Helga made her way downstairs to the kitchen with Stella, almost immediately regretting her decision to come and help make dinner. What was she doing? She could be upstairs talking with Arnold and spending time with him but WHAT was she doing? She was cooking. With his MOTHER. Criminy, Helga, you're losing your focus, here! She scolded herself, but nonetheless followed her to where the smells of a delicious soup was simmering and were various vegetables colored the counter waiting to be chopped up.

"Well, here we are," Stella said with a sigh while tying an apron around herself and finding her way towards the pot where the soup was cooking. She reached over for a spoon and ladeled a spoonful into her mouth for a taste before adjusting it with some spices and then glancing over to Helga who was standing just out of sight. "You want a taste?"

Helga shook her head. "Nah, I'm just fine. I'll wait till the finished product."

"Ahh, you're one of those patient types with cooking then, huh?" She shook her head, a smile on her face. "Not like Miles. He always has to have the first taste."

Helga glanced around her surroundings for a moment. "Where is Miles?" She asked and Stella shrugged her shoulders.

"Probably checking on Gertie. He's been taking care of her while I've been cooking."

Helga's brow furrowed as she crossed her arms. "Is she gonna be okay?" She asked and Stella nodded her head while moving to chop up some green onions.

"She'll be alright. If she'd just stop trying to escape the room," she chuckled to herself, "thus why Miles is keeping a close eye on her. She's a stubborn woman his mother is. But that's why we all love her."

"You miss her while you were gone?" Helga blurted out, immediately regretting the words as she knew the answer, but Stella was kind and answered anyway.

"Very much. We missed everyone. Granted, we were asleep, but when we awoke, we knew all that we'd missed and we're very glad to be back now." She said while chopping the onions and then scooping them up to dump them into the pot. Once returning to the chopping board, she picked up the knife to begin cutting again, and gestured for Helga to come join her. "Why don't you start with the carrots over there? There should be another cutting board."

Taking her hands from behind her back and swinging them back and forth for a moment, she then smacked her lips together before making to way towards the carrots and then picked up the knife sitting beside them. Carefully, she lined the first few carrots up and began to chop quietly, before Stella finally spoke.

"So, Helga. How do you like school? How is the sixth grade treating you?" She asked and Helga shrugged her shoulders while focusing on the carrots ahead of her.

"Fine I guess. It isn't as hard as they all TELL you it'll be." She mused and Stella nodded her head.

"I remember going into sixth grade. It's funny, even back then I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. Do you?" She asked and Helga looked up and over to her.

"Do I what?"

"Do you know what you want to be when you get older?" She asked again and Helga thought about this for a moment before responding.

"A writer of some sorts. Probably a journalist."

This impressed Stella, "Ooh, a journalist! That sounds exciting."

"Honestly, I used to want to just be a writer of like fictional stories and stuff, but then I started thinking about how I'd really like to travel the world... and a journalist seems like a good idea. Maybe for National Geographic or something." Helga explained, the words coming out more fluidly as she spoke and Stella smiled while she dropped her second handful of onions into the pot of stewing soup.

"Traveling the world is definitely exciting, but it has it's challenges," Stella said, returning to her cutting board and reaching for the turnips that were sitting nearby. "But don't let that stop you. It's such a rewarding experience. Especially if you have the right person by your side to experience it all with." She said with a wink and Helga found herself blushing and quickly returned her eyes back to the carrots she was cutting.

"You cook much?" Stella asked next and Helga shook her head while scooping up the carrots she'd just cut and placing them into the pot nearby.

"No, we hardly ever have food in the house to cook with," She blurted out and this stunned Stella who turned around to look at Helga with a surprised expression.

"You don't? Do your parents not shop?" She asked and Helga bit her lip for a moment before thinking through her reply.

"It's... it's complicated," she settled on, even though Stella was more curious as to just what she meant by that.

"Complicated how?" She wondered and Helga sighed, feeling as though Arnold gets his whole nature from his parents whether he was raised by them or not.

"It's just my parents... well... they aren't... they aren't like you guys at all. Or like Phil or Gertie... or ANYONE really." She explained and Stella nodded her head.

"So how are they like?"

"They're... they're..." She sighed again and shook her head giving up on trying to elude Stella on her personal matters any longer because it was getting her nowhere. "They're not very good parents. I mean sure, maybe they TRY to be, but they don't try very hard, at least."

"Why do you say that?"

"What are you like my therapist or something?" Helga snapped before taking a deep breath and instead chopping on the cutting board more ferociously as she explained further. "It's just that I don't cook because my parents usually order take-out, unless Olga's home in which case they go all out for her and cook this grand old feast and spend the WHOLE TIME talking about her and ignoring me. I mean, heck, even when it comes to school, I'm lucky if I get a meal because 90% of the time it's a good day if Miriam remembers to pack me a can of cheeze fizz and crackers just to get me through the day."

