Hey everyone, back with another Hey Arnold story. As I mentioned in my last fic, A Gift, I'm all multi-chaptered out, so I'm only doing one shots for a while.

Scratch that. This was originally going to be a oneshot. However, as I kept writing, I noticed it was getting way too long to be called a one shot. I had no choice, but to divide it up into chapters. So, I guess when I say I'm multi-chaptered out, I mean: I'm only doing one shots, and if I do any multi-chapter fics, they will be no more than four chapters.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from Hey Arnold.

Title: A Very Not-So Unforgotten Birthday

Summary: Nine years later, Helga is still used to her parents forgetting about her birthday. What happens when a certain football head makes the day just a little bit brighter?

Rating: K-T

Disclaimer: Nothing, except the plot of this story, belongs to me.

Chapter One: Forgotten

Smack! Clang! An empty soda can bounced off of the nearby brick wall, and came down to hit the pavement.

It's attacker? A small blonde haired girl in pig tails, wearing almost all pink.

The happy and cheerful color did not match her bland expression.

Helga Pataki kicked at the can a few more times, putting several dents in it. A bored expression lingered on her face, and she eventually decided that she was bored with this little game, and went on to throwing rocks at the dumpster instead.

She sighed as she picked up a rather large pebble, and chucked it at the dumpster, the impact causing the clang against the metal to echo.

Aside from the fact that the welcoming color of her outfit didn't match her bored expression there was something else out of place.

Sure, the day was warm and sunny. Unusually warm and sunny for this very month. But inside Helga Pataki, there was a swirling storm that was both violent and calm.

Today was March 26th. The day Helga Pataki was born.

And, just like every birthday she's had, once again, her parents forgot about it. There were no cards, no cake, no decorations, nor a simple 'happy birthday.' No, the day just went on like any other day. Miriam would be passed out on the couch, and Bob would be yelling at the TV before he went off to work.

They always remembered Olga's birthday, though. Hell, her parent prepared for the day weeks before Olga's big day, prattling on and on about how they were going to make, "their little baby's special day extra magical." And Olga, just like always, basked in the glory of their parent's attention. It was enough to make Helga Pataki feel like she was being mocked.

It was enough to make Helga Pataki puke.

At first, Helga was angry. Angry, sad and resentful. She knew it was human nature to forget things. After all, no one was perfect, people made mistakes. She knew that all too well from watching her on family.

But, how…how…HOW…could a parent forget the day they brought their own child into the world? How could a parent just go about that very day like it's nothing, like it had no meaning? She never expected her parents to go out of their way. Big fancy parties, expensive presents, pretty decorations, a delicious cake. Sure, she would have appreciated the gesture, no doubt. But a simple card and a happy birthday would have been nice too.

Instead, just like always, she was pushed into the shadows.

But, after nine years of just being forgotten, Helga could honestly say she was used it. The anger and resentment left her. Instead, it was just an endless sea of grey. No anger. No sadness. It was just an endless feeling of nothing at all.

It was March 26, a Saturday. She couldn't believe it, but this was one of the only days that Helga Pataki wished that she was in school. At least she could spend her birthday entertaining herself by throwing spitballs at that stupid football head.

"Hey Helga!"