It was an early summer one late afternoon in the village where the Smurfs lived. During that time, some of them worked on their daily chores while some had finished for the day and went to go play and goof off someplace else. And while some of the Smurfs stayed behind to do their work, one of them, Handy Smurf had been fixing up on someone's smurfhouse that had a hole on the roof. As the Smurf worked, not too far from where he nailed some more planks, Hefty Smurf, his closest and best friend was heading off as he passed by him.

The Smurf in the visor and navy blue overalls after hammering more nails sat up straight and wiped his forehead. "Phew...!" He later looked down and saw Hefty passing by and waved at him. "Hey, Hefty!"

As soon his name was heard, Hefty turned and saw Handy after walking by him on the roof top. "Yo, Handy!" he called waving to him. "How's it smurfin'?"

"So far so good," chuckled Handy. "Just need to smurf some more nails and it's all done."

"Looks like you've been workin' the whole day away buddy!" the strong Smurf exclaimed. "Do ya need a smurfing hand before I head off?"

"Nah, it's okay. After this I'm gonna check on the windmill if it needs to be screwed more."

"I can smurf you a hand on the windmill if you like." the Smurf with the red heart tattoos on his arms offered.

"Well if you insist." Handy chuckled.

"Anything for a friend!" smiled Hefty.

Handy smiled back in return and soon got down from the roof after nailing the last few nails. "Well, to the windmill!" he chuckled.

Hefty then followed his friend to the windmill. On their way, he asked, "So, is there anything you'll be doin' once you're done with your work?"

"Mmm... after this... no, I don't think so." replied Handy. "Just go back to the shop, I guess."

Seeing that his friend had been working an awful lot lately for everyone in the village, Hefty thought maybe he could use a well-deserved break after everything he's done. "Well, if you're not doin' anything after, you wanna smurf over with me to the beach?"

"That sounds like a smurfy idea, Hefty! Sure!" Handy replied happily.

"Great! Let's smurf the windmill quick and get goin'!"

"Will do!"

Both Smurfs then arrived over to the windmill as they looked up and saw that one of the fan pieces was a little lose. "Hm, there's a piece loose." Handy said, looking to it. "Just a little tightening and it'll be as good as new." Then he took out one of the screwdrivers from the kit he had with him while Hefty held onto the piece so it would stay in place and Handy began to screw it in.

"Looks like everything else seems to be smurfing fine. Good thing there's you." Hefty smiled to him.

Handy smirked at his comment while he continued screwing the fan. "Somesmurf's gotta get the job done."

"And along with some elbow grease to get it done quicker!" the muscled Smurf said and flexed one arm.

Handy couldn't help but laugh a bit and turned to him. "And you're the Smurf for the job!"

"So I am!" Hefty chuckled as he flexed his arm more, showing his greatest strength.

The handyman Smurf turned back to screwing but then felt butterflies in his stomach and thought to himself, "...Wow..." He was truly amazed by his friend's physique deep down and did find him very attractive. Hefty had defined muscle tone no Smurf has ever dared to attempt to keep up with. Yes, there are some Smurfs like Tuffy and Weakling, but compared to them, Hefty was much bigger. And most Smurfs envied him for being the strongest Smurf in the entire Smurf realm.

Even though Handy did find Hefty very handsome in some ways, he still considered him as his best friend through thick and thin. He was also more like a brother to him for always being there whenever help was needed.

"Anyhow, you wouldn't believe what went on earlier when Brainy got in the way as usual." Hefty soon spoke.

"Oh?" Handy turned back to him curiously. "What happened?"

"Well, Painter was smurfing one of his paintings he's been working on for a while for Vanity, and Brainy goes to him and wouldn't you know, he criticizes how tasteless it was." Hefty continued, "And boy, was Painter furious! And before Brainy had his back turned, the guy just dumps a whole can of paint onto him! And now Brainy is as brown as... well you know."

"Seriously?!" Handy laughed out loud. "Now that's something I have to smurf! Surprises me I didn't even hear all that!"

Hefty laughed, "Nosey Smurf smurfed in on it earlier and passed it around to a few others."

