Connie, Doug and Peridot all watched the tv screen in Connie's room, waiting.
Then, it came!
A steak hit a grill and sizzled, as a young Marty started to sing to the tune of Comet, which was originally Doug's song. "From the moment the meat hits the flame, my stomach is growling without any shame."
The next shot showed tomato, pickle slices, and lettuce gliding gloriously through the air.
They were then in a burger, next to a drink and fries. The young Marty picked up the burger, and took a huge bite, then winked at the camera. "And I know in my gut, it's been worth the $5.95."
It faded to the logo of the burger joint as the commercial closed. "Would you like a burger from Pepe's Burgers?"
"This is amazing, Dad!" Connie cried, hugging her father. "Your song has been so profitable!"
"Apparently, Marty sold my song as a burger jingle, and now I'm rich." Doug smiled. "At first, I admit, I thought it was a scam, but this proves it to be true!"
"That is disgusting." Peridot growled, pointing at the tv which showed a burger with legs, eyes and a moving bun. "That thing is a abomination!"
"Well, yes, the commercial is very odd, but this song," Doug smiled in memory. "This song is the song I played on the night Yellow came to my show…"
Peridot gave a huff. "My Diamond would never indulge a song like that. How did she even look at you, let alone love you, if you made this monstrosity that you call-"
"Peri!"
Peridot glanced back to see Connie with her arms crossed and standing.
"Are you finished insulting Dad?" Connie muttered, tapping her foot.
"You don't tell me what to do!" Peridot yelled suddenly, and stomped down to the temple door. It flowed as she left the house.
Connie sighed. "I guess I was pretty rude… But she-!"
"Let's leave it for now." Doug smiled, trying to cheer her up. "Instead, let's think of ways to spend this money!"
Connie thought about it, plopping down on her bed. She saw her violin out of the corner of her eye, and she grabbed it.
Doug watched her experiment with different strings, and she soon found a jaunty tune. He then started to sing to it, "Bright, sunny day don't cost nothin'. Light, summer breeze, don't cost nothin'. What do I do, with all this money when the only thing I want is you?"
Connie smiled and shrugged.
"Pallin' around don't cost nothin'. Singing a song don't cost nothin'. How do I spend, all this money? I'd rather just spend time with you."
Connie thought of it and suggested, "You could get a new degree, in collage maybe, get a new job you love, perhaps"
"But I already went, to the police academy." Doug sang in response. "And I want to see you, too much for that. I could put you through school,"
"But think of all the credits, that would be due." Connie responded with a matter of fact to her part. She had already looked up collage.. Sadly, it felt quite impossible for her to catch up at this age. Then, a smile lit up her face. "What if we take a trip?"
"Hey, you think?" Doug asked, glancing at her.
"Yeah, I do! We could take a vacation. We could go somewhere new." Connie grinned, and started to play faster as her dad started to get into it.
"I know a place that's always exciting! The show and the sights and the lights that are blinding!" Doug sang, grabbing a snowglobe of Empire City. "Empire City! I'm talkin' Empire City!"
Connie beamed, grabbing her suitcase and already packing clothes and her violin, just incase.
"The streets and the sounds and the buildings towering! Subways that run from Brooklyn to the Bowery! Empire City! Let's go to Empire City!" Doug continued, helping her gather her things.
Connie closed her bag and started to sing along, running down the steps. "We don't need money! To have a good time!"
"I know a place that's always exciting! The shows and the sights and the lights so blinding!" Doug swung out his keys.
Connie placed her bag on the sofa and ran up to the temple door, still singing.
"The streets and the sounds and the buildings towering! Subways that run from Brooklyn to the Bowery!" Doug and Connie beamed at each other and finished the song with a show-stopping "Empire City!"
Connie suddenly knocked on the door. "Peri, do you want to go to-"
"I heard you, and my answer is no." Peridot mumbled, opening the door.
"Please, Peri? I'm really sorry for getting mad, and I want to make up for it! I promise we'll have so much fun!"
