Lemongrab and Esme were dropped around the back of the castle to be let in through the private tunnel, so was to not be seen by the public in case the candy people panicked. Walking through the narrow, dull passage, Lemongrab could feel sweat start to drip down his forehead. In a matter of moments he was going to see his co-ruler and creator again and the doubt suddenly overcame him like a tsunami. Each step along the dusty floor kicked up more emotions that Lemongrab still didn't understand. These steps got closer and closer together until he stopped all together. Esme turned around to see him standing in the middle of the path, staring blankly at the floor.

"Come on Lemongrab, being late won't be a good first impression." Esme stated. However Lemongrab gave no response. "Still worried they won't trust you?" Lemongrab still kept his lips shut. In reply he slowly nodded his head. Esme walked back to him and places her hand on his shoulder, rubbing it gently to comfort him. "Hey, don't worry. I promise everything will go as planned"

"What plan is that?" Lemongrab asked softly.

"Oh yeah, sorry I didn't tell you. Well, there is a small room up ahead where I told PB and Lemonfriend to meet us." Lemongrab lifted his head to meet her soft eyes. His expression had faded in to a deep concern. "What's wrong with that?" Asked Esme.

"Well, princess bubblegum is easy to talk to. She was my creator and I know exactly what to say, but with Lemonfriend, I have no idea. Now that I... Have these complicated emotions towards him what if I mess things up and it all goes terribly wrong. I'll lose him forever. I will be heart broken. I know I really hurt him before, but I would hate it if he ever went away." Lemongrab stared back to the floor and crossed his arms. Esme kept silent for a few moments. She had never seen Lemongrab like this. He was like a child who lost his mother. Lonely and distressed.

"You are just nervous; I promise everything will be fine." Esme smiled at Lemongrab and gave him a friendly hug for confidence. He embraced the hug and a small smile crept across his face. "See, you think you haven't changed much, but 13 months ago you would have never let me do that. Why, you wouldn't even shake my hand." Lemongrab chuckled lightly and wandered over to the room with Esme by his side. He thought to himself, he could do this.

As they opened the door to the room, they noticed it was empty. No sign of anybody. However in the room there was a pink wooden table and chair set that looked ancient. Two windows were opposite the door and had detailed, stain glass drawings of flowers, vines and birds on them. Curtains were more or less drawn and they were tied back by large strings of strawberry laces. Through small gaps in the windows, you could see clearly outside to the back of the castle. Below the windows a soft, dusty sofa was placed exactly between them. It was pearl white. Probably made out of marshmallows, since the whole Kingdom was made of candy. The same sofa was sitting to the left of the other, facing the table. Scattered around the room, paintings and pictures were propped against the walls. This was obviously not a room in use. Maybe just for storage. There was also a gap in the wall that lead to another little room. It was darker and more private, like a bear den. Lemongrab started to gaze at all the paintings, taking in the beauty of the art work. Esme glanced at the clock and realised it was almost time. "They will be here in a minute, how you feelin'?" Lemongrab turned to her and shrugged his shoulders.

"Better but still have butterflies." He confessed.

"That's normal, don't worry." Esme smiled and patted his on his back. Time started to creep by, a second turned into a minute. A minute into many. The clock continued to tick, but no sign of PB or Lemonfriend.

"I knew it! They don't want to see me." Lemongrab jumped up from the sofa and started to pace up and down the room. Anticipation took over him and he couldn't settle.

"I'm sure their coming. They are probably just as nervous as you are." Esme explained.

"No, they're scared of me." Lemongrab snapped. "To be honest though, even I was scared of me, what I had become. They must have been terrified... Especially Lemonfriend. I can't believe I..." Lemongrab's words trailed off, his eyes started to tear up from the memories engraved in his brain. Taking a deep breathe in, he calmed himself down.

"Don't think like that LG. Yes it will take time to get used to the changes, but time is a healer." Esme strolled over to the door. "I will see if I can find them. Do you mind staying here, in case they come here?"

