Steven's P.O.V

According to my phone, the time is 7:05 AM. Now the trouble I find myself running into is the question of Homeworld following the same timezone as Delmarva. Or even if it has a timezone to begin with! I mean, Gems are immortal so they don't have to bother themselves with keeping track of time, right!? Ugh, for the sake of my own sanity, or lack thereof, I'll just go along with what my phone tells me. My stomach, on the other hand, is telling me something different. 

Stretching, groaning, and feeling my back pop, I sit up from my bed and swiftly get off onto the nice cool floor. I yawn a couple of times twist my neck to get the kinks out, searching around for my duffel bag. Luckily, it's right where I left it, meaning that Blue Pearl hasn't moved it or anything. Unzipping the top and reaching inside, I pull out some Eggo waffles I'd packed beforehand. Before I have to bite into it though, a soft voice interrupts me.

"My Diamond has requested your presence at your earliest convenience, Steven" Blue Pearl announces. 

I smile in response and chew on the waffle, Blue Pearl watching with great interest.

"Pardon my asking, but what is that you are chewing on?" She then asks, her voice tinged with nervousness. 

I grin at her cuteness and with the help of my floating powers, I jump through the air and sail toward Blue Pearl, landing right in front of her. She blushes at the closeness, but I think nothing further of it.

"Go ahead, try some" I offer, holding it out in the palm of my hand. 

Blue Pearl hesitates at first, but then leans down and scoops it up with her mouth. She then chews on it, looking cute with her cheeks all puffed up and everything. After swallowing, Blue Pearl thanks me and then suddenly burps, her voice reaching the height of a mouse squeak. She looks down in embarrassment and blushes. I give her some time to recuperate, which is fortunately not long, but I can definitely say I've been there before.

"Alright, I'm ready to see Blue. What about you?" I ask, my tone a mix of cool and laid back with some gentlemanly respect in there too.

"Yes" She replies, opening the door for the both of us, "And thank you for your kindness, Steven Diamond".

"It's who I am" I say, lightly bopping the Pearl on her tip-of-a-pencil nose before strutting out of the room. 

From behind, I hear slight giggling, which in turn makes me smile because I love making people laugh. The two of us then walk side by side the rest of the way down the flights of stairs, through the numerous, never-ending hallways, and towards the majestic Diamond throne room. Along the way, I wave hello to many Gems that are comfortable enough to make the first move in greeting me. They're all nice and friendly, making it an even warmer welcome for me personally, but within a particularly large crowd of these passersby that I come across, I swear that I see a Jasper peeking around a column behind all the excited Amethysts. It's not just any Jasper either, because the tall and buff manner gives her away.

In any case, I keep that little fact in the back of my head, and watch as Blue Pearl and I walk right up to the doors of the throne room, her pushing the twin slabs inside with more muscle than I thought possible for a Pearl. The inside's so empty, minus the illustrious Blue Diamond looking radiant as ever, that you could hear a cricket if you tried so hard. But, like I said, there, on her throne, sits Blue, appearing bored as she rests her chin on one hand while aimlessly swiping right across her screen. Good thing she's not on Tinder, otherwise I'd be wondering what she does in her spare time. Blue Pearl then halts, does the Diamond Salute with her arms, and announces that I've arrived. At the sound of my name, Blue's head shoots up from her screen and looks at me, the holo pad being quickly pushed to the side.

"Steven! You're awake!" Blue Diamond cries out, racing on over and scooping me up with those big, but gentle hands of hers. 

Then, like yesterday, she nestles me against her cheek and rubs me up and down, her smile stretching wider than Homeworld itself.

"So, how was your human hibernation cycle?" The teary-eyed goddess asks, setting me down after our little moment.

"Very refreshing" I inform her, "And certainly helpful, because I know what's gotta happen next". Blue nods in agreement.

"Yes. Yellow hasn't come in yet today, which is most concerning. Maybe you could coax her out of her room?" Blue frowns, looking at me with pleading eyes.

"I wouldn't dream of doing anything else today. Who knows, maybe if I get lucky, White will come out to play too" I partially joke. 

Blue smiles hopefully and clasps her hands together.

"Oh, that would certainly be a tremendous help, Steven" The long-haired Diamond replies back, "And, not to be pushy, but when do you plan on starting?"

"As soon as we're done talking, or at both of our earliest conveniences, that is" I say, crossing my arms comfortably while Blue replicates it herself, sitting back down on her throne.

"Well then, I should not keep you for any longer than you have to. Go make Yellow happy, little one" Blue responds enthusiastically.

"Oh, guaranteed!" I say, bowing for sport while winking at her. 

Blue giggles playfully but by then, I've started off in the direction of the yellow shaped door on the left side of the room. Blue Pearl is kind enough to open it for me but as I pass through and go for the awaiting steps, she stays put. A Pearl's duty is to stand by their Diamond I guess. I thank her for her help and then the door closes, separating us, which leaves me to head towards the aforementioned stairs.

