Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters. Hey Arnold is the property of Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett.


A Perfect Disaster

Chapter 2: Mummy, Daddy and Patrick

At the Pataki residence

After what felt like an eternity, Olga had managed to pull up to her parents' home. It was a small, two room house that her father had managed to get by liquidating a chunk of his retirement fund after beepers became obsolete. It was absolutely nothing like the lovely blue-stone house Olga spent her entire childhood in, being doted on my her parents and getting straight A's and awards from school.

"We're here…"Olga said as she got out of the car and her family followed.

They knocked on the door and there was no answer. Olga knocked once more and frowned, wondering if her parents were home or not. After a few more minutes, the door finally opened, and Olga saw that it was her aging father Big Bob Pataki.

"Hello daddy…" Olga said in a cheery voice.

"Hey Olga…'Bob greeted and look to the twins and flat out ignored Patrick.

"Hiya gramps…"Logan said while Lisa smiled at him.

"Hey you tykes, how ya been?...'Bob said, in a rare moment of pleasantness.

"Awesome, today we played with Andy and Megan against some of their friends at baseball and we creamed them!...'Lisa said with a proud smirk.

"I'm not surprised, Pataki's never lose…especially at sports…"Bob said proudly to his grandchildren.

"In case you forgot, they are called Shermans…" Patrick said with his arms crossed.

Bob glared harshly at that and Olga gulped, not wanting them to get into another fight.

"That's what lawyers are for…"Bob muttered.

'Daddy…" Olga groaned in dismay.

"What's that supposed to mean?...'Patrick said indignantly.

"You should know by now you jobless bum!..."Bob shouted, causing the twins to roll their eyes, being long used to this kind of spats between them.

That didn't mean that Olga was.

"Please, calm down…Let's all go inside and I will make us a spectacular dinner feast…" Olga said, trying to defuse the situation.

'Hmpt…Come on kids…"Bob said as he turned his back on Patrick and lead the twins inside.

Olga tried not to let another migraine form. Every time she comes to visit with Patrick and the kids, her father and her husband always have a spat. She knew her daddy didn't approve of Patrick's singing career but even when he had stable employment, he always told her that she should have left him and found somebody "with a future", as they were his exact words.

She honestly couldn't believe that this was what she has. When she first met Patrick, it was love at first sight and she was certain she had found her soul mate. She could still remember it like it was yesterday.


Flashback

About 13 years ago

29 year old Olga Pataki was not having a very good day. She had just come back from another audition. Some Broadway talents scouts had arrived at Hillwood local theater this week and Olga saw it as her opportunity to finally shine. She had given it her all but in the end, the producers picked some girl named Wendy and Olga couldn't believe she was passed up.

Again…

"I can't believe this…'She sighed miserably, she would have cried but she knew it would do no good.

After her first rejection, she bawled her eyes out for weeks before her sister snapped her out of it, telling her that if she was going to cry and sob each time something didn't go according to plan, she would never be able to handle Broadway, the most competitive theater district in the world. Olga knew that in Helga's own, gruff way, she was trying to make her feel better. She also knew that she was right, if she let one rejection get her down like this, instead of trying to improve her acting skills, she would never become an actress.

So she got out of bed for the first time in two weeks and went back to get another roll. It was minor role for a small local show but Olga knew she had to be patient and work hard and sooner or later, she would have her dream.

That was five years ago and Olga was still nowhere near the level she hoped she would have been at this point of her life. She's spent the last 5 years of her life as a struggling actress, working part time jobs with short schedules so she could focus more time on her acting. She had managed to appear on some Off-Off-Off Broadway local shows but they were few and far in between.

"Don't get down….You're lucky break will come soon…I know it…" Olga thought to herself, trying to shake away her negative feelings.

Suddenly she heard some music and turned to see some nightclub. Not thinking twice, Olga went inside and got a drink from the bartender. She then turned to the stage and stopped when she saw what was before her.

On the stage, she was a band performing but her eyes were focused on the lead singer. He was a tall, muscular and very good looking young man with dark, wavy hair and chiseled features. He looked like a runway quality model and the way he strummed his guitar made Olga feel like he was strumming her heartstrings.

"Oh my…' Olga swooned as she listened to the music and admire the handsome man. She noticed that his eyes landed on her and he sent her a smile, showing off a pair of perfect, sparkly white teeth.

She was a goner.

"Dreamy…" Olga gushed as she felt her face flush as the singer called her up to the stage. Olga got on and he pulled out his microphone.

"Hey there beautiful…What's your name?..." The handsome singer asked, being so very charming.

"Olga…" She answered, feeling her heart pounding.

"Well Ms. Olga, my name is Patrick and I would like to dedicate my next song to you…"The singer said as he ordered his bandmates to start up the tune.

As Patrick serenaded her in front of the rest of the night club patrons, Olga felt like she was on cloud nine. Her melancholy from earlier was gone and she was replaced by new thoughts.

"I think I'm in love…' Olga thought as she danced with Patrick as he continued to sing, believing that her luck was finally running around.

End of Flashback


That was how it went down.

