Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters. Hey Arnold is the property of Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett.

A Perfect Disaster

Chapter 5: Family

At Slausens

Helga soon arrived to the ice cream shop and saw her family and the children's friends already scarfing down a ton of ice cream sundaes and malts. She went to sit next to her husband Arnold who was feeding Henry a tiny spoon of vanilla ice cream.

"I'm back..." Helga announced.

"Where's aunt Olga?..." Andy asked the question that was on everybody's mind.

"Something came up..." Helga said vaguely, not wanting the kids, especially Logan and Lisa know about the fight she had with her sister and that she likely went home to bawl her eyes out.

Her husband sent her an understanding look, figuring out what must have happened but said nothing and went back to tending to Henry and the other kids. The twins didn't seem that bothered as they went back to eating their chocolate sundaes. Helga felt bad for them. While they didn't act like it was bothering them, she knew that deep down it probably did bothered them that Olga wasn't coming now, even if they didn't want to admit it.

She didn't regret what she said earlier. Olga needed to hear it, she needed to get her head out of the clouds and accept that things are not going to be the way she wants them to be. She had to let go of her insane obsession with perfection, if only for Logan and Lisa's sakes.

Those two..." Helga thought with sympathy.

She knew that back as a kid, she never would have thought she would ever have anything in common with something that belonged to Olga, and that included her children. Logan and Lisa barely had anything in common with their mother but Lisa was a tomboy and Logan was very creative, something even Olga lacked in comparison to herself.

It was really sad and almost like a strange twist of fate that Helga had so much in common with those two, in both good and bad, which includes having a lousy parent. With Patrick's stupidity and Olga's high expectations, she knew that the twins had it rough. That was why Helga always tried to give them as much encouragement and support as she possibly could. She tried to include the twins in as many of her family activities as possible, give them advice, encourage their dreams and give them presents that they would like for Christmas and their birthday. Thankfully Arnold and her kids loved Logan and Lisa as well and that made things even better. She truly loved her niece and nephew and she didn't want to see them feel like they were all alone in the world, trapped by Olga's shadows and the "Pataki pride" like she was at their age.

Her life wasn't an easy one but things shaped up after the big adventure in San Lorenzo after fifth grade. The fact that she finally won Arnold's heart was the start of things getting better. Arnold loved her and his family had welcomed her with open arms. His grandparents, who thankfully were still alive and kicking, treating her like a surrogate granddaughter and Miles and Stella were always so kind to her. There was a bad time, when Arnold and his parents had to return to San Lorenzo to help the Green Eyes in their attempt to finally communicate with the modern work. It was sad that it put a brief "pause" in her relationship with Arnold but Helga didn't give up. Arnold eventually returned to her and they resumed their love. They went to college together, graduated and got married and Helga even published her first novel that same year.

Now she was a wife, mother and well-renown author. All of her dreams ended up coming true.

Even things with Bob and Miriam were better now and have been for years now. They acknowledged her accomplishments and were proud of her now, even remembering her name and thankfully didn't scare Arnold off when they were dating. Helga had every reason in the world to never forgive them for what they did to her and Olga but she knew that life was short and she already wasted so much of her life on hate and anger, that the only way to truly move on was to let it go. That was why she decided to bury the hatchet with her parents, especially after they had been willing to pay for her and Arnold's wedding. it didn't make up for it but she wasn't angry anymore.

She wasn't going to nominate them for parents of the year any time soon but things were better now.

She just hoped that the twins don't end up like this when they grow up.

" Hey Logan, let's see who can scarf down the most ice cream without getting brain freeze!...'Andy challenged.

" You're on!..."Logan shouted before chowing down.

"Don't eat too fast, you're both going to get sick..." Helga chided but smiled in amusement.

'Boys..."Lisa said with an eye roll before going back to her sundae.

"Mommy, can I have another scoop?...' Megan asked sweetly to her mother.

"That depends, how many has she had already?..." Helga turned to Arnold.

"Just that one..."He answered.

"Alright but one more..." Helga said as she went with her daughter to get another scoop.

Once they returned, she saw her son and nephew clutching their heads, groaning in pain.

"I warned you..."Helga said... "So who won?..." She asked.

"It...was...a...tie..." Logan groaned as he rubbed his temples.

Helga sighed. She waited for their brain freeze to pass and the boys went back to their sweets like nothing had happened. She looked at her children, her little Andy, Megan and Henry and smiled. The moment Andy was born was when Helga's life truly began and over the years she was blessed again. Her children were the physical manifestation of the love between her and Arnold. They were her little miracles and she loved them so much.

