A/N: Everyone! Oh. My. Gosh! Just wow! First, I want to just give a giant thank you to everyone who has been reading and reviewing this story! I mean, seriously, you guys shocked the mess out of me! I have NEVER had so many responses in under 3 days to a chapter! Ever! And each one made my day! Lol were you guys expecting such drama? From the looks of it, I don't think so! But no worries, I guarantee that this chapter will serve as a nice breath of fresh air…For now. Also, I'm going to try my hardest to start deadlines for myself since I'm off every 2 days of the week, so you can expect a new update either every Tuesday or Wednesday, or every other Tuesday or Wednesday. Lol anyways, thanks so much again ya'll! Please keep up the reads and reviews! It makes my day every time! Also special thanks goes to SquirrelandNight123! she's amazing in all she does! Her stories are amazing and she's generously helping me make art covers for this story! OK here we go.

That was it…

The unexpected end of my life…

Like I said I have no regrets…But then again- Hey wait a minute?! If I'm dead, how am I able to think?

I mean besides the whole possibilities of the human brain being capable of living for a few minutes even though the body stops living when the heart stops beating…

Ok enough with the Phoebe rant! Seriously? What is going on here?!

A disheveled and was supposedly presumed dead blonde tiredly and slowly opened her eyes, blinking painfully at the bright lights that caught her first line of sight.

Her silent cursing, yet loud groaning woke the football headed man whose spirit was utterly destroyed at the loss of his wife. However, after the shock treatment and the report of his wife's vitals becoming stable once again, he took those events as signs; as a small beacon of hope that maybe…

Just maybe…

His beloved would pull through.

As a result, he refused to leave her side for even a moment.

And by the sound of his sudden intake of breath as he realized where the source of the groaning was coming from, his eyes widening in wonder, and feeling the familiar sting of tears, he was starting to see that his wishful thinking paid off.

He was so captivated by the moment that he almost missed her angry rambling.

Almost.

"Ugh Fu****** Criminy…Ok…In order…I feel like I've been hit by a truck, fully loaded…followed by a freight train with the possibility of a plane coming out of nowhere and landing on my a**…Suffice to say, I feel like shi-"

Her angry rambling was cut off once she caught the wide eyed, tearful stare of her husband.

"What are you looking at Football-"

She was suddenly grabbed by a pair of strong arms that desperately clung onto her frame for life.

"You're alive! YOU'RE ALVE! HELGA! I THOUGHT I LOST YOU!"

"What are you talking ab-"

"You were gone Helga! GONE! The doctors saw you flat line, they had to do a shock treatment and they thought it wasn't going to work, but I just hoped…I mean…I had to…I'm just-"

He buried his head into her shoulder, inhaling her scent as he shook with sobs of relief.

"H-huh?" She whispered as she came back into the reality of the situation.

"I'm just glad you're okay…" He sighed, wiping his tears away and turning his red eyed gaze to his wife.

There was a brief silence as Helga looked away to recollect everything that just happened. Her eyes then widened in panic as she grabbed her husband by the shoulders and shook him out of his trance of wanting to suddenly and vigorously kiss her.

"Arnold. The babies?! What happened to them?! A-are they okay?! Did…did they make it here?"

Once she stopped shaking him, he blinked at her; taken aback by her actions. But before she could make a snappy remark, he smiled at her and took her hands in his.

Once he relished the feel of her soft hands, their warmth confirming that she was indeed alive, as he felt them anxiously grasping his firmly, he gave her a warm smile, kissed her deeply, and left her bedside to walk over to a room that wasn't too far away. Once he finished talking to the nurse that seemed to put something pink and blue into his arms, he walked back over to his wife, still wearing an award winning smile.

"See for yourself…" He then handed the pink and blue wrapped bundles into her arms.

Once she unwrapped the pink and blue blankets, she was greeted by the forms of two tiny football headed newborns breathing ever so softly as they slept peacefully, slightly shifting in her grasp to cuddle closer to the sudden warmth that brought them a needed comfort. One of the little ones was a baby boy, who although had the same head and hair as his father, he also had the stunning eyes, nose, and complexion of his mother. The other child was a baby girl who had her mother's eyes, but was a pure replication of her father in terms of head, skin, nose, and facial features.

It was in that moment when Helga realized she was officially a mother.

