Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story.

They all belong to their rightful owner: Craig Bartlett.

Title: "Let me be your hero"

In the last chapter of 'Let me be your hero': Arnie's visit didn't only take a toll on Helga, it mostly certainly took a toll on Arnold as well. As he slowly started to realize that he was noticing every single thing Helga did, his brain experienced an earthquake when he realized that he was in love her.

After confessing his love to Helga to Gerald, he also admitted a few things as well. Like that they had already kissed and that he didn't want her to know. He still feared Tevin as much as Helga did and so he begged her not to listen to the boys if they said anything.

Author's 1st note: Don't know what to say, but prepare yourselves!

[As always, please notify me if you notice any grammar mistakes. This isn't my first language, so there's bound to be mistakes.]

Chapter 34: "What if he did ask you to stay?"

Let it be Friday already… Arnold begged inside his head. He was impatiently waiting for it to be the day when Arnie would go home even if that day was still a week away. Arnold had managed to catch a break from Helga for a few days straight since she was working at Mrs. Vitello's which also meant he'd gotten the consultation from Phil as he had wanted… and now wished he hadn't. Phil hadn't been of much use; only teased him, saying things like: "Finally! Sure took you a damn long time, Shortman!" and such sentences. When Arnold had tried to explain his fear of Helga finding out though, Phil had just shook his head at him. "If anything, Helga would be happy to know that a boy loves her despite all that. Especially when that boy is the boy she's been in love with in forever!" he had said and Arnold had walked away with a sigh.

Arnold still wondered if Helga did indeed have feelings for him. He knew she did at some point when they were children… The kisses should be a clear hint to anyone that she still was in love with him, but to Arnold it wasn't clear enough. If he didn't hear her say it, he wouldn't believe it. Also, even if Helga did still have feelings for him… God, even the mere thought could make his heart pound… then who was to say she was comfortable with them? She had been hiding them through most of their lives after all and to make matters worse, she had been violated cruelly. Even if she had feelings for him… that wouldn't make the fear go away.

Arnold groaned loudly and swung around on his bed so his face was hidden in the pillow. After a few seconds though he turned his head to the side so he could breathe once again. She'll be home from work soon… and then the weekend awaits. I can't avoid her then. How am I supposed to face her when I feel like this? Damn it! He thought with yet another groan and closed his eyes. If I can just sleep till morning… that'd be great. Just… sleep. He begged and as if someone had heard his prayers, Arnold did indeed fall asleep.

Mere minutes later, Helga came home from work. "I'm exhausted!" she declared to no one in particular as she threw her shoes carelessly off and let them land upside-down together with the other shoes. She yawned loudly before walking into the living room only to find Arnie sitting on the couch. She looked around. "Where is everyone else?" she asked, but she honestly only wanted to know where Arnold in particular was. Arnie shrugged. "I don't know… but Arnold's asleep in his room."

Oh, he figured it out… Helga thought as she chewed on her lower lip. She gave a small sigh and kept standing awkwardly in the middle of the room. She didn't just want to leave and go to her room as she wanted to, but she also didn't really know what to say to Arnie. It was true that she had forgiven him for his poor memory, but that didn't mean she had forgotten. He had tried nothing since then so she did trust him, but it still felt weird to be around someone who had feelings for her.

"Helga… do you hate me?" Arnie asked all of a sudden. Helga's eyes widened for a moment, but when she saw his somber expression, she visibly relaxed. "No. No, I don.t" she replied honestly. "Then… do you…?" he said, but then seemed to reconsider his question. "Do I what?" she asked though she had a feeling what his question was. "… Do you like me?" he finally asked and looked at her. Helga blinked a couple of times in only slight surprise. It was the question, she had foreseen and yet it surprised her to hear it. "Well… that depends on what kind of like you mean."

"Ah, no. I meant normal like." Arnie said and waved his hand dismissively. "I know that there's no room in your heart for anyone else but Arnold."

"Well, in that case… sure. I mean, I don't hate you at least and I don't feel uncomfortable around you."

"So… if I were to stay in your life, you wouldn't oppose?"

"You planning to move into Sunset Arms?"

"No, not really."

