Peter is hurt bad and requires a stay in the hospital. Unsure what to do Gamora does something that she never thought she would do, a simple Starmora one-shot.

Also doesn't this seem a bit like Starmora's theme song from Peter's perspective?

Enjoy

"He's losin' too much blood!"

"I am Groot!"

"He will not make it."

"Get him up! We have to try!"

"W... what's going... on..."

"Shh, Peter don't try to talk. You are going to be fine."

Gamora was not panicking. No, having trouble breathing, erratic thoughts, and a sudden burning need to see Peter's normal cheer filled eyes like it was air constituted panic.

No Gamora was not panicking. She was way past panic now.

This was sheer unbearable terror.

Peter was not meant to ever be so still, so lifeless. He was always moving, humming, sometimes even singing to his tapes, and dancing. It was always about movement with him of some kind. The man simply did not know how to sit still.

Gamora was trying her best to keep calm, on the outside she was her normal stoic self. Inside however she was a complete mess. The worry and panic eating her alive while she paced outside in the hospital lobby.

Groot stood in the corner looking every bit like one of the potted plants on display. Gamora could see the worry in his own expression.

Rocket sat on one of the nearby couches growling softly to himself. He hated hospitals more than many things but this was for Peter. It would take an infinity stone to make him budge.

Drax stood by the doorway as if guarding it.

Gamora herself paced to and fro trying to calm the hurricane of thoughts and emotions inside her. It was not working in the slightest.

Peter had been his foolish, cocky, and brave self. It ended him here in this hospital's emergency room. His injuries were so severe that he had to be rushed to a local hospital instead of a more advanced one like on Xandar.

It was shortly after they arrived at the hospital that they heard what happened. A group of the late Ronan's followers had planned to use explosives to destroy a local school as "vengeance for the murder of their lord". Their only complication was when Peter had caught them by complete accident. Being the selfless idiot he was he attacked them on his own.

He must not have had time to send for help because it was not until the building exploded that the rest of the guardians rushed to the scene.

Peter's attack was enough of a distraction that the children were all evacuated but Peter himself was still inside the building when it blew. Something that the others also did not know until Gamora had discovered Peter's beloved walkman laying on the ground beneath a piece of debris.

It was that moment when the tightness in Gamora's chest had began. Peter would never willingly let the walkman leave his person.

From there everyone had freaked out in their own private way searching for their missing leader.

Just as with the walkman he too was found by Gamora. At least his arm was at first, she had practically gone feral trying to dig him out of the rubble with her bare hands screaming for the others to help. Together they had him out in seconds, looking worse than anyone had ever seen him.

Hours later he was still in surgery and Gamora's emotional state was degrading fast. If she did not get some good news soon she was going to snap. Which is precisely why when one of the doctors came out Gamora was the first one in front of him.

"Are you his family?" Gamora looked around at their small group and did not hesitate to answer.

"Yes we are," the others only nodded.

That seemed enough for the doctor as he continued. "He is still in extremely bad condition but he's stabilized. He will have to stay for a few days but will recover. However he is unconscious and I have no idea when he will wake up."

Gamora released the breathe she had not realized she was holding. Peter was stable, she could take that. Gamora's next question was answered before she could voice it.

"He can have visitors but I'm afraid only one at a time, one of you may stay the night with him if you wish but the others will have to leave. I'm sorry, it's hospital policy." That struck her as odd. Hospitals almost never allowed overnight visitors.

The doctor moved to leave but stopped and turned back to them. "On a more personal note, tell him thank you for me, my daughter was at that school today." That answered Gamora's question.

As the doctor left Gamora turned to the others to say something but was stopped by Drax's hand on her shoulder. "Gamora, stay at his side, we shall return to the Milano and be back tomorrow."

The others were not even going to try to argue. Gamora knew they probably wanted to see him but they gave the night watch to her anyway. "Thank you."

Drax only nodded and led the other two out of the lobby.

Gamora walked forward to the door leading into Peter's room but stopped in front of it. Taking a deep breath she tried to pull herself back together. Maybe calm all these new emotions. Thinking she was ready Gamora opened the door.

She was not ready.

The first thing she noticed was the soft rhythmic beeping of the machine at Peter's bedside. The beeping meant his heart was beating, a little comfort to the emerald skinned assassin. Peter himself lay upon the bed still unconscious. Bandaged covering a large part of his body and a n IV protruding from his arm. The sight of him like this was so unnatural it made Gamora sick to her stomach.

After closing the door she made her way over to Peter's bedside and sat in the chair found there. Looking down at Peter's limp form all of the comfort and control she had mustered fall apart.

All her barriers Gamora had built around herself broke down and shattered.

A small bit of moisture on her face caught her attention. Reaching up she felt the first tear slide down her cheek. Gamora had not cried since... before Thanos's abduction.

