Chapter Fourteen is here. The amazing (Ha! I'll let you lot be the judge of that) chapter you've all been waiting for.

Review Responses:

acosta perez jose ramiro

Thank you very much for reviewing.

Yes, Rhonda can be a bit snobbish at times. Of course, it's understandable, as she is literally given anything she wants. Plus, according to the show, her father is a very wealthy person.

But there have been times in the show where she can be a pretty decent character, and actually has a very kind side to her.

Nep2uune

Thank you very much for reviewing.

Yes, I made Helga and Phoebe change their minds about walking home after drinking.

And of course the only reason Rhonda would have a party is so she can show off. Then again, it's Rhonda. She doesn't need an excuse to throw a party.

Nairobi-Harper

Thank you for reviewing.

I'm glad you enjoyed reading the chapter.

Chapter Fourteen: Finding Out the Truth

Bob and Miriam sat in front of the television, not saying a single word to each other.

Truth be told, it had been like this ever since Miriam returned from wherever she was. Estranged husband and wife would just drown in awkward silence.

After ten years, Bob couldn't just bring himself to tell his wife that he missed her.

After ten years, Miriam couldn't bring herself to tell her husband that she missed him.

Miriam got up from her place on the couch, and went into the kitchen to pour herself another cup of coffee.

"I wonder when Helga's going to be back," she said, finally deciding to break the silence, "she's been gone for such a long time." She sat back down on the couch.

Bob rolled his eyes at his wife's remark.

"Why don't you call her, if you're so worried, Miriam."

Miriam looked quite taken aback at her husband's sarcastic remark.

"E…excuse me?"

But Bob said nothing, and still continued to watch what was on the screen in front of him. He really did not want to get into it with Miriam, and that last comment would soon start something if he didn't end it right now.

Miriam, however, was not about to let what her husband said slip by like it was nothing.

"Well, aren't you worried, Bob?" She asked.

Bob shrugged again.

"She's a big girl," was his only response, "She'll be fine."

Miriam was still not appeased.

"I'm just expressing concern for my daughter's well-being.

That did it for Bob.

"Oh, like you expressed concern during the time you were here? Or how about the ten years that you spent away from us after you walked out on us?"

Miriam frowned deeply in her husband's direction.

"You're still on about that, are you?"

"Well, what do you expect me to say Miriam? What the hell do you even expect me to even think about you, about us?"

"Well, some understanding would be nice. And furthermore, you weren't exactly there for Helga, either. So I don't appreciate you trying to put all the blame on me, Robert Pataki."

"Oh, that's real rich, Miriam. It's just like you to never take responsibility for anything. Have you forgotten that YOU are the one who caused this mess in the first place? You stand there, accusing me of not being there for the girl, but here's the thing, dear wife! I NEVER LEFT! I NEVER CHOSE TO WALK OUT ON MY FAMILY!"

"You don't even know what I was going through to even make that kind of a choice. So, don't you dare cast judgment on me!"

"Don't I dare cast judgment? This coming from a mother who left her family for ten years, and only contacted them when it was convenient for her. No wonder Helga doesn't want to talk to you!"

Miriam said nothing, but continued to glare at her husband.

In this very moment, she hated him. But in this very moment, she knew he was right.

Finally, she got up from the couch again.

"I don't have to deal with this," she said, fuming, "I'm leaving."

"What? You're leaving again?" Bob asked in mock surprise, "So how long is it going to be this time, Miriam? Another ten years?"

"I'm not having this conversation with you, B! I'm done."

'Oh no,' Bob thought, she's not getting away from this that easily.

"COME BACK HERE!" He shouted, jumping up from the couch, and grabbing a hold of his wife's arm, "DON'T YOU DARE WALK AWAY FROM THIS! WHY CAN'T YOU EVER FACE YOUR PROBLEMS LIKE AN ADULT, MIRIAM?"

Right now, Bob was surprising even himself. Where was this coming from? Why was he suddenly so angry at Miriam?

Then, his eyes caught the date on the calendar. November 13.

It was ten years ago today that Miriam left.

All that anger that Bob held towards his wife was finally resurfacing, and it was about to be released in one fell swoop.

No, he would not let his wife just walk away again. Not this time.

He would make sure she knew exactly the betrayal that he, and their children, suffered at her hands.

Miriam yanked back her arm, and was glaring furiously at her husband.

"Don't touch me like that, Bob," she hissed, "I don't appreciate being handled like that."

"Oh, yes, let's feel sorry for Miriam. You have no idea the kind of damage you caused, do you?"

"What?"

"Look at the calendar, Miriam," Bob said, jabbing a finger towards the wall. Miriam's eyes followed his finger.

Her eyes widened when she saw it.

This was the day she packed her bags, left her family, and didn't see them again for ten years.

So that was why Bob was so angry.

Well then, she would make sure he understood the damage that he did to her.

Before long, more yelling at ensued. Harsh words were exchanged, and both husband and wife shouted to the high heavens, and each other, why they were both full of resentment towards each other.

"You have no idea what this marriage did to me Bob. You don't know what it feels like to be stuck, day in and day out. You don't know what it's like to be forced to give up your dreams for a life you didn't even plan on having!"

By now, Miriam was sobbing openly at her husband's raging face.

