"Gumball?"

Hands cupped around her mouth and rocker voice amplified by the echoing of the castle walls, the Vampire Queen huffed and kept floating along, in and out, up and down the maze of stairs and hallways.

It's only been a couple weeks since she woke up back in the flip-flopped world she'd learned to call home, and she was actually adjusting to it pretty well.

Except her boyfriend kept vanishing at the most random freakin' times!

"Yo, PG! Where you at, dude?" She called once more when she'd gotten to a different spot a little further down the way.

"MARCELINE!" he screamed, she yelped in surprise as someone grabbed her from behind.

Gumball wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her close," Marceline you're here! I just got back from the flower kingdom! I got you something!"

Before she had a chance to turn around, he pulled out a bouquet of possibly the reddest flowers she had ever seen. Even the stems were dark red.

"H-Hey! Don't — Whoa…!" Squirming around so she could look at him, her mouth started watering at the sight of the flowers.

A present? Or food?

Yeesh…She never realized just how confusing dating a Vampire could be.

"Uh…Thanks, dude." Taking one of them and sniffing it curiously, she yanked a petal off and rubbed it between her fingers for a second. Eventually her hunger got the better of her and she sucked it dry. "Holy crap! These are freaking awesome!"

Marceline bit into the top of the flower and devoured it's color, soon it was a beautiful white rose.

"See? It's nice to look at and a snack!" he smiled big, hugging her close while she ate," I really missed you"

"Mm~" The girl nodded in agreement, taking another and draining that one too. "I was wondering where you'd disappeared to."

A low, lazy purr started up in the back of her throat and she nuzzled her face in the curve between his neck and shoulder. The Flower Kingdom must've been too dirty for him because he was in a t-shirt and pants instead of his poofy clothes.

"Do you wanna go out tonight? It's not like you've got anything more important to do…Right?"

He shuddered lightly at the contact, there was always something thrilling about a vampire nuzzling your throat, "Of course! I have an entire evening free to do what ever you want your highness" He paused a moment, looking down at himself.

"I uh…maybe I should change first?"

Your highness? That was a new one.

She laughed, slipping out of his gentle grip, but when her mouth opened to say something, she froze, a harsh twinge shooting straight from her head down to her toes. She actually had to put both feet on the ground.

Okay. OUCH!

But just as quick as it came, it was gone, so Marceline chalked it up to eating a plants' color — something she normally wouldn't do. Clothing color was about how weird she went as far as food.

Swallowing thickly to settle back down, she tried the whole talking thing again. "You don't have to if you don't want to. You look fine to me."

Gumball's brows furrowed in worry, he didn't miss her sudden pain attack, something strong enough to put the vampire on the ground.

"W-whoa wait hang on, are you feeling alright?" Marceline tried to wave him off but he gently grasped her chin to look straight at him. He carefully examined her facial features, which were still lined with pain.

"Maybe we should stay here until you feel better…uh…do vampire's get sick? I thought that was tomatoes"

"No, Vampires don't get sick, no, I didn't eat any tomatoes. I'm fine. I guess I just ate too much too fast or something." The Vampire stated defensively, crossing her arms and huffing a strand of hair away from her face.

So maybe she was lying, but no way in the Nightosphere is she going to the doctor just for a stupid headache.

But to be on the safe side, she stayed grounded.

"People get random pains all the time, but that doesn't mean they're just gonna drop everything to stay in bed and get better." She shot him one of her signature smirks, hoping it'd convince him to drop it. "I know for a fact you don't, and I'm a whole heck of a lot tougher than you."

Though he wasn't completely satisfied with her answer, he continued anyway, "…I…suppose you're right…" he sighed, taking her hand,"But if it happens again we're coming back and I'm doing a check up on you"

Marceline's grin widened with a small eyebrow wiggle.

It took a good solid five seconds for him to understand what she was implying.

"That's not what I meant!" he blushed furiously.

"Of couuuurse you didn't, PG~" The Queen drawled teasingly, giving his hand a light squeeze. Sometimes he was so freaking cute it was ridiculous.

