggie as she spread out her crayons and sheets of paper. Maggie's mind was so easily distracted at that age.
Bart and Lisa both smiled at her and without saying a word, they joined Maggie on the floor and colored until dinner time.
A few hours later, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie had found themselves playing games with Rod and Todd before dinner was called to them. Everyone took their seats and took what they needed. Ned even started a little prayer before they could even begin to eat. Once the prayers were said, conversation began.
"I'm glad you want to save that money Marge, college is such a wise investment, you don't want to give that up," said Ned.
"No, I want the best for my kids; the only problem is, since I am saving it I do probably need to find a job. The money Homer still had won't last forever and I need to support the kids," said Marge who let out a worried sigh. Marge didn't want to work, not with taking care of Maggie who took up most of her day. Ned could see this and he quickly had a solution.
"How about working for me at the Leftorium, I always need an extra hand and it doesn't matter if it's left or right. The guy who usually helps me is not always reliable and I sometimes get calls from customer service asking if I am opening on some days because he didn't show up," said Ned.
Bart and Lisa stopped eating and looked over at Rod and Todd who both seemed to have the strange feeling they were getting. Ned was helping but was he being way too helpful? Marge didn't even notice for she was staring at Maggie wondering what to do about her.
"But I need to think about Maggie too, I just don't want to drop her off at any old day care, she still has two more years before she can go into kindergarten," said Marge.
"I don't think she will be a bother working with you, you can put a playpen behind the desk and Maggie will be as happy as the first barnacle on a new ship. I have a friend that did that and the kid never bothered her," said Ned.
Marge thought for a moment as she chewed on a piece of chicken. It seemed to take forever and Bart was about to change the conversation when she finally responded.
"What do you kids think?" asked Marge as she turned to Bart and Lisa.
"Uh….." was all Lisa could say.
"How often would you be working there?" asked Bart who really did not want to have his mother working there five days a week.
"Well I probably only need you on the two days I am off and probably one day to help with inventory which only takes about two or three hours, that should be about it," said Ned.
Marge thought for a moment as she looked down at the kids. Lisa seemed to think it was okay, her mom needed to be out of the house from time to time and earn some extra money to keep the family moving. Bart was a bit reluctant by this, of course Ned had done a lot of things for them over the years but this was definitely a big one. Then Marge looked at Maggie, would she be patient enough to keep quiet while Marge was doing her job? Maggie was known to behave but sometimes she could get a little rowdy. Usually a new toy could fix that, Maggie was known for being easily amused.
"You know that's not bad, I'll take that job, when do you want me?" asked Marge once she finally made her decision.
"How about on Wednesday when the shipment comes in, I will show you how to do inventory and work the cash machine," said Ned.
Bart watched as Marge smiled and patted Ned on the hand. Ned smiled back at her as he chewed on a piece of chicken. Bart then turned to Lisa who tried her hardest to swallow all her lemonade without spitting it out in surprise. Were they really showing affection to each other, or was it just them being paranoid after what Rod and Todd said. They looked over at the two boys who paid no attention as they tried to get the last of the chicken off a piece of bone.
"Ned, thank you, I am so glad to have you around," said Marge just as Bart and Lisa were brought back to reality.
Ned only smiled back before they continued the rest of the meal uneventfully.
A/N: Yay a fun chapter! Okay first off if any of you are Twilight fans I apologize for wrecking the book but what Lisa said basically sums up how I feel about those books. I read the first two and that's enough for me for now, I might read the third if I ever run out of books to read. Well if you all liked the ending then good for you, it probably ended abruptly but that was the only ending I could think of at the moment. Oh and I know Maggie was not very talkative in the first chapter but it was late and she was half asleep, she will have more things to say too. Hope you all enjoyed it though and please review, I seemed to have lost some reviewers and now I am sad. Eh but that happens, I should be used to that by now. Any way I will stop blabbing and let you all go about your lives.
