Starco vs Parenthood Introduction - In all of these chapters it's the same Star & Marco, same kids, and same world but the story is not linear. That said, each chapter is a complete story and can be read separately.

You know that feeling when you really don't want to puke but you know if you do you'll feel a lot better? This story starts during Season 4, immediately after the Britta's Tacos episode. At this point in the series Star and Marco are both 15.

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

.

Chapter 15 - Tacos and Narwhals

.

After spending all day at Britta's Tacos, Star and Marco have returned to the Diaz residence. Marco is in the upstairs bathroom while Star is in his room talking to him through the door.

"Marco? Are you okay in there? You've been in the bathroom for a long time now and I'm starting to get worried."

"...so...many...tacos...and I...never got...the shirt."

"You going to vomit? It's okay to vomit. Is that the best word to use on Earth for vomiting? Should I say puke?"

"...Star."

"I remember someone saying upchuck once, would that be better?"

"...Star...please...stop."

"Sorry. So are you going to spew?"

"...I am if you keep...saying it."

"Sorry, just trying to be helpful. Ahh...how about I make you a fruit smoothie to settle your stomach? I bet it'll taste just as good going down as it will coming back up."

"OH! OH! BLEEEEHHHHHHHWWWAAAA!"

.

After a shower for Marco and a change into jammies for both of them, he is lying in bed while Star sits in a chair.

"Sorry you had to hear all that Star."

"No need to apologize, I'm just glad you're feeling better now. I guess you really can have too much of a good thing."

"I feel better but I still have all this pressure inside that hurts."

"I won't be offended if you say no but, do you want me to try a stomach-fixing spell on you?"

"Star, you are so much better at magic then you used to be and I trust you with my life but...I'm worried that if something went wrong my insides might explode. I'd hate to see my guts all over your face. Remember that movie I showed you where the guy eats everything and then swallows one more little wafer?"

"I totally-totally get it. Wouldn't want to accidentally make a Marco-Taco-Bomb. I also need to remember to never use those exact words when I'm casting a spell...that might get REALLY messy."

"Star, there is something I want to do and I'm telling you this because I don't want it to get weird. Right now just the waistband of my jammies pushing down on me is enough to cause my insides to hurt. I really like you keeping me company but if it's okay with you, I'm going to 'adjust' some things but COMPLETELY under the covers."

"Understood. Like I said before, you should totally take the bed tonight. How about you do your 'adjusting' while I go get you a bucket, just in case there is a round two."

.

Several minutes and a bucket later, Star moves the chair right up against Marco's bed and then sits back down.

"Better?"

"MUCH better, just don't move the blankets at all or you might see something you probably don't want to see."

"You know Marco, other than hearing vomit-fest I had a really good time with you today."

"Is that why you are smiling like that?"

Star let out a giggle. "I was thinking, what would you do tonight if I told you we had to go clubbing?"

"I'd try but I think that wearing pants and dancing would put me in the hospital."

"Lucky for you I'm tired so I'll let it slide. What about nachos and best friends forever?"

"Best friends IS my life-long-post but please, don't ask me to make you nachos right now."

"Fine, I guess I can go without nachos just...this...once."

"Thanks."

"You know I'm teasing right?"

"I kind of figured."

"Okay good! So, did you have a good time today before you started feeling sick? I thought it was great seeing all our friends. I could tell by how happy they were to see you that they all really-really care about you."

"Hey, they care about you too! But yes, it was really nice seeing everyone. I also thought that Mariposa was just about perfect today. Tell me, it didn't bother you that everyone thought that you and I had...well...ah...Mariposa? I mean it HAS been a year since everyone has seen us and from what they said in health class we are old enough where it is theoretically possible."

"Pfft. No. It actually got me thinking about back when Pony and I were REALLY little and we would pretend some of our dolls were our kids. I had the cutest stuffed baby narwhal and I'd act like she was my daughter. We would run around the castle together and I would teach her how to fight pretend monsters."

"Star, are narwhals born with or without their horn?"

