A/N: Hey all my favorite people! My little HA! Lovers! I know I've been gone for a while and I promise to write more of "Little Wonders" and "The Chronicles of Deep Voice" when I get the chance, but this story has been in my head all year and with no other fanfics involving this couple, I just HAD to write this! So enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold! I only own Anna Belle and Chaltiquel. The rest are Craig Bartlett's!

It was a lazy afternoon at the Shortman-Bartlett complex with the Bartletts taking their off day to laze around the house. A young woman around her early thirties was in the kitchen working on lunch for her husband and an afterschool snack for her four favorite children. After pouring a bit of oil into her skillet and turning on the stove the caramel skinned woman set to cutting tortillas into different shapes. Her son, Valentine, ate his in the shape of triangles, while her nephew, Andrew, liked his to be shapes like circles so that the chocolate and cinnamon she sprinkled and drizzled on it would stay in place. Unlike their brother, who seemed to be more of a problem solver like his father, her nieces, Abigail and Eleanor, liked theirs in unique shapes. Abigail liked her in hearts, so she could scoop up her toppings and use the pointed end as a handle. Eleanor was the rebel. She wanted hers to be shaped like stars, so she had to race to catch her toppings.

A smile played upon her red lips as pale, strong arms wrapped around her waist, "Where's my lunch, woman?"

The woman laughed, tilting her head back, "You're so not the bad boy type, Brian." The man, also known as Brian "Brainy" Bartlett rested his chin on her smooth shoulder.

"I suppose the glasses and the sweater vest aren't that intimidating, either?"

"Nope." The woman giggled as she dropped some of the tortillas into the skillet, letting the pieces fry up, "Why don't you cut some green apples to go with this?"

"On our off day, Chal? Wouldn't it be more fun if I just took you upstairs and ravished you instead?" The young Brit groaned, picking up the fruits from a nearby basket.

"Is that all you think about when your home?" Chaltiquel smiled, pulling out the now fried tortillas and adding another batch.

"No. Sometimes I think about books. And food. And music."Brainy stated seriously. Chal rolled her eyes with a smile and sprinkled on a concoction of cinnamon-sugar on some of the tortillas. Brainy chopped away at the apples, cutting them into perfect squares. After finishing the last batch of fried tortillas and dashing them with cinnamon-sugar, Chal drizzled on the melted chocolate and set it at the center of the table. Wiping her delicate hands, Chal made her way to her husband, who was chopping up the apples.

"Brian?"

"Yes?"

"What are you doing?" She stifled a laugh as he looked to her, an extremely serious expression on his face.

"Cutting apples for the children."

"In squares?" Chal began to laugh, causing Brainy to set the knife on the counter.

"That's it!" In a quick swoop, he lifted up the petite woman and carried her into the living room, making her shriek with laughter. She giggled as she landed on her back onto the couch as he hovered above her.

"Aren't you supposed to be a civilized old chap?" Chal giggled as he nuzzled her neck, his signature grin on his face.

"I was raised in America…"

"Brian!" Chal laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her bright green eyes dancing with mischief. They two paused as they heard the doorbell ring.

"You've cannot be serious…" Brainy groaned as he pulled off of his wife, helping her up in the process.

"I wonder who that could be…" Chal smoothed out her mango colored skinnies and readjusted her black and white vertically striped tank, which was tucked into her pants which buttoned at mid-stomach. Her black stilettos clacked against the dark wooden floor as she walked to the large auburn door. She tightened her white and red polka dotted bandana that held her long green ponytail, and looked to her husband, who was readjusting his red tie.

"Who is it?" He looked at her expectantly.

Chal shrugged, causing her lime green bracelets to slide own her wrists. She stood on her tiptoes, earning a chuckle from Brainy. She rose an eyebrow in his direction, making him clear his throat and give a look of guilt. Chal peaked through the hole in the door before immediately opening the door.

"Anna Belle?"

Chal looked down at the nine year old in shock. The girl smiled politely, just as her mother always did.

"Hello, Mrs. Bartlett. I came to talk to you…" The petite red head smiled brightly, her freckles dancing across her the long bridge of her nose. Her dark blue eyes danced with curiosity, and her hands were bunched together in front of her. She was wearing a backwards green cap, a blue sleeveless hoodie, black fingerless gloves, a pale violet top, a pink choker with a gold coin, black cowboy boots, and a dark green plaid skirt.

