Kraglin had been running so hard that when he stopped at the entrance to the cockpit of the ship, where Quill, Groot, and Mantis all sat, he slid by it completely. He regained his bearings, came back, and entered out of breath. Quill turned in the pilot's seat at the helm, which was usually occupied by Rocket, but Rocket wasn't up there like he usually was when Quill came in. Quill figured Rocket was still upset with him.

"What's up?" Quill asked as he frowned over at the man who stood hunched over, hands braced up by his knees, while he wheezed and tried to catch his breath. Mantis smiled and moved to him and began to rub his back.

"I think there is something wrong with Nebula," Kraglin finally got out and the furrow in Quill's brow deepened and his heartbeat quickened, as he set the autopilot, jumped from his seat, and rushed from the room in search of Nebula.

"What happened, where is she?" Quill fired off his questions as Kraglin and Mantis followed him.

"Uh, I don't know exactly…" At Kraglin's words, Quill stopped abruptly and turned around to scowl at him. "I was down finishing up some repairs in the engine room and I … I heard her screaming.

"Wha…What?" Was all Quill could manage as his entire body became clutched in fear, and he actually stood there pondering why he was having this sort of reaction to Nebula. The only people he had ever reacted this way to had first been his mother when the sickness really started to take her, and also when he learned that Thanos had murdered Gamora. It was a fear that virtually crippled him.

"She sounded like she was in pain like she was hurting really, really bad," Kraglin stated.

"Yes, she is in a lot of pain," Mantis cut in nodding her head, and a sadness cloaked her face just as both men turned to regard her. "She is hurting really, really bad," She also concurred.

"Well, what's wrong with her … where is she?" Quill demanded his anger at Mantis now battling with his concern for Nebula.

"She is down in the lowest cargo bay, and she has been in excruciating pain for many hours."

"What the hell is wrong with you!?" Quill yelled in outrage at Mantis who cowered back in surprise and fear. Kraglin had to step in between them to physically hold Quill back at that moment. "Why didn't you wake me up, wake anybody up and tell us she was down there screaming and in pain?" Quill raged on as Mantis bowed her head and avoided his eyes.

"But Rocket is with her, and he said not to disturb them no matter what," She included and this caused a look of confusion to fall upon Quill and Kraglin's faces. All three rushed down to the cargo bay.

Just as they rounded the corner at the end of the corridor to the cargo bay doors, the doors opened and Rocket stepped out. As he approached, Quill noticed that Rocket's small hands had on gloves and those gloves were covered with dark-colored blood. Rocket stood somberly with his head bowed right in front of the large closed metal doors where he yanked off the bloodied gloves and tossed them into a trash bucket in the corner of the corridor.

"Rocket, what the hell is going on, what did you do to Nebula?" Quill asked in an accusatory tone. Rocket completely ignored Quill who stood the closest to him and honed his eyes onto Mantis.

"I don't know if it's possible but can you try to help ease her pain?" Rocket asked Mantis who eagerly nodded and then moved to the entrance. "Don't let her go to sleep. She's still being worked on and she has to stay awake. So, do not put her to sleep," Mantis nodded her understanding, moved to the doors, and pressed the lock pad. The doors opened and Nebula's screams and cries instantly filled the corridor. Quill stepped to the doors. "No, Peter," The tone of Rocket's voice and the fact that he was using Quill's first name stopped Quill dead in his tracks. "She doesn't want anyone to see her like that, and I promised her no other males would be allowed in." Just as Quill opened his mouth to protest, Groot's voice came over the ship's intercom.

"I am Groot. I am Groot," At Groot's words a baffled Quill moved to the intercom station on the wall and pressed it to reply.

"Yeah, all right, tell Drax to seal off the back hatch and let her in," Quill said and then ended the call and focused back on Rocket.

"You called 'her'?" Quill questioned and Rocket shook his head.

"No, she actually contacted me and said she sensed something was wrong with Nebula. So, I told her the very short version of the truth."

"Yeah, well I'd also like to hear all of the truth," Quill said as he scowled down at his friend, who nodded this time.

"Sure, just let me make sure Nebula is settled and then get cleaned up," Rocket said and Quill could actually see just how exhausted his friend was.

"Uhm, boss," Kraglin interrupted the moment. "There's a glowing, floating lady down there," He said and both Quill and Rocket locked their eyes onto Captain Marvel who flew down the corridor to them. She stopped right in front of Rocket, dropped down to one knee before him, and pulled him into a tight embrace. She completely disregarded the other two men quietly standing there. After a moment Captain Marvel pulled from the embrace and cast a sweet smile at Rocket.

"How is she?" Carol Danvers asked in a gentle voice.

