Sunlight crawled across her eyes, warming her face. What? She groaned and rolled onto her back, fingers uncurling from the claw they'd been in. Bonnie opened her eyes and squinted. Yes, it was sunlight, streaming in through her curtains, only partly drawn. She was in her bed; her fingers fiddled with the sheets, with her nightgown, yeah… her bed, her room, her tower, her palace.

"How the…?" she asked the empty room.

A knock came on the door before it was pushed open hesitantly and Peppermint Butler entered. Finn and Jake were behind him, even Lady was there. All had concerned looks on their faces and Finn looked absolutely livid.

"Oh, Princess, you're awake," Peppermint said. "About time."

"How long have I been asleep?" she asked; voice hoarse.

"Two days," Finn growled. "What happened? Do I have to pound someone?" He smacked a fist into the palm of his other hand for emphasis.

"No… I think he was dealt sufficient bruising to his ego," she murmured, eyes searching the rafters. Nothing. "Did you enjoy your holiday?"

"I would have enjoyed it more if we hadn't gotten a message saying you were missing," said Jake. "Rushing back here thinking there was trouble. Then you were fine, if unconscious." He sighed. "Ruined my holiday."

Finn elbowed him sharply in the ribs.

"What happened?" asked Lady. The Rainicorn had taken to wearing her translator more, probably because she spent so much time with Finn. It was nice.

Bubblegum shrugged. "The usual. Ice King." She related what had happened but faltered when she got to the bit where Marceline had intervened. Her voice petered out.

They blinked. "So… how did you get out, P-Bubs?" Finn asked. He was seated cross legged on the floor with Jake beside him. She still hadn't gotten out of bed; she was worried her nightgown would be ruined.

She looked out the window, refusing to make eye contact with any of them. "I… uh. I don't remember." She sat very still, as though her lack of movement would make her excuse any more believable. "I remember the storm and then waking up here." It was only slightly untrue. She remembered the feeling of Marceline's arms around her, shaking. She remembered the wind, the rain, the lightning, the heavy, sinking feeling in her stomach. She remembered the sound of Marceline's panicked voice wrapping her in sheets, the feel of the rough fabric against her clammy cold skin, the towel her friend had used to try and dry her hair. And those fleeting things were all that convinced her it hadn't been simply a dream.

Peppermint frowned and Lady still looked concerned, but Finn and Jake seemed thoroughly certain of her tale. No doubt she'd have to be tested later to see if she had any side effects, but she was fine. Actually, she wondered why she wasn't in the infirmary.

"We'll let you rest," said Lady, unwinding from her place by the door. As though she hadn't just slept for two days. "You need to recover." Bonnie's eyes glanced at her desk; a stack of paper had accumulated over those days that she should probably get started on. Best not to mention it in front of Peppermint.

"Alright," she said instead. "I'll see you all later. Sorry to have cut your holiday short, Finn."

He shrugged. "It's no problem, PB. Just glad you're ok, you know?" He seemed… sober, mature. Then he grinned. "We'll have a party when you're better yeah?"

She smiled back. "Sure."

They filed out, Lady with a reassuring glance and Peppermint with a frown still on his face. Bubblegum exhaled heavily once they were gone. Carefully, she pulled back the covers. It was the same nightgown, tattered and covered in stains but not really in the worst repair it could be, considering.

Groaning at the complaints made by her stiff joints, she stood and tottered over to her vanity. The streaks from the ink were gone from her hair but it was still a mess. Deciding it didn't really matter what she looked like, she settled for a shower. Being clean was a matter of course, and she wanted to ditch the nightgown anyway.

It was only short, not wanting to waste any time she had alone, but the warm water felt nice after being so cold. Once she emerged from the bathroom, hair wrapped up in a towel, she sat at her desk. Surprisingly, she did feel tired, so she grabbed an armful of the papers and carted them to her bed. If she was going to fall asleep at her work again, this time she'd do it in a place that was at the very least more comfortable.

She dozed in the middle of the day, pen still in her hand and when she woke a tray had been placed next to her bed. The food was coloured. Bubblegum sighed. It seemed Marceline had vanished again. That didn't stop her stomach from growling at her, a reminder that she hadn't eaten in a while. Sighing again at the fact that her experiment was now ruined, she ate the meal. Peppermint would crack right down the middle if she refused to eat based on the colour of her food.

Her afternoon was much the same; just her and the paperwork. It was possible she slept again, but she didn't really believe it. Having slept for nearly two days solid, she felt more awake than she had in a while. Also, strangely, more drained. Perhaps getting some sleep early this evening wouldn't be such a bad idea.

"Should you be reading in such bad light?"

Startled, Bubblegum looked up from squinting at the form. A dark shape sat on her desk. It was only then that she realised the sun had set. Mostly set, fiery light still peeped above the horizon, enough to cast deep shadows and soft light through her room, but it was still quite dim.

"Marceline?" she asked softly of the silhouette.

"The one and only," came the reply. Even without seeing, Bubblegum knew there was a grin on the vampire's face. "Are you alright? You were pretty out of it when I dropped you off the other day."

Her heart clenched into a little spiked ball. The word 'obstinate' came to mind. "I'm fine, thank you. What happened?"

The shadow shifted and Marceline drifted off the table to sit above the end of the bed, she lit the candle on Bubblegum's side table. Bonnie blinked at the sudden light but was glad she could see her friend's face now. Marceline shrugged. "When the storm wore off I brought you home. Figured you'd be better off here." She wouldn't meet Bonnie's eyes and had a sour turn to her mouth.

She looked… helpless. Sad. "Are you okay, Marcy?" Bubblegum leaned forward but Marceline drifted higher, avoiding the hand meant for her knee.

"Yeah, Bon," she said. "I'm fine."

"Now try telling me the truth."

Marceline's ruby eyes widened slightly as if she were surprised Bubblegum knew she was lying. Her lips thinned, hands twitched, like she was having some kind of internal battle. "I was so worried," she whispered so quietly at first Bubblegum wasn't sure the words had actually been spoken. "You were so cold, so still," her voice trembled and she turned away. But she couldn't hide her expression, not really. She wore it on her sleeve. "I thought… I thought you were going to die on me." Marceline scrubbed the backs of her hands over her face as her voice cracked. "I should never have taken you through the storm."

Bubblegum felt hollow, aching… awful. Like something was breaking and it hurt. "Marcy…" She slipped from the bed, bare feet silent on the floor, and padded over to her friend. Not giving the vampire any chance to react, she wrapped her arms around her waist and pressed her face to her stomach. At first she thought Marceline would push her away, but then she returned the hug. "I'm sorry. It was my idea to fly. I'm fine."

Marceline squeezed her so hard it bordered the kind of painful that was unbearable, but all she did was squeeze back. Then she was alone. Just like that the other woman vanished. Bubblegum staggered slightly as she overbalanced. Not a sound, not a word. Just gone.

She sighed, climbing back into bed. There was no way of working that woman out, she was completely baffling. Totally unpredictable and… and… infuriating. She needed a good slap. Or perhaps a good sleep. Maybe in the morning she'd have gotten over… whatever her problem was. Bubblegum sure hoped so.