After making formal introductions with the man who claims to be Peter's father, Ego, you set up camp for the night on Berhert. The Guardians sit alongside Mantis and Ego around a small fire you have created as the stars in the night sky illuminate everything around you. You watch as Peter stares down Ego, curious about his father. His face glows in the light of the fire and you find yourself becoming allured by his handsome face. All of the nights you spent cradled in his arms flash through your mind like pictures. Your thoughts wander to every flirtatious smirk he flashed you and how many times he encouraged you to dance with him when a good song came on. You want nothing more than to kiss him, feeling his lips on yours again just how you did only a couple months before. A voice pulls you away from recalling your memories with Peter.

"I hired Yondu to pick you up when your mother passed away," Ego says to the group, providing the explanation of how Peter came to be raised by Yondu. "But instead of returning you, Yondu kept you. I have no clue as to why."

"Well, I'll tell you why..." Peter nods. "...because I was a skinny, little kid who could squeeze into places adults couldn't. I made it easier for thievin'."

"Well, I've been trying to track you down ever since."

"I thought Yondu was your father," Drax chirps as he shovels bites of food into his mouth.

Peter raises an eyebrow at him. "What? We've been together this whole time and you thought Yondu was my actual blood relative?"

"You look exactly alike!" Drax exclaims.

"One's blue!" Rocket snarls obviously.

"No, he's not my father!" Peter settles the situation. "Yondu was the guy who abducted me, kicked the crap out of me so I could learn to fight, and kept me in terror by threatening to eat me."

"Eat you?" Ego questions with a mouth full of food.

"Yeah," he replies.

Ego slams his spoon into his bowl. "Oh, that son of a bitch!"

"How'd you locate us now?" Gamora asks him.

"Well, even where I reside, out past the edge of what's known... we've heard tell about the man they call Star-Lord," Ego states, causing Peter to sit up higher and grin proudly. "What say we head out there right now? Your associates are welcome. Even that triangle-faced monkey there," he continues, standing from his seat. Rocket rubs his face insecurely at Ego's comment. "I promise you it's unlike any other place you've ever seen, and there I can explain your very special heritage. I'll finally get to be the father I've always wanted to be," he hesitates while he and Peter stare into each other's eyes for a moment. "Excuse me, I've gotta take a whiz."

Ego struts away from the campsite as Peter looks at you and shakes his head in disbelief. "I'm not buying it."

"Why don't we go take a walk?" you ask him, and he nods in agreement.

The two of you head off into the woods and Peter stays a few steps ahead of you, walking quickly and ranting in a huff. "Gimme a break! After all this time, you're just gonna show up, and all of a sudden you wanna be my dad?" He stops at a small clearing and turns to you. "And by the way, this could be a trap, okay? The Kree purists, the Ravagers...they all want us dead."

You cut him off, your voice instantly calming him down. "I know, but-"

"But what?" He mumbles, standing only a few inches from you.

"What about that story you told me once about David Hasselhoff? You carried around a picture of him in your pocket when you were little and you told all of the other kids he was your dad, but that he was out of town." you disclose.

"Shooting Knight Rider or touring with his band in Germany," Peter explains. "I told you that when I was drunk. Why are you bringing that up now?"

"Peter," you say, taking another step even closer to him. "I love that story."

"I hate that story!" He groans. "It's so sad! As a kid, I used to see all the other kids off playing catch with their dad. And I wanted that, more than anything in the world!"

You take a few steps away from him after he raised his voice in anger. "Exactly!" You exclaim, pointing a finger toward the way you came from. "What if Ego is your Hasselhoff? What if he's the dad you've always wanted but never got the chance to meet?" Your words become soft again as you take Peter's warm hands into yours, him instantly returning the gesture. "This is your chance, Peter. You have to take it. Besides, if it turns out that Ego is actually a bad guy, we can just leave or even kill him if we have to."

Peter chuckles rubbing circles on your hands with his thumbs. "Kill him?"

