You weren't sure what to make of Lars's sudden pushy and accommodating behavior, but as long as he kept the fired sweet pastries, donuts coming you didn't mind answering his questions.

"So, what happened?" He asked eager to know. Holding a bag full of donut holes, sitting across from you at the Big Donut.

Your eyes stared locked on the treats, a bit of drool in the corner of your mouth. Nearly forgot his question, if he didn't flick you in the forehead.

"Hey!" He nipped, "pay attention!"

You refocus. "Sorry,"

He resisted the urge growl, repeated the question again.

And this time you answered, taking a moment.

"Jenny was kind enough to introduce me to her other fellow friends. One named Sour of the Cream-"

"Sour Cream," He corrected.

You smile sheeply. "Y-Yes! That! The other Mildew-"

He corrected you again. "Dewy."

"Yes! They are rather friendly people, I must say. Very welcoming. Jenny and her friends are enjoyable, a bit stuffy but nice. May I have one?"

You hold out a hand. He gave you one.

"What did they talk about? What's new?"

Your cheek stuffed with sweetness take s moment of enjoyment before answering.

"There was nothing new, that I am to be aware of. Another?"

Hand out he gave you two. The questions kept coming.

"Where did they take you?"

"The beach. Another?"

He gave it. "What do they think of me?"

"You did not come up in their talk. Another."

"What do they like?"

"They did not say, they seemed quite interested in what I could do and my relation with Steven."

You held a hand out, he gave you two holes. They where instantly eaten.

"Did they say they wanted to hang out with you again?"

You give a thought. "I am not sure, but Jenny said she'd be in touch."

A hug pleaded grin spread on Lars's face. You weren't sure why, only cared about your treat. Hand out it remains empty to your displeasure.

"Excuse me." You grunted.

Lars stopped and gave you three. "Okay, here's the plan, next time you hangout with them. Invite me okay?"

You didn't really hear a word he said but nodded. Held your hand out. Digging in the bag, Lars found it empty.

"Oops, they're gone."

Your heart and face fell. Whimper, eyes big and wet. "No more..."

"Nope," he turned the bag upside down shaking it.

You give a hard frown, turning your chin upward, crossing your arms.

"Then no more questions."

That was fair. "Well then you better get back to work," he stood up, you follow and stand behind the register.

Lars took his spot leaning on the back counter.

It was just you and him right now, Sadie hadn't shown up. She handle something, that was it. You still went in, hoping to see Steven. He hadn't stopped by yet, you hope he would soon. You couldn't wait to see him. It's been some time again since you saw him.

"Why don't you just go over there," Lars said looking up from the magazine he was now reading.

Your shoulders stiffen for a moment drop almost collapsed at words. It was hard to hold in the rising deep, long sigh that seemed nearly unavoidable. But it showed in the way your eyes downcast to the side and pulling and nervous twiddling your finger was doing to a strand of hair.

Not to mention the sudden lack of enthusiasm in your voice. It became small and meek like a mouse.

"W-Well, I-I..." you stutter swallowing a couple of lumps that started form and surface.

It didn't go over Lars, he stopped for a moment, looked up from his magazine at you with a brow raised. Seeing the look you now had, sighed and rolled his eyes. Muttered something to himself with lightly dusted cheeks.

Grunted a few times, set his reading material down. Opened his mouth to say something, but you spoke instead.

"I would greatly like to visit my nephew Steven, but, it is best we see each other in a way that does not stir up any..." You take a minute to think of the right word. "Turmoil."

"What?" Lars said rather confused and board. He even scoffed a little. "That makes no sense. At all. Geez you're just speech is weird like Steven. Turmoil? What are you talking about?"

If only you could say, a part of you wanted to get this impacting weight off your chest more than anything. But , if you did then...would Steven be able to look at you the same? Could you look at yourself the same?

Quickly for a moment your eyes glance at your reflection on the counter. You nearly went paler than you are, rip your eyes away from the reflection. Shut the tight, it didn't stop the rising burn that started in them, tears where coming you could feel it. They where the big and hot ones, the same as...before.

You couldn't cry, not now, even if haunted you to do so. Even as you saw Rose in you mind for a moment standing there smiling at with a helping hand extended just waiting for you to take it. Saying name so gentle and kind...

No, you couldn't cry.

Instead you push on a smile. That surprised Lars.

"It is nothing," you beam with a sweet giggle that further darken the color on the teen's cheeks.

Quickly he snatched up his magazine and buried his face in it.

"Weirdo..." he grumbled.

You remained smiling for the rest of your time, even as cleaned the place, took orders, and did whatever it was that needed to be done, even what Lars added, while he lounged about.

" There," you proudly say huffing a breath of air on the display glass, wipe it squeak clean with the rag in your hand. " well polished. Lars!"

"Hm?"

"I have finished!"

Opening an eye he looked from where he was, sitting down at one of the tables slouched laid out on the table with his arms under his head like a pillow, unable to see well with just one eye he sits up opening the other and gave your work a look. Yawning while doing so. As you waited patiently for his answer, it was nearly time for closing from what the clock read.

Another yawn left Lars before he responded something. "It's fine. It's fine," he gave a flopped wave and yawn. Before glancing at the clock reading the time, stood up, stretching as though he had worked all day. "time to go and close up. Days done."

