(Scene 1)

"No, Lucy... no... well... no..." Helga paced around the Johanson kitchen at seven fifteen in the morning. Her hair was down and flowing around her shoulders in soft waves. She was wearing pink silk pajama pants and a white tank top with a white sweat jacket over it. She placed her hand on her forehead. "Lucy lots of guys have that problem... no I don't think it's a big deal."

Phoebe shook her head as she continued to make breakfast and a bottle for Tai. Gerald walked in attempting to correctly make a knot for his tie. He gently kissed Phoebe as she smiled and then turned and stared at Helga.

"What is she doing?"

"On of her clients is having an emergency." Phoebe whispered.

Helga turned and looked at them. "No Lucy, you're not being spoken to by god... it's my friends... I'm not in Chicago... no..."

"Sort of reminds me of you before the Hospitable made you take your maternity leave." Gerald said in awe of Helga's faces and actions as her client/patient manipulated her time.

"Gerald... I work with children... they didn't exactly call me to ask about their boo-boos." Phoebe shook her head.

"This damn... help." Gerald whined.

Phoebe stared at him and without any real work made the perfect tie knot. "Please go to work."

"Fine." Gerald smiled and kissed her. As he walked out of the kitchen he playfully slapped Helga who swiveled around and glared at him.

"Bye." Phoebe said. Helga became distracted by her patient once again as the front door shut behind Gerald.

"Lucy, I... no... no..." Helga sat down. Phoebe looked at her and smirked.

"Five, four, three, two..." Helga got back up again and began pacing, ignoring whatever Phoebe was doing. "She never changes."

"Morning Phoebe." She looked up and smiled at the young boy with the cornflower hair.

"Morning Riley. Do you like eggs?"

"Uh huh." He sat down and watched his mother pace around the kitchen. "What is she doing?"

"Talking to Lucy." Phoebe smiled. Riley made a small "o" with his lips and nodded.

"One of her head cases." This caused Phoebe to laugh and make a stressed out Helga turn sharply.

Blue eyes crashed with blue eyes. Phoebe watched the exchange. Whatever Helga was mentally throwing his way, Riley was easily backing down. She smirked slightly as he shrugged and mouthed an apology.

"So..." Phoebe said, smiling as she interrupted the mother/son battle. "What are you and your father planning on doing today?"

"We're going to the park, swimming, and then to see Grandpa and grandma." Riley smiled as he began eating his eggs.

"Sounds fun!"

"It will be!" Riley said excitedly.

Helga, who had stepped outside into the small yard, walked back in. Her cell phone conveniently missing.

"Did you throw it away?" Helga made a face at her best friend and sighed.

"It's in my pocket. Jeez, I leave for a week and a half and Lucy's ready to fly from the Chrysler building."

"She's suicidal?" Phoebe asked, as she placed a plate in front of Helga.

"I don't know." Helga shrugged. Phoebe looked at her skeptically. "It's not like I can discuss it."

"You're no fun." Phoebe frowned.

"Get use to it." Helga gently put her head down on the table. Riley smiled.

"Why don't you spend the day with me and Arnold?" It was an innocent question.

Maybe not with the most innocent of reasons, but still.

Helga looked at him and made a slight face. "No, I wouldn't want to impose."

"I'm your child, how are you imposing?" Riley smirked.

Phoebe watched with amusement from behind the island.

"Riley... I doubt it be a good idea."

"Then it's settled." Helga looked at her son confused. "You're coming!"

"Riley—"

"I can't hear you!" Riley smiled and jolted up the stairs.

"I swear to... that kid is such a pain in the butt." Helga said, shaking her head.

"Smart as hell though." Phoebe smiled and sat down with her tea. "If anything, at least you and Arnold will have time to talk."

"Ugh." Helga placed her head down again.

"I know." Phoebe said gently patting her head.

(Scene 2)

Helga sat on the grass reading a novel she had brought along with her to read at night. Now seemed like a better time. Her hair was up in some French twist of sorts, as her blue eyes seemed to concentrate more on the scene before her then the pages on her lap.

Arnold laughed as he grabbed Riley from behind. "You're it!"

"No fair!" Riley shouted as he began running after Arnold.

