Darkness has long settled into night, the stars glitter in the sky, the sound of the ocean waves a soothing rhythm. He's awoken by the sound of a door opening. The pale gem is leaving her room and he watches as she leaves the house to sit on the deck just outside. Something about her downtrodden appearance urges him to go to her. Some instinct to comfort her and make her feel better. He carefully crawls out from under the coffee table and, quietly so he doesn't wake the bigger human, he sneaks over to the door. He manages to pull the door open after a couple attempts, leaving the house to join the pale gem where she sits on the deck.
Sitting next to her, she glances at him, then gently puts one of her arms around his back, carefully avoiding his spikes. She squeezes him gently, then moves her hand to pet his head. There are tears in her eyes, but she refuses to let them fall.
"I'm so sorry Steven, I let you down. You've been struggling this whole time. I knew something was going on but I didn't do anything. As long as you said it was fine I wasn't willing to push. I know how it feels to keep a part of yourself hidden." She reaches around and squeezes him gently again. "You shouldn't have to hide anything from me. No matter what, I won't let you down again. I won't fall apart. You deserve better Steven. I love you so much!"
She wraps both her arms tightly around him. He leans heavily against her and places his head on top of hers. Somewhere, deep down, he feels tears. As though he's sad, but also happy. He feels loved. They spend a little more time together on the deck, just enjoying the sounds of the night and the pleasant sea air. He yawns, so the pale gem stands and guides him back inside. He lays back down on the floor by the couch while she returns to her room.
He dreams. He dreams of swords and spears, of long talks, of stories and adventures. He dreams of caring, pale arms wrapped around him. He dreams of someone who's always been there for him. Who's taught him, learned with him, who's made incredible machines and amazing meals. Who's argued with him but always cared. He dreams of someone who's grown right along with him. Someone who's struggled and fought for herself while struggling and fighting for him.
He dreams of Pearl.
As the sun rises Garnet enters the beach house from her room. Greg is in the bathroom and Steven is sitting in the center of the room eating some food. Greg must've woken up to get him breakfast before getting himself ready for the day. She waits for him to finish before kneeling and wrapping her arms tightly around him.
"Steven, when I fell apart you were there for me. I want to be there for you now. You don't have to do it all alone anymore, I'm here." she squeezes him gently, "I'm here." He leans heavily on her just like he did with Pearl the night before.
Garnet spends some more time with Steven, petting him and pulling random bits of shell and sand from his fur from the day before, until Greg leaves the bathroom. Garnet and Greg exchange smiles as he sits on the couch and she heads off to Little Homeworld. Steven joins him by the couch. Greg has his laptop out and Steven watches curiously as he types away. He smiles at Steven's curiosity, something he's always had that even corruption could take from him.
"I'm working on the tour schedule for Sadie and Shep. They're both worried about you too, but their tour is keeping them away for a few more weeks. Thank goodness for modern tech, eh bud? This way I can be here for you, and work." His smile turns to a frown, Steven watches his face feeling sad for him.
"Growing up I tried to be there for you, but also give you the freedom I always wished I had. When gem stuff would happen I'd always run away, but not anymore. You're my son, whatever you need I'll make it happen. Gem stuff, human stuff, whatever it is, I'm not going anywhere." Steven huffed resting his head on Gregs knee in contentment. Greg pets his fluffy head while getting back to work.
Later in the morning Greg goes out to the van for some clean clothes, having changed into his last clean ones after his shower. Steven watches him from the deck, a strange look in his eyes. He barely moves as Amethyst joins him, sitting next to him and watching Greg rummage through the van.
"I get it, you know." He turns to look at her, listening intently, "Why you haven't talked to us, why you've been kind of acting out, more angry." she sighs "I remember feeling that way a lot in the past. Sometimes it feels like the bad memories outnumber the good ones, and because of that, sometimes it feels like you're never gonna like yourself… but, it's possible man!" she squeezes him tightly in a hug, his tail wags as he leans on her, returning the hug as best he can. As they sit together, eventually moving to the beach to enjoy the warm sand, Connie and Lion join them. The four of them spend a few hours just relaxing. Connie and Amethyst giggle as Steven rolls in the sand, getting stuck on his back more than once as the spikes on his back dig into the sand beneath him.
