Forty-seven days. Star had been on Earth only forty-seven days. And the Diaz's had planned a little surprise party for her. As Joe found out they usually did a small surprise party each day to celebrate Star being in their lives each day. Diaz family tradition apparently. He had been especially invited to this one as Olivia was apparently making plenty of friends in between her job and many, many dates. He waited downstairs with the Diazs, a small party hat on his head. While it was awkward after the monster arm incident a few days ago, Joe decided it was pointless to question it. He did have two good friends after all. Even if one of them was usually a phone call away.

As they heard a sound, they realized Star was on her way downstairs. They quickly made themselves ready, and as she got low enough to be visible, Joe couldn't help but notice again, just how oddly beautiful Star was after getting out of bed. He was brought out of his stupor, as was Star, when the lights suddenly turned on, the Diaz's shouting out their chosen phrase.

"Surprise! Happy forty-seventh day on Earth Star!" Star stumbled for a moment, her eyes quickly darting between the four humans, lingering just a moment on Joe, before a smile took her face.

"Why, thank you guys. I am glad to be here still." Joe felt sad when he noticed that she was acting just like she was back when her friend Ponyhead had visited. Joe began to think about it, Star was only her normal self when they met up, which was always at least an hour after she had actually woken up judging by the current time. Perhaps She and that Ponyhead were in similar circumstances at one point. The sound of a doorbell dragged Joe out of his thoughts.

"I'll get it." Marco moved towards the door, surprising Joe who thought he of all people would want to be near Star. As he reached the door, Joe was surprised to see a new face at the door.

"Hello my american family! It is I, Gustav!" The entire Diaz family immediately erupted in joy.

"Gustav! Our favorite Exchange student!" Joe quickly glanced at Star, he could swear her cheekmarks cracked at the comment. She merely stayed back, holding her cake, as the Diaz's swarmed the door. Joe barely managed to spot the boy who had appeared from the small gaps between them. He was a lanky boy, with blond hair, and wearing a sweater and knitted beanie. He was being swarmed with affection from the Diaz's for quite a bit before he motioned for them to give him a little space.

"It is good to see you guys as well! I am finally here for my yearly, two week stay at your house!" The Diaz's slowly turned towards Star. Clearly, they had forgotten this little arrangement. They glanced between each other and Star before Marco seemed to get an idea. He quickly pulled his parents into a heated whispering discussion. Joe realized what they were going to do. They were going to ask him to take care of Gustav for a while. He sighed and thought about it as Mrs. Diaz approached Joe and Star.

"So, this is a little embarrassing. Gustav is a foreign exchange student that comes over once a year for two weeks to Echo Creek. We agreed in July to take care of him again this year, and totally forgot about it when Star came in." Star remained completely speechless. "Joe, would you mind hosting Star for the next two weeks?" Joe was shocked at this.

"Wait, take care of Star? But, she's settled in here and on top of that I know you have comfortable sleeping bags, as well as the wonderful couch. Clearly there should be-"

"Well, the couch wouldn't be appropriate for more than a single night, and the sleeping bags, while more appropriate, would lead to Marco sharing a room with Gustav, and Marco is, Bi."

"Oh." Joe looked at Star, her expression was completely neutral. "Well, while there isn't a problem of a place for her to stay, that isn't my call. And I am not referring to Olivia. I know for a fact she would happily take Star in. What do you think Star?" Joe looked to Star who seemed to go through a thousand different thoughts. Joe missed most of them, but Mrs. Diaz didn't.

"Well, I'll talk to Star alone for a moment Joe, maybe you should talk with Gustav! He isn't around very often, but he has some wonderful stories!" Joe took the hint, and walked over to the other group of talkers, who had seemingly moved to the living room to talk about some grand adventures. Star and Mrs. Diaz meanwhile, moved into the kitchen to talk. Joe decided to just roll with it. It seemed to make interactions with Star a lot easier. He listened to the advice, but every word out of Gustav's mouth was clearly a fabricated lie. At best, they were hyperbole. Especially about swimming in below freezing water to rescue a polar bear to return it to its' mother. None of it made logical sense. It was about fifteen minutes later when a very red Star, and a very happy Mrs. Diaz came out of the kitchen.

