Sorry for the slow update but I started a new job and been busy. Anyways, happy reading!:P

"Ya know Pheebs," Helga mumbles, smacking on some chocolate. "I never thought I'd say this," Helga says half-coherently. "But I'm happy you're back with Geraldo. He has good taste." She winks an eye at the end.

Catching the double meaning easily, the corners of her mouth spread wide as the moon. "Why thank you, Helga." Phoebe cut down on sweets after having one or more embarrassing accidents in front of dates. "By the way, I'm happy for you and Arnold." Her glasses-clan eyes slide over to her calendar right above on her bulletin board, where she had marked out a date to prom shop. "Have you gotten a chance to browse for a dress?"

Helga does a part snort and groan. "No, but you should have seen the thing Miriam drooled over. Talk about a nightmare. It was all tacky and frilly." She shakes her head. "at least she tried... but I'm not too worried about finding something. I'm more focused on what's coming next. Ya know?"

"Right," Phoebe angles her chair back to look at the university website. "I have too."

"Doi that's what you're doing right now."

"Sorry."

Helga rolls her eyes and flips her wrist. "Shut it, I'm not complaining, can't lie, I miss you, but you have to do what you have to do."

"When did you have the time to think about any of that? You're with Arnold, attached by the lips every second you get."

Helga does one of her amusing snorts because that didn't even sound like something Phoebe would say. "... Where did you get that?"

Phoebe smirks a little. "I overheard Rhonda say that to Nadine in the bathroom."

She playfully laughs and shakes her head. "Figures, the girl knows details about everyone in the city."

Phoebe bends her neck to take a sip of her tea. "That's the Rhonda Wellington Lloyd we've always known."

"Hmm," Helga absently dropping down the box of chocolates, after spotting the time. "I have to get home; the big man says there's a package arriving. Probably something for or from Olga."

. . . .

Helga absently tosses her keys in the bowl. Her ears twitch at the noise coming from upstairs. Okay, Nova, pooch, you, better not be wrecking my room. She roughly pushes the door back.

"Surprise!"

"Olga. You - What are you trying to do, give me a heart attack?!" Her fingers rub circles at her temples. "Aren't you suppose to be in New York lolly dollying around with your new Broadway friends."

Olga giggles. "Yes silly but I took a quick flight over because I wanted to surprise you.

She rolls her eyes, reclining down on her bed to pull off her shoes. "You know I hate surprises."

"I know, but you will adore this one I'm sure!" Olga claps her hands together before skipping into Helga's walk in closet.

Helga face-palms. God, what is she doing?

Helga's scowl starts to slide off when Olga comes out holding up hanger with white plastic covering what looks like a dress. She pushes towards once the sheet falls off. "Isn't it lovely and your color too." Her sister smiles. "Do you like it?"

Her larger than life eyes soften, and she strokes her arm. "Um, uh... why did you buy it?"

"I didn't; I made it." Helga takes in the perfect seams and raises a skeptical brow. That is until she looks at her hands, which usually are immaculate, now covered with band-aids. "Mommy informed me that you didn't care at all for any of her selections. So I didn't have any plans nor did she ask but when I slipped inside the prettiest material, I got an idea. I squealed! Oh, I almost peed myself from the excitement! I just had to buy it; it screamed my baby sister." The enthusiasm in her voice mellow as she takes in Helga from top to bottom. "Who's not a baby anymore..." She angles to hang on the dress on the closet door and turns back with a pitiful downturned mouth. "That reminds me. I realized quite a time ago now that we overlooked an extraordinary day."

"What?"

"Mommy told me she found," she pauses, fidgeting. "A birthday card from Arnold while she was-"

"Snooping." Helga shakes her head, propping both her hands to her hips. Looking every bit of pissed but internally not feeling that level of emotion.

"Cleaning," Olga softly corrected. "And let me tell you - she was ashamed and so am I. Daddy too. But we all had a tough time confronting you to apologize."

Helga sighs. "Look, you don't have to say anymore. I'm okay." She bites one part of her lip. "It's not the first time it's happened. And it's no big deal. I mean I've never been big on corny parties anyway. Plus you made this boss dress, thank you for that.."

