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The J.A.M. a.k.a. Numbuh i:

Thank you for your review.

To be honest, I had a hard time deciding what Helga's answer for Miriam was going to be.

acosta perez jose ramiro:

Thanks for reviewing my story.

I actually wanted Helga's personality towards her mother to change, or at the very least falter. She is willing to give Miriam a chance, but it not ready to completely open up to her mother.

Chapter Twenty: The Right Thing?

Helga walked through the door of her and Arnold's home, placing her car keys in the bowl on the table by the door.

She had just dropped Miriam off back at her apartment. The car ride for the most part was silent, except for Miriam asking what Helga was doing with her life. Helga answered her mother's questions, but left one very important detail out: her engagement to Arnold. For the simple fact that she wasn't ready to tell Miriam yet. She didn't think Miriam deserved to know. Not yet, anyway.

"Poured you a glass of wine."

Helga spun around to see Arnold, holding up a large glass of red wine, and a beer in the other. Helga smirked at this.

"Tryin' to bribe me, Football head?"

Arnold shrugged.

"Figured you needed one. Anyway, let's go talk outside. Something tells me you have something to tell me.

Helga needed to get Arnold checked to see if he was a mind reader, but nonetheless, she took the glass, and followed her fiancé out to the back porch.

Removing a cigarette from her pack, Helga put it to her lips and lit it.

"So….what's up?"

"The sky….ok, ok, fine, I'll be serious! Uhm…I talked to Miriam today. I, you know…gave her an answer."

Arnold nodded.

"I figured you would. What did you tell her?"

Helga sighed.

"Well, see…it's like this."

She adjusted her position, so that she was facing Arnold a bit more.

"I called her up, you know the last time she was here, she left me her number. Anyway, I called her up, and told her to meet me at the coffee shop, the same one I ran into her earlier. That's when I told her my true feelings, how I didn't think she deserved a second chance, how she betrayed me in a way that time can never fully heal, how abandoned me."

She took a drag of her cigarette, and ashed it.

"But then I told her that…something came over me. I told her that I didn't think she would have tried to track me down if she truly wasn't sorry for what she did, if she truly didn't regret it. I told her that her actions did mean something to me, but that I wasn't ready to forgive her yet. Hell, I don't forgive her for what she did, and I don't know if I ever will. And, that's when I told her that I didn't….I didn't want to live the rest of my life regretting what could have been so I…I told her that I would give her another chance."

Arnold nodded, taking a sip of his beer, waiting for her to continue.

"But I…"

"You…"

"I don't know! I just…I'm wondering if I did the right thing. You know, once upon a time I told myself that for the rest of my life, Miriam could fuck off, that I would never have anything to do with her. Ever. That it was fine if Olga wanted to keep in contact with her, but I would be out of the picture. That was my plan. But then, all of a fucking sudden, she fucking shows up, and asks for another chance. I mean, she did track me down, so I had no choice but to believe her sincerity, but at the same time, I'm questioning her sincerity. I'm questioning everything I promised myself. I'm questioning if I did the right fucking thing….OW!"

While she was ranting to Arnold, Helga accidentally shoved the lit end of her cigarette onto her hand.

Arnold jumped up, and ran into the house to get some ice, a band-aid and some ointment. When he got back, he gingerly took Helga's hand in his.

"Let me see it, sweetie."

The burn mark was starting to turn into a small welt. Arnold placed the ice cube onto the offending mark, causing Helga to hiss sharply.

"Sorry, but this needs to be done. Wouldn't want the bride to be to have a burn mark on her delicate hand."

Helga chuckled at this.

When Arnold was done patching his fiancé up, he took both of her hands in his, and smiled at her.

"Helga…I can't say that I know what you are going through, because I don't. I really don't. I won't say that I know how you feel, when I have no idea. But what I do know is this: you are the most kind-hearted, strongest woman I have ever met in my life. You have a big heart. "

Helga smiled sweetly at her husband to be.

"You have a big heart. And even though I know you're very cautious about who you trust, who you're loyal to, because of what you've been put through. But, when you trust, when you express your loyalty, I know you Helga. You give it your all. "

"But I…"

Arnold placed a finger on her lips.

"Nope. No butts, Helga. Just take my word for it. I think it's wonderful that you're willing to give your mother another chance. "

"But, do you think she deserves it? Deserves forgiveness?"

Arnold shrugged.

"Only you can decide whether or not she deserves it, Helga. And forgiveness? Many kids have gone through what you've gone through. Some have chosen to forgive the parent who betrayed them. Others have chosen to never see or talk to their parent ever again. Helga, there is no one way to move on from something, nor is there just one way to forgive someone. Just because you're choosing to open yourself up to the possibility doesn't mean what you're doing is wrong."

Helga stared at Arnold for a while, contemplating what he just told her.

Then, she sighed. He was right. There was no way that was set in stone that commanded how forgiveness be dealt, or who deserved for that matter. As human beings, we choose to forgive the ones who hurt us. And even though Helga still believed that Miriam didn't deserve her forgiveness automatically, even though Miriam would have to work very hard to earn Helga's trust and forgiveness, she appreciated what Arnold was saying to her. His understanding and kind nature were just two of many reasons why she fell in love with him in the first place.

Whatever happened with Miriam, Helga knew she would always have Arnold.

Sneak peeks into further chapters:

Helga sets some ground rules for her mom.

Big Bob makes another appearance.

Helga opens up to her mom a bit more, but trust and forgiveness is still a long way off.

More sisterly bonding.

What Helga wants is…?

The Bachelorette Party.

Something Happens.

If I say anymore, I'll ruin it.