AN - This chapter touches upon the events from Mortal Recoil and Too Young, with certain events from both episodes being altered a bit, to better fit into this story's AU plot ^.^

Really hope you all enjoy this chapter! And thanks to everyone who read, and special thanks to those who reviewed my last chapter. It really does help keep the inspiration flowing~ =D

"Bonni?" Marceline asked softly into a pink ear, as she tugged the smaller pink body in her arms closer against her chest.

"Yes, Marci?" Princess Bubblegum answered, as she snuggled back further into Marceline's embrace.

Both she and the Vampire Queen were sitting tucked against one another, with Marceline's back leaning against the wide trunk of a large tree, which overlooked a small cliff. The nighttime stars sparkled high above their heads, as they enjoyed this quiet time alone together, far away from the constant demands and responsibilities of the Candy Kingdom.

Marceline leaned her face down to nibble a bit at the soft, pink skin of Bubblegum's neck which caused the Princess to giggle, before she let out a soft mewling purr. Marceline grinned a bit against her Princess's neck, before she bit down slightly though not hard enough to actually puncture the skin, but still enough to leave her mark.

The mark that showed that Princess Bubblegum was her's

"Do you still think about...that time..." Marceline's voice trailed off, as she buried her face against Bubblegum's neck. She didn't have to specify what 'that time' was because they both knew painfully well, which period of time the vampire was referring to.

The time when Princess Bubblegum had almost died.

Bubblegum shivered a bit as the memory of that time in her life flashed through her mind, and Marceline tugged her even closer against her body to provide comfort.

"Yes...I remember..." Bubblegum replied as she turned slightly in Marceline's arms, so that she could bury her face against the vampire's smooth, cool neck.

Marceline gently stroked her hand up and down her Princess's back, feeling regretful that she'd brought up such a painful subject, but knowing that she had a reason for starting this particular conversation. A very important reason with an equally important question at the end...a question that she desperately wanted Bubblegum to answer "yes" to.

"And do you remember how I almost killed the Ice King when I found out that it was his fault that you'd almost died?" Marceline asked as she gently nuzzled her face against the Princess's soft, pink hair.

Bubblegum nodded, as she reached a hand up to gently clutch at the front of Marceline's shirt.

Bubblegum hadn't been very aware at the time, as she was being inhabited by a very nasty asshole, who was trying to take over her body to do very nasty and very bad things to the people she loved. But she had heard about Marceline's...attack...on the Ice King once she had been brought back to normal.

Marceline had flown into the Ice King's castle in a blind rage, and lain waste to everything in sight with her axe-bass. The Ice King himself didn't escape injury but he was lucky and he knew it, to escape certain death at Marceline's hands. He'd then immediately gone to Finn and by some miracle...and more of the Ice King's idiot clumsiness...they had broken The Lich out of the Princess's body.

"Heh, I also remember being brought back as a 13-year-old and all the crazy, silly, fun things we did to try to get Lemongrab out of the castle. You even transformed yourself down into a 13-year-old's body, so you could play and be with me," Bubblegum said with an affectionate smile up at her vampire-hero.

Marceline blushed a bit at the look of pure adoration Bubblegum was giving her, and decided to give into the emotions that look always inspired in her, and leaned down to press her lips against the Princess's.

A low, pleased moan escaped from the back of Bubblegum's throat, and she threaded her fingers through the soft, dark hair at the base of Marceline's neck to bring her lover even closer against her. Marceline indulged in the gentle play of lips and tongue and for a few blissful moments, allowed herself to be distracted from the ultimate goal of the conversation she'd started.

Eventually with a light nibble and lick of lips, Marceline slowly pulled away and gently tucked Bubblegum's head back against her neck. Bubblegum didn't protest as she knew that there was something on Marceline's mind, and had been since they first started this conversation. So, she wrapped her arms tightly around Marceline's slender waist, gave her a small hug of encouragement to continue talking, and settled back into Marceline's arms to hear what else her vampire had to say.

Marceline lightly bit her lip, as she decided to finally come around to the purpose of their talk.

"Bonnibel...would you...if I told you that..." here Marceline had to stop to lick her lips nervously, which caused the Princess in her arms to sit up to look at her, and reach her delicate hands up to gently cup Marceline's face.

"You know you can tell me anything, right Marci? So, please...tell me what you want to say," Bubblegum said, as she gently stroked her thumb down Marceline's cool cheek.

The vampire allowed herself a brief moment to lean into her Princess's gentle touch, before she firmed her resolve and began to speak again.

"What if I told you...that I may have found a way...for you to live...forever? And without becoming a vampire like me. Would you...would you stay with me forever, Bonnibel...if I told how you could live forever..."

The Princess's only response was total and complete shocked silence.