Chapter 4

Author's note: Welcome back, everyone! It's been awhile since I posted the last chapter and I guess the time is due for yet another. I would like to thank all the reviewers and people who have followed and favourite the story; hell, yeah! And I've decided to make this story start after the premiering of 'Mr Greg'; so Greg in this story is kinda loaded and before the episode 'Beach City Drift'.

StevenSquid: I'm planning this chapter and maybe the next one for Greg and Sam to get re-acquainted. Maybe I'll insert some scenes about Steven telling the Gems about Sam? I don't know. You'll have to read to find out. Yeah, I'm excited for some Steven and Gems action with Sam too. d(o)b

Leonard Church814: Thank you so much for correcting my mistake. I really, really appreciate it.

Guest1234: You'll have to keep reading to find out! ;)

Disclaimer: Steven Universe belongs to the marvellous Rebecca Sugar and her Crewniverse! None of it is mine, sadly; except for Sam.

Now enjoy!

"S-Sam?!"

The woman chuckled and nodded.

"Don't wear it out, brother-man."

Greg's eyes were as wide as saucers and he was at a loss for words. Sam's grin enlarged and she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Hello again, Gregory." Sam greeted and laughed again, which made Greg stumble backwards in disbelief, tripped over the hose and fell on his bottom. "Oh my God," he whispered again and again with a hand over his heart. Sam was a bit surprised at his reaction- was he really that shocked to see her again, after all these years?

"Whoa, dude. Are you okay? Uh, d-do you need help getting up?"

"Oh my God," Greg repeated as he sat up and pinched on his arm, before slightly wincing from the pain afterwards. Sam sighed and went over to help him up. "Greg! Snap out of it, man. You're embarrassing me. Damn, Greg."

"It's really you."

"Well, no duh." Sam rolled her eyes. "Look, you might wanna turn the water off before you forget about it."

"Wha- Oh! Oh, yeah! Hold on." Greg replied and ran over to the tap at the side of the carwash to turn the water off. Sam watched with a frown over how he was slightly panting, despite the short distance between her and the tap and sighed. Judging from Greg's reaction to meeting her, it was clear that he had thought that they would never meet each other again. Then that would put a slight dent in her plans. But it was nothing she couldn't handle.

"All done?" She asked as he finally got back to her and Greg rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah. Thanks for reminding me."

"No big. You were always forgetful back then, too." Sam replied and paused. "Remember that time you took me to the theatre with your friends and accidentally left me at the gas station on the way back?"

Greg blushed and laughed. Sam's smile returned. Step one, easing herself into the conversation and lighten up the mood, check. "Yeah; and it wasn't until dinner when mom asked me where you were that I finally remembered! Man, she got so angry that she`d grounded me for three whole months!"

Sam laughed too, and she purposely hooked a hand onto Greg's shoulder to see how he would react to her touching him. It seemed okay because he didn't pull back and she sneaked in another breath of relief. "Man," Sam said. "Talk about memories, huh?"

"Heh, yeah," Greg answered with an easy smile. "Wow, Sam. I… you're actually here; and-" He eyed her from top to bottom in disbelief. "You're huge."

"Hey, speak for yourself," Sam interrupted him. "At least I don't look like I'm five months pregnant with twins."

"Wow; rude."

"I'm your sister, Greg. If anyone has the right to insult you and get away with it, it's me." Sam replied and Greg shook his head with amusement. "No, Sam. I mean, I never thought I'd see you all grown up like this. Look at you! When did you get so tall?"

Awkward laughter followed her brother's question- How exactly can she say, without hurting her brother's feelings, that he could have seen her grow to this height only if he hadn't ran away in the first place?

"Uh, I don't know," Sam answered with a strained smile and swallowed the lump in her throat. "It just happened, I guess. I… have never actually taken the time to think about it, you know?"

Greg crossed his arms and nodded. "Yeah."

There was a pause in the conversation as each pondered on what to say next, and Sam decided to broach the subject of his van, with hopes that what Pee Dee had told her wasn't true. "So, uh Greg, where`s your house at?"

Greg's expression turned to one of unease and he bit onto his lower lip. "I… uh, I don't exactly have a house." He admitted. "I live in my van."

Sam frowned, still in denial about the fact even though she'd known about it from Pee Dee earlier, before she coughed out a laugh and hit her brother on his arm. "Real funny, Gregory. Good to know that you still have your sense of humour. But really, where do you live?"

Greg looked conflicted, and Sam rubbed a clasped a hand over her face and sighed. "You`re right serious about this, aren't you?"

"… Yeah, Sam. Sorry."

Sam turned around and placed a hand on her hips. She crouched and narrowed her brows. I…I could still use this, Sam thought. Still, it was hard seeing her brother like this; without proper shelter and barely holding onto his life.

"Dude," She stood up and shook her head. "Dude."

