Lapis's P.O.V

And just like that, it was over. All the killing, all the madness, and all the craziness was done. But there were still things that had to be done before I felt at peace, or at least the closest I could get to peace.

It would've been easier for the human police or the townsfolk of Beach City to have found me sitting there with Steven dead on my lap and that psycho girl Alesha lying in the grass, but I wasn't going to wait for something that might not have happened. It was hard to get myself to do it, though. I sat there all night with Steven, crying my eyes out. But by the time the morning came around, I was able to collect myself and work myself up to doing what I thought needed to be done. So I got up, set Steven's body on the ground, and went into town, some people giving me fearful and sympathetic looks from the blood on my dress. My first stop was The Big Donut, where I found the parents of Steven's friends that were killed. Upon seeing me, they ushered me close and asked what happened, though after all that occurred, they probably could've guessed without me having to say anything. Still, I explained what happened with me, Steven, and Alesha and made sure to express that the death of their kids was not Steven's fault, but Alesha's. While many were not entirely relieved to hear that, seeing as their children were still killed by someone, they, nevertheless, said that they wanted to go see for themselves and that a few would go fetch the police so that this nightmare could be brought to a close and Beach City wouldn't have to live in fear anymore.

About a third of them split off and went to get the police, but I told them where to find the rest of us before they left. I then took the remainder right back to the spot where Steven and Alesha died, everyone quite surprised at the sight. A couple knelt by Steven and whispered something, though I wasn't close enough to make out what they were saying. Not long after, the police showed up with the parents that left to get them. Then came the hardest part, which was explaining the situation in full to them and doing it in a way so that it'd be believable. I laid out the details and said that Steven himself admitted to killing Connie's mother and Connie herself.  While the policemen did give it a nod or two, finding it plenty believable, they went to say that there was still the murders of Peedee, Ronaldo, Kiki, Jenny, Sadie, Buck, Sour Cream, Onion, Steven's father, Amethyst, Peridot, and even Mr. Maheswaran to solve. I then pointed to the Alesha girl and said that she was the one responsible and that she did so out of a crazy and obsessive love for Steven. When the officers then asked for how I could prove it, I told them where the files and evidence Peridot and I collected was, which was below the Barn, and asked them to look at the pictures taken at the crime scenes, which Amethyst had said were at Mr. Maheswaran's apartment, and analyze the differences. I then explained that Steven had a pattern and that the list of people killed were not part of his pattern. Steven's pattern was though he thought had wronged him in the past and would continue to do it in the future if given the chance. Those named were either people who hadn't wronged him or were people that he felt had changed and wouldn't wrong him again. And, to put the cherry on top, I pulled the computer drive out of my gem and handed it to them, explaining that the drive contained a recording of when Alesha came to Mr. Maheswaran's house to kill him.

The police said that they'll work with that and put something together to close the case and announce to Beach City that the curfew will be lifted due the case being solved. They also proclaimed that they'll get a crew over to where the burned wreckage of the Barn is so they can dig up the evidence. Right as they were leaving, though, I asked them what should be done with Steven and Alesha's body. One of the officers told me that I was allowed to bury the two and hold a funeral if I wanted, but to expect that some might show up to vandalize the graves due to resentment. Another officer then spoke up and said that since I brought it up, the funerals of all those who died should also be held soon. The parents agreed and even admitted that despite what Steven did, they wish that he now rests in peace.

Everyone then split up and headed home, leaving me there with the two dead bodies. I could've left with them and asked for some company, but I felt like I had to deal with this situation on my own terms. And aside from that, I had to be the one responsible for laying Steven to rest since no one else would. They all had their homes, but I didn't even know what I could call home anymore. I always felt before that either the Barn was my home or simply being around Steven and the Crystal Gems was enough to be a home. But with Peridot gone, the Barn just feels empty and lonely and with Amethyst gone, the Temple feels no different. I didn't feel like I could return to either of them, but I had to go somewhere, so I hefted both bodies up and walked down the hill before turning and making my way across the shores towards the Temple. I wasn't going to bring them inside the Temple, because I knew I'd be constantly bothered by it, so I left them both below the porch. Before I went inside, though, I hesitated by Steven's body. I wanted to remember him, even though he was evil for a time. I loved him and I didn't want to forget that love. So, I carefully removed the gem from his navel, holding it tenderly in one hand before casting one last glance at him for the moment. I then walked up the stairs and went inside the Temple, not caring where I would end up.

