Pip3—Yes Robbie is up to attempted murder, dude! Sporty will have his day though. Don't worry.

MeowMix2—Robbie has become quite the meanie! I'm trying to get the chapters out as soon as possible so you'll know what happens.

Sportadork—All because you what? It kind of cut you off. I enjoy reading the long reviews. Stephanie's knuckles will get better don't worry. Sporty will help, LOL!

Chapter 17

Stephanie noticed a note tacked to the front of the refrigerator. It was from Uncle Milford and Bessie. The note stated that they had gone out to Town Hall and would swing by the grocery store on the way home. They left Dr. Feels Good's phone number in case Sportacus woke up. Stephanie sat down on one of the kitchen stools and bit into a nice juicy apple. Then she looked at her hand. The bruises had become a deep purple but at least the throbbing had stopped. She didn't know how she was going to hide this from her Uncle or Bessie.

Trixie, Stingy, Ziggy, and Pixel knocked on the front door of Town Hall and Bessie let them in. The Mayor was in a meeting with the Town Board, Bessie told them and Pixel said they would wait. No one said a word to each other until mayor Meanswell appeared outside of the meeting room.

"What on your mind's, kids?" Milford asked them. He could tell it had to do with Sportacus. They didn't know that he had collapsed or that he was at the Mayor's house. They didn't even know that Stephanie was back home.

"We were wondering what kind of funeral we should give Sportacus. We all saw his airship explode over FunTown and…" Pixel couldn't finish.

"Well lucky for all of us Sportacus was not in his airship when it exploded. He saved Stephanie from Robbie and then collapsed. Right now he is in the guest room back at my house. Stephanie is watching over him." The Mayor finished. He got a mixed reaction from the kids. They were glad that Sportacus was alive and that Stephanie was back home but they were upset to hear that Sportacus was hurt. Finally, Trixie spoke up and said,

"Can we see Stephanie and Sportacus?"

"I don't see why not. I'm sure that Stephanie will be glad to see you." Mayor Meanswell said.

Stephanie had gone back into Sportacus' room to find him thrashing about in his bed. She quickly ran to his side and grabbed his shoulders.

"Sportacus, its me Stephanie. Wake up!" At this his eyes snapped open and he looked into Stephanie's dark brown eyes as if he had never seen them before.

"Stephanie?" He murmured.

"I'm here. Are you ok?" She whispered back. His answer was to grab her and pull her close. Stephanie wrapped her arms around him. Tears began to well up in Stephanie's eyes.

"I love you." She whispered into his ear. He pulled her closer, his moustache tickling her ear, and whispered "I love you, too."

"I thought when your airship exploded that I had lost you forever. What would I have done without you?" She asked now talking a little louder.

"I was afraid that Robbie would hurt you. I couldn't forgive myself if anything ever happened to you." He responded.

The two kissed and just held each other for a few minutes. When the doorbell rang, Stephanie wasn't sure she wanted to let Sportacus go. Something inside her told her that he might not be there when she got back, that it was all a dream. But the doorbell continued to ring so Stephanie got up and told him to lie still and she would answer it.

When Stephanie opened the door she got quite a surprise. Her four friends rushed in and gave her a giant group hug as they had when they were eight. Welcoming everyone, she asked what was going on.

"We thought that you and Sportacus were…" Trixie didn't finish.

"Oh no. Everything is almost back to normal." Stephanie replied quickly. "Do you guys want to see Sportacus?" Stephanie led them down the hall and knocked on Sportacus' door.

The six friends talked until about noon when the kids had to go home for lunch. Stephanie went out with them and called Dr. Feels Good. The doctor promised to be right over. After getting off the phone Stephanie went back to Sportacus.

He was out of bed and trying to get some exercise. His muscles felt like they were going to atrophy if he didn't get up and move. Stephanie scolded him and made him sit down.

"Dr. Feels Good is coming over to see how you're doing. Afterwards you can take a shower. Since all your outfits were destroyed except the one you're wearing, I suggest we go out clothes shopping. That is if the doctor says its ok." She suggested.

"Well, I don't know." Sportacus said smiling. He grabbed Stephanie's arm and pulled her close, accidentally brushing her bruised knuckles. Stephanie winced and Sportacus quickly let go of her. Gently he picked up her hand and looked at her knuckles. When he did this Stephanie's elbow was exposed and he saw the giant scab on it.

"Where did you get this?" He asked concerned.

"It was a little fall that's all." Stephanie answered, not wanting to tell him that she got it when he fell on her. Sportacus could see she wasn't telling the truth and was going to prod her a little more when the doorbell rang. Stephanie deftly pulled her hand away and ran to answer it.

To Be Continued…