"I don't like him." Peridot said plainly, pointing to Doug.
"I know, but maybe we can change that?" Connie asked with a shaky smile.
"... Fine." Peridot groaned.
"Yes!" Connie then saw both Doug and Peridot looking very uncomfortable.
"Connie, Peridot and I never got along, ever. Even when raising you." Doug sighed, itching his neck nervously. "I don't know…"
"It'll be fun!" Connie insisted. "It has to be! I mean, you, me, Peri, fun times ahead!" She then grabbed her suitcase and gasped. "Oh! And mother!"
Doug and Peridot both started to sweat looking at her gem.
They arrived in Empire City a while later, Connie taking pictures as Doug pulled her into the hotel.
She had never seen such a fancy place in her life! It was stunning, shining walls and floors, pillars, and was that a piano?
Connie gasped, taking it all in. Peridot held back a tiny smile. This girl had no idea how beautiful this universe could be, she had seen none of the splendor of Homeworld, but, hopefully they would all go there one day.
Doug slid his Id card over to a tiny man at the front desk with a nervous smile. The tiny man glanced at it and then back at him.
"Oh, I'm proving it's me." Doug explained with a laugh. "I have quite a lot to spend, and if you have any concerns, just call my bank, I'm sure they'll sort it out, tell you what happened and all."
The desk clerk looked bored until Doug put down a stack of money. Such joy was put into that man, he started to sing.
"Hey, cut a rug!" The Desk Clerk called.
Peridot flinched and wanted to throw a suitcase at them when many hotel employees popped out around her. "Hey, cut a rug!"
"It's Mr. Doug!" The leader announced, prestenting Doug and Connie who stood nearby.
"It's Mr. Doug!" The others repeated, also showing them off before picking up Connie and Doug and carrying them away. Peridot would not let them pick her up, she threw the bags at one to carry and then stoically followed the rest.
"He's got the bucks!" The employees sang.
Doug laughed. "I've got the bucks!"
"It's all deluxe!"
"It all deluxe!"
Connie and Doug were sat down at a table and Peridot sat down next to Connie.
"When you're dining out with me, it's the finest steak and brie." Doug sang as the waiters showed off thier finest meals. Connie smiled as her father got up and tipped a waiter a hundred bucks, taking a bite of cheese.
"Whoa! What a alarming tip range!" The waiter gasped.
"My good sir, keep the change!" Doug cried as they picked him up again.
The employs shuffled all into a elevator, with Peridot far back as possible. Then, they flew up to the top floor, the penthouse.
Doug and Connie were star struck at this beautiful room while Peridot looked sceptical.
Doug and Connie had fine tailored suits made for them, Doug sporting a top hat and Connie placing a red rose in her hair after tying in up in a fancy bun.
The employs all made motions that were signs that they looked great. Peridot looked at Connie and smiled slightly, mouthing she looked lovely.
Connie and her father jumped in, the girl had changed into her swimsuit, of course. She slid down the slide, and Peridot watched from afar, hissing whenever a waiter offered her anything.
Doug and Connie swam up to Peridot and smiled, soon changing back into thier suits and had one made for Peri.
Peridot twirled in her suit and smirked. "Ok, ok."
"What you gotta say?" Doug and Connie choured
"It's pretty fine."
"You look divine!" Connie and Doug smiled happily.
"And those singers who I thought sounded cloddy at least make a wild party!" Peridot smiled, actually having some fun here for once. "This City is quite nice, unlike the barn filled with mice!" Peridot sang, winking at Connie who giggled before the gem grabbed her hand and twirled her around. "And despite all this money, all I need to have fun is Connie!"
"You're having fun!" Doug cried with a smile.
Peridot shrugged, not looking at him when she said. "Oh, I guess."
Doug suddenly in joy grabbed Peridot and waltzed her around the room, much to the gem's surprise and almost fear. "So dance with me. just say-"
"LET GO OF ME!" Peridot screeched, pushing away. She panted for air and glanced up at the rest, who were all confused. Wasn't she having fun a moment ago? Peridot gave a sigh. "I-I still… dislike you." She whispered, making Doug frown and Connie tilt her head slightly. Peridot then stomped off.
