When Peridot woke up the next morning she wasn't in her bed like she usually was and the sun was far from shining. A quick glance at the clock left her groaning and she stretched and sat up on the couch. Peridot suddenly froze as she remembered everything from the night before. After amethyst had left lapis had made a reappearance in the living room and suggested they watch a movie, not that peridot had minded. After a light- hearted debate they had settled on a movie called 'freeheld'. About halfway the movie they both had decided they didn't want to cook so they had ordered a pizza.

Lapis was passed out on the other end of the sofa, snoring lightly. Her face was flushed from the warmth of the room and contrasted with the dark bruises and freckles. Peridot squinted her eyes against the semi darkness in the room to further examine the markings. When peridot had asked about the earlier lapis had waved them off as a stumble down a set of stairs, and enforced the reply even more firmly when peridot tried to pry further.

'She looks so sad.' peridot thought as she watched lapis's eyes flutter every now and again. Peridot stood and walked over to where lapis was sleeping and thought about waking her up so she could go to her room, but decided against it when she found it impossible for herself to move her hand close enough to her sleeping figure to wake her.

Instead she turned and grabbed the blanket she had been using and draped it over lapis before walking to the thermostat to lower the temperature a bit. The clock on the wall said it was around five in the morning and rain poured down heavily without a moment's hesitance. Peridot watched for a moment before she turned away from the window and walked to her room, careful to shut the door quietly behind herself.

Lapis stirred in her sleep and sighed, but didn't wake as she tossed and turned fretfully. She kicked the blankets that were covering her to the floor and curled tightly back into a ball. She stayed that way for only an hour more before she woke up and rubbed her eyes forcefully. After she managed to wake herself up enough to move she stood and walked to her room. Her things had been majoritally emptied out of the boxes but a few of the boxes remained. Lapis stared around the room before jerking violently when her phone started loudly playing music.

Jasper had set lapis's phone to play cabin fever whenever she called, which had once made lapis laugh since that was her favorite song at the time and had once grown fond of it. Now it left a bitter taste in her mouth whenever she heard it. Lapis rushed over to pick up the phone and answered on impulse. "Hello?" she bit her tongue when her mind caught up with her actions. "Lapis? Lapis i need to talk to you, please please let me come see you." jasper begged as she as she was on the phone. Her voice was ragged, as if she had been crying. Lapis held her breath before responding. "Whatever you have to say, you can say like this." she said as she sank to the ground to lean against her bed.

"No lapis! I need to see you, i'm so sorry for what i did to you but i need you back please please come back." jasper pleaded. "If you want i can come to you or the other way around, i just need to see you." she said through the speaker. Lapis couldn't bring herself to hold the phone up any longer and let it fall to her side and turned on speaker phone. "Jasper, i won't go back to you, because you won't change, even though you say you will, you've said the exact same thing before!" lapis said as she wiped away tears. "How am i supposed to believe you when such a notorious liar?"

"Lapis i've changed! You've changed me, i'm better and i won't hurt you anymore. I'll do whatever you want just please give me another chance." jasper said, her tone beggar lapis to agree. Lapis was about to answer when she heard a board creek outside of her door. After listening for a few seconds she considered the coast to be clear. "Jasper, you hurt me in ways that go so far beyond bruises you can't barely begin to conceive. I trusted you with my life, we had been through everything together, but- but you hurt me anyway. Even when i begged you to stop." lapis whispered. "Lapis i-" lapis cut her off. "No, no more. Jasper you need to leave me alone, so don't call again because i won't answer. Goodbye."

"No lapis wai-" lapis ended the call and let her phone fall to the ground. She sat in silence crying for a moment until she heard a soft knock at the door, startling her. She sniffed loudly and wiped her eyes, careful of the bruises. "Come in." peridot opened the door and shyly peeked inside, a sad look in her eyes.

"Lapis… are you ok?" peridot asked as she stepped inside. Lapis nodded. "Yeah it's nothing." lapis said as she stood. Peridot grabbed her arm, embarrassed, and looked at lapis. "I- i maybe might have heard the last part of your conversation with, well who ever that is." peridot admitted not meeting lapis's eyes. Lapis flushed, a fresh set of tears stinging her eyes. "Oh, that was nothing. Don't worry about it perri." lapis said with a watery chuckle. Peridot shook her head. "You're- you're not gonna go back to her, are you?" peridot asked.

