Chapter 9
Author's note: I know it's been a long time and before I get on with anything, I would like to apologize for breaking my promise. I don't think I've got any good reason for putting off this chapter and others as well. The family's been facing some financial problems and I've taken on a couple of jobs to help with the expenses. I really, really am sorry. Besides, I've been writing and re-writing the chapter over and over again and that really adds up to the putting off.
I thank all of you for your patience and to ChimaTigon, thanks for believing in me and this fic. Your the reason I held on.
Now, on with the show.
Disclaimer: Nothing in this story belongs to me, except for my oc, Sam. You can thank Rebecca Sugar and her amazing Crewniverse for the others.
Garnet released a deep sigh as she set Pearl down gently onto the sofa. Then she pulled herself back up and straightened her shades. It'd turned out to be a most eventful evening; a total roller coaster ride that was both shocking yet exciting at the same time. It's not to say that she had not predicted this- she had seen a future where theirs' and Sam's relationship would be stronger, but she did not expect Sam to be Greg's sister. Amethyst entered the house last and closed the door with a loud slam, causing Pearl to practically jump up and yelp aloud in fright.
"Amethyst!"
Amethyst looked offended. "What, I didn't do nothing, right? Sheesh, G! People think you'd be happier after meeting with another member of the family."
Garnet slowly shook her head. "I am happy that Steven has another human in his family besides Greg; it's going to do him a lot of good. However, Pearl's going to face a hard time now that she knows the truth about Sam. I know that it's not going to be easy for her to trust Greg's sister but trust me that this is important and we should help her along with it. Can you help me do that, Amethyst?"
Amethyst turned her head down, somewhat embarrassed of her previous actions and kicked her foot out towards the open air. Garnet crossed her arms across her chest. "Amethyst."
"What, G?"
"Please, Amethyst." Garnet pleaded with a sigh and the purple gem blushed. "I can't do this alone."
Amethyst's eyes widened and she instinctively bit on her lip in surprise. There was a silence in the room as the purple gem struggled with her reply. "Yeah okay, fine." She said finally, and Garnet smiled. "Thank you, Amethyst. Now I understand if you want to go talk to Vidalia about this, okay? Let me deal with Pearl. I'll tell you if I need anything."
Amethyst shrugged and shuffled back out the temple door, off to her best friend's house to tell her of the latest news. The sun was hot as it shined down onto her hair and the sound of the waves crashing onto the shore helped her calm down. She allowed her journey down the steps to be slow as Garnet's words echoed in her mind. Garnet had actually pleaded for her help! Garnet; the strongest member of the Crystal Gems! The unbreakable leader whom Amethyst thought could do just about anything!
'Please, Amethyst. I can't do this alone.'
For once, Garnet trusted her to help with Pearl's condition and not the other way around. For once, Amethyst felt stronger, like she was much superior to the pale gem and she deeply appreciated it. Something warm and fuzzy fluttered in her stomach and Amethyst resisted the urge to sing out loud. A huge smile broke out on her lips and it kept growing and growing that Amethyst felt like her face was going to break apart in half. She jumped off the three last steps of the temple stairs and landed onto the warm sand in glee. Garnet trusts her!
Laughter tore out of her throat as she then began running towards Vidalia's house. For a while, Amethyst felt like there was nothing that could happen that could ruin her day. Everything was perfect!
…
A small smile appeared on Garnet's lips and she sighed in relief as hearing the familiar sounds of delight coming in from the beach. Knowing that Amethyst could be problematic with the issue, especially when she knew that it would put Pearl down a notch from her high horse, Garnet decided that it would be best that she be a bit lenient with her decisions. She decided to ask for Amethyst's help, knowing that it would help with Amethyst's self-esteem.
Now that that's out of the way, Garnet looked towards Pearl and crossed her arms. This other predicament was one of the instances she wished she was not the appointed leader of the Crystal Gems. Pearl was non-moving, she was completely oblivious to everything; it seems. She walked over to the pale gem and gingerly placed a hand onto Pearl's shoulder, in for which the latter flinched and Garnet couldn't help but grit her teeth.
"Pearl."
"…"
"I know you're there, Pearl."
