Chapter 02

Come Back to Me

Now—

Almost everyone gave up on where Helga G. Pataki was once everyone had heard that police lost track of her in Los Angeles, California. It was possible that she was dead after five long years, but it was equally just as possible that she managed to get away from their search. No one knew which of the two options to believe; no one really thought about her anymore to be honest… just a hand full of classmates.

However, that was going to change right now.

Helga returned with Miles and Stella, Arnold's parents.

"This old place hasn't changed a bit!" Miles went in to the Sunset Arms boarding house, inhaling the nearly forgotten scent of home. "Dad, I'm home! What's for dinner!" He joked, laughing happily.

There was a large crash in the kitchen, followed by a stampede from two elders that ran to the entrance to see their son and his wife. The family hugged and embraced one another with tears of joy after not having seen each other for the longest time ever. Helga on the other hand, smiled weakly before having decided that it was time for her to greet her mother with a surprise visit. This very motion of silently leaving was hardly noticed until Stella attempted to motion the girl that had rescued them. They all went to the steps to see her walking away, and they called out for her to return—calling her by name.

"Come on Helga, you know we don't bite!" Miles laughed constantly; thrilled to be home. "There's no way that we're going to let you live at that house you left! You can stay here for as long as you want with no charge!" She looked at him confusedly, then to the other family members. "Hey, you're family!"

She did not want to feel that way, and they knew this.

"H-H-Helga? Ya mean that little girl that always wore pink and who'd harass Arnold before she ran away from home!" Phil slapped his head, staring at the beautiful young woman. Then thought on it a little bit more. "You mean to tell me that this girl managed to save you two!" The old man looked at her, his eyes squinted as he tried to contemplate something—if anything. "Glad to see you come back! And I'll be making sure that I get you back for tricking me all those years ago when you were leaving Hilwood!"

Arnold's parents laughed. "She told us all about that almost two years ago." His stomach growled. "Ah, as I was saying… what's for dinner—oof!" His wife elbowed him in the ribs for his rudeness. "W-What?"
"Dad," Stella asked sweetly. "Where is Arnold? Is he at school?" The old man nodded. "I guess we should stay here and surprise him." She looked to Helga. "I'm sure he would like to see you too Helga, okay?"
"I have to go visit my mom," the teen answered calmly as she started to turn away with a curt nod. "I have nowhere else to go… so I guess I'll come back here after paying her a long awaited visit, Stella."
"You mean you don't know?" Phil stared at her in surprise when hearing her say this. "After killing your sister and your father, she put the gun to her head and finished herself off. Cops were looking for you!"

"I escaped the hospital undetected and took a ferry to Central America—to San Lorenzo. On the ferry, I met a boy and his mother, and they told me everything about what happened." Helga answered without emotion. "Figuring it was best to do the right thing… I trained to be like the Green-Eyes for a few years until it was cut short by an attack. Knowing the tasks that I had to do, I dealt with it as I went along."

"In any case, she saved us three two ago, and we've been helping the Green-Eyes get back on their feet." Miles came over to her, patting her shoulders as he coaxed her back to the boarding house. "She's a real hero! And she deserves a meal that's fit for a Queen!" Again, his stomach growled loudly at them.

Everyone laughed at this, and Gertie told everyone to come inside so she could fix a special lunch for them as a celebration for their return. Helga almost shyly asked if there was something light to nibble on for her instead since her stomach would have to adapt to produces that were oily and greasy. Thankfully though, Miles and Stella agreed to this; explaining that eating food that you have to catch and cook on your own was something they had been eating—other than fruits and vegetables. When Gertie offered some pancakes, they somewhat perked, but were cautious of the butter and syrup that they would have to add. Miles asked if they had any fish to cook, but there was none right now, so they asked about boar or snake… and it was making his parents sick.

