After taking a quick shower Arnold went down to see his parents just casually sitting around the kitchen table. Mugs in hand. Patience circling them as they waited for him. He knew that they knew there was something dire happening that just occurred here moments ago. He quickly found out after being reunited with them that they always had a quick knack of sensing emotions. It was the same like his grandparents. It was both a good thing and a bad thing depending on your circumstance. This time he wanted their wisdom as he sat down.

"She's quite beautiful, Son." Miles started off in saying.

Stella agreed. "Something happened before we walked in didn't it?"

Arnold was old enough to make his own personal life. He knew they weren't blind to know that he had indulged in the past. "Yes. I spent a fantastic evening with Helga. We confessed how we really felt. I finally told her I love her. This morning Rhonda barged with this story saying we were together. She accused Helga of being a con artist. She said these lies and then says that Helga faked her own husband's death. Rhonda left after I told her to and after she left I went after her to yell at her for what she did. She left before I could reach her. I went back and Helga told me she didn't need the unneeded drama in her life since she is a single mom. I don't blame her."

Stella reached out to touch her son's hand. "From what you told us over the phone I don't blame her. I don't blame any single parent. What did Helga say when she left here to you?"

"I told her I will handle this. She said she hoped so because she meant what she said last night. She told me I was lucky to have parents like you. I'm glad she told me she loved me before she left." Arnold responded as he tried to sort out what he'll say to Rhonda.

"Then it is a positive that Helga believes you over Rhonda. We've known how that girl has played games to try to gain your attention. Saw how you weren't interested in. Saw after she did gain a fellows attention she dumped them soon after." Miles told him. "Handle this with Rhonda first and if she doesn't like it then you know what to do."

Arnold lifted his head up. "How long are you here for this time?"

Stella looked to her husband. "We are hoping more than a year. It will be nice to be grounded again. We'll be here." She gave her son a very encouraging smile. "Handle this first and go to your girl."

Getting up he kissed his mom on the forehead and placed his hand on his dad's shoulder before dashing off. Going to his car he headed to Rhonda's place.

X

Rhonda was still brashly confident that this will push that blonde sham artist away from Arnold. As she told Nadine about what had happened, Nadine continued to tell her how wrong she was to do that.

"After all that Arnold has done for you, for any of us, you pay him back like that. Aren't you ashamed?" Nadine asked of her friend still in disbelief.

Flipping her hair back, Rhonda released an airy snottish laugh in the air. "Moi? Never. I will soon have him as mines and she will cry in misery."

"What has she done to you though?" Nadine had enough of her friend's behavior towards men. This wasn't the first time an innocent person got involved.

Rhonda rolled her eyes. "She had Arnold and I do know that her husband is still alive. Her parents confirmed it. They even showed me his pictures. Even if he is truly dead it was all her fault."

Nadine got off the bed unable to stand this much longer. "I've been your best friend for so long, Rhonda. You don't like Arnold in that way. You even admitted that yourself. All you want is that person who doesn't feel that way. He is nothing but a challenge to you just so you can use him and toss him away the second you got bored."

Rhonda was outraged. "How dare you say such lies about me. You are nothing and I'm everything, Nadine. It is time you learn this."

Nadine narrowed her eyes at her as she listed all the guys she used. "Harold, he was interested in Patty but since you couldn't take his lack of attention to you, you expressed interest believing he had a chance. Once you had him, you dumped him within the day telling him he was someone you got bored with."

"Doesn't prove anything." She said back.

"Reginald. Got together with him once he paid another attention. You got an couple expensive dinner from him and dumped him."

Rhonda again rolled her eyes becoming bored of this already.

Nadine knew Rhonda was believing her interests were great and true. "Stinky! This one I couldn't believe at first because you always called him a hick. You only did it because he showed a large interest in Gloria. You got him to go out with you and you dumped him the second he looked at Gloria. You did this just so he can run after you for believing you got hurt when all you wanted was that extra attention."

Rhonda shrugged.

