Hi, everyone! I've been a fan of Hey, Arnold! ever since I was a kid, but this is my first attempt at a HA fanfic. I hope everyone enjoys this.

Disclaimer: Not mine!

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Sometimes all you need is a little distance to remind you of what you had, what you lost, and what you might yet have.

Arnold Shortman sighed as he stood in front of the old boarding house, the place he had called home for the first eighteen years of his life. Everything was pretty much the same, except it was now run by Mr. Potts. His grandparents had passed away within three months of each other shortly after his high school graduation. He had always believed they simply couldn't live without each other. The following August, he had moved out west and started school. Now, four years later, he was home again. Just as it will, time had moved everyone on, but things still appeared the same.

Shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans, Arnold rocked back on his heels as he looked up at the building.

"Hey, Arnold!"

The voice, though familiar, was starkly different. He felt his breath catch in his throat as he turned to face her.

Helga Pataki stood in front of him, her arms folded over her chest. She was dressed in a soft pink dress that stopped just above her knees. The soft material flowed around her slender body. He had not seen her since his grandfather's funeral, where she had grabbed his arm and stayed by him as he stared at the casket until all the guests had disappeared and they were the only ones left. She had been steadfast in staying with him for hours that night, but when the morning rolled around, he left her and began planning the rest of his life. His mouth went dry as she came up the steps and stopped in front of him.

"I heard you were back," she murmured, her voice void of all the hatred he remembered from their youth. "Had to see for myself."

He nodded slightly. "Graduated in May."

"Me, too."

They stood there for the longest time, uncertain of what to say or do. Just like Gerald, Helga had somehow found her way into his life and into his heart, where she had always been no matter how far he ran. Her light blue eyes studied him with their same usual intensity, words hanging on the tip of her tongue and his. Without his consent, his feet carried him toward her until there were only a few inches of precious space between them. A sudden gust of wind blew a lock of golden hair into her face, and he instinctively reached out and tucked it behind her ear. They both shivered at the contact. How could this even be possible? They had not seen each other in four years, and yet here they were as though not a second had passed since the last time they had seen each other.

"Arnold, I…" Her voice trailed off, and for the first time, Helga looked afraid.

He nodded. "I know. Me, too."

"Really?" Her tone was almost desperate.

"Yeah." His hand moved down from her face to cradle her elbow gently. "Let's go get some coffee."

She finally laughed, and a heavy weight was lifted from both of them. "Coffee, football head?"

Some things never changed, not really. "For a start." He pulled her down the steps with him, and just like that, the rest of their lives began.

Finis

A/N: Well, there ya'll have it. I hope everyone has enjoyed this, and please remember to review!