A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold! or any form of its original series. This is my first time writing a Hey Arnold fanfiction, so I hope you guys enjoy this.
Story One: A Job More Important than Family (Part One)
Arnold Shortman is thirty-one years old and husband to Helga G. Pataki (now Helga G. Shortman) with two children and a third one coming soon. He is an archaeologist, going around the world in search of artifacts and the history behind them. His life could have been perfect, but his work took too much of his time away from his family. He always argued with his wife because of it, but they both still love each other and had forgiven each other until one particular day.
Arnold had just gotten back from his trip from Europe after retrieving an artifact and handed it to a museum. When he entered his home, he saw his children chasing each other playfully in the living room while his wife was sitting down on a couch of the living room, watching them with a pleased expression with a coffee mug being held in one hand. Wanting their attention, he closed the door behind him with his luggage firmly held in one hand. His wife noticed his return before getting up and going to the kitchen table and laid down her coffee mug. She strided towards him and pecked him lightly on the lips.
"Welcome home, Football Head. We missed you," Helga quietly told him. Arnold smiled and pecked at her lips in return.
"Missed you guys, too," he told her. Not before long, he felt two bodies crashing against him. One hugging him around his waist tightly and the other held his leg with a tight embrace as the other.
"Daddy!" They yelled in unison. Arnold looked down to his oldest son and his youngest daughter. Both of their eyes sparkling with love towards their father.
Arnold chuckled at the loving reunion of his children and kissed each of them on the head.
"How are you doing, kiddos?" Arnold asked.
The children smiled their biggest smiles towards their father.
"I have a karate competition tomorrow. Are you coming?" His oldest son asked, his eyes pleading towards his father. Arnold gave him a sad smile, and the son knew that smile all too well. He looked down and let go of his father's waist.
"Sorry, Phil. I have work tomorrow," Arnold said softly, feeling guilty he would miss another event of his son's life. He already missed four years of his birthday celebration as well as missing most of his youngest daughter's birthday celebration as well because of his work.
"Are you still coming to my ballet show on Friday?" His youngest daughter asked, her big blue eyes anticipating a good answer from her father.
It broke Arnold's heart to see the look on his daughter's face about his broken promise with her. His daughter understood that look as well and tears already started forming her eyes before she slowly let go of her father's leg. Arnold had to look away, only to see Helga's disapproving look. She let out a sigh before comforting their son and daughter.
"I'm sorry that I am breaking our promise, Gertie, but I have a project on that day that needs my help," Arnold explained, hoping his children would understand but he heard the wail of his youngest daughter.
"Arnold," Helga said quietly to him. Her voice was full of seriousness and disapproval. Arnold knew that tone and gulped the knot on his throat. He knew that there is going to be an argument soon.
"Helga, I-" He started, but Helga shook her head.
"We'll talk later," Helga said, picking up Gertie and held her son's hand. They went upstairs where Helga entered a room that had pink almost everywhere with a princess bed. She laid her youngest daughter down on her bed and started singing to her so she would no longer cry, but it did not work this time.
"Daddy promised. He promised," Gertie wailed. Helga comforted her as much as possible, hushing her to calm down.
"Does Daddy hate us?" Phil asked quietly, his eyes downcast and his fingers curled at the hem of his shirt tightly.
Helga gasped at the thought of her son thinking that. Even though Arnold was too busy with his work, Phil never asked that question and Helga knew now how much pain and hurt their children are going through with Arnold's absence.
"No, of course not. He's just too busy," Helga explained in a motherly tone, "Your Daddy loves you two very much."
"Then why doesn't he come to my birthdays or even Ger's birthdays?" Phil asked. Tears started to form in his eyes as his teeth gritted. He was trying his best to hold back his tears. His father never used to be this busy four years ago.
Ever since Arnold had national recognition for his work, Arnold had always been busy causing the family to break down slowly. Sadly for Gertie, she never had the chance to ever spend any time with her father. He was always in and out of the house before she ever had a chance to have a grown bond with him. And if truth be told, her brother was most likely the father figure in her life.
"Kiddos, I know you miss him and want to spend time with him, but his job requires him at his workplace most of the time," Helga said carefully. In her heart, she was also broken at Arnold's absence and she feels like ripping her husband's head off for neglecting their children. But she also knew, she could never hold him back from his workplace. That was actually the reason they always fight because he was too busy to spend time with his children.
"You work too, Mom. But unlike Daddy, you stay home and play with us," Phil pointed out. Helga let out a sigh.
"But Mommy's work doesn't need her to be at her workplace while your Daddy's work does," Helga explained. Phil let her mother's fingers go through his hair to soothe the ache in his heart. They were much too young to feel sadness like this. They needed their father and it broke Helga to know that Arnold, of all people, is the one putting them through this pain.
"It's not fair!" Gertie cried. "Why do my friends get to have their Daddies at their show and not mine?"
