When she woke up she didn't know where she was and at first a slice of panic hit her. She sat up right with a jolt in the huge bed. It was then she noticed the tiny lump under the blankets beside her. She lifted the blankets just a bit to see Danny asleep in the middle of the bed.
She put the blankets back over him and slid off the bed stopping at mirror by the door to check her hair.
She found Arnold asleep on the couch and she instantly felt bad for taking up his bed all night. Moving towards the door she grabbed her shoes and tried to pull them on in silence planning a great escape.
"Going somewhere?" Arnold asked sleepily and she jumped dropping her shoe.
"I'm sorry...I didn't want to wake you up" He shrugged still half asleep he sat up.
"I wasn't really sleeping" He pushed his hair back from his eyes in a tired careless manner and she felt bad for him.
"I'm sorry for making you sleep on the couch...you should have woke me up..."
"No, It's not that I was...trying to figure out were Lila could be..."
"You really miss her" Helga guessed and he shook his head.
"No, not really. Even when Lila was here...she wasn't...you know? I just wish I knew where she was"
"I can call her if you want me too..."Helga offered and he shook his head.
"No thanks. I appreciate it but...it's my problem not yours you've already done so much..."
"Arnold I want to help you I want to be with the kids...I..."She sighed and he looked away from her.
"I need a shower I'm due in court today" He stood and moved towards the hall.
"I'll start breakfast then..."She moved to the kitchen.
Somewhere in between they bumped into each other her bumping against his sold chest and he froze looking down at her. She took a deep breath before forcing herself to meet his eyes.
"Helga..."He moved just a little and played with a long piece of hair that had pulled loose of her bun in her sleep.
"Arnold.." She didn't know what to say his gaze was so intense it stole her thoughts.
"When...this...it all over...would you..."She bit her lip in anticipation. She had waited so long for him to ask her out.
"DADDY!" The screams broke them apart and Arnold quickly brushed past her rushing down the hall. She stood where she was rooted in place and swaying slightly in shock.
After a few minutes she moved to the kitchen and began working on breakfast for Arnold and the kids.
When Arnold got out of the shower Sophie was sitting in her high chair happily eating breakfast and the boys had taken their breakfast in the livingroom infront of the television. Lila never let them eat in the livingroom and he was going to comment on it but didn't.
"Hey, Do you have time to eat?" Helga asked and he nodded dropping into a seat beside Sophie.
Helga set a plate with eggs, pancakes and bacon infront of him and then without thinking about it she leaned over and started to work on his tie. He froze the second she did so. His fork halfway between him and the plate.
She was so close with him sitting down and her leaning over. She smelled good and he wanted to pull her down onto his lap but he didn't instead he cleared his throat. She then noticed how close they were and instantly her cheeks flushed pink she quickly finished his tie then back away.
"I'm sorry...I just...autopilot" She made a motion with her hand and he smiled.
"It's fine I appreciate all your help. Really"
He finished his breakfast and took his plate to the sink she was wiping off Sophie and he went to say goodbye to the boys first.
He came back and moved to Sophies other side kissing her head.
"See you late Sophie girl" He smiled Helga was still wiping Sophies sticky hands when he leaned over and quickly and gently pressed a kiss to her lips.
She didn't have time to kiss him back or react one minute he was there his lips pressing against hers and then he was gone out the door and she was standing in the kitchen alone with Sophie.
Sophie rattled her keys and Helga smiled at her as her breathing seemed to finally return to normal.
She finished cleaning up after breakfast and after settling Sophie in her bouncy swing with the boys infront of cartoons she went to have a shower.
She had brought clothes and shampoo just in case in her trusty pink backpack the one thing she held onto from highschool.
She stepped into the shower and let the hot water spray over her. She had to admit being with three small children full time did get tiring. She felt bad for Lila but there still wasn't an excuse for her behavior. She was faster in the shower then she normally was and when she stepped out of the shower she heard voices.
She threw on clothes and rushed to the livingroom. Her hair went to her waist and was dripping wet soaking her clothes when she reached the livingroom. Jack and Danny were watching television and Lila sat on the couch looking at Sophie who was still playing with her keys.
"oh..I thought you were Arnold..."Helga said dumbly and Lila stared her down from head to toe.
"Yes, Well I assumed the same thing...where is Arnold?"
"Work...he left about an hour ago..."
"I see...Well...I will go to his offices then" Lila stood picking up her purse and Helga spoke.
"Lila...wait...do you want...to stay for some tea?" She gestured to the kitchen and Lila smiled softening a little.
"No thanks Helga...I appreciate you taking care of the kids..."Helga looked at the boys who were enchanted with the television.
