Greetings Readers! Here's the final chapter of Unwanted Attention! This came out earlier than I expected but my muse was cooperative for once and I got so many reviews asking for the last chapter…many of which calling me evil…that I figured I'd update right away! Thanks to those who have alerted and favorited this story!

And over 100 reviews now, wow! Thanks a lot to everyone who reviewed, especially to those who reviewed the previous chapter:
chellythemadhatter: Sorry about that – I hope this makes it better!
Twilight's-Mystery: Ooh, that's delightfully evil…Mondays are the worst! You'll get to see the comeuppance very soon! I hope this was soon enough for your wrists…
Ahmose: Thanks! I hope you enjoy the update!
NintendoGal55: Unfortunately I have a bizarre affinity for cliffhangers, but now the wait is over. Oh, Nathan gets his soon – I hope you find it satisfying. Thanks for reviewing.
child who is cool: Thanks!
tenko12: You'll see…I hope you like this!
Jessluvswriting: Go Arnold go!
XxThePennyTreasurexX: Epic fight of awesome is here…I think. I hope you enjoy!
Anie6142: No worries, thanks for reviewing now! Karate would be awesome…maybe he uses it…
loonytunecrazy: It does get kicked…several times. Enjoy!
acosta perez jose ramiro: And it shall be epic. Just saying :)
MidniteRaine: Thanks for not calling me evil, just the cliffhanger, lol. I wasn't always a Lila fan, but after writing her as support for Brainy I warmed up to her I guess. Mostly I want Brainy to have a happy ending. Karate may make an appearance…
The J.A.M. aka Number i: Thanks again for the critique – I've since edited the last chapter and I hope it's improved for the edit. Let me know!
Sandra Pullman-Pataki: Thanks! It shall be awesome! I hope…
Shirochan21: Because I like cliffhangers, because I'm sneaky…I'm not sure. Hopefully this quick update makes it better!
Silver15Rose: Thanks very much, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I hope you enjoy this chapter as well!
ZoeandDan2gether4ever: Grazie, grazie. I hope you like the final chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold! or any of its characters. If you think I do, there's this great bridge in Brooklyn I can sell you…

It had been a long, nonstop drive for Arnold and as he parked his car in the parking lot of Helga's apartment, he leaned back in his seat and indulged in a good yawn and stretch before pulling himself from the car. The rush of fear-induced adrenaline that had rushed through his system had lessened somewhat since Brainy had called, and he was beginning to think he had overreacted. Maybe Helga was just really lonely, he thought, and I misunderstood what Brainy said. Not that he was complaining – he had missed Helga too, and wouldn't be upset at the prospect of spending more time with-

Arnold stopped dead in his tracks at the image of Helga clasped in the arms of another man, and shuddered at the hot jealousy wracking his body at the sight. Is this what Brainy wanted me to see? He questioned himself sadly as the anger fled from his body, leaving a cold hollowness. Does Helga love this guy? He wondered and took a deep breath. Arnold loved her too much to keep her from being happy and if letting her go would make her happy, then he would have to –

While the gamut of emotions ran its course through Arnold's heart, the less emotional portion of his brain was picking up the signs that he'd been trained to recognize in his studies – the aggressive posture of the strange man, the stiffness of Helga's shoulders and face, the fear in her eyes…a split second before the man screamed at Helga, his mind yelled at him that something was wrong – and when Helga was smashed against the wall, he saw red.

"Hey! What are you doing to my girlfriend?"

Both Helga and the guy turned, the guy stopping in his stroking of Helga's face. The look of sheer relief in Helga's eyes when she saw him made Arnold's heart soar and his fists clench in response to the guy who had scared her so much. Arnold stomped over to the two, forgetting all the lessons about keeping calm when dealing with people that he would have to meet with as a psychiatrist – this was the guy tormenting his girlfriend. Arnold gritted his teeth and hissed out. "Let. Her. Go."

Nathan pulled her closer, causing her to gasp in disgust. "Back off, football-head. She's mine."

Arnold was a guy who always sought to find peaceful solutions to problems, leading him to be well known as a mediator. He hated violence, given all the people he'd seen adversely affected by it during his shadowing. Arnold always felt that peaceful negotiation was more effective than violent resolution.

However, Arnold was also a black belt in karate, and this goon had just crossed the line by threatening Helga.

Besides, nobody but Helga could call him Football Head.

Arnold's fist flew out and punched Nathan in the face, causing him to let Helga go as his hands flew up to his face to clutch at his profusely bleeding nose. Arnold pulled Helga out of the way, gave Nathan a kick to the chest for good measure and then began running with Helga as Nathan slumped down to the ground, groaning. It might have been a better idea to run up to the apartment and call the police from there, but given Helga's fingers were shaking with shock and anger he didn't think she'd be unable to unlock the door in time – and they were already running towards the police station before he'd thought the alternative.

"You care…to tell me…what's been going on?" Arnold panted as the two stopped next to a tree to catch their breath, glancing around for Nathan. He was nowhere to be seen.

"Kind of a long story," Helga replied, breathless. "I'll tell you…soon."

