What? Three chapters in a row? Only the work of someone who hasn't had a writer's block in a long while. (It'll be here, I know it. Meantime, just enjoy it before it happens.

So, I tried to write Star's Mom in a better light, I mean yes, she is strict and, as Star says, is overbearing but the show kind of needs to see their relationship instead of a few minutes worth. So yeah.

I do not own SVTFOE.

The playing of the piano keys drawl on, echoing around the room and Marco's eyes slightly droop from how heavy they are - he shakes his head slowly to perk him up a bit.

He has one of his etiquette teachers to thank for that, as just this morning, he was tested on dinner and ballroom etiquette. Hey, he already didn't know much of it and he wanted to make a good impression on his teachers, and also on Star's parents and her herself. So yeah, he stayed up whole night trying to get it to stick in his head and thankfully, he passed.

This afternoon, as another one of his lessons, was to watch the princess herself learn the formal dancing. If Marco was to dance with her at a ball, he needed to know that they couldn't dance as if they were courting each other, it had to be formal.

It was incredibly stupid, as he was only to observe (the actual dancing was next class) but the King and Queen were nice enough to give him a permanent place at the castle, he could at least do all they asked of him.

Marco sighed against the wall he was propped up on but it was a fond one, as his gaze was focused on the blonde herself, who was currently practicing. She caught his eyes and grinned, mouthing a 'hi' to him - their little moment was broken when her instructor, who was to the sidelines opened her mouth.

"Princess!" The woman - Viola, was her name, barked at her. "Focus on your partner."

Star scowled, a little put out by her headmistress' scolding but sighed and continued - though not before smirking at her actual partner's worried look and similarly troubled 'sorry' he mouthed at her.

He went back to the dopey, fond gaze he'd set on her form, slightly shaking his head. And you said you'd be a terrible queen. Honestly, her time spent on earth balanced her out a bit. Not that she changed, absolutely not, but she became more knowledgeable and demure...well at least in appearance. But she had definitely become the queen, she was expected to be, just in her own way.

He was certainly proud of her.

"Something caught your eye, Marco?"

He yelps, his sleepiness combined with his focus on Star made him jump. He almost went to throw his arm to his right, force of habit, when he realized who he almost karate-chopped and immediately paled.

Queen Moon. He almost battle-cried and tried to attack Queen Moon.

He froze, and then when his brain finally kicked in and reminded him that he almost did what he almost did to Star's mother, he pathetically bowed.

"Y-your majesty." He tried to be calm. "I- uh..."

She blinked, and looked..amused? If her eyes and small smile was any indication, then yes, she was. Though if there was one thing he never saw of her, it was exactly this.

"There's no need for that." She smiled and followed his original direction of where he was staring. He quickly became nervous because well, how were you supposed to explain to the queen that you were watching her daughter?

"Ah." And she understood. Great, now he was going to hear all his fears that he tried so hard not to think about from her mouth.

"She really has come a long way, hasn't she?"

Okay, not what he was expecting. But sure, anything to get away from the impending doom yet to come. "Uh..yes, she has."

"To think, she was only fourteen a while ago..." Queen Moon seemed to be far away, her gaze on Star's continuing lesson and her eyes seemed to be thinking. Marco blinked at this, and after a while, carried his own gaze back to Star.

"I know what you mean." He really did and flashes of earth adventures between the two of them resurfaced. "It's..weird that time passed so quickly."

"...Was she really that much trouble on earth?" She was still glancing at her daughter and tried not to laugh because laughing would be incredibly improper but he somehow managed it.

"Not really?" He tried. "I mean, she did get us into a lot of messes, but...they were always interesting. She made them interesting."

He was sure he had a dopey, disgusting grin on his face now, but he couldn't help it. He never could when it came to Star.

It was a while before anyone spoke again, but this time, it was the Queen.

"I understand you are currently courting her?"

He felt his stomach drop, and the overwhelming feeling of dread came over him at her words. He tried to get away from it though, oh did he try.

