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

"And these," Marshall opened a door into a large area, "Are the gardens."

Fionna, caught in a girlish fantasy, twirled slowly, taking in the indescribable beauty around her. Large, impossibly red roses drooped like rubies from emerald bushes, sparkling lilies quivered in a nonexistent breeze, daisies in shades of sapphire and gold smiled at her antics. Trees dripped with glowing fruit that looked ready to eat and make a sweet sticky mess all over a face. Forget-me-nots, poppies, clematis, hyacinths all shimmered in shades varying from the indigo of night to a pale blue of a robin's egg.

Marshall couldn't help but smile as Fionna's nose slowly grew yellow from the pollen that accompanied her frenzied sniffing. She rose from each bloom with a dizzy, content face, and then quickly moved on to the next one. As she moved in on each bloom, she murmured its name under her breath, a kiss bestowed on each blossom.

Larkspurs, orchids, fox-glove, narcissus, belladonna, bougainvillea, all opulent and beautiful, their sweet scent saturating the air. And the small, sweet buds of the jasmines, honeysuckles, blazing stars and babies-breath beckoned for a closer look into the folded petals. Fionna was stuck in a state of rapture as they moved deeper into the king's garden. Marshall, off handedly, placed a Canterbury Bell behind her ear and every time she turned to smile at him, the blue of her eyes and the flower smacked him in the face. Repeatedly.

Finally they reached a small gazebo with a hole cut into the center. Fionna looked at Marshall quizzically. "I've never seen this flower before. What is it?" Marshall's face burned. Crap, crap, crap.

The bush that grew from the dark earth was slender, more tree than bush really. On the peak of its leaves, there sat a white flower. Its petals opened wide, startling in its grace. At a first glance, the petals appeared a clean white, tinged with a blushing pink. But when Fionna leaned closer to it, she could see a faint tinge of blue. The clearest blue she had ever seen. It started in the very depths of the flower, a dark indigo in the very center, and faded quickly to the pink-white that was the main shade.

"Marshall, what is it?" Marshall had leaned closer as well, and taken her hand hesitantly.

"It's, uh… a flower." Fionna grinned. "Hah, well obviously. I uh… I actually created it." Marshall watched her expression. She smiled at the king in awe and joy.

"Really? It's beautiful, Marshall." He pulled her towards him, a grey blush covering his face and neck. "Marmar? Are you ok?" He nodded quickly.

"Fionna, I need to tell you something." He sat down on the bench in the gazebo, and she sat near to him, knees touching. Oh Glob, how do I say this? NO, no turning back Marshall. "Fionna, I-…Urgh. Uh." He coughed, furious with himself. And there she sat, beautiful and driving him absolutely bonkers without even knowing it. Finally, he gripped her hands in his and met her eyes, desperate and hungry. "Fionna, I love you, ok? I have ever since, no not since we met, but I love you. I have for a long time and I've meant to tell you this before, but I've always been scared to. But I can't stand it anymore. I'm not a coward, and I'm so sick of this, dodging it and hiding what I really feel for you. I didn't mean for it to happen like this, but I really, really-" He was stopped by a pair of pink, warm lips on his own. He stared in shock for a second, but then kissed her back. REALLY kissed her back.

Fionna was the first to break the kiss. Marshall Lee couldn't help the heart broken expression on his face, but Fionna held his cheeks in her hands. She scooted closer, practically in his lap. "Fionna-"

"Marshall, I need you to listen too, ok?" He nodded, still forlorn.

She leaned into, lips brushing his ears, causing a shiver to run down his spine.

"Marshall Lee the Vampire King, I, Fionna the Human, lo-"

"SIRE!"

The couple broke apart in a speed that was almost comical. Fionna scooted to the far side of the bench, her face turning beet red, as Marshall stood, coughing.

The guard didn't seem to realize he had interrupted some serious business, but his frantic nature caused the king to listen instead of sending him to the fiery pits of his kingdom.

"You have a visitor, milord." The guard shifted anxiously from foot to foot.

"Yes?"

"It's Prince Gumball and Cake the Cat, milord."

Marshall had taken Fionna's hand and lifted her into his lap, flying speedily to the Throne room. As they flew, their thoughts ran with equal speed and intensity. Around the same lines as well.

Oh my Glob, I just kissed Marshall

Oh my Glob, she kissed me

What was I thinking?

