Marshall woke up first. He didn't even remember Fionna being at his house but here she was in his bed. He was holding her and she was so so close to him.

He knows he needs to get up but his arm is currently being used as a pillow, and he really didn't want to wake her. At least that's what he told himself. He felt her stiffen a little and he whispered, "Fi?"

"Yeah?" she whispered back.

"How and why are you in my bed?"

She quietly laughed and turned to face him, "You pulled me in."

Her face was just a few inches away. "What?"

She nodded her head, "Yep, you grabbed me by my arm pulled me in, and said and quote 'shh it's nap time."

He rolled on his back, "That has got to be the lamest thing I have ever said," He threw his free arm over his face.

"In your defense, you were extremely tired."

He hummed.

"Speaking of that, what happened last night?"

Now he tensed up worried one of the guys told her, "What do you mean?"

"Well the guys told me you overdid it on a song you were writing but they're definitely hiding something. And now with how tense you are, I'm a little worried."

"It's nothing it was just a long night after I left yours." He relaxed a little.

"Marshall."

"Ok fine so long story short I went to pay Simone a visit and Gumwad was captured and I had to get him out. Then I got locked in there and wasn't able to leave till it was practically dawn. Then I finally went home and started working on the song."

She could tell he was still holding something back, but she didn't want to press too much.

"You went to the Ice Queen's? Why?"

"I go to her to vent about Asshat. For a crazy queen, she can give some ok advice once in a while."

"I'll just take your word on that, so how is your friend by the way? Are they still dating Asshat?"

"Unfortunately. I really don't get it...actually wait do you want to hear the actual reason Asshat is dating them in the first place?" Maybe if he had been a bit more awake he would've refrained from that part, but he was still very tired.

"Sure?"

"Asshat agreed to date them to show my friend that they are not the person they think they are and guess who you Asshat thinks should date my friend."

"Dare I say you?"

"Yes! Like, I used to think that Asshat had at least a few brain cells to them but really!"

She poked his side and teasingly asked, "Marshy you sure you don't have a crush on your friend?"

Once again his tired head spoke without really thinking with a soft but heavy tone, "Oh, Bunny...It's so much more than a crush at this point."

Fionna didn't really know why she was so taken back by that. Maybe it's cause he hasn't mentioned anyone to her like that or some other reason. All she knew was that she didn't like it. It didn't sit right with her, and that is what worried her.

"I didn't know you even had a crush. How long has this been going on?"

"I honestly don't know. We've known each other since they were a kid so I can't really pinpoint it."

She sighed and said, "Well on the bright side they will defiantly come running to you when that relationship is over."

"I don't want them to."

"What?"

"At least, not like that. I don't want to just be a rebound. If they want to date me after they work through the mess then great, wonderful, I would be ecstatic. But I don't think I would be able to handle it if they tried to date me and realize I am not the one for them."

"Wow, you've got it bad."

"You have no idea."

She didn't quite know what to make of the look he gave her. It was so soft and warm, it was a very different look than what she was used to. She turned her head away to the ceiling.

"Sooo."

"So?" asked Marshall.

"I have a kinda random question."

"Ask away."

"How would your relationship change?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, just how would it change? Like what is the line between friendship and romantic partner?"

This question is what finally got Marshall out of his groggy mindset, "Ah. Well, a-are you sure you want to know? Like d-"

"Just keep it PG."

He took a deep breath, "Ok so if things went my way I would spend a lot more time with them then what I do now. I'm kind of PDA so there would be a lot of that. A good bit of stuff probably wouldn't change since we're already so comfortable with each other, but if we started dating I would do anything in the world for them."

He is looking at her trying to get a facial reading but she is still looking only at the ceiling. She only hummed as if asking him to go on.

"Truth is I don't really know for sure what they would want in a relationship with me. If they aren't into PDA then I would do my best to dial it back, and if they wanted or needed more personal time then I can work with that. It's all about finding a balance.

"A balance?"

