Marceline slept in Bubblegum's house for the next two months.
It would be a lie to say that the princess was in any way dependent on her – at least physically – because she was perfectly capable of cooking, cleaning and keeping the house in order herself.
However, emotionally, Bubblegum relied on Marceline quite a bit. Every time the reality of losing Cotton hit her again in a fresh wave, the vampire was there to distract her with jokes and idle chat, watch movies and play video games with her to pass the time, or just give her a hug.
The two girls remained affectionate towards each other for those two months, but they were both careful to never step over any lines of friendship.
After all, it was an emotionally complex time and neither completely knew what the other wanted.
It was a sunny but cold morning at the end of the two months that Bubblegum marched decisively into the living room and made her unbendable announcement to her best friend.
"It's happening."
"What's happening?" Marceline asked, barely looking up from playing a riff on her bass.
In response, Bubblegum took a rolled-up piece of old paper out of her back pocket and handed it to the vampire.
Marceline took the parchment and unfurled it. It was a map of the land of Ooo, with a large X slightly north from the middle of the diagram.
"We're relocating the settlement," Bubblegum told her. "We're too overcrowded here and we don't even have a proper high school. Plus, everyone recognises candy people as valid Ooo citizens now and not just mutated freaks. As a society, we've evolved and we need our own kingdom."
Marceline didn't reply, she just frowned down at the map.
"What's wrong?" Bubblegum asked.
The vampire shook her head, then held up the map to Bubblegum.
"Dude, where that X is at is just marshy swamp land," she informed her friend. "You can't put anything there, it'd sink right into the mud!"
Bubblegum was shaking her own head now.
"No dude, I took some soil samples from the area and realized that the bog there is shallow. All we have to do is dig the whole thing up and replace it with other types of clay, sand and gravel. Then the new ground will be a strong foundation for any type of building. Plus, then we can use what we dig up as turf!"
"Whoa, impressive!" Marceline cried with an admiring grin. "That's a big job though Bonni. It'll take a long time to hollow out that land!"
"The difference between dreams and plans Marcy," Bubblegum said simply, taking the map back off her. "That's all it is. So," she paused, "will you help me?"
Marceline let out an indignant laugh.
"As if you even have to ask dude," she answered with a shrug. "Homedawgs are always there for their homedawgs, yo!"
"Thanks Marceline," Bubblegum said, moved by her friend's willingness to help her out. "I'll be counting on you."
The project was announced to the rest of the Candy Kingdom the next Monday morning, to much excitement and approval.
A crack team of engineers, planners, builders and architects were gathered from far and wide across Ooo, Bubblegum insisting that her new territory would be constructed only by the hands of the very best she could find.
Planning began and the first shovel hit the dirt of the marshland the first day of January.
Marceline and Bubblegum worked side by side on the project at first, the vampire giving her opinion when needed, flying in people from other parts of the land who were needed, helping with the heavy lifting and so on.
They also started going on expeditions together again, to find rare materials for building, to locate some of Ooo's finest draughtsmen, to gather much-needed resources and supplies, or even just to obtain more treasure and gold to pay the workers and fund the project.
The first year passed in a steady thrum of teamwork, camaraderie and bro-fists.
Slowly but surely however, the vampire saw less and less of the princess as she got more and more heavily involved with the venture.
Suddenly, Marceline's viewpoint didn't matter so much when there was an ambassador from Lumpy Space who was far more knowledgeable on matter, or a diplomat from the Fire Kingdom with way more expertise. Often the two friends would make plans to hang out and Bubblegum would get a call from someone experiencing a problem back on site and have to leave.
In the beginning, Marceline tried hard to be understanding. But soon Bubblegum was cancelling plans so breezily that she couldn't help but feel a little, well, discarded.
And then, near the end of the second year of construction, Marceline heard the news. And she didn't even hear it from Bubblegum, which made it about a thousand times worse.
"Hey Marceline."
The vampire looked up from strumming her bass under the shade of a large oak tree.
