The whole year Nova missed Beach City, mostly Ezra. Yes, they face chatted almost every day, but it wasn't enough. His mom spent more time with him which distracted him and he had fun. Well, kinda. Connie helped him study for school and with his homework, but she was a busy woman, but Nova appreciated how much she tried to be there for him.
"Mom, are you going to come with us for the summer?" Nova asked standing beside his mother while she cooked dinner. His dad was out to a meeting and it was his mom's day off.
"I'll try, it depends if I'm needed at the space station, but for all, I know I will." She smiled down at her son making him smile back as she ruffled his hair.
Connie kept her word, when summer came the three of them were in the car heading to Beach City for the summer. She felt like it has been forever since she last been there, but now she was here with her husband and child.
Nova was practically out the window as they saw the temple come into view as they drove on the beach. Nova excitedly got out of the car when it was parked. "You have to help unpack, bud!" He heard his father tell the child making him whine slightly but turned back to grab some of their luggage to bring inside.
Instead of carrying the stuff he laid them on the beach and held his hands out, bubbling the suitcases he had and levitating the bubble of stuff in the air and turned towards the temple running up the stairs with a grin as the bubble followed behind.
"Garnet!" Nova grinned jumping into the fusion's arms. "Is my room ready?" He asked giggling as the fusion just smiled slightly at the boy.
"You'll have to head upstairs to find out." She told him making Nova gasp and jump down heading upstairs with the bubbled luggage following him.
He went pass his grandpa's room as he spotted a colorful door that he never saw before and hurried inside making him grin as he saw a new room made just for him. He was so excited to learn Bismuth made a room for him at the temple when he came to visit. This was the first time he actually saw it.
"So this is it, pretty nice." Steven chuckled as he showed up at the doorway with some of Nova's stuff as Nova turned around and nodded.
"I know, right! It's awesome!" Nova exclaimed as he went to his bed and jumped on it, giggling as the bubble of luggage went to the floor and popped.
Steven picked up the stuff and moved them to the side before going over and sitting next to Nova on the bed with a sigh as he laid on the bed. "It sure is comfy." He said looking up at the ceiling seeing the little glow in the dark stars making him smile.
He glanced over at Nova seeing the boy already asleep, it was a bit of a drive, and using powers did tire you out when you're not used to them. That's what he learned when training with Nova.
Steven couldn't help, but get up and picked Nova up and tucked him into the bed with a smile before leaving his son to sleep before heading down the stairs. "He likes the room." He told Garnet making her nod as she was helping Connie unpack.
"Where are the others?" He asked Garnet as he started helping them.
"Amethyst is at Little Homeworld. Pearl is with Bismuth in a class." She replied carrying suitcases over her shoulder as she headed inside Steven's room with Connie.
An hour has passed before Nova came downstairs from his nap with a small yawn, but wanting to go out and see Ezra to hang out with him. "I'm heading to Ezra's!" He called to his parents as he immediately ran outside, jumping down over the stairs and floated to the ground before hurrying to Ezra's house excitedly.
He could hear Arrowhead barking as he got up to the house, giggling slightly as the door opened and the Great Dane ran over to him sniffing the boy as Nova pet the dog. "Hey, buddy." He cooed as the dog licked his face excitedly.
"Good to see you again, Nova." Fire Opal told him as Nova looked up to the red gem. "Ezra's not here right now, he's with his father, but you can come in." She told him moving aside and snapping her fingers making Arrowhead come over as Nova followed the gem inside.
Nova closed the door behind him as he followed the gem into the kitchen where Fire Opal was cooking something. "What are you cooking?" He asked her as he sat at the table.
"I'm making a beef stew, my husband prepared the meat for our meals." She told him.
"Prepared?"Nova asked her with a tilt of his head.
"Well, from what I know so far, by Jewish culture. There's a guide for making meat in a way that is humane called Shechita. The meat has to be drained of all blood to be acceptable to eat. My husband does this often as he is licensed." She tried to explain to Nova who just blinked before nodding.
"So he's a butcher?" Nova asked as he was trying to understand Jewish culture.
"He doesn't sell meat like a butcher he does it for our family and friends. His job is a baker." She told him as she was checking on the beef stew she was making. "If there are leftovers I don't mind you bringing some to your family." She smiled as she sat across from him at the table.
"That would be great!" Nova grinned as he sat there. "What did you use to do before coming to Earth and meeting Ezra's dad?" Nova asked her, feeling curious about gem history and positions before Era three.
"I was a soldier, working with range attacks for battles. We were the defense while quartz soldiers were the offense in battles." She told him as she looked on, reminiscing the memories. "The feel of battle was exhilarating, but I'm content with my life now. I never knew you could be like this, have families, love. I was so focused on not disappointing the diamonds that I never knew life could be so much more." She smiled softly.