As the sun moves into the afternoon, clouds begin to move in. He stares up at the strange phenomenon. He's seen the fluffy clouds overhead many times now, but never this many! It's beginning to get dark as more clouds crowd into the sky above. He hears Amethyst… Connie and… Dad… talking about going inside before something happens. He blinks and looks at the three, seeing them as if for the first time. Then, blip, something cold lands on his snout. He blinks again and looks up as more cold blips land on his face. It's water! Water falling from the sky! His tail starts to wag as his face breaks into a large dog-like grin. Water! Rain! It's raining! The rain picks up, steady falling now, and he can't help but run and jump and play. The rain forms puddles and he joyfully jumps in them, slipping and falling more than once. He barely notices the other three head inside for cover, watching him through the windows, all with small smiles on their faces.
When rain clouds started rolling in, Greg suggested they all head inside. When the rain starts, however, and Steven starts playing, just like when he was little, none of them had the heart to make him come inside as well. No one wanted to take away his fun. They're happily watching him play from the windows when the warp goes off, revealing Bismuth, Peridot and Lapis, Garnet and Pearl having long returned home and retreated to their rooms for the evening. The three gems join Amethyst, Greg and Connie at the window, barely holding in their laughter at the mud and sand covered Steven rolling around.
Suddenly there's a flash of light followed several seconds later by a large boom! Before anyone has the chance to react the door slams open as a ball of mud smashes in. Mud and sand fly everywhere as Steven, in complete panic, runs around the house, scrambling to find a hiding spot. As more thunder booms overhead he shoves chairs out of his way to cower under the dining table.
Greg and Peridot both struggle to hold in fond giggles. Greg remembered when Steven was little and would hide under the blankets and huddle in his arms, afraid of storms until he explained how they work. Peridot remembered when she lived in the bathroom and freaked over some thunder, thinking the Cluster was emerging to destroy them all, until Steven eased her fears by explaining storms to her, and even going out to play in the rain much like he had been doing a few moments ago. Peridot carefully approaches the frightened corruption, joining him under the table. She speaks to him calmly while patting his head.
"You always amaze me Steven. Even corrupted you're still you." she chuckles, "Don't worry, there's nothing to be scared of. Not this storm, and not whatever happens in the future. You never gave up on me for reasons I still don't understand, so I'm not giving up on you either. I'm here for you, now and forever. No matter what."
Steven's shaking eases and he allows Peridot to carefully lead him out from under the table. Lapis summons some water and rinses the dirt and sand off his fur. She gives the damp goofball a tight hug, joined by Bismuth who lifts them both with her large warm arms. Afterwards Peridot clears her throat and proudly presents a colorful box to the group.
"I have determined the likelihood of Connie's hypothesis being correct is fairly high. Therefore I propose we attempt to jog Steven's memories by partaking in activities we bonded over in the past." She lifts the colorful box over her head, "Presenting! The complete DVD box set of Camp Pining Hearts!" Lapis gasps at the treasure in Peridot's hands. Connie smiles indulgently, not really into the show but knowing Steven loved watching it with Peridot and Lapis. They usher Steven up to his room to begin their marathon.
Amethyst Greg and Bismuth stay downstairs to discuss with Pearl and Garnet about what Peridot said. When Pearl leaves her room she shrieks at the absolute disaster the house became, making the group upstairs flinch and hide under Steven's large fluffy comforter.
That night he dreams again. Dreams of warm arms holding him as rain patters against a metal roof. Wings made of water carrying him all around the world. He dreams of a barn filled with objects, some messy because messy, others messy because "art". Meep Morp. He dreams of protective arms holding him and fluffy cube shaped hair. A desert with a pink beast protecting him. He dreams of dark hair and eyes, of a pink sword. Lava and weapons and puns.
He dreams.