THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LOVELY REVIEWS! It makes me so happy that you are enjoying the story. :D Hopefully you like this one just as much, it was pretty fun to write. And hopefully not too confusing.
PS. I claim no ownership of the songs included in this one. They belong to Disney.
"Talking"
Thinking
Bob Pataki lumbered through the hallway towards the living room. He hadn't been to the Boarding House a lot, but he still remembered where the most important things were in that place.
Walking through the archway he saw that the other boarders were crowded around the tv. Mr. Kokoshka, Mr. Hyunh, and Mr. Potts with Phil smack right in the middle.
They were watching the Macy's Parade. Well, that wasn't going to fly for Big Bob Pataki. He snatched the unattended remote and promptly flipped it over to some horse races he'd placed bets on.
A chorus of protest arose from the room.
"Now hold on just a cotton pickin' minute," Phil said rising dramatically out of his armchair, "You don't get to just run in here and take over."
"Relax, I'm just checking the scores." Bob scoffed in reply.
Phil raised a skeptical brow at the man. A few minutes ticked by. And then a few more. It became apparent that Bob had no intention of switching it back anytime soon. His eyes glued to the race as he muttered under his breath.
"Alright, that's long enough— now switch it back." Phil demanded.
The other boarders chiming in with a similar sentiment. Bob let out an exaggerated huff.
"Criminy, bunch of babies. Who wants to watch the parade anyway—"
"We do!" They all said almost at once.
"Well, change it back then. I can't stop ya." A narrow smirk pointed at them.
Phil saw that the remote was still tucked under Bob's grizzly bear arms. But he was making no move to return said item. Phil reached for the dial and started switching the channels manually until they found the parade again.
As the old man sat down, the channel flipped back to the horse races.
Who knew Bob could be so passive aggressive.
"That's it! You may be a guest, but my house, my rules." Phil pointed at him, "If you won't give it up, we'll play ya for it."
"Oh, really? You don't exactly have a golf course in your backyard." Bob leaned closer as his brows set even deeper.
"Horseshoes then!" Phil demanded.
"And arm wrestling." Mr. Potts added with a smug look.
"Fine, fine. Let's just get this over with." Bob said with an eye roll.
It had been some time since Gertie had left the kitchen. The children had been content to play outside. Roam around in the backyard with the various games. Find sticks to drag in the dirt and try to climb the trees. But there was so much stuff to trip on outside, and adults wandering around made it hard to play tag, or hide and seek, or much of anything really fun.
The boys all sat in a circle trailing lines in the dirt with dim gazes. They quietly bounced ideas off each other of what to do before they promptly shot each other down. Suddenly a pair of feet landed in front of their circle. The surprise at the sudden intrusion caused them to flail backwards.
"Boys! Are you ready to go to Never Land!?" Gertie stood in front of the boys dressed in a bright green leotard, dark green leggings and a pointed hat to boot.
Their eyes lightened at the new intrusion. The excitement of this new eccentric adult.
"Boy, would we ever!" one of the boys leapt up.
"You mean there wouldn't be any adults?!" another boy jumped.
"You got that right! Now fly! Fly with me!" Gertie cackled throwing her arms out and cutting through the yard.
People in her path be damned.
The five boys followed her lead throwing their arms out and whooping. The adults who'd barely recovered avoiding the Gertie tornado now scrambled to backpedal out of the way for a second time. Some of them clutching their hearts and spilling their drinks on their shirts.
The cussing was lost on the boys as they followed the wacky grandma up the stairs. She lead them to one of her rooms. Throwing open the closet door, she started throwing out all manner of costumes. Most of them animal accessories. Each one of the boys finding a way to dress as a bear, a lion, a fox, a raccoon, and lastly a tiger.
"Now what! Now what!"
"Yeah, where's Never Land, Gertie?"
"Ah, ah, I am Peter Pan! And you are my Lost Boys!" she pointed towards them.
"Right, right!" The boys bounced and giggled while they threw a salute up.
