Happy Birthday Steven
Pearl was keeping very busy. In a couple of days it would be Steven's birthday and she wanted everything perfect. With the help of the newest Crystal Gems, all 15 000 of them, Pearl built a large dome in the nearby desert for the big event. The Pale Gem looked on proudly at her handywork.
"That's a mighty big dome. Don't you think you're overdoing it Pearl?" asked Greg. He had come to Rossmore for Steven's birthday.
"Well I couldn't leave out the Peridots could I? And I also invited the town of Rossmore," replied Pearl.
"Guess not. So what's inside the dome anyways?" asked Greg.
"Well I wanted to include everybody so we have a beer garden, catering and one fully functional water park."
"You realize Peridot will be coming as well?" asked Greg hesitantly.
"And what's the matter with that?"
"Oh nothing, it's just Peridot is very self conscious of her body right now and is afraid of water."
"Well you can't please everybody. Besides I need to make up to him after last year's disaster." Even if it killed Pearl she would give Steven the best birthday ever.
The young man in question was keeping very busy. Between studying at the local college, working at the ice cream shop and caring for Peridot, Steven had very little time for himself. Morning classes were now over and Steven decided to open up shop. He was about to open the door when he felt resistance.
"Sorry you can't come in. We're working on a special project," cried out a familiar voice.
"Amethyst? Is that you? Let me in, I work here," said Steven.
"Sorry no can do dude. We're working on your cake," said the purple gem. "Now what flavor do you think Steven would like?"
"Peridot says that Steven likes mushroom and Swiss cheese burgers," replied the small voice of Spunky.
Well it looks like he would getting a very interesting birthday cake. Laughing Steven left for home. When he got home he found Peridot lying in their bed. The last few months of helping her sisters adjust to Earth and the final stages of pregnancy had taken a lot out of her.
"Steven, I'm sorry I must have overslept," said Peridot as she tried to get up.
"Don't get up Peri, just take it easy. No I just came early, Amethyst and Spunky are working on my cake."
"Look I'm sorry I haven't been all that fun. It's just that this baby is taking a lot of energy from me. Would you like something to eat?"
"I'll make something on my own. You just get some rest."
Steven then kissed his wife and went into the kitchen. While he was preparing a small sandwich Peridot waddled in.
"Would you like a cup of tea?" asked Steven. Peridot nodded.
They sat in the kitchen in companionable silence as Steven ate his meal. Then they watched TV for a while until Peridot felt tired and went back into bed. Steven then did some homework and a couple of hours later joined her.
The next morning Steven and Peridot drove to their ice cream shop. Amethyst and Spunky had left their mark. In the front window was a sign that said 'Closed due to Technical Difficulties'.
Steven sighed, "Looks like those two destroyed the ice cream maker."
When they went inside Steven and Peridot could see that Amethyst and Spunky had cleaned up as best they could. The kiosk was spotless save for what was a clearly broken ice cream maker. Steven looked inside the freezer. The week's supply of cream was gone. Strangely enough the chocolate and the other supplies were untouched.
"I'll go get the robinoids from the trunk," said Peridot. "You better restock the freezer."
A couple of hours later Steven returned to the shop and found that Peridot had finished repairing the ice cream maker. She stood up a little too quickly, staggering a little.
"Steven, good you're back and I see you've got all the ice cream ingredients," said Peridot.
"Peri you need to take things easy." said Steven as held her.
"Nonsense, I feel much better. Now how about you leave and let me make your cake."
"Er Peri, who's going to mind the shop?"
"Don't worry Steven. I've got it all covered."
Sheriff Bertram was looking forward to this all day. She had dropped her daughter off at school and was looking forward to trying one of the new flavors at Scary Hairy's, the new ice cream place run by Steven and occasionally Peridot. Not only would she get the best tasting ice cream this side of the Rockies but she could also check in on Rossmore's strangest married couple. They were apparently stranger than she even imagined.
There sitting in the window was a sliver robot thingy wearing a white paper hat. Without having any eyes it peered up at the shocked woman.
"Welcome to Scary Hairy's how may I help you?" asked the thing in a tinny voice.
