Okay, before you ask, yes, I am aware I already have a lot on my plate right now as it is when it come to the fanfictions I tend to write... but I wanted to get this first chapter out, because this idea just came to me recently, and it wouldn't leave my head... so here's the first chapter of a new story that I have in mind! Hope you all enjoy it! Anyway, enjoy!

On Friday after school, Arnold was getting out of school as he was taking a deep breath. Finally, another day has been completed. Now to get to the bus to head on home...

It was then Arnold stopped when he heard one sentence, "You know, Rhonda, Mother's Day is coming up pretty soon..."

Arnold's eyes popped as he leaned his ear towards Nadine and Rhonda as the two were talking.

"Oh, wouldn't you know it?" Rhonda laughed. "Daddy and I made some plans to take her to one of her favorite restaurants... I'm buying of course."

"Cool... I was planning on treating my mom to a little small concert." Nadine said.

"Oh really?" Rhonda asked as Nadine and her started to walk on their way. "What do you plan on using?"

Arnold decided he had heard enough as he started to walk in the other direction. He groaned. He had forgotten that it was Mother's Day this weekend... just another painful reminder that his parents had not returned... well, he still had his grandparents, who were family enough to him, but he wished he had known his real parents before...

Arnold then bumped right into Helga, who was about to walk downstairs with something in her hand, but she dropped it as Helga fell down.

"Helga?" Arnold said in confusion.

"Arnold?" Helga gave a gasp of shock... then shook her head as she started to retain her 'Helga the Horrible' mode. "Run into me again, Football Head, and I'll pound you in."

"Sorry, Helga." Arnold sighed as they both got up. Arnold then bent over and picked up the thing on the ground. "You dropped your... card?"

Helga frowned as she swiped her card. "Yeah, thanks. What, you never seen a handmade Mother's Day card before? Sheesh, stop living in the Dark Ages and get with modern times!" Helga shook her head as she walked off.

Arnold just sighed as he continued walking off in depression. Helga noticed as she looked down in shame as she said to herself, "Maybe I shouldn't have cracked that joke... I know my love has his parents missing... oh, why can't I just keep my fat lip shut when it should be?"

Arnold paused as he started walking along the park. He never usually went into this area, but sometimes, when he needed some time alone, to himself, he would often take a walk. He sighed as he looked up at the sky. Sometimes, he just wished his parents were home... he often wondered if they were doing good in their mission... he often wondered if the mission was a success and they were just plane-wrecked on an island somewhere... Arnold shook in fear as he looked down. What if his parents didn't remember him?

His thoughts got trailed off for a few moments when he heard some kids laughing. He looked up as he saw a couple of kids talking with their mother as she handed them a couple of coins. Arnold watched as the kids went to a nearby fountain and threw the coins in the water as they giggled.

Arnold rolled his eyes a bit. He heard of those 'wishing' well myths before... where somebody throws a coin into the well and makes a wish in their mind... he knows that these don't really come true, but... it was a bit of a nice thought...

Arnold paused as he dug into his pocket and pulled out a quarter. He looked at the well... and at his quarter. Normally, he wouldn't believe that a simple wish would bring back his family... but he was always curious.

Arnold went to the wishing well closely as he closed his eyes, threw his coin into the well, and thought to himself, "I wish I can live in a world where my parents were actually there for me... that's all I want..."

When he heard the splash of the coin, Arnold opened his eyes as he sighed. "Well, that's that, then."

Arnold nodded as he started to walk off, leaving the well behind as the waters in the well began to ripple.

"Hey man! Where have you been?" Gerald asked as Arnold was coming up to the boarding house. "You missed baseball."

"Sorry, Gerald. I've been thinking..." Arnold explained. "About this weekend..."

"Weekend? Wha-" Gerald started... before his eyes widened. "Oh. Sorry."

"No, it's okay. I'm just going to stay in the house, okay." Arnold said.

"I hear you, man. You need your space." Gerald said as he went downstairs. "Hopefully, we can do something tomorrow?"

Arnold nodded. "Sure. See you tomorrow, Gerald."

Arnold hummed a little bit as he walked inside, just in time to see his grandfather coming out with a bowl of beans.

"Hey, Shortman! Beans and kraut tonight!" Grandpa Phil smiled, then frowned. "Though why Pookie thinks it's a good combination, I'll never know."

"Thanks, Grandpa... I'll just eat in my room, then bring it back, if that's okay. I'll clean up any mess I make." Arnold said.

Grandpa Phil noticed Arnold's depressed look, then up at the calendar. "Let me guess... Mother's Day."

"Pretty much." Arnold sighed as he took the bowl.

"Listen, Shortman, I know you miss your parents. Me and Pookie miss them too, and I'm sure the boarders would have LOVED to see them interact with all of us... but I just want you to know... we hope they're okay, too. They'll come back, I know it!" Arnold's grandfather smiled.

"...Thanks. I'll take your word for it." Arnold said as he went upstairs with the bowl.

As soon as he went up to his room, he sighed as he sat down at his desk and started to eat. He sighed as he looked at the picture of his parents on his shelf which he put up since he had been given the picture. Arnold sighed as he continued eating. He wondered what they looked like now, how they would treat him if they were reunited... he hoped to see them again someday...

Pretty soon, he finished his bowl as he went downstairs to give the bowl back...

