>Be Peridot half a revolution later.
You’re setting up the picnic with Lapis when you glance up and notice they’re not at the swings that were ten feet away anymore. You suddenly can’t breathe, because where are they? Have they been kidnapped? Did they run away? Are they hurt? Where are your little lings? Oh, what if they get put in one of those institutions where they abuse young gems and use them until they’re old enough to produce their own gemlings? You’re starting to hyperventilate when you turn to Lapis, unable to catch your breath suddenly.
“Lapis, Lapis, they’re not there anymore. The girls are gone, Lapis,” you spit out quickly, putting your head in your hands. She glances up, and you know her face is full of fear as she notices they’re gone too. Lapis looks back at you, tears in her eyes, and she looks around frantically.
“Turqoise! Variscite!” Her voice breaks, and so does your heart. You look to your youngest, seeing the little one in her stroller. Lapis brought the incubators with the geodes, because she couldn’t bear to leave them at home so soon, and you’re at least glad to see the three of them are still there. When you turn back, Lapis is running towards the swings, screaming, and you want to follow, but you’ve got the other little girls to worry about, and you just can’t.
Tears streak your cheeks with fear for your lings, and you sit down next to Kyanite, watching her chew on the teething ring and drool all over it. Your girls are gone, gone, and you should have been paying closer attention to them, because they’re still so young, and they won’t even remember your face by the time they’re seven, and you choke on a sob, because it’s not fair, they’re yours, and they were the only ones you carried, and–
“Momma?” The voice startles you, and you wipe your eyes as you glance up, seeing the bright eyes of your twins. Turqoise wraps her arms around your neck, and you hug her tight enough to get a squeak out of the little girl. Variscite smiles sheepishly before you grab her up in the hug too, sobbing.
“Don’t you ever do that again! You scared Momma!” you hiccup, and Variscite whimpers in your embrace.
“Pee.” You blink at the word, pulling away to glance at her. She tugs at her diaper, and you can only laugh, because she’s only two, and she peed, and that’s what she’s worried about, so you pull her closer, choking down your tears.
“Turqoise, go get Mommy. Go tell Mommy that I want her, okay baby? I’m gonna change your sister.” You let go of the two revolution olds, and your daughter nods before running off towards your bond as you look to Variscite. She whimpers before laying down, and you’re so happy that they’re okay, you don’t even mind changing her diaper after her accident, because you know she didn’t mean to. Your heart pounds, and you kiss her forehead, so glad to have her back, even though they weren’t really gone besides trying to find you.