They all watched as the tombstone was placed right on the site. Helga held Arnold's hand and Hailie's as they stood in front of his grave taking it in. His parents were at the side waiting for that part to be finished. The remaining friends flanked them from behind while, Stan started to walk to the other side of the grave. His throat was already dry as he felt that day all over again. Looking up, Stan saw his parents signaling for him to speak.
"I looked up to my brother. It really wasn't hard. He acted like a pushover when he truly wasn't." Stan began. "He didn't speak much in the beginning due to his breathing problem. When he did speak it would be with indiscernible words. Most mistook him as simple when he really wasn't. He was smart and wise beyond his years." Clearing his throat, he really was having a hard time speaking himself. "He was also patient. When we moved he calmed me down as he told me it isn't a long move. I didn't understand since I was so young, but he continued to tell me it will be fine. That was my brother. To him I thought he was braver than the whole world."
Smiling over to Helga, Stan continued. "When Brainy first met you he whispered to me that he found the one. He knew, Helga. It was love at first sight with him. I didn't say this to you before, but it is what you deserve to hear. He loved your passion and your heart. He loved you entirely." Looks to Hailie. "You are like your mom and dad, Hailie. I'm proud of you." Finishing up, he went to walk over to his parents as they hugged him.
Arnold stepped forward as the voice of everyone else in the group. "We all knew him in our group. He was always a quiet person, but Stan is correct when he had something to say, he did. Brainy was and will always be this great person. He joined us in most things. Supported us when need be. When he moved, even I hoped to hear or see from him soon, but we never did. Even though we never heard from him, we didn't stop thinking of him." Looks to Helga. "I'm not even surprised that he fell for you. You are incredible and this is me talking right now. I do feel like he did point me in your direction. I'm certain he fell in love with you at first sight, just like myself. You made him even luckier to have met you. You made him luckier to have a beautiful girl like, Hailie."
"Brainy was afraid he'll never meet anyone." Gerald chimed in suddenly as he walked forward to join, Arnold. "This is something he shared with me. I told him to relax and that he will. He was young. I guess that move did him a lot of good. You restored faith in him."
Helga smiled at both of them to be surprised when Curly and Eugene went up to join them.
"Brainy taught me the importance of being myself. Told me to continue being as brave as I always am." Curly said as he placed a flower on the grave.
Eugene placed a flower down himself. "We would walk together and he would listen with all the patience in this world. He will be missed."
Helga saw how Brainy's parents were crying again making her wander over to them to help console them. Hailie hugged Stan's waist.
"He was sure a darn good person." Stinky chimed in as he also put a flower down.
Sid stepped up to do the same thing. "I don't know what else to say except that you were a darn good catcher."
Harold just wiped a tear away from his face from the emotions he was going through. It was so long since he met Brainy, but hearing all this was hard. Putting a flower down he silently did a jewish prayer before stepping back.
Sheena, Lila, Nadine put flowers down themselves before stepping back. "He was an ever so good person." Lila finally said.
Rhonda walked forward to put an old pair of glasses down. "To someone who always knew how to pull of a wire rim glasses with style. Also I remembered you with a smile on your face and that laughter." Pulling back she hoped that was enough. Feeling a hand take hers, she glanced down to see it was Curly's.
"That was nice." Was all he could say as they watched Phoebe walk forward.
Clearing her throat, Phoebe adjusted her glasses a bit. "Brainy is and always will have a special place in our hearts. His parents did a wise thing in raising him with values that will live on in them, his brother, my best friend, and his lovely daughter, Hailie. I thought he was different from the rest in school. Different like my best friend. How perfect was it for them both to meet. Of course he snuck up on Helga granting his first ever punch in the face. Something he loved." Phoebe hoped she didn't say anything bad until she spotted how, Herbert, Gladys, and Stan tried to hold back their laughter. "Brainy was a patient person. I never witnessed him raise his voice. Never witnessed anything negative. I knew he would never give up. He was a very good friend to me and a great boyfriend plus husband to, Helga." Facing his parents, she bowed in a show of respect. "Thank you both for blessing him in our lives. We could never repay you."
