The next morning right before dawn, Hefty was already up while it was still night outside. As he got himself ready, he did a set of push-ups as part of his morning exercises. After warming up, he made his way out of his mushroom home and headed over to Handy's as he promised yesterday he'd go wake him up. The athletic Smurf made his way over to his friend's house without waking any of the other Smurfs up and softly knocked on the front door.

"Handy? It's me."

But after minutes had past there was no answer. Hefty then knocked a little louder so he could hear... but still nothing. When he realized that Handy was not answering he opened the door, which luckily was unlocked and went in to see if he was there.

As he walked in to see where he was, he noticed his friend wasn't in his bedroom or bed. Then he looked around some more and walked into another room. "Handy?"

In the next room, Handy failed to hear Hefty enter his workshop and stirred a bit where he was, snoring and very close to the sub. Once Hefty entered, he looked around and then found him sleeping on the cold, wooden floor right next to the submarine.

"Handy!" the Smurf cried hurrying over and bent down on one knee next to him.

"Handy, wake up!" he shook him a little. "Are you alright?"

"Huh?! Wha-?!" The hardworking Smurf woke up looking around quickly until he saw Hefty and let out a sigh in relief. "Don't scare me like that!"

"No, don't scare me!" Hefty called back. "I was worried something had happened!"

"Why would you..." But before Handy could finish, he noticed why his friend had gotten worried in the first place. He saw himself on the floor and realized he fell asleep there. He looked to Hefty with a hint of blush and a frown replying, "Sorry 'bout that... I guess I fell asleep here."

Hefty couldn't help but form a small smile. "Hehe, well as along as you're alright I'm glad."

Handy half grinned at him feeling a bit silly but then got up and dusted his overalls. "...So, you said you wanted to go out for a jog, right?"

"Yeah, but a brisk walk can be fine too." Hefty suggested. "Just so you can get out for a bit."

"Whatever you say, pal."

Then Handy later goes to leave the workshop area with Hefty following behind as they headed for the front door. And as they head out of Handy's home, Hefty shut the door behind them while the mechanic stood next to him and gave him a smile.

"Well then, lead the way." Handy said.

The muscled Smurf smiled back as he let Handy follow him outside the village until they headed into the forest. Handy walked beside him looking around at the trees and sky before the sun rose completely. "It's so calm out here at these hours..." he said.

"Yeah, it's very peaceful when no one has to bother you." Hefty replied.

It had been a little while since the two Smurfs walked further into the deep ends of the forest. But as soon as Hefty saw straight ahead on where they were going, he smiled and happily said, "Ah! We're almost there!"

"Hm?" Handy looked to where Hefty was looking. "Where?"

The brawny Smurf turned to him and said, "To where I smurf every morning before sunrise. I know no Smurf would ever wake up to see this... but, I'm glad I get to share it with you."

Handy looked to him and then gave him a warm smile. "...That's what friends are for, Hefty."

Hefty smiled wholeheartedly and turned forward already getting close to their destination. "Just right over that little hill and we're there."

With that, Handy followed closer behind getting more curious at what he wanted to show him. It was not too long until they finally arrived up over a small hill as Hefty goes to sit down in the soft, mossy, grass. "Care to join?" he smiled patting the soft grass.

"Why not." Handy chuckled and sat next to him.

Hefty smiled more and turned his head to look where the others hills were. He sighed happily and stared up at the sky as dawn was about ready to crack. Handy looked to the sky as well, feeling amazed and noticed that he had never seen the sunrise before. Then he turned to where the sun was about to come up and paid close attention to it.

Later, Hefty decided to sit back and stretch one leg out and one bent with one arm resting on his knee. "Just keep watching." he said to him with Handy nodding and continued to look in front of them.

Soon the sun began to rise over the hills brightening up to a brand new day with a mix of an orange, reddish color as if the sky was shining like gold. The Smurf with the red pencil in his right ear felt his eyes open wide when he stared into the sky's mix of colors and let a small gasp escape in amazement at the beautiful way a new day was starting.

"Wow..." he whispered.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Hefty smiled to him. "This is why I smurf here every morning just before this happens."

"It's so amazing... I don't know how I missed out on this for so long..."

"And it's worth it, huh?"

"It really is... it's so smurfy..." Handy looked to Hefty with a smile.

