Foreword: School is keeping me much busier than I expected. Not necessarily with homework, just with...I don't even know. I'm just busier. Which isn't good for writing fanfiction (or reading), so bear with me. 40's not done at all, but I'm hoping October will be nice to me since it's my birthday month. ;)

I like this chapter better than last chapter, by the way. It gives the first hint of the mirroring/juxtaposition I intend to do with the relationships CoH is juggling around. :D

Disclaimer stands that I own nothing that Nintendo called dibs on.

Dinner was over and the younger koopalings were fast approaching their mandated bedtime. This, obviously, meant it was the perfect time for the most elaborate of pranks. Wendy, Iggy, and Roy rounded the corner and ran down the hall, stopping in front of an elaborately decorated wall.

Roy grabbed a nearby tapestry, flipping it to the side and revealing a lever. "Ludo!" He roared, holding up the tapestry. "Getcha tail over here!" On cue, Ludwig spun into the hallway, his spiked shell howling with his ridiculous amount of speed. He popped himself right out of the shell, landing perfectly on his feet. "Show off," Roy laughed.

"Oh, as if you've never utilized your homing capabilities, Roy," Ludwig chortled, ruffling his hair back to his preferred style.

"Das true," Roy agreed, popping his collar with a snicker. "My shell skills kick tail when it comes to getting' my debt-heads."

"Roy," Wendy hissed, "stop blabbering. Ludwig, we, like, need you to enter the codes when Roy flips the lever."

"You're the only one Kamek entrusted the codes with," Iggy seethed, "Even though I'm the one interested in his laboratories."

"Igg-man's got some revenge bubblin', ain'cha?" Roy laughed, elbowing his mohawked brother. "Das how I like my minions."

"Your minions?" Wendy roared. "Like, what gives? This was totally my idea!"

"Wendy," Ludwig barked, "Can we return to the purpose of this congregation?"

"Whatever," she sighed. "We want to screw with Kamek's laboratory."

"Why in the name of our Royal Father would you even consider that hebetude to be in the least bit intelligent?" Ludwig roared.

"You seemed perfectly willing when we told you it was to upset Madame Choorch."

"Yes, because she's a-"

"LUDWIG!" Junior roared from down the hallway, cutting him off before he could exactly describe his contempt. "Ludwig, pull the lever! They're coming!" The youngest of the koopalings raced down the hallway, slipping and sliding on the waxy floors.

"Junior, who da heck is 'they'?" Roy growled, tripping Junior to effectively stop him.

"Kammy and Kamek," he replied, trying to look as if his trip was intentional.

"That don't make no sense!" Roy roared, kicking Junior back on the ground. "They have meetings right now! And dang jobs! I checked their schedules and everything!"

"Haven't you heard, Roy?" Wendy cooed. She giggled, latching on to Iggy's arm. "Kammy and Kamek are, like, working together now. It's awfully romantic. And tonight, I totally heard Kamek wants to, like, get on her gooder side."

"And their cooperation is causing productivity?" Ludwig asked, curiously. "Usually the primordial stages of a relationship leads to dalliance. Are you positive they're ahead of schedule?"

"I saw them coming. Together. In the hall. Towards you guys!" Junior muttered, trying to stand up and getting knocked back down each time. Eventually, he resorted on biting Roy's foot.

"Ew, do you like even know where that's been?" Wendy screeched as Junior clamped down. Roy let out a stream of curse words as he tried to kick his youngest brother off.

"I don't care if they're coming," Iggy said, ignoring his siblings and addressing Ludwig. "I just want you to flip the lever, put in the code, so we can mess up his lab. If it ruins his date, even better."

"Do you even have time for such vindictivity?"

"We will if you flip the freaking lever!" Iggy shrieked, now hopping up and down.

Muttering under his breath, Ludwig flipped the lever and revealed a timer with a keypad. He tapped in the code and the hidden door rumbled as if to open. Wendy, Junior, and Roy gave up their fight and turned to watch the door.

When it opened, it revealed one of Kamek's many smaller laboratories; this one specifically geared to the science of sound. "Make sure you don't ruin anything of Ludwig's," Iggy reminded them as he ran in. "Since he's right here and all."

