Ruby would tell anybody, very vehemently that she didn't like to sleep. She'd work herself until she poofed if she had to prove it.
But Steven was a different type of work. He challenged them all physically, emotionally and mentally. So, when Ruby looked so haggard after one full day of Steven, Sapphire subtly guided her to the crib and she was out in less than a minute, snoring and grunting and kicking.
It was only eight though. A little too early to put Steven down. So, he and Sapphire have some rare alone time together.
Steven didn't seem to mind. He happily opened his arms to be picked up and they quickly went through his nightly routine. During his bath, Sapphire let tiny snowflakes litter his hair, much to his delight.
Sapphire loved the way he laughed. She loved the way he got so excited in between giggles that he'd let out shrill screeches of undulated joy. They managed to get through his bottle and into his jammies with, thankfully, no incident.
Steven was just a couple weeks shy of officially being two. He could clumsily climb up the stairs by himself, but Sapphire insisted on holding him as she took him to bed. She knew it was selfish – Steven was a big boy now and he needed to practice being one. But he was growing up much too fast. She had always been aware of the next day, month, or year. Now that the future was coming to pass, she found herself clinging tighter and tighter to the now.
Steven climbed into bed himself, rolling right into Ruby. He wasn't unfamiliar with sharing his crib; Amethyst frequently fell asleep with him on her nights watching him. He seemed incredibly happy to have a new crib mate. He looked at Sapphire and dramatically pointed at Ruby's sleeping form.
"Yes, she's asleep, isn't she?" Sapphire stage whispered, watching Steven climb over Ruby. He nearly fell off of her in his effort. "Are you ready for bed?"
"No!" Steven grinned. That seemed to be his favorite word now. He said 'no' to everything and everyone – even when he meant yes.
"Oh, then I'll guess I'll just tell myself a story." Sapphire sighed, wilting against the crib dramatically. "And it was a good one too!"
Steven practically leapt off Ruby and into Sapphire's arms. "Sto'y! No!"
"Are you sure?" Sapphire giggled.
"No!" Steven grinned, snatching his blanky from the side of the crib and quickly and clumsily covering Ruby and himself. "Sto'y."
"Well alright then." Sapphire sat demurely on the edge of the crib. "Once upon a time, there was a blue gem. She wasn't lonely, but she wasn't happy. She wasn't sad or angry or anything really – she just existed and waited until the day came where she wouldn't be anything anymore. She saw the world before it happened and in essence, she didn't feel very alive." Sapphire began, enraptured by Steven's wide eyes. "But one day, she met a red gem. She had met hundreds before her, watched a thousand lifetimes, but this red gem was different. She upset the very fabric of time, interrupted everything that the blue gem had ever seen to be true —."
"Because she was so freakin' beautiful!" Ruby interrupted, sitting up slightly with a sleepy look on her face. She crawled into Sapphire's lap and cradled Steven in her thick arms. "I mean, have you seen this face," Steven giggled as Ruby dramatically waved her hand. "Have you seen this awesome cut of a gem and don't even get me started on my as-."
"Ruby, I thought you were sleeping?" Sapphire flicked Ruby's nose.
"I woke up when someone's tiny hand decided to make a home in my nose!" Ruby grinned, blowing a raspberry on Steven's cheek. "Plus, I heard the beginnings of what I can only assume was an awesome story. Please don't mind me, Sapphy."
"I already know if I try telling this story, I'm going to have to kick you out of Steven's room." Sapphire teased. Ruby pressed a burning kiss to the underside of Sapphire's jaw.
"Whaaaaat?" Ruby grinned. "No, I promise I won't do anything bad." She collapsed onto her back and mirrored Steven's pose. She even tucked herself in alongside him, her eyes big and devoid of an ounce of innocence.
"Alright then." Sapphire grinned. "Tell me Steven, where did I leave off?"
"Gorgeous blue gem met a pretty red gem." Ruby sang, Sapphire's dainty hand gentle pinched her cheek. "Okay, I'll be quiet."
"St'oy bagga gwa no no no no." Steven supplied.
"Ever so accurate, Steven." Sapphire grinned. "That's exactly where we were. The red gem interrupted the fabric of space and time itself for the blue gem. Like a nova cloud collapsing into a star that burned the backdrop of the stars for hundreds and hundreds of light-years."
"So cheesy." Ruby blushed, pressing her glowing face into Steven's back.
"Their light was new, sometimes it flickered in and out, other times it burned so bright that they could've been the sun. Despite everything, the atrocities of being in a world that hated who they were, they burned bright."
"Forever." Ruby whispered.
"And ever." Sapphire completed. "The millennia may pass, but even in the shadows of the rivers of time, they persist."
Ruby's muffled giggles shook Steven and he gurgled in time with her.
"Nooooo!" Steven cheered.
"Thank you, Steven."
"Are we listening to the same baby?" Ruby grinned, finally sticking her head up. "All he keeps yelling is 'no'."
"He said he liked the story and that he's ready to for bed." Sapphire pursed her lips at Ruby's eyeroll.
"Oh, is that what he said?" Ruby popped up, stretching her stalky limbs. "When did you get fluent in 'Steven'?"
"It's one of my skills." Sapphire grinned. "But I think we'll have time later tonight for me to teach you."
A/N: Sapphire's story was heavily influenced by the wedding speech she gave. This is a companion piece to "Ruby and Steven" or Ch.44. They're not connected plot wise or anything.
Thanks for reading and reviewing as always!