"Wh-what?" It wasn't a offended yell, it was more a surprised whisper that had Steven wishing he hadn't said anything.

"I just.... Oh nevermind, it was a silly thing to ask, just.... forget it." Steven tried to backtrack from the conversation, but it was far too late, the smaller female had already heard him suggest it.

"No..... It wasn't silly, I just wasn't expecting it is all." The older man felt his face heat up, and his best friends eyes on him.

"Okay, well.... Then I'll say it again, you could stay here, with me." As the words escaped his lips, he was already geared towards a very subtle no, instead, he got something that made his heart erupt.

"Steven.... I... I'd love too, but... I don't know, is there enough room?" He gulped, no, not really, and Roses room was being used as a barracks for gem soldiers.

"I was thinking we would s-share a bed actually." Steven thought that he should stop talking, he was digging himself into a ditch and then filling that ditch with concrete.

"Oh, that's not a big deal we have before!" Steven sighed, the pizza lay forgotten on the table, and his heart still beating faster than he could think.

"Yeah. But that was when we were younger. I thought you'd be uncomfortable if I suggested it." He admitted, and Connie looked at him with such a confused face it actually made him almost laugh.

"Steven, I don't think you could make me uncomfortable even if you tried." He took that as a complement and his cheeks flushed red.

"Is that a yes?" He asked and she crossed her arms, looking over at her sword in the corner, she would be closer if an attack happened, plus she wouldn't have to answer her parents questions.

But she would also be moving away from her parents for the first time.

"It's a Maybe. But considering how late it is,  I am probably going to have to spend the night." Steven looked at his watch, it was nearly midnight, where had the time gone?

"Oh! It is late! No wonder I'm so tired." He chuckled, and felt the need slide his hand down her shoulder.

As he did so, their faces went red, but Steven was already committed, so he then said what was on his mind, which when it came to Connie, was rare.

"I have to go take a Shower, but you can head on to bed if you're tired." Connie blushed a little, a reminder of how their thoughts had changed over the years.

"Y-Yeah... Okay." She undid her hair and found one of Steven's black shirts, it was much too long on her, but that was the point, it was like a short dress.

She buried herself in the blankets and found herself immediately drowned in the smell of sweets and body-spray, since when did Steven start using body-spray?

After awhile, when she was already half-asleep in the bed, Steven came back, with a pair of long pants and shirtless, he was a big guy yes, but a large portion of that was muscle, you don't get to be the leader of the rebellion for nothing.

He slid into bed next to her and she immediately smelled aftershave and more of that same-chocolaty body-spray, somehow it made her more sleepy, unintentionally, she snuggled against him, and he wrapped a protective arms around her, before they drifted off to sleep.

"Hahaha. Ohhhh, They are never gonna live this down, Garnet, get the camera."

Connie, awoke to the noise and voices first, and found herself encased in the protective arms of a man and a purple gem right in front of her.

"Amethyst?"

"Did the love birds have a good sleep?" Amethyst asked, and Connie immediately went red, looking back at the large male with his arms still loosely around her.

"I-I Uh... I just stayed over too late and we were tired... that's it." Garnet was staring in their direction, seeing the full blush on Connie's face.

"Okay Amethyst leave them alone." The purple gem looked disappointed but listened to the crimson gem while Garnet still stayed behind.

"He asked you, didn't he?" It was blunt and direct like all her words but it still took Connie aback.

"About What?" Garnet stared a little longer and it clicked it Connie's mind.

"Oh.... Yeah, About moving in with him? He d-did.... yeah." Her cheeks turned even redder when the male in the bed with her shifted, grasping her hips unintentionally.

"And?" Garnet was grinning, and Connie felt sweat drip down her forehead.

"I... I don't know Garnet. It would spare me questions from my parents, and I would be closer if an attack happened, but.... it would be the first time living without my parents." Garnet leaned against the wall, listening intently.

"I understand, it would be a change, and it's perfectly normal to be hesitant. But, I think you should." Connie looked up at the tall Gem, she was a foot taller than Steven.

"Wha- Garnet?!"

"Steven needs you. He's been losing sleep and not eating as much, he has been letting stress get to him." Connie turned and looked at the sleeping man, she had not noticed the dark circles under his eyes or the crinkles of worry on his forehead.

"Yeah... He does seem stressed."

Connie grazed her hand over his cheek, his brow furrowed for a moment, but he relaxed, leaving him looking much younger and happier.

