There are times in all lives (even immortal ones) when we are faced with the inevitability of time.
The thing that makes us, that develops us, that teaches us and heals us and helps us to grow.
The existence of time is undeniable – it is a part of every action of our lives, from daily rituals to formal traditions and back again.
Trees growing fresh leaves that one day grow dark, wither and fall away is a constant reminder of time.
But oddly enough, even though time is in full force all around us, we are often shocked, hurt and even destroyed by its work.
"No. No, no. No."
"Bonni-"
"No Dad!"
Bubblegum drew in a deep breath, wheezing slightly. Cotton gazed at his daughter, eyes overflowing with sympathy and pure, genuine fatherly love.
It made it difficult – no, impossible – for the princess to look at him so she turned away.
Maybe a bit too quickly. The lab swayed in front of her eyes and her head suddenly felt fuzzy.
"I need to sit down," she muttered.
"Of course."
Cotton's voice was calm and confident. He gently took Bubblegum's arm and steered her to a nearby chair.
She sat down awkwardly and put her head in her hands.
A few long moments passed.
Several days before this happened, Cotton had cried himself in the very same lab.
It was August now – nearing the end of another summer, and he had found the results of his study to be not only unsatisfactory but completely and utterly dismal.
And after spending several hours in the lab alone, first screaming in anger and agony (even smashing several beakers and test tubes), then sobbing hysterically on the floor, he calmed down.
And readied himself to tell his daughter.
"Listen to me Bonnibel, I-"
"No! You listen to me!" Bubblegum looked up again and, to Cotton's heartache, she was crying. "How could you not tell me about this? You've known for months and you only tell me now? We could have worked together on a cure Dad, we could have-"
"I didn't want to worry you Bonni," Cotton cut across her in a kind voice. "Or give you false hope of finding a successful remedy. So I conducted my own research, carried out my own experiments and – well – I'm dying, plain and simple. And I-"
"No!" Bubblegum stood up, went to walk across the lab, came back again. "No! There has to be a way, a course of treatment, a type of enzyme or chemical or herb or – or - or something. There has to be, there has to be!"
Bubblegum was sobbing now and Cotton had taken a very gentle hold of her shoulders.
"No my darling, there isn't," he said benevolently. "There isn't. And that's OK. It's my time."
Bubblegum only looked at him for a moment, then buried her face in his lab coat and wept. Cotton held her securely, resting his chin on her head and soothingly rubbing her back like he did whenever she got upset as a little girl.
"Shh Bonni, it'll be alright, don't worry. Shh now, it's all going to be fine."
She pulled away from him, sniffing hard.
"How much longer Dad? H-how much longer do you have?"
Cotton gave her a small, sad smile.
"These past few weeks, I've been keeping myself alive with daily injections. But my sources for them runs out tomorrow. And once I stop taking them, I'll be gone within a week."
Bubblegum closed her eyes against the fresh onslaught of tears.
Bubblegum didn't leave the house at all for the next nine days.
She sent all the servants on leave (with pay), determined to look after her father herself. And she did it well – bringing him his meals in bed, keeping him company, fetching him whatever he needed to be comfortable and (in the final few days when his body became weak), helping him to the bathroom and giving him painkillers.
He died on the evening of the ninth day, Bubblegum holding his hand and stroking his hair.
She was glad she could be with him in his last moments – glad she could give him some comfort as his life reached its conclusion.
The funeral was large and ceremonial – attended by all the candy people, as well as many other rulers, monarchs and leaders from around Ooo who had deeply admired King Cotton Bubblegum.
A certain vampire was also present. And, after the main ceremony, managed to battle her way through a sea of sympathisers to see deceased's daughter. Her best friend.
A part of her even wondered if Bubblegum would want to see her during this difficult time. If she wanted to mourn privately or just with her Candy Kingdom friends or simply be left alone. She decided that she'd be cool with whatever the princess wanted.
After all, it wasn't every day you lost someone you loved.
And yet, it seemed to happen far too often for Marceline's liking...
She needn't have worried.
As soon as she reached the top of the crowd and Bubblegum spotted her, the princess threw her arms around her friend's neck and hugged her tight.
"Oh thank glob! Thank you for coming Marcy!"
"Bonni...of course."
They broke apart, Bubblegum smiling at her through tears.
"S-spend the night at mine tonight?"