"Then I don't know what you're getting at." Helga admitted with a shrug. This boy has never made any sense. I wonder how his brain works, seriously… She thought as she waited for him to explain himself. He sighed at first and seemed to feel a little uncomfortable all of a sudden, which she cocked an eyebrow at. "Helga… would you… consider yourself a city girl?" he asked. Now that question surprised Helga enough for her to blink in astonishment. "Uh… well, I'm definitely not an outdoorsy type." She admitted and crossed her arms as she started leaning on the doorframe. "I hate camping, hiking and so on so…"

"But how about the country?"

"Uh… never really been anywhere like that. I guess it depends how much out in the country? Arnie, what does these questions mean? They're kinda coming outta the blue." Helga pointed out as she observed Arnie. He was staring at the floor, seeming to ponder his answer or his next question. "What…" he started, but then hesitated for a moment. "What are your plans for your baby?" he asked. Helga's shoulders slumped down in surprise. "Huh?"

"I mean… are you planning to stay in Sunset Arms through his or hers whole childhood or are you planning to move? Will you let it go to the same school as you? How about the way you're going to raise it? And money? That flower shop is only a temporary solution, isn't it? And are you planning to get married or raise it all on your own?"

Helga suddenly felt as if the weight of the whole world was on her shoulders. "Wh… Why are you…? I haven't thought that far ahead. I-I - - "

"That's why I'm asking now… You don't really have a plan, do you?"

"Why must I be attacked with these questions all of a sudden?!" Helga asked in anger, but mostly because Arnie had raised the questions, she had done her best to avoid thinking about. "I'm not trying to attack you." he insisted. "Well, I feel attacked!" she insisted. "I'm sorry, but I'm just worried!" he insisted in a loud voice, but then lowered it. "If you don't think about this now, then when will you? Your baby is due in June, Helga, that's four months from now."

"Four…?" Helga repeated with her eyes bigger than teacups. Oh, God… I'm five months pregnant. I've only got four months pregnancy left. Oh, God, Megamind is going to become real so soon and I still know nothing! She could feel the panic running through her and she grabbed the doorframe to steady herself. "Yes, Helga, four months is all you have… You can barely pay the rent here as it is… How are you going to find a proper job and take care of a baby at the same time?" he questioned, but she simply shook her head. She could feel tears prickle at the corner of her eyes.

"I know you're independent and smart, Helga… but even you have limits, don't you? You can't do everything. Which is why… you should accept some help when it's offered to you. You need someone to help you. Someone who can be with you 24/7." Arnie continued and stood up from the couch. Helga turned her eyes towards him, but she kept facing the other side of the doorframe. She should have noticed that someone was walking down the stairs towards them, but she didn't have the mind to notice anything.

"I want to be that someone." Arnie ended. Helga blinked a couple of times and then turned her head to look at him. He was standing close enough for him to touch her, but he didn't. He looked at her with a very serious look on his face and Helga could feel something coming though she had no clue what it would be. She could feel it in the air around them. There were practically invisible words flying around screaming that something mind-blowing was about to happen. And what he said did indeed left her feeling more stunned than she could ever remember being her whole life, but it was not her who felt her heart shatter at the question; it was Arnold.

When Helga had walked into the door of Sunset Arms, Arnold had been asleep for only a couple of minutes, but he was already dreaming. His dream had started out with himself and Helga simply chatting together inside his room. Once he would wake up, he wouldn't remember about what. What he would remember though would be Helga's question to him. "Can I kiss you?" she asked with a pair of half-lidded eyes. Arnold blushed at her question. "W-Why?" he asked. She placed her hands solid on the space between them and leaned forward, exposing a part of her chest doing so. "I think that… with you… maybe I could get over what happened to me…" she said as she leaned closer. "Can't I…?"

Before Helga herself could lean in and kiss him, Arnold himself leaned forward and planted his lips on hers. He could hear her gasp in wonder and he leaned away once more. "How… How was it?" he asked. "It was warm… so very warm…" she replied with a dazed look on her face and Arnold knew he looked the same. "Hey, Arnold… it's still so cold so can we please - - " she said, but before she could end her question, he had moved forward to kiss her again as she would have asked. He had purposely not closed his eyes so he could stare into hers as he leaned in. When he leaned back once more, she smiled.

