She didn't even get a chance to get something from the snack table before he caught up with her. He appeared at her shoulder, grinning, before turning her around. "You. Me. Dance." he said simply, taking her hand and then her waist before flying them up, supporting her feet with his own. "Marshall, the stuff?!" she protested, hand gripping his own hand hard, digging her fingers into his shoulder. "I wanna eat, dangit!" "And I wanna dance." he replied, and she glared, loosening her grip a little, "If you weren't holding me up I'd so give you another one upside the head right now." she told him instead, scowling, and he smirked, showing he was missing a tooth, but she could see a new one growing in, "Promises, promises."

She huffed, looking at the crowd below them, at the lights from the lanterns and the Flame people themselves. From here she couldn't tell which one was the King. "Aw, cheer up, Fio!" Marshall Lee laughed, spinning them around in vague, wandering circles, just slightly in time to the music that drifted up from below, "You dance great. Real light on your feet."

"I'm not even on my feet, doofus." Fionna grumbled, and he rolled his eyes. "Same difference. So, what, it's suddenly not okay to dance with me?" he asked. "Seemed like you were doing pretty fine earlier. Y'know," he spun quickly, making her hang on with a squeak, "With dancing..." "B-before I had to deal with you and your stupid..." she told him, fingers clenching in again. "And you know you stole my freaking dance partner. And beat him up."

He smirked, yanking her closer, "Borrowed. I was gonna give him back... Bu-ut I thought that most girls wouldn't mind seein' a little dogfight... Admit it, you liked it."

"Don't even start that, Marsh," she snapped, but he saw a bit of blush, "Can we just stop, please? I'm really not a good dancer."

He snorted, floating higher and making her whine in protest, "You're fi-ine, Fifi." he chuckled.

"No, really," she protested, straining to see the ground, "With FK it was just awkward stepping around and with GB he was just good enough to avoid my feet."

"And with ML?" he purred, and she glared, "I'm not even doing anything here!" she spluttered.

"As far as you know. Just follow my lead." he continued bluntly, grinning, and got it across in a way that gave her enough blush to shut her up for the moment.

In the quiet the music slowed a bit, and so did Marshall, turning it into more of a swaying as they drifted. He pulled her a bit closer, and she pulled back just the little bit that his grip allowed, frowning at him. He ignored her, leaning in and inhaling through his nose. ". . . He made you cry." he stated simply, watching her flush. He cut off her protests with a squeeze to the hand, a sneer, "Don't freaking lie to me, Fionna. I can smell the salt, and your face is that shiny shade of red from scrubbing..." He was already looking over the crowd, red irises glowing, "Alright, where is he?"

"Quit it, Marshall." she snapped, her hand on his shoulder pushing his cheek to face her, pinching his cheek when he tried to avoid her, and she glared at him.

"No more stupid."

When he only stared at her, she grit her teeth, "Look, Marshall Lee," she told him, "It was between me and FK, not me, him, and you, and now it's over, alright? You happy? It's freaking over, everything's cool, and I did not cry because of him. So if you start something again Glob help me I won't be your friend anymore."

That raised the vampire's eyebrows, "Seriously, huh?"

"Yup." she said blankly, and didn't say any more as she let him dance her around.

". . . You still cried." he said again, bluntly.

"You—! We-well now I'm not, dangit." she retorted, this time blushing in what looked like shame, "And why do you care, anyway? You didn't that one time."

He shrugged, getting his grin back, "I took pity on ya. And to be fair you made me pay for it." Then he leaned in much closer, and Fionna grunted when his face was near her cheek, "And only I get to make you cry..." he told her, near where her ear would be, and he heard her heart skyrocket. And then he felt pain. Simple, basic, painful pain. He was very, very careful to not let her go as he cringed, wheezing, feeling his solar plexus try and choke him from the girl's punch, "Ohhhhglobwhatiswithyouandthehitting?" he groaned.

"Serves you right, you freak." she growled, though her face was aflame, "Down now."

"So not cute..." he hissed, straightening, but waited. "Why'd you cry?" he asked.

"Drop it, Marshall." she told him, "And put me down."

"C'mo-o-on, tell your friend..." he whined, floating higher. She glared, "Marshall Lee..."

"Tell me." he repeated.

"No."

"Tell me."

"Marshall."

"Tell me-e-e..."

"I said no!"

"Tell m—"

"Bite me!" she snapped in his face, and then her mouth fell open as his snapped shut.

They stared at each other with wide eyes, and the Fionna started stammering while he laughed, "D-didn't mean it like that I mean I—"

"Gee, Fionna, I like the offer but—"

"—didn't mean it like that! Aargh, why do you have t' be a freaking bug?! Every single time I do something stupid it's—"

"—I mean, I dunno, with all the people here?"

