A gentle wind breezed by, as Peach sighed and lowered her head. She stared at the table before her, and wondered where her perfect tea day had gone. Slowly, she picked it back up, and stared at Bowser and Mario.

"Look, I don't want to be mean about it," started Peach. "The two of you got together pretty well, and I'm actually happy for that."

"More like relieved that we're not chasing her," muttered Bowser, as Mario poked him.

"Partially, that plays a role too," admitted Peach, surprising Bowser. "But…I don't know if I can accept one of my best friends dating one of my most feared enemies."

"Well, that's part of what we're going into too," brought up Mario.

"Huh?"

"You did notice that I haven't been by in the whole month, right?" Bowser wrapped his arms around Mario and plopped his chin over his head.

"Well…yes." Peach blinked and raised a finger to her cheek. "That…huh. It hasn't really registered until just now, actually."

"Called it."

"Bowser."

"What? I did."

"You…stopped kidnapping me…for Mario?" Peach stared ahead for a moment. "Seriously?"

"Well, yeah." Bowser shrugged. "He was going to make it a condition for dating him, but I knew he would, so I promised that I'd try to stop."

"…So, what's the catch?" Peach laced her fingers together, focusing on Mario. "Because there's no way he'd just agree to that, not even for you."

"He wanted to try negotiating new territory," revealed Mario. "He's not looking to take control of the Mushroom Kingdom, but the Koopa Kingdom is small—"

"And I'm just supposed to agree to that?"

"Not at all, no." Mario shook his head. "It makes more sense for Bowser to prove that he can better himself, so, we're looking to start there and see how we can better the Kingdoms as a result."

"…Huh." Peach glanced down at her cake and tea. "So…this isn't going to suddenly boil into demands for expansion or territory acquisition or…something threatening."

"Look, Mario pointed out that I went about things the wrong way, and I've explained to him why I even did everything," elucidated Bowser. "I'm not here because I'm expecting to get you on board with this right away."

"We just wanted to clue you in on the direction we wanted to go in," finished Mario. "I think it'll be more peaceful." Mario rubbed at Bowser's cheeks and patted him. "It's going to be a long road, and you might not agree to anything. But, we figured that it was the right path, and I…I want to at least try for a way where we can all be friends in the end." He slightly smiled to Peach. "I thought it would be reasonable to at least see if we could get there."

"…Maybe," relented Peach. "…I'm not going easy on him just because he's dating you in particular."

"I know."

"Gee, how swell," mocked Bowser. "Such a lovely party."

"Wait, so…" Peach blinked and looked around the table. "You…both really came here…just to tell us that you're dating, and nothing else?"

"Wasn't today just supposed to be a simple time together?" Mario perked up a bit. "That's what you usually do with these tea parties."

"Whoo, tea parties, yeah," mocked Bowser in a nasally voice. Mario drummed at his cheeks. "Hey, hey, I'll be good, promise!"

"Hmm, I don't know…"

"Quit messing with my cheeks!" Bowser jerked his head back. "Huh—"

"Don't."

"Spoilsport…" Bowser shoved his head down on Mario, who laughed and messed with his hair. "Yet you can't take your hands off me, huh?"

"Are you going to act like you don't enjoy it?"

"It wouldn't be worth the effort lying."

"Ooh, babe!" Daisy twisted to Luigi. "We should do cute banter like that too!"

"No."

"Aw, come on!" Daisy pinched at Luigi's cheeks. "See, isn't this fun?"

"Ow."

"Ugh, forget it." Leaning back, Daisy lowered her eyes while Luigi rubbed his cheeks. She turned back as Peach stared at her tea and cake. "Oh, Peach, has everything spoiled for you? It doesn't look like you touched anything."

"Hm? Ah." Peach looked down at her dishes. "I suppose that I didn't."

"Isn't that the whole point of the party?"

"Not exactly," decided Peach. She surveyed the table as her friends stared at her. "I think that the company is actually what does it."

"…She's just saving face because she wouldn't let me warm the tea," mocked Bowser. Mario nudged him. "What? I'm right!"

"Be nice!"

"Grr…ugh."

