Babysitters of the Year

Prompt from Weatherbug02. I'm really into writing for this show right now like ugh that hug really got me going.

Fvcutie0028: No that actually sounds so good! It's like people think pierogis sound gross because it's noodles with potatoes and cheese inside but they're actually so freaking good.

Weatherbug02: I hope you enjoy, and welcome to the fandom!

Guest: Hmmmm….I might have to make it shorter or change the plot a bit, but I kind of really want to give that a shot so we'll see how it goes.

I don't own Star vs. the Forces of Evil. This takes place before Toffee is introduced.

GENERAL POV

"What do you mean, I have to babysit Alyson?" Marco groaned as he trailed his mother around the kitchen.

Tying her apron around her hips and pulling out a cutting board, Mrs. Diaz gave her son a look. "I mean, their normal babysitter had a family emergency and couldn't make it, so she called me today and asked if you could. She lives right across the street, Marco, it was the least I could do."

Marco groaned. "Mom, you know I love kids, but Alyson is a real handful. I don't know how a six year old manages to catch and release a wild raccoon in her own house, but she did it!"

"Pffft, that's ridiculous Marco," Mrs. Diaz scoffed, slicing down the middle of a tomato and beginning to dice the fruit. "If you're so worried, why don't you take Star with you?"

Marco chewed on his lower lip for a minute. "Except I feel like Alyson is basically what Star was like as a kid, soooooo…."

"Oh come on honey, just take her. She might have fun," his mother said with a chuckle. "And if what you said is true, then Star would know exactly how to deal with her."

"Deal with who?" Star asked, bouncing into the kitchen and leaning up against the counter.

"You and Marco are going to be babysitting at 6 tonight," Mrs. Diaz informed her, scraping the diced tomatoes into a bowl.

"But Mom-" Marco started.

"Uh uh," she snapped, squinting her eyes at him and pointing the knife at him. "You're going and that's final."

Star leaned over and settled her chin on Marco's shoulder. "You probably shouldn't argue with someone holding a knife," she murmured.

"Thank you so much again, Marco," Mrs. Morris said, slipping into her jacket. "And Star, it's so nice to finally meet you. Alyson! Marco's here to see you honey!"

A squeal came from up the stairs and pattering footsteps sounded overhead as Alyson clambered down the stairs, black pigtails bouncing in her face. She lunged from the bottom step and tackled Marco in a full on hug, nearly knocking him to the floor in the process. "Marco!" she giggled, grinning so widely that Star was able to see the gap where her front tooth had been.

Marco stumbled back, a tiny smile twitching on his lips, and he pried Alyson from his legs and gathered her into his arms. "Hiya, Alyson."

"Alyson, make sure you behave for Marco and Star," her mother warned her, leaning over to kiss the girl on the cheek. "Daddy and I will be home in time to tuck you in, okay?"

Alyson nodded furiously and waved goodbye as her parents exited the house and drove off to their dinner date. As soon as the door shut, Alyson looked at Star quizzically. "Who's that?" she asked Marco.

Marco grinned. "That's my friend Star. And get this, Alyson," he said, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "She's a magical princess."

The girl's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as she stared up at Star, who was trying not to giggle. "Are you really?" she asked in awe.

Star glanced at Marco silently, raising an eyebrow, and Marco nodded. With his affirmation, she reached into her bag and pulled out her wand, a smile splitting her face in two. "Yup. I'm actually from a planet called Mewni, and this is my magic wand," she informed her, nodding to the wand.

"Can I see?" the girl asked shyly.

"Afraid not," Marco said before Star could respond. "Only the princess is allowed to touch it. But hey, if you go get your art supplies I bet we can make one just like it."

Her eyes lit up at the idea and she squirmed from Marco's grasp and ran back up the stairs. Star turned to Marco in confusion. "What on earth was that for?" she asked, crossing her arms. "I would have been fine with letting her hold the wand. Not like she knows any real spells."

Marco shook his head quickly. "No way. Alyson's adorable, but she….well, she gets into a surprising amount of trouble for someone her age. I think you should hold onto the wand."

