A/N: In this chapter you will find out their ages. Well at least in the next Authors notes. You'll also find out who her husband was. Remember that Hillwood in this version is very large and it is possible for two people not to meet until sometimes much later.
Also thank you very much for the great reviews. I truly appreciate it. :D
Sunday arrived with butterflies in her stomach as she drove over to Bigals. Today she decided to wear her hair down and had a pink skirt on with a corseted style top. She didn't want to act like she was on a date, but felt maybe it could lead to something more. Oh she tried not to think too heavily about it as she exited her car to head to the front door of the cafe when she heard her name called out. Looking towards Arnold walking down the sidewalk, Helga's breath caught as she thought how nice he looked in dark washed jeans and a plaid shirt that didn't look that much country or that it didn't look grunge. It was in between as she examined his torso.
"Afternoon Helga. Nice to see we arrived at the same time." Arnold thought she looked stunning. "You look great."
"Thanks. You look good yourself. I'm glad we are eating now because I'm starving." Smiling back at him, she noticed how he opened the door up. Going inside they told the waitress it will be two.
Following behind her, Arnold couldn't help but watch her from behind before she slid into a booth with him going to the other side. "Have you been here before?"
"Yeah, but it feels like a lifetime ago." She sighed at the memories while opening up her menu knowing exactly what she wanted but was too shy to look directly at Arnold.
"Husband?" When she nodded he should of asked more questions when they arranged today. "I already know what I want."
"Same here. I just put this up to distract myself."
The way she giggled just now, Arnold loved how cute she looked. "Cheeseburger for me with no onions. I would hate to talk to you during the movie with onion breath."
Helga enjoyed his chuckle. "I wanted to get the same thing. No onions too. Of course a Yahoo soda."
Seeing the waitress come over they both gave their orders and waited till they received their drinks to begin talking. "Would you mind telling me about your husband? If it is still a sensitive subject you don't have to." Arnold inquired thoughtfully as he handed her a straw.
Accepting the straw she took the paper off to place it in her beverage. "You would be the first guy who asked so I don't mind. I met him in middle school. It was seventh grade and I had him in a few of my classes but I wasn't fully acquainted with him until he snuck up to me while I was having a monologue to myself. Next thing I knew I was interrupted by this heavy breathing behind me and I threw a punch at him. Well over my shoulder nailing him in the face. He fell to the ground with this dopey look to his face and I got angry at him for doing that. Well I stormed off." Laughs at the memory. "Anyhow it wasn't about the last time he did that to me and not the last punch to the face he received."
"Wow." Arnold definitely knew she wasn't one to mess around.
"Yeah, wow. Anyhow, one day I was partnered up with him for a partner project which was to last for a few weeks. During that time I got to know him and found out why he didn't talk so much because of his breathing problem that toned down in the next year. During the time on the project I got to start to really like him a little too much. One day he asked me out on a date and I accepted. It was a sweet date and after that we became boyfriend and girlfriend."
"That is great actually. That means when you commit you really do commit." Arnold took a sip of his soda as a smile grew on his face. "What else?"
"Phoebe and I known one another since we were three and we both have pretty high IQ's. Both of us had the opportunity to skip grades so we did. Something that happened to us again. I consulted him and he encouraged me while my family didn't. Actually they didn't much care. Anyhow I graduated early and was going to college at the age of sixteen." Helga noted the look of surprise on his face. "My daughter is a little genius herself too."
"I bet. Please go on."
Helga blushed. "Well being in a serious relationship you tend to do things under the covers. Well one day I ended up pregnant. My parents gave me a hard time saying that they knew a mistake would make another mistake. My sister Olga, whom is the family darling who could do no wrong and turned a blind eye to my pain before, stood up for me. My parents disowned me and I ended up living with her. My sister has been there ever since, but I'll get back to that one day again. As for him, he was scared, but not enough to run away from me. We told his parents and they freaked naturally, but they didn't want to toss him on his ear. He wanted to marry me. Always did and with their permission we did, but uh with me in college and him with a part time job, he decided to sign up to the army at eighteen. I was scared naturally as was his parents. It was a situation where we would have benefits and such." Helga closed her eyes as she heard the plates being placed in front of them.
