Disclaimer: Here's a secret – I still don't own Hey Arnold. Several readers told me that they would enjoy a sequel to my previous story: The Turntables; so, here it is. Gentle Readers, may I present chapter one of One For The Road. Please Read, Review, and Spread the Word.

HA

The wind was particularly strong today. Freezing pedestrians lost their hats at intersections; while newspapers flew about loosely, the random Good Samaritan trying to catch one. The strategically placed trees along the sidewalk hadn't stood up-right all day, and most of their new leaves had been ripped off. The traffic lights swayed violently with each gust. A few of the smaller people who braved the streets were nearly doubled over in attempts to stay on their feet. A few children did fall.

Yes, today the wind was particularly strong.

But Helga was just as strong, and she proved it as she stood outside the boarding house next to the taxi. The taxi that was supposed to take her and Arnold to the airport – ten minutes ago. With a huff, she leaned in to the passenger window with a forced smiled.

"I'm so sorry for the wait. I'm sure he'll be right out." The man created what sounded like a grunt of irritation, but did little else. Helga turned back towards the Boarding House and cupped her hands around her mouth.

"Football Head, hurry up and let's go! The meter's runnin'!" Suddenly, the door swung open and Arnold emerged, a duffle bag slung across his shoulder. Sending her a heart-stopping smile, he shut the door behind him with one hand and used the other to adjust the strap as he made his way down the stoop. Helga just opened her door and slid in, locking it and forcing Arnold to walk all the way around to the other side. She smirked as he shut his door.

"Sorry I'm making us so late. Gerald called, and then Grandpa kept giving me advice."

Helga nodded to the driver, who finally brought the taxi out of park and put it in drive. Turning back to Arnold, a smirk graced her lips as she leaned back.

"Well, at least now I know where you get it from." At her remark, Arnold shot her a confused expression, and she laughed.

"Doi, Football Head, how could you forget? All through our school years you were giving advice – you still do." Admittedly, he blushed.

"Yea, well, it's kinda hard to forget when I have you reminding me on an almost a daily basis." She, too, blushed when he took her hand, but was still able to smirk.

"You know you love it." His blush deepened as he leaned in towards her. His next comment came out as a whisper against her lips.

"Well, now that you mention it."

"Here we are. That'll be twenty seven fifty."

Both teens groaned. Granted, they've only just admitted how they feel yesterday, but they still haven't kissed fully. Every time they try, they're interrupted.

Helga smirked as she leaned over and kissed Arnold's cheek.

"Since you made us late, you get to pay." And with that, she gracefully and swiftly slid out of the backseat, leaving Arnold with a smirking middle-aged Cabby.

"Women, huh? As Gandhi once said 'Women are like hurricanes: They come wet and wild and leave with the house and car'." Arnold could only nod and watch the woman who held his heart so forcefully walk away. Then, the words of the Cabby sunk in, and he turned his head fast enough to give himself whiplash.

"Gandhi never said anything like that."

The older man looked at Arnold through the rearview mirror and shrugged.

"Yeah, well, he should have. Now about the fare . . ." he held out his hand, and Arnold sighed, but pulled out his wallet, and allowed a twenty and a ten to fell into his fingers. Slapping it into the Cabby's open palm, he grabbed his duffle bag and opened the door.

"Hey, what about your change?" the man smiled when he saw the look of frustration on the young man's face.

"Keep it – I don't like change anyway." The man's smile changed to a smirk as he watched Arnold's back retreat into the airport. Putting the money into a small satchel, he laughed quietly and moved into the outgoing lane.

"Ah, boy do I miss the days of raging hormones and denied passes."

HA

As soon as Arnold entered the airport, he began searching for a head of blonde hair and a figure he had planned on fantasizing about for years to come. He found her standing near the baggage check, tapping her foot and watching him expectantly. Smiling at her, he walked quickly and caught her arm when she held it out to him. In unison, they turned and made their way towards the check in.

Once they had checked in, the two had to give their duffle bags to the baggage check. Almost immediately Helga wasn't happy; mostly because as soon as the man checking saw her, he smirked. Quickly, when his back was turned, she took the duffle back from Arnold shoulder, and gave him hers.

"Helga, what're you -" she cut him off with her hand over his mouth.

"The bag checker was checking out more than bags. I wanna give him a run for his money."

Arnold couldn't fight off the smirk that engulfed his face as soon as she removed her hand. He loved her devious side; and anyone who was checking out his girlfriend had to be punished. Wait? Were they boyfriend and girlfriend? After yesterday, there was kind of a rush, and they didn't really cover the topic of 'what comes next' post his confession. Oh well, they could figure that out later.

Meanwhile, this bag checker needed to suffer.

Helga set her duffle bag/carry on down and smiled sadistically as she watched him smirk, and undo the zipper.

His smirked faded at what he sifted through. There was nothing juicy, or even feminine about this bag. A man's razor blade; some large band logo t-shirts; and a small carrier of CDs (which weren't even good). There were some nicer dress shirts, which somewhat made sense, because some women wore those. Boxers. Wait, boxers? And not female boxers, but men's.

