Hello again, Mario readers!

I return with another Bowsario story, because I cannot stop pairing Mario and Bowser in cute scenarios. They have such an underrated potential, and I love exploring how that can be delivered.

Fair warning though: I know nothing about tea parties. I know, shocking, but I've never really been to one.

This one will feature a story-in-a-story type of development, where Bowser and Mario tell Mario's friends about how they ended up getting together. Peach may not be very pleased, but...eh, she'll live, lol. Some fluff for Luigi and Daisy comes up too, since...I've never written them together! Shocking, I know.

But that's enough babbling. Read on and enjoy!

... ... ...

On a clear morning with the glistening sun and bright blue skies, Princess Peach smiled at the calm day before and decided it would be a good day for tea with friends. She had several Toads set up a table outside in her gardens, while she readied the tea herself. While doing so, she picked up her phone and dialed for Mario and Luigi's house.

"Hello?" The younger brother answered her call.

"Good morning, Luigi!" Peach smiled as she directed a Toad to gather one of her favorite tea sets. "Would you and Mario be able to join me today at noon for tea?" She smirked as she brought the phone up closer. "You can personally invite Daisy over yourself, of course."

"Oh, that sounds fun, Peach! Let me go ask Mario first."

"Tell him that I've baked a cake to serve with it as well! That should give him incentive."

Humming to herself as she continued to prepare her tea, Peach glanced outside and broadened her beam at the radiant sunlight. It was a glorious day to cherish with friends, and she wouldn't waste it.

"Peach? Um, bad news." Raising an eyebrow, Peach glanced at the phone she held. "Mario has a…well, uh…"

"What is it, Luigi?"

"He…has a date?"

Peach blinked and hesitated for a moment, but then shrugged. She poured her tea into the pot and stirred it.

"Are they going out early?"

"No, but uh—"

"Then he may as well bring company along! The more the merrier."

"But then we'll be—"

"Five, yes, I can count, Luigi."

"Right, but—"

"If you're concerned about my lack of a partner, you have no need." Peach took a whiff of the tea she readied, taking in the Mushroom Tea boosted by peach blossoms and hibiscus. "I'm just delighted to be in the company of friends."

"Nice of you, but—"

"Oh, come now, Luigi." She placed a hand on her hip. "Mario isn't going out early, and I don't mind that he's dating, you're dating, or that I'm single." She glanced back outside. "It's such a beautiful day, and I've nothing on my agenda until this evening, so why would we waste such a great time to spend together? Do either of you have other plans that you need to attend to?"

"Not at all."

"So, that means…?"

"Let me…ask again."

Peach paused and repositioned the phone. Was it Luigi or Mario who was reluctant about this teatime? She couldn't possibly have been too forward, as she hadn't acted differently than usual. What could possibly be stopping the brothers from attending today?

"Mario agreed, and I'll call Daisy, but—"

"Wonderful! I'll see you four soon! Just come meet me directly in the gardens. You know where, I'm sure."

"I should tell you—"

"No, no, save the conversations for tea! That's what it's for." She smiled as she finished her tea. "See you soon!" And she hung up before Luigi could protest it further.

Setting her teapot down on the tea set, Peach wandered outside near her hedges, admiring the shapes of Mushrooms and Stars that the Toad gardeners had trimmed. One Toad servant hurried over, as Peach picked up a loose pink rose from the ground, sniffing lightly at it.

"Princess, do you need anything else for your tea?" The Toad glanced back at the table. "We have the fine plates and silverware out for you, along with a nice bouquet set. The tea will be brought out promptly with the arrival of your guests, along with the fresh cake that you prepared last night." He scratched the side of his head, but quickly straightened himself back up. "Have we forgotten anything, Your Highness?"

"Not at all, you've all done a marvelous job." Peach giggled. "It's just a little tea party for friends, nothing to be concerned about." She fixed her glove and brushed at her hair. "Daisy is the only other royalty of any kind visiting, and she's perfectly content with just having a relaxing afternoon. No formalities, just a pleasant day."

"It will be wonderful, Princess."

Bowing to her, the Toad hurried off. Gently twisting the rose in her fingers, watching for the thorns, Peach smirked and sniffed it a little more, before heading over to her table. She placed the rose among the flowers picked for her vase, and nodded upon reviewing her scenery. A nice white table with a light pink cloth, fresh napkins evenly folded, properly lined silverware, and her vase of roses, daisies, and carnations. The plates were decorated with peach blossoms painted along the rim, and Mushrooms in their centers, fitting for the Mushroom Kingdom's princess.

She wondered about Mario's new partner. Though she had considered dating him in the past, she simply decided that she would rather take time for herself. After getting kidnapped for wedding schemes by the evil Bowser Koopa, she wanted to just enjoy her single life for a little while, even refusing a potential proposal from Mario. It was far too rushed, and he admitted to such later, wanting to stop Bowser from stealing her away and seizing her kingdom.

But who had Mario moved onto since then? Had he returned to his first love, Mayor Pauline? Did Rosalina finally catch his eye? Were there any other suitable options that enticed him so? The more she thought about it, the more curious Peach was, and became eager to finding just who Mario was bringing to teatime with her.

