Starco vs Parenthood Introduction - These chapters can be read separately but they are all connected. It's always the same Star & Marco, same kids, same world.

This starts 14 years after the Cleave. Star & Marco are 29, their daughter is 7 and son is 4. Camping with kids should be relaxing once they finally go to bed.

Favs, reviews, and constructive feedback are all really helpful. Thanks!

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Chapter 7 - Bundles of Love

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In a camp site two hours away from home our favorite parents are getting settled for the night. The plan was to try to enjoy some time outside with their kids but things don't always work out as expected.

"Laptop? Marco, look at those moons! It is such a beau-ti-ful night tonight!"

"..."

"Hey, kids loved the bedtime story you packed. 'Who's Afraid of The Big Bad Mewman!' ended up being a good choice. Plus my mommy monster voice kept making them giggle. I don't mean to brag but, I'm pretty sure I'm going to win that Best-Mom-Ever award again this year."

"..."

"Hey mister feeling gassy, you should get off the computer! Go peek into their tent and witness their sleepyhead cuteness! I thought this was a camping vacation not a working vaca...Marco, are you upset about something?"

"Star, sit down."

"Oh no, what's wrong?"

"While you were getting them to bed an airplane was flown into the Cloud Kingdom castle. I already messaged Pony, she and her sisters are fine. They are on the coast filming something. Right now officials are trying to figure out if anyone was hurt. They think the plane was remotely controlled and full of explosives."

"So, not an accident."

"Correct. Not an accident."

"People! Arrgh!"

"Here, take the laptop. If you go into the condolences folder I already have a few templates ready to go for you. You should make a statement within the hour. I already have messages from three reporters looking for reaction interviews but I told them that you're not available. I assume you're good with that?"

"Yeah. Mina's friends did this?"

"Nothing has been confirmed yet. Could be them but more likely it is someone who really hates the Pony Head show. Sorry hun."

"All I wanted this weekend was a nice family camping trip and now I'm only going to be thinking about what if someone did get hurt. Or worse, what if someone was killed and...and now there is a family out there that is never going to be complete again."

"Yeah, I've been thinking about that too. Here, you take care of this. I'm going to finish cleaning up the camp site. Let me know if you need me to review anything before you send it out."

"Alright. Hey, love you."

"Love you too."

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Twenty minutes later.

"The Mewni ambassador has sent out our official statement. Do you need help with the dishes?"

"No, I only have a few left."

"Your guts feeling better?"

"About the same, must be something I ate this morning. Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'm still thinking more about what happened in the Cloud Kingdom."

"Yeah."

"Star, you have that look."

"I got it stuck in my head, are we failing at making the world a better place? Before the kids I'd say we were doing fine but now...now I just feel like anytime something messed up happens I'm letting them down."

"Hand me the towel?"

"Sure."

"Hug?"

"Yeah, come here."

"Mmmm...you're nice and warm."

"Marco, all I think about is giving these kids a better world than we got. I thought we could do it, I really did. Just sooo much hate out there. All for no good reason."

"Have I told you how much I like it when you have your hair up like this?"

"Are you trying to change the subject to make me feel better?"

"Maybe. I guess I need to do a better job of hiding it."

"Marco, I want your totally honest opinion. Do you think we are giving these kids something better then what we grew up with?"

"Short answer, yes. One hundred percent yes and you have been a huge part of why it is better. Long answer, we could be up all night debating never-ending details about what our parents gave us and what we have now. Instead of that, how about tonight we lay under the night sky and gaze at the stars. We can be thankful that we have our little family and that both Thing #1 and Thing #2 are happy and healthy. Instead of getting upset we can think about how lucky we are to have two bundles of love in that tent and our arms wrapped around each other."

"I like your plan."

"You in?"

"Alright, I'm in."

"I love you. Lets get a blanket and go lay just past the trees."

"I love you too but you should know something. I'm not sure if those kids feel the same way about you as you feel about them. All those bundles of love did while I was reading their bedtime story was complain about your farting tonight."

"That's fine. Maybe I'll just leave one sealed in their tent before we go to bed."

"I might be lucky to have you but if you don't start feeling better how about you just sleep in their tent tonight? Might be safer for me."

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This one was not my fav compared but I needed to practice some Starco conversations as prep for future chapters. - Olin