Chapter 14: What Now?

-1 Week Later-

Steven stared intently at the family photo he had recently took with the other Crystals gems. How could've everything gone so wrong? He lost everything he loved in one day, all because of him.

He couldn't help but blame himself. No matter what Bismuth or Peridot told him, He always believed he was the one to blame for his friends getting erased from existence.

He was cleaning up the house, since Pearl was no longer around since that's practically what she would do in her free time. He decided he'd leave Amethyst's room alone since she looked a trashy room.

While he cleaned up he couldn't stop thinking about what is to come next for the remaining Crystal gems. Since everyone in little homeschool was graduating tommorow he would have to get to work as soon possible and call it a day since he didn't have as much help right now.

He heard a creak behind him seeing his dad step in closing the door behind him. He hadn't talk to his dad or pretty much anybody else in the past week. Greg nervously rubbed the back of his head.

He was informed by Bismuth and Peridot of when they went to war with the Avengers against Thanos, but losing in the end. He was devastated to hear most of the Crystal gems were killed. Including the ones that his wife were close to the most.

He knew Steven was hurting badly, but he had a feeling Steven would come to his senses. "Hey Shnooball. Everything Ok?", Greg asked but getting no response from his son. "You know...someguy named Steve Rogers came to talk to you. He's outside waiting on the beach."

Steven's never heard of someone named Steve Rogers before. Maybe he's new to beach city. Steven got to his feet walking past his dad outside of the house.

As he made his way down the stairs he saw a bulky man staring out into the shore. He was next to a ship that looked similar to the same one Spinel came to Earth in.

As soon as he was right behind the man he asked, "Umm? Are you Steven Rogers?"

The man turned around holding out his hand. Steven got a full view of his face. He looked very familar for some reason. Steven accepted the strangers hand shaking it. "Yeah, but I think we've met before.", Steve responded.

"Wait Cap?", Steven asked raising an eyebrow. Cap said nothing but smirked. The only difference now was his facial hair was shaved down a little bit. "What are you doing here?"

"I have something important that I need to show you, if you have the time?", Steve asked. Steven wasn't sure about going anywhere right now. He still had to prepare everything for little homeschool's graduation.

"I don't know I have to prepare for something important later on today.", Steven replied unsure. "I promise it won't take much of your time. It'd be worth coming for.", Steven said.

Steven decided he would take Cap's word for it. "Alright I'll come, I just gotta let everybody know.", Steven said nodding.

-San Francisco-

Steven and Cap stepped out of Cap's Camaro. Steven followed Cap into a memorial like area with gravestones in rows. "What is this place?", Steven asked glancing at the millions of names printed on the stones.

"This is the Wall of the Vanished.", Cap replied. "Wall of the Vanished?", Steven asked.

"This is where everyone goes to grieve for those they had lost after the snap. Including citizens and heroes across the globe and those who came from other planets.", Cap explained as Steven listened closely.

Cap gestured Steven to follow him once more. They headed down a corridor to the large stone slabs with names Steven seeing names he didn't recognize.

They came to a stop infront of one single slab. "I want you to read the names.", Cap demanded putting a hand on the slab.

Steven got closer reading the many names that were very familar to him. Black Panther, Scarlett Witch, Vision, Groot, but three names in particular made his heart sink.

Pearl, Amethyst, and Lapis. He was looking for Garnet's name, but couldn't seem to find it. "Where's Garnet's name?", Steven asked trying to hold back tears his voice shaky.

"We didn't put it there for a reason.", Cap said his arms crossed.

"What do you mean?", Steven asking wiping the tears that managed to come down his face.

"We didn't put her name there because she isn't entirely gone. That gem Spinel told us about Garnet being a fusion between two gems. Sapphire may be gone but Ruby isn't, which means Garnet isn't gone. We're trying to show you that haven't lost your friends yet, not matter what you think. Ruby is still out there somewhere. Our friends may be gone, but there's still a chance to bring them back. You can't keep blaming yourself for them disappearing. If that's the case then it's all our faults for everyone going, but that isn't the truth.", Cap explained to Steven.

Steven knew Cap was right no matter what he thought it wasn't his fault. Then he pushed everyone that was still in his life away just because he was too busy blaming himself for something thay wasn't his fault.

Steven glanced at Cap. "I...I really appreciate this. This means so much to me. I owe you a lot.", Steven thanked.

"You don't owe me anything. Just remember what I told you. We're all grieving for the same people here. This war isn't over.", Cap reminded. Steven got a sudden burst of determination and he smiled.

-Back at Steven's House-

Steven stepped out of the ship turning around to look at Cap smiling. Steven had one question he wanted to ask Cap before he headed home.

"Say, do you like celebrations?", Steven asked.

"Yeah I don't mind a few. Why do you ask?", Cap asked.

"If you aren't busy tommorow could you come back to Beach City for the Graduation party tommorow? You could bring some friends if you like. There will be food, music, and other friends of mine coming too.", Steven said.

"Sure. If you don't mind me asking who's Graduating?", Cap asked.

"Some of the Gems that I've been teaching at a school I call "Little Homeschool". It's where me and my friends have been teaching gems how to be independent and better individuals and to think on their own.", Steven explained with pride for his school.

"Interesting. I'll bring it to attention to some other people I know that would need something like that right now.", Cap spoke.

"Alrighty then I'll see you until then.", Steven waved goodbye. The ship started up before hovering into the air then speeding of into the sky, accending to space.

Guess Steven will go to Little Homeschool and ask Bismuth and Peridot for help with prepartions for the graduation. He decided he would call the Diamonds to invite them as well. Then he would call Spinel and her friends to come along as well.

So now it was time for him to get to work. A smile grew on his face before he headed to "Little Homeworld".

A/n: If you guys wanna make fanart readings of my fanfiction on a youtube channel go for it. For the fanart part just let people know I generated the concept the artwork belongs to you.