That new episode with Rainicorn and PB? It never happened...never...never...and neither did any episodes after it, probably XD

You can skip to the end of the dream, if you like; the end is all that is truly important.

BladeGuy9: Thank you so much! :D

Neverthrive: Yes, who knows how long the fluffy joy will last...well duh, me, I know when the drama starts. And yes, the "racist" part was me being hyper and trying to pop some humor in there. Oh yeah and it was a special camera, so Marceline is actually in the picture! Author powers.

Furrylover-to-da-max: Haha I'm glad you're so happy about it! Thank you sooo much! I'm trying to give everybody speech, but because my Finnceline radar is going crazy it's pretty damn hard. Marceline's rant was a challenge, so I'm glad you liked it! And yes, Jake does take quite the beating, although I skip that part for the sake of Jake fans everywhere. Thanks again!

Zanegar: Thanks! :)

Kosmic: That line made my day, too, and thank you!

ZalgarTheLostHero: Thanks! It's a little boring for a bit, I won't lie, but just wait for the drama to kick in!

Nick the vampirekiller: Thanks!

Otakugirl 13: Awww, I'm happy your brain is so happy! And thank you :3

DH88: Thanks! :D

Shadown478: I have a crap phone, but I buy into the iPhone because my iPod is awesome.

waffle033: Aw, thanks! :3

Rocketeer101: Thank you!

Hejin57: Thanks, I really appreciate your support and I hope the comic is faring well ;D (hint hint...I've had a person ask)

ErroR: ;)

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Chapter 2: Cuddling

After pretty much beating the stuffing out of Jake, Finn and Marceline decided that they should probably just call it a day.

"Well you can go home with your girlfriend! Messin' up my bread'n butter is grounds for a temporary kicking out!" Jake told Finn, who just shrugged. He had planned on escorting Marceline home anyhow; it seemed like the heroic and proper thing to do. Now he supposed he'd just stay there.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Marceline asked as she carried Finn towards her house.

"Marcie, I'm fine with it. Heck, we were cuddling up half naked on the quest," they both blushed at the memory.

"Yeah...well...this will be in an actual bed."

"I'm fine with taking the couch."

"You'd be better off on the floor," she laughed. "That thing's still a solid rock!"

"Then I'll take the floor. Anything to make you comfortable," he said firmly.

"Finn, I don't mind cuddling with you. Really, I don't. You're like a giant Hambo," she reached down and poked him. "But sharing an actual bed...that's some heavy innuendo."

"And snuggling up in our underwear wasn't?"

"Point taken."

"I hope I'm not pushing you," Finn suddenly grew worried. "Am I?"

"Not at all," she smiled. "Thanks for asking, though. What we're doing now is debating a topic of interest. And honestly, I dunno. I get the feeling that Jake's gonna regret letting you stay the night, and that he's gonna be keeping a tight leash on you from now on. This might be the only cuddling chance we get for a while."

"Oh. Hm..." Finn rubbed his chin. "That would kinda suck."

"Yeah," she smiled as they landed (kind of; she set him down and kept floating) in front of her house. "It would suck big time. What's your verdict?"

"Well, I...hm...my decision is your decision," he finally said. Marceline gave him a scornful glance as they went inside.

"You know you don't have to agree with everything I say," she pointed out.

"Well yeah...but I'm seriously undecided."

"Oh so you put all the pressure on me," she made an angry face at him and laughed at his reaction. "I'm just kidding, weenie. I'm not upset. I just thought you'd have more of an opinion on the subject. As I said in the stupid caves; it's not every day I offer to cuddle up to you."

"Well yeah, but..." Finn trailed off. "I thought..."

"What, that just because we had a few moments means I'll be all snuggly? Pft. Finn, you know how I am; earlier was something special, I'll admit, but for the most part, I'm not really a 'show affection' type, and I'm definitely not a PDA type. Okay?" she said gently. Finn nodded, blushing a little. "Don't be embarrassed about it...it's not important," she smiled. But Finn wasn't so sure; this was a big deal to him. He didn't know Marceline as well as he'd thought he had. "Anyhow, what was that about your opinion?" she got back on subject.

