It was with a rather heavy heart that Helga had realized it was probably soon time for her to go, sitting there with Arnold had been so peaceful, so nice, that Helga would rather that it didn't end.

But her dress was cleaned and dry, the sky outside was getting darker, the date was at its end and Helga exhaled deeply as she pulled the newly washed dress over her head in the bathroom, then slipped her fingers through her hair in an attempt to brush it a bit, but soon gave up before she stepped out to a waiting Arnold.

"That dress really is nice." Arnold admitted. "I like the bow!" he grinned and Helga blinked then amused shook her head. "So, are you ready?"

"Huh." Helga blinked. "Ready? For what?" she asked.

"I promised you a bite to eat didn't I?" Arnold asked. "It's about time, let's go."

"Wait there's more?!" Helga asked astounded.

"Yes." Arnold blinked. "We did agree on dinner didn't we?"

"Well, yes… I guess… I mean." Helga blushed deeply. "Are we going out?" she asked.

"Not exactly." Arnold had to admit in a blush. "But… Sort of, come on. I'll show you." he offered taking Helgas hand and then took her with him, through the building towards the back and Helga realized they were walking to what basically amounted as a store room in this appartment building, which made her frown.

That is until Arnold opened the door and Helgas eyes widened… Yes, it was indeed a storeroom, box's were packed alongside all the walls, but the middle had been cleared to allow room for a single table with a white cloth on it and living candles.

That's not what stood out to Helga though, there was lightchains simply EVERYWHERE! hanging from the ceiling, from every box, all glowing with a warm yellow light like a hundred of stars and standing by the table were two children wearing each their white shirt and black butterfly.

It was Garold and Phoebe.

"Sir, madame!" Garold proclaimed. "Welcome to restaurant Shortman! may we offer you a table?" he asked.

Astounded Helga looked at all of it but allowed Arnold to take her to the table where he pulled out a chair for her which she sat down on and Arnold sat down in front of her blushing deeply.

"You… Sat all of this up?" Helga asked.

Arnold nodded. "Yeah, I wanted to give you something nice. Oh that reminds me. Garold do you have it?" he asked.

"Sure." Garold nodded. "Erh Phoebe?" he asked.

"Right here." Phoebe chuckled amused as she found a square package in her pocket which she handed to Garold, only for Garold to hand it to Arnold and then Arnold offered it to Helga.

"Here, this is for you." Arnold offered.

"Oh." Helga realised. "Thank you." she blushed deeply accepting as she looked down at it, it was cube formed box like pacakge, neatly wrapped in pink wrapping paper the same as Helgas bow… Vaguely did Helga wonder if it was Phoebe whom had pointed out the wrapping paper.

"Wont you open it?" Arnold asked. "I… erh… I hope you wont get mad, I just… I thought you would like it. I mean."

"Huh?" Helga asked as she looked up. "Mad? Why would I get mad?" she asked.

Nervously Garold and Pheobe glanced at each other, Arnold as well bit his lip and Helga got a bad feeling about this, finally though she decided just to get it over with and unwrapped the box to be left with a old box which she opened and then halted as she looked down.

"Arnold…" Helga blinked. "This is… I…"

Arnold squinted his eyes. "I guess I should have asked! I didn't mean!"

And slowly did Helga pull up the item, it was an oval picture frame and on the picture was Helga and Arnold, standing together! They were both smiling and looking at each other even though the sky was gray and raining.

It was them earlier in the day! The picture that Garold had taken.

"I just thought… It would be nicer with both of us in the picture right?" Arnold asked. "And then it can also be kind of a memory… Not that today was that great, I just."

"It's perfect." Helga then said and Arnold halted. Helga swallowed as she looked up, holding the picture close. "I love it, thank you."

And you could tell how everyone let go a sigh of relief.

"I'm glad you like it." Arnold exhaled deeply.

"Ahem!" Phoebe then stood forward. "Let me introduce the menu!" she then said. "First we got Pizza la Garold, with the best salami and cheese bought in the supermarket! Then the dessert, we got grande Phoebe chocolate cake!" she stated. "For drinking we have the finest cola or you may have a glass of ice cold orange juice." she offered.

"What would you like Helga?" Arnold asked.

"Oh, orange juice I suppose." Helga blushed glancing down.

"Right then." Phoebe nodded as she picked up a carton with juice and poured up for the both of them before putting the carton on the table and stepped away. "The Pizza will be with you in a moment! Please enjoy your time!" she grinned before she took Garold at the hand and they both left.

Helga swallowed as she sat back, she hugged the picture frame close and then she sniffed.

"Helga?" Arnold asked.

And then suddenly, tears came out of Helgas eyes and she cried.

"HELGA!" Arnold shouted standing up. "Are you all right? Is something wrong?" he asked. "Is it to much? I'm sorry."

