Pink Splinters
Prologue (Geodes: Steven)
“You can do it, Schtu-ball!” cheered Greg. Said one-year-old stood on wobbly legs, holding onto the edge of the couch for stability. Smiling a big, gummy smile, Steven reached one little hand out towards Greg, with the other still grasping the couch cushion. Stubby legs bent and swayed, doing their best at going through the motions of walking. Releasing his hold on the couch, Steven lifted a foot to take a step, before falling back on his bottom.
Steven giggled happily when Rose scooped him up from her spot on the floor. Rose kissed him on the cheek and smiled when her son grabbed fistfuls of her bright pink hair. “Don’t worry, love. You almost did it that time,” said Rose, playfully poking Steven’s gem, sending him into another fit of giggles. He was such a happy baby, finding joy in almost everything.
“Amethyst!”
Speaking of which...
The purple form of Amethyst burst through the front door with a three-year-old Nora perched on her shoulders. “Amethyst, be careful!” Pearl scolded, following close behind the smaller Gem; arms slightly outstretched to catch Nora if needed. Garnet entered the house behind the two, adjusting her shades and brushing away loose grains of sand from her arms
“Cool your socks, P,” said Amethyst, “She likes it.” Amethyst bounced up and down for emphasis. Nora laughed, grasping the quartz’s thick mane of hair. “See? Hey!” Without saying a word, Garnet had plucked Nora from Amethyst’s shoulders and placed her atop her own thick mass of hair; away from the two squabbling Gems.
Rose laughed at their antics. Growth spurts, feeding and diapers, learning to crawl, walk, and speak for the first time? Such alien concepts for a Gem. But also, amazing and beautiful to watch such change and growth. Despite their initial doubts, the Gems took to caring for Nora and Steven with gusto and were invaluable to Rose and Greg when it came to help raising their children. Pearl was a natural teacher and minder, Amethyst: a playmate, and Garnet: a comforting sentinel.
When Nora was born, Rose told herself that she would let her child have complete freedom. She would be able to make all of her own decisions about life, and experience everything life had to offer. But becoming a mother had also taught Rose something she had not expected. Absolute freedom was not the best policy for an infant. They required constant supervision and guidance, with the smallest things capable of causing great harm. Baby-proofing the temple and memorizing child-care manuals became pivotal. Greg adapted to parenthood much smoother than Rose did. By the time Steven was born, he was practically an expert. But, despite everything, Rose would not trade this for the universe.
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Greg grinned, watching Steven happily wave around a ring of plastic baby keys. The little guy loved those things. Nora toddled over from the other Gems and plopped herself down next to her mother on the floor.
“What did ya’ll get up to today, Rosebud?” asked Greg.
“We made houses for the blue crabs,” Nora announced proudly, while Rose played with their daughter’s hair.
Before Greg could reply, Steven squealed and made grabbing motions towards his sister. Getting an idea, Greg picked Steven up and held him up in a standing position; using his hands to hold him steady. “Walk to Nora, Schtu-ball,” coaxed Greg, “You can do it.” Steven bucked and kicked his legs in excitement, only managing to stay upright do to Greg holding him up by the armpits. Nora picked up her brother’s discarded toy keys and jingled them in front of her, “Come on, Steebee! Come on!”
Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst gathered closer to watch Steven struggle to keep his feet under him. After more coaxing of “Steebee” and jingling keys, Steven managed to get his feet flat on the floor. On foot shifted forward. Then the other. Then the other. Everyone held their breath as Steven made his way forward with jerky, unsteady steps. After five steps, Steven toppled forward into his sister’s lap.
“Woo-hoo! Way to go, Bud!” cheered Greg, the Gems clapping in celebration. Rose scooped up both kids, peppering them in kisses. Steven erupted into peals of laughter. Then to everyone’s surprise, Steven’s gemstone began to glow with a shimmering, pink light.
Laughing off his initial surprise, Greg reached over to take his guitar from where it leaded against the wall. After nearly four years, Greg like to think he was starting to get used to the oddities of raising half-alien children. “You’re on a roll today, aren’t you, Schtu-ball?” asked Greg, “First steps and first glow in one day.” He emphasized his words with three strums of the guitar strings. Steven perked up at the sound, focus zeroing in on the guitar. When the music didn’t continue, Steven whined and reached out, making grabbing motions at the instrument.
“You want some music, huh?” Greg adjusted the guitar in his lap and began playing and old tune back from his early music days. Heh, from wannabe-rockstar, to car-wash-owner and family-man. Who would have thought?
Steven happily bounced in time to the music in his mother’s lap. Half-way through the song, he opened his mouth to chirp out little notes of Gemsong. Nora soon ed in with him. Greg and the Gems watched with wide eyes as the two siblings sang in fragmented Gemsong. Chirps and warbles of soft and sweet thing, of sunshine and cuddles, and of fun and togetherness.
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