Author's Note: I don't own jack o_o

"I'm not sure, Mili, I just… don't feel right without my hat." Fionna frowned at her reflection. The dress was a perfect fit, like a glove. The fabric was as smooth as it looked, softer as well. It clung at all the right places and fluttered around her ankles, whispering against the stone floor. She was still barefoot, but that wasn't the biggest problem. The problem was her hair.

The little bat girl had expertly taken Fionna's thick, wild, silk mane and tamed into a work of art. There were two thin braids that held back her bangs and pulled them into the thick body of the main braid. It then varied from French, fishbone and some other foreign braid that Fionna had never seen. Milinda had woven, in a spur of the moment, in small flowers. Their colors were bright and stood out against the gold. It ended in a delicate curl, just above her knees. It was beautiful, to be sure, but in Fionna's eyes, unnecessary and too elegant for a mortal girl. The whole thing was too elegant, too royal too-

"My lady!" Milinda glared at Fionna, the human's face screwed into a dismayed grimace, tears leaking from her eyes. Milinda softened her tone and continued, stroking the human's hand. "All will turn out well. You've suffered a terrible shock, and your sadness is understandable. But the King will help and you'll be home faster than a snake's tongue." Fionna nodded, brushing the tears away.

She hugged Milinda, tightly as she could, drawing comfort from the small form. "Thanks so much. I wouldn't be able to do this without someone. I just wish Cake were here." Fionna suddenly jumped, anguish returning. "Oh, Cake! She's probably worried sick! Crap, crap, crap, crap!" A knock interrupted her, and two grim looking shadows bowed deeply. One rose and spoke in a deep timbre, no mouth to be seen.

"If it would please my Lady, the King requests your presence for dinner."

"My King, you cannot pace like this, it agitates the servants." Lord Feyerick looked up entreatingly. A very dark and brooding king walked quickly across the ceiling and back again. The demon flung his hands up in exasperation. "Fine! I'll take care of the whole operation! Everything! And make sure that the-!"

Feyerick and Marshall stopped suddenly. A small cough interrupted Marshall's pacing and Feyerick's rant. Fionna stepped in carefully, head bowed and hand gently lifting the skirts of her gown. Marshall plummeted to the ground, flipping over and landing gently on his feet. "Fionna,"

The girl looked up. Something in his voice tickled at her. Marshall stared at her, a slow fire building in his stomach. Feyerick stared as well, eyes soaking in the small pale human. He glanced at Marshall, slightly shocked when he launched himself at her, enveloping Fionna in his arms. "Oh my Glob, Fionna, are you ok? I'm so sorry. Oh Fionna, please forgive me." Other entireties tumbled from the vampire's mouth as he squeezed her tightly. Fionna stared over his shoulder in shock, the tumbling, bumbling emotions that rocked his body began rocking her own. Feyerick moved as if to separate them, but held back.

Fionna made as if to shove him away, when a tear slipped from his cold dead cheek onto her forehead. She looked up, heart turning into a squishy ball of love. Her maternal nature took over and she stroked his back gently, murmuring into his shoulder and neck. "Shh, it's ok Marmar. Shh, it's ok. I'm ok, everything's ok…" Marshall sighed, inhaling her sweet smell. Smiling, he stepped back, holding her shoulders gently. "I'm sure it will be, Blue, but first, you should have a tour of my 'hometown'."

She looked up at him quizzically. "Why?"

Before Marshall could explain, Feyerick approached quickly, but still stately.

"Well, you see- Oh! Fionna, this is my most trusted adviser, Lord Feyerick the Wise." The blue demon bowed deeply. Fionna still stared in shock. She had battled her share of demons. She'd probably even fought a relative of his.

She tried to mimic the curtsy Milinda had given her this morning and stumbled forward. The demon's hand shot out and caught her wrist expertly, kissing the top of her hand most properly. Fionna glanced at Marshall in terror, but the vampire smirked happily.

"My Lady, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. The King has spoken so highly of you. He speaks especially of your-erk!" He was about to continue, but a swiftly placed elbow to his side interrupted him. Fionna looked at Marshall. He was smiling brightly. Too brightly.

"Shall we have some food then? Cause I'm famished!" Taking Fionna by the hand, he lead them to a small(if 9 feet can be small) table set with a delectable feast. The trio sat, and after an awkward pause, tucked into the spread before them.

"So, Fionna," the human looked up, spaghetti splurging slightly out of her mouth. Feyerick grinned quickly and continued. "What exactly do you adventure for? Treasure?" Fionna swallowed quickly.

"Oh no, me and Cake, we just adventure for the fun of it. I mean, if we find treasure, then kudos to us. But it's all about the journey, not the destination, you know?" Feyerick nodded.

"And who is…Cake, you said?"

A sad smile fell on Fionna's face. "Cake is…well…She's my sister in every sense of the word. Her parents found me when I was just a baby, and we grew up together." She paused a moment. "She's a magic cat."

Feyerick's eyebrows rose. "Magic you say?" Fionna nodded. "Hm… Intriguing."

"Fionna, tell Feyerick about that one time when you accidentally released my mom from the Night-o-Sphere and—" Fionna covered his mouth before he could continue. He grinned and laughed under her warm fingers. "That's all it was. It was an accident, Marshall." Her fierce scowl was destroyed by a giggle erupting from her chest. All three burst into laughter and the meal continued on.

"She seems nice, sire." Marshall turned to a guard. He stood straight, but met the king's gaze evenly. Marshall smiled quickly. "She is…"

Far away, in a tower, Fionna curled up on her bed, emotions raging a war in her stomach. The way she was feeling…was unprecedented. Unnecessary. Stupid, even. The fact that the sight of a particular vampire king was enough to send her into a tizzy of mushy gushy tingly warmth made her sick and terrified. But what scared her even more, was the idea that he may not have the same feelings for her. But then, a new thought entered her mind…

What if he returned those feelings?