"No it's not… It's not that." Helga swallowed. "This is all so nice! I… I'M SO HAPPYYY!" she cried loudly, and she tried to wipe her eyes with the back of her hand. "I don't deserve all of this, it's all so… I don't even know." she swallowed.

"Of course you deserve it." Arnold injected. "You helped me, so many times! I don't even know how many times you helped where I didn't even know." he sighed deeply. "I want you to know, i'll always be there to help you to."

"I know." Helga hiccuped. "You always were, that's why… That's why.." and she broke together again. "Even when I am so mean to you, you're always there for me Arnold. You're always so nice, even when everyone else are assholes, you're still…" and she had to suck in the air.

"Helga it's okay." Arnold assured. "You always act so tough, but you don't have to do that around me."

And Helga nodded. "I know." she admitted. "I know but I still do it… Stupid huh?" she asked looking up with tears still dripping down her face.

"No I don't think so, you're still the strongest person I know." Arnold smiled amused.

Helga swallowed. "Arnold, please be honest. Today, all of this." she looked around. "It… It's not just because you… You pity me is it?" she asked.

"What?" Arnold asked. "No, of course not."

"Really?" Helga asked. "I don't want you to ask me out of dates just because." and she exhaled deeply.

"No! I asked you out because I wanted to!" Arnold stated. "And today… It was really nice." he blushed. "I enjoyed it a lot, when you are your real self… You're so nice, like when you pretended to be Cecille."

That made Helga spew out. "Wha-WHAT?!" she screamed and Arnold looked up. "You… You knew?! I mean." she spluttered.

"I… suspected it, but I wasn't really sure until I realized you loved me." Arnold admitted.

"Oh my god." Helga gaped as her eyes became wide and she blushed deeply.

"And then as I thought about it, it made more sense. There have been times, where you were like that. Remember when we met on the beach?" Arnold asked. "Then you also…"

"SHUT UP FOOTBALL HEAD!" Helga suddenly shouted and Arnold halted as well did Helga.

"Heh, sorry." Arnold awkwardly scratched his chin. "Maybe we should… talk about something else? Just have fun right?" he asked.

Helga squinted her eyes. "I'm sorry, i'm so bad at this." she swallowed, trying to keep back tears.

"I don't know what i'm doing either." Arnold admitted. "So, let's just have fun." he offered.

Helga glanced away, but then finally looked back and nodded. "Yeah, okay." she then said, drying her eyes again, just in time for the door to open revealing Phoebe carrying the pizza, she wisely didn't comment on Helgas red eyes but simply left the pizza before she left with a smile on her face, humming silently.

"They have their own pizza in the kitchen." Arnold revealed.

"Oh, that makes sense." Helga nodded as she reached forward and took a slice taking a bit before she yelled. "AUW HOT!"

"Be careful!" Arnold asked.

"Arnold it's just hot pizza, I can handle it." Helga snorted.

"I know." Arnold assured. "You can handle a lot of stuff. Though…. also, I wanted you to know. I talked to my parents, I told them about your parents and so on and well. We just want you to know, all of us, that if you ever need a place to stay. You're welcome here." he stated.

That made Helga halt and she lowered the pizza. "What is this? Some kind of charity?" she asked.

"No." Arnold shook his head. "It's because I care about you."

"You… You what?" Helga asked. "What?!"

"Even if it wasn't because you saved my life, even if it wasn't because that without we couldn't have saved my parents. Even if it wasn't because you always looked out for me for as long as we known each other. I just care about you, that's all." Arnold assured. "You can come here when-ever you like."

And Helga squinted her eyes again to try and battle the tears as she put down the pizza, allowing Arnold to reach over and grab her hand then she glanced up and saw Arnold and she swallowed as the two nervously moved closer to each other and then finally… They kissed.

Helga could feel the jolt going through her body as they kissed, and then she melted from the inside, as she sat back she was weirdly relaxed as if she was made of jelly.

"Are you okay?" Arnold asked.

"Yeah, i'm really happy." Helga smiled. "Look, I know i'm not always nice. And i'm probably not the best girlfriend. I almost ruined this day… but I want to learn." she stated. "I want to… I want to do better."

"I think you're doing pretty good to be honest." Arnold commented. "I really enjoyed today."

"Yeah." Helga smiled. "Me to."

And as Helga walked home that evening, followed by Phoebe part of the way. She felt genuinely happy, nothing could touch her. Not Bob shouting at her asking where she had been and not her mother whom had gone on a binge with her smoothies. None of it touched her as Helga felt light as a butterfly inside as she fell a sleep, the last thing she saw before she drifted off to sleep being the picture Arnold had given her, the picture where they were standing together like that… This date… had been perfect.