Pearl on the other hand was looking so forward to tomorrow. She was at a nearby car dealership looking at her newest purchase, a bright red convertible Comanche Vector. The latest in sports cars, it could easily reach 200 miles per hour.
"Ah Pearl don't you think you're overdoing it? I mean you've already built a water park and invited the whole town," asked Amethyst. The purple gem had come with her to purchase the car.
"But those were all free, thanks to the help of the other Peridots. A real present should cost something. I'm going to give Steven the best birthday present ever. If Peridot thinks that her rinky dinky little toy car was so great wait till Steven gets a load of this!"
"Well you better install a child seat in there. Remember Steven's going to be a father soon and I can't see Steven driving this car with a baby in the back."
"Every man deserves his own little toy. I'm going to make this the best birthday ever."
"Well, we pulled out all the stops last year and it ended up being a disaster."
Steven in the meantime decided to check back in at the ice cream shop to see how Peridot was doing. He found they had a huge line up. Robinoids were tending the shop while in the back Peridot sat down slouched beside the ice cream machine.
"Looks like everything is in order. Shall we leave the robinoids to it and go out for lunch?" laughed Steven.
"I'd love to Steven but the robinoids need me to supervise them and I can't get out of this chair," replied Peridot.
"Here let me help you with that. How about I take over and after the crowd dies down we can get something to eat?"
They went to the Frying Saucer Steven's old place of work. Mitch his old manager was behind working the grill.
"What will you have?" said Mitch with forced cheer.
"I'll have a frying saucer special with a side order of pickles, deep fried peanut butter balls, oh! And a large slice of chocolate cake," said Peridot eagerly.
"Cravings, eh Steven," said Mitch.
"I'll have a galactic confederation sandwich with some fries and iced coffee," said Steven.
As Mitch was preparing their meal, he decided to make small talk.
"It's been a scorcher these past few days. I bet you're looking forward to your party tomorrow,"said Mitch.
"I just want a quiet celebration,"replied Steven.
"Well your mom Pearl invited the entire town and get this, she told us to bring our swimsuits."
"Oh great, a pool party and I look like a tennis ball!" said Peridot angrily.
"Well I think you are beautiful," soothed Steven.
"I'm going have to go the Mothership and buy a swimsuit. Then they'll be all these people staring at me..." ranted Peridot. She continued this throughout their meal.
Once they had finished eating Steven and Peridot went to the maternity and baby store called the Mothership. Peridot tried on swimsuit after swimsuit getting increasingly frustrated. Steven thought she looked fine but understood that Peridot wasn't comfortable with how her body looked right now. Finally Steven managed to find a black two piece that covered her large belly.
The next morning Pearl was putting the final touches on Steven's birthday party. She was having some trouble with the caterers. The Gems in charge were having some trouble on the concept of edible.
"For the last time, humans cannot eat rubber," shouted Pearl into the cellphone. Onto another call, "No Turquoise, you cannot serve that it's an endangered species."
Amethyst walked in while Pearl was in mid rant.
"Yo how's it going?" asked Amethyst casually.
"Amethyst I'm so glad you're here. Please tell me you have the cake," said Pearl.
"Sorry Spunky and I were having a little bit of trouble so I ordered a cake from the bakery. It should be here by noon," said Amethyst.
"Amethyst I asked for an ice cream cake."
"And I broke the ice cream maker. Besides we can't feed the whole town a single cake."
"Well at least I know you have provided something edible anyways. Now if the other gems could do the same."
"Hurry Peridot, I don't want to be late for the party," shouted Steven. He was in his house and they were running late. He had let Peridot sleep in but an hour before his party Steven got impatient and woke her up.
"I'm going as fast as I can," shouted Peridot. He was starting to regret leaving it so late.
"How long can it take to have a shower and get dressed?" said Steven through the bathroom door.
"I'm just cleaning up. I had a little accident," replied Peridot.
"That's it I'm coming in."
Steven then pushed open the door. Peridot in her hurry to get in had decided not to lock it. He found Peridot still in her nightdress sopping up a large puddle with some towels. The green gem blushed furiously as Steven looked on.
