Waltz

May 29, 1557

Light duty might be worse than no duty, Helga thought as she stood at the entrance to the park grounds. She had been assigned as part of the security detail for Hillwood Arts Center, an outdoor concert facility that was home to the Hillwood Symphony Orchestra during the summers. It was a beautiful place, she had to admit. But she was stuck standing a post at the entrance instead of walking through the formal gardens or taking in the view of the countryside from hilltops. No, all she got to see was the parking lot. And where is my damn partner?

It was a two-man post, since at least one person needed to be at the entrance at all times. Harold was supposed to be there, but he was late as usual. That pink-faced buffoon is always late. She idly scratched at the stripes sewn on the sleeves of her uniform. They still felt foreign to her.

"Hey, Helga."

Her heart jumped into her throat. That was not the voice she expected to hear. She turned slowly. "A-Arnold?"

Arnold stood behind her, shyly rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah. Harold needed the night off, so I took his spot."

Oh God, why? I can't be here with him. I've ruined everything already and this is just going to make it worse. "Fine. Just keep your distance, bucko." Why? Why do I have to talk to him like that? I should be apologizing. For everything. This is why I don't deserve him. Helga crossed her arms and turned away. Don't look at him. Hide the tears.

"Okay Helga. Whatever you say…" Arnold said quietly.

Three hours of awkwardness crawled by slowly. They only had to stay until the concert began and the gates were closed, but Helga felt as though her legs were going to carry her away at any moment. She had to run from this man, the man that drove her heart wild, that haunted her dreams, that had saved her life, that had sat by her hospital bed. The man she had trained and held at night when the horrors were too much for him. The man she had driven away because she was too damn stubborn to accept that maybe someone could actually want her in their life. Just go away. Please.

The gates closed, and Helga walked hurriedly back to her bag. She had to get out of there. Now.

"Helga, wait."

"I have to go. I'm… supposed to meet Phoebe for a drink." I could really use one, she thought. Maybe now I understand why Miriam always drank herself into a stupor. At least it could make the pain go away for a little while.

"Helga…" Arnold was right behind her. She squeezed her eyes shut. Please go away. You don't know what you do to me. His hand was on her shoulder. A shock ran through her. Oh Arnold…

She turned around. "Don't touch me. What do you want?" Arnold could tell she was trying to give him a hard look, but he could see the sadness in her eyes.

"I… I wanted to know if…" He stuttered. This was harder than he thought.

Helga crossed her arms. "Spit it out. I don't have all night." Just get this over with.

Arnold took a deep breath. "Would you… dance with me?"

Helga's look softened into one of confusion as her arms dropped to her sides. "Dance? With you? Football Head, there's no music."

He smiled sheepishly. "There will be in a minute."

"The orchestra? I don't know how to dance to that."

"I do. I'll show you. If you'll let me." He offered his hand.

"I-I d-don't know, Arnold. I think this is a bad idea," she said hesitantly. She began rubbing her elbow with her hand.

"Please," he said softly. She looked directly at him for the first time. He looks… sad. Imploring. Maybe…

"Okay. But I have two left feet. I'll probably stamp your toes flat."

Arnold laughed. "I'm wearing steel-toed boots, remember? You'll be fine." He took her right hand in his left and held it out to the side. He placed her left hand on his shoulder and put his right hand on hers.

Helga's heart was pounding. Why am I doing this to myself? I want his love, not his pity.

"Follow my lead, okay? It's a three-count step." He slowly led her through a box step, turning ever so slightly as he did so. She was busy looking at her feet.

Helga, ol' girl, you need to run. You need to run right now.

"Arnold, I- "

She was interrupted by the start of the music. And it was, naturally, a waltz, Shostakovich Waltz 2. Helga squinted at Arnold. "Wait a minute, you planned this, didn't you?"

Arnold shrugged. "Well, it's possible I looked at the program for tonight. And it's possible that I told Harold I'd buy him dinner for a week- "

Helga raised an eyebrow. "A whole week? That's going to cost you a fortune. That man can eat."

Arnold chuckled. "Maybe. For now, how about we lose ourselves in the music? It's not that long of a song."