Lapis shook her head no. "not if i can ever help it." she said as she ran a hand through her hair. Peridot smiled. "Good, b-because i care about you, like a lot so it's makes me sad that you're hurting." peridot admitted her face flushing. Lapis blushed and looked at the ground. "Thanks perri, that means a lot to me." lapis said with a smile. She stepped forward and kissed peridot on the cheek before stepping back.

Peridots face turned bright red. "You should go back to bed, and we can talk more in the morning." lapis said. Peridot nodded and hurried out of the room. As soon as she was gone lapis shut her door and walked to her bed and laid down. Her heart was flying, replacing her earlier feeling of dread. She smiled to herself as she shut her eyes and pulled her blanket up over her torso. 'Peridots kinda cute when she's flustered.'

When morning arrived lapis sat up and survived the bright sky with a smile. It's was december first, officially her favorite time of the year. It had snowed a week of two back but what little it did snow had long since melted away in the bright sunlight of cool winter days. After she got out of bed she forced herself to look into the mirror, surprised when the girl she saw looking back at her wasn't as battered and as helpless as she once saw. Instead in her place was a girl who needed just a few more hours sleep and another week or two to heal. She needs her hair re dyed, lapis thought with light self-teasing but other than that she was satisfied with her reflection for once in a long while.

She shivered as she took notice of the feeling of the cool wooden floor and walked to her dresser to retrieve a pair of fuzzy pants and socks. After she had changed her stay home attire she walked out into the kitchen, happy when she saw peridot on the couch watching tv. Peridot looked up when lapis entered the room and smiled. "Morning lapis." peridot said with a grin. "Hey peridot." lapis said, returning her smile.

The movie on tv was a popular christmas special and made lapis happier since it was one of her favorites. "When did that start playing?" lapis asked as she sat down, pulling her knees to her chest. Peridot shrugged. "I don't know, i guess it started at midnight though, they've been marathoning movies since five as far as i know." peridot said as she looked at the clock. "So what were you wanting for breakfast?" peridot asked as she turned to face lapis. Lapis shrugged. "I'm not picky." peridot nodded. "Me neither. How about we go get some breakfast at a mcdonalds or something?" peridot offered.

Lapis thought before nodding yes. "Just let me go get ready." lapis said as she nodded towards her room. "Sure think lapis, i've got to get ready too anyways." lapis nodded and walked back to her room. When she was sure the door was latched securely behind herself she smiled and allowed her mind to wander as she walked to her closet and pulled out one of her freshly hung sweaters. She pulled off her warm pajamas shuddered as the cold air in the room hit her skin. As soon as she was undressed she hurried to get into her street clothes and escape the chilly temperature of the room,

She found a pair of warm socks and slipped them over her feet, wiggling her numb toes at the new sensation. Lapis sat for a moment on her bed and stared at the ground, contemplating whether or not she needed makeup. After deciding a little bit couldn't hurt she walked to the small desk she was using as a makeup station and sat down in front of her vanity mirror. She pulled her liquid concealer and makeup sponges and brushes over in front of her and set to work to cover her bruising. After she had the marks majoritally cover she paused and looked in the mirror. She didn't usually apply more than the concealer, but some whispered that a little lip gloss couldn't hurt.

Lapis pulled out one of her darker shade of gloss called 'infinite rose' and lightly brushed it onto her lips. After she was done she checked to make sure she didn't get any in her teeth before grabbing her mascara and eyeliner. She applied the both with quick precision, a habit she used to practice in a mirror for hours at a time and then set them both down and stared at herself and blushed. She hadn't put makeup on in a while and now here she was, all dressed up with no place to go. She stood and walked over to her bed to pull her shoes on before walking into the kitchen. Peridot was sitting on the counter and violently tapping buttons on a psp. She looked up when she heard lapis walk and smiled before pausing her game and shoving it into her pocket. "Hey lapis, i was wondering if it was okay with you that we did a little shopping after we got breakfast?" peridot asked as she retrieved a piece of paper with sloppy writing on it.

