Requested By Madfantic

Chapter 1

The Boarding House

Arnold was sitting in his room with Helga after a fun day spent at Wrestlemania. It was wonderful to see the smile such an event was capable of bringing to her face. There was just one other thing able to do the same.

"So you really seemed to be enjoying yourself at the match." Arnold couldn't help but point out.

"Well Doi! It's not every day Haystack battles the city's champion!" Helga reminded him, hoping to sound as though she had a logical reason for acting as happy as she did.

Taking a seat on the couch, folding her arms confidently, Helga added "Maybe Taco Head could be his next victim."

An awkward silence occurred. When Helga looked over to see her boyfriend staring at the floor, twiddling his thumbs, she cocked her brow and asked "What is it?"

Arnold let out a deep sigh as he rubbed the back of his neck and explained "I talked to Arnie like I said I would when you went to change earlier today. The school year's started though, so there's no time for me to visit the farm."

"Try not to cry." Helga leered, not knowing what he was so worried about.

"Instead, he's coming for a visit here tomorrow…"

Helga's eyes widened as she thought back to the last moment she spent with her boyfriend's unorthodox relative…

I want us to spend every waking minute together. Let me tell you about myself. I like gum, and I like counting things, but most of all, I like gum. I also like reading the ingredients on food packages. It's kind of my hobby…

The petrified girl shook her head as she felt a shiver run through her at the memory. It wasn't hard for Arnold to see how displeased Helga was by the information.

"I'm really sorry Helga. He's only going to be here a day. If it makes you feel any better, he's bringing his girlfriend. That way neither of us should have to worry about him bothering you." Arnold said hopefully, praying it would be enough to keep his girlfriend around.

Helga watched her boyfriend take a seat beside her, holding her hand in his. Rubbing it gently with hopeful eyes. The blonde girl's face fell into a daze. While an exciting sporting event may bring a thrill to her heart, no activity was a match for the joined feeling she and Arnold now shared.

For years, this emotionally disturbed girl prayed her beloved was capable of seeing past her rough exterior. Even if she denied the truth, she held onto whatever hope remained inside herself that Arnold would always see the good in everyone.

Now, here was her chance to prove it to him. Prove that no matter how much the idea of being around his eccentric relative revolted her, she was willing to do anything for him. No disturbing task could outweigh the love she always had and would feel for him.

After taking a deep breath and looking into his (what now appeared to be) guilty eyes, the unanxious girl asked "So when's Sir Snorts A Lot supposed to be here tomorrow?"

"They're taking the early bus, so around ten. He and his girlfriend will only be here a day. I told him there wasn't time for a long visit since the school year started. I know no one wants him in class with us again." the culpable boy sighed.

"Pttss...gee, ya think?"

After seeing the troubled expression the situation really was bringing to her boyfriend's face, Helga began to rub her neck and said "Well I guess even if the freak did come to class, it wouldn't be the end of the world. He proved himself to be just a low-spirited version of Simmons."

Shrugging his shoulders at the comment, Arnold asked "Why do you say that?"

"Think about it Arnoldo. Your freaky relative likes to count; Simmons goes gaga every time he has a new math lesson to teach us. Your cousin reads food packages; Simmons is turned on by health food lectures. What normal kid cares about those things?" Helga asked anxiously awaiting (yet not expecting) an answer.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Well, when his bus arrives tomorrow, my parents have already discussed wanting to have breakfast with him. You and your family are welcome to join us." Arnold smiled hopefully at his girlfriend.

The sweet, hopeful look he revealed was always impossible to resist. That is, unless her family was brought into the picture. "Uhhh one annoying relative at breakfast is bad enough. We don't need to bring my entire family into the picture."

"Whatever you say Helga."

After an evening spent discussing what a meal (and the rest of the afternoon) spent with Arnold's unorthodox relative and girlfriend would be like, Helga decided it was time to head out.

Standing from the couch, stretching her arms, Helga said "Well see ya bright and early for breakfast. Don't let Taco Head sit anywhere near me."

Arnold stood to give his loyal friend a sweet kiss good night. The longer they were together, the more he realized it didn't matter how much she disliked the idea of something. If it was important to him, her backing out was the last thing he had to worry about.

