Jasper x Fem! Reader (NOT FINISHED, may continue at a later date)

Chapter 37: An Upward Turn

*time skip brought to you by family*

You stretched, blinking slowly as you began to wake up. It was still light outside based on the rays of sunlight coming through the window and falling on the white rug in the living room. Your (e/c) eyes traveled up slowly to see the TV on in front of you, the images going across it looking blurry. You rubbed your eyes, sitting up slightly from your comfortable position on the couch. You groaned quietly, stretching against the warm figure that was next to you. "Morning sunshine." Your eyes widened at the familiar voice, your head slowly turning to look at where you were laying. You gasped softly, jumping off the sofa and standing in the middle of your mom's living room. The plush carpet tickled your bare feet, making your toes curl. "What's wrong, Shortcake", Jasper asked, her face and voice holding concern.
"Y-You aren't real. This is a dream", you said, your voice shaking as you held your hands to your chest. Jasper snorted, letting out an animated laugh.
"What? Come on now", the quartz said, placing the towel you had on your head on the couch. It must have come off in my sleep.
    "No. I am asleep", you mumbled to yourself. "This dream will start just like the others. All sweet and happy and then boom, I'm reliving the moment in the Beta Kindergarten again", you said irritably, puffing your cheeks out. You reached up, touching your (h/l) hair to feel that it was no longer wet.
"Do you seriously believe I'm not real", Jasper asked, pushing herself off of your mother's rose-colored couch. The gem approached you, holding her arms out. You took a step back, your eyes roaming over her form as you bit your lip. Jasper chuckled, sliding her hand under your chin. "I'm about as real as I'm going to get." You sighed, letting your hands fall to your sides.
"Jasper...you were poofed. Your gem is sitting in a bubble in the temple back home right now", you said sadly. The quartz laughed again, smacking one of her hands over her face.
    "(Y/n), you're really funny", she said after calming down. "No one can poof me." You let a breath pass through your nose in a quiet laugh, grabbing the gem's other hand. You placed it on one side of your face, doing the same for the other.
    "I thought the same thing almost two months ago." Jasper's amber eyes widened as she looked down at you, a nervous smirk making its way across her lips.
    "Wh — What are you talking about?"
"Jasper, you fused with a corrupted gem from your army in an attempt to kill Steven and Amethyst. When the two of you unfused, the monster ran away and you were left there. On the ground. In the Beta Kindergarten, in obvious pain. Your arm...", you said softly, gliding your hands across the gem's forearm and then up her bicep, "...was the first thing to turn. Then the corruption just continued to spread from there. Steven tried to help you, but you wouldn't listen." Tears stung the corner of your (e/c) eyes and your legs were beginning to feel weak.
    "Shortcake, I — ", Jasper started, wiping away the tears that had begun to fall.
    "Let me finish", you said sternly, beginning to gasp. You felt as though you couldn't breathe. Your hand flew to your chest again, gripping the fabric of your sweater. The quartz picked you up, bringing you back over to the couch. She sat down with you on her lap facing her, rubbing your back as tears continued to run down your cheeks.
    "Go ahead", Jasper said softly, tapping your chin twice with her knuckle.
    "Y-You...would not listen. He could have helped you Jasper, and you didn't listen. Why...?" The quartz chuckled softly, shrugging.
    "I think you know the answer to that question." You giggled, wiping your face with your sleeves.
    "Yeah, because you're a stubborn ass. I sometimes wonder why I love you."
"Ouch", Jasper said, pushing some of your hair behind your ear. You chuckled, sitting your hands in your lap. You stared down at them, your smile faltering.
    "The love I have for you couldn't even save you though. No matter how strong it is, I'm only human. Jumping in front of that metal rod didn't do anything but damage my body. Yeah, you were poofed, but gems can always come back. I'm disposable." Jasper grabbed your face roughly, making you gasp as you locked eyes with her again.
    "Don't ever let me hear you say something like that again. You aren't disposable, got that?" You chuckled, averting your eyes again.
    "'Course, Jasp. But, as I said, you aren't real. This is just a dream. A figment of my imagination."
    "Based on real events, fears or desires", the quartz added. "You told me that." You laughed, wrapping your arms around her neck.
    "Yeah, I guess I did." The two of you sat quietly for a while before you sighed, resting your head against Jasper's shoulder. "I miss you so much..."
"Do you really? Or do you just miss all of this", Jasper said, gesturing towards herself. You giggled, pressing your forehead to hers.
"I miss you. Everything about you. From your laugh to your smile. From your head to your toes. I just miss you. Everything." Jasper's face turned scarlet as her wide amber eyes looked back at you. You gave her a soft smile before kissing her, your chest pressing against hers as you deepened it. Jasper groaned, tangling her fingers in your hair, her left hand sliding down your back. You chuckled, swiftly putting both of your hands at the back of her head before pulling away. The gem's breathing was uneven, her chest visibly rising and falling. You then yanked her hair, making her head fall back against the couch cushions. Jasper bit her bottom lip, still looking at you through heavy eyelids. "You are going to be in a world full of trouble once I see you again for real", you whispered, trailing your tongue against her neck, stopping at a particular spot. Jasper squeezed your waist, groaning as your teeth grazed along her orange skin.
"You...seriously believe you're in a dream right now?"
"Of course, Jasper. As much as I would love to be in your arms at this moment, I know you aren't here with me physically. Only in spirit. Here", you said pointing to her head, "and here", you finished, pointing to her chest where her heart would be. "You told me that." The gem chuckled, pressing her gem to your nose.
"I did, didn't I?" You giggled, squeezing her tight in a hug as you nuzzled her neck.
"I don't know if I'll ever see you again but...I'm no longer angry with you or the Crystal Gems. It still hurts, but not nearly as bad as almost two months ago. I — feel like that needed to be said aloud for me to start the process of getting better. For you, for my family, for my friends...and most importantly for myself." Jasper chuckled, rubbing your back, but her touch was beginning to feel faint. You pulled back slightly, gasping at the sight of the gem. She was fading, becoming more and more transparent by the minute.
    "It's a start, Shortcake. I'm proud of you", she said cupping your face. You kissed her gem, watching as it began to glow from the contact.
    "I love you..."
"...forever and always", the two of you said together, smiling softly.

