Some Minor Adjustments

Steven looked up to Peridot. In the young gem's hand, the blades glistened.

"I don't want this. You don't have to do this" pleaded Steven.

Peridot sighed, "I don't want to do this either Steven but if we have to do this."

Pressing her lips firmly Peridot brought the scissors down and cut the first one of Steven's beautiful locks. As she proceeded tears ran down both her face and Steven's. After what seemed like the longest time Peridot finished her sad mission. She handed the mirror to Steven.

"What do you think?" asked Peridot.

Steven gazed thoughtfully into the mirror. His hair was now shoulder length. "That wasn't as bad I thought it would be. Do you think I should grow a full beard?"

Peridot smiled, "No the goatee you have is adequate. Plus, you would require a beard net at work."

"Well it's not like I'm getting a lot of work now," Steven said sulkily.

"We have work today so go shower while I sweep up."

Once the pair had reached the Frying Saucer, Mitch signaled for Steven to meet him in his office. Mitch looked a little uncomfortable as Steven sat down.

"Steven I really don't know how to put it," Mitch licked his lips. "Your work has been exemplary. You are one of the best cooks I have ever hired. You get along so well with the customers and the staff here."

"But," said Steven.

"But when I hired you Gord was in a really bad way. I thought I would have to let him go but the treatment he's using is actually working. Maybe it's because he saw I was willing to replace him or the fact that he decided to work weekends. Either way Steven I'm cutting down your hours."

"B-but Peridot and I need that money. We live in my Dad's old van. This isn't fair."

"I know Steven but you're smart. You'll find work elsewhere."

"Can I at least get my pay then?"

Peridot was busy taking orders when she saw Steven step out of Mitch's office looking dejected. When she asked what was wrong Steven merely waved her off saying he would tell as soon as they got a break. The work was so unusually busy that it was only at closing time that Steve got a chance to give the bad news.

Peridot leaned against the wall, "This is a disaster. You made twice as much as me being a cook. Did you at least get your pay." Steven nodded, "Well that is at least something. My money is almost running out we're going to have to cut down on expenses."

"But Peri our expenses consist of groceries and clothes. We dumpster dive or shop at thrift stores for the rest."

The next morning Steven drove Peridot in for work. She gave him a quick kiss and reminded him that he needed to pick her up at noon. He drove off looking for something to do. Just out of town he spotted a sign that read:

Farmer Dan's fresh vegetables, pies and fruit. Get it at the source.

Curious Steven drove his bike up to the stand. He needed the groceries anyway. When he got there his eyes sparkled these were some of the tastiest looking vegetables he had ever seen. They even had bread and the prices were ever cheaper than the grocery store. He loaded up on some vegetables. When he got to the cashier an older looking farmer, he asked his first question.

"You sell year round?" Steven said.

"Yep I'm surprised you haven't been around to see me. I'm Farmer Dan by the way," said the old man held out his hand.

Steven awkwardly shuffled his bags and shook his hand, "I'm er, Steven. My girlfriend and I have been busy,"

"The green girl you're living in sin with?" Steven blushed. "Don't you mind me. I was young myself. Have you thought about moving into an apartment?"

"We're perfectly happy living in the van just outside of town. Do you have any meat?"

"Sorry we don't. You'll have to go to the supermarket for that. As for living in the van that may be fine for now but sooner or later the Sheriff's going to notice you squatting on the land."

He hastily thanked the farmer and headed back to the van. Once inside he headed straight to the kitchen area and made himself a cup of tea. Then he checked his emails on the computer. No word from the gems, typical, but then only Peridot knew about email. The news his father gave him was- not good.

Even though Connie was clearly lying about who attacked her the police seemed to be ignoring the evidence and had Steven locked in as a prime suspect. Bismuth had been arrested and the lawyer his Dad had hired mysteriously had a heart attack. If he didn't know any better Steven would say that he was receiving the same bad mojo treatment that Peridot received when she left the barn.

