The months moved slowly in Lazy Town. When the children were at school in the mornings Sophie could be found building, making bracelets, doodling or just relaxing on the porch,whereas in the afternoons the kids would be in the park playing and Sophie would join them. Evenings were spent with her Uncle Milford and Bessie who she saw as a mother. They were frequently sitting in the dying sun with tea and biscuits giggling and conspiring. Life was content. But nobody was as content as Sportacus, his feelings that had appeared when he met Sophie were evolving, every laugh, smile and touch was increasingly making him want to kiss her. At first he tried avoiding her, but that only lasted about half a day before he found reasons to be there. When he wasn't being a hero he was helping her build and decorate, making her laugh and most of the time he completes his morning workout in her yard while she sits on the porch reading or relaxing.

Is this what its like to be a couple? was a frequent thought in his mind. he had never paid much attention to the thought of being intimate with somebody, saving people was a full time thing, but he was becoming more and more interested in the idea, as long as it was with her.

Despite most people thinking Mayor Meanswell could be quite dim, he was actually a very intuitive man. He knew his oldest niece was falling in love with the resident hero, and he also knew that said hero was starting to fall for her. He wanted them to be together, his niece deserves to be happy after everything she has done in her life for her sister.

As the month of August was ending he decided to host a concert evening at the town theatre to celebrate the opening of Sportashake, the new get together in town. It sold everything from sports candy to fruit smoothies to ice cream and hot chocolate, and the best bit is there was something for everyone, even Sportacus who couldn't have sugar, lest he go into a meltdown.

He and Bessie consipred to help their young charges, after all they were the unofficial grandparents of the town (even though the girls were their nieces)!

One morning, the Mayor accidently stood on a skateboard that Stephanie had left in his office, Rolling through the town balancing on one leg wasn't exactly how he planned to talk to Sportacus but there he was, flipping and jumping and catching him before he fell.

'Mayor! are you okay?'

'oh yes Sportacus, thank you.'

'Well that's good then Mayor, i guess I'll see you later!'

'Wait!' Sportacus turned, both Milford and Bessie were watching him.

'What's wrong?' They looked at each other and Bessie spoke up.

'Oh Sportacus are you going to the concert tomorrow night at the theatre?' He nodded, he had been thinking about it all day.

'everybody is going to be there but I'm worried Sophie may not go, you see, she can't dance and I think she would feel awkward going on her own and there isn't very many young good-looking guys around here.' For some reason Sportacus's stomach clenched with the thought of her going with somebody else.

'oh um, I'll see if she's going and let you know.' or really I'll see if she is going with anybody else... he thought to himself.


In the late afternoon sun Sportacus could see Sophie laying on the grass watching the clouds. He stood for a moment, watching,his breathe caught in his throat. she really was beautiful, not in a stunning supermodel kind of way but a natural innocent way instead. He took a deep breathe and walked up beside her and stood in her vision.

Sophie startled slightly when the sun disappeared and she squinted to see why, There he was, the guy she had been slowly falling in love with since she returned to Lazy Town.

'oh, Hey Blue, enjoying the sun?' She smiled a small smile, the one reserved just for him.

'Hello Sophie, would you like to go for a walk with me? there is something i'd like to ask you.' Biting her lip slightly, worrying she had done something wrong she nodded and took the hand he offered to pull her up. she let go at once, feeling a blush rise on her neck and splash across her cheeks.

'sure, everything okay?' Sportacus nodded, trying to keep his heart from jumping out. He had never felt so nervous before, come on just ask her, the worse she can do is say no!They made their way to the new Sportashake and sat at a little table in the garden, ordering ehat they wanted, Sportacus a strawberry smoothie and Sophie a white hot chocolate, he summond all his courage and said

'Sophie, I was wondering if you would like to be my date to the concert tomorrow?' Sophies heart stopped, had he really asked her on a date! she felt like her dreams were coming true, but she could see he was getting more nervous the longer she was quiet. She grinned and said

'I'd love to Blue, I can't dance but i'd love to go with you.' biting her lip at the stunning smile he gave her. Her own smile slipped slightly, he needs to know. she steeled herself.' Blue, there is something I need to tell you first, it wouldn't be fair to you if you didn't know before.' Sportacus was nervous, what's going on? does she have a secret boyfriend of something?' He nodded.

