Ruby was squatting in the sand, steadily scooping handfuls of damp, warm sand out of the hole she was digging and pressing it into a brightly colored bucket. The sun beat down on her broad back, warming her body in a way she had long forgotten. She marveled the gritty, sticky texture of the sand under her feet, smoothing out the lumpy bed of her hole with her stubby toes. She paused for a moment, looking out to the sparkling ocean, a grimace of disdain on her face.
Ruby didn't dig for long before standing and dusting off her hands. She kicked at the pile of sand she had made and dumped the sand from the bucket a little ways away from her hole. She sighed, hands on her hips, surveying the neat, shallow rectangle shaped hole with pride. She then turned toward the ocean, unconsciously pulling up her beach shorts before marching strongly towards the water.
"What exactly is she doing?" Pearl asked, adjusting her floppy sun hat, loosening her grip on the picnic basket in her thin arms. Amethyst snuck close to Pearl on one leg, trying to pry the lid open with her tongue stuck out. Pearl's multi-colored shawl momentarily blinded Amethyst and she fell to the ground with a grunt.
"I believe she's making Steven a baby pool." Sapphire mumbled, distracted as Steven put a handful of her hair into his mouth.
"I thought we took him to the beach so that he could swim in the ocean?" Amethyst asked, huffing as Pearl (and the basket full of delicious food) began to walk toward the rectangle shaped hole in the ground.
"You know Ruby can't swim, Amethyst." Sapphire whispered, bouncing Steven in her arms.
"She can't? She can swim in lava though."
"Well lava is her element. Water is not, she floats like a rock." Sapphire smiled softly, bumping Amethyst's offered fist and hushing her loud "OHHH!"
Amethyst galloped off, racing towards Ruby and splashing powerfully into the ocean. Pearl began to set up their umbrella and blanket right next to the baby pool. Sapphire gently kissed Steven's shiny brow, rubbing at the thickly applied sunscreen. She joined Pearl, setting Steven down on the blanket and sitting down herself.
It had been a long time since she had changed her outfit. It was strange to not feel the familiar, soft skirt around her or the material tightly wrapped around her shoulders. The occasional breeze that came made her shudder and Pearl paused her setting up.
"Are you okay?" Pearl asked. "I know human swimming suits are rather small-if you wish you could wear your dress."
Sapphire shook her head, missing the acquainted weight of her fluffy hair on her shoulders. She had put it up in a ponytail like Amethyst, as was the fashion of the times-and she had hoped it would deter Steven from trying to eat it (it hadn't). Being outside of Garnet after such a long time being fused, it always took some time to get used to her body again. Being Garnet made Sapphire forget the contours of her own body, or the way the sun felt on her brow, or the way Steven's drool felt on her gem.
For Ruby it was easy, she was sturdy and welcomed the barrage of sensory details. She didn't flinch when lights flickered on or hush Amethyst when she yelled too loudly. When they had first set out to the beach, Ruby had easily walked on the grating particles of sand barefoot without a problem-but Sapphire had needed to make sandals.
"You know it takes me a bit longer to get used to my body after we've been fused for so long." Sapphire smiled kindly, running her bare hands down her newly formed legs.
"I know. Which is why, it's fine if you need to change back into something more comfortable." Pearl whispered, pausing as Ruby stomped back to the pool. She poured her water and a giant purple pelican did the same. As soon as the last salty drop was in the pool, they both raced back to the ocean with reckless grins and laughs.
Steven tried sitting up, his new fluffy swim-diaper impeding him a bit. He watched Ruby and Amethyst and whined. He looked to Sapphire with a pout and began to crawl toward her.
"Don't worry Steven, your pool will be done soon." Sapphire whispered, hugging him to her chest. She sighed as a grabby fist managed to get a large chunk of her hair again.
Sapphire hadn't been wrong, Ruby and Amethyst filled up the pool in no time. Amethyst stood in the pool, the water only coming up a little bit above her ankles. Sapphire carried an excited Steven to the pool, setting him down gently in the water.
They all gathered around the pool, curious to see Steven's reaction. Steven looked…confused. He smacked the cold water with his palm, then stuck his fist in his mouth. He gagged and spat it out with the most betrayed look on his face.
"Only Steven would try to drink salt water." Amethyst chuckled, watching as Steven quickly climbed out onto the sand toward Pearl.