A light ran had begun to fall as they danced on the grass near the entrance. The gate attendants and other employees had all gone to listen to the show, but the pair could hear the music perfectly fine from where they were. Helga chewed her lip and refused to make eye contact with Arnold as they began to dance.

"Helga?"

"Y-yes?"

"Helga, look at me."

"No, I'm good."

"Helga please…"

"Look, I don't want your pity- "

"Is that what you think this is? Helga, I have never pitied you. I've admired you. Now please, look at me."

His imploring tone got to her. She turned to look at him. He was smiling softly. She felt her pulse quicken. This can't be happening… can it? Their eyes locked, sapphires and emeralds, gazing deeply into one another. Arnold leaned in and turned his head slightly. Her eyes went wide, and their lips met. Fireworks went off in her brain. The walls she had built around her heart came tumbling down and she kissed him back. He moved his hands to her waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck. They weren't dancing any more and the rain was quickening, but neither of them knew they were getting wet. Even if they had, the wouldn't have cared.

The kiss lasted for what seemed to be an eternity, but it still wasn't long enough for Helga when they finally separated. She blushed and looked away. "Arnold, I… I don't know what I'm doing."

Arnold gently grabbed her chin and turned her face back toward him. He cupped her cheek and ran his thumb over her cheekbone while he pressed his forehead against hers. "I know what I'm doing. Sharing my first kiss with the woman I love."

Helga's eyes went wide, tears beginning to run from the corners. "Love?"

He smiled. "Yes, love. I love you, Helga G. Pataki. And I'm sorry it took me so long to say it."

Helga smiled widely and pulled him down for another kiss. When their lips parted she looked at him with half lidded eyes. "Say it again."

Arnold laughed. "I love you."

She jabbed a finger into his chest. "And don't you forget it, bucko."

Arnold twisted her to the side and put one hand on her back while picking her up in his arms with the other under her legs. Helga squealed in laughter. "What are you doing, Football Head?"

"I'm taking my lovely lady on a date to listen to an orchestra."

"Criminy, you could have just asked me to go with you. I'm perfectly capable of walking on my own, even if my knees are weak."

He smiled at her. "Oh, I know how strong you are, Sergeant Pataki. But you're going to have learn to let me carry you from time to time."

"Is that so?"

"Absolutely. That's what good couples do, right? They carry each other when they have to."

She chuckled. "I'm not sure I can lift your fat ass."

"Nonsense. I've heard you carried Wittenburg. If you can carry his fat ass, you can carry anyone's." He winked at her.

"Well then at least tell me where we're going, since you won't let me have control here."

Arnold nodded to a small stone wall near the concert hall. "Just right there."

"We don't have seats? You're cheaping out on me, Arnoldo."

"Somehow I doubt they'd want two water-logged deputies sitting in on their concert. Besides, there might be another waltz later."

They reached the wall and he set her down. He sat next to her and intertwined his fingers with hers. She leaned against his chest. Even with his vest on, she could hear his heart beating. Or maybe she just thought she could. Either way, it felt like it was in synch with hers, and she had never felt so happy. She knew she was trouble, a total mess, a nightmare. He could be incredibly dense and his do-goodery would get him into troubles of his own. But she finally stopped fighting herself. She was ready to go through that fight with someone at her side, someone who didn't pity her but loved her.

A/N: This is the story of my first kiss with my ex. We weren't cops, but we had a discussion the week before about how neither of us knew how to dance. So, I had my grandmother teach me to waltz because I knew there was one on the program that night. I'm not sure how I worked up the courage to ask her to dance, let alone to kiss her. We got thoroughly drenched, but we sat in the rain the rest of the night listening to the concert.

This was originally the end of the story, so I had a bit more here to wrap things up but obviously since it will be continuing I took some of that out. Posting will definitely be slower from here on out because, unlike this part, I don't have everything finished before I'm starting to post it, so please be patient.

Nep2uune: He wasn't going to let her go without any sort of fight. Although I'm still not sure he should take much advice from Gerald on the ladies. If I recall from the show, Gerald generally got shot down by everyone but Phoebe.

CupcakeArtist: I realize that the end seems abrupt because their journey as a couple hasn't begun. But I think many stories on here tend to end just as they get together. I wanted to leave it open to a second part from the get-go, but I didn't have anything planned at the time.