Always There

I Didn't Know What To Title This Part

"S-So you're gem half...is...your sister?" Greg was confused. He was very confused. He had no idea what was going on. Why did he get involved with gem stuff? Gem stuff was confusing. When did gem stuff mean he was going to have his number of children double? His brain felt like it was melting.

"Pretty much." Steven said casually.

"And her name is Nora?" Pearl was confused, and she was a gem. She always thought she knew everything there was to know about gems, and then Steven got some new power she couldn't explain. Now his gem half had its own separate consciousness and they were like siblings now? Don't get her wrong, she was absolutely thrilled to see Steven, but she honestly wanted poof from how confused she was.

"Look guys, I'm still not sure how to process it either." Steven admitted, "But Nora's great. She's still getting used to walking around by herself, but she's really cool."

As they all spoke outside, Nora was inside, currently fixated on the tablet she was watching TubeTube videos on. Yes, she knew how to work it, but now that she was separate from Steven, everything felt new and exciting. She was...just like a gem that was experiencing Earth for the first time. The sight brought back memories for all of the gems when they were first on Earth, experiencing all of its strange, yet wonderful new things.

"She seems really cool." Amethyst said with a shrug. She was honestly used to Steven's level of weird things at this point.

"Would you like to introduce us properly, Steven?" Garnet asked with a smile. Even with her ability to see the possible futures, Garnet hadn't seen this, yet it was a pleasant surprise.

"Yeah! She'd love it!" Steven went to go get Nora, and in that quick moment, Bismuth quickly flattened out her hair, and snapped Greg and Pearl out of their daze.

Steven came back out onto the porch with Nora in tow, who looked like a shy child on their way to see the mall Santa. The group stood there for a minute, the gems and Greg simply taking Nora in. Steven cleared his throat and brought them all back to the present before wrapping an arm around Nora's shoulders, easily taking on the role of the comforting brother.

"Guys, this is Nora, Nora, this is the Gems and Dad."

"H-Hi-" Nora said sheepishly, "Technically we already know each other, but its nice to meet you anyway."

"It's nice to meet you too." Greg managed a smile, and opened up his arms, "Uh...want a-"

Nora quickly wrapped her arms around Greg before he finished the sentence, a large smile on her face, "Of course I want a hug!" The look on Nora's face was enough to make Greg's heart swell with fatherly love. Not even ten minutes, and he was wrapped around this girl's finger.

"So you're more like us, right? Made of light and all?" Bismuth asked, scratching the back of her head.

"Yep!" Nora said as she let go of Greg, giving a little spin as if to prove it, "My whole body is a protection of light. I'm more like Pearl's holograms considering I don't have the gem, but I doubt the holograms can do this!" Nora shut her eyes tight in concentration, and her ears suddenly grew to the size of dinner plates, flapped four times, and shrunk back down to their regular size. Amethyst and Steven both started laughing hysterically, Bismuth snickering with Greg while Garnet and Pearl smiled.

"Cool trick!" Amethyst exclaimed, "But you still got a bit to learn about shape shifting." Amethyst jumped up and transformed into and owl, flying over and perching on Nora's shoulder.

"Well, I wouldn't be opposed to lessons, if you're willing to teach me."

"Sure, but only if you promise not to turn into a blob of cats."

Steven shivered at the memory, "Not a fun experience-"

Nora chuckled, "Don't worry, I'll keep it strictly blobs of dogs." Once again, Nora got them to start laughing. She really fitting in like she had been there with them every day, like Steven had been. It seemed to them like Nora was going to be a nice addition to their family.