"Well yeah, I shouldn't completely change myself just to be with a person and neither should they." Fionna gave him a slightly confused look. "Ok think of it like a jigsaw puzzle. Everyone has their own puzzle and everyone is trying to complete it. And at the center of the puzzle is the happiness piece. It can be different for everyone, it could be a partner, friends, work, a million other things."

He paused to look at her to see if she was understanding. She at least looked less confused so he continued on, "Everyone is trying to complete their puzzle, and everyone has their own picture. No one should waste their time on a jigsaw that isn't theirs, or change theirs just to make the other person happy. It's a different story if changing a piece or two makes you a better person, but no one should change too much of their puzzle."

She hummed and now looked deep in thought. Nothing in the world could have prepared him for what she asked next.

"Do you think Gumball is a good piece?"

"Huh?"

"Like do you think he fits my puzzle?"

"I can't be the one to answer that Fi."

"Ok then do you think he's a good person?"

"I think he thinks he's good. What brought all this on Fi?"

"When I was talking with Danny he asked me some questions and I wasn't really able to answer them...at least the way I wanted to."

"Explain please."

"He asked me how mine and Bubba's relationship changed, and I couldn't say anything. Then he told me it looked onesided and I didn't say anything either. Do you think I made a mistake in asking Bubba out?"

This was a can of worms that Marshall was not ready to deal with. On one hand, he could tell her the truth or he could lie. The only problem is is he has never fully lied to her.

"I think the odds are against you. First relationships rarely last a lifetime. It being a mistake or not only time can tell, besides if you guys don't make it you'll at least learn what a real relationship is meant to be."

She was upset that it wasn't what she wanted to hear, you could even say she was sad. But she also knew that Marshall was telling her what he thought she needed to hear. He hugged her, "Sorry that was probably a little too harsh."

"I'll live, can I ask you one more thing?"

"Anything."

"What were some of the lessons you had to learn?"

"How long you got?" He tried to joke.

"Please."

"Alright, I'll start from the beginning. I don't really remember how old I was maybe around 15 but I started dating this girl. She was nice and sweet when it was just us, but in public, she would go out of her way to ignore me. I learned never to waste your time of someone ashamed of you. Then a few years later I met a guy, really cute but so very dumb. That one taught me that I can't date dumb people."

She laughed.

"Then I had a bit of a whore phase, which I don't recommend I learned pretty quick I get too emotionally attached too quickly for that kind of stuff."

She laughed again.

"I don't really know how many decades passed but I met another guy who was just amazing. We did everything together. He taught me how to love and what it really meant. But sadly he died."

"Oh, Marshy I'm so sorry."

"Don't be this was like decades ago. Life goes on and I know he would've wanted me to live a new life."

She still hugged him tighter.

He took a breath, "Then I dated Ashly, she taught me just how manipulative and dangerous people can be."

"Thanks for telling me Marshy."

"No problem Fi, but just because I went through some shitty relationships doesn't mean you will, at least not all of them will be."

"Yeah..."

"After all these questions I think I have the right to ask you one."

"Fair enough," She smiled.

"If you weren't dating Gumwad how would you describe your perfect relationship."

"Hmm, if I wasn't dating him?"

"Yeah, he doesn't exist. What would be your ideal partner and how would they act?"

She laughed a little, "Well, I guess they would have to be charming, funny, and caring."

"I'm gonna need to hear a little more than that Bun." He smirked.

"Ok, ok, so, he would have to at least like adventuring, it wouldn't hurt if he could cook, he should be a good dancer, I like affection so he'd have to be ok with cuddling for sure, and you know just be there for me."

He wants to laugh at just how little that applies to Gumball but he doesn't. The only reason the conversation doesn't go further is because her stomach growls.

"I would offer some food but, I haven't been to the store in weeks."

"Oh right, that reminds me. Me and the guys went to the store for you and got you some stuff."

"Oh, well in that case let's get some food."

Hey so just wanted to say that the comedian Daniel Sloss is who came up with the Jigsaw analogy and I highly recommend watching his special on Netflix fair warning his humor is on the dark side. Thanks for reading and feel free to review your opinion on the jigsaw analogy