Bonnibel, Lydia, Hunson, Finn, Jake, Simon, and Betty made their way to the infirmary, nervous excitement evident in the air. After seven days in a medically induced coma, Doctor Princess was going to wake Marceline up. Everyone was thrilled that the queen would be awake, as the castle had seemed empty and dull without her personality.
Doctor Princess met Bonnibel at the door of the infirmary, her clipboard in hand.
"Hello, Princess. Can I speak to you in private for a moment?" She asked.
The princess nodded and followed Doctor Princess into the infirmary, shutting the door behind them.
"Is everything okay?" Bonnibel asked, nervously rubbing her fingers through her hair.
"Well, I just completed a full exam on Marceline, and during the pelvic I noticed that there is some cervical effacement present. That means that Marceline is at risk of delivering early, and-"
"I know what it means," Bonnibel snapped, fear making her voice weak. "What do we do about it?"
"Bed rest," Doctor Princess replied. "Until it's time for her to give birth, Marceline needs to keep her activity to a minimum. The only time she needs to be out of bed is when she is using the bathroom."
"Is that all we can do to make sure she doesn't deliver early?" Bonnibel asked.
"I'm afraid so," Doctor Princess replied. "But I'm confident that with bed rest Marceline and the baby will both be fine."
Bonnibel nodded. She opened the infirmary door and motioned for the group waiting outside to come in.
"What was that about?" Lydia asked nervously.
"Marceline is at risk of early delivery, so she will be on bed rest until the baby is born," Bonnibel replied.
"Oh, she's gonna love that," Finn said.
The small group gathered in the infirmary and made themselves comfortable. Over the course of the next hour, Doctor Princess was going to wean Marceline off of the pentobarbital and allow her to wake up. She began by reducing the dose down to three fourths of what Marceline had been receiving. Then, the wait began.
By the time Doctor Princess had reduced the dosage to one fourth of its original strength, Marceline began stirring. Doctor Princess removed the urinary catheter, as well as the nasal tube that had been providing Marceline with nutrition. She then reduced the pentobarbital again by half, and Marceline briefly opened her eyes before closing them. She shifted in the bed, and Bonnibel's heart soared. The princess could never admit to anyone just how worried she had been about Marceline over the past week.
Suddenly, Marceline began to gag and choke. Bonnibel jumped up from her chair, but Doctor Princess calmly stepped in front of her and turned off the ventilator that had been breathing for Marceline. With a well-practiced motion, the doctor pulled the endotracheal tube from Marceline's throat. The queen coughed, then settled back into the bed.
"Everything is fine, she just started breathing on her own," Doctor Princess reassured Bonnibel, who was clutching the rails of Marceline's bed so tightly that her knuckles were white.
After waiting a while longer, Doctor Princess stopped the pentobarbital completely, and removed the IV from Marceline's arm.
"Now we wait," Doctor Princess announced. "Marceline should be awake in the next ten to fifteen minutes, but she will likely be groggy and confused."
The group waited nervously, watching the queen closely for signs that she was waking up. Marceline began to stir, shifting her legs in the bed, and finally rolling over. Suddenly, her eyes fluttered open.
"What's going on?" Marceline asked, rubbing her throat.
Bonnibel handed the queen a glass of water and she drank gratefully.
"Marceline, you've been in a medically induced coma for seven days, remember?" Bonnibel asked, wrapping her arm around her fiancé's shoulders.
"Sorta remember," Marceline replied, snuggling close to Bonnibel and closing her eyes.
"Marceline, we're all here for you," Finn said. "You and the baby."
Marceline nodded sleepily, beckoning the hero to come closer with her free hand.
"I heard what you said, Finn," Marceline whispered in the hero's ear.
Finn's face turned red.
"Marceline, I don't know…" Finn trailed off when he realized that the queen was asleep again. "Doctor Princess, this is normal, right?"
"Yes, Finn," Doctor Princess replied. "Marceline will likely be in this state for an hour or so."
Finn nodded.
"I think Jake and I should head out," he said. "I don't want Marceline to be overwhelmed when she is fully awake."
Finn and Jake left the castle, with Simon and Betty following shortly after. Bonnibel climbed in the bed with Marceline and held her close. Marceline slept on her fiancé's chest, drooling a little as she slumbered. Hunson and Lydia sat next to one another, not speaking, and being careful not to look in the other's direction. The castle was silent, and Bonnibel savored the moment. She loved the quiet peace surrounding her, and being able to hold Marceline close made her feel so much better.
Bonnibel had nearly dozed off when she felt Marceline sit up.
"Bonnie?" Marceline asked, looking up at the princess with fear in her eyes. "Is the baby okay?"