"She's in a lot of pain," He answered with tear-filled eyes. "Carol, it's pretty bad and now I wish I hadn't helped her do it. Why would Stark make her go through that, after everything she's already been through?" This made Quill's ears perk up and his confusion intensify.

"Wait, Stark, as in Tony Stark?" Quill spoke out and was ignored entirely.

"Hey, we both know how much Tony cared for Nebula," Carol replied. "He loved her almost as intensely as he loved Morgan. He would have never caused Nebula any pain if he could have avoided it."

"Who the hell is Morgan?" Quill probed further and again was ignored.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Rocket said as he nodded his bowed head. "Anyway, I'm glad you're here. She needs one of her 'sisters from another mister' with her right now," He tacked on with a crooked smirk and Carol smiled back at hearing the term she and the other female Avengers had often called each other.

"I've already talked with the others. Okoye and Pepper couldn't leave Earth right now to be here, but they made me promise to keep them updated on how Nebula's doing. Where is she?"

"C'mon, I'll take you to her," Rocket said as he turned back to the closed entrance. Captain Marvel rose back upright and finally turned and nodded a greeting to Quill and Kraglin and then followed Rocket through the opened doors, which quickly shut again.

A couple of hours later

The doors opened and Rocket walked out. He stopped short, surprised to find Quill seated on the floor in the corridor. He was leaning against the wall and had his left leg outstretched and his right leg bent up, where his right hand was propped up holding his music player. Quill had his ear pods in both ears, his eyes closed, and his head resting back against the wall. If Rocket hadn't noticed the slight bobbing of Quill's head, he would have thought he was sleeping. Rocket walked over to him and stopped at his outstretched foot, which he kicked slightly to garner Quill's attention. Quill shot his eyes open and yanked the pods from his ears, but didn't get up from where he sat.

"Hey, how's Nebula doing?" He asked Rocket while briefly moving his eyes to the closed doors.

"The procedure's done and she's finally asleep, thanks to Mantis. In fact, all three ladies are knocked out cold right now," Rocket announced.

"So, you ready to tell me what happened in there?" Quill began to probe. "What did you do to her? Why did you do it? And what does Tony Stark have to do with this?" Rocket nodded his head as he moved to the wall next to where Quill sat and he took a seat on the floor beside him.

"I helped her with a gift she got from Tony Stark. It's probably better if he explains it," Rocket said as he removed the small octagon-shaped metal from his pocket and settled it on the floor in front of them. He then tapped the surface of it and the holograph started.

"Hello, build-a-bear…"

"And she had to be awake for all of that? Jeez," Quill huffed out in disbelief while Rocket simply nodded his head. "Well, did it actually work? I mean, did everything go according to plan?"

"Yeah, I literally stood there and watched the muscle, tissue, and skin regrow on her," Rocket answered. "All of the cybernetic parts are all still there, but now they're inside of a vibranium skeletal frame. It was so thin, like foil wrapping around her. It'll be very hard for her to break her bones now. For the most part, she still looks like herself. Well, except …"

"Except?" Quill repeated his concern rising again.

"All the hair," Rocket chuckled out. "She's got a head full of long hair and it's as black as her eyes."

"Really?" Quill's face scrunched up a bit as he thought about it. "Wow."

"Yeah, wow," Rocket concurred.

"And she's really okay, I mean, there should be no side effects?" Quill questioned.

"Naw, Stark would have made sure there weren't side effects," Rocket confirmed. "She'll be fine, and …" He paused unsure if he should divulge what Nebula had told him in confidence.

"And, and what? C'mon, Rocket spill," Quill replied as he scowled at his furry friend who sat beside him with his head bowed a bit.

"She's leaving," Rocket finally revealed and Quill's mouth fell open in shock. "As soon as she's fully healed, she plans to have us drop her off at the nearest inhabited planet."

"What?" Quill's mind reeled as he locked his eyes to the steel floor in contemplation. Once upon a time, he would have been happy to drop Nebula off at the nearest planet, whether it was inhabited or not, but now that seems like it was a lifetime ago. "But why?"

"Stark gave her this 'gift' so she could start a new life for herself," Rocket began to explain. "She feels like she has to honor what he wanted."

"And she thinks that means she has to leave us, her friends … Her family?" Quill argued as anger filled him, but he wasn't sure who was to blame for it; Nebula or Tony Stark.

"Well, most of her time here with us ain't really been very friendly or like a family for her," Rocket stated and Quill dropped his head in shame because he knew this was true. "I'm the only one here who has known her the longest and knows her the best. And to be honest, if it weren't for Thanos snapping the rest of you from existence, I'm not so sure I would have ever even bothered getting to know her."