"Boo! You ruined the song!" One guy yelled.
Doug sighed and gave him some money. "My apologies, gentlemen… Thanks for singing with us."
Connie sighed and Doug put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's always been like this, Connie…"
Later that night, Connie and Doug had fallen asleep, and Peridot covered up Connie a bit more as the girl softly snored.
Peridot glanced down to see Connie gem gleam in the moonlight at her through the girl's nightgown.
The gem's smile faded slightly, and she hugged herself quietly. She missed Yellow Diamond so much… And this trip had only made it worse… She would never trade Connie to bring her back but… was it wrong to still want to see her? To still.. love her?
Peridot started to sing softly. "I lived for her, so I tried. My loyalty for my creator would never die… I lived for her, was that was a sin? To think that you ended it, before it could, begin…" She glared at Doug who was asleep, and walked out to the balcony, not knowing Connie awoke when she slipped away.
"I lived for her, so I tried, to run you out and make sure you said goodbye." Peridot leaned on the glass edge, looking at the stars, while Connie sat up. "I wanted her, but that was never to be, after the trust we had, I never thought she'd leave…" She let the hat roll off her head and onto her arm until she caught it again. "It's over, isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it over? It's over, isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it over? You won, and she chose you, and she loved you, and she's gone. It's over, isn't it? Why can't I move on?"
Connie felt so bad for Peri… She hadn't realized this care for her leader had gone this deep…
"Pain, and passion! Maybe even lies.." Peridot grabbed onto the edge of the balcony and swung herself out to the other side, holding on with one hand, and serenading with the other. "All those times I saw her with him, inside, I cried."
"Maybe it was foolish, maybe it was bad," Peridot leaped back to the platform, toddling around while singing. "I knew it was wrong, so why did I feel so glad," Peridot sighed. "when she looked at me, my world stopped turning! But now I'm without her and my feelings are churning." She laid down and watched the clouds seem to tell her story, Yellow Diamond was with her, until him. "When she seemed to laugh it made my heart go wild!" Peridot then thought of what Yellow has left behind. "Now I've got to be there for her child…"
Connie silently hopped off the bed, watching.
"It's over, isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it over?" Peridot hugged herself and spun in place. "It's over, isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it over?"
"I'll admit, you won! And she choose you, and she loved you and she's goooonnne!" Peridot let the note wail out before taking a sharp breath after, a single tear falling down her cheek. "It's over, isn't it? Why can't I move on?" She glanced up at the glittering stars above, that seemed to be shaped like diamond. "It's over, isn't it? Why can't I move…. on?" After a few moments of silence and thought, she turned back to the room and was surprised to see Connie awake. But, she wasn't the only one.
Doug had his back turned to her as he put on a robe. "I get it, okay? I'm some human that never deserved Yellow Diamond in the first place, I never deserved to know about gems at all. I get your point." He then stood and walked out, Peridot stuttering.
"Hey! … D- Don't sound so upset, okay?" Peridot called after him.
"I'm fine." Doug cut off sharply. "You didn't seem to care before."
"Dad!" Connie tried, but he had already closed the door.
"I hate guilt…" Peridot moaned. She then glanced up at Connie, saddened. "This is why I didn't want to come, Connie… I make him upset, it's a reflex to when I see him, I guess." The gem grew quiet. Then, she sighed. "If he made my diamond happy… I suppose I shouldn't refuse him."
Connie narrowed her eyes and frowned. "You finally got that. Now, come on." She grabbed Peri's hand and pulled her to the door. "I asked you here so you two can fix this."
Connie took Peri down to see Doug, who stared into nothingness, clearly lost in thought.
Connie gave a small cough and he turned. Peridot held one of her hands while she delicately held her violin case in the other. Peridot bowed her head when they met eyes and glanced away.
