A/N: OH MY GOSH EVERYONE! Feel free to beat me over the head with a stick in flames, because man! I am late! I know that I said my deadline for updates would be every Tuesday and Wednesday or every other Tuesday or Wednesday, but guys you touched me with all of the reviews from my last chapter, that I wanted to update even sooner than what I said! But due to the wonders of school and work, I never got that chance! Writing a 2,000 word paper essay on my nutrition kind of makes you get a severe case of writer's block…And I didn't want to send an Author's note of "I'm still working on it" because as a faithful reader of FF, I feel that the consideration is thoughtful, but disappointing, since authors notes are listed as chapters and can trick you into thinking it's an update in a story, but isn't. So I don't do that. But no worries! I got myself together! So I hope this makes up for the wait! Thank you all so much for the reviews and for taking the time out to read this story! It means more to me than ya'll will ever know!
Once Arnold and Helga entered their room, they gave each other's hands one last squeeze before they broke apart and looked away uncomfortably. The silence was almost annoying, yet kept them in their ego safety zones until they couldn't take it anymore.
"Arnold I-"
"Helga I-"
They both chuckled sheepishly. "You first." Arnold offered.
"I guess…I want to say I'm sorry. You were right I should have been more empathetic. Like I said, I can't imagine what you went through that night and frankly I don't want to because I can't stomach the thought of losing you…Truth be told, I actually admire your strength; the way you hung in there when all odds were against me just adds on to the reasons of why I love you."
"It wasn't easy…But thank you, and I love you too Helga. And…I'm sorry I was so overbearing. Despite it all, it's still no excuse to hound you down. You're right, I need to get a grip and just be thankful that you made it through and that we're all together. And now that I think of it, I guess I did overdue it with all the text messages…" He chuckled sheepishly.
"You think?" She deadpanned as she showed him her phone that had multiple warning alerts to remove text messages before receiving incoming messages.
"I promise to lighten up this time. I swear." He held his hand up in a solemn promise for emphasis.
"Good. Well okay then! Great chit chat! But we best better get you packing for the big trip." Helga smiled as she walked over to their closet to retrieve a huge suitcase, but her husband suddenly put his hand on top of hers before she could unzip it.
"I'm sorry Helga, but my decision still stands. I'm not going. I can't go…"
She sighed in response, shaking her head.
"Look…I just don't get it. Why don't you want to go? I thought this Elder guy was important to you."
"He was important to me! He was like family!" He replied.
"Then why don't you want to go and pay your respects?"
"Because…I-I just have something more important to do…"
"But we just agreed that you would no longer latch on to me and the kids with unnecessary worry!" She stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
"It's not that…It's just…I have my reasons okay?" Arnold turned away, realizing that tension was building up again.
"And what reasons are that Arnold? Huh?! What could possibly be such a big deal that you don't want to go and honor a person that's done so much for you in the short span of your life, while also in the process, crush the hopes of an entire civilization that practically worships you?! What's your excuse?"
"BECAUSE I'M SCARED!" Arnold raised his voice.
Helga dropped the accusatory tone for a moment, as she looked at her husband in shock and confusion.
"Scared? Scared of what?"
"I'm-I'm scared of being away from you and the kids…Not because of the earlier reasons we discussed, but because I don't want to leave you and them…like I was left once before years ago…" He replied softly.
"Arnold…"
"If you could understand how painful it was…at such a young age…There was so much I didn't understand…So much that I didn't know…All I knew was that mom and dad left and when they were supposed to come back, they didn't…And I was alone."
Helga wasted no time in gathering her husband into her arms, burying her head in his chest.
"I'm so sorry Arnold…I should have realized-"She breathed.
"It's not your fault." He replied, his voice sounding just above a whisper as he mentally pushed down the painful memories of his past. "But…now you can understand, why I can't go?"
Helga nodded. "I do..." She looked down for a moment before sighing, then met his green eyes once more. "But, I also think that you should be all the more motivated to go."
"What?!" He stared at her in disbelief.
"If you let fear hold you back and control your decisions in order to be safe, you're going to miss out on what's most important. I know by experience…Had I not let my fear control my life and been such a coward, we could have been the closest of friends back then…He** maybe even more; who knows."
"But you were one of my closest friends Helga! Okay, more of a frienemy, but it all worked out. We did end up together." He put his nose to hers in a soft Eskimo kiss. "You can't be focused on the past."
