Hey everyone! I'm not really sure how I feel about this chapter. It's sort of a filler so that way I don't drastically go from action packed to nothing. I have to make it a nice transition so, hopefully you won't be disappointed. Also, there were two songs I was listening to. Please, if you do listen to the songs I requested you to listen to, please pay special attention to the asterisks. One is for one some and two if for the other. I'll show a key in underneath his little commentary. I thank all of you for your reviews and comments. It means a lot to me, knowing that you like my writing style.

*World - Artist- Eleni

** Intensity (blind faith remix) – Way Out West

***** Little Bird –Artist- The weepies (love this song, please, even if you don't like listening while reading, I highly suggest listening afterwards.)

P.S I listen to Pandora radio, hence the odd music choices

Little Bird

"Marshall?" He looked up at the dying woman in his arms. What could he do to save her? There was always there was the option of changing her. He shook his head and closed his eyes. No, that would have to be her choice, not his. He was a selfish man, but when it came to she wanted, he couldn't ignore that.

The blood was oozing across the floor, turning the white marble tiles into red. He glanced over at Gumdrop who was crying and trying to hold herself together. He shifted his eyes to Gumball, who hadn't moved an inch since he last mouthed those words to him. What was he going to do? His first concern was Fionna. He moved quickly but carefully. His arms wrapped around her and lifted her to him. He needed to get her to the candy hospital were doctor ice cream could examine her properly.

Peppermint maid finally made her appearance from behind a marble pillar, her small round body trembling as she stood close to Gumball. "Oh my! This is terrible! I'll go fetch Doctor Cream!" Her little short legs patted quickly towards the candy cane phone. Marshall could hear her voice quiver as she recalled all that had happened and asked the tired doctor to rush over quickly as possible.

In a matter of minutes the white double doored entrance burst open, a panting ice cream with a medical kit in tow surveyed the scene. "My Glob..." She caught her breath and rushed over to Fionna, examining her. "She was shot?" Marshall paced back and forth, his teeth clenched at recalling the memory. "Yes, please just, just save her okay? I don't care how, just do it!" The doctor flinched and nodded her head, taking out her tongs to dislodge the bullet that was deep inside her gut.

Minutes passed and then an hour. The doctor had asked peppermint maid to call all of the nurses from the hospital and have them come over right away, to tend to the other wounded while she operated. Peppermint maid did so and within an hour after the battle almost all of Aaa was standing inside the kings castle, watching in horror as a fellow practitioner, doctor doughnut, treated the king for the gunshot to his upper thigh.

Marshall couldn't look down. If he did, he'd see her, he'd see her blood splattered all around her. He gulped. "Nurse! I need my gaze now!" Doctor cream commanded as she held the small sliver bullet between her metal tongs. "Right away." The ice cream nurse brought over several rolls of white cotton gaze and began helping the doctor wrap it, tightly, around Fionnas mid-section.

"She'll be alright Marshall-Lee." He stopped his reverent pacing and looked down at his little adventurer. She was a little pale but he could hear her heart beat a little stronger than before. "When will she wake up?" Marshall bent down and tucked the dirty pieces of blood covered hair behind her ear and sighed. "That, I don't know." He shot a look of confusion over to the worn out doctor. "What do you mean you don't know?" She sighed and rubbed the side of her temple, fighting off a headache. "I mean it could be hours, days, weeks, maybe even years before she recovers. She lost a lot of blood Marshall, her body needs time to regain its strength." She placed a hand on his shoulder and he shrugged her off.

"She's a strong girl, I'm sure with her stamina she'll bounce right back, you'll see." She stood to leave but Marshall stopped her. "Thank you." She smiled and nodded her head before walking up the steps to Gumball who was now conscious and telling the story of what had happened.

Marshall scooped Fionna, carefully, into his arms, carrying her bridal style through the doorway that led out into the night. "Let's go home Fi." He whispered and kissed the top of her head. He wasn't sure if he imagined her smile or not but he'd like to have thought that she could hear him.

* In Fionnas mind, she could hear the sounds of waves. The sun beat down on her skin. It was beautiful outside. She smiled and watched the candy people play in the ocean, their small feet leaving little holes in the sand from their footprints.

"Isn't this great?" Cake laughed and chased Monochromacorn while holding onto her large straw sun hat. Fionna smiled and took a deep breath. The smell of the salty air calmed her yet, there was something missing. "Fionna over here!" Gumball ran over in his red tinted swim trunks, his chest bare which caused Fionna to tilt her head.

"Gumball?" He stood in front of her, nearly out of breath and panted. "Wanna join me on a walk along the beach; the sun will be going down soon." He smiled his teeth perfectly white and glistening. "Uh, sure." He reached for her hand and she pulled away, looking at him curiously. "What's the matter? Not feeling well?" She furrowed her eyebrows and crossed her arms.

"Dude, it's just a walk, we don't need to hold hands or anything." She mumbled out, the wind blowing softly, causing some of her unruly blonde locks to fall in front of her face. "I know." His smile never faltered.

