I apologize for the long LOOOONG wait—I was busy with internship and personal stuff. I'm afraid that my interest in Adventure Time is dwindling a bit. Argh I'm terribly sorry! Hopefully this chapter will make up for my long absence! I promise you there won't be a cliffhanger.

CHAPTER 08

It has been two days since he last saw the little human, and the Vampire King was running out of things to help keep him occupied. Although yes he has the freedom to now wander off during the night what with no one to babysit for… yet he still remained in the mobile home, standing by for a call from Prince Gumbutt. Sure the Vampire King could bring the little gadget with him wherever, but things could happen if he isn't careful enough.

What if the device went off while Marshall is with his ghost pals? A mere mention of the girl from the Prince would definitely ruin his cover. Another possibility would be that the item could easily be misplaced. If it were to be placed in someone else's possession, who knows what will happen?

So to avoid all that, Marshal remained at his home—that is until the walky talky went off.

The teen eagerly reached for the device and pushed the button he was instructed to hit. Before he could answer, the Prince was the first to make his say. His voice cracked, and bits of his sentences were choppy, yet the tone of distress is still audible.

"Mar-all… I ne-ne- ur assis-nce. The-irl… s-he's-"

So before the candied prince could even finish his sentence, Marshall took off. Lucky for him, the sun hasn't risen yet, so he didn't have to worry about wasting his time gearing up to save himself from the sun light…

By the time Marshall arrived at the Kingdom, with no fuss this time, the first person to greet him was no other than Gumball. He looked out of sorts, far from his formal self that the Vampire knew before. The boy was in his night wear, his neatly combed hair was replaced with what resembled a mashed up pink play dough.

"Marshall, please follow me." At that, the boy made his way down the hallway with Marshall following behind. They were inside the Hospital ward, the rows of bed contained no patients, which caught Marshall's attention.

"Where's Squirt?" the Vampire couldn't help but ask.

The Prince looked back at the teen, "Don't fret, she is still within the room. It's just that she's… well she's being resistant and refused to cooperate with Doctor Ice-cream... she's under the bed." he averted his eyes in embarrassment for revealing the situation.

At that, as if on cue, the little human revealed herself to the two and gleefully wobbled her way toward the vampire with open arms.

The little infant called out happily at Marshall, "Maaa—ashreeew!" she stumbled over her feet, but luckily for her, she clasped onto Marshall Lee's leg before the little one could meet the ground. The vampire scooped the trouble maker up in his arms.

"Missed ya too furball, diggin' the pj's you got there." The boy eyed the oddily pink clothes that was patterned with smiling flowers, "But I don't think the color suits ya." With a smirk, he poked the girl lightly on the belly. The infant burst into giggles and clasped onto the Vampire's finger and tried to nibble on it.

The Prince observed the interaction between the two and concluded, "She only seems to respond to you without any trouble. My Nurses tried everything to get her to take her medicine and food. But they were frightened to do so because she would often bite them."

The Vampire King chuckled as he ruffled the girl's head, "Yeah, she's likes to chomp a lot."

"Yes, quite… and that's the reason why I called you in." He approached closer to the two and eyed at the girl with worry, "I need your assistance on getting her to drink her medicine and such, seeing how well she responds to you and all."

Marshall quirked up a brow, "Oh that's all? I thought something worse happened."

Gumball tilted his head, "Like what exactly?"

Before he could even answer the little prince, Marshall stopped himself and shook his head, "Nevermind… Sure I'll help out." The vampire said as with a shrug as he tossed the little human in the air. The whole scene gave the candied prince a heart attack. The girl flailed her arms around and made a bubbly laugh until she was caught safely by Marshall, much to Gumball's relief.

"So, what do you want me to do first?" asked the Vampire with a quirked brow.

Gumball nodded and took out a small bottle with an oddly colored solution inside, "First off, she must take her medicine if we wish for her to recover at least the slightest."

