Author's note: Smut Lite - just a little. So's you knows.

68.

Lalalalala LAAAA la LAAAAA Helga sang and sang and sang in her head as she found herself, yet again, in Arnold's lap.

I have died and gone to heaven. I am dead and this is paradise. I have passed on beyond my mortal life and will live forever in my dearest fantasies!

"Ohohoh," she burst as he bit into her neck hard. "Oh my god."

"What?" He said, pulling back, pushing his forehead into hers.

"You tryna leave a hickey or somethin', Hair Boy?" She laughed, her voice rough and low.

Arnold felt caught but bold. "Yeah, maybe." He admitted with a smile. Both of their eyes were closed but she could hear it in his voice.

"You marking your territory?" She said it without thinking, joking. But when she opened her eyes, he opened his and stared back at her.

"Yeah - maybe." He said again. He wasn't joking. She could feel it.

Oh my god, Oh my god, Oh my god, her mind was racing as she dropped back into her body. Out of heaven, back to earth, here in Arnold's room.

"And who - who says I'm your territory?" She asked, a bit rougher. He wasn't sure if she was joking - or, or what? Was she mad? One of her fists clenched around his shirt collar, the other twisted in his hair.

Arnold chanced a short pause before answering; he needed to make a quick assessment of the situation: she was still firmly in his lap, her brow was furrowed, but her eyes were wild. She wasn't pulling away - she was waiting for his answer, clinging to him. Arnold took another chance.

Who says I'm your territory? still ringing in his ears, he answered.

"I want you to be." he kept his eyes locked on hers, watching. He could see her pupils grow wide - huge - overtaking her irises. "I want you to be mine."

Her breath was heaving, her lips pursed and tight, biting down on her inner cheek. Words were bubbling up that felt dangerous - a betrayal to every desperate act of a younger Helga. But she was going to chance it too.

"I have - always - been - yours."

One single silent moment passed - then - Arnold clutched Helga close and kissed her again and again and again. He switched his nose from one side to the next, moving with her rhythms. Helga's brow reached up in a disbelieving expression. She felt his hands slide against her lower back, under her shirt, fingers edging along the top of her jeans, sending shivers through her body. Helga whimpered. Arnold hummed.

Stacked on top of each other, Helga and Arnold were a tangle of limbs moving through syrup. One of Helga's legs twisted and slipped between Arnold's back and the chair, pulling him even tighter to her. Arnold's hands slid down over her ass and he scooped upwards, grinding against her as he stood up. He stood holding her, letting both legs wrap around his waist. He meant to move toward the bed, but he relished the weight of her clinging to him.

Her tongue slid deep into his mouth and he sucked at it. With another kiss…kiss…kiss… Helga pulled away, breathing heavy.

"I was joking before," she panted.

"What?"

"You are totally getting in my pants." She kissed Arnold on top of his smile. "Move it, Arnoldo. I ain't got all day."

Laughing, Arnold moved toward the bed.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he dropped Helga onto her back with a loud squeal from the mattress. "I don't think you actually want me to rush." Arnold leaned over her body, arms on either side, looking down at her, her face flushing.

"I- I -" she was fumbling for a come back. "I just - don't you - "

"Shut up, Helga," he laughed, lowering his body to hers quickly, kissing her hard. His left hand gripped her hip, fingers sinking into her flesh.

"MmmMmmMm" was all she could say in response to his movements. Arnold maneuvered and slid into position without breaking the kiss. He slid his thigh into place between her legs and gave three slow pulses. With each noise she made, his heart fluttered.

Putting his weight into his hip, he pressed into Helga, moving her, grinding. The heat grew between their legs as their jeans worked against each other. He knew he would get those out of the way soon, but Helga was so responsive already. She bucked against him, needy and fervent. Arnold let her drive a little, letting her pick up the pace. He lifted from her kiss to listen to her ragged breathing and bite and suck at her neck.

Her pace, her noises, both raised and raised. He hitched his knee up even more, catching her off guard, making her squeal. Up and down, up and down. Arnold bit at Helga's earlobe and whispered roughly, "Are you already so close?"

