Smurfette gazed out at the village. It was a beautiful summer morning. Greedy was baking delicious smurfberry pies and cakes. Smurfmelody and Harmony Smurf were not yet awake, Harmony blowing weakly into his trumpet every few breaths. Handy's alarm clock could be heard from where she sat by her bedroom window. Every Smurf and Smurfette were just now opening their tired eyes. Smurfette had been awake for hours.

She had reunited her fellow Smurfs and Smurfettes, cast Gargamel far away, and found her place in the village. So why did she feel so...stuck?

She slid out of her chair to journey downstairs. She opened her door with a broom in her hand, sweeping away the daily pile of love letters on her front step. She didn't mind the attention. She'd gotten used to it over the years. But, she thought, as her new "sisters" began coming in to expand to their village, she thought her fellow Smurfs would maybe see other people. She wished she could talk to someone about this, but Papa, Hefty, and Brainy were still in Smurfy Grove helping Smurfwillow with expansion of their own. Who knows when they would be back?

"Hi Cake-eating Smurf! Hi Smurfette!" Smurfblossom hugged Smurfette from behind. "How'd ya sleep? I slept great! It's so peaceful here! That's a nice word. Pe-e-e-e-eacefu-u-u-ul. Rolls right off the tongue!"

Smurfette giggled. "I smurfed great, Smurfblossom."

"Or did you?" Smurfette jumped when Smurfstorm jumped from behind a lilac bush.

"Stormy!" Smurfblossom squealed. "You stayed! I thought you went with Willow to help with extraction."

"Expansion, Blossom." She corrected. "And I have to make sure you don't get eaten by a frog." She caught Smurfette's gaze before she could be corrected. "Kid, you look like you haven't slept in months. What's your deal?"

Smurfblossom yelped, and a crash sent them both to their feet. Smurfblossom's feet could be seen kicking out of the pile of paper Smurfette had swept aside. They grabbed a leg each and yanked her from the heap.

"It seems you have a pile of paper on your porch. How peculiar!"

Smurfette sighed. "Oh, yeah. Just my next pile of love letters from my fellow Smurfs." She stooped down to pick them up.

"You're really popular around here, huh?" Stormy asked.

Smurfette chuckled. "Yeah..."

"What's the matter? Smurfette?"

Smurfette sighed. "Do you think I'm pretty?"

Stormy and Blossom glanced at each other. "What kind of a question is that?" Smurfstorm asked.

"Well, am I?"

"Of course you are, Smurfette!" Smurfblossom said. "You're just so blueberry blue and just got the prettiest dresses. You're hair is so long and yellow like a daffodil! And you smell like fresh wild strawberries and flowers!"

"Blossom?"

"Your eyes spark like sapphires."

"Blossom?!"

"And you just have the sweetest voice any Smurfette would dream of having!"

"Smurfblossom!"

Smurfstorm covered her sister's mouth, pointing to a very exasperated Smurfette. "Wrong answer?"

Smurfette groaned. "That's just the whole smurfing problem! I'm not the only girl anymore, but every Smurf in the village is up all night smurfing me love letters."

"So what?" Stormy shrugged. "Forget boys! They're weird! What you need to work on is your life."

"Well, that's not to say that I don't want to get married or fall in love. I love all of the Smurfs, but I just don't feel like I'm ready."

The two Smurfettes glanced at each other, unsure how to help their distressed sister. Stormy took Smurfette under her arms and led her back inside.

"Well, what you need is to sit back and get some rest. You look terrible."

Smurfette didn't want to sleep. She wanted to talk to Papa Smurf and ask him what he thought of...Oh, she was too tired to care. Her face hit the pillow and she was out like a light as the sun rose over the trees.

Papa Smurf entered his lab, the sun ready to set over the forest. Expansion was not smurfy work, but it was happening surprisingly quickly. After a hard day's work, he was ready to retire to his bed. But the door knocked.

"Come in!"

Smurfette closed the door before he turned around.

"Oh, Smurfette! It's good to see you again!"

"Papa Smurf, can we talk?" she asked.

