Garnet walked out of her room, making her way towards the kitchen. She was careful not to wake Steven or Amethyst, because if Steven or Amethyst was cranky, everyone else generally suffered. Especially if it was Steven.
As expected, Pearl was in the kitchen, cleaning up after the currently sleeping Gems, washing up plates and bottles and putting them on the drying rack.
"Morning, Pearl." She murmured politely, watching discreetly as she stepped about the kitchen. Every step seemed to be planned, like a dance, and her pink tulle skirt would whisper across her long, pale, legs as she moved. Her hair was neat, as always, and her soft features glowed in the pale light of the rising sun that leaked in through the windows.
"Hello, Garnet." Pearl chirped, tearing Garnet out of her daze. "You're up early."
She shrugged slightly. "It's been quite calm lately.. Not much to meditate about."
Pearl nodded, wetting a rag to wipe the countertops. "I don't expect it to last, but it's nice.".
"You need help with anything?" Garnet asked, having nothing else productive to do.
"I've got it." She answered. "You're free to spend your day however you like."
Garnet nodded slightly, just standing there and observing Pearl's motions. Something inside of her stirred ever so slightly, but she ignored it, as she'd always done.
Pearl looked at her, confusion written across her face. "Usually when I tell Amethyst she doesn't have to help with the chores she runs for the hills.." She chuckled faintly.
"She treats you like a servant, Pearl... That's not right." She crossed her arms, unhappy.
"It's fine, Garnet. I don't mind. Somebody's got to keep things managed around here."
"She could at least help a little bit.."
"It's fine. Really. And even if she did help, I would probably have to do it again because she's do it wrong." She laughed a little bit. "This way is easier."
Garnet sighed slightly. "Alright then..."
"Is something bothering you, Garnet?" Pearl questioned in her gentle tone, briefly studying Garnet's expression. She looked upset about something.
She shrugged. "It just doesn't seem right to me, but if you're okay with it, then..."
"It's fine. Someone has to do it." She went back to her work, feeling a little off. Nobody had ever questioned that before, and she'd never really thought about it.
Oh well.
Garnet ran out the door of her room. "There are Centipeetles attacking the boardwalk. We need to get over there before anyone gets hurt."
"Alright!" Amethyst exclaimed. "Let's go whoop some Centipeetle butt!"
"Amethyst, you need to stay behind and watch Steven." Pearl said, drawing her spear from her gem.
"What?! Why me?!" She groaned.
"Because." Garnet said. "Someone has to stay behind. We can't leave Steven alone. Come on, Pearl. Let's go." She ran out of the door, activating her gauntlets with her gems.
Centipeetle crawled around the docks of Beach City's boardwalk, gnawing at the wooden beams, slanting it towards the ocean. Citizens ran amok, their shrill, terrified tones mixing with the low growls of the Centibeetles, and the splashing of those falling into the sea.
Garnet launched herself in the air, locking her fingers together and outstretching her arms, her gauntleted fists smashing the head of the Centipeetle below her, all while keeping sight of Pearl.
Pearl gripped her spear tightly, swinging and striking the contour of the creature's body, bubbling it's surrendered gem, oblivious to the others swarming around her.
"Pearl!" Garnet yelled. "Look out!"
She charged in her direction, punching their heads in with her gauntleted fists.
Pearl cried out in surprise, stabbing at the creatures swarming at her ankles. "Get off! Shoo!"
"Are you alright?" Garnet asked, bubbling the gem of the last fallen Centipeetle.
Pearl nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's help the people out of the water." She slowly made her way to the crooked section on the boardwalk, kneeling down on the end, reaching her hand down to help the little girl stuck in the water.
"Are you alright?" She asked, creating a towel with her magic and wrapping it around her shoulders, watching her shiver as water dripped down over her dark skin and hair.
Another little girl, identical in appearance, ran towards them.
"Jenny!" She shouted, extending her arms out, then throwing them around the other girl. "Are you okay?! Did those big bugs bite you?!"
The girl shook her head. "No they didn't."
She nodded frantically and hugged Pearl's legs. "Thank you for saving my sister!" She exclaimed, then grabbed her twin's hand and ran off.
