A/N: Hello again! This is a short story, totally different from my last one. This one is very canon divergent. Catch and Release and the subsequent episodes did not happen.

This one is based on an idea my husband and I were talking about and I needed to write this one out. Warning, this will get extremely depressing. I am so, so sorry. Alternate title might as well be "Kübler-Ross". This will be a much shorter story and will most likely have shorter chapters. This first chapter is pretty short, but I couldn't write too much without giving too much away.

Enjoy!

-FourFaces

Steven and Connie sat side by side on the beach watching the pink glow of the sky. Steven was so happy to just have her there by his side. He wanted this moment to last forever.

Connie had been reading while Steven had skipped rocks out into the ocean, but her book was now next to her, bookmark in place, as she rested her head on his shoulder. Steven felt her sigh and smiled, leaning his head against hers.

"This is wonderful," he whispered. "I don't want today to end."

Connie smiled. "It doesn't have to, Steven. It can keep going on and on."

Steven laughed and wrapped an arm around her. He gently placed a kiss on the top of her head before looking back out at the horizon. The two teens sat in silence, Steven not wanting to say anything to disturb the moment.

She had looked so pretty in the rosy-pink sundress that she wore to meet him. He thought she was radiant and had frolicked on the sand with her for much of the morning, marveling at how she seemed to float above the sand.

She grabbed his free hand with a light touch and smiled, looking into his eyes. He smiled and pressed his forehead against hers.

"You don't have to leave, do you?" She asked.

"No. I can stay here with you," he smiled.

She leaned up and kissed him, gently. Her lips were a feather soft touch against his.

He was glad that they were alone. If any of the gems had seen, they would have been upset. Connie's parents? Absolutely mortified.

This was their secret spot, and he was happy to have this spot to share with her and only her. He could escape from the thought of battles, of pain, of uncertainty and just be here with Connie.

He wanted this to last forever … and maybe now it could.

Outside of Rose's Room, Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl waited. The funeral was in an hour and even though the Mahaswarens had said that he didn't need to come if he wasn't able to handle it, they thought it would be important for him. There would be no viewing (there was not much left to bury), but hopefully being there would help him.

Garnet raised her hand to knock on the door, but she knew what she would find if it opened. She hesitated and pulled back. He would come out on his own time.