Sorry guys... I had a lot happen in the past few months, and I lost my muse completely. Today, however, I decided to come back and try and get my creatively back on track.

This prompt was from a guest and read: Arnold and Helga help Gerald Plan a romantic evening for Phoebe. And in the process they start talking.

I do not own Hey Arnold, or any of the songs mentioned in this chapter.

"Okay, so shove over, I've got a lot of ideas to go through!"

I blinked as the door opened with a bang, Helga's booming voice making me cringe for a moment. I quickly scooted the papers I'd been scribbling notes on into the composition book that was on my desk. I sighed heavily, spinning the computer chair around to give her a look I hoped the conveyed how unnecessary her being here was.

"What, are you constipated or something?" she observed as she scanned my face. I quickly shifted my expression to a frown as I rolled my eyes.

"I don't remember inviting you over, "I muttered, turning back to the desk and clicking open the browser on my computer. I clicked around on a few other icons so I could pretend like I was genuinely busy. I dared a glance back over my shoulder to find her standing with her arms crossed, blowing the bangs from her eyes.

"Look, I know Gerald asked you to come up with some ideas from his and Phoebe's six month anniversary…. Thingy." She wiggled her fingers with a look of distaste on her face. "I also know that you happen to be about as romantic as a can of baked beans. So consider this a favor." She strode across the room and deposited a stack of books, magazines, and dvds from her bag onto the desk. I took a quick look at the stack before cradling my face in my hands. She was stil talking beside me, but I tried to block it out. Instead, I was searching for a tactful way to confess I actually hadn't asked for her help for this very reason. When she committed to something, she really committed. And frankly, I didn't have the patience. I'd promise Gerald I'd Skype him later with a few ideas of my own and we'd pull them together.

Despite Gerald's calm and collected appearance most of the time, when it came to Phoebe, he was anything but. He'd been bugging me all week trying to work out what he wanted to do for this anniversary date. He wanted it to be something super romantic and also a surprise. Which meant he couldn't just ask Phoebe what she wanted to do (which would have been an easier option, but hey, I wasn't the one with the girlfriend). We'd been working on ideas all week, and so far neither of us had managed to crack the clichéd code of Dinner and a movie. We'd just ducked from restaurant to restaurant, then from movie to movie. I sighed again.

"You need me," I heard her say a bit smugly, and I groaned. She was right. She knew she was.

"Fine," I managed reluctantly. "But! But it has to be something attainable and affordable – so no sky writing or something like that, okay?" I pointed my finger at her to show I meant business before plucking one of the magazines from the stack, wrinkling my brow in confusion. "Six ways to fix a bad hair day," and "12 make-up tricks to drive him insane" seemed useless in this situation. I peered up at her curiously.

"They aren't mine, I borrowed them," she muttered, her cheeks flushing as she tugged on some of the lose hair around her face.

"I didn't say anything," I replied with a laugh, picking up the stack on the desk and motioning with my head for her to come join me on the couch. "Come on, we'll look through this stuff together I guess. I have no idea what is going on in your devious head." I plopped down, setting the rest of the stack of the floor and flipping awkwardly through one of the magazines.

"Okay, well here's some of the ideas I came up with already," she said excitedly, picking up one of the other magazines she had brought along. She pulled a sheet of notebook paper from someone within the pages, covered in curly handwriting and lots of underlining. "I was thinking something totally random, ya know, but also tailored to Phoebe's needs. This has a five step type deal, so it's like a mini scavenger hunt! I'm sure most of the places would love to help out! All Gerald would have to do it be at the last place at the right time!"

"Wow," I managed, my eyes flitting over the details and quick map sketch she followed with her finger as she continued to talk. "You really put some thought into this."

"Well, it's my specialty," she said with a hint of sarcasm. "I'm so versed in love and whatnot."

I couldn't help but chuckle as she rifled through some of the magazines, opening one to a page that had a little sticky note attached. "So I'm thinking we'll need a CD too. So if you'd loan us your portable CD player, we could use that." She flushed. "I mean Phoebe! Not us, it'll be just her. I mean us as in we're planning. Not like – okay, you get it. Anyway, this one had a list of songs that might be useful."

I skimmed over the list, then frowned a bit. "These are all super peppy chick hits. Your idea is really good, honestly!" I added quickly, holding my hands up as a shield when she glared at me. "I just think we should tailor the music a bit to the experience. If she's gonna walk and listen to it, then maybe we should pick some songs that aren't just popular hits. Old stuff to. We could even tailor it to be in time with the walk."