"Oh, hey Liquorice Whip! What's shakin' man?"
Liquorice Whip was one of Marceline's favourite candy people (apart from Bubblegum of course). Tall and lanky with a wicked mohawk and killer punk style, LW was a cool guy and a phenomenal guitarist. Two things Marceline valued very much.
"Nothing really," the candy citizen replied as he sat down under the tree alongside the vampire girl. "What are you doing way out here all on your lonesome dude?"
Marceline looked away, frowned, cleared her throat, tried to inject an extra large dose of "I-don't-care" into her voice.
"Bonni and I were supposed to hang out for an hour for lunch but," she shrugged. "There was some issue with the contractors for the post office. So she had to go deal."
"Aw, unlucky," LW remarked. "She probably was coming to tell you her big news!"
The vampire looked up with a knowing smile.
"What big news? Did that plumber guy finally agree to give her a discount on his usual fee?"
LW laughed, but shook his head.
"No man! Mr Creampuff, the head foreman's son, asked her out and she said yes!"
Years later, Marceline would remember that moment as feeling like her stomach, liver and intestines had been scooped out onto the cold December ground in front of her. The carefree smile on LW's face, obviously thinking he was sharing good news, just added to the feeling of being disembowelled. Because the fact that she couldn't relate to his happiness made her a bad friend...the fact that she couldn't be happy for Bubblegum.
"Oh," her mouth formed the word while her mind was a million miles away. "That's great!"
"I know, right?" LW grinned animatedly. "Creampuff is such an awesome guy! He's really smart and funny and nice, do you know him?"
Marceline shook her head, no.
"Well that'll change dude, especially since he's your best friend's new boyf! You'll like him a lot, he's cool."
The vampire nodded.
"Yeah, cool."
Just then, a shrill beeping noise filled the air, prompting Liquorice Whip to unhook a small pager from his belt.
"Whoops! Uncle Glabra needs me back at the workshop. Those windows for the Royal Candy Kingdom Bank aren't going to make themselves I guess!"
He stood up, yawned and stretched.
"It was cool seeing you Marceline, catch you around!"
"Yeah. See ya LW..."
Marceline sat under the tree for a long time, cool winter breeze blowing at her hair.
Jealousy burned inside her like a poison.
She didn't even tell me. She didn't even MENTION this globbing guy. I guess we really are drifting apart...
She looked up towards where the new kingdom was being built, stood up, threw her rucksack over her shoulder, and headed out there.
By the time Marceline made it to the vast building site, the sun was setting.
She floated around, looking for Bubblegum, and giving a few waves and smiles to the candy people who recognised and greeted her.
All around her were the houses that had been first priority to build for the candy people. Soon, there would be a grocery store, bank, post office, library, school and other essential things added on. And then a tall wall built all the way around the kingdom.
Although the sky was growing dark, many candy people were still working by lamplight. As she moved past them further in to the settlement, she saw less and less fully finished buildings and more skeletal foundations.
She didn't know exactly why she was searching for PB or how it would make her feel less terrible but she just thought if she could talk to the princess herself, she might -
She halted and doubled back quickly behind a makeshift cabin, stifling a gasp.
Bubblegum was standing about five metres away, holding hands with...
That must be Creampuff.
They were both laughing. It made Marceline feel like she was getting punched in the stomach.
"Well I'm glad I got to see you this evening, even if it was only for a fifteen-minute coffee break," Creampuff was saying to her kindly.
"Me too CP, sorry I've been so busy lately!"
"Hey, no worries, I've been busy right along with you!"
The two laughed.
"Anyway," Bubblegum said. "I have plans to draw up for the hospital and I have to be up early in the morning so I don't want to but I really should-"
Her voice was not without reluctance but Creampuff shushed her gently.
"Say no more Princess, I'll bid you sweet dreams for now and I'll see you again soon!"
"With any luck," Bubblegum sighed and they kissed.