"Right! I almost forgot!" Gertie dug back in the closet.
After some rifling, she started throwing foam weapons over her shoulder.
Swords, daggers, a club, a whip—
More random stuff that she probably shouldn't have and one could only surmise how she had possession of it.
"Hey what's up with this one?" one of the boy's held up a wooden blowgun.
She swiped it promptly, "Not that one."
"Now my boys, let's fly to Never Land and take on Captain Hook!" with another crazy cackle she flew out of the room as a string of boys followed hot on her tail.
Phil, Bob and the other adult men, save Miles, gathered outside. The lot was half tables and chairs the other half covered in party games. Corn hole, and Horseshoes, among other team type games. The men all gathered around a card table.
Mr. Potts was up first with good old fashioned arm wrestling. Both men taking a second to stretch their arms and loosen their shoulders before they sat down at the card table.
Bob gripped the smaller man's hand with a vice grip and elbows balanced on the table edge. The other boarders starting to chant and whoop.
The men grunted and pushed their arms back and forth. Tottering in one's favor and then pushing back to the other side. Mr. Potts finally got the upper grip and slammed Bob's hand down on the table. A collective whoop rose from the group. A round of thank you's being spewed from the victor.
"Alright, best two out of three." Bob said with a sore look and shoulder pop.
He'd never admit it out loud, but that smaller man was much stronger than he looked. Their hands reconnected and the struggle began again.
Helga and Miles still sat at the table in the kitchen. Counting out plates and organizing the dishes to distribute to the dining table. Just then Olga poked her head into the archway.
"Baby sister!" Olga said cheerfully, "Come see the decorations!"
"Pass." Helga rolled her eyes.
"Oh, it'll just take a second." Olga crossed the room and started dragging her by the arm.
"Save me, King Flourhair! I'm a prisoner of war!"
"Pretty sure banished means you're not part of the Kingdom anymore." Arnold tapped his chin with a smirk.
"Some King you are!"
Helga stopped struggling and followed her sister out the back door. Olga continued to talk her ear off about something.
Some mission about reindeer or penguins?
She wasn't even sure anymore.
The girls looked out at the yard. Helga's eyes widened a little. She had to admit it did look pretty impressive. But then again this was Olga we were talking about.
She had even taken the time to decorate the trees with red, yellow, and orange streamers. Little paper owls, squirrels, and turkeys adorned most of the branches. Tiny little crystal gems hung from strings twisted around the trunks of the trees. Beautiful and unique centerpieces at each card table.
That girl was too much sometimes.
"Looks great." Helga said with a shrug.
"Oh, thank you! I hoped you'd love it." Olga clasped her hands, "Also, promise me a game later."
"Yeah, sure gotta finish in the kitchen."
As the girls pivoted to return inside, they noticed the adult men in an aggressive circle around a card table.
"What the heck, Bob?" Helga demanded as they reached the table. Olga giggled beside her.
"Scat girl, we're settling something like men."
"This is over the tv, isn't it!?"
The other men rubbed the backs of their heads and couldn't look at the girls.
Helga's gaze narrowed, "Oh for Pete's sake!"
"Daddy, you know I have the races recording?" Olga piped in.
Bob didn't seem to hear the girls and the men continued their aggressive ploy for tv domination. Bob smacked Potts's hand down to the table. Bob let out a pleased growl like a bear that had finally caught a trout.
Helga rolled her eyes while Olga still found amusement in the men's antics.
Olga leaned down to whisper, "At least they aren't really arguing. They kind of look like they're having some fun."
"Arnold better never get like these morons."
Bob's grip seemed to be faltering on the smaller man's. With a grit of his teeth, he buckled his elbow against the table. Potts gave him a cocky grin while tightening his fingers. With a sudden toss, Bob had overcome Potts's grip and tossed him to the side.
Unfortunately he'd tossed his hand so hard, that he tumbled out of the chair and rolled into the base of the nearby tree. A bump already forming on his bald head. Mr. Potts sat up with a dizzy expression.
