•Fionna•

"Ugh... Are we there yet...?" Breakfast Princess whines as we trudge through the woods of Ooo.

We've been walking through these woods for awhile now since we successfully escaped Ashley's compound.

The second we were outside the compound's walls, BP and I wept for joy. We were free again!

Of course, that joy lasted approximately five seconds before we discovered we were inside the Ooo woods. Apparently, Ashley's compound is hidden deeply within the woods, which is probably one of reasons no one ever found it.

The woods of Ooo are probably the last place I'd want as an escape route, but anything's better than staying in that compound for another minute.

"No, BP, we aren't there yet, seeing as there are still woods all around us," I reply as we trudge along, trying to find our way home.

Breakfast Princess huffs. "Of course," she grumbles before she kicks a pebble across the grass and dirt beneath our feet. "I hate nature! It's so annoying and tiring! My feet are killing me...!"

"Mine are too. Don't worry though, I'm sure we'll be home soon. To be honest, I'm just glad we were able to escape."

BP looks at me as we walk. "Good point. I'm just anxious to get back home to my kingdom, king-sized bed, servants, daily breakfasts in bed, and closet full of clothes and shoes. I miss home!" she says with a sigh.

I sigh in return. "Me too, BP, me too," I echo her complaints, because they are mine as well.

We continue to trudge through the dangerous woods, and I make sure to constantly be on alert for suspicious and dangerous-looking things.

Several more minutes in, and nothing has presented itself threatening to us.

Until I hear the rustling.

I hold my hand out to stop Breakfast Princess from walking as I stop as well. I listen closely for it again.

Rustle. Rustle. Rustle.

BP's eyes widen as I give her a look.

"Did you hear that?" I whisper.

BP nods.

I keep my arm held out in front of her. "Stay behind me," I whisper as I begin to search for where the rustling is coming from. "It might be dangerous."

Breakfast Princess audibly gulps.

"And be sure to be quiet," I add.

BP goes silent.

Then, I listen again.

Rustle. Rustle. Rustle.

I use my other hand to make a shh sign at Breakfast Princes with my fingers before I slowly and quietly begin walking toward the direction of the sound.

Rustle. Rustle. Rustle.

It's coming from behind a group of trees.

I keep walking towards it.

As I near even more, I feel my heart rate speed up and my palms grow sweaty.

I make sure to keep my breathing as quiet as possible as I approach the group of trees.

I also make sure to be ready to fight whatever might jump out at us from those trees.

I already kicked ass today, and I sure as hell can do it again.

I hear Breakfast Princess's breath catch as the rustling grows even louder, which means it's even closer.

The trees begin to move, as if something was trying to pass through them.

Then, they part to reveal the source of the noise, which immediately runs straight into me thereafter.

I am ready to push whatever it is off me and give it a swift butt-kicking before my eyes widen as I catch sight of it.

Of who, actually.

"Fionna?"

BP has a late reaction; she emits a high-pitched scream, obviously expecting to see some hideous monster or something of that sort, but she stops once she realizes who it is, her brain catching up with her eyes. "Oh," she mutters in surprise, her cheeks now bright pink with embarrassment.

I nearly cry out at the sight of Marshall Lee Abadeer standing right in front of me.

He has taken a step back though, now getting a good look at me. It's something he hasn't done for three days now.

My heart nearly leaps with joy from my chest when Finn and Marceline emerge from the trees behind Marshall. Their eyes widen in relief and happiness when they catch sight of me.

"Fionna!" Marshall says again, shouting it in happiness this time before he suddenly wraps his arms around me in a hug, pressing me right against him. I hear him sigh contently into my shoulder.

"Thank God you're alright!" Marshall cries in relief as he keeps hugging me, never seeming to want to let go. I don't want him to either.

My arms immediately wrap around him and hug him back. I cry out in joy, hugging my amazing and loving boyfriend who I missed dearly.

Suddenly, Marshall lets go and his face nears mine, clearly implying what he's about to do and what he wants.

