Author's note:
Hey it's the last chapter. I never expected to get this far with this story, it was really an experiment to test my English writing skills. I want to thank everybody who reviewed the story especially Jae B, who read every chapter very carefully, Number 6, who must be pretty mad at me right now, for killing his favorite character, and Demile, who was nice enough to beta-read some of the chapters, when she had time for it. And all the other's whose short but positive reviews meant a lot of inspiration. And of course I hope I won't disappoint you with the ending. As you can see, I changed it's title, in the last minute. I thought it suits the ending more than "Time after time". And of course, it's gonna be extra long, 'cuz it's the "Series Finale" :)
I also thank Craig Bartlett and Viacom, for creating these great characters, so we can play with them a little.
So, here it goes.
CHAPTER 15
"The best is yet to come"
TEN YEARS LATER
"That's the stupidest thing I ever heard Johnny boy." - the girl said. Most of the four grade kids stopped playing, so they could listen to Johnny's newest story. He was the keeper of urban legends in this generation.
"But that's exactly what happened." - Johnny said - "My father is a cop, and he said, Brainy did exist. He blew up that old house that's still abandoned on the block. They say, his scary wheezing can be heard at nights."
"Miss Heyerdahl said it's bullshit." - the girl said.
"Well, maybe Miss Heyerdahl is not that smart Pheebs." - Ralph answered.
"Miss Heyerdahl is smarter then your whole family combined, fatso." - Pheebs said.
"Hey, You can't talk to a Flanders-Lloyd like that!" - he protested.
"Looks like I just did!" - Pheebs said. She hated the way Ralph was showing' off with his rich family. Pheebs knew his parents pretty much, but they were nothing like this little fatso. The kid was huge and had only one eyebrow, while both his parents were pretty skinny. When she asked her mother, how can it be, she said "Princess Lloyd thinks the whole world is as stupid as her husband. But we all know, while she's having the richest and most handsome man on the hemisphere, she's still looking for some gentleness at the local butcher." Pheebs didn't understood exactly what her mother said. Her mother said a lot of things she didn't understand.
"My grandparents lived in that house Johnny. And it blew up because of a gas link." - Pheebs said. Well, she knew it was not completely true. There was some grim expression on everybody's face in the family when they mentioned what happened in that house ten years ago.
"Okay, so, come with us tonight." - Johnny said - "We will check out if the legends are true. If you're not scared of course."
"Okay, but only after midnight. It's the folks anniversary and they're having a party, so I'll have to sneak out after they went to sleep."
"You're on Pataki." - the boy said. She kinda liked this guy, but she wouldn't admit it in a thousand years. Suddenly, she heard her teacher shouting.
"Philip B. Pataki! Stop what you're doing right now young man!" - it was Miss Hyerendahl walking toward the first graders.
"Oh no." - Pheebs said with a grim expression. - "What now?"
"Hey, your little bro is in trouble again." - the Johnny said.
"Stop being a smartass." - Pheebs said, and she left to see what's wrong. There was Philip, standing over another boy, who he wrestled down two minutes ago.
"Sorry Aunt Phoebe, but this dork had it comin'." - he said.
"And I'm miss Hyerendahl for you while we're in the school."
"This weirdo called me Football Head!" - Phil said.
"The thing is: you are a football head bro." - Pheebs said, as she arrived.
"You can't hurt the other kids Phil. Now, apologize from Hector." - the teacher said. After some hesitation, Phil followed her order, and helped Hector to his feet again.
"Hey, Pheebs, it's time to go to class." - Miss Heyerdahl said.
"Yeah, I know. Will you come to the party tonight?"
"Yes. I wouldn't miss it for anything."
"Hey, You should eat something before you come. Dad isn't the best when it comes to barbecue."
"Yes I know. Bye Pheebs." - she said and she headed back to the school building. Pheebs was her favorite student. Not only because she was named after her, but she was really smart and fast thinker, and still she didn't become a geek. She knew, even if she was a little rough sometimes, all the fourth grade kids looked up to her, and looked for her advice and help in every hard situation. She never lost her optimism, and even looked out for her brother Phil who was... well, trouble. He was a cute and smart kid but had huge problems with his temper. Phoebe hoped it will become better as time passes. Next class was English literature. She took a deep breath. She loved teaching, but it wasn't the reason why she left the promising career of a scientist. She had a lot to make up for. Years ago she caused the death of a man and she hoped taking care of some young lives, so they can never become a sad and lonely person like Brainy did.