"Good night Helga. Sweet dreams." the kind boy said, as he stood there eyeing his favorite girl, running his fingers through her hair.

After telling Arnold about her dream, Helga couldn't help but laugh at his suggestion and said "Yeah, we'll see."

The Next Day

It was Sunday morning. Despite knowing his cousin was visiting, Arnold actually slept well that night. Perhaps it was because both he and Arnie had their own relationships to focus on now. Arnie wasn't out to steal anything or anyone from him...or so he thought.

The blonde boy went downstairs to see his family sitting in the kitchen "Morning everyone."

"Hey there shortman!" Phil greeted his grandson, trying to forget about the fact that Arnie was scheduled to arrive at any moment.

"Sit down and eat your flapjacks Tex before The Joker arrives!" Pookie insisted, as she set a large stack of pancakes in front of her grandson.

"The Joker?" Miles questioned. Although he was learning how eccentric his mother had become since he left for his last mission, it wasn't always easy to comprehend what she was saying.

"If she means your cousin shortman, this may be the first time we ever agreed on something. No question about it; that kid's a joke!" Phil said bluntly.

Miles rolled his eyes at his dad's unsupportive attitude until the family heard a knock at the door…

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"I'll get it!" Stella offered, after finishing the dishes.

The sweet lady headed for the front, expecting to see her nephew. Instead, she opened the door to see a blonde pigtailed girl, hoping to be invited inside.

"Hello Helga! How have you been?"

"Oh fine. Just fine. Arnold told me about his cousin's visit and invited me to meet him this morning." the nervous girl explained.

Stella smiled at the hopeful pre-teen and replied "Of course you can! He hasn't arrived yet, but we'd love to have you join us!"

The relieved girl raced inside, feeling welcomed. Technically, she felt welcome anywhere but home. Home is a place you can count on someone (your family) to be there for you when you need them. In other words, people you're able to rely on, because you know they're not only willing, but happy to do things for you.

Never did Helga feel that way at home. Even when Olga tried becoming closer with her, Helga wasn't able to count on her not to do something embarrassing.

Maybe eating with Arnold's uncanny relative wasn't on her list of favorite activities, but performing activities such as that showed how close they were growing.

The curious girl walked into the kitchen to see a stack of untouched pancakes in front of her beloved.

Arnold turned his head to see Helga standing in the doorway. A smile quickly came to his face as he rose and said "Helga! You came!"

"Like I said, as long as he doesn't touch me, we're good."

"You can sure pick 'em shortman! Or they can pick you in her case hehe." Phil chuckled at his joke.

"Grandpa…"

Helga did her best to hide her blushing face as she took her seat beside her boyfriend. Everyone knew about her feelings for the sweet boy. Even the amount of time she had felt that way about him was beginning to come out. Everyone knowing the overwhelming obsession she felt based on the type of person she made herself out to be was just too much at times. It made her feel like a hoax.

"So, why aren't you eating?" Helga couldn't help but ask.

Stella then approached the table with a plate for their guest and explained "Arnie and his girlfriend seem to be running a little late. I thought by the time I had breakfast finished, they'd be here."

"The rest of your family didn't want to stick around to see him?" Helga smirked, knowing what a pointless question it was.

"We told them we'd like some time to catch up with our nephew after not seeing him in so many years. They were very understanding about letting us have the room to ourselves." Stella began.

"Most of them anyway. That Kakoshka character throws a tantrum if he doesn't get a free meal." Phil glared, thinking about the unwanted boarder.

Cocking her brow, Helga asked "Does the idiot now know how to pour himself a bowl of cereal?"

"How the heck should I know?" Phil wondered, feeling as though the girl expected him to think of Oscar as his actual relative.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"The Joker has arrived! Hahaha!" Pookie shouted, racing for the front door.

"Then again, he may not be the least tolerable person in the house." Phil sighed, watching his wife race for the front door with the stream of pets.

There rest of the family followed her down the hall to open the door. There stood Stella's long missed nephew.

"Hey." the plain boy snorted.

Stella wrapped her arms around her brother's son and said "We've missed you so much Arnie!"

The rest of the group gave each other perplexed looks, wondering if that was just her way of being polite.

After letting go of her missed relative, Arnie directed his attention towards the girl beside him and said "This is my girlfriend...Hilda."