Helga turned her gaze away, muttering to herself loudly. "It's been a long time since I've had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich." The four stared at her curiously. "Not that I want one. I'd prefer melon or—"
"A sandwich sounds good, it has been a long time since we had one." Stella agreed to her choice. "At least we're used to bread and jam. Peanut butter should be no probably for us to keep in our stomachs."
"Then it's settled! We'll have two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches Mom!" Miles grinned—acting like a child. "And when Arnold comes home from school, we'll tell him about all our adventures tonight!"
Amused by this, Helga had to ask. "Does that involve the time you thought you could hunt boar for dinner?" She watched the man cross his arms with a faint blush. "You couldn't sit for a week, Miles."

"…let's not tell him the embarrassing stories." He grumbled sorely; not wanting to remember.
"But Miles, the only things that were embarrassing, were the things that happened to you." Stella stated casually. "Like the time a frog jumped on your face and you thought it was a dart frog? You hit yourself."
"That was… on purpose! Helga had a bad morning, so I was trying to cheer her up!" The man snorted.
"She was summoned by the Chief to go on a hunt with the warriors, Dear, you know the warriors were jealous of her being a better hunter than them." She laughed. "It's a shame we can't hunt here though."

"Here's your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!" Gertie cheered.
Helga's nose scrunched. "Is this strawberry jelly?" She saw her nod.
"Oh… sorry Mom, Helga's allergic to strawberries. Is there any grape?"

"As a matter of fact, I bought some the other day!" She fixed up a new batch. "Just give the other sandwiches to Abner or Miles." Gertie laughed, and Helga slid the plate next to Miles. "Isn't this nice?"
"Can't wait to see the look on Arnold's face when he gets home!" Phil slapped his knee with joy. "All he's been doing is moping and sulking for five darn years! He's been taking this too seriously for his age!"
Helga folded her arms on the table and rested her head on them. "That sounds like Arnold alright. I bet he's been hoping for a day where I would return or something." She sighed tiredly—almost exhaustedly.
"Oh, he has been. And that little redhead has been at Arnold's side for a little over a year." Gertie stated as she gave Helga her sandwiches. "That sweet girl with freckles that's most likely the Devil's incarnate."
"So Arnold's back with Lila, that's not a surprise." She muttered before taking a bite of her sandwich. "With me out of the picture, she could have him. It's only fitting since I was the bully when I was a kid."
"You're not going to take that lying down, are you Helga?" Stella frowned; these four knew she had liked Arnold when she was younger. "Especially when Mom here agrees with you about that girl?"

Helga finished her sandwiches quietly, stood up to wash and dry her plate, and looked at the time before heading out of the boarding house. It was obvious to the others that she was going to go investigate the high school that her friends went to, but Stella chased after her to change her mind. She convinced her to go to a clothing store to pick out some new attire since she had way outgrown the clothes from when she was a girl. Even though Helga still hated going to stores, she decided to go anyway, and managed to find many clothes for her. Stella told her that they would work on her room, but for the time being, she might have to share until it was finished for her.

"I know you like high places to see the stars, and the only place where that's possible, is the attic." She frowned. "But knowing you, you'll escape through the night and be sleeping on the balcony, right?"
"The attic you're talking about is Arnold's room, he fixed it up in third grade." Helga stated quietly, looking at the dress that she was in. "The last time I had to sleep ten feet away from him, was Hell."
This made the older female gasp in surprise for never being told about this. "Children of the opposite gender shouldn't sleep together." But she realized what she said. "Even though we had to do that…"
"Yeah, I was stuck sleeping with a majority of the other hunters." She pulled the dress off to put in the good pile. "It was an experiment. Arnold and I were stuck in a greenhouse for twenty-four hours alone."
"That sounds exciting." She laughed; imaging the two trying to get along with Helga's nearly forgotten temper. "Maybe you and I can share his room together and he can sleep in my room with Miles. Okay?"

"I don't need to sleep in a room, Stella." The teen put on a white shirt and baggy khaki pants. "I can sleep on the roof, and change in my room or something by using the fire escape." Deciding that these were going to be her favorite clothes, she ripped the tags off so she could wear them on their way out. "Or if I manage to have a hammock or something in my room, then I'll sleep in there and be out of the way whenever you guys work on the room." She thought on things. "Do I have to go to high school?"

"Yup! Someone has to watch over my baby boy!"

