Finn sat atop the tree house staring into the night sky; the cold autumn breeze nipping at his exposed flesh and blowing his shaggy blonde hair around. It typically didn't get too cold in the grasslands during this time of the year, but a recent increase in rain had made the past few weeks fairly chilly.

The young hero shivered as an unexpected gust of wind blew into him from behind, and he was now regretting his decision to go outside in just his pajamas. He had finally outgrown his old footsy P.J.'s, and was now wearing a simple pair of plaid pajama bottoms and one of his "boy blue" shirts.

He could have easily gotten up and gone back inside, but he knew Jake would be waiting for him, and Finn really wasn't in the mood to listen to his brother futilely attempt to cheer him up. He hadn't really been in the mood for much of anything recently.

The young hero had recently turned seventeen, and as he got older he had begun to realize how truly alone he was in the world. Of course, he still had Jake and his other friends, but even still… It was becoming increasingly difficult for him to relate to those around him, and he couldn't help but feel as if he didn't truly belong anywhere in the Land of Ooo.

He tried to talk with Jake about it, but his older brother had never been very good at giving advice, especially about serious subjects.

And Princess Bubblegum…

Finn stopped himself when he found his thoughts wandering to the ruler of the Candy Kingdom. He didn't want to think about her, but his guilt ridden brain wouldn't let him forget about what happened so easily.

He then sighed as he closed his eyes and thought back to the argument the two of them had earlier that day.

-Earlier that day in Princess Bubblegum's castle-

"… I know how hard it is for you, Finn… But please, you must realize that you're only hurting yourself by thinking about it so much…"

Princess Bubblegum placed a gentle hand on Finn's shoulder, hoping she would be able to calm him down…They had been having a rather heated argument.

"Finn… Please, I'm just trying to help you…"

She had never seen the young hero act so unlike himself, 'I'm just trying to do what's best for him, why can't he see that…?'

Finn then whipped around and yelled, "Well maybe you can't help me!"

The princess quickly retracted her hand and took a step back from the hero, shocked that he would raise his voice at her in such a way.

"It's not like I want to think about it! I just… Can't help it… I wake up every morning and I feel… I feel lost. I feel like no one understands me… Not you, not Jake, not anyone!"

Princess Bubblegum was about to speak up but was cut off by Finn.

"I'm the last human… I don't belong here or anywhere and I never will… I can't stand it…"

Finn continued, not even bothering to wipe away the tears streaming down his face.

"There's no way you can help me, Princess… I'm not just some lovesick little kid anymore that hangs on your every word and obsesses over what you think… It's probably hard for you to accept it, but you DON'T always know what's best…"

He really wished he hadn't said that, it was completely unnecessary and he immediately felt bad about it, but his prideful anger kept him from apologizing. The princess wouldn't even look at Finn anymore, her eyes stayed glued to the floor in front of her.

The hero turned to leave and headed towards the door, but before he opened it he heard Princess Bubblegum speak up once more, albeit very quietly.

Her voice wavering a bit, she said "I… I'm very sorry you feel that way, Finn. I always thought that I… That I did my best to make you feel… Like you belonged, despite you being different… But I suppose I failed."

He could plainly here the sadness in her voice, but at the moment he was too worked up to actually turn himself around and say he was sorry, like he knew he should.

However his anger got the best of him and without turning to face her he said, "Yeah… I guess you did, Princess…" in a low voice.

He then exited Princess Bubblegum's room and slammed the door behind him.

As he made his way down the hallway away from her room he could hear the unmistakable sound of the princess crying… He made her cry, and he hated himself for it…

"Glob it… What's wrong with me?!"

Finn turned and angrily punched the wall next to him, easily breaking through the candy-coated surface.

"Master Finn, is everything alright?"

The frustrated human turned to see Peppermint Butler standing there, a surprisingly calm expression on his face, for someone who just watched another person punch a hole in the wall, that is.

"I… I'm fine…"

He turned back to see the butler's calm expression unchanged.

"I'm just… No, y'know, what? I'm not fine! Totally, absolutely, 10,000% NOT fine!"

Once again, Peppermint Butler's face remained unchanged, but after Finn's outburst, he spoke up.

"Do you know what would make you feel better Master Finn?"

The young hero looked at the candy butler with a curious expression.

"What? You know what could help me?"

The butler smiled and nodded, "Of course. All you have to do is GIVE ME YOUR FLESH."

Finn rolled his eyes at Peppermint Butler and walked past him, an annoyed expression on his face.

"Not funny, P-Butt."

-Back to the present-

After the events that had taken place in the Candy Kingdom that day he was relieved to be home, but home meant listening to Jake trying to cheer him up. He appreciated the effort, but still… It wasn't getting anyone anywhere.