"Peach, are you planning on dating anyone soon?" Luigi sipped his tea while Peach whirled around to face him. "I'm sure I can speak for everyone in that we'd love to see you with someone that makes you happy."

"Maybe eventually? But right now, I really don't want anyone like that," maintained Peach. She brushed her hair back behind her. "It's so nice to have personal time to myself, and I actually enjoy being single." She smirked and pointed at everyone else. "Notice that, out of us five, I'm the only one that doesn't have someone to bicker with over small antics."

"That's because you make a big deal—oomph." Mario shoved Bowser's jaw shut. He lowered his eyes as Mario wagged a finger at him.

"Case in point." Peach chuckled. "Though, Bowser had a fair point, since I've been creating more tension than necessary." She took a piece of her cake slice and ate it. "Perhaps I need to show a little more patience and kindness."

"It's a bit out of nowhere, to see your best friend and your enemy dating," admitted Mario, as he lowered his head.

"Jarring as it may be, it's still nice to see you both happy." Peach placed her hands together. "I think that's really all I can ask for."

"Aw, Peach!" Daisy placed her hands on her cheeks. "You're so sweet!"

"Sometimes." She stirred her tea with a teaspoon, aimlessly mixing it around. "But enough on me." Peach smirked at Mario. "Where were you two planning on going tonight? That lake again?"

"Actually, Bowser told me it was a surprise, but we're supposedly getting dressed up for it." Mario glanced up to him, while Bowser stuck his tongue out. "I'm guessing a restaurant or a theater, but he won't confirm or deny anything."

"Secrets are less fun when you give hints," teased Bowser. "You'll have fun, promise."

"Bet that they're going dancing," determined Peach. She eyed Bowser, whose face dropped, but he quickly recomposed himself as Mario tried looking back up at him. "Just throwing it out there."

"Not telling anyone," grumbled Bowser.

"Ooh, Luigi!" Daisy poked at Luigi, who fumbled with his fork, but managed to keep it from falling. "We haven't gone for a fun tango night in forever! Next weekend, let's do that!"

"Yes Daisy," quietly concurred Luigi.

"Oh, you guys, Mario knows, but Luigi is so good at dancing!" Daisy clapped her hands together. "People stare at us all of the time, and he does such a good job holding the pose when I dip him! Ooh, or when I have him twirl around, that's great stuff." She grinned as Luigi blushed and tugged his hand down. Tickling him, she giggled and reaffirmed, "You're so good at it…!"

"Maybe you should throw a royal ball sometime, Peach," suggested Mario. "It might be a fun change to our usual sporting events."

"That does sound like a wonderful idea," agreed Peach. "I haven't had one of those in a while." She lifted her spoon and tapped lightly against the teacup, placing it down on its saucer. "Then again, we haven't had a baseball competition in a while, and I'm rather keen on that one. We even have new friends to invite for it; I don't believe Rosalina has ever joined in on that."

"Hey, maybe Pauline would come," added Mario. "She would like that, I think. Or was it volleyball that she enjoyed the most…?" He spun around to Bowser and rubbed his chin. "The kids will like that too, right?"

"Calling the Koopalings that will make them mad, you know," cautioned Bowser. "But yeah, they might be interested in baseball or volleyball." He sighed and lowered his head. "If they ever stop raving about go-karting, that is…"

"Racing is so cool though!"

"Daisy has the energy to match them," mumbled Luigi.

"I heard that!"

"Ha, busted," mocked Bowser. He glanced to Mario, who stifled a laugh.

"Perhaps I should consider a garden-wide tea party," brainstormed Peach. She gestured to her hedge maze and flower patches all around. "After all, there's a good amount of space, and it might make a nice, short event."

"If it's big, it can't really be short," contested Daisy. She pointed to Mario and Bowser. "Like, big and short can clearly go together, but that's not how crowded parties work." She grinned as they blushed and smiled to her.

"Perhaps not," relented Peach. "Though, I think I might still do that anyway." She tapped at the table, one finger at a time. "Let's see…garden party, baseball, royal ball, we may need another sporting or charity event…" Peach sighed. "I knew I should have brought a pen out."