Hefty gave him a warm smile in return and placed an arm around his back. Handy smirked to him and looked back up to the sunrise, as Hefty turned to watch it more while the sun glared brightly all over the forest. They soon hear the sound of the birds chirping as they begin to fly off with morning finally here.

After Handy saw the sunrise, he turned to his best friend and said, "That was the most smurfy thing I've ever smurfed."

The masculine Smurf chuckled to him replying back, "Ya thinkin' ya wanna smurf by here every morning?"

"That'd be great!" he exclaimed.

Hefty smiled more to him and soon gave him a warm hug with his arm still around him. "Glad I can make you happy."

His best friend looked to him smiling and then hugged him back. "I'm glad too. You're great at it."

"Ah... You're the smurfiest friend I ever had." Hefty spoke softly to him.

"So are you, big guy."

"So you feel better now?"

"...Well... compared to yesterday, yeah I feel better."

"I'm glad." Hefty smiled softly.

Handy smiled in return and then let out a sigh. "Though... it might take some time to get over it but... I know that with you by my side I'll make it."

"I know you'll make it through, because you're strong at heart and have others who care about ya."

"You're right about that... Thanks, Hefty."

"Anytime, Handy. I'm always here for you if you ever need anything."

The smart Smurf smiled at him once more and gave him a quick hug with Hefty returning it before he later lets go of him. "So what are you thinkin' of smurfing later today?" he asked Handy.

"Well I gotta take care of some other stuff around the village. Papa Smurf wanted me to check on the bridge in case it needs to be improved."

"Ah, okay. Guess he must've told you a while back."

"Yeah he told me yesterday before we went to the beach."

"Hmm... Well, if you need any help, I can smurf ya a hand or two. I was hoping maybe I can see if I can get a hold of Smurfette later if she's not too busy."

"Sure thing, Hefty." Handy chuckled.

"I was hoping one day I'd smurf her to watch the sunrise. But it was nice watching it with you."

"I'm sure you'll smurf your chance. I think the same thing, bud."

"For some reason I just can't get her off my mind." Hefty sighed. "She makes my heart smurf 10 times more whenever she's near."

"It's a real smurfy feeling, isn't it?" Handy chuckled more.

"Yeah, like what you had with Marina."

"...Yes." Handy spoke softly thinking of the sea maiden a little.

"If only I knew she felt the same way as I do." the strong Smurf sighed once more. "There's no one else as smurfy and beautiful as her."

"Hehe, because she's the only Smurfette aside from Sassette."

"And Nanny Smurf, hahaha!" Hefty added.

"True." Handy laughed.

"Well, I'll never know 'til I ask her." Hefty said as he soon got up from the grass and stretched his arms.

"You go ahead and ask." Handy replied getting up as well and stretched himself. "You lose nothing while at it."

"Heh! Just hope no one else has dibs cause I'm going for it!"

"Wish ya luck, Hefty." Handy said giving him a friendly smirk and thumbs up.

"Hehe, thanks! I'll need that! So ya ready to head back and smurf a little something from Greedy's?"

"That sounds like a good idea. I'm starting to get a little hungry."

"Same here." Hefty agreed. "Hope he smurfs something good rather than plain ol' smurfberry muffins."

"Ugh, I hope so. It's not that it tastes bad but it got boring."

"Yeah, after the 10th time. Let's get smurfing and see what he has in store this morning before everyone else gets there."

"Right behind ya!"

A little later, after they both returned to the village, half of the Smurfs were already heading over to the mess hall ready for breakfast before Greedy would arrive with today's special. Inside, Brainy Smurf had been sitting next to his friend, Clumsy Smurf along with a few other Smurfs such as Vanity and Jokey. It seemed Brainy, as mentioned by Hefty wasn't all covered in paint anymore and was as bluer than any Smurf should. However, his attitude still remained as usual.

"Ugh, I can't believe it took me hours yesterday to smurf all that paint off!" the spectacled Smurf cried. "I thought I was never going to be blue again no thanks to Painter!"

"But golly, Brainy!" Clumsy giggled next to him. "You were pretty funny yesterday. Yup! You were!"

"Haha... Very funny." Brainy remarked with sarcasm escaping his throat.