It wasn't a discovery or an insecure question. It was a taunt. He laughed just a little. Enough to tease her as he kept up the rhythm. Her eyes snapped open, but she was having a hard time focusing them. They kept rolling up then back to him. "What's wrong?"

"Fuck - you - Arnold," she said between gasps.

"Well - " Arnold smirked. Her breath was hitching. "Come on, Helga. Don't fight me. I

know you - want - to - " pushing and rubbing with each word. Pushing her further and further - finally, she was grabbing desperately at his shirt and his hair, and whining through gritted teeth.

"Oh my god - Ah -" she said and pulled his mouth back to hers for a strained and hungry kiss. He kissed her as she lifted up, up, and up! And he kept kissing her as she slowly came back down.

Breathing together, slowing down together, Arnold brought Helga's leg up around his hip, so she was laying on her side comfortably and slid his arm under her head. He kissed her softer and softer, waiting for her eyes to focus again. When she finally steadied and nuzzled into his neck, he ran his fingers up and down her back and kissed her cheek.

"Do you mean it?" He whispered in her ear after a long moment. Helga didn't respond, but she tensed a little. He waited, kissed her cheek again. And he waited.

"Mean what?" Was all she said when she finally managed an answer.

Arnold pulled back enough to be able to see her. Her lips were rosy from kissing him. She didn't look angry. She looked - he couldn't quite place it - skittish? He changed tactics.

"Helga," he said, then waited for her to look him in the eye. "Will you - will you be my girlfriend?"

"Can we just lay here for a little while?" Helga asked in a small small voice. Arnold had this sense that he could be afraid of what she was thinking - but he wasn't. He wasn't nervous at all.

"Of course." He wrapped her up in his arms, and she draped her arms around him. Arnold nuzzled nose to nose. She leaned into him with a long syrup sweet kiss, then both sank deep into the same pillow.

69.

They fell asleep for forty-five minutes. When eyes winked open it was fully dark through the skylight, the color of streetlamps seeping in around the edges.

Helga woke up first. She had rolled over and become the little spoon in sleep. As she moved, Arnold rustled and tugged her in tighter to him, his nose exhaling against her neck. She was warm and comfortable and so calm in that moment.

My love. Wants me. To be his. Girlfriend! How is this possible? This is happening! This is real! Oh my GOD! Before she knew it, Helga's eyes were bugging out of her head and she was digging her nails into Arnold's arm. Waking him.

"Hey," he whispered, nuzzling against her shoulder.

"Hey," she said. She wanted to sit up, turn around, and - oh god. What? Run? Maul him? Tell him that she wouldn't be his girlfriend. She would be his wife if he wanted her to be. But instead she stayed quiet.

Arnold sat up, releasing her from his grip. He clapped his hands twice and the lights over his bed came on. His right hand came to rest on her thigh. He took a breath and tried to take stock of himself before turning to face her. Helga. Arnold had done it. He had asked her and - and she said I have always been yours. Oh! It just felt - he could feel his heart race at the thought of it.

At the thought of her. Helga.

Then he turned toward her. With the movement, Helga shifted and moved to sitting too. Arnold swung his legs over the edge to sit next to her, shoulder to shoulder. He wanted to take her hand. God, he really was so lovey-dovey. He shook his head a little and looked up to her face.

Helga was trying so hard to figure out what to say. She thought for sure her face must be bright red with the effort. Her brain was turning over and over with insults and love poems and things she wanted to yell from the rooftops or shout in his face.

Arnold took his eyes off her, not wanting her to feel pressured. She looked focused. She was thinking. He hoped she was thinking - about him. But he could be patient - right? Actually, I'm not very patient, am I? I really just jump most guns… but I can wait. I want to wait. She's worth it.

"God damn it!" suddenly burst out of Helga's mouth. She stood up and went to her bag, digging around furiously. Got it - her cigarettes. She found them, turned back and started climbing up the ladder. "Come on, football head."

Up on the roof, Helga was struggling to unfold one of the lounge chairs.

"Ok - ok - hold on. I'll get it." Arnold was chuckling as he righted the chair.

Helga sat down heavily. As she lit her smoke, Arnold pulled out the second chair and sat down. He wasn't going to be the one to start it. He wasn't going to push. So he waited some more.

