Arnold sat at his desk finishing up a speech on global warming, but mostly staring out the window lost in thought. It had been a year since Helga had walked out that door, and out of his life, and things hadn't been the same.

For the first few weeks he tried to call her everyday, but never got an answer, and he went to her apartment only to find it empty. She was gone. It seemed she had lef the entire state.

He had people looking for her, but nothing had turned up Helga was simply gone.

He hadn't dated anybody in a year, hadn't even been alone with a woman. He wanted to know what happened to Helga, and where she was. Lucy, and Charlie had recently moved in together, and Charlie had quit his job to go work for Lucys father. Arnold envied them, and their happiness. To be free to be with the one you love. In exactly two months time his presidency was up, and he had decided not to run again. He didn't want this life anymore.

"Mr. Preisdent Sir." Jake threw open the door, and rushed to the desk.

"What is it Jake?" Arnold asked with disinterest.

"We found her...we found her." Jake said leaning on the desk, and trying to slow down his breathing.

"Where?" Arnold stood, and Jake handed him a paper.

"Hillwood. She went back to hillwood...but sir...there's something else." He handed Arnold another piece of paper.

Helga was standing in her small kitchen mixing a bowl of cookie dough when there was a knock on the door. She sighed, and set the bowl down moving towards the door.

She opened the door, and froze.

"Hello Helga." Arnold smiled.

"Mr. President...sir...what are you doing here?" She asked.

"You thought you out ran me didn't you?" He asked softly.

"I...I don't know what you're talking about." She said still not moving to let him inside.

"Aren't you going to invite me in?" He asked.

"I was just going out actually." She lied.

He raised an eyebrown, and looked at her from her light pink toenails up her long bare legs to the light pink shortie shorts, and dark pink tank top. It was obvious she wasn't really going anywhere today.

"Just let me in Helga...I missed you so much." He begged.

He wanted to hold her so bad it hurt. He wanted to wrap her in his arms, and taste her skin. Feel her. The past year had been torture he went through life barely living until now.

"Mr. President sir..." She started to speak, but he broke down, and interrupted her.

He stepped forward, and kissed her like he'd been dying to kiss her all year. His left hand gripped her hips, his right hand tangling in her hair. He pushed her back a few steps into the apartment, and kicked the door shut.

She didn't want to kiss him back, she didn't want to want him like she did, but she did. She kissed him back with just as much passion as he was feeding her. His fingers slid underneath her tank top, and she whimpered pulling him closer.

He backed her into the kitchen until she backed against the counter, and he moved his hands to lift her onto the countertop. Her mind was fuzzy as if she were drunk, and when his tongue slid past her teeth a shiver ran up her spine. She had never wanted a man the way she did him.

"Helga...is there something you want to tell me?" He asked pulling back slightly. She frowned, and shook her head no before capturing his lips again. Her legs locked around his waist, and he deepened their kiss.

"Are you sure? There's nothing you need to tell me?" He asked breaking the kiss to sink his teeth into her neck. She moaned, and dropped her head back.

"No...nothing."

" Did you maybe steal something from me? At the whitehouse?" He asked his hand trailing up her exposed leg to the edge of her shorts.

"No, no I didn't steal anything." She said breathless as her hands began pulling on his tie, and working on the knot.

"Really? Because I am the president I find things out...it's what I do." He kissed her neck, and nibbled on her jaw line.

"No, nothing."

"Helga you walked out of the white house with something that was mine, and we both know what it is." He said his fingers rubbing small circbles on her hip under her shorts.

"I...I don't know what you're talking about." She said throwing down his tie, and working on the buttons of his shirt.

"Where's the baby Helga?" He asked, and she froze pulling back to look at him.

"What?"

"You heard me. You were pregnant when you left...where's the baby Helga?"

She shoved him away from her, and jumped off the counter adjusting her shorts, and running a hand through her hair. She walked in a circle around the table, but didn't answer him, and he straightened his shirt fixing the buttons she had undone.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She said finally, sitting down in a chair.

"Really? Because while I admit it took me a long time to find you when we did track you down we found paperwork that you visited a free clinic in DC before you left...where's the baby?" He asked staring down at her with cold eyes.

"You had no right digging into my personal business."

"So you admit it? I got you pregnant."

"Yes, I admit it." She said with a biting tone.

"So. Where's my baby?" He asked.

"What makes you so sure I even had your baby?" She asked staring him down.

"You can't mean that." He said feeling his toughness dissolve. His stomach suddenly dropped, and he felt sick. His baby surely she didn't kill his baby.

"I do mean it. I admit to you I found out I was pregnant, but that doesn't mean I ever had a child." Her eyes were cold, and he tried his best, but couldn't see a lie in them anywhere.

He sat down in the chair across from her utterly defeated he ran a hand through his hair. It was now that he also noticed there were no toys anywhere in the apartment nothing to suggest a child lived there.

"How? How could you do it?" He asked finally forcing himself to look at her.

"It wasn't hard..."She said looking down at her shoes.

He winced, and felt his chest tighten to a horrible pain. He was going to be sick. He stood, and moved to her kitchen sink splashing cold water on his face. He heard her stand behind him.

