Hello, I do not own Hey Arnold or and of its characters. This is my new story based on the relationship on Helga and Gertie, it's sort of loosely a prequel based on a fanfic that I've written before, and so it will have some similarities but be completely different at the same time. Any ho… I hope any one who reads this enjoys it :) Thank you for reading.

Helga Pataki leaned her head on the table, feeling the cold wood against her forehead. She was screwed; it was the only way to describe her situation. She looked around her flat and sighed. Even with all the overtime she'd been doing at work, and her new flat mate, she was never going to be able to afford the next rent payment. It would take a miracle to fix this.

She lifted her head and pulled the paper towards her, ready to work her way through the job advertisements again. When had it all gotten so messed up? Her job as a journalist was barely paying the bills, and her writing career had hit a massive block. She felt her headache beginning to get worse, why did there only seem to be problems, not solutions in Helga. G. Pataki's life? The thought of her father suddenly flashed within her subconscious, there was no way she'd ever ask him for a loan, no way! It was bad enough she had to see him for Christmas and Thanksgiving, without the whole speech of 'So Olga your stupid writing career still hasn't taken off?…Just like I predicted…and you come to me for a loan?…why can't you be more like your sister?' She groaned thinking about her sister, her perfect sister. Olga was now happily married to a perfect husband, with a perfect job and waiting for the patter of perfect tiny feet. Helga was twenty five years old, single, and was a career that was going nowhere. She groaned again.

'Hey Helga'

She rolled her eyes hearing movement from the kitchen, as Brad Green stumbled his way into her room. She looked at him almost in disgust; his long curly red hair was thick with grease, and his unshaven beard full of old food. He was a mess.

'I was wondering if I could have some of your milk?'

'Knock yourself out' she sighed.

'Cheers Helga you are a gem.' He grinned and lifted the bottle that was in his hands to his lips and started to gulp it down with the most disgusting noise.

Helga cringed inwardly, and wondered why she'd even agreed to let such a sloth live with her. She sighed again, watching as he left the room and continued on his quest to violate all that Helga found hygienic. He hadn't always been like this. Brad Green was the son of Mr Green, and the two hadn't spoken in years. Brad had moved back to Hillwood after his divorce from his wife Heather. He had moved back with the hope that he and his father may fix their relationship. The guy still hadn't plucked up the courage to even let his father know that he was back, apparently it was all to do with some stupid row about Brad being a vegetarian. Helga rolled her eyes, life was too short. Brad had moved into her flat clean shaved and a business man, however, the flat seemed to have a way of destroying anyone's life who decided to live within it. Brad was now worked for the local dump and spent most his time writing songs about a girl he used to be in love with in High School.

As much as Helga hated to admit it, she actually did enjoy sharing with Brad, even though he ate and drank most her food and left the apartment in a complete mess. They both seemed to be lost in their own way, and destined to love someone who probably didn't even remember them any more. But that didn't pay the rent, and she had to admit they were both struggling.

She looked down at the paper again and suddenly an advertisement caught her eye: 'Helper Wanted: Loving family seeks helper for two hours every Thursday for Grandmother. No previous experience is needed, generous pay. Call Lila on:'

Helga suddenly made a grab for her phone. She could do Thursdays; it was one of the only days she had off during the week. She paused suddenly thinking the whole idea was madness, how could she look after a Grandmother? She paused again, her finger hovering over the phone. It would be better than going to Bob for money, she chewed her lip, and it did say generous pay and she needed the money. She shook her head, she was Helga G Pataki, she could handle anything, she smirked and began to dial the number; this would be a piece of cake.

It was after the second voice that a perky voice suddenly answered the phone 'Hello, Sunset Arms Boarding House, Lila Speaking.'

Helga nearly dropped the phone in shock, she paused and for the first time in years was speechless.