    You blinked slowly, stretching as you began waking up. Your surroundings were the same as in your dream. You sat up, looking over at the surface you were laying on. "You're awake", Miguel's voice spoke. You smiled softly, leaning into his touch. He had been rubbing your head, the way your dad used to do when you were a child. "Are you okay, amor?" You nodded, rubbing your eyes. Miguel wiped your face before rubbing your back. "You were crying in your sleep. Que soñaste?"
    "Jasper", you said without hesitation before laying your head back on his thigh.
    "Do you want to talk about it?"
    "I'm sure my mom has already told you about what happened with Jasper, right?" Miguel's brown eyes averted your gaze and you laughed, covering your mouth. "It's okay if she did. I was going to tell you anyway, but since you already know I don't have to bring it up again." The older man let out a relieved sigh, falling back against the couch cushions.
    "Ay Dios mío...I thought you were going to be upset with me." You shook your head softly, looking up at the ceiling in thought. "Was it a bad dream?"
    "Surprisingly, no. It started like the other dreams I've had about her but it didn't end the way I thought. I feel...calm. Relaxed even. Like I got closure from that particular dream. I can safely assume that that's going to be the last one I ever have of her again." Miguel smiled, rubbing your head again.
    "I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better, mija." You smiled warmly at him, closing your eyes again.
    "I'm glad to be feeling better too. Baby steps", you said, yawning.
    "Maybe you should go back to sleep", Miguel suggested, chuckling.
"I'm not tired, it's just...you're remarkably comfortable", you said softly, cuddling into his torso. The older man laughed, his stomach jumping from the action.
    "I'll take your word for it." You hummed in response, feeling yourself beginning to drift to sleep again.