Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters. Hey Arnold is the property of Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett.
The Perfect Christmas
Chapter 1: Preparations
It was a beautiful winter's day in the city of Hillwood, however it was not just any Winter's day. It was December 23rd, the day before Christmas Eve to be more precise and the whole city was in the spirit of the holiday.
The snowflakes were falling, covering the city in a beautiful blanket of pure white, fresh snow. Houses were decorated in beautiful, colorful lights and in every corner, people were happy, enjoying this most wonderful time of the year. You could hear Christmas carols, the laughter of children playing in the snow and you could even smell of fresh baked Gingerbread filling the air.
It was truly, the most wonderful time of the year.
Especially in one quaint little boarding house, where one very special family lived.
"Okay, let's see if we have it all, the tree is decorated, the stockings are all hanged, the lights are all over the place…."Arnold marked his check list as he wanted to make sure that everything was in its place.
"I gotta say short-man, this place is sure looking good…"Phil, wearing a Santa hat, said proudly to his grandson.
"Thanks grandpa…Oh, did you make sure to place to pick up the Turkey and the pies?..."Arnold asked his grandpa.
Since this was the first Christmas with his parents back home, Arnold and his grandpa had agreed to make it a little more special, so they splurged a bit on a catered food after grandma, thinking that it's New Years, only made some appetizers and some cocktail.
"Yep Arnold, everything is all set, and I even made Ernie stand guard to make sure that greedy bum Kokoschka doesn't try to sneak in and steal some of the food and ruin the meal…"Grandpa said to the blonde child.
"AH!...'Was suddenly heard.
As if on cue, the grandfather and grandson suddenly heard a commotion coming from the kitchen and they both had an idea on what it was since they could hear it very clearly due to the sheer volume of it.
"Ow…Ernie, you kicked me in my shin…I ought to sue you for assault…"An accented voice whined loudly, one they knew belonged to Oskar.
"Get lost you lousy bum! The old man put me in charge of kitchen duty this year and don't think I didn't see you trying to swipe that big Turkey leg just now!...'The gruff voice of Ernie, accused harshly.
"I only came in her because I was really thirsty and I wanted to get a drink of water and you accuse me of this…'Oskar said, as if trying to sound hurt by the accusation.
"Yeah, right….And I'm the Queen of England! Get out of here now Kokoschka or that coal from Santa won't be the only lumps you'll be getting this year!...'Ernie shouted loudly before some more commotion was heard.
"Oh that darn Kokoschka, I can't keep my guard down for even a second…"Grandpa grumbled in anger.
"Could you handle them grandpa? I got some more things to check over?..."Arnold asked his grandfather, who nodded before going to the kitchen to break up the fight between Ernie and Oskar.
Arnold sighed, trying to keep the headache from forming in his head. Christmas was just two days away and he needed everything to be absolutely perfect in time. He's spent the last week and a half getting everything ready. With his parents finally home, he wanted this Christmas to be the greatest ever. He had gone almost ten years without them and he wanted to make up for lost time.
And that include making this Christmas as good as TEN Christmases combined.
"Okay, with the decorations set up and the food all planned out, , now what's missing?..."Arnold wondered a bit.
He didn't know why but he couldn't help but feel like he was forgetting something but that couldn't be. He checked his list various times and everything and checked and double checked. He made sure get the decorations up, helped grandpa ordered the catered food and have their entire Christmas eve with his parents planned out which include baking gingerbread cookies, hot cocoa, caroling, snow ball fights and so much more with just him, his parents and his grandparents.
That's why he wanted everything to be perfect but he couldn't help but get a sinking feeling that he was forgetting something
Something very important but what was it?
Shaking his head, the Football headed kid decided to go back to making sure that the candy canes on the tree were perfectly arranged as well as the stockings.
No matter what, he was going to make sure that this Christmas was perfect.
"Hey Arnold…"The Football headed child turned around to see his father Miles coming in with a big grin on his face.
"Hey dad, so how was the orientation today?...'Arnold asked his father.
"It was great son, we managed to give an entire presentation on tribal cultures of South American…"Miles said smiling.
Upon coming back home, Arnold's parents, with some encouragement from their son, decided that they needing to do something more productive than wait for him while he was at school, so they got jobs at the local university teaching about foreign cultures due to their experiences.
"So where's mom?..."Arnold asked.
"She said something about getting her secret Santa gift…'Miles explained.
True to the family tradition, Miles and Stella took part on the yearly Secret Santa they did though both were tight lipped about who they got, only telling their son their little secret. Arnold usually didn't like keeping secrets but he didn't want to spoil it for them that they got each other this year. He knew that it would be pleasant surprises come Christmas morning.
"Wanna see what I got her?.."Miles whispered to him, as if giving an important secret.
Arnold nodded and Miles took him to his room, wanting to keep it more private between them. Arnold couldn't dislike it since his father seemed pretty enthusiastic of the thought of a secret between the two of them, even if it's something simple like a Christmas present.
"Take a look son…"Miles said as he pulled his present for Stella.
Arnold was stunned by the sight of a beautiful jade necklace on a gold chain that was placed safety in a nice, velvet box.