You laugh back, looking directly into his eyes. You love that smile of his. "Well, yeah, anyone who lies to you like that is not going to get away unharmed."

"Thank you, Y/N. I needed this."

"Anytime, Peter," you reply. His eye contact falters as he looks at your intertwined hands. You get ready to pull away quickly but he doesn't let you. Instead, he moves closer to you and only pulls one hand away to push a strand of hair behind your ear.

"You know, there is one thing that could definitely persuade me to go with Ego..." Peter says, smirking. His hot breath hits your face as his lips are only mere centimeters from yours.

"Peter..." you hesitate, letting his name fall on your breath as you exhale.

"Shhh just let this happen..." Peter whispers. The two of you close your eyes and you get ready to kiss him again. This is the moment you've been longing for.

Peter's soft lips barely brush against yours when you hear loud bellows coming from the trees. "Come on lovebirds! The sun's coming up and we need to get going soon!" Ego calls out as he enters the small clearing.

You and Peter groan in anguish simultaneously as he presses his forehead against yours. His eyes are still closed but they flutter opens as he speaks. "Can we kill him now?"

You laugh lightly. "It's okay, Peter. Good things come to those who wait," you mutter as you walk away to follow Ego. The second your back is to Peter the biggest grin creeps up to your face. He's changed. It's become clear now that he only wants you.

"Well, I've been waitin' for a couple months now so whatever you're plannin' to do to me better be pretty fucking good!" He shouts after you as he tries to catch up.

After sleeping soundly on the Milano, the sun rises slowly over the horizon as you, Peter, Gamora, and Drax gather your needed belongings. You are unsure of where you're going exactly and how long you'll be gone for, but as long as Peter is by your side you aren't going to worry. Rocket and Groot stay behind with Nebula on the ship as they attempt to repair it. Nebula, however, won't be doing any repairing as she is still handcuffed and restrained from leaving. You and Gamora brush past her on your way out.

"You're leaving me with that fox?" she howls.

"He's not a fox, dumbass," you respond.

Gamora pauses next to Rocket. "Shoot her if she does anything suspicious... or if you feel like it." He grumbles in agreement.

The two of you stop before a sad Groot. You comfort him as he cries at your departure. "It'll be just a couple of days. We'll be back before Rocket's finished fixing the ship," Gamora tells him.

"Hey, it's okay buddy. We'll be back soon." You caress his cheek gently as he gives you both a weak smile and a wave.

Rocket glances up from working on the ship with a hint of glare in his eyes. You smirk at the raccoon, waiting for him to make a comment about your departure with Ego. He seems shifty and you can't help but wonder what he's thinking.

"You gonna be okay without me, Rocket?"

"I'll try my best not to cry myself to sleep every night," he remarks sarcastically. "Keep on eye on everyone, Y/N, you're the only one of these jerks I actually trust."

You smile. "I'll make sure to live up to your expectations."

"Yeah. Don't fuck up." Rocket reaches into his pocket and passes you a communication device. "Here. Let me know if that Ego guy turns out to be a real creep...or just call if you miss me and Groot too much."

"Don't get soft on me, furball."

Drax and Peter come bumbling out of the Milano next. Drax is carrying a huge bag full of his belongings on his back and two more bags in his hands. "What if the Sovereign come?" he asks Peter.

"There's no way for them to know we're here," he replies agitatedly. "Let's go."

"I'm uncertain about parting ways."

"God, you're like an old woman," Peter states as he shoos Drax out the door.

"Because I'm wise?"

"Why do you have so much luggage?" Gamora questions Drax, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't want Groot playing with my things," he resolves.

Peter lingers in the doorway for a moment, watching as Rocket continues fixing the ship. He looks back at him. "I hope Daddy isn't as big of a dick as you, orphan boy."

Peter's jaw drops as he glances around with wide eyes. "What is your goal here? To get everybody to hate you? Cause it's workin'," he asserts back to the raccoon. They share a quick smile before the four of you are officially out the door.

