Chapter 6: Simon

The bold writing is singing, and the itallic is my note at the end for those who don't know

Honestly names could be so misleading. What kind of name was "Delightful Days" for an institute for the elderly? Marceline thought as she and Marshall walked into the place together, and simultaneously wrapped their jackets around themselves (if it was any other situation Marshall would have laughed), as the air was drastically colder than that of the outside. It heavily smelt of sterilizer and medicine. All of the staff had wide forced smiled on their faces, if you looked into their eyes closely, you could see that every member was exhausted. It was like a colourful prison where everyone had to be happy. Marceline grabbed Marshall's arm for comfort, being in the institute, seemed to suck the happiness out of her. Marshall looked at Marceline reassuringly, his eyes silver-grey pools of understanding. They approached the counter together.

"Hi I'm Marceline and that's Marshall, my brother, we are here to see our grandfather Simon Petrikov." She told the man at the counter, who was wearing a strained expression. Such detail was necessary because the visitors were quite restricted.

"He's in here because of Alzheimer's right?" The man said sympathetically.

"Don't remind us." Marceline hissed angrily. Marshall gave the man a black look and the scared man quickly signalled for a women to take them to Simon's room.
Seeing Simon's face, so creased and blank was always a shock to Marceline, but today it affected her especially hard, for some unknown reason, as they approached him Marceline dug her nails into Marshall's arm.

"Hi there Simon, do you remember us? Marcy and Marsh?" Marshall asked softly, pain written on his face.

It was so painful for the siblings to visit their sick care-taker, but they did it for him, the old Simon. The one that looked after them all their childhood. When Marceline's dad had demanded they were all moving to America, Marceline and Marshall had adamantly refused to leave Simon in the UK, and insisted to fly him to America with them, an experienced nurse on board their private jet.

There was a crazed, frightened look in Simon's eyes as he backed away from them. Marceline remembered seeing that look somewhere on the same man's face before but it was in a completely different situation.

9 years earlier

Marceline was standing by a hob, on a stool. She was in the UK, in the large kitchen of her childhood home. Gripping a large bowl filled with pancake batter, she turned the hob's fire onto full blast. The fire scorched her delicate fingers and she fell backwards off the stool, spilling the batter all over the polished wooded floorboards.

"SIMON!" She cried hysterically, cradling her fingers that felt like acid had been poured on them and the acid had been washed off with salt.

A younger, mousy brown haired Simon sprinted into the room, took one look at Marceline and hoisted her up to the sink.

"Rinse your fingers Marcie, you will be fine. Its okay." He said in a soothing voice that did not match his facial expression. There was a scared and crazily worried glint in his eyes.

"What happened?" He said angrily, but from experience Marceline knew he wasn't angry with her, rather himself for allowing it to happen.

"While you thought I was having a nap I went to make pancakes as a special surprise for you." She said looking up at him with her adorably large grey eyes swimming with innocence.

"Okay Marcie. You have to promise me you WON'T do that again, it was very sweet but dangerous." He insisted sternly.

"Okay Simon. Ouch. It still hurts a lot." Marceline whimpered.

"Okay, first I will rub on some burn cream then, let's go out then, and get you a little something for being such a brave girl." Simon patted her back "how does that sound?"

"Awesome! Let's not forget about Marshall though, I don't want him to miss out just because he was at basketball training." Marceline replied, in glee.

Simon was in awe of her kindness

"Okay."

After a few hours, Simon and the two children where driving back to the vast house. Marceline clutched a red bear-like creature with black stitched buttons for eyes dearly.

"I love you Hambo," She said fondly, to the bear.

Mirroring his sister, dripping in sweat and still in his basketball gear, he was clutching a similarly structured black with red buttons for eyes.

"I love you Hadwyn," He said grinning when his sister narrowed her eyes at him.

"What? I love Hadwyn just as much as you love Hambo. Probably more." He said, riling her up.

"Oh hush little ones, we'll be at home soon." Simon soothed, sensing an argument.

