My Angel

A Hey Arnold FanFic

Authors note: Special thanks to AdventureGirl6. I do not own Hey Arnold and make no attempt to profit from it.

Chapter Fourteen: An Angel's Grace

It had been a long year for Helga. There was nothing left for her here as she strode along the pavement, hand in hand with Arnold. Carrying a wreath, Helga smiled into the bright sunlight above; continuing to rest her head against his shoulder as they walked, Helga enjoyed the relief and pleasure she had come to embrace with Arnold. He was humming softly to himself again, something she was finding to be relaxing and soothing. Nothing about this place suggested they were going to say goodbye or remember a dearly departed friend, but as they walked Helga felt the weight had finally been lifted.

Phoebe had finally left her; she had cried the first night it happened. Having promised to see her one day soon, Phoebe had promised to watch out for her, at least until she was sixty. After that she could do what she liked. Walking towards the bench, Helga pulled Arnold down and kissed him softly on the lips, the sensation still sending shocks through her after a year. She still couldn't believe he was with her, the feeling shared as the two shared another kiss.

"You know, if you keep this up, we might have to skip meeting up with Rhonda and Gerald," Arnold smirked, leaning closer to nibble on her ear lobe.

Lost in the moment of bliss, her hand pushed him back for a moment, trying to catch the breath which had left her. "Save it for later, football head," she smiled, kissing his cheek before wrapping his arm back around her shoulders.

She was captivated by the soft swaying of the trees around her, taking in the fact she had nearly finished her first novel of poetry. And who better to write it about than the one boy she had been trying to capture for years. It wasn't going to be her crowning jewel, but the indications for it had been positive at least. Two days ago, she had waited with abated breath for Arnold to get off the phone, nearly leaping into his arms as he had walked over to the bed and announced she was now an author. Of course, after the news broke she did just that, kissing every bit of his face while he laughed.

It wasn't a guarantee that she would be the greatest, but she was on her way. And as for Arnold…she wouldn't trade her job for his, despite his being a far more fulfilling call, a fact she was told quite often, in between the tickling and kisses. Her heart raced thinking about last night's tumbling…it was blissful. Arnold nudged her out of her daydreams, bringing her back to the glowing smile that sent tingles throughout her body.

"I know you didn't want to do this yet, but maybe we should start looking for an apartment soon," he grinned, loving the idea of moving out of home.

Helga moaned for a moment, punching him lightly in the shoulder before replying. "If we start moving in together somewhere, people are going to think something is going on Arnold."

"And you moving in, sharing my room and spending every waking moment with me doesn't arouse suspicions?" Arnold raised an eyebrow, smirking at Helga's reddening face.

"That's because if anyone makes a comment, they will have to deal with Old Betsy and the Five Avengers, not to mention my highly polished boots," Helga proudly proclaimed, Arnold's head shaking as she laughed at him.

She felt his hands rest with hers for a while, loving the way they intertwined with one another. "Have you spoken to him this week?"

Helga looked at Arnold and nodded. "We're getting there. It'll be a while yet, but we'll try meeting up in a month or so. Don't worry," she smiled, seeing his face change, "It will be in a public space. You can come if you like. I'm sure Bob would like to know you're the man who stole my heart."

For a while they remained close together, Helga every now and then checking to make sure he was still there. And as the sun began to dim into the late afternoon, a man dressed in black walked towards them, his glasses hiding his eyes from view but smiling face beaming as he greeted them. Followed closely behind him was a woman in red, her raven hair gleaming in the light and eyes shining with delight as she greeted them too. The pair morphed into Rhonda and Gerald, holding each other close and joining the duo on the bench.

"Are you ready for this Gerald?" Arnold finally asked after discussing where they might go after.

Gerald looked calm and ready, the first time Helga could remember seeing him like this in a long time. She felt calm herself, but she knew deep down it would still be tender. It wasn't possible to simply place a Band-Aid on it and pray it would heal; she still needed some time to grieve over her friend, but that was becoming less and less. Gerald had begun to do the same, having confronted so many of his fears and pains during the sessions with Rhonda and Helga. It wasn't easy, but Helga could still remember with a smile the day she told Gerald she was able to move on.

D & F

3 months ago, in Rhonda's apartment…

Helga smiled, trying to suppress the girlish giggle that threatened to leave her. She wouldn't have been able to bear Rhonda having this much information on her; having already spent many a night on the couch, muttering her deepest love for Arnold, the last thing she wanted to gift Rhonda with was more blackmailing evidence of being a girl. It wasn't possible to contain her laughter though and shortly she broke, spilling it out for all to hear.

Gerald laughed along with her as Rhonda's face turned red, trying to contain her emotions at mentioning she had thought about Gerald in the shower before. Gerald's laughter though only hid the faintest of blushes from Helga, a fact she smirked at. Something had changed in the last few days and she suspected she knew what it was.

"Anyway Geraldo, as much as Rhonda seems to enjoy fantasising about you, I think we should move on," Helga smiled, the laughing finally at an end.