Looking at the gazebo in the distance, Peach pondered using that instead of a table in the garden's center.

"No, no, it's a warm day, nothing too hot," insisted Peach to herself. "There's a slight breeze, but the sun isn't overbearing. Today will be lovely just for being together." She closed her eyes and listened for the light rustling of the trees in the gentle wind. "Everything will be simply perfect."

Opening her eyes, Peach's expression dropped as she spotted red hair and horns from above her hedges. She soured and glared at the approaching subject.

Not today, just once, couldn't he do anything else with his life?

Prepared to fend off Bowser from kidnapping her, Peach reached for her silverware and grabbed at the serving knife. Crude, but it would have to do. Hiding it behind her back, Peach narrowed her eyes as he approached.

Around the hedge first, however, came a Toad, followed by Luigi and Daisy, and last by Mario, walking alongside Bowser. Gawking at the sight, Peach watched as the Toad escorted her guests over to her table.

"Ah…Princess, um." The Toad rubbed behind his head. "Your friends are here."

"With Bowser."

"Yes."

"Is this a joke?"

"Hey, I was invited," snapped Bowser, as he folded his arms. "By you, no less." He glanced down at Mario and lightly nudged him. "I told you this was a bad idea."

"It'll be fine," insisted Mario through his forced grin.

"Very funny, a lovely laugh, but, it's not the kindest joke at my expense," determined Peach. "Mario, if you could see him out and bring in your guest."

"Uh…this is my guest, Peach."

"Now it isn't funny anymore." Peach folded her arms. "Luigi, what kind of childish nonsense are these two playing at?"

"Remember what you told me to save for tea?" Luigi twiddled his thumbs as Peach lifted an eyebrow and Daisy poorly stifled laughter. "Yeah. This is that."

"So, we're just going to carry on with this, that Mario is dating Bowser."

"Yeah, because it's true!" Bowser snorted. "If I wanted to get insulted today, I would've just sat around at my castle. At least I could fry anyone that bothered."

"You gain absolutely nothing by dating Mario," pointed out Peach. She turned to Mario and frowned. "No offense, and my apologies." Her attention went back to Bowser. "But he doesn't offer you an opportunity to take the Mushroom Kingdom, nor expand the borders of the Koopa Kingdom. Even entertaining the notion of dating Mario offers you zero benefits."

"Wow, are you normally that cold, or does this come out when I'm here?"

"The latter."

"Noted."

"Peach, it's really not like that," attempted Mario, but Bowser placed his hand on his shoulder. "Bowser, come on."

"It's fine, she's prodding at it." Bowser smiled to him, but then glared at Peach. "For your information, Princess, Mario's personal asset would be his legendary heroics and combative expertise, unparalleled across the soldiers through the Mushroom Kingdom and debatably the greatest of our lifetimes." Mario blushed as he tugged his cap down, while Peach backed up a step, and Bowser lifted a fist. "But, as it so happens, you're right that I'm not dating him for strategic value at all." His cheeks flushed a bit as Bowser scratched his cheek. "He was just sweet and I agreed to date, and that's where we are." Bowser placed his hands on his hips. "So, it's not really that complicated at all. Deal with it."

"But you're both enemies," pointed out Peach. "You both even fought over proposing to me! Multiple times!"

"Actually, that's where we first realized that we might want to move on," interjected Mario. "Bowser was caught up with using marriage more for territorial acquisition and I was just worried about stopping him, and neither of us paid strong enough attention to your feelings." He shrugged. "I talked to him about that, and he admitted that lusting for you and wanting control of the Mushroom Kingdom were poor mixes for romance."

"Am I seriously supposed to just believe that?" Peach folded her arms while Bowser rolled his eyes. "You just had an epiphany that you were a villainous monster?"

"Do you really never listen?" Bowser pointed over Mario's head. "This one here talked sense into me." He folded his arms and looked away. "Also, he's really cute, and you're kind of a sap for not dating him yourself."

"Excuse me?!"

"Ok, ok, unnecessary low blow, Bowser, but high tensions, it happens," interrupted Daisy. "Why don't we just sit around the table and talk about it all over the tea, Peach?" She rubbed her stomach. "And can we get the cake too? I skipped breakfast, dumb move, I know, but I'd love to eat anything right now."

"I…sure."

"Please," gestured the Toad, "take your seats."

Scooping up Daisy's hand, Luigi guided her around the opposite side of the table. Bowser grumbled as Mario took his hand and brought him over as well.

Hesitating for a moment, Peach squeezed her eyes shut. Forcing them back open, she reviewed the scene of her best friends sitting at a table with her greatest enemy. Sighing, Peach took her seat at the head of the table, and slumped down into her chair. The Toad waited at her side for a minute, but after she made no acknowledgement of him, he tapped at her leg.

"Huh?"

"Shall we serve you, Princess?"

"Oh. Yes, yes, of course."

Nodding, the Toad scurried back to the castle to collect the tea. Peach watched him, but was soon taken in by the conversation at her table.