"Ah...thanks Marco. You just completely ruined that childhood memory for me."

"Sorry! I didn't mean to. Hey, I'm sure that if you had a baby narwhal it would be the cutest baby narwhal EVER."

"I know I spent most of the day letting my brain turn to mush but having Mariposa around did get me thinking. If we have kids someday do you think they would be besties like us?"

"Ah...we?"

"No, not you and I! I mean you and someone and me and...I guess SOMEONE!" Star let out another giggle while lightly poking Marco's belly. "As it stands you might give birth to a baby taco before morning."

"If I do, can you name her for me? I'd say we could raise her together but Tom might not be too happy about that."

"I would totally help you raise your taco. Being a Marco taco, I'm sure Tom would be fine with it."

"Now I'm imaging a little taco with tiny arms and legs running around a playground with your baby narwhal. We could get them together for movie nights and sleepovers. They would be best friends and the four of us could all go on beach house vacations together. I wonder if you could put a tiny hoodie on a taco?"

"..."

"Star, did I say something wrong!? That smile completely disappeared!"

"Sorry. A narwhal and taco family beach house vacation sounds really fun actually. I just...I just started thinking about Tom."

"...oh."

"Marco, do you think I'm a bad girlfriend?"

"Ah...to Tom or in general?"

"To Tom. I'm thinking that he's visiting some other dimension right now and I bet he's still TOTALLY angry at me for not going with him."

"He might have been upset at first but I bet he isn't mad anymore. You've had a lot going on for a long time and he knows that. For you right now, doing nothing here is a better way to decompress than going dimension hopping. I'm actually surprised that he still went without you, I would have...anyway, he knows what's best for him and I'm sure it'll all work out in the end. Maybe he's using this time to think about baby tacos too?"

"Hmm...I guess maybe. Marco, can I...can I listen to your heartbeat?"

"Yeah, sure."

While Star placed her ear down on Marco's chest he stayed quiet, his only movement being a series of deep breaths so his heartbeat would stay slow and steady. While she listened he looked down at the mass of blonde hair falling over him and thinks about stroking it softly with his fingers.

"…"

"Thanks Marco. That helps."

"Was it just one beat or did you hear the baby taco in there too?"

Star let loose a snort. "Just one."

"Star, you know I never ask personal stuff about you guys but...does Tom have a heartbeat?"

"Ah, you know...I'm not even sure. I mean he must but then again he is just full of souls I think? I guess whenever I need to hear a heartbeat I'll just borrow yours if you don't mind. I always find the sound really calming when I'm freaking out in my head."

"Are you feeling stressed right now?"

"Yeah, really stressed. I've been trying hard to not think but when I do my brain is all, 'Star! What are you going to do now with your life since it isn't all planned out for you anymore!? Star! You should come up with a plan! Star! Why are you talking to yourself!?'. Really the only thing I have figured out about my future right now is who my best friend is going to be. That's it."

"I admit, the future is scary when you think about it."

"You know, it's not just what to do. Where is home? Do I keep treating Eclipse's family like they are my family? Do I keep crashing with your family? There's SOOO MUCH to think about. On top of that all this time with Mariposa has been REALLY special. Other than games with Pony I never thought about the fact that I could have my own family someday. This all just makes my brain go all -BLEEEWWWWICK-."

"I know I want to go to college but I have no idea after that. Assuming I'm here and you don't need to be on Mewni you can always keep staying with me. Maybe you can go back to high school?"

"I might stay with you but I'm sooo never going back to high school again."

"Even if you don't go back to school I'm sure you could find plenty to do since you're so good at magic now. You know, even if I'm here awhile for college eventually my parents aren't going to need my help anymore with Mariposa. Maybe when I'm ready to move out we can be housemates?"

"Would you want to go back to Mewni after you finish college?"

"I don't see why not. When I think about it, even though I want a college education I don't know what I want to do with it. The only thing I really know is that when the time is right...you and I, we'll figure out our futures together."

"Thanks Marco. That's really nice to think about."

