Mario tapped his foot restlessly. He felt too wired, too hyper. Something was bothering him.

Peach was in the other room getting dressed. He heard her zip her jeans after sucking in her stomach. The door squeaked open and she stepped out, looking tired. Her morning sickness had woke her up at about five and she hadn't been able to sleep after that.

"Hey, Peach?" He said softly. "Can we talk?"

She nodded and walked toward him. Sitting next to him, she looked directly in his eyes. "I don't like the sound of that."

"Oh, don't worry. It's nothing…" Mario swallowed. "I'm not dumping you."

Peach laughed. "Well, good."

"I was just thinking… we need to go back to the Kingdom soon."

Peach narrowed her eyes. "Why?"

"Peach, you're a princess. You've had your time away, but…" Mario glanced down. "Daisy and Luigi are ruling. Things cannot be going right, especially now that they're strained."

Her eyes went wide. He continued. "You're pregnant and engaged. The Kingdom thinks you're like, dead. I'm pretty sure they never told anyone you're all right, because judging by what I hear in the background when they phone, the Toads are still going crazy."

He could see she was considering this. She grabbed his hands. "But, Mario… we're already stressed with the wedding and the baby. Having the whole Kingdom rest on our shoulders again will just make us lose more sleep. And won't the Kingdom be shocked when I come back pregnant? I'll be like, a… you know. They believe in pregnancy after marriage." She looked down.

"But they'll think even worse if you come back with a new husband and a baby," Mario pointed out. "Like you eloped. You're an honest princess. I think we should go back."

The princess smiled weakly. "I think I might agree with you. But I'm not sure."

Mario got up. "Why don't we eat breakfast first? We should go out to breakfast."

"Go out? Someone will recognize us, won't they?"

"So?" Mario held out his hand. "We deserve a treat. We've been cooped up in this stupid apartment for weeks now."

Smiling, Peach took his hand and got up. "Okay. I'll get my purse."

And they left.

MPMPMPMP

"Tell me again, child," Rosalina said to Daisy.

"Well, he proposed," Daisy said quietly. "And we've only been dating for a couple weeks. I don't know, it all seemed too fast… so I said no."

The two were talking over tea. Rosalina was very much like a motherly figure as well as a best friend to Daisy, so she had come down to see her and talk about the proposal.

Rosalina looked at Daisy straight in the eye. "Do you think you did the right thing?"

Daisy nodded and sniffed. "But… he seemed so hurt… I feel so terrible."

"Child, just follow your heart. It puts you on the right path," The ruler of the Cosmos sipped her tea casually.

Daisy put her hand on her chest. Had she done the right thing? Would Luigi ever come back to her? Her insides were coiled in a knot and she had no idea what to say.

"Dear," Rosalina put her hand on Daisy's free hand. "I think you should talk to him soon. I know you love him and I believe he loves you just as much. He's hurt. Let him be for a few days, but don't avoid him."

"Do you think we're meant to be, Rosalina?"

"Yes."

The two smiled at each other and were quiet. Daisy loved how Rosalina always made her feel better. Her manner was so gentle and motherly it was a surprise Rosalina had lost her own mother.

"What about Mario and Peach?" Daisy sipped her tea.

"Oh, those two," Rosalina giggled. "I've been watching them. They are hopelessly in love, let me tell you. Though the stress of a baby and marriage is taking over them. I hope that doesn't make them separate, though."

Daisy gasped a bit. "Oh! Me too."

Nibbling a biscuit, Rosalina told her that they had been discussing coming back to the Kingdom. Daisy said she hoped they did soon, because Luigi hadn't been back to the castle since the Sarasaland princess had turned him down and the place was becoming a mess.

A Toad ran by stark naked.

Rosalina raised an eyebrow. "I see what you mean."

MPMPMPMP

"This place smells good," Peach remarked as she and Mario stepped into the diner that was around the corner from their apartment.

"Like pancakes," Mario said cheerily.

The two sat down and ordered coffees. While they waited, Mario thought about his feelings the night before.

"Hey, Peach? Have you been feeling a little… confused lately?"

Peach nodded. "Yeah. It's weird having a baby and a future husband…"

"I feel weird." Mario rubbed his arm. "I don't know, I think it's because I have to help Luigi with his relationship problems."

"Has he called you again?"

"Yeah, this morning. But I was getting the mail." He looked at the placemat in front of him. "I tried calling him back but he didn't answer. I hope he's not going to leave Daisy. They're perfect for each other."

"Mmm," Peach hummed tiredly.

The waitress brought their coffees and an orange juice for Peach. Then she stopped.

"Hey… I think I know who you two are…"

The couple looked at each other nervously.

"You're Princess Peach," the waitress said, pointing at Peach and then Mario. "And you're Mario! I thought you two were dead."

The two nonchalantly sipped their drinks to avoid answering.

The waitress stared at Peach up and down. She caught sight of her rounded belly and the sparkling ring on the princess' finger. "Oh my gosh!" She recoiled in horror. "You two have eloped!"

Peach put her drink down and narrowed her eyes. "No we haven't. It's none of your business anyway!"

The waitress gagged a little. "And you're pregnant! Wait until I tell my friends back at the Mushroom Kingdom." She dashed away.

"I guess we're not having breakfast," Mario said. "She didn't take our order."

"And I suppose these coffees are free, then," Peach replied.

The two looked at each other and laughed.

Woot! Rosalina's back! I love writing about her because her personality is so easy to make up because she hasn't been in many games – I get a motherly vibe from her and I think she does watch over the Marios and the princesses.

That waitress is a witch, huh?

Q: When do you think Daisy should talk to Luigi? And what should she say?

Q: Do you think Peach and Mario should go back to the Mushroom Kingdom before or after the wedding/baby? How do you think the Toads (especially Toadsworth… dun dun dun!) will react?

Anyway… thanks for reading.

I haven't decided on a prize for the cover contest yet – the best I can do is probably let you request a story from me or something. What do you think?

Love you guys :D We're approaching the end of the story, so I'll be sure to thank you guys individually when it's finished for your support!

xoxo