Note to readers: Thank you so much for the love! I always look forward to your reactions :3 Also, special thanks to my Demons. I am unworthy of you. ಥ_ಥ

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"Bowser. We aren't compatible."

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It was late in the evening by the time Peach finally started to feel herself tire. For hours, she had been trying to ring the energy out of her over-excited brain. Then again, she wasn't really interested in sleep. Bowser was at the forefront of her mind and, though she felt uneasy when he was around, she hoped that he might visit. For as long as she knew him, he had always been prone to stay up late and wake up much later the next day.

For the hundredth time, Peach glanced at the clock on her bedside table. It was already 2 a.m. and there was no sign of life stirring outside her door. Disappointment rose and fell in her stomach as she tried to reason with herself.

"Bowser is probably already in his room. Kamek said that using magic to help bring back his memories would take a toll on Bowser. I wouldn't be surprised if he was already sleeping," Peach thought to herself.

*Creeaaaak*

Peach's thoughts halted and she held her breath to listen closely to her surroundings.

*Creak...*

This time, the noise was softer but Peach was sure there was someone in the hallway outside her room.

*creak, creaaak*

There was only one person in this castle who was this terrible at sneaking around.

*cr-cr-cr-creeeaaak*

The princess giggled to herself. She could picture the look of frustration on Bowser's face with every step he took. No matter how quickly or slowly he tiptoed, there was no way for him to make any silent progress. As if he came to the same conclusion that she had, the sound of the creaking floors stopped for a long moment and then renewed.

*Creak, Creak, Creak, Creak, CREAK...*

*click*

"Good evening, your Loudness," Peach welcomed him cheekily as a pair of red eyes peeked through the crack of her door. He turned his head and cursed under his breath.

"May I?" Bowser asked, opening the door farther so she could see a red glass vase with all sorts of expensive flowers stuffed into it.

"You may," she answered, not bothering to keep her excitement hidden. Bowser pushed through the doorway and gave a small smile as he set her flowers on her nightstand.

"Did I wake you? I thought you would be asleep by this hour," Bowser said as he seated himself on the chair by her bed.

"No, I have been awake since you left. I couldn't bring myself to sleep," Peach answered, smiling at him brightly. Bowser didn't seem to know what to say to that. He tried to return her smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. If anything, he looked strained. She made a note of this and tried to keep the conversation going. "How did Kamella's case go?"

"Fine, I guess. She was let off," Bowser answered with a shrug. "Kamek was right. The sentence you gave her was much worse than locking her up." He chuckled a little and looked at Peach with a hint of pride in his eyes.

"Why? Are there really so many promises that Kamella hasn't kept?" Peach asked curiously.

"According to Kamek, she has been breaking deals with people since the day she was born," Bowser said thoughtfully. "The chances of her fulfilling all of her broken promises are slim to none." Peach looked down at her hands and smiled a little. Even though Kamella was still out there, the Magikoopa would be forced to face the trouble she had caused, and Bowser would be safe. The princess brought her gaze back to Bowser who hadn't taken his eyes off of her. His stare was unreadable.

"Bowser, are you okay?" Peach asked, with some worry in her voice. He blinked.

"I am in better shape than you," Bowser answered with a smirk as he sat forward and rested his chin on her bed near her shoulder. He waited for her push him away but she smiled and brought her hand to his hair, ruffling it a little. His heart gave a loud thump as her fingers played with his hair.

"Peach?" Bowser grumbled uneasily. She looked down at him and hummed in response. "Thank you for saving me." Peach's hand stopped twisting his hair momentarily.

"Toadsworth, Kamek, and Kamella saved us," Peach answered, looking up at the ceiling.

"But you saved me," Bowser said seriously. "I still haven't remembered everything, but I know you were the reason why I made it back." Peach's hand twirled in his hair slowly as she thought about what he said.

"You're welcome, Bowser," she whispered. "Should I bring up what I said that night?" she wondered silently. Maybe a part of him didn't want to remember. That would be understandable after the way she had treated him.

