In the park with Phoebe, they were watching Hailie play. Helga usually found it very serene to watch her daughter enjoy herself out on the jungle gym. It reminded her of herself when she was younger with the take no prisoners attitude. They remained in silence as they both watched the scene. This was their peace and quiet.

"My date was horrible." Phoebe finally broke the silence. "So horrible. He has this big ego to think that he'll see me again after him assuming I'll just fornicate with him. Why are men so difficult?"

"I don't know, but they will argue the same thing about women too." Helga took a glimpse of her for a second before bringing them back to her daughter. "Is that all? I know you wanted to tell me something more."

Phoebe hesitated nervous with a possible reaction. "I stopped by this park and was sitting on the bench. I wasn't ready to head home and even though I know how dangerous it was to be at the park at night, I just sat there feeling sorry for myself. When I was here a man came by. He startled me of course and he said he was coming from his own bad date. He introduced himself."

"You didn't make out with him did you?"

Phoebe felt amused with how she asked that question. She asked in a way of, 'Oh I hope he doesn't have cooties.' Wiping her smile off her face she kept going. "Gosh no. He is really tall."

"Hailie is almost as tall as you." Helga joked with her.

"Shut up you sarcastic ray of sunshine." Not often she teased her back, but when she did Helga appreciated it. "Well I would say he past six feet tall. He is really handsome with a friendly smile, and he's African-American. His name is Gerald."

Helga turned her head to look at her. "Arnold has a friend by the same name. Same description too." Turns her attention back to, Hailie. "I wonder if it is the same person."

"Have you spoken to him?"

"No, but he turns up at the library with Arnold from time to time. He goes there to do his work and not flirt." Helga said as she slowly got up. "Hailie! Time to eat!"

Jumping off the jungle gym, Hailie waved at a girl before rushing off back to them. "What are we eating?"

"Your favorite." Helga answered as she extended her hand out to her.

Taking it, Hailie went to take Phoebe's hand too. "My stomach has been growling for a bit."

"I know. I heard it all the way over here. Your stomach is as bad as mines when I get hungry." Helga told her as she led her to their picnic area.

Sitting down on the blanket, Hailie bit her lip hoping her question wouldn't upset her mom. "What about daddy's stomach? How was that like when he got hungry?"

"Pretty quiet. Only once when we were in class together we all stopped what we were doing because all we heard was this loud gurgling sound. We looked all around us to see what was the cause of that sound." Helga giggled at the memory. "I glanced over to your dad and he was blushing away having such a hard time maintaining himself. He was so embarrassed."

Hailie giggled. "That's funny."

"Yeah it was. I couldn't help teasing him about it."

As they were having their picnic, Arnold and Gerald were wandering around before walking through the park talking. Gerald was telling him about seeing a girl in the park and thinking how cute she was. Hearing the name of the girl almost made him say something about Helga knowing someone by the same name. Wondering if it was a coincidence, Arnold kept his mouth shut as he went about telling him about his fantastic date with, Helga.

"It was a great date in spite of her father threatening her. When he insulted Brainy, her daughter and myself, she hit him. I don't want to get on, Helga's bad side since she knows how to throw a punch." Arnold told him as he smiled at a butterfly flying past his face. Each time he seen a butterfly he remembered having, Hailie run into his legs.

"And she's really still hung up on, Brainy. Do you think there is still a future there with someone so in love with their dead ex?" Gerald was concerned about that since he didn't want to see his friend hurt.

Arnold still was positive about that. "I do, but it will take some time. It will be still worthwhile in the end. I really love her."

Gerald always knew of his friends romantic nature. "If that is the case then I support you." Stopping short, he spotted Phoebe with Helga. "Arnold, your girl is with my mystery girl."

Looking over in the direction Gerald was looking, Arnold smiled at the sweet scene as Hailie was eating her sandwich, and Helga and Phoebe were talking to her. "That is the girl that was with Helga at the coffee shop talking about a guy, Phoebe was seeing. Helga was convincing her to dump him for taking her for granite."

Gerald grinned. "See! Hot smart girls always hang out with their peers. Oh I gotta say hi."

Stopping Gerald from moving towards them, Arnold shook his head. "No. Hailie doesn't know I'm seeing her mom right now. We can't. I'll talk to Helga in hoping to get Phoebe to the library so you can meet her that way. What do you say?"

Still staring at the petite little beauty, Gerald nodded his head dumbly. "Alright or maybe the coffee shop. Either way is fine."

"Thanks. I really want this to work out between us."

Turning his body towards his friend, Gerald held out his hand. "Hey I always have your back."

Taking his hand so they can do their handshake, Arnold and him turned in the direction they came from just to avoid the girls.

X

At night after she placed, Hailie to bed she called up, Arnold. Whenever she first heard his voice, Helga would feel chills run up and down her spine before reaching another area that hasn't had any use.

"Hello beautiful." Arnold greeted. On his end he left his desk to head to his bed. "How was your day?"

"Oh fine." The way she let the last word draw out she made it sound playful. "I noticed you today at the park."

"You did? We left because I know that you aren't ready to introduce me to your daughter formally." Arnold didn't see her turn her head once.

Helga snickered. "When you are a parent you really develop your peripheral vision."

"Just as long as it isn't X-ray vision." Laying down on his bed, Arnold felt personally excited at hearing her voice.

"I actually do have that and I must say that I like what I see." She teased.

Chuckling, Arnold heard footsteps leading up to his room. He hoped and prayed that it wasn't, Oskar. "I love the sound of your voice."

"I love yours." Helga settled down more into her bed. "Tell me if your friend did anything last night."

