Greg grabbed some snacks, Steven's blanket and a few of his toys from the van. He strategically placed them around the office of his carwash. He pushed the chairs against the plugs around the room and moved anything heavy off his desk. He opened the door and set up Steven's baby gate. The gems had to go on a mission for a few hours so Steven was getting some Dad time. Greg had closed the carwash earlier, but Mayor Dewey had insisted that his van be washed and waxed by noon today.
The only way to make this work would to wash the van and keep an eye on Steven. It wouldn't be too hard. Steven was three and a half years old, he was very well behaved and could play by himself very well. All Greg needed to do was make sure he had access to juice, snacks and entertainment. If he was lucky, the Mayor Dewey's van may not even take 30 minutes-that was like one of Steven's educational cartoons. Then he would have hours to play with his little man.
Amethyst was the one who showed up to drop Steven off. She must've been the one to dress him this morning too. Pearl usually dressed Steven-she was over most of those types of things. He could tell it hadn't been Pearl because Steven was wearing a purple shirt that didn't fit and was on backwards. He was wearing big boy underwear over his diaper as pants and his sandals were on the wrong feet. Pearl must not even be in the house if Amethyst had managed to walk out of the house with Steven looking like that.
"Sup Greg." Amethyst called, removing Steven from her shoulders. As soon as she placed him on the ground Steven rushed Greg for a hug.
"Amethyst." Greg nodded. "How ya doing buddy?"
Steven giggled ecstatically, doing a strange little dance. Greg bent down and kissed Steven's cheeks.
"Why does he taste like waffles and whip cream?" Greg asked, licking crumbs off his lips.
"Well that's what I made for breakfast. I called it, 'Waffle Surprise'." Amethyst grinned deviously.
"Do I wanna know what the surprise is?" Greg groaned picking Steven up and placing his son's stomach against his ear. It sounded pretty normal. So he probably hadn't consumed anything made of magic. Hopefully.
"Sausage, peanut butter, whipped cream, syrup and marshmallows." Amethyst revealed, obviously proud of herself. "Steven loved it."
"I'm sure he did." Greg chuckled, watching his son lick his palms. "I'm guessing Pearl wasn't too happy?"
"Pearl and Garnet were busy in the temple with mission stuff." Amethyst shrugged, plopping Steven's day bag down. "So we got away with it."
"Got away!" Steven clapped, wiggling in Greg's arms.
"Did you clean up the mess?" Greg asked, already guessing the answer. Amethyst, who had just given Steven a thumbs up, froze and then smacked her forehead.
"She's gonna to kill me!" Amethyst moaned. "I gotta go! See ya later Greg! Bye-bye buddy."
"Bye-bye!" Steven screamed, utilizing his high pitched voice to destroy Greg's ear drums. Steven flapped his arms wildly around him, too excited to properly wave.
"Okay, little man." Greg said, stepping over the baby gate and sitting down with Steven in his lap. "Daddy's got to clean Mayor Dewey's van. You know who Mayor Dewey is right?"
"Mayor Dewey, Mayor Dewey." Steven sang, clapping his hands to the familiar tune.
"Yep that guy. Anyway, I gotta clean his van up for him. So you'll be in the office and I'll be right outside the door, okay?" Greg said, pointing to the open door. Steven would be able to watch him the whole time and if he needed Greg, all he'd have to do is shout.
"Do you think you'll be okay?" Greg asked, worried that perhaps Steven couldn't do this yet.
"S'otay." Steven said. "Righ' tere, Daddy stay?"
"Yes, Daddy will be right there. If you need me call me and I'll hear you. I got you some snacks, some toys and you can watch T.V. too." Greg handed Steven his sippy cup and turned the TV on and was about to change the channel when Mayor Dewey's van arrived.
"Universe! Where are you? I don't have all day." Mayor Dewey shouted.
"Oh, well I'll be right outside Steven. It won't take too long, I promise bud." Greg said, quickly kissing Steven's fluffy head before tripping over the baby gate.
…
Steven watched calmly as his Daddy ran over to meet Mayor Dewey. Steven stood up and approached the baby gate and watched the two men talk. Mayor Dewey was talking very loud-Pearl had told him that even if you were outside, you needed to use your inside voice, but maybe that didn't apply to mayors? Once Mayor Dewey was done, his Daddy turned around and approached the big-headed car. Steven waved at him with all his might. Daddy waved back before turning on the hose.
Steven was now positive that Daddy was going to stay there, so he turned his attention back towards the office. The TV was on, flashing commercials quietly. Steven saw the remote on the ground and picked it up. He wasn't usually allowed to touch the remote. Pearl had Garnet put the remote on top of the TV, so that Steven couldn't reach it. Steven was allowed to watch the TV downstairs when Pearl needed to clean or prepare meals, but most of the time was spent actively playing.