I want it to, but I stop him, his lips just short of being pressed against mine. My hand is on his chest, to stop him from moving. "You don't want to do that. I'm smelly and dirty because I haven't showered in three days and my breath probably stinks--"

I don't get to finish as Marshall's lips are suddenly against mine, giving me a very passionate kiss. I gasp in surprise before I begin to kiss back, feeling his arms wrap around me.

We stay in this passionate embrace before I suddenly hear someone clear their throat.

Marshall and I reluctantly pull apart to see Marceline tapping her foot impatiently as Finn eyes us with crossed arms.

"Um, what are we? Chopped liver?" Marcy demands as she throws her arms in the air. "Fionna Mertens, you get your ass over here right now and give your best friend a hug! Oh, and you can hug Finn too, I guess. But only after you hug me!"

Finn rolls his eyes playfully. I laugh before I detach myself from Marshall and run to Marceline. We immediately smile before we hug each other tightly.

"You beautiful, beautiful bitch," Marceline cries into me as she hugs me. "You scared the shit outta me! I was so worried! You're my best friend, Fionna, and I was absolutely terrified that something happened to you! Thank God you're okay!"

I giggle into her shoulder. "It's alright, Marce. I'm okay now and I'm safe and sound. You can stop worrying because I'm not going anywhere. Not again," I whisper as soothingly as I can.

Marceline and I pull apart slightly before she gives me a look, raising an eyebrow. "Promise?" she questions.

I smile. "Promise."

"Good," Marceline stops hugging me and she steps back, her hands now on her hips. "You better mean it too, because I'm gonna hold you to that, Mertens."

I roll my eyes playfully. "Seriously?" I say with a laugh.

"You better believe it."

That is so Marceline.

Suddenly, I am engulfed in another tight hug. This one from my brother.

I immediately hug him back, feeling nothing but relieved that I get to see my brother again. Of course, I can't wait to see my other brother again as well as my sister. I smile at the thought of Cake and Jake waiting for me at home, which I have no doubt they are.

"I missed you so much, sis," Finn whispers and it sounds like he might actually cry. "I think that was the longest we've ever been apart. When we were kids, we were practically attached at the hip, and we kind of still are now, so when you were gone for three days and nobody had any idea if you were okay or not..." He voice trails off as he emits a shaky breath.

"I understand. I missed you very much too, Finn. It tore me apart not seeing you for three days. It also tore me apart thinking about how miserable you and the others must have been when I was gone," I whisper back, hugging him tighter. He gladly returns the favor.

"I'm just glad you're okay," Finn says before we stop hugging as he turns and nods his head at Breakfast Princess, who is just standing there and awkwardly watching our reunion. "What about her?"

"BP's fine, and so am I. I mean, we're a little roughed up, sure, but overall we're okay," I explain, hoping they won't press the matter of our well being. The last thing I need is everyone going crazy over my current state.

So, yeah, I'm thinking I don't mention Ashley's branding on my stomach.

"A little roughed up?" Marshall repeats, shaking his head as he looks at Breakfast Princess and me. "You two look really bad! Like you've been to hell and back, which you probably have been, considering what Ashley's like," He grits his teeth and narrows his eyes at the mention of his crazy ex-girlfriend. "Seriously, you guys look awful. The second we clear you with the police and get you back home, Fionna, you are immediately taking a shower and then a nap, no questions asked. You need to rest and relax, especially after whatever that horrible witch put you through."

I smile at my boyfriend's caring nature. "Thanks, Marsh. I'll be sure to do that. But really, it's not that bad!" I say, trying my best to deter him from the topic.

BP's eyes widen. "Are you serious?! It was horrible, Fionna! Each day was worst than the last! Especially for you; I swear, never in my life have I ever seen someone get tossed around and beat up like you had during those three days. Ashley was nothing but a horrible menace to the both of us, and here you are saying it's 'not that bad'! Don't try to shrug off our suffering like it's nothing," she says, her eyes narrowed.

I send her a glare. Thanks a lot, BP.

That immediately gets Marshall, Marceline, and Finn's attention.

Marshall doesn't waste any time. "Fionna, what did Ashley do to you?" he asks, and I know he means business.

