Peridot's Honeymoon.
Peridot and Steven spent their wedding night 3000 feet above the air flying across the Atlantic. Though they were in first class, the trip to Ireland was exhausting. Peridot spent the flight curled up in a blanket asleep, while Steven far too excited to sleep stared out the window.
Halfway across the flight a kindly stewardess checked in on the couple.
"Is your wife alright? Because she looks a little green," the stewardess said as she peered at Peridot's sleeping form in the darkened cabin.
"My wife is fine. She's just pregnant," replied Steven.
"Well, call me if you two need anything."
When they finally reached the Dublin airport their trip was by no means over. They still had to take a bus to Belfast and a train ride to Port Rush. Steven by this time was also exhausted so as the bus passed through the beautiful country side, he was nodding off half sleep. They got their second wind at the Belfast bus and train station. Hopping onto the train to Port Rush they stared at the beautiful countryside and the charming little towns they passed through while the other passengers stared at them.
Once they got to Port Rush, they immediately hailed a taxi to take them to their bed and breakfast. The two peered out the window as they passed through the town. In Steven's mind it was very much like Beach City only a little larger and a little older. On the way to their small hotel Steven could see the little shops that catered to the tourists:
a couple of shops selling souvenirs, a T shirt shop, the many restaurants, an ice cream parlor but instead of a french fry shop, Port Rush had a fish and chips shop.
Finally they were at the bed and breakfast, a small little townhouse that had been converted into a little hotel. Just as they were about to enter the building Steven picked up Peridot bridal style. His wife let out a cute little squeak. Steven walked up to the reception. The lady behind the desk dropped her jaw.
"Room for Mr. and Mrs. Universe," said Steven proudly.
"Er yes right this way, now where did you say you were from?" said the receptionist.
"Rossmore."
"Er yes of course," said the woman as she left her desk.
As Steven followed here up the stairs he could see the homey little touches in the hotel. This was more like someone's home than a hotel. When the receptionist opened the door to their room. Peridot gasped in delight. The room was perfect. Though smaller than a hotel room in America it had a charming little quilt on the bed and a hand knotted rug on the floor.
Once the door was shut behind them Steven turned to Peridot.
"Well Peri shall we make mad passionate love?"
Peridot blushed, she had become more and more self conscious as her pregnancy progressed, "Okay just let me into the bathroom to change."
"Okay but I'll be waiting," he gave his new wife a playful slap on the rear.
While Peridot was in the washroom. Steven stripped down to his shorts and spread himself playfully on the bed. Peridot was taking a long time so he did some unpacking as well. It was well worth the wait. While Steven was hanging up one his shirts, Peridot stepped out of the bathroom.
"How do I look?" she asked.
Peridot looked so cute. She was wearing a sheer, white set of baby doll pajamas which rather than hiding her belly accentuated it. She fiddled uncomfortably as Steven looked her up and down.
"Oh Peri you are so cute," said Steven as kissed her. He hoisted her up and placed her on the bed. As he was making out he noticed Peridot was trembling.
"Steven I'm cold," she said.
Come to think of it he was cold too and honestly he was a quite tired too.
"Well how we dress up in something warmer and get under the covers?" suggested Steven.
Peridot snatched the T shirt and flannel shorts from Steven. She turned around to change quickly as Steven put on a T shirt. Once they were dressed they burrowed under the covers. Peridot clung to Steven relishing in the closeness of her husband. She gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Oh now this is nice," said Peridot as she snuggled into Steven.
But Steven didn't respond. The party and flight across the ocean had finally caught up to him and Steven was sound asleep.
When Steven woke up hours later it was dark outside and Peridot was not with him. Instead she was at the little desk or dresser looking at some tourist brochures. Sensing he was awake, Peridot turned around.
"Hello there Steven you were out for quite some time. What would you like to do now?," asked Peridot. Steven could see that she was dressed now too.
"I'm quite hungry. How about we go get something to eat?" replied Steven.
Once Steven had quick shower and gotten dressed the two left their hotel and looked for some place to eat. Now on foot, the town reminded Steven of Beach City even more. Because of the late hour most of the businesses were closed but Peridot managed to find a small fish and chips shop.
As they went in a curly haired pasty face man stared at them. In many ways he reminded Steven of Ronaldo. After Steven gave their orders the man decided to make small talk.