"Well, the only water he really gets to interact with is in the sink during bath time." Pearl said thoughtfully, wiping the copious amounts of drool from Steven's chin. She picked him up and patted his back while he continued sticking his tongue out and spitting.
"I told you we ought to put him in the real ocean." Amethyst said, sitting in the pool and shapeshifting into a tiny shark. She swam laps around the shallow pool, snapping at Ruby and Sapphire's toes.
Ruby only crossed her arms and kicked some sand at Amethyst. She had been hopeful that perhaps Steven would be happy with her pseudo-ocean. Ruby did not want to take Steven into the real ocean. She didn't have anything against the ocean, it was beautiful and…big…and blue. It was just that if something happened out there, there would be little she could do.
"Ruby," Sapphire whispered, gently taking Ruby's hand into her own. "It'll be fine. Nothing's going to happen. We won't be taking him in far."
"Of course not, he's only a baby." Pearl nodded. "Why don't we let him feel the ocean moving-we can let him feel the tide. We just have to hold him tight."
"Will he like that?" Ruby asked, her arms suddenly uncrossing as she rolled her shoulders uncomfortably.
"I'm not looking." Sapphire sighed. "I want to be surprised too. But he won't drown-I know that."
"OCEAN!" Amethyst roared, jumping powerfully into the air and splashing back down in her human form into the shallow pool.
"Amethyst! You got Steven and I covered in sand!" Pearl hissed, hurriedly getting a towel and wiping Steven's face off. Amethyst could only laugh. Steven looked on, sticking a sandy fist into his mouth and kicking his little feet. "No Steven, don't eat the sand!"
Sapphire smiled, flinching when Ruby's warm skin pressed into her back. Ruby had suddenly wrapped her thick arms around Sapphire's waist, pressing their cheeks together.
"Are you doing okay?" Ruby whispered, holding Sapphire firmly in her strong grip.
"I'm perfectly fine. What about you?" Sapphire muttered, sneaking a quick kiss.
"It's sunny, hot and I'm doing physically labor, Sapph. This is what I'm made for. You on the other hand, hate the heat and you're barely covered up-not that I'm complaining about that last part-OOF!"
Sapphire elbowed Ruby firmly in her flat stomach with a tiny smile.
"As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted," Ruby giggled, kissing at the smooth expanse of blueberry skin so rarely seen by the sun. "I know this really isn't comfortable for you, especially so soon after unfusing."
"Steven's happy. You're happy. So I'm happy too." Sapphire shrugged, grinning as Ruby's fingers delicately snapped the band of her bikini bottoms. She slapped the persistent hands away and kissed them instead. "It always takes me some time to get used to me again."
"I wouldn't mind helping you get used to you, once our fun beach day adventure is all over." Ruby whispered, her hot breath tickling under Sapphire's jaw.
"I'll take you up on that offer." Sapphire said, her own hands gracing against Ruby's bicep. "If you'll have me?"
"Oh you bet I wi-."
"Bwagha!" Steven interrupted, his sticky hands suddenly hot on Sapphire's legs. He pulled himself up slightly, still in a squat. He grinned at them both before falling back down on his poufy tush.
"Hey, little man!" Ruby exclaimed with a grin. "What'ya doing?"
"I think he might be a tad jealous." Sapphire giggled, picking him up. "He's usually the one being spoiled with kisses."
"Ughya!" Steven affirmed with a pout.
"I can fix that." Ruby grinned, gently snatching Steven from Sapphire's willing arms and swinging him around. She kissed at him ruthlessly and he squealed in delight. She eventually fell onto her back and rested Steven on her feet. She would drop her legs down and kiss his forehead before raising him back up with a quiet whoop. "You want some kisses? You want some kisses?"
"I WANT KISSES!" Amethyst yelled, rolling into Ruby while making ridiculous kissy faces.
"Aaa! Aaae!" Steven clapped, sliding onto Ruby's chest down from her knees. He crawled from Ruby to Amethyst and kissed Amethyst's eyelid with a gurgle.
"I told you, Ruby. We spoiled her too!" Sapphire laughed, sitting next to Amethyst and running her fingers through her long, lilac hair. Amethyst didn't take very good care of her hair, but somehow it always remained soft despite its many tangles and snarls.
"We did not spoil her!" Ruby grunted, trying to get Steven's diapered butt from out of her face.
