Note: This is the last chapter in my fic...I can't believe all the work it took. Five chapters in two days! I just hope it's been fun for everyone else. I really appriciated the reviews and I can't wait to get started on my next fic.
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"Helga stop it. You're going to hurt yourself." Helga stopped shaking and opened her eyes. Miriam looked at her her face filled with worry. "Helga what's wrong? Are you having a nightmare?"
Where was Brainy? Where was she? Then she heard it. "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings." She was home! It was still Christmas Eve and she had fallen asleep watching "It's a Wonderful Life" on television. And there was her mother standing above her holding the empty box that had contained the mac and cheese dinner.
"Helga did you know that the expiration date for this was last week? Did you eat this?"
"Of course I did Mir-" Helga stopped herself. How could she talk to her mother like that after the dream she had just had. She started again. "Mom, I'm surprised to see you. I thought you and Bob went to some meeting at the emporium."
Miriam was surprised at Helga's tone. And of course there was the fact that Helga never called her "Mom". "Well honey it turned out that your father has been so hassled this holiday season that he didn't realize it was Christmas Eve. As soon as he realized it he found me at the shopping center and we rushed back here. You didn't think we'd leave you alone on Christmas Eve did you?"
"But I told Bob on the phone that it was Christmas Eve." No use calling him Dad. She was still mad at him from the dream.
"Oh you know he never listens on the phone Helga. And he felt horrible about leaving you alone on Christmas Eve. You know I think he's made alot of progress over the last year don't you think? I mean ever since you two went to see "Rats" last year you too have been closer. Give him a chance. Anyways all this talking has made me thirsty. I'm going to get a smoothie." She might be a smoothieaholic but at least she isn't a whino.
"Helga?" said a voice behind her. It was her father holding a gift.
"Yes Bob?" she said nervously. She couldn't remember the last time that Big Bob had called her by her right name.
"Look Helga....I'm sorry about what happened earlier. It's just....well sometimes I get too involved with work" he looked down at the gift. "Here why don't you open your gift from me now. I picked it out myself."
She picked up the gift. It was rectangular. She shook it. Nothin rattled. So like any normal ten year old girl she proceded to rip the paper to shreds. She found herself holding a black velvet book with the words "Property of Helga G. Pataki" written across the front in fancy gold script.
"Look I even got the name right" Her father said smiling weakly. He began to fidget a little. "Well I'm going to join your mother in the kitchen and get her to make me some eggnogg. Um..you might want to look at the first page...I wrote a little something on it."
Helga was speechless as she read the paragraph her father had composed.
Helga, I've been secretly going to your friend Dr. Bliss's office for the past year. As you're reading this I'm currently in the kitchen telling your mother the very same thing. Dr. Bliss has been helping me realize how important family is and how dysfunctional ours is. I know now that I had been favoring Olga over you. I want to make a fresh start this year and what a better time of the year then Christmas? Even though I know that I can't buy your love I wanted to show you that I've come to understand you better and so I purchased this journal for you because I can now see your love for the written word. I hope we can forget the past and look towards the future. Love, Dad She could hardly believe it. Her father, Big Bob, had actually composed this touching letter. He wanted to become the father that he never was. She stood up, ready to go into the kitchen to talk to him when music floated into her house.
Silent night Holy night
All is calm all is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Helga looked out the window. It was Arnold! Oh how wonderful it was to see his handsome face after having such a horrible and vivid dream.
"Arnold!" Helga cried as she opened the door. Arnold was standing on her porch with all the carolers standing on the sidewalk.
"Hi Helga. Listen I just wanted to apologize about what I said earlier. I went way to far and I should never of called you a scrooge...it's just that sometimes you can-" Arnold was cut off by Helga as she wrapped her arms around him. "Um Helga...why are you hugging me?"
"Is that what you think I'm doing football head?" she said releasing him. "I slipped on the ice and I didn't feel like breaking my neck. Why would I want to hug a football head like you? Don't flatter yourself."
"Whatever you say Helga" Arnold said thankful that he had rid his guilty conscience of his earlier insult.
Helga looked at all of the carolers who were still staring at her. "Doi! Don't you know anything about caroling? The point behind is to actually sing and not stand there and stare. I guess the only way you're going to do it right is with a little help from me."she started singing and pretty soon everyone was joining in.
Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia;
Christ the Savior is born;
Christ the Savior is born.
Now that everyone was busy singing Helga made her way over to Pheobe. "Pheebs?" she said.
"Yes Helga?"
"Pheobe I...I just wanted to let you know that you're a really great friend to me...and...I" Helga didn't know what to say so threw her arms around her friend.
"My, Helga, you seem to be tripping on a great deal of ice tonight." Pheobe joked. She knew that the ice excuse was just that; an excuse. It looked at though Helga had been through something tonight and was content in the fact that her best friend would probably fill her in later and turned her attention back to caroling.
Helga was also intent on singing because for the first time in her life she had something to sing about. As she started the next verse she heard a wheezing behing her. Instead of hitting Brainy she turned around and faced him.
"Was it a dream Brainy? Please tell me the truth. Did any of that stuff actually happen?" she asked not knowing if she even wanted to know the truth.
"Huh :::wheeze::: dream?" was Brainy's reply. Satisfied with his answer Helga turned back to singing the final verse.
Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth;
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
Quietly alone in the back of the group Brainy looked up at the night sky. "Sorry" he said to himself. "I can't tell you the truth but don't worry. I'm still watching over you."
The End
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Sappy huh? I guess you were warned by the fact that "It's a Wonderful Life" was involved that it'd turn out sappy. Well anyways I'm done...I had originally planned to take a week or so to write out the whole story. But after reading the reviews I started feeling bad about leaving cliffhangers and decided to finish it off. I hope the whole thing tied together all right. At some point I changed my mind about certain reactions and character actions which I hope didn't effect the over all story. Thanks for the wonderful reviews!
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