Home World (Steven Universe AU)

Summary:

in which blue meets the rest of the crystal gems

Becoming a cowboy was an unexpected turn of events, but Blue supported her friend regardless. Still, even with her newfound independence, she missed Sapphire deeply. Steven, being the genius on humans and their traditions, gave a suggestion Ruby had never even thought of until that moment—and it was perfect.

Blue tilted her head with a small smile. She had no idea what a "wedding" was, but Ruby and Sapphire looked ecstatic to have one. Laughing together on the beautiful sunset beach, Ruby tossed her beloved in the air repeatedly, exclaiming, "WE'RE HAVING A WEDDING!" At least they would be Garnet again, but this time, it would be because they wanted it.

"Blue." She looked up at her mate, who was smiling warmly at her. "A wedding is usually full of a lot of people. Wanna come with me to get Lapis and Peridot?"

This was really his way of asking if Blue wanted to meet his other friends—friends she had yet to meet. When he had first called her through the Diamond line, Peridot had been hiding behind the screen to eavesdrop, and Lapis wasn't even around. Lapis had been adamant that Blue was just a disguise for her mother, while Peridot was on the fence. This would be a good opportunity for everyone to officially meet.

"Okay," she agreed, following him inside the house as they made their way to the warp pad.

Truth be told, Steven wanted to ask Blue about the whole truth regarding his mom. It was obvious she felt some type of way about it, but Blue was surprisingly stubborn, insisting this wasn't about her. It was about the other Gems—especially considering that his mom had been their leader. Their opinions and feelings mattered more than Blue's, or so she claimed. Steven knew better than to push her; she wasn't ready to talk, and he wouldn't force her.

The sky was clear over the farmhouse. From a distance, Steven could make out the silhouette of Lapis flying above the crops and Peridot tinkering with a tracker below. A quick glance at his girlfriend revealed her apprehension. Taking her hand, he gave her a hopeful smile and stepped forward. Except she didn't move—her feet were planted firmly on the ground like a statue.

Steven stopped and turned to face her. This time, her expression was resolute, her eyes locking onto his as if she were trying to see into his soul.

"I know you're hurting too… from all this," she stated, her voice steady. She had been sensing his bubbling emotions, hidden beneath his cheerful exterior, and knew it needed to be addressed.

Steven opened his mouth, ready to deny and dismiss her words. After all, Garnet's wedding was coming up soon, and they still had to invite Lapis and Peridot. It was supposed to be perfect. Sure, his mom had lied to everyone—except Pearl—and yes, her actions had hurt countless others. But that was in the past, wasn't it? It shouldn't matter anymore. She was gone.

Yet the words refused to come out, and he couldn't shake Blue's unwavering gaze.

Blue, of course, had witnessed firsthand the distress Steven went through when the truth about Rose being Pink Diamond was revealed. She had used her special cloud to calm him down back then. Steven had since learned how perceptive she was—how deeply she could sense the emotions of others. Lying to her would be useless.

"I am," he finally admitted, though his voice was hesitant. "But…" He bit his lip and looked away, unable to meet her eyes.

Blue stepped forward, closing the space between them. Gently, she took both of his hands in hers. "Your feelings matter too, Steven," she said, her voice soft yet firm. One of her hands moved to his cheek, lightly turning his face so he was looking at her again. "You don't have to suffer in silence."

His lips twitched at the irony of her statement. Blue herself had been quiet about her feelings all this time. Sure, she had been supportive when Ruby decided to become a cowboy for a day, but even Steven could tell that beneath her smiles and cheers, she had been upset. She probably didn't realize it, but when she was upset, he could feel it too—her presence grew colder, in the literal sense. Blue didn't want others to feel her pain or suffer like she had, but Steven had learned, as had Connie, that there were other ways her emotions could be sensed. Even if she tried to hide them, they lingered, indirectly affecting those around her.

"You don't have to hold it all in either," Steven said softly, his voice gaining strength. For a moment, they stood there, both carrying the weight of emotions too long buried, their unspoken understanding deepening. Blue's hand lingered on his cheek, a silent promise that they would face the hurt together.

