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 in-law part 2
Arnold and Helga have dinner with Helga's parents...and it goes about as well as you'd expect.
Mid-July
It was a windy, July evening in the town known as Hillwood, as a certain couple were in the preparation of certain guests who are due to arrive soon...
They were Helga and Arnold, who were busy awaiting some dinner guests tonight...Helga's parents.
"Remind me why we are doing this, again?..."Helga asked her husband with her arms crossed.
"Come on Helga, they are family and I thought you guys were getting along now...'Her husband reminded her as he put his tie on.
"I know...but that doesn't mean my parents are the ideal dinner guests...'Helga groaned as she was in the midst of brushing her hair.
Just yesterday her husband had invited their parents over to dinner after having a run in with Miriam and Arnold, being Arnold and needing to be so accepting and giving people the benefit of the doubt, had given them the invitation to come over for dinner if they wanted to.
And Miriam took it. Now Helga was stuck dealing with making dinner and entertaining them for the evening to her ever picky parents.
"I don't get why you are like this, you never seem to mind entertaining my parents, my grandparents or even the borders whenever they stop by...'Arnold said.
"That's because your family is just like you Arnoldo: sweet, well meaning, lovable, and easy to get along with...while my family...well you know how they are...'Helga sighed.
"Just give them a chance...it's only dinner, besides, in case you forgot, they helped pay for our wedding...'Arnold reminded her.
"Oh, alright but whatever happens tonight, just remember that this is your idea...'His wife said.
"I will...'Arnold said with a smirk.
"Anyway honey, what's on the menu for tonight?...'Arnold asked after he was done combing his hair.
He had come home from work a little late and by the time he got here, Helga had said that she already placed dinner in the over before she made him begin to get ready.
"Sorry but you are just going to have to wait and see once it's served..."Helga said as she applied her lipstick, while her husband blinked in confusion.
"Consider it my way of getting back at you for putting me on the spot like this...'She said with a smirk.
Arnold blinked before he chuckled. Helga may have changed a lot over the years, but she could still be quite a little mischievous, but not in the malicious or hysteric way like when they were kids... Now it was just harmless and amusing to say the least...
It's one of the many things that he loved about her...
"Why the heck do I have to wear this stupid thing?..." Big Bob Pataki complained as his wife finished tying his tie.
"Now B, it's dinner with Helga and her husband Arnold, so let's at least make an effort...'Miriam said before she began to put her earrings on.
She had been pleasantly surprised when Arnold had invited them over for dinner, sure she and Helga had a decent relationship but this is the first time since the couple had gotten married that they were being invited over for supper.
So, she wanted to make sure it was a nice visit at the very least...
"Oh yeah, he's the scientist right?...'Big Bob asked.
"An anthropologist at Hillwood University...'Miriam reminded her husband.
"Well, at least the guy has a real job and doesn't look like a college drop out unlike Olga's husband..."Big Bob muttered.
"Patrick isn't a drop out, he's a musician..." Miriam said, repeating what Olga always tells them.
"Who can't keep a job...honestly, of all the men she could have married...'Bob said in disappointment.
"Bob please stay on topic, we were talking about having dinner with Helga and her husband, not complaining about Olga and hers...'Miriam reminded.
"Right...right...'He said.
"Anyway, it's almost 6:30...we should begin to be heading out...'Miriam said to her husband who shrugged before nodding.
Once they got to the car, the middle aged blonde woman had looked to her husband and then her reflection in the car mirror and sighed.
"Please don't let it be a disaster...for their sake at least..." Miriam thought as they continue to drive.
Later
Helga had recently placed all of the dinner dishes on the table, put the dessert out to cool and made sure that her evening dress was looking right as she watched the clock reach 6:30, the time of arrival of her parents.
DING-DONG
The newly married woman sighed as she knew there was no no avoiding it now.
"Let's get this over with...'She muttered as she watched her husband open the door to greet her parents.
"Miriam ...Bob...welcome...'Arnold said graciously as he allowed them.
"Hello Arnold..."Miriam said in a pleasant and thankfully somber way.
"Hey...'Bob said as he entered.
Soon they were lead to the dining room where Helga had placed everything to eat, which was spaghetti and meatballs, Caesar salad, garlic bread, and some other minor dishes. Helga had decided to go with a classic meal since she no longer felt the need to go all out for her own parents.
"My Helga, this looks delicious..."Miriam commented.
"Thank you, anyway dinner is served...'Helga said in a civil tone as she went to sit next to her husband who began to hand out portions.
As the two couples began to eat together, Helga had discreetly glanced at the both of them as they began to eat. At the very least they weren't criticizing or comparing her dishes to Olga's like they used to do when she was a kid.
It was sobering but therapy can work out in the end...
"So...Arnold? How's work lately?..."Big Bob asked after taking a big bite of his dinner.
"Well Bob, so far so good...me and my colleagues recently came back from visit in Peru, where we studied the old cultures and I have been chosen to give the presentation next week at the University..."Arnold said.
