Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters. Hey Arnold is the property of Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett.
Three Generations
Helga spends the day with her family and remembers about before the wedding, where she spent the entire day with her mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law.
(Requested by Invader Johnny).
It's a beautiful, sunny Saturday in the town known as Hillwood, and Arnold and Helga were enjoying the day off work by visiting the family's Boarding House. Arnold's parents and grandparents greeted them upon arrival.
"Hi grandpa, grandpa...mom and dad..." Arnold said to his parents and grandparents.
"Hey...'Helga said with a small smile to her in-laws.
"Hey there you too...'Stella said as she hugged both her son and daughter-in-law.
"Hey short-man, you both are looking well..." Grandpa Phil said jovially.
"Thanks grandpa..." Arnold said.
'Come on in, your just in time...your mother just brew some of her hibiscus tea and your grandma just put a raspberry cobbler in the oven..." Miles said in excitement.
"Oohhh…. raspberries...' Grandpa whined as he held his stomach and the newly weds tried not to chuckle at this.
Soon the entire family went to the living chatting about recent events, drinking tea and enjoying each others company as they waited for the cobbler to be ready.
"So son, how's everything going at the university, I trust that Dr. Garcia isn't giving you too hard of a time..."Miles asked his only son.
"It's been alright so far dad, my last article is being published in the universities own academic journal and if all goes well this semester, Dr. Garcia might concede to funding my idea of another expedition next summer...'Arnold said to his father.
"That's my boy...'Miles said proudly to his only son.
'What about you Helga? How is work at Wright and Tate's lately..."Stella asked her daughter-in-law.
"Old man Wright is driving me nuts as always but it's nothing I can't handle..."Helga said to her mother-in-law.
"I hope he's not being too impossible for you..." Stella said with concern but her daughter in law just smiled.
"Oh please, I'm a tough girl and even on their worst days, Wright and Tate are no where near as bad as Big Bob when he wants something...I can handle it..." She said in a reassuring tone of voice.
"Though it does help when I remind myself that as soon as I get published by them and start getting recognition as a real writer, I can quit being the assistant job and enjoy the cushy job and perks that come with being Wright's best author...'She said in a tone of absolute and utter confidence.
"Now that's the Eleanor I know and love, fight the power...'Grandma Gertie said in a moment of her eccentrics.
Helga giggled happily at that, as she is not worried. Despite being a blowhard and a harsh critic, Mr. Wright has excellent taste when it comes to literature and he and his team publish for some of the best selling authors in the world. It's basically an all but well known fact in the writing world is that if Mr. Wright likes your book, then you are destined to be one of the greats of this era...if he's not, then you may as well settle for mediocrity.
Not Helga G. Shortman, she knows that she is a great author and Mr. Wright WILL like her books as soon as he get his nose down from the air to read a novice work.
"I can predict that by next year, in every book store in the country they will be selling "Cecile" by Helga G. Shortman...'Arnold said, earning him a kiss on the cheek from his wife.
"Oh, looks like we are out of tea...I'll go brew some more...'Stella said as she got up and grabbed the kettle.
"I'll help you, mom...'Helga offered her mother in law.
"Thank you dear...'Stella said.
"I better go too and check on my cobbler...'Grandma Gertie said as she went to join the women in the kitchen.
In the kitchen
The three women were in the kitchen and Helga helped her mother in law make her own blend of natural hibiscus tea, from the very plant she had in the boarding house green house, which in Helga's own opinion, tasted better than the store brands.
"Okay, it's all in the kettle..."Helga said after the poured the contents inside.
"Thank you Helga, dear...now in about 10 minutes, it should be perfect...'Stella said as she placed it on the stove at medium heat.
"Hmmm... the cobbler should be ready in about 10 more minutes, can't wait to see the look on the old General's face when he takes a bite out of it...'"Grandma cackled a bit.
Helga smiled. At times Arnold's grandmother seemed to be off in her own little world but other times, Helga couldn't help but feel that she knows exactly what it going on...and can't resist a good laugh, which made the blonde woman like her grandmother-in-law even more.
"Now mother, you know that raspberries don't agree with him..." Stella reminded her, but Gertie just smirked.
"That's his own problem, I'm not making him eat it, so he knows the risk he is taking...'Grandma cackled.
"Oh grandma, your terrible...' Helga laughed and Stella ended up doing it, despite trying to stay serious.
"Anyway girls, shake a leg, we got to get the goods ready for the troops before they get stationed here..."Grandma said in a military like voice, more or less saying that they best get the tea and food ready before each of their husbands get restless.
"Yes, captain...'Helga said before laughing again.