"I know you're upset too; you can't hide it even if you try," Steven counters with a sardonic smile.

Blue tenses at his words, only to immediately deflate, letting out a humorless chuckle. His observation was painfully accurate. How funny—both of them hated showing their negative emotions, each avoiding burdening those around them.

"I'm just frustrated at the aftermath of her negligence," Blue admits, her gaze drifting away.

Steven steps closer, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead before pulling her into a warm embrace. "How about we deal with all this after the wedding?" he suggests gently.

As she returns the hug, Blue recalls a distant memory—Connie's mother coming to pick them up after she and Connie got lost. The memory brings an idea to her mind. "Perhaps Connie's mother can help you," Blue says thoughtfully. "She is a human… apothecary, yes? They help people in distress. You have been deeply affected by Pink's actions, and perhaps a professional is in order. My clouds can offer temporary relief, but for the long term…"

Steven pulls back slightly, surprise lighting up his face. He hadn't considered that before, and the suggestion caught him off guard. "When did you meet Dr. Maheswaran?" he asks, tilting his head curiously.

Blue offers a faint smile, brushing his question aside. "What about you?" he presses.

Blue lets out a deep sigh before shaking her head. Her lips form a thin line, and her gaze hardens—not in a threatening way, but in resolution. "I have duties back on Homeworld that I cannot neglect for very long. Once all this is completed, I must return. I am frustrated, but it will pass. You, however, have been affected more deeply than I. That is why I worry for you."

Steven opens his mouth to protest—to argue that he's worried about her too, and that Dr. Maheswaran could help her as well. But Blue raises a hand to silence him.

"Enough," she says firmly, placing the same hand on his cheek once more. Her touch is gentle, but her tone is commanding. "No more of this, for now. We have things to do. Understand?"

Steven wants to object—his stubbornness almost compels him—but there's something about the way Blue looks at him in that moment. Her eyes are soft yet authoritative, a monarch's gaze. It leaves no room for argument. He sighs, relenting. "For now," he agrees, taking her hand.

With the conversation set aside, Steven resumes guiding her toward the farm. They still needed to invite their guests.

"Hey guys!" Steven calls out loudly, waving his free hand.

Two heads whip toward him.

"STEVEN—OOF!" Peridot topples off her tracker in her excitement. She quickly scrambles to her feet, attempting to play it off, but freezes mid-motion as her gaze locks on Blue. Her entire body goes rigid in horror.

High above, Lapis halts mid-flight, staring down in disbelief.

Steven… he actually brought Blue Diamond here. To Earth?!

Peridot's thoughts are a chaotic whirl, her expression frozen in a mixture of shock and terror.

"What is he thinking?!" Lapis's internal alarm screams, her wings holding her steady as she processes the sight before her.

The couple finally approached Peridot, who was visibly trying to act braver than she felt. Peridot reassured herself: she had talked back to Yellow Diamond and survived. Surely, she could handle Blue Diamond's offspring. Yet, as she looked up at the young monarch, she realized something strange—this wasn't what she was expecting at all.

Peridot had never seen the original Blue Diamond in person, only in passing through files and recordings. She had expected this "Bluebell" to be an imposing, intimidating figure like her creator. But as Peridot observed her more closely, what she saw instead was… a human.

Her face was rounder, softer than Blue Diamond's sharp, elongated oval. Her eyes, while the same striking color, were upright and wide, not the downward-slanted, mournful gaze of her progenitor. Thin lips, a small button nose, and her pale, flesh-like skin lacked the radiant, crystalline glow of a traditional Diamond. Yes, Bluebell had an air of authority, but it was tempered, approachable. If anything, it seemed intentional—she didn't want to intimidate.

It was surreal. Peridot couldn't help but compare. Steven, despite his gem, looked entirely human. But this girl, the child of a Diamond, was something else. She had the features of her creator, but with a distinctly human twist. Peridot had expected her to look… Diamond-like, not so clearly human with just traces of her heritage.

"Peridot, this is Bluebell," Steven said, his voice light and hopeful. "The girl I told you about."

"Hello," Bluebell greeted, her voice soft and her wave sheepish.