Marceline gave a small smile and a resolute nod.
"If that's what you want, I'll be there!"
Bubblegum only had time for another smile before she was ushered away by Candy Kingdom officials.
Marceline floated down the lavish hallway of the Bubblegum house, finding it strange that Cotton wasn't pottering around downstairs in the lab or reading in his bedroom.
Whenever she was in the house, she was used to him fumbling around with junk in the lab or letting out the occasional cough or sneeze. She was used to his friendly wave, smile and "hello Marceline! Good to see you again!"
The vampire could barely believe how much she was going to miss those things.
She glided into Bubblegum's bedroom where the princess was sitting on the bed, head bowed despondently. It made Marceline miserable just looking at her.
"You want anything from downstairs before we go to sleep?" the vampire asked.
Bubblegum looked up and offered Marceline a small, grateful smile.
"Nein, danke," she replied.
Marceline smiled, always liking the way Bubblegum's voice sounded when she spoke German.
"Mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut Princess. Konnen sie bitte English sprechen?" Marceline stumbled over her words, trying hard to remember the bits of German an old vampire friend had taught her about forty years ago.
Bubblegum grinned to herself, touched by Marceline's effort to try.
"Ja," she sighed. "English it is!"
"Cool," Marceline paused. "How did you start learning German anyway?"
"My mother was from Berlin originally," Bubblegum told her, her eyes lighting up at the chance to talk about her mother. "She raised me to speak it fluently. My father could speak some as well but-" she let out a little chuckle, "his grammar was horrific."
Marceline laughed.
"Oh yeah? Languages weren't his strong suit?"
Bubblegum stared into space, her smile evaporating.
"You know, I never asked him," she said slowly. "I never thought to ask him if he took to any other languages like he never took to German."
She glanced over at Marceline.
"Guess I should have, huh?"
A short silence followed her words.
"I never asked my mother about her opinion on vampires," Marceline said suddenly and Bubblegum stared at her, interested.
The tall, raven-haired girl shoved her hands into her pockets and shrugged.
"I have no idea if she liked 'em or not," she paused. "I have no idea if she'd like me now."
Bubblegum blinked in shock.
"She would have loved you!" she cried in a hushed voice.
Marceline looked over at the princess and smiled in gratitude.
"Thanks dude, I like to think so anyway!"
"Marceline?"
"Yeah Bonni?"
"Do you think you ever really get over losing a parent?"
Marceline floated over to the bed and sat cross-legged next to Bubblegum.
"No," she said truthfully. "But the pain gives way after a while. When I think about my mom now, it doesn't sting so much, y'know? Time helps."
Bubblegum nodded.
"Thinking about my mom hurts a lot less now too," she agreed, but then winced. "I was always a lot closer to my dad though."
"Time helps," the vampire repeated. "And we've got lots of that, remember?"
She winked at Bubblegum and the princess leaned over to kiss her on the cheek.
"You're sweet," she said.
"Everything's sweet around here, you people are literally made of sugar!"
Bubblegum giggled and Marceline smiled.
"Made you laugh," she grinned, and a few seconds went by. "I always like it when you laugh."
In response to this comment, Bubblegum pecked Marceline on the cheek again, letting this kiss last a little longer.
In return, Marceline put an arm around her friend's shoulders and pulled her close, kissing her cheek, brow and forehead gently as she did so.
Bubblegum then kissed the vampire's temple, Marceline kissed the soft skin under the princess' ear and Bubblegum ran a line of kisses along the taller girl's jaw.
Marceline relished the feeling and responded by touching her lips to the princess' cheek, chin and then neck.
But she avoided her mouth. As much as she wanted to press their lips together, as much as she wanted to taste the princess, she fought the temptation.
Doing so would be taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable state.
And as much as Bubblegum wanted to feel that sweet, gentle mouth on her own, as much as she desired those lips, she was perfectly happy when Marceline steered clear of that area.
After all, if they were ever going to kiss properly, she wanted it to be about them.
Not about condolences and commiseration.
After a while more of running tender kisses up and down each other's faces with love, Marceline lay back on the bed and gently pulled the princess down with her.
Bubblegum rested her head on the taller girl's chest and closed her eyes, breathing in the vampire's scent.
In reality, they both only planned to stay in that position for a short while...some affection before bed.
But then they both fell asleep, curled up together in each other's embrace.