A/N – Thank you guys for almost 100 followers and favourites! Last week's episode was a great end to a long hiatus, and today's looks pretty good as well. Please review, I love your feedback


Chapter XI

Preschool Palaver

As the rain continued to fall, Greg allowed the window wipers to swipe at full pelt. With more dark clouds rolling in, today proved to be a dim start to the morning.

Steven rubbed his eyes; tired from getting up earlier than what he was used to. He slumped in his carseat, fiddling with the toy car that he held.

"Are you looking forward to preschool, bud?" Asked Greg, glancing in the mirror.

At the lack of response he frowned and reached behind to pat his son's knee.

"Aw, don't worry Steven. I'm sure you'll make tons of friends, do great activities, all sorts of stuff. You'll love it!" He sounded optimistic, but he knew how shy Steven could be in new and unfamiliar situations.

"I wanna stay with the gems" Said the three year old, pouting.

"I know, I know. But they can't always look after you, they have…important stuff to get on with which is way too dange—" He caught himself, "—Way too unsuitable for you to be around in. It's your first day, so it's going to be very new to you, but you'll get to like it"

"Mmm…" His son mumbled in reply, doubting that.

As they pulled up into the parking lot, Steven saw the building looming above them. Although colourful signs plastered the exterior, to Steven it seemed extremely daunting and uninviting.

After locking the car, Greg hauled Steven out of his carseat. They made their way hand-in-hand to the preschool.

Opening the two large doors, Greg went to the desk to go over a few things and to talk to the leading staff member.

"Hello! I'm Janice, and welcome!" Her ponytailed blonde hair bobbed up and down as she spoke, her large, stretched smile seemingly taking up her entire face.

A brief chat later, she led them to the hall where all the children were playing.

"It's currently recess" She said, gesturing to the chaos before her. Children were whizzing around in all directions, hopping over the blocks that littered the floor and avoiding the ones who were smearing paint all over the place. Several were screaming, either with exhilaration or because they had collided with another child. It pierced Steven's ears, and he hid behind his Father's leg, tightly gripping his trousers.

"It..looks like all the kids are having fun" Said Greg. He bent down to face Steven, who latched onto him. "This is where I leave kiddo"

"Don't go! I don't wanna be here" Steven's eyes welled up.

"I'm sorry bud. Don't worry, I'm coming right back this afternoon to pick you up. You're gonna be looked after by the nice lady here, okay?"

"Daddy" Steven wept.

Greg's heart broke a little. Just as he was going to give in a hand clamped onto his shoulder.

"It's always hard the first time" Said Janice, smile still present on her face. "We'll take it from here Mr Universe, Steven will be just fine."

"Yeah…yeah, of course he'll be fine" Greg stood up, but his son's grip didn't loosen on his shirt.

Janice took Steven's arm to pull him away, and after a small struggle, finally managed to drag him over to where some other children were playing.

"Bye Steven" Greg called. He sighed and turned to leave.

The three-year old watched him go, and whilst he was distracted, another boy snatched the toy car off him.


"I tell you, Steven hated that place" Said Greg to the gems, the day after. Steven was busy playing a game with Amethyst, distracted with her antics. "He literally dived for me as soon as I came to pick him up"

"It doesn't sound like a very nice place" Commented Pearl, "Is there a reason you've enrolled him there?"

"Yeah well, he can interact with kids his own age, and I know I can't rely on you guys forever with babysitting. You have missions to do and stuff – plus it's good preparation for Kindergarten y'know-"

He stopped after Garnet straightened suddenly and everybody gaped at him.

"What did you just say?" Said Garnet, hands in fists.

"K-K-Kindergarten?!" Fretted Pearl.

Amethyst ceased her movements and stared at Greg, who raised an eyebrow until he realised.

"Oh! N-No no! Not that kind of Kindergarten- with all the weird gems and stuff. I mean the human kind, where kids go to school!" He rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

Steven looked at him strangely, then said to Amethyst "Again again!" to which she carried on to throw him in the air.

A loud ringing broke the tension in the air between Garnet, Pearl and Greg. The latter looked at the text on his phone.

"Crap! I'm late" He slapped a hand to his forehead. "Do you think you guys could take him to preschool? I have an important delivery to sign for back at the wash"

"Of course" Said Pearl, "Then we can see what this place is really like"

"Thanks guys, but remember that Steven needs to adjust to this new place. Try not to give in if he doesn't want to go" Greg reminded, as much as he hated saying it.

Although the gems didn't like the sound of that, they nodded nonetheless.


After Greg dropped them off, the four looked up at the large building. Steven whimpered in Garnet's arms, burying his head into her shoulder.

They walked in, and were greeted by Janice.

"Hello…Mrs Universe! I see you're here with Steven"

Pearl looked at Garnet with a raised eyebrow, whilst Amethyst sniggered into her hand.

"Yes" She said awkwardly.

Janice led them into the hall, toothy grin still plastered onto her face.

Pearl was bewildered at the sight of so many children, filthy ones at that. Covered in paint, glue and allsorts. Amethyst went over to look at a picture, when she was practically attacked by three girls wanting to play with her hair. The purple gem tried to run, but they chased her around the hall.

Some more children approached Pearl, all wanting to touch her tutu.

"Pretty" Said one girl, smudging red paint all over it.

"Ah!" Pearl cringed, and tried to unlatch them without any luck.

Garnet frowned. This wasn't the sort of place she wanted her Steven to be.

"That human is really starting to annoy me" She thought, as Janice started talking again.

"Garnet help!" Shouted both Pearl and Amethyst, the former trying to dive behind her. Amethyst had been tackled to the floor, and now her hair was entangled around many the many sticky fingers of children.

Janice laughed and clapped her hands, which made all the children go back to playing in the hall.

"See? We have everything under control, I'll take it from here" Her toothy grin stayed put.

Garnet gently placed Steven down, who still hung onto her clothing. The place was still quite out of control and the gem didn't want to leave him here on his own, but she remembered Greg's words and tried to trust the man.

"We have to go now Steven" She kissed his cheek, "We love you"

Steven started to cry, his face going red and his nose running. Janice began to pull him away.

"Garnet" He called tearfully.

Garnet felt a painful spike of emotion and stood up.

"Wait." She boomed, making Janice drop Steven's arm. He ran to Garnet, who scooped him up into her arms.

"We're leaving."

Pearl and Amethyst's mouths dropped, but began to follow her. The stoic gem was deaf to the shrill voice of Janice, who tried to encourage them to change their mind.


When they were back at the temple they saw that Greg was waiting for them.

"Hey! I signed that package, how was it dropping Ste-"He stopped and gaped at Garnet. "Steven? What's here doing here?!"

"He didn't like that place" Said Garnet simply walking past him.

"Not to mention it was completely unsanitary" Said Pearl, shivering a little. Her skirt was now rainbow coloured thanks to the many messy hands that had decided to use it as a canvas.

"And that the kids are crazy!" Amethyst shook her mane of hair, trying to rid it of the knots and pieces of lego stuck in it.

Greg sighed and shook his head. "I guess so" He looked over to where Steven was, who had his head resting on Garnet's shoulder, happily snoozing with a smile on his face.

"As long as he's happy" He sighed.