Hello everyone, thank you for your comments and for following my story. I took a bit longer then usual to release this chapter, I didn't want to let it go lol just kidding.

Here it is "I won't turn my back on you"

Arnold POV

I walked away from my father, just a few steps to be alone for a minute. I couldn't comprehend what he had just said. He felt as if he didn't deserve me...His guilt for leading Eduardo to the statue and dooming my mother and Pepe to their death didn't allowed him to live his life. I can understand feeling responsible for his mistakes, still I can't see why he didn't come home to his only son. All this time I thought he was dead, I always believed my father had made the best choices till the end but now... I don't know anymore. I shut my eyes in disappointment knowing all my years of sorrow and torment could have been avoided if only he had been strong enough, to return to his life without my mother. As I gazed at the sky, I remember the dream I had with my mother. I could still feel her soft hand brushing through my hair, her gentle eyes giving me security and love. My mother as never left my side and I knew she expected so much of me. I was not going to let her down, I had to be brave for Helga, for my grandparents who were expecting me to come back safe and now for my father. I may never understand why he never came home, nevertheless I wont turn my back to him for it. After all, he is my father and... his alive. *

Arnold approached his father after a couple of minutes of being away and sat by him again in silence. Miles was seating on the grass looking down with his elbows on his knees sobbing. Arnold placed his arm across his back and embraced him.

"I'm so sorry son..." Miles kept repeating, as if saying it one hundred times wasn't enough.

Arnold closed his eyes and remembered so many nights he cried himself to sleep wishing he could see his father again at least, one last time. Now, he had his father and their lives could continue where they left off. It was never to late to start all over again for a father and son, he thought. "I forgive you Dad." Said Arnold in a whispered.

Miles lifted his head and gazed at his son with unworthiness. The red tearful eyes showed the evidence of the heavy blaming weight he felt in his heart. "I don't deserve you." He said crying.

Seeing his father in so much sorrow, burn his chest leaving a cold empty gap in his heart. He always imagine his father standing tall, with happiness and strength in his eyes.

Never in one hundred years he could have pictured his father, the great Doctor Miles Shortman mourning for the actions he took in his life.

"Yes you do, you always have deserve your son and I you."

Miles smiled at his son with tears in his eyes "I still believe this is a dream, since I saw you by the river I thought I was going insane. I wanted so say so much to you and I couldn't. I just didn't know how to approach you or even talk to you. Then when you woke up and tried to leave, I felt like I was loosing you all over again."

"Why didn't you say anything before Dad? Why did you kept your identity a secret all this time?"

"I didn't know how you were going to handle it. I was just buying out time in the mean time till, I figure out how to tell you."

Arnold nodded amazed of the discovery, of finding Jones to be his father "When I first saw you, I knew I could trust you...there was something about you that I felt comfortable with. Why Jones thou? How did you come up with that name?"

"The name Jones belonged to a famous archaeologist I once knew. He was my childhood hero I figure, it was the best name to use, besides... I like it." Said Miles smiling. Even with sore eyes he still found a way to look happy again.

"It's good to see you smile again Dad...Man, its so incredible how much we chatted that night by the fire and... I didn't know who you were. I wanted to tell you everything that was happening to me but, I had to be careful. After what happen with Eduardo I just lost trust in everyone here, except for Jorge he actually earned my trust."

"What happen with Eduardo son? How did he found you in the first place?"

"I don't know, he just came by the boarding house and said he found your remains and...my mother's. At first I couldn't believe your bodies were actually found but then, he showed me your wallet and the green-eyes amulets and I knew."

"That must have been difficult son."

"It was unbearable. I felt like I was going out of my mind till I saw Helga that night. She...as a way to heal my heart, no matter how broken it may be. The next day I decided to come to San Lorenzo with Eduardo to identify your bodies."

"How did your grandparents took the news?"

"Bad, however they showed so much straight and understanding then I ever had. I was the one in rage about everything. I was so determined to knowing what happen to you and mom that...I didn't think about the dangerous that I could encounter here."

"Why did you brought Helga with you?"

