Hey everyone!

I would just like to seriously apologize for this being so late! I've been experiencing a shit load of writers block, I have a paid internship, a memorial to go to for a friend of mine who passed away two months ago (I'm speaking), and a bunch of other crap.

But, I still wanted to give you guys a chapter, because I really do feel bad for making you guys wait. And this chapter is quite long.

Now, for the review responses:

acosta perez jose ramiro:

Thank you for the review.

I think Helga's feeling towards Miriam and the wedding are completely understandable. Right now, Helga is experiencing a mix of emotions. She wants her mom to be there, but doesn't think her mom has earned that right, because of the fact that her mom was never there for her. If I was in Helga's position, I'd feel the same way.

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

Thanks for the review.

I don't know how or if I'll include Arnold's grandparents. Since he's 24-25 in this, should they even still be alive?

Nairobi-Harper:

Thank you for reviewing.

I think every reader of this felt bad for Helga in this chapter. Even though she's an adult, the pain of her mom never being there still lives on. She wants to move on, but doesn't know how.

Chapter 28: Bridal Shower

"You're buying me coffee, Phoebes," Helga announced as she and Phoebe made their way into the coffee shop.

Phoebe had offered to take Helga out for a bit. The reason being? A few days ago, all of the bridesmaids had gotten together to plan a surprise bridal shower for Helga.

"Buying!" She said with a smile and drove off.

Helga so far had no clue what her bridal party was up to. The girls had gotten to Helga and Arnold's house around 9:30 AM, and hid in the shed in the back yard bags of bridal shower decorations in their hands. Phoebe had picked Helga up around 10 AM, and when they were sure they were gone, the girls burst into Helga's apartment (Olga had a spare key, which Helga had given her in case she wanted to drop by, even when no one was home, which was kind of weird ) and began decorating and cooking.

"So, you said you had something planned for me today?"

"Why, yes, Helga. There's a new café downtown that just opened up. I'm taking you out to breakfast."

Helga nodded, and layed her head back against the seat. She had been up practically all night, she had to look like some sort of corpse right now, even with the concealer and lip gloss she slapped on. Oh well, at least she was able to look nice with her clothes: a pair of dark blue jeans, and a pink sleeveless top with a black sash. Black flip flops adorned her feet.

"Ugh, I must look like shit right now."

"Helga, I think you look fine."

Helga snorted.

"Oh come on, Phoebes. You're only saying that because I'm the bride to be. You're just afraid I'll go all bridezilla on your ass if I disagree with you."

Phoebe burst out laughing as she found a parking spot in front of the café.

"We're here, Helga. Order whatever you like, it's on me."

Helga honestly wasn't very hungry, but some food might do her some good.

A waitress led them to their table. Helga grabbed the menu, and began looking through it. In no time, she picked out what she wanted: two eggs and two bacon slices. Oh, and coffee. Definitely coffee.

"So how is everything going with the wedding planning, Helga?"

Helga shrugged.

"It's going. "

Phoebe smiled.

"It's coming up fast isn't Helga. A month, I believe."

Helga looked up at Phoebe.

Damn, could her wedding with Arnold really be in one month? She was so busy with planning it, as well as staying in contact with her mother, that she barely noticed.

But, sure enough, it was one month away, and Helga could scarcely believe it. The boy she had secretly loved and admired, but teased mercilessly because she didn't want him to know the truth, was getting married to her in one month.

Was this…was this even real?

A waitress came over, knocking Helga right out of her thoughts. They ordered their food.

"So, uhm…how are the bridesmaids dresses fitting you all?" Helga asked, as she stabbed her fork into her eggs, letting the yolk run all over the plate.

"They're beautiful Helga. Even Rhonda approved of the classy yet simple design.

Helga smirked. Rhonda, since day one, had appointed herself as the fashion expert in Hillwood.

"Good to hear. I thought the shade of pink was just right. I know I liked hot pink when I was a kid, but now that I'm older, I don't know, I guess you could say hot pink is too much, even for me. "

Phoebe nodded.

The girls ate the food, Phoebe paid the bill, and they drove back to Helga and Arnold's house.

Helga was greatly surprised when Phoebe began walking towards the front door with her.

"Don't get me wrong, Phoebes, your company is always welcome, but I thought you had stuff to do today."

Phoebe gave her a knowing smile.

"Oh….those can wait, Helga."

Helga raised one slender blond eyebrow. What the hell was Phoebe up to?

Shrugging it off, she pulled out her house keys from her purse, and shoved them into the lock.

"Huh…I don't remember turning off the lights. What gives?"

Before she could flip the light switch, the lights came on and then…

"SURPRISE!"

Helga was almost bowled over by a group of people, all laughing and cheering.

She stood there, wide eyed.

The living room to the house had been completely transformed. Pink and white balloons hung from the walls, and some had been tied to chairs. The glass coffee table had been adorned with various hors d'ouveres. A pink cake stood in the center, and Helga could even see a table with one neatly wrapped present.

"Holy…holy shit, what…what is all this?"

"Phoebe got the idea to throw you a surprise bridal shower. "

To say Helga was shocked would be the same thing as watching someone react to someone being thrown over Niagara Falls, and living to tell the tale. The look on her face was so priceless, that Rhonda had yanked out her cell phone and snapped photo.

Nadine grabbed Helga's hand, and the girls led her to the living room.

"Oh….fuck….you guys. This….this is…wow, I…."

Olga threw her arms around her little sister.

