Rose Quartz stood atop the hill, doing her best to tend the moss, but her stomach often got in the way.

"Just let me help you, Rose!" Amethyst insisted. "It's not good for you to be putting all this stress on yourself... E-Especially with the baby coming soon..." She bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut a moment. Rose's pregnancy was often a sensitive topic.

Rose sighed in defeat. "Alright..." Rose relented. "If you insist." She flinched slightly, placing a hand on her swollen midsection. "Ow..."

"Rose, are you okay?" Amethyst asked. "You've been hurting all day.. Maybe we should get you inside..."

"Amethyst... It's time."

"What?! No no no no no! I-It can't be! It can't have already been ni-"

"Amethyst! It's okay.. Really."

"Bu... But you'll never meet him!"

"It's okay... It's worth it... To create a life.."

Amethyst scooped Rose up off the ground and into her arms. "PEARL! GARNET!" She ran back to the beach house as fast as she could, not collected enough to shape shift.

Pearl ran out of the house. "What?! What is it?! Rose! Amethyst, lay her down on the ground, there's no time!"

Amethyst skidded across the ground to a stop, gently lying Rose on the cold sand. "I'm sorry it couldn't be better..."

Pearl knelt down beside Rose, gently squeezing her hand. "You're going to be okay, Rose. Garnet, go get Greg! Hurry!"

Garnet nodded silently and launched herself in the air towards the boardwalk, having no time to run.

-A Few Hours Later-

Rose Quartz disappeared, her place being taken by a small, screaming baby boy, and a gem.

Greg quickly picked him up, wrapping him in a blanket and cradling him until he fell asleep.

"Sh-She's really gone..." Pearl stammered, her eyes watery at the loss of her best friend.

"No, she's not." Garnet declared, staring out across the water. "Her gem is still intact, and she lives on through her child, and through the memories in our hearts. Someday, she'll regain her physical form. Until then, we take care of the child. He is one of us now." Garnet removed her glasses and wiped her eyes, trying to stay collected, even though she'd moved the others to tears. Moments later, after somewhat collecting themselves, they all stood and made their way into the house, no one else saying a word as Greg laid the child in the crib set up in the living room.

The night of the birth of Steven Quartz Universe was a bittersweet one indeed.

-Morning-

Greg was awakened early the next morning by his son's cries, and dutifully rose to his tasks, taking him out of the crib and carrying him along to the kitchen as he prepared him a bottle.

"Hush, precious Steven..." He murmured, gently stroking his hair.

"Are you doing alright with him, Greg?" Pearl asked, standing near the counter.

Greg turned around. "Uh, yeah, I got it. Did I wake you up?"

"No, you didn't..." She answered.

"Do you want to hold him?"

"I don't know…" She hesitated. "I-I've never dealt with children before.."

"It's easy. You just gotta keep his head up on your elbow. Like this." He placed Steven in her arms, gently pushing her elbow up in the proper position.

Pearl panicked slightly. "What if I drop him?!"

"You won't drop him, Pearl. Just stay calm, and he'll be just fine. I'll be right here to help you." Greg assured her. "See? You've got it."

She took a deep breath and focused on keeping her elbow in the proper place, smiling softly as she watched him sleep, his breathing putting her at ease.

For the next two months, that's how it went. Greg and Pearl would mainly take care of Steven, and Garnet and Amethyst would help out occasionally.

But then Greg had to leave.

"Are you sure you'll be okay without me here, Pearl?"

"Yes, Greg. Everything will be just fine here. Go and enjoy your final tour."

"Thank you... For everything.." He kissed the top of Steven's head and handed him back to Pearl, then picked up his guitar and headed off.

-Later That Day-

Pearl sat on the couch, cradling Steven as he drank the milk from his bottle, smiling down upon his angelic face. Why such beauty had such a high price, she didn't understand, but she was grateful for him. At least she had something left of Rose..

"Pearl... Are you okay?" Garnet asked, taking a seat beside her, awkwardly putting her arm around her, not entirely sure what to do. "Y-You're crying..."

"Am I?" She sniffled slightly and rubbed her eyes, a little surprised by the resulting moisture on her wrist. "I guess I am..." She chuckled softly. "I didn't notice."

"You've taken all this the hardest... But you're doing really well with him."

Pearl glanced up at her a moment. "It was easier with Greg here... What will we do on missions? We certainly can't take him along, and we can't leave him alone..."

"Amethyst can stay here with him." Garnet responded.

"Amethyst?!" She nearly gasped with horror. "But she's incredibly irresponsible!"

"Just on missions, Pearl." She reassured her. "Besides, I think she'll be okay. Besides, it's our only choic e. Your sparring skills are highly valuable, and we can't go without that. We can just barely spare Amethyst. But it definitely won't be easy."

"And I'll protect you..." Garnet thought.

Pearl nodded. "We can handle it."

Garnet stood up. "I'll go and let Amethyst know." She headed off towards Amethyst's bedroom.