A/N: Once again this is going up much later than I would have liked D: but I've been under the weather and helping move the office for work *fun fun*. Hopefully I can start writing more regularly again soon!
Six Years Ago
"Lila…we can't keep doing this. I can't do this to Helga." Arnold sighed and looked over at her. They were laying on his bed after this latest encounter.
Lila shifted under the blanket and turned to look up at him, her long red hair slightly frazzled and hanging down past her shoulders. She moved an arm around his waist and offered him a smile. "Arnold, sweetheart, as long as she doesn't find out why should you care? Besides, you know I'm more fun."
"That's not the point…this is wrong…" Arnold turned on his side and held her closer.
Lila smirked and kissed his neck. "Then just break up with her."
Of course she was right. Arnold had only said yes to going out with Helga with the intention of the date going awful and him not having to see her like that again…but that's not what happened. It had been fun and he really enjoyed being with her. Still, Lila…they had been fooling around on and off, all throughout high school. Never actually a couple, but they hadn't fooled around when he did have a girlfriend.
"Maybe"
"There's no Maybe." Lila frowned, sitting up a bit. "Break up with her and then we can be together."
Arnold raised an eyebrow. "Together? Like…actually together?"
"Well why not? It's been this long…we might as well make it official right?"
Arnold couldn't help but wonder why the sudden change. Was it because he was with Helga? Or because Arnie had finally told Lila to 'back the hell off' and leave him alone? Arnold couldn't believe that his cousin had actually said that and honestly when Lila cried to him about it he hadn't believed her fully. Then Arnie called and told him what he had done, and told Arnold that he was glad to have finally said it.
Present Day
Arnold looked around the empty apartment building and sighed. All their stuffed had been shipped off to their new home in England. Honestly, Arnold didn't really want to move all the way across the country, but Lila had more job opportunities there and Arnold could write books wherever he was.
"Sweetheart?" Lila came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Ready to go? Our flight leaves in an hour."
Arnold had been thinking about this a lot, and he loved Lila –they had been engaged for a year now. They planned to get married in England when things got settled down…but there was unfinished business that he had to take care of first. "Lila, why don't you go on a head. I'll catch a different flight in a few days…there's just some things I need to finish up."
"But Arnold-"
"Please Lila." Arnold looked down at her and Lila nodded.
"Alright. I'll call you when I land…"
"So…Mr. J is…my dad?" Jacob looked at Helga confused. "But you said-"
"Sweetie I know what I said and I'm sorry that I lied to you." They were sitting on Jacob's bed. Gerald was standing in front of them and kneeled down so he was eye-level with Jacob. They had just finished dinner and it was Jacob's bedtime but tonight was the night they wanted to tell Jacob the truth.
Jacob looked at Gerald now, but his statement was directed at Helga. "Lying is bad."
"Yes it is." Helga agreed. "And I shouldn't have lied, but I was scared."
"Scared of what?"
"I…honestly, I don't even know." Helga kissed the side of his head and Gerald spoke up.
"Your mom didn't know if she would ever see me again buddy. She didn't want you to get your hopes up."
"But…why did you leave?"
"I had to, I didn't know about you though." Gerald offered him a smile. "But I know about you now and I'm not going anywhere. Come on, let's get you tucked in to bed okay? We can talk about it more tomorrow."
After Jacob was tucked in bed Helga and Gerald went back out in to the hallway. "That didn't go so bad."
Helga shook her head. "No…but I'm sure he'll have plenty more questions in the morning." She smiled a bit.
Gerald chuckled and kissed her forehead. "I'm sure he will." He looked down as his cellphone rang and frowned. Who was calling at this hour? He took out his phone and went wide-eyed a moment. He didn't want to answer it but, knew he had to.
He walked down the hall a bit. "Gerald here."
Helga frowned, what didn't he want her to hear? Gerald slipped in to her bedroom and closed the door. She took a few quiet steps forward to try and listen in.
"I don't think that's a good idea. It's been too long." There was a pause – presumably as Gerald listened to the other person. "You want to clear the air now? Why the sudden change of heart?" His voice almost sounded accusing. "You're the one who overreacted."
Helga listened, but was even more confused. Who was he talking to? An old flame? An old friend? An enemy? "Do whatever the hell you want Arnold. I'm not making any promises." He hung up and Helga quickly moved back to her spot.
Arnold?! Why was he talking to Arnold? Gerald had made it clear they were on bad terms and by the sound of the phone call they still were. Better yet, why hadn't Gerald wanted Helga to hear?
Gerald came back out and sighed, putting his phone away and went back to her, wrapping his arms around her. "Maybe it's time I tell you something."
