Sorry it's been a while (I seem to be saying that a lot). But, here's some more Starmora fluff :)
The months that followed were ones of growth and discovery for Peter and Gamora. Their relationship grew stronger, anchored by their shared beliefs and the unspoken understanding that had blossomed between them. They faced each challenge together, whether it was a daring rescue or navigating their daily lives, each experience only deepening the bond they shared.
While Rocket had said more than once that he didn't want a bunch of 'mushy stuff' on the ship, the Guardians were happy that now the two weren't afraid to admit their love for each other.
Gamora and Peter grew closer with each passing day. Sometimes they would go to a place on Xandar, other times they would just enjoy a quiet afternoon just the two of them in the cockpit just the stars and a Bible being the only company they needed. They would discuss Jesus' teachings and how it applied to their lives, the way the stars applied to their adventures.
One day, the crew was getting some errands done on Xandar, when Peter mysteriously asked
to go to a market alone, "I'll be right back, I need to grab something." Gamora raised an eyebrow at him, "What is it?" Peter's eyes held a hint of something she hadn't seen before, a mix of excitement and apprehension.
"It's just something I'd like to do on my own."
That didn't answer Gamora's question but she decided not to press it. "Alright, but don't take too long." She watched as Peter disappeared into the bustling street, the crowd swallowing him up as if he was one of their own.
She couldn't help but be a little curious at why he was so insistent on going alone but promised herself no to pry- for now.
Peter went into the shop, his eyes scanning the shelves filled with various artifacts and trinkets. His heart raced, the anticipation of his surprise growing with every step. He knew exactly what he was looking for. He found it and went to the counter, the vendor eyeing him curiously as he paid for the small, velvet-covered box.
"Is this for someone special?" the vendor asked with a knowing smile.
"Very," Peter replied, taking the box and placing it securely in his pocket. He walked out into the bustling street, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. He had never bought a gift like this before, especially not one that signified something as important as what he had planned.
He just had to wait for the right moment to give it.
Mantis greeted him back at the Milano, "Did you get it?" she whispered, her tone one of excitement and thrill.
Peter nodded as he showed her what he had retrieved. She gave a knowing smile, her antennae fluttering in excitement.
"It's perfect," she whispered, her voice carrying the weight of shared secrets.
"I hope so," Peter murmured, his nerves starting to get the better of him again.
"Trust me, Peter," Mantis assured him, her eyes filled with wisdom beyond her years. "When you give this to her, she'll know how much you care."
The next evening, as the stars painted the sky with a vibrant array of colors, Peter and Gamora found themselves in a quiet corner of the Xandarian capital. The neon lights of the city reflected off the polished surfaces of the buildings, creating a dazzling spectacle that seemed to mirror the excitement in Peter's eyes. He held her hand tightly, his pulse quickening with every step closer to the spot he had chosen. Gamora looked at him, her curiosity piqued, but she said nothing, allowing him to lead her through the throngs of aliens that walked by.
They came to an isolated spot, quiet and serene, the perfect backdrop for Peter's grand gesture. Gamora's curiosity was at its peak, but she remained silent, allowing Peter his moment of mystery.
He took a deep breath, then dropped to one knee, his eyes never leaving hers. "Gamora," he began, his voice steady despite the tremble in his hands.
Gamora's eyes grew wide, realizing what was happening. The sounds of the bustling market faded into the background as Peter fumbled with the small velvet box.
Peter's voice was a whisper that seemed to echo in the stillness of the moment, "I know we've been through a lot, and I know we still have a long way to go, but I want you to know that I am here, by your side, through every challenge, every battle, and every star we visit."
Gamora felt her heart swell in her chest as Peter spoke, his eyes filled with sincerity and a love that she had never seen directed at her before. She had killed, she had fought, she had lost, but here was Peter, a man who had seen the worst of her and still loved her for who she was, a man who had found faith in the most unlikely of places, and she knew that she loved him too.
"Gamora," Peter continued, his hand shaking slightly as he opened the box to reveal a simple, yet stunning golden ring with a single, gleaming diamond at its center, "will you marry me?"
Gamora's eyes filled with tears as she stared at the ring, her mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions. The ring, that was what he was so secretive about. She felt her breath catch in her throat, and her heart fluttered. For a moment, she remembered when she thought something like this would never happen. Love in itself was something that seemed so distant to her under her past life as Thanos' daughter, but something changed that... Jesus changed that and so did Peter.
"Yes," she breathed out, her voice barely audible. The crowd around them seemed to melt away as Peter slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly, as if it had been made just for her. Peter's eyes lit up, and he stood, pulling her into a tight embrace.
Gamora felt the warmth of his love envelop her as they held each other, the ring feeling foreign yet right on her finger. The coldness of her past seemed to melt away in the heat of this moment, replaced by a warmth and love that she had never dared to hope for.
As they entered back into the Milano, the silence was broken by Drax's booming voice,
"Did she say 'yes'?"
Gamora looked at Peter who was blushing and gave her a look that seemed to say 'I had to tell them.'
"Yes," Peter replied, still in a daze.
The ship erupted into cheers, and the air was filled with the sound of their friends' excitement each one giving a word of encouragement that reflected their unique personalities. It was Groot's that seemed to catch Peter by surprise.
"I am Groot."
