A/N: Hooray, faster update. I won. Lol patience Angela XD and thanks again WhiteasSnowyhills! Here's a shorter one of Fawn's first day back at the castle. Enjoy!

Chapter 20: ...Lunch?

Fawn

Gray...

I drearily opened my eyes.

It's all gray...

I groped around my bed. It wasn't mine.

Bowser...

I sat up and blinked. Yawning, I slowly remembered what I was doing here.

"I'm...here," I muttered.

Realizing where I was, I grinned slightly and crawled out if bed toward the bathroom, now slightly more energized. As I soaked in the shower, I tried to remember last night.

I was incredibly tired when I climbed in to the Clown Copter, so I had little recollection of what happened exactly. I vaguely remember being led to my room and stumbling inside it. It was the same blank guest room that I had last time, and I had fallen asleep almost instantly. As my mind wandered, I remembered why I was here.

Oh dear...I'm supposed to be babysitting soon, aren't I?

I quickly finished showering and ran outside. I rummaged through my dresser to find the clothes I left there since I had escaped. I threw on a random set of clothes and rushed out my door.

Okay...Bowser should be done with breakfast now! I'll ask him when I start!

With this in mind, I ran down the halls in the vague direction of the dining hall to find Bowser.

Bowser

I walked outside the dining hall, finishing my late breakfast.

I grinned happily, glad that I finally had time to myself to work on the Clown Copter. I was about to start walking there when to my surprise, I saw Fawn running down the hall toward me, looking very disheveled I might add.

"Bowser!" she said, finally catching up. "Sorry that I fell asleep so fast!"

I raised a brow. I did find how fast she grew tired a little odd, as she had practically collapsed in to her room last night. "Uh, no problem."

"Um...I was wondering. When do I start the babysitting?"

Oh yeah, that's why she's here. "Oh...well, apparently Kamek already hired someone for the day. So we'll be fine..." I trailed off, remembering who exactly we were dealing with. "For maybe a day or so."

"Oh...okay."

As I silence fell over us, I couldn't help but take the moment to observe her messy apparel. She was wearing a dark green shirt and shorts, but they were clearly put on in haste. One of her short's legs was rolled up to her thigh. Her shirt was wrinkled and screwed up, the neck line stretched down and misshapen. I also realized that she wasn't wearing a bra.

My face blushed and I looked away. Okay, you're not supposed to look at that. Don't be weird, she's your friend!

"Um...Bowser? Did you hear me?"

I snapped to attention. "Uh, no! I wasn't staring or anything!"

"Well okay." She shrugged. "So, what am I supposed to do today?"

"Um..." I realized I had no idea what to do with her. Hm…what else can I make her do? What do I want her to do…? "...Lunch?" Lunch? What the hell was I thinking?

She instantly beamed. "Oh I'm so hungry! I haven't eaten since we were at Peach's castle! I'd love that!"

I stood there, wondering what I should do. I sort of said something that was on my mind...breakfast wasn't always enough to fill me up, and lunch was already on my mind. But also wanted to hang out with her…maybe. I guess this is okay...we're friends, I need to get used to that...argh, this is weird.

"Alright..." I muttered.

"Well um...let's go?" she said unsurely.

I looked her over again, despite trying not to. "Um...no. No, you should probably fix yourself up a little."

"What?" She looked down at herself and blushed. "Oh...I guess I left in a hurry. Sorry..."

I shrugged. "It's fine. I'll have a guard come get you in around an hour or two. See you later."

"Okay...bye," she said, before walking away.

I was about to walk away too, when I noticed her back side was just as disheveled.

Her shirt was slightly rolled up, and her shorts were sagging, somewhat exposing her butt. I blushed as I quickly turned and walked away. She's um...damn it Fawn.

Fawn

After I had tidied myself up for a bit, I watched TV until I heard a knock at my door. I answered it to see Jimmy, which made me very happy.

"Jimmy!" I exclaimed, stooping down to hug him.

He chuckled and hugged back. "Good to see you back Fawn."

I smiled and pulled away. "It's great to see you. How've you been doing?"

"Pretty good. Since you're friends with Bowser, I didn't get in trouble after all for screwing up." He smiled.

"Oh that's great to hear! Thanks again for um...bringing me here," I said, feeling the need to show my gratitude.

"Thank you for not hating me." He chuckled.

I was about to ask why he was here, when I remembered something important that I keep forgetting. "Um...you're not mad at me for escaping, are you?"

He laughed and shook his head. "Not mad; impressed! I didn't think anyone could; especially you! ...Um, no offense."

"None taken."

"That sure was a good plan...and in the end, there weren't any repercussions. The fire didn't do much, and the Clown Copter was an old model, so Bowser didn't care to much. Hell, even Bowser was more impressed than mad!"