Turning his head towards Helga, he saw her sadistic smile, and zipped up the bag as fast as possible, not failing to notice the small stash of condom wrappers his hand briefly touched. He handed her the bag, and she thanked him as he took Arnold's bag in hopes of normalcy.

Oh, if only.

The poor man just about had a heart attack when the first thing he saw was a bra. A yellow and crème bra. With the tag daringly poking out just enough for him to see. 36. C.

Slowly, he lifted his head and looked at Arnold, who smiled and shrugged. As fast as humanly possible, then man zipped the bag back up, and just about threw it at Arnold's head.

"You're all good."

The two nodded, and made their way towards the metal detectors that led to the terminals. After an uneventful pass through the detectors, and a boring sit in the terminal, Helga suddenly became excited and pointed out the window. When he turned to look, Arnold saw the Southwest Airlines plane being taxied down the runway towards their docking bay. They watched the man unload and reload the plane with luggage, then turned their sights on the people shuffling their way off. Jetlag apparent on each and every one of their faces.

They made small talk as the plane boarded everyone in front of them, and then rose when their section of the plane was called. The woman feigned cheerfulness as she took half of their tickets – obvious dark circle under her eyes and a pack of Marlboros next to the phone as she kept checking the clock.

Helga led the way down the aisle of the plane, scanning the words above each seat as she looked for theirs. Finally she stopped at the section of three just behind the wing.

"Here they are: 18 D and E." She handed Arnold her Duffle bag as she shuffled into the seat next to the window. Arnold put the bags in the overhead compartment, and then sat next to her.

Overall, the flight was rather empty; no one sat in 18 F, so they didn't have to worry about a complete stranger next to them. There were a few boys their age in the row next to theirs who kept giving Helga approving glances, but Arnold ceased them when he allowed his right hand to slide along her thigh. She looked at him, but smiled and said nothing.

"The emergency exits are located at the front and back of the plane . . . In case of emergency, the life jackets will . . . . To inflate you pull. . . . To wear the airbags safely . . . . Thank you and enjoy the flight. Drinks and snacks will be provided once the plane has taken off." Helga smirked after the stewardess finished the safety speech and made her way to the back to strap in.

"You know, those life jackets would be very useful, too bad we aren't flying over any bodies of water." The two snickered, and listened as one of the Pilots' voices came over the speakers and told everyone aboard their destination, and expected time of arrival. Two hours from now.

The plane was taxied out of the terminal, and pulled towards an open runway. Helga smiled as she felt her heart begin to race. Every time she flies, she gets this feeling. Like she's on a roller coaster. She and Arnold looked out the window and watched the airport begin to quickly speed by, and suddenly it was moving lower and lower.

Helga gripped Arnold's hand and smiled at him when he looked her way. There was no mistaking the thrill he found in her eyes, nor the smile she received in return. He laced their fingers, and his grip tightened as he felt the plane point upwards. He had never been on a plane before, and was frightened out of his mind; but as he watched her smile at him reassuringly, his mind slowed to only a few coherent thoughts.

He was glad he was sharing this first with her, out of everyone.

And that there were a few other first he'd like to try with her.

HA

So far, the flight was uneventful. They were served soft drinks and little packets of peanuts, and the boys across from them started eyeing Helga once again. Helga was oblivious to the stares, her face buried in a book. They weren't served meals and Arnold was hungry. So hungry that he was about to tell those little shits to 'Fuck. Off.' when the plane jolted.

Helga looked up from her book at the second, much stronger jolt; and the two of them heard the Pilot's voice come on again.

"Sorry folks, but it appears we're gonna have some slight turbulence. Please put your trays and seats in the upright and locked position, and strap yourselves in."

Arnold just about slammed his tray closed and locked, and was grateful he never unbuckled his seatbelt. Helga was much calmer about this, as she carefully put in her bookmark, and swiftly uncrossed her legs. She never had her tray down; she just took drinks from Arnold.

The plane began to bump and shake, causing Arnold to begin hyperventilating. Helga saw this, and took his face in her hands.

"Football Head, hey, Football Head. Arnold!" she nearly shouted before he finally looked at her with fear in his eyes. Helga never wanted to see that look on his face again. Calmly, she spoke into his ear and caressed his cheek.

"Arnold, calm down. Breathe slowly. In. Out. In. Out. Shh, it's alright. Nothing bad is going to happen. Calm down." She kissed his cheek and pulled out, watching his face. His eyes were closed forcefully, but he wasn't as panicked. She smiled as the turbulence died down and he slowly opened his eyes.

"Thanks Helga." She nodded again, and was about to let go when there came another strong bounce. Arnold took hold of her hands in almost a vice grip as he slammed his eyes shut. Helga sighed, and put her forehead to his as she continued to whisper soft and soothing words.

It was gonna be a long flight.