Star pouted quietly but nodded, glancing up as Alyson came back downstairs, tugging a box full of art supplies with her that was nearly as big as she was. Marco took it from the girl with ease and led them to the dining room table, where he began setting up shop. "Okay, Alyson, what do you think would make a good base for the wand handle?" he asked, setting the glitter far away from her reach.

Alyson studied the wand closely, brown eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Mmmm….maybe a toilet paper roll? Mommy keeps them in the recycling bin downstairs, but I'm not allowed down there cause the steps are uneven and I might get hurt."

Having known this, Marco glanced at Star. "Will you go grab a couple toilet paper tubes?" he asked her, a smile on his face.

Star nodded. "Sure thing."

As she vanished, Alyson turned to Marco with a twinkle in her eyes. "Is Star your girlfriend?" she asked.

Marco nearly fumbled his glue bottle that he was holding, his face flushing bright red. "Star? Of course not, she's my best friend!"

Alyson squinted at him and Marco swallowed. Why was he letting a six year old make him feel so nervous?

Satisfied with her study of Marco, Alyson sat back in her chair and nodded. "You like her," she declared.

Marco did drop the bottle this time, and as he bent to pick it up took a second to compose himself. He stood back up with a smile and shook his head. "Alyson, I promise I don't. She's just my friend."

He was pretty sure she didn't believe him still, but he managed to distract her attention. "Anyway, why don't you go grab some of the stickers your mom keeps in the living room for you?" he asked, pulling out felt and construction paper. "It'd be good for decorating your wand."

Alyson bounced from her seat and left the room just as Star came back, five or six toilet paper rolls gathered in her hands. She dumped them on the table and grinned. "What were you two talking about?"

Marco jumped, his face flaming hot. "What? Oh, just uh…just how she was going to decorate the wand. I sent her to get stickers."

The words had just left his mouth when a shriek and a crash came from the living room. Marco sighed. "Oh boy. I was hoping we could get through the night without breaking something. Let's go get her," he muttered, moving towards the living room quickly.

Star followed him, and the two froze in the doorway. Alyson was pressed against the wall with several sticker sheets surrounding her and more clutched in her arms, and standing in front of her was Ludo's entire monster army. Ludo himself was sneering at the girl. "Where is she?" he growled in Alyson's face, making the girl whimper.

"Looking for me?" Star snapped, her eyes flashing dangerously.

Marco held his arms out and Alyson immediately ran to him, clambering into his grasp and burying her head in his neck.

"Ah, Star Butterfly," Ludo cackled. "Babysitting, I see? I'd think that would be beneath you."

Star scowled. "No, not at all. You know what is beneath me, though? You."

With that, she dove at the monsters and started blasting them with narwhals, rainbows, and various cats. Meanwhile, Marco did his best to fight while still clutching onto Alyson. His glare in and of itself was terrifying alone, and most of the monsters took one look at him and steered clear.

The fight went faster than usual, probably because Star and Marco were intent on protecting Alyson from the monsters. Within moments Star was kicking Ludo's butt back through the portal to Mewni, and they shut the portal with the scissors as fast as possible.

"You okay?" Marco asked Alyson quietly.

The girl looked up with teary eyes, and glanced over at Star. "Were they after me?" she asked feebly.

Star shook her head immediately, putting her wand into her purse. "No, of course not. They just want my wand, but Marco and I kicked their butts."

Alyson smiled and slid out of Marco's arms to the ground, picking up the stickers that she had dropped earlier. "You guys were really good at that," she confirmed, standing up straight and looking over at them shyly. "Can I still make a wand?"

Star and Marco looked at one another and grinned. "Of course," Marco said with a laugh.

"Just maybe don't make it exactly like mine," Star decided with a shake of her head. "Wouldn't want the monsters attacking again."

Alyson ducked her head, a tiny smile on her face. "You guys are really cool babysitters," she said softly before pattering out of the room with her sticker sheets clutched tightly to her chest.

Star nudged Marco with a grin. "Still regret taking the babysitting job?"

The sound of dozens of markers hitting the ground and rolling everywhere reached their ears and Marco gave Star a look. "Let me get back to you on that."

Reviews are lovely, I am exhausted, and someone should get me Subway.