AN- Thanks for the feedback.

I didn't give a flashback for Lapis' torment on purpose though; I don't believe I truly could. I wrote that part in the mindset of Peridot rather than Lapis.

I suppose I will try to include Connie and the Gems in this…hmm…

Chapter Seven-

"Pearl…" Amethyst rolled her eyes at the tall white gem "I thought you tried this before and almost killed yourself"

Pearl blushed, embarrassed by Amethyst's reminder. She had hoped they would be excited by the half-finished spaceship but instead she only saw worry. She knew that this was a bad idea herself; but it was the only one available.

"Pearl, are you suicidal?" Amethyst went on to say "Even if you can get there, how will you warp to the home world? " Pearl retaliated, saying there wasn't anything else to do and she should shut her mouth. This only succeeded in launching a full scale argument.

Garnet abruptly stood and left, going around to the other side of the building. She couldn't take the fighting anymore. Was this all it took to break them? She allowed her hands to unclench where they were making her gems ache but she couldn't help the tears running down her cheeks and the bridge of her nose.

"You don't care if he is safe!" Pearl accused hotly, her normally soft blue eyes burning with fury.

"I care about you Pearl" Amethyst's voice suddenly softened, her eyes wet "We lost Rose, Steven and we fight gems we knew every day! I can't lose anyone else…" Her voiced grated on the last syllable, choked by sobs.

Pearl's eyes softened at the display Amethyst was making. It took a lot to see through the walls they all had, she knew it was unhealthy but it was the only way they had now, keep the memories away or turn into a monster.

…

Connie ran up to the old shed, her long black hair flowing behind her, which was pleasant in the summer heat. Pearl had wanted to show her something. Since Steven had disappeared Connie found herself with the gems more often. She now knew that the gems weren't as perfect as they tried to be in front of her before. Pearl was obsessive-compulsive and Amethyst was…gross. Garnet didn't speak anymore, so Connie almost unconsciously avoided her. The tallest gem had never summoned her glasses since they had been to the galaxy warps and Connie would find her sometimes standing with her three eyes blank. It was as if Garnet was a turtle, crawling back into her shell.

Reaching UUUHQ she saw no one. A note was left on the door.

Connie,

Forget I said anything.

Pearl.

The page was stained with tears, both Pearl's and then Connie's. The human girl's hands shook as she took in the words. She had thought Pearl had found a way to get Steven home. What else was it? Now she was supposed to forget about it? She wanted to feel angry and betrayed but all she felt was depressed.

Suddenly Garnet came out from behind the building, looking calm and composed like she almost always was, at least when Steven was here. Connie shook her head at the thought of her friend that could be dead or worse, the gems were very harsh about the truth to her. She wished she was in blissful ignorance. Tears welled up again, rolling off her chin and onto her overalls.

Connie felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up at Garnet who finally had her glasses on. The human tween shook away the gesture and hugged the currently selective-mute. Garnet froze for a second before embracing the smaller figure.

The gem warrior spoke up for the first time in over a month.

"Connie, it's going to be okay. I cannot promise you we can get him back." Connie winced at the bluntness "but it will get better"

"I… just miss him…"

…

Steven had been on the home world for over a month without much complaint aside from a few teary nights. Then the thin soap bubble he put around himself popped.

That day in class he gave no indication he was paying any attention and wouldn't speak. Aventurite noticed but wisely kept her mouth shut except to scold Rose Quartz and Onyx for staring at their male classmate.

She couldn't stop them in break time though. The two inquisitive girls quickly buzzed about the hybrid like mosquitos to fresh blood. Steven was sitting on a bench, his knees up to his chest.

"Hello Steven" The desk mates cautiously greeted simultaneously. Steven didn't reply, the only change in his movement being blowing his hair out of his eyes. Only very young gem couldn't control their hair, not enough for any businesses to be made for the purpose of cutting it. He couldn't be bothered asking Peridot, who stopped only to prepare the meal in the evening some days. Her job was more demanding than usual; more people need light bulbs, Steven supposed.

Almost every day Steven would lead a game for the gems to play. Some gem purists like Jadeite would never join in but the trend was spreading to the other years. Rosie could already see Snowflake standing over a few benches away, looking over and bouncing on her toes slightly. They would come over here soon.

Onyx, as Rose was distracted had taken the liberty of questioning their friend.

"Are you hungry?"

"Do you miss hum-ania?" Rosie hisses at her the correct name "Earth, sorry"

The boy's fists tightened beside his knees "Yes…" He mumbled, his eyes wet

"Why don't you go back there? Go for a visit?" Onyx rambled on undeterred by Steven's tell-tale body language. Rosie nudged Onyx gently, trying to convey her she should stop.

"Don't you get it? I can't!" Steven's shoulders shook. "By the time droids would arrive at earth almost everyone I knew would be dead! Haven't you guys ever heard of loss?"

They knew the meaning but they were basically newborns and the path allowed everyone to live and be joyous. Loss is a word that doesn't belong.

…

"Lapis Lazuli, the leader wishes you to attend a meeting immediately" The guard telling her this droned and appeared bored but Lapis could see disgust at her hidden. Almost all the guards were like this.

The water gem wondered what the meeting could be about. Perhaps it was about the placement of Steven? She hoped it wasn't, she and Peri were happy with the boy in their custody despite all their hopes to someday get him home.

AN- I am sorry for the unexpected mini-hiatus. I have been busy with school and writer's block.