Pearl chuckled softly, picking up the dropped towel and magicking it away, then went to look for Garnet. She spotted her on the other end and started to walk towards her, nearly falling off the wet, slanted planks into the sea.
"Is everyone out of the water?" Pearl asked, scanning her eyes over the area.
Garnet nodded, deactivating her gauntlets. "Yeah. Everyone's out. Good job, Pearl."
"Thanks. You too." She magicked her spear away. "Who's going to clean all this up?"
"The Mayor will take care of it. We should head back. I'm not sure how I feel about leaving Amethyst alone with Steven." She started off towards the beach house, glancing back at Pearl every so often. She didn't understand the constant desire to protect her, but didn't think much of it. She was the leader, after all, and a good leader watches after their comrades.
Amethyst huffed as Pearl and Garnet left the house. Why should she have to stay back and babysit? Why wasn't she important enough to not be left behind?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Steven's crying, and she dutifully trudged upstairs, and lifted him from his crib. "What's the matter, kiddo?" She asked, ruffling his hair slightly and carrying him back downstairs. She set him gently on the floor and handed him a teddy bear, chuckling as he squealed and stuffed the ear into his mouth, gnawing on it. She picked her comic book up off the table and glanced up at him occasionally, only to find he hadn't moved and was still playing with the bear.
"Amethyst!" Pearl exclaimed, walking through the door. "You're supposed to be watching Steven!"
"I am watching Steven. See? He's right there." She tilted her head towards Steven, who was still in front of her, and gave Pearl an annoyed look.
"No you're not, you're reading."
Amethyst scoffed. "I can do both. It's not like he's going anywhere."
"What if something happens to him?!"
"He's playing with his teddy bear! How could something happen?!"
Pearl clenched her fists. "He could cho-"
"That's enough, you two." Garnet interrupted. "Steven's not old enough yet to crawl or walk, but when he gets to be, which will be soon, you have to keep your eye on him all the time, Amethyst."
"Yeah, I know." Amethyst rolled her eyes. "If Pearl wouldn't be so uptight and actually let me say something before she gets all bitchy, then there wouldn't be a problem."
Pearl folded her arms and glared. "I am most certainly not bitchy!"
"That's enough." Garnet scooped Steven up off the floor, hushing him, and handing him back his bear. "You're frightening Steven. If you absolutely have to quarrel, take it outside."
Pearl huffed and walked off to her room, muttering angrily to herself, and Amethyst did the same, leaving Garnet alone with Steven, who soon began to cry.
Garnet walked over towards Pearl's room and knocked on the door lightly. "Pearl? Where did you put Steven's bottles?"
Pearl opened up her door, walking out towards the kitchen. "They're in the cupboard above the refrigerator, just like always." She opened the cupboard door and starting preparing the bottle, squeezing a few droplets on her wrist to make sure it wasn't too warm before handing it to Garnet.
The skin underneath Pearl's eyes was slightly darkened, and the corners of her eyes were reddened.
"I'm sorry Amethyst causes you such grief..." Garnet said, keeping Steven upright as she fed him the bottle.
"Amethyst is right, Garnet... I just get so worried about Steven.. If something were to happen, I would be breaking my promise to Rose..." Her voice cracked, and she choked on a cry.
Garnet set Steven down on the floor and went over to Pearl, gently wrapping her arms around her. "Nothing bad will happen to him. Amethyst wouldn't let that happen. She's not that irresponsible..."
Pearl gently cried into Garnet's chest, her body trembling with all the tears she'd held in for so long. "M-Maybe I-I should stay back on the missions.. A-And take care of S-Steven."
"Pearl... We can't spare you in battle... I'm sorry.."
"Amethyst could use her shapeshifting.. And turn into a spear.." She knew that it was hopeless, but still she protested.
"A spear is useless with no one to yield it... Amethyst watching Steven is our only option right now, until we can find someone who can run over here on demand to watch him while we're on missions and we can all go."
"I wish Rose were still here..."
Garnet rubbed her back slightly, trying to ease her trembling. "We all do... But there's nothing we can do unless we can reach the Gem planet."