[A/N: This chapter's a little short but I'm sure you all know that some important stuff is about to go down! I'm gonna try to pump out another chapter tomorrow since it's a holiday weekend. Enjoy!]

It seemed Arnold had finally broken down Helga's walls.

"What happened on your first day of preschool?" Arnold was trying to gently coax the story out of her. It was obvious she was having mixed emotions about everything she was saying. The way her face contorted when she said something particularly sensitive and the way she hadn't looked at Arnold once since she started talking were giveaways of that.

Helga looked genuinely uncomfortable but she continued to tell her story, weakened by the evening's events. Or maybe it was the way Arnold was looking at her with such intense compassion; he obviously cared about her more than she ever realized.

Helga grabbed Arnold's pillow and held it in her lap, fidgeting with the tag as she began.

"I was actually kind of excited that morning, ya know? I think that's normal. You were probably excited on your first day, right? Yeah, well… it didn't last long. I remember coming downstairs, trying to figure out where everyone was, and came downstairs to find Bob and Miriam fawning over Olga and her stupid piano. I tried to get my dad to take me to preschool but he just kept pushing me away… and calling me Olga, as usual… so I gave up. I left the house by myself and no one noticed,"

The hard part was slowly approaching as Helga continued her story. She wasn't looking forward to that but the momentum was there so she powered through her discomfort.

"So," Helga took another deep breath and continued. "I walked to school. Which, ya know, probably wasn't the safest thing to do at three years old but it's not like I had a responsible parent to stop me. Anyway, I got splashed with mud at the crosswalk and I was soaking wet from the rain,"

Helga stopped and chuckled a little. "Then this stupid dog came up and stole my lunchbox. The joke was probably on him though, 'cause I doubt Miriam had put anything good, let alone edible in there…"

Arnold tried not to show how he was feeling but he was amazed at everything Helga had gone through. He always suspected there was something deeper going on with her but he couldn't have thought this stuff up if he tried. Part of him felt like his heart was melting, imagining a three-year –old Helga walking through the city, alone in the rain. That's when a vivid image found its way into his mind. He remembered seeing her like that, or at least he thought he did. But any doubts were quickly dispelled when he heard the next part of the story.

Helga sighed uncomfortably. "So I get up to the front of the school and all of a sudden, you're there. And… you put this umbrella over my head. You introduced yourself to me and told me you liked my bow "because it was pink like my pants." You have no idea how that just blew my mind, Arnold… To have someone compliment me, let alone notice me? That was just…"

Helga still hadn't looked at him but Arnold smiled at her. He remembered that. He remembered how sad she had looked and he remembered he just wanted to make her happy. Interestingly, that was sort of how he felt now.

"So, obviously you see how you sort of became my favorite person or something… And I remember you gave me your crackers at snacktime and you were just… so freaking nice," Helga continued to fidget, squirming as she said things that were particularly revealing. "And I mean, I guess I sort of liked you… then… because you were so nice to me, ya know? But then the other kids were making fun of me and I just," Helga sighed, shrugging her shoulders. "I just couldn't deal with that."

"Helga…"

Arnold was about to move closer to Helga when she stood up abruptly.

"What?" Helga turned around, snapping at Arnold. "You want more? I already told you practically everything there was to know when we were at FTi… albeit, maybe not in the most tactful way, but criminy, Arnold! What more do you need? You have my life story, can you just –"

Helga's outburst was cut off when Arnold also stood up, grasping her firmly but gently by the shoulders.

"Helga, I never forgot what you told me when we were saving the neighborhood," Arnold blushed before quickly changing the subject. "But listen, I'm glad I helped you back then. That's all I want to do now. I wish you hadn't closed yourself off but stop worrying about what other people think. Don't worry about what I think. 'Cause truth is, what I think is that you're a pretty amazing person, just like you said yourself up on that rooftop. I never knew you went through so much; I'm sure it really hurt you. And I'm sure I wouldn't know what I know now if I hadn't been there when Cathy hit you. Can you please, please, just relax? I'm not forcing you to do anything, I'm not going to tell anyone about your home life; I just want to be your friend and help."

As soon as those last words came out, Arnold knew he'd made a mistake.

Friend… right… Helga's heart sank but she hid it pretty well behind an expert poker face.

"Helga, wait—"

But it was too late; she'd already walked out, headed for the spare bedroom.

"Ughhh!" Arnold flopped backwards on his bed and looked up at the stars, but this time all he could see was Helga's face in the constellations.