"I think you should leave now Mr. President." She said softly, and he nodded in agreement.

"I agree." He started for the door, and didn't miss the relief that showed on her face.

She opened the door, and he turned to say goodbye, and that's when the noise started. It started quiet, and grew slightly louder a baby crying. He looked at Helga, and saw the dissapointment wash over her face. She closed her eyes, and dropped her head. He moved past her following the sound.

He found a door to his right in a narrow hallway, and he opened it hearing the small cries grow as he neared the door. He stepped inside a small yellow room with, pink carpet, and pink bows everywhere. He approached the crib, and gazed down at his daughter.

He didn't ask permission just reached in, and lifted her tiny body into his arms. He stared down at her. She was tiny with blonde curly hair, and bright green eyes. She had Helgas nose, but no unibrow or football shaped head. She was in a pink one piece she kicked her tiny feet. He heard Helga step into the room.

"What's her name?" He asked softly not taking his eyes off the baby.

"Stella..." Helga said softly.

"She's so beautiful." He said feeling his throat tighten, and tears fill his eyes. A few worked loose rolling down his cheeks.

"She's hungry I'll feed her." Helga moved further into the room, and he finally tore his eyes from the baby to look at her.

"Can I do it? Please?" He begged, and she winced.

"Yeah. I'll go get the bottle ready." She said moving into the kitchen.

He stared at the baby her cheeks were red from her crying, and she was chewing on her chubby little fist. He started out the hall walking slower than he had his entire life afraid of dropping or jostling the baby. He eased into his chair, and Helga handed him a warm bottle before sitting down across from him.

"You lied to me. I actually though...I thought you'd done away with her." He said through more tears.

"I couldn't...I went to the clinic...I saw her on that screen, I heard her heartbeat...I could never..."She shook her head.

"I'm glad you didn't. I can't even explain how happy I am to see her." He looked back down at Stella she was happily eating.

"Arnold..." When she said his first name it got his attention, and he looked at her.

"Yes?"

"Please, Don't take her from me." He saw the tears in her eyes, and the one she wiped from her cheek.

"Let's talk about this after I feed her. Ok?" He asked, and she bit her lip, but nodded.

Arnold fed Stella, and changed her diaper before rocking her to sleep, and placing her gently in the crib. He rejoined Helga in the kitchen, and for the first time since she came back into his life she looked scared.

"Helga...about Stella."

"Please, Arnold she's all I have in this entire world. She's the only thing I've ever done right. Don't take her from me. I won't hide her again you can see her as much as you like."

"Honestly Helga I just need a few minutes to just...wrap my mind around the fact she's here. You had nine months to get ready, and I just found out today."

"I'm sorry. I should have told you."

"Yes, you should have. I almost gave up on looking for you, but I couldn't. I'm glad I didn't if I had I'd never know Stella existed."

"I was afraid to tell you. I thought you'd take her away from me. It'd kill me to lose her." She buried her head in her hands, and started to cry.

He sat, and watched her a minute her words from the night on the balcony replaying in his head. She had told him he could hurt her so easily, and he thought she was being poetic, but now he realized the reality of that phrase. He also remembered his threat to her that he would take her children away. He had made the threat out of anger, and it was before he knew she was pregnant, but he still said it, and to someone who really had a baby to lose it would have been terrifying.

Helga cried, and he felt lower than he ever had. He was a monster she was right. He broke her into pieces, and then he lashed out at her for breaking. He reached across the table, and placed a hand ontop of hers feeling tears in his own eyes. He did this to her.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have came here." He said miserably. He stood quickly, and she lifted her head to look at him through tears. Her face streaked with tears.

"What?"

"I'm sorry." He dropped to his knees infront of her chair. He pushed her hair back from her tear soaked cheeks. He wanted to take it all back every word he ever said to hurt her.

"I'm sorry I did this to you." He said softly.

"I did it to myself...I ruined everything...I broke myself.."She said.

"That little girl in that bedroom. Is perfect Helga...she's the most beatiful thing I've ever seen. You did that. She's all you."

"No, she's so sweet, and good...that's all you." She said with a weak smile, and he smiled back.

"Helga...I missed you."

"I missed you too." She admitted.

He smiled at her even with her red rimmed eyes, and tear stained cheeks she was beautiful. All he wanted to do was hold her close. At some point she had gotten into his bloodstream she fed his body, and kept him alive. She kept his heart beating, and he'd tried to bleed her out, but all that remained inside him was still her. He lifted a hand to wind it in her hair pulling her head down. Her forehead rested against his

"Come back with me. You, and Stella. Move into the white house with me. I can't lose you again." He said honestly.

She shook her head slowly, and he broke a little more. She lifted her head to look into his eyes. She bit her lip shaking her head again.

"No, I can't go back." She said softly.

He leaned forward, and kissed her keeping it gentle this time. She kissed him back melting against him. He stood pulling her with him. His hands winding in her hair, hers resting against his chest. He deepened the kiss still holding her like the was the most precious, and fragile thing in the world. His tongue caressed her his lips pressing gently against hers. She stepped closer to him.

