Bowser could feel both Boo's and Toadette's eyes on him, but all he could do was stare at Peach's sleeping face. She looked almost peaceful, as though in a wonderful dream. Briefly he wondered if this was what the note they had found by Peach's side had meant- they would never wake her because they would never be able to fulfil the act of true love that was required to lift the curse.

"So, there's no hope?" Bowser sighed quietly, eventually lifting his head to look up at Toadette from the other side of the bed.

"Of course there's hope!" Toadette stared at him, their eyes wide with shock, "There's you,"

"I highly doubt that," Bowser almost laughed, if only to stop the tears in his eyes from falling.

"You're the only one who can do this, Bowser. It has to be you," Toadette shook their head. If anyone in the room noticed that a servant had addressed the prince without his proper title, no one mentioned it.

"What about her family? I know she doesn't get along with her parents, but surely they love her enough to save her," Bowser offered weakly, already doubting his words even as he spoke them.

"You and I both know any love Peach and her parent's shared was lost the moment she married you. And that's why it has to be you that saves her. She left everything and everyone she ever knew so she could come here, so she could be with you," Toadette insisted.

"What about you? You must love her more than anything, and she must love you in return," Bowser looked at them with pleading eyes and he saw a faint, wistful smile cross Toadette's lips.

"I do love her and she does love me, but that is because she is my mistress and I am her handmaid. To lift this curse, the love must be free and pure," Toadette explained, their grip tightening around Peach's hand nonetheless.

"I know I love her..." Bowser sighed, looking back down at Peach's sleeping face, "I love her with all my heart, in a way I never knew I was capable of loving. I would do anything for her; I would burn the whole world just to make her smile. But, I don't trust that she could truly love me in return. What if she just sees the monster that everyone else sees?"

"Not everyone sees you as a monster," Toadette smiled softly and, for the first time since they had met, Bowser couldn't see the slightest hint of fear in their eyes as they looked at him.

"They're right," Boo said and Bowser turned to see him leaning against the wall in the corner of the room opposite the bed, arms crossed, "I told you that you and Peach share something special,"

"Please, Bowser. You have to try," Toadette reached over Peach's body and held one of Bowser's hands in theirs. Bowser looked down at their hands intertwined, Toadette's so small that his one hand almost encompassed both of theirs. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"I will try," Bowser sighed as he exhaled and opened his eyes. He looked up to see Toadette smiling at him, their eyes shining with tears. They gave him an affirming nod before pulling back and stepping away from the bed. Bowser shifted his body slightly, twisting himself to fully face Peach as she slept. Time seemed to slow as he looked at her; the gentle rise and fall of her chest with her shallow breaths, the quiet stillness of her body, the beautiful, peaceful expression on her face. Without really thinking, Bowser reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair from her face and suddenly thought of their wedding night, when he had reached out a tentative hand and done the exact same thing- the way she had smiled at him, so radiant and joyful, her cheeks flushed with pink. He tucked her hair behind her ear and cupped her cheek. He smiled down at her one last time before closing his eyes. Still holding her cheek, Bowser leaned down over her and pressed his lips to hers, every drop of his love pushed forwards and into that singular kiss. It was a strange sensation to kiss lips he had kissed a hundred times before, but to feel them unmoving beneath his own. He felt every emotion he had ever known in Peach's presence- joy, fear, freedom, loss, adoration... complete and utter all-consuming love. He pulled back only an inch, his breath brushing against Peach's cheeks. He stayed in the still quiet for a moment, his face barely touching hers.

"Peach?" he whispered, a prayer on his lips as he spoke. Silence.

"Peach, my dear?" he asked, his voice shaking as he sat up to look down at her properly. Silence.

"Dear heart, please..." Bowser felt his heart constrict in his chest as he stared at the unmoving form of his wife's body on the bed. Silence.

"Please, you must wake up," Bowser started to beg, taking Peach's hands in his own. Silence.

"I need you to come back to me. I can't lose you. Please..." Bowser choked out a sob. Silence.

"My princess, my love," Bowser barely managed to whisper, his tears cascading down his cheeks. He pulled her body close to him, wrapping his arms around her. Suddenly, a scream of anguish filled the otherwise silent room. Distantly, it occurred to Bowser that the sound had come from him. He cried openly; his face buried in Peach's long blonde hair as he cradled her head to his chest. Toadette's hand rose to cover their mouth, their heart sinking into the deepest pit of despair they had ever known, their own tears silently running down their cheeks. In the far corner of the room, Boo let out a quiet sigh that only he could hear as a lump formed in his throat. He leaned back against the wall behind him and closed his eyes, if only to stop the tears from falling; he would not break, not now, not like this, and certainly not in front of his brother. Nothing but Bowser's cries filled the room until they too subsided into silence- the grief of the weight in his arms too much to bear. Then, in that silence, there was heard a singular sound.

A sharp intake of breath; the gasp, calm and quiet though it was, of life itself.


The first thing Peach noticed was the warmth that surrounded her. Quickly, she realised she was wrapped in someone's arms and a smile began to form on her lips as she recognised the familiar smell of the jacket that was pressed against her. Then she noticed that the person holding her was shaking, shivering almost. Frowning, Peach wondered what could possibly be wrong. They were at home, in bed, safe and in each other's arms. Then the memories hit her like the crashing waves of the ocean- cold, dark, and all encompassing. The carriage, the tree, the men grabbing at her in the darkness, the kidnapper's cold, smug stare as her body collapsed in his arms. Slowly, as though afraid of what she would see, Peach opened her eyes.

"Bowser?" she whispered, her voice far more hoarse than she had expected it to sound. Bowser suddenly jerked upwards, still holding her in his arms as he stared down at her with wide eyes. A single, silent beat passed, the two of them just looking at each other, neither fully certain that this wasn't a dream.

"Peach!" Bowser let out a breath in relief, scooping her up in his arms and pulling her close to him again. She wrapped her arms around him and returned his embrace, tears of joy welling in her eyes at the realisation that she truly was home and safe. She inhaled deeply and buried her face against Bowser's chest, her hands balling into fists and clutching onto the back of his jacket as though it were a lifeline. Eventually they let go of one another, if only to look at each other's faces once more. Peach glanced over to her left to see Toadette standing a few feet away from the bed, their hands clasped over their mouth and tears streaming down their cheeks.

"Oh, Toadette!" Peach smiled softly, reaching out a hand towards them. Toadette all but ran to her side and threw their arms around their mistress as sobs bubbled up from their chest. Peach held them and ran a gentle hand through her handmaid's hair, quietly comforting them as they cried against Peach's shoulder. Bowser leaned over and pressed a kiss to Peach's cheek before turning at the familiar feeling of a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at his brother and was surprised to see Boo smiling the most genuine smile he had seen in years. He nodded solemnly down at him and Bowser nodded in response before Boo's hand fell away. Bowser turned back around to see Peach watching him; Toadette now stood again but staying close to Peach's side, wiping the last of their tears away with the back of their hand.

"I love you," Bowser said before he could help himself.

"I love you too," Peach smiled, leaning forwards and connecting their lips once more.