Pearl watched gloomily from her rock as Rose and Mr. Universe danced around on the beach. Mr. Universe had just gotten back from one of his random jobs in some other town and had insisted he and Rose spend the night together. Since there had been no necessary mission, Rose had gladly agreed.

Since there attempt at fusion a few weeks ago, Rose had been treating Mr. Universe differently. She for one had started calling him 'Greg' instead of Mr. Universe. And though it wasn't a big deal to Pearl, it made Greg impossibly happy. Every time Rose said his name, Mr. Universe would pause and turn to hide a red blush on his cheeks.

Rose loved when that happened. She would take him in her arms and hug him hard enough to make him squeak.

Pearl usually couldn't remain the room when this occurred. She knew she should be happy for them. Rose deserved to be happy and so did Greg (even if he was just some human). But whenever they touched, a horrible, sickening feeling rose in Pearl's chest. It almost felt as though she was going to expel the contents of her empty stomach.

Rose's sweet laugh rose in the night air and Greg began to laugh with her. They had taken a tumble in the sand. They laid side by side to one another and Pearl could see their hands intertwined in the sand. They only got up because a random wave had crashed into them. Rose was fine, it wasn't necessary for her to breathe, but Greg must've swallowed a lungful of water because he couldn't stop coughing. Pearl knew enough about human anatomy to know that Greg's body was fine, but of course Rose overreacted.

She picked Greg up and carried him to his van. She sat him against the van's side and worriedly watched him as he coughed.

"Are you okay Greg?" She asked, taking his hand in hers.

Greg coughed a few more times before saying, "I'm fine Rose really. It's just water."

Rose had seen humans swallow water before and survive, but with Greg he might as well have been a newborn child.

"Perhaps, we should call it a night…" Pearl heard Rose sigh.

Pearl was good with that. Why did she even do this to herself? Was she hoping for some miracle to occur, for Rose to snap out of it and remember what Greg was? Pearl felt more foolish every night that she sat on the beach and watched. She had only come tonight because Amethyst had insisted.

Amethyst loved watching them. Especially when Greg fell, tripped or was a general fool around Rose. It seemed as though Greg and Amethyst were friends though so it wasn't out of spite. Even Garnet had taken to Greg-how that had managed to happen, Pearl wasn't sure.

Pearl was the only one. The only one who couldn't hold a conversation with Greg without it turning into an argument. The only time she and Greg could act civil was if Rose was present. Pearl loved Rose too much to cause trouble, especially if Pearl could help it. Pearl often thought that Greg didn't say anything either because he felt the same way.

Maybe that was why she couldn't stand him? She hated how much Greg loved Rose. There had been many humans before him, but none of them had loved Rose like this. She could see it in his eyes. Rose had told her that Greg had said 'You're everything I want!' and he hadn't been lying. He was quite determined to love Rose unconditionally.

Pearl let her heavy head rest in her knees. Thinking about this, every single night, made her head ache. It was a constant tug-of-war in her mind. Rose, the gem she had pledged her life too, was so beautiful. She was kind, sweet, and strong. She had left her life on Homeworld for Earth. If there was any one deserving of love, it was Rose. But deep down Pearl knew she had hoped that that love would've been directed towards her. Rose reciprocated Pearl's love in some ways, but not others.

Make Rose happy and keep quiet? Or beg like the lowly gem she was for love that Pearl knew she wasn't deserving of.

"Pearl?" Greg called. He sounded really close, which was weird since he was supposed to be in Rose's embrace.

"What?" She snapped, her head still buried in her knees.

"Are you feeling okay?" Greg asked. Pearl didn't have to look at him to know he was awkwardly scratching his head in confusion. Pearl wanted to snap at him again, to let all this frustration out on him. But she knew that was wrong. He wasn't the one she was really frustrated with.

"I'm fine!" She said, standing up suddenly and gracefully. Greg, still not used to how fast they moved had flinched. She turned from him quickly and hurried back to the temple. Pearl had been so intent on getting away from the beach that she didn't notice Rose's gaze following her.

…

Pearl was attempting to meditate. The cool fountains of water were supposed to aid her in blocking out the noise in her head. And it was kind of working, but at the same time she couldn't get Rose out of her mind.

She heard the temple door to her room open. Pearl kept her eyes closed as someone jumped to the tallest fountain. A sudden waft of sweet roses brushed against her.

"Rose."

"Pearl…" Rose said, sounding strangely hesitant. But Pearl couldn't turn around. Not here. Not like this. Not right now. She was struggling as it was to contain herself.

"Pearl, i-is something wrong?" Rose asked.

"Whatever do you mean Rose?" Pearl asked. She wasn't doing this! She refused to have this conversation.

Rose took a step forward and another. "You just seem so tense. You haven't been yourself lately."

Pearl forced herself not to tense up any further as Rose stepped closer and closer.

"I'm just doing what I am designed to do." Pearl said through her teeth. Rose sighed heavily and she sat down behind Pearl. Rose's arms encircled Pearl's tiny frame and Rose rested her head on Pearl's.

"Designed, Pearl?" Rose whispered quietly, her sweet breath tickling Pearl's neck. Pearl couldn't help the shiver that started from the tip of head to the bottom of her feet.

