Hey, everyone. Mystery Critic here back with a new chapter of Gift of a Rose. Welp, STEVEN'S BACK! I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter, because I enjoyed writing it. Anywho, I'm sorry I haven't uploaded a new chapter latel. I've been in the hospital, but I'm okay now. Anywho, I do not own Steven Universe, nor any of the rights affiliated with it. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, onto the story!

Chapter 7

Steven's P.O.V

"Hey, everyone." I say, raising my hand in a wave to Amethyst, Pearl, and my dad. Pearl is the first to reach me, rushing forward in a blur of speed, wrapping her arms around my waist.

"Steven!" She screams, tears flowing down her face as she repeats my name again and again.

"Oh, Steven! I missed you so much!"

"I missed you, too, Pearl." I answer, hugging her tightly.

"What's up, small fry?" Amethyst jokes, punching my knee. She jumps up and wraps her arms around my neck in a death grip.

"I missed you, Steven…"

"I missed you, too, Amethyst." I say, hugging her back with one arm.I look over at my dad and put Amethyst down. I unwrap Pearl from around my waist and walk over to him. I look down at him, and he up at me, neither of saying a word. I drop to my knees and wrap my arms around him.

"Steven…" he says, trying his best not to cry. He sniffles and smiles, wiping away the tears that slipped out of his eyes.

"We weren't the only the only ones who missed you, ya know."

"Really?" I say, smiling widely.

"Who else missed me?"

"The whole town, of course."Garnet said, smiling and wiping her tears away.

"You have such an impact on the people of Beach City that they had a memorial for you, Steven. Everyone missed you, even Lars."

"Even Lars?!" I shout, stars appearing in my eyes as my mouth opens into a wide grin.

"Wow… I never knew Lars had a soft spot for me."

"Everyone does, Steven." Mom says, walking up to me to pull me into a hug.

"You have an incredible effect on everyone you meet. There's no one else like you in the entire universe, Steven."

I hug her close and lay my head on her shoulder, smiling contentedly.

"I love you, mom…" I say, my voice cracking as I cry tears of happiness.

"We can be a family now, right? You, me, dad, and Connie can all be together now?"

"Of course, my sweet Steven." She says, placing a tender and loving kiss on my forehead.

"Nothing would make me happier."

I smile and look towards Connie, opening my arms wide. She rushes up to me and I wrap my arms around her as she jumps up and coils her arms around my neck.

"I'm never letting you out of my sight ever again…" She whispers into my ear, tears cascading down her cheeks as her voice cracks.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." I say, closing my eyes as I hold her close. I pull my head back slightly and look into her eyes. Nothing else mattered at this moment, except Connie and me. I lean my head forward and place my lips on hers, letting the entire world melt away; leaving nothing but her and me. In this one incredible moment, we are no longer in any universe but our universe.

Connie's P.O.V

Steven pulls back and looking into my eyes, much to my dismay, because I really love kissing him.

"Why'd you stop, Steven?" I ask, pouting playfully.

"Do you not like kissing me?"

"You know that's not true, Connie." he says, smiling in a way that just screams sexy.

"It's just… I can't believe how much you've changed. It's amazing! You're a woman now. I may look like a man, but it's still my fourteen year-old self up there/"

He knocks on his head, making me giggle just like he used to. I look up at him and smile, lost in the depth of his gorgeous eyes. I kiss him with all the passion I can muster, pouring every iota of love I possess into the kiss.

"Well," he said once the kiss was over.

"I guess it's time to go say hi to Beach City."

He smiles and starts to set me down when I stop him.

"Wait!" I say, swinging around onto his back/ I wrap my arms back around his neck and giggle.

"Okay, ready."

He chuckles and starts walking towards town with me on his back. Everyone walks around him as if they were guarding the most precious gem in the universe; which they were. We walk into town, coming across the Big Donut before anything else.

"Hey, I have an idea." Steven says, setting me down.

"Connie, how about you go in and ask for two doughnuts. When they ask why, wave me in to surprise them. It'll be awesome!"

I smile and nod, dropping down from his back and walking into the Big Donut. I walk up to the counter and smile at Sadie.

"Hey, Connie" Sadie says.

"How are you?"

"I'm doing good." I answer, smiling while trying to hold in a giggle.

"Can I have two doughnuts?"

"Sure."

"Why do you want two?" Lars asks. I wave my hand for Steven to come in. He walks in, the bell at the door ringing, making me let out the giggle I've been suppressing.

"He's why I want two."

"Hey, Sadie. Hey, Lars. Been a long time."

"STEVEN!" They both yell, utter shock clear as day on their faces. I look up at him to see him smiling wide, a soft blush spreading across his cheeks. Sadie bum-rushes up to him and hugs his left, then looks up at him.

"Damn, Steven. You got big."

"Yeah, I did." he says, chuckling and rubbing the back of his neck.

"How long have I been gone, Connie? I forgot to ask that in all the confusion."

"It's been a little over four years…" I say, looking down sadly.

"Four really hard years without you. But you're back now, and everything will be okay!"

"Yeah, it will." he says, picking me up bridal style and nuzzling me.

"Because I'm not going anywhere ever again."

"Steven, when the hell did you get back?!" Lars screams, going absolutely nuts.

"Just a few minutes ago." He says, smiling at him.

"I heard you missed me."

"Well, 'missed you' is such a strong phrase." He stammered, tugging at the collar of his shirt.

"I'd more say, uh… Fine, yes! I missed you. Are you happy?"

"Ecstatic." He answers, smiling proudly.

I smile and he starts to spin me around, making me laugh giddily. He stops spinning and looks me deep in the eyes, and I look back at his.

"I love you, Connie." he says, a bright blush spreading across my cheeks.

"I love you, too, Steven." I lunge forward to kiss him, but I accidentally slam my head into his. I hold my head in pain while cracking up.

"Can we try that again?"

"Maybe without the headbutt?" He says. I slap him on the arm and he chuckles. I lean forward slowly and press my lips against his.

"Get a room, you two!" Lars says, laughing.

"Just not the back room." Sadie says, nudging Lars.

"I don't think it's clean after the last time we used it, eh Lars?"

"Probably not." He chuckles, nuzzling her cheek and nibbling on her neck.

"Lars, not in front of Steven and Connie." She giggles and pushes him away.

"Well, you two better get going. We're going to take our lunch break now."

"Okay, you guys." Steven says, waving at them as he walks out with me in his arms.

"I'm glad to see you two finally got together."

Steven carries me out of the Big Donut and jumps up onto the roof, sitting down and holding me in his lap.

"I love you, Steven." I say, leaning against his shoulder.

"I love you more than words can describe."

"You took the words right out of my mouth, Connie." He leans in and kisses me, a bright pink light surrounding us as we start to disappear. As the light surrounds us, I feel our love becoming something physical, as we become one, as our bodies, spirits, minds, and hearts; become one and the same.

"I'm back, baby!"

Well, everyone. That's chapter seven. I hope you all enjoyed it. If you know who's back, then I bet you're all excited as hell. If not, you don't know the show. Anywho, I hope you all continue to read, write, review, and enjoy. This is Mystery Critic, signing off.