It is said that life is full of wonders…that maybe even life itself is a wonder…But how would you describe the actual word? Would you associate it as an infinite question? Or maybe even as a fascination; something so significant that it makes you stand in awe. It can be as big as an unexpected revival of life, or as small as a baby's trusting grasp on a mere finger…

"Oh my…Look at them Arnold!" She whispered as she felt abundant tears stream from her eyes. "They're, they're more beautiful than I'd ever imagined…"

She ran her finger across their delicate faces, making them open their eyes at the sensation. Both babies started to cry, causing Helga to mildly panic at first, but then the gentle whisper of her husband saved the day as he took both of them into his arms and rocked them gently.

"Hey little ones…It's okay. Don't cry. Daddy's here…Look! Look who else is here! It's mommy! We're all together now just like we promised…We're going to take great care of you both forever. No matter what."

Of course I wasn't surprised at my beloved's ability to calm the storm of crying babies. Arnold's always had this calming effect about him. Legend says that his birth silenced all nature for goodness sakes! It was obvious that he was fully ready and capable to take on the challenge of being a parent.

But was I?

I mean it's a given that no new parent is ever ready for the responsibilities that having a child for the first time will bring…But given my history? After everything that's happened? Am I truly ready for this?

I couldn't help but…wonder…

The crying quieted down into whimpers, and in that moment, Helga made her decision.

With shaking hands, she reached out to take the twins from her husband's arms and rocked them gently in hers.

"H-hey there…Ya know, daddy's right little Bucko's…You couldn't be in better hands now that you're here. I have waited so long for this day…And yet, I never imagined that it would ever come for me. I thought that just being with your daddy was the happiest feeling in the world and that nothing could top that, but with you both here in my arms, and daddy, and us all together as a family…I now know true happiness. We're going to make this feeling last forever…No matter what. And although I feel as if I'm not strong enough, or capable since I haven't the slightest clue on what to do…I know one thing for sure. I am going to do my very best…my hardest…to make sure you both know that my love for you all will last forever."

Without turning around, I already knew my husband was smiling. I could feel the essence of joy spreading all around the room. It was beyond contagious to say the least.

"After all…I'm your mommy. And daddy and I are going to do our best because we love you."

The whimpers turned into soft cooing and eventually silence as the twins once again fell asleep in the comfort of their mother's arms.

Maybe this won't be so bad after all…

A Few Weeks Later…

"Maybe this won't be so bad after all, I said! Criminy! What the heck did I do by saying that, open Pandora's Box?!" Helga mentally sneered as she and her husband groaned aloud at yet another round of multiple cries coming from one of the newborn twins.

It had been an eventful few weeks for the couple, to say the least. Emotions ran far and deep from left to right, from family to friends, when they heard that Helga was indeed, alive and well and that the once distressed couple was now a complete family at last. Everyone marveled and rejoiced at the new twins. Especially Phil who was convinced that all heaven broke loose for him once he found out that the eldest baby boy was named after him. And the new grandparents were ecstatic and honored to see their names were in the mix as well. But overall, they were even happier that their son and daughter-in-law were alright. Their friends were also relieved that their assorted gender based gifts for the babies were not so misplaced after all.

Especially Rhonda, who along with Lila and Katrina, gushed with the possibilities of all the frilly dresses they had in store for the youngest twin baby girl, Halenie.

Much to Helga's dismay of course.

Nonetheless, she sucked it up and even allowed her older sister to join in the mix, but only on the sole condition that it be just her, and that her parents be kept out of the loop.

Seeing that her sister was firm in her decision and wanting nothing more than to embrace the title as "Auntie", Olga reluctantly agreed.

Overall, it seemed that all was at peace with us as new parents.

At least until our little ones started crying…

Every five minutes.

And filling their diapers…Every two minutes…Or make that after every time I fed them.

And although my beloved and I were doing everything we could in our power to make our little ones comfortable, we quickly learned that the concept of sleep was truly a precious thing. Precious because once the twins were sleeping, all was right in the world. We considered it nothing but pure a gain of peace and serenity if only for a few moments…

But when they woke up, all bets were off.

Sleep became a luxury that we were starting to wonder if we could afford.

But we didn't regret a single moment.

At least that's what we were believing in a desperate attempt to motivate ourselves to get up for… the 11th or 20th time in just this one night alone?