Lapis nodded. "Yeah that sounds fine peridot. What all do you need?" she asked as she held her hand out for the list. Peridot shrugged and handed it over. "It's not so much food and essentials I just need a few things for christmas." she said as she slid off the counter top. Lapis perked up when she read the list until her face was broken out into a full blown smile. "I love christmas shopping!" lapis admitted as she fought to control her smile.

Peridot nodded. "I don't have many memories of doing christmas stuff other than like watching my mom have someone come in to put up the tree, and even then i wasn't allowed to help." peridot said with a shrug. Lapis looked horrified. "Seriously?! You've never put up christmas decorations?" lapis said in terror. Peridot shook her head no. "my mom said that it wasn't my place to be doing something so trivial when i could be doing better things with my time like studying." peridot said as she started to fidget with the game she had retrieved from her pocket.

Lapis shook her head and took peridot's hands in her own, not acknowledging the game. "Well peridot, i will have to make this the very best memory of christmas that you have ever had." lapis said with certainty. Peridot looked at her warily for a moment before she nodded. Lapis's eyes sparkled with excitement as she dragged peridot to the door. They walked out of the house together, both wearing smiles although peridot's was a little reluctant. This was a completely new side of lapis that she had never seen.

Once they had gotten to the bus stop and boarded one of the city buses, peridot relaxed as she watched lapis bounce happily in her seat with anticipation of what was to come. The ride was short and sweet and they listened to peppy christmas music and people complaining about how cold it was. When they came to a stop lapis and peridot were happy to get off as they pushed through the semi crowded aisle. Once they were outside the bus lapis took peridot's hand in her own and walked along side her on the sidewalk, careful not to bump into the other people who were pushing past them.

They went to mcdonald's and ordered their food and sat at one of the raised tables by the window and watched they few clouds move about in the sky. After they had finished lapis was more than ready to leave and start their little adventure. Once they were outside lapis stopped peridot. "Where should be start?" lapis asked as she nodded towards town. Peridot thought for a moment before she shrugged. "I guess target or something." peridot mumbled, unsure of what she was doing. Lapis nodded. "Good idea."

Target was full of people, more or less. Different parts of the store were packed so tightly you could scarcely move, while others were completely abandoned, peridot noticed as she walked past a tired looking mother with a crying newborn. "So, lazuli, where do we start for this little 'christmas shopping' trip." peridot said, making her fingers form air quotations. Lapis grinned and held out her hand for the shopping list before frowning when she looked the list over once again.

"Uh, peridot, you don't even have a christmas tree on this list…" lapis said as she scanned the list of items. Tinsel, stocking, lights, and wrapping paper. She shook her head and reached into her bag for a pen. Peridot blushed and rubbed the back of her neck. "I forgot…" she admitted weakly before she shoved her hands into her pockets and stared at the ground. Lapis smiled softly and pulled one of peridots hands free and held it tightly before winking at her. "Well don't worry, i'll hook you up with everything." peridot nodded as lapis scribbled on the list in small, slightly messy, handwriting.

When she was content she pushed the pen on top of her ear and looked the list over again. "Alright perri, we need tinsel, stockings, lights, wrapping paper, a tree, boxes, cards, christmas ornaments, mistletoe, cookie cutters, christmas sweaters and hats, and a wreath." lapis labeled off as she grabbed a basket. Peridot squinted her eyes. "Why in the name of the stars do we need cookie cutters?" peridot asked. Lapis laughed her off. "For christmas cookies, i know this great gingerbread recipe that me and jas-" lapis stopped and stared at her hands, tears suddenly stinging her eyes. "For christmas cookies."

She took a deep breath and wiped violently at her eyes before smiling at peridot who was looking at her with a concerned expression. "Lapis, are you ok?" peridot asked as she moved to take lapis's hand. Lapis jumped when peridot's fingers brushed her own before doubling back and accepting her hand. "Yeah, i'm good, now let's go christmas shopping." peridot nodded and grinned, happy to see lapis smiling again. "First up the christmas tree, do you want a real one or a fake one?" lapis asked as she looked to peridot from the list.