Peridot's sharp eyes caught a mole on the side of one of Bluebell's fingers—tiny, almost unnoticeable. But as a technician, Peridot's attention to detail was precise. Diamonds don't have imperfections like that, she thought. But humans do.

"You're more human than I thought," Peridot said bluntly, her words startling both Steven and Bluebell.

Every Gem that had ever seen Bluebell always commented on how much she resembled her mother—just more lenient and less commanding. Steven certainly hadn't expected this reaction.

Bluebell froze, and her eyes began to glisten with tears. But instead of offense, she felt something unexpected—relief.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling as she wiped away the happy tears.

Peridot tilted her head, confused but intrigued. This girl, human as she appeared, clearly possessed Diamond powers. That much was obvious. And yet…

Suddenly, the sky above them darkened, and the trio instinctively looked up.

"That's not a human," came a bitter voice from above.

Lapis hovered in the air, her eyes cold and accusing as she glared down at Bluebell. Without warning, she thrust her hands forward, commanding the water around the barn and sending it hurtling toward Bluebell like a tidal wave.

"Lapis, wait—!" Steven shouted, throwing up his arms as if to shield Bluebell.

But it was too late—the barn and water surged toward her in an overwhelming force.

"WAIT—STOP!" Steven yelled, scooping Bluebell and Peridot into his arms before leaping to safety.

"SHE'S NOT HUMAN! WHY CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?" Lapis shouted from above, her voice sharp with exasperation and fear. The thought of Steven putting himself in harm's way for a Diamond, of all beings, was unbearable.

"Have you lost your mind?!" Peridot shouted back, shaking her fist at Lapis.

Bluebell, however, remained unfazed. This wasn't the first time a Gem had attacked her on sight, and she doubted it would be the last.

Peridot, still pointing at Bluebell, shot back, "You think a Diamond can shapeshift THIS small?"

Lapis hesitated mid-air, the water she had gathered hovering menacingly as she considered Peridot's words.

"And I'd be dead if she were the original Blue Diamond," Steven added, his tone firm.

Lapis grimaced, her mind racing. Steven had returned alive from encounters with the Diamonds—even from the Zoo, which was essentially their territory. He should've been shattered on sight, yet here he was. Still, when she looked at the girl in his arms, all she could see was that cold-hearted monarch.

Reluctantly, Lapis lowered her hands, allowing the water to crash harmlessly to the ground. She landed gently, her arms crossing as she held herself, staring warily at the three of them.

Steven cautiously put Bluebell and Peridot down once he was sure Lapis wouldn't attack again. He took a deep breath, realizing it was time to rip off another painful bandage. "Also, Pink Diamond faked her shattering and permanently shapeshifted into Rose Quartz," he blurted out.

"EXCUSE ME?!" Peridot shrieked, her voice almost cracking.

Both Peridot and Lapis stared at him, their jaws slack in sheer disbelief.

Steven winced but pressed on. "I found out recently. Turns out Pink had ordered Pearl not to speak about it until I saw the truth for myself—through memories inside Pearl's gem."

For a moment, Lapis seemed to forget her hostility toward Bluebell entirely. Her expression was a storm of confusion and frustration as she stormed toward them, thunderclouds of emotions written across her face.

"From the beginning," she demanded, her voice tight. Then, after a beat, she added, "Please."

Steven sighed, glancing at Bluebell and Peridot before turning back to Lapis. "Okay. From the beginning. But let's hope this doesn't take too long."

=======

"And now Ruby and Sapphire are gonna have a reunion to be Garnet again," Steven concluded, exhaling deeply.

The farm was quiet now, the stars above shining brighter in the absence of city lights. The half-moon hung dominantly in the sky, bathing everything in a pale glow. Bluebell stood apart from the group, her back turned as she gazed at the night sky.

"So now there's two human-Diamond hybrids," Peridot noted, her voice breaking the silence. She crinkled her eyes up at Steven, clearly intrigued. While the story of Garnet's upcoming reunion was touching, the revelation of a second hybrid was far more captivating to her.

It raised so many questions—why did Steven so clearly favor his father's physical traits, while Blue seemed to mirror her mother's appearance? Did it have something to do with gender? Was Steven's resemblance to Greg because he was male? If he had been born female, would his hair still be dark brown, or would it have been pink?

