All was calm in space. Nothingness cast itself in the black sky. Suddenly, a white burst appeared and the Milano came into view. As the spaceship floated in the sea of stars, the crew was quiet. They were happy to get away from Yondu and his band of thugs, but no one expressed any cheers of celebration. Everyone had the same thought: was Gamora alright? The men knew about the state of the hyperdrive, but with no other choice in escaping the mercenaries, it worth the risk. But was the risk too great when it came to Gamora's well-being?

Peter still had his grasp on the unknown object in his arms, eyes shut tight. He was afraid to look and see if the seven year old was back to her normal, adult self or…

"Peter, what are you doing?"

"Huh?"

The hero's eyes snapped open and he looked down. In his arms was Gamora, still in that pink and red floral dress he picked out for her all those months ago, now back to being an adult. Thankfully, the dress accommodated her now grown-up body and fit her perfectly.

Just like the Hulk's pants. Peter humorously noted. Laughing, he hugged the confused former assassin.

"Gamora! You're back!" he cried in joy.

Upon hearing their leader's exuberant cries, Rocket, Drax and Groot rushed over to find Peter holding an irritated adult Gamora.

"Gamora!" Drax and Rocket happily shouted.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on? And why am I wearing a dress only a housewife would wear?!"

After giving her some breathing space, each of the heroes proceeded to tell Gamora what had happened to her. She patiently listened to the stories of how she had been transformed back to being a child and all the fun times she had with her team mates as a seven year old. Finally, after the last story was told, Peter, Drax, Rocket and Groot awaited to hear what Gamora had to say.

"The four of you know how to weave tall tales." She wasn't convinced.

"But I don't know how to knit." Drax said, not understanding the metaphor the woman used.

"It means I think you all are a bunch of lairs. And I think I know who put you all up to it." Gamora explained to Drax and then shifted a glare at Peter.

"You think I'm the mastermind behind this prank? For once, I can safely say I'm not. All those stories we told you were true." Peter said, defending the group's actions.

Gamora just shook her head and took her leave. But when she arrived at her bunk to change her clothes, she was surprised by how messy her living space was! All over the floor where children's games and toys; the closet filled with little girl's clothing.

"Peter Quill, you get over here right now or so help me…!" the ex-assassin shouted.

"You're on your own, buddy." Rocket quipped as he and Groot made a hasty retreat to the raccoon's workshop.

"I need to, uh…go polish my knives." Drax stuttered and quickly bolted to his bunk.

Now all by himself, Peter gulped in fear. Hell hath no fury like a pissed off former warrior.

Thankfully, Gamora didn't cause any permanent injuries to the Terran (though Peter sustained a few deep bruises on his arms and cheek from her kicks and punches). And everything was back to normal. Life continued for the Guardians of the Galaxy. They fought their enemies, traveled all over space and even partied a little too hard (Rocket and Drax where drinking buddies after all with Peter being the designated driver).

But Peter noticed a change in Gamora. At first, the woman didn't exactly let on her true emotions; an expert manipulator never does. And yet, it was during the quiet times in between missions she grew even more reserved, even thoughtful when she wanted to be. This new, almost sensitive Gamora truly made herself known the night she and the others had come back from a recent mission.

The group had to deal with a band of rebels and where exhausted. They managed to sabotage the rebel's plans to blow up a government meeting-house, but the fight with the thugs proved to be a challenge. In the end, the rebels were defeated and arrested, and the guardians got paid a rather impressive amount of credits from the Nova Corps for their hard work. Peter was about to take a nice, long hot shower when he discovered the alien woman looking at a cassette tape in her hand.

"Whatcha got there?" he asked her.

"One of your tapes you carelessly left in the galley. You should be more careful with them, Peter." Gamora told him. "I know how much they mean to you. But this particular one is…different from the others you have."

"How so?"

"Take a look."

Gamora held up the cassette for the man to see. Written in permanent black marker, the label read Gamora's Awesome Mix, Vol. 1. Peter had almost forgotten about that tape! He had stored the mix tape he made with the then juvenile Gamora in the cassette tape briefcase not long after she returned to normal. Peter had recently reorganized the storage case and must have subconsciously forgotten to place this one back. His heart fluttered a bit when the woman found the tape they had made together. Would she love the gift just as much as she did when she was a little girl?

