The soft morning sunlight filled the house. The only sound to be heard was the faint mummer of the ocean waves outside and the occasional cry of a seagull. I woke up with a sigh of contentment, feeling more refreshed and relaxed than I had ever felt in a while. Phoebe was still asleep in the bed next to me. She was practically buried in her pillows and covers and the way her mouth hung open, it looked like she would be asleep for a while.

"Mmm, I should visit rooftop hot tubs before bed more often." I moaned softly as I stretched my limbs.

Being careful not to wake up Pheebs, I grabbed my laptop and crept out of the bedroom. Judging by the snores coming from the boys' rooms, it was safe to say that I was the only one up which was just fine with me. Hell, I practically skipped down the stairs in my stocking clad feet with a song in my heart. And I wasn't going to even pretend that I didn't know what put me in such a good mood. I, Helga G. Pataki, had found whatever modern interpretation passed for love these days. Arnold P. Shortman, a pure souled saint and my personal torment for years, had been practically wrapped around my little finger last night. One kiss from me had almost completely undone his gentlemanly ways. And the kisses he gave me in return almost unraveled the last remaining bits of my sanity and restraint. Sure I would have hoped for more whispered declarations of undying affection, or rose petals, or chocolate, but hey, this was better than day dreaming wasn't it?

Once I reached the bottom of the steps, the smell of cooking meat and the sound of singing brought me out of my romantic musings. Curious and cautious, I walked into the kitchen and immediately had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing. Mr. Dolton was standing at the stove, belting out an old song to his heart's content while cooking at the stove.

"Rolling down the hill at dusk, the grass and nettles high/ I rolled until my britches fell and got poked in the eye." He belted out in a deep baritone voice.

Unlike most of the times I had seen him completely overdressed in business wear, Mr. Dolton was now wearing nothing but pajama pants, an old t-shirt, and a robe.

He whistled a little bit, stirring the food on the stove, and then began singing again, "The nettles scratched, the grass it itched, but I didn't have a care/ For I was just a little lad, with bristles in my hair."

Before I could decide whether or not to head back upstairs, Mr. Dolton glanced up and spotted me hovering in the doorway. I jumped guiltily. From what Jacob had always told me about his father, Mr. Dolton was a very serious man and probably wouldn't be happy to see me spying on him like this. But instead of getting annoyed, Mr. Dolton smiled and gestured me over.

"Well don't just stand there little lady," He smiled, looking a year or two younger, "Come in, come in. Have a nice hearty breakfast, m'dear."

"Um, thanks Mr. Dolton." I stepped into the kitchen and sat at the large table. The smell of cooking meat wafted towards me and my stomach growled. "Mmm, that smells amazing."

"A good English breakfast always starts off the day right." Mr. Dolton said cheerfully, shoveling eggs, beans, and plopping a big sausage on a plate. "Fried bread?"

"Uh, yeah sure. I mean, yes please."

I set my laptop up as he placed the loaded plate next to me. Two fried eyes, baked beans, fried tomato halves, and a sausage link were almost falling off the plate topped off by two pieces of toast. My stomach growled again and I wasted no time in digging in. Once my initial hunger subsided, I was able to slow down and write while I ate. Mr. Dolton continued cooking and his singing faded into the background as I got lost in the words I typed.

The words flowed through me as natural as my breathing. The words weren't philosophical musing about love or angst filled emotional release, but something deeper, more… real. My fingers danced across my keyboard creating soft clicking noising that somehow went in harmony with Mr. Dolton's baritone voice. As the pages of my document filled with words, my smile never faltered and my eyes never grew tired. Writing had always been a cathartic release for me before, but it hadn't felt this good in years. I sighed in happiness and content as I knew exactly who to thank.

Oh Arnold, my love, I toned in my head, once again you are the muse that sets my world ablaze. Only you could ignite this burning passion within me.

"That's because we're meant for each other, Helga." His gruff, silky voice answered.

I looked up I saw him walk into the kitchen, now our kitchen in our own cozy little home. Arnold was wearing pajamas with the shirt unbuttoned showing off his perfectly toned chest and stomach. He smiled at me, his eyes still hazy with sleep.

"Good morning wife," He smiled, "You're up early. Working on your next best-seller?"

"Number thirty-two." I answered smugly. "Thanks to my wonderful husband."

Arnold moved closer to me and threaded his fingers through my hair. "The only thing I did was marry the amazing, incredible woman in the world."

I sighed and closed my eyes, waiting for his kiss. Oh, Arnold.

"Oh, Helga, Helga… Helga!"

There was a sudden, sharp tug on my hair, breaking me completely out of my day dream. I jumped with a shriek and whirled around to see Jacob grinning at me.

"Morning Helga," He chuckled, "having fun drooling over your laptop?"

"Jacob, what have I told you about rough handling women?" Mr. Dolton said with a disapproving frown.

"Yeah Jacob, listen to your father." I smirked.

