Okay...starfiction123 requested I write a story where Helga exposed her monologues. HOWEVER the purpose was for there to be no drama...which I didn't consider until AFTER I began writing it. Therefore, there are two parts to this story.

Part 1 has the drama and is Rated T. Part 2 is Humor and Rated K+. Hopefully, you will read and enjoy them both! Thanks :)

Chapter 1: Pick One

Oh Arnold! My love! So kind and nurturing! Your endless desire to put another person's needs before your own. Your sensitive soul which allows you to see the bright light in even the most eccentric of people. The way you see mending the problems of others as though it were the air you need to breathe. Oh my darling, I….

"Helga?"

"Arnold! I mean, stop creeping up on me!"

"Sorry. I just needed to grab the book I forgot from my locker. You ready to go?"

"Pttss...I was ready to leave before we got here."

Arnold and Helga had been together for nearly three years. Summer was approaching, which meant they were on the verge of beginning high school and a whole new chapter of their lives. Although Helga had finally grown used to the idea of holding hands in public, eating lunch together, and going as far as kissing in front of their friends, there was still one quality of hers she just had to keep hidden…

"So, what were you doing while I was grabbing my book?" Arnold asked, holding his girlfriend's hand down the sidewalk.

Tugging at her collar with her free hand, Helga said "Uhh nothing? Who said I was doing anything except waiting for your slowpoke self?"

Although she had managed to do a nice job of covering up her feelings with her negative behavior before they became a couple, the more time they spent together made it easier and easier for Arnold to see through her phony displays.

"It sounded like you were talking to someone." he said, rubbing her hand softly, hearing a small gulp release from her.

"Umm...unless you mean when I was screaming at the lockers 'What is taking football head so long?' I don't know what you're talking about?" she scoffed, hoping it would be a good enough excuse.

"Whatever you say Helga."

Slausens

"Which life lesson do you suppose will be best suited for our English paper Gerald?" Phoebe requested knowing. As she sat in the parlor across the booth from her boyfriend, the two of them began reviewing ideas for the new English assignment their class had been given.

"Seeing as how I know more about life's legends than I do it's lessons, I say we go with whatever's easiest." Gerald insisted, taking a sip of his chocolate shake.

"On the contrary Gerald, things which appear to be easiest in life are what tend to be most difficult. People don't always take the time to truly consider what it is they're looking at. This being one of life's great lessons, believe it or not." Phoebe explained, as her boyfriend began to shake his head.

"Mm, mm, mmm! Tell me, does he have 'you can't always win in real life' on that sheet? If so, I call dibs!" Gerald exclaimed, referring to the list of suggestive topics their teacher had given them for their English report.

Boarding House

"For cry out loud hairboy! It seems like your zoo gets bigger every time I come here." Helga scowled, as she watched the sea of animals pour out the open door.

"Nothing new has been added recently." he smiled, taking her hand, walking her into the boarding house. On their way towards the stairs, Arnold heard…

"That you shortman?"

Arnold began to walk his girlfriend into the kitchen, where he saw his grandpa sitting with the paper.

"Hey grandpa."

"Hey shortman! How was school?"

"Not bad. We've got an English paper to work on. We'll be in my room." he explained, quickly dragging her upstairs.

Slausens

"I suppose that would be an interesting topic. It would be a helpful reminder to our classmates that sadly, life does bare limitations when it comes to happiness and success." Phoebe thought out loud.

"Who cares what the rest of the class thinks? I just know it's true, and have plenty of examples to go along with it." Gerald said proudly, watching his girlfriend giggle.

"Then I suppose the next step would be to go home and do any other necessary research to go along with it."

"Let's get to it babe!" Gerald said happily, helping his girlfriend out of the booth.

Arnold's Room

"Well, I guess we can get started." Arnold suggested, taking a seat on his bed beside his girlfriend.