"Again." Helga begged and Arnold kissed her again, this time placing his hands on her cheeks and deepening the kiss. He leaned back to catch his breath. She seemed to be out of breath as well and yet she was the one to lean forward once more. "Again…" she pleaded and kissed him with so much fervor that he thought he would faint due to the air loss. He gasped through his nose when her hands went to his chest and she pushed him down. "Again." he was the one to beg this time and pulled her roughly to him. He could feel her breath tickle his lips before she snuck her tongue into his mouth. He couldn't help but buck up against her, making her gasp in surprise at his already hardened member. He had been about to apologize, but then she smiled at him and started swaying on top of him.

It was the most intoxicated sight and Arnold had almost wished that he hadn't woken up at that moment, but he did. He sat up with a gasp and his hand went straight to his pounding heart. "This is bad…!" he declared in a husky whisper as the image of Helga moaning above him made him blush. "So very, very bad." He added before jumping out of the bed. As soon as he did so, he felt something stir in his pants. With bulging eyes, he looked down and collected his legs roughly. "You've got to be kidding me!" he hissed with blushing cheeks and stood up. Walk it off. Walk it off. He kept repeating until his eyes caught a sight of the clock. Oh, Helga should be home by now.

Once Arnold's problem had disappeared, he went downstairs. At first, he went to knock on Helga's door until he heard her voice not too far away. "Well, I feel attacked!" she shouted. He cocked his head to the side in confusion. "What in the world…?" he murmured as he slowly went towards her voice. He could hear Arnie talking as well, but didn't give his words much thought until he said this particular line: "You need someone to help you." he had said and left Arnold even more confused. What are they talking about? He thought before walking down the stairs and seeing Helga standing in the doorframe into the living room. Arnie stood in front of her and gave her a rather solemn look.

"I want to be that someone." Arnie suddenly said and Helga looked at him. Arnold stopped walking once he had reached the floor. He could feel something thick in the air. An aura of something grim about to happen. He wasn't sure what he should have done; interfered before the words had been said or ran up the stairs once more so that he hadn't heard them. No matter what, he would do anything not to have heard Arnie ask such a question. To ask Helga to do such a thing.

"Marry me."

Both Helga and Arnold's eyes went wide, but it was only Arnold's heart, that felt like it had just stopped beating altogether. He didn't feel sad; he just felt numb. He kept staring at the girl he was in love with, as she seemed like a robot breaking. "M… M-Marry you? Arnie, I don't get what you're saying. I-I…" she muttered before her hand finally went to her head. She felt dizzy. So very, very dizzy and it was getting hard to stand properly.

"I know it wouldn't be a marriage out of love since you don't have any feelings for me. That's ok. That's not why I'm asking you this." Arnie said somberly. Helga looked at him once more. "Then… why?" she asked. She didn't know what else to do than ask questions. She could barely focus on breathing, let alone say anything useful to him. "I want to repay you." Arnie replied. Helga blinked a couple of times, trying to understand his simple answer. "Explain." She finally ordered softly.

"You're the first person who ever really accepted me. You know that I'm weird, everyone does. Even me, but you're the only one who chose to be my friend anyhow… You even accepted my feelings and didn't shun me away when I asked to see your poems. You accepted me so much and I… I just want to repay you somehow. We're a alike in that area, Helga… I also hate feeling indebted to someone." Arnie explained with a very faint smile on his face.

Helga didn't say anything though she tried to. She didn't know what to say despite opening her mouth to speak several times. "My family may not be rich, but there's plenty of room in our house. It wouldn't take much to convince them to let both you and Megamind move in. I'll leave you to choose the details… I leave in a week. Think about it until then please." Arnie begged and walked past Helga. When he turned to the side to face the stairs, he noticed Arnold standing there with a stunned look on his face. Arnie seemed slightly guilty as he walked past Arnold making the boy shutter when he did.

Arnold kept staring at Helga while she didn't notice him at all. Her eyes were darting around, desperately trying to focus on something that could make her feel less dizzy. Married… to Arnie… moving to the country… Megamind growing up there… Leaving Hillwood… Leaving Phoebe… and the gang… and Arnold… Arnold… Arnold! She thought before she finally heaved and let herself fall to the floor. She was leaned up against the doorframe as she looked to the side away from Arnold who had fallen down to a stair tread himself at the same moment. Helga pulled her knees up to her chest and hid her face to the world, while Arnold gritted his teeth with a painful expression on his face. This was indeed not something any of them had expected from this Friday evening.