"Well, it does serve you right for smurfing after I asked him to commission a painting of me." the narcissist Smurf with the pink flower in his hat spoke. "Although, there was something a bit off that didn't capture the true essence of me. But all in all, I'm still just as smurfy than a painting." Then Vanity, as vain as the Greek God Narcissus himself, looked into his mirror admiring his beauty.

Afterwards, both Hefty and Handy finally made it to the mess hall just before the whole village made their way in. Handy looked around to see if there were any available seats for them until he spotted three empty ones right next to Vanity and the others.

"Hey, there's a spot for us there." he said pointing next to Vanity.

Hefty looked over to the same direction were Handy pointed as he noticed Brainy was there as well. "Ahh, and Brainy's there too." He said rather disappointed. "Looks like he isn't brown no more."

"Aww, I wanted to see him brown," Handy laughed.

"Yeah..." Hefty wasn't all too thrilled in having to be close to Brainy to hear his nagging knowing they would have to deal with him. But he repressed it as he forced himself a smile as they got there. "Hi guys! How's it smurfing?"

"Oh! Hey, Hefty! Handy!" the Smurf with his hat covering his eyes half way said happily. "Smurfy mornin' huh?"

"Yeah it started out good." Handy replied remembering the gorgeous sunrise Hefty showed him earlier.

"Real smurfy!" Hefty replied. "Been gettin' some good ol' exercise as usual to keep me goin'. And oh, Brainy!" he turned to him. "I see you got all that paint off ya!"

"Hmph, and it took forever for me to smurf it off." Brainy remarked. "I mean the nerve of that Smurf to have me walk around in the unsmurfiest color all day long while the other Smurfs mocked me, the smartest Smurf out of all the Smurfs!"

As Handy listened to his babbling, he rolled his eyes with a smirk and sarcastically replied, "Oh yes. Uh-huh, the 'smartest' of all Smurfs..."

"Oh golly, you think that too, Handeh?" Clumsy said to him while Handy looked to him with an unamused look.

"Oh yeah!" Hefty replied playing along with him. "Brainy's definitely the smartest out of all of them, hehe." Then he winked over to Handy when Brainy didn't even acknowledge the sarcasm coming from the athletic Smurf.

"And to think they can outsmart me, Brainy Smurf after what I had to put up with?" he began. "Well, they have another thing coming if they try to pull anything against me, next time. I'll show them who's the boss around here!"

"Really? Gee, and I thought Papa Smurf was the boss around here." Hefty cocked a smile.

"He isn't?!" the klutzy Smurf exclaimed.

With a facepalm, Handy started to laugh putting a hand on the Smurf's shoulder. "He's joking, Clumsy."

"Hey, I do the jokes around here, hehe!" Jokey soon spoke into the conversation. "Say, where's Greedy? I'm hungry here!"

Hefty then goes to sit down next to Vanity. "He should be smurfing by soon. I'm feeling the same way."

"Same here..." Handy agreed as he sat next to him.

"Well, as long as he's not serving us smurfberry muffins again, I'm okay with whatever else he's got on the menu." the nerdy Smurf suggested.

"Aww, don't be so glum about it, Brainy. Who knows, maybe he's smurfed one whole giant smurfberry muffin for everyone!" Jokey said as he began to laugh.

"That doesn't sound hard to believe." Handy chuckled. "He could be capable of that."

"Heh, that'll be the day like when we smurfed a giant monument of him made out of fruitcake when we were under his control!" Hefty said remembering that time when Greedy had a hold of the magic crown.

"Oh yeah, I remember that." Handy replied. "The village smelled like fruitcake for weeks!"

"Ugh, I don't even want to think of that time." Vanity said a little disgusted. "It was bad enough for my complexion to reek of that for a while."

"But hey, it sure does make a smurfy holiday treat in the winter." Hefty reminded him.

"All this talk about food is getting me hungry!" Brainy spoke rather impatiently. "Where is he already?!"

Soon, Greedy Smurf suddenly comes out from the kitchen yelling out, "Alright, fellow Smurfs! Breakfast is ready!" He went around the tables with a cart to serve each Smurf smurfberry pancakes with whip cream on top of them and with glasses of milk. Well, the Smurfs were right about one thing, it definitely wasn't smurfberry muffins this time.

"Wow, this looks good!" the mechanic spoke happily.

