A/N: A bit of a short chapter but eh, two chapters in one day, madness!

Chapter 11

The evening was just beginning to settle along the town, the bustle of foot traffic began to ebb when the tingle of the doorway chimed in the cooling air. Selenite giving a thank you and final greeting to the clerk who had helped her purchase, allowed the door to swing shut on its own accord as she looked to the piece of paper in her hand that indicated her latest purchase. With the later hour upon them, the pick up of the old couch and drop off of the new would not take place until tomorrow, but she was fine with that. A gentle breeze whipping up, causing her grip on the paper to tighten, Selenite looked up as if for the first time she realized her surroundings. Human, human, another human... no sign of the Jasper... the relief she felt was welcoming yet something uncomfortable settled with it. She would not think about it, with a shake of her head to rid of the strange thought, Selenite picking up her feet, folded the piece of paper before tucking it away in her coat just before her gait quickly paused in the direction for home.

"Shit..."

The word was uttered softly as she looked hastely toward the sky where the hues of the setting sun washed over the few clouds. She was going to have to walk home... fine, not like she was in a rush to get home or had anything else to do before forty eight hours passed for her next shift. Zipping her jacket shut and stuffing her hands into her jean pockets, Selenite with her face determinedly tucked partially in the semi tall collar, began walking down the road. This was not the first time she was to walk home and no doubt not the last either; still, she was not too thrilled by it. Without her motorcycle or a giant gem to carry her, this was going to take a few hours...

The crecent moon hung above in a star lit sky, soft tendrils of light danced through the many pine trees, dust flitting through in a methodical dance as far below, a lone figure walked. She didn't need to shiver but felt she wanted to as the bite of the night air drited over her form; two hours had gone by and the night was well established over the land. Selenite was not a an of the night, it was pleasant enough when seen from the windows of her home or along her front porch, but to be walking in it like this was unsettling. Every noise, rustle, moving shadow caught her attention, eyes were wide and honed in on anything around her. It was not so much the wildlife of this world that worried her, they she could deal with, but a corrupted gem or a brute of ivory, red and goldenrod... With a toss of her head causing the stripe of pink in her bangs to jostle and hang in her face, Selenite kept moving forward, determined to keep her mind blank, to only focus of getting home.

As the land began to reach a sharp incline, Selenite felt herself grow happy, it was about damn time! Her feet began to quicken as she huffed up the hill along her worn path that would guide her to the cabin on top where the wildlife began to thin and grasses as as planted bushes began to take show. Already Selenite was forming her evening, a shower for sure, then to toss on a vinyl, cozy up to a good book and a cup of tea; yes that sounded like a great way to end this interesting, and rather shitty day. At the very least she had a new couch that would be taking over the place of the old one that was so quickly crushed by the Jasper. There it was again, that uncomfortable feeling in her gut, it was only a day when that corrupted gem had appeared at her doorstep, or was it longer? Maybe two days? Everything seemed so mashed together, and it still made Selenite uneasy... did she actually Miss that gem?! No... Recalling the anger, remembering that glaring eye, the defiance and refusal to answer Selenite's own question; she did not miss that soldier. Then again... it was nice to not be alone, even if for a short time...

The crunch of gravel under her feet pulled Selenite back from her thoughts as she looked to the dark landscape of her home. Trimmed grass, bushes and multitude of plants, the single large tree by the front of the shut down cabin, her bike in the driveway that ended to the side of her home as off to the right was the shelter that held her gardening tools and the overhang that concealed her truck. Home sweet home... wait- eyes narrowed as she ceased her motion altogether. There along her front porch where the door was placed in the entryway even though still broken; crap she forgot to get a new door as well! Shoving that unimportant thought aside, Selenite cautiously took a step forward as she focused on the dark mass sitting there on the edge of her porch. Why would she come back here after the fight they had? Selenite was certain that was the Jasper... still she was uneasy and her hands moved to her jacket, making quick work of removing it so her gem shone in the moons soft touch through the trees surrounding her land.

"Hello?"

She called out expecting nothing, her thoughts altering to the possibility this was a corrupted gem, or some form of earth wildlife that chose to make her porch their resting place. Her gem began to glow as she pondered summoning her weapon in case it was needed...

"It is me."

The tone was low, almost bored sounding... Selenite's expression turned grim as her gem dimming, she allowed her hand to drop away from it as she scooping down, plucked her coat off the ground an made her way over to the what seemed, a sulking Jasper.

