Chapter 19: Back At The Beginning

Our return was met with celebration. All our subjects and the maids and guards who had stayed behind shouted and cheered, and the head cook rejoiced by throwing together a feast made in the name of victory - which wasn't hard to do on such short notice, since the kitchen was bursting at the seams with all the extra food prepared for our friendly little get together that didn't quite work out. Only as we all gathered around the stone table in the banquet hall, it felt a little like the start of my failed plan all over again.

Because seated with my family were the Mario brothers, and with them were the two princesses, who had rushed over from Mushroom Castle when they heard the news. They had even brought a handful of their friend, subjects, and a few particularly brave toads with them. Only instead of nervous silence and uneasy glances, the room was filled with laughter and playful barbs and many a happy toast. Needless to say, it was a little surreal.

I felt pleasantly sleepy that evening and didn't join in the rapid conversation going on around me very much, instead smiling often as I ate my dinner. I had done away with the usual routine and was sitting in the place normally reserved for Junior, putting the little koopa prince to my left. This allowed me to bestow frequent hugs between bites; Junior beamed with pleasure each time. Sitting across the table in my usual place was Mario, with Peach sitting close beside him. The pair exchanged a smile every time they caught me being affectionate to my youngest.

My oldest was also sitting on the other side of the table, and I noticed him glancing at me throughout dinner. Finally, as I was scraping the last of my plate, he pushed his chair back and scuttled around the table. He paused only briefly near my chair, but I clearly heard him mumble 'Thanks' before hurrying out of the room. It was a small gesture, but I knew that for him, it had been a big step. This was something that had to be taken a little at a time.

Around the table, everyone else's plates were about empty too, but the chatter was nowhere near winding down. In particular, I noticed that Geno seemed to be the most eager to join in, and he looked aglow with happiness to be catching up with his friends. Me, I was feeling tired, maybe even a little overwhelmed after my ordeal, and I quietly got up from my seat and left the banquet hall.

I headed down the corridor and through an arched doorway that led outside. The night air was cool and soothing, and I took a quiet breath before resting my hands on the parapet, my eyes on the sky. It looked unusually clear tonight, without a dark cloud to be seen. The velvety blackness felt like a comforting blanket dotted with quietly twinkling stars - normal ones.

I was still gazing up at them, a feeling of relaxation and peace settling over me, when I felt a tremor beneath my feet. A moment later a pair of warm hands gently rested on my shoulders, and a soft, smoky-smelling mouth brushed my cheek. "I'm sorry I ever doubted you," Bowser told me quietly.

I gave my head a shake as I turned around and slid my arms around him. "I don't blame you," I said softly, resting my head on his middle. "If I were in your place, I probably would have reacted the same way. And I should never have done what I did without telling you."

"And I should have trusted you," Bowser said firmly. "But at least this taught me something."

With a loving smile, he nudged me back a little and cupped my face in his hands. "I know now that even if you have to leave, you'll always come back to me."

"No matter what," I vowed quietly.

He took my left hand and kissed my fingers, just below my wedding ring, before cupping my face again. He was just bending to kiss me when there was a soft footstep in the doorway. Scowling, Bowser pulled away and glared. "What?" he asked impatiently.

Standing under the arch, Geno held up his porcelain hands. "Don't mind me," he said softly. "I was just leaving."

For an instant I thought he meant he was leaving to give us privacy...but then my heart sank as what his words really meant hit me. My mood drooping considerably, I hurried forward and put my arms around him. For a moment Geno looked surprised, but then he relaxed and laid his hands on my shoulders.

"Thank you for everything," I whispered.

He smiled gently as he stepped back from my grasp. "Like I said: it's what I do."

I gave a small nod and tried to swallow back the lump threatening to rise in my throat as he stepped between Bowser and I and stood at the parapet, his back facing us. His head tilted up a little, his gaze lifting to the sky, and then a light seemed to swell inside him, like a candle flame igniting. This inner glow quickly grew brighter and brighter, until the white glow seemed to spread over and all but obscure the doll from sight.

Just when I felt like I needed to squint and look away, the light winked out. I blinked a couple of times, both to clear my eyes and because I was momentarily puzzled; the spot where Geno had stood was empty. Only as the golden spots in my vision faded, I realized that he was still there...just different.

