A/N: This story refers to Ch.19, Ch.23, and Ch.24. It's been a while since I uploaded those chapters, so just in case.
"He should learn how to swim." Greg said, wiping a few scraps of boiled chicken from Steven's face. Steven has been wolfing it down, excited by the new flavors and texture - he's entirely ignored the rice and carrots Pearl had made.
"What!" Pearl gasped, pausing from her scrubbing, the pot she had been holding dropped into the sudsy water in the sink.
"Uhhh….Greg? Were you even listening to us? He hates the ocean!" Amethyst said, sneaking gulps of the dish soap. She was supposed to be helping with the dishes, but at some point had just become a second food grinder.
"Yes, I was listening. But even if he's afraid of it, he really needs to learn how to swim." Greg huffed; wiping rice from his beard after Steven's wayward fist missed his mouth. "This is the second time he was in the ocean and freaked out like that - heavens forbid one of your aren't there!"
"Second?" Pearl asks, turning from the sink towards Greg. "What do you mean second? The only time he has been in the ocean was when Garnet split up. What other time was he in the wat-"
"I think Gregory, is just a little tired!" Amethyst hissed, suddenly tossing the soap bottle into the sink, causing an explosion of bubbles. She hopped off the counter, sopping wet and glared at Greg.
"Amethyst!" Pearl snapped, wiping bubbles from her eyes.
"Oh…uh yeah. You're right Pearl, my mistake." Greg stuttered. Neither Amethyst, Greg, Ruby nor Sapphire had found it pertinent to tell Pearl about Amethyst's mishap earlier that week. Steven had been fine, happy to be spoiled by Ruby and Sapphire, who had stayed with him all night, keeping him warm.
"But perhaps you make a good point." Pearl mused, mopping up the water from the floor. "Steven's going to get bigger and he can't be afraid of the ocean forever. If there ever is an accident he needs to be able to get back to shore safely."
"Isn't that why we have Garnet?" Amethyst asks, grabbing a warm clump of rice from the floor and immediately sticking it in her mouth.
"Garnet can't be everywhere at once." Pearl chided.
"But-."
"No buts, Amethyst. It would be in Steven's best interest to learn how to swim." Pearl interrupted, standing to her full height. "Greg, where is it that humans swim when it's not in a natural body of water such as the ocean?"
"The pool."
"Then, tomorrow we will travel to this pool and teach Steven to how to swim!"
"You here that little man, you're gonna go swimmin'!" Greg exclaims. Steven only gobbled up another piece of chicken and gave a mighty burp.
…
Pearl has never liked Greg's van. He didn't often clean it so it is littered in old, smelly clothes, empty food containers, and remnants of Steven's infancy. If Greg would just let her, she could have cleaned it to perfection.
She's sat in the back, next to Steven who has been strapped into a pink car seat that's getting much too little. She's managed to move most of the usual junk into the far back of the van, so that her skin is only touching the dirtied seat. Amethyst sits to the right of Steven, currently shapeshifting her tongue into funny shapes to Steven's delight. Amethyst sits in the usual mess, happy to be amongst crumpled up newspapers, flyers and soda bottles. Garnet sits in the front - she's much too big to sit comfortably in the back with Steven, Steven's car seat and Amethyst.
The car trip is wonderfully short. Beach City and the next town over share the community pool - neither could afford to host it by themselves. Pearl stepped out of the car and sighs when the strong scent of chlorine washes over her.
"Blech! Why does the water smell like that?" Amethyst gagged, covering her nose with her hands. Pearl rolls her eyes whilst unlatching Steven from the seat.
"It's the chlorine." Greg said, hoisting Steven's baby bag onto his shoulder. It usually isn't that heavy, but Pearl had packed extra everything; clothes, binkies, sandals, diapers, etc.
"Wait, we're letting Steven swim in bleach?" Amethyst yelled, her voice echoing around the empty parking lot. Living next to a beach meant that only the other town's high school swim team used it. Since it was in the middle of the day on a Friday, the pool was thankfully devoid of other humans.
"The chlorine in the pool is perfectly safe. Humans put it there to prevent bacteria from manifesting. It'll keep Steven safe." Pearl explained, handing Steven to Garnet. "But I did bring goggles to protect his eyes from irritation."
