Author's note: Thanks for the new reviews and recommendations. I'll look into them. .

"I'll be there for you"

Bob had a hell of a headache but still, couldn't stop playing Doom on the office computer. After all, it was Saturday night and he had to stay "working" in the office to not disturb Helga's party. If a month ago someone told him, he will stay here "hiding" so her youngest daughter can throw a party in their house, he would have lock the guy up in the nearest rehab center.

But the more time he spent with Helga - or at least thinking about her - it changed his point of view on a lot of things.

Till now, he thought Helga is the "problematic" member of the family. But now, Olga and Miriam seemed to be abnormal. Deep down he really enjoyed he don't have to be with them this weekend. He don't have to hear Olga's delightful, happy cheering here, which was cute when she was young, but now, years later it made her seem to be an idiot. He don't have to smell Miriam's liquor store odor here, that she couldn't make disappear, no matter how much perfume she used. Sitting in the dark office, hunting monsters in some ancient video game felt more sane then being home.

The door opened and Sabrina, Bob's secretary entered. She was Young and beautiful - but Bob applied her, because she reminded him to the young Miriam. The pre-whiskey Miriam.

"Bob... can I go home now?" - she asked.

"Yes, yes of course. Thanks for coming in on Saturday."

"Don't mention it boss. You look horrible, why don't you go home?" - she asked. Her voice was so tinkling, just like Miriam's used to be.

"I can't. My daughter is having a party, and I don't want to be the Big Bad Bob who ruins it."

"Oh, that's so sweet." - Sabrina said. - "So you're gonna sit here alone all night, so Helga can have some fun? That's the nicest thing you ever done."

"Well... yeah. Thanks."

"But why don't you go to a hotel?"- she asked. - "You're being nice but it doesn't mean you have to be a martyr."

"I don't like hotels. Bellboys are creeping me out." - he said. Sabrina laughed out loud in a sweet voice.

"Hey, you can sleep at my place. I have a pretty big couch, It's big enough even for you." - she said smiling. Bob thought about it for a moment.

"No thanks, I think this is a bit inappropriate." - he answered. He really needed the will power for to say that.

"Then I'll stay with you." - Sabrina said, as she sit down in front of Bob - "Can't let you here alone on Saturday night. It's the perfect middle-aged-business-man-suicide kind of situation." - she said,

"Thanks, but it's not necesarry..."

"So, you gonna kick me out of the building or what?" - she asked challenging.

"No..." - Bob answered.

"C'mon Bob, we're gonna have fun tonight too!" - she said.

"What do you have in mind?" - Bob asked. Sabrina leaned a little closer.

"We will think of something." - she said smiling. She wore the same cologne as Miriam, but there was no sign of that horrible whiskey smell anywhere. It was just like old times. A new, young, beautiful Miriam. The only escape from a horrible, empty life.

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It was the best party of the year. It was impossible to throw a party without inviting Helga (nobody was stupid enough to do that) but it was the first gathering at the Pataki house. There was a lawsuit coming of course because the late night breach of peace, but Helga so didn't care about it.

Arnold walked in with Lila of course - Helga thought it was another pathetic attempt to make Lila like like him.

"Don't worry Helga." - Phoebe said - "There's nothing going to be between them. And one day Arnold will notice what a wonderful person you really are."

"Thank you Pheebs." - Helga said.

"Oh, for crying out loud!" - Rhonda shouted. - "I can't believe it!"

"What?"

"This "one day Arnold will notice" crap!" - she said - "Helga I really can't understand you. You're the bitch who takes everything she wants without asking. You obviously want that guy. So why don't you go for him."

"You don't understand it. Arnold would never..."

"Are you kidding? That boy couldn't get a normal date since... well you. And a lot of years passed. He would even go out with a scarecrow." - she said - "And you're a little bit better than that." - that was a joke of course. Helga looked stunning tonight - so did most of the girls. It was simply that kind of night.

"But... he hates me."

"Let me tell you a little secret Helga. Boys in Arnold's age just can't hate hot blond girls. It's in their DNA." - Rhonda said - "So, here's the plan. You drink something, and then go over and get that boy. Got it?" - Helga nodded slowly. What Rhonda said actually made sense.

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"So... having a good time Football head?" - Helga asked. As she walked over to Arnold, who was looking trough the CD's of Bob.

"Yeah... I haven't been here since... well a long time. You're dad has some Dino Spumoni albums that you can't get anywhere anymore." - he said.

"Crimney Arnold. Would you stop being boring?" - Helga asked. - "You used to be the heart of the class, and now you're just... looking trough my father's CD collection alone!"

"Well, I guess they found a new heart for themselves lately." - Arnold murmured. He referred to Helga's new status, as the Big Boss.

