Chapter 3

Sisterly Reassurances

Rutile kept a silent vigil over Lars as he slept. She guessed he slept for thirty minutes before the boy started to fidget and whimper in his sleep. The gem gently shook his shoulders, and whispered into his ear to wake him up. When his eyes slowly opened with weariness, Rutile gave the pink human some time to repeat his post sleep routine.

Lars arched his back and broke the contact with the maternal gem. He then rubbed his eyes hoping to energize himself. However, the action didn't help, and he still had a lack of energy. This made the boy lay back down against Rutile. She had a small smile reserved just for him, that made butterflies flutter in his stomach once more.

"Sleep well?", both heads had asked simultaneously in a whisper. Rutile's holographic heart was full of love seeing the little boy in such a state. Lars gave a small nod. It appeared her little human needed just a little more time to fully wake up. That was something she could give him, along with a gentle hug. Letting her touch anchor him to the real world and away from whatever was plaguing him in his sleep.

While the alien had slept earlier, the twin heads, came to the conclusion that whatever troubles he encountered on his home-planet would be something to investigate once they had a more established bond. For now, she was willing to wait, and give him the space he needed. That didn't mean she wouldn't make sure the little boy had boundaries. All gemlings needed to know what was and wasn't okay to do.

Giving a soft sigh, the twins knew they should speak to Rhodonite for her expertise about raising a gemling. Rutile was watching the pair from afar and decided to converse with Rhodonite later.

Unconsciously, Rutile had started to pet the boy's pink mane again, resulting in Lars letting out a small contempt purr. Neither moved or spoke for a moment. Each thinking along the same line of thought. The gem considering how nice it was to have someone to look after, whereas the human couldn't help but think if this was what a mother would typically do.

"I'm sorry, I fought you about taking a nap." It came out as a whisper. Rutile continued smiling at the little boy, and didn't cease the motion of her hand. Unknowingly, both of them wished this moment would never end.

Unfortunately, the time to leave was getting closer... The gem sighed once again, and gave the pink mane a light kiss before motioning for them to stand up. At that second Lars had felt the equivalent of a volcanic eruption on his face. He had never been more thankful to be facing the opposite direction of someone, and had quickly followed the silent command to stand up.

"Well my little gemling-"

"-how about we get ready to continue-"

"-the expedition to the surface." Both twins were trying to make sure that he felt safe.

Seeing how much they care, made that warm feeling rise up in his stomach again. Lars had never been a big hugger, hell Steven had only received one after bringing him back from the dead. These were conflicting times, yet the worst part is Lars didn't hate it. The feeling of safety, and security weren't new. What was a new sensation was the fact that strangers were taking care of him. More than his birth family ever had. Acting before thinking, Lars couldn't stop himself from wrapping his arms around the motherly gem. The human hoped she would acknowledge how rare this was, and that this was something special for the boy to do.

Rutile could feel pure happiness blossom from her gem. Her little gemling was hugging her back. So far he had just been accepting the affection she gave him, and now he was reciprocating it. She happily returned the hug, and gave the little boy a squeeze to make sure he knew how happy she was. A radiant smile stretched across her face, but the moment ended as soon as it started. The human's normal pink hue, changed to a light magenta. She decided to save him some embarrassment, and spoke up.

"Now let's go see the others."

"They're probably eager to continue on." Lars nodded his head, and ran in front of the gem to talk to Paddy, and see how Fluorite was faring. Rutile walked at a more leisurely pace to the rest of the group. The small cluster had been staring at Rutile holding the boy as he slept. Fluorites telling smile could only be in fondness. Rhodonite looked anxious as usual, but the small light in her eyes spoke to how the fusion was happy for her sister. Little Padparadscha looked like she wanted to speak to her friend more than anything, but was willing to wait.

While Lars went over to speak to the wize fusion, and Paddy, Rutile went off to speak to Rhodonite. The four-armed fusion looked quizzically at the twin gem. Rhodonite figured the smaller gem would be eager to get off this awful excuse of a planet. Maybe even more-so than any of the others. So, whatever it is that needed to be discussed must have been important to the twins.

"Rhody, could-"

"We talk?"

Rhodonite quirked an eyebrow at the twins, and nodded her head. The fusion wasn't sure what the shorter gem could need from her, but she was interested in helping the twins however she could.

"We feel that Lars needs to know some guidelines."