The remote was big and covered in colorful buttons. All which certainly must be pressed. Daddy must have left it here for him. Why else would it be on the floor? Steven pressed all of them, some of them even twice. Pearl had begun teaching him numbers and he recognized a few on the panel, he pressed the two he knew best: three and upside down six.
The TV which had been flickering on and off, brightening and dimming, flashing Spanish subtitles and turning on and off, went to channel 39. Steven looked up, excited to see what his button mashing had brought him.
It certainly wasn't any show he knew. There were no bright colors, dancing shapes or animals singing. It looked like a living room. Two very tan people were fighting. The woman pushed the man and the man gripped her by her waist.
"Carmen, I loooooove you. Don't fight with me'
"Show me then…kiss me and make it all better"
The two people began to kiss.
"We shouldn't fight like this. People who love each other, shouldn't fight." The man moaned.
"We should kiss. And kiss. And kiss."
"Whoa buddy, what are you watching?" Greg shouted, grabbing the remote. "I didn't think I catch you watching this stuff till you were older."
Steven blinked innocently and smiled brightly. He stood up and hugged Greg. Greg patted his head and spun him around once. Steven laughed happily.
"Maybe it would be better if you came out with me?" Greg asked, turning the TV off. "Kids should be active, not sitting in front of TVs all day."
Greg slathered Steven in sunscreen and instructed his young son on where he could and couldn't go. 'Don't go outside the parking lot of the wash', 'don't go into the street', and 'not the beach either'.
"You can spray the hose." Greg said, handing his son the lightly spraying hose. "Just spray where the bubbles are."
"BUBBLES!" Steven screamed excitedly.
Greg began to scrub the van, instructing Steven where to spray, even asking him to do certain poses just to keep Steven entertained. Hopefully this would fill Steven's mind and when he went back home with the gems, he would forget mentioning Greg's little mistake.
…
"Hello Steven." Pearl greeted, bending down to properly receive her hug. Steven had been on Amethyst's head, clutching tightly to her hair. When he saw Pearl he gasped and began to struggle to get down. As soon as Amethyst set him down he bolted towards Pearl, hugging her with all his might. Then doing the same to Garnet, who picked him and held him.
"Steven, what are you wearing?" Pearl asked, pulling at his training underwear over his diaper.
"Is purple. Is mine. Like!" Steven said excitedly, giggling when Garnet's fingers nuzzled into his exposed belly.
"Amethyst, he's not even wearing pants!" Pearl scolded. "And that shirt was supposed to be donated to the charity barn last week."
Garnet took Steven to the couch and tried to amuse Steven while Amethyst and Pearl bickered. Steven though was strangely quiet. He was staring hard at Garnet's lips. He squinted his eyes and vaguely remembered the TV show, he had seen at his Daddy's car wash. People who loved each other kissed on the lips.
He had been kissed before. Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl and Greg kissed him all the time. Mostly on the cheek, his fuzzy head, his tummy, and Amethyst often kissed his feet. But he had never seen any of them kiss on the lips before. If that was how people were supposed to show that they loved you, then they had been doing it wrong this whole time! Steven knew that he must teach them better. Starting with his Garnet.
Steven leaned forward and kissed Garnet on the lips. Garnet chuckled and rubbed Steven's face, but Steven shook his head and did it again. Which only made Garnet chuckle harder.
"You'll need to take me to dinner first." She whispered into his ear, proceeding to kiss his every inch of him except his lips. Steven tried to be adamant though and pointed to his lips. Garnet truly was clueless about kissing-she wasn't even kissing near his face now.
Garnet grinned and gave him a brief kiss on the lips. She couldn't help laughing a bit louder now, especially when Steven looked up and looked incredibly satisfied with himself. Steven was proud that he had taught Garnet the 'proper' way to kiss.
"Amethyst how are we supposed to transition him from diapers to big boy underwear if you keep putting him in a diaper?" Pearl snapped. "He'll never learn."
"He still wets the bed." Amethyst rolled her eyes.
"Human children can continue to do that until they're seven years of age." Pearl said huffily.
"Then we keep him in diapers till he's seven. No big deal."
"Amethyst!"
"NO!" Steven shouted. He stood up on Garnet's legs and pointed an accusatory finger at them both. "No fighting!"
"Oh, Steven we're sorry. We didn't mean to yell." Pearl gasped. Steven continued frowning and wiggled his arms while squatting. His rather signature, 'I'm mad' dance.
"Kiss'n make up." He yelled. Garnet stifled her laughter and held Steven steady as he danced harder.
"Oh, okay?" Pearl shrugged, stepping closer to Steven and kissing his cheek. Amethyst did the same, messing up Steven's hair after she did. Steven only wiggled harder and turned a tad red.
"No for Steven. Amethyst and Pearl no fight. Gotta kiss'n make it better." He insisted. Using his fingers to point quickly between the two of them.
