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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟐
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐈𝐅𝐓 𝐁𝐎𝐗𝐄𝐒

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After handing the Stone over to the Nova Corps and getting cleaned up from the battle, Primrose found herself standing with Peter and Gamora in one of the Nova Corps war rooms. The Quill woman did her best to not show it, but she was more uncomfortable at that moment than anything else leading up to then. It had nothing to do with where they were. If anything, Primrose thought the technologically advanced room was amazing. She just hadn't worn a dress since she'd been abducted by the Ravagers.

It wasn't long before Nova Prime pulled up a hologram of Peter's vitals on the platform in front of them. At first, Primrose was confused as to why the Nova Corps thought it was important for them to look at the image. But after her eyes scanned over the picture and read over the information one more time, the Quill woman felt her blood run cold. It wasn't long after that when Nova Prime confirmed Primrose's suspicions.

"Why would you even know this?" Peter questioned while keeping his eyes glued to the hologram of himself.

"When we arrested you, we noticed an anomaly in your nervous system, so we had it checked out," Dey explained before looking over at the Quill man.

"I'm not Terran?"

"You're half Terran," Primrose corrected her brother then turned her attention back to the holographic image, "I have no clue what the other half is though."

"Your mother was of Earth," Nova Prime stated, confirming the piece of information that the Quill siblings already knew before the woman continued speaking, "your father, well, he's something very ancient we've never seen here before."

"That could be why you were able to hold the Stone for as long as you did," Gamora suggested after turning her attention away from the screen to look at Peter.

Before they had a chance to continue their conversation, the sound of a door opening cut through the air. That instantly drew Nova Prime's attention before a small smile appeared on her face.

"Your friends have arrived," the white-haired woman announced as she walked around Primrose, Peter, and Gamora to watch Rocket and Drax enter the room, "on behalf of the Nova Corps, we'd like to express our profound gratitude for your help in saving Xandar. If you will follow Denarian Dey, he has something to show you."

That instantly caused everyone to turn around to face the man who originally arrested them which led to the formation of the group of misfits. Primrose walked beside her brother as they followed the brunette man while Gamora, Rocket, and Drax walked behind them. No one said a word as they walked through the halls of the Nova Corps headquarters until they made it outside. They couldn't believe what they saw next. Peter instantly stopped dead in his tracks followed by Primrose. The two of them just stared in awe with their lips slightly parted at their restored ship. After they studied it for another long moment, giant grins appeared on their faces.

"We tried to keep it as close to the original as possible," Dey explained as he turned around to face the Quill siblings, who didn't even try to make eye contact with the man next to them, "we salvaged as much as we could."

"Wow. I-" Peter cut himself off while continuing to stare at the ship before turning his attention toward the brunette man next to him, "thank you."

"I have a family. They're alive because of you," Dey told them as a small smile formed on his face, "your criminal records have also been expunged. However, I have to warn you against breaking any laws in the future."

"Question," Rocket spoke for the first time since he arrived, drawing all attention toward him before he continued, "what if I see something that I want to take, and it belongs to someone else?"

"You will be arrested," the brunette man stated matter-of-factly, earning a small groan from the small creature.

"But what if I want it more than the person who has it?"

"It's still illegal."

"That doesn't follow. No, I want it more, sir. Do you understand?" Rocket argued, causing Primrose to let out a long sigh and pinch the bridge of her nose. It wasn't long after that when a smile formed on Gamora's face before gesturing for the raccoon to follow her. "What are you laughing at? Why? I can't have a discussion with this gentleman?"

As soon as the two of them were gone, Drax took a step forward to stand where Rocket once was before turning to face Dey. "What if someone does something irksome and I decide to remove his spine?"

"That's...that's actually murder. It's one of the worst crimes of all," the Nova Corps officer responded after sharing a concerned look with the Quill siblings, "so...also illegal."

Drax simply sent the man a nod in response before turning and following Gamora and Rocket. Primrose, Peter, and Dey watched him go before the brunette man turned his attention back to the Quill siblings. The Nova Corps officer stared at them with a hint of uncertainty in his eyes, making smiles appear on Primrose and Peter's faces before they let out small chuckles.

"They'll be fine, Dey. I'm gonna keep an eye on them," the Quill man stated, earning a scoff from the brunette man while the smile returned to his lips.

"You?"

"Yeah. Me," Peter responded before sending Dey one last smile and heading toward their new ship.

As soon as her brother was out of earshot, Primrose turned her attention back to the Nova Corps officer. "I'll watch out for them and keep them out of trouble...hopefully."

