Charlie tied her apron tighter around her waist while she shuffled across the floor.

She fixed decorations into place as she breezed by, making sure everything was as perfect as she could get it. Oh, how many years had it been since she had actually put up decorations? Not since she was a baby and still on Earth.

Peter and her used to just exchange gifts; there was never a tree or anything special for any holidays. But now that they were surrounded with friends, things would be different.

Holidays would be celebrated, cooking would be served three times a day, cleaning had to happen more often.

With the four new friends on board, Charlie was becoming more and more like a mother tending to her children.

Did she mind? Not as much as she would have thought.

Charlie fell into push up position and carefully laid herself on the floor, peaking her head through down the ladder that led into her (and now Peter's) bedroom.

He was still passed out in their bed, his shirt off, his face smashed in the white pillows.

Charlie giggled, wishing she could have let him sleep for a little while longer. But it was Christmas! Nobody was allowed to sleep past 8am.

She cleared her throat, "We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry-"

Peter shot up immediately, tossing his pillow in the direction of the screeching voice.

Charlie had to pull her head up from the hatch to avoid getting hit. When she stuck her head back in, Peter's hands were running across his face and through his hair.

"Morning, sexy," Charlie greeted.

"I love you, but you can't sing," Peter fretted.

"And adding the 'I love you' is supposed to make your comment less mean?" Charlie asked, tilting her head skeptically.

Peter rolled his eyes. "Shut up. I'm awake, go away."

-

Charlie shuffled to her next location: Rocket and Groot's area. The two were fast asleep in their designated spots, Rocket curled up with a small blanket over him and Groot content in his pot.

Charlie would never voice her thoughts, but the more she watched him sleep, the cuter her little buddy got. And then he woke up, cursed like a sailor, and all cuteness was lost.

"I hear those sleigh-bells Ringling, ting-tingiling tooooo!"

"I am Groot!" An alarmed tree shouted, while his buddy squealed.

"Morning, kids," Charlie greeted. "Be up and in the kitchen within the next ten minutes, please."

--

Drax occupied Peter's old area.

Charlie didn't bother making her steps quiet as she entered his space.

The other times she tried to wake him usually ended with a knife to her throat from Drax becoming startled.

"Drax, it's Charlie!" She shouted as a warning, "Please be in the kitchen within the next ten minutes or you're missing gifts!"

--

Charlie skipped through the halls of the ship to find Gamora. When she arrived at her room, she found Peter and Gamora casually holding a conversation.

"Aw, yay. You got her up for me!" Charlie cheered, hanging on Peter's shoulder.

"What is this holiday?" Gamora asked, a faint smile on her lips from seeing the couple.

"It's called Christmas and it's sort of a religious holiday.. I think. But I use it as an excuse to exchange gifts!" Charlie explained.

Peter smoothed back her hair, similarly to calming a dog. "Okay, okay. You're a little too excited."

Charlie shrugged and grabbed her friends hands, dragging them into the kitchen where the other three members of the group sat tiredly around the kitchen table.

She made sure they sat down before she disappeared into her bedroom to grab the bag filled with presents.

"Charlie, do you need-"

"No!" She shouted from behind the mound of presents.

She carefully stepped her way into the kitchen and dropped the bag onto the table.

The Guardians -- besides Peter-- stared wide-eyed at the stack of expertly wrapped gifts.

"No way," Rocket said.

Charlie grinned. There was no sense of joy like the joy you feel on Christmas.

She sifted through the presents, passing out the designated gifts. Peter handed his out after she did.

Surprisingly, the Guardians knew to wait until all the gifts were passed out before opening theirs.

Peter and Charlie only had one gift each (from each other) but it didn't matter much to them.

That was the first time the Guardians experienced Christmas. Peter and Charlie had done this for twenty-six years; one present was enough.

"And..." Charlie paused for dramatic effect.

She could see Rocket and Groot anxiously tapping their feet, hands practically itching to tear open their boxes.

"Go!"

Charlie didn't even open hers. She waited, instead watching the rest of the team.

Drax had received a brand new pair of boots from Charlie; a book of metaphors from Peter. Gamora received clothes from the two.

Peter and Charlie didn't exactly know what to buy for Groot. Charlie did remember him staring in awe at the Christmas lights, so Charlie bought a set of colorful lights and Peter bought sticky tack for him to decorate wherever he wanted to.

"What the hell is this?" Rocket asked, holding up his box and shaking it. "Leg.. Leg-"

"Legos" Charlie pronounced. "They're building toys."

"Since we don't want you tearing up the ship to build stuff," Peter snapped, although in such a nice tone.

Rocket looked skeptical of the two boxes filled with these.. so-called Legos, but he nodded. He would inspect them later in the day.

"Open yours," Charlie said with a punch to Peter's arm.

"Open yours," He retorted.

"I'll open it!" Rocket volunteered.

He snatched Peter's box and ripped it open. The raccoon jumped back in shock, a little shriek even escaping his lips.

"What the hell is that?!"

Peter was bent over, hysterically laughing at her present.

"You got me a Furby!" He chuckled.

He remembered the days in their childhood when those toys were first released. The two were terrified of those ugly toys.

Charlie rolled her eyes, staring up at him with something of a twinkle in her eyes, "Turn it over."

Peter did as she said and automatically shut up.

He carefully pried the golden band from the bottom of the toy, studying it in his hand.

He had proposed, but they hadn't even thought about wedding rings. Well, he hadn't.

As always, Charlie was one step ahead of him.

"How did I do?" Charlie wondered.

Peter let out a breathy chuckle, nodding. "I love it."

Charlie tore her box open. The second the paper fell, her hand slapped over her mouth. She fell into a fit of giggles.

Peter took the box from her hands and slowly opened the box, revealing a ring similar to his own.

"Did we seriously find matching rings without even trying?" Charlie asked, picking up the ring and comparing it to Peter's.

They were obviously made for one another.

"Kinda works," He admitted, "That's how we found each other, isn't it?"

Charlie grinned and let the rings fall into one palm of her hand. She used her other hand to twist the front of his shirt in her hand, pulling him to her eager lips.

"GROSS!"

"I AM GROOT!"

"I think it's awfully cute..."

Peter pulled away from Charlie. His eyes were filled with complete bliss. "Merry Christmas, Charlie girl."

"Merry Christmas, my love."

The rest of the night was spent eating the sweets prepared by Charlie.

The Guardians ended up staying at that table for the night, playing stupid card games and exchanging stories of differently celebrated holidays.

Later, after Charlie explained how to use the Lego set, Rocket actually admitted to liking them.

For their first Christmas as a family, it went awfully well.

>>>>>>