Okay, so… it's been a while. I'm so sorry for the wait. I really didn't think it was this long. With the pandemic, college wrapping up, alien monoliths every-which-way, it's been a crazy year. But I'm back to wrap this up! Will I make another episode of this series? Who knows! If I do, I'll write all the parts BEFORE I post it so we don't end up in this situation.

Okay enough intro, GO!

Family Reunion (Part two)

"HEY ARNOLD HEY ARNOLD HEY ARNOLD HEY ARNOLD" Arnold's potato clock indicated it was time for our football headed hero to begin his day.

Arnold instinctively pulled the wire out of the potato to cease the racket. He rubbed his tired, bloodshot eyes. He did not sleep well. Arnold finally opened his weary eyelids.

"Morning." Snort.

Arnold yelped at the face of Arnie staring down at him, "Jeez! How long were you standing there?"

Arnie looked at his wristwatch, "Forty minutes, ten second, and twenty-fi…"

"Okay, okay." Arnold sat up and rubbed his head. He felt a headache coming on.

"Are you okay?" Snort.

Arnold looked up and smiled at his cousin, "Can I ask you a question?"

Arnie blinked in his usual way, "Okay."

"Why did you say thank you last night?"

Arnie blinked once again, "Because you're nice to me."

Arnold stood up, and hugged Arnie. Arnie just stood there.

"You know I don't hate it when you come over?" Arnold asked.

"I know." Arnie stated.

Arnold let go and gave Arnie a pat on the shoulder, "I never thanked you for your help."

"It was no problem." Snort.

"It meant a lot to me, without the money you and your parents raised to help find my parents, I wouldn't have been able to narrow it down." Arnold explained.

"Glad to help." Arnie said with his usual indifferent expression.

Arnold smiled, "So, let's go downstairs and have breakfast."

"Okay." Snort, "I smell bacon."

They began making their way to the door.

"Hey Arnie, can I ask another personal question?" Arnold said as he put his hand on Arnie's shoulder.

"Okay." Snort.

"Have you seen anyone about that snort?"

Arnie blinked, "No, allergies."

Arnie walked out of the room, leaving Arnold confused.

0o0

Following a breakfast filled with weird looks from the boarders, several references to how Arnie and his parents all ate the same way, and a generally uncomfortable experience for all except Grandma Gertie, Arnold got dressed and waited in the front room for his parents to return from the airport with his other family members.

Arnold sat in his favorite armchair, one the boarders got him for Christmas last year. It was plush and simple, with a nice plaid pattern and placed near the jazz album collection Arnold donated to the boarding house common room. He had placed one of those records on there now. He didn't understand why jazz spoke to him the way it did. His parents did not enjoy the style the same way he did. It was a quality that separated him from his parents.

Qualities that were beginning to add up.

Arnold had almost fallen asleep when he heard the Packard pull up outside. Arnold sat up but did not stand.

The door opened and the sounds of two different conversations overlapping filled the entry hall of the boarding house. Arnold took a deep breath and rose from his chair.

Arnold walked over to see his aunt and uncle bringing in a few bags.

"Oh, Arnold!" Aunt Loraine cried out, her long red curls bouncing as she turned to see her nephew for the first time in nine years, "Look at you! You've gotten so big!"

Arnold smiled, "Heh, tell that to my classmates."

Uncle Jeb chuckled, his balding football head nodded in agreement, "Don't worry, you'll shoot up like a rocket like David did."

Jeb moved to reveal their son David. He was a bit taller than Arnold, and a year older. He had a similar frame as Arnold, if not a bit chubbier. He had inherited the family football head, like Arnold's except with slicked back brown hair. He wore a pair of black jeans, a white undershirt, and a blue and white plaid shirt. Arnold also noticed that he wore brown dress shoes instead of sneakers.

"Hey Arnold, how's it going?" David greeted with his English accent.

"Oh, it's going fine. How was the flight?" Arnold smiled politely.

"It was a bit rough. We barely got any cabin service due to all the rocking."

Arnold nodded, "Oh, I hate that."

Miles spoke up, "Why don't you take David and his stuff to your room and introduce him to Arnie?"