"You kind of did." Pearl muttered, she had seated herself on the other side of Ruby with the picnic basket.
"Okay, okay. So we spoil! Aren't we supposed to be getting' this kid in the ocean already?!" Ruby rolled her eyes, helping Steven onto to Amethyst's face, where Amethyst blew raspberries on his belly.
"Yes, Ruby's right. We should do it soon, it's almost time for lunch." Pearl said. "He gets sleepy after he gets his milk."
Ruby and Sapphire held Steven's tiny hands, lifting him onto his wobbly legs. His little legs shook strongly as he attempted to stand. Both Ruby and Sapphire were supporting most of his weight, watching in delight as he placed one hesitant foot after the other. They made it halfway to the shore before Steven gave up with a whimper, dropping onto his knees. They swung him after that. He kicked his legs and squealed, sometimes his little toes brushing over Amethyst's furry form under him or his pink heels raised toward the sun.
"Be careful you two." Pearl called, she was already in the ocean, wading in the crystal clear water, Amethyst on her heels as a dog. "We don't want another accident."
"One time P. Come on!" Amethyst groaned, shifting back into her human form with a flash, her voice distorted as half of her face was underwater.
"You flung him nearly twenty feet in the air!"
"He totally loved it though! Right Steven?"
"Aghbwhameda!"
"SEE P. He loved it!"
"Amethyst!"
Sapphire watched as a familiar pull-and-push argument began to unfold. It was thankfully nothing that would expand into dangerous, hurtful territories but it was an argument nevertheless. Ruby was distracting Steven from them, making a number of funny faces that demanded his complete attention. Sapphire stifled a giggle as Ruby grew more and more creative.
"Come on you two, Steven's first try with the real ocean!" Ruby called, swinging Steven up into her arms and stopping right at the wet line in the sand. Her red toes wiggled, nudging nervously at the damp sand.
"Should I hold him?" Sapphire asked, noticing the slight tremor in Ruby's strong hands. Steven's happy grin had drained from his face and he was looking out at the large expanse of the ocean wearily. He suddenly clung to Ruby's striped tank top with a quiet whimper.
"Oh, it's okay baby." Sapphire quietly cooed, patting his broad back. "We're gonna be right here. You want to hold my hand?"
Steven fiercely grabbed Sapphire's hand, nervously sucking on it as Ruby inched forward. The tide calmly washed up, seaweed and foam brushing against Ruby's ankles. Ruby shivered and with her free hand, she also grabbed Sapphire's hand.
"I don't like this." Ruby muttered through her teeth, staring off into the ocean covered horizon.
Ruby had never liked water. She tolerated it at best, often avoiding deep bodies of water. When they had first come to Earth, Sapphire had watched the glaze of horror wash over Ruby as she first saw how much water was on the planet. It was rather strange to Sapphire; because Ruby didn't mind rain, or fountains or Pearl's room or swimming pools, but something about the ocean just freaked her out. Perhaps it was a 'ruby' thing.
"There will be ground under our feet. The water won't be all around us. Steven will be safe because you won't let anything happen to him." Sapphire whispered strongly. She guided them both closer and closer, stopping until the water brushed just under their knees.
Amethyst flounced over, kicking and spraying all three of them with a healthy spray of salty water.
"Ugh, Amethyst." Ruby spat, shielding Steven with her body. "Be careful."
"The next wave is coming. Put him in! Put him in!" Amethyst cried, jumping up and down, getting water in her mouth and nose.
"Okay, okay. Calm down, Amethyst." Ruby huffed, holding Steven under his arms and gently setting him into the ocean. Steven whimpered, looking up at both Ruby and Sapphire with a pout.
"Hey, it's okay buddy." Ruby whispered, squatting down next to him, letting him rest against her thigh. "It's going to be a-alright. Right Sapph?"
"Yes, Ruby." Sapphire whispered, also squatting, focusing her 'sight' on the ocean. There was something at the edge of her sight, something that was trying to draw her into a vision. She didn't want to see though. She had a feeling it was about Steven, she was always focused on him or Ruby. It was beginning to hurt, trying to hold back the wave of possibilities. She predicted the ebb and flow of the tide instead while watching Steven.
It hit her before she could react.
The tide came in quickly, suddenly increasing from its gentle tempo and splashing powerfully into them. Amethyst was washed onto shore and Steven was smacked in the face with the little wave. He coughed and before Ruby or Steven knew it, they were on the sandy beach thirty feet from the water.
