This was the first time Lotus was out of the Milano aside from that time Peter went to buy her baby supplies and the time they had to go to the hospital. And Drax was kind enough (not really, in Peter's point of view) to get him one of those things that are used to carry a baby in your chest and the baby's back is leaning against your chest. It was called a baby carrier.

Right now, Lotus was in that thing and for Peter… it was kind of embarrassing. He could have sworn that some odd couple was laughing at him. Wait 'till they have kids… so he can laugh three times harder.

Gamora said it looked cute while Rocket said it looked ridiculous. Groot just smiled and Drax took pride on his little gift. He shouldn't. Because it was ridiculous. But Peter couldn't hurt Drax's feelings. He had helped him so fucking much with his wide baby wisdom. So he just accepted the stupid thing.

Oh, goody…

The team, plus Lotus attached to Peter's chest, walked through the Xandar streets where they had their first 'friendly' meeting. Just before the Nova Corps got them arrested. But this time it was different. They weren't seen as criminals, but as the heroes that saved their planet from total destruction. They were seen as the freaking Guardians of the Galaxy. Some kids even asked for Groot's autograph! 'Note to yourself: teach Groot how to write.' Peter thought as he watched the tree giving flowers to the children and giving them one of those light shows instead of writing a piece of paper. He might even think it was against the tree kind. You know... papers come from... trees. Some random guy asked Rocket if he could teach him a few tricks in weapons and even more surprisingly, Rocket agreed. But twenty seconds into the conversation, the raccoon was about to strangle the guy. Drax however, decided he'll fill himself with the latest news in a nearby bar. He was warned by Gamora to not drink too much.

Said woman was standing in a far corner, away from the small crowd gathered around Groot and Rocket. For some, she was a hero; some respected her. For others… she was still the adopted daughter of Thanos, a bitch, an assassin that killed their families. And Gamora just didn't want to take any risks in encountering an old enemy or any kind of trouble. So she just stayed in a corner alone. Peter watched her. She seemed so… lonely. She could be the greatest hero of all but due to her past, some people just didn't want to accept it. Well, she was a guardian now, so those bitches had to deal with it.

Peter surrounded Lotus with a protective hand and walked towards Gamora. He leaned his back against the wall like she did, but the green skinned woman didn't acknowledged him. He looked back at Groot and Rocket.

"Let's take a walk. They will be fine for a few hours or so." That wasn't a suggestion. It was an ORDER. Gamora didn't had much to do other than standing there and looking pretty. Or dangerous. So she just followed him.

They walked through a less crowded street that had plenty of interesting stores, but neither Peter nor Gamora feel like going inside. They walked for over twenty minutes in silence except for the occasional chewing on Lotus' sucker.

"Tell me about it."

"What?" Gamora finally looked at him.

"Tell me about it. I mean, you looked lonely and-"

"No, Peter. I'm not the kind that talks about her feelings."

Peter looked away. "Ok. Just trying to make a conversation." A few more minutes passed. "Let's talk about something else, ok?"

"OK." Gamora shrugged.

"Do you really think Rocket is an asshole?"

"Peter…" She growled.

He chuckled nervously. "Just kidding." Some store that sold antiques caught his eye. "Hey, let's go there."

Gamora made a face. "They sell old things in there. Nothing that will be useful for us."

"Come on, it will be fun! Would you rather go to those girly stores around the corner? No? Then let's go." He said as he grabbed Gamora's hand and went inside the store. It was a miracle that she didn't slap him. Probably because he was holding Lotus. She was a lifesaver. In fact, he could get used to the baby carrier.

The store sold many things from all nine realms and the entire galaxy. It was odd that no one ever noticed the store. Oh well, more for Peter.

Gamora still couldn't understand what Peter's obsession with old things was. Specially Terra's. She took a wild guess: those things made him feel like home. Even some of this stuff was kind of cool.

"Hey, Gamora. What about this?" Peter asked as he held up some weird looking toaster.

Kind of…

"Um… No. Let's go somewhere else. Probably the baby store. Lotus needs some items, right?"

"Yep." Peter said as he held up a list of supplies. "Let's go."

