The fire was breathing slowly. Hosting a hot dance of orange around black logs Pearl had been feeding since midnight. Dishes were set out on one of the wooden platforms. The three had gathered for a meal together. Inside the dishes tiny chewy bacon slivers, odd cereal crumbs, sporks leaning out of the plates.

Outside the one large window of the cabin the sun was bright. Greg, Steven and Pearl were together. Talking. The warm light fell on their heads. Pearl knelt and watched where the doe had emerged when it was dark, as if it'd give an encore appearance this morning.

The door opened and a pail came first followed by Greg who was holding it, Steven was holding one too, then Pearl came through with a smug look on her face. A large pot waited next the stove. Steven went over and tipped some snow into the pot, Greg poured a bit of water in, as Pearl fed the hungry, hungry fire. Then they set the pot on top. Greg smiled. "We'll have plenty of water for the walk."

Steven was looking at his phone. "Apparently there's a nice peak with a clear view to our next spot."

Greg stretched out a kink in his back. "Is it supposed to be steep?"

"Yeah."

"Not sure if my back would like that." He put a hand against his side. "Hmm… I don't wanna drag you two down."

Steven scooped some more snow up and dropped it in the pot, then he started to peel his snow gear. "Don't worry, dad, we will get up there, and if we have to stop that's ok too."

"I'm sorry."

Pearl smiled. "There's no need to apologize for things you can't change."

"Heh, you're right. I can't not be old."

Pearl closed the stove and looked back at Greg. "We have time."

Greg couldn't bring himself to smile. "Let's just relax. I'll get the water melted."

Pearl settled back down on her bag she had only used as a blanket. Steven sat cross legged in front of the stove on top of his dry snow pants, cradling his ukulele. Eyebrows crinkling. He thought about what to play, he had been playing chords to build up the song he and Pearl had begun making together, but words had escaped him. So he just started where they left off. "Oh we thought it was so simple."

Pearl clapped softly in time. "Thought life was so pristine."

"Now we know it won't always be our dream."

"But together it doesn't have to be so mean." Greg finger drummed a little rhythm on his thighs.

Steven let the words flow from his mouth. "There may be beautiful things left upstream." He rested on the ukulele.

"I think we're getting somewhere with that song, Steven."

"Yeah, it still needs so much more though."

"A good song takes time to write, kiddo."

Pearl peeked into the pot "Looks like the snow melted."

"It needs to boil for ten, cool, then we can fill up our bottles."

Steven rested against the wall, fiddling with ideas on the ukulele. Pearl hummed softly as he started and stopped. Greg watched the two and contributed every once in a while. When Steven was happy with the first third the water had already boiled and cooled to be just warm to the touch. The bottles were filled and then they geared up, leaving the heavy bags, which Steven was happy for and a peak sounded pretty cool. He could take pics from the top.

While Steven walked he almost didn't think. The warm rays of the sun felt nice with the air's chill. The walk went up weaving through the ice-heavy limbs of trees. "I think I want to go to college."

"You do?"

"What sorta degree?"

"I want to do something musical."

"You don't have to go to school for that, ya know." Greg chuckled.

"Well, I want to go anyway."

"Well, alright, kiddo." It was hard to think of his boy making his way through college, but… if it was his dream. It was his dream.

Pearl lagged a bit behind and Greg held up to whisper to her. "Did you know about this?"

Pearl sighed and pouted. "Yes. He thought I wasn't going to notice him eyeing universities. I helped him find some good choices."

"Aw, Pearl." Greg put a hand on her back.

"Yeah." She dug her feet into the snow and kept walking. "Tell it to someone else I'm still depressed I could be losing Steven."

"Me too." Greg followed Pearl.

As they walked the sky was transitioning from blue to gray. Harsh wind hit in intervals before becoming a constant hassle that tipped Greg off his feet once or twice. They had already gone halfway as snow began to fall, Pearl scanned the map. "We're not too far from the top. It'd be faster going forward but we could go back anyway."

Greg thought. "Let's see the top if we're screwed either way, huh?"

"Are you sure, dad?" Steven sideeyed his father, then the sky. It looked dark and menacing. "It looks like it's gonna get worse."

"No, I think I'm alright for it. I climbed worse when I was younger." He gazed above the incline waiting for them.

"Dratz I feel worthless. I guess the forecast was off."

"It's alright, Pearl."

Pearl crooked her brow. "If you say so, pro snow hiker."

