Author's Note: GUESS WHO HAD THEIR WORK DELETED?! Me. So, I'm sorry this is late. But, I hope a happy ending will help. A happy ending for the New Year. Aaaaaand this is what my Author's Note would have been if I had actually finished this when I told myself I would, which was about New Years. Once again, sorry. I'm not dead. Life kicked me in the butt, and after having my work deleted, I reeeeeaaaaally did not want to have to do it again. So, sorry it took me so long to hype myself back up to do this. Hope it was worth the wait!

With the Temple coming into view, Peridot's newfound conviction was quickly withering away. By the time they reach the steps leading up to the porch, she's dragging her feet. Literally.

Garnet glances behind her, looking at the two parallel trenches dug in the sand. "I know that you are nervous Peridot. But it's alright. No one here is going to judge you."

Peridot resists the urge to snap, 'That's not true! I was being judged this morning!' She realizes that she herself might not have judged the situation inaccurately. Which is sort of embarrassing. The best she can do right now is try and rectify her mistake.

"If you say so." Is all she reluctantly ends up saying.

She picks up her gravi- foot. It feels heavier than usual. But she manages to do it, and place it on the first step. The next step is easier, and each step after that step gets even easier the farther she climbs them. Sooner than she realizes, she's at the top. Garnet is holding the door open for her.

"I have changed my mind again!" She exclaims, turning to leave before a voice stops her. "Peridot?"

She tenses up, and slowly turns around, seeing Steven at the door. He's now dressed in his usual attire, no longer in his 'pajamas'. He has what appears to be a food themed item on his back. She can infer from his appearance that he was just about to head out.

"Uh, h-hey, Steven." Peridot answers. Steven cocks his head. "Peridot, are you ok?"

Garnet looks at Peridot as well. "I'm f-fine, Steven," Peridot attempts to say reassuredly. She fails, completely and obviously, even to herself.

"Oh, uh… are you sure? It's alright to talk about it." Steven says.

She releases a deep breath. "Yes, I'm sure. There's… just some things I need to do."

Steven nods in understanding, thankfully not pushing her. "Oh, no problem! You can hang with Connie and I some time later if you want!"

She nods, and smiles widely as he walks past her. She catches what she assumes Garnet's eye because really who can tell what she's looking at any given time with that visor? But Peridot knows Garnet is looking at her. She can even see her reflection. For some reason that makes her feel guilty, so she turns to Steven and calls out. "Hey Steven?"

He turns and looks back at her. "Yes Peridot?"

"Um, wow, thanks for making me feel part of the Crystal Gems." Even she feels like it's faked, her tone stiff. But it's not. Garnet is still going to be unpleas-

His eyes turn to stars, and he beams at her, "No problem Peridot!"

She hesitantly smiles back at him, which just makes his smile wider. He waves, and heads down the last stairs, a bounce in his step. She watches Steven head down the beach, meeting with his human friend Connie, and then head to town. She turns when he's finally out of sight, and sees Garnet smiling at her.

"What?!" She asks defensively.

"Thank you Peridot. That meant a lot to Steven."

She feels her face heating up, and blames a defective gem. Everything about her is defective.

No. She's not defective. The Crystal Gems and Steven have shown her she's not defective. This is merely an Earth thing... a non-verbal way of showing she appreciates what Garnet said.

In case Garnet can't understand non-verbal cues, she mutters to her feet, "Wow, thanks."

Garnet chuckles. "No problem Peridot."

Peridot quietly grumbles and storms past Garnet, Garnet's smile not once wavering. Inside, Pearl and Amethyst are both on the couch, Pearl reading, and Amethyst eating some tea bags, the tea itself untouched. They look up almost on cue when she clatters through the door. She freezes under the weight of their stares.

Pearl is the first to break the silence. "Ah, hello Peridot. We would-I would like to apologize for this morning. We…" she hesitates, her fingers slightly fidgeting. Peridot continues looking at her, unable to move or speak. Pearl takes this in and quickly glances over Peridot's shoulder, where Peridot realizes Garnet still stands. Pearl's gaze returns to Peridot. "Please understand, I trust you. We trust you. You've more than proven yourself, and you don't need to prove yourself anymore. I did not realize your self-inflicted exile was because you felt we did not want you here. In fact, the opposite! You are a valued member of the Crystal Gems."

Amethyst nods in agreement. "Yeah Peridot! You're family!"

Their words have the curious effect of making her light based body to feel warmer, despite not usually generating heat. Predominantly in her facial region. Hopefully the Crystal Clods don't notice.

"Soooo, P-dot, what was with you and the metal foot earlier?" Amethyst asks casually. When Peridot looks at her, she shrugs. "Ste-man told us."

Just like that, her good feelings are gone. Now she's definitely generating heat in her facial regions. "Ah, that," she coughs into her fist, "I dropped it on my foot when 'tinkering' with it, and fell into the bathtub."

Amethyst and Pearl stare at her, and she fully expects Amethyst to laugh at her and Pearl to scold her for her clumsiness.

"Is that what you were worried about? No big deal dude. It happens." Amethyst shrugs.

"Yes, even to the best of us."

Peridot stares, shocked. Pearl, admitting to making a fool of herself, to her?

"Anyways, Peridot, want to hang out? We can go scavenger hunting in my room!"

"Yes, maybe you can help her find my swords." Pearl says good naturedly.

"Its your fault Pearl that they keep ending up in my room."

"Would you rather I go and get them myself?"

"No way! You'll probably organize everything again."

Pearl smiles. "True."

"Um, I'll have to turn down the tantalizing offer. There's… something I need to do first."

Amethyst just gives a lazy smile and shrug. "Eh, suit yourself."

"Indeed. See you later Peridot."

"Yeah, see ya Peri-snot!"

Garnet nods to her fellow Crystal Gems and walks with Peridot over to the warp pad. Quietly, so that Amethyst and Pearl can't hear, she asks not unkindly, "Do you want me to come with you."

Peridot looks between her and Amethyst and Pearl. Despite chatting, they're watching her with concern. And she can tell it's concern and that they're not judging her. And she suddenly feels more confident about her decision.

"No. I will head back by myself. Besides. I left Lapis rather abruptly," she says sheepishly. "I can only imagine what she must be thinking. See ya. And, wow, thanks for the advice."

Garnet smiles, and as Peridot dematerializes, she hears, "Wow, thanks."

End of Chapter Author's Note: Should I just end here or do one more chapter? I've sort of have been dragging this out, and it's now taken me almost a year to do six chapters. Should I just slap a completed mark on this fic or do you guys want to see how Peridot resolves it with Lapis? At this point Peridot's inner conflict is resolved. And, hey! I finally explained what that first scene was about. What did you guys think it was going to be?

As always, please comment and review! And, wow, thanks for reading! ^^