Raising Steven Chapter 14

First Year (Part 1)

It was hard to imagine on how quickly the months came by. Slowly, the baby grew and he even began to change in attitude. From crying for food within a few days of being born then crawling and screaming for getting what he wants, he dramatically grew. And in a couple of days, he would celebrate his first year of life, but along with that came the anniversary of a tragic death; Rose Quartz.

Steven lightly giggled as he reached for his toes. Bubbles of his saliva surrounded each corner of his mouth and pooled down to his red shirt. He fell to his side as he failed to touch his feet and looked up to Pearl who sat next to him on the ground. Her clear blue eyes wandered around the page of her book that she was reading. It was the book she bought many months earlier, 'You and your baby: A guide on how to properly raise a child.' Together, the two gems sat on a clean warm blanket in the middle of Beach City's only park. Flowers and bees surrounded their view and the sun beamed its light and heat toward them. The beautiful spring day definitely shown itself that day.

"First year is complete. Only seventeen more years as it says here, that you'll leave us...forever." Pearl cringed at the thought of Steven leaving them when he was much older, but she decided to shake it off as it was a long road ahead. He was still a baby. "No no...you're going to be with us forever. You barely know nothing about being a gem and need our guidance. You don't need to follow these human rules."

She took Steven in her arms as soon as she placed the book aside and placed him in between her legs as she laid her head on top of his. Steven continued to giggle and tightly held onto her hands. Pearl smiled into a bright grin, her arms tightly hugging the baby that was with her. "I love you, Steven…"

Pearl closed her eyes, not even noticing what Steven was about to grab. Beside the book which Pearl settled down, there was a big photo album with tons of papers sticking out of its pages. Next to it was a plastic bag filled with crafts that would decorate the album, glitter, and glue. On the bag was even a sharp pair of scissors which caught Steven's eye. His hand was about to grab onto the sharp edges of it until he was halted by Pearl's snowy white hand. Her eyes were warm and soft like a mother's own.

"Don't touch that or you'll get a nasty booboo." The pearl gem grabbed the book and placed it on the baby's lap with Steven looking down upon it. "We all started a photo album to capture your moments in each month as well as part of your mother's pregnancy."

The pages of the thick photo album opened and the first picture there was a photo with Rose. It was an old photo, the same one Amethyst shown before which could bring tears to the Crystal Gem's eyes. The next set consisted of Rose's pregnancy. First one shown was the surprise look of Rose when she discovered the big news with her pregnancy test. Next were a couple photos of her and Greg with proud faces as they knew they were going to become parents.

Slowly throughout each photo, the two gems saw how Rose was changing in her size. Her stomach growing and Rose's attitude became more motherly and serious. She would usually spend her last months of pregnancy sitting in her room or at the shore while Pearl and Garnet are assigned to take care of her missions. Then came the dark turn of the photo album. All the sudden, the last photo taken of Rose was minutes after Steven's birth. He was held in her arms with a lifeless blank face. Tears streamed down the oldest gem's eyes knowing what she must do to save her newborn son; to give up her life for Steven to survive then dissipate without leaving any trace of her body. After that photo, Rose disappeared and was no longer shown in the album.

"It's your mother and you...it's been...a," Pearl paused as she noticed that Steven stared directly at her with a confused face. "...a year."

Turning the pages on the next following pages, Pearl then brightened up as she Steven being only a few days old. He was seen crying and being fully naked which made her laugh. Steven was a very small baby, but required attention and food or he'll scream and cry his way for it.

...

3 Days Old:

All eyes were directed to the small baby that laid inside his incubator. He cried with a bright red face as he seemed completely helpless. The boy nearly was born a stillborn until his mother gave him her gem. Due to fear of Steven still being unable to live, the doctors ordered for him to stay inside his little imprisonment in order for him to be inspected.

"Awwwww! Isn't he precious?" One of the nurses exclaimed as she did her task of changing Steven's blankets. The only response she got was a cold look from Amethyst. The nurse sighed.

"I understand that you all lost someone very dear to you, but at least it's not a full tragedy. This beautiful baby was brought into the world and deserves the full love like his mother did. I'm sure she had a beautiful life..." The nurse tried to comfort the four beings which made them all have a negative or sad look on their face.

"My wife…" Greg began until he gave a loud sniff just to prevent anymore tears.

"Rose is gone. Forever!" Amethyst yelled loudly which made her break into a loud cry. She leaned onto Garnet's chest, tightly tightly grasping onto her team mate's clothing.

The nurse bit her lip as she opened up the incubator and sweetly took Steven. He opened his eyes and took out his small tongue to taste the sour air. Slowly, he extended his arm as he wanted to grab someone; most preferably his mother.

"Shhh...little Steven. Do you want someone else to hold you while I change your bedding?" She looked over to what she assumed was his family. At once, Greg and Pearl stood up as they both wanted to hold him. They both stared at each other, their eyes opened wide as they both wanted to see the infant.

"I can hold my own son, Pearl."

"You held him when he was born and held him probably longer than all of us. I want to hold him too just so I can observe him closer. This is even my first time holding him." Pearl objected in which she knew she won.

Greg rolled his eyes as he stepped aside for Pearl to grab the baby from the nurse. For three straight days she tried to push Rose's death aside, presuming that it will make her even more depressed. So in order for her to do that, she thought that she had to look at the bright side and take notice of the new life that entered hers. The sweet beautiful innocent life Steven began.