Helga laughed and felt utterly content. As a child, she always dreamed of marrying her beloved Arnold and honestly, in her dreams, it didn't include much of his family...until his parents came into their lives and welcomed her with open arms that is. Before then, she didn't give them much thought to being other than Arnold's relatives and possible in-laws but now, as she is a 25 year old married woman, she knows that they aren't just in-laws but family members that she is actually very fond of.
Even before the day she finally got to say "I Do". She could still remember that day from before the wedding, where she had spent an entire day with Stella and Gertie, who treated her to a day of female bonding that she actually enjoy.
She can still remember it all as if it was just yesterday, even though it was just a few months ago at best.
FLASHBACK
Almost 5 months ago
Helga G. Pataki still couldn't believe any of this, in exactly one weeks time, she would be walking down the aisle and finally marry her beloved Arnold Shortman, the love of her life, the only man she has ever hoped that she would marry, ever since she was a tiny tot of three.
But before then, she still had a good seven days before then, and today she is going to spend the day with her future mother-in-law Dr. Stella Shortman, as well as Arnold's grandmother Gertie. Both women said they wanted to spend some time with her before the big day and Helga had no problem with it. So here she is now, at the boarding house with her future in-laws while Arnold is out of the house, spending the day with his dad and his grandfather too, while the woman of the Shortman family would be spending time with the soon to be newest member of the clan.
"Oh Eleanor, I can't tell you how wonderful it is to see you again...'Gertie said as she hugged her.
"It's Helga, grandma Shortman...'Helga said in an amused kind of way.
Unlike when her dad got her name wrong, she didn't get mad at Arnold's grandma, partially due to her senility and also, because it felt more like a nickname than a mistaking name, so she cut the old lady some slack.
"It is great to see you, so, how are you feeling, nervous?...'Stella asked and Helga knew what she is talking about.
"As if! I have been wanting to marry the guy since before I knew what marriage was, trust me, I am ready and set to tie the knot..."Helga said with confidence.
'She's a Shortman woman, alright...Strong, courageous and sharp as a tack, Arnold made a good choice..."Gertie said in one of her rare moments of focus, making the blonde young woman smile.
'Thank you..'Helga said bashfully.
"Well come on you old slow pokes, it is exactly 10AM and we got a busy day of just female bonding..."Stella said.
The three women soon left to begin to enjoy their day together...at the spa...
"So Helga, in a week you are finally going to be one of us...'Stella said as her back was being rubbed.
"Yeah, I still can't believe it sometimes..."Helga said blissfully as the masseuse pounded away a knot in her back,
"Believe it, honey...'Gertie said as she enjoyed a back rub as well.
"So, how are your folks dealing with the fact that their youngest daughter is going to be a married woman?...'Stella asked out of curiosity.
"Well Miriam and Olga wouldn't stop bawling their eyes out every time the subject of my wedding came up, which has gotten old FOREVER ago, Bob is a lot calmer compared to when Olga got married..."Helga said... "He's not screaming at everyone and telling me that I am making the worst mistake of my life, so that's good..."Helga said.
"He and Patrick STILL don't get along, huh?..."Stella asked with interest.
"Puh-Lease, a cat and a doberman get along better than those two...I told them if they even think about fighting at my wedding, then they can consider themselves uninvited...'Helga said as she recalled that conversation.
"Heh...if they try and spoil the big day, I'll personally punch the lights out of the two of them..."Stella said, making her future daughter-in-law smirk.
"Heh, I think you are the only woman besides me that could do that without any problem...'Helga chuckled.
One of the many things she liked about Arnold's mother Stella is that like her, she's tough and during the later part of her childhood, she served as a good role model for her in addition to Doctor Bliss. Stella showed her that a tough woman can still be smart, beautiful, nice and skilled and that openly loving someone doesn't make you weak, it just makes you stronger.
"So girls, after this, how's a facial, then the sauna and then head to the spa's cafe and split the most expensive item on the menu..." Stella suggested.
"You read my mind..." Helga chuckled before going back to enjoying her massage.
Stella really is an amazing mother.
Later
During the sauna
The three generations of women were now in the hot and steamy sauna, enjoying the heat as they felt very relaxed right now.
"Let's put a few more coals..."Helga suggested and Gertie just dumped what remained in a nearby bucket, causing more steam.
"Oh yes, now this hits the spot..." Stella sighed in relaxation.
"I haven't felt this good in ages, why I haven't bee in one of these since 1938 when me and the girls bag packed through Europe and stayed in that lovely chalet..." Grandma Gertie said with a sigh,though Helga wondered if she was serious or just making up one of her stories again.
"Speaking of Europe,Helga...is everything all set?..." The soon to be mother in law asked the blonde woman.
"You bet it is...the tickets have been bought, the hotel has been booked, the car rental has been chosen and the arrangements are all made...I am still so excited that the day after the wedding, me and Arnold are going to be in Paris,France, the city of love and light. .." Helga swooned as images of her and her future husband in such a city made her all giddy and romantically mushy inside.