"Oh, Glob, Marcy, you're awake!" Bonnibel smiled brightly and hugged the queen close to her. "Yes, the baby is fine. Remember, the protection spell that your mom did, and the coma we had to put you in?"
Marceline looked confused for a moment, then nodded.
"Yeah, I remember," Marceline said, touching her rounded stomach. "It worked. Wow."
Lydia stood and hugged Marceline close to her.
"My baby, how are you feeling?"
"Good, Mama, just tired. And huge," Marceline replied, looking down at her stomach.
Bonnibel, Lydia, and Hunson laughed. Hunson went to the other side of Marceline's bed and took his daughter's hand.
"Please don't scare me like that again, Marcy," Hunson said. "You know you're daddy's little girl."
Marceline blushed.
"I'll try my best," she promised, squeezing Hunson's hand.
"Hunson, let's get out of Marceline's way," Lydia said. "The girls need their rest."
"Of course," Hunson said. "I'm so glad that you're feeling better, Marceline."
"Thanks, Daddy," the queen said.
Marceline hugged both her parents, and they left the infirmary.
"Well, goodnight," Lydia said to Hunson as she started to her room.
"Goodnight," Hunson replied. "Wait, Lydia. Would you like to join me for a drink at the Candy Tavern? It'd be nice to talk….to catch up for a while."
"That sounds lovely," Lydia said, after a moment's consideration.
While Hunson and Lydia made their way to the tavern, Bonnibel lay next to Marceline, feeling the gentle kicks of the baby.
"Marceline, I have something I need to tell you," Bonnibel began. "Doctor Princess did and exam, and based on your cervix, you may deliver the baby early. So to prevent that, we're putting you on bed rest."
"You're kidding?" Marceline asked, rolling her eyes. "I have to lay in this bed all the time? For the next two months?"
"Well, just most of the time," the princess giggled. "It won't be too bad, Marmalade. I promise I'll keep you entertained."
"Can I at least have my bass?" Marceline asked, sticking out her bottom lip.
"Of course," Bonnibel replied. "We can actually move you back up to our room, and I'll set your up with a walkie-talkie that connects you to me or Peppermint Butler, so that one of us can get you anything you need."
"Thank you, Bonnie. I promise I won't abuse my powers. But for now, can I please shower? I feel gross."
"Of course," Bonnibel said, gently picking Marceline up and carrying her to the infirmary bathroom.
"Your legs may still be a little weak from not being used," Bonnie explained, as she gently sat Marceline down on the seat in the shower.
"Any excuse to hold me closer," Marceline giggled.
Bonnibel gently took off Marceline's pajama top, and couldn't help but smile. The princess placed her hand on the curve of Marceline's belly, and tears came into her eyes.
"We're going to be mommies," Bonnibel whispered, her voice catching in her throat.
"Yup," Marceline agreed. "The best mommies in the whole world."
Bonnibel giggled and helped Marceline remove her shorts. The princess then undressed and turned on the hot water. She handed Marceline a soapy washcloth, and squirted some shampoo into her long, black hair. As Bonnibel began to massage her scalp, Marceline moaned, and felt her whole body relax.
"I'm sorry I missed our wedding," Marceline said after a few moments.
"Oh, don't be silly Marceline. You were sick. We can reschedule now that you're better."
"I was actually thinking, could we just have a small wedding soon? Like in the next few days? I just really want to be married to you, Bonnie," Marceline looked up at the princess hopefully.
"I think that will be lovely. I'll let Peppermint Butler know, and he can make the arrangements. There are a few princesses I have to invite, politics and all that, but we'll keep it small."
Marceline hugged Bonnibel tightly.
"Thank you, Bon-Bon. I love you."
"I love you, too, Marmalade."
Bonnibel rinsed away the shampoo, then conditioned Marceline's long, thick hair. While the conditioner soaked in, Bonnibel washed the queen gently with a warm cloth and her favorite body wash. Marceline felt herself relax into her fiancé's arms. Once Marceline had rinsed off all the soap, Bonnibel helped her dry off and wrapped her in a plush pink bathrobe. Bonnibel scooped up the queen in her arms, and carried her to the bedroom they shared.
As the princess was helping her get dressed, Marceline smiled and placed her hand on the woman's pink cheek.
"Babe, you don't have to do all this for me," Marceline said.
"Hmm? Oh, don't be silly, Marcy, I want to," Bonnibel replied.
"Is something bothering you?" Marceline asked. "You seem kinda odd tonight."
"No, nothing's wrong," Bonnibel said firmly.
The queen turned away so Marceline wouldn't see the worry in her eyes. She hoped that she would never have to lie to her fiancé again.
Thanks so much for all those who have read and reviewed so far. I really appreciate each of you. Please leave me a review to let me know what you like or don't like so far!