A/N: Hey guys. Another interesting week for me. I got myself a motorcycle to fix up and that's sucking a bit of time out of my day. Anyhow, please enjoy this chapter, a little lemon zest but not too much. :) BTW, I update every Sunday US Mountain Time.

The bath was hot and relaxing. Marco and Star were now casually soaking and enjoying each other's company.

"It's nice to have the tub all to ourselves." Star said, leaning her head back.

"Yeah. No butlers or whatever to make things weird." Marco sighed.

Star looked over to Marco and bit her lip. She knew something was bothering him and she should probably ask about it. "Are you okay, Marco?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" He answered with a questioning tone.

"I- I don't know. You've just been acting kind of strange all day." She stated with uncertainty. "Like with that nightmare, and with your comment earlier about something being strange. It's not about us, is it?"

Marco sighed again. "Okay. So, in the nightmare I had the monster arm back. We were fighting on a huge battlefield. That's all I remember from it." He made an 'I don't know' gesture. "As for the comment earlier, I just thought I felt something odd when you put the ring on me."

Star was now wide eyed. "Like, fighting together or against each other?" Her voice was shaking.

"Against..." He looked down at his hands. "But I don't think it means anything, so no worries."

Marco's statement didn't seem to lighten the mood any. Star was still sulking over the idea of them fighting against each other. She had sunk to nearly a crying state when suddenly she received a splash to the face.

"As if we'd ever end up having to fight. Now, come on and lighten up a little." Marco smiled and splashed her again.

"Oh, you're on!" Star's playful side had been forced out. She began aggressively splashing back at Marco while giggling and grinning ear to ear.

Marco wasn't about to lose this and promptly grabbed Star, pulling her into a kiss. Maybe it was time to put the erection he'd been hiding to use. After all, it was one of his fantasies to have sex in the bath.

Star was surprised for an instant when she felt Marco prod her, but her surprise turned into more playfulness and she reached down to grab his member. "Hello, there."

Marco giggled and flexed his pelvic muscles. "Ever thought about doing it in the bath?" He asked, raising an eyebrow seductively.

"Yeah, I used to have thoughts about you in the shower." Star returned an equally seductive look.

"Oh?" He slid his hands down her back. "Do tell."

"Why tell you when I could show you?" She replied as she began rubbing his tip.

"I like the sound of that." Marco leaned forward to give her a kiss.

Star pushed him down against the tub wall and climbed on top of him. "It usually starts of like this." She was biting her lip playfully and had begun to grind against him. Her voice had a lustful undertone.

He placed his hands on her hips and leaned his head back. This was every bit as good as he'd fantasized. "Oh god, Star... This is amazing!"

"Then like this." She slid up and teased Marco's tip with her wet folds, then slowly slid his length in. As they pace picked up she had to brace herself by gripping his shoulders.

"Star! Gonna-" Marco tensed up to keep from cumming.

"It's okay. Cum!" Star was shaking with pleasure, about to achieve orgasm herself.

He grunted his reply with a powerful thrust as he pumped her full. For how good it felt, after a long day his exhaustion was surprisingly little. Still, it was time for bed, after he helped Star finish.

The sensation of Marco's hot cum filling her was almost enough to drive her over the edge, but she hadn't cum. She looked at him and started to ask for another round, but he was already on it.

Without pulling out, Marco began to rub Star's clit with a slow steady circular motion. He could feel her contracting around him as he continued to rub her. "Getting close?"

She nodded, trying to stifle a loud moan. "Cu- Cumming!" Her gasps of pleasure kept interrupting the statement.

Marco watched her eyes roll back as she climaxed, apparently the clit was her weak spot. He thought her O-face was really cute now that he'd seen it a few times and couldn't help but smile at her.

"What?" Star breathed heavily. "Do I look funny or something, Marco?"

"No no, I just think your face just then was really cute." He chuckled.

Star just blushed and covered her face with her hair. "Pssh! Nah."

"I'm serious, Star. You really do look cute when you cum." Marco pulled her close and kissed her on the cheek.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Now let's get dried off and get to bed." Marco climbed out of the bathtub and helped his wife up.

The tired couple had climbed into bed and snuggled up, basking in each other's warmth. Marco was happy that this was how every night was going to be. There was no room to complain about the day when he could fall asleep amid the sheets with Star by his side. "Star, I love you. Nothing will ever change that."

"I love you too, Marco. I'll stay by your side forever..." Star replied with a tired voice before drifting off, leaving Marco to his thoughts.

He was fighting the stress from the day's training and tiredness from the steamy sex with Star. Before he fell asleep he needed to think about that dream. There had been times in the past where he'd gotten flashbacks of the monster arm before, could this be an ill omen? Whatever, he'd think about it more tomorrow. It was time to sleep.

