Warning: The following chapter contains disgusting amounts of fluff, many several words piled together for reading, overloaded cliché moments, mild frights and worries with foreboding forewarnings, terribly large amounts of sappy stuff, awkward experiences all around, awful attempts at poetic devices, silly shenanigans, and copious amounts of romance. If you find this pleasing and/or you are bubbling with excitement over this, by all means, please continue and enjoy.

...

Maybe we're taking too many chances trying…
And perhaps neither of us has thought this through.
Really though, when have we been so close?
In every sense and breath, together we live!
Obviously, it's worth the risks…right?

Atop a dark hill, kissed by a blue-violet night sky, under a small silver shrine, I'm sitting quietly, Bowser at my side. His body is turned toward me, but I'm facing the edge of a cliff, staring into an open valley. Stars glitter against the sky, shimmering off the shrine's posts and slightly illuminating the land near us. There are some trees visible, but everything fades, as I look further out.

With a finger tucked under my chin, he turns my face toward him. He's frowning and looks sorrowful.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

What? Why would he be? Did…did he just wipe a tear from my eye? When did I…?

"Mario, I never meant for this to happen. You have to believe me when I say that. We tried everything, you know that we did."

The kingdoms. Did they go to war? Taking control of my dream body, I turn to look behind us. Wishing to the stars that I hadn't, my eyes are now fixed on the cadavers of several subjects from both kingdoms. Fallen Koopas and Toads, squished and flattened Goombas, charred bits of land that must have come from Bob-omb and Bullet Bill blasts, shattered egg shells, torn banners, scattered weapons, and far too many other signs of battle are around us.

On a broken pedestal in the middle of the carnage, a multi-colored star shaped object gently floats, failing to counterbalance the destruction around it.

"How could this happen?" I voice my thoughts, though I sound broken from the tears in the dream. Separated, my mind is going through complete shock.

His claw scratches softly behind my head. "I'm sorry. We'll make it right though." He rises, and then extends his hand for me. Taking it, Bowser pulls me up and we walk over to the star above the pedestal. Gripping his hand tightly, I take in a sharp breath; I can feel my heart racing. His thumb rubs the back of my hand and we look to one another. "It's easy from here."

"We'll lose everything we gained," I blurt out, but it's not from my thoughts. What did I miss that my dream self seems to know?

Bowser shakes his head. "We don't know that for sure. What we do know is that it's worth the sacrifice." The what? Where is this going? He smiles to reassure me. His free hand wipes away his own tears, then mine. Why is this happening?

His eyes suddenly widen as he looks past me, slowly baring his teeth. My arm is tugged and Bowser tries to pull me away, but a sharp pain in my back tells me that he failed. An anguished roar and billowing fire confirm that something has just happened to me, as I slip into his arms. Even with the light emanating from the star, even with Bowser's shouts of, "Stay with me! Don't go! Mario! Please," my vision slowly fades to black.

Snapping awake, my breath is hard and heavy. My heart is still racing, hammering against my chest. Running my hands over my face, feeling my surroundings, I shake my head and realize that I'm still in his castle, still in my room.

"Nightmare," I exhale, and then sit quietly for a while. Two fingers pinch the side of my mustache and I tug it a bit, the scenes from horrendous reverie slipping away, but exacting a steep toll. Tightly gripping the covers, I breathe again, shutting my eyes tightly. Think. Think of anything else, Mario; think of anything that can make it go away. Sighing, controlling myself again, my eyes are open and I jump out of the bed.

Tiptoeing to the window, not certain of the cautious measures I'm taking, I open the shutters and gaze out. It's impossible to see with the setting sun, the mix of red and orange soaked skyline, but I know Star Hill's direction from here. I've traveled there on several adventures before, but dying there…

No. Stop. It wasn't real. That was a nightmare, not a vision. Come on; stop thinking about it!

Turning away from the window, I walk back to the bed and grab my cap. Using my hand to fix my hair quickly, I slip the hat back on. Reaching under the bed, I pull out my shoes and slide back into them. Pulling my gloves out of my overalls, I push them back onto my hands. Making a fist, I glance at the scuffs in my clothing. They're minor, but I'd like to get them fixed and stitched up at some point. My eyes drift back out the window.

Suddenly, a rough rapping sounds at the door. Smirking, I realize there's only one person who can make it sound like that.

Anyone would think we're bizarre.
Now that we've come so far and said so much…
Does it matter what they believe?