"Very comforting, Iggy," Ludwig sarcastically droled. "I appreciate your fraternal compassion."

Roy was eager to get to destruction and he ran into the laboratory faster than the rest, heading straight for the test-tube drying rack. He picked it over his head and threw it at the ground…but just before the test tubes hit the floor, they stopped and levitated in midair. "What the-"

To their horror, the tapestry and keypad were evidently not Kamek's only security. The test tubes spun around and began pelting themselves at Roy, followed by the rest of the enchanted equipment. Microscopes, graduated cylinders, and even Bunsen burners were suddenly launching themselves at the four would-be vandals.

"RUN AWAAAAY!" Junior bellowed, his arms over his head as he took off towards where they had just entered. Comically, he bumped into a solid and invisible wall, falling onto his shell and sticking in the lab's silicon floor.

Chaos ensued as they attempted to battle back the enchanted lab instruments, Ludwig being the only one they didn't try to destroy. Using his immunity to his advantage, he tried to pry his youngest brother out of the floor. "Isn't this a propitious situation?" he grunted in angry sarcasm. "And Kamek's probably going to be just as antagonized with my presence as he is with all of yours."

Just as Junior came free from the floor, the magic attacks stopped, clattering to the floor. Kamek stepped through the invisible barrier, Kammy on his heels. "Why am I not surprised," he groaned. "What did you children think you were doing?"

"I believe they hoped to disrupt your night of debauchery, Kamek." Ludwig shook his head. "I fear I must admit that I was at their aid and sincerely hope their accomplishment was not met."

Kamek glared at them, then turned to Kammy. "Can you go out there for a second so I can deal with the imps?"

Kammy flashed a wicked smile. "Gladly, Kamek. Do what you feel worst." When she left, the koopalings faces paled. Kamek was already strict…if Kammy was getting under his skin, and if he became even the least bit as sadistic in punishment as she was, there was no safety for them at all.

The old magikoopa waited for Kammy to leave and sighed. He flicked his staff, the room instantly going back to order. "You all deserve a rich amount of punishment. Ludwig, I'm especially disappointed in you for abusing my trust. Roy and Junior, it saddens me that you've moved yourself to such obsessive destruction that you feel it necessary to take down my things when I've done nothing against you. Wendy, I would have thought you would have more sense than to enter a magikoopa's laboratory. And Iggy…I was ready to invite you to have full access to my research. I must seriously reconsider now."

The koopalings shuffled, waiting for their punishment and feeling a bit guilty. Iggy looked on the verge of being sick at his heart-wrenching news.

"Don't do it again." Kamek added, then turned to leave.

"Kamek, aren't you gonna pu-mrphhhshss…" Junior's question was cut off by Roy's smothering claws.

Roy let go, biffed his brother over the head, and finished in his place. "You dun hafta worry about us. We won't do it again, Kam-o."

Kamek raised an eyebrow, a bit of a smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, I probably should punish you. Kammy most likely expects me to. But, as Ludwig said, I have high hopes for tonight. And if I punish you, I'd have to keep track of you…remember what I made you do…tell your father when he gets home…" Kamek tipped his hat towards the koopalings and left without another word.

Roy, Ludwig, Junior, and Wendy sat in silence in the now pristine laboratory. A soothing voice from the speakers in the ceiling warned them the doors would lock in ten seconds, and they quickly left. "That was…off the hook…" Roy breathed.

"Love will do that to a guy," Wendy giggled, skipping in place. "I'm gonna go get my beauty sleep now. Bubye, boys!"

The boys muttered salutations to Wendy when Junior remembered his question for her about his history book. "Wendy, wait!" Junior yelled, following her. "I had something to talk to you about!" Wendy ignored her brother and continued walking down the hall, her hips swaying from side to side. "Wennnndyyyy!"

As he watched them round the corner, Roy nudged Ludwig. "I betcha dey gots plans for the bet. And what do we got? Squat."

"At least your partner can retain focus on something for more than 45 seconds, Roy," Iggy growled. He pulled out a sheet of paper from his shell and inspected it. "I don't think Morton and I have had any productivity towards getting Mama Peach and King Dad together for days."

