Chapter 2: Things Are Much Brighter

Gamora sat in bed, holding a yellow bundle of blankets as Peter stood at her side.

"She's so beautiful." Gamora murmured, gently pulling the blankets away to reveal the face of a little green baby with bright auburn hair.

"Yeah…" Peter mumbled, feeling so deeply in love with his two girls, his little family, that he could hardly speak.

"She has my nose, and your eyes for sure. But I have no idea where all this hair came from!" Gamora teased, lightly ruffling the sleeping baby's hair.

"That's from me, too. I was a ginger until about age five."

Gamora chuckled, reaching over to squeeze his hand.

"You'll have to take me to Earth one day. Maybe we can find some baby pictures to show her."

"And when she's old enough, we can take her to your planet, too."

"Hmm…" Gamora paused, deep in thought, until her face began to light up.

"Oh, Peter! I'm not the last of my people anymore. Little Aria, she…she's part Zehoberei."

Her eyes pooled with tears of joy as Peter wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder.

"I'll teach you all the traditions of our people, sweet girl. At least…all that I can remember."

There was a knock at the door, and a voice called:

"Can I come in?"

"Nebula! Yes, come in!"

"Come meet your niece."

Nebula walked in carefully, shyer than Peter or Gamora had ever seen her.

"She's…very pretty." Said Nebula.

"Do you wanna hold her?" Peter asked.

"Oh no…that's okay, I wouldn't want to…"

"Nebula." Gamora said, raising an eyebrow and giving that look that only older sisters can give.

"Okay."

Nebula walked closer, and awkwardly held out her arms. Peter helped her adjust them, despite the initial glare she gave him.

"Okay, so you just support her head and then…there you go!" Gamora instructed as she handed Nebula the baby.

Nebula watched the baby carefully, her expression unreadable until her face broke out into a huge smile.

"What's her name?" She asked, turning to the proud parents.

"Aria Meredith Quill."

"Well, Miss Aria. Can you promise me now that Auntie Nebula is going to be your favorite aunt?"

"Nebula, you're her only aunt." Gamora said earnestly.

Peter looked at her in surprise and mouthed "But…Mantis?"

Gamora lightly shook her head at Peter and pressed a finger to her mouth.

"Ha! So I'm the favorite by default!" Nebula exclaimed, as Aria woke up and started to cry.

"Oh no, what happened?"

"She's fine, Nebula. Here, give her to me." Said Peter, taking his daughter in his arms.

He walked over to the CD player and pressed play.

As the music began crooning, "Ooh child…." Peter began to gently sway and sing along to the music, causing the baby to stop crying and the two sisters to burst out laughing.

"That's my girl." Peter said, giving Aria a kiss on the forehead once the song was over. He looked over at Gamora, who gave him a loving smile. A deep feeling of content washed over the entire room, and he knew there wasn't anyone else he'd rather experience the journey of parenthood with.