"So, what's our 'special' teacher got on that life changing list of suggestions of his?" Helga smirked…

Be Bold

Choose Friends Wisely

You're Stronger Than You Think

Home Is Truly Sweet

Keep An Open Mind

Follow Your Passion

Be Extraordinary Every Day

Identify With Others

Looking over the list, Helga cocked her brow and scoffed "Criminy! What'd this guy do? Stalk you?!"

Giving his girlfriend a perplexed look, Arnold asked "What's that supposed to mean?"

"This list has your name written all over it football head! Just think about everything you've done for this helpless/moronic city over the years." Helga scoffed, trying to get through to her boyfriend.

Phoebe's Room

"An important lesson to be learned here is not to let the fear of failure override your desire to make decisions." Phoebe sat on her bed beside her boyfriend, researching their topic.

This made Gerald think back to the day he and his best friend had saved the neighborhood. It was all because they went against this soul crushing fact of life by following his best friend's way of living...looking on the brightside.

"Yeah, I guess life would be kind of pointless if you weren't willing to take a risk every now and then." Gerald sighed, wrapping his arm around his girlfriend.

Arnold's Room

"Just because I helped a few people doesn't mean I'm the most amazing person in the city, Helga." Arnold rolled his eyes, not knowing what she was getting so worked up about.

Helga didn't know what she found to be more frustrating; holding back her passion for his modesty or his cluelessness to it?

Clenching her fists at the idea of him acting that clueless about how important he was to the city, Helga scoffed "Arnold, what's tall hair boy always saying you are?"

"Bold. So what?"

Standing, full of agitation, she waved her hands in the air "So what?! Football head, being bold means you're a risk taker! You're not afraid to face a challenge! And what's amazing is you don't do it to show off like those other lame brains out there, you do it because…."

Getting lost in her thoughts, forgetting she was actually speaking to the source of her anger, she began to spill out what no longer seemed to be frustrating feelings…

"What lies beneath that sweet smile and those loving eyes, is a sensitive, caring soul. One that won't rest until the needs of our city are met and…."

Half way through her outspoken monologue, Helga glanced down at her baffled boyfriend. Sitting on the bed, wide eye, thinking to himself Uh...did she MEAN to say all that out loud? He watched her begin to rub her arm, blushing terribly.

After seeing the vulnerable state he wasn't sure whether or not he should blame himself for her being put in, he patted for her to sit down beside him.

After quietly taking a seat beside him, she felt him take her hand in his and listened to him say "So, tell me more about ME…"

Phoebe's Room

"How about the time we all got canned on trash can day! That day sure didn't feel like a winner!" Gerald reminded Phoebe, trying to come up with examples to go along with their report.

"Although it certainly didn't end in our favor, it does pertain quite well to this situation. You and Arnold trusted what turned out to be a fifth grader in disguise who was merely attempting to double cross you. The two of you took a risk to avoid the dire consequences of being thrown into the trash cans…."

"We all know how that turned out." Gerald interrupted in a monotone voice.

"While things ended poorly, you learned a valuable lesson from it all."

"Yeah...don't trust strangers...no matter how much trouble your dignity's in." Gerald said wittingly.

Arnold's Room

"So that's what you were doing in the hallway; talking to yourself about me." he winked, seeing her blush even harder.

"Okay football head, we can get back to the report." she scoffed, hoping he'd drop it.

"You said this list is all about me. Tell me, what are some examples of times I've chosen friends wisely?"

Rolling her eyes at his request, she scoffed "Pttss...please. Since when have you ever NOT agreed to be somebody's friend?"

Placing his hand on her face, stroking her cheek with his thumb, he watched her eyes widened at the thought of him pushing for more information…

Criminy! It's not enough he knows I have feelings for him. He's just going to make me pour my stupid heart out about every freakin' fact!

"I don't know? I'm waiting for you to tell me." he smiled, picking her hand up with his other, lacing their fingers together. Although his eyes hadn't left hers, he could sense her shaking at the touch of his hand.

"Well…"

"Yeah?" he asked, leaning his head against hers. Stroking her trembling hand with his thumb, he listened to her clear her throat, trying to think of how to describe how great he was, without falling into her poetic mode again.

