Luigi was one year old, and Mario had thoroughly gotten the hang of fatherhood(or brotherhood?). The first few weeks he had no idea what he was doing, and he almost gave up, deeming himself unworthy of being a older brother. But Luigi was his little brother, and he'd die before he'd abandon him. There were bumps in the road, yes, but every night when he went to bed singing his little brother the lullaby their mother hummed to them, he knew it was all worth it.

He was crawling and pulling himself up onto the ledge, but Luigi had yet to say his first word. All the baby books he had read said most children said at least one word by the time they were one, and him uttering a single sensical word. Mario had tried, oh he had tried to get Luigi talking, but the infant was content with the Italian language their mother had taught them at a young age.

Mario had read, in another one of Peach numerous baby books, that the bond between mother and child strengthened when they effectively communicated with each other, and since Mario was already nine months behind on the bonding experience and he's not Luigi mom but he given a shot, he eagerly taught Luigi a few key phrases in a makeshift sign language to help understand him.

He had mastered pointing to his mouth whenever he was hungry, while the flick of his wrist had Mario knowing he was all done with whatever activity he was doing or food he was eating. Mario's favourite was their little game of Mario pointing to his eyes, then his chest, then to Luigi, as he mimicked each movement perfectly. "I love you," he always finished with a tickle to his neck.

Despite their understanding of one another, Mario longed to hear him speak. His babbles were adorable, anyone in the Mushroom Kingdom could vouch for that, but the innate need inside him to be wanted struck him hard when it came to the child. So he spent countless hours, sitting with Luigi in his bed, in his high chair, or on the play mats in his playroom enunciating very clearly. "Ma-ri-o. Can you say Mario, Luigi? Ma-ri-o."

He would babble back non-words or stretch out his 'm' sounds, ending in a big raspberry and careless laughter. Mario could never get angry at him for the end result was always adorable.

It was at their home one day when Mario heard him speak for the first time.

Mario was enjoying his mushroom pancakes while Luigi had his own cut up slices of blueberry waffles as he sat beside him in the table, seated in a high chair, when he flicked his wrist and pushed away his barely eaten food.

"All done, Luigi?" He asked with a frown. Again he flicked his wrist and reached over for his sippy cup of diluted apple juice.

"You have to eat something, bro," Mario enticed, picking up a piece of waffle and holding it by his mouth.

He shook his head and flicked his wrist insistently.

"You gotta eat up, Luigi," Peach said casually as she wipe the food on Luigi face, Princess Peach visit the brothers because she didn't have any royal duties she need to attend. "Your big brother will be sad if you do."

Mario rolled his eyes at the princess, that when he heard the most glorious sound.

"Mario."

Mario whipped his head to Luigi and gasped, unsure if he heard what Mario did as Luigi played happily with his sippy cup.

"What was that, Luigi?" Mario asked again.

"Mario," he grinned and let his cup fall to the table, reaching for Mario.

"Did you hear that?" Mario clarified with Peach.

"Yeah," the princess confirmed with a breathy laugh.

"Mario!"

That was all the confirmation Mario needed, and in a flash, he scooped Luigi up from his high chair and balanced him in his lap, his eyes wide and amazed at his little brother.

"Again, Luigi?"

"Mario," he said giddily, pressing his hand to his chest and then out to Mario before tickling his neck.

Mario laughed happily, and smothered his face with kisses. "I love you too, Luigi."

"Okay Luigi." Mario says as he sets Luigi down on the ground holding him up in a standing position. He holds him for a second making sure He is able to stand on his own before taking a few steps back. "Here we go."

"Mario." Luigi says slightly annoyed that his older brother is no longer holding him.

"Come on, Luigi, you can do it!" Mario says as she gently claps his hands together in front of he before holding his arms out hoping his baby brother would walk over for a hug. "Walk to your big brother."

Luigi looks down at his feet for a few seconds before trying to take a step. He tries to take a step but becomes unbalanced with his tiny legs giving out, and his plump bottom hitting the floor quickly. Startled and scared at the fall Luigi's eyes begin to pool with tears and his bottom lip starts to tremble as she looks up at his big bro.

"Mario." Luigi cries.

"Oh Luigi, you're okay Luigi." Mario coos with a slight laugh as he goes over and picks up the crying the boy. Standing once again holding him tight as Luigi's cries subside. "That's my bro."

The next day, Mario was in the living room watching tv serie on Netflix, his baby brother Luigi was on the ground playing some toys. Luigi look up to see his brother watching a doctor show sitting on the red armchair, he want to sit with his brother as he try to places his hands on the ground and pushes himself up to stand on his feet before grabbing the toy chest to help him stand up straight. Once he is standing he looks at his older bro and tentatively takes a first step...and then another.

Mario was still watching Netflix where it's about everyone is leaving and everyone is dying and he the. notices Luigi walking towards slowly forward him. "Luigi!"

"Oh my God! Luigi!"

Mario then took it out his IPhone and try to record it. "You're doing it, you're doing it." Mario says with the biggest smile on his face as he bend down kneeling on the ground waiting for Luigi. "Come on Luigi! You can do it bro!"

"Come on, walk to your big brother!" Mario cheers on Luigi.

Luigi smiles at his older brother but loses his balance and falls down. "Oooh."

"You're okay Luigi, come to Mario!" Mario says urging Luigi to get back up and try again.

Luigi with a look of baby determination pushes himself back up and starts to tottle towards his older brother once again where he falls into Mario's waiting arms.

"You did it!" Mario cheers as he gently rubs the back of Luigi's head.

Luigi leans back and smiles his older brother with a proud smile on his face. "Did it!"

"You did it!" Mario laughs repeating himself.

"He walked, he walked." Mario says quietly as Luigi settles in his arms getting tired from all the excitement. Mario smiles and gently places a kiss on top of Luigi's head before holding him tightly in his arms. "You did bro!"

Please review if you can, I would like to see your thoughts about the story so far! Also, if you have an request for this story just leave a review or just PM me! The more ideas the better! I would love to hear your request.

Anyway, please, review are the best form of motivation! Let me know what you think and see you all for the next chapter.