"Cherry my dear?..." Arnold offered to his wife.

"Hurry..."Helga giggled. As soon as Arnold placed the piece of fruit in her mouth, he stole a quick kiss.

"Mom! Dad! Gross!...'Andy whined as he shield his face in embarrassment while the other kids looked grossed out as well.

Helga merely smirked in amusement before sending a smile to her son. Andy was the spitting image of his father but he had a lot of her own traits as well. She loved him so much, just like she loved his brother and sister as well. Helga never played favorites EVER. She loved all three of her children equally and tried to make sure they never ended up feeling the kind of neglect and favorism she was subjected to as a child or the insane amount of pressure Olga put on the twins. She loved her niece and nephew so much and loved them as if they were her own.

Despite the fact that Olga was a lousy mom and was clingy to unrealistic expectations, she knew that she loved her kids and they loved her but their relationship was too dysfunctional to work. She knew because she lived that for most of her early life. Logan and Lisa deserved better than that.

"I hope I got through to her, for their sakes..."Helga thought before going back to her cone.

She certainly hoped that, by some great miracle, her words somehow sunk in to Olga's very stubborn mind. Her sister wasn't a bad person, she knew that but she was stubborn and unreasonable. She knew that she didn't mean any harm, that in her own warped way, she thought she was doing the right thing. It was the tragic side effect of her "brainwashing" . Her sister wasn't a bad person but she needed a wake up call and accept reality as it was.

It was the only way for her to clean up her mess before it becomes too late.

Later

At the Sherman residence

Olga arrived home about an hour ago. She was still sitting in the living room as she awaited her family to come home. She knew her kids were suppose to come home before 4:30 since their tutor Mr. Blake was to arrive at that time. He came about three times a week to help her children with their math, science and history lessons. She glanced over to her wall clock was saw that it was 4:15 pm.

As she awaited for her children to come home, Olga's mind was stuck on what happens earlier today with her sister and what she said to her.

That she was making a mistake in how she was raising her kids...That she was being immature and wasting her life...that their parents methods were wrong and that Olga was only miserable because she was making herself miserable...and she was making her children miserable as well.

"Am I really like that?..." She asked to no one but herself.

Suddenly the front door opened and turned to see Lisa and Logan come in with content smiles on their faces.

"How was the ice cream parlor?..." Olga asked.

"It was great, me and Andy had an eating contest but it was a draw..." Logan said happily.

"I see..."Olga said.

"What happened? I thought you said you were coming..." Lisa asked, unintentionally making her mom feel worse.

"I wasn't feeling well..." She said vaguely, the guilt gnawing in her gut.

Her children shared a look but didn't question further.

"We brought you a vanilla swirl..." Lisa said as she presented the dairy treat to their mother.

"Thank you..."Olga said as she placed it in the freezer for after dinner.

She glanced over to her children who were talking about the game. Olga remembers the day they were born. She remembered how happy she was when her pregnancy test said positive and when the doctor announced she and Patrick would be having two little bundles of joy. She loved them so much and she only wanted what was best for them.

"But...what IS best for them?..."Olga finally asked that terrifying question to herself.

Suddenly her rang and she answered it.

"Hello, Sherman residence..."Olga said automatically.

"Hello Mrs. Sherman, it's Mr. Blake..."The twins tutor said on the other line.

"Why hello Mr. Blake, how do you do?..."Olga asked politely over the phone.

" I am afraid to say that I will be arriving a little late for today's lesson..I have run late with my other client and there is traffic on the interstate....I should arrive in about 20 minutes, I am very sorry for the inconvenience. .."The tutor explained over the phone.

Olga blinked. Mr. Blake was a very punctual man and it was very rare that we would be late but he always informed Olga ahead of time. When that happened she just made her twins review the last material they studied until he arrived. Olga was about to say something until she glanced at her children. They looked a little tired but it was obvious they had a lot of fun today. Olga still valued their education but...

"You know Mr. Blake, if it's alright...maybe we can skip the twins lesson today..."Olga said and she ignored the shocked looks on her kids face when she said that.

She was surprised herself that she said it but there was no turning back from it.

"Excuse me ?..." said in an alarmed tone. Olga figured he probably thought she was upset with him but that wasn't the case.

"It's nothing against you, it's just that it's getting late and I know that kind of traffic can last hours, we can reschedule the lesson for Monday if it's alright..."Olga said while her son and daughter looked agape.

"As you wish ..." The tutor said before hanging up.

Olga turned to see Lisa and Logan looked at her in astonishment.

"What?..." She asked, wondering if there was something on her face.