"How do we give him that talk?" Both heads were nervous, they were playing with their hands, a habit they had picked up from the nervous fusion. Rhodonite took pity on the gem. She gently took the twins' hands into her clutches, and gently rubbed Rutile's shoulders.

"He just needs guidance. Sit him down, and explain what he should expect. Layout the rules and list any consequences. My little gemling knows to never put herself in danger knowingly, and if she does, she knows what to expect." Rutile sighed in acknowledgement and hugged the fusion in thanks.

Rutile knew how rules had helped the sapphire in the group. Padparadscha had been well behaved before Rhodonite started giving the little gemling more attention. Though because of Rhodnoite's care, the small group discovered the little sapphire had been hurt by her old owner for the delayed future sight. They had all been furious that a young gem had been hurt like that, but now they strived to make sure she felt safe enough to speak. Not telling the group how she felt, had resulted in numerous time outs. Which surprisingly, led to a few tantrums from the gemling.

Rhodonite gave the twin gem a small pat on her back, and motioned for them to rejoin the group. The fusion greatly enjoyed her family, and couldn't wait to be safe with them all on Earth. Fluorite and her individual gems had taken Rutile, and Rhodonite under her care. She was like a doting mother to the duo for a very long time when they were on the run. Rutile was a sister to the two gem fusion, and they always had the other's back. Then Rhodnoite's little gemling joined the trio. Finally, Lars has joined their mismatched family. He would be Rhodnoite's equivalent to a nephew, and she would help her sister raise him however she could.

She had experience with gemlings now. Her pearl half had helped take care of their owners gemlings back in the day, and now the little peach gem. Padparadscha rarely misbehaved, but when she did, the other gems were always taken by surprise. Rhodonite fondly remembered the little sapphire's first tantrum.

Fluorite had been laying against the massive pillar of the kindergarten cavern, when she had heard yelling. Rutile was laying against the caterpillar fusion, and keeping an eye out for robonoids.

Rhodonite had been talking to Padparadscha and explaining why the little gem couldn't go explore the tunnels that the cavern was connected to. Stating she was too young, that robonoids could come at any moment, and she would have to have a chaperone with her. The normally polite little gem, had brushed her bangs aside and looked at her caretaker with pure anger before shouting.

"You never let me do what I want!" You only say no to me, and I hate it!" To emphasize her point, the little sapphire stomped her left foot and was wildly waving her hands. Rhodonite scowled at that, and in one quick motion grabbed the little gem. She had hoisted the fussy gemling under her bottom set of arms, and settled the troublemaker against her side.

The fusion started walking to one of the holes that littered the cavern, and slapped the small gem's bottom to make her settle down. Padparadscha had been twisting and turning. Going so far as to bite the fusion when she felt a hand hit her bottom. It wasn't hard, not nearly as bad as what her previous owner had done, but it had gained her attention.

Setting Padparadscha in the hole that Rhodonite picked out. The fusion quickly tilted the little head to look at her, and started speaking.

"That kind of behavior is unacceptable, and if it continues you can expect a few more smacks after your time out." At this Rhodonite noticed her ward's mouth open in an O shape, and covered her bum. The little gem nodded her head in understanding, then she was turned around and was facing the hole.

"You have 5 minutes missy. Then I expect an apology."

The five minutes were silent. Afterwards the sapphire had apologized, hugged her new mother crying, and told her she would be better. That was the moment that Rhodonite knew with absolute certainty she would protect, and love the small sapphire with all her life, because they were family.

Of course Padparadscha had misbehaved a couple more times, but that was to be expected for one so young. Rhodonite had only spanked her once. It was when they had been so close to being discovered by Robonoids, that could have resulted in being shattered. All because of the sapphires negligence, and lack of rule following. The family had been furious with the small gem after that. A small discussion had been held, and it had been decided that Padparadscha would need something more than a time-out for what happened. Although, how effective that punishment was, could be argued. After the spanking, however, everyone spoiled the little gem rotten with attention.

Smirking, Rhodonite walked to the others and motioned for Padparadscha to grab onto Fluorite. She saw Rutile grabbing Lars in a much tighter hold than last time, and only smiled wider.

Padparadscha had skipped over to her mother, and was picked up into a tight hug as Rhodonite mounted the grandmotherly gem. Paddy smiled and nuzzled into her caretaker before whispering into her ear.

"I predict fusion Rhodonite will hug me to pick me up."

Rhodonite only smiled at the seer, before the group started moving again. This time they would only stop when they exit the hole, and saw homeworld for the first time in a millennia.