Chapter Eleven: Happy Days

It had been two years since the fall of the Crystal Lemon King and, by extension, the Lich. Lands were freed from the weak influence of his peons and had returned once again to a more wholesome state. Peace had finally returned to Ooo, and in that alone there was much cause for celebration. The site of the battle for Ooo, where the freedoms of all had been paid for by the blood of many, had been christened an international memorial: the "Fields of the Fallen Free." There was a memorial plaque and a statue signifying the dead, including a long marble wall with the name of each deceased warrior carved in with an iron chisel. Many visited that wall in the years after the battle, running a finger or similar appendage down the list to find a relative, a friend, or a loved one who had given their life to preserve freedom for all of Ooo. Finn's own army returned to their sky fortresses and floated around Ooo as a migratory kingdom, with its lands being whatever floated with them. Technically they already had royalty, but their alliance with Finn and, by extension, the Candy Kingdom, made it clear they would follow Finn as their de-facto ruler. As a result, peace had been at an all-time high, with no conflicts whatsoever anywhere in all the land.

For Finn, however, he was now more stressed than he had ever been during the war: at least, that is what he felt like. "Am I ready?" he asked Jake, looking over his outfit for the tenth time. A long flowing robe with grand ceremonial armor providing protection against possible trouble: yep, he looked good indeed.

"Dude, relax," was his brother's reply, patting him on the shoulder. "You'll do fine." Of course, he could have been just saying that, but he truly meant it.

"I don't know man," Finn said, fiddling with his hair. He was glad he hadn't let it grow past his shoulders: it would have looked a bit undignified. "I just don't know. What if it's too soon? What if we're not ready?"

"Don't think like that, bro. You've had this in the bag for two years and there's no way anyone in their right mind would deny either of you this moment. Just get out there," Jake said, pushing Finn through the door. Outside, Finn noticed the large crowd had gathered around the seats; royalty and commoner alike from all across the lands. Several in the crowd waved to him; he waved back. Ice King and Billy were sitting there, along with his and Jake's family and Beemo. Lady Rainicorn was also sitting there, holding a toddler dogicorn in her arms. His lizard-like general sat near the back, representing with his queen and king their own kingdom.

"Okay," he muttered under his breath as he adjusted his ceremonial shoulder guards. "You can do this, you can do this." Repeating this mantra, he looked himself over one last time before taking that first step. Walking up the aisle, he stopped at a great and ancient podium, where an elderly candy corn was waiting for him. Finn recognized both from an old book Bubblegum had once shown him. The candy corn minister had presided over Bubblegum's mothers wedding and had been an attendant at her grandmother's. The podium itself was carved out of a very ancient and distant wood called "oak". He turned around and saw, accompanied by music, Princess Bubblegum walking up the aisle behind him, resplendent with her attendants and flower girls: no, literally, they were part flower. When she finally reached the podium, he heard the candy corn announce:

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Princess Bonnibel Bubblegum and Finn the Human, Lich Slayer and Hero of Ooo. It has been said..." Finn didn't listen to the rest: he was too focused on Bubblegum. She was absolutely stunning in her dress; he couldn't take his eyes off her. Her hair was done up in a way that made it both curly and separated into individual strands, something apparently very hard to accomplish. Her pink dress simply was radiant in the soft sunlight, and her veil did not exactly conceal the huge smile underneath.

As the candy corn minister turned to him, Finn almost didn't hear what he said next. "Finn, do you take Princess Bubblegum to be yours, to have and to hold," the candy corn said, continuing on and on. When he finished, Finn looked Bubblegum straight in the eyes and smiled. "Yes: most mathematically yes." When he said this, he could have sworn she shivered: probably something in his eye.

The minister looked to Bubblegum then, repeating the same thing. She smiled sweetly and nodded. "Yes; most definitely yes." The minister raised his arms.

"I now pronounce you man and wife." He turned to Finn. "You may now kiss the bride."

Finn leaned in and gently kissed Bubblegum, at least until she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him into a much deeper and more serious kiss. As they stood up there, everyone gathered cheered wildly. Billy handed Ice King a handkerchief as he started to sob with happiness. Jake tickled his son's chin with a stretch-formed hand as he and Lady clapped as well. Marceline stood amongst the bridesmaids, happy but a little jealous. After all, who wouldn't be a bit jealous at someone marrying the greatest hero in all of Ooo?

