Femme's eyes had remained narrowed and fixed pensively on Marshall-lee for some time as she watched him over a cup of strong instant coffee. She had listened to the whole story, at first interrupting constantly with questions and clarifications until Marshall told her to zip it, at which point she had fallen silent and just looked at him, as she continued to do so now.
Marshall-lee huffed impatiently at his sopping wet fringe, then smoothed it over to the side with one hand as he waited for her to talk. The imprinting, his conversation with Alexander, he'd told her everything and now he really just wanted someone to tell him what he should do. He usually hated someone giving him instructions- it was his life and he would live it as he pleased- but when he was so lost he didn't quite have the pride to refrain from asking for directions.

Femme inhaled through her nose, and chewed on the inside of her cheek, studying him before putting her cup of coffee down on the bench she was leaning against.
' I gots questions, and you better answer 'em, mate. Because after that, there's some things I ought to tell you too. Firstly, before you called me, before you left and found all this out, what were you to her and what did you do to her? She's so skittish with the subject I couldn't get a straight answer-'
' You- you've spoken to her?'
' I told you there were some things I need to tell you, but I ain't talking until I understand.' Femme said, obviously not up for negotiation. Marshall sighed and swiped at his bangs again.
' We were just friends, I flirted with her and all that y'know, but it was totally platonic 'cause she's so young... I-I mean, she's sixteen, so it's not-' Marshall cut himself off and gave a short sigh through pursed lips, looking through his knees at the ground.
' I... I got stuck, in the bathroom, she shut the window on me and I couldn't get out so I just kinda had to sit there while she, y'know... And afterwards, I was teasing her and she was all over me while she was tryin' to get me back and how the hell was I supposed to resist, in that situation-'
' Marshall, don't justify yourself to me, I couldn't give an ants' prick. Just what happened, none of the flowery stuff.' Marshall shot her a look, consciously focusing on keeping his hands in his lap rather than running them through his hair.
' Fine. Cake came back before I could get anywhere, so I snuck in later and picked up where I left off. I had my fuckin' face between her legs and she still wasn't fully decided and that made it seem... it- well, it creeped me out that she just wouldn't admit she liked it even though I could tell she did and I'd heard her say my freaking name earlier in... A-anyway, I got out of there but like I told you, all I wanted was to go back. I couldn't sleep or nothing, all day it was all her. Next night, you came over and you know the rest.'

Femme pouted her lips, thinking for a moment. No wonder Fionna had been so confused. The boy had treated her like he had no feelings for her at all, running off and having sex with a random girl (Though ostensibly, she didn't know about that) before disappearing for a week. A week actually wasn't that long in Marshall time, she was probably used to him vanishing every so often like that with no explanation. After what he had done though, if Femme hadn't turned up then Fionna would've been out of her mind with stress. You can't just break into someone's room, take them to third base (it was borderline sexual assault, and Femme guessed that was why Marshall was so uncomfortable telling her) and then evaporate into the wind without an excellent explanation and a damn good apology when you come back.
His explanation was, well, rather excellent actually. It got him off scott-free, he couldn't be held accountable for his actions (at least the sexual ones). And considering the way she felt about him, as long as he spoke carefully and sincerely, she would forgive him too. Of course she'd forgive him, it was Fionna. Femme was sort of glad she knew the girl couldn't hold a grudge, she needed to exploit that endless well of forgiveness soon.

' Okay, well-'
' Nah, nah. Before you say anything about what I should do, I wanna know what you've been doing.' Marshall interrupted her, folding his arms firmly. Femme glared at him and opened her mouth angrily, but Marshall just raised his eyebrows at her. She hesitated for a moment then scowled, shaking her head.
' Fine. I've been tryin' to ready her for dealing with your lifestyle, 'cause in case you didn't know, she only found out what sex actually is like, three days ago.' At this information, Marshall turned white, and his fingers clenched in his jeans.
' I hadn't realised how fuckin' helpful my input was gonna be until just now but well, I'm damn glad I at least gave her a little preparation.' Marshall swallowed and looked away from her, and as she looked at him she could tell that if he still had a heartbeat it would've been thumping away in the back of his skull painfully. The level of guilt and confliction he was clearly experiencing was way past what she would allow for herself.
Femme scratched the back of her head and shrugged her shoulders sheepishly.
' To be honest, at first I only got involved because I wanted to see what sort of girl could ruin you and your cold methods like she had. And when I figured out how into you she was, the opportunity was too good to pass up.' Marshall's head snapped up rather suddenly and Femme raised a hand defensively before he could lay into her.
' She's mad at me right now 'cause, well shit happened- Look, I can see why you were so scared of her. She's the most genuinely decent person I've ever met.' Femme laughed once and shook her head incredulously, raising her hands.
' Man, if she lets you, if you do this- I don't think you're gonna be able to get away from her. There's no light at the end of this tunnel 'cause you won't want to leave. You've spent so much time chasing the crazy, wild-child bad girls who you knew you could never hang on to, and now you've found yourself a crazy, wild-child good girl. She'll want you to stay, you know she will, and I think you're tired of chasing. I think you ain't telling her no.'

