Chapter Five: Resting

"Did you enjoy dinner, my Steven?" Pearl asked as she picked the now empty soup from in front of her charge. She saw Steven nod silently as she turned and placed the the bowl, along with a few other dirty cooking utensils, into the washing basin next to the throne. She would need to clean them soon. Perhaps she'd get a chance after Steven fell asleep.

If he fell asleep.

"Pearl?" Steven asked as he slid out of his chair. He walked over to her and continued, "How long did Dad say he was going to be in Beach City?"

"Ah. He did not, my Steven," Pearl answered, slightly bowing her head at him in a minor apology. It hadn't even been a day yet and already Steven missed Greg. Pearl couldn't blame him. Greg's presence always added a certain energy to the day, one that Pearl found herself missing more and more.

And being back at the Palanquin, after being gone for long was also a little… unnerving to Pearl.

But it wasn't as bad as it could be. Yes, they were living in the Palanquin now, but before he had left for America, Greg had made sure it was stocked with everything Steven needed to be comfortable. A bed, a table to eat and draw at. A generator to supply electricity for various appliances, including a water heater and camp stove. There was also his dresser that held his clothes, not to mention the numerous amount of plush animals that sat on his bed, silently waiting for him to join them for the night. Night which had fallen quickly, leaving nothing but the faintest orange glow on the edge of the horizon.

"My Steven, I think it is time for you to get ready for bed," Pearl said. "I have already warmed the water in the tub behind the Palanquin."

Steven was silent a moment, shifting from foot to foot, before asking, "And you put up the curtain?"

Pearl nodded. "I did. No one will be able to look in." Steven didn't say anything, only looking past Pearl and pursing his lips. "Do not worry, my Steven," Pearl said easily. "I will be out their check on you in a moment. After I clean these dishes."

"Okay. Alright," Steven said slowly.

But he just stood there.

"My Steven, if you do not hurry, I will need to rewarm the water," Pearl said. "I suggest you go ahead."

Again, Steven nodded silently. But this time, he turned and headed out of the Palanquin, the its curtains 'swishing' in his wake.

Pearl watched the empty entrance way for a moment, until she heard the sound of the tub's curtain being drawn and water sloshing as Steven got into his bath. Relieved that he bathing himself, Pearl bent down onto her knees as she began cleaning the dishes from that night's dinner. There wasn't much: the pot Pearl had cooked the soup in, a stirring spoon, the bowl Steven ate out of and his spoon. It wouldn't take long and it would free her up for other tasks once Steven fell asleep.

She had just finished the soup pot, her last item to be cleaned, when over the noise of the splashing water she heard a most distressing sound; what sounded like crying. And it was coming from behind the Palanquin.

Pearl dropped the pot back into the washing basin as she rushed out of the Palanquin and circled around to its back. She saw the curtained off area and Steven's discarded clothes, as well as his pajamas that Pearl had put back there beforehand.

She hurried over to the curtain, but still tried to speak in her normal, controlled voice. "My Steven, are you alright?" There was no response, only more sniffling and sobs. Taking only a second, Pearl poked her head past the curtain. "My Steven?"

He was sitting in the tub of water, soap suds floating forlornly around him. His hair was wet and plastered to his head and, despite being wet all over, Pearl could still see the telltale tear stains on his cheeks. Indeed, he was still sobbing quietly even as he turned to face her, his gem catching the dim light.

"My Steven," she said again, this time softer and gentle. She did not need him tell her what was wrong.

"I- I wish Dad was here…" Steven cried as he rubbed his eyes. "I don't want to live in Mom's stupid Palanquin! I want to live at home with Dad and you and we can have waffle day and trips to the park and… and…" He trailed off as he was unable to continue amidst his sobs.

Pearl felt the corners of her mouth tighten as she saw Steven's gem begin to gleam with a bright inner glow. Already Pearl could feel the tendrils of Steven's powers of emotional manipulation wrapping around her and threatening to pull her down. She did her best to keep her composure and her face neutral, for his sake.

Steven was getting more upset, however. And worse, he must have realized he was beginning to project an emotional wave, as he had begun biting the side of his hand, hard, to try and stem his emotions.

Pearl quickly reached over and firmly grabbed his wrist. "My Steven, remember your techniques." She pulled his hand away from his mouth, letting it drop back into the water. "Take deep breaths and count to ten."

