A/N: Pearl stays at Rose's side during her last moments, and welcomes Steven into the world. This is my first Steven Universe story.
Submission for:
One Prompt, Many Fandoms [Monthly Competition]: Wordcount: between 400-500 - 427 words (without A/N)
Disclaimer: I do not own Steven Universe.
"Pearl."
Her name came out as but a whisper on the woman's lips, drifting with the breeze which blew across the pink fields around them. Pearl knelt at the woman's side as she lay on a large bed of fluffy clouds, sopping her forehead as she grimaced with another wave of pain.
"Pearl."
"Shhh," Pearl said, wishing she could do more to help the ailing woman. "You don't have to say anything."
"No, Pearl," the woman said. "I have to tell you this... before..."
"No," Pearl said, her shoulders shaking with sobs as tears leaked out of her eyes. "There's no before. Nothing's going to happen. You're going to be fine."
The woman raised a hand from her stomach and brushed it under Pearl's eyes. "Everything will be fine, but we both know what will happen," she said, letting a serene smile cross her lips.
Pearl pulled away from the woman's addictive touch as she screamed, "How can you be so calm about this! Why do you want to leave us! Why do you want to leave me!"
The woman reached out again and held Pearl's hand. "Life is a beautiful thing, Pearl. Soon, a new life will take the place of my physical form. I will live on in him, just as I continue to live on in you." The woman pushed herself up to place a soft kiss on Pearl's forehead. "He'll be half of me, and though I wish I could be here for him, I know that he's in good hands."
The woman's hand went limp in her own, before it fell onto the cloud.
"Rose? Rose? Rose!" Pearl shouted, rocking the woman as hard as she could. No, she couldn't go now! "Please! Don't! I'm not ready!"
"Take care of Steven for me," Pearl heard faintly in her mind, though the woman was still unresponsive.
"No!" Pearl cried, just as the woman's body was enveloped in a bright white light.
When it finally faded, all that remained on the cloud was a small human infant. He curled on himself, sucking his finger as he slept. Pearl picked him up and studied his features. He was soft and fleshy, and looked so much like Greg, she almost wanted to drop him.
But then, she noticed a slight glimmer from his stomach. Pearl looked down to see Rose's gem nestled right where the infant's belly button should have been.
Just like Rose.
"I'll take care of him, for you, Rose," Pearl whispered as she carried Steven out of Rose's room to meet the others.