"Ooh! My favorite!" the jokester said. "It even looks smurfier than the last time he made them!"

"It sure does!" Vanity spoke as he took his fork. "It even smells smurfier!"

"Well don't just look at it, dig in!" the cook in the handkerchief smiled to them digging into his own plate after serving everyone.

"Uh, sure thing, Greedy!" Clumsy replied to him.

"Mmm! It's so smurfy!" Handy said after taking a bite and smiled.

"Mmm!" Hefty too took a bite out of his. "My compliments to the chef!"

"Even better than last time." Brainy said, eating his. "There must be something new in it that makes it taste just as good."

"Just made them with extra love!" the chef Smurf implied.

"Well, it's divine!" the vain Smurf replied taking another bite. "And the whipped cream gives it that extra flavor. Hope it doesn't stick to my wondrous figure!"

"Well I'm glad that all of you liked them." Greedy said with a humble smile. "It makes the job even more enjoyable!"

"And we thank you for smurfing your love into making this for everyone!" Hefty said taking another bite.

Later on after breakfast, Greedy picked up all the dishes and took them to his kitchen to clean them up. He received so many compliments from his successful smurfberry pancakes; he thought that maybe it would be a good idea to make them more often for his fellow Smurfs.

While the Smurfs began to leave the mess hall, Handy licked his lips and let a small sigh out saying. "Those were some good pancakes."

"Yeah, I don't think I could eat another bite!" Hefty replied placing his hand on his stomach while he followed Handy along with Brainy and Clumsy with them.

"I sure hope Greedy does them more often. Yup! I do!" the happy go-lucky Smurf with the Cajun accent said.

"Well, after a good morning meal, I should start preparing for the day in seeing what Papa Smurf would like for me to smurf." the Smurf in the glasses spoke. "After all, he is working on a very important experiment and maybe looking to see if he's in need of assistance since I am more advance when it comes to sorcery."

"Ugh, we're never going to hear the end of this." Hefty said arrogantly with a facepalm.

"Yeah, uhh, why don't you join him now?" the engineer insisted. "He might be waiting for his 'assistant' to arrive and get started..."

"Besides, one day you might be taking up after him and become second in command." Hefty winked to Handy after what he said.

"Might? You know for sure it IS going to happen." Brainy corrected them. "One day, I'll be in charge of things around here. And hopefully I'll get some respect from everysmurf for once and be appreciated for all my doing when the time comes."

"Really? I thought Papa Smurf said that Baby was the next in line..." Handy said smirking at him.

"Hah! It'll be years until Baby becomes the chief around here!" Brainy informed his fellow brethren. "It'll be a long time until he grows up anyhow and he'll be a baby for more than 100 years even!"

"Don't nag at me about it, nag at Papa Smurf since he's the one who said it." Handy chuckled.

"Fine, but I'll have you know it'll be an eternity until Baby is all grown up. So good day to you."

And with that, Brainy walked off to hurry over to Papa's considering he had much better things to do than to argue with Smurfs with a lesser IQ so he thought.

"Hey Brainy wait!" Clumsy cried running after him. "I wanna help too!"

"As long as he's away not smurfing at us, I'm okay with it." Hefty whispered to Handy.

"Had to think of something to get him going." Handy whispered back, chuckling.

"Hehe, well, I'm guessin' I'll smurf you later." the bulky Smurf said. "Hope I made your day better after this morning."

"You really did, bud." the Smurf in the visor hat replied. "I feel as fresh as a daisy. Thanks a lot for that."

"Anytime." Hefty smiled. "If you're up for it, we can smurf it again tomorrow."

"That'd be great. I don't think I'd get bored of watching that smurfy sunrise each morning."

"Neither can I. Who would wanna miss out on something that beautiful?"

"You're right about that." Handy smiled and then looked over to his shop. "Well I guess I better get working, smurf ya later, Hefty."

"Smurf you later, Handy."

Afterwards, Handy made it over to his shop to see what other projects he had that needed to done or repaired. He looked over at the blueprints and prototypes he had lying around and then spotted one in particular. He remembered that Farmer had asked him if he could repair or upgrade his scarecrow about two days ago. He gave a small sigh and took his screwdriver getting ready to start his day and said, "Well, let's get smurfing..."