"—your freaking fault! I didn't mean that and you freaking know it yet you always—"

"I really didn't know you were into that kinda thing, but I'm a nice guy, and—"

"—go and make me feel like an idiot and—!"

"—I really wouldn't mind taking the next step in the relationship."

That shut her up.

Steam was practically coming out of her ears as he smirked, and she gritted her teeth, "Put. Me. Down. Now."

He laughed in pain as her hand clenched into his shoulder, "Yeah, yeah, milady."

Then he dropped her.

The scream caught in her throat as she clenched his hand, then realized it was only a couple feet. Somehow he'd gotten closer to the ground.

"Y-you jerk!" she squawked, nearly crushing the bones in his hand, but he only chuckled.

He didn't let her hand go immediately, staring at her, "Really though, you're cool?" She opened her mouth, closed it, looked at him, and then her hand he still held in spite of its crushiness, and finally smiled a bit, "I'll be okay, thanks. Just...just stop joking with me, okay?"

He blinked, and then grinned again, pulling her hand to get close again, "It wasn't all a joke, Fio." he told her, then flew off, smirking, "Peace!"

Fionna stared, then shook her head, feeling the biggest want to hit the punch bowl. Maybe drink from it, too. ". . . Jerk." she mumbled.

. . .

"'Course she'd take it as a joke..." he grumbled to himself. "Lame..."

Maybe he should go find his li'l punching bag again. Then he felt his jaw, and the loose teeth, and Fionna's possibly serious 'un-friending'.

Nah, not worth it.

. . .

The Flame King watched from a crowd of his subjects, as the vampire finally let her go. He watched her, as she finally found herself something to eat, and considered going to her again, maybe dance again, but...no... He knew now that he really didn't have a chance, and should not delude himself or torture her to try and convince himself that he did. Envy crackled uncomfortably in his gut, and he suppressed it in favor of acceptance. She was...comfortable with them... More than she ever was with him. She probably didn't realize it herself, but it was easy for her to touch them, or be near them, even if it was to hurt them or even something so casual as a pat on the shoulder. And that was how friends were, he realized. They were indeed her friends. He snorted, feeling some satisfaction that it would be difficult for them to even reach her with the perverse intentions they sought, not without preserving that natural affection she showed, that friendship. He'd have time. He'd go, and grow, and enjoy his own 'friendship' with her, and hopefully have something good to show her that she could accept. For now, he could accept his defeat with grace, while looking towards a small hope in the future. And if that hope was nothing more than something from his mind? Well, even if there was that stupid possibility of her accepting two lovers, he'd happily prepare to be there to comfort her when such a relationship failed. He snickered into his drink, imagining the struggles his rivals would have. Perhaps there was something to be said for being a spectator. He'd already had a place in her heart, he supposed. A defined place that said 'she loved him'. He'd like to see them try and compete with that. He continued with the party, a genuine smile on his face that bordered towards a smirk. He might not have been able to defeat them, no, but his place in her heart sure wouldn't be making it an easy path. Hah.

. . .

The next day the Flames had formed a sort of caravan on the way out, and the King was the one who was leaving last, along with his little lion pride. A crowd of Candy people had tagged along to wave goodbye, which for some reason involved cheering and confetti, but no one really questioned it. The Flames liked to set the confetti on fire.

Cake glanced at her sister as they waved the Flames goodbye, but Fionna was smiling, looking fine, and the only thing she and Flame King had exchanged was a handshake and a rock for some reason. Well, they looked like they were cool, and Cake could ask more about that stuff later. Suddenly fang face started rapping, and they all saw the Flame King's shoulders tense up.

"Oh-oh, oh-oh,

It's such a pity that ya kiddies gotta go,

And that's fine,

But I just wanted ya to know

That it was great,

Hah, no, really, I'm not kidding,

First rate,

Got the memories an' the bruises here to show.

Oh-oh, oh-oh,

No hard feelings, no bad vibes, oh, no,

Just saying 'hope you have a nice life', now,

And things like 'don't let the gate hit ya on the way out'.

And, y'know, watch your back, if ya know what I'm about...?

But really, I hate to see ya go.

'Cause you're really gonna miss out on a show.

Peace out!"

A jet of flame nearly singed the Vampire King, but he dodged it, laughing, "Didn't know you cared, Hotpants!"