With a nod, the vampire hovered over to the bed and settled both him and the girl down at the edge of the white mattress. Marshall prompted the human on his lap as Gumball pours the medicine onto a wooden spoon before giving it to the Vampire. Marshall couldn't help his curiosity and gives a hesitant sniff of the strange liquid. He scrunched his nose at the strange and slightly foul smell that sent a shiver down his stomach. The teen caught sight of Fionna mimicking his facial expression. Marshall chuckled and feigned a happy face.

"Mmm- smells reaaaally good."

With that, the vampire pretended to eat the strange liquid and swallowed it whole, he let out a contented sigh before sliding his tongue across his grey lips.

"Mmmm, that was delicious."

Fionna leaned in closer, her tubby hands reaching out for the spoon, wanting to taste a sample of the supposed tasty syrup. The teenager all but snickered before complying to the little one.

"Heh alright alright, no need to get all grabby now—here ya go."

He fed the medicine to the human, a drop of the oddly colored liquid trickled down at the corner of her mouth. Marshall wiped it away with his calloused thumb before rubbing it on his jeans. The infant's face morphed into pure unsatisfaction, clearly aware of how horrible the medicine really is by both smell and taste. The Vampire ruffled the top of the girl's head and chuckled.

"Heh sorry, but ya need it or else yer not gonna get any better—" Marshall looked over at his awfully quiet pink friend, "There, what else is do ya need help with?"

Gumball was by far surprised, he didn't imagine such a co-existing relationship between two totally different beings.

After asking Marshall to help him with the remaining things that needed to be done on the girl such as giving her a bath and feeding her food—he learned many things in regards to the little human through the Vampire's words and presentations.

He discovered that the girl was a very picky eater, she is very fond of strawberries. But unfortunately for her, the doctor specifically noted that she is to no longer consume any more of it for the time being. So it took both him and Marshall some time to force the little human to eat the mushy peas and apples that were prepared especially for her.

Another thing that the royal prince learned was that the peculiar human is a ball of pure energy. He along with Marshall Lee, ended up soaking wet after giving the girl a bath. The little one wouldn't stop flailing her arms, and splashing the two with the bubble infested waters—

Gumball also took note that the girl has a knack in hiding. One minute he and the vampire teen were just drying themselves off—with their backs turned for just a few seconds, and before they knew it she was gone! The young prince panicked and called for his assistants to help search the girl, but Marshall reassured the candied royal that there was no need to freak out. It appeared that the vampire found the girl hiding in one of the cabinets—helping herself out on some frosted flakes.

The Prince was baffled at the girl's behavior, he didn't expect something so- well so troubling. If he were the one to take after the human, Gumball was certain that he might go mad. But the prince had to admit that the little one was indeed fascinating and peculiar… when she isn't biting his hand off of course.

The prince was able to have direct contact with the girl when she wobbled her way towards him and clinged onto his arm without any warning. Marshall snickered when he saw the young prince falter a bit, tongue tied and clearly uncertain on what to do.

The teenager floated their way and smirked down at the candied prince, "Dude—relax will ya? She ain't going to eat you alive."

Gumball looked up at the Vampire and furrowed his brows," I-it's not that I'm most worried about here Marshall- it's just that- ACK!" He felt the sleeve of his night gown being teethed on. He looked down at the girl questioningly. "W-was that really necessary?"

The girl giggled and clinged onto his arm even tighter as she continued on nibbling at his clothes, much to Gumball's displeasure. The poor little royal tried to pry the girl off of him, but failed to do so. Afraid that he may somehow harm the girl- Deciding that the Vampire had enough laughs, he intervened and swooped the girl off of Gumball's hands.

"Haha, you okay there Gumball?" The teen could already predict the answer—he just couldn't help but find delight when seeing the little royal not composed. At the tone of Marshall's fiend concern, Gumball's cheeks were red in embarrassment. Before the boy could confront the Vampire and give him a piece of his mind- the little infant bursted into a giggling fit and clapped her hands hysterically.

"Ga-Gaauu Baa!" She let out, calling out to the prince.