The last bit before the peak was steep. There was no weight on his back but Steven was still tired from yesterday. Pearl took the head, she looked back at Steven wavering in the wind. Her boot bottoms were planted on a sheet as she took Steven hand's and got him steady on his feet. "Thanks Pearl." She nodded and cut her way ahead to repeat the process. Steven started walking for himself above Pearl, finding his way up the ice.

The wind was cutting like a razor now and the snow was pounding the back of their jacket hoods. She looked down at Greg as he struggled. He was on one knee desperately trying to find grip on the cold incline, trying not to panic Pearl. She reached down and gave him a hand. He took it and looked up trying to find her eyes among the flapping synthetic sides of her hood. He was above the worst part moments later. He could feel his heart in his chest and Pearl rubbed his back. And brought herself in close. "You ok?!"

"I'm- Jeez! Give me a second."

Steven looked behind and saw Pearl crouching to help Greg the rest of the way. He couldn't stand right. Steven felt a panic in his chest and almost ran down to also help, but took measured careful digs into the ice to get his way down to his father. In unison they got him to a flat path. "You ok dad?"

He felt his chest. His heart was returning to a normal pace. "I think so."

"We'll take it slower on the way down."

Greg nodded. They walked forward. It was a taunting few hundred meters to the clearing that you could consider the peak. Steven pried off a boot to dump snow out his boot before it soaked through his socks. "That was rough."

Greg huffed and tried to control his breathing. "You said it, kiddo."

Pearl pointed. "I see some sunshine ahead." The shade became light towards the peak. It was inching by the second towards them as the falling snow bled off. She turned back and looked at Greg. His legs were shaking. "Are you sure you're ok, Greg?"

"I promise I'll make it back."

"We should take a break at the peak."

"How long's the walk to the next campsite?"

"Only two hours."

Greg exhaled. "Thank goodness."

They were on the peak and standing solid on their feet. The sun and its warmth melted the snow in the creases of their jackets. It warmed their faces as they looked up at it. The edges of the peaks were clear of trees and gave them a look at the hike ahead. Steven spied the wooden roof from here. He went forward and decided to sit in the snow. It was warm.

Pearl covered her eyes with a hand and scanned the land. Greg had looked with the two but had settled on staring at the gentle smile on Pearl's face. A look of subtle determination for what was to come. He put his hand out and ruffled her hair.

Her eyes fluttered in reaction and she looked towards Greg. His blush was bright red on his tanned brown skin. His big warm digits felt nice on her head. Pearl felt like she should smile, but… she saw her face, she still felt like she was in the way. Like something was wrong with the two doing this. He was great. She felt tears that could come but she didn't cry, wouldn't. She just took his hand in hers and held it on the peak. Basking in the sunshine.

Steven saw her face still. He could smell the spruce needle smell that lingered on her backpack. He took his shot and missed. She was great. He felt barren. Even of sadness. It'd come back tonight. He'd try to cry as quietly as he could and at some point later he'd fall asleep. These past two days felt like forever, like a little dream. Good family, good things to remind him life was there, but he was still on her porch asking her the question even now. And he still heard the same response every time. "I'm sorry, Steven."

The sun fell before five. It was colder and darker than the night before. There was still enough light for the three to see by as they walked to the next campsite. Steven had barely said a word since reaching the peak and Greg was worried. He wished they could've sat down and figured out what was wrong during the little meal they had before packing up but they had to be quick to start before it was dark. Greg's legs felt alright and the soup they cooked filled him up but Pearl still turned back every once in a while to ask if he was ok. It was a sincere question.

Pearl could see Greg's worry for his son killing him as they walked. She felt awful. Steven seemed like he barely wanted to stand on his two feet. She let herself wonder about what happens next. She knew Steven would make it through even if he was in pain and she knew the two'd do their best they could to help. How he'd be alone at college with his feelings. She wondered what it meant to allow herself to feel for the man behind her. Greg, a man, a mortal, the beach city rock star. She chuckled inwardly but frowned. Aging, dying. Human. Great and temporary.

Steven was absent as he moved. Cutting through the snow with his feet at the back of the pack. He had moments where he tripped but caught himself at the last moment. He didn't react and continued to do it till the three found the spot with the help of signs and the last of the phone's battery. The campsite was a simple roof and snow had crept underneath.

