RECIPROCATED LOVE

CHAPTER 51

HERO


"Phoebe…"

Phoebe was dealing with the remote control in Rhonda's TV room. It was supposed to be a quick only girl's thing, but now a well part of the gang was in here. She turned around to see the guys taking the best places in the couches when certain urgency in the voice of the owner of the house made her turned around quickly.

Rhonda was in the threshold between the living and the TV room and stepped aside to let someone behind her to be seen.

Arnold.

She exchanged quick glances with her raven haired friend and turned to see the others. Some of them realized their blond friend had arrived and they were expectant.

'Who did call him?' she asked Rhonda with her eyes. Rhonda only shrugged.

"Hey Arnold…" she passed the remote to Harold and walked up to him. Arnold was kinda confused seeing most of his friends in there. Phoebe took his arm and pulled him to the next room. "We… we are about to…" she wavered.

"Why are…" he started. His voice showed his utter confusion.

"Who told you?" she asked at once, frowning.

"What's happening? … I mean… Why even Iggy is in here?" then shook his head and turned to see her "Told me what?" he frowned "I was looking for you. Your mom told me you were here."

Phoebe nodded. So he didn't know. She exhaled. Well… it wasn't as if she could hide it anymore.

"Look Arnold…" Why it has to be her? She exhaled again. She knew she was about to break his heart. "We're here because…"

"Wait!" Arnold cut her off, suddenly changing his puzzled expression to another that showed resolution "I know what you're about to say and want to speak first." He looked at her in the eye "I know you love Helga and I know you care about her." He said in a rush, his eyes bright "Well… I just want to let you know that I really, really love her and I'm not going to stop pushing until win her back. I want you to know that my intentions are the best. I love her and I just can't believe all her love for me has gone; it's just no possible. Her love was so intense that I'm sure…"

"Arnold…" she interrupted him but Arnold ignored her.

"… I'm sure her love is not dead, not completely. Look, I know I've been a fool…"

"Arnold…" she spoke louder, taking both of his arms.

"Arnold!"

Phoebe heard Gerald's voice behind her and exhaled.

Gerald arrived barely a minute before Arnold did. Harold had told him. And Harold knew because of Patty, who knew because all the girls had been informed in a massive message sent by Rhonda at one and thirty-one minutes p. m. And Rhonda knew because of her...

And she knew what time was exactly because it was the very moment they left the City Hall office in downtown when the bell over them rang half after the hour…


How to tell him? Phoebe looked worriedly into Gerald's dark sight. Gerald's gentle eyes told her he'd take care.

Phoebe closed her eyes, relieved. But at the same time she could help but feel sad for them both. For Gerald because he was going to be the one releasing the bad news. For Arnold because he was about to realize there was no hope anymore.

She didn't know if she should stay close or going away, but seeing Gerald extending his arm to Arnold's shoulders she knew it was going to be a best friend's thing.

A sad best friend's thing… she sighed. Like the dozens of sad best friend's things she had partaken in the past. Her heart clenched remembering the number of times she has to be there to comfort her best friend. So many times that she had feared her best friend's heart would never mend.

She turned to enter into the TV room again with a gloomy disposition when she was received with the wonderful images in the 52 inch TV. Her best friend smiling like she never had smiled before. Her beam radiant. She shined, sparkled. There was no sign or lament about old wounds. She was happy… she was free…

Phoebe marveled at the realization of how was possible that she was able to appreciate it at this very moment. The present and the past. The effervescent girl in the screen was the same gloomy girl from hundreds of times before. It was like a miracle, like seeing a phoenix rising from its ashes. Phoebe thought as she saw the slow sequence of photos.

They weren't her photos, oh no!

When she was informed and beckoned this morning, -still shocked as she was-, she was able to think about bringing her mother's professional camera to capture the event, but there was no need. If the bride's best friend/witness was thoughtful and caring, the groom's best man/witness/brother or whatever they called him put her on shame.

Well… it was probably because he knew it earlier and had more time to act… besides he had a bigger budget.

There was a professional team capturing the event. There was a white and pink flowers bouquet and a beautiful white dress for the bride. There was a reservation in the best restaurant in town for after the wedding. Not, it was not Chez Paris.

All his family was also there: Robert and Patricia and even his sister and his brother in law who came in a rush from Pennsylvania and stayed for lunch. The entire Patakis also made it, though Olga and her husband arrived late.