I grinned at that. "I'm glad...so why are you here, anyway? Did you just come to visit me? Because that's fine!"

"Nah, apparently you've got some sort of lunch with Bowser. I came to pick you up."

I nodded. "Oh, right. I remember now. Thank you."

"No problem, follow me." He started walking away, with me in tow.

As we walked, I heard him mutter, "Damn, he's really taken a shining to her..."

We made it to a terrace of sorts on a high up floor. It had several plants and pieces of furniture lying around. But what struck me was the glass wall that looked over all the land. It gave me a view of the gorgeous lava laced country, with the streams flowing through the grass of purple and gray. And I noticed that during the day, the sky was a dark blue, not a light one. The change of hue was so incredible, and it reminded me again how utterly awe inspiring this land was.

"See you," I heard Jimmy say.

"Bye..." I whispered.

I stood in silence, observing the land, when I heard another voice. "You okay there?"

I turned my head to see something I'd somehow overlooked; Bowser, sitting at a lunch table. "Hey Fawn."

I didn't respond immediately; I just observed him. Even sitting, he towered upright. With the dark blue sky backing his majestic appearance, he was quite a picture. Um...wow...

"Fawn?"

There were two meals set out for us. I remembered where I was. "Oh...yes, sorry."

I sat down and said, "I was just observing the countryside...it's still very beautiful."

He chuckled. "Yeah, it never gets old..."

My stomach growled loudly, which made Bowser and I laugh. "Can I eat?"

He laughed. "Thought you'd never ask."

Sharing a laugh, we wasted no time tearing in to our food. I registered mine was some sort of meat with a side of potatoes and salad, but I didn't care, I was way to hungry. We didn't stop until I heard Bowser laughing.

"Hah! It's still funny to watch!" he laughed.

He was laughing at my eating again, so I looked up to see grease on his chin. I laughed and said, "Like you're any better; look at your cheek!"

He touched a finger to his chin and cracked up, making me laugh with him. "You want me to get that for you?" I offered, still laughing.

His laughter calmed, his face looking at me with curiosity. "Hm?"

"Oh, just hang on one second." I grabbed a napkin and reached over the table to him. "Hah...here you go," I said, dabbing his cheek until the grease was wiped off.

He grew a little shy, his eyes widening slightly at the gesture. "Uh...sorry, thanks." I guess I surprised him…

I smiled, assuming he was shy about being sloppy. "It's alright. Just be sure to do the same for me next time!"

"Uh...right."

I chuckled as I asked,"So...what've you been up to since I left?"

He grinned and said, "Well...I've been working hard on the Skyship model 9."

I smiled. "Really?"

"Yeah! In fact...I decided to use your trap idea."

I smiled brighter. "I'm glad to hear it!"

"Yeah..."

He looked like he was about to open his mouth again, but he was interrupted.

"Fawn! King Dad!"

We turned our heads to see Junior bolted in to the room. He ran up to Bowser and jumped in his lap.

Bowser looked surprised by his sudden entrance, but he soon softened and began to chuckle. "Junior, what are you doing here?"

"I was painting, but then I got bored, and I remembered you and Fawn were here!" he said happily.

I smiled at him, still finding him adorable. "It's good to see you too, Junior."

Bowser frowned. "Hey wait...what happened to the nanny?"

Junior thought about it for a second before saying, "Oh...she got mad when Roy pushed her down the stairs, so she left."

He turned to me and enthusiastically said, "It's okay though, she wasn't cool like you!"

I smiled as Bowser sighed and said, "Go figure...well Fawn will be taking care of you all tomorrow."

Junior's face lit up and he jumped off Bowser's lap and jumped on to mine. "Yeah! We're going to have a lot of fun!"

I smiled down at him and stroked his ponytail. "Yes we will."

He smiled for a second more before he suddenly grew grim. "Listen...Fawn? I forgot to ask you this yesterday, but um...why'd you leave?"

Guilt welled up in my chest at his words, as I had once again forgotten about that. Bowser seemed to look a little awkward from the question too. "Well..."

"Did you leave because you don't like it here?" he asked worriedly.

I shook my head quickly. "No! I love it here! I just needed to see my dad again..."

He perked up a little. "Your dad?"

I nodded. "Yes. My dad was very nervous that I was gone...so I had to see him."

"Oh, he was trembling in fear…" I heard Bowser mutter.

He nodded in understanding. "Oh...okay, that makes sense! I'd probably do the same thing!" He chuckled nervously. "I was a little afraid that you didn't like us..."

I smiled reassuringly. "I still don't get that; you guys are wonderful."

"Yeah...she's not like the others." I turned to at Bowser who said that. He was smiling at me and Junior.

Junior smiled back before he hopped off my lap. "Well, I've got to go. I can't shirk painting all day, otherwise I'll never finish! Bye!" He quickly ran outside the room, leaving the two of us.

