How long were they there for? Seconds? Minutes? Hours? Regardless of the time that has passed, Spinel knew she enjoyed it. Just the warmth of the human being, it was much different than the usual coldness she was used to from standing alone in the garden. No vacuum of space gnawing at her skin. She could get used to this. She wanted to get used to this. To her, it felt right. So it has to be, right?

But like all good things, they must always come to an end. She felt Steven pull his arm away, and she couldn't help look up in slight confusion. Worry squeezing her chest as she thinks to herself, did she do something wrong? Was she not supposed to hug him?

Steven moved back a bit, shifting onto his knees as he hold his hand out to Spinel. "Come on, it's cold out. We should probably go inside." He whispers. Still worried that Spinel might harbor whatever amount of fear she may have of him. Only for the concern in his eyes to soften as he watches her curious gaze.

Tentatively, the gem reached out and grabbed it. With Steven helping her onto her feet. Unlike before, her shoes doesn't seem to squeak anymore. Then what made the sound earlier? The thought brought a hum to his lips, which seemed to have caught Spinel's attention?

"Is...something wrong?" She asks, her voice softer than before. As if cautious that if she raised her voice loud enough, it would shatter the illusion of Steven taking her hand. But that didn't stop her from giving a light squeeze with her question.

"Hm? Oh, it's nothing important." He smiles before pushing his hands into his jacket pockets, "I just thought it was your shoes that were squeaking earlier. Come on, let's head inside the temple. At least then it'll be warmer while we catch up."

Spinel gives a nervous chuckle as she goes bag to playing with her fingers, "Is that really a good idea? I don't think your...your friends are gonna be too happy about me just walking in..." She hides her wince from the boy. The last thing she needs right now would be pity from him. Especially at the word friends. The way it left her tongue just gnaws at her gem as if there was a raw wound within. She's still far from recovering, but during her time with the diamonds she likes to think she's making steps at fixing it.

Steven meanwhile, just gave her a bright grin. Spinel couldn't help but compare it to a shining new gem. "It'll be fine! Everyone is in their rooms. I know Amethyst is sleeping, Pearl is probably reorganizing her swords or something. Garnet, well if she hadn't come out already I'm thinking she already knows and is gonna leave us alone for the time being."

Spinel hums under her breath while rubbing her arm. Before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath in. "Okay. Let's go." Steven nods and starts walking down the hill, prompting Spinel to follow. It'll be fine. She's just going into the temple with Steven. They were going to be...alone. Alone with Steven. Oh Diamonds this isn't going to end well for her. Her gem starts to burn in her chest at the prospect.

Spinel resists and beats down this warm feeling from her gem, what does that feeling mean anyway? She doesn't like it. She doesn't want to feel it. It's way too distraction. So distracting that she missed whatever it was Steven asked her.

"I- I'm sorry, what?"

"I asked if you wanted something to drink?"

They were climbing up the stairs to the beach house, the screen door just in sight as Steven looks back with a worried look on his face. Making Spinel blush in slight embarrassment. She didn't want pity, but it felt think that Steven worried about her.

"I...I don't know what that is." She admits. Looking a bit to the side. Only for her gem to squeeze as Steven flashes her that understanding smile of his. Do humans have this as a language? A smile for everything they want to convey? Or is this just a Steven thing? She doesn't know which would be more preferable.

"That's alright, it's on me. I guess I was just used to seeing Amethyst chug everything, and Garnet and Bismuth would have the occasional lemonade so I forgot you didn't need to." Steven opens the door and waits for Spinel to walk in. "After you." He chimes.

Spinel slowly takes a step in, the last time she was here wasn't exactly from the best circumstances. The other gems that were with Steven had their weapons pointed at her, and though she would never admit it, it was the most terrifying thing that she remembers. Especially that one human on the pink four legged thing with the sword. She didn't like her one bit.

And it certainly has nothing to do with how she had Steven forget about her in one hug after the Injector incident. Not at all. Despite what she said, she didn't really believe Steven would have come back then.

Steven quietly walks past her, trying not to make much noise to keep everyone else in the temple from waking up. Heading over to the kitchen area and opening up the fridge. "You sure you don't want something, if nothing but to try it?"

After a second of thought, Spinel decides on agreeing. She might as well, at least she owed it to him for dropping in unannounced.

Steven grabs two cans of canned apple juice before walking over to Spinel, handing it to her before demonstrating how to properly open and drink from a canned beverage.

It tasted...interesting at least. It was sweet, and refreshing? Spinel didn't quite know how to describe it. It was nice, if not a bit weird when it goes down her throat. Where does it even go?

"So, Spinel. Why exactly are you here anyway?" Steven asks with a slight tilt to his head. "Other than apologize to me anyway."

Spinel hums and takes another drink of the juice, if just to prolong her answer. "I just...wanted to. Being with the diamonds is great and all but, sometimes it can get a bit too...much." She sighs. She liked the diamonds, she really did. She enjoyed her time with them, but right now, she just wants some space to herself for a little while and sort things out.

"I told them where I was going before I left, so they wouldn't worry about me. I just figured I still have things to...I don't know. Figure out?"

Steven completely understands this. Considering most of his friends now at one poing wanted to kill him, he kinda had to. Speaking of, how was Jasper doing? Last he heard of her, she was travelling and doing some soul searching. He really hoped they would be at least friendly after healing her corruption.

"Yeah. The universe sends you reeling and you're scrambling to make sense of things. I have first hand experience with that." Being the son of a diamond would do that to a person, especially if she created a war against herself and left him with the repercussions.

