Greg was in his storage shed, placing some of Steven's older toys here and there-hesitant to let go of anything Steven had really loved. Today, it was his old rocking horse. Pearl had asked him to dispose of it-it was taking up precious space in Steven's room.
Pearl had gotten it for Steven when he had turned four. She had personally repaired it, as it had been rather worn when she had discovered it. She had painted it white and pink, even writing Steven's name on its wooden flank. When she presented it to him on his birthday, she had explained that human children needed to develop their sense of balance through repeated practice-and that this horse-toy would do just that. Of course, that hadn't mattered much to Steven.
He just liked pretending to be a space-cowboy. He was so strong, even when he was that little, that Pearl had needed to attach a makeshift mattress to go around the horse. Steven would often fling himself off the toy with his strength. One time had sailed over the safety gate and if it hadn't been for Garnet, he might've been seriously hurt. He had thought it all a fun game and landing on soft pillows did nothing to discourage him from doing it again and again. Garnet was the one who watched him when he had played with it then, always warning him right before he went flying. Steven had loved this horse, riding it until he became too big to play with it.
Steven was six now. He looked like a giant next to the poor thing now. Even if he did want to play on it now, he'd probably break the handles clean off. When Steven was three, he'd begun to start showing strength unbeknownst to most kids his age. Where most kids needed help on a swing set, to Greg's immense worry, Steven could almost send himself flying with barely any effort. Any store bought toy Greg acquired was usually broken in three days. They just didn't make toys for kids like his son.
Greg stood up, groaning as his back protested. He looked at the little dilapidated rocking horse and sighed. His little boy was growing up so fast now. He knew that parents were always worrying about their kids, but sometimes he knew that he worried much more.
Steven was living with the gems full time now. Before, they had him for a few days a week and hung out with them on the weekends. Pearl and Garnet had been the one who approached him a few months ago, to suggest that Steven begin living there permanently.
"It's just that…well we always knew that he would be different." Pearl had begun, nervously rubbing her arms.
"We need to really start teaching him. As Steven grows, he'll get stronger and one day soon we expect for his powers to fully emerge." Garnet had said. "We need to teach him how to control that strength."
Greg had agreed. He always knew that this day would come. He had been giving Pearl tons of books from garage sells and from across towns about child care. He had shown Amethyst how to keep an eye on Steven but still have fun. He allowed Garnet to tail him and Steven on the days when he didn't live in the house. He'd been explaining to Steven that one day he and Daddy wouldn't live together anymore, but that it was going to be okay. Because Daddy wouldn't be very far, he promised. He had long known that the gems were capable of keeping Steven safe. He just couldn't help but a feel a little sad.
Steven didn't really need him anymore. Greg knew very little about gem business, most of his knowledge had come from Rose and Garnet. He knew enough to explain to his son while he was growing how he was different, but that was it. He didn't know anything about summoning weapons, or the temple, or the entirety of the gem history or even how to control his growing strength. Steven needed the gems to teach him those things so that if one day he really did fully develop his powers, he could join them in their cause.
Greg stepped out of the garage, sighing as the sun began to set. A happy orange light settled on Beach City and he could see a few straggling tourist on the beach. Rose had loved this time of day, the time between the end of a wonderful day and the beginning of a new night. Sometimes Greg wondered if Steven loved this time of day too. He was so much like Rose. His laugh, his kindness, his joy, his protectiveness of their home-he was a spitting image of her when he smiled too.
What if he did develop all of Rose's abilities? Greg had seen Rose fight occasionally; she was a warrior with a sharp eye with immeasurable amount of strength. But Steven wasn't Rose. He was strong and often quick-witted, but Greg shuddered to imagine his tiny son facing some of the monsters he had seen. He knew that the gems would protect Steven-Garnet had personally assured him that she would do her absolute best to protect him.
"It's not as though he'll be joining us on missions any time soon," Pearl had explained. "We'll start training with him and one day when we have all deemed him fit, he'll join us on easy missions."
