Author's Note: Because you all asked so nicely, let's find out what's on that tape, shall we?

"But when the music started,

Something drew me to your side."

—Oscar Hammerstein, "Shall We Dance"

She never realizes how nervous she is about what could possibly be on the tape until the next morning when Peter interrupts her morning training exercises. With a childish grin, he practically bounds into her room, his warm hand holding hers as he pulls her towards the old piece of machinery that plays the tapes.

"I figured since you got me this," He tells her with a smile that stirs something foreign and warm within her. "You should be the first to listen to it."

"Thank you, Peter." She replies, for she understands what these tapes mean to Peter and how much of a privilege it is to be here with him while he listens to the music for the first time. These songs are his last connection to his planet, after all. Though, she isn't sure why he refuses to go back. Perhaps, one day she will feel comfortable enough to pose that question. But for now, she'll settle for offering her quiet support.

"I can't wait to hear it!" He exclaims and it reminds her of children before they receive a present, the excitement rolls off of him in waves and she cannot suppress her own lips from twitching upwards in a small grin.

He pops open the machine and removes his own tape before placing it aside carefully. Then, with such a reverence that she has never seen before, he slowly inserts the tape she got him. It clicks and he beams as he pushes the machine close. He presses a few buttons before his finger hovers over the play button.

He's hesitating.

"Peter?" She questions softly, unsure of why he's stopping now.

"Sorry." He murmurs, voice heavy with something akin to grief. "Let's do this."

He presses play; Gamora holds her breath.

No sound emerges.

"What?" Peter mumbles, fiddling with a few buttons, but receiving the same result. Then, jerking the machine open, he pulls out the tape and flips it over. He blows into it a few times and then inserts it once more.

Still, no sound is heard.

"Huh." He mutters softly. Then, meeting her wide gaze, he plasters a grin on his lips. "It must be broken."

"What?" She echoes. "Broken? Are you sure?"

"Well, it won't play." He states frankly, running a hand through his hair. He opens the machine and removes the tape before placing it aside. "That's too bad." He sighs softly before turning to her.

"Peter, I must apologize—" She tells him quickly, the guilt consuming her as it surges through her system.

"No, it's fine." He waves her concern off. "It's the thought that counts, right?" He places a hand on her shoulder and she wishes she would stop smiling at her with that fake jovial expression on her face. She knows him better than that and can see through his guise.

"Surely, there can be something!" She exclaims, desperation tingeing her voice.

"It's okay, Gamora." He tells her, his eyes clouded with some unreadable emotion. "Thanks anyways."

He walks away without giving her so much as a moment to say anything else.

"But I . . ." Her voice falters and she picks up the tape and forces her grip to be gentle, though all she wants to do is break it. Peter had been so excited to receive this tape! She couldn't let him down like this.

She will fix it, simple as that.

The question is, how?

"Terran tech is primitive even now," Rocket practically groans as she watches him tinker on the tape. "And you expect me to get this ancient thing working again? Do I look like a friggin' miracle worker?"

"I am Groot." The little tree chirps from the workbench, tone disapproving.

"What do you mean, 'watch my tone'?" Rocket snaps. "It's easy for you! You don't have to fix this piece of junk—"

"Can you do it or not, Rocket?" Gamora interjects, keeping her voice calm. For all of his bluster, she knows Rocket does care about this team and if he did not understand the significance of this tape, he wouldn't have even taken it from her hands.

"I'll try." He grumbles, complaining under his breath as he tinkers with it and Gamora grins.

"I am Groot!" The tree exclaims, swaying happily.

Gamora just nods her head in agreement.

She knows how lucky she is to have a team like this.

"You wish for me to distract Peter?" Drax questions, as if he's unsure if he heard her request correctly.

"Yes." Gamora replies, nodding her head.

She's cornered the warrior in front of his room and he regards her with a perplexed expression. She suppresses the urge to roll her eyes and breathes in and out slowly, keeping her temper in check.

"Why?" Drax asks, confused.

"I need to check something." She replies vaguely. "It would be best if Peter is not here while I do that."

Drax's gaze narrows.

"You're not telling me the whole truth."

"No," She admits quietly. "Peter can . . ." She tries to think of a way to phrase this nicely. "He has a way of getting you to confess secrets."

"That only occurred twice!" He snaps and she winces at the tone of his voice. Then, sobering a bit, she can see him register her words. "Very well. I will keep him occupied for a bit of time."

Peter's footsteps echo in the hall and Gamora can't help but smirk as he rounds the corner, nearly about to plow into Drax.

"Whoa, Drax, buddy, what did we say about standing in—?" Seeing the mischievous glint in Gamora's eyes, he adds, "Did I miss something?"

"Battle practice!" Drax booms, dragging Peter towards the main hatch.

"Wait, what?" Peter echoes and Gamora can't help but chuckle a bit as she waits for the secure thud of the hatch.

She has a plan to put in motion, after all.

"I don't know if this will work." Rocket prefaces as he hands her the tape. "All I could do was clean it a bit."

"I thank you for your efforts." She says, smiling as she gently turns over the tape in her hand. She isn't sure what she's going to do if this doesn't work. She has hope, of course, but there's the nagging voice in the back of her head, warning her about the overwhelming possibility of failure.