"She accepted Joe, and Moon gave her okay on the matter as well. I'll help her pack. It's only for a little bit, but I know the two of you are good friends, so, just make the best of it like two good friends should." Joe was now the same shade as Star as the implications hit him. Either this woman was messing with both of them, or she was actively trying to make Moon a grandmother. As Mrs. Diaz dragged Star up the stairs, Joe sighed and took out his phone, texting Olivia the situation.

"Hey sis, Star will be staying with us two weeks apparently. Second exchange student showed up." A few moments later, she replied, starting a very intense conversation.

"Already getting your girlfriend to move in? And here I thought I was trying to move fast! :)"

"You know that isn't the case."

"I already have plans for the next few days. So get her situated in the house. The card is charged with money so make sure to get groceries." Joe started to put away his phone, but another text stopped him. "And condoms! I don't want you stealing a march on me!"

"Sis!"

"What? You have romantic feelings for her, she clearly likes you a bit and you're two teenagers who are going to be alone in a house for several days without any interference. I may be a little odd, but it still wouldn't surprise me if I became an aunt!" Joe simply closed his phone and ignored the next several text messages as he waited for Star. Somehow, during all of that, Marco, Mr. Diaz, and Gustav were in the kitchen, making meatballs apparently. Joe was very ready to leave, not exactly happy that two people had now tried to imply that he should end up spending the night not just in the same house as Star, but in the same bed. It was, jarring, at best. That was when Mrs. Diaz got Joe's attention.

"Joe? Mind grabbing my husband and coming up here? I think we are going to need help getting her things down."

"O-"

"Coming honey bunch!" Mr. Diaz rushed past Joe and up the stairs, before quickly coming down with a large trunk on his back. With ease he was out the door and running down the street.

"Uh, I should probably catch up. Olivia is out so the front door will be locked."

"O-okay Joe. L-let's g-g-go. To your house… Alone. Good sir." Looking at her, she was still blushing, but also shaking, and clearly trying to hold a proper form. Joe immediately took note that she was immensely nervous. He knew he had to do something, but couldn't think of just what so he nodded and began to lead her out. The walk was short, but quiet. Star used her magic to make her room in Joe's home and got settled in. Mr. Diaz barely waited that long as he began to run back towards the Diaz residence. Star took it hard, she was almost an exact mirror of when Ponyhead had come over originally.

"Okay then. Well, we have the house to ourselves for a while, is there anything you would like to do Star?" Joe mentally punched himself. Here she was, in his house, and the first thing he did was ask what she wanted to do.

"It would be improper of me to do as such Mr. Ackleman." That pierced his heart like a dagger. "I am a guest, and a princess, while it is your duty to entertain, it is my duty to be entertained, regardless." Joe just stood there for a moment. It was clear that right now, Star needed help. Help he was not looking forward to.

"Star, what happened to you?"

"Well, a new exchange stu-"

"No, I mean before, to make you this way." She stayed silent. "I don't expect an answer in detail, or even immediately, but this isn't you. It clearly isn't you, and, I hate seeing you that way."

"It is me."

"And I was always a broken child."

"You weren't?" Joe realized what she was doing, and for once, didn't fight it. If he wanted answers, she would have to get some too.

"Not all the time. Most of the time I was, but people tried to put me back together. Eventually, I decided it wasn't worth it to try and go back. But you aren't in that position."

"And you aren't in mine. Now, it is rude of you to ask such sensitive questions that not even my parents fully know the answer to." Joe wanted to protest, but he couldn't. He would feel the same way. "I am going to my room for a while. Please, let me know when dinner is ready." She bowed and politely went to her room, closing the door and clearly locking it. He felt horrible, but needed to make a few decisions before he did anything drastic. He walked to his own room and lied down, thinking about what she had said. Several hours passed, Star refused lunch, and eventually, Joe came to his conclusion. He had a plan for that night. He was going to tell her a story. He made a dinner, attempting to make it as regal as possible to bring her guard down a bit. She came down for dinner as she had said, and as she did, it was clear she had reapplied her make-up. She had been crying. They sat and ate dinner, but as she finished, she got up from the table.

