Adventurous Stories In Babysitting

By: Virtualboy2558

/

Disclaimer: Super Mario RPG is Copyrights of Nintendo, Square, and Shigeru Miyamoto. I do not own, nor profit, from any or all of the characters mentioned.

/

The flight over the Mushroom Kingdom was once again a brief one. But of course… anything is brief when a life is at stake.

Valentina was holding onto Femi tightly, so to not let her go, while they were sailing above the rooftops. The Toad mother was a little jumpy when it came to heights. It was one of the reasons why she never went on an airplane in her life. But she tried not thinking about it. Right now… she wanted to find her son.

It didn't take long to sight what they were looking for. Once again, there was a gathering of people within Downtown Mushroom Kingdom… in the exact same spot as before. Many Toads, Koopas, and other species were staring up in horror as the police tried to coax the young individual out from the top of the Kerokero Cola billboard. When the two women landed near the crowd of citizens, Femi gasped as she put a hand to her mouth.

"My boy… that's my poor baby boy!" she cried. She could see Timmy up on the rusted metal rafters, his body turned away from the people below him.

One of the police-Toads heard her and walked down to meet the distressed female. "Is that your child, miss?" he asked.

"Yes, that's my child!"

"Are you Ms. Femi Nini T., by any chance?"

"Yes, that's who I am."

The Toad cop wrote something down on a small notepad. "Are you aware that your child has been stuck up there for 7 hours and refuses to come down?"

"No, I wasn't aware!" Femi quavered, trying hard not to cry. "I was just brought here by one of my neighbours." She looked to the bubbly girl for support, who confirmed with a simple nod. "Have you thought of any way to bring him down?"

"I'm afraid not, miss," the officer confirmed. "He wouldn't accept being brought down by the fire department or the entire police squad. He's just standing there for… something. We're not sure what he plans to do, so we were just keeping a close eye on him until one of his parents showed up."

"Do you mind if I could try speaking to him, sir?" Valentina wondered. "I'm a close friend of his."

The Toad cop scratched his head. "You could try, though I don't know what good it might do. Do you need help up there with the fire ladder?"

She waved a hand. "No, it's okay. I have my own means of transport." She was about to take off with her wings before the Toad mother clutched her arm to stop her.

"Please let me go up with you. I want to be near my son."

"Not just yet, Femi," she explained. "I can't let Timmy think you came here because I brought you here. I'll first try reasoning with him… and if that doesn't work, I'll let you speak to him, okay? Just give me about 10 minutes please."

As much as she wanted to protest of this, she realised the bouncing beauty was right. Reluctantly, she let go of her and gave her space.

"Alright then… just let him know I'm here."

With another nod, Valentina bent down and shot upwards with high velocity until she was at the right height. She kept herself hovering over the billboard, getting closer and closer to it. Ever so gently, she touched her feet down on the rickety ledge, just on the other side of where Timmy was sitting down. The Toad boy was alerted of the creaking sound behind him and turned to his left to see his former babysitter standing there. He looked away just as quickly in sadness.

"No… no… why did you came here? How did you find me?" he moaned, his hands covering his face.

"I figured since you knew this place… that it would grab a lot of attention here," she speculated. "I don't think you'd be the kind of person who would jump off and commit suicide alone. Plus… I pretty much saw you on the way here." It was the half-truth… but she wasn't going to let him know about his mother just yet.

She carefully walked down the walkway and sat down with him, placing a tender hand on his shoulder. "What gave you the idea of killing yourself, Timmy?"

He rubbed an eye after some tears leaked out. "I… I just want you to be our babysitter again…"

The bubbly girl let out a sigh. "I know you do… but you don't need me to watch you anymore," she spoke softly. "You'll get other babysitters to look over you and Tutti… but you can still visit me anytime."

"Not if my mom keeps hating you all the time. It's still not right," he sniffled. He wrapped his arms around his legs while continuing to keep himself from facing her.

She was silent for a few minutes, thinking about what next to say. She turned herself to the direction of where the large crowd was beneath them and let her legs dangle over the edge. She twiddled her thumbs while she did this.