It was silence for some time as they all looked towards the grave then the tombstone. Helga stared at the engraving for some time. "In loving memory to a great son, brother, friend, and loving husband. We will never forget." She then found Arnold's eyes gazing lovingly at her. She truly was lucky to find her second greatest love so soon.
"Dear?"
Helga turned her head towards, Gladys. "Yes?"
"This helped us heal. I believe it has to do with them being here. Also that young man of yours." Kissing her cheek, Gladys earnestly smiled towards her. "We approve of him. He is a great way to start the second half of your life."
Hugging her, Helga smiled at Stan. "You have that wrong. Brainy started me on the path of my second half by me falling in love and renewing my faith in life. My third half is, Hailie. Arnold will usher in the fourth. He knows this." Pulling away she took her extended family in even as Miriam, Olga, and Sam finally came forward. "I'm glad you let us have this all over again."
"We had to since we quickly snagged it away." Herbert told her.
"Baby sis?"
Helga turned her head to her sister. "You think it's time to head to the boarding house?" She nodded her head. Turning herself around to face everyone, Helga announced. "All right. Let us head to the boarding house." Hearing people shuffling away, Helga told Hailie to go with her aunt while she stayed behind with Arnold. "Your parents are boss for doing this."
Stepping closer to her, Arnold placed a framed picture down next to the tombstone. It was a framed picture of them at Dino Land. "I thought he would love that. Your in-laws, Hailie and yourself."
"He would, but you are missing someone." He took the picture so she knew he was missing from the shot. "You are his friend after all."
"I know, but this is something I wanted for all of you. We have plenty of times for pictures between ourselves." Giving her a chaste kiss, Arnold took her hand.
He was correct there. Helga studied the site once more before leaving. She'll always come back to visit him. How could she not? Brainy was responsible for placing a real smile on her face. Gave her hope that someone can love her. Now she had another who was also making her feel good about herself. Turning her head, she blew a kiss into that direction before moving forward.
"When's mom coming out?" Hailie asked in excitement as they all watched the other models prancing on stage to some upbeat music.
Today was the show. Arnold knew that Helga will be happy to get this out of her way. She had been complaining about, Johnny non-stop for being a pain in the rear. "I don't know honey. Soon, I hope."
Seeing the screen announce the Hat Girl, a woman came out wearing a large hat and hardly much else on that got you too familiar with her assets. It was so much so that, Arnold covered up Hailie's eyes. He didn't need her to see that.
"Well that leaves little to the imagination." Gerald told them as he almost laughed at, Arnold's maternal instincts right now.
Phoebe wasn't shy about the human anatomy, but to see someone she was familiar with turn to be far more familiar had her giggling in embarrassment. "Oh my."
Olga took it in stride while Miriam stared at her phone all of a sudden. Miriam's only concern is that Helga doesn't do that. Hearing some rock music now coming through the speakers they all turned their attention back to the stage. It was all past child models up there. Most aged pretty well. Now they waited on Helga to appear.
"I know you are heading back to Europe for your therapy but are you planning on actually coming back?" Curly wondered as he watched Rhonda flit around her room.
"I will come back. I will plan to live here after I find a place of my own since my parents don't want the baby here." Turning to face him, Rhonda rested her back against her closet door. A look of dejection crossed her face. "They are disappointed in me and wanted me to rid of it, but I won't." They didn't want a scandal of having their unwed daughter pregnant.
Curly examined how she placed her hand over her flat stomach. He could actually see the look of her falling in love with their unborn baby. "It is because you are unwed."
She sounded so detached right now. "Yes." Rhonda glanced around her bedroom. "I want a modest place to live in. I want to learn to cook and have our child be proud of me."
"They will be." He came closer to her. "Do you really need to leave to go back there? Couldn't you seek therapy here?"