She wasn't about to back down. "Gerald. He wasn't interested in anyone but you thought it would be fun to do it. You got him drunk at your own party and slept with him. You dumped him the second he thought to ask you out on a date thinking there might be something more between you both."

"These are passing interests simply. I'm young."

"And yet Gerald is starting a fruitful relationship for once in his life and Arnold is in a relationship. I heard that Arnold wants to marry this girl. These are two guys who know the value of desiring that lasting thing. You just want a passing thing. " Nadine argued back. Hearing her scoff, Nadine pulled out the big guns. "Peapod kid!"

Rhonda turned around not willing to listen to this one.

"You knew how I felt about him. Knew how I loved him, but it didn't stop you from wanting him. You never liked him but you took him and dragged him along. You not only hurt him in the process but also me." Nadine's eyebrow crinkled. "I kept believing that you'll apologize to me one day but I see that you won't."

"Nadine." Rhonda turned back to face her. "I just want to say that.."

Nadine stopped her from talking. "Say what? Say another lie to me. Peapod kid called me the other day to tell me he wished he never ran off. Wished that he never went out with you. Hated that he hurt me. You will always bend the truth and you will never regret. Perhaps it is best that we take a very long break in this friendship because you haven't changed, and I doubt you ever will."

Rhonda tried to stop her but was slapped. She had to watch her best friend leave. "You'll be back!" She couldn't help it if men loved her. She couldn't.

X

"Ms Wellington-Lloyd." Their butler announced. "A Mr Arnold Shortman has come to see you."

Rhonda perked up. Telling the butler to show him in, Rhonda stood up. "He's coming to be with me." She whispered as a smile grew on her face. She won. Seeing Arnold come through the door she ignored the scowl on his face as she approached. "Arnold! My love you're here."

Arnold stopped her from coming any closer. "Enough, Rhonda. I'm not your love. I'm nothing but someone you just want to use before dumping me away as another notch."

She was surprised he was speaking to her like this. "Arnold, dear, did that harlot get to you too?"

Arnold narrowed his eyes at her. "Helga is not a harlot. She is a very good person. An Angel really. My angel and her daughter's. I love her with all my heart and one day I will marry her. You and I will never ever be."

Placing her hands on her hips, Rhonda scoffed at that openly. "Angel! Oh she really has you when she has lied to you all along."

"Do you know who Stan is?" She shook her head. "He is Brainy's brother. Brainy is someone we used to play football and baseball with back in grade school. Glasses and a bad breathing problem. That was her husband. He went to the service and was killed in the line of duty. His parents are in deep denial since then believing he is alive while Helga and his own daughter are dead. Any photo you have seen is badly faked. Their parents actually photoshopped another girl's face over Helga's. Stan will confirm this. Ask him if you don't want to believe this yourself."

"I love you Arnold. We belong together." Rhonda decided to ignore that just to press on.

Stepping back, Arnold shook his head now. "I see you as a family member. A sister. Whenever you kissed me in the past it has been nothing to me. If it was going to happen it would of." Hating how she wasn't listening because Rhonda had to be right and had to have everything she wanted. It was time to take something away from her. "For years I stood up for you. Told everyone how much of a good person you really are deep down. Me! It was because of me and your best friend Nadine who stood up for you."

Rhonda began to look at him oddly. "I'm still better than her."

"Straighten out your act, Rhonda because if you don't then remember that this is the last conversation we will ever have. I mean it."

"But I did so much for you." She argued as she was afraid of him leaving forever. She already lost Nadine.

Arnold thought about the past and he couldn't think of one thing while all his other friends and even Helga have done so much for him. "No you haven't. I can count past my fingers and toes on what everyone has done for me, and this includes Helga. Still I can only count once when it comes to you. One finger alone." Walking backwards he turned around. "Remember that this will be the last time and that is it."

Rhonda fell down on her chaise lounge as she began to recount her life. Reaching for the phone she phoned the one person she thought to be able to help her. "I need you." Hanging up she needed her friends back.

