A/N – Steven Universe is back and so am I! I hadn't realised that I didn't do the Christmas chapter, so here it is…in Summer

Chapter XX

Christmas Surprises

With red cheeks and faces wrapped in scarves, Steven and Greg entered the temple with a grateful sigh. The ancient building may not be very homely, but it provided cover from the cold Winter breeze.

"Happy Christmas Eve!" The young Universe belted out, alerting the gems who were busy decorating.

"Woah, you guys have really gone full out this time." Remarked Greg, eyeing the colourful lights and Christmas-themed décor that was scattered about.

"Isn't it great? We never celebrated Christmas before Steven came along." Said Amethyst, wrapping herself in tinsel, "Now I can finally get some presents!"

"Christmas isn't all about presents, Amethyst." Scolded Pearl. She was holding a book in her hands and scanned the page. "'Christmas is about giving and spending time with family."

"What book is that anyway? You've been preaching from it all morning." Amethyst grabbed it off her and read the front cover. "'Christmas for Dummies.'"

"Hey give that back! It's the only book I could find on this human tradition!" She snatched it back, blushing.

"Does it have anything about Santa in there?" Asked Steven excitedly. When his question was met with blank stares from the two gems he emphasised, "You know, Santa Claus. He flies a slay, had reindeer and brings kids presents from all over the world!"

"Humans can fly?" Said Pearl, dumbfounded.

Steven took the book from her and flicked through some pages until he reached the desired one with a picture of him.

"Here!" He handed it back to Pearl who read aloud,

"Leave cookies and milk out for Santa as a thank you. He will enter the house through your chimney and leave presents for good children under the tree. People on his naughty list will be given coal."

"So basically some fat guy breaks in and we're expected to give him our food? Sounds shifty to me." Said Amethyst, crossing her arms. "Ain't no one giving up their food in this temple."
"I agree with Amethyst, I don't want some stranger trespassing in here. Besides, we don't even have a chimney, although I don't see why he wouldn't use the door like a normal person."

"But Santa is magic, like you guys!" Steven exclaimed.

"He's a gem? I highly doubt that, where has he been these past thousands of years?" Pearl stuck her nose is the air, "Sounds like a fake to me."

"Steven, why don't you go and check out those lights? I've gotta talk to Pearl and Amethyst for a bit, okay bud?" Greg pointed his son in the right direction and turned to the gems.

"Try to keep him innocent for a bit longer guys, he's at a cute age."

"What on earth do you mean Greg?" Said Pearl, and soon both she and Amethyst were informed of the importance of Santa Claus in a lengthy conversation.

"So basically, we lie to him?" Said Amethyst.

Greg sighed, putting a hand over his eyes. "Yeah, something like that. Just go with the flow. You'd better let Garnet in on this too – speaking of, where is she?"

"Here." The one mention strolled in, with a giant pine tree on her shoulder. "You said you needed a tree."

"Wow! That almost reaches the temple ceiling!" Steven ran over to look, "This is gonna be the best tree ever!"

"Only the best for my Steven." Chuckled Garnet.

The quintet had only managed to decorate half of the tree due to its immense size, but it nonetheless made Steven think it was the best tree in the world.

"Maybe it's the best one in the galaxy, right guys?" He said, starry-eyed.

"Probably." Smiled Garnet.

Although Pearl knew there were no trees on her Homeworld, and that the tinsel-disaster of a tree was hardly a masterpiece, she nonetheless answered with a pleased "Yes." Which made Steven beam.

"Hey Dad, can we sleep here for tonight? That way we can all open our presents together!"

Greg smiled at his son, "it's not up to me bud, ask the gems."

The five-year old turned to them with pleading eyes, "Pleaaaaaase?"

"I suppose we should celebrate Christmas at least once." Said Garnet, "I'll get the sleeping bags."

"All right!"

"Hey Steven! Wake up, it's Christmas!" The young boy was woken up by a purple gem shaking his shoulder. "There's presents under the tree!"

Leaping out of his sleeping bag, he stared wide-eyed at the tree. "Santa's been!"

He bounded over to Pearl and Garnet, "Did you see the tree? Look, look!" He pulled them over excitedly.

Attempting to share Steven's enthusiasm, Pearl clapped her hands together. "Yes! Gre—" She received a sharp elbow to her side, "Santa did a really good job last night!"

A long groan could be heard from the couch, "What's all the commotion?" Greg yawned and stretched, slowly rising from his makeshift bed.

"It's time to open presents! C'mon, c'mon!"

After some organising, everyone was sitting in a circle near the tree with their dedicated presents beside them.

"Me first!" Amethyst began to rip at present from Steven. Once the paper was well shredded into a million pieces, she held up her gift happily. "Aww a mug, thanks Steven! It's going straight in my mug pile."

"I painted it myself." He added importantly. "Now you open your one from Santa!"

Amethyst used her teeth to open her second present, much to the dismay of Greg. Fortunately, she didn't destroy the 'Lil' Butler' poster inside. Her and Greg winked at eachother.

Pearl was next and she had received a small bracelet with little fake cloth roses around it. She blushed. "That's so thoughtful Steven, thank you." Her other gift was a cleaning set of a broom, dustpan and brush and a feather duster.

"For the new…" Greg began.

"I know, and I love it! Cleaning is one of my favourite pastimes." She stroked the feather duster contentedly, already imagining a clean and shining house thanks to her.

Garnet's present was a pair of red gloves, similar to her gem weapon.

Greg was anxious to see if Garnet liked her second gift, she had been the hardest to shop for. After some rummaging in his storage unit, he thought he had found something suited to the stoic gem.

"A leather jacket." Garnet tried it on. Although a bit on the short side, it matched her current generated outfit perfectly. "Thank you…Santa."

Greg chuckled, "He has good taste."

"Very."

"Now it's your turn Dad, open mine!" Steven was pleased to see his Dad eagerly open the box containing his present. Inside were some hanging dice and a clip-on cupholder for his van.

"Oh my gosh, thanks son!" He ruffled the boy's hair and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Now I have a place for my soda and our van can look even groovier!"

Steven smiled, but grew confused at the lack of another gift. "Where's the one from Santa?"

Pearl piped in, "I believe Santa installed a new radio system in his van, complete with refurbished speakers and updated system."

Greg's mouth fell open. "Thank you so much, oh my gosh. Santa is the best." Elated was an understatement.

"He is isn't he?" Pearl agreed with a smirk.

Next up was Steven, who dutifully inspected the oblong package in front of him before opening it carefully.

"'Steven's Room'?" He read off the wooden sign. "Room? Huh?" It took a few seconds for the realisation to dawn on him before he jumped up suddenly. "We're getting a house?"

"You are bud." Said Greg.

"You're moving in with us, Ste-man!" Exclaimed Amethyst.

"B-but, there's only your rooms in the temple?" Steven was still a little confused.

"We're going to build a house for you to live in." Said Garnet.

"Yes, a house attached onto the side of the cliff, incorporating both living quarters and the temple together." Explained Pearl.

A wide, toothy grin appeared on Steven's face next. He was bouncing with excitement and hugged everyone in the circle. "Thank you, thank you! This is the best present ever!"

He opened his second gift which was the toy car he had put on his Christmas list. "I think the first present was the best, to be completely honest." He was still pleased with the car, and whizzed it around the temple floor.

"Wow, thanks." Chuckled Greg, unsure whether to be offended or not.

"This has been the best Christmas ever!"