"Are we still following through with that nefarious engagement, then?" Ludwig asked, looking at Roy. "Princess Peach is departing in the morn, and we shan't see her again for an undisclosed amount of time. Their aubade is going to be-"

"Ludo, the bet don't end until Kamek says it ends. Derefore, we ain't done yet. We gots some planning to do."

Ludwig sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fair enough, Roy. Let's commence our symposium and get it over with." He and Roy turned to look at Iggy, who just stood and stared back at them.

Roy cleared his throat and Iggy snapped to attention. "You want me to leave, don't you?"

"That would help in defining our privacy, yes," Ludwig muttered.

"Before I snap your neck," Roy added. He grinned maniacally, rubbing his hands together. Within seconds, Iggy was long gone from the hallway.

xxxx0o0o0o0o0o0o0xxxx

Silence dominated over the royal dinner table of Sarasaland. The king sat at its head, his beard tucked into his shirt as he cut his pieces of chicken regally and slowly. Mario was eating more than necessary, feeling like the only solution to the awkward dinner was to have his mouth constantly full. It was delicious, anyway. Luigi could hardly eat at all, cutting his pieces in the most intricate of designs to slow down the process.

Daisy, however, was a wreck. She wasn't looking at her father or her guests and kept dropping her fork on her plate. Her mashed potatoes had long since soaked up all the gravy, and her chicken had been torn to bits by her shaking hands. In all his years of knowing Daisy, Luigi had never seen her so distressed…he'd also never eaten dinner with her father.

After almost an entire half hour of silence, the king cleared his throat and stood up. "I hereby excuse you all from the table at your leisure. I have meetings to attend to. Princess Daisy, I appreciate our meeting earlier and encourage you to keep all my words in mind."

"Of course, sire," Daisy muttered. Mario and Luigi watched the king leave the room, several attendants at his heels. When the door shut, Daisy pushed her food away and covered her face with her hands. "Luigi," she said with a muffled voice, "can we go somewhere?"

"What about Mario?" he asked, putting his hand on her knee lovingly.

"I don't care," Daisy answered. She removed her hands and looked at the older Mario brother apologetically. "Sorry, Mar, but I just need to talk to my guy alone right now."

"Don't-a worry," Mario answered. "I understand. I can just-a go." He left with his plate in his hand, apparently not yet full from his overeating.

Immediately, Daisy's head fell on Luigi's shoulder and she let out a dry sob. "I don't know why I let him get to me like this!"

"Your-a father?" Luigi asked, cautiously putting his other arm around Daisy. She rarely had need for his solace, but he'd do anything to see her smile again.

"I disappoint him with every bit of my life. 'Daisy, be more girly.' 'Daisy, act like a princess.' 'Daisy, why aren't you a doormat?' 'Daisy, why can't you be more like your cousin?' I'm used to it. But today…" she blinked rapidly, afraid to let a single tear leave her eyes. "Today it was like I really broke his heart.

"I get what he was talking about…I really did put more at risk than I should have. He didn't think the 'ends justified the means'. He said I was just as bad as a villain. And that he can't trust me. And that I'm unfit to rule."

"Daisy, you don't-a want to rule. It should not-a matter."

She laughed once, weakly, before replying, "I know. That's another reason I shouldn't care so much…but Dad isn't usually so…disappointed. I feel like I really messed up."

Luigi bent over and pecked his girlfriend on the cheek. "You didn't-a mean to. You had the best intentions I-a could imagine." She smiled in reply. "So your father…are you…grounded?"

She giggled, feeling very comfortable on Luigi's shoulder. Why did she deserve him again? "No, he's just making me attend all my meetings for the next three congressional sessions to learn 'proper respect for the law and the citizens of the universes'."

Luigi stopped stroking her hair and asked, "Does that-a mean you can't go to Grand-a Canal?"

"No, he's letting me do that. He's actually super excited…he thinks that by meeting your parents I'm 'taking major steps towards my future and my chances at matrimony'." She laughed.

Luigi wasn't laughing- his blood seemed to grow cold as Daisy took light her father's opinion. "You..aren't?"

Daisy looked up through her bangs at Luigi's face. "What, taking major steps towards my future and my chances at matrimony? No, I am. I mean, why else would I want to meet your parents? No, I just think it's funny that my Dad's so willing to let go of his unending rage to let me grow up a little."

