A/N: This is my first fan fiction. I became inspired when I saw on the news about the liberation of Auschwitz, and I wondered how it would be if our favorite characters were living in this time. I've tried to make it as realistic as possible. The first chapter will be before the war, and the rest of the story will occur during. I hope you all enjoy!

Berlin, Germany 1935

I should have seen this coming, twelve year old Helga Pataki thought while walking down the streets of Berlin. The roads were sparse as the sun was beginning to set. Her international friends had just left her house, but not before dropping a giant bomb about her beloved Fatherland. I should have known what they were saying was true. The signs were all there. And it involves Big Bob, for Pete's sake! I can't believe that everything I've learned the past two years is a lie. Now what am I going to...

Her thoughts were interrupted by a body she walked into. She dropped to the ground, landing on her back. "Ouch!" exclaimed Helga. "Criminy, watch where you're going!"

"Sorry, Helga," an angelic voice said. Helga's head bolted up from the sound. She knew it well. Sure enough, standing above her was the boy of her dreams. His beautiful cornflower hair was blowing in the breeze. Two sparking emeralds sitting on an oblong head sparkling down at her looking concerned. "Are you okay?"

"Arnold!" Helga exclaimed, then quickly shook her head. "I mean, watch where you're going, paste for brains. Seriously, the least you can do is help me up."

"Whatever you say, Helga," said Arnold. He extended his arms down to her. Helga grabbed on and he instantly hoisted her off the ground. She dusted the dirt off her dress and began walking. Arnold followed after her, quickly stepping in pace. "And really, Helga? 'Paste for brains?' We haven't been in the same school for two years, and you have to call me names from when we were younger? Can't you come up with anything original?"

She looked at him in disbelief. Never had Arnold been so direct with Helga. He would usually either ignore her or just let her walk over him. I guess the Hitler Youth has made an impact on him, she thought. The thought of the group for boys sent her back to her discussion with her friends earlier that day. She smirked when she remembered a lighter moment in the conversation. "What's with all the questions, Football Head?"

Arnold face scrunched in confusion while his hands subconsciously touched his face. "Football Head?" he asked. "My head is not shaped like a football."

"Depends on what football you're talking about." Helga replied. Arnold's face remained unchanged. She sighed. "In America, their football is different from ours. It literally looks like your head."

"If that's the case, then how do they kick it?"

"They don't. At least, not the whole time. Most of the time, the players are either throwing it or carrying it around."

"Then, why do they call it football?" Arnold asked.

"I don't know; it's America," replied Helga. "From the sounds of it, their football is more like rugby."

"Are you sure you didn't make that word up?" Arnold asked. Just then, a Gestapo officer crossed their path. The two blondes saluted him with the traditional 'Heil Hitler' as he scolded them for being out late, reminding them of curfew. "I guess we should both get home." Arnold said. "Do you want me to walk you home?"

I would rather you take me away from my parents, thought Helga. "Whatever floats your boat," she said as she walked back to her house. Arnold followed. "And just so you know, I did not make rugby up! It's a sport that is from England."

"How do you know all of this?" asked Arnold.

"I have friends who live there. Doi." Helga exasperated. "And another one who is half American. They tell me stories from their countries."

"Wow, Helga. That's amazing you get to know these people." Arnold looked at her in awe and placed his hand on her shoulder. Helga noticed this and internally swooned.

"Y-yeah well I'm a pretty am-amazing person, F-football Head," Helga stuttered. Why must he do this to me? Does he not know that his touch makes me tremble? Be still, my beating heart. Helga came to her senses and shoved Arnold away. "Who said that you can touch me, anyways? Because I sure didn't."

"Whatever you say, Helga," said Arnold while rubbing his shoulder. This time, he kept his distance.

"That's right. Whatever I say. And don't you forget it!" Helga replied. Nice going! Helga thought. All he was doing was being nice and you had to ruin it. I'm such a basket case! The two blonde twelve year olds walked silently through the streets. Helga crossed her arms across her chest and gazed at the passing stores. They were hard to see, but Helga knew what they said. All the stores had the same sign in the window. It was a large sign that read "NO JEWS ALLOWED."

"Are your friends' homes like this?" Arnold suddenly asked. Helga shifted her gaze to him, now wearing the same expression he wore earlier. "Do your friends believe that Jews are inferior?" he clarified.

"No." Helga replied, her face now softening from understanding what he meant. "They aren't taught that Aryans are the supreme race and Jews have ruined everything. Why are you so curious, Arnoldo?"

"I just want to know, Helga." Arnold replied. He opened his mouth as if to say something else, but then closed it. Helga watched him with his internal struggle. She knew he wanted to say something, and she wanted to know what it was.

