Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters. Hey Arnold is the property of Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett.

The First Year

The first breakfast

It's the day after returning from the honeymoon and Helga prepares her first breakfast with Arnold.

Mid-June

Morning

In the city of Hillwood, the sun has just risen. It was early and most people were still asleep with the exception of a few early birds that is. In a nice, two bedroom apartment on the west side of town, a young woman has just woken up and had taken her early cup of coffee to snap her back awake. This woman was blonde and in her early twenties and had just finished getting ready for her day, since she had a special objective for this morning.

"Alright Mrs. Shortman, time to make Mr. Shortman's day...'The blonde woman said as she tied her hair back in a ponytail and put on her pink apron.

This woman was a certain Helga G. Shortman, who just about a week ago had traded her maiden name Pataki and married the love of her life Arnold Shortman. The wedding was everything that she has ever dreamed and the honeymoon in Paris was beyond marvelous. But the honeymoon ended yesterday when they returned home as man and wife and Arnold's spacious apartment was now her new home.

And she loved every inch of it!

"Hmmm...hmm..." She was humming as she gathered some things in the kitchen.

She certainly grew up and didn't look like the awkward time boy she once was. Her hair was longer and she regularly had it in a ponytail or let it flow freely down her back. She was tall, slender and her features softed quite nicely, making her look rather lovely.

Though Arnold thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world, one he was proud to call his wife.

"Okay, eggs...Cheese...Pan cake mix...am I missing something...Oh yeah...milk...'Helga said to herself as she gathered the ingredients she would need for this morning.

This was the first morning officially living here and Helga wanted to do something special for her beloved husband, so she was planning to surprise him with a big breakfast. It was a little...traditional to say the leave but she really wanted to do it.

"Now let's see..." Helga started reading a certain cook book, with certain special recipe's she had planned for today.

She was going to make him breakfast...The FIRST breakfast as a married couple. She knew it was a little silly but she really wanted to give him something special for today and she was going to.

"Crack two eggs, whisk delicately...'Helga said as she followed the cook book.

She had decided to make their first breakfast pretty big, planning on making him some omelet's, bacon, pancakes, oatmeal and whatever else he would want.

She was no stranger to cooking, since she had to learn that skill since High school in order to get some kind of decent meal while her mother was still practically useless then. At least now she was somber, so that had to mean something. Anyway, she knew how to cook and in her own opinion, she was pretty darn good at it, she even sometimes cooked for Arnold before this and he always seemed to like it and she knew he meant it when he said he liked it, since he was a terrible liar.

She might have made dinner for him a few times and maybe even a cake for his birthday but she never cooked breakfast before...especially as his wife!

"I am a wife...I'm Arnold's wife! No matter how many times I say or think of it, I shall never tire of the fact that at long last, I and my beloved are finally man and wife! Ah~..."Helga gushed internally and even grinned silly.

Don't be confused, she wasn't suddenly a froo froo girly chef like her sister was and she wasn't a typical housewife since she was an up and coming author for Wright and Tate publishing and was planning to run for a spot in the city council this year as well. She was doing this because...she loved him.

"Okay, it's about 6:15...And I had Arnold's alarm clock set to 6:50...Thank heavens he sleeps like a log...'Helga thought with a smile as she started to pour the eggs into the frying pan and watched it become solid and color, she then added the other ingredients and soon the omelet was ready.

Now on to the bacon...Turkey bacon that is, since it was Arnold's favorite.

"Okay...Omelet's ready and it will take the bacon a while, I might as well get started on the pancakes..."Helga said as she began to mix the ingredient together.

After that she was going to add him his favorite kind of coffee and maybe some fruit salad to go along with the breakfast...

She just hoped she would have it all ready before he woke up.

A little later

In the master Bedroom

A certain sleeping Arnold Shortman was in a blissful slumber, a peaceful expression on his oblong face. However, suddenly his alarm clock went off. It was a standard one, not like the potato alarm clock he created as a kid. He stirred awake and yawned, before a grin formed on his face.

"Good morning Mrs. Shortman...'Arnold turned to the left side of his bed, expecting to see his beautiful new wife there, so he could kiss her good morning.

To his surprise, she wasn't there, which was very odd given how much they have celebrated last night.

"Helga?..." Arnold asked as he looked around.

"Over here handsome..."A flirtatious voice called.

Arnold turned to see her, already fully dressed, though she had a wide grin as well, the kind she got when she had a secret.

"What's with that face?..." Arnold asked as he was grinning.

"What face?..." Helga asked coyly.

"That one...You're smiling widely and your up early..."Arnold pointed out.

During their honeymoon in Paris, Helga obviously enjoyed sleeping in and he did as well, since they spent most of the day sightseeing and enjoying the wonders of the city of love and then falling to bed in each other's arms.

"Maybe I'm just a little happy...being married to the best husband on earth...'Helga said as she went to him.

"Hmm...I guess that's a good reason to be happy...a better one would be being married to the best wife on earth..."Arnold said in a similar tone.

"Oh Arnold~..."Helga said in an enamored tone, as she kissed him, which he quickly reciprocated.

