Is anyone else excited for this update? Because I'm excited that I FINALLY updated this. It has been over a year! I am so, so, SO sorry about that. I just had the worst writer's block for it. I knew I was kind of building up this welcome home party for Helga and Adam, and well, I kind of hated everything I wrote for it so I shortened it significantly. I really hope this was worth the wait and as always, if you enjoyed, please review!
A Twist of Fate Part Five
It was a warm day and since Tina Park was within a comfortable walking distance from their brownstone Helga decided they would walk. "Mommy, I like your bow."
"Huh?" The familiarity of her young son's statement caught her off guard.
"I like it because it's pink like your pants."
Helga had almost forgotten she had chosen to wear light pink Capris that day. She shook off the familiar feelings she was experiencing and smiled at her young son. "Thank you Bud. I'm glad you like it." She held out her hand and Adam took it. They walked in relative silence while they walked the rest of the way to Tina Park.
The moment Helga and Adam arrived at Tina Park Adam took off to play with Tyson and Kyle, Harold and Patty Berman's youngest son. Helga joined Arnold, Phoebe, Gerald, and many of her other old classmates at the picnic tables adjacent to the play area.
Seeing all her old classmates at one time was slightly overwhelming for Helga. The old gang certainly seemed to have a baby boom around the same time. Curly and Rhonda had a daughter, Rachel, who was just three months older than Adam. Nadine was a single mom to Laney, who was four days younger than Adam. Nadine and Matt, who Helga remembered as Peapod Kid, were currently dating and the gossip circulating at the party was that he was planning on proposing soon. Sheena and Eugene's son Malcom was the youngest of the group.
Sid and Stinky were both single and neither seemed in a hurry to be in any kind of relationship. Both men were too busy dating college aged girls, throwing and crashing parties pretty much every weekend. And from what Helga heard, hooking up with random twenty one year olds just as much.
The other classmates Helga remembered had moved or lost touch with everyone else throughout the years.
"So Helga, how do you like being back?" Nadine asked as she sat down across from the blonde.
"It's nice." Helga smiled, "I never really realized how much I missed it here until I moved back. Adam seems to be adjusting well, so that's all that matters to me."
Nadine looked over at Adam, Laney, and other children playing on the jungle gym. "He seems to get along really well with the others. I heard you will be teaching at P.S. 218 as the new creative writing teacher. Matt is one of the biology teachers there." She glanced at Matt, who was grilling burgers with Gerald and Curly.
"It's weird he goes by Matt now. I remember him as Peapod kid."
Nadine laughed, "Yeah, he had that nickname up until junior high. I'm not sure if half our class, even knew what his real name was until then."
"I hope you guys are hungry." Phoebe said as she joined Helga and Nadine, "Gerald went a tad overboard with hamburgers and hotdogs and I went overboard and the rest of the food." She laughed, "Anyways, food is almost ready so we should probably rally up the kids."
Rhonda and Sheena joined the three women handing each of them a glass of lemonade, "I feel bad for whoever will have those kids as a teacher. They are rowdy when they get together." Rhonda laughed as she sat down next to Helga, "Adam seems like he is a big hit with everyone."
"The kids aren't that bad. They are just expressing themselves." Sheena said softly as she looked back the group running around the jungle gym. "How does Adam like Hillwood so far?"
"So far so good." Helga answered, taking a sip of her lemonade. "It's a lot different from New York."
"Hey!" Helga looked up when she heard Arnold's voice and she felt her stomach flutter. "Sorry I'm late." Arnold half jogged up to the group. "I got a call from a perspective client and I just couldn't get them off the phone." He rambled on. He took a seat next to Helga and smiled, "Hi."
"Hi." Helga smiled back over her glass of lemonade.
The other women at the table exchanged knowing looks.
"Hey! Food is ready!" Gerald called over to the group.
Hearing that the food was ready the kids quickly joined their parents. "Hey, Arnold!" Adam excitedly greeted as the little boy ran towards the picnic table, "I'm happy you're here. Can I between you and Mommy?" He little blonde boy didn't wait for an answer; instead he wedged himself between the two adults.
"Hey, Buddy." Arnold greeted the boy, "I'm glad I'm here too. Are you having fun playing?"
"Yes! I'm making a lot of new friends." Adam pulled on Helga's shirt, "Mommy, I'm thirsty. May I please have some lemonade?"
"Sure." Helga poured Adam a small cup of lemonade, "How was your morning Arnold?"
