Story Type: One Shot/Mini-Series Prelude

Character(s): Arnold, Helga

Others: Miles, Stella, (mentioned) Phil S., (mentioned) Gretchen S., (mentioned) Vincent/Pigeon Man

Genre(s): Family/Hurt/Comfort

Rating: T

Warnings: mentions alcoholism, brushes over death as well as divorce in non-descriptive manners

Note: Follows the events of the Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie by about 20-21 years later, thus the kids of the show are all older (most about 30-31, maybe 32 for some), with the exception of this first part. Arnold and Helga are in their early 20s. I haven't watched too much Hey Arnold! in a long while, so please forgive me for the flanderization of the characters, it is not intentional.

"I told you, Helga.." Arnold said, walking past her to his closet. "I don't want to stay. You've known that since we were kids." He said, his back to her as he opened the door to look through his clothes inside.

Helga scoffed. "You never outright said that, Football Head!" She stomped her feet as she walked over to him, pausing at the end of the bed to watch him. "What about me? What about what I want, huh?" She held her arms open, her brow furrowed.

Arnold, pausing in putting a pair of his folded cargo pants, sighed again. "It's always about what you want." He said, resuming his placing of his clothes inside the backpack.

"What did you say!?" Helga snapped at him, fed up with his attitude as he continued to pack his things.

Arnold didn't say anything, just continuing to put his things in the pack; pants, underwear, shirts, socks. Was he missing something?

"Hey! Football Head!" Helga grabbed his shoulders and turned him around so they were facing. "You aren't going anywhere!" She said, pulling him up so they were facing each other.

Arnold's eyes became angry. "You can't stop me, Helga!" He pushed Helga away, her stumbling a few steps back from him. "I'm going to help the Peace Core, just like my parents! It's not my problem if you won't go see a therapist for your anger, if you want to just stay here and wallow!" His eyes locked with her widening ones, he was pulling out all the stops. "We're done! I'm not going to let you hold me back anymore! Its because of you that I missed my grandfather's funeral all because it was at the same time as Ulga's wedding! You knew I was hurting, but you still made me go! I didn't get to say goodbye!" Tears welled in his eyes.

"A- Arnold.." Helga's voice was wavering, her eyes becoming wider as tears welled up inside.

"No, Helga! We're done! I'm going to join the Core and nothing you can say or do can stop me, because we're through!" Arnold was panting, his cheeks and ears were red and tears rolled down his face.

"We're.. we're done.." Helga repeated, tears rolling down her cheeks as she looked at him. "Y- you're right, Football Head.." She turned on her heel and walked out of the room.

Arnold watched her walk out, bitter and angry, too wrapped up in his emotions to stop her. It was her fault. She had held him back, so many times. And now he was free, free as a bird, like Vincent.

Helga stomped down the stairs of the boarding house, angry tears rolling down her face. She muttered angry things under her breath.

"Stupid Football Head. Stupid Humanitarian parents..."

She didn't notice that two people had heard their spat from the first floor, both concerned. She opened the door, turning to see Miles and Stella, Arnold's parents, looking at her with wide eyes. She ignored them, slamming the door and walking down the stoop, determined never to walk into that boarding house again.

Stella looked over to Miles. "Did we do this?" She asked in a soft voice.

Miles shook his head. "I don't think it has anything to do with us. But I can't help but feel bad, for Arnold. I had high hopes for them." He looked to the stairs. "Come on, I think we should go see Arnold."

Stella nodded, moving to the stairs and climbing them first, hearing Miles following her. She paused at the door to Arnold's room.

"Arnold?" She asked, knocking softly as Miles stopped beside her. "Honey?"

"I'm fine, mom." Arnold's voice came through the door, a twinge of anger seeping through his words.

"Can we come in, Arnold?" Miles was the next to speak, his voice calm despite him being worried.

"I'm not in the mood for company, dad." Arnold said through the door. "Can you and mom please, just go? I appreciate it, but I'll be okay."

Miles and Stella looked at one another, their worried and pained eyes connecting with one another. Arnold had never pushed them away, not since they had come back home some years ago. It stung, but they nodded to one another.

"Of course, Arnold. We'll be here, if you need us." Stella's voice was shakey now, like she was trying to keep her own emotions held back.

"See you in the morning, Arnold." Miles' voice was one of defeat, despite his understanding of Arnold's feelings and need for space. He gently pulled Stella away from the door, guiding her down the hall comfortingly to their room. They had reassured one another that this was for the best, taking with one another about how to best help Arnold.

It was late when they decided to just be there for him, help him through it.

Helga, meanwhile, stomped home. She unlocked the door to her house, finding her mother passed out on the couch, her flask in her hand, as she snored.

"Stupid mom.." Helga muttered, walking over and taking the flask from her hand and setting it on the table. She then covered her mother with a blanket before grabbing the flask and walking it over to sink and dumping out whatever was left in it as the water ran.

"Stupid Arnold.. 'just stay here and wallow!' ha!"

She rinsed the sink and dropped the flask in the trash. She had done this too many times to count, and now with Bob and her mother divorced, and Arnold and her now over, Helga needed to focus on something else. Her angry expression turned to her mother, passed out on the couch, waiting for her despite being drunk. Maybe she could focus on something else, and get better at the same time, she figured, her expression softening. She would help her mother, gain that mother-daughter bond she always wanted, and fix herself in the process. It was going to be hard, she knew, but she was Helga freakin' Pataki. She could do anything she wanted.

Arnold sighed, sitting on his bed as he shifted his gaze from the wall to the skylight. He had to leave soon, so why not go now?

He got off of the bed, grabbing his scarf and wrapped it loosely on his neck before slipping on his boots and grabbing his backpack. He quietly left his room, made his way down stairs and left through the front door. He walked down the stoop, pausing to look up at the boarding house with a bittersweet smile, and then walking down the road to catch a cab for a ride to the airport.

Stella watched her son, from the top of the stairs, as he walked out the door. She smiled softly, as the door closed behind her. A gentle bump on her leg caught her attention, making her look down to see a gentle faced pig who oinked softly, as though asking what was wrong with her and where was Arnold going?

"Hello Abner." She smiled, kneeling down to look at the pig, the old wedding gift from the Green Eyes. "Arnold is going away for a while. I don't know when he'll be back, but I hope he'll be safe."

"So he did leave, didn't he?" Came the voice of her husband, who had left their room in search of his wife. He was looking down at his wfie and the resident pig.

Stella nodded. "Unfortunatley. But, it was to be expected."

A soft smile came to Miles' lips, "that's our boy." He looked back down the hall to Arnold's now deserted room. Be safe, champ.