"I never wanted her to come. I told her it was best for her to stay behind, yet she found a way to locate me and took the first flight to San Lorenzo. Once she has her mind set in something there's no stopping her."

Miles nodded "It was very dangerous for her to come. But, I believe her being here helps you in a way to be stronger about everything. I'm... overjoyed to know you found someone special son...and I...overheard, that you and Helga will...get marry." said Miles timidly, feeling insecure about bringing the subject to Arnold's attention.

Arnold blushed uncontrollably "Yes about that, I...proposed to her, yesterday when you and Jorge were fishing."

Miles sighed revealing a soft smile. "Whoa marriage is a huge step son...do you think you're ready?"

Arnold exhaled feeling his heart swelled with her love, knowing he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. "I am Dad. Helga as been in my life as far back as I can remember, at first she bullied me a lot...yet with all that bulling she always found the time to talk to me when I was down...and as we grew together we had many great experiences till one day, I saw how much I have always loved her and...after a very challenging year we were finally a couple."

"How long was that?"

"When we were in the eight grade."

Miles stared at his son in shocked "That long ago! You two have been a couple for four years now?!"

Arnold bit his lip remembering that special day when he and Helga were at the auditorium backroom and Helga jumped into his arms screaming his love for him, that was the day when she finally accepted to become his girlfriend. "Yes and it doesn't really feel like it, I can honestly say, Helga is the best thing that happen to me and... I can only imagine what the future holds for us"

"Everything sounds great Arnold, I'm really happy for you but, what about college? You're thinking about graduating right?"

"Of course Dad, we can be marry and attend college." said Arnold without a doubt.

Miles placed his hand over Arnold's back. "You're a brilliant, responsible young man and marriage will be challenging, but I know you and Helga will make it work and...I support you all the way son."

Arnold smiled "Thank you Dad."

Miles stood up and open his arms wide "Here, let me give you a congratulations hug for your engagement." Arnold embraced his father warmly, for he was officially the first family member to know of his engagement and Arnold couldn't be prouder to know it was him. "Whoa my son is getting married, what would your mother say if she was here"

"I honestly think she gave us her approval long ago." Said Arnold happily.

"Why do you say that Arnold?"

"Because Helga dreamed of her a couple of days ago, that's why Helga is here in San Lorenzo. My mother told her in a dream that I needed her help. Then, I saw my mother in a vision or maybe it was a dream...I'm still not sure, it happen the first night after you found me by the river.

"Really! What was the dream about?" Asked Miles intrigued to hear about the dream.

Arnold began explaining how he saw his mother seating next to him, how real it all felt and about the message his mother gave him.

"You know son, your mother wasn't sure if you were destine to be the chosen but, she believed in the prophecy."

"Dad what do you know about the lost large trapiche. La Sombra is after it because he presumes it will give him power. Is that true? Can he obtain some type of power from it?"

"It's hard to know son, the chosen one is the only one that can even touch the eye of the forest or the lost trapiche rock, well according to the prophecy. Still, anything is possible and we must be on guard and protect both rocks."

Miles stood up and took off his glasses. "I guess I won't need this old glasses anymore now that you know who I am. We better head back to your fiancé."

Arnold placed both hands on his head taking a deep breath. "The idea of me getting marry it's so amazing and nerve racking at the same time. I don't want Helga to know, that...I feel light headed just by thinking about it."

"That's normal son, I felt the same way when I proposed to your mother and I was almost thirty when I married her."

"hummm...a word of advised son...if I may."

"Of course Dad."

"Remember you have college ahead of you and...if you and Helga start, you know...having relations..."

Arnold's face turned red just by seeing his father struggle with the words. He knew exactly what his father was trying to say and was very conscious about the consequences that may arise from his romantic encounter with Helga at the beach and again in the cool waters.

"You need to be careful not to...get her preg-nant...a baby is a true blessing, however it demands your full attention and money. Being a young couple with a child to raise and attending college will be extremely difficult for the both of you...I'm probably going over my head right now..."

Arnold kept biting his lips placing his hand behind his neck pondering about what his father had said.

"Son...your face expressing is trying to tell me something."

