This chapter might frustrate a lot of people; be warned. I don't like to rush things, though, so bear with me :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Mario or its franchise; it belongs to Nintendo and their affiliates. I just am really grateful to its creators for giving me such a wonderful game and media series to write about!

Chapter Twelve

"I don't know if I can do this."

"You'll be fine."

"No really, I don't know if I can-"

Alicia, petite but ever so bossy, blew out a sigh at Daisy's wavering. Daisy couldn't shake those last-minute reservations she had, though. A part of her was so afraid that this would all blow up in her face. She didn't want to risk losing all the progress she'd made with Luigi over the course of their relationship in one reckless night.

No, this isn't reckless, she thought reluctantly, there was a lot of effort put into this night.

Alicia went over to Daisy, who stood in front of the bathroom sink, and put her hands over the girl's shoulders. If her reassuring smile and sparkling dark eyes didn't lend Daisy some confidence, her next words certainly did.

"D, you are…flat gorgeous." She smiled, "I don't know if anybody told you that, but I'm being honest. There is no reason you should have anything to fear in that area."

"That's not what I'm worried about." Daisy admitted. "What if I do something he doesn't like? Or what if I'm too forward?"

"Forward is good with a shy boyfriend. Excuse me, modest." Alicia teased, "And there is nothing you can do tonight that your little pizza boy won't like. If you think there is, name it and I'll prove you wrong."

There was nothing Daisy could think of or had the gall to speak aloud on that subject, so she stayed quiet. Alicia was pleased.

"You're putting too much pressure on yourself," She told Daisy. "I know I kept making jokes about you jumping him, but you should know you don't have to do anything you're not ready to do; this is all about you spending time with the person you love."

Daisy relaxed at that. Since she'd stated it that way, the girl felt some of the tension leave her.

I'm gonna' be in control, she told herself, this isn't like before.

And there was the can of worms she'd been afraid to open.

"What is it?" Alicia asked, worried at the sudden change in Daisy's countenance.

Daisy shook her head and lied, saying, "Nothing. I'm totally fine. Totally nervous, but fine."

She threw in a fake little smile to go with that mistruth. Alicia, bless her heart, bought it completely and leaned in for a hug. Daisy felt her stomach turning, but kept her nerves under control for her friend's sake.

"Thanks again for all this," Daisy murmured.

Alicia said, "No problem. I'll see you at work tomorrow."

And then she was gone.

When Daisy heard the door slam shut, she went into the living room and locked it behind her companion. Then she went over to the couch and collapsed onto it. She was torn. Part of her felt sick at the implications of the situation in reference to what she'd previously been through, and part of her wanted to move on. She was having a hard time squashing down the memories of being scantily clad and at the mercy of a lecherous maniac, even though she knew the times were different.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, she thought in distress.

Her mind was cruel to her, replaying the abuse she went through at the hands of the late Dark King. Every kiss he'd stolen, all the instances where he'd put his hands all over her body without her permission, all the times where he made her feel things she knew she just ought not to with a murderer. Most of it was torture, but if she was completely honest with herself, she would have to admit that the former king...that he...This was seriously making her sick. She hurried to the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror.

From the sudden stress she'd paled considerably. She was shaking a little, and had worked up a sweat. But then she got mad. This wasn't reasonable, to let this continue to hold her back from being happy.

"Enough of this," She growled to herself. "He's dead. I'm not gonna' let him ruin this for me."

She knew his days of tormenting her were over. It was time to take control of her life to the point to where she could be happy with the man she loved, the one who loved her back and would never ever dream of hurting her. This, unlike her time incarcerated, was a healthy relationship. The things she wanted to do with Luigi and the things the Dark King forced on her were almost the same, ironically; the main difference was all in the dynamics of her connection to Luigi. She broke out into a tentative smile then, having gotten herself back to the present.

What is Luigi going to say when he comes home? I might just give him a heart attack, she predicted ruefully.

Only time would tell.