Steven kept his eyes firmly on the water, but he began to breath deeply, taking a large breath in, holding it for a second and then slowly letting it out. Pearl counted silently in her head and too her relief, Steven kept the slow, deep breathing up for a full count of ten. The tears which had begun to burn in her own eyes subsided.

"Are you feeling better, my Steven?" Pearl asked.

Steven nodded numbly.

"I know that this is not what you wanted," Pearl said evenly. "It is not what any of us wanted. But it is what needed to happen. For your safety."

It had been believed that all Gem life had been wiped out on Earth, in the Diamonds attacks. Still alive, their gemstones undamaged, but their minds erased and corrupted, a punishment befitting their traitorous ways.

Then, in the final few months of Blue Diamond's existence as herself, they had discovered there had been a handful of survivors. An Amethyst. A fusion. A Pearl. And the leader of the Crystal Gems herself, Rose Quartz.

It had been sheer coincidence— Blue Diamond taking Greg on a trip to the Ziggurat on the same day the rebels had been there. When she had noticed, she'd nearly gone into a panic attack, shaking and shivering, only barely able to keep her emotions from exploded everywhere. In that moment, she had nearly brought her full powers to bear, and ended the Crystal Gems, right then and there.

But Greg had urged her not to.

She had been heavily pregnant then— enough she had difficulty walking, let alone fighting. He had urged her not to risk her child, or herself, in a bid for revenge.

And reluctantly, Blue Diamond had agreed.

She had made it clear, however, that the Crystal Gems posed a threat to her child, and would have to be dealt with eventually. Greg had promised to find out all he could about them, to make sure they never could never hurt their son.

With Steven ten years old now, and growing all the more independent, the time had come to fulfill that promise.

Steven rubbed his eyes before wincing, apparently at the stinging from soapy hands. Pearl grabbed a washcloth to wipe around his eyes, but Steven squirmed away, to the other side of the tub.

However, Pearl was still relieved that Steven seemed to be calming down. His sobbing stopped and his breathing became more even and levelled. And Pearl could feel his emotional influence receding off of her and her own emotions beginning to stabilize again.

"But we didn't even see any of the Rebels," Steven said glumly.

"The warp pad at those ruins near Seoul had been used multiple times in the recent past," Pearl said. "And both your father and I agreed that was cause for some concern."

"But I didn't want to move here!" Steven yelled back. "I didn't want Dad to have to go to America!"

"I know, my Steven," Pearl responded gently. "But… This is our life now, at least for the foreseeable future." Steven's nose crinkled and his eyes shut. Pearl reached into the soapy water of his bath and grabbed his hand, holding firmly. "But I am here, my Steven. As I have since the day you were born."

Steven sniffled one last time, his head still hanging low. "Why did the Rebels have to be here?" he asked softly. "They broke up our family…"

"I cannot say," Pearl answered. "Perhaps they were merely using that warp pad for unrelated reasons… or perhaps our worst fears came to light and they were looking for you. I do not know. That is why it was dangerous for us to stay in the apartment."

There were risks unrelated to the Crystal Gems, as well. Children Steven's age were supposed to be attending school, but that simply was not an option for the young Diamond. His education could not be based purely on Earth subjects— he needed to be trained in Gem culture, language and history, to one day fulfills his destiny. Furthermore, his emotional abilities were becoming more and more powerful with age, and in a place as busy and supervised as a school, would most certainly be noticed. An older child walking around town when he should be in classes would risk drawing the attention of the human authorities.

So they'd moved him out to the Palanquin. A place where he could learn and practice in peace, without discovery by humanity or Crystal Gems alike.

Steven nodded numbly, not saying anything response.

"My Steven," Pearl began, "perhaps you should finish your bath? You will feel better clean and in the fresh pair of clothes I laid out for you."

"Okay, Pearl," Steven said. "But… can you stay out here while I finish? You can wait on the other side of the curtain."

"Of course, my Steven," Pearl said rising to her feat. She stepped back and grabbed the bath's curtain. "I will be right here."

"But turn around!" Steven hastily added, before grimacing at the water. "Don't look in here while I'm finishing…"

Pearl couldn't help the small smile that formed on her lips. Steven's growing shyness of his unclothed body was rather amusing. "Of course. I will be right here. Not looking." She closed the curtain and turned on her heel, facing towards the rolling mountainside.

