Author's Note: This is a follow-up to my fanfic 'Reminiscing'. Although this story can stand on its own, it is still recommended that you read that one first.

I do not own Steven Universe.

"Okay, ready?" Greg called to his son.

Steven put his hands out and caught the wet sponge that his father threw. "All right!" he said in celebration. "Okay, now you!"

Steven tossed the sponge. Greg scrambled to grab it, but it slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground. "Welp, butterfingers," he joked.

"Hey, dad! A car!" Steven yelled, indicating the vehicle, a red sedan, that was pulling up to the car wash.

"Ooh, a customer!" Greg said. He glanced at the license plate. "Oh, and an out-of-towner at that! I don't get many of those." He approached the driver as he was exiting. "Hi, and welcome to 'It's a Wash'! How can I—" He halted as he recognized him. His eyes narrowed. "Marty."

"Uh, hi, Greg," Marty said. He looked more or less the same as did in the picture Greg had showed his son; then again, he had looked fairly old even back then, with his silver-gray hair and bags under his eyes.

"Why are you here?" Greg said accusingly. "Actually, never mind. I don't care." He turned to walk away.

"Wait, please hear me out," Marty pleaded. "Look, I know you must hate me for everything I did," he said, "but I came back here to let you know that I want to apologize. I don't want anything from you, I'm not trying to scam you or anything. I don't even care if you forgive me. I just wanted to say that I am sincerely, honestly sorry."

"…oh," Greg responded, taken aback. "Um… apology accepted, I guess?"

Marty let out a big sigh. "Whew, I can't begin to tell you how much of a relief that is." He noticed Steven. "Who's this?"

"I'm Steven, his son," Steven said. "Dad's told me about you."

Marty hunched down so he was at his height. "All good things, I hope."

"Uh, no," said Steven apologetically. "They were pretty much all bad."

Marty winced. "Yeah, I guess that's understandable." He stood back up and turned to Greg again. "So, uh… how old is he? Ten, eleven?"

"Fourteen."

Marty looked at Steven again. "Huh. Well, I don't really spend much time around kids. So, is the mother that one girl, or…?"

"Rose? Yeah, she's the mother."

"You two still together?"

"Well… she had to give up her physical form to have Steven, so… no."

"Oh," said Marty. "That's… an odd way of putting that." He scratched the back of his neck. "Well, uh," he said. "I guess that's all. Bye." He started back to his car.

"Wait," Greg said. "How about a wash before you go?"

"Um, I don't really need one…"

"It'll be free of charge."

"Sure, okay," said Marty. "No, wait, I said I didn't want anything from you, so if you wash my car, I'm going to pay you for it." He fished a few dollars from his pocket. "Actually, wait. Since I don't actually need my car washed, I'll just pay what it would cost and you don't have to do any work."

He tried to hand his money over, but Greg refused. "I'm not just going to take your money, Marty," said Greg. "If you want to pay for a wash, fine, but I'm not going to take money for doing nothing."

"Hey, I wasn't even thinking about getting my car washed until you suggested it. This will save you water, time, energy, and you'll still get paid!"

"I don't want your money!"

"Fine!" Marty shouted. "Then this is to pay for the stupid car wash!" He thrust the bills into Greg's hand.

"Fine!" Greg shouted back, pocketing the money.

"Hey, you wouldn't know what happened to Vidalia, would you?"

"Actually, yeah," Greg said. "She had her kid, got married, had another kid. She still lives around here."

"Could you tell me the address? I'd like to see her too. Apologize for… well, you know."

"Oh! I can show you the way!" Steven said. He strode off, an uncertain Marty following behind, leaving Greg to start on the carwash.

Steven led Marty through the town to the house of Vidalia, Onion, Sour Cream, and Yellowtail. He knocked on the door and Vidalia opened it. "Oh, Steven!" she said. "You want to have a playdate with Onion?"

"Not this time," said Steven. "Instead I'd like to reintroduce you... to someone from your past."

He stepped aside and revealed Marty, who gave a timid smile. "Hi, Vidalia."

"Marty?" Vidalia said in surprise.

"Yes, it's me," said Marty. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

"Yes, it has," Vidalia said suspiciously. "What, exactly, made you come here after so long?"

Marty sighed. "To be honest, guilt," he said. "I did a lot of scummy things to a lot of people when I was younger, including you. I know I could never make it up to any of you, but I was hoping that maybe apologizing would make me feel a little better. I know it's selfish. Sorry."

"Oh," said Vidalia. "Well, I appreciate your honesty."

"Right." He stood there awkwardly. "So, I heard you got married."

"I did, and to a very good man, too."

"That's good to hear." He paused. "I guess that's everything. Bye."

"Hold on—how about you stay for supper first? It'll be ready soon," Vidalia said. "You too, Steven."

"I don't want to impose…" Marty started.

"Nonsense! I always make more than enough food, and I think that meeting you would be good for the kids, if you've truly reformed like you say."

"What about your husband? He won't mind me?"

"Well, he's out to sea at the moment, but I can just tell him about it when he returns. He'll understand."

"Wait, he's not home?" Marty said, surprised. "But what would he think when he finds out? I mean, inviting your ex to dinner when he's not there… I mean, I guess I'm technically your ex.

"Maybe you would get jealous in a situation like this, but Yellowtail trusts me, and moreover, I've told him enough about you for him to know that there's no way that anything could happen between us. Because there isn't."

"Er, right," said Marty. "Alright, I'll stay."

"Wonderful!" Vidalia said cheerfully. She jabbed a finger in Marty's face. "Don't make me regret it."

"I won't, I won't," Marty said.