Wendy was stubborn, headstrong, and willful, but her will could only last so long. She'd locked herself in her room for hours, which meant she'd missed dinner. Her last meal was around noon, and that was a few pomegranate seeds she'd eaten with Munson. In short, she was starving. Her body was all achy from being asleep, since a nap had been her main activity in the time she'd been holed up in her bedroom. Now the girl rose from her covers and yawned.

I need to get something to eat, she knew, and so she rose. The girl headed to her dresser and stretched in front of the vanity. This wasn't like her room in the bunker. It was hardly customized to her liking but it felt less like a guest bedroom than it had when she first arrived. She was slowly making it her own. Part of what kept her from going all out was that, deep down, she didn't want to make this her permanent home. She still had hopes of moving to another world, that other world, the one where Luigi was from.

Ludwig might not be so keen on letting me go anymore, she thought sourly, he'd like to keep me stowed away in this palace like some sort of prisoner.

Wendy sighed and picked up her wooden hairbrush. She ran it through her long blonde hair but didn't bother getting the tangles out. She could barely see in her room; there wasn't much moonlight coming in through the slim window. She slipped her feet into the black trainers, her brother Roy's, and trudged out of her room in her cotton shorts and t-shirt. The shirt belonged to Larry.

"Umph!" she grunted, having bumped into someone.

The hard-bodied male hadn't moved an inch. She would've fallen if they hadn't taken hold of her forearm to catch her.

"Watch it," Roy spoke in the softest voice she'd heard him use yet.

She made out his highlighter-pink haircut immediately and framed out his face from there. He looked remarkably at ease. Calm. It was an alien emotion on her brother.

"What's up with you?" She croaked, then cleared her throat.

He shrugged and said, "I was coming to check on you, Wen."

"I'm fine." She groused.

Roy stood in her doorway and gazed down at her. She looked up at him. He reached a hand under his white t-shirt and scratched his toned stomach, then yawned. It had to be after midnight. Normally Wendy would just wait until morning to eat, but right then she was famished.

"Are you gonna' move or what?" She snapped.

Roy quirked a mauve brow but stepped aside. Like a puppy he trailed behind his sister lazily as she made her way to the kitchens. With bare feet and an empty stomach she padded down the halls. It wasn't until she'd passed the throne room that her brother spoke.

"Wen," Roy began in a sleepy voice, "I worry about you, yo."

"For what?" She frowned.

She could smell food, the lingering scent of sweet potato pie still hung in the air. Her blue eyes roved the cabinets and counters in search of something edible. She found a bushel of apples near the sink and pounced on them. When she'd hoisted herself up onto the counter, she took a green apple in each hand and made short work of one of them.

"Wen, I'm serious." He sighed.

Roy came over to his younger sister and put his hands on her knees. Of all her siblings, she and Roy seemed to be the most honest with each other. She didn't talk to Lemmy or Iggy or Larry or MJ like she did with him. They were close, but then again, couldn't stand each other at times.

"What is it?" She asked, this time in a less grumpy tone.

Roy settled his eyes on hers and said, "You gotta' stop hangin' round that punk-"

"Ugh, don't you start," Wendy cut in, "I already have to deal with Ludwig hating him. You don't even know him. None of you do."

"I got a bad feeling about him," Roy insisted.

"And I'm supposed to run for the hills?" She argued, "your 'bad feeling' is probably indigestion or something."

"Wendy he's no good." Roy said, then sighed. "Just promise me you'll keep your distance? As much as I'd love to throttle the little weasel, I don't wanna' see you hurt."

"He wouldn't dare hurt me," She spoke fiercely, "but you wouldn't know that because you won't even try to get to know him."

"Alright, alright." He said, raising his hands in supplication. "Change of subject: you should start training."

"What?"

"You should come down and-"

"Did Ludwig put you up to this?" Wendy scoffed in slight disgust.

Roy made a face and said, "No, Wen. I just think you should hear him out."

"I don't want him controlling me," She huffed.

"Neither did I," Roy stated quickly, "you know I don't like nobody telling me what to do. But once I got tired of him bitchin' at me, I just started training like he wanted me to and I started liking it. A lot."