"Isn't that-a the point of-a parenting? To help-a your children grow up?"

"I guess," Daisy agreed with a sigh. "You're gonna be the good parent, aren't you, hun?"

"You can-a be the fun one," he answered.

She laughed and sat up so she could kiss Luigi better. Maybe her dad didn't see it, but she was certainly more grown up than he thought. Daisy already knew exactly how she wanted to spend the rest of her life…this past week of adventuring was just practice.

xxxx0o0o0o0o0o0o0xxxx

"…and after Bowser told me it was the last time, of course he hired me back the very next day," Kammy continued.

Graciously, Kamek laughed. They had indeed finished their duties early, as they had decided to join together and finish them. It was surprisingly easier to complete and suddenly, the magikoopas had all sorts of extra time to spend in the evening. Currently, they were sitting in one of the outside rooms of the VolcanoPalace, watching the lights of the city dance on the smoke. "I believe it," he added. "When Bowser was barely five years old he had me fired. Then, the very next day, he fired his replacement for not being me. It's safe to say he hasn't changed much."

Kammy chuckled. She swirled her wand around her empty glass, refilling it with purple liquid to sip. "I don't know what there is about him that makes him irresistible. He has so many bad traits."

"Irresistible?" Kamek replied, trying not to sound jealous. Kamek and Kammy weren't exactly at 'KamekandKammy' status, but they were making considerable progress. He had brushed her hand and she had left it there for a solid 6.3 seconds already; remarkable progress from the day before where she had purposely burnt his finger for accidently hitting the hem of her robe.

"Every koopa woman I know has, at one point, been crazy about him. And then there's Peach… I still don't know what her deal is."

"Well, she's leaving tomorrow," Kamek added unhelpfully. "I guess we'll be able to figure a lot out from what it's like without her. And what she's like without him."

"What do you mean?"

"If it's love," he explained, "they won't last without each other. It'll kill them to be apart after a week like this."

"So…do you think they're in love?" Kammy asked.

"I do," Kamek answered quietly. "I've lived a long time and seen a lot of relationships. And I recognize the way they look at each other, the way she talks about him to me. I recognize it, Kammy…as love."

She could feel his eyes on her, looking for more than her reply. Oh, she knew what he was insinuating, but Kammy wasn't sure how she felt about any of this- a part of her still wished Bowser was hers, but a much larger part of her wanted things to remain just as they were at that moment. Watching the city lights with Kamek on a quiet night was so easy and it felt so right. It seemed too right. Kammy had spent her whole life fighting against other peoples' expectations, and now it was like she was walking right in what was 'supposed' to happen with her love-life.

They continued talking later into the night until Kammy and Kamek agreed they ought to go to bed. Yet, their conversation didn't seem over yet and Kamek desperately didn't want it to be. He proceeded to walk Kammy to her room.

She touched her wand to the door, unlocking it, and stood in the doorframe. Silence. Kammy smirked at Kamek. "What are you thinking right now, geezer?"

Kamek gulped, his Adam's apple dramatically bobbing. "I…I'm thinking about how hideous you must look in your pajamas."

"You'd probably like to see for yourself, wouldn't you, perv?" Kammy's smile went wide as she evilly lowered her eyebrows. "But I'm afraid my beauty would be too much for you to be able to sleep after seeing."

"Hey Haggy McHagson," Kamek interrupted. Kammy rolled her eyes in silent reply. "You know that story of the princess and the frog?"

"What, you wanna see if I kiss you you'll end up handsome prince? Sorry, buck-tooth. It doesn't work unless you're as attractive as a frog."

"That's why I wanted to try it on you," Kamek sneered. He was hoping she couldn't hear his heart beating fast…it was probably too forward, but he knew there might not be a better chance.

"I couldn't risk it, fatso," Kammy replied. "In that story, the frog turns into a prince just like the chick's a princess. Turning into whatever ugly crap you are…not on my to-do list." She smirked at him, clutching the doorframe.

"As you wish," Kamek chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Goodnight, Princess Frog-face." He took the door handle and shut it, leaving Kammy in her room.