"And where are you going?"

"Back to my room. It is inappropriate for a young lady to spend company alone with a young man in his house without being in a relationship with strict guidelines."

"Well, around here it is rude to just up and leave the table young lady. Furthermore, I have a story to tell you, and you will be entertained like a proper lady by your host. At least for now, I am your host, not just some 'young man'. So please, take your seat. When I am done, I will tell you a story, and you may do whatever you will for the night afterwards." She went to protest, but seemingly decided against it. Joe had taken notes from Ponyhead and realized that a conflict of proper behaviours boiled down to a priority, and he had guessed correctly that respecting your host out-did keeping away from a young man. As he finished eating, he cleaned his lips off and sat up straight.

"So, what story shall you regale me with tonight Mr. Ackleman?"

"The story of my year, at St. Argute's Asylum for the Traumatized Insane." Star blanked hard at that. She was immediately at full attention.

"Would be a far more easily explained story if we could be there, place became abandoned within hours of my departure. But that's impossible ri-"

"I have dimensional scissors." Joe did his best to keep his emotions level. He did not want to scare her off. The sudden outburst clearly came from her true self, and he was not about to let her try and bury it by pushing.

"Dimensional scissors?"

"Yes, they allow one to create portals to other places and dimensions."

"And they work, how?"

"You cut the air and think of where you want to go."

"Okay then, that sounds perfect." Star immediately stood up.

"I will fetch them then." She quickly made her way to her room, all the while Joe cursed himself. He did not actually want to go there again. Ever. As she returned and handed him her scissors, he noticed a small bit of a tremble in her.

"Alright then, so I ju-" As he cut the air a shimmering portal appeared in front of him. He decided not to question it as he held up a hand to stop Star from entering. "Let me make sure the other side is safe. It has been years since I was there after all." She nodded impatiently. Stepping through the portal was weird, the odd feeling of stepping hundreds of miles at once through him for a loop. He noted he was behind the fence of the facility, and shuddered. Stepping partially through, he motioned to her to follow, and she did, taking his hand to make the journey 'properly'. As she stepped through he felt her hand clench.

The building was a victorian era mansion that had been converted into an asylum. Each window had bars over it, the double doors had a wood finish, yet age had chipped it away, showing the metal plates underneath. The facade was once pure white, but had fallen into grave disrepair. It had a few towers, each one a gothic style architecture with gargoyles around them. Behind the duo, was a stone fence with metal spikes at the top, ending only at a few metal gates. Old warning signs of electrical shocks hung on some of the wall.

"It's, very, um." She seemed to search for words that didn't exist, so Joe stepped in.

"Quaint, formal, depressing?"

"Familiar."

"Huh. That may be bad then, but we are here now. So ahead is the main entryway. I remember my first time seeing it. I admit, I needed a lot of help. A certain event in my life had taken away all my will to live. I tried to kill myself a few times…" Star's grip on Joe's hand tightened as she again paid rapt attention to him, "...and finally, my sister got the support of the state to get me some real help. The first facility I went to recommended me here after my first day. Said it would be a better fit." Joe took in a big breath of air. "They were so welcoming and kind. Olivia was excited that I might finally get some serious, good help. We had the tour, and it all seemed wonderful." He began to lead her forward. As they got to the double doors he pushed them open. To his surprise it sprung open easily, as if he was back in those days again.

The entryway was grand, a double staircase in front, two large desks to either side, the marbled textures all around, with a modern hospital-styled floor. Between the double staircases was a fountain, and for a moment, it looked to Joe just like the day he had first arrived here. Then a flash of red, then a flash of white. Now it looked abandoned, liken and other plants had taken over. Joe was sure there were tons of animals that lived here now. They would have to be careful.