"You know… last night when you came into my room in the rain… I was thinking about killing myself too…"

"Huh?" That made Timmy's head perked up and look at her. "W-Why, though?"

Valentina shrugged a bit. "Not quite sure… I think it was because I felt like I'd never see you or Tutti again," she elaborated. She clasped her arms to hug herself. "I've had friends in the past who left me… and they've said they'd be with me forever… but turns out they were either only using me or someone else didn't like me very much. And… it was gut-wrenching enough when I had to run from your mother and not be able to come back to your house again."

She went to fixate her blue eyes on him and gave a small smile. "I was actually very glad when you showed up near my window that night. It really felt good knowing you were willing to still be my friend… even though I've lied to you about my real image."

"Hehe… I don't think I could have stopped being your friend if I tried," the Toad boy chuckled. "You've been sort of growing on me long before we official met…"

"But then… why would you be wanting to go about your way of committing suicide, when you know that'll only hurt me deeply inside?" she asked, her smile vanishing. Her eyes were full of pain. "It wouldn't do good for your family and friend to hear about your death and make them miss you dearly. Especially if it was me and your mother, you know."

Timmy sighed deeply, feeling so much grief after realizing the facts she told him. "I'm not sure either… in fact, I'm not sure of anything anymore. After being up here for so long, you'd think my mom would know and care in a heartbeat. But I haven't seen her this whole time…"

The bouncing beauty felt like it was the right time to divulge her secret. "She's actually here right now…"

"What? You're serious?" he blurted out, quickly lifting himself to his feet.

She only pointed out to the gathering below them. Timmy carefully treaded on the rafters and scanned the group of people to get a better look. When he found his mother standing with worry at the far back, he gasped.

Femi must have known that her son was currently watching her, because she began waving her arms frantically and shouting out to him.

"What's she saying? I can't hear her!"

Valentina then motioned to the Toad mother by pointing her thumb up, signalling her to speak louder. Femi looked around until she spotted a police Toad with a megaphone. She ran up to him and got his attention.

"Excuse me, but do you mind if I could borrow that for a while?" she questioned, indicating the amplifying device. "I need to talk to my son up there."

"Sure. Use it for as long as you want," he approved. He handed it to her.

"Thank you very much." By moving at a distance, she clicked on the megaphone and began speaking through it. Her voice echoed and overpowered the noisy chatter of the crowd. "Timmy? Can you hear me now? It's your mom!"

Cupping his hands together, the Toad boy shouted as loud and clear as he could. "Yes, Mom! I can hear you now!"

All eyes of the Mushroom Kingdom citizens turned over to the young Toad mother while she conversed with her child. "I really would like it if you can come down, honey!" she spoke in a choked voice. "I want you to come back home! I'm so scared to see you like this!"

"I don't want to come back home!" he yelled. "Not until you say sorry to Valentina and stop hating her!"

"I don't hate her! I was only trying to protect you! I'm always deeply concerned for your well-being when she's with you!"

A spillage of tears fell down Timmy's eyes. "That's a lie, Mom! Don't lie to me! You've already proved to me that you hated her right when I saw you screaming and chasing after her! And you've never cared a lot for me! Not since Dad left us when I was Tutti's age!"

His hurtful words pierced her heart like daggers, and she couldn't keep herself from sobbing a little. "Then I'll be more caring for you from now on," Femi wept. "I can change, Timmy. Just give me a chance."

"No! I've gave you countless chances and you blow it every time! Why would this time be any different?" he accused. He turned his back to her, unable to look at her again.

The female Toad heaved and whimpered when it felt like he didn't want to speak to her anymore. She got down on her knees, dropping the megaphone to the ground, and let out her emotions with a long aching cry. One police Toad nervously went down to pat her back in sympathy.

The bouncing beauty was worried. The situation didn't seem like it was going anywhere fast. If this conflict was to be resolved once and for all, she'll need to get both of them to open up a little to each other. It wasn't going to be easy… and will be a very subtle procedure to fiddle with.

