Not quiiite as epic as I'd imagined...but it'll do. I guess. And because my electronics hate me, I'm not doing reviewer responses this chapter :( really sorry guys!


The dance was in the Candy Kingdom. Marceline had wanted to bail, but Finn had insisted, saying that it was only three in the morning, and they might as well go and finish this thing off. The vampire had agreed (rather reluctantly), and now they were in the castle of the Candy Kingdom.

The ballroom was huge, and decorated with vibrant colors. Neon streamers, balloons, and lights decorated the ceiling. A buffet table with a rainbow cloth sat against one wall. Finn was in awe of it all.

"Hey Finn, snap out of it!" Marceline snapped her fingers in front of his face, and his gaze shifted to the beautiful vampire on his arm. Yeah, he was proud of the fact that he had gotten Marceline to walk in with him the traditional way. "It's not that cool. Jeez, I went to cooler parties last century."

"But ya didn't have me there!" he pointed out.

"No..." she replied thoughtfully. "No I didn't," there was a long and rather awkward silence.

What should I do? Should I ask her to dance? Should I offer her a drink? Or...or...ah, what should I do!

"I'm gonna go get us some punch—don't worry, I'll stay away from the wine," Marceline rolled her eyes and smiled as he opened his mouth to remind her of her father's words. "Be back in a flash!" she winked and floated away. Finn sat down on a nearby chair.

Okay. I can't just...not tell her how I feel. Gotta figure out how to tell her. Hm...come on Finn, think! "Okay Marcie, I have this huge crush on you and..." no, that won't work, too blunt. "I've been thinking..." no, I don't want her saying something clever before I can even get my emotions out! Maybe I should just wing it. Yeah, that's what I'll do. If I do anything. Oh glob, now I don't know! Should I tell her or not? What if she doesn't feel the same way? What if things get all awkward between us? Why can't I just figure out what to do? I've fought all sorts of monsters and stuff, but I can't even make one simple decision!

He was thinking so hard that he didn't notice the girl walking up to him until...

"Finn?"

"Gah!" he looked up at Flame Princess, standing there with an innocent smile on her pretty face. "Oh. Hey FP! What's up?"

"I just wanted to know if we could maybe...dance a little?"

"Nah, I'm waiting for Marceline," Finn fought a smile as he mentioned the name of the vampire. Flame Princess scowled.

"One dance won't kill her," she protested.

"But...you're made of fire," Flame Princess dimmed her flames until they were nonexistent.

"Better?" she smiled.

"I'm pretty sure I'm only supposed to dance with my date," he came up with another excuse.

"Aw Finn, I didn't know you cared!" Marceline's teasing voice came from behind him, and he blushed. She handed him a red cup of red punch. "Hope that's okay—and not spiked," she grinned.

"Don't joke about that stuff!"

"Who said I was joking?" they shared a smile.

"Ahem," Flame Princess cleared her throat to remind them that they had an interloper intruding on the moment.

"Yes yes, you can go," Marceline waved her away and tipped back the punch cup to reach the red drink. Finn sniffed his suspiciously first. "Oh relax you weenie," the vampire said as Flame Princess moved away. "I would be able to smell if someone had put something in it," and because he trusted her completely, Finn downed the cup. Licking punch from his lips, he looked at the Vampire Queen intently. Her gaze had wandered to where Bubblegum was dancing with some candy person.

Glob, how did I fall in so deep? I don't just like Marceline. I...I think I might be falling in love with her. I wish I wasn't—she's one of my best friends!—but I...I can't help it! She's just so dang perfect. Bubblegum does too much sciencey stuff and Flame Princess is too unstable, but Marceline...she's just right for me. Not too hot, not too cold, not too young or too old. Hey that rhymed! Argh, back on subject! Never mind that the subject is a vampire who only likes me as a friend...argh! This is so frustrating! She said she could be my soulmate, so why can't it be that simple? Why can't I just kiss her right now?

Because she'd hit me, that's why.

Then it'd get all awkward between us, and I don't want that. No, no I can tell her yet. But glob I love everything about her...and her smile...oh man, I could just watch her smile for hours! That's not creepy, is it? I hope it's not. Because it's only the truth.