"Why are you here? I thought you didn't want anything to do with a pathetic gem?"

When the Jasper gave nothing but a grunt, Selenite, still feeling bitter from their enraged exchange in town, lifted her foot an heavily kicked the soldier's shin a touch rougher than she intended... maybe.

"What do you want? You clearly think little of me, so go away, shove off and leave me alone."

Shouldering the jacket, Selenite giving the Jasper no more of her attention, strode passed her and open resettling the door back in the busted entryway, gave into a heavy breath as she tossing the jacket casually to the ground, began to make quick work on lighting the lamps in her home. Soon, wood softly crackled in the fireplace, warmth bloomed in the small cabin as the kettle began to release a mild tendril of steam as it began to heat up. The shower water turned off and Selenite toweling off, tucked herself into the soft flannel sleepware of soft blue before she found herself staring at the shut door where chilly night air leaked through. Was shit still- no, not her problem, she was not going to stress over that gem. Kettle chirping loudly, Selenite quickly removing it from the stove top, poured herself a cup of tea before with a sigh as gentle music played in the background, settled herself on the couch; the broken couch. A slight yelp left her lips as she sank in much farther than she had expected, with a wild failing of limbs, Selenite pried herself from the couches grasp and scooted to the edge, happy to not have spilled any of her drink from the sudden drop. This was a good couch until... her eyes drifted once more to the door. Her mind poked the memories she had gleaned from the little amount of time with this Jasper... The soldier attacked trees, became extremely defensive when pried, was angry yet while she showed loathing, refused to leave, and Selenite doubted Jasper's refusal to leave was just due to the corruption being cleansed from her form.

"Fine... fuck it..."

Hissing the words, Selenite setting the mug down onto the wood floor, pulled her petite form from the couch and made her way to the door. The wood groaned as she prying it from the entryway, slid it back in place as there to her lack of surprise, sat the Jasper. Silent, unmoving an clearly been like that since Selenite had gone inside over an hour ago as there was a single firefly gently strobing along the matted ivory hair while others flitted lazily around.

"Jasper?"

Of course she did not expect a response and slowly moving across the small porch, gingerly sat herself down with a couple feet between herself and the far larger gem who continued to remain silent and stare at nothing. A few moments of silence passed, the air was filled with the noises of the night life, a hoot of an owl, a few far off yips of coyotes that ran through the brush, the tiny paws of mice scampering through the grasses, the gentle chirp of crickets throughout the landscape...

"I- I am sorry for getting upset with you."

Selenite felt like a fool apologizing to a brute who seemed so headstrong, yet... that uncomfortable pit only seemed to grow in her midsection the longer she replayed the events of the day and not saying anything; even if it was one sided.

"I have been alone for a while... and have forgotten what it was like to be a homeworld gem. I don't know what you want, or why you are here... but, my... hmm... my offer still stands if you wish to stay here. I just have no idea what to offer you, I am no diamond, I am no homeworld gem trying to relive a past that I have long since lost since the war. Call it foolish of why I choose to live the way I do, but it has worked for me..."

Hearing the grunt, seeing her body shift so slight that caused the fire bug to flit off and rejoin its colony, Selenite watched her quietly. Silene engulfed again, and the pale gem was starting to think nothing was to be said-

"I have no where to go. I am stuck here, with a gem who wants to be a human, weak, worthless, a failure."

At first, Selenite felt her anger singe bright, yet in the moons light, she saw the twisted anguish along the Jasper's features as she stared forward, the ivory hair still covering the side of her face from so many hours ago. Now she understood...

Wringing her hands together, Selenite pondered her next words carefully, this was indeed a broken soldier. Even if not corrupted, nor showing physical damage, there was self loathing, a hate toward herself that Selenite could only grasp so much from her own trials in her existance.

"You do have somewhere... well... hmm, I actually could use some help soon... the land here is rather rocky and difficult for me to deal with, let alone the seasons are about to shift and time for planting. It isn't really much, but I could use your help, and as a trade you can stay here."

Watching the Jasper, Selenite felt her smile falter when seconds slid past with nothing given as a response; perhaps the gem was plotting another rebuke toward her way of life here on this planet. As seconds turned to minutes, Selenite sighing, pulled herself to her feet and dusted the backside of her leggings off.

"Well think about it, you can come in if you would like."

Going to the doorway and pulling the door once more from the entryway, Selenite paused for a moment, looking at Jasper's back while she remained unmoving.

"Good night Jasper."