"You know that wasn't a nice thing to say to her, right?" she pointed out.

Timmy said nothing for a while, until after he breathed a long sigh of guilt. "I know… I didn't wanted to, but… it's true though. I can't even be able to think of one time she did something with me… or comforted me when I was sad…" He closed his eyes to search through his memories and shook his head. "I can only think of the times she had misunderstood, punished, or lectured me. Sigh… I'll only come down if she can come up with at least 3 things she's did for me that weren't so depressing…"

"Then you're not giving her that many choices…"

"I've already made up my mind. She can try talking to me all she wants…," he said, a hint of stubbornness in his tone. "And it won't change anything until she can come up with those 3 memories."

Valentina tried to find another solution so they could compromise, but she also didn't want to break this delicate process. After all, the love between a parent and child should be straight from the heart… and not faked in any way.

"I'll be back in a moment, Timmy," she muttered. "Just remember to listen to her when she speak to you."

She flapped her wings and flew down to meet up with Femi again, who was now at the front of the crowd. The female Toad was still crying from her son's unpleasant speech, and became shaken when the bubbly girl landed next to her.

"Sniff… I d-don't know why he's d-doing this to me," she grieved. "I just w-want him to be in my a-arms again…

It was at this point that Valentina explained to her what she needed to do to get Timmy off the billboard. When all the details were clarified, Femi looked totally clueless.

"But… but why t-though? That's j-just silly! I can't t-think of three i-instances of b-being with my son at the t-top of my head!"

"Well, you better think of them quickly," the bouncing beauty sternly told her. "Because if you don't, your son won't have any more reason to be with you. Any mother should be able to remember all their wonderful times they've been with their children. All you need to do is tell it like it is… and don't force him to climb down," she added, sharply poking Femi's chest with her finger.

The motherly Toad meekly shuffled herself closer to the billboard, until she was straight below the rafters, and once again turned on her megaphone.

"S-Son? Are you s-still there?"

Timmy's head popped out from the edge to look down upon his guardian. There was slight bitterness in his eyes. "Yes, Mom. What is it now?"

Forcing a brave smile the best way she could, she recalled one memory that was for sure one of the most happiest moments she had with him. "R-Remember the time w-when you're were only 2 years old? When you h-had your teddy bear Tim-Tim r-ripped up… and I helped fixed him for you?"

The long-lost memory came back to him. "Yeah… but that was because you've ran him over with the lawnmower while trimming the lawn," he answered grumpily.

"Maybe so… but you were so joyous afterwards when I gave him back to you, good as new," she replied, her confidence coming back to her. "You may have been in tears for 40 minutes after seeing Tim-Tim all shredded to pieces… but you've never stopped hugging me after I sewed back his seams and re-stuffed him. I was even able to salvage his name tag too…"

Timmy's eyes widened a little, feeling a little emotion creep up to his heart…

/

There was a flashback of him when he was still in diapers… Tutti wasn't born just yet, and he was pretending to have a little picnic lunch with his toys. Then… SSSHHHRRRIIIPPP! Fluffs of cotton and wool went everywhere… and he became horrified when he saw the head of Tim-Tim wedged in the blades of the old-fashioned lawnmower his mother was pushing. The baby Toad boy wailed at the loss of his stuffed animal.

"WHAAAAAA!"

Femi, who was now 5 months pregnant with her daughter, rushed over to him and cradled him in her arms.

"Shhh! It's okay, Timmy! Don't panic! I can fix him up in no time!" she soothed.

"But Tim-Tim g-gone now…," her son sniffled, his lip trembling.

"He's not gone. He's just got a little boo-boo. If you let me help him, I can probably patch him up and make him all better."

Setting Timmy down, she gathering up all the pieces of the teddy bear that she could find and went into the house to get her sewing kit.

After an hour or so of waiting, the Toad boy's tearful mug became an enthusiastic one when he saw Tim-Tim gently laid down before him… looking exactly the same as he was before getting run over by the gardening tool. Femi watched with a smile as he cuddled his fluffy friend… and became surprised when he clambered to her leg and squeezed it lovingly.