She met Patrick during one of his shows and Olga fell head over heels for the charming musician. Patrick was so dreamy and charismatic and she couldn't say yes fast enough when he asked her out. Those two months together were wonderful….until she decided to introduce him to her parents. She could remember that day, even if she wished otherwise.

She had brought Patrick over, hoping for the best but it ended up being a total disaster! .


Flashback

13 years ago

Olga Pataki had just arrived to her parents' home with Patrick. Tonight was a very important night and she needed it to go perfectly.

"Do I really have to do this?..." Patrick groaned.

"What are you saying Patrick? This is very important! My family is dying to meet you…" Olga said insistently as she knocked on the door.

She waited a moment and soon her younger sister Helga answered the door.

"Hello baby sister…' Olga said as she pulled Helga into tight hug.

"Crimity Olga, I'm 17 years old…You can drop the baby sister stuff…' Helga complained.

"No matter how old you get, you will always be my baby sister…" Olga said cheerfully, not noticing her sister's eye-roll.

"So I take it, this is the guy you mentioned on the phone…" Helga jerked her thumb in his direction.

'The names Patrick and you must be Helga, Olga mentioned you quite a bit…You're almost as pretty as she is…" Patrick said as he looked at her.

"Gee…Thanks, bucko…" Helga said with an eye roll.

Patrick wasn't off the mark. Helga had certainly blossomed over the years. She was no longer the awkward looking little girl she has once been but now could certainly turn quite a few heads her way. Not that she really cared, since there has only ever been one guy for her and he liked her for more than just her looks.

"Anyway baby sister, come on…I can't wait to see mummy and daddy…" Olga said excitedly as she dragged both her boyfriend and her sister inside the house.

Soon Miriam and Bob had joined them and the Pataki household was having a very tense dinner. Olga was sitting next to Patrick, swooning over him as he continued to eat the food on his plate. They all started with brief small talk to catch up. Olga mostly asked Helga how her college application was coming along and the girl said that it was going on well, that she already sent applications to Brown University, New York University and Stanford and should be expecting an answer any day now. However, small talk had to end eventually and now was the moment that they had all been waiting for.

"So Patrick, what exactly did you say that you do for a living?..." Miriam asked while her husband just kept sending glares from across the table and her other daughter looked disinterested.

"Oh, I'm a musician…My band is called the Sherman 5 and we play at quite a few places…" He said before taking another bite out of his chicken.

"The Sherman 5"? Criminy, that sounds like something out of the seventies…" Helga thought with an eye roll.

"So what I'm hearing is that you don't have a real job, is that it?..." Bob said critically. Dinner stopped almost immediately.

'Excuse me?..." Patrick asked, sounding offended.

"Is singing all you do or do you actually do something to make money? Did you even go to college…Or better yet, did you even finish high school?..." Bob demanded.

"Hey, what's with you pops? I'll have you know I got a bachelor's degree in music but I'm destined to be a rock star…" Patrick said with his arms crossed.

"Oh, so you could get a job but are choosing not to…That's hardly any better…" Bob spat.

"DADDY!..."Olga cried in dismay, wondering how it got this bad.

"Calm down B…" Miriam tried to calm her husband while Helga wisely chose to keep out of it and excused herself from the table.

"Don't tell me to calm down Miriam…Olga, it's bad enough that you quit teachingbut now your bring home a deadbeat to our house…What exactly are you doing to your life?..." Bob shouted.

"Who are you calling a deadbeat?!..." Patrick shouted, feeling completely insulted.

"I know'em when I see them…I can tell just by looking at you that you won't amount to anything and definitely not enough for my Olga…" Bob shouted.

"DADDY, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU!..." Olga shouted as she ran away crying.

She ran into the tiny guest bedroom and locked herself in, crying herself into a pillow, unable to believe what a disaster this has been. She couldn't believe how her father was acting.

Patrick was the perfect man for her. He was handsome and dreamy. He was also a brilliant musician and she knew that just like she was destined for Broadway, Patrick would get his big break soon and she would be there to support him.

She loved him and he loved her and for the first time in a long time, Olga felt like her happy, old self again. Patrick was perfect for her…why couldn't her daddy understand?!

"It's not fair …" Olga bellowed into her pillow until her mother came into to comfort her.

"Are you alright Olga?..."Miriam asked as she entered.

"No I'm not! Why is daddy doing this to me?...' Olga cried.

"Oh honey, your father is just worried about you and wants what's best for you…" Miriam said as she tried to wipe away her tears.

"He doesn't need to worry! Patrick is a wonderful man and I'm an adult now! I don't need him to be overprotective…" Olga whined.

"I know honey but…about Patrick, where exactly did you say you met him?..." Miriam asked.

"At this nightclub he was performing at….Oh, mummy…If only you hear him sing, you will know just how amazing he is…" Olga said to her mother.

"So he doesn't have another job?..." Miriam asked in concern.

"Why are you both so focused on that? Of course Patrick has a day job, he teaches music lessons to kids on the side, isn't that sweet of him…" Olga said in an infatuated tone.

"I see…" Miriam said, not sounding pleased.

"Olga, I…I just want you to be careful and not to rush into anything…You said that you've only been dating this guy for a few weeks…"Miriam questioned.