They packed down the snow and that felt like it barely lasted a second. Setting up the tents took some thought and that slowed Steven down a lot. Pearl had to come over and help him once or twice. He couldn't figure out even the basics about the task at hand. Her face kept coming to the front. Each time he had to wipe a tear. In silence.

They finished the tents. Steven insisted on having his own one man tent so he retreated into it. To listen to the other two do their duties. Greg had gathered fallen branches and lodged them in the campsite's little fire pit. He unpacked each of their sleeping bags and tossed them in the tents. Pearl lit the branches and added logs they had brought from the last camp. After getting the food containers out they were set up and they each felt warm.

Pearl and Greg cooked and Steven went to sit by the fire. The two seemed to come out of the worried funk. They prepared and prepared playfully. Greg had sauce on his nose that Pearl pointed out and they laughed. Steven felt compelled to do the same thing along with them, but couldn't make a sound.

Greg wiped off. "Ya know when I was a kid I always thought-" Steven stopped listening. Not hearing the words. He was staring. The fire fought the logs they had crammed in. Running down and up with its glow. Structure of the wood deteriorated more with every moment. He felt tingling in his hands. Steven was red around the eyes and leaning onto his knees. Greg looked over the fire at his son "Steven. Are you ok?".

"I'm- I'm sorry." He put his head into his knees. Tears were coming up, he started crying.

Greg got up and sat next to his son. Putting a hand on his back. "Kiddo, kiddo. It's okay. There's no reason to apologize."

"I shouldn't be here. I'm sorry. I don't feel right. I don't w-want to ruin this for you two."

"It's fine, Steven, we came here for you."

"That's exactly it. I've been thinking and I only feel worse. I know you guys are trying and-"

"It's ok, shtuball, you feel how you're feeling and there's no way you can change that."

Pearl felt her own tears. "Steven. We're not expecting everything to get better in a few days. We love you and no matter how much time it takes we'll be here."

He sniffed. "I just feel guilty."

"There's no reason to be guilty for how you feel."

"I feel like I really loved her." He broke pressing into his Dad's shoulder.

Greg rubbed his back and started tearing up himself. "It's alright, Steven." Pearl embraced Steven from the side. She wasn't sure if they could help him with this sort of pain but she had never given up on Steven before and she wouldn't now.

They held each other for a while. Steven cried, but eventually the emotion drained. The ball in his chest unwound. And he was just hugging them. With their warmth. "I th-think I'm alright."

"Do you think you should get some sleep?"

Steven shook his head. "I don't want to lie down in the dark. Can we just talk?"

"I think I can do that." Greg smiled.

Greg doled out food to Steven and then turned to Pearl.

"You want some?"

"Yeah, I'll eat." She blushed. "I think I'm actually starting to like it."

They ate together. Pearl talked about the first time she saw a human eat during the rebellion and how strange that had seemed to her. Steven remembered a time when he made her eat a piece of pie and how grumpy she got afterwards. Eventually there was a silence.

Greg looked at Steven. "You know you can still be friends with this girl?"

Steven tried not to allow himself to be affected. "I know, Dad, I want to but it's just that there's too many…" Steven put up a hand trying to convey the impossible. "Too many feelings to even think about it right now."

"I get it, Kiddo. I still get the heebie jeebies sometimes when I look at that painting of Rose at the temple."

Pearl finished her last spoonful. "Me too." She sometimes wondered if they could just take it down. Though Pearl basked in the warmth and kept her thoughts to herself. "Are you two getting tired?"

Steven put his dish down and sighed. His body, his mind. "Yeah."

Greg took the plates. "Well, let's get to bed before it's late. Still got a bit of a walk tomorrow. Though it'll be sweet to pack away and get home, huh?"

"The idea of a lighter load is comforting." Steven rolled his arm. "Alright, I'm gonna lay down and try to sleep." Steven crawled into his tent and waved before closing the tent up. "See you two tomorrow."

"See ya." The two spoke in unison. Steven laid down and adjusted.

Greg sipped his water and glanced at Pearl. "You tired?"

Pearl gained a little smile. "I don't have to sleep, Greg."

He blinked. "Oh... uh yeah."

"I think you're the one getting tired."

"Don't count me out, I still got a little fire left in me. You're just lucky you don't run out."

"Yeah..."

"You know I used to catch you sleeping sometimes." He remembered a day vividly. Pearl looked at him. "During the summer. Steven'd be out playing and you'd be passed out on that old chair." He had a conspiratorial look on his face. "Why?"

