Ello, ello, my duckies. Long time no see eh? Well, no read in this case. You'd think summer would give me more time to write, well, you'd be wrong. Work, travel, friends and raves, all of them like time leeches sucking away at my freedom. But hey, I got money and I'm having fun so its all good. Truth be told there was another reason for the delay, a small case of writers block. I didn't know where this story was going, but now Im confident in the end. Don't worry though, we got a good while before that shows up. Now I leave my baby in your hands to judge as you see fit. I only ask that you please leave a review, being out of the writing loop has made me a bit hesitant and I want you to tell me if my writing style's changed or if there's anything I can do to keep improving! More detail, less detail, more dialogue, more in character characters, so on and so forth. I love hearing your thoughts and opinions. They help me become a stronger writer!

Disclaimer: Really, its not mine.

Marceline stirred from her spot on the couch. She blinked the remaining sleep from her eyes as she looked around the room, seeking out the clock. She grimaced at the time, 11:10. AM. She could see the light rays seeping through the cave mouth through her window. The whole Finn situation had screwed up her sleep schedule, it would be a few days before she could get it back into the norm. Speaking of Finn. She thought as she looked down at the sleeping mass in her lap.

The young human laid still with his head rested on her legs, his only movements were the calm expansions of his ribcage with every breath . At some point in the night his hat had come askew from where she replaced it, golden locks peeked out around the white material trying to get a taste of the fresh air. Carefully, as not to disturb his sleeping figure, Marceline pulled Finn's hat the rest of the way off. Like a river of liquid gold, his hair fell around him, creating a halo effect for her to look down on. Marceline gasped at how much of a change occurred from such a simple task. This wasn't the boy she had met such a few short years ago, this was someone completely different. His face had a sculpted look to it, nowhere near perfect but enough to be quite handsome for the various bipedal species of Ooo. Various sized scars crisscrossed across his features from the many battles he endured, no one stuck out but they all added to his roughed out look. He was good looking, of that there was no doubt. Marceline didn't understand why he chose to hide such a great feature.

She brushed her fingers through his shining hair, reveling in its softness and surprising lack of tangles. Finn stirred a little from the treatment, a small smile gracing his lips. He murmured a little in his sleep. "Thanks mom..." He said as he tilted his head. Marceline smirked to herself. Yeah, definitely not your mom, but you're welcome. She looked over to see Jake still passed out on the floor, he'd morphed his left arm into a pillow while the bottom of his right had stretched out into a blanket. A thick line of drool was running down the side of his face. "Ew..." she said to herself.

As much as she enjoyed the moment, Marceline knew she had to move. With steady hands she lifted her human friend's head high enough to get her legs out, then floated her way through the small opening between the couch and Finn's head. She grabbed a nearby pillow to take her place as his headrest before letting him back down. He didn't stir in the slightest.

Well, I'm up, might as well take a shower. The undead teen floated over to the downstairs bathroom and closed the door behind her. A squeak of turning handles could be heard, followed by rushing water. Steam seeped out from under the door, quickly dissipating in the dry air of the living room.

On the couch, Finn began to stir. He stretched himself out, wincing from the strain on his wound. Once more he found himself staring at Marceline's ceiling, picking out its imperfections and patterns as he let his body rest. Soon enough his thoughts turned back to last night's dream. He frowned as he mentally reviewed it, getting more disgruntled with every scene. And then there was that voice at the end, it was... familiar... for some reason, but no matter how hard he thought he couldn't put a face to it. The sound of creaking faucets brought him out of his dream induced stupor, forcing him to turn to its source. The view he received was not what he was expecting.

Floating out from the bathroom and dressed in only a towel was Marceline. "Dressed" would be an over exaggeration though. It started right below her hips, leaving a healthy view of her long, slender legs while the top left a modest amount of cleavage open to the world. Or in this case, Finn.

The blonde human's jaw dropped while his face turned a deeper shade of red than anyone would have thought possible. After a few moments of lost control his chivalry finally decided to kick in, unfortunately it was a split second too late as Marceline Looked over and noticed his conscious state.

