Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold! Or anything else that probably sounds like you could make some money off of it.
FF Summary: One night Helga thought would be of no consequence ends up changing her and Arnold's life forever.
Story Summary: Helga figured that Arnold was drunk enough to not remember anything, and she was drunk enough to think it was a good idea. But she'll soon find out that what they'd done that night isn't going to be a secret for long.
This is slightly AU, as in if things went the way C.B. had wanted, I'm changing it a little. Arnold has recently moved back from San Lorenzo with his parents after being away from Hillwood for 6 years. So he's a junior in high school now. What didn't happen was the realization of his feelings for Helga and it wasn't a class trip, only because that's a LOT of back story and this story is going to be busy enough!
This story is now officially rated M, as per request of one of the readers. So, anything goes people!
Also, please be aware that there are a few time jumps in this chapter, and there will be more in the chapters to follow. This story is winding down, but don't worry, there is going to be a sequel.
ALSO, also: Be sure to check out my companion collection of drabbles/oneshots for this story. If I don't update this for a while, or will be too busy to, I will try and post something to help lighten the gap between updates on that. The story is called From the Pitcher's Mound.
Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter Ten:
"Of Holidays and Picture Frames"
Monday; 8:03am. 10 weeks pregnant.
"Hey man, how was your weekend?" Gerald asked as he leaned beside his friend's locker.
Arnold visibly tensed as he chose his words carefully, "Uh…it was great? Very, um…productive."
"Really?" Gerald quirked a brow, "After the kind of mood Helga was in?"
"Especially because of the mood Helga was in," Arnold muttered, receiving a strange look from Gerald. Stumbling, Arnold quickly offered, "I mean, it was because of her…behavior lately that we, uh…discussed things very," Arnold paused, searching for the right word, "um, very thoroughly."
"And what was the problem in the first place?"
"Hormones," Arnold answered without missing a beat.
"Sheesh, is that gonna be her excuse for everything?" Gerald wondered. When all Arnold did was shrug, Gerald shook his head, "Well, as long as she ain't comin' after ya, I guess it isn't so bad."
"Of course she isn't, but that's just common courtesy," Arnold quipped distractedly as he shouldered his backpack.
"Wait, what?"
"What?" Arnold returned, as they both seemingly played it back in their heads. As realization dawned on both of them, both pairs of eyes grew wide, "Gerald, just…don't-it's not, I mean-
"No, no, no, no, come on man! Don't tell me you are actually…!" Gerald trailed off, unable to finish his sentence before covering his face in dismay and leaning onto an unoccupied locker.
"Alright I won't," Arnold replied hurriedly as he attempted to get his best friend moving again.
Gerald gave a look of disgust, "Dude, do you have like, serious thrill issues or something? Have you lost touch with reality? Is this pregnancy getting to you?"
"Yeah, okay yes," Arnold whispered harshly, "I'm constantly around this hot chick, day and night, in very close proximity and so when the opportunity presents itself that the two of us can maybe get a little something out of this arrangement, I jump on it. So, if that makes me crazy, that's fine. You wanna know why? Because I got laid a lot this past weekend, that's why," Arnold huffed before continuing on his way.
Gerald merely stared after him before shaking out of his shock and going after him, "Okay, okay look I'm sorry. It's just a…big development over the course of one weekend, that's all. And it's a little weird. I mean, you gotta admit that."
"Well, yeah but that much was obvious."
"…You know, Arnold I just gotta say…" Gerald trailed off.
Arnold rolled his eyes, "Just say it."
"You are a bold kid, Arnold. A bold kid."
Saturday; 3:52 pm. 12 weeks pregnant.
"And…ah, here we are!" Dr. Ross beamed as he gestured to the monitor, "What you're hearing is your baby's heart beat, and boy does it sound healthy!"
Arnold stood there grinning, "God, that's amazing. And just look at it, Helga! The little thing is moving."
"It really looks like a baby now, not just some sort of nut…thing," Helga said evenly. She was trying to wrap her mind around the fact that the little fetus on the screen was what was living inside her. She began to feel panic bubble up, so she cleared her throat, "Hey Doc, I gotta question for you."
