Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault
"Did she hurt you?" Steven asked, concern etched in his forehead.
"No," Morganite answered. "She didn't."
He nodded, hurt shining in his eyes.
"Don't be upset. This is a good thing." She rested her hand upon his shoulder in a gesture of comfort.
"How is it a good thing? She mutated you…"
Morganite flinched. "Peridot didn't mutate anything. She improved me. Made me stronger… Like you and the Crystal Gems."
"You were strong enough just the way you were."
"Steven." She looked him in the eyes. "It's okay. Everything is going to be fine. Everything is fine. Stop worrying, darling."
A flush spread across Steven's cheek at the nickname. "Okay." He nodded slowly. "What should I call you?"
"It doesn't matter…" She looked away, as it ashamed to admit it. "But I like Morganite better, so if that's okay with you, then.. Morganite."
"Of course." The boy replied. "But I might mess it up a little bit."
Morganite laughed and ruffled his hair. "It's alright. I'll make an exception for you."
"Are you going to go home? Your parents probably miss you like hell…"
"Then they shouldn't have tried to split us up." She replied simply. "But, I would like to start college soon… Go back to the city."
"You haven't even graduated high school yet. How are you gonna do that?"
"I applied for some scholarships back in the city."
Steven nodded. "Are you gonna tell them about this?"
"I don't think I could. Although I may be able to swing for a name change."
Steven nodded, unable to keep himself from staring at her.
"Do I really look that different?" Morganite asked.
"No. You don't. It's just… God. I've missed you so much."
"I missed you too, Steven. I'm sorry things went so badly." She looked back at him, sorrow gleaming in her eyes.
"It's okay. Really. I understand." He gasped, suddenly remembering. "Cheryl wanted to talk to you."
"Oh. I bet she's worried sick… I'll go and talk to her later today. You can come with, if you'd like."
"Actually, I'd rather you came with me."
"Uh, what?"
"I'd like to take you on a date, Morganite. To celebrate that you finally came back."
Morganite blushed darkly. "I'd like that." She said softly, smiling as Steven took her hand.
He brought it up to his lips and kissed it gently. "My lady."
"Oh stop it." She swatted at him playfully, her blush darkening.
Steven kept her hand in his, trying to keep from blushing as he looked into her eyes.
"You're adorable, Steven."
The moonlight shone bleakly through the window as Amethyst cradled Julianna in her arms, careful to avoid her injuries. They laid in silence, Julianna lost within her own memories.
A smirk spread across Peridot's lips, and she grabbed Julianna by the shoulder, slamming her against the wall. "However, I have a much better idea."
The green gem watched her struggle, the burning feeling growing stronger within her. She dragged her by the forearm to her quarters, slamming the door and throwing her onto the sheets.
"Peridot, no." She spoke in a wavering voice, backing away from the green gem. "I'm with Amethyst now."
"Not for very long, I suspect," Peridot pounced onto her, cuffing her wrists above her head and attaching it to a chain hanging from the ceiling, so short she just barely touched the sheets. She pulled a small knife out of her pocket, running the tip of the blade over her skin. "Make a sound, and you'll wish I'd never created you." She moved the blade towards the collar of her shirt at an agonizingly slow pace, the sound of tearing fabric soon echoing through the room.
"Julianna." Amethyst shook her lightly.
Julianna jumped slightly, looking up towards Amethyst's face. "Sorry. I spaced out."
Amethyst sighed softly. "You really should go regenerate soon, before you get any worse."
Julianna turned to face her. "I will. Tomorrow morning. I promise." She angled the top half of her body so that it rested atop her lover's, running Amethyst's hair through her fingers.
"You don't have to wait, really. I'll be okay."
Julianna didn't respond, leaning in to kiss her softly, moving herself the rest of the way on top of her.
"Not that you aren't amazingly hot on top of md like that," Amethyst started, finding her hard to resist. She fought against the longing and sat up, setting Julianna beside her. "But you're not in the state to be having sex, Jewel. I don't wanna hurt you."
"I don't care," she murmured. "I just want the last person I've been with before I regenerate to be you." A look of deep sorrow shone in her eyes, and Amethyst knew she didn't have to question her lover's faithfulness.
She went silent for a moment. "Baby… Did she-"
"Don't say it," she pleaded, her voice cracking.
Amethyst held her closely, letting her wrap her arms tightly around her waist and lean against her shoulder. "It's okay."
"I tried to stop her- I-I didn't- please don't leave me." She cried into her shoulder, her body quaking with her sobs.
"Hey, hey. Look at me, baby." Amethyst brushed the tears and hair from her face. "It's not your fault. I love you, and I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
"I love you too," she whispered, clinging to her tighter.
"You don't have to do anything with me to make up for it, Julianna."
"I didn't mean it like that- I'm not trying to use you."
"I know. But if you want we can wait until after you're healed up. It might be better for you then."
"Regenerating is like being asleep… right?"
"Yeah, it is."
"I don't think I wanna do that after all," she shivered, a memory making it's way through her mind.
"You can alter your dreams. Walk around in them. It's like being in your own movie."
"I still want to do this. To help get over before. I think that any good we do now will help to offset any bad."
"Whatever you wish, my queen." Amethyst smirked slightly, pulling her on top in a single motion.
Julianna gasped at the sudden movement, gripping Amethyst's waist with her legs. "God, you're beautiful."
"Nope. That's all you."
"Oh shut up."
"Make me."
Julianna kissed her lover gently, resting her weight on her. "I love you,"
"I love you too."
There was no chance to talk for them to talk the rest of the night.
Chapter Recap: Steven asks Morganite on a date to make up for last time. Julianna has a flashback of Peridot assaulting her and sleeps with Amethyst before regenerating to help move past the guilt she feels for not having been able to escape Peridot.