Greg knew that was meant to calm him-his worry must've been glowing, bright red on his forehead, but her words weren't helping. His goofball little boy, suddenly becoming a warrior? In probably a few years from now really…
Greg opened up the back doors to his van and sat down heavily. Now more than ever, he really wished Rose was here with him. She would know what to do and say. Greg laid back, closing his eyes wearily. He must've dozed off because the next thing he knew, Steven was sitting on top of him and he could hear Pearl speaking.
"Steven, don't wake him up!" Pearl hissed.
"Goo' mornin' Daddy." Steven grinned, kissing Greg's forehead.
"Morning, Steven." Greg said, his voice hoarse. He sat up with his son in his arms and sleepily rubbed his eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Steven wanted to see you before he went to bed." Pearl said, looking down.
"Oh, my goodness. I'm sorry I forgot Steven. I guess I fell asleep." Greg frowned, rubbing his dry eyes. Since the new arrangement, Greg had promised Steven to show up before bed time and read him a story. Steven could read pretty well by himself now, but since Greg worked most of the day, it was the most either got to see of one another during the week.
"Can we still read?" Steven asked while lifting up a book he had brought.
"Yeah of course buddy." Greg said, taking the book in his own hands. "Uh…Pearl I can take him back up when we're done."
Pearl looked as though she might disagree, but when Steven jumped up and turned on one of the lanterns in the van and sat on Greg's bed; she looked up at the twinkling sky with a quiet sigh.
"As long as he's in before eight thirty." Pearl muttered. "Steven, I'll be in the house if you need me."
Steven nodded and hurried over to give her a kiss. Pearl walked into the street and jumped to back to the temple. Greg scooted back further into the van and closed the doors.
"So, let's see Me and My Family?" Greg said, leaning back against the wall, opening the worn book.
"I don't want to read that one." Steven said, tucking himself in.
"Well, what do you want to read?" Greg asked, looking through his junk, looking for a few books Steven had left over. Steven had started wanting to read bigger and bigger books as he got older-the biggest book Greg had was a textbook he bought before he dropped out of community college.
"Daddy, am I a freak?" Steven asked.
"What?" Greg gasped. "Who told you that you were a freak?"
"This kid on the beach. He said I was a freak cause I didn't have a belly button." Steven whispered. "I told him it was because I was magic like my Mom, but then he said she must've been a freak too."
Greg's jaw dropped. Most kids in Beach City knew Steven and the Crystal gems, they didn't really care that Steven was different. If anything, they didn't mind his strength or the fact that the gems followed him everywhere. Steven was the best pusher for the swings and could skip stones the farthest. Amethyst would shapeshift for his friends and Garnet would just be Garnet (which was enough to awe the kids senseless). But tourist and summer visitors were another story. They saw Steven's pink gem and his odd strength and immediately judged him.
"Oh, I'm so sorry buddy." Greg said, taking his son into his arms. "You know that kid was wrong right? You're not a freak and neither was your mother."
Steven didn't say anything. He just fiddled with Greg's shirt before lifting it up and poking Greg's belly button.
"How come I'm not like you?" Steven whimpered. "I like being a gem, but I wish I was normal too."
"Steven, you are normal. You may not be like me or like the gems all the way, but that doesn't make you a freak." Greg said, pressing his face into Steven's hair.
"But I'm not good at being a gem. I don't have any powers." Steven grumbled and clenched his fist.
"You will one day." Greg said, his eyes burning.
Steven looked up, tears in eyes. "Really?"
Greg didn't really know. Pearl and Garnet were sure that he did have power. Greg had seen it himself. When Steven became happy as an infant, his gem would glow so brightly, that it blinded. Steven's raw, untrained strength and his ability to take tumbles that would normally send kids his age to the hospital-they were all signs that Steven inherited Rose's power. They just didn't know if he would have a weapon-which would be crucial if he was to fight.
"I know you will." Greg said. "It may not be exactly like the gems and that's okay. Cause you're not a full gem, you're my Steven. So you'll have Steven-y powers. They'll be wonderful and you know how I know?"
