Hey Hi Hello everyone! This is the second to last chapter, I think. Enjoy!

AUTHOR P.O.V

Prince Gumball nodded and welcomed his fellow Candy People into the ball politely. He stood outside, making sure to smile and greet everyone that came, but he was searching the skies for someone in particular. Marshall. Where was he? He couldn't have forgotten the prince's birthday, could he? Or maybe he actually wasn't coming because of what Gumball had said days before. He was still searching when he walked into the ball, bumping into someone. "Oh, my dearest apologies…" He started, but stopped when he saw who it was. "Oh, hi Fionna." He smiled. She returned the grin as her companion ran up to her.

"Hey! Cool ball." She said as Cake nodded. "Happy birthday! You're getting too old to be called a prince aren't you?" She teased, punching him in his arm. He laughed as he rubbed his bicep. The prince knew that the girl was just playing around, but her punches still hurt.

"Not quite." He replied. "Have you seen Marshall recently?" Fionna shook her head.

"Didn't you two get into a fight or something?" The blonde asked, and the gummy prince nodded sadly.

"That still doesn't give him the right to not come to your birthday party, sugar." Cake pointed out. Gumball sighed, muttering a soft "I know." He left out "but it kind of is all my fault because I kind of maybe told him to not bother showing up."

"Dont worry." Fiona said, smiling at him. "If he really cares about you, which he does, he'll show up." She smiled again before the two girls returned to mingle with the other guests.

So the prince stood at the refreshment table for a good 20 minutes searching the crowd for the vampire. He would run up to anyone wearing red, just to apologize when it turned out to not be who he was expecting. I really, really, really shouldn't have told him not to come. I miss him. The prince thought as he sighed, leaning back against the dessert table. This is not what he planned for his birthday to be like at all.

XxXxXxX

Prince Gumball rolled over in bed for probably the millionth time that night. It's been hours since the maids had finished cleaning up the aftermath of the ball, and even longer ago had all the guests left, raving that it was "another easy success for the prince" and "A complete hit with all of the Candy Kingdom." The guards had swept all the rooms and the perimeter countless times for any intruders, and, besides Fionna and Cake who were staying the night, they turned up empty.

Gumball was completely safe in his own house, surrounded by loyal and hardworking staff.

He had just had another smash hit ball that he really enjoyed himself.

He was now of age to be called a King. (Although he would humbly oppose anyone who did call him that.)

The prince should be on Cloud 9, jittery and happy and hyped up on so many desserts from the ball that he should be doing an experiment somewhere.

But nope, there he was, laying in bed at 10pm and he just couldn't sleep.

It's all that stupid vampire's fault, he concluded. That stupid vampire Marshall Lee. They met at a stupid concert, and little by little the stupid prince fell for the stupid King, but because of the stupid Queen the King started acting stupid which had caused the prince to act stupid and say stupid things so the King wouldn't show up to the prince's stupid birthday party and the whole situation was just stupid. Gumball tossed back and forth for another hour before launching himself out of bed. He came up with an idea as he threw on shoes and a jacket.

Since Marshall hadn't come to him, he was just going to have to go to Marshall.

I think I'll end it there, I want you to suffer HAHAHA!

Kidding, always kidding.

It is kind of short, but I felt that was the best spot to end it there. Sorry...

ANYWAYS, let me know what you think with a review, please and thank you?

There's only 1-2 chapters left, but let me know what you think the epilogue should be about! Should they get married, do you wanna see a big Time Skip? Let me know!

Until next time, Darlings!

~Alix