Again, disclaimers are in the first chapter.

Pearl inspected the wooden pole carefully measuring and then measuring it again. Satisfied, she nodded to Amethyst. As the purple girl carried it to the stack of other poles, the alabaster Gem watched her mate bring another one over for inspection. It had been a whole week before Pearl fully recovered. Another week passed before she suggested they build a pier for the sloop, outlining the benefits of having one. Now they were working on it with the help of the humans. William more often than not failed to be of any real help, but the knight couldn't begrudge him for trying. He and his first mate were cutting the wood for the project. "This is the last one," Garnet said lowering the pole.

Thank you. How are they doing?

"They'll have the beams ready to measure soon." Pearl smiled at her. "Pearl."

"Yes, Garnet?" Garnet grinned, feeling bigger just hearing her name in her wife's voice, and kissed her. She meant for it to be just a quick peck, but Pearl's hands tugged her back for more. They kept it light, pressing gentle kisses to each other's lips before resting their foreheads together. "I love you, Garnet."

"I love you, too." Her mate murmured. "There's a meteor shower tonight. I thought we could watch it together. If you want," she added. A pale thumb brushed over her burning cheek.

"I…w-wou…ld…like…ve…ry…mu…ch." This time the satisfaction of saying a longer sentence outweighed her frustration. She'd been practicing whenever she had a chance. Blue eyes glanced at her wife's face. Garnet stood there, hands pressed together in front of her brilliant grin. The expression of pure happiness radiating from the person she loved most eased the pale gem's anxieties. She mirrored the smile, her confidence stronger now. Someone coughed to the side, and Pearl turned to the interruption. William stood there staring nervously at the ground.

He shuffled his feet. "I, ah, we wanted to let you know we're taking a break to eat. You really have a hard time talking, don't you? It sounds terrible." Even as the words left his mouth, he knew he'd said the wrong thing. Pearl tensed, glaring at him as if he were the lowliest creature on earth. Garnet scowled, her face showing her displeasure at his thoughtlessness. Before he could utter an apology the couple left, the taller following her partner back to the strange cave they lived in. Will kicked the ground sending a spray of sand in the air. "Stupid. That's a great way to make friends, William."

Amethyst looked from him to the temple and back, fighting over whether to check on Pearl or yell at Dewey. Glancing at the temple she shrugged. Garnet would take care of it. "You shouldn't tease her about how she talks." She said, eating something that didn't look edible.

"I know," he groaned. "I didn't think before I spoke. How long has she been mute?" He grimaced. "That was inappropriate, I'm sorry."

She shrugged. "Around four thousand years. She was mute when she found me."

He coughed, sputtering some excuse about how Pearl couldn't be over twenty, which made the purple Gem laugh. "Is she really?"

"Yeah. Rose said she used to talk a lot, and even sing." Amethyst pouted. "I'd never heard her speak for over two thousand years. You better not have caused her to stop." She punched her open palm to emphasize the threat behind her last comment. William swallowed visibly. The intense stare the girl was giving him made him nervous.

"I understand. Do you know when they'll be back?" He asked, scratching the back of his neck. He glanced back at the temple. A loud growl interrupted before Amethyst could answer, and he chuckled. Embarrassed he left to find what food he could, Amethyst's laughter ringing behind him.

Pearl paced around the fountains in her room alternating between outbursts of angry, humiliated ranting and worrying the hem of her shirt in insecure silence. She knew Garnet had followed her and didn't think she was pathetic or that her speech sounded wrong. Deep down, the knight knew she wasn't and that she had a long way to go before she could talk like she had in the past. The human's words cut deep though. I'm trying. Tears trailed down her cheeks as she looked to Garnet.

Not a word or sign was needed. Crossing the short distance between them, the taller Gem wrapped her arms around her wife. It hurt to feel each shudder that shook the tiny body clinging to her with every sob. She was careful not to show how angry she was to Pearl; she would think Garnet was mad at her when she wasn't. She felt this way because it seemed so unfair. After all this time, after all the white gem's efforts to speak a full sentence, just a few words from a human who didn't know anything about them reduced Pearl to tears.

"I thought you sounded amazing," Garnet suddenly said, shocking them both. Pushing aside the shock she continued. "I always do. Think you sound wonderful, I mean. You work hard to talk. It means a lot when you say my name, and when you call Amethyst's even though it tires you. We're proud of you."

I thought I did, too. But even that human boy noticed how pathetic I sounded.

"You did not sound pathetic!" Garnet shouted. Pearl looked scared, and she took a breath to calm herself. "You never could. It took a lot of strength to tell me your answer instead of signing it. He doesn't know you yet—we do. It'll get better. Take your time, Pearl. We're here for you. I'm here for you, no matter what." With her thumb, she wiped away the remaining tears. She watched Pearl slowly understand what she meant, saw when she began to believe her and the way she stood a little taller.

What if I never talk again, not as well as I used to? Pearl asked. Insecurity haunted her expression. What if the only thing I can say are yours and Amethyst's names, yes, or no? Rose's name?

The fusion leaned down, her lips brushing the smooth surface of her mate's gem. "I will still love you, and cherish every sound you gift us." The knight nodded, holding Garnet close until she felt ready to leave the safety of her room. They left the temple with Pearl's arm wrapped around her wife's. William stopped sawing the log he was helping cut when he saw them. He ran over, wiping sweat from his brow before speaking, his regretful expression catching the silent gem's attention.

"Miss Pearl? I'm sorry about what I said. It was wrong, and I'll do my best to be more considerate from now on. Please forgive me." He forced himself to not to fidget under the intense stare she gave him. Had time slowed down? After a long time had passed (or had only seconds passed?), Pearl waved for his attention. She signed her acceptance for his apology and her forgiveness. Rose walked past with several support posts in her arms.

"Should I set these with the others on the beach?" she asked. Pearl nodded, kissing Garnet's cheek as she went to help with her project. The pier she planned wouldn't build itself. Sending a smile to Amethyst the alabaster dancer joined Celestite on the beach to discuss the best way to set up the posts.