Raising Steven Chapter 6

Endless Cries (Part 1)

Tick tock...tick tock…

The clock ticked within every second. Seconds became minutes and minutes turned into hours. Days would eventually go by, which turned into months. From being a month old toward turning into three months, felt like a long time...like three unimaginable years would go by. Every day would seem unbearable for the gems to handle as Steven slowly grew. Instead of needing support for him to get on his stomach, he would do it by himself with no problem. His arms and legs were even growing by just a few centimeters, but all those measures mattered. What even mattered the most was that Steven was a happy healthy baby. But there was one day when the world was darkened by severe coughing and no desire to eat anything. Even those endless cries...

Tick tock...tick tock...

It felt like time was their own enemy.

With a stiff cup of warm tea in her hand and the other occupied with a fresh biscuit, Pearl stared out into the open with tiresome bloodshot eyes. Her legs had fallen asleep from her uncomfortable chair as her arms rested on the counter. Accompanying her on her morning breakfast was Garnet, Amethyst, and Greg. No words or discussions have been distributed amongst themselves. All that their ears could hear was Steven cry, cough, and sniff roughly, worrying each of them deeply. The poor infant was suffering from an unexplainable sickness. Tears even poured out of Pearl's clear eyes as she sobbed, hanging her head in shame as she thought more about his delicate state.

"Don't worry, Pearl. I'll take him to a doctor soon. It doesn't matter if we don't have enough money. I'll do anything for my son to get better." Greg comforted the crystal gem, but didn't get any answer from her.

"I'll doubt the doctor would know what to do with Steven. He is a gem, and we are different from humans making it impossible for the doctor to find the right cure for him." Garnet retorted, trying her best to fight back the tears.

"For once, his crying is making me sadder than it should be." Amethyst said through spoonfuls of cold cereal, "They would always annoy me. This time, I just don't know what to think about this."

"Can't we try?! There is no other choice for Steven to get better. Are we just going to sit around here and do nothing?! He's severely sick!" Greg raised his voice in slight anger. He was just devastated at the low courage the gems had for Steven to get better. "The three of you never gave up on anything, but you'll just give up on Steven's health. I can't believe you."

Pearl and Garnet gave the human man a cold stare, feeling a stab of guilt from his words. If it was them being sick, they would have to do their own ways of healing themselves which included strange ingredients and even fire, water, or anything else, depending on their gem's natural element. But for a baby gem, they had no idea of what to do. They never even learned how to cure a baby, even when they saw Rose cure Amethyst when she was younger. Those days though were far behind them, making it forgettable for them to remember how it was.

"Oh please, let's not get hasty and jump to conclusions. Garnet is right and any doctor won't able to do anything for Steven. This sickness looks like a special case found among our kind. Humans would take months or even years to figure out how this illness works and find a cure before our baby's life is saved. But this mostly affects gems." Pearl weakly argued back, not daring to make eye contact with the angry man.

Defeated, Greg sighed with sadness and whispered, "I don't want to lose him like Rose. He's my own son." His words went unnoticed by the older gems, instead of one.

"Uh, Mr. Universe. Rose always told us to keep our heads up and push these small problems aside. I'm sure Steven will be a healthy baby again...hopefully." Amethyst answered back, lightly kicking his leg underneath the table to gain his attention.

Greg smiled at Amethyst, but directed his attention when Steven wailed from his bassinet. His stubby legs were seen kicking the air, as if he was trying his best to gain the undivided attention of someone to comfort him. Hearing this made Pearl sob even louder. Greg saw as Pearl weakly got up from her seat, but motioned for her to sit back down. The gem shook her head and continued to walk to the bassinet, but was halted by Greg's arm. She glared at him through her watery eyes and walked past him, her arms lowering his own.

"I'll take care of him. I'm sure he needs something to fill up his stomach." Pearl claimed, standing over the baby's bassinet. She even began to gently cradle his bassinet with the tip of her fingertips.

