A/N We've come to the fourth and final chapter of this little love story. All that is left after this is the Epilogue which I will post later this week. I purposely wanted the story to be short and sweet but in doing so I know I have probably glazed over things that could use more explanation. I will be taking care of that by writing a series of small one shots to fill in the gaps. For instance, in Part 3 of this chapter I mention a certain locket that Arnold gives Helga but don't really say anything about it. Those facts will be taken care of in a tale titled "The Locket" so keep an eye out for it if you will. If there is anything you'd like to see expanded just drop me a comment and we'll see what happens. Now, sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy….

Chapter 4

It Was Always You

Part 1

A couple of days had passed since Helga had her conversation with Gerald. She kept what he had said to herself, not even telling Phoebe. She wondered just what Arnold had said to Gerald to make him come to her like he did. It was so out of character for him that it scared her a bit. Just how serious were things becoming? From what Gerald had said she realized that perhaps what Arnold has been telling her is the truth. That things weren't like they were before, back when they were kids. Perhaps it was time to grow up and face things head on. But was it too late? She needed a way to let Arnold know that she is willing to be better friends without having to actually use any words. It was the first Saturday in October now and his birthday was just a couple of days away. "That's it!" she thought, "Nothing like an apology disguised as a gift to set things right." She called Phoebe up and asked her if she'd accompany her to the mall.

They had gotten to the mall around lunchtime and they were both starving. They got a bite to eat at the food court and found the only clean table available. They chatted as they sat and ate.

"You know, it's almost homecoming," Phoebe said.

"Yeah, so, what's it to me?" Helga replied through a mouth full of pizza.

"Well Gerald confided in me that Arnold is planning on asking you to go with him."

"Ugh," Helga replied outwardly while inwardly her heart gave a flutter. "Of course, that's all I need."

"Look, Helga," Phoebe said, suddenly becoming serious. "Don't take this so flippantly. You can't keep pushing Arnold away. One day he's going to have enough and stop trying and move on to someone else and he'd have no trouble finding someone to take your place." Phoebe was looking her in the eye now, trying to make Helga see her point. "Just the other day I heard Lila say to Sheena that perhaps she was wrong to not pursue Arnold, and I was in my history class when I heard some girl ask her friend if she knew who Arnold was and how she could see herself as his girlfriend."

The mention of Lila talking about Arnold gave Helga some concern and she wondered just who this mysterious history class girl was. She pondered this for a moment before returning her attention to Phoebe.

"…..so you see, Helga, if you really want your chance with Arnold it's time to put your silly pride aside and talk to him."

"Ok, ok, geeze Pheebs. I'll think about it, all right?"

Phoebe gave her a smile and said, "Ok, good. Now, tell me, just what are we doing here anyway. You never said what it is you're shopping for."

"Well," Helga said as she ran her fingers through her hair, "I - Uh – was actually thinking of getting Arnold a birthday present. I – Uh – well, his birthday is coming up and I – uh thought it might be a nice gesture, you know, as a way to sort of calm the waters."

A huge smile filled Phoebe's face. "Why, that's a wonderful idea!"

Part 2

Arnold's birthday always seemed tinged with sadness whenever it came around. On the outside he would smile and join in on the celebrations like nothing was wrong, but it was at night, when he was alone in his room when the sadness would hit. He remembers the stories his grandfather would tell him about how his parents had met and all the adventures they had gone on. By the time he had come around they had made the decision to settle down in an effort to give Arnold a more stable life. They had every intention in doing so but it was when their good friend from a place called San Lorenzo had shown up when things changed. There was trouble in the village they used to live in and the people there were desperate for help. His parents didn't want to leave but these people had been good to them and had protected them while they were in the jungle so they felt as if they had no choice but to go to help them in their time of need. They'd promised Arnold's grandparents that they would be gone no more than two weeks and begrudgingly took off just two days before his first birthday. That was the last anyone had seen of them. Rumor had gotten around that on their way to San Lorenzo their plane had gone down, but no one had ever found any wreckage nor their bodies. It was a mystery and thus the reason for Arnold's great sadness every October 7th. So it was with heavy heart that he made his way to the front door to head off to school.