Helga shook her head. She felt out of place. After the fair a few days ago she once again began her crusade to avoid Arnold. There were way too many emotions for her wounded body to harbor.

She smiled as Riley lunged at Arnold, toppling them to the ground. Had she been an innocent bystander she would think they were the closest father/son team in the world. But she knew they weren't. They weren't very far from it either though.

"Mom! Did you see that?" Riley shouted coming over to her.

"I sure did." Helga smiled. Arnold flopped down next to her.

"Fast little guy we have here." He smiled at her. Helga nodded and looked back at Riley.

"So—"

"Can I go play with Harold and Sid? There right over there!" Riley said pointing towards the basketball courts.

Helga looked at him, then nodded her head. "Sure."

"You coming Arnold?" Riley smiled.

"I'll be there in few." Arnold smiled as he watched Riley race over to Sid and Harold. Sid scooped him up in a giant hug and as Harold tossed him the basketball.

Helga smiled as she watched Riley run up and down the courts, passing the ball to Sid and then catching it as they made their way to the hoop. He made a three point shot.

"It's almost like watching the clock turn back slowly."

She turned and looked at Arnold. "What?"

"I mean, look, remember us at ten? It's like looking at a flashback." Arnold smiled, still watching Riley play.

"I guess so." Helga said, her eyes still focused on Arnold.

Helga marched down the hall and then growled as she saw Hillwood High's sweetest couple making out against her locker.

"Jesus." She growled. "Can you two please move?"

Arnold broke away from Lila and stared at the blonde haired girl. "Sorry." He mumbled and then gently moved himself off the locker.

"Oh Helga! I'm ever-so-sorry!" Lila said, wiping her mouth delicately.

"That's ever-so-alright Lila." Helga growled. She was ever so going to kick the little red head's ass.

"I'm glad we bumped into you though!" Lila smiled. "I'm having a party and I wanted to invite you!"

Helga stared at her, then shifted her eyes to Arnold. "No."

"But Helga—"

"No." Helga repeated grabbing her books and basketball uniform.

"Please Helga! It would mean ever-so-much to me!" Lila was close to groveling.

Helga looked at her and rolled her eyes. There was probably some kind of Carrie drama that was gonna go down at the party if she was invited. She just did not feel like having pig's blood on her this weekend.

"Lila, it's ever-so-sweet of you to invite me." Helga said glaring at the porcelain farmer's daughter. "But I do not want to go."

With that she slammed her locker door and began heading to the JV's locker room.

She was trying to calm down before she went on the court and tried to murder her teammates. You can only do it so many times before the coach gets upset.

"It wouldn't have killed you too say you'd at least think about it." Helga turned around and stared at the boy with the not-so football head and the cornflower hair.

"Why are you always behind me with some goody-two-shoe's logic?" Helga bordered on screaming.

"Because you hurt Lila's feelings." Arnold said, glaring at Helga. He cringed as she returned his look with twice the force.

"Who cares?" Helga said. Her tone suggested death be in the air.

"I. Do." Arnold said, standing a few inches taller then her.

"Again, who cares?"

"I just wish you would tell me what the hell is your deal?"

"You. Ok? You're my deal. I'm not going to some stuck up party just to have Rhonda and her little group make fun of me, as some scene from Carrie unfolds." Helga continued her way back to the locker room.

A strong grip caught her shoulder. Blue crashed with green.

"Why would you care what Rhonda has to say?" His tone was soft and understanding.

Helga turned and looked towards the locker room. She shut her eyes tightly. This is how a kingdom could crumble.

Emotions.

"She only says it because she's jealous. Come on. You're not exactly the ugly duckling anymore."

This was either a very well planned out insult or Arnold was complimenting his grade school bully.

Helga turned around and looked at him. Pulling herself away from his strong grip.

"Go. Away." Helga whispered. Arnold looked at her and took a step back.

"Just think about it." He whispered and then began walking back towards Helga's locker.

Helga shook her head and hurried to the locker room.

As she reached the door she turned back and watched Arnold disappear around the corner. Helga closed her eyes and headed into the darken locker room.

Damn him.

Blue crashed with green.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Helga shook her head and looked at Arnold. He was always ready and willing with comfort or advice.