The other's tried to remember him different ways. Only a few knew, what B stands for in Philip's name.
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"Mum, we're home!" - Pheebs said, as she and Philip entered the house. Helga was in the kitchen arguing on the phone as usual. Ever since they asked her to adapt her bestseller to cinema, she was constantly fighting with the studio's bigheads.
"Crimney, you said I can get Christina Ricci!" - she said. Most people knew her first book, "The Saint and the Sinner" is based on her own life. Well, the story was obviously twisted from reality. Pheebs read the book three times, and she found some real elements in it, like the explosion of the Pataki residence and Helga's relationship with Arnold. But there were some ridiculous, extreme things in it. Crazy schizophrenic friends, inner journeys and stuff like that. But all together it was a pretty decent story. - "What do you mean she's too old? How old is she?" - it was her mania to see Christina Ricci as the teenage herself - "Huh? But in Addams Family... Alright, so who do you have." - she took the phone away and whispered to Pheebs.
"Hey, who's Allison Mack?"
"She's a cutie on TV."
"Listen pal, I don't want to be played by some TV-star wannabe. I am movie material! But hey, she could play Olga... That would be rich, but only if I'm played by a bigger name... "
Pheebs walked up on the stair while she murmured to Phil.
"This family has the most ridiculous problems."
"Hey, Pheebs, Phil, come here!" - dad shouted from the garden.
"According to the smell, he just ruined his first burgers today, and want to test them on us." - Phil said.
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Soon the house was filled with People. There was no one came here for Arnold's burgers, but they came because they liked to hang out with Arnold and Helga so much. Bob and Miriam arrived for the first - despite all expectations they were wonderful grandparents. When it came out Arnold, in a very liberal way, will take the name Pataki, Bob was incredibly happy. The name Pataki won't die with him. And Arnold could get rid of his stupid family name too, so didn't had to say "Hey, just call me Arnold" to anyone he met, if he didn't wanted the person laughing out loud..
Lila was the second who arrived. She was just over her second divorce, so she came in single. Somehow she was able to make it trough Arnold, but it came with a price. She built huge walls around herself - and it was pretty hard to touch her for any man.
Phoebe came in single too. Ten years passed, and she still wasn't officially together with Gerald, and Helga found it pretty ridiculous. They were so in love with each other. So it wasn't a surprise Gerald came "alone" too.
Ralph and his wife arrived almost in the same time with Rhonda and Joshua. It was pretty funny to see them together: years ago Joshua arrived to Hillwood, to win Helga back somehow. It was a pretty crazy story, but Rhonda was in the right place in the right time to sweep him off his feet.
Harold and Sophie arrived for the last. He finally married the girl he dated for years. It was obvious he wasn't really in love with her, but she was a very comfortable choice. The way Rhonda and Harold didn't talk with each other made pretty obvious what kind of relationship they really have. It was in their eyes. Arnold and Helga never understood, how could Joshua and Sophie not see it. Maybe they did - just didn't care.
Olga couldn't make it - how surprising. She just couldn't swallow the fact, Helga broke into the movie business. Olga and his husband tried to do it for years. Of course her son went to the school for pre-teen geniuses, but Phil - who was two years younger than him - could put his face to the mud anytime.
"Let me say a toast." - Gerald begin, after they all had their glasses - "I known Arnold and Helga since they were in kindergarten. Most of us did. We"ve seen how Helga made Arnolds life miserable in school, and we seen how she made him the happiest guy in the world later. They've been trough a lot. They made me jump with a bus when I was nine, and they made me jump from a rooftop a few years ago. They tought me, to never afraid from jump when it's time. I know they have the same problems like all married couple: We all heard Arnold bitching' about Helga watching the game, and don't want to talk to him about feelings." - there was a little laughter in the "audience". It was funny how Arnold and Helga turned around the stereotype roles of man and woman in a marriage "When I look at them, I see hope. Hope, that fairy tales actually can come true. And it makes life worth living." - he said as he looked at Phoebe. She smiled back on him. - "Helga and Arnold Pataki. As she wrote it so cleverly: the Sinner and the Saint. Let them live long and happy." They all said cheers, as they drunk their glasses empty.
