"Ame, Happy New Years!"
Steven practically burst through his front door excitedly running up to his Aunty Amethyst. Without warning, he jumped into her arms, and she caught him as if he's done this a thousand times; which he has.
"Happy New Years, little man." Amethyst repeated as the young boy rubbed his cheek against Amethyst's. "Do you like your Christmas present?"
"Oh yeah, I love it!" Steven seemed to be more excited than usual. It was probably because he's gone almost a week without seeing one of his most favorite people in the world.
As this little exchange went on, Garnet was introducing Pearl to her sisters.
"So Pearl, this is Rebecca." Garnet gestured to the girl with the light blue hair, scar across her eye. She smiled politely.
"You can just call me Sapphire."
"And this is Sarah." Garnet gestured to the girl with a hairstyle similar to Garnet's, the same shade of brown.
"Ruby's fine."
"I'm more than happy to call you by your nicknames, honestly." Pearl commented. "It feels more natural, really. Considering pretty much everyone I know is named after a gem, you know?"
"Yeah.." Ruby started, crossing her arms. "It's still hard to believe that there are so many people like that in New York. I mean, I thought Amethyst, Peridot, and Garnet were the only ones."
"It's a bigger world than you'd think." Pearl replied, and Ruby almost laughed at how philosophical that sounded.
"Oh!" Steven exclaimed, looking up at Amethyst. Pearl and the others put their conversation on hold for now. "Can you let me down?"
Amethyst nodded and did as the boy asked. Steven turned to face Peridot, looking to the ground in shame.
"I'm sorry for what I said yesterday.."
Really, Peridot had hoped to avoid this topic. When Steven had ran up to Amethyst like that, she had thought that the boy had forgotten about what he said.
She looked back to Steven's mother, who smiled reassuringly. Rose was proud of her son's action, and she wanted Peridot to respond in turn.
Peridot sighed and looked back down at Steven. She got down on one knee to be at eye level with him, and she smiled.
"It's okay." It really was. Peridot didn't care about what he had said anymore. She was happy, and her beloved Amethyst was back in her life. "I'm not upset, so don't worry about it. Okay?"
"You sure?" It was adorable, really, how Steven was so worried Peridot's feelings. He looked into her eyes, his own wide with concern and wonder.
Peridot couldn't help but feel that this boy was going to change the world with his kindness.
"Yes, I'm sure." As soon as the words left Peridot's mouth, Steven wrapped his arms around her neck in a hug.
This would have been awkward under normal circumstances, but she found it easy to hug the boy back. Probably because of how Peridot felt at the moment.
Her best friend from the orphanage remembered her, they had started dating, and her foster mother had become more like an actual mother to her overnight.
This day really couldn't get any better.
Steven was the first to break the hug, and Peridot stood, smiling down at the boy.
Rose couldn't be more happier than when watching this little exchange. Well, except when Greg had proposed to her on that magical evening. She couldn't stop crying because she was so happy.
Rose walked forward and picked up her son up into her arms, and the woman turned to face the group.
"Well, let's all go inside. I think we all deserve a good party."
"You know I told you not to call it a 'good' party unless there's booze involved." Amethyst stated as the group made their way inside of Rose's home.
"Amethyst, it's barely passed noon." Pearl scolded, her arms crossed. "Not to mention Steven is present. And you're still underage as well. As are myself, Ruby, and Sapphire, I'm sure."
"And me." Peridot admitted. "I'm nineteen."
"Oh.. You seemed older."
"You're kidding me." Amethyst scoffed, feigning offense. "I'm the one that used to be a hooker and you thought Peri was older than me?"
They finally entered the house, and Rose left with Steven to go find Greg who appeared to be in a different room of the house.
"Well you can hardly blame me." Pearl retorted. "She's very mature for her age."
"Well how old are you?" Peridot asked, feeling a slight frustration rise at being talked about as if she weren't there.
"I'm twenty, actually." Pearl answered Peridot, but shot Amethyst a smug smile. "Just a few months until I can drink legally, unlike some people."
"What's this about you quitting prostitution?" Garnet asked.
It seems that Garnet was the only one that Amethyst's words got to. Everyone in the room, excluding Peridot, stared at Amethyst. She just shrugged, brushing off the question nonchalantly.
"I'll tell you guys everything when Vidalia gets here. It'd be easier to tell you all at once."
Pearl opened her mouth to speak, but was quickly cut off by Garnet.
"Fair enough. We're supposed to be having fun today, anyway. Explanations can come later."
"Right on!" Amethyst exclaimed, obviously glad to put off confessions for now.
Rose came back to the living room, followed by Greg and Steven. The boy was pushing a karaoke machine on wheels, and Greg had a rolled up Twister mat under his arm.
"So, everyone." Rose started, clasping her hands together. "Let's make this New Year's the best so far."
The New Year's party certainly turned into something to remember, even though it started slow.
Pearl continued her conversation with Ruby and Sapphire, and was surprised to find that the two were in a romantic relationship. It was hard to get her words out, but when she did, it was to the amusement of the couple.
