Pearl's P.O.V

It was late. Late like the moon was almost about to start to make it descend in the sky.

It was late and I was outside.

Thinking. That's all I ever did when I was out this late. Thinking.

Thinking about the many mistakes, the many failures the many things I never could do for Rose.

Of course no one knew about these occasional escapades, Garnet probably did if she used her future vision at the least.

It's always nice when it's dark.

The moon illuminates the ocean. It used to light up the fence we once had but that has been taken down years ago.

I walked along the sand. Specifically the area where the water touches land. My shoes were off, in my hands and all I could feel was the comforting feeling of the water.

I walked along the beach, reaching the docks beside the place Steven referred to as "FunLand"

No one was outside, it was me and me alone. My footsteps softly echoing as I stepped along the board walk.

It must have been a few hours later, the sun has started to rise when I turned to head back.

The town folk has started to wake up and start their small businesses as I slipped my shoes on and hurried to get back to the temple.

It was near there that I saw it. On the sand, quite possible that I had missed it in the dark of night but there nonetheless.

It was moving and screaming and crying, reaching out to nothing.

A baby. Just lying in the middle of the beach.

A baby. A human baby.

I wanted to just leave it there. It had no significance to me but I picked it up anyway.

Rose would have wanted me to somehow, I know it.

The ear deafening wails had ceased and the baby looked up at me with big (e/c) eyes.

Her short (h/c) hair was held in place with a small stretchy headband, not that there was much to keep out of her eyes anyways.

I cradled her and stroked her chubby cheek. A small yawn escaped her lips as she snuggled closer towards me.

My first initial thought was where are her parents? But upon looking around, there was no one.

I slowly climbed up the steps to the temple, looking for any signs of a name written somewhere.

It was only when Garnet greeted me at the front door- expecting me to arrive that second that she told me a letter was in the baby's blanket.

Opening the bundle wrapped securely around her, a small pink envelope fell out, battered and creased.

I stared at it before hesitantly deciding to place the sleeping girl in a bed that was decent for her size.

This was a fairly simple task, i knew Amethyst kept some of Steven's old things in her room and for once, she complied and dragged out a crib that was slightly off balance.

With a flashing light it was fixed and the little girl was sound asleep inside.

"Yo P, where'd you find that human?" Amethyst stared at the sleeping child.

"I found her on the beach... With this letter-" I went to grab the piece of paper to find it had disappeared and reappeared in none other than Steven's hand.

"Good morning Pearl and Amethyst... What's this letter? It doesn't have an address on it... Is it for me?"

Amethyst plucked it out of Steven's hand. "Sorry Steven but this is really important... For Pearl." She handed the note to me as I caught sight of Steven's face, making me feel guilty.

"Ok Steven, you can read the letter." He cheered loudly as he opened the envelope, pulling out a folded piece of brown paper and a white, tattered one with lines.

He cleared his throat and began to read. "To who ever finds my child,- Wait CHILD!!! Pearl, you found a human?!" I nodded and showed Steven the sleeping girl inside. "What's her name?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "we have no idea... I think that paper says so though." Amethyst pointed to the brown one as I hastily unfolded it.

"It's a newspaper article." I said, slightly disappointed as Amethyst began to read it.

Steven cleared his throat once more and continued, " Please know that I only did what I did to protect her. I know she would be sent away to some horrible orphanage- I don't want that, she needs a family from the beginning to the end."

Amethyst cut Steven with a gasp, "Pearl... This kid... Her mom was shot dead!!! Look... It says that the mother was caught stealing stuff and police mistakenly thought her as a terrorist threat... That's the baby in the family photo."

I soon only felt sympathetic for the baby, picking her out of the crib and gently rocking her.

"I don't have much time," Steven continued to read, "as the police believe I'm not what I seem, I must run and I fear getting caught, please keep my daughter safe, her mother is no longer here and I have no time to leave her on a doorstep.

Protect her, like you would with your own family, be strong for her... And if you decide to bring her to an orphanage, I would have no choice but to live with that.

Her name is (y/n)."

Steven hugged me and gave me a tissue. I hadn't realised I was crying until I felt the tissue dampen. Looking at (Y/n) I smiled.

She yawned and fluttered her eyes open, gurgling sounds emitting from her mouth.

"Awe- she's so CUTE!!! We HAVE to keep her Pearl!" Steven exclaimed.

"She's not a pet Steven, and as much as I'd like to... I know nothing about raising a child- let alone a human child!"

"That's ok!" Steven said, hugging my arm, "You will be a great mom- your a great mom to me, tucking me in, making sure I'm eating healthy- that's what mom's do... Right?"

I smiled at him before looking at the baby, "I have no experience in infants Steven, if we keep (Y/n), would you help me?" Steven nodded excitedly as Amethyst cheered in agreement.

"And if we ever get lost, my dad can help!" Steven grinned proudly.

"Ok then, but Steven, you should go get ready, Connie will be here for training soon."

I watched as Steven ran off to get ready as I smiled to myself. "Pearl, out of all the ideas you've ever had- this has to be the greatest."

I looked at (y/n) and smiled, raising her up and watching her reach for my face. "M-mmmmm" she hummed, "mammmmm mmmmm aaaaaa aaam mama!" She cooed.

"Oh my gosh she said mama!! Ha ha Pearl- she thinks you're her mom!" Amethyst strokes her small hand with her finger as she latched on.

"Well you heard Steven- technically I am standing in place for (y/n)'s real mom... Wouldn't that make me her mom?" Amethyst went silent before smiling.

"I guess so P... Look at you now, see, you totally can love humans." I blushed lightly.

"I suppose... I guess I just never thought that the love would be for family."

"Awe you consider her family!!! Where is Pearl and what have you done with her- she wouldn't ever love a human!" Amethyst joked as Garnet entered the room.

She took one look at (Y/n) before smiling and placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder and ruffling the small locks of hair on her head.

"Hello Cutie Pie." She said, chuckling slightly and walking off.

I stared at the child. I could see why Rose found humans interesting, they weren't all the same, they were unique and had things no gem ever would have.

With that, I carried (y/n) back to her crib and hummed a lullaby I once heard Greg sing to Steven.

I didn't know the words but I did remember the tune. As (y/n) yawned once more, I rubbed my nose lightly against her's smiling and kissing the top of her head.

"Sleep tight (y/n)." I whispered, caressing the side of her face and fixing a loose hair before covering her with a blanket and sighing contently.

That's what a mother does... Right?

I'm still new to this sort of thing but I know it will all be worth it in the end... I guess it never was wrong to love a human after all.