"The first three floors were treatment floors. Rooms for people, therapy, relaxation, stress relief, the whole nine yards. It looked a paradise. There was even a kid being checked out at the time. He looked so happy, so, normal. Olivia was nearly in tears and I felt that maybe, I could be fixed here. Finally feel like, me." Joe didn't realize this, but he was gripping harder and harder on Star's hand. He wasn't hurting her, in fact, she was enraptured by it. His words and tone did not match in the slightest. Where the words could easily have been fond words of a wonderful childhood, the tone was cold, unfeeling… proper. She felt a horrible sting of deja vu.

"Olivia signed some paperwork, and was informed that the first visitation would be in two months. She agreed and we had a heartfelt goodbye. I was taken to a backroom, and that is where we shall head." He started to drag her down a hallway to the right, interlaced between doors were marble pillars, but they did little to beautify anything, especially since she could see what was happening to Joe. He was doing this for her, and it was hurting him. If not for her curiosity, she would have ended this trip immediately.

"You see, the first three floors were filled with children. More than half the rooms though, are actually empty. You see, they only left kids in those rooms if they were already almost entirely done with the treatment. Actual patients however, go somewhere else." He suddenly took her into a room, the door was unlike the others, it had been beaten down, and like the front doors, was a metal door covered in wood. Before them was yet another door, even more oddly, it seemed to be disguised as a wall at one point.

"Within the mansion they had built ways to go down into the very large basement catacombs. That is where kids are really kept. They made sure to disguise all but the elevator entrance, marking it as an employee only storage room. In reality, past the storage room, was the real facility." He pulled her sharply forward, her emotions slowly forcing her back to how she had been before she ended up in Joe's home. While the brick stairwell no longer gave her deja vu, Joe was looking more and more like, her.

"Down here, was hell." As they got to the bottom a metal door was lying on the floor. Clearly something had forced it's way out. Or 'their' way out. "This is where I spent a year of my life, in psychological hell." As they passed the door, she noticed it turned sharply into a hallway, to a large, open courtyard. On the perimeter were cell doors, each containing a toilet, and a bed. This was a prison, and one she wouldn't be able to see in if not for cracks in the ceiling giving light a way down. It was probably why they could go down the stone stairs.

"Do you know a spell to make light?" Star was brought out of her stupor. Joe was cold, emotionless, but not detached. He was almost on autopilot.

"Oh, um, yes."

"Good, then the tour continues." She was again dragged forward ah he spoke again. "To our sides are the homes of all newcomers and otherwise good, but unsolved cases. There is no privacy boys and girls are not separated, and when it came to night time, it would go completely black. You learned to navigate in the dark if you were here very long. Sadly for me, I was here for the initial two months. You didn't get any time to be a kid. You didn't deserve it if you were here. You were forced to go to hours long seminars and videos, telling you how to act and think. It was step one, attempt to reform by passive force. It didn't work on me. It didn't work on most kinds. They knew it wouldn't, but after two months, you got a lot of extra money for each kid that had to stay for longer than two months. They also got a feel of what they would need for a kid. Best part for them, kids were already in worse shape after two months unless they were faking. So it wasn't hard to convince Olivia that I needed more drastic methods. She agreed, and they simply smiled. They told her she could write to me, and I would write back, but for my sake, I should only be seen once in a very long while. They convinced her to give me nine straight months without her presence."

"They loved it as they brought me here. They already had a plan. I was a lost cause to them. Lost causes are fun for them. Free tickets to do what they want." He took a sharp turn and they were met by darkness. Realizing that she was needed, Star pulled out her wand and cast a spell, creating a ball of light to follow them further. "In that door is sound proofing. They loved raping kids in there. Either grabbing a bunch of kids and making them fuck, grabbing a bunch of adults and a kid and having their fun, etcetera. If it's a sexual act, it probably happened in there. I was only in that room once myself, but sadly, they didn't keep it contained to that room. Over there is the bathing room. For most kids you have a time period to go in, but for cases like me, they bring you in with an adult to make sure you don't kill yourself. I did have a record of attempts at that point, so they felt justified."