Heck, I couldn't tell for sure. I lost count.

"Well, at least they were merciful enough to let us get in an extra 10 minutes of sleep?" Arnold offered tiredly.

"Arnoldo I swear on all that's holy if you even THINK of spouting your brightside bullsh** right now!" She growled venomously.

The baby's cries grew louder as it woke the other sibling.

"It's just like my nightmare…" Arnold groaned as he slapped a pillow over his face. Helga grabbed the pillow and whacked him in the face tiredly.

"Well don't just lay there! Go do something about it!"

"Me?! I got up the last 8 times in the past hour! I'm pretty sure it's your turn!" He spat back, his voice muffled by the pillow on top of his face.

She threw the pillow off of him, tossing it aside, and got up in his face.

"Oh yeah? Answer me this, Bucko! Who was the one that endured 9 long frustrating months of weird cravings, emotional outbursts, and extensive weight gain in areas that will most likely remain with me for the end of my days?"

"Uh…You?" He blinked.

"Exactly." She poked his nose, continuing.

"And who was the one that suffered over 15 hours of straight hell when I was in labor?" She scowled.

He sighed deeply since he could see where this was going. "You were, honey…"

"Mm…And, who was it that practically DIED in the process?" She raised her voice slightly, only to be caught off guard when she found herself in his arms.

"…You did. And to be honest, I really would rather not think about that…I almost lost you Helga. Do you have any idea what that would have done to me?" He whispered and hugged her tighter, pushing down the urge to break down as memories came rushing in at how he almost lost her forever.

"…You're right I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be insensitive, my love. It's just after everything that's happened these few weeks, I-I'm still adjusting to this new kind of life."

"So am I…But you keep forgetting that you're not alone in this. In fact, I'm determined that after almost losing you, I am not ever, EVER, letting you out of my sight again."

She broke away from his embrace to capture his lips in hers.

"I love you…so much Helga." He whispered once they broke the kiss.

"And I-"

The babies' cries were borderline deafening at this point.

"-I better end this love fest before you make me go through the process all over again, or before the kids explode from screaming." She deadpanned, then sighed. "You know what? You're right, you've done enough. I'll get them. They're probably hungry anyways and you don't exactly have the assets needed for feeding time." She smirked as he playfully rolled his eyes and shook his head. He then smiled at her.

"Why don't we just go together? After all, someone's gotta' provide the entertainment after snack time hm?"

"The sunshine song?" She raised an eyebrow at him knowingly and expectantly.

"The sunshine song." He smirked with a slight chuckle.

With that, the happy parents donned their respected robes and tended to their little ones.

For the 50th time that night to be exact.

It took some time, but I think it's safe to say that we finally got the hang of being a mommy and daddy! It was a lot less dramatic than when we were at each other's throats over some silly old egg project when we were 9, but not any less exciting. I even gathered the girls over to talk about the joys of parenthood.

"So…How many hours did you guys get in?" Helga deadpanned as she groggily took a sip of her coffee and looked over her shoulder at the sleeping twins in the crib.

"3 at most." Patty deadpanned.

"Jodi generously enabled me to get in 4 hours which is in contrast to the usual 2!" Phoebe yawned.

"You sound ecstatic." Helga smirked.

"Well, seeing how 3 hours alone is considered a rarity in our household since Jodi is practically nocturnal…I have considered sleep to be a rather extraordinary activity that should not be taken advantage of."

"I've been sayin' that to you ever since you were studying in med school." Helga retorted.

"Well back then the lack of sleep was necessary in order to achieve a purpose for residency… Now it's for a more precious reason." Phoebe smiled, kissing her sleeping infant on the head as she rested in her stroller.

"Yeah I hear ya, I was able to actually work in a nap since Harold so graciously offered to tend to Ethan's every beck and call." Patty smiled.

"And by graciously offered, you mean he was viciously threatened by you…" Nadine smirked as she walked in with Sheena, Gloria, and Beauty.

"I didn't viciously threaten him! I just said that he was on his own in making breakfast if he didn't get up and do it!" Patty retorted.

"Same thing." All the women deadpanned in unison.

"Oh Helga! You, Phoebe, and Patty are just ever so lucky! Being a mother must be just wonderful from the moment of conception huh?!" Lila gushed.