"Look who's talking." She replied seriously, looking straight dead into his eyes.
"That's different Helga." He replied sternly.
"No it's not! You said it yourself! We can't let the past control us, and that's what you're doing. I know that what happened back then hurt you beyond words…trust me, I know all about family isolation and abandonment. It's not a fun feeling." She replied with bitterness.
"Helga-"
"But you know what's different? At least your parents loved you. They would have come back in an instant if they weren't hindered. You just didn't know that back then and uncertainty kept that pain alive…But so did your hopefulness; believing that somehow, some way they would return to you, and they did. And you will return as well."
Arnold stared at her in silence and uncertainty.
"You need to do this My Love…I haven't met the man, but I know that this Elder guy served a significant purpose in your life and meant a lot to you. If you don't take that chance to say goodbye and allow for closure…You're gonna' be stuck with a sense of incompleteness that will haunt you; not to mention, you'll let an entire civilization down; a civilization that believes in you for a good reason, and had their lives impacted by both of you. They're counting on you. It'd be dishonorable if you don't go! He**, I'd want to kick you're a** for showing such disrespect if I were them!"
"Gee, thanks. You really know how to motivate someone dear." He deadpanned.
"Meh, well the whole motivational speaker sh** is more so your forte than mine. But that doesn't mean I wasn't being completely serious…especially about the a** kicking." She smirked playfully.
He shook his head, then sighed. "I suppose you're right. This is my only chance for closure and as much as I hated what happened to me back then, I can't let that control me…I was never really abandoned when it came down to it. I know mom and dad wanted to come back to me as much as I wanted them back…And I'm not them. I know that no matter what, I'm not going to let what happened to them happen to me...You're right…I have to go."
"Well doi! Of course I'm right Football-Head." She folded her arms. "So you better get packin'. We'll let Miles and Stella know about your decision in the morning."
"You really want me gone huh?" He replied with the intention of being playful, but his facial features displayed the seriousness and slight hurt.
Helga blinked at him in disbelief until her husband suddenly gasped at the feeling of his wife's body crushed desperately onto his own.
"Are you kidding me?! It's only going to be a week, but having you leave me for even a day is going to destroy me." She whispered, clinging onto him for dear life.
"But, I thought you said-"
"I say a lot of things Arnoldo…And yes your issues with personal space was annoying as he**, but that doesn't mean I don't want you around, doi! Criminy you're a moron!" She breathed as she tightened the embrace.
"So…you are going to miss me then?" He replied, rubbing his hands over her arms comfortingly. It was more of a statement than a question.
His wife nodded as she relished the feel of his touch.
"How much?" He whispered against her lips in a husky whisper.
"Oh fu** it!" She growled and crushed her lips against his in a turmoil of emotions. He reciprocated her passion as he pushed her up against the nearest wall, deepening the kiss. One she started working on his neck, he wasted no time in lifting her up in his arms as they made their way to the bed, making sure to keep up the winning score as their tongues battled for dominance. To retaliate, Helga growled into his mouth and gave a powerful push to his chest, sending them both on top of the covers. They both groaned in pleasure as they gave into the sexual tension, knowing that this was not going to be an average, everyday makeup sex session.
No, this was going to mean so much more for the both of them…
A few hours and rounds later, the couple nestled peacefully in each other's warmth. Well, at least Helga was sleeping peacefully. Her husband on the other hand, was tossing and turning while mumbling in distress.
"No…Mom…Dad…"
Dream Sequence
The hallway stretched far and long into nowhere as the tiny football headed baby was found crawling on the cold, hard floors all alone and in distress.
"Mommy? Daddy?"
He would not be hindered by the weird shapes in the darkness as he searched desperately for his beloved mother and father who he waved goodbye to not too long ago. Mere days of their absence seemed to go on and on into an eternity as he continued to search left and right for his missing loved ones. It was almost like he could hear their voices…
"Arnold…"
"Arnold…"
"Mommy?! Daddy?! Mommy! Daddy!" His cries got louder and his voice stronger as the scenery changed. Suddenly, the baby boy passed by a mirror and saw his reflection. The one year old baby was now a 9 year old child who got up from his crawling position and started walking through the hallway.
"We'll never let you out of our sight again…"
"Mom? Dad?"
"We won't be gone long I promise..."
"Mom?! Dad?!"
The 9 year old started walking faster, looking left and right as he kept searching.