"You going to do this then?" Rocket cuts into her thoughts.

"Yes."

She faces the machine and presses the buttons she's seen Peter do a thousand times before. It feels wrong, her doing this, because this machine is so much more to Peter than that. It's the last link he has to his home world, but also to his mother.

That's really why she needs this to work.

"Please." She breathes, unsure of what deity she's directing her plea to and frankly, not caring so long as it works.

She presses play and holds her breath.

And that's when the music begins to play.

"Jesus Christ, Drax." Peter moans as the hatch opens once more and Gamora does her best to remain stoic, so as to not give anything away. "Was throwing me around necessary?"

"Come now, Peter!" Drax laughs, voice booming. "Your combat has surely improved now!"

"I see you are still in one piece." Gamora comments softly and Peter chuckles dryly, stretching his arms up in the air before lowering them back to his side. "What have you been up to?"

She allows a small grin to alight on her face.

"What?" He asks, eyebrows drawn in confusion. Then, seeing her place standing by the machine, he glances at her and then back to the machine and back to her once more. His breath catches. "Did you—?"

She presses play.

You put the boom-boom into my heart.

"No way." He breathes as the music plays. "No fucking way!" He's practically bouncing up and down with excitement.

You send my soul sky high when your lovin' starts.

Jitterbug into my brain.

He's beaming and it reminds her of Earth's sun, the way he's practically glowing with happiness. He turns to her and without giving her a moment to react; his arms hoist her up into the air as he spins her around. She finds herself laughing like a child and out of the corner of her eye, she can see Drax taking in the scene with an amused expression.

"Gamora, thank you so much!" He shouts as he finally places her down on the ground, pulling her into a tight hug. "You're the best! I can't believe this!"

He rushes over to the machine and listens as the singer continues, eyes wide with awe.

"It would appear your mission has succeeded." Drax comments and Gamora nods her head.

This is exactly what she's wanted for so long—the chance to make someone else happy.

"Yes." She swallows against the emotion clogging her throat. "It would seem that way."

"Hey."

She glances up from her book and sees Peter standing in her doorway.

"Hello." She greets, placing the novel aside.

He shifts uneasily, as if he's unsure of how to voice what he's feeling right now.

"Look, Gamora, about the tape . . ." His voice fades and he forces himself to meet her gaze. "Thank you."

She just beams.

"Perhaps . . ." She's hesitant about voicing this request, unsure of how he will react. "Perhaps, there is something you could for me in return?"

"Anything." He assures her with a cocky grin that she's grown fond of.

"You told me once that the hero Kevin Bacon taught people about the wonders of dancing."

"Yeah?" It's clear he hasn't caught on yet.

"I would like to learn how to . . ." She coughs, feeling incredibly awkward.

"Oh." He catches on, eyes widening slightly. "You want to learn how to dance?"

"Yes."

It's a selfish request really, but living with Thanos, she never got to experience the joys of social interactions. Dances, she'd been told, were often the best places to meet other people. And seeing Peter dance had stirred that longing within her, that desire to know how to do something other than kill people.

A desire to be something other than a monster.

"Okay." He breathes and there's something unreadable in his eyes as he crosses to her and pulls her up from her chair. He places a hand on her waist and she feels vulnerable. She wants to break away—Thanos' voice warning her never to let her guard down filling her mind—but she forces herself to stay put.

"We're not moving." She comments softly and Peter laughs.

"I know." He glances at her hands. "Put your hands on my shoulders.

She does so and Peter begins to sway to the side.

"You have to move with me, Gamora." He chides softly and she quickly follows his lead.

They sway like that for a while, imaginary music filling the room. She feels safe in his arms and warmth fills her. She's unsure of what this feeling is, but it's clear to her in this moment, that she would do anything to protect this silly Terran. This human had somehow wormed his way into her heart and rather than registering how scary that is, she allows herself to savor this rare moment of peace.

"This is dancing?" She questions and Peter nods. "I . . . like it."

"Maybe next time, we can throw in some spins."

"Spins?" She echoes, somewhat alarmed and he chuckles at her face.

They continue in silence for a bit.

"I'm not the best dancer." He comments off-hand, as if he's trying to apologize.

"That makes two of us then." She remarks with a soft smile.

He leans in towards her and she finds herself thinking back to that night on the balcony where he had told her of Kevin Bacon, where he had tried to kiss her. Things had changed so much from then.

"Gamora, I—"

An alarm blares and the moment between them is shattered.

"Back to work." She states grimly.

There's always some crisis out there that needs their attention and though she's glad to be able to atone for the crimes she's committed while working for Thanos, she won't deny that the timing on this one couldn't have been worse.

"Thanks for the dance, Gamora."

Then, before she can even register his intent, he presses a quick kiss to her check before heading out of her room.

That's when it hits the deadly assassin—she's in love with him.

And it absolutely terrifies her.

Author's Note: The song was "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" and I'll leave the rest of the songs on the tape up to your imagination. I might write one final chapter for this. We'll see. Please review if you have a moment. Thanks!