Steven, aka 'Mister,' walked into the Lab and balked at the scene. Papers scattered in a small mountain, computer screens flashing data he didn't dare act as he understood, tools scattered about haphazardly,  assault spheres in domestic avatar mode doing menial housekeeping. 
 
"Where is she?" He asked the hardlight servants.
 
"We can not fulfill that request." 
 
"I see." Mister kissed his teeth, annoyance in his tone. His eyes shifted to the rumbling papers. " ah...When was the last time Connie slept?"
 
" 240 hours."
 
"They lie through their teeth!" The mountain yelled, beginning to tumble and break apart.
 
Mister arched his brow as Connie, aka 'Heartberry,' was revealed. "Well, you changed and kept your hygiene up." He commented, seeing that her hair was not as out of place as he anticipated and in a ponytail. 
 
Her clothes, a fresh, pretty orange string top with some blue hip-huggers, some low-top sneakers, and a black lab coat with mid-finger gloves. 
 
"I...did more..." Heart started before blinking, rubbing her eyes. " I need some essence." She started getting out of her seat and sauntering before stumbling over her feet..."Why am I at a DUTCH ANGLE!!?" she yelled as she nearly stumbled over being caught by Mister, "Thank you...Can you bring me to the diamond essence?"
 
"No, you need fucking sleep." He lifted her into a bridal cradle.
 
"I don't need no sleep."
 
"That's a double negative."
 
"Don't you weaponize grammar against me!" 
 
She muttered into his chest as he laughed, as he started to walk. "I don't need sleep; I need to punch physics, logic, doubt, and impossibility in the face."
 
"Yeah, I'm sure you did that more than once, you mad scientist." He laughed.
 
"Warm.." She snuggled closer to his vibrating chest, "Ten days without your warmth makes me cold and calculated."
 
"Is that why you haven't slept in those ten days?"
 
"No... The French Fry men will steal my research...I need to be vigilant."
 
Mister paused, looking down at Heart's black, weary, and baggy eyes, "you talking about Ronaldo?"
 
"I said French fry men, not Fryman." Heart growled, "with their french fry boxed body and hair of potatoes string …."
 
Mister blinked. ' Yeah...She needs sleep' He mused,  "....Have you been into the multiverse while I was gone?"
 
"Nooo, Mister…" She snuggled into his chest, "I talked to Witchy and the Connie Court ...but they contacted me" Heart yawned.
 
"Then how did you meet the 'French Fry men.' Hum?"
 
"Mean…" she pouted, "I'm talking about viable threats to Era 3...and you're patronizing me." Her arms looped around his shoulder as her eyes felt heavy, "Noo. I feel the fatigue...Give me Diamond's essence." She groaned like a ghoul.
 
"No, you need sleep." He reprimanded
 
"I can sleep when I die...and you can resurrect me so I won't have to sleep...It's for the weak and overrated."
 
"Lars, sleep."
 
"Proving my point…."
 
"Wow…"
 
"Plus, he chooses to sleep." She nips his lip, " he chooses weakness…and overrated...Ness.
 
"I'm telling him you said that, Rudeberry." He kissed her forehead.
 
" Cakōtaraṉ loves me; I'm his Hermana." She yawned again, " Hey, how about a kiss then...a greeting."
 
"Think you mean a bargain."
 
"...You don't want to taste your Heartberry."
 
Mister looked at her batting, tired, bedroom black eyes and snarling bitten lip and caved happily, giving her a deep lip-lock. 
 
Feeling her groan as their tongues twisted and gasped purred as his tongue caressed her frenulum. He broke the kiss looking at her dazed face as she smacked her lips.
 
"I'm still tired." She asserted, " No gem magic?"
 
"Just Steven magic," Mister smirked as he opened the door to their bedroom.
 
" Wait...We're home?"  Heart blinked as they laid down with Mister.
 
"We're home." He pulled her close, rubbing her back.
 
"When… Did you blur?..."
 
"No. I did not blur." He chuckled, "I walked very slowly while you raved like a lunatic about frybo's, as you slipped in and out of consciousness."
 
"So you did know what I was talking about…." Heart glared…
 
Try to glare…
 
"What are you doing, Wifey?"
 
"Sure, I'm glaring…."
 
"Ahhh...Cause it looks like you're imitating a Noh mask."
 
"...I don't have the energy for the expression…."
 
 "Two hundred forty fucking hours would do that...You need sleep."
 
"I need to go back to the lab...Era 3 future is there."
 
"Heart, you need to relax.."
 
"But." She tried to rise, but Steven kept her down. "So close to reversing colonization damage and giving gems the ability to give birth safely."
 
"And you will still be that close when you wake up." 
 
"But."
 
"No buts." he scowled, "Era 3 and R&D..Me..all of us need you at your best, and the way to do that is for you to get some sleep right now." 
 
Heart frowned but laid down, holding him close, "I'm only sleeping for an hour-"
 
"Twelve hours." 
 
"That's my whole day!"
 
"And?"
 
Heart tried to argue, but the look he gave her said it all. He was willing to do what he needed to get her to rest.
 
"I'm mad at you…" she muttered.
 
"As long as you get your rest, I don't care." He kissed her gently, " go to sleep, and when you wake." He kissed her again deeper this time, "I'll fix you your favorite meal; we'll read a book or watch any bad movie you like or play a game." 
 
He kissed her again, sending sparks through her nerves and making her grip his shirt pulling him close as their legs intertwined.
 
"Go on a lion ride..and Take a bath together?" She asked shyly, maroon cheeks flaring. "And then...Tell me about your trip."
 
"While I wash your hair and give  you a scalp massage."
 
"Sounds like a perfect reunion." Heart grinned, kissing him, "and I get to play with your beard. You need a shave, Pink and Bllack beard." Her soft flirt sent a tingle through him, "I love that you reprimand me when I need it."
 
"Well, you need it. Brat berry." He teased kissing her, as she caressed his hairy cheek.
 
"You spoiled me; it's your fault." Heart laughed, nuzzling against his nose, "still mad though." She pecked him.
 
"I know. But it's for your own good." Mister held her close by the back and her seat. "I love you, now sleep…."
 
"What about the Frybos?" She smirked as his left twitched in irritation.
 
"I will eat any French Fry men.." Mister promised, "not that you need it cause one, not real, just exhaustion plaguing your mind."
 
"You have no proof of that."
 
"240 hours." He grinned, seeing her kiss her teeth, "second, you can crush any number of frybo or fry adjacent characters on your worst day, Badass Brat."
 
"That the second time, you called me a brat. I'm not..just. Cran-"
 
"Cranky!" 
 
Heart hated that sexy smug look on Mister's face. "Fine, you attractive annoyance, which I tolerably adore." She nipped his nose, " I'll sleep...You better be here when I wake up...This bed...In my arms...Full spooning snuggle."
 
"So demanding.." He smiled affectionately,  "240 hours without your touch... I don't plan on leaving your arms soon."
 
Heart nodded, kissing him gently before laying against his heart, still one of, if not her favorite sounds in the known multiverse.
 
Mister smiled, hearing her gentle snores from her chest. Fully asleep. She was finally resting and concentrating on herself: a sight that always made him beam and his gem glow.