"Certainly, Helga! What is it?"
"What are your suggestions in regards to sex during pregnancy?"
The arm the Arnold had been leaning on buckled, but he quickly managed to right himself, "Helga!"
"What?" Helga sniped, "You're the one who keeps worrying about the baby and stuff!" Helga shifted her attention back to the doctor, "I've tried explaining to him that its fine, especially since I was still in my first trimester. But, since the second one is starting up, I figured the belly might change things."
"Oh my God," Arnold groaned as he sat down and put his face in his hands.
Dr. Ross smiled good naturedly, "It a very common concern to have, Arnold and so nothing to be embarrassed about. I would recommend that as your belly expands, its better for you to be on top, Helga-
"This can't be happening."
"As we don't want any pressure on your abdomen. Also, since you can't lay flat on your back, for sleeping or intercourse, there is a wedge pillow that I think is very accommodating. Its specifically designed to keep you at an incline, so if you would like the option of missionary, that would be the best choice. And, as a side note, I recommend getting one of those pregnancy sleeping pillows; I hear the U-shaped one works best, as far as comfort goes."
"Sounds great to me!" Helga smirked.
"Now," Dr. Ross began, "Since the holidays are upon us, I wanted to let you know that you'll be 14 weeks about a week and a half before Christmas. There is a very good chance that we could find out the sex of the baby. Is that something you two would like?"
"Yes!"
"No!"
The two blondes looked at each other. Arnold giving a look of surprise, while Helga merely scowled.
"You don't want to find out what we're having?" Arnold asked.
"No, I don't," she spat.
"But…why not? I mean, we aren't really in a position of just waiting because we want to. Knowing what it is would allow us to prepare-
"Like how? The baby isn't gonna notice what color scheme its room is, or whether its wearing a dress or pants."
"But-
"Look, I don't wanna find out, alright?" Helga snarled as she crossed her arms.
Arnold sighed and his shoulders slumped, "Okay. If it's really what you want, Helga."
15 weeks Pregnant.
"Why yes, Arnold! I picked out this gift card myself!" Helga mock-offered as she stood in front of the kiosk at the store, "Crimeny! Its three days until Christmas and I still haven't got him anything! But what the heck are you supposed to get the father of your unborn child whom you've loved since pre-k?"
She wondered through the aisles, rejecting everything she walked past, "Video games? Pft, what would Indiana Jones need with one of those? New clothes? Ick, no! Who am I, his mother? Picture frames? Ugh, the ultimate cop-out."
She stood there thinking to herself for several minutes before she recalled a Christmas many years ago, where she had realized that getting someone a gift wasn't about making yourself look good. It was about giving someone something they deserved. And if anyone deserved anything, it was Arnold.
"Ugh, but what could that be!?" Helga groaned as she tugged at her hair. And a second later, it came to her.
Several minutes later, she was out the door and on her phone with Phoebe. If this didn't work out…well, maybe she could just offer Arnold some Christmas sex.
Christmas morning.
"So, I figured we could maybe exchange our gifts now, Football Head," Helga said as Arnold shut the door behind him.
Arnold smiled and made his way over to his closet, "Actually, I was going to suggest the same thing, considering I didn't want to have to explain my gift in front of my parents."
Helga raised a brow as she nervously fiddled with her sleep shirt, "Oh? And why is that?"
He pulled out a foam pillow with a bow on it, "Ta da!"
Helga laughed, "You got me the sex pillow!"
Arnold feigned annoyance even as a slight blush crept up, "Its called a Wedge Pillow. But, since my parents would of course asked what I got you," he tossed the pillow onto the bed before disappearing briefly back inside the closet. He then reappeared with a pink and red polka dot U-Shaped body pillow, "I got you this as well."
"Perfect! Though, it will make an already tight fit even tighter," Helga pointed out.
Arnold merely shrugged and set it down on the bed as well, "We'll deal with it when it gets to that point."
Helga took a deep breath before standing up, "Okay, let me go grab yours."
She went and retrieved the small bag from the nursery and came out to see Arnold sitting on the floor with his back against the bed. Joining him, she nervously bit her nail and watched only his face as he took the tissue paper out and pulled out the picture frame.