"You're a Yank. So were exactly are you from?" asked the man. Steven did not like the way he was staring at Peridot.
"Rossmore, we're on our honeymoon," said Steven as he held Peridot protectively.
The man's face brightened up. He shouted into the back room, "Hey Reggie, Khaleed was right. There are alien breeding experiments in Rossmore."
His identical twin stepped out of from the back. They started pelting the new couple with questions. How did they meet? How did Peridot get to Earth? And what was it like living with an alien? One of the twins actually started poking and prodding poor Peridot. After what seemed like an eternity Steven snatched both of their fish and chips and the couple bolted out the shop. After a safe distance, Steven and Peridot sat down by a curb.
"I'm sorry I never thought how other people might react to you. This honeymoon was a mistake," said Steven.
Peridot bit into fish. What a pity. It was perfectly cooked. Peridot doubted that would they go back to that chip shop."Steven there are jerks everywhere. Besides we chose this place together. Now let's just have a just have a nice time and focus on the real point of our honeymoon."
After they finished their meal they returned to their hotel, made love and fell asleep. The next morning after having a genuine Irish fry up the couple decided to finally explore the little town of Port Rush. It was everything the tourist brochures promised with the white cliffs and white sand beaches. What Steven didn't expect was the roller coaster. Just next to the train station was a small amusement park it reminded Steven of Funland from his own hometown.
"Hey Peri let's go inside. This is so much like Beach City," shouted Steven gleefully.
"Steven I can't go on any of the rides," replied Peridot.
"Oh they'll be some you could go on. Remember the Tunnel of Love," Peridot blushed. "Besides we could still have fun. I'll get us some cotton candy and win you a prize."
Peridot finally relented and the two went inside. There were so many kiosks and prizes to be had Steven tried a couple of games but did not win anything. Then they looked at the rides as Peridot predicted most of the rides wouldn't allow pregnant women but there was one they could enjoy- the Ferris wheel. On there way to the top Peridot saw how beautiful the town looked, its quaint buildings, its white beaches and the ruins nearby.
"Steven, there are some ruins. Let's go check it out, please, please, please," said Peridot shaking on his arm.
"Okay, keep your shirt on we'll go. After we get some lunch," laughed Steven.
But after the Ferris wheel ride it started raining. Like Steven promised they had some carnival food, corn dogs, ice cream and of course cotton candy. All of it being washed down with generous amounts of tea. Then it was back to the Bed and Breakfast where they watched some TV before making love again. In the evening they decided to head to a little pub a couple of streets down.
It was just starting to get dark and the town was looking so beautiful when a police officer stopped them.
"Excuse me Miss you're obviously a tourist but I have to tell you wearing a hoodie is illegal in Northern Ireland. I must ask you to at least pull back your hood," said the man trying to be as courteous as possible.
"Oh sorry," said Peridot as she pulled down her hood.
The officer in question got an eyeful with Peridot's green skin and large diamond shaped hairstyle.
"Never mind, sorry about that. Carry on," said the poor man.
The young couple found a charming little pub called Jibs and took a corner booth. There they cuddled each other as they ate a couple of meat pies. It was a lovely meal until a dark skinned man burst in and started taking pictures. Peridot tried shielding herself from Steven but the man actually climbed onto the table knocking off their pies. Steven was about to stand up and deal with the intruder when the bartender stepped in.
"Khaleed, go away and stop bothering my customers," shouted the bartender. She was a large matronly woman.
"But she's-"
"Now! Don't you have some curry to make?"
The annoying little man scurried out. Once he was gone the bartender walked up to Steven and Peridot.
"I'm sorry about that loves. Khaleed was way out of line. I hope this little incident doesn't affect your view of our town," said the bartender.
"No problem, there's always one of those in every town," said Peridot graciously. She was thinking of Ronaldo.
"Well in any case. He destroyed your pies. Let me give you another on the house," smiled the woman.
The evening ended up being salvaged. They listened to the live band and Steven drank a few Guinesses. Much later on Peridot and Steven left the pub. Her husband had drunk a little too much and Peridot had to guide him back to the hotel.
"That was the best tasting beer ever," said Steven in a loud voice.
"I wouldn't know. It's not like I could have any," replied Peridot.
"Well it was great. I wonder if they have that in Rossmore?"
"Steven shh. You'll wake the guests," Peridot fiddled with the lock and guided Steven up the stairs and into their room.