She stared at the wood, a smile still on her face. She replayed this final bit of their conversation in her head, suddenly deciding she ought to have the last word. If she threw the door open, grabbed his face and kissed him, there would be no question that she was in charge of the relationship. That sounded perfect!

But when Kammy dramatically threw the door open as planned, there was nothing but the settling blue dust of Kamek's poof away.

xxxx0o0o0o0o0o0o0xxxx

Music blared from the pit in front of the stage and all of Flurrie's Finest rushed out to receive their applause. Peach pleasantly clapped for each of the actors in turn, and noticing one whom she had particularly enjoyed, turned to see Bowser's reaction. All she saw was his head slumped on his chest as he slept.

She rolled her eyes and laughed a bit, only slightly surprised he had managed to sleep through the entire end of the show. She elbowed him fiercely, and he immediately woke up, roaring about mustard and fish cakes. Peach laughed again, waiting as he slowly realized what had happened and began clapping with the rest of the audience.

As the actors that came out to center stage raised in importance, Peach stood up. "What are you doing?" Bowser hissed from his seat. "Why are you standing? Are we leaving?"

"No, silly!" she answered back, loud enough for him to hear over the jolly finale music. "I'm giving them a standing ovation."

"Why? They weren't that good," he asked, continuing his golf clap.

"For the same reason you're still clapping; it's polite," she replied. "Besides. I thought the male lead was…very good."

"You just liked him in his tight little man pants!" Bowser accused with indignation.

Peach laughed, but didn't answer Bowser. In truth, he was quite attractive for a human; but she didn't have much experience with human men besides the Mario brothers. Most likely, Bowser was just jealous because he wasn't a human. Besides, Flurrie had come out so she needed to direct her attention to applauding her as she bowed…and bowed…and bowed.

Finally, the curtain closed on the supporting cast, leaving Flurrie with arms outstretched as the applause died. She floated over to the microphone in the center of the stage. "Thank you for your kind and loving attention. Your taste in entertainment is truly unmatched…and now if those with back-stage passes would congregate outside my dressing room, I've got some more great things to tell you all about!"

Peach sighed, feeling quite comfortable in her seat and not at all wanting to go over to where Flurrie was. "Bowser, I'm kind of tired," she said.

"You should have napped during the show like I did," he responded with a grin. "It was more entertaining than watching that purple fart-cloud float around and pretend to sing."

Peach rolled her eyes. "She's actually fairly talented, Bowser. But really…I just wanna go home. Is that okay with you?"

Bowser didn't answer. He felt cold as he heard Peach's words. She was already going home tomorrow, and that was bad enough. Was she homesick? Or just sick of him? His mind was still going when she interrupted, "We can catch a subway or get a clown-car taxi or something, right?" It dawned on Bowser that by 'home', she really meant his Palace. Even if it was just a fluke and slip of the tongue, that realization made him more than happy to take her 'home'.

He put his arm around her and squeezed, agreeing, "yeah, let's just go home."

They did their best to sneak out of the auditorium, snaking through chairs and trying their best to blend in with the audience members who weren't in the backstage pass group, pretending to be a lot more delinquent than most likely necessary.

Once out of the auditorium, they were able to see the full effect of the nighttime Downtown Darklands. Everything was lit and just as bright as it was mid-day, but with the eerie skies of night and the lively and excited crowd replacing the families and workers they'd seen on the streets during the day. Bowser took Peach to a closed-down building he apparently owned, as he was able to unlock it with his own set of passwords. "Don't worry, we're just going to the roof for the Clowncopter," he promised, noticing she looked a bit distant.

"I'm not scared, Bowser," Peach replied with a bit of a smile. "I'm just…thinking."

The building was dark, but Bowser took Peach's hand and knew just where to go. He kept a low flame burning out of his open mouth; he couldn't talk, but the lighting worked excellently. They walked in silence to the roof, Peach apparently too absorbed in her own thoughts to engage in a one-sided conversation.

They reached the roof and Bowser flipped a switch. He swallowed his flame as the lights went on, illuminating the roof and the circled "H" symbol they were just a few feet away from. "What are you thinking about?" He asked, curiously.

Peach didn't answer right away. She pulled her hand out of Bowser's so that she could hold her arms, looking very shy and bashful with whatever her thinking was. "Just thinking about…tomorrow."