Both of us are terrified about everything.
Of course, it's justified, all things considered.
What comes next and can we handle it?
Solutions are in short supply…
Ergo, we'll make our own future.
Right or wrong, we're deciding our fate.

Opening the door, wearing a stubborn grin, I see him standing in the vermillion light of the window. His body is highlighted in the glow, showing off his muscled arm and clenched fist. The legs are spread, but steady, showcasing a balanced posture. While the setting sun's rays dull the red clothes, his overalls stand out. More importantly, his bright eyes stand out in a gorgeous display of cool blue against the red backdrop.

Taking in a whiff, my nose twitches a bit and I do my best to stop scrunching my face. Mario may look more handsome under the sun, but he needs to wash up. He raises an eyebrow, which means I didn't quite cover it up well enough.

"Can I help you, your nosey majesty?" he jests, bowing. Snorting, I wave my hand in front of my nose. "That's your fault, not mine."

"Touché," is my answer, gesturing him to come out with my finger. His head tilts, but he slowly walks forward anyway. "Just us," I reassure him. He pokes his head out and looks around. "Everyone was rounded up for training exercises, courtesy of a grouchy king," my explanation comes, ending with a chuckle.

His bright smile makes my heart beat faster. Grabbing his arm, I lead him down the hall and to a bathroom. "Here, go wash off. I'll bring some clothes by in a bit."

He stops and gives me a bewildered look. "You have clothes that will fit me?"

"They're not mine," I laugh a little. "I had a Troopa give them to me."

"So, a shell and shoes. Swell," he mocks the idea and sticks his tongue out.

"Hey, we have more than that, you know. Formal occasions require formal clothes."

He scratches the back of his head. "True, it's just…I rarely see a Koopa in a suit coat."

Chuckling, I walk back to my room. Opening the door, I find a small, dark blue suit and pants waiting for Mario, paired with matching socks and a button-down carmine shirt to go underneath. Along with it wait my larger black suit jacket and a dark green dress shirt, neatly hung up and ready for use.

However, the yellow robed Snifit and pink Boo that I sent to get things together are also there waiting for me. Frowning, I fold my arms over. Here we go.

"O-Oh! Lord Bowser!" the yellow Snifit squeaks, and I can't tell if she was or wasn't expecting my return. "We, um, we got your clothes!"

"Fantastic," I grunt. "But why are you and your girl pal still here?"

"Girl? Ohohoho!" laughs the pink Boo, and judging by the deep voice, I'm mistaken.

Shrugging, I note, "Give me a break, you're pink, and it's easy to assume."

"Pink? Ehee hee!" cackles the Boo. "Your majesty, I'm a Red Boo! That's our species after all!" Cocking an eyebrow, I tilt my head and look him over. "All right, I'm clearly pink, yes. But sire, we are known as the Red Boo. It's quite funny, don't you agree? Ehee hee hee!"

"…Right. Well, off with the two of you. Thanks for the clothes and all—"

"Oh, but your majesty," the giggling Boo interrupts. "Won't you permit us to stay for the date?" Grinding my teeth, I glare him in the eyes. "Ehee hee hee! Your highness didn't expect us to be so foolish as to not know about your plans? Clearly, you are trying to impress a…certain someone, yes?"

"Ruby! Hush now!" the yellow Snifit scolds him. "Lord Bowser, forgive him. He simply does not know when to keep his silly tongue out of people's business. What do we care if you're planning a date with Mario anyway?" My cheeks start burning and I can't tell if it's embarrassment, anger, or a fireball ready to be shot out at the next one of these two to speak. "…O-Oh! Sire, please! F-Forgive me!"

"Ohohoho!" Ruby bursts with laughter, bouncing around as he floats. "Well met, Jasmine! It must be Mario! He's the only one not running around with training exercises!"

"Listen," I growl fiercely. "If either of you so much as thinks of spreading a vile rumor like that, I'll have you two—"

"Lord Bowser, we would never!" Jasmine protests. "It's such a lovely idea. You could use someone to be beside you. Mario might just make your best suited match yet!" There's a pause as we look from her to the suits, then back to the Snifit again. "Beg pardon, sire. I wasn't trying to be funny."

"Ehee hee hee! How can we not keep this secret?" Before he continues, I'm already dreading his humored tone. "Just think of it, your majesty! We know a special secret about you that no one else does…yet! Oh, Jasmine here might guard it with her life, but this kind of leverage is just too much to simply keep the secret!"