"Sure." Lemongrab's words were quiet. As Esme exited the room, Lemongrab walked to the window and looked out through the cracks of non-coloured glass. Some candy children were playing basketball near the forests. He remembered the pup gang and wondered whether he should talk to them and apologise for what he did to them as well.

Time stood still. He had been waiting for 20 minutes now and still no sign of Esme, PB or Lemonfriend. "Where the hell are they?" Ridiculous, unrealistic scenarios began to fill his mind. What if they were kidnapped? Or even killed? Paranoia got the better of him, and he explored outside of the safe room. There was still no sign. Continuing his search, he paced along the never ending corridor. A few moments later he heard mumbled voices. One was Esme's. "At last!" He thought. He followed her voice through the winding, maze of corridors until he got to a door. Esme was behind the door. Before he could knock he heard his name. But it wasn't Esme. It was another female voice. It was PB! He gently places his ear on the door to listen to what she had to say.

"You must be joking!" PB exclaimed.

"Trust me I wouldn't lie to you. He has become a completely different person... or lemon as it were. Please just see and speak to him, you will be amazed at the..." Esme's words were cut short by PB again.

"Lemongrab was in a state that couldn't be changed that fast! He is probably faking it just so he could come back and reek misery again with his people and mine." PB's face held a strong scowl. She was not going to be pursued easily. Lemongrab was about to walk away as he didn't want to hear anymore lies, but someone else was there. Lemonfriend.

He heard Esme address him. "Lemonfriend. Please. He could not be more sorry for what he did. He tells me all the time how heart broken he was."

"If he really cared, then why did he do it in the first place?" Lemonfriend asked.

"He was over come with anger and spite. It wasn't him!" The argument became a heated game of interrogation tennis. Esme fought back, defending Lemongrab with every argument they had. But what Lemongrab heard next, made his heart shatter in to a million pieces.

"He hurt me... Terrified me... You really want me to believe that fat bastard has change!" Lemonfriend's voice broke and tears started to roll down his face. After hearing this, Lemongrab started to well-up. He too had tears crawling down his cheek. He didn't want to hear anymore, he knew that Lemonfriend hated him. So without hesitation, he ran back to the room. Meanwhile Esme was looking down at the floor, realising how tricky this was turning out to be.

"You know... Lemonfriend. I was with Lemongrab, when he realised what he did. I still remember the fear in his eyes over what he had become. For ages he could not stop crying and kept saying how he was an f-ing monster who should not be on this world... I tried to hold him... Comforted him... He was... Shaking. He had tried... He had tried to..." Esme's words stopped as she thought about her next words. It was a delicate topic. She didn't say anymore, apart from a question." Does that sound like the Lemongrab you knew? The one with no emotion or remorse for others. On the way here, he has been quivering with nerves about seeing you two again. Please even if it is for two minutes, just see him again, talk and realised that he has changed dramatically ... For you.." Esme finished her sympathy speech. Lemonfriend was confused by what she was saying. Could it be true? And what did she mean by 'for you'.
PB looked at Lemonfriend and saw how his expression had changed. She relaxed her scowl and faced Esme again.

"It's up to Lemonfriend, he was the one most affected. Just remember Lemonfriend, you don't have to do something you don't want to do." As PB finished, Lemonfriend stared in to her eyes, then looked at Esme. She gave him a confident smile. Her eyes were kind and bright. With a sigh he nodded his head slowly.

"Alright, but I want the princess there as well." PB strolled over to him.

"Of course I will be there. I wanna see if what she tells us is the truth or if she is blind to his ways." Esme gave a small frown but her smile soon appeared again as they agreed to see him.

"You won't be disappointed you majesties. How about you compose yourselves and we will meet you in the room in 10? That way, I can let Lemongrab know and you can calm down or think of anything to say to him." The deal was made and Esme left the room to head back to Lemongrab and tell him the great news.