"I forced you? I FORCED YOU INTO THIS LIFE STYLE? DON'T GIVE ME THAT BULLSHIT, MIRIAM! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO DECIDED TO DROP OUT OF COLLEGE SO YOU COULD MARRY ME. This entire time," Bob lowered his voice, but it still sounded dangerous, "you've been bitching about how you couldn't go back to college, how you couldn't have a job. You still could have done ALL of those things, Miriam, even after the girls' were born. Instead, you just decided to sit around on your lazy ass, and complain about everything You bitch about how you've made nothing with your life, well you CHOSE to make nothing with your life. YOU'VE GOT NOBODY ELSE TO BLAME FOR THIS BUT YOURSELF!"

"OH, GO FUCK YOURSELF!"

Now Bob was taken aback. In all their years of marriage, never once did Miriam use that language, let along with him. His eyes widened at his wife's sudden outburst.

Miriam's face, was also something he'd never seen before. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her blonde hair was wild and furious. She panted heavily, as she glared her him with such anger, such resentment, such….such…he didn't know what to call it. Her teeth were bared.

"You're so adamant on taking personal responsibility, Robert?" She seethed through clenched teeth, "Fine then. Let's talk about taking personal responsibility. Do you remember the time when I was pregnant with Olga? When I found out, I was scared to death B. I was only 20 years old, too young to be a mother. But did you listen to how I felt? No, instead you FORCED me to have Olga. You forced me to carry a pregnancy to term, which I wasn't ready to do. You forced me to bring a child into the world that I wasn't ready to have. And then, you expected me to stay home with a baby that I never even planned on having. "

"You told me you wanted that baby, Miriam," Now it was Bob's turn to speak, "You told me that you were happy with the fact that we were expecting our first child."

Miriam shook her head.

"I lied about that Bob. I wasn't happy that I wasn't pregnant. Truth be told, I wanted an abortion, but then you had to be all, 'oh, abortion is wrong, it's an innocent child.' It's just such a fucking shame that men can't get pregnant, then maybe you brutes would understand exactly what we women go through when we are faced with an unplanned and an unwanted pregnancy."

"In the end, Miriam," Bob said, "You agreed to have Olga. In the end, you made the choice to bring a child into the world that you supposedly weren't ready for. If you had just told me your feelings, I would have understood."

Miriam shook her head angrily,

"No you wouldn't! You wouldn't have understood. Do you want to know why? Because you then forced me to have Helga after I found out I was pregnant with her. "

At that moment, a sudden blast of realization hit Bob like a truck going at full speed.

"So," he said, "So that's why you left. You simply decided that motherhood and being a wife was too difficult."

"That's not what I said…."

"No! No, that's exactly what it sounded like. You decided that motherhood and being a wife was too difficult. So, rather than be an adult and make your own life better, and own up to your responsibilities, you chose to walk away. You chose to make both our children's lives a living hell. Christ, I get it now! I understand it all now. You chose you own selfish needs over your own family."

It was that comment, that made Miriam snap.

"You're right!" She shouted, louder than she ever had before, "You're absolutely fucking right! I walked out because I didn't want this life anymore. And you know what? I'm glad I did! I wouldn't take those ten years that I was gone back, and if I could do it over again, I would! I didn't want to be a mother when you made me become one, Bob! I didn't want Olga when I was pregnant with her AND I CERTAINLY DIDN'T WANT HELGA!"

"Wha…what?"

They both looked up to see Helga, standing in the doorway. She was wearing one of her sister's old black and white ball gowns. Her feet were bare and dirty, indicating that she had walked home from wherever she was.

Miriam reached for her daughter, but Helga pulled back.

"That's…that's the reason you left?" Helga felt tears pouring down her cheeks.

"Helga," Bob gazed anxiously at his youngest daughter, "How…how much of that did you hear?"

But Helga chose not answer him.

"That's the reason you left? Because you…you didn't want me?"

"Helga, honey, it's much more complicated than that!" Miriam placed gentle hands on her daughter's shoulders.

"No, don't you FUCKING TOUCH ME!" Helga pulled back, as if her mother's touch was an electric shock.

Miriam looked on in shock as she watched her youngest daughter slowly back away from her mother, eyes wide in disbelief.

"All this time…when you said you cared about me, that you loved me…it was all a lie? You left because you didn't want me?"

"Helga, sweetie, let me explain…" mother attempted to coax daughter into listening, but Helga wouldn't hear of it.

"JUST…JUST STAY AWAY FROM ME!"

She didn't want to be in that house anymore. She didn't want to be around her mother, she didn't even want to see her mother.

She didn't even answer as her mom called to her, as she turned on her heel, and ran out the already open front door as fast as she could.

Bob and Miriam watched their daughter, looks of despair on their faces.

"Well, Bob," Miriam said after a few minutes, "If you hadn't put me in this position, Helga never would've…."

"Don't you try and blame me for this, Miriam," Bob's venomous tone left no room for argument, "This entire mess, what happened here today, is entirely on you. "

Miriam bit her lip in frustration, wanting so badly to retaliate, to find some way to get her out of this situation. But, deep down, she knew that she had nobody to blame but herself.

Bob gave his wife one last glare before saying, "I hope losing your entire family was worth it."

And, that's chapter 14. There was a lot of dialogue, but let me tell you: I went back and forth with so many things with this chapter. In the end, I always came back to what you just read.

Now, did Miriam mean what she said when she didn't want Helga, or did she say it out of anger? That's for you lovely readers to find out. The story's not over yet, so stay tuned!