"Fun fact, the adult I had as my watcher was a registered pedophile."

"Pedophile?"

"Person who likes children, legally means they are adults that want to have sex with underage children." She tightened her grip on his hand, Joe still wasn't looking at her. "He also had some massive issues, he was once a patient and, unfortunately for me, he didn't control himself around me. He grabbed me one day and just, went to town, using the bathwater to try and lube himself, but the damage was being done. When my screaming got annoying he grabbed my head and put it under the water. He had his fun, and I nearly drowned. His punishment was harsh by their standards, I lost bathing privileges for a week." Joe again felt Star's hand tighten its grip. His hand was in pain, but that merely kept him from falling into his memories right then and there. Before they went on to the next room, he spoke again. "He got that punishment four more times before I finally kept quiet enough for the other attendants." He silently pulled her again, down to the next room.

"This room, this was the group reformation room." Star's grip didn't tighten, but Joe could feel a massive shudder from her through it. "This room was where repeat offenders were taken to have defiance beaten out of them. Spiked clubs, whips, bats, pokers, and plenty more instruments of pain are within. There's even a stretching rack and a modified iron maiden in there." For a moment, Joe felt the memories forcing their way in, but as quickly as they came, he felt them leave. He closed his eyes and breathed, but when he opened them, the scenery had changed. It was just like back then now. No damage, no plants, plenty of light, and plenty of people. Without a word, he walked forward to the last room, the door of it partially ajar unlike the rest had been.

"This room, and the room attached to it, were the last resort rooms." He pushed the door opened to reveal a medical facility. "Here they would occasionally perform surgeries on us to teach us lessons. Most of the time, they would just drug you up. Especially if you were getting visited later that day. That way they could control your responses, give them the time to destroy you. Lost causes like me were the easy ones. You would just put in a few aggression or hallucinogenic drugs, and bam, crazy child. Sometimes the doses would be off and the child would die, but they were self policing. It wasn't hard for them to cover their own tracks. The last room, that room, they always brought me to it every two or three days. An experimental subject on what they could do with this one." Again, without a word, he pulled Star through, shaking evident in her hand.

As they walked, he would look at each table. There were only eight tables, but each one held hundreds of faces. Hundreds of kids getting prepped for whatever plan they had for them. He could hear their screams, their agony. He remembered times he was brought here and seen doctors using some unconscious teens as sexual toys. He felt sick, he felt like stopping, but he knew what was about to come. He knew what laid behind that final door. It was where he had his worst moments, it was where he had his greatest triumph. He pushed open the door, again it went surprisingly easy. And he saw himself, sitting in a chair. Strapped down with leather straps, with a metal strap over his head. He was brought back to reality as Star gasped.

"I guess you know what this is then?" He felt her other hand grasp his, and noticed she was shaking like a leaf.

"... Electric chair."

"Yeah. they used solar power to charge some batteries. Then, they would bring me when they had a sufficient charge, and test out shock therapy. Steadily increasing the voltage, testing their machine. For eight months, this was the most prominent place in my memories. It is also the last place I have memories of before... " He contemplated his words carefully. "... before I broke. They hit me with so much electricity, with so much pain, I couldn't keep myself together. I remember it clearly. They turned off the machine, calling an end to the testing. Before they came to get me, they told me they had cancelled my visitation with my sister. I cracked instantly. I started to laugh and laugh and laugh. They told me to stop, but I couldn't. It was all just so funny. That was when they decided to shut me up. Unlike the previous tests, the batteries they had charged were dead now, so they did the logical thing, and activated the connection to the main circuit. It would be difficult to explain the sudden spike in electricity, but I suppose they had a plan. They through the switch and millions of volts of electricity went through my body. I was supposed to die from it, but I didn't. They let it keep going."

"My clothes caught on fire, they kept going. The chair started to break, they kept going. Then, they had to stop. The facility lost all power. It was later determined that the cause was their choice in wiring, but that choice gave me my chance. They came to get me, but I no longer cared. As they got to me and prepared to drag me, I lept at them, using the broken chair to beat them down. They called for backup, but thanks to the power outage, the entire facility was opening up. Including the main cell doors."