"My opinion is that if Jake's going to be reining me in and you're not going to be offering this all the time, we should definitely savor it while we can. We both enjoy cuddling—don't you dare deny it—and this might be our last chance for a while. I think we should," Marceline floated on her back in thought.

"Hm...let's do it then," she decided with a grin, grabbing Finn's wrist and dragging him up to her room. "But you do have to turn around while I change."

"I would have even if you'd told me not to," she raised an eyebrow.

"Should I take offense?" even though he knew she was joking, Finn's ears burned.

"No!"

"Cool it, hero. I'm kidding," Marceline grinned, and he turned around, closing his eyes for good measure.

My romantic life is usually screwed up, but I think I did something right here, he thought. Marceline's the girl for me...I can feel it. There're only two problems, and they both go by Dad. Her dad doesn't like mortals. Mine just doesn't like anything. I don't really like either of them, but I'm willing to try and get along with Marcie's if it means I can be with her. I know I don't love her yet, but I definitely like her. A lot.

"Okay Finn, you're good," Marceline interrupted his train of thought. He turned around to find her wearing an oversized concert T-shirt, the design faded.

"My dad got it for me. Guess he forgot to check the tag, huh?" Marceline smiled. "I guess you'd prefer me actually in the bed instead of above it?"

"Not if it makes you uncomfortable," was Finn's immediate response.

"Nah, I'm fine with it," she said easily, pulling down the covers. "I actually do lie in it about once a week...just to feel human again," she sounded a little upset. Finn went to comfort her, but she was already on the bed. As she crept under the sheets, she looked up at Finn with a smirk. "Well? Come on hero, I thought this was what you wanted," he kicked off his shoes and crawled into bed with her. Instead of rolling to face him, she pressed her back into his front, their legs getting tangled together. Finn settled one arm around Marceline's waist, and because she was lying further down in the bed, giving him the illusion of height, he was able to press a kiss to the top of her head. He didn't know why, but this kind of cuddling felt nice. Almost like they were doing something slightly more intimate than their cavern snuggle time; like they were declaring their new status to the world.

"Goodnight, Marceline," he murmured as he drifted off.

"Shut up!" Finn's eyes burned with unshed tears as he slashed forward in blind fury. The demon dodged easily and struck Finn's head with the hilt of its blade. The hero reeled. The demon's blade rose high to decapitate him. Bubblegum and Jake pounded on the walls of their prison, screaming silently.

"Finn!" Marceline shrieked. He rolled aside—barely. The hero staggered to his feet, already tired. He had just enough time to raise his sword and block a blow from his father. The demon pulled its blade back and swung it around, cutting into Finn's injured shoulder. He cried out and staggered back, fresh blood pouring down his arm. His father grinned and aimed a finishing blow; but Finn dodged again, panting. The quest was catching up with him. His arms burned with the effort of holding up his sword. The demon's blade dug into his right calf and he fell.

"Goodnight."

"Finn! Finn, get up!" Marceline was screaming. She sounded...terrified. Not like herself. Why was she so afraid? Finn scrambled to the side and avoided a blow that would have scattered his brains. He weakly swing his sword from the ground with his right hand, but the demon jumped and avoided the pitiful blow. Finn slowly rose to his feet, his weight to his left side and his sword in his right hand. He took a swing, but the demon easily parried, yawning just to spite Finn. Rage ignited in the hero and he struck harder, only to have a cut inflicted on his stomach as the demon danced past him, moving towards Marceline. Finn immediately jumped in the way, holding his sword high to parry a swipe at his head and blocking low to avoid a thrust. The demon bared its teeth in a grin and twirled its sword, luring Finn forward to block strike after strike after strike. When the bout was over, Finn was panting hard. He tried to aim a decapitating blow, but the demon easily parried. Finn summoned all of his strength and turned to his hero instincts.