Rhonda quickly grabbed her mug in her hands and sat back, sipping away from it casually, pretending that indeed nothing had happened. Gerald had looked at her for a moment before grabbing his own. It was nothing serious, but Helga tried not to grin as her thoughts were confirmed when he glanced at her once more.

"So, Helga, how are you coping with Phoebe's absence?" Rhonda asked.

In truth, Helga didn't know how she felt. At times, she still expected Phoebe to turn up, speak and talk with her normally before disappearing again. Other times she was glad not to be disturbed and try to sort out her own problems. But once or twice she was sure she had seen Phoebe, not as a figment but as a real person walking in the streets or in the shops. However, it would vanish before she could check, her heart wrenching whenever it happened.

"I guess I'm feeling better about it all. It's not like she controls my life anymore, or turns up uninvited, but sometimes…sometimes I wish she would," she sighed sadly.

Rhonda's sympathy didn't do much, but Helga was grateful none the less when she stood up and came to give her a hug, a gesture she would not have ever thought possible with 'the princess' years ago. But so much had changed in the last nine months, so much so that she wished she wasn't going to be saying to goodbye to her father for the next few months. He had agreed, after long debate, to check into a clinic for his drinking, promising he would change. She was yet to make her mind up, but Helga knew she at least owed him the chance to turn it around.

Gerald watched them closely, drinking every now and then from his cup. Helga felt the hug break, returning to her position. Rhonda though had failed to realise she had placed herself into Gerald's lap, only registering it when Helga looked at her dumbfounded. Of course, she knew about Rhonda and Gerald, but this was the first time they had admitted it. They both blushed, Helga grinning as Rhonda separated quickly and returned to her chair.

"How long have you been dating the princess?" she asked cockily, enjoying the confidence that came from being herself again to people on the outside.

"Two months now," he replied coolly, looking much better now than he had six months ago.

Gerald's changes were very noticeable; apart from now being out and about, his confidence had returned and he wept only rarely when things became overwhelming, something he was glad to acknowledge to Rhonda, Helga and Arnold in private.

"How have you found being with Arnold? Is he everything you hoped he would be?" Gerald asked.

Helga paused for a moment. "I have found it to be the most wonderful experience; he is a true gentleman. You wouldn't believe how long it has taken to get him to not blush when I change my shirts in the same room as him. But I love it…it isn't easy, but we try. And I love him…with him I can move on."

Gerald looked at her oddly, trying to understand what she meant. "Moving on from Phoebe?" he finally asked.

"Yes. I find it hard when she isn't there," Helga began, "But I know that I have him around to help me. She was always there for me, and I do miss that. I can't hang onto Phoebe anymore though; for the first time, a week ago she stopped coming after we talked. I know she isn't coming back and I tried to make peace with her for not being there when she needed it. And she did with me; I miss her, but I will see her again."

Gerald seemed to be taking longer than Rhonda to accept it, but had smiled when he finally did. There was something clicking in his mind as he spoke the next few words that Helga knew he had spent an age trying to figure out how to say. "I think I'm ready to start saying goodbye."

D & F

Helga held Arnold's hand tightly, walking past the children with a heart she felt had been lifted after saying goodbye. This was now only a formality, but she knew it still held importance to Gerald after all he had gone through. To be walking beside him and Rhonda was beyond her wildest imaginings. They hadn't said anything while walking towards the graveyard, and Helga felt there was nothing that needed to be said. All lost in deep thought, she contented herself with holding onto Arnold's arm.

Admiring how the trees shone brightly in the afternoon sun, Helga clutched the wreath tightly, holding onto it for dear life as they came upon the tombstone. It's writing was beginning to weather and fade, but still visible enough to make out the name belonging to Phoebe. It wasn't how she had hoped to spend the afternoon, and she felt a pang of hurt jab at her heart, unable to resist the urge to call upon her to show herself one more time.

"Arnold, I can't," she whispered softly, his eyes knowing all too well what was going through her mind.

Gently he placed his hands on hers, leading her towards the stone and placing the wreath down. Helga could feel it coming, her hands tense and unyielding, but she didn't want to cry, not this time. Softly, Helga felt her fingers let go, the wreath coming to rest against the headstone and remaining firm to the wind around them as she looked on at the stone. Thank you, Phoebe.

"Would you like to say something Rhonda?" Arnold asked as he noticed Gerald having a hard time not breaking down in front of the stone.

With a flick of her hair, Rhonda stood beside Gerald and smiled, turning her attention to Gerald as she spoke. "Phoebe I can see why you loved him; I can see why you loved all of us. With you here, you always watched out for us, even when we didn't want it. Sometimes we needed that outburst or dominating word that put us where we needed to be. Without you around it is hard. But in our hearts, you're always there; you may not have that word to say, but you're making us better people every day."