"What weapon do you have?" Nova asked since from what he knew all gems had a type of weapon.
"My weapon is a spear." She told him summoning her weapon from her gem that was on her right arm.
"Cool!" Nova exclaimed looking at the red, orange, and yellow weapon that matched her looks.
"Glad you think so." Fire Opal smiled as she made her spear disappear.
"How did you meet Ezra's dad?" Nova asked using this time to get as much information about their family as he can.
He saw a blush appear on her features as she smiled softly, thinking about that time. "It was five years ago, I just graduated from Little Homeworld and was just exploring on my own, now able to do stuff for myself. I knew what most things were and I came across this tiny bakery. Inside I saw him behind the counter, putting up these cute little cakes with animal faces on them. I found myself enter the shop, completely drawn to the treats. He looked up at me, in awe as I admired his work."
'H-Hello, welcome to Apel Bakery, I'm Adam Apel. Would you like anything?' He told me as I looked over meeting eyes. He had a big blush on his features as he tried keeping eye contact with me. I found myself even more drawn to his green eyes. I noticed more what he looked like, his brown, short hair, his slightly pale complexion. I never saw someone that drew me in like this before.
Before we both knew it we were talking, and he was the cutest thing. He was so clumsy, tripping over some chair to sit with me. I saw his smile and wanted to see it every day. I learned he had a son, a boy just like him and a late wife. It's been two years since she was gone and Ezra was only four when she passed. He worked so hard to be the best father he can be for Ezra when he had to work all the time.
We talked for what seemed like hours, and we agreed to see each other again. We went on dates along the beach, in parks. Then I was brought to his home where I was able to meet Ezra. He was the sweetest boy and he wasn't kidding when he was just like him. The six-year-old was tripping over his feet with a big grin on his face. I fell in love with him and his son and I wanted nothing more than to see both of them all the time.
"Two years of dating and living with them, we got married and I couldn't have wanted anything more." Fire Opal finished her story, wiping a tear from her eye with a smile still on her face.
"Do you know anything about Ezra's mom before she passed?" Nova asked her.
"All I know, she was a lovely woman with long black hair and blue eyes. I didn't want to pry more out of them." She told Nova standing up when Arrowhead started barking at the door as the sound of a car drove up to the house.
"It's just us Arrowhead!" They heard Ezra call from outside making the dog quiet down and looked at the door excitedly. The door opened revealing Ezra and his father entering the house. "Nova! You're back!" Ezra grinned running up to him and hugging him as Nova hugged back.
"Hopefully we have enough for our unexpected guest." Ezra's father chuckled going over and giving a kiss to Fire Opal as Nova just smiled innocently.
"Of course we do!" Ezra exclaimed setting up the table so they could eat the stew. "There's always enough when mom makes it." He giggled as Nova took a seat next to him as Fire Opal put down the beef stew at the table with a smile as she started pouring the portions for each of them in the bowls Ezra got out.
The beef stew was just as good as it tasted as Nova had a bowl of the beef stew. This was his first time eating with Ezra's family. It was nice, it almost felt like his own family. Everyone was smiling and talking to each other about there day while they ate. "So Nova, you're staying for the whole summer, correct?" Adam asked him making Nova look up at the adult.
"Yeah! I'm so excited! Pearl said she would take me to Homeworld for the tours and I'll be meeting the other side of my dad's family, the Diamonds." Nova smiled brightly.
"Cool! You get to see homeworld! I wish I can go too." Ezra said making Nova blink.
"Why not, you can come with me, Pearl won't mind!" Nova grinned making Ezra excited.
"Woah, Woah, Woah. Not so fast. I'm not sure it's a good idea. Yeah, things are more peaceful up there, but I don't want Ezra getting lost or worse." Fire Opal told them making Ezra whine.
"Mom, I'll be fine. I'm not going to get lost." Ezra pouted with his arms crossed.
"Pearl is the most responsible gem I know, besides I'll be there too. Why not you come with us?" Nova asked making Fire Opal think about it.
"I'll think about it. When are you going?" She asked.
"About a week," Nova said finishing his bowl of stew.
"Alright, you can go, but I'm coming with you." She told Ezra making him grin.
"Why haven't you gone before?" Nova asked with a tilt of his head.
"Personal reasons." Fire Opal told him ending the conversation as Nova nodded.
When everyone was done eating Fire Opal stood up to take care of the dishes as Nova was heading out with the remainder of the stew. "Thanks for the stew! I'll see you tomorrow, Ezra!" Nova grinned as Ezra waved back as he headed back to the temple.