On the verge of roaring, I stifle it once an idea pops into my mind. "You know, Ruby. Mario's brother has an uncanny knack for ghost hunting." The…"Red" Boo's grin disappears in an instant upon hearing that. Smirking, I add, "You'll keep this between us, or I'll make sure to find more than one way to torture even a ghost like you." Suddenly, his afterlife became more valuable, as he silently nods.

"You have our word, sire," Jasmine chimes in. "We'll keep this secret as safe as can be! Why, not even your son will hear of it! He…he doesn't know, does he?"

"No, and you'll do well not to tell him first," I snap. "Now, be gone!" The two bow and make a quick exit. Scratching my head, I feel a heavy doubt settling in the pits of my stomach. Sighing, I take a second to shake it off, and then fumble around with my suit and shell. After a struggle, I'm able to throw it and the jacket on. Taking the smaller suit for Mario, I walk back over to the washroom.

Raising my hand to knock, I pause, hearing a tune coming from the room. Listening carefully, past the rushing shower, I catch just the end of it. He sings:

"You say you'd reach for the stars above,

You'd travel all the lands and back for me.

Just don't forget to take me too, my love,

Take me to the ends of the land and sea."

It's not that he aces the song, and it may not strike a cord with anyone else, but the very idea of Mario singing melts my heart away. Even if he isn't quite perfect at it, I'd kill to hear more. However, the shower stops and I'm forced to abandon the notion for now. Hearing the knocking, he gasps.

"B-Bowser," he stammers. "Uh…hi."

"Hello, love," I coo, and lightly scratch the doorframe. "I got you some fresh clothes."

"Oh, right. Um…" he clears his throat. "Just, give me a minute." Listening, I hear a towel flip about. My heart starts racing and I feel a smile creep onto my face. Shaking my head, I sigh and suck in a bit of my cheek. "All right, just pass it through the door when I open it." There's an edge to his voice that makes it clear he doesn't want me looking in…or else. Listening to the click of the lock and the knob turn, I hold the clothes and look away. Barely hearing the door creak or feeling his hand snatch the suit away, I blink and turn back as he shuts it again.

"Wow, speedy," I comment, with a nervous chuckle.

"Yeah, my brother can be a pest," he murmurs, making me curious to learn more. "And you weren't kidding about the formal attire, huh?"

"Nope," I beam. There's a pause while I scratch my head and yawn.

"Um…Bowser? You're not going to wait there the whole time, are you?"

"What? …Oh, uh…no, I'll be in my room." Huffing, I trudge off.

Joining one another was the first step.
Unified, yet are we still coming together?
Sharing every moment, glad or sad…
Tempting the other to outdo the last.

Oddly enough, the suit fits me pretty well. It's a little snug on my legs, but it gets the job done. Combing my hair, I swing my red cap around on my free hand. Gathering my shambled shirt and overalls, I continue to twirl it around. After debating it, I decide to leave my clothes in my room, hat and gloves included. All I take with me are my shoes, a little scuffed, but not quite as noticeable as the rest. Slowly, I stroll to Bowser's room and knock. He opens it, and I notice him wearing a suit and coat as well. Pants, he lacks, though I imagine the ventral plastron covers it.

"Funny," he murmurs, with lowered eyes, a small smile. "Here I was thinking that I'd pick you up. I forgot that you came to my house." His mischievous grin curls up and I laugh.

"Well," I sigh, still smiling, "you're the one who planned the rest. So, where to?"

Wrapping his arm around me, all I get is, "This way." We walk along the halls, but I'm too caught up with Bowser holding me to pay the passing gray and red blurs any notice. Those two cliché feelings, about a tightened stomach and walking on air, are about what I'm experiencing now. Exchanging a look with the Koopa King, I'd be remiss to think he felt any different.

As we walk, he rubs my arm and back a bit, pulling me closer, binding us. The size weighs me down a bit, but his scales are smooth and his muscles feel tight, superb. It's doting, yet protective, understandably. However, the corridors we navigate are empty, save for this odd couple. His tail curls around my waist and I can't help but grab it, raise it a bit. He flinches, but loosens as I begin to massage it. He moans a little, failing to cover it up, blushing.

Soon, we arrive to a spacious roof, and I blink, apparently numb to staircases. A small table for two sits near the edge, but not enough to overlook the castle grounds below. However, there's no need, as the night sky is already filled with shimmering stars, bursting through the volcanic smog.

