"Hey uh Marcy? You okay in there?"
"Yeah bubba, don't worry, just getting this biz outta my system."
Prince Gumball now stood outside of the bathroom, waiting for him girlfriend to exit, she was having evening sickness again.
Gumball was dressed quite fancy, he was in some flashy royal garb along with his crown. Marceline was dressed equally as fancy, although perhaps the vomit she was emitting might end up ruining her 'fancy/graceful' look.
Eventually Marceline came out, plugging her nose with one hand and trying to adjust herself with the other.
"Wow geeeezzz, does red leave a stink? Cause that is some nasty biz"
Her hair was tied back n a messy bun, she was also still wearing her new locket as well as a graceful black dress with red ribbon.
Tonight they we're having a Ball, gumball had invited their friends and the entire kingdom to officially announce Marceline's pregnancy. She spent much time in the castle, and the only ones who knew anything about her condition were gumball, friends, and a handful of servants.
There were even some other royalty coming.
It was only a month ago since the ice queen incident, and Marceline was hoping she'd taken her warning seriously and wouldn't bother showing up, she hadn't seen her around so far...
"Bubs, why are we throwing this party again? I mean seriously, I have a bump, I think the kingdom already knows..."
Four months in, the baby was definitely becoming more visible.
"Well, there are still the other kingdoms, there are still people who need to know..." Bubba said.
"Well yeah, but what'll they think? I don't think being knocked up leaves a good impression"
He placed both his hands on her shoulders, she relaxed under his touch instantly.
"Marceline, it's fine, we'll work this out...just relax okay?"
He pulled her into a light hug.
"It's only for one night, try to enjoy yourself.."
"Fine bubba, I'll try not to be a buzzkill"
He released her and looked her up and down, "Let's see if we can adjust you a little.
He grabbed a comb from a nearby dresser and untied her bun, letting her long locks fall to the ground.
She hissed every time he pulled at a knot, "Ugh bubbs, cut it out!"
"Sorry love, but if you don't want to be talked about for the wrong reasons then you should look more presentable." He said plainly.
One her long hair was untangled he placed the comb back on it's spot on the dresser.
"Okay marce, how about you take a shower too" He suggested, " it'll be awhile before the guests arrive anyway, maybe even pick out a new dress if you want."
"Ugh bubbs, I'm already wearing a dress, and I don't need a shower, I smell fine" She grumbled.
He placed a hand on her cheek, " c'mon marce, it'll make you feel better, and you can still wear that dress if you want. But I suggest you fix yourself up, please?"
He's giving her that puppy dog face again, the one he knows is too cute for her to say no to.
Marceline gave another small groan, but his pretty purple eyes were staring her down.
"Fine, I'll get cleaned up. Just don't have too much fun without me.." She forced a small smile.
"I promise I'll be completely miserable till you get back, okay?" He gave her a sweet smile before she headed towards the bathroom.
While Marcy was cleaning herself up, bubba took this as a chance to head downstairs and check on the ballroom.
Fionna and Cake had helped him and the servants set up, food was being set out on long tables off to the sides, and besides the dance floor there was a stage.
Maybe if Marcy felt up to it, she'd play something up there...
"Excuse me, sire?" Peppermint Maid tugged on the prince's pant legs gently, obviously trying to get his attention.
Gumball bent down in order to speak face to face wit the small candy women.
"Yes peppermint?"
She stood high and whispered into the prince's ear. " I made a trip to the deathworld and found the ruby you wanted for the-" She looked around for any eavesdroppers, "-Project"
He looked at her with bright smile, "Thank you, I can't thank you enough for your utter support."
"Well prince, all we want is to see you happy..."
He chuckled, "I'll make sure to work on it when I find enough time"
He stood up and took another look around, the room was almost empty.
"Sire, when will you put it in motion?"
"When the time is right..." He sad plainly, "This isn't something I can just rush into. It has to be perfect...I'll know when.."
"Are you nervous? I haven't seen you so nervous since you'd ask Marceline to move in with you..."
"No no no, I'm just- I'm just" He was stuttering, he could already feel his heart beat faster than normal.