"I did." Jacob leaned closer and returned my smirk. "He said not to be rough to women. I just rough to you."

I rolled my eyes but even I had to acknowledge when I had been hit. "Touché."

Jacob chuckled and went over to the cabinets where he pulled out a metal tea pot and a box of tea. He didn't speak a word to his father, but that was typical. I tried to go back to my writing but the words didn't slow as smoothly or as strongly as they did earlier. My fingers continued to move across the keyboard though as more people woke up and started entering the kitchen.

"Morning, Helga." Phoebe said sweetly, wearing her tai chi gear. "Morning, Jacob and Mr. Dolton."

Jacob grunted a greeting while Mr. Dolton gave her a more hearty response and handed her a plate of food. Phoebe momentarily looked daunted by it, but sat down at the table and started to eat. Gerald came in next, wearing a jersey and sweatpants, repeated the greetings, and also received a plate from Mr. Dolton. When her boyfriend sat down next her and began hungrily wolfing down his food, Phoebe looked relieved and allowed him to take bites off her plate as well. Nadine and Rhonda came in next, both of them already dress and Nadine carried a box under one arm. Nadine happily accepted a loaded plate and gave Rhonda a nudge to accept one as well when she was on the verge of refusing. Mr. Dolton looked around the nearly full kitchen table with a smile of satisfaction that everyone seemed to be enjoying his food.

"Right then, is there anyone missing?" He asked nodding to an empty chair.

"My man Arnold, he was just waking up when I last checked." Gerald chuckled. At the mention of his name, I glanced up and happened to see Gerald look directly at me when he spoke again, "It seems like he stayed up pretty late last night."

My eyes widened and I felt my face flame. Gerald gave a quiet chuckle and went back to eating his food like he hadn't said anything at all. The teapot suddenly screamed, making me jump again. It might as well have been an alarm screaming, Helga and Arnold made out in the hot tub! Helga and Arnold made out in the hot tub! But no one looked up and I felt the heat fade from my face a little. There was no question now, Gerald definitely knew something. I couldn't decide yet if that was good or bad. Geraldo wasn't my biggest fan, but he didn't seem like he was about to spill the beans either.

I barely even noticed when Jacob set down a mug of fresh hot tea next to me and sat down with his own mug until he took my cold plate of half eaten breakfast.

"Hey!" I barked.

"Oh please," Jacob dunked a piece of toast into his own mug of tea and stuffed it in his mouth, "You weren't even eating it."

"Well, you could gave asked first dope." I growled. I didn't put up much of a fight though because I honestly didn't mind. On the rare occasion I didn't finish my food, Jacob happily did it for me. So instead of arguing, I picked up my mug of tea and gratefully took a sip. Ironically, (or not so ironically since he was originally from England), Jacob had turned me on to the idea of drinking tea whenever I wrote. The caffeine and taste wasn't as sharp as coffee, but did help keep me focused and my mind clear.

"Ah, there you are my boy," Mr. Dolton said cheerfully. "Just in time for breakfast."

The velvety soft chuckle that answered him, made the hairs at back of my neck stand up.

"Good morning Mr. Dolton, morning everyone." Arnold said with just a touch of sleepiness in his voice. He thanked him as he grabbed a plate and sat down at the only space available at the table, right next to me. My heart beat thundered in my ears as he turned to give me a soft smile. "Morning Helga, sleep well?"

It would have slept better with you in my bed. "Y-yeah. It was alright." I took a sip of tea, the searing heat making my head more clear, "Would have been better if Pheebs didn't talk in her sleep though."

Phoebe blushed and stuttered her denial while Gerald teased her about dreaming about him. The table laughed, comfortable conversation flowing between everyone. Mr. Dolton turned off the stove, put away the remaining breakfast ingredients, and excused himself to smoke outside. There was a brief chorus of everyone thanking him for breakfast before conversations resumed.

"So what are you typing?" Arnold asked me suddenly.

I quickly shut my laptop, my old habit of keeping my personal projects secretive and shrugged. "Nothing important. Just working on a little something."

"Working on what?" Arnold insisted with a bright smile.

I laughed loudly, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach. "Why do you want to know bucko? You don't see me prying into your private life."

"I'm not prying." Arnold frowned. "I'm genuinely interested. Why is such a bad thing to you?"

"Because she's Helga." Jacob laughed. "You either have to pay or torture the secrets out of her."

Arnold's frown relaxed when he looked at Jacob to reply. He gave an easy laugh. "Usually I'd agree with you, but sometimes when I'm patient enough Helga opens up to me."

I groaned inwardly, knowing that if Arnold really did patiently insist I would eventually give in to him. And there was no way he could be allowed to know what I was writing about. I took a long drink from my mug until nothing was left.

"I need a refill." I gasped and started to stand.

"I'll get it." Jacob said quickly. He stood up and then grabbed my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before grabbing my empty mug and taking it over to the stove. Arnold went back to eating his food as if he didn't notice, but there were two hard spots of color on his cheeks. I rolled my eyes and gently nudged with knee with mine. His eyes met mine and softened.