A few days went by or so after that and the time finally came for the funeral(s). I didn't sleep at all during those days and I actually broke down crying again after finding a nice corner to huddle in. I missed Steven so much and I wish I could've gotten to him sooner so that we could've had more time to love each other, and not just with sex. I ended up taking Steven's body to a remote spot out in the Beach City woods, a place only I would know to prevent angry townsfolk from defacing it, and digging a hole myself. It took a long time, mainly because the manual labor was more than I was used to, but I got the hole dug. I then laid Steven's body down in there and covered it up with the dirt I dug up making the hole. Once that got all patted down, I ended up having to make a couple trips around the city before I returned with everything needed to construct a gravestone. Well, it wasn't an actual stone, but the bit of wood and string holding them together in the shape of a cross came close enough. I then fit one of Steven's old red shirts with a star in the middle around the cross and planted it at the head of the grave. I couldn't stop staring at the sad symbol of lost innocence, that is until I remembered about the flowers I collected. I placed that assortment on top of the dirt and stood back, my hands trembling and my knees giving out before I broke down crying again. I've never cried that much in my life, but I felt like this planet was evil itself. Giving me a home, friends, and a person to love before ripping it all away like nothing. Such cruelty even the Diamonds wouldn't know.

I couldn't stop myself from crying, so I eventually had to force myself up and fly away from the sight, all the while wiping tears from my eyes. I then flew by the place where the other funerals were being held, but from the looks of it, I missed it. Landing in the field of gravestones, I passed by the fresh ones bearing the names of the friends Steven once had. I then stopped in front of a grave that was defaced and had all kinds of nasty words written all over it in red spray paint like "murderer", "bitch", and "psychopath", as a few examples. Alesha's grave, obviously. I turned her body over to the police, since I didn't want to bury that bitch or have anything to do with her. And it looks like, even in death, she got what she deserved at the hands of the people. I was just glad that I hid Steven away so that the same wouldn't happen to him. I spat at her tombstone and then took off again, wanting to be alone. It started raining on my way back to the Temple and since I already felt miserable, I decided to sit in the water on the Temple shore and let the rain pour down on me. With my knees pulled up to my chest, I put my head down and cried once more, my internal despair coming out at full force.

It was like being trapped in that mirror all over again, all alone with nobody to care about.

The days then dragged on bit by bit, every one of them feeling the same. I never left the Temple after that night out in the rain. I just sauntered around, doing whatever I felt like, which mainly consisted of lying around and doing nothing. Nobody ever came by to see how I was doing and it kind of hurt. But the isolation was worse because I was so used to the Gems being around. Like, sometimes, I'd come downstairs and expect to see Pearl in the kitchen with Amethyst being chased around by Peridot while Garnet stood by watching in amusement. But it's all just a passing image that fades away and leaves me all alone with no one around. Since I don't need to eat, the food eventually rotted away and I had to throw it all out. Now the fridge and cabinets are just as empty as everything else. Other times, I'd be lying on the couch and picture Steven and the Gems coming back on the Warp Pad, Steven coming over and hugging me as I stood up to hug him back. But, as usual, it's just a figment of my imagination and nothing happens. It's almost like I'm choosing to torture myself by staying here, even though I have nowhere else to go.

