Ohio was fairly cold this time of year, as of now it was below freezing. This was a drastic change from California's predictable weather. Bonnie's parents had picked her up mid-afternoon, shoving her bags into the back of her dad's sports car. Her plane thankfully had arrived on time, which seemingly never happened this time of year. The ride home was filled with chatter of all sorts, mostly asking about college life. The back windows were frosted and scraped as it was necessary to drive. The thin ice still clung onto the glass for dear life.

When they had arrived home her bags were settled in her room and she was to take a short nap. Flights always left her with jet lag, no matter how short. Unfortunately for her, Bonnie could never sleep while the plane was in the air. Anxiety always left her mind wandering. What if something happened? She didn't want to be disoriented from sleep if an emergency were to come forth.

Her room had been the same, completely untouched by her parents. Posters hung on every side of the wall, mostly scientific theories or figures. One happened to be a Dead Pool poster, but it was her cousin's who insisted she hung it up. Her things stayed in their place, collecting dust.

How long would she be here again? Oh right. 3 weeks.

Her pocked vibrated and she pulled out her phone.

Marceline: Did you make it home safe?

Yeah, I was just unpacking. She replied.

She set her phone down on her desk and unzipped her suitcase. She had a week and a half worth of clothes that she would wash and wear again. Maybe Marceline was right about her only wearing pink. Mind you, they were different shades, but it was still mostly pink.

Her phone buzzed. You left your heavy jacket.

Guess you'll have to come and bring it to me, Abadeer. ;)

Bonnie's newfound confidence in their relationship blossomed this unbearable need to flirt with her 'not girlfriend'. Marceline was always cooperative-if that's the word to use.

Maybe if you beg enough.

Bonnie felt the blush creeping up on her cheeks. Only a few hours had passed and she missed her crush. She couldn't get Marceline off her mind.

They may not have been "dating" but it was pretty damn close. She considered it a relationship, a much more than friends relationship. Bonnie would never tell Marceline that she hated having no title. It made it more confusing to explain.

Marceline did say to call it whatever she pleased. If she were to tell her parents they were dating, Marceline wouldn't be the happiest person. What else was she to call her?

There was a light knock on the door promptly before it was opened, her father's face glimmering with excitement; also sweat.

He was a burly man who seemingly only wore one color of shirt, no matter the occasion: blue. Even on his off days from work he still wore business casual clothes. She swore he didn't have anything except button-up shirts of any kind. Surprisingly, he did own a few pairs of jeans.

"Hey, Honey. Dinner is almost ready. Come down when you're done unpacking. I made your favorite."

"Thanks, dad. I'll be down in a few."

He smiled back and closed the door softly. She sighed. This would be an interesting conversation. She unpacked her clothes, placing them in her drawers in an orderly fashion, exactly as she had done when she was living with her parents. Not much had changed.

She left the bedroom door open as she ran down the stairs into the kitchen. Her mother was seen cutting up the cooked chicken, her appearance hadn't changed over the last few months. Her hair was naturally blonde and cut to her shoulders in a long bob. She even wore the same sweater she had worn when she dropped Bonnie off at the airport.

"Hey, mom. What's for dinner?"

Her mother's face exploded with excitement, taking the chicken in her hands to place it on a plate for Bonnie. "Grilled chicken slices and potato soup, just like-"

"Just like dad likes it. Warm but cold."

Her mother continued to smile. "It's so good to see you, sweetheart." She wrapped her thin arms around her daughter. Bonnie took a lot after her mom. Although her mom was a bit taller, she was almost a spitting image of her. Rosy cheeks, high cheekbones, and a slender nose.

"It's nice to be back." She sighed into her mom's shoulder.

"We thought it would be nice to go into town tomorrow. What would you like to do?"

"Hmm." Bonnie hummed in thought, taking a step back. "I would actually love to pick up a few baking items so that I can bake something for Ms. Bunn."

"You're still as sweet as could be." Her mother pinched her cheek and continued to prepare the plate for her father. She almost forgot what it felt like to be home.


A huge mahogany table took up most of the vast space the dark, romantic room offered, left without a tablecloth and daring guests to ruin the perfectly varnished shine with their unworthy fingerprints. Her mother's demeanor made it seem as if she would have kept up and taken care of the beauty that was the table, but she lacked the encouragement nowadays. It was just her mother and father now, therefore no one to impress.

"How's school?" Bonnie didn't want to answer her father's question, as she had already answered it on the way back from the airport. It was fine and he knew she was excelling in all of her classes, just as she had when she went to Ohio State.

"Pretty good. I've been working in the lab with Braco," Bonnie looked over at her mother. "My lab partner keeps asking me out,. I've decided next semester I would quit greek life."

