In which nobody pays attention to the movie, and the Crystal Gems get a moment's reprieve after everything.

The movie selection ultimately came down to a coin toss. There weren't many human movies that Pearl cared one way or the other about, and Steven had carefully avoided movies he knew would upset her—which meant most science fiction, swords, the Lonely Blade franchise, and several love stories were out of the question. The meager pickings that remained from his DVD collection were strewn out before her, along with several miscellaneous anime choices, "just in case."

With the help of the coin toss, the winning movie was put in. Dear Stars was a light-hearted love story that focused mostly on dance competitions through (incredibly inaccurate) intergalactic competitions, and Pearl was more taken by the costumes and choreography than the silly plot between an effeminate alien and his Earthling dance partner from Kansas.

Steven escaped briefly to get himself a box of cereal, knowing full well that he wouldn't fill up on Amethyst's overcooked popcorn. Lion had taken over what was left of the couch for his bed, sprawled out on his back, and took a warning snap at Steven for trying to rub his belly. Steven returned to the bedroom with mixed success, snacks in hand. It wasn't long before Amethyst joined, flinging herself across most of the bed behind the others. Garnet took her place next to Pearl, sitting close enough that the slighter Gem could feel the heat from her body even without touching. Steven took some stretch of pity on her, opting against eating while leaning on her. But the half-full cereal box didn't last long, and soon enough, Steven was cuddled up against Pearl's left side.

Pearl couldn't get up if she wanted to, but quickly found that she really didn't mind; it was absolutely ridiculous to think of blankets and pillows as safe, but surrounded by the other Crystal Gems—her family—she couldn't help feeling that no monster on Earth or elsewhere could reach them.

Amethyst was the first to doze off; she had little interest in the movie itself, and Steven's bed was familiar and comfortable, even with the bedding stripped off. Predictably, Steven followed suit, curling up with blankets, pillows, and Pearl's hand trapped in his. The older Gem didn't protest. It was a balm on her soul, having the boy alive and safe and close after everything else she'd seen.

Garnet spoke to her in hushed tones, keeping the conversation light. Pearl easily slipped into discussion of the lead characters' dancing. There was no thought required, and Garnet knew enough about ballroom dance to follow, even contributing. At some point, Garnet's hand found hers mid-gesture, and they settled into silence after that. Pearl was still tired; still bone-weary after everything, and Garnet phased away her breastplate and shoulder guards to offer an easy purchase for the smaller Gem's cheek. Pearl took her chance, resting her head against Garnet's shoulder to watch as the two leads in the movie grew closer in understanding and step in time for the second act.

Pearl didn't realize that the movie had finished until Garnet asked if she would like to watch again. She had nodded off again, and Garnet nudged her awake with surprising gentleness.

"Ah… yes," Pearl agreed, somewhat unsure as to why Garnet would want to watch again; she'd seen it a dozen times before.

This time, the dancer's mind was occupied with other worries, simmering to the surface. Steven made a noise in his sleep that made her jump, and Pearl had to release Garnet's hand to smooth his hair away from his forehead until he seemed content again. The boy was truly a treasure, worth more to Pearl than the planet he was born on, and the thought of Tektite trying to get to him…

"Garnet?" Pearl's voice was small, and she didn't look at the Fusion. "Did she hurt you as well?"

"I never saw her," Garnet murmured, keeping her voice low. She watched Pearl's face worriedly, but couldn't get a read on the distant look in her pale eyes. "Amethyst broke her illusion—she thought it was a dream and woke herself out before Tektite ever arrived."

"Steven said she spoke to him," Pearl whispered, voice choked. "If she did anything to him…"

"She didn't," Garnet assured her, "Steven fought her on her terms and pushed her out. Tektite couldn't hold him."

That turned Pearl's head, and she stared up at Garnet for long moments, eyes wide, misty with tears that just barely didn't fall. "It was just me, then?" She didn't know whether to be relieved or ashamed by her weakness. Perhaps a combination of the two was appropriate. Amethyst's escape was fitting; the purple Gem was paradoxical even by their standards, sometimes, but she was genuinely shocked that Steven could break out on his own. Some part of her wondered if Rose Quartz were somehow involved, watching over and protecting her son. It wouldn't surprise her.

Garnet laid a hand on her head, stroking her short hair softly. "You and I are the only ones who fought in the war," she reminded Pearl, "Amethyst and Steven had no reason to get caught in her suggestions… And my Gems were protected. I had my gauntlets the entire time." The Fusion paused, adding; "You know as well as I do that the Specials are elite fighters. Their powers are nothing like anything we could've been prepared for. It's fortunate that we only encountered Tektite—any of the others would've defeated us all. Even Rose feared them. You did remarkably."

Pearl nodded miserably. "I survived… I suppose."

"Pearl, you're here with us now," Garnet said firmly, "There are scores of other Gems who can't say that."

She knew all too well what Garnet meant, but all the same, Pearl couldn't help her traitorous thoughts turning inward. There may have been dozens, even more Gems from their army who had fallen to Tektite's treatment, and she had no intention of disrespecting their memories, but…

"Garnet, I gave up," she whispered bitterly, "I… I stopped fighting, I let her do whatever she pleased to stay whole. I just sat around waiting for you to save me like some… some damsel in one of these human movies. I gave in."

Garnet frowned deeply, turning Pearl's face to catch her gaze. For the smaller Gem's sake, and with the others asleep and unable to see, she let her visor vanish in a flurry of light motes. Pearl looked startled, but didn't tear her gaze away. "You survived," Garnet insisted. "You held out until I came for you. That was all you could do, Pearl. I came late, I don't even know how late with the spell you were under, but… you know I'll always come for you. And you held out despite her trying to break you."

Blinking rapidly against her tears, Pearl nodded minutely. "She did break me, Garnet. She dangled this… this idea of you, that you were out there, and then that she'd broken you. I thought you were dead."

The Fusion nodded somberly. "That wouldn't have stopped me," she insisted, wiping Pearl's tears away with her thumb. "I'll always come for you. One way or another." They were quickly replaced with more, and Pearl pressed her face to Garnet's chest to hide her face as she cried in silence. This, too, was different and unsettling, and Garnet shushed her, stroking her hair and shoulders until she finally cried herself out not long before the movie ended a second time. Somewhere along the way Pearl had reclaimed her hand from Steven's hold to cling desperately to Garnet's midsection, and Garnet made no protest. Steven slept through it all.

Movement caught Garnet's third eye, and she looked up to meet Amethyst's concerned gaze. The purple Gem had been awake for some time, but stayed wisely silent, and hesitantly reached out to settle a hand on Pearl's bare arm. Garnet nodded, and Amethyst's big hand closed over the slope of Pearl's bony shoulder. She gasped, looked up sharply, and Amethyst leaned down from her comfortable vantage point on the bed to join in the shared embrace, hugging Pearl and Garnet around the shoulders with almost painful strength.

For a while the three stayed like that, and Pearl came down from her fit of crying in favor of allowing herself to bask in her companions' presence. It was comforting, having both Amethyst and Garnet there, with Steven asleep against her side. More so than the blankets and pillows in their little makeshift fort. And when Amethyst suggested changing to another movie—this about unicorns and some quest, which Pearl knew Amethyst had comparably little interest in—she agreed without second thought.

Tonight could be fun and games, mindless entertainment. Pearl didn't think she would ever have the heart to turn down her companions if they wanted something like this, not after very nearly losing them all.

Tomorrow would be another day, and Pearl was determined to be back to normal by sunrise.