Past Days…
Progress on the drill was now coming along swimmingly, with no more drama cropping up. Everyone worked together to make sure everything went according to plan. As the days passed, an event arrived rather quickly. Steven's birthday.
In fact, it was Steven's second birthday since Jason joined the Crystal Gems, and the soldier had a bit to make up for. Back when the kid's first birthday came, Jason had been in the middle of conflicted feelings with his father, and Humanity's Defense was starting to be a presence.
He also had no idea just how important Steven would become to him back then. Now, things were different. The soldier wasn't currently kidnapped, and all these people he was with had really changed how he viewed family.
Barn
"I can't believe it's finally my birthday." Steven declared as he held the rest of the ribbon Pearl was using to make a giant flower. "You're sure it's okay we're taking a break from the drill?"
"Peridot will keep us on schedule." Pearl assured him.
Speaking of Peridot, she stepped out of the barn.
"Yo, Peri!" Amethyst called out. "You sure you don't want to get in on this?"
Peridot gave her an unamused look before walking to the drill.
"I don't think she wants to get in on this." Jason commented.
"I certainly do." Lapis voiced.
"I'm glad you're here Lapis." Steven declared sincerely.
"We should celebrate our progress." Garnet declared before specifically patting Steven's head. "You've grown a lot this year."
"He certainly has." Pearl agreed.
Jason nodded as well. Sure, the three gems knew him from birth, but he still noticed the changes in the boy from when they first met.
"Yeah, I guess so!" Steven happily declared.
A familiar car horn honked, getting their attention as Greg's van came over a hill. Once Greg parked his van, he shut off the engine and someone, other than the man himself, got out.
It was Connie. "Steven!"
"Connie!" The two of them ran to one another, excited, while Jason walked over.
Connie hugged the birthday boy. "Happy birthday!"
"Thanks." Steven pulled out two juice boxes. "Welcome to the party. May I offer you a refreshment?"
"My, how genteel." She replied before they tapped their juice boxes.
"Clinking glasses I see." Jason smiled while imitating a posh accent. "Should have worn my good jacket."
"Jason!" Connie called out happily.
"Hey there kid!" Jason picked her up in a hug. "It's so good to see you again."
"You too!" Connie replied while he put her down. "Last time I saw you was a while ago. When I asked, Garnet said you were on a mission."
"Yeah, Humanity's Defense cropped up for a bit, but Lapis and I handled them." Jason nodded. "After everything, I'm glad to be back."
"I'm sure the others were too." Connie then glanced at the barn. "This is where we're having your party, Steven?"
"Yep, this is the barn." Steven declared. "I'm surprised your parents are letting you stay for the weekend."
"It wasn't easy." Connie giggled. "They'd only let me come after equipping me with every piece of safety gear on the planet."
"What should I do with this defibrillator!?" Greg called out from his van, holding said device.
"Um, we can just leave it in the car for now!" Connie yelled back.
Steven smiled. "Well, I'm glad you could make it."
"Me too."
"Same here." Jason added.
"Alright, move it Connie." Greg butt in. "I was his best friend first." He hugged his boy. "Happy birthday!" He put the kid down. "Ooookay Schtu-ball, let me get a look at you."
"Daaad!" Steven groaned in embarrassment.
"Sorry, I just can't believe my little boy is growing up so quickly." Greg wiped a tear. "Seems like just yesterday you were a baby, and now you're turning 14 years old."
Connie was shocked to the point she did a spit take. "Steven, you're 14!?"
"Yeeeaaaahhh?" He replied in a questioning way.
"But, I'm only 12 and three quarters." Connie declared in disbelief as she covered her ears. "You're older than me? I-I don't believe it!" Suddenly, she grabbed the soldier. "Quick, Jason! How old are you?"
"I was well into my eighteenth year when I first came here." Jason shrugged. "Now, I'm twenty."
"If you want proof about Steven, check it out." Greg pulled out a book with a star on the front, under the name 'Steven Quartz Universe'. "Let's see, we have infant, baby, toddler…what's it called? Right, adolescent." He continues with the other pictures. "Adolescent, adolescent, adolescent…Whoa, looks like you stagnated there a little, buddy."
"Mr. Universe, could I show you how the defibrillator works?" Connie asked suddenly.
"Oh, sure." He nodded to Steven. "Be right back, kiddo."
Steven looked off worriedly at the pair before turning to the soldier. "Jason, could we actually talk for a moment?"
"Sure thing bro." Jason patted his back. "Come on over to my SUV."
Universe Van
"So, he's not going to grow up?" Connie asked.
"Well, it's hard to say." Greg admitted. "I've known the gems since I was 22, and they never change. They just are, but Steven's not like them. He's half-human, so I'm not sure how he's going to age." He pursed his lips as he thought about Jason. "Then again, Jason is just like Steven and look at him. You don't see him being Steven's size at…How old was he?"
"20." Connie replied. "He was 18 when we all first met him."
"Right." Greg nodded. "Like I said, for now we'll just have to wait and see."
"Yes, right."
"Are you okay?" Greg asked concerned.
"Yeah, yeah." She reassured him.
"Human beings?" Greg held his hand up in a high-five.
She smiled and high-fived him. "Human beings."
Jason's SUV
Jason climbed into the driver's seat while Steven got in on the passenger side. They just sat there for a few minutes because the soldier felt it was only right to let the kid speak first. Eventually, he seemed to know what he wanted to say.