"Thank you, Mommy. Me love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart. I always will…," she uttered, rubbing his head with a tender hand before kissing it.

/

The present day Timmy found himself wiping his face with his sleeve. Although it was years since that happened, he couldn't believe it all came back to him in vivid detail. But he hadn't quite forgiven his mom just yet.

"Alright then… tell me another time you've been there for me!" he called out to her.

It was a little harder this time for Femi to think of another happy recent moment with her family, but she managed to cling onto one. "Ah… that time when we were preparing for Tutti's second birthday. I remember clearly… you were so scared of what to get for her… and I've made a suggestion for you of what she really wanted. And when she opened it, she was so glad you got it for her, and you thanked me for coming up with the idea."

/

The next flashback shows Timmy again, this time at 4 years of age. He was currently in his room pacing around… and he was all flustered.

"Oh… what to do? A new ribbon for her hair? No…," he stammered. "A new Game Boy? Nuh-uh… Mommy would say it's too much money. Umm… maybe I could give her my hamster Huey… No no! She would know it's mine! Ohhhh!"

At this point, Femi comes into his bedroom after hearing the Toad boy's cries of dilemma. She acted as though she heard nothing.

"What's the matter, honey? Did you lose your coat again?" she asked. Her son turned around and squealed when he saw her.

"Nuh-uh! My coat is in my closet, Mommy! So you don't need to check in there!"

"Then what are you so worried about?"

The small Toad gulped while clinging onto his arms, like they might fall off. "I… I don't know what to get for my sister for her birthday…," he mumbled in shame.

He was afraid that she would get angry at him for not coming up with a present for Tutti, and he cringed for her response… but she did no such thing to harm or belittle him. Instead, Femi walked to his bed and sat on it. She patted on the sheets for him to join her, and he did so.

"Well… perhaps I can give you a hint of what she asked me most for her gift," she claimed. "You can give it to her in your name so it won't trouble you anymore."

Timmy gasped. "But…but Mommy! That's your present for her! How would you be able to give her anything?"

She laughed lightly while rubbing his arm in a soft manner. "That's alright… me and your dad already have something for her, so don't worry too much." She leaned into his ear and dropped her voice to a whisper. "This is what you can give her…"

/

There were shavings of wrapping paper all over the place in the living room. Femi and Timmy were helping Tutti open up her gifts, since she couldn't be able to remove the decoration with her weak baby fingers. The father of the family wasn't here to see this momentous occasion… he was coming home late from his job at the hardware store.

The Toad girl cooed eagerly when she uncovered her next present: a pair of light-blue overalls, a pink shirt with a sunflower on it, and pristine white shoes with yellow laces.

"Yay! Thank you, Mommy!" she cheered. She jumped up and down, making her short auburn hair bounce. She was currently wearing nothing on her head, except for a few daisy flowers hanging on each side of her face.

"Hahaha… I'm glad you love it, my dear," her mother smiled. "Now… I believe your brother has something he wants to give you. He's hoping you'd be thrilled to see it."

She gestured her son to come up. Timmy, who was holding a box the size of his head, waddled over to his sibling and laid out his present near his sister. Tutti gave him a warm hug to show her love for him, which in turn made his cheeks a bright red. With both children pulling off the shiny yellow wrapping, they opened the flaps of the box and peered inside. The Toad girl gave an "Oh!" of astonishment.

Within the cardboard square… there was a bright, brand-new mushroom hat with pink spots dotting all over its surface. The texture was soft and squishy, perfect for any Toad's delicate head. And inscribed on the tag was Tutti's name, made in Timmy's handwriting in messy, yet legible letters.

"For me?" The Toad girl was staring at her brother like he was the most awe-inspiring person she ever saw. And before Timmy knew it, she embraced him again… this time with a tighter, more closer hold on his stomach, and she was nuzzling him like a kitten. A large smile was planted on her adorable face. "Ohhh… thank you very much, big brother! I will love you always!"

