She knew that Steven didn't like her watching him while he slept, but she just couldn't help it. She had been watching him since he was just a tiny infant. She used to sit right next to his crib and just watch him breathe.
Every single breath he took had been a miracle. He had seemed much too tiny to function, yet everyday he grew and excelled. Watching him breathe had given her hope for the future and helped her fall in love with him. When she couldn't watch him sleep-it made her anxious. Late night missions without 'Steven-watching' usually resulted in her asking Garnet every few minutes to check on him with future vision. Garnet didn't particularly mind-she worried about Steven too in her own way-but if a mission wasn't an emergency; Pearl had gotten to stay with Steven.
Watching Steven sleep also calmed her down. Any stress caused by the mission or by Amethyst or 'awake Steven' could all be washed away with 'sleeping Steven'.
Today, there had been a mission, but Garnet had let her stay because she hadn't been doing so well this week. She had been hiding it expertly. She knew her limits now better than ever and had been performing to the best of her ability.
Steven had food, he was clean, and she had even gone out with him to the beach one afternoon. But she knew that soon enough she'd be a hazard to the team. She had willingly told Garnet that she wasn't feeling well and she had been making excuses to Steven why she hadn't been going on missions. She was fine now with letting Garnet know she was ill. It hadn't been easy, but she had done it. And in doing so she was saved from Amethyst's teasing.
Amethyst had understood that Pearl wasn't built to fight like Garnet or she. She was designed to plan, strategize and learn. So fighting caused her greater stress on her being than most gems.
But Steven didn't know these things. And Pearl didn't want him to know. She knew that Steven loved her and would love her no matter how weak she was, but she couldn't help but be apprehensive. She didn't want Steven to think her weak. Pearl knew that Steven might risk his life for hers in battle if he was aware.
So it was better to just let him sleep. Pearl didn't mind spending more time with him and Steven seemed over-the-moon. There had been time to go to the beach, that horrible pizza place and the loud arcade building. It was perfect. She could stifle any symptoms into near silence and Steven was too distracted to notice.
"Hnxgt." Pearl stifled a sneeze. She sniffled quietly into a handkerchief that she had acquired from Rose hundreds of years ago. She relaxed against the soft edge of Steven's bed with a sigh.
"Bless you." Steven mumbled. Pearl felt Steven's hands brush her hair.
Pearl froze, hoping that Steven wasn't really awake and that he was just talking in his sleep.
"How-"Steven's mouth opened for a loud yawn. "Ugh-sorry, how come you've been sneezing all day?"
Pearl sighed, sometimes Steven surprised her with how attentive he was.
"It's nothing Steven." Pearl whispered, "Go back to sleep please."
Steven yawned again, smacking his lips together. He rubbed his eye and watched Pearl stand up.
"Were you watching me sleep?" He asked. Pearl nodded silently and fixed his blankets back over him.
"I'm sorry Steven. I know you're not a baby anymore, but watching you sleep is quite calming." Pearl blushed as she hugged him, trying not to smell his hair (she knew that might creep him out).
"That's okay Pearl. If it makes you feel better then I don't mind." Steven said with a sleepy grin. Steven fell back asleep easily and quickly. Pearl stayed with him until she was sure he was fast asleep. Once she was sure, she went downstairs and sat down on the couch. She didn't want to wake Steven again if she sneezed again-especially if she couldn't hold it back.
…
When morning came, Pearl found herself looking at the ceiling. She remembered walking down the stairs and sitting down, but nothing much after that. She certainly didn't remember lying down or the pillow under her head or especially the wet, cold thing on her forehead.
She sat up and the wet thing fell on to her lap. It was a wash cloth with a small chunk of ice melting into it. How did that get there?
"Pearl!" Steven yelled. Suddenly appearing from behind the kitchen counter. "You finally woke up."
Pearl rubbed her eyes groggily. "What do you mean finally?"
Steven put something down on the table. "You've been asleep for two days. Garnet told me not worry and all but I got really worried anyways. I noticed that your gem was really hot so I thought maybe it would help if I put a washcloth on it. But then Amethyst told me it was stupid since-"
Pearl felt a blush warming her cheeks. She had been asleep for two days? She hadn't meant to fall asleep. Wait-Garnet had told Steven! That meant Garnet had seen Steven and Pearl and hadn't saved her this embarrassment. If she hadn't felt so tired, she would've marched right to the temple doors and had a talk with the fusion.
"Pearl-are you okay? Your eyes are all 'wohoohoowoo'!" Steven said, moving his arms and fingers in a strange wiggly dance.
"Fine Steven." She sighed. "I'm sorry you had to see me like this."
Steven shook his head with starry eyes. "That's okay Pearl. We're family, and family takes care of each other."
Pearl smiled and patted Steven's fluffy hair. It made her indescribably happy to see Steven growing up into such a caring young man.
"But next time you aren't feeling good, you know you can just tell me right?" Steven asked, crawling onto the couch.
Pearl sighed, wringing her hands together. "Steven, I don't want you to have to worry about me though. It's my job to worry about you, not the other way around."
"But if you're worrying about me, then who's taking care of you?" Steven asked while pulling a blanket over her legs and torso. He suddenly hugged her fiercely. "I don't ever want you to be hurting if I know I can help"
Pearl sniffled. She couldn't help the tears blurring her vision. She wrapped her arms around him and nestled her face into his hair.
She knew that Steven sometimes doubted himself. He wanted to be like Rose and help like Rose. It was hard for him to see how much like her he really was. Even if Steven never fully developed Rose's powers-he had Rose's laugh, her kindness, her strength and her love.
And that made the days without Rose easier than ever.