"So… a wedding is a reunion?" Lapis asked, tilting her head curiously.

As Steven began explaining weddings to Lapis, Peridot rose from where she was sitting and approached Bluebell, her curiosity piqued by the younger hybrid. Blue's hair caught her attention—it was almost white, with the faintest tint of blue, much lighter than her mother's deep, saturated hue. When the moonlight hit it, the color shifted subtly, revealing its icy undertones.

Fascinating, Peridot thought, noting how human genetics might play into this mystery. She wasn't very familiar with human biology beyond anatomy, but this was worth pondering.

"Interesting," Peridot finally said aloud, turning her gaze toward Steven, who had just finished answering Lapis's question.

"What is?" Steven asked, his curiosity evident.

"I was wondering why Blue Diamond's features dominate this one's appearance, while Pink Diamond's don't seem to dominate yours," Peridot said, crossing her arms. "I have a theory it might be gender-related. Then again, Gemkind is sexless, so it's still a work in progress."

Steven and Bluebell exchanged wide-eyed glances, completely flabbergasted by Peridot's train of thought.

"Also," Peridot continued, unbothered by their reaction, "since you two are the only hybrids in existence, there's very little to work with. But I'm… 89% positive it's gender-related."

For a moment, silence filled the air. Steven and Bluebell stared at each other, their expressions slowly shifting. Blue's lips twitched first, then Steven let out a snort.

In unison, both hybrids burst into laughter, the sound breaking the quiet night like a joyful melody.

Peridot tilted her head in confusion. "What's so funny?"

Steven wiped at his eyes, still chuckling. "You just heard this entire dramatic story, and that's what you're focused on?"

Bluebell laughed harder, clutching her sides. "She's… she's got her priorities!"

Peridot huffed, her face turning a slightly darker green. "Well, it's a valid question!"

Steven grinned. "It is, Peridot, but I think you've got some time to figure it out. No rush, okay?"

Peridot, despite herself, allowed a small smirk. "Fine. But I'll solve this mystery eventually."

Peridot scowled, clearly insulted.

"What?" Steven waved a dismissive hand. "Nothing, nothing."

Blue was the first to calm down, smiling fondly at Peridot. "You certainly have your priorities straight."

At that moment, a ring sounded, followed by an automated voice informing Blue of her approaching bedtime. She stood up; it was time to leave.

Steven stood up as well, slipping his hand into hers. "Will you guys stop by the house tomorrow? We might need help with invitations and stuff."

Peridot grinned. "Sure."

Lapis, on the other hand, looked apprehensive, still wary of Blue despite her having done nothing wrong. How can Peridot say she looks human?

"Maybe," Lapis replied before turning around, spreading her water wings, and taking flight. Honestly, that was the most Steven expected from her.

With a final goodbye to Peridot, Steven and Blue warped back to the house. Sapphire was the only one sitting on the couch; the others were nowhere in sight.

"We invited Lapis and Peridot," Steven said as soon as he saw her.

The blue Gem tilted her head slightly. "I know." Her voice was calm, yet it carried a sad undertone. "Steven, can I talk to Blue alone?"

This was unexpected, especially given the time, but Blue didn't mind sparing a few minutes.

"Okay." Steven pecked her cheek. "You can spend the night here. Just sayin'," he added briefly before heading upstairs toward his room, leaving the two alone.

Blue sat down on the couch beside the shorter Gem, wondering if this was about the past—specifically her history with Sapphire's mother.

"Lapis will come around, eventually," Sapphire said gently.

Blue blinked, taken aback, before smiling bitterly and staring down at the book in her lap. Its cover read Dream Wedding. "Thank you. That's… comforting to know."

Although Blue was already accustomed to being hated and feared by some Gems, it was true that she felt grateful to hear this.

Next to her, Sapphire picked up a small blue stuffed animal, gazing down at it. "I know Garnet already apologized, but I wanted to as well."

Behind her bangs, she glanced at the child beside her. "You accepted us, despite being raised on Homeworld."