"So, you think she should leave?"

"Of course not, but I want her to be happy. She deserves happiness more than anyone of us. So, if she thinks she'll find her happiness elsewhere I want that for her, and I'll help her get it any way I can," Rocket declared.

Sometime Later

"This is going to take some getting used to," Carol said as she sat on the bed behind Nebula, who sat quietly as the other woman brushed through her thick, black tresses.

"For you and me both," Nebula replied and Carol smiled as she raked the brush Mantis had provided, through Nebula's hair one more time, and then settled it upon the table next to the bed. When Nebula awoke from her surgery, Carol and Mantis helped her to her quarters. They had all been surprised to find Quill and Rocket supporting each other's weight as they both slept soundly in the corridor of the med lab. The ladies had passed by then without waking them, but it hadn't taken long for Rocket to come to find them. Once he was sure Nebula was fine and settled, he and Mantis had left her and Carol alone.

"It looks good on you," Carol added and Nebula turned in her position until they were seated face to face. "Technically, it's who you would have been if Thanos hadn't …" She swallowed the words and all the thoughts she had in her mind from the stories Nebula had shared with her and the other Lady Avengers during their many girl's nights. It had angered Carol but mostly it had broken her heart to watch Nebula share her life's story with little to no emotions about it because she had become so desensitized to Thanos's treatment of her. "You know, I was so pissed at Stark when Rocket told me about his gift to you, but now I get it. I understand why he did it. He really loved you. At first, I thought it was just gratitude because you saved his life out there in space before I found you, but it wasn't just that. You were someone who was at his level intellect-wise, but also very innocent and naïve. He really wanted to protect you and teach you all the good things about life which Thanos didn't teach you; happiness, joy, and love."

"My father believed that having such emotions was a weakness and one was a more efficient killer without them," Nebula said as she locked her eyes onto her hands clasped in her lap.

"Hey, I want you to do something for me, please," Carol replied and Nebula gave her friend her undivided attention. "I want you to stop referring to Thanos as your 'father'. You're not the Nebula he tried to create you've evolved beyond her. Actually, you've literally been reborn now. So, if you need a father figure, I think it should be Tony," Nebula nodded in agreement as she had had similar thoughts since she had received the gift and other recordings from Tony.

"How long can you stay?" Nebula asked with hope in her eyes that Carol could clearly see.

"Only one more day," She said with a slight pout. "I have to escort the Mambee emissary to peace talks with the Frays."

"Those two civilizations have been at war for a long time. Some say ever since life began in the Universe," Nebula said in surprise.

"Yeah, it seems like they've grown tired of all the fighting. Both species were snapped out of existence by Thanos. Now, I really think that they could garner peace, but I need to be there in case it falls through to make sure that they won't destroy the neutral planet they've chosen for these peace talks. Anyway, while I am here, we're definitely having a mini girl's night, just you and I. So, show me where you keep the booze on this ship!" Carol said as she stood from the bed and Nebula smirked up at her.

You know, I feel so dirty when they start talking cute

I wanna tell her that I love her

But the point is probably moot

'Cause she's watching him with those eyes

And she's loving him with that body

I just know it

And he's holding her in his arms

Late, late at night…

The song which was being sung at a high octave by both women was interrupted by a knocking on the door, just before it opened slightly. Nebula hurriedly turned down the music and resumed her stone-faced gaze as she turned to the door where Peter Quill now stood gaping at her with his eyes wide and mouth opened.

"Whoa, look at you," He gushed out with a goofy-looking smile on his face. His stare made Nebula very uncomfortable and she dropped her head a bit and subconsciously raked her fingers through her thick, long tresses.

"Did you need something Quill?" It had been Carol's voice that interrupted his gawking as she scowled over at the younger man. She had sensed Nebula's distress and she wanted to put an end to it.

"Oh … no, sorry," Quill began to explain as he smiled awkwardly at the more powerful being in the room. "I just heard the song, it's one of my favorites. And I'm the one who is usually blasting music like that on the ship, so I got curious. I didn't mean to interrupt. I actually was just coming to check on Nebula and was surprised the music was coming from your room," He directed to Nebula. "The latch is still broken on this door," He said as he jiggled the handle. "I thought I asked Kraglin to fix it."

"You did," Nebula confirmed. "But I told him I could do it, but I haven't gotten around to it yet," Quill nodded as he tried not to openly stare at her, though he was so shocked by how she looked.

"Ho-how are you feeling, you know, after … Rocket told me about Stark's gift?" He asked. "Are you okay?" His voice softened and lowered some as he focused now worried eyes upon her.