"I couldn't make it to the toilet on time, now can you go?" snapped Peridot.
"Peri- you didn't wet the floor. Your water just broke," said Steven.
"You mean I've been in labor. I thought it was just indigestion."
"We- we better go to the hospital. Get dressed I'll call my Dad."
It was one hour into the party and the birthday boy had not yet arrived. The guests were already enjoying themselves in the water park but Pearl was not.
"Where could he be? I asked him to be here an hour ago," said Pearl as she tapped her foot impatiently.
"Well I imagine he's having a hard time getting Peridot here. No wonder, she looks like a big watermelon," added Amethyst.
"Well I think she's being very selfish. Where's Greg? He should be here too."
From Pearl's pocket the telephone rang. "Hello Greg, where are you? Where's Steven?"
"I'm at the hospital Peridot went into labor this morning. Steven's with her in the delivery room," Greg's voice sounded tinny.
"Why am I only hearing about it now?"cried Pearl.
"Well we tried reaching you but the phone was busy. Look I know you worked hard for this party but this is more important. So get here right away and maybe tell the Peridots."
"I see thank you Greg," Pearl said in a dead tone.
After Pearl hung up Amethyst spoke up, "Well, what's that all about?"
"Of all the selfish things Peridot ever did this takes the cake," hissed Pearl.
"What?"
"Peridot went into labor. Now Steven will never see his birthday party."
Peridot pushed and strained. It was hard work giving birth. Now no longer concerned about her appearance Peridot sweated while Steven held her hand. Dr. Smith cool as a cucumber looked on.
"Steven I'm so sorry we weren't able attend your party. I know you were looking so forward to it,"said Peridot.
Steven winced. Her grip was like a vice, "Peri none of that matters."
Dr. Smith peered up from between her legs, "I can see the head. You're almost there. Give it a push."
Peridot screamed in effort.
Pearl drove as fast as she could to the hospital. It took far too long to announce Peridot's labor and to shut down the party in her mind and now Pearl was making up for lost time. Amethyst sat in the sat next to her in the Vector. The wind whipping her long hair.
"Whoa this thing can go fast!" said Amethyst. The purple gem's knuckles were white as they gripped the dashboard.
"Good thing too, we lost a lot of time dismissing the guests."
Pearl swerved past a tractor trailer. Only to come face to face with a car on the other lane. Amethyst yelped as Pearl swerved back into the lane. Even as celebrity Amethyst had never seen anybody drive so recklessly. The purple gem wondered how they were going to manage in town traffic.
Fortunately the hospital was on the outskirts of town. Pearl sped right into the parking lot and came to a jarring stop. Without even bothering to open the door Pearl jumped out of the sportscar. Amethyst followed staggering just behind. She soon caught up with Pearl as the main door was blocked with news reporters.
A mike was shoved in Pearl's face, "Madame Prime Minister, ANN news. Did Peridot have a boy or girl?"
Another mike, "Tell us about your rivalry with Peridot."
And so Pearl was pelted with questions after questions. Finally she had enough.
"Will you all just shut up and let me pass?" shouted Pearl. "I don't know about the baby. I was just informed about Peridot going into labor now. So let me pass and let me take a look at my grandchild."
She and Amethyst found Greg waiting outside a small hospital room.
"It's over. Peridot's in there resting," said Greg. The man looked so tired yet happy.
When Pearl and Amethyst entered the room they saw a small crowd around the bed. Jet and Emerald Peridot's mothers were there as well as some friends of Steven and Peridot. In the bed laid Peridot. Her hair was messed up, she looked sweaty and tired but somehow she was glowing with happiness. Beside her Steven held a small baby.
"Pearl may I present to you Jenny Emerald Universe," said Steven proudly.
The young man then gently hand Pearl the baby. At 10 pounds the baby was large. Except for the small triangular stone set in her forehead Jenny looked like a human version of Peridot. Despite being a newborn Jenny looked up at Pearl with her emerald green eyes. Pearl felt an instant gush of love she never wanted to let her go.
"Happy Birthday Steven," croaked Peridot.
"Oh Peri you make the best Birthday presents ever," Steven cried as he knelt down and kissed Peridot.