OOC: Hay! Chapter two, coming back to ya just as strong! FYI, I don't have a beta reader, because I typically read, re-read, and re-read my chapters over and over for flaws. Yet, I am not perfect so try not to flame for any spelling, grammar, or mishaps! Thanks for the reviews! I am also open as a beta reader to anyone who is interested, so just PM me with some details! I do not not usually take any offers to write fics for anyone, unless I truly like the plot, theme, and characters. I'm sorry for any inconveniences, as I currently already have two stories going on already. So yeah, enjoy and review! P.s: In this fic, when dialogue is in italics, it means they are speaking in Italian! ;-)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Nintendo characters, themes, or ideas!

Pipeline: A Princess and A Plumber

chapter 2

The brothers had not been a minute too early or too late when arriving at the Bowser estate the day after their first visit. Mario had put his previous encounters with the females behind him focusing his energy on the task at hand. There was no point in meddling in the affairs of snotty princesses, and these females were nothing like the ones he knew back home. Tightening his belt he could already feel that he had been losing some weight. They were scavenging for food most days, and usually split something between the two of them. He glanced beside him at his taller brother, who couldn't afford to lose anymore weight.

But food was the last thing he had on his mind. Once being let into the mansion by one of the servants they were lead through the same hallways as yesterday. The place was quiet, the chirping of the morning birds slowly dying down from mid morning. Everyone must have already been out, doing something but most certainly not working. Mario narrowly eyed the large doors and engraved stained glass widows knowing damn well those princesses hadn't worked a day in their lives. He shook his thoughts of the princesses reminding himself of why he was here.

Luigi, who seemed more than eager today, had been cheery the whole way here. They both had their usual morning conversations, typically about what they had seen at the estate, their thoughts on the upcoming job, what should be done first, and how their plans for the plumbing would go. Generally, this would all be spoken in Italian, because they were quite aware of peeping ears and nosy folks. They were generally private men, only ever honestly opening up to family and close friends.

"Ah yes! My dear boys, come here!"

Mario snapped out of his thoughts, and followed the servant outside the back and over to a cheerful Sir Toadsworth. He was dressed in his button vest and petty coat as usual leaning onto the bulb of his walking stick. Luigi grinned back giving a curt nod to the older gentleman who's bright gray fluffy mustache was twitching with excitement. Toadsworth pointed his walking stick to the large stock of pipes, tools, and welding material. The brothers equally glanced at each other, catching eyes, then gave their attention to the giddy old man.

"Here we have it! I have made sure you are equipped with everything you need. I hope you would please let me know if you need anything."

Toadsworth smiled, seeming proud of his work he had produced overnight. The man was a genuinely happy old timer, seemingly satisfied with everyday life. Then again, that was easy when you were rich. Mario tried not to smirk, stepping out of their boundary and walked over to the pipes, kneeling down and inspecting them.

"This shall do, thank you Sir."

His voice was grisly from drinking the night before. Both of them had taken it upon themselves to share a drink over the celebration of new, wealthy work. Toadsworth seemed thrilled that Mario had answered him this time.

"Perfect! I will leave you to it then."

The old timer gave a slight nod and turned on his heel to walk away. He paused, letting a wrinkled pointed finger to rise in the air.

"My dear gentleman, as temporary Master of the estate, I urge you to make yourselves at home."

Toadsworth left his words and let his hand drop back into his coat pocket, calmly limping away and back into the house. Both men took a mental note of the strain on the word 'temporary' knowing well that the Master of the estate was actually Master Bowser who was seemingly an absent face lately. Luigi flung his back off his shoulder onto the patchy grass by the pipes. Both of them had noticed the vast grassy area of the backyard, full with a marble balcony with only the finest lounging sun chairs and tables. They had veered off a trail which obviously led to the gardens father back. The men had easy access through a back door from the kitchen to the outside part where they were currently standing. This must be where they delivered the food to the kitchen, as the door was regular, the knob almost a little rusty.

And like clockwork the two plumbers began their duty. Mario genuinely loved working with his brother, as the entertainment was great. Luigi was humorous and carefree in a sense, and the things he did and said were almost a bit off the wall. The two chatted loudly in Italian a sound which was very foreign in this part of the land. They liked it that way knowing it was a little piece of them they could keep near and dear.

An hour passed, and the two men had been cutting pipes and welding pieces back together so they would fit perfectly under the sinks in the kitchen. The sizes that had been brought to them would have fit fine, but being an engineer Mario took it upon himself to downsize the amount of pipes using one localized pipe to attach to them all. They talked and talked about all sorts of things like how things might be going back home, what their plans for the future were, food, lots and lots of food, and even women. Their conversations continued on in Italian.

