A/N: I decided to finish today. Here it is, the epilogue and the end of this story. Thank you all for bearing with me and my slow updates. That was never my intention. I cannot apologize enough. But thank you for your patience.

By the way, because I lost the original draft 3 years ago and cannot edit it, I noticed chapter 4 has some minor mistakes about the timeline and some of the events are off by one year. They are 18 in this story, not 17. What can I say? Math has never been my best subject. Such a minor thing I know, but that's the perfectionist in me I suppose.

I have been reviewing previous chapters I have drafts of and fixing any typos I accidentally overlooked, fine-tuning everything as I end this.

Ok, let's get on with it, shall we? The end is near!

"Hey Arnold!" is not mine. Just a crazy fan here.

Chapter 8: Epilogue

Today is high school graduation day. The entire senior class is excited to leave high school behind, yet nervous about what awaits them next, which some had their futures more planned out than others. Arnold and Helga were among those with some laid out plans for their future. With the help of Helga's new scholarship that Arnold applied for without her knowing, though she is grateful that he did, Helga is able to go to Columbia University with Arnold, who decided to major in psychology, naturally. They were able to register for the same sections for a couple of the general required classes that they both need for their degrees. They found out that they will be staying in the same dorm building, just on different floors. They both have hope that they can make their relationship work since they are going to the same college and will have opportunities to spend time together.

In the middle of all this hope is anxiety, mostly Helga's. Arnold feels the hand he is holding shake a little. He looks at his girlfriend's face and sees her eyebrows furrow and forehead scrunch in worry. He squeezes her hand and that makes her look at him.

"It will be ok. I'll be with you," Arnold leans in and whispers this promise in Helga's ear. She smiles.

"I know and I trust you. I kind of can't help it, though," Helga leans in and whispers this explanation in Arnold's ear. She explains he cannot fully take her worries away this time, though she wishes he could. It is not that simple. After all, this is a big moment.

As the principal continues to call out students' names one by one, Helga and Arnold know their row is next. Arnold gets up and gets behind Helga's wheelchair. He takes her to the line leading to the stage. The students in line before them each take their turn getting their diploma and walking across the stage. The two blondes' turn is approaching.

"Helga Geraldine Pataki," the principal announces. Helga tenses in fear after hearing her name being called. Arnold places a reassuring hand on her shoulder. He leans down slightly.

"I'm right here. You got this," he promises and assures her sincerely. Helga knows she will be ok as long as he is by her side. She takes a deep breath and nods at him.

Arnold carefully picks Helga up out of her wheelchair and carries her up the short set of stairs to the stage. The principal's assistant at the side of the stage comes out with a walker and places it in front of Helga and Arnold, like Arnold had requested before the ceremony. Arnold then gently sets Helga on her feet, his hands on her back and waist for support. Helga takes hold of the walker. Arnold then lets go of her and takes one step back. The entire gym seems to be silent or it is as if any unrelated sound is so insignificant it becomes automatically tuned out by the two of them.

Helga glances at her feet to make sure they are flat on the ground. She then lunges forward with the walker a little while moving one foot forward. She slowly repeats this with the other foot. Gradually, Helga is walking towards the principal. Her steps are rather labored and she almost stumbles a couple times, but to Helga it didn't matter. She never thought she would get to this point or at least not by her high school graduation, but she is.

Arnold is amazed by what he sees but he is not surprised. He knew she could do it. She can do anything she sets her mind to.

'She just has to focus that strong-willed and stubborn energy towards her goals and she becomes unstoppable,' Arnold thinks to himself with admiration and love.

'I can't believe someone that amazing loves me, and I finally realized that I love her, before it was too late. But did it have to take a severe car accident for me to see what was right in front of me? Would we have become a couple any other way?' Arnold adds to himself after a few seconds of continued self-reflection. He knows he is about as stubborn as her, so it is hard to say. He is just glad that the worst for Helga seems to be ending and she is improving every day. After almost two months of physical therapy, Helga can walk with the assistance of a walker, short distances yes, but it is just the beginning.

'She is amazing. And she is mine,' Arnold thinks as she turns to smile at him after accepting her diploma. She is beaming with happiness and accomplishment.

Helga knows that Arnold's eyes never left her sight after he removed his hands on her back and waist before she started walking across the stage. And she will not have it any other way. In a weird sort of way, Helga is kind of glad all this happened: Arnold telling her he wanted her out of his life and then the car accident. Maybe if it didn't, Arnold would not have realized he loves Helga. There is no way to know what would have happened. Helga is sure of a couple things though, that she and Arnold are together now, that she is starting to walk again, and that her future could not be any brighter. After all, it is all because of Arnold. Always.

THE END

A/N: Thank you all again! By the way, I am taking another hiatus from writing because of school and work, which is why I wanted to finish this before the semester begins. Until next time!

-Livyloozer