A/N – So sorry for the lack of updates, but I hope that you guys enjoyed the New Year!

Chapter XIX

Winter Wonderland

An abundance of snow had appeared overnight, blanketing every exposed surface in the quiet city. When morning broke the sun didn't prove strong enough to melt even an inch, resulting in a standstill in traffic and schools to be closed for that day.

Opening the van door cautiously, Greg was surprised to see snow up to the top of his wheels.

"Hey Steven! Check this out, we haven't had it this bad in years!" Greg called to his sleepy five-year old, who crawled over to have a look whilst still wrapped in his blanket.

"Wha-? Wow!" He gasped when he peered out from the van, excitement replacing his drowsiness.

"I'm gonna build a snowman!" Steven was jst about to clamber out when his Father placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Not until we get you into some warmer clothes, kiddo."

Hearing the familiar knock on the temple's walls, the gems greeted Steven and Greg at the entrance.

"What brings you two here on such a cold morning?" Asked Pearl whislt being bombarded with a hug from Steven.

"You guys have gotta help me build a snowman!" Steven said, grinning. He sighted Amethyst as she came over. "Amethyst, it's snowing!"

"Yeah I saw, I can't wait to bury Pearl in it." She bumped into the taller gem, cracking a laugh when she saw her not-so-enthusiastic face.

Ignoring the remark, Pearl carried on. "What exactly is a 'snowman'? Are you intending actual burial like Amethyst was attempting to hint at?"

"You've never heard of a snowman? Don't you guys ever go outside in Winter?" Steven almost sounded offended at the gems not knowing what this snowday tradition was.

"Steven, we don't say things like that. The gems aren't used to human ways and activities and never had snow where they were from." Greg lightly scolded, but he also couldn't believe that even after five thousand years, the gems still didn't know much about human culture.

"You never had snow in space?" Steven sounded shocked, "then im gonna make sure you have the best snowday ever!"

Garnet walked over upon hearing the conversation. "I'm sure that you will Steven, you never fail to disappoint us."

Making a determined face, Steven felt as if there was a new responsibility on his shoulders.

"Hey Garnet, watch out!"

It was too late when the massive snow ball hit the stoic gem square in the face and slowly slid down to the ground.

Amethyst laughed, and began to make another to assault Pearl. Before she could throw it, an even bigger one knocked her clear off her feet.

"Look whose buried now!" Chuckled Pearl, standing beside Garnet with a hand on her shoulder. "Nice one Garnet!"

Amethyst shapeshifted into a polar bear and bounded towards them, curling herself in and performing a spin dash, she became a live snowball herself and ran them both over.

"Ugh, Amethyst get off me!" Pearl tried to crawl out from under the purple gem who lay sprawled over her back.

Garnet picked herself up and dusted off the loose snow from her clothes, she managed to haul Amethyst up as well.

"Haha, I practically flattened you guys!" She fell back into the snow and began to wave her arms about.

"What exactly are you doing?" Pearl loomed over her, agitated.

"Making a snow-angel. Jeez Steven was right, you really don't get out much do you?" Amethyst jumped up before Pearl could comment. "Speaking of the little man, we should be helping him with this snowman thing."
The gems walked over to where Greg was busy rolling a large ball of snow, and Steven was digging for the rocks buried by the white mass.

"Hey guys, we're almost finished with the body." Said Greg, wiping his brow.

"Body? I believe that's a sphere, and not a very proportionate one at that." Pearl scratched her chin in confusion.

"Heh, you've kinda got to use your imagination a bit. Trust me; it'll look better once the head's on." Greg rolled the ball to a better clearing and called over to Steven. "You wanna put the buttons on?"

"Yeah!" The five-year old bounded over best he could in his snow boots and dropped his load of dark stones. He began to put them on the forming snowman.

"Garnet, do you want to help me with the other part? And Amethyst, you can roll the head." Greg directed the gems, "This is going to be the best snowman in Beach City!"

"Pearl, help me with the buttons!" Steven handed her a few.

One the rest of the body had been put together and the rocks making eyes and a mouth, Greg left to retrieve a carrot for the nose.

"This human ritual was quite interesting." Said Pearl, "Especially with my handiwork on the face."

"Pfft, just look at its head, it's practically human!" Amethyst remarked.

Garnet leaned on the snowman, placing an arm around it. "Actually, I think the body brings it all together."