"I am fine as you can see," Nebula replied, and he nodded to her words. Carol's eyes moved between them, and a small smirk played at her lips as she watched them interact.

"And you have hair now, wow," He commented and again she nervously raked her fingers through it. "I actually always imagined that you would be a redhead," He said as he regarded her with a tilt of his head. "But black looks good on you too," He nodded with a bright smile and Nebula gripped some of her hair in her right hand as the corners of her mouth curved slightly. Something that Quill hadn't noticed but Carol definitely had.

"Did you care to join us?" Carol offered teasingly as both Quill and Nebula threw horrified eyes at her.

"Oh no," He replied hurriedly. "Rocket told me about your girl's night, and the no guys allowed rule," He said and Nebula glowered a little as she made a mental note to ask Rocket about what else he had shared about her to Quill and why. "But I am curious where did you get the music?" He eyed Nebula as he asked, but Carol had been the one to answer.

"Me, 80's kid here," Carol stated proudly. "It's one of my favorites too, high on my playlist," She announced and Nebula groaned a little as she noticed the excitement in Quill's eyes. She knew from first-hand experience that the man could go on and on for hours and hours talking about his love of 80s soft rock music. And she was not in the mood at that moment.

"Thank you for checking on me, get out," Nebula spoke out as she folded her arms across her chest and cast dead eyes at him, and he quickly got the hint. But only thought it was her way of wanting to get back to her girl's night. He raised his hands in surrender and backed back out across the threshold, grasping the door handle on his way.

"Fine, you ladies enjoy your 'girl's night', but before you leave us, I'd really love to take a peek at your playlist and maybe borrow some music," He pointed at Carol who smiled kindly at him and nodded. Quill smiled back and then closed the door securely behind him.

"He's cute, huh?" Carol questioned after a moment's pause from where they both stared at the place Quill had just stood. Nebula groaned as she rolled her eyes a bit and threw her head back dramatically.

"God, not you too," She mumbled out and Carol chuckled some as she regarded her dear friend.

"So, you do think he's cute too?" Carol continued misinterpreting Nebula's reaction.

"No, 'I' do not!" Nebula quickly huffed out. "But my sister, Gamora, did. The other Gamora who was murdered by Thanos," The loss still pained her deeply even though technically Gamora was still alive, but forever changed. "The Gamora who exists now, she detests him."

"And what about you, do you detest him?" Carol asked as she flopped down upon the queen-sized bed.

"I've come to … tolerate him," Nebula replied as she carefully worded her thoughts. "He and the others do not irritate and annoy me as much as they once had."

"Well, I think that he thinks you're cute," Carol went on and Nebula threw eyes that showed annoyance with a flicker of curiosity in them as well. "I noticed the way he was looking at you, the way the two of you were acting."

"He was just surprised to see me appear more … feminine. And he and I have become 'sociable' towards each other, nothing more," Nebula clarified. "He is still in love with Gamora."

"But I thought you just said she detests him," Carol stated as she tossed Nebula a look of confusion.

"She does and she has told him so verbally as well as by inflicting bodily harm upon him whenever he has tried to touch her. But he still thinks he can woo this Gamora as he did the other Gamora, with his music, and make her fall in love with him."

"Well, that's stupid," Carol chuckled out as Nebula moved to the bed and took a seat beside her.

"Tony said that stupidity was a male human trait," Nebula said and Carol laughed outright as she nodded her head in agreement.

"True, but there are a few exceptions," An image of Nick Fury and Rhodey briefly flashed in Carol's mind.

"And you think Quill is one of those exceptions?" Nebula turned to the woman beside her with curious eyes, genuinely wanting to hear her thoughts.

"Maybe, I don't know him well enough. So, you tell me," Nebula contemplated it for a moment before she replied.

"No," She said and sounded disappointed and Carol chuckled.

"Well, don't fret sister, there are a lot of male species in this Universe and I am sure we can find you a super smart one," Carol declared.

"No thank you," Nebula said and Carol frowned at her for a few seconds, and then she wrapped an arm and laid her head upon Nebula's shoulder.

"My poor sweet, Nebula, afraid of any kind of intimacy with males, but also not sexually attracted to females. Where does that leave you?"

"Alone and happy," Nebula answered.

"I was thinking chaste and sexually frustrated," Carol countered.

"I am quite skilled at masturbating," Nebula said and still managed to surprise Carol with her bold honesty at times. "And as I am sure you are well aware, there are many pleasure devices that can also help me with any sexual frustrations."

"Yes, but sometimes there's nothing like having a hot, strong, sweaty male body against you and inside of you," Carol replied dreamily as Nebula shivered in an unpleasant manner to the mere thought of it. "Maybe someday you'll be able to experience that for yourself, and come to realize that not every man's touch brings pain, but it can be quite pleasurable too."