The Toad boy returned her affection by wrapping his arms around her as well. He looked up at his mother with a happy expression.

"Thank you, Mommy…," he muttered, and the two children continued to hugged each other until it was time to cut the cake.

/

Going back to present once more, and the troubled boy on the billboard was feeling his heartstrings being tugged. He was beaming a smile as he placed a hand to his chest. That was a wonderful day they had together… there were no horrible worries, no parents being divorced, no youth formulas to get mixed in… just simple family bliss.

That was two memories so far… two memories that he hope to cherish forever. Now there was one more to go…

"Okay… um…" He was now finding it almost impossible to come up with reasons of why she doesn't love him. "But hold on! You never mentioned any time you comforted me AFTER Dad left! So explain that one!"

Now it was becoming challenging for Femi to think about any good memories that were recent. She could only recall some just prior to her divorce, but anything after… caused her to draw a blank. Valentina could see she was struggling to keep convincing her son and became anxious. If this stops here… it was only going to keep their relationship apart.

"I… I… um… uhh…" Come on, Femi, she thought. Think… think… your son is waiting for you. It was a tense few minutes that the Toad mother stuttered like that. And then…

"Gasp! Of course! That time you got a scrape on your leg while biking on that hill a year ago!" she exclaimed. "You received such a bad concussion, I had to get you to the hospital! They had to bandage you up like some poor burn victim! Ohh… you were so injured and dazed, Tutti thought you were dying… and I couldn't stop myself from barging into the ward you were in. I didn't think you would remember this… because the doctors say it may be a while before you could comprehend anything again." Her tears were flooding back from the tragic memory. "Sniff… but… I was on your bedstead the entire time… and I sang for you when it looked like you were having a nightmare… just to calm you in your sleep."

The details were all fuzzy within Timmy's brain… but when he really kept musing about it, he did thought that some womanly voice was calling out to him when he was unconscious that day.

"I sung you a lullaby each night… sometimes it was 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' or 'Little Boy Blue'… but you were most particularly fond of 'My Tiny Mushroom'. That was your favourite when you were a baby. So I thought you'd like to relive that…"

Suddenly, it all became sharp and clear. He definitely remembered the voice singing that tune. And when he did, it was when he got a glimpse of his mother's face for a brief moment.

"You… you sang that for me?" he choked.

"Yes, my dear… I have," Femi said, feeling so glad that her son had regained his memory. "And… I'm very sorry I didn't seem like I cared for you. It was all my fault… sniff… y-you're my special baby boy… and I s-shouldn't have t-turned you away when your father left… sniff…" She was trembling from all the guilt that she was holding, and couldn't keep her voice straight at all. "I'm such a h-horrible mother! P-Please forgive me, Timmy!"

The Toad boy couldn't bear it either. He collapsed on his knees, feeling so bad for causing so much anguish to her. "I'm sorry too, Mom! I… I just wanted you to know… I still care about you! And I won't make you suffer anymore! I love you!" The crowds around them began to go "Aww…" in the feeling of the moment.

"I l-love you too, son! Please c-come down so you c-can give your m-mother a hug!"

And then… everyone's heart stopped. As soon as Timmy got up, he made the rafters creaked and groan before… they finally snapped from too much exertion. It all happened in slow motion. He screamed as he began to plummet down to the rock-hard ground. The citizens' eyes bulged wide with horror, most especially Femi's.

As the Toad boy was falling, he could literally see his entire life flash before his very eyes. The day he was born and set into his mother's arms… his first steps as he reached out to his dad… his first words when he saw both parents smiling down upon him… when Tim-Tim was torn up… the day he got chicken pox… the moment he saw Tutti's birth into the world…

He was now 40 feet from hitting the pavement…

The day they went to the zoo to see the animals… the day he gave his gift to his sister on her second birthday… the time both children hid in the closet because of the boogeyman… the time he learned to ride a bike… when he lost his first tooth… his first day of school… the time that he was able to tie his shoelaces all by himself…

He closed his eyes when he reached 20 feet…

When Tutti held him after Huey died… the day he got lost on that camping trip… the night when his mother and father divorced each other… when he had that biking accident on Fungi Avenue… when Sam, Mutt and Pig threw rocks and chased him while he protected his sibling… and finally… that fateful day when he officially met Valentina and this whole mess got started.