"That's easy for you to say," Wendy frowned. "I don't like working out or getting all nasty and sweaty."

"It's more than that," Roy told her. "Ludwig tailors your sessions to what you've been gifted with."

"What?"

"Your training would be different than mine because we have different powers," Roy simplified.

That hardly changed the girl's mind. She finished her apples and was starting on some leftover bread. It was hitting the spot and making her more alert. She didn't think that she wanted to be trained because her powers were only there for her if she needed them in a pinch, to make her life a bit easier. She didn't want to hone them because she wouldn't be using them for anything major once she got to that other world.

If I ever get there, she reminded herself.

"Well I'm 'bout to go back to bed," Roy announced. "Think on what I said, Wen."

"Yeah, whatever," She responded nonchalantly.

She wasn't up much later than her brother.

Work was murder on my entire body. The beginning wasn't so bad. I was cleaning tables and waiting on people and cooking; normal stuff. But then a shipment of supplies and stock goods came in. It was up to Terry and me to unload everything and pile it in the back, but there was a key problem; Terry was MIA. This was no surprise, but it did mean that the task was left solely up to me. It wasn't as if I could count on anyone else to be of much help for long. Yes, some of the other men and even the younger girls who worked with me did come out to assist me, but like I said, that didn't last long. The result of the day's workload left me a tired mess. My nerves were shot thanks to the usual influx of persnickety customers and my back was killing me. I was no weakling, especially after what I went through with Ludwig, but I'm pretty sure I overdid it. I shouldn't have been bending so much today.

Well, when I get home I'll just have to take a really hot shower or something, I resolved.

Driving was a pain. I just wanted to teleport from my job's location straight to my bathroom. But since that wasn't possible, I tried to focus on positive things. Soon I'd be in the shower, getting relief. Soon I could pop a few pain pills and have a glass of water for my dry throat. Soon I'd be in bed next to the most beautiful, strong, endearing woman I'd ever met.

Before I knew it, I was pulling into the lot of my apartments complex. It was a dark night, well after midnight, so I couldn't see too well. I got myself up the stairs and to my room easily enough, though that was more due to memorization over time than any real skill. As I was turning the lock, I felt the invisible weight grow heavier over my body. I was so ready to just go to sleep. I didn't care if I dropped right there on the floor in front of the tv.

I stepped inside my apartment and wasn't surprised to see the place was dark, save for a light in the kitchen over the sink. I locked the door behind myself, hung my keys on the wall, turned off the kitchen light, and headed to the bathroom. I could barely keep my eyes open.

I didn't bother glancing at myself in the mirror, I just opened the cabinet and took the orange bottle of medicine down. I shook out two pills and knocked them back, then cupped my hand under the sink and washed them down with tap water. Having done that, I went to my closet and went about showering. It was quick and relatively relaxing affair. I saw Daisy as a lump on the bed, curled on her side. I figured she went to sleep for once instead of waiting up for me. When I was leaving the bathroom, though, I saw a towel on the edge of the tub. It wasn't mine. I picked it up and saw that it was smudged with what looked like makeup; black and reddish-pink hues covered one side of the white cloth. I knew it had to be Daisy.

Maybe she got bored and experimented with some stuff she bought at the store, I rationalized. I was too tired to think otherwise.

In a t-shirt and sweatpants I trudged across the navy carpet and climbed into bed. I flopped onto the mattress and lay on my face; I was too weary to even shift into a more comfortable position.

This is not how this night was supposed to go, Daisy lamented to herself. Luigi, poor Luigi, probably has been working really hard and now he's exhausted. I really should have waited until the weekend to do this.

Oddly enough, Alicia had predicted that something like this would happen. Daisy was beginning to think her friend had ESP and wasn't telling anyone. Alicia had instructed her to, in the event that Luigi was completely worn out, fix him a special drink to wake him right up. There was no label on the little pink container, which made Daisy a bit wary.

Or maybe she's a witch in disguise, she thought wryly.

