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.

Forever? Like forever-forever? This is set about 4 years after Cleaved so Star and Marco are 19.

Favs, reviews, and constructive feedback are all really helpful. Thanks! (I will cherish them, forever.)

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Chapter 20 - Forever

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In their tiny one bedroom off-campus apartment Star and Marco lay in bed listening to the usual late night traffic while trying to fall asleep. Star's head is on Marco's chest while her arms are spread out across him. So far sleep was not working out.

"You still awake up there? I can feel you thinking."

"Yeah...sorry."

"I figured listening to my heart should have at least put you to sleep by now. For how long you've had your ear to my chest you're lucky you aren't in a coma."

"No coma, no sleeping, just thinking. My brain has way too much going on inside."

"You want to talk about it?"

"Mmm."

"Normally when we've had a busy day you're drooling on your pillow before I even turn off the lights. Let's see if I remember it right. Today we rushed to morning classes, fought some overgrown mad goat-pigs that the science department 'accidentally' created, met for a quick lunch, rushed to afternoon classes, worked on homework, tried out kick-boxing which ended up being fun, ate campus tacos, went to the park to watch the sunset, finally had the first swing dancing class where I didn't almost drop you, and then we ended the day with our usual housework-laundry-study date. Now that I think of it, we only did about half the stuff we normally do."

"Marco...what's forever?"

"Forever? Like forever-forever?"

"Yeah, forever."

"Are you thinking about your philosophy class?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Remember that month when you were a senior and I'd come home from the community college every night wanting to hold you until I fell asleep?"

"Philosophy class? I thought you just missed me a lot."

"Oh, I missed you. But if missing you was a misery cake, philosophy class was the icing on top."

"You know I want to be with you forever but what does that even mean? Odds are one of us is going to the grandma farm first. Seriously, if that happens what's the other one of us going to do?"

"I don't know."

"What if I really am in a coma and I'm never going to wake up. Wouldn't I want you to find a new best friend and maybe fall in love with a slightly less awesome former princess? Are you still held to being with me forever even if I can't actively be part of your life?"

"I don't know."

"I know who we are as people is going to change and we've changed a ton since we first met. I've always assumed that we'd grow together like two vines twisting around each other. You know, giving each other strength. But what happens if we don't? What if we end up growing so tightly that we strangle each other? Do you and I still stay together then?"

"I don't know."

"What if something happens and you become a soulless balloon Marco again and it's totally my fault? B-but instead of it getting fixed, that's it. I'm just stuck forever in love with a lifeless floating boyfriend!"

"I don't know."

"What if we were totally wrong about all these forever choices we've made? EVERYTHING! The magic, the kingdom, us, our futures, all of it?"

"Star, I don't know."

"Marco! You're totally not helping! My brain can't stop thinking about this!"

After taking a few deep breaths Marco starts to slowly run his fingers through her hair, hoping the light touch might help calm his bestie down. "When I took philosophy I remember that we covered a bunch of things. What is everything made from. Aesthetics. Ethics. We talked about belief vs opinion and then we went over questions like what is more important, physical money or the concept of money. The final few weeks we talked about the real deep stuff like why are we here."

"If we're covering all that, maybe a coma is the only way I sleep this semester. Arrgh...I don't know how I'm going to get through this."

"You'll get through. I remember, for my final essay I wrote about how people way smarter than us have have spent their whole lives looking for answers and all they could do is come up with more questions. Seemed to me that the best we can do is come up with answers that work for who we are right now and just go on living our lives."

"Hmm...I guess. So then what's your answer on forever right now?"

"Star, at fourteen I had never made a serious commitment before but you asked me to swear to be your best friend forever. I didn't asked you to define it. I didn't question what would happen if we grew apart. I also didn't point out that one of us is likely going to outlive the other. In my heart I knew what forever meant and the only answer I could give was yes. I admit, I think of forever a little differently now that we're older but I still think it means basically the same thing to both of us."

"..."

"Star, for as long as I'm able to make a choice that choice is always going to be you. I don't know for how long I'll be able to make choices but for as long as I can you know what it's going to be. In this crazy world we live in I think that's as forever as I can make anything."

"Hmm. I know we don't have a date set for the wedding yet but...are you still good with being with me forever? We both know that being best friends is totally different then being married. Plus you've been living with this mess for a while now so you can change your mind if you wanted, I'd understand."

"I'm just as sure as the day you proposed."

"Ah...you know, that doesn't actually answer my question."

"Good point. Star, I'm still good with being with you forever. I'm not going to change my mind."

"You know, years from now I'm not going to look like I do now. You're okay with that? Remember that old woman I turned into when we first traveled to the Time Dimension and crossed that stream? She's coming, somewhere on that road to forever."

"I remember her. If she is you I'll love her forever too. Although at that point we should do less swing dancing. When I think about it, the fact that you're young and beautiful now is really just a huge perk."

"A perk?"

"Yup."

"You're totally going to need to explain this perk to me."

"Star, I'd still feel the same about you even if you weren't. Seriously, I'd marry you if you lost your body and your head was attached to one of those mad pig-goats that we fought today. Like that weird uncle of yours."

"You know Marco, sometimes the things you come up with...wow!"

"Hey, as long as you don't have those weird pig-goat eyes. I might have to end it then."

"Thanks. It's good to know that you have your limits."

"Wait I take it back, sunglasses. You'll just need to wear sunglasses all the time and then we'd be good."

"You've thought about this before haven't you?"

"I'd help you shower everyday to keep the pig-goat smell down and brush your hair each morning so it doesn't get tangled. We could still do most of the same fun stuff we do now. The only thing that would be different is that I'd need to figure out how to make nachos with hay instead of chips."

"Marco, I'd have no arms or hands."

"Pony has no arms or hands and she does just fine. We'd still have our date nights and we could still curl up in bed like this in the evening."

"You better NOT start talking about pig-goat adult time."

"You want to know why I'd still love you forever through all that?"

"Because you've been watching too many of those My Little Warnicorn cartoons?"

"Because you'd still love me forever if it happened to me."

"Oh...hmm."

"..."

"You got an A in philosophy didn't you."

"A-. The professor said I copped out with my answer to that final essay question but in the comments he wrote that I was probably right."

"Hmm."

"Still love me forever? That weird looking old man I turn into is also coming down the road someday."

"Yeah, I'll love him too. But you're right, less swing dancing at that point."

"Forever."

"Forever."

"Did talking about this help?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Ready to sleep now?"

"Yeah but, I'm still going to need your heart for a bit."

"As long as you need it Star. We can lay here long as you need even if it's forever...or until I need to use the bathroom."

"Instead of forever, how about nachos? I'm feeling kinda hungry. Nachos are totally better then forever right?"

"You know, I think you're going to make it through philosophy class just fine."

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Forever - Olin

ed - Glad you enjoyed that chapter. I have plans for returning to those two at some point but Starco keeps jumping in front of them.

jkrust78 - Mina would totally get good ratings.

nightaroma - Thanks! The last chapter was not something I had ever planned on writing about but then I'm putting dishes away and a story pops into my head.

Raze2090 - Thanks for pointing out that the end of Future-Do-Over wasn't clear. I thought about your suggestions and made an update. That was super helpful.

Cheshirek3t - Your comment totally got me smiling. Thank you!