"The resulting swarm of mentally unstable kids and teens proved disastrous for the guards. They weren't ready to handle it all, and they certainly couldn't kill them, so they were overwhelmed, and for the most part, killed. I myself probably killed twelve people in this room. I don't know how much time passed when a police officer found me. I had burns all over my body, mainly my chest, and was bleeding from multiple places. I was laughing, just… laughing." Suddenly he felt Star's hand remove itself from his. He prepared to hear her running away, to hear her call him insane, a murderer… a monster. But instead, she tackled him in a bone crushing hug from behind, burying her face into his neck as best as she could. She didn't say anything, and Joe only knew one thing.

"You're just like her."

"*sniff* Huh?"

"You're just like the officer. She did the same thing. She, she stopped me breaking down. I was broken, but I could have been more broken. She simply hugged me, and brought me outside. I was treated, and until I left the area for good, she would check-up on me. Sadly, she died later on in the line of duty, but she gave me something that the you who is here right now has rekindled again. Like her, you give me hope." Star shifted a bit. "I don't know what happened to you, and this isn't everything that happened to me, but people like you, you give me a reason to keep going. I can't say I haven't tried to take my own life since I came here and met you, but you have stopped me. Time and time again I can't do it because it would hurt you. So please, don't let whatever happened to you take away your hope, your personality. If you stop being you, I lose my biggest reason to live. You're my best friend. The only one I can ever say has held that title. So please, please…" Joe felt the tears on his face flowing. "Please, don't let your past dictate who you are. There are plenty of people who are going to be there for you. I will always be there if you need me so please, my best friend, be yourself again." That was it, the breaking point. He again broke in this place, but now, it was out of concern for Star. He had broken down emotionally, and Star did the same, they were both crying. Star was only able to keep one coherent thought in her head.

'He really is the same as me.' They stayed there for a while, simply crying their hearts out. Eventually, they use the scissors and head back to Joe's house.

"Are you sure you're okay Joe?"

"Yeah Star. It happened when I was eight. I had a lot of time to put myself somewhat back together. I was never whole to begin with, so it wasn't hear to make a shell again."

"I, I'm sorry."

"Star, normally I let it slide, but words are cheap. It's why I don't care when people get angry and yell at me. Words mean nothing. It is actions that mean things. So, I know it won't be easy, but please, you can't let whatever happened win. So promise me here and now, you won't let it win, okay?"

"Okay.' The two stood in the living room, smiling at each other. Slowly they started gravitating towards each other. It was subtle, but time didn't really seem to matter as they got closer. "I also promise, I'll be there for you, if you'll be there for me, okay?" Their hands began to interweave.

"It's a promise, no matter what." Something seemed to click in their minds, they began to lean into each other, but just before they could find out what they were doing, Joe's mirror phone began to ring loudly. For a moment they were paused, and then quickly separated. He quickly answered to find on the other end, King River.

"Oh, hello there King River." He looked over to Star, her face a bright red. As she started to breath in and out, calming herself down.

"Joseph my boy, just River is fine. Are you okay? You look flushed."

"I'm fine River. Just had a good laugh."

"Ah, that would explain the goofy grin as well. Glad to see you're doing alright. I heard my daughter is spending some days with you, and just wanted to check up on her. But, I also wanted to say something personal to you. Can you talk to me in a place that my daughter won't overhear me by accident?" Joe resisted the urge to glance at Star, instead, looking towards his kitchen.

"Yes, there is a small crawl space under the kitchen. It was soundproofed by the previous residents and while it is eroded, it would be difficult to hear anything from above."

:Excellent, call me when you get there. Do check up on my daughter first though. I do want to make sure she is safe." Joe nodded and looked to Star.

"Joe, I'm so-"

"Stop." Star stood stock still. "What were you about to try and apologize for?"

