"Bruises"

Summary: Steven is always getting into things that left him with bruises. However none of those things ever left bruises down his neck...

(Their teenagers here)

(No ones pov)

Steven rocked back and forth as he stood in front of Connie, talking excitedly. Connie listened while taking small bites of her hamburger. Greg sat closer to where the food was restringing his guitar, Pearl and Garnet stood near by watching and intermingling when talked to, while Amethyst ate near them. Barbecuing had sorta become a unplanned tradition for the family.

(Greg's pov)

I smiled as Steven came closer to where I was sitting. Ever since he got older I feel like I see him less. Even though he came over almost everyday. He grinned at me as he grabbed two sodas for him and Connie.

"Are we going to play together, later tonight dad?" He stood by me and I smiled. He had always been a good musician. I looked up at him and I caught sight of the almost faded bruise on his neck. I glanced over where Connie was standing and notice her neck was clear which was good for Steven. The Maheswaran would have grounded Connie and possible killed Steven since they weren't really into displays of romantic affection. How have the gems been letting them get by with hickeys? I would have thought that at least Pearl would have reacted.

"Sure kiddo we can jam later." I told him and he smiled and walked back over to Connie which was perfect cause I needed to have a talk with the gems.

I walked over to where they were standing. "Why are you letting Steven walk around with hickeys on his neck?" I asked putting my hands on my hips trying to look firm.

The gems gave me a confused look. "Ah, what are hickeys?" Amethyst asked.

I dropped my hands and rubbed the back of my neck as my cheeks darken. It didn't occurred to me that they wouldn't know.

"There the bruises on his neck." I answered.

"Wait you know how he got those?!" Pearl asked and she looked happy about it. Ah geez.

"Well I'm assuming they're hickeys unless you guys went on a mission a few days ago and he just didn't tell me." I crossed my fingers for that one.

"No we didn't, so how did he get them?" Garnet asked. I swallowed.

"Has Connie been around a good bit lately?" I asked. Might as well start with the basics.

Pearl tilted her head and nodded. "Yes she was there the night we left Steven home from a mission and Amethyst said she saw them together when she noticed them. But what's the point? She's his girlfriend and best friend of course she'll be over."

I took a deep breath. "Well a hickey is a bruise or mark caused by someone biting or sucking at the skin." I said.

Pearl made a disgusted face. "And humans do that to each other? Why?"

My face darken. I was really hoping they would just put two and two together. "Some people are just in to that."

I really didn't want to think about how Steven was the one we were talking about, but still Steven shouldn't be getting them in the first place let alone keeping them.

"Wait where is Steven getting hickeys from?" Amethyst asked.

"You usually get them from someone your dating or "seeing" that's how they got the other name, love bites." I explained.

"Love bites? But Steven loves Connie?!" Pearl exclaimed, and I was relieve they were catching on.

"Wait so your saying that Connie is the one doing it?" Amethyst asked through laughter. She would find this funny, she has been teaching Connie to use her femininity to her advantage since they became friends.

"Yes Connie's the one doing it." I answered.

"We have to talked to him about how this is not the correct way to spend their time together." Pearl said and started to step around me to get to Steven. Garnet put her hand on her shoulder stopping her.

"Nothing good will come out of embarrassing him. In fact Steven and Connie will just find ways around the rule." I could see them doing that.

"It wouldn't be hard for them to Connie's smart and Steven can use Rose's room now. Plus he has healing spit so if he doesn't want us to know, we won't know." Amethyst added.

It was true. "Just try to make sure one of you are in the room when she's over. But don't smother them." I looked at Pearl. "And tell him when you see that he has hickeys, to go and heal them. The last thing anyone of us wants is the Maheswaran see them."

They all nodded. I looked over at Steven as he stared love struck at Connie while she talked. I was happy he found someone that fit with him so well.

Authors note:

I'm soooo sorry that this is late. I know I told you guys that it would be out before Thursday. But Wednesday night I was to tired to write and yesterday I wasn't able to. I'm really sorry you guys and I'll make it up to you next time I write by writing a better story. This one was kind of eh to me. But let me know what you think.