Been a while, huh? Thanks for sticking with me! Sorry it's short, but it has to be.

~…………………~

"No…not yet…I don't want to wake up just yet…" Regardless of her mumbled prayers, her eyes opened and she awoke, her head still on Arnold's chest.

She wasn't going back to sleep, even though she wished for nothing more than to stay where she was. So she turned to the next best thing.

Arnold's sleeping face was embraced with specks of light shining through the tree branches; his nose twitch as he growled lightly, trying to scare the sun away. Helga giggled lightly in amusement; is this how he was every morning? Was he like this when they were just little children?

"Arnold…" Even whispering his name sent joyous vibes down her spine. "My dear, dear Arnold…"

Pecking his cheek as a reflex, Arnold moaned lightly before opening his eyes. Helga's face turned red as she sat up in her seat. "G-good morning…"

"Helga?" Arnold said groggily. "Good morning…what time is it? Is breakfast ready?"

Helga laughed into her hand as Arnold realized what he had said. He turned red as he wiped his face. "S-shut up…"

The two looked at each other, smiling. It was early, eight o'clock to be precise, so the two decided to go to the park to spend a little more time together. They knew it would be a while before they could weasel their relationship into the others' lives. Especially Harold and Lila.

"Speaking of which…" Helga said, suddenly remembering, "Who was that boy at the carnival?"

Arnold looked away nervously as they strolled down the path through the woods. "O-oh…him…"

Helga raised her eyebrow in curiosity when Arnold didn't answer right away. "Arnold?"

"He was nobody, don't worry about it."

Helga stopped, pulling Arnold's shoulder to spin him around. "Don't worry about it? That boy saved my life, and called himself Arnold! How was he nobody?"

Arnold scratched his head nervously, and looked at Helga. "I didn't want you to know, back then, who I was…so I had Arnie go as me to ease your heart a little…he just happened to see Harold tormenting you and jumped in."

Helga's eyes widened before she growled. "You mean to tell me that instead of YOU saving me, you let your creepy cousin do the dirty work?!"

Arnold flinched at her yelling, but then leaned towards her in defense. "H-hey! I didn't know anything was even happening to you!"

"Oh, so you didn't even think to worry about me when I left with Lila, the girl I hate?" Helga sighed in aggravation and turned away. "Thanks Arnold, that means so much to me!"

"Listen, Helga—"

"No Arnold, you listen!" Helga screamed, turning back to him. "All I have done for you is be patient and understanding, the least you could do is be honest with me!"

The two stood in silence for a moment before Helga started walking away. "H-Helga, wait—"

"I-I just need some time alone…Arnold." She continued to walk away before stopping to look at him one more time. "…and I think you do, too."

Arnold watched her walk away in silence. "Being alone is the last thing I want…isn't it the same for you, Helga?"