It was evident that Blue had been trying so hard to show she never meant any harm or ill will. Sapphire still felt a little guilty for being so cold toward her.

"And you're trying to right the wrongs the Diamonds caused after the war," Sapphire continued, smiling softly. "Your actions mean more to us than we show. So thank you, and I'm sorry. I hope you'll stay for the wedding."

Blue had never once held a grudge for being given the cold shoulder, so this apology—while unexpected and unnecessary—still made her feel more welcome. She would cherish this memory forever.

"Of course," Blue replied, her voice filled with sincerity.

=======

There was so much to do—catering for those who required food, music for the wedding, gathering the decor the brides wanted, and many other tasks.

"This folding bone is so nice," Pearl exclaimed excitedly, using the tool to neatly fold paper for the invitations.

Blue sat next to her, helping with the folds before passing them to Steven, who stamped each one. Everyone was contributing to the process. Unfortunately, there was no sign of Lapis. Steven didn't show it outwardly, but he was a little bummed that she hadn't come. Then again, in hindsight, she did say, "maybe."

"How many have we done?" Peridot groaned, sounding as though they'd been working for hours.

In reality, it had only been a few minutes.

"Thirteen," Amethyst chirped, slapping an envelope down onto the pile.

Finally, they were done.

"Oh, just thirteen… hm." Sapphire could hide her emotions better than most, but Blue caught the way her lips twitched into a brief grimace.

"I'll do the catering," Pearl announced cheerfully, looking over the list of tasks that still needed to be done.

"Guess I'll do the decorations," Amethyst said, standing up and heading toward the door.

Pearl quickly followed, visibly distressed at the idea of Amethyst being in charge of decorations. It was probably safer for Amethyst to help with the food—the worst she could do there was eat everything. If she handled the decorations, though, everything might end up looking like a hurricane had torn through the venue.

Blue stood up as well. "It's probably wiser for Amethyst to send out the invitations," she called out, running after the two.

"She'd make a cute bridesmaid," Sapphire mused, already envisioning Blue in a dress different from her usual attire. This idea was likely inspired by Connie, the only human female around with any sense of human fashion.

Steven grinned broadly. Another step toward friendship—YES!

"Really?" Ruby asked, returning Sapphire's smile.

"I think she deserves it, after everything she's done to help us," Sapphire replied. "Learning the truth from her…"

Steven felt a wave of giddiness wash over him. This was going to be a perfect wedding.

Outside, Blue watched as the two quibbled amongst themselves before turning her gaze toward her ship. From the reference photos Steven had shown, a ship was not present, so it would need to be moved to a less conspicuous location.

But where? Back to the Kindergarten? And what about afterward—what task could she take on to help with the wedding? Decorating was still available.

"Perhaps I can make clouds," she mused. Her clouds brought happiness to Gems and had helped calm Steven and Ruby in the past. Maybe she could summon some—not too many to overcrowd the scene, but enough to scatter around and bring joy to the guests on this already joyous occasion.

However, the theme was dolphins (whatever those were) and flames. Clouds didn't seem to fit. Bubbles, perhaps? She could summon bubbles—not the kind that sealed away Gems, but ones that might work as decorations.

A warm, familiar presence filled the air around her.

"Are you okay?" her mate asked, now standing next to her with a clipboard in hand. A pen was attached to it by a string.

"Yes. I'm wondering where to put my ship and what I can contribute to the wedding theme afterward," she answered, glancing up at the sky.

The scattered clouds made her wonder if the weather would be good. She recalled Pearl mentioning how very cloudy skies might ruin an outdoor wedding. That was why Steven had suggested moving the wedding back a few days earlier, to give everyone time to prepare.

Steven hummed in agreement. She had a point about relocating the ship. It would definitely steal attention from the main couple.

"Maybe the ship could go to the Kindergarten," he suggested, then hesitated. Was that too far? Was there a closer option? Perhaps behind the lighthouse? Though he wasn't sure if the ship was too big for that.

"Okay," Blue replied, raising her hand as if ready to act.

Steven quickly stopped her. "Not right now. I've actually been thinking about something."

He peeked over his shoulder. The other Gems had gone to gather supplies, but he wanted to ensure no one returned unexpectedly to eavesdrop.

