This was the third publisher she was meeting today. She had to compare what they were willing to offer her. Helga's nerves were beating like a brass drum. Her heart seemed like it stopped. She wondered if she was breathing now as she faced the two women in front of her.
"We love your book." Said the one called Stacy.
"It is so raw. So powerful. Also moving." Danielle seemed to have drank so much caffeine already from all her energetic gestures she was doing.
Nodding her head, Stacy smiled at her offer. "This is what we want to give you." Sliding the paper over to Helga, they waited.
The number was far more better than the other two offers. Helga just had to keep herself calm. "What do you want to change in it?" The other publisher thought she should scrap the story where it displayed the parents as neglectful ones. She was basing the character on her own life.
Danielle seemed to have calmed down when she spoke once more. "We have a feeling this is your life you are speaking about. We want to keep it all. There was only one complaint about not describing the sex in full detail, but we understand. We will look it over again to see any type of change there needs, but right now it might be not much."
Helga nodded her head more. So far this meeting was holding a better taste in her mouth than the other two.
"One question about this. Actually we know we have more, but for now if this book is a success, would you write anymore than this?" Stacy inquired levelly. "You have actually a refreshing perspective compared to others with such colorful imagery."
"I have thought about it and I wouldn't mind something of a psychological thriller. Right now I just wanted to put this out there." Helga replied easily enough. "Cleaning out the closet sort of speak."
Now nodding their heads, Danielle and Stacy shared a look. "Do you have anything you can share with us? We would love to see a rough draft." Danielle went back into her caffeine addict way once more.
"I do, but it truly is an outline. I was planning on writing it after my honeymoon."
"When is your wedding?"
"Next week. I can't wait." Helga beamed. "The honeymoon will be the day after for an entire week."
"Congratulations." Both Stacy and Danielle told her before talking about their own weddings.
Helga listened to Stacy's little horror story before hearing, Danielle's. Helga was correct, Danielle loved fluffy stuff. The woman was dressed like a princess for her wedding.
The day of her wedding, Helga was only mildly nervous. She was nervous of the fact that she'll embarrass herself walking down the aisle. Hailie looked sweet in her purple dress. Phoebe was currently placing flowers in her hair, while Olga was helping Helga out with hers.
"What do you think, baby sis?" Olga was beaming away while her own baby slept soundly on the chaise lounge.
Helga didn't want much done to her hair except for desiring waves in her hair. Standing up, Helga remained quiet till she turned to hug her sister. "I love it. Now let me put my dress on."
Watching her sister wander past the partition, Olga sat down beside her baby girl. Lovingly she took in every detail yet again of her daughter, Jude. She already had a stark dark brow on her that reminded her of, Helga.
"Auntie look." Hailie said just loud enough not to wake up the baby. "I love it."
Olga turned her head to her niece. Her hair was also in tumbled waves with flowers placed in here and there. Spotting a blue butterfly in her hair, Olga smirked. "Oh you look so beautiful, Hailie. Phoebe you did a wonderful job."
Smoothing out her dress, Phoebe tilted her head in thanks. "Jude still asleep?"
"Yes. She looks like Helga when she was a little baby." Hearing a slight knock on the door, Olga knew it was their mother.
Opening up the door, Miriam stepped in. She had let her hair grown some. Her eyes were bright as was her skin from maintaining a healthy lifestyle. While her body was always slim and in shape, somehow it looked even more fabulous. Miriam joked that she lost 200 pounds from the get rid of Bob diet. The Emporium was flourishing far more better under her rule. She continued to turn out a very healthy profit from not resorting to cheap gimmicks, or cheap products. Bob always found a way to cheat the public. Miriam wasn't about to do that.
Crouching down, Miriam hugged her niece telling her she looked beautiful. Standing up slowly she was unaware of her daughter now in full view with her dress on. Finally seeing her daughter, Miriam started to tear up. She didn't get a chance to see her daughter wed the first time, and now here she was getting married to another good man.
Helga didn't want to spend a lot on a dress so she aimed for something far more economical. Almost buying just a regular white dress, Helga spotted the one she was currently wearing. She loved that it didn't have spaghetti straps. It had a bit of a wide strap with tasteful lace on the edge. Around her waist was a plain band. "So what do you think?"
"Mommy, you're so pretty." Rushing forward, Hailie went into her mom's arms.
"Oh thank you, Munchkin. You look pretty yourself. Better in fact." Kissing her on the nose, Helga stood up as she took her hand. "Yeah?" Olga, Phoebe, and Miriam stood there speechless.
Last time she saw her sister getting married, Helga was a little far along in her pregnancy. Olga had to contain her tears as she came over to hug her sister. "Arnold is going to love this."
"Helga, you look so amazing." Phoebe told her before hearing, Jude slowly coming to life. "Jude is waking up."
Leaving her sister's side, Olga tended to her own daughter. Miriam began to cry. She didn't get a chance to experience this the first time. Bob forbid her to come to her youngest daughter's wedding before. Now here she was about to give her away. "This is my second chance." She didn't mean to blurt it out, but she did. "Oh Helga."
Grabbing a tissue for her mom, Helga dabbed her eyes. "I'm happy you are here too." Hugging her mom, Helga didn't want to speak knowing she'll follow suit.