"By the way, I talked to the doctor. He thinks it is best that you stay here to rest for another week or so before transporting you back to the Mushroom Kingdom. I hope you don't mind, but you will be staying here for safekeeping," Bowser explained with a smirk. He looked at her as if daring her to protest.

"Well, I guess the doctor knows best. Bring the phone to me if my Council calls. I will tell them that I am here of my own free will," Peach said casually.

"You're... not mad? You'll stay willingly?" Bowser asked, shocked by her agreement.

"If you will allow me to," Peach answered with some hesitation. Bowser swallowed and tried to look unaffected by her decision.

"Of course, Princess," he said with a smile. It had to be a trick of some kind. She would probably try to escape while his guard was down. But he couldn't resist her now. He was mesmerized by the way her hand glided through his hair. A groan of protest escaped his mouth when Peach pulled her hand from his hair and moved up the bed so she could sit with her back against the wall. She was wearing a pink nightgown with short lace sleeves. Standing, it probably would have hung to her kneecaps. Sitting, however, the gown barely reached the middle of her thighs.

Bowser didn't really know where to look when her bare leg brushed up against his nose. He almost flinched when he felt her hands cup both sides of his face and led him to lay his head on... her lap?!

*eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek*

The bed creaked a little as he moved but he was pretty sure that the shrill high pitched noise had been the sound of his soul screaming.

Peach shifted her legs under his head so they would be more comfortable and gave a sigh of contentment, "There. Much better."

"Peach... I'm not sure..."

"Sh! Your hair is a tangled mess," she stated curtly.

"I brushed it this morning," he grumbled defensively.

"Well..." she took her right hand and began flipping it through his hair wildly. "I don't think I believe you. Your hair is a total mess!" she giggled as she pulled on strands of his hair to make it look as disheveled as possible. Bowser didn't know what to say. This couldn't be the same woman who had despised him. The same woman who wouldn't even allow his servants into her room. Was there really so much that he had forgotten?

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"You complete the heart that I never knew I had."

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Bowser winced.

"Relax," Peach cooed softly as she smoothed his hair. It was as if she had flipped a switch. The thoughts he had lost himself in vanished and he became aware of himself again. The tension in his shoulders and his grip on her bed loosened. His eyes drooped and he gave a long sigh, allowing his stress to melt away. His mind grew hazier as her other hand joined in to help untangle a rather meddlesome knot. It took every ounce of willpower he had left to keep himself from groaning with pleasure. At this point, she had already trapped him - Chain, bars, and lava pit. Not that it mattered. Why should it? She was irresistible and he remained blissfully motionless under her gentle fingers.

But the moment was cut short.

*Bzzzz….bzzzz...Bzzzz….bzzzz….*

*Bzzzz….bzzzz...Bzzzz….bzzzz….*

Peach freed her fingers from his hair and picked up her phone from the nightstand. A grin crossed her features when she read the name of the caller and she took the call eagerly. "Daisy!"

"Oh, Peachy! It is so good to hear your voice!" Daisy exclaimed happily. "I tried calling you before, but no one answered! Where are you? Is it true you are in Bowser's Castle? What the hell is going on?!"

"Calm down, Daisy! I am perfectly fine! I promise!"

Bowser snorted at her and Peach gave him a silent glare.

"I mean... I did get a little beat up, but Bowser's servants have been taking very good care of me," she said a little sheepishly, glancing at Bowser with a small smile. "As for any of your other worries, I am completely fine."

"So you are in Bowser's Castle..." Daisy muttered more to herself than anyone else. "But that's not important now. Peach... have you heard about your dad?"

"... I heard," Peach answered, her eyes lowered slightly.

"I am so sorry, Peachy," Daisy said sadly. "If you ever need anything, Weegee and I are always here."

"Thanks, Daze," Peach answered, her voice a little quieter than before.

"When are you coming home? The authorities of the Mushroom Kingdom have been chewing at the bit to talk to you and confirm whether your father..."

"Died naturally," Peach finished for her. "I..."

*knock, knock*

Bowser looked towards the door and moved to lift his head, but Peach pushed his head gently back down on her lap.

