It has been two weeks since Robert has been frozen, and in that time, the Cluster has been drilled out of existence, and Peridot was accustomed to Earth, and learned of her metal powers.

When Steven had free time, he was usually talking to Robert. Steven found out that Robert could communicate telepathically with him and Amethyst, although she rarely talked to him, most likely because it was just too creepy for her. Sometimes they would get in about anything from the future to the past. Other times Steven would read to Robert, and he would make up stories for Steven.

One afternoon, Connie came over for a picnic, but Steven was too busy talking to Robert. "Steven, aren't you coming?" Connie asked with slight impatience. "Sorry, Connie. I was busy keeping Robert occupied." Steven replied. Connie looked at Robert's prism cell and was unimpressed. "He's frozen solid, how can you speak to him?" she said with more annoyance. "I'm down, but not out!" a voice said. Connie put up her dukes (this was before she was trained) and looked around nervously. "Show yourself, demon!" she yelled. "One, I'm not a demon, and two, I'm frozen solid" it said. It was obvious that it was Robert.

Just then, the Gems entered via the warp pad, along with Peridot, acting as the Jeff of the group, and Lapis, mostly because she wanted company. Connie looked at the gems and had an awful idea. "Can you tell your not-brother to quit harassing me?" she said to Steven. Pearl looked at connie with a perplexed look on her face and shook her head. Lapis insisted on coming with Steven and Connie in the picnic because she didn't know what they were.

Several minutes later...

Despite the rough start, the picnic went surprisingly well. Even with Lapis around. She didn't say a word, but with her expression and randomly staring at the ocean, Steven could tell something was wrong. "Sorry about Jasper." Steven said. "It's not that...I let the human fight her...alone!" she replied.

"It's not like I could fuse with him, since I'm a gem and he's a human" Lapis continued. "Even if I could, I know he wouldn't want to." Lapis caught a tear in her eye. Steven was sympathetic with Lapis, whereas Connie was unfeeling. "He's also frozen solid inside some prism." Connie added. "I hope he stays that way!"

Lapis silently cried at the thought of Robert being crystallized forever. "Connie, why would you say that? He's never done anything to you!" Steven yelled. "Because ever since he came along, you've been hanging out with your...know-nothing nobody than your best friend!" Connie yelled. Lapis flew away after she said that, but her words stuck.

The picnic continued as normal from then on, other than the two saying absolutely nothing from then on. The words stuck with Steven and he left without warning. When he got home, Pearl and Garnet could tell something was wrong. "Steven! Where's your girlfriend?" Amethyst teased. "Amethyst, that's no way to treat him, something is obviously wrong!" Pearl yelled. "Steven, what's the matter?" Garnet asked. "Connie says I spend more time with my 'know-nothing nobody' than my best friend." Steven explained. Garnet and Pearl put their hands on Steven's shoulders. "There's nothing wrong with spending time with your foster brother." Garnet said.

Later that night...

Lapis poked her head through the door. "I-Is Connie here?" She asked. Garnet shook her head. Lapis sat down in front of Robert's prism cell. Peridot sat next to Lapis and wondered what to do. Lapis saw Peridot's confusion. "Steven says you can talk to the human and he'll speak back to you telepathically!" Lapis said with mild enthusiasm. Peridot raised an eyebrow. "That seems...highly illogical, but I will attempt communication." She said. Peridot turned to Robert and cleared her throat. "Greetings...What is your name?"

There was no response. "Why are you not speaking to me?" Peridot asked. "It's your fault I'm in this mess!" Robert groaned. Peridot was shocked to find out that it worked. "I apologize for that, I had no knowledge as to what was in the containment unit, and if I had known, the outcome would be far more desireable." Peridot explained. "And I was ordered by Yellow Diamond to capture you, but seeing how needlessly cruel she was being, I hereby pledge allegiance to the Crystal Gems." This shocked everyone in the room. Even Garnet wasn't expecting that to happen.

Peridot turned around and sat on the couch, and Steven sat next to Lapis. "Lapis?" Lapis looked at Steven. "Why do you want to fuse with Robert?" Steven asked. Lapis looked back at Robert and pondered the question. "It's not that he's the one in the prophecy. It's that he offered to help me in a time of need, and he protected me from Jasper's abusive relationship, and he seems like a true hero. I just want to lend a hand, and know what it's like to be a hero." Lapis explained. "How come you get along with him so well?" she asked. "Well, I guess it's because I never had a brother before, and while I do have Amethyst to sort of be my sister, it's not the same as having a human sibling...who knows what it's like to be yelled at...by someone you *sniff*...love and care about." Steven explained. Lapis put her arms on Steven. "I wonder what's going through his head right now..."Lapis said. Just then, Garnet came upstairs with a familiar book. "I don't think he'll be able to talk to anyone for a while" she said. She opened it to a page that showed Robert's inner demons. "He'll have to face his adversaries as well as his arachnophobia in order to escape." "What's arachnophobia?" Steven asked. Pearl overheard this. "A fear of spiders, Steven." she said. "Is there a way we can help him out?" Lapis asked. Garnet flipped the book cover to cover. "I'll get back to you on that." Garnet said as she went to her room. Steven went to sleep, Lapis sat in front of Robert, and Pearl watched Steven sleep.

TO BE CONTINUED...