Marshall-lee stared at her hard, his breathing shallow and fast, and their eyes locked for a short time. Then Femme raised an eyebrow wryly.
' Again, that is if she lets you. You screwed up, running away like that. I told you that wasn't what you wanted to do. You've got an excuse for what you did, sure, and she'll forgive you because you're fucking lucky she's just that sort of person who forgives. Those parts ain't the problem, it's what you're going to ask of her.'
' I know.' Marshall murmured, his jaw clenched and his eyes buried beneath his tightly furrowed brow.

Femme studied him, sucking her teeth, then clapped her hands on the kitchen bench and pushed off, walking over to the door.
' Well... Like I said, you ain't the only one she's mad at, so I'm gonna go talk to her. I'll let you explain all this though, you ain't getting off easy. I mean, we haven't even mentioned what you're gonna do with Cake while you're trying to rail her baby sister.' Marshall didn't even glance at her, so entrenched in his contemplation he couldn't even get mad at her. Femme was halfway out the door before she decided to impart one final piece of information to the sullen vampire.
' Oh and by the way, me and Barty, we're... Well, I don't know what we are, but I spent the night with him. So maybe prepare to have me around a little more often, thanks to your girl. Bye.'

The atmosphere in the treehouse had been stifling and uncomfortable as Fionna, suddenly acting like a teenager for once, had moped around and sulked silently up in her room and a confused and hurt Cake waited for her apology. When the rest of the day and the night had passed and still no words had been exchanged between the two, the very disconcerted feline had put a note on the kitchen bench and left without a word.

Fionna,

I don't know who that lady was, and how you or Gumball know her. So when you're ready to talk and tell me why you were so upset the other day, call me at Mochro's.
Love you always,

Cake.

Fionna, wrapped from head to foot in a fur from her bed, picked up the note and read it as she walked into the lounge. Her lip trembled a little as she re-read the second to last line, then she wiped her nose and sighed heavily as she sat down on the couch, pulling the blanket tighter around herself. She wanted to tell Cake everything, like she always used to. However, she also... didn't. Cake was like her second mom, sort of. Sometimes that was reversed because that was just how sisters were really, taking care of each other. And because of that, all this stuff about sex and relationships and blah really wasn't something she wanted an in-depth analysis on from her sister. Cake was a constant in her life, had always been there, but this was all new and she felt like that made the two clash in a ear-splitting shriek of Not What She Wanted.
That was before knowing that Cake most definitely would not approve. Her sister was limiting, very much setting the boundaries for her after their mother had died, and it was actually starting to feel like she was trapped rather than secure. Her world and her knowledge had expanded beyond those edges.
She had outgrown them.
Perhaps what Cake had said, about them beginning to disagree more as she grew older wasn't so far off the mark. That didn't mean they wouldn't still be partners, femme fatales fantastique toujours, but she didn't want to have someone else deciding where the lines of her life were drawn forever. She wanted a go with the pencil now.
What that control would cost her in her relationship though, she wasn't quite sure. Maybe she was getting old enough to start making her own way in the world, without relying on Cake to be there with blankets and food and comfort with just a phone call. Maybe it would be better like that, because then Cake would be free to spend time with Mochro and her babies whenever she wanted. And Fionna could just go wherever she liked, alone and free.
Not completely alone though, if Marshall-lee...