Feeling her chest constrict again Gamora led out a quiet sob she could no longer hold back. In front of the others she could keep it together but here alone with Peter she could not. The tears were now flowing freely. Gamora had no strength to attempt keeping them back anymore.

"H.. hey Peter," Gamora spoke softly looking down at the unconscious terran. She had heard that people in his condition could hear everything around them. She hoped it was true.

"The others wanted to see you but the hospital only let one of us stay, everyone without argument told me to." Gamora took a deep breath. "I'm glad I did not have to make an argument to convince them to let me stay the night. I really did not want to have to resort to death threats but that was the second option."

Gamora slowly reached out and took Peter's hand in hers. A gesture she would not do for anyone else except this terran.

Squeezing softly Gamora continued. "You brave idiot... I hope you can hear me because I wanted to let you know you did it. You saved all those children in the school. "

Gamora hoped against all chance that Peter would respond to that one. Maybe jump up saying something like "of course I did, I'm just that awesome,", that would be more normal. He would be flashing one of those trademark cocky grins that made her heart melt.

The assassin's thought suddenly ground to a halt. Where had that thought come from?

Gamora looked down at Peter's still form on the hospital bed. The torrent of emotions still clawing at her insides.

"You bastard..." Gamora whispered quietly, tears falling even faster now. "You make me care... then you get yourself blown up."

The Zehoberi woman sucked in a breath trying to calm herself. She was always so strong and steadfast, but when Peter was concerned she was like a little girl again. Before Thanos, before all the death, before she was turned into a monster.

Gamora suddenly had a thought. The last time she was bedridden Gamora had woken to a strange sound meeting her ears. It was not uncommon onboard the Milano but the odd part was that it had been directed at her.

Peter had sung to her.

It was very quiet and Peter was alone in the room with her. She had slowly woken up to a soft melody being sung by someone. It had taken her a moment to realize it was Peter sitting at her bedside singing. His walkman's headphones around his neck and turned up so that it could be heard quietly in the silent room by both of them.

Gamora quickly wiped her eyes and took another deep breath. She could do this. The assassin was a little nervous, she had never sung before. With Peter as her audience the nervousness was increased twofold.

After a moment of thinking Gamora settled on a song. She easily remembered the lyrics on most of his mix tape's songs. The man played them constantly. This one in particular had more meaning, it was the song he had sung to her. It just felt right to use it.

Clearing her throat quietly Gamora began singing.

I must have been through about a million girls
I'd love 'em then I'd leave 'em alone
I didn't care how much they cried, no sir
Their tears left me cold as a stone

But then I fooled around and fell in love
I fooled around and fell in love, yes I did
I fooled around and fell in love, I fooled around and fell in love
It used to be when I'd see a girl that I liked

Gamora was still nervous but it was improving as she sung. If Peter had been awake she was not sure she would have been able to continue.

I'd get out my book and write down her name
But when the grass got a little greener over on the other side
I'd just tear out that page

I fooled around and fell in love
I fooled around and fell in love, since I met you baby
I fooled around and fell in love, I fooled around and fell in love

Suddenly Gamora felt a small pressure on her hand. Looking down she thought she saw Peter moving but he was still deathly still. The assassin attributed it to her nerves and imagination. Taking in another breath she continued.

Free, on my own is the way I used to be
Ah, but since I met you baby, love's got a hold on me
It's got a hold on me now, I can't let go of you baby

fooled around and fell in love
I fooled around and fell in love, oh yes I did
I fooled around, fooled around, fooled around, fooled around,
fooled around, fooled around, fell in love

Looking down again Gamora's eyes went wide. Peter was staring up at her with a small smile on his face. His voice was a bit raspy and strained but to Gamora it was the best of music.

"I remember hearing about angels singing in heaven but I never believed it til' now." Gamora's face turned a darker shade of green. "Finish please?"

There was another of those heart melting smiles. Gamora could not resist. So she did just as he asked.

Fooled around, fooled around, fooled around, fooled around,
fooled around, fooled around, fell in love
I fooled around, fell in love

It was in that moment that Gamora understood the meaning behind the lyrics. She also understood why she chose this song. Perhaps the same reason Peter had chosen it.

Peter and Gamora were both unconventional people. Neither ever chose the normal way out, or the easy for that matter. No reason to start now.

The song had been Peter's way of telling her something. Now here she was doing the same thing. Her subconscious having made the choice for her.

Gamora wished she had not been so foolish and realized it when Peter sung it to her. It was not until she had sung it herself that she could see.

Gamora's tears began to fall for a completely different reason.

Gently lifting his hand to her lips, Gamora softly sung the last line with the largest smile on her face she had ever had while she stared into Peter's bright eyes.

I fell in love, I fell in love, yes I did

There are more than a few fictions of Peter recovering in the hospital but I could not help writing one where Gamora sings to Peter.

If people are interested I'm considering doing a second chapter where the roles are reversed. Peter sings to an injured Gamora a second time to tell her what she means to him.