AN: Like the tile says, this chapter is a bunch of flashbacks/POV shots, switching between characters. I hope you're not confused.
Peridot POV - Years ago
"You really mean it Pearl?" inquired a younger Peridot. Pearl blushed.
"Yeah, I'm sure about it. I'm... gay." she said nervously. Peridot breathed a sigh of relief and smiled brightly at her twin.
"Me too!"
Lapis POV - Years ago
"Look kid, I don't care who you date, as long as you don't break any of my rules." huffed Malachite. Lapis looked over at her mother. The scarred middle aged woman was slouched over on the couch, watching the TV, and paying no further attention to her younger daughter. She was probably high again, judging by the distinctive smell in the air, and the half-empty bag of corn chips that she was slowly munching her way through. Lapis didn't know if she should be happy, as her mother didn't attack her for coming out, or if she should be angry that Malachite didn't seem to care. She turned her back and walked out of the room.
"Mom give you a hard time about the gay thing?" asked Jasper, noticing the down look on Lapis' face.
"No. She just ignored me." sighed Lapis. Jasper patted her on the head gently.
"She ignored me too kid, don't worry about it."
Pearl POV - around 6 months ago
"So... you're a dancer?"
"Neat-o! You'll have to show us sometime, P!"
"I-I'm sure I will..." said Pearl. She wasn't used to having a conversation with two people at once. But, when she had agreed to the date with Jasper and Amethyst, she wasn't sure what she expected. Now it seemed that things were pretty normal, as dates go, the only major difference being the number of people involved. Pearl looked out the window.
"Hey, you okay?" asked Amethyst. "You're staring into the distance all dramatic - like."
"I'm fine. I was just wondering... are you two sure you want me to date you?" she said quietly. Jasper got up and moved to sit next to Pearl. Amethyst followed suit. They wrapped their arms around her in a tight hug.
"Trust us..."
"We do."
Jasper POV - A few days ago
"Hey Jazzy." called Amethyst. Jasper set down her barbells and jogged over to her. Amethyst wasn't usually at the gym this late.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Well, it's been almost half a year since we brought Pearl into our relationship. I thought we could do something special for her, y'know, to celebrate." said Amethyst. Jasper grinned and picked up her small girlfriend.
"That's a great idea!" she said, walking out of the gym.
"I know, right? I'll meet you tonight at the shelter, kay?" said Amethyst. Jasper nodded and set her down gently.
"I'll be there. I just have to drop off Lapis somewhere first. I think it's some rock store. Her crush works there." she said.
Steven POV- A couple of days ago
"Jasper, what's wrong with Amethyst? Why isn't she getting up?" asked Steven. Jasper ruffled his hair weakly.
"She's hurt really badly, buddy." she said with a sigh. Steven frowned. He wasn't used to seeing Jasper so upset. And Amethyst usually was up and about the day after a fight, showing off her new scars, making up fantastical stories. Today she was lying in the spare room, barely moving, occasionally letting out a moan. The young boy wasn't sure how badly Amethyst was hurt, but he decided that he was going to make her better. The rest of his day was was spent sitting next to Amethyst, reading to her from his Crying Breakfast Friends storybook, and helping Jasper feed her. By the time night rolled around, Amethyst showed no signs of getting better, and Jasper had gone downstairs to call the youth shelter. Steven looked over at his friend. She had fallen asleep, he noticed, and he nudged her shoulder gently.
"C'mon, Amethyst, Jasper said you weren't supposed to go to sleep yet." he said. No response. He anxiously watched the clock, deciding to wait two minutes before trying to wake her up again, but to no avail. He ran over to the door and shouted down the hall.
"Jasper! Amethyst fell asleep and she isn't waking up!"
"She's what?!" came the response. Steven found himself standing outside the room as Jasper examined Amethyst. Soon, he could hear sirens coming from outside, and he had an idea as to what they were. He was picked up from Mala's house by his parents and brought home.
"Mom?"
"Yes Steven?"
"Is Amethyst gonna be okay?" he asked quietly. Rose looked into the backseat of the van. Steven was looking down at the floor, saddened and scared by the whole situation. Rose smiled and reached back to hold his hand.
"We're just going to have to wait and see..."
Amethyst POV - The present
Machines beeping and the smell of medicine were the first things Amethyst noticed as she came to.
"I wish I could say this isn't familiar... but I can't." she thought as she tried to get an idea of her surroundings. This was soon interrupted by the realization that her chest hurt more than it ever had in the past.
"Feels like I got stabbed with an icicle." she thought, trying to move, but unable to find the energy to do so. She manged to let out a small groan of pain. Voices surrounded her.
"She's awake!" shouted someone. The voice was very familiar. It sounded like someone had mixed a bull with a human and given it estrogen shots.
"Whelp, that's Jasper." thought Amethyst. The sound of someone crying reached her ears. "And I bet that's Pearl."
Back to the normal POV
"Amethyst? Can you hear me?" asked Pearl.
"Well, it appears so, since you haven't shut up yet." said Amethyst, smiling weakly. Pearl let out a sob of relief.
"The doctors said you might never wake up..." she whispered, wiping tears off her face. She reached out and held the other girl's hand. Jasper joined in after she finished her victory lap around the room.
"Way to make me cry in front of everyone, you dork." she said, attempting to look tough. Amethyst smirked.
"You're welcome. I'm open 8-4, Monday though Friday, please come again." she said. The three of them all laughed a little. They were interrupted when Lapis and Peridot walked though the door, hand in hand. Amethyst raised an eyebrow.
"So what did I miss?"