"We'll be back next week little buddy…"
"Where are you?!"
He broke into a run as he sprinted down the hallways at a faster pace.
"Mommy loves you so much…"
"Mom?! Where did you go?!"
"Daddy loves you Arnold…"
"Dad?! Please! Where are you guys?!"
"Arnold…"
"Arnold…"
He continued to run wildly until he tripped and fell harshly to the floor. Ignoring his scraped knees, he pounded one of his fists in frustration as tears filled his eyes.
"No! Please! You promised you'd be back! Why did you leave me?! Why didn't you come back to me?!"
"But we did come back Arnold…"
The boy felt a soft hand gently caress his face, and looked up to see his mother smiling.
"That's right...we're here now Arnold. Don't cry." His dad replied softly as they both helped their son up to his feet.
"Mom…Dad…" The boy breathed as he hugged his parents tightly; they reciprocated the embrace.
"Even though we had to go, it was never our intention to leave you alone Arnold." Miles said softly.
"Having you feel that loneliness like we abandoned you was the last thing we ever wanted, and still so deeply regret to this day…But we swore that no matter what we'd find our way back to you." Stella added, rubbing her son's back.
"And we did! With your help! You always believed that we would return someday son. That hope kept you going back then, so don't stop believing now, because we know that you'll do the same." Miles finished.
Arnold smiled and nodded, not realizing that he reverted back into his adult form. "Thanks mom. Thanks dad."
The scenery changed once more as the now grown football headed man turned to see his reflection in the mirror, a look of determination gracing his features as he heard his wife and daughter's voices faint in the background.
"If you let fear hold you back and control your decisions in order to be safe, you're going to miss out on what's most important…"
"Daddy go bye-bye…Daddy come back!"
"You're right everyone. Even though this is something I have to do, I will be back. I can't let my past define me. Things will be different this time."
"Oh will they?" An eerie yet slightly demonic whisper sneered.
Before he could turn to the disturbance, Arnold looked ahead to see the long familiar hallway with the football headed baby crawling on the floor desperately once more.
Only there were two of them this time.
A boy and a girl.
"Daddy?" The girl called out.
"Daddy? Where daddy?" The boy joined her.
"Philie? Halie?" He whispered as his eyes grew wide at the sight of his two children.
"Daddy? Where you daddy?!" Phil cried out.
"Daddy? Daddy?!" His sister joined him as they looked left and right for their father.
"Philie! Halie!" Arnold called out and tried to make his way to them, but found that he couldn't move.
"What the-?!"
"Daddy?!"
"Daddy?! Daddy?! The twins' cries grew frantically and mixed in unison as tears poured down their faces.
"NO! Don't cry! Daddy's here! I'm here Phil and Hal! I'M HERE!" Arnold shouted desperately, hating the familiar sense of despair and hopelessness that were evident in his children's voices. But to no avail, they could not hear their father, nor could Arnold break out of his sudden paralysis state.
"Daddy come back!" Phil cried loudly.
"Daddy!" Hal joined.
"We want daddy!" They cried in unison.
"I'M HERE! DADDY'S HERE! I WON'T LEAVE YOU! I WON'T! I PROMISE! I'M RIGHT HERE! PLEASE DON'T CRY! PHILIP! HALENIE!" Arnold shouted, tears filling his eyes. He continued to grunt, curse, and struggle as he suddenly felt his body being pulled away from the scene and into the darkness…
"PHILIIIIP! HALENIEEEE!"
End Dream Sequence
Arnold shot up in a cold sweat, trying to catch his breath after waking up from his nightmare. He sighed once he realized he was back into reality, but knew that he wasn't going back to dream land anytime soon. Not wanting to wake his wife as she snored away, he rose out of the bed, grabbed his discarded robe and underwear and headed into the bathroom to take a long shower, making sure to replace the loss of warmth of his body with the comforter as he tucked the blanket around his wife's form snuggly. Once he finished his shower, he quickly made it to the twins' rooms. He sighed in relief as the sight of his sleeping children calmed his nerves and brought him a much needed comfort. He softly sang the "Sunshine song" when he saw his daughter twitch.
"Things will be different this time. I promise." He whispered and kissed both of their heads.
He remained in their room for the rest of the night.