Meanwhile, Hefty went on his way to see if Smurfette was around. He passed by a few Smurfs ready to start off their day doing their daily activities. As he walked around in the village a while longer, he soon spotted the lovely maiden in her white dress tending to her flower garden. He stopped and took one good look at her as she was watering her plants and looking just as smurfier than ever he thought. His heart began to race, admiring her beauty along with her long, golden tresses shining brightly on this bright sunny day. He let out a small sigh with a smile forming on his face while he watched her from afar.

Smurfette hummed a tune while she watered the last patch of her garden without even noticing Hefty was watching her. The strong Smurf had that dreamy look in his eyes as he gazed upon her beauty before he decided to walk over to her slowly.

Once she was all finished, Smurfette set down the watering can next to her and said, "And done! Oh, they all look so pretty."

"...And so are you." Hefty spoke softly leaning against the fence around her flower garden.

As Smurfette heard him, she turned around and spotted Hefty with a smile. "Oh! Hi, Hefty!"

"Smurfy day we're having." he smiled warmly to her.

"Yes it sure is." she spoke happily. "Not a cloud in the sky."

"Mmm, and on such a bright sunny day too." Hefty still couldn't help but admire how amazingly beautiful she looked in his eyes.

Smurfette giggled and then asked him, "So how are you?"

"I'm doin' smurfy, thanks." Hefty replied. "Just gettin' ready to start off my day doin' my best and staying in tip top shape."

"Oh that sounds smurfy, Hefty! You're always up on your feet."

"And smurfing!" Hefty had then flexed his arm showing off one of his enlarged biceps.

"Oh Hefty." Smurfette laughed.

"Care ta feel?" Hefty asked flexing it more. "It won't bite, hehe."

"I think I'll pass." she said and winked at him.

Hefty chuckled and stopped showing off and later said, "Anyhow, I was wondering if you weren't busy that maybe you and I can spend the day together."

"Mmmm, well..." Before she answered, she thought a bit. "I don't think I have anything planned for later. Ok, sounds like a good idea."

"Really?" Hefty's eyes suddenly widened at her response. "That's great! How about now?"

"Just as soon as I finish watering this last patch and we're good to go," she smiled at him.

"Great! Then I'll smurf you over by the Great Oak Tree and met ya there!"

"Alright, I'll see you then!"

Hefty then waved to her as he dashed off so he could go meet her there. And in hopes that his day with Smurfette would go out as he thought it would.

After time passed, Hefty leaned against the Great Oak as he waited for Smurfette. He was really excited that he was going to get to be with her. He felt a little nervous, but at the same time, his heart was set on her. He looked up to the blue sky and let out a loving sigh while he thought about her. He even saw a few clouds in the sky with oddly enough were shaped just like her knowing that's all he's been thinking about.

"Ah, Smurfette... It's been so long since you've been in our village since the day you've smurfed my heart. I just hope I can be able to tell ya how I really feel about you."

After a few minutes, Smurfette came to the Oak Tree where Hefty told her he'd be waiting for her. She looked around and spotted him leaning close to one of the tree's huge roots. She waved at him happily getting the Smurf's attention and made it to where he was.

"Hi, Hefty!"

He turned and saw her as he smiled happily. "Smurfette!"

As Smurfette hurried along to meet up with him, she smiled and said, "Well, I'm ready when you are."

"Let's get smurfin'." Hefty smiled more to her.

"Lead the way," she said wrapping an arm around his which caused Hefty to feel a hint of blush color his cheeks as he leads the way.

"So uh... Anything goin' on lately?" he asked her.

"Well not much, I've been smurfing a hand with Papa Smurf in his lab and Vanity with his house." she answered him.

"That's good. Nothing's new with me except the usual. Although I did smurf with Handy yesterday after helping him out with a few things he had ta fix."

"You're a really good friend to Handy." Smurfette said to him with a soft smile. "You two make such a great team!

"Yeah..." the strongman chuckled. "So we've been told. Just hope he's gonna be alright though."

"Why? Did something happen?" the golden-haired maiden asked curiously.

After she asked him, Hefty turned to her but then looked to the ground. "Umm... You remember Marina, right?"

"Yes, she's the mermaid who Handy loves."