It would be an understatement to say that the breakfast next morning was completely drained of positive feelings. Helga nor Arnold had slept through the whole night and so they both had huge bags under their eyes and they were struggling to even lift the spoon to the mouths to eat. Arnie himself ate slowly, but still ate. He often looked at either Helga or Arnold and repeatedly caught them looking at each other when the other one was looking at the food. Why hasn't Arnold said anything yet? He wondered. I'm sure he's realized he's in love with Helga by now so why isn't he telling her not to come with me?

Arnie had been very truthful when he told Helga he didn't expect her to fall in love with him nor even care for him all that much. He didn't need her to love him; he only needed to pay her back for letting him love her. She had been the first and only girl he'd ever felt anything for. He didn't get excited about much, not even his hobbies, but Helga had found the notes to the strings of his heart and he would forever be thankful for that. If there were anything he could do for her, he would do it. That was the only reason he had offered to marry her. It was simply to show her as much support as he could. He didn't hope for a specific outcome. He only hoped that he could lessen her burden somehow. If she could think of something else, he could do for her then that would be just as fine.

It was easy for Arnold to avoid Helga through the rest of the weekend since she was avoiding him as well. Once Monday enrolled though, not just Phoebe and Gerald, but the whole gang noticed how the two blondes were avoiding each other. At first they only gossiped about it, wondering what could possibly have happened. With the rumors going on that they were either secretly dating or that Arnold was crushing on Helga and she was trying to reject him, then new rumors were born from this. Arnold and Helga barely noticed that they were the big headlines in the school; they were too busy questioning what they should do with themselves rather than with their peers.

At some point, both Phoebe and Gerald had enough with their best friends. Gerald was the first one to react though and he pulled Arnold aside during a recess early Tuesday afternoon. "Ok, spill it." he said plainly, once he and Arnold were out of hearing range of anyone nearby. "What do you mean?" Arnold asked lamely though he knew exactly what it was about. Gerald knew that and therefore Arnold earned a smack on the back of his head for asking a stupid question.

"Ow!" Arnold exclaimed and started to rub his sore head. "Don't screw with me, Arnold, no more secrets. What happened? Did you tell Helga about your feelings and she turned you down or something?" Gerald asked as he sat down on the bench. Arnold sighed and shook his head as he joined him. "Well… then what?" Gerald asked and crossed his arms. Arnold pondered what to say. He wasn't sure if he wanted to relive what he had heard that Friday night, but he also knew that keeping quiet would only cause Gerald to worry.

Arnold opened his mouth to speak, but he started choking at the words that he just couldn't bring himself to say. He bend forward to catch his breath, but found himself unable to do so. Gerald's eyes widened. Is he having a panic attack? He wondered and placed a hand on Arnold's back to slap it gently. Arnold was choking for breath and he could feel the tears prickling at his eyes. "Helga… Helga might marry Arnie!" he suddenly exclaimed and saying those words hurt more than he had ever imagined.

Gerald's soothing hand that had been gently banging on Arnold's back froze. All of him froze as his eyes just went bigger and bigger until they couldn't grow anymore. He leaned forward to look at Arnold's face, which was mostly hidden behind his hair. "Could you repeat that, please? I'm sure I misheard." He said in disbelief. "You didn't!" Arnold shouted violently, making Gerald let go of his back doing so. "He proposed, Gerald! Arnie proposed to Helga Friday night! Suggested that she'd move with him to the country!"

Gerald had no clue what to say. He had seen Arnold sad before, but this… this he doubted a trip to the arcade could fix. Arnold's shoulders were shaking as his palms were pressing against his eyes in a vain attempt at stopping the tears from falling. "What if she accepts…? If she moves from Hillwood…?" he questioned and his voice broke. "My parents are already in San Lorenzo; I don't want Helga to be gone as well! I can't handle that!"

Gerald bit at his lower lip and sighed while he tilted his head backwards. Oh, man… I don't even know what to tell him. He thought as he placed an awkward hand on Arnold's shaking back. "Don't… Don't worry, Arnold… Why would Helga marry Arnie to begin with? She may not hate him anymore, but still." He pointed out. Arnold shook his head though. "He offered to provide for Megamind… She wouldn't have to worry about money anymore. They would live at their big house on the farm… Megamind would grow up without needing anything ever…" he explained and hissed. "I can't offer Helga the same thing…!"