Sure, he mostly specialized with the Green Eye culture due to his connections with them, but he is an anthropologist and he studied and helped other cultures from all over the world, though he mostly just went to central and south American countries a few times a year for his work...
"Oh yes, Helga mentioned that...so how was the trip in Peru?..."Miriam asked her son-in-law.
"Amazing...I actually took some pictures...you should really see Lake Titicaca during the start of summer, it's really beautiful...'Arnold said.
"It certainly is, the way the lake looks during sunset it absolutely breathtaking..." Helga said with a smile.
'Anyway Helga, how are your books coming along?...'Miriam asked and Helga blinked before nodding.
"My latest is coming along great...I should have it done in a few more days..."She said before recalling a special memory with that story.
She had went with Arnold during his last trip, which doubled as both a vacation for her from Mr. Wright and a period of literary inspiration. It had been when they had watched the sunset at Lake Titicaca where she had found the inspiration she needed to finishing writing her latest story.
She was still working it out but the heart of the story had been finished because of that trip...along with some extra inspiration from her beloved husband.
"Well, let me know when it's done...I would love to read it...'Miriam said, making her daughter smile and nod.
Helga tried not to give a small smile and tried to focus on her meal. She hates to admit it, but maybe this evening won't be the nightmare she had been fearing it would be, after all...
Later
After dinner and dessert, there was small talk, conversation before her parents left for home, bidding them goodbye.
"Dinner was wonderful Helga honey...You got to show me how you made that key lime pie..."Miriam said as she hugged her daughter.
"Sure mom..."Helga said.
"Drive safety you two...'Arnold said.
"We will ...and Arnold...good luck with that presentation..."Big Bob said to the football head in a surprisingly courteous way.
"Thank you...'Arnold said.
They soon waved to them goodbye as they watched them drive away. Once they were gone, Arnold sent his wife an amused look, which irked her for some reason.
"What?...'She demanded.
"Admit it, you liked having them around...'Arnold said in a playful tone.
"I will admit that tonight wasn't the nightmare I was dreading it be, but don't push it football head...'Helga said seriously, making her husband laugh at her antics.
"Okay..." Arnold said.
"Just promise me that the next time you invite them over, give me more than a days notice..."Helga said, not wanting to go in overtime like she did today in preparation for what she thought would have been a lousy evening.
"Okay honey...So now that they are gone, is there any more of that key lime pie?...'He asked.
"You already had two slices...'Helga pointed out.
"I can't help it...you know I can't resist your cooking..."He said with a smile.
'Alright but that's enough...I know I said for better or worse, till death do us part Football Head, but I honestly don't want to see you loose that waistline too soon...'She quipped.
"Hey, I'm fit...'He said in a mock offended tone.
"Sure, you might be handsome, healthy and have a nice bod now... I just don't want it to go away because of my cooking...'Helga quipped, making Arnold smirk at her.
"It always comes back to the fact that a beautiful woman like you can't resist me...'Arnold said with a flirtatious smirk.
"And it always comes back to you admitting that I am beautiful...'Helga quipped as she sent him a flirtatious look in her eyes.
The husband and wife soon found themselves kissing passionately, they were in a deep state of post marital bliss that they didn't immediately notice that they're door began to open.
"Excuse Arnold...Helga...I think I forgot my purse here...'Miriam said as she reentered, only to see the couple had been in the middle of the kiss.
They stopped when they noticed that she disturbed them and the mother had sent them a giggle.
"Oh, sorry for interrupting you...don't mind me..."Miriam said as she searched around and soon found her purse.
"Anyway have a nice day you little lovebirds..."Miriam said with a wink before leaving.
Even after she was gone, the newly weds were still a little embarrassed about being interrupted like that. Sure, they were married now and they had to deal with stuff like this during their courtship but still, no couple, married or not, liked having one of their parents walk in on them during an intimate moment like that.
"Now you see why I prefer your parents visits, at least they knock...' Helga said as she waited for the blush to leave her cheeks.
"It could have been worse...it could have been both of your parents like that one time...'Arnold said in his usual optimistic way.
"Don't remind me of that incident...That had to have been the most embarrassing Thanksgiving ever when my dad caught us together out on the roof like that..."Helga muttered, recalling one of the many romantic hi-jinks from high school they had together.
Arnold sent her a smirk before he went to lock the door, before turning back to his wife with a flirtatious look on his face.
"Now where were we?..."He said as he pulled her into an embrace.
"I thought you wanted some more dessert..." Helga said with a giggle, not surprised that he managed to bounce back so soon.
"I still do..."He said in a suggestive way, making his wife giggle all the more before they kissed once again.
Soon the couple went to eat the rest of the delicious key lime pie that Helga made, and both were content that this evening had been an overall success. Dinner had NOT been a catastrophe, her parents had at the very least tried to behave and now the newlyweds were once again alone together.
So overall, a more than decent night for the two of them, indeed...
-To be continued-
Next time on The First Year
Date Night
REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewers:
Metalheadrailfan: I know what you mean, that's why I chose it.
Invader Johnny: Yeah, I suppose but good for them, right...
Guest: Thanks, I know...
:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)