Thinking of him made her groan and she tipped sideways on the couch, screwing up her face and tugging the front of her hat down over her eyes. Fucking Femme. What a bitch.
' Uh... should I come back later?'
Speak of the devil.
Fionna quickly righted herself and pushed up the front of her hat, glaring at Femme as she defensively tugged on her fur. The shapeshifter had turned back into her human form from the nightingale and was standing on the windowsill.
' How about you don't come back at all, you traitorous assbutt!' Femme simply raised one eyebrow in acceptance, her lips pressing together, and this annoyed Fionna so much that she thrust an arm out from beneath her blanket and chucked a pillow at her. Femme caught it easily and hugged it to her chest, stepping out of the windowsill then casting it aside.
' Yeah, I deserve that. Fionna, I came to say sorry, not for what I said but because what I said was true.' Fionna's face took on a mixture of hurt and fury, and Femme noted that it was almost exactly how she had pictured the girl would've looked as she walked away in the candy palace.
' So what, you were just playing with my feelings!? Freaking everybody does that and I have no idea why they would want to! Ice Queen pretended to be Gumball when I still liked him, then my first boyfriend cheats on me, Marshall-lee runs away from me after breaking into my bed and then you tell me that he likes me when he probably doesn't give a single shit!'

Fionna was in tears now, and the last half of what she had spoken had become more and more incoherent as she descended into her sobs. Femme, actually beginning to feel really sort of bad, took a couple of hesistant steps towards Fionna and placed a hand on her shoulder. Fionna shook her off angrily, so Femme instead grabbed her chin and made her look up.
' Was being the operative there, honey. I didn't know you when I first walked in here, I only knew you were some blonde girl who had literally brought VK, king of the playboys to his knees. Then fuck, EB you're just so sweet and innocent and trusting...' Femme sighed and sat down on the couch next to her, tucking her hair behind her ear. Fionna realised how small Femme actually was, when she was hunched over and curled in like that. She was so thin and tiny, but her personality and her tall heels made her seem gigantic.
' I'm not a good person, y'know. At first, the fact that you're like that made me wanna take advantage of it, have some fun. I figured that you were either stupid or it was just a front and that once I started messing I could figure out which. Then I was wrong, on both accounts. You're no acadmic, but you're not dumb, and you really are so kind and honest and loyal and just such a good fucking person that man, you nearly make me sick. You make me realise that I ain't anything like you and that that is a bad thing in some ways.'

Fionna had stopped crying and was frowning at her, but it didn't seem like it was out of anger anymore, and before she knew what was happening Femme found that her mouth just kept going.
' I like playing with people's heads, because there's just so many motherfuckers in the world that deserve to get screwed over, and being manipulative is addictive. When you play puppetmaster too much, you stop noticing who deserves to be strung up and who's just in your way. And then you stop caring.'
' But maybe I just have an addictive personality. Heh, that makes sense, after I left Mew I kept a packet of gum in my pocket for years.' Femme sniffed and wiped her nose, firmly telling herself she was not allowed to cry. She had done quite enough of that already, thank you very much. As much as she realised she had treated Fionna badly and she wanted her forgiveness, she still didn't want the adventuress to try and save her, to fix all her problems for her. That was something she'd have to work out on her own.

' Fionna, you're the kind of girl that inspires strong emotions in people. How you managed to get that way, I don't know. Maybe it's 'cause you're the last human, maybe you're just you and there ain't no explanation. But I can safely say that you're one of the only people I've ever met who's able to make me feel guilty. Take that as a compliment honey, it's an exclusive club.' The blonde girl finally cracked a smile at the joke and Femme chuckled half-heartedly at herself, before holding out a hand to Fionna.
' We cool?' Fionna took it but before she shook she locked eyes with Femme.
' Was everything you told me true, though?'
Femme bit her lip and nodded earnestly, hoping that Fionna would believe her. Fionna studied the shapeshifter for a few more seconds, her eyebrows pulling together a little, then she almost fell forward and wrapped her arms around Femme. Fionna quietly thought that she looked like she could use a hug.
Femme just sat, stunned for a second as Fionna hugged her, before she tentatively returned it. Dear lord, this girl was a fucking miracle. She would kick Marshall's ass if he broke her by being careless.
People like EB, people who fucking believed and forgave like she did were so rare. Femme didn't want to be like her, gob knows she was not strong enough to deal with how painful Fionna's life was bound to be with the way she was. She just wanted to be a little more like her, so that Gumball would be able to take back all of the things he had said about her.

