Crrrunch! Sportacus' eyes popped open at the crunching sound. His Icelandic blue eyes met Stephanie's chocolate brown eyes inches from each other.

"Good morning, Sportacus. What's for breakfast?"

"It looks like apples to start."

Stephanie was stretched out looking and feeling very comfortable on Sportacus. Her arms were crossed resting on his chest. She occasionally would take a bite from the apple in her hand. She smiled a lazy smile and wiggled her toes which tickled Sportacus' knees. Amazingly, the superhero giggled. Could he actually be ticklish?

"Why do you have an apple?" Sportacus asked her.

"Because I got hungry. See, there's a bowl of fruit on the table behind the sofa. I really wanted a banana, but the apple was all I could reach."

"Why didn't you just get up to reach the banana?"

"How?"

Sportacus stared at Stephanie blankly. What did she mean, how?

"Everytime I moved a muscle you would hug me tighter. I'm glad your arm is around my waist and not my neck, otherwise I might have suffocated or strangled. You're lucky I didn't throw up on you," Stephanie chuckled at her observation. Sportacus did not. He hadn't realized he had imprisoned Stephanie in his arms.

Sportacus leapt off the sofa, Stephanie still in his arms, and set her gently on her feet. She had been about to take another bite when she felt Sportacus' muscles tense to move. She dug her teeth into the apple while grabbing his shoulders and hanging on for the move. Now she stood on her feet, hands sliding down his arms to her side as he released her, with her teeth still dug into the apple. Stephanie suddenly felt very alone and her expression showed it. Sportacus didn't like that expression. He felt the same thing when he let her go, a loss. He didn't like the feeling anymore than Stephanie.

Sportacus snapped his fingers, "Right, waffles"

Stephanie began jumping up and down and clapping her hands. Her eyes smiled. She was making muffled cheering noises around the apple. Sportacus grinned at her antics, reached out and pulled the apple from her mouth.

"I love waffles, but Uncle Milford hardly ever makes them! Can I have strawberries on top? Or peaches with whipped cream? Please?"

"You go get dressed and I'll see what I can find." He watched Stephanie skip down the hall. "And brush your hair this time!" he called after her. He took a bite of her apple and went to fix waffles for breakfast.

Stephanie was back in the kitchen before breakfast was ready. Sportacus noticed her hair was brushed. He finished cooking while she set the table.

"What do you have planned for today, Stephanie?"

"Oh, I don't know."

"Are you going to play with your friends?"

"Well, Pixel and Trixie are out of town, but, yeah, I think Stingy and Ziggy and I will probably play. What are you going to do, Sportacus?"

"I need to check the airship and make sure everything is alright on it. I can't remember when I haven't slept there. Then I thought I would take a look around town since the Mayor is gone, just to make sure everything is as it should be."

Sportacus served breakfast and they ate in silence for a time. He was amazed at the number of waffles Stephanie was eating. Good thing she was a growing girl, that robe she had worn last night would fit in no time. Sportacus smiled, then drew his brows together in thought.

"Stephanie, tell me about the dinosaur."

Stephanie dropped her fork with a clatter and stared at Sportacus. "What dinosaur?" she whispered.

"The dinosaur in your dream."

Stephanie stood up suddenly. She had turned red and held her head in her hands. "Ziggy! I can't believe he did it! He said he wouldn't and he did! HOW COULD HE?" She looked around wildly.

"Who said anything about Ziggy?" Sportacus looked confused.

"I told Ziggy my secret about the dinosaur and he went and blabbed! He was the only one who knew. It had to be him!"

"I haven't talked to Ziggy in two days."

"Then, how do know about the dinosaur?" Stephanie was starting to pace back and forth in front of the kitchen counter. As she paced past Sportacus he jumped up from his chair and grabbed Stephanie by the arm. He spun her around to face him and held her face in his hands. He looked into her eyes intent on getting her to focus.

"Calm down, Stephanie. You told me about the dinosaur. I'm still not clear on what dinosaur you're talking about, but I heard of it from you."

"I'm sorry, Sportacus. I don't remember telling you, only Ziggy," Stephanie sadly answered. She was close to tears. First she thought Ziggy had told her secret. Then she was embarressed when she thought Sportacus knew her fear. Finally, she was ashamed she freaked out in front of Sportacus and he had to tell her to calm down. She still couldn't figure out when she told him.

"You said something about a dinosaur last night, in your sleep, " Sportacus gently replied. He lifted Stephanie onto the counter and then leaned back against it. "Were you dreaming?"

Stephanie slowly told Sportacus about the dinosaur dream she usually had, then quickly told him about the dream last night. For some reason she felt a little embarrassed. Sportacus listened carefully, and to Stephanie's relief he didn't laugh or even smile. When she was finished, Sportacus lifted her down off the counter. He drew her to him and held her for a moment in a tight embrace.

"Thank you, Stephanie, for saving me," Sportacus said. He was serious.

"It was just a dream," Stephanie mumbled into his chest.

"Friends always take care of each other, as best they can. Sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is hard. And sometimes it is in dreams. The meaning and intent are the same." Sportacus bent down to finish talking to her. "Let's make a deal. I"ll take care of us when we're awake, and you take care of us when we're asleep. Okay?" Sportacus grinned teasingly.

"Okay." Stephanie grinned back and they shook hands on the deal.

"Good. Now that is settled, lets get going."

Stephanie opened the door and looked outside. "It's going to be a beautiful day, Sportacus! No one can deny it."

As Stephanie skipped down the street to see if Ziggy and Stingy were up yet, her mind happened to trip over the thought of one person who would deny it. Sportacus had the same thought, and wondered what he was up to. Robbie Rotten.

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Ok. guys, I'm feeling the pressure. My storyline has hit the wall and I need a break. I hope to have more chapters up by the weekend. Thanks again for the support and encouragement.