Star-Lord got away from the funeral as soon as he could and went over to the nearest bar. Tasting his fifth shot of bourbon, he wished he could be back in space, with decent booze.

The other patrons fell silent all of a sudden, which is the usual reaction when you see a green man, a blue woman, a girl with antennae, a talking tree and a raccoon walking through the door.

"Here you are," Rocket said. "We've been looking for your ass for hours."

"Well, now you've found it." Peter hadn't taken his eyes from the glass.

"What's your problem, man?"

"Guys, I'm fine!"

Mantis tapped him gently on the shoulder and her antennae shone.

"No, he's not," she said.

"Just leave me alone!"

There was an awkward silence.

"Quill, come back to the funeral," Rocket's tone was much more assuaging this time.

"What for? I barely knew the guy. And I'm sure his family and friends aren't wondering where the space guy whose name they can't even remember went."

"Is this about Gamora?" Nebula's sudden question caught everyone by surprise. "Peter, we'll find her."

"Not my Gamora. Maybe you and she can get along, since you only met, like, twice after she vamoosed from your Dad, but she's not the woman I knew. We never saved the galaxy together. We never danced together. We never…"

"May I speak alone with Mr. Quill?"

They all turned around to the sound of Dr. Strange's deep baritone voice.

"And who were you again?" Rocket asked.

"He's Doctor Weird. He helped us on the fight against Thanos," replied Drax.

"It's 'Strange'," The doctor frowned.

"I'm not familiar with Earth's naming customs, so I dare not say."

Strange decided to ignore the Destroyer and sat on the place near Peter. The rest of the Guardians left the place to give them some privacy.

"You want me to go back to the funeral too?"

"If that's what you want."

Peter finished his sixth shot.

"And do what? Go over to Stark's daughter and say 'Sorry for getting your Dad killed'?"

"Tony sacrificed himself."

"He never would have had to if I hadn't screwed up."

Strange put his hand on Peter's shoulder and looked him straight in the eye.

"Peter, when I was on Titan I observed 14,000,605 possible futures, and 14,000,604 of them left the universe on a worse situation than the one it's currently in. And let me assure you, there were many in which you kept your cool."

And for the first time since he ran into that spaceship's debris, Star-Lord seemed to brighten up.

"Thanks, doc. Also, I know we don't know each other all that well, but… do you think this new Gamora and me…"

"Well, you managed to win her over the first time. Now you know what to do and, most importantly, what not to do," Strange then took a sip of his own drink. "Even if it doesn't work out, don't worry. You're a good man, Peter Quill. You'll find someone."

Peter smiled.

"Well, how about we get out of this hole?" He asked while stretching. "No offense," he said to the bartender.

"None taken," The barman said "As long as you pay for those drinks."

"Oh, right," He searched his coat's pockets. "Shit! Doc, would you mind paying this one? I haven't had Earth currency on me for like, thirty years."

The doctor frowned.

"I'll pay you back, I promise!"

(Later on)

"Steve, mind if use the Time Stone one last time?"

Captain America looked at the suitcase he was carrying.

"I was about to give it back. Your old master was pretty insistent on it being a loan."

"I promise it'll just be a second."

And the sorcerer used the Infinity Stone one last time to glimpse into the abyss of the future. Disappointed, he gave it back to Steve.

Star-Lord was not going to pay him back.


So, what did you think?

I'm sorry for the delay, but between classes, studying for the exams and writer's block this is the soonest I can manage.

Oh, and Calvin, you've given me an idea for an Ant-Man-Wasp-Ghost chapter.