Like everything else in the Diamond Palace, the steps sparkle and shine with the overhead lights reflecting off of them. I hop up the stairs via my floating powers, then pause at the platform midway to the next set of stairs, and turn ninety degrees to my right to scope out the scene that's gonna be coming up. More stairs, obviously, but then, stretching like a long giraffe's neck, is a yellow colored bridge, leading to a tall yellow spire. ON both sides of the entrance, a Topaz guard stands alert, their posture reminding me very much of the Queen of England's soldiers. It's hard to tell if they're awake or not though because their eyes are closed, but they could be waiting to jab Gems with their javelins if anyone tried to bother their Diamond. I'm a hybrid on a mission, a mission to bring the Diamonds back together, so it should be little trouble.

With my path clear and laid out all strategically for me, I hop the rest of the stairs and get walking over the tall suspension bridge leading to Yellow's personal chambers. As I'm crossing over, my curiosity entices me to look over, and when I give in, I see a great many structures below me, showing how far off the ground I truly am. Gives me a kind of sky bridge feeling that people would see if they live in those big cities that have those connecting hospitals together or something. I'm soon to reach the Topazes though and when I get close enough, the pair indeed open their eyes and look down at me with fierce but also confused gazes.

"I'd like to see Yellow Diamond. From what I hear, she's been missing me for some time" I state, looking at each of the two Topazes in turn. 

They're silent and study me for a second, then stepping aside to open the door and let me in. I thank them as I pass in between, glad that they recognize me, and feel the slight draft as the twin doors shut behind me.

"Who are you and what are you doing in my Diamond's personal chambers?" A rather flat but high pitched voice asks. 

The lights in the chamber come on one by one and reveals Yellow Pearl standing mere feet away. Now that everything's all bright and shiny, her expression changes from annoyed to surprised, obviously recognizing me. The uptight servant coughs into her fist, then straightens out into the Diamond salute.

"Welcome back, Pink Lasagna" Yellow Pearl continues, her lips drawn thin from embarrassment, "Forgive me for my previous outburst, I merely couldn't make you out with the lighting disabled". 

I smile and walk up to the monotone Pearl, putting one hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry about it, Pearl. Mistakes happen" I tell her kindly. 

She then nods sharply and puts her arms down.

"So" I continue, clapping my hands together, "Where's Yellow Diamond?"

Yellow Pearl turns slightly to the left and points over to the back of a yellow throne. I can see largely-gloved hands peeking out from both sides, so I know right there that I've got my answer. However, they're strangely inactive for a Diamond as busy and focused as Yellow. Worried that she might be self-shattering, I run towards the throne and go around until I'm facing her directly. Yellow's there alright, but she's not moving at all, which is very concerning.

"She's been like this all morning" Yellow Pearl speaks up, coming up behind me, "I tried to get her attention, but no attempts proved successful. It's very worrying how long she'll be like this. But, now that you're present, maybe you can try for yourself". 

I frown and look up at Yellow, her eyes fixed and unmoving, as if caught in a trance.

"I'll give it all I got" I state.

I then use my floating powers and hop up onto her leg. Her expression doesn't falter. I then jump up to her left shoulder pad. Still no response. Sighing, I jump further and latch onto the side of her helmet, heaving myself up so that I'm literally eye-to-eye with her.

"Hellooooooooo?" I call, waving my hand in front of her eyes, "Homeworld to Yellow Diamond?" 

I see her lips shuffle a tiny bit and her eyes flutter back and forth a little, but Yellow's still not fully out of it. I make a risky move and hop over to her pointed nose, grabbing the top and hefting myself up like I'm climbing Mount Everest. I'm practically right against Yellow's eyes at this point, but what I try next it to tightrope walk my way over to her left eye and tap on it like someone might to a neighbor's window to get their attention. I hear a surprisingly hollow echo, making me clench my fist and run a hand through my hair in frustration. Well, if these ideas aren't gonna cut it, might as well use charming words to bring her back.

"I'm here, Yellow. I'm back" I say, clenching my hands together, "I need you back, Yellow. I need the Flawless Diamond back".

I wait and wait, scanning her face to see any sort of change, but sadly, that doesn't do anything either. Sighing in defeat, I turn around and get ready to jump off her nose. Just as I'm about to do so though, I feel a bit of a breeze on my back, so I turn back around. When I do so, I find that Yellow's eyes have miraculously changed and are looking down at me. The sudden change jump scares me though and I jump back out of fear, accidentally falling off Yellow's nose. I feel myself falling but then a cushioned surface stops my fall. Looking around, I notice that Yellow's scooped me up before I could become a human pancake. I smile and then am lifted back up so that I'm level with Yellow's face.

"Is it really you?" Yellow Diamond asks nervously. 

Her eyebrows furrow but in her eyes, I find doubt and disbelief, almost like she's imagining this. To help prove that I am in fact real, I bend down and kiss her palm.