Peridot tilted her head curiously. "What's the difference?" she asked. "Well real christmas trees are more festive, but they are a lot more work since you have to pick up the needles and stuff, where as fake ones are easier to work with kinda and they're reusable." lapis explained. Peridot thought before she shook her head. "Which do you prefer?" peridot asked. Lapis thought for a moment before she smiled. "If you're up for the challenge, i'm more partial to real ones." peridot nodded. "Then let's get a real one." lapis beamed. "We'll have to go to a christmas tree place tonight." lapis said as she continued pushing the basket.

Peridot nodded. "Whats next?" lapis looked. "Tinsel then stockings." they walked into the main christmas department and looked for tinsel, grinning in victory when they located it. "Lets get red, green, and silver. We can put the red and green on the tree and around the house and we can put the silver outside." lapis said as she picked up to packages. Peridot nodded and tossed a roll of silver tinsel into the basket. Once they had placed their items into the basket they began walking again. "Now to stockings right?" peridot asked. Lapis nodded. "We both pick our own and then we can either choose to keep them the same or we can personalize them." lapis said with a smile. When they found the stocking they both spent a fair amount of time looking before lapis settled on one that was dark blue and peridot chose a green one. Lapis set them into the basket and grabbed some extra fabric and put it in as well. As a last second thought she grabbed four more. two red, two light blue. Peridot looked into the basket and looked at lapis with a questioning gaze.

"Their for my friends, garnet, pearl, ruby, and sapphire. I like to spend the holidays with them so it makes sense for them to have their own stockings." lapis explained as she ran her fingers over the soft fabric of one of the blue stocking. "Oh…" peridot said as she stared at the stockings. After a moment she grabbed a dark purple stocking off of the rack and placed it inside with the others, which made lapis smile and laugh. "Got someone special i don't know about?" lapis teased. Peridot shrugged. "Her names amethyst and she's my best friend and i figured since i like to spend the holidays with her and since she's like family…" peridot trailed off. Lapis picked up the stocking and held it in her hands.

"I think she'll like it, does she like purple?" lapis asked as she set the stocking back down. Peridot nodded. "Yeah, at least that's what's been her favorite for a while now, i guess." peridot said with a shrug. Lapis nodded and returned to the handle of the basket. "Then it'll do great. Now let's go get some christmas ornaments." lapis said as she walked down the aisle. Peridot followed after her, grinning like the chesire cat. The aisle they walked into shelves were filled with several different types of decorations and wrapping paper and sparkled colorfully. "I like these!" peridot said as she picked up a box of glass ornaments. They were vibrant and had small reindeer etched into the sides of the glass and stained red and green in a pattern. Lapis's eyes softened when she saw how childlike peridot seemed as she delicately held the box.

"They look great peridot, you can lay them on top of the stockings so they don't get broken." lapis said as she nodded towards the basket. Peridot nodded and walked off to set them down. Lapis shook her head as she watched her and blushed before setting off to look for ornaments of her own. The ones that she had settled on were dark and shone brilliantly like the night sky. She was starstruck when she found them, since they were the final box and had been shoved to the very back of the shelf. Peridot liked them as well and cradled the small box in her hands as if it were made of ash and would fall apart if a breeze just a little too strong ghosted over it.

After that they looked for less fragile, more cliche ornaments. Peridot picked out a few shiny green and red ones while lapis found some candy canes and reindeer. Once they were content with their haul of decorations they continued down the list. Since there was wrapping paper in the aisle already lapis grabbed a few of the more traditional wrapping and let the settle in the basket. Lapis nodded and turned around as she felt peridot tap her on the shoulder, her arms full of boxes of varying size and shape.

Lapis smiled and took some of the boxes from peridots arms and set them into the cart. "Now we just need a wreath, some cookie cutters, sweaters and hats, lights, cards, and mistletoe." lapis said as she looked over the list. Peridot thought for a moment before beaming. "I'll go get the cards and the cookie cutters if you handle the lights, wreath, and whatever the heck mistletoe is." peridot offered and she pointed out towards the rest of the store. Lapis laughed. "Sure peridot sounds great, then we can get the sweaters and such together." peridot nodded.

