Kyoyo's eyebrows rose up from what she was telling him. "You seem to have a lot more going on in your life than a typical novel."

Helga snorted at that. "Next there will be a super spy grappling down the building." Rolling her eyes she had to wonder. "Any chance I can toss the scourges into that power plant down there?"

"I know you are referring to the nuclear one. Seriously no. Just imagine them surviving that and ending up like some super villain. Do you really want to deal with that?" Kyoyo pointed out. He loved when she would often screw her eyes up in thought.

Shuddering at the thought that entered into her head, Helga stuck her tongue out. "Yuck!"

He was very amused by whatever she was thinking of. "Must of been a great thought. This is what happens when someone with your imagination thinks of things."

"You know we have to deal with Wolfgang as something super obnoxious. I really don't want to handle that when he becomes the truest of walking hard-on's." Hearing Kyoyo chuckle, Helga stopped to listen to him. Her smile ghosted on her face. "Now you need something exciting on your front to tell me."

Tapping the side of his face in thought he could only shake his head. "Godzilla didn't attack the city."

"Well that's because he's busy with Mothra."

"True." Watching her adjust herself, Kyoyo couldn't help the ideas that were popping up in his head. "My friends think that you are very pretty."

Her eyes widened. "What?!" Crossing her arms over her chest, Helga scowled. "Are you all blind?!"

Kyoyo hated when she continued to do this to herself. "We aren't. They called you a very pretty American girl and wants to know if you have any available friends."

Placing her hand in the back of her neck, Helga felt weird. "What's next? You want to see me naked or something?"

He looked at her as she slapped her hand to her mouth. "One day I would love that, but right now you aren't ready for that. I'm fine with waiting."

Relaxing her body enough to look down at herself, Helga really didn't see what, Kyoyo and Arnold were talking about when it came to her. "W-Why n-not?"

Softening the appearance of his eyes, Kyoyo couldn't help himself when he gazed at her. He loved so many things about her that he often couldn't help himself. "Because I love you."

"I love you too." Her lips curled up till he began to curse after spilling something on him. "Guess that was cold." She remarked dryly till her mouth went dry when she watched him stand up to remove his shirt. It was obvious he wasn't paying attention as he dashed away from the camera. "Well that was nice." She added softly.

In his room Kyoyo went to change his shirt apologizing to her as he went. That was fucking cold. He must of had that tea sitting there for far too long since it turned icy. Coming back with some towels he was unaware of Helga's expression as he wiped up the remaining liquid. "Sorry. I'll be all yours again in a second." Hearing her soft voice had him stopping his chore. "Excuse me?" Helga startled at being heard. "You know you look cute when you get like that."

"No I'm not!" She argued as she tried to look away from the screen.

"Helga." Kyoyo prodded her gently. "What did you say?"

Her shoulders slumped as she slightly deflated. "You could of left your shirt off."

Grinning at her, Kyoyo leaned forward. "Did you enjoy what you saw?"

Her eyes flitted that way and that to avoid eye contact. "Yeah. Sure. Maybe. I don't know." Crossing her arms over her chest, Helga groaned at being caught. Seeing him remove his shirt she had to yell in Japanese about the fact that it was unfair.

Kyoyo laughed hard at her spewing out in his language. Never in his entire life, no girl sounded as cute as her when she was irritated like that.

The next day Arnold wasn't too surprised to have Ruth right there flirting with him. He groaned as he moved away from her. She took so many chances in her touches that it irked him slightly that Helga let the cat out of the bag regarding them both.

Maybe it irked him more than slightly seeing how he didn't want to regard her in their last class together. Helga spoke to him, but he ignored her. He really knew why he was becoming more frustrated at the second. He heard her conversation with Kyoyo. Heard how she got turned on by him taking his shirt off.

He should of admitted to her how he felt a long time back, and now she was taken.

Helga rolled her eyes at whatever crawled up Arnold's ass. She couldn't take his silent treatment anymore as she simply told him she'll be right behind him when the bell rang. What she really did was wait around until she saw the bus pull away. She'll walk home instead.

Arnold couldn't believe she missed the bus. He told the driver there was someone else, but he needed to tell about schedules. He was frustrated even as he pulled the cord. It wasn't her fault she had no clue why he was like that to her. She is also happy to be in relationship with a good guy. He should be happy, but the fact remains that he wanted her.

X

"Girl."