I woke up the next morning feeling rather cold. I couldn't fathom why since I was feeling pretty hot last night, in more ways than one, but then I got my answer as I turned to see that my love was not present. I donned on my robe and found him sleeping in a nearby rocking chair close to the crib in the twins' room. My heart melted at the sight. I am truly the luckiest woman in the world….And then it hit me, I won't be seeing this beautiful scene for long once he leaves. Criminy, one moment I'm all in for getting him out of my hair, the next, I long to breathe in his hair like I used to…I never did figure out that da** shampoo! But I'm getting off subject…The point is, I'm going to miss him even more than I realize.
The day went on and we informed Miles and Stella about Arnold's decision. The next thing we know, days turned into weeks and after having a little farewell get together with family and friends, the day finally arrived for my beloved to depart on his journey.
"Everything's all set. The village has prepared all of the necessary accommodations and the plane will be waiting at the airport once the taxi drops you off." Miles stated.
"Are you sure you want to do this Honey?" Stella asked once more.
"Please don't give him second thoughts mom! It took me forever to get him to agree and stop being such a wuss about it!" Helga rolled her eyes playfully.
Arnold chuckled, putting another suitcase into the car.
"Don't worry Helga, my mind's made up this time. Everything's going to be fine. Besides if there's anything you can be sure of, it's that I'll always make my way back to you. I've been doing such a great job of that lately huh?" He teased.
"Oh yeah. The best! You need a fu**ing medal for best invader of my personal time and space!" She smirked and pecked his lips.
"There's one thing we should mention though. The ceremony is going to be held in a special location within the hidden city. Since that's the most sacred area of the Green Eyes, communication to the outside world isn't going to be easy. In fact, you might as well just say it' near impossible since the only way to reach the outside world is by sending letters." Miles explained.
"But the good news is that they agreed to keep the ceremony brief. Once it's over, you'll be staying within a more modern and business part of the town where you can have outside contact as much as you'd like!" Stella chirped in.
"Well then, it's a good thing that I'm a trusting gal. I take it I won't have to worry about you having any secret affairs with any Jungle Bimbo Bit**es while you're away?" Helga questioned sweetly, her threat sounding clear in her voice.
"After last night? Never My Love…" Arnold whispered huskily in her ear, taking her earlobe between his teeth, making her shudder, giggle, and grab his face to eagerly meet his lips with hers.
"Aww, I'm so glad to see that you both made up again!" Stella smiled.
"Yeah that's great! But I'd be careful Helga, I'm pretty sure such a position is what got you in a certain situation. You two keep going at it like that and at this rate, you might have another set of twins!" Miles joked.
Helga quickly got off her husband and pulled her slightly ridden skirt back down to its knee length level and punched her husband on the shoulder.
"Do I even want to know what that was for?" Arnold asked, amused.
"No." She scowled.
A honking sounded from the taxi.
"Well that's my cue. I guess I better get going then…" Arnold stated in a somber tone.
"Keep in touch son." Miles said as he came to hug his son.
"Be safe, we love you." Stella added as she joined in the embrace.
"I will, I love you both so much. Take care of Grandma and Grandpa." Arnold hugged them back.
"Psh, take care of me?! I don't need any babysitter! Heck I'm the one that rules over all of ya'!" Phil joked as he walked up behind his grandson.
"Grandpa!" Arnold exclaimed and rushed to hug him. "You came to see me off?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world, Shortman!" His grandfather gave him a hearty pat on the back.
"Here comes the bride, all dressed in white…" Gertie sang as she played on the piano that just so happened to be in the back of a moving pickup truck.
"Pookie! First of all, that's the wedding march for a bride! He's going away on a trip! And second, HOW IN THE BLAZES DID YOU HITCH A RIDE IN THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK WITH A PIANO?!" Phil shouted.
"THAT'S WHAT I'M WONDERIN'! DO ME A FAVOR AND GET THIS CRAZY BROAD WILL YA'?!" The driver shouted back desperately.
"KEEP YOUR TROUSERS ON BUDDY, I'LL GET HER DOWN!" Phil snapped.
The rest of the family blinked at the strange occurrence, until Arnold turned back to his parents.
"Like I said…take care of Grandma and Grandpa…please!" He stressed once more.
"They're in good hands don't worry." Stella reassured. Miles nodded until he saw his dad trying to pick his wife up bridal style.
"Dad! Be careful! You only have one hip!" Miles called out and rushed to the stranger's truck to help his father.
Stella's eyes widened as she gasped. "Miles! Watch out for that moving-"
"OUCH!"
