"Rose..." I started, looking up at a hologram I made of my leader. Her gaze met mine as I swallowed my nerves and tried finding the courage to continue.

"I know that we have eons of history together... What with me guarding you, protecting you, and being by your side all of these years. I've seen you at your best, and at your worst..." I nearly choked on my words when I thought of what I wanted to say next.

"I'm... certain you know how I feel about you by now... And it pains me to see you being so joyful with someone else. A HUMAN, at that." I saw her staring wide-eyed at me. I've come this far, I thought to myself, I can't turn back now.

"He's not like us, Rose. He won't live forever, you know that. His lifespan is much, MUCH shorter than ours. For us, his life could flash by in mere minutes."

I looked down, fiddling my fingers, then returned my focus to her. "I don't understand... why you would love such a fragile creature so much, when I've been with you this entire time!"

I took the hologram's hands in mine, almost swearing I could feel tears forming. "Rose... You do know, right? How I feel? ... I love you, and I don't want you to go. Who knows what will happen if you keep this up with Greg. I just..." Tears started to slither down my cheeks at I tried to force myself to continue. "I can't fathom a life without you, Rose. It hurts so badly... Truly, it does."

"...Is that how you really feel about me?" I hear a voice gently whisper. I know that voice anywhere. I jump up and turn around, to see the woman I've spent nearly my whole life with, standing on a water pillar nearby, mouth agape and eyes almost as wide as dinner plates. With a quick wave of my hand, the hologram dissipated and I felt my cheeks grow hot.

"R-Rose! How long were you...?"

"Long enough to learn of your feelings." She claimed before jumping oh-so gracefully onto the pillar I was on. "I am so sorry, Pearl. If I had known before..."

"No, Rose..." I said, wiping a leftover tear from my eye. "I-It's alright."

"No, it isn't!" She cried out, pulling me inward for a tight hug. My eyes widened in shock. "How could I have been so blind? I love humans so much, and they fascinated me.. I became distracted from what was right in front of me."

I looked up at her, words escaping me. My fingers found their way into silky pink locks. "Rose... Do you still like me...? Despite my disdain for that human?"

"Maybe this will answer your question.."

I raised an eyebrow before my lips were taken by hers in a quick, but passionate kiss. After we separated again, I couldn't even think straight. My mind was jumbled.

"Was it unpleasant?" She asked, slightly tilting her head.

"N-No, that's not it!" I looked away, positive that almost all of my face was covered in teal. "It was just unexpected. You surprised me."

She pulled me in for another hug, kissing my gem and smiling. "I'm sorry it took me so long to realize."

"It's okay, Rose. At least you know now." I chuckled, taking her hands in mine. It felt so right to be like this, to finally have her look at me the same way she looked at that human. She's mine again. "I love you so much, Rose."

She kissed me again before finally saying the words I've been dying to hear. "I love you too... my Pearl."