"I'm sorry if I'm getting ahead of myself here." Arnold told her it was fine so she continued. "We did marry before he signed up and he went through the training. Brainy left when I was just six months pregnant. They were ambushed. Nothing is as scary as when you get that knock at the door. I insisted on seeing his body. I had to know that they weren't misidentifying him. It was him." Her eyes closed as a tear fell down. "His parents blamed me. They demanded that I lose my last name that identifies me with them. My daughter has no true grandparents. She has an Aunt. Well two if you count Phoebe. Also she has an Uncle. Brainy's younger brother who sees Hailie on the sly. I'm glad that Stan does that for his brother."
Arnold's eyes blinked as he slunk back. "Brainy? As in Brainy Bartlett?" Helga nodded her head. "You were married to Brainy. I went to pre-school with him and he transferred to another school when we graduated grade school. We always played games together. He was one of those guys you could always count on. Out of nostalgia I called his parents house to ask about him and they said he's out of the country. It was a few years ago when I called."
Reaching over she took his hand. "I was once Helga Bartlett. I loved him very much. I still do. When I see Hailie I see him in her. She is a bit like the both of us."
"Why would they lie? I don't understand." Arnold held her hand back. "Why?"
Helga hated speaking this ugly truth. "Stan knows. He told me that they are in deep denial. In their world he is still alive but living elsewhere. He doesn't have a daughter and he has never been married. It is a sad truth and I wish they would talk to me, but they want me to be the one who is dead while their son is alive."
"That's horrible." Arnold couldn't believe they would do that to their own granddaughter. Their own daughter-in-law. "I'm so sorry, Helga. You both didn't deserve it. Brainy was such a good person. I can't believe he's gone." That was why there was no announcements. His parents refused to believe their child is gone.
Placing ketchup and mustard on her burger she handed it to Arnold. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way, Arnold." She smiled a little. "So you were the Arnold he spoke about then. Unusual head shape with a good heart who liked to help out everyone. I should of connected that when you mentioned something about a boarding house." Lifting her burger up to take a bite, she held it there. "His death still hits me especially when I'm at my most loneliest."
Watching her take a bite of her burger, Arnold did the same. "Glad we are friends now." Helga smirked back to him as they ate some more.
Helga drove them both to the theater where Helga paid for them this time around since Arnold paid for lunch. Picking seats towards the back they both settled in and chatted while they waited for it to start. "What do you want to be?"
"Teacher. What did you want to be when you went to college?" Arnold wondered unable to stop looking into those eyes of hers.
"I wanted to be a writer. I sent my poems in but I've gotten rejection letters. I do enjoy being a librarian and yes you need a degree in it. I have been writing a novel out instead. I would love to get it published. Loved to have a best seller so I can provide for Hailie's school when she gets older. Also it will help with so much other things." Helga slouched down to lean her head back more.
"Do you live with your sister?"
"No. She is expecting her first child with her husband. She offered me a place to stay with her if I feel that the apartment is too much, but I won't do that to them. I will babysit if they want me to, but that will be too many mouths to feed. For now I'm fine." Examining his green eyes, she finally needed to comment about them. "You have the greenest eyes imaginable."
"I think that about your blue eyes." Arnold's desire to kiss her was beginning to reach a fevered pitch making him almost grateful of the lights dimming before previews were shown.
Soon the movie began with the usual predictable scenes being shown making them both laugh at times. Mid-way during the movie Helga leaned over to whisper in his ear. "Now the blonde with the huge chest will go running all willy nilly through the forest."
Laughing at the blonde doing just that, Arnold leaned over himself to guess where the twin will pop up. "He'll pop up in front of her right at that tree."
In the movie the killer shows up right where he predicted prompting them both to laugh as their heads turned at the same time to face the other. Their eyes met as their laughs died down to find how close they were. Both their heartbeats were beating rapidly as their lips met in a deep lingering kiss. Helga enjoyed how his hand roamed up from her arm, up her neck, to cup her head from the back in a gentle display. Arnold loved how she cupped his face while he cursed the arm rests for being in their way. Their tongues fought for dominance while the comic display of violence was being heard as faint background noise now. Helga wanted to get closer but knew she couldn't rush this as she pulled a bit away. They both were panting.