Gerald sighed deeply. "Oh, man… I'm so sorry, Arnold." he said and started rubbing his friend's shoulders, which were still shaking. Arnold didn't answer, but just kept hissing from time to time as he desperately tried to hold back the tears he had managed to hide until this day. He just couldn't imagine it; Hillwood without Helga? Then it wouldn't be Hillwood anymore… Not even Sunset Arms would be home anymore… What can I do…? He wondered as he kept fighting the tears.

Helga herself had finally made at least a small choice; to consult with Phoebe first. Rather, Phoebe had insisted to get informed once it was Wednesday and Helga herself still hadn't come to her. She had taken her hand, declared that they needed to talk and had then been about to pull her all the way home to her apartment. Helga had pointed out that she needed to go to work first though and Phoebe had then ordered her to come straight home to her afterwards. Helga had agreed with a sigh and had indeed gone home to Phoebe once she was done working.

Phoebe and Helga were sitting across each other on Phoebe's bed and she was waiting patiently for Helga to say whatever would come to her mind first. Helga was struggling hard to figure out what would be the best way to convey this particular problem. She had been so focused on whether to accept Arnie's offer or not that she had forgotten the consequences if she said yes; she would have to say goodbye to Phoebe. She would live in the country if she accepted Arnie's proposal and while it wasn't impossible to meet each other… they wouldn't see each other every day as they had grown accustomed to over the years.

"I feel guilty for even considering this." Helga declared as her first words. Phoebe's eyes widened slightly, but she composed herself. "Considering what?" she asked a little fearfully. Helga opened her mouth and hesitated, but then spoke. "I'm thinking of… moving to the country." She decided to say first. "What?!" Phoebe exclaimed in absolute shock. Helga flinched at the sound and she kept her eyes shut, afraid of what kind of expression Phoebe was wearing. Phoebe had first been shocked at the mere thought of Helga living out in the country. She hated anything out the city; be it the nature or even the suburbs. Then she was shocked to see that Helga was feeling guilty, which meant… that she was actually seriously considering it.

"… Where is this coming from?" Phoebe asked as calmly as she could. Helga slowly relaxed, but she still refused to meet Phoebe's eyes. "Arnie… Arnie proposed." She whispered. "Huh? What did you say?" Phoebe asked. Helga shut her eyes. "Arnie proposed." She said quickly. "I'm sorry, Helga, but I still can't hear - - " Phoebe said, but instantly went quiet when Helga opened her eyes to show a wild expression on her face. "Arnie proposed! Asked for my hand in marriage! Wants to shack up with me! Damn it! He didn't fall to one knee or anything, but he did tell me to marry him and move with him to the fucking country! Damn it!"

Phoebe's expression was frozen on her face. "He what?" she asked in absolute astonishment. Helga groaned. "I refuse to repeat it!" she declared loudly. "You don't have to! I'm just… dumbfounded… stunned and completely taken aback. Wh-When did this happen?!" Phoebe asked. "… Friday night." Helga replied. "Friday?!" Phoebe repeated, causing Helga to flinch once more. "Why haven't you told me this before?!"

"I didn't know what to say!"

"How about what you just said? 'Arnie proposed' was more than sufficient!"

"I didn't know what to think! My minds been filled with the cons and pros of this and I didn't have the heart to tell you before I made a decision!"

"So… have you decided?"

"No! You pulled me aside before I could, and it's not exactly an easy choice!" Helga replied and started heaving for air. Phoebe slowly calmed down together with her and the girls sighed in unison. "What about Arnold…?" Phoebe questioned. "He… I think he knows, but I haven't said anything. He's definitely avoiding me though…" Helga replied. "I think, maybe Arnie told him that he was planning on proposing to me and that's why he was acting weird before too… but I'm not sure about anything anymore."

"That's not what I meant… and you know that." Phoebe said sternly. Helga gulped at her expression and sighed. "I know… but I don't know, Phoebs." She replied. "What about your dreams, Helga? Not just considering Arnold, but everything else." Phoebe said and then seemed to grow a little angry. "You don't want to live in the country! You-You're a city girl by heart! What can you work as out there? A cowgirl?"

