Chapter 10:

They had to pick up construction supplies on the way back, which caused great discomfort to Marshall. He could see folks watching him, curious to see who accompanied the Heroine of Aaa, and worse was that sometimes Marshall could swear he saw the spark of recognition from a few of them. He pulled his sunhat way down over his eyes. Rumors would be flying in no time.

It felt a little strange to go back to Marshall Lee's house, and not the dungeon in the Island on the Lake. She saw him all the time, now, and noticed small habits he had picked up which she did not remember, such as pushing his hair back behind his ear, or a constant rubbing of his fingers against his arms. They were supposed to be fixing up the place, but Fionna couldn't stop just watching him. In most ways he was familiar, but in other changed.

"Ow…" He said, pinching his finger under the hammer. He looked back slyly to see if Fionna had noticed, and blanched as he saw she was staring at him with a small smile. She must totally think I'm uncool… he thought, recalling the sure way she had swung a hammer around.

Fionna was thinking no such thing. In fact, she thought of how special it was to be able to see Marshall like this, doing something he sucked at.

"I'll be back in a bit." She said, waving him away, and sparing him the embarrassment of an audience. He waved back dumbly at her.

Marshall hadn't even bothered to ask where she had gone, as it was so habitual in their friendship to simply pop off and back. It only sat a bit strangely after he realized this was the longest he and Fionna had spent apart in nearly four days. Well, he thought, they had to separate sometime… but it still saddened him.

He focused on closing off the outside wall. Marshall wasn't even going to bother with the wall from the living room to the kitchen. 'Open concept' it was for casa de Marshall… and perhaps now Fionna? He chewed his lip as he contemplated the situation. Did she really want to live with him? Not like he would force her to stay… he was not without his ups and downs. But the last thing he wanted to do was move too fast and ruin everything. She was, after all, way more important to him than he would like to admit. Ah, he hated being the one who was more attached in a relationship! But it couldn't be helped… Whatever feelings Fionna had developed for him were new and shiny. His were old and impatient. He wanted everything immediately.

She could not return soon enough.

Marshall finished putting up some two by fours and chip board to close the wall off, and took a break by plucking his guitar on his crappy couch. The couch and the waiting grew progressively more uncomfortable….

Fionna returned, heavily burdened. She kicked opened the door, panting a 'hey' before dumping her load on the ground. Marshall jumped up from the sofa to inspect it. Her clothes, bed stuff… heck even BMO was in there! She was really moving in with him.

"Sorry…" She huffed, wiping her brow. "Wanted to get everything." Marshall was filled with disbelief. In some ways, it felt just like another sleep over, but it was so much more now.

"So, you're like, moving in for real?" He asked. Marshall couldn't help smiling, but he watched her closely for any indication of insecurity or second guessing.

"I was thinking of making a big cuddle puddle, like here." Fionna said avoiding the question and pointing to the living room floor. "Get all of the blankets in the house! Your mattress too…"

So maybe this would be exactly like one of their old sleep overs, but Marshall didn't object. He leaned over to her to kiss her on the cheek before floating upstairs to gather all the materials he could. Fionna felt the place where he had kissed her cheek. Now that the height of adventure was starting to wear, it was beginning to dawn on her that she was seriously in a 'thing' with Marshall. What were they, anyways? As she watched him plop his mattress down in the same way they had done for their fun time sleepovers, Fionna wondered if they were just kissing buddies. Would things go forwards with him, or backwards? Slyly she looked at all of her stuff in a pile by the door. Well, for now it was clear. Forwards. Marshall caught her glance, and guessed her hesitation.

"You can leave whenever you want." He started. "Don't think I'm holding you to any expectations. Even if we kissed and crap…" He said. It saddened to offer her the door should she need it, but his friendship with her would be more important than his stupid feelings having a chance to fulfill their weird romantic fantasies. Even though it would make his life so much sweeter if he could have her with him, seriously with him.