"Good, I just had a few things at the office, I had to do before I came." Arnold stared at her for a long few moments, almost immediately recognizing her old bow, "That's your old bow, isn't it?" A slightly embarrassed Helga nodded. He looked down at Adam, "Your mom wore that bow every single day when we were little."
"We're just ever so sorry we're late!" An oh too sweet voice caused the group sitting at the picnic table to look up, "Oh Helga! It is oh so wonderful to see you."
"Criminy, who that?" Adam mumbled under of his breath. He had no idea who the red headed woman was, but he knew already he didn't like her.
"Hi Lila." Helga shuttered when she saw Arnie, gawking at her, as he stood next to Lila. "Arnie." She didn't look at him in the eyes, mainly because he still gave her the creeps. "Adam, I went to school with Lila and Arnie is Arnold's cousin."
"Oh Adam! You look so much like your mommy!" Lila practically squealed, "Your mommy and I was ever so the best of friends in school."
"I oh so doubt that." Adam replied in an equally sickeningly sweet voice.
"Adam Phillip!" Helga scolded, "Be nice."
He gave her a pointed look, "Well, were you?"
"Not the point." Helga mumbled before turning her attention back to Lila, forcing a smile, "It's nice to see you too Lila. I heard you and Arnie got married and had a child."
"We dropped little Angie off at my Dad's. She can be ever such a handful when we try to catch up with old friends."
Just then Gerald brought over a large plate of hamburgers, "I hope everyone is hungry. No one's leaving until all this is gone."
The group grew quiet once the food was served; Arnold quickly passed a large bowl of raspberries to Helga and Adam. "Do you like raspberries Adam?"
"I do, but I can't eat them. They give me a bad tummy ache." Adam told him, also passing on the red berry.
"The same thing happens to me." Arnold told him, "My Dad can't eat them either. Actually, they made my Grandpa sick too. Come to think of it raspberries make all the men in my family sick." He took a scoop of pineapple, "Pineapple on the other doesn't make me feel sick at all."
An hour later everyone was finished eating and the kids were playing on the jungle gym as the adults continued to talk. "Mom!" Adam and Tyson ran up to Helga, "Can I sleep over at Ty's tonight? Please?" The blonde boy begged.
"Did you ask Tyson's mom and dad first?" Helga asked, knowing full well they didn't. She looked over her shoulder at Phoebe and Gerald.
"We'd love to have Adam. It will keep Ty entertained for the night." Phoebe quickly told her friend. "We'll take him home after we leave here and you can drop off a bag of his things later."
"Alright." She looked down at Adam, "You just make sure you are a good boy tonight, okay?" Adam didn't respond, instead he and Tyson ran off back to the jungle gym.
Another half an hour later members of the group slowly started to leave. Soon it was just Gerald, Phoebe, Helga, Arnold, and the Gerald left. "So…Helga…" Arnold took a look around to make sure no one was within hearing distance. Helga was packing up some of the leftover food while Gerald and Phoebe packed up the car. The kids were still playing on the jungle gym. "I was thinking since you're not going to have Adam tonight that you'd maybe want to go out for a drink or something with me….If you wanted to." He stuffed his hands in his pockets nervously waiting for a reply.
Helga felt her cheeks blush pink, "Are you asking me out on a date?" She asked teasingly as she lifted a curious eyebrow.
"No! I mean….I…" Arnold continued to stutter. He couldn't remember the last time he was this nervous asking a girl out. "I'm asking you out for a drink. You can call it what you want."
"I think I want to call it a date." Helga admitted, her blush deepening.
Arnold grinned, "Good, that's what I was hoping you would want to call it." He paused, "I can pick you up at six?"
Helga nodded, smiling, "Sounds perfect."
"Criminy!" Helga whined dramatically as she tore through her closet looking for something to wear on her date with Arnold. She had nothing to wear! Okay, she had plenty to wear, but there was nothing she wanted to wear. She groaned, she didn't remember being this nervous for a date. Of course she hadn't really truly dated since she was first with Jason. Sure, she had been on a couple first dates after the separation, but Arnold was the first man that she actually wanted to go out with.
Maybe she had time to go shopping and find a new outfit. She checked the time, and groaned. It was already quarter after five. She didn't have time. She took a deep breath, "Okay Helga, old girl, you can do this. Arnold is just another guy. Just relax." Helga told herself in a low whisper. Relax.
Slowly, she began to calm down and after going through her closet for about the tenth time that night she settled on a pink three quarter length top with lace along the back collar and sleeves. She set the top ontop her bed before picking out a pair of dark washed skinny jeans. It was simple, yet she knew in her gut Arnold would love it.
