(Cover art by The Dreamy Warrior)

"Peridot!" Lapis called, entering their dorm, "Are you here?" Lapis listened intently for a response as she slipped off her shoes. The slight shuffling of fabric and creaking of wood coming from Lapis's room confirmed Peridot's presence.

Lapis cocked her head in confusion, making her way to the source of the noise, "Peri?" She asked, approaching the blanket-bound figure on her bed, "Love, are you alright?"

Peridot mumbled in response, but it was near impossible to hear her with Lapis's blue bedspread and numerous throws on top of her.

Lapis stifled a giggle, "What was that hun?"

Peridot popped her head out of the blanket in an almost comical fashion, Lapis had to fight not to laugh at her girlfriend's bedraggled hair. But her smile faltered at Peridot's sad eyes.

"Hmm?" Lapis hummed in confusion and worry, sitting beside Peridot on the bed, "Are you okay babe? Are you hurting?" She gently brushed the hair out of Peridot's face.

Peridot closed her eyes and sighed, "No, no I'm fine. I just-" She felt tears start to well up, "I miss home..." She said, weakly, as her tears began to fall.

Lapis slowly stroked Peridot's cheeks, trying to rid them of the water that marred her soft skin, "Well I can't exactly fly you to New York," Lapis said, laying next to her girlfriend, "But I want to help, is there anything I can do?"

Peridot suddenly sat up, the blanket she was in fell into her lap as she threw her hands in the air, "You shouldn't have to help me though!" she said, angrily scrubbing her tears, "I hate New York! Nothing good ever happened to me there, why the *** do I miss it?"

After a moment of slight shock from Peridot's outburst, Lapis tenderly cradled Peridot's smaller hands in her own, "It's ok Peri, it's normal to miss what's familiar, even if it isn't exactly your favorite thing" She softly kissed her knuckles, "Are you sure you don't want to visit though? I'm sure we could find a cheap flight, maybe go on a fancy date while we're there if you'd like."

Peridot squeezed Lapis's hands, "No, no. I don't really want to go back," she thought for a moment, "I just want something familiar, y'know?"

Lapis smiled in sympathy for her sweet girlfriend, "I know what you mean, Peri," She kissed Peridot on the forehead briefly, "I have an idea though."

Peridot hummed, "And what would that be?" She said, curiously.

"Well," Lapis started, "Maybe we could come up with our own 'familiar'? Like we could start going to the same restaurant on Friday nights, or getting breakfast from the gas station on Saturday mornings?"

Peridot contemplated Lapis's idea, "That... actually sounds kinda fun!" Her eyes lit up as she looked up at her girlfriend, "You have some pretty cool ideas, Lapis." She said, falling into Lapis's lap.

Lapis smirked, "Your MOM is a pretty cool idea!"

Peridot mock-glared at her, "Good one, but will you ever get tired of those jokes?"

Lapis laughed, happy to have been able to cheer up her girlfriend. She gently pulled Peridot to lay down with her, "Probably not anytime soon," Lapis kissed her, "Wanna take a nap?"

Peridot smiled, "I thought you'd never ask," she said, snuggling into her girlfriend, "And thanks Lapis, for everything."

Lapis hugged her tight, "Anytime Peri."