She didn't respond and it bothered the crap out of him, but Marshall kept looking at the pile of stuff on the floor. Fionna had taken her whole life and uprooted it here for a reason, he told himself, she wouldn't have done that if she didn't want to try… but maybe she just really had nothing else. Those damn thoughts! He wanted to press his fingers into his eyes to shut them out, but he didn't want to alarm or upset Fionna.

"I just…" She began softly. His ears immediately turned to hear her answer. "I just don't want to hurt you, or upset you. What if this ends badly…" He turned to her, holding her gaze.

"Then I get hurt and upset. Then we cry. To me that's worth it. Whatever time you let me be with you is time well spent. Whether or not you feel the same way is your choice." She stared at him with quivering eyes. She didn't want things to turn out badly, she wanted it to work out! But still she couldn't stop herself from being a little bit afraid of what may come of this. Especially with someone who meant so much to her like Marshall. If things didn't work out, she wouldn't be saying goodbye to some dude she had met, she would be saying goodbye to Marshall.

He watched her wrestle with whatever feelings she had, and it killed him inside.

"Tonight let's just… let's just be friends. A sleepover like we always had, alright? Quit worrying about big ideas. It's just me."

Fionna took a deep sigh, seemingly relieved by his words. It brought him a small amount of happiness to know that he could soothe her waring mind, even if it meant swallowing the affection he felt for her for one night. But he could imagine how she felt… and he could wait. Glob knows he had the time. She had, after all, put up with all of his crap for the past few days.

"Wanna… help me hang the blankets?" She offered.

"Sure." He said floating to the ceiling to hang the blankets onto the ceiling fan. It created a tent of comfort and filtered light.

They relaxed back into their usual way by treading in waters which they were both familiar. Marshall threw pillows at Fionna and she threw them back at him, laughing at the flurry of feathers. They made snacks and set up a little station full of popcorn and chips for on the go munching (dyed or sprinkled red for Marshall's preference). When at last they chilled onto their cuddle puddle for their habitual sleep over activities, the tension had almost completely dissolved. The only uneasiness remaining was in Marshall's inability to keep his eyes to himself. He constantly watched her.

"Impressive cuddle puddle…" He said in approval. She laid on the mattress, fluffing it up with more blankets, and popping on BMO.

"You missed the update of Battle Castle II. I plan on boring you to tears with a run-through tonight!"

Marshall puffed some pillows and plopped on a spot next to her. Even if his feelings were in turmoil, it really wasn't all that different from when they were just friends. The only difference now was she knew how he felt, and he knew she felt something too, but there was nothing wrong with taking things easy. Or so he kept telling himself.

She played Battle Castle II while Marshall watched over her shoulder, not very interested in video games himself. But he cheered her on and congratulated her wins nevertheless. Fionna was laying on her stomach, supported by her elbows, and his eyes scanned the valley of her back as it dipped and curved over. Marshall sighed. This was almost exactly like before. Had he tossed in the darkness for two years only to land back where he was?

"Every time I die…" Fionna whispered. "I have to kiss you."

Marshall scoffed.

"I thought this was going to be a normal sleep over."

"I never said I wanted that. Anyways, I'm very good at this game." She said winking. "And honestly Marshall… I can't stop thinking of you like that. You're not just my friend anym-" Womp womp. The little knight in her game careened into a spike ball. "Ha, whoops." She said before turning quickly to steal a kiss from him. It was chaste, and he couldn't help but lean into her as she pulled away, seeking more. Warmth began to build in his chest. She didn't want to be just friends, but it was clear that she was still unsteady. Still reeling. Hell, he was too! But he was so damn happy for it that he couldn't help wanting more.

Fionna had gone back to her game, glancing at him from the side of her eye to watch him smile dumbly to himself.

"I'm kind of offended, Fionna. Is kissing me that much of a punishment?" He teased. "If you ask me, you should be jumping in the lake, or standing on one leg for a whole minute."

He watched her play with a coy smile on her face, and his fingers found the curve of her back. Marshall traced the valley of it, and he felt her shiver.

"Not that I'm complaining…" He added.

He leaned on his side and held his head on his hand, watching her face grow redder as his hands grew bolder. All he was doing was running his fingers up her back, geez. Her innocence was truly showing. His hand wandered lower, and he snickered as Fionna's game avatar leapt lemur style into a pit of fire.