Oh glob, why am I in love with my best friend?

"Finn, stop looking at me like that! You're creeping me out!" Marceline threw her empty cup at him. Finn hadn't realized he'd been staring at her, and didn't quite shake himself from his trance in time to dodge the flying cup. He idly wondered where the punch had gone until he saw the nearby Flame Princess steaming—literally—and assumed the vampire had thrown the contents of her cup onto said princess. Another princess was approaching them, and Marceline stuck out her tongue. The princess rolled her eyes as she reached the pair.

"Are you two having a good time?" Bubblegum asked sweetly.

"No," said Marceline.

"Yes," said Finn at the same time. They looked at each other strangely.

"I'll, ah, give you some time to sort out your answers," Bubblegum moved on to the next couple—Turtle Princess and some vulture.

"How are you not having fun?" Finn asked incredulously.

"How are you having fun?" she asked in reply.

"I asked first," she sighed. "Okay, so I'm a little nervous that this 'date' is gonna screw this...us...up," she said regretfully. Finn blinked.

She's nervous like I am!

"Nothing could ever screw us up," Finn replied, gently taking her hand. The vampire's eyes flitted down and back up to his face before she intertwined her fingers with his.

"I guess not, hero," she said softly. And in that moment, Finn knew. He didn't know how he knew; it was just some sort of primal animal instinct that told him what emotions were bottled up inside his heart.

It told him that he loved this vampire, that he wanted her by his side forever. That he would leave everything he knew for her. That he would face even the most terrifying of oceans if it meant winning her heart. That he would—

"Hey weenie, quit zoning out on me like that," Marceline laughed.

"Huh? Oh sorry Marcie, I'm just...thinking," and she didn't make any kind of clever comment about how painful that must be for him.

"Why don't you go outside so you can think without scaring me then?" she said gently. Finn had never heard her talk like that before, and it made his heart fly faster in his chest. His mouth too dry to speak, so he just nodded and mutely walked away, his legs shaking just a bit with every step he took away from the vampire. It felt...wrong to walk away from her. As he sat on a candy bench, he rested his chin on his hands and thought deeply.

Marceline.

She was one of his best friends—no, his best friend. Jake was his brother, he didn't count, and PB was...well, distant. Marceline was the one he jammed with, the one he pranked with. She was always there when he needed a friend, and he was always there for her.

They were soulmates, he was sure of it.

He wanted her heart to belong to him. He wanted her to love him—but willingly. And, more than anything, Finn wanted to always have her there. And if that meant not telling her how he felt, so be it.

When they had first met, he would have never imagined that they could be friends; he could only imagine slaying her. Now he couldn't imagine a world without her. If he and Jake hadn't found her old treehouse...his life would be...blah. No Marceline. And a life without Marceline wasn't worth living. Finn was sure of this. He knew that, if Marceline ever died, his life would lose all meaning. He knew that he would willingly subject himself to the eternal prejudice that was vampirism if it meant being with her.

And he knew that she had a place in his heart, so deep down that Finn knew no one would ever upset what he felt.

Bubblegum? Flame Princess? They were the past. Marceline was the present, the future. She was what would matter, now and forever, always, no matter what. Finn would never abandon her, regardless of the situation. Her life or his? He'd sacrifice himself in a heartbeat. She and Jake were powerless and hanging off opposite ends of a cliff and he was in the middle? It would be a tough choice, but Jake would understand. She had to return to the Nightosphere? He'd go with her without hesitation.

"Finn?"

He looked up at Princess Bubblegum. He hadn't even noticed her. How long had she been there?

"Oh. Hey PB," she sat beside him, and there was a short silence.

"You love her, don't you?" she finally asked quietly.

"Come again?" Finn was shocked.

"Marceline. Finn, I see it in your eyes when you look at her," Bubblegum's face looked like it had aged years. "I...I..." she trailed off.

"Peebles, just tell me what you're thinking," he said. Even if the hero didn't like like her anymore, she was still his friend, and he still cared.