"Oh my goodness!" Sapphire cried. "Steven-."
Steven whimpered, clenching his little fists and turning a brilliant shade of red. He hiccupped and began to sniffle before wailing.
"I'm so sorry!" Sapphire gasped, hugging him.
"What happened? Is he alright?" Pearl asked, skidding next to them.
"The tide…it…just-." Ruby stuttered.
"The wave hit him in the face." Sapphire said. "I'm sorry. I-I wasn't looking-a-a-and I-I-I."
"Sapphire, give 'em to Pearl." Ruby commanded, gently prying Sapphire's thin arms from around the still crying Steven. Pearl took him and began to pat his back and hum a familiar song. Ruby pressed Sapphire's body into her own. Sapphire's breath began to hitch and she covered her face with her hands.
"Take it easy, Sapph." Ruby whispered. "Maybe we should've waited for our beach day a little longer after unfusing so abruptly."
"I-I-I'm s-s-orry." Sapphire whimpered, shivering as Ruby's skin fluctuated in temperature.
"Nothing to be sorry about." Ruby said. "We're not on Homeworld, this isn't the war. You made a mistake, no one is going to hurt you and nobody is shattered. Steven will be fine, it was an accident."
"B-b-but-."
"No buts." Ruby said, pulling back and staring right into Sapphire's eye. "You gotta stop beating yourself up about this, Sapphy. I can't protect you from yourself."
"I'm sorry." Sapphire mumbled, her hands still pressed against her face. "T-this is all too much. I-I couldn't p-protect him again."
"And your body is taking a major hit. And I know 'not looking' gives you headaches-future vision never turns off." Ruby listed, with a weak smile. "I love you and so does Steven. One accident isn't going to change that."
Sapphire nodded, wiping her face and smiling as Ruby pressed a gentle kiss against the underside of her jaw.
"Amethyst, help me!" Pearl cried, tugging at Amethyst who was face down in the sand. "He just won't stop crying. I don't know what's wrong."
"I'll get the towel, let's lay him down." Sapphire suggested shaking off the constricting feeling in her chest and quickly grabbed the towel and smoothing it down at Pearl's feet. Pearl quickly laid him down, and Steven furiously kicked his feet. He was a brilliant shade of red, his fists clenched hard as he swung them around angrily. His cry wasn't like yesterdays though, but nevertheless unlike his usual wails.
"His teeth?" Amethyst suggested, dripping water all over Steven and the towel. Sapphire quickly formed a layer of frost over his fist and presented it to Steven. He slapped it away and kicked his feet even more so.
"Oh, Steven." Pearl whispered, her voice wavering sadly.
"Man, he is piiiiiiiiiiiiiiissed."
"Amethyst, please not in front of Steven."
"Is pissed a bad word?"
"I think s-so, um… but just do as Sapphire says."
"She's right, Amethyst. Babies start picking up language incredibly early. We need to be careful what we say around him."
"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
"What kind of cry is that?"
"Amethyst, no criticizing! Maybe this is how he cries now."
"I-I think he's trying to talk."
"Really! Oh my goodness, everybody quiet. What are you trying to say Steven?"
"GAAAAAAAAA!"
"Sounds like a whole bunch of nothing. He's just pissed."
"GAAAANN"
"Gan? Gone? Oh, he wants to leave."
"He hates the beach now doesn't he?"
"NO! Sapphire, he doesn't hate the beach now. H-he's just pissed at the ocean. Which is totally okay. Because who even likes-."
"Oooo! Ruby said piss-."
"GANEEE! GANEEE GANEE!"
They all freeze. Ruby's jaw drops, Amethyst lets out a low whistle, Pearl makes a strangled noise, and Sapphire nearly falls on her face.
"Did he just say?" Pearl whispered, looking at Ruby and Sapphire.
"No, he couldn't have. He-he couldn't know how to say 'Garnet' yet." Ruby muttered shaking her head. "H-h-he can't-."
"G-Ganet." Steven hiccupped woefully, sticking a fist in his mouth trying to calm himself down. Fat tears fell down his plump cheeks as he whimpered quietly.
"He wants Garnet." Amethyst whispered in awe, also turning to stare at both Ruby and Sapphire. "H-he must miss her."
"She's only been gone for like a day!" Ruby exclaims in amazement. Her breath is coming so fast that she might've been hyperventilating (not that she would ever admit to that.)