Seeing her children like this again and trying to comfort them again, made Helga too tired and her patience with her husband was deterioriating. And when Phil asked that question, it finally snapped Helga. She didn't want to go to such lengths, but she finally realized this marriage wasn't working anymore. It was time for her to let him go.
Arnold was in their bedroom when Helga entered, a serious look featured on her face. He knew what was going to happen, but Arnold was too tired to fight with her. He had just gotten back from the airport and already he had disappointed his children yet again, but he was sure they would understand. As for his wife, their fights always took most of his energy, which is the reason why he leaves the house in anger. Unfortunately, Arnold was too blinded with his work to understand the fact that Phil was only nine and Gertie was only five years old to understand his reasonings. He was too blinded to the fact that he was the one hurting his family more than necessary because of his absence.
"We need to talk, Arnold," Helga stated, she crossed her arms against her chest. Her eyes staring at him with pure seriousness.
"Not now, Helga. I'm already tired, and I don't want to fight with you anymore," Arnold stated. Helga frowned and let out a sigh.
"It isn't just about us, Arnold. Can't you see you are hurting your children because you are too busy or too tired to spend time with them?" Helga carefully examined Arnold's body language. When Arnold did not react, it started to anger Helga greatly. Arnold looked like he wasn't worried at all, and that was something Helga would not deal with.
"Phil and Gertie will understand. They always do," Arnold answered coolly before touching his right temple. He could feel a headache coming on soon.
"They are only children, Arnold!" She snapped, "They don't understand like adults do! I know you are busy, but family should come first, Arnold! You already missed so many important dates of our children's lives. I don't even care about you missing four years of our anniversary or even my own birthday, but at least take time off for our children. You are missing out on our children's lives here! Can't you see you are doing what our parents did to us?"
Helga panted from letting out all her thoughts to Arnold before she could feel the tears starting to form at the thought of their children having to go through an absence of their father. Before they were even married, Arnold promised her he would be there for his children, but it seems he had forgotten that promise as well.
"You promised me you won't be like our parents. You promised to be there for them and love them, but you are breaking that promise. The promise that we made to each other," Helga stated, her voice getting smaller at the end.
Arnold was surprised at Helga's words and then he started getting angry himself when she accused him of being like his and her parents. He stood up and lashed out, which started the fights again.
"At least, my parents came back and made up for their absence. I'm not like Bob who calls my children by the wrong names. I don't play favorites. I'm not like Miriam who is a drunk. I'm nothing like your parents," Arnold yelled. Helga seethed, not being able to believe how blindsided he is and ignoring the matter at hand.
"I can't believe you. It's much more than my parents or even your parents. It's about you neglecting us, your family," Helga stated.
"You know how important this job is to me, and they understand it too. I know I haven't been there, but it doesn't mean that I've neglected them. They understand. They are more mature than you and I ever were when we were young. They know I can't always be home. So stop picking fights with me just because I work outside the house," Arnold argued in return.
Helga shook her head in disbelief. She couldn't believe he is in denial of what his absence is doing to them. It wasn't about his work. It never was, but it was his absence that is the problem. He would choose working over his family. That was the mistake Arnold had chosen.
"The only reason they understand is because you rarely ever come home. You haven't seen what your absence does to them. I'm always the one who has to comfort them after you leave or even cancel coming to their events. I can't watch them see their father too busy with his work than to spend time with them. We haven't even had a decent family dinner for four years. And not only that, you cancel at the last minute even when you made sure to clear on that certain day. I'm sick and tired of fixing your mistakes," Helga said, finally breaking down. Arnold watched in disbelief as his wife fell on her knees and cried in front of him. Her hands covered her blue eyes he ever loved so much. Of all the fights, Arnold had never seen her cry in front of him or even break down this much. Instead of comforting her, he ignored her pain, not wanting to deal with the stress.
"You know what? I don't want to deal with this. I'm going to clear my head," Arnold said, waving away the nagging of his conscious at his unreasonableness. Helga couldn't believe him. Was this the same Arnold she loved? No. She lost him four years ago. This response of his was his first strike.
"Arnold!" She screamed, wanting him to deal with this situation like he used to do instead of running away like he always does with their fights.
"No, Helga. I'm tired of our fights," Arnold stated in a strangely calm manner while he walks to their bedroom door, "And you know what? Sometimes, I wish I was married to Lila. She understands my work. She doesn't make things complicated like you do!"
Strike two. Helga felt her heart break. She shook her head. She had enough. No more. It was time she gave him the finishing blow.
She slaps him across his face. She showed him her most deep and penetrating stare. She wanted to show him the pain he caused. She wanted to show him that he destroyed their love with such words and actions or the words he never said and the actions he never done to fix their broken family.
"How could you," she stated in a cold manner. It took one slap and the look she was giving him to realize the words he said.
"I- I didn't mean what I said, Helga. I don't love Lila; I love you," Arnold stated almost pleadingly. He was about to hold her shoulders, but she slapped him away, hurting Arnold greatly. The Helga right now scared him. She looked so cold. He had never seen her this way. This angry at him.