"I guess it's not WHO you choose to be friends with, so much as it is that...that…" Helga hesitated as she shut her eyes almost as tight as her grip was on Arnold's hand. She could feel her blood running cold. It was as if the words he was asking to hear were trying to let themselves out on their own. Her reputation still had a firm grip on them however.

As he watched the petrified state she was in, Arnold ran his comforting hand over her head. Running his fingers through her silky blonde hair. His whispered in her ear "I won't laugh at you."

"That you're willing to be friends with anyone. Any needy, lonely, pathetically isolated soul that may be crying out for attention in whatever wretched situation this sorry excuse for a city has thrust upon them!"

Phoebe's Room

"What about the time Ludwig took over the vacant lot with Wolfgang! Man! I spent the whole night hanging with Arnold and Pataki by my shirt collar on the field goal listening to those two tell each other how awesome they think they both are!" Gerald shook his head, remembering the night like it was yesterday.

"That day was a bit of an inconvenience due to the fact they both had an advantage over us when it came to both age and size."

"Does that mean winning in life revolves around those two things? If so, we should write in our report for everyone not to get their hopes up about anything until college." Gerald insisted.

Arnold's Room

Holding his trembling girlfriend in his arms, stroking her hair as she laid her head against his shoulder, he asked "Are you okay, Helga?"

Lifting her head, sighing deeply at the thought of being so overly dramatic with him, she replied "Yeah, let's just get back to the paper."

Rubbing her hand, stroking her cheek again, he whispered in her ear "I like this activity more."

Her eyes widened at the sound of this. She hadn't done a decent job of holding back her passion while revealing her true feelings.

"Uhhh...don't be ridiculous. We need to get to work." she stuttered

"I've found another use for our 'special' teacher's special list...thanks to you." he winked, hearing her gulp heavily.

Looking into her sapphire eyes, resting his forehead against hers, he leaned in to meet her quivering lips. Even the sweet touch of her beloved couldn't put her mind at ease.

Arnold could feel her lips continuing to quiver beneath his at the idea of revealing her passionate side. Placing a hand behind her head, he pulled her close, slowly sucking her lips, hoping to relax her.

He felt they had been together long enough for her to not have anything to be ashamed of. Perhaps it wasn't the thought of revealing intimate information she felt for him that was embarrassing. It was showing what a passionate person she was that she found to be a bit overwhelming.

Feeling her lips stilling beneath his, he slowly took his back to ask "How do you know how strong I think I am?"

Library

"I don't reckon I have any ideas for the assignment Ms. Lila." Stinky admitted, watching his classmate eye the list of suggestions.

"Don't worry Stinky, I'm ever so certain we should pick 'identify with others.'"

"Ya reckon so?"

Nodding her head politely, Lila explained "It means to empathize with them, which is just ever so sweet."

"What in the heck does empathize mean?"

"To put yourself in another person's place, so you are able to understand any oh so terrible troubles they may be experiencing."

Phoebe's Room

"What about the time we all got stuck at school during the flood?" Bet Simmons was regretting that 'ten minutes won't make the slightest difference' statement." Gerald rolled his eyes, while Phoebe tried holding back her laugh.

"True. While it would have been just as relevant to save his information for after the break, he did prove to us his theory of working as a tribe was useful."

Phoebe sat writing down the information, as Gerald shook his head at the thought of that being the only reason their lives were put in danger.

"What do you suppose Arnold and Helga chose for their life lesson topic?" Phoebe asked.

"If I know my man, it won't be anything too similar to this."

Arnold's Room

Although Arnold could feel his girlfriend trembling at the idea of revealing her intimate thoughts about him, he couldn't ignore the idea of getting her to reveal them. She had already confirmed how amazing she felt he was. What was there to be afraid of?

Leaning his head against hers, meeting her nose with his, he rubbed her hand to comfort her, as he whispered softly "I'm still waiting for your answer."

