Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold! or any of the characters mentioned in this story!

Chapter 1

Helga

The San Bernardino Mountains gave shape to the horizon outside of the vast window of Helga's office; she leaned against her desk drinking in the sight of the sunlit city, her home for the past 13 years.

Time definitely flies… she thought to herself as she sipped her morning coffee. In this short amount of time not even she expected she would make it this far. Big Bob's Beepers had expanded across the country, and was now one of the leading distributers of electronics in North America; and here she was, the CEO of her father's company. After years of living in her sister's shadow, feeling neglected and angry, she finally had the approval she had been starving for her whole entire life.

In spite of this she knew deep down if Olga would have chosen to move to California with the rest of the family then she would have had this position in a heartbeat; but her sister chose to stay in the city to marry her high school sweetheart.

How naïve.

She was too soft for the job anyway. Being the CEO took a fire that she has had since birth; being in charge was her thing and failure was not an option. She had the lady balls to help make this company something her father could be proud of.

This quiet moment wouldn't last; there was a new budget to be made, partnerships to form, team members to hire and fire. By the stunning view beneath her gaze it was hard to believe that a stress packed day was in her near future.

As if on cue, at that moment, the phone rang violently penetrating the silence.

"What is it, Farah?" Helga snapped at her intern as she answered phone.

"Oh- um…Miss Pataki, I've picked up your mail as you've asked," Farah stammered nervously.

"Great, send it up with the outlines for the new budget, and fast; we have no time to waste."

"Sending!" Farah responded. Helga would never say it out loud to her young intern but she was strangely comforted by how much she reminded her of her childhood friend. She was even considering promoting her to her personal assistant permanently.

In less than five minutes her stack of mail was on her desk. She sorted through it like she would any other day until she came across an envelope with an address she had not seen in 13 years.

Criminy.

Arnold

"You're a bold kid Arnold…"

Arnold looked up from his beer to see his best friend on the other side of the counter washing his final glass in the bar.

"You really thought I couldn't pull it off? Hah I'm starting to think you haven't been paying attention for the past 27 years," he said.

" I'll admit, I had my doubts at first, but I think I'm starting to like the idea the more I think about it: PS118 10 year reunion at Gerald's Spot: the hottest bar in the city! Man, the ladies are gonna love it!" Gerald's massive hair shook with excitement as he spoke, and he looked around truly proud of his establishment.

Arnold took another sip of the ice cold beer. "It's gonna be great, I know it. I mean, I can't even remember the last time we've had the whole gang together; I can't wait to see how everyone's doing."

"Yea, I guess, I just know this is gonna be great for business. So how were you guys able to get in contact with everyone anyway?"

"Curly." Arnold replied, which was the only explanation needed at that point. "Everything is close to finished, Lila and I have taken care of it all…"

"Mmm…I bet you have," Gerald interrupted giving Arnold a suggestive look, "You guys have been working very closely these days…strictly reunion stuff I'm sure."

"Oh come on, Gerald, it's not like that," Arnold said, "and even if it was, I don't want to make a move until I know she's over Arnie. He really hurt her and I don't want to be her rebound, I want her to want me for me."

Gerald let out a sigh, "Whatever you say man… just know, you gotta let me know when you hit that."

Of course he would say that as soon as Arnold was in the middle of a massive drink, which he sprayed all over the clean counter of the bar. Un-phased by the mess, Gerald sat the last cup down and began to mop up the puddle.

"Yea, on that note, I think it's time for me to get back to the boarding house… I've gotta be around to collect the rent and all."

"Uh huh, yea, suuuuure…."

The two best friends exchanged their usual hand shake, and Arnold made his way out of Gerald's Spot. Whether it was the beer or his unending excitement for this reunion, he rode the bus home with spirits higher than Mighty Pete.