Nevertheless, she stood in her robe with the container in her hand in the kitchen. Alicia said it was for energy, so how bad could it really be? She was inclined to trust the girl who'd helped her so much thus far, so she listened to Alicia's advice and poured the contents of the 'potion' into a mug. She took the pitcher of cold water from the fridge and filled the mug halfway, then took a spoon from the dish rack and stirred the mixture well. She held the mug with both hands and brought the rim to her lips. It smelled divine, like vanilla.

Something that smells this good can't be bad for you, Daisy thought jokingly. In all seriousness, she wanted to sample the concoction before giving it to Luigi; yes, she trusted Luigi but she didn't want to take any chances.

And if it's got any side effects, we'll both suffer, she reasoned.

The girl sipped the drink and found it to be pleasant in taste. It went down easy and left a warm spot in her stomach. She waited for it to give her energy, but couldn't feel anything at the moment. She figured it would take some time. That was fine, thanks to Alicia, she would have the whole night if all went well.

"Just be up front with him," She coaxed herself, "tell him exactly what you want and be confident."

She smiled nervously, gripping the cup tightly between her ten fingers, and then took a sobering breath to calm herself.

"Now or never," She whispered."

I think I'd been asleep for maybe ten minutes when I felt someone moving beside me. I was a light sleeper, due to the tumultuous experiences I went through in the Mushroom World, so I was blinking my eyes open seconds later. I was still sore all over, especially in my back. That was unfortunate.

"Daisy?" I spoke aloud, then yawned.

"I'm right here," She said from the doorway.

I sat up in the push-up position and winced when my back smarted. When I was sitting upright fully, I saw she was holding a cup in her hands. I had no idea where she got that black robe she wore, but at first glance it looked like a dress shirt of mine. Then I realized I had no such dress shirt. Nonetheless, it looked good on her.

"What's the matter?" I asked her, because she seemed to be vacillating between two decisions in her head.

The girl looked from where her head was bowed over the cup over to me. So lovely were her light eyes in the partial glow of the moon that was coming in from the window. She started walking over to me in deliberate strides. When she got to where I sat on the bed, she sat with one leg tucked under her.

"Nothing's the matter," She smiled. "I just missed you a lot today."

"Sorry," I apologized, "I had to stay late and do some stuff for my manager. You were okay by yourself, right?"

"Yeah," She nodded.

It was getting hard to keep my eyes open again, but in my tired haze I noted that Daisy smelled quite nice tonight. Like cinnamon and something spicy. I was drifting.

"Luigi," Daisy started in a quiet voice, "I need you to drink this."

"Hm?"

She handed me the cup in her hands and I peered into it. It looked and felt like cold water. Without thinking twice, I downed the bit of drink, only vaguely noticing that it was sweet like ice cream. Once it was down, I could feel this warmth spreading in my stomach. It was odd. I set the mug to the right on the nightstand and faced my love.

"Daisy, what was that?" I asked her.

She said, "It was just something to give you energy."

"Energy?" I parroted, "Why would I need that?"

"Because I want to do something with you." She stated slowly.

I lifted a brow. Either because I was aware of its purpose or because it needed a few seconds to work, but the drink was starting to take effect. My body was creeping back to life like a computer booting up. I could feel a heat rising under my skin. My heart started beating a bit faster, not by much, and my breathing grew less deep and slow. With these effects came a renewed lucidity. I looked at Daisy quizzically. She was looking at her lap and wringing her fingers: she was nervous. Why? What was going on?

"Are you hurt?" I then asked, "Did somebody hurt you?"

"No, no." She said quickly.

She gazed up at me and then sighed, muttering something to herself. I was beginning to worry. She then stood and stepped in front of me. Her eyes steadied on mine and her expression grew solemn.

"Luigi, do you remember what you said to me about replacing the memories I have with the Dark King with new ones," She asked, faltering at the moniker of the late villain.

