Chapter 1: Steven's 18th Birthday
Chapter Text
Greg wasn't used to parties anymore, not like he used to be. Of course, his kid becoming an adult was a celebration worth attending. Steven had warped back to beach city with Connie to celebrate, and so they all had a big party. Things were finally starting to wind down, so Greg sat on the back edge of his van, doors wide open. It was nice to have a break, finally destress after all the talk and chaos of everyone being together in one place again.
"Room for another?" Greg looked up, grinning and patting the spot next to him when he saw Steven standing in the sand nearby. Steven took a seat next to Greg, leaning against his side. He'd always been pretty touchy-feely, but was especially so after everything that'd happened a couple years ago.
"Always got room for you stu-ball. So, what's up, gettin' tired of partying? Or did you just miss your old man?" He gave Steven a little nudge in the side, smiling down at him. Steven chuckled in response, glancing back up at him.
"I just got a little tired. It's been a while since we've hung out, too." Steven's brows furrowed just a bit as he said the last part. Since Steven's breakdown Greg had been putting a lot more effort into watching how he's feeling. Even though he'd gotten better with communicating he still had quite a bit to unlearn. "I've been hanging out with humans so much lately, I almost forgot just how different it is with the gems. I totally got used to Connie and her college friends who don't know every detail of my life and trauma. It's nice, obviously I missed them tons, but I could use a bit of human time after this weekend. No more crazy gem magic."
"You finally get how I feel. I didn't know about gem stuff until I met your- The gems." He tried not to talk as much about Rose now, at least unless Steven brought her up. A request from Steven after some time in therapy. "Oh man, back then I'd hide away at Vidalia's sometimes just to get away from all the weird magic. I smoked way more back then too, made me way less terrified of everything going on with them."
"Smoked? Wait- Dad! You smoke weed and you never told me?" Oh shit, he hadn't mentioned it before, had he? Well, might as well acknowledge it now that he'd slipped up. Steven at least didn't seem too bothered. Well, from what he knows of Lars and the 'cool kids' he shouldn't be too surprised.
"Yeah, it's no big deal, didn't seem right to talk 'bout all that when you were still just a kid. Now, though, I can totally tell you all my wild stories. Don'tcha wanna know what I got up to as a wild young rock star?" Steven snorted, rolling his eyes and laughing. It was nice to see him happy, it was rare that he didn't seem tired nowadays. "Hey! It's true, I was totally wild!" That only made Steven laugh more, taking a second before talking.
"Dad, I think a little bit of weed is the least wild thing I've ever heard of somebody doing in a long time. I mean really, I fought intergalactic space tyrants, you're not gonna beat that." Greg had to raise his hands in defeat at that, shaking his head.
"No, you're right, being a cool rock star and partying isn't cool enough for my little man. You've probably had space drugs, huh? Who knew, I'm being outshined by my son." He placed a hand on his chest, looking into the middle distance with the saddest look he could muster.
"No, I haven't touched anything like that. I mean.. Connie's friends have offered, Sour Cream once too, but I felt like I'd probably just embarrass myself if I tried to smoke with them. I don't know how my gem affects stuff like that either, and since Connie's mom is my doctor I really didn't want to ask." At this, Greg broke out into a smile.
"One sec, let me just-" He got up, climbing towards the front seat, opening the glovebox, and- Yup, there! He came back with a old box full of everything they'd need. "Okay, I can tell you for a fact that your gem will be fine, I've done this plenty with the gems. So, you wanna try it?" He quirked a brow, bumping shoulders with him. Steven looked down at the box, then up at Greg. He sat there and waited while he thought about it.
"Yeah, sure, what do I have to lose? It'll be fun!" Greg opened the box then, working on getting a joint rolled, at least until Steven spoke again. "The gems, though.. All of them? There's no way Pearl would-"
"Oh man, I didn't smoke with Pearl until after our little trip to Empire City. There's no way in hell she'd do it with me anytime before then. Apparently she had smoked a couple times before, but she totally didn't know what she was doing." Steven stared at Greg wide eyed, and he simply left it at that. He finished rolling their joint, lit it, and took a long hit. His lungs were more than used to this by now, and he exhaled quite a bit of smoke before passing it to Steven. "Put it to your mouth and inhale. Don't do it like me, though. Slow and gentle or you're gonna-"
Greg was immediately interrupted by Steven coughing. It was honestly quite hard to keep from laughing, but there's no way he'd be mean to him about this. It's the poor guy's first time! "Yeah, that'll happen. Don't worry, it takes time to figure it out. Now we just pass it back and forth until we wanna stop."
Steven did catch his breath after a moment, handing it to Greg and taking just a moment to breathe. In the meantime Greg took another hit, passing it back afterwards. Steven held onto it for a moment, then decided to talk.
"This is nice. I mean, I don't know about the whole smoking thing yet, but it's cool to hang out... Just talk, y'know." He sighed, taking a smaller hit this time. He managed not to cough this time, and Greg was almost proud. His son, a fast learner. He exhales, and Greg takes the joint for his next hit. "I don't think I come back here enough. My schedule has been packed lately. I'm taking a few basic courses at a community college, y'know. Trying to.. Catch up on all the stuff I didn't learn. Connie suggested it, it's been nice." He smiled down at his lap, expression softening in a way that Greg had rarely seen from him.
"We're always gonna be here if