Amethyst was playing with Steven. Or that was what she was supposed to be doing. Instead she sat idly on the beach, watching the chubby toddler waddle awkwardly around. Steven had started walking a month or so ago and Greg had insisted that they allow him to practice every day.

Pearl of course had freaked out. She didn't want Steven to walk, because she was afraid he would fall and hurt himself. The house hadn't really been very dangerous for Steven, since all he had been able to do before was crawl, sit and lie down. But now he was walking (more like stumbling really) and beginning to climb the safety gates they had set up around his little balcony.

"What if he falls and hits his head?" Pearl had gasped, hugging Steven against her chest as Greg placed some new colorful, doohickey walking device down for Steven.

"Babies do that Pearl." Greg sighed. "You just have to watch them is all. As long as he practices, he'll get better and won't fall as much, I promise."

Amethyst knew she probably wouldn't even be watching Steven if it hadn't been for a mission. Pearl had been overbearingly watchful, tailing Steven's every wobbly step. But when a mission required Pearl's expertise, she had little choice but to leave Steven alone with Amethyst.

"Now, Amethyst-no throwing him." Pearl said, stepping onto the warp with Garnet.

"I got this Pearl!" Amethyst had groaned. "I've taken care of him before."

"I know you have and-y-you've done a good job." Pearl admitted, a subtle blush on her cheeks. "But Steven can walk now and even climb things, which means you'll need to be more watchful. If anything happens the emergency numbers are on the fridge and since Greg's out of town for work I expect you to make sure nothing bad happens."

Amethyst, who had been staring off into the ocean and the sunset, quickly returned her gaze to Steven. He was toddling towards her. His skin shiny with sunscreen and his little curly head covered with a sun hat Pearl had found. Greg had just given him his first pair of tiny sandals and with every step he took they squeaked. Pearl had dressed him this morning in a white tank top and tiny shorts that had stars printed on them. It was Steven's favorite outfit; though he was quickly out growing it. Already the shorts were riding up on his diaper and his top was beginning to show his gem.

"Amteh" Steven called, waving his tiny hands as he got closer.

"Hey buddy, what's up?" Amethyst called, rolling her eyes at Steven's attempt at her name. Steven could say Dada, Pel, and even Garnt, but he couldn't even come close to saying Amethyst. Greg told her as he got older it would become easier, but Amethyst wasn't the most patient gem. For Pete's sake it had taken Steven ages to even learn how to walk!

Amethyst picked Steven up and plopped him in her lap. He giggled, kicking his chubby feet in excitement.

"When are you gonna be able to say my name?" Amethyst asked him, wiping some sweat from his brow.

Steven looked up and smiled. Most of Steven's teeth had come in and he flashed his toothy smile as often as he could. Pearl had been brushing his teeth every morning, noon and night-she didn't want to ever take him to the dentist ('You should see what they do to humans there! It's horrible!').

Steven let out incoherent babble then said, "Amteh, 'Teven, go side?"

Amethyst stood up. Steven was getting much better at talking. Before he had begun talking, he had been a ball of clumsy babble and hand movements. The only ones who really had understood what he wanted had been Pearl, Garnet, and Greg. Amethyst didn't understand any of his signals, had a harder time identifying what each cry meant and often took forever to understand what he wanted. Yet for some reason Steven still liked hanging out with her.

If Pearl wasn't around, Amethyst would make sure to sneak him new foods. Stuff like donuts, ice cream and cold pizza bits. Pearl had only been feeding him milk, vegetables, healthy grains and fruit. Steven enjoyed everything he ate, but Amethyst loved the starry look in his eyes when he tried a new junk food. She played with him-often flinging him into the air and catching him and then twirling him around. It had been their most favorite game before Greg and Pearl had officially banned it.

"You just can't throw babies that high Amethyst!" Greg had said, holding his giggling son away from Amethyst.

"What were you thinking? Steven could've gotten hurt!" Pearl had yelled.

Steven didn't seem to mind though, so neither did Amethyst.

Amethyst opened the door to the house, setting Steven down and removing his hat. Steven stood up for a second, before crouching down to crawl. He scurried over to the gate to the stairs and began to shake it.

"Guess you're ready for bedtime, huh bud?" Amethyst asked, scooping him up and blowing kisses against his belly-earning wild giggles. She jumped up the stairs and placed Steven in the middle of his room. She went to the dresser and grabbed his PJs.

Pearl had insisted that after they went to the beach, she bathe him. Amethyst didn't really understand why though. How dirty could you get at the beach? But Amethyst knew bathing helped Steven get to sleep easier, so she did it even though neither of them were that dirty.

Steven let his little tank top and shorts be taken off easily. Then as soon as he was naked, he took off running. Amethyst, knew at this point Pearl would easily capture him and bathe him, but she decided to play.

"Where did Steven go?" Amethyst sung, looking around his room in confusion. Steven giggled again, jumping up and down and babbling loudly.

"Steven, you're not supposed to tell me where you're hiding." Amethyst said, dragging her palm over her eyes. Steven didn't care of course-he just loved playing hide and seek or 'chase me'. Amethyst played with him a little longer before snapping him up and jumping off the balcony. She raced him to the bathroom and prepared a bubbly, toy filled bath.

Pearl didn't like using too many bubbles. Steven got so excited that he would kick and swing his arms around with a wide open mouth. More than often he splashed the entire bathroom and getting the non-toxic bubbles into his mouth. Steven really didn't mind, but if you asked Pearl the entirety of the world was ending.