Before Hefty could answer, he let a small sigh escape his throat, feeling really sorry for his friend. Then he turned to her again and said, "Well... Not anymore..."

"...What? Handy doesn't love her anymore?!" Smurfette exclaimed all shocked.

"Oh! Of course he still loves her...!" he replied as he explained the situation better to her. "But... it was just complicated that there was no other way for him and her to be together. So... Marina said it was best that they went their own separate ways."

"Oh no..." the Smurfette frowned and felt a little tear from her eye. "That's so sad... How's Handy taking it?"

Hefty sighed and replied, "So far, he's doing okay. I was able to cheer him up a little by spending some time with him. It will take some time. But I'm hoping he'll find someone who'll make him happy someday."

"Oh dear, poor Handy. I think I'll come by his house later and give him something to cheer him up. But thank goodness you helped him."

"He could use a little smile from none other than you." Hefty nodded and then smiled to her.

"Awww, thank you." Smurfette said smiling at him in return.

Later on, as they walked a little further, they soon arrive to River Smurf. The river was so clear; the fish were swimming upstream. Some were jumping from the waters as the streams moved rapidly. They passed by the river and walked over to a lake where the mountains were seen from afar as a landscape. Once they got closer, Hefty goes to set her on the soft grass closest to the lake and sat by next to her.

"Why, thank you." Smurfette said as she sat down comfortably next to him.

Hefty had then looked to her as he couldn't stop admiring her beauty and soon turned his head to the lake while the sun shined and shimmer over it. Everything was so serene and quiet, and above all blissful while the two sat together, watching this breath-taking scenery on such a pleasant afternoon.

"It looks so beautiful out here." Smurfette spoke. "So peaceful."

"Hmm, it is very relaxing." the Smurf with red, heart tattoos on both his arms replied. "And the air is so clean."

"It sure is," she said and then closed her eyes to feel the breeze.

And without her noticing, Hefty turned over to look at her again. He scooched a little closer and gazed at her shining golden hair as the sun's rays hit against her blue skin making her look as radiant than ever. He never realized how amazingly beautiful she looked even if she wasn't looking. But the mere sight of her made Hefty's heart beat ten times more as he smiled lovingly to her. She was like a goddess ascended from heaven as he couldn't stop looking and admiring her beauty.

"Wow..."

Smurfette then gave a small sigh and turned to Hefty as she noticed her looking at her. "Hm?"

"Oh!" In an instant reaction, he turned his head away and blushed slightly. "Uh, nothing..."

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"I-i-it's nothing really...!" Hefty stammered and began to laugh nervously.

"Then how come you sound and look so nervous?"

"Me? Nervous? I'm perfectly fine!" He cried not wanting to give away any hints of why he was looking to her earlier. "Just enjoying this lovely view!"

The Smurfette began to smile at him and giggled saying, "Reaaaally?"

"Yeah! Who wouldn't besides us?" Hefty chuckled.

"I think you're right." Smurfette laughed.

Hefty laughed more and sighed looking to the ground. Smurfette giggled more next to him and then looked away for a bit. Things were quiet after a while as they looked in the other direction. But then Hefty thought maybe this would be his chance to tell her how he really felt now that they're alone with no one else around to spoil the moment.

"Smurfette?" he spoke breaking the silence.

"Yes?" she said turning to him.

"I uh..." he slowly turned to her. "There's something that I've wanted to tell you for a very long time now... But I don't know if this is the right time for me to smurf it to you."

"What is it?" she asked now feeling more curious.

As he turned his whole body to face her, he took a deep breath and looked at her straight in the eyes. "Smurfette... I..." He could feel his heart pounding through his chest and hear it in his ears as his body trembled a little. He swallowed hard as he carefully took a hold of her hand and gently pressed it together with both his. He was now in the position that it was now or never to reveal his true feelings to her and how she would feel if she loved him back. "...I..."

Smurfette looked to him in the eyes and listened to him carefully as Hefty blushed lightly forming a small smile. And from there on, he finally spoke and told her. "...I love you."

After he had admitted his feelings for her, Smurfette felt her eyes widen and remained silent with a blush.

"I've always had since I first smurfed my eyes on you." Hefty spoke softly clasping her hand more as he got a little closer.

"Oh Hefty..." Smurfette spoke softly.