The next thing he knew, it was time for bed as Arnold was now in his pajamas. He set up his clock a bit as he laid his head down on the pillow and started to sleep.

Maybe tomorrow... will be a brand new day for him...

"HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARNOLD! HEY AR-"

Arnold groaned a bit as he put his hand on the alarm, shutting it off. Arnold yawned a bit as he got up, deciding he would get a quick shower. He started to head for his closet... when he noticed something odd.

"Was my room always this small?" Arnold asked himself as he noted that some of the areas seemed to be closed in. He shrugged as he opened his closet and grabbed his clothes. He must have still not woken up yet.

He quickly walked downstairs as he took his shower. As soon as he was done, he came out, good as new as he had his usual attire on. He quickly went back to his room as... he suddenly noted two doors next to each other as Arnold pulled down the downstairs. Had there always been two doors that lead to his room? Either way, he opened up the door to the right, which lead to his room and his bed. He quickly put his pajamas in the hamper as he decided to see what his grandparents were cooking him for breakfast...

It was then he noticed something odd... for one thing, the kitchen smells coming out smelled good... and second, while he did hear his grandpa and grandma talking... he also heard two new voices... two voices he wasn't familiar with, and yet... he thought he heard them before.

Arnold, in curiosity peered into the room, and his eyes widened when he saw his grandfather and grandmother talking with two adults... one male and one female, the male with a green shirt, blue jeans, blonde hair and a chin similar to Arnold's grandfather... but the female was wearing a nice green dress, chestnut hair and a football shaped head similar to... Arnold's...

His eyes widened as he tried pinching himself several times. It couldn't be... could it?

Arnold's grandparents and the male and female turned as the male person smiled. "Well, look who's up early..."

"Dad?" Arnold whispered in shock.

"Morning, sweetheart. Sleep well?" The female person asked as she kissed Arnold on the forehead.

"Mom?" Arnold whispered in shock.

"Good morning to you too." The male person laughed a bit.

Arnold gave a big smile as he gave the two a big hug. "It is you!"

Miles and Stella just blinked in confusion by their son's sudden hug, but smiled anyway as they hugged their son as well.

"Grandpa, Grandma, when did they come back? Why didn't..." Arnold started to ask.

"Came back?" Arnold's grandfather asked as he turned to Miles. "Say, Miles, did you go somewhere behind my back?"

"Not that I recall, no." Miles shrugged.

"Hmmm... strange, Shortman here acts like you've been gone on a trip." Arnold's grandfather said.

Arnold frowned as he paused. Why were his grandparents acting like his parents were never gone? It was then Stella snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Oh, Arnold, I have to get breakfast ready, could you wake up your sister?" Stella asked.

Arnold's eyes widened as he shook his head in disbelief. He had a sister? But Arnold just shook his head as if to play along... "Uh... s-sure..."

Arnold started walking back upstairs, as if confused. His parents were back, yes... but why did they act like they never left? Why were his grandparents acting like they never left? How did he get a sister?

Arnold stopped as he suddenly realized something. "I have... a sibling... I have a sibling!"

Arnold gave a big smile as he started to go upstairs... he then noted the left door as he knocked on it. "Oh, sis! Wake up!"

A groan was heard. Arnold blinked in confusion. "Come on, it's your brother. You have to wake up!"

A groan was heard as Arnold frowned. Why wasn't his sister excited to see him? Arnold paused. Maybe because she hadn't met him yet... but he was still excited. He opened the door slowly as he noticed that the other side of his room had been updated a bit, his retractable couch was still there, but somebody was sleeping in it as she pulled the covers... snoring was heard.

"Come on, sis, don't make me pull you out." Arnold frowned as he sat down.

"Go-away." The moan said.

Arnold sighed. "Mom's preparing breakfast..."

"Don't care. I like it in my bed. One more hour." The person groaned.

Arnold paused... as he smirked. "You know... I can tickle you from the sheets."

"You wouldn't dare..." The person said.

Arnold paused. That voiced sounded oddly familiar... but he shook his head as he started wrangling his fingers as childish laughing was heard.

"Oh come on, this isn't fair! Stop it, cut it out!" The voice cried out in shrill laughter.

"Come on out..." Arnold said.

"Okay, I'm getting up, I'm getting up, just stop tickling me, football head!" The voice smiled.

Arnold instantly froze when the person under the sheets uttered the last two words. He suddenly recognized that voice as the girl was getting out of the bed.

"You know, Arnold, you don't play fair... oh well, I'll get back at you tonight..." The girl in pink pajamas snickered as she yawned. "Tell Mom I'll be down as soon as I have my shower."

Arnold just stood there, frozen, staring at the blonde haired girl in pink pajamas in shock.

The blonde haired girl frowned as she reached for her pink bow and put it on for a moment. "Eh... well, looks good..."

"Helga Pataki?" Arnold whispered.

Helga stopped stiff as she turned to Arnold. "Arnold... I thought we agreed to not bring up mine and my sister's former last name. Don't you remember? I have bad memories of the Pataki place!"

Arnold paused. "Sorry, Helga... it's just... how long have you been living here?"

Helga stared at Arnold a bit... before laughing as she hugged Arnold. "Oh, always the joker, you are. Surely, you jest, little brother! You know perfectly well I've been living with you guys since I was four!"

And that should be the first chapter! How'd you like it? Now, updates won't be as much, but expect one every once in a while... hopefully, I at least got a good start at this fic! Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!