"AH, L'amor...I remember when it was just me and Phil when we were first married...we didn't have much money and couldn't go to any place fancy, we just played tourist here in Hillwood but it was still so magical..."Gertie sighed as a nostalgic look was on her face.
"I remember when we took a nice boat ride at the lake, took long walks together in the park, had picnics under a shady tree, danced together to Dino Spumoni and how he even used to use his old jacket to cover puddles so my shoes wouldn't be ruined, then we had watched the sunset from up on Mighty Pete...He really knew how to show a girl a good time back then..." Gertie said, lost in the memories.
"That's so sweet...'Helga said, finding the old love story to be romantic.
"Yeah, he was a real romantic...he always treated me like a lady and he always made sure that I had a great time...He really was such a charmer back in the day...and he still is...when he's not being an old stick in the mud...'Gertie said, causing the other two females to laugh at that remark.
"Oh mom..."Stella said after her giggles.
'I tell you girls, you know that a man is the one for you when he's able to make a small town like Hillwood FEEL like Paris, just by spending time with you..."Gertie said with a wise smile on her face.
"I get what you mean Gertie, Arnold does that to me every day...'Helga said as she recalled even the most simple of dates they had, and how she always smiled during them.
"Miles does that to me too..." Stella said with a sigh of contentment as she thought about her own clumsy but wonderful husband.
"You and Arnold's grandfather...I hope that Arnold and I will have what you guys have someday..." Helga said, referring to their long, solid marriage.
Despite the occasional arguments and Gertie's special brand of craziness, anyone could see that she and Phil were perfectly happy together and loved each other without question. You have to be utterly in love with someone to spend so many years together and love and be with them through good times and bad, till death do they part.
"I know that you both will...I have always known...ever since you and Kimba were young privates, I just knew you were destined to be the one to there for him, even after we were gone...I always knew that one day, you both would have walked down the aisle together and later start a family together and make sure my Kimba felt that he is loved..."Gertie said.
It made the young blonde woman nearly tear up, before she settled for a thankful smile.
"Thank you, I promise...I'll make sure he always feels loved...'Helga said to her elder.
She tried not to cry and even if she did, she could have passed her tears off as sweat from the extreme heat. Gertie's words touched her in a way she didn't expect. Despite her craziness, Arnold's grandmother is an amazing woman, one whom Helga is proud to know that she will be related to soon through marriage.
They soon left the sauna, got dressed, went to the cafe and ordered a large, chocolate pastry which they split three ways and then continued to spend the day together, not just as three women, but as three family members.
Which they will be, in a weeks time no less...
End of Flashback
"Helga...Helga dear!..."Stella's voice rang in her ears.
Helga blinked in surprise as she was now face to face with her mother-in-law Stella.
"Huh? Oh,yeah...'Helga said lamely.
'Are you alright dear, you sort of spaced out there for a moment...'Stella said in a concern voice.
"I'm fine, I guess I was just think is all..."Helga shrugged.
"About what,dear?..."Stella asked out of curiosity.
"Eh stuff...like about some of the things that make me glad to be a part of this family now...'Helga said with a smirk.
"What are you talking about girl? You've always been apart of this family, the only difference now is that you and Kimba now have the piece of paper to prove it..." Grandma Gertie said before she and the other women started to laugh.
"True that, mom...'Stella said after her giggling stopped.
"Come on, the cobbler is done and let's head back before the boys get antsy...'Helga said as she got the tray out of the oven.
Soon the three generation of Shortman women returned to the living room with the food, put it on the coffee table and then sat next to their respective husbands.
"Mmm...tasty...'Arnold said as he took a bite of the cobbler.
"You got that right short-man...heh heh..."Grandpa Phil said before happily shoveling the treat in his mouth, apparently forgetting about his "No raspberries" rule.
As the three generations of Shortman's happily sat together and ate the desser, Helga turned to her husband with a happy smile on her face as an idea formed in her head.
"Hey Arnold...'Helga said.
"Yes, dear?...'Arnold asked her and noticed the smile on her face.
"I was wondering if tomorrow you want to have a picnic together in the park and after that watch the sunset together up on Mighty Pete...'Helga asked her husband who looked curious at her request before nodding.
Gertie smiled when she heard this and knew that these two are destined to grow old and gray together, just like the couples before them.
-To be continued-
Next time on The First Year
Arnold's Birthday
A/N: Be sure to check my profile page for information regarding the New Hey Arnold fanfic challenge I recently ensued. Rules and information are on my profile page.
REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewers:
61394: They certainly mustn't...because then life would just get too boring...
Invader Johnny: I couldn't have said it better myself...Also, thank you :)
:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)