Tugging him along in a random direction — the night was still young and they didn't have to go anywhere in such a rush — she just had to stop to give Peppermint Maid a good scare, but before she could go through with the cruel plan, the dull throb started up again.

"Gah…What the heck…?!" She hissed, hunching over a bit and waiting it out like before.

"Well that didn't take long did it?" he felt her squeeze his hand in pain, there were no excuses now.

"Sorry Marcy, looks like we're staying in tonight" before she could complain, he swiped his arm from under her knees and picked her up bridal style.

"And before you ask, yes this is completely unnecessary. We didn't even make it out of the castle and you're getting these weird pains. I must investigate!"

She whined and poked his chest the entire way but a few flights of stairs later they made it to his room.

She's dumped in that obnoxiously fluffy bed, covers being pulled up and rammed under her chin to get her warm and keep her warm.

Vampires stayed at a constant temperature unless their body was forced otherwise.

"I'm. Fine! Jeez…I'm starting to sound like a freakin' broken record…." The Vampire huffed, and he just laughed at her, which only made her pout even more. "Whatever you did to make those flowers so red probably just isn't agreeing with me."

She seriously didn't believe those roses were naturally that dark, so if that was really the problem, she sure as heck didn't want to be his guinea pig.

"That is a good place to start"

He pulled each flower out of its bouquet and inspects each one carefully on the bedside table. She whined and mumbled but couldn't help but find his bed extremely comfortable; just lonely.

"Alright I'm going to run these through some tests, you stay here and rest and I'll be right b-" Just as he turned away to leave, her hand shot out of the blankets and grabbed onto his shirt.

"Tell Peppermint Maid what to do with those stupid flowers. You're staying here."

It's not a request.

She'd never admit it, but she's maybe just the tiniest bit freaked out. Her kind are supposed to be impervious, immune, indestructible…Whatever! No headaches, no weird body pains, just tingles when she doesn't actually walk for a couple of days.

The Queen's tugging gets more persistent, and it's all she can do not to flat out yank him in bed with her, but he's got to pass the plants on to somebody.

He wanted to fight it, but her grip on his shirt was tight and almost desperate. He turned around and grasped her hand, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

"Ok. I'll stay" he smiled.

Marceline also smiled, snuggling into his bed patiently waiting while he called for his maid. The small candy woman quickly made her way inside and took the flowers.

"Please run every single test you can on these. Anything suspicious at all and report back to me"

"Yes your highness!"

She scampered off leaving the two royals alone. He sighed and stood beside the bed, lifting her bangs and checking her temperature with the back of his hand.

"Still the same as usual…will you at least let me do a minor check up?"

"Ugh…Fine…Just hurry up…." Sucking in an unnecessary, child-like breath and letting it out with an obnoxious hiss, the Vampire sat up beside him. At least she didn't have to go see an actual stupid doctor.

Wait —

Do scientists even count as doctors?

Either way, she trusted her mate a whole heck of a lot more than any real doctor, no matter what those flowers will say when they get back from being tortured.

"Alright, just relax and lie down" she obeyed while he peeled the blankets off of her. She didn't mean to squeak when he lifted her shirt just enough to expose her stomach.

"Tell me where it was hurting, maybe if I know where it can give me a place to start" he smiled warmly, hoping it would keep her comfortable. He placed a hand on her stomach, applying light pressure.

No everything felt normal there.

"Ss…Down a little…." An eye screwed shut, flinching once again when the candy prince's cool hand pushed and poked at her middle and sides.

"You're hands are freaking cold, Peeg…." She complained, fidgeting around and being a total pill about this whole thing. She only wanted to go out for a couple hours to spend some time with him, since he's either gone to another kingdom or busy with whatever else here at the castle.

And the weird thing is?

It doesn't even feel like an I'm-gonna-puke kind of pain! More like a hard, twisted-up knot kind of pain.