Pearl gave out a soft, muffled reply and Garnet took off her shades. "You can't stay silent forever, Pearl." To Garnet's pleasant surprise, Pearl turned her cheek just slightly to meet with Garnet's gaze. Pearl looked defeated; she looked tired, weak. "Did you know that this would happen, Garnet?"
"Technically, no."
That caught Pearl's attention. How can something as crucial as this incident escape one of the many possibilities that Garnet can foresee? "No?" Pearl questioned.
"There were many possibilities that I've seen that show Sam being someone important in our lives. However, she being Greg's sister is not one of them. I don't know why, Pearl."
Pearl nodded her head. "I see."
"I know you do."
Pearl sighed. "I'm sorry, Garnet. I shouldn't have acted that way around… Sam… but-" Garnet interrupted her with a raise of her palm. "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to, Pearl. Save it for Sam. And probably Steven, too; now that he knows she's his aunt. " The pale, thin gem flinched visibly at the mention of Steven's name.
"Oh Stars," Pearl sighed and shook her head in regret. "What will Steven think of me now?" she moaned. "I've just had that whole thing with Greg done and then this! His aunt!" Garnet tenderly placed her palm onto Pearl's back to comfort her. "He'll understand that you were in shock and you needed your time to get it over with. You might have already solved your… Greg… issue, but this is a completely new thing, yeah?"
It took a while for Pearl to reply, but she did while weakly nodding her head. "Yes… I think so." Garnet blessed her with a small, warm smile. "Good. I know I asked for Amethyst's help but I think it'll be better if you could go on without `em." Pearl had to smile at that.
"Oh really, Garnet? And what's Amethyst's going to do?"
Garnet chuckled and shook her head slowly. "Oh Pearl, have faith. She's more capable than you thought you knew."
…
A couple of days and several odd-but-not-really incidents involving Steven's so-called-but-totally-legit 'healing spit' later, as overseen by Dr Maheswaran, Sam's injuries were as good as new. She was kind of convinced that somehow, someway, she was dreaming because none of it made sense. This whole thing was freaky and she's not sure that it's in the good way, either. She's learned that yes, aliens exist and her older brother Gregory technically has a son with one of them named Rose Quartz.
Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Pearl and Garnet were alien superheroes in a group called the Crystal Gems and they protect the Earth from monsters that totally exist.
On one point, not only does this revelation complicates matters in regards to her mission but it's also making Sam re-value the meaning of her life, which is something that she does not want to do. Ever. On the other hand, it's really, really cool to know that you have another member in your family to continue the legacy and stuff. Especially when said family member is half-alien.
Sam's flexed out her hand again and rotated her shoulder against the fabric of Greg's van's passenger seat. "Huh." She said and Greg lightly chuckled. "Feels weird, doesn't it?" he asked and Sam shrugged.
"Yeah and I still can't get over that the doctor is so cool with all of this."
Greg outright laughed at that. "Well, you'll get used to it. We all did." Sam glanced over to her brother curiously. "You mean it hasn't always been like this?"
Greg shook his head and turned the wheel over by the corner of the street. "Steven was a pretty normal baby as far as babies go. All the magic things started just a little bit after his thirteenth birthday." He answered. Sam hummed and turned her gaze outside the window and the lyrics of the song playing on the radio took over her thoughts. The comfortable silence between them stayed until they finally reached the front of Sam's mansion.
"Here we are," Greg pitched in, breaking the silence as he looked over towards his sister. "You need help getting out?"
Sam rolled her eyes. "Dude, were you not there when the nice doc said that my arm was healed?" She replied and Greg huffed. "I get it that you're worried about me but I'm not three anymore, Gregory. By the way, I really hope you've been taking good care of my house while I was gone- and my car." Sam's eyebrows narrowed in between her eyes and suddenly she hissed. "If I found out anything happened to my car while I was gone, you better wish I had never found you in this place, get it?"
Greg was surprised for a short moment but he nodded his head anyway, nervously. Sam got out of the van and the both of them headed to the front door. She turned the handle and was shocked to find it unlocked. "Why on Earth didn't you lock the door?" she demanded. "Someone could've broken in while you were gone! I have my laptop in here!"
