A/N: Rated T simply because of my comments at the end. Enjoy!

There are days, weeks, and not uncommonly enough, months in Ooo that they do not have the chance to meet. The gravity of their loneliness makes their hearts grow heavy and they feel as though they would give anything, anything, for a chance just to touch one another, just to get a glimpse of one another. Unfortunately, time and responsibility often have no want for their offer of anything and so they must stay parted. However, today is different.

Finn and Jake arrive in Candy Kingdom with the grey vampire in tow, their adventure story on Finn's breath. Bubblegum's heart flies, suddenly weightless, to catch in her throat at the sight of their companion and she trembles when their eyes meet. Staying just behind the boys that brought her, the vampire stays silent, a smug air about her. Desperately, Bubblegum tries to listen to the human's enthusiastic tale, but her heart tugs her attentions to the young woman who lounges in the air. Stealing glances, hiding smiles, they let their hearts meet to dance in the distance between them. The boys are too passionately into telling their tale that neither seem to notice that the vampire has disappeared. Delicate tugs at Bubblegum's wrist guide her hand behind her back before fingers lace perfectly into her own. When Finn notices the flush blooming around Bubblegum's polite smile, she blames it on her enthusiasm in hearing his fantastic account of the adventure. The fingers entwining hers squeeze as she lies so easily to him. She can feel shoulder blades press into her own, the vampire's back flush with hers as invisible threads of black hair graze her neck. Jake notices, now, that their grey companion is missing and is scared to shaking when the vampire appears out of the air just behind him with a horrific face and a laugh. Bubblegum instantly misses the pressure against her palm, against her back.

When the tale is over, deepest gratitudes bestowed, and a new quest given, the adventurers are finally ready to leave. The vampire declines the invitation to join them on this one and claims that she will instead travel home. The song that had been wrapping itself around Bubblegum's heart since the vampire's arrival dies suddenly, drowned in her disappointment.

As the day wanes and the responsibilities are drawing to a close, the princess will find her way to her room, both glad to have seen her love and crestfallen that the moment was so brief. There she will be elated to find the moment has been lengthened and the one she wants to see, wants to feel, has been waiting all along. As they rush to embrace one another, the reawakened melody will spring to her throat, singing, gasping, "Marceline!"

A/N: So… I'm awful with titles. wordhockey (my proofer and BFF!) and I were discussing this and the alternative titles I came up with for this story are:

Stop Talking, Finn, I Want to Make Sweet Love to Your Grey Companion (or, as she put it: STFIWTMSLTYGC)

and

Responsibilities Don't Satisfy Like Vampire Queens Do

It was a tough decision, needless to say.

Thanks for reading!