"To an infant that must seem like forever." Sapphire said, shaking her head in amazement, a contagious grin settling on her face. She placed her hand on Ruby's and giggled. "He said our name."
"He said our name." Ruby repeated, chuckling slightly before laughing heartily. "He said our name first. His very first word and it was our name!"
Sapphire flung herself into Ruby's open arms. Ruby threw her into the air, whooping in delight. Steven watched sadly, spitting out his fist with a sob. Sapphire and Ruby began to spin each other's arms, their delighted laughter echoing on the beach as their forms turned into light. Their form stretched and grew, until they became one.
Garnet gracefully landed on the beach, a huge grin plastered on her face. Her normal jumpsuit had been replaced by a mix of Ruby and Sapphire's beach day attire. She stood over Steven for a moment before leaning in closer to him, grin subdued.
"Gaaanet!" Steven cried, reaching toward her, struggling to sit up. "Ganet."
Garnet picked him up, letting him rest on her bare shoulder. She rubbed his back and began to bounce on the balls of her feet.
"Oh, baby boy. Did the ocean scare you?" Garnet cooed, signaling Pearl to grab Steven's bottle. Pearl skittered off quickly, dragging Amethyst along with her, back to their little camp.
"AhghwaGanet." Steven whimpered, his nose running horribly. He had captured a bundle of Garnet's uniform curls and shoved them in his mouth, still mumbling her name over and over.
"I'm sorry I was gone Steven." Garnet whispered, pressing gentle kisses into Steven's warm cheek. "That must've been scary."
Steven nodded, not really sure what Garnet was saying but agreeing with her pitying tone. He pointed to his cheek with a sniffle. She kissed him again right where he pointed, hugging him tightly as Pearl arrived with Steven's bottle.
"He actually said-h-he…" Pearl mumbled, sitting down next to Garnet, her usual strict posture abandoned in her state of awe. She handed Garnet the bottle, Steven grabbing at it and immediately beginning to drink furiously.
"He freakin' said Garnet first. I thought for sure he was gonna say Dada or milk or like poop first." Amethyst said with a large grin.
"You didn't think he'd say your name first?"
"Pearl, I couldn't even say my name the first time I heard it."
Steven seemed oblivious to the world now. One hand balanced the bottle on his tummy, the plastic occasionally clinking against his gem as he took breaths between mouthfuls and the other was holding onto Garnet's fingers. He was looking into Garnet's eyes, glaring was more like it. Almost daring her to go away during his time of need. Garnet chuckled, kissing his forehead to smooth the grumpy wrinkles.
"I'm sorry Steven." She whispered, caressing his cheek with her finger. "I won't ever let the ocean hurt you again, I promise."
"Gawnet." Steven said through his bottle, gripping her finger even tighter with a tiny smile.
…
Steven splashed around in the sink, grabbing at the baby soap on the counter and unintentionally getting more soap on Garnet and Pearl. Pearl wiped the strawberry scented soap from her chest with a sigh.
"Steven, we bought you toys. How come you never play with them?" Pearl asked, gently removing the soap from Steven's pudgy hands and handing him a rubber duck. He frowned but started playing with that instead, making rocket noises rather than quacking.
"He seems better." Garnet mumbled, rubbing under Steven's neck, her hand wrapped in a towel like glove. It was a little too small, but it covered her gems perfectly. They had bought them with Steven had begun flinching when they pressed into his bare skin during his baths.
"He's not as fussy as before." Pearl agreed with a sigh. After having been returned to Garnet's arms, he had refused to be put anywhere else. Their first attempt to set him down had resulted in a cataclysmic tantrum. Steven had cried so hard, his voice had gone hoarse. He had clung to her with a ferocity that couldn't be tempered no matter what they did. Garnet had ended up being held by him during lunch time, cramming herself into his crib with him for his nap, sitting with him while he played and only just now during his bath had he finally let go of her. She of course hadn't minded, she loved spending time with him especially since every now and again he would turn to her and say her name with a smile.
"He might be able to sleep on his own." Garnet said, covering his eyes and Pearl dumped the lukewarm water over Steven's head. A surprising amount of sand stuck to the rim of the sink from their earlier adventure. Pearl hadn't been kidding when she said Steven managed to get messy all over.