"I'm not sure why you always go for the chubby ones." Mario snickered watching his brother wave his hand in dismissal.

"Well, I guess that would make me a dog if I went for bones!" The taller male laughed, and Mario patted his brother on the back, wiping a bead of sweat on his forehead. He always had a soft spot for the thicker females, there was just something irresistible about a curvy top and bottom.

"You worry yourself too much in the affairs of women. How do you expect to keep one if you can barely feed yourself?" Mario chuckled, teasing his brother by pulling on his floppy overalls silently pointing out his slim hips that begged for more meat.

A disgruntled Luigi snatched his overalls from Mario, seeming offended but smirked and fixed himself hotly, and grinned gingerly lifting his chin to the air confidently.

"By bringing her to my bed of course!"

The two laughed going back to work, not even noticing they had a peeping audience for quite some time.

The two princesses had woken up later that day, almost bashfully ashamed that they had slept in on such a beautiful day. It was sunny outside now, and adventures awaited them. Daisy twirled in her casual yellow dress which always seemed fancy to peasant like persons. Princess Peach undoubtedly noticed her sister had a much cheerier attitude today most eager to get primped up to go downstairs. Of course she had not forgotten about the events of yesterday mostly if not always settling down when she went to the riverside of the estate. Daisy had followed her, very concerned, but had seemed distracted. Her curvy sister had tried to ask her what she had thought of the Italians, but was received with a snap on how it was non of her business, and she didn't care for the matters of second class citizens.

Daisy hadn't brought it up again. They were clasping arms, giving jests at each other as they walked into the marble stone of the balcony. There had been no sign of their guests, until they had fully walked outside and heard unusual voices. Italian was an unusual language at best, and compared nothing to English and French. The princess in pink noticed that the men were laughing seeming to enjoy their hard labor in the sun. They hadn't taken notice to the females walking down the stairs casually. She felt Daisy pull at her arm tenderly, trying to decipher what the two men were talking about.

"Peachy, just look, and- and listen! That must be Italian!"

She hushed her voice, but it bubbled with excitement and eyes swimming with curiosity. There was that tall one, with the green undershirt rolled up to his elbows, a baggy pair of overalls nearly falling off him. His smile was endearing, and she couldn't help giggle again at his full bodied fluffy mustache! How intriguing!

"Pay them no mind, Daisy." Princess Peach hummed, trying to drag her sister off in a different direction. It was too late.

Mario looked over his shoulder and groaned inwardly. Not again. His dark eyes traced the two females who were nearby. They were close enough that he could see the patterns on their dresses, intricate and delicate stitching that might have afforded him a whole years worth of work. Before he could say anything to his brother, he heard the man in green call from across the yard,

"Ah! Good day!"

Luigi had beat his brother to saying anything, knowing that if anything was going to be said it should be said now when he had the chance. Luigi slipped his glove off and waved once, offering a half bow his hat pulled into his chest again. He lifted up, grinning warmly at the two females, who stopped dead in their tracks.

"Daisy no-"

"Oh Peachy, we can't just-"

"Yes we can, and-"

"I'll be right back."

Daisy slipped out of her sisters long arms, and pleasantly made her way to the gentleman in green who approached her too. Peach huffed and folded her arms, which were bare today lacking the white silk gloves, looking the opposite direction. Her sister had so much learning, when it came to being regal and knowing when to ignore a man. But, then again, she didn't receive much attention from a lot of the courters in town. Most of the time, all eyes were on her, finding her taller slimmer physique more appealing.

Luigi could have sworn he heard his name being hissed between tight jaws behind him. But he paid no mind and calmly walked up to the beautiful brunette in yellow.

"Hello sir." Daisy kept her distance after she gave a half curtsy, her hands clasped in front of her, almost child-like as she looked up into the warm eyes of the tall plumber.

"Please, call me Luigi. And that is my brother Mario."

He looked over his shoulder to meet two narrowed eyes as they both heard Mario give and acknowledging grunt as he continued his work. Daisy was fascinated with the thick Italian accent, as everything about him pulled her in. No doubt, he was a hard worker, her eyes noticing the muscle in his shoulders and arms, his forearms and hands thick with years of hard labor. All her years she had been taught to seek after scholars and intelligent men, rather than braun. But, who was to say she couldn't have both? Realizing her forward thoughts she blushed outwardly, wondering why she was jumping to such conclusions. There was nothing wrong wit making friends at least, right? She calmly smiled, trying to keep her composure as her sister would.