"God damn it," she said again. A little less violently this time.

"Yeah - you said that."

"Well, yeah," was all she said in return. She kept smoking in silence. And Arnold kept waiting.

It was late enough that all the streetlights were on, but the city wasn't asleep yet. Cars drove by, stringing faint music with them. People on the street laughed and chatted and kept on walking. A few stars were visible that night, but the moon was big and bright - so that was good. Arnold spent the quiet minutes studying it. Trying to remember if this was a waning or waxing gibbous. He couldn't remember which direction was waning, which waxing. All he could remember was the term moon doggy - the ring of light that sometimes glows around the moon. His grandma said it was magical - a sign of good luck. A good time for wishes. Who knew if that was true - but Arnold made a little wish anyway. Quiet and to himself. Then he waited.

Finally - finally - finally - two cigarettes later, Helga sat up, straddling the chair, feet on the ground on either side.

"I am difficult." That's it, that's all she said. So he waited for more. And he was rewarded. "I am not pleasant. I am fucking wrecked. I'm a mess. I - I don't know, man."

Arnold took his cue.

"What's your point?"

"You asked me to be your girlfriend."

"Yep."

"Why?" She wanted to look at him, but she couldn't. That little voice in her head was screaming in both fear and ecstasy. She didn't know what was going to come out of her mouth, so she was taking it slow and keeping her eyes on the ground.

"Because," he said.

"That's not an answer."

"Let me finish… Because - I really really really like you." he waited. But she didn't budge. "Because you are smart and funny and beautiful and strong and weird."

"Friends," she said. An explanation.

"Because I can't stop thinking about you. Can't stop touching you."

"Lust," she offered aggressively.

"Because you have been right here in my life for so long and I am kicking myself for not seeing you sooner. Because, because - "

"Guilt."

"Stop it." Arnold could not wait anymore. He'd been patient, but he won't put up with her pushing him away again. He got up and sat in front of her on her own chair, hands on her knees so he could stop her from moving if needed. "I want to know you. Really know you. Not just as friends. And I want you to know me. And -"

She looked at him, trying to keep her brow furrowed, but not quite succeeding.

"You said," he began again. "You said that you have always been mine." He searched her face. When she tried to look away, he stopped her by the chin, and turned her back to him. "What does that mean? The truth, Helga. Please."

Helga took a big shaky breath. In her mind, she held her own nine-year-old hand. Both palms were sweaty and tense. We can take one step, ok? She said, looking down. The nine-year-old looked up, biting her nails and nodded a small near imperceptible nod.

"It - It's always," Helga broke eye-contact. Shook her head. Looked back up. "It has always been you, Arnold."

They stared at each other - so still. Alone. Together.

"You and your good good heart. You and your annoying do-gooder schemes. You and your giant love for life and humanity," she could feel the avalanche building, ready to come crashing down. But she wasn't ready - the nine-year-old wasn't ready. Not for the whole whole whole truth. One step only. "It's you, Arnold. Always."

"Helga -" Arnold started, reaching a hand up to her face again.

"I want to. Very very badly - I want to - " she said, but he cut her off with a kiss.

"Sorry. I just had to get one more kiss in there just in case a 'but' was coming." He smiled and to his surprise - she smiled too, a little. "Please… I know you want to run away. But -"

"OK."

Arnold shook his head in surprise, looking at her, waiting for a little more.

"OK - yeah. Yes." Brow furrowed, Helga was nodding.

"What?" Arnold said, confused. "Yes? Yes you'll be my girlfriend?"

"Yes!" Helga said exasperated.

"Yes!" Arnold hopped up and did a jig, bouncing one foot to the other and back. "Yes! Ha ha! Helga G. Pataki! IS MY GIRLFRIEND!" He shouted up into the sky.

"Hey!" Helga was on her feet, arm around his neck, dropping into a chokehold so fast, Arnold flew off his feet. "Will you shut up!?" Arnold was laughing which made her laugh. Both of them pushing and pulling on each other, almost falling over. Finally Helga threw Arnold away from her where he kept the jig going for a couple more steps. "This is not anyone else's business, ok?" She said as he skipped closer.