He suspected that he must have been dead by now. Because he no longer felt like he was falling… more like rising up. He felt comfortably warm all around himself. And when he looked again at first glance, he saw angel wings flapping in and out of his vision.

But something was odd about this rise to heaven… Why did he still have his same clothes on? Why is it now that he was heading back down to the ground again? And… why was there two large pink orbs hanging down above his face?

"Huh? What the…?"

"You can open your eyes again, sleepyhead," a female voice purred cutely.

His position was shifted and he was now looking face to face with Valentina, who was smiling dearly at him. The Toad boy gaped at her with complete shock.

"V-Valentina! How… how did… am… am I dead?" he spluttered.

"Heehee… No… you're not, silly. I just saved you in the nick of time. It was easy to catch you when you were dropping below our heads."

"You… you saved me?"

"Yes, I did," the bubbly girl laughed. "Now come on… let's get you back to your mom. You sure gave her the scare of her life."

The pair gently swooped down to the crowd beneath, and hovered above the street until they slowly touched feet on the asphalt. Running towards them was Femi, who didn't stopped to apologize for knocking a few people to the ground. With long, streaking tears of both sadness and joy, she picked up her son and hugged him so close to her breast, it was like his whole cranium squished into her chest plate. The entire vicinity was filled with cheering and clapping for the reunion of both child and parent.

"Ohhh… oh, Timmy… my baby boy… my sweet, special, and loving baby boy…"

"Urf… Mamm!" Timmy whined in muffled words. "Yur sqishing by dose! Ah cn't bweath!"

"Oh, I'm sorry my dear!" she apologized. She relaxed her arms to give him breathing space, while at the same time rubbing his back like a newborn. Her eyes turned towards Valentina and she made a genuine smile. "You've saved my son… I can't express my gratitude enough for you. I've totally misjudged your character… and I regret saying all the harsh things about you."

The bouncing beauty shrugged. "Hehehe… it was nothing, miss. Just helping another fellow neighbour out."

Femi laughed slightly while cradling Timmy. "I still thank you nonetheless… and I grant your permission to visit us anytime you want. You've earned my trust. That's the least I can hope to give to a brave, kind soul such as yourself."

The Toad boy became amazed. "R-Really, Mom? She can see and baby-sit me and Tutti again?"

"I don't see any reason not to anymore," his mother admitted. "But of course, it's up to her to decide if… huh? Where did she go?"

Both she and Timmy looked around, but saw that Valentina was nowhere to be seen. Like she vanished from thin air.

The bubbly girl had actually taken off into the skies again, and sailed through the clouds in content, heading directly back to Mario's Pad. She couldn't stop grinning herself silly as she beat her wings in the high atmosphere.

"Looks like my job is done," she chuckled. "Time to see what my Luigi Squeegee is doing now. I think I've made him worried enough…"

/

Three Weeks Later…

/

The For Rent sign that hanged just on the curb was being yanked out by the realtor sales-Toad, just as the moving truck was backing up on the driveway. And standing on the lawn were Luigi and a very giddy Valentina, while they watched the movers bring in her personal stuff into her new home.

The apartment was a three-story modern building with plain white concrete. It had a few patches of flowering gardens that lined up on either side of the entrance, and a solid oak tree that grew in solitude a few feet away from the sidewalk. The property was located in a moderately populated area called Maple Avenue, which was not too far off from where Mario's Pad was, and only a five minute walk down to Timmy's home. For a starter home… it was quite the cute, cozy kind.

Luigi let out a long whistle. "Now I gotta say… this is sure a swanky pad!"

His girlfriend giggled and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Thanks, honey!" she bubbled. She clutched her arms to hug herself. "I'm so excited! I finally got a place to call my own!"

