*Flashback - 14 years old - Helga and Arnold's shared memory*

The boarders and her family decided to head to the same summer spot like they did all those years ago. Once more they shared the same summer place that was joined by a shared wall. While her father was out tanning, Susie and Miriam spent time together while everyone else did what they normally did: Cause a bit of unplanned trouble. Arnold and Helga was on the beach together sitting in front of beach castle they both constructed. After all these years, Arnold didn't lose his touch, he just grew more when it came to his skill.

Arnold fought hard for control in not staring at his beach beauty next to him. Didn't want to feel perverted in staring at her in her pink bikini. "I don't want to go back home." He broke the silence just with the desire of hearing her voice.

Helga was close to falling asleep as she listened to the water crashing against the shore. The sea gulls at the far end of the shore breaking out in their unique sound. The boy next to her that she was hopelessly devoted to. "Me neither. Did you know that this is the only time that, Miriam is happy. She is spending time with Susie and it is like they want to share in their devotion of leaving their impossible husbands."

"A shared feeling. I don't know why they don't hang out at home." He probably knew very well why.

"Depressed feelings. Susie has to make sure Oskar doesn't do anything crazy while Miriam feels the crushing of her soul the second she becomes almost a slave of Bob." Helga turned her head towards a couple with their children. "I know you are still happy to have your parents back. I'm glad you have them, Arnold." Turns her head back to him. "They have that solid relationship. Yes they may have down times together, but I see this strong devotion. Such a pure strong love that many dream of. If they are separated, Miles will do anything to locate his love just like, Stella will do the same for him."

Arnold felt a sense of pride at that. "That's true. I want a marriage like that."

"Same here." A thought entered her mind that almost weakened her. "What happens if I suddenly went missing. Will anyone try to locate me? Sometimes I doubt it. I'm lucky if they get my name right at home."

Her sad wistful tone had him taking her hand. He needed her eyes on him. "Helga, if you disappeared I will find you. I would bring you back." He swore almost feeling he said those three little words that always packed a punch. "I always want you in my life."

Her heart swelled at his words as her breath caught. Staring into those beautiful green eyes, Helga wanted nothing more but to kiss him. "And I'll do the same for you too, Arnold. I wouldn't give up."

They didn't want to tear their eyes off one another but they did just so she could rest her head against his shoulder.

*End Flashback*

Arnold now had a gag on him to prevent him from enlisting his own thoughts and feelings of what was happening to Helga. Now her body was far more relaxed as Scheck began to speak to her as a part of her conditioning. Arnold felt like his rope was loosening up on his leg at least, but it wasn't enough to jump out of the chair. As for Bruce, his shit eating grin sickened him to his very core. He was nothing but a leech.

'Helga, please come back to me.' Arnold's thoughts were racing even as he watched them move away from her form just a little.

Yohan lessened the controls till the hum disappeared before he came back over to check her vitals. Arnold watched as he instructed Scheck to come forth again to wake her up. Scheck was calm as he approached while Bruce appeared anxious.

Snapping his fingers in front of her face, Scheck spoke gently to her in command. "Wake my beauty."

Helga's eyes opened up as she looked up to his face. Arnold watched as a smile formed on her face. "Uncle Nicholas. Where are we?" Arnold heard her Anna tone of voice.

"We are a place of no concern for you." Scheck's eyes flitted to Arnold's face as Yohan removed the gag from his mouth. "Tell me dear, do you know this man in the chair to the left of you?"

Arnold watched as Helga's face turned to him. He saw her studying him till her eyes registered confusion. Genuine confusion. "No." She replied before turning back to Nicholas in a voice full of innocence. "Am I supposed to know him?"

Arnold's heart sunk. "Helga." His voice issued strain in it as heartbreak entered.

Helga didn't pay attention to him as her attention went to Bruce. "Bruce, my love." That filled Bruce with joy as he approached her. "I feel as if I've been stuck in a nightmare."

"Well you aren't anymore." Bruce kissed her lips making Arnold struggle. "Mr Bailey?"

"Let her get off that table." Scheck beamed happily as he watched Bruce undo the straps only to watch Helga hug Bruce. "You both will be married very soon."

Helga appeared like a child as she rushed off the table to hug him. "Oh Uncle. Will it finally happen? I don't wish to delay this any further."

"Helga!"

Her attention went to Arnold as confusion marked her face. "Who is Helga? My name is Anna."

While her face was confused, Scheck and Bruce felt joy at having her back. Scheck stepped forward towards her to turn her around to face him. "My dear it will happen. The marriage, but first we need to remove a problem. A problem that will threaten our happiness."

Helga blinked at him. "What are you talking about? What is the problem?"

"I found the one responsible for your parents death. Someone who threatened us all. Someone who has been paying law enforcement. No one could protect us so we have to protect ourselves." Scheck told her in his classic snake-like voice.

"Don't listen to them. They are just using you, Helga." Arnold was tilting his chair again.

Scheck chose to ignore him. "Bruce was far more threatened than all of us. He wants to possess you. He wants to ruin others in order to weaken you. To take advantage of you on a daily basis." Hearing her gasp in horror, he had to contain his glee at her falling for this. "Will you do anything for family?"

"Yes. I will do anything for those who love me so. You have protected me so well. Please let me help." Helga begged as she took his hands.

Pulling his hands away, Scheck went inside his suit to grab the concealed weapon to present it to her. "You must kill the threat."

Helga stepped away gasping. "But Uncle, we can't."

"My darling, he threatened to take away our first born." Bruce fake a tear. "Please do this for us. For our unborn."

Arnold watched in horror as Helga seemed to struggle with this. He pleaded again only for it to fall on deaf ears.

"But I never fired a weapon before. I can't." Helga tried to give them the gun, but they stepped back from her. "I can't. Bruce, please." She licked her lips.

"My dear, we must." Scheck spoke softly in a hypnotic voice.

"I'll kill you if you both make her do this! I'll bring you both down!" Arnold cried out to them before looking back to Helga. "Helga, please. I love you." That seemed to anger her as she turned around abruptly to point her weapon at him. "Helga." He said a lot softer. "You don't want to do that."

Helga flung out her free hand to indicate the criminals behind her. "You threaten my family? How could you? I love them both very much. Also my name is Anna, not Helga." Seeing him silent, Helga's eyes went to the gun in her hand. "How do I do this?"

Stepping behind her, Bruce took great pleasure in positioning her as he gave her clear instructions on how to fire her weapon. "There, that looks perfect. Now aim your weapon and fire."

Arnold's eyes went wide as she did aim the weapon. He pleaded with her again, but found too soon how she didn't care as she squeezed off a shot.