"My parents were really surprised that I said yes," Connie was telling Steven as he drove their truck to the barn, Carnelian hunched in the bed. "I don't think they expected me to settle down right out of college."
"Yeah, I was surprised too," Steven replied, a tendril of curly hair coming loose from his ponytail as he parked along the bumpy dirt road leading up to the barn. "Though that may have just been nerves," he added, blushing a little. He turned off the ignition, and the truck shook as Carnelian climbed out.
"Of course I'd say yes," Connie said, leaning over to give Steven a short kiss. "You're my best friend. Always have been." They were startled by a loud pounding on the driver's side door.
"The big orange one said you had information for us," said a short, squat red gem. She'd reformed last with a floaty red blouse cut above her gemstone, in the center of her tummy, and a pair of red trousers. Her skin was much darker than most of the other red gems bustling around the barn, implying that she'd been one of the last of them to emerge from the ground.
"Can you gather everyone up, Navy?" Steven asked, getting out with Connie.
Navy answered with a salute, before turning around and yelling, "HEY, GUYS, STEVEN WANTS TO TELL US SOMETHING!" Three red gems bustled over from making some sort of tall sculpture, one an even darker shade of red than Navy casually doing a handspring off the top, landing on the ground about ten feet below her with perfect form. The gem on her leg flashed in the sun. The four Rubies gathered around Carnelian and looked her up and down.
"Looking good," said one with a gem on her chest, between a pair of suspenders. "Do you mind? I haven't seen my sister in a long time."
Carnelian smiled and became enveloped in a golden glow. Connie squeezed Steven's hand; she knew how panicked he'd been when Garnet had unfused for the last time. When the glow subsided, Carnelian wasn't there anymore. She'd turned into a huge orange gem with flowing tan hair and gem in the middle of her face, like a nose, holding a much, much smaller Ruby with her gem in the place of her eye. The Ruby, known as Eyeball, sat up in Jasper's arms and kissed her gem before hopping down to the ground to hug all her sisters at once. Jasper leaned back against the truck, watching Eyeball bounce around and talk frantically with all the other Rubies.
"Hey," said a crisp voice behind them. Steven turned to see Lapis Lazuli standing there in a green and blue flannel, along with her usual cropped tank top and full skirt. "What's up?"
"Lapis!" Steven said, and hugged her tightly. Her stick-thin body was dwarfed by his. "How have you been?" He was answered with a shrug.
"Hi, Connie," she said, her head peeking over Steven's shoulder. "Jas."
"Laz - Lapis," Jasper said, correcting herself halfway through the name. "Nice shirt."
"Thanks," Lapis replied. "Peridot got it for me."
Jasper seemed taken aback by confusion. "What? Why?" Lapis laughed until she snorted.
"I have no idea."
"STETS!" came a nasal cry from behind the barn. A tiny triangular gem came sprinting out from behind the barn, carrying a small grey bundle in her arms. She tripped rather dramatically, and the grey bundle in her arms went flying, stretching its legs and preparing to land on its feet.
"Nooooooo!" Lapis cried, rushing forward to catch it. It landed in her arms with a slightly offended "Mrrp" at being thrown. The Rubies burst into applause at the spectacular catch.
"And who's this?" Connie asked, petting the fuzzy little gray kitten.
"Dat Boi," Lapis said, deadpan.
"Dat -"
"It's a meme." Peridot trotted up and jumped up into the back of the truck, leaning out with her elbows resting on the edge. "Lapis is obsessed with memes." The kitten purred as Lapis started to stroke it.
"Wanna pet her, Jas?" Lapis lifted the kitten towards Jasper, who cupped a giant hand on top of her head and gasped.
"She's so soft," she murmured in a gravelly voice. Dat Boi purred louder.
"She likes you," Lapis said.
"So," Peridot said, "what is it you have to tell us?" The Rubies broke up their conversation and circled around Steven and Connie, sitting cross-legged on the ground.
"We're getting married," Connie said excitedly, taking Steven's hand. Two of the Rubies, Leggy and Navy squealed, and Peridot's jaw dropped. Army and Doc seemed confused, but Leggy and Navy were already excitedly explaining to them what "married" meant, and Lapis always smiled like she didn't care.
"I didn't...I didn't understand it either," Jasper whispered to Lapis, but she held up her hand.
"No, I know," she said simply, before turning to Steven and Connie. "Nice."
"Will we be invited?" Leggy asked, blushing an even deeper shade of red. "And can Navy and I help you pick out a dress?"
"Absolutely!" Steven said, beaming. "Of course you'll all be invited! You're all my family!" Peridot beamed, the Rubies blushed in varying shades of red, Jasper looked surprised, and even Lapis's smile widened a little. Steven and Connie started up a conversation with Peridot and Lapis, catching up on what was new around the barn, which included a viewing of some new meepmorps.
Jasper held a thumbs up to Eyeball before leaving to tour the barn. Eyeball's smile lifted a little on one side, becoming a smirk. She turned to the Rubies and pulled them in close. "Okay, before we left, Sapphire told us she had an idea…"
A/N: Yo. This is a multichapter fic for a reason. I'm used to writing stuff with well-thought out plot. If you don't get it, be patient. You will eventually. In a later chapter.