"I -I wouldn't call it..It's not really courting. I mean, we're not that serio - No! I mean we are but -"

Star at the other side of the room finally took a break from her session and she cracked her back in relief. Finally, she could spend some well deserved time with Marco and oh - Her mother was talking with him.

Wait, her mother was talking with him.

She blinked, a little flabbergasted and confusingly glanced towards their forms, which consisted of Marco, who looked as if he was going to kill himself in that moment.

"I- I mean -"

"Marco," The Queen was smiling fully now, and raised her eyebrow a fraction. "It's alright. Really."

"I...why?" He was so sure he was being so informal and unsure, but he already was when he tried to explain himself (tried being the key word). But really, how did he approach someone who was being so warm towards him when she was always careful and coolly otherwise.

"Marco, I don't dislike you." Her posture bent ever so slightly, but he caught it. "Despite whatever intuition I may have given."

"Oh." Was all he could say, and it took him a while before he could try again. "I would understand if you did. I mean, I know that I don't really have that much to give, and you would want the best -"

"Oh trust me," The left side of her mouth quirked slightly to produce a smirk. "That was my original thinking. Years ago anyway. And now..."

She looked back towards Star who raised eyebrow at her and she slightly shook her head at her, telling her not to worry. "She speaks so highly of you."

He blinked, his mouth dropping slightly. "...really?"

"Yes." She smiled, and she turned to face him with warmth in her eyes. "And you do have so much to give her."

He paused at her words, thinking them over. Queen Moon blinked at this, and continued. "I hope that you know this, you really do mean that much to her. And...I hope you do know..that if you so much as -"

"I would never hurt her."

"I know, at least not intentionally. I can see it, but I still want you to know that."

"Right."

"Right." She nodded, and reached for him but hesitated. Then, slowly intaking a breath, she rested a hand on his shoulder and he naturally froze. Mainly because he was always on guard around the queen herself but her hand radiated the warmth she was giving.

"I know this is..unusual for you. And, even though you have been given many things here, you seem to not really accept them."

He quickly tried to explain. "It's not that I'm ungrateful, I'm not trying to be. It's just -"

She cut in, as if expecting it. "I know, I know. You're just not used to this sort of thing."

"I - right."

She nodded in agreement. "Right. And really, it is your choice and you shouldn't feel as if you should always be on guard around us. And Star loves having you around."

At her name, he turned in her direction. She was currently acting as if she wasn't trying to read their lips and figure out what they were saying by drinking her water, and the action made him smile.

"If you decide to leave because you can't handle it, fine. But there'll always be a place here for you. You've helped Star during her stay on earth, and through her various battles. This is the least we can do."

"Well," He shrugged. "I just can't imagine our lives without each other."

"Understood. I just need you to know this."

"Right. Of course." His response felt incomplete but really, how do you answer that? "Thank you, your majesty."

She seemed to interpret his answer and smiled, but then gave him a meaningful look. "Of course. Just, take care of her, will you?"

"Always." He returned it. "I will."

"Good." She then walked off, leaving him a lot less sleepy.

He stared after her retreating figure and Star all but runs over, talking a mile a minute.

"You're not going away, are you? Why didn't she consult me about this? I can talk to daddy, we can go right now and -"

"Star. Star!" He grinned. "I'm not going away. I'm staying right here."

"...oh." She relaxed and raised an eyebrow. "Then what was that?"

He thought about Queen Moon's slight speech for the past few minutes, and smiled when he finished his thinking.

"A talk. A well deserved talk." He enveloped her with his arm around her shoulder. "C'mon, let's get some down time. You were great, by the way."

And Star raised her eyebrow a quarter-inch more at his response, but ultimately let it go, returning his embrace. She figured if it was nothing as he said it was, it really wasn't.

Thank you so much for reading this one, now off to finish my french again (I know). And I'll start answering reviews from the next chapter. Thanks again!

Reviews are appreciated.