In my typical dream, I was sitting behind a tree in the middle of a meadow, and as usual, waiting for her to reappear.

The area, with its verdant lawn and colorful flowers arranged to form a little meadow surrounded by dense green trees, was undoubtedly a scene from a fantasy. Under the lone tree that leaned slightly over a little lake was his favorite place to sit. A swinging wooden chair for two persons was located to the right of the tree.

The extremely serene ambiance was what made this seem like such a fantasy to Finn the human. He had no one to save, no monsters to battle, and no one to give him instructions. Even though he was happy with his life, he also enjoyed this type of environment.

Feeling the breeze on his face, he joyously removed his hat and let the wind sweep the white piece of fabric away. He watches it float around, anticipating this fantasy's primary addition with great anticipation.

"Finn!!" Yelling a harmonious female voice.

When I heard my name, I got up right away and turned to face her side of the field, smiling broadly as I heard her lovely voice. There she was, the most gorgeous girl I have ever seen, racing towards me and grinning sweetly as her gorgeous long brown hair trailed behind her.

She leaped into my arms with sheer delight as soon as she drew near, her face nestled into my chest while her arm wrapped around me securely. Reciprocating with a gentle embrace, I twirled us around, her laughter filling the air before letting my body fall back onto the soft grass. Looking up, the sun's rays caressed her beautiful brown hair cascading down her shoulder as she gazed down at me with radiant eyes and a tender smile. My heart fluttered endlessly at the sight of her, her presence a soothing balm to my soul. Propping myself up on my elbow, I drew her closer with my arm around her waist, burying my face in her neck to inhale the intoxicating scent that I had grown to crave. The world seemed to fade away in that moment, leaving only the two of us lost in each other's embrace. Time seemed to stand still as we lay there, wrapped up in each other's arms, content in the simple joy of being together.

"Hey Ava," I whispered softly, my eyes filled with longing as I drew her closer into my embrace. With a tender movement, I guided her to lie beneath me, ensuring every inch of her was enveloped in my warmth. Pressing my nose against her neck, I encircled her waist protectively with my arms, reveling in the profound sense of peace and fulfillment that her presence brought me. "How's my favorite girl doing?" I inquired affectionately; my voice laced with adoration for the one who held my heart for years.

If it had been anyone else, I might have felt self-conscious and distant, but Ava was unlike anyone I had ever known.

Ever since Jake and I teamed up with Marceline to help in taking down a group of ancient vampires, my life had become a whirlwind of non-stop adventures, leaving me with little time to rest and even less time to spend with Ava. She kept asking me to recount the tales of my latest adventures, just like I used to, but there was always a new mission clamoring for my attention. The cycle continued for two months, leaving me torn between the call of excitement and the yearning for a quiet moment with Ava.

After my recent escapade with the extraterrestrial being who grants wishes and thanks to Jake's clever wish, we were able to escape another dangerous situation and stumble upon a significant revelation that left me eager to prioritize spending quality time with Ava. I made it clear to Jake that I wanted to wake up naturally, determined to savor every moment with her.

As she wrapped her arms around my neck, running her fingers through my hair because she knows I love it when she does that, she greeted me with a warm smile. "I'm fine as always, Finny, and I missed you too," she said softly. Her touch was gentle, comforting, as if trying to convey her emotions through the simple act of intertwining her fingers in my hair. "So now, can you tell me what happened, please? I can't wait anymore. Pretty please."

Feeling her arms around me, I couldn't resist the urge to pull away slightly, meeting her gaze. Her eyes, wide and pleading, were like those of an adorable puppy, tugging at my heartstrings. They were even cuter than Jake's, an actual dog, and she knew exactly how to use them to her advantage. "Okay, Ava-bear, just stop it with the puppy dog eyes already before I die from cuteness," I teased, a smile playing on my lips. Gently disentangling myself from her embrace, I sat back on my knees, watching as excitement danced in her eyes.

"Come on, let's go to the swing," I suggested, to which her eyes lit up with joy. Eagerly, she hopped to her feet and pulled me up, leading the way to our favorite spot under the tree. After she guided me onto the swing, she positioned herself with her back against my chest, fitting perfectly into the curve of my arms as I encircled her waist. Resting my nose against the soft skin of her neck, a profound sense of calm enveloped me once more. Holding her close felt like finding my place in the world, a sense of belonging that I had never experienced before. Her hand found its way into my hair once again, a soothing gesture that grounded us both in the moment.

"Okay, it all started when Marcy came to us asking for help...."

After a few minutes of recounting my adventure story, I watched as her eyes sparkled with excitement, her energy practically palpable as she bounced in my arms. In response, I instinctively tightened my hold around her, anchoring her in place.

"Oh glob, that sounded so exciting and cool! I can't believe Marcy was able to kill the Vampire King!" she exclaimed with glee, her voice filled with admiration and awe.

Chuckling at her infectious enthusiasm, I nodded along, reflecting, "Yeah, I couldn't believe it either, but I saw it with my own eyes." I sheepishly rubbed the back of my neck, a sense of pride developing within me. "I guess I have some pretty awesome friends."

