Rebuild Chapter 4

Title: Reunion

Disclaimer: As always this a pure work of fiction based on the creative stylings of Craig Bartlett and Nickolodean. None of the characters are based on real people, the plot and dialouge are all mine.

A/N: Just another short tidbit that will bring this thing together. Enjoy.

P.S. This one is for all the people that stop by and read this even if they don't comment. I love when you guys add this to your Story Alert because it just makes my day and inspires me to keep it coming.


Arnold walked into Green's Meats and shook hands with Harold.

"Harold! How have you been?"

"Good, Arnold Good. Me and the Patty been working on making the shop bigger. Trying to sell Halal meats, and stuff like that." The bald, chubby, man with an overly sized tooth washed his hands, tightened his apron and began slicing a roasted ham. After struggling in high school, he had gone on to community college with the help of his tutor, Patty, in order to major in business and learn the in and outs of running the Deli. He had spent all of his years working with , and had taken over the shop when had taken a full-time position in office.

"How is Patty?"

"Patty, is great. I swear, Arnold I wouldn'ta been able to do any of this stuff without her. The girl is great. I mean she's smart, she's pretty. I don't deserve her. But anyway, what can I do for you? Want some ham, turkey, pork chops?"

"Actually, I think I'll take some ground beef. Grandma's been going through a Napolean phase, and craving some Lasagna."

"Your grandma is as kooky as ever isn't she?" Harold grabbed a slab of meet and began whirling the grinder with his left arm. "By the way, have you seen anyone else? Helga came in here a few days ago. Turns out, she and Patty have been good friends ever since the fourth grade. We ate a really nice lunch together, and then Helga actually started talking to me about some real interesting things. You know, regarding the deli and the neighborhood. "

"Yeah, I've run into her a couple of times. Haven't seen anyone else though. Running the boardinghouse takes up a lot of time."

"Hmm. Yeah, that place has been falling apart hasn't it? I tell you, Arnold things sure ain't the way they used to be."

"I know what you mean. What did Helga tell you about the neighborhood?"

"Hmm..well, something about how it's fallen apart. We also talked about everyone from our old school, and how some of us went into some of the same things our parents went into. Like Sheena, she works in Health and nursing just like her aunt. I think Helga, has some type of plan or idea about getting everyone to come to a reunion or something. I can't tell if it's just for fun, or for something more important. Things got too complicated for me to keep following along, even though I agree with her. Her and Patty kept talking for hours and I had to get back to the shop. Business has been tight, you know."

Harold smacked the meat onto a sheet of white paper and began wrapping it some tape.

"Hmmm. I wonder what she's up to. Sounds interesting." Arnold followed Harold to the register and pulled his wallet out of his pocket.

"I don't know, Arnold. Maybe you should talk to her about it. You know, you were always good at that type of stuff. Getting people together. All I know is that she's gonna help me and Patty with the shop. Gonna try to get us some more business, but also told us about maybe remodeling, expanding our markets, something like that."

Harold rung up Arnold on the dingy cash register and tied the meat packet up with some string.

"That sounds great, Harold." He handed over his money.

"Yeah, it does. But we'll see how things turn out. Helga's actually coming over later on today to talk about it more."

Harold handed Arnold his change and moved to wash his hands.

"Thanks Harold, keep me updated. I'll stop by again another time and maybe we can all get some coffee or something."

"Bye Arnold, see you later!" The bell rung as the door swung shut, and Harold walked to the back of the store and hugged his girlfriend.

"Patty, you'll never believe who just came by." The young woman looked up from the boxes she was unpacking and raised her eyebrows in questioning.

"Who, Harold?"

----

Helga slipped her hands out of her pocket and walked out of the flower shop. She stuck the key into the ignition, turned the radio on and sped all the way to the airport.

After running into a store for a cup of coffee, she checked the timetables and made her way to the luggage area.

Wrestling with an oversized suitcase, a tiny asian woman stood at the closest conveyor belt.

"Phoebe, let me get that for you. And while you're at it start drinking." Helga snatched the suitcase, shoved the coffee her way and started walking towards the car.

"Drinking!"

Helga opened the trunk of her car, slid the suitcase in and turned around grinning widely.

"It's great to see you again Pheebs." The young woman was as petite and as stickly as usual. She threw her arms around Helga and hugged her tightly. Helga hugged her back.

The girls unrolled the windows, and enjoyed the crisp city air.

"So Pheebs, how's Tall Hair Boy? Still a chump?"

"Gerald is doing very well. I do believe he's up for a promotion soon. And things are so much better now that I've finished my internship."

"That's great. So, Phoebe apart from the copious amounts of girl time that we'll be spending together why else are you in Hillwood?"

"Why, Helga, what makes you believe that anything other than your darling presence brings me here?"

Helga cast Phoebe a knowing look. Their friendship had endured the test of time, it had matured in some places, yet remained the same in others. Throughout college, despite the distance, their friendship had only continued to grow stronger. The foundation of their friendship was their intimate but unvoiced understanding of each other's most private personality traits.

"Well, don't tell anyone this. Even Gerald hasn't been privy to what I'm about to tell you."

"On with it Phoebe, we don't have all day here."

"Well, you know how I've been shopping for houses with Gerald. It's been quite a mess thinking about a mortgage, children, long-term versus short-term investments, the costs of repairs etc... Not to mention we really have to consider that what we'll be living in won't just be a building, it will be an abode. A permanent one at that."

Helga nodded. Phoebe breathed in.

"I want to look at places in Hillwood. I think I want to move here."

Helga screeched the car to a stop. "Wait, what! Oh my! Phoebe!" She looked at her friend, they made eye contact and in a second later the girls were both screeching in unadulterated excitement.

"That's so great!" The girls bounced up and down in a hug. After a few moments of excitement Helga put the car into drive. The excitement and tension laced the inside of the car. "Wait, Phoebe, what about your career? You've been working so hard to get your license as a doctor, and Gerald. You don't know where his career is going. And why would someone as intelligent as you with so much earning potential want to work in a dump like this?"

"I know, Helga I know, believe me. That's one of the things that I've thought about the most. I'm just so nervous and excited to think about the future. I have so many big plans and ideas! And about my future, I figure if I want to be the head of a hospital within the next ten years, why not do it here. I grew up in Hillwood, which gives me a tangible tie to the community. On top of that all the other students from my classes in John Hopkins are trying to be doctors for the wrong reasons. They're all competing for jobs in New York City or in California. No one will try to get a job in a place like Hillwood, it's just not "in." Due to the high amounts of crime, and the lack of resources my skills will be in high demand, thus making me more of a commodity, even in this economy. "

"Wow, Pheebs, looks like you really know what you want, and where you're going."

"Indeed, Hela. Indeed."

The girls reached Helga's brownstone. In a knowing drawl, and placing a hand on her waist Helga stated, "We've got a lot to talk about."

"It's a good thing, I'll be here for two weeks."

"You know Pheebs, I'm meeting up for lunch with Sheena next week at the hospital. Why don't you come with me? This is perfect, it fits perfectly into all of my plans. And oh, the plans I have."

Phoebe smiled in helplessness. Helga had always been brilliant, manipulative and plotting, but brilliant nonetheless.

-----

A/N: Don't worry peeps, things will start to make sense soon. :) Please leave me some feedback. 3 CuriousMeem