It was late at night and not even a word from, Arnold. She spoke to Phoebe earlier telling her about the fantastic evening she had and morning till that woman came into his room. Helga knew Arnold is someone to be trusted so she hoped to hear from him soon, but seeing that it was a little after ten, she doubted it. Hearing a soft knocking on her door she left her couch to walk over to the peep hole. She sucked in some air as she opened it up. Without a word she guided him over to the balcony so they can talk.

Arnold would of came earlier, but he wanted to reach home to have a conversation with his parents about Helga's own situation with her former in-laws. He wanted to get their thoughts on it on how to approach things. As he did other things in private he had to reach her place to talk to her.

Shutting the balcony door, Helga crossed her arms over her chest. "I was expecting to hear from you earlier. Is everything all right?" Concern was written all over her face.

"I know and I'm sorry about that. I did speak to Rhonda and she was under the impression that her ploy worked till I basically told her that I don't want to be friends with her anymore if you can't respect me or you. If it was going to happen it would of happened a long time ago. I didn't give her a chance to try to manipulate me to stay. It was best to leave and let it soaked in. Then I went home to talk to my parents." Stepping closer he leaned over to kiss her nose. "I want my life with you and Hailie. I know you need closure when it comes to, Brainy."

"I do." She still was curious why it took him so long to get back to her. "So what else have you been up to?"

"Don't be upset with me but I also spoke to Stan."

Helga would of gotten upset with him if she was her old version. The quick to anger type of person she once was. Now she was plain curious. "You spoke to their parents."

"Yes and I never seen two people who are more stubborn then anything else I've ever encountered. I want to make you and Hailie so happy. I want to give you your closure. I want to give you everything you justly deserve." He saw how her eyes glistened in the moonlight. Her eyes looked like darkened water just dancing along the currant. "Stan had the old pictures of you and Brainy. The ones before they photoshopped your face off. It was a long process, but they stopped yelling at me after some time. I don't know what they are thinking right now, but I'm hoping for the best."

Helga threw her arms around him to kiss him passionately. He loved her to do all that for her and her daughter. "Arnold I don't know either but that is a lot for you to do for us."

"What if it doesn't work?"

She kissed him again. "I'm not the most positive person unless it comes to my daughter, Phoebe, Olga and now I'm positive with you. We can only hope it does, but still you've done something amazing. I love you for that." Kissing him, Helga added with a softer voice that had every ounce of passion in it. "I love you Arnold. Since that day we kissed. I've been head over heels in love with you."

Gently resting his forehead against hers, Arnold loved the close up view of those eyes. "I have news for you. Want to hear it?"

"Of course."

"it was love at first sight for me."

She felt warmed at that. No coat was needed against the chilly air outside. "Well at least I caught up to you." She wanted a repeat of last night. Pulling away from him, Helga led him to her bedroom.

This was officially the first time in her bedroom. That was her marriage bed. Considering that this was a big step for her, Arnold needed to make sure. "You sure you want to do this here?"

Helga understood his trepidation about this, but felt to insure him with first a kiss and her words. "Yes. We still need to keep this a whole lot down since she is in the apartment."

He chuckled at those words. "If you don't recall, you were the one making the most noise compared to me."

Making sure the door was locked, Helga then pulled his sweater off. "But it was so good. My compliments to you."

Helping to remove her clothing they soon laid down kissing while making sure they were completely molded against one another. Even if they didn't feel like making love they both considered this highly intimate.

A/N: I can't wait for that one guest reviewer not to read this correctly.

Rhonda and Arnold are not a couple and WILL NOT be a couple. Helga trusts Arnold completely.

The only reason why Nadine stuck around was the hope of getting an apology from Rhonda, but obviously Rhonda has no shame in what she does to others hearts. Maybe in one way or another Rhonda will start to get a clue on the damage she's caused.

Sorry if I sound a bit peevish in my author note here, but I'm going through a heck of a lot of pain right now because my illness is really flared up. No this isn't a cold or flu.