Steven is back.

Greg doesn't know how- all he knows is that one minute the Gems have warped he and Connie back to the Temple, and there's no hope of ever seeing his son again, and Pearl is having a meltdown, and the next thing he knows Steven is standing in the middle of the living room, smiling up at them.

Tears spring to his eyes, and the wave of relief Greg feels is so intense that at the sight of his son he has to physically hold his heart in place- it feels as though it's going leap out of his chest. He runs to Steven with a speed he hasn't possessed in twenty years, past Connie, past the Gems, and envelopes him in a hug. Everything's a blur of laughter and emotion and tears.

There are heartfelt cries of "Steven!" and "Dad!," and then his son is safe in his arms, warm and alive, and they're trapped in a massive group hug by Connie and the Gems, all of whom are laughing and crying and grasping at Steven as if they're afraid he's going to disappear, and that's really not a bad idea.

Greg tries in vain to hold Steven at arms length, and settles for burying his face in his hair as he laughs half hysterically.

"Oh my gosh! You're back! You're here! You're okay!" Suddenly Greg's joy turns to fear. "Wait!" Everyone in the room freezes with stunned shock as Greg somehow sweeps everyone to the side, everyone save for Steven, whom he scoops into the air with sudden concern. "Are you okay?"

"Dad!"

Steven gives a bit of an embarrassed protest as Greg lifts his shirt, examining his gem and patting him down to make sure he's all in one piece.

"Is your gem cracked? Are your bones broken? Do all your organs still work?"

Steven laughs as he tries to squirm away.

"I'm fine Dad! Really, I'm okay!"

"Thank stars!" Now that he knows Steven is alright it's back to hugging, and the others quickly join them. "I'm never letting you out of my sight ever again!" Everyone laughs through tears and holds Steven all the harder. "I'm gonna get you one of those backpacks with leashes attached so you can't wander off into anymore danger! And you are never leaving the surface of this planet ever again! You're not even allowed to jump! You've gotta have at least one foot on the ground at all times!" Steven nods as he buries his face in Greg's shirt. They're both crying, hard. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!"

There's at least another five minutes of hugging and crying and laughing before someone finally asks how Steven got there, and that's when everyone begins to calm down.

Once Steven is finally released he curls up next to Greg on the couch and gives them the short version of what happened(: He and Lars tried to escape the ship and failed, they were taken to trial, they escaped, a band of Homeworld gems hid them but they were found, they fought some robots, Lars got badly hurt, Steven healed him, and somehow that created a portal home through Lars' head. Steven promised to fill them in on the details in the morning, but for now all they really needed to know was that everyone was okay. That, and that they needed to find a way to get Lars and Off Color Gems off of Homeworld as soon as possible.). After that he eats a snack, takes a bathroom break, and spends about an hour on the phone talking with Sadie and Lars' parents, giving them a much shorter version of everything that's happened and assuring them that Lars is okay. After all that he's tired enough that he nearly walks into a wall, and that's when Greg decides it's time for bed.

Steven gives a bit of a whiny protest, but by the time Greg carries him up to bed and settles next to him, he's out like a light.

Greg is tired too- he hasn't gotten much sleep while Steven's been away- but he stays awake just a little longer. Connie and the Gems have all disappeared somewhere, and the house is completely silent save for the sound of Steven's gentle snoring. Greg holds him just a little bit closer as he smiles up at Rose's portrait through watery eyes.

"Thank you."

Steven smiles.