Helga, Patty, and Phoebe gave Lila a tired look that was a cross between a scowl of annoyance at her upbeat perkiness while they on the other hand were borderline of falling face first into their coffee mugs, and amusement at her ignorant perspective of what it truly means to be a mother.

"Hmph. Well I wouldn't think it to be all that glamorous. I mean along with missing needed beauty sleep, you ladies are basically cursed with stretch marks for life, and the crow's feet eyewear does not look appealing from where I'm sitting." Rhonda retorted while filing her nails.

Nonetheless, she did not miss out on the murderous glares from all three mothers.

"Kidding! These are jokes here people!" Rhonda exclaimed.

"Oh you just wait princess, you're time's coming. I doubt Coo-Coo Curls can hold out too long for the chance to breed a spawn from you." Helga smirked, taking another gulp of needed caffeine.

"Oh please! Unlike you Hellie, I actually commit myself to stay on top of my birth control…You can never be too careful ya know?" She smirked.

Helga wasted no time in violently kicking Rhonda's perfectly tanned ankle from under the table.

"OW! What the fu** Helga?!" Rhonda screamed as she rubbed her now throbbing leg that was sure to be bruised.

"Sorry, you'll have to excuse my impulsiveness. I was just gonna' threaten to kill you, but due to my exhausted and irritated state, I'm prone to react to bit**y behavior…" Helga deadpanned with a scowl, showing no remorse.

All of a sudden, Arnold walked into the room wearing his white lab coat and a bright smile.

"Hi ladies! How's everyone doing?"

"Hey Arnold!" They greeted back.

"It's ever so nice to see you Arnold! We were just talking about how wonderful parenthood must be for you and Helga!" Lila smiled.

"Well it's never a dull moment that's for sure. How are the little kiddos by the way?" Arnold asked cheerfully as he peeked into the crib.

"Sleep. And quite frankly I'd like to keep it that way! So if you even breathe on them and wake them up, I will bring out Ol' Betsy with a vengeance." Helga scowled.

"Wouldn't dream of it, Angel." He walked over to his wife and kissed her briefly.

"What brings you here anyways Football-Head?" Helga asked.

"Yes Arnold. I was for certain you had a very important psychotherapeutic treatment to administer at this time?" Phoebe added.

"I do actually…I just, well, I was on break and thought that I'd drop by and check on Helga and the kids. You know, to see how they're doing?"

"We're fine. Like we were from the last 10 times you've checked on us when you had a break…" Helga deadpanned.

"Oh Helga be reasonable. You practically kicked the bucket recently so I can understand why he'd be a little worried!" Nadine admonished.

"More like paranoid if you ask me…" Helga thought, but resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Instead she just sighed. "Of course. I understand and I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to check up on us…For the 10th consecutive time in a row…But Darling, no need to go through the trouble. I promise that we're fine."

"Well it never hurts to check. Like I said, I'm not letting you out of my sight." He cupped her cheek softly.

All of a sudden, the twins started to cry, letting everyone in the room know that they were wide awake.

As a result, their cries triggered the other babies that were present in the room, making all the mothers groan in unison.

"Gee thanks a lot Paste for Brains! Now look what you've done!" Helga scowled.

"Me?! How's this my fault?" Arnold raised an eyebrow.

"You're the one that keeps coming back and forth! You know how they get when they hear your voice! Fix it!"

"I got it. One quick sunshine lullaby coming up!" He gave a half-lidded smile and wink as he walked over to the crib.

Helga just shook her head and smiled.

"Ugh! As I was saying, motherhood, so not glamorous!" Rhonda declared, raising her voice over the loud crying.

Helga swiftly kicked her once more.

So yeah! Like I said! We're all just reveling in the joys of parenthood. On a serious note though, despite the many dirty diaper disasters, the spit ups, gassy nightmares, and other challenges and sacrifices that occurred over time, at the end of the day, just seeing their peaceful little faces as they seep into the world of slumber, or the curious innocence evident in their eyes and in the harmonious cooing sounds they make, it only reminds me of how I cherish every moment of being a mom…And yet, at the same time, it also brings me to a vast feeling of confusion and slight envy.

Why didn't I get the same treatment?

Was I really that terrible to be deprived of the love and attention that should have been benevolently bestowed upon me as I now bestow upon my own offspring?

And two of them no less!