Her dark eyes met up with his hazel ones. "I could." She sighs. "I know I'm ashamed still for all I've done. If I didn't do that to you, would we be together?"
Curly wanted to give her a definite answer there, but all he could do was almost the opposite. "Probably. Right now I'm in a relationship with someone who loves me exactly for who I am. I didn't know how much I longed for that until you pushed me out of here."
Rhonda felt a tinge of jealousy over this. She knew she shouldn't of felt this way, but she did. "I wish I didn't."
"Well you did, but I won't dwell on it. I want to move ahead and maintain something good for our child. I don't want to fight. I am unsure how long this will last between, Brenda and myself, but I'm willing to take that journey." He saw the pain in her eyes. He still held some love for her, but it lessened after what happened. "The girl I know is there. You have to see her too and I think you did by making amends to us."
Rhonda appreciated the words. She really did, but right now she was still blind to herself. "At least you see her."
Tapping her very gently on her forehead, Curly then put his hands on her arms. "Then open your eyes and you will."
She loved it when he spoke in a very sane way to her. She appreciated it more than his insane part. That was her trouble too. While one girl is seeing and loving all his components, she only loved mainly one. Rhonda was not worthy of him right now to only love just that one part. Just like it was time to finally learn to love everything about her.
"Mom!" Hailie ran up to Helga after the show excited.
Bending down, Helga picked her up. "Hey my little munchkin. What did you think of your old mom?"
"You were the best out of the whole show. I kept asking, Arnold when you were coming out."
Arnold chuckled at her excitement. "She did. She wanted to see you very badly."
Taking a look between them, Helga thought to ask her daughter about him. "What about him? Did he want to see me very badly."
"Mmm hmmm. He almost fell out of his seat a few times." Answered Hailie. "It looked like he wanted to propose to you when you stepped out with that white dress on."
How right she was about that guess. Arnold kissed Helga on the lips after she put, Hailie down. "You looked gorgeous in each outfit they put you in."
Olga finally came towards them after using the restroom. "My bladder is being played with right now."
"Well you do have someone pressing against you right now. Both you girls did a number on me when I was carrying you both." Miriam informed her as she went to kiss, Helga on the cheek. "Oh honey you were wonderful out there. I'm so proud of you."
"I am too since I didn't trip off the stage." Helga mocked before getting a kiss on the temple from, Olga.
"Oh Baby sis. You were so beautiful out there. You outshone them all." Olga gushed as a few tears started to fall from her eyes before the squeak happened in her voice. "I'm so proud."
Embarrassed, Helga tried to shut her up while everyone looked in their direction. "Olga, save the water for your child. That baby needs some fluid still." She said in a hushed tone.
Sniffling and wiping her stray tears up, Olga agreed. "Alright, Baby sis."
For Gerald, he tried to keep his eyes focused away from the half naked women in the farther back. They were not ashamed about others seeing them naked. "Well the show wasn't that bad. In my opinion you really new how to strut and scowl with deadly precision. Now Arnold will be far more envied once this comes out around campus."
Arnold didn't want to think about that. He still was asked on a day to day basis about him and Helga. Now once people see that she modeled in a show, he'll get it ten times worse. Suddenly a smug smile appeared on his face. "I have the complete package right here. Helga has me falling more in more in love with her as the seconds go on."
Phoebe thought it was best to cut this short so not only can she have alone time with, Gerald, they can as well. "Helga you were fantastic out there
"Thanks Pheebs." Yawning, Helga wanted to cut out of there. "I want to leave. I've had enough of this world."
Hearing collective agreements, everyone decided that it was time to part with her walking slowly out with, Hailie and Arnold. She already got paid and it turns out that she is getting the clothes that she wore in the show. She wanted to eat and spend time with these twos. She never wanted to return to the modeling world again. She wanted to be in her reality.
A/N: I didn't want to write that she strutted like this and like that. I'll give you the illusion that she nailed it.