"Finn! You're awake! How are you feeling? Is everything okay?" Marceline was oblivious to her current state, instead worried about his well being. Finn only managed a quick sputtering of words.

"Uhh..Yeah I.. I mean..Uh.." His eyes darted around, avoiding hers at all costs. The vampire teen gave him a confused look before looking down at her own image.

"Oh..." She said before quickly covering up while a blush crept across her face. "Uh, sorry Finn, didn't think anyone would be up yet." She slowly started floating towards the ladder.

"N-no no, your fine. I, uh, don't mind... Er, wait! I meant that it's your house and you do what you want. Not that I didn't mind seeing you... like... that... I'm just going to shut up now..." His voice had dipped down to a whisper by the end.

Marceline had stopped at the base of the ladder as he started speaking. The blush on her face growing with every word. He..Doesn't mind? The confused shock was quickly replaced with devious thoughts and a small smirk grew from her features.

"Soo.. You're saying you DONT mind seeing me in only a towel?" She asked mischievously.

Finns face turned another shade deeper.

"NO! I do mind! Er, I mean-"

"Oh, so I'm not up to the great hero's standards huh?

"Wha? NO! No, no, no. You're beautiful! I just meant..." And then it hit him what he had just said.

"Oh glob Marcy, I'm sorry!" She still had her back turned to him, luckily that managed to hide her wide eyed visage. Her mind was blank except for the booming echo of that one word.

"You think... I'm beautiful?" Her voice was just barely above a whisper as she looked down at the floor.

Finn joined her in staring at the floor.

" I... Uh... Yeah... I do.." Silence fell between the two for only a moment, though it felt like an eternity, before Marceline finally responded.

"Thank you." She said before floating up the ladder to her room.

Finn just sighed, returning back to his thoughts and ceiling observation. Though, unlike before, his mind wasn't focusing on the dream. Instead it was occupied by a certain undead teen.

Man, that's the second time I've seen Marcy like that. At least this time she had a towel. His blush returned with the memory of the day him and Jake were stuck in Marceline's closet. While trying to make sure the coast was clear he had accidentally peeped while she was indecent. Given he was still young and innocent at that point it had been a slightly traumatizing event. However, as he got older, he found himself digging up that memory from time to time for some odd reason. He shook his head clear of the thought, wincing once more at the sting from his shoulder.

Gingerly, Finn tried to pull himself into a sitting position on the couch. His wound ached and stung, the stitches pulling taut but holding. With one more deep breath he pulled himself up, leaning against the arm with the rest of his body still on the cushions. He looked over to the sleeping form of his brother, noticing the drool slipping out from his jowls. His face was scrunched in concentration as he kicked an invisible enemy.

"Heh heh, gross dude." Said Finn as he reached over for a small couch pillow. Using his good arm he tossed it like a throwing star at the slumbering canine. A solid thump was heard when the two connected. Jake of course, freaked out.

"NOOO! I'm sorry meat man! I didn't know, I swear I didn't know!" he had curled up into a defensive ball with his arms raised as a shield.

"Jake! Calm down dude, it was just a dream."

"Huh? Finn? Oh thank glob. I thought you were meat man. It was that nightmare again..." He trailed off with a haunted look on his face. Finn just nodded having heard about the dream before. Jake yawned before stretching out at an awkward angle.

"So how you feeling man? You were pretty banged up last night."

"Better, sleep took care of the tired feeling, and I'm pretty sure I got most of my blood back. My arm hurts but I can make it back to the tree house easy peas. A few cyclops tears and I'll be rockin again."

"Good to know bro, you can just ride on my back on the way home." He looked around the living room for a second. "Hey, where's Marceline?"

"Upstairs, she just got out of the shower." said Finn looking away.

"Cool. You weren't sneaking a peek were ya?"

"Jaaaaake! Thats pervy!" Jake just chuckled and waved him off.

