Gamora was left babysitting. Again. But this time, she insisted on staying with Lotus instead of going to the mission. She played with her. Feed her. Changed her diapers. Put her to sleep. Played with her again. It was the same routine. Lotus was a very calm kid and she rarely cried.

While Lotus slept, Gamora thought about Peter. It was becoming a habit she wanted (not really) so badly to forget. She kept thinking of the so called Star-Lord. Of course, he was an asshole, ex-criminal, and the list of insults goes on. But he was a kind spirit and Gamora liked that about him. She just hoped Lotus had that kind spirit as well. Except for the asshole part.

Peter was everything she wanted in a man. He was strong and caring with a daring attitude. And he was brave. He gave her a second chance when no one else did. She remembered when he took the Infinity Stone instead of Ronan the Accuser. Amazingly, he could control the stone thanks to an anomaly in his system. So he was half terran. So what? That didn't take his handsomeness away from him.

But still, he was an asshole.

Gamora sat on the floor aside from Lotus' crib in case she woke up. She was reading an electronic newspaper from Xandar. Yes, electronic. It was touch too. She was currently reading an article about one of the Guardians of the Galaxy achievements when she heard Lotus yawning. Oh, she woke up.

She turned around to see that the baby was sitting and looking at Gamora in pure curiosity. She smiled and picked the baby up. The baby just looked at her with big pink eyes. She looked even cuter with pig tails.

"What is it, Lotus? Are you hungry?"

She just did some baby language. Gamora tried to give her bottle but Lotus refused it. Then, the most unexpected, the most unbelievable thing happened.

"…momma…"

"What?"

"…momma…"

Gamora's face saddened. "No, Lotus. I'm not your momma." The baby looked at her with no idea of what Gamora tried to say. 'I wish I was…'

"Ma…"

"No, Lotus. I'm not."

"You don't have to be her mother, just a motherly figure…"

Gamora gasped and turned around to see Peter leaning on the wall, his face dirty with a gray dust. He was probably on a fire. And his hair went around in every direction. He was a mess but alive.

"How long were you standing there?"

He walked closer to them, dusting off his clothes. "Long enough."

Gamora looked down at the baby in her arms and placed back on her crib. "I'm not her mother."

"You didn't get anything I said, didn't you?"

Gamora sighed. "I'm not the perfect role model…"

"You make a terrific mother…" Peter said. Gamora took a step back, trying to avoid Peter, but instead, she stumble Lotus' wooden blocks and was about to fall. And Peter caught her by the waist. Their faces were only a few inches apart. Peter could just kiss her right now…

He stopped and backed away, helping Gamora on her feet. Suddenly remembering that Lotus was watching them. "I… um…sorry." Stupid embarrassment. Two times he was so close to kiss her. Two times! The time on the deck and now. And the stupid embarrassment stood in the way both times. When Lotus got sick a week ago, he dreamed of her. But that sweet dream in a field full of flowers and Gamora running through them, was interrupted because he had to take his daughter to the hospital. He really wished he had slept longer.

"Dada!" Lotus called, interrupting their conversation. He was thankful for that. She was standing, leaning over the crib's bars.

"Sorry, Lotus. But daddy is too dirty to pick you up right now." He turned to Gamora, not exactly looking at her in the eye. "I'm going to take a shower, now."

'Oh yes, take a shower. And be sure to come out shirtless…' Gamora thought. 'Those are dirty thoughts… Snap out of it!'

"Would you mind to keep an eye on her for a few more minutes?"

"Sure." And Peter turned away, leaving Gamora blushing furiously. Lotus looked at her. "What?" Gamora asked.

"Ma…"

Gamora just sighed.

OOO

Indeed, Peter walked outside the bathroom, shirtless and unbuttoned pants. A few water drops running through his chest. But Gamora looked away just in time to hide her small blush, she decided to hide her face behind her magazine, biting her lip. She had resumed her sitting position aside Lotus' crib.

"Is Lotus alright?" Peter said as he threw away the towel and buttoned up his pants.

"She's fine." She answered quickly.

Peter smirked. "Like what you see, Gamora?"

"I've seen better." She wouldn't look away from her magazine. 'That's a really fat, FAT lie, Gamora. Way to go…' She thought.

"Ok, think whatever you want. I'll bet the Milano that you hadn't seen better." He said as he pulled on a shirt and went to grab Lotus from her crib, who extended her little arms, awaiting to be collected. "Hey there, baby girl."

"Dada!"

Peter pick her up and Lotus snuggled into his neck. "I'm going to see what Rocket is doing. In fact, he might teach her how to use a gun at her age!" He smirked.

Gamora finally looked at him with a murderous glare. "Don't. You. Dare."

"See? I rest my case. You are her mother figure. You went all mama bear on me!" Peter said. "Though, I'm still going to see what Rocket is up to."

Gamora glared at him. He would have been turned to ashes if glares could kill.

"Relax. I'm not going to teach her how to use a gun! She's too little." Peter said. "I'm going to teach her how to ride the Milano, though."

"Peter!" She threw her magazine in annoyance.

"Told you. Mama bear." And he walked away, smirk on his face.

Gamor growled. In the last days, Peter had pranked her twice on kissing her and now this. She'll get payback soon. Very soon…