Connie then walked up to a employ playing the piano, and gave him a pile of bills. The man then happily got up and sang to himself as he practically skipped away.
Connie got up on the bench and started to play her violin in a soft sort of waltz. "Why don't you talk to each other?" Peridot and Doug walked up to watch her. "Why don't you talk to each other? Just give it a try."
Doug and Peridot glanced at each other then looked away, both clearly embarrassed.
"Why don't you talk about what happened? I know you're trying to avoid it, but I don't know why. You might not believe it…." Connie sang, as she bowed her head with a sad smile. "You might not believe, it, but you got a lot in common, you really do…"
Peridot and Doug slid closer together, and in a way, Peridot was focused in a pale white light, while Doug in a rosy pink. They both looked at each other, surprised in this sudden change… They were actually seeing each other, nearly looking past each other's relationship with the gem they had loved.
Connie softly sighed, and sang on. "You both love me, and I love both of you…"
Doug and Peridot both teared up, blushing. No, no, they would never let the other see them cry! Not ever! ...But… this was different. They both were so emotionally open now.
Connie smiled, and a single tear fell from her cheek. The tear landed on her bow in the perfect shape of a diamond.
Peridot and Doug lay, looking at a starry sky.
"I…I'm sorry." Doug blurted out softly.
Peridot glanced at him.
"I never would regret the love I had for her, but I've always…" Doug gave a sad smile. "I've always hated myself for not having the guts to properly apologize to you, Peridot."
Peridot was silent for a moment and then gave a nod. "Your apology is accepted, Doug. I'd like you to know…" She glanced at him. "I never meant for you to take my comments so hard… I knew they would hurt but I… I never meant for you to think you didn't deserve to be with us, clearly, you were good enough. I don't think I ever wanted to hurt you, I wanted to stop her… I wanted her to stop loving you. But… I couldn't."
Doug smiled. "You know Yellow,"
"No one can tell her what to do!" The two laughed together through tears.
"I know you both need it," Connie sang softly, as Peridot stood and offered her hand.
She had refused a dance before, but now?
"I know that you both need it. Someone who knows what you're going through." Doug and Peridot waltzed, and glanced at each other with smiles. "And you might not believe it. You might not believe it, but you got a lot in common. You really do." Doug dipped Peridot and then twirled her. "You both love me, and I love both of you. You both love me, and I love both... of… you." Connie softly finished the song, and the lighting seemed to fade.
The hotel staff suddenly popped up from behind tables, they all were secretly watching. They cheered and Connie gave a laugh, doing a tiny nod in thanks before leaping to the others. Peridot squeaked in surprise and nearly fell until Doug caught her.
The two smiled.
Then, the desk check walked up to Doug and coughed. "Le bill!" He uncovered a platter and presented the bill.
Doug took in a sharp breath. He had knew the price would be high, but he had wanted a amazing night with his girl, but gained much more, and that hadn't cost anything at all. He glanced at Peridot. "Tailor-made suits. Those cost somethin'. Room with a view." The bill unfolded, and the tail reached his shoes.
Peridot smirked and looked up at him. "But dancing with you…"
"Don't cost nothin'." Doug smiled.
"This trip was sorta a waste, we could've done all this," Peridot winched slightly. "feeling stuff at home."
Connie and Doug laughed. Looked like the usual Peri was coming back.
The trio stepped outside and loaded up the car, Peridot singing softly. "Singing a song don't cost nothing."
Connie tried to tell her that wasn't right. But Peridot sang over her, "Not getting anything wrong,"
Doug rolled his eyes. "don't cost nothing."
"It is a catchy song, Doug, but you're only getting that out of me." Peridot sniffed, walking to the front seat of the car.
A few minutes later, Connie was cuddled up in the backseat in her suit and softly sang to herself. "It's over, isn't it…? Isn't it?" She opened her eyes to see Peridot and Doug were talking in the front seat, without a scowl or sweat from either. She smiled. Was the years long feud truly ending? "Isn't it… over?"