"Yeah, just checking bro. I'm going to see if she's got anything in the kitchen, the meat dream left me hungry... and disturbed..." With a quick stretch he was in the kitchen, busily ransacking the fridge.

Meanwhile, upstairs.

It was Marceline's turn to stare at the ceiling, an emotional war wracking her thoughts as she did. She floated above her bed, clothed in her usual attire, jeans and grey band shirt.

He called me beautiful...

'It's not like he meant it.'

What if he did?

'Would it matter? You're still an undead bloodsucker stuck in the dark. He's the friccen Hero of Ooo, light and justice and junk thrive around him.'

But that's exactly it! He's a good person! Not like Ash, or Marshal... He's kind...

'It could just be the living blood factory thing.'

Then why didn't I just make him my slave the moment I found him?

'Boredom probably, you're not really the kind of gal to pull the love at first sight thing.'

Marceline rolled on her side, hugging herself.

It was, at first... But then he kept hanging around me. He wasn't afraid like everyone else, and he treated me like I was normal. No matter how many times I scared or threatened him he'd just come back laughing.

'Yeah, he is a pretty goofy kid."

What if... What if he actually cares?

'That would be pretty awesome, but there's still the whole aging thing."

We could deal with that later...

'Like how much later? A year's like a blink of the eye to you, soon he'd be an old man while you're still trapped in a teen body. Kind of stuck on this one. Force him to give up the light for an eternity with you, or watch him die. Maaaannn, immortality sucks."

Marceline frowned at her conscious's point.

That... That would be his decision. I'd never force him to give up his life.

'Yeah, well that's only fair. Better than the choice you got.'

She grimaced remembering the events that led to her turning. The war, the world... the marriage.. Marceline shook her head clear.

"Alright." She said aloud. "I'll ask him. Even if there's a little chance, I want to know." Taking a deep breath, Marceline floated over to the ladder and headed downstairs. She found Finn and Jake enjoying some scrambled eggs in the living room. Finn was sitting up and eating by himself, a major improvement from last night, while Jake sat beside him tucking in heartily.

"Good to see you guys made yourself at home." She said with a smirk. Jake swallowed a mouthful of eggs before responding.

"We know you keep non red food here for us, so don't pull that guilt card."

"What can I say, I like you weenies."

Marceline floated over to the armchair off to the side, laying across the arms.

"So, now that everyone's eaten and Finn's not on the brink of death, what exactly happened?"

Finn had finished his food and carefully set the plate aside before speaking.

"We kind of ran into some trouble at the wizard festival."

"Oh? That's in town again?"

"Yeah, we were looking for something when we sort of got attacked."

"Dont they have wards to prevent that kind of stuff?"

"Not in the dark section." Marceline did a double take.

"You guys went to the dark section!? At night? What the heck is wrong with you? I dont even like going there at night, and I'm a flippin vampire!" Finn rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"We didn't mean to, we just kind of didn't get out fast enough."

"What were you dweebs even looking for in there anyway?" This time it was Jake that was first to answer.

"Looking for a way for Finn to be with his girlfriend without ending up roasted." Had the two boys been physically sensitive, they would have noticed the temperature drop in the room. To be fair though, Marceline kept her face in a perfect imitation of disinterest. She turned to Finn.

"Girlfriend?" He blushed and looked down at his hands.

"She's not.. Not really my girlfriend.. She's the princess of the Fire Kingdom. The last time I saw her she said we couldn't be with each other cause she hurt me and I hurt her." He looked up to see Marceline's glare, confusing its meaning with causing Flame Princess pain. "Oh I didn't mean to hurt her! It just kind of happened whenever I tried to apologize or get close to her." A stroke of hope ran through Marceline.

"Maybe it's for the best, her being made of fire and you being burnable flesh doesn't seem like a good match up." Please agree, please agree, please agree...

"Yeah... It hurt, it hurt allot, but not as much as when I looked into her eyes. She was lonely Marceline. Trapped and put on display for years, just waiting for someone to help her. I don't want to leave her like that, I want to show her there's someone who cares about her."

