A/N: Hello everyone, I am back with chapter twenty - nine of this story. Here, we finish getting ready for the wedding.
Disclaimer: I don't own Steven Universe
Steven awoke the next morning. He showered, changed, took his medicine and sat down for breakfast. Pearl, Amethyst, Ruby and Sapphire quickly noticed he seemed down as Steven tried eating.
"Steven what's wrong?" asked Pearl worried.
"Nothing." answered Steven flatly.
"We can tell you're lying." noted Amethyst.
"I'm fine. really." replied Steven.
Ruby looked right into the eyes of Steven.
"Please don't shut us out. We want to help you." requested Ruby.
"Okay." relented Steven.
"Steven will tell us that he is still feeling bad over something that happened yesterday." gasped Sapphire.
"I had a little fight with Connie." revealed Steven.
"Oh My Stars!" exclaimed Pearl in horror.
"It's cool. We're fine now." said Steven.
"Steven is going to reveal they went looking for Aquamarine and Emerald!" cried out Sapphire.
"Why would you do that?! That's incredible dangerous!" declared Ruby horrified.
Steven replied with a snicker.
"Dude, I don't see what's so funny." said Amethyst.
"It's nice to see Ruby and Sapphire acting like such moms." explained Steven.
The duo shared a chuckle at this.
"I guess it kinda is." admitted Ruby.
"As Garnet, we're generally more stoic." noted Sapphire.
Pearl crossed her arms.
"I still don't find the idea of Steven doing something so dangerous to be funny." huffed Pearl.
"It all started with a nightmare..." began Steven.
Steven explained the events of the previous day.
"So we didn't find Aquamarine or Emerald, but things between us are fine." concluded Steven.
"I'm glad you're safe, but we'll still have to ground you." said Sapphire.
"You now know that doesn't include burying me right?" asked Steven.
"Of course we do. We always knew that." answered Ruby lying.
A realization suddenly hit Steven.
"Wait! The wedding!" cried Steven.
"Of course you will still take part in the wedding." said Sapphire.
"Oh good." sighed Steven.
"We couldn't have it without you." added Ruby.
"What about security?" asked Steven meekly.
"We'll be there dude." answered Amethyst nonchalant.
"Plus, we've beaten Aquamarine and Emerald ever time thus far." added Pearl.
"That's true." said Steven.
"See, everything will be chill." said Amethyst reassuring.
"Thanks. I do feel better." replied Steven.
Just then the door opened and Connie entered.
"Hello Steven." said Connie sheepishly.
"I already told them." revealed Steven.
Connie was relieved by this.
"I want to start fresh and just forget about that." said Connie.
Connie walked over to Steven.
"So do I." agreed Steven.
The two blushed.
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" chanted Amethyst.
Pearl gave a Amethyst a glare letting Amethyst know she didn't improve.
"Well...we should get setting up on the beach." noted Pearl.
The word beach sent a shiver down the spine of Steven.
"Steve, are you..." began Connie.
"Let's go!" declared Steven quickly.
The group headed outside and began planning where things where going to be placed and how the wedding would progress. Steven kept a smile on the whole time, but he could feel his stress levels where rising. Connie noticed it too and told Pearl she and Steven where going to scout out the rest of the beach. Connie then took Steven by the hand and led him to the spot below the temple.
"Okay, what's wrong?" asked Connie.
"Nothing." answered Steven.
"I can tell something is bugging you." noted Connie.
Steven winced.
"Now...out with it." demanded Connie.
Steven sighed.
"The beach...is a touchy subject for me." confessed Steven.
"What's..." began Connie.
It suddenly dawned on Connie.
"The battle." said Connie.
"I'm still not over...that." said Steven.
"She was going to shatter Pearl, you had to." stated Connie.
"It's still hard to accept that." sighed Steven.
Steven leaned against the rock that Amethyst had cracked her gem on all that time ago.
"If it wasn't for this rock, I wouldn't have discovered my healing power." mused Steven.
"And I'd still be wearing glasses." added Connie.
"Back it was so much simpler." sighed Steven.
Connie put her hand on his shoulder.
"Maybe...we should move the wedding." proposed Connie.
Steven briefly considered this.
"No. If Ruby and Sapphire want their wedding here then I have no right to interfere." said Steven.
"Are you sure?" asked Connie.
Steven took a second.
"Yes." answered Steven.
"Then...let's head back." said Connie.
"Yeah. Let's." agreed Steven.
The two began heading back.
"I'm glad I have Connie." thought Steven gratefully.
The ground began to shake.
"What was that?" asked Steven worried.
The ground cracked open and the ocean began to drain.
