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No Author's Note Today:

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Enjoy the chapter :)

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Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the story idea and any OCs.

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Chapter 19:
A Chance to Talk

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Luigi yawned as he slowly forced himself to wake up. He opened his eyes, slightly surprise to see Wendy still sleeping beside him. As best as he could without waking her, he stretched his tired limbs. Once that was done, he glanced over at the time.

10:35

He blinked, still feeling a bit disoriented. He raised his other hand up to rub the sleep from his eyes and let out another yawn. After that, he looks over that the time again.

10:40

'Mamma Mia, I overslept!' he panicked.

As quickly as he could, he tried to get up from the bed so he could get ready for training. Unfortunately, Wendy was still sleeping on top of him, making it slightly more difficult. He was about to get his body half from under her when she suddenly groaned.

"Would you stop moving so much?" she mumbled.

Luigi frowned. "But I have to get ready for training."

"Forgot about it," she said, adjusting herself to be more comfortable. "I got you another day off."

Luigi paused for a second. "You…got me a day off?"

"Yes, genius," She yarned. "Now lay back down, I'm trying to sleep."

Luigi sat there for a moment before lying back down slowly. He couldn't believe Wendy actually did something nice for him. Sure she let him on the bed twice in a row, but he really thought that was all he was getting from her. Apparently, he was wrong.

He smiled softly and placed his arm around her shoulder. Wendy shifted and settled within his hold. The pink koopa was finally warming up to him. Maybe now, she'll be willing to listen to his proposal.

…

…

"Are you sure you want to go?"

"I have to...I don't want Bowser to be more upset than he already is."

It wasn't until noon that both Wendy and Luigi had gotten out of bed. Although another day off was nice, Luigi decided to have his training done anyways just to keep Bowser from thinking any less of him.

Wendy puffed and lay back on the bed. "Sounds like a waste of a day off to me."

"I know and I'm sorry," Luigi walked over to the bed and kneeled down in front of her. "I can make it up to you, if you want,"

Wendy reply with curiosity. "Really? How so?"

"Well, how about tonight I cook dinner for just the two of us. And we can eat in private over on the balcony."

She raised an eyebrow. "What like a date?"

Luigi shook his head. "No, not really; more like we're just hanging out,"

"Hanging out, uh?" Wendy thought. "Alright plumber, I'll take your offer,"

Luigi smiled, please to hear Wendy giving him a chance. He made sure she was fine for the time being before heading over to the training grounds. On the pathway there, he ran into Bowser who wasn't too happy to see him. However, the koopa king managed to cool down a bit when he mentioned training.

They both headed for the training grounds and resumed from where they left off. Now that he was better rested, Luigi was able to perform better which pleases Bowser. The training went on for hours. By the time it ended, they already late for dinner.

Instead of heading back to his room, Luigi started to get things ready for his private dinner with Wendy. He asked Kanary and Roy to help and they happily agreed. As they set things up on the balcony, Luigi got dinner ready.

The kitchen was almost bare when he got there which was just fine. He began cooking a simple meal, something that won't take too much time. Within 30 minutes was done and had two plates of Koopasta.

He was doing a quick clean up when Roy and Kanary came in to announce that they were done. Luigi thanks them and left to retrieve Wendy while they take the food to the ready table. Once he got to his room, he opened the door to find Wendy sitting on her bed reading a book.

"Took you long enough," She said. "I was starting to think that I might never get dinner."

"I'm sorry," Luigi apologized. "Training took longer than I thought. Give me just five minute to wash up and we could go."

Wendy shrugged and return back to her book while Luigi wash up in the bathroom. In five minutes or so, he was ready and the two headed for the balcony. They walked in silence. It was either tense or uncomfortable. Once they got to the balcony, they both widen their eyes in surprise.

The scene was beautiful. The table was professionally set with flowers; candle light, and the moon which is usually hidden, shining brightly above them. Wendy blinked several times before turning to Luigi.

"I thought you said this wasn't a date?"

"I-I-It wasn't meant to be." Luigi smiled sheepishly. Apparently, he didn't tell Roy and Kanary that this wasn't a date.