"I don't know, is that real enough for you, Yellow?" I say playfully.

I'm then thrust forward and mashed against her cheek. The gesture is so sudden and warm that I almost mistake her as Blue for a second. But no, it's Yellow, and she's holding me against her face, smiling and nuzzling me like I'm a pillow, though I doubt she knows what a pillow even is. Nevertheless, I let it all happen, no matter how embarrassed or uncomfortable I feel. After who knows how long though, Yellow pulls me back and gazes down at me with rare happiness radiating all throughout her.

"You have no idea how happy it makes me that you've returned, Steven" Yellow admits truthfully, "I must say that you're the very first human I've missed having around Homeworld".

"Awh, shucks. You flatter me, Yellow" I grin at the stoic Diamond. 

She easily returns the gesture.

"You're too funny, Steven" Yellow says, chuckling before recomposing herself, "But, in all seriousness, what exactly spurred you to come back?". 

I bite my lip and twist my heel in thought.

"To answer that, Yellow, I'm gonna have to get you, Blue, and White all together, which is still a problem because I've heard White's pretty much a shut-in nowadays" I explain, frowning.

"Ah yes" Yellow muses, sensing my sympathy, "A real shame what's happening with White. But, now that you're back, I don't doubt a single thing that you'd be able to get her out of her head again".

"You betcha, Yellow. I'll head there now, seeing as you're all better and everything. I'd suggest you meet up with Blue in the throne room, she'll be happy to see your better as well. I'll be there shortly with White Diamond and then I'll explain everything" I say with confidence. 

Yellow nods, grins, then sets me down on the floor.

"You do that, Steven. I know you're the most capable out of both me and Blue" The pointy Diamond agrees, standing up from her throne and ushering her Pearl to follow her out of the room. 

It happens so fast that the next thing I hear is the sound of the doors closing. I'm happy that Yellow's back to normal, if that's what you can call normal, but now I worry about White. Both Yellow and Blue have said she's been near impossible to convince, but I talked her into healing the corrupted so I should be able to talk White into doing something again. Running across the room and out the doors of Yellow's chambers, I come to a halt onto the bridge and look northeast, where White's ship rests off in the distance. It hasn't changed position, best I can tell, but today, I'm hoping to change that as well.

"Don't worry, White" I say, looking at the ship, "I'm coming".

White Diamond's P.O.V

His voice.

It's all I hear anymore.

It consumes my mind day and night.

And I've no clue if it'll ever stop.

It's been an almost infinite loop in my mind. Me ripping out his Gem. The pink form of him. My realization of my flaws. And, the worst of all, him waving me goodbye as Blue, Yellow, and myself left for Homeworld. It's a torture tactic more cruel than anything I could've come up with and I wish now more than anything that I can erase from my memory permanently. Oh how I wish Steven would come home to me! To me and the other Diamonds, those who are more a family to him than those defective rebels could ever be. Those that love him more than he could ever truly know. But most of all, I want to say how wrong I was for doing those horrendous acts to Steven. It's not within a Diamond's nature to apologize to lower species, but I feel like I absolutely must, like there's not even a question about it in this case.

"My Diamond, someone would like to see you" The former Pearl of mine announces. 

I sniffle and curl up into a ball even more than before. I've been like this for longer than I can and want to remember. It just feels like the only thing I can do anymore.

"I don't want to speak with Blue and Yellow. Send them away" I order, my voice cracking.

"Well...it's not Blue or Yellow Diamond, my Diamond" The Pearl replies hesitantly. 

I pause.

"Then who is it?" I demand wearily.

"It's me, White! Or should I say, it's Steven, White!" A different voice calls out. 

The familiarity of tone and sound makes me freeze, my whole body shaking and my tears still running. I'm almost scared to turn around. Will it be just another voice in my head? Is my guilt and grief haunting me ever still? I know who the voice belongs to, but is it really him? Has he really returned after all this time?

"Awh, don't cry, White. Someone as radiant as you shouldn't be so sad" Steven's voice rings out again, this time much closer. 

So much closer that it sounds like it came from where my legs are. With my head shaking, I turn slowly to look where my legs are and what I find gives me the shock of an eon.

It's him!

I then scoop him up with trembling hands and bring him closer. He looks bigger and stronger since we last saw each other. I can't believe that he's here! My emotions are so all over the place that I can't help but kiss him on the head many, many times. Steven's now covered in my lipstick smudges, but it'll wash off, just like the mascara running down my face at the moment.

"I can't fathom it, Steven! You're here! You have no idea how much I've wished for you to come back" I exclaim, looking down at the small hybrid with happy tears in my eyes.

"Yes, I'm here, White. I'll always be here for you" He so kindly responds. 

I hug as tightly as I can against my chest, making sure not to suffocate him, but still enough so that we both feel each other's love.

My little Starshine has come home at last!