Helga growled lightly.

"Hey Arnold! Long time no see!" Miles called as he entered the hallway. He had been staring out the window to watch for him to come home, and he saw the girl holding his hand. "Oh… this must be… Miss Lila Sawyer!" She seemed a little too innocent though, but he shook her hand. "It's nice to meet my son's girlfriend, I've heard quite a bit about you actually." He had a bad feeling about her to be honest.

"D-Dad…?" Arnold dropped his book and released Lila's hand. "When—how—is this really happening?"
"Yup, sure is! Look at you, you are practically a man now! She described you very well!" He grinned slyly.
Although he wanted to jump into his arms, he was confused. "Who described me to you? Grandma?"
"No, no!" The man laughed. "I'll give you a clue! What was it she called you… Hair-boy? No… um…"

"Miles! Stella took that girl over to the police department and now she's on every bleeping channel!" Phil raged. "I was trying to watch that darn soap! Maria was finally about to confess to Gregory!"
"I thought they were going to do that tomorrow—what do you mean they're on the television!" He came into the room followed by the two teenagers that just walked in the boarding house. "Uh oh…"
"Hey—that's Mom! Who the girl that's with her?" Arnold smiled curiously. "Was she the one that told you about me?" His father nodded. "But I've never seen her before!" Anxiously, he watched the news.

"As if she was back from the grave from almost six years ago, the missing child's case had been solved. At the tender age of ten, Helga Pataki had escaped her mother's rampage with a gunshot wound to the side. It seems that she managed to get a plane ticket to fly to Los Angeles, California, where she woke up in the hospital." The camera focused on the teenage female who was slowly getting cranky, and the police were trying to keep the reporters away. "Moments ago, she explained to us what happened. She left the hospital and jumped on a ferry that led her to San Lorenzo where her former classmate's parents were being held captive by someone she would not name. When we asked her—look!" The camera operator kept the focus on the girl who climbed up a tree, jumped on a fire escape, and climbed up a rooftop before running and jumping on building tops. "When we asked her what took her so long to come back, she didn't answer us!" The woman rolled her eyes. "Never mind that, let's follow her! Hurry!"

Miles laughed loudly at this. "I have never seen her avoid curious followers!" He calmed down his laughter before turning to look at his son. "Well then, can you guess now who described you to us?"
The football headed boy's mouth was wide open for the longest time, "t-t-that… that was H-Helga?"
"You mean to say that Helga was ever so very much alive?" Lila gasped. "She's been in San Lorenzo?"
"How she tells it. A woman and her son met her on the ferry and asked her to help the Green-Eyes and us. When she heard about us being Arnold's parents, she trained with the tribe to come save us."

Arnold was still in disbelief of everything that he did not know what to do; his parents were back home where they belonged, and Helga was back too! His mind was going in all sorts of directions that he did not know what he should be happier about when he heard the news. Helga found herself in San Lorenzo of all places, and managed to rescue his parents and the Green-Eyes from trouble? She was going to be his best friend in the entire world the next time he ever saw her, and he hoped it was going to be soon.

The front door opened, Stella sighed tiredly. "Poor Helga, those news reporters were getting on her last nerve." She set the bags down to rest her arms. "After she told me that she was going to drive them all away, I was lucky enough to get here without being bothered!" As she walked in the room, she looked at her husband. "Can you take Helga's things to her room? Oh, and we have to find a temporary room for her to sleep in. I was going to offer her the attic but she said that it's Arnold's—Arnold!" She finally took notice of her staring son, and she ran over to embrace him happily. "It's so good to see my baby boy!"

"I-It's good to see you t-too Mom!" Arnold replied as the life was being squeezed out of him.
"So where's Helga now? Without Rio to bug her, I thought she would have come in." Miles frowned.
"You know Helga, where's the one place she loves to be!" Stella smiled. "Oh, and I bought some fish!"
"A place she loves… I don't know, but it has to be high…" He snapped his fingers. "I bet that's it!"
"Well, she mentioned something about visiting Phoebe first, and then a nap to be specific."