"Now, that, I believe," Dey responded as he reached his hand out toward the Quill woman before she gladly returned the gesture, "good luck, Stardust. You're definitely going to need it."

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When Primrose finally walked onto the ship, she found her brother sitting down on one of the benches with a familiar box in his hand. The sight of the gift box made the Quill woman's body turn to stone and her blood run cold. She kept her eyes glued to it before she slowly looked up to meet Peter's gaze. The two of them just stared at each other for a long moment before the Quill man reached down into the basket underneath him and pulled out a matching box.

"Together?" was all the redheaded man said as he held the brightly colored package out to her.

Primrose didn't move for what felt like an eternity before letting out a long sigh. The Quill woman forced her feet to move as she walked across the metal floor and sat down across from Peter. Her hands shook as she reached out and took the wrapped box from him. She kept her gaze glued to it for a long moment before looking back up at her brother and sent him a small nod. That was all it took for both of them to open the envelopes that were once taped to the boxes

Tears formed in Primrose's eyes as she stared at the paper in her hands before she let out a shaky sigh and forced herself to read the note.

Rosie,

You may not understand what has been happening these last few months. But when the time comes that you do, I want you to know that I'm going to a better place...and I will be okay. Even though you may not see me, I will always be with you. Just like your father is. You are the glue that holds this family together. My darling daughter. My little Stardust.

Love, Mom

P.S. Keep your brother out of trouble for me. He needs you far more than you'll ever know.

The tears that were once in Primrose's eyes began streaming down her cheeks. After letting out another shaky breath, she placed the letter on the bench next to her before using her hands to wipe them away. Despite being happy with the life she had now, Primrose would give it all away for just a moment longer with her parents. Since she lost both of them before she was four, she didn't have many memories of them and relied heavily on what Peter told her. She was always jealous that her brother got to spend more time with them, but she never would admit that out loud. It wasn't his fault after all.

When the Quill woman finally looked over at her brother, she found Peter staring back at her with watery eyes. The Quill man sent his sister a small smile before reaching for his box, causing Primrose to do the same. She just stared at the blue polka-dot box tied with a white bow for a long moment. It wasn't much longer after that when she finally found the courage to open it.

After placing the ribbon next to the note beside her, Primrose carefully ripped the wrapping paper away, revealing a medium-sized brown box. Her shaky hands then removed the lid before a small smile appeared on her face. Neatly placed in the center of the box was a book that Primrose had never seen before. It was a kind of green that reminded her of the grass back on Earth with gold decals covering every inch of it. In the center, neatly written in gold, was the title. The Wizard of Oz.

A small smile formed on her lips as she carefully took the book out, only for her eyes to land on something underneath it. Primrose's eyebrows instantly came together in confusion as she gently placed the book next to her on the bench before reaching for the other object. After carefully taking the chain into her hand, the Quill woman held up the necklace in front of her face. It wasn't until then that her eyes landed on the star dangling from the end of it. Her attention then moved to the small piece of paper sitting at the bottom of the box.

To my little Rosebud,

Keep on shining like the star you are.

Love, Dad

"Jay gave that to mom before he left for his last shift. He asked her to hold onto it for him," Peter said, breaking the silence and making Primrose jump before she looked up at him, "he wanted to give it to you for your first birthday...but he didn't get a chance."

The Quill woman just stared at her brother until her attention went back to the piece of jewelry in her hand. Her eyes stayed glued to it for a long moment before a small smile appeared on her face.

"Will you help me put it on?" the brunette woman asked after looking back up at Peter, earning a small nod from her brother.

The two of them got to their feet before Primrose handed the necklace over to Peter and turned her back to him. After moving her hair out of the way for him, the Quill man brought the necklace in front of her and clipped the chain. Once it was secured, Primrose faced her brother and watched as a smile formed on his face.

"It really suits you, Rosie."

"Thanks, Pete."

After the Quill man put his new mixtape into their radio and pressed play, the Guardians made their way to the front of the ship. Peter and Rocket instantly took the co-pilot seats while Primrose took her place in the chair with Drax next to her. Gamora sent the younger Quill sibling a smile as she walked past her before stopping right behind Peter's seat.

"So, what should we do next?" the Quill man said after wrapping his hands around their new ship's steering wheel, "something good? Something bad? A bit of both?"

Everyone instantly began looking around at each other as giant grins appeared on their faces. That lasted only a second before they turned their attention back to the man in the pilot's chair.

"We'll follow your lead, Star-Lord," the Zehoberei woman announced, making the smirk on Peter's face grow even bigger.

"Bit of both!"

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