That's what led him to head up to the roof after putting on his P.J.'s and getting ready for bed. Jake had been pestering him all night and when he finally stepped away to go get his viola to play some kind of ridiculous song, Finn took that as his chance to escape. Of course, he left Jake a note telling him that he'd be back in a bit, but he didn't tell him exactly where he was going, and lucky enough for him, his older brother didn't have the attention span to look for him for very long.

-Meanwhile at Marceline's house-

Marceline floated restlessly around her room while strumming some random chords on her bass. She had been pretty bored lately, and was thinking of going out and doing… Something... At this point, anything would be preferable to the boredom she had been facing.

She briefly entertained the thought of calling Finn and Jake for a jam session but abandoned the idea when she glanced over at the clock on her wall; they probably wouldn't be awake or up for a jam session at midnight on a Tuesday.

'Why do those two weenies have to be such goody-two-shoes and go to sleep early? I should totally go over there and scare their butts off… Yeah, I'll totally sneak in and-'

Her thoughts were suddenly cut short by her phone ringing on her bed-side table.

I'm just your problem,

I'm just your problem,

It's like I'm not even a person…

Am I?

I'm just your problem…

The Vampire Queen sighed and brushed a strand out of hair out of her face. Setting her bass down, she floated over to her nightstand, picked up her phone and answered it; it was pretty obvious who was calling her.

"What are you doing up so late Bonnibel? Isn't it past your bed time?"

Marceline said this with a mischievous grin on her face, thinking her words would get a reaction out of the candy princess.

However her reaction wasn't really what she expected, in fact it was barely a reaction at all.

"Hey Marceline… Oh Yeah, I guess I am… " The tone of Princess Bubblegum's voice was unusually monotonous and lacked its usual quirky up-beatness.

This threw Marceline off a little bit, and the grin that had spread across her face at the prospect of messing with the princess had now vanished.

"Uh… You alright, Bonnie? You sound kinda… I dunno, down I guess."

The princess audibly sniffed and cleared her throat before speaking again,

"Oh no, I'm fine… Just a little under the weather I suppose."

The Vampire Queen rolled her eyes at this.

'Did she think really think I'd buy that?'

"Uh-huh, sure you are. So why did you call me anyway? I'm a pretty busy lady, so make it quick."

That was obviously a lie, but Princess Bubblegum didn't need to know that she was currently dying of boredom.

"I was just calling to ask if you could please check up on Finn… I…"

There was a short pause before the princess began speaking again.

"… I'm just a little worried about him."

'Ah, now I get what she's upset about…'

She was very much aware of Finn's recent change in demeanor, and while she didn't know what good she would be able to by talking to him, Bubblegum was obviously upset about it, so she figured that she might as well give cheering him up a shot.

"Yeah, I'll check up on the kid, I know he's been pretty down lately."

Marceline floated over to her closet and pulled out her grey sweater as Princess Bubblegum thanked her.

"Thank you, Marceline… You're a good friend."

The Vampire Queen blushed a little bit and rolled her eyes at the princess' unnecessary politeness.

"Yeah, yeah, don't get all mushy on me…"

There was another short pause before Marceline spoke up again, but with a slightly gentler tone to her voice.

"… Are you sure you're alright? I can come over and hang out with you for a bit if you want…"

She was slightly relieved but also annoyed when she heard Princess Bubblegum giggle and say,

"I'm fine Marceline, just please go see Finn… But you're very sweet for asking."

The Vampire Queen made an audible and over exaggerated gagging noise upon hearing this, eliciting another giggle from the princess.

"Please Princess, you're gonna make me puke my guts out if you keep up all this lovey-dovey friendship junk."

"Well, duh Marceline, that's my job: To kill you… With kindness."

The princess fell into a giggling fit after she said this and Marceline rolled her eyes at the "joke".

"Whatever, I'm gonna go check on our little human now, see ya later Bonnie."

"Goodbye, Marceline… And thank you again."

Marceline hung up her phone and set it back down on her nightstand before pulling her sweater over her head and tying her hair up in a messy ponytail.

She sighed as she flew out of her house, into the dark and gloomy cave where her house resided, and eventually out into the cold autumn night.

'What does Bonnibel expect me to say to him? I'm definitely not the best person for him to talk to if he's having emotional probs… And if even Bonnie can't get through to him, what does she expect me to be able to do about it? That kid practically hangs on her every word!'

A pang of jealousy shot through her upon thinking this, but she was quick to wipe it away from her thoughts.

'So what if he's still totally crushing on her? I don't care….'

Despite her thinking this, Marceline knew that deep down, in her dead un-beating heart, that she cared deeply for the hero. She was just too afraid of her own feelings and the consequences that having said feelings would bring about to act upon them; so she kept them locked away, hidden in the darkest parts of her sub-conscious, where she could simply ignore or even deny them and their existence. Having such feelings for others had only caused her pain in the past… It was better for her to be alone…

At least, that's what she told herself.

Author's Note: Second chapter will be up tomorrow, thanks for reading.