"He might." Pearl shrugged, looking at Garnet from the side with a slight blush. "If there's something you need to 'do', I could watch him tonight."
Garnet nodded, a slight smile on her lips, playfully pushing up against Pearl's shoulder.
Steven's bath went without incident, he seemed relieved to be back in normal water again. They had dried him off, diapered him and dressed him. Garnet stood by his side, reading the dog eared bed time story they had been reading him since his first few weeks on Earth while Pearl rocked him. Steven easily went to bed, snoring quietly before the story was even over.
Garnet waited, checking the number of possibilities that could play out by the end of the night. She only stood when she was certain that Steven wouldn't be waking any time soon. She told Pearl that no matter what, to come get her at any sign of distress-even the smallest thing.
"Are we going to tell Greg what happened today?" Pearl whispered, her eyes focused on Steven's sleepy face with a warm grin.
"We will." Garnet had decided, glimpsing into the near future. "It's information he needs to be made aware of. Don't worry, he'll understand. "
Garnet quickly made her way into the cave, stopping before the door to take on last glance at Pearl and Steven. Pearl had begun humming a quiet tune as she rocked in her chair, stroking Steven's pink face lovingly.
Garnet stepped into the Burning Room with a tremble, ecstatic shivers shaking her strong form. Her chest rose and fell, as she took in air she didn't need. She took three long steps into the room, before gripping her shoulders with a smile. She grinned so hard her cheeks hurt before glowing and splitting apart.
They fell apart rather gracefully. Ruby was still holding Sapphire, pressing their faces together as they laughed.
"HE SAID 'GARNET'!" Ruby yelled, cradling Sapphire in her arms.
"Ruby! Amethyst will be able to hear you." Sapphire hushed.
"I don't care! I WANT THE WHOLE WORLD TO KNOW. OUR BABY SAID 'GARNET' FIRST! WHOOOO!" Ruby exclaimed, laughing and spinning them around quickly, a gentle heat warming Sapphire to her very core. Sapphire could only grin, holding tightly to Ruby's neck as Ruby spun herself until she was dizzy and fell onto her back. Sapphire draped herself over Ruby, who had closed her eyes and wiggled her feet with excitement with a squeal.
"Garnet just about exploded from happiness." Sapphire whispered with a grin, supporting herself on her elbows so that she could look at Ruby's face.
"I might have contributed to some of that."
"Neither of us are guiltless." Sapphire smiled, kissing Ruby's nose. "Can you believe? Our little boy is talking."
"He said 'Garnet' Sapphire." Ruby sighed, opening shiny eyes with a sniffle.
"Oh, Ruby." Sapphire giggled, wiping Ruby's boiling tears from her cheeks tenderly with a quiet hiss.
"He's just growing up way too fast!" Ruby blubbered, hugging Sapphire with all her might. "What are we gonna do, Sapphy? He's gonna be walkin' soon and then he's gonna want to go some far away college and go do human stuff without us!"
"Ruby," Sapphire admonished gently. "Steven isn't going to college tomorrow. We have plenty of time before then-if that's the path he chooses. Right now, he's still our baby who needs help walking and is going to need us to be strong for him in the future."
Ruby nodded wiping her face with a watery smile. "Kid's afraid of the ocean. Why couldn't he be afraid of something I could punch?"
"Garnet can swim." Sapphire assured her, kissing both of her cheeks now, traveling down to her warm neck. "Don't you trust me?"
"Um…yes." Ruby whispered, holding Sapphire closer and closer.
"I think, today was incredibly stressful." Sapphire muttered, her icy breath leaving patches of frost along Ruby's shoulder. Each kiss would leave violet marks along Ruby's red skin. "I'll take you up on that offer from earlier today."
"If you'll have me." Ruby whispered, her dark eyes entirely dedicated to Sapphire's warm gaze.
"You bet I will."
A/N: Finally, I finished the 'No Greg, No Problem' arc. It took me forever to figure out the ending-a suggested prompt from KND Operative Numbuh 227 helped me out this one. I still might write a separate, alternate 'First Word' though. Anyways, thank you guys for the many favorites and follows. Special thanks to all of you who took the time to review; you guys really know how to a make a girl's day. I'm happy you're all enjoying this and I apologize for the truckloads of fluff and cute I've been dumping into your lives.
A/N: 'Crystal Gem Academy' should be updated rather soon-definitely by the end of the day if not in a few hours.