Ego's ship is large and oddly shaped. Everyone wanders around for a while, exploring. You can't find any specific rooms as you travel around the craft, only certain areas for sitting or sleeping. Mantis puts Ego to sleep in one of the spots you had walked by earlier. Everything appears to be orange or white and you can't even tell where walls end and walkways begin. After lurking around for a while, confused about what kind of ship you are on, you come across Mantis, Drax, Gamora, and Peter sitting together and chatting.

"Quill and I have a bet!" Drax declares as you turn the corner.

"Dude, you're not supposed to say that..." Peter clarifies with a nervous laugh. You enter the area slowly, and upon hearing your footsteps, Peter looks up at you. Your eyes meet for a brief moment, but it feels like forever in one glance. The way his bright, green eyes pour into yours make butterflies flutter like crazy in your stomach. Quickly, you avert your eyes back to Drax and laugh at his words as if you have been listening to him the whole time.

"I say: if you are about to go through a doorway that is too low, your antennae will feel this, and keep you from being decapitated."

"Right, and if it's anything other than specifically not being decapitated by a doorway, I win."

"They are not for feeling doorways!" Mantis resolves, earning a groan from Drax and a triumphant laugh from Peter. "I think they have something to do with my empathic abilities."

"What are those?" you inquire, taking a seat at the open spot next to Peter.

"If I touch someone, I can feel their feelings."

"You read minds?" Peter questions.

"No. Telepaths know thoughts. Empaths feel feelings, emotions," she renders. One of her hands extends toward Peter's. "May I?"

"Alright," he agrees.

The second her small, delicate hand grazes him, her antennae light up brightly. Her face looks warm and cheerful and her eyes appear to be infatuated or dumbstruck. "You feel... love!" she cheers.

Peter looks at her as if she just said something completely psychotic. "Yeah, I guess I feel a general, unselfish love for just about everybody..."

"No!" Mantis interrupts. "Romantic, sexual love..."

"No. No. I don't," he yammers nervously.

"For her!" she yelps excitedly, pointing right at you. You're taken aback instantly.

Peter yanks his hand away from hers in a flash. "No! That is not..." he can't seem to string words together while Drax pretty much dies with laughter. Gamora sits beside him, trying to hold back her own giggling as she looks between the two of you. Drax sticks his finger right in Peter's face as his cackles echo throughout the ship. "Okay...that's..."

"She just told everyone your deepest, darkest secret!" Drax booms.

"Dude, come on! I think you're overreacting a little bit," Peter murmurs as he scrunches up his face and scoots slightly further away from you to avoid you seeing his humiliation. You furrow your eyebrows together, deep in thought. This man has just met his biological father and is now on his way to an unknown place to learn about his heritage. He should be happy, excited, nervous, or even anxious. Yet, his strongest emotion right now is love. Peter's love for you overpowers any other emotion he could ever feel.

"You must be so embarrassed!" Drax continues to pester while Gamora sits back in amusement at the whole situation. "Do me! Do me!" he chants.

Mantis stands and reaches a hand out to his chest. When she comes in contact with him, she erupts in laughter. "I have never felt such humor!" she retorts as her and Drax point and laugh at Peter.

"So unbelievably uncool," he mumbles, his eyes falling on you a couple of times. He is too caught up in his own shame to read your reaction. If he could, he would be able to understand how you are overflowing with joy. Peter loves you. Peter fucking loves you. That literally means Peter Quill, Guardian of the Galaxy, legendary outlaw who calls himself Star-Lord, is head over heels in love with you.

The thought repeats over and over again in your head. Peter fucking Quill is in love with you. Of course, you feel the same way. Strangely, you believe you always have. There were moments where Peter confessed he wants you and it became more obvious over time. But, love? This is new to you. This is an unexplored territory. You've been encouraging Peter to change his playboy ways after it became clear that the two of you are attracted to one another, yet love always seemed unlikely. You're not sure what to think.