"So.. you two are together.. Romantically?"
"How can we make it any clearer, Pencil Neck?" Ruby asked, laughing. "We're dating, we're girlfriend and girlfriend, we make out under the mistletoe on Christmas, what else do you need?"
"But.. You're.." It was hard to form words without feeling embarrassed. She gripped her arm, averting her eyes from the tomboy. How was Garnet okay with this, being involved in law enforcement? "Aren't you.. Sisters?"
"Oh." Ruby finally understood why Pearl was getting so flustered. This made her laugh even harder, so much that she had to steady herself against the wall. Sapphire let out a few chuckles herself, but she was mature enough to speak and put Pearl's mind at ease.
"We're Garnet's adopted sisters. Ruby and I actually went to the same orphanage as Amethyst. I joined the orphanage after Ruby did, so we're not related either."
"Oh thank God." Pearl did nothing to hide her relief, putting a hand to her chest with a sigh. "I mean, I wouldn't ridicule you if you were blood related, but incest.. Well it just seems odd to me."
"I see what you mean." Sapphire said, nodding. "Even so.." She paused here, taking a quick look at Ruby. She was still laughing, even complaining that she might pee herself. Sapphire couldn't help but smile. "..I feel that I would still love her romantically if we were related."
Pearl tried not to be disturbed by this information, she really did. Still, just the thought of being romantically involved with someone of the same blood made her want to retch. Perhaps, though, she felt that way because her only blood relatives, her parents, were gone from this world.
Pushing that thought to the back of her mind, she continued the conversation when Ruby finally caught her breath.
"You know I would have to arrest Rose and Greg if they allowed you to drink under their roof, right?"
Garnet was talking to Amethyst, who was still complaining about there not being any alcoholic beverage to be had.
"It's New Years, Garnet!" Amethyst protested. "You can't have a good New Years without a good drink!"
"I'd have to arrest you too, if you keep pushing it." Garnet said with a smirk. Amethyst huffed and crossed her arms, pouting.
"Screw you."
"Verbally assaulting an officer. That's another offense."
"Oh my god." Amethyst threw her arms up in exasperation.
Peridot is helping Rose and her family roll out the Twister mat, using Rose's old college textbooks to keep the mat from rolling up again.
"So Rose tells me everything went well." Greg commented after standing, leaning backwards with his hands on his lower back. He was just in his mid thirties, and old age was already getting to his body.
"Yeah, everything's just perfect." Peridot smiled widely, remembering all of the events that transpired in Amethyst's cell. "I talked about some stuff we did together in the orphanage and everything just.. Came back to her, piece by piece."
"I'm happy for you." Greg smiled kindly, taking a seat on the couch. Rose sat with her husband, nodding in agreement.
Steven looked up at Peridot, smiling even more widely than the blonde.
"I'm happy that you're happy." He said. "Do you wanna play with my plane with me?"
Peridot nodded, taking the hand that the boy offered.
"I'd love to."
After about thirty minutes of idle conversation between everyone, and with Steven running around excitedly, Peridot struggling to keep up with the boy, Rose stood and announced that she would like all who want to play to join in on a game of Twister while Greg starts up lunch.
"Who wants to play?" Rose asked. Amethyst and Ruby were the first to volunteer, being the most outgoing of the group. They had no problem stumbling over other people. Peridot followed soon after, jumping at the chance to do something normal for once. Games like this were pretty much banned in the rich life. Pearl, on the other hand, was a tad skeptical.
"I don't think I'll participate. I'd much rather watch."
"Aw, come on, P!" Amethyst attempted to change Pearl's mind. "You're like, the most flexible out of all of us with your ballet stuff. You'd crush us all."
"Which is precisely why I don't want to play." Pearl was pretty adamant with her decision. Amethyst just shrugged and gave up. It wasn't her fault if Pearl didn't wanna have fun.
And so the game was underway.
Pearl and Sapphire took turns using the spinner to give orders to the players, and Garnet is having a casual conversation with Rose while Greg cooks in the kitchen and Steven plays with his plane.
Of course, the game in question being Twister, it was only natural for calamity to ensue sooner or later.
"Left hand to Green." Pearl called out.
It was Amethyst's turn, and the positions of the players were already a little more than uncomfortable.
Ruby was unlucky enough to have her first three spins land on yellow, and her final spin forced her to contort her body to such an extent so that she could reach behind herself and put her right hand on red. It was naturally difficult, not to mention that Amethyst and Peridot's bodies were in the way. Ruby was the first to be 'out', to say the least. She stood from the mat and stood beside Sapphire.
Amethyst and Peridot found themselves being all over each other. Amethyst's arm is hooked under Peridot's leg to hit a blue, Peridot's leg is around Amethyst's neck to hit a green. It was definitely uncomfortable, and this is without mentioning that they're a couple.
But when Amethyst got the go to put her left hand on green, a wicked image played in her head. Without a second thought, she lifted her hand, hooked it around Peridot's leg, and placed her hand firmly on the seat of Peridot's green sweatpants.