Sitting there with her eyes shut, trying to breath steadily, she felt a hand placed on her thigh. Her heart began to pound when she felt it moving further up her dress. "I...I…"

"Yes?" he asked anxiously, rubbing his cheek against hers.

Helga could feel butterflies forming in her stomach when her beloved's hand made it all the way up her leg. As he held it there, he began massaging her thigh, hoping to comfort her. Despite wanting her mind put at ease, he wasn't going to allow her to run away from this topic. She opened the door; he wasn't leaving.

She was tempted to keep quiet; act as though this was all a dream. That is until she felt his hand begin to rub her lower region. What she assumed was a mistake turned into a repetition of him rubbing and squeezing her lower area.

A deep swoon released from her. Feeling such a loving act sent her into one of her dazes. Only thinking of the wonderful connection she felt with her beloved, she couldn't help but say…

"Oh Arnold! Can't you see? Your optimistic attitude, your brightside way of thinking, your philanthropist style of living. This weak city cries out for your brawny nature! Only you my love are worthy of fixing the everyday affairs of the sorrowful weaklings that fill the streets of this wretched town."

Phoebe's Room

"I believe we've gathered enough ideas for one evening Gerald." Phoebe suggested, putting away her notebook.

"Sounds good to me babe." Gerald said, standing from the bed. Looking at what almost appeared to be an enticing smile on his girlfriend's face, he was reminded of the look they shared in San Lorenzo.

The steady silence between them made her begin to blush after taking notice of Gerald standing there, simply smiling at her.

Taking her hand in his, he said "So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."

"I'm looking forward to it." Phoebe nodded, expecting him to leave.

Before grabbing his books, Gerald bent over to give his girlfriend a short but sweet kiss on the lips.

"That moment felt like a winner." he winked, seeing Phoebe's eyes light up with satisfaction. "I concur."

Arnold's Room

By that point, Helga was as pink as her dress. She would have thought the more passion she revealed, the better she would feel. Instead, the more she let out, the harder she began to shake.

Placing a hand on her face, Arnold said softly "It's okay Helga. I like hearing these sweet things from you. Don't stop now."

"I think enough information has been revealed for one night." Helga managed to roll her eyes.

Picking up both her hands to lace her fingers with, he leaned his head against hers as he said "I don't."

Rhonda's Room

"Have you decided on a topic for the report, Rhonda?" Nadine asked, while looking over at her stylish friend fixing her hair in the mirror.

"I believe it's obvious…" Rhonda began, not looking to see Nadine shrug her shoulders.

After finishing her hair, not receiving a response from Nadine, Rhonda turned to say "Be extraordinary every day! Seriously Nadine, why would any of those other topics matter if you weren't willing to be recognized for them?"

After rolling her eyes at the remark, Nadine sighed, knowing Rhonda wouldn't like her suggestion to do a report on how helpful her most recent insect discovery could be to people.

"Fine. What lesson is this supposed to be teaching people?"

"Being extraordinary is all about being successful! Why bother getting out of bed in the morning if you're just going to live your life the way a plain, mediocre...dare I say poor, person would.

Arnold's Room

Pinning her back, with their fingers still laced, Arnold laid on top of his girlfriend. Looking into her sweet, sapphire eyes, as he felt himself moving up and down against her heavily breathing chest.

Leaning closer towards her, he nuzzled their noses together while asking "So, what is it about home that makes you think of me?"

As she felt her beloved gently rubbing his cheek against hers, she felt the need to shut hers eyes, trying to think exactly what was it about him that reminded her of home. There wasn't anything about him that reminded her of her home? Her family made her feel neglected; nothing more than an outcast. The last thing she felt she was when she was around Arnold. Even before they were dating, he at least treated her with respect. He was kind, welcoming, and made her feel as though she mattered.

"There isn't anything." she said, clearing her throat, looking at the perplexed look he gave her.

"I thought you said that list reminded you of me?"