"I am Daisy, and that is my sister Peach." Daisy's words were soft, the pitch in her voice not a high as usual. She shifted her light brown eyes around to look at Peach who had now taken her attention to her perfectly manicured nails. She leaned in and whispered,

"She's a bit of a grump lately." Daisy tried to stifle her giggles and winked, glad Luigi had joined in and laughed as well. He was well pleased that like him she too had a bit of humor in her.

"Oh my, but you see my brother is the king of grumps! I'm sure they would love to fight for the spot." He winked back, priding himself on causing her blush to re-appear on her nose and cheeks as she giggled louder. They both glanced over to Mario who was trying to ignore them, but knew they were talking about him. He looked over his shoulder again, holding a wrench in his hand. His eyes caught onto the pink princess, her electric eyes nearly sending him to his knees.

Peach could have sworn they were talking about her, she snapped her eyes up and looked around her neck craned to look over her shoulder. She caught eyes with the stalky plumber in red. Mario was his name? She realized how deeply she was staring before checking herself and turning her nose to the air, obviously trying to ignore him.

Luigi smiled leaning over, and grabbing a flower off a bush that was nearby. He plucked it carefully, leaning back over to his new friend, Daisy.

"Peony for a Princess?" He warmly smiled, generously offering it to her.

Daisy flushed at his pun and reached out careful not to touch his large hand, his fingers long and pointed, as she grasped the delicate white daisy that was picked for her. She giggled, at a loss for words. Usually, men were always trying to come up with things that related to her name, Daisy. This was quite new and refreshing. Quietly she looked down at the flower, pink in its color with trails of white following the outward petals. Thankfully, Peach had come to her side, storming up to both of them. Her voice was and unnerved with politeness that hissed when she grabbed the younger females upper arm in protest of the situation.

"I think that is quite forward, Mister Luigi. As a gentleman you should know she already is being courted by many fine men."

Luigi did not falter by the pink princesses rude interference with his gift to the smaller princess. He did not break contact with the stunned princess who clutched her flower and was currently being led away from him.

"Oh, I'm sure she is."

Luigi watched as Princess Peach scoffed at his words, putting a bigger pep in her step, making sure to get Daisy away from this atrocious second class citizen.

Mario narrowed his eyes at the scene, after being yet again given the death stare by the princess in pink. What was her deal? What could they have possibly done to cause her to turn sour within an instant of seeing them? Or was she always this bitter? He teeth were grinding together for a moment before his brother turned and casually walked over to him, fixing his green hat onto his messy black hair.

"I think that went quite well."

"Forget bones, you're playing with fire now." Mario gritted out regretfully.

"Oh, it's harmless."

"You are forgetting these are princesses we are talking about here."

"Even more interesting."

Luigi shrugged, his last comment causing a silence between the two. They continued their work in the quiet afternoon.

Daisy kept her eyes locked on the broad back of her Italian friend wondering what she was getting herself into. He was not even remotely her age, and with a mustache like that, he had to be at least twenty seven or twenty eight. She was a mere nineteen, just short of being in her twenties, she felt behind the courting curve. Unlike her older and more sophisticated sister, Peach, she seemed to always come in second. Not that she minded being in the shadow of her sister, she loved her sister with all her being. No matter how bitter or cruel her words were, she would back up her kin to her death. Even if they weren't entirely blood, Daisy knew she was all she had. They were both bastard children to King William IV. Unfortunately, they did not grow up to meet their parents, being whisked away to foster homes and boarding schools at a young age. Her and her half sister princess were reunited at the tender age of 12, where they were kept in the care of Sir Toadsworth, a previous Lord and Assistant of the King. The trio of a family were living in a cosy estate on the other side of London when they had been unexpectedly invited to live at the Bowser estate. They had become unseparated from that moment on, her sister was her first real friend, forever at her side to inform her when she was doing stupid and foolish things…

"…stupid and foolish I tell you!" Princess Peach spat bitterly, getting more heated as they had gotten lost in the brush of the gardens. Daisy kept quiet, trying to keep up with her fast paced sister. She walked fast when she was mad.

"How- how dare him! Disrespectful to the upmost-"

"He was respectful, sister." Daisy interrupted, stating in a matter-of-fact manner.

"It matters not! Daisy… he is…a second class citizen!" Her words exasperated and seething, as she emphasized each word. Daisy stopped at a stone bench by a patch of roses, her head hanging as she took a solemn seat on the stone.

"Not everyone can have the comforts of Masters of estates, Peach." She mumbled, fidgeting with her possession of the peony flower that had been a gift.

Peach spun around her blue eyes hurt, she was shocked at the boldness of her younger sisters words. She was definitely talking about her arraignment with Master Bowser that had not happened yet.