A yawn escapes his lips. While the cold juice was enough to keep him refreshed, it seems that he's still half human. He still needs his sleep. "I'm sorry, I guess I was more tired than I thought. I should probably go and get some sleep."

Spinel blanched, her grip on the can tightening before she forces herself to loosen it. "Uh...can I go with you?" She asks, "I...I don't wanna be alone." She whispers. Practically forcing it out of her choked voice.

Steven blinks, did he hear that correctly? He scratches his cheek as he mulls it over. I mean, he didn't really want a repeat of Pearl when she apparently was watching him sleep every night when he was younger. It took weeks to get her to stop. But at the same time...

The scared look in the gem's eyes sealed the deal for Steven. Despite it all, Spinel was still just someone his mom left scarred. Now it was his job to fix things. Besides. He physically cannot say no to that face, his kind heart absolutely refused it.

"I don't see why not? Just, try to be as quiet as you can. The stairs creak." He whispers back, with a grateful Spinel nodding behind him.

He leads the gem upstairs to his room, and true to his word, the middle stair gave a slight creak when Steven steps on it. Spinel however, simply stretched her legs and passed the stairs completely. Still holding onto her empty can of apple juice before Steven takes it and places it into a small trash bin on the other side of the room.

Spinel takes the time to look around. It was much more full than the room she had on Homeworld. She refused to sleep in Pink's old room when Blue Diamond suggested it, especially when she saw the size of it. She might be stretchy, but even she can't stretch from the desk to the bed to the door without getting exhausted. So while she was with the Diamonds, she was given a redesigned room that the Pearls were given. Slightly bigger than average, with a large pink bed and a desk and mirror, but that was it.

Looking around she sees all the pictures, the books, and there was this thing against the wall. It was colored black and looked to have some kind of monitor against it. Like some boxy crate that Spinel couldn't help but poke at. Yelping a bit when it shocked her finger, and placing the appendage in her mouth.

Steven chuckles at the sight, "Looks like you met the tv. Don't worry, it doesn't bite. The most it'll do is drag you into a binge of Camp Pining Hearts."

Spinel didn't know what that was, but her small whine was all Steven needed for her to know she didn't like it. Especially since she's still sucking on her finger. He didn't know gems actually did that, he figured it was just a human thing. Or maybe it's just a Spinel and human thing. Kinda cute really.

"You're free to do whatever in here, just remember to keep quiet while I fall asleep okay?" Spinel nods, she doesn't know what sleep is but she will try her best in letting Steven get some.

He slips into his bed, pulls his covers over himself and with a yawn turns over onto his side. Leaving Spinel to her own devices?

She didn't know what to do at first. She wandered around the room a bit. Tiptoeing quietly to look at all the knick knacks. A curious gaze at all the posters, a neutral look at the pictures. Especially with the ones that has a Rose Quartz in them. That must have been Pink Diamond.

Eventually though, Spinel just settled at the side of the bed. Watching Steven with...well she didn't know why. He just looked so peaceful. As if the forces of the universe couldn't ever touch him. That he's forgotten all about his problems as he slept. Can she do that too?

"...Steven?" She pokes his arm. Only to get the sound of his soft snoring. "Steven..." She shakes it now. Why won't he get up? "S-Steven...: Wake up already, please! Spinel can feel her throat tighten, and tears prick at her eyes. "Steven please, wake up!"

"Hmm?" Spinel pulls her arms back, quickly wiping at her eyes. Why, why was she crying just then? "Spinel...? What is it?" Steven asks, at this point he's been asleep for maybe thirty minutes. Slowly sitting up on the bed as he yawns.

"Uh...Steven. Can you...can you teach me to sleep?" She asks nervously, her spiky pigtails slowly lowering. "Can I...can I sleep with you?"

Steven slowly blinks and yawns again, nodding. "Uh...sure?" This probably wasn't a good idea, but what else should he really do? He moves over on the bed to give the gem some space. "You just lay down...relax your body...try not to think of anything and you just...fall...asleep..." The sound of Steven's snoring fills the room again.

Spinel followed his directions, sitting down on the bed before laying down. Her head on a pillow as she stares up at the ceiling. With a deep breath she closes her eyes, ears her mind, and relaxes. At least she tried to.

Seconds pass, and Spinel was still awake. Minutes more and she was still awake. She turns her head to ask Steven if she was doing anything wrong, but stops as she opens her mouth.

Steven was asleep, she can't wake him up again. What if he gets mad? What if he can't sleep anymore and it'll be because of her?

She sighs and turns on her side to face Steven. Looking over his features. Maybe counting the lashes he has will help her in this sleep. Maybe imagining the color of his eyes as they sparkle. Or his lips...

She notices his hands, one on his stomach and the other to his side. She couldn't help but want to hold onto it, or at least hang off his arm. Her eyes dart from his hand to his face as she slowly reaches forward and wraps her stretchy limb around it, before wrapping the other. Slowly but surely pulling herself closer and curling into it.

Spinel closed her eyes. He was warm. It seemed to fill her body from the heat. She lets out a soft sigh as her body relaxed, her mind cleared, and she felt safe.

And so. Spinel finally found sleep.

~~~~

So I actually didn't think this story would get as much attention as it did, I'm pretty overwhelmed. I planned on making this a two or three shot, but if it keeps getting love the way it is now I might just make this into an actual multi chapter story.

And so with thanks, I give you chapter 2 of Thousand Shining Stars!

Reviews:

Guest: Thanks for loving it

Dharc-Zebul: Spinel just needs love, and it just so happens that Steven is kind enough to give it to her

Princessbinas: The reason for that was because I wanted to make it a slow burn story. Spinel still isn't really okay at this point in time, and what better way to have love by starting it off with friendship and understanding?