Steven and Amethyst played for longer than Pearl would ever allow. They played pirates, battleships, and whale. Whale was the game were Amethyst shape shifted into a tiny whale and went swimming about the bathtub spouting water from her blowhole. She would perform tricks and jump nearly to the bathroom's ceiling. Steven absolutely adored it.

Amethyst made him get out when his toes started to get all wrinkly. She dropped him in a pile of towels and rubbed him dry. Steven popped up with a grin and allowed Amethyst to diaper him and snap him into his jammies. Steven had chosen them all by himself in the store-something he was rather proud of. They were pink and covered in bright yellow stars.

"Time for bed, bud." Amethyst said, placing Steven in his crib. She plugged in the rocket ship shaped night light next to his crib. Steven pouted, his eyes dangerously wet. Amethyst knew Steven didn't want the day to end. He'd rather run around until he passed out.

"If I let you stay up Pearl would kill me." Amethyst muttered to herself, scratching her head. Pearl often told her again and again that babies need sleep to grow and be healthy and happy.

"Pel?" Steven whimpered. "Garnt?"

Amethyst sighed knowingly. Typically, Pearl and Garnet would see him before he went to bed. Pearl would stay with him while he slept and Garnet would hug him before she went to do her important leader-y stuff. When Greg lived with Steven-which they were all trying to slowly transition Steven more towards living with the gems-Steven was used to getting a nighttime song.

"Pearl and Garnet are on a mission Steven. They won't be back until wake-up time." Amethyst sighed, leaning over the crib.

Steven sniffled and tears began to roll down his cheeks. Amethyst handed him Sir Bearington. Steven held him, but his tears wouldn't stop. He was even whimpering now, surely about to burst into full-blown tears. Amethyst didn't know what to do. She couldn't just leave him like this.

"Wait! I know. I'll be right back!" Amethyst jumped from the crib and hurried into her room.

Steven's quiet whimpers grew louder and louder. Ameythst had left him alone. He wasn't used to be alone, especially at night. He wasn't used to sleeping without Pearl yet either. Every night since he had met Pearl, she had been by his side, silently watching him through each and every night. He had begun to whine when the temple door opened. Amethyst ran through and jumped back on the balcony with a thump. She climbed easily into his crib and laid down next to him. In her hands she held a crumpled picture.

"This is Rose Quartz," Amethyst whispered. "She's your mom. I thought maybe if you had this it would be easier to sleep. On bad nights, it helps me too. Just don't tell Pearl I have it."

Steven's teary eyes grew wider and he poked the picture. It wasn't the best picture of Rose. Amethyst had stolen one of Greg's cameras (he had needed them for promotional art for the band) and had gone to town with it. Taking inappropriate pictures of all the residents and then some of Pearl (most of them just Pearl's face when Amethyst popped out of nowhere and blinded her with the camera flash) and pictures of Greg tripping and very few of Garnet. Amethyst had only taken a one or two pictures of Rose though. And this had been one of them.

Rose had been standing on the top of the cliff near the light house. She had just helped the moss to the top and an explosion of pink flowers had filled the air. The sunset had been a gorgeous orange and complemented the pink sky. Rose had turned around when she heard Amethyst approaching and allowed for a gorgeous smiling shot. Amethyst thought it was her best picture ever despite the slight blur.

"This is when she was helping the moss turn into flowers." Amethyst explained. "She loved plants and flowers. I guess you like them too-even if you do try to eat them most of the time."

Steven gurgled happily, grabbing the picture with both his hands. He stared at it with rapture. Amethyst chuckled quietly.

"She was really amazing Steven." Amethyst said, stroking his thick curls. "She saw the beauty everything and everyone. Even someone like me."

Steven blinked sleepily and looked at Amethyst curiously, almost if to ask: "Whaddaya mean, Amteh?"

"Steven, one day when you're bigger, I'll show you about my history. I know Pearl wants you to know about Homeworld and their stuff, but I'll show you my home. It'll be cool and everything. We can see my rock, my hole and all the other rocks I kicked and stuff." Amethyst whispered excitedly.

Steven smiled, rubbing his eyes with his tiny fist. Amethyst let him grab her pinkie as he began to doze off. She had seen Steven do this with Pearl before.

"I'm no Pearl. And I'm certainly not Rose, but I hope one day I can show you the awesomeness of this world, Steven. Our home is filled with amazing things and I know Rose would've wanted you to experience it all." Amethyst sighed, smiling as Steven stuck his fist (and her pinkie) into his mouth. He began to suckle as his eyes fluttered closed.

Steven's other fist tightly gripped on the faded picture of the beautiful pink lady who he would one day learn to call Mom. He didn't really understand everything Amethyst had said, but he was excited for whatever tomorrow had to bring. Days with Amethyst were filled with new adventures and experiences that he couldn't even begin to imagine.

Of course they would have to wait for some time. Especially since when Pearl found Amethyst asleep on the job, Steven's bedroom a wreck, and the bathroom flooded-Amethyst had been grounded from watching Steven alone until he was a bit older. And until Amethyst proved to Pearl that she was capable of minimal cleanliness.

A/N: More baby Steven, but this time with some Amethyst interaction. I think I'm probably going to write baby Steven fics for each Crystal gem. It's just too cute, I can't stop myself!