Author's Note: As if you all didn't see this coming from a mile away!

"Hey, Kinzie," Steven began as the pair walked Dante along the beach. "Why do you always wear that bracelet? The one with the onyx gem on it."

"Well," Kinzie replied, glancing down at the bracelet. "My mom gave it to me a few months before she passed away. I guess wearing makes me feel like I'm still carrying a part of her with me."

"Do you know why she chose to give you an onyx, though?" Steven asked. "I mean, it's a really pretty bracelet and it matches your eyes really well, but I've always seen you as more of an... alexandrite kind of girl."

Kinzie quirked an eyebrow. "Alexandrite? Why alexandrite?"

"Because of all the colors!" Steven chirped. "The first time I saw you, the streaks in your hair reminded me of that time Garnet, Pearl, and Amethyst fused into Alexandrite!"

"Hang on," Kinzie said. "They've all been fused at the same time?"

"Well, it didn't last very long," Steven elaborated, rubbing the back of his head. "Pearl and Amethyst started fighting about whether or not they were going to eat and the fusion split apart."

"Yeah, that sounds about right," Kinzie said. "To answer your question, though, onyx gems are supposed to help alleviate feelings of grief and sorrow. My guess is that's why she chose onyx for me."

"Do regular onyx gems really have those kinds of powers?" Steven asked.

Kinzie shrugged. "Beats me. My mom was really into the healing properties of different gems, though. To her, all of them had some type of special ability. Some of them are meant to heal and others were supposed to bring good things to people that wore them. Mom was really fond of emeralds since they were her birthstone."

"Birthstone?" Steven asked.

"I'm not really sure where the tradition started but each month of the year is given a gemstone. That gemstone becomes the birthstone of anyone born in that month. For example, emeralds are the birthstones of May and since mom was born in May, emeralds were her birthstone," Kinzie elaborated. "The gems are supposed to keep people born in their designated months healthy and safe. That's what mom said, anyway."

I think I get it," Steven said. "Is rose quartz a birthstone?"

"Yes and no," Kinzie answered. "Rose quartz doesn't have its own month but it is supposed to be a sort of...guardian stone for newborn babies. So, in a way, rose quartz is everyone's birthstone."

"That's so cool!" Steven exclaimed. "What about the other Crystal Gems? Are they birthstones too?"

"Actually, they are," Kinzie confirmed. "Garnet is the birthstone for January and it's supposed to enhance feelings of love for the people that wear or carry them."

"That sounds right," Steven agreed.

"Amethyst is the birthstone for February and it's supposed to be able to prevent its wearer from being poisoned," Kinzie continued. "I think mom also said that amethysts were supposed to cure headaches and prevent insomnia, too."

"That sounds right, too," Steven replied. "Our Amethyst loves sleeping. But if you ask Pearl, she'd probably say that Amethyst is more likely to cause headaches than cure them."

Kinzie laughed. "And speaking of Pearl, her gem is the birthstone for June. They're supposed to provide wisdom and ease emotional stress."

"Not so sure on that one," Steven pointed out. "Pearl's really smart but sometimes I feel like she's under more emotional strain than anyone else. Still, the Gems really seem to match well with this 'gemology' stuff. I'll have to tell them about it." The two walked a little further when Steven turned back to Kinzie. "I almost forgot to ask; what's your birthstone, Kinzie? I bet it's amethyst and that's why you two get along so well."

"Actually, it's not," Kinzie answered. "Amethyst and I get along as well as we do because we both like goofing off and eating insane amounts of food. My half-birthday is in February though, so I guess you're half right."

"When's your actual birthday?" Steven asked.

Kinzie was about to answer him when her phone rang. "Oh, hang on a sec, Steven. It's my uncle." She stopped walking to answer the phone, Steven stopping next to her. "Hey, Uncle Fryman. What's..." A pause. "What do you he got himself stuck under the fridge again?!" A slightly longer pause. "No, I- no, just give me a second. I'll be right there." She sighed again, hanging up the phone before turning back to Steven. "I'm really sorry to cut this short, Steven, but I've gotta get up to the fry shop."

"Is everything okay?" Steven asked.

"Yeah, the fridge just fell on Ronaldo again and they need my help to get it off of him," Kinzie explained, turning in the direction of the shop. "I'll see you later, okay."

"Bye, Kinzie!" Steven called as Kinzie and Dante headed off. "Come back tomorrow!" He was about halfway to the temple when he realized that Kinzie had never told him when her birthday was.

"Amethyst!" Steven called as he came through the door of the beach house. "Do you know when Kinzie's birthday is?"

"Why do you wanna know that?" Amethyst asked from her spot on the counter.

"I'm trying to figure out what her birthstone is," Steven explained.

"'Birthstone'?" Amethyst asked.

"I remember hearing something about that," Pearl said. "Why humans feel the need to attach some sort of significance to everything they come across is beyond me. Just the same, this 'gemology' was interesting to learn about."

"Why don't I just be her...birthstone, or whatever you called it?" Amethyst asked. "I'm her best friend and I'd be able to protect her better than any regular old gem."

Steven shook his head. "It doesn't work that way. Amethyst is the February birthstone and Kinzie wasn't born in February."

"Her birthday is August 18th," Peridot, who had been sitting on the steps leading up to Steven's bed, finally chimed in.

Amethyst quirked an eyebrow. "How do you know that?"

"I pay attention when she talks," Peridot replied simply.

Amethyst rolled her eyes as Steven searched 'August birthstone' on his phone. His eyes took on their familiar star pattern when the search results came back.

"Well, what is it?" Amethyst asked.

"Peridot," Steven answered, looking over at the Gem in question. "Kinzie's birthstone is peridot! You're like her guardian Gem!"

Peridot scoffed and turned her head away to hide the tiny smile creeping onto her face. "Whatever. It's just a human superstition. There's no saying if it's actually true."

"Yeah," Amethyst agreed. "Besides, I'd do a better job at protecting Kinzie than Peridot would."

"Shut up!" Peridot interjected. "Keeping her safe is my job!"

Ending Notes: Good news, guys! With my new job, I get all federal holidays off! That means I'm off this Wednesday for Veterans Day which means I should be able crank out a few more drabbles in addition to the next chapter of BMTL! Such excite!

Once again, constructive criticism and feedback are welcome and appreciated and, as always, requests are open for this collection! All you gotta do is PM me with what you'd like to see!

Thanks for reading! Geekinthepink, out!