Steven shook his head and wiped his eyes.
"Because you're your mother's and my son. You're the best thing that ever happened to us. No matter what anybody says, this will always be true." Greg insisted, wiping tears from his own eyes.
"Even if I don't ever get powers?" Steven asked.
"Even if you never ever get powers, I'll love you. Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl too. We'll love you forever no matter what." Greg whispered, his voice wavering as he fiercely hugged his son.
Greg always worried about his son. The world was a big, cruel and dangerous place for a little guy like him. He had thought that the days that his baby boy would need him, were becoming numbered. But he was wrong. Steven was a human being too, just as much he was a gem. The gems may have been on the planet before Greg or Greg's great-great-great-great grandfather, but they were still working on their social skills. Steven looked to Greg to explain the cruelties of humanity and enjoy the finer human 'things' in life (like hotdogs and sunsets).
Greg read Steven Me and My Family, making sure to do all the right voices. Steven smiled sleepily before dozing off. As soon as Steven began to snore softly, Greg picked him up as gently as he could. He walked up to the temple from the carwash, humming a tune Rose had loved. Greg walked up the steps to the house and quietly opened the door. Pearl was up in the loft, sitting in her rocking chair with only a lamp on. She sat up and soon as she saw Greg.
"Uh, Pearl?" Greg whispered, transferring Steven to the gem's arms.
"Yes, Greg?" Pearl asked, walking up the stairs to Steven's bed.
"I guess earlier today, some tourist kid on the beach called Steven a freak."
"What?!" Pearl gasped, quickly slapping her hands against her mouth as Steven stirred. She slipped his shirt off and quickly began to put his pajamas on. "Why didn't he tell us?"
"I think he didn't want you to freak out. Or beat the kid up." Greg shrugged, wincing as he thought about how Amethyst would've reacted.
"Human children!" Pearl hissed. "They don't know Steven. He isn't a freak, he's a crystal gem!"
Greg decided not to tell Pearl how they had also called Rose a freak. Pearl might've started screaming.
"He's a little worried about getting powers is all." Greg said, kissing his son's temple after Pearl had tucked him in.
Pearl nodded and sighed. "He'll have some of Rose's powers. Garnet saw a lot of futures and all of them show him having them."
Greg sighed, looking at Steven even harder now. Greg knew that Steven would want to help the gems with their missions. As soon as he became aware that there were missions, he had wanted to go on them. Steven was still so little though.
"I know you worry about him." Pearl whispered suddenly, crossing her arms over her chest. "We all do. I want him to be like us and fight with us, but I also want to hide him away from our destiny."
"Parents always worry about their kids." Greg chuckled. "Even when they're grown, we worry. If Steven's going to have these powers, I'm glad he has you guys."
Pearl turned away, but Greg could still see the smile she was trying to banish.
In the years that Rose had been gone, Greg had wondered how they were going to do this. Greg didn't know how to properly take care of a baby or be a good father. The gems hadn't even interacted with infants before. Well, Pearl had kind of, but that was because Rose had literally forced a baby into her unwilling arms. Rose had believed in them though, assuring them at every turn that no matter what happened, Steven would be fine. No matter what doubt they threw at her, Rose would only smile and say, "Don't worry. I'm confident that you'll be fine."
And somehow they had made it without her. Steven was growing up. He was happy, strong and ready to face the world. He loved them all and they all loved him. They were together, working with one another to ensure that Rose's dreams for Steven were accomplished. Rose may not be there, but he didn't have to do this alone.
Maybe he didn't need to worry so much after all.
A/N: Greg is so hard to write! Sorry if this isn't up to par, I have a lot of trouble writing him and Rose for some reason. Anyway, thanks to everyone who took the time to read, follow, favorite and review. Thanks for all your kind words, I don't think I can really explain how happy it makes me to hear what you thought about the chapter. Steven Universe has brought me so much happiness and I'm glad that baby Steven may have brightened up some of your days too. Working on another Ruby and Sapphire chapter for tomorrow!