She loathed him.

"No, I just... I was thinking about something." Helga shook her head.

"About what?" Arnold pressed.

Helga shook her head. "Nothing."

Silence enveloped them as they watched Riley play in the distance.

"A week more, right?" Arnold asked, looking down at the grass.

Helga looked at him and then at her book. "Yes, I have so much work to do and Riley is starting camp. I mean it would be nice to stay longer, but it's not possible."

"I'll try and come up before school starts again. For like a week." Arnold shrugged.

Helga nodded. "Riley would like that."

"What about you?" Arnold looked at her. Soft lines on her face, soft blond hair whisped off her face, her pouty cherry lips, and those eyes. Bluer then blue eyes.

Helga looked up to watch Riley jump on Harold's back attempting to make a dunk. She shook her head. "I don't know what I'd like."

(Scene 3)

Helga, or as grandma liked to call her, Eleanor, was sitting in the family room of the old boarding house. Arnold was sitting next to her looking over random papers as Riley was in the backyard playing golf with Grandpa.

Arnold lifted his eyes from the paper he was reading and smiled at Helga. "Do you remember when Gerald had that house party in sixth grade?"

"Yes, we played spin the bottle. Everytime you or me spun the bottle it always landed on each other." Helga smiled slightly.

"Remember what you said after like the third time we had to kiss?"

"A higher being is playing a cosmic joke on me." Helga laughed slightly.

"You weren't a bad kisser."

"Eh, you were." She laughed as Arnold threw a pillow at her. "Ow!"

"Serves you right!" Arnold smiled. "You are so mean."

"I am." Helga laughed.

It took a few minutes but Helga's laughter died down and the two, once again, sat in silence.

"You're grandparents are really sweet about all this." Helga smiled.

"They've wanted great-grandchildren since I turned twenty-one. I guess they wanted to see me taken care of before they... you know... went." Arnold stated, stumbling over the words.

Helga nodded. "I still can't believe we're only twenty-eight. I feel like I'm forty." She laughed. "I'm happy I'm slightly established though. Not many people are established at twenty-eight."

"I know I'm not established. I mean I love working with the kids, and the boarding house, but there's still a million things I have to do. Phoebe and Gerald lucked out."

"They did, didn't they. I mean with Gerald working at the Advertisement Company since he was sixteen, he's been established for a while. I'm proud of Phoebe; she got done with medical school after eight years. Hell, she got married and had a child in the middle of it all." Helga sighed. "I was always envious of how well they fitted their lives together."

"Me too. I always wanted that family aspect of life." Arnold smiled.

Helga looked towards the doorway and back to Arnold. "Well, you're partially there."

Arnold looked up and nodded his head. "I am, aren't I?"

"Riley likes you, a lot. It's gonna be hard dragging him back to Chicago."

"It'll be ok. We'll work something out." Arnold smiled.

Helga nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure we will."

They sat staring at various objects around the living room. Helga drew her knees to her chest as she gently rested her chin.

Arnold smiled as he ruffled through some of the papers.

"Let's go out to dinner tomorrow night. Give us some time to talk." Arnold smiled.

"I don't—"

"Please." Arnold begged.

Helga looked at him. Her first mistake. His eyes begged with hers. His lips were curled up in a soft smile, as some wild hair fell over his face.

Helga gently ran her fingers through his hair, pushing the strands back. It was purely instinct but she was having a hard time taking her hand away from his face.

He gently brought his hand to hers. He took hers in his, making her recoil her hand and hold it close to her body.

"Ok." She whispered avoiding his eyes.

Arnold looked at her; he was to say the least upset by her sharp action. But he kept his smile from faltering.

"Good."

(Scene 4)

"Are you two going to get married?" Riley asked as his mother tucked some of the whisps of hair from her face behind her ears.

"No." Helga said, looking at Riley from the mirror. "Where did you get an idea like that?"

"Well, if you're my mom and Arnold's my dad... then aren't you two suppose to be married?" It was childish innocence.

However, in a perfect world, it would not have been foolish sight but instead fact.

"It's slightly more complicated then that dear." Helga said as she grabbed her purse and stood in front of the closet mirror.