Once his mother released him from a death grip, the teen male managed to breathe. "W-What…" he coughed. "Is going… on?" He coughed again for trying to take in too much needed air after that hug.
"Well, since Helga doesn't have family here—and she did rescue us. We told her to move into the Sunset Arms boarding house!" Stella clasped her hands together. "But her room needs some remodeling first."
"I think I'll come visit you later Arnold," Lila kissed the boy on the cheek. "It was ever so nice to meet your parents today!" Arnold may not have heard it, but there was slight spite in that pretty tone of hers.
His parents paid her no attention though. "I told her that I could share Arnold's room with her, but she doesn't want him to leave his room, but you know how much she likes the sky." She frowned at Miles.
"They can share a room, can't they? Helga slept in a room with male warriors and hunters, I'm sure they can get along for two weeks or so." Her husband smiled nervously. "We trust the both of them, right?"
"I already heard that they had to sleep in a greenhouse together for a night as it is." Stella crossed her arms. "But you know how she is at night, and she doesn't want to disturb Arnold during the time either."

"I don't mind sharing my room with her," Arnold somewhat nudged his way in the conversation. "In fact, I can sleep on the couch and she can take my bed." He smiled pleasingly; he would do anything for her after what she had done for him. "But to her, I think the couch would be more comfortable, um…"

The two laughed. "If she stayed in your room, she would try to find a place off flooring." Stella smiled weakly. "She likes hard surfaces, but she prefers sleeping in her hammock that she brought with her."
"That's okay, go ahead and find a place in my room to put it for a while!" He was so excited that it had caught them all off guard. "I'll be sure to let her know that I'm at her beck and call! She's the greatest!"
Miles blinked at the overjoyed teenager before looking over at his wife. "I thought there was conflict between the two, now their suddenly best friends without seeing each other yet? I'm a little lost."
"I've been worried to death about you guys and Helga, but I get all of you back—on the same day! And it's all thanks to Helga!" Arnold stated loudly, but the opposite of aggressive. "I can't thank her enough!"

"Hey Shortman, you might wanna bring the girl home before them wannabe thugs find her." Phil stated.
"Thugs?" Miles and Stella questioned. "You mean there are actual thugs around this area? How weird…"
"Yeah, they've been harassing girls my age." Arnold started to head out. "I'll go get her right now—"
"Oh, don't do that Arnold, it's not necessary. What if she wants to stay the night at her friend's house?"
That had not occurred to him; he wanted to see her so badly that he was not thinking right. "…okay."
"Hey, don't worry, she can take care of herself." Stella laughed. "You're father knows that for sure."

"Yeah… had a sore back the rest of the week because I startled her while she was sleeping."

"Hello, Phoebe? Is Helga there?" Arnold did not mean to call so late, but he was curious, and worried. Phoebe, on the other hand, said that she left hours ago to go to the boarding house. "Oh. Okay, sorry." If she returned to the boarding house hours ago, maybe she was sleeping in her room, even though her hammock was set to be above his bed since it was safer than falling on his desk. 'Where could she be…' He thought to himself, but passed the kitchen where his parents were talking. "Helga's not at Phoebe's, and she said she left hours ago, and she's not in her room." They looked at him and laughed softly.

"She's probably on the roof asleep." Stella answered.
Miles warned him though. "Be careful if you wake her."
"Yeah, I know." Arnold went his room. 'Grumpy wake ups.'

He walked up stairs and up into his room before lifting the window to look around—only to find her five feet in front of him. His cheeks reddened with unwanted thoughts that had made its ugly appearance during his puberty, causing him to look at her more closely. Helga was lying on her back with her arms behind her head so that she could face the stars, making her female features stand out a little bit. Her hair was long and wavy from where he could see from his spot half way out of his large bedroom…

"If I was asleep, I would have attacked you for staring at me."

Arnold jumped back at her voice piercing the silence, and he fell on the hammock that was set up for his room guest. He looked up to see her looking at him with a raised brow; she looked fiercer than when they were kids, but she looked so womanly now. His cheeks turned a few more shades redder than moments ago as he realized he made himself look like an idiot in front of her. The boy was about to convince her to come in, but the sound of a helicopter interrupted him—though it made her get inside.