"I don't need to," he thought he saw tears as she kissed his cheek and stood. That kiss once would have sparked something deep inside Finn. Now...nothing. "Good luck, Finn," she walked back inside, and Finn saw Marceline leaning against the wall of the castle, watching them. When she floated over, he searched for some trace of jealousy in her eyes, but they were carefully shielded with a wall of deadpan boredom.

"Well well well, and the hero earns a kiss from his princess," she said drily. Finn crossed his arms, his face refusing to flush red as it once would have done. "What, no reaction? How disappointing," she smirked.

"Spy," he accused.

"Cheater," she accused right back.

"...Touché," he mispronounced it and she laughed.

"It's 'touché' you weenie."

"Oh..." he blushed. "My bad."

"No duh it's your bad. Who else's bad would it be, the vulture?" she pointed at where a vulture was fleeing Turtle Princess. Marceline and Finn both laughed.

"I guess that was a kinda dumb thing to say..." she smirked to tell him that it had been really dumb.

"Need some more thinking time?"

"Nah. You wanna go back in and prank people?" her smirk became a grin, and they walked inside.

"LSP?"

"You already verbally abused her way more than enough."

"Bonnibel?"

"She's been nothing but nice."

"Turtle Prince?"

"Princess. And she's still chasing the vulture."

"Ghost Princess?"

"Hm…nah."

"Chocoberry?"

"Dude, she'd kind of explode,"

"Oh yeah…Raggedy Princess?"

"Nah."

"Muscle Princess?"

"Nope."

"Hot Dog Princess?"

"No."

"Breakfast Princess?"

"Don't think so."

"Finn, we have to pick someone!" Marceline was getting exasperated.

"But I don't wanna prank these innocent princesses! Or candy people!"

"Well how about Treetrunks?"

"No flippin' way!" Finn shouted, drawing attention to them.

"Why, you love her or something?" Marceline teased.

"No! She's just way too sweet to prank," he defended himself.

"Oh."

"…"

"..."

There was a long silence before they exchanged a sly glance.

"Flame Princess," human and vampire said in unison. They grinned and made their way in the general direction of said princess. Marceline turned invisible.

"Distract her," she whispered. Finn gave the slightest of nods.

"Hey Flame Princess!" he called loudly. The girl turned from her dancing.

"Finn!" she hurried over. "How are you?" he shrugged.

"Okay. You?"

"Much better now that you're he—oof!" she suddenly fell flat on her back. "Someone pushed me!" everyone looked at Finn.

"Wasn't me!" he said quickly. Bubblegum's eyes narrowed when the hem of Flame Princess' dress flipped up over her face.

"Marceline! Show yourself!" there was a moment of silence.

"You rang?" Marceline appeared behind Bubblegum, who shrieked.

"B-b-b," she stuttered in fright. "Behave yourself!" she managed to stammer out before storming away. Finn walked over to Marceline to find her sides shaking with silent laughter. As soon as he was there, she leaned on his shoulder and burst into loud cackling. Finn took to glaring at anyone who looked at her strangely.

"That," Marceline said, a fear of mirth running down her pale cheek, "was the absolute funniest thing I have ever seen. I've never scared Bonnie so much! I thought she'd explode!" Finn scowled. "Oh sorry Finn, forgot you had a crush on her."

"No I don't!" he retorted truthfully. "It's just my hero duty to make sure no one gets hurt. The princess of the Candy Kingdom blowing up would definitely hurt people."

"Oh..." Marceline frowned. "Well pranking in general is kinda meant to scare people, Finn. That might mean blowing up a few candies."

"Well…why don't we just blow this joint and prank Jake and Rainicorn? We know they'll be together, and they won't blow up. I don't think..."

"I thought you wanted to stay?"

"We'll come back!"

"Whatever," she grabbed Finn's hand and they started flying. Before the hero knew it, he had zoned out again.

Glob, why can't I get her out of my head? She's just so…no, not perfect. Everyone's got flaws, even Marceline, but she's the closest thing to perfect that there is. Heck, I'd pick her over PB any day! Wait, where did that come from? Huh…

Guess my mind's running off on me.