Damn that hero complex!

Marceline bit her lower lip. "So what do you need me for? I'm not exactly a wizard you know."

"Yeah, but we heard you might have something that can help. Do you remember the Orb of Osyrous?"

No...

Marceline's expression blanked, and she slowly sat upright in the chair turning her face towards the floor. Her long hair covered her features.

Why would he want it? He can't share his humanity.. Unless...

"Where did you hear that name..." Her voice had turned into a whisper, yet every word rang through the room.

Remembering what Giacamo had said Finn quickly made up a lie. "Uh, we found it in a book we got from the festival. So do you still have it or know where it is?

I won't let you do that to yourself..

"No."

"You don't have it? Or you don't know wher-"

"NO!" This time her voice shook the house. Jakes eyes widened to saucer plates and he pulled himself closer to Finn. Finn pressed on though, hoping to get anything that would help him.

"Please Marcy, this could fix everythi-"

"I said NO Finn!" She looked up at him and he recoiled slightly. Her eyes had become solid black orbs that sparkled with malice and her teeth had lengthened and sharpened giving her a horrifying grimace. "It's gone. And I won't let ANYBODY bring it back."

"Marceline, I..."

"You what? You think you can just throw away what you are?! All for some little girl with issues? I WONT LET YOU!" Her hair was twisting around her, each strand like a miniature snake, but Finn refused to stand down. He stared her down from across the living room while Jake had shrunk down the size of a small puppy.

"Why do you care so much about what I do!" He yelled back at her, ignoring the anger in her eyes. "This could be my chance to be happy with someone! Can't I have that? Do you have any idea what it's like to be alone?"

"Don't talk to me about being alone..I'm over a thousand years old! I've had to watch everyone I care about die or go insane!" She countered.

"Then you know how hard it is! So why can't you be happy for me and help me?!"

"Because you shouldn't throw away what makes you, you! Not for some hot headed princess whose not willing to do the same!" Marceline's words lingered in the air between the two. Over the course of the yelling match her features had returned to normal with the exception of her eyes. The anger was replaced with sorrow and tears were threatening to break free. Finns face had taken on a depressed mask.

"So you won't help us." It was a statement more than a question.

"No.. Not if it means losing what you are."

"Fine." Finn pushed himself to his feet, wobbling unsteadily before grabbing the couch arm. "Let's go Jake." He walked shakily to the door with Jake falling behind him, ready to catch him if he fell. Marceline's gaze never left the spot he once sat. Finn stopped at the doorway, reaching down and picking up his pack. After a few seconds of rifling around he pulled out the stuffed animal he'd bought at the festival.

"This belongs to you Marcy." He said softly. She looked up in time to see the patchwork animal sailing towards her, and she grabbed it out of the air. The vampire queen gasped as she realized what she held and she looked up to ask how he managed to find it, but Finn was already gone. Jake stood at the door looking hesitant, unsure whether to talk or follow his brother. Finally he managed a few words.

"That thing was the reason Finn got hurt ya know.. We would have made it out of there before dark, but he saw that and remembered how much you loved it."

Marceline looked back down at the toy, tears falling from her eyes on to the stitched buttons. "He put himself in danger, just to get me a stupid toy?" She sniffed as the tears continued falling. Jake only nodded.

"He's a good kid, and a lonely one. He'll always put everyone else before himself, but I'd like to see him get something he wants for once. Just think about it okay?" Without another word Jake walked out, closing the door behind him. Leaving her alone once more.

Marceline pulled Hambo close to her, holding him so tightly you'd think she was afraid of it disappearing. Her shoulders shook with every sniffle and sob. For a moment she was no longer Marceline the Vampire Queen. Instead she turned back into that scared little girl from all those years ago, holding her stuffed animal tightly as she cried for the loss of someone she loved.

So what did ya think? I tried to make Marcelines conscious come off as that cool, relaxed image she always has while Marceline herself is battling the world of emotions. Let me know your thoughts!