"Hey, Daisy? Can I call you back in a minute or two? Someone is at the door," Peach asked politely.

"Oooohhhhh! Do I smell a handsome Knight?! Angarde, my able-bodied friend!" Daisy yelled enthusiastically.

A loud shuffling noise came from the phone and Luigi's shaking voice spoke, "A Knight?! How big is he? Make sure you are in a room with loootsa carpets!"

"Ohhhh Weegeeeee... Not that kind of Knight," Daisy pouted and wrenched the phone from his hands. "Anyhow, Peachy! Make sure he is hot under the armor! WAIT! Do you have protection?! I can send you a box..."

Peach's face went pure scarlet. She tried to end the call but her clumsy fingers kept hitting every button except the massive "End Call" button. A small shriek escaped her lips when the phone slipped from her hand and landed right in front of Bowser's face.

"...I have all sorts here that have tastes too! Did you know they make Bacon flavored...?!" Daisy jabbered excitedly.

"Shut up... shut uppppppppp!" Peach whispered loudly under her breath as she tapped the screen frantically.

*Tap! Tap! Taptaptaptap... Smack!*

Finally, the phone was silent. Peach carefully set the phone down on her nightstand and began smoothing her nightgown, completely avoiding Bowser's stare. But if she had looked at him, she would have seen a look of confusion mixed with amusement. This amusement, however, began to fade when he thought over what Daisy had said. He hadn't even thought about it, but Peach's father and Toadsworth would have to have a funeral. However, it didn't sound like it would happen until there had been a full investigation. They would need her for that. The council only had so much authority...

And then a new question crossed his mind.

*Knock, Knock!*

Peach and Bowser both flinched at the sudden sound and looked at the door. They had completely forgotten that someone had been waiting outside the door.

"C-come in!" Peach called.

The door swung open and a white Shyguy waddled in with his face buried in his clipboard. He looked up and opened his mouth to speak, but the sound died in his throat almost immediately. His eyes widened when he saw Bowser beside Peach's bed and the clipboard began to shake in his hands.

"Hello! Don't worry! You aren't intruding," Peach waved to him with a smile. The Shyguy gave her a careful nod. "Did you need something?"

The little white coated Shyguy toddled up to Peach and held out the clipboard. The princess bent her kneck slightly and bit her lip as she read the scribbles.

"Oh! You are here to make sure my pain medicine is working. Yes! I feel really good. I only feel pain when I talk too much or laugh too hard. Does that sound about right?" Peach asked.

The little man nodded at her and took his clipboard back. Before he turned to leave, he rummaged in his white coat and pulled out a pink and white spiraled sucker. Peach giggled as he handed it to her.

"Thank you," she smiled widely, kissed the tips of her fingers and transferred it to the forehead of his mask. The Shyguy wobbled a little, touched the spot on his forehead in surprise and then scurried out the door.

Bowser snorted as the Shyguy closed the door behind him. "Half of my staff has gone missing these past couple weeks. Now I know why."

"Oh, stop it," Peach chastised him and folded her arms self-consciously.

"No! I'm serious! That Shyguy? His name is Skee and he is the Royal Vegetable Chef! I don't miss him much; otherwise, I would order him back into the kitchen! Gwa ha!" Bowser explained, giving Peach an impish smirk. Normally, Peach would scold him for not eating properly but, to his surprise, a genuine smile broke across her face. How could she be mad at him when he laughed like that? She had missed that sound. How long had it been since she had heard him laugh? Two or three weeks?

"Peach, can I ask you something?" Bowser asked, his face suddenly becoming very serious. Peach, still avoiding his eyes, began whipping her hand through his hair wildly. When it became knotted and messy again, she started smoothing it out.

"Ask away," she answered.

"What are you going to do about your counsel?" Bowser asked. "They will expect you to get married as soon as possible and I heard Mario is getting married in the next few months."

"They won't have to fight me for it. I am twenty-three which is far past the expected age for royalty to marry. The council can keep things afloat while I recover and…"

"And find a husband," Bowser finished for her shortly. "The whole idea is asinine. Your kingdom needs a leader more than it needs normal tradition."

