A/N: This is where stuff gets sticky and heavier adult themes begin to roll in. Some physical abuse present in this chapter.

Pearl could feel the reckless energy rolling off of Pink Diamond in waves and it was rather anxiety inducing. She knew that whatever happened she would be blamed doubly for and punished twice as much. Not that she didn't adore her because she most certainly did. It was her purpose, after all. However, that didn't mean she wanted to be subject to whatever it meant to be "taken care of".

They were clipping along at a pace so fast that Pearl practically had to run to keep up. Once more, they approached the warps.

"You know where I want to go."

They stepped onto the glimmering pad and were whisked away to Earth. Immediately Pink shifted to her Rose Quartz form but today there didn't seem to be any joy in her face. Her mouth was set and her eyes were hard. Her servant swallowed hard and quickly shifted her clothes to something more suitable for their disguise and looked up expectantly.

"M-my... Rose?" Her voice was timid, not sure what she was expected to do after having stood there for several long minutes.

Suddenly she rounded on the thin gem, a large hand cut through the air and landed squarely on her face, causing her to stumble back and cry out in pain. A look of shame and remorse was painted over Rose's features as she gazed down at her little slave curled up in tears in the dust of the kindergarten.

"Pearl, I'm so sorry," she sighed, crouching down.

Pearl flinched away from her.

"I shouldn't have done that. I- I don't know what came over me that was uncalled for. You didn't do anything."

Her cheek was a brilliant shade of blue from being struck with such force and her dusty blue eyes were still shining with tears that refused to stop spilling down her face.

"Can you ever forgive me?"

She nodded meekly but didn't say anything. She didn't trust herself not to start wailing in despair. Rose took her gingerly by the elbow and helped her back to her feet.

"I can't do this anymore, Pearl." Her voice was heavy and steely with resolve.

"What do you mean?" she inquired softly at long last.

"I mean I can't keep running this colony. It's not what I thought it would be."

"I know it's difficult, Rose, but you're so smart and capable. You can do anything you set your mind to."

She smiled sadly. "You're such a good pearl, you know that?"

Her servant beamed radiantly up at her. "Thank you!"

They began walking away from the kindergarten and Pearl pulled up a map with her gem to show Rose all of the places they'd visited thus far.

"Well, where do you want to go today?" She chirped, trying to forget what had happened earlier. The blue in her cheek and the welt had gone down to almost nothing.

"Hmm. There." She pointed to a spot on the map.

"Perfect!"

The map flickered away and they began walk in the direction she'd chosen on the map. They let silence pass between them for the first leg of their journey. It seemed that Rose had a lot to process and if she was being honest, the interaction back at the warp pad was still heavy on her mind.

It wasn't until they came up to a large cliff wall that they spoke again.

"Let's climb up and see what's on the other side!" Rose cried excitedly.

Climbing wasn't exactly a forte of the smaller gem as it was considered rather undignified for delicate pearls but she supposed she could give it a try and she gave a small half smile of agreement. She watched as Rose made quick and easy work of the wall and she, less gracefully, followed suit.

She was sweating by the time she reached the top. When she saw what was down below she let out a gasp of delight. There was an enormous waterfall that cascaded loudly into a large lake in the ground. The area around it was a delicious shade of green with vibrant flowers sending sweet tendrils of scent toward them.

"Oh, Rose!" She cried excitedly. "It's so beautiful! You chose the most amazing spot!"

Her whole face was aglow in a way that Rose had never seen. It was gorgeous and sent prickles of delight straight to the gem in her stomach.

"Do you want to go down and see it from the other side?"

"Oh, could we?"

"Of course, this is our adventure!"

It was much easier to make their way down the cliff than up it, especially from this side. The whole climb down they were misted with cool spray that smelled clean and minerally. The pair finally reached the waters edge and Pearl leaped in without a second thought, laughing joyfully as she splashed around in the cool clear water.

"Oh, Rose you have to come in. This feels magnificent!" She cried, spinning in a circle.

She lost her footing and toppled backward into the water, popping up wide-eyed and soaked. Rose couldn't contain her laughter. The dear thing looked so silly but so sweet. Pearl joined in after only a moment.

The pink gem waded over to her and stuck her hand out which she grabbed onto and was lifted easily back onto her feet. A bright pink hibiscus flower drifted lazily on the breeze down toward the lake. Its smell wafted up at them as it landed easily with only a tiny ripple between the two gems.

It was then that they realized they were still joined at the hands and both pulled back instinctively. A radiant blush crawled up Pearl's chest as she looked down at the flower. She'd never seen anything like it outside of the human zoo. Rose's hand came into view, scooping the flower up gently as she moved closer to her servant.

The white gem looked up, her knees shaking. The energy had shifted and it was heavy and her stomach felt tight. Rose tucked the flower into her hair before leaning down and kissing her hard on the mouth.