"Have you noticed Sapphire's moodiness?" Steven asked.

A stupid question—she was an empath. Of course, Blue had noticed Sapphire being bummed. Steven shook his head, internally smacking himself for asking such an obvious question.

"Never mind. Uh, I want to invite Bismuth too."

Blue tilted her head. They know a Bismuth?

"Is her corruption not as whole as the others?"

Oh jeez. Steven had forgotten that Blue still hadn't met Bismuth yet, given that she'd been trapped inside a bubble in the boiling room during Bismuth's introduction.

Also, her question made Steven realize something else: Bismuth not only didn't know about Pink/Rose faking her shattering, but also wasn't aware of the aftermath—the corrupted Gems and the efforts to heal them.

"She's not corrupted. Mom hid her away because…" Steven began, guiding Blue back inside the house as he explained the situation.

Once inside, he opened the door to the temple. He'd been getting much better at using his powers lately, especially with Blue doing her part to help cure Onyx back on Homeworld. Her efforts had motivated him to try harder.

Blue's curious eyes wandered around the room. So this was where they were stored—thousands of years' worth of Gems, trapped in their little bubbles. Some were former allies from long ago, others were enemies who hadn't escaped in time. Regardless of their history, the Crystal Gems had been forced to fight them.

"I don't think she'll attack. Do you want to come?" Steven asked.

Blue titters at her mate's silly inquiry. Of course, she wanted to come—to protect him, should he need it—but she also wasn't afraid of being attacked on sight. If anything, her presence might deter an attack.

As she calmed down, though, she began to think: Is it even wise for me to be there at all?

Every Gem—save Peridot and, obviously, her mate—saw her as her mother. Bismuth hated the Diamonds so much she'd wanted to shatter them. She'd even tried to shatter her own leader, albeit in ignorance.

"Perhaps it's not wise for me to go," Blue admitted. "She did want to shatter a Diamond."

Both knowingly and unknowingly, ironically.

"You might not be able to talk at all if she becomes preoccupied with fighting me."

She had a point. Bismuth was… persistent. It was why Steven had been forced to poof her in the first place.

With this decision made, Steven handed the clipboard over to Blue. "You're in charge until I'm back."

Blue had far more experience as a leader than he did. Steven was just a placeholder until Garnet returned. He trusted Blue to handle things, even though she barely knew anything about a wedding ceremony. The list was detailed enough to guide her.

"I understand," Blue replied, taking the clipboard in hand.

The two walked out of the boiling room to the warp pad. Blue did not step on it.

"Be safe," she bid him.

"I will."

Steven kissed her cheek, and the warp pad activated, whisking him away.

=======

Blue had just finished going through the list. Her ship had been successfully moved to a less conspicuous location, and Greg was helping with the venue setup. She looked up at the rows of unlit candles hanging from strings above the chairs, stopping by the baby-blue arch shaped like two dolphins facing each other.

She had finally learned what a dolphin was, and if dolphins and flames were what the brides wanted, then that's what she would deliver. Though with the wedding only a few days away, there was still much to do.

"Wow. This is turning out better than I thought," Greg commented, grinning at the half-finished venue. He hadn't believed anyone could truly pull off a dolphins and flames theme, but Blue was proving him wrong.

Blue hummed softly, acknowledging his praise. Steven's list described a vision that didn't quite match the theme—there were no dolphins, just generic fish, and the tablecloths were supposed to be baby blue with flames painted along the edges. She'd kept the design but had added elements to make it feel more cohesive.

"I need to check who's available to attend. Could you find the baby-blue tablecloths, please?" she asked, showing Greg the item on the list.

Greg playfully saluted. "Got it."

As he drove off in his van, Blue headed inside the house. Upon entering, she found the brides flipping through the wedding book together, with Amethyst sitting nearby and offering suggestions. Ruby seemed to agree with most of Amethyst's ideas, while Sapphire appeared more amused than convinced.

In the kitchen, Pearl was mixing cake batter for cupcakes, with Peridot assisting. The two seemed to be getting along well.

Blue approached Pearl. "How does one use the… um, cell phone? I wish to contact those invited and confirm their availability to attend."