He set the computer down and looked around. Peridot had made some great improvements such as expanding the van's interior setting up plumbing and electricity but there was still a lot of work to be done. The kitchen area was just a sink, a heating ring, dad's waffle iron and a crockpot on some boxes. The sofa was shoved against the far wall next to where the shower and toilet were installed. Some building supplies lay next to him along with a pile of books but Steven and Peridot hadn't had the time to actually assemble anything. Well there wasn't anything else he could do. Steven cracked his knuckles and got straight to work.

When Peridot left the Frying Saucer a half hour late, she saw Steven was smiling at her from the motorcycle. As she mounted the bike Peridot asked why Steven was so happy. Steven answered with a cryptic you'll see and drove them straight home. He insisted she cover her eyes as he opened the van's back doors. When he guided her inside Peridot gasped.

The van had been transformed. Over by the bathroom the bed had been assembled. No more sleeping on a thin mattress. The couch had been moved to a more pleasing spot with a coffee table and TV at the front and their books had been placed on bookshelf of wood planks and bricks. There was still a lot of work to do, the kitchen hadn't been touched and the walls hadn't been put up but it was now looking like a home.

"Hey Steven want to try out the new bed?" said Peridot with veiled eyes.

On the Homefront

When Greg had left for work Amethyst plunked herself in front of the TV with a bag of chips. She had found an old bathrobe of Steven's and wore it pretty much all the time. Pearl argued that what she was doing wasn't healthy but hey wearing Steven's bathrobe made her feel better. She heard Garnet come in to make a cup of coffee no doubt. Just as the program on TV was getting good Amethyst heard the door knocking.

"Amethyst get the door," ordered Garnet.

"You're up you get it," snapped Amethyst. If it was 3 months ago she would have never talked to Garnet like that.

"Amethyst now," ordered Garnet. The tone she used suggested reprisals if she didn't obey.

Amethyst opened the door. Outside were two cops.

Amethyst scowled "You again. What do you want? Garnet-"

But Garnet was nowhere to be seen. The policemen pushed their way in. They were two big men brought in no doubt to intimidate.

"Officers Crabtree and Lamont, mind if we ask you a few questions?" said the older one.

"I've told what happened that night for like the zillionth time already," said Amethyst. She walked back to the couch.

"Not about the night in question but on the whereabouts of your foster son," said Lamont.

"No idea, and if I did I wouldn't tell you guys."

"But surely he's called you and told you he was okay," urged Crabtree.

Amethyst waved a damaged cellphone in front of them. "You see that. That's Steven's cellphone wherever he went he left this behind. P-dot may have been annoying but she was smart."

"Have they emailed you?"

"No they haven't and if you're asking about Garnet or Pearl, Pearl can't even use a phone let alone write an email and Garnet's specialty was bossing people around."

"Where are Pearl and Garnet?"

"Pearl's busy at the farm with the patients left behind and Garnet's in the temple doing who knows."

"You know what I don't believe you've been watching TV all day. You love Steven you wouldn't sit by and do nothing while he's in trouble. I believe you do know where Steven is. I believe that you are helping him on the side. So tell us where he is or we'll take you down to the station and ask our questions there."

Amethyst had enough. She stood up from the couch. Crumbs of potato chips fell to the ground. "Do I look like I'm helping anybody? Ever since you went on your stupid witch hunt we have heard nothing. No phone calls, no emails, nothing. Since Rose died, our only mission has been to look after Steven and now thanks to you idiots we have nothing. So yeah I've been sitting here watching TV all day doing nothing. So back off."

"So you won't mind if we search the Beach house and temple then."

Amethyst crossed her arms, "Actually I do. Go get a warrant before you start poking into our things."

Once the kindergarten cops had left the house, Amethyst frowned. Those jack booted idiots were right they did love Steven and they were doing nothing. Oh sure they had no idea where he was but Amethyst didn't believe that Steven wouldn't contact them or at least his father. Then the purple gem saw Greg's computer.

After she had logged on Amethyst started reading Greg's emails. Her eyes widened. So Steven had been contacting Greg. There was not much on Steven's side the van broke down but here on the home front it seemed like Steven's situation was getting worse and worse. She had to show this to Pearl right away.