There's definitely no getting out of this. Even if I try to avoid the topic, Marshall will just pry it out of me eventually, and if he won't I know Marceline or Finn will.

Either way, I'll be forced to tell them.

I sigh before I give Marshall a look. "Fine, I'll tell you everything, I promise. But, just not right this second. I mean, BP and I just got freed and we just found you guys and we're really exhausted--"

Marshall cuts me off. "Of course, I understand. As I said before, you need to rest, especially after this whole ordeal," he says sympathetically. "But, the second you're done resting and relaxing, I expect you to tell us all what happened. We care about you, and we have the right to know. Okay?"

I nod and mentally sigh in relief at how understanding and gentle Marshall is being about this. "Okay. Deal," I reply with a warm smile.

Marshall smiles back just as warmly. "Good," he says contently before he wraps an arm around my shoulders, "then let's go home."

——————————

After finally escaping the tree fort in which I had to endure about three whole hours of crying and hugging from Cake, Jake, and the rest of my worried friends, Marshall and I agreed we wanted alone time and headed over to he and Marceline's place. Everyone else decided to stay back at the tree fort.

Luckily, just before we left, I was able to sneak up to my room and grab something I was supposed to give Marshall three days ago.

The second Marshall closes the front door to his house, I grab his hand and pull him over to the couch.

"Hm?" he asks with a questioning glance, an eyebrow raised.

I point at the couch. "Sit."

Marshall sits and looks up at me. "What is the meaning of this, Miss Mertens?" he asks in a proper tone of voice. I giggle at that and roll my eyes.

"Oh quit it, you," I say playfully before I reveal the gift bag from behind my back. "I'm trying to give you your Valentine's Day present, if you'll shut up and let me."

Marshall chuckles before he smiles warmly at me. "I know I've told you this and you've probably heard this a million times from everyone else, but I'm so glad you're home safe. I love you so much," he whispers, starting to get emotional.

I scoff and roll my eyes again. "Stop with the sappy I-love-you and I'm-glad-you're-okay talk! I'm trying to be the sappy and sweet one here!" I snap at him playfully. He laughs and I continue.

"Behold, your amazing and one-of-a-kind Valentine's Day present!" I say as I thrust the bag out at him. This time, I am the one to smile warmly. "Happy late Valentine's Day, Marshy. I love you and I really hope you love the present I got you."

Marshall smiles before he takes the bag from my hands. "Oooh! What is it? Is it a sexy outfit?" he questions hopefully, his eyes widened. "Please say it's a sexy outfit. Although that would technically be for you more than it would be for me...," He pauses for a second before he shakes his head. "Actually, no, scratch that--that would be a present for me more than it would be for you. Definitely."

I snort. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Lee," I say before I smirk. "Besides, not everything I give you has to be sexual." I wink at him.

Marshall's cheeks flush pink as his eyes widen even more at my cheeky comment. "Yes," he whispers, his voice breathy and uneven. "Not everything, only most things. Definitely most things."

"Just take your gift out of the damn bag already! You're making me crazy over here!" I whine.

"Alright, alright, Your Majesty! I'm going...!" Marshall whines back before he reaches his hand inside the bag.

Then he pulls out his gift.

Marshall's playful smile and demeanor immediately vanish the very second he lays his eyes on Hamba. His eyes widen and his mouth comes open slightly.

I awkwardly smile at him and do a little bit of jazz-hands. "Surprise...!" I say, suddenly feeling nervous.

Marshall looks up at me slowly before he looks down at Hamba. Then he looks at me again and down at Hamba again.

Then he looks at me again.

This goes on for awhile.

Marshall's eyes land on me again and this time they stay glued to me. "H-How...? I don't...," His voice trails off slightly before he swallows. "I-I don't understand... How did you...?"

I wave it off. "Oh, it's nothing really; Finn and I just went to a fair for witches and wizards when we told you we were helping clean up a village. We searched the entire fair and questioned practically every witch and wizard there was to find Hamba. And trust me, we went through hell and back trying to get her. Apparently, witches and wizards drive hard bargains," I explain, clasping my hands together.