"Ah, crap." Bob muttered rubbing his neck, "Can we leave the lawyers outta this one?"
The group collectively laughed.
"What?" Bob huffed, clearly lost as to what was so funny.
Mr. Potts shook his head and gave a thumbs up, "I'm good. Steel plate in my head. Barely felt anything."
He tried to stand up, but toppled backward even with his low center of gravity. Olga walked over to give him a hand up. She led him back towards the house with another small laugh as he insisted he was completely fine.
Helga shot Bob a sharp look, "Couldn't just leave the tv alone for one day! Geez, Bob get a grip."
"Hey now, little missy, don't you worry about what your ol' Dad is up to. Run along and finish with the cooking or something." Bob waved her off and stood.
The other Boarders still ready for a competition of horseshoes. Phil shot the burly man a glare as they walked across the yard.
Helga pinched her brow, "Utterly ridiculous. If someone else gets beamed, I swear."
Helga didn't stick around to watch them play Horseshoes. She knew it was pointless no matter the outcome. They were wasting more time in a dumb competition instead of watching the tv they were all fighting over.
Or maybe they just made up an excuse to play together?
Men were confusing sometimes.
She decided that it would be best to take a quick bathroom break before returning to the kitchen. She walked down the rest of the hallway and twisted to bound up the stairs.
Phil climbed the last stair on his way towards the bathroom. It had been an unfortunate hiccup in their game of horseshoes. He was winning for now, but curse his small bladder. He walked briskly towards the door hoping no one else was occupying the bathroom.
He knocked and heard a girl's voice reply. He snapped his fingers and folded his arms. Trying to wait it out, he glanced at his watch. Before he had much more time to think about anything, a pack of boys ran from various openings yelling.
"Get him!"
"It's Captain Hook! Catch him, catch him!"
Phil sputtered and backed up a step, "Now boys, let's be reasonable here—"
He felt himself back into another person and an arm wrapped around his neck. Foam dagger squishing against his neck.
"Pookie!" he scoffed.
"That's Peter Pan to you, scurvy dog!" Gertie started dragging him towards another room.
"I have to go, Pookie! I don't have time— let me go— you— HELP!"
Phil continued to try and reason with the pack, as the other boys helped lift him up. The five of them holding him high above their heads as they followed Gertie down the hallway. The boys ducking into a room with their prisoner in tow.
"Criminy! Hold your horses— I'm done." A few minutes later, Helga exited the bathroom.
She glanced around, certain she'd heard quite a commotion outside the door. Quirking a brow, she looked around once more. But when she didn't hear or see anything else, she started making her way back down the stairs. Halfway down the stairs, she heard the commotion start up once more behind her.
With a swift turn, she glanced behind her. Phil now tied up and being carted away by the boys towards the bathroom.
"One eyebrow! Help!" Phil cried.
Helga stood there stunned for a moment.
Gertie ran by singing, "Following the leader, the leader, the leader! We're following the leader! Wherever he may go!"
The boys joining in to sing as well, "Tee dum, tee dee, a teedle ee do tee day! Tee dum, tee dee, it's part of the game we play!"
All of them joining together for another verse, "Tee dum, tee dee, the words are easy to say! Just a teedle ee dum, a teedle ee do tee day!"
Gertie let out one last cackle as they ran into the bathroom. The door shut promptly behind them.
"You blew it! Now I'll never get out!" Phil yelled.
Helga let out a snort, This family really is too much sometimes.
Helga had obviously seen quite a few random things on her many visits to the Boarding House, but every time she still found herself shocked and shaking her head.
"Alright old man, I think I have just the idea." She said climbing back up the stairs two at a time.
Arnold was still down in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on the food. He glanced over at the Housekeeping Island. His Dad walked back and forth between the rooms to set the table.
But no Helga.
Helga's been gone awhile...I wonder if she's okay? Surely Olga's done showing her the decorations by now? he thought, and then he remembered what she said the other day—
As long as you remember, if this goes south— it's on you, bucko.
