A/N I woke up this morning and as I prepared myself to get up and start the day this little one shot popped into my head. Realizing that yesterday was Arnold's birthday I decided to post it as a sort of belated birthday gift to him. So, Happy Birthday, Arnold.

The Paper Route

She woke up even before the sun had made its way over the horizon. She knew what day it was, she felt it in her soul. It was October 5th, the anniversary of the day Arnold's parents went missing. No one had to tell her. Over the years she had become so in tuned with him that it was almost as if she could always feel his strongest emotions.

Normally on this date she would do her best to stay out of his way, her little gift to him. It was her way of saying "I feel your pain buddy and I understand". But being older now she felt she wanted to do something a little more. A grand gesture one could say. After giving it some thought she jumped out of bed and hurried to get dressed.

Last year, when Arnold turned ten, he took on the job as paperboy, his route being the neighborhood of the PS 118 gang. She knew this, and she knew who each of his customers were. She also knew that any time now a stack of papers would be delivered to his front stoop for folding and delivering so she didn't have much time to spare.

Grabbing her bike and helmet she took off into the still dark streets towards the boarding house,

His alarm went off and rolling over his hand hit the off switch a little harder than he had meant to. It had been a rough night for him, anticipating what was always the worse day of each year. He grabbed the picture he kept of his parents off his shelf, his fingers touching the cool glass that covered it. Looking out the glass ceiling that covered his room, he watched the fading stars as the bourgeoning sun began extinguishing their glow one by one. Dreading the day before him he pushed himself out of bed and got dressed. Passing the quiet doors of the sleeping tenants he let himself out the front door to begin the tedious folding process of the papers that needed delivering.

As he opened the door his eyes fell upon Helga as she sat. There was a pile of neatly folded newspapers, bound in rubber bands, sitting beside her. Rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn't dreaming he walked down the steps to her.

"Helga?" He questioned.

She looked up from her task and gave him a quiet smile. Without saying anything she continued folding.

He sat down beside her, a look of confusion on his face.

"What are you doing?"

She replied to him teasingly and without malice for once, "I'm sailing the Seven Seas looking for America, Arnoldo, what does it look like I'm doing? Doi."

"I can see that, but what I mean is, Why?"

Knowing his sensitivity over the day she kept her voice soft. "I couldn't sleep and was restless. I felt like getting out for some exercise so I took a bike ride through the neighborhood and saw your stack of papers. I thought I'd do a good deed and decided to help fold your papers. Nothing to get your shorts up in a knot over."

Still unable to take it all in he just gave her a lone "Oh", and helped her fold the rest of the papers.

When they were done she got up and began stuffing the small basket on her bike with his charge. He stuffed his bag with the rest.

"I'll take that side of the street, Arnoldo," she said as she pointed across the way, "you can take the other."

"You don't have to do this Helga."

"I know." She said as she sped off to the corner house.

Still at a loss for anything coherent to say he followed her on the opposite side of the street. They paralleled each other for a while in silence, only broken with the occasional "Hey Arnold" whenever her basket became empty. They'd meet in the middle of the street and silently refill her stock.

By the third time her basket needed refilling he had relaxed a bit and actually had begun to smile. He noticed the rosy glow to her cheeks from the exercise of pedaling her bike for so long. That, combined with the content smile that played on her face seemed to take away a bit of the hurt. Replacing it with a calm he never thought he'd find on a day like today.

As time went on their ride became more playful. Their bikes cutting in to each other's path, short races to the next corner. At one point Arnold even brought his bike as close as he could get to hers and reaching out, pulled on one of the pig tails that stuck out from her helmet, eliciting a childish giggle from her and giving him a small thrill.

The route finally ended down towards the harbor end of the town. There was a donut shop that was just opening up.

"Hey, Helga, how about I buy you breakfast for all your hard work?" Arnold asked, hoping she'd say yes.

"Okay, Hair Boy, I could use the fuel for the ride back."

This made him happier than he realized it would and, dismounting their bikes he held the door for her as she entered the shop. The smell of her shampoo hit his nose as she walked by, causing him to take a deep breath. The scent filled him and he held his breath for a moment, storing it to memory.

They made their purchase and placing their bounty in her bike's basket took off towards the Warf. They walked to the end of the pier, donuts and chocolate milks in hand and sat at its edge, dangling their feet above the water.

They were comfortable in their silence and ate peacefully, watching as the fishing boats floated in with their catch.

Arnold found that he was sad to take his last bite of donut, knowing that that would hail in the end of their morning together and he would have to say good-bye. Taking his time with the last of his drink he noticed her hand sitting beside her on the pier. Placing his own over hers she turned and their eyes locked.

"Helga, I want to th…."

She cut him off. "Save it Football Head, it's no big deal, just one friend helping another out." Thinking, she added, "I just wanted to make this day a little better for you is all."

Smiling, he squeezed her hand and no more was said on the subject.

Finally the time had come for them to head back. As before the ride was playful and carefree.

When they reached her house she got off her bike and started to hoist it up the stairs. Getting off his he hurried to catch up to her and took the bike from her, leaning it up against the front door.

Looking her in the eye he surprised himself as he leaned forward and gave her a kiss on her cheek. With his face in full blush he said, "Thanks, Helga."

Trying her best to hold on to her composure she gave a demure smile and said, "Anytime, Arnold."

He watched her as she entered her house before getting back on his bike. By now the neighborhood was beginning to wake up. He rode the rest of the way home with a smile on his face.

He met his grandfather as he entered the house. Knowing how this day always made Arnold feel he was gentle as he spoke to the boy.

"Good morning Shortman, how're you doing today?"

Giving the question some thought Arnold smiled and said, "You know, Grandpa, I'm going to be okay."

The End