Stella remained quiet at all the information that Helga had overloaded her with at once and Helga immediately felt like she'd said something wrong and instead focused on the carrots in front of her, chopping quietly as she shook her head.

After a moment, Stella finally spoke. "I'm sorry to hear that, Helga," she said, "nobody should have to deal with all of that."

Helga shrugged her shoulders. "It's been like that ever since I can remember, honestly."

"Well," Stella said before turning around to walk towards Helga and place her hands warmly on Helga's shoulders. "It doesn't have to be like that here. Think of the boarding house as your... your safe haven, alright? I'm sure Arnold wouldn't mind if you come here when you like and spend some time with us just to get away every now and again. And we'd be happy to have you. Any time."

With wide eyes, Helga turned to look at Stella from over her shoulder. "Really? Like... REALLY really?"

"Really, really. As far as I'm concerned, you're the reason we got our son back and Miles and I are forever indebted to you. We're happy to extend our home to you if you need it. And it sounds like you could use that in your life right now."

"Honestly?" Helga said while setting the knife down and taking a deep breath, "I really kinda could these days."

"Then it's settled. Our home is your home. Anytime." She said with a smile and then returned to her cooking station. "Now how's about we finish up this soup and get the table ready for the boarders, Miles, Arnold and us?"

"Bye Helga! We'll see you tomorrow!" Stella called out from where her and Miles stood waving out the doorway as Helga went to leave the boarding house just shortly after dinner. Arnold and Helga hadn't made that much headway when it came to their project, but it seemed that other things may be more important for them right now and they were both just trying to go with the flow of things.

"Is it alright if I walk Helga home?" Arnold asked his parents.

"Oh, you really don't have to, football-head," Helga tried but he insisted.

"No, really, I'd like to. And besides, it really isn't that dark out yet. So can I?" Arnold asked and his parents nodded their heads reluctantly.

"Just be careful, alright you two?" Miles said.

"Thanks again for staying for dinner tonight, Helga," Arnold said as he walked beside her, his hands in his pockets. "I know the boarders can be... a lot to handle... but I think they liked you. Especially all your witty comebacks at Oskar."

Helga smirked and shrugged her shoulders. "He's kind of easy to make fun of to be honest."

Arnold reached up to rub at the back of his neck and chuckled. "Yeah he's a real character."

"You like living with all of them? With your parents and all?" Helga asked and Arnold nodded his head.

"Yeah, it's like having an even bigger family, but this time it's real, you know? I have a mom, a dad, grandparents, and then... everyone else."

Helga smirked and kicked a rock that she had been eyeing from a few paces back. "How do you see them? As uncles and aunts or what?"

"That's a good question," Arnold replied while thinking about it for a long moment. "I guess I see them as all of it. Aunts, uncles, cousins, they're a bit of everything, sort of."

"That's cool." Helga said with a nod as they turned the corner and headed down the street leading towards the beeper emporium.

"How was cooking with my mom today?" Arnold asked suddenly, "She didn't make it too weird on you, did she?"

"Why?" Helga asked with a sly smile. "You scared your mom embarrassed you?"

Arnold chuckled but nodded his head. "I guess I kind of am, aren't I? Isn't that what parents are supposed to do to their kids?"

"Nah, not all parents. And yours are pretty cool. Your mom... she's really nice." Helga said as they approached the emporium, the lights turning on just as they came up to the mailbox.

"What did she say?" Arnold asked and Helga stopped in front of the door and she turned to face him.

"She told me I was welcome at your house any time. And that you wouldn't mind." She said honestly and Arnold nodded his head while taking one of Helga's hands.

"Well I wouldn't, you know."

"Good. Cause I have this feeling you'll be seeing a lot of me. What with my situation and all," she said with a nod towards the emporium and Arnold nodded his head before looking down at their hands and swallowing hard.

"Helga... were you... serious about what you said earlier? About you being nicer to me at school and stuff?"

Helga nodded her head, a frown on her face because Arnold hadn't believed her. "Yeah, I was. You didn't believe me?"

"I do, I just want to make sure... and that we can... you know..." he said while gesturing towards their hands and she squeezed his before letting go and nodding her head while reaching for the door.

"I was serious, Arnoldo. Now stop being so unsure of yourself and just let it happen, alright? I've been waiting a long time for this."

"I know you have," Arnold said sheepishly before grabbing her arm as she tried to leave and saying one more thing, "And Helga?"

"Yeah Arnold?"

He pulled her close to him and quickly pecked her on the cheek, nervous to do so in case her parents caught the two of them on the emporium front step. "Goodnight," he said and then turned around to leave Helga with her blood on fire where she stood quivering from his goodnight kiss.

