Born of Two Worlds Chapter 4

23rd October

Princess Bubblegum turned over restlessly in her sleep. One eye cracked open and looked over at the clock. It was only five o’clock. Her stomach grumbled unpleasantly. She buried her face in the pillow with a most unladylike groan.

Marceline yawned, opening her eyes sleepily. She turned over to face the Princess. “You okay, Bon?” she asked.

“I don’t feel well,” mumbled Princess Bubblegum. Marceline was wide awake at once.

“When did this start?” she asked.

“When I woke up a few minutes ago,” muttered Princess Bubblegum. She shuddered as her stomach gave another unpleasant lurch.

“Poor Bon,” murmured Marceline, stroking the Princess’ hair, “Haven’t been having much luck recently, have you?” Princess Bubblegum shook her head miserably.

Suddenly she sat up quickly and bolted from the room. The Beaverel gave a startled squeak, darting from his place at the foot of the bed to hide under the chest of drawers. Marceline darted after her, stopping outside the bathroom door. “You ok, Bonnie?” she asked concernedly, pushing open the door. Princess Bubblegum coughed and spluttered.

“Hack....hack....no,” she moaned, clutching her stomach. Marceline smiled sympathetically, mopping at her mouth with a damp cloth.

“Come on, let’s get you back to bed,” she replied, carefully scooping the Princess up in her arms. She noted that the young woman was shivering. “I’ll call Dr. Dextrose.”

After ladling the Princess back into bed she pulled out Princess Bubblegum’s mobile phone from her handbag at the foot of the bed and dialled Dr. Dextrose’s number.

“Hello, Dr. Surgery, Dr. Dextrose speaking,” came Dr. Dextrose’s response.

“Hey, doc, it’s Marceline, I need you to come over as soon as you can,” said Marceline, “Bonnie’s taken ill this morning, throwing up and stuff.”

“Alright, your majesty, I’ll be up as soon as I can,” replied Dr. Dextrose.

“Ok, I’ll have Peppermint meet you at the main hall,” explained Marceline, “See you soon.” She ended the call, setting the phone down on the bedside table as she hovered next to the Princess.

“He’ll be up soon,” she murmured, leaning down and kissing Princess Bubblegum’s temple. Princess Bubblegum nodded.

“Thanks, Mar,” she mumbled into the pillow. Marceline lightly stroked the young woman’s hair as she waited for the doctor to arrive.

Scarcely half an hour had passed when there came a knock at the door. Peppermint Butler opened the door and announced the Doctor.

“I understand you’re not feeling well,” he said sympathetically, pulling out his stethoscope. Princess Bubblegum nodded. He listened to her heart and lungs. The Beaverel watched from under the chest of drawers as the Doctor examined the Princess.

“Well, your heart rate has calmed down since last time,” he continued as he palpated her stomach. Princess Bubblegum cringed. She had never mentioned that to Marceline, not wanting her to worry.

“Well, I can’t seem to find anything in particular,” he concluded, “Other than a little weight gain perhaps but that shouldn’t be causing the nausea. It’s probably a twenty four hour bug and you’d do just as well to let it pass.” Marceline said nothing as the Doctor left. Something he’d said had struck a chord, leaving her deep in thought.

‘Weight gain, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps,’ she thought as she counted off the symptoms on her fingers. Suddenly she dashed over to the chest of drawers and began rifling through the contents.

“Marceline, what are you doing?” asked the Princess from the bed. Marceline didn’t answer as she finally found what she was looking for, Princess Bubblegum’s heart monitor. She carried it back over to the bed. The Beaverel hopped up onto her shoulder and watched as she held it up to the Princess’ stomach. What she saw made her undead heart do a somersault in her chest. A smile slowly crept across her face. She couldn’t believe it.

“What is it?” asked Princess Bubblegum, looking curiously up at the Vampire Queen, snapping her out of her reverie. Wordlessly she handed the heart monitor to the Princess, still grinning broadly. Princess Bubblegum gasped when she saw the two smaller hearts beating next to her own. She looked up at Marceline, the news taking a moment to sink in. At last she spoke.

“W-we’re going to be parents?” she asked. Marceline nodded. Slowly a smile spread across her face and a few tears of happiness gathered at the corners of her eyes. “Our wish,” she murmured, taking the Vampire Queen’s hands in her own. Marceline nodded, still smiling. She kissed the Princess affectionately, nuzzling the top of her head.

“I love you, Bonnie,” she murmured.

“I love you too, Mar-Mar,” the Princess murmured in response. Marceline rubbed the Princess’ stomach gently. The Beaverel scampered down Marceline’s arm and curled up on the Princess’ stomach as though he could sense the lives starting to take shape there.

“I’d better get my little mother-to-be some breakfast,” said Marceline gently, “What would you like?”

“I don’t know, Mar,” replied Princess Bubblegum, “I’m still feeling pretty rough.”

“You’d better have something light though,” said Marceline with a wink, “Remember, you’re eating for three now.” Princess Bubblegum smiled.

“Maybe a bit of toast then,” she murmured.

“Bit of toast, coming up,” smiled Marceline before darting out of the room. She almost bumped into Peppermint Butler in the corridor as she darted off in the direction of the kitchens.