Pearl smiled. It had become easier to do around Blue now, especially since Ruby and Sapphire seemed to genuinely like her. She set the bowl down to answer.

"WE SHOULD TOTALLY SERVE WHISKEY!" Amethyst suddenly shouted, standing up on the couch and drawing everyone's attention to her.

"YEAH, AND RUM!" Ruby chimed in, her eyes sparkling at the idea of alcohol.

"That would end very poorly," Sapphire noted dryly.

Pearl rolled her eyes. "If we serve alcohol, it can't be much. There will be minors attending," she reminded them, walking toward the group and shooting Amethyst a disapproving look.

Amethyst rolled her eyes in return, then smirked slyly. "I'm pretty sure 16-year-olds drink in France."

Pearl scowled. "We're not in—"

The sound of the warp pad activating cut her off. Everyone turned toward it, expecting Steven.

They didn't expect the familiar gem standing next to him.

"Hey, everyone," Bismuth said, smiling nervously. Her lips twitched, as if forcing the expression. "Did you guys… Bis-miss-th me?"

Her jaw dropped, and so did the jaws of the other three Gems.

"I invited Bismuth," Steven announced brightly, though his heart pounded loudly in his ears as the silence stretched on. "I hope that's cool."

The awkward silence lingered long enough for Steven to start having regrets.

Then—

"Bismuth!" Sapphire cried, bolting off the couch and flinging herself at her old friend, catching the rainbow-haired gem completely off guard.

"Wha—whoa, Sapphire!"

Bismuth staggered slightly but held her ground as Ruby and Pearl tackled her too, knocking her to the floor.

"Biiiiismuth!" they wailed in unison.

"You wouldn't believe what we've been through!" Sapphire exclaimed, her tone cracking with guilt. "I'm so sorry! We should've…" She trailed off, her voice faltering as Bismuth waved a dismissive hand.

"Look, I'm right there with you. Steven filled me in," Bismuth reassured them, climbing back to her feet and carefully helping her friends up.

Suddenly, her expression brightened as she remembered something important. "Oh! Ruby, Sapphire—I heard you're supposed to bring gifts to these things." She opened her hand to reveal two beautifully crafted rings.

"They're not weapons, but Steven seemed to think they'd come in handy."

Ruby and Sapphire's faces lit up with delight. "We love them!" they said in unison, gazing at the rings with wide smiles.

From the kitchen, Blue watched the scene unfold with a fond smile. Steven had been successful in inviting Bismuth, and the reunion was going smoothly. That was good.

Her mate walked over and kissed her cheek, an affectionate gesture that Blue didn't entirely expect. Perhaps it was the excitement of the upcoming union or the bittersweet knowledge that she'd soon return to Homeworld. Either way, she enjoyed his presence.

Still, she couldn't help but glance at his lips briefly, feeling a growing warmth in her face. Perhaps she, too, was catching the contagious affection spreading throughout the group. She quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks flushing. Not the time, she thought to herself.

Steven seemed to notice her reaction and hugged her with a soft, loving hum.

"So, you're Blue Diamond's offspring, huh?"

Both turned to see Bismuth standing on the opposite side of the bar, her brows raised with a crooked smile. Her expression betrayed her confusion, likely at the idea of a Diamond mating with a human.

"I am," Blue replied simply, her voice steady despite the surreal nature of the interaction.

It was strange for Bismuth, looking at her—like seeing a smaller, softer version of that cold shatterer she remembered.

"Steven told me it was you who helped uncover the truth," Bismuth said, her tone softening. "And that you've been trying to help, even from Homeworld."

Blue nodded, her gaze unwavering. "I am sorry for what Blue Diamond has done."

Bismuth blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting an apology. Then, she let out a bitter laugh.

It was almost funny. Steven, the offspring of Rose Quartz—Pink Diamond—had proven himself to be so much better than she ever was. And now this one? The same, better than her creator.

"It's okay," Bismuth said at last, holding out her hand. "Nice to meet you, Bluebell."

The youngest of the group reached out, taking her hand in a firm shake.

"Nice to meet you, Bismuth."