Chapter Four: Checking for Wrinkles?

Rocket couldn't believe what he was seeing. There were flashes of green and pale skin as Quill and Gamora frantically attempted to get under the sheets. What the everloving fuck was going on.

He had to dodge as something went whizzing by his head, followed by Quill telling him to get the fuck out. Rocket exited the door as quickly as he had entered, his head spinning the whole time. Sure, Quill and Gamora had their flirty moments but he never expected it to come to this. Then again, Mantis told him that when Drax, Quill, and Gamora first met her, she revealed to the entire room that Quill felt romantic love for Gamora. But why the hell would she be interested in him? Plus, he's no longer half-celestial god so who the hell cares about him? Rocket scampered down the hallway to inform everyone else of Quill and Gamoras incriminating playtime.

Peter couldn't look at her. He was currently buried under the covers and refused to come out from them because if he did, he'd have to face Rocket. Why doesn't anyone knock around here?

Gamora sat up against the wall and sighed. Peter was hiding under the blankets but his arm was still wrapped around her waist. His head was nuzzled up to her thigh, his fingers were tracing circles on her skin. She didn't regret what just happened. Hell, she had wanted it to happen for some time now. But she just couldn't admit it to herself before now. Gamora was never taught to love, and she was often showed that love got you killed. It also made one foolish and irrational. But right now, she didn't care about that. All she cared about was the man who was currently hiding from a four-foot tall talking raccoon. Then again, Rocket was definitely about to go tell everybody what he just saw.

Rocket ran into Drax first, who was in the kitchen cutting up some fruit.

"Drax! Holy shit!" He panted, stopping to catch his breath, "You'll never guess what I just saw! Guess!" Drax looked at him blankly.

"If I will never guess then why are you asking me to guess? You are simply setting me up to fail." He continued to calmly chop up the yarrow root. Rocket groaned in frustration.

"No! You big blue moron! Gah! I gotta go get everyone else. You stay here." Again, Drax stared blankly at him. Rocket made a face at him before running out to go gather Mantis and Groot.

"I am Groot," Groot said, not budging from his bed. He had his game in his hand and didn't take his eyes off of it.

"You should care! I got a big announcement I want everyone to hear!" Rocket huffed and stomped his feet at Groot, who still hadn't moved his eyes from his video game.

"I am Groot."

"Damnit Groot, you will get your ass up and go into the common room… Or else I'll smash your game." Rocket was not messing around on this one; he was really excited to tell everyone about his discovery. Groot looked at him, mumbled something in Groot and slowly got up off of his bed and followed eager Rocket down the hallway.

Peter mumbled something into Gamora's thigh that she couldn't quite make out.

"What did you say?" Gamora asked, lifting up the covers so she could look at him.

Again he mumbled into her leg.

"I really cannot understand you." He turned his head upwards and flopped over on his back, groaning the whole way.

"Fuck. That's what I said. Fuck."

"Oh," Gamora said quietly, wondering if he was talking about Rocket or what happened before he barged in. He rubbed his hands on his eyes and muttered angrily to himself. He then glanced over at her and noticed her uncomfortable and worried expression. Peter immediately sat up and embraced her.

"No, no, I'm talking about that nosy little trash panda," Peter cupped her head in his hands and stroked his thumb against her cheek, "Then again, if I said fuck in a different tone, like a "holy shit that was the best thing ever", then I would be talking about...ya know. The way I use fuck is really similar to Groot's whole "I am Groot" nonsense. I can't believe that I can actually understand him now." Peter was blabbing, and it was clear that his mind was racing. Gamora's was as well, she was wondering what this would make them if Rocket had told everybody by now, how they would handle it if it would change the ships dynamic, just anything and everything. Fuck it.

"Peter, let's talk."

Mantis was being dragged down the hallway by Rocket, who was eager to gather everyone together.

"Drax! Come sit!" He yelled at Drax, who was still chopping up the root. Drax put down the knife and followed them into the common room.

"Everyone, please sit and gather 'round, for I have some very interesting news about our two favorite people."

"My two favorite people are dead," Drax said, completely void of emotion. Mantis looked at him quizzingly before deciding to drop it.

"Anyways," Rocket continued, "I was on my way to see Quill's new hair when I heard Gamora screaming." He paused for dramatic effect and to make sure he had everyone's attention. Drax was still staring at him while Mantis looked confused. Groot was hanging onto his every word.

"Screaming? Had she stubbed her toe? She hates that." Drax chimed in, clearly thinking that he was helping. Rocket ignored him.

"So, I rushed into Quill's room and they were on his bed...completely naked." He was once again met with blank stares.

"I am Groot."

"No! They were not doing laundry!" Rocket snapped at Groot, angry at how naive he was.

"Perhaps they were checking one another for wrinkles. Last week Gamora pointed out a wrinkle on Peters' face and he got very upset." Mantis said obviously. Rocket groaned and put his face into his hands.

"No! They were hooking up!" Rocket then made a circle with one hand and then mimicked his other finger going through the hole. Everyone then stared at him blankly. God, they were all idiots.

"Why would Peter put his finger through Gamora's circle? It doesn't… Oh! I see now. He was impregnating her!" Drax finally understood what Rocket was trying to say. However, it made Rocket shudder a little bit. He hadn't thought that far ahead. Yuck. Mantis then seemed to understand it, but she still looked a little lost. Groot was still totally confused.

"I am Groot." Rocket groaned and rubbed his forehead.

"I'll explain it to you later!"

Gamora wanted to talk. Peter wasn't sure if he should be happy or weary.

"Okay, then talk." She stared at him and took a deep breath.

"Ever since you brought up that unspoken thing, I can't stop thinking about it. I was ignorant in thinking that I could simply ignore it and you would stop. I underestimated your persistence." Peter grabbed her hand and chuckled at her comment.

"Stubborn is my middle name."

"I thought it was Jason?" Gamora asked as he laughed at her.

"You're exactly right." Peter couldn't help but be amazed by everything she didn't understand. While he wasn't on Earth very long, he had picked up a lot of saying that only he understood. It was often amusing to see the Guardians react to them.

"Good. But, about this thing, I was hesitant. When I was with Thanos, I saw horrible things caused by love. People often killed themselves if he slaughtered their husband or wife or children. I did not want to be a fool like that. I know that it can all be taken away like that." She said as she snapped her fingers. He understood what she was trying to same, and he had had those worries himself. Peter squeezed her hand and smiled softly at her.

"I understand that. But life ain't worth living unless you have someone to cherish it with. I'd rather die knowing I had you than live without you." Gamora looked at him tenderly, and it almost melted his heart. He pulled her into an embrace and she hugged him back.

"I understand now." She whispered to him.