She slipped out the towel she had tied around her bust and studied her reflection in the mirror for a moment. Her body had changed a lot since she got pregnant with Adam. Even four years after giving birth, she had yet to lose all of the baby weight completely. Truthfully, it hadn't bothered her much. She was sill slim and she was almost positive that men found her attractive, but suddenly those extra ten pounds, she hadn't been able to lose suddenly made her feel self-conscious. She shook the thoughts out of her head, Arnold obviously liked her and she hoped it wasn't just for her looks. She combed her fingers through her hair, she was just really nervous for her date.
It was five minutes before six when Arnold arrived to pick Helga up, "You look beautiful." Helga blushed when Arnold handed her a small bouquet of pink tulips, "Should have I gotten you roses?"
"No. These are perfect. Tulips are actually one of my favorite flowers." Helga smiled down at the flowers, "Thank you." She gave Arnold a quick kiss on the cheek. "I love them. I'll go put these in water quick and I'll be all ready to go."
The two blondes settled on going to a bar, three blocks away from Helga's place. "I think this one of the first times I've ever seen your hair down. I like it." Arnold complimented Helga after he ordered them a pitcher of beer.
"Thanks." Helga's fingers touched the end of her blonde tresses, "I rarely wear it like this. Ponytails are just easier." Her cheeks blushed, "Maybe I'll start wearing it like this more often."
"You look great with your hair in a ponytail too." Arnold told her, "Don't think you need to change the way you look, because you don't." He rambled nervously. He thanked the bartender and poured Helga and himself a beer. "Are you nervous as I am?"
Helga laughed, "Probably more. I went a few dates after I filed for separation, but I think this is the first date I actually wanted to go on. The only person I ever really dated was my ex. This is a whole new chapter for me." She paused, "I'm sorry, that's one of the golden rules for first dates, isn't it? Don't talk about your ex?"
Arnold shrugged, "Who said we have to play by the rules?"
Helga raised an eyebrow, "Since when are you a rule breaker, Football Head? From what I remember you were a stickler for the rules."
He took a long drink of his beer, "I guess I just got a little older. I like to live dangerously now. You know, when iTunes asks if I read the terms and conditions I always click yes, even though I never read them."
"Ooh! I've always liked a rebel. Who knew you'd turn into such a badass." Helga laughed loudly, taking a drink of her own beer. "So how's work been?"
"Good. I've still been pretty busy, but I just hired two new guys so they'll be taking over some duties. I should actually have time off now." There was a small pause, "Adam is a great kid. It looks like him and Tyson is going to be good friends."
"I know I might be a little impartial because he's my kid, but Adam is the best kid. I don't know what I did to end up with a kid like him. Remember what a terror I was? I figured I would have had some karmic payback, but he has such a big heart already."
"You weren't so bad."
"I was terrible to you." Helga pointed out, "I really am sorry about that. I know I'm almost two decades too late for an apology, but I am sorry."
"All is forgiven." Arnold told her quickly, "Adam is a good kid because you're a good mom. I know I haven't been around the two of you much, but anyone who spends a minute with the two you can see you are an amazing mom."
Helga smiled brightly, "You really think that?" Arnold nodded, "When I found out I was pregnant, I vowed that I wouldn't put my baby through what my parents put me through the majority of my childhood. Now, with Jason out of the picture, I just hope I'm enough for Adam."
"You're trying; I think that is the first step." There was a short pause, "Can I ask you what happened with your parents? I remember they weren't exactly attentive to you."
"You'd be right. They never physically abused me, if that's what you're wondering, but I was neglected. They were emotionally abusive, though I don't think they realized what they were doing. Things were pretty bad when we first moved to New York. My mom was drinking more than ever and it took a while for my dad's business to get off the ground, so he was yelling and angry all of the time. When I was twelve reported them to child protective services, I'm not sure who or why. There was an investigation and when the social worker came by my mom was passed out drunk and there was hardly any food in the house. Bob came home and started screaming at the poor woman and started yelling at me. Anyway, they pretty much threatened to remove me from my parent's custody." She glanced at Arnold, who was listening intently. "Things just changed after that. Bob went to anger management, Miriam went rehab, and we went to family therapy. I realized after that that they loved me and didn't want to lose me. It took me awhile to trust them enough to call them mom and dad, but we're all good now. My mom sobered up, she had a replace when I was fourteen, but she hasn't had a drink since then. Growing up I never thought I'd say this, but we're all one big happy family now, as crazy as that sounds."