"I, I think I was, trying to kiss you earlier and I know Earth customs are a lot stricter than Mewni's customs, so I wanted to apologize for potentially doing something scand-"

"Stop." Again she stopped, straightening her posture more. "I have no idea what Mewni's standards are, but on Earth, kissing and hugging are not frowned upon at our age. Friends hug all the time, and while kissing is more for couples, I, uh, wouldn't be opposed to it." Joe couldn't keep looking at Star after that. He did not expect her to pull him into a kiss right then and there. He had no idea what to do, but his body did. In a moment, he returned the kiss. It was simple lip-locking, no tongue, just lips on lips, but that was all they wanted, needed. It was, absolutely wonderful. After a moment, they parted, their breath mixing as they stayed close, both blushing lightly. "Guess that's how you feel too, huh?"

"Yeah."

"We can do that again after I talk with your father, but I am not mentioning it to him."

"I'll, see you in a bit then. And Joe, thank you. I'll try to be me again, I don't think it will be hard with you there." She gave him a smile, and after a moment, headed back upstairs. Joe began to think back to the words everyone had been giving him that day. Suddenly, he was worried that Olivia was more on the correct side of things. He was more than ecstatic that this was happening, but he didn't want to rush things. Especially kids. That was Olivia's field. Collecting his thoughts, he headed to the kitchen, pulling up a decently hidden tile, he was quickly opening the small crawl space and entered it, closing it behind him. He pulled a small chain and suddenly had some light. Pulling out the mirror, he directed it to call River, to whom he immediately connected.

"How is she."

"She's doing better and better sir."

"Glad to hear it. Now, Moon wanted to talk to you and Marco about this but she can't right now, she's a bit preoccupied with a few incidents. So, there is a little I need to teach you about Mewni, and why Star is on Earth to begin with, as well as a few things you need to expect in the future. First, why Star is on Earth. Monsters in Mewni have been getting more and more hostile lately. Many years ago, when Moonpie first became queen, she defeated the monster leader, Toffee, in battle, avenging her mother's death. Afterwards she worked with the Magic High Commision to prevent such a thing happening again, and they decided, making peace was better than making war. They decided to begin integrating monsters into Mewni's society and, while it has been slow, it has been working. Until a few months before Star's fourteenth birthday. A group of monsters started to form, declaring us unfit for the land. We are on the precipice of a war no one wants, and with Star's poor control of the wand, it was decided she needed to be away from the kingdom to prevent a war getting sparked by accident. We also hoped a change in scenery would help her, and from what we can tell, it has. For that, we are endlessly grateful."

"Now, unto number two, Mewni societal norms. While on Earth, she will attempt to go by Earth's standards, but there will be point three which will upend that. Back to point two, in Mewni, relationship standards are a bit different. Things like kissing and sex are more, open, in our society." Joe suddenly felt like this was 'the talk'. "To the point where it wouldn't be uncommon for even best friends to have sex on a regular basis." Joe's words began to echo in his head. "Star is a princess and has been raised differently, sex is only for her betrothed, with one, possible exception, which is again, number three."

"That, is mewberty. Star will go through it soon and it is essentially a royal princess's special puberty that brings here closer to adulthood." Joe was now bright red. This could not get worse. "During the transformation, she will seek out a single male, usually the one she is pining for. While this doesn't always end in sex, it might. From what I have heard, that may be you. Now, I know having a girl's father suddenly talking to you about having relationship with his daughter is daunting, I can assure you that as long as you don't break her heart. I won't break you." Joe was now scared. "So, long story short, she goes into mewberty, try and get her somewhere safe, and be prepared for anything. Okay?"

"Y-yes sir."

"Good. Oh, and if you touch her wings, I'll kill you." The phone hung up and Joe just sat there for a while. Finally, he made his way upstairs, but barely remembered he and Star had a little, 'date'. He thought about a few things. This was really new, it wasn't truly fast, but, how far was he willing to go with Star? He liked her, but did he love her? His thoughts turned towards the future, but he remembered something Olivia had told him.