"Oh that Nosey," the mechanic laughed a bit more. "Is he still brown?"

"And still trying to wash it off!" Hefty exclaimed. "He's been at it for hours smurfing all that paint!"

"That won't come off in at least a few days, haha!"

"At least we can all have a good laugh about it!" Hefty laughed heartedly.

"Absosmurfly!" Handy chuckled and soon finished screwing the fan. "Well that about does it!"

"That's great! Let's get goin' before Brainy comes around!"

"If you put it that way then let's smurf outta here!"

"Hey, I'll race ya over there!"

"Really now?" Handy smirked at him. "Then... THINK FAST!" Handy had dashed off before Hefty right out of the village.

"Hey! No fair! I wasn't ready!" Hefty cried as he began to run after him, they both ran off into the forest.

A little while later as Handy ran, he saw Hefty from behind catching up starting to run faster. "Looks like you're getting rusty, bud!"

"Rusty?! I'll show ya rusty!" Hefty ran even faster, managing to meet up alongside him.

"Whoa!" Handy cried seeing how great his friend's agility was.

"Heh! Not so bad, am I?" Hefty said giving him a sneer.

"We'll see about that!"

Suddenly, Handy glomped him as they both rolled all the way down to the shore in the warm sand against their skin. And as they fell to a halt, Hefty gave out a laugh while he was on top of Handy before he rolled himself off and sat up.

Handy laughed along and sat up with him. "That was fun!"

"Yeah, it was ...But not as fun as this!" And without noticing, the muscular Smurf grabbed Handy and gave him a noogie on the head.

"Hey! Ow! Hahaha! Stop it!" Handy screamed and laughed out loud from the hard noogie he was given.

"Hehe! Ah, I love ya Handy! You're the smurfiest friend a Smurf could ask for!"

"Hahaha! So are you, big guy!"

Hefty began to chuckle as he later brought him to a big bear hug with Handy returning it and smiled at him. The big Smurf hugged him a little longer until his eyes caught something from the ocean not too far from him and couldn't help but wonder it was someone they knew. "Hey, Handy?"

"Yeah?"

"When was the last time you ever saw your sweetheart?"

Soon Handy's smile faded slowly and sighed. "It's... it's been a while. Like a month or two, I dunno."

"Well, isn't that her over there?"

"What?" Handy said after lifting his head up quickly and then turned to the ocean. "Marina...?!"

"Yeah, I think it is her, smurfing on that rock!" Hefty pointed to where he saw her.

In an instant, Handy got up quickly and made his way over to the rock where Marina was seen sitting as she looked to the other direction while stroking her long, purple hair with her hands. The moving waters gently splashed up against the big rock while Handy headed her way and slowly approached her.

"...Marina?"

The mermaid had heard that familiar voice as she turned her head and smiled. "Handy!"

"Marina!" the Smurf cried as he got on top of the rock and hugged her. "...I missed you so much!"

"And I've missed you..." Marina said returning the hug as she laid her head to his shoulder.

Handy sighed contently and then looked to her. "...How've you been?"

"I've been doing alright." she replied, looking to him. "And couldn't stop thinking about you."

"Me neither." Handy smiled to her, "I always wonder how you're doing and if you think of me as well."

"There's never a moment that I have not stopped thinking of you, Handy. You've always been on my mind the day I first met you."

"Same here, Marina..." Then Handy hugged her once more.

From afar, Hefty watched the two and decided to give his friend some privacy as he went off to the other side of the beach to get some more exercise.

Marina hugged Handy in return before placing a soft, gentle kiss on his cheek. Handy blushed as he kissed her back with the lovely sea maiden giggling a little until she saw his friend walking along the shore.

"Oh? Is that your friend I see over there?"

"Huh?" the Smurf wondered and turned to Hefty. "Yeah that's Hefty; we came by to have a little fun time at the beach."

"Hello, Hefty!" she called and waved to him.

Hefty came to a stop before heading to the other side and saw Marina waving to him as he waved back with a small smile.

"He's one of your dearest friends, I can tell." Marina said to Handy.