I know she was a little peeved to have to work with her mom... he rubbed his arm, as he turned to stare at the archway, But could she be secretly mad with me and run off from her post?
He walked away from his post in a quick rush.
Arnold was rounding the corner, a few animals ran by and tripped him. He tumbled harshly into a person and they both toppled to the floor. Dazed, as he lay over her, a mop of blonde hair though the corner of his gaze. His sight fuzzy from the sudden impact.
"There you are, dearest." his voice low, a hand going to stroke the girl's face.
"You've got the wrong sister, Romeo." Olga let out a giggle, still flushed from the sudden impact.
Arnold rolled off of her and scrambled to his feet. Eager to help her to her feet and promptly forget that he was practically ready to put the moves on who assumed was Helga due to their frequent habit of crashing into each other.
He was a mess, truly.
"I'm so sorry Olga! Are you okay? I didn't hurt you—"
"Arnold, it's fine. I'm fine." she tapped his nose.
"Have you seen, Helga?" his face still flushed, brows tilted.
"Hm, she said she was going to the bathroom." she offered with a sweet shrug before she continued down the hallway.
He leaned against the wall for a moment. A sharp breath left him as he felt more and more embarrassed. One day he would learn to pay attention when he was walking.
He was just glad he didn't do anything worse.
Like actually try to kiss her without looking.
Try explaining that one away.
"You alright there? You look like you've seen a ghost?" Stella said jabbing him in the chest.
Arnold glanced at her from the spot on the wall he was still sticking against. He hadn't moved since he bumped into Olga. A whole ten minutes standing against that wall trying to figure out why he was such a klutz and why the house was getting dizzy to walk around in.
Helga was right he'd definitely bit off more than he could chew with this gathering.
"The animals tripped me into Olga, and I thought she was Helga because I was a little dazed." he admitted with a nervous laugh, "It got a little awkward."
Stella's eyes widened for a second, before she let out a laugh.
"Glad to be of some humor to someone." he sighed, eyes closing.
"Come on dear, we're almost done." Stella gave him a comforting shoulder pat.
I'll just go back to the kitchen, and wait a little longer. I'm sure she's fine! he assured himself and tried really hard to forget what just happened.
Helga took a few minutes looking through the various extra rooms of the Boarding House. She should know by now which one was Gertie's little prop room, but it still took her a few minutes to remember much to her chagrin. Finally, she found the room and started digging through the closet.
She pulled out an outfit and grinned, "Perfect."
Gertie and the boys had Phil tied up in the tub. The water slowly filling up as they sung in a circle.
"Oh, a pirate's life is a wonderful life! A-rovin' over the sea! Give me a career as a buccaneer!"
"Pookie, I need to wear these clothes all day! And now they're wet." Phil whined as his pants got increasingly soaked, while his tied hands splashed at the water as though that might help.
"That's enough outta of you, Hook!" one of the boys took a sock and shoved it into Phil's mouth.
He sputtered before spitting it out again, "Little devils, you are!"
"It's the life of a pirate for me! Oh, the life of a pirate for me!" Gertie sung even louder with a loud cackle.
A sudden flurry of knocks on the door drew the attention of the boys. They were quick to reprimand the offender.
"Go away! This is our island now!"
"Lost boys only! No adults!"
A feminine voice made some chime-like sounds, "Well, it's Tinkerbell, so I'm pretty sure I'm with the crew. Ting, ting, and all that junk."
"Why, my stars! It's Tinkerbell!" Gertie said with a chortle.
The older lady opened the door quickly. Helga stood in the doorway with a green robe draped over her shoulders. She took a few steps into the bathroom.
"Actually," she rolled her eyes playfully, "I'm a crocodile!"
She took an alarm clock out from her robe and attached it to her head. The boys squealed and started running from the bathroom.
"Abandon ship!"
"Swim for your lives!"
"You cowards! How dare you run!" Gertie said with a dramatic pose.