Although it's more of a challenge, I see no threat of competition for attention. The fact is simple, I have two children, and I love them both the same!

Clearly they have differences.

One's a boy, one's a girl.

Phil seems more ambitious and demanding.

Hal is more observant and content.

Phil has a fascination of wearing his food when trying to feed him properly.

Hal actually likes to eat her food…And then share it by covering me in it.

Phil likes to sleep in the day and keep us up all night.

Hal is known to do the opposite sometimes.

They couldn't be any more different from each other.

Does that mean I prefer one more than the other?

No.

It means I'm all the more in awe of how their characters rapidly develop in such a unique and distinct way that it only increases my love to adapt to both of them accordingly.

If that's possible for my husband and me to do…

Then why the he** couldn't Bob and Miriam do the same with Olga and me?

What's their excuse?

To be frank, I don't think they have any. They made the choice to exclude me from their hearts, so it's only fitting that I do the same and prevent their coldness from contaminating what I hold dear to mine. I'm sure that it's for the best.

It must be.

Time continued to pass, and before we knew it, the time had come to celebrate the twins' first birthday. We didn't want anything too fancy. Our friends did a good enough job of that already by all the gifts they brought that were sure to spoil Phil and Hal rotten. For some reason, little Phil was into flight. His favorite toys were airplanes and he'd point excitedly to any bird he could find in the sky. He adored being on top of daddy's shoulders or spreading his arms out wide as he swung him around in his arms. So you could imagine what he got for his birthday. As for Halenie, like I said she was more observant, but had a thing for coloring and getting into almost anything she could crawl into or on top of. Two great examples being her attempts to escape her crib to chase Abner around the house, or on top of Monty's back. She also loved to babble. It happened frequently when I recited poetry, or when Arnold would sing to them. I guess she was trying to join in the fun. Like my beloved said, it was never a dull moment with them.

We had to be constantly on the lookout for those two. I swear as they got a little older, they were inseparable. It was like they conspired to get into everything and keep us busy! Anyways, we decided to take them to the park for their birthday since it seemed to be one of their favorite places. When mentioning the idea to Miles and Stella, they looked at each other and shared a rather mischievous look before chuckling and giving us a thumbs up. I think they said something like, "Whatever you do, don't take your eyes off of them for even a second!" Weird. At least I thought it was at first…

Boy was I wrong.

"Up! Daddy up!" The excited baby birthday boy cried as he reached up with his arms.

"Okay buddy, but just one more time. Your sister wants to swing on the swings!" Arnold smiled and lifted his son up high into his arms, making the boy laugh in ecstasy. The cheerful father continued to swirl the boy around.

"What happened to 'just one more time' Football-Head? You seem to be enjoying that as much as he is!" Helga smirked.

"What can I say, he has that effect on me!" He hugged his son and put him back down, ruffling his blonde bangs and tufts that stuck outside of his birthday party hat. Suddenly, his legs were grabbed in a tight hug from behind as he heard the sound of high-pitched giggles. "Make that both of them!" He reached down and grabbed his daughter, swinging her around in the same manner as her brother.

"You know that you're only going to spoil them worse than they already are right?" Helga giggled.

"Well it is their birthday after all. And besides you're one to talk!"

Helga blinked.

"Oh don't try to play dumb. I saw all of the purchases of plush teddy bears, birds, and toy airplanes you made from the other day and how you stuffed them into the closet thinking no one would notice. I also noticed how you were up all night, trying to make the perfect cake, picking their outfits, and sewing a certain familiar pink ribbon I have come to love… " He smiled cheekily, fingering the now restored pink ribbon in his wife's hair.

She smiled at him and shrugged. "Fine. You caught me. So how 'bout it. You give your gift? I'll give mine?"

"Fair enough. I'll take Phil, you take Hal, and we'll switch over when we get home." He then put his daughter down by her brother. Both parents kneeled down to their levels and pulled out their gifts.

"Happy Birthday son, I know you're too young to understand, but this little blue hat meant a lot to me when I was your age. It brought a lot of feelings of hope, joy, and love even when things were hard. It made me think about my parents, and now I hope that whenever you wear it, you think of us as well and make your own memories." Arnold smiled, removed the party hat, and placed the little blue hat on top of his son's head.