Arnold's eyes went wide and he whipped his head around to face Helga, "We're, we're having a boy?"
Helga's hands went straight to her mouth and she felt the burn of tears, "We are?" she managed to choke out.
Arnold did a double take from the photo, then back to her, "What…you, you didn't know?"
Helga let out a watery laugh, "I had Dr. Ross do all of it."
Arnold stared in shock, with a grin growing with each passing second. Alternating from looking at the picture to Helga, he laughed well, "I thought you didn't want to find out though?"
She sniffled, "I was scared to. I thought if I didn't know what was in here, then it still wasn't all real yet. But, I know how much you wanted to find out and…" She trailed off as she angled herself to get a good look at the picture. The typing on the ultrasound read, 'Merry Christmas, Daddy! Love, Your Baby Boy!' with the baby's profile as the backdrop and two other frames offering different angles, one with the clear sign that it was indeed a boy.
She sobbed out a laugh again, "We're having a boy."
"Helga…"
"Mm, wait," Helga got up and headed back for the nursery. She came back out with several more bags, "I had him make up some personalized ones for your family, and one for Olga. I thought it would be fun to share it this way with them, too. But, it was mostly for you," Helga finished shyly.
"Helga, this is…the best gift you could have given me," Arnold assured.
Helga wiped at her eyes and chuckled, "My fall back plan would have just been Christmas sex."
The blonde gave a bark of laughter, "Well, we can always test drive that pillow later."
"Okay, so you need to open the presents at the same time," Arnold instructed to his parents and grandparents as Helga handed them the bags.
Stella eyed them suspiciously, and when they were given the go ahead, she was the first one to react.
"Oh! Oh my goodness!" She danced as she and her husband held the frame.
"What? What am I looking at?" Phil grumbled as he turned the frame this way and that.
"My little boy is having a baby boy!" Stella exclaimed as she bounded over to envelop her son in a big hug. After a moment she switched over to embrace Helga, "Oh I am just so excited! What a perfect surprise!"
"Congratulations, son!" Miles beamed as he gave a hug of his own, complete with sound claps on the back on both fronts.
"Atta boy, Shortman! The name lives on and the pressure is off," Phil exclaimed while Gertie went about popping streamer everywhere in celebration.
"Ooh, any names on the board yet?" Stella inquired.
Arnold only laughed, "Mom, we found out all of fifteen minutes ago. We're still wrapping our minds around that."
Stella waved it off, "Right, right, of course! Ah, I'm just so excited!"
"Happy New Year, everyone!"
"So, is Christmas sex still on the table or…?"
Helga snorted, "I've created a monster."
"I mean, we do need to make sure that pillow works."
Helga raised an eyebrow as she reclined against the wedge pillow with her arms behind her head, "You know, just because we got this pillow doesn't mean you get to be on top all the time."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Arnold joked as he held himself over her before bending down to capture her lips in a heated kiss. The excitement and emotional day crashed over them as they wound around each other.
As Arnold trailed his way down her neck to find her pulse point, he heard Helga's sound of approval, " Mm, Arnold that's-Oh!" Helga gave a surprised jolt.
Arnold looked up and was met with a look of shook and surprise, "What is it? What's wrong?"
"I…I just felt the baby."
Arnold's eye's went widened, "What? You did? Are you sure?" He looked down at the seemingly still flat stomach, and let his hand hover over it.
"Yes," Helga insisted breathlessly, "I felt a very small-oh!" She breathed out a laugh, "I just felt him again! Exactly how its described; it's a little flutter, right here," Helga placed her hand over his and pressed it to her abdomen.
Arnold stared at their hands for a moment before looking back up at Helga, "Busy day," he offered quietly.
Helga smiled as she relaxed against the pillow, "Hmm, yeah."
"Should…should we stop?" Arnold asked, appearing very apprehensive.
Helga was silent for several moments, "Arnold…we can either break in this pillow or I get in some riding lessons-
"Helga!"
"But either way, I'm getting some tonight. So, which is it gonna be, Football Head?"
Arnold gave her a slanted look, "Well if those are the only options, I'd like to get my money's worth out of that pillow."