Disclaimer: If I owned Adventure Time, I would have lots of money. I don't have lots of money.

A/N - Recap: Last chapter was angsty! Marceline had a nightmare about Bonnie, and Bonnie couldn't sleep because she wanted to know whether Marceline really likes her or she was just horny.


Princess Bubblegum woke up tiredly - for the first time in a while - and with a start. Peppermint Butler was arousing her from her sleep on the phone.

"Good morning, Princess," said the Butler when Bonnie answered the phone.

"Ugh, hi," groaned the princess.

"..are you quite alright? You seem tired."

No shit, thought Bonnie grumpily. She tried to have a positive outlook for the day, like she did every other day. "I'm okay!" she said, semi-convincingly.

"Are you sure? You're not sick are you?"

"...no, no, I'm fine. Really."

"Hmm, I think you should see a doctor just to be sure."

"I'm fine!"

"Nope. I don't wanna hear it. Go to a doctor's."

"Fine."

And this is how Princess Bubblegum learnt that Marceline really did care for her.


Bonnie sat on the hard, wooden chairs. This was possibly the longest wait she had ever had at a doctor's surgery.

Asshole, she thought grumpily, her thoughts directed at Peppermint Butler, you're making me wait all this time, and for what? Nothing! I'm fine! Her mood was not improved by all of the people staring at her.

Princess Bubblegum brought down by some illness? Why, she'll have to abdicate!

Bonnie laughed to herself, no humour in her voice.

I don't think so. And then- Jesus fucking Christ, how long are you going to make me wait for A FUCKING CHECK-UP?

After a while, she finally got called.

"Bonnibel Bubblegum? Your Highness?"

Oh great, Bonnie thought, this guy is going to be another dickhead who won't check me over properly because I'm a princess. That's just the best thing ever. Exactly what I need right now.

"Yes," she called, "over here." She stood up and walked to the doctor's room.


"I'm Doctor Pino," said her doctor after they went into his room. "I take it you're Bonnibel Bubblegum, the Princess?"

Bonnie rolled her eyes a little. "Yes, I am."

"And why did you come here today?" Doctor Pino was a tall, lanky thing with black matted hair, and apparently he had decided to put streaks of red through it. It didn't look good. He spoke in quite a loud voice, one that did not put Bonnie at ease or improve her mood, and he looked around twenty-five in age.

He had ear stretchers, something that Bonnie always cringed at. "Just a check-up, um, aren't those stretchers in your ears unhygienic?"

"Oh these?" he grinned. "The doctor's let me keep them in. Don't ask me why."

This day just gets better and better... the Princess thought, her thoughts dripping with sarcasm.


"Alright," Doctor Pino said, "You're okay-"

"I thought so-"

"-apart from one thing. Have you been getting enough sleep lately?"

"Yes, I have."

"No you haven't. Today when I was giving you a check-up, you literally fell asleep with your eyes open."

"What?"

"Indeed. You need to sleep more, Your Highness."

Wow, thought Bonnie as she realised how little sleep she had been getting, I do.

"Thank you, doctor, for your check-up and advice. I shall try to sleep more."

"Very good, ma'am."


Bonnie dragged her tired legs back to her castle. Now she realised she really was tired.

She felt a pair of hands cover her eyes. "Guess who..." a voice said softly.

"Not right now, Marcey, please."

The hands retracted as though burnt. "Oh. What's wrong?"

Princess Bubblegum turned to face Marceline. "Do I look tired to you?"

Marceline looked at the dark lines under her eyes, the slightly shivering frame of the Princess and the way she was walking. "Yes... yes, you do. Are you okay?"

The princess replied monotonously. "Not exactly. I need to sleep more."

"...I could tell. I'll walk you back to the castle, and you go to sleep, alright?"

"Except nobody will be there for everyone's problems."

"Don't you worry about that. There's Peppermint Butler, me, lots of people."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." She smiled.


Bonnie collapsed in her bed and almost immediately fell asleep.

"Goodnight, Princess..." Marceline said softly. She kissed Bonnie's forehead. "Sleep well."

And then came a knock at the door. Oh, what perfect timing...


A/N - Ooh, cliffhanger - what'll happen next? How will Bonnie find out Marceline's feelings? Find out in two days time...
P.S., Did you like it or do you have any concrit? Feel free to review!