"You ruined the surprise!" Peter said in mock disappointment. "I wanted to give you this for your birthday."

"Really? Or is this another attempt to use your pelvic sorcery on me?" Gamora raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"It certainly is not! I am a true gentleman." Peter said in mature voice with a hint of self-deprecation.

"If you are a gentleman, then I'm a lady in waiting." Gamora responded in the same sarcastic tone.

"Jokes aside, I would love for you to listen to it when you get the chance. I think you'll be surprised how thoughtful that mix tape is we made together when you were a kid."

"For the last time, I still don't believe you! But since you are being so nice right now, I will listen to the cassette."

"You can use my Walkman if you want a more intimate experience."

"I'll just use that tape deck of yours. I feel like everyone should hear the desperate attempt of how much of a womanizer you are." Gamora retorted.

Peter huffed, but he wasn't going to let the green-skin beauty's comment get under his skin. The songs on that tape would prove Gamora wrong! Gamora went over to the double tape cassette player and inserted the tape into the machine. She sat on Peter's bunk and hit play as Peter himself left the room to take that well-deserved shower.

He returned after thirty minutes had past. Now dressed in a clean t-shirt and lounge pants, Peter just finished towel-drying his wet hair as he walked back toward Gamora.

"So what does the cold-hearted woman think of the mix tape?" he jested as he threw the bath towel to the side.

But all Peter got was silence. Gamora had her back turned toward him, staring at the still-operating music player. The music was on a low volume setting, yet they both could still hear it play softly over the speakers.

"Gamora? Are you OK?" Peter wondered.

"I'm fine." she said quietly, not turning in his direction. The tone of her voice was full of a reminiscing sadness.

"Really? I'm not so sure."

Gamora then turned toward Peter. Tears had begun to stream down her face.

"Peter…" she said, shifting awkwardly.

"Yes, Gamora?"

With a burst of energy, the former warrior leap into Peter's arms and embraced him. Surprised, Peter didn't know what to make of this. Here was the most dangerous woman in all of space burying her tear-stained face into his chest, crying and hugging him tightly. He ultimately returned her loving gesture, wrapping his arms around her.

"Gamora…it's OK."

"I know. It's just…I finally remember."

"Remember? Remember what?"

She sniffled and then spoke. "I remember when I was a child again. I didn't want to accept it at first, but after listening to this mix tape you and I made together…all those memories came flooding back."

Peter let a small smile appear as he cradled the woman in his arms lovingly. "You were with people who care about you very much. The guys and I hoped you would recall those memories and you did. I know that short amount of time can't make up for all the years Thanos abused you, but I hope it was enough to let you have some fun times from a childhood you deserved to have."

"Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart." Gamora told him.

For what seemed like an eternity the two stood in the middle of the room holding each other as the mix tape rolled into the next song: "Advice for the Young at Heart" by Tears for Fears. The song perfectly summed up the heroes time with one another; it reflected the joys and fears of being with the seven year old Gamora and it also mirrored Peter's love for her. Was it possible for her to accept the Terran's feelings for her, even after all that had happened?

"I don't think I can ever repay you and the rest of the crew for what you have given me."

"No payment is necessary." Peter told Gamora. But even if you could, would you make me the happiest man in the whole galaxy and fall in love with me?

She smiled, but then an idea came to the woman. "I think I know how I can personally repay you, Peter."

"If it's to be your stand-in training dummy, I'm gonna have to pass; still sore from the last sparring match I had with you."

Gamora chuckled. "Trust me; it has nothing to do with fighting. Do you remember that story you told me when I was a little girl about the Lord and the Warrior Princess?"

"I do."

"Well…in the story, the princess and the Lord had to dance with one another in order for that curse to be lifted. And I think the princess wants the Lord to dance with her sometime in the near future."

Peter realized that she figured out what the fairy tale's true intent was…and was glad.

"Of course." He replied. "I'd be happy to take you dancing, if that's what the Warrior Princess truly wants."

Gamora smiled and placed a kiss on Peter's cheek. "Then I accept, my Lord. But I prefer Queen over Princess any day."

Peter laughed. "As you wish." He held his love in his arms, happy to see that Gamora felt the same about him.

THE END