She then had her face turned into a grim frown. Steven continued to cry as he fidgeted with his small arms. Pearl's only attention was adjusted to the gem found on his stomach. The only person it reminded her of was Rose.

…

Steven looked up to Pearl with shining eyes. He took Pearl's hand into his, slowly observing how much longer and bigger her hand was. Steven's fingers were only able to take her full palm. His hand was even pinker than her own hand, but Pearl's was found warmer. He looked up to Pearl as she kissed his forehead.

"This is you on your first month." Pearl redirected her attention to the photo album.

…

One Month Old:

Steven laid underneath a big blue umbrella that hid him from the sun's harmful rays. Nearby, a red crab walked by which immediately made Steven turn his head. The animal pinched its claws together, signaling the baby that it was defensive and wouldn't hesitate to hurt him. Then it instantly dug itself in sand which gave it a ford to protect itself. Steven looked towards Garnet and Amethyst as they played tic tac toe on the damp sand with their fingers. During that time, the sun gave off hot warm air as a first sign of summer. The ocean would brush against the legs of the two playing gems who took in the brittle ocean coolness as they were wearing bathing suits; Garnet a two piece bikini while Amethyst had her one piece suit soaking wet.

As they played, Amethyst would snort in approval as she noticed each victory she has won until Garnet would beat her at the end. None of them paid any attention to Steven who squirmed his legs and arms as well as giving out a loud call for the gems to hear. Immediately the two girls looked to him and discarded their game. Garnet took Steven in her arms and quietly shushed him. She lit her up her gems that were embedded in her palms warming Steven which stopped his fussing as he was being comforted.

"What does the little poop sack want now?" Amethyst growled in annoyance as she stepped in anger on the game that they were playing.

Garnet ignored Amethyst's question as she also didn't knew the answer. She looked down onto Steven who opened his mouth, forming a small yawn. His lips would sink down to his chin in satisfaction until she knew what he was doing. "Go inside and get a fresh diaper for Steven. Now."

Amethyst nodded in obedience then ran down the shore towards the beach home. Garnet and Steven were then alone together. The baby's lips then turned into a frown from the discomfort of his wet diaper. He opened his mouth and Garnet knew what was going to come. She pressed him against her chest and rocked him back and forth, humming lightly. She even secured his blanketed cocoon tightly around him.

...

Pearl laughed as she saw the expression of Steven's satisfied grin then the next picture was of him crying in Garnet's arms. The tiny pink baby was buried deep within her chest as Garnet smiled down upon him, protecting him. Such a tender beautiful scene could be pictured. Even after getting his diaper changed and being fed his afternoon snack, Steven would still demand attention.

"Pe…" Steven babbled as he wrapped his arms around Pearl's thigh. Kissing him again, she looked at the remaining pictures.

…

Two Months Old:

Steven sweetly cooed out into the night and kicked his legs up into the air. He was laid on his father's bed as Greg was beside him, watching his favorite football team play that was being broadcasted live. Greg took a sip of his canned fizzy soda then settled it down on the small drawer beside him. His eyes were glued to the television, not even noticing the flinching from his son.

"Yes! That's how it should be done!" Greg loudly exclaimed with a fist pump, seeing his favorite team score a touchdown.

His son continued to wiggle his legs as well as move his arms by his side. Steven adjusted his eyes to where his father was looking, squinting at the brightness of the screen's light. He didn't knew what was happening which caught Greg's attention until the television became clearer for him. Steven saw what appeared to be small men running on a large field. The baby titled his head to the side in confusion and continued to kick his legs up in the air with a rhythm.

"Ahhh…." Steven cried as he looked to his father.

"Not now, Steven. Just a few more...oh, he's going to make it!" Greg replied to the cry of his son.

The baby wasn't going to give up that easily. He whimpered and gave out a faint cry to which was still ignored by Greg. Steven was hopeless and disappointed, sticking his tongue out towards the television in slight anger.

"Ugh, Mr. Universe, you aren't even paying attention to your own son!" A stern female voice exclaimed which snapped Greg's view towards the slender young teenager. He grinned in a light way with embarrassment.

"Pearl...I…" He began until Pearl marched up the stairs and instantly turned off the television, angering Greg a bit on the inside.

"Steven needs your love and care as a father, but all you've done this past month is sit in front of that box of motion electric pictures that you humans waste your time with. Honestly, Rose would be disappointed in you." Pearl snapped with her hands on her hips.

Greg was taken back at how the the teenager was acting. He held a finger up and opened his mouth, but heard the loud tapping of Pearl's foot on the ground, challenging him to argue back.

"Yes, Pearl. I'll handle Steven."

…

"Greg could've been a better father at the time, but he's improving." Pearl said with a grim tone, but quickly smiled at the baby. The two looked down towards the picture of Steven's father cradling his son to sleep. On his face was nothing but a black look with bags under his eyes with annoyance as Pearl was the one who snapped the picture. Next was Amethyst who stood in the background with a finger pointing towards Steven's open mouth as he belched in his father's grasp.

"As time went on Steven, things became brighter yet loving at the same time. You changed everything."

Please FOLLOW/FAV/SHARE/REVIEW this story as it all makes me very happy and motivates me to update as soon as possible! Thanks! :D

-With love, Gem Goddess (GG)