Helga's blood froze at encountering Bob on the street. That man hardly took up to any walks unless there was money involved. Her attention went fully on him before a resounding hit was felt against her cheek.

The pain was unbearable as she fell to the ground. It felt like explosions going off as she tried to get up, but to feel him pull her into the alley for privacy had her clawing at him. She was afraid of him most of all. He blamed her for Olga's death so it was obvious he saw fit with his punishments.

She was raised up like she was nothing. Helga tried to stop it, but the punch to the stomach had her seeing stars. With his other hand he slapped her hard in the other cheek.

"Stop." She tried to pull his hand away from her.

"Murderers deserve punishment." Breathed Bob as he hit her again before dropping her on the ground.

XX

Arnold wondered where she was. She couldn't of gone far. He knew he would of met up with her, but she was no wheres around as he continued on till he heard stumbled footsteps. Turning his head had him rushing towards Helga with a bloody lip, and limping.

"Who did this?" Arnold was panicked as he lifted his phone up with his free hand.

Helga groaned. "Bob." She fell more against him. "Says murderers deserve punishment."

Her eyes closed as she caught snippets of his conversation. Passing out she had no idea how she appeared now.

Miles arrived quickly to find Arnold holding her in his arms. Rushing over he checked the young girl out before bringing her inside the car. "We are reporting that bastard." He bared his teeth and clenched the steering wheel.

Arriving to the hospital, Arnold didn't want to let her go. He wanted to remain by her side as he blamed himself. Seeing his father take her from his grasp as he lowered her on a gurney, Arnold could only watch as she was wheeled through the double doors. Raising his hands up he placed them in his hair as he began to pace.

Miles went over to his son after the cops were called. "Arnold, she'll be fine."

Turning around to face him, Arnold felt helpless. "I should of been there with her. If I wasn't feeling so." He trailed off as his eyes closed. "I was so jealous of Kyoyo having something that I want so badly."

Jealousy paid a part in this role of why they were not together. "It isn't her fault she is with someone else." He told his son plainly. "To take it out on her was unfair, but not as bad as what her own father did to her."

Guilt laced through him. "I'm more angry at myself for never telling her how I felt. I know she needs to heal so even I don't think her current relationship will last."

Miles raised an eyebrow even as some police officers entered the place. "Than let her heal. As you can see from where we are that she has a lot to deal with."

"I know." Arnold listened to the cops ask where the attack victim was. It was for Helga. His eyes closed.

"Mr Shortman?" The male officer addressed his dad. "You are Helga Pataki's Guardian?"

Miles responded quickly. "I am. This is my son Arnold. He is the one that found her."

"Than we'll both be asking you some questions before, Ms Pataki is able to." The female officer took her pad out to start jotting down some notes.

Opening his mouth after the first question was asked, Arnold hoped that some justice will be brought for her.

Miriam covered her mouth at the sound of her husband's voice screaming at the injustice against him. Stepping forward she had to examine him as she heard about what occurred.

"You hit Helga?" She couldn't believe it as she watched them haul her Bob out to their squad car.

"I'm the innocent. That girl is a murderer!" Bob turned his head towards Miriam. "Get Fred on the phone and tell him to meet me at the precinct!"

Nodding her head at the request, Miriam waited till they drove away when she ran back inside to get her purse. Her daughter still had to be at the hospital.

Helga felt fine enough to go home, but Stella was being a worrywart. "I'm fine. I just was in shock."

Placing her hand gently on her shoulder, Stella looked upon the girl in understanding. "We have to make sure about any possible concussion, Helga. You can go home tomorrow."

"But school."

"Arnold will get your assignments. This is important for you to feel better."

Sighing, Helga wanted to hit something. "Fine."

Bending down to kiss her forehead, Stella than straightened out. "I just want to make sure that you are fine."

Hard to be fine when certain people hate you strong enough to want to kill you. Helga knew she had to relent. She knew it, but she didn't know that there would be someone visiting her. "Get her out of here."

Turning around to find Miriam standing there, Miles opened up his mouth to speak on her behalf. "Mrs Pataki, it would be a good thing if you give into Helga's wishes."

Miriam balked at that. "Certainly, but I wanted to say how sorry I am about this."

"You are more sorry that Bob got caught." Helga grounded out. "You always wanted to think of Bob more than your own daughter. I was never important enough. Just leave. I'm not your daughter and I'm certainly not his." Turning her head away from the sorry looking sight of that woman, Helga felt Arnold's hand wrap around hers. "Don't say it." She told him softly.

