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Bonnibel woke up to something warm and heavy on her arm.
Soft gray light filtered through the curtains of their bedroom, dust motes drifting lazily in the air. Bonnie lay still for a moment, listening. Marceline’s breathing was slow and deep beside her, one arm flung possessively over Bonnibel’s waist, fingers curled in the fabric of her nightshirt. Her hair was a dark spill across the pillow, one fang just barely visible between parted lips.
And between them…
Bonnie tilted her head down and smiled.
Gwen had wedged herself sideways between them, her tiny legs tangled in the sheets, her back pressed against Bonnibel’s chest, one small foot tucked under Marceline’s thigh. Her hair was a mess of soft curls, flattened on one side, sticking up on the other. She had Bonnie’s shirt clutched in one fist like an anchor and was quietly gnawing on the fabric with intense concentration.
Bonnibel smiled, careful not to move too much. So you snuck in again, she thought. Gwen had started doing that a few weeks ago, waking up in the night, padding down the hallway on unsteady feet, and climbing into their bed without a sound. Bonnie never had the heart to carry her back.
“Good morning, jellybean,” Bonnibel whispered.
Gwen froze, then slowly looked up, eyes bright and alert in a way only toddlers could be at ungodly hours. She grinned, wide and proud, like she’d accomplished something impressive just by being awake.
“Mornin’,” Gwen said, slurred and soft.
Bonnie chuckled. “Is that so?”
Gwen nodded seriously, then let go of Bonnibel’s sleeve and turned immediately to Marceline.
She leaned forward, bracing her hands on Marcy’s chest, and started crawling. Her knees pressed down with absolutely no concern for comfort.
Marceline made a faint noise in her sleep, more of a snort than a breath. Her brow twitched, but she didn’t wake. Gwen paused, studying her like a puzzle, then continued until she was kneeling squarely on Marceline’s ribs.
Bonnie covered her mouth to keep from laughing.
Gwen reached out and touched Marceline’s face, patting her cheek once. Then again. Then she poked gently at her lip, fascinated.
“Ma,” Gwen whispered.
Marceline shifted, let out a low, annoyed hum, and turned her face into the pillow. Gwen, undeterred, leaned closer and grabbed a handful of Marceline’s hair.
That earned a reaction.
Marceline groaned, eyes cracking open. “Mmm… Bonnie,” she muttered. “Why’s it feel like a goblin’s crawlin’ on me?”
Bonnibel didn’t answer right away.
Gwen leaned forward and bumped her forehead against Marceline’s chin. “Mama.”
Marceline blinked, focus slowly sharpening. She looked down at the small person on top of her, then back up at Bonnie.
“…You,” Marceline said flatly, “absolutely set me up.”
Bonnie raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You let her crawl on me.”
“I absolutely did.”
Gwen crawled higher, tangling her fingers in Marceline’s hair and patting her face with both hands like she was molding clay. Marceline sighed dramatically, eyes closing again as she accepted her fate.
“Okay,” Marceline said, rubbing her face. “Cool. I guess these are my mornings now.”
Gwen giggled, pressing her forehead against Marceline’s. Marceline smiled despite herself and kissed Gwen’s nose, rubbing slow circles over Gwen’s back.
Bonnie watched them quietly. Marceline always acted grumpy when she woke up, but the second Gwen needed something, that edge melted away.
“Do you wanna stay here for a bit?” Marceline asked.
Gwen nodded again, curling closer.
“Thought so,” Marceline said, closing her eyes.
Bonnie watched them, heart full to the point it almost hurt. She leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Marceline’s temple, then another to Gwen’s curls. Marceline shifted, tugging Bonnie closer with her free arm so the three of them were properly tangled together.
The room stayed quiet, filled only with breathing and the soft creak of the bed as Gwen finally relaxed. Marceline drifted back toward sleep, Gwen warm and solid against her, Bonnie tucked safely beside them.
Bonnibel closed her eyes too, smiling to herself.
There were worse ways to wake up.