I do not own Hey Arnold or any of its characters. Just a Fan!

This is my first FanFic plz read and review I'm open to suggestions and criticism. My grammar kind of sucks sorry in advance

***Hello friends I hope still story still attracts readers! I know its been a long time but I'm trying to get back to my writing, I lost a very close friend in June and I lost interest in everything but I think I'm ready to start moving forward and the best way is taking small steps like doing things that I like!***

A/N I'm going to rewrite this story fix the grammar errors and add things I feel are missing, plz r&r let me know if is still any good.

HARD KNOCKS

CHAPTER 1 – LIFE, LEMONS, ETC…

Helga G. Pataki walked though the quite urban streets of Hillwood, though the dilapidated part of the city where quality of living was low and crime sky high. Helga didn't particularly liked walking through that part of town alone at three-thirty in the morning but today she had no choice. Her piece of junk car, if you could even call it that finally gave up on her and try as she might Helga couldn't get it to start, a wonderful start to her day. She thought wryly. A cold wind picked up the tail of her paper thin coat making her shiver and hug herself as the diner finally come into view. She took out her key and opened the door, the place was engulfed in darkness and Helga proceeded with her early opening shift routine of getting the place ready for the rest of the workers and its patrons.

"Morning Helga, I'm sorry I'm late got held up at home. Kids got the flu I think." Stinky Peterson said as he walked past Helga behind the front counter where she was brewing coffee and made his way into the kitchen. Helga always found it funny when Stinky would apologize for being late, it was his diner after all.

"I'll let it sly this time, but if you do it again I'll be sure to report you to the big boss." Helga joked and she heard Stinky laugh from the kitchen. "Is the big boss coming in today with the kids sick and all?"

"Probably not Lila said she was taking the twins to the doc as soon as they open. Poor little Maddie spent the entire night throwing up, I almost panicked and took her to the ER." Stinky said from the window between the lunch counter and the kitchen. Helga looked at her longtime friend and smiled. Stinky was still tall and lanky although he had filled out a bit since their school days. His southern drawl was almost gone now and he no longer wore his light brown hair in spikes. Helga remembered a small period in high school when they had dated, Stinky had been way too nice to handle the bitter kid Helga had once been but they had remained friends. He and his wife Lila where part of her very small circle of friends, Helga had after all driven almost everyone away. The bell on the door chimed announcing their first costumer and wrench Helga from her reverie, she found it was better not to dwell to much on the past and what ifs.

"You better get that griddle going, morning rush is starting."

"Oh hey Arnold what's up?" Dr. Thaddeus Gammelthorp said looking up from his computer screen. Thaddeus or "Thad" as he was known to his friend (sometimes he was even still called curly but he hated when that happened) was the top surgeon at the Drymon Medical Center in Hillwood and a complete workaholic so Arnold was not surprised it took the other man about ten minutes to acknowledge his presence.

"I'm going to meet up with Gerald for lunch in that diner across the street; Gerald says it belongs to Stinky. You want to join us? It'll be like a mini reunion." Arnold had only been back in Hillwood a month and hadn't had the time to seek out his old friends and rekindle relationships. He had moved from Chicago after his grandpa's funeral to take care of his grandmother whom he was afraid had lost the will to live. The eccentric old lady had stopped dressing up and pretending to be other people she just sat in front of the TV all day not even bothering to change out of her nightgown

"Oh sure, sure Arnold just stop by my office before you leave otherwise I will forget." Thad's attention was back on his computer screen so Arnold just nodded and headed back to the ER, he still had a bunch of paper work to do and intended on using the uncharacteristic lull in pace.

"Dr. Shortman, you have a second? I have a sixteen year old with a concussion in bed two and Dr. Lewis isn't answering his page." Arnold looked at the petite brunette in the cute cartoon scrubs and tried really hard to remember her name. The hospital was big and Arnold still had a hard time remembering all of his colleges' names.

"Yes, of course." So much for paperwork, but if he was honest with himself Arnold had to admit he preferred being busy that's why he chose emergency medicine, it never left him time to ponder over the fact that he was alone and miserable. He was a failure, unable to solve the problems in his life. With a heavy sigh and pushing his thoughts away for another time Arnold walked through the privacy curtains in bed two, at least he could help his patients.

Around noon Arnold walked through the doors of the diner towing a distracted Thad. The place was packed, half the hospital staff was there as well as a few of the patients he had seen that morning, he looked around and his fell on a familiar form. Gerald's hand flew up in the air and waved them over.

"Hey man I was beginning to think you weren't going to show." Gerald said as Arnold and Thad took a seat.

"Sorry I had to drag Thad out of his office." Arnold apologized he knew that Gerald was a busy man as assistant district attorney and they were supposed to have met up fifteen minutes earlier.