Ha. Phoebe chortled. Probably for first time in their lives, Olga's beauty didn't overshadow Helga's. How could she? Helga's was ablaze by the flame of love.

And James…

Well… James was as handsome as ever but today he couldn't stop smiling like a teenager in love. Though he was all compose and circumspect at the right moment but after that, his beam equaled his wife's.

"Hey Phoebe…" Nadine turned around from her seat to look for her. She had remained on her feet, behind them.

"Mmm?" she acknowledged her.

"James' stuck-up family was really happy or they were only there for the shots?"

Phoebe smiled.

"I'd say they were really happy, you know?... even… the senator" she was about to call him Sir Robert but… what was the point? He was indeed almost aristocracy "They were really happy for James... and of course for Helga… I think they really like her."

Her words made raised new observations amongst the group of friends.

"And what about Big Bob Pataki…. Was he also happy?"

"Well…" Phoebe remembered him. "Yeah, I think he was proud… and happy… although kinda sad because 'his little girl was flying away'" Phoebe exhaled remembering him letting out a few tears during the ceremony. "Miriam was other thing, though; she looked cool, calm and collected. Just let out a tear or two but never lost her cool. Olga was a mess of tears and smeared makeup." She chuckled.

Some others also snickered. Phoebe smiled seeing Eugene pointing out a lot of details as the series of photos ended and then when the videos started to be played.

It had been a beautiful wedding. The civil officer conducting the ceremony gave them some privacy and offered confidentiality. Then a lunch was offered in the restaurant of the most elegant hotel in town. In there they were conducted to a private room with the best of the services.

Phoebe was in awe. To certain extent she understood why these people exuded power. They really lived in a very different world. She breathed deeply. Thanks God Bob behave properly. She wondered if Miriam had been kicking him under the table all along or if the man finally…

"Oh, my God!" Rhonda exhaled long and wistfully, putting aside her laptop "I can't believe that girl is Helga. Just look at her. Even her smile is different." She turned to Phoebe "Did she do something to her teeth?"

"Rhonda!" Sheena grumbled. "She's just happy!"

Phoebe laughed, shaking her head. Rhonda had been upset when she realized Helga had married without saying a word, without asking her to be present. Helga really felt bad but if they started to have up more people where they should stop? However, Helga made up to Rhonda by allowing her to bring off the wedding scoop in her incipient blog. Rhonda was ecstatic; working hard to have everything ready for James' team to give their approval and authorize the releasing an hour before his interview tonight. If everything worked the planned way, Rhonda's fashion police and gossip site was going to be a blast.

Phoebe smiled seeing as her friend started to type feverishly again. Then saw from the corner of her eye Arnold and Gerald stepping into the unlit room right in the moment the video showed Helga and James kissing to please their families. God, talk about bad timing!

She contained her breathe. Okay, she felt bad but at the same time her mind protested.

Of course it hurt seeing Arnold so dejected; he was her friend after all and she loved him. But she also felt bad for being forced to repress the joy brought by witnessing and sharing her best friend's wedding and all her happiness.

She observed Arnold for a while. He was like in a daze. Phoebe sighed. There had been some hours since she knew and she had had time to get used to the idea that Helga was marrying… well, married now, but Arnold just knew….

How hard it has to be to know that the love of your life is marrying someone else? And that she was really happy, like the images in the flat screen displayed.

Phoebe's heart moved when she walked to him and put a hand in his shoulder. Arnold looked up at her for a second and then nodded, then turned back to the TV as he tapped her hand. His face showed his ache but he was here nonetheless, watching them. Phoebe wondered if she'd be that strong.

She felt Gerald getting close and mumbling something she didn't get.

"Huh?" she asked in a low hum, turning to see him.

"Did you like it?" he asked also quietly "I mean the wedding… to be there?"

She nodded slowly. She wouldn't lose it for the world.

"Why the sudden decision? Why make it secret?" Gerald asked, curious. Then he added with a grin "I mean we all know it's not for lack of money, right?"

Phoebe's lips curved in a sly smile.

