After a few days from her breakdown, Helga and Hailie invited Arnold to come to the Aquarium with them. Insisting on driving them, Arnold picked them up at their apartment to drive them there. Introductions were made and while they were in the car, Hailie couldn't stop asking him questions.
"So you really owned a pig. Is he still around and what is his name?" Hailie questioned from the backseat of the car.
Arnold grinned at her inquisitive nature. "His name is Abner. I've had him since I was a baby. He was like a best friend and not much of a pet. I say this because I could never see him like that. Abner passed away about last year."
Placing her hand on Arnold's arm, Helga gave him such a warm smile. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too."
Smiling at both their sweet voices, Arnold just said, "Thank you. I wish you could of met him, Hailie. He loved playing with kids."
"Maybe one day you'll get another pig and name it Abner Jr in honor of your friend." She suggested sweetly.
"Actually I like that thought." Slowing down to drive into the parking lot, Arnold went to find a space to park.
After parking and paying to get in, Hailie was off to the fresh water exhibit. Arnold took Helga's hand while they went to stand behind her. She didn't speak a word since her attention was completely wrapped up inside the tank.
"I wonder in some small way they realize where they are and hate it." Hailie mentioned. "Also it makes you wonder that they probably think that we are the exhibit and not themselves."
Moving closer to her daughter Helga decided to make some goofy movements. Arnold chuckled lightly at her antics while Hailie giggled. Noticing they were gathering an audience Helga took Hailies hand to twirl her around. Seeing that some of the fish were swimming closer to examine them, Arnold whispered to them to look.
"Do a little dance. Make a little glub. Let's swim tonight. Let's swim tonight." Helga grinned down to her daughter. "Want to dance on down to the next tank? Arnold?"
Never doing this in public he watched as they both shuffled over to the next tank that had more fresh water. Feeling that was too boring, Helga grabbed his hand as they both did a tango move to the salt water tanks. Hailie was providing some music of her own as she hummed a dance tune. He didn't want to think about this now, but did she do this with Brainy in public?
X
After exploring all the exhibits and occasionally doing some goofy things, Arnold them brought them to a burger stand as Hailie discussed certain sea animals. The girl was so bright that he was asking her lots of questions. Then she went on the subject of Lockjaw II.
"I feel sorry for him. That is such a small place to keep him." Hailie pouted at the thought of that. "I wonder what happened to the first Lockjaw. They said that someone took him. I hope they didn't do anything bad to him."
Arnold glanced around while Helga tried to ease her daughter's worries. He didn't need anyone hearing this. "I know what happened to him exactly. He's safe and sound."
Helga glanced up to him to see if he was just saying this just to ease a child's mind. "Arnold?"
He spotted the question mark on her face while Hailie's interest was piqued. "The first time my class had a field trip but I couldn't come because I was sick. When I had another field trip in the fourth grade everyone kept going on and on about Lockjaw. How he was this terrifying sea monster who is so huge that he could do all these monstrous things. When I finally saw him he came out of the water and he was average size for his Galapagos Turtle. People put graffiti on him. Threw random objects at him. It was horrible. I was so upset I came home and told my grandma. She is such an animal lover that it infuriated her. We both went down here to break him out of there. We brought him to the ocean, and we watched him swim away."
Moving her hand forward to place over his, Helga smiled in understanding. "That was both crazy and a great thing to do."
"It was. You both could of gotten in a lot of trouble for that." Hailie told him. "I'm glad you didn't."
"Same here. I do know that deep in my heart that he is out there still." Arnold didn't know what else to say now.
Reaching over as best as she could, Hailie placed her hand on top of his. "I like you." Pulling her hand back she resumed in eating her fries. "You can keep seeing my mom."
Giggling at her daughter, Helga went to hug her. "Why thank you for that permission my little munchkin."
Something about her saying that had him grabbing his hamburger to eat it. It was anything to distract himself from the flood of emotions. She accepted him. It was really the best day ever. He spent it with the woman that he's in love with and during the day out he couldn't help loving her daughter. He'll do anything and everything for them to keep them happy.
After dropping them off, Hailie said her good bye to him while saying to come back over real soon. For Helga she went downstairs with him so she can have a good night kiss. "So how was it for you?"