While I'm caught up with the view, Bowser lowers his wrapped arm to my waist, sliding his tail away. His other arm clasps one of mine, and he playfully grins. By the time I process this, he starts swaying around, then spinning and twirling me along with him. My heart skips a little, but after he builds momentum with the silly dance, we're laughing. Once we near the table, he dips me, winking. My cheeks heat up, alive with fire, and I share his smile. Pulling me back up, we take our seats.

"That's just to ease the tension," Bowser laughs. "Next time, we'll have a real tango."

"Fantastic," I laugh, and I feel a mix of cheer and fret over that.

He uncovers our meals and I nearly drool over the succulent smells. There's roasted shroom dish with a fresh, healty salad for me, and a steaming shroom steak with drumsticks for him. The delicious scents already fill my nostrils and my empty stomach is on the verge of screaming with delight.

"Sorry it's a little simple, but I don't normally eat mushrooms, so the order was a little, uh, suspicious," he fires out at me, twisting the tablecloth. His foot grazes my leg under the table, patting mine as he lowers it.

"Bowser, this is great," I reassure him. In all honesty, he could have served the chef's mistakes and I'd be delighted to shovel it down my throat. Seeing me unwrap the napkin and hastily pulling out the silverware must reassure him, as he lets out a breath and smiles. Before I can dig in, he reaches over and brings up a few candles. With a quick huff, he lights them, setting them down neatly on the other end. I can't help but laugh. "Really?"

He tries to keep a straight face, but a grin forces its way in. "What? When else would we get to use these?" The aroma of trees and flowers settle in and I can't argue; it's a bittersweet reminder of what we don't have here.

After we've eaten, Bowser pushes the table aside and drags our chairs together. Still not close enough for him, he wraps his arm around me again and pulls me closer. The arm of the chair digs in a bit, but there's no helping it and having him hold me is too charming to refuse. I slip my arms around his body, hugging him, feeling his heart beat pick up. Bowser hums with delight, curling his tail around my legs. His free arm reaches over and entwines into my hand. Quietly, we look out to the sky.

He nuzzles his face into my hair after a bit, and takes a whiff. His enchanted sigh signals that I smell much better now. Chuckling, I press into him, letting his body warm me up. Cuddling with him feels so gratifying and I've already decided this will be one of those moments to treasure for life. Judging by his soft squeezes now and again, I'm pretty sure he agrees with me.

Stargazing doesn't last forever, and after we've found a few patterns, I can't help but bring up the current situation again. Unwrapping his tail from my legs and untangling our hands, I'm already a bit colder. He scratches his chin and then looks down at me with a quizzical expression.

"Are you sure we can't just conquer the whole kingdom?" His tone sounds half serious, yet half lighthearted.

"No," I flatly reject the notion and he laughs.

"Worth a shot," he relents easily. "Well, what do you propose?"

I think for a bit. "Maybe a peace treaty?" I offer.

"Highly unlikely to succeed," he muses. "We've been feuding for ages, there's no chance that'll work."

I bite my lip and decide to elaborate. "Hear me out: you come up with some terms, agreeable ones, and then send me over. Maybe you could ask for a little more territory, expand your part of the kingdom, and work as an ally to the Mushroom Kingdom for future disruptions. I'm sure that we can go about it rationally and if you agree to pull your troops out and help fix things up, we'll be over the war in no time."

He grunts. "You're delusional if you think that's really going to work."

"Better that then storming in and trying to take over the world," I counter, a tad too defensive. To balance it, I add in, "I really want this to work out for everyone. This is a really shaky plan, I'll admit, but it's something."

Bowser crosses his legs and scratches under his chin. "Peace negotiations…" he murmurs. "And what do I tell my troops? They'll think I've gone soft, that I'm giving in."

"Do you really think they'd be opposed to peace?" I blurt out. "No more of me stomping down on their heads and backs."

Breathing in and releasing it, Bowser continues to think it over. "We should keep brainstorming, but this makes a good foundation, as opposed to my ideas," he finally admits.

"Thank you," I cheer and hug him, squeeze him, again. He rumbles a little with laughter and holds me as well.

At the sound of something crackling, we break our embrace and look back to the sky. A shooting star soars across the night sky. We get up to watch it slowly travel into view and sail through. I burst out laughing again.

"Could this be any more sappy?" I have to ask.

"Of course," he smiles. "How else were you expecting this to go?" Then he leans down and whispers into my ear, "I've only got one idea left myself." I feel his hand brush against my face and he pulls back.