One of the boys stood behind, he raised his sword, poked it into her chest, "I ain't afraid of no crocodile!"
Helga leaned on his sword with a smirk, "You sure about that? Tick-tock, lunch-boy."
The boy started to shake before he squealed and ran away as well. A small laugh as he cleared the archway. Gertie cackled and followed suite. Helga shook her head as she reached into the bathtub. She turned off the water before promptly draining it.
She cut the ties wrapped around Phil. Phil shook his body for a second. Ignoring his present wetness to vault over the tub and head for the door.
"C'mon before the little monsters come back!" Phil yelped thundering down the stairs.
"Guess we're staying downstairs today!" Helga laughed, I'm glad we merged our family gathering...it's actually been pretty fun!
Helga and Phil bounded down the last few stairs. Making their way down the hallway with the notion that those boys could be back at any second to abduct them again.
As they made it to the kitchen archway, they heard someone ask about Gertie's whereabouts.
Helga quickly blurted out, "She's upstairs with the children and they commandeered the bathroom!"
The group in the kitchen all turned with shocked and confused expressions. Arnold shot her an unamused look as he crossed the kitchen.
"Very funny, Helga." he folded his arms.
"It's true, Shortman!" Phil's hand gripped the archway roughly, his eyes wild, "I barely escaped with my life! You're grandma's gone crazier than usual."
Arnold snickered, "I doubt that. Grandma's time limit for normal is really small—"
"Laugh now— till you need the washroom, then you'll understand—"
"But Grandpa—"
"Then you'll understand!" Phil said with a dramatic hand wave before he went out the back door.
"There's a bathroom downstairs. His own personal bathroom at that." Arnold's gaze narrow.
Helga snorted laughter, "Kinda hard for Captain Hook to go the bathroom with a crocodile on his tail."
He finally took in the appearance of his girlfriend's green garb and alarm clock taped to her head.
"I'm not even going to ask."
Finally, the preparation of the food was complete. It would be a few hours left of cooking before they actually got to eat, but it was a much needed lull from the stuffy heat of the crowded kitchen.
"Alright, you guys go ahead and spend some time outside." Stella said ushering the teens out of the kitchen, "We'll be right behind you."
Arnold, Helga and some of the other adults in the room started filing out towards the back lot. Once the group arrived outside, the split up around the yard.
Arnold smiled as he motioned towards Cornhole, "Wanna play, Helga?"
"Hey, let's play teams!" another voice cut in.
The blonde couple turned to see Olga cutting across the field.
"Speak of the devil." Helga let out a harsh sigh.
Miles was not far behind.
Arnold looked equally thrilled to see his father.
The newcomers oblivious to the couple's distaste at their arrival.
"Sure Olga, why not?" Helga said trying to give her sister a pleasant smile.
"If you don't want to play on my team, it's fine. As long as we play it will be fun, baby sister." Olga clasped her hands together with a genuine smile.
"It's fine, Olga." a reluctant sigh leaving her.
Olga hugged Helga tightly crushing her to her chest with a happy squeal. Arnold was about to volunteer that he and Helga should be on a team anyway, but his father cut him off.
"Helga, let's be team mates." Miles said unexpectedly.
"Dad!?" Arnold sputtered.
Helga snorted, breaking free of her sister's death grip, "You guys gonna fight over me, too?"
"Sorry, didn't think about it too hard since I know you probably wouldn't want to be on my team." Miles said to Arnold while rubbing the back of his neck.
"Why wouldn't I want to be on your team?" Arnold said with a huff.
"Because we've been pretty angry with each other lately—" Miles couldn't hold his son's gaze.
"Sure, Dad— I'm sure it has nothing to do—"
"Works for me." Helga interjected.
Arnold stopped short, glancing at his girlfriend. She started walking towards Miles's side of the board and ignored the little upset on Olga's face. That her sister had passed over her so easily.
Helga raised a brow with a catty smirk as she passed Arnold, "You jealous of your ol' man or what? Let's play already!"