"He really is, can't think of a Smurf as loyal as him."

"And he's the one that has saved you the last few times when you were in trouble I remember."

"Yeah, I really appreciate him for all that."

"Hmm, quite a charming fellow too." Marina giggled.

Afterwards, Hefty continued to walk on and couldn't help but wish to have someone special just like his friend. There was one girl who he had his heart set on back at home. And he hoped one day that he too could have that same experience with the girl he had longed for.

"It's been so long since I last saw you, Handy." Marina sighed. "At least it's good that we have this moment."

"It is, Marina. I don't how much I would've lasted without knowing about you..."

"If only there was a way we can make this last. But, it's complicated because we're from two different worlds."

Handy sighed replying, "I know... I've thought of everything that could make us be together and nothing has worked."

Then the elegant mermaid turned her head away slightly and closed her eyes. "If only you'd come live with me."

"I would if I could... but you know I can't." Handy replied holding her hand.

"Oh, Handy..." she looked to him with her eyes glistening.

Handy also looked to her in the eyes and gave her a small kiss on the lips. Marina then returned the kiss as she wrapped her arms around to pull him closer. After a brief minute, Handy broke the kiss and looked to her once more.

"...I...uhh..." he stammered.

"Hmm? What is it?" she asked looking to him curiously.

Handy shut his eyes tight and said, "...It's just that... it's so hard... our love..."

"I know it, Handy..." she said looking to him with a sad look. "But if there are no other solutions, then..."

"Then what...?"

Before Marina could say anything, she looked to him longer until she put her head down, turning away. "Maybe we should..."

"What?" he wondered getting closer to her.

Marina could already feel herself shaking nearly in tears. She didn't know how Handy was going to take it knowing that there were no other options if they...

"...I'm sorry Handy, I..." she spoke turning her head once more to him, smiling softly. "...I think it's best we part ways..."

After hearing those words ring in his ears, Handy remained silent and looked to her wide eyed as he couldn't believe what he just heard. "...W-what..? N-n-no Marina...! I'm sure I can think of a solution for us to be together at last! It'll just take some time but I'm sure I can!"

Before he could continue, Marina gently placed a hand to his cheek. "I know you've tried to make this work, but I don't see this is ever going to happen, if we can't be together for a long period of time..."

"...Please don't do this..." Handy felt himself tearing up. "I don't know if I could go on without you..."

"Handy..." she whispered. "You will always have a place in my heart, even if it means saying 'goodbye'. I will always remember you and all the times we've shared and cherish them forever."

And with the Smurf's heart beginning to break, he gave a small sniffle looking to her and replied, "...So will I..."

The mermaid smiled softly to him as her eyes begin to well up in tears and whispered, "I will always love you, Handy Smurf..."

Handy then cupped her cheek and whispered back, "And I'll always love you, Marina..."

Tears began to stream down Marina's cheeks and soon gave him one last kiss on the lips. She made it last for about a minute or two while Handy closed his eyes knowing this was going to be the last time he'll see and feel her again. Once she broke the kiss, Marina looked to him one last time and let go of him. Handy frowned sadly as he watched her turn to leave. But before she was about to dive back into the ocean, she smiled sadly to him and saw his face one last time.

"Goodbye, Handy... I know someone special somewhere will make you happy just as much as I made you. Please, take care of yourself."

And with that, she finally left as Handy watched her splash into the water and gave a small smile. "...I wish you the best too. Goodbye, Marina."

Elsewhere, Hefty was on the other side of the shoreline skipping a few small rocks into the ocean. For a while he thought of what it would be like to have Smurfette as his special someone knowing how beautiful she was and how he was into her more than any other Smurf. He sighed lowly and tossed another pebble in the water, wondering how she'd react if he had told her how he really felt about her someday.

He then looked towards the ocean aimlessly until he turned around and saw Handy coming his way. Handy wiped his tears away as he continued to walk until he met up with him close by. "Oh... hey, Hefty...!" he said forcing a smile.

"Hey!" Hefty smiled back to him. "So, how'd ya make out? Besides making out, hehe!"