"It's okay sire...I'd be more concerned if you WEREN'T nervous"
He took a deep breath, " Is Schwablle doing fine?". When Marceline moved in, she also brought her zombie poodle with her, he was always running around the castle, causing mayhem.
"Yes prince, it took awhile to remove him from the donut bushes but we have him back inside. He's probably sleeping in the laundry room again."
"Good, I want tonight to be perfect. If everything goes to plan, we won't be hiding our faces in shame for about a year"
Peppermint maid shuffled her feet. "Sire?"
"Yes?"
"Do you regret it? Causing this to happen to Marceline?"
He bit his lip, "I couldn't regret having something so beautiful come into existence. But...I wish we hadn't let it get so far between us..."
He hung his head, staring down at the shoes. "Neither of us should have let it happen..."
Peppermint maid gave a sad smile before hugging him, or rather, his leg.
"I'm glad you did prince, nothing has ever brought you closer than this baby has...the arrival of this little prince or princess will be the most wonderful thing any citizen could ever hear."
He looked down at the servant hugging his leg gently, "I'm glad you have faith in me, in us. I just don't want any of the others to see us in a different light..."
She stopped hugging his leg and ushered him to come with her.
"C'mon prince, allow me to show you what we've contributed to this event."
Marceline hopped out of the shower, grabbing a towel to wrap around her waist.
Bubba kept a lot of sweet scented soaps and shampoos in there, she smelled like a flower.
"Ugh...bubbs,...now I SMELL like a girl...you're gonna pay for that"
Although her hair did feel softer and more luscious.
She grabbed a hair dryer and allowed it to dry her wet hair, blowing it out of her face in the process.
She then looked at the dress on the ground and debated to herself whether she should put it back on or not.
She picked up the dress and gave it a good wiff.
"Ugh GROSS!" And then she threw it back on the ground, looks like she'd have to find something else to wear.
She opened the door and walked back into her and bubba's bedroom. When she first moved in, she had a room of her own made specifically for her. But after a few nights, she started sneaking into bubba's room and would cuddle up under the covers next to him, and that's were she stayed to this day.
Maybe she still had some old clothing left in her old room...
Just in her towel, she walked off down the hallway into her old bedroom. She didn't pass by anyone, probably because they were all so busy downstairs...
Her bedroom reminded her a lot of her bedroom in her old cottage. Heads and rock posters on the walls, her odd bearskin rug on the floor, right under her old bed.
Even her amps we're still here, she smirked, she sometimes would sneak in here to play music in private.
She missed her old cottage, her and bubba had been thinking that after their kid had taken over, they'd move into it.
But that was going to be awhile from now. Still, nobody was going to touch any property of hers, so they had no worries of losing the old place.
She looked around and walked up to her closet, when she starting staying in bubba's room, she moved all her clothes into it, or at least the ones that weren't already there for when she spent the night BEFORE she officially moved in.
The servants had made some clothes for her, ones that Marceline had purposely ignored when she moved into bubba's room.
She knew they only did it because they already saw her as their future queen, and wanted to welcome her to the family with gifts. But Marceline knew that these clothes just weren't her.
She rummaged through the closet, maybe they weren't her, but maybe she didn't have to BE her for one night.
"Ugh, no, no NO..." She grunted as she tossed each dress over her shoulder.
CLICKThe door opened, and bubba walked inside.
"Oh Marcy glad I found you I-" He paused, realizing she was in just a towel.
"I-uh" He was blinking frantically, a small blush grew on his face.
Marceline also blushed, but she hid hers behind her hair. "Oh, c'mon bubbs, you've seen me more undressed than this..."
He gulped," Oh uh yeah...". Clearing his throat and turning his head away so he wasn't looking at her, he continued with his original intentions.
"Well marce, w-we have some guests out already and I guess their waiting to see YOU. But since you aren't ready, I'll just-"
"Bubba, chill. I'm finding something to wear, I'll be down to greet those snoots when I'm ready."
"Oh er, okay, I'll see you there then.." He turned away quickly and shut the door behind him.
