Chapter 2: Hello Hillwood, It's Me, Helga.
Author's note: I was glad to see that I had people actually taking interest in my first chapter. This is my first fanfiction ever so, please tell me what you think. I would love to hear your thoughts/opinions. Thank you and there is more to come. Read & Review. (:
Btw, whenever it is an italicized statement it's almost always going to be her thoughts or whom ever else could be talking. (:
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Hey Arnold or any characters.
"Where is this freakin' building?" Helga says irritated, looking at the numbers on the newly built houses, she'd passed by at least twice now. She sighs giving up, and decides to instead, go get some lunch to help her regain her patience. She turns the corner, driving back onto the main street through the city. Glancing at the stores she used to walk by when she was a kid. Until she saw Slausen's, her forever favorite ice cream parlor. So she pulled over, and drove her Mini Van into the small parking lot across the street from it. Cutting the ignition and popping the trunk. Going around the back she began shuffling through her many belongings when she heard a familiar voice behind her. "Helga?" Phoebe, her long time best friend, questioned surprised to see her and giving her an awkward hug due to the fact she had groceries in her hands, "I thought you were supposed to get her tomorrow?"
Helga hugged her back, and smiled, "Yeah, that was the original plan, but I figured no need in sitting around for no reason. So I decided on driving up here before the movers got here, to see the place and figure where what's going," She looked down at her watch. "And the movers should actually be here in about an hour.."
"Oh, alright, well where are you heading now?" Phoebe asked shifting her bags a bit.
"I was actually on my way to Slausen's, I need to calm my nerves, I'm having a really hard time finding my new house." Helga replied glancing behind her, into the van.
"You mind if I join you? I'd love to catch up a bit we haven't talked in while, and maybe after we finish our ice creams I could see if I can show you the way to your home." Phoebe smiled hopefully.
"Uh..." Helga said nervously, knowing that this moment was bound to come sometime, though she didn't think it would be so soon, "Yeah.. Sure."
"Alright. I'll go put these in my car and-" the sudden wails of a baby made both of them jump, with a second baby's cry immediately following. Helga quickly turned and pulled out a double seated stroller from the open trunk. Flipping it open like a pro, she kicked down the brakes and ran to the side of the van sliding open the door. Phoebe saw her arms moving and heard one baby's cry subside, and watched as Helga came out with an infant wearing a little pink dress, with a matching pink head band that was decorated with a tiny bow. She settled her into the stroller and went around to the other side repeating her actions. Though, this time she came out with an infant in a blue onesie, with a little red truck in the center. When she finished, she turned back, and saw a blank expression plastered on Phoebe's face. "Uhm.. Phoe-?"
"Helga! Those are infants!" Phoebe said dropping her bags and stepping forward putting her hands on Helga's shoulders, shaking her a bit.
"Yes. They are.." Helga said trying to avoid Phoebe's gaze, though it was hard since she was so close.
"Wha-, Thos—How? Why?!" Phoebe stumbled trying to find the right words.
"Well-" Helga began, but Phoebe put her finger to her lips. "Wait, let me put these in my car. We'll talk inside." Phoebe turned around and grabbed her bags and trotted toward her silver Volvo at the end of the lot. Helga turned around and looked down at her children and smiled, moving around the car to the side and reaching in to grab the diaper bag. And as soon as she closed and locked all the doors Phoebe was back, staring at the twins. "Ready?" Helga asked, snapping her out of her daze. "Huh, Yeah," she nodded moving out of the way of the stroller. Helga kicked up the breaks and pushed forward toward the parlor. They walked in silence and once they got to the front entrance Phoebe went ahead to hold open the door for Helga. "Thanks."
Once they were seated, a young boy with brown hair and freckles approached their table. "Hey, ladies. What can I get'cha?"
Almost immediately, Helga said with a smile, "A hot fudge sundae, please."