"Oh," Bowser answered. They stood in silence, Bowser sheepishly running his hand up his own arm. The two minutes or less that it took the clown copter to arrive felt much longer than that, as both royals had a longer, more awkward silence than they'd had to deal with for practically the whole week.

Apparently the clown copter had been on autopilot, because no one was inside. Bowser climbed in, tilting it down with his weight. He lifted Peach and helped her in, setting her down lovingly with a bit of a laugh. "I think this is the first time I've helped you into one of these without a word of complaint."

Peach took hold of the edge of the copter. "That's not the only thing that's a first this week," she replied with a smile.

Bowser took a hold of the controls and lifted them off the roof. Peach watched the city below them, lights dancing and blurring as they flew. "It's a lot better view when you're not frantic and scared for your life."

"You won't be scared for your life the next time I come pick you up, right?" Bowser asked, staring ahead at the skies, but smiling all the same.

Peach laughed, "I don't think I have a reason to, really." She thought for a moment before adding quietly, "Everything's changed, hasn't it?"

"What do you mean?"

"We…like each other. That's not the same."

"I've always liked you, Princess," Bowser replied with amusement.

"Well, yeah, but you admitted you loved me. Kidnapping-"

"If you ever came willingly, it wouldn't be kidnapping," Bowser reminded her. "Maybe sometime you could come…for a visit. Me and the kids- especially me- we'd love that. No coup d'etat necessary every time. Though, if you WANT to hand over the Mushroom Kingdom, just say the word."

Peach laughed, shaking her head. Then she sighed. "Right now, I'm not sure I want anything to do with the Mushroom Kingdom."

"What do you mean?" Bowser asked, glancing back at Peach in shock before quickly looking back to the skies. They were almost at the open Volcanopalace hangar. "You love the Mushroom Kingdom! It's like your baby!"

Peach giggled at the imagery. "I know; I don't mean I want to…get rid of it or anything. I just…I'm not sure I want to go back yet."

Bowser was quiet for a bit, mulling over what she could possibly mean. "Technically," he mumbled, "you're not going back to the Mushroom Kingdom until the end of next week."

"That's right," Peach agreed with a slight groan.

"What's that tone for?" Bowser asked. "Aren't you going on an exotic vacation with all your favorite people?"

She replied only with silence. When Peach really got to thinking about it, she wasn't sure who was included in that list of her favorite people anymore. They were quiet for the short bit of time left in the flight, and Bowser helped Peach out of the copter with a weak smile.

"I don't want you to go back, either," he said quietly. "You have no idea how much I'll miss you."

Peach bit her lip, trying desperately not to get overly emotional. After all, this wasn't a planned vacation with a friend- it was practically a kidnapping! She held onto Bowser and he hugged her close. "I'm so tired, Bowser," she explained. "Tired for so many reasons. Tired of being lied to, tired of feeling forced into a cookie-cutter life, tired of being the damsel in distress saved by her knight, tired of being disappointed, tired of disappointing. But most of all, I'm just plain tired. I need my sleep."

"I'll walk you to your room, Princess," he muttered into her hair. Bowser didn't have any idea how to handle Peach's sudden confession…it was most likely just brought on from exhaustion anyway.

"I don't want to do that, either."

"Peach, you can't stay awake all night complaining about how tired you are," he replied with amusement.

"But going to sleep means I'm that much closer to tomorrow. I don't want to leave here…I feel appreciated. No one's lying to me about their problems, their joys, or their emotions. This week I've been allowed to be just who I want to be for the reasons I have. Nobody's pressuring me…well, not really. But anyway, I just don't want to close my eyes and when I open them, I know that'll all be that much closer to gone.

"But most of all, I don't want to sleep because that's just more time…more time away…from you. I feel like I need you. I don't know how I'll go a week without hearing you tell me how much you feel, and I don't want to start that…emptiness any earlier than I have to."

Bowser groaned. He had never hoped Peach would feel the wrenching pits of love that he had to deal with. "Trust me, I know exactly how you feel." He pulled her closer, running a claw through her hair. "But you still have to go to sleep. I'll walk you to your room."