Steven coughed up tiny pieces of yellow phlegm that oozed out of his mouth in which the older gem took immediate action. She carefully picked up the baby and cradled him in her arms, tears dropped on Steven's forehead. Pearl held him closer to her as she wiped away his dirty mouth with her own shirt. She didn't care about it. For a teenager, Pearl was very passionate about those around her compared to other teenagers her age. She was only sixteen years old.

"What do we even do? Bringing him to the doctor makes me fear that they might take him away into the hospital, where he will have no love and hugs from us. We should just pray for him to get better."

The only full human there could've felt warm fresh tears form in the corner of his eyes, but he quickly fought them back. Greg shook off the negative thoughts that came to him and took Pearl by the arm, turning her direction facing towards him. Steven looked up at his own father with a worried, uncomfortable look. His brown eyes could instantly tell anybody that he wanted someone to save him from his sickness or his misery.

"Pearl, please. I insist on taking care of Steven. Why don't you at least go and get some baby medicine for him. At least have hope for the baby." Greg assured her, softly taking Steven away from her grasp. Pearl refused at first until her expression changed from hearing Steven wince below her chin.

"Fine." Pearl sighed, "I'll leave right now so Steven can at least get better sooner, if that is what you're assuming."

"Go to the pharmacy. There they might have something for him. I'm sure you'll figure it out."

Pearl nodded and looked back at the other gems with a worried gleam in her blue eyes. She moved her head to the door, as if saying that one of them can accommodate her. Garnet shook her head while Amethyst accepted the gesture.

"I'll come P, so you won't be alone." Amethyst stated and quickly drank her remaining milk from her cereal. Getting up quickly, she ran to Pearl's side and falsely smiled up at her.

The boney teenager sighed, for what seemed like the hundredth time that day, and looked towards Steven's direction. The baby coughed and fidgeted with his fingers while avoiding Pearl's soft stare. Such innocence and angel like vibes could come to anyone by just one quick glance at the baby.

"I'll do anything for you." Pearl whispered to Steven. Stretching her arms and straightening her back, she huffed and dashed to the door.

Looking back one last time, the gem nodded to the two left behind and took the young purple gem's hand, "I'll be right back. Don't let Steven out of your sight!"

After that, Pearl ran out in desperation to get back as quickly as possible, with Amethyst holding onto her. They left an unsettling scene behind them, not wanting to feel more guilty than they should be. Greg stared at the door from where the two left with a sharp pain stabbing his heart. The wind outside blew against his long hair as well as the bright morning sun shining into the dark room. It all created an eerie shadow on his and Steven's face. The baby in his arms continued to cough and snorted back the snot trailing down his upper lips.

Just have hope. Steven can get better. If not, I'll take him to the hospital. I don't care what these gems will say about it. Greg thought to himself, already planning ahead of what to do.

"Come. Let me hold Steven, Greg." Garnet loudly spoke to the human man, who instantly turned to face her.

"Garnet?" The man could feel his vocal cords tighten against his throat as the next words slipped out, "What exactly do you think his sickness could be?"

Garnet hesitated at first until she looked away from him. She shook her head back and forth as if she didn't understand him at first. She rubbed her nose that lifted her shades, not noticing that parts of her multicolored eyes were being shown.

"Let's look at his symptoms. He's barely eating anything, he's coughing more than usual, it appears that he developed rashes on certain places, high temperature, and a stuffed nose-"

"It's the flu! Right?" Greg interrupted the gem. Her answer to his question was a shrug.

"Similar. Pearl has more knowledge about this, but I can help. Let me hold Steven." Garnet said in her deep usual tone with no emotion presented in it.

There was a pause in their conversation, but Greg's decision to give the baby up to Garnet was decided. Dragging his feet, as if they were made of stone, he walked to her and handed Steven to the leader. Steven was face to face with the red gem, however he tried to wiggle himself out of her strong grasp. His high cries rang through Garnet's ears, buzzing her ear drums. He even kicked her chest with his bare feet. It's as if he never met Garnet before.

"Please. Calm down. I'm here. Here to help you."

Steven continued to kick and cry, despite the fact that he was being comforted by his favorite 'babysitter.'

"When will they get back?"

...