"O-Of course. Sit down, my dear."

Smurfette took a seat on the stool near the window. Papa pulled over a second stool. Smurfette stared at the floor, her feet digging into the dirt.

"What seems to be the trouble?"

She reached under her hat and pulled out a handful of love letters. "Remember the day when I first became a Smurf?"

"Why I remember like it was yesterday," he answered.

"Do you remember what the other Smurfs did when they smurfed eyes on me?"

"Well, I - "

"They adore me, Papa!" she moaned. "They smurf me gifts, and say smurfy things, and invite me to dinners, and..."

"Do you want this behavior to stop?" Papa asked, concerned.

"No, Papa. I love the attention. Everysmurf loves me, and I love them too. And I know that some have smurfed on, like Harmony and Smurfmelody. But, I'm just a bit smurfed when I smurf flowers and letters from every Smurf around the corner. I mean..." She rifled through her letters. "Dreamy, Painter, Miner, Clumsy, even Grouchy smurfed me a letter."

She unfolded the paper to show, written in big letters, "I HATE THAT I LOVE YOU!"

"Well, what do you propose I do about it?" Papa asked.

"I...I want...Just let me...I need time. I need time before I decide if I want to marry or not." She answered simply and seriously. Papa Smurf nodded. "Could you let everyone know that?"

Smurfette's eyes pleadingly shone into Papa's. For years she had cried over her Prince Charming, but after finding her place in the village and with her "sisters" he realized that she needed more time to come to terms with who she was.

"Please, Papa Smurf."

Papa sighed and stood from his chair. "If it will make you happy, then I will smurf everyone the news."

Smurfette beamed and threw her arms around the elderly Smurf. "Oh, thank you, Papa Smurf!" Without another word, she ran from the hut straight back to her own. She threw open the curtains, admiring the night sky with an invigorating new feeling of relief. She absentmindedly stroked the petals of the lilies growing from her window garden as she stared at the stars.

"This is my life," she said. "And I'll decide what to smurf with it."

"What?"

"No!"

"She can't be serious!"

Papa stood at the front door of his hut, addressing the crowd of Smurfs called the next morning. He hated to see his little Smurfs upset, but he had to respect Smurfette's wishes. He had to tear his eyes away from the sobbing Enamored Smurf.

"Now, now. That's not to smurf that she won't marry. She only asks that we give her time. She's been through so much. It is only fair that we give her what she smurfs."

"That's right!" Brainy chimed in. "You listen to Papa Smurf. Smurfette needs her space. We shouldn't pressure her. Only time will smurf when she's ready. Just you wait. You'll see."

"Thank you, Brainy," Papa interrupted. "Now, to the smurf at hand. Expansion has been smurfing smoothly. And, with Gargamel away for the time being, we can begin to clear a bit of space. Everyone meet Timber Smurf at the Great Oak for further instructions. Oh, Hefty! Brainy, Clumsy!"

Clumsy stumbled out of the crowd, Hefty not far behind but out of range of Clumsy's path.

"Brainy, I want you to smurf through all the books you smurf on the Smurfstone. You still have smurfs and pieces of it, right?"

"Y-Yes Papa Smurf!" Brainy said eagerly, running back to his hut.

"Clumsy, you're with Brainy."

"Sure thing, Papa Smurf!" Clumsy answered, stumbling after Brainy.

Hefty glanced confusedly at Papa. "What do you need Smurfstone for, Papa?"

Papa chuckled. "Nothing. Brainy will be so smurfed up in his reading that he'll forget why everyone was working. And Clumsy will keep anyone busy. Hefty, I need you to smurf after Smurfette."

"Is she okay?" Hefty asked frantically. Papa noted to be careful around Hefty when it came to Smurfette. He was the most emotional when Smurfette had reverted back to a lump of clay. Now, after hearing her demands, he seemed more agitated.

"Now, now. She's alright. I just thought she might appreciate some company."