The night went perfectly. Of course Arnold smoked almost every burger he made, so they had to order Chinese food, but it was part of their anniversaries as much, as turkey was part of thanksgiving.
Phoebe and Gerald was constantly flirting just like in high school. Ralph always asked for the dessert, while everybody tried to help Lila so she won't feel alone. Bob and Miriam were playing with Phil, the first male handler of the name Pataki in generations. And Helga was on a phone a little too much.
"Hey, this is stupid." - she said to her cell phone- "What do you mean it can't happen? It happened! Not officially of course." - she turned to Phoebe - "They say it's a nonsense, the shock wave of the explosion can't help the characters to fly and land on the top of truck. Would you tell them it can happen?"
"It can happen." - she said to the phone.
"Thank you." - Helga said and she took the phone back. - "And she is a scientist pal."
Soon, it was time to put Phil to sleep. It became tradition, Helga read from Sinner and the Saint to the kids on their anniversary. So, she went upstairs to Phil's room with the her son. Pheebs was too old for it of course, she read the book herself. Phil found it a stupid tradition too, but it made his mother happy. Of course Helga didn't really read from the book, just pretended it. She tried to summarize it as a tale for the six year old boy. A fairy tale of course. So, she told the story, till Phil went to sleep, peaking out on the window, to see how the guests are doing.
"There was a girl once, swallowed by the darkness. IT was her home, her shelter from the world, that she didn't know. But once she met a boy made of light. She was attracted to the boy's light, like a moth. So was the boy attracted to her darkness too, because they both knew darkness and light can't exist without each other. But they were each others opposite. So if they wanted to be together, both had to sacrifice a little from self. The girl had to give some of her darkness to the boy, and the boy had to give light to the girl. So they could be together. But you know what happened? The darkness followed the girl. It didn't liked that, the girl escaped, so again and again tried to take her back. Just like the forces of light tried to save the boy from the girl." - she looked down on the garden full of people. She looked at Phoebe and Lila talking to each other. Once, Phoebe shot Lila. She still had the bullet in her shoulder. -
"It looked like the agents of light and darkness can keep them apart. But again and again, their love found a way to be together. Because they were meant to each other. It was a great battle, but after all, they did what nobody thought possible. They hold each other so strong, that no one could tell who did they belong to: to the light or the darkness. They changed themselves - and with that they changed the world. They learned, time can change people." - She said as she was looking on the people below. She loved them with all of his heart - as child she never though it's possible. Phoebe, Lila, Gerald they all changed a lot in the years. And they changed Helga too. -
"But still they can be remain the same person. That help and strength can be found in the most unexpected places." - she said and she looked at the happy face of Ralph White, who was eating a huge piece of chocolate cake from the hands of his African American wife - "And that, the oldest cliché is actually true: True love can win over everything." - she looked on the love of her life with his stupid Kiss the Cook apron. He was still the heart of neighborhood.
"Mum... can I sleep now?" - Phil asked. It would have been better, if Phil showed the slightest sign of being interested in Helga's story, but whatever. Helga stood up.
"Of course you can sweety."
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A little later Pheebs had to go to bed too, although Helga seen the strange shining in her eyes, that was so close to her very own. She was pretty sure she's up to something tonight. But hey, she used to be the sneak out queen in her own time - how could she expect less from her own daughter. She was a rough little brat.
Soon, the guests started to leave. At the end only the four of them stayed: Arnold, Helga, Phoebe and Gerald.
"I can't believe. Ten years with you Football Head. How is that possible? I though I will kill myself by now."
"Cuz you just can't get enough "Hair-boy Love" honey." - Arnold replied.
"Well, it's defiantly not the burgers that keeps her here." - Gerald said. - "You're such a lucky guy Arnold. She's so smart, and beautiful and talented..."
"Stop kissing my ass Geraldo! You won't be played by Westley Snipes!"
"Pretty please!" - he bagged.
"C'mon Gerald, you look nothing like him." - Phoebe said
"Okay, maybe I can make my peace with Denzel Washington, but..."
