"Garnet?" Steven calls as he looks up at Garnet. "Are you okay? What's going on between you and Jasper?"
Garnet looks down at Steven, face blank and mind whirling. "We'll be fine. She'll be fine," she says.
Steven nods his head but Garnet still didn't answer his question. "But are you okay?" he asks after a moment of silence.
Garnet smiles at him. Every day he is turning more and more into his mother. "I'll be fine," she says and ruffles his hair.
Steven smiles at her and allows the sound of the warp pad to envelop them.
"There you are. Where's Peridot and Jasper?" Pearl says panicking.
"Peridot is with Jasper," Garnet says.
"Garnet, you left them unguarded, what if they try to contact Homeworld again?" Pearl rushes out.
"Jasper will bring her back," Garnet says and turns toward the temple doors.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Pearl asks as she follows Garent to the door.
Garnet looks at Pearl before looking over at Amethyst and then at Steven; each with confused looks, except Steven who's face holds concern.
"Jasper is not going to leave. She has nowhere to go and as far as contacting Yellow Diamond, Peridot already has. Has the signal gone through? I don't know, But Jasper and Peridot are not going anywhere."
"I don't think Jasper would give up on Garnet," Lapis says as she enters the house.
Everyone turns to face Lapis.
"Lapis!" Steven screams and runs to her. In a flash, Steven has latched onto Lapis' waist. Lapis tentatively places her arms around Steven, hugging him back.
"How do you figure?" Garnet asks. Garnet knows that Lapis has been inside Jasper's head.
"I think you already know why I said that." Lapis lets go of Steven. "I've been in her head. All she thought about was either exacting revenge on you and Rose Quartz or doing everything in her power to make sure you two will never part again. She truly loves you."
Garnet doesn't say anything but turns to head inside the temple.
The other three Crystal Gems turn to Lapis.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to overstep my boundaries." Lapis looks down at her feet.
Pearl shakes her head and turns to open the temple doors to go talk to Garnet.
"I wouldn't go talk to her if I were you," Lapis mumbles out and Pearl stops abruptly.
"And why not?" Pearl snaps.
"What's going on between her and Jasper, it's complicated."
"But you have the gist, right?" Pearl snaps and turns to face Lapis. "Who do you think you are, coming in here and telling us how to deal with our team mate? You haven't been around her like we have and you think that after spending however long fused with Jasper that you know everything there is to know about their relationship! A relationship that shouldn't even be happening right now!" Pearl yells and everyone looks at Pearl with shocked expressions.
"Um, Pearl," Steven and Amethyst says at the same time.
"What!?" Pearl screams and turns to face Amethyst and Steven and Jasper who is standing behind them with Pearl. Pearl's face instantly turns white.
"So, mine and Garnet's relationship 'shouldn't be happening right now'?" Jasper says and then chuckles. "That's funny considering a P such as yourself shouldn't even be alive right now." Jasper takes a step toward Pearl.
"Jasper, I-I didn't know you were there," Pearl stumbles out.
"And if I wasn't? You have no right to determine what can and should be happening between any gems," Jasper roars.
"I-I was just saying that-" Pearl starts.
"You don't need to 'just say' anything. Be a good little Pearl and mind your own business before I make you mind it." Jasper raises her closed fist and summons her battle ramming helmet to add emphasis.
"Garnet wouldn't allow that, would she?" Steven asks Amethyst in a whisper but everyone heard.
"No, I wouldn't," Garnet says as she steps out of her room and the temple doors close behind her. "What happened?" Garnet makes her way in between Jasper and her fellow Crystal Gems and Lapis.
Looking at her team, she waits for an answer.
"I was just talking to-" Pearl starts.
"Your Pearl over there has a strong opinion about you and J's relationship, though I cannot help but agree with," Peridot states.
Jasper turns and glares at Peridot who backs away slightly.
Garnet looks from Peridot to Pearl and raises an eyebrow. "Let's talk," Garnet says and heads toward the front door. Pearl nods and follows after. "Amethyst, you should come too." Garnet opens the door and walks out.
The three Crystal Gems sit quietly atop the hill in front of the lighthouse.
"Listen Garnet, about what was said earlier, I didn't-" Pearl starts.
"What was said earlier?" Garnet says with her eyes closed behind her shades.
"I-I just ..." Pearl struggles to find the words that won't make Garnet upset.
"What Pearl is trying to say is she's upset about your relationship with Jasper," Amethyst let's out. They can't keep playing this game. They have been walking around on eggshells around Garnet and Jasper for a while now. She's tired of it.
"Hmm," Garnet lets out. "Pearl?"
Pearl gulps. "I just don't think you should be in a relationship with the enemy, a Homeworld gem," Pearl says.
"Hmm and do you agree with her, Amethyst?" Garnet asks and turns her attention to Amethyst.
"It's not that I disagree with y'all's relationship, I could care less. I just feel like you've changed." Amethyst stops and Garnet remains quiet; she knows Amethyst is not finished. "I can't explain it, but ever since Jasper came back, you've been distant, even more so than before. By all means, I'm happy for you, I've haven't seen you with anyone in a long time. I just don't want to lose the Garnet that I've known before Jasper stepped back into the picture."
Garnet furrows her brow at Amethyst's statement. Has she really changed since Jasper came back?
"I understand Jasper knew you before I did, but I've gotten to know and respect the Garnet after Jasper. I don't know the Garnet before Jasper, nor the Garnet with Jasper. Jasper doesn't seem to know who you are anymore either," Amethyst continues saying.
"I don't think it's wise for you to continue your relations with Jasper," Pearl finally says.
Garnet turns her attention to Pearl, but she can't shake what Amethyst said to her.
"If things were to end badly between you two, what would happen? Yes she said she wouldn't go back to Yellow Diamond, but being stuck on a planet she doesn't want to be on and with a fusion gem that she used to love, is well ... overwhelming. There's no telling what she'll do," Pearl continues.
"She already feels like she lost you Garnet. Now I don't know how you were before with her, but she doesn't like who you are now. I feel like we're losing you, like ever since she came back, you've changed." Amethyst stands up and brushes herself off. "I don't care what you do, it's your life, I just want the Garnet I knew before Malachite unfused. I want the Garnet that I've come to respect and lean on after Rose left and as we were raising Steven." With that, Amethyst walks away. She couldn't do this no more. If something didn't change, they were all going to lose Garnet, Jasper included.
"Amethyst! Garnet, s-she didn't mean that. You know she can be impulsive sometimes," Pearl tries to amend.
"No. One thing I've learned about Amethyst is that even though she's impulsive, she usually means what she says," Garnet says and adjust her shades.
Pearl nods and forces herself to swallow the lump in her throat.
"Look, Gar-"
"Forget it," Garnet interrupts and stands. "I've heard what you both had to say. As of now, I do not know where Jasper and I stand, but whatever happens, you have no right to disapprove of it. You are not in my shoes and you should trust me enough to know that I know what I'm doing." With that Garnet turns and walks away from Pearl.