A/N: y'all should thank hash tag for being awesome because she's the reason I'm posting another chapter tonight. Also sometimes I forget that I haven't posted everything I wrote yet and I have to go back to see what your reviews are talking about cuz I'm a herpderp

She had been bed ridden in the Candy Palace for two whole days and she was already dying of boredom. Flame Prince had stopped by, but it was totally awkward, and glob knows what Marshall Lee was up to. She shivered at the thought of whatever evil things would be waiting for her at home when she was well. Marshall, while certainly able to see the humor in his hair being lightened, was still not too thrilled by it. Gumball came to check on her a few times during the day as well as taking his lunch in her chambers. The awkwardness had mostly left him and he was back to his usual charming self.

She was definitely aware, however, that he'd sit closer to her than he used to. That their hands would brush a little more. That he'd been a little less princely and a little more casual around her. She wasn't quite certain what to make of this behavior and settled on just ignoring it. What was the harm in being more casual with a friend? The prince had made it more than clear that Fionna was fated to stay in his friend zone forever. She'd made peace with that many a year ago.

"How's your leg feeling today?" he asked. She pulled her skirt up a bit and showed him the pristine bandage.

"Whatever the doctors did got it to stop oozing, but it still hurts a bunch." He looked at her leg a little longer than she expected and she became self-conscious. "It's just a white bandage dude." She said, a blush dusting her cheeks. Gumball cleared his throat and looked quickly away, clearly flustered.

"It's good to hear that your condition is improving." He said with a small cough. 'Real smooth Bonnibeaux, stare at her thigh like you're stupid or something' he mentally berated himself.

"yeah..." she said, fussing with the edge of her skirt she had pulled back down. "I was gonna try to go for a walk in the garden later." She said, trying to bring the conversation back into more comfortable territory.

"That sounds lovely! Perhaps I will join you," He flushed a bit then looked at her, a worried expression upon his perfect, princely features, "That is if I'm not imposing."

"Of course not dude, besides, it's your palace. I should be asking you if its ok." He looked relieved, and they fell into idle, friendly chatter. Soon Fionna felt tired, and despite wanting to talk more with her bro, she yawned long and loudly.

"You should get some rest," He said, clearing the table he'd placed beside the bed and making to leave.

"No," She whined, her sentence punctuated with yawns, "Stay and talk with me! I'm so," yawn, "Bored!" The prince simply chuckled and reached out to touch her hand.

"You need rest in order to speed your recovery. It would be remiss of me to deprive you." His warm smile urged her to return it.

"Ok dude." She nestled down into the blankets on her borrowed bed. "But only cuz you asked so nicely." She said stubbornly, her voice becoming heavy with sleep.

Though instead of taking a leisurely, crutch-enabled stroll through the gardens that afternoon with Prince Gumball, she slept well into the night and awoke to the melodic sounds of Marshall Lee softly strumming his guitar and humming. His back was to her and she let him go on for a little bit longer before she let him know she was awake.

"Hey" She said softly, sitting up and resting her back against the cushioned headboard. The vampire floated towards and over her, settling a few inches above the mattress. He continued to strum his guitar, not looking at her.

"Sup, girly?"

"Not much, Marshmallow. Whats up with you?" She shot back easily. He didn't answer, instead focusing on his guitar. He didn't want to tell her that nothing was up, and that he had just wanted to make sure Prince Proper was living up to his prissy and annoying standards. He really didn't expect Gummy butt to put the moves on Fionna, but the prince was still a man, and men have urges. And Fionna was basically helpless.

She watched his calloused fingers fly over the strings on the guitar. She wondered, vaguely, about his hands. How much larger were they than her own? How would his grip, if he took her hand in his, differ from PG's? How would they feel casually brushing the hair from her face? Y'know, in a purely friend sorta way. Cuz friends totally hold hands... and touch eachothers faces... and wonder about their best buds hands. She blushed, dragged her right knee up to rest her face on, and wished she could blame her brain's stupidity on the hinky brew that had been flowing into her two days ago. Her head was messed up. It had to be. All this stuff she wasn't used to was happening and it just threw her off balance, she reasoned. That's why she was thinking about his hands on her. Marshall Lee glanced at her out of the corner of a shuttered eye.

"You feeling ok, Fi?" she sighed.

"Just weird."

"Oh" more music.

"I'm so sicka being in this bed." she huffed, taking her frustration out on the situation. He smirked evilly.

"I could make it more... interesting for you." He said in that voice. The one that made her insides curl up and her face hot. She crossed her arms and pouted.

"Hush, you." He set his guitar to the side and touched down, sitting beside her on the bed. Casually draping an arm around her.
"I'd take you out of here but I think Bubba would probably lose his gumballs if you disappeared."

"His name's not Bubba, Marsh."

"Psh. Semantics." She giggled, and leaned against him. All the awkward thoughts dispelled easily and she fell into the friendly banter that came with that lopsided smirk.

In the morning, when the doctors and even Gumball himself came to check up on Fi and change her bandage, she was slumped up against Marshall Lee. The latter smirked evilly at the prince who was more than clearly angered.

"What are you doing, Marshall Lee?" The prince questioned through clenched teeth.

"She fell asleep on me, and I didn't want to wake her, so I stayed put." Gumball only glared at the vampire. He did not trust that rapscallion as far as he could throw him, and Gumball very much doubted that he'd ever have the chance to actually try to throw him. The paled-skinned teen only smirked ever wider and jiggled his arm a bit to gently wake up Fionna, since they were going to anyway.

"Girly," He whispered, "Its time to wake up." And, just to piss off Prince Prissy Pants, he flicked his tongue over the shell of her ear.

"Mmm," She groaned and swatted at him," stoppit, Marshy." She said groggily, turning and nuzzling into his chest. He threw Gumball another triumphant grin over the girls head and shook her arm.

"The doctors gotta take a look at your leg, pipsqueak. Wake up." he urged a little less quietly.

"Dunwanna" he began to float away from her but she threw her arm around him and held him firmly in place. By now the princes pink face was almost entirely red, both with embarrassment and jealousy. Why was it that Marshall Lee was able to touch her so intimately without physical repudiation? He cleared his throat, and for the first time Fionna seemed to register that there were other people in the room besides her and Marshall. Her eyes flew open and she sat up straight, a hot blush staining her cheeks.

"G-good morning PG! Um, I'm sorry we didn't get to go for our stroll yesterday." Once again the prince was all charming smiles and reassurances which helped to ease the girls tension. The two men threw meaningful glances back and forth as they watched over her bandage being changed. Almost arguing without words. When the bandage was changed Marsh decided to take his leave.

"I think if I stay any longer, Blow Pop here is gunna blow a gasket." He kissed her on the cheek.

"My name is Gumball, not Blow Pop, you miscreant." the prince called after him as he escaped with a chuckle through the window, umbrella in hand. the prince calmed himself and turned to Fionna, daring to sit on the edge of the bed next to her.

"The doctors say you should be recovered completely in approximately 2 weeks."

"You mean I have to spend two more whole weeks in this bed?" She grimaced at the thought and PG Laughed.

"No, you should be able to walk within a day or two."

"So I have to spend all of today in a bed... again." She was still unhappy looking. PG looked around conspiratorily and leaned in close.

"I could probably manage to sneak you out of here for a few hours. That is, if you can keep a secret." He smiled and winked. Sometimes PG was the best, most awesome friend she could ever ask for.