I'd intended for this chapter to be longer but oh well. Next chapter has a lot of fluffiness in it. Also this chapter mentions the PeachxBowser ship which is another of my favourites.

Of the many people milling around Game Central Station, only a few stopped to look at the spectacle of the wrecker carrying his president across to her game. Those who did stare quickly turned away as the president shot them a glare, and they managed to get into Sugar Rush without any disturbances. Not even Surge stopped them, much to Ralph's relief.

But someone did stop them, someone sour and small and standing at the start of the rainbow road.

"I suppose you can't walk," he estimated, and Vanellope nodded although she could- she just didn't want to have to let Ralph go.

"I'll carry her to the castle and then go back to my game," Ralph promised.

"Fine," the sour candy replied, and led the way back to the castle. Vanellope snuggled into Ralph's arms, her hoodie bunching up around her. Taffyta had been by during the night to drop off the president's clothes, which she'd been very grateful for- she didn't want to wear the dress for too long, so it was currently neatly balled up and shoved in the pocket of Ralph's overalls.

At the castle, Ralph gently set Vanellope down and leaned down to give her a parting kiss.

"Kissing me goodbye at my door, how romantic," she commented with a blush.

"It would have been better if you'd brought her back last night or the night before," Bill commented sourly. "You broke the rules, Ralph."

"I know, I'm sorry," Ralph apologised, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. He gave Vanellope her dress and she stepped back to look up at him lovingly.

"I know you might be but little miss here knew the rules too," Bill continued. "You're not allowed to leave the castle for a week except to race."

"What?" she protested, her face changing to one of enraged shock. "I only stayed out for two nights and Ralph brought me back before the arcade opened!"

"You still stayed out," Bill reminded her sternly. "This time, I'll glitch-proof the bars as well so you can't get out." She paled and Ralph thought she was going to faint but instead she merely turned and headed for her bedroom. Minutes later, a slam resounded through the castle and shook it to its very foundations.

Vanellope sat on her bed sulking and trying to stare a hole through the magazine in her hands. Taffyta had brought her some magazines after learning that the president was effectively grounded, and the blonde racer was still lounging on the end of the large bed.

"Careful, you might burn it with that look," she gently told her friend. Vanellope didn't even crack a smile.

"I'm stuck in my room for a week except for when I have a race," the president grumbled. "All because I spent two nights with Ralph."

"Did you do that adult thing?" Taffyta asked, tapping her fingers together as a mischievous grin spread across her face.

"Yeah," Vanellope admitted, hiding her blushing face behind the magazine. "We did that the first night. It was so much fun even though I couldn't walk yesterday. I could barely even move."

"And now you can't move from the castle," Taffyta added, causing her to groan.

"So how was your date with Rancis?" Vanellope finally asked after a few more minutes of silence.

"Fun," Taffyta smiled. "We danced in your ballroom, which you really should use by the way, and then we talked for a while." Vanellope smiled at her friend's successful date.

"I'm happy for you," she grinned. "Oh, and that dress you made me wear? Ralph loved it. He even felt guilty about breaking the strings on it to get it off, so he got Felix to fix it."

"I thought it would," the blonde grinned triumphantly. "I'm gonna dress you for every one of your dates now."

"I'd like that," Vanellope agreed gratefully. "You really know what a guy likes, Taff. It's good to have a friend like you."

"Thanks," the other racer smiled, and they continued talking into the night over popcorn and ice cream that Vanellope requested from the kitchen.

That night was Bad-anon night, which Ralph attended with much more enthusiasm than he had previously.

"You look happy, Ralph," Zangief commented, "Is good to see."

"Yeah, well, I just spent the last two nights with the president of Sugar Rush so it's hard not to be happy," he agreed, smiling at the thought of his girl.

"So the rumours are true, then. At least I'm not the only bad guy dating a princess now," Bowser observed.

"I always thought bad guys didn't get princesses but I guess I was wrong," the wrecker shrugged.

"She has a good heart, Ralph. She could see your good side even when everyone else could only see you as a villain. Just like Peach did with me," Bowser added. "She's so kind and thoughtful, always baking cakes and reminding everyone of how good I am. Why do you think Mario and I are actually good friends?"

"And my princess already helped me prove to everyone that I'm not a bad guy," Ralph agreed. "I know that she insists on being called president now, but she still has quite a few princess-like qualities. She's pretty and she has her girly moments and her father figure is really overprotective of her."

"The Toads stopped me from seeing Peach for a while to start with but eventually I proved to them that I treated her well and they let me date her freely," the fiery koopa encouraged him.

"Yeah but Vanellope looked like a kid until a while ago. Sour Bill still sees her as one even though she looks older, so he's more protective of her," Ralph argued. "So what can I do?"

"This might be a problem that only she can resolve," Clyde suggested in his very calm, rational voice. He wasn't the designated leader of Bad-anon for nothing. "The only thing that you can do is to be there for her and try not to do anything that might make Bill distrust you."

"You're right," Ralph nodded. "I can't really help her out of this one." They closed with the Bad-anon pledge, which still gave Ralph a warm feeling every time he recited it.