' The other reason I came here, whether you decided I was a dickbag or not, was to tell you that Marshall came back earlier this morning.' Femme told her when she leaned back, grabbing the top of Fionna's arms. Fionna's eyes widened considerably and she audibly swallowed, noticeable enough to both of them that she blushed.
' Look, don't be so nervous, okay? I told you, you got this. But he's told me some things I didn't know before and well, the situation isn't as clean-cut as we thought. You're still totally free to be mad at him EB, but he has a pretty good reason why you shouldn't be. I'll leave it up to him though, it's his apology.' Fionna looked down at her hands, which lay limp in her lap and nodded slowly, calming herself down.
' So... you want me to tell him he can come see you, or-?' Fionna thought about it for a second then shook her head, a flash of steel appearing in her eye.
' No. No, I'll come to his house tomorrow night. Maybe he does have a good reason, but that bitchbiscuit still ran out on me. Let him see what it feels like to wait.' Femme grinned at her, shaking her head disbelievingly.
' Wow. For such a goody two-shoes, you sure can be one bad little girl.'

The two women hung out together for the rest of the afternoon, just chatting companionably as the sun went down. As they talked, Fionna realised with a twinge of guilt that knowing that Cake wasn't about to walk through the door left her feeling much more relaxed. She wasn't going to be scolded for swearing or nagged to brush her hair and take a shower or badgered about chores she had promised to do or things she had promised to fetch. And it was really sort of nice. But it still made her feel bad, understanding that she actually didn't mind Cake being gone as much as she felt she should, especially since Cake was probably still kind of mad at her. She had also decided that she wasn't going to rectify that before she talked to Marshall-lee, because if she decided to let him into her bed (with her actual permission this time) she couldn't be worrying about her sister walking in on that. As long as their lines of communication remained broken, she wouldn't have to. It still made her feel bad though. She felt like she was choosing to let something go, like she had when she had broken up with Flame Prince. It was a dull sort of ache.

' So do you want me to come back here, same time tomorrow? I can help gussy you up, get you all pretty and shiny before you go kick his ass.' Femme offered, standing up as she finished the soda Fionna had given her.
' Wait, you think I'll still want to even with this ' good explanation'?' The shapeshifter shrugged, tipping her head from side to side.
' Maybe. I kind of want you to, but I also don't, because the poor guy is real mixed up. But then again, he did run away. I understand why he did, but that doesn't mean it wasn't cowardly. So y'know, I think it's kind of up to you.' Fionna thought about this for a second then shook her head, brushing it away with an uncaring flick of the wrist.
' Eh. We'll see. But yeah, it'd be good if you did come. Are you going back to Gumball now?' Femme stopped short, standing in the window sill.
' Uh... I don't know. I hadn't thought about that to be honest.' Fionna gave her an obnoxious little smile, pushing her lips out slightly.
' I think you should.'
' Don't look at me like that.' Fionna grinned and ran over to Femme, wrapping her arms around her ankles.
' Aww, but it's so cute though!' Femme shook her off and rolled her eyes.
' Shut your fifteen-year-old face, it ain't cute honey. Go take a shower, you smell like deer hide.' Fionna laughed at her.
' Yeah, alright. And y'know you don't have to use the window, right? We have a front door.' Femme returned her laughter, shrugging helplessly as she pushed open the window then turned back to face the adventuress.
' Yeah, I know, but where's the fun in that?' Fionna grinned at her as Femme wiggled her fingers then fell backwards out of the window, Fionna rushing over and leaning out as her hawk-form shot back up into the twilight sky.
' Bye Femme!' She yelled out the window, sticking her arm out and waving with the unabashed enthusiasm of a five-year-old.

Fionna giggled as she shut the window, laughing at the thought of Femme's scathing eye-roll at the childish farewell. She then went up to her room and returned the fur to her bed, before stripping off her pajamas and dumping them, along with her customised outfit, into the washing machine. It was a daunting task that lay ahead of her, she considered grimly as she wandered into the bathroom and undid her braid, watching the long golden strands rustle as they brushed the floor.
She would have to wash her hair.

