Raising Steven

Step By Step

"Are you sure it's ok to...let him do that?" Pearl asked for the hundredth time as she held baby Steven.

Greg sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Yes Pearl, all human babies learn to walk at his age."

"B-But what if he falls?!" Pearl squealed, hugging Steven tighter to her chest. "He could get hurt!"

Greg smiled a little, stroking his son's mess of curls. "All babies fall when learning to walk, he won't get hurt if he practices on something soft."

Pearl looked around. "Well...I suppose he could practice on the grass." She finally said, putting him down.

Greg gently took his son's little hands and helped him stand on his tiny feet. "Just try and move your little feet!"

Little Steven babbled and hesitantly moved one little foot. Greg slowly let go. Steven wobbled, before falling on his behind.

Pearl immediately picked him up before he could cry. "I don't know Greg, are you sure you know how to teach him?"

Greg simply grinned. "Well, you don't really have to teach em', sometimes they walk all by themselves!"

Pearl was marveled. "Babies can learn to do that all by themselves? Are you sure he's ready?"

Greg nodded. "Oh sure, they can walk anywhere from 10 months to a year...and Steven is around 11 months."

Greg looked at his watch. "Oh, I'd better go, but you and the gems can help him walk if you want!"

Pearl grinned. "Oh, alright...we will make it our mission to help him walk by the end of the day!"

Greg laughed. "Thanks Pearl, but it can take time for a baby to learn to walk, I'll be back soon!"

With that, Greg kissed Steven goodbye and left to go to work. Garnet and Amethyst came by a few minutes later.

"Yo Pearl, where's Greg?" Amethyst asked, seeing little Steven sitting on the grass with Pearl.

"Oh, he had to go to work, so we are going to help Steven walk!" Pearl said, holding Steven's hands as Greg did.

"Why can't be just do it now? I learned to walk as soon as I came out of the kindergarten!" Amethyst added.

"Remember Amethyst, humans are different than gems, human babies cannot do all the things we can right away." Garnet added.

Amethyst sighed. "Well, what can we do to make him walk faster?" She asked impatiently.

"We can't rush the process....Greg said every baby is different and he may take more or less time than others."

Amethyst groaned. "Fine, we'll do it you're way." He muttered to Pearl. She placed Steven on the grass.

"Come on little guy, walk...like this!" Amethyst demonstrated by walking in front of Steven who babbled.

"Ama!" He said, giggling. Garnet decided to try. "Come, little Steven...I can help you walk."

She quickly checked her future vision to make sure nothing could possibly go wrong and, as far as she could see, nothing dire was going to happen.

Garnet carefully stood Steven up on his chubby little feet, holding his hands like Greg had done before.

She then moved slowly, almost walking for him. He seemed to like it, because he babbled. "Ooo, yay!"

Suddenly, little Steven whimpered. "Un-ree!" He rubbed his tummy. "I think he's hungry...I'll get him a snack." Garnet walked inside.