"Little ball of energy..." Bowser said, grinning. I grinned too, finding him adorable, and his relationship with his father cute as well.

Junior's entrance reminded me that my job started tomorrow. "Listen...I want to do this job right," I said seriously.

He turned back to me, seemingly off-put by the tone change. "Well yeah. You do," Bowser replied simply.

"No...last time, Larry and Roy ran away. I want to actually do this right; I want to take care of them all."

He chuckled softly. "I don't think that's even possible; no nanny has ever managed to make them stay in one room and behave."

"Well...you're paying me a lot, and I owe you anyway. So I should do this right," I persisted.

"Fawn, it's really not that big a deal." He frowned.

"I don't care, it's all I can do," I insisted.

"Well...if you insist," he said skeptically. "Just don't overdo yourself..."

"Thank you. Now, there are some questions I'd like to ask."

He raised a brow at the off natured question. "Why?"

"It'll help me babysit them."

"Uh...well okay then. Shoot."

"Okay, I've been observing the kids, and I need to know something; is Larry a thief?"

He chuckled. "Oh yeah, big time. He's stealthy as hell; no one can hear him coming. He can just swipe something and no one would notice. Especially since he pulls off that damn nice kid act so well. Kid's got charisma, I'll give him that."

I nodded thoughtfully, considering this. I see...so he's been lying to me. Maybe that time I talked to him…he had stuffed goods in his shell. And maybe that's why I can always find him behind the tree… I looked at Bowser seriously. "Now...I need to know something. As long as they're not hurt, am I allowed to do whatever I want to keep them in line?"

"Uh...sure, I guess," he responded, skeptical as ever.

"Also, if it's not to much to ask, could you ask a few guards to build a pit for me?"

"...What?"

"Could you tell a few guards to help me dig a pit?" I repeated. "It'd be in a secluded spot behind a tree, and wouldn't be to deep, so it shouldn't cause any landscaping issues. I'd tell them how deep to make it., and I would help rebury it."

"Um...why?" he asked, confused.

I sighed. "Listen...the reason you can never discipline them is because you don't take the appropriate measures."

"What do you mean...?"

"Bowser, you have incredibly determined, intelligent kids. They don't just have issues in behavior, they're smart and unyielding. You've been underestimating them. Telling them 'no' doesn't work. Simply punishing them doesn't work." I grinned and finished my statement. "If you want to beat them, you have to do it at their own game."

"Um...right. I guess that makes sense..." he said.

"So you'll send the guards? I may also ask them for other things." At his skepticism, I quickly added, "It will be less than the damages to the castle they'd make if they ran amok. And if we beat them at their own game, they may not be tempted to try again…"

The castle damage part seemed to get to him, as he finally shrugged."Sure, I guess."

I smiled. "Great!" I noticed the state of our meals.

"Well...I suppose we're done," I pointed out, both of us having eaten out lunch.

"Yep. It was cool having lunch with you," Bowser replied, grinning. "I'm looking forward to seeing how you babysit these kids...sounds like it'll be interesting."

I grinned back. "Well, thanks for giving me such good food!"

He paused before asking, "Well, why don't you have dinner with us after you babysit?"

I beamed at the preposition. "I'd love that. Thank you!"

He laughed. "No problem, nanny."

"Nanny? You have to call me by my job now, king?"

"You know, that's what you should be calling me," he said cheekily.

"Well, we're on better terms than that."

He paused. "I guess so, yeah."

We walked out of the room, ready to go our separate ways. I turned to him, and I suddenly realized I had no idea what I should do or say as a goodbye. Well…this is awkward.

"Um...bye?" I said unsurely.

He laughed. "You don't sound to confident about that."

"Well what am I supposed to do?" I pouted.

He considered this. "Huh...good point. I don't know..."

I pouted for a little longer, before breaking out in a chuckle. "Well...you say what am I supposed to do! You're better at this!"

I scratched his chin in thought. He chuckled before stretching out his arms. "I think friends hug goodbye."

I considered this. "Oh...okay, that sounds right."

I stretched out my arms and hugged him, still trying not to press my face against his chest. He wrapped his arms around me, and I felt the strength and warmth of his embrace. I noticed how nice it felt to be surrounded by such warmth and strength…it almost felt even nicer then before. It didn't last long, as we pulled away soon.

I smiled. "Bye, Bowser."

He smiled back. "Bye Fawn."

This is pretty much 80k+ words of fluff, isn't it? So they both seem to be warming up more and more! Bowser's getting his perv moments in, so that's always a plus. And Fawn...well, she's liking Bowser more and more, but who knows what she's thinking? She doesn't even know majority of the time XD well read, review and say anything you want basically, or whatever Byee