Inevitable

in·ev·i·ta·ble

adjective

certain to happen; unavoidable.

Inevitable Part One

Bob Pataki was angry. Actually, anger was a vast understatement. For the third month in a row the Big Bob's Beeper Emporium lost money. For some reason, that was completely beyond Bob's understanding, people just didn't seem to want to buy beepers anymore. He wasn't sure how he was going to make his mortgage payments next month.

This was all The Girl's fault.

If it weren't for her he, Miriam, and Olga would be living the high life right now. If she hadn't helped that Orphen boy he wouldn't be worried about paying bills or losing the store. Hell, he wouldn't even need the store anymore. If it weren't for The Girl he wouldn't care if another beeper was ever sold again.

Then there was her mouth.

Good lord, was she mouthy. Always smarting off about something, questioning him, calling him and Miriam by their first names, and was always, always, always a defiant pain in his ass. Olga was never like that. His eldest daughter was truly the perfect child growing up, always striving to make life easier for her Mommy and Daddy.

Helga would never be like that.

She always made things harder on the family. He was still embarrassed when that school of her's called and required her to see that quack of a child psychiatrist or face suspension. He only could imagine what twisted version of events Helga spouted to the shrink.

"We gotta do something about The Girl Miriam." He told her as he poured himself a vodka smoothie from his wife's beloved blender.

"Olga?" Miriam asked sleepily as she pushed up her glasses. "What's wrong with Olga?"

Bob rolled his eyes. Yet another thing Helga could be blamed for. She didn't start drinking until shortly after she was born, "Not Olga, the other one. She's becoming too much of nonscesce. She cost us a lot with that stunt she pulled at the beginning of the summer."

"Stunt?" His wife looked confused, "Oh, that whole neighborhood thing, right?"

"Right. I'm sick of her smarting off too. Where is she anyway?"

Miriam shrugged, "I could have sworn she was here."

"Well she's not." Bob snapped, "That's another thing. She never tells us where she's going." He assumed so anyway, she did tell him something earlier, but he didn't pay much attention to what she was saying. The Wheel was on, after all.

"Well, what do you want to do Bob? Send her to boarding school?" She giggled, "Maybe military school?"

"Too expensive. I'm not wasting anymore money on her." There was that, then there was the fact there was no way they could afford it. Scholarships never crossed his mind, she wasn't as smart as Olga anyway. Bob paused, thinking for a moment. "Maybe Dan would take her." He barked out a laugh, "I don't who would be punished more my brother or Helga."

"When's the last time you talked to Dan?" Miriam asked, pouring herself another drink.

"How old is Helga again?" Bob asked, still laughing to himself. "Do you remember that tiny apartment Dan and Julie had? That should whip her into shape real fast. You know what? I am going to give him a call."

After digging out his younger brother's phone number he did just that.

"Hello?"

"Dan? It's Bob."

"...As in my brother Bob?" The younger Pataki brother was obviously shocked. He hadn't heard from this brother in years. "Is Miriam and the girls okay?" Dan was in particularly worried about his nieces.

"I'm gonna cut right to the chase." Bob told him bluntly, "Miriam and I are at our wits end with Helga. We just don't know what to do with her anymore."

"Umm...Okay?" Dan had no idea where Bob was going to go with this. He had never met his younger niece. He and Bob fell out of contact right after she was born. He never even got a Christmas card from his brother and family since.

"Can you take her for awhile? Maybe you can straighten her out."

"Gee Bob, I don't...I'll need to talk to Jules and boys about it."

Bob laughed mockingly, "Figures you'd need to do something like that. Discuss it with your wife and kids and call me back. I'm at the same number." Before Dan could respond Bob hung up the phone.

It was at that moment Dan knew he and his wife had to take in his niece. Bob was way too much like their father. Though he never met her, he knew Helga didn't deserve whatever treatment Bob was giving her.

He knew all too well what it felt like.

Bob was ecstatic. Dan had called back within the hour and agreed to take in Helga for a while. At least for the duration of the impending school year. Dan's younger son, Nick, was only a few weeks older than Helga, so they would be in the fifth grade together.

Shortly after Bob bought Helga's one way plane ticket she decided to grace the family with her presence. "Where have you been Little Lady?" He met her at the front down with his arms crossed.

The nine year old rolled her eyes. "Playing baseball, like I told you I was doing before I left hours ago Bob." She threw her baseball bat and mitt down near the door.

Bob smirked, he couldn't wait to wipe that smug look off her face. "Pack your bags. You're leaving tomorrow."

"Ugh, don't tell me you rented that beach house again. Don't you remember how burnt you got last time?"

Helga tried to walk past him, but Bob grabbed her arm. "Your mom, Olga, and I aren't going anywhere. You are."

"What are you talking about?" Her eyebrow was furred in confusion.

"You're going to live with your uncle and his family for a while. Go pack your bags. You leave tomorrow."