"Hey man," Gerald called over to Jacob. "Mine getting me a cup of Joe while you're up?"

"Sorry, not coffee." Jacob didn't even turn around, but I could still see his insufferable smile. "Helga, loves it when I make tea for her in the morning. It's kinda been our tradition every time we stay the night together at her place or my place."

Arnold started choking on his food, everyone looked shocked while there was a look of scandalized glee on Rhonda's face. I patted Arnold roughly on the back and explained quickly, "I let him crash on my couch once or twice, and I've crash on his. No big deal guys." I looked at Arnold who was outright glaring at Jacob. "Nothing happened."

"Not for lack of tying." Jacob sighed dramatically, coming back to the table.

Everyone looked relieved at Jacob's teasing, mocking tone (except for Rhonda, who looked disappointed that there would be no fresh gossip to take back to Hillwood), but Arnold was still glaring daggers at Jacob. Jacob tried handing me the mug of tea, but instead I wordlessly got up from the table, grabbed my laptop and left the kitchen.

"Oh come on hell-girl, I was only teasing!" Jacob laughed after me.

"Ha. Ha." I mumbled dryly and practically ran upstairs, tears of delayed embarrassment stinging my eyes.

A hot shower and forty minutes of alone time made me realize how ridiculous I was being. Jacob was always teasing and taunting me. Hell, we practically made it an Olympic sport to tease, mock, and embarrass each other. Since when did I become a sissy who couldn't handle it without running away?

So after I changed into jeans, a tank top left my damp hair out to dry, I went back downstairs. Once again Mr. Dolton was in the living room on his phone, but this time he had a laptop balanced on his knees and a stack of papers next to him. He gave me a dismissive nod at my wave as I headed back into the kitchen. Arnold was the only one left, dutifully washing dishes at the sink. He had changed into jeans and a t-shirt, and was elbow deep in suds. He also didn't even look up when I went over to stand next to him.

"Um, hey?" I spoke gingerly. "Where is everyone?"

"Outside." He answered still not looking up. "Gerald and Phoebe are doing tai chi on the beach, and Rhonda and Nadine are in the backyard with Jake."

"Oh." My heart thudded painfully in my chest at his coldness and the lingering irritation. After a minute of him silently washing the dishes I sighed and nudged him over. "Shove over, football head. I'll wash, you rinse."

Arnold finally smiled at me and I felt the weight in my chest lift a little. We stood side by side, washing dishes together almost domestically. My mind flashed back all the way to fourth grade when I had once again back fired in my plan to entrance Arnold and ended up in a restaurant I couldn't possibly pay to eat at. But that had actually ended happily, with me and my beloved peaceably washing dishes together.

"You thinking about Chez Paris?" Arnold asked lightly as if reading my mind.

"He he, yeah I-" I turned to smile at him and saw his devilish, cheeky grin, and the spray nozzle in his hand. "Arnold! Don't you dare-"

But Arnold just laughed and squeezed the nozzle, releasing a spray of water at me. I shrieked as the cool water drenched me, but laughed as I stuck my hand in the sink and flung water back at him. Arnold laughed as he got drenched and continued spraying water at me.

"Arnold! Quit it!" I shrieked still laughing.

"Make me!" Arnold laughed, still spraying me with the nozzle.

I leapt forward and grabbed the nozzle, but he still clutched it tightly, causing it to spray over both of us. The water drenched us both before I finally thought to reach out and shut off the water from the faucet handle. The spray stopped immediately. Arnold and I stood, dripping wet, and laughing.

"The heck was that for?" I laughed punching him in the shoulder.

"I dunno." Arnold shrugged and grinned. "I just felt like it."

"Well, you owe me some fresh clothes football face." I shook my hair out, thoroughly drenching Arnold in the process.

"Hey!" Arnold laughed. His wet shirt clung to skin and in on motion, he pulled it off. Still laughing, he tossed it to me. "Now you owe me a fresh shirt."

My mouth went dry as Arnold stood before me, bare chested and now smirking. Before I could stop myself, and momentarily forgetting where we were, I reached out and laid a hand flat between his pects, my other hand clenching his shirt tight in my fist. Arnold let out a tiny sound, and moved my hand so it lay directly over his heart. I looked up, shock, to find that he had moved incredibly close to me, his eyes dark green and burning.

At that very moment, Jacob came in from the backyard, and his laughter immediately died on his lips when he saw us. I snatched my hand off of Arnold's chest as if it was burning and tossed his shirt back at him.

"Next time be more careful with that spray nozzle, football head!" I yelled in a panicky voice that probably fooled no one.

But neither guy was looking at me. Jacob was staring at Arnold with an unreadable expression on his face while Arnold smiled smugly at him. He chuckled darkly and draped his wet shirt over his arm (which I could have sworn he was flexing). "Whatever you say, Helga. Whatever you say."