Arnold let out a breath, and shot her an annoyed look, "I don't care, I guess. We'll switch teams next game."
Olga gave a pleased jump as Arnold joined her side of the board. She started rattling off how excited she was and that she couldn't believe that Helga would actually play a game with them. She truly was a light switch in the emotions department.
Arnold was heavily distracted by the fact that his Dad would actively pick someone else over his own son— his son's girlfriend of all things.
It irritated him more than it probably should've. Then the fact that as he watched them across the field on their side of the board, that they seemed to be having a little laugh or joke about something.
She made it look easy.
She made it look so easy to talk to him.
Like she was his daughter instead.
It's not like they'd never spent any time together, but for some reason this gathering had brought them closer than ever.
He realized how selfish it was for him to be angry about their easy closeness.
Their almost instant connection.
That Helga had probably wanted a father figure to pay attention to her efforts her whole life and now she more or less had one.
Of course, Arnold had his own suspicions as to why his Dad might want more talking time with her. But he'd keep his mouth shut for now.
"Missed again Football Head! You gonna stop day dreamin' today?" Helga said with a boisterous laugh.
"Its like you said, he must be bored!" Miles could help, but join in with a cheeky smirk.
He shot them a scowl. The pair in question now looking sheepish.
Maybe they'd gone too far this time.
He sighed and tried to ignore Olga giving him a positive pep talk about how they could still win it. Backing up a space, he let Olga throw her turn. Normally after a scowl like that, Helga would at least be glancing at him or showing some concern, but she still chatted idly with his father never paying him a glance.
Maybe he was being a little dramatic.
They did like to tease each other quite a bit after all.
After a few more rotations, it was Arnold's turn again. He pushed out all other distractions. Bound and determined to get points this round. He sunk four and with the fifth bag in hand, he took in a focusing breath.
He couldn't help, but look up and see Helga expression turn from jovial to pensive. At his father's question, he surmised. His throw landed the bean bag onto of the wood very close to the hole.
"Ah we were so close, Arnold! Oh well, better luck next time!" Olga snapped her fingers.
The four converged on one spot.
"Good game, son." Miles said giving Arnold a warm pat on his shoulder.
Arnold shot a narrow gaze at his father. Before he could make a comment, Stella threw open the back door.
"Dinner's ready everyone!" she waved them all towards the door.
In an organized blob, everyone in the back yard started walking back to the house. Soon everyone was inside except for the blonde couple. Helga was ready to follow suite until she felt Arnold tug her hand.
She glanced over her shoulder, "What?"
His lips tight as his eyes searched hers.
"What's that look for? Your dad just wanted to know which nunnery you're headed to." She turned to ruffle his hair.
"Very funny Helga." His hands on his hips, "What did he really ask you?"
"Its not important." She waved him off before starting to walk away.
He blocked her way, "Helga—"
"Criminy! You and your dad are like the same person, I swear!"
"What? No way. Or I'd get along with him—"
She snorted laughter, "You have any idea how hard you are to get along with sometimes?"
He folded his arms, brows furrowed, "Seemed like you were getting along with him just fine to me."
She rolled her eyes letting her head loll back, "Your dad was just being a nosey busy body much like another person I know."
"C'mon Helga, just spit it out already!" his fists clenched at his sides, a heavy breath on his lips.
"He was still trying to ask me about your schooling and he figured out I'm the one who told you about Generals thing. Sorry, you lost some brownie points for that."
Arnold took a deep breath trying to calm his stance, "What did he say that made your face— I don't know— concerned?"
"You're not going to like it." She let out a sullen laugh.
His hand gripped hers, "Tell me."
"He said that even though he likes me—and that he's very impressed with my achievements—"
"Wow! He said that? Why would that make me mad?" his voice lighter as he swayed their hands.
She looked away, "Well, he still wondered if I was a distraction to you."
She felt him ready to slip away, so she gripped him tighter. He looked back at her with the deepest scowl she'd probably ever seen him wear. He tried to tug away once more, before he was forced tightly to her chest.
