So sorry I kinda botched up the last chapter a bit. I didn't have time to proof read it or edit it but I wanted to get it up in a hurry x.x shammee. As for replies to the comments—there are a few spoilers I want to say but we're almost there! Well, here we go!

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Gumball fell silent and sat back down. He was watching Marshall nervously, debating on how to choose his next words carefully. It didn't require his immense genius to figure out how Marshall Lee was feeling right now. Still, being called a 'kid' after all that had happened really stung.

Marshall sighed. He could tell his words had hurt the prince but a small bitter voice inside his head thought 'serves him right.' No, that wasn't right. It wasn't Gumball's fault.

"I—I'm not just a kid, you know." Gumball said defiantly, after an awkward pause. It sounded rather silly 3 minutes too late.

"Nah, I know you're all grown up and stuff.." the vampire replied absently, not really agreeing but not in the mood for an argument.

"You can talk to me. I will listen." Gumball tried again to stir up the conversation. Marshall's ebony hair was catching strands of moonlight and for a moment he looked like he didn't belong to this world, as if there was an invisible barrier suspended between them. Gumball was aware of it and wanted more than anything to be able to pull Marshall back in.

"I know you will, Gummy..but there's no point." Marshall forced a smile again. He was conscious of how lame he was acting. His problems were his problems and they would always be. It wasn't cool of him to get Gumball all messed up over it. Things wouldn't change anyway.

"Tonight's been really awesome." The words were hollow. He wanted to change the subject.

"Marshall, I really meant it! I know I was a major butt to you in the past and I really regret that."

"Your butt is one of your greatest assets."

"S-seriously! I'm not joking!" Gumball blushed but continued. "I want to be there for you. Always.."

It was enough already.

"It's a nice sentiment, dear prince, but as you know, you can't be. I'm a vampire and in 100 years you'll be gone and I'll be standing here all alone again. So, as much as I appreciate it, drop it now." Marshall finished icily, his red eyes gleaming. What would it take for the candy prince to get the message?

"You can never understand what it feels like—constantly being left behind by everyone and everything. At a certain point, you have to stop caring. You can't feel anymore—that's what you tell yourself—but it's impossible to forget. I can only keep myself so busy—after a while there's nothing left to be busy with. I've done everything. Yeah, you and fionna are great—you're wonderful and all that jazz but in the end, you won't be here forever. Only I will." Marshall continued angrily, not pausing to let gumball interject. "Don't pretend you get me!"

He was shouting. The sound of own voice surprised him. He hadn't meant to yell but it was all the same. Afraid to look up, he expected there to be a hurt look on Gumball's face but there wasn't one.

Gumball shivered. He knew Marshall wasn't really mad at him but it was still a bit scary seeing him like that. Drawing up his courage he put his arms around Marshall's shoulders, and pulled his face into his chest.

"You must be so lonely.." It was a bit of work to hold back his own tears as the prince pet his lover's head gently.

"What ever.." Marshall mumbled into him. He didn't want to be pet right now.

"You've been through a lot. I'm sorry. It must have been very hard. I mean it when I say I want to hear it all—all of your stories. I want to know everything about you."

"There's no point.." the king frowned. He felt drained.

"If you feel that way..but I'd really like to know. I..you know..likelike you..and so when I try to imagine all the things you've experienced—all the people you've known before me, well of course I can't help but feel insanely jealous."

"Isn't that a luxury.." Marshall said, quirking an eyebrow. He wasn't sure if Gumbutt was looking for sympathy or whatever but he had none to spare at the moment.

"There's nothing I can do—at least as of yet—to go back in time and be a part of your past, but I intended on taking your whole future for myself." The prince finished, definitely.

"Wow Gummy, I take back what I said before, now –that- sounds like a marriage proposal."

"This wasn't exactly how I planned to present this to you but..I've been working on an experiment.." Gumball took a deep breath. "You know..well it's a serum..a potion of sorts.."

Marshall looked up at Gumball blankly. Why was he going on about something like that now?

"a cure..for vampire-ness..or what ever you call it.."

"A what?!" Marshall eye's widened. "What the hell, Gummy?! Don't f**k around with me!" He said, furiously, shoving Gumball backwards and pinning him to the ground.

How could he possibly throw around the prospect of a cure after everything they had just talked about! It was just cruel. –Here he was starting to open up and relax around him. So Gumball meant to make him into a sort of experiment?! A sudden rage clouded Marshall's judgment taking the place of his previous feelings and sensibility.

