Redefined Chapter 2

Connie awoke to find the other side of the bed empty. It was no surprise; Steven was an early riser these days, even on weekends. Rolling the covers off herself, she rubbed her eyes and sat up on the edge of the bed. She didn't have much in her schedule for that day; she didn't have to work again until the next morning, and she didn't have any more training sessions until Tuesday. That last fact was particularly welcome, as it meant she wouldn't have to run into Pearl.

Connie internally chastised herself for even thinking such a thing. What, was she avoiding her own mentor now? The whole thing was ridiculous, and she knew it, but somehow that knowledge didn't make her any less hung up on what had happened. Eager to keep herself occupied, she set about her morning routine, dressing, showering, and making breakfast.

She took her toast and cereal up to the bedroom so she could eat it in front of the television. She flipped on the somewhat antique screen, and settled on a cute-looking cartoon; after all, what was the point in being grown up if you couldn't be childish sometimes? She didn't remember the show's name, but it was one of Steven's favourites; the one with that angsty catgirl who sounded weirdly similar to Stevonnie. It was usually a bit too schmaltzy for Connie's liking, but she was happy for the distraction today, losing herself in the fiction as she absent-mindedly ate.

Her escapism was interrupted when she heard the temple warp pad activate. Figuring it would me impolite not to at least say hello, she sat her lap tray down beside her and headed out of the bedroom. As she came out into the sitting area, she found Garnet sat on the couch, sitting calmly but deliberately. Connie had known the fusion long enough to know that this was one of her 'I'm trying to look casual but I actually came here to have a specific conversation' sits. Allowing herself an eye roll, Connie walked down the stairs and took a seat beside Garnet.

"Hey Garnet, what's up?" she said casually, despite both parties knowing this wasn't a chance meeting.

"Something's bothering you" Garnet replied flatly. There was no hint of irritation or rebuke in her voice; it was simple a statement of fact.

Connie scowled at the fusion "You know how I feel about you using your future vision on my day-to-day life."

Garnet's stoic mask shifted slightly "I appreciate it's a little…invasive" she conceded.

"More than a little" Connie interjected, not willing to give ground this time.

"…but I've found over the centuries that sometimes, using my power is preferable to the consequences of not using it" Garnet continued. "I'm only here to try to make things turn out better than they might otherwise."

"Fine" Connie sighed. "What is this about?"

"You and I both already know what it's about" said Garnet "and I'm not about to force you to talk about it with me; we both know I don't exactly have much experience with…parents. Ruby and Sapphire are the closest thing I have, and it doesn't exactly feel right calling them that when they're still, well… in here" Garnet tapped her own head with her index finger.

"What I will tell you though" she continued, "is that you have to find someone to open up to about this, be it Steven, or Greg, or whoever else you feel you can comfortably discussing it with. That's the only way this will turn out in a way you're completely happy with. Bottling up emotions never ends well, and I am speaking from experience there."

Connie had to admit Garnet was right. She'd only been nursing these feelings for less than a day, and it was already getting in the way of other aspects of her life. If she could talk it out with someone, the situation would probably turn out to not even be a big deal. She just had to get over how weird and embarrassing it felt to discuss it out loud.

"Okay, you're right" she conceded. "Thanks Garnet."

"No problem" replied the fusion, rising to leave and thus abandoning any pretence that she had come to the couch for any reason other than the conversation.

"And next time, ask my permission before you look into my future!" Connie shouted after her as she approached the warp pad.

"Yes ma'am" Garnet replied with a grin as she vanished into the warp stream.

No matter what Connie did to keep herself occupied, Garnet's words stayed with her the whole morning, rattling around in her head. Eventually, when it became clear that losing herself in the latest 'Unfamiliar Familiar' book wasn't going to work, she decided the just get it over with. Clenching her fists and rising from the couch, she opened up her phone.

The question now was who to call. Her mom was out of the question, both because she was currently at work at the hospital and couldn't be disturbed, and because the conversation would be far too weird for Connie to face right now. The same problem applied to Steven. Peridot would certainly hear her out, but wouldn't exactly be able to offer any advice that would actually be helpful, and Lars was still in space, uncontactable without Steven around to open Lion's mane.

Her question answered by process of elimination, Connie selected a name from her contacts list and lifted the phone to her ear. She tried to keep her breathing calm as the ringing at the other end stopped.

"Hello, Maheswaran residence."

"Hey, Dad? It's Connie. Are you free at the moment?"

Despite being unable to see his face, Connie could hear her father's smile in his reply. "Of course! My next shift doesn't start until this evening. Come over any time."

"That's great, thanks Dad" Connie replied gratefully. "I'll hop on Lion and be there in a few minutes."

"Okay, I'll see you then" replied Doug. "May I ask what the occasion is? You don't usually visit out of the blue."

Connie gripped the phone a little tighter. "I think it's better if I just explain when I get there, but long story short, I could use a father-daughter chat right now."

There was now a mild hint of concern behind Doug's cheerful tone as he replied "Okay sweetie; see you soon."

Outside the Maheswaran residence, a swirling portal roared into life, launching forth a bright pink lion with a woman atop its back. For most people, such a sight would make one question one's sanity, or at the very least sobriety; for the residents of this street though, it had become a regular sight. Connie slid carefully off Lion's back, giving him a scratch behind the ear, and relinquishing the slice of luncheon meat she had withheld as his reward for the trip. Lion awarded her with an affectionate nuzzle, before promptly curling up and falling asleep on the front lawn.