**The sky turned dark instantly and Gumball had vanished. The sounds of the ocean roared in her ears, making her wince. Then cold hands covered them, stopping the noise. "Marshall?" He smiled and tilted his head, leaning in to kiss her.

She closed her eyes as his warm lips captured hers. He pulled her in, his hands unclasping themselves from her head and wrapping around her waist. "You need to wake up." His voice replaced the waves that crashed against the rocks. "Please, Fionna, you have to wake up." She reached out to touch his cheek, his grin fading as he slowly started to fade away in a swirl of gray smoke.

"Marshall!" Her eyes became wide and she cried out. The ocean had disappeared and in its placed was complete darkness. She couldn't distinguish one thing from another. She felt around, only air greeted her. "Marshall?" She was scared.

"Follow my voice." She felt blind. "Where are you?" She could hear his melodic laughter. "I'm right here, just open your eyes, please, you'll see me." She kept blinking, her vision never clearing. "I can't see you!" She shouted at the nothingness that surrounded her.

"Follow me, follow my voice, you have to do this." He sounded so sure, so compelling. 'Come on Fionna, pull it together.' She straightened up and sighed. "Okay, I'm coming." She walked towards his voice. At times she was sure she was going the wrong way, but at others she would tell herself that she was doing great, reassured by Marshalls constant banter as it sounded closer.

"Marshall, I've been meaning to ask you." There was silence, and she worried that he might have vanished and left her in the darkness alone. "Yes?" She smiled to herself and held her arms out, reaching in front of her. "Why are you here, and not the others?" She could see the smile on his face as he answered. "Because, they don't love you as much as I do Fi. Love is a powerful thing." The corners of her mouth ached from her constant smile that was now growing wider.

"What if I never return?" There was silence and then his voice echoed throughout the darkness. "Then I'll have to find a way to you." Her heart warmed and something deep inside her sparked. She fell to her knees, her body feeling the sting of injuries she couldn't remember sustaining. "Marshall it hurts!" There was no reply. She fell, her eyes closing as more and more aches and pains made themselves present. 'Why does it hurt so much?' Her mind raced and then her eyes opened.

"Marshall!" The vampire king stood quickly, his eyes tired as he looked at the young woman with wide eyes. "Fi." His expression softened as she panted and regained her composure. "Where am I?" Her body felt stiff and uncomfortable. "You're back at home. I brought you to your room; I thought you'd be more comfortable here." He leaned over and kissed her forehead, a small relieved sigh leaving his lips as he pulled away just an inch. "You worried me, when you didn't wake up for the first few days I thought…" He trailed off, shaking his head at the thought.

"Never mind, how are you feeling?" He looked over her bandaged body, inspecting the gaze he had just changed an hour or so ago. "A little ache but otherwise, I'm okay." Her voice sounded rough and throaty. "I'll get you some apple juice; hold on just a moment okay?" He watched her nod and then flew down the steps and into the kitchen where Cake was knitting.

"What's goin on?" The cat stilled her hands in mid knit and looked at the vampire. "She's awake Cake!" His voice was a little too cheerful for his liking but he didn't care, he had a very worthy reason to be this joyous. Fionna was now awake, her wounds were healing nicely and her fever broke. He rummaged around the fridge and grabbed a small bottle of apple juice and a red apple.

"Oh sweet babies thank the lightosphere!" Cake sighed happily and ran up the steps. The door barged open and the small stocky white and brown spotted cake appeared in front of a very confused and tired Fionna. "Oh child! You scared the glob right out of me!" Cake ran over and wrapped her large paws around the human girl. "Don't cha ever do something like that again you hear me? You just run your little heart away next time!" The cat purred and rested her furry head on her shoulder and smiled.

"Cake, all I can remember is screaming and then Gumball…" Her eyes widened. "Cake, what happened to Gumball?" The feline detached herself from the woman and looked at her. "Oh, him? He's fine, recovering nicely I heard. He sent a horde of Goblin creatures to the former queen's kingdom." It all came rushing back. The loud clank of the gun, the screaming, the stinging sensation in her back as she hit the ground.

*** "Cake." It was Marshall that broke her train of thought. "I think Fionna needs a little rest, why don't you pester her tomorrow?" The cat mumbled and squinted her eyes at the pale skinned man. "Fine, fine." Fionna, if you need anything, and I mean anything, a cold glass of milk, a ball of yarn, some sweaters, socks, catnip girl, anything, just call for me okay? I'll have my ears tuned in." She glared at the vampire as she finished and detached herself from the bed.

Marshall smirked and shut the door as the babbling feline exited and headed down the steps. "She's just worried is all." Marshall reasoned out loud. Fionna placed her feet on the cold wooden floor. The moon shone bright through the window and Marshall had dimmed the lights as he walked over, her bottle of apple juice in his hands.

"I heard you." He stopped walking and stared at her. "You heard me?" His voice was soft and intrigued. "Yes, you were telling me to open my eyes." He smiled and sat the bottle down on the small wooden nightstand. "I did say that." She turned to look over her shoulder at the man she had fallen deeply for.