"Go, Arnold. You need to clear your head, right? Then just go. Run to Lila like you always do," Helga stated. Arnold's eyes widened at the accusation. "What? You think I wouldn't know? You think I wouldn't know you would run to her apartment after our fights. You think I wouldn't know you would talk to Lila about our problems? I may have been blindly in love with you, but I'm not stupid."
Helga opened their bedroom door for him.
"And it always hurts," she quietly said to him but showed no emotion in her expression. He no longer deserved it. Arnold was startled. Usually, Arnold is calm, but words kept on spouting unnecessarily today and he had no reason why.
"If you are accusing me of cheating, I'm not. I only talk to her because she's understanding. Nothing like you, Helga. You are always picking fights with me even when we were little. I don't even understand what I saw in you," Arnold spouted before he covered his mouth at his realization. Helga knew he didn't mean it, but it never meant she wasn't hurt by it.
"And you are always leaving me to deal with it alone. Always leaving me to cry alone. Sometimes, I wonder if it is worth to continue this so-called marriage of ours. Somewhere inside of me, though, still loves you and still want to be with you. But I can only cope for so long. And this? This is the last straw," she stated in almost too calm manner. She did not raise her voice. It was no longer worth it. No longer worth to watch her children cry and for her to be the one to fix it. It was time.
"What are you trying to say, Helga?" Arnold asked hesitantly. He was afraid of her answer. They have been married since they were twenty-one. They were married for ten years. She wouldn't say what he thinks she will say. They love each other; it's too strong for her to let go of them because of one fight. He had to admit they have been arguing a lot, but it's normal for couples to fight.
"I want a divorce," Helga stated.
He was wrong.
She had done it. She said the words he didn't want to hear. He was shocked until suddenly anger pulsed inside him again and said something he didn't mean to say yet again.
"Fine then! See if I care! It's been a long time coming," Arnold yelled angrily. Third strike and the last. He could hear the doors to the children's flung open but ignored it. He ignored as his two children watch the showdown between the two. The children were afraid if they speak, something bad would happen. But what happened next, made Arnold guilty.
Helga let out her tears as they fell mercilessly from her eyes. She tried to stifle her cries but was not strong enough. He could feel his heart break to see those tears on her lovely blue eyes, and he was the reason for them.
"I'm sorry, Helga. I- I didn't mean it," Arnold pleaded. Helga shook her head. She looked defeated. Tired, even. And Arnold knew, it was over.
"You don't mean a lot of things, Arnold," Helga started, "And quite frankly, I'm tired of it. Please leave." She pointed downstairs.
"Helga, please!" Arnold pleaded. She shook her head. And once again, he let his anger get to him.
"I won't let you divorce me. You'll regret it, Helga. It would be hell before you are going to take our children from me," he spat before he stomped downstairs, taking his keys from the key hanger, and slammed the door shut behind him when he left.
Arnold couldn't believe what he said. He couldn't believe he let his anger get the best of him. Everything was going downhill so fast that he felt like he had been hit with whiplash. Now, he was driving to Lila's to talk about his problems. She was always understanding.
When he got to her apartment, he knocked on her door. Lila opened it to be startled with Arnold's sudden appearance. She stayed silent, got out of his way, and let him in. He sighed and immediately sat down on her couch. The same couch he told his problems to Lila with.
"What happened? Didn't you just get off from the airplane?" Lila asked softly.
"Yeah. I had a fight with Helga again, and she wants to divorce me," Arnold muttered.
Lila stood shocked at the news, "Oh my! That's ever so surprising!"
"Yeah," Arnold stated simply.
"What was her reason for divorcing?" Lila asked, curious as to the reason.
"She said I've been neglecting our family because of my job," Arnold answered with his fist clenched tightly in anger.
"Well, you are trying to make money so there are times you have to work. That is ever so unreasonable of Helga to divorce you for such a reason," Lila stated, not knowing it caused even more damage.
"See! That's what I thought! I wish I was married to you, Lila. If Helga and I didn't meet, I would have married you. And maybe then, my life wouldn't be so complicated," Arnold stated with regret.
Lila gasped and shook her head.
"You don't mean that, Arnold," Lila said sadly. She always found Arnold and Helga to be perfect together. To think they wouldn't be would make her dream of marriage a scary thought because if the most perfect couple can't handle marriage, what about her?
"Yes, I do, Lila. You don't know how much I do," Arnold said, his body finally realize how much energy he used up as well as how tired he was from his airplane ride.
"Just get some sleep. And when you wake up, you will ever feel fresh and new. Tomorrow, will ever so be a fresh start," Lila stated. Lila got a blanket from the nearby lovechair and laid it on him. Not knowing, that his wish and a life that he didn't want had come true.
'Your wish is granted,' whispered a voice to Arnold's sleeping form.