"I wasn't." Arnold brushed his finger against her hand. "Do you want Phoebe to tell Kyoyo where you are?"

Smiling at that name, Helga simply nodded before watching him depart from the room. Turning her head around she noticed that Miriam left. Somehow she had a feeling that someone will try to make her speak to her mother.

Arnold hung up with Phoebe after telling her what was happening with Helga. Sighing he saw Miriam just sitting there in the waiting area. He should hate that woman, but something about her seemed to scream that she was also a victim here. Not of Helga, but of Bob.

Approaching her he obviously startled her. "I don't want him ever near her again. Helga never did nothing to deserve this. All she wanted was your love and attention, but all she got was everyone blaming her for something. Telling her how worthless she is." Arnold informed her curtly. "I hope he gets what he deserves and as for you, I hope you get your life straight."

Miriam opened her mouth up as the young male began to turn around. "I know I'm an awful mother." She watched him as he paused. "I also know that the second that I call up Fred to go down to help out Bob that they'll try to get her in jail." She was breathing hard. "My daughter doesn't deserve that."

Arnold ignored her last statement. "Did you tell my dad about this?" Miriam nodded her head. "He can't. Once they look out the windows of Helga's old bedroom they'll see that it was obstructed by those trees."

"Bob had those trees trimmed recently. I know my husband will most likely hide when he had it happen."

"Then you have to help us. You have to do something for Helga. Stand up for her." Arnold's hand indicated to where she is staying. "Do it for her."

Standing up, Miriam felt weak as she did so, but also a bit more strengthened. "I will. This time."

Arnold wondered if she would really hold this up, or drown in a sea of smoothies.

Later that night he was shocked to find Kyoyo contacting him directly. Not his parents or his cousin, but him. Clicking the icon for the video call, Arnold still was slightly livid at how little effort this guy took to make anything look good. There he was in a slightly torn shirt and his hair really messy, but Kyoyo still looked like a freaking model.

"Hello Kyoyo."

Kyoyo smiled at him. "Hello Arnold. Phoebe told me. I wish I was there to personally hit him for what he has done to Helga. Sure my parents say that violence doesn't solve anything, but right now I'm just that upset."

Arnold smiled slightly. "I know how you feel. I found her like that and truthfully I blame myself. I was peeved off about several things and I know that Helga didn't want to be around me because of that."

He studied Arnold for a bit. "Phoebe is strong, but she's upset with what happened to Helga. I know I talk to Helga myself, but she often likes to avoid some topics."

"And she will try to avoid this just to not worry you." Arnold drawled out. "Trust me when I say she does that with us too. I'm certain Phoebe has mentioned that to you."

That had him chuckling a little. "Actually she did. I admire Helga, but I'm sure you agree that she can't bare this all on her shoulders alone. I know she loves your family and wants to protect them." Kyoyo wasn't blind to something more that he was seeing from the blonde in front of him. "I also have a feeling that she will think that she will be too much for your family." He said with a bit more foreboding.

"Has she mentioned that to you? I know for one thing that my family absolutely loves her." Arnold loves her more than this male in front of him. "We'll fight for her."

That instilled confidence in him. "I'm glad." Kyoyo brushed his hair back. "I wish she was of age."

A chill met his spine at that as Arnold leaned back. "W-Why?"

"I'd marry her right now if I could." Glancing towards a picture of them both on his desk, Kyoyo smiled warmly at it. "Maybe it is too soon to think of things like this, but I truly do love her." He caught the twitch from the teenager. "Just like I know how much you love her yourself." His attention went back to Arnold as he spotted the denial that was sputtering about out of his mouth. "You are a poor liar, Arnold. I did ask Phoebe if I could trust you after knowing you and Helga were in bed together. She said that I can." Leaning forward he wanted to take that picture to bring it closer to him. "I love my cousin and I trust her judgement so I'm trusting you."

Arnold regained his senses to finally speak. "You can trust me. I know she is in a relationship. I know she loves you. I know she loves touching that necklace you gave her." His heart pained at that. "I respect her and the biggest thing I want from her is her happiness. So if she is happy with you, than I welcome it."

Kyoyo sensed his sincerity, but he also sensed how it hurt him to say all that. "It is no shame to be in love with someone like her. We both know how special she is. I believe we are very lucky to know it."