She chuckled at his utter embarrassment, It was cute, seeing him act so nervous around her.
"aha! Finally!" After digging around, she saw something catch her eye.
"This thing better fit me..."
Prince gumball had been parading around, talking and thanking everyone who had attended.
He even saw LSP and Marshall floating around, both trying to be the center of attention as usual.
He couldn't help but smile, when this 'Big News' was announced , he was sure the entirety of Aaa would be congratulating him.
He had even invited his friends from Ooo along, Peppermint maid was watching out for them in the lab.
It would be nice to see them again, or again at a more happier occasion.
Fionna and Cake were already here, Fionna was in the comer of the ballroom, keeping an eye out for anyone suspicious.
Cake was chatting it up with Lord Monochromicorn, and keeping an eye on the buffet.
He was still waiting for Marceline, he was such her time was being well spent, but he was worried she might've ditched.
"PRINCE GUMBALL!" Two excited voices called out from he crowd.
The prince turned to see a boy and a dog weave their way through the crown towards him.
"Finn? Jake?" He said, surprised to see them so early.
"Yeah man", Finn had an excited grin on his face, and was wearing a suit, something PG wasn't used to seeing him wear. "Your maid let us in, we came early cause we haven't seen you guys in FOREVER"
Jake stretched out his paw and patted the prince on the shoulder, "Your having a kid? Good for you man...PB's been talking bout it forever"
"Well..Um...thank you boys.." Bubba nodded nervously.
"So where's Marcy at?" The boy said, straitening his hat.
'Oh, she's still getting ready. She'll be down soon...is Pb here as well?" He needed to talk to her again.
"Oh, yeah dude. I think she's still in your lab, checking things out..."
"Thank you boys, we can converse later, I need to talk to her" He gave them a wave as he immediately made his way upstairs to his laboratory.
PB was talking to peppermint maid, she was dressed as fancy as usual.
They both looked up at the arrival of the prince.
"Oh, gumball!" Pb lightened up at the sight of him. "It's good to see you at a more happier occasion, I've been wanting to talk to you!"
Peppermint maid took this as her cue to leave, "I'll head downstairs and help manage the party, I'll see you both down there soon" And she excited through the lab door.
PB turned to gumball, Concerned. "How's Marceline? I heard about the ice queen incident"
"Oh Marcy, sh-she's fine. W-we're both fine.." He said in a 'not so fine' voice.
Pb sighed, "I would've gotten to you sooner about it if I hadn't been so held up this month."
"The prince returned her with a smile or gratitude, "It's okay Bon, we made it...all of us.."
"Bubba doesn't it bother you?"
"Doesn't what bother me?"
"Your baby" She replied, simply. "No vampire has ever had this happen before..., you don't know what it is, what it can do, and what it will do upon being placed into this world."
"Bonnie, it's only a child-"
"A child whose existence still baffles me today!" She said sternly, "We still know nothing bubba! You can't be acting like everything's all hunky-dory when your child could be the biggest discovery of the millennium!"
Bubba's kind smile turned dark, "Bonnie, it's a baby, not a science experiment, I refuse to even think about my child being treated like some kind of monster."
"Bubba, it's not that, it's just we have no idea what we're dealing with! We could be putting both Marcy and the baby at risk!"
"BONNIE YOUR NOT THE ONE BECOMING THE PARENT!" Bubba practically screamed at her, breaking his normall sweet-hearted shell.
Realizing he had screamed at his friend, he immediately lowered his tone. "It's a baby bonnie, my baby, and no matter WHAT it turns out to be, I'm going to be the best father I can be to it"
And with that, the prince left the room, and headed back to the party. He didn't care if bonnie was still in his lab or not, but he needed to know something.
It wasn't hard to find what he was looking for, both Finn and Jake were at the snack table now, testing to see who could hold more spoons on their face.
"Jake your cheating!"
"Am not!"
"BOYS!" Gumball immediately marched to them, "Can you please remove those, I want to speak with you"
"Uh sure prince, what's on you mind?" When they both saw the prince the spoons had fallen on the floor, so much for using them.
