Nikki listened closely to him as he walked in, his comment about her being shot out into space made her giggle softly. Tear marks still darkened her face as she stared at the wall across from her. It was hard to believe it had come to this. Just seven years ago she lived on a happy planet with many people and a loving family. It was all taken away from her and she had been alone for so many years. Then one day, she ran into a Ravager and her world turned upside down and inside out. Not long after did they run into each other again and things went all sorts of crazy.

When he began to talk about their pasts, sharing inside stories that no one really knew about them; she found herself slowly rolling over to look up at him as he sat down on the corner of her bed. She stared up at him with her chocolate brown eyes and as he spoke more about her how she proved that she fit right in with them, she rose herself up onto her elbows staring at him in surprise with her big brown eyes. 

“That would…” She said softly sitting upright and placing her hand gently on top of his with a grateful smile across her full lips. “That would mean so much to me. “She said with a nod, “But I want you to know… I don’t,” Her blue eyebrows pushed together in thought, trying to figure out how to word it properly. “Expect you to not live your life… romantically…” She shifted slightly in her seat, “It’s just on paper, that’s all. You can still live your life and I’ll still live mine. You’ll just have to drop me off, or I’ll get a pod ship that we can dock in the bay, and attend stupid meetings. And don’t worry, you don’t have to; your father declined joining so you’d have to offer your presence there, since my father agreed to be a part of it, it’s become mandatory for me. Hence all the strict rules and everything…” She shook her head slightly.

“But! Like I said,” Nikki responded softly, “I don’t expect you to not enjoy life because of a piece of paper. So pretend like it’s not even there and I’ll be able to hang out on the ship with you guys.” She held onto his hand with a grateful smile and a few grateful tears tumble down her cheeks. “Thank you so much Quill.”