Esme got close to the room, but halted when she heard someone violently sobbing. "Lemongrab?" She slowly opened the door to see Lemongrab lying on his side and had his back to the door. He was crying his eyes out. She ran over to comfort her dear friend. "Lemongrab, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" Lemongrab quickly turned around and sat up straight on the sofa. His eyes were red and puffy and his face was soaked in his tears. He had cried enough tears to fill a river.

"Yes... Yes I'm hurt!" He curled up in to a ball and continued to sob.

"What happened? Did someone hit you?"

"Yeah.. Right through the heart." "They stabbed it! shot it!"
Esme was starting to feel panicked. What had gotten in to him?

"Quit talking in metaphors and riddles and tell me straight." So he did.

"I HEARD THEM! I HEARD THE CONVERSATION YOU HAD WITH THEM!" Every sentence was cut by a sharp inhale of breathe, as he cried and cried. "I knew that they hated me. I knew I was a monster. Even he said it; he called me a fat bastard... But the thing that got to me the most was... When he said that I terrified him. In the cart you said that we would make a good couple... But that's never going to happen because I've already scared him away? I'm useless and unlovable!" Lemongrab could continue no more. The despair and disappointment filled his mind as he rested his head gently on his knees and sobbed continuously.
Esme felt like she had been shot through the heart. He obviously didn't hear the rest.

"So you left before you heard the whole conversation." She asked

"Of course. I didn't want to hear anymore about how I could never change and that I'm horrible."

"You should of." Lemongrab gazed up at Esme puzzled.

"Why?"

"I convinced them to see you. I wasn't gunna let you put in all this effort to change for them only to be pushed aside by your past. Now they will be hear in 5 minutes, so calm yourself down and wipe away the tears. Things are gunna change for the better my friend." Esme smiled at Lemongrab who returned the smile. A mixture of excitement and fear was spreading across his face.

"Really? Well... Um I need a... Um "Esme gave his a tissue to help wipe his cheeks.

"Thank you Esme."

"No problem, I got loads in my bag."

"No, I mean for everything. Not giving up on me when I started at the unit. Getting me to where I am now and now you convinced them to see me. You're an amazing person." Esme felt choked at the words Lemongrab said.

"Don't make me cry bitch, I'll smudge my eyeliner" she joked. Lemongrab gave a small chuckle and took deep breathe. He started to walk over to the small den when there was knocking at the door. Both their heads span round rapidly. "That's them." Stated Esme.

"Oh no, I'm still a mess. Stall them." Lemongrab whispered. He run into the dark den and hid until his face wasn't red and eyes weren't so inflamed.
Esme opened the door to invite PB and Lemonfriend in. They sat on the sofa facing the door while Esme lounged on the other.

"Well..." Said PB. "Where is he? Thought you said he was here." Her tone was still cold and pessimistic. Esme thought about what to say. Lemongrab did not help by staying silent in the room behind her.

"He is here. He just wanted to ...clean up before he saw you." This was partially true, but still a stupid accuse.

"Clean up?" Lemonfriend questioned, as he raised one of his eyebrows.

"Yeah, we had a long journey and the roads were dusty, some got in to the cart and we got covered." Complete lie, but Esme had no choice.

"How come you're clean then?" PB pointed out. Esme started to feel hot in the face.

"I had a spare change of clothes in my bag. I'm very clumsy you see, so if it wasn't for the road, I would have probably tripped... In a puddle." Lemongrab tried to hold back laughter. This accuse was ridiculous. Soon enough he couldn't contain the bubbling giggles any longer and accidentally let out a small spit of laughter. He clapped his hand over his mouth to stop more escaping, hoping that they didn't hear him. Unfortunately they did.

"What was that?" Asked PB.

"What? I didn't hear anything." Esme lied again.