"It does…"

Feeling her squeeze his hands tightly, breathing heavily beneath him, she watched the perplexed look on his face turn to the sweet smile and half lidded expression she had described to him before.

Gently pressing his lips against hers, resting them there, he asked "What is it about me then that's truly sweet?"

Helga's lips began to quiver as she felt her beloved running his tongue alongside them. Placing his lips over hers, he left just enough space between them to ask "Well…?"

Arnold could sense the uncomfortable state he was putting his girlfriend in. He just couldn't leave it alone. He knew she loved him. She knew he knew she loved him. It still wasn't enough. He wanted to hear her show it, (if that made any sense). He wanted to witness the passion behind her words, rather than simply know it existed. If this was what it took to make it happen (putting her in a vulnerable position) then so be it.

As he continued swiping his tongue along her lips, waiting for a response, he began to feel himself moving even quicker up and down against her chest.

Removing his lips, he looked down to see his heavily breathing girlfriend, who looked as though she was ready to speak.

"I...I…"

"Yes?" he asked, gripping her hands tightly, nuzzling his cheek beside her again.

Moments past and still nothing was said. Giving her a soft kiss on the lips, he realized the comforting position that made her words flow so smoothly before. That being said, he unlaced their fingers.

Resting his sweet lips against her trembling ones, the two closed their eyes, breathing gently against one another. Helga laid there relieved at the idea of not having to reveal another poetic response until she felt her beloved sliding his hands up her shirt sleeves.

Being held tightly in his arms, she felt Arnold running his hands inside her dress along her smooth, bareback.

Arnold finally heard Helga release a content moan, as he pressed their chests tightly together. Feeling his smooth hands inside her dress gave her the urge to open her mouth wider, letting him inside at last.

Laying there, playing with her tongue, it was almost as if he was trying to help get an answer out of her.

Tilting his head to the side, Arnold felt what he assumed was just his girlfriend releasing a content sigh. That is, until he felt her lips moving repeatedly…

"Oh Arnold, you ARE my home! The sweet, welcoming nurturer which passes out the attention and affection any lost, poor soul would be in need of. The healer of my emotionally damaged heart. The provider of hope for those in their most despairing of times."

Gerald Field

"Aww why do we have to do this stupid project! I don't care about whatever life's lessons are on that sheet he gave us." Harold sighed, tossing the ball to his partner.

"I know. I went with 'keep an open mind.' It sounded like it would relate to anything, which made it seem pretty easy." Sid explained.

"Well, as long as it's easy."

Arnold's Room

Running his fingers through her hair, he looked down at his sensitive girlfriend and asked "You really think I'm that amazing?"

Watching her slowly nod her head, Arnold sat up to remove his sweater. Helga laid there gulping at the sight of him unbuttoning his shirt, thinking back to the one night she had seen him undress before.

Laying back down on top of her, kissing her neck, he asked "When have you seen me keep an open mind?"

Almost forgetting the intimate moment she was sharing with her boyfriend, Helga rolled her eyes and smirked "Pttss...please! All you ever do is allow yourself to open up to people and any lame ideas they may have about something."

"You're not telling me when though?" he smiled, running his finger across her lips.

"Well...look at all those freaks of nature in our city you helped in the past; pigeon man, monkey man, stoop kid. Every time one of our classmates had a problem, you volunteered to find a way to fix it. Not that it was any of your business." she smirked.

Helga continued laying there, looking up at her intrigued boyfriend, while doing her best to ignore the enticing look on his face. It just couldn't be done however. The longer he gazed into her sapphire eyes with his emerald ones, the more she could sense him crying out for a more passionate answer…

"Whenever a cry for help is near by, 'tis you my beloved willing to be their watchful eyes. Whenever the world has treated someone unfair, you don't hesitate to show your tender loving care."

Arnold then watched his girlfriend look away from him after shaking her head fiercely, realizing what she had said.

Turning her face back to meet him, he replied "Like you said, I can't go a day without butting into other people's business."