Steven flopped in the middle of the bed. He was still going on about that infernal ale.
"Did you know that Guiness used to be served in hospitals it was so nutritious?" Steven babbled as Peridot pulled off his pants. He sat straight up. "Hey Peri know what I'd like to do to you now?"
"I have an idea," Peridot said as she stripped down.
Once she was done she climbed into bed. Steven was waiting for her. He gave Peridot a sloppy drunk kiss.
"Tonight I am going to rock your world," Then Peridot's husband fell fast asleep.
The next morning Steven woke to Peridot shaking him. He had a pounding headache and the day was nauseatingly bright.
"Peri a few more minutes please," moaned Steven.
"No Steven, breakfast is almost over and you promised that we'd go check out the ruins today," said Peridot firmly.
At Peridot's urging Steven reluctantly got up and dressed. She practically dragged him downstairs to the breakfast room. She ordered a generous meal of bacon, eggs and orange juice, which she sprinkled with peridot crystals. Steven felt sick just looking at her food.
"It's your own fault. Besides the best thing for you now is to get some nutrition," said Peridot.
"I can't even look at this food without feeling sick. How am I going to keep it down?"
"Simple just order something bland and nutritious. I recommend the orange juice and porridge. You'll feel much better."
Sure enough Steven did feel better. Enough to keep up with his pregnant wife. Still he gave a silent thank you as she slowed down and they were forced to get a cab. The ruins were a little further out than she expected.
When Peridot stepped out of the cab she could see that she was not the first to notice the ruins. In true capitalist fashion the ruins were fenced off and tour guides stood on hand. Even from here Peridot could see the ruins were well worth it.
The ruins started with a large temple built right onto the cliff face. While the cliffs were made of white chalk, the ruins were made of sturdier gray stone. The front of the temple was a statue of a huge woman in a sitting position. A set of stairs led to a diamond shaped door in the statue's naval. Except for the fact that it had two arms and a fluffy hairstyle it reminded Steven of his own temple at Beach City.
"Okay this is freaking me out," he said.
"I understand but this a gem temple built by Pink Diamond. You'll finally get those answers you wanted," said Peridot excitedly.
Within a few minutes they were at the gates. A tour guide smiled as she greeted them.
"Welcome to the Temple of the Guardian Mother," smiled the guide a young girl with red hair. "This temple has been a popular tourist destination for hundreds of years but about 70 years ago everything changed, during a storm a hole opened up in the wall." The tour guide led the group consisting of Steven, Peridot and 5 other people up to a door just at the side of the giant statue.
Once Steven entered he gasped. The cavern was so much bigger than the statue suggested. The walls were illuminated by some unseen gem tech but that was not the most amazing part. Inside was a small town like Beach City perfectly preserved with a small beach. It was so much like a modern town yet was so different. Signs with strange hieroglyphs dotted the town. It even had an amusement park with rides that seemed the same yet somehow different from his home.
"-now we know that the civilization that built the temple was an old but advanced civilization. We didn't know how advanced until we finally managed to get inside. Recent carbon dating suggest the civilization was over 6000 years old."
A hand shot up, "Oh can you tell me why these people decided to live in this cave?" asked a curious young Chinese woman.
"Good question from what we can tell there was a series of disasters that rocked the globe at that time. Violent storms, earthquakes that caused extinction level events. It would have devastated the culture if not caused the extinction of the human race in Ireland if it were not for this sanctuary. And it not only protected the humans. As you can see the small ocean kept alive fish, sea life and the seabirds including the omnivorous puffin."
Steven was barely listening to the guide tell how the discoveries lead to a technological leap forward or why this culture was so similar to his own. He knew why already. Pink Diamond, the gem that Rose had shattered had tried to protect, these humans as best she could. Guilt wracked him. Steven tried to keep a happy face but Peridot soon caught on.
"Steven, stop feeling guilty. You are not responsible for Pink Diamond's death," said Peridot firmly.
"But Rose is a part of me," countered Steven.
"Steven you may have inherited Rose's gem but you are in no way your mother. You've proven that again and again, bubbling and extracting the Cluster and helping heal the corrupted gems. I would not be alive today if it weren't for your care. So forget about that sister killing, war mongering pink bitch. Let's go outside to the beach. Maybe we can feed those omnivorous puffins that hang around here."