Lapis pulled out her phone and held it up for peridot to see. "I'll call you when i have the stuff, ok?" she said before replacing her phone back into her pocket. "Sounds great lapis. You can keep the basket since i'm just getting cards and junk." peridot said with a nonchalant shrug." lapis nodded. Peridot walked off down the aisle her face burning. Lapis giggled when she was sure peridot was out of earshot. She was just so silly and cute. Once she had a bit of control over herself she started off towards were she was pretty sure they had wreaths and mistletoe. 'I wonder if she really doesn't know what mistletoe is' lapis thought with a smiled as she walked into the slightly crowded aisle.

They had managed to avoid most of the crowd up until that point, which lapis was happy about. so she was content to now be stuck in aisle traffic. She stretched up on her tiptoes to look at the very top of the shelf and grinned when she saw the mistletoe. Lapis grabbed it and set it into her basket before she heard a familiar voice call her name. "Hey lapis, over here!" sapphire said with a smile as she waved to her across the aisle. Lapis grinned when she was her and walked around the aisle to get to where ruby and sapphire were standing.

Once they were within arms reach lapis and sapphire hugged tightly before breaking away with a laugh. "Hey sapphire, i haven't seen you in a while." lapis said with a smile. Sapphire pushed her bangs away from one side of her face and smiled. Ruby walked up beside sapphire and gave lapis a one armed hug, wincing slightly.

"What's wrong ruby?" lapis asked, confused. Ruby blushed. "Nothin' i'm good." sapphire rolled her eyes and leaned into her girlfriend's side. "She took me ice skating at one of the frozen ponds, which was very sweet of her," sapphire said as she got on her tiptoes to kiss ruby's cheek. "But she also neglected the fact that she had little to no grace or idea how to ice skate, so she fell and hurt her shoulder." sapphire explained as she shook her head. "And she still refuses to let me look, or take her to a proper doctor." sapphire said as she laughed at ruby's stubbornness. Ruby rolled her eyes. "I'm fine sapphy, you're just making a big deal out of a little pulled muscle." ruby said as she wrapped her arms around sapphire making her shriek and laugh.

Lapis laughed along side her and blushed. "It's been really nice seeing you guys, but i need to find a wreath and some lights, before i get back to who i'm here with." lapis said as she looked to the aisle. "Who are you here with, jasper?" ruby asked curiously, looking around lapis. Lapis stiffened. "Didn't pearl and garnet tell you?" lapis asked. Ruby and sapphire both shook their heads. Lapis laughed bitterly and quietly thanked garnet. "Jasper and i- well we sorta, um- we aren't together anymore and i'm living somewhere else. I'm actually here with a really good friend of mine named peridot." lapis explained.

"Oh, lapis i'm so sorry." sapphire said as she took lapis's hand. "Yeah, 'm real sorry to hear that lapis." ruby sympathised. They had been together since before her and sapphire had ever met, and she couldn't even fathom living with sapphire. Lapis just shook her head. "It's what was best for me, she well, she wasn't a very good girlfriend." she said as tears pricked her eyes. Sapphire squeezed lapis's hand. "If you need anything, anything at all, call or come over or both, we won't mind."

Lapis smiled warmly. "Thanks, but i'm happy where i am." lapis said with a laugh. Sapphire smiled. "Well i guess, i'll let you get back to your shopping, will you be at pearl and garnet's christmas party this year's?" sapphire asked. Lapis grinned widely. "I wouldn't miss it for the world." with that ruby and sapphire walked out the aisle chatting excitedly, any form of negativity bouncing off of them. Lapis laughed as she watched them go before walking off to locate a wreath for the door. The one she chose was dark green and had small false holly berries scattered over the whitened green foliage and a red bow at the bottom.

She put it in the basket and grabbed a bundle of green and red lights that were laying beside it and put them in as well before pulling out her phone and dialing peridots number. She picked up after the first ring. "Hey lapis, i was just about to call you." she said with a excitement. "You're gonna love the cookie cutters i found." lapis laughed. "I'm sure i will, where do you wanna meet up?" she asked as she glanced around the store, hoping to see her in the crowd. "Ummm, how about you come find me?" peridot said with a nervous laugh.