Arnold had a feeling it really was them actually meeting last night. "He told me he came across a depressed attractive girl last night in the park. He said her name is Phoebe."

"Oh really? She said a very tall attractive man by the name of Gerald came up to her." Her smile grew. "So they both think that the other is attractive. Want to arrange a meet-cute? We can have them either go to your coffee shop or the library."

"Actually I was thinking of the same thing. Maybe the coffee shop around my break. I work on tuesday between ten to four. My break is actually at twelve." He suggested.

"I can get her there since that is her free time. What about your friend?"

"That will be simple." Hearing a knock at the door, Arnold got up. "Someone is at my door. Hold on." Opening the door it was Oskar. "Yes, Mr Kokoshka?"

"Oh Arnold I was wondering if I can sleep here tonight. Susie kicked me out of our room." Oskar pleaded while playing with the rim of his hat.

Having a flashback of when he was nine made him instantly shudder. "We have a spare room that isn't in use you know."

"Yes, but it gives me an awful headache." He complained. "You know how I get."

Arnold sighed at Oskar while he heard Helga say, "Make him sleep in the alley!" Fighting the urge to laugh, Arnold told him to hold on.

"Let me guess, you have to go." Helga said. "I would suggest you can come here if my daughter knew you better because I don't want you put out."

He appreciated her offer. "I won't have him sleep in here. He took over my entire bedroom and disconnected my alarm clock making me late for school. No way do I want to live through that again. He's lucky to be married to someone so amazing."

"Well don't stress out too much and when I see you again I hope we can go to that one little area of the library to kiss."

Thinking of her lips on him had, Arnold melt. "Or I come over and you can slip a kiss in without me entering your place. I really miss kissing you."

Thinking about it, Helga looked over to her clock. "Text me that you are coming over and text again once your here."

Loving that suggestion, Arnold agreed to that before hanging up. Opening the door up to look at Oskar he had him instantly march into the only other free room that they have. Going into a more smaller room at least it was clean before he gave him sheets and a blanket. "If you don't fix things up with Susie and end up staying here for more than a few days then I'm charging you for this room. That is rule number one. Rule number two is if I hear about you borrowing money to keep this room, I'm kicking you out. Rule number three, if you have any poker games or anything that you normally always do then I'm kicking you out. Do you get this, Mr Kokoshka?"

"Oh but Arnold you know how it is difficult for me to work." Oskar complained.

Arnold was never intentionally rude to anyone unless it really calls for it. "You know how difficult it is to deal with a tenant such as yourself? You know how lucky you are to have a roof over your head and to have a wife like yours? If you don't then shut up." Moving up to his room, he grabbed his car keys and locked his door to prevent Oskar from coming in. Moving past him, Arnold ignored the puppy dog look. He had a kiss he was dying for.

X

Helga checked on Hailie before leaving her apartment to go downstairs into the lobby. Letting him in they latched on for dear life. Helga felt excitement course through her having him against her. Glancing all around her she brought him into the laundry room. Kissing him she was filled with excitement even when he had her sit on one of the machines. Wrapping her legs around him, Helga just needed him.

Arnold loved the flannels she was wearing and loved having her long legs around his waist. He glanced to the door to find she locked it. He wanted to take a strong chance to touch her more, but was afraid it would offend her.

As their tongues tangled, Helga didn't want to let go even as she felt his hand brush up her leg. Releasing an involuntary moan, she felt him becoming excited. Pressing closer she felt wanton as her desires were taking hold. She hoped no one will try to use the room they were in. Feeling him move against her, Helga moved back finding that soon enough they were doing something she didn't think they would be doing this soon.

"Arnold." She breathed out as they continued their movements.

He heard her issue a slight squeak as he continued his movements against her. "Helga." Kissing her was all he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

"I can't believe I'm dry humping you." She felt so lame saying that, but not having anyone at all she was surprised she didn't turn into 'Super Bitch.'

"Do you want us to stop?"

She shook her head in some fit of desperation. "No. Please no." Helga needed this release and he was too perfect. The word jarred her since she never thought of, Brainy like that. 'No, don't think of your dead husband right now. Oh please forgive me.' Helga thought as she was close to release.

Things he has done in the past with any other woman were bland. Inconsequential in his opinion. He thought Helga had even more than every woman could aspire to. She was perfect and also perfect in her imperfections. He already wanted to wake up beside her every morning. Wanted to see, Hailie grow up. Hearing Helga moaning louder while trying to contain herself, Arnold deepened their kiss so she can scream in his mouth if she needed to.

Helga clutched at him as she felt herself going over the edge of passion. She felt like she was about to tear up from how great this felt. Hearing him approach his own, she couldn't help but smile at the preview. If this man was good with his tongue inside her mouth she unabashedly thought of him using it elsewhere.

Both ending at the same time they both were panting till the light chuckling commenced. Their endorphins were still kicked into overdrive as they gazed into the others eyes for quite some time till, Helga said she needs to go upstairs in case her daughter gets up.

Helping her off the washer, Arnold took her hand as they left that room to walk upstairs. Stopping on her floor, Helga and him kissed again. "Thanks for this very intense good night kiss." Helga blushed. "I'm glad that we are dating."

Kissing her nose, Arnold committed her face once more to memory. He wanted to bring her home and snuggle with this woman. "Same here. I want you to know that I am very serious about all of this."

She didn't doubt it. He has an old soul wrapped within him. "I'm glad because I am too." Kissing him, Helga brought out her keys. "I should head inside."

"Yes. I'll see you very soon."

"Yes you will." KIssing him, Helga stepped towards her door. "Good night, Football Head."

"Good night, Helga." Arnold watched her unlock her door before stepping inside. He now felt like he could fly home.

A/N: I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas. :)