"Phoebe - - "

"No! You're only considering this because you're scared, Helga!"

"Yes! I am fucking scared! I'm scared of doing this by myself! Phoebe, I may have you guys as friends, but I am going to be the mother! I am going to raise the child and have to support it! I've been fooling myself believing that I had anything covered! I'm working in a flower shop, my child is due around my exams and I haven't got a single clue on what I can possibly work with!"

"How does getting married to Arnie and moving to the country change that?!"

"They aren't rich, Phoebe, but Arnie said they could definitely provide for everything."

"But… Helga… isn't that exactly what you wanted to avoid? To have people helping you? These are even strangers and not your friends."

"I'm getting desperate, Phoebs."

"Then get desperate with us! Ask us for help! D-Don't leave me to go live in the country!" Phoebe exclaimed with a sob to her voice. Helga felt guilt sting her heart and she lifted her hand to touch Phoebe, but she shook her head. "No… Sorry." She said with a sniff. "If you'd really want to live in the country then I wouldn't stop you… I want you to be happy, but, Helga, I'm sure you won't be happy there… that's why I'm so against it."

"I don't want to move from Hillwood…"

"Then - - "

"But, Phoebe, this isn't about me! It's about Megamind and his or hers best interest… I can't possibly spoil Megamind with my current income. I can barely put food on the table."

"Helga, the other boarders or Arnold would never let any of you starve."

"I know. It's just… Oh, I don't know anymore! It just seems worth considering, you know? Megamind would grow up with a real family and he or she wouldn't ever miss anything."

"… How about the mother's happiness? Helga, don't you remember how much it pained you to see Miriam cry when she and Bob fought? You admitted to me once that you just wanted them to be happy even if it meant they would divorce… Don't you think Megamind would feel that you weren't happy?" Phoebe asked. Helga finally started to tear up, but hid her face in her arms. She pulled her knees up to her chest to hide herself from Phoebe as she sobbed silently. "I don't know what I want anymore… I don't know what to do! I don't know what would be right for Megamind…"

"Then what about what would be right for you? Helga, it's admirable that you think so much of your child, but… don't let it take over your life. You're still Helga Pataki, not Helga the mother-to-be. You're still your own person."

"Yeah, well, Helga Pataki wasn't an identity I cared for either." Helga replied as she rubbed her eyes. "I was proud of being Helga Pataki's best friend… and I still am." Phoebe insisted sternly. Helga finally smiled a little bit. "And so is Gerald and Arnold by the way… together with the rest of the gang." Phoebe added. Helga sighed in slight disbelief at the mentioning of the gang, but she nodded anyhow. "I just wish… I just wish I knew what Arnold thought about the whole thing."

"Why don't you ask him?" Phoebe questioned. "No, I… that's not why I want to know, you know that…" Helga muttered and placed her chin on her arms. "You want him to tell you to stay?" Phoebe asked. Helga hesitated, but then nodded. "Yeah… I… I want him to beg me to stay, really…" she muttered and then snorted. "Yeah, that's gonna happen." She added with seething sarcasm.

Phoebe looked around thoughtfully. "What if it… did?" she asked. Helga blinked a couple of times and then lifted her head to look at her. "Huh?" she murmured. "What if he did ask you to stay… would you?" Phoebe asked. Helga blinked a couple of times again and then pondered the question. If Arnold gave me a reason to stay… She nodded. "Yes. Yes, I would." She replied. Phoebe's eyes widened slightly. "Then you wouldn't marry Arnie?" she asked, which Helga nodded at. "Or move?" Phoebe asked once more, which Helga nodded at once more. "If Arnold wants me to stay… that means I may have a chance to… to make him fall in love with me…" she replied and smiled a little bit. "If I can ever muster the courage to let myself be in love with him to begin with."

Author's 2nd note: When did you figure out that Arnie was going to propose? :P I won't say anything else… I can imagine that some people will not be satisfied with this chapter xD Give it a chance before you knock it! I think the next chapter will be up tomorrow, but I unfortunately cannot promise that Cx

Oh, and I'm still not sure when the exams are due in Washington… so forgive me, but in Denmark they are around May and June and that's kinda part of the story so to speak so… forgive me for the wrong dates for the exam, ok? X3