"Hey, how about Martin Lawrence?" - Arnold asked.
"That's it! The perfect choice!" - Helga said.
"Hey, who, what? Dude!" - Gerald stood up in anger.
"Sit down Gerald, they are just messin' with you." - Phoebe said. - "They won't have money left to hire him. The studio needs the money, so they can hire Lucy Liu, to play the villain."
"I don't think she has the talent for that." - Gerald said - "You will all burn!!!!!!!" - he said, trying to imitate Paige. There was polite laughter, but it wasn't really funny. They haven't seen Paige since ten years - since Phoebe went trough rehabilitation, and cleaned all the Salvazin from her system. But on some occasions, like two years ago, when Phoebe drunk too much on a Christmas party, Paige was damn close to the surface.
"You liked her, didn't you?" - Phoebe asked, imitating Paige's evil smile. Well, that was frightening. - "Hey, guys, don't look at me like this! I'm just being funny!" - then they all bust out laughing. The scared face of Phoebe when she said "I'm just being funny" was truly funny.
Phoebe and Gerald left together. They all knew she will eventually wake up at Gerald's place tomorrow, just like they all knew one day they will be husband and wife. They're just weren't ready yet.
Helga and Arnold were left alone with the children. They went and checked out both of them sleeping. Well, sleeping Lil' Pheebs's looked like a bunch of pillows under a blanket, but it wasn't the first time, nor the last. "Never trust a kid, who doesn't get into trouble" - Helga always said. And after all, it was Hillwood - the city, when it's easy to get into trouble, but hard to get hurt.
"Well Helga, that's it. Ten years, and we survived it." - he said.
"Looks like it." - she said, as she looked at his man. - Crimney, it's like a frickin' fairy tale. I mean I know they say, in the real world we don't live happily ever after, but I feel we do. We actually do."
"I know." - Arnold said smiling. - "Guess they wrong about that. "They" wrong about a lot of things." - They kissed each other.
"You're still a geek. And I'm still so in love with you."
"I kind of like you too." - Arnold said. While he kissed her, he reached into his pocket, and grabbed the remote control of the CD player.
"You gotta be kiddin'!" - Helga said, but it was too late. Arnold already played a track.
"Wanna dance?"
"Get out of here!"
"C'mon babe. You're the hottest chick around here." - he said. He was still a charmer.
"Kay shorty, but I'll lead." It was an old Dino Spumoni song "The best is yet to come" Arnold still loved it. And so did Helga, because Arnold loved it. She knew, in her heart, she could still build altars for her husband. And it was so great she didn't need to. After all the things they went trough, they were together and had a beautiful family. She just couldn't wait to see what happens next. She didn't find a home for so long. After all she built a perfect one. But right now, there was nobody else in the whole world, just her, Arnold and the music.
"Out of the tree of life, I just picked me a plum
You came along and everything started to hum
Still it's a real good bet, the best is yet to come
The best is yet to come, and won't that be fine
You think you've seen the sun, but you ain't seen it shine
Wait till the warm-up is underway
Wait till out lips have met
Wait till you see that sunshine day
You ain't seen nothin' yet
The best is yet to come, and won't that be fine
The best is yet to come, come the day that your mine"
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/I know the song is from Sinatra, but Dino is the Sinatra of the Hey Arnold universe/
So that's the end of it. It seems they live happily ever after. Although there is a little voice in my head that tells me there are stories left to tell about them: about Phoebe's rehabilitation, the wedding mayhem, or how Joshua arrived to Hillwood, to get Helga back, and ended up at Rhonda's side. And also, that voice tells me, the legend is true, and there is an actual "ghost" haunting the abandoned ruins of the Pataki residence. A poor bastard, who's face burned horribly years ago, but his desperate love for Helga kept him alive, and helped him down on the fire escape on that fatal night. Who's wheezing fills the silent nights of the old neighborhood, dreaming about the one who lived there before, and watching her from the shadows, like he always did. Yes. I'm pretty sure one day, lil' Pheebs or Phil will meet him. But for now, this is the end of "On the Wild Side". I hope you enjoyed reading it as much, as I enjoyed writing it. Still: Please Review.
For the last time :)
