Hey, everyone. Mystery Critic here back with the next chapter of Gift Of A Rose. That ending, am I right? I didn't even know I could right this well, and I'm giving myself goosebumps and making myself cry as I write it. Anywho, I'm sorry about all the cliffhangers. It's just the best way to bring readers back, so I keep doing it. I do not own Steven Universe, nor any of the rights affiliated with it. Anywho, sit back and relax for chapter five of Gift Of A Rose.

Chapter 5

Rose's P.O.V

'What is this feeling?' I think, shocked at everything happening at once.

'How am I feeling? How am I thinking? How is this possible?'

I feel myself take form in a surge of emotions and feelings, everything rushing in at once. I feel a small body press against me as my form completes and I open my eyes to see a small, dark-skinned young lady hugging me tightly. I look up at everyone else in front of me, seeing all of the beings I've ever loved and cared for. I look back down at my hands, completely baffled at how existing is even possible.

"Rose?" I hear the familiar and wonderful voice of Mr. Universe. I look up at him and everyone, tears coming to my eyes.

"Greg?" I say, my voice cracking.

"Pearl, Garnet, Amethyst? How is this possible? What am I doing here? How is this possible? I shouldn't be here! Where's Steven, what is going on here?!"

I feel the small girl let go of me and back up slowly, staring up at me with sorrow. She turns on her heel and runs away back to the house that I called home for the few years I knew Greg. He drops to his knees and starts crying, and as I'm about to move forward to comfort my love, a sobbing Pearl rushes into me.

"Oh, Rose!" She wails, hugging me as tightly as she can.

"I've missed you so much!"

"This isn't possible…" I say slowly, gently hugging Pearl back.

"I'm not supposed to be here! What's going on? Where's Steven? Why is Greg crying? Someone talk to me!"

Garnet and Amethyst walk up and hug me tightly, tears falling from both of their eyes. I push past all three of them and walk up to Greg slowly.

"Greg, where is our son?" I say slowly. He looks up at me and hugs my legs, crying even harder.

"I'm sorry, Rose…" He says, and a searing pain shoots through my bosom.

"We couldn't save him. I couldn't do anything to protect him. I'm so sorry, Rose. I've failed you…"

I drop to my knees as well, tears rolling down my face as I wrap my arms around the sobbing love of my life.

"It's not your fault, Greg." I say, lifting his chin up and kissing him gently.

"It's no one's fault. Just tell me what happened."

"It was Yellow Diamond's Pearls." Garnet said, removing her visor and wiping her eyes before putting it back on and continuing.

"They came to wipe them out. Pearl, Amethyst, and myself defeated two of them, while Steven and that girl who hugged you took on the third. The young human girl, Connie, charged at the Pearl and didn't see the second sword she materialized, but Steven did. He saw it and charged forward, dropping his shield in the process. He pushed her out of the way and was… impaled in place of Connie."

"Why would he do such a thing?" I ask, my chest hurting more.

"He and Connie were in love…" She says with a heavy sigh.

"I understand why he did it. Sapphire and Ruby would have done the exact same for each other. He… died, and after some time, he retreated into your gem. We thought he was coming back when your gem started glowing, but you came back."

"But… what about Steven?" I say, clutching my chest.

"What are we going to do about Steven?"

"Rose, why are you worrying about Steven?" Pearl said.

"We have to make sure you're okay! You look like you're in a lot of pain!"

I see Greg stand up slowly and turn to look at her with venom in his eyes.

"Why is SHE worrying about Steven?!" He snaps.

"Why aren't YOU worrying about Steven, Pearl?! He's the son of Rose and me, so of course we'd be worried about him! But why aren't you?! You've been raising him for the last fifteen years, and now, all of a sudden that Rose is back, you don't care?! Is that all you thought of him as? A placeholder for Rose?"

"N-no! Of course not!" she stutters.

"I love Steven with everything I am, but…"

"But what, Pearl?!" He snaps.

"BUT WHAT?!"

"You now how I feel about Rose." She says slowly and meekly.

"As sad I am about Steven being gone, I'm just happy that Rose is here. Rose live on in Steven, and now, he'll live on inside of her."

"What, are you insane?!" Amethyst jumps in.

"We have to find out a way to get Steven back!"

"But… but… but…" Pearl stammers.