Lifting her daughter up, Olga told them it was time to go. Phoebe took, Hailie's hand while they left the room. Separating from her mom, Helga smiled at her in encouragement. It was time to marry her love.
X
Arnold held her close while they danced. The second he spotted her coming down the aisle almost had him on his knees. The woman of his dreams was finally obtained, and there was no way he would let her go. He hated the slight separation they had to endure while exchanging vows. All he wanted to do was stay connected to her. The words that escaped from her mouth felt more poetic than anything he has ever red. It wasn't so long ago when they met. Not so long until they went out. Sharing their first kiss in the library showed him how she truly is the one.
"I will never let you go." He whispered. He felt her hands adjust against him. Could of sworn he heard her heartbeat. "I am yours forever. I love you more than words can properly express."
Helga felt like she was flying through the air. She swore she spotted the image of, Brainy on the outskirts with their daughter. She almost wept as he smiled and nodded to her. Was this pure fantasy in her head or not? Whether it was or wasn't, she didn't care. Brainy was also one of the most selfless people around.
"I never want you to let me go, Arnold." Bringing her head up, Helga had to stare into his eyes. "You saved me."
He shook his head. "There was nothing to save. You are the strongest woman I have ever known. Many would of given up, but you." Arnold turned his head to smile at, Hailie. "The proof of you is right over there."
Looking over to her daughter, Helga extended her hand out so she can come over. Waiting for her to accept her hand, Helga beamed. "How about all three of us have our first dance as a family?"
Lifting Hailie up, Arnold rested her on his hip. Wrapping his arm around, Helga's waist, and her wrapping it around Hailie, they continued to dance unaware of the many camera's aimed at the scene. Arnold wasn't naive to know that she truly wasn't his daughter, but would like to think of her like that. He felt like he was doing a time share with, Brainy.
And that was more than fine with him.
Late at night after the reception, Helga and Arnold turned in for the the morning they had a flight to catch. Helga cuddled against her husband as they both fell asleep in deep contentment. As she slept, she dreamt of someone.
Helga was back in the reception hall once more. She stood in her dress with no one else around. She was confused until breathing was felt behind her neck. Helga wasn't startled as she turned to face, Brainy.
"Dance with me." Brainy extended his hand out for her to take. "I didn't get a chance to dance with you this evening."
Accepting his hand, Helga was brought into his arms. Music began to play, and was caught under his gaze. "Are you angry at me?"
Brainy shook his head at her. "I'm happy for you. You know me better than anyone else. This does include my own brother." Chuckling at something, he had to share. "Stan seemed smitten by, Sheena."
"Well they seemed to have been flirting for several weeks since they met. I like her. She's different. She's sweet." Helga told him honestly.
Just then, he brought his hand up to play with her hair. "You are the one who is truly unique. I'm glad you found, Arnold. I'm glad you gave him a chance."
"Did you have something to do with us meeting?" While they danced, she couldn't help but think he was holding himself back. He obviously was respecting, Arnold. "I'm not complaining if you did."
He gave his best smile to her. "Of course not. You did marry him after all. As for sending him to you: Yes. I always have been a little jealous of him."
Pausing in their dance to just stand in his arms, Helga felt strange. "Why? You are just as wonderful."
"That's because you are still in love with me. Just as you are in love with him. Probably much more. This is another thing I won't complain about." Moving forward he kissed her temple. "You and him will last a long time." He paused.
She knew he was holding back something. "What is it?" He was worrying her.
Stepping away from her, Brainy looked her over with open appraisal. "You get more beautiful each time I see you."
Stepping towards him, Helga knew something. "I found a key. What is it to?" He looked so forlorn right now. So hurt. Rushing forward had her grabbing him hard. "What aren't you telling me?"
"You knew, Helga. I already told you about the dream. That dream about me seeing my own death." Brainy removed her hands from his arms to place in his own. "The thing I never told you is me seeing you meet, Arnold. He came into your life at the right time. I was actually comforted by that thought when I realized I was dead. If anyone was going to steal your heart, it will be him."
Helga watched him smile in the way she absolutely loved. It always had the ability to make her smile as well. She knew he had to leave. "Dance with me one more time. I know you have to leave."
Granting her request, Brainy brought her into his arms. "There is such things as guardian angels. Rest assured that I'm our daughter's."
She snickered at that. "You seriously better let her fall in love with a fantastic person who won't hurt her."
"I swear to you I will." He held her lovingly. "I love how you raised her."
"I have the perfect element of you in her." She complimented back.
Waking up to the alarm, Helga smiled as her body felt at ease. Brainy gave his blessing in more ways than one. Giggling at Arnold rushing out of the bedroom to head to the bathroom, Helga looked up through the skylight. "I love you, Brainy. Thank you for so much." Stretching, she thought she should run into that bathroom too. Perhaps join in a joint shower session. Laughing once more, Helga grabbed both their robes and rushed to the bathroom.
Honeymoon in Paris with her love. What a great way to consummate their marriage.
A/N: Alright. Imagine her dress being the same as the Married episode. I'm not a fashion plate so me describing dresses suck badly so I tried. I am also sure that you are asking about the key in her dream. Helga isn't feeling guilt for marrying Arnold. Call it a blessing from Brainy. I am thinking of making a big final chapter so I'll be taking my time there.