'has Stephanie ever told you why she came to Lazy Town? or anything about our parents?' whatever he was expecting, it wasn't that. He thought back over the last four years with the pink haired girl, never once had she mentioned any of them, she had just said she was moving in with her Uncle. He frowned, shaking his head.

With a sigh Sophie continued,

'I guess i'll start at the begining then, see our parents, Jason and Violet Meanswell were childhood sweethearts, married out of high-school had a baby girl after two years and everything was great, every summer I would be so excited to visit my Uncle Milford in Lazy Town. sometimes with my dad as they were brothers, sometimes just me. I felt so grown up getting the train by myself. 11 years later our mother fell pregnant again with Stephanie, our father was extatic, I was always a daddy's girl and he hoped she would be too. when Stephanie was born the first few weeks were amazing, I remember the first time I held her in my 12 year old arms, she was so tiny!' Sportacus was enraptured with the tale, despite her looking straight at him he knew she wasn't really there, she was lost in the memories.

'But things started to change as Stephanie got older, it started with our mother going out a couple of nights here and there, then it turned into weekends away for her.' Sophie started to tear up and Blue held her hand, she took a deep breathe and carried on.

'when Steph was 6 months old our dad had gone to find our mum one night, he left me in charge, kissed us both and said he would see us in the morning. He never did.' She stopped again and Sportacus moved a little closer, stroking her knuckles in a soothing way.

' after the funeral my mother was around again, I thought she was finally back, that she would step up and be the mother from when I was little. but she stayed out more and more, eventually I think we saw her maybe once a month for that first year. Then it turned to twice a year and then nothing after 4.I did everything, me a 12 year old girl, became a mother to a 6 month old baby. I got a paper round so I could buy formula, nappies and food. We were lucky that our neighbour was a lovely old woman who would care for Stephanie while I was at school. I raised her for 6 years. Uncle Milford would see us once every summer, and usually I could swing it so that we would meet him at whatever activity we were doing for the day and I would make him stay so late there that he would rush off to catch his train and never come to the house... But the year I turned 18 Uncle Milford came to the house to surprise us, he had always had a key so he let himself in I was bathing Stephanie at the time and I didn't know he was in the kitchen. The same kitchen I had late rent bills open on the table and my college applications in the bin. He was horrified, I don't think I had ever seen him so angry. You see, I never knew that our mother stopped paying the rent, I thought that if she would do anything it would keep a roof over our heads. but it turned out that it was our neighbour paying, but she had passed away that summer which was why I wasn't going to college. I had to look after Steph. Uncle Milford was angry not only at my mother but at me for never asking him for help. I.. I didn't want to admit I was a failure because my dad put me in charge.' By this time Sophie's tears were flowing freely.

'we stayed up all night talking and he eventually talked me into letting Stephanie move here, under his care, so I could go to college and get a degree. and then I would be able able care and provide for her properly as one would their daughter, because that's what she is, we may be blood sisters but I'm the only mother she has ever really known.' She finally focused back on Sportacus and he was shocked at the softening of her gaze.

'But despite the fact she hasn't been there since I was 12, and never been there for Steph, she is still our mother.' Sportacus had no idea what to say, he couldnt believe this selfless beautiful woman in front of him. It seemed sureal, but he knew it wasn't a lie. He opened his mouth to speak, to say what he didn't know, but Sophie stood up suddenly and dropped his hand.

'I understand if you want to retract your offer of a date, it's alot to take in that the person you asked sees herself as a mother of a teenager, but I couldn't lie to you anymore.'Turning ,slight tears still clinging to her lashes she went to walk away but felt a hand grab hers and pull her back. she landed in Blues arms, which tightly wrapped her in the most confirming and safe hug she has ever experienced. It made her cry more, he laid his head on hers and held her close.

'Your amazing.'He whispered into her hair.