"Ok - yea -got it." Arnold looked up into her eyes and a grin split his face wide. He reached out quick, tucking his fingertips into the top of her jeans and pulled her by the hips into his arms. "This is our business. No problem!"

Hands on either side of her face, he pulled her in and kissed her. She laughed weakly into the kiss, sinking into him again. Letting him hold her. Her boyfriend. Helga's boyfriend. Helga was standing on a roof under the stars kissing her boyfriend, Arnold P. Shortman.

And in that kiss, she finally let slip, out loud, a terribly girlish and happy sigh.

"Ooohhuhhooh!"

70.

Not long after it all became official, Helga and Arnold found themselves back in his room, fumbling between kissing and relationship negotiations and then more kissing.

"Ok - so you promise not to hold my hand in the halls or try and kiss me after lunch or any of that mushy crap?" Helga said, sitting between his legs, facing him. Arnold's hand was resting on her cheek, his thumb running along her jaw.

"Yes, I promise," he said, not for the first time, smiling back at her. "And you promise not to yell and scream at me for the sake of appearances?" His eyebrows cocked, he smirked.

"Yeah, yeah - I promise." Helga said, leaning in a little. "You know I can't always control my volume."

"Yeah, I know," he said, kissing her a little.

"I just don't want people talking - you know - "

"Yes, I know. It's ok -"

"I'm not embarrassed or anything stupid like that - "

"I know - "

"But - "

"Helga!" Arnold had both hands on her face now, "I know. And I get it. The school would make a big deal out of nothing. We would never hear the end of it - I get it. It's not their business."

"It's our business," Helga said, repeating his words back to him.

"Yeah." And they kissed again and again and again. Getting a little closer every time, knowing more every time.

"I want one more thing," Arnold said.

"Don't get greedy now - "

"I want you to let me take you on dates. Real dates," he said.

"What do you mean, like to Larry's?" Helga asked,

"No - real dates, Helga."

"But that feels like public mushy stuff," she said, uncertain.

"So we'll go to the next town over," Arnold laughed. "Non-negotiable. I want to take you, my girlfriend, on dates." Helga blushed in spite of herself.

"My boyfriend - " Helga started in on a retort, but she was interrupted.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

They froze.

"Hey Short Man - it's getting late." After a reasonable beat, Grandpa opened the door and found the two teenagers a respectful distance away from each other, if still seated on the bed. "I think it's time you wrapped this little study session up."

"Yeah - no problem Grandpa," Arnold said, standing up, going for his jacket and keys.

"Thanks for the grub, Gamps." Helga said, gathering her stuff.

"Uh-huh. We gonna be seeing more of you around here, Pataki?" he asked, a sly smile on his face. He shot his eyes to his grandson then back to the girl.

"Uhhh - " Helga droned.

"Yes, Grandpa, she's - " Arnold shot a look her way. His eye contact said we should probably tell him, right? To which Helga's face grimaced as she shrugged. But she rolled her eyes for good measure. "She's my girlfriend."

"Oh good!" Grandpa burst, surprising them both. "Me and Pookie been talking about it for weeks! I'm glad ya finally figured it out there, kids!" He was laughing and slapping his knee.

"Ok cool it, Old Man! We aren't tryin' to flaunt it," Helga cut through his laughter.

"What did I tell ya about callin' me Old Man?"

"Do you mind not telling the boarders about this? They gossip too much and you never know who they'll go talking to. We just aren't -"

"Alright, Short Man, I get it. Heh heh heh," Grandpa turned a key next to his mouth as he turned to leave. "My lips are sealed!"

They could both hear him laughing as he descended down one, then two flights of stairs. Helga thought she could make out him saying Hey Pookie before he was totally out of earshot.

"Don't worry about him. He won't say anything," Arnold said, looking a little panicked. But Helga was at his side with her bag.

"It's fine, Arnoldo." She just looked at him, smiling and shaking her head.

"What?"

"Did you enjoying calling me your girlfriend?" She asked with a smirk. Arnold smiled back and kissed her quick.

"Yes. Yes, I did."

"Come on and take me home, football head."

"Whatever you say, Helga."