Marceline stood at the gates of the Underworld, looking far ahead of her at the entrance back to the regular world. Lying at her feet were the same two duffel bags she had packed in rage just over a year ago.
She gulped, suddenly feeling very nervous.
All week, whilst packing her things and tying up loose ends in the Underworld, she'd felt totally resolute in her decision to go back to Ooo.
But now, here at the edge of it all, she felt...alone.
What if there was no one waiting to greet her back? What if no one cared she was gone? What if Bubblegum hated her now? It all seemed very likely.
"This is stupid," Marceline muttered out loud.
"Is it?" a voice asked behind her. "Or are you just afraid?"
Marceline turned around, frowning at this rude eavesdropper, until she saw who it was and her expression softened.
"Oh. Hi Gabriel."
A tall, leanly muscled vampire stood before her, wearing a long black trenchcoat and the warm, friendly smile she knew so well.
His hair was jet-black and grown to just past his shoulders, his face clean-shaven and his eyes a deep cerulean blue. He was a familiar sight around these parts.
And, unlike Ash, he was one of her exes who was a happy sight.
"Hello Marceline," he said. "Debating whether you should stay or go?"
Marceline let out a long sigh.
"It's complicated," she mumbled, then she looked back at him in confusion. "Hey, how did you know I was-?"
The old vampire laughed.
"Keila told me you were planning to leave around this time and," he winked at her. "She was fearful you'd chicken out."
"What?" Marceline spat. "That weenie, I can't believe-"
"She knows you so well?"
The vampire girl glared at him but Gabriel just shook his head.
"Come on Marceline," he said in a caring, serene tone. "It's me, Gabriel. Talk to me."
That was when Marceline lowered her defences, grunting slightly as if lowering them physically.
She looked down at the ground, chewed her lip.
Gabriel waited patiently.
"I'm scared," she finally admitted.
"OK," Gabriel said. "Of what?"
Marceline looked up at him, searching his eyes for trust, found it easily, and went on.
"Rejection," she said. "What if she doesn't care about me anymore?"
"She will," Gabriel said simply. "We don't forget the ones we once cared about so easily Marceline. You know that by now."
"Yeah, yeah, of course we don't forget," Marceline agreed. "But it never goes back to the way it was before."
"That's because sometimes things need to change to get better," Gabriel replied. "And maybe this whole episode will lead to something better for you and Ms Bubblegum."
Marceline shrugged.
"If she forgives me," she said hesitantly.
Gabriel merely smiled assuredly.
"Would you forgive her if she had been the one to run from you?"
The question caught the younger vampire by surprise and she blinked uncertainly.
"Em," she thought about it for a moment.
Would she forgive Bubblegum for abandoning her like this? Would she still want her as a friend if she came crawling back to her? Could she ever forgive the princess for something like this?
Marceline found her head nodding before she had even properly made up her mind.
Then she gazed decisively at Gabriel.
"Yes," she said confidently.
"Exactly," Gabriel nodded, as if there had only ever been one right answer. "Sure, she might be a little angry with you at first but time will help with that."
The difference between dreams and plans doesn't matter.
Marceline suddenly heard the phrase ring through her head and heard it in Bubblegum's voice.
She smiled slightly to herself, then looked back at her old confidante.
"Thanks Gabriel."
"For you Marceline? Anytime."
Marceline scooped up the duffel bags, floated over to Gabriel and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Better go now before I lose my nerve again," she sighed. "See you around man. Thanks again for the help."
"Don't mention it old friend, just go."
Marceline smiled, turned from Gabriel and glided determinedly out the gates. Then she stopped, her feet landing on the ground again.
"What's wrong?" Gabriel questioned gently.
Marceline looked over her shoulder at him.
"I've been a real butt Gabriel," she said. "I mean, a real, stinky butt!"
Gabriel let out a small chuckle before responding.
"We're all real, stinky butts sometimes," he told her. "We all make mistakes. Time will help."
Marceline nodded and turned back again, looking up at the entrance.
"Go," Gabriel urged. "I promise that she's been waiting for you."
Marceline didn't say anything, she just kicked her feet off the ground and soared to the Underworld exit.
Gabriel smiled, watching her go.
He himself had once enjoyed the privilege of having Marceline be in love with him and now, over eighty years later, he recognised the very same shine in her eyes.
The vampire girl loved this princess in more than a platonic way and if there was one thing Gabriel had learned in his 2,000 years, it was that real love always forgives.