"It's no problem...do you want to visit them?"
"No. That's ok...bye Helga" Lila went out the door and Helga noticed Jack watching but Danny and Sophie didn't even look up.
"Hey after lunch I have a surprise for you guys" She smiled and The boys finally looked away from the television.
Arnold won his court case and he felt slightly better as he walked up the stairs to his arpartment. He knew Helga and the kids would be there and that thought made him feel better. Thanks to winning this case he was hoping he could buy a house for him and the kids with a yard.
He didn't know what to do with Helga. He wanted to be with her but it would be a huge step for her to go from a single wirter in an apartment to a wife and mother of three. He sighed digging for his keys and opening the door to his apartment.
He stepped inside and noticed it was quiet. He was late it was already nine and he knew the kids would be in bed. He went looking for Helga and when he found her he was speechless.
His hardwood floors in his living room were covered with a large plastic table cloth that was covered in finger paint. All around the livingroom were fingerpaintings obviously done by the kids. Helga was on her hands and knees on the table cloth closing the lids on the various paints and wearing a great deal of it herself.
"Helga..." She looked up and he saw that not only were her arms and clothes covered in paint but her hair had streaks of green and her face had smears of blue.
"Arnold...I was going to clean this all up I promise"
He set his breifcase aside pulling on his tie.
"It's ok...really...where are my kids?"
"They went to bed about an hour ago after dinner your dinner is in the fridge"
"And...was Leonardo Davinci by and I missed him?" He motioned at the paintings and she smiled standing she handed him a few.
"The kids did them...aren't they great?...we painted all day" He glanced from the painting to her.
"Looks like they painted more then the paper" She blushed.
"Oh...yeah well...Jack spilled on Danny and Danny retaliated and...well...we had a bit of a paint war...the kids are clean now...I just wanted them to have some fun after..."She didn't have to finish.
"After Lila left" He handed her the painting back and moved into the kitchen for his dinner she followed.
"So, You saw her then?"
"Yeah, She came by my office...to talk about a divorce" He fell into a chair and she sat down beside him.
"I'm sorry Arnold"
"Don't be I knew it was coming...She doesn't want the apartment...or the kids...She just wants out and some money...I agreed of course..All I want is the kids...I don't care about anything else...I agreed she could visit whenever she wanted but I don't think she will"
"I tried to get her to visit them today too..."Helga said sadly.
"Yeah, She said that you had everything under control she wanted to check on the kids and she could see they were fine and she feels its better for them if she bows out gracefully" Arnold rolled his eyes.
"She does love them Arnold...just...in a different way"
"I know. If I were in her shoes I really don't think I could just let them go" Helga simled and he finally drew his attention from his plate to her.
She looked stunning even covered in paint and wearing old clothes. He loved his kids more then anything but sometimes he wished things were different. He should have went after Helga years ago instead of Lila.
He leaned over and kissed her. This kiss was different then the one this morning. It was full of passion and he didn't pull back this time. She kissed back almost instantly he grabbed her arms pulling her to his lap and she let out a startle noise but didn't fight him.
She kissed him back just as desperately. His hand pulled her hair loose from the tight ponytail and he ran his fingers through the blonde silk using it to angle her head where he needed it. His other hand gripped her thigh holding her body close.
When He finally took a minute to breathe she rested her forehead against his. She was shaking he could feel her entire body tremble and he smiled a little he could still do that to her.
"Helga..."His voice was breathless and didn't sound like him.
"I should go...I don't...not yet...not with the kids" He nodded she was right of course.
"Ok...Will you come back tomorrow?" He sounded clingy and needy.
"Yeah...of course" He kissed her again getting completely lost in the feeling of her body against his her lips moving beneath his.
"Arnold" She gigled pushing him away.
"Ok ok ok..." He let go and she slid away she moved to the door and he followed.
"You're shirts ruined" She said and he looked down his once white dress shirt was covered in paint.
"It's ok" He leaned on arm against the door frame his other arm sneaking around her waiste pulling her in one more time for another passionate kiss.
"I'm leaving now" she teased pulling her head back and he groaned burying his face in her neck and tasting her skin a little.
She jumped as if he shocked her both hand coming to his chest and he grinned. So that was the spot that he needed to find. He bit her lightly and she gasp gripping his shirt.
"You sure. You're leaving?" He asked sweetly planting more kisses and she nodded but didn't move.
"I'm sure..."
He sighed and pulled away ending the torture for now and she offered him a weak smile.
"Bye Arnold"
"Bye Helga"
She left and he sighed before looking down at his ruined shirt and deciding it was worth it.