(As Long as We're Together) Everything's Gonna Be Okay

Now That the Bros Are On the Same Page, Let's Get Back to Work

Neither brother knows how long they've stayed like this, only that eventually, Luigi pulls away to look at Mario, laughing.

Mario's worry instantly turns to curiosity, asking, "Now what?"

"Not a thing." Luigi says confidently. "Remembering this...feels like we could do this every day, and it still doesn't come close to nearly enough."

Mario laughs, pressing his forehead to Luigi's for a moment, wondering, "How?"

Luigi doesn't reply, just smiles as he closes his eyes.

"I almost gave up on you." Mario says brokenly. "And you came back to me. All of you." Mario pulls back to kiss his forehead, and Luigi couldn't speak even if he wanted to, heart pounding as he feels something inside him reach out, and something else grabbing hold and holding tight, like it never let go in the first place.

Mario pulls back, telling him with wet eyes, "This should've been what happened back when we went to the Underwhere. Or even when I knocked the Chaos Heart out of you. That you'd just know everything was gonna be okay, because your big brother was right there with you, like he's always been since we were born."

"Stars, I hated you on Bleck's behalf." Luigi doesn't know if that makes him want to laugh or cry. "I didn't even know your name!"

"I know, but you have to know I never blamed you." Mario is adamant, stroking the back of Luigi's neck. "I still can't believe it. Ever since you came back, I've always been right here, but had to force myself to let you go."

"I know." A tear slips off Luigi's face. "I'm so sorry. How could I do that to you?"

"I didn't want you to force something you didn't feel." Mario explains simply. "There wasn't one moment I didn't miss you, or wonder what you were doing. Like a limb that wasn't there."

"But I did feel it." At Mario's confused look, Luigi explains. "Every time you lashed out at me, I felt this ache like I'd just been punched in the gut."

"Hey." Mario lowers his hand to squeeze Luigi's arm. "I don't care about any of that, okay? You remember. You remember us first coming to this world, you remember our lives together. Weegee, do you even realize what this means?"

"Yeah." Luigi nods, but like before, it's like it doesn't hit him until just now. "It means everything's...different."

"Stars, we have to tell everyone immediately." Mario's getting so excited, not noticing Luigi's suddenly very freaked out look. "I have to tell Peach. She's going to be so thrilled to have one of her closest friends back, exactly how she remembers him."

"Mario--"

"Weegee?" Now Mario notices, guessing, "I'm going too fast, aren't I? I'm sorry, I'm just...thrilled like you can't even believe, baby brother. I've wished for this every day since it all started, and now that it's here, I can't stop."

But that seems to agitate Luigi more, so Mario puts both hands on Luigi's face, "I can't stop, don't want to stop, but I'm going to, okay? We can stay up all night catching up on everything if that's what you want. This is for you and me, no one else."

He leans in to hug Luigi again, but Luigi pulls back before he can, stopping Mario. "Mario, stop. We can't."

The words pierce Mario's heart, and begs, "Please don't say that, after everything."

This time, Luigi's the one to grab Mario's arm and say, "Not like that, silly. I mean we can't do this now.", gesturing to the door. "The wedding's over by now, and the reception's about to start."

Mario nods, "Right, Mimi's wedding. Got so caught up, I forgot all about her."

"She's going to be mad enough about me walking out on the ceremony. I can't miss the reception too."