"Hey Greg, does the water taste good?"
"Amethyst, we talked about this! You're not going to drink the water!"
The pool is rather large, surrounded by a tall, green metal fence. Pearl can see the colorful tops of a few umbrellas and the bent backs of a couple of beach chairs. The water is a pristine aquamarine and she can see the markings around the pool's white, tiled rim - 3 feet, 6 feet, and 12 feet.
Steven won't be three feet tall for some time. Pearl shivered with the thought of three feet of water surrounding Steven. This was for the best though - he needed to be able to help himself when they weren't there. Moreover, he couldn't do that while living on a beach and not knowing how to swim.
Pearl flinches as Garnet's hand lands on her bare shoulders. Garnet is holding a wiggly Steven, whose excitedly looking around his new environment with glee.
"This is for the best." Garnet whispered with a small nod. "Don't worry yourself sick."
Pearl nodded hesitantly, a weak smile on her face. She knows this is necessary but it doesn't help the sinking feeling her chest that she cannot identify.
They walk to the gate, which is surrounded by bushes. Amethyst jumps it before Greg can unlock it with a keycard.
"So, I'm gonna change in the changing rooms over there." Greg points to a small white building across the pool. "The men's part isn't usually that clean or have baby changing pads, so can you guys change him?"
"How come dude's bathrooms are so nasty?" Amethyst asked, she is swirling her hand around in the water curiously. Taking a tentative lick before spitting it out with a loud 'BLECH'.
"Trust me Amethyst, you don't wanna know." Greg chuckled, handing Pearl Steven's baby bag.
"He's right, Amethyst. All human public facilities are truly disgusting. Steven's immune system isn't prepared for the biological warfare incubating there." Pearl grimaced, laying down a protective towel down on one of the chairs. She gently nudged Steven's chubby limbs from touching any part of the chair – it was streaked with dirt and grime.
Amethyst who had already discovered the diving board, balanced on one precarious foot.
"Amethyst." Pearl called, keeping a palm on Steven's middle to prevent him from rolling away. "Please change your clothes. If any humans pass by, they will expect to see swim attire."
Amethyst groaned, falling onto her back with her legs up in the air. In a bright flash her usual shirt and skintight pants have been replaced by a simple purple bikini. Pearl nodded approvingly until Amethyst turns around, the seat of her bottoms reads 'SWEET A$$…' in violet rhinestones.
"Ameth-!" Pearl doesn't even get the violet gem's name from her mouth before Amethyst cannonballs into the pool, sending a humongous wave to spray water everywhere. Pearl quickly protected Steven but he only cooed in delight.
Pearl wanted to retort, but Steven's sandaled feet pressing into her abdomen and he's pointing toward Amethyst excitedly.
"Ame. Ame. 'Tven."
"Okay, Steven." Pearl smiled, the tense rigor of her shoulders released. She kissed his forehead. "Let's get you ready to swim."
Usually Steven just went swimming (really wading or playing around the shore) in only his diaper, but Greg had purchased a tiny pair of pink swimming shorts for today. Pearl liked them because they easily stood out against the water and made a swishing sound with any and every movement (it would be impossible for him to ever wander off on anyone's watch again).
She quickly dressed him, folding his clothes and putting them away. She handed Garnet his deflated floaties and began to rummage for his towels, goggles and sun scream. Garnet sat down next to Steven – she had already changed her usual jumpsuit for swimwear and Steven has already stuck the skirt tied around her waist into his mouth. She blows the floaties up with a single breath.
Garnet adjusts the floaties on Steven's chubby arms and he's delighted by the new sensation. He flaps his arms around wildly while Pearl thickly applies a second skin of sunscreen on.
"Do you think he needs a lifejacket?" Pearl asks, looking nervously back at the pool. It had not seemed so deep from behind the gate, but now that she looks between Steven and the water - a prickle of irrepressible fear is building inside her chest.
"It'll be too much." Garnet muttered. "He'll get fussy if he can't move around."
"B-but, you don't think he'll be scared of the water again?" Pearl stammered, remembering Steven's keening wails.