Olga nods, smiling at the last part, but guilt still is in her eyes. "You say that, but I know it is important. You might not want a big celebration, but we could have at least acknowledged it. You're eighteen years old; I can't believe how time flies." covering one eye she sighs. "I'm sorry. It may not have been the first time, but I promise you, Helga, it'll be the last."

Helga bites her bottom lip. "Okay, I'll accept your apology. But..." noticing the mistiness in her eyes, she groans. "Just don't start that damn blubbering or I swear I'll take it right back!"

Olga sucked back tears and grins. "Deal." The grin stretch into a huge smile. "Now it's time for you to try it on."

Helga gets up masking any excitement while going past Olga into her closet door. Helga reenters her room and Olga's eyes brighten stretch wide while she covers her mouth in shock. "Helga you look like an absolute doll!"

Helga deadpans, and her shoulders slump. "Don't call me that."

"But you do," she chirps pulling Helga's shoulders back. "you're tall with the cutest figure ever and this beautiful hair..."

As Olga keeps complimenting, her fingers slide through Helga's hair and move to adjust her dress until that earned a growl. "Ugh," she whips her hands away. "Olga quit poking at me! Do I look like a mannequin?"

"Sorry," She laughs in a less silly way. "Now..." Olga smirks. "Hurrying up and get changed back into your regular clothes."

"What for?"

"Because we're taking you out." Helga opens her mouth to speak, but Olga beats her. "Mommy and Daddy are waiting in the car."

Helga closes her mouth not knowing what to say and smiles, her eyes scattering. "Shoo! Go get dressed silly girl!"

. . . . .

His fingers walk over to intertwine with hers. "That's great, so how did the dinner go?" His brows quirk when she burst out into laughter, her eyes getting misty. As contagious as her laugh is, he can't control widely grinning. "Mine letting me in on the joke..."

"Um, okay so we're almost done with eating right. Bob who is so stranger to alcohol had been sipping wine the whole meal. He and I were debating about wrestling when all of the sudden WHAM!" Helga bangs her fist on the inn table adjacent to her, hard enough to hurt, but she shows zero signs of pain. Arnold's eyes widen. "His forehead went smack into his third helping of potatoes. The bang was so loud everyone around froze, except me I was laughing my ass off."

"Whoa, was he okay?"

Helga cackles, shutting her eyes for a second. "The funny and weird part was he just shot up went directly back into our conversation as if nothing happened."

Arnold, chuckling, leaves out after hearing the microwave beep. Grinning at her vibrant laughter, he hands her a bowl of popcorn and falls next to her. "That sounded painful, did he hurt himself."

"Oh please...have you taken a good look at that noggin? It gives yours a run for its money."

He crosses his arms looking offended, while his insides flip at the smile taking over Helga's face. And even more when her lips gently brush against his temple. "No one else can pull it off like you." She scoots back and chuckling through a head shake. "How can I talk with these weird Bily Goat things sticking out from my head."

Arnold raises a curious brow tucks her hair back, then dots kisses to her ear. Is there anything about this girl that isn't cute? "They're adorable, just like the rest of you." He whispers still close enough to make the fine hairs on her skin stand high.

His lips and warm breath tickle her sensitive skin so using her elbow; she pushes him back to his side of a cough. "Quit it..."

She shrugs when he smacks his teeth and rubs his sides. "Seriously, I'm happy for you, and your folks had a good time. I know you'll aren't the Partridge family or anything," Helga amusingly smirks. "But it's a start." That gets him a tiny nod then he notices the blank screen in front of them. "What do you wanna watch?"

"I don't care. Just crank it up before I finish my popcorn."

His eyes size up the bowl, the amount in it, smirking as he stands up "Greedy-gut."

"Takes one to know one." Arnold shakes his head, half grinning while going through his collection. "No fruity, romance stuff.

You mean like your novels, Helga? Mischievously smirking, he holds up the DVD with a couple in a loving embrace on the cover. "So I guess this is out of the question."