"Oh crap." said Steven.
Aquamarine and Emerald rose out of the ground.
"No. No. No." said Steven horrified.
"Hello there Steven." said Aquamarine.
"Time for revenge." added Emerald.
Steven gulped.
"Okay Connie..." began Steven.
Steven turned, but Connie wasn't there.
"Connie!" cried Steven.
Steven looked around, but he couldn't see Connie or the rest of the Crystal Gems on the beach.
"Where are they?!" asked Steven.
"It's looks like you're all alone." said Aquamarine.
Steven felt his heart racing.
"That will make this quiet easy." noted Emerald.
"I'm on my own." muttered Steven worried.
Steven reached down, but his gem wouldn't activate.
"What's going on?!" asked Steven horrified.
Aquamarine and Emerald circled Steven like vultures.
"Steven is all alone." noted Aquamarine.
"It can't be." said Steven weakly.
"Goodbye Steven!" cried Emerald.
Steven fell into a fetal position.
"No!" cried Steven.
Steven was lying in the fetal position with Connie over him.
"Steven! Steven!" cried Connie.
The others heard the noise and rushed over.
"Steven!" exclaimed Pearl horrified.
Pearl feel to her knees and began to comfort Steven.
"What happened?" asked Topaz confused.
"He's having a panic attack." answered Connie.
"Is it because the battle happened here?" asked Amethyst.
"Yeah." answered Connie.
"Steven! It's okay!" declared Pearl frantic.
"I didn't see this coming." noted Sapphire horrified.
Ruby hugged her lover.
"It's okay babe." whispered Ruby.
"We need to stay calm." said Connie.
Pearl stopped and took several deep breaths.
"You're right. Freaking out won't fix this." agreed Pearl.
Connie knelt down next to Steven.
"Steven, it's me Connie." began Connie.
Steven kept mumbling to himself.
"Aquamarine and Emerald aren't here. It's just us." whispered Connie.
Connie motioned to the others.
"That's right Steven. This is Pearl and everything is okay." said Pearl.
"Yeah bud. Nobody's gonna hurt you." said Amethyst.
"Steven, this is Ruby and Sapphire." noted Sapphire.
"We're all here for you Steven." said Ruby.
Steven managed to force himself up and took deep breaths and until he seemed calm.
"Better?" asked Connie.
"Yeah." answered Steven.
Steven stood up and brushed himself off.
"Sorry for freaking you guys out." said Steven.
The four gems embraced him.
"We're fine!" declared Sapphire.
"Just don't worry us like that!" exclaimed Ruby.
"We where really worried about you." added Amethyst.
"Oh Steven!" cried Pearl.
"I'm touched, but I need some space." said Steven.
"The gems backed off.
"Much better." said Steven.
"So, what freaked you out?" asked Amethyst.
"This beach is where...that battle happened. It's...not my favorite place right now." answered Steven flatly.
"I can't believe I didn't see this coming." said Sapphire guilty.
"Don't blame yourself. I thought I'd be strong enough to handle it." replied Steven.
"Does this have to do with your nightmare?" asked Ruby.
"Yeah. It was Aquamarine and Emerald." confirmed Steven.
"You seemed to be doing so well." noted Amethyst surprised.
"That was before the pressure of the wedding got added." sighed Steven.
Sapphire and Ruby winced.
"It's okay! It's not your fault! Really!" declared Steven.
"Ruby...Sapphire..." began Pearl, "I know you wanted to have the wedding on the beach."
"Oh now. We will move it." said Sapphire.
"Steven is more important." agreed Ruby.
Now it was Steven feeling guilty.
"No, you should have it here." said Steven.
"We're not going to have it here if it bothers you." replied Sapphire.
Ruby nodded her head.
"That simply would not be fair for you Steven." agreed Ruby.
"It's fine!" declared Steven loudly.
"It clearly isn't." stated Pearl bluntly.
"If you want to have the wedding here then you should." said Steven.
"And what about you dude?" asked Amethyst.
Steven took a deep breath.
"I'll be fine." answered Steven.
"We don't want you to get triggered." said Ruby.
"I said I'll be fine!" exclaimed Steven.
The others shared uneasy looks.
"It would be best if we went home." said Sapphire.
The others agreed and everyone began walking back.
"I screwed up." sighed Steven.
Connie took Steven's hand into her own.
"Steven, we'll all be here." noted Connie.
"Thanks." replied Steven.
A/N: That's where we'll end this chapter. So, things aren't looking totally sunny for the wedding. However, Steven wants to soldier ahead. The question is, is that a good idea. Next time, the wedding. Please review.