"Who are you no and what have you done with our mom?..."Lisa asked in an incredulous voice.

"I am still your mother Lisa..."The mother said reassuringly.

"You never cancel any of our tutoring sessions before. .."Logan pointed out.

"Well...You guys already took your math test and did your homework...and we all had a long day and is already running late, so..."Olga rambled a bit. She didn't want to tell them of her fight with Helga...about everything she said but Olga just...

She just wanted what was best for them...and maybe a little break every once in a while wouldn't do any harm to them or their grades. They were just kids...not little wind up dolls.

"I guess what I am saying...you can use a break...for today.."Olga managed to get out.

Her children looked at her in disbelief. Suddenly the door opened and her husband Patrick came in carrying his guitar.

"Hey there family. ..did I miss anything?..."He asked.

"Hello dear..no...so how was band practice?..."Olga asked.

"It went well, I actually have good news..."He suddenly pulled out some tickets..."Lars managed to book us a gig next week at Dino Land, it's the parks 30th anniversary and we're the lead act and they gave us these entry passes for free. .."He said in excitement.

"That's wonderful Patrick..."Olga said.

"Alright Dino Land!..."Logan cheered in excitement.

"T Rex coaster , here I come!..."Lisa shouted in glee.

"You know we can invite your sister and her family if you want..."Patrick offered, explaining that members of the band were allowed to bring some guests.

Olga blinked at that, then looked at her kids who were looking at her expecting an answer. Despite what happened earlier, Olga nodded her head and the twins cheered in excitement.

"Great, I'll call Lars to add 5 more people to the list..." Patrick said as he took out his phone.

Olga looked at the happy smiles on her children's face and felt something she rarely felt for a while. They looked really excited and happy about next week. Olga wanted to see those happy smiles more.

"Darling, you don't have practice tomorrow do you?..."Olga asked.

"No babe, tomorrow's my day off..."Patrick answered.

Soon everyone's attention was on her and Olga knew what she had to do. She wanted to do it and she knew it was probably the only way to make things better for her kids

"Tomorrow is Sunday, why don't the four of us go to the park and have a family day..."Olga suggested.

"Sure babe, sounds like fun..."Patrick said mellow like.

Olga turned to her children, hoping they wouldn't reject her again. They still looked surprised and Olga was fearing the worse until she saw a small smile form on her daughters face.

"Okay..."Lisa agreed.

"Yeah, I'm in..."Logan said as well as he and sister kept talking in excitement about the upcoming plans.

"Wonderful! Tomorrow we'll go around 10...but don't think that just because Mr. Blake isn't joining today doesn't mean you don't have work to do. I still want you to study...after we come back..."Olga added the last part softly.

Her children only nodded before running to the phone to call their aunt and tell her and her family the exciting news. Olga sighed as she felt as if some kind of great weight was lifted from her shoulder.

As the middle aged blonde woman decided to get a start on making dinner, she glanced at her family. Her husband was explaining his day to their children and the twins were listening attentively as they waited for their mother to be finished making dinner. At this moment, it was almost like they were a normal family.

"My family..."Olga thought as she put the meatloaf in the oven.

She knew that it would take a while but she didn't want her children to end resenting her the way Helga had resented their parents when they were growing up. She still cared about their studies, she still wanted them to do well in life...but a little break would probably do some good for them.

And her as well.

The End

And done.

Not too shabby if I do say so myself.

I would like to dedicate and give a shout out to my many wonderful reviews that have stuck by me since I started this fic.

Let's give some love for: Ajay435, Invader Johnny, Miyasa, Nairobi-Harper, metalheadrailfan,Guest (1), Guest (2), Guest (3), Guest(4), Guest (5), Cece, queenmoonbutterfly, duel crystal, Monvar, Shadowprove97, Kryten and Human Dictionary.

Thank you all for the support, you guys are part of the reason I love doing what I do :)

For old times sake here are my REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewers:

Ajay435, Invader Johnny and Kryten: Looks like she is, it's small but it's a start.

metalheadreilfan: You got that right my good man.

Human Dictionary: Yes, I am quite familiar with TV Tropes, I even have a page for my "Cupid's Wrath' fanfic. Also, I read your fic and I like it, I am happy to know if I inspired you in any way, shape or form, if only a little.

Nairobi-Harper: I hope this answers your question, also thanks. That was what I was aiming for. I never really liked how "perfect' Olga was and I always believed that sometime, likely after college, her extremely high standards on her self and her over confidence would be her undoing but as shown here, she still has a little hope.

:) It's been a blast everyone :)