"Alright," The boy said blushing a bit at Helga's beautiful smile, "And you, Miss?"
"Same." Phoebe spat while staring a burning hole into her best friend.
"Okay, I'll be right back with your orders." He stared at Helga for a moment before quickly turning away.
"Okay, Helga. Explain. Everything." She demanded.
"Uhm.. Well, these are my children, they're twins. My eldest is the little boy, his name is Miles and his 1 min and 30 seconds younger sister's name is Starlet. They were born May 1, last year."
"So they're only a year and a half? That would mean your pregnancy began…" she paused doing the math in her head. "Around September… That's when you left Hillwood.."
Helga only looked at Phoebe, without words confirming her assumption, when the boy arrived with the ice cream.
"Alrighty. Here you go." He said setting them down in front of the women at the table. "If you need anything else just shout."
"Thanks." Both women said in unison.
"Helga.. Why didn't you ever tell me?" Phoebe asks sounding hurt.
Helga looked down at her ice cream taking the spoon into her left hand and eating a spoon full, trying to construct her answer. "Im sorry, Pheebs." She paused, "I just.. Couldn't just.. I didn't want anyone to find out. I was just a junior in high school, I didn't even tell my mom until I was paralyzed with nausea, three months into my pregnancy, I didn't even get to finish high school. Needless to say that didn't help with what was already going on…" She looked up to see tears running down Phoebe's face, "Oh, Phoebe, please don't cry. I'm sorry, I should have told you…" She wrapped her arms around her best friend's shoulders until Miles began crying. Helga turned around to pick him up, "Oh sweetheart.."
"May I hold him?" Phoebe asked as Helga leant back up with him in arms.
"Of course." She set him into her arms.
"Look at you.. Hello, sweet little, Miles.." Phoebe smiled down at the tiny infant grabbing at her long black hair.
"Well, this seems to be about the best of time, as any," Helga chuckled, "So Pheebs, would you like to be the twins' Godmother?" Helga smiled at how happy her best friend looked. She didn't look up or say anything she just nodded keeping her eyes locked on the babies puggy little face, and he smiled.
:oooo:
"Okay, well I can show you the way to the house. So just follow me." Phoebe said while strapping Starlet into her seat after, having had to give Miles up for his feeding.
"Alright." Helga replied closing the side door, and walking around to the driver's side and slipping into the seat. Waving behind her as Phoebe closed the side door and went to her own car.
Pulling out of the parking lot they turned the opposite way that Helga came in from, so I was in the completely wrong part of town, dammit. They went down this road for at least 5 minutes, when she noticed a huge mural in-progress. It had many bright swirls of color, and what looked like the beginning of tall buildings, that almost resembled the buildings of Hillwood itself. Helga was flabbergasted; she couldn't believe such a piece of art could be on a mere brick wall. When Phoebe turned onto the street right next to the piece of art, they pasted by a few building until Helga spotted her house's number. Phoebe pulled in front of the house as Helga pulled into the garage. Helga cut the engine, and got out of the car, and saw Phoebe already grabbing the diaper bag and Miles out of the back. Helga chuckled grabbing the fold up play pen and Starlet. She walked into the house and shut the door behind her. While walking down the hall she saw a tiny room, the kitchen, the stairs, and then walked into what would soon be her living room. She set now the pen and walked to the other side of the house back through the dining room into her kitchen where Phoebe was standing, looking through the diaper bag for wipes.
"They're in that zipped pocket on the side." Helga said gesturing to the outside of the bag. "Could you grab another diaper?" Helga asked walking out into the hall, back to the living room. As Helga set down Starlet and started undoing her little dress, Phoebe came in and did the same with Miles. They changed diapers and Helga stood, "I'm going to go grab some sleep clothes for them, will you be okay?"
"Yeah, of course." Phoebe cooed, tickling the babies on their tummies. Helga walked back out into the garage and popped her trunk open. As she was shuffling through her belongs trying to find clothes, blankets, and a cooler of already pumped milk, the mover's truck pulled in.