Garnet smiled and stood on the warp pad, heading out to check in the rest of the gems scattered across the planet.

Connie sighed, the combined warmth of the blankets and Stevens embrace makes her slip back under the covers, but it's only for a few moments, because Steven peacefully wakes, making a raspy sound of awareness that sent tiny bolts of electricity up Connie's spine.

I gotta be still dreamin'... woke up next to 'er...." He mumbled groggily, his voice softer and scratchy, not realizing that Connie was very much awake and could hear him.

"Mmmmnhhhhh....." He rolled over, getting closer and wrapping her up in his arms tighter, his hot breath now on her neck.

She thought she was about to explode, his voice was so.... Aaggh. It was so, for lack of a better word, hot.

"S-Steven?" Her words seemed to snap him out of it and she felt his breath hitch as he realized what he was doing, he quickly shifted away, raising up in the sheets.

"Oh... S-Sorry, I was half asleep." His voice was still groggy but much more awake than it just was, he looked around breathing in the air.

"I'll admit, I haven't slept this late in a long time." He chuckled and slipped out of bed stretching and cracking his back and fingers.

"After Peridot gives me a morning report, then we'll have breakfast." He picked up his laptop and started typing rapidly, while Connie stared at the floor in thought.

Steven was depressed, it was obvious now that it was brought to her attention that something was wrong, he still acted cheerful and happy, but she wondered how much of that was just to hide how he really felt.

She had made up her mind.

She rolled out of bed and made herself a cup of tea, and stood behind Steven as he made his call.

His face was drained, his forehead lined, and his eyes worried, Peridot came on screen, she looked slightly perturbed.

"Anything new Peridot?" His voice was deeper, shifted into a different tone, slower, more identifiable. More... intimidating.

"I've heard rumors of a Corrupted Gem near the Beta Kindergarten. Should be simple sweep and retrieve, We've got scouts on it now." Steven sighed and nodded, while Connie was more focused on her best friends behavior.

"Thank you Peridot, tell them I'll be there shortly." The green gem nodded and Steven stopped the chat, he held his head in his hand for a moment, and Connie noticed that he had to really force a smile on his face.

"Steven are you okay?" She asked it without a second thought and it made him stop in his tracks, and his smile faltered.

Wha- Yeah... I'm fine, why are you asking?" She thought for a moment about telling him about Garnet, but then decided to absolutely tell him, there are no secrets in this friendship, not from her.

"Garnet told me you haven't been doing well, not eating as much, losing sleep." He refused to meet her gaze, he started to look nervous, and his smile slipped further away.

"I-It's just stress you know, I- It's hard work." She stared at him, angry that he would keep secrets from her.

"Steven, we both promised to tell each other everything, even if it's bad, or weird, or embarrassing, please tell me what's wrong with you." His smile was gone now, his eyes lost their light, he sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair, it made him look so much older than he actually was.

"Connie... I- I don't know how much longer I can do this, pretending that everything is okay, that I have everything under control...." He almost completely broke down in front of her, but somehow he kept his composure, if only slightly.

"Everyone looks up to me to lead, to protect them, to keep them happy. But Connie...

He stopped.

"I'm not happy. I don't know how long I've been like this, but I don't know how long I can keep it up." I single tear started to roll down his face, but he hid it, and looked away.

"Why didn't you tell anyone you felt like this? We could've helped, Garnet could've taken over for awhile."

He shook his head.

"Y-You don't understand, Gem leaders don't buckle under pressure, they stay calm and collected, and have to smile, even if... if they feel more like screaming."

She made him look down at her with her hand, that she placed on the side of his cheek.

"You aren't a full Gem, your also a human! And humans need rest, they need support, you need support. I'm human, and I fight a battle every other week, but I still get nervous, I still get scared!" She stopped to think for a moment.

"Yeah... But you are amazing and I am not." Connie nearly fainted at his words, and then nearly laughed.

"Your no- You can fly! You can summon a shield out of nowhere! You can create a bubble that breaks reality! YOU CAN FUSE WITH ANYBODY! How are you not the most amazing living being on this planet!" She yelled incredulously, but this still did not seem to faze him.

"Those are my mother's powers not mine." Connie immediately shut up, And Steven continued.

"I don't have one thing I can call my own. These powers are my moms, the leadership position was my moms, my pet is my moms. Name one thing I have that my mother didn't have before me." Connie chuckled and smiled, taking his hands.

"Me." He gasped and then a genuine smile crossed his face.

"Yeah. Hahaha. I have you."