DISCLAIMER: Hi! I do not own Guardians of the Galaxy or any Marvel content... this fanfic is simply because I enjoy shipping Rocket and Peter, not to claim ownership... please enjoy my hard work... ;)

"A Perfect Picnic Date" - By: JurassicParkFan_102504 ;)

It was a beautiful spring day in St. Charles, Missouri...

Peter Jason Quill busied himself around his grandfather's old house, preparing for a romantic picnic date with his special someone. He grabbed an old weathered picnic basket that's seen Its fair share of picnic excursions in years past.

'Here goes nothing' - Peter packed the picnic basket full of delicious food stuffs such as chips, cucumber sandwiches, crackers, pimento cheese spread, mini salads, cans of root beer and cinnamon rolls that smelled heavenly.

"That's a delicious looking picnic, Baby Boo"

Peter smiled at the familiar gruff voice he grew to adore. The former Guardian turned to see his former best friend, now boyfriend of the last year or so, standing in the doorway with a flirty grin. The shorter male smiled, the raccoon walking up to the human.

'He's so beautiful... I haven't seen him for weeks, but he looks exactly the same' - I realized that I was staring. Rocket arched an eyebrow with a knowing look. "Like what you see, my love?" Rocket asked with a seductive smile. "It's only been a couple weeks since I've been on earth last..."

Peter pouted. "Any amount of time separated from you isn't easy..." Rocket chuckled. "I know the feeling, hun..." The raccoon smiled. "Damn... You made me all sentimental... Ya big dumb humie..." Rocket purred seductively. Peter just snorted and smiled at him. "Find something amusing, Love?" Rocket asked, tilting his head curiously as Peter grabbed the picnic basket and handed it to Rocket. "Nah... I just really like it when you flirt with me... I'm sorry."

Peter looked at the raccoon with a bashful expression. Rocket smirked. "Peter... Don't apologize... So, where are we going?" The raccoon asked mischievously as he and the terran walked to Peter's grandfather's pickup truck. "I'm sure you'll love it." Peter opened the passenger door for Rocket.

"Thanks." The raccoon blushed as he hopped in with the picnic basket. 'Why does he have to be such a sweetheart? No wonder why Gamora fell for this dork...' - Rocket sighed contently as he put the picnic basket on the floor between the driver's seat and the passenger seat. Peter closed the passenger door as Rocket fastened his seatbelt.

Peter got into the driver's seat with a giddy smile. "Just you wait, Rocky... this picnic spot is the Most romantic in all of St. Charles!" The human was absolutely ecstatic to be sharing this experience with him. "I believe ya', hun... You've only been talkin' up this place all week! It's made me antsy to get back here. Things in Knowhere are pretty tense now... Nebula and Drax visited, but they're pretty much moved on..." Rocket smiled sadly. "Everyone but me..." The procyon sighed, his ears drooping.

Peter eyed the raccoon with concern as they drove onto the main road, heading for the town Park. "Rocky... have you been having your nightmares again? About 'You know who'?" The human asked as they drove. The cybernetically enhanced raccoon shook his head.

"Baby Boo, we're not talking about him. Or them..."

Peter furrowed his brows. "You have to talk about it eventually... I want you to trust me enough to share it with me. At least tell me about one of your old friends." The raccoon looked up at the human.

"It's too painful, Pete." The raccoon looked out the window as the scenery passed by. "Let's just enjoy ourselves, my handsome human." Rocket said with an almost pleading tone.

Peter sighed and decided to drop it for the time being. "Alright, hun... but only because you're the sweetest guy in the universe." Both males laughed at the cheesey pick-up line as they drove into the park parking lot and came to a stop in one of the spots. Peter turned to Rocket, who had a self conscious grin on his face as he observed the people strolling the park and enjoying the spring air. "Heh... that's a lot of humies, Pete. What if they stare at us?"

Peter just ruffled the small mammal's fur atop his head. "Don't worry, Rocket. If anyone has a problem with it, we'll just kick their asses. Okay?" He asked his boyfriend confidently as Peter grabbed the picnic basket and the both of them got out of the truck.

They strolled leisurely around the beautiful park, holding hands. Rocket watched squirrels scitter about and little boys and girls running around, playing Frisbee. It made him miss raising Groot. He loved being the adoptive father of the Flora Colossus, and he missed it terribly.

"How are the New Guardians? Captain..." Peter's question broke Rocket out of his revelry. "They're... adjusting... We're all still learning to get along together. It's a work in progress." The raccoon said as he gently squeezed his boyfriend's hand. "I'm trying to be the captain you were, but I think I'm falling short."