"Oh, Helga. We wanted this to be extra special for you. "

"And as our girl, there was absolutely no way we were going to throw just any bridal shower. The champagne glasses on the table were hand made specifically for the Lloyds, and they've been in the family for years. I thought they would be simply perfect for this." Rhonda smiled.

"We're all just really happy for you, Helga. And quite honestly, none of us are surprised." Big Patty smiled.

"Yeah. Practically every girl knew later on how you felt about Arnold. How you shoved him into locked, plugged up the drinking fountain and then released the water into his face…" Nadine smirked

"Or how you tripped up in the hallway back when we were in middle school." Rhonda added.

"Of course it was obvious. After all, when a girl teases a guy as much as you did!"

Big Patty picked up on Helga's admiration for Arnold on the very same day she pretended to beat the living crap out of the then scrawny blonde nine year old.

Of course, even though all of the girls knew Helga's secret, she was their friend. It was only right that they kept it.

And besides, according to Rhonda, black eyes were "sooo not in fashion, like ever."

The girls ended up playing numerous bridal shower games. One of them being a game called "Name That Movie Quote!" (1) where Rhonda gave off a list of quotes from romantic movies, and the girls had to guess which movie that quote came from. Another game they played was called "Advice for the Bride." (2) The girls, save for Helga, each wrote down advice for the bride to be and her new life as a wife. Helga began to read them out loud to everyone.

When the games were over, it was time for Helga to open her present. Rhonda got the neatly wrapped flat box and handed it to her.

Helga placed the box on her lap, and began ripping off the wrapping.

She opened the box, and lifted up some white tissue paper.

Raising a slender eyebrow, she held up the item.

It was a provocatively short light pink night dress with lace around the hem and bodice. The bodice was of pink silk and laced up in the back. The neck line was cut dangerously short, and Helga could see two long slits on the side of the dress.

Helga smirked.

"Gee, wonder who gave me this." But there was an amused smile on her face.

Rhonda held up her hand, also smirking.

"Guilty as charged. I thought you could wear it for your man on your honeymoon."

Helga snorted.

"Are you kidding? The second he sees me in this, I don't think I'll ever be allowed to take it off, let alone leave the bathroom."

"Ooh, never would have pegged Arnold to be that kind of a man."

"You have no idea."

"Ok, Helga, uhm, sweetie,…we also have another present for you. It's from all of us, combined."

Olga was very happy to be celebrating her sister taking such a huge step. Marriage was supposed to be a time of happiness. She honestly was very proud of her little sister, and of course she wanted to share in the festivities.

But Rhonda and Helga talking about Helga's sex life? That she could do without.

Course, she connected it with the number of mimosas both Helga and Rhonda had during the games. In fact, they turned one of them into a drinking game.

"Yes, actually, this gift kind of accompanies Rhonda's." Phoebe said.

Olga spoke up as well.

"Helga, we all wanted you and Arnold to have a very special honeymoon. So, all of us pitched in to buy you something."

"And when we say pitched in, it means I helped the most."

"Rhonda!"

"Kidding, sorry. Anyway, as Olga just said, we all pitched in for this. Now, close your eyes, and hold out our hands."

"Now that just sounds dirty."

Rhonda just looked at her for a moment, before smirking.

"Just do it."

Helga did so, and within seconds, she felt two slips of paper being slapped into her waiting hands

"Ok, you can open them now."

Helga's eyes snapped open, and her jaw practically fell off.

Lying in her palms, were two plane tickets to Paris, France.

Helga was at a loss for words. How did…how were the girls able to even afford this?

"It's ok, ladies, give her some time."

"This…what….how….huh?"

On the "huh," Helga's face shot up to look at her friends and sister, all were smiling.

"Ever since you were a little girl Helga, you always talked about you wanted to go to Paris one day. Well, your friends and I wanted you to be able to have that chance, and we wanted you and Arnold to share it together."

"Hotel expenses have also been paid for, by the way. Food, souvenirs, you're on your own."

Helga suddenly felt tears well up in her eyes. Within seconds, her friends and sister engulfed her in a hug.

After a while, the girls said goodbye to Helga, and left, but not before helping Helga clean everything up.

The plane tickets sat on the kitchen counter.

Just then, the door opened, and Arnold walked in.

"Hey, how was work?"

Arnold took off his coat, hung it up, and made his way over to the fridge to grab a beer.

"It was good. Sorry I'm back so late. A new intern broke off a piece of a stone with hieroglyphics on it, and then tried to fix it with super glue."

"Oh shit, what happened?"

Arnold walked over to her.

"Well, the stone is completely ruined, and fixing it would destroy it even more. Needless to say, the intern was fired on the spot."

"Wow. Sucks to be them."

"Anyway, I've been thinking about something. About our honeymoon after the wedding."

Helga smirked.

"Really now?"

Arnold nodded, and took a sip of beer.

"Yeah, uhm…I was thinking. Hawaii is really nice that time of year, and I know how much you like the beach. Now, don't worry, I didn't book anything yet, but I think that…"

Helga held up her hand.

"Oh, don't you worry your weird shaped head. Our honey moon has been taken care of."

Arnold raised an eyebrow.

"Uhm…what?"

Helga walked over to the counter, and took the tickets off the counter, shoving them in his face.

"Because we're going to Paris!"

Once again, very sorry this took so long to post. Writing about bridal showers is hard, if you've never been to one.

Ok, I have been to one. But it was so boring I don't even remember what happened.

Notes: (1) and (2) Actual bridal shower games.