As he watched a weak smile form on her face, Arnold began sliding his arms up her shirt sleeves. Helga laid there, resting her arms on his shoulders, feeling her boyfriend run his soft hands up her arms until they were at last around her back.

They could each feel the strumming of each other's heartbeats with their chest pressed tightly together. Arnold placed his lips over what were now Helga's calm sweet lips. Although they were no longer quivering, shivers began flowing through her body at the feel of him slowly sucking on them.

The next thing on Mr. Simmons list of suggestive topics was 'follow your passion.'

Laying there with his girlfriend in his arms, hearing her release such intimate feelings in such a passionate way was beginning to build up intense feelings inside Arnold.

Pressing his lips firmly against hers, thinking back to their kiss on FTi. It was as if he was trying to repay her for not returning her feelings that night. Tilting his head to press his nose further against hers, the two of them were at the point where they were practically breathing each other's air.

Despite the closeness of their position, it still wasn't enough. Feeling her smooth backside with his hands was giving him the urge for more.

Arnold took back his arms from Helga's sleeves to sit her up a moment. Sadly, he had to take back his lips as well. Helga felt her boyfriend lift her up to remove her dress and shirt.

The two sat up shirtless as Helga set her arms on Arnold's shoulders, feeling him kiss her neck once again. In between kissing her, she listened to him say "We can skip the next one."

Not that she wasn't relieved at the idea of getting through the list of exposing her feelings, she still couldn't help but cock her brow and ask "Why is that, football head?"

As he lifted his head to give her his signature look, Arnold rested his lips against hers, whispering "It says to follow your passion. I think we both know what mine is."

A heavy swoon released from her, thinking about the strong feelings Arnold felt for her. The way he was never afraid to expose them to anyone, no matter their reaction. If only she could be the same way.

Helga sat there feeling her boyfriend run his fingers through her silky hair as he swiped his tongue alongside her own. A pleasurable moan released from her as she felt his hands move from her hair to behind her head, pushing their faces firmly together. What did she have to be worried about as far as revealing her feelings went?

Barely releasing her lips, remaining close enough to feel as though she was breathing his warm breath as her own, she listened to him ask "What is it about me you find to be extraordinary?"

Helga didn't know where to begin with this. Every day he found a new way to impress her. Just the fact that someone like him would even consider being with someone like her seemed extraordinary to her.

"Uhh…"

"Yes?" he asked anxiously, kissing her neck, fighting the urge to suck it.

"I guess it's the way you always manage to fix everyone's problems. I mean criminy! Half the people in this town you've helped are middle aged, and yet, you've been the one to solve their issues." she scoffed.

Feeling him lean his head against hers, she listened to him say "Your age has nothing to do with your problems. Everyone needs help sometimes Helga."

She would have rolled her eyes at his reasonable remark, had he not put a hand to her face, softly stroking her cheek. "Besides, we've been helping each other since we've known each other."

Helga's eyes fell half lidded at the idea of him remembering the day they met. Not only that, but actually cherishing the memory of it as much as she did.

"Oh my beloved! Willing to go to such lengths to put others ahead of yourself. Making sure not to rest until the needs of the many have all been met."

Still in a daze after reciting her monologue, Arnold took notice of the loving facial expression that remained in her eyes. Running his fingers through her hair, he softly rested his lips against hers.

Her eyes then widened as she realized what she had done. Shaking her head fiercely, she said "Or you know, something along those lines."

"Even the fact that I remember that day AND feel the same way about you isn't enough to ease your mind about sharing your poetic side with me?" Arnold frowned.

Sighing deeply, she said "Look Arnold, if there was ever anyone I'd be comfortable doing that with, it would be you. It's just going to take some time getting used to it. It wasn't exactly easy for me opening up to you to begin with."

Although this hurt, Arnold was able to understand due to possessing another quality from their teacher's list of suggestions...identifying with others. "I guess I understand. I hope you know that I love you and won't ever judge you for anything you say."

"Thanks football head." she smiled, feeling his soft lips against hers once more.