"Please, babe? I really need you to do this for me."

"I don't see why. I think it's stupid that you want me to get involved." The red head leaned her head against the wall, glaring at her idiotic boyfriend. "Besides, it's none of my business what kind of history you have with one of them. You're with me now, get over yourself." The red head scoffed, crossing her arms.

"Yeah but she is a cold heartless bitch and she deserves what I have coming for her."

"Yeah, what about pinky? She doesn't seem like she deserves it. I've seen her around a few times working at Tree Trunks, and by what I can tell she's pretty innocent."

"That doesn't matter! Those stupid dykes are an eyesore and need to be taken care of!" The boy through up his hands in frustration. When he calmed down, he rubbed his forehead and sighed. "Look, if you do this for me I can get you that internship at the fire station, okay? Please, babe?"

"Don't babe me." Her eyes almost drew fire at the word her boyfriend called her. "You can't just get me to do anything for you by calling me babe."

"Please, Flare?" The man sat on his knees, cupping his hands together while looking up at Flare.

"Sigh. Fine. But I'm not doing it for you, I'm doing it for that internship. Now get the fuck up Ash, and stop being a wuss." Flare removed herself from the wall, grabbing her coat that had been hanging from a chair. Ash gained his balance on his feet, giving his girlfriend a kiss on the forehead.

"Thank you so much. Now, I know where you could probably find her."

xxxxx

When Marceline arrived back home, her dad was still seated on the couch. He had been reading a book with his left ankle resting on his right knee. Marceline had assumed he didn't hear her come in, for he hadn't looked up from his book. Marceline took a few steps closer, seeing if he would notice or not. After a few moments of utter silence and a page turning, Hunson closed his book and set it on the coffee table. He make eye contact with Marceline, who just stood there in the middle of the living room.

"Dad, can… can we see Simon today?" Marceline mumbled.

"Of course, Marceline. I know that would make you happy. I wasn't sure if you had changed your mind about spending the day with me or not, though." Marceline's father smiled and gained balance on his feet, making his way over to Marceline. "I had a few things in mind we could do today, going to the hospital being one of them."

"Thank you, dad." Marceline smiled to herself a bit, hoping her dad wasn't able to notice. She grew up not being around her father, so she was used to being on her own, especially after Simon was taken away. She wasn't sure how spending a day around her father would go, but she was willing to test it out. "What were the other things you had in mind?"

"I thought you could take me to this wonderful café Bonnibel works at, I would love to try it out and I have yet to have my morning coffee."

"Okay… yeah, that sounds great. When are we going?"

"I thought we could get going now, we have the whole day to ourselves." Hunson gave his daughter a huge toothy grin – no wonder where she gets that from – and grabbed his car keys from his trousers.

Xxxxx

"There's a free parking space in front of the café, you can park there." Marceline pointed out of the windshield to an open lot right in front of Tree Trunks Café. Hunson parked the car and the two exited the vehicle to walk inside of the building.

There was always this sweet aroma when walking inside of this café. It was a mixture of apples and cinnamon, something pleasing to the customers. Marceline had been in there so many times, she had gotten used to the sweet smell but for new customers such as Hunson, her father, it was a delightful surprise. Almost in unison with the ringing of the bell at the top of the door, Hunson took in a huge breath through his nose.

"Wow, this place smells fantastic, what is that scent? Apples, am I correct?"

Marceline hummed in response, looking around to see if Bonnibel was serving a table. "The owner, Tree Trunks, she is known for her apple pie. You should try it, it's delicious. Because she bakes them so early in the morning, the whole place usually smells like apple pie for the entire day." Hunson took in another whiff of the apple pie scent. Marceline made her way into her usual table with her father following close behind her. She slid into the booth and Hunson soon did the same. Hunson picked up the small menu from the end of the table and started flipping through it.

"You seem to come here a lot, do you recommend anything?" Hunson looked up at his daughter who was sitting there, twiddling her thumbs.

"Uhhh, everything is pretty good. If you like Lattes, they have a pretty good French Vanilla, and I'm forcing you to try the apple pie anyways so." Marceline grinned, looking at her father raise an eyebrow at her.

"I guess I should trust your judgment." Hunson placed the menu down, just in time for a familiar pink-haired girl walk up to the table.

"I had a feeling I would see you guys here today." Bonnibel smiled, lifting up her small note pad and pen. "What will you be having, Mr. Abadeer?"

"I will have a French Vanilla Latte with the recommendation of a slice of pie."

