Marshal had just left the Candy Kingdom. He was holding his umbrella best he could to keep himself from burning but was debating with himself and may or may not have let the umbrella slip a couple of times.

"Ow!" I can't NOT tell her she needs to know...BUT she is definitely still in her puppy love phase and may not listen to me...there's still a chance she will.

BUT if she doesn't then our friendship will be ruined! UUUGGGHHH

He grabbed his head in frustration and found himself at the treehouse. Of course I ended up here.

As he went to turn he heard his name.

"Hey Marshall!" It was Fionna she was waving through a window smiling, "What are you doing here!"

"I actually don't know!" He yelled back smiling.

"Hold on I'll be down in a bit!"

He gave a thumbs up but was inwardly panicking. I really have to tell her but maybe there's a way to...not...I am screwed.

"Hey so what's up?"

"Not much just floating around. Doin' some thinking." He started in a direction away from the treehouse with her following.

"Oh whatcha thinking about?" She asked tucking a loose hair strand back under her bunny hat.

"I-well it's kinda-"

"Marsh are you ok?" She knows he doesn't stutter like this. He is always so confident that she didn't even know he could get this way.

"I'm fine it's just...so I have this friend."

She gently grabbed his arm and squeezed it, "Marsh it's ok it's me you're talking to."

"Yeah, yeah you're right," He placed his hand on her's and continued, "So this friend of mine started dating someone I'm not a big fan of."

"Oh a small world." She lightly laughed

"Yeah," He wanted to join her laughter but couldn't, "but the thing is..." He took a pause and a breath, "I know my friend is being used."

She stopped them and turned to face him directly. "Oh no. Marsh I'm so sorry about your friend how long has he been dating them?"

Ok she thinks I'm talking about a guy. "Not long but he's still in that puppy love phase so I have no clue if he'll listen to me..."

"This may sound bad, but do you mind if I ask how you know exactly?"

"This will sound bad cause I went to confront my friend's partner and they told me that they don't actually feel the same way my friend does."

"Big ouch. And your friend still doesn't know?"

"No, they have been gushing about them for as long as I've known them and to have the asshat say that stuff to my face!"

"Marsh it'll be ok just take some deep breaths and tell me what the asshat said."

He does as she asks and takes some calming breaths, "Is it ok if we talk about this at mine? My arm is getting tired of holding the umbrella plus I want a place where I can scream if I need to."

"Sure." She more firmly held his arm then he flew them both to his house in a cave.

When they landed at his doorstep he opened the door for her and they both sat on the couch.

"Ok Marsh start from the confrontation."

He nodded, "So I kinda barged into their house and demanded to talk with the person. They took me to their office and I asked what their intentions were to my friend. They said it was none of my business."

"None of your business? You're their friend and you're worried about them!"

"I know I said the same thing! Well, more or less, but then the asshat said my friend 'is a dear friend, and while I may not have the same feeling he does who is to say that won't change."

"Well that's not too bad!"

"What?"

"Well Asshat is at least hoping for a change. Like maybe they just don't know what they really feel but want to give the relationship a chance!"

"I still don't follow."

"Ok so imagine you are head over heels for a girl and really want to date them. But she is not very vocal in her emotions so you have no idea if she feels the same or not."

"Ok..."

"So you ask her out and she says she will but she doesn't know what she feels yet. You and her date for a while and she grows to have real feelings for you!"

"Fi, look the way I see it is it just waste everyone's time by doing that. And keep in mind my friend doesn't know Asshat doesn't feel the same."

"What do you mean a waste of time?"

"Well, as someone who has had a toxic relationship or two, things work out a lot better when the two people are on the same page. Like, remember Ashly?"

"Unfortunately yes."

"Ok she and I had an awful relationship for millions of reasons, but the one I'm talking about is we were never on the same page with anything! She would do things that normal people wouldn't do and because I thought I loved her I went with it. Hell it wasn't until after the breakup that I saw what was wrong with everything!"

"I have told you what was wrong!"

"Yes you did many times!"

"Oh...oh, wait...now I see why you haven't talked to that friend yet."

"Yeah...you were able to see what was really happening when I couldn't. I don't want the same to happen to my friend." He was holding his head in his hands as Fionna put her hand on his back.

"Ok well if you feel like they won't listen maybe try and show them."

"How?"

"Well, I don't know maybe have Asshat slip up and say what they said again, but record it?"

"I sadly don't own anything portable since you broke the tape recorder."

"Hey that was an accident!" She playfully punched his arm.

"I didn't say it wasn't." He smiled.

She hugged him and said, "You're a great friend Marshy, you'll figure something out."

"Yeah I will my friend's heart is kinda depending on me." He lightly laughed, "But hey what would your new boyfriend say about you hugging another man." He hated that he brought him up but he needs to get a feel for what he's like.

"Oh please Bubba wouldn't do anything. At most he'd just say how I'm not being 'ladylike." She smiled.

"Well, if he wants ladylike he's got a lot more than that."

"You saying I'm not ladylike." She teased and pinched his arm.

"Ow!" He laughed, "I'm just saying you do things that candy ladies may not."

"True they wouldn't dare walk into a vampire's lair." She joked but continued with a new thought, "Well anyway, Bubba's having a party tomorrow night you going to be there?"

"Probably not me and him aren't on the best terms."

"Oh come on I'm sure I can persuade him." She winked.

"Please never wink like that when you're talking about persuading Gumwad."

"I'm just messing with you we haven't even kissed yet, but really I heard he still needs someone to play."

"He's the king of organizing and he doesn't have a band for the party yet?"

"He did but they canceled last week and a lot of others are booked that night please!"

He sighed and she was giving him her puppy dog eyes that she knew would work on him.

"Fine, anything for you Bunny. Just one question for you though."

"What's that?"

"You know you're still hugging me right?"