Mantis tries to bring her hand to Gamora but she snatches her wrist. "Touch me, and the only thing you're gonna feel is a broken jaw." Mantis takes a few steps back in fear at such harsh words. Gamora grimaces at you cooly, she isn't here to mess around. You know her well enough to understand that she's serious and doesn't have the time for games.

Now, Mantis approaches you. Her face is still pale after Gamora scared her, but she is ready to try again with someone anyway. "Mantis I'm not sure if..." you are unable to speak properly as her hand falls on yours. You know you're about to be just as exposed as Peter was moments ago. You aren't ready to confess how you feel about Peter. All of the eyes in the room are on you and you can't take the thought of everyone knowing how in love with Peter you are. But, you're frozen. Your anxiety only causes you to tense up and your hand remains still underneath Mantis'. Her antennae light up again, just had they had done for Peter. She looks between the two of you.

"Wow..." she exhales, smiling widely and looking directly at Peter. "Your love for him is quite strong, Y/N. You are deeply in love with him, romantically and sexually," she explains.

Peter watches you, his face knit together in confusion. He always knew you were attracted to him, but you never made a move. He assumed you had given up on him after all this time, even if he kept his promise and dedicated himself to you. It made him try harder to make you his. Peter told himself that he would be okay with simply being your friend if you didn't truly reciprocate his feelings, so the fact that you're truly in love with him surprises him. He's never tried being in love before and he remains clueless on the subject. You can't bring yourself to look up at him, and your eyes remain glued to the floor. Mantis' gaze soon follows, her antennae quivering slightly.

"There is no need to be so nervous, Y/N. He feels the same for you." She swaps out your hand for Peter's but he doesn't move. Now he wants you to know how he feels. This time, you do look up at him, eyes meeting and full of love. Mantis takes your hand as well. "See? I have never felt such a strong attraction. You two are very much in love," she reveals, again.

You laugh tensely. "I think that's enough feeling for one day..."

Mantis nods in agreement and sits back down in her previous spot. "I can also alter emotions to some extent," Mantis announces.

"Yeah, like what?" Peter demands, his eyes finally pulling away from you to engage back into the conversation.

"If I touch someone who is sad, I can ease them into contentment for a short while. I can make a stubborn person compliant. But, I mostly use it to help my master sleep. He lies awake at night, thinking about his progeny."

Drax becomes all giddy again, pointing to himself in excitement. "Do one of those on me!"

She places a calming hand to his forehead. "Sleep..." she whispers. Drax gets knocked out instantly, his head hitting the wall with a loud snore. The three of you laugh at how he lays back and sleeps so recklessly.

You feel a warm hand envelop yours, followed by a squeeze. Glancing up, you meet Peter's lingering stare. "Wanna get outta here?" he faintly hums to you.

You nod with a kind smile and follow him out of the area. Finding a darker, quieter spot, Peter takes your other hand in his. You waltz closer to him and place his hands on your waist, bring your own up to his neck. He smirks at the change in position.

"Is there something on your mind, Star-Lord?" Pretending to play stupid, you give him a dumb yet seductive look with your question.

"Y/N," Peter whispers, eyes glued to your lips. "I feel like we really need to talk about-"

"There you guys are!" You're cut off again by Ego. "I've been looking for you. We're here."

Ego trails off and Peter's head falls back with an angry groan. "I think I hate my dad, Y/N. No joke I seriously despise this dude and he's my father and I just met him so it would be pretty difficult to hate him, but I do. I really-"

"Shhh," you hiss at him with a giggle. "Let's just go, okay?"

"Fine," he whines, trudging out the door.

You aren't too upset about another missed moment with Peter. There are going to be plenty more in the near future. You are looking forward to the upcoming romantic and silly junctures with him. So what if you have to wait a little longer? There will be several exchanges of flirting, dirty jokes, and passionate kisses headed your way, soon. You won't lose him and you're not worried.

After all, Peter is in love with you.