***OMG I am so so so unbelievably sorry! I know it has been forever! I have been crazy busy this year, and I haven't had much time to write, but here is the next chapter! Chapter 11 is soon to follow! Thank you so much to everyone for their wonderful reviews and favorites on this story! You guys are amazing!***

Chapter 10

Helga's saw black, her heart racing, she felt like the world had stopped around her. She felt a tug at her shirt. The sound of the train faded off into the distance.

Helga froze, it wasn't until she could no longer hear the train that she realized she had her eyes tightly closed. She slowly squinted through them, opening them slowly, she found that she no longer saw the track, but she saw people passing by, and staring down at her.

Helga popped her eyes open, and looked around, she didn't know how she got there. She then felt something jab her back, Helga looked over her shoulder to see a woman, probably in her mid-thirties. Helga blinked, then realized she was actually sitting ontop this person. Helga quickly fumbled up, and then turned and offered to help the older woman up.

"I,uh, I am really sorry…Uh, I-" Helga stuttered out but was caught off guard, when the lady shot her a look. It wasn't anger or disgust, but it was one of worry and happiness. Helga was confused.

"Are you ok?" The woman asked, she grabbed Helga's shoulders and was examining her, as if to make sure she really was there, that she hadn't been crushed by that train.

Helga sighed, just realizing she had been holding her breath, took her hands off of her shoulders, and grasped her hands in her own.

"Thank you" Helga smiled at the lady. "For saving me"

The lady looked Helga in her eyes, and then she let out a sigh, and smiled back. "I am really glad you are ok." Then the lady looked up on Helga's head, and her eyes grew wide.

Helga looked at her confusingly, then patted her head, only to find that her cap was missing. She also let out a gasp, as she realized her little pink bow was now visible. Helga covered her bow with her hands.

"Uh, you see, this bow is, uh, I-"

"Helga?" asked the lady. Helga paused, and placed her hands back at her side.

"How-how do you know my name?" Helga asked thoroughly confused. The lady smiled brightly, and she grabbed Helga's hands tightly.

"Oh, Helga! I am so glad you are ok! Oh, I have been so worried about you! I was so afraid of what happened to you! I never stopped thinking about you!" said the lady, each second seeming to get happier and happier.

Helga leaned away from her, giving her a questioning, and creeped out look. The lady saw this and let out a little chuckle. Let go of her hands, and held them up showing she was no threat, and meant no harm.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry I don't expect you to remember me, I mean, you were so young." She smiled, but it was a sad smile, a smile that was forced so Helga would feel ok. Helga remembered this smile all too familiarly. Helga looked at the woman, she stepped closer, noting that she was a little taller than her.

"Karen?" she asked.

Helga met the eyes of the woman who, about ten years earlier, had saved her and helped her, in more ways than one.

Karen smiled genuinely now, and nodded. "It's been so long…I was so worried about you, Helga." Helga smiled. Without knowing why, Helga wrapped her arms around Karen, and brought her into an embrace.

"You've saved me twice," whispered Helga. Karen broke the embrace, her eyes a little wet, she shook her head.

"No, you're a tough kid, you got through so much by yourself, and I can only guess what else you have dealt with…" Karen looked down, she still seemed happy, but also full of regret.

There was an awkward silence. Karen looked back up.

"I wish I had been able to be there for you, I know that it was only once, and for such a short time, but I always thought about you, about wanting to give you the best life."

Helga smiled at Karen, the only gesture she thought could really express her thoughts.

Hearing Karen dote and talk like she was her mother. Helga might have been concerned about someone she met once being so intrigued, but the truth was that Helga had wished, nearly every day, that Karen was there, was her real mom. Helga pictured it often. She would be happy, nicer, smile, and the only yelling would be for when she truly did something wrong.

"Mommy!" snapped Helga out of her thoughts, and she looked down, just noticing that a little girl with dark hair, wrapped in braided pigtails. She clutched onto Karen's shirt. Karen looked down at the little girl, scooped her into her arms.

"Oh, I am sorry honey, I was just catching up with an old friend." Karen explained, smiling at Helga when she said 'old friend.' "This is Hayden, she is three," said Karen, nodding her head towards the bundle in her arms.

The little girl, leaned forward a little in her mother's arms, reached out her right hand. "Hayden." She smiled sweetly but also with authority. Helga couldn't help but giggle at the little girl, and reached out her hand, and they gently shook. "Helga." She stated.

Hayden smiled and giggled, then reaching both her arms out, and wiggling her fingers, towards Helga. Helga had to grab her so she wouldn't fall, and Hayden let out a joyful glee, and wrapped her arms around Helga.

Karen's eyes were wide with awe and she was smiling brightly. "She NEVER does that!" Karen said, failing to hide how excited she was. Helga didn't know how to react, with Hayden snuggling her neck and Karen looking at Helga like she was an angel.

"What do I do now?" Helga asked quietly, and Karen giggled, but shrugged. Hayden removed her arms from around Helga's neck, and looked down at her hand.

"Shiny." Hayden reached for the golden locket, and gripped the broken chain. It wasn't until then that Helga's attention was brought back to what had stopped her. She whirled around, holding Hayden tighter in her hands. Helga stood on her tip-toes, craning her neck. She looked across the platform.

Nothing.

Helga sat on the train, she would occasionally get the sideways glance from an adult, a look of concern or annoyance, wondering who would let their child roam around on a train alone.

Helga sat in the seat, and "Arnold" sat next to her, everytime someone came over, she would make the excuse her mother would be back to sit there. Helga knew that "Arnold" wasn't Arnold, she knew that no one saw him, and she was ok with that. This "Arnold" was her's.