"If we didn't get to the police station, I'd make you tell me now," Arnold said, having gotten his second wind, and turned to face her. "Did he hurt you?" He rolled up his sleeves and groaned at the bruises on her upper arms.

"It's nothing big, Arnold," Helga answered, but was secretly thrilled at his concern as she rolled her sleeves back down.

Arnold was peering around before pushing her gently forward and walking briskly to their destination. "It is a big thing, no one has the right to do to you what he did." He froze. "He hasn't hurt you before this, has he?"

"No," Helga assured him before her eyes took on an angry look. "He hurt Brainy yesterday, though, and he'll pay for that."

Maybe that's why he called me, Arnold thought as he continued quickly toward the station. "I just wish you had told me earlier," he said, "Why didn't you? Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you!" Helga replied and then turned around, trying to see what had made the rustling nose behind her. Seeing nothing there, she shook it off due to jitters and continued, "It's just it was embarrassing and I hated feeling weak-"

"You're not weak." Arnold took her hand and squeezed it. "You're the strongest person I know – but it takes strength to ask for help. You don't have to do it all alone."

Helga squeezed his hand back and smiled as they closed the distance between themselves and the police station. They had gotten close enough to see the patterns in the bricks of the back of the station when both Arnold and Helga heard a loud noise behind them. Arnold reacted in a flash just in time to plant a well-placed foot on Nathan's chest and kicked back hard. Nathan fell back onto the ground with a groan and a thud, and Arnold took up a position protectively in front of Helga, his fists clenched and his legs braced out for impact. "You are not getting anywhere near Helga," he said calmly despite the anger in his face, "It's over."

Nathan let out an angry yell and flung himself at Arnold, who deftly chopped at his kneecaps, sending Nathan tumbling down to the ground. Arnold shifted his position and as soon as Nathan got up, he punched him hard in the small of his back, sending him down wheezing. Panting slightly, Arnold crossed his arms and looked down at Nathan. "Are you finished?"

"Hardly," Nathan hissed, shooting up and punching wildly in Arnold's direction who managed to quickly duck out of the way. Unfortunately, Arnold didn't realize that in that movement he left Helga exposed, and Nathan's arm shot forward and grabbed Helga's wrist, squeezing painfully, causing her to yelp in shock and pain. Arnold turned to look at her. "Helga!"

And in that one moment, Arnold's attention was distracted – and that cost him.

Nathan's fist sank into Arnold's stomach, causing him to double over, wheezing. As he doubled over, Nathan hit him harshly on the back of his neck. When Arnold looked up as he tried to get up, Nathan punched him in the eye and Arnold crumpled to the ground.

"Arnold!"

When Nathan turned and smirked victoriously at Helga, she snapped. It wasn't just that he wouldn't leave her alone. It wasn't just that he had been stalking her and giving her a crick in her neck from constantly looking over her shoulder. It was bad enough that he'd hurt Brainy to the point that he had to go to the hospital. But now he had crossed the line – he had hurt her Arnold. Helga subconsciously cocked her fists and spun toward the approaching man. Nathan hadn't had time to let the slimy grin slip from his face before Helga had slugged him in the chest. "That's for me!" she yelled.

She grabbed him by the shoulders and rammed her knee in between his legs. "That's for Brainy!"

Nathan folded himself over, groaning, and looked over at her, giving Helga the perfect opportunity. "And this," she scowled, balling up her fist, making her knuckles crack, "is for my boyfriend. Leave us alone!" And with that she punched him so hard in the face that he could only blearily blink twice before slumping to the ground. Helga flexed her knuckles and grinned. It was good to have Old Betsy back.

Arnold groaned from where her was laying on the ground and Helga dropped to her knees beside him. "Arnold, are you okay?"

"Ow," Arnold moaned as he sat up, rubbing the soon-to-be-bruised portion of his face. "That guy sure packs a punch. I'm fine. How are you-" He looked over at the fallen stalker and laughed. "Well, it looks like you saved me." He cupped a hand at the back of her neck and pulled her gently down into a deep kiss. "My hero."

Helga responded with enthusiasm, throwing her arms around his neck, and the two were thoroughly enjoying being together and safe. It was a real shame that the police officers from the station picked that particular moment to storm over to straighten things out.

···

It had been twenty minutes since the two had been issued into the dean's office and Helga's euphoria at having finally beaten Nathan had given way to anxiety upon remembering the dean's order not to get into any more fistfights. Her fingers began drumming nervously on the armrest of her chair until Arnold grabbed the frenetic hand and held it tightly in his. "Relax. It's going to be okay."

"Okay?" Helga croaked out, although she relaxed at the warm comforting presence of Arnold's hand. "How is it going to be okay? The last time I was in this office, the dean said I would be expelled if I got into any more fights."

"This was a special circumstance," Arnold said, taking both of her hands in his and looking resolutely at her. "Let me try and talk with him – maybe he'll understand…"

"Now, there's no need for that," an amused voice came from behind them. "You're fine, Ms Pataki. You won't even get a warning given that you were only trying to defend yourself." The dean walked up to them after nodding goodbye to the police officer who had handled all the paperwork about Nathan.

