Steven never really knew how he felt about his his mom. He had heard about everything great thing Rose Quartz has done, heard all about her love for earth and life. But he never met her, never got to know for himself. Sure, he had the Gems, and his dad. But would she be different? He didn’t know anything about her, sometimes it felt like a punishment for being the reason she’s gone.

Maybe that’s why he went and got himself stuck in a Kindergarten. Following the Crystal Gems one minute, getting upset and wandering a totally different direction. He knew it was his fault he was lost but… all he wanted was the truth from them. The truth about his mom. The truth they never seemed to tell him!

He was only a little hungry and extremely tired by the time, worn out and slumped against a dirty rock. But, of course, right when he thought his day couldn’t get any worse, he heard steps of Gems walk past. He huddled himself to look around the corner, only catching glimpses of colorful Gems. Well, he thinks, maybe they can still help him.

They’re… confused by him, to say the least. Apparently, it’s very rare that a human child finds their way into the middle of a deserted Gem incubator. The crew seems to take a pause, waiting until the Gem in the back speaks, her voice like velvet as she requests the crew to escort him out of the Kindergarten, to little amusement.

They reminded him of Crystal Gems though, weirdly enough. They sure bickered and teased like them. A meticulous Peridot, a Jasper, and a Citrine. He only understood bits and pieces of why the three of the them were roaming through the Kindergarten, and something told him that he should probably stay quiet about the whole ‘having Rose Quartz gem’ thing.

Citrine seemed to be the leader in the quietest way possible, but still silently fascinated by everything. Still kind and comforting and mysterious, just like the portrait of his mother that hung over his front door. Jasper seemed to fall over herself trying to impress Citrine, mostly in vain. The Peridot would just scoff and continue look at her monitors.

He follows as they walk ahead through the Kindergarten. It all felt familiar in a weird way, the bickering sometimes passed between Jasper and Peridot, the four of them feeling just like home. Felt so similar to a home he could’ve had, with mom. His eyes constantly flicker over to large ringlets of curls.