"Ah, just spit it out, already," Helga slapped his back, causing him to trip over his feet. He caught himself before falling and turned to stare at Helga. "Criminy, I thought Hitler Youth was to help strengthen you, not turn you into a weakling," she joked. Arnold chuckled. "All kidding aside, what did you want to say?"

Arnold's face immediately took on a nervous expression. "I-I was just wondering if you believed that Jews were inferior," he stuttered. Helga stopped in her tracks, her mouth agape. Did he seriously just asked that? She expected that question from her international friends, but not from her Aryan friends. That was never questioned. All children must believe that Aryans are superior. That is what is taught in school, the Hitler Youth, and the League of German Maidens, of which Helga is a member. Before today she never questioned the teachings, although she disagreed with some. She stared at Arnold, who had turned around and looked at her, with her trying to figure out how to answer this question.

"Well…" Helga began, twiddling her thumbs, "it is what is taught in school. It is what everyone has been saying ever since the Nazis came to power two years ago."

Arnold shook your head. "I didn't ask if that is what you were taught. I asked if that is what you believed." Helga didn't know what to say. Should she tell him what she discovered earlier? Can she trust him? Sure, he's the love of her life, but he doesn't know that, and he is a member of the Hitler Youth. If he mentions anything to anyone, she could be sent away. She looked around and saw that there were some more Gestapo officers on the other side of the road. Now she knew she couldn't say anything. She sighed in relief.

"I don't think now would be an appropriate time," Helga said, motioning to the Gestapo. Arnold looked over to see where they were standing. He turned back to Helga.

"I guess not. Well, do you think you can come to the boarding house tomorrow and answer it?" Helga stared at him wide-eyed. Go over to Arnold's house? And this time, she was invited? Sure, she had been over when they were younger, but that was always to get something that would have spilt her secret. Arnold whispered, "I promise whatever you say will be kept between us, as long as you do the same."

Now she was in disbelief. Does he not believe in the Nazis? Why else would he have said that? Perhaps she can trust him. "Yeah, yeah, whatever floats your boat, geek bait. But, if you do say anything, I'll pull Ol' Betsy and the Five Avengers out of retirement," she threatened while shaking her fist. Arnold nodded in agreement. "Good, we got that settled. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to head home, and I suggest you do the same before you get into trouble."

Before Arnold could reply, Helga sprinted to her house. She closed the door behind her and ran into her room. As she predicted, her parents didn't notice her absence. They never did. All their focus was on either Hitler, beer, or her older sister, Olga. She collapsed on her bed and grabbed the locket that was hidden underneath her dress. It was heart shaped with Arnold's picture in it. "Oh, my golden haired god, how I adore you. Now I get to be with you all alone in the safety of your room. My darling, do you also wonder if what we've been taught is true? Do you question the beliefs of the Führer? Oh my love, if there is anyone who I have to share this with, then at least it is with you. At least I won't be alone." She changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell asleep.

The next day was the same as any other. Helga made her own breakfast since her parents were either too busy or too drunk to make it for her. School consisted of her being in the all-girls school, where she learned about the joys of being a wife and mother. Helga scoffed at this. While she always wanted a husband and kids, she knew she wanted a career as well. Of course, that will never happen; Hitler removed most of the women from the workforce. The rest of the day consisted of her teacher explaining how the Jews are to be blamed for everything. Yesterday, Helga would have agreed with everything that was said. Today, she questioned it all. She questioned if there was such a thing as a superior race. She glanced over to an empty desk nearby. Patty's desk. Patty had to leave earlier that year because she was Jewish. They weren't friends, but they respected each other since they were both tough girls. Even when the school started calling Jews inferior, no one teased Patty. Helga sighed, wanting this day to end.

When school finished, Helga walked over to the boarding house. She could feel her heart pounding out of her chest. She knows the dangers, but if he felt the same way, then at least she would have a confidant. She sat on the steps of the boarding house waiting for Arnold to come home. All of a sudden, a hoard of animals ran out the door and past Helga. She looked at the door and saw Arnold standing there.

"Hey, Helga," he said. "Have you been waiting for long?"

"No, Football Head, just got here." She jumped up and walked up the stairs. As she got closer to Arnold, she noticed some purple marks on his skin. "What happened to you? Get in a fight or something?"

"Boxing," he replied. "The joys of school. I get to learn how to fight and how many marriage loans the government can offer if we got rid of the crippled."

"Really? You learn that?"

"They call it math," he replied. "Do you want something to eat? Grandma just finished making cookies. Do you want some?"

Helga nodded and followed him into the kitchen. "Kimba, is that you?" an elderly woman asked as they entered. "Ah, I see you brought young Eleanor with you. How is the president doing?"