OOO

Peter honestly didn't want to be here. This place was creepy. The dolls with bottom eyes were looking at him… The dolls!

"Peter?"

Peter snapped out of his thoughts. "Sorry. It's just that… have you seen those dolls?"

Gamora looked at the direction he was pointing. "Yes?"

"They are creepy."

"They are cute, actually."

"You surprise me to no end, Gamora."

They walked around the store for a while, grabbing a couple of baby food cans and some baby dresses that Peter and Gamora argued over on which one was the best. They decided over for a pink dress with a yellow ribbon on the back. They didn't exactly need it, but Lotus needed something formal just in case.

Gamora glanced over a few stuffed animals in the shelves. They were lovely, but none of these seemed worthy enough for Lotus. Peter said that the baby was as scared as him for buttoned eyed dolls, so those were off the list.

Peter, on the other side of the shelves, tried to decide on which food bowl was the best. So far, none of them were good. They were all crappy bullshit.

Finally, Peter and Gamora decided it was time to pay for the items. A pink skinned female clerk assisted them.

"She's one pretty baby." She commented as she started to pack the baby stuff.

"Thanks." Peter said.

The clerk smiled. "You should watch her carefully when she gets into the teenage years. A girl as pretty as her doesn't go unnoticed by the boys."

"Just don't say it, please." Peter growled.

The clerk turned to Gamora. "Are you her mother?"

Gamora looked a bit panicked. "No, no. I'm… just a friend, that's all."

"Oh, that's too bad. I really thought you were her mother."

Gamora looked away. They paid for the items and left with two bags.

Peter and Gamora looked at each other as they left the store. "What was that about?" Gamora asked.

"About the mommy thing?"

"Yes."

Peter looked at Lotus, who had fallen asleep in the carrier. "Those clerks tend to confuse everybody. Believe me, I know."

Gamora sighed and decided to leave the subject alone. "Let's get back to the ship. I'm hungry. Besides, we need to get Rocket and Groot. Probably Drax."

OOO

After getting back to the ship and dragging a very drunken Drax later, they all decided to 'hit the hay' as Peter said. No one understood that expression and Drax was passed out so he didn't heard it. Peter changed Lotus' diaper (holding his breath) and changed her into some cute baby pajamas that Gamora made him buy for the baby. It was one of those pajamas that was full body, so he had trouble with it but at the end he got it right. He put her on her crib and in a few minutes, she was out like a candle.

He smiled at her sleeping form. Lotus was small for her age, ten months and a half old to be exact, and she was already walking. They grow up so fast. It seemed like yesterday Gamora dumped her in his arms and soon she will be pulling Rocket's ears and annoy him. She'll make papa proud. He walked outside his room and went back to the deck. Gamora was sitting there on the floor, looking at the stars. He smiled. She was so damn lovely, so freaking beautiful, so-

"Peter?"

He was pulled back from his thoughts. "Yes?"

"Why are you staring at me like that?" She asked dangerously.

"Um… No reason."

Gamora raised her eyebrow.

"Ok, I was thinking of something else." Liar. He stepped forward and sat beside her on the floor. "What are you looking at?"

"The stars." She simply said.

Gamora refused to look at him. 'Look at him… He has better abs than any of Thanos' soldiers and you can't still look at this manly sculpture!' She thought. 'Also, he has a handsome face and charming personality… Just look at him! No, I can't… He'll probably trick me again… the handsome bastard…'

'Look at her, you dork! She's the most beautiful (and deadliest) woman in the galaxy! That's sexy! She has you around her finger! You have charmed thousands of girls but you can't look at her flawless green skin! You don't even have the courage to tell her how you feel… shit.' Peter thought.

Gamora felt a hand over hers. It was a warm feeling. A good feeling and- WAIT! She yanked her hand away. But quickly realized her mistake. Instead, she placed her hand over Peter's.

They finally looked at each other. Their faces closer… closer… And this time… SHE backed away.

"Good night, Star-Lord. Remember that we are going to Knowhere tomorrow, so sleep well." She said as she got up and walked away. Smirk on her face.

Peter stayed there, looking mindlessly at the floor. "So this is what it feels like…"