Gerald, Phoebe and Helga pulled up to the boarding house and Phoebe helped Helga out of the car. Arnold was already waiting for them on his stoop and merily hopped down to greet the trio.
"Hey guys!" He smiled, "Oh, let me get that for you Helga." He ran back up his stoop and opened the door.
Inside there were sounds of clattering and laughter coming from the kitchen, from what Helga could tell it was the voices of Arnold's parents.
"Well Howdy doody!" A sharp female voice echoed from the top of the stairs, "What a turn out we have for the Halloween party!" Arnold's grandma sashayed down in a flapper girl outfit.
"Grandma, it's Christmas," Arnold replied.
"Look who it is," His grandma ignored his comment and moved in towards Helga, "our dear first lady, my you look exquisite Eleanor."
"Pookie! Leave the kids alone!" Arnold's grandpa shouted as he made his way down the stairs after her, "come on, let's get you a good seat at the table." He put his hand on his wife's back, guiding her towards the dining room as he looked over his shoulder and gave the group of teens a wink.
"Man, I love your grandparents," Gerald smiled, took Phoebe's hand and began to follow the elderly couple into the dining room.
Helga started to limp along behind them.
"Wait," Arnold put his hand on her shoulder, "My parents wanted to say hi to you."
"They remember me?" Helga looked at him quizzically.
"Of course they do! You were there when we saved them in San Lorenzo and you were here almost every other day in middle school, how could they forget you?" Arnold grinned, "come on." He motioned for Helga to follow him into the kitchen.
The pair made it to the kitchen and walked in to see Arnold's mom, Stella holding mistletoe over her husband, Miles as they giggled and kissed on each other against the pantry.
"Mom! Dad! What the-" Arnold shielded his eyes.
Helga put her hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh.
"Oh, sorry son we didn't see you over there." Miles smirked, unwrapped his arms from his wife and grabbed for his mixing bowl.
"Wow look at you!" Stella came over and swooped Helga into a warm hug, "you're so grown up, look at her, Miles! What a pretty young woman you've become." Stella let go and beamed at Helga. Her warmth was contagious and Helga felt herself glow in Stella's presence.
"How's that leg of yours?" Miles pointed his mixing spoon at her cast.
"It's okay, the doctor says I'll be able to take the cast off next month." Helga answered timidly, she forgot how thoughtful Arnold's parents were and wasn't used to all this attention.
"I heard you've been helping Arnold with his English homework. Sounds to me like it's been working too," Miles grinned.
"He's been helping me with math, so it's nothing really," Helga humbly shrugged.
"I'm so glad you two have reconnected, Arnold's like a whole different person since you came back to Hillwood," Stella announced joyfully.
Arnold facepalmed.
"Uhm, we're gonna go grab a seat now, let me know if either of you need a hand." Arnold began to lead Helga out of the kitchen.
"Oh don't worry, your mom and I have this under control." Miles winked at Stella who blushed and shook her head.
"Yes, you two go get a seat, we'll be out soon." Stella smiled.
Arnold and Helga made it to the dining room and sat down across from Gerald and Phoebe who seemed to be in their own world. Most of the boarders that Helga remembered were sitting around the table chatting amongst themselves, like Mr. Huynh, Mr. Potts and the Kokoshka's to name a few.
"That is creepy, very creepy Ernie!" Mr. Huynh was looking at a photo that Mr. Potts was holding in front of his face.
"Whaddya talkin' about? I think she has a pretty face," looked down and examined his photo, "Oh hey Arnold, look at this lady I met online. We've been talkin' on that AIM chat thing and I think she just may be the one." He smiled hopefully as he held up his photo displaying a very unattractive woman.
"Ernie put that damn thing away, we're about to eat!" Grandpa shooed him.
"That's right, listen to grandpa. I can't afford to lose my appetite, heheheh." Oskar Kokoshka looked around and grinned.
"You can't afford anything Oskar!" Mr. Potts rolled his eyes and stuffed his photo into his shirt pocket.
The boarders broke out in a bickering match.