Lapis's expression changed to that of confusion when she heard her. "Why? Are you lost?" she asked. "N-no, i'm just not exactly sure where i am." peridot said as if that made it any different. Lapis laughed. "Ok ok, i'll come find you." finding her actually proved to be difficult in the crowded aisles as people pushed and shoved their ways past each other, but after about twenty minutes lapis managed to find peridot leaned against one of the toy displays. "Peridot! Over here!" lapis called as soon as she was close enough. Peridot looked up and grinned before shoving her way through the crowd.

"Look lapis! Aren't they neat?" peridot asked as she showed lapis what she'd managed to find. The cookie cutters were individually wrapped and where traditional holiday shaped, which peridot seemed to be proud of, but the one that caught lapis's eye was one shaped like the silhouette of two kissing angels. "Where did you manage to find that one?" lapis asked with a quiet giggle. "I'm not exactly sure, i just kinda walked around i picked up random ones. I like the snowflake." she said as she showed lapis.

"Good job, did you get the cards?" lapis asked as she accepted the cookie cutters from peridot. She nodded. "I found a pack of thirty in five different styles." she said as she handed lapis the package of cards. Lapis looked them over before nodding in approval and placing them in the basket. "Now for our sweaters and hats." lapis said, grinning like a kid in a candy store. She talked nonstop about how much she loved shopping for christmas sweaters when she was a kid. Lapis had such good memories of when she was little and of her mom, but the majority now were locked away, where lapis refused to acknowledge them.

The second they got to the clothing aisle lapis practically exploded with joy. "Alright we'll each pick out a few and then try them on, the ones we like the best we'll get and the rest we'll put back." lapis explained, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. The first sweater lapis chose was done in the style of a christmas tree and had several small brightly colored ornaments and lights stitched into the fabric. Peridot happily chose a green sweater with a pikachu wearing a santa hat on it. The next one that lapis picked was done in a regular christmas style and strongly reminded her of when she was little.

"Hey lapis? Is this ok?" peridot asked shyly as she stepped out of the dressing room. She was wearing an oversized sweater with reindeer and snowflakes that seemed like it would be really warm. Lapis laughed and walked over. "It's not uncomfortable is it?" lapis asked as she lifted up peridot's arms to see if it was too short. Peridot shook her head no. "no this fits ok, i like that it's big." she explained. Lapis smiled and then winked. "Then it's perfect."

After they were done picking out their clothes lapis picked up two red santa hats and one that one done in a 'Nightmare Before Christmas' style and grinned. "Hey peridot, come pick one." she said as she held up the red ones before tossing them into the crowded basket. Peridot walked over and looked and the rack. There were several different disney style as well as a few marvel, but she didn't pay any attention to them as her eyes scanned the different types. After a moment of quick decision making she settled on black on with bright green snowflakes on it.

Lapis checked over the list and the contents of the basket before smiled and nodding. "That's everything, well except the tree- but we'll get that later tonight." she said as she took her place and the handle of the basket. "We can either go check out now, or we can look around for a little be longer." lapis said as she pulled out her phone and grimaced, they had taken a lot longer that she had than she had intended them too. Peridot nodded. "We can go check out now."

The made their way to the front of the store and practically gagged at lines for the registers. Once they had finally managed to find a register that's line didn't stretch to norway and back they settled in for the long wait and chatted to pass the time.

"So where exactly do we go to get a christmas tree?" peridot asked as she stood on the side of the basket, holding on to the metal rail. Lapis grinned, happy she had asked. "You have to go to a special place where they grow them. They have row after row after row of christmas tree's and when it snows, they look so pretty! It's usually really cold there, since it's outside but it's definitely worth it in the long run." she said with a smile and she thought back fondly of when she and jasper used to spend hours playing amongst the trees, looking for the right one. Thinking about jasper wiped the smile off her face and made her look to the ground. 'How can i miss her? I hate her…' lapis thought as she tightened her grip on the basket's handle. The bruises on her face throbbed as proof.

