It had been nearly two weeks since Peridot and Topaz had been captured before Greg finally got around to getting his stuff back from the lighthouse. It was all, surprisingly, intact. (The amp could have been blown out though, but Greg would check that later.) Steven helped him, and Amethyst felt like helping. Connie was there, too, and, consequently, Lion joined them as well. He always did when Connie came over; Steven could completely understand why. With so many helpers, everyone ended up travelling light.
When they got back to the van, Greg played his old record of Mercury Blimp, just to see. A song of tender fate came out, and they rode it into the clouds; and Steven's heart tasted some of the sky, not only because of the song, but because Topaz had taken care of his father's record. It made her ruthlessness suddenly look a little more like passion.
Then everyone hopped in the van and rode back to the car wash.
When they got out the the van, Steven said to Connie, "Maybe we should put Lion through the car wash. He could use a bath!" They giggled, but Lion wasn't very much pleased. He put his head over Steven's and used his weight to take Steven to the ground. Steven squirmed for his little life. "Oh no! Dad, help! I'm being attacked by a vicious animal!"
His dad, holding his cheeks in faux terror, came to him, saying, "Not my son! I need him in my life!"
Steven screamed, "Ahh! There's bloooooooood everywhere!" He held out his hands and his dad pulled him free with all his might.
"My son! My son... speak to me..."
"Father... My father..."
"What is it, my son?"
"Tell my wife... I love her..." And with his last breath, Steven passed away.
To the heavens, Greg wailed, "NOOOOOOOO! I had a daughter-in-law I didn't even know about!"
Dramatic silence washed over the wash. But, Steven was awful at keeping character and was soon rippling with the sillies, and so was everyone else, except Lion because he was a cat.
Then Connie, unable to keep from smiling, suggested, "Maybe we should put Amethyst through the wash, too!"
"Oh no," said Amethyst, "I do not need this kind of talk from you!" She hugged Connie and used her weight to bring her to the ground.
"Help! Mr. Universe!"
"Not Connie, too," yelped Greg. Connie died, too, informing Greg with her last words to tell her son that she loved him. "NOOOOOOOOO! She's too young to have a son!" Amethyst was jiggling because Connie was laughing so hard.
Steven and Connie returned from the dead and ended up giving Lion a bath with the hose. Never had there been a lion so pink yet so disgruntled in the history of the universe.
Later that day, when the shadows were elongating, everyone was hanging out in the office, either watching the little TV or not. A crummy drama series was showing; it was the most interesting thing on at the moment-thus is the tragedy of basic cable, which was a greater drama in and of itself than the pining hearts it broadcasted.
"Oh, Reginald" cried the television mistress, "be it so that we should happen upon each other six years late. I have prayed for you, to see you again, and that you remain-eth single... -eth."
"That thy prayers should last," responded Reginald. "Clarice, hast thou sent thy wishes to the grub-dirt?"
"Reginald, don't do it," urged Connie. "Clarice's heart has been for you, and only you!"
Reginald bespake, "I have since betrothed one and fathered five."
Connie gasped, "Whyyyyy-eth!"
"Man," said Amethyst, "Reggie's such a playa."
Meanwhile, Steven and his dad were flicking a piece of paper at each other, trying to make it through the goal posts they made with their fingers. Greg took his turn and hit Steven's thumb. Steven took the paper and fiddled with it. "Um, dad?" he said. "Can I ask you a question?" He knew he could, but he said this just to set it up.
"Of course," said Greg. "Anything."
Steven positioned the paper under his finger. "Did you and mom ever fight?" He flicked the paper too hard and bopped his dad in the nose.
Greg bent down to get the paper. "Well," he said, sitting back up, "Fight's a strong word. We argued, sometimes. But, that was only when we misunderstood each other. But, we always talked it out." Greg flicked and made a goal. "Why?"
"Just wondering." Steven flicked and missed.
"Everyone argues every once in a while. It only means they care." Greg missed. "Well, sometimes."
"What do you mean?" Steven made a goal.
"Hm, at least when it comes to relationships, there's arguing because you care about them and you're trying to look out for them and your relationship, but you may not see eye to eye." Greg made a goal. "Then there's arguing for the sake of trying to outdo the other person, like, trying to be better than them at arguing, and just for the sake of arguing." Steven missed. "And when it gets to that point, it's not a good thing." Greg missed.
Steven thought. He missed the goal again.
"My mom and dad always argue about money," said Connie. "And whose turn it is to do the laundry." She laughed a little.
Steven thought about Connie's parents, then Amethyst who was sitting with Connie.
"Dad, have you ever been in a fight?"
Greg didn't flick the paper. He had the floor. Amethyst watched with peculiar interest. "Yeah," he said. "I've been in a fight before. But, that was when I was young and unreasonably felt like I needed to hit someone. Not that I ever started them, but I didn't finish them either, because they got me nothing but... bitterness." Even Lion lifted his head to watch Greg. "Long story short, I think the only way I'd ever get into a fight nowadays would be if somebody tried to hurt you." Steven smiled because of his dad, and for the thought that he'd always be here for him. "Anyway, I don't think this is the time to be talking about these things, not with Connie here."
"It's ok, Mr. Universe," said Connie.
"What I mean is, you two should be having fun. Not sitting in some dinky little office with nothing to do but watch some dumb love triangle. You should be outside. Doin' stuff. Spend time with each other while you can."
Steven supposed he was being inconsiderate to Connie. "Ok," he said. He turned to Connie. "Want to go get some fry-bits?"
"Sure."
"Alright. C'mon, Lion!"
Lion grumbled as he got up and he showed himself out before Steven and Connie. Greg and Amethyst were left to the love triangle.
...
Steven and Connie were walking along the beach with Lion trailing behind them. On the way to Beach Citywalk Fries, Steven brought up the ethics of Topaz's and Peridot's imprisonment. Connie inputted, "I don't think it's as simple as just them," said Connie. "I mean, what if they were to get away? Wouldn't they contact other Gems?"
"I don't think Topaz would," said Steven. "She's not on our side, but... also not on Homeworld's. I think she wants to be on her own side, I guess."
"What about Peridot?"
"Peridot cares about Topaz a lot, and Topaz cares about her," said Steven. "...The thing my dad said, how he'd only fight if someone tried to hurt me, I see that in Peridot and Topaz."
"But, they're a part of some kind of armed forces, right? Aren't they trained to fight their enemy?"
"Maybe. It was like that in the beginning, when they first got here, but now it's different. They're fighting to survive, for each other."
Connie took that for consideration, but still said, "You know what I meant about Peridot, right?"
"Yeah." Steven sighed and became somber. "I don't know. I don't know what to think anymore."
Connie came in closer and nudged him. "I know you just want to help, Steven, and that's a wonderful thing. But, if I've learned anything from my mom, who helps people for a living, is that at some point it becomes counterproductive to get too involved with the affairs of others. Help yourself sometimes, you know? We still got fry-bits to look forward to, don't we?"
A warmness came over Steven at her touch and at the thought that Connie, too, would also always be there for him. "Yeah," he said.
"Race you!" Connie kicked the beach into the air, and Steven, startled by the suddenness of her, sprang into action and ran like the dickens. Lion bounded down the beach after them.
...