Yellow and Blue's little "catch-up" ended with Blue crying into Yellow's chest.

"Come now, what's got you like this?" Yellow asked, rubbing circles into her partner's back.

"Just...It is only relief that's got me like this...that is all..."

"Relief that I can only assume you are overwhelmed by?"

"Yes..." Blue sat up, wiping away her tears, despite more falling anyway. "...I was so afraid that you...you wouldn't care for the gemlings, that you wouldn't care for me...I was worried that you hated me, Yellow."

"Never in eons, Blue. You know that now. However, I do wish that you'd known it so much longer ago."

"As do I...I'm so sorry I didn't.."

"No, don't; it was my fault for presenting you with that mentality. Don't feel sorry, when I could've saved you from years of heartache simply by being better."

"Dear, your version of 'better' is being something you aren't. There's a difference between changing yourself and being better; you know that."

"I do."

"You can be you and love me at the same time. Know that I'm not forcing you to be the complete opposite of yourself; I'd never do that."

"I know, and I'm glad." She pressed her lips to Blue's forehead.

"Aw~" Blue cooed, teasingly. Yellow looked down at her, glaring.

"Hush."

"You can't hide the fact that you're lovable; not anymore, you can't."

"I know."

Both diamonds' heads jerked upward, hearing one of the gemlings crying. Both knew which gemling it was, since they immediately started to cry without reason.

"Eden.." Yellow said, pinching the skin between her eyes.

"I'll take care of her," Blue said, starting to get up, but Yellow halted her, "No. I'll take care of Eden in the nursery. You've done your share already."

"Alright..but could you tell the pearls to bring me Verna?"

"Of course." Yellow walked out, the door to Blue's and her chamber shutting behind her. She delivered the message to Green Pearl that Blue wanted to see Verna. She complied, walking toward the chamber with Verna in her arms.

She had Verna over her shoulder, while she used her free hand to knock. "Blue Diamond?"

"You may enter, Green Pearl."

Upon seeing her mother's face, Verna squealed happily and loudly. Green Pearl set the gemling in Blue's arms, then bowing and saluting. "Will that be all, Blue Diamond?"

"Yes, Green Pearl, that will be all. Unfuse."

The pearls complied, their fusion splitting in two, leaving them standing before the Homeworld ruler. They each bowed and made The Diamond Salute with their hands. "That will be all, pearls. You are dismissed." The two smaller gems nodded and exited the room.

Blue lightly bounced Verna in her arms, cooing happily at her.

"I do hope you enjoyed your play time, darling." She peppered the gemling's forehead with kisses.

"Beebee?"

"Oh! Yes, dear, you can feel the baby." She lowered the baby so she'd be able to feel the bump that grew ever so slowly. Verna laid her hand on her mother's stomach. "Beebee?"

"Yes, dear; baby."

"Beebee!" Blue giggled at Verna's excitement and held her close. "I certainly don't deserve you and your sister, darling, but here you are. Your mother and I couldn't be more grateful." She smiled as the gemling happily gurgled at her, then yawned. "You get tired quite easily, dear; you were only playing for an hour."

Verna whined, gripping onto her mother's chest and shoulder, trying to get comfortable to take a nap. "Darling, relax, alright?" Blue adjusted her arms so that her baby could comfortably rest in their hold.

♪ "What would a mother not do for her child

What lengths would a mother not go

There's a bond that exists between mother and child

With no end to how strong it can grow

It's a promise for life between mother and child

It begins from the moment of birth

And you're shaken you to your soul

With an ache you've never known

And you look into their eyes

And find you're looking in your own..." ♪

Blue looked downward with satisfaction, as she saw Verna sound asleep. "Let's get you in your crib, beautiful." Blue stood up as slowly as possible, trying not to wake Verna up. She managed to get Verna to her crib. As she shut the door behind her, she froze. Something burned in her lower abdomen. She went back to the chamber to relax, wondering if sitting down or laying on the bed would help.

The more she walked, the more the burning sensation increased, which wasn't fortunate, since the burning was making her slower. She had to support herself on the wall, whilst gripping her abdomen as she walked. Her lower lip trembled as did her legs, which were slowly failing to keep her up.

Blue crouched down, her teeth clenched. It burned, why did it burn?! She bit her lip to stifle a groan and rubbed her lower abdomen trying to soothe herself. But she couldn't. Something was wrong; she didn't even feel like she was in labor.

This just felt like all kinds of wrong. When she was in labor with the twins, she didn't have any sort of burning sensation. Blue allowed herself to fall on her rear end, rolling onto her side.

This pain burned deep inside her, but she shivered. She tried breathing steadily, but couldn't help hyperventilating. She tried to stand, but she couldn't. She tried to scream out, but no sound came out of her mouth. And for whatever reason, she kept coughing and sniffling. All she could do was pray that Yellow could sense her despair and help her.

She encouraged her baby to stay safe and not to be as scared as she was now.

Please, sweet baby, please... she thought. Hold on, please; your mother or someone should be here soon. They'll help us, and we'll be alright, I promise. Please, darling, hold on just a bit longer. The atmosphere of the clinic is better than being out here! My arms and a swaddling blanket are comfortable and warm, but the floors of these halls are hard and cold!

Blue's thoughts became fuzzy, as did her vision, but she remained conscious, despite her difficulty when trying to hold herself up. All strength dissipated, and she laid there, her only movements being the way she shivered in pain and her stomach rising and lowering from taking deep breaths of air she didn't need. Her hair got in the way of the little sight she had.

She couldn't wait much longer, and neither could The Late One. However, while Blue was trying to wait, The Late One was trying to last.