She shook her head and forced the cold feeling she had into the back of her mind and smiled, although she could practically feel how forced it looked. Peridot grinned as they moved into place to put their things onto the conveyor belt. She talked excitedly about how much it snowed in maryland and how different it was from the time she had spent in california for most of her schooling. Lapis was happy to listen to her talk about how happy peridot was to be back in maryland and see the snowfall as she piled up the contents of the basket for the cashier to scan.

When they were ready to leave lapis scanned her debit card and accepted her reciept and bags and followed after a skipping peridot to the bus stop. Once they were there lapis was more than happy to set down the heavy bags and sit down on the bench. The once clear sky was now a dark grey and rumbled quietly every now and again. Slowly as they wait white fluffy flakes of snow began to fall through the air and tangle themselves into lapis's hair. Peridot watched lapis laughed and stick her tongue out to catch one before she bit her lip and shivered at the cold.

"Um, hey lapis? I was wondering if instead of taking the bus you would be okay if i called my friend to come get us?" peridot asked as she nodded towards their bags. Lapis looked at her, puzzled, but shrugged. "You can if you want perri." lapis said as she sighed into her hands, trying to regain the feeling in them. Peridot nodded and pulled out her phone. She dialed the number and listened to it ring, praying that she picked up. When she heard the click she grinned.

"hello?" amethyst said before yawning loudly. "Amethyst! Hey, um, are you busy?" peridot asked as she glanced towards lapis, who was watching the snow fall. Amethyst grumbled on the other end of the line. "I was sleeping but other than that not really dude, need somethin'?" amethyst asked. Peridot nodded. "I was wondering if you could come get me and my friends lapis?" peridot asked. "It's just started snowing and, well-" peridot cleared her throat before lowering her voice. "I don't want lapis to get sick." peridot whispered into the phone's microphone, flushing.

Amethyst grinned on her end of the line before responding. "Oooh, p-dots got a girlfriend huh?" amethyst teased with a laugh. "Absolutely not!" peridot shrieked, almost falling off the bench. Her blush deepened when lapis laughed at her sudden outburst. "Alright alright, whatever nerd, tell where you're at and i'll come get you." amethyst said and she got out of bed. "We're at the bus stop near target." amethyst sighed. "Aight, be there in a minute." she hung up without another word. Peridot pulled the phone away from her ear and sighed. Lapis looked at her before taking her hand. "What was all that about?" she asked with a soft smiled. Peridot shook her head. "You don't even want to know."

Amethyst pulled a purple tank top on over her sports bra and turn her lamp on, wincing at the sudden light. She looked around the room and groaned when her eyes landed on her clock. It was almost six o'clock at night. Amethyst pulled on her snow boots and grabbed her car keys off of her night stand and a jacket of the foot of her bed. Her room was incredibly messy but she liked it that way, it was a lot easier to disappear in a messy room.

She walked out of her room and pulled on her jacket and quietly walked down the stairs in case rose had steven napping. Thankfully Rose was brushing his baby down curls in the living room as she waited for dinner to cook. "Morning amethyst." rose said with a kind smile as she stood and adjusted steven in her arms. She walked over to amethyst and kissed her forehead and soothed her wild mane into a more suitable style. "Or should i say good early evening?" rose teased. Amethyst laughed sheepishly.

"Sorry rose, i didn't mean to sleep in this late. It's just been so hard to wake up lately." she said and she rubbed the back of her neck. "How are you doing steven?" amethyst asked as she offered her fingers to steven who was happy to take them into his drool covered hand. "He's fine, he was a teeny bit fussy earlier, but i gave him a bath and then he was putty in my hands." Rose said as she stared down at him adoringly. "Why are you dressed to go out amethyst? It's late." rose asked as she looked at amethyst attire.

Amethyst laughed. "Don't worry rose, i'm just going to pick up peridot and her friend lapis from target and take them back to her place." rose's attention jerked to amethyst when she said lapis's name. "Lapis? Lapis lazuli?" she asked. Amethyst shrugged. "She didn't mention a last name, just lapis. She was worried about her getting sick. Perri has the biggest crush on her you can hear it in the way she talks." she sake with a laugh. Rose smiled.