"That is not fair." Peach whispered, her eyes narrowed to the ground feeling her sister hit a tender spot in her heart.

"You know it is not what I want." She whispered in fear of being overheard. She in no way had wanted to be married to the cold, fearsome, and estranged creature that she was being forced to marry by politics. They had talked over this many times, and her younger sister knew very well the situation was beyond their control. Daisy lifted her eyes, trailing up her sisters dress, her beauty was undoubtedly superior. She sighed placing the peony in the dirt sliding over leaving an open spot. She padded it lightly, offering a comforting smile.

"I'm sorry, please sit." She urged, rubbing the stone, pretending to warm it up. Peach relaxed her shoulders and gracefully took a seat next to her sister, tired of fighting. They were all they had, there was no use in arguing. She wrapped a slender arm around the petite shoulders of her sister in yellow.

"I'm just concerned, my dear Daisy."

Daisy nodded, eyeballing the peony on the ground next to her. She sighed and looked up at the clouds, trying to be optimistic.

"I was just trying to be friendly. I don't think a lot of people are fond of them, yes?"

"They are strangers."

"We were all strangers to someone once, right?"

Peach was quiet, finding that her sister was very accurate. But there were so many things to worry bout at a time like this, where appearance was everything. If someone to see or overhear the wrong thing they might get ideas, the wrong type of ideas! Daisy was so carefree, unknowing to the deceit of the world, almost ignorant of it. People were not all they seem to be.

"You have yet to even acknowledge them…" Daisy noted, cringing home she didn't offend. But Peach was quiet, thinking of a rebuttal.

"I am afraid." Peach grimaced, as she admitted her fear. Daisy understood.

"I'm sure being nice wouldn't hurt… you are so lovely when you smile. I'm sure with a look you could make the one in red's day…" Daisy touched her sisters face feeling turmoil under that flawless skin. It was true, her older sister could single handedly cause a group of men to grovel at her feet with just a single smile. Peach had that effect on men which usually cast her younger sister in the shadows. The princess in yellow offered a smile trying to look into her sisters narrowed stare. Peach laughed, and shook her head. Who? That Mario? She was at a loss for words unsure of how she felt.

She desperately wanted to be friendly to their newcomers, but her reputation was on the line. What would people think if she was too friendly? What if Master Bowser caught ear of it? Her and her family would be out on the streets… Or worse, the Italians would be assassinated by the next day no doubt.

Daisy patted her knee, and stood up in a twirl letting her dress poof up at the air that slid under her in the twirl. She grabbed her sisters hand ushering her up.

"It is no matter. I will not pay anymore notice to him, okay?"

Daisy grinned an award winning smile hoping to ease her sisters troubles, Peach returned the smile feeling the color return to her face and light up her attitude. She nodded, and then seemed content. Arm in arm they continued to walk the beautiful gardens of the estate. Daisy gingerly smiled looking back over her shoulder at the lone peony that lay in the dirt.

Luigi grunted carrying a load of pipes over his shoulder beginning to make his way to the kitchen. He could not stand the silence any longer. He spoke smoothly in Italian; his tone cool and calm.

"You know, you could be a tad more friendlier."

He paused looking over his shoulder with a stone like face at his brother in red. Mario stopped what he was doing staring at his wrench. He had yet to even offer the females a smile. What was wrong with him lately, what had made him put his guard up so thoroughly? What was he afraid of? His thoughts flashed back to the stunned look on Princess Peach's face when she first saw them. He shrugged it off,

"They are princesses, I am just a plumber." He coldly replied, returning back to his work.

Luigi stood for a moment, confused by the hostility between him and the females. Leaving it at that he continued in his direction toward the kitchen allowing his thoughts to be taken back to meeting the lovely princess in yellow. Her sister was probably giving her a good tongue lash by now threatening her not to speak to him again unless absolutely necessary. He was not discouraged in the least as a hard worker his determination spread into most other areas of his life as well. Sadly for Mario, he was the same in his resilience. Italians were known for holding long term grudges, he hoped that there would be some way to reconcile their ways… And then, with a slowly emerging grin, the tall handsome plumber had an idea.

OOC: Bam! Chappy 2 done! What do ya'll think? Anyone reading at all? Drop a review and let me know what you think. Suggestions? Changes? Mistakes? Like, love, hate it? Lol, don't flame tho! I've been showing a lot of Daisy/Luigi love lately, but don't be discouraged, there will be plenty of Mario/Peach when they finally get over themselves! Don't forget about an appearance of Bowser in the near upcoming chapters! Drama, romance, and comedy to continue! Much love xx