They still could've probably gone out, but of course nobody ever listens to her around here since she's just the girlfriend. Peppermint Maid's almost the only one to pay her any attention, since Marceline can drink her red if she doesn't.

His brows furrowed," Lower?"

Eyes trailed to the area under her belly button, he suddenly became nervous and extremely worried. He hid it well though chances are she could hear his increased heart rate. As instructed, he slowly brought his hands lower, his fingers just barely underneath the waistband of her jeans.

She let out a small whimper.

"Its…hurting…here?" she nodded, her eyes screwed shut as a but of pain washed over her.

"My prince, we found absolutely nothing wrong with the flowers" Peppermint maid returned with the bouquet of red flowers, a bit disheveled from the tests but nothing was at fault here.

"Thank you Peppermint…now…I need you to get me everything we have on Vampire anatomy, priority number 1"

She was going to question it, why his hands were in her pants was a good place to start but judging by his look of intense worry and Marceline's look of pain, it was probably best to remain silent.

"I don't understand…aren't vampire organs…dead? Technically speaking?" he mumbled, still feeling around, gently poking and prodding the area causing her pain.

She blushed like mad when the little candy servant just barged in like that, so she swatted him away and sat back up, crossing her arms and knitting her brows in irritation.

"You gotta remember…I'm not like the Vampires you guys read about in your stupid little horror stories. I have to sleep and eat and pee just like the rest of you guys." It was Pep-Maid's turn to blush this time, mumbling something about going to the library and running out.

It was only then did she register the pounding of his heart in her ears.

"Why? What do my guts have to do with anything?"

"Well…it's just…..if you're hurting…in this general area…uh…well this is an important female reproductive area and…well…there could be a number of things that could be wrong here" he stood up, scratching the back of his head nervously.

"But you do have a point…you're still very much demon as you are vampire so the possibilities are endless so maybe….just maybe…" he suddenly became very quiet.

A thousand years meant you learned a lot, and Marceline was never an idiot.

"Okay I'm gonna stop you right there before you make a fool of yourself. Whatever's going on in that weird head of yours? Quit it. Right now. That's impossible. You and I both know that."

Gumball remained still, stroking his chin in thought.

"Y-yeah…you're right…ha I'm…sorry I got a little….ahead of myself" he laughed nervously, offering his hand. She eyed him suspiciously, taking his hand. He pulled her to sit her up and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Sorry about that, I just got carried away" she didn't miss that hint of sadness behind his smile.

He's giving her the face.

It's the one where he's found out he left the cookies in the oven too long and they got just a little bit burnt.

Or when he mixes the wrong chemicals in the lab.

It wasn't that big of a deal to her, obviously, but he looked like his entire world just exploded twice over. The Queen sighed heavily and leaned back on her hands, looking up at the ceiling and closing her eyes in exasperation.

"Nng…What's with the face?"

"I uh…it's nothing….really" he attempted to look busy, rearranging papers on the desk but when he turned around he found her staring straight at him and wanting an answer.

"…I'm sorry…I don't mean to look so bummed out…I just….I got my hopes up…that's all…" he fell silent, twiddling with his thumbs trying to find any other places to look at but her gaze just stayed on him. He let out a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck, finally breaking.

"Marceline, have you….ever even…thought about…h-having kids?"

And there it is. Just like always, he's not a very tough nut to crack. And again, just like always, he won't leave well enough alone.

"No Gumball, I've never ever thought about having kids. Not with you or anybody because — Gah I'm starting to sound like a freaking broken record — it's impossible! It'd be a huge waste of my time to think about something that can't even happen!"

Okay, maybe that wasn't the best way to word it, but now her stomach and head are hurting again and she can't think straight and he's still giving her that face and — Hang on. He got his hopes up? What?

"You…Want me to be…?" The Vampire can't even get the word out, it's so ridiculous!

"Marceline I…." what was he suppose to say?

Of course he wanted kids, an heir to his throne but more importantly he wanted a family. With her. But he may have misjudged considered the appalled look on her face.

