Heya! It's the year anniversary of my first uploading this story! So it's only fitting that I'd update today! Hope you enjoy!
The four were already seated before the two princesses returned, two empty spots between Luigi and Bowsette were left for them.
"Hiya!" Daisy waved, sitting in the seat closest to Luigi while Peach took the seat next to Bowsette. Everyone greeted them back – some with their mouths full – and Luigi and Bowsette handed the two princesses their plates.
Peach thanked the koopa woman with a quick kiss on the cheek, causing her to blush furiously.
The kiss was not quick enough, however, because everyone had noticed.
They all smiled – though Mario's was with a hint of surprise – except for Junior, who was quickly stopped from squealing with joy by Mario's hand. Bowsette just tried to regain her composure and Peach was intently focused on her food like nothing had happened, though visibly blushing with a small smirk.
Everyone calmed down, and no one mentioned it, the conversation moving to different topics. Bowsette and Peach stealing a few shy glances with each other throughout.
As the evening progressed, more and more guests had finished eating and moved over to the dance floor.
The group had stayed at the table initially – like many others – but, eventually, Mario was invited to dance by someone who Bowsette swore was the Mayor of New Donk City. Toadsworth came along soon after he left, taking the plumber's seat between Junior and Luigi.
Toadsworth filled them in on gossip about people that the Koopas had never heard of, before some slower songs started playing and Daisy was trying to drag Luigi onto the dancefloor.
"Come on, Luigi! Let's dance!" Daisy cried, gently tugging on the cuff of his shirt.
"Uhh, I'm-a not... I'm not sure..."
The princess huffed, resting her head on his shoulder, looking with a smirk towards the amused gazes of Bowsette and Peach.
"What if Peach and Bowsette come up as well? Then no one will be paying attention to us."
Bowsette squeaked.
"Come on, you two! It'll be fun!"
The Koopa woman was terrified to dance with Peach for more reasons that she could hope to list, but she couldn't deny that part of her was drawn to the idea.
Peach looked towards the redhead with a nervous smile, Bowsette swore she was blushing. "What do you think, Bowsette? Would you like to dance with me?"
Oh.
Bowsette's heart was beating erratically. That... that felt romantic. Peach could have just said they should go up for Daisy and Luigi's sake, but the way she'd asked her...
"I-I'd love to." She squeaked out.
"Great!" Daisy interrupted, beaming. "You comfortable coming now?" She looked at her partner, who was quickly exchanging a nervous glance with Bowsette.
"Sure."
"Oh!" Daisy stopped herself before she could yank her boyfriend out of his seat. "Toadsworth, are you okay looking after Junior?" She asked the elder Toad, knowing that Bowsette was likely too flustered to think about it.
Junior was nodding vigorously before she had even finished talking, Toadsworth didn't notice, however. "Of course! You four have fun!"
"Thanks, Toadsworth!" She shouted, pulling Luigi behind her in the direction of the dance floor.
Peach held out her hand for Bowsette, both of them red in the face.
Hand in hand, the pair followed Daisy and Luigi to the dance floor. As they walked, weaving through tables, they both noticed a few eyes turning their way – certainly drawing attention like Daisy had hoped.
Arriving at the edge of the dance floor, they stopped, hesitant to start dancing. Daisy had clearly not given Luigi that luxury, as they were slowly swaying in each other's arms. Though, after a pointed look from the aforementioned princess, Peach and Bowsette turned to each other.
"Um, I'm not a very good dancer, and I've never danced... like this." The redhead whispered nervously, the atmosphere from the music seeming to encourage a soft tone.
"That's okay, we'll go slow." Peach guided Bowsette's right hand onto her shoulder while clasping her left. In turn, she rested her own on Bowsette's hip. She stepped in closer.
"Just follow my lead." She whispered.
Despite Bowsette's typically... unorthodox approach to ruling, she was still raised a royal – which meant learning how to dance. She'd never enjoyed it in the past; her bulky frame of the past coupled with the expectations behind needing to dance had always been barriers to her ever finding enjoyment in the activity. Those were gone now, though. And, here with Peach, slowly swaying to the music, an unspoken something in the air between them, Bowsette was absorbed in the moment.
Eyes watched them – wondering who the mysterious woman dancing with the Princess was – but the two never noticed. Song after song played and the pair spoke of little, but rarely broke eye contact. The world could be ending around them, but the only world they knew – in that moment – was the two of them and the soft melodies that flowed around them, guiding their movements.
The evening wore on, dancers getting tired and moving to sit with a drink, until there were only a few couples on the dance floor.
