Body filled with numbness, head aching, Charlie couldn't bring herself to announce she was awake. She managed to wiggle her torso enough to roll off of Peter. She had to instantly stop right beside him, something holding back her left foot. She lacked the strength to glance back and see what her foot was caught in.

In the distance, she could've sworn she heard Ooh Child playing, though it was debatable, since her ears were ringing.

"Charlie?" Peter muttered.

"Peter," Charlie whispered back. 

Gaining the security of knowing that they were both alive, they mutually agreed to shut up.

"Ah," A voice sneered, "Here you have it. Your so called, Guardians of the Galaxy." 

Charlie took a deep breath, hanging onto her anger. She couldn't believe that he was still alive. 

"You killed Groot!" Rocket cried, running towards Ronan. 

The Accuser sent Rocket flying with a flick of his hand.

Charlie flipped her body over as best as she could, not wanting to watch from an upside down angle anymore. 

Ronan went on to deliver a speech about how the team had 'rightfully' failed to defeat him.

At the end of the first righteous sentence, Charlie gave up on listening.

She dug her free foot into the ground, attempting to spring her body forward with enough force to detach her foot from where it was stuck.

In the first try, a crunch sounded. For a quick second, she didn't know what the crunch was. The dots connected rather quickly after a shot of agonizing pain shot up her left leg.

Biting down on her cheek to hold in the scream, she buried her head in her arms. Common sense told her she broke something in her leg. 

Peter, hearing the crunch, snapped his head over to her. The look of pain on her face broke his heart. 

"Hey," He sharply whispered, glancing between Ronan and Charlie, "Are you okay?"

Charlie, not being able to speak without feeling like it would be a scream, just shook her head for a no.

"Just hold on," Peter muttered, reaching out to her.

Charlie gripped onto his hand like a lifeline. In many ways, he was holding her together.

Charlie flinched as something hit her cheek. Spinning her head around, she found it was Rocket who threw a pebble at her. 

Her eyes fell onto the scattered pieces in front of the raccoon. He was subtly working on rebuilding the gun. From his expectant expression, he needed more time.

Charlie tuned in on Ronan's speech, gathering that he was nearing the end, where he would kill the entire planet. 

Ronan moved his scepter above his head, ready to swing it down to the ground.

Charlie slapped Peter's hand.

"Distraction, now," she urgently whispered.

There were many options when it came to distractions Peter could pull, and yet, Charlie was still surprised when Peter chose the goof distraction.

Peter pointed at Ronan, his body moving nervously to the beat,."Ooh child, things are gonna get easier. Listen to these words: Ooh child.. things will get brighter.. Ooh, child, things will get easier-- now bring it down hard!"

Peter dragged his hand down and began shuffling, then did a spin and performed one of Michael Jackson's most famous moves.

Charlie tore her surprised gaze off Peter and glanced at Ronan. He looked distracted enough.

The Accuser looked utterly confused, "What are you doing?"

"Dance off bro, me 'n you!" Peter joyfully shouted. 

Charlie didn't know what emotions could sum up her feelings for the situation. Terrified and amused equally balanced it. 

Peter pretended there was a wave flowing throughout his body. The dance passed from him and he held out his hand to Charlie, expecting her to pass it back. 

Her eyes dimmed upon his stupidity. Looking back at her trapped leg and him, she shook her head. 

"What are you doing?" Ronan snapped again.

"I'm distracting you, ya big turd blossom!" Peter said, then rhythmically slid out of the way.

Rocket fired the gun at Ronan's weapon, instead of at him. Conveniently, it made all the difference in the world. 

Charlie specifically remembered Gamora saying 'do not touch the orb'.

It seemed that Peter had forgotten any evidence of that. Before Charlie could scream, Peter snatched the orb in his bare hand. 

And then, she could barely see through the purple haze surrounding the area.

Peter was screaming at the top of his lungs-- that she heard.

"Peter!" Charlie cried. 

She gripped the land and pried forward with all her might, trying to free her foot.

Tears were cascading down her face, equally from hearing Peter's excruciating pain and the wild wind blowing at a speed that brought tears to her eyes.

Tivan, the Collector, said there was history of people splitting the power of an infinity gem between them.

If it meant that Charlie was able to take some pain from Peter, even just for a second, she had to take that chance.

She used to think being abducted was the worst moment of her entire life. That was the moment she realized she had never been so wrong.

The galaxy had helped bring her and Peter together. She spent all those years missing her home, Earth, neglecting to realize that her home was him.

Her home was dying, but not without her. Charlie didn't want to continue a life without Peter Quill.

She dug her fingers into the ground a couple feet above her, muscles straining.

It was a miracle; she actually moved. Looking back, she realized Drax had pulled the scrap metal off of her foot.

Charlie sent the Destroyer a thankful nod. She hopped, the broken foot dragging behind her. 

"You can't!" Gamora screamed, "Charlie! You can't, you'll die!"

"Best friends forever.. Never apart.." Charlie whispered to herself, "Maybe by distance.." 

Rocket shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't believe the girl would risk her life for Quill.

Yet, for Groot, he owed the tree an attempt to keep her alive.

Rocket ran for her and pushed on her hip, setting her upright. 

"Watch it, Charlie," he muttered. 

With Rocket's help, she made it through the swirling wind. One step, and she would be holding onto Peter. 

Charlie smoothed down the fur on Rocket's head, a short and sweet goodbye.

"But never in heart," she managed to whisper. 

​Charlie lunged for Peter's hand. 

She no longer needed to keep herself upright; the strong wind was doing it for her.

Control of her body was taken by the paralyzing shock racing through her insides.

Caught in an excessive amount of changing pain, Charlie had no time to think about screaming. All that occurred in her head was the simple thought: "It hurts."

Something tickled across her palm. A tiny, furry hand wiggled into her own, and the single action made the pain stop.

With a gasp, Charlie gained control over her body.

Ronan was dumbfounded, staring in awe at the group of misfits. 

"How?" Ronan uttered. 

"You said it yourself, bitch," Peter retorted, "We're the Guardians of the Galaxy." 

A flick of his hand and Ronan disintegrated into a pile of ash.

Gamora slammed a metal container on Peter's hand.

Charlie, due to her broken leg, fell to the ground.

The group crouched besides her. Rocket poked at her face. 

"The lady has broken her leg, yes?" Drax asked. 

"You're correct," Gamora said.

Drax pushed Rocket out the way and swept Charlie effortlessly into his arms.

"We must take Charlie to an infirmary," he demanded. 

"Wait," Charlie said, barely audible. 

"Yes?" Peter encouraged.

Everyone leaned in closer to hear her next words.

Although there was a pained smile on her lips, her eyes were performing all the smiling for her. 

"You guys called me Charlie.."