Fionna and Gumball simultaneously shook their heads as Marshall Lee continued to go out of his way to hound the caravan. "He'll get bored soon enough." Gumball decided, "Or maybe they'll fry him." she thought aloud. "That was enriching!" Peppermint Maid spoke up happily, and they both looked at her. She grinned at Fionna, "All things are forgiven, Human. I had a betting pool going on that fight last night, and I'd bet on you. Well done!" she patted Fionna generously on the elbow, and then curtsied to the Prince, "If His Highness will excuse me, I have some 'in your face time' to attend to."

They watched as she went back into the crowd, starting to screech, "Wasn't I right, ya suckers?! EAT IT!"

". . . Thank you?" Fionna mumbled uncertainly.

"I should look into her vacation time." the Candy Prince said uneasily. Then he glanced down at her. "Tonight?"

Fionna paused, and swallowed, knowing what he was talking about. ". . . Okay." she sighed.

. . .

The silence was uncomfortable, and extremely awkward to breach. They three sat quietly in Gumball's study. Well, two of them sat, while Marshall just sort of floated there, picking erratically at his Axe. Gumball took a sip from his cup even though the tea inside had long gone cold. Cake and Monochromicorn weren't present for Casual Tea this time, what with the unicorn and the cat finally having time to themselves after the repair work was more or less finished. Gumball was in parts grateful and frustrated. This was the first time to his memory that they were all three there together for the main intent to 'hang out', and yet they still had to get over business first.

Marshall Lee broke the silence first with a flat twang, "Alright, this is stupid." he said, as the others looked up at him, and he glared at Fionna, "GB told ya to stay away."

"And that was stupid!" the human shouted back, finding it easier to shout at the vampire than Gumball. Familiarity, the Prince supposed, "How the hack could you guys expect me to do that?!"

"It was dangerous," Gumball interjected, "And like it or not you would have been the most vulnerable, Fionna, and so we didn't want to involve you."

"I would've been fine," she protested, "I would've gotten to him."

"And let him get at your face again, right?" Marshall snarled, and Fionna shut up as Gumball glared at the vampire. "That's...that's different." she growled.

"That's being a freaking hypocrite, babe." he scoffed.

"Do stop it already!" Gumball said quickly before they could get at each other, and turned to Fionna, "And we're not going to bring that up. It was in the past, and he's sufficiently apologized, I hope?" Fionna nodded as the vampire sneered, and the Prince continued, "But I had hoped things would go differently. I had asked you to stay away, Fionna, yet you immediately charge in with the Ice Queen of all people," he wasn't frowning, but his face was stern, and blank, "I didn't want nor need your heroics, Fionna. I thought you would understand, or at least try to trust me..."

". . . You were puking your guts out, man," she told him, "And Marshall was nearly getting eaten, or-or burned or whatever and everything was freaking on fire. Charred, smoking, charcoal-barbecue pit from heck on fire. Yeah, I was probably stupid and—" "Probably?" Marshall interrupted, and got a cake to the face, "—and I know how you guys were feeling and I'm sorry that I did the stuff I did to get there and I'm sorry that I made you guys worry and angry, but," she continued, "I'm not sorry that I was there. I just...I-I just wasn't trying to be a stupid hero, okay?"

Marshall Lee glared after he wiped the pastry off his face, "You played the hero anyway. So that doesn't make any sense." he muttered.

"I don't care. I said it wasn't about the stupid heroics," she repeated, frustrated, "No. No wait, that's not right. I-I went there because I wanted to, right? Not for you guys, not for him, not for my stupid code. I didn't want you guys to-to die or fry or something, I didn't care about how you felt, so I went there for me, not you guys. Better?"

There was a moment of quiet as they all turned over her words, as Fionna kept cursing to herself to not being able to put it better.

". . . That might've been the sweetest thing you've ever said." Marshall Lee chuckled as she flushed and looked away.

"Selfish way of twisting the situation," Gumball commented, and watched her cringe with guilt, "But acceptable logic." he continued, letting her have an out.

"We accept your apology."

"We do?" Marshall asked, and this time got a napkin soaked with tea to the face, "Gak! Hey!"

"As long as we have an understanding, of course." Gumball went on, smiling as Fionna stared at him with an almost expectant look on her face. He smirked, and she frowned, and then he laughed, unable to keep it up, "And yes, I am sorry that you have to rescue me so much." Then the napkin got thrown back in his face with a wet smack, and he flailed at the gross feeling of damp fabric, "Gah!"

"Hey, hey, I'm in the room, too," Marshall protested, as Gumball tried to dry himself, and the vampire leered at Fionna, "I'm sorry that you're nosy."

"I'm sorry that you're a jerk." she retorted easily, and immediately the old routines came back.

"Pfft. I'm sorry that you're such a girl."

Gumball rolled his eyes as he left to fetch things to clean up the mess. Honestly. He could still hear them, even from the small bathroom.

