Chapter 10

Joshua turned to his father. There was this look on his face that showed what he was feeling.

"Why didn't you tell me about the bench?" He asked.

"I'll answer your question up in the airship." Sportacus said curtly. The two didn't speak anymore until they were inside the airship.

"Now I have a lot to talk about and I want you to listen." The above-average hero told his son. Joshua just stared at his father.

"Becoming a hero isn't an easy decision and I don't want you to throw away the chance to become one because of one incident. Your mother and I think you should know the truth about everything. I wanted to tell you this earlier but you didn't give me the chance." His tone had calmed down considerably and Joshua seemed to be calming down as well.

"I'm sorry for getting upset with you but you have to understand the situation." Sportacus continued.

"I guess I never realized all the things that you and mom are hiding from me. That bench…" Joshua stopped.

"That bench has been the spot for many events around LazyTown. I'm surprised that you picked up on that though being an inanimate object, I didn't think you could pick up anything off of that." His father said.

"I guess the confusing signals I was getting from Samantha, my own problems, and then you showing up, just overloaded my system. What happened at that bench?" Joshua asked.

"Well, that spot was where I had a sugar meltdown almost 30 years ago. It was the first time your mother held my hand. She cared so much then and she still does. I don't know if I could have made it through all these years without her." Sportacus explained. Joshua's eyes went wide.

"Also, Uncle Robbie proposed to Aunt Amanda on that bench. Well sort of. She swallowed the ring and…"

"She swallowed the ring?" Joshua interrupted him.

"Yep. It's a long story and completely not why I wanted to talk to you. You know why I don't take my shirt off when we go swimming?" Sportacus asked.

"I always thought you were afraid to show off your physique. Don't need people drooling." Joshua teased.

"Not exactly." Slowly Sportacus pulled off his blue vest and then his white shirt. There were marks on is chest and stomach.

"What…" Joshua started.

"These are a constant reminder to me of what almost happened. The day your mother found out that she was carrying you, she and Aunt Amanda were kidnapped. Uncle Robbie and I went to save them and got shot for our trouble. One pierced my lung and the other my stomach and small intestine. Uncle Robbie had his femoral artery nicked. It has to be the worst injury I've ever received." Sportacus then when on to explain all the ins and outs, ups and downs of being a hero. Joshua continued to listen and tried to wrap his mind around it all.

Back at the apartment, Samantha was listening to her mother and father. They had wanted to know what was going on. Trixie had decided to go home to Stingy. She had made the comment that he and Pixel would be getting back from the computer seminar. Apparently, the bank was getting new computers and Pixel had to teach Stingy and the others how to use them.

Stephanie sat at the kitchen table staring into her cold cup of tea. She hoped that her husband and Joshua were getting along ok. Samantha interrupted her thoughts.

"Can I talk to you for a second, Aunt Stephanie?" She asked.

"Uh sure. What's up?" Stephanie replied.

"Well uh… I uh…" Samantha couldn't seem to get the words out. Stephanie had seen that look before. She was about to say something when Sportacus and Joshua entered the apartment. Samantha's face changed colors and Stephanie smiled.

"Hey honey, we're home." Sportacus came over and kissed his wife.

"I missed you." Stephanie said.

"Samantha, you're still here?" Joshua asked.

"Am I not supposed to be?" She responded.

"I just expected... after being gone for so long…" He stopped. Samantha waited for more.

"Well, I believe its time that we left. I'm sure Grandma has to finish cleaning up the mess she left this morning." Robbie teased.

"Excuse me? Grandma? Mess I left?" Amanda faked her shock.

"Well why don't you and Grandpa stay for dinner? I'm sure that it would be nice for the six of us to eat together." Stephanie smiled. It sounded like a good idea and the friends agreed to it. No one felt like cooking so they ordered some pizza and subs.

To Be Continued…