Hovering in the air in front of me was the perfect image of a star, glittering and golden and roughly the size of my fist. With a graceful, darting motion, it moved closer to me, and I found myself cupping my hands. He lowered a little, just enough so that his brilliant light touched my skin. The strangest feeling filled me, one that probably doesn't even have a name.

It was like that feeling your heart gets when you listen to a beautiful piece of music, or wake up at dawn to find the world silent and peaceful and covered in a perfect blanket of morning dew. It was joy and laughter and everything pure and good in the world.

Then he drifted away from me, and the feeling faded. He darted to Bowser, who merely raised his fist, index finger extended. He acted casual about it, but when the little star touched his light to Bowser's claw, I knew he felt the same way I had. He was trying to act nonchalant, but I could see the smile of friendship in his eyes.

Giving another dart, Geno moved above our heads and, with a little bob that clearly meant farewell, rose into the sky, leaving a tiny trail of stardust in his wake. I hurried forward and leaned my hands on the parapet, my eyes straining to follow, but in a matter of moments I couldn't tell him from the other speckles of gold in the sky. My eyes clouded, making the twinkling lights pool together in a blur; I hastily looked away and wiped my eyes.

After I'd dried them, my gaze fell at my feet...because lying next to them, looking small and oh-so-ordinary, was the porcelain doll. My throat tightened and my eyes moistened all over again as I bent and carefully picked it up. It felt cold, and the glass eyes were lifeless, but it was too special not to treasure. Sniffling, I hugged it to me for a moment as my eyes returned to the sky, but a patch of clouds was starting to cluster, and pretty soon the stars would be hidden.

I looked down at the doll again, almost laughing at myself over how emotional all this was making me. It wasn't normal for me to tear up so much...but I suddenly remembered that I had good reason for being moody.

In all the excitement, I had all but forgotten. My heart gave a little flutter, and I bent again as I carefully set the doll down so it rested against the stone wall. Hands clasped, I turned to face my husband. "I didn't get a chance to tell you sooner," I said, faltering, "but...I have a gift for you."

Bowser had also been quietly watching the sky; now he turned to me with a warm smile as he reached to stroke my cheek. "Little Rose, I'm happy just to have you."

I smiled and leaned into his touch. "Well, think of this as something for both of us, then."

"Oh?"

Taking a little breath to calm myself, I gripped his wrist and pulled his hand away from my face, moving it down and pressing his palm flat against my middle. For a moment he looked at me blankly, clearly perplexed...but then his eyes widened in realization. "Oh," he said again.

He continued to stare at me, his expression a mixture of blank and stunned - and then he reached out, hooked his hands under my arms and yanked me to him, so hard my feet left the ground and I nearly lost a slipper. The suddenness of it startled me for a moment, but then I relaxed and rested my head on his shoulder as he snugged one arm around me and stroked my hair with his free hand.

"I take it you're pleased," I noted.

Bowser nuzzled my cheek with a deep chuckle. "What do you think?"

I smiled and held him tighter, feeling relieved and happy and excited...and then he brushed his mouth against my ear and whispered, "I love you, my sweet little Rose."

My heart all but stopped. I knew that he loved me, but I never thought I would hear him say so. Hearing those words now made fresh tears flood my eyes, and I sniffled as he gripped my waist and lifted me so we were eye-to-eye. I smiled and rested my forehead against his. "Thank you."

"For loving you?"

"That...and for trusting me. And for being the best thing to ever come into my life. Stubborn recklessness and all."

Snickering, Bowser bumped his nose against mine. "Look who's talking."

I laughed with him as I absently fingered the black, bejeweled band around his wrist. My heart felt so light and free, and in that moment I knew that no matter what life threw at us in the future, it wouldn't be anything we couldn't handle. Because we would be facing each and every moment together.

He drew me closer and kissed me breathless, then set me to my feet. Through the doorway came the distant sound of laughter; smiling broadly, Bowser gallantly took my hand and rested it on his arm. "It's not fair for them to have so much fun without us," he noted. "Shall we?"

I laughed and smoothed my hair a moment, then rested my other hand on his arm, my wedding ring catching the light. "Definitely."

Grinning, he laid his hand over mine, covering them protectively. "To a new beginning?"

I nodded, my heart speeding a little. "To a new beginning...for us all."

~Fin~