He stood there for hours, staring at the distant, empty space where her retreating form had once been.

"Why couldn't I make her stay?" He murmured to himself, grief eating away at him inside. Connie was in danger, and it was all his fault for letting her go alone. "I should have gone with her…"

"Steven?" Pearl stepped out onto the porch. "Is everything alright? You've been out here for hours…"

"Connie's gone."

"What do you mean by 'gone'?"

"She ran away, a-and it's all my fault.."

"It's not your fault, Steven.."

"Yes it is! If I had protected her better, she wouldn't have gotten hit with that rock, and her mom wouldn't have said I couldn't see her, and she'd still be here…"

"We'll bring you your friend back.. Don't blame yourself, okay? None of this is your fault."

Peridot paced up and down the length of the kindergarten base, her mind racing. Julianna was gone somewhere, and even worse, she was stranded on this miserable planet alone. The only ones there to keep her accompanied were her upgraded robonoids, and they weren't advanced enough yet to do anything besides follow orders... Not that she even had any to give. Her thoughts wandered to her mission- observe the Kindergarten, record logs on her findings, and return to Homeworld. The Kindergarten was entirely dormant, thanks to Rose Quartz, and their plans were entirely ruined.

"Who's to say I can't just make new plans?"

Peridot summoned her robonoids.

Connie walked along the side of the road, bus ticket in her hand. She'd stayed true to her word, and was on her way to the farthest city she could get to on a bus, a busy town about twenty miles from Beach City. Her hair hung loosely around her face, masking the tears that rolled down her cheeks. Flashbacks raced through her mind, the pained expression on Steven's face when she'd left branded in her memory. She knew that she'd hurt Steven, although she hadn't meant to, and the thought broke her heart. Her glasses were tucked away inside of her backpack, lenses punched out. Although she didn't need them, she still kept them, for the sake of memories, in case she never saw Steven again. Her only plan was to get away from Beach City, everything after was left to fate. The void in her heart grew larger as she boarded the bus, avoiding the people's gazes as she took a seat in the very back. Her head remained bent down, her hair masking her from view. She allowed herself one last look as the bus began to roll away, the torrents of tears increasing. She bit down on her quivering lip, squeezing her eyes shut tightly. It took nearly all her willpower to keep silent, in order not to draw attention to herself.

The bus reached its final stop, and Connie exited, thanking him quietly as she made her way off. Night had fallen, the street lights dim glow illuminating her pathway as she walked down the sidewalk. The usually bustling streets were barren, the only exception being herself and a few people making their way home. She went unnoticed, easily mistaken for an adult in the low lighting.

Garnet slowly stood up, making sure Pearl was still asleep before slipping out of the room, quietly closing the door behind her. The house was dark, dim moonlight pouring through the windows the only light. She stepped onto the warp pad and activated it, a soft glow and quiet warble filling the house. She arrived at the entrance of the Gem Monster's cave and warily stepped inside. Just because they had previously defeated it didn't mean that it wouldn't still be there, so she had to be extra cautious.

The walls were littered with various gems of all shapes and sizes, glittering in the dim light that leaked in from the mouth of the cave. Garnet marveled at the sight. Back home, it would have been a frightening sight, but these gems were created by the Earth's natural processes, making them entirely different. she carefully pulled a loose gem from the wall, rolling it between her fingertips. The surfaces were smooth and delicate, almost unnatural in form, like it'd been shaped, and then placed into the rock. She slipped the stone in her pocket and continued her search.

"Where have you been?!" Pearl exclaimed, running to Garnet and hugging her tightly.

"I had a solo mission." Garnet explained, returning her lover's embrace. "I didn't mean to frighten you. I'm sorry."

"It's alright. You just left so suddenly.. I thought something had happened to you."

"I wouldn't let anything keep me away from you, Pearl. You don't have to worry about me, okay?"

"I can't help it…" Pearl laid her head on Garnet's shoulder. "I love you too much to not worry."

"I love you too. I'll always come back, okay?" She planted a soft kiss on her white lips, staring down into her eyes. "I promise."

Pearl nodded, pale blue coloring her face. She reconnected their embrace, gently running her hands through Garnet's hair. Her insides tingled, flooded with relief that her lover had returned safely. Although her worries were entirely irrational, and she knew this full well, she simply couldn't help it. Without Garnet, she would be lost, and even the thought of losing her was terrifying, sending a falling sensation through her body.

But she was here, and she was safe and in her arms.

Her anxieties floated away.