Helga laughed, "Very funny Bob. I don't have an uncle."

"Yeah, you do. My brother Dan. He's five years younger than me." He smirked, "He lives in New York. Has two sons. One's your age. Good luck living in their tiny apartment." He snorted. "You'll probably have to sleep on the couch."

Helga's blue eyes widened, realizing that he was serious. "Bu...but Dad, why? I don't want to go."

"Don't Dad me now. That ship has sailed. No arguing. Pack. Now. Hop to it before I do it for you." He released her arm, slightly pushing her towards the stairs. "No calling any of your friends either. You don't have time for that."

By the time Helga made it to her room she was in tears. She didn't want to go! She didn't want to leave Phoebe or...Or...Or Arnold. How could she stand not seeing them everyday? And living with her uncle and his family? She didn't even know he ever existed!

How bad was he if even Bob didn't want to see him?

How was she going to get through this?

Bob hid all the phones in the house so Helga didn't even get a chance to call Phoebe to tell her she was leaving. She was the only one that might actually kind of miss her. But Bob refused to let her say goodbye.

Bob and Miriam dropped her off at the airport early the next morning. A flight attendant would be sitting with her until her plane took off and would be checking in on her during the flight.

By the time the plane landed Helga's heart was thumping. Bob had told her that Uncle Dan would be waiting for her at the gate. She wondered what he was like. Was he as bad as Bob? Was he worse?

Marnie, the flight attendant that had watched over her during the flight walked her out of the gate. "That must be your Uncle." She pointed out a man with a handwritten sign that said 'Helga Pataki'.

Helga frowned slightly. She thought Bob said Uncle Dan was only five years younger than him. Than man looked at least ten years younger, though the two looked clearly related. Uncle Dan just looked ten years younger and didn't have the monobrow.

He was smiling at her as they approached, "Helga. It's so good to have you here in New York." He showed his ID to Marnie, proving who he was. "I know this is strange, but I'm glad you're here. Your Aunt Julie and cousins are very excited to meet you too. Did your Dad tell you anything about them?" He asked as they walked to baggage claim.

Helga only shook her head no, her nerves getting the best of her to get the courage to speak.

Dan sighed, "Figures." He muttered. "I have two sons. Nick is your age and Danny is twelve. Julie is a pediatrician and I own a furniture store."

Helga sighed, at least furniture wouldn't become obsolete like beepers. "So you're the Furniture King?"

Dan laughed, relieved that his niece finally spoke to him. "No. Nothing like that." They stopped at the luggage carousel, "Look, I know you are probably really freaking out right now...I don't blame ya. But I promise you, your Aunt and I will take really good care of you." He nudged her playfully, "I think you'll like New York. It's a fun place. You'll love the pizza."

"Why didn't my Dad ever tell me about you? I didn't even know he had a brother."

"That's a story for another day. I'll just tell you this...Sometimes family just doesn't get along."

"Pfft." Helga huffed, "You're telling me."

After grabbing Helga's two pink suitcases Dan hailed a taxi and pointed out different buildings on their drive to his place. "Aunt Julie is making dinner us all a nice family dinner tonight. Tomorrow she wants to take you shopping to decorate your room. We have boys we don't know what nine year old girls like anymore." Dan laughed.

"My room?" Helga repeated, "I get my own room?"

"Of course. Where did you think we were going to put you? A closet?"

"Bob said the couch. He said your apartment is pretty small."

Dan shook his head, annoyed Bob chose to scare his daughter, "We haven't lived in that apartment for eight years. It was pretty small, but a great way to save some money. Our place now is much bigger. The boys and you all have your own room. In fact, you'll have your own bathroom. No need to worry, you'll have your privacy." The cab pulled in front of a brownstone house. "Here we are." He grinned, "Are you ready to meet your Aunt and cousins?"

Helga nodded, "As I'll ever be." Admittedly, Helga was already feeling at ease.

Maybe living with her Aunt, Uncle, and cousins won't be so bad.

Please review!

Author's Note: Honestly, I've always wanted to give Bob and Miriam the benefit of the doubt. That they ultimately loved Helga, but after seeing Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie I realized they're both just a couple a-holes. Helga is always an afterthought. It's really sad. They barely think of Helga when they get the SOS message and then never ask about her later.

Anyway, I'm so excited for this story. I'm beyond excited for everyone to get to know Uncle Dan, Aunt Julie and cousins Danny and Nick. The next part or so will be Helga bonding with them and getting to know them. Her life (and attitude) will be much different because of their influence.

Stay tuned for Helga and Arnold's future reunion!

On a side note...I was re watching the HA: The Jungle Movie today and noticed two things.

1. Suzie is nowhere in sight. I can only assume she left Oskar's useless butt.

2. Mr. Hyunh is in a scene in San Lorenzo. You can spot him in the crowd just before they board the boat.

3. I don't think the movie could have been anymore perfect.