It was over already? Quickly you stand and read the time, it was indeed over. There was still no sign of Sadie, guess she was held up on whatever she was doing. Hopefully she'll be home, perhaps she'd want some donuts. Giving it a thought you decide to bring her some, gathering a few, with extra for yourself, filling two boxes. Set them aside and quickly toss out the rest, cleaning up shop, Lars waited impatiently leaning on the door watching you move back and forth in a frilly manner. He couldn't help but roll his eyes watching you with a smile from ear to ear, no doubt humming. Why you were always so happy was beyond him, for someone who gave off cold, sunshine and roses surrounded you.

One thing was sure, Steven's family was weird in his mind. That's how he dealt with it, in his own way. Oddball suited you well, how any why the cool kids like you was beyond him, it was the same with Steven. All that mattered was that you'd put in a good word with them so he could join them and finally...finally..his thoughts transferred to his dream..

Yes, he could see it now, lounging with them. Laughing, chilling, and being cool. Riding along with them in the car...just...cruising without a car in the world. Everyone in Beach City would be in awe and it would...cool...no, he shivered...it'd be cold?

What the heck? Why was it cold all of a sudden and why was he hearing his name being called? And someone or something poking him and...and...

You weren't sure what was going on with Lars, but he was unresponsive as you called his name and poked him lightly in the shoulder. Did he not hear you? Whatever it was, that smile he had on clearly was a happy one, which was a surprise. He was actually smile, it suited him well. You couldn't help but stare at it for some time and smile yourself with a soft giggle.

It was that giggle that Lars heard and he opened his eyes, find the brightest blue eyes softly laughing staring back. It was as if the snow itself was laughing, Lars's ears went red, he thought for a moment steam came out, leaned and stepped back quickly, nearly tripped and stumbled back. Held his arms and hands up.

Tried his best to keep calm, despite the flustering on his face giving him away. "W-What's the big idea?!" He snapped.

His sudden tone made your giggling stop, look, and blink a few times. "I was just laughing, softly laughing."

He huffed and puffed, turning a sharp shoulder to you. "Yeah well...did you have to...I mean.."he groaned burying his face in his hands, muttering and mumbling to himself.

Leaving you standing there with a wondering look. Clearly something was wrong with him, but he wasn't going to say. Holding the two boxes look at the clock it was pass the time of closing and you should have been on your way home. If Sadie was home she'd be worried and wondering where you were, you didn't want to have that. Having someone worry over you like that...how had it been?

Rose, your heart dropped a little. With your eyes to the floor. Rose, she'd worry about you, she always did...you could remember the look on her face..so gentle and kind covered in a worry that caused your heart to ache even further.

She had many reasons to worry about you, because...because you caused them and...even so you were grateful for that. But the one that cut the deepest was...the look on her face that forever left a bitter taste in your mouth that never vanished and weight in your soul that just...just never could be fixed. It was so deep you weren't sure you could ever get out. The Gems, Pearl and others...they'd make sure to remind you...and...

Rose, you wept silently. Grip the boxes you were holding tighter, force yourself to push down the rising tears. Now wasn't the time to cry, you had no right to cry. None at all...not after all...you needed to get back home to Sadie. Whatever Lars was dealing with, he'd have to figure it out on his own. Taking a few silent hitching breaths, collect yourself. Put on a smile quietly say bye to Lars and leave, though not before taking something from the freezer.

"-And another thing!" Lars whirled around, his cheeks still red and tone still fuming to cover his stuttering and racing heart. Stop and find you gone. "What the-?" He looked around, there was no sign of you at all. When did you leave? It left him puzzled for a moment, stepping forward feels something small and hard under his shoe. Lifting it off, find something round and small, the size of a pea it would seem. Bent down, picked it up carefully, it was cold to the touch. This small, clearish white...bead. "Where did this come from?"

He looked around again, nothing in the shop suggested it came from here. Looking back at the small bead or whatever, something came over Lars suddenly. It washed over like a wave, one moment his heart was racing...next thing it sunk and tears rose to his eyes. It wasn't his doing, no, he would never suddenly cry...it was something else..something….else. Studying the bead further, only one thought, correction one name came to mind.

"Snow?"

Lars wasn't the only one who spoke you name, it was late, but the mission was done. Steven and the gems came back home, Pearl praised everyone on a job well done and told Steven to get ready for bed. He did as she said, raced up stairs to his bed or 'room'. Gathered his pajamas, tossed them on the bed, when he noticed something out the corner of his eyes resting on his pillow.

"What the?" he went over, picked up the small pink wrapped package with an image of a cookie cat head. Read it to himself. "Cookie Cat? How?" He looked around for a moment, then back at his favorite treat. It was still cold, he notice the bit of frostbite. But this wasn't any ordinary frostbite, there was something different about it. That he smiled warmly. Hugged the treat.

"Auntie Snow. Thank you."

Not far, outside above the beach house next to the head of large woman statue you remain hoovered with the help of the chilling wind, stare down softly at the window you knew was Steven's. He had to have gotten the treat by now. Satisfied knowing and realizing your time was narrowing staying like this. The winds shifted and rattled annoyed. Set yourself on the head of the statue, whisper good-night to Steven and hurry away, seconds after Steven sticks his head out. Looks up finding the spot above the house empty, whispered into the winds good-night as well.