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Helga ran the straightener through her hair again and again, even though it was well straightened half an hour ago. Arnold had to work last Sunday, so the lunch was rescheduled for today. She was now seven weeks pregnant, and her morning sickness was becoming picky. It usually came in the morning, and she found she couldn't sit in the cafeteria any more, for the smells made her stomach upset.
Saltines were her best friend during the day. Right now, she had only thrown up once, and it seems the baby liked Miriam's cooking, for it never got upset when she smelt it. For this lunch, Miriam was making simple grilled cheese and tomato soup, but to Helga, it sounded amazing.
Turning off her straightener, she unplugged it and pulled the shirt farther down, the tank top underneath covering her but. Her shorts were riding up as well, causing her to frown.
She had a long time to think about not fitting into her clothes, but hopefully the weather will be warmer when that starts to happen, and she can get away with wearing dresses.
"Helga! He's here!"
Turning off the bathroom light, she rounded a corner to the stairs and climbed down, smiling despite the situation as a nervous Arnold had his hands in his pockets looking incredibly awkward.
"Hey Football Head, how's tricks?"
But he barely looked at her. When she turned to her left she saw Bob glaring at the boy from his seat in his chair.
"Criminey Bob, don't scare him to death!"
"Hey sweetie. How are you feeling today?"
She sat on the couch next to him with a smile and shrugged her shoulders.
"I'm feeling fine, already had my actual morning sickness."
From her view point, she could hear Miriam talking to Arnold in the kitchen as she made grill cheese.
"Helga honey, can you come set the table?"
"Coming Miriam!"
She entered the small dining room attached to the kitchen and set the table, and as Miriam served the soup, she called for everyone at the table.
At first the conversation was easy.
'How's your day going Arnold?'
'So you work with Helga then?'
'How was San Lorenzo?'
But her father had biting remarks to make with every question Miriam had.
'Helga throws up everyday, I'm sure it isn't too fun for her.'
'You don't actually plan on working there forever do you?'
'That was the trip my Helga risked her life for right?'
And then it got worse.
'So what are your plans for after graduation Arnold?'
'Do you have anything in your savings?'
'Do you know where the baby will stay?'
'How are you going to pay for diapers, clothes, bottles, medical bills?'
Bob, of course wasn't holding back either.
'Medical school? I don't think so. What about Helga's future? Should she give up her life too for your goals?'
'Of course he doesn't Miriam, he's only been working a few months.'
'The boarding house? You want a baby raised around those psycho boarders?'
'You don't know then don't you? This is ridiculous, they're children!'
With that Bob left the table. Helga's face fell in her hands and Arnold's face was bright red.
Miriam sighed and pushed her chair back.
"Helga, why don't you and Arnold just head to the boarding house now? I'll talk to your father."
Helga nodded and stood up as well, grabbing her purse and leaving out the front door, not caring if Arnold followed her. She unlocked her car and sat in the driver seat, taking deep breaths. Arnold slid in beside her, and closed the door, looking forward until his bright smile was directed at her, taking her aback.
"Well, that was interesting!"
"What?"
"I think of it as a personal success I didn't get hit."
She let out a laugh and turned on the car. The drive back to the boarding house was silent. When she locked the car again, she became very nervous.
"Uhm, Arnold, maybe we should do this another day."
"No way! Relax!"
He pulled her by the hand and entered the house.
"I'm home!"
But instead of stopping, he pulled her straight up to his room, and she sat on his bed, kicking her legs out. Noting the sheets smelt clean, she was surprised when he crawled in bed next to her, wrapping his arms around her waist, and placing his head on her stomach.
She didn't want to break the sudden moment, but she had to.
"Arnold-"
"We're still friends, right Helga?"
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Then we should do this more often."
"Do what?"
"Spend time together. After all, you're ten weeks pregnant saturday."
There was a slight bulge on her stomach, barely visible, and she looked like she was bloated. It was longer on the bottom, like a true pregnant belly. It's fall, so she got away with wearing hoodies for now, like the zip up one she had on.
"Don't remind me. Only thirty more weeks to go."
Arnold smiled softly.
"Thirty more weeks. That's crazy."
He placed his hand on her stomach, and instantly they both felt something.
His hand moved away like fire, and their eyes met. While his were scared, hers were excited.
"Don't be scared football head. That was our baby's first kick."
The grin on his face was infectious, and she found herself smiling like a loon.
"That's, so exciting!"
"I know. Hey, my appointment is this Friday, right after school. Would you like to come? Miriam can't make it, she and Bob have a meeting until dinner."
"Yeah, I'd like to come."
His phone went off, she could feel the vibration. He brought it out into his hand, and a small frown graced his features.
"Who is it?"