Her hair was down, straight and sleek. Her make up normal, some lip gloss, blush, and eye shadow. She was wearing a red skirt that went down to her knees with a pink halter-top. She was wearing black sandals that laced up her calves. She was wearing a silver bracelet and her watch, along with her college ring.

"Do I look ok?" She asked.

"You look amazing." That was not Riley's voice.

She turned to see Arnold smiling in the doorway. He was wearing black dress pants and a white button down shirt. The first few buttons were undone and the shirt was un-tucked. He was going for dressy casual.

"You look nice too." Helga smiled.

"Thank you. Ready to go?" He held out his arm for her to take. Riley sat on the bed, amused.

"Have fun... stay out as late as you want!" Riley smiled.

"Thanks... go to bed." Helga said staring at her only child.

Arnold chuckled a bit and ruffled the boy's head. "Have a good night short-man."

"Ok... Dad." Riley winked, as Arnold's smile grew larger.

Helga's lips curled up slightly, as her heart stung a bit.

She wasn't quite sure how she had gotten herself into this.

"You look beautiful honey." Sid's mother smiled as she took another picture.

Helga smiled as she nodded her head. Her hair was up in curls and sparkles, glitter adorning her beautiful up-do. Her dress was a baby pink, accenting her curves and falling into a beautiful A-skirt, flowy and innocent. The top was high, covering her upper chest, in the back was a criss-cross of baby pink straps, until reaching her lower back were it fell into a small thin bow. She was wearing pearls, earrings and a bracelet. They were her grandmother pearls. Her mother had given them to her. She was wearing four-inch heels, pearl colored to match her ensemble.

She felt like Cinderella... well maybe not quite Cinderella, but still.

Sid slipped his arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. His mother snapped another shot of the happy couple.

"You two are going to be the most beautiful people at the Prom." She smiled, snapping another picture.

"Thank you." Helga smiled.

It took less then a half-hour, but soon Helga and Sid were in the limo with Phoebe, Gerald, Harold, Patty, Eugene, and Sheena.

The ride to the expensive banquet hall on the outskirts of Hillwood was filled with laughter and old stories. There wasn't a moment of silence.

Soon they stood outside mingling with old friends, enemies, and new faces. It was beautiful and carefree.

Helga looked around until her eyes landed on Arnold and Lila, who were talking to Gerald and a very cynical looking Phoebe.

Helga examined the green dress Lila wore. It was low cut in the front with practically no back. Her hair was down in curls, green crystal accessories spread throughout the red glory. She looked bored as she hung from Arnold's arm like a trophy girlfriend.

Lila caught the blue glazed and stared at Helga.

Helga knew that the girl was thinking hideous things about her, but she didn't care.

Arnold catching Lila's distant look moved his eyes in the direction of Helga. He smiled slightly as he took in the beauty that was Helga at the age of eighteen.

Helga looked back at him; the world seemed to slip away.

He was standing staring at her. She was standing staring at him. It was a perfect moment.

Helga felt something on her neck. She turned her head and laughed as Sid kissed her collar bone and began briefly telling her about how every girl was right now complaining to their dates on how gorgeous she looked.

"You do look beautiful." They turned to see Arnold, standing, smiling. Lila was standing with Rhonda, all glaring in Helga's direction.

"Thanks Arnoldo." Helga smirked. On the inside she was melting.

Sid placed his arm around her shoulder and smiled slyly to Arnold.

"Maybe I'll let you dance with her." Arnold nodded.

"I'd like that." He said, his eyes focused on Helga.

"We'll just have to wait and see how my dance card goes." Helga looked at Arnold one last time before heading into the banquette hall.

Helga sighed as they drove in silence to whichever restaurant Arnold had in mind.

"Remember... that home game?" She said, looking at him. "During senior year?"

"There were quite a few home games." Arnold said, not taking his eyes off the road.

"The one where I said I never wanted to see you again." Helga smirked a bit. It had been a lie, of course.

"Oh... that game." Arnold laughed a bit. "What about it?"

"I'm sorry I said it." Helga looked out her window.

"It's ok." Arnold smiled and gently touched her arm, before putting his hand back on the steering wheel.

Helga smiled and nodded.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad at all.