"Wow. That was actually very poetic Football-Head! I didn't know you had it in you! I guess it's my turn now…" Helga turned to her daughter. "Well, I'm not sure I can top daddy's speech. But then again, you're too young to understand it anyways…But this little ribbon here, meant-means a lot to me. It gave me the hope that in a world that was so mean and evil, there was someone who noticed me…I had a lot of memories with this particular bow, even though mommy has so many others, this one is extra special. Not only because it was my very first ribbon, but because it helped me to start seeing the brightside of things…Now, I can only hope that when you wear it, maybe you'll learn to see the world in a brighter way too." Helga then untied the bow from her hair, removed the party hat, and tied it into her daughter's little blonde locks.

Once the parents were done giving their gifts, they watched their little ones touch the valued items in curiosity, only to laugh and run off to the nearby swings on the playground.

"Yeah, I don't think they understood a word we said…" Helga deadpanned.

"They will someday." Arnold wrapped his arm around his wife, kissing her cheek.

Once the parents gave into their kids' demands to push them on the swings, followed by other activities on the playground, they were exhausted and sat on their picnic blanket located on top of a grassy hill, watching them from afar. Once the whole family gathered together to eat, they enjoyed a nice lunch and relaxed under the shade of a giant tree, eventually all falling asleep. But while Arnold and Helga slept peacefully, heads resting softly on top of each other, the twins yawned as they woke up from their little nap, fully energized and ready to play.

With or without mommy and daddy's supervision.

Helga cracked an eye open out of habit to check on the children, only to find them absent.

She was wide awake at that point.

"Arnold?! ARNOLD! GET UP!" She demanded as she jumped up from her spot, making her husband lose his balance and groan.

"What is it?" He yawned.

"They're gone! The twins are gone!" She continued to look around frantically as her eyes darted left and right.

"What?!" Arnold exclaimed, now fully awake and also looking around frantically. "Th-they were just here! Where could they have gone?!"

"The he** if I know?! You're the one that fell asleep first! Why didn't you watch them?!" His wife accused.

"Why didn't I watch them?! You fell asleep too! We were both-ugh. Never mind. Forget it. We need to calm down and think this through. They couldn't have gone too far." Arnold reasoned.

"Yeah, that's what you said last week when they snuck away during a diaper change! You turned around to grab a clean diaper and they somehow ended up under our bed, trying to yank on Abner's tail!" She scowled. "Criminy! I don't believe this! Where could they be?!"

Arnold ran a hand through his hair, huffing in frustration and slight panic, until suddenly he thought about something. He called it a hunch, and an impossible irony, until he looked over at the playground. His eyes then widened in horror at the realization.

"The slide…"

"What?" She raised an eyebrow about to snap, but her husband wasted no time in running to the playground. Once she looked over to the slide section, her eyes widened as she sprinted after him.

"PHIL!" The parents exclaimed in unison. "It's okay! D-don't move Sweetheart! We're coming! Arnold take the base of the slide in case he slips!" Helga exclaimed as she ran around to climb the ladder that would elevate her up to the top of the slide. Her husband positioned himself at the end of the slide, waiting anxiously.

"Criminy! How did you even get up here anyways?!" Helga grunted as she cursed herself for wearing a sundress that obviously did not make the task easier.

"Yay slide! Slide! Mommy slide!" Phil laughed, clapping his hands as he sat at the top of the slide, prepared for takeoff.

"Just stay right there Sweetie! Don't move! I'm almost there!" She cried, as she saw him start to slip a little. Before he could slide off completely, going backwards, his mother dived for him, making them both lose their balance and slide down the slide. Phil laughed in pure excitement as he slid backwards in his mother's arms while she slid forwards, belly style, eventually colliding with the football headed man that waited with anticipation at the base of the slide.

The parents groaned at the sudden painful impact from the collision while their son clapped his hands in triumph.

"Again! Again!" The boy exclaimed. Before he could run off for an encore, his mother grabbed him in her arms. "No! Not again! Running off bad! Very bad!" She scolded. Before his pout turned into tears, the mother's eyes widened once more. "Wait! Where's Halie?! Philie where's your sister?!"

"Sister ducky!" Phil exclaimed happily.

"Ducky?" the parents asked in confusion.

"Sister ducky! Quack, quack!" Phil giggled and pointed over to the lake nearby.