"Goodnight, Arnold."

/

Helga made her way around the corner with Phoebe to the next day to meet up with Gerald and Arnold, his hand ready for hers immediately with a smile on his face.

"You sure you're okay being seen with me?" Helga asked and Arnold nodded his head assuredly.

"Positive." He responded as she took his hand, electricity sparking throughout her body at his touch.

They traveled the few blocks hand in hand to PS118, Helga unsure of herself as they moved; unsure as to just what her classmates might think. Would they stare? Would they laugh? Would they even take her seriously as she walked hand in hand with the object of her long-term affection?

Only the true test of walking down the halls would tell as they walked up the steps of the school and entered the building, the world seeming to move in half time as they began walking down the hallway.

Arnold's hand felt hot in hers, her own growing clammy as she gripped his tightly while they wandered to their classroom. Helga looked around the hallway, eyes following the two of them it seemed and it made her angry at best. Who were they to stare at her? Who were they to even look her way when she should be glowing with pride at her most achieved goal of being with Arnold once and for all?

Just out of earshot, she heard mumbles, sounds that sounded muffled but she could just quite make out the words.

"Is that Arnold?"

"Is that HELGA?"

"Are they TOGETHER?"

"Golly!"

"Would you look at that!"

She wanted to thrash out. She wanted to pound each of their heads into their appropriate lockers and show them who's boss but Arnold's hand kept her at bay and soon she heard his words which pulled her out of her daydreams of beating her fellow classmates.

"Helga? Are you okay?" He asked, and she shook her head to get herself out of her fog and looked over at him.

"Everyone is staring." She replied and Arnold shrugged his shoulders, completely unphased.

"So what?" He asked and Helga frowned.

"That doesn't bother you in the SLIGHTEST?" She demanded but Arnold merely shook his head.

"No, they're just surprised is all. Let them be," Arnold said calmly, but Helga couldn't allow herself to be calm, even around Arnold, as much as she wanted to be.

"How can I DO that, though? When they're all just... STARING at us?"

Arnold squeezed her hand and let go of her hand, effectively cutting off their bond for their short moment. "Maybe we'll stop and then they'll stop staring."

Helga frowned and immediately grabbed his hand back and glared at him. "Are you kidding me? Who said I wanted to stop, huh?" She asked and he chuckled to himself.

"Whatever you say, Helga," he said as they rounded the hallway and entered their classroom, making their way to their appropriate desks and then letting go of each other's hands in unison, Helga still feeling uncomfortable as eyes continued to stare at her from where she sat in her desk.

Just as she was beginning to feel semi-normal again, her heart rate having calmed down from the impression her and Arnold had made this morning, Rhonda Wellington Lloyd strutted over to her desk and set two perfectly manicured hands on the top of her desk and smiled down at her with narrowed eyes.

"Good morning Helga." Rhonda greeted, her bright teeth glimmering under the florescent lighting.

"Uh... hiya princess. What brings you here to my office this early in the morning?" Helga asked with a raised brow and Rhonda smirked while leaning in towards her and licking her glossed lips slightly before speaking.

"Saw you in the hallway this morning," she began, Helga's eyes widening. "Kind of hard to miss when you're holding the hand of the most popular guy in our grade."

"A-Arnold?" She stuttered out and Rhonda nodded her head once.

"Arnold indeed," She said, leaning in further. "Are you two an item, Helga? I must say, I'm impressed. I didn't think you had it in you."

Helga frowned and then leaned in towards Rhonda and glared. "Had it in me to actually be with someone you find 'cool' when I'm so 'uncool' myself?"

"Au contraire, Helga my dear," she said while reaching out to brush away a stray hair from Helga's face while she reached out to slap the manicured hand away from her face. "I'm impressed because you did it all yourself without help from anyone else."

"What like I need someone like you to do something for me or something?"

"Well you are a tad abrasive, especially for Arnold, don't you think? I'm just surprised you won his heart after all... maybe my marriage predictor was right..." She muttered to herself and Helga slammed her hands on the desk and stood up, her face mere inches from Rhonda's now.

"Screw your marriage predictor, Rhonda, this was all me. You know NOTHING, you got it? You're just some spoiled, rich, know-nothing, BRAT who needs to get AWAY from me before I smash your head into my desk. Got it?" Helga threatened and Rhonda took a step back from Helga, her heals clicking with each step she took.

"Fine, Helga. But I really was just trying to pay you a compliment and tell you that I that I... well... I approve."

"Like I need your COMPLIMENT, Lloyd. Like I need your APPROVAL. Get out of my face. NOW!" Helga hollered over the school bell and she plopped down in her chair, Arnold's eyes stuck on her from where she sat after her run-in with the most popular girl in the school.

"Are you okay?" Arnold whispered over to her and Helga nodded her head vigorously while staring ahead at the blackboard.