Wendy looked at him with a raised brow but shrugging it off. "Whatever; let's just eat, I'm hungry."

He nodded. He walked over and pulled the chair out for her. Wendy rolled her eyes and sat down. Luigi sat down after her and the two began eating in silence.

"Hmm, you're not a bad cook, plumber," Wendy commented after a while.

"T-Thank you," Luigi said. He looked down at his plate, fiddling with his food a bit. After a while, he took a deep breath and let it out. "A-Actually, Wendy, there was something I wanted to talk to you."

She paused from her eating and glances up at the plumber. "About what?"

"Our…marriage,"

Wendy tense when he said that which cause him to frown. She narrowed her eyes and glance at him with a glare. "What about it?"

"Please, hear me out," He pleaded. "I know you never wanted this and I'm sorry if I didn't do much to prevent it from happening."

He bowed his head in shame. "You see…not a lot of things have been going well for me either. I've always let everyone else take charge and because of that, I lost control of my own life."

He glanced back at her with firm blue eyes. "But not anymore…I'm going to make things better. I know it won't be easy, but the hardships ahead will only make me stronger."

"And what about me?" Wendy asked.

"I want to make things better for you too." He said softly. "I know I'm not your ideal man…or Koopa. But if you can give me a chance, I promise to be a good husband to you and would do anything just to keep you happy."

Wendy raised an eyebrow. "That's something I didn't expect to hear from you. I thought you were all over that flower princess."

She noticed the flinch the plumber did as he cased his head down. "Princess Daisy and I were never together."

"You weren't?" Wendy asked confused. "But I heard she got together with some tall guy?"

"That was Waluigi."

"Wal-who?"

"Waluigi; he's my rival and Wario's partner."

She thought about it. "...Wait, is he that really tall guy with that pink thing on his face he calls a nose?"

Luigi nodded. Wendy was actually surprised. She really thought he and the Sarasaland princess had gotten together. Everyone had known his feelings towards her, even the flower princess herself. But apparently, she still chose someone else over him.

'Well, I guess the little "Flower" likes to have trash hanging around her garden.' She thought before asking him,

"So...what exactly do you want from me?"

"Your help," He looked back at her and sat up slightly. "Also your respect and trust…I know I might be asking much, but I can't do this alone. I'm going to need someone to work with me so I can get by. There's a lot about this kingdom that I don't know about and I'll like to learn more if someone would let me."

"And what will I get out of this?" Wendy asked, crossing her arms.

"I will offer the same respect and trust as you gave me, as well as complete control over our relationship. We might not have ended with our true loves, but that doesn't mean we have to live the rest of our lives in misery." He gave her a small smile. "The least we can do keep each other happy."

Wendy turned away from him in thought. He does have a point. As much as she hates to admit it, she knew deep down she could never regain Sir Kalvin's affections for her. But that doesn't mean it was the end of the world; she just have to try something different and the plumber was definitely different.

But will he be worth it? That was her main question. It was obvious he needed some work… a lot of work in fact. It will take everything she got to turn his insecurity into confidence. But like he said, the hardships will only make him stronger, which was the only thing allowed within the Koopa Klan.

Luigi sat silently in front of her, anxiously waiting for her answer. A part of him told him she was going to denial his offer. He tired to dismiss that doubtful train of thought with something more positive, but it was hard to let go of old habits.

That's why he asked for her help. Bowser may be training him physically, but he needed someone else to train him mentally. And if there was anyone in the castle who can help strengthens his mental state, it had to be Wendy and only her.

"Alright plumber," She finally said. "I'll take you on your offer,"

Luigi gave her a big smile. Wendy couldn't recall ever seeing the plumber smile like that. It looked like it could bright up an entire room.

"But," She interrupted, damping his bright smile. "Let's get this one thing clear…"

"Anything," Luigi said.

"Just because we're working together, doesn't mean I accepted you as my spouse." She said. "If anything, we are just bonded partners."

Luigi nodded. He didn't care what they call each other, he was just glad to finally have Wendy on his side. After all, she was the key to a hopefully better future. How far their relationship will grow would be completely on her.

"As you wish,"

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Ending Note:

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