It's now been over two months since the curfew was lifted and another day is starting. I wake up in Steven's bed, which I've now claimed as my bed too, though I would've liked it if it would've been considered "our bed". But I get up, feeling depressed and lonely as I always do, and take Steven's gemstone into both of my hands. I've kept it all this time and never let it out of my sight. After burying him, it's the only piece of Steven left that can remind me of him. It's a constant source of pain and internal anguish, but I would rather endure every day than forget about him forever. Sighing, I take the gemstone in one hand and gently rub my stomach with the other, thinking about what that doctor lady had told me. You see, about a week ago, I found myself throwing up unexpectedly and since that is unusual behavior for a gem, I went to see a human doctor in hopes that maybe they could explain what was going on. At first, I thought it had something to do with food or the lack of it, but no, the lady revealed something that shocked me to my core. After only having sex with Steven once, I was now pregnant with his child. Our child. The doctor lady congratulated me about becoming a mom, but when she asked about the lucky father, I couldn't bear to tell her that he wasn't around anymore. She also said that it was a girl, based on some scans she did of my body. Looking down at my stomach now, I hum, thinking about my daughter and how I'll eventually have to raise her without her father. "Mom". Such a peculiar word, but I feel like my (non-existent) heart would flutter if I heard myself being called that.

But after sitting around for a while, I get up, Steven's gemstone still in my hands, and trudge downstairs to the kitchen area. I set the gemstone on the counter and lay my head down on the counter too. I just can't break this cycle of sadness no matter how hard I try. I've actually been thinking about taking a trip to Homeworld recently to see if a change of scenery would help, but every time I've tried to get myself to walk over to that Warp Pad, I freeze and/or can't work up the courage. Weakly resting my arms on the counter too, I sigh for the thousandth time and try to get myself to think about something other than Steven. A sudden bright light seems to do the trick and said bright light comes from the gemstone on the counter. I stand up out of my seat in shock, not wanting to fall and hurt the baby growing inside me. The gemstone floats in the air and rotates until the pointed tip is facing upwards, an outline spreading out from the stone. It takes on a form that makes me take a step back, my breath getting caught in my throat. The outline then vanished and in its place was.............

Steven.

I had to blink a few times and even pinch myself to see if I was experiencing another illusion like the other times. But, no, this was real. It really was real. This Steven is all pink, though, his hair, his skin, even his clothes are all different shades of pink. His eyes are diamonds, pink diamonds of course, but still diamonds. The features are an exact replica, though, and I can't believe what I'm seeing. This new Steven looks around the room in confusion for a bit before his gaze settles on me, ultimately making him smile.

"S-S-Steven?!" I exclaim, looking at him up and down, "B-But, you're dead! I buried you myself!".

"It would certainly seem that way, wouldn't it?" The pink Steven speaks, his voice exactly like Steven's too, slightly scaring me, "But, if you wouldn't mind, I do have an explanation that I'd like to share".

"O-Ok, but.....are you really Steven? Like, really, really, Steven?" I ask, wanting more than anything for it to be true.

"Yes, it is me, Lapis. And, in fact, I'm the Steven that you grew up loving up until that other half took over my body" The pink Steven clarifies.

"Other half?" I frown, "What do you mean?"

"Therein lies the explanation I'll get to, but first, can I give my love a hug?" He asks. 

I'm way ahead of him, though, and rush over to hug him, practically flinging myself into his arms. This is like the work of some higher power at play, because I never thought that I would ever get to see him again. Right when I'm looking to pull back from the hug so he can explain, he sits down and pulls me into his lap, my comfort level rising as a result.

"In order for you to understand, I have to take you back to when me and the Gems went to Homeworld to convince White Diamond to help with solving the corruption problem. You and the Gems were under her mind control while this happened, but White Diamond ended up pulling my gem out. The gemstone displayed a couple different forms, but ultimately settled on a copy of me. A more violent and evil copy of me. We needed each other to be whole, though, and we ended up fusing back together. Everything then happened as you know to have happened, but something started changing inside me. I hadn't realized how destructive and corrupt this other half of me was at the time, as I was just trying not to die, but ever since White Diamond pulled the gemstone out of me, I began feeling a sort of corruptive disconnection between me and this other half. It started out small with only a few things being noticeably different about me, but then I felt myself slipping away. In simple terms, it was like my gem half and my regular half were switching forms with the evil and destructive half now in my body while my kind, thoughtful half was stuck in the gemstone. I don't know how he did it, but soon enough, I was trapped inside the gemstone and forced to watch everything going on around me. But I wasn't completely helpless. There were times when I was able to take control of my evil half's actions and prevent him from doing something worse. It's why he spared Sadie and others and didn't kill other innocent people. I was also able to take partial control of my body when admitting my feelings for you and the fight against Alesha, among my "admitting" that "there was no redemption for 'me'". Once my body died, I retreated into the gemstone fully and got to work on gathering the energy inside. I had learned a thing or two while being trapped in there and one of those things helped me in creating this body. With all the gemstone energy gathered and melded into a similar format to what a regular gem's system would be, I was to make myself into a full gem just like you. That's why it took nearly two months for me to be able to return in this form. Should it happen again, I'll be quicker to reform" Steven explains in great length.

