Connie made a ham and turkey sandwich for lunch and smiled, "Perfect…" She then tilted her head, "But it needs a healthy side!"

The temple door opened and Lapis walked out.

"Lapis! You want some lunch? I can make another sandwich." Connie said. Lapis shook her head. "Are… they still not talking to each other?"

"Yes." Lapis sighed, "I thought they would make up by now after Jasper saw how we could fuse into a stable Malicite, but… they haven't…"

Connie sighed when suddenly, the fridge slammed open. Little Onion leapt out of it and raced away. Connie saw a bag of veggies clenched in his hand and started to chase after him, leaving Lapis confused.

"Stop!" Connie cried. "How did you even get in my house?! You don't even eat!" She raced after the boy, her red baseball hat nearly fall b off her head, "Onion! Please!" The boy ran into a mysterious garage that
was shielded by pink curtains. Connie ran in panting out, "Give me the veggies or I'll…" She saw the room was full of beautiful and strange paintings of… Lapis. Some had her sitting down while in some, she was flying in the air. One had
her turned around with her gem showing as wings came out. There were so many… "This is really weird…" Connie whispered. The girl ran away to get Lapis.

"Dad always tells me that there is some crazy stalkers out there, and I think Onion might have a obsession with you." Connie whispered, showing Lapis the paintings. Lapis looked shocked but then, a woman with light blond hair stepped
out holding a shotgun, "This is private property!"

"V-Vidalia?!" Lapis gasped, "Is that… really you?!"

"Lapis?!" The woman realized. Lapis gave an excited squeal and used her wings to propel into a hug, nearly knocking Vidalia over, both laughing.

"You've changed so much…" Lapis whispered. She then smirked, "Ha, ha, ha! You look old!"

"And you, you look the same…" Vidalia smiled and looked at Lapis, "grandma!"

Lapis giggled until she snorted.

"Wait, who are you?" Connie asked, running up to Vidalia. "Oh, well, we both kinda liked your dad, but then realized, all we needed was us!" Lapis grinned.

"Is that Connie?" Vidalia asked, looking at the girl, "Look at her! Spitting image of Doug! You shouldn't have any trouble when you grow up, just show that dazzling smile you both have, people will love you." Connie laughed
and looked at the paintings, "Did you paint these when you used to hang out?"

Vidalia smiled in memory, "Yeah, some of them. Some are new, though. Lapis was my favorite model!" She winked at Lapis and the gem grinned, "Can you still make those beautiful water wings?"

Lapis went to the painting of her turned around and copied the image, twirling around and spouting her wings. "Of course!"

Vidalia laughed softly, "Oh, man... We used to get into all sorts of trouble, though Lapis probably looks seems like a mom to you, Connie, but look at this!" The woman fetched a photo that was nearby. Connie saw a young Vidalia and Lapis
in the photos. They were making goofy faces and Lapis shaped into a man… Connie thought she may recognize him. "Aren't we just the spitting image of mischief?"

Lapis giggled and pointed to Vidalia's feet, "You're wearing slippers! You used to wear high heels!"

Vidalia took the photo back and laughed, "You don't know what I've done in these shoes!"

Lapis giggled and sighed, "I really missed you!"

"It's great to see you again... Sorry, it's been so long. I guess we've both been busy." Vidalia said.

Lapis nodded and put a arm around Connie, "Raising children does take up most of our time."

"What children? You have children, Vidalia?" Connie asked surprised. Onion suddenly ran in with scissors, making Connie think of all the times her father had told her not to run with them, and hugged Vidalia. The woman scooped up
the boy and threw the scissors off to the side.

"You're…. Onion's mother?" Connie asked in horror. "Yep," Vidalia said, holding him as he stared at Connie. "he's my little troublemaker alright!" Vidalia turned to Connie with a smile, "I think he has a little
crush on you, Connie. Adorable!"

Connie nodded numbly, not looking in the child's eyes. Onion suddenly murmured something into Vidalia's ear and she nodded, "That's a great idea!" She turned to her guests and smiled, "Lapis, Connie, Onion has invited you over
to have dinner with us, what do you say?"

"That would be wonderful!" Lapis cried, overjoyed. Connie looked at her with worry and Lapis' smile faded, "Er… but… it's totally up to Connie, of course."

Connie saw how excited Lapis was, and how happy she had been in that picture… she needed this. "Of… Of course! Dinner would be great." The girl smiled weakly, still feeling Onion practically burning holes into her with his stare.

