Request from StarStreamer2.

An AU where Lapis stayed on Earth with Steven after he freed her from her mirror.

Sorry it took so long to post this! I've been really busy this week so I haven't had time to write a lot >~< anyways, I had fun writing this and I hope you enjoy it as well ^u^

—-

It had been a whole week since Steven had released Lapis Lazuli from the mirror that had imprisoned her. It had taken the entirety of said week for Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst to accept that Lapis was staying, but at last they reluctantly faced the facts; Lapis Lazuli was here for good, because hurting Lapis meant hurting Steven.

Pearl was the most begrudged, though Garnet was indifferent, if a little suspicious, and Amethyst couldn't care less either way. Amethyst got along the best with Lapis, other than Steven of course. They would even sometimes have a conversation! This astonished Steven, and always sent him into quiet giggles of joy. Poor Steven was working so hard to get Pearl to like his new friend, but truth be told, Lapis wasn't all that cooperative either. She still held a slight grudge against the gems, as she still believed that had known of her being trapped in the mirror. Pearl insisted she had no clue but Garnet stayed silent on the subject.

So even though Steven still tried to convince everyone that Lapis was totally rad, he had sort of accepted in his own way that it would take a while for his buddies to warm up to her.

He had been excused from missions for the whole week so that he could show Lapis around the city. By Friday, she knew where mostly everything was located and had already decided that her favorite donut topping was chocolate and blue sprinkles. She had also decided that the beach was her favorite place to be. The lapping waves soothed her and made her smile, even when her heart ached for home.

And that's just where they were now, at the beach goofing off. Steven and Lapis where currently frolicking in the sand, laughing when the waves tickled the tops of their feet and then pulled away. Lapis grinned and flicked her wrist and a rounded cube of brine floated between them. Steven gasped in awe and stopped mid-splash, his jaw dropping. "Woah!" He inhaled softly and reached up to hold the cube. Lapis manipulated the cube and lowered it to settle in Steven's palms, gaining an excited little squeak from the boy. Lapis found Steven's reactions to even the simplest things absolutely adorable. He was so happy all the time, and full of love and amazement, and it made her glad she had stayed on Earth.

Deep in thought, Lapis's concentration on the trick broke and the cube defused. Steven laughed and Lapis ducked her head, smiling apologetically. "Hehe, sorry!" She giggled and Steven wiggled his fingers, shaking off water.

"That was so cool! Can you make something else?"

Lapis nodded, grinning proudly. She turned to the ocean and raised her hands. Pursing her lips and closing her eyes, Lapis started to shape the salt water into the image she held within her thoughts. Slowly the brine began to quiver and mold together into a mirror image of Steven. She heard Steven gasp and opened one eyes. Lapis turned back and directed the mirror Steven to walk in front of real Steven.

Steven, eyes wide in amazement, stretched one arm towards the water copy. His fingertips went through the copy's shoulder and the water ran down his arm and dripped off his elbow. The mirror Steven mimicked him, raising one hand and poking his shoulder. Real Steven beamed and pulled his and back to offer a high five. When the copy clapped their hands together, Steven laughed when it broke apart, soaking him in salt water.

Lapis giggled, ducking her head again. "Sorry, I'm a little rusty."

Steven shook his head, hugging her waist tightly. "No, that was so cool!" He exclaimed. He was still in a fit of laughter and his cheeks were flushed, but the sun rising behind them hid his cute little blush. Lapis pat Steven's head and chuckled when a stray curl wrapped around her finger when she did so.

When Steven stepped back, they smiled at one another, enjoying the lazy calm that was settling over the city. The sky was ablaze with brilliant orange and the beginnings of a dark midnight blue, and a hazy warmth was cast over them.

After a moment of splashing around a littler longer, Lapis looked to the sky and saw the first star twinkling in in the dark blue. She turned to Steven and placed one hand on his shoulder. "Steven, don't you think we should get going? It's getting dark...I'm sure the others are waiting for you."

Steven blinked. "Oh! Is it really that late?" He looked around him and tilted his head, "Huh...I completely lost track of time! Yeah," Steven nodded and smiled, "Let's go back to the temple." Without another word, he took her hand and lead the way back to the temple in the moonlight. By the time they arrived, Pearl was pacing on the porch and mumbling something with distress. When she heard Steven coming up the steps she gasped and ran to him, kneeling and embracing her little boy, even as she held Lapis's hand.

Steven frowned, hugging Pearl back with his free arm. "Pearl?" He tried to pull back so he could see her expression but she just held him tighter still. "What's wrong?"

"...Steven!" Pearl suddenly cried, drawing back to give him a motherly scowl if disapproval. "You should know better than to get home so late! It's already dark!" She scolded. But her voice was already relaxing, and Steven knew she had on,y good intentions. "I was so worried!" Pearl sighed and shook her head a bit. "Really, Steven, I thought—"

"A-Actually," Lapis cleared her throat and Pearl raised her head quickly, "It's sort of my fault. Sorry...we were playing at the beach and we just got distracted. I know I should've paid more attention to the time."