"You both know Bonnibel very well, You mentioned her talking about the baby, what did she say about it?"
Finn scratched the back of his head, trying to remember. "I don't know...about it being fascinating, and a huge discovery"
"And then she got all weird about it, saying it wasn't natural" Jake popped in, "But I have raincorn pups, so I'm not sure what's so weird about it.."
Gumball looked at the floor, staring down at his fancy shoes. "Thank you boys, that was all I needed to hear..."
He was concerned, maybe bonnie had a point, but his child being thought of as more of a monster than his own flesh and blood hurt, deeply.
But his train of though shifted when he heard a number of gasps from the audience.
Marceline had arrived.
She stood on top of the stairs, wearing a breathtaking gown. It was black, but it had faint tints of teal, and a flower at the waist.
You could even see the bump.
Her hair was now in a side ponytail, and had long black gloves to match her dress, bubba even recognized the locket he gave her around her neck.
She looked like a goddess, it had been a long time since he'd even seen her this beautiful.
He immediately made his way through the crowd up towards her.
"Marceline?! how...Where did you get that dress...?"
"Found it in my old closet" She replied, shrugging as if it wasn't a big deal. " Then I gave it a touch up cause it was WAY too tight and colorful for me"
She then noticed that everybody was staring at her, "It's looks good right?"
"Yeah" Bubba said, still astonished, "It's perfect..."
He then got down on one knee in a gentlemanly pose as her took her hand and proceeded to kiss her knuckles.
"Milady, would you care to join me on the dance floor?"
Marceline turned red instantly, everybody was staring!
"Uhh...uh yeah...sure" Which caused gumball to stand up and take her arm, leading them to the dance floor.
Marceline put her arms around his neck and immediately dug her face into his shoulder.
"Bubba, everybody is looking at me..." She said, clearly uncomfortable with all the attention. It was odd, seeing how she normally LOVED attention.
"Hey, it's ok" He patted her back, "Their all just looking at you cause your the prettiest one here"
Which earned him a groan from the vampire queen.
"C'mon marce, it'll be okay..." He held onto her as they went into a slow dance, Marceline refused to take her face off his shoulder.
Bubba felt bad, it WAS partially his fault they were getting such unfriendly images, but they couldn't give up. So what if she was pregnant? They were both going to be parents, it didn't matter what everyone thought, this was important to the both of them, and he couldn't let one night ruin it from either of them.
So he took her hand and proceeded to twirl her, which seemed to activate her a little bit more.
Marceline appreciated his attempts to liven her up. She almost cracked a smile, it reminded her of their first dance. Neither of them had dates, so he politely asked if she'd wished to dance.
He always seemed in a good mood, probably to hid just how hurt he really was on the inside, but seeing him happy always made her feel happy.
She didn't know why she hated everybody talking about this, bubba didn't seem to mind, so why didn't she? Probably because she never like bad publicity, and this was wreaking of it.
Just LOOKING at her bump made her feel uncomfortable.
But she's been through worse, WAY worse. It was one night, bubba was happy, the kingdom would be happy, and no one would see this as bad, right?
She gave a small smile as she finally proceeded to dance with bubba, out of the corner of her eye she saw bonnie, looking at her. Whether it was for her dress or her bump Marceline couldn't tell. It felt unnerving.
"Hey bubba?"
"Yes darling?"
"Is bonnie okay?"
Gumball looked over the crowd to see the candy princess looking at them, she looked worried.
"No.." He replied, "She's worried about you...and the baby"
"I can handle myself, she knows that.." Marceline grunted.
"Yeah, but she doesn't know how to feel about the baby yet...she's worried about what it'll become"
"She's not doing anything weird to my kid..." The vampire sneered.
"I don't think she wants to hurt it, she's just concerned. We still don't know how it happened..."
"Well when two people love each other very much..." Marceline went on, teasing.
"Marceline, I'm serious...we don't know if it was magic, your race, or maybe something more sinister"
"Bubba, we're having a kid, what happened to just being happy it exists?!" She felt upset, maybe she didn't want the kid so badly at first. But if she was going to be a good mother, nobody was going to touch her baby.
