Part one: A good life

"Marceline?" Queen Bubblegum calls softly, as she lies in her bed. Marceline, who had been discussing something with Peppermint Jr., is by her side in a flash. She takes Bubblegum's hand in her own.

"Bonnie? You ok?"

Bubblegum tries to give Marceline's hand a reassuring squeeze , but her own hands have grown so feeble over the years, Marceline barely feels it. Bubblegum takes a deep breath, but Marceline can tell she's straining.

"I'm alright, Marcy." she puts on what she hopes is a reassuring smile.

Marceline takes the chance to study the candy ruler's face. Flesh that was once smooth and soft, pink and gummy, is now wrinkled and stiff, grayed and brittle. To Marceline, she's still as beautiful as ever.

Marceline is snapped back to reality by Bubblegum fighting through a coughing fit. The aging monarch hunches forward and covers her mouth, her thinning hair falls around her face. Marceline can see that even this small movement takes a tremendous effort.

Marceline calls over her shoulder "Junior! Get the doctors!"

The young peppermint man stutters out an affirmative and rushes out the door. For a split second, Marceline could have sworn she was looking at his father, the original Peppermint Butler, who had passed away many years ago. She turns her attention back to Bubblegum, thankfully the coughing has passed, she is now lying back with her eyes closed. Her breathing is shallow, quick and strained.

"Marceline?" she asks, her voice barely a whisper.

Marceline leans down and kisses her forehead.

"Hush, sugar. The doctors will be here in a sec." she coos and places another kiss on the queen's head.

"No, Marcy. I'm running out of time, I can feel it. I want-" another bout of coughing cuts her sentence short. "I want to spend my last moments with you. Just you."

Marceline is smiling, but her eyes are filled with tears. "Oh, no you don't. You can't go yet, got it?"

Bubblegum smiles back. "If I had my choice, I would spend forever with you. But I'm afraid, it's not up to me, love." she slowly reaches her hand up, stroking Marceline's face. Marceline covers Bubblegum's hand with her own, pressing it into her cheek. She can smell that familiar scent of that bubblegum skin that she's loved for the best part of her thousand year life. She starts crying.

"Bonnie. No. Not yet. Please."

She leans down and kisses Bubblegum's lips. Bubblegum smiles back, her own eyes filled with tears.

"It's ok, Marcy. I had a good life. I had all I ever wanted. I had you."

Marceline kisses her again and again, as the memories come flooding back, as if they're living the past few decades all over again. They talk about their first kiss, their first fight, the first time they made love, their first break-up, their first make-up. At some point, Peppermint Junior had arrived with the doctors. They carefully examined the queen, but sank into somber silence, not knowing how to say aloud what everyone knows. The two lovers talk until the sun sets.

Bubblegum pulls herself upright, despite Marceline's objections. She looks out the window, it's finally dusk.

"Marceline? Let me see my kingdom again. One last time."

Marceline wordlessly lifts Bubblegum, it's effortless as always, but her unbeating heart sinks when she feels how light her lover's body has become. She gracefully floats through the window, remembering how she carried her like this on their wedding night.

Bubblegum takes a deep breath, relishing the fresh air, with that hint of sweetness that encompasses her entire kingdom. She looks down at the buildings, at the streets, at the few candy people running around, finishing up their work for the day. She smiles and looks back to Marceline.

"I love you, Marceline. More than I could ever say. Thank you for making this a life worth living" she kisses the vampire again, feeling the last bit of her energy starting to fade.

"I love you too, Bonnie. I love you so much. I still need you." They embrace, high above the candy kingdom. Marceline cries into Bubblegum's shoulder. Bubblegum runs her hands through thick black locks of hair.

"Bonnie, I-" she stops. She doesn't know what to say. Bubblegum just smiles and shakes her head.

"It's okay. I know. At least we get to say goodbye." she plants another kiss on the vampire's lips. Marceline quietly sobs.

"No, Bonnie. Not goodbye." she puts on a paper thin smile. "It's just, until I see you again." one more kiss.

"I love you, Marceline."

"I love you, Bonnibel."

High above the candy kingdom, a life ends and a lover mourns.