Yes, She Is

"Of course I would," Blue insisted, keeping her gaze locked on the doctor.

Priyanka decided to enlighten her. "I have always considered myself a model of seriousness and procedure. As a child, I excelled in academics, even earning myself a scholarship to a prestigious university, where I worked even harder to become a doctor.

"I was so proud the day I earned my medical diploma," she went on after a moment, "The only prouder moments of my life were the days of my wedding to my husband and the birth of our daughter. Busy as my work as a physician keeps me, I've always made time for them.

"At least I did when they had time for ME," she muttered, "Not too long ago, Doug got a big promotion at work, which resulted in him getting a steep raise... and even longer hours. He often worked nights, when I am off-duty."

"So you do not see him as much?" Blue presumed.

Priyanka nodded. "It's even worse in the case of Connie. My baby girl is halfway across the country in college herself, so we rarely have time to see her. To top it off, she may be getting married soon after she graduates."

Blue was astonished. "To Steven?"

"Yes, she told me about how he proposed to her before he went on his journey of self-discovery," said Priyanka, "Although she turned him down, it was plainly obvious she just meant 'not now, not yet.' I have no doubt they'll end up together."

"They make a very fine coupling," Blue observed.

"Oh, I agree," said Priyanka, "Doug and I both approve of Steven. But still... the idea that our baby girl might be ready to have a family of her own soon is a little overwhelming."

Blue then raised an enormous eyebrow. "That's twice you've referred to your daughter as your 'baby girl.' I was led to believe humans were only babies for the first two or three years of their lives."

"We are," Priyanka confirmed, "But many parents tend to always think of their children as their babies, no matter how old they get."

"Why is that?" Blue asked.

Priyanka needed a moment to think on that, as she had never really given it much consideration.

Ultimately, she replied, "I guess it's because it's the time of their lives when they are smallest, most helpless, and most dependent on their parents' love and care. As well as the time when bonding between the two generations is most intimate."

"Is that so?" Blue asked. Upon a nod from Priyanka, the emotional giant said, "How interesting. New Gems can take many years to mature, but our involvement with them is usually peripheral at most. What does raising a human involve?"

Priyanka was happy to tell Blue all about how she and Doug had cared for Connie when she was a baby. Dressing her, bathing her, feeding her, carrying her everywhere, and changing her. Blue was especially intrigued on the concept of diapers, as Gems, while they could eat, could not make waste as humans could.

"Do you miss those days?" Blue asked when Priyanka finished.

"Very much," the doctor confirmed, "I consider myself a successful, fulfilled, and happy woman. Nevertheless, I also have a yearning for some quality time with my family, especially like I did when Connie was young."

"Indeed..." Blue Diamond commented. "In a way, I can relate. Pink Diamond was like a daughter to me. And even now, so many centuries after I lost her, I think about her ever so often."

"Yes, but if not for her sacrifice, Steven would not have been born, my Diamond," said Blue Pearl, speaking for the first time since Priyanka approached her mistress.

"She's got a point," Priyanka conceded. "But losing a child, or someone who is like a child to you, must be a terrible feeling. I could not even imagine life without Connie anymore."

Blue Diamond lightly nodded at that. "Pink left a great void in me which, even now, I am looking to fill. Steven and Spindle have helped, but perhaps if there was some way I could..."