Helga blinked. "But you said…"

"I know what I said," the dean replied, "but since then I've had a very convincing argument that has made me change my mind."

"Who?" Helga asked.

"Try the school's reigning debate champion," a female voice answered. Arnold and Helga turned to see Phoebe walking towards them, wearing a smug smirk that was almost identical to the one her boyfriend frequently wore. "Hello, Helga."

Helga's mouth dropped open. "Phebes? What-? When did you get here?"

"I was driving back from the airport," Phoebe answered, "when I got a call from Lila saying that you needed my help. They figured out what had happened when they saw you two and that man being taken into the police station on their way to your apartment, and got me over there to see what happened. My point wasn't too hard to make since the police station has video cameras filming the entire area and they saw Nathan attacking you."

"So I'm free to go?" Helga asked hopefully.

"Please do," the dean answered, "I want to get back to enjoying what's left of my weekend – I spend enough time in here during the week as it is."

"What about that man?" Arnold asked as he and Helga stood up.

The dean frowned. "He's currently in the police department for assault and disturbing the peace. At the very least, we're putting a restraining order against him for you – although he will be expelled from this campus if I have anything to say about it. We don't need obsessions like his at this school." He chuckled. "Actually, given your friend's testimony the police department is pushing for a trial where he could be sentenced to a long dose of jail time." He waved them off, "Now get out of here, the day's wasting."

···

"So, you two are together now?"

Lila blushed then and Brainy gingerly put a sore arm around her shoulders, chuckling. "Yup."

Arnold grinned. "Well, it's about time."

"You should talk," Brainy replied, "since you two were denying it for – ouch!" He had been trying to stretch his shoulders when a jolt of pain jarred through his body and he froze. Lila sat up and removed his arm from her shoulders before hurrying over to the kitchen for an ice pack. Arnold, Helga, Lila, Brainy, and Phoebe were all sitting in the living room of the apartment with cartons of ice cream open on the table and bowls and spoons on their laps. Phoebe took Brainy's bowl and spoon from him and pushed him down to lay on the couch.

Arnold winced sympathetically at the grimace of pain that crossed Brainy's face. "He got you good, didn't he?"

"Yeah," Brainy said, then hissed as the coldness of the ice pack touched his sore shoulder. He smiled reassuringly at Lila, who looked anxious at the prospect of accidentally hurting him, and then made a lunge for the bowl, "Nothing some ice cream wouldn't fix."

Lila slapped his hand. "Stop that. You'll hurt yourself."

"But I want some ice cream," Brainy whined.

"Should we really be eating ice cream before dinner anyway?" Phoebe said curiously, "I've always wondered if that would adversely affect the sensory distinctions of the taste buds…"

"Ah, c'mon Phebes," Helga smirked, "life's short, might as well eat dessert first."

"Please, Lila?" Brainy pleaded.

Lila was firm. "You are not getting up, Brainy." She paused in thought for a moment. "What kind do you want?"

"Vanilla." Brainy perked up as Lila scooped a liberal portion of vanilla ice cream into his bowl and picked up the spoon. All watched in surprise, including Brainy, when Lila began feeding him the ice cream. Brainy closed his eyes blissfully as he savored every spoonful – ice cream had never tasted so good.

Arnold leaned over to Helga and said, "Any chance of you doing that for me?"

"Only if you treat me, too."

Arnold kissed her cheek and then her lips when she turned to him. "It's a date."

Brainy and Lila were engrossed in their ice cream ritual and Phoebe had walked off to the side to take a call from Gerald before ordering pizza, so Arnold and Helga quietly slipped out of the apartment to stand out in the empty parking lot, looking up at the stars. They stood in silence for a few minutes before Arnold pulled Helga close to him and kissed her hair. "Are you sure you're all right, Helga?"

Helga pulled closer to his warmth. "Yeah, I'm fine – I'm just ticked I let him get to me."

Arnold rubbed a hand reassuringly up and down her back. "It's understandable, though, that he did – I just wish you'd told someone sooner. You're not a coward if you confide in people or ask for help, and if you don't then everyone gets worried anyway." He squeezed her shoulders. "There is strength in numbers and we're all here for you – especially me."

"Thanks." Helga kissed his cheek, "And I know – I'm just glad that he won't be bothering us anymore."

"Me and you both." Arnold smiled, "No one puts a hand on you and gets away with it."

Helga turned to him and pulled his head down for a kiss, and Arnold wound his arms around her waist as they kissed under the stars. They were in the process of warming themselves up when Brainy stuck his head out the window. "Arnold, can you get up here? They're trying to make us watch musicals all night and I'm too infirm to stop them by myself!"

Arnold laughed and let go of Helga and they returned up the stairs, walking hand in hand. Helga smirked as the playful argument upstairs filled her ears and laughed.

Nathan was gone, her friends were here, Arnold was back, and all was right with the world.

A/N: And that's the end. I hope Nathan's comeuppance was satisfying to everyone. I wanted Arnold to have a crack at him, but Helga had to deliver the parting shot. I mean, it's Helga!

I apologize for the slight after-school special tone to Arnold's final talk with Helga but it can't be helped.

Anyway, thanks for reading all through this and please review!