This is the final chapter. There will most likely be a short series of one shots in this Universe, but no promises past one. Thanks for all of your favs, follows, and reviews.

It had been a while since she had seen Greg. With the recent flux of corrupted gems and the escalating tension between her and the other gems, she had not found the time to visit him. As she waited for Amethyst to return from her mission, the idea came to her, suddenly and strongly, to surprise him. The walk to the carwash was short and uneventful, a few of the beach city residents waving at her as she walked by.

The carwash was empty, except for Greg. He had fallen asleep in a lawn chair, smack-dab in the middle of the parking lot. Smiling gently, she nudged his shoulder. "Greg."

His eyes fluttered before snapping open. "Good morning."

"It's the afternoon." She protested as he stood on the chair to plant a kiss on her lips.

"Doesn't matter much, does it?" He replied before offering her his arm. "Something's got you down. Care for a walk?"

Rose nodded and took his arm. As much as Greg had changed, he was still so sweet. He knew her well, as well as any human would get to know her in a lifetime. They walked in an companionable silence for a few minutes, watching as the sun set the ocean aflame. What was she supposed to say? Rose knew the power of speech, of lies and of truth. She knew how to sharpen it into a weapon and sweeten it to go down easy. But right now, she had no idea how to say it.

"Greg, I fought Garnet today."

Greg looked up at her, his head tilted to the side. "Well, I'm glad you're alright."

"Garnet's not."

Greg's mouth twitched. He still didn't get it.

"She's reforming with Steven in- in Pearl's room."

Realization washed over his face. "Rose, how long does it normally take the two of them to reform?"

"Six hours, maybe a full day if she's really hurt."

He stopped, moved in front of her and grabbed both of her hands. "You've never apologized to her, Rose. I think you should," he said firmly. "Today."

OoOoO

Rose hadn't formed Pearl for a long time. She rarely used her room to make people anymore, and when she did, well, Pearl just wasn't her first choice. All that she could conjure of her was her in the throes of pregnancy, or in the beginning, when she was just a pearl and not a person. But today, she could remember her perfectly, right after Rose had announced that she wanted to start a rebellion.

Her hair was peach, skin clear and bright. Her eyes wide and brimming with hope and fear, and of course, love. It was then that Rose had loved her and that love has lasted throughout the war. This was the best of times.

"My Pearl."

"R-rose."

"You would die for me, wouldn't you?"

If Pearl was surprised at the line of questioning, she didn't show it. "I would."

Rose offered Pearl her hand and lifted her up. They began to dance, and the pink clouds slowly solidified into a ballroom floor. "And would you die for my dream?"

"I would." Pearl replied, a lazy smile spread across her face. "I would do anything for you, Rose. Do you have something planned?"

For a moment, she didn't know how to answer that. If she said the truth, this illusion would be shattered. But Rose had to ask her.

"If it were a selfish dream? One where I would live with my dream, with Gr-...with a human man alongside me. Pearl, would you stay that course if I ended up hating you at the end?"

Pearl was silent as she stopped their waltz to dip herself before twirling into Rose's arms. "I love you more than anyone Rose. I would die for you, no matter the circumstances, as long as I still mattered to you."

Rose pulled her in close, tilting her head as if to kiss her, before stopping and pressing her lips to Pearl's forehead. "I don't know if you will matter afterwards. I'm such a selfish person."

Rose dissipated her before she could see her expression. As much as she hated to, she knew that she had to apologize. She had done so much wrong in having Steven. She hadn't told Garnet about it, or asked Greg before she agreed. It was a rash decision, and one that Pearl shouldn't have made.

Steven was a mistake.

The realization came to her suddenly. Steven, as he was, was a mistake. She had wanted a child so that they could chose their own destiny and control their own life. And she had gotten a child, although Steven wasn't really her son, as much as she wanted to deny it. She shouldn't have had Steven at the expense of Pearl's life.

Rose waved her hand and a door formed, water spilling down from the top of the doorway to make a fountain. It had been thirteen years since she had made this door, since she had went into this room. She took a deep breath and walked through.

Steven was sitting on one of the water pillars, Ruby and Sapphire's gem's clutched in his grasp as he waited.

"Steven, I need to-"

"Go away!"

Rose paused. "I-I can't Steven. I need to speak to Garnet first. And you."

Steven uncurled a little bit, his grasp still tight on her gems. "Do you not like Pearl?"

Rose stuttered as she took a tentative step closer. "I did. I think I do now. I was- I am a little jealous. I should have had you myself and I blame her for being the one you look up to."

"It sounds like you blame her for dying." Steven muttered, still not turning to look at her.

"I might."

Steven gently placed Garnet's gems on the water-like surface and stood up. He looked up at her and asked, "Will you talk about her now? And will you stop ignoring her?"

"I will. I promise, Steven. She's...she's your mother after all."

She wasn't sure what she had expected from him, but certainly not a hug. He tried his best to wrap his arms around her large girth and buried his face in her stomach, the side of his cool pearl pressed to her gem. "So are you."

A bright flash of light surrounded Garnet's gems behind them, and they separated as the two rose and formed two distinct figures. The two fell to the ground. Ruby glared at her for a moment, before turning to Sapphire. They embraced, and in another flash, they were one.

Garnet said nothing for a moment. Her hands shook, but she said nothing.

Rose forced the words out. "I'm sorry about Pearl. For not talking about her and feeling jealous. You were right Garnet. I'm sorry that I made you reform. I-"

"That's enough." Garnet said, her voice low and dangerous.

Rose nodded.

Garnet continued. "You've done enough Rose." She walked to the nearest wall and a door appeared, the familiar inside to her room visible in the small gaps around her figure as she disappeared into the doorway.

Even though her apology had finally been rejected, Rose felt better. She offered Steven her hand and they walked away, walked through the endless expanse of water as she began. "Your mother didn't know what a sword was when she first formed it. She thought it was…"