The Orphan.

The knock had Pearl by surprise, she quickly stopped her weeping and turned around. She got up and wiped her tears away and slowly opened a small part of it to look around for the source of it. When she found no one there, she then opened the door all the way to make sure that it wasn't a joke or her mind. It was neither both of it, before she could close the door, she took a quick glance down and saw something she almost missed when she turned. She looked back at the person standing at the floorboard and there it is. He, to be precise.

Staring at Pearl with a small, with a hint of anticipation in his smile and a soft expression to match with it. Was a child, in a dirty medium-sized clothes that was torn in some places. Along with a filthy pair of shorts. His height was that of Steven, but noticeably shorter by a few inches. The boy also looked younger than said person as well. His hair was frazzled and dirty. Pearl also noticed that he was carrying a sack with several things bulging from outside.

Pearl, confused as to why the child was here, half of her mind was thinking about how the child looks like. She tried to speak but can't seem to make sound.

"Hello miss," The boy's voice then broke the silent.

Surprised, Pearl replied only with a, "Hello.".

"I'm sorry but, if this is not too much to ask but can I stay here for the day? It's just that, I'm so tired from yesterday, I've been searching for places to safely get to temporarily. So, can I?" He asked with an expectant grin.

Pearl's mouth was gaped as the child explained his sudden appearance and was about to decline, rather politely because of what the others would think. But then, the child spoke again.

"It's... It's okay if I can't. Many didn't want me anyway, those who would only had to keep me for a short amount of time due to a mysterious event. So, I guess I should just leave." He then began to turn away sadly.

This made Pearl feel guilty, deciding against her first thought, she held out her arm and shouted, "Wait!" prompting the child the turn back to look at her. "You, you don't have to go,"

The boy's eyes lit up at her sentence, "Really!?" he said and Pearl answered with a nod and a reassurance.

"You can stay." She said with a smile.

Moving out of the boy's way, Pearl let him enter the house, which, he stared with a great amazement at the house. Looking around the house, the boy smiled widely in fascination. He then placed his sack on the ground, with a little too much force unfortunately, and a hole that was barely holding on with a few strings left ripped open and let out some of his smaller objects that were put in it.

Looking back at the object, he quickly rushed to it and retrieved the sewing kit he got from one of the people who took care of him, and immediately went to work while mumbling something about how it should last at least a little longer, continued with a series of 'no's'.

Whilst repairing the spot, Pearl went up to him and bent down next to him, slightly surprised that he knows how to sew. "May I ask you something while you're at this?".

The kid looks at her and back at the bag as he replied, "Sure, what is it?"

"Where did you learn to sew?"

"Well, I learned it from the same family that took care of me, why?"

"It's rare to see boys who are skillful in this craft. If I may ask, how old are you? What's your name?"

He then looked around the nearly-finished patch and picks up an envelope. He handed it to Pearl, she turned it around to find message and without hesitation, she proceeds to read it, "To my dear Hammond, by the time you read this, you will be at least 9 years old. I know, I've seen it. Before you read what is encased within this envelope, I just want you to know, that your father and I love you so, so much. And before you read the full message I just wanted to say that, that I'm sorry. When the time comes, read the letter inside and I hope, you can forgive us that we were never with you and that you will understand. Love, your mother.", she then placed her hand over her mouth and looked over to the boy. She handed the object back to him and crouched down near him, "Don't worry, this time you will no longer be alone." She spoke to him softly and hugged him.

The boy happily embraced her hug and enjoyed every lasting moment with it. That is until, the door burst open and came two individuals, one, another kid who is noticeably older than him and the other, a purple skinned girl who is slightly taller than the boy. Both of whom are named, Steven and Amethyst. Which, the boy doesn't know as of yet.

This interrupted their hug as Pearl quickly turned around to see both of the mentioned people with the kid standing just behind her. Amethyst eyed both of them and snickered.

"Uhh, what are you doing? Who's the kid?" She said, pointing at Hammond.

"Oh uh," Looking back at the child behind her, she then answered her in a slightly nervous tone, "Amethyst, Steven, this is Hammond. Hammond, Steven, Amethyst!" And chuckled with the same tone.

Steven waved at him, "Hi! How are you doing?"

"I'm good, thank you for asking."

"Wow! He's polite too! Is he gonna stay here with us?"

"Hah, you wish! If he's going to be staying here, he'll have to ask Garnet-"

And just then, Garnet came in from the door they were from as well, simply saying, "Yes, he's going to stay here with us." In her monotonous voice.

"What!?"

The towering woman standing beside her crossed her arms and fixed her glasses. Hammond then inspected her carefully, he was confused as to why she is wearing sunglasses even after entering the house and why she is unimaginably tall along with her clothes.

"I'll tell you why I let him, I saw him somewhere in my future vision, for some reason, his arrival was the only thing I could see. Not that I thought he was insignificant but it suddenly blocked all the other possible events I could see and that was it. When I was searching for Malachite, visions of him appeared once again and that was when I decided that it would be best if I immediately come back. There's also one thing about him that I don't understand, just as the second vision ended, he was no longer in any possible futures I can see. As if he could avoid it, and by the way, my name's Garnet. That over there is Pearl." She finished, pointing at the woman in front of Hammond.

"Huh, now that you've told me, she haven't really told me her name." He said as he looked at Pearl, who glanced at nowhere and at everyone awkwardly.

Amethyst and Steven laughed at her, causing her to blush, "What?"

"Oh nothing, miss manners!" Just by saying that made her laugh even more, followed by Hammond's hearty laugh, who realized what she meant, somehow.

Note: Oopsy daisy, did something went wrong? Tell me and I will fix it. The scenes were meant to be fleshed out a little more and the chapter's supposed to end right after Amethyst and Steven entered but, oh well.

By the way, Chapter 3 won't be finished until the episode showing Steven's bathroom is. Because, you know? Also, I'll be back with The newcomer tho!