"Are you deaf? Someone else is in here." PB got up from where she was sat and walked over to the entrance to the den. Esme scrambled to her feet to stop her. She blocked the princess from going further.

"Wait! Lemongrab's in there, he's changing" Explained Esme.

"Why are you in there Lemongrab?" PB asked. He gave no reply. "Well? I'm waiting for a response." PB crossed her arms and scowled again. Still no reply.

"Lemongrab, why are you keeping so quiet?" Lemonfriend questioned. His voice made Lemongrab's stomach feel twisted. His had also changed slightly, just a little deeper, but not as much as Lemongrab's. The butterflies returned again. "Not again" he thought.

"Like I said, he had changed a lot since you last saw him." Esme started to grow impatient. Why didn't he answer them? "He's probably worried about your opinions."

"Well we aren't going to judge his 'change' by hearing a slight snigger. So come on out LG." The princess's voice was cocky and slightly sarcastic. She still didn't believe he had changed. Lemongrab got up from where he was sitting and wondered around the corner to the light. His figure started to appear in the door frame. Each step he took was cautious and light, until he was fully out of the room and in to the bright, well-lit room. The smug look on princess bubblegum's face was slapped away and transformed into astonishment. Her mouth was gaping open slightly. As for Lemonfriend his eyes widened as he took in the new figure that stood in front of him.

"Meet the new Lemongrab!" cheered Esme. Lemongrab rolled his eyes at his friend and looked over to Lemonfriend. His mouth was partially open as well. Shock was the soul expression on both their faces. Lemonfriend slowly stood up to walk over to him.

"Is that really you Lemongrab?" Lemonfriend was astounded by the change.
Lemongrab couldn't speak. All he did was nod.

"My god... You look..." Princess bubblegum couldn't find the words to describe him. So she just didn't finish the sentence. Instead she asked him a question. "Wait, how come you're not speaking?" Esme decided to butt in at this point

"Yeah, why not say something." She winked at Lemongrab, causing him to smile again.

Lemongrab took a deep breathe in and said but four words.
"What should I say?" This was enough to answer the princess's question. Both Lemonfriend and PB were amazed at the sound of his voice. It was deeper and softer than his old voice. It could only be described as... Sexy?

"What happened to your voice? Lemonfriend was still recovering from shock.

"Well, I stopped yelling and took medicine to heal my voice. I guess it worked." Lemongrab chuckled. His voice sent shivers down Lemonfriend's back. He really had changed.

"Well... I apologise that I ever doubted you. Your changed is amazing. Even inspiring!" Confessed PB.

"You have nothing to apologise for, where as I however have mountains of apologies to give, starting with you two." Lemongrab had to bite his lip to hold back the tears again. Every time he made eye contact with Lemonfriend, his heart ached from the recollection of what he said. "I have personal apologies for everyone I have wronged. You two were the most effected, so it seemed fitting to start with you."

"If their personal, would you like one of us to leave for a while? So you can say it to the person privately." PB asked. Lemongrab thought about the suggestion for a while.

"I don't mind. Whatever you are comfortable with." He answered. Lemonfriend glanced over at PB for a decision. He shrugged his shoulders, indicating he wasn't too worried anymore.

"Ok, one of us can go out with... "PB stopped mid sentence and looked over to Esme.

"Sorry, I never got your name."

"Oh, I'm Esme." She replied. PB gave a tiny smile and continued with her idea.

"Ah, one of us can go outside the room with Esme and wait until you finished with the other person. Then switch, how's that sound?"

"Perfect" declared Lemongrab while clapping his hands together.

"Ok, who do you want to talk to first?" Asked Lemonfriend. Lemongrab knew exactly who, PB. He needed more time to think about what to say to Lemonfriend.

"PB, do you mind going first?" The princess nodded gently.

"Sure."

Esme and Lemonfriend left the room while princess bubblegum and Lemongrab placed themselves down on opposite sofas, facing each other, ready to talk to one another once more.