She tosses some popcorn that gets stuck in his hair. "BOOOO! That looks like a snooze fest."

"Well, you pick then..."

She grunts setting down the bowl to get up. "First of all football head, get with the times. You have this equipment so use it." The Apple TV powers on and she clicks on the first thriller looking one in the selection on Netflix. "There..." Arnold finally takes the crumbs out of his hair and settles next to her. "Does that work?" Asks Helga in a timid voice.

He shakes his head before she could say anything, he yanks her by the waist. Enticing one of her rare giggles as she relaxes into his arms. He rests his chin gently on the top of her hair, paying more attention to her aroma and softness than whatever's happening on the TV. "Now this does.."

Helga rolls her eyes when Olga and her mom continue debating hair styles, flipping through hair magazines. Looking her best for this prom is a priority, at the same time she still wants to resemble herself. "Whoa, hey, every other girl will be sporting those. Trust me." Following a sigh, her eyes shift to the vanity mirror, in her makeup already applied. As she takes hair hanging down her shoulders already curled beautifully and a satisfied smile materializes. She stands up confidently lets the robe fall, revealing the gown and sits back down. "I like it down like this..."

Miriam and Olga finally stop their chatter and admire her. "You do look fantastic, Helga!"

Miriam's eyes scurry over her and Helga can feel a headache coming in as she anticipates her mother's dissatisfaction. To her surprise, though, she nods in agreement with her oldest daughter. "Yes, she does," Miriam says to Olga, her smiling eyes lower to Helga's in the mirror and her palms fall on her shoulders. "Yes you do, this is exactly how you're supposed to look."

. . . . .

Arnold tugs at his shirt collar, tense under Bob's gaze, who made little attempt at conversation. Not a surprise since he isn't a small-talk sort. Finally, a grunt pushes out from his lungs. "Hey, girls, what are doing? Me and Shirtman kid are getting old down here!" He huffs cutting his eyes to Arnold. "How much makeup are they putting on her? She's got my natural good looks for Pete's sake." Strangely, Bob chuckles. "But then again now she won't be dressed like she bats for the other team like on your rinky dink dates."

Mr. Pataki can sure be a jerk sometimes. A vivid picture of his girlfriend forms in his mind. With a face and body like that, it doesn't matter what she wears. He seizes up the width of his forearm and gulps. Of course, I can't say that out loud. "I wouldn't say she that, I think she always looks..." The sound of her steps cut his brain off temporarily, his breath catches in his throat at Helga coming down the stairs. His eyes ease from her beach waves to her defined collarbone, sliding down the curves of her figure and back to her eyes. "Amazing."

Bob huffs. "You call jeans and t-shirts amazing?"

Arnold exaggeratedly cleared his throat and gestured with his head towards Helga now at the bottom step.

"Oh, well-it's about time, sheesh."

Helga subtly rolls her eyes, but the sight of Arnold's lean frame in his suit steals the show. One of his hands is half way in his pants pocket, a white daisy corsage in the other. Those green eyes of his are brighter than ever, and she could only take her eyes off him long enough to take a picture. He leans over and gives her a tender kiss close to her eye. "You look beautiful Helga."

Helga turns her face to hide the heat showing in her cheeks.

Bob waves his hand, still slumping in his chair. "Of course, she is, she's got my genes." He grunts, eyeing Arnold snuggling close to his youngest daughter while putting on her corsage. "Alright, alright break that up!" Arnold bounces a step back, still with his hand wrapped around hers. "I know you're her boyfriend or whatever but no funny business. Got it?"

His gaze dodges from her to Bob at the sound of him exaggeratedly clearing his throat. "Yes sir, I got it."

. . . . .

"Hey, this will be the first time we'll dance since - you know." He tightens his grip on her hand to reel her attention his way. "So, let's go out there."