Arnold saw the credits rolling making it known that they have been at that for some time. Both focused forward he saw the theater emptying out before she got up to leave. Following her, they went outside to head to her parked car. Turning to face him, Helga leaned against the passenger side.
"I don't even know who started that in there. I know I started it in the library, but now?" Helga couldn't help but stare at those lips of his. It was another amazing kiss.
"I believe we both did this time. I am quite honest in that I have been wanting another kiss from you, but I still don't wish to rush you."
Helga believed him. "Why? I'm curious on that last part."
He took a step forward. "I feel an incredibly strong chemistry between us. I want you in more ways than one, but I want you comfortable. This is heavily important to me. I understand you have to think of Hailie first. You should. Heck I would if I was a single parent. I will stay your friend, but when it comes time you want something more, I want you to tell me. I will treat you good. I'll treat her good. I never back away from my word. Also I want to say once more that is one amazing kiss. I never experienced anything like that before." A grin formed on his face as he felt like dancing around. "It takes my breath away and while it weakens me it excites me."
Checking the time quickly to see how much time she had left, Helga couldn't help but let out a little huff of laughter. He looked so cute with that grin plastered on his face. "Oh Football Head."
"Why do you call me that?" Arnold stopped his grin to ask that question. "I've been meaning to ask."
"Your head is in the shape of a football. I'm not insulting you. Trust me when I say you'll know when I'm insulting you." Touches the side of his head. "I gave you a nickname as a term of endearment. I like the shape of your head. I like you."
Can he have her hand on him for as long as he lives? "Can I run something pass you?" Helga nods her head. "Why don't we as friends continue to go out like this. This way when you are truly comfortable and truly know how you feel, we'll go out on dates till you are comfortable enough for a relationship. How does that sound?"
"I believe I just went out on a date with you, bucko."
That was true enough, but she is still hung up on Brainy. "What do you say?"
She wanted to kiss him again. That is what she wanted. "Sounds pretty good."
Leaning over, Arnold pressed his lips against hers. He couldn't help it as his arms went around her and Helga's arms going around him. He was vaguely aware of the streets sounds, but more aware of their heartbeats. Hearing her moan, Arnold continued to fight for dominance. Pulling away he placed his forehead against hers.
"How about kissing friends? I know we won't stop that portion." Helga figured as she went to kiss him again.
Arnold opened his eye just a crack since he felt someone staring at them. Seeing that it was Rhonda scowling away, he ignored her to continue on the kiss till she broke it off. "I say yes to that. Also Rhonda is staring us down."
Taking his word for it, Helga pushed him away slightly. "I need to head home, but first I'll drive you home so I can kiss you good bye." Unlocking the door he gave her a kiss before dashing off to the drivers side. "What are you doing?" A giggle escaped her mouth.
"My grandpa taught me to be a gentleman at all times to women so I'm opening the door for you."
Touched by something so sweet she walked to the other side to plant another kiss on him. "Thank you then kind sir."
Waiting for her to climb inside, Arnold shut the door gently before dashing off to the passenger side to climb in. All the while Rhonda just scowled.
Dropping him off in the front of his building, they kissed again unable to fully stop. She heard him undo his seatbelt to come closer and all she could do was relax more into him. She loved the feeling he enlisted in her, but was scared at the same time before she pulled away. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
Arnold planted another kiss on her. "I will see you." They kissed again. "I wish I can do this in your job."
"Same here." Helga had a hard time opening up her eyes. "Guess we'll have to wait till next time."
"Agreed. We'll have to figure out something." Another kiss.
"We will." She kissed him again. "Arnold I really need to get my daughter."
"I know but this is hard right now."
"It is. Give me another kiss. At least one that I can take to bed with for later."
Arnold loved her request as he did as she wanted. They kissed passionately as the sun began to set. Arnold felt she really is the one.
After Helga was in front of Phoebe's place with her lips still tingling and her legs still weakened. "I know you won't hate me, Brainy, but I really want this." Releasing her belt, Helga climbed out of her car to head up the stoop to pick up Hailie. Phoebe will know what happened just by the spellbound look in her face.
A/N: They are both 23 years old and with the story, Helga said she was young when she had her daughter. I wanted to make Brainy a bit older then Helga so he can enlist. Helga was 17 when she got pregnant and now is 23. Arnold is the same age as her.