"The ocean is different." Garnet shrugged. "There's power behind it, it's alive with this planet. To someone so small, it's quite terrifying. But to Steven, this pool is just like a bigger version of bath time."
Pearl nodded and took in a deep breath through her nose. She didn't need the oxygen, but something is quite stabling about taking a deep breath. In a bluish flash, Pearl has banished her outfit in favor of a bathing suit, with added shawl for modesty. She picked him up, letting him rest on her shoulders.
"Amethyst, please don't splash us, please!" Pearl yelled, approaching the stairs with a silent Garnet trailing behind her. Even with Garnet's assurance, she's still nervous. She absolutely hated to hear Steven cry, it might as well be the worst sound in the world. She's worried that as soon as the water hits his tiny little toes, he will begin to wail.
She dips a toe into the water, checking he temperature. She slowly sat down, letting the water lap against Steven's legs. Garnet stood above them, not yet entering the water.
Steven gasped when the water first hit him and he's completely ignorant of the tightening of Pearl's thin limbs. He wiggled his toes, and then starts to wiggle in Pearl's lap. He begins to splash his feet and watches in awe as he creates little frothing waves. He giggles and then points at the water.
"Pel! Pel! Lookie, lookie!"
"Wonderful Steven. I'm glad you like it." Pearl sighed, resting a hand on her chest as the breath she'd been holding slowly escaped her in the form a giant sigh.
"Okay, I'm ready for swimmin' lessons." Greg shouted, holding his clothes in a wad and placing them next to Steven's baby bag. Thankfully, he's wearing a dark tank top and baggy shorts (Pearl has already seen too much of that man for a hundred life times). Steven grinned and babbled incoherently in his excitement, even those he's been getting better at speaking he's still prone to reversing back to baby talk when excited.
"Hey, little man. Oh, good idea Pearl. Get him used to the temperature." Greg praised. "Let him feel it on his chest and then we should start on bubble-AH!"
Amethyst, who had been lurking underneath the water, stalking Greg as he walked back from the chair, had leapt up and snatched him. They fell into the pool with a colossal splash. Greg resurfaced quickly, sputtering and spitting. Pearl could hear Amethyst laughing under the water.
"Amethyst! Be caref-."
"DADEEEE!" Steven cried, gasping. His tiny little hands pressed into his chubby cheeks in shock. "Tven sa'e you!"
Garnet's hands suddenly took hold of Steven with a quiet grin. "Kick your legs."
Pearl watched apprehensively as Garnet walked towards Greg, Steven in her stable hands. Steven did as he was asked and kicked his legs and flayed his arms. It sort of looked like swimming, but Pearl wasn't so sure that it would've kept him afloat. She trailed behind them, easily moving through the water as if it were air. Amethyst popped up next to her with a gurgle.
"Go Steven! Go Steven!" Amethyst chanted lazily, giggling at Steven's determined face.
It really was an adorable face. Steven's cheeks puffed up like chipmunk cheeks whenever he did it and it took everything in their power not to spoil him with kisses. He didn't like kisses when he was concentrating ('Top it! No kiss da Tven!')
"Oh, Steven! You saved me." Greg yelled happily, scooping Steven up as he reached him. Steven nodded, his eyes lit with stars. "Thank you so much!"
"Amethyst, don't do that again." Garnet ordered. Amethyst gave a dismissive, but rather obedient nod and sunk under the water.
"C-can we please go back to three feet?" Pearl asked, unable to keep her voice from shaking nervously. They're currently standing in 5 feet of water and though she, Garnet and Greg could easily stand and not drown (Amethyst being the one exception), Steven could not. He couldn't stand in three feet either, but it would make her feel better nevertheless.
"Okay, Pearl. Like I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," Greg called, wading back to the three feet. "We should start with bubbles."
"Bubbles?" Pearl asked, standing close to Garnet.
"Yeah, uh…you know blowing bubbles."
"How is that important to the art of swimming?" Pearl mumbled, leaning against Garnet and watching nervously as Greg lowered Steven further into the water.
"It teaches him about breathing under water." Greg explained. "He gets to know his own lung span and how he can't breathe underwater."
"Babies aren't born knowing that junk?" Amethyst asked, jumping up from the water and crawling on top of Garnet's afro.
