When I woke up again, it was already noon time. I went to the kitchen to get something to eat. I was startled when I saw Mario there, sitting on the twirling chair where the kitchen bar was.

"Good morning Mario." I greeted him. "About last night, I am terribly so..." Before I could finish, Mario interrupted me.

"It's alright Leah. Sometimes you just need a good cry. I even cry when Luigi's hurt at times. Don't be so hard on yourself."

I smiled. He always knows how to make people feel better.

After a quick breakfast, Mario decided to take me to meet the princess.

"I already have met her, I know what she looked like." I explained to Mario.

"Yes, but she had never met you. I think you two will get along just fine. You're not a difficult person to get along with. You'll be fine." Mario reassured.

I had a bad feeling about this somehow. I felt like the princess wasn't going to like my intrusion very much. But she is nice on video game screen right? What could go wrong?

I was so wrong. She appeared to be nice, but every time we went to see her, when Mario was away or he wasn't looking. She threatens me.

"Do not go any nearer to my Mario, do you understand? Just because you guys live under the same roof doesn't give you permission to Mario!" She would say.

"And why should I listen to you? Just because you're a princess doesn't mean everyone needs to respect you!" I shot back, refuse to back down.

"You don't even belong here! You can't fall in love with Mario." She said.

"So what?"

"...Just stay away! Or else!" She threatened.

"Oh yeah? What are you gonna do? throw a peach at me?" I taunted.

The princess was now red with fury. I had to laugh at the sight. This is not what normal gamer would see in Peach. I wonder what would the male Peach fan think of her if they knew this is who she truly is? But what happened next made me unable to think.

Mario was walking toward our direction. As soon as Peach saw him, she went over to him with a very flirtatious manner. She sweet talked to Mario, making both me and him uncomfortable. But what happened next totally threw me off of my scale. She kissed him, fully on his lips, in front of my face, while looking at me.

Mario looked just as astonished as me. He looked at Peach in disgust and pushed her away. Peach was offended at first, then she asked Mario in a very 'innocent' tone of voice.

"What's wrong, Mario. Don't you love me?" She looked at him, fake tears in her eyes.

To my biggest surprise, Mario fend her off with a very cold voice.

"No, Peach. I've changed my mind about you after what you've done."

He went on explaining.

"Do you think I really didn't know what you say to Leah whenever I'm not around? I had attached a mini microphone on Leah's shirt without her knowing so I can protect her. You don't know how disgusted I am with you. I always thought of you as a kind- hearted princess, but I am wrong. You are just as disgusting as Bowser and his crews. No, even worse. You threaten this girl, who knows where she came from. You weren't only bullying her, you were being a bad representative of Mushroom Kingdom. If I was to choose between save you from Bowser and protect the Mushroom Kingdom. I'd protect the Mushroom Kingdom. Do you know how heartbroken I was the last time I saved you from Bowser? During Odyssey? You rejected me! I spend almost my whole entire life risking my life for you, and what did you do in return? Threatening a helpless girl who's still new to Mushroom Kingdom! I am very disgusted and disappointed in you, Peach. You are not worth to be called a princess."

All this time as I stood watching, I heard the disgust and disappointment in Mario's tone of voice. But I also heard pain, anger, shame, and a shattered heart coming from Mario's heart. I almost felt sorry for this man. He continued.

"Leah, in the other hand. Was the kindest girl I've ever met. She had helped a toad in need once. While as a princess, you enjoyed and feasted while others are in need."

I blushed. I didn't expect Mario to notice little details like that.

"What do you know about her?" Peach shot back, offended

"She had liked me from the beginning. She is my biggest fan. She does not see other's pain as her enjoyment, and ..." Mario began list off everything he thought I am. I blushed more and more with each characteristics he listed off, until Peach finally had enough and stormed off in a huff.

"M...Mario, Thanks for coming to my rescue." I said, still blushing. I looked down on the ground, refuse to meet his eyes. I was afraid that I was going to give my heart away if I do that. But Mario lifted my chin up, forcing me to look him in the eye. My heart beat began to accelerate, my palms sweaty, and my legs were shaking and soft like noodles. I blushed harder as I was trying to avoid his eyes.

"Look at me Leah." He whispered.

I looked at his eyes, and was immediately met by his icy blue eyes.

"Do you love me?" He asked.

This is the question I wanted to avoid the most. I wasn't sure how he was going to react if I said yes. But before I had a chance to speak, he started to confess his feelings for me.

"I had feelings for you the minute I met you by Peach's castle. You were standing there looking for help. When you turned around, your beauty stung me. Your long, black hair was flying in the wind when you toss your head to face me, when your black eyes locked with my I knew from then on I will never love another woman again. Please, Leah. I can't take another rejection from the woman I love. I thought I loved Peach, but all Peach did was using me as a tool for her freedom. You were different. You seem to know me, the real me that no one sees. The broken and hurting Mario that no one thought existed. Leah, I need you to say yes. I can't live without you by my side."

Upon hearing this, I was flooded with emotion. My vision was blurry, and I was crying again. I knew I had been a cry baby, but this was different. I never thought Mario, my hero, would love a fan like me. He thought I am beautiful when I see myself as weird. I had never knew he'd realize my heartache for him whenever he was alone and needed time to get out his heartache from Peach. What shocked me the most is that he'd attach a mini microphone on my clothes just to protect me from harm. I never knew he cared so much about me until now. I thought I was just caring for him without expecting anything in return. Looks like my instinct was all wrong.

Mario embraced me, rubbing my back in comfort as I cry. It never felt so good to cry like this, on the shoulder of a man who truly loves and treasures you for the person you are.

"Remember what you asked me earlier before I bawl?" I asked Mario with a playful smile with tear still rolling down my cheeks.

"Yes, and your answer?" Mario asked, gently brushing away the remaining tears from my face.

"Yes I do!" I announced happily. Before I knew what was happening, Mario pulled me in for a kiss.

I opened my eyes wide. I didn't expect him to kiss me, but I closed my eyes as we melt into each other's embrace.

After a while, he finally decided to let me go. We were both out of breath. I had a question to ask him, so I asked him in between breaths.

"Mario," I puffed. "On my first day here, why did you pull me into your arms while I was crying?"

"Because," He looked at me with gentle eyes. "I could not see you suffer. I already knew you had a nightmare when I was woken up by your tossing and turning. When you woke up crying, I felt this urge to hold you tight in my arms. I knew you needed it and so that's the reason why I stopped you from explaining anything."

"Oh, Mario." I sighed and leaned into his chest. He sat down on the grass and put me on his lap. We stayed like that for a long time, watching the sun slowly setting, splashing the sky with all shapes of red.