Pearl and Amethyst stared at the line in front of them with ice cold eyes. Their stares seemed that they could burn a hole into anybody by any second waiting more in line. Sweat dripped down the youngest gem's brow, from the lack of the air conditioned atmosphere and from nervousness. Pearl even began to bite her nails, messing up her previous manicure session. Her fingers were gripping onto a small blue box with bolded letters, 'Baby Flu Formula.' It felt like they were in line for thirty minutes, but it was only just a minute.

"Why does everybody need medicine today?!" Pearl exclaimed, her eye slightly twitching from annoyance. That exclamation cost her a few dirty looks. "Oh don't look at me that way! I have a sick baby to attend."

The humans before and behind her adjusted their looks onto each other. The thoughts occurring in their minds were readable from their expressions.

"Pfft. Teen moms..." One of them audibly muttered to themselves.

Amethyst looked up at her older gem teammate, her mouth puffed from the laughter wanting to escape her lungs. It was understandable for why they would assume that Pearl would be the mother due to the motherly tone in her voice when she said baby. The skinny teenager just rolled her eyes, accepting the false statement about her.

Each customer payed off their item resulting with the two gems becoming closer to the cashier. Amethyst's goofy grin from the lie about Pearl, started to dissipate. The child looked around her surroundings in order for her to maintain her patience. Her deep purple pupils were instantly attracted by the sight of candy and sweets. It was eye candy to her. Sneakily walking away, she went to the aisle without Pearl noticing. The pearl gem was already tired to the point where she started to close her eyes from her lack of sleep.

"Chocolate or lollipops...? Or gumdrops and candy dip?" Amethyst loudly wondered to herself. Each step further into the aisle made her eyes widen by the delicious looking candy there was. Her taste buds were already dancing to the sweet taste it would have in her mouth. Inside the gem's mind was a small debate being made until chocolate won her over. She took five bars; one for her, the rest of the Crystal Gems, Greg, and Steven. Amethyst didn't have any slight idea on how a baby could or should have chocolate, but she was too naive to care.

Glad with her decision, the purple gem giggled. Her young mind almost forgot about the reason on why she was there until she met a book cover that reminded her of Steven. It was a book on how to raise a baby.

"Haha. Pearl would love to see this."

Amethyst took the book and ran to the front of the line where she saw Pearl standing. Her eyes would constantly close and pop open while she swayed side to side in a sleepy matter. Stepping up to the front of the line, Amethyst poked Pearl's shoulder that instantly aroused her.

"Pearl! I found a book that is perfect for you, since you're the mommy of the Crystal Gems." Amethyst mocked with a high tone. She held the book up to Pearl's viewpoint.

"You and your baby: A guide on how to properly raise a child." Pearl quietly read to herself, "Seems interesting and promising."

Eventually time went by until they were finally called. Amethyst and Pearl sighed in relief as they made their way to the cashier. The items in Pearl's and Amethyst's hands surprised the male cashier. He chuckled to himself.

"It seems that motherhood is crushing you, isn't it miss? Just enough to make you buy five chocolate bars."

"Chocolate bars?" Pearl questioned and turned to Amethyst. The shorter girl sheepishly grinned from embarrassment.

The cashier laughed, "Yes. No worries though miss. I heard chocolate eases the stress for a while. Especially if you're a teenage mother. How is your child doing?"

"I'm not a teenage mother!"

...

"What are we supposed to do now? The medicine doesn't seem like it's working." Garnet said in disappointment.

It has been a couple of hours since Steven has taken the dreadful tasting medicine. After a few rounds of throwing up and constant checking of his rashes, it appeared that he was only getting worst by the minute. His cracked, dried lips were turning into a light shade of purple as well his head constantly looking moist and hot. The worst part was that his appetite was slowly decreasing day by day. Another addition was that his crying never stopped. The only option the gems had were to lighten the baby up.

"Hmm...Why not do some funny tricks for him? He loves to laugh at silly things. It will keep him distracted while I'll think of something else." Pearl said to try and encourage the rest of the gems.

Amethyst and Garnet stood next to each other, with looks of confusion. In front of them was Steven being held by Greg. The baby already gave them a displeased look and violently shook his arms. His father even bounced his legs to cradle the baby, but nothing.

