Chapter 3: A Family of Friends

The werewolf and vampire duo, Peridot and Amethyst returned to their hideout which was a standard two-story house and a large log cabin. Amethyst held baby Lapis close to her chest so that the baby wouldn't get a chill. Pearl was the first one to greet the returning pair.

"Peridot. Amethyst." she said. "There you are. I was just about to send someone to go looking for you."

"Sorry, Pearl." Amethyst apologized. "We would've been here sooner, but we got a little sidetracked."

She revealed Lapis in her bundle of blankets. The pink haired vampire's eyes filled with sparkles and a small smile tugged a little on her face. It was like she had instantly fell in love with the baby girl.

"Is that a human baby?" asked Pearl.

"Yes, it is." Peridot nodded.

"Her name is Lapis Lazuli." Amethyst nodded.

"Where did you find her?" the skinny vampire asked.

"In the forest." Peridot answered. "Two of Jasper's vampires stole her from her family."

"We think that she might be the one." Amethyst added. "You know. The girl that Jasper's been waiting all these centuries for."

"Let's show her to Rose and see what she thinks of her." Pearl recommended.

She took the baby from her werewolf friend and cradled her as the trio walked. A motherly nature filled the vampire's system and she looked at Lapis like she didn't want to let her go.

They found Rose Quartz and introduced her to the human baby. The pack leader was also enamored with little Lapis from the first meeting.

"Hi, little Lapis." she uttered, tickling the tiny girl under her chin. "I'm Rose."

Lapis gave little peals of laughter and cuddled up to Rose's warm body.

"You two were right to rescue this child from Jasper." the pack leader said.

"So what do we do?" asked Amethyst. "Jasper obviously knows where Lapis lives."

"I hate to say this." Pearl spoke up, her own heart aching. "But, maybe it would be best to take the baby back to where she came from."

"Take her back?" Peridot echoed. "But, it's miles away. And even if we do send her back home, Jasper is just going to try to steal her again."

"He might even kill the girl's parents for good measure." Amethyst vouched.

"I see your point." the skinny vampire sighed.

"Seeing that it would be too dangerous for Lapis to be sent home, I suggest that the girl stays here with us." Rose affirmed.

"What!?" Pearl exclaimed.

"And besides, it'll be nice for Steven to grow up with somebody his age." the motherly werewolf smiled, cuddling the little baby. "Doesn't that sound great? Do you want to have a new friend?"

Lapis again gave babyish peals of laughter. She was completely oblivious to what everyone was talking about. Her only focus seemed to be snuggling into a warm embrace.

That was when Pearl pulled Rose aside for a moment.

"Rose, you can't be serious about this." the rebel vampire whispered. "I mean, a human infant raised by werewolves and vampires? It's unheard of."

"We can't risk the safety of the child and her family by sending her back home." Rose reasoned with her.

"Even if it is the best motive for Lapis to live here, we still have to introduce her to the rest of the pack." Pearl mentioned.

"My thoughts exactly." the pack leader concurred, giving a sharp whistle.

Lapis winced a little at the loud noise. But soon, a rather large group of werewolves and rebel vampires came from all around. The baby girl timidly hid her face into Rose's bosom from the band of newcomers.

One werewolf had black eyes, coffee colored skin, and rainbow-colored hair in dreadlocks. She wore a light red flannel shirt and maroon overalls. She approached the pack leader like she was ready for action.

"What's the matter, Rose?" the werewolf asked on high alert. "Are Jasper's followers attacking?"

"Oh no, don't worry; Bismuth." Rose assured her. "This is good news. Everyone, I would like you all to meet the newest member of the pack: Lapis Lazuli."

Everybody looked and saw that something was shaking in the bundle of blankets she had.

"It's okay, little one." the motherly werewolf cooed to the baby. "Don't be shy."

Lapis turned her face to the group of onlookers. She warmed up a little to the new faces and gave a wide toothless smile. The alliance members beamed at the baby and marveled at how adorable she was.

"She was rescued by Amethyst and Peridot after two of Jasper's loyalists snatched her from her home." Rose continued getting a little serious. "It would be too risky to send her back to her family. So from this forth, she'll be staying here with us."

The pack started to murmur to one another about this arrangement. But, Rose raised her hand up to command silence.

"While Lapis lives here, I expect everybody to help take care just as we do for Steven." she carried on. "She will need our protection in case Jasper's followers come lurking around."

Every werewolf and vampire rebel nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, Lapis started to cry like something was bothering her. Amethyst stepped forward and gave a little sniff. Even though the scent was smothered by blankets, her enhanced nose could smell something rotten.

"Uh-oh!" she interjected, pinching her nose. "Smells like somebody needs a diaper change."

And then, a sound echoed from the house: another baby crying.

"Steven's awake already?" Peridot said. "But, it's not even sunrise yet."

"Maybe he needs his diaper changed too." Amethyst guessed.

"Bismuth, can you bring Steven out here?" Pearl requested. "That way, we can change both babies at the same time."

"No problem, Pearl." the brawny werewolf nodded, dashing to grab Steven from the house.

As the others got the baby stuff ready, Bismuth returned with the sobbing baby boy. He looked around the same age as Lapis. Both babies were laid down side by side to get changed.

"Shhh, it's going to be okay, sweetie." Rose hushed the crying human girl, working to get the dirty diaper off. "We'll get you cleaned up in no time."

As the pack leader had Lapis wiped, powdered, and fitted into a clean diaper; Pearl checked to see if Rose's son needed a change. However once Lapis settled down, Steven got quiet as well.

"That's strange." the pink haired vampire commented. "He's not even wet."

"He could be hungry." Peridot presumed.

"If he was then he would still be crying." Pearl deduced.

This didn't make any sense. How could Lapis crying trigger Steven to do the same?

Just then, the human girl reached her little hand out for the infant werewolf's hand which was balled up in a loose fist. When the two hands found each other, Rose could see a white aura surrounding the babies who were smiling.

"I knew those two would be a match made in Heaven." she spoke softly to her self.

She had a very strong feeling that those two were going to be inseparable.