David smiled, "Oh, Arnie's here! Brilliant, thought I wasn't going to know anybody."

Arnold blinked at him, "You've met Arnie before?"

"Oh yeah, saw him about six months ago." David nodded.

Jeb cleared his throat, "David, why don't you go up to Arnold's room?"

"Sure thing." David said as he gathered his stuff and turned to Arnold, "Lead the way."

Arnold nodded, and led him to his room.

0o0

Arnie laid on the couch, counting the number of dots on Arnold's ceiling. He didn't react when the door opened.

"Here's Arnie, make yourself comfortable. My parents will be bringing up a cot for you later tonight." Arnold said to David.

David nodded, "Hey Arnie, how are you doing?"

"I'm counting dots." Arnie said.

David nodded, "Oh, I see. What are you at now?"

"Two-hundred and fifty-six." Snort.

Arnold packed some of his notebooks in his backpack and zipped it up.

"You going somewhere?" David asked.

Arnold turned to him, "Group project. I'll be back later tonight." Arnold began walking out, David and Arnie followed him, "You don't have to follow." He said to them.

"I should check on my parents, make sure they can get everything." David said.

"I finished counting." Snort.

"Sure." Arnold said.

David blinked at Arnold's curtness, "Is anything the matter Arnold?"

Arnold shock his head, "No, I'm just tired. Arnie can tell you."

"He got four hours and forty-five second of sleep." Snort.

"And how he knows that we'll never know." Arnold said tiredly.

David chuckled at that comment. Arnold continued to walk down the stairs.

Miles and Stella noticed the trio, as the two cousins separated from Arnold.

"Arnold?" Stella called out, "where are you going?"

Arnold turned around to face her, "Sorry mom, I have my meeting at Phoebe's for the project. Shouldn't take more than an hour."

"Wait a second." Stella walked over to him, "I'll drive you over."

Arnold blinked at her, "What do you mean?"

"I mean I'll drive you." Stella said.

Arnold smiled up at her, "I can walk mom, it's just a block over." Arnold began to open the door, but Stella forced it closed. Arnold looked at her confused.

"You can't walk on the streets by yourself." Stella said.

"What? Why?"

"The streets aren't safe. You're just a kid." Stella said.

"Yeah, a kid with a black belt in karate and how saved you from a band of river pirates. I think I'll be fine." Arnold stated.

"You're not going alone." Stella said.

Miles walked up, "Stella…"

"No, you've been allowed to wonder alone for too long." Stella started raising her voice.

Arnold blinked at her, "It's a city mom, all the kids walk alone everywhere, all the adults know me, and the others know that if any of them hurt me, Ernie'll come and destroy their house."

"It's true!" Ernie shouted from the kitchen.

"I'll be fine. I've been doing this for a long time." Arnold said as he turned to leave.

Stella turned him back around, "No, I'm going with you or you go nowhere at all. That's the way it is from now on."

Arnold blinked at her, "Do you not trust me?"

"I don't trust what's out there!"

"How do you know what's out there when you weren't here!?"

Stella stopped dead in her tracks. David looked away uncomfortably. Arnie was going to let out a snort but decided against it.

Stella nodded, "Okay, go."

Arnold blinked, "Mom, I…"

Stella walked away. Arnold clenched his fists and walked out.

Miles walked over to Stella and put a hand on her shoulder. Phil and Gertie walked up to her.

"You were right Phil. He's grown up." Stella said softly.

Phil nodded, "He's a free spirit. He's also smart. He'll be fine."

Stella looked down at the floor, "Then what does he need me for?"

David shifted uncomfortably toward the kitchen and met up with his parents.

"You alright David?" Jeb asked his son.

David nodded, "Yeah, just got caught in the middle of that."

Loraine nodded, "Yeah, just some adjustment pains between them."

Jeb rose, "I'll make sure Stella's alright."

David took a seat at the table and looked at his mom, "Glad that's not us."

Loraine chuckled and nodded.

0o0

Arnold made it to Phoebe's on time and was about to knock. He stopped, unsure what he should do.

"Are you going to knock?" Snort.

