A/N: I won't be around tomorrow, staying at a friend's house, but I'll definitely put up a couple chapters on Friday!

Helga opened her door and looked up at the figure, her life-long shadow. Brainy. "I suppose you saw what happened?" She stepped aside to let him in. Brainy had always been there for her in his own way. He followed her, which was a bit creepy but he was like a protector, a guardian angel. He wasn't so creepy now as he was in elementary school. He had grown, matured (mostly), and actually had had a few girlfriends here and there. He had ditched the glasses for contacts too.

"Of course I saw." Brainy looked concerned as he sat down on her bed. He was nervous for her, the one time he hadn't been able to come with her somewhere to keep an eye out she ended up married. He just didn't want her to regret the choices she made now. "Do you love him Helga?"

Helga looked to Brainy and shrugged, closing the door and sitting beside him. "I don't know. There...is something there." She closed her eyes, the tingle of the kiss still lingering. "I don't want to use him Brainy." She admitted finally, after a long moment of silence.

Brainy put an arm around her and held her close. He had learned a long time ago that he could never truly have Helga as his own, so being there to protect her and to help her was enough for him. "I know you don't. You're afraid that you're just using him because Arnold is unavailable now."

"It's really creepy how you always know my thought."

"Well I did stalk you nearly all your life." He pointed out with a laugh.

"This is true." Helga leaned against him lightly. "You're right of course. Gerald is...well he's a good guy. He deserves to be with a girl that loves him for him."

"He certainly loves you. Or is getting there at least. I saw the way he looked at you, he always smiles when he turns in your direction."

"It's just all so confusing." Helga scowled. "Why does this need to be so complicated?"

"It doesn't. You're making it complicated." Brainy kissed her forehead and stood up. "Just sleep on it. I'm sure things will be better in the morning." He said it like a promise.

"I hope so." Helga smiled. "Night Brainy."

"Night Helga."

When he was gone Helga showered and got ready for bed. Brainy's words echoed in her mind. Did Gerald love her? Was it even possible for her to be truly loved? Perhaps...only time would tell. Helga closed her eyes to try and sleep, but she could sense it would be a long night.

Gerald woke up around 4 A.M the next morning. He hadn't been able to sleep too well, he was worried about Helga. Perhaps he shouldn't have kissed her, not yet. Then again, it had just seemed like the right thing to do. He mumbled to himself and got out of bed. No way he was going back to sleep now.

He showered and dressed and then set about getting some school work done. He didn't have a mini vacation right now so he was just emailing his assignments to his professors. Around 6 his aunt woke up and so he helped her out and made sure she took her medication. Gerald was worried about her, she was pretty old but she had always been able to recover from any sicknesses. This bout of flu was taking it's toll though.

He made himself some breakfast around 8 and then called Helga but she didn't answer, maybe she was still asleep. Instead Gerald left a message.

"Hey Helga...it's me. I uhm I wanted to apologize for last night. I shouldn't have kissed you, I just got...caught up in the moment I guess. I...I care about you, you know? I don't want to move things too fast for you. So just call me later, I'll be around."

Helga wasn't asleep when Gerald called. She had actually stared at the phone as it rung and then listened to the message that he left. God,why did he have to be so...caring? It would be much easier to just push him away if he was a jerk.

Did she want to push him away though? No...No she didn't. When they were younger Helga never really paid much attention to Gerald, besides the fact that he was Arnold's best friend and at one point Phoebe's boyfriend. Phoebe. Some friend she turned out to be. Helga still couldn't quite believe that Phoebe had done such a thing, and then expect her to be okay about it!

It was noon when Helga finally picked up the phone to call Gerald back.

"Hello?"

"Hey Gerald...it's Helga. I...I got your message."

"Oh...listen I-"

"No Gerald I'm sorry. I just...I'm really confused about things right now. I do like you, and that kiss was...well it was amazing."

"Then what's the problem?" He asked, merely curious and a mite concerned.

"I just don't know if what I feel for you is real, or if I'm subconsciously using you to replace...him."

"Oh." Gerald was silent a moment. "You think too much Pataki." He laughed. "If you don't constantly think about it, and just relax, the true feelings will come out eventually."

Helga frowned when he laughed but then listened to his reasoning. "You've got a point I guess. Uhm...do you want to come over?"

"Well I'm doing some repair work for my aunt right now, but maybe we can have dinner tonight?"

"Dinner sounds good. We could meet at Applebee's?"

"Great. I'll see ya then."

"See ya." Helga said and then hung up. She sat on her bed and opened her drawer taking out the Vegas ring. For just a small piece of jewelry it held a lot of meaning, she set it down and then took out the pictures. Helga still couldn't believe how happy they both looked, even if they were drunk. Would they have been that happy even if they'd been sober?

Helga laughed at the thought and put the pictures away. She did some cleaning up and finished up a few assignments. When it came time to meet Gerald she dressed in a pair of nice black jeans and a pink V-neck. At the last minute she even added a touch of lipstick and eyeshadow. Tonight was going to be as fun as last night, and she wouldn't let her confusion about her feelings get in the way.