"To serve." Pearl said through gritted teeth. "I have to put others before myself. That is my design."

Rose nodded. "That is true. You were designed to serve. You were assigned to me, to serve me. And though I don't want to do this, I think you leave me little choice."

Pearl finally looked up. Rose's face was scrunched into a pout. Rose looked at Pearl with blazing eyes.

"If you really wish to serve me…?"

"It's my job." Pearl replied without much emotion in her voice.

"Then you could tell me what's bothering you! I haven't thought of you as a servant since a few minutes after we met." Rose said. Pearl trembled in Rose's arms. Pearl hated when Rose said things like that.

"Do you really love that human?" Pearl whispered, her voice so soft she could barely hear it.

"Yes." Rose sighed. "It's really strange Pearl. I've always loved humans. That's why I wanted to protect this planet, because they were creatures worthy of life and development. But Greg isn't like the other humans I've met. He…he's different."

"I know," Pearl mumbled.

"You do?" Rose asked, sounding rather surprised.

"I-I know the way he looks at you is different. I know that he really cares about you. That he'd do anything to see you smile or hear you laugh. He wants you to love him in the real way." Pearl sniffled, feeling unwanted tears pooling in her eyes.

"And is that why you've been so edgy?" Rose asked, wiping her thumb under Pearl's wet eyes.

"He loves you so much! And I love you too. I'm just scared Rose, he's different than any other human. I know I'm nothing but a defective Pearl and that I should be used to being abandoned, but I'm so scared you'll leave me!" Pearl sobbed, unable to contain herself any longer.

Rose gasped and then turned Pearl towards her and began to wipe her tears. "Pearl, oh my goodness. I didn't know you felt this way!"

Pearl knew she must look ridiculous. Here she was, a gem warrior who survived the Homeworld invasion was sobbing like a human child. Pearl tried to move away from Rose-Pearl's nose was running rather disgustingly, but Rose wasn't having it.

"Pearl I can never stop loving you." Rose said, her voice cracking slightly. "I know that gems have treated you like an object rather than a living being. And that you've been handed from gem to gem over your entire life, but my love for you can never be destroyed or replaced."

"B-b-but…" Pearl blubbered,

"But what Pearl?" Rose asked, brushing hair out of Pearl's face.

"But I'm just a-"

"Just a what? You're my Pearl. My precious, sweet, caring Pearl. I know you're scared that this might end badly-I'm scared of that too. But regardless of what happens with Greg and me, I'll never stop loving you." Rose said, cupping Pearl's teary face in her hands.

Pearl sniffled and nodded. Pearl wiped the rest of her face and looked down at her knees.

"I'm sorry." Pearl whispered.

"I don't think you have to be sorry for anything." Rose shrugged. "I like it when you tell me how you feel. I've been watching you for a while and seeing you so defeated was worrying.

"I'm sorry for worrying you." Pearl said. "I thought by holding it in, that maybe I would stop feeling the way I did."

"Well, Pearl feelings don't really work like that. We try burying them and instead of dying, they just grow." Rose said, cupping her hands together in front of their faces as her gems began to glow. Her gem glowed strongly and then a tiny flower began to bloom in her palms.

"We've been together for a very long time Pearl. We've seen the best and worst of each other. I really love Greg, Pearl. More than I really want to ever admit and; I like you thought that if I buried these feelings away they would go away." Rose said, staring hard at the flower. "But they didn't, instead they grew each and every day. I-I don't want to lose you though Pearl. If me being with Greg causes you this much pain-I could end it."

Pearl's eyes grew wide. She looked at Rose disbelievingly. Pearl had dreamed of hearing those words-not necessarily in that order or diction, but they meant the same. What she hadn't dreamed of though was the look on Rose's face. Rose looked as though she had been deflated, but was trying her best to seem strong. The flower in her palms was turning whiter and whiter with each breath.

"I could never ask that of you!" Pearl shouted. Pearl hadn't meant to shout, but nevertheless the words exploded from her. She meant them too. She knew love was…difficult to understand.

Pearl knew she would never stop wanting to love Rose in a less platonic way. She would yearn for it as she had since the day she first met Rose. It was positively torture-to be so close to the being that seemed to complete her. Pearl had lived with this and now Rose was living it. Letting Rose love Greg (even if their union still was discomforting to her) was loving Rose in Pearl's special way.

Greg had once told Pearl this. Pearl had disapproved of Greg's bringing flowers and gifts to Rose or serenading her late into the night.

"She doesn't need those things!" Pearl had growled, stomping her lithe foot.

"No, but nobody really needs flowers or a tiny teddy bear that says 'HUGS&LOVE' on it," Greg had shrugged. "It's just how humans say that they like someone. It may not be how gems do it, but it's my special way of showing Rose how much I care about her."

Pearl was starting to understand what Greg meant. Pearl couldn't give Rose what Greg provided and that was okay. Pearl could keep loving Rose in her own special way-which didn't include wimpy bouquets. Pearl loved Rose enough to let her be carefree, happy, ecstatic and wonderful. Even if meant that she had to make nice with Greg (she would work on it only for Rose).

Pearl would follow Rose to the ends of the galaxy. Rose's happiness was Pearl's happiness. Sometimes it would be hard, love wasn't easy, but if it was for Rose; Pearl could begin to do just about anything.