"Gerald and Helga loved you, more than we will ever know. And I know I am grateful to have known you and have spent some time with you. Thank you, Phoebe," she mumbled, her tears catching her off guard as she spoke. Gerald wrapped an arm around her, pulling her in to a warm hug.

"Phoebe, I wish you could be here with us, but I know Helga would want you to know that she loves you. You might not get to be here for the all the times ahead, but we will carry a small part of you with us always. Thank you for teaching me Phoebe," Arnold spoke, "When I needed it most."

Helga steeled herself to say something, but she couldn't say it out loud. Phoebe knew what she was going to say, but it was only a repeat of what she had already said. Instead, she smiled and moved closer to Arnold. "Thank you, Phoebe, for being my friend and the greatest woman I will ever know."

From her handbag, Rhonda pulled out a smaller wreath, roses intricately woven into it. With a nod from Gerald, she placed it down, resting it carefully beside the larger wreath. Helga could not help but smile at the thought of Phoebe laughing and breaking into an explanation of how magnificent the flowers were. One day she would ask about it; she could bore her for hours and not care. Rhonda though touched the stone and wiped away a tear.

"I'm not taking him from you," she confessed quietly, feeling silly for talking to marble, but continuing none the less. "But I promise I will look after him for you. I will hold him close and help him through life until we meet again."

Gerald watched on with a mixture of sadness and hurt. He knew this would be hard to face every year, but he would try to see her every now and then if he could. But time would get away from him in the future. I hope I can make it right with you Phoebe, he thought, feeling the wind soar higher than ever before. A chill had returned to the air, making even the suit he wore obsolete as he looked at the tombstone.

Laying down the last of the flowers, Rhonda turned to Gerald and squeezed his hand affectionately, smiling at his soft smile of care. She knew he would always have a soft spot for her, and she had accepted that. His love was for Rhonda, but a small part was always going to be for the first love he had. Watched on with arms wrapped around one another, Arnold and Helga both smiled softly as the wind picked up the leaves and swirled around. Helga gave an involuntary shiver as the wind cut through her clothing.

"Ready to go?" Helga asked, kissing Arnold on the lips softly before looking towards Rhonda and Gerald.

"I am; can I have a few minutes alone?" Gerald asked, the knowing smiles a silent acknowledgement as they moved towards the gate, lingering for a moment before vanishing from view.

Gerald breathed deeply, taking in the final view around him. He had come so far, this past year. The grave before him didn't feel like a knife anymore, but more of a memory, a memory that he now felt at peace with. He grinned at it for the longest time, trying his hardest not to think about how she must have felt in those last few moments, knowing one day he might have the courage to ask.

"I didn't think you would come today," Gerald smiled softly, not turning his attention as Phoebe moved up beside him, grinning as he bent down to look at the flowers.

"They are really beautiful Gerald; I love them so much," she smiled, patting him soothingly on the shoulder.

"I know Phoebe. I can't believe it's been so long," he sighed, standing back up to look at the setting sun.

Phoebe shuffled closer to him and nodded. "Indeed. It feels as though a lifetime has passed us by, but it has only just begun."

Laughing, Gerald turned to face her, the love he held for her shining in his eyes like a beacon. "I still love you; you know that right?"

Phoebe's smile faded a little, a small tear escaping her eyes. "I know you do; I still think about you, wondering where you are and who you're with. And I'm glad you finally found someone Gerald; I don't want to see you waste away to nothing."

"Are you sure you accept Rhonda?" Gerald smirked.

"In time I may," she grinned, "But I know one day I'll get to spend it all with you."

A small part of his heart jumped at the mention, but he sighed, realising it would be in a while. Winds began to pick up around them again, the last of the leaves now being thrown into the air as if the winds were playing a game of catch. It wasn't how he wanted to go, but he was sure there was no other way.

"We both know this will be the last time I say goodbye," Gerald smiled sadly, his shoulders dropping a little as Phoebe nodded.

"I know Gerald. I do want to tell you though that I forgive you; I…there are so many things to say, but today will not be it. I have a lifetime to tell you, after you have lived out yours. I love you Gerald," she smiled, tears slowly streaking down her face as Gerald watched her fade away.

"I'll always love you, my angel," he replied tenderly.

Watching as the wind caught her, Gerald felt the sadness replace itself with joy at watching her fade away, smiling brightly to him. He stood there, watching the wind until she turned to nothing, the wind now a gentle reminder to him as he basked in the sun's last golden rays. He smiled, turned on his heel and began walking away to the gate, to the life that awaited him beyond it. She was his one and only, his first and true love. She was everything and anything. My beloved. My Angel.

D & F

A/N: Well there you have it. The finale and conclusion to My Angel, having spanned the better part of a year (a few years later for the rewrite). I do thank you all for reviewing and reading this story; it's been wonderful to get the feedback I have. To my loyal reviewers and readers, I hope this story has pleased and brought a little bit of enjoyment into your lives. Until next time, in whatever time or place it may be, I am forever yours in writing, Destiny and Fate United.