A/N: A few things: I put a disclaimer on this in the first few chapters, so I'm not plagiarizing. Second, I appreciate your input, Sarah. I like to be original, this is the first time I've attempted something that parallels an unoriginal idea so I gave it a shot. Thanks to all who reviewed. There will be one more short chapter, as I left this one without a formal conclusion. I wanted to tie everything up in one place and doing so would take away from this chapter. ENJOY!
Sweet Home, Hillwood
By: ChickenGoddess
Chapter 8:
Amends
Helga had been standing outside his door for a half hour now, pacing back and forth the length of the porch as she contemplated what she would say. First she would need the confidence to make her hand knock, and as of now, it wasn't going anywhere. He had called her, right? So why should she be nervous? He obviously had something important to tell her… and- she needed to breathe. Analyze the situation logically, and then things would fall into place. This was Arnold. He hadn't cheated on her after all (and save her ridiculous weight of guilt) she was happy. Happy because she could make things right. This was Arnold, who had helped solve so many people's problems over the years. This was Arnold, who had stolen her heart at first sight. Most importantly, this was Arnold, who no matter what offered her warmth and comfort. Confidence renewed, she knocked on the door. Momentarily, it swung open.
"Hey Arnold."
"Come in, Helga." He said. There was something different about him tonight. Something he was hiding from her. She didn't know exactly what it was, but she was determined to get it out of him. "Sit down." He instructed as he pulled a chair out from the kitchen table.
She took the seat appreciatively. He sat across from her and began to speak. As he did so, his emotions became clear as crystal, as if they were screaming at her. His eyes gave him away. "I know you're probably wondering why I asked you to come by… but after last night I've been doing some thinking. I… I want you to be happy. That's all I care about. And if I can't be the one to make you happy, then I want to see you with someone who does. You deserve so much better than to live in a place where you have to stifle your creativity."
She didn't understand what he was saying, but she could decipher the message in his eyes nonetheless. They screamed, "This is killing me… but I love you."
"Arnold, I came here for a reason tonight." She interrupted.
He had not expected her interjection and froze mid-sentence, allowing her to continue.
"I came to tell you why I left." She sighed. "I left because I was convinced that you were sleeping around."
His face paled with shock. "What?"
"You got aloof with me, worked late hours, Rhonda told me she saw you in town with another woman. The nail in the coffin was when some girl showed up at the house and told me that you had said for her to meet you there, because I wouldn't be home. It killed me. So I packed my things and went as far as my paycheck could get me. I never even questioned it until now. All the pieces fit together that way."
"Helga… I had no idea, but I never-"
"I'm not finished yet." She interrupted. She had to finish before she lost her nerve. "Then I came back because I wanted a divorce. I thought I hated Hillwood, and I thought I hated you… but the more time I spent here, the more I realized that things weren't as bad as they seemed. There were even things I… missed. I thought I was happy in the city… money, flashy cars, and my own company. But then I came here… and I realized that I had become everything I hated. I had tried to kill the real me, but it wouldn't die. That part of me was too stubborn. Last night I realized that I don't need a fancy car or clothes or loads of cash… I need what makes me happy…what makes me warm. I realized that all I need is you."
Arnold stared, his numb brain processing the words she had just spoken. Never in a million years would he have expected this.
"I love it here. And I love you, Arnold. That's all I had to say." She replied, avoiding eye contact at all cost.
"Wow." Was the only word he could find. "Wow."
"I'd better be going…" She said, getting to her feet and leaving the room, the only audible sound what that of her sneakers scuffing against the tiled floor as she walked. Sighing in dismay, she turned the doorknob. Suddenly, a larger hand closed over hers and turned the knob in the opposite direction. She turned to see Arnold standing behind her. Slowly, she let go of the knob.
"I let you go once… I'm not about to do it again." He said. "I used to think that if I ever saw you again I would tell you how much I hated you for putting me through years of loneliness. I wanted to hurt you like you hurt me…"
Helga was looking away. There were tears in her eyes of both regret and shame. He saw this and turned her face to achieve eye contact. "But I see that you've been hurt enough." He finished.
"No I haven't…" She managed, calling to mind the image of her broken husband picking up each piece of separate clothing from the floor and folding it as he sobbed. "Not nearly enough." Tears were streaming unheeded down her porcelain face.
"Helga, we can't go back and change the past. All we can do is learn from it." He coaxed.
'Typical Arnold.' she thought.
"I love you, Helga. I promised you that a long time ago, and I'm a man of my word. I'm not about to let you walk out because you feel guilty over a misunderstanding. It's my fault for not telling you that I was doing extra work. If I had seen you in the same light, I would have thought the same thing." He explained.
"But I-"
"No 'buts', Helga. Stop blaming yourself." He interjected sternly. His expression softened as he held her face and wiped her tears with is thumb. She sighed softly at his touch. "I love you." He affirmed.
"I love you too, Arnold. So much…" She replied.
"Shh.…" He said, posing a finger to her lips before replacing it with his mouth. Helga kissed him hard, pure need pulsing through her veins. She hadn't felt this way in years… his strong arms gripping her waist for dear life, as if nothing could pry them apart. The kiss did end, and without words a smiling Arnold carried his laughing Helga upstairs upon her command. He playfully tossed her on the bed and she beckoned him to follow. He did as was told and resumed their hungry kisses as she stretched out beneath him. Her hands wandered under his shirt and caressed his bare skin with her fingertips before she removed it from him totally.
"I need you." She whispered once their lips had parted.
"I guess now's not a good time to tell you I signed the papers…" he replied.
She laughed. "I didn't."
"Good point." He said with a smile. "When you were in the city… did you ever… you know…"
"No, Arnold I did not sleep with anybody." She answered. "Now stop talking."
"Yes, ma'am." He replied as he kissed her.
The rest of the night was lost to passion and the following morning dissolved into a blissful oblivion until a repetitive knocking came at the front door.
"No… it can wait…" Helga protested as Arnold sat up and stepped out of bed.
"It could be important." He replied, lazily slipping on a t-shirt and some boxers.
"You pick the mail over me?" She retorted.
"You know I pick you." He replied, kissing her.
The knocking persisted.
"Damnit." He cursed.
"Fine." She sighed in agreement. "I'll be waiting."
He flashed her a smile as he started down the stairs and opened the door, fully prepared to let whoever it was have a piece of his mind. The door swung open.
"Grandpa?!"
"Hey Arnold! What's the matter? Why are ya still in your pajamas?" Phil asked.
"What are you doing here so early?" He asked.
"It's the middle of the evening and the fuse box at the boarding house blew… and yer grandma made chili for dinner."
"Now's not exactly the best time…" he said, nervously scratching the back of his neck.
"Don't be silly, honey. Of course he can stay." A fully clothed Helga replied as she descended the stairs.
"Who's that?" Phil asked.
"Your granddaughter-in-law?" She replied.
"You came back?!" He asked.
"Of course I came back. Now come in and sit down." She said.
A/N: Next chapter will be the last… and you WILL find out how Curly got his own county. Until then,