"Uh...Look at me Steven! I'm a dumb clown."

Amethyst ran to the kitchen to grab a can of whip cream and a fresh strawberry from the fridge. She dashed back, smudging whip cream around her face, and threw some to Garnet's direction. It smudged against her figure, but her lips remained calm with not a single flinch. Amethyst then started to smash the strawberry against her nose which changed her face completely.

"Come on Garnet. Bare with me." Amethyst muttered to the gem beside her. With one finger, she scrapped some of the sugary cream off her chin and attempted to reach Garnet's face, but ended up wiping it off her muscular thigh.

"Haha." The small gem lightly laughed.

Steven was still not amused. Instead he screamed while crying even louder.

"Maybe he's afraid of clowns. Why not something else?" Greg spoke loudly, his eyes directing to the clock on the side of the wall. It ticked within every second and read, '5:00.' It was almost evening.

Garnet nodded at his statement. She placed her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. Opening her mouth what came was, "Pearl, play us some music."

The gem did as she was commanded and turned to a small radio that was on the kitchen counter. She turned it several times to get a good signal or at least a station that was playing music. Her hand stopped when she caught the sound of energetic bubblegum pop which disgusted Greg, but it will have to do.

"Yes! You're playing some of my favorite; Britney Styles!" Amethyst squealed in excitement until she was elbowed by Garnet.

"Don't forget about our task, Amethyst. We're supposed to cheer Steven up." Garnet reminded the young gem, making her roll her eyes.

"If we show Steven we're having a good time then he'll sure lighten up." Amethyst retorted.

And Amethyst was right. Steven hushed himself down a bit, but not from the fun the gems were having; it was from the complete fools the gems were making of themselves. Amethyst took Pearl's hands and shook her dreamily while singing, "Cause baby I'm a star! I'm the fire in the sky!"

Garnet was even dancing by shaking her hips and stiffly moving her arms around in a robotic matter.

"Go Garnet! You go gem!" Pearl awkwardly played along with Amethyst's act.

The purple gem filled the air with her laughter and glee. Though it was understandable due to her young age. She skipped to Greg and Steven, her feet jumping rhythmically, and took the human man by the hand.

"Steven, let's have fun! Let's dance!" Amethyst said excitedly while moving Greg's arm to the beat.

"Amm..." Steven mumbled, his small hands attempting to touch the gem's long light purplish white hair. His small frown turned into a light smile, showing off his gums with delight in which the rest of the gems couldn't resist to smile back. For the time in days, his smile brightened the day of everyone that was there.

"Oh, say my name. Am-e-thyst. Repeat after me..." Steven giggled at her statement. He tapped his foot against his father's side while moving his head. Even Greg was starting to move to the beat.

"You see! He was close to saying my name. He said Am." Amethyst pointed out to the older gems. Pearl smirked at her statement and made affectionate eyes toward the baby.

However to their dismay, everyone stopped dead in their tracks when Steven coughed heavily through his tiny throat. He hurled up vomit from his mouth, surprising the gems and shocking Greg. Tears were already pouring down his chubby cheeks as he lifted up his arms and reached for someone to clean him. Greg looked down at his own son with complete horror as he saw his son vomit again.

"Gems!" Garnet loudly spoke to the rest of the magical girls, "Attend Steven!"

The three gems did their best at comforting the baby. Pearl turned off the radio and grabbed a hanging towel from a nearby rack, her hands shaking from complete anxiety. Without any thought or concern, she took Steven away from Greg and wiped his mouth and covered shirt. It was tragic for them to witness Steven weep with all his might. The miracle of them enjoying themselves for the first time in days, has quickly vanished in minutes.

Hope you enjoyed! :) Unfortunately, I had to cut this chapter into two parts due to its long length. Next chapter contains Rose Quartz! Will poor Steven ever get better and what's his mysterious sickness?

Thanks and credit to Trollface Mastah for this idea of Steven being sick.

Please REVIEW/FOLLOW/FAVE/SHARE this story! :D

-Gem Goddess (GG)