"Those who escape Hell, however, never talk about it...and nothing much bothers them after that."
Charles Bukowski


It was a day after the events in Scotts Valley and Marceline had woken up before Bentely because she had the nauseating feeling that she had to puke. Once she got out of the bathroom, Bentley was still fast asleep in bed, so she went into the kitchen to make some coffee. When she clicked the light on, a figure sat up from the couch and she stared at Kip as he yawned, stretching. Her Dad must have gone somewhere and left the newly patched member in his stead to keep an eye on her.

Marci said nothing to him as she prepared the coffee maker and waited for it to fill her mug. When it was done, she went to the fridge and was happy to find a bottle of French Vanilla creamer on the door. She grabbed it and added it to her mug, taking a few sips. When she turned around and leaned on the counter, Kip was coming into the kitchen. For a few moments, he simply watched her and she was blankly staring back at him, waiting for him to say something.

"What is it?" She asked, breaking the silence; Kip shifted from one foot to the other.

"I'm glad you're back and safe now." He honestly told her. "I'm sorry we weren't there to protect you, but I'm proud of you for taking things into your own hands and dealing with Gage. You're really strong for that, Marci."

"It wasn't just about me anymore." She said, hinting at Bentley. "I had to do something to protect my family."

Kip was silent for a beat. "Marci…I'm so sorry about Zane. Haruka, the leader of his gang, told us what happened and that's why they helped us cull the Spartans…I'm sorry about how things between us ended too."

"You lied to me and treated me like shit on purpose. You ripped my heart out, threw it to the ground and spit on it without explaining a goddamn thing. Then, you fucked that sleazy whore and just stood there when she tried to disrespect me. And now, you've brought your sorry ass here to apologize because you feel guilty. You should feel bad because Zane is dead!" She spat that last part at him and slammed her mug down on the counter. "All the man wanted was for me to be okay for two fucking seconds and what happened?! He died! If you'd have just sat me down and told me what the fuck was going on, you wouldn't feel like shit and Zane would be-"

As much as she wanted to continue ripping him a new one, Marceline forced herself to stop because that next sentence would've been bullshit.

If Kip had told her why he wanted to break up, nothing would've changed. Gage still would've found out where Zane lived and the Spartans would've used him to lure her away from the safety of the Sons or they would've abducted her and Zane would've put his life on the line again to try to save her. It would've come down to that eventually, Gage killing Zane or vice versa. It was inevitable. Had Marceline stayed in Scotts Valley, there probably would've been a war between Zane's gang and the Spartans. Either way, one of them would've died.

"I don't know what you expected to happen, but this Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde shit isn't gonna work for me. You're not gonna love me one day, then flip and push me away when shit gets hard." She told him in a leveled tone, calming herself. Kip was hanging his head as he got torn a new one, but looked up at her when her tone softened a little. "I wouldn't care if you got fifty years in lockup, I would've come to visit you every week and written you letters every night. I would've waited for you, Kip. I thought you'd understand that I loved you enough to stay by your side when something like this came up."

She sighed. "But forget my feelings. I've got a little boy to take care of now and he will not see me depressed and crying over you again."

"I'm sorry, Marceline." He wholeheartedly apologized to her, hoping to fix anything he was responsible for breaking. "I'm sorry I put you through all of that and I'm so sorry you lost Zane. He was a good guy and I knew he meant a lot to you."

"Get out." She demanded.

Kip looked like a kicked puppy and he held her stony gaze for a minute, but complied with her request. He told her that someone else would stop by to keep her company in a few hours, but she turned her back on him and waited to hear the door close to signal he was gone. After another second, she heard him quietly sigh and he left.

Marci turned and Kip was gone. She grabbed her mug and was about to finish it off when she noticed something on the counter. There was a slab of crimson sitting on the edge of the counter. It was a book. She went over to it and saw a golden insignia of a Queen stamped in the middle. Taking the book in her hands, she felt the smooth leather as she turned it to the side to read the spine.

Also in gold were five raised bands leading up to the title: Through The Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll.

~.~.~.~.

Later that day, Marceline was invited to Gemma's house and she properly introduced her to Bentley. Marci and Gemma sat at her long dining room table while Bentley played in the living room with some of his toys. Marci decided to update Gemma on what happened to her from the night she was abducted again, to the Sons coming to save her and answered any questions the matriarch had for her. At the end of her tale, Gemma hugged the ginger girl and told her that she was glad she was back home where she belonged.

"You've been pretty cold to Eddie." Gemma said and that made Marci scoff in amusement because Kip had gone running his mouth to Gemma, likely looking for help. "You won't let him in again because he hurt you and you're afraid he's gonna do it again, but he had the best interest when he broke up with you. He thought he was going away for fifteen years and he didn't want you wasting away waiting for him."

"I know." She sighed.

"Then why aren't you cuddled up and kissing? You're tearing him apart, Marci. I'm pretty sure he's at the point of getting on his knees and begging you to come back to him." Gemma was obviously an avid supporter of team Kip and Marceline, just like Jasmine. "I know it's not because of the kid. Everyone loves him."

"No, Bentley's not the problem. It's the other one."

"Either way, I really think yo- wait a minute. The other- what other one? There is no other one." Gemma questioned and Marci simply stared at the woman until relization dawned on her face. "Jesus, Marceline. When did you and Eddie-"

"It's not his." She corrected.

"Christ in Heaven, my heart can't take this." Gemma sighed as she sat back in her chair, a hand going over her chest. "Did that little shit force you?"

"I was depressed and got super drunk and he was there and it just happened; it's why he was always trying to sleep in my bed. When I realized I missed my monthly and I couldn't stand the smell of bacon anymore, I took a few pregnancy tests and found out. I'm not exactly sure how far along I am, but there's a bun baking in my oven."

"Chibs know?"

"Nope, only you."

"Well, the first thing we're gonna do is schedule an appointment with Tara. We need to know what's going on in there." Gemma recommended, sounding like a mother. "If it's not too late, maybe you can-"

"I'm not getting rid of it." Marci shook her head in denial, knowing what Gemma was implying. "Bad decision or not, I consensually laid down with Asher and made this child. It'd be inhumane to abort it just because of who the father is."

"There's always adoption."

"It's my fault for being irresponsible, but I'm going to do the right thing and take care of this baby. I'm not taking the easy way out, Gem."

"It's not the easy way out, there is no easy way out of this. I'm giving you these options because I know what it's like to have a baby at such a young age. I was barely legal when I had Thomas. It was twice as hard for me, raising a kid and being an Old Lady. It's gonna be just as hard for you too, an unwed 20-year-old with two kids. There's not gonna be any more fun and games, Marceline. That reckless teenager shit is over and done with, say goodbye to freedom. You have that baby and you're gonna have to grow up and quick."

"I've been growing up since I was nine." Marceline told the woman with pride. "I came from a broken home, grew up fatherless and with a drug-addicted sadist as a sorry excuse for a mother. I've been to prison, went through jobs, fed and clothed myself for years. I was in a relationship and lived with a man I loved. I drove Dad up the wall with worry, partied hard, damn near drank myself to death, probably got roofied once or twice and had a handful of one-night stands. I've made mistakes and learned from them. I've loved and I've lost, lived and learned. If none of that makes me a grown-ass woman who can roll with the punches, I don't know what will."

Gemma smiled at Marceline. "There's the tough little bitch that rolled into Charming."