“Is her Majesty alright?” he asked. He let out a startled cry as Marceline swung him around.

“She’s better than alright, Peps,” she grinned, “Way better than alright.”

“Please, your Majesty, you’re making me dizzy,” cried Peppermint Butler, “What’s going on?”

“Bonnie and I are going to be parents,” sang Marceline. It took a moment for Peppermint Butler to realise what the Vampire Queen was talking about.

“What? Seriously?” he asked. Marceline nodded. “But how?” asked Peppermint.

“Well, when two girls are married and in love and want to have a baby, they make a wish to the Life Giver,” teased Marceline. She dashed off to the kitchens before Peppermint Butler could say anymore. She paused at the door. “Oh, hey, don’t be telling anyone yet,” she called over her shoulder, “I think we should leave that to Bonnie.” She winked before opening the doorway and flying down the main staircase.

She burst in through the kitchen doors, making most of the staff jump.

“Oh, your Majesty,” said René, “You’re up early. Can I get you anything?”

“Some toast please, René,” smiled Marceline.

“You’re very cheerful this morning, your Majesty,” observed Yvette, “Is there a special occasion?”

“A very special one,” grinned Marceline, “I can’t say anything right now though.”

“Here is the toast, your Majesty,” said René, handing her a tray with two slices of buttery toast on it.

“Thanks René,” replied Marceline, “See you later.” With that she flew out of the room and back up to the royal bedchambers. She opened the door and set the tray down on the bedside table.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

“A little better, thanks,” replied Princess Bubblegum. She tickled the Beaverel under his chin absentmindedly. He chattered happily, nuzzling her fingers.

25th November

Princess Bubblegum sat in the living room by the fire. She was wearing a loose fitting dress to accommodate the slight bump that was just starting to show. The Beaverel was curled up in the basket of wool that stood at the side of her armchair. She hummed to herself as the knitting needles flickered in the firelight. She held up the little pink bootee, smiling calmly to herself. It was snowing outside and the flakes fell in thick clumps. There would be a blizzard before long if the weather instruments in her lab were anything to go by.

The door opened and Marceline came in, pulling off her coat and depositing it on the sofa. She crossed the room to where the Princess was sitting and sat down on the arm of the chair. She kissed the Princess affectionately, resting one hand lightly on her stomach. The Princess shivered.

“Yikes, Mar, your hands are freezing,” she gasped. Marceline chuckled, lightly brushing her fingertips over the Princess’ stomach, earning several more shivers from the pink monarch.

“Why don’t you warm me up then?” she murmured. The Princess giggled, tugging the Vampire Queen onto her lap, kissing her lovingly, looping her arms up around the pale woman’s neck. Marceline rested her hands on the Princess’ back, fervently returning the kiss. They pulled back after a few moments to let the Princess breathe.

“So, when are we going to tell everyone?” asked Marceline.

“Well, I want to tell the guys first,” replied Princess Bubblegum, “I think it would be better to make a royal announcement later on, perhaps in the New Year.”

“Why leave it so late on?” asked Marceline.

“Mar, it’s only a few months away,” laughed Princess Bubblegum, “Besides, it’s something of a tradition in the Candy Kingdom.”

“Well, if it’s a tradition,” smiled Marceline, “But when do you want to tell the guys?”

“Anytime we like,” replied Princess Bubblegum, “We could invite them over tomorrow.”

“Sound good to me,” smiled Marceline, kissing the Princess lovingly.
The following morning Finn, Jake, Lady and Flame Princess made their way over to the Candy Kingdom.

“I wonder what Peebs and Marcy want to tell us,” said Finn.

“Maybe they figured out what their wish was,” replied Jake.

“그녀가 나를 부를 때 공주는 정말 흥분 소리,” added Lady.

“Yeah, she sounded really happy when she called me too,” replied Flame Princess. The banana guards let them in and escorted them to the main hall where Princess Bubblegum and Marceline were sitting on one of the divans.

“공주,” Lady cried happily, “당신은 임신!” Jake’s eyes widened in surprise at Lady’s words.
“Oh my Glob, she’s right,” he grinned.

“Wait, what?” asked Finn who hadn’t understood a word Lady said.

“Dude, she just said that PB is pregnant,” replied Jake. Lady hurried over to the Princess and the Vampire Queen.

“Princess, Marcy, I am so happy for you both,” cried Lady before lapsing back into Korean, “아기는 언제 오죠?”

“Babies,” Princess Bubblegum corrected her with a smile, “Dr. Princess reckons they’ll be due in around 23rd June.

“That’s wonderful,” smiled Finn, “I guess your wishes came true after all.” Princess Bubblegum nodded, smiling.

“I’m so happy for you both,” smiled Flame Princess, “Do you have any ideas for names?”

“Not yet,” admitted Marceline.

“I guess it is still a little early,” replied Flame Princess, “But this is fantastic news.”

“Bonnie and I can’t wait,” beamed Marceline, smiling at her Princess who smiled back, resting her head on her shoulder, “Do you guys want to stay for dinner? We could make it a special celebration night.”

“That’d be awesome,” replied Finn as they followed the Princess and the Vampire Queen into the living room while they waited for dinner.