The Nine Year Wait

4/11/2007

By Trynia Merin

Disclaimer: Lazytown belongs to Lazytown Inc and was created by Magnus Scheving. I'm writing this for entertainment only. I'm only borrowing his characters for a while and this means no harm! Captain Nimrod and Gretchen belong to me! This is NOT the same storyline as Behind the Crystal. It's basically Sporta/Steph. I hope you like it! WAFF warning!

"Oh no, we have intruded enough," the Captain winked. The woodland elf gave Sportacus a meaningful look, which made the sports elf a bit nervous. Kissing Stephanie's hand the Captain left as Sportacus gave Gretchen an affectionate hug. Then both of them waved goodbye and exited the door. Oddly enough, the chestnut brown horse standing near the house did not surprise Stephanie. Nor did the hovering skychaser.

"Wow, I can't believe it's been two years," Sportacus said as Stephanie closed the door. "You've gotten taller!"

"And you're still wearing your hat indoors," Stephanie teased him. "Captain Nimrod knew to take his off!"

"Well the Mayor never complained," said Sportacus. "But if you insist."

"Only if you want to," Stephanie said with her eyes a bit wide. "I was only kidding."

"Welcome back Stephanie. I wish I could have been to your graduation," he said quickly. Her heart pounded in her chest despite her effort to slow it down.

"I know I live miles away from here by train. I would have loved you to come. But with all the pictures and such it was hard to tear myself away," she murmured. She wandered in the kitchen, grabbing the pitcher of ice tea out of the fridge.

"Do you want some help?"

"Why don't we have some iced tea… and I'll catch you up," Stephanie said.

"Unsweetened I hope," Sportacus said, reaching for two glasses out of the top shelf.

He placed them down while Stephanie poured two glasses, and then turned to get ice from the freezer. Soon they were sitting at the table looking through her photo album. Sportacus pulled his chair so he sat next to her and could look more closely at the pictures by leaning over one shoulder. Seeing she was suddenly so serious, Sportacus gave a small smirk. Reaching around her he suddenly grabbed a piece of fruit and shoved it in her face.

"HEY!" Stephanie giggled.

"I bet you can't get this lovely piece of sports candy away!" he grinned.

"Oh really?"

"I double dare you!" he grinned.

Her face flushed as she thought of the high school prom. Pixel had stepped in when her date had broken up with her, and she was grateful to him. He had spent the night at her place then left the following day. Although she knew he had feelings for her, she had been torn up after her last boyfriend Kevin had broken it off.

"Something wrong, Stephanie?" Sportacus asked, reaching up to brush a piece of hair behind one ear.

"I can't fool you for a minute can I?" she sighed, and then settled into a chair. Sportacus turned the nearest one around and sat straddling it. His feet bounced a bit despite his best effort to stop them from moving. At this, Stephanie blushed.

"You must have heard from Pixel about the prom," she guessed. Sportacus nodded.

"I saw the picture of you and Pixel as I walked in. You make a nice couple," he said.

"Well he's sweet but I just… damn," Stephanie murmured, wiping away a tear.

"You can tell me anything," Sportacus said softly, reaching out to take her hand.

"His name was Kevin. He was supposed to take me to the prom, not Pixel. I was singing a few of the songs with the band. I think Kevin got jealous of some of the attention the fans were giving me when I was at the rehearsals. Because two weeks before he broke up with me, and I was stuck with two tickets…"

"I'm sorry," Sportacus said, squeezing her hand that lay on the table.

"Well, it got worse," she muttered biting into another apple violently. She swallowed hard, and then glanced back into the concerned face of her lifelong friend.

"How worse? Did he hurt you in any way?" Sportacus asked. The protective gleam in his blue eyes made her heart skip beats, but she tried not to show it.

"Sportacus don't kill him or put snakes in his bed! He took another girl to the prom, that's all. I figured he wouldn't want to miss the most important night of his life," she grumbled.

"Had he been seeing her all along?"

"I heard some of my friends talking. My best friend Stacey felt horrible because she and Carlie had seen Kevin last summer with a girl named Celia. And Celia worked as a lifeguard at the pool where Kevin did. It's only natural that he probably went to her when I was not… good enough for him…"

"Stephanie that's ridiculous! Don't you dare ever say that! If anything YOU were too good for him!" Sportacus growled. She blinked in surprise at the sound from his throat.

"That's sweet of you, but what he said still hurts. I'm glad that Pixel was there; because he made sure I laughed and had fun. And Kevin and Celia were slow dancing right in front of all of us. Especially when I had to sing the slow dance numbers."

"I don't think I care for this man. If you brought him here, I don't think even Robbie Rotten would like him," said Sportacus darkly.

"Robbie Rotten? Come on," she laughed.

"Well he HAS seen pictures of you in his sneaking around. And I have seen him mumble something about 'Pinkie's grown up'," Sportacus said softly. "I caught him trying to steal a picture from this home of you at your Sweet Sixteen party."

"You're kidding me," she said, giving him a shove across the table.

"You've grown up nicely," he murmured, looking at her. Still he clasped her hand and his eyes searched her face for something that made Stephanie feel hot blood flushing in her cheeks. Grabbing his hand and giving it a soft kiss, she murmured thanks.

"You're welcome."

"I ate my sports candy and did my workouts," she teased.

"Good. Wouldn't have expected any less," Sportacus nodded. "I know this sounds rather silly but if Pixel couldn't have taken you, you could have asked me."

"You're kidding me," Stephanie laughed. "You wouldn't want to spend time with a bunch of kids!"

"I did here," Sportacus returned, pretending to look hurt.

"I mean teenagers," she answered.

"Well I know it's a bit late, but I figured you should know I was willing to, as a friend," said Sportacus.

"It would have been sweet of you," she smiled. "Always coming to my rescue."

"That's my job," Sportacus nodded with a sweet smile that made Stephanie melt inside. Something came over her and she leaned over. Softly she pecked his cheek and then leaned back in her chair.

"Thank you, Sportacus," she whispered. Reaching up Sportacus touched his cheek where she had kissed it, rubbing at the oily substance. He was not used to her wearing makeup like Miss Busybody did.

"Oops, that's lipstick," Stephanie groaned, reaching for a napkin. She rubbed at his cheek but Sportacus chuckled.

"Your face always lights up when you smile Stephanie. It's good to see again," Sportacus said.

"So does yours," she said, looking shyly away. "I um… I…"

"What's wrong Stephanie?" he asked. "Now you're off in left field again."