"Marceline?! Marcy are you okay?" Marshall shook his sister roughly, hugging her close when she opened her eyes slightly.

"What happened?" She questioned groggily. Looking around in bewilderment, she realised that she was lying on the floor in Simon's room.

"You blacked out! For five minutes. I was just about to call someone." He exclaimed urgently, "Do you remember why?"

"The look in Simon's eyes it reminded me of when we were younger." Tearing up Marceline recounted her vivid flashback. When she looked up at Marshall, both of them looked about to cry.

"Are you two kids okay?" Simon asked and Marceline looked at him in sudden hope "Have you seen Gunter?" he then demanded, and Marceline's face turned grief-stricken once again.

"He's always going on about this Gunter and a princess." Marceline croaked sadly.

"I think you've had enough today Marcie, you've had a pretty rough day, lets go home now alright?" He said gently.

"Alright then." Marceline agreed, to tired to argue.

When they got home Marshall bombarded Marceline with questions.

"Are you okay? Should we go see Simon again? I don't think we should if it gives you such adverse effects." He said worriedly, pacing up and down the kitchen, and running his hands through his hair. Marceline sipped at her chamomile tea, scowling in annoyance.

"Marshall, I'm okay, and what are you talking about? Of course we will see Simon again, don't you remember what he did for us when we were younger!"

"No," Marshall dipped his head in shame "I didn't. I'm just thinking of your health here."

Marceline sighed. "I know you are Marshall, I'm sorry. I'm just so stressed and worried."

Marshall nodded, "Music?" he questioned, knowing it always soothed her to let out her emotions in a good song.

"Ok. I don't know what to sing though, I can't think right now." Marceline rubbed her temples.

"I have written part of a song… it's directed at Simon." Marshall confessed, he looked worried Marceline thought, walking to their personal music studio. That's what she and Marshall liked to call the study their dad made for them, originally built to help them do their schoolwork or revise, Marshall and she turned it into an awesome studio. It had professional microphones, soundproof walls and designer beanbags. The room probably looked the most complete in the whole house.

Marshall handed her a score and went over to an electrical keyboard, which was, like all of their instruments (they had many) red and black.

"I'll song the first three lines so you get the beat." He asserted

"Sure."

You're so annoying you pitiful old man,

Marshall started, singing lowly and huskily. It was an expressive and melodic song. Marceline glared at him not liking the claim that Simon was pitiful and annoying, but she let him continue as the song was so unlike the songs he usually sang.

I'd like to help you but I don't know if I can. I thought you were nuts but

Marshall continued singing and Marceline let him, the song was beautiful and she realised he was talking about this Simon, not the old one they loved, respected and adored. So she joined in, her voice perfectly harmonising with Marshall's. She poured all of her recent emotions into the song, frustration, anger and sadness.

You're really, really, really nuts.

Every time I visit you you're acting crazy,

And you start jabbering around,

Even you're eyes are really glazy,

Man it's getting me down.

But I'm actually glad,

To see you,

Maybe I'm the one who's nuts.

By the time they had finished both siblings were shedding tears, a rare sight as both of them were used to controlling their emotions. Neither of them could speak, they held each other in silence until they felt ready to get up.

Hi Guys! Sorry the chapter isn't so long, I also wasn't sure about uploading it because I didn't think it was that great. The song goes to the song sung by Marceline "Nuts" in Adventure Time it does not belong to me, I just changed the words slightly. I will also be replying all reviews and guest reviews at the end of every chapter so here are the replys to the reviews so far.

Sleepy BrownBear: Thanks for reviewing, Gilroy is based on Prince Gumball from the Adventures of Fionna and Cake

skittle-fairy (Guest): Thanks for liking my story! Haha, it's my first story so I didn't know if this was okay or not. You're review was inspiring. I will maybe or maybe not make Lady pregnant, you will have to wait and see muahaha.

Guest: Thanks for your review, I changed the tears streaming down Bonnibel's face, I agree it was quite off putting. Don't worry I will continue the story even if I don't repost for a few days.

If you liked it please review, and follow. Thanks for reading.