"Wow dad, it's beautiful…"Arnold said, very impressed with the gift.
"Thanks, though it was pretty hard finding the exact shade that matched her eyes…"Miles said thoughtfully. Arnold smiled at that little detail, finding this very nice.
His mother had green eyes, the same as him and his dad always told them that aside from the very Green Eyes themselves, they both had the most vibrant shade out there.
"Anyway son, who did you say you got again this year?..."Miles asked his son.
"I got Ernie this year, and I got him an autographed Dino Spumoni record…'Arnold said.
Getting that gift wasn't hard since he knew Dino personally and asked him for the autograph, which the aged singer was more than happy to do for his young friend. It was definitely much easier than when he was assigned as Mr. Hyunh's secret Santa in fourth grade, though hard or not, that would always hold a special memory to him due to the miracle he experienced when Mr. Hyunh was finally reunited with Mai in the end. Even to this day, he still didn't know how that happened but Gerald just told him that it was just a miracle and that was good enough for him.
"That's pretty impressive too son, and I know he'll be touched…"Miles said ruffling his son's hair a bit, earning a laugh from him.
"So anyway son, anything in particular you're hoping that Santa will bring you this year?..."Miles asked trying to sound like he wasn't probing.
"Just having you and mom home is my present, dad…'Arnold said smiling.
"I'm happy to hear that son but really, you didn't have much on your wish list and it's getting close to the big day…Don't you want something extra special from Santa?…" Miles asked his son.
Arnold only gave him a small smile at that. He didn't have the heart to burst his parents bubble that he was 11 and in sixth grade and he knew there wasn't a real Santa Claus, that he only lived in the spirit of giving. However, knowing his parents just wanted to experience spoiling him with Christmas presents, he would humor them.
"I'll try and think of something later, but right now I gotta go see if we got anymore RSPV for the Christmas party…"Arnold said to his dad.
"Can I expect to see my future daughter-in-law there as well?...'Miles asked in a teasing fashion to his son.
"Dad…'Arnold whined, trying to fight down a blush on his face.
It's been almost sixth months since the trip to San Lorenzo and where he and Helga had become a couple. Ever since his parents had caught them kissing, they would both playfully tease him about his relationship. He had almost died from embarrassment the first time they had called Helga their future daughter-in-law to her face and with him within ear shot.
"Oh lighten up son, I was just having so fun with you…But just between us boys, just how many times did Helga try to sneak you under the mistletoe at school or pull you someplace private to place it on you?...'Miles asked, laughing at the sight of his blushing son.
"Dad…'Arnold mumbled in annoyance at his father's "he-doesn't know-how-right-he-is-and-there's-no-way-I'm-going-to-tell-him ribbing.
"Just getting one more for the road son…'Miles said as his chuckling died down.
"So, you still haven't told me yet how you're going to woo her this Christmas?...'Miles asked him a little more seriously.
"What are you talking about?..."Arnold asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You're present for her? You haven't told me yet what you got her yet…'Miles asked curiously to his son.
Suddenly Arnold's eyes widen, he was silent, he was stiff and he looked like certain doom would arrive so soon. Miles might not be the most perceptive individual on the planet but he was pretty good at reading body language.
"You forgot to get her a present didn't you?..."He asked the dangerous question that finally snapped his son out of his frozen, statue-like state and into a frenzy.
"Oh man! That was what I forgot to do! Of all things! Just how stupid am I?!...'Arnold shouted in panic and started moving around in dismay. He forgot to get his girlfriend her Christmas present, the first one he would have given her as a couple!
What kind of lousy boyfriend does that anyway!?
Has he really been more concerned with the Christmas decorations that he actually ended up neglecting something so very special and sacred?
"I can't believe I forgot to get her a present! On our first Christmas together as boyfriend and girlfriend!...'Arnold thought in dismay.
"Arnold, calm down!...'Miles said as he snapped his son out of his petrified state.
'Oh man…I can't believe this…'Arnold sighed, unable to believe this.
"Calm down son, you still have time to get her a present, I'm sure there are places still opened…"Miles said, successfully calming him down.
"He's right, but I still have no idea what Helga could want…'Arnold thought glumly before putting on a determined face.
He was going to make this the perfect Christmas and that includes getting his loving girlfriend the perfect gift as well.
"I gotta go…'Arnold said as he turned around, determined more than ever to find a perfect present for his girlfriend.
"Wait son, here is some extra money just in case…"Miles said as he handed his son two twenties, being savvy enough that a lot of the good places tend to be more expensive around this time of year.
'Thanks dad…'Arnold said, taking the extra money and gave his dad a quick goodbye.
Grabbing his snow suite, scarf, hat and earmuffs, the blonde football headed boy ran out into the snowy streets of Hillwood, dodging icy blocks, slippery snow and ignoring the freezing cold. No matter what, he would find the perfect gift for his sweet Helga this year.
He would make sure of it.
-To be continued-
Next time on The Perfect Christmas
The search for the perfect gift
A/N: Hey there everyone, just so you all know, this is going to be my second multi-chapter holiday fic. The first one was my DP fanfic called 'Cupid's Wrath, which was a Valentine 's Day special fic. This one is for Hey Arnold and for Christmas.
!Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)