Chapter One: "You Don't Need This, You Don't Need Me"

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… Beep…. Beep…. Beep…. Beep…

'I should have been there' Connie was standing at the end of a hospital in the children's ward of King's Memorial Hospital. Steven stayed motionless beneath the white sheet, tubes and chords running every which way. She was in here supposedly to observe and assist her supervisor but all she could manage to do was stand there and stare.

Greg was sitting in the oversized beige leather chair by the bed, his head was down and faint snoring could be heard. His long brown locks dry and matted down his back, he obviously hasn't left Steven's side since it happened. With as little noise as possible she turned away her supervisor in toe as they both made their way to the nurses' station. She wanted to say something, that he was her childhood friend. He was her first love, he was her always love. But, explaining would be. Complicated. She had just started interning less than a month ago, her mother had managed to fast track her application and to get her on track. The gems agreed to keep their distance.

Amethyst Garnet Pearl Greg and Steven made their way to the Maheswaran's residence for Connie's high school graduation party. It was a beautiful affair with tons of food and people, a lot of Connie's extended family were in attendance and everything was wonderful. Priyanka (Connie's mother) asked Greg if he would the gems would be willing to stay after the party so all of them could sit down and discuss something pertaining to the children.

Cake, which Pearl politely declined and Amethyst ate easily them gems share of. Streamers and balloons, one of which Garnet accidently popped. Lots of dancing, laughs and presents the only thing missing was talk and boasting of the future. That would come later. Connie sat in an overstuffed recliner with a big smile as Steven handed her her gift. A small carefully wrapped white present with a big blue bow, she smiled brightly and tore into it. Inside was a small velvet box which she carefully unwrapped her heart pounding in her chest. A dainty gold chain with a heart pendant dangled covered in small diamonds.

"Oh Steven…it's beautiful. I love it" she smiled brightly as she stood. She slowly stood and turned around leaning down a little so he could place it around her neck and fasten it shut. She turned back around and leaned down a little giving him a soft kiss on the lips. The gems smiled proudly watching the scene as extended family members whispered in hushed tones. The awkward silence was broken by Priyanka "More presents, shall we?" she smiled looking over the slightly concerned gathering.

It was starting to get late, and the crowd grew thinner and thinner as the night progressed. Connie's hand kept fidgeting with the pendant of her new necklace draped over her dark skin. Steven was sitting on the couch and he kept watching her, she looked so beautiful to him. Pearl sat next to Steven talking mindlessly about this and that, Steven was listening he was too busy watching Connie move with such ease amongst her family. He finally spoke up interrupting Pearl:

"It's going to be great you know? Now that she is done with school we can really focus down on our training as Stevonnie. We'll be completely ready by the time Homeworld makes its final strike on Earth" Pearl looked over him and sat up straight nodding "It will be quite excellent, we will double up on our training. We will also have to work more on getting Lion a little more under control of course" she chuckled.

The final bit of her family took their leave and Priyanka approached Doug and placed her hand on his arm. Doug gave her a reassuring half smile and they made their way into the dining room. Connie approached the couch and held her hand out to Steven which he happily took and stood up. Pearl glanced at Garnet and Amethyst and furrowed her brow in confusion, Amethyst shrugged and the three of them followed. Greg watched everyone huddle around the dining table from the kitchen and he made his way over as well. Doug glanced up and nodded a little "Let's have a seat everyone, shall we?"

Steven and Connie sat together on one side, under the table their fingers laced. Across from them was Pearl and Greg, Doug sat at the head of the table and at the other end Amethyst. Priyanka had her hands-on Doug's shoulders and Garnet stood in the back corner of the room a little behind Amethyst. Doug let out a quiet sigh before looking to Connie, "Connie honey would you like to start us off?" he smiled reassuringly. It was only now that Steven realized how sweaty Connie's hand been, this made his heart jump. 'What could she want to talk about…she hasn't said anything to me…what is this?'

Connie looked to Steven and smiled weakly and Steven released her hand. "Steven, I got accepted to college in Empire City. I am going to be moving at the end of the summer and starting school."
Steven looked a little confused breaking eye contact for a moment only to smile brightly "Empire cities not so far, I'll come with you" he paused for a moment to smile brightly "We can get an apartment together! It'll be so fun!" he chuckled a little "Steven and Connie taking on the big city, it'll be great!"

