Chapter 12: Happily Ever After?

Arnold hopped into his car not really knowing where it was he was driving to; he just knew he couldn't waste any time. He began to drive to Phoebe's house, assuming that is where she had been for all these months. On the way he called Helga's cell phone. No answer. He hadn't really expected her to pick up anyway. He called Phoebe, but she didn't answer either. "I guess they're both ignoring me", Arnold said aloud to himself as he illegally maneuvered his car with one hand as he fumbled with his phone. It didn't matter, though, he was still going to Phoebe's whether they wanted him to or not.

Arnold finally got to Phoebe's and ran up to the house, pounding on it with all his might. Lucky, Phoebe answered the door and not one of her parents. He did not think they'd be thrilled by the obnoxious way he knocked on the door.

"Phoebe, thank God, where's Helga? Is she here?" Arnold asked trying to step around Phoebe and enter her house. Phoebe slid in front of him to block his path.

"I'm terribly sorry, Arnold, but Helga hasn't been staying with me", Phoebe admitted.

"What? Then where is she? She didn't go back home, did she?" Arnold asked impatiently.

"No. She's actually staying with Rhonda right now. She's been there for about two months."

"Rhonda? Rhonda Lloyd? That's…unexpected, but thanks." Arnold didn't even say good-bye or wait for Phoebe to respond before he sprinted back to the Packard. He sped off so fast that the screeching sound of his tires seemed loud enough to be heard from miles away. He ran street lights, and stop signs before he finally made it. He bolted out of his car and slammed it in park without even turning off the ignition or closing the driver's seat door. He knocked on Rhonda's door for quite a while until he turned his head to see that there were no cars in Rhonda's driveway. Crap, they must be out, he thought taking his phone out of his pocket, dialing Rhonda's number.

"Rhonda, where are you? Where is Helga? I need to talk to her!"

"Gee, thanks for the hello, Arnold." Rhonda said bitterly. She was still mad at Arnold for all he had done to Helga.

"Seriously? Fine. Hello, Rhonda. Now can I talk to Helga?" Arnold anxiously asked.

"That's a no can do, Arnold."

"What? Why?"

"Because I don't really think she wants to talk to you after everything you put her through, and quite frankly, I don't want you talking to her. So if you think you're gonna get to her by calling me then you're mistaken."

"Rhonda. Please. I'm begging here."

"Even if I wanted to give her my phone to talk to you I couldn't. She's a little busy right now."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing, forget it. I don't know if she wants me telling you."

"Rhonda. Tell me. Now", Arnold sternly demanded.

"Fine, I guess you'll have found out eventually. She's in labor right now. The only reason I'm even talking to you right now is because they won't let me in the room with her. Some stupid 'family only' policy or something."

"Are you kidding? Why didn't anyone call me?" Arnold yelled furiously.

"Are you serious? Why would we waste our time calling you? It's not like you've actually been there for her. Sure you let her stay in your house, whoop-di-do, but you never truly supported her. You were ashamed. And who knows, even if we did call we doubted that you'd even show up because God forbid someone were to see you here and Lila found out."

Arnold took a second before he responded. He knew what he was doing to Helga was wrong all along, but never did it truly hit him until now. All the hardships and the struggles Helga went through were basically all on her own. He knew now why he wasn't called, and he regretted every day that went by that he decided not to tell the truth. To Lila about the baby, or to himself about his hidden feelings for Helga. "Well, that's all over now", Arnold began, "I don't want to be that person anymore. I'm coming."

"But Arnold-"

"But nothing, Rhonda. You can't stop me."

"You don't even know where we are."

"There's only one hospital in Hillwood. I think I can figure it out", Arnold said hanging up on Rhonda and jogging back to his car. He headed straight for the hospital which of course was packed. There was not one parking spot in site. Just my luck, Arnold thought before deciding to pull into a handicap spot. He knew he'd get a fine, but at this point he didn't care. What was a little money in comparison to Helga and his child?

He followed the signs in the hospital leading him up to the maternity ward. He marched up to the front desk and demanded to know which room Helga Pataki was in.

"She's in room 143, but only family is aloud. It's a hospital policy", the receptionist said in a monotone voice without even looking up from her computer screen.

"I'm the father, dammit!" Arnold shouted at her and ran passed her. A nearby nurse who'd overheard their conversation handed him scrubs to put over his clothing. He quickly did so and began to look for room 143. He saw Rhonda waiting outside one room and assumed that to be the one.

"Is she okay? How is everything?" Arnold hastily asked Rhonda.

"Arnold?! Damn, that was fast. But like I told you, they haven't given me the okay to go in so I don't know how she is. But Arnold I don't think-"

"I don't care, Rhonda", Arnold said walking into the room. He saw Helga lying on the hospital bed in her hospital gown. The little make-up she wore was a smudged and her long, blonde hair was a mess. She looks beautiful, Arnold thought as he began to creep closer and closer to her. Beside her was a baby fast asleep in her arms.

"Arnold?" Helga said in a loud whisper trying not to awaken her child. "What are you doing here? How did you-?"

"I went looking for you at Rhonda's. When you weren't there I called Rhonda and she gave away your secret. I'm sorry. I know you probably don't want to see me, but I just needed to see you…and the baby."

"I only didn't call you because I figured you didn't want anything to do with it. You've been missing in action for two months."

"That's not fair. I tried to talk to you, but you didn't want to listen."

"That's because I thought you were going to give me some lame apology and continue with what you were doing anyway."

"Okay, maybe you're right, but that's not me anymore. I don't even know that guy. I wanted so bad to be here for our child's birth, but it looks like I missed it though." Arnold said hanging his head.

"D-does that mean-?"

"Yes, I told Lila about us. She broke up with me", Arnold said sitting on the edge of Helga's bed.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Helga said sympathetically.

"It's fine. I realized that I didn't want to be with her anyway. It's you, it's always been you. I think I've always known deep down, but I didn't want to admit it. I gave my heart to the wrong girl", Arnold said ripping off his half of the heart necklace he'd bought for Lila, "but when I found your locket broken in half it hurt. It made me think you didn't…well… love me anymore and that tore me apart. I need your love Helga, and I can only hope you'll accept mine."

A huge smile swept across Helga's worn out face. This had been the moment she'd been waiting for since she was a toddler. Arnold actually admitted to being in love with her. She almost couldn't believe it.

"O-of course I accept it, Arnold."

"Arnold got up and stood at Helga's bed side. He brushed her hair back and out of her face with his hand. "I love you, Helga."

"I love you too, Arnold."

With that Arnold pressed his lips against hers in a long, passionate kiss. He then looked down and placed a kiss on his new born's forehead. He put his arms around the both of them and embraced his new family, wondering about what the future would have in store for them.

One more chapter left! I hope you liked this one~