"Oh, she hustled you into the pie, has she? I can assure you sir, that you will not be disappointed." Bonnibel smiled once more, jotting down the small order on her note pad. "I will be right back with your orders." With a turn of her heel, Bonnibel started in the direction of the counter to prepare the order.

"You're not getting anything Marceline?" Her father quizzed.

"Oh of course I am. Bonnibel just knows me too well."

For the next ten minutes, Marceline and her dad a normal conversation, which was odd. They have never been able to just talk. It was new for Marceline. It was new for Hunson. They didn't talk about anything in particular, just about what Marceline was planning to do now that she has a bachelor's degree in music theory. Before Marceline could go in depth about her future plans, Bonnibel came back into view with a tray rested on her hand and shoulder.

"Here we are, a French Vanilla latte and apple pie for Hunson, and a Chai Tea Latte with a slice of strawberry cake for Marceline." Bonnibel served the mugs of coffee and the plate of desserts. She lifted the tray off of her shoulder and held it down by her side. "Will that be all?" Marceline shook her head, smiling up to her girlfriend, admiring her in that cute apron she always enjoys seeing her in. Bonnibel finally broke her gaze at Marceline and turned herself around to put the tray away. Before she got too far, she remembered something and quickly came back over to where Marceline and Hunson were sitting.

"Oh, Marceline, I forgot to mention, Finn texted me this morning. He and Jake were wanting to do movie night tonight at the tree house."

"Oh, cool. Yeah I'll be there." Marceline smirked, taking a sip of her latte. Bonnibel nodded, and continued on her way back to the kitchen.

The next hour and a half, Marceline and her father sat in the small booth, sipping their coffee and just having a regular conversation. They just talked about regular things, and for once Marceline could talk to her father without getting mad at him or starting an argument. They were able to fill in the gaps and tell each other pointless stories about the past.

And that Marceline loved. She was finally able to have a dad again.

xxxx

"Hunson! It's good to see you again! Can you tell the nice nurse lady that I have seemed to have misplaced Gunter." Simon walked around the room, looking under chairs and pillows.

"Simon, Marceline is here too." Hunson spoke, trying not to laugh at the crazy old man wearing a blue hospital gown.

"Marceline! Could you tell your father to get the nurse?" Simon gave Marceline a quick smile before he went back to looking for 'Gunter'. He finally gave up and took a seat on his hospital bed. "Oh, forget it. He's always getting into trouble, I can never keep track him." He pointed over to the chairs next to his bed, telling his two favorite people to sit down. Just as Marceline took her seat, she heard a ringing coming from her father. Hunson removed his phone from his pocket, staring at the screen to see who had been calling. He hesitated for a second, but ignored the call and sat down with his daughter.

"Did you need to answer that?" Marceline asked her father, looking almost confused that he hadn't answered the phone.

"Nope. It was just work, they can get over one ignored phone call. Besides, today is our day together, I'm not gonna let work take me away from that." Marceline smiled wide at her father. He actually ignored work to spend time with her.

The room fell silent, not even Simon was rambling on about his normal nonsense. He may have been crazy, but he knew that this was a big deal. Marceline was just about to speak up when the same ringing came from her father's pocket, and once again Hunson pulled his phone out and ignored the call.

"Dad, if you need to-"

"Nope. Not going to." Hunson shook his head, trying his best to not be worried about whatever his work was calling him about.

His phone started ringing again, and with another click of a red button it stopped.

"Dad just answer it, it's okay I promise."

"Marceline, are you sure? I don't want-" Once again, the ringing came, and to be honest it was getting rather annoying to all three of them. Hunson sighed, answering his phone. "Hunson Abadeer speaking. What? No- why would you- Look, I'm trying to have a decent day with my daughter, is it really that important? No, I'm not- I can't! Can't someone else- Well why the hell not?" Hunson began getting agitated by the person on the other side of the call. "Fine. I'll be there soon. Yeah. Mhm. Bye."

Hunson shoved the slim phone back into his pocket, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"I take it you have to go?"

"I'm sorry, Marceline, I tried-"

"Dad, it's fine. I know you tried getting out of it. It's okay." Marceline gave her dad a halfhearted smile.

"Well I should be going. It was good seeing you Simon. I'll try and stop by your house tomorrow, Marceline. Have a good day both of you." Hunson nodded his head and left the hospital room. Marceline shrunk in her seat, looking up at the ceiling.

"Bastard." She cursed under her breath.