Her eyes sparkled with hope. Brushing his finger tip along her jawline, Arnold would never lie to her. "I absolutely loved it. She truly is wonderful, Helga. She is someone to be proud of."
Grinning she wrapped her arms around his neck so she can kiss him. "She's my life, but rest assured my heart is large enough for another."
"I want to occupy that space then for a very long time." Kissing her, he loved how she melted against him even more. If he could he would rush out to get a ring to propose to her. "You make me very happy."
"You say that now until you reach an argument with me. When you do you'll think twice." She challenged.
Meeting that challenge, he placed his lips against her ear. "That means when we make up we'll be very spent."
Weakening, Helga kissed him once more. "She has another overnight slumber party to attend. One of her friends is having a birthday. Want to do something next weekend?"
"Yes, but this time let us do it different. I will cook you a romantic meal and dine under the stars. Later we can dance to our hearts desire. What do you think?"
She began to think of them ending up making love and it didn't scare her if it ended up like that. "I think a huge yes." Kissing him again she separated from him. "I'll see you in the library tomorrow."
"I'll see you tomorrow, Beautiful." Arnold watched her blow a kiss to him before moving herself up her stairs gracefully. Tomorrow he'll need to talk to Susie later to try to get Oskar out of the way so he doesn't bother them. "Good night."
"Night, Football Head."
He continued to watch her until she was completely out of sight. Thrilled with being accepted by, Hailie, Arnold left her building with a spring to his step.
X
When he reached home Arnold parked the Packard before heading around the front due to him spotting some trash that was scattered outside the building. Sighing at the milk bottle and beer cans he set to work in picking those objects up before discarding them in the trash. Taking his keys out he spotted Rhonda sitting on the stoop. He wondered why he didn't notice her before, but knew his head was in the clouds.
"Rhonda, what are you doing here?" Stopping short from the bottom step, Arnold felt it was better to remain a comfortable distance away from her.
"Oh Arnold! It's horrible. Absolutely horrible!"
Watching her do her dramatic flair, Arnold was still cautious even as he placed one foot up on the step to bring himself up. "What's the problem, Rhonda?" He was use to her using drama for even the tiniest thing.
She lifted her almond shaped eyes up to fix it with his. "Can I please stay here? My parents and I got into a huge argument and I need a place to stay. So may I?"
Leaning against the railing, he inquired almost too lazily, "I'm surprised you didn't go to a fancy hotel where you could be pampered. I doubt you parents cut you off."
Standing up, Rhonda took a couple steps down. "Oh but Arnold I don't want to be alone. Please let me stay."
Arnold wasn't fooled by this act. "Go to Nadine's then."
"She doesn't have the room. Also those nasty bugs. Yuck." Sticking her tongue out she took another step forward. "Oh please, Arnold. Let me stay."
"I'm normally not rude by turning away a friend, but with everything that you are trying to do with me." He wasn't about to raise his voice. "I have to respectfully decline. Go to a hotel or go home to make up with your parents." He suggested while ascending the stoop.
Rhonda sighed softly. "Brainy is still alive." Watching him turn to assess her, she continued, "I'm sorry but you are a friend and I didn't want you hurt. According to her parents he is very much alive and married to another woman. In fact, he was never married to Helga G. Pataki. I don't know what is going on with her, but she's using you. She will latch on to you to use you for herself and that girl of hers." As she stood there gazing at him with her heart full of hope, Arnold began to laugh hard. "Why are you laughing?"
"You'll do anything won't you? Brainy's parents are so deep in denial of his passing that they decided to say that he's alive and living elsewhere. You should ask his brother Stan, but to do so will obviously upset him, but since you are so bound and determined to get what you can't have, you do this. Don't think I don't know what you say behind my back. Helga is a very good person with an amazingly bright daughter. My girlfriend never lied about that. She doesn't have time in her life for needless drama." Arnold watched her face transform into shock. "Go home, Rhonda. Please go so I can forget what you've done or at least try."
Rhonda watched him unlock his door to head inside. Crossing her arms she wasn't done with this. Arnold is hers and hers alone.
A/N: For those that think Helga is lying, she isn't about Brainy's passing.
Happy New Year everyone!