With a sweet smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts, she declared, "Awesome people know other awesome people. That means you're in the awesome people group, Finny."

Her words warmed my heart, and I couldn't resist teasing back, "Yeah, and by that logic, you're awesome too, Ava-bear." Leaning in slightly, I rubbed my cheek against hers, a gesture that elicited a joyful giggle from her.

As Ava's eyes twinkled with curiosity, she prodded, "And what about the other adventures?"

I was about to launch into the next story when the faint sound of bells pierced through the air. It was the dreaded sound that signified the end of my time in this dreamlike meadow. The bells chimed from the direction of the dark forest visible in the distance, signaling that it was time to wake up, though I was never ready to leave. Glancing at Ava's face, I saw a look of utter sadness mirrored in her eyes.

As she made a feeble attempt to rise and distance herself from me, a sorrowful pout adorned her face. However, I couldn't bear to let her go just yet. I held her firmly in my arms, nestling my face into the fragrant tresses of her hair.

"I'm not ready to leave yet," I murmured, recalling the significant purpose of my initial visit. "There's still so much I need to tell you."

"Finny, I don't want you to leave either," she uttered, turning her head to place a gentle kiss on my cheek. "But you know the consequences if you stay. I'm certain you wouldn't want a repeat of what happened before, and neither would I."

The memory of the last time I overstayed crept in—the sudden fading of my form when the bells ceased their pealing, accompanied by a throbbing headache that clouded half a day with misery. We then discovered that Ava experienced the same distress whenever I lingered too long. I could endure it, but the mere thought of her suffering on my account was unbearable.

"I know." I sighed in resignation. "But I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Okay," she responded with a tinge of sorrow.

Her despondency tugged at my heartstrings. I couldn't leave her like this. "Come on, Ava-bear, where's that pretty smile?" I coaxed, nuzzling her cheek affectionately. "I can't leave without seeing it. Come on, can you do that for me please. Just a little one." She shook her head, wearing an adorable pout that melted my resolve. "OK if you want to do this the hard way then I have no choice but to use plan B" A mischievous grin played on my lips. Perplexed for a moment, she soon realized my intentions as my hands grazed her stomach. She tried to run, but I swiftly caught her, tumbling to the ground and initiating a playful tickle-fest. She struggled to contain her laughter, her joyful giggles filling the meadow like a melodious symphony.

After a brief tickling session, I showered her face with kisses as she giggled uncontrollably. "There's that beautiful smile, Ava-bear. My Ava-bear looks better with a smile." As the bells grew louder, signaling my impending departure, I planted a final kiss on her cheek, rose to my feet, and dashed towards the tree line.

"Bye Finny!" she called out, granting me one last glimpse of her radiant smile.

I found solace in the knowledge that she was no longer crestfallen, yet a pang of sadness lingered within me, knowing her longing would return once I was gone. Her voice echoed in my ears as I ventured into the shadowy forest, the darkness enveloping me.

I slowly opened my eyes, greeted by the sight of the wooden ceiling in the cozy tree house. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, prompting me to blink a few times to adjust to the brightness. After a moment, I sat up, the sound of my bones cracking softly as I stretched and yawned.

"Mornin' man," Jake's voice called out from his makeshift bed nestled inside a wardrobe's drawer, a yawn punctuating his words as he stretched out the last remnants of sleep.

"Morning" I replied, meeting his gaze. "Just getting up now?"

"Yeah, man. Figured I'd catch a few extra winks since you decided to sleep in. Gotta get rested up before we head out on our search," Jake explained, a hint of seriousness creeping into his tone as hopped out of his bed and approached me. "Did you talk to her?"

I couldn't help but feel a blush creeping up my cheeks at the mention of her name before a pang of regret washed over me. "I did, but I didn't get the chance to tell her," I admitted with a hint of sadness.

"It's okay, man," Jake reassured me, offering a comforting pat on my back. "I think it's for the best. You know, just in case we don't..."

"We'll find her," I interjected firmly, refusing to entertain the idea of anything less. The determination surged within me as I sprang to my feet, reaching for my clothes to change out of my pajamas. "Let's head out right now."

Meanwhile, Ava remained sitting beneath the branches of the same tree she had grown accustomed to. The feeling of solitude weighed heavily on her heart as she watched Finn depart, leaving her to face her fears alone, tears trickling down her cheeks each time. Loneliness consumed her, driving her to seek refuge in the darkness of the forest that bordered her side of the meadow.

As she crossed the threshold into the shadowy depths, a sense of emptiness enveloped her, drowning out all other thoughts and emotions. Only when she sensed Finn's presence approaching did she reluctantly return to the clearing, dreading the inevitable return to her solitary existence in the depths of the forest. Her only solace lay in the hope that one day she might awaken from this ongoing nightmare of desolation, just as Finn routinely did, freeing her from the endless cycle of loneliness she endured.

🌹~~~~~~~~~~🌹

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