"Hello, Miss Pataki?" A large gruff man asked, hopping out of the passenger side.
"Yes, hello, you guys can start bringing stuff in, the boxes and furniture with the numbers 2 and 6 need to go upstairs, along with the queen sized bed and the two cribs, everything else can just stay down stairs in the living room. Alright?" Helga instructed, with a friendly smile.
"Yes, Ma'am." The worker nodded and returned back to the truck.
Helga made her way back inside toward the living room where she heard squeals of glee she knew oh so well. "Hey, we got'ta move into the room next to the kitchen, the movers just got here." She said stepping into grab the play pen.
"Alright." Phoebe said standing with both babies in her arms following Helga out. They stepped into the room and Helga built the pen and Pheebs redressed the babies. They set the two down for their nap and Helga gave them both a bottle before leaving the room. The two friends made their way back to the kitchen, where a few boxes had already been set, thankfully one of them marked, Coffee/Coffee Pot/Cups. Helga put the coffee maker together and left it to brew.
"So how can you afford this house? Excuse my assumptions but, I don't recall you ever having a job?" Phoebe asked looking at the large kitchen and dining area.
"Oh, well you know that book I was writing?" Phoebe nodded, "Well have you heard of The Fuchsia Book Series?"
Phoebe thought about it for a second, then her mouth went agape, "That's yours? They are so wonderful I loved those books! I can't wait for the third book! But, wait, the author on the book is Heather McRoggers?"
"Yeah, I didn't want my name being used for… Personal reasons. So I made one up. So what do you think?" Helga poured two cups and handed Phoebe hers, putting her hand on her hip and popping her leg out, "Do I look like a Heather?"
Phoebe laughed, "Oh yeah." They continued laughing at Helga's 'stage' name. When a tall, dark skinned man came into the kitchen with another box, setting it down on the far counter and turning around to look at the two women, to Helga's surprise she knew exactly who it was, "Hey Baby. Helga." Gerald grinned as he embraced Phoebe and kissed her. And then turned to Helga giving her an awkward hug, "Hair-boy?" Helga laughed, Gerald had defiantly changed a lot more than she would have expected. He was taller, really toned, his hair was shorter height, and he had a slight goatee. He chuckled, "I haven't heard that nickname in a good minute. Yes, how are you Helga?"
"Pretty good, actually, had quite a day with Phoebe here." Helga glanced at Phoebe, knowing that she was going to have to spill the beans to Gerald as well, or Phoebe will.
"So I just carried in crib pieces, Helga, care to explain?" Gerald said, surprising both Helga and Phoebe at the sudden statement.
"Uhm.. Yeah. About that-" Helga began until her she heard the wails of one of her babies. God, these kids have awesome timing. "Well, come and see for yourself." Helga said walking out of the kitchen to the tiny room. Starlet had awoken, though Miles was still fast asleep. He has a gift I swear. Helga leant down and grabbed her. "This is Starlet."
Gerald didn't say a thing; he just looked at the baby's big green eyes. Helga rocked the baby back and forth waiting for Gerald to say something. "Uh, earth to Geraldo?"
"Helga, is she..?" Gerald paused. "Her eyes, they look like-"
"Yes." Was all she said. Gerald was silent, until he asked, "Can I hold her?" Helga nodded and handed her to Gerald, she grabbed his finger giving it a squeeze, and he tapped her nose making her giggle. "She's so beautiful."
"Well like I asked to Phoebe earlier, you want'a be hers and Miles Godfather?" She asked smirking. Gerald glanced at her and looked at the pen, and approached to see another infant sleeping soundly. Gerald nodded chuckling and said, "Just like his daddy."
:ooooo:
There it is, Chapter two, it was a lot longer than I'd actually intended, but anyway, look forward to Chapter 3: Helga, You Better Have A Good Explanation.