Hefty's heart started beating faster than he could run. Time with Smurfette was the only thing he wanted now. He quickly nodded, thanked Papa Smurf, and headed in the direction of her house. Everyone had taken extreme measures to make her feel comfortable and happy again. Her tiny flower garden was now a terrace of every kind and color of flower. Smurfberry pies, cakes, and cookies were piled up by the hundreds around her porch. A few balloons were tied to her mailbox.

Hefty stood at the door with his hand mid-knock. He usually wasn't nervous about meeting with her, but he was visibly shaking. He finally reached up and knocked on her door. A few seconds went by before the door finally opened. She was as beautiful as the day she became a Smurf.

"Oh, hi Hefty!"

Hefty blinked out of his trance. "Oh! Smurfette! Hey."

"Does Brainy need help getting Smurfblossom out of his library again?" she asked.

Hefty laughed. "Nah. Brainy is occupied at the moment. I just wanted to check on ya."

"Oh, sure!" She stepped to the side. "Come in." Hefty stepped inside, Smurfette closing the door behind her. "I have some smurfberry tea on the stove if you want some."

"That'd be great, actually." Hefty took a careful seat at her table. He glanced around the room, unsure what to say or do. His gaze set on Smurfette herself, making him some tea. Her hair looked so much longer from the back, falling like a golden waterfall, so clearly set off by her sapphire skin and white dress. She spun around, a white wooden kettle in her hands.

"Um, Hefty? Are you okay?"

Hefty snapped out of his trance, Smurfette pouring him a cup of tea. "Huh? Yeah! Yeah! Um, great!"

Smurfette raised an eyebrow, but shook her head and sat down. Hefty took a quick sip from the cup, exchanging a few awkward glances with the beautiful creature across from him. He crossed his legs, then uncrossed them. She tapped her foot against the silence. Hefty began drumming his fingers against the table, trying to get past this awkward silence. After a pause, he cleared his throat.

"So!" Smurfette broke the silence. "Is everyone still working on expansion?"

Hefty almost sighed in relief, thankful that he didn't have to break the silence himself. "Yeah, everyone's out by the Great Oak. They, uh...hehe...they had to drag Enamored away; he was so upset."

"Is he alright?" Smurfette asked, concerned.

"Oh, he'll be fine," Hefty assured, but Smurfette bit her nails.

"It's about my request, isn't it?" Her face fell into her hands in embarrassment. Hefty jumped from his seat and ran to her side. "I knew it. This was a stupid idea!"

"No, no, no!" Hefty almost shouted. "If anything, we were the ones being stupid! Smurfette." He took her hand. "Smurfette, if I was in your place, then I'd be overwhelmed too. You found an entire new village! You saved everyone from Gargamel! You made everyone change how they see everything! The last thing on my mind would be marriage."

"Really, Hefty? You don't think I'm being too selfish?" Hefty put a finger to her mouth.

"Smurfette, take all the time you need."

Smurfette smiled and fell into his arms for a hug. "Thank you, Hefty."

A heavy blush rose in his cheeks. This...it felt so good. He felt like he needed this. Not just because of everything that happened to her, but because he desperately wanted this. He pulled her closer, his arms around her waist.

"Um, Hefty? You're standing on my foot."

Hefty jumped back in surprise, releasing her foot from his own. "Uh, heh. Sorry."

Smurfette giggled. "Red sure is your color."

"W-What are you talking about?" He reached up to wipe his face of sweat, his face burning as if it had been fried. "Oh, sweet Smurfberries!"

Smurfette giggled again, leading him into the foyer. "Well, since you seem to have the day off, would you like to go Smurfboarding later?"

"Y-Yeah! Tha-Tha-That would be great! Just like old times!" He backed towards the door, excited and utterly humiliated all at once. "I'll see you later, S-S-Smurfette."

He stumbled out the door and down the path. She stood waving after him on the doorstep. That was embarrassing! What the smurfs happened in there? He was the Smurf who sprinted ten miles without breaking a sweat and yet he was burning up without moving. It only happened around Smurfette and he knew why, but it was never that bad. If he embarrassed himself so easily in front of her during a simple visit, how would he behave during their date? (Yes, DATE!)