Chapter 10

Thunder crackled outside as rain pelted the roof hard. Inside sat Steven and Connie on Steven's room, reading the letter that came from his mother. It was difficult reading the letter without getting a little emotional.

Steven clutched his gem, "Mom..." Steven stared at the letter speechless, he didn't know what to feel.

Connie felt his confusion, it was thick in the air like smoke. She placed her hand over his, "Steven?"

"You knew this was going to happen?" Connie looked at her best friend with a deep concern on her face. "All this time when you said you loved me, it was just a lie wasn't it?" He clutched his gem harder.

"S-Steven, that's not-" Connie tried to say something but didn't know what to say

"You knew what the future was going to be and you still decided to leave and let me deal with it!" Connie started get even more worried about him, she'd never seen him upset like this before.

The door to the temple started to glow with a pinkish light and it opened. Steven had forgotten that Connie was there and went inside his mom's room. Connie trailed after him hoping she could calm him down, the door closed immediately behind her. Connie tried to say something but Steven didn't hear her.

"I want to see my mom!" A formation of clouds transformed into Rose, "You lied to me, you said you loved me and that you didn't want me to have the life you had!"

"I did not lie to you Steven, I never wanted this for you." Rose said gently

"That's a lie!" Anger filled his eyes, "If you didn't want this then I would have never been born!"

"Steven, I-" Steven interrupted her.

"I'm tired of all the lies, for once in my life tell me the truth!" His brows were narrowed and his fists were clenched, he'd had enough of everyone telling him lie after lie.

The clouds in the room turned from pink to grey, lightning and wind had appeared in response to Stevens emotions. With a saddened look upon her face, she raised her hand and clouds swirled behind her, forming a door that appeared to be made of stone. Rose stems spiraled up the door, the middle of the door was branded with Rose's symbol.

"Follow me..." The door opened as steven approached, Connie followed them but kept her distance. "Your mother kept all her valuable secrets in this hidden room." For a moment Steven had let his anger subside. "She knew a day would come when someone sought out the answers to the secrets she'd kept, so she made this room for those who are worthy of knowing."

They walked down long corridors passing moss covered statues that looked like Rose, and columns with rose plants growing one side. Finally they reached a poorly lit room with a small flight of stairs that led to a rose shaped pedestal. On Top the pedestal rested an old book with a gem on the cover, caked in dust.

"You have proved yourself ready to learn the knowledge of Rose Quartz defender of Earth." She stepped aside and allowed him to walk up to the pedestal.

Without making a sound, Rose turned towards Connie and spoke softly. "Please take care of Steven for us, he faces a long and difficult path ahead of him." And before she could reply, the room made Rose fade away.

Steven brushed the gem on the book with his fingers, it looked like his gem. With a glow from his gem the gem on the book did the same, and opened itself to Steven. Connie saw an opportunity to speak with him and she took it, on her way to the pedestal a blinding light filled the room. Overwhelmed with the images that they saw, they passed out at the foot of the pedestal.

Time had passed since they passed out, when they awoke they found themselves inside stevens bedroom. The Crystal Gems sat at the edge of his bed waiting for the two, to wake up. Garnet noticed that they had awaken.

"Steven, Connie!" All of them shouted, they all piled around them giving them a group hug. Garnet took off her visor and wiped away the tears from her eyes.

"We're glad you're okay!" The others nodded in agreement. "We were looking for you two for hours, then suddenly Rose's door started to glow and then..." Her voice snagged itself."And then...we saw her" Garnets voice trembled with grief.

"Her?" He was confused for a moment and then realised, "oh...that was just the clouds looking like mom." He looked away from the Crystal Gems almost as if he was ashamed of himself for letting his emotions control him, as he had looked away from them he noticed Connie sitting quietly next to him "Wait, C-Connie.." He remembered a soft touch on the back of his hand before he passed out. "Oh no..." He covered his eyes and then sprang out of bed, he ran into the bathroom and locked the door.

"Steven, wait!" Connie reached for his hand but was too slow.

They all approached the bathroom door hoping they could get him to come out. Nothing the gems said convinced Steven to come out from the bathroom. Garnet told Pearl and Amethyst that there was important gem business to do, on their way out Garnet stopped and spoke with Connie.

"My future vision tells me that you are the only one to get him out of there, so do your best." Garnet placed her hand on Connie's shoulder and left.

The gems were gone, Steven and Connie were the only ones in the house. When Steven noticed the gems gone he opened the door just a crack.

"Come in..." He said quietly.

Connie entered the bathroom and shut the door behind her, Steven was sitting on the floor against the wall hunched up. Tears stained his clothes as they fell from his face.

"Steven, are you okay?" Connie sat next to him and placed her hand on his.

It took him a minute before he spoke, "No...I'm not." He paused again, "I never meant for you to see me like that." He gripped Connie's hand, her soft touch calmed him a little.

Connie wiped away his tears with her other hand. "Steven it's okay, I understand why you were so upset." Steven had stopped crying.

"You do?" He turned towards her.

"Yes, Steven I will always be there for you, when you're going through tough things in your life." She started to blush, "Just as I know that you'll always be there for me when I need you to."

Their faces both blushing, got close to one another's. Both their hearts were pounding, both hands were locked with each others. Suddenly Connie's phone rings and they both lean back against the wall, still holding one hand.

Connie answered the phone, it was her mother calling for the third time today. "Hello?" Connie said.

"Connie, me and your father have to go out of town for a few weeks, we've already contacted Mr. Universe and he says you can stay with him and Steven until we get back." Dr. Maheshwaren said.

"Should I Come and get my over night bag?" Connie asked her mother.

"No need, Mr. Universe graciously picked it up for you, when you see him do give him thanks for his generosity." She said.

"I will mom, I love you guys." Connie ended the call and placed her phone on the floor next to her.

"What was that all about?" Steven asked curiously.

"My parents are going out of town for a few weeks, and they said I could stay here with your dad and you, until they get back." She said.

"That's great!" Steven exclaimed.