I nodded. I wasn't too focused, I was shamed to admit. Her body was distracting me. She'd obviously done something to her hair because it was shining and much curlier than usual, piled atop her head in a messy way. Her mouth was moving and I was doing my best to keep up but she looked so beautiful tonight. Was I just now noticing? Maybe the energy drink was making me more alert and aware.

"I think it's time to do that." She announced softly.

"What?" I frowned.

"To replace those memories." Daisy replied.

"Um," I blinked and said, "I'm sorry Daisy, what? I don't see where you're going with this."

"Alicia said I'd have to be direct." She murmured.

"Who?"

"Nobody."

I was lost. Daisy was mildly frustrated, I could see it in the way she stared at me intently with her hands tee-peed over her mouth. She then rolled her shoulders and took a deep breath.

In a clear voice she said, "Luigi, I'm gonna' be honest with you. I want to take our relationship in a more intimate direction."

Something inside me started fiercely. I think that was my heart. I swallowed and nodded.

"Okay." I encouraged. "We can do that."

Daisy smiled a little, then resumed her solemn composure. She sounded so serious when she spoke again.

"Luigi," She said carefully, "I want."

The girl took a breath.

"I want you to put your hands on me." She said softly, "All over me."

If I was drinking something, it'd be out my mouth or up my nose. As it was, I felt my body tense up and my heart went absolutely crazy, as if it wasn't racing before. I wasn't quite sure I'd heard her right.

"What?" I asked her, trying to keep the incredulity from my voice.

She said just as calmly, "I want you to touch my body and kiss me like the...like he did."

I didn't know what to say. Words were nowhere near my mind at the moment. I didn't have anything on my mind but her words, her soft-spoken words. I just stared at her.

"I want you to touch me like he did so that I won't associate the feelings with him anymore," She explained.

That made sense I'm sure, but I was still hung up on the 'touch my body' part. She just didn't understand what that did to me. It was like a primal part of me was fighting to come out and take over. I squashed it down and swallowed hard.

"Okay," I barely spoke, "We can, we can do that."

A slow smile spread across her face and she grew excited in the way her light eyes sparkled. She brought her slim fingers up her neck and started working at the buttons on the black robe. With each button she undid, I felt my control slipping.

"Daisy," I spoke urgently, "Daisy wait!"

"What's wrong?" She asked, worried.

She'd stopped unbuttoning the robe, much to my relief. I rubbed my hands over my face and blinked rapidly. My body was flipping out but I didn't want her to feel like anything was wrong when, in fact, the girl was doing everything so very right.

"There's no problem at all," I told her, "I just need to get a grip on this situation. This is just...all so sudden."

"I'm sorry," She spoke in a small voice.

"There is nothing to apologize for," I told her at once. "I just don't want you to feel any pressure. You don't have to do anything you're not ready for."

"Luigi, I know." She claimed, then added assuredly, "I'm ready."

And to back up her words, she finished undoing her robe and let it slide off her shoulders and onto the floor. The effect had me in awe. The girl was a goddess, what with a body so flawless as hers. I didn't even know she owned a pair of underwear like the black lace creations she now wore and part of me was glad for it, it lent to the surprise. She stared right at me when she undid her hair and let it fall around her face. I couldn't sit still anymore, she was doing things to me with each move she made.

"No," She objected.

I sat back down, albeit with a brow raised in question. Daisy shrugged and smiled a little ruefully.

"I want," She amended that with, "I need to be in control. At least for a little bit."

I could understand that, even with the maddening flood of emotions frothing inside me. I nodded at her and decided to play along. She was being really forward tonight. Maybe the girl really was ready.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked in a low tone.

Her eyes alighted excitedly at the sound of my voice or at my words, I couldn't tell which. In any case, she was pleased.

"I want you to stay there," She faux-ordered.

So I did. She came over slowly, too slowly for my taste, but I patiently sat on the bed like she'd said. Daisy sank down onto my lap and took this night to a whole other level. I didn't even think before I took hold of her legs on either side of me. She wrapped her arms around my neck and I brought my hands to either side of her face and kissed her. So sweet and pliant were her lips against mine.