"AH!" Arnold jumped, "Arnie, what are you doing here?!"

Arnie blinked.

Arnold blinked back, "I don't think I should go in."

Snort, "Why?"

Arnold sat down on the stoop's stone side, "I think I should go apologize. I really hurt my mom's feelings."

Arnie snorted, "Probably."

Arnold nodded, "Yeah, I should go talk to her. I'll call Gerald and let him know."

Snort, "Are you still dating my girlfriend?"

Arnold chuckled, "Yes, Arnie, I am."

Blink, snort, "Okay."

Arnold put his arm around Arnie's shoulder and the two walked back to the boarding house.

0o0

"Yeah, you're right. I should give him space. He grew up in a free environment, it's what he knows." Stella nodded.

Phil smiled at her, "Trust me, short man's got a moral compass more accurate than a dart player on steroids. No doubt he's on his way back here to apol…"

Just then the door opened, and Arnold came running in. He ran to Stella and hugged her.

"Mom, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Arnold hugged her tight.

Phil blinked at himself, "Maybe I am a fortune teller."

Stella hugged Arnold back, "No, no, you're right. I shouldn't force my rules on you without understanding your life. We'll sit down together later and figure it out. Okay?"

Arnold nodded, "I'd like that."

Stella smiled at him, "Now, you should get going, you have your study group."

Arnold smiled, "Yeah, I will." Arnold hugged Stella again.

Loraine suddenly pipped up, "How about David goes with you?"

Arnold let go and looked at her, "I'm sure Dave doesn't want to hang around with a bunch of ten year-olds."

David smiled, "No, I don't mind. Most of my friends are ten, I'm the oldest in my year."

Arnold nodded, "Alright. Arnie, you wanna come?"

Arnie was staring at the clock with his parents, who suddenly appeared.

"Fifty-five, fifty-six, fifty-seven." Snort.

"Sixty! There's sixty minutes on there you weirdos!" Phil exclaimed.

"No, the number of scratches on the glass." Arnie stated.

"I'm counting the spots in the wood grain." Arnie's mom stated.

"Number of nicks in the corners." Arnie's dad said with a snort.

David blinked, "Looks like he's occupied."

Arnold nodded, "Alright, let's go."

Arnold and David stood up and walked out.

Stella looked at Miles, "He's a good kid."

Miles nodded.

0o0

Arnold and David made their way to Phoebe's house in silence. David couldn't think of anything to say, and Arnold didn't feel like talking.

Arnold knocked on the front door. Phoebe's dad answered.

"Hey Mr. Heyerdahl, Phoebe invited me over." Arnold greeted.

"Of course Arnold, and who is this?" Mr. Heyerdahl asked.

"My cousin, David. He's visiting us." Arnold introduced.

David held out his hand to Phoebe's dad, "An honor to meet you sir."

Mr. Heyerdahl chuckled, "Same to you, come in, come in, make yourselves at home. The other two are already in Phoebe's room, you may go up."

Arnold and David unlaced their shoes and stored them. They then made their way up to Phoebe's room.

Arnold knocked on the door, and Phoebe answered, "Hello Arnold, and… I don't think we've met."

Arnold nodded, "Cousin David, Phoebe, Phoebe, Cousin David."

Phoebe shook his hand when he offered it, "So nice to meet you, please come in and have a seat."

Arnold walked in and smiled at Helga. He walked right passed Gerald as he was getting up from the floor.

"Man," he said with a grunt, "it's like I don't even matter."

Arnold chuckled, "Sorry Ger, priorities."

Helga smiled as she hugged her beloved football-head and whispered in his ear, "I won't kiss you in front of your British cousin, pretty sure they don't do that over there."

Arnold whispered back, "Probably a good idea."

Gerald cleared his throat.

Arnold turned around and restarted his introductions, "Sorry, David, this is my best friend Gerald, and my girlfriend Helga."

David shook both of their hands, "Nice to meet both of you."

Arnold sat down on the floor, "So, shall we get started?"

The rest of the study session went quick. David was silent most of the time, only answering the occasional question thrown his way. He did notice Arnold was diverting attention away from him.

Eventually, after a few hours, Phoebe ended the session, and the group split up.