As he opened the door and stepped outside he noticed a small, festively wrapped package with his name on it. Curious, he slipped the card out of the envelope. He immediately recognized the handwriting on the card and his heart skipped a beat as he read it.

"Dear Foot Ball Head, just a little something to hopefully brighten your day.

It's not much so don't go over thinking it. Also, I guess I'm sorta

Sorry for the way I've been acting over the last couple of months. I

Hope you will forgive me. Happy Birthday,

Helga"

He couldn't think of one thing that had ever made him as happy as he was at this moment. He ripped into the package to find a CD of an obscure Jazz band that he had been going crazy searching for but to no avail, it was nowhere to be found. He remembered mentioning to Gerald that he had been trying to get ahold of it but kept coming up emptyhanded. He had no idea how she had been able to come across it but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered to him right now except for the fact that she had, once again, gone through great trouble for him. He made a vow right then and there that he was going to make her his if it was the last thing he did.

She wasn't in homeroom that day, nor any of her other classes too. Why would she skip school after leaving him such a thoughtful gift? Who was he kidding, he knew exactly why she didn't show up. Because if she had he would have made a big fuss over her gift which would bring attention to her softer side and she hated anyone seeing her with her guard down. Ok he thought, he'd let her have this one but after school he was going to find her and finally get what he had to say off his chest.

It was 4:00 before he finally found her at City Park, sitting on the bench under the big tree. She had her earbuds in so she didn't hear him approach. He sat down next to her and as she looked up at him he gave her a gentle smile. She pulled the earbuds out of her ears and gave him a quiet "hello".

"I got your gift" He said.

"Oh good. You don't already have it do you?" She asked.

"Are you kidding!" He exclaimed. "No, of course not, I've searched high and low on the internet, and in every off the wall music store I ran across and never found anyone who had a copy available. How'd you do it?"

"Well, when you're the daughter of Big Bob Pataki, the newly self-proclaimed electronics king, strings can get pulled, favors can be gotten. Do – do you like it?"

"Do I like it! Helga, I Love it, thank you!" He exclaimed as he threw his arms around her in a tight hug.

She smiled and half-heartedly pushed him away and said through a giggle, "Ok, ok, no need to get all emotional on me."

He let go of her and they sat in silence for a minute as he gathered up the courage to ask her about homecoming.

"Um, Helga, I want to ask you something." He said as his hand came up and he nervously ran his fingers through his hair.

Knowing where this was leading and ready for it she looked at him. Sitting there all nervous, afraid of what she might say to him, he looked like that small 4th grade boy she had yearned for all those years. "What is it" she said in a low whisper.

"Well, uh – would you do me the honor of being my date for homecoming?" He looked at her, the question hung in his eyes. She could see how vulnerable he was right now.

"I don't know" she said. "I'm not sure if it's such a good idea."

"Why?" He asked her, his eyes pleading for an answer. "Helga, you have to believe me, my feelings for you have changed. Everything's changed. Ever since our talk on top of the FTI building I've realized my feelings for you. I love you Helga, you have to see that."

She flinched at the mention of the FTI building, her stomach becoming nauseous. "Well, if that's true, Arnoldo, why didn't you speak up that day? You had more than one chance to say something. You say you love me now but your silence back then on top of the building said something else."

"Come on Helga" he said a bit irritated. "With all that was going on at that moment you, out of the blue, drop a bomb on me like that and expect an immediate answer? Be real for a minute. We've known each other for years, all I've ever gotten out of you was Hair Boy this, or Foot Ball Head that. How was I ever supposed to see what you kept hidden behind that damn brick wall you always put up?" His voice was starting to rise. "Why does she always get a reaction out of me like this!" He thought to himself.

"Ok Helga, you want proof that my feelings are real for you then you're going to have to come with me!"

"Where too?" She asked.

"My room."

With that he grabbed her by the hand and practically dragged her through town towards the boarding house. Any attempt to pull away was futile.

When they reached their destination he pulled her inside and led her to the stairs to his room. He heard his grandfather call out "That you Shortman?"

All he said as they ran past was, "Not now grandpa."

Pushing her up the stairs into his room he closed the door. She stood in the middle of the room, confused.

"I have something to show you." He said.

