A/N: Arnold confesses….what more can I say to entice you?

Ack… Family!

By: ChickenGoddess

The Park

Arnold paced his room nervously.  It was 3:27 he had asked Helga to meet him at the park at 4:00.  He didn't want to be too early… but being late wouldn't do.  He had tried everything in his closet and opted for his usual attire in the end.  He was nervous… he didn't know why, but he was nervous.  He loved her, she loved him, what was there to be nervous about?  For the first time all week, Arnold truly wished he had Arnie around.  He had gone to the movies with Lila… or she had dragged him along.  Whatever the case was, it didn't matter.  Did he really want advice from Arnie anyway?  He could see it now…

"What do I do?" He would ask.

"Offer her gum," snort, "plain flavored gum."

"But what do I say?"

"Tell her about your lint collection." Snort.

Arnold laughed.   There was no way he could do a worse job than Arnie, he concluded.  He heard the door to his room swing open.

"Hey Short Man!"

"Hi Grandpa."

"What's got you all nervous?"

Arnold sighed, again fidgeting with his hands.  "There's this girl… and I realized that I love her… not just like her, like her but love.  She's… not like other girls…"

"And you're wondering what to do?" Phil finished.

"Yeah!  You got any advice?"

"Nope.  Not a clue.  Is it that mean little girl with the one eyebrow?"

Arnold sighed.  "Yes, Grandpa."

"So you finally figured out she likes you…"

"What?  You mean you knew?!"

"Sure, are you dense or something, Arnold?!" The old man asked.

"…I guess I am pretty thickheaded."

"That's ok.  I didn't figure Pookie out until I was 20." Phil consoled.

"You mean… Grandma was that Gertie girl who used to pick on you?!"

" I never finished that story, did I?" Grandpa mused.

"I can't believe it!"

"It's better you figure it out yourself anyway.  What time are you supposed to meet her?"

"4:00." Arnold replied.

"You better get going, then."

Arnold checked his watch.  It was 3:47.  If he wanted to get there before her, he'd have to leave now. "Thanks Grandpa." He said as he ran down the stairs and toward the park.

"Hehe… I'm such a wily old coot!" He laughed with the empty room.

"What's that, Don?"

"Geez, Pookie, The Godfather?"

"Leave the gun.  Take the canola."

Phil just rolled his eyes.

Arnold sat nervously drumming his fingers on the park bench as he waited for Helga to arrive.  Inscribed on the bench were various initials surrounded by hearts.  He hoped to carve theirs in the wood of this bench tonight.  He also took careful note of the fact that none of these initials were scratched out by an angry ex, which helped him keep his nerve.  Before long, at 4:01 exactly, he heard soft treading on the dirt path coming closer to his position.  He sighed nervously, knowing it was now or never. 

Helga was nothing short of a bundle of nerves.  Still, she managed to hide it as best she could as she approached him, mentally assuring herself.

Arnold was speechless as Helga approached him.  She looked exactly as she had in his dream the previous night.  Her blond hair, let loose in its natural wave and her pink bow tied in amongst the free-falling strands of gold.  She wore her usual pink dress, and that was good because Arnold concluded that he would not have recognized her without it.

"It's the hair isn't it? … Phoebe did it." Helga said quickly, noticing Arnold's stare, unable to read it as good or bad.

"No- I mean yes- I mean: it looks great! …You look great, Helga." He said, stuttering in all his nervous glory.

Helga sat beside him on the worn bench to avoid eye contact.  He couldn't read her that way.  "Why'd you wanna meet here, Football Head?" 'Great, Helga… that's the way into his heart…and you call him Paste-for-Brains?' She mentally scorned.

He just smiled in reply, as if what she said had confirmed his conviction, whatever that may have been.

"I love you, Helga." He said, looking her straight in the eye, his expression conveying his seriousness.

Upon hearing these words, Helga up and fell off the bench.  "You… What?" She asked, as if she had missed his statement entirely and was left with only shock.

"I love you." He said, a hint of a smile on his lips as he looked down at the girl whom had fallen from the bench.  A lock of hair draped over one eye.  It had been knocked loose from the fall.  'It was her all along…" He thought.

"When… when did this happen?"

"After we saved the neighborhood." He replied simply.

"Why didn't you tell me then?!" She asked.

"I didn't know!  I just couldn't stop thinking about… you know.  All of a sudden I didn't like Lila and I tried not to think about it…" Arnold explained, or tried to.

Helga looked at him uncomprehending.  "When did you start thinking about… you know… again?"

"When Arnie started giving you attention.  I guess- I know I was jealous." He confessed.

"Looks like Arnie was good for something." Helga mused.

Arnold laughed. "So… what do we do now?" He asked once the conversation had died.

"That's your call, Football Head." She replied with a smile.

With a smile, Arnold took this as his cue and before he was even aware, he was kissing a very shocked Helga G. Pataki.  The shock didn't last long, and Helga had never been known as one for short kisses.

They watched the sun set from the rickety old bench, on which they had inscribed their initials in a heart before heading home.  Helga studied the carvings, mesmerized that they were actually starring back.

"It came out pretty good, huh?" Arnold asked.

"Amazing… just I hope I don't wake up." She replied.

"This definitely isn't a dream." Arnold confirmed.

"What are we gonna do… I mean at school?" She questioned.

"Same thing we're doing now."

"You're not… ashamed of it?" She asked with rising shock.

"Give me one reason I should."

"Everyone hates me, I'm mean, and I torture everyone, especially you." She rattled off.

"So?" He replied, unphased. 

Helga threw her arms around his neck.  "I love you!"

"Me too, Helga." He said, returning the gesture before taking her hand and escorting her home.

The old rickety wood bench rested on the rich green grass beneath.  Few that were alive could remember the exact age of that bench, only that their initials and those of their spouse had rested there, somewhere amongst a hundred plus alphabets.  Today, there rested two new letters, surrounded by another heart. 

A + H

A/N: They're together! Stay tuned for the epilogue where I tie everything up!