'Hello?' the voice on the other end of the phone sounded less sure that anyone was there; but Helga knew that voice anywhere: Lila Sawyer A.K.A Little Miss Perfect. She sighed heavily and began to talk 'Hey, it's' she paused 'Helga'

'Oh!' Came the high pitched reply, 'Oh' It was now obvious to Helga that Lila seemed to know exactly who she was talking to. 'Helga, how lovely for you to call, I thought after high school that we'd…oh but it's ever so lovely hearing your voice again, makes me ever so glad you've got in contact' she gushed.

'Listen Lila' she paused realising her tone of voice almost sounded threatening. She swallowed hard and started again. 'I haven't called for a polite chat; I've called about the job in the paper.' Helga felt her face flush red with shame, this was what money had caused her to do, and she felt humiliated. But even having Miss Perfect as her employer would be better than one of Bob's lectures on what a waste of time her writing career was.

There was a paused from Lila 'Oh Helga! That would be perfect!'

She scowled wondering if Lila had been hit on the head since they'd last met, and knew that the girl she used to know had a smile stretched across her face, the smile that used to melt every boy's heart back in High School.

'I think you'd be perfect for the job Helga. You see it's Arnold's grandmother, you remember Arnold's grandmother right? Well since Phil's died Arnold's been taking care of her.'

Helga closed her eyes upon hearing Arnold's name; it always caused her heart to string painfully. They hadn't spoken since he'd left to find his parents. She didn't even know he was even back in the country. All he'd left her with was a broken heart and a kiss goodbye at the airport. It was that kiss that could partly take the blame for the shambles/relationships that she'd experienced since. Even though she was strong, and perfectly happy within her life, Helga had to admit that she still held a torch that burned as bright as ever for Arnold…well that and an urge to thump him with old Betsy for screwing with her head.

She swallowed the lump that had formed within her throat, 'If Arnold's there, then why do you need to advertise?'

'Well Helga, to be honest' she could hear a note of panic in the other girl's voice. 'Arnold's been studying to be a doctor lately, which means he spends hours away from home.' She paused. 'When Arnold hired me to manage the boarding house and look after his grandmother, I thought that looking after Gertie wouldn't be much of a problem.' She sniffed heavily. 'I didn't realise that she wouldn't' a dry sob came from her throat, 'that she wouldn't like me.' Quiet full on sobbing came from the other end of the phone.

Helga resisted the urge to roll her eyes at this revelation.

'I've tried ever-so hard, but Gertie won't talk to me…and I just…need a few hours on a Thursday to see Arnie. I just don't want to let Arnold down; it would feel like I failed.' Lila sighed.

'How much?'

'I'm sorry?'

'How much are you willing to pay me to do this?' Helga decided to just blatantly get to the point.

Lila let out a heavy relieved sigh. 'Fifty dollars.'

Helga let out a whistle, imagining what she could do with an extra two hundred dollars a month.

'But there's something you must know Helga.' Said Lila quickly, 'The reason I'm willing to pay someone so much is because Gertie doesn't seem to like strangers. I've already hired five people that she's driven away. I think Gertie is…' Lila paused and whispered 'mentally ill. It seems like she's gone out of her way to terrorize and get rid of whoever I've chosen.'

'Lila, enough with the small talk. I'll do it, when do I start?'

'You could come over tomorrow about four o'clock.' said Lila, sounding almost excited. 'Just to see if you and Gertie are compatible. But Helga please could I ask you not to tell anyone about this, or I could be fired.'

Helga again resisted the urge to roll her eyes. 'I'll be there.'

'You remember where Arnold used to live, right? Oh, this is going to be ever so lovely, how wonderful it will be for us to catch up.'

Helga grunted in response to her question, 'Goodbye Lila.'

'Bye Helga.'

She sighed in relief, ending the call. After all these years she still couldn't stand the girl. She looked down again at the advertisement in the paper; why was little Miss Perfect so desperate to find someone else to look after Gertie? The whole situation sounded slightly unusual to Helga, and she wondered what the girl's true motives were for not telling Arnold that she could not cope. An old image of Arnold's grandmother flashed through her mind, and sudden emotion of worry and pity flooded through Helga's heart for the woman that Lila seemingly didn't want around.