"If you want to know if you love someone, think about what life would be like without them by your side. I know I don't act that way, but, that is how mom and dad got together." He shuddered for a moment, but decided to give it a try. Star deserved an honest answer. It didn't take him long. He would be there for her, no matter what. He reached up and knocked on the door. He barely had one knock done when the door flew open. Star practically dragged him inside before shutting the door.

"Okay, we need to talk." Star was breathing heavily. "Look, I know what dad talked to you about." Joe simply stared on. "He talked about my, mewberty." Joe nodded, completely out of his comfort zone, he just decided to let it go. This was Star. "I'm not going through it yet. But, I want to know something important." She took a deep breath. "What are we?"

"You know, I've been asking that same question all day. And to be honest. I don't know what we are right now… "Star slumped a bit. "...but I do know what I want to do." Star straightened up a bit again. "I want to give us a try. I have known you a few months, but it feels like I have known you for years. My thoughts gravitate to you and our little adventures around town. And, I like it. So, what d-" Joe was silenced by a pair of lips. Star was giving him a powerhouse of a kiss. Unlike the one earlier, this was full of movement from Star, and afterwards, from Joe as well. Like that, he was dragged to her bed, forced onto it, but the kiss never evolved. It was simply lips against lips. Suddenly, River's words came to mind. Mewmans are more open about things. Either this was Star coming out of her shell, or this was about to get real heated. That was when Star backed off slightly, just enough to give them both breathing space, their faces still inches apart.

"I want to as well. I want to start this relationship now, to try and see if we go together well, or not. You make me be, me, and I want to see us in the future. As a couple I hope. For now, I want to stay, pure. And during my mewberty, that may end, but for now, please, stay near me." She was grabbing onto Joe's shirt tightly, his only response was to grab her lips in a quick, shallow kiss, as he brought his hand up to her side.

"Sounds like a deal, Star." His soft smile sealed the deal, as she flopped down on top of him, each content to bask in the others warmth, until sleep finally claimed the both of them. The rest of the two weeks went by at a rapid pace. Star and Joe enjoying the beginnings of their relationship, taking small dates around the town when they could. They would see a movie, get dinner, hang out in the park, or just play a few games at home. It honestly felt almost no different besides the kissing. But as the time grew short, Star became reluctant to leave. Even though they had kept quiet about their changing relationship, it seemed everyone was keen on the two being together. Even when Olivia came back home, she was insistent that Joe spend all the time he could with Star, right down to locking them in Joe's room one night. When the day came, Mr. Diaz practically burst through the door to gather up Star's belongings. Thankfully, she had long finished packing when he had arrived. In a matter of moments, Star's stuff was gone, and the guest room was back to normal. As she left, Star said only one sentence.

"See you later, Joe." Normally, the simple goodbye would have been, saddening, and it was until she leaned in and kissed him. It made everything better by miles. Joe wanted to go with Star, but life had funny ways of ruining hopes and dreams sometimes.

"Alright Joe, now that Star is gone, it's time to go see the doctor again." With a grim nod, Joe followed Olivia out. He hoped dearly that they would be able to do something about this soon. He finally had something worth living for after all. Or, someone more specifically.

A/N

Didn't honestly plan to make the relationship start now. Was gonna drama it up, have a little Marco and Joe clash trying to win Star's heart with Joe sort of pulling a Star and trying to help Marco and Star only to end Starco by Marco being a great guy, but then, I realized something. Star does what Star do, and with the revelation's of Star's tapestry being done, and the implications (and all my hopes and dreams that Nefcy will save Starco into reality) I want something to happen gosh darn it!

From here the entire story shall begin to shift into partial new stuff. It is time for... 'Them' to start getting involved, and to start working towards an answer as to why Joe has such a terrible time not having friends betray him. Next stop, Star and Joe start dating! Now, let's see he-... oh, right. Sorry ahead of time Joe!

Joe, sitting in the waiting room at the hospital had a chill go up his spine.

"Joseph Ackleman? We are ready for you in the x-ray room." He got up, and walked with the nurse, hoping beyond hope that he didn't have a premonition just now.