Life and Death and Love and Birth (CURRENTLY BEING REWRITTEN)

Chapter 9

( 3 MONTHS LATER )

"Steeeeven..." Peridot whined, burying her face in her lover's hair. "I'm hungryyyyy..." Steven rolled his eyes. "You literally JUST ate..." She groaned. "But Steeeeeevennnn..." He turned around to face her. "You're not going to get anything if you whine like that." Peridot whimpered, giving him a look of pure heartbreak. He sighed.

"Fine, ya big baby..." Steven said, getting up from his bed. "But next time, you're getting it yourself." Peridot followed him, grinning. "We both need our nourishment, Steven," she said, patting her stomach. "Yeah, yeah. I know..." he replied. "When's it due again?" She paused, thinking. "Last time I checked, it said in a week. But that was days ago... Shoot..."

"Wait, days ago?! How many days ago?" Peridot shrugged. "About, hmm, three? Yeah, three." Steven sighed in relief. "So if your scanner was correct, you're due... soon. This week." She stiffened. "Oh, uh, okay." She grabbed a slice of bread and a jar of peanut butter and went back to the bed. Steven sat next to her, putting his arm around her shoulders.

Peridot whimpered and leaned into the hybrid's embrace, tears starting to form at the corners of her eyes. "Hey, what's wrong?" Steven asked. "Well..." She mewed and continued. "What if I don't survive this procedure? Since you're part human? Steven, I can't leave you!" She threw her arms around him, sobbing. "All right, all right, shh. I gotcha. Nothing's gonna happen to you, ok?" Steven started rubbing her back, and soon after the tears turned to purrs.

Peridot's catlike instincts began to kick in, and she curled up (well, tried to) in Steven's lap. Steven pet her hair and back and she purred louder, eyes closed. Soon the gem was asleep. "Crazy weird mood swings..." He sighed. "Looks like I'm not getting up anytime soon."

( SEVERAL HOURS LATER )

"Steven?"

"Steeveeen..?"

"STEVEN WAKE UP!"

"Ahhh!" Steven woke up with a start, pinned to his bed by Peridot. She was kneeling on his chest, arms on either side of his head, preventing him from moving. Their faces were inches apart. "W-what is it? What's happening? Are you okay?"

Peridot's cheeks flushed blue and she drew back a bit. "M-my tummy hurts..." she murmured, turning her face away from his. "Oh..." Steven lifted his head. He gently turned her face back towards his. "I can help with that. But first..." He pulled her face closer and kissed her lips. Peridot's eyes widened, since he hadn't kissed her since the drunken "incident" that started this whole fiasco. She then relaxed, closing her eyes and kissing back.

They separated a minute later, but it felt like an eternity. Peridot's face was blue with embarrassment, and Steven's was just as red. "P-Peridot?" he managed to stammer. She was speechless, but leaned back to let him somewhat sit up. He cradled her in his arms, blush fading. "I-uh... I couldn't resist, seeing as we were so close..." Steven confessed.

"It's all right..." Peridot replied distantly, head on his shoulder. She was snapped back to reality by a sharp pain in her stomach, causing her to wince. Steven noticed and was immediately concerned. "It's the Geode, isn't it?" She nodded. "It might be coming earlier than expected," she stated fearfully.

At that moment, the door to the Burning Room burst open, and a large creature dashed out. It looked over at Steven and Peridot sitting on the bed, inspected them for a moment, then grabbed Peridot and ran through the front door. "PERIDOT!" Steven yelled after her, but it was too late. The monster had ran off in the direction of the Facet Five Kindergarten. Steven and the Gems ran towards the warp pad.

"We're coming, Peridot..." Steven said as they warped away.