"Jason…were you as short as I am now when you were my age?" Steven asked.
"Well, I was a couple of inches taller, but it was still a similar problem." Jason admitted. "I think mine started at seven and ended around fourteen; however, it doesn't change the fact I stagnated. Eventually, I started growing and ended up at the height you see me now."
"So, this isn't abnormal?" Steven asked genuinely.
"I'd say it could be all things considered." Jason shrugged. "We aren't the exact same, but your problem with height is eerily like my own. Is this about Connie?" Steven nodded. "She's just worried and not about what you think."
"What do you mean?" Steven asked.
"You should talk to her yourself, but I know Connie well enough." Jason stated. "The only reason height and age matter to her is because you're her best friend. She wants to grow with you, and I bet if you just talked with her, she'd agree."
"Right." Steven nodded. "If I learned anything from when we entered my mom's room, I should just talk to her."
"Since you're a little down about this, how about I give you my present now?" Jason questioned.
"Really?" Steven asked.
"Listen Steven." Jason put a hand on his shoulder. "No matter what, never forget you're not alone in this. Look, I don't know how long we'll live. We could live forever like the gems, we could live the same length as a human, or something in between.
No matter what, I know one thing for certain." He gave the kid a truly sincere smile. "You're my brother Steven. It doesn't matter that we aren't related by blood. To me, your actions are what I care most about, and you have wormed your way into my heart.
I'll always help you if you remain true to yourself. No matter what you think, no matter how you doubt it, Connie, your dad, Pearl, Garnet, Amethyst, Lapis, and I will be there for you. No matter how much baggage you have, we'll help you carry it just like you help us carry ours."
"Jason…" Steven was tearing up before he reached over and hugged the soldier. "Thank you for being there for me."
Jason hugged him back. "Of course."
Barn
After the conversation and meeting back up, it was revealed everything was ready. Greg ended up giving his son the birthday attire and putting him in the barn while everyone else gathered around.
"Is everyone ready?" Everyone, including Garnet who held up a giant cookie cake, nodded, so Greg knocked on the door. "Okay Steven, open up!"
The barn door opened, prompting everyone to yell, "Surprise!"
Steven emerged in his attire with a great, big smile. "Thanks everyone."
"Alright, let's get this party started!" Garnet declared, holding out the cake to the boy.
Steven blew out the candles, seeing everyone clap.
"Yeah, let's eat this cookie cake!" Greg exclaimed excitedly.
Everyone went over to the table to get ready to pass out the slices of cake. After cake, Steven got his present from Connie, which was a buttoned pink shirt that suited him quite well. They then played bad mitten for the rest of the day until evening rolled around.
Evening…
There was now a dance party going on. Steven, Connie, Pearl, and Amethyst were dancing, Greg and Garnet were going through his music collection, and Jason noticed Lapis was sitting at a table by herself. The soldier made his way on over to her.
"What's up Lapis?" Jason asked. "Not enjoying yourself?"
"No, everything's been fun, but I spotted Peridot still working on the drill out back." Lapis stated. "It made me wonder if this is what we should be doing rather than working on that."
"I hear what you're saying, but it's not every day we can all get together." Jason stated. "It's days like these that help strengthen our bonds. From what I've seen, it's days like these that can keep them stronger than ever. At least to me, this is something I'll never forget."
Lapis smiled. "You certainly have a way of looking at things."
"Maybe." Jason held out a hand. "Hopefully you like that enough about me to come on out to the dance floor."
Lapis took the offered hand and let him lead her out
"We're going to slow this next one down a bit." Garnet called out.
Jason and Lapis danced together while the kids giggled softly before doing the same.
"I still can't believe all this time you were older than me." Connie stated in amazement.
"Yeah." Steven chuckled before deciding it was time. "Connie, I know my age and height kind of put you off, but I want you to know that no matter what height I am, it won't stop me from being there for you."
"I should have known you'd figure it out because you're truly a sympathetic one." Connie chuckled. "I'm sorry if I made you feel bad Steven. Honestly, it doesn't matter to me what age it seems you are. All I want is to keep hanging out with you, no matter what."
"I feel the same way." Steven stated. "No matter what people might think, it'll never stop me from hanging out with you."
"Same here." Connie stated before leaning into Steven.
"Those four are having fun." Pearl stated noted.
Garnet smiled. "We really know how to throw a party.
?
Jasper sat in the middle of a field atop a rock as the area was devastated around her. All the green earthlings plucked clean from the ground, her own shelter made from rocks, all the brown earthlings were obliterated, and she had rocks she'd been training with.
She picked up a large boulder and crushed it into pieces. The quartz soldier had contemplated just poofing herself to heal her form, but she didn't want to forget her encounter with those Crystal Gems. Every day she spent healing was motivation for her training.
"It's time to repay the loss I was handed by them." Jasper took out a couple of corrupted gems she collected. "As insurance, I have the first two soldiers of my new army with me."
The Quartz soldier stood and began making her way back to Beach City. This time, she would not be forced to flee. This time, she would defeat that fusion, whatever variation of corruption befell the perfectly cut Emeralds, and Lapis Lazuli.
dindagangleader14: Yeah, something I noticed about my writing is that Jason is he's inclined to give Amethyst a break.