"It's just a forward from Gerald."
He quickly put it back away but she shook her head.
"You're a horrible liar Arnoldo. It's Lila, isn't it? She is still your girlfriend."
Arnold rubbe dthe back of his neck in nervousness before checking the time.
"Uh, yeah."
Clearing her throat, Helga decided she didn't want to talk about this subject.
"After the baby comes, I won't be working at slaussen's. My dad will be able to give me a more flexible schedule than they would. I might even quit early april so I can relax before the baby comes."
"Right, that's a good idea. I need a better job. You're parents are right, we need so much."
"Why don't we both buy a pack a diapers a week for a few months? Whatever doesn't fit, the superstore allows you to trade back for a different size. That's what my sister did. She offered us her crib-"
"I want to buy the crib."
"Arnold, it's cheaper to-"
"No, please? This is the one thing I can do at least. Besides work."
Helga smiled and nodded.
"Fine, be difficult."
Taking time to actually look around the room, she saw the picture frame right next to his bed.
"You keep it near you?"
"Yeah, it's my baby."
Helga smiled wider.
The front door could be heard closing and Arnold sat up.
"My parents are home."
Their eyes met and she reached out to squeeze his hand.
"I'm ready when you are Arnold."
He stood up and took a deep breath before helping her up like a gentleman. Opening his door, he called out to them.
"Mom! Dad! I need to talk to you for a second!"
They walked down the steps to see his parents removing their coats.
"What's up baby?"
"Helga! We haven't seen you in years!"
Miles grinned at her while Stella smiled politely, obviously not recognizing her.
"Oh, yeah."
Suddenly she felt very guilty with what they were about to hear.
But her stomach was suddenly growing queasy.
"Arnold…"
"Mom, Dad, I have something to tell you."
"So you said sweetie, what is it?"
Her eyes found the bathroom just in time, because she made a sprint for it, threw open the lid and retched her lunch. It wasn't much this time, but it was miserable none the less. She stopped just in time to hear Stella's cry.
"WHAT?"
"Arnold!"
A minute or so later he was by her side, pushing the hair out of her face, stick of gum in hand. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and he kissed the top of her head.
"They know. Ready to talk it out?"
She nodded and popped the gum in her mouth. He helped her up and flushed the toilet, setting the lid down.
Slowly she rounded the corner, feeling like a puppy who peed on the carpet, knowing it was wrong.
What am I doing?
I reunited this family only to tear it apart.
"Come on Helga."
They sat on a love seat while Stella sat in a rocking chair, Miles leaning behind her. She wouldn't look them in the eyes, she refused.
"Now, we have to talk about this. Arnold just turned eighteen, Helga you're seventeen?"
"Until December tenth."
"Right. You both work at Slaussen's. Arnold, how much do you have in your savings?"
"Like, a hundred dollars?"
Miles sighed and bowed his head.
"Well son, it's time for you to man up. I don't want to be mean about it, but you have a family now. You two might not be together, but you're not letting this girl raise your child alone."
"God Miles!"
Stella put her hands in her hair.
"Stella-"
"We, our son, we didn't ever talk to him about sex-"
"Mom!"
"Oh Arnold! It's a little late to be blushing isn't it?"
They both were. Helga's face was bright red. She cleared her throat.
"It was my fist time too. I'm sorry, I didn't come here to tear your family apart. I just thought Arnold had a right to know, I can do this on my own. My parents, they can support me-"
"Absolutely not. Arnold will take responsibility. Now Stella, why don't you help mother with dinner?"
Stella moved to stand up and suddenly looked at Helga. A soft feminine hand was in her face. Helga took it silently and she was pulled into the kitchen.
"Arnold needs time to talk to his father. Helga, I want you to know I don't hate you. I didn't imagine I'd be a grandmother so soon, but I won't be the one to tear this family apart. Would you like to help with dinner?"
Helga gave a soft smile and began cutting the vegetables for the Italian food Arnold's Grandma would be making.
"Eleanor!"
Helga's smile grew wider at the name Gertie gave her.
"Mom this is-"
"Oh I know who she is dear. Eleanor is the name I gave her the first time she came here."
"Oh."
Stella suddenly looked down.
"You know Helga I regret everyday getting on that plane one last time. My little Arnold had just started walking, I didn't know I'd loose seven years of his life."
"Stella dear, stop thinking about it. After all, we're going to have a baby soon!"
Helga's head snapped up to look at Gertie, stunned.
"Oh Eleanor dear, who do you think cleans Arnold's room half the time? His shelves and desks always need dusting it seems. When I saw the ultrasound and the name on it, 'Pataki, Helga' I knew. My Phil knows too, we've been waiting for Arnold to tell us."