After a while, Peach halted their movements towards the edge of the dance floor. The two edged ever so slightly closer.
"Bowsette." Peach muttered, both of her hands now on Bowsette's hips.
"Peach." Her heart had been aflutter every second that she had been in the blonde's arms. The combination of joy and the nervous energy she held had made her light headed.
"Bowsette, I..." Peach looked between lips and red eyes. They looked so soft.
They moved closer still.
"Yes?" Bowsette whispered.
She looked down at the redhead's lips meaningfully. "May I...?" She asked. Bowsette nodded.
Their eyes slid closed as their lips met.
Warmth burst through Bowsette's body. Peach was kissing her. The princess's soft lips set her heart ablaze. She started to feel light-headed as they slowly pulled back from one another. She couldn't believe that happened. Was happening.
Peach studied the other woman's face as she pulled back, only to quickly shoot forward to steal one more kiss.
"Sorry." She muttered with a blush. Clearly not sorry, from the look on her face.
Bowsette could only grin. Her heart was swelling in her chest, overflowing with emotion. She had spent so many toxic years trying to force Peach to love her. Caused so much pain to everyone involved. But here she was kissing her. After everything she'd done? It was the last thing she could have ever hoped for.
She felt like a barrier had broken inside her. It was only when Peach's similarly happy expression morphed into concern that Bowsette realised that she was crying.
"Hey," She cooed, rubbing the redhead's bare shoulders. "What's wrong?"
Bowsette shook her head. "I'm just-" Her voice caught in her throat. She pulled the blonde into a hug. "I'm happy." She muttered into Peach's neck.
Peach wrapped her hands around Bowsette's back. "I'm happy, too."
They held each other for a while, silently swaying to the music, before Peach whispered in the redhead's ear. "Do you want to head back to the table?"
Bowsette nodded the affirmative and – after Peach gave her a once over to make sure she hadn't ruined her makeup too badly – they headed back, hand in hand.
The whole table – Daisy, Luigi, Junior, Mario and Toadsworth – were watching them intently on their way back. Though, they did all look away as they got close, pretending not to have been.
As they sat in their old spaces, everyone turned back to them, all with a conspiratorial grin. Once again, Mario had to try and stop Junior from saying something, though Toadsworth beat him by a split second. Just to be safe, Luigi decided to be the one to greet the two.
"Hey, you two!" He said, with a false casualness.
"Did ya have fun?" Daisy asked.
"Yes. That was nice." Peach answered, blushing.
Seizing an opportunity, Junior ducked under the table – escaping from Mario and Toadsworth – to pop up next to his mother, jumping on her lap and giving her a tight hug.
"I love you, Mama." He muttered into her bosom, clearly holding back on saying more.
Bowsette smiled, her heart swelling. "I love you too, you little rascal." She returned the hug, giving him a kiss on the top of his head.
Junior started to dose off in her arms, so Bowsette tried to only quietly contribute to the conversation. Throughout, Peach and her exchanged warm smiles and after a while, a hand grasped hers under the table.
The evening wound down as guests started to leave, until they were among the few people still there. Toadsworth had left the table to see off particular guests, but Peach stayed by Bowsette's side, their hands remaining entwined.
Daisy yawned loudly. "I think it's time that we go to bed."
"Yeah," Bowsette agreed, looking down at the sleeping form in her lap. "We probably should go, too."
Peach and Mario agreed, so they all finished their drinks, gathered their stuff and headed out of the ballroom.
Mario parted from the group first, then Daisy and Luigi; Daisy sending Peach and Bowsette a smirk as they left. Bowsette still held a sleeping Junior in her arms, but the two walked in comfortable silence until, they too, had to part ways.
Peach and Bowsette turned to each other, unspoken feelings passing through their gazes.
"Well..." Peach let the word hang between them.
"I suppose this is goodnight." Bowsette filled in.
The princess nodded. "I'll see you in the morning?" She asked. Bowsette nodded. The unspoken part of the question, something they both knew, was that they had a lot to talk about. But it was late, right now they both needed sleep.
"Goodnight, then." Peach smiled, leaning in to give Junior a kiss on the forehead and Bowsette a quick peck on the lips, before hurrying off to her own room.
"Goodnight, Peach..." Bowsette mumbled blissfully.
Hope you liked it! Just an update on story progress: excluding an epilogue, there are only two chapters after this one until the story is finished (provided I don't decide to break them up differently). They are, however going to both be 3k+ words, so among the longest chapters of the story. So you have them to look forward to!
I'd love to hear what you thought! Thanks for sticking with me for a year!