"Hey Curly what's up man." Gerald said tuning to the other man, who pushed his thick over-sized glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"It's Thad." Thad answered curtly, he didn't understand why Gerald insisted on calling him Curly.

"Right, anyway what's up man you've been back for a month and I haven't heard from you since we moved you into that fancy condo of yours." Gerald's voice held an accusatory tone and Arnold winced, he knew Gerald was right to be annoyed but he had just been so worried about grandma Gertie that it completely slipped his mind to contact his friends and honestly between the hospital and trying to help grandma Gertie he just didn't have much free time.

"It's just been crazy at home, man I'm sorry."

"What can I get you guys?" Arnold was interrupted by a tired female voice, he looked up to see a slim blonde with long glossy hair that fell to her lower back, even though she was slim she had perfect womanly curves and full breast that strained against her white button down shirt. Her blue eyes where pale and tired and her full lips where lightly parted waiting for their response. Arnold felt his body react to the newcomer, she was so beautiful and also so very familiar yet he couldn't place her.

"Helga it's been a while." Thad said looking at the tired beauty. Arnold couldn't believe his eyes, Helga it couldn't be the Helga he knew. That Helga had worn baggie sweats and hoodies; she had boy short hair and a permanent scowl on her face.

"Hey Thad, Gerald I didn't recognize you at first. What can I get you guys." Helga obviously lied avoiding Thad's face, she looked uncomfortable, as if she rather be anywhere but in the man's company. What's up with that? Arnold thought to himself, Thad was a strange guy but he was generally nice.

"I just saw you two days ago." Gerald joked looking at the menu "Can I have a cheese burger with fries and a coke."

"Phoebe is going to kick your butt if you eat all that junk tall hair boy." She joked using the old nickname she had for him while they were in school. She turned to Thad who ordered a salad and then Arnold who just stared at her with shock. The last time he had seen Helga it had been at their high school graduation, she had stared at him with such an intense look on her face that he remember avoiding her eyes, and later during their graduation party at Rhonda's house he had made sure not to cross path's with her.

"Arnold wake up man, she's waiting for your order." Gerald's voice broke through the fog in his mind. Arnold couldn't believe Helga had rendered him speechless or that he found her so attractive. Get your shit together man this is Hlega G Pataki! Arnold thought clearing his throat.

"Sorry, uh can I just have a cup of coffee." He said lamely, realizing he was making a fool out of himself. He watched her walk away and wondered if Helga's hips had always swayed that way when she walked, and why he was staring at her ass like a creep in the first place.

"Arnold you're acting like me now." Thad joked and Arnold looked at his friends confused, had they been talking to him?

"Earth to Arnold. What's going on with you lately?" Gerald asked annoyed

"I'm sorry what where you saying?"

"I was asking about your grandmother." The mention of Gertie had Arnold sobering up in a hurry. She was the constant worry on his mind.

"She's still acting strange and I am very worried about her." Arnold said and stared at Helga again as she poured his coffee and brought the others their drinks. Her blue eyes looked so sad and Arnold felt an overwhelming need to know why.

"Bring her to dinner tomorrow maybe being around the kids will help cheer her up." Gerald said taking a sip from his soda. The sugary liquid fizzled down his throat and he almost moaned, Helga was not wrong, Phoebe had banned all the foods she found bad or had no nutritional value, soda being at the top of that list.

"I'm on call tomorrow." Arnold frowned

"I'll cover for you, it's not like I have anything to do." Thad offered and Arnold actually felt bad for the guy, he had been having a hard time himself. Gerald had told him that Thad and his long time love Rhonda Wellington Lloyd where getting a divorce after a six month marriage. Arnold expected Thad to lose it at any moment and figured like himself Thad threw himself to work so he didn't have to consider his problems.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah sure Arnold, go ahead take your grandma to a family meal."

"Thanks man." Once again Arnold was distracted by Helga as she brought over the food, it was so strange never in his life since he'd known Helga had he been so distracted by her.

"Helga are you still coming to dinner tomorrow?" Gerald asked taking a hearty bite from his burger; one would think the man was never fed.

"Seven o'clock, It's all Mikey talks about." She said smiling at them once again.

"That's great Arnold and his grandma will be there too." Gerald announced taking another bite of his burger and closing his eyes in total bliss as he chewed, it was indecent really.

"Oh, that's nice." Helga's smiled dimmed a little and her eyes finally looked at Arnold, he felt her tension fizzle and wondered if she didn't want him to come over for dinner. "Well if you guys need anything else just call me over." She said walking away to a table a few feet away from Arnold's.

"Gerald, you want to stop making love to your burger? I'm losing my appetite here." Thad complained and Gerald just laughed and winked at the shorter man. Arnold smiled as he watched his friends, and looked forward to dinner it would be good for both his grandma and him.