A comforting sense of warmth washed over Luigi as he slowly regained consciousness. The pain in his side was now a dull ache, the frigid cold that gnawed at his flesh and bones had faded and the howling wind that bombarded his ears had finally silenced. A gentle weight was draped over his body while a soft cushion supported him, wherever he was laying.

Opening his eyes slowly his vision steadily focused on Mario, sitting beside him with a mug of tea in his hands. "M-Mario?"

"Weege! You're awake!" Mario put his hand on Luigi's shoulder in a supportive, joyous manner. "'Bout time, bro."

"Where am I?" He asked confusedly as he glanced about the room. He saw that a soft blue blanket was draped over him, as well as a white lab coat.

"Doctors lounge. No more rooms were available." Mario patted the side of the couch Luigi was resting on. "Good thing we're both honorary doctors here."

"How long..." He tried to sit up but didn't have the strength and nearly fell backward completely. "How long was I out?"

Mario helped Luigi to sit up right by supporting Luigi's shoulders and guiding him forward, the coat and blanket sliding off his body in the process. "About four hours." He handed Luigi the tea and smiled as Luigi's tried hands slowly accepted the offered item. "You're going to be fine, and the everyone is already showing signs of recovery!"

"Daisy? Peach? They're going to be okay?"

"Yeah, they're going to be okay." Mario smiled and wrapped the blanket around Luigi's shoulders. "Peach can breathe without any problems and Daisy's body temperature is almost back to normal already."

Luigi sighed wearily and bowed his head over the tea, enjoying the pleasant scent of the tea. "I wasn't too late..."

"No. You were just in time." Mario glanced at the thick white gauze wrapped around Luigi's abdomen. "Rough trip?"

Luigi's eyes locked onto the gauze and all he could do was smirk. "Something like that." He put one hand on his side and sighed. "Did I break anything?"

"Nah, you got lucky."

"Yeah, lucky..." Luigi repeated as he patted his side.

"You have a pretty impressive laceration running down your side, but you didn't break anything." Mario stood up from his chair and offered his hand to Luigi. "Want to go check on the Princesses?"

Luigi looked up from the tea and locked eyes with his brother. Instinctively he reached for his overall pocket and gripped the gift still safely tucked away. "Yeah, I do." He started blushing. "I've been meaning to give Daisy her gift for some time now!"

Mario grabbed Luigi's hand and helped his younger brother stand up. "I'm impressed! Thought for sure you would've lost that in the fall."

Luigi patted his pocket confidently. "Can't lose this. I made a promise."

"Here." Mario grabbed the lab coat and helped Luigi slide it on over his shoulders. "Your shirt was pretty torn up. This will help keep you warm until I can get you a new one from home."

"Yeah, wish I looked more presentable." Luigi grimaced at his rough facade. "But I guess it can't be helped."

"Well, I don't think either Daisy or Peach would mind if you looked a little banged up." Mario could see the gears turning in Luigi's head as they walked side by side down the corridor. "Why are so worried? Luigi, you were acting a little strange before we even left the house this morning! What's up?"

"I... Uh..." Luigi's nervousness was starting win out over his otherwise calm demeanor. "I wanted to give this to Daisy," Luigi showed Mario the box and slipped it back into his pocket. "but I wanted the moment to be perfect."

"You mean your date?"

"Yeah."

Mario stumbled as he walked as he finally figured out why the gift was so important. He patted Luigi's shoulder in approval and laughed a little. "Well, I don't know why you'd be so nervous! We know how this will play out, bro! Just go for it!"

Toadsworth and Toadston were both elated to see their Princesses finally awake and quickly regaining strength. The loyal wards were standing at their bedsides proudly, smiling broadly and brightly.

"Ah, good to see you're both awake Your Highnesses." Dr. Toadley strolled into the room with a an air of confidence that he hadn't felt in days. "How are you feeling?"

Peach replied softly, her voice slightly hoarse from the wheezing. "I'm much warmer, thank you."

Daisy just smiled as she sat upright in her bed. "Much better!"

"That's just what I wanted to hear!" Dr. Toadley beamed. "It seems all of Toad Town is now on the mend! And, just to be sure that something like this never happens again we've already prepared many more inoculations to be put in storage in the event of another epidemic."

Toadsworth nodded in approval. "Good show!"

Gentle knocking on the opened door drew everyone's attention to the arriving guests.

"Oh!" Peach's eyes brightened considerably. "Mario! Luigi!"

"Luigi!" Daisy called out gleefully. "You're safe!"

Mario helped Luigi walk into the room and to Daisy before he joined Peach at her side.

Daisy put her hand on the side of Luigi's face affectionately. "Mario told us what you did. I know that even though you'd never expect it from anyone, we can never find a way to thank you enough! You're a true hero!"

"She's right!" Peach agreed wholeheartedly. "We're always safe with the Super Mario Brothers in our lives!"

"Here, here!" Toadsworth agreed sincerely.

Toadston nodded. "Couldn't have said it better myself!"

Luigi blushed further and reached back into his pocket, his hand firmly gripped the box within. "Daisy. I'm sorry that our date was cut short."

"Oh, it's not like we could've done anything about it." Daisy dismissed his unnecessary apology kindly. "I'm just glad we're all together still."

"So am I." Luigi took the gift from his pocket. "Because I made a promise to you and I intend to keep it. I also have something I must ask you."

"What is it?" Daisy was a little confused by Luigi's actions. "You know you can ask me anything!"

"Yeah, I know." Luigi opened the small black box, revealing a flawless diamond ring, and presented it to Daisy in his strong hands as he took a knee and kneeled down beside her. "Princess Daisy Lillian Bloom, will you marry me?"

Mario, Peach, Toadsworth, Toadston and even Dr. Toadley watched in silent awe at the proposal taking place before them.

Already knowing the answer Mario and Peach held hands, and held on even tighter than usual.

"L-Luigi?!" Daisy's shock was palpable as she pressed her hands to her face in absolute surprise. She struggled to find her voice, but when she did it was booming with unparalleled joy and confidence. "Of course I will!"

-The End