Author's Note:

I know I said I would write more, and I haven't. Sorry about that…. I haven't felt like it, and I wasn't expecting to be as busy as I was. BUT! The new episodes gave me some inspiration! So here is the next chapter! By the way- if you like child Peridot, I think you would like a fanfiction called "Reaching New Ground" by Nevenger! It's such a good story! Nevenger's having a tough time in life right now- So leave some positive reviews for them! Tell Nevenger that CedeK18 sent ya!;)

Disclaimer:

I don't own Steven Universe

Sad Song

Chapter Ten: Thinking Hurts

Peridot wasn't sure on how much time had passed, her body still wasn't attuned to this planet's rotations. Steven hadn't taught her the basics of Earth time, with being busy with the drill and all. But it felt like too much time went by as she waited for the other gems to return and for the gem that her body was wrapped around to reform. The stress of waiting this long brought an aching to her gem, but she had to reluctantly withdraw her hands away from soothing it. She didn't want a replay of what happened last time. So instead of pressing her fingers against her gem, she started drumming them on the floor.

"I knew that regeneration took time, but this is ridiculous."

As if someone was watching her, Peridot looked around the dimly lit bathroom, her head snapping left to right. She knew she obviously wasn't; the gems had left…hours ago? Again, keeping track of time wasn't her thing. But she still felt the need to check her general surroundings anyway. Once Peridot was done scoping the area, she locked her eyes on the gem in front of her. "Hm." With a frown and a small green forefinger raised, she brought it closer to the gem sitting in the towels. If Peridot had a heart, it would have been pounding against her chest. Thank the stars nobody from Homeworld was watching her. Peridot herself couldn't even stand the thought of what she was about to do. Sweat dusted her brow, and her clenched hand by her side became clammy. She swallowed thickly and prepared for the worst.

She poked it.

"Are you sure Peridot will be okay back at the house by herself? We haven't really done that before…" Steven asked nervously as he side-stepped a log that was on the ground. He looked up to Garnet, "Maybe we should go back and get her?"

"Peridot can take care of herself Steven. We have to start giving her more credit than we have been lately. And besides," Garnet smiled down at the boy and gave his hair a loving tussle, the boy gave a smile in return. "She seemed kind of upset with us….and our decision with the drill. I thought it might be a good time for her to cool off for awhile."

The four crystal gems walked along a grassy path that was a small distance away from the barn. Pearl believed she knew the location of the element they needed, they would get to the element in no time if they followed this path. Pearl lead the way, followed by Garnet who was still reassuring Steven about his worries with Peridot. Amethyst lagged in the back, with her arms crossed behind her head as she stared aimlessly at the pretty blue sky. "The nerd will be fine!" She breathed out, "Lion's there too, the hairy beast will protect her if he needed to." She gave out a huff of annoyance, and brought her right hand down her face. "P! I thought you said this wouldn't take long… I'm starving."

"You don't need to eat Amethyst. And if you stopped complaining and did more walking, you wouldn't be so far behind!" She practically yelled to the purple gem.

Realizing she was lagging behind the group she ran up to them, almost tripping over the log that Steven missed earlier. "You don't know what you're missing Pearl~" Amethyst said mockingly, "I could use a nice greasy pizza right now…"

"You are absolutely revolting."

"Rude."

"I don't understand you sometimes." Pearl put her mind back at the task at hand. "Let's just get this over with."

"This was your idea…" Amethyst accused. "And normally you're not one to rush your own ideas."

"Well I'm sorry to say that I still don't trust Peridot that much."

"Pearl? Why not?" Steven's voice broke through Amethyst's and Pearl's conversation, sounding both sad and annoyed. "She's a Crystal Gem too!"

At that, the group had stopped walking. Stunned by Steven's outburst, they all turned their attention to the boy. The woods surrounding the trail was silent, aside from the chirping birds and Steven's breathing.

"Steven-" Pearl let an angry sigh escape, but tried to keep her head level. You could hear it in her voice, calm but tight. "She's still a Homeworld Gem in my eyes. She can't just change overnight!"

"It's been weeks Pearl! You've seen how she's been acting! She's one of us!"

Pearl wrung her hands through her short hair, "Listen- Homeworld is very different from Earth." Her hands did random gestures in the air, seeming to help her get her point across. "Where she came from- I have my reasons to not be trusting just yet."

Garnet and Amethyst stayed quiet, unknowingly thinking along the same lines as Pearl. They knew better than to voice them though; Garnet because of her future vision and Amethyst because she didn't want to hear the fight that was bound to happen. The one that was presenting its ugly head now.

"How am I supposed to know what you're talking about when you guys won't tell me about Homeworld?!" Exasperated, Steven stormed off further down the trail.

"Steven!" Pearl yelled, and was about to give chase when a strong but gentle hand stopped her. Angrily, she yanked Garnet's hand off of her arm and stopped in her tracks.

"Way to go P."

"Oh can it Amethyst."

"Guy's this is not the time or the place for this." Garnet stood in between the two, "We have to go get Steven." Adjusting her visor, she began to walk in the direction the boy had stormed off to.

"You can't be thinking this is my fault! I just said what was all on our minds, and you know it." Pearl stayed where she was standing, her arms crossed. "And I can't believe that you actually left Peridot in our home, alone!"

"P, you gotta calm down!"

"I am calm!"

The two continued to banter back and forth, it was almost like they were trying to see who could be the loudest. It only lasted moments though when it seemed that the fusion had enough of their childish behavior. She forcefully pushed them apart to get in between the two- they were getting into each others faces so much Garnet was worried this fight would take a physical turn. When apart, the two gems sneered at each other in anger.

"It's no one's fault! Alright!? Break it up you two!" With that order, Amethyst and Pearl looked away from each other. Instead of anger that had been on their faces moments before, guilt had taken over. Once Garnet was sure the fight was over, she let a sigh escape past her lips.

"I know how you feel Pearl- but we have to trust Steven on this. That's why I left Peridot back at the house. We have to give her some credit, and we can't keep treating her like the enemy." Garnet started up her trek in the direction Steven had went in, the other two close behind.

"I know that Garnet, but-" Pearl started.

"We need to show her and Steven that we can place our trust in her. What better way to do that by putting her in a situation where she can leave?" Pearl was about to speak again when Garnet interrupted once more. "If she stays- I think I can trust her. And if she leaves… Then our suspicions were right."

"Ugh!" Steven grumbled to himself. "Pearl's wrong! She has to be wrong! Peridot isn't like that!" The boy kicked at some twigs that littered the path, along with a few pebbles. Peridot was one of them now, right? A Crystal Gem. She wouldn't have called Yellow Diamond a clod and not mean it. Surely they could trust her, she was a good gem now! But…

What about earlier?

The rock- her lucky rock right? That was what was in Peridot's pocket? But what about how panicked she was when he attempted to use the bathroom? Was she hiding something or…

No! He couldn't think like that! What about how upset Peridot was about being alone? A gem that was guilty of something wouldn't want attention. Surely she was telling the truth about her rock and what it meant. What about her missing Jasper!? Couldn't the gems see that she wasn't a bad gem! Steven couldn't believe they actually left her alone too! If anything she needed to be in their presence, from what he could tell she doesn't like being alone…

Ugh! He was so confused! Steven grabbed at his head, then put his palm down his face with a sigh.

"Now I don't know what to think."