"For now, if this future stuff is stressing you out, you should just take baby steps and don't focus beyond that. What is one thing you want to accomplish before the end of summer?"

"I don't know. In the back of my head I feel like I should figure out what is going on with Tom. I know I hurt him. Maybe...maybe I should make it up to him when he gets back? Seems like what a girlfriend is supposed to do."

"Well...sure...I bet he would like that. I guess that would be worth doing if it's going to help you feel better."

"You know, I really like it when you and I go out on picnics. Maybe I can take him out for a picnic?"

"Sure. I know our picnics were always great."

"Hmm...I don't want to go too far if I'm preparing food. The roof has always been a special place for you and I. Maybe we can do it there? Since he can fly I don't even have to worry about him falling off or anything."

"Yeah, the roof is a special place for us. A little dangerous but always the best place to gaze at the stars."

"Oh, I have a good idea. He likes little furry animals so maybe I'll get him one of those too!"

"Like our laser puppies?"

"Exactly! That should be enough to make it up to him. I still won't be the best girlfriend ever but maybe if I do all that I won't be the worst."

"Yeah, I'm sure he'll like that a lot. I know I would. Hey, if you don't mind, whenever this happens I'm going to give you two love birds some space. I'll go out to the mall maybe and just stay out of your hair. I wouldn't want to mess up the mood or anything."

"Marco, you never mess up the mood! You're like a cup full of sugar, you make everything better."

"Even if that was true, I know if you were making a special boyfriend-girlfriend picnic for me I might not want anyone else there."

"Well...if you say so. Would you at least help me figure out what food to make?"

"Star, I'll help you anyway you need."

"Thanks Marco, you're pretty awesome. Hey, if you're feeling better I'm going to turn in for the night. Are you going to be okay without me if I go?"

"If you go? Ah...oh, you mean just go downstairs to the sofa. Yeah...yeah I'll be okay if you go downstairs."

"You know, instead of the sofa I'll stick with the sleeping bag on the floor up here tonight in case you need help later. Now that I think about it, I don't feel good leaving you alone. How is your tummy feeling right now?"

"It's feeling settled enough now where I don't expect round two. I should be good so you can stay or go. I just...just want to say, thanks for keeping me company. It's been really nice having you here."

"..."

"Hey, why are you messing up my hair?"

"Fixing it Marco. Fixing it. Goodnight."

Star turns off the light before settling down in her sleeping bag. In the darkness Marco does his best to dry the water forming in his eyes without making any noise. However, every time he thinks he's finished a new set of tears form.

.

.

About ten years later Star is on the roof of the Diaz home calling out to Marco as he walks up to the house.

"MARCO! SURPRISE!"

"STAR? WHAT ARE YOU DOING UP THERE?"

"COME ON UP AND HAVE LUNCH WITH ME!"

"PLEASE TELL ME OUR BABY GIRL IS NOT UP ON THE ROOF WITH YOU."

"YOUR BABY GIRL IS TWO NOW. PRETTY SOON SHE'S NOT GOING TO LIKE BEING CALLED BABY GIRL ANYMORE. BUT NO, SHE'S OUT WITH YOUR PARENTS. COME ON UP!"

.

Several minutes later Marco is with Star sitting down on a cloth that has been spread out over a section of the Diaz roof. Between them is a large picnic basket.

"Star, this looks really familiar."

"Marco, I know what it looks like BUT, this is something TOTALLY different. This Sir Dorko is the roof picnic that YOU deserved. Prepare to be amazed!"

"Roof eggs and smoothies?"

"No-no, I ordered Chinese. I know better now."

"This is a nice surprise but what is this really about? Are you feeling guilty about something? I remember last time you planned something like this you were feeling pretty guilty."

"NO! Well...yes but...alright...let me explain. Since we are back in town to prepare for the Cleav-a-versery it got me thinking about what else happened ten years ago. One thing led to another and I started feeling guilty for being a crappy girlfriend both to the guy I was dating AND to the bestie I should have been dating."