"Maybe, but don't hold your breath," Nebula responded.

The Next Day

"Hey, ain't that a Ravager ship?" Rocket barked out from his place at the helm. All eyes in the cockpit focused out at the slightly larger ship. Kraglin stepped closer and let out a slight whistle.

"Yeah, it is and she's a beauty," He said. "Never seen it before but she's definitely wearing the insignia of the Ravagers."

"They're the buyers of the crystals," Nebula's voice spoke out as she and Carol stood in the entranceway. "Pull alongside her so they can dock. Then open the hatch so they can board," She added and Rocket simply nodded as he maneuvered as instructed.

"Wait, board?" Quill spoke out as he turned to scowl back at where Nebula stood. "I thought we came to this planet to meet them down on the planet. You never said anything about them boarding."

"I didn't think you would mind. Besides, we have some pretty good backup here if things get out of hand," Nebula replied and Carol sent Quill a wink and a smirk.

"Of course, I mind when you don't tell me about someone just boarding my ship," Quill said as a deep frown marred his face.

"It's my sister," Nebula said as she folded her arms across her chest and awaited the reaction she knew was coming.

"Gamora?" Quill gasped out as a look of pure bliss and awe washed over his face.

"Shall we go greet our guests now?" Nebula said as she rolled her eyes slightly at him and then turned to head down to the docking area. Carol laughed as she followed with Quill trailing close behind her.

She had become giddier the closer they had gotten to their destination, and she tried hard to cover up her excitement. But as she stood on the opposite side of the closed doors her eyes showed her excitement and her lips quivered as they fought off the smile that wanted out. But Gamora's joy at seeing her little sister after so many months apart quickly faded when the doors opened and a vaguely familiar woman stood before her.

"Nebula?" Gamora gushed out as her mouth fell open a little in surprise and her eyes nearly popped from her head. "What happened to you?" She questioned as she rushed to her sister and grasped her firmly about both of her arms, while her eyes scanned her from top to bottom seeking injuries. She could see there was no harm done, in fact, Nebula looked healthier and more put together, literally. Yet, she also looked like a stranger to Gamora's eyes. She released Nebula with a small growl and glare as she focused on the man standing behind Nebula and next to another woman who also seemed vaguely familiar to her. "What did you do to my sister?" She hissed out as she cast cold, hate-filled eyes at Quill whose look of adoration his eyes held as they gazed upon her turned to shock.

"I didn't do anything to her," Quill replied with an indignant look on his face.

"Do you really think he could harm me, sister?" Nebula asked her and it quickly dawned on Gamora having experienced first-hand just how strong, fast, cunning, and deadly her little sister could be, that there was no way possible that this man would have been able to harm her. This calmed her and took her full focus back onto her sister.

"You did this to yourself, why?" Gamora asked as she reached out and stroked her right hand down across Nebula's hair.

"I just undid years of damaged that our fa-," She ended the word abruptly as the request that Carol had asked of her flashed in her mind. "I have repaired most of the butchery that Thanos inflicted on my body. I am as I was supposed to be, what he had cut out," Her words made Gamora swallow down the lump that had formed in her throat, for she had stood witness to many occasions where a part of Nebula's body had been cut away. "Well, except my eyes," She added on. "My father Tony, could not find a way to revert what was done to them without possibly causing permanent damage, so he thought it best to leave them. And I do prefer the enhanced abilities my eyes give me."

"What are you saying? Who is Tony and why do you call him father?" Gamora questioned. "Thanos was our father."

"No, Thanos was 'my' kidnapper, captor, and torturer," Nebula spat out in disgust as if the mere words had left a vile taste in her mouth. "He never loved me or even cared for me as he did you, and you know it. But Tony Stark did love me and he cared for me, as a father should love and care for a daughter. Tony gave me this gift so I can start over. Tony is … was my father," Carol and Quill both stood with sadness in their eyes as they both understood the impact Stark had made on Nebula and knew how much his death still hurt her.

"I don't understand," Gamora said softly as she raked her eyes over her sister's face and noticed just how the changes had definitely magnified her beauty.

"I know but I am well and better than I can ever recall being before. It was an excruciating process," Gamora's eyes widened in agitation at hearing this and Nebula grasped her hand to calm her as she continued her words. "But it was all worth it. Now, let's not discuss this any further. I have two of my sisters here to visit me for just a short time and I want to make the most of it," At these words, Gamora frowned up a little as she rested her eyes upon Carol who simply smiled kindly back at her.