"Not, of course not." She smiled "Well… it wasn't precisely secret… though it was the original plan" she mumbled, remembering all this hectic morning, starting with Helga's call just after nine o'clock. "It was supposed to be only the two of them, Edward and me… well… and George… but suddenly the word spread out and it ended being a family thing…"

Gerald nodded seeing Helga and James dancing. Phoebe smiled at the sight.

"Seems that it was a beautiful wedding…" Gerald turned to her

"Yes, it was" Phoebe smiled 'Of course it was', she thought. There was even a wedding planner, musicians, and everything and the petite girl eventually knew why.

It turned out that Edward best friend's sister was a wedding planner. A phone call was enough to get all settled in a couple of hours, including the dress, bouquet, reception, musicians and even some souvenirs. Seemed that the girl wanted to impress.

"I couldn't believe it when Harold told me…. I mean, last night she was still sad and heart broken and now…" he puffed "she's married!"

Phoebe nodded with emphasis, she couldn't agree any more.

"Do you know how they solved their differences?" Gerald insisted.

She hummed.

"Well… I just know what they told me. Apparently after James read the letter he went looking for her to set the record straight. It took them to an ugly fight. They were about to make official the break up but then…" She shrugged "… then I think they went over everything and… all of a sudden they made up."

Okay, that was the short story but not everyone needed to know the long version, right? In fact, probably Helga didn't expect her to know it at all… she was discreet to some extent when she talked to her… but there were witnesses… and witnesses talk… and Edward ended up with some information… which he shared.

Phoebe couldn't repress a smile curving her lips. She turned to her right to prevent to be seen by Gerald. Her sight fell on Arnold again. She bit her lip.

"How is he?"

Gerald shrugged.

"I don't know…" he took a long inspiration "It's still too soon…. I hope he'd get over but… shit!" he swore "To say the truth… I really don't know. The only thing I know is that it'll take a while." Gerald cursed again, looking suddenly as sad as Arnold.

"And you?" she asked him then. "How are you coping, Gerald?"

Gerald blinked, surprised, then looked at her in the eye for some long seconds. This wasn't a moment to lie and he knew it. He knew that she knew. He took an intake again.

"I'll be fine, don't worry." He finally let out. "I was just developing a crush. I'll be over in no time" he said, feigning nonchalance.

Phoebe nodded, not knowing how to feel now that her suspicions were confirmed. Her ex had a crush on her best friend.

"What are her plans now that she's a married woman?" Gerald asked, frowning.

"She's going back to college" she informed, then shook her head at Gerald silent question. "No, she's not going to drop it. James is going to settle in Boston for a while…." She added, laughing seeing his face. "They aren't going to throw you out; they are already looking for another place …. Then, when Helga ends college they're heading to D.C." she shrugged "Those are the plans so far"

Gerald nodded.

"So they are not coming back to Hillwood, huh?"

"Not so soon" Phoebe confirmed. "They said they think they're gonna stay in Washington for a while and then, maybe come back to Hillwood in ten years or so, they want to raise their family in here." She ended, smiling at Gerald's expression.

But then Gerald nodded again. By the corner of her eye she saw Arnold nodding too.

"Hey, Phoebe…"

Helen turned back to look for her, a mischievous smile in her pretty face.

"Yeah…?" she smirked.

"What about that doll called Edward Brighton-Lewis, huh?" she raised her brows. Phoebe felt her cheeks blushing and her chest becoming heavy. "Is he as handsome as his brother?"

"By the look of the video I think he's even more handsome" Sheena opined. Her affirmation brought some complaints.

"Well…" Phoebe started after the commentaries subsided. "It's hard to say who's the more attractive…" she hummed "They look almost the same in person, you know? … but thinking deeply I think…" she went on "… I think that Edward is younger and more… mmm … vivacious…. He's more playful and easy-going… and yes, he's as handsome as James to say the truth… but… well… that's what I think… but James's is more… poised… and mature… I think his personality is more appealing…"

Phoebe tittered then. She really didn't know what else to say if she wanted to be true to her thoughts. She listened to all of the spicy commentaries the girls expressed to the chagrin of the guys. She smiled. Nobody invited them, right? This was supposed to be an only girl's thing, after all.

