Gamora ran a gentle hand through her daughter’s hair, sighing as she let the quiet hum of the Quadrant envelop her from all sides.
“Tell me another awesome story, mommy…” Meredith sleepily pleads, her eyes wide but closing, a yawn escaping her small mouth.
She smiled softly at Meredith, tucking the child in more securely before kissing her forehead, leaning back slightly where she was sitting on the side of the bunk.
“I’d really love to, baby.” Gamora hummed. “But think about it, the sooner you close your eyes, the sooner it’ll be the morning, and me and your father can tell you more stories.”
“Promise?”
“I promise, Meredith.” She soothed, taking Meredith’s pinky finger in hers, before standing back up to go switch the lights of her and Peter’s quarters off so the child could sleep.
“Wait, mommy.” Meredith protested faintly, and the Zehoberei’s heart almost dropped in panic before re-stabilising.
She halted instantly, turning back around, looking bemused at her slip-up.
Plastering a smile on her face for the child.
“Can I say goodnight to my baby sister? I wanna say goodnight.” Her light green skin, lighter than her mother’s, stood out against the dark shades of her quilt, and Gamora couldn’t help but take a shaky breath.
She never wanted any harm to come to that skin. No cybernetics, no scars, no nothing.
“Of course,” Gamora replied, wiping the tears from her eyes before sitting back down at the side of her daughter’s bed, sliding closer to hold her close, stroking the curly locks of hair as she gazed down, at Meredith eagerly chatting to the rounded curve of her mother’s navel.
Maybe Meredith was right, and it would be a little girl.
“Mer,” Gamora asked softly, and waited for a response before continuing.
“Would you mind if I closed my eyes with you for a few minutes? I-if I stayed here?”
“Really? You want to stay here with me? Like a sleepover?!”
Meredith’s voice raised in awe, and Gamora laughed quietly, before settling down.
“Like a sleepover.”