He quickly made it back to her side, taking her hands in his grasp and staring at her straight in the eyes,"Marceline, listen just bare with me for a moment. IF you were able to produce a child. Would you keep it? Would you want it? To be a mother? At all?"

She remained silent.

"I think I made myself rather clear on that topic…I would…love to be the father of your child and raise them with you"

"Alright, fine. I'll humor you." She sighed in frustration, meeting his questioning gaze. "Let's pretend for a second that whatever's wrong with me is…That…."

Nope. Still can't say it out loud.

And despite the fact that he kind of made it sound like she'd want to get rid of it one way or another if she was, she knew he didn't actually mean it like that and brushed it off, getting quiet once again to think.

"Can you seriously see me taking care of a kid…? Trying to raise it right after all I've been through…? It'd be messed up before it's fangs came in!"

His face fell into shock,"What? You must be joking! You would be an excellent mother! You're fun and despite what you say you're wise" he took her hands and sat next to her.

"And you wouldn't be doing this alone, I would be here the entire time. I…just think…we would be a pretty good team…parents…y-you know?" he bit his lip, what was he saying? This entire thing could just be a bug but he couldn't help but suddenly start thinking about it again. Even if it were true and she couldn't get pregnant he could surely build a baby. They could raise it together and be the next heir….but…it takes two.

"…do…you really not want any children?"

He really wasn't making her attempt at being the level-headed partner any easier….

"I…I don't know…Maybe…?" In her entire one-thousand-and-twenty something years, it'd crossed her mind maybe once or twice with some of her more serious partners, but she'd never even slept with anybody before Gumball, so they were shot down pretty quick.

Not to mention the fact that she grew up in a dead world, and when she'd got old enough to consider that kind of stuff, her music career took off, and her music always came first.

"I….see…" he tried so hard to not look like someone had run over his heart.

"Alright well…then…we can forget this conversation, if it's making you uncomfortable" he stood up, walking over to the bouquet of flowers, pretending he was looking at something important or examining them.

"Well the results say the flowers were fine for you to eat, so…if you still want them?"

He looked like she just tore him to shreds! All she did was tell him the truth! Honest! No lies or tricks or anything this time! A-And it's not like she said 'No I don't want kids'! Grod men sure are confusing….

Marceline's aching all over now, the weird pain sinking even into her bones so they feel more like jelly, and whatever he says is muffled and displaced in her ears.

Okay. Maybe something is wrong with her. Great. Just great.

"Nah…I'm good…But I'm pretty sure I just might puke up whatever of those flowers I did eat." She slurred, curling tight up on herself.

"I still want you to rest…" he went over to the small lamp and clicked it off, at this point not taking any chances and not taking no for an answer. He was about to leave but paused a moment,"Do you want me to stay?"

"…Please…?"

Keep in mind that Marceline the Vampire Queen is no beggar.

Anything she wanted, she got, but exactly how she got it depended on her…Preferred tactic. Maybe she felt bad for smacking him upside the head with the truth, or maybe her head just isn't working right, but…She said it anyways.

And he kind-of-not-exactly promised he'd stick it out with her until they figure out what's up with her and kick it in the butt.

Yeah. That totally justified it.

He glanced outside, it was still pretty early as far as evening ventures go with the vampire but turning in for the day seemed like the best option. He slipped off his shoes and tunic, leaving pants and under shirt on and climbed into bed beside her.

He immediately grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to his chest, kissing her forehead,"I'm sorry about earlier, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I just wanted to know. I promise we won't speak of it again"

The girl watched with the eye that wasn't nuzzled into the pillow, a smug sort of grin on her face when she saw some stray bites on his neck and shoulders that looked a heck of a lot like hers. In fact, they were from her.

He was hers, after all, and she sure as heck was gonna show it.

When he slid in next to her and tugged her close, her face burrowed into the curve of his neck and shoulder, and since she really can't help it, she kissed one of the random scars there, arms folding up between them so she could start soaking up some heat. "Mm…Whatever…."