After several hours, the children had fallen fast asleep, their faint snoring heard throughout the house. The Gems, however, were vigilant in watching Phosphosiderite.
"So, when did you regenerate, weirdo?" Amethyst quirked an eyebrow.
"As soon as your small humans found me, which was tonight. I understand your suspicion of me, but I want to be a part of your team. I want to be a Crystal Gem. I had always believed in you, but I know that it's going to take more than one night to gain your trust."
"Yeah, pretty much. Garnet and Pearl just kinda… found me in a Kindergarten one day and decided to take me in. The Kindergartens aren't working any more, though. None of it is."
Oh, thank goodness. I mean, nothing against you-"
"No, I know. I shouldn't be here," Amethyst muttered. "The whole thing was just a big mistake-"
They were interrupted by a man stumbling through the house in a red suit.
"Who-" Sid burst out. "Is that the Santa you had mentioned earlier?"
"Oh, yeah, that's just Greg. He's Steven's dad, but on Christmas, he's Santa," Amethyst told her.
"Hey, guys!" Greg whispered loudly. He slid several decorated boxes under the tree, nearly waking the children up as he tripped over the Christmas tree lights. He hadn't seemed to notice the new gem sitting in the far corner of the warp pad room.
Garnet appeared behind him in a red suit, also carrying several wrapped boxes under her arms. She placed them under the tree alongside Greg's, and they both left the beach house.
"Good thing he didn't notice you," Amethyst snickered. "That would have been awkward."
The remainder of the night had been filled with heavy stares and intrusive questions. The gem felt interrogated, however all of the questions were answered until one final query struck her.
"Have you seen Jasper or Lap-" Amethyst was interrupted by a subtle gasp.
"Jasper… You know her?" she remembered the gem, the millennia they had spent together until Yellow Diamond had intervened. How much have things changed? She thought.
"Yes. She is fused with another gem, Lapis Lazuli, and is now at the bottom of the ocean," Garnet explained. "Before that, she tried to kill all of us, and nearly succeeded until Lapis got a hold of her."
"I guess she has changed," tears escaped her as she explained how close her and Jasper were, how Jasper had nearly joined the Rebellion. "If it weren't for Yellow Diamond, she and I could have been Crystal Gems. We could have helped. I had almost convinced her to leave everything behind with me so we could fight in the Rebellion, but she was so brainwashed I didn't want to anger her. The choice between her and humanity may seem obvious to you, but she meant so much to me. I loved her, and I just couldn't let her go," she buried her face in her hands.
"Whoa, wait. Are we both talking about the same Jasper? Big, orange with muscles? Hates everyone?" Amethyst questioned.
"How could you love someone like her?" Pearl asked, shocked.
"There were different sides of her, you know; sides she wouldn't let anyone else see but me. That's why I wanted to be with her. I knew there was so much more to her than bloodthirst, than the rage that the wars had taught her. I could see it transforming her, and she was brainwashed by the time I had even tried to do anything. I tried to tell her how different things were, but she refused to listen. She was afraid to listen," Phosphosiderite sighed.
Silence enveloped the Temple, interrupted only by Steven's occasional snoring and the snow gently falling outside. After long enough, morning sunlight surged through the windows, illuminating the Temple and awakening Connie.
"Steven!" she whispered excitedly. "Wake up, it's Christmas morning!"
"Huh?" he mumbled. "I don't see any zebras, Pearl, we're in-"
"Oh, come on, Steven! You're such a heavy sleeper. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S!" she spoke the word with clarity and volume.
He rose from the bed, nearly tripping over the toys that cluttered the small sleeping area.
"Santa was here," he breathed.
"He sure was, kiddo!" Greg walked in, grinning as he helped the children onto the couch. "I brought you guys Christmas sweaters! Even for the gems!" he brought in a large pile of garments, decorated with embroidery and glitter.
"Thank you, Greg, but-" Pearl began.
"Oh, come on, it's just a Christmas sweater. get in the spirit!" he picked a small fleece sweatshirt from the mound. "Uh, I've been around here for twenty five years and I've never seen her" Greg gestured towards Sid.
"I am Phosphosiderite," she shook his hand, smiling gently. "And you're Greg?"
"Do you have a nickname or something? Sorry, that one's a mouthful," he chuckled.
"Oh, you can just call me Sid," she assured him.
"Come on, let's open presents!" Steven took their hands, leading them to the Christmas tree.
"Steven, be careful around her," Garnet warned.
"Well, even if I tried to fight you guys, I obviously wouldn't succeed. Five gems against one doesn't sound very likely to me," Shrugged Sid.
"Fine," Garnet said. "Just sit there, on the couch."
"Garnet! This is her first Christmas in 6,000 years-"
"Actually, I've never had a Christmas before. I wouldn't even know what it was if it weren't for the gems. They explained it to me," she admitted. "Now, what is this thing I'm supposed to put on?"
"It's a Christmas sweater. Look, it's got a cute snowman on it!"
"He looks pained," she frowned at the embroidered sweater. An eye was falling off, and the fabric was similar to that of dog hair.
"Oh, those things are supposed to be ugly," he turned to Steven. "Now, let's see what Santa got you, Shtoo-ball!"
They gathered around the Christmas tree, glowing with excitement as the gems watched Steven, Connie, and even Greg open the presents.
"Wow, I got a new ukulele! Thanks, dad!" the boy embraced his father, full of love and gratitude. Occasions such as this went on for nearly an hour, until all that was left was ripped wrapping paper and stale euphoria.
During this time, Garnet had cooked the children breakfast. They each received plated piled high with pancakes, eggs, and bacon, topped with syrup and whipped cream.
"Wow, Garnet!" Connie exclaimed, mouth full of food. "If you don't eat, how can you cook so well?"
"Cooking isn't difficult. Since humans have been perfecting it over thousands of years, I've learned how to do it. Especially when Amethyst eats like a horse," Garnet winked.
"You bet I do!" she stormed in, eating all leftovers in sight.
"Of course," Connie said to herself. "Hey, Mr. Universe, what time is it? I have to be back home by 12:00."
"Oh, man, we gotta go. I'll meet you in the car, I can't let your mom and dad see me in Christmas pajamas," he rushed to his van.
"Thanks for the presents, guys! I'll see you later!" Connie hugged Steven tightly, wishing him luck with Phosphosiderite. "She seems like a nice gem to me, and I know things'll be great now that you guys have an extra helping hand around! Especially since the others have been causing you problems."
They departed the small beach house with promises of phone calls and adventures to come, driving through the thick layer of snow with ease.