Helga blushed slightly and the kitchen became hot enough to take off the zip up thin hoodie.
"Oh dear."
"It's cute!"
Turning from cutting up some Italian sausage, Helga stared at both woman who were smiling at her brightly.
Realizing they were looking at her stomach, she put down the knife and walked to them both, grabbing their hands. Once they were both on her small mound she felt the baby move for them.
Silence was heard in the kitchen for a brief moment, and suddenly two smiles shone brightly at her.
"Oh my!"
"Miles!"
Arnold's dad peeked around the corner, and moments later Arnold did too.
"What is it love?"
"Can he do it Helga?"
She nodded.
"Of course."
Stepping closer to the man who finally noticed her small stomach, she grabbed his hand and placed it where the baby last kicked her. A moment paused and suddenly she moved it to the other side where the baby kicked at. Miles smiled brightly and looked at her before suddenly pulling her in for a hug.
"I remember first feeling Arnold kick. That was so amazing!"
Her head turned to catch Arnold leaning back with a half lidded gaze, and a soft smile.
"Now you boys go, we still have to cook!"
A few minutes later, Helga grew curious.
"Where are all the boarders?"
"Well, let's see. Mr. Hyun moved with his daughter back to Japan. Suzie and Oskar divorced. Suzie moved back in with her mother, while Oskar moved to Jersey. And Ernie? He hit it big with the lotto and started his own construction business and moved it to Florida."
"I see. So the house is empty?"
"Besides us, yes. Arnold keeps his old room, Stella and Miles moved in where Suzie and Oskar lived. And Phil and I were going to offer you both the room where Mr. Hyun lived. It has a small room, and a bigger room as well as a living room like space and it's own private bathroom."
"That's really nice of you."
The cooking was underway and Helga sat down, making a checklist of everything they needed for the baby.
Stella sat beside her, casually reading over her list.
"Arnold wants to buy and build the baby's crib."
She looked up in time to see Stella start grinning.
"Miles said the same thing when we found out I was pregnant. Who all knows that you're pregnant by the way?"
"My parents, my sister, brother in law, best friend, and Gerald. He hasn't told his girlfriend yet."
The air suddenly grew thick.
"Arnold has a girlfriend?"
"Oh my."
"ARNOLD!"
Stella's chair scraped and Helga suddenly stood up.
"No wait, I didn't mean to start-"
Arnold appeared in the kitchen in seconds, looking startled.
"Mom? What's wrong?"
"You mean to tell me, that while Helga is pregnant you also have a girlfriend?"
"I-"
"Who is she? Why didn't you ever tell us?"
Someone pulled at her elbow. Turning around, it was Gertie who was smiling softly.
"I have a few minutes before I have to stir the sausage and pasta, let's go somewhere real quick."
Helga was pulled out into the living room, in front of the fireplace. From there she could still hear the argument between Arnold, Stella, and Miles.
"Now, turn to your side."
It was then that Helga noticed Gertie wanted to take her first pregnancy picture.
"I want two, one with your face, the other without. So right now, lift up your shirt dear."
Helga did as she was told, and lifted her arms to her hair, getting them out of the way.
A flash and a smile was the sign that she was ready for her second one. Helga pulled her hair to on side of her face and placed her hands on her stomach, absentmindedly running her hands over it as she waited for Gertie to be ready. Little did she know, Gertie had found the perfect moment and snapped the picture.
Helga looked up somewhat startled before softly smiling. Gertie excused herself, and Helga could hear her announce she took Helga's first pregnancy pictures.
"Food's ready!"
Arnold grabbed her hand and gently led her through the food line and a seat at the table.
"So Helga, how did your parents take to the news?"
And here goes the awkward questions.
"Well, as expected I guess. Although, they were more calm about it than I assumed they would be."
Stella looked at her and nodded before returning to her dinner, but the silence alone was awkward enough.
At the end of the dinner Arnold walked Helga out to her car. They both looked away before he cleared his throat.
"So uh-"
"I'll see you at school tomorrow."
Helga bit her lip as she realized that came out a little too fast and a little too loud.
"Right, school. When was that appointment?"
"This Friday, like right after school."
"Okay."
"So uh-"
"School, tomorrow. Have a good night Helga."
"Yeah, you too. Sweet dreams Arnold."
She climbed into her car and started it.
"Right, sweet dreams. Helga."
Closing the door, she hurried off back home, a soft smile on her lips.
She missed the half lidded expression on Arnold's face turn into a frown as another vibration hit his leg.
End!
How'd I do?Sorry it took so long!
Uh, what's next?
Doctor appointment, telling Lila, and of course, the gang! All before winter break!
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I'm a newbie, so go easy on me.
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