"Two months exactly mummy, but what are you talking about?..." Olga asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Just…Just promise me that you will take it slow...I don't want you to go too fast and make...a mistake..." Miriam said looking down to her feet.

Olga only stood there, having a hard time processing this before shaking her head.

"You don't have anything to worry about mummy, I know that Patrick is the one for me and I am not making any mistake. .." Olga said sounding confident.

"That's what I said when I met your father..." Miriam thought but didn't say out loud.

She soon left after Olga stopped crying but she was not ready to talk to her father yet so she gave her some space. All the while, her daughter was thinking this.

"I am not making a mistake...Patrick is the one for me and Olga Pataki NEVER makes mistakes..."She thought as she remained in that room for that night.

The next day, she and her father made up but he refused to apologize to Patrick. It was made clear that the two couldn't stand each other but Olga would not let it discourage her. She was certain that soon enough, her father would see all of Patrick's good traits and he would see that they were the perfect match.

Soon he would see it and everything would be alright and work out, just as it always has.

End of Flashback


That was 13 years ago and things between her father and Patrick haven't changed at all. If it wasn't for the twins, Olga worried her father would have completely stopped allowing any form of contact. Despite his gruff and intimidating disposition, it was no secret that Bob Bob adored his grandchildren, the only one's since Olga herself, who are able to soften up the tough as nails Pataki patriarch.

Soon the family had entered the Pataki home and Olga noticed her mother Miriam was in the middle of knitting and she didn't look mopey or hungover.

"Good…" Olga thought, happy that the twelve-step process paid off in the end.

"Hello mummy…'Olga said as she hugged the elderly woman.

"Hey Olga…Oh Logan and Lisa…" Miriam said as she hugged her grandchildren.

"Hey nana…" Lisa greeted before turning to the television.

"So, how's school and everything?..." Miriam asked.

"We got to dissect a frog today, you should have seen how green Lisa got in class when she saw the guts…" Logan laughed.

"Shut up!..." Lisa barked and Olga cringed in embarrassment, hoping her parents would let it slide.

By some miracle, they didn't seem to mind and just kept talking about their days. And Olga tried not to react when they got to the part about spending the afternoon with Helga and her family.

"You should have been there, thanks to Uncle Arnold helping me with my curve ball, we managed to be Wolfgang Jr and Edgar..." Logan said proudly.

"Auntie Helga helped me with batting tips too..." Lisa said happily.

"That's nice...speaking of Helga, I heard that her book "Cecile" , is being nominated for a pulitzer..."Miriam said proudly.

"Yeah, she got the letter a few days ago and she and everyone is really excited... Her book is in the category for literary achievement..." Lisa said, obviously happy for her favorite aunt.

"That's my girl... Glad to see her writing career was the right choice..." Bob said with an unusual smile.

No one noticed Olga's frowning at that comment.

"And my acting career was the wrong choice, according to you..." Olga thought but wisely kept quiet.

"Uncle Arnold said that their going to fly out in a few days for the award ceremony..."Logan explained.

"Well I can't wait, speaking of which...I read that article Arnold wrote about Cultural differences between the Green Eyes and the modern world...very fascinating..." Miriam said with a smile while her husband merely just shrugged but didn't disagree.

Olga tried hard not to roll her eyes at that. She always found herself annoyed that her parents would always speak so fondly of Arnold but would bad mouth Patrick at each chance. It's not that she didn't like Arnold, he was a good man, he had a good job and it was obvious that he and Helga adored each other and Andy, Megan and Henry all loved their daddy so much too.

She just wished that her mummy and daddy would at least try and get along with her husband as well as they got along with Helga's husband. Was that really so much to ask?!

The family soon found themselves being seated while Olga and her mother prepared dinner together. Olga, on the inside, kept praying that this would not end in disaster as she put her efforts into making a delicious meal as she used to make.

Back before her life became imperfect.

-To be continued-

Next time on A Perfect Disaster

Lisa and Logan


A/N: I hope you enjoyed part 2. Up next will focus on Olga's kids Lisa and Logan.


REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewers:

Ajay435: To be honest it's a little of bit of both. I never really liked Olga and her "perfection" but I also felt like she was very naïve and slightly narcissistic at times as well. For all her "perfect" achievements on the show, she has proven to have very poor judgement and a bit overconfident in my own opinion. Her engagement to Doug and her acts in "Student teacher" and "Lis sis" are examples that while she might be academically and socially gifted, she still has a lot to learn about the real world and with real relationships.

The fact that deep down she's extremely insecure and neurotic only worsens it when faced with the actual stress she tries to avoid.

This story is my view of her being forced to face the reality of life without Helga or her parents being there to help pick up the pieces since she is now an adult and her luck was bound to run out at some point.

Invader Johnny: Yeah, I guess there are some similarities but as shown here, Olga pretty much brought in on herself since she didn't want to admit that she made a mistake.

Miyasa: Thank you, I'm flattered.

Nairobi-Harper: Thank you, I hope that this chapter lives up to expectations.

Metalheadrailfan: Nice interpretation, it could be karma and a combination of poor choices caused my naivety.


:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)