Chapter 13

Sportacus arrived home the next day. Stephanie was happy to see him but something seemed wrong. He didn't smile and he sat completely still. Knowing that something was seriously wrong, she asked him what was going on.

"Stephanie, I've been giving everything a lot of thought. Going all the way back to the first time we met Hăkon. There is something I must do to protect this family." Sportacus told her. His wife didn't like where the conversation was heading.

"What are you talking about?" She asked him.

"I don't want what happened to my parents and to us so far to happen to our children. Do you remember when I told you that I would give everything up for you, if it meant we could be happy?" Sportacus wondered. Stephanie only nodded.

"Well that time has come. It is time for the line of heroes to end right here, right now. No longer will we be prey to others." He finished.

"Wait a minute. You can't just stop being a hero. Even if you give up your title and everything that comes with it, doesn't mean we'll be out of danger. Evil is everywhere and just because you're giving up doesn't mean evil will. The people of LazyTown are counting on you to be there for them. I'm counting on you to be there for me. The baby is counting on you to be there. I understand that your life has been full of bad things and you don't want to lose what little has gone right. No matter what happens you'll never lose my love. But you have to realize that if you give up being a hero then evil has won. I don't know about you but I refuse to let that happen. I will not raise my children in a place that has lost its most important thing, you." Stephanie told him.

"The wondering if something is waiting beyond the next bend is killing me. If anything ever happened to you or our children I would never forgive myself. I don't want to end up living our lives in fear." Sportacus tried to make her understand.

"So you're just going to give up? Being a hero is all you know how to do. What would you do instead? How are you going to earn a living?" Stephanie asked. She was obviously very upset. To be honest, Sportacus hadn't thought of that.

"I have an idea. What if I make you a deal? You don't want our lives ending up like your parents, right? So what if we raise our children to do what they want? When they get old enough to make their own decision, they can decide if they want to become heroes or just be regular people." Stephanie suggested.

"All right. I'll stay Sportacus and the kids can make up their own minds. You're right. I can't stop being who I am. Thank you Stephanie for stopping me from making a horrible mistake." He said. The two hugged and kissed. It was then that Stephanie felt kind of funny.

"Uh oh. I think someone already made up their mind." She said as her water broke. Quickly, Sportacus saw that he had to get to the hospital. The baby was coming whether or not it was too early. He called the FunTown hospital and they sent over an ambulance as fast as they could.

Once inside the hospital, Stephanie began to have contractions. She was trying hard not to hurt her husband's hand but as another contraction came, she squeezed incredibly hard. Sportacus ignored the pain in his hand as the doctors prepared for the baby to come.

About an hour later, the doctors wheeled her into the delivery room. The nurses were standing by as the doctor urged Stephanie to remember her breathing exercises.

"Push! Push!" The doctor urged.

"I'm pushing!" Stephanie shouted.

"Here it comes. One more push, that's it. Congratulations it's a…"

To Be Continued…