"Anna, it's twelve in the afternoon. You should be at school, bonita." Chal frowned, crouching to be at eye level with the child.

"I'm ever so sorry to bother you two. I just…I wanted to ask you something I've been thinking about for a bit now…It's about my mommy and papa. I came now because we will be out of class for a good while. I'm sorry for intruding…" Anna Belle's smile faltered as she looked at her boots. Chal looked to Brainy who shrugged it off.

"Come on in, Anna." Chal smiled as the girl's face immediately brightened. As she entered the house Chal closed the door behind her, "Are you hungry sweetie?"

Anna nodded, "Yes, ma'am. I kinda ran her immediately after lunch…" She blushed sheepishly.

"I don't mind splitting my lunch, all my wife made me was a sandwich." Brainy shrugged, his hands in his pockets."

He face quickly met a pillow, "Ow! Crazy woman, if it's not you, it's Helga! Can you leave my nose alone for once?"

"Come on, Anna, have a seat." Chal grabbed Brainy by his tie and pulled him into the kitchen, "Come on, Mr. Wannabe-a-bad-boy."

"It was just a joke! Don't shank me!" Brainy gulped.

The adults were quick to bring lunch into the living room while Anna Belle sat on the couch, swinging her legs back and forth. Brainy set down a plate with a tomato, ham, cheese, spinach, and mayo sandwich in front of Anna with a side of sliced apples and some milk. He took to his own leather recliner, opening a copy of Hamlet and munching on his sandwich. Chal sat on the couch on the other side of the coffee table and smiled at Anna Belle, who picked up a cubed apple.

"Why are these cubed, Mrs. Bartlett?" Anna gave a slightly confused look at the strangely sliced fruit. Chal let out small giggles as Brainy lowered his book a bit from covering his face, exposing only his eyes. His right eye twitched a bit in annoyance at his wife.

"Chal 1. Brian 0." Chal winked in his direction and he smiled, rolling his eyes and going back to his book.

"So what brings you to the Shortman-Bartlett home?" Chal grinned at the young girl, who seemed to enjoy the homemade meal.

"Well, I was hoping to ask you two, along with Mr. and Mrs. Shortman a couple questions." Anna swallowed and patted her mouth gently with a napkin.

"Oh. I'm sorry. My brother is at his office looking over an expedition with our father for taking some supplies back to my people later this Spring Break, and Mrs. Shortman is still at the Emporium in a meeting." Chal explained, brushing back her pine green bangs.

"Oh. Okay." Anna Belle tilted her head a bit, "Well can I ask you two some things?"

Brainy lowered his book and looked at the young girl before glancing at his wife, who nodded.

"Of course, Anna Belle. What would you like to know." Chal smiled generously.

"Well…we were talking about our parents a lot lately with Parent Day coming up. Andy had this long story about how his parents met at three and how his mom loved his dad but was his bully and called his 'football head' and stuff. And Valentine was telling us how you two met in the jungle and there was a big battle between the Green Eyes and our parents. Even Fred had an interesting story about how his mom always beat his dad in manly stuff and secretly liked each other, even though Uncle Stink and Papa made fun of him. However, when I asked about my parents, all they said was it was Mr. Shortman who liked my mommy, not my papa. I don't understand that part. What I wanted to ask was … well, I'm ever so curious about how my mommy and my papa got to being Mr. and Mrs. Gifaldi…No one ever talks about that. Not even Mrs. Gammelthorpe, and she's always talking about something. Valentine recommended that I go to you Mrs. Bartlett. He says you were the 'Matchmaker of P.S. 118'. Can you tell me?"

Chal blushed as she heard Brainy chuckling from behind his book.

"Ya know, it's easier to ease-drop without that book in front of your face, Brian." Chal growled, raising an eyebrow at her husband. He frowned and sat the book down.

Chal turned and smiled at Anna Belle, "I can tell you their story. The story of the Mechanic and the School Teacher. It's not a popular tale, compared to the more complicated ones the gang's dealt with, but it's quite a romantic one. A tale of two lost souls that just can't seem to tell what path they should follow. Where should I begin? I guess you could say it all came together in that little grey house…"

A/N: Sorry it's so short but I've got school tomorrow! I guess you could say this is kind of a prologue to the fic. I hope ya'll get who's kid is who's and who the parents are of each child! I'll try to update soon! And do some more art!