Helga sucks in a breath, for all her toughness, even she could feel shy sometimes. The overall attention received, while pleasing, is on the overwhelming side, to say the least. But, her eyes float to her handsome date, who is leaning on his other hand, looking at her. Even through his slight worried gaze, his eyes convey such tenderness, soothing any anxiety inducing feelings. "Would you like to cut out of here instead, if you're uncomfortable we can-"

Her finger to his mouth quits him. "No," the soft snicker she does while watching some poorly dancing peers earns a quirked brow from him. "I was thinking about how..." Her mouth tugs up into a mischievous grin. "I'm gonna murder you on that dance floor."

Arnold's eyebrows lovers, his lip uplifted into a sly smirk as his eyes circled everyone how there. "You talk a big game, but let's see you prove it."

Helga, on reflex, balled a mighty fist at being challenged. "Oh, you're on!" She takes off racing to an open spot on the floor, sliding to a stop grinning humorously. "You couldn't even beat me, and I have on heels."

"That's 'cause you almost knocked three kids over, Helga."

Her eyes rolled as she tugs his hands. "Quit procrastinating and show me what you got." She lets her increased competitiveness guide her while moving her feet.

When a love song comes on, some of the crowd cheers, though, Helga sneers as her fist tighten her sides. Damnit, I was just getting into it.

But her lips drag up, sighting her best friend snuggle in her loving boyfriend's arms nearby.

At the feeling of his fingers caressing her jaw, she turns to face him.

"First slow dance of the night." His velvety smooth voice pours into her ears as his palms slide to grip her waist, pulling her firmly.

They sway to the music, completely present and enjoying the closeness. But then Helga and can feel his chest rumble as he sighs. "About the fall," He pauses, smoothing her hair careful not to interfere with the style. "I'm going to miss you so much but we can-"

"Shh," The feel of her lips brushing against his neck makes him forget what he was going to say. "I don't want to talk about that now. I just want to enjoy this."

Arnold sits down eyeing his brand new residence just outside of the city. Man, I can't believe it's this time already. The past hour or so he's spent making his space resemble his bedroom in the boarding house after getting the news that his roommate dropped out.

The sides of his mouth curl up when he reclines on his pillows with a framed picture in his hands. A recent, unforgettable memory from one of their last days of summer vacation comes to mind. Then again every moment with Helga is but this one a standout.

The summer breeze flows through their wild golden manes, with the sun blazing into their skin. "Helga, don't you realize by your words, you would be the only person that'll your fit your definition of cool."

Helga releases a part snort part giggle that always makes Arnold laugh no matter what. "Hey, I am the most awesome person on planet earth." She cackles at how he shakes his head and her shoulders bump his. "In all seriousness football head, it isn't about all the extraness. It's about being able to hang with yourself and feeling content with that." Her affectionate doe-eyes move up and down him, and that half sweet half mischievous smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. "I'd say when defining it that way you're the coolest around."

Suddenly his hands hug her waist. "You're so damn cute; you know that Helga?" She shrugs chewing on her lip while Arnold dotted soft kisses around her cheekbone, her nose and lastly her lips. "And you're sweet too."

She leans into his body, enjoying the feel of the closeness. The two cuddled for a second or two before Helga out of thin air roughly pushes them apart. "Alright, that's enough mushy shit."

Arnold sucked his teeth part at her words and loss of body heat. "You started it."

Helga comes to her feet and peers down at him. "Now I'm ending it."

He just did a silent type of laugh. Helga rests her hands on the top of her head, walking away when he grips her wrist. She spins around, and his intensely warm eyes lock with hers, her unimpressed look changes into something softer. "Well, I'm gonna start something else. then"

His mouth grazes hers as his green eyes darkened. "Oh, yeah, how ya going to do that, hm?"

Unexpectedly, his expression loses the cheekiness, replaced with something heart swellingly tender. His fingers stroke at Helga's cheek and his eyes stay locked firmly in hers. "By telling you," His bottom lip quivers a little, causing any lingerings of a smirk to wipe off her face. "that I love you."

Helga's lips part, her round eyes stretch wide, and her chin lowers as she appears to fall deep in thought. When her eyes rise back to his, he can see apprehension there. "Y-You're not just saying that because of... what's happening in a few days are you?"