"Marceline, I am happy" He said, giving her a sweet smile. "And if that's what you want, than let's forget about it okay?"
"Good." She said, hugging him a little tighter. "I don't care where it came from, it's ours, and I'm not letting anything happen to it"
He let out a sigh, she was right, he didn't care how much Bonnibel was going to hate him for this later. They were going to be parents, that's what really mattered.
Seeing Marceline so protective of it was cute, especially since it'd only been a few months ago that she'd questioned having it in the first place.
"Hey Marceline?"
"yeah?"
He hugged her close on the dance floor.
"I love you..."
They danced for awhile until the music stopped.
And when it did, many cleared the floor, allowing finn and jake to move their way through the crowd.
"Hey Marceline!" Finn waved to his vampire buddy while jake tried his hardest to squeeze his way past everyone's bums.
Marceline and gumball broke away and faced the two adventurers'.
"Hey, what's up you boobs?" Marceline said with one of her signature smirks, it'd been awhile since she'd seen these two.
Finn grinned, "Marceline, we've missed you back home! Me an' jake can't do jam time on our own!"
"PB won't stop talking bout you!" Jake finally made his way over. " She's crazy bout your little pupster"
Marceline crossed her arms, "Gee can't bon do ANYTHING non-related to me these days?"
"So your ARE all preggos?! Cool, can we babysit?!" Finn said, as he excitedly stared at her tummy.
Marceline gave him a look in response, if these two couldn't take care of a PLANT on their own, heck like she was gonna leave them with her baby.
Bubba took note of her reaction and changed the subject.
"It's nice to see you boys, perhaps we'll schedule a jam sesh together when we have time."
"AWWW YYEEAAHH!" Finn pumped his hand into the air.
Jake looked over a Marceline still, "So is it a boy or girl?"
"I-I don't know!" She said, practically yelling.
Bubba piped in, "We won't know until a few months from now, Bonnie has been examining her every month so far..."
"Is it gonna be a vampire baby ?!" Finn asked.
"I don't know...maybe..."
"Cool, can we adventure with it?"
"Do you think we could be it's god-uncles?"
"What'll you think it'll eat?"
"What are you going to name it?"
Marceline responded to the boys continuing questions with one of her gnarly monster faces. Making them both jump and causing her to let out and airy cackle.
"So Marceline? I see your still your same old self?" Princess bubblegum had made her way through the crowd.
"Yeah bon, still the coolest chick around and still keeping an eye on you peeps" Marceline rolled her eyes, much to the princesses glare.
"And what exactly is THAT supposed to mean?"
"It means you need to stay outta my biz bonnibel, my kid, my problem"
She turned to gumball angrily, "You TOLD her?!"
He shrugged, "You didn't say it was private, plus I'm pretty sure the mother has a right to know"
Finn and Jake backed away, "Uh, we'll see you guys later about jam time" And they backed their way to the buffet.
Gumball watched as the two royal ladies gave each other dirty looks.
"You have no idea what your dealing with Marcy! Stop acting like a child!"
Marceline stuck out her tongue, "Like you know anything about what I'm going through! Some friend you are, I thought you were okay with this?!"
"I was, but then I realized..."
"Realized WHAT?"
"How could YOU think you could take care of a baby, you don't listen, you never listen...this baby could die because of you and how ridiculous your acting right now!"
"ME? I'm not the one treating it like some sort of monster!"
Princess Bubblegum huffed, " I'm just worried for you and bubba..."
Marceline blew her bangs out of her face, "No bonnie, when you created Simon's world, you were just trying to seem like the master of science...not cause you cared for bubba and this world...you wouldn't have cared if they were destroyed! Cause you said they weren't REAL!"
"Marceline...th-that was a long time ago...before I really got to know them.."
"Whatever..."
Bonnie couldn't take it anymore, "I've done so much for you Marceline...i got hambo back...I saved you when you got sent into space-"
"And who's fault was that?!"
PB continued, " Your my friend Marceline, we've known each other for a long time...and I've done nothing but help you for years.."