"I can't stand this. I can't stand you being alive in this world, and not being able to touch you." He said breaking their kiss with a heavy sigh.

"You can touch me now." She said softly.

He kissed her again this time with a little more passion to which she responded a hundred percent. Finally, she pulled away taking his hand she backed up a step, and tugged him gently.

"Come with me." She said with a smile.

"Where?"

"The bedroom." She said biting her lip, and he began to move following her they passed Stellas door, and the bathroom before stepping into a large master bedroom. She let go of his hand to back towards the foot of the bed. He followed her taking her gently in his arms.

"Are you sure about this?" He asked looking down at her praying she said yes, but knowing he'd stop if she said no.

"Yes, I'm sure." She nodded, and he smiled before kissing her gently. His hands caught the edge of her tank top, and began sliding it slowly up her ribs, but her hands caught his stopping the movement.

"Not that. Just...I..."She bit her lip, and tears filled her eyes. It took him only a second to realize why she was resisting. He kissed her, and stripped the tank top over her head. She winced, and tried to pull away, but he held her in his arms. He broke the kiss looking down her chest.

Above her bra in the middle of her chest was a scar it was red in color, and slightly puffy, but not as hideous as she seemed to believe. A tear rolled down her cheek, and he wiped it away. He leaned in placing a gentle kiss on the scar.

"Baby, You're absolutely beautiful. All of you. I wouldn't change a thing." He said softly. She leaned up, and kissed him her hands going to the buttons on his shirt as they toppled back onto the bed together.

Arnold lay in bed listening to the rain pouring down outside. It had started a few minutes ago as a drizzle, and steadily picked up until it was a downpour. Helga was curled up at his side fast asleep under the blankets. He had already been there four hours, and he knew his driver would be getting anxious, but he hated to leave her, and Stella.

"I have to go." He said finally kissing the top of her head.

"I know." She replied, but she didn't move from his arms.

"Come back with me."

"I can't be a first lady Arnold...I just...can't." She said.

"What if I told you I was quitting?" He asked, and she lifted her head from his chest to look up at him.

"You can't just quit."

"No, but in two months my time is up, and I don't have to run again. I could bow out gracefully, and...we could...start our family."

"I love you..."She said leaning up to kiss him.

"But?" He knew there was a but coming somewhere.

"But...two months is a long time. What if...what if you decide you want to run again?"

"I won't not if I know I have you, and Stella back here." He promised.

"I don't know Arnold...it's a big choice, for both of us." She rolled away from him, and got out of the bed pulling on loose jeans, and a baggy hockey jersey. He sat up as well pulling on his shirt.

"I know it is, but I want to spend my life with you, and Stella I don't want anything else." He said standing, and pulling on his pants.

"You can...call me in a few days, and you can come back if you want to, but let's not make promises we can't keep." She said looking out the window, and keeping her back to him.

"Helga...marrying you is the only thing I've ever been sure I wanted. I know it seems crazy giving out childhood together, and everything, but you're the only person who ever really knew the real me. I don't want to lose that. I love you."

"I love you too." She turned to face him, and he saw the inner battle in her eyes.

"Marry me." He dropped down on one knee before he even knew what he was doing.

"You can't be seroius." She said.

"I am serious look..."He pulled out his mothers ring, and opened the box.

"Arnold..."

"Marry me. This ring only belongs with you nobody else. I only belong with you, and I love you. so...Marry me?"

"You're sure about this?"

"I've never been more sure about anything."

"And you can give up the whitehouse for me?"

"I'd give up anything for you." He felt like he was standing on the edge of a cliff waiting to see if she'd save him or push him off.

"Yes. I'll marry you." He didn't feel the relief at first until her words sunk in. He stood sliding the ring on her finger.

"It's a perfect fit." He said kissing her forehead, and hugging her close.

"Yes it is." She smiled kissing him quickly on the lips.

"We'll get married as soon as my presidency is up...I promise."

"I can wait there's no hurry."

"There is a hurry. I want Stella, and you to be a part of my life as soon as possible. I promise as soon as I'm out we're getting married if I have to drag you to las vegas to do it."

"Stella has your last name already. I hope...we can give her some brothers or sisters." She said with a small shy smile, and he laughed.

"Sweetheart I aim to have you pregnant by the wedding."

"Oh really?" She asked putting a hand on her hip, and for a second he saw a flash of the old Helga from gradeschool.

"Yes really."

"In your dreams football head...I'm not waddling down the asile."

He laughed and kissed her tumbling with her in his arms back onto the bed he kissed her neck, and shook his head.

"Whatever you say Helga."

THE END.

Well that's it. I hope you all enjoyed reading this fanfiction as much as I loved writing it. This was by far my favorite one to write, and I never wanted it to end, but all things must. I enjoyed writing about a different kind of love the dark passionate kind that often is what fuels the fire to an intense love that can overcome the odds. I felt truly connected to this story in a way I haven't to my others. It's with a sad heart I lay this last chapter down. Thank you for coming on this journey with me, and allowing me to entertain you.

I look forward to our next adventure in the world of Hey Arnold.

Keep reading.