freetoexistasme:

That made sense, and was in line with what she’d been thinking.  Amethyst couldn’t even be that upset; she was just a little shaken still.  “Yeah...I guess it must’ve been quiet...I just woke up.”  Alone.  Though, technically, she wasn’t really alone anymore, was she?  Even by herself, there were the little ones.  She couldn’t sense them yet, but Pearl had suggested that she would be able to soon.

“Guess it does make sense to be sitting things out.”  Amethyst had assumed that would be the case, but it still felt weird.  She had no idea how fragile the whole situation might be, though, or how she might feel as things progressed.  Even if she was physically up to it now, she might not be later - and she owed it to her children to keep herself safe.  ”I’m just not used to waking up with no one around.”  Though she was sure that would become less of a problem soon, because Peridot had a tendency to hover when she was concerned about someone she cared for...

freetoexistasme:

Amethyst smiled a bit, leaning in toward Garnet.  She still had trouble asking when she needed physical affection.  Rose had been the first to show it to her, and she’d just always known when Amethyst needed to be held.  Since she’d been gone, Amethyst had been learning how to reach out when she needed it.  Hopefully, her own children would never struggle with their own self-worth as she had.  They’d know they were loved from the beginning.  And the whole family would be there too, supporting them.  That did help.  She had so many questions and so few answers at this point, but...it didn’t feel hopeless.  Quite the opposite, actually.  “Thanks.”

At some point, Amethyst fell asleep next to Garnet.  She had always loved sleeping, both for the feel of it and as a way to escape, but she’d never needed to until lately.  Part of having gemlings, she supposed.  But she was alone.  Her natural response was to panic.  She could handle being alone when it was something she wanted for a bit or if she knew in advance it was going to happen.  “Guys?!”  

As she woke up, it was more obvious what had probably happened.  The rest of the house was exactly as it had been earlier.  So there had probably been a mission and they had every intention of returning.  And it made sense why they’d left her behind - Rose hadn’t gone either, when she was having Steven.  Still...the uneasiness was harder to shake sometimes than others.  She was just about to go find Peridot when the warp pad activated and they returned.  “Oh. Hi.”  Amethyst tried to downplay it, as if she hadn’t been on the verge of a meltdown only moments before.  “How’d it go?”

freetoexistasme:

Amethyst listened, nodding carefully.  It all made sense now.  If Pearl had been through this, then of course she’d have recognized the signs.  She was about to ask where Rose and Pearl’s gemlings were, and why they’d never been mentioned before...but her heart sank a bit as she realized what the answer had to be.  And why Pearl that wistful but sad look about her when she discussed the topic.  “A lot of good Gems died in that war,” Pearl had said so many times before.  Including Rose and Pearl’s, most likely.  Amethyst shook her head sadly.  “So...I guess there’s a reason they’re not around, huh.”  She needed the confirmation somehow, but she didn’t know if she was ready to bring that up with Pearl just yet.  And here they were, possibly on the verge of another war, down the line.  

Bringing the mood down didn’t exactly help Amethyst ignore the bubbling fears inside her anyway.  Would any amethysts in her brood inherit her defect?  Would she be a good mother, or even a decent one?  “I’m...not exactly the world’s most responsible Gem.”  She’d been reminded of that too many times when her relationship with Pearl had been on the rocks, but it wasn’t as if she hadn’t known it to be a fact already.  “I don’t know anything about baby Gems.  What if I screw them up?”

@freetoexistasme

Her head was still spinning.  It hadn’t been all that long since she’d talked to Pearl, and then of course Peridot...but it still hadn’t exactly sunk in for Amethyst.  Gemlings.  She hadn’t even known they were a thing, much less that she was capable of carrying them.  It made sense that Pearl would know; she was from Homeworld, after all.  There was a sadness in Pearl’s eyes that said she knew more about it than purely the academics, but Amethyst had been too overwhelmed in the moments following the initial revelation to push for details.

Garnet would need to be informed next.  Not just as the team leader, but her friend.  And Steven, of course, but Amethyst was sure he’d be thrilled.  Garnet?  It was hard to tell.  It did mean things were going to change, and change wasn’t something the Crystal Gems had weathered well in Rose’s absence, historically.  Though they were getting better about that.

“Hey, Garnet.”  Amethyst had no way of knowing if Pearl had already talked to Garnet, though she doubted that.  Or if Garnet had seen something with her future vision.  That almost would make it easier.  She sighed, trying to sort through the myriad thoughts going through her head.  “So...I talked to Pearl earlier...”

nottheshortest:

“Well...there weren’t, then.”  Amethyst laughed, shrugging.  Coaxing Dottie out of her hair wasn’t likely to happen anytime soon, so she let the little peridot climb around.  Iris fussed as she woke and Amethyst bounced her to soothe her.  It worked, and soon Iris was clinging to Amethyst, wary and curious but content.  Violet, meanwhile, was still fascinated by Carnelian, circling her and babbling excitedly.  “These little guys were a more recent development.  Made ‘em myself.  Well...with a little help.  Baby Gems, whod’ve thought?  Sure caught Peridot and me by surprise.  But we love ‘em to pieces.”

As eager as she was to hear of the Famethyst’s defection - and find out where the others were - Amethyst was also happy to introduce her brood.  “I figure we ought to enjoy being the tall ones here while we can.  Garnet says these little grapes are probably going to grow to be full-sized.  That’s Violet, there, and Little Miss Shy here is Iris.  And Wiggly McWiggles in my hair - ah, Dottie, gentle! - is Dottie.  She’s the fiesty one.  Girls, meet your Auntie Carnelian.”

@nottheshortest

Motherhood was certainly a challenge.  Amethyst supposed she’d always known that - she’d seen many parents and children in her observation of humans.  And, while she didn’t feel she’d really managed to do a lot of mothering with Steven, they had survived raising him so far.  Gemlings, however, were a whole different game.  They were tinier and needier than Steven had been when he’d come to live with them full-time...and, also, they had Amethyst and Peridot outnumbered.  But they were managing, and though it had been a bit of a surprise to say the least, Amethyst wouldn’t have traded their little family for anything.  (Though she would happily have handed off their trio to one of the others in exchange for a few hours of uninterrupted cuddle time with Peridot...)

“Violet!”  It was never ideal when one of the gemlings ran off without warning.  They were still too little to be left unsupervised for any length of time - but just big enough that they were highly mobile and fascinated by the world around them.  Amethyst sighed and wrapped one arm around Iris, who was sleeping on her shoulder, to secure her and took off after her wayward tot.  Dottie squealed and grabbed onto Amethyst’s hair as she dashed off, embracing the chance for a joyride.

The Gem who’d caught Violet’s attention, however, was a familiar and welcome sight - if a bit of a surprise.  “Carnelian!”  Amethyst hadn’t exactly expected to see any of her extended family here.  “What’re you doing here?”  

I love this icon...especially when it makes it look like Amethyst is reacting to something on my dash.

Ame’s getting real  tired of your constant serenity, Rose...