"We'll help you sort it out later." Mario leaned back against Bowser. "This guy actually has a surprisingly good memory."

"Hush, don't tell her that," hissed Bowser. "She'll actually start relying on me."

"Noted for future convenience." Peach smirked as Bowser rolled his eyes.

"Ugh."

"Hey, so, what did the rest of your kingdom think of the relationship?" Daisy tilted her head as Bowser and Mario stiffened. "…Does that mean it didn't go over well?"

"We, uh, didn't get that far yet," admitted Mario. "Bowser's a bit nervous about it."

"Make sure it doesn't spill out from this castle either," demanded Bowser. He paused and sank down. "…Please…"

"Huh. Just for that, I think I should," teased Peach. "Mario, you've raised him to be so polite!"

"Nah, he's actually really sweet naturally," insisted Mario, and Bowser reached around to kiss his cheek. Peach smiled as she rolled her eyes.

"So weak-willed."

"Hey!"

"Now I'm wondering which of you two has got the other wrapped around their fingers better," joked Peach. "Daisy's obviously got Luigi all packaged up."

"Low blow!" Luigi slumped in his seat. "Even if it's accurate…"

"Hey, we should do dinner tonight!" Daisy beamed to Luigi. "Take me somewhere nice!"

"Yes Daisy…"

Lifting her thumbs up to Peach, Daisy leaned over Luigi as the princesses giggled. Mario and Bowser shook their heads while Luigi dropped his to the table. Peach tugged at the cake and started cutting into it again.

"Who would like a second slice?" She glanced up as her four guests eagerly held their plates out. "Why am I not surprised?"

"You bake great cakes!" Mario beamed as Peach winked to him. Bowser snorted.

"What's your favorite flavor?"

"Hmm. I'm not sure." Mario blinked and glanced up to Bowser. "Wait, why?"

"No reason."

"Somebody sounds jealous," teased Daisy. Bowser folded his arms and lowered his eyes on her.

"You know, I was starting to like you more."

"Wait, no, I'm sorry!" Daisy waved her hand out. "We can be good friends still, I promise!"

"Next slice goes to you, Luigi."

"Yay for me!"

The other three whirled their heads around and reached forward with their plates. Peach laughed as she served the remaining slices from her cake. Her friends picked at their food and chattered with one another.

As she surveyed the table, Peach found everyone's smiles infectious, and she enjoyed listening to them ramble on and their ensuing shouts and laughter. Leaning back and tilting her head up, she turned her attention to the wind blowing past the trees, and then gazed up to the calm blue sky.

Not quite how Peach had pictured it, but perhaps this was her perfect day for teatime after all.

... ... ...

Happy ending after all, yay! Peach is a good sport by the end, lol.

Anyway, I wanted to try out a domestic type of setting for Bowser and Mario to get together, and I also had an idea of them being in a setting that was jarring to see them together, so, Peach's garden for a tea party seemed rather fitting for that.

It was originally going to be a short little one-shot, but I figured it was long enough to separate into a few chapters. I did want to have some explanation to Mario and Bowser dating after all, so, I added a whole extra story on them getting together too. (It seemed cute to me, idk.)

Having Peach get on board took a while, but I did want her to eventually come around to the idea and trying to accept it with her usual grace. It's awkward for sure, but at the same time, it's a relief for Peach: she doesn't have men fighting over her and she gets to enjoy not being stuck paired off with men all of the time. It's a nice change of pace from her constantly being paired with Mario, Bowser, Luigi, or...I don't know, whoever else. Hopefully she gets more time for herself in the future!

Daisy and Luigi were kind of the stable yet silly couple here, since I wanted to counterbalance the tension that Bowsario had against Peach. Plus, it fit their personalities well, and I wanted to try out having Bowser and Mario play off of another couple, which I don't get to do often.

Anyway, that's it from me. If you're into more Bowsario goodness, I've written a few other stories featuring them, including a very big saga detailing a Mario and Bowser affair, but also some smaller stuff to fun too. Thank you for reading! I hope that you enjoyed this small story. Take care!