1: "I'm not leaving."

Marco didn't let her out of his sight.

After everything that just happened–after coming so close to losing her–he chose to keep an eye on her. The day following the battle, the royal family worked to clean up the castle and the rest of the villages. It was a lot of work, but the Butterfly Kingdom was beginning to look more like itself after a few days.

Marco didn't start out in her room. He was right next door in a guest bedroom with the comfiest bed he'd ever laid on. Honestly, it was even more magical than Memory Foam. The view he had of the kingdom from his balcony was beautiful, too. The city lights below and the rolling hills above that glistened under the sunset was breathtaking. He loved that room.

The first night, he awoke to screaming. Before he could even realize what he was doing, Marco had tossed the comforter back and he was racing next door. He was faster than the guards.

Star was sitting upright in her bed, knees hugged to her chest as tears streamed down her face. Her eyes were squeezed shut and she was whispering to herself. Marco climbed on the bed and pulled her into a tight hug. She melted in his embrace and sobbed quietly, not even caring about who could hear.

"Shh," he cooed, brushing her hair from her face, "it's okay. You're safe, you're okay." He rested his cheek against her head and combed through her hair. "You're okay. I'm here, you're okay."

Moon caught the two together the next night. It wasn't late, but Star was already fast asleep. Marco lay on his back, arm wrapped around Star as she used his torso as a pillow. He was awake still, just staring at the ceiling. When the giant doors opened and light poured into the room, Marco squeezed Star's arm and glared at who disrupted the darkness.

"Marco," Moon hissed quietly, "you can't be in here. This is hardly appropriate."

"She needs me," he whispered.

Moon took a deep breath. "Marco-"

"I'm not leaving," he declared, maybe a little too sharply. The queen shut her mouth and stared for a moment. In any other circumstances, she would have snapped at him and sent him back to the Earth immediately. However, these weren't normal circumstances.

And who knows where she'd be if she didn't have her protector by her side every night.

"Fine," she said finally. She turned to leave, but stopped. "Marco."

"Yes?"

"… I'm very thankful that she met you. You're a good boy."

Marco smiled, but she couldn't see. "Thank you, Queen."

The woman smiled faintly. "Call me Moon."