"It was okay, just had a small chat and enjoyed a moment with each other." Handy replied and then whispered, "The last one, actually..."

"Hm? What was that?"

Handy looked to him and then turned away slowly. "...We said 'Goodbye'..."

Hefty was shocked once he heard what his friend had just said, "You mean, you two are...?"

"Yeah... we had to break up..."

"But you two were like a match made in heaven!" Hefty pointed out. "Why in smurfs would you and Marina break up so suddenly?"

"Like you said, 'were like'. But we weren't, she can't stay on land and I can't go to the sea. No matter how many inventions, time, plans I did there wasn't anything I could do for us to be together... So she thought it would be best if we part ways. Though it doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt."

"Are you goin' to be alright though?"

"Yeah I'll be okay, don't worry."

"Handy..." Hefty later placed a hand to his shoulder softly, "If you need anything, just so you remember I'm here for you."

The mechanic looked to him and then gave him a half smile. "...Thanks, pal."

"Anything for a best friend." Handy's strong friend smiled in return.

And all of a sudden after Handy gave him a small smile, he quickly hugged him looking for comfort. Hefty was truly surprised with the sudden hug as he too returned it to him patting his back softly. As he embraced his friend, Handy buried his face on his shoulder and let out small sobs. As the strongman listened to his crying, he hugged him tighter stroking his back more.

"Everything's gonna be okay..." he whispered to him.

"I'm gonna miss her...!" Handy cried, hugging him tighter.

"I know you will... And it'll take a while to move on just like when Papa had to part ways with Flowerbell."

"I know... it'll hurt a lot, but it'll be worth it."

"Handy?" Hefty asked looking to him.

"Yeah...?"

"How is it like having to be with someone you truly love?"

"...It's like... having a warm feeling inside you. A flame that goes on in you every time you're near that person. You feel so... nice... being around them."

"That does sound smurfy..." Hefty said and then sighed. "If only I had my chance with Smurfette. Maybe if she did love me back, I wonder how it would feel like to be kissed for the first time."

"Don't worry; I'm sure you'll get the chance." Handy said sadly smiling to him.

"Yeah." He replied smiling back. "It'd be really nice too, smurfing that first kiss."

"I'm sure you'll get the chance, what Smurfette wouldn't want a kiss from the brawn Smurf himself, hehe."

"Hehehe, who wouldn't? I get more kisses than the rest of the Smurfs!"

"Well, you got a point there!" the handyman chuckled.

"Yeah, but a kiss on the lips does sound smurfier."

"Aww, don't worry Hefty. I'm sure one day you'll get yours."

"Yeah... One day." Hefty sighed as he looked over to the rapid waters in the ocean while the gentle cool breeze brushed up against them.

"Ohh, it's a little chilly near the shore." Handy said giving a small shiver.

"Hmm." the bigger Smurf nodded slightly. "But it does feel nice."

Handy looked to the ocean and gave a small smile. "It does."

But then he got the sudden image of Marina and let out a small sigh. He then turned to Hefty for a second and remembered that he will move on just like Marina had wished for them both. Hefty looked over to the ocean a while longer and then turned to him.

"You sure you'll be okay?" he asked him a little worriedly.

"Huh?" Handy turned to him and gave a small chuckle. "Oh, uh yeah, I'll be fine. Just need some time, though."

Hefty then put an arm around his shoulders, giving him a small friendly hug. "I'm sure you will, buddy." He said smiling softly. "Wanna head back?"

Handy looked to the ocean one more time and gave a nod in response.

"Maybe someday, you'll find the right one who'll make you happy." Hefty said smiling to him.

"I hope so..."

Then the tattooed Smurf with his arm still around him turned as they both began to walk back to the village. As they finally left the beach, they never noticed for when Marina popped back up from the water as she watched Handy leave along with Hefty. She was going to miss him terribly after all the times they've been together. And hoped that the both of them would be happy for when they do find someone who'll make them whole. After the two Smurfs were out of sight, Marina smiled softly and made one last splash heading straight for home in the depths of the ocean.