Arnold gulped trying to hide his guilty actions "mmm...ugh, yeah well.." then Arnold's eyes widen remembering something "Dad... what will my grandparents say when they find out you're alive!?"

"I have no ideas son. I missed them so much all this years. I'm so thankful your grandparents were able to provide for you and... be there when you needed them the most. I'm also grateful they're still alive and well."

"I'm concern they're worried about me, it's been almost a week since my departure. How long do you think it will take us to get to the green-eyes village?"

"Well, if we start walking tomorrow morning, we might make it to the village by sundown."

"Dad I forgot to tell you...the first time I held the eye of the forest I was at the beach with Helga. That morning, I found the folded piece of paper with the eye of the forest rock inside your wallet. The moment I held it, the small rock attached itself to my palm and began burning my skin, I wanted to throw it but my entire being was almost drawn to it. At that moment, I saw the entire forest of San Lorenzo from above like if I was soaring through the air... then, when we were stranded after La Sombra chase us out of the village, I held the rock again and this time I was able to see the green-eye village and... I sense the location of the lost large trapiche rock."

Mile's eye widened in amazement. "Are you sure you saw the village and were able to sense the location of the lost trapiche?!"

"Yes, Dad that's how I know the forest and since then, I knew the location of the green-eye village but I didn't know how to enter the village. I just saw the location from above but it was protected by large mountain rocks. I figure with the instructions you wrote on the letter you left me inside the journal, I could enter the village."

"You said the eye of the forest burned your hand the first time you held it?"

"Yes it did. It's strange because the rock didn't leave any mark on my skin it was like an interior burning sensation, like if my skin was burning from the inside." Arnold was quiet for a second remembering Helga touching the rock inside the truck. "What I don't understand is, when Helga touch the rock nothing happen to her, it didn't sting her, how was that even possible?"

"You need to tell Naku about all of this Arnold. I was aware that only the chosen one could held the rock since it's sacred, but I never knew what the chosen one could experience once he held it, much less if someone else holds it."

"The way I see it, there's a lot I need to ask Naku about." Arnold sighed "I just hope we can find a way to get out of this jungle alive and get rid of La Sombra for good. Let's head back Dad."

Meanwhile by the large tree trunk Helga woke from taking a nap after an exhausted day. She opened her eyes to find a small monkey trying to take her backpack away. "Hey get away!" she snatched the backpack quickly in to her arms. As she looked around she noticed she was all alone "Where's Jorge?" she looked up and saw the eagle perch at the top of the tree. "Okay at least I'm not completely alone and where's Arnold?" She opened her backpack to find her small brushed and realized something was missing. "Wait a minute where is it...she took everything out of her backpack and exhaled in panic. Crimity...where's Arnold's journal!?"

A couple of miles away La Sombra baffled the events of that day. He was leaning by his jeep, smoking a puro pondering the unexplained occurrence that startled him by the cliff.

He had never feared anything in his life yet what happen by the hanging bridge, petrified him beyond anything he as felt before.

"Como diablos paso eso? How was that boy able to control the wind like that? The ground shook ? How was that even possible, unless...the eye of the forest gave him control over it. If that's true, I can only imagine what type of power the large lost trapiche can bring. Ohh, I must have that rock at all cost." said La Sombra with a malicious frown on his sweaty face. Suddenly two man approached him with Jorge by their side.

"Jefe we have something for you." said one of them as he handle La Sombra, the journal.

His vicious eyes widened with a dark purpose "Excellent!" La sombra opened the journal and flipped the pages finding the letter Miles wrote to Arnold and the map to the green-eye village with the instructions of how to have access to the security entrance. "This changes everything, now we're a step ahead of them and this time I will hurt that boy with the woman he loves, just like I did with Doctor Miles."

Author Notes:

I wanted the conversation between Arnold and Jones to be special. Jones explained why he kept his identity a secret. By the way I like calling him Jones, and like I said before I named him Jones after Indiana Jones my ultimate movie hero.

I thought it was funny how Miles tried to talk to Arnold about being careful with Helga. LOL

Arnold was very shy about it, but his father was right to talk to Arnold about that. ️

Now La Sombra has the journal and anything can happen.

Thank your everyone for following my story and till next one.