Ladies: I need help - I don't want to hurt her feelings...?

Explain to her that she doesn't have to go out of her way to repay you-you helped her because she is your friend, but now she's a different person. You saved the old friend, not this new person. Tell her it's because you loved the way she was before (as a friend, obviously. Careful with the wording) and you'd like her to treat you no differently than how she used to. Or something like that.