They took hands and left the hangar, engaging in the smallest of small talk as Peach felt rather like she was walking to her funeral. Although it took much longer than usual, the walk was over all too soon.

Peach opened her door slowly, Bowser watching her in awkward silence. The way she was fiddling with the handle reminded him of the way Wendy would try and hint to the guys who dropped her off from evenings out that they wanted a goodnight kiss, but he didn't have the guts to impose anything like that on Peach. Besides, it wouldn't help either of them that much. She wasn't stalling for a kiss…she just wanted to be with Bowser a little longer. And he was certainly okay with her wanting that.

Opening the door, Peach was still moving as slow as she could. She looked into Bowser's eyes, searching for something, anything, that she could latch onto to feel more like he was there for her through the night. Unless… "Bowser," she queried, "Do you think you could…stay with me tonight?"

"As in stay in your room? To sleep there?" Bowser asked, his voice almost squeaking. Peach nodded in reply, a smile tugging at her cheeks. He didn't bother hiding his enthusiasm. "I think that would be amazing!"

Peach smiled, grabbing her door. "Well, I have to get ready for bed then."

"Okay," Bowser replied, a goofy grin on his face, standing still in Peach's doorway.

"Which means I need you to give me some privacy. And get ready yourself."

"Oh. OH. Okay." Bowser stumbled away, often looking over his shoulder at Peach's closing door. She watched him leave, his tail flipping every which-way. When she closed the door and faced her room, getting ready for bed as fast as she could seemed like the most exciting thing she could possibly do.

xxxx0o0o0o0o0o0o0xxxx

By the time Luigi got back to his shared guest room, Mario was already in his pajamas. "What was-a wrong with Daisy?" he asked, looking up from the television.

Luigi shook his head. "Her father said-a some…harsh things. She felt inadequate."

"What did-a she do?" Mario asked.

Luigi rarely kept anything from his older brother, but he didn't think telling Mario what he and Daisy had conspired would do him any good to know. There was enough drama between Daisy and her father as it was…no need to upset Mario before they left to visit their parents. So instead he just shook his head.

Mario took the quiet easily and kept looking at the television. "Was he talking about-a the gems?"

"Well…yes…and other things-a, too."

"Good thing we were-a here, wasn't it? To save-a the universe."

"Yeah," Luigi replied, scratching the back of his neck. "Things like-a this tend to happen when-a we're around."

"Almost like it was-a planned," Mario added with a smirk.

Luigi felt caught and he was sure if Mario hadn't suspected, his sudden paling would give them away. "Heh…yeah…al-a-most. But, of-a course, it wasn't."

"Mama Mia, wouldn't that-a be fun though?" Mario rolled onto his back and grinned. "Everywhere-a you go is an adventure. One day there is a princess to-a save, one day it's the fate of-a the universe. Never a dull-a day."

"We'd never get any plumbing done, brah," Luigi reminded him with a smile. Maybe he didn't suspect.

"I would not-a mind if the only kind of-a pipe we saw was a warp-pipe."

"So…you wouldn't mind if you had-a fake adventures all just-a planned?"

"Not at all. Why?"

Luigi opened his mouth, then considered Daisy's tears. Even if Mario was over the moon that Luigi and Daisy had risked the entire universe for his entertainment, he didn't want to risk one iota of Daisy's trust. She could tell him herself…eventually.

Author's Note: Oh gosh. I have this fear I'm going to upload the wrong chapter one day and I almost did. Y'all were THISCLOSE to getting what little I have written for 40 instead of 39. Heh. That would be confusing.

And as a proper author's note, I feel I should tell you that yes, Bowser and Peach are going to sleep in the same bedroom. But besides some fluff, there's nothing going on that Peach wouldn't approve of. I normally wouldn't tell you that kind of thing upfront, but in novels and such you get to read the next chapter right away, so there's no room for speculation. In our case, you have a month to wonder WHAT they're going to do, and I don't want y'all to get freaked out or get your hopes up TOO much. A little is acceptable. C:

Also, I appreciate all the comments I've been getting lately. Very well-thought out and appreciative! I wish I had time to GIVE comments like these, but I don't. It just reminds me even more how wonderful you guys are for reading this monster of a story and keeping me motivated to finish. So thanks, guys. :)

-Razzi