"Wow, it's warm in here." Helga commented almost curiously. "I forgot about heaters."
He shakily flipped himself around on the hammock to look at her. "H-Hi Helga. I-It's good to see you."
"You too, Arnold." She placed her hands on her hips, leaning towards a side. "What are you doing?"
"Uh…" That was an excellent question, and he attempted to sit up. He was too scared. "H-Hanging?"

Her eyes rolled. "You're just like Rio." She climbed up and steadied the hammock. "There, get off."
"N-No way! Are you crazy!" Due to the insult, she let go of the side. "W-Wait, I'm sorry! Please help me!"
"How do you propose that I help you? Do you want me to catch you instead?" Oh was she the devil…
"N-No, of course not! I probably weigh more than you!" This was his first time on a hammock, sadly.

Her patience was thinning. "I want to go to sleep on my hammock since reporters are looking for me. Either I flip you out, you crawl out, or you sleep against me." She slowly rocked the hammock. "Since you are in a relationship with Little Miss Perfect, I don't want her germs from you on me, so the last one is out of the question. Besides that, you'd still have to get off in the morning in order to get to school."

He tried to think, only to smile sheepishly. "C-Can't I sleep up here?"
"…no." Helga flipped him off, and he landed on the bed below. "Pervert."
"I am not a pervert! I can't believe you just threw me off that now, either!"
"Why are you complaining? You were like a cat on floating ice in an ocean, jeez."

He opened his mouth to retort so their argument could continue, but closed it in order to give her a big silly grin that he could not hold back. It was great having her back in his life after five years of sulking; it was almost as if nothing had changed between them. As if they were capable of picking up where they left off when she ran away, but there was still one thing that he had yet to hear from her. She was mildly scowling at him with semi-mistrust to his goofy grin before lying on her back to stare at the stars quietly.

'Must know that I still change into my pajamas.' Arnold turned away to change his clothes, constantly looking over his shoulder to see if she was peaking or not. "So… how did you like San Lorenzo?"
"It was fine, I guess." She mumbled tiredly with her eyes closed. "Their diets there were less fattening than this place." Her body shivered. "I couldn't believe Miles ate four sandwiches when we got here."
As he put his pajama bottoms on, he pondered on that. "You seem to be close friends with my parents. I bet they're just as grateful to you like I am, huh? Thank you for rescuing them!" He finished dressing.
"Stop being so loud, it is after sunset. I wake up at sunrise." Helga took in a deep calming breath to sooth herself from any possible annoyances. "It's been a long day, get some sleep. You have school."

"But Helga, don't you have to get into your pajamas? "

She growled before putting her hair up in a neat bun to protect it, and carefully removed her shirt to reveal a light gray sports bra. If he was going to be a pest, then she was going to be doing the same damn thing to him whether he liked it or not. His face went shades redder than before, and he dazedly walked to his bed—tripping over the edge and face planting on it like an idiot. After he eventually got himself settled under the covers, and looked at the female tease above him in the hammock.

"Goodnight Helga," He called cheerfully; hoping to provoke her.
"Goodnight," said girl mumbled tiredly, making the boy frown.
This time, he tried to get her to say his nickname. "Goodnight Helga."
A soft growl emitted from her throat. "I said, goodnight, Arnold."

'Almost there, she'll say it for sure!' He wanted to hear her insult him so badly. "Goodnight Helga!"

That was the last straw, and she leaned over the hammock's side to look at him, her chest in his view. "Goodnight Arnold." Helga spoke sweetly while he was now dumbstruck at the sight. "Sweet dreams."

His entire body felt so red and hot from what his now-impure eyes stared at, causing him to throw the covers over his face. He acted as if he was being burned alive for the moment before passing out finally after pestering her so much to provoke her aggression. Helga knew what to do from now on if she would ever need to get Arnold off her shoulders—and chest, thankfully. This was going to be too much fun for her that it almost seemed like a sin that she could live with for the rest of her life… oh well!