With that they left the temple. An omnivorous puffin latched onto them begging for food. Steven laughed as Peridot fed the black and white bird some crisps. From now on they just would just be a perfectly normal couple on their honeymoon.
That evening after having a dinner at a nice restaurant Peridot fell asleep while Steven was still wide awake. He decided to call his dad and then Pearl. Steven told his father of the trip to the local temple and return of the omnivorous puffins. His father was doing well. He was due to reopen his ice cream shop in a few weeks time and was seriously thinking of opening up another shop in Ocean town.
Pearl was another matter.
"So Steven, how's your honeymoon?" asked Pearl. The gem sounded nervous.
"Oh Peridot and I are having a wonderful time. Port Rush is kinda like Beach City only European. It even has a Funland. There's these white cliffs and sandy beaches we found this charming little pub that we go to eat," gushed Steven. He decided to omit their visit to Pink Diamond's temple. "How are things with you?"
"Good, good well actually no. One of our patients had a relapse," said Pearl sadly.
"Oh that's awful which one?" asked Steven.
"One of the new Peridots. 3VS she had parked herself in front of the TV when a gem TV program Fluffy News came on. Oh Steven it was awful. Yellow Diamond had summoned these little Peridots to her palace and then squashed them like bugs. 3VS was keening and the other Peridots are in hiding somewhere. I'm grateful that little Spunky was in school at the time. It took hours for Bismuth and Soldalite to calm her down. Steven a lot of these new Peridots are damaged. We could could really use your help once your honeymoon is over.
By the way how is Peridot?"
"She's great. Right now she's sleeping. The baby's taking a lot out of her but this trip is exactly what she needed."
"And what about her business? Last I heard it was booming. How could she take time off?"
"Well her mothers are watching over the shop. They're using this as an opportunity to learn about the town. Peridot also brought a laptop so I can keep up with my courses."
"Well good, anyway I have to go and pick up Spunky from school. Love you."
They said their goodbyes and then Steven worked on the laptop. A couple of hours later he heard Peridot shift in bed.
"Steven, you've got to come right away. The baby's moving," said Peridot gleefully.
His wife was sitting bolt upright in bed holding her belly. Steven walked over and put his hand on her stomach. He felt the faintest of flutters. It was really happening, Steve was going to be a father. He felt a lump in his throat.
"Oh Peri," he said hoarsely.
He felt himself tear up as held onto to her. For awhile they just hugged until Peridot's stomach growled.
Steven laughing decided to have a curry delivered. After batting away the nosy Khaleed, Steven took the curries up to their room. They talked about their plans about the baby, about Peridot's business and Steven's courses at the community college. Finally the two fell asleep in each others' arms.
For the next week Steven and Peridot walked on the beach, shopped for souvenirs and fed the omnivorous puffins. In the evening they dined in the finest restaurants and made love in their room. Still they kept in contact with their loved ones with regular video chats and phone calls praising the scenery and the sea air. They became regulars at Jibs but it ended all too soon.
They were in Jibs enjoying the music and fish and chips, when the soccer program suddenly switched to a newscast. The patrons shouted in anger but the barkeep merely turned up the volume.
"We now interrupt this program for an important news flash. An alien armada has been spotted just past Jupiter's orbit," said the news caster. "The alien fleet is heading directly towards Earth. What their intentions are nobody knows. But we have received footage from a probe around Jupiter's orbit."
The screen showed a rather grainy image of green body parts: feet, breasts, butts and even a few yachts in the shape of dicks. There was also a strange glowing green sphere.
"Those are Home world ships," gasped Peridot.
"This just in we have just received a transmission from one of the alien crafts." The screen showed a bald green skinned being- a Peridot like her. The crowd in the pub turned to face Peridot.
The image on the screen spoke, "This is Peridot Facet 4C8G Cut 6RC speaking on behalf of the fleet. If anyone is listening we are refugees escaping the tyranny of the Diamond Authority. We are requesting permission to land and will be joining you in less than one Earth rotation."
Peridot felt the eyes of every single person bore into her. Steven held Peridot protectively as the green gem visibly shrank. For a while there was silence then the doors burst open. Three armed soldiers came marching in.
"Unit task force, Brigadier Thomas Slocum we're here to escort a Peridot Universe to Unit headquarters," said the commander.
Steven formed a protective bubble around him and Peridot. For a second the soldiers were confused and then they moved closer to the couple. The honeymoon was over.