"I might have been holding back some tears way-back-when but you were never a crappy girlfriend to anyone. It just took everyone time to figure out what we needed in our lives."

"Marco! To make it up to Tom I took everything special we did and tried it out on him. Sounds pretty crappy to me."

"Last I checked it all worked out so it couldn't have been all that crappy."

"Hmm...well crappy or not, HAPPY ROOF PICNIC! Just to warn you, if you break up with me while we're up here like Tom did, I'm SO going to toss you right off."

"I'd expect nothing less. You know, I like how you said that with a big smile on your face. It makes me think that if I did you're already prepared to stab me a few times before you throw me down."

"No stabbing but, I'd make sure when you hit the ground it would hurt A LOT."

.

Several containers of Chinese food later.

"Thank you hun. This has been really nice. I had actually forgotten how much time we used to spend up here back-in-the-day."

"You told me you always came up here to see the stars, I wish I knew back then you meant that you were looking at me."

"A teenage boy needs to have some secrets."

"Marco, this is going to sound like a big question but I want you to be honest with me. We spent a lot of time back then thinking about what we were going to do with our lives. Are you happy with your choices so far?"

"Why would you ask that? Of course I am! I admit with our pumpkin, I'm really looking forward to the terrible-twos being over. At the office, I feel like I'm hitting my head against a wall trying to get people to understand basic concepts like, 'treat other people the way you want to be treated'. One thing that does make me happy is that you and I are FINALLY working together. It's like we are back to being the do-everything-together besties we used to be. When I think about all of it, I have no real complaints."

"You missed one important part of your life."

"I did? Oh! I totally forgot, I'm really happy with my core routine. It's a lot of work but you can't argue with the results."

"NO! I want to know, are you still happy with me? You don't feel at all like you have the worst wife ever?"

"STAR! Sure I freaked out that one birthday and I'm not thrilled every minute of every day but I'm completely happy being with you! What kind of question is that? When I think about what makes me happiest, it's the fact that we can just be ourselves and with you that is awesome. The picnics, the star gazing, sitting on the sofa, eating a meal...it's all great as long as you're there with me. Unlike tacos, when it comes to being with you I can never have too much of a good thing."

"Well...I just wanted to know if I needed to give you an adorable-please-love-me-always-small-animal-gift like you helped me pick out ten years ago."

"Don't tell me you have a kitten hidden up here somewhere?"

"Nope! I THINK this is something you are going to like better."

"…"

Star reaches into her pocket and pulls out a long thin piece of white plastic that has a few marks on the end. "Two lines. Maybe our taco and narwhal can be best friends."

"YOU NEED TO GET OFF THIS ROOF RIGHT NOW! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING BEING UP HERE WHILE PREGNANT! YOU KNOW HOW DANGEROUS IT CAN BE ON A ROOF!"

"Marco!"

"You heard me! Here, take my hand. Right in the window you go. You know the whole drill, say goodbye to danger for the next nine months!"

"GOODBYE DANGER! IT WAS NICE SEEING YOU AGAIN! I PROMISE I'LL BE BACK!"

"You'll get hugs and kisses once I get you back inside."

"Just so you know, you are not allowed to bubble wrap me this time."

"Oh, we'll see about that!"

.

.

Nearly nine years later Star and Marco are in an overloaded SUV three hours into a week long beach house vacation. Their Narwhal 11 and Taco 8 are in the back seat busily setting the best friend tone for the week.

"I'M NOT TOUCHING YOU! I'M NOT TOUCHING YOU! I'M NOT TOUCHING YOU!"

"MOM! IF HE DON'T STOP THIS I'M BREAKING ALL HIS FINGERS IN THREE PLACES EACH!"

.

.

If you read the previous chapter (Mewnipause), this is the previous vacation that Marco mentioned. Fighting kid vacations are the worst!

7/2021 - I went back and re-wrote several sections of this chapter to fix some poor grammar choices. - Olin

Ngame - Thank you for the nice words and for the advice when I started writing six months ago. It might not have seemed like much but you were a huge help! - Olin