Author's Note: Seeing as how I've failed to update in over...a freaking year, I decided to just end the story. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, and I hope this does it justice.


We've both been very brave

Walked around on both legs

Fight the scariest day

Pull the tricks out've our sleeves

And I'll believe in anything

If you believe in anything

I'll Believe in Anything, by Wolf Parade


Arnold didn't come back.

She lay in bed, staring at the immense white ceiling above her, emotions coursing through her small body like fireworks: fear, loneliness, anger. The days passed like years and then one day a doctor's face came above her.

And the doctor checked her and said, "Yep, I guess it's time for you to go, little lady."

They wheeled her out in a wheelchair, gave her crutches and instructions on how to manage the casts. Helga caught her reflection in a mirror: no more stitches, the bruises fading. Her parents were waiting outside in the December cold with a blanket for her and she sat in the backseat with her crutches beside her and her parents talked about everything but her. Her dad had apparently lost a greal deal of money that he'd made back in a shrewd fashion. Her mother smelled like whiskey. Helga looked out the window at the steadily falling snow and the bleak gray sky and she tried not to sob.

Their car pulled up beside the old house and their parents got out and Helga got out behind them.

And there was Arnold. He stood without a jacket, his hair wet from melted snow, his face lit up by energy.

He said, "I like you. Like you, like you."

Just like that. Helga's mouth dropped open and her heart soared.

All those years. All those years. She wondered if it would be like her dreams, wondered if this was a joke, and found she didn't care. Because of the moment. This beautiful moment. She wrapped herself in it. It became her mantra, her zen, for all years to come.

Arnold just wasn't thinking. He'd counted the days until this, waited with bated breath. Wondered what he'd say and couldn't think of anything clever. Gerald ribbed him, and somehow the information got out and he was already ostracized from all the other kids in his class. Hell, in his school. But here was the girl. She transcended all that.

Helga took one step.

Arnold took two.

Helga jumped and took three.

End


Author's Note: Fluffy enough for you? This will be my last Hey Arnold fic for a while. Thanks for reading, and please, drop a review.