"Forget to jump, there, Fionna?" He teased. She turned her beautiful red cheeks to him, and he couldn't help himself but partake in tasting them. He felt her smile as he pressed his lips on her cheek. This was a side of Fionna he wasn't used to. Usually if he tried to do this stuff to her, she would straight up punch his cheek meat.

"Well you keep distracting me…" She said in a whisper. Marshall snickered.

"Are you going to keep your word, Fionna?" He asked as he leaned towards her. She was all red and shy. It was strange, as she had been so confident before. What had changed? He decided to spare her.

"I won't distract you anymore, game geek." He said, flopping down on his arm. Fionna dropped BMO and turned to face him. She was going to kiss him, she wanted to! But for the first time she felt vulnerable around him. The more her feelings for Marshall unfurled, the more she felt in danger of having her heart handed to her on a platter.

"I'm going to kiss you." She said, even though she didn't. Marshall smiled and traced her hand with his fingers.

"I like this choice." He teased, lacing his fingers with hers. Fionna watched him play with her hand, his slender fingers slipping between hers. It was strange to watch parts of him which were so familiar, do things so unfamiliar to her. He waited for her to make a move. Do anything. But she was frozen in watching him.

"What do you feel, Fionna?" He asked gently. "Be honest. I can take it. I can understand. I'm flexible."

"Scared…" She began. Marshall's eyes widened, remembering the fuzzy memory of that blood curdling scream she had cried at his transformation. "Not like that!" She corrected, seeing his reaction. "Just… nervous." He nodded, absorbing her words

"What about being with me makes you nervous?"

Fionna's eyes turned to the ceiling, not able to hold his gaze any longer.

"I'm nervous about having feelings for a friend. If this goes badly… I don't want to lose you."

Marshall watched her, his heart melting in his chest.

"Me, too. Fionna." He whispered.

"And at the same time-" she continued, "I don't know what I want from you. I mean you're immortal and I'm not. Whatever relationship we have would be so temporary for you."

"Like I said." Marshall said seriously. "Any time that I spend with you is time well spent. Please let me make my own decisions about that. I know what it means to be in love with a human."

Fionna was silent in her contemplation, her fingers playing affectionately with his while she thought. How long did they have until she got weirdly too old for him? How long until he lost interest, or shut himself away again? She looked at Marshall, and he was watching her softly with those half moon eyes again. Waiting patiently for her thoughts. He would never do that, thought Fionna. Marshall had never been so selfish or uncaring in his life. If anything he would stay with her until she was a wrinkly old raisin… The thought was jarring. Perhaps she wasn't ready to resign the rest of her life to the Vampire King. But she couldn't help thinking about it.

"And what about you?" She responded.

"Hm?" He asked confused.

"How do you feel?"

His eyebrows raised. "My feelings for you are ancient. I'm trying to give you time and space to think all of this stuff over, but I've already taken all of these things into consideration. I don't know what it is about you, ever since you got up on that stage with me the first time, I got all these butterflies… I knew I wanted you and I tried so hard to get you to like me but you kept punching me, you crazy girl!" He teased.

Fionna laughed. It wasn't like she hadn't known or guessed how he felt, but it helped to hear that we was willing to give her time and space. She felt a strange relief flood over her and se couldn't help but cry a couple of tears.

"Sorry…" She said still laughing. "I just don't know what I'm doing. I've never been this serious with a guy. And it's you…"

Marshall shook his head.

"Don't be sorry. I'm scared too, but if there's one thing I've learned about being an immortal being is not to stress the future. Whatever will be will be, you know? What to do you want now? What do you want to do tonight, in this moment?" He asked.

Fionna leaned towards him and pressed her mouth to his. His hands slid to cover her cheek and he pushed the kiss deeper. He had craved her; missed this intimacy all night and was relieved to feel the flame which had been doused by uncertainty be reignited once again.

"I want to make out with you without worrying about feelings and the future." She said as she pulled away.

"I can do that…" He mumbled, leaning forwards to grant her wish.