Connie fiddled with her fork while Lapis slurped up the last of her potato. She blushed in embarrassment and gave a tiny laugh, "Sorry, this is just so good."

Vidalia laughed, "It's just noodles and butter, but I'm glad you liked it, Laz." Lapis giggled at the nickname and then saw Sour Cream listening to music at the table, "It's been too long! I used to be taller than this guy!
Look how big he's gotten!" She then glanced at Vidalia, "Any… help from his father?"

"That old fool?" Vidalia chuckled, "I don't think about him that much! It's just been me and Yellowtail for a while now."

Lapis gasped in surprise, "Yellowtail?"

"Yeah," Vidalia said, pointing to a picture of young Sour Cream and baby Onion. "things just kinda happened. Next thing you know, I'm living with a fisherman."

While Vidalia and Lapis chatted, Connie waved to Sour Cream, "Hi, Sour Cream."

Sour Cream merely made a motion with his hand, showing acknowledgment. Connie turned back to Onion to see him sculpting something in his mashed potatoes. When he stopped, he turned it to the girl and revealed it was shaped like Connie's face.

"Oh… heh, heh… cool?" Connie whispered nervously. Onion then disturbingly licked the back of it and chewed. Connie didn't hold back her disgusted face. Onion opened his mouth, letting the food spill out out onto the table. Connie
wrinkled her nose and whispered, "Why do you hate food…"

Later, Vidalia watched in delight as the dishes practically washed themselves with Lapis' powers.

"What about you?" Vidalia asked. Lapis glanced at her, "Huh? What about me?"

"You haven't said a word about yourself all night." The woman answered.

Lapis smiled weakly, "Ha, my life is just…" She breathed in and made a fart noise, making Vidalia chuckle, "And the Temps?"

Lapis made the sound again, making Vidalia smirk.

"Er… Lapis?" Connie asked. Lapis turned, "Yes?"

"It's getting dark, we should be getting home…"

Lapis looked between Vidalia and Connie, and before she could speak, Onion pulled on his mother's leg, only saying, "Mama!"

Vidalia bent down and listened to him, "Oh! That's a great idea. Connie, Onion wants to show you around the house. What do you say? Can Onion show you around?"

"Uh…" Connie murmured. She glanced at Onion and the lights started flickering. The girl thought it was her imagination until Vidalia said, "Oh, whenever Sour Cream starts DJing, it uses all the electricity in the house. Good
thing Yellowtail's not here. It drives him nuts."

"Vidalia, isn't it not safe to be in a house like this?" Lapis asked, concerned.

Vidalia shrugged, "Nah. Kids gotta express themselves, right?"

Onion suddenly slammed his hands onto the sculpture of Connie's head, making it splatter everywhere.

Vidalia laughed, "You too, Onion. Very expressive." She looked at Connie who had her teeth clenched, "Looks like he's ready for you, Connie."

Onion stared at Connie and slightly smiled. Connie's reflexes reached for the sword that wasn't there.

Connie stood awkwardly in Onion's room. She was silent and rubbed her arm, her hair falling in her face, rather shy and a bit frightened. Onion ran past her and bounced onto his little trampoline, onto the bed. Connie watched with her eyebrow arched.
Suddenly, a little mouse ran across her shoe. Happily to have a distraction, Connie bent down, gently petting it with her finger. Onion suddenly leapt off the bed and ran over. He snatched the mouse away from Connie. She watched him walk up to a big
cage and frowned while she followed, "That's a awfully big cage for a little-" He opened the container and Connie gasped, "SNAKE!" She fell back and Onion looked at her exspectingly. Connie rose and looked at the cage, "You
want me to find that little mouse… to that snake?"

Onion nodded, pressing the mouse into her hand. Connie looked down at the trembling thing, "... I… I mean, we all have to eat, so… so…" Connie gave a moan, "I'm sorry! I can't!" She shoved it back to Onion and turned away
as he dangled it above his snake. "No innocent thing should be killed without a proper…" Connie heard the thing squeaking and then the loud clamp of the cage being shut. She gulped and dryly whispered, "... trial…"

Onion ignored her and walked over to his TV, putting a VHS tape in. Connie walked over and said, "Oh! You're putting on a movie? I like movies." She settled herself cross legged and watched.

"A hospital setting? Cool. I've always thought I'd might make a pretty good nurse, when I'm not saving the world…" Connie cocked her head, "Wait… Your mom isn't a actress, right?"

"Okay, I'm ready." Vidalia said on the tape, "I'm ready!"