"I'm sorry that...that you had to get your butt saved by a girl!"

"Ya freakin'—! Well I'm sorry you're a glory hog!"

"What?! Well I'm sorry you were getting your butt kicked!"

"I'm sorry you had to go run to Queenie for help!"

He couldn't help a chuckle, even as he grimaced at the stickiness of the tea on his skin.

"Alright, alright, that's enough you—..." he came back to find they'd been throwing things at each other. Like the food he'd carefully made.

They both looked at him, and at his expression.

". . . Sorry." they both said at once, wincing simultaneously.

. . .

"Drill instructor?" Fionna asked hesitantly, after things had been cleaned up and reset. However, Gumball had cut off the snacks. The Prince blinked at her before remembering, "Ah, yes." Marshall Lee perked up in interest, gnawing on the glossy grey remains of a once red hard candy. "It's for a project I have in mind." he continued, smiling. "My guards serve their purpose, yes, but only for guarding, defense, things like that, and the Guardians are...well...an 'independent' force, and therefore unreliable." He studied his tea dregs a bit morosely. He'd hoped they'd be able to relax this evening, but he really wanted to get this off his chest, "My Kingdom was defenseless, my guards insufficient and my people unprotected. I don't want such a situation to arise again, where I might have to defend it only to, yes, puke my guts out and fail. This is a historical, long-tolerated weakness that I don't want to suffer anymore." He smiled at Fionna, "I want to create a competent militaristic force for my Kingdom, and you can help me with that, Fionna." He blinked as he was stared at by his peers.

"Ya want me to train some guys to fight?" Fionna said carefully, and he nodded. "Or more like, teach them how." he corrected, "I've, well, watched you—oh do be quiet, Marshall—I've watched you fight, and it's very adaptable, aggressive. Efficient. It's not a set style, it's just...improvisation. I first want you to teach them how to get that 'fighting spirit', and then how to use it according to the situation. Like you." "Them?" she repeated. He blinked, "You didn't think I just wanted my guards trained, do you?" he smiled, slightly excited, holding up his hands, "Two words: Civilian. Military."

They were staring at him again.

". . . Le-... Let me think about it." she said uncertainly, and Gumball blinked, but nodded, "Of course, take your time."

"How much caffeine's in that tea, GB?" Marshall Lee asked bluntly.

"None. It's a non-caffeinated blend. Why?"

". . . Eh, nothin'."

"We're all good?" Fionna asked.

When everyone felt resolved, she nodded, getting up, "Okay. I'll get back to you on your thing, GB, after I think. Goodnight, guys."

"Goodnight." they chorused back, and she smiled, before leaving.

". . . Was it too much?" Gumball asked worriedly, and Marshall Lee rolled his eyes, "Don't worry about it, Gummy." he chuckled.

"But I don't want her to feel pressured to—"

"I said don't worry," he interrupted, "You mean well, and she knows that. I think she'll do it for you, because it's you who's asking."

". . . That doesn't make me feel any better." the Prince groaned, and Marshall Lee cackled, "I know. Still, you wanna test it? I know a few questions I wouldn't mind asking her." Instead of spluttering or blushing or anything, Marshall Lee was surprised when the guy went quiet.

". . . Actually..." Gumball muttered, straightening up. Then he blinked, and Marshall watched as he went to his desk and got out that stupidly pink file, flipping through it and muttering to himself, "Major obstacles...something to be a catalyst...current psychological condition...mindset?...optimal...would be odd, but..."

He quieted down as Marshall floated over.

"Huh." Gumball stated.

"Hmm?" Marshall Lee hummed into his ear.

"We're making progress, I think." Gumball said. "Good progress."

"Tell me." the vampire said, suddenly appearing in front of his face. Gumball yelped, and papers went flying as he stumbled back into his chair in surprise. "W-well..." he stammered, as Marshall watched, waited, and listened very, very patiently, "Pretty soon, if this goes how I think it will, we'll have an...an opening..."

"I'm listening..." Marshall Lee sang, and Gumball swallowed, "I...I think it will go something like this..."

Author's Note: Hello, there! First, I'm deeply sorry that this has dragged out for as long as it had. I've recently been back in school, so a lot of my writing has been moved to the back burner, so to speak. I will do my best to keep a regular updating schedule, but at times it can't be high on my priorities. If you have any questions on the updates or the story itself that you'd like to ask me, but that you don't want to put in the reviews, please, feel free to PM me, and I'll get back to you. I like to be able to communicate with my readers, and I feel that mutual feedback is important. Reviews, though, are always appreciated. Expect the next chapter shortly! Keep calm, and carry coffee. Thank you!

Sincerely, the hatchling