"Sam, I-"

"No, Greg," She interrupted him. "No. I don't want to believe that my brother; my great, big brother Greg, who used to say things about living the easy life in a huge-ass mansion and party shit, lives in a van."

Greg blew a heavy sigh and looked away. "Sam, I can't lie and tell you that it's not as hard as it looks like but it's the truth. And by the way, I'm happy with how I am."

Sam wanted to protest, oh did she really want to protest and just shake that stupid crap out of him but held herself back. She must find a solution to this, even though she knew that they'd leave this place eventually and return back home, there was in no way Greg would still live in a run-down van. Not while she's here and she knows about this.

"Greg," she said and grabbed onto his hand. "Greg, look. There is in no way I am going to let my brother live in a van, not while I'm still around. W-why not come and live with me, huh? I have the keys to the old mansion, remember? I have no problems with you keeping the van, but come live at the mansion, yeah?"

Greg looked surprised. "Really? You're staying at that old place?"

"Man, anything must be better than living in a van. Please Greg?"

Greg pondered on it for a moment before he shrugged and sighed. "Yeah okay. No harm in it, I suppose. And I can still keep my van and work at the wash. So okay." Sam sighed in relief. That`s one issue done and over with.

She and Greg took their own vehicles and in their way back to the mansion, stopped to bag up some dinner from the Fish Stew Pizza. The journey was quiet and uneventful as they went side by side, each lost in thought and memories of their own. Greg still couldn't believe that Sam was here. It all felt surreal. Never in a million years had he thought that he would ever set his eyes on his younger sister again. Maybe when he was younger Greg had fantasized returning to his family after he was successful so that he could show off to his father that he can actually make it on his own, with his own terms, but that was before he had met Rose and had Steven.

Greg sighed. This was all so fast, so sudden. He doesn't know what to think about it yet. And who knew Sam would grow up to look so much like their mother? Something pulled his heart with that thought and he sniffed. Oh man, that was still a sore subject, even after all these years. How did she find him? Could she have known all this time where he'd been? Why was she here?

Was their father keeping tabs on him?

Greg shuddered. Now that`s a new thought. Was he silently watching over him all this time, waiting for him to fail so that he could lure Greg back to his old life and responsibilities? Greg remembered feeling so overwhelmed over his duties and choking on the responsibilities, his depression after their mother died and Sam facing problems at school and her strained relationship with their father. He hadn't even time for himself. He was so lost with the world around him that for a while, Greg even forgot how to feel happy.

He does not want to return that life again. Not when he's already have so much with him here- a new life, a job, money for his and Steven's survival. He's happy. He's got friends and people who care about him.

Greg stopped at the red light and tied his hair back with a band he kept in his van's front storage drawer. Then he wiped sweat off his palms on his shirt. It dawned on Greg that he was scared. Scared of the past, of his ghosts; of what lies in wait for him back home. But he drew a sharp breath and calmed himself. Living alongside the gems has taught him several things of facing up to your fears and he decided to do this and get it over with.

Greg swears that he'll face up to his ghosts and by Rose, he'll come out alive. He'll win. That he swears. He'll solve whatever conflict that's plaguing his family and fix them.

Sam's sweet, sweet ride sped past him and led him further to the old building from his memories. She honked her horn and flashed him thumbs up and he returned the gesture with his own nod and a smile. They drove through the town and lines and lines of houses and up a hill, until they finally reached it.

There. Greg's eyes were glued to it the whole time; even when Sam had gotten out of her car to unlock the gate and the both of them drove into the yard. Both stopped their engines and Sam was the first to get out of her car and closed the gate. Greg's hands were practically glued to the wheel, as memory after distant memory flashed in his mind like scenes in a movie.

"Greg?"

Sam knocked on the driver's seat window with a concerned expression on her face and Greg gets it. She understands. Sam understands him.

"Hey," Sam called out. "You okay there?"

Greg lets go of the wheel and drew in a deep, calming breath. He's doing this. He turns to face her and nods. He released himself from the seatbelt and got out of his van. "I'm fine." He answers her. "Thanks."

Sam shot him a small smile and nods once. "Come on. Let's get in before it starts to get dark out."

Side by side, they enter the building together. As soon as Sam flicked the lights on in the living room, Greg was lost again. His wide-eyed gaze wanders around the space to the hallway and the grand stairs and the portraits the lined the walls as he walked deeper into the house.

"Hey Greg; go shower and change into some fresh clothes. There must be some that fit you. I'm staying in the main bedroom. You can pick another for yourself. Fresh towels are in the cabinet and there are some basic toiletries in the bathrooms. I'll be in the kitchen and put this stuff away."

"Hm, thanks Sam."

Sam's gaze lingered on him before she nodded again and disappeared.

Greg started his journey to the upper floor, his mind still occupied with thoughts. He would get his answers during dinner, if Sam's up to it.

And that's it, folks! Was their meeting too fast? Should I do something about it? What do you think?

Review and comment, please and thank you.