After quite a while, they finally parted, both with dreamy looks on each others faces.

"Our first official morning kiss in this home..."Helga said blissfully.

"Yeah...The first of many..."Arnold said, making her smile at that. They shared another kiss, before Arnold got out of bed.

"Seriously though, what made you get up early?...'Arnold asked out of curiosity.

"I got a little surprise for you..."Helga said with a teasing look on her face.

"You're not pregnant are you?..."He asked as a joke.

"No...Not yet at least...My surprise is a little smaller than that but I think you'll like it..."She said playfully.

"If it's from you...I'm sure I'll love it...'Arnold said as he kissed her on the cheek.

'Well come on Football Head..." Helga teased and Arnold shook his head at that.

Married, having been in a relationship for a good many years and being the sweetest, most devoted, loving, beautiful woman a man could ask for, Helga still had the spunkiness she always had and no matter how many years would pass, Arnold could see them as two old, graying senior citizens, still living together and she would still call him that nickname.

He was actually looking forward to that.

"Mr. Shortman..."Helga said in a more playful tone.

"Coming Mrs. Shortman...'Arnold said as he followed her to see what was the big surprise she had planned.

He had a good feeling about it to be honest.

Arnold and Helga soon arrived to the dining room and Arnold was surprised by what he was seeing. The table was covered with a bunch of food that smelled divinely. He saw omelet's, bacon, pancakes, oatmeal, waffles and so much more. It was like a mini breakfast buffet. There was even a vase with a nice flower in it as the finishing touch.

"Surprise darling...'Helga said in a chipper way.

"Wow Helga, you really went all out for breakfast..."Arnold said in an awe tone.

"Of course, it is our first one together in our new home..."Helga said.

"Well it looks delicious...'Arnold said as he took a seat, with Helga sitting across from him.

"But before that, let's make a toast..."Arnold said as he playfully picked up his coffee mug, which Helga imitated.

"To married life...'Helga suggested.

"Let every day be as good as the last one..."Arnold said.

'Amen..."Helga said as they carefully clinked their mugs.

Soon they began to eat the breakfast and Helga often glanced at her husband, and saw that he was genuinely enjoying the meal she prepared for it. That made her feel some pride, since despite viewing herself as a working girl, she could still please her man even in small ways. She and Arnold soon enjoyed the breakfast she made with every bit of love she had for him. She watched how he leisurely ate it, a satisfied look on his face for each bite and it made her feel so happy when he was done and a dressed her.

"Delicious...thank you dear..." Arnold said as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"It was my pleasure darling..." Helga said as felt she swooned a bit.

She wasn't even sure if he realized what he did to her heart whenever he called her "dear". It made her feel like she was the luckiest woman who ever walked the face of the earth.

Arnold sent her an enamored look, one she returned. He really wondered what he did to get a girl like her as his wife.

"How did this happen?..." Arnold said.

"Pardon. .."Helga asked in a confused tone of voice.

"Here I am, living in a nice apartment, working a great job at Hillwood University and I am married to the most beautiful, intelligent, creative woman in the world who can not only write beautiful poetry but can cook too...How did that happen?..." Arnold said with a flirtatious tone.

"Because this woman has been crazy in love with you forever and was lucky enough when you finally came around..."Helga said as she placed her hand on top of his.

"I think I'm the lucky one...I have a great wife, a great job and a great place...what more could a man possibly want?..." Arnold said as he squeezed her hand a little tighter.

"Oh please, I'm the lucky one...Being married to the most handsome anthropologist ever who actually likes my cooking and me..." Helga said giggling.

"Of course...and the fact that you love me makes it even better..."Arnold said as he playfully used his fingers as a "walking man", all up her arm as his wife continued to giggled at his antics.

"Oh Arnold..." Helga said with a sigh as he put his arms around her.

"Oh Helga..."Arnold said as he gazed into her eyes.

He sometimes still couldn't believe that she was his wife and he would get to be with her everyday for the rest of his life, eating her meals, kissing her, living in this nice apartment and hopefully soon trading up for a nice house, with a couple of kids someday.

He was really looking forward to that day.

"I love you. .."He said to her.

"And I love you..."Helga said before kissing.

"I think today's breakfast was a smashing success. .."Helga said once their lips were separated.

"Yeah...the first of many..."Arnold said with a chuckle.

"You got that right, Football head. .."Helga said with a giggle.

The newlyweds kissed once more, the rest of the breakfast was forgotten in favor for their spouse. They both were in complete bliss, having a delicious love filled breakfast and a glorious morning together was a tremendous way to start your day.

And they knew more mornings like this were to come, and they could hardly wait.

-To be continued-

Next time on The First Year

The In Laws part 1

REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewers:

Guest(1): I'll think about it.

Guest(2): Sorry but this is a K+ story.

Guest(3) and Invader Johnny: Congratulations, since In-laws is coming up next!

Guest(4): First in-laws.

Guest(5): Glad to know.

Yali Page: Thanks.

AmethystFlare3: Thank you.

:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)