"Babies have some sort of reflex that helps them from automatically drowning or something, but we have to teach him his limits." Greg explained. "Okay, Steven, can you blow some bubbles for Daddy?"
Steven nodded excitedly, dipping half of his face into the water and blowing enthusiastically. A stream of little bubbles burst from under the water and for forty-five seconds Steven blows little bubbles until he couldn't anymore.
"Wow, buddy. You got some lungs!" Greg praised, kissing Steven's nose.
"Is that a good thing? That he has the metaphorical lungs?" Pearl asks, looking between Garnet and Greg.
"Yeah. It means he'll be able to stay under water longer - which is good." Greg adds that last part because Pearl's face had twisted into a grimace. "Cause if he ever goes under, he'll have more time to get to the surface."
"Oh, thank goodness." Pearl fretted, gripping Garnet's arm tightly.
Steven and Greg did this several times, both competing in competitions to see who could blow the biggest bubbles. Steven did excellent, but he grew bored after the fifth time.
"Sim Daddy! Sim!" Steven whined, pointing again towards Amethyst, who had jumped off of Garnet to tread water; popping up sometimes as a dolphin or a shark.
"Okay, okay, buddy. Let's practice floating first." Greg chuckled. "Daddy is gonna flip you over. So take a deep breath and don't let it go until you feel air again."
Steven nodded and Pearl's grasp on Garnet's bicep became a death grip, as Greg flipped Steven over in the water. Steven's face was only underwater for a few seconds, but to Pearl it seemed like forever. Steven floated on his back, wiping the water from his eyes and kicking his feet excitedly.
"Pearl hold your hands under his back." Greg instructed, moving out of the way. "Just let him get used to having his head in the water."
Steven smiled at her, still kicking his little feet as he got used to the water sloshing against his face. He seemed unfazed by her nervous composure and was impatient to do it on his own.
"By self! Daddy, Pel! Self! Self!" Steven whined, tugging at Pearl's shawl with a pout. "Sim! Know Sim. Bye-bye!"
With a flourish of speed and grace that toddler Steven had never possessed on land, he had flipped from Pearl's grip and dove under the water. He kicked his feet powerfully and was off, speeding off towards Amethyst before any of them could say a thing.
They watched in awe as he resurfaced easily, paddling around Amethyst as though he had been born into the water.
"What the heck?" Amethyst yelled, picking him up and resting him on her chest. "When did you learn how to do that?" She leaned in to Steven and dropped her voice until only he could hear it. "And how come you didn't do that last time?"
"Gr-Greg? Are infants typically this skilled in learning how to swim?" Pearl asked, looking up at Garnet curiously, who's jaw had also dropped.
"N-No. Not really?" Greg mumbled. "But…maybe he's like one of those geniuses."
"Genius?" Pearl perked up suddenly, finally able to tear her gaze from Steven. She personally liked the sound of that.
"You know, like when babies like are really good at stuff they're first shot." Greg said, wading through the water towards Amethyst - who was still gripping a wiggly Steven onto her chest. "Like genius baby ballerinas or like when Steven mastered the ukulele."
"Oh, how wonderful!" Pearl gasped, clapping her hands together. "Rose did always like the water, didn't she Garnet?"
"True…" Garnet hummed, wrapping her arm around Pearl's waist and lifting her slightly as she made her way towards Steven.
Pearl's nervous wince transformed into a beaming smile. "But of course, Steven could do it. Steven is Rose's son after all - and I suppose Greg's too. Nevertheless, can you believe it Garnet? Of course, you can! He's our little boy after all."
Garnet remained silent while Pearl gushed on and on about Steven's brilliance.
Genius or not, Garnet thought, her baby still wasn't going into the ocean without her supervision ever again.
A/N: Sorry for like the two week gap in stories, I took a well-needed break. I overloaded my self until I was just a giant stress ball. I have some ideas based off of some of the new episodes, so I'll be uploading them after at least one week after said episode aired or more likely a long time after it aired cause writing is tough, but I'll be mindful to have giant spoiler warnings just in case.
Thank you for your patience, favorites, follows and wonderful reviews.
CGA update tomorrow.