Chapter 3: Sleep

Ametrine and Steven were in the middle of a puzzle one night. It was the picture of two different colored horses running across the plains. Ame had just finished the outline of a white horse as Steven let out a large yawn. Both Garnet and Amethyst were out on a mission and Pearl was busy helping build something for Peridot, so it was Ame's duty to keep an eye on Steven. This meant multiple board games, movies, and other low energy things. The scratch on Ame's gem was still present so she had limited mobility and can barely walk without her "cane". It was a complete embarrassment to the gem who was prided on physical mobility. Ame was pulled from this thought just as another yawn escaped from Steven.

"All right. Time for bed, kiddo." Ame chuckled.

"But I'm not that….. Tired."

"Mmhm and I'm not an Ametrine, let's go big guy."

Ame stood up on a shaky leg and tried to clean the small mess around the house. Steven came back dressed in pajamas and ready for bed. He saw her struggle to pick up a stray Chaaps bag and went over to help her.

"Let me try to fix your scratch."

"Steven, you've tried every day for the past week. This is just a price I gotta pay to hang out with you guys all the time." She said while ruffling his hair. "Though I do believe I'm getting quite the deal." She added chuckling.

Steven thought for a long time then pounded a fist into the open palm of his other hand. "I got it! You should try sleeping! When I don't feel so good I go to bed and feel better in the morning, maybe it will help."

Ame thought, watching stars glow in the boy's eyes. She shrugged "Guess I got nothing to lose, lead the way."

Steven pulled all of his blankets off his bed and laid them out on the floor of his room. He then proceeded to lay down and pat the floor in front of him. Ame allowed herself to half fall to the floor and landed in front of Steven.

"So all you got to do is lay down, close your eyes, and emmmmpty yourrr miiiiind!"

"That's it?"

"Yup!"

With that Steven fell asleep instantaneously leaving Ame to try and figure this out on her own. She tossed and turned for a few hours trying too hard to fall asleep. Just as she was about to give up she heard the hum of the warp pad and sat up to see who just got home. Pearl had returned from the barn, tired but satisfied in her work. She made her way up to Steven's room to check on the boy. She cocked an eyebrow when she saw Ame on the floor.

"What are you doing?" She whispered.

"He wanted me to try sleeping to see if my scratch could heal on its own. I just couldn't get it." Ame whispered back.

Pearl knelt next to the other gem. "Unlike Amethyst, I don't personally care for the habit, but if Steven thinks it will help. Here let me show you."

In much greater detail Pearl proceeded to help Ametrine sleep. She tried every trick she knew to help the human go to bed, singing, talking, anything she had learned over the past 14 years. When nothing really worked Pearl was left with one option. When Steven was younger he would sometimes watch scary movies and have nightmares that kept him up. The only thing that Garnet had figured out was that if she hugged Steven he'd eventually feel safe enough to fall asleep. It was worth a shot so Pearl tried her best. She rolled into Ametrine's embrace much to her surprise. Pearl rested her head on one of Ame's arms and tossed her own arm around her waist. Now if it was the comfort of the embrace, the soothing heartbeat of the larger gem, or the exhaustion of working with Peridot all day, or a combination of all three, Pearl didn't notice herself slip away. Ametrine was once again left alone, but this time if she were to move she'd risk waking Pearl, so she laid there still. She smiled at the peacefulness on Pearl's face and for once in the past few hours her mind wasn't on her forcing herself to sleep.

Ame awoke facing the ceiling hours later. Orange morning light flooded the room. There was still a familiar weight on her left shoulder, which she didn't need to look down to see what it was. As she laid there she took in her surroundings carefully, Steven's muffled snoring, the din of ocean waves crashing along the shore, and the unique smell of human food being cooked in the kitchen. With the quietness of the house she assumed Garnet was cooking. Brown eyes flicked about for a while, then came to rest on Pearl's sleeping form. Not the most, graceful, sleeper as she noticed her awkwardly splayed out on the floor half tangled with the purple haired gem's own form. There was a soft digital buzz emitting from Pearls gem and ever curious, the larger gem shifted to see what she was dreaming about.

It was an image of Rose. They were back on homeworld and it looked to be after Ame told Pearl she'd join them. A slightly surprised face crossed Ame as she watched through Pearls prospective. The memory was foggy and hard to make out except for a few lines of dialog.

"Ah! Rose terrific news! Ametrine will be supporting us as best she can!"

"How did you convince her?"

"Well, uh, she just sort of took, interest, in me?"

There was a slight coloring to Rose's cheeks as she spoke the next line and covered her large smile with a hand comically. "Oh Pearl, I didn't realize… Though I do understand, she is quite handsome. Hahah." Rose giggled.

Even without the ability to see Pearl's face in the memory the voice crack in her words gave away the possible blue blush coating Pearl's cheeks.

"Oh no, NO-thing like that! She was just giving me pointers on fighting that's all! Your opinion is the only thing that matters to me anyway!" She babbled.

"Alright Pearl." Rose chuckled.

With that the image faded and Ame decided to leave before Pearl wakes. Ame deftly removed herself from Pearl and made her way downstairs as swiftly as possible. She still needed her cane but in a way she felt a little bit stronger. Garnet smiled to her as she came into view.

"Slept well?" She said softly and gestured to her hair as half of it was no longer in a braid.

"I think so, hey Garnet, can I ask you something?"

"Pearl has loved Rose for so long, that it's going to take time to adjust, but ever since you've returned she has been happier."

Ame crossed her arms and smirked. "You know, I always feel a bit sorry for poor Ruby, never gets to surprise Sapphire with presents because of that future vision."

"It's always a surprise to be loved by the one you love." Garnet smiled to herself.

"I guess it is."