The following fanfic is a joint project between ThatDastardCerberus and TheWoolyViking. Wooly wrote this chapter while Cerberus edited it.
Young Steven Universe had always been one to help his family whenever he could. And this time was of no exception. All throughout the house could be heard the sound of tiny feet scurrying across the floor. With each return trip, he was sure to be carrying his weight in warm blankets and pillows. And each time he zoomed passed the doorway leading to the kitchen, his father never failed to feel amused at the sight.
Outside, Greg could faintly make out the howling winds that would no doubt bring with them torrents of snow. The piles of which would keep the rest of them trapped until the snowplows arrived to free them the next day. In the meantime, he made sure to make the most of things as he took a moment to look over the pot of chicken soup he had spent the better part of an afternoon preparing.
He didn't cook often, but thankfully for him, he knew how to follow a recipe well. As he lifted the lid to the pot, he was greeted with a well of steam that billowed up and out in ever direction, carrying with it the enticing aroma of it contents within. He smiled, satisfied he succeeded in not burning it completely.
By the time he went to prepare a bowl, he had noticed Steven's frantic footsteps had stopped. The moment he entered the living room, he chuckled, now seeing why.
Steven had taken a spot on the sofa all for himself snuggly by his mother's side. The two looked to almost be completely submerged in an avalanche of heavy blankets and pillows that obscured the entire rest of the sofa.
Greg eyed the boy with a snicker. "Hey, that's my spot!" he said jokingly. The toddler only giggled as he gave his father a cheeky smile, grabbing the edge of one blanket to hide his face as he held onto Rose's arm.
Rose gave a gentle laugh as she watched the two of them. "Steven was worried I would get cold." She explained. "So he wanted to get me a few blankets."
"Did he grab every blanket in the house?" He suggested.
Rose smiled. "Just about." She reach beneath the covers to fish him out as muffled laughter could still be heard before he resurfaced in his mother's arms. Rose held him up to her face to leave a small kiss to his forehead, "Are you Mommy's little helper?"
"And how's the other baby?" Greg asked. Rose gently ran her hand over the surface of her belly, her baby bump still obvious even with the blankets Steven had brought. "It's been quiet. But something tells me it could come at any moment now."
Steven's previously jovial mood shifted as he looked to his mother. "Mommy, are you gonna be okay?" he asked.
Rose looked back to him with a warm smile. "I'll be fine, sweetheart. Do you remember what I told you had happened when you were born?"
The boy seemed to look more troubled as he tried his best to remember what his mother had told him before. After a moment, he just shook his head.
Rose smiled. "Well, Mommy was very, very tired after bringing you into the world. And for some time, I had to stay in my gem. And just like you, this new baby is going to take a lot of energy from me so that they have everything they need to their own gemstone."
Steven lifted his shirt to look at his own gemstone, pink and sporting a pentagonal cut. Even in light of the room, Greg could see how the light glistened off the surface of his gem just like Rose's own.
Rose gently caressed Steven's cheek as she guided his gaze to look up towards her once more. "But of course, I did eventually come back. And the day I woke up to see your adorable little face… why, that was easily the happiest day of my life."
Steven gave a wide grin, his cheeks showing a faint blush as his smile revealed small gaps where his baby teeth had begun to fall out.
"So Steven, do you think you could do something for me?" Rose asked. Steven gave an exaggerated nod, his head bobbing up and down. Once he had finished, Rose continued. "For as long as I'm gone, Daddy and the others need your help with the baby, alright? We're all counting on you to be a good big brother very soon."
"Okay, Mommy," he said quietly before giving a big yawn, resting his head on her side.
"Looks like you're ready for bed there, Schtu-Ball," Greg suggested. Steven grumbled a bit, sounding apprehensive at the thought of leaving his mother's side before finally giving a defeated sigh.
"Can I get a goodnight kiss?" Rose asked. Steven smiled and sat up from his spot to give Rose a little peck to her cheek as Rose pulled him close for a hug. "Goodnight, sweetheart. Mommy loves you with all her heart."
"Love you too, Mommy," Steven said. Just before he lept off his seat, Steven paused. "Oh, gotta give one to the baby!" he said, taking moment to leave a kiss the bundle of blankets that obscured Rose's belly.
Steven's gesture left Rose speechless, stars dancing in her eyes as Greg tried smiled. "He's certainly got the old 'Universe Charm'," he said, scooping Steven into his arms to carry him to his room upstairs.
A good night's sleep was proving to be more elusive that was usual for Steven this night. What his mother had said seemed to stick with him, echoing in the back of his head every time he closed his eyes.
'Do you remember what I told you had happened when you were born?'
'Mommy was very, very tired after bringing you into the world.'
'I had to stay in my gem.'
'This new baby is going to take a lot of energy from me so that they have everything they need to their own gemstone.'
'Daddy and the others need your help with the baby.'
'We're all counting on you to be a good big brother very soon.'
Steven's hands shook a bit as he gripped the edge of his blanket. He could hardly remember a time when his mother wasn't around. And now he was going to be without her for a bit very soon. And to add to that, the others will start to expect more from him.
Something about that made his breaths shorten and his heart quicken. She said she would come back, but how long would she be gone? A day? A week? A month, or maybe even longer? What if this other baby made her really super tired and she didn't come back at all…
Steven took in a shaky breath, his eyes glossing over. He could already feel tears trickle down the side of his cheek at the thought. And what about the new baby? Would they even like him?
He sat up and wiped his eyes. He could sleep like this. But maybe they could let him stay the night with them. Rose was always more than happy to let him stay with them when he would wake up from a bad dream.
With his teddy bear in hand, he slowly crept his way down the hall on the tips of his toes, being to avoid making any sudden noise no matter how much being in the dark hallway scared him. But as he made his way to his parent's room, he began to notice something…
The outline of the door began to glow with an intense Pink hue, through the door, he could hear the sound of his mother as she cried out in pain. Panicking, Steven tried to reach up towards the doorknob to get to her, but to no avail.
"Greg, it's time!" Steven heard Rose cry out.
"Just take it easy, honey. You're doing great!" Greg reassured.
"Take care of them while I'm gone," Rose pleaded. "I love you, Greg."
"I love you too, Rose. And I promise, I will."
Just as soon as the light appeared, it vanished. The entire world seemed to freeze. Why did the light stop? What happened to Mommy?
And then, Steven began to hear something else. It was loud enough that Steven was sure it could be heard all throughout the house. A high-pitched wailing that Steven couldn't immediately recognize.
"Daddy?" he said quietly, gently knocking on the door to get his attention, "Is Mommy okay?"
The knob twisted, the door slowly creeping open as Greg greeted his son. Steven noticed he seemed to be carrying something in his hands wrapped in blankets that seemed to move as it made tiny noises. "Hey, bud." he said softly as he took a spot on the floor to sit as he showed Steven what he was holding. "Come say hi to your new sister."
Steven didn't know what to say, though curious, he held his arms out to take her. A small tuft of short dark hair covered the top of her head. Despite the fact that she had been crying just moments ago, now she looked perfectly serene. Her eyelids fluttered as she relaxed his arms.
"What's her name?" Steven asked.
"Nicole," Greg said with a smile. "What do you think, buddy? You like your new baby sister?"
Steven looked back to his father, stars dancing in his eyes. "She's perfect."