Rocket raised his eyebrows, "Does Nebula know?" he translated.
Peter slapped his forehead, Gamora giving him a knowing smile, "You didn't tell her, did you."
Nebula: Gamora's adopted sister, the two had had their scars but had grown closer during their time with the Guardians. She was out doing missions on her own, not wanting to fully join the Guardians, yet she had grown to care for them especially after what most were starting to call "Endgame". Although, that wasn't so much of an assurance to Peter, who still felt she wasn't happy with him and Gamora being together.
"I... wanted it to be a surprise." he said, a nervous chuckle being heard in his words.
Gamora rolled her eyes playfully, "Nebula's going to be thrilled."
"Or she'll try to kill us," Peter quipped, only half joking.
"Come on, let's call her." Gamora said as she pulled Peter's arm, leading him towards the communication pod.
Peter gave a slight groan, "Maybe we should call her later, she might be busy."
But Gamora was already at the pod, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Nebula, it's me, Gamora."
There was a pause on the other line.
"I need to tell you something important," Gamora spoke into the pod, her voice carrying both anticipation and a hint of trepidation.
Another pause.
"Gamora, what is it?" Peter heard Nebula's voice, tinged with irritation.
"Peter." Gamora said simply, looking at Peter with a smile.
His eyes widened in shock as he motioned his hands 'no' but it was too late.
"What'd you do this time?" Nebula said, her voice sounding more gruff than usual.
"Well," Peter took a deep breath, "I kind of asked Gamora to marry me."
The line went dead silent. Gamora's smile grew wider as Peter's face turned pale.
"YOU DID WHAT?!"
The explosion of words from the other end of the pod was a mix of shock, anger, and a little bit of something else Peter couldn't quite identify. Gamora's grip tightened around his arm, reassuring him, but Peter couldn't help the nervous laugh that bubbled up.
"We're getting married, Nebs," Gamora said into the pod, her voice calm but firm. "We wanted you to be one of the first to know."
Nebula's voice was tight, "Married? You two are going to be together... for life?!"
"Yes," Peter managed to squeak out, his voice barely above a whisper.
Nebula's silence was deafening, and Peter could almost see the cogs in her head turning as she processed the news. Gamora's gaze remained fixed on him, her grip on his arm a silent declaration of support.
"Nebula, are you still there?" Gamora ventured, breaking the tension.
"You're really going through with it?" she finally responded, her tone a blend of disbelief and something akin to begrudging respect. "The two of you... forever?"
"Yeah, we are," Peter said with a nod, his voice stronger now.
Gamora took over, "And we want you to be part of our wedding party.
The silence on the other end was palpable, and for a moment Peter's heart sank. Had they just lost their friendship with Nebula? But then, something shifted. A sigh, and a grudging acceptance.
"Alright," she said. "I'll be there."
The relief washed over Peter, and Gamora gave him a proud nod.
"Thank you, Nebula," Gamora said, her voice filled with warmth. "It means a lot to us."
"But don't expect me to wear those ridiculous dresses you humans wear," Nebula retorted, a hint of a smile in her voice.
"Deal," Peter said quickly, eager to keep her on their side.
The rest of the conversation was a mix of joking about the wedding and catching up on what Nebula had been doing. Despite the initial shock, Peter felt a sense of relief. He had been worried about how she would take the news, but it seemed she was willing to accept their love.
After the call, Peter and Gamora sat down in the ship's lounge, the excitement of their engagement still buzzing around them.
"Well, I guess we need to figure out what we're going to do about the wedding," Peter said, his voice still a bit shaky from the adrenaline rush.
Gamora nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips. "A small ceremony," she suggested, "Just us the team, and some friends."
"That sounds good." he agreed, leaning back in the chair, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Where should we do it?"
Gamora paused for a minute, her eyes showing she was in deep thought.
"How about we get married at the Nova Corps headquarters?" she suggested, her voice filled with excitement. "It's a symbol of our commitment to each other and to the universe we protect."
Peter's eyes lit up at the idea, "Yeah, that would be perfect. Plus, it's got that epic view of Xandar."
Gamora nodded, "And we can ask Rocket to be your best man." she quipped, watching Peter's face for his reaction.
"What? No, he'll just blow something up!" Peter exclaimed with a laugh, the tension between them dissipating.
"How about Drax," Gamora said with a smirk.
"Yeah, that's a better choice," Peter agreed, imagining the stoic warrior trying to give a toast.
Gamora's smile grew, "And Groot can be the ring bearer," she suggested.
"I am Groot," Peter said, mimicking Groot's voice, "I guess he doesn't have much of a choice."
Their shared laughter filled the ship, a sound that seemed to echo the happiness in their hearts.
The planning began in earnest, the Guardians throwing themselves into preparations for Peter and Gamora's big day. Each member had a task, from Rocket's meticulous planning of the after-party to Groot's surprisingly good taste in floral arrangements. They discussed the ceremony, the vows, and even the music. Peter found himself torn between classic rock ballads and something more traditional, but Gamora insisted that their wedding should reflect who they were as a couple, and as individuals. This was going to be an interesting wedding.
I know what you're probably thinking: "What? Already?"
Yeah, there's already tons of fics talking about them dating and I wanted this to be a little different so the rest of this story will be focusing on them growing as a couple.