Chapter 2

Sportacus found Stephanie hiding in the tree house the kids had built and maintained eight years ago. It was her favorite spot to go when she needed some alone time.

"Stephanie, come down from there, please. I want to know that you're all right." The above average hero wasn't about to try to fit inside the small abode as the kids could barely fit in it.

"Stephanie." He called to her again. Finally he heard the bottom door opening and he looked up.

"Please come down." The above average hero's piercing Icelandic blue eyes made the birthday girl go weak at the knees. This unfortunately caused her to fall from the hole in the floor. Quickly Sportacus removed the ladder, so she wouldn't hit her head, and caught the tumbling girl.

"Are you ok?" The familiar question passed his lips one more time as he set her down. Stephanie shook her head.

"I promised myself I wasn't going to cry. But when I saw the bicycle, I couldn't stop the tears from coming. The last birthday gift I got from my parents was a bicycle." She told him. Instantly, Sportacus looked sad and pulled her to him. Suddenly, it didn't matter what had happened earlier, it just felt good to have him holding her. There were strange feelings she'd been having and somehow she knew that what she felt at the moment shouldn't ever disappear.

"Why don't we go back to your party? I bet your friends would like to see you smile and I bet that would help you feel better." The above average hero suggested as he let go of her.

"Ok." Stephanie half-smiled and the two started to walk back to the Mayor's house.

"How about later, I come over and we can talk some more?" Sportacus offered.

"I would like that a lot. Thanks." She smiled and the good friends continued on their way. Later would be the perfect time to confront her feelings.

Robbie turned from his periscope and began digging through his box of gadgets. There had to be something in there that he could use. Even though he wasn't invited to the birthday party, it didn't mean he couldn't give a gift.

"Where is that stupid machine?" He asked no one in particular.

"Aha. There it is." The villain grabbed what he had been looking for.

"The Mind Eraser 6000. Will wipe someone's memory in 5 seconds flat." Robbie was proud of himself as he placed the pen-like object down on his workbench.

"I wrap up this box with a little note inside it. Then I dress up like a deliveryman and have the pink-haired menace sign for it. The pen will send an impulse through her body causing her to pass out. When she wakes up she'll be at home, with me." Robbie said his plan aloud.

"When Sportakook comes to save his friend, she'll have no recollection of him and that will crush him. He'll leave LazyTown and then I can dump Pinky. It's perfect. With Sportaflake out of the way LazyTown will become lazy again and I will finally be able to take my nap!" Robbie's voice reverberated off the walls of his underground lair.

Topside, the Mayor and Bessie cleaned up the party mess. Stephanie and Trixie went into the birthday girl's room and tried to decide where to hang the poster while Pixel, Stingy, and Ziggy broke in the Game-Station-Tower. Sportacus shook his head, as he still didn't get why they would want to play soccer on the television instead of going outside to play.

"All right, it's my turn." Stephanie smiled as she and Trixie emerged into the living room.

"Stingy, move it." Pixel said.

"Hey why do I have to move?" The parsimonious teenager whined.

"Move it." Trixie told him, making a fist. Ziggy smirked and started to laugh.

"You too Chuckles." Trixie threatened. Sportacus watched in amusement as the friends fought over the two controllers.

To Be Continued…