The audience was waiting to hear the whole tale and Phoebe complied but, of course, she recounted only the kind of things that could be public because there were some others that should remain private. So, as she went on, she tried to be faith to their stories… not that she had been in conditions to paying full attention to Edward's but still… So… she breathed before go on, knowing there were some things she wouldn't repeat… like some very private things… as the little thing concerning the money… but… well, she needed to start because the six o'clock was ticking closer…


It resulted that the blond young man had entered into James' bedroom with George permission. He halted at the door to be sure he wasn't interrupting anything. After being sure it was silent, he turned the knob, stepping into the semi-darkness of the chamber and closing the door silently behind him. Slivers of light broke through the end of the curtains, providing enough illumination to move around. Edward walked to the window and got seated on the end of the bed, facing the peaceful couple.

Well… it seemed his brother had survived an arduous night; a quick glance over him served to state it. It'd calm George. His sight nevertheless, was attracted like a magnet over the girl whose mysterious and almost ethereal existence had lingered around their lives for years. There she was… very corporeal and very alive.

Edward couldn't take his eyes away from the woman imprisoned in his brother arms. James made sure her form was decorously covered; still, slender arms ending in small loose fists against her chest had escaped from under the blankets. His mother ring shone in her finger. Edward took a breath in, proud by his brother feat…

James has finally got what he wanted…

Phoebe realized Edward then grasped he'd said something that was supposed to be secret. Has James been into Helga for a while now? Of course she didn't asked; she knew she could get that information out from Helga later, after all.

Then he went on.

Edward also confessed that he had maddened James last night. He wanted to make his brother react. He said he'd praised Helga's beautiful legs and all what he'd do to her if he got the chance. He almost regretted it when he saw his brother's reaction. He said he knew he was about to taste his own blood when, luckily, George took James off of him. But he went on, still challenging him when Helga's laugh coming from the darkened garden got their attention. His brother forgot about him and strode down the path to face his new rival.

So James was jealous, huh? More interesting.

Another thing Edward said was that he was surprised to realize Helga Pataki turned out to be an earthy, normal girl, nothing to do with the current plastic beauties they both were used to have.

'Have' was the verb he used. 'Have'… no 'date'…. Mmm. More and more interesting.

He also said that some Aunt Tania considered Helga 'too blond' for her taste. Well, it wasn't her election, fortunately. Edward should give credit to his brother, though. Once you take the time to take her in, the appeal of the girl was overwhelming. Phoebe didn't expect it but this conversation was turning out to be a very interesting and unpredicted research about Helga in-laws, but she was happy to be able to know some background.

Finally Edward raised his sight to find his brother wide awake and he almost fell from the bed.

They then entered in a very private conversation. Edward only shared pieces, of course. He said they first talked about reciprocated love; then that he congratulated James for finally getting the girl he loved and James told him their plans about marrying right away. He confessed he was shocked at first but then seeing their convincement he agreed with helping them out.

Still, he insisted in a prenuptial agreement seeing that The Board had faculties no nullify their marriage. He made a quick recall of the main aspects of a possible deal. Being that he was a lawyer, he needed to avouch that Helga wasn't being forced into marriage and that she knew very well all that came with the fact of becoming a Brighton-Lewis.

The blonde girl looked overwhelmed when he finally brought the document on. Phoebe was appalled. It was a lot of money what was in stakes. The agreement basics were about the money, properties and obligations Helga should acquire and manage now on, just after she became James's wife. It really felt as if she'd be marrying a company and not a man. She'd be a very rich woman all of a sudden.

On the other side, the side that involved the possibility of a divorce, it was clear what the clauses pretended: No Brighton-Lewis money would be compromised, only James's. Still, James tax return of last year showed an eight-figure sum. Phoebe had to force her mandible to remain glued to her maxilla, which wasn't an easy task to perform when you should keep your cool and act as if nothing as they listed the assets and then testify with her signature as a faithful witness along George.

Phoebe swallowed hard as she wrote down her full name under her monogram. There it was. Phoebe Ann Heyerdahl. At its side was the now very well-known and loved George Allen Parsons; and over hers was her best friend's maiden name, Helga Geraldine Pataki which now had become Helga P. Brighton-Lewis.

Puff! All the information she'd acquired in the last hours and she couldn't say a single word. She had signed a privacy agreement and was not allowed to talk about the any of the details of the prenuptial agreement and the rest of the stuff…

Still, here in confidence she could tell that it was true what they say: the Brighton-Lewis were offensively rich. They owned old money that was buried in large companies all along the country and probably beyond its boundaries. It was untouched money. They made their way of living on their own. James, for instance, wasn't actually a politician but a business man. He invested primarily in financing recently graduated young entrepreneurs, though he has still some assets in bigger, established companies. Politics was only to keep him busy. Edward was almost the same, but he'd chosen to risk some of his money in alternative energy sources while he spent his time being an attorney.

