#shadow diamond

          Once the last bit of sediment was cleaned off, Black lifted White off the birthing stool, carrying her bridal style to the bed. Leaning back against the pillows, the exhausted diamond shifted into a loose-fitting robe, leaving the breast the baby was nursing from exposed. The seemingly equally exhausted infant began to open her eyes, revealing her light gray irises and white pupils.

           “She has your eyes,” Black happily noted.

           White smiled, and Black sat next to her on the bed, wrapping her arm around her. Resting her head against Black’s shoulder, White found herself unable to look away from her new baby. She never thought she’d have this moment again; that euphoria felt after months of waiting and hours of pain. That moment when she finally got to hold the new life she created, the joy from which was overwhelming in every way, yet somehow the best feeling in the world. Part of her wondered if she deserved this; if she deserved to be allowed such joy after all the devastation she brought upon the universe. She wondered if all she’d been through – holding Gray’s shards in her hands, losing Pink, and Steven’s fear and distrust of her – was a kind of cosmic punishment. Was the good she’d been trying to do enough to make up for it all, or was the universe not done with her yet? She knew she couldn’t think like that, that those thoughts would only serve to drive a wedge between her and her new child. Whatever she’d done in the past, she couldn’t let it prevent her from giving her daughter the life she deserved.

           After about a half hour, the baby decided she was done nursing. With the baby now fed, the new mothers diapered her and swaddled her in a soft, gray blanket, before deciding it was time they were joined by their firstborn.

          Once they sent word, it was only a matter of moments before Gray entered the room. Her good eye locked onto the bundle in White’s arms, she silently walked closer to her mother’s bedside.

           “She’s beautiful,” she final managed to say.

           Staring down at the baby, she gently brushed her finger against the little one’s soft cheek. Still staring in awe, she found herself flashing back to her days in the asteroid base. How many times growing up did she wish she had a sister? How much time did she spend in front of her reflection on the shiny metal walls, pretending she had a twin? It was such a lonely life, waiting for right time to wake the cessineans. And for what? To exact revenge based on a lie?

           In spite of these thoughts, she found herself smiling. As much envy as she felt knowing her sister would never know that level of pain and loneliness, it was outweighed by the relief and happiness that she would have a better upbringing than she did.  

           “Do you want to hold her?” White asked, snapping Gray out of her thoughts.

           The damaged diamond’s head snapped up. For a moment she was frozen, an overwhelming dread washing over her. “I… No, you know I… What if I drop her?”

           Black patted the side of the bed. “You won’t drop her. Come, sit.”

           Hesitantly, Gray sat down on the side of the bed, struggling to keep her arms from shaking as White placed the infant in her arms. She sat there, perfectly still, terrified that the slightest movement could cause her to lose her hold on the baby.

           “Ok, I–” As she started to speak, the baby stirred and started to wake. Gray bit the inside of her cheek, waiting for the moment her sister saw her damaged face and started wailing in fear. The little one’s eyes fluttered open, and she and Gray locked eyes. Not even a minute passed before the baby yawned and went back to sleep.

           Gray blinked, not quite registering what just happened. After a moment, she smiled and allowed herself to relax. Unbeknownst to her, her mothers had started to tear up. Neither were quite prepared for this; the emotions that came with seeing their firstborn holding their newborn.

           Gray handed the baby back to White.

           “You know, I wasn’t the only one waiting to meet her,” she reminded her mothers.

           “Yes, of course,” White said, “We’ll send for them right away.”

           It was only a matter of minutes before the door opened once more. In walked Blue and Yellow, with Spinel riding on Yellow’s shoulder. All three pairs of eyes widened as they laid eyes on the baby.

           “Oh my stars!” Blue breathed, “She’s so tiny!”

           The three of them approached closer, unable to hide their fascination. None of them had seen a gem like this before – so underdeveloped and dependent. It was surreal, a concept so alien to them, yet they couldn’t help but feel a pull to this little diamond.

           “Who would like to hold her first?” White asked.

           “I, um, I suppose I would,” Blue offered, though her tone was lacking confidence.

           White handed the baby to her, and Blue did her best to mimic the way White held her. She’d handled small gems before, but none this fragile. After barely a minute, she found the experience too nerve wracking, and handed her to Yellow.

           “I believe it’s your turn,” she said, quickly.

           Yellow suppressed a chuckle as she took the baby. She too did her best to mimic the way White held her, finding the experience more enjoyable than Blue did.

            “It’s just a baby, Blue,” she teased.

            As Yellow finished her sentence, Spinel swung down from her shoulder, taking care to land gently on the baby’s blanket.

           “Hi baby,” she said, walking closer to the baby’s face. Next to Pink, this was the smallest diamond she’d ever seen, but she still outsized her by a good amount. “I still don’t really get what a “baby” is, but you’re the cutest one I’ve ever seen!”

           She kissed the baby’s cheek before hopping back up to Yellow’s shoulder. Grinning, Yellow handed the baby back to White.

           “So, what are you going to call her?” Yellow asked, “Dark Gray Diamond doesn’t exactly have a ring to it.”

           “Yes, we’ve thought of that,” White agreed.

           “We have a few names picked out, but we haven’t come to a decision yet,” Black added.

           Gray, having not taken her eyes off her sister the entire time, looked up at her mothers.

           “I think Shadow would be a good name for her.” She turned her head towards White. “She has your eyes and gem placement. She looks like she could be your little shadow.”

           Black and White looked at each other.

           “Shadow Diamond…” Black pondered.

           “That does have a lovely sound to it,” White admitted. She looked down at the baby. “Is that your name? Shadow?”

           As if in response, the baby yawned and did her best to stretch her tiny little arms, a tiny gurgling sound escaping her lips.

           “It’s decided, then,” Black grinned.