. . . . . . . .

The next morning, Helga cautiously led Arnold, Grandma, and Grandpa into the Pataki household. They heard the TV on in the living room and followed the noise. Big Bob was in his favorite chair when he noticed the group entering the room.

"Where the heck have you been, little lady?" Bob stood up and approached his daughter, more anger than worry in his voice.

Helga was about to speak when Grandma stepped up.

"Look at her face. Do you know who did that?"

Big Bob considered for a minute but Grandma continued, "Your stepdaughter! I knew you were low, Pataki, but this is just downright inhuman. You would let your home fall apart so much that your own family isn't safe? What kind of parent are you?"

Big Bob glared at Grandma. Then back at Helga.

"If she is so innocent, why does Camille have a nasty shiner of her own?" Turning back to Grandma, he continued, "And who are you to come into my house and criticize my parenting, you old bat! I told the girl before and I'll say it again, I can't defend her if she's just gonna pull the same crap she gets mad at other people for!"

Big Bob and Grandma continued to go at it when Cathy came in and headed straight for Helga.

"You little sack of –"

"Hey!" Grandpa got between Cathy and Helga and leaned back into Arnold's ear, "Take her upstairs and get her stuff."

Arnold quickly ushered Helga up the stairs but not before Cathy could yell, "You just wait, Helga! You're gonna get what's coming to you."

Upstairs, Helga felt a sudden rush of relief when she saw that both Camille and Alexis' bedroom doors were closed.

She gathered her belongings as Arnold stood waiting in her doorway. Clothes, toiletries, her journal, school stuff; she stuffed everything she could think of into a pink suitcase. She threw her school backpack over her shoulder and was headed out the door with Arnold when Alexis came out of her room, seemingly unaware of the fighting happening downstairs in the foyer.

"You!" When Alexis caught sight of Helga she started in her direction but Arnold got in the way.

"Leave her alone!"

Alexis tried to get around Arnold but he was determined to keep her away from Helga.

"All bark and no bite, huh? You can talk a lot of shit and throw one little sucker punch but you never could handle a real fight, could you? Without this kid protecting you, we both know where you'd be right now. Hiding in your room like a scared little pussy because you aren't woman enough to stand behind your words. You get knocked around a little bit for being the bitch that you are and so you go running off to your little boyfriend's house," Alexis turned to Arnold who was starting to clench his fists. "And believe me, you have my utmost sympathy."

Arnold narrowed his eyes at Alexis. "That's enough!" Grabbing Helga's hand, he guided her back to the staircase. "Don't listen to any of that, Helga, just come on."

"You are so lucky Camille is at work!" Alexis yelled at them before going back into her room.

Once downstairs, Helga and Arnold found Grandma and Grandpa alone in the foyer.

"Ready?" Grandma asked, a victorious grin on her face.

"Yeah," Arnold answered for both of them.

Helga was in a state of bewilderment. Arnold had protected her, somehow his grandparents had fended off Bob and Cathy, and she was leaving, possibly for good. She felt like her head was spinning. And despite what Arnold said, Helga couldn't help but dwell on Alexis' words.

Once they were back in the Packard, Grandma explained what happened while Helga and Arnold were upstairs.

"Alright Eleanor, dear, you're going to continue to stay at our house until we can figure out something more permanent for you. Do you have everything you need with you?"

Helga looked at her bag but choked. Arnold noticed and spoke for her, "I think she has most of it."

"Good. Anything you forgot, we can come back another time once things have settled,"

Helga still felt like the world was spinning beneath her feet. Shaking her head, she asked, "How did you get them to back down?"

Grandpa spoke up, "Good old blackmail, right Pookie?"

Grandma smiled, "I'm sure Mr. Pataki wouldn't be very happy if his customers and business associates found out he was being investigated by social services."

Helga leaned back against the seat, finally starting to relax. I think I'm gonna like this woman.

At the same time, Arnold was sneaking glances at Helga. He felt completely torn up inside. They had barely spoken since last night and for some reason, all he wanted to do was hold her hand. He wanted to reassure her that everything was going to be alright and show her the affection he knew she'd needed for years.

Helga was looking out the window when Arnold tried to discreetly reach for her hand. Without noticing his efforts, she slouched down in her seat, crossing her arms and pulling her hand out of reach.

Arnold leaned back against his seat and sighed as he also turned to look out the window. He didn't know what he wanted, exactly, or what he was doing. He just knew he was feeling something for Helga; something he wasn't expecting and something he didn't understand.