A/N: I am sorry. So, so sorry. (For not updating.)

Chapter 20-Fiona's Point of View

Marshall flies out, and my breath hitches. I don't know what he means, exactly, but I'm not sure I'm so pleased about where this is going. I walk quickly to a chair and curl into it, biting my fingernails and closing my eyes. I didn't realize I was so tired.

"Fiona? Are you awake?" Marshall asks as he gently shakes my shoulder. I grunt in response, slowly opening my eyes and glaring at him. He looks back at me with big puppy eyes, his fangs peeking from his lips. Ugh, I can't stay mad at him when he makes that face. He could get away with murder.

"I can sleep here. Just leave me," I mutter, my eyelids slowly falling again. Marshall sighs, and when I try to look at him, he picks me up bridal style and plops me on his bed. "Hey, what are you doin-" I begin, but he interrupts me with a kiss. When he pulls away, I stare at him, and he smiles back.

"Good night," he whispers in my ear, and I slip out of consciousness.

I don't know what time it is. It's so dark I can't see anyting, but I feel warm, like I'm wrapped in a blanket. I try to move, but something is draped across my waist and resting on my shoulder to keep me in place. I hear Marshall groan, and realize it's his arm draped across my waist, and his head on my shoulder. I turn in his direction.

"What are you doing?" I ask, groping for a lamp switch. I find it, and pull, the light blinding us both for minute. I blink and see Marshall glaring at me, his hair tousled and the collar of his flannel shirt turned up.

"Might I ask what you are doing, shining that bright light at a vampire's unadjusted eyes?" he asks, but one look from me sets him straight. "Fine, you remember last night? Well, this is the only suitable bed, and I'm tired. Haven't slept for a week scavenging for red things for when the snow really falls. Was the cuddling making you uncomfortable?" he asks, his voice sincere.

I think about it; he's a thousand-year-old vampire with no father and a demon for a mother who only cares when his actions affect her well-being. He grew up in the nightmare of nightmares, and has watched all of his mortal friends die. All he wants to do is cuddle. All my anger and frustration melt away, my frown turning upside-down.

"'Course not, silly vampire. All you want to do is cuddle," I reply, and a devious smile creeps across his face, his fangs glinting in the faint lamp-light.

"That's not all I want to do," he purs, and my cheeks turn scarlet. (Scarlet, yet another beautiful word. Sounds so elegant.) He reaches his arm over my shoulder and turns off the lamp, once again shrouding us in darkness.

"M-Marshall?" I ask, unsteady, but he touches his lips to mine, and all fear goes away. I kiss him back and drape my arm around his neck, while he grasps my hips and pulls me closer. Then he leaves a trail of kisses down my cheek and jaw, stopping at the neck. I close my eyes and relax, enjoying the moment. His hands start to slide up my shirt, and this time they don't stop.

Clothes are strewn across the floor, except for underwear, which, instructed by me, never came off. I can't tell what time it is since there aren't any windows or clocks, but I imagine the sun barely peeking from behind the mountains of the Ice Kingdom, surrounded by orange clouds just awakening, lazily drifting. The last stars fading, the moon just a whisper in the deep blue sky. Morning dew would become the light snowfall, melting after they touch the ground. Heavy snowfall will come in the afternoon, when all the clouds are awake and covering the sun.

My open eyes are met by Marshall's smiling face, and I smile back. I slept on my back, my long hair covering my face. Marshall nearly covered me with his body; he slept on his stomach, his arms wrapped around me and his nose brushing my neck. I laugh for no reason except that I now feel so happy near him. My vampire.

"Good morning, my lovely adventurer," he chimes.

"Good morning, my handsome vampire."

A/N: Hello! I think I should stop there, yeah? Look, I am really sorry I haven't been updating. I got really lazy during winter break, and now that school's back on, I will update more often. But more importantly, when should the story end? Should this be my last chapter now that they've already been to the ball? Should I continue writing about their life until I make, like, 50 chapters or something? Let me know in the reviews, and thank you everyone for being so patient.