The contact to her butt sent Peridot falling out of surprise. She ended up falling on top of Amethyst, and the two quickly worked to untangle themselves, Amethyst in a fit of laughter and Peridot just plain embarrassed.
Pearl pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing.
"Amethyst.. The mat. The green on the mat."
"She was on the mat." Amethyst reasoned, laughing through her teeth. Pearl took a deep breath again. What was one to do?
Ruby, and even Sapphire, laughed along with Amethyst.
Peridot sat up from the mat, rubbing her hair. Her glasses ended up falling from her face during the ordeal, so she had to pick them up again.
"Really, at least warn me first.." She said, cleaning her lenses with her shirt.
"But that takes the 'surprise' out of the surprise, Peri."
"Well if you're gonna surprise me like that.." Peridot leaned forward, whispering in Amethyst's ear so that Pearl, Sapphire, and Ruby wouldn't hear. "..I'd rather it be when we're alone."
Peridot pulled away and, pleased to see a blush on Amethyst's face, stood from the mat, stretching her arms.
"Lunch is ready!" Greg's voice was heard from the kitchen. Rose stood from the couch, calling back to her husband.
"Thanks, hun! We'll be in the dining room, okay?"
"You got it!"
Just then, a knock came from the front door.
"I got it!" Amethyst picked herself up from the Twister mat and made her way toward the door. As soon as she heard the knock, she assumed it had to be Vidalia. And her assumption was correct, as when she opened the door, the blonde, leather clad girl stood outside, just stomping out a cigarette.
"Hey, V, you're just in time. Greg just finished cooking."
Vidalia took a few seconds to process what her eyes were seeing. Amethyst was standing in Rose's doorway.. Out of prison.
"I thought you had a couple months in the slammer, girl.." Vidalia stated, completely dumbstruck. Amethyst shrugged.
"Garnet let me out just for today. You know, cuz of New Years."
"Badass." Vidalia smiled, making her way inside of the house when Amethyst stepped aside.
Everyone is now seated at the dining room table. Extra chairs had to be pulled up, but they were able to fit everyone in.
The lunch was homemade lasagna, and Greg already put portions on many different plates, carrying them out to everyone on a tray. He guessed that Vidalia was going to arrive, so he made an extra portion just in case. The group dug in.
Ruby and Sapphire sat beside each other for obvious reasons with Garnet on Ruby's other side, next to Greg, and they introduced themselves to Vidalia in much the same way they did with Pearl. Except they explained that they weren't related by blood first to avoid confusion, like last time.
Amethyst and Peridot sat beside each other and Vidalia sat on the opposite side of Amethyst. After introductions were over with between Vidalia and the youngest people in the room aside from Steven, who was in his mother's lap, Amethyst went off on her.
"Why the heck didn't you ever tell me you had a kid?!" She exclaimed after swalowing a mouthful of her food.
"It never came up." Vidalia said nonchalantly. "I mean, he wasn't the first thing on my mind during.. You know." Vidalia didn't want to say anything to specific for Steven's sake. Peridot, however, caught onto her words pretty easily. And despite everything, she couldn't help but feel a little jealous.. But she didn't say anything. It was in the past, after all. Amethyst was all hers, now.
"He's nine, V! I mean, seriously!"
"Look, I'll introduce you to him sometime, ok? Get off my back." Vidalia pretended to have her feelings hurt, even pushing Amethyst's shoulder, but her smile betrayed her act. She was having fun.
"Yeah, you do that." Amethyst smiled as well. It was good to see her best friend again.
"So what were you saying earlier, Amethyst?" Garnet asked from across the table.
Of course it was Garnet that brought up the subject. She would be the most curious about Amethyst's words coming through Rose's door. 'Used to be a hooker'? What did that mean?
"Oh that.." Amethyst struggled to find the right words. She actually put her fork down on her plate, and she stared at her food. Honestly, she's never had to do anything like this before.
What should she say first? That she and Peridot were a couple? That she planned on quitting her prostituting career? It was hard to even think about, now that the situation was right in front of her. Normally, it would be a good thing to quit prostitution. Some would see it as a step up, a good new start. But it's pretty much all Amethyst's ever known after the orphanage, so how was she supposed to act?
She looked up when she felt a hand on hers under the table. Turning her head to the owner of that hand, she found Peridot giving her a kind smile.
"Go on.."
Amethyst smiled back at her girlfriend appreciatively. Just two words.. But it was good enough. Especially coming from the girl who meant the world to Amethyst.
Amethyst turned back to the group at the table, who were all waiting patiently. Steven seemed to not be aware of the situation, as he was still stuffing his face with lasagna.
Taking a deep breath, Amethyst spoke.
"I'm done selling my body. Peridot and I are dating and I'm going to get a real job."
Author's Note: I only had like, 300 words made out for this chapter for almost a week, and suddenly inspiration comes to me and I add almost 3,000 words in a single night. I'm tired. -.- But anyway, I really liked writing this chapter, so I hope you guys enjoy this just as much. Like always, don't hesitate to leave a review. It would be greatly appreciated. :3