The idea seemed to have captured her attention, and I could practically see the wheels turning as she drummed her fingers on the magazine. "You're right! That would work! So what, we say in theory, it should take her about fifteen minutes or so to hit the first four spots, and then she'll take another ten on the bus! So we need about twenty-five minutes of music."

I nodded, already sifting through the options in my head. "I've got a few songs in my head already. Come on, I'll play them." I hopped up and started to the computer, only to be stopped by her voice.

"Wait! What if the songs are too short or they take too long?" she asked seriously, looking at me intently.

"Um…" I peered down at my wrist, contemplating for a moment. "Well it's only about eight. We've got almost an hour until dark. Want to do a test walk? Then you can explain your plan as we walk and we'll work it out from there?"

Helga looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded resolutely. "Okay, yeah, we could do that."

"Give me a minute and I'll make a playlist and put in on my IPod, then we'll test this out. Hey," I mused, my fingers hovering over the mouse as I looked back. "Are we starting this from when Phoebe leaves her house, or does she pick up the CD player at the first stop? How will she know when to get there?"

"She'll pick it up at the first stop…tell Gerald to text her to meet him at the Bookstore, which will be the first place."

I nodded, quickly sifting through my immense music collection and quickly moving songs onto the playlist. I took a few more moments to skim and move a few around or off the list all together. After a quick moment of synching, we headed downstairs, IPod and notebook in head.

"I'll be back in a bit," I called to my grandparents as we stepped out into the muggy air. "Come on," she urged, grabbing my wrist and tugging me behind her. I wasn't used to the sudden warmth against my skin, and I stumbled for a moment as we booked it down to the bookshop. I watched as her ponytail bounced in front me, her blonde hair swishing as she stared ahead with determination.

I opened my mouth to ask a question, but no sooner than the words started out of my mouth , she slammed on breaks and held out her hand. "Hand me an earbud so we can walk with the music."

I nodded, fumbling in my pocket and extending her one of the buds. "Sorry, they aren't long. If we're sharing, you'll have to stand a bit close."

"Psh, whatever, just keep your hands to yourself," she muttered, the corners of her mouth twitching as she adjusted the earbud.

"let me just get this started," I laughed, starting the playlist. This Guys in Love With You, by Herb Alpert began to filter through the speakers as we started to walk. "Hold on, let's adjust to an average pace," I noted, and we took a moment to awkwardly orient our pace as we walked side by side. A slight breeze stirred around, and I peered over at her. The question I had been meaning to ask earlier sneaked back to my tongue and I blurted, "You're really into this romance stuff, huh? I mean, all Gerald and I could think of was dinner and a movie."

"Dinner and a movie is sweet, yeah, for a first date I guess. But sometimes is not how much you spend, it's the effort you put into the idea. People want to know you care," she said with a slightly rehearsed voice.

"I get it, but that doesn't answer the question," I prodded.

"What question?" she retorted innocently.

"You're really into romance," I repeated, this time making it a statement.

"Okay, maybe a bit. I mean, what girl isn't?" she said with a shrug, shoving her hands into her pocket. "This is a nice song," she tacked on as if to end the conversation.

"Isn't it?" I replied, smiling as we continued on the walk. "Where's the next stop?"

"Actually, right here!" she said, pointing to one of the small restaurants that had become a hotspot over the years. "Where Gerald and Phoebe had their first date."

"Oh yeah, I remember." And I did. I had gotten the exact recount of the evening on play by play that night. "So, does she pause the music, or keep on going?"

"If we estimate about one song from place to place, she can pause," Helga mused. "Anyway, from here, I want her to ask for a take-out menu. Which, will have a clue of where to go next on it, of course," she said matter of factly.

"Oh, of course," I laughed. I hit pause as they last few notes of the song faded away. "So where was your first date?" I tried to be nonchalant about asking, rocking back on my heels.

Her whole body tensed up as she looked straight ahead. "I don't remember."

"What do you mean not remember? You can't just forget that stuff!"

"Sure you can," she muttered, scuffing her foot on the pavement.

"Oh come on, you can talk to me. I'm not judging. Can't we have a friendly conversation?"

"Look, I haven't….I haven't had a date, okay?" she admitted, huffing.

"Seriously?" I asked, surprised. Sure, she may have been one of the more abrasive juniors in the school, but she was nice when you stopped to think about it. "You're smart, witty, pretty – you turn everyone down?"

"No one asked me," she sighed, rubbing her fist over her nose for a moment before quickly clearing her throat. "Come on, hit the next song."

Rolling my eyes, I hit play.

"I love you, always forever?" she laughed as the song began to play. I shrugged as if to say 'what can I say?' "You made fun of my chick music."