Marshall blinks. "You... When you and Finn said you were going to the Crystal Mountains...?" he asks.

"We actually were, we just weren't going for the reason you thought we were. It turns out, the witches and wizards of Ooo host a trading fair every year right before Valentine's Day, so once I found that out I knew it was my chance. Finn decided to help me because I told him about my plan to get Hamba back. We already knew that Ash and Ashley sold Hambo and Hamba to a witch, so once I found out about the W&W Crystal Fair, Finn and I just put two and two together; if a witch bought Hambo and Hamba, she'd be at the Fair," I tell him with a shrug.

"So you tracked her down..." Marshall mumbles in realization, still surprised.

I nod. "That's exactly what we did. It wasn't easy to get Hamba from her, though--it was actually extremely difficult. But, we managed and were able to get Hamba after we made a trade."

"So, all that stuff you brought with you to the Crystal Mountains was to trade?" Marshall asks.

"Yeah," I reply.

"Well, what did you trade for Hamba?"

I scratch the back of my neck. "Well... actually, it was more complicated than that..." I mumble.

Marshall raises an eyebrow. "Complicated how?" he questions, curious.

I sigh. "Glob, it's giving me a headache just thinking about it...," I mumble before letting out a breath. "In order to get Hamba, we had to go all the way across the Fair to get a vase to trade for a kite to trade for a scented candle to trade for a ship in a bottle to trade for a lamp to trade for an ornament to finally trade for Hamba. It's a long story, but I think I just gave you the summed up version."

Marshall is silent, his eyes on me.

I run a hand through my hair. "Of course, once Finn and I finally got ahold of what the witch selling Hamba wanted, she suddenly didn't want it anymore so we had to trade her something else," I say with a sigh, remembering how pissed off I was when the witch suddenly didn't want the thing we traveled across the entire Fair for.

Then again, the ornament turned out to be a fake, but either way it didn't change how pissed I was.

"Well, what'd you trade her?" Marshall asks, no longer silent.

I smile. "Man, I must really love you, Marshall Lee," I say with a laugh as I shake my head. "I kind of traded my sword for Hamba, because it turned out the witch that had her was into swords. So, she saw mine and she liked it, I guess." I shrug.

Marshall's eyes widen yet again, only even wider this time.

His jaw drops before he speaks as he stands up from the couch quickly. "You what?!" he shouts in complete shock.

"Yeah, I know you're surprised. Finn was too. He said I was crazy to trade my sword for Hamba," I say, rolling my eyes at my twin brother's reaction.

"And he was right--you were totally crazy for doing that!" Marshall shout, still in shock. "You're actually telling me that you traded your beloved sword, the sword you've had ever since you were ten and killed your first monster, the sword with so many great memories... for an old stuffed animal that's not even yours? Fi, I love you, but that's really crazy! And stupid! I mean, you loved that sword!"

I smile warmly at Marshall before I gently take his hand in my own. "I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Finn when he said that to me," I whisper, looking my boyfriend straight in the eyes. "Yes, I did love that sword, but I love you more."

Marshall goes completely silent again. And, to my surprise, tears suddenly fill his eyes as he looks at me.

Suddenly, after seconds of silence, Marshall puts Hamba down on the couch and pulls me into a hug, holding me close. Surprised, I just wrap my arms around him and hug back.

"Thank you," Marshall whispers, and his voice is filled with so much emotion it is causing me to get teary-eyed as well.

"It was nothing, really," I whisper back, still hugging him close. "I was just getting a Valentine's Day gift for my amazing boyfriend who does all these sweet things for me already."

Then Marshall pulls back, his arms still around me. "No, it's not nothing, Fionna. This really means so much to me. You really have no idea how much this means to me that you did this for me," he sniffles before he uses one hand to wipe his eyes. "Really, thank you."

I smile at him yet again, feeling overwhelming love for him. "You're welcome, Marshy," I reply happily.

So for the rest of the night, we stay together, loving each other and extremely happy—extremely relieved—that the both of us are just fine.