"Alright, who's ready for our famous Christmas turkey?" The arguing was interrupted when Stella walked into the dining room with a large glistening turkey. Miles followed after her with a few other dishes in hand.
"It used to be ham, but Abner's sensitive." Arnold whispered to Helga.
"Makes sense." Helga looked over at the senile pig sleeping in the corner.
The boarders stopped and awed at the turkey, happily digging in almost before it could make it to the table.
"The food was delicious Mr. and Mrs. Shortman." Phoebe politely smiled as dessert was now coming to an end.
"It was, thank you," Gerald rubbed his stomach, "I need to get my dad's car home before he flips though," he got up from his chair and Phoebe followed, "Are you ready, Helga?"
Helga looked down at the cake she was about to dig into and frowned.
"Ten more minutes?" Helga bargained.
"I'm sorry, my dad threatened to take away all video games until February if I was even a minute late and that new fighting game just came out!" Gerald shrugged, "you know how it is."
"I could take you home a little later in the Packard if you want?" Arnold promptly offered.
"That works," Helga took a bite of her cake.
"Well, you all have a good night and Merry Christmas!" Gerald gave Arnold their handshake and waved at everyone else.
"Yes, Merry Christmas, have a safe trip!" Phoebe joined in.
"Thank you, Merry Christmas you two!" Miles said gleefully, "aren't they the cutest?"
"They are," Stella smiled as she picked up their plates and took them into the kitchen.
Helga finished up her dessert and caught up with Arnold's family. They received her like she was one of their own. The love they showed for each other and for her, even after such a long time filled up her heart. By the end of the night she felt like she was another family member and she cherished these moments, because for her it was rare to feel so accepted and treasured. Helga could easily see where Arnold got his selflessness and serving nature.
"Okay shortman, you drive very carefully, you hear?" Grandpa cautiously handed his keys to his grandson.
"And text us when you get Helga home safely." Miles interjected.
"I will, don't worry."
"Good. Merry Christmas Helga! Don't be a stranger." Stella winked.
"Hats off to you !" Grandma soluted Helga.
"Oh Pookie, let's hit the hay." Grandpa put his arm around his wife's shoulders and waved at Helga before turning around to go upstairs.
"Merry Christmas." Helga smiled and waved to Arnold's family as her and Arnold headed out the door.
"You're living the life, football head." Helga sighed once they got outside.
"You think so?" Arnold opened her car door and took her crutches.
"You're family is amazing, I hope you know that."
"Yeah, they are pretty great." Arnold grinned and shut the door, making his way to the drivers side,"they really like you, if you couldn't already tell." He said as he started up the car.
This made Helga beam. Arnold snuck a peak at her as she lit up.
Wow look at her. I wish I could always make her smile like that.
They drove in silence towards Helga's home. Arnold was finding it difficult to express what was lingering on his mind all night. They pulled up to the front of her townhome and he stopped the car.
"Well, looks like this is my stop," Helga began to open her door, "Thanks for the ride-"
"Wait!" Arnold blurted out, startling Helga, "I um, wanted to say that I," he nervously fumbled around, "I'm glad you could make it tonight, Helga."
"Me too." Helga smiled heartily.
"And I wanted to give you this," Arnold reached into his pocket, "but before I do, I really have to tell you-"
"Hey! What are you two kids doing in there!" A man roared from outside the car.
"Oh God, it's my dad." Helga pinched her eyes.
"What in the hell are you doing in a fogged up car with some boy?!"
"We weren't doing anything, Bob." Helga opened the car door.
"You need to march that tuchus inside little lady!" Bob grabbed Helga's crutches from the car and shoved them into her hands.
"And you!" Bob waved his finger at Arnold from outside, "you better keep your hands to yourself!"
"Don't listen to him, sorry about this," Helga began to lift herself out of the car, "Merry Christmas, Arnold."
Bob slammed the car door shut and escorted his daughter up the stoop into their home. Arnold looked down at what he was about to give Helga and sighed. It was an old pink bow.
"Merry Christmas, Helga." He said quietly to himself.