"Oh, Evil Old Helga is mean to me. Boo-hoo. Stop being such a girl hair-boy." - she said. - "Go, dance, have some fun."

"There's no one I could dance with." - Arnold said.

"I'm sure you'll find someone." - Helga said, as she turned around and walked away.

"Helga! Don't you feel like... you know. Dancing?" - he asked.

"Whatever." - Helga sighted. - "If it makes you feel better..."

Seven minutes later they were making out like crazy on the dance floor, for everybody's big surprise. It wasn't planned, but someone put on U2s "With or without you", and it was something they couldn't fight.

"God, get a room!" - Sid said, as he bumped into them.

"This is my place Sid, I'll stand wherever I want!" - Helga said.

"Actually he's got a point." - Arnold said.

"Wanna go somewhere more private to... you know, talk some more?" - Helga asked. Arnold nodded with a shy smile.

As they went upstairs, Helga was extremely thankful to his father. After all every stupid thing he suggested work. And now here she was with Arnold again. It was unbelievable. She felt life won't be so horrible from now. Family life won't be so painful if Bob stays the way he is. School life will be better too, she finally have Arnold. Maybe she will be able to keep her sanity till her twenties.

For some reason, Phoebe and Gerald locked themselves in to Helga's room, so they had to go to the room of Bob and Miriam.

"So what do you think. Will you handle my books for me in school?" - Helga asked.

"I guess." - Arnold said, as he kissed her again passionately.

"Arnold, I missed you so much..." - Helga said, as they continued kissing. They were really loosing control - " I... I guess I never stopped loving you..." - but then Arnold stood up in shock.

"Oh my god..." - he murmured in disbelief. As he run to the one of the pictures on the wall. - "Who are these people?" - he asked. Helga's world just fell apart to pieces. She just confessed her most personal secret to Arnold, and he's... behaving like this.

"Don't try to change the subject hair boy!" - she said angrily. - "That's an old picture of Bob and Miriam and some of their old friends..."

"Sorry Helga I gotta go! We will talk tomorrow I promise!" - he said and with that, he run out of the room. Helga left there alone in their parents room. She knew she will cry, here and now, when everybody from school is in the house. Her life was officially over. She looked on the picture. Trough her tears she noticed the lady on the picture is having a weird football head just like Arnold.

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Bob woke up just to notice his back hurts like hell. Sleeping in the car is not the best after an age. According to the sound the party was still on in the house - he was thinking about sneaking in to his room unnoticed, but he made a promise to Helga.

He noticed a shadowy figure standing in the rain, leaning her back to the wall. It was Helga. What's wrong with that girl again, being out here in a weather like this. He got out of the car.

"Ol.. Helga! What are you doing here! You'll get cold."

"Hey Bob. I just needed a little fresh air. You?"

"Sorry, I had to come home. If I stayed at the office... well I was just about to do something stupid. But don't worry, I'll wait in the car till the party is over." - Helga cried some minutes before, it was obvious. - "What happened?"- he asked. Helga looked at him, trying to talk, but she just couldn't say a word. Bob slowly put her hands around her daughter, not knowing she will accept the gesture or not. Suddenly Helga hugged her father in tears.

"I'm so sorry..." - Bob said - "But everythings gonna be okay. I promise." - he said. Helga hugged him even stronger. At last, after all these years she found someone she can hold into. Just like Bob. The rain became heavier every moment - "C'mon Helga got into the car." - he said, as he opened the door for her.

They stayed there till the morning came. Rhonda took over the party in the house - Helga counted on her in that. They watched how the happy pairs and friends leaving the house.

"Sorry. I really thought I can help you to be happy. You... you deserve that boy. Even better." - Bob said.

"Thanks Bob... dad." - she said. Yes it happened. She called him dad, and not in some annoying, witty comment. This time she meant it. - "You know I was thinking. Maybe you're not here to solve my problems." - she said.

"No?"

"No. Maybe You're here... just to be here. Like now. I guess that's all I ever needed." - she said, as she leaned her head on Bob's shoulder. A huge weight was gone from Bob's heart. It was everything he needed to hear. He needed Helga more right now, that she needed him. He needed a purpose to his life. An anchor to this life. And he found it. This is why he wakes up every morning. He's not the CEO of the Cell phone Emporium in the first place anymore. He's a father.

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Next: Runaways

There was great temptation to continue with the next two sentences, where Bob will ruin everything he did until now. But I wanted a nice ending, so I will have to wait with the "bad news" till the next chapter.

Not to talk about Arnold's confrontation with his grandfather, about some little white lies he told him for years.

Please review! I know you want to!