She had laughed maniacally later with her best friend when the blonde took her apart and asked her if it was only her or what, because she found James all of a sudden eighteen millions times hotter than the day before. Phoebe smiled, seeing her best friend getting wedding jitters in her last minutes of freedom. She wondered how James was dealing with them. After the signing of the agreement she saw him under a new light. He must be really in love with Helga if he was so convinced to share not only his life but his fortune with her. There, he earned her respect, Phoebe thought, wishing only the best to both of them and toasting for the success of their marriage and all their plans.


Phoebe then turned around to face his friends. They were still watching video of the wedding. Edward turned out to be the life of the event, he was such fun. She thought seeing the camaraderie he shared with his family, with George and Shawn, with Pat –who arrived at the reception- and even with Helga. He was so thoughtful and caring; looking around to check that everything went well. She hoped he'd be still the same when they planned their own wedding. She laughed at herself. Well… a girl can dream, can't she?

She was drawn out of her reverie when Rhonda told her what time was it. She hurried to get her handbag and to make Rhonda swear she'd give the DVD back. She spoke to Arnold and Gerald admitting to them she was a loss for words but was somewhat comforted when she heard Arnold saying that he was happy witnessing her bliss. Phoebe nodded and hugged them both, then she said goodbye to the rest of the guys.

As expected, all of the girls, including Rhonda, followed her out. Rhonda showed her the note she pretended to publish. Phoebe admired her work. Who would think Rhonda would turn out to be so good blogger? She had no doubts that James' team would give her the green light; it was a gossiping page after all and the column was very juicy.

"So…" Nadine looked at her "Do you plan to stay in the city?"

"I don't think so. Helga still has some work to do and I'm sure she needs to be here in the morning."

"Well… Helga has to come back but You Don't. You must make your best move to get him to ask you to stay the night, huh?"

"Yeah, Phoebe, you're our best shot." Helen uttered. Rhonda complained still glued to her laptop "Go girl go and get that boy for us!" Helen hooted.

Phoebe smiled at the effusiveness of her girlfriends. They were waiting for Edward… she slapped herself mentally… for Helga. To this hour, six o'clock in the afternoon, Helga had been in the most hectic of her days. She had declared her love and gotten back a promise of never ending love from James. Had made love to him without restrain in the early morning. Then had signed a prenuptial agreement; had married; had had an unplanned wedding reception; had been at the notary to sign the shared property of Pataki Electronics with Big Bob; then, with her heart full of sadness, had said goodbye for first time to his husband and sent him in a private flight to Washington D.C. and now was in her way to pick up Phoebe to make her company while she went back to the hills to pick up and to give a ride to his brother in-law to Manhattan in her husband's impressive BMW M5.

All the girls giggled as the rumble of the powerful engine was heard down the avenue, three blocks away. Phoebe giggled realizing her hands were sweaty. Oh man! The girls were giggling and jumping like little girls as the rumble became louder. Even the guys left their comfortable couches to see the engineering's marvel that was getting close. Finally, the sleek blue car appeared in the corner and seconds later was parking in front of them. Phoebe saw the passenger seat first. There was no one there yet. Then, a strikingly beautiful blonde got off of the car by the conductor side and the madness broke. Helga G. Pataki was hailed as a hero.


I don't own Hey Arnold!

I don't own BMW M5 or any other TM/MR mentioned here.

I own the plot and the OC.

Gracias mil to everyone who reviews. As always they go to Conor Dachisen, Nep2uune, fabraydunkin, thalialalala, eXtraNIo, arnoldhelga4eva, and two guests and to GRIMMM, MarHelga, cosita dn, neguis bonis, Orkidea16, sweet-sol, Katy28 and everyone else who had reviewed before. To Nep2uune, MarHelga, GRIMMM; and Katy28 for the continuous feedback. To Anonymous Latina I send all my love.

I also want to thank you to all the readers. Thank you for being here. We all make this site great.

See you soon.

W. and P. 08/19/2013