"Well if the same lapis you're talking about is the same lapis i'm talking about, tell her i said hello and give her this." rose said as she walked over to the coffee table. She scribbled down a small note and some numbers onto a slip of paper before handing it to amethyst, folded. "And don't forget your hat, i don't you getting sick, either" rose said as she winked at her. Amethyst rolled her eyes and blushed, hiding a smile. She was happy to have somebody other than peridot worry for her. "I won't, and i'll be home in time for dinner."

Rose smiled at her fondly. "That's what i like to here. Now go on and pick up your friends and don't leave them waiting in the cold." amethyst smiled and saluted before walking to the door. "Bye rose, bye little man!" rose lifted steven tiny arm to wave goodbye as he cooed. Amethyst smiled and shook her head. God she loved it here.

When amethyst pulled up infront of peridot and lapis they grinned widely. "What took you so long?" peridot asked, teasing. Amethyst stepped out of her car and walked over to take some of the bags from lapis with a grin. "Sorry i got caught behind some idiot who couldn't find his gas pedal." she said with a laugh. She walked around to the car and set the bags in the trunk, careful with them just incase there were breakables.

"So perri, is this your 'friend'." amethyst asked. Peridot blushed. "Y-yeah." peridot said with a nervous laugh. Lapis smiled and extended her hand. "I'm lapis, lapis lazuli." she said with a smile. Amethyst perked up before grinning like wild. "Oooh, so you are the same lapis!" amethyst said as she shook lapis's hand. Lapis tilted her head, confused.

"You know my foster mom of sorts. Her name's Rose." lapis stiffened. "Oh, yeah i know her." she said quietly. "Did she say anything about me?" she asked, worried. Amethyst laughed. "She only asked if the lapis that perri was talking about was the same she knew. Oh! and to give you this." amethyst said as she dug in her pocket for the piece of paper before pulling it out and handing it to lapis.

She unfolded it and looked at the writing inside. 'If you ever need me for company or you just want to talk, call. Merry christmas and good luck with peridot, she's pretty cute for a college freshman. ;)' -rose. Lapis blushed and smiled. "Thanks amethyst and please thank rose for me too." amethyst nodded and grinned. "Well let's get you two crazy kids home before you catch pneumonia or something." amethyst said with an unconcerned wave. Lapis nodded and climbed in the back seat, while peridot got in shotgun.

"Don't worry, perri we can go look for a christmas tree tomorrow." lapis said with a reassuring smiled once they were in the car. Amethyst's eyes widened before her expression softened with understanding. "Oh so that's what you guys were doing!" amethyst proclaimed with sudden realization. "What?" peridot asked. "You guys were doing the christmas thing, right?" lapis nodded. "Yes, why?" she wondered aloud. "I was wondering what you guys were doing out so late," she mumbled. "Tell you what, P. i'll let you guys borrow my car for the night so you can get your christmas tree," amethyst offered with a sly grin.

"Really?" lapis asked with an excited grin. Amethyst nodded. Peridot's squinted her eyes in suspicion. "That's awfully nice amethyst…" peridot said slowly. Amethyst grinned. "I'll let you guys borrow the car on the condition that you go no a frigging date! The sexual tension is so thick you can cut it with a butter knife." she said as she rolled her eyes. Lapis snorted before breaking into bubbly laughed. "Y-you know what amethyst?" lapis said once she managed to stop laughing. "It's a deal." peridot blushed fiercely and hid her face in her hands. "Amethyst!" she moaned.

"Hey, you were the one who was beating around the bush to begin with." amethyst said as she turned off to drive back to her house. "I'll drive back to my place and then you two love birds can have the car, but i want it back in the same crappy condition i gave it to you, not any crappier." lapis laughed before nodding. "Thank you amethyst." she said as amethyst pulled the car up in front of her house. "No prob, bob." lapis turned her head in confusion before shaking her head with a laugh. "It's lapis."

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A/N- hey guys i have an unusually long chapter for you guys to make up for not posting on a fixed schedule lately. i hope you guys like it because i put a lot of my own experiences into this chapter. also i have an announcement. blue girl is coming to an end. "but XX! there are so many unanswered questions!" and i am aware but its not over yet. if you have any questions/comments/concerns, just want to talk, or have any ideas you'd like to see make a debut, message me on at my tumblr lapis-mylazuli. lots of love XOXO