'You know, it's really quite disconcerting to wake up on your own when you fall asleep next to someone.' Gumball said evenly, not even taking his eyes off of his book as Femme silently walked in through his balcony door. Fionna's comment to her about the window had made her realise she didn't like using front entrances, and the fact that she had immediately angled for the balcony instead of the main doors only confirmed this epiphany.
' I know. I had to go talk to Fionna, and Marshall turned up while I was grabbing something to eat, so that's why I haven't been back all day. Sorry.' Gumball put down his book and looked at her over the top of his glasses, and Femme only just managed not to snort. She used to tease him, call him Professor whenever he did that to her.
' And I don't just mean sorry for not coming back.' She added, remembering her earlier internal dialogue. Gumball studied her for a moment, then took of his glasses. His expression wasn't exactly happy but it also wasn't upset. it was tranquil, relaxed.
' I... Appreciate that.' Gumball told her after a moment, realising why she had said it and giving her a small smile to let her know that. Femme returned it shyly, rocking back and forth on her heels, before wandering over to him and looking at the book with interest.

' Whatcha reading?'
' A human medical encyclopedia. Currently a footnote on 'Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism.' Femme frowned for a second then raised an eyebrow at him.
' That's not a real condition.'
' It is, or was.'
' Why would it be two pseudos? So it resembles something that resembles something? Doesn't that just make it a variation of pseudohypoparathyroidism and not an actual disease in and of itself?' She questioned easily, and Gumball shook his head at her, a huge grin spreading over his face as he huffed out a short, pleasantly surprised sigh.
' Close that mouth.' He demanded, taking up her hands. Femme sat down on his knee and intertwined her fingers with his, happily remembering the sensation. His skin was cool but very soft with a slight, just slightly grain texture. He was made of bubblgum after all.
Didn't mean he was soft all over though, especially when she was around.
' Why?'
' You use it to argue when it can do much nicer things.' He murmured, leaning in towards her. Femme smiled against his mouth right before he kissed her.
' You bet it can.'

This was always what it had been like when they disagreed, though obviously the feud had never lasted as long as this before. Their fights were large and sharp and explosive, but very well contained. The damage never lasted very long, as both of them knew they were talking to an equal so knew that they had been understood. After the appropriate apologies were given and hurt feelings nursed back to health, they didn't really speak of it again. It was in their past, something to have learned from so they wouldn't have to have that particular fight again.
Their personalities and the way they clashed meant that they had fought a lot, and as she kissed him Femme wondered if it would be different this time, seeing as the real emotion had been acknowledged. But either way, it didn't really matter. The fights hadn't been what destroyed them last time, the fact that he had stilled cared about her after them had only cemented her opinion that theirs was a relationship stronger than just sweet words and soft touches. So whether they would argue like last time or not, it didn't matter.

' I've missed you.' Femme quickly interjected when he broke away from her lips for just a moment to take a breath. She could feel one of his hands in her hair stroking between the strands and trailing them through his fingers. Then his arms moved and he pulled her in against him in a firm embrace, pressing the lower half of his face into her shoulder.
' Same.' He mumbled and Femme smiled as she trailed her fingertips up and down his spine.
Then giggled unrepentantly at Gumball's noise of outrage when she quickly turned her head and bit off a piece of his hair. Gumball glared at her, open-mouthed as she chewed on it, giving him an obnoxious little grin before blowing a bubble and letting it pop right in front of his face. The outrage changed to something else, although his mouth remained open, when she leaned in afterwards and whispered in his ear for a few seconds. Femme jerked her eyebrows at him, smirking at the blush turning his pink cheeks even pinker.
' But maybe we should take it a little slower this time around. Having said that though, you do have a new desk, and it's much bigger than the last one you used the first time.' Gumball blushed even harder and Femme laughed at him.
' Shut up.' He told her firmly, popping her second bubble with his finger and effectively forcing her to listen to him as he closed his mouth over hers.

Author's note: GO READ IT, THEY SAID. IT'S A FIOLEE STORY, THEY SAID. Well you know what, fuck it, if you guys want the Fiolee smut-fest that's coming up real soon, then you're just gonna have to put up with my goddamn Femball fluff. They are fucking cute, I enjoy writing them and I won't listen to anyone who says otherwise. Besides, I felt like a little fluff would be a good idea before all the fucking that's about to happen. Oh and if you want to know what Femme whispered in his ear, it'll have been some sort of innuendo to do with bubblegum, sweetness and popping. Have fun making up your own and leave 'em in the reviews for me to snigger at.
So, next chappie'll definitely be Mar and Fionna's big reunion. Stay tuned, and I'll be right back after I've um, written it. *grins sheepishly*

-WRA