"Don't worry about it. That's why I said he's just like you. Always focused on what he thinks is best, but doesn't always consider every outcome." a sarcastic strum in her words, "Or the nuisances of different relationships either."
"I can't just let him say that— It has nothing to do with you!" He pushed back against her tight embrace.
She ran a hand through his hair, "That's why I said it's not important. We're going off to college soon. It doesn't matter what he thinks. Soon we'll be out of sight, out of mind."
He let out a hiss, "You think that now."
She kissed him tenderly, "I know, is more like it."
He felt so angry in that moment.
Her fingers twined into his hair as she smiled against his lips, "Let it go, Arnold."
It was bad enough his father kept bothering everyone about their little argument—
Who was he kidding?
Huge, all encompassing, never-ending argument about the fate of Arnold's educational future.
But for his father to even suggest that Helga had anything to do with his chronic indecision—
That was a low blow.
Her kiss still tame in an attempt to calm him. She drew his hands to her sides hoping to distract him with her presence. His fingers loose against her as they twitched. Twitched as though they might form fists any second.
If anything, Helga had helped him more than anything. She always managed to give him such practical advice— one of the many reasons he loved her.
What was the solution to his Dad's perceived problem with Helga anyway?
Break up with her until he's twenty five years old and settled into a stable career?
Hoping that she's still waiting around for him too?
Not a chance.
He could juggle both. Plenty of people did that all the time. He felt impatience growing inside him at the length of her kiss.
He couldn't just let his Dad say something like that and walk away!
He tried to twist out of her grasp. A squeak left him as she gave him a push towards one of the trees. With another harsh push, the pair stumbled behind it.
The trunk blocking most of the view of them from the rear doorway.
Before he could protest, break away, defy the girl to right a wrong his father had caused—
She pushed him back into the tree.
A small grunt at the sensation of rough bark into his back. She kissed him roughly with a newfound neediness he hadn't felt from her in a while. Lips firm, focused as her tongue darted and rubbed against his bottom lip. Her fingers deep in his hair pulling him closer still.
His hands gripped her arms in an attempt to sway her. But she wasn't pulling any punches today, her hips pressed into his, and chest flush against him. She wormed out of his grasp and directed his hands downwards. He let her have her way this time and rested against her hips. With another pull, she urged him to cup her rear instead.
Letting out a sigh against his lips, she could feel his arousal grow. Unable to help himself, he squeezed her butt and crashed their hips together. Kissing her back with an equal fervor. A muffled moan from her as his tongue invaded her mouth. She straddled him against the tree.
He pulled away from her kiss to the side with a harsh breath. Her lips migrating to his neck with an unrelenting energy.
"Helga, this is way too much—" his head flopped back as he tried to calm down.
"Pretty sure you were participating—" she rubbed herself against him eliciting another groan from him.
He ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath, "Our family is inside—"
"Say you let it go, and then I'll consider releasing my prisoner." her voice even as she maintained her strong grip on him.
He let out a weak growl of protest. It wasn't fair. She felt so good against him and he didn't really want to stop, but they hadn't even had dinner yet. If they tried to sneak away now, they'd surely be bothered.
And some part of him still didn't want to let his dad off the hook just yet—
"I can't—"
"It can wait until tomorrow." she said pulling back to look at him, "Or you're no better than he is."
"But Helga—"
"No 'buts'. I know you love me. He doesn't know what he's talking about." her expression softer now.
Slowly his body relaxed into her embrace, "Ok, but I'm defending your honor tomorrow."
"Oh, Sir Arnold, my knight in Shining Mashed Potatoes." she stuck her tongue out.
"Pretty sure that was you." he smarted before giving her a now softer kiss, I can't believe my Dad would say that about her! She probably feels terrible now! Can this Thanksgiving get any worse?
Oh poor Arnold, he just wants everything to be great, but he just can't catch a break. Still a few more chapters to go.