"Sisters? You have other sisters now too?" Gamora asked and her true curiosity about it outweighed the mild jealousy filling her.

"Yes, I do," Nebula replied as she pulled Gamora along with her as the two large males who had accompanied her aboard followed. "Come, and I will tell you all about it."

A couple of hours Later

"Thank you," She spoke to the woman beside her as they both sat at a table, where each watched the other woman who stood across the room speaking to Rocket. "She has told me briefly about the kindness you have shown her."

"You don't have to thank me," Carol said as she kept her eyes glued to Nebula's back as she sat sipping her drink with Gamora as her company. "My love, respect, admiration, and devotion for Nebula has absolutely nothing to do with you. It's because she is an amazing woman, loyal friend, a fierce fighter, and I feel lucky to call her my sister."

"Well, welcome to the family," Gamora said sarcastically as she raised her glass a little, she really didn't like the idea that any other had a close 'sisterhood' with Nebula.

"Oh, you and I are not family," Carol locked cold eyes upon Gamora who stared back with icy eyes. "She's also told me about you and how you stood by while Thanos tormented and tortured her, and the hand you sometimes played in that."

"I too was tormented and tortured by Thanos," Gamora defended.

"Yeah, but you often threw Nebula under the bus to save your own ass," Carol hissed out not realizing what some in the room had noticed, she was starting to glow energy in her sudden anger. "She's willing to let bygones be bygones, but I am not as forgiving, and if you ever hurt her like that again or cause harm to come to her…"

"I would not, not ever again," Gamora interjected her promise and Carol believed her words and powered down. "Contrary to what you might believe I do love my little sister. I always have. But I was just a scared little girl too trying to survive in Thanos's chaos. And I did shield my sister as best I could without suffering our father's wrath myself. Yes, he loved me more than she, but that got me murdered, didn't it? Well, the other me."

"Yes, and Nebula's act to avenge your murder is the reason 'you'," Carol waved her hand a little. "…Are even here. So, you literally owe her your life, and you need to start trying to make amends for the ways you've wronged her in the past."

"I know," Gamora nodded her head, and she dropped her eyes down to the table in shame. "And I will, I swear to you I will," Carol nodded her head in satisfaction, and held her glass out to Gamora.

"Then you and I may become friends, someday," She offered, and Gamora smiled, nodded, and clinked her glass to Carol's offered one. At that moment Nebula made her way back to their table and took a seat.

"Rocket says he was able to modify the crystals to the specifications needed to work on your ship. They'll be waiting for you when you are ready to leave," Nebula said as she then grasped her own glass and took a sip. "Which I hope is soon," She added on, and Gamora's face actually showed her genuine hurt to the words, though she tried to quickly cover it. Nebula spotted it however and spoke again to try to soothe her sister. "Maybe I could join you on your ship later for a longer visit if you are not in a hurry to leave," This brought a smile to Gamora's lips, and she eagerly nodded.

"I'd like that," Gamora concurred.

"You just want to show off your ship," Nebula stated with no malice but a smirk, and both Gamora and Carol giggled understanding her jest.

"True, but she is beautiful, and I am quite proud of her," Gamora proclaimed. "And you are welcome to come too," She directed to Carol, and Nebula was pleased that she was making the effort, for she knew it bothered Gamora to think there were others Nebula considered her sister.

"Sure, I've got some time before I have to leave," Carol agreed. "But why are you itching to get off this ship all of a sudden, Nebs?" Carol asked as she stared directly at Nebula. Gamora then also looked at her sister as she had not noticed her 'itching', but now as she looked, she could see Nebula was on edge.

"I had not anticipated that your presence would be a problem," Nebula stated.

"I didn't realize it was a problem," Gamora huffed out and the hurt in her eyes told Nebula she had misunderstood.

"I am happy to see you, sister but you know that Quill is still struggling with the loss of the other you," Nebula offered, and Gamora rolled her eyes a bit as she finally realized what the true problem was. Carol arched her brows to this juicy information Nebula had only spoken very vaguely about with her. "As I told you the other 'you' was in love with him."

"Yeah, and I still can't believe it," Gamora said, and she frowned up as if she had caught a whiff of a foul odor. "I mean look at him," And all three women did as their eyes rested upon Peter Quill as he stood beside Drax and one of the male crew Nebula had brought with her. He was doing some dance move that looked absolutely ridiculous to Gamora and amused both Carol, who knew the move from the 90s and Nebula, who just thought of it as one of Quill's quirks.

"Believe it or not dear sister, you had changed, and you did fall for him, and as stupid as he looks most of the time," Nebula spoke this with a frown now marring her face as they watched Quill bust a new move. He looked over and noticed them staring, namely Gamora, and he smiled and threw a slight wave. Gamora smacked her lips and rolled her eyes at him. "He is a good man."