Pearl was trying to install more power sockets for the patients when she heard the whirr of helicopter blades. As she stepped outside of the Quonset hut she could see Amethyst in copter form coming towards her. Not bothering to change back Amethyst showed her the computer and Greg's emails. Pearl's face darkened she started shouting and screaming using swear words that even Amethyst didn't even know. It was seriously freaking the purple gem out. After a little while Pearl stopped and soothed down her hair.

Finally, the thin gem seemed calm, "Amethyst do you remember the Beta kindergarten when Peridot captured her first corrupted gem? Remember how we watched just out of sight laughing at her while Garnet used her temporal powers to teach Peridot a lesson."

"Oh yeah Garnet made sure that everything Peridot would blow – ohh!"

"Amethyst I think it is time to make some minor adjustments in our command structure."

After finishing her coffee Garnet went back to work. The temporal lines were proving more and more difficult to master. She tried sabotaging the van only to have Steven ride into town as a horse. But every time she tried making life difficult for the couple they got even closer instead of going further apart like she hoped. No matter the timelines were easier to control at Beach City. Just a few more minor adjustments and Steven's punishment would continue.

Suddenly a huge hairy form crashed right into her making Garnet lose her concentration.

"Amethyst get off of me!" ordered Garnet. She felt a lash on her face.

"Over here," smirked the purple runt. Oh great, Pearl was beside her.

"In my lifetime as a Pearl I've seen a lot of things but never would have I thought I would live the day to have seen this," hissed Pearl.

"Back off Pearl you are talking of things you don't understand," Garnet stood up and kicked Jasper aside. She walked slowly to the unruly pair. "I'm doing what must be done. You failures wouldn't understand that."

"Hey how does putting the bad mojo on Steven good for anybody?" snarled Amethyst.

"Enough chit chat we're taking you down," shouted Pearl. She pulled out the longest spear Amethyst had ever seen. The blade was serrated and wickedly sharp. With a nod Pearl signaled Amethyst to charge.

Garnet laughed as she dodged Amethyst's spear easily, "Rose put me in charge because you morons wouldn't be able to carry out her master plan." Pear lunged only for Garnet to sidestep. "Steven was supposed to become a great warrior. He was supposed to lead a crusade against Homeworld destroying it once and for all. But you morons couldn't get that right and I had to watch as our best shot literally fucked away our chances." Jasper tackled the fusion. This time her teeth bit into Garnet's arm.

"Oh great, the corrupted gem is the only one to make a hit," sneered Garnet. "Typical Pearl you are only good for taking care of people. Well good job now Rose is dead and Steven has run away. The only honor left for you is to kill yourself."

"That was not my fault," screeched Pearl. She rammed her spear into Garnet's belly pinning her to the temple's wall.

Garnet was not done, "Amethyst you have always been a stunted idiot. Look at you, wearing Steven's bathrobe. You're pathetic."

Pearl heard enough "Listen here you perverted pair of megalomaniacs you can put us down, even beat us but when you harm my Steven you've gone way too far."

Garnet just smirked, "He's Rose's son not yours."

Pearl just lost it, "Yes he is my son. I'm the one who took care of him, who kept his home, worried about him and taught him. I did everything you asked because I trusted you and now you're using your power to hurt him. Well it ends now goodbye Garnet."

Pearl's spear descended slicing Garnet right in two. Garnet's form wavered then she disappeared in a puff of smoke leaving behind two gems, a ruby and a sapphire. Pearl lifted her spear up to shattered the two gems only to be blocked by Amethyst.

"No Pearl, we're Crystal Gems we don't shatter. Even if they do deserve it," said Amethyst firmly.

"We can't trust them, her. You heard what she said about us, about Steven," Pearl said shakily.

"Then let me bubble them. Once you've calmed down and everything's blown over, then we can decide what to do with them."

"You're right. Only there's one thing I would like you to do."

"And what's that?"

"Take off Steven's bathrobe and help out in the farm."