"You guys, this isn't a competition." Steven crossed his arms, "Because I collected the coolest stones so I win automatically!"

"Oh you." Garnet picked him up and swung him on her shoulders.

"Your hair is really warm Garnet!" Steven laughed.

Greg hurried back with the desired equipment, and with carrot in hand he placed it in the middle of the snowman's face.

"Forget snowman, it's a snowpearl now with that nose!" Amethyst cracked up and Greg had to stifle a chuckle.

"Oh please, an orange vegetable hardly represents my nose or skin tone."

"I guess you're right. I can't have two Pearl's squawking around here." Amethyst jumped up to the snowman's head height and took a bite out of the carrot, rendering the figure with half a nose.

"Amethyst!" Steven scolded, "Now he can't smell anymore"

Late afternoon rolled in, and both Greg and Steven were beginning to get cold.

"Why don't you two stay at the temple?" Asked Garnet, noticing how they were starting to shiver.

"I-I couldn't, I don't want to be too much trouble." Said Greg, "We can probably rent a room somewhere, it shouldn't be too hard."
"Why aren't we staying in the van, Dad?" Steven tugged at his coat.

"We don't want to get snowed in, schnoo-ball. If it comes down any more we might get stuck." Greg ruffled the boy's hair, "Don't worry, we'll find somewhere else to sleep."
"Nonsense, we may not have central heating but at least it's safe and saves you having to squander around town looking for some room." Pearl remarked, "We've got plenty of blankets, I'm sure one night would be fine."

"Yeah! Let's have a slumber party! Pleeaase, Dad?" Steven looked at his Father imploringly.

"I can't say no to that face," Greg sighed, "Okay, as long as we're not in your way."

"Aw yeah! Man, I can't remember the last time you slept over, when you did you were always in Rose's Room." Amethyst wiggled her eyebrows. Greg blushed deeply and gave a nervous laugh.

Steven was fast asleep within minutes. After a hot cup of cocoa and many layers of blankets, his eyes started to droop as Garnet gentle stroked his hair.

Greg was in deep thought when the usually quiet gem said, "It's a shame he doesn't sleep here more often, we really enjoy having him here."

"You're right." Greg said, "He should be with you guys more often. The van is getting pretty cramped, it just isn't sustainable to keep a growing boy in there." Although he hated to admit this to the gems, he just couldn't keep it up any longer.

"Would you guys…like him to live with you?" He asked carefully.

There was initially a long silence until Pearl broke it.

"We love having Steven here but…we don't exactly have a house. Our temple is just as unsuitable as your van. Without simple human necessities like a bed, kitchen or even electricity, Steven wouldn't be very happy here."

"Unless we built a house next to the temple?" Piped up Amethyst. "I think Steven needs us, doesn't he need us to teach him about his gem and stuff?"

"Hmm," Pearl pondered the thought, "you're right, it might just be possible to use the space in front of the temple and revenorate it into a home."

"I'm pretty handy with a hammer and saw. But with only a few people working on it, it could take up to a year." Greg sighed, "But it's better than nothing to be honest. It means I won't be in your way with all this magic business—"

"And would introduce Steven to the concept of being a gem. He will be exposed with many things regarding gem culture, are you okay with that Greg?" Asked Garnet, adjusting her visor. "I know this is exceptionally hard for you."
"I know you guys would risk you lives for him. As long as my boy is safe, then I have nothing against you guys to helping him understand his gem. J-just…let me visit him once in a while okay?"

"You will always be welcome, you're Steven's Father, we can't hold you against anything." Said Garnet firmly.

"Thank you." Greg was grateful for the gem's understanding. This would be one of the hardest things he would ever have to do.

"I'll get to work on the plans. We need measurements, blueprints – we could brainstorm ideas. Oh and his room, we have to make this special!" Pearl said excitedly, you could practically see her working on the plans already in her head.

"Yeyah! Ste-man in the house! Hey, does this mean we get to have a bathroom?" Amethyst coukd only imagine how much more she could eat with a working bathroom. "Oh boy!"

"Hold up, I would rather wait to tell him until Christmas. So could we keep it quiet until then?" Greg requested, "I'm sure it will be his best present yet."

Fortunately, Steven was still fast asleep and couldn't hear the on-going whispering in the night. The rest of his family stayed up to discuss housing plans, and Greg found himself getting more and more enthusiastic over the idea. His son would get a good home where he belonged, where his Mother once was.