"Sam, chill out." Greg tried assuring her. "I had Steven watch over the place while we were gone. Besides, the house's too far away from the neighbourhood for anyone to do anything to it anyway."
"And that's supposed to make me feel better how?"
Greg shrugged as Sam pushed the door open… and was promptly knocked to her feet through some kind fast-moving, unseen force. Sam choked for air as a pair of strong limbs encircled her rib cage and restricted her breathing.
"SAM! YOU'RE HOME!"
Sam gasped as she tried fighting against a nasty cough and it'd taken a very concerned Greg to pry his son off her younger sister. Steven immediately complied, with a mixed expression of extreme guilt as he profusely apologized as Greg helped Sam get back on her feet.
"Steven," she gasped out and pushed her hair out of her eyes. Cheeks flushed as she rubbed down her chest, Sam gave him a wobbly smile. "I'm fine." She assured him. "That's some muscles you got on those hands, kiddo."
He looked embarrassed, she noted, his expression laced with regret as rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I'm really, really sorry Sam." Good Lord, now he sounded like he was about to cry.
"No no no," she cooed. "It's okay. Steven, I'm okay."
"Really?"
"Yeah, kid. Really." She was eager to change the topic, eager to get the tenseness out of the air and their systems before it could grow worse. "So, which room in the house are you staying in?"
Steven's face quickly took in an expression of hope and marvellous wonder. "I get to have a room in your house?" He questioned her and Sam gave her brother a narrow-eyed look of slight ire. "You mean you did not stay here with your dad while I was at the hospital?"
"I-I hadn't wanted to intrude…"
Sam sighed. "Kid, whatever's mine here also technically belongs to my brother, which means it's also yours by extension. Of course, I'd still give you a room in the house anyway if it weren't Greg's because… well, you know, we're family."
Steven gaped at her. Then to her surprise, he hugged her again; softer this time. "I love you, Sam."
Sam chuckled and ruffled his hair once he'd let her go and lead him to the stairs. Before they went up, however, she turned her head and looked past her shoulder to Greg.
"You coming, Greg?"
Greg looked his sister in the eyes and Sam softly smiled at him. What had he done to deserve her? What had he done that'd merited her being so nice towards him and his son? How could she, after he'd left her alone with their father, after he'd left her to shoulder his misery alone, treat him as if nothing had happened?
It'd left him frustrated and with no little amount of guilt, ever since they'd have their talk the other day. And it scared him to no end. After all, there's always calm before any storm. Greg doesn't want to lose this- this relationship between them, but he knows it'll come eventually. He shook his head to clear his thoughts.
"Dad, you're not coming?"
"What?" Greg called in disbelief. "Of course I am. Can't let you two have fun without me, after all."
…
Steven had chosen himself a basic room near Greg's and after dropping off Sam's stuff from the hospital in her own room, they'd went downstairs for dinner. Sam had managed to get Steven agree to stay over for the night and Greg told her that they'll drive over to the temple for Steven's stuff afterwards.
"So these people are really our family?" Steven asked as they progressed through the portraits along the walls to the kitchen. Greg nodded. "Yeah, kiddo. The Universe is a very large family. Geez, it's been really a long time since I last seen or met with any of them."
Steven was curious. "You mean there are still others in our family out there that's still… alive?" He licked his lips as Sam chuckled and crossed her arms across her chest. "Yeah, Steven. And maybe one day you'll even get to meet them too." There was a pause before Steven gave the sibling duo a look. "So, which one was yours dad?"
Sam and Greg froze. They held a silent conversation through exchanged looks and Greg eventually gave in due to Steven being his son. "C'mere, son." He said after clearing his throat. "It's right over here." His sister followed quietly behind them and pushed her hands down into her pockets. The picture was met with total and absolute silence as Steven took in the young faces of his father and his aunt and his grandparents.
"I… look like you," he stated quietly, to the agreement of Greg and Sam. "And you look like… grandma, dad. And Sam, you look like… grandpa."
