It has been a week since Luigi had awoken from the coma, which according to Mario had been since the final battle to close the Void. His memory was hazy except for flashbacks, which were often in such frightening clarity that he thought he was re-living those terrible events leading up until the present.

It is a warm day, spring is still gaining and Luigi was in the garden immediately outside his house. On hearing of his awakening, Dr Toadsworth, thebrother of the esteemed Sir Toadsworth informed him that he had to be on his feet as soon as possible, both to prevent blood clots and to speed recovery if he was to avoid the need for surgery on his legs and arms. This necessitates wearing ugly compression hose from thigh to ankle all the time, which made his legs feel spring loaded and resemble those of a spider. He wore similar ones on his wrists since they were still a mess. Sometimes he gazed at the livid pink scars in wonder at how they came about and how they still hurt.

They said it had been a month Luigi was out for and it was close - they did not think he would last much longer as he got weaker and prognosis got worse the longer he was out for.
Luigi recalled seeing himself in the mirror and a scarecrow in a gown with his moustache and hat looked out at him. He nearly fainted and was glad to have Mario there, even though he counselled him not to look. Mario looked thinner - he was not free of the trauma either. He had brought Luigi back after all, sat with him, talked to him, shaved his face every day, argued with the doctors to bring him home despite their protests.
Peace of a sort decends upon him as he sat in the spring sunshine wearing Mario's brothers' gift of a full-length silk dressing gown which he had always coveted and which he brought on the numerous shopping trips under doctor's orders to Mushroom City for medical supplies. It looked a little incongruous with his slippers and hat, neatly covered his shaven and still stubbly crown.
Luigi swung his legs up on the bench and arranged his blanket and walking stick. The book he had ('Gardening in Difficult Conditions') fell unread as he started to nod off to sleep.
Footsteps. Despite the fact he was somewhere safe the sounds shakes me out of my reverie and I sit bolt upright. He heard a faintly familiar voice.
"Mr Mario?"

He looked up - It is King Richard of Sarasland - What is HE doing here?!
"Mr Mario? Luigi? Mr Mario" he says in a softer tone of voice - he seemed surprised. Luigi looked up at him from the bench, a bit embarresed that his skinny legs were on show.
"Don't worry, this is just a quiet visit incognito, you are not in trouble"
Of all the people visiting, this visit gives him as much cause for surprise and alarm as Waluigi's. But that had been when he was still in a coma. Just as well.

Luigi met his gaze. "Good morning your Grace".

"Things have been difficult in Sarasaland since the Void appeared and we are still dealing with the resulting civil disturbance. Daisy has been sent to a place of safety as she was too prominent a target to the fanatics which have grown in number since this crisis started. No doubt Toadsworth in capacity as Regent in absentia and Princess Peach have had similar problems"

He listened, not sure what to think.

"I thought you would be involved somewhere, but it was not until Nastasia put me right did I know exactly what happened"

"So what do you wish to talk about your Grace?"

He looked uncomfortable, took a breath and said "I will be level with you. I don't think we could be friends, and I really don't like men who make my daughter cry"

Luigi stiffened - what is he on about?! Luigi had gained a reputation for sarcasm and had been known to make cutting comments - more so since others don't expect them but NEVER at Daisy!?

"Peach sent an encrypted message to Daisy when you returned. Daisy was distraught when she found out how severely you were injured. She somehow managed to leave her safe haven against my orders to come here and to give you a present - he points at the book under the bench. When she returned she was distraught. She said you were dead or dying."

"It turned out she visited on the day you awoke. She turned up at her time only to see you in your brother's arms. She had made the wrong conclusion and returned to the haven. It was not until Nastasia arrived that she and I were put straight on this"

Luigi blinked. He was finding this difficult to follow. King Richard is not normally a talkative person and he was getting tired out here. The light, wind, colours are still overwhelming at times.

"I will admit that I found you a socially incompetent wierdo with a capacity of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time and an ability to seek out and break the only fragile item in the entire room. Quite frankly, considering the eligibility of my daughter, the thought of having you as a son-in-law made me die inside"

A brief flush of rage rose within Luigi, which in turn was tempered by the absurd suggestion that he travelled this far just to insult him.

" Thank you your Grace" Luigi said as neutrally as possible. King Richard went on:
"But, considering what you have done and been through I can see there is more to you than that. I cannot think of anyone who would tear out a living Floro Sprout from their scalp or was prepared to sacrifice themself for their brother without question. You feel the fear but still you do what must be done"

"Unlike any of the other far more eligible batchelors, you have the ability to make my daughter happy. She says around you she isn't Princess Daisy, just Daisy. Plus she admires you ability to do backflips onto an elevated target as much as your cooking kills, and your ability to take a pounding and still get up."

Luigi felt touched by this - this has to be the closest thing to a compliment King Richard has given him and it is obviously taking its toll.

"One more thing, I haven't much time here and want to get this over and done with. I have brought a gift as is custom."

He pointed to a series of bound volumes titled "The Laws and Ordinances of the Kingdom of Sarasland".Then he took Luigi's right hand in his and says "I, King Richard of Sarasland and Associated Dependancies, formally grant Mr Luigi Gonzales permission to marry my daughter and heir, Daisy Jasmine Sarasland."

Luigi was stunned by this as this was not expected. Indeed it had only been about 6 months ago that he and Daisy admitted they were a couple. It seemed that father and daughter have been talking more than he'd thought. King Richard already has turned to go but then says "Fare thee well, Luigi".

King Richard looks at me and Luigi just about manage to stammer "Th-Thank you your Grace."

And then it happened. Something Luigi had not felt for what felt like months. The hot prickling feeling on his forehead and scalp with the tingling knotty feeling in his chest, both moving and merging at once. His ears felt like they are glowing and he knew that this is it. He was blushing, and for once he liked it.