It was a peaceful place, to be sure. Much calmer and quiet than the apartment ever had been. While Pearl could appreciate the the calmer atmosphere, she had to admit that shedid agree with Steven. The apartment was home, and even though the mountain was lovely, it would take time before the Palanquin felt the same.

If it ever could for Pearl.

Pearl waited there for several minutes. She didn't know how long exactly, but eventually she heard the shower curtain pull back and saw Steven stepping out, dressed in his fresh pair of pajamas. He was carrying his dirty clothes and his damp towel, both of which Pearl took from him. She slung the clothes over her arm and hung the wet towel over the shower rod to let it dry and be ready for tomorrow.

She looked down at Steven, who was staring past her and out at the rapidly dimming mountainside. "Let us return inside," Pearl said. "It is getting late."

"Yeah. Okay, Pearl." Steven sounded much calmer now. Almost like his normal self. Pearl was glad. Perhaps he would get some sleep tonight.

The two walked back around the Palanquin and went through it's curtains. The string of lights that ran all around the inside were now beginning to glow brightly in the evening darkness. They stood next to the table for a moment, before Steven yawned, covering his mouth with his hand.

"Perhaps it would be best to turn in early tonight, my Steven," Pearl suggested. "It has been a long day and tomorrow we will be resuming your studies. You will need to be well rested."

Steven nodded. "Yeah, you're right." He yawned again. "I am kinda tired."

"Then allow me to tuck you in for the night, my Steven."

However Steven shook his head. "No, before that… Can you read me a story, Pearl?"

Pearl smiled softly at her young charge. "I will."

"And can we read it on the throne?" Steven pointed up above them to the seat of Blue Diamond's throne. "If we gotta live here, then I want to at least sit where Mom did…"

With only the barest of pauses, Pearl answered, "We can. Pick out what book you wish for me to read."

Steven smiled, actually smiled, as he ran over to the bookcase and began carefully scanning over every spine of every book, trying to pick out the perfect one. As she waited, Pearl grabbed some of the extra pillows and a spare blanket. With a single leap, she got to the seat of the throne and began laying out the blanket and pillows, trying to make the throne as inviting as possible.

"Pearl! Pearl, I got the book!"

Pearl peaked over the edge of the throne and saw Steven there, jumping as high as he could trying to get up to her. He was making a good attempt as well. Nowhere near high enough granted, but still a much higher jump than most humans could manage.

She hopped down to the floor, landing with a muted 'thud' and bowed her head at Steven. "Shall we?" Steven nodded eagerly and Pearl lifted him up in her arms. Holding him wasn't as easy as it had been years ago, but it was still no real problem for her.

Perhaps in another ten years, he would be so large that he would have to hold her.

With Steven securely in her arms, the book securely in his, Pearl leapt back to the seat of the throne and let Steven down onto the blanket.

"Wow," Steven marveled as he looked over the edge. "Mom really sat up here?"

"She did," Pearl nodded. "It was a symbol of her authority and leadership on Homeworld."

"And now I'm here," Steven said, turning back to her.

"You are." Pearl sat down, leaning against some of the pillows and Steven joined in next to her, snuggling in close.

Pearl opened the book, flipping past the table of contents and past the author's frankly rambling introduction and to the first page of the first chapter. She cleared her throat, a gesture she didn't need, but one Steven gleamed amusement from, and began,

"Once upon a time, there was a princess who lived in a tower in the mountains…"

Steven was asleep before Pearl had finished the first chapter. She wasn't surprised. As she had said, today had been a tiring day. For everyone, herself included. But she was glad he was able to fall asleep so easily. Perhaps that meant he would have a restful night.

However, he had fallen asleep directly against her.

Pearl needed to get up, she had tasks to do. But she did not want to risk waking Steven up. So, she continued to sit there, Steven laying against her.

She watched him and it amazed her how… peaceful he looked. Just like the day she had first met him and held him in her arms. She had not truly understood what he was then, but she had pledged to stay and serve him, and she was glad that she did. This was a good life, different yes, but good. She had her duties and she was content. Despite some bumps along the way, raising Steven was a pleasure and even a joy.

She wouldn't trade this for all the galactic sightseeing in the universe.

"Good night, my Steven." She kissed him lightly on the top of his head and then rested against the plush pillows.

Her eyes flickered once, twice, three times before closing completely.

Neither woke until morning.

Authors' Note: And that's it for the prequels! In future we might have some other side stories/missing scenes, but this is it for now. Thank you all for joining us!