A simple peck on the lips but a kiss all the same.
And it made Marceline turn around and float back out of the site, axe bass dragging on the ground along with her heart.
By the time she got back home to her current abode by the Forest Of Trees, her sadness had turned to anger, her need to cry transformed into a need to smash, her feelings of heartbreak becoming feelings of rage and indignation.
First thing she did was slam the door, rip open the rucksack and throw the sandwiches she had made for Bubblegum on the floor. Then she kicked them into the corner with an angry grunt, booting her own armchair in the process.
So she picked it up and flung it at across the living room. Then she flipped over the coffee table, punched the wall, shoved over the bookcase and tore the wallpaper.
By the time she had moved on to the next room and was pummelling the sink and toilet, she's barely realized she had changed into her demon form. But she took it in her stride, transforming twice more before she had finished lashing out at the whole house.
It left her sitting in the middle of her thrashed bedroom, back to her normal form and feeling like a child who'd just thrown a tantrum.
She also felt how she'd most often felt as a kid – alone.
Why didn't she tell me? Do I really scan so little on her radar now?
Marceline stood up, sniffling slightly, anger returning to her.
Fine. Fine! I don't stay where I'm not wanted, I'm out of here!
Marceline rushed around the room, busying herself with packing two large duffel bags. Once finished, she slung them both over her shoulder and made a beeline for the front door.
Then she stopped when an electric crackle filled the air.
"Marcy? Marcy, are you there? Come in, it's Bonni."
The vampire turned around and saw the walkie-talkie lying in the corner of the living room, a broken lamp leaning against it. Apparently, it had survived the livid destruction.
Marceline floated over to it slowly, but made no effort to pick it up.
"Dude, are you there? Pick up. Listen Marceline, I'm really sorry I missed our lunch date, I'm just so globbin' busy right now! But I have lots to tell you so catch-up soon? No?"
Marceline's unbeating heart softened as she approached the walkie-talkie, extended a hand.
"Oh!" Bubblegum's voice grew excited "I haven't even told you yet, I've started seeing this guy, Mr Creampuff, and he's so-"
"Aaargh!"
Marceline stomped heavily on the walkie-talkie, completely demolishing the device.
Then she turned around and headed back towards the front door.
She just wants someone to brag to about her stupid new boyfriend! Whatever. She can make time for "fifteen-minute coffee breaks" for him but not five seconds for me? Fine. OK. Let her spend ALL her time with him, I'm gone.
And Marceline wrenched open the door, immediately taking off into the sky and en route for the Underworld.
As she soared through the air, she very deliberately didn't look in the direction of the new Candy Kingdom site.
"-and he's so looking forward to meeting you! So maybe the three of us could hang out sometime? I mean, after you and just have quality friend time just the two of us. Is that cool? Marceline? ... Marcy?"
Bubblegum sighed and put the walkie-talkie down on her bedside table. Maybe Marceline really wasn't home.
She settled down in the sheets and closed her eyes, trying hard not to feel sad.
After all, why should she be sad? Assembly of the new Candy Kingdom was going absolutely fantastically, other Ooo royals were voicing their support for the project, and she now had a new boyfriend!
Well, that last one was a bit complicated...
Mr Creampuff was a cool guy; very well-read, very humorous, very sweet and thoughtful. Only thing is...He had asked her on a date so out of the blue that Bubblegum had said yes pretty much out of shock.
And when she decided to attend Lemon Sherbert's barbecue that same night (celebrating the finished construction of the pharmacy), she hadn't realized that Creampuff would consider that their first date. So they had kissed and three days later, he had asked her to be his girlfriend.
So she said yes because...why not? Her and Marceline were just friends, right? And she hadn't dated in so long.
She turned over in bed, thinking how nice it would be to discuss her new relationship with Marceline and get her friend's perspective on things...
Bubblegum drifted to sleep, looking forward to the next time she'd get to talk to her boyfriend. And looking forward even more to the next time she'd get to talk to her best friend.