Then "Arnold" hopped down from his seat, smiled, and waved his hand, showing he wanted Helga to follow. Helga hopped off of her seat, and followed "Arnold" off the train. Glad that he was bright, because a lot of people crowded off of the train.

Suddenly, Helga saw the light start to fade. Helga panicked, and without thinking reached out, and tried to grab the tail of "Arnold's" shirt. It startled Helga when her hand felt cloth.

The figure jumped slightly, and turned around quickly. Helga's face turned red.

"Helga?" asked Arnold.

"What do you want football head?" Helga snapped back. Arnold looked down at the clump of his shirt in Helga's hand.

"You got my attention Helga." Arnold stated, pointing to her hand. Helga turned red, but couldn't bring herself to let go, so she hid her face in embarrassment. "Arnold" had vanished, and she had no idea where she was. Tears started to fill her eyes, and despite her efforts some escaped down her cheeks.

Arnold felt Helga shaking, and he instantly knew something was wrong.

Helga flinched when she felt Arnold slid his hand into her's. Helga looked at Arnold, but he didn't look at her, just tugged on his Grandpa's pants.

"Grandpa, we have a situation." Arnold said, nodding his head toward Helga. Grandpa looked at Arnold, and then down at Helga, he gave a worried smile, and kneeled down to Helga's height.

"Hey, Helga, remember me?" Grandpa asked in a soothing tone. Helga nodded, her face still flushed and tears now staining her cheeks. Grandpa smiled sweetly, and placed a hand on her head.

"You lost?" again Helga nodded. "Alright, then how about we try to find your parents?" Granpa stood up again, and looked for Bob and Muriel.

"Not here." Helga said softly, and slightly embarrassed.

Grandpa was shocked, but did his best to hide it as he said, "Oh, ok, are they at home?"

Helga shook her head, "My sister had a concert, we got separated at the train station, so I hopped onto a train home." This time Grandpa was shocked from awe.

"How did you know which train?" Grandpa asked. Helga turned a little redder, looked down at Arnold's hand holding firmly onto hers. She then looked away, shook her head, and shrugged.

Grandpa left it at that. "Well, aright then!" he said in a chipper voice. "How about you come hang out with us old coots at our home until your folks get back? I'll leave them a message at home. We can have some fun until then!" He wrapped his arm around Grandma's waist, and they both smiled at her.

She felt the grip tighten on her hand, reassuringly, and looked at Arnold who was smiling at her and gave her a nod. She couldn't help but smile, and gave a nod.

Grandma slipped her hand into Helga's free hand, and Grandpa took Arnold's. They all walked together, and Helga felt her locket bouncing inside her pocket.

Helga ran towards the library, cursing her hair getting in her face, and her small heels providing her with discomfort.

"This is why I hate fashion," thought Helga.

Helga arrived at the library, and saw Arnold sitting with his Math book open, sitting in their usual seat, staring out the window. He was smiling, and Helga was afraid to approach him, but her feet cried for her to sit down.

Helga walked over to Arnold, and gave a little cough to show her presence.

Arnold jumped, and looked over at Helga.

"Hey-…" he cut himself short as he looked at Helga, eyes huge with disbelief.

Helga was in a yellow lace sundress; her hair curled and fell carelessly over her shoulder and back.

"What ya gawking at?" Helga asked, leaning one hand on the table, and giving him a playful smirk. Arnold smiled, which caused Helga to smile too.

"You look…great." Arnold said, the only word that came to his head. Helga sat down, "Thanks Football Head, but don't let it distract from your work too much." Again Arnold heard the playfulness in her voice, no ill-intent was noted.

Arnold fumbled to open his textbook, and Helga watched him from the corner of her eye. Then looked back at her own textbook, which was pointless since she had finished this chapter long ago.

"You weren't here yesterday." Arnold's statement made Helga's heart jump, and her eyes widened.

She looked over at Arnold, who looked back, but his eyes no longer seemed happy to see her, they looked…lost was the only word Helga could think of.

"Look, Arnold, what happened-," but Arnold cut her off. "Helga, look, I am sorry if I took it too far, but you didn't need to just not show up." Helga could place the look now. Hurt.

"No Arnold look-," but again he cut her off. "No, Helga." He said sternly. "I liked you, like really liked you, but you ignored all my calls yesterday, you didn't show up, and well then…" but Arnold trailed off, and looked away from Helga.

Helga was getting mad, he wasn't listening, and he was the one who switched that "feeling" off in a day. Helga shot up, and slammed her hands on the table. "OH! YOU LIKED ME SO MUCH THAT AS SOON AS LILA COMES AROUND YOU'VE GOT HER TOUNGE IN YOUR MOUTH?!" Arnold quickly looked back at Helga, a glint of remorse and pain flashed in his eyes, before they were replaced with anger once again.

Arnold also stood up, his pride getting in the way. "YOU KNOW WHAT HELGA! LILA WAS HERE! SHE HELPED ME OUT! TURNS OUT YOU AREN'T THE ONLY MATH GENIUS AROUND HERE! NO ONE AROUND HERE NEEDS YOU OR WANTS YOU, SO GO BACK TO BEING YOUR SISTER'S SHADOW!" As those last words left his lips, Arnold immediately wished he could take them back.

Helga took a step back, acting as though Arnold had struck her. Not even Helga had the ability to hide the pain from her face.

"FUCK OFF!" she screamed, her voice cracking as she failed to hide the pain. She grabbed her books, and ran off.

Arnold slumped back down into his seat, placing his head in his hands, and whispered to himself, "Nice, Arnold."