"Yeah, and hurt me just as much..." Marceline mumbled.
Bonnie lowered he tone, "Marceline..."
"No, forget it, I'm leaving...c'mon bubba" Marceline took his arm and tried to lead him away, she was crying.
Bubba gave bonnie one last look and followed Marceline out of the room and into a hallway.
"Marceline, are you okay?"
"What do you think bubs? I just wanna leave."
"I'm afraid we can't until we announce your pregnancy." He knew she wasn't in the mood to see anyone, but this was the reason for this party in the first place.
"Fine just...just go up and tell everyone..." She let go of his arm, and proceeded to walk away.
"Marceline..." He grabbed her wrist and turned her to face him, "Please don't cry..."
He gave her one of those bright smiles, "I won't let anything happen to our baby..."
She looked up at him, looked into those beautiful purple eyes, it always made her feel comfortable, he had a way with it.
"I'm sorry bubba..."
He hugged her gently, letting her sob into his shoulder.
"I'm sorry too...and hey look" He patted her back, "Don't worry about bonnie alright? We all support you, Finn, Jake, Fionna, Cake, Marshall..."
"Yeah, yeah your right..." She looked up and pecked him on the tip of his nose.
"We're gonna be great parents..." He grinned.
She kissed him again, but this time, on his lips.
He wiped away her tears, and he soon felt her smiling against him.
They broke away, and intertwined their hands.
"C'mon marce, let's go introduce our little miracle."
"Geez you dork, convincing me back into this after me an' bonnie had a spat?"
He gave her look that just said, 'please'.
"Ok bubba" She seemed a lot more cheerful now, "Just cause if I don't your gonna bug me about it for eternity"
He grinned, nuzzling their faces.
He took her by the hand and led her back to the floor and onto the stage.
"Hey bubba?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you too, I know I don't say it often cause it's kinda cheesy but...I love you... you dorkface"
They both gave each other one last look, as bubba grabbed the microphone onstage in order to get everyone's attention.
The room turned to the prince immediately.
"Hello, this is prince gumball. I suppose you all wish to hear the important news I mentioned on your invites?"
The crowd erupted into whispers.
Marceline could see PB from where she was standing, refusing to make any eye contact.
Finn and Jake were both giving her thumbs up.
"Well, as you all know, I have been dating this beautiful woman standing next to me for the last few years" He nodded towards Marceline.
Marceline tried to hide behind her hair, not too much of the royal community liked her very much, not even here. Perhaps they were just as baffled that a kind soul like gumball had dated someone so troublesome. She didn't care, of course, But she couldn't help but feel red as all their eyes wandered onto her.
"And...well, lately things have been changing between us." He sighed. "Things were always weird between us, we used to never be able to stand each other, now we never feel the need to leave each other's side. She's always mean the world to me, and now, I'm going to have to make room for three."
Marceline stepped forward. "I'm four months in...your stinking rumors have SOME truth to them"
The crowd roared, whether with applause or anger she couldn't tell.
Bubba took her hand and led her offstage before the crowd could reach her.
"Shall we go?"
"Yeah, please...these guys are gonna kill me"
They both found their way to perhaps the quietest part of the castle, an empty hallway, nearby to their bedrooms.
"Ahhh much quieter!" The vampire queen sighed in relief.
"Yeah..." Bubba giggled in the dark, "Back to some privacy for awhile..."
She took his hands, "You know, for a second there, I thought you were about to propose..."
The prince laughed nervously in response, "Oh, uh...yeah"
He felt her get closer, "Soooo bubs, you wanna hang here awhile. I'd rather not be ambushed by paparazzi right now..."
Then he felt a hand touch his cheek, "Hey uh whoa marcy, you know we can't do things like that when your ...uh... pregnant" He stuttered.
"Yeah I know" He could just barely make out her grin, "But at least being preggs doesn't stop me from doing this for as long as I want"
He felt her kiss him, and her arms find their way around his neck.
He closed his eyes and hoped this moment would never end.
They never went back to the ballroom for the remainder of the evening...not to say goodbye to their friends, nor to their guests.
For they already were where they wanted to be most.