"He's doing just fine, thank you. So Arnold and I are going to grab some cookies and go upstairs." She grabbed the cookies and ran upstairs, dragging Arnold with her.

"Helga, are you okay? And why did my grandmother call you Eleanor?" asked Arnold as they got to his room.

"Beats me, but it sounds like she was talking about the wife of the American president. You know, Eleanor Roosevelt."

"Right," Arnold replied. He sat down on his bed. "So how was school?"

"You mean Miss Homemaker school? Just peachy keen. Today, I learned how to make the perfect bread and what to look for in the perfect husband."

"How about physical education?" asked Arnold.

"Oh please! I'm twirling a hoop around my arm! That's not physical education. That's just sad."

"Yeah, I guess it's not like when we younger and playing football in the field. Do you remember when you hit Harold in the head with the ball?"

Helga laughed and sat next to Arnold. "I remember that. He yelled at me, calling 'Madam Fortress Mommy' and when I threatened him, he ran down the street crying for his mommy." The blondes laughed at the memory. "So, how is Pink Boy doing?"

Arnold stopped laughing. "I wouldn't know. I haven't seen him at all this year." Helga stopped laughing as well when she realized what he meant. "I haven't seen Eugene, either."

"Since when is Eugene Jewish? I've seen him in church. I remember him knocking down the cross in the back."

"His grandparents are, and his last name is Horowitz," explained the male blonde.

"I see," replied Helga. "Patty has been gone, too. I kind of miss her."

Arnold jumped up quickly, causing Helga to jump. "I don't think it's fair that they are being treated this way. They're good people. They're our friends, and it's wrong that people are saying just because they aren't Aryan, that they're inferior!"

Helga stood up next to him. She has never seen her love so angry before. He was always the level-headed one among their group of friends. "Arnold, are you saying you are against the teachings of Hitler?" Arnold's eyes widen from what he confessed. He nodded slowly. Helga placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Me either." His eyes softened.

"You really mean that, Helga?" She nodded and gave him a soft smile. He wrapped his arms around her tightly. The touch of his embrace caused her to internally swoon. She laid her head on his shoulder before shaking it back to reality. She placed her hands on his cheats and pressed him away.

"Alright, enough of the mushiness, Football Head. Criminy, give a girl some space, why don't you?"

"Sorry, Helga," Arnold replied while rubbing his chest. "I have to say, I'm so glad that I have someone who believes this as well. How long have you been against the Nazis?"

"Only since yesterday. Remember when I mentioned my international friends?" Arnold nodded. "Well, they knocked some sense into me. Plus, Big Bob is high up in the Nazi party. That alone should have told me that it was a bad idea."

Arnold chuckled. "I guess better late than never. For me, my grandparents told me to not believe what they said, but I can't say anything about it, or I would get into trouble."

"Always the goody goody, huh Arnold?" asked Helga. He shrugged. "I guess we've both stuck then. I sure can't say anything. My house is like a shrine to Hitler."

Arnold paced his bedroom floor. He stroked his chin with his fingers. He stopped mid stride and looked at Helga. "How about this? If there is at any point where either of us need to vent about this, we can meet up and talk. We can make it a weekly thing."

Helga's heart fluttered. "Whatever floats your boat, Football Head," she said nonchalantly.

"You're not going to stop calling me that, are you?" Helga shook her head smugly. "I should have known. I guess I deserve it for what I said yesterday. Sorry about that."

"Eh, don't worry about it," she said, waving her hand. She sat back down on his bed.

"So, if you don't mind me asking," Arnold began while sitting on the bed next to her, "how do you have international friends?"

Helga letting out a small chuckle. "I guess I didn't explain that very well. As I mentioned earlier, Big Bob is high up in the Nazi party, and part of his job is he gets to entertain the ambassadors. Some of them have daughters our age so we've gotten to talking and I became close to them. And when I mentioned to them the Jews being removed from school and the Aryan superiority, they talked about how inhumane that was."

"Wow, you have some friends. Where are they from?"

"Let's see… Rhonda is from Wales, Lila from England, and Phoebe from Japan. She's the one who is half American." She looked at the clock on the wall. "Well, Football Head, I better get home for dinner. I guess I'll see you later." She got up from his bed and headed towards the door.

"Oh, okay Helga. Will the same time next week work?"

"Yeah, that's fine. And don't you dare mention this to anyone, or I'll pound you!" She opened the door and walked out.

"Whatever you say, Helga." Arnold chuckled while rolling his eyes.

Helga walked down the street back to her house. She sighed happily to herself. Oh my love, all this time we shall spend together is Heaven to me. Now, I can show you that I'm not the mean child that you've known for years. What can possibly go wrong?