After a while Finn and Bubblegum broke apart and walked back down the aisle, all the while being showered with sugar by the guests. Bubblegum threw the bouquet into the air, only for Lumpy Space Princess to jump up and swallow it like the fatty she was: the other women descended on her and started to pummel her senseless. All of the other guests laughed at the spectacle, including the two newlyweds. They raced down the chapel's steps and ran up the road into the castle, preparing for the next phase of the day, for it was not over by a long shot.

Princess Bubblegum was so absolutely giddy with excitement she could have burst like a lactose-intolerant pig pelted with ice cream. Now, after all her years of admiration for Finn and the love it had become were finally combined with an actual marriage, the reality of the situation made her feel light-headed. Of course, the part she was most anxious about was the consummation of the marriage, but that would have to wait awhile. "A marriage, especially a royal marriage that was unconsummated could be easily nullified," she thought to herself. Luckily, the simplest solution would be the most enjoyable.

As they entered the "honeymoon suite" of the castle, Finn began to remove his ceremonial armor. "You can never be too careful," he thought as he changed into some good clothes that were not completely formal. A year before, at the marriage of another princess, a mad assassin had tried to do in Finn among the guests: he had been defeated rather quickly, but you never could tell.

He looked over at Bubblegum. "My wife," he reminded himself, smiling at the thought. All those years of affection had truly been love; he just had been too young or naïve to understand. Now, two years after he had saved them all from the Lemon King and by extension the Lich, those feelings had only strengthened.

"Bubblegum?" he called, taking off his helmet and replacing it with his hooded wear. "What's next on the agenda?" That helmet had started to chafe in the heat, but luckily it was not heavy.

She looked up from removing her crown and went behind a screen to change. "Next is the grand feast and general merriment, which will last well into the evening. As will other things," she thought to herself. "Then is the official consummation ceremony and the gift giving, where we-" she stopped as she walked back out from behind the screen in her evening wear and saw the look on Finn's face.

"Official consummation ceremony?" he asked in a frightened tone. "As in, we consummate in public?"

She nodded her head. "Of course Finn; those are the rules for royalty. They may be old and awkward, but it will help ease the minds of everyone involved. Besides, marrying me makes you royalty, so we are doubly obligated to perform the ceremony. Don't worry; it is only viewed by the minister and members of the family."

Finn shook his head, putting on his evening shoes. "Well, it most certainly does not put my mind at ease." He sighed and looked up at her. "But if it makes you happy, then I'll gladly do it."

As he looked back down to tie his shoes, Bubblegum looked away so Finn wouldn't see the great big grin on her face. "I hope you will," she thought. "I know I'll enjoy it."

Later, in the grand banquet hall...

As Finn and Bubblegum walked into the hall holding hands, they were greeted by music and dancing, as well as by the delicious aromas of food. Marceline and Beemo were up on stage playing music, along with several other Ooo musicians. As they walked over to where Jake, his family and Lady's family were sitting, a snippet of their conversation filled Finn's ears.

"So when the ceremony begins, we each prepare them and send them into a room?" Jake asked Lady, unsure of what all this meant. She nodded, readjusting the bottle in their baby's mouth. Lady's mother fiddled with her fork.

"That's not all, Jake. We have to be there and make sure everything goes well." Jake's eye widened at these words.

"You mean... we have to watch?" he said, making a slight retching sound with his throat. "I don't know if I could see my best friend/brother consummate his marriage without getting sick." He looked up in time to see Finn and Bubblegum sit down at the table.

"Hey Finn," he said, giving him a pat on the shoulder. "How you been hanging?" Finn smiled at him and gave Bubblegum a peck on the cheek. "I'll be right back," he said, getting up and taking a walk with Jake over to the food line.

"It's been great Jake," he said, putting some spaghetti on his plate. He made sure to take enough for both him and Bubblegum: he knew how much she loved the stuff.

"So what are you gonna do about the ceremony?" Jake asked, picking up a cocktail weenie and eating it.

"I try not to think about it," Finn replied, eating one as well. "But worse comes to worst, I'll make my way through it. How do you feel about having to help me get ready?"

Jake shook his head, his ears drooping slightly. "It's not that I'm worried about. I'm just not sure what I'm going to do during it."

Finn smiled at his brother's discomfort. "Just close your eyes, plug your ears and pretend you're not there. You'll do just fine."

Jake smiled and nodded his head. "As will you, bro."

Back at the table, Bubblegum was talking with Jake's parents when the music stopped: it was time for a small break, as a candy jazz band struck up a slow song. Marceline set down her axe bass and walked off the stage, sitting down next to Bubblegum.

"Well Bonnibel, I have to say I knew this would happen," she said, draining the color from an apple.