"I am not against getting married. As the last of my bloodline, I know my place in this fiasco. Besides…" Peach trailed off and gave him an embarrassed glance.

"Besides... what?" Bowser asked as a burning curiosity filled his stomach. She had changed her mind? Why?

"Well..." she brought her eyes to his and forced herself to hold his gaze. "I-I might already have someone in mind."

Bowser almost choked.

"WHAT? W-who?! But Mario is…? Do I know this guy?" Bowser stammered, lifting his head to look at her closer.

"Silly Koopa… Do you still not remember?" Peach asked with a soft smile. There was only one way to get him to understand. She lowered her hand from his hair to his jaw and pulled him closer. A beautiful shade of pink bloomed on her cheeks as she leaned forward and pursed her lips... but Bowser pulled away too quick. A stoney frown crossed his features and the warmth in his eyes instantly turned cold. A shiver ran down Peach's spine as he sat back in his chair and stared at her, clenching and unclenching his fists on the arms of his chair.

*Bzzzz….bzzzz...Bzzzz….bzzzz….*

Daisy was calling. Neither of them moved to pick up or silence the little pink phone. After a few moments, the phone finally went silent.

When it was quiet again, Bowser opened his mouth to speak.

*Bzzzz….bzzzz...Bzzzz….bzzzz….*

An irritated growl exuded from Bowser's mouth as he got up from his chair. His eyes flashed a bright bloody red.

"Bowser?" Peach asked cautiously. He didn't answer as he lumbered towards her hospital door and turned the handle. A sense of panic filled Peach's heart. Had she crossed a line? "Please don't go, Bowser... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

"Goodnight, Princess," Bowser said, glancing back at her before he closed the door behind him.

"Bowser!" Peach called after him but he was already gone.

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Bowser stomped down the halls in a blind rage. He came across Kamek, who tried to speak to Bowser, but his advances weren't heard or seen. Bowser was too deep in his own thoughts to be reached.

Who could be worthy enough to so much as catch Peach's eye? What had Daisy said? A knight? In armor? He didn't know anyone like that! Had his memory of this oh-so-perfect guy been lost along with the last five years of his life?

Bowser punched a random wall angrily and smoke began to escape his nostrils. By the time he reached his bedroom, the hallways were filled with smoke, fire alarms were going off, and Goomabs with red hats and buckets of water began scrambling stupidly in every direction.

"I'm a King! A man of great strength and power! I have all of the money, protection, and love that she could possibly ever need! What does this moron have that I don't?!" Bowser thought to himself.

"I can do all of those things. You know I can give you anything you ask."

"What about human children?"

Bowser gripped his head and groaned. His anger was suddenly replaced by devastation as Peach's voice began to ring in his head. He had forgotten... She had told him before.

He spent the rest of the night alone in his bed. His kids were probably out creating trouble that would have to be cleaned up in the morning, Kamek and Kammy were both off doing... whatever they do, and the rest of the castle was quiet. Or at least relatively quiet. There were still one or two fire alarms that the Goombas hadn't smashed yet.

A long two hours went by before Bowser finally fell into an uneasy sleep.

.

. . .

"Please... I'll do anything."

. . .

.

Bowser woke up in a cold sweat. His head swam with thoughts and emotions that he couldn't shake. Peach had said so many sweet words in his dream. She told him that she lied and that her hurtful words meant nothing. That he was enough and always would be. But her body turned to dust in his hands and the Koopa King was left alone in a dark room filled with her cold voice.

"You will never be enough for me."

He hissed as he crawled out of bed and slammed his fists on the floor. The wooden floorboards cracked and splintered under his immense strength and a few of the pictures on his walls fell. Taking a long ragged breath, he rolled onto his back and growled. Peach may have brought him back from the dead but that didn't mean he was worth anything to her alive. He was still only the bad guy in her eyes. Only a monster. Ugly... foul...

The lonely ache in his chest that he had once forgotten returned ten fold, knotting up his soul, and leaving him utterly broken.

"I don't want to remember anymore."