"Grandfather, Steven." Sam corrected him sternly, which made the boy flinch back in surprise at her tone. "He'd wanted you to call him grandfather." She justified herself. Steven's eyes widen in realization. "You mean he's still-"
"Yes," she answered simply, but did not elaborate. It was obvious that the topic of his grandfather was something that deeply unsettled Greg and Sam, so Steven decided not to push it; no matter how interested he was about the whole thing. Sam sighed. "So, are we done here? 'Cause I think there's pizza calling my name and it's weird that I'm not already on my way to the boardwalk."
"Yup," Greg quickly interrupted. "We're going. We're taking my van too because I don't think Sam's car is suitable for driving on sand."
They got out the door and Sam made sure to lock it as Greg started the engine. They buckled up and Greg finally drove out the gate.
"So, Steven; tell me more about the Crystal Gems." Sam asked as her fingers turned the knob to turn down the radio's volume. The boy perked up in his seat and Greg was thankful for the distraction. Knowing Steven, he probably felt guilty to have made Sam feel bad back at the house. He shot his sister an approving smile and began to softly hum along to the song, nodding his head.
"Wow, where should I start? Sam, who do you wanna know about first?"
"What about the tall one?"
"Garnet? Or Pearl?"
Sam paused as she considered her choices and bit onto her lip. "Square afro and shades; Garnet right?" Greg chuckled. "Glad to know you remembered, Sam. Though it would've been interesting to see you embarrass yourself when you get the names wrong."
"Go die in a hole, Greg."
Steven was aghast. "Sam! That's not nice!" Sam rolled her eyes. "A word to the young, Steven. A sibling is the only one in the family who can say bad stuff to you like that and get away with it." She nudged Greg with her hand and winked. "Right Greg?"
"Steven, don't listen to her. Insulting people is bad."
"Insulting people is bad," Sam mimics him and snorted. "Geez, what a loser. Tell me about Garnet, Steven."
Steven opened his mouth really wide and for a moment, Sam was concerned if it meant that the boy was secretly not getting enough air. "Garnet is the unofficial leader of the Crystal Gems," he began suddenly. "She is a fusion made of love from two other gems named Ruby and Sapphire. Garnet's weapons are gauntlets, and she has awesome future vision!"
"Fusion of… love? Is that like se-"
The van suddenly swerved dangerously to the left, causing Steven and Sam to shriek very loud in fear and hold onto each other. Greg's face was red, and his eyes as wide as saucers as he quickly regained control of the wheel. Then, like some professional drift driver, Greg landed the vehicle at the side of the road and shifted the gear to park. His chest heaved with heavy breaths and he took the time to calm himself down before turning his head to look at the two people by his side.
Sam and Steven were as white as ghosts and they trembled as they held onto one another for life. Sam's left eye twitched like mad and Steven had anime tears coming out of his eyes. Greg winced and hissed in guilt, before he rubbed the back of his neck. "Heh, sorry guys; a cat suddenly shot into the middle of the road and I didn't want to hit it."
There were sounds of cracking bones as Sam turned her stiff neck to glare at her brother and shook a fist towards him. "Y-you… you… son of a-"
"Drive, dad!" Steven suddenly interrupted, causing Greg to slam his leg down onto the pedal and the van started moving again. An uncomfortable silence dawned into the atmosphere as aunt and nephew repeatedly drew in deep breaths and Greg gulped. No word was said after that incident and Sam swore that she'd get her brother back for that scare.
"It won't be long now," The portly man informed his sister as their journey continued onto sand and Sam nodded when she could hear the sounds of waves as they crashed onto the shores and birds squawking in the air. Greg hummed on a familiar little tune as he drove on… and on… and on… and-
Whoa.
There, at the side of the cliff, was the surreal sight of the biggest statue of a… woman Sam had ever set her eyes on. It had long, curly hair and six arms and was dressed in a tunic-like dress with a mask over its face. And at the centre, was a hut.
A freaking, honest-to-goodness beach hut.
Steven laughed as he jumped out the van door and pulled on Sam's hand roughly. Not taking her eyes off the marvel, she slowly peeled herself off the seat and her feet dropped onto the sand with a soft 'thud!' At her side, Greg chuckled as he patted her shoulder.
"Welcome to the Temple."
Comments, reviews? Please and thank you. I also understand if you guys wanna like bash me for posting this chapter late, so knock yourselves off.