"M-marshall..you're scaring me..stop it!" Gumball pleaded, nervously. He had forgotten how quickly the vampire could flip. These past months he had gotten used to a sweet and thoughtful Marshall Lee. He was instantly reminded of just how dangerous he could be. Still, he trusted him.

"What are you talking about! How could you have possibly found a cure?!" Marshall's thoughts flickered to the notebook he had discovered under Gumball's bed that one time..So he was right in his first suspicions.

"Do I disgust you, Gummy?!" he spat bitterly, still holding him down at the wrists. "This whole time were you hoping to change me? I should have known—you could never love me the way that I am..You've always looked at me with eyes of contempt. Why would that change now?!"

Underneath him Gumball was struggling and mumbling but Marshall ignored him and went on.

"Are you afraid of me?" He grimaced deviously, baring his fangs. "I could bite you right now. Drain the pink from you're pretty little—"

"MARSHALL LEE, WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP ALREADY!" Gumball yelled suddenly, shoving the vampire king off with all his might.

And Marshall fell backwards, flabbergasted.

"How stupid are you?!" The prince huffed, whacking him on the top of the head with his gummy fists. "And just how do you think you're treating me! You big stupid idiot! I knew you were stubborn but I didn't know you were this moronic!" Gumball's tirade went on, and was punctuated by more whacks to the head.

"H-hey! Ouch!—Gumball what the-?! Stop it!" Marshall gasped between hits, trying to shield his face with his arms. "Get off, you nutter!"

"NOT—whack—UNTIL—whack—YOU—whack—LISTEN!"

"Okay! Okay! I'll hear you out!" Marshall said, flopping down on the ground, defeated. He couldn't believe such strength had come from this powder-puff. It was…inappropriately exciting and he eyed the prince with new interest. "Gumball, if you want to wrestle, then how about tonight you and I.."

"SHUT IT!" PG roared once again.

Then he continued "I love you, you idiot. Don't you know that by now? The cure—I just wanted to help. I've seen the lonely look you get in your eyes sometimes. Sometimes you're so far away that I feel like even if I can grasp you in my hands, I can't touch you."

Marshall opened his mouth to speak but Gumball silenced him with a look.

"I can't live forever. I know that. Believe me, I would if I could.. but with this cure, you don't have to either.."

"You made me a death potion?" Marshall raised an eyebrow. That was just like the prince.

"No you dunder-head! I already said- it's a cure for Vampire-ness!" He was losing his patience with the king.

When Marshall didn't reply Gumball huffed and then started again.

"You know..It's not completely finished yet but I'm quite sure it's almost done..With your cooperation it should be completed promptly. Anyway, after drinking it you'll cease to have all your vampire symptoms. In short, you will be able to finish a natural life instead of being forced to linger on endlessly. Your body will age and you'll lose the ability to float and so on.."

Gumball frowned. It wasn't coming out as he had rehearsed. It was supposed to be an romantic speech. Instead he was sure it sounded like a bad thing. He bit his lip nervously, trying not to meet Marshall's eyes. Would he be mad?

"Wow Gumball..are you..are you serious?" Marshall floated over to the edge of the cliff and sat down with his head in his hands. He wasn't sure how to reply. He wasn't prepared for something like that.

"A-are you mad?" Gumball asked timidly. "I just.. just wanted to give you a choice."

"Its crazy." Marshall said after a long pause. "Will it really work?" there was an unusual quiver in his voice.

"Yes, well that's the theory. I have adequate reasoning to believe so."

"Wow.." Marshall said again, flatly. He tossed a pebble absently off the rock. "You must have put a lot of work into this."

"Marsh, my feelings about you are real. You're right, I'll probably never be able to understand completely—the immense loneliness you must feel—but I'll do my best to try! I want to be there for you!" Gumball felt thick tears beginning to well up in his eyes and he blinked them back embarrassedly.

"Thanks Gummy." Marshall smiled, more gently. He rejoined the prince and gave him a soft kiss on the fore head. "It's a lot to take in..you know? I never thought… Well, I really appreciate your feelings.."

"Y-yeah.." Gumball stuttered nervouosly."So if you want to ever..you know.." He kicked a pebble gently with his toes.

"You mean if I can't live without you?" Marshall poked atthe prince's flushed cheeks mockingly."Modest, aren't we?"

"I just meant-!"

"Relax Gumball.." Marshall grinned again. "That very well just may be."

..

...

chapter end/ a little more to come

hope you're all still enjoying!-i have the ending roughly planned outw lets see-thank you for your continued support/reviews!