"Luigi," She spoke against my mouth. "Touch me."

"Where?" I asked huskily.

Instead of speaking, Daisy put her hands over mine and brought them down to her thighs. She guided them slowly over her smooth skin, making me trace a path up her hips and past the fabric of her underwear. Once she'd seen that I could take it from there, she put her hands on my shoulders and dropped feather-light kisses near my throat, under my jaw, and along my cheek. My hands tensed on either side of her stomach.

"Daisy," I breathed in warning.

"Keep going," She implored near my ear.

She was pushing me closer to the edges of my restraint. I put my arm under her legs and back and moved her onto the bed so that she was lying under me. She didn't seem to mind this shift in control because she immediately snaked her arms round my neck. I dove for hers and shamelessly ran my tongue over the skin there. I wasn't thinking clearly. I wasn't really thinking at all. Just doing. Her body was willing under mine so I lost myself.

To make room for myself I forced her legs apart and as soon as I was between them, she hooked them behind my back. Grinding into her was what I did next and without tearing myself from her mouth I gave her what she wanted, I ran my hands over her body, over every inch of her. She was putting her hands up under my shirt and rolling her hips into mine and then it got really hard to breathe.

"I can't take this," I told her already. "I need to..."

And for the next eight seconds I tried to think of a less caustic way to say I needed to fuck her. Because I just couldn't tell her that.

"Go ahead," Daisy told me, as if she'd read my mind.

"You sure?"

"Just go slow."

That was asking a lot, but I would try. For her sake. I moved my hands down to the girl's underwear. So thin and in the way they were. I was about to pull them off.

"Wait."

Daisy laced her fingers in mine and brought my knuckles to her mouth. I let her move my hand to where she wanted it.

"Just touch me." She said.

I locked eyes with her and did as she wanted. At first I'd thought I hurt her, because she drew in a sharp breath as soon as I brushed my fingertips over that area between her legs. I glanced at her, a bit concerned.

"Again," She prompted.

I used my thumb this time because I had to find that spot, that little sensitive bundle of nerves that-

"Stop!" Daisy hissed, digging her nails into my biceps.

I froze. It would appear I'd found what I was looking for. I bent over Daisy and pecked her mouth apologetically.

"Did I hurt you?"

"No," She gasped softly, "It was just too much, it felt good, but too good."

"We can stop," I suggested even though that was the last thing I wanted to do.

"No," She protested. "I don't want to stop."

"You're sure?" I double-checked.

She nodded, so I touched her again. When I moved my thumb over that same spot, she had less of a violent reaction than last time. She bit her lip and gripped the sheets on either side of her and writhed a bit, but she didn't cry out. Those noises coming from her mouth, those ragged breaths were making me painfully aroused.

"Are you ready to let me in?" I asked her bluntly, because I had to know now.

She wavered, then put her arms around my neck so that she could sit up. She dropped herself in my lap and dipped her fingers just beyond the waistband of my pants. I stopped her abruptly.

"Don't," I warned her. "Not if you're not ready."

"I just wanna' see it," She insisted.

So I let her. She had her head right next to mine and when her fingertips brushed against the searing flesh inside my pants, I stiffened all over. All over. For her part, Daisy's eyes widened just a little bit and as her fingers ran down the entire length, she paled.

"Yeah we should probably stop," I said resolutely.

Daisy swallowed and lifted her hand from my pants. She almost looked nervous and she certainly didn't protest this time. Shame. I wouldn't force her to go any farther. I all but pushed her off me as gently as I could in my haste to get to the bathroom. I needed a freezing cold shower and some sleeping pills, because there was no way I was going to sleep on my own anytime soon.

A/N: Hm. I won't remark on that last scene, I'll leave that for you guys to do. I hate how I write dirty scenes so...yeah...

In the chapter to come, we'll see how Luigi and Daisy progress in their relationship, and more of Ludwig, and possibly the introduction of an old foe? You might think you know who it is, but you probably are thinking of the wrong foe, lol.

Until next time!

~DymondGold~