Connie hesitated for a moment at the end of the garden path, unsure of what she was going to say to her father once he was actually in front of her. After a few tense seconds, she managed to swallow her hesitation, and walked up to the front door. She only had to wait a couple of seconds after knocking before Doug answered the door. The moment he caught sight of her, he pulled her into a hug that felt surprisingly tight given that he was one very few people Connie knew who was not in possession of enhanced strength.

"Urgh, okay Dad, that's enough now" Connie managed to reply.

"Oh, right. Sorry" Doug responded with a bashful chuckle. "Come on in Connie."

Connie always felt strange coming back to her parents' house. She'd lived in that house since before she met Steven. It had only been about a year since she'd moved into the beach house with Steven and the Gems, and she still had to resist the urge to call her parents' place 'home' accidentally; not that she didn't feel comfortable there of course; her parents always made her feel welcome, and her room was exactly as she'd left it. Her old bed was a little small for her and Steven to share, but that just meant that they spent the night as Stevonnie whenever they visited, which was almost as fun.

Even so, as Connie sat on the couch in the same sitting room she'd known for years, she couldn't help but feel slightly alien. Perhaps living with extra-terrestrials for a year did that to you. Doug sat down beside her, and fixed her with a look that was compassionate, but clearly concerned.

"So, what brings you here on such short notice? Usually we practically have to drag you away from your magic alien family." He asked the question with a smirk that indicated the last part was intended to be humorous, but Connie still felt a slight pang of guilt. Had she been ignoring her biological family? The thought made the reason she had come there all the more awkward.

"Well… I just needed to tell you about something that happened yesterday" she began as Doug looked on attentively. "I had just finished training with Pearl; y'know, sword practice, and I was about to head off. But she said something to me as I left, and when I replied I… I accidentally called her mom."

Doug was about to let out a chuckle until he saw the expression on his daughter's face. She had the look of a child that had just been caught sneaking cookies from a jar, or whatever other peoples' less disciplined children would have done in their youth; the sort of face that was a clear plea for forgiveness. In light of this, he thought it best to opt for the sensitive approach instead.

"Connie, there's nothing wrong with that. You certainly wouldn't be the first person to accidentally call a teacher 'mom'. Honestly I'm surprised it even bothers you; I don't get the sense that Pearl will mind."

"It's not that simple Dad" Connie replied with a sigh. "For one thing, Pearl isn't just my teacher."

"Ah" Doug replied, catching on a little. "It feels weirder because she's one of your in-laws."

"Not just one of them" Connie answered. "Steven never met his real mom; Pearl's practically the closest thing he has. She's like the in-law!"

"Honey" Doug began "I honestly think you're the only one who's reading that much into it. It was a slip of the tongue. Steven's not going to care; I don't think I've ever seen that boy get weirded out. I realise it might have been a little embarrassing in the moment, but if I know Steven and the Gems half as well as I think I do, it's not going to change anything between you them."

"That's just it Dad" Connie retorted, finally willing herself to get to the core of the issue "I want things to change; with Pearl I mean, not with Steven. It wasn't just 'a slip of the tongue'. I said 'mom' because that's what Pearl feels like. When I think about her, that's… that's the word I get in my head."

Doug took on a less flippant expression and sat up a little straighter. "Okay… Okay. That's…unusual, yes; but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it."

"Of course there's something wrong with it!" Connie snapped back. "What would Mom think if she found out I was playing surrogate child to a woman I've only known a few years? We haven't exactly had the warmest relationship. I don't want her to think that the way I feel about Pearl is some sort of…reflection on her, y'know?"

Doug looked entirely serious now. "Well, has it occurred to you that maybe you should consider it a reflection on her? On us?"

"What do you mean?" asked Connie, her voice trembling.

Doug let out a long sigh. "Look sweetie, your mother and I have learnt a lot over the last few years. We've come to realise that we weren't always the best parents. We stifled your childhood and that… that hurt you sometimes. Your mother is as aware of that as I am. If she finds that you're taking some motherly affection from another person besides her, then yeah, she might be a little hurt, but she'll also understand. She and I have accepted for some years now that we never exactly gave you everything a child deserves from their parents. If being closer to Pearl gives you something that you feel you've been missing, nothing would make us happier."

Connie wasn't sure at what point during her father's answer the tears had started coming, but she now found herself struggling to reply as she attempted to clear the blur from her vision. Finding herself unable to find the words, she instead opted to wrap her arms around Doug and sob onto his shoulder. Despite her urge to hug him as tightly as she could, she kept it gentle; she didn't want to risk hurting him with the strength she'd honed over the years.

After a moment she was able to compose herself, and pulled back to look her father in the face. "Thanks Dad. I didn't realise how much I needed to hear that."

"It's what I'm here for" Doug replied with a warm smile. "Now, wake up your Lion and go talk to Pearl. I don't want you to miss out on another second of mom time."

"Right" Connie replied with a grin. Giving her father one last hug, she leapt off the couch and headed out to the garden. As she gently shook Lion awake, she focused her thoughts on the task ahead. She was still a concerned about how Pearl would react, but she knew now that she had to at least find out.

Author's Note: Sorry this next chapter took so long to come out. I had hoped to finish it just a couple of days after chapter 1, but life kinda got in the way a bit. That said,
hope you enjoy it!