"But nothing, you inconsiderate bitch!" Greg screams.

"We are going to find out how to get Steven back here! If we think hard enough, we might be able to get both of them to stay. Rose, Amethyst, Garnet, will you help me?"

We all nod and follow him up to the temple, and I turn around and hold my hand out to Pearl.

"Pearl, as amazing it is to see you again, you need to realize something."

"What is it, Rose?" she asked, looking up at me.

"You're not my Pearl anymore." I say, kissing her gem.

"You're Steven's Pearl now. If i have to give myself up so he can be again, I will do it. You're his Pearl now, and you need to defend, protect, and love him as much as you did for me."

"Okay, Rose…" She says after a few moments.

"I am Steven's Pearl, and I'm sorry I failed to protect him."

"You didn't fail, Pearl." I say, hugging her.

"Now, come. Let us go and bring your liege back."

She smiles and nods, walking with me towards the house.

Connie's P.O.V

I'm crying my eyes out on Steven's bed, holding myself as I'm curled into a ball. I hear people walk into the house and roll over to see everyone walking in and I see the large pink-haired woman. I get up, walk down the steps, then walk up to her slowly, my eyes not leaving her face. I stop in front of her and she looks down at me.

"Connie, isn't it?" She asks, a sad smile on her face.

I nod and hug her tightly, crying silently.

"Miss Rose…" I say, my voice breaking.

"I thanked Mr. Universe for this before, but never was able to thank you.

"Thank me?" She asks, clearly confused.

"What could you ever have to thank me for? You've never met me."

"Thank you for bringing the boy I love into this world…" I say, hugging her tighter. She smiles and kneels down, hugging me back.

"Thank you for loving my Steven, Connie." She whispers in my ear.

"I can feel the love you have for him is even stronger than what Greg and I have or each other. My son is the luckiest person on this wonderful planet to have someone like you loving him."

"Thank you, Miss Rose…" I say, tears flowing down both our of cheeks.

"You're welcome, sweetie." She says, placing a kiss on my forehead.

And please, call me Rose."

"Okay, Rose." I say, a sad smile on my face.

"So, how are we going to get Steven back?"

"We don't know yet, Connie." Mr. Universe says, rubbing the back of his neck.

"But we won't rest until we figure it out."

"Nonsense, sweetheart." Rose says.

"You and Connie need to get some rest. We'll start first thing in the morning."

"But we can't!" I say, starting to get angry.

"We have to figure out how to bring him back now!"

"Connie, Rose is right." Garnet says, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"You and Greg are humans and need your rest. I promise I will get you up first thing in the morning to start research."

I sigh dejectedly and nod, going over to Steven's bed and laying down.

Greg's P.O.V

Once Connie is lying down, Rose walks with me over to the temple door. She stands in front of the door and her matching gem on the door glows and opens. She smiles at me and pushes me into her room, following behind me and closing it behind us. She waves her hand and an enormous bed appears out of thin air and she walks me over to it.

"Lay down, Greg." she says, pushing me onto my back.

"I'm going to stay right here with you."

"Um, Rose?" I ask.

"Yes, my love?"

"I really don't need sleep. Besides, I've really missed you." I say, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Can't we just… talk?"

She smiles and kisses me deeply, all the passion and love she used to pour into her kisses tenfold in this one deep, loving kiss. I kiss back and wrap my arms around her, pulling her closer.

"I've missed you, too, Greg." She says, holding me close.

"More than you'll ever know."

"Do you think we'll be able to figure out a way to bring Steen back?" I ask, tightening my grip around her.

"Yes, I do." She says with a sincere smile.

"Do you think we'll be able to figure out a way to bring him back without you having to leave again?"

"That, I'm not sure of." She says, stroking my hair like she used to.

"I've never lied to you before, Greg, and I won't start now. It's not likely. It's most likely that we both cannot exist in this world together."

I sigh and roll us over, laying my head on her chest.

"I love you, Rose." I say, closing my eyes.

"I've missed you over these last fifteen years."

"As I have missed you, my love."

We hold each other blissfully as we spend our first night in fifteen years laying together, just like old times.

Well, then. That's chapter five. I hope you all enjoyed it, because I know I did. As usual, read, review, and get more fans! :) Anywho, I'll see you all next time. This is Mystery Critic, signing off.