"I'm glad it all worked out in the end." Arnold told her genuinely, "I'm sorry you had to go through all that in the first place."
Helga shrugged, "You don't need to be sorry; it's not your fault. Besides, you know what they say; whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
Two pitchers of beer later Arnold walked Helga back home, "Thank you for tonight." Helga told him as she unlocked the front door. "I had a really good time."
Arnold smiled down at her, "I had a really good time too. I hope we can go out again sometime soon."
She smiled, "I'd like that." She paused, "Would you like to come in?" She asked in a quick breath before she could chicken out.
"I'd love to."
His lips crashed against hers the moment they were inside and she shut the front door. She let a small squeak in surprise before kissing him back. They blindly stumbled into the living room and onto her couch without much separation. Helga moaned softly and her fingers curled into his blonde her hair and his hands pawed at her back, pulling her close against him.
The fact she was making out with Arnold was in the back of Helga's mind as she felt his hands slip under the hem of her shirt and caress the flesh covering her ribs. Helga was vaguely aware of it when Arnold lifted her onto his lap and allowed her to straddle him. Her back arched and she lifted her arms for him when he removed her shirt. She moaned his name as his hands went to her breasts, giving them a gentle squeeze before he places kisses just above her bra. His lips went to her neck as his hands went back to her breasts.
Suddenly it hit her; Arnold freaking Shortman was touching her boobs. Reluctantly, she pulled away. "We need to stop." She panted, slightly out of breath. "I'm so sorry. This is just way too fast for me."
Arnold pouted, just slightly. "You couldn't figure that out before I saw you in your bra?" He smiled softly, "I'm sorry, that was a joke."
Helga looked at him for a moment, realizing he was staring at her breasts, "You really like boobs, don't you?"
"Well, if I didn't I'd be living a very different lifestyle right now." He joked, his hands were on her waist now, he had to restrain himself not touch move them back to her perfectly sized breasts. "I like your boobs. They're really nice boobs."
Helga slid off his lap, "You're a total boob man!" She laughed, "This is so weird."
Arnold looked at her, confused. "Why is that weird?"
"Because you're Arnold Shortman! You aren't supposed to like boobs this much." She paused, "I guess I just realized we really aren't kids anymore." She grabbed her shirt off the floor and put it back on, "I really like you Arnold and believe me when I tell you I really want to do this, but it is way too fast. I've been with one man my entire life and I'm a single mom…We've only had one date and I'm not ready for this yet." She rambled on, "I'm really sorry."
"You don't need to explain yourself and you don't need to apologize." Arnold assured her, "I understand. I really like you too…" He kissed her softly on the forehead, "I'm willing to wait for whenever you are ready."
She smiled, giving him a quick kiss on his lips. "Thank you."
Arnold sighed heavily, "It's going to be a long walk home after seeing you without a shirt on. A long wait to see you again like that, really. Seriously, no pressure." A small smirk played on his lips, "Feel free to send pictures, if you ever feel like it."
"You're such a pig." Helga said in a laugh, she knew he was joking, though she guessed he wouldn't oppose to some dirty pictures, "How do I know they wouldn't end up online? I don't need my face all over the internet like that."
"I never said you're face had to be in the pictures."
She slapped him on the arm playfully, "Nice, real nice Arnold." She laughed, "Seriously though, we better be doing this again."
"I know I want to." Arnold pulled her into a kiss, "I better go. You're going to make this whole waiting thing very difficult, aren't you?" He asked after pulling away from their kiss.
She shrugged, "I am difficult. Why would this be any different?"
They said their goodbyes and Helga began to get ready for bed. She through her shirt in the hamper and took another look at herself in the mirror. Suddenly she felt more beautiful than she had in years. Smiling, she picked up her phone and took a picture of herself from the waist up, wearing only her bra. She looked down at her 'selfie' debating if she should actually go through with it. She mentally shrugged, what the hell, she was still young enough to make foolish decisions. Besides, she trusted him. She was almost giddy when sent Arnold the picture.
She got his response only seconds later. I honestly don't know if you are the best person ever or just a sadist…You look amazing. Do I need to send you mine now?
She quickly typed in her response. Can't I be a bit of both? And only if you want to…I certainly wouldn't object. ;)
Five minutes later, the time Helga assumed it took Arnold to get home, she received another text message. This time it was a picture of a shirtless Arnold. Damn…He looked good. She knew right then waiting wouldn't just be hard for Arnold.