"Yeah, Arnold. I'm just peachy."

/

"I can't believe we're at the end of this stupid lunch line," Helga complained as she stood waiting with Arnold behind Sheena and Eugene. "We're even behind the dweebs."

"Helga..." Arnold scolded but Helga didn't apologize for her comment.

"Well we ARE, aren't we? I mean criminy! Can't we cut a BREAK today or what?" She shouted with a tapping of her foot as the line slugged along. But Sheena and Eugene were too busy talking to even move an inch along in the line and that bothered Helga. "Could we PLEASE move along you two? Cripes!"

"Helga, are you sure you're okay? You're acting a little-"

"Aggitated? Frustrated? Completely annoyed?" She tried but Arnold remained flat and stared at her.

"Hostile." He finished and Helga took a deep breath.

"Sorry," She said after a moment. "I guess this whole being nice thing isn't something I'm really used to doing with you. Maybe it's getting to me or something. I mean," she said with a chuckle, " I haven't even thrown a single spitball at you all day today."

"I know," he said, "or pulled a prank on me at all. How does it feel?"

Helga thought about this for a while and smiled over at him as they finally took their trays from the line and began making their way towards their friends waving them over to their usual table. "It feels good, actually. Believe that or not. Just weird is all. But a good weird."

"Well I'm glad to hear that." Arnold replied with an equally as big smile, only distracting Helga for a moment before Harold called out from across the lunch room in a loud booming voice.

"Hey look! It's Helga and her big caterpillar eyebrow with Awnold!" He mocked and Helga narrowed her eyes at him from where she stood now frozen in the cafeteria, though Arnold had ignored it and continued to make his way towards the table set in his sights.

"Yeah!" Sid laughed from where he sat beside Harold and Stinky, "And they were holding HANDS this morning!"

"Ha ha ha," Harold laughed as Helga drew near to him with her tray, "Helga and Arnold sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes LOVE, then comes MARRIAGE, then comes a baby in a baby-" but before he could finish singing his ridiculous song, Helga had smashed her tray of food smack dab in his face so hard that he fell back off of his chair and onto the floor.

"Helga!" Arnold exclaimed while standing up from the table he'd just sat down at beside Gerald and Phoebe and the cafeteria grew quiet as the sound of her tray clattered to the ground.

"Try it again, fat boy, and see what happens THEN," Helga finalized before walking over to where Arnold was still standing in shock and calmly sat down next to him. "So where were we?"

"Why did you do that, Helga?" Arnold asked while sitting down slowly and Helga shrugged her shoulders.

"Because he was making fun of us, DOI, keep up with the times Hair Boy. I had to do SOMETHING." She defended but Arnold shook his head defiantly.

"No, Helga, you didn't. You could have let him be. He was just being... Harold."

"And that's an excuse to make fun of people?" Helga asked and Arnold narrowed his eyes at Helga to a half-lidded gaze.

"It used to be enough for you." He reminded her and she frowned.

"You know I had my reasons..." she muttered but Arnold only sighed before reaching into his backpack and pulling out a brown paper bag.

"Here," He said while handing her the bag. "I wasn't expecting you to have money for lunch today-"

"I scrounged it out of Bob's pants pockets this morning from the dirty laundry," Helga interrupted as Arnold continued.

"-but seeing as you don't have lunch now... you'd better take this." he finished and Helga eyed it curiously.

"What is it?" She asked before peeking inside to see a sandwich, some chips and an apple.

"It's lunch. From my mom. She made it for you. Just in case."

Helga's jaw dropped at the kind gesture from Arnold's mother and she told herself that she had to remember to thank Stella later. She'd cared? She'd cared enough about Helga and her story about her parents that she'd wanted to make her lunch just to make sure that she had some food to eat for lunch? How could someone be so nice? How could someone care so much about another person when they hardly knew them? It was such a foreign situation to her that she didn't know how to handle it or how to even say 'thank you.'

As for Arnold, he was thinking of much more different things. He was confused. He couldn't understand how Helga had focused on being so nice to him all day and so horrible to everyone else. Hadn't she changed? Hadn't being with him changed her in some way enough that she could finally stop her bullying once and for all? After all, wasn't the bullying just a cover for her secret adoration for him? And now that it was all out in the open, the cover could be blown, couldn't it? What was holding her back now?

As they both sat and wondered their separate thoughts, Gerald and Phoebe looked to one another and back at their friends ahead of them, clearly in distress. If they could figure it all out, couldn't their friends? Certainly Arnold and Helga, two of the smartest kids they knew, could.

I loved this scene earlier with Stella and Helga, along with the other scenes in this chapter, which scenes did you guys enjoy? i hoped you liked this chapter! Please let me know what you guys think as well by leaving me a REVIEW!

-Polka