"What do you mean?" Bubblegum asked. Marceline smiled at her; a genuine smile.

"I knew from almost day one that you and Finn were made for each other." She drained another apple. "You ready for tonight?"

Bubblegum almost spilled her drink, but smiled. "Yes I am." She leaned closer to Marceline and whispered in her ear. "I kind of know what to expect. Before I was kidnapped, I saw Finn in the shower."

Marceline raised her eyebrows, her cheeks reddening. "And?" she asked.

Bubblegum smiled. "Let's just say he wields a great sword, and I'm not talking about the one in his scabbard." Marceline turned a deeper shade of red, almost matching the apple she was holding.

Finn and Jake walked back to the table, Finn holding two plates. "Here you go," he said, putting Bubblegum's plate in front of her. With a thank you, she dug into her spaghetti while Finn turned to Marceline. "Hey Marceline," he said, taking a bite out of some spaghetti. "How are you doing?" Marceline sat there, unable to speak for a few seconds. Her mind was... somewhere else.

"I'm doing good Finn," she finally managed to say. "Congratulations on your wedding." Finn didn't seem to notice the look she was giving him: a combination of playful jealousy and longing. Well, if he would have even noticed he would have seen her eyes roaming up and down his body like he was a choice piece of meat. "I have to go: I'm needed on stage," she said suddenly, getting up and almost sprinting back on stage. Finn watched her go, slightly confused: why was she acting like that?

"Bonnibel," he began, looking at his bride. "What's with Marceline?" Bubblegum almost choked on a bit of spaghetti. Clearing her throat after swallowing, she smiled mysteriously.

"Oh, I told her some things: girl things," she said, suppressing the urge to giggle. She had no intention of telling him, so maybe saying something he'd later forget would steer the conversation in a different direction. "I'll tell you about it later."

"Okay," said Finn, sitting down. Just as he and Bubblegum finished eating their meal, they got up and went to the main dance floor, the other guests making way for the now royal couple. Marceline finished her normal music a few minutes later and spoke into the microphone.

"All right folks, this goes out to our lucky couple, based on an old CD Jake and I found while exploring a cave. It's called; 'Can't Smile Without You'. We hope you enjoy it," she finished, hooking Beemo up to several loudspeakers and putting the CD in him. After a few seconds, a slow song began to play from the loudspeakers, the lyrics pulling at the heartstrings of everyone gathered there.

As the music played, Finn and Bubblegum were the only ones on the dance floor, deeply looking into each other's eyes. The lights shimmering overhead gave the room a soft and ambient glow, almost giving the room an ethereal feel. As they slowly danced, Finn leaned down and whispered into Bubblegum's ear: "I love you, princess. I always have."

Bubblegum looked up at her gorgeous husband, finding herself nearly gawking at his ruggedly handsome face. She would be with him for the rest of their lives and she would likely never get over just how fetching he was. "I love you too, Finn," she said, leaning her head against his chest and closing her eyes, feeling the beating of his heart underneath his clothes. "I have always loved you, even when I was too blind to see it."

Finn rested his face in her hair; oh how he loved the smell of her sweet bubblegum hair. "I will do my best to make you happy for the rest of our days," he said, envisioning a long life ahead of them. "It is this oath I swear to you: to be your protector for as long as I draw breathe, to kiss away your tears when you cry. If there comes along a storm in our life, you have the promise of my love to keep you warm." He could see her and him grow old together and live out the rest of their days in the castle, being visited by friends, their children and maybe even their grandchildren. They would be inseparable, two halves of a whole: soul-mates for all time. When the day finally did come when they would pass on from this world, he knew they would wait for the other for as long as it took: then, together, they would journey past the realm of death and into the great beyond.

Unbeknownst to Finn, Bubblegum was thinking along the lines of the exact same thing. However, her thoughts had taken her in the opposite path, right back before the part with children. All she could think about was that night, and every night after that. She had waited a very long time for that special night. She hadn't given it any thought when he was younger, but after he rescued her from the volcano fortress she had been conflicted as to be with him outside of a marriage. Luckily his decision of courting her had given her enough patience to wait two more years: two long, busy years in which to wait.

When the music stopped hours later and everyone started to leave for the night, the official consummation ceremony would begin. Finn and Bubblegum, although they didn't tell anyone, had a feeling everything would be fine.

A/N: Well, this is just something to tide you folks over until the final chapter next week, and I promise it will be a doozy. Give a little hint here, a little juicy preview there... I am rather devious, aren't I? I just hope the admins don't take it down for the content...

A/N2: Nearly eight thousand hits already? You are all amazing viewers!