"He looks like a child, and he is certainly not man enough for me," Gamora purposely said this loudly and could tell by the stone face look Quill now displayed he had heard her. "Besides, I have a man who I am very happy and satisfied with," She added on as she locked lecherous eyes and a saucy smile on the other male who had accompanied her, who stood at the bar nearby having a conversation with Rocket. "Mannix, my love," She called out and the man who could easily have passed as a son of Odin and blood brother to Thor turned and honed his electric blue eyes onto Gamora. He smiled as he approached their table. Nebula looked at her sister, but her peripheral vision watched Quill. When Mannix reached Gamora's side, he gripped some of her hair, pulled her head back as he leaned down, and then devoured her mouth with his own. Everyone in the room stopped and watched the display in slight envy, all except Quill. His eyes flashed several emotions: surprise, rage, confusion, anguish, and finally hurt. Quill quickly left the room just as Gamora was released from her kiss. "I want you to meet my sister," She said as she turned back to where Nebula had been seated but found an empty chair. She then looked to Carol who sat drinking her beverage and enjoying the real-life soap opera now playing around her.

"She just left," Carol said as she nudged her right thumb over her shoulder. "I think she needed to go talk to Quill about something," Gamora nodded slightly and then continued introducing Mannix to Carol.

Elsewhere

She had found him in the cockpit of the ship. She had expected him to be seated at the helm, his feet propped up, ear pods in his ear, with a sappy 80s, love song blaring. Instead, he just stood in an at ease militant stance as he stared out the viewing window into the vast dark nothing of space. He knew she was there, and she knew he was aware of her presence. She moved to stand beside him as she too gazed out into the space before them.

"I am sorry Peter," She said softly and he turned to look at her, surprised she had used his first name. "I had not considered that she would purposefully be cruel to you, and had I known she would bring her lover … I guess there's still a part of me who looks at her and sees the other Gamora too."

"She's not my Gamora and she never will be," Quill spoke out as he turned back to his stargazing.

"No," Nebula replied though she knew his words had been a statement, not a question that warranted an answer.

"And she hates me," He continued with a heavy sigh as he dropped his head and looked at the floor.

"Yes," Again she supplied the answer he wasn't really seeking. "But only because you've been trying to make her be like someone else," These words recaptured his attention and he looked at her again. "At this point, I doubt that this Gamora would ever fall for you."

"Yeah, trust me, I have finally gotten that memo, and that's crystal clear to me now," Quill said through an unamused chuckle.

"But that doesn't mean that you two can't develop an acquaintanceship. Doing jobs together out here in space," Nebula offered, and he nodded to the idea though he doubted that would even be possible. Quill was starting to hate this Gamora and he feared that those feelings would override his love for 'his' Gamora. He just couldn't seem to look at her yet and clearly separate the two. His plan from here on out was just to avoid her like the plague.

"You don't have to leave," Quill spoke out and the sudden change of subject stunned Nebula for a second and she looked over to stare right into his eyes, which were locked onto her again. "Rocket mentioned to me that you were planning to leave," He said and she averted her eyes to the floor. "You're an important member of this crew. You're a part of our family, you know?" This made her snap her eyes back up to his. "And I don't want you to leave, Nebula. I don't know …" He took a deep breath before he continued. "I don't think I could take losing anyone else I care about. Please don't go," He ended with pleading eyes, and she could see the wetness at the brims as if at any moment tears would spill out. It truly touched her heart that he seemed to care so much.

"Okay," She mumbled out and he sniffed as his eyes widened a little.

"Yeah, you'll stay then?" Quill asked excitedly.

"Yes, someone needs to look after you idiots and keep you out of trouble," Nebula stated, and Quill laughed out as he nodded his head in agreement. Then without giving it any thought he moved and pulled her into a hug.

"Absolutely!" He agreed as he tightened his embrace when he felt her reciprocate and not rebuff him. This was how Gamora had found them as she entered the cockpit in search of her sister.

"Get the hell away from my sister," Gamora growled out as she glared at Quill, who released Nebula as he and Nebula both turned to regard the other woman. "You can't have me so you think you can make moves on my little sister instead?" She questioned as she stepped to where Quill stood, but Nebula quickly moved to stand in between them.

"What? No!" Quill yelled out not backing down as his anger and a sudden strong dislike of this Gamora grew. "She's my friend and she was just comforting me after a cold-hearted bitch broke my heart."

"I broke your heart?" Gamora spat back at him. "I don't even know you, and I don't like you either!" She yelled. "It's not my fault that you can't get that through your thick skull," Quill had to swallow the sudden lump in his throat at her very true words. He dropped his head a bit and nodded.