Adjusting himself on his seat, Arnold found himself having a hard time hating this guy. He is what Helga needed at the moment. Not that he will stop himself from admitting to her how he really feels. Arnold even could imagine a life with her. "She is special. Thing is that you are very lucky to admit how you felt while I've been scared of ruining our friendship."

"You miss opportunities though when you are scared." Kyoyo pointed out. "Helga won't waste any time in wanting to travel." He saw how that pained Arnold visibly. "You know she needs to do that."

"The way she grew up I don't blame her. I wanted to be an explorer and travel. I wanted to uncover new and exciting things along the way." Arnold remembered all those daydreams he had when he was younger. "One day I will learn how to fly. That is a dream that I have and keep having."

"That is also a good dream." He smiled. "I've always just wanted to be a doctor. I want to help others and hope I never lose sight of things that are important."

"Like how some doctors act like their Gods." Arnold rolled his eyes. "My mom doesn't like those because they lose that element that helps speak to their patients. She doesn't want to exclude them."

"Same." Kyoyo was troubled. "Do you believe they will try to charge Helga for her sister's death?"

"Bob tried it before and of course they sided with Helga. Bob has a newer fancier lawyer so who knows now. All I can hope is that Miriam will actually be a mother for once by helping her daughter out."

"I hope so too, Arnold." Kyoyo brushed his fingertip along the side of Helga's smiling face. "I want the tides to turn for her."

"Same here, Kyoyo." His fingertip next to a picture he shot of Helga himself. She had no idea she took it, but there she was in her shorts and baggy t-shirt. That smug expression on her face. He had others, but at the moment this was his favorite. It showed a certain strength in her that he admired.

Miriam stood in front of her husband. He was seething in front of her just because she refused to call the lawyer when he told her to. She didn't fear him in the way that he'll beat her up for that or what she'll say. She only feared for Helga right now as she remained standing in front of him.

She couldn't find the evidence just yet that he hid away, but she knew it was around. She had a feeling he might kick her out, but at the same time he might not seeing he still needed her. He needed his lengthy marriage to appease customers.

"Helga isn't at fault for Olga's death, B." Miriam told him once more. She could hear his fists literally cracking from the pressure he was putting them under. "You never wanted her so you just blaming someone close by."

Bob stomped his foot forward. "She could of prevented it."

"How?" For the first time her voice had actually passion behind it. "She didn't see the driver until it was too late."

"Likely story." He grumbled as he relaxed his fists some. "She never liked Olga in the first place. She was never a winner like her. NEVER!"

Miriam watched as he turned around to head to the kitchen. She knew he was most likely getting a beer. "Helga is a winner." Bob's back tensed up. "She wrote these beautiful poems. You didn't know it, but I did. I caught a glimpse of it." Saw how he turned to face her. "I know I was out of it, but I saw how life was supposed to be. Our daughter is a romantic at heart. She is a straight A student too, but all we paid attention to was Olga."

Bob closed the distance between them. His hand went out to grab her delicate arm. "She cheated and got those grades. Olga was the only one worthwhile. Helga is a loser." A sneer showed on his face. "You also paid a lot of attention to Olga too. You aren't better than me."

"I know and I was wrong. I see that now. Why can't you?" Miriam saw how he pushed her slightly away again. "I shouldn't still be in love with you but I am." He appeared confused at her statement. She actually loved it. "I know there is good in you. I've seen it."

"Bah!" Bob waved her away.

Miriam watched as he tried to leave again. She had to say the one thing she hadn't even thought about. "I USE TO BE LIKE OLGA!" She cried out. "I had all these ambitions and talents. One day I met someone and fell in love. I got pregnant and had Olga. I thought that one day that I'll return back to work, but than I had Helga."

"Lot of good that did us."

She hated his disgusted tone. "I don't want to insult her right now but she was a lot like you. Helga that is." She stepped forward. "That's why you can't stand her isn't it? She reminds you of you."

"Miriam, you don't know what you are talking about." Bob came close again.

Miriam looked down a little. "No she isn't like you. Helga is strong and will speak her mind like you, but that is where it ends." Placing her hand to her heart she felt tears in her eyes. "Helga feels deeply. She feels more deeply than all of us put together. I'm so ashamed of not seeing it sooner until we gave her up." She put her hand than to her stomach. "I lost my little girl in so many ways."

Bob was silent as he watched his wife head upstairs. He listened to her weep prompting him to grab his keys to head out to some place where he knew he wouldn't catch any grief.