"See, I knew you wouldn't like it." Her father chuckled, taking another bite of his chicken. "You're too busy of a person to keep up with all of the sorority projects."

"I'm taking 19 credit hours and working part-time. It's too much to do it all." Her parents nodded, too busy chewing the food in their mouths to reply.

"Are you going to go on a date with Braco any time soon?" Her mother asked.

Bonnie chuckled at the thought. That relationship would end up in disaster from awkwardness alone, especially now that Marceline had manhandled him. "Oh, no." She waved a dismissive hand. "He's not my type."

Her father's eyebrow raised. "A scientist related major that isn't your type? What would be your type then?" Her father asked, knowing quite well what her type really was. They had this conversation before, but she would vaguely skim over the topic every so often.

She shrugged. "I'm not sure. Maybe something performing arts-related. They're much more relaxed and accepting people. I think it would be a good balance."

"Performing Arts?" Her mother wiped her mouth with a napkin. "Isn't that a bit specific?"

"You're seeing someone, aren't you Bonnibel?" Her father butted in, staring her down, glare on the ready.

"I have someone I'm interested in. You won't get to meet them until much later."

"How unfair."

"All in due time, I promise if something happens you'll be the first to know." Lies.

"Well, how's Marceline?" Her mother asked, changing the topic. Bonnie had given her mother a lot of information about Marceline. Nothing about their relationship, but she gave hints every so often about it. When Marceline was brought up, she had to contain herself from blabbing or talking too much about her crush. There were just so many good things to say.

"Good I suppose. She's back home with her brother and foster dad for the break." Bonnie took the last bite of her chicken, her mother always put too much pepper in it.

"The dean, right?" Her father asked.

Bonnie's head bobbed in affirmation. "Yes, the dean."

"No wonder she has a full-ride scholarship. Does the brother have one too?" Her dad squinted and raised an eyebrow, almost as if he was trying to prove a point.

"She worked for it." She set her silverware down and took the napkin from her lap and set it on the table. "Her brother barely has anything in those regards. He's never been a good student." Bonnie took a drink of water to relax her, it didn't help much. At least not with her father's eyes staring beams into her skull.

"So the dean plays favorites."

Bonnie tried not to glare at her father. "She earned it." She repeated, emphasizing it this time.

Her father squinted at her. There was no reason for Bonnie to raise her voice, let alone be defensive. "What did you say her major was?"

Bonnie knew where the conversation led. She knew what would come next, even if she lied, her father figured it out. Not that they were together, but that she had some sort of liking toward Marceline. "Music education." It came out quieter than she wanted, lacking in confidence.

Her father wiped his mouth with his napkin, now avoiding eye contact. "I thought by now you would be over that phase."

"I've told you before, its not a phase."

"Lots of girls experiment, honey-" He started.

"It's not a phase." She forced herself up from her seat. "If you'll excuse me, I'll be in my room." Without another word she headed away from that train wreck of a discussion, calling up Marceline out of habit.

"Hey beautiful, how'd-"

"If I come home early, can I stay at your place?" She interrupted, sitting at her desk.

Marceline lightly chuckled on the other end of the line, sending chills down Bonnie's spine as she thought of their activities earlier that week. "You were going to stay anyways, but sure. I know Simon won't care. Why? Did something happen?"

"My dad, he's never been too accepting of everything."

"Define everything?"

Bonnie sighed, sliding a hand through her faded pink hair. "My sexuality, my religious views. Everything." She sighed again, untangling her hand from the mess that was her hair.

"I'm sorry, hun."

"I want you to come up sometime and meet them."

"Meet them...when exactly?"

"Whenever you're comfortable I suppose. I know it won't change my father's ideals, but maybe he'll see that you make me happy..."

There was a short pause. "I make you happy?"

"Duh, you idiot." Bonnie laughed. "Of course you make me happy. I wouldn't be with you otherwise."

"So," She elongated the word in thought. "If I ever stopped making you happy?"

"I don't think that will ever happen."

"Maybe I should call up your mom and set something up? If she likes me as much as you've described, I'm sure she'd be thrilled to even hear from me."

"Knowing her, she'd figure out a way to ship you up here asap."

"I'm assuming you don't mind?"

"Of course not."

"And your dad?"

Bonnie went quiet. She was unsure of how her father would react to actually meeting Marceline. It was a complete mystery. "We'll figure that out when the time comes."


Review Time

D3nsei: They may put on a title in the near future, it might break them apart. You never know.

radcoolbro7: I'm always down to make new friends. Feel free to PM me at any time. I'll try to answer when I can if you decide to do so.

Shovel Knight: Bronchitis really sucks. It's been sucking the life out of me. But I love cookouts on Holidays. It's really refreshing.