"Oooh…" Pearl groaned, looking at Amethyst. Amethyst looked back at her with a similar expression.
"Steven can't we just hug it out?" Amethyst asked, surprised at herself for even asking. Pearl had introduced hugging out your problems a few weeks ago when she'd found Amethyst and Steven yelling at each other over a jelly donut. It worked perfectly most of the times.
"No!" Steven shouted. He turned back to Garnet, who was blushing as she laughed. He turned back, looking determined.
"Fine." Pearl sighed, leaning down and kissing Amethyst on the cheek. Amethyst did the same and they both turned to Steven. "All better?"
"No! Love Amethyst?" Steven asked Pearl.
"Well…I…yes…." Pearl said, feeling her own blush heat up her cheeks.
"Love Pearl?" Steven asked Amethyst, his face twisted rather seriously.
"Y-yeah." Amethyst said, using her hair to cover her eyes.
"If love, den have to kiss on lips." Steven said, using his hands to demonstrate. He slowly brought his tiny palms together. "Like dis."
Steven turned back towards Garnet. Garnet already privy to what Steven wanted, gave him a quick peck on the lips. She leaned back happily and rubbed his back when he turned to address his Pearl and Amethyst.
"Steven, you don't have to kiss on the lips to show that you love someone." Pearl groaned, falling gracefully to her knees.
"Kiss. Lips!" Steven said, slapping his hands together.
"It doesn't have to be long." Garnet said, adopting her stoic nature once again. Though a hint of a smile could just barely be seen.
"If it'll make him stop yelling at us…?" Amethyst offered, shrugging as Pearl glared at Garnet.
"If it'll make him happy, let's get this over with." Pearl groaned. Amethyst awkwardly inched closer and Pearl scooted over and lowered her head. It was really quick. Just a quick peck, but by their blushes you would've thought different.
"I didn't think I'd have to do that today." Amethyst groaned, sitting down.
"Where is this even coming from?" Pearl grumbled.
"TB!" Steven shouted, always eager to please Pearl.
"The television? What on earth did Greg let you watch?"
"Carmen kiss me! Show love me. Kiss. Kiss." Steven explained, sliding down from Garnet's lap and kissing Pearl on the lips and then Amethyst.
"Well, Greg and I will have a talk tomorrow about his choices in television shows, but-" Pearl grabbed Steven and sat him down on her lap. "Steven, that show that you saw wasn't right."
"Love Pearl." Steven clapped, scrabbling to get another kiss.
"I love you too, Steven." Pearl said, hugging him as tightly as she knew he could handle. Steven giggled and squirmed his way out of it. Pearl kissed his forehead and then both of his cheeks.
"You don't have to kiss people on the lips to show someone you love them." Pearl repeated. "Have we ever, before now, kissed you on the lips?"
Steven looked briefly at Amethyst, who shook her head subtly. He looked back to Pearl and shook his head slowly.
"But do we love you?" Pearl asked, tickling at his sides.
"Yes!" Steven used his outside voice. Pearl, who would usually scold him, chose to ignore it just this once.
"So what do you think that means?" Pearl asked, hoping Steven had got it.
Steven's big eyes scrunched up and he pouted his lip as he began to think. He was only three though, so Pearl wasn't expecting much. Why, the other day he had given his chewy vitamins to a plant so that it would 'grow up big like Garnet'.
"Love Pearl. Love Amethyst. Love Garnet." Steven mumbled. "Kiss everywheres 'stead of just lips, show love?"
"Close enough." Pearl shrugged. "Good job Steven."
Pearl smiled as Steven giggled and clapped happily in her arms. Every day it seemed as though Steven was learning new things and testing them out on the world. Most of the time they were good things-like learning how to put on his sandals or eating without getting most of the food in his hair, but other times they were things like this. Which often took days really to fix. Pearl knew that it would probably take Steven a few days of repetition and examples to really understand the 'kissing on the lips' situation.
"Garneh kiss Amethyst and Pearl!" Steven exclaimed.
Or perhaps it would take a week or two. Steven loved showing affection. Pearl remembered when he was able to start kissing. He had only really been tall enough to reach their hands so he kissed them relentlessly. It had gotten so bad that they had needed to keep their arms crossed if Steven was around-or in Amethyst's case above her head. It had taken him two weeks to calm down from his smooching frenzy. She hoped this kissing frenzy wouldn't be that long either.
Pearl was about to instruct Steven when Garnet's hand cradled her chin and kissed her briefly on cheek; quickly doing the same to Amethyst-who laughed gleefully.
Or maybe a month if they couldn't resist Steven's adorable kissing demands.
A/N: If anyone noticed I upped the rating up to Teen. I was just worried because of the Nightmare chapter and then this chapter full of kisses. It's still going to be cutesy stuff, the one shots aren't going to suddenly go all dark, just wanted to be cautious is all.