"Well," She had her hand under her chin. "I'd get exhausted with chores, keeping track of Steven, and the other gems. So I'd get tired just like a human would. I thought sleeping was a waste of time but it helped me recharge when I did. I was careful that Amethyst never saw me. She'd rub it in my face."

"If you had allowed me in the house, Pearl, you would have never-"

"I wouldn't have been so exhausted... I know." Pearl sighed and covered her eyes. She felt strange tears well.

"And we might've taken care of Steven together." The hairs on the back of Pearl's neck stood up.

She lowered her hands and looked Greg in the eyes. "And you would've liked that?"

Greg's smile was wide. "Absolutely."

"I wish it would've been like that."

"Maybe it could've been."

"I was too much of a tragedy then. It wouldn't have been healthy for either of us."

Greg sighed but he never lost his smile. "I know."

Pearl stood. "We should get to sleep before we end up getting too sentimental."

Greg kept sitting and looked up at her with a smile. "I wouldn't mind it."

"Greg."

He chuckled, but the laugh died towards its end. He whispered. "Do you… do you hate Rose?"

She looked disgusted a second but then really thought. She stared into the night sky. Like she could ask the question. "No, I just think she's not worth my love anymore. My fond memories will always be there, but it's over now. I still have moments though… where I wonder what she'd think of all this."

"Ok. That's… all I wanted to know."

The tent was large enough for three people to lay down, and for the two it was comfy. The warmth of the fire had spread to the tent and so did its light. It was dim but Greg could still make out Pearl's face as she laid on top of her sleeping bag. Her pants were halfway down as she was shedding them. Greg gulped. Pearl put a digit in front of her mouth to keep him quiet. She whispered. "Steven? You still awake?"

A little muffled by the fabric. "Yeah I am."

"I know today has been exhausting but do you mind if I ask you a question? It's about Connie."

There was a pause. "I guess not."

"Do you know that Connie cares for you a lot, Steven?"

There was silence for a time. The fire crackled. "I know she does…" He shifted in his sleeping bag. "I wish I could talk to her right now."

"Steven, I mean she cares a lot." She faced him, even through the fabric.

Steven put a hand on his head and let out a defeated, but unsurprised "Oh… " There were emotions hiding in there.

"So you know."

"Y-yeah. Well, I had guessed. She was trying to get closer and I was…. The last thing I want to do is lose Connie. I thought it was best to keep my distance for a while, at least while I sorted out somethings with… her"

"How do you feel about her, shtuball?"

"I care for Connie, but…" Steven turned in his tent. "I can't say I feel the same intensity about her that I do about her."

"If you're concerned about losing Connie then you should talk to her no matter what. Connie talked to me and she's been missing her best friend."

Steven put his hands on his head. "I feel so bad."

"Shtuball, there's no reason to feel bad. We're all just…" Pearl looked at Greg's face as he spoke. "figuring this stuff out as we go." She caressed his cheek. "As long as you care about Connie, even just as friends, you should show her that."

"It all seems so hard."

"It is but you'll make it through."

"How do you know?"

Pearl sat with the question. "I know because I lost Rose and I thought my life had ended." She gulped. "She was a part of me, but time passed and I felt the feelings I had to feel as they came, and at the end I realized that I was still here. Left alive and even if I was crippled inside I could keep on going. That you, Steven, were here and you were more beautiful than I could have ever imagined you'd be. And that… no matter what life goes on."

"And you don't have to go it alone." Greg slipped his hand under Pearl's and embraced it. Pearl was surprised and looked at his face. "There's so many people that love you despite how bad you feel, so many who just want to see you thrive. Who you can trust to help when skies feel dark. You just have to reach for them."

Pearl teared up a bit.

Steven was quiet a moment, before a sniffle. "I love you guys. Can I come over to your tent? I want to talk more." There was some nervous energy. Pearl frowned then smiled. This was the journey ahead wasn't it?

But Greg's smile never faltered. He knew how hard a journey life could be. "Come on over, little buddy."

After a while the three were sleeping in the cozy tent. Steven between Pearl and Greg. Pearl had fallen asleep holding Steven's hand. Greg was like a big tree next to Steven giving off warmth, shade from the cold. Steven was smiling in his sleep, dreaming good dreams. There were no whipping winds, no clouds blocking the starry sky above the camp. And the moon was whole, beautiful and lit the expanse below it