Chapter seven: Seeing the truth.

With a sad expression on his face the Lazy town hero looked down from his airship's wide front glass windows, his sky blue eyes were instantly drawn to the covered glass case in front of the Lazy Town, town hall.

Sportacus let out a very deep sigh, he had attempted to get close to the glass case several times now, but every single time he had tried one or other of the Lazy Town residents had stopped him from finding out who was in side the case.

Not knowing who the lady inside the glass case was, was driving the town hero slowly crazy, he just had to know.

Sportacus knew that she wanted him to be free, not to feel that he owed her anything, but curiosity was nibbling away at him.

The Lazy town hero scanned the area around the glass case, right now there was no one there, for a moment the town hero wondered why no one was present, then he spotted Ziggy at the ice cream stand, completely distracted with getting ice cream from the vendor.

This was his chase Sportacus realised suddenly, but he would have to move quickly, that was easy he was good at that. "Door! The hero commanded, the air ship door opened, the hero flipped over to the opening and then stepped outside.

"Ladder!" He called loudly, as soon as it was rolled all the way out, Sportacus quickly climbed down the ladder.

Sportacus's feet touched solid earth, with a large smile the town hero turned slightly, Ziggy was still completely engrossed in getting ice cream, the hero ran as fast as he could to were the glass case stood.

Nervously Sportacus looked round the area, he let out a relived sigh when he saw that there was no one else around, slowly the Lazy town hero reached out and firmly took hold of the black sheet in both hands.

The Lazy town hero gulped, Sportacus took a deep steadying breath and then pulled the black sheet back off of the case. . .

As the black sheet fluttered to the ground noiselessly, Sportacus's ice blue eyes went very wide at the sight before him, lieing inside the glass case was a much more mature Stephanie, her hands were clasped on her chest, the young woman's face was soft in sleep, her now long pink hair fell round her in shining waves.

The hero's gaze took in what she was wearing, Stephanie wore a lovely pink dress, with lots of shiny, gauzy skirts, the bodice fitted to her figure perfectly, making the most of it, the dress looked fit to grace any princess. . . and here it was adorning his lady, the one who had loved him enough to wake him.

"Oh my good God, Stephanie this just can't be happening." Sportacus said to himself deeply shocked.

"But Sportacus it really is happening." Said Ziggy from right behind the Lazy town hero.

The resident hero jumped in surprise, he turned to look at Ziggy. "Why? Why did she . . . do all this for me?" Sportacus asked turning to look back at the young woman with in the glass case.

"Sportacus, that's a stupid question if I ever heard one you know why, but just because your my friend and are in a little bit of shock I'll explain it to you. Stephanie told you once before that she loved you and you to put it lightly rather unkindly turned her away. So now that you know it was Stephanie who woke you up, the question is what are you going to do about it Sportacus?" Ziggy asked the town hero quietly.

"I'm going to do something which I should have done a very long time ago." The hero answered strongly, still staring at Stephanie.

With out waiting for Ziggy to question him as to what that was, Sportacus reached out, he took the lid off of the case, he laid it to one side, slowly the town hero turned back to the glass case, Sportacus's looked down at Stephanie a soft look in his eyes and very slowly a blush spread over his cheeks.

The Lazy town hero gulped, still blushing, he then carefully leant into the case and whispered softly into Stephanie's ear. "I'm so sorry, I should have never said all those things, I shouldn't have turned you away especially since I love you, I truly do, so please wake up for me Stephanie."

Sportacus tenderly pressed his lips to Stephanie's, the young pink haired woman murmured softly as he kissed her, Stephanie's eyes opened very slowly, her brown eyes met Sportacus's blue one for a moment before her eyes fluttered closed again, she lent up into the kiss bringing her hands up to rest on Sportacus's strong shoulders.

In response to her actions, the town hero's blue eyes also flickered closed, he leant into the kiss, carefully Sportacus lifted Stephanie from the case without braking their kiss.

Still holding Stephanie tightly in his strong arms, Sportacus gently broke their kiss, slowly Stephanie's deep brown eyes opened, they settled on the Lazy town hero and the young pink haired woman smiled softly up at him. "Thank you for waking me up Sportacus."

"It was entirely my pleasure Stephanie and thank you for waking me." The hero said gently and gratefully to the young woman in his arms.

"Did you mean what you said when I was asleep, do you really love me Sportacus?" Stephanie asked him a slightly hopeful note to her voice.

Slowly the Lazy town hero smiled down at Stephanie. "Yes I meant it, I love you Stephanie and I am deeply sorry for what I said that day."

From near by a polite cough came, Sportacus turned to see that Ziggy had been joined by the rest of the residents of Lazy town, they were all smiling softly, the Mayor beamed at Stephanie. "Stephanie it's nice to see your awake once more."

"Yes uncle, I'm also very glad to be awake again and before you ask me, Sportacus was the one who woke me from my sleep." The young pink haired woman said softly, as the town hero very carefully let her down out of his arms.

Mayor Meanswell's eyes went to the town hero's face, Sportacus blushed slightly. "You woke Stephanie Sportacus?" The Lazy Town mayor asked a little surprised.

"Yes, I woke Stephanie, because I love her." The town hero replied softly.

"Oh that is wonderful news." Mayor Meanswell enthused happily clapping his hands together with enthusiasm.

Before any one else could speak Sportacus looked down at the young woman standing next to him and spoke to her gently. "So Stephanie can you find it in your heart to forgive me for what I said and did back then?"

"Yes Sportacus, of cause I forgive you, I can do so gladly and with all my heart. After all, the only thing that matters is that you love me." Stephanie said to Sportacus softly.

"I'm so glad that you can forgive me so easily, I was such an idiot. . ." Stephanie's soft fingers on his lips stopped the town hero saying any more on the subject.

"Oh stop talking and kiss me again." The young pink haired woman said happily and smiled up at Sportacus.

Uncaring of the current audience the town hero bent down slightly, gently he took hold of Stephanie's waist and pulled her close to him. Stephanie put her arms round Sportacus in response, she leant up as he lent down and softly there lips met.

Quietly the Lazy town mayor ushered every one off, this was a privet moment for them both and they hardly needed to be stared at during it.

Slowly Stephanie and Sportacus pulled back, they looked around and realised they were quiet alone.

The new couple looked at each other and smiled softly. "You know we really need to say thank you to Robbie at some point." Sportacus said softly to Stephanie as he drew her to him in a gently embrace.

"Oh why?" She inquired of her hero softly.

"Well if it were not for his apple I would never have realised how we felt."

"Hmm you have a point, but lets say thank you later, right now I just want to be here with you." Stephanie said softly snuggling closer to Sportacus, he responded by tightening his hold on her and holding her closer to him.

The End!

(Yay that was fun, any way thinking of starting on a new one soon. Maybe with those two trying to help out Robbie, which could prove to be fun. . . )