Peter smiled down at his lover before speaking. "Oh, Rocky... I don't want you to be the captain I was. I want you to be the captain you are. Understand?" The raccoon sighed. 'But I don't know what kind of captain to be' - the raccoon thought as they stopped and sat on a bench by the duck pond. Peter grabbed a loaf of bread and began feeding the ducks. "My grandpa taught me how to feed them. Y'know, get on their good side..." The taller man handed his furry companion the other half of the loaf. "Just take tiny bits of the bread and sprinkle on the ground."

The raccoon smiled, humoring his partner as he did as Peter instructed. The ducks happily gathered around the crumbs and ate them merrily. "How is Old Jason?" The raccoon asked, inquiring about Peter's Grandfather. Peter sighed and looked down at the ground. "Not good... he has viral pneumonia and a partial collapsed lung. He's in the ICU right now." The raccoon looked up at Pete and could see the pain in his eyes. "He'll make it, Pete. I know he will." Rocket said with determination.

Peter couldn't help but feel comforted by his companion and leaned down and captured Rocket's lips with his own, kissing his boyfriend passionately. He pulled away and smiled.

Rocket just stared up at Peter with a lovesick grin before pouncing on Peter, pinning him to the bench and kissing him even more passionately before breaking the kiss for air. "Flark... Pete... I love you... I love you so damn much." He kissed Pete a couple more times, before he rested his head against the human's chest with a pur. Rocket chittered lovingly as Peter opened the picnic basket and grabbed the cinnamon rolls. Rocket licked his lips in anticipation of the gooey, sweet heavenly taste of the cinnabon. "Did you make those yourself?"

Peter shook his head. "They're instant cinnamon rolls, Pillsbury..." The raccoon rolled his eyes playfully. "Earth has made you lazy, Baby Boo. Next time you Visit Knowhere, I'm going to whip you back into shape..."

Peter chuckled. "C'mon babe... Let's set up our picnic in the most romantic spot in the park." Peter grabbed the picnic basket and led the raccoon through the park to a secluded hill overlooking the entire park. "Voila... I give you, 'lover's point'. The most beautiful, serene and romantic place in the park..." Peter opened the basket and began unpacking the food and the picnic blanket. He laid it on the ground and smiled. He pulled out a sun hat and put it on Rocket's head.

"What's this, Baby Boo?"

The raccoon looked perplexed. Peter smiled. "It's a gift, love... to keep the sun out of your eyes." The human set out the Cucumber sandwiches, Chips, crackers, pimento cheese spread and the mini salads. "Want a root beer, Rocket?" He asked.

"Hell yeah!" He responded as Peter tossed him a can of root beer. Rocket opened the can and smiled as he guzzled the drink and burped loudly. "BUUUUUUURP!!! Damn... Beat that, Humie!" The raccoon challenged. Peter smirked with a competitive twinkle in his eyes. "No one beats Star Lord at a burping contest... Prepare for utter defeat, my lovely boyfriend." Peter chugged two cans and held it for a second before releasing the burp. "BEEEEEEEEELCH!!!!" The human and Raccoon broke down laughing and hugged each other.

"Damn, Pete... that was so loud, I'm Sure Xandar heard it!" The raccoon nuzzled him. They sat there, just enjoying each other's company and the comfortable silence between them. Rocket looked up at the sky and thought of his long lost friends. He thought of Lylla. His beautiful Lylla. He felt tears welling up and running down his cheeks. Peter became concerned. "Rocky? Are you okay?"

Rocket wiped his tears in the crook of his elbow. "Sorry... I just... Not used to feeling this loved and at home with someone. I'm fine." He hoped his excuse would convince his love that he wasn't feeling extreme guilt and grief over the loss of his friends, at the hands of the High Evolutionary. He missed lylla so much.

Peter squeezed Rocket gently. "It's okay if you're emotional. I won't judge you. Promise." Peter's words soothed the raccoon's aching heart and Rocket nodded. He grabbed a cucumber sandwich wrapped in saran wrap and bit into it, savoring the flavor. "Mmm." Rocket moaned a little as he swallowed the bite of sandwich. 'Wow... he makes eating look sexy' - Peter thought as he too unwrapped a cucumber sandwich and grabbed a bag of BBQ chips to munch on with the sandwich.

"Hey Rocky?"

Rocket's ears perked up at the sound of his nickname. He looked beside him and saw Pete laying down on his back and looking at the clouds. "Yeah, you big doof?" Rocket asked playfully. Peter pulled Rocket close.

"Have you ever cloud watched before?"

The raccoon pondered for a moment and shook his head. "What's cloud watching? Some kind of Terran thing?" He asked, curious about his Boo's culture and traditions.