Many minutes have passed as the two headed their way back home. Hefty slightly looked to Handy and noticed he hadn't said a word for a while now as he walked quietly by his side. He felt deep symphony for him and wished there was something more he could do to make him feel a little better. And then, an idea hit him.

"Handy, if you're not doin' anything else tomorrow, maybe if it's possible you wanna wake up with me early?" Hefty asked.

"Hm?" Handy thought for a bit and replied, "Well I do have more work at the shop, but I think a little break from it wouldn't hurt. Sure, sounds good."

"Great!" Hefty smiled happily. "I'll smurf by your place just before sunrise!"

"Sure thing, bud. A little walk could help a lot." Handy smiled to him.

"That's the spirit!" Hefty spoke with enthusiasm and gave him a pat on the back a little. "Also, you could use a little exercise to work up those muscles into shape."

"Drilling, hammering and screwing counts!" Handy laughed after that remark.

"Yeah, but can ya lift?" Hefty chuckled.

"I lift wood and some rocks, hehe."

"Hehe, that's nothin'! I can still lift more than my own weight and these babies are lookin' good!" Hefty exclaimed and then flexed both his arms as they were walking.

"Okay, Mr. Modest!" the Smurf with the red pencil on his right ear laughed. "But you'll see that fixing everything in the village does give you a good exercise too."

"Surrrre. As long as you work to the fittest!" Hefty recalled. "Man, I feel so pumped talkin' about it, I feel my adrenaline smurfing!"

"Calm down there, big fella. You can let all your energy out tomorrow."

"Hahaha! Well, tomorrow there is something I do wanna show ya."

"A surprise? Hehehe now I'm more excited for tomorrow!"

"I'm sure you'll love it." the heavy lifter chuckled and soon felt a little better that he encouraged his best friend more on the brighter side.

"I think the same." Handy responded.

Hefty smiled in return as they continued on walking back home as they drew nearer. When they finally got back, the sun was already starting to set while Handy looked around the village.

"Home sweet home." he said.

"Hmm." Hefty nodded to him. "Now what?"

"Well, if you don't mind I'm gonna go home for a bit. Gotta see what job I gotta smurf and maybe take a small rest."

"Yeah, no problem." And just was soon Hefty was going to head back to his place; he stopped for a moment and turned to his friend. "And Handy?"

"Yes?"

"I'll be here for you."

The slightly built Smurf remained silent for a bit frowning, until the trust Hefty was giving him made him smile again. "...Thanks, Hefty."

"Anytime." Hefty smiled back to him. "I'll smurf you tomorrow."

"Sure thing, bud. See ya!"

Hefty waved to him as he later headed back to his Smurf hut in the other direction, hoping Handy was going to be okay.

As Handy made it back to his hut, he closed the door softly and let out a small sigh. He later walked over to his shop and sat at the drawing table looking at the blueprints. "...What a day..." he thought to himself. While he looked over the blueprints, he still couldn't stop thinking of what happened when he saw Marina for the last and final time. He tried to focus on what had to be done. But the more he tried to, the more he kept thinking about her.

He soon got up from his seat and made it to a certain area of the shop. Handy finally made it to see the submarine he had built so he could be closer to her, but unfortunately didn't let him be. He walked over to it and placed a hand on it giving it a sad look saying, "Oh Marina... how can I let you go?"

The Smurf gave a long sigh as he looked at the submarine a little while longer until his heart started to break, thinking of the days he had with her. He leaned against his invention and rested his head upon it. It was not long until he gave out an unintentional sob as he felt himself starting to shake and began to cry quietly.

The sun began to set in the west while the room got darker now that Handy was all alone with no one else around. More tears streamed down his cheeks as his hands slowly clenched into a fist. Then suddenly, he banged them hard onto the submarine sobbing more while big tears rolled down his cheeks.

Afterwards, his body had given out and slowly slid himself down to the hardwood floor, still leaning against the submarine. He sniffled and brought his knees up to his chest as he rested his head on them. All seemed hopeless to him now that the love of his life was gone forever, but not forgotten.

"I'm sorry Marina... but I can't move on without you..." he softly said until he cried himself to sleep.