"I mocked the less touching chick music. Sex songs are not cool." I gave her a look as if daring her to dispute me.

"So," she said, pursing her lips out. "Who was your first crush? I mean, aside from Lila."

I flushed slightly, sticking my tongue out. "So what if I liked Lila?" I flicked her arm with my finger, and she gave me a low growl. "Okay, um.. . Ruth. I liked Ruth before Lila," I pointed out, remember her braces and hair. She had graduate a few years before, and we'd never really gotten on.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about her," Helga snorted, wrinkling her nose. "She was such a skeeze anyway."

"So you?"

"Huh?"

"Your first crush?"

"Oh look, second stop," she blurted, pointing to Mrs. Vitello's. "Okay, so here we're gonna have hair boy have pre-purchased a small bouquet of some sort. Second clue with be in the flowers. Obvious enough."

I nodded, quickly hitting the play button once more. Silly Love Songs started and she looked at me like I had purposely tried to shush her.

"Crush?" I prompted.

"None of your business!"

"Why not?" I pressed with a teasing smile. "You know mine. Aren't we being open, sharing things? Being all romantic."

"Shut up. This isn't romantic. We're planning a friend's date. "

"Mhm."

"Stop it!"

"Nuh uh. Come on."

"Just keep walking," she snapped, and I frowned. Okay. I knew what to do to.

"Some people want to feel the world with silly love songs!" I sang dramatically, and she looked at me in shock. "And what's wrong with that, I'd like to know. Cause here I go Aggaaaaain! I loooooove yoooou!"

"Stop it!" she shushed me immediately as people across the street looked over in amusement. I continued to sing loudly, ignoring her as we walked. "Fine, just stop it!"

"Oh, you're gonna tell me?"

"If you stop!"

I mimed a zipper across my lips, and she sighed, muttering something.

"I'm sorry, who?" I asked, resisting the urge to tilt my head. I didn't want to pop the buds out.

"You!" she snapped again, and I felt a weird sensation shoot through me.

"Me?" I squeaked. "You had a crush on me?"

"It was a long time ago, it doesn't matter anyway," she said with a flippant toss of her hand. "Not important!"

"Why didn't you ever say anything?" I asked, running a hand through my hair. This was certainly news.

"I said it doesn't matter anymore," and I could tell she really meant it this time, so I clamped my mouth shut until we reached the next destination.

We soon arrived at Mr. Green's and she immediately set off on her explaining once more. "Tell you friend to put together a picnic basket. Phoebe will pick it up from here. Mr. Green can do some sandwich meat and whatnot."

"You really did think this all out," I said with an appreciative nod. "I'm impressed, really."

"It's a gift," she said with a smug grin. "Now the bus stop is right over there, so we'll give her a song for the walk and the wait."

"Got it," I assured her, once again hitting play and having My Girl start to slowly dance out. We stood in relative silence as we waited for the bus, and I rocked back and forth on my heels for a minute before asking with a large breath, "So how long ago was this crush?"

"Drop it football head." She shrugged, putting her hands in her pockets. It seems we had no choice..

"I guess you saaayyy, what can make me feel this way? My giiiirl!"

"Don't start again," she growled as the bus pulled up.

"Can't stop, I've got too much momentum," I blurted before continuing to sing. She put up with it until we sat down, where she promptly clamped a hand over my mouth.

"Like pre-k or something, a long time ago. Shut up about it already."

"Wow, that was a while ago," I piped up, letting the music continue to filter through. She didn't say anything else, just peered out the window of the bus. I had no idea where we were going now, so I just bobbed my head and kept the beat with my feet as we rode along. Before too long, she pushed against me and I quickly got up, staying close as she exited the bus. We walked a short distance as the sun finished settling, the stars surprisingly visible from the top of small hill she had led me too. A small bench as nestled on top, with a fabulous view sprawling beneath.

"And here they will have a picnic. I assume Geraldo and figure out the rest," she said proudly looking around.

"I think he can," I muttered, though my brain had shifted in a completely different direction on the bus. "So hey, can I ask you something?"

"I'm not talking about the crush thing anymore," she warned, scowling.

Bryan Adams sneaked into the conversation with his Everything I do, I do it for you.

"It's not about that. I was just wondering if you want to hang out sometime." She blinked, confused. "I mean, do stuff? We never really have, and I don't see why we can't start now. I mean, I may have like you a bit in pre-k too. I think we'd have fun. This was fun." I shrugged, giving a shy grin.

"Oh, oh, okay, I guess. I mean, if you absolutely must. It's not like I'm not already super busy, but I'll make some time."

"Whatever you say, Helga."