Disclaimer: I do not own any part of AT, save for this story.

Update: I have edited this chapter as I am never really happy with the end result of my work. I'm working on the 4th chapter but, admittedly, I'm a bit stuck. I also need a beta :S

Anyway, enjoy.

Was it a Dream?

Ch.1

"Uuugh! I'm never going to get this song down!" Marceline's eyes flared with frustration. For weeks The Vampire Queen had easily spent countless hours dedicating her to this one, specific song she just couldn't seem to replicate from her mind. In her head played a soft yet melancholy melody of a beautiful, flowing bass instrumental. But in attempt to mimic said melody, out comes a hideously unorganized mess of off tempo bass licks. It wasn't terrible, but it was nothing like what the lullaby in her head sounded like. And it just wasn't characteristic of her to struggle with a song for, at the most, more than a few days. It was undoubtedly one of the most vexatious things the Queen had ever experienced in her many centuries of life… Other than her constant tension other wise.

These past few months have been crucial for the Queen and her sanity (what's left of it). The exasperation and strain eat at her nerves more than often now-a-days, and it's been an awful grueling process for Marceline. It seems as though ever since Finn the Human came back from his four year long "adventure" with his companion Jake, everything has been off. In fact, it wasn't just the nerves, irritation or tension. More than anything, it was the confusion. It was as if her heart was in her throat, choking her softly to her ultimately painful demise. She could practically feel her lungs collapsing from the lack of air.

Wait... Breathe, Marceline. Remember to breathe.

Out came an almost choked in hail, filling her lungs with as much as they could hold, and with an exerted ex-hail, the vampire relaxed her muscles enough to let the bass slide from her finger tips onto the stand. She looked longingly at her bass with a hint of defeat, almost as if the queen had reached an impasse.

Floating to her bed, she closed her eyes welcoming the numbness of unconscious oblivion. Over the next hour, Marceline grew more and more indignant with her own restlessness. Don't think, don't think. Just sleep. With the chant on repeat, she fought her own meddlesome thoughts. The vampire groaned disapprovingly as the haunting blue eyes of Finn the Human flashed against the blackness of her eyelids. Her optics flew open with a defeated sigh. Twisting to her left side Marceline reached for the photo frame on her night stand. It held a slightly worn out picture of herself, Finn, and Jake... The picture they took together before the two embarked upon their journey.

A small smile bloomed across her otherwise tired features. Her fingers ghosted over the face of Finn, unsettling the dust on the picture. The bewilderment was coming again; flooding every inch of the Queen. Seeing him again after what seemed like a millennium really affected her. Whether it was positively or negatively, she couldn't quite determine. Of course she was more than delighted when news spread through town that the hero was homeward bound. She was ecstatic, even, to see her best friend again after so long. Only it wasn't the Finn that left the Land of Ooo all that time ago; he was no longer a boy, but a man, now 18. He had grown… Drastically. That was the first of many Marceline noted from the blonde— how anomalous his demeanor and physical ties were.

Finn's once childish, booming voice was now deep and polite as ever. His long, golden locks now flow from under his characteristic hat, leaving it loose and un-strapped. His physique seems chiseled and mature, rather than lanky and un-coordinated. Even his face matured—almost all of his baby fat was gone, and to Marceline, it was unforeseen though it shouldn't have been. The changes in Finn were more than evident, but what really stood out were Finn's eyes. They were the most beautiful shade of azure, but held a sort of darkness that they hadn't before. It was almost, dare she say... Alluring? But it was also unsettling seeing the blonde so uncharacteristically melancholy. Could something have happened to make the Human appear this way? Or was it just part of a human's maturing stage?

The vampiress huffed and shielded her guise from the curious walls.

Once again, she caught herself thinking of the human. Once again, the apprehension seized her stomach and held it hostage for all to see. She felt exposed, and vulnerable. Never in her life has she felt the weakness of a mortal; to grow attached to inanimate objects (save for Hambo) or living beings. Sure, Marceline had something with Bonnibel— or rather, Bonnibel had something with her— but that was centuries ago,* and it was never the likes of this. Marceline grabbed her stomach and glowered at nothing in particular. How could she let herself succumb to pathetic emotions, for a human none-the-less? Maybe she should distance herself from everyone, at least until she can restrain her own bloody woe…

A loud rapping on the door pulled her from her thoughts. She nearly jumped out of her own skin at the unexpected blunder of noise. With an audible groan, the Vampire Queen floated down her loft of stairs and reached for the door, violently swinging it open.

"What do you wa-"

Those eyes...

Marceline held her tongue while turning different shades of red. She could practically feel her face burning as she straightened herself under the others gaze, lowering herself to the ground.

"Sorry, Finn. I... Didn't know it was you." Nice going, idiot.

She mentally slammed her face into the nearest wall but completely broke the thought when Finn started to speak.

"Marcy," He chuckled "what are you so angry about?" There he stood, towering over her with a seemingly forced grin on his face. The way her prized nickname rolled off the tip of his tongue nearly turned her legs to jelly, but...

Suddenly, Marceline narrowed her eyes.

Was he mocking her?

The adventurer let himself in, brushing past the lithe form of the queen and plopped down on the couch.

"Oof! …Marcy, you really should get a new couch..." Finn mumbled, wincing as he stood up. He was as beautiful as when she first beheld him— those few weeks seemed so distant from the present. His hair seemed longer as he pulled his white hat to free golden locks aplenty. She had the strange urge to run her fingers through his silk-like threads, but Marceline bludgeoned the thought. Finn turned to face the vampire, his expression suddenly grim. "But... that's not what I came here to talk to you about."

The hairs on the back of her neck bristled as the atmosphere drastically changed. It's been an eternity since she's seen her dear friend so serious. It was almost frightening. Suppressing oncoming chills Marcy urged him to continue in her silence.

"... Jake is dying."