As if Arnold and Helga weren't terrified before, now they nearly had heart attacks as they saw their youngest baby waddle over to the edge of the dock, fully intent on petting the nearby duck that quacked in the water.

"HALENIE!" the parents shouted. Once again Arnold wasted no time in sprinting off full speed to the lake.

"Ducky! Ducky go quack, quack!" Halenie cooed as she waddled closer to the edge.

"NO! HALIE!" Helga cried as she ran after her husband, once she secured Phil in his stroller.

"Hal want ducky! Here ducky! Quack, quack!" Halenie reached a hand out to the nearby duck. She started to whimper however as she felt her balance shift.

"Gotcha!" Arnold cried, as he grabbed his daughter by the waist and hoisted her up in his arms, ignoring her excited giggles at the sight of her beloved father.

He hugged her tightly to his chest. "Oh my-don't…don't you ever scare me like that again!" Arnold whispered as he gasped for breath from his nonstop full speed dash.

"HALENIE!" Helga ran up to her husband who was still standing on the edge of the dock. Once she saw their daughter safe in his arms, she swiftly grabbed her from his hold and desperately kissed the baby all over her face; not realizing that the sudden action of movement made her husband lose his footing as he flailed for stability but fell off the edge.

"Oh my darling! Are you alright? You and your brother had mommy so scared! Don't do that!" Helga hugged her daughter. "You're so lucky daddy was there and-"She paused, looking back and forth.

"Huh, where did daddy go?" She wondered aloud.

"Ducky! Daddy ducky!" Phil and Hal exclaimed in unison as they pointed to the lake.

"Criminy Football-Head! You sure picked a great time for a swim!" She scowled.

Her husband was not amused and gave his signature look of annoyance as the duck swam past him.

The couple decided to call it a day and finish up the celebration at the boarding house, where an amused Miles and Stella stared at the family in the doorway.

"Grammie! Grampa! Gweat Grammie! Gweat Grampa!" The twins cried with excitement as they reached out for their grandparents and great grandparents.

"Hey! Look who's here! The birthday twinkies!" the great-grandpa, Phil smiled as he lifted both of them into his arms, handing the baby girl to his wife, who was currently dressed like a cowgirl.

"Yee-haw! Saddle-em' up partner! We've got double the trouble!" The twin babies squealed in ecstasy as they held on tight to their great grandparents who wasted no time in whisking them away into another room, leaving Miles and Stella and their son and daughter-in-law in the doorway.

"So, it looks like you two had an eventful day!" Miles smiled, holding in his many chuckles.

Arnold and Helga blinked tiredly in response. To put it bluntly, they looked like something a cat from hell dragged in kicking and screaming. Helga had a visible bruise on her forehead, her lovely sundress and hair wrinkled and covered in mud and grass stains. Her husband, on the other hand, was soaked to the bone while slightly shivering and sneezing occasionally.

"Let me guess, you took your eyes off of them for one second, and all hell broke loose?" Stella folded her arms with a smirk.

"You could say that…" They both deadpanned.

So in the end, it was a pretty exciting day. Our friends showed up for the party and Phoebe, Gerald, Patty, and Harold graciously brought their little ones along for the fun. Turns out, the twins found a new fascination for birthday cake, both for eating and for wearing…Yeah, bath time was a blast. But while all of my beloved angels settled down from all the wonder and excitement, I laid awake with my heart still pounding from all the close calls that happened.

It's funny. I always thought that overly protective mothers that reacted to the slightest mishap with their children, whether it was a scolding from not wearing a jacket in the cold, or constant nagging to eat vegetables, were nothing more than overly dramatic ninnies that needed to give their kids a break. But I guess everything changes, when you're the one playing the role…

To be frank, I had never been more scared in my life.

And as you know, I don't scare easily.

Helga rose up quietly out of her bed, attempting to not wake up her husband, and walked over to the crib. She swooned lovingly at the sight of her sleeping children cuddled closely to each other, one holding a plushy duck, while the other held a toy airplane.

"You little Bucko's are quite the handful…Congrats. You two accomplished something that no one else ever could…You scared the he** out of me today. I can't even fathom what I would do if I lost any of you…You both are my heart and soul. Don't worry…Mommy will never leave you by yourselves again…I promise."

She whispered as softly stoked her son's blonde tufts, and fingered the faded pink colored bow in her daughter's hair.

What could happen next? I can only wonder…