Our eyes are locked in, taking each other in. His glossy red eyes are just too enticing to look away from. His smile reflects my own. He bends his knees a bit to get a little closer to my level. Bowser gently raises my chin and strokes my head. I reach up to run my hand through his red strands, and then slide it to his horn. Soft. Rough. It takes a fair bit of effort to close my eyes, to shut this sight out even briefly, but I do. Our hearts are thundering against our chests. We lean in to each other and I can feel the warmth of his breath, hotly brushing over my whole face.

Keeping us apart at all costs…
It's what the world wants.
Somehow, we'll fight back!
Sickening feels fade in time.
Everyone will learn this…
Day and night, we won't relent.

Out of every way I dreamt our first kiss would unfold, I didn't quite think it through. My mouth covers a good portion of his face, to the point where I can feel his chin against my bottom lip, and it looks as if I'm trying to eat him. Pulling back with a bit of a pop, he brushes some saliva off of his face while I scratch my cheek.

"Uh…heh…sorry," is about all I can manage; there's no salvaging this one.

"That's all right," he laughs as he brushes his face once more. "Want to try again?"

"Please!" I beg, not hiding my desperation for a second chance. Well…the first kiss is already gone, sure, but I need to get one good one in before the night is over.

Scooping his soft face into my hands as he wraps his around mine, I lean in slower. Pausing just before his face, possibly teasing a bit, we shut our eyes and gently push our lips out and press them in together. It doesn't feel like I'm putting everything in at first, since I'm trying to avoid another mistake, but my lips are practically covering his. I let back a bit, but he moves into me, not letting up just yet. His mustache tickles my lips and it's so soft, with the most magnificent feeling of it brushing against me. I'm not quite sure where to go next, so I press back, and part his lips open. He moans a little and our tongues touch a few times. I'm tempted to go further and deepen the kiss, but I'm afraid to ruin the moment and want to enjoy what I've got so far. Instead, I slide my hand up his face and run it through his hair. He caresses my cheek and I moan a bit in response, feeling a lightning fast tingle surge across my body, top to bottom and back again. Reluctantly, we ease away from one another, trying to savor every last sensation.

"Better?" I quietly yet hopefully ask, feeling a grin return to my face.

"Much," Mario answers and I open my eyes to see him smiling back at me.

My beam broadens and I envelope him in my arms. Rubbing his back and pressing my face against his head, I chuckle a bit, and then squeeze him tighter. His arms slide up beneath mine, clinging to my body. Wrapping my tail around his waist, I try to push us in even closer, as if it were possible. He rubs my sides and pats me gently. Our hearts continue to pound against our chests, for one another.

Breathing into his head, I feel an overwhelming yearning for him. I literally can't pull him in any more without crushing him, but I want to keep Mario so close to me. It's a rushing mix of desire, greed, and love, bundled up and begging me to never let him go again, like I should magnetically bond to him and cling together for life. I can't really explain it properly, but almost every fiber of my being just wants to stay here, latched to him, to my love. The best part is that he squeezes back, and feels that same surge of want for me.

We physically can't though, and slowly, we unfold from the tight embrace. Staring into his deep blue eyes, all I want is to kiss him and hold him repeatedly. We breathe in to one another and the warmth is the most refreshing thing I've ever felt.

It's real.

Wrapping my arm back around his waist, I want to keep him near me. A distant buzzing snaps me back into an alert state and I look out across the sky. The whirs become a chorus and I squint, trying to see past the sooty sky. A pang hits my stomach hard, and my warm emotions are overturned by less soothing ones.

"What is it?" Mario asks. I turn back to him and he searches my eyes, worried.

"It's…my son," I utter, having completely forgotten about summoning the boy back home. Reading my thoughts almost perfectly, Mario can only nod. "What am I going do? What are we going to do?"

He takes my free hand and closes both of his around it. Even if he can't answer, it's more reassuring that I imagined.

Thinking a bit, I sigh. "Well, I guess we should get out of these suits first, so let's head back inside." Mario agrees and we make our way back in. We pause a minute and look back to the sky. The shooting star is disappearing.

"Maybe we should make a wish," suggests Mario.

Nodding, I agree, "Sure." Still, I need to add, "Honestly though, I can't see another wish coming true so soon." We break into smiles, make silent wishes, and tread back inside.