Glances were exchanged across the table as if everyone was in on the secret that Steven just hadn't figured out yet. Garnet stepped forward a little "Steven…" she whispered as Connie broke eye contact and her head sagged a little.
"Steven, I need to take a break from being a Crystal Gem." Connie said sadly. Steven's brow furrowed in confusion as Pearl spoke up "Don't be ridiculous Connie, you can't take a break from the Crystal Gems. After all the training? Homeworld is on its way and…" Priyanka put up her hand stopping Pearl in her tracks. "Let her speak Pearl."

Connie glanced up tears prickling the corners of her eyes "I know, I'm sorry ma'am but I need to do this...I'm so sorry I'm not trying to let any of you down but I need to do this, for me. For Steven and I, for our future. I need to know once all of this is over that we will have some kind of life together, I need to know that once we save the world that I can do that each and every day as a physician. This is important to me, please understand…I love all of you, I…I just need a break"

Garnet shook her head "Of course Connie, we all care about you and we understand. Don't we Gems?" she glanced around the table as Pearl and Amethyst immediately straightened up in their seats "Of course Connie, I'm so sorry" Pearl spoke sheepishly "I didn't mean, of course we love you and whether or not you are able to help you will always be a Crystal Gem" she smiled. Amethyst gave her a thumbs up "It's cool dude, we got this!"
Connie smiled a little forcing the tears threatening to fall to spill down her cheeks. Connie then caught a glance of Greg who had just been staring at Steven. She slowly turned to look at Steven who seemed to have zoned out his head hanging forward focusing on the table cloth in front of him. Connie reached out and placed her hand on his knee, the touch caused a jolt through his body as he forced himself from the table. "Excuse me" he said sharply to no one in particular. He made his way out of the dining room and through the living room and out the front door before anyone dared to move again. "Aw, little buddy" Greg whispered under his breath before Connie shot up to chase after him.
As Connie got outside Steven was standing just off of the stoop staring up at the night sky. She came up behind him and draped her arms around his shoulders and leaned her head down and placed it next to his head.
'Have a little, have a little, have a little faith in me…' she sang quietly in his ear. Steven let out a frustrated sigh "What about us huh?" his eyes never broke from the dark sky. Connie smiled a little and gave a soft squeeze around his shoulders. Granted he had done some growing over the years but by no means had the two of them evened out. His current physical form looked to be about fourteen, and as Connie was a typical eighteen-year-old young woman. She stood above him by about five or six inches, she nuzzled a little into his neck. "It'll be perfect for us Steven, I know being apart will be hard but then it'll give us time to grow and become to people we are meant to be. Ya know?"
Steven pulled out of her arms and turned around "By grow, you mean me, right?" he said sharply. "This is bull Connie, you know I can't control it!" he shouted. Connie dwarfed a little taking a step back "I didn't mean it like that… I meant…"
"What!?" Steven growled.
Connie's eyes widened "You know I want to be with you, I really do. But people aren't going to understand out there ya know? What am I going to say walking around campus holding hands with someone who still looks like a kid?" Immediately she knew her choice of words were wrong, her hand covered her mouth, she wished she could take it back. "I want you, but you know I want to wait until it feels right and I just don't want to have to explain."
Stevens lips pursed and his eyes narrowed cold "Got it." He said sharply as he turned away heading towards the van. Connie slowly sang onto the stoop and drew her knees up to her chest. "I'm sorry Steven" she said quietly with the sound of the van door slamming in the background.

Priyanka squeezed Doug's shoulders before speaking up "I can't say that I can begin to understand what it is that all of you or going through or what you are doing for the good of mankind. We just trust and want to support our daughter, this is what she wants." Garnet smiled "It's alright, Connie has always had a good head on her shoulders and we will be alright. Come on Gems I think we should probably be getting back to the temple."

Amethyst Pearl and Greg all stood and began making her way into the living room as Connie made her way back inside. She walked up to Greg with a small pout across her face, Greg smiled at her and held his hand out to her "Human beings?" a small smile crept across her cheeks as she took his hand weakly. "Human Beings."