Arnold and Helga shared a hug, as did Phoebe and Gerald, leaving David awkwardly in the middle of the room.

"Call me later, alright?" Arnold asked Helga.

"Of course. I'll see you tomorrow." Helga smiled.

Arnold and Helga separated, and Arnold made his way out with David.

Eventually, the two were walking home. Arnold looked at David.

"I hope you had fun." Arnold smiled.

David looked at Arnold with an indifferent expression, "It was fine."

Arnold nodded, "Meeting new people, it can be challenging."

David shook his head, "Yeah, especially if someone doesn't let me get a word in."

Arnold looked at him with a worried look, "You noticed that, huh?"

David gave Arnold a harsh expression, and stopped walking, "So you were doing it on purpose."

Arnold looked back at him, "I'm sorry."

David shook his head, "Why?"

Arnold turned around and started walking, they were now outside the boarding house, "I don't know."

"Oh yeah you do." David ran to stand in front of Arnold, "Why have you been so cold to me? I've been trying to make an effort with you and you…"

"Make an effort?" Arnold looked square into his eyes, "Make an effort? Where was that effort the past eight years?!"

"What are you tal…"

"My parents were missing! Your aunt and uncle! And, where were you?!" Arnold pushed at David for emphasis, "I called your family, wrote to you, pleaded for you to help me find them, and you did nothing!"

"We couldn't we were…"

"In England, I know, and coming over to visit Arnie who's just fifty minutes down the road!" Arnold pointed. Some pedestrians starred at the two boys arguing.

David looked at Arnold with a sad expression. The front door of the boarding house opened.

Arnold clenched his fists, "How do you explain that?!"

"I can't." David looked down.

Stella walked toward the two boys, "What's going on?"

Loraine joined her, "Are you two fighting, making a ruckus?"

David looked at his mom, "Why didn't we come to help Arnold?"

Loraine blinked at him, "What do you…"

"Why weren't we here mum?" David stepped towards her, "When we came to visit Arnie, why didn't we come here?"

Stella looked confused at Loraine, "You told me you visited a bunch of times."

"Well…" Loraine began.

"We never did Aunt Stella." David admitted.

Stella blinked at Loraine, "Why?"

"I mean, it's not as bad as…"

"Why?" Stella repeated.

"Couldn't we discuss this inside?" Loraine suggested.

"No, we'll discuss it here!" Stella stated.

Loraine shifted, "Alright. It was too depressing. I did not want to expose David to the thought of an abandoned cousin. So we never came. After all, it wasn't our concern. Without you here, that is."

Stella began to tear up, "You're his family. He needed you."

Loraine shook her head, "He turned out alright, didn't he? It's like you said, he's a good kid."

Stella wiped her tear away, "I think it's best if you three leave."

Loraine looked down, nodded, and walked back into the boarding house.

Arnold walked up to Stella and gave her a hug, "I'm sorry mom. I didn't want to cause trouble."

Stella put her arm around Arnold, "It's okay Arnold. We'll be okay."

David walked up to Arnold, "I honestly didn't know."

Arnold stood up to face him, "I know. I'm sorry, it wasn't your fault."

David nodded and offered Arnold his hand. Arnold gave him a hug instead.

"Feel free to drop by. We'll try again." Arnold stated.

David nodded, and walked back in to begin re-packing.

Arnold looked at his mom, walked towards her, and held out his hands.

"You know what sounds good?" Arnold smiled.

"What?" Stella said.

"Jolly-olly ice cream. My treat?" Arnold asked.

Stella smiled at him, "That sounds perfect."

She stood up and the two walked down the street toward the park.

Outside the boarding house, Arnie and his parents counted the number of bricks on the side of side wall. Phil starred at them.

"Weirdos." He rolled his eyes as he walked back in the house.

There we go! Part two done! I hope you enjoyed it! I know a lot happened in this chapter in not a lot of time, but we live in crazy times! Please comment below and let me know what you think! Thank you to everyone who stayed with this story despite the long waits, it means the world to me!

If I do post another part, I'll make sure to have the second part ready to go with it!

Until then,

R&R