Dragging our feet doesn't change what's coming up, but it keeps us together a little longer. "You've got to admit," Mario pipes up as we head down the steps, "this was probably the best night we've had in ages, and possibly the best for a while yet."

"Of course," my absent agreement sounds. Mario bumps me and gives me a dirty look. Sighing, I understand that we've already gotten a lot out of tonight. Still, I crave him and want more. Kissing him on the head, he smiles we hold one another as we continue. Even with a pit in my stomach, I keep a grin on my face.

Even as reality is punching back in, it can't take what we've already shared.

...

Wait, they kissed?! AAAAAHHH, IT'S HAPPENING FOR REAL! But there we are, I did the semi-direct follow up to the last chapter. (2 chapters, 1 day! Yeah! …That's not really impressive, I realize that.)

So, writing stuff first: I was not kidding when I said that I wanted to find a way to change up the style a bit. And something switched the wrong way in my brain, where I thought I had a brilliant idea of, "Oh! I know! We'll switch perspectives with little poem-like sentences that spell something! Because I'm a dork and that seems cute!" That off-switch caused me to forget that I can't write poems to save my life. Oh well!

A chapter without the little letter back-and-forths is a different feel, but a good one, and the perspective swapping was subtler this way. I'll probably go back to my usual method of writing, but let me know how you felt about this style! Maybe I can use it again, or if anyone loves it enough, have it totally take over! ...Ok, let's not get crazy. Whoops, too late. (I wrote this on little sleep; my apologies.)

Now, mushy plot discussions: Mario had a nightmare and-WHO BEGINS THE MUSHY CHAPTERS LIKE THIS?! SERIOUSLY, ECHO, WHAT THE-oh wait, that's me. Oops. (Fyi, Star Hills is a reoccurring location in the Mario series RPG games. Hey, if I'm non-canon, I might as well use all available resources. And it's a pretty place.) But yeah, terrible stuff for openings so we can have the lowest point out of the way.

Maybe somewhere in your head, you might be wondering, "why the heck were they in suits?" BECAUSE DATES ARE FORMAL, DUH. No, I'm kidding; dates are as random as people are. I just had this stupid desire to force Bowser into an uncomfortable suit and made sure that a series did it first. Also, the food was from the games too; I didn't put "healthy" in front of "salad" just to remind you folks to eat your veggies. (PAPER MARIO IS THE MOST HELPFUL THING EVER. HANDS DOWN. SERIOUSLY.)

Oh, speaking of, Bowser got 2 more custom minions: Jasmine the Snifit (a heavily underused species indeed, and unlike with Shy Guys, it doesn't seem jarring to call one a girl) and Ruby the Boo (it is taking a lot of strength and will for me to not turn that into an immature rhyme, be thankful). If you're wondering about the bizarre, almost normal name choice, it's because I like coloring, ok? Anyway, gotta collect 'em all! ...You better get that reference or I'm judging you almost as harshly as you judge me. You do that, don't you? If not, I judge myself, so it works! …Wait.

Yes, Mario and Bowser had to kiss, which was the driving force behind this chapter. I REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO SHIP THIS. Actually, someone called attention to other Bowsario stories already existing, so it's not an entirely new concept. Still, most were one-shots or discontinued and it needs support, so let's keep it up! Isn't it fun? Come oonnn! (Admit it, you like it.)

Anyway, back to story: I wanted to add in more plot moving stuff, with the fluff (those are the best rhyming words, don't hate me), so now we have Junior (and the Koopalings!) coming back home, a possible solution to avert war (and save Mario, whoops), story in more nighttime chapters, and...oh, just the first few people in the story that actually know about Bowser and Mario, but that's no big deal. (WHAT.) That totally works as plot movement and I'm not justifying my insistence on shipping chapters before all hell breaks loose and delaying the inevitable drama whatsoever. ...Support it.

Uh...did you guys like the big kiss scene? I was all, "yeah, I know how kissing works!" and then I remembered anatomy differences. Whoops. Oh well, I tried. As for clichés, like eating on the roof of a castle, candlelit dinners, and shoot stars / wishes? Because I'm a sucker for cheesy romance. Did I tell you to support this yet?

All right, for real, that's all I can rant about. If I missed anything or you'd like to know more or just want to share your enthusiasm (aka tell me that I have issues), please send me a review and/or message, comments and criticisms welcome. Which reminds me, thank you very much for your continued reading thus far, which is exciting and I'm glad it's holding its own. So, thanks again to all of you who have read, are reading, or will read this story! Have a good one!