Pearl blinked and sat back, balancing on her toes with her legs crouched under her. "Oh." She paused. "...it's alright. Just remember to come home earlier. I worry when Steven isn't baby before dark."

Lapis nodded and smiled very faintly at the pale warrior. Pearl surprisingly returned the minuscule smile as she rose. She turned back to Steven, clasping her hands in front of her properly. "Steven, dinner is ready to wash up and come eat before it gets cold, okay?"

Steven nodded fervently. "Okay! But, wait, let me show Lapis something real quick!" Pearl opened her mouth to protest bit Steven interrupted her hastily. "Please!" He begged, "It'll only be a few minutes. I can just microwave my dinner, anyways."

"Well..." Pearl sighed. How could she say no to her baby? "...Fine. But just don't be too long."

Steven beamed and let go of Lapis's hand long enough to squeeze Pearl before grabbing her hand again. He thanked her and she padded back inside, smiling to herself. Steven turned to Lapis and grinned.

"So, what are you going to show me?" Lapis inquired, tilting her head.

"You'll see! But I need some help to bet there." He turned slightly and pointed high above him "Can you jump all the way up there?"

Lapis shifted her gaze upwards and raised one eyebrow. "What, you mean up there to that hand thing?"

"Yeah!" Steven nodded and grinned, "It's part of the temple. That's where Pearl does my laundry; the washing machine is up there. Pearl has no trouble jumping all the way up there because she's a cool gem woman but I can't do that." He looked to Lapis and shrugged. "I figured since you're an awesome gem woman, too, you can probably jump up there, right?"

Lapis nodded without a doubt. "Of course I can. But...before I do, can I ask why you want to show me a washing machine in a giant hand?"

Steven laughed and waved his hand. "No, no, it's not the washing machine I wanna show you! It's—aw, you'll see!" He grinned.

Lapis laughed and held out her arms. "Alright. Hop up, Steven." Steven jumped into her arms and Lapis held him tightly against her as she leapt high, high into the air. For a moment, they were suspended in the silent air, until Lapis's bare feet pressed against weathered stone. She dropped Steven in the palm of the temple's hand, right on the smooth gem-replica that reflected the moonlight in tiny white sparks.

Lapis looked around, noticing for the first time the washing machine beside the thumb and the clothes line hanging between the thumb and pointer finger. Steven's shirts. pants, socks, and underwear were strung up to dry on the wire.

Lapis turned to Steven expectantly. "So what is it?" She asked. Nothing immediately struck her as amazing yet.

Steven clambered onto the washing machine and waved her over. Lapis cringed, thinking how dangerous is was for Steven to sit on the washing machine when it was so close to the edge like that, but said nothing as she climbed onto the washing machine beside him. Steven stood, a little wobbly at first, but steadied himself on the stone thumb. Lapis held onto his leg as a precaution.

Steven pointed at the sky wordlessly and Lapis raised her head. She inhaled sharply in awe at the sight before her. The night sky was alight with twinkling bodies and shooting stars. It was a brilliant contrast, with the white gold stars against the striking blue backdrop of a sky. The picture reminded her of home, and Lapis wondered if the biggest star wasn't a star at all, but really her home; the place she had abandoned for the boy who had freed her from her prison.

Tears sprung into her eyes and spilt from her cheeks, dripping down her nose and splashing onto her knuckles, staining the lap of her skirt. She didn't move to wipe them away, just let her heart ache silently. Steven glanced at her and frowned.

"No, L-Lapis, I—I didn't mean to make you upset! I was just trying to show you the stars..." Steven whimpered, "I thought it would make you happy."

Lapis smiled faintly at him, reaching up to squeeze his free hand. She shook her head slowly, and used her other hand to dry her tears. "No..." She murmured, sighing softly. "I...Thank you, Steven."

Steven shifted so that he could sit beside her. Her wrapped his arms around her tightly, resting his cheek on her chest like a child. Lapis tangled her fingers through his wild pitch black curls and laughed shakily.

They stargazed in silence for a few minutes more until Steven lifted his head and peered at Lapis. Her tears had dried, and she was smiling sadly at the familiar stars that winked in the night sky. After another moment of reticent, Lapis spoke. Her voice was steady and strong, like the Lapis Steven knew and loved.

"I miss home...but you know what?" Lapis tilted her head, grinning at Steven.

Steven smiled back. "What?"

"I'm glad I stayed on Earth. This way, I get to see you." She whispered it like it was a secret, ruffling his hair affectionately.

Steven laughed, squeezing her in a hug once more before leaning back and lifting his gaze skyward.

"Me too."