...

His dream tonight was the same as it was yesterday, save for it taking place earlier within the scene. They had just defeated Toffee and sealed him away in a crystal of some kind. Marco fell to the ground, clutching a chest wound from the fight. Vision faded and he could only barely hear a panicked Star calling out his name before losing consciousness.

Next thing he knew, Marco had no control over his body. The monster arms were flailing about and he had the sense of a horribly evil grin plastered on his face. His body was locked in combat with Star. "It's hopeless, he's dead!" A voice that was not his came from his mouth. "Just give up and I'll devour you too."

Star ignored the voice and kept angrily casting spells in his direction, screaming with the ferocity of an angered warnicorn. "Give him back!" She yelled.

"I told you, he's dead!" The voice shouted back. Marco's monster arms were defecting most of the spells but some managed to get through with little effect. The left arm lashed out, grabbing Star by the throat and dragging her closer. "Enough of this. I grow tired of your petty spells."

"Marco, please..." She struggled for breath. The tentacle tightened and her expression changed to a grimace. "Please stop thi-" Her words were cut off by the pressure on her neck.

Marco could only watch on in horror as his body strangled the life from his beloved. Why the hell was this happening? What did he do to deserve having to watch his wife die in front of him? The light faded from her eyes and the tentacle tossed her lifeless body to the ground.

Marco's body turned and began walking away from the scene. He wanted to cry out in anguish but his body wouldn't let him.

...

"Marco, you're squeezing me too tightly." Star wheezed. She had been woken by him grappling and hugging her to himself.

He woke with a start at the mention of his name. "What‽" His breathing was rushed and he was all sweaty.

"Marco, let go, I can't move." Star repeated with more clarity. "Plus you're really sweaty and it's sticking to me." She wiggled around for emphasis.

"Oh," Marco calmed himself. "Sorry about that." He loosened his grip on Star and offered a half-hearted chuckle.

"Another nightmare?" Star asked gingerly.

"Yeah, it was the same dream as last night but longer." At this point Marco was fighting back tears. "I watched you die. The monster arms killed you."

She hugged him tightly and began to rock slowly in an attempt to console him. "It's okay. It was just a dream, Marco. Doesn't mean anything."

"Promise?" He was still playing back the dream in his mind. There was something there that he felt he'd missed. Some detail that he couldn't place.

"I promise." Star assured. She smiled at him and hugged him closer. "You really are super sweaty, though."

They giggled and flopped back down onto the bed. It still early and Star at the very least needed more rest. Marco wouldn't be able to sleep with his mind still so occupied with the nightmare, but his thoughts calmed gradually to the rhythm of her breathing. At least he could enjoy a few hours of dreamless sleep.

The morning sun was blistering to Marco's eyes. Even with the few hours of peaceful sleep he'd gotten, everything was sore and he was still exhausted. "I hope Johan doesn't call out out to the courtyard again today."

Star was already up and getting ready for the day. "Well~ You're a bit late on that one. He wants us down there by ten."

"Damnit. Can't he give us a rest?" Marco complained. It hurt to move. Maybe their little bathtime shimmy wasn't a good idea. Then again, when would they ever catch a break anyway?

"It's only eight right now, so we have a few hours. Wanna do anything?" She asked, pulling her hair into a bun.

"Uh... Sleep more?" He replied. "Or cuddle."

"That second one I can do." Star giggled and sat down on their bed. Marco was probably still shaken about the dream. Besides, cuddling with him was always amazing, even if he did get sweaty sometimes.

"Thanks, wifey." Marco giggled and snuggled up close to her.

"Really? Wifey?" Star questioned jokingly.

"Haha, yeah." It wasn't the best nickname he could come up with, but it seemed like she actually kind of enjoyed it.

"I really enjoyed our bath last night." She winked at Marco before pulling the bedspread around them.

He blushed and sunk into the blankets to hide his embarrassment. Why was it only in the moment when he didn't get all flustered over things like this.

Star couldn't help but laugh at his reaction. He was too cute and precious to ever let go of, and that wouldn't ever be a problem. He was her king, after all.

The two cuddled and giggled away the few hours before Johan's training would begin, not knowing how intense a session it would be.

A:N: That was spooky, and a bit dialogue heavy. Sorry/not sorry. :) I had plenty of help from my editor(s) with motivation to finish this chapter. We've had a ton of fun with in-jokes during the editing process. This chapter might be a tad bit shorter than previous in terms of word count. Also worth noting that the entire time I've been working on this fic, I've been listening to Metal of various sub-genres while writing. Even during the lemons scenes. Hope you guys enjoyed. Cheers, until next Sunday.