"You're right, but don't worry I've got it now. You don't have to worry about me bothering you or searching for you anymore," That last bit made Gamora frown up a little at the thought that he had been searching for her. "My Gamora is dead, she's really gone and she's never coming back," Those words hurt a little less he realized. "And our business with you is done, so get the hell off of my ship," Quill said as he moved past her and walked out of the room without looking back.

"What are you doing?" Gamora focused on Nebula who threw her a curious look. "Please tell me you are not falling for 'him'," She hissed out and Nebula rolled her eyes and crossed her arms at her chest.

"Trust me sister, my days of trying to make men love and choose me instead of you are over. Peter and I are just friends."

"Peter? Peter? So, you're on a first-name basis now?" Gamora probed further as she took a similar stance as Nebula and also crossed her arms. Nebula growled a little and rolled her eyes in frustration.

"You don't have to be jealous, Gamora, if you want him, he would be quite willing."

"Jealous, of you? Hardly," Gamora stated, and Nebula fought hard to not react to her stinging words. "Just because you've changed your appearance to be more pleasing to a man, doesn't mean that I am jealous of you, Nebula," Gamora laughed out a little at the thought of it, even though she couldn't deny just how beautiful Nebula looked covered in skin and with a head full of hair.

"You should leave," Nebula spoke out as she continued to look at her sister with no emotions in her eyes.

"That's fine by me, let's go," Gamora said as she turned towards the exit.

"I won't be joining you," Nebula replied, and Gamora turned back to face her with a frown on her face.

"What, why not?" Gamora asked as actual despair started to fill her.

"Because I am starting to feel hatred toward you again, and I really don't want that," Nebula replied honestly, and Gamora gasped a little at hearing this. Over the past few months, since they had worked together, to defeat Thanos, they had started to build a closer relationship. They had communicated secretly nearly every day via video chatting. And they had even managed to meet in person a couple of times on certain missions she and the Guardians had done. Though Nebula fast realized that a sisterly relationship with this Gamora would occur differently than it had with the other Gamora. Still, she and this Gamora had become closer with each other than they had ever been allowed to before, and it felt nice. "She and I had finally resolved our past issues," She continued. "We had become like true sisters."

"I thought we had resolved things as well, and we had gotten closer, more like true sisters," Gamora said as she reached out and grasped one of Nebula's hands and squeezed it gently, and Nebula tightened the hold as well.

"Yes, we have somewhat but with you, it's been … more difficult. And I know you don't want to hear it or believe it but the reason the other you and I were able to reconcile more easily was due to Quill," Gamora released her sister's hand and rolled her eyes a bit as she groaned. "She loved him. There was a version of 'you' in this universe who truly loved him, and it was because of that love she was able to open her heart to forgiveness, show kindness and even love as well. You don't have that compass through love as she had, and you revel in being nasty and hurtful to others. Well, I am not the same Nebula you knew either. I've changed too and I won't stand by and allow you to hurt Quill. He's my friend and also my family now. Your visit has hurt him and that's my fault because I didn't warn him beforehand. So, I need to stay and make sure he's okay."

"These people are not your family," Gamora rose her voice in anger at the implication. "You hardly know them."

"It's true that I have not known them as long as I have known you, sister. But they know 'me' better than you do and have shown me more kindness than you ever have."

"So, you are choosing them over me?" Gamora asked and she couldn't stop the tears from forming in her eyes or the pain that clutched her heart.

"Right now, yes, because they need me and you do not," Nebula said.

"Of course, I need you, Nebula, you're my sister," Gamora responded as she quickly brushed away the tears that had slipped out. "You are the only family that I have left in this entire universe, and I don't want to lose you."

"Oh, stop being dramatic," Nebula said as she smacked her lips a little. "I am just talking about today. I can't go visit with you today because I want to stay and make sure Quill is okay. But I will call you later and we can plan a day to meet up some other time. If you're staying in the area, we can hang out tomorrow if you want," Gamora laughed out a little around her sniffling, as relief filled her entire body.

"Yeah, I can stick around this planet for a few days," Gamora nodded as she continued to sniff and wipe the tears from her face. Nebula did not try to comfort her, in fact, she enjoyed seeing her sister's distress and actual fear of the thought that she was losing her. It felt good to finally see that her big sister cared so much. "And I'll call you later to set up a time for us to hang out tomorrow, and you better pick up or I'm coming back over here," Gamora added as she pointed a finger at her sister. She didn't fully trust that Nebula would actually call her.

"Fine," Nebula agreed as she gave a curt nod.