"Smurfette..." his eyes glistened as he looked to her love-struck while his heart beat stronger for her.

She smiled back at him but for some reason, she felt something deep down that unfortunately wasn't the same feeling the Smurf in front of her felt. She didn't know why but her eyes just saw him as he was, a friend to her. She looked away for a bit and back at him taking a small deep breath and spoke softly to him.

"Hefty... I really appreciate the affection you have towards me, it's really sweet of you to think and feel that for me... But... I ...Sadly don't feel the same way..."

Suddenly Hefty's expression changed as he couldn't believe the words she just said while his eyes widened in shock. "W-what? Tell me this isn't true."

"It's not like that." Smurfette replied feeling terrible on the inside. "You're a very close friend to me and a great guy. But that's what I see you as, a close friend. I'm really sorry, Hefty."

A friend? How could this be possible after all he had done for her over the past few years? After all the times he's rescued her from Gargamel and just about everything he could remember. But then he realized something and thought maybe...

"... There's someone else, is there?"

"No, no. There isn't." she told him. "I don't have someone else. I just don't feel like starting a relationship now..."

"I... I see..." After hearing the full truth, he suddenly lets go of her hand. "I can understand..." Then he got up from the grass and dusted himself off while Smurfette looked up to him sadly.

"I hope you understand." she said to him, feeling awful. "I'm sorry if I caused you any harm."

"It's alright; really..." he said trying to form a smile, even though it did cause his heart to ache. "I'm glad you actually told me how you really felt about me..."

"Yes... I think its best so there wouldn't be any misunderstandings in the future."

"Yeah..." Hefty held an arm with his hand, rubbing it, looking the other way and said, "Well, thanks for smurfing here with me anyway..."

"Thank you for inviting me."

In return, the saddened Smurf nodded a little. "I guess I should bring you back."

"Yeah it's starting to get late." Smurfette saw that the afternoon was just about over and the sun was soon going to set.

Hefty later held out his hand to help Smurfette get back up onto her feet as he looked over to the lake one last time. Then as they finally left, Smurfette walked by him but with an awkward silence between them. Hefty stood quiet and didn't even bother to look her in the eye after being rejected with a broken heart.

As soon as they both returned to the village, Smurfette looked to him one last time and headed for her house not before saying, "Bye, Hefty. Thank you for the evening and... Sorry."

"It's no problem," he replied to her lowly. "And I hope you have a smurfy evening..."

"You too." And with that, she walked back into her house though she couldn't help but feel awful about what happened.

After she was gone for the rest of the day, Hefty took a deep sigh as he turned to leave and kicked the ground a little. He too walked back to his house and before heading in, he saw Handy with Farmer with the new invention he had been working on to help him better with his gardening.

"And with this lever you'll be able the water the crops easy, Farmer." the handyman said to the Smurf in the green overalls and corn-straw hat.

"Well, that's highly neighbor of ya to smurf me a watering machine." Farmer said to him. "And I can't thank you enough for the new scarecrow you smurfed! I'm telling ya those pests with wings have been ruining my rutabagas and corn before they're ripe for harvestin'."

"You're welcome, Farmer. So in case you need some upgrading on it or another job to be done, you know which Smurf to call." Handy smiled at him.

"Ahyeh, I know just the right Smurf if anythin' goes wrong in my garden the next time."

Handy chuckled and replied, "Well I better get going, gotta see what other jobs I have on the list. Smurf ya later, Farmer!"

"Be seein' ya! And thank you again, Handy!" The farmer waved to him as Handy made it over to his workshop and began to take out his blueprints to plan a new machine for his upcoming invention.

After seeing Handy leave into his house, the muscled Smurf finally goes into his house and closed the door. He walked over to his bed and sat down as he took another long sigh. It wasn't long until he looked over to the window seeing it was almost sunset and close to dinner time. But for some reason he didn't feel all too hungry and couldn't stop thinking of Smurfette breaking to him gently when she had not returned her love for him. Hefty then goes to lie in his bed and grabbed one of his pillows as he hugged it really tight. And as he laid there in the dark room, warm tears streamed down his face shutting his eyes tightly and sobbed softly into the pillow so no Smurf can hear him.

Alone with a broken heart; he now felt the true pain of falling in love in the result in being rejected by the only person he had ever loved.