Dodge, and he moved to the side. Strike, and he twisted, landing a hit to his opponent's right forearm. The demon howled and slashed in blind fury. Finn's sword came up to parry, and the demon twisted the blades so they were both flung aside. It grabbed Finn's shoulders and he its. They staggered back and forth, Finn's teeth gritted in pure agony as his father dug its fingernails into his injured left shoulder. Finn snarled a feral snarl and, with a feat of massive strength and willpower, hurled the Prince of Games to one side. It flipped and landed in a crouch, charging again. Finn fell to the ground and scrambled for his sword. The sound of footsteps behind him pounded like waves as he grabbed his blade and swung it around, slicing the demon across the face. It hissed and kicked him aside, snatching up its own blade.

"Foolish mistake, mortal!" the demon swung out and cut a deep slash into Finn's own cheek. He resisted the urge to cry out and climbed to his feet. "Why do you not give up? Allow your pathetic life to end!"

"No," Finn growled, interlocking their blades and stomping on the demon's toes. It hissed.

"Why?"

"Because. I have something to fight for," his eyes slid to the bubble where Jake and Bubblegum hung, then back to Marceline.

"Foolish!" the demon snarled again, striking his face. Finn staggered back, and the demon punched him in the eye. Finn couldn't move; he just stood there as, hit after hit, he was taken down to his knees. When the demon raised its sword, though, Finn found the strength to roll aside and painfully climb to his feet. But his arms were shaking and his legs were trembling. His mind had fizzled down and his instincts had worn out.

He was ready to surrender.

As he lowered his sword until its tip brushed the ground, he looked over his shoulder at Marceline. She stared at him pleadingly; not for herself, but for him. Then he realized; it had always been Marceline.

A bolt of strength coursing through his limbs, Finn charged forward with a shout, paying no heed to his injuries. They were mere scratches in comparison to the fire in his heart.

His sword met the Prince's and slammed it back into its owner's skull. The demon staggered and raised its blade just in time to parry a powerful strike that rattled Finn's every bone. Strike after strike, he drove his father back, away from Marceline. He had to keep her safe from this thing. The human twirled his sword and jabbed into the demon's thigh, causing it to cry out and clutch the wound. The Prince of Games looked up and Finn's eyes, his blue, blue eyes, met his father's matching ones as they begged for mercy.

"Not this time," Finn snarled and, in the demon's brief moment of weakness, chopped off its head. But before it died, the demon hurled its sword at Marceline. She screamed, and the agonized sound rang in Finn's ears.

He hadn't been able to keep his father from hurting her.

Finn awoke with a gasp, sitting upright instantly. Marceline stirred slightly beside him, blinking up with wide eyes.

"Mm...Finn?" she yawned. He just sat there, trembling slightly. "What's wrong?" she sat up with him, the sheets cascading to bunch at their thighs as she gently massaged his shoulders on either side of his neck. Finn relaxed slightly. He was fine. Marceline was fine. They were both fine. Plus, the way she was rubbing his shoulders felt really good...

"Nightmare," he mumbled. Marceline slid her arms around him and rested her chin on his shoulder.

"Well you're lucky I'm feeling affectionate," she said, and he heard the smirk in her voice. "What did you dream about?"

"The fight," he didn't need to say much else. "But...in the end...it threw its sword at you. You screamed, and I knew I hadn't been able to stop it from hurting you," he closed his eyes. Marceline sighed.

"Finn, it was just a dream," she pointed out.

"No. What if it wasn't? What if...what if it's coming back?"

"Once you defeat a demon, even a powerful one like the Prince of Games, it usually takes a while for it to come back," Marceline said.

"How do you truly vanquish a demon?" Finn asked. "I need to kill it—for good."

"I'm not sure," Marceline replied softly. "A good start would be an exorcism; lay the soul of your real father to rest," Finn ignored the fact that the intent behind the body at the time of his conception had indeed been the demon. "Beyond that...it's too heavy to think about tonight. Please, let's just go back to sleep," she sounded tired, so Finn lay back down. Marceline turned and wrapped her arms around him, her forehead resting at the base of his throat and her breath warming his chest. He felt her grow still, and the comfort that she brought to him warmed him all up, from his heart out.

All the same, it was a long time before Finn could finally fall asleep again.