She kissed me!

Oh crap, Cake is here

SHE KISSED ME

She's gonna kill me

KISSED

OH CRAP

ME

GUMBALL

Oh wait till Bubba hears this

He's gonna be so mad

I can't wait to see his face

Oh my Glob

Wait a second

"Fionna, are you ok?" Fionna looked up, tears streaming down her face. Marshall felt something inside him break a little at her expression.

"I'm just… conflicted." Marshall leaned closer and hesitantly kissed her cheek.

"It's ok, Blue Bell, we'll figure it out."

She grinned sadly. "'We'. I like that." He grinned back, and they leaned closer together for another sweet kiss.

"Sire," Feyerick's cool voice interrupted them just as their lips were about to meet. Marshall almost kicked him but restrained himself. "Your 'guests' are in the throne room." Marshall landed slowly and straightened his shirt and hair and held a hand out to Fionna.

"My lady?" Fionna grinned, straightened her own appearance and took his hand.

"Milord."

The throne room was in complete and utter chaos. AS soon as the two walked in, a livid cat enlarged to fill half the room, screaming at the top of her lungs. A very much peeved off prince marched over and began shouting and waving his finger at Marshall Lee.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MAH BABY?"

"Now see here, Marshall Lee, this is completely unacceptable!"

"FIONNA, GIRL WHERE ARE YOU?"

"Kidnapping Fionna is absolutely the most horrendous thing you have done yet!"

"SUGAR, ARE YOU OK?"

"You are completely irresponsible, a horrible influence and-Hey! Don't touch me!"

"This is MY kingdom, MY castle, Fionna is MY guest, and by all those dumbass rules YOU made up for YOUR kingdom, you've broken EVERY single one of them, so as a far as I can see it, I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT."

"I SAID DON'T TOUCH ME."

Fionna struggled in Cake's grasp, trying to get down to the fighting men. "Cake, let me go they'll kill each other!" Cake looked at her sadly.

"Baby, maybe that's best."

The human looked at her in horror. "No! No, no, no, NO. CAKE LET ME GO."

Fionna jumped out of her paws, landing lightly on her feet. Before cake could grab her she made a mad dash to Marshall and Gumball. She closed her eyes and pushed off the ground into a leap.

Marshall had been preoccupied with Bubba, giving more than taking. He had been trained by assassins and professional fighters his whole life. Even without that, he could still go Terror. But he wanted a man-to-man fight. Gumball had been able to hold his own, but he was weakening. Fast. Marshall wasn't going to kill him, of course. But he wanted this pretentious "prince" to learn a lesson. This was before a small, angry human launched herself at Marshall and tackled him to the ground.

"Fionna! What the flip dip?" Marshall didn't struggle. He knew he could launch her off. He just liked how she felt nestled close. She looked at him, cradling his face like she mere minutes ago.

"Are you ok, Marmar?" He nodded, her fingers tracing the few bruises on his face were too distracting for words. She hugged him tightly and then stood, holding his hand. She faced Gumball and made a noise of pain. "Oh P.G…." She took the step that separated them and began inspecting his wounds. She made small sounds of comfort. Marshall wilted a bit then, watching her tenderness. She glanced at his movement and punched herself mentally.

I can't do anything without hurting someone.

"I'll send for the Healer." Two guards ran out at a signal from the king. Cake shrunk back to her normal size, staying close to Fionna.

"Fionna, are you ok?" She looked up at Gumball, his pink face closer than she thought. Crap. She nodded quickly, fixing her thoughts on Marshall. But the prince tilted her chin up. Her breath caught in her throat. Crap, crap, crap. "Fionna, I need to tell you something." CRAP

"Ah, iz seez ze patient you bring to meh, my King?" Marshall nodded at the comically short man. His green coat swirled around his stubby legs as he moved quickly towards Gumball. Fionna stepped out of his way, but Gumball still stared after her. "Ah, seez iz a vedy hart nut too crack, your Mashestee. Ah, Antonio ze Medic, shall do mah best. Sit, sit, Monsieur Pinky." He chuckled at his cleverness.

The prince sat roughly, his wounds finally getting to him. "Cake," she looked at the vampire angrily, and regretted it seeing his world weary stance. "How about you and Fionna go wait in the library, I'll send someone with some food."