"He walked her over to his desk and opened the top middle drawer and pulled out a small pink journal. The minute she laid eyes on it her stomach sank. "Oh my God!" She yelled internally, "My old journal!" It was one of the books that held writings of hers that told of the deep love she had for Arnold. She was around nine-years-old when she'd lost it.

"Gerald found this on the bus one day, do you know what it is?"

With her head bowed she silently nodded. She was mortified and wanted to die.

"So then I assume you know what's in it?"

Again she nodded her bowed head.

"At first I had no clue who had written all the things that are in here, and when it was first found we were just kids and took it as a big joke." He saw her body stiffen when he called her words of love to him a joke. "You have to understand, we were just kids. What nine-year-old boy is going to take something like this seriously?"

Still looking at the floor, her voice barely audible she said, "Why did you keep it?"

"I don't know. Maybe secretly it made me feel good that someone out there liked me that much."

"When did you realize it was me?"

He pulled out a folded up piece of paper from the same drawer the journal had come out of. "A few years later I was walking out of class and I had found a note that you and Phoebe had been passing back and forth while the teacher was talking. When I opened it to see what you guys had been talking about something clicked. I brought it home and compared the handwriting and that's when I knew. I never said anything because I knew you'd just shut yourself off so I kept it as a reminder of your soft side. After a while whenever I'd feel particularly lonely or sad I would pull it out and know that at least someone out there has feelings for me. When you kissed me that day I came home and pulled it out and realized that deep down I had come to love you through your words. Ever since then I've been trying to tell you."

He turned her towards him now and cupped her face in his hands. Her cheeks were drenched in tears. His green eyes bore through to her soul. "I love you, Helga" he breathed as he bent down to kiss her. Her lips were soft, a shiver ran down his spine as she parted her lips to return his kiss.

Part 3

She stood in front of her full length mirror admiring her reflection. She wears a sleeveless dress with a sweetheart neckline. The bodice of the dress is covered in pink crystals that catch the light. The skirt fans out in a soft chiffon just a shade lighter than the top of the dress. It comes to just a few inches above her knees. Under it is a layer of soft tulle which helps fan the skirt out around her legs. Her shoes are encrusted with the same crystals as the bodice of her dress with just the slightest of a heel. She wears her hair down, the sides pulled back held together with a small pink bow. The rest of it falls in curls to just below her shoulders. From her neck hangs a new gold locket for all the world to see. Inside is a picture of her and her beloved, Arnold. On the back is the inscription he wrote:

H

I want to stay with you

Until we're grey and old

A

She hears the doorbell ring and rushes downstairs. By the time she makes it there Arnold is in a conversation with Big Bob. She catches Arnold's eye and his breath is taken away. "She's so beautiful" he thinks to himself. He walks up to her giving her a light kiss. She can't believe how handsome he is in his black suit. The pink bowtie at his neck matches the skirt of her dress. They head for the door but are stopped by Miriam as she slurs, "Waaait, we have to get a picture of this momentous occasion."

Helga looks at Arnold with obvious embarrassment but he gives her hand a squeeze, letting her know that it's ok, he's there for her no matter what gets thrown at her. Pictures done they head into Rhonda's family's limo. It's filled with all her friends, everyone in happy conversation. Gerald gives her a friendly hug as she slides in next to him right as he pulls out a small brown bag he had hidden in his jacket pocket.

Everyone looks at him in surprise, asking where he got the bottle of Jack. He explained how Jamie-O said this should be a night to remember before handing him the bottle.

As they arrived at the school gym they broke up into couples, each pair walking arm in arm. After greeting their other friends that had arrived ahead of them Helga hears a familiar tune start to fill the room. "Say You Won't Let Go", a song which they now have dubbed "Their song". Arnold looks into her eyes and leads her to the dance floor. He sings along to the song in her ear for a bit before hooking a finger under her chin and lifting her face to his.

"I love you Helga G. Pataki." He whispers in a husky voice.

She smiles and whispers back, "I love you, too, Foot Ball Head."

He kisses her, deep and lustfully and she thinks, "It's going to be a great four years."

The End

A/N Don't you love a happy ending? All that's left now is the Epilogue. I want to thank all of you that have actually taken the time to read all four chapters, I really do appreciate you giving this story a chance. Well, hang on, the final ending is coming, I think you'll love to see how everyone's lives have turned out.

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