"No!" Helga tucks her chin in at his harsher tone. Arnold pushes out a sigh. "Sorry, but why would you think that? Am I the type of person to say something heavy like that and not mean it?"

"No." She answers easily, looking him between his eyes. "it's that we haven't been together that long and... " She shakes her head and looking frazzled. "I don't know - forget I said anything."

The intensity of the glare in his eyes drops. "We've been together almost every moment since we started dating." his fingers graze Helga's face, lingering on her soft skin before elevating her chin. "Besides it doesn't take long to fall for someone like you, especially considering our history." He smiles. "You're incredible; I admire and respect you as a person. And as my girlfriend of 4 1/2 months, I'm in love with you," His fingers lower to her waist, almost squeezing her too tightly. "nothing you can say or do right now can change that."

Arnold lets his arms drop, taking a step or two back, watching her various expression changes. His heart flutters when finally that soft, affection smile beams across her face. "Oh, Arnold," she whispers, stepping closer to drop a kiss on his lips. "I love you too." The back of her slender fingers stroke his face gently. "I always have."

always have

always have

Knock - knock

His hops up and opens the door, immediately his jaw hit the floor at the eyeful of his leggy girlfriend. She lifts her phone to snap a quick picture with, a smirk on her lips and her hands twirling behind her back. "Helga?!" His wide-set eyes scattered around like crazy. "what are you doing here you're supposed to be in-"

"Boston? I know, I know but in the midst of all the chaos and disorder. Maybe, I failed to mention that I was accepted into Eastern too." Helga says, still shifting, playing coy. "Bob was in on it, he told me to send him a pic of your face," she sports a sly grin while shooting a message to her dad. "What you thought you could get rid of me that easy?"

Arnold's expression his void of much emotion. Suddenly she yelps, when he snatches her up inside and unceremoniously, plots her onto his bed. Like always whenever she did something mischevious he tickled her stomach frantically. The motions of his fingers slowly on her skin. "Are you serious - serious, Helga?"

"Nah, I'm playing," she mocks. "Yeah, of course, I'm serious."

It's still taking forever for the information to sink in, even though it's right before his eyes. "So, let me get this straight. You got an acceptance letter, and you didn't even tell me!" He tries to sound stern, but there's happiness in his voice and a sparkle in his eyes. His brows tighten together. "Wait, you didn't accept just because of me? I wouldn't want you to-"

"Have you forgotten who I am? Of course, you being here played a part in my decision, but it wasn't the sole reason. This school happens to have an excellent Rhetorical Studies program."

"What dorm?"

"Guffin."

His lips stretch wider in a gaping grin his eyebrows aim for the ceiling. Helga's here. And I can feel her squeezing her arms around me and my arms reciprocating. No longer a pixelated but warm, fragranced and soft. "You can't even begin to understand how I feel."

In this snug position, Helga's eyes bucked at something brushing against her thigh, and a swoosh settles below her waist.

Well unless that's a gun poking me I'd say I have an idea...

Her cheeks redden at that thought and how his green eyes sparkle with adoration.

"Oh Arnold," She whispers sweetly, cupping his face her eyebrow quirks. And he just knows something snarky lays on the tip of her tongue. "You're still the biggest sap I know." The smile stretched across her mouth reaches her eyes and conveys the deep affection within her heart.

Arnold lifts her up, so only her upper body is resting on top of his. She buries her face in the crook of his neck. And in return, he squeezes her tight, inhaling the scent of lavender and lilacs that fill the air. After a second, his eyes drift out of his window, past the building into his future, he sees a lifetime worth of surprises from her, and he couldn't be any more content.

The combination of a light snort and her breath teasing his skin drags him back to the present. His top row of teeth shows with a faint curve of his lips. His face shines with bliss when the most beautiful words fall off her lips while sleep continues to pool on her eyelids.

Careful not to wake her, his hold of her tightens, and he brings his lips to her ear. "I love you too, Helga. I have a feeling," He takes in and out a soft breath. "I always will."

So that's the end, I hoped you enjoyed. Thank you to everyone who's supported this fic:P