But his mind was only running away with him. Unconsciously, the boy's heart began to dream of a future with Marceline. Finn remained blissfully unaware of his inner longings, and continued to simply pine after the vampire for the present and immediate future. But his heart wanted so much more…

They landed quietly on the treehouse, and Marceline held a finger to her lips. Finn nodded. He would have done anything she'd asked; of course he would fall silent.

They snuck down into the treehouse to find Jake and Rainicorn watching a movie together.

"Jaaake…" Marceline said in an eerie voice.

"Wha…? Marceline is that you?"

"We have come for your souls!" Finn replied demonically. Rainicorn said something in Korean and hid behind Jake.

"Whoever you are, you're scarin' the bananas outta my girlfriend and you're interruptin' our movie night, so shut up!"

"Jake the dog…"

"Lady Rainicoron…"

"We have come for your souls…" Jake started to whimper. Marceline turned invisible, and Finn heard her float forward. He climbed onto the ceiling.

"Your souls…"

"Souls…" Finn echoed. Then, it was like a flash in his brain. Somehow, he knew just when to drop. The moment he landed with his hands in clawed positions, Marceline appeared beside him with a demon face.

"BOOGALOOGA!" they shouted as one.

"AAAAAAAAAAAH!" Jake and Rainicorn screamed like little girls. Finn and Marceline (now NOT a demon) rolled on the floor, cracking up.

"Ah man, that was hilarious!" Finn wiped tears of mirth from his face. Marceline just kept laughing. Rainicorn giggled a little, but Jake turned red.

Uh-oh.

"You two are in so much trouble! Finn, you gotta quit hangin' out with her, girlfriend or no…"

"SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"

Even though I wish she was…

"…and Marcie, you are being a terrible influence on my bro. How could you!"

"It was actually kinda his idea," she defended herself. Finn nodded.

"Either way, you two are nuthin' but T-R-U-B-L, trouble!"

"…That's not how you spell 'trouble,'" Marceline pointed out helpfully. Jake growled at her. She grabbed Finn's hand and flew away, cackling.

"Well that was fun!" Finn said cheerfully. Marceline nodded, grinning at him.

Why? Why am I falling for her? Why is my heart racing just from seeing her smile? Argh, this is so stupid! I just want to blurt out how I feel, but that'd make things all awkward between us, and I'd rather have her as just a friend than not have her at all.

Glob, an Ooo without Marceline…

"Finn?" Marceline seemed concerned, and he snapped himself from his daze.

"Huh?"

"Thinking again?" she smiled sympathetically.

"Uh-huh."

"What about?" he blushed.

You.

"Private stuff."

"No vampires allowed?"

"That's about right."

"Aw…" she pouted.

Grr…gotta stay strong…

"What time is it anyhow?" he changed the subject.

"Hmph," she caught his evasion tactic. "It's half past four. In the morning. We've got a half hour before my dad destroys Ooo looking for us."

"Before your dad does WHAT!"

"Relax weenie, I'm kidding," they landed outside the castle and walked inside, the crowd molding in around them until they were just another couple.

"I'll be back," Marceline said vaguely.

"Mmkay," Finn replied easily as she floated into the crowd. It wasn't long before he spotted a familiar figure sitting on the ground... "Hey Flame Princess. Are you okay?" Finn stood in front of her, a little worried. She seemed to be sobbing, fiery tears dripping down her face as she raised it.

"No! My date just...he just ditched me!"

"Oh," Finn scowled. "Well...is there anything I can do to help?" he regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth.

"Can we...maybe...dance a little?" Flame Princess pleaded. Finn's eyes darted in the direction Marceline had gone.

"But...Marceline..." Flame Princess stood, dimmed her flames, and snaked her overly warm arms around Finn's neck. Her grief was completely gone.

"She doesn't have to know..." she whispered as she leaned in for a kiss.

Finn leaned away as her lips lightly touched his, fortunately enough for him, because the punch bowl sailed through the air and landed right on Flame Princess' head. Finn stumbled back as she screamed. The crowd gasped in shock, and Marceline stormed forward.

"Get the hell away from my date!" she snarled angrily, her eyes filled with...tears? Jealousy? Finn blinked away what he assumed was a mirage as Flame Princess incinerated the punch bowl.

