Chapter 3

"Daddy, why the change of mind?" Stephanie asked.

"Stephy, it was more a change of heart. I must admit at first I wasn't real thrilled with the idea of you getting married. You're only eighteen and I want what's best for you. But I see that Sportacus is what's best for you. Here is a man who treats my daughter with the utmost respect and is willing to confront us about how he feels. You two love each other and nothing is going to change that. I want you to be happy, honey. If Sportacus makes you happy then I won't stand in your way." Her father explained.

"Oh Daddy." Tears welled up in her eyes as she hugged her father.

"Thank you sir." Sportacus said as they shook hands.

"You don't have to call me sir. You can call me Dad." Stephanie's father smiled.

"Ok, Dad." Sportacus smiled. But it was then their happiness was shattered.

"No! No! What is wrong with you, Herb?" Stephanie's mother yelled at her husband.

"Nothing is wrong with me, Olive. You have to let her go. She's eighteen and can make her own decisions. She's not ten years old anymore. Here is a man who loves her as much as we do and has promised to take care of her the rest of her life. What's wrong with that?" Herb tried to convince his wife.

"I… I…" she started.

"Ma'am, I want you to know that no matter what, Stephanie will go to college. I want her to get a good education. I promise that she will and I promise to take care of her." Sportacus told her as he grabbed Stephanie's hand.

Olive saw this and finally shook her head in agreement. She knew that her daughter had indeed grown up and that Sportacus was sincere.

"All right, I understand. I'm sorry. I just don't want to let her go."

"Mom, you don't have to let me go. I'm going to be living here in LazyTown. I'm always a phone call away." Stephanie reassured her mother. Olive saw the look on her daughter's face. She knew that it was time to let go.

Later that night, Milford, Bessie, Stephanie, Sportacus, Herb, and Olive gathered around the dining room table for dinner. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits and they all talked about making wedding plans. But something that Herb brought up made Sportacus uncomfortable.

"So Sportacus, when do we get to meet your parents?" Sportacus almost choked on his food.

"Uh, I don't know. They haven't told me when they were coming." He answered.

"Ok, well where are you from?" Olive asked.

"A little island to the north." He replied. For the next half an hour it was like pulling teeth trying to get information from Sportacus about his parents. Stephanie could tell that something was wrong and that he obviously didn't want to discuss it in front of everyone. Finally, she stood up and said,

"Sportacus, why don't you and I go do the dishes. That way my parents, Bessie and Uncle Milford can talk." He didn't need to be asked twice. Quickly Sportacus grabbed up all the dirty dishes and followed Stephanie into the kitchen.

She didn't ask him why he wouldn't talk about his parents. In fact, she was hoping he'd bring it up. No such luck. After about ten minutes of them washing the dishes in silence, Stephanie couldn't take it anymore.

"Sportacus, what is going on? Why won't you talk about your parents?" She whispered.

"Can you come by the airship later? There is some explaining I have to do before you can understand what is going on." He told her.

"Is everything all right?" she asked him, starting to get concerned. He only nodded and changed the subject.

"I'm so ecstatic that your parents finally agreed to letting you get married. I just…" Stephanie interrupted him.

"Listen, I overjoyed too, but you have to try to explain what's going on. If we are going to get married we have to be able to discuss things."

"I know but I want to tell you before you're parents. I don't want someone overhearing us." Sportacus pleaded.

"Ok. I understand. You know sometimes you can be so strange about your private life. I mean it's like someone is going to take it away from you." She replied.

"They are. It's very hard for a hero to have a private life. I have to be careful. My enemies could use that against me and hurt people I love. Like you. I don't want that to happen." Sportacus expressed his concerns. Stephanie could see that he was right.

"All right, but promise me that we won't have any secrets."

"We'll never keep secrets. In fact, I have one for you right now." Sportacus bent down and whispered something into Stephanie's ear. She blushed at the remark and threw the dish sponge at him.

To Be Continued…