"What's she getting ready for?" Connie murrmred, "Is this a surgery?"

Vidalia gave a moan. "Ohhh, oh, Yellowtail... I think…" She moaned louder, "It's happening!"

"Wait a second… I recognize…. Ugh! No! I already talked about this with Peri! Not again!" Connie cried, blushing hard and covering her eyes. "I don't want to see you born!"

Onion stopped the tape and leapt onto his bed. He peeled back a poster and Connie saw a secret passage, "Whoa… What's in there?" The girl was about to approach him when the lights flickered, and he motioned to her making a scary
face. Connie flashed back to the time he had twisted her hand and his terrifying face… She slowly backed away.

Connie ran down the steps, "Lapis! Please, please can we go-" She paused when she heard Lapis whisper, "But they still won't talk to each other and… I still keep having nightmares about the old Malachite… even when she's gone
for good." Lapis glanced up at Vidalia who was sipping tea, "I'm so… angry and sad and scared, all at the same time."

"I know what you mean." Vidalia sighed.

"You do?"

"Listen, Laz, we don't always get along in this family. Yellowtail and Sour Cream are always at each other's throats. It makes me nuts. Actually, when I get like that, I think about you! And how you could always just make a goofy noise, smile,
and just deal with it." The woman smiled.

"You're describing yourself." Lapis smiled weakly back, "You were so amazing… I looked like a baby compared you. I was just a dumb sponge following you around."

"But you were always optimistic and happy, even when you've gone through such horrible things! You know how much I wanted to be like you?" Vidalia sighed softly, "I still think about it. To be honest, that's why I started painting
you again. I'm... I'm inspired by you, Lapis Lazuli."

Lapis blushed.

"And, if anything, I was the sponge, water girl." Vidialia joked. Lapis laughed and Vidalia sighed, "I'm out of tea, would you help me make some more?"

"Of course!" Lapis said, flying up. "I'm happy Connie doesn't feel too awkward here, or I would just have to go home." They went to the kitchen and Connie sighed. She crept back up and into Onion's room. "Whatever
you have planned for me, I'm going to face it." Connie growled.

Onion didn't say anything, merely crawling into the passage. Connie ran up to the wall, looked around, and hoisted herself in.

The passage was a airvent that Connie felt quite constrained in. Onion was ahead of her with incredible speed and she called after him, trying to catch up. It gradually got darker and Connie called out, "W-What's going on?" Onion
suddenly turned on a light and Connie saw a small room with only a chest in the center. "What is this place?" Connie whispered. She suddenly fell out of the vent and hit the ground hard. The girl watched Onion go to open the chest and frowned,
"I… There better not be a corrupted gem or something in there!"

He opened it to reveal capsules of both G.U.Y.S and G.A.L.S. Connie walked up and cocked her head, "Oh! It's the little figures. You must be a collector!" She smiled and said, "Did you know Steven loves these things? So did
my Dad when he was my age." Onion gave her a capsule with a blond girl in it and she smiled, "Oh! Theis is one of the female versions, to go against the boy stereotype in the 80s, they were discontinued though. I read up about them after
you-" She tried to give it back but Onion shook his head, pushing it to her. "You're… giving this to me?" The boy nodded.

"Oh! Well, thank you!" Connie smiled. "I'm sure Steven will flip when he sees this!"

Onion picked up a empty looking capsule and Connie frowned, "... Are you trying to show me something or…."

Lapis and Connie were leaving that night and stood outside the doorway.

"And stay out!" Vidalia laughed.

Lapis blushed, "What? But-"

"I'm joking, Laz." Vidalia winked, "You Temps take things a little to serious sometimes!"

"Oh." Lapis giggled, "Well, in that case, thanks for letting us break into your house, eat your food and… spill my feelings on you."

"Anytime!" Vidalia smiled. "And it will get better. You're a rock! …. Right?"

"Heh, kinda." Lapis smirked.

"Well, whatever you are, Laz, don't be a stranger."

"I won't. Just tell me whenever you need, 'inspiration'." Lapis said, "or, you could come to the temple sometime, Connie could even babysit Onion for you."

"Oh, well, that sounds great to us." The mother said, glancing at Onion,"What about you, Connie? Ready for another round with this guy?"

Connie smiled at the boy. He opened his mouth to reveal the mouse from before. It squeaked and leapt out. Connie gave a nervous laugh, ".. We'll see!"

Lapis murmured softly to Connie, "I'm a bit worried about him..."