"Ooh you...you...you vampire!" Flame Princess spat. "I bet you just want to drink Finn's blood! I've heard stories about you...you monster," Marceline blinked in shock and shook her head, her violent fury suddenly gone. Finn just kind of stood there, stunned by the viciousness of the princess he had once been smitten with. Everyone knew that Marceline would never drink blood!

"Stop..." Marceline said softly.

"What's your end game with Finn? Are you just going to fatten him up and drink all of his blood?"

"Stop..." she pleaded again.

"I bet you don't even care about him."

"I said stop!" Marceline screamed angrily, lunging at Flame Princess, who dodged back.

"You see? She's a monster!"

"Marcie...?" Finn crouched beside the vampire. She was sprawled on the floor, propped up on her elbows. Her face was hidden by hair, but when Finn reached for her, she shied away. "Please...just let me..."

"You don't understand."

Is she...crying?

Before he could think on it, Marceline had risen and was running—actually running—out of the room. Finn shot a glare at Flame Princess and followed her up a spiral staircase. He lost sight of her, but kept going, listening intently. Sure enough, stifled sobs emanated from a bedroom. Finn cautiously pushed the door open.

Why would Marceline be crying? Flame Princess had been no more harsh than LSP! Why was she crying now? What was different? What could possibly break the Vampire Queen?

"Marceline?" her head shot up from between her knees. She was sitting on the windowsill, her legs bent up.

"Go away, Finn," she said, looking out the window, which had no glass. Finn walked in and closed the door quietly.

"Hey," he said softly. "I'm here for you. You know that, right?" she just sniffed. "Come on now. Tell me what's wrong," he sat beside her, letting his legs dangle off the edge of the windowsill and over the world below. She turned so she could sit beside him.

"I...I just..." she sighed. "She said I didn't care about you. It's not true, Finn. I do care. I care...a lot," she let her head fall onto his shoulder.

"Are you getting all mushy on me?" he asked with a smile, lightly kicking her foot. She smiled faintly and kicked him back.

"You know it," the vampire said sarcastically. They climbed back into the room. Music resonated through the floor to their ears.

"I know it's a little late for salvaging the night, but...?" Finn knelt and removed his hat, tossing it onto the bed and receiving an astonished glance from his friend. "May I have this dance, m'lady?" he held out a hand. Marceline smiled.

"Of course," she said softly, placing her hand in his. He gently pressed his lips to the back of it and stood, watching the slow blush spread across the face of the vampire. They tried to maintain a friendly distance a first, but somehow ended up so much closer, with Marceline's arms wrapped loosely around Finn's neck and his hands at her hips. Their faces were mere inches apart, and oh how Finn wanted to close that gap...the way Marceline was occasionally letting her fingers run through his hair felt right, the way his hands fit right into the curve of her hips felt right, the way their bodies seemed to mesh together perfectly to move in sync felt right...everything was just so right. Marceline was smiling, too, and that smile, a gentle one he had never seen before, meant more to him that anything else in the world. Well, other than the girl it belonged to. There was a long silence as they danced, until Marceline spoke.

"You know how I said I'd tell you when to worry? About breaking the rules?" the vampire stared into his eyes, and the entire room vanished. All that mattered was her, holding him steady as her eyes threatened to melt him into a useless pile of mush.

"Yeah..." he remembered.

"Worry."

"Wha—mmph!" he exclaimed as her lips crashed onto his. He didn't quite recognize what was happening at first, and the vampire quickly grew unsure. Sensing this, Finn moved his hands from her hips to wrap his arms around her waist and return the kiss. Marceline pulled away, smiling. Then a thought crossed her mind (Finn had become very good at reading her expressions, and knew that she must have had a bad thought just then) and her expression morphed into a scowl. "What?"

"I shouldn't have done that..." she mumbled, looking at her feet. Finn pulled her even closer, even though that shouldn't have been possible.

"Yes. You should have," he said firmly.

"What about Bonnibel? What about Flame Princess?"

"You're the only one I notice now, Marcie. You're all that matters," he said gently to the vampire...no, his vampire. "Now and forever."


Awwww!