Marshall raised his brows at the sudden call and smirked once more. Whereas Gumball halted himself, taken aback at the sudden noise.

"Wh—wha?"

"Well what do ya know—" The vampire snickered and ruffled the baby's head more, "Go on—ya almost got it squirt. GUM-BALL."

The prince eyed the girl in pure wonderment, silently encouraging the little one to continue on to stating his full name. Eager to witness human kind's intelligence through the small infant.

"Baa-buua-BuhBa!"

The prince's expectations were a bit too high- judging by his disappointed face, to which made Marshall crack up.

"BuhBa! Buhba!" She exclaimed out, making grabby hand motions towards the Prince, noticing this Marshall smirked and let her loose. Allowing her to wobble over to the flustered Prince who was having some trouble on whether he should run or allow the girl to cling onto his pajama pants.

"Think she likes ya- Bubba." The vampire said with a grin, unable to resist using the nick name. He floated his way over to them, the Prince huffed at the name and was about to make his say about something. But he was distracted by the tugging and calls of a certain little human. He couldn't help but pick the infant up, curious as to how much weight she held- The young royal prompted her in his arms just like how Marshall did while handling her earlier.

Gumball let out a sigh before looking at the girl, her blue eyes starting curiously back at his pink sugary coated ones—

"You're a very peculiar human—you know that?"

The infant all but reached out to give a pat at the prince's nose, Gumball's body jolted as he pulled his head back. He eyed between the girl and the vampire with a shocked and unsure expression.

"wh-wha- what was that for?!" The prince was unfamiliar with the said gesture, being a royal and all, gestures where studied heavily in his part. People respected the prince by giving him space, and won't move unless given by his word or touch. So physical contact from others were a first for Gumball… which would explain his short little freak out from earlier.

Marshall snorted at the sign of the boy's shocked tone, "Dude—that's just her way of showin' that she likes ya."

The Prince blinked as the words registered into his head, "L-like me?" He turned his attention back to the girl who tilted her head in response to his sudden retreat.

"I-is that true?" The prince couldn't help but ask the girl—it's pointless to ask the girl question when he knows full well that she's incapable of understanding basic English. But lack of sleep has the power to let that thought slip away from the little Prince's mind.

The girl giggled and gave another honk on his nose, to which Gumball reacted with a smile and a small chuckle.

"What's this? So the prince IS capable of emotions?" Marshall faked a soft gasp and clasped his own pale cheeks to further emphasis how shock he is. Gumball all but stared blankly at the Vampire and mumbled something in German in pure annoyance- blushing furiously at his slip up on his Prince like composure.

"M-mund halten..."*

The young prince was trying to catch up and analyze the human's behavior as best he could. It was all very interesting to interact with the little one for the first time. To think that such a little thing like her, to be the last living human of her own kind—in the hands of something as superior, and not to mention dangerous—

Much to the little Prince's disappointment, he has to tell Marshall Lee the possible consequences of his action. His reputation as King will be tarnished, if the world were to discover the human—there are multiple possibilities that an uproar will occur amongst the Vampire Community and many others.

And not only will harm and danger will fall onto the Vampire King, but the girl as well.

The Prince let out a sigh as he observed the Teen from afar, tucking the small infant into bed. Before Gumball could make his presence known, he stopped himself at the Teen's hushed words. They were barely audible for the prince, but he did manage to catch a few words. It was then did it arise to Gumball that the teenager was singing a tune.

It was gentle, calming even—enough to put the mightiest of beasts into slumber.

"Marshall Lee- I'm afraid I have some things to tell you."

* Mund halten = "shut up"

Sorry I lied about the cliffhanger part—couldn't help myself so it seems haha~ So what do you guys think about Gumball now and his new nick name? How will Marshall take Gumball's words? Will he flip out or just—deny it all? What do you guys think I should put on the next chapter?

Thank you all for being so patient with me—argh I am such a butt for making you guys wait this long. Hope that this chapter makes up for it *hides*