Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold! Or anything else that probably sounds like you could make some money off of it. Or any of the songs listed at the bottom.
FF Summary: One night Helga thought would be of no consequence ends up changing her and Arnold's life forever.
Story Summary: Helga figured that Arnold was drunk enough to not remember anything, and she was drunk enough to think it was a good idea. But she'll soon find out that what they'd done that night isn't going to be a secret for long.
This is slightly AU, as in if things went the way C.B. had wanted, I'm changing it a little. Arnold has recently moved back from San Lorenzo with his parents after being away from Hillwood for 6 years. So he's a junior in high school now. What didn't happen was the realization of his feelings for Helga and it wasn't a class trip, only because that's a LOT of back story and this story is going to be busy enough!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I just want to thank every single one of my readers for spending the time to look at this story I had spent years day dreaming about before finally making it a reality. Thank you so much for all your support!
Now, I've gotten a couple reviews on the subject of Arnold x Helga. Don't worry, I specifically did not have them end up together. That's not what this story was about. The sequel will deal with their romantic relationship as the main plot. There will also be a companion collection of drabbles and oneshots for that story as well.
ALSO, I have posted at the end of this chapter the story's soundtrack. The songs are placed in order and there is one for each chapter. They are songs that I feel go well with the story from my point of view. I recommend that you check them out!
The sequel The Swing of Things should be out fairly soon, along with its companion collection From the Dugout pretty soon.
Enjoy this final installment of Dropped the Ball!
Epilogue:
"Of New Beginnings and Fresh Starts"
Helga's eyes fluttered open to find Arnold sitting over on his bench, holding Henry. She shifted up, wincing at the sensation in her breasts signaling Henry will want to eat soon, "How's he doing?"
Arnold glanced over, "Good. He woke up about ten minutes ago."
"No fussing?"
"Nope," he got up and made his way over to her bedside, "Just staring."
She hummed, and the contentment was evident in her voice, "Must be thinking how lucky he is to not have his father's head shape."
Arnold laughed softly, "He actually does look a lot like you though."
"God help him," Helga lightly quipped.
The young father smiled at her sincerely, "Hey, the view isn't so bad from where I'm standing."
Helga rolled her eyes, "Maybe I'm decent now, but I pity his childhood."
Arnold edged himself onto the side of the bed, "I'm pretty sure he has your chin, and he definitely has your eyes."
She hummed, "Probably just Baby Blues."
Arnold shook his head, "No way. I'd know those blue eyes anywhere. They're yours."
Helga blushed and averted her gaze, "If you say so Football Head."
"I do."
She cleared her throat and took in Henry's appearance for herself, "I see plenty of you in him, too."
"Oh yeah?"
"Mm-hmm. Those are your ears and your nose. And the eyes…maybe he's got my color, but he has the same shape as yours. And those lips," she smirked up at him, "I'd know those lips anywhere."
"Oh yeah?" Arnold repeated with a suggestive quirk of his brow.
Henry started squirming in Arnold's grasp, whimpering lowly.
"Oh, now you're hungry?" Helga questioned in a slight baby voice as she received him from Arnold's arms.
"A little bit behind schedule," Arnold remarked as he jotted the time down on the clipboard.
"That's my boy! No one tells my son when to eat except him," Helga cooed.
"He should be ready for another nap pretty quick here," Arnold commented as Helga finished up feeding Henry.
Helga nodded in agreement as she gazed down at the little blonde baby in her arms.
A knock came at the door and Arnold went over to open it slightly. His eyes widened and he looked over to Helga, "Um, its your parents."
"What?" Helga said harshly, and she felt Henry shift against her in discomfort.
"Can…can they come in?" Arnold asked tentatively.
Helga sighed but gave a nod. A moment later she saw her parents for the first time in about eight months. However, what struck her was how…nervous they looked.
"Hey there…Helga," Big Bob Pataki spoke awkwardly before acknowledging Arnold with a slight nod, "Alf…er, Arnold."
"Mr. Pataki," the blonde returned with a nod of his own, "Mrs. Pataki."
The woman gave a tight smile, "Hello Arnold," she shifted her gaze over to Helga's, "How are you, honey? How are you feeling? How's the little one?"
"Olga told us the labor went pretty smoothly. We were glad to hear that."
"You were?" Helga spoke for the first time since they had come in.
Big Bog cleared his throat, "Yes, we were," he stood up a little straighter, "You see, the thing is, is that we've been talking with Olga for the past few months practically to hear how you were doing."
"You were?" Helga repeated, sounding flabbergasted.
Miriam nodded emphatically, "We…we realized, thanks to a little push from Arnold, that we didn't want to miss out on your life anymore. We didn't want to miss out on our grandson's life either."
"Olga said that we should wait for you to have the baby, to make sure we didn't cause you any stress."
"I…see."
"Look," Big Bob spoke a little gruffly, "Helga, I…I'm sorry for all the things I said to ya that night. I'm sorry for a lot of things I've said over the years…and, well for the things I didn't say. We want you to know that we'd like to maybe start over."
"Start fresh," Miriam added with eyes looking a little watery.
Helga stared at them with a hard expression, "Do you actually mean all that?"
"More than anything," came Miriam's shaking reply.
"I've already cut back a little on the hours at work. Your mom and I have been meeting with a counselor that your sister recommended."
"You're…you're really serious about this?"
Big Bob nodded.
"Helga, do you think…do you think I could maybe hold him?"
Helga turned her head to Miriam with an almost sad look, "Have you had any of your smoothies today?"
Miriam winced but she gave another tight smile, "No, I haven't had a drink in 67 days."
Helga's eyes widened, "Really?"
The woman nodded, "I go to meetings twice a week, and talk to my sponsor every other night. We really mean it, Helga. We want a second chance."
Helga gestured her mother over and handed the bundled baby over.
"Oh, oh he's just so beautiful honey," Miriam cooed as she swayed the baby lightly.
Big Bob went and stood by her so he could get a good look for himself, "You did real good, Helga. You too, Arnold."
Arnold shifted awkwardly, but smiled, "Thank you, sir."
"And uh, sorry for the…" The man gestured weakly before dropping his hands to his sides.
Arnold waved a hand, "Don't worry about it."
"When are you cleared to leave?" Miriam asked.
When Helga didn't respond, Arnold spoke up, "Uh, later this afternoon, actually. They said both Helga and Henry are pictures of perfect health."
"That's good, that's real good," Big Bob commented as he shuffled a bit where he stood.
"Um…do you think we might be able to come by this week to visit with you and Henry?" Miriam asked hopefully.
"You want to?" Helga asked quietly.
"We'd like to, if you're alright with it Helga," Big Bob said with sincerity.
Helga gave a small smile, "I'd like that, dad."
Big Bob and Miriam approached the nurse sitting at the desk.
"Can I help you?"
"Yeah," Big Bob answered pulling out his wallet, "I'd like to cover the bill for the Pataki-Shortman services."
Dropped the Ball Soundtrack:
1. She's so Mean by Matchbox Twenty
2. Operate by Peaches
3. Stand in the Rain by Superchick
4. Go Your Own Way by Lissie
5. Misery by Maroon 5
6. Here Comes the Sun by Bob Khaleel
7. Courage by Sarah Polley
8. Cold Hard Bitch by Jet
9. Desperately by Michelle Branch
10. Vienna by Billy Joel
11. Kiss with a Fist by Florence and the Machine
12. Cut the Cord by Pushmonkey
13. These Small Hours by Rob Thomas
*Bonus Track:
Life in Technicolor (Instrumental) by Coldplay