Peter snuggled closer to Rocket, on the picnic blanket. "When I was a kid... My mom Meredith and I used to stare at clouds and use our imagination to say what they looked like... like for instance..." Peter pointed to a fluffy cumulus cloud floating. "That one looks like you, babe..."

Rocket just playfully scoffed.

"Baby Boo... It's a cloud... I'm pretty sure I don't look like a mass of floating condensation..." Peter just snickered. "Use your imagination, Hun. See it with your heart."

Rocket rolled his eyes as he grabbed a bag of chips and looked to me clouds. He focused on his imagination and his heart and tried to bring an image out of the clouds. He thought about people he cares about, the many gadgets and weapons he's created and even what his wedding day with Peter would look like. "Wow..." Rocket said breathlessly. Peter nudged him softly.

"Don't just keep it to yourself... I wanna know what you see..." Peter was really excited to hear what crazy things his raccoon's brilliant brain could come up with. Rocket looked at his boyfriend. He decided to go with his favorite image in the clouds. "I saw us." The raccoon felt love fill his heart. "On our wedding day... the day we promised never to separate again."

Peter just blushed. "You really see us getting married? It'd probably mean you'd have to settle down here on Earth..." Rocket smiled. "I don't think that would be the worst thing in the universe. Especially if it means you by my side."

Peter just kissed his cheek and smiled. They watched as the sun began to set. "Sure is a beautiful thing, huh?" Peter asked Rocket. "Damn right it is... just like you..." They finished up the food and packed up the picnic basket. The couple watched the sun slip beneath the horizon. "C'mon babe... we better get back." Rocket said as he grabbed the picnic basket and began walking down the hill. Peter followed close behind and playfully smacked Rocket's ass.

"Hey!" Rocket chittered in faux annoyance before smirking flirtatiously.

"What?" Pete put on his best 'innocent' face. "Play like that, and I might have to teach you who's boss..." The raccoon warned with a suggestive glance at Peter's crotch.

Peter blushed. "Maybe... but let's save it for later." The terran felt Rocket smack his rear. "Just remember that your ass is mine..." Peter nodded in agreement. They reached the pickup truck and got in. As they drove, Peter put "Come and Get Your Love" on the radio. They hummed it as they drove out of the parking lot. "Hey, Pete?" The raccoon inquired. The human turned down the volume and nodded. "You interested in one more activity?" The raccoon nuzzled the human. Peter felt his heart race and his Curiosity piqued somewhat. "Alright, Mr Romeo... what's your idea?"

Rocket smirked. "I'll show you when we get back home" They reached the Quill residence and parked. The raccoon led the terran into the woods, to a clearing and to Rocket's shuttle Craft. The human looked confused. "What's this for?" He asked him.

Rocket chuckled. "Stargazing... In space!" The human got stars in his eyes. He'd seen space a billion times, but this was just romantic of the Raccoon to do for him. "What're we waiting for! let's go!" He said giddily as the couple boarded the shuttle. Rocket and Peter climbed into the cockpit. Peter smiled. "Been a long time since I've been in the pilot's seat, fastening his harness..." He looked at his beautiful raccoon and smiled. "Thank you for this opportunity, love." The terran kissed him and Rocket reciprocated by sticking his tongue into Peter's mouth with a pleased groan before pulling away.

Rocket hummed happily at the familiar taste of his love on his tongue. "Don't mention it, Baby Boo... I know you miss it. You're still a guardian in my mind." Peter just nuzzled him as Rocket powered up the shuttle. They quickly left the ground after securing the hatch. "It's so clear out tonight. It's remarkable, Rocky."

"Yeah it is."

Rocket concurred as the shuttle exited the atmosphere and they moved into a parking orbit. Rocket set the autopilot to hold the orbit. "You're finally home, Pete." Rocket engaged the artificial gravity and unbuckled his harness. The raccoon climbed into Peter's lap and curled up. Peter gently pet him, making sure to be extra gentle because of Rocket's scars and implants. The couple watched the stars from the cockpit, enjoying each other's company and snuggling with each other.

"I've seen it a million times, but it never stops looking like a grand mystery, infinite in its wonders." Peter said with a smile. "But I see something a billion times more complex and beautiful when I look into your eyes, Rocket..." The human added. Rocket teared up. "Damn... You think that? I can't believe it... you're the beautiful one here. I'm just an ugly lab experiment." Peter turned to Rocket and looked at him like he's gone insane. "You can't mean that. You're so beautiful and handsome and sexy and attractive! Not to mention brave, funny, intelligent, honest, selfless... You helped save the galaxy and the universe multiple times... I've never understood why you won't let yourself see that."