"He does love you, you know." The old man sitting in his bed across the room spoke. His familiar voice was comforting to Marceline.

"I know, Simon. I know. He's just. I don't know. I know he can't help it." The room fell silent once again. Neither of them knew what to say to each other. It had been so long since they were last able to just sit and talk. Marceline missed the days when Simon took care of her. She missed having him around. When she was little, she would always ask about her mom. Simon never knew her, so he was never able to answer her questions, and her dad was never around to talk about her mother. When he was, he always stayed off that topic as best as he could, avoiding all the prying questions coming from his daughter. "Hey Simon?"

"Yes, Marceline?"

"Do you think dad will ever tell me about my mom?"

"It's hard to say. He's a stubborn man, your dad."

"Yeah."

Xxxxxxx

Marceline spent the whole day in the hospital visiting Simon. She hadn't realized how much time had passed until she got a call from Bonnibel asking what time she was heading over to the tree house. She had said her goodbyes to Simon and promised him she would be visiting again soon.

On her way out of the hospital, she turned the corner to be met with a girl, sitting on the curb crying her eyes out. She had assumed the red head had been crying over a sick family member or friend, they were at a hospital and all, but she sort of felt bad for the girl. She was sitting on this curb, alone, with nobody to comfort her. She knew this would have been her if she hadn't had Bonnibel with her last night.

She checked the time on her phone, and she knew if she talked to the girl she would be late to movie night. Though she could just call and say she was running late, she did have a reasonable excuse. She contemplated in her head for a few seconds before deciding to approach the red head after sending a quick text to Bonnibel saying she was running late.

"Hey, um… are you okay? Marceline sat next to the girl on the curb, resting her elbows on her knees. The red head looked up at Marceline with red, watery eyes, looking confused that someone was talking to her. "I'm sorry, you just were crying and I felt bad so I just- I can go if you want to be alone."

"No… It's okay. I just… wasn't expecting someone to care about a girl crying on a curb." The red head whipped her eyes, avoiding eye contact with Marceline. Marceline didn't think this part through. What should she say to the girl?

"My Uncle is dying," Marceline found herself saying out loud. "I found out last night. If I didn't have someone with me last night I would be right here on this same curb." The red head still avoided looking at Marceline. She stared at her fingers, twirling them around each other. "Marceline."

"Huh?" The red head finally looked up and at Marceline.

"My name, Marceline." Marceline gave the girl a smile.

"Flare…" The red head seemed lenient on telling Marceline her name, but did anyways. "My uh, my dad. He got in an accident…"

"I'm assuming it'd pretty bad if you are out here all alone crying, huh?"

"No, my dad is fine. For the most part. He and I don't really get along and when I came to see him he just got angry with me. I called my boyfriend over and hour ago asking him to come get me but he ditched me to go hang out with his idiot friends." Flare looked back down at her feet, letting out a small sigh.

"Idiot boyfriend with idiot friends, I know the feeling." Marceline scoffed, flashbacks of Ash running through her mind. She was going to say more to Flare until her phone started ringing, apologizing to the red head before answering. "Hello? Oh hey Bonnibel, what's up? Popcorn? Yeah I can get some." Marceline allowed her eyes to avert towards Flare with an Idea popping up in her head. "Oh, hey, do you guys mind if I bring a friend tonight? No, her named Flare. I met her at the hospital today. No, don't worry I'm still the only axe murderer." Marceline joked. "She could use some nice people to be around with. I can? Awesome. I'll see you guys soon. I love you too, nerd." Marceline hung up her phone, shoving it into her pocket as she stood up from the curb. She smiled down at the red head, reaching out a hand to help her up.

"Well, Flare. I am going to be a decent human being and get your mind off of stupid people. You are coming with me to movie night with my friends." She helped pull Flare up from the curb, helping her catch her balance as well.

"Oh no, I couldn't. I don't want to be a bother and-"

"Nope, I won't have it, you're coming with me." Marceline shook her head.

"But what if my boyfriend comes and I'm not here?" Flare frowned.

"Oh, honey. I've had experience with this kind of thing. I'm sorry but he's not coming. My friends aren't too bad, don't worry okay?"

"I-I guess. I could use some time with nice people. I don't really get that too often." A small smile escaped Flare's lips, making Marceline smile in return.

Marceline started down the street in the direction of the tree house with her new friend trailing by her side. Honestly, Marceline was excited to have met someone new. She did something good today, and she knew Bonnibel was rubbing off on her, in a good way

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

So this is an acceptable time to start hating me.