I'm at a loss for words digesting all of this. So, basically what he's saying is that Evil Steven was just his evil half, previously trapped in the gemstone, that took over his body and the real Steven was trapped in the gemstone instead this whole time? It's all making sense now. I then feel Steven's hand on the side of my face, making me look at him.

"I'm sorry about all of this" He sighs, looking down, "I wish I could've been stronger. Maybe then I would've been able to stop Pearl, Garnet, Priyanka, and Connie from dying".

"Hey, hey" I say, touching his cheek with my hand, "What's done is done and you can't fix the past. All I want now is for you to stay with me forever".

"I suppose since now I'm technically immortal, and don't need food or sleep, that means your wish is granted" Steven replies. 

I then crack a smile, something I haven't done in many months.

"Come here" I quietly whisper, before leaning in and connecting our lips. 

I reposition myself so that I'm facing him with my legs at his sides and my arms around his neck. He's quick to reciprocate and once he does, all the emptiness and loneliness in me is drained away, replaced with a newfound feeling of purpose and a brighter outlook on life. I also feel his hands lightly grasp my chest, making me desire to have sex a second time.

"Are you wanting to have sex again?" Steven asks me, after I pull myself back and recompose.

"Steven, I would love to, but right now I need to tell you something" I say, rubbing my stomach again, "Steven, I'm pregnant".

".......Really?" He slowly responds, sounding happy.

"Yes. We're going to be parents!" I smile, Steven hugging me tightly, but not too tightly.

"I can't wait to spend this whole new journey with you, Lapis," He muses.

"And don't take me being pregnant as a way of saying that I don't want more sex. In fact.." I lean closer to his ear, "I wouldn't mind having triplets if you're ever up for it~".

"Yes, ma'am" He chuckles, caressing my gem and making me sigh in relief. But then I realize something and sit back.

"But we can't stay here anymore, Steven," I tell him seriously.

"What? Why not?" He frowns before coming to the conclusion on his own, "Oh, yeah, my other half probably made me look like someone that Beach City would hunt down if given the chance. But where will we go?".

"I'm not sure" I admit, looking down.

"Though I have to admit, running away with you, which is basically running away together, sounds very romantic, Lapis" Steven speculates while I blush hearing it.

"It does, doesn't it?" I agree, "Oh, I know! Let's go to Homeworld!"

"You want to raise our child on Homeworld?" Steven raises an eyebrow.

"It's better than here, isn't it?" I point out.

"I suppose so" He shrugs, "Then let's go".

He then stands up and I stand up with him, the two of us walking directly to the Warp Pad.

"Do you think we'll ever see this place again?" I ask, "I mean not just the Temple, but Earth itself too?".

"Maybe. Maybe someday we'll come back and see what's changed. But with the Crystal Gems all but gone, there's nothing for us here anymore, anyway" Steven replies, sounding hopeful before transitioning to a more serious tone.

"I guess you're right" I concur.

The two of us then hold each other as the Warp Stream sends us up into the sky and the space beyond. I can just briefly see the stars shooting past us as we travel through the blackness between planets. And then we touch down, Steven and I releasing each other and looking ahead at the city wide planet in front of us. It's certainly gone through some changes since the last time either of us were here, but they're not bad changes by any means.

"I guess this is where a new chapter of our story begins" Steven holds me and lightly rubs my stomach where our daughter is growing.

"Yes, yes it is" I smile, holding his hand and walking towards our future.