"Hehehe… you sure do!" he responded. "Although I can't help but admit… I'll miss the snuggling in bed a bit." A blush crept up his face when he said this.

She smirked at him like she always does when she playfully teases him. "You know… you can always move in with me when you feel like it, my green stud."

His blush deepened. "Calm down now… one step at a time."

A burly, unshaven moving Toad came up to the couple and handed out a couple letters. "Ahem… you got some mail, miss. Just came in by Paratroopa delivery." The bouncing beauty curiously took the envelopes and began opening one of them, while the Toad went back to the truck to help heave a trunk of fashionable clothes.

"That's odd," Luigi wondered, as he saw her unfolding the letter. "You only moved in here for a less than 30 minutes, and already you got postal service running. Wonder who it could be?"

"Shhh! I'm reading!" Valentina hissed. After a few lines, her eyes lit up with joy. "It's from E. Gadd!"

"Really? I guess he must have special delivered it to you with one of his wacky inventions. Mind you… I'm still puzzled with that 'youth formula' he gave you a while back. What did he ever do with it, by the way?"

"He scraped it. Says it's too dangerous for the outside world, or something like that… Here, why don't you read with me?" The duo lifted the piece of paper, so that both could have equal view of the message scrawled by the eccentric scientist:

"Greetings Valentina…

"How are you, my dear? Just heard you've got your own home to yourself! My, my… you sure grew up fast! Hahaha… just kidding. I'm fine, if you're wondering how I am. Business with ghost-catching is booming as usual, thanks to your green-clad knight (he's sure the charmer, isn't he? Hehehehe…), plus I've made a wonderful new organic species while you were away! Perhaps I can show you once you've settled in.

"Well, that's all I have to say at the moment. The world of science is always moving forward, and I better get moving so I don't get left in the dust. Congratulations on your new humble abode, and I'll try sending a fruit basket your way!"

Yours Truly,

Professor Elvin Gadd

"Well that was nice of him!" Luigi stated, placing his hands to his sides. "Which reminds me… oh darn!" His eyes widened in realization. "I forgot I was suppose to check in for work! Oh man, I got to get going before E. Gadd cans me for being late!"

But before he could rush off to the Professor's lab, the bubbly girl pulled him back and gave him another smooch, this time on the lips. "That's for later, my cute sweetie… Be sure to stop by when you're off this evening," she said in a cute, seductive manner. "Go get em', tiger."

Looking a bit awkward, but still appreciating her support all the same, Luigi gave a smile of determination and headed off to his occupation in a jog.

While she watched him disappear off the street, she began opening the second letter in her hands. This one was slightly thicker than the first, and had a messy font written in the address space. Valentina carefully unfolded the message, pulling out some extra content from within, and studied through the words:

"Dear Valentina…

"How's it going? I know it's been a while since we last met, but thought I could just give you a heads up if you want to see us again.

"I've been good in both home and in school. Tutti's been amazing some of the students and teachers in her classes, no doubt because of her vast book smarts. She's even helping me with my studies (though she won't tell me the answers for the upcoming Math quiz I have to prepare for), and is already bumped up to my grade level. No doubt Sam, Mutt and Pig will try to tease her for being a geek… but if they do, I'll be sure to give them a piece of my mind. And by my mind, I meant you, of course… hehehe…

"Mom is trying out one of the recipes you gave her, and says it was the most delicious dish she ever had! Maybe… if you're not too busy or anything… you can come over for dinner some time. I'd really be happy if you would join us.

"I got to go for now. Mom's now calling me to clean up my room… not that it's too messy or anything. She says hi, by the way. Tutti says hello as well, and she misses you and your awesome games too! And I want to say… thanks for making my wish come true, Valley."

Your friend and most favourite Toad,

Timmy Ice T.

P.S.: "Cross your heart, hope to die, stick a needle in your eye if you lie about not wanting to visit me. Hahaha… I'm only joking."

Valentina gave a happy smile to no one in particular. "Oh, I'll be there all right… don't you worry. This is the start of a beautiful friendship."

/

The End