As Stephanie went back to school, and after Sportacus had a nap in his airship he ventured back to the Mayor's house. Slipping inside the had a quick talk with him about what the plan would be for Stephanie. Sportacus felt he could help her, he'd been through it before, granted a very long time ago but he still knew how it felt. The Mayor agreed with him and even gave him a key to the house for when she inevitably had nightmares, knowing it would be Sportacus who would be most successful in calming her down. He didnt mind, he wanted to be there for the little girl he held dear to him.

When he was about to leave he noticed Robbies coat hung up on the coat rack. In all the drama, he'd forgotten to return it. Being October he knew it was going to get colder so scooping it into his hand he made his way to the billboard in front of the entrance to Robbies Lair.

Knocking on the hatch he waited.. and waited... and waited... not wanting to intrude, but also worrying something was wrong he opened the hatch and glanced down into the tunnel. It was pitch black and silent.

Sighing lightly, and feeling a little uneasy he eased himself over the ledge and dropped down the tunnel landing a few feet away from Robbies orange chair. Having been in the lair before, mainly when Robbie had captured him somehow, he quietly made his way through the underground house until he came across Robbie sitting staring at a photograph on his bedside table. Not wanting to Interrupt, but feeling anxious that the villian hadn't made any sort of acknowledgement that he was there, he ventured closer.

' Robbie?' No answer,

' Robbie?' gently grasping his shoulder Sportacus jumped back alarmed when Robbie suddenly turned towards him, eyes wide and tears falling down his cheeks. He stared, he'd never seen the man cry before and he wasn't entirely sure what to do.

Feeling terribly embarrassed and angry that the blue elf had invaded his home, Robbie stood up and stalked out of the room, wiping his eyes on his robe sleeves as he did so.

'What are you doing here Sportakook get out, you're not wanted here.'

'Robbie I.. '

'What? come to gloat that you got me to search for that brat, think I can be redeemed now do you? Well you can leave, it ain't gonna happen I promise you that.'

' No of course no, I um, I wanted to return your coat..'

Robbie stopped short.

' Oh um, thank you, er I guess. Now you can leave.'Turning his back and hoping the other man would leave but not actually expecting him to he stood absolutely still.

Sportacus didn't know what to do, He wanted to comfort the obviously upset man but he also didn't usually get into this sort of thing with Robbie. Taking a deep breathe he reached forward, spun Robbie round to face him and hugged him. Tightly.

At first Robbie froze, why does the elf keep hugging me! I don't do hugging! Let alone from the elf!'Get off me, what are doing! get off!' But Sportacus held on, he couldnt explain why he felt relaxed holding the other man, even against him struggling, but he wanted him to know he was there for him aswell, despite their past.

'Everybody needs a hug now and then Robbie, I don't know what upset you but I'm here for you too, not just the rest of Lazy Town. You are apart of that too.' Robbie struggled for a minute longer before he slumped. It was as if all the fight had drained out of him. Tears were in his eyes but he didn't know if they were from sadness, embarrassment or anger. Tentatively he put his arms round the shorter man's waist and rested his head atop of Sportacus's head. They stood there, not realising that time was ticking by, tears sliding silently down Robbies face as memories from long ago rippled through his mind.

Once they had gotten over the embarrassment of holding each other, Robbie sat in his chair and motioned the floor next to him, He didn't have any other chairs so Sportakook would have to sit on the floor. Not that Sportacus actually minded. He struggled sitting on furniture, always wanting to be moving in some way.

They sat in silence, until Robbie couldn't take it anymore.

'Was Pinkie um, alright in the end?'He asked, trying not to sound concerned but totally failing.

Sportacus sighed.

'As alright as she can be now that she's lost her parents. I don't know Robbie, She's never actually talked about them her entire stay here in Lazy Town, The Mayor and I talked while she slept and he explained to me that they didn't want her anymore. They wanted to explore the world and couldnt do that with a child. It makes me angry that she's so upset even though they abandoned her.' Robbie was thoughtful, so they didn't want her? But why would that cause her to run off in the middle of the night?'

' Does she know they abandoned her?' He asked, not sure if he wanted to actually know the answer.

Sportacus closed his eyes and ran his hand over her hat, effectively pulling it off and allowing his curls to flow, twisting it in his hands he looked up.

'No, and that's the most heartbreaking thing of all. She believed they would come back for her. And now they never will. It would have been kinder for them to tell her when they shipped her here that they were never going to see her again. It would have hurt but now she'll always feel as if she was left out. It wouldn't have hurt her so bad to have that hope taken away because they died. At least if they had told her there wouldn't have been the possibility of them coming back.'Sportacus put his head in his hands. Robbie stared at him, He didn't really know if he wanted to comfort the elf, but he felt he had to.

'Sometimes parents do stupid things because they love their children.'He said quietly.

'But if they loved her surely they wouldn't have abandoned her in the first place?'

'Look, I didnt know them, but maybe there was a reason. I'm not justifying them abandoning her, no parents should ever do that. But maybe they thought it better that she hope they would come back then feel that they didn't want her at all. I couldnt imagine telling my daughter I didn't want her, no matter the situation that arose.' He trailed offand looked at the wall.

' You have a daughter?' Dammit! he hadnt meant to say that! No No No the Elf couldnt know this! Dammit Dammit Dammit! Argh i'll have to tell him, He'll never shut up about it otherwise.'Had a daughter.' He said quietly. Sportacus looked up shocked, He never imagined Robbie was a father. Wait, had? Oh God, Robbie wasn't looking at him, and Sportacus didn't know how to handle this. He had never had children, and therefore didn't know the heartbreak of losing a child.

'I'm sorry.' It seemed like the only thing he could say.

Gruffly Robbie stood up, walked towards the bedroom door and without turning round he said..

'It happened a long time ago, now please, leave me alone.' And with that he slammed the door shut behind him, sunk to the floor and wrapped his arms round his knees.

With a heavy heart Sportacus made his way out of the underground lair and back up to his airship. There he looked at his own photograph of himself and his parents. He swore to himself he would help Robbie. He wanted to spend time with him, But he would also help Stephanie. Sitting for a moment he closed his eyes. I promise you both I will be there for you.

His crystal suddenly glowed

'Somebody's in trouble!' And he flipped off to do the thing he did best. Saving people.

Over the next few weeks Sportacus made sure to spend time with Stephanie but also in the evenings he went to see Robbie. At first Robbie was furious, anf kept trying to throw him out. But Sportacus was relentless and determined, He stayed and kept the grumpy man company. Sometimes they sat in silence, or Robbie would watch TV while Sportacus did his exercises, But just having the blue elf in the room became a comfort for Robbie. He didnt know where these feelings were coming from. He didnt want to feel anything except annoyance and hatred towards the blue elf. But the more he invaded his privacy the more he ended up wanting him to. He found himself waiting for the man each night, making sure to stay snarky but inwardly preening that he wanted to spend time with him! Robbie Rotten!

Eventually, about 4 weeks later he allowed Sportacus to help with some inventions, as much as he didnt want the man touching his stuff he couldnt disagree that the elf was strong, stronger than him, and he knew that he would be useful in bending the metal or holding it together while he screwed and welded. Slowly that burning hate towards the man started to turn into something else. He couldn't describe it. And he sure as he'll wasn't ready for it. But something in the air told him things were going to change very soon.