"Piano…" Stella deadpanned. "I better help them before they all end up staying overnight in Emergency Room…again…" She kissed her son's forehead and left him and his wife at the stoop.
Arnold turned to his wife. "I guess this is it then…No kiss goodbye?" He pouted playfully.
"I would, but then we'd be giving quite an inappropriate show on the stoop…And then your taxi's prolonging fees will skyrocket worse than it already is…" She replied sweetly, but kissed him anyway.
Once they broke the kiss, they heard the car honk once more.
"I should get going now...I'm going to miss you so much." Arnold whispered against her lips.
"I'll miss you too. But it won't be long right? I mean a little separation never hurts anyone. In fact…it's been said that absence makes the heart grow fonder…" She whispered seductively.
"Mm…I'm gonna' hold you to prove that statement true when I get back Pataki..." He growled playfully.
"Promise." She kissed him one last time. "Now get going already Football-Head."
"Alright, I promise to keep in touch." Arnold stated and adjusted his shoulder bag. "I wish the kids were awake...I already said my goodbyes and gave plenty of hugs and kisses, but still…Oh well, goodbye my Love. Take care of the-"
"DADDY!"
"Oh! Spoke too soon!" Arnold laughed as he lifted the twins into his arms, swirling them around in circles as soon as they ran up to him.
Another long honk was heard.
"ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! HE'S COMIN' KEEP YOUR SKIRT ON BUCKO!" Helga scowled, but then sweetly cooed at her children as she took them from her husband's arms.
"Ok kiddos, daddy's got to go bye-bye now."
"Aww!" They cried in unison. Arnold laughed softly.
"Don't worry! Daddy will be back in no time! And when I come back, I'll take you both to the par-"
Helga quickly shook her head.
"-Uh…I mean, daddy will take you someplace fun! And safe! For all of us! So be good for everyone and take care of mommy okay?"
"KAY!" The twins replied in unison.
"Daddy loves you both so much!" Arnold kissed both of their foreheads, then gave a final lingering peck on his wife's lips. Once he pulled back, he opened the car door, only to hear his wife calling out to him.
"Hey Arnold! One more thing! Before you go, the twins want to say something!"
Arnold turned around to see his children waving happily at him from their mother's embrace. What happened next was something he didn't expect.
"Bye daddy! We wuv you!" They both said in unison.
"Bye mommy, bye daddy…"
Arnold gasped and froze in place, missing his wife's cheerful tone.
"I know! Neat huh?! I've been trying to get them to say a full sentence for the longest time! Phoebe said I should just start reading the dictionary to them every night like she does with Jodi, but Criminy, there's no way in he** that I'd even stay up long enough to get past the index! But we've been working on it all week as a surprise! Did we surprise you?"
Arnold stared, still in a daze.
"Football Head?! Hello?! Earth to Arnoldo! Snap out of it already!"
Arnold shook himself out of his trance.
"H-huh?"
"Did you like their little performance or not?!"
"Y-yes! Of course! I-I loved it! Daddy loved it Philie and Halie! Great job! I'm so proud of you!" He managed to wave.
The kids waved back and giggled.
The car honked once more.
"Look buddy, I get that you're saying goodbye to your family and it's real sweet and all, but I got places to be!" The driver grumbled.
"Y-yes of course. I apologize." Arnold replied. With one final wave to his family, and pushing down the urge to abandon the car and run back into the house, he entered the car. And they drove off.
And that was it. Just like that, my beloved was gone just like I wanted once before…It's funny how you could want something to happen, only to completely change your mind once you get what you were asking for…But it's too late now…Oh well, it can't all be a bad thing. It's just going to take some getting used to that's all. I truly believe in the principle of absence and how it not only makes the heart grow fonder, but also the concepts of thankfulness and appreciation. You never know what you have until it's gone. That being said, when what you had returns to you once more, you find new things to cherish. I know without a doubt in my mind that this is exactly the case from this time of separation for us. Maybe this won't be so bad after all. I mean all things considered, we made things right between us, in more ways than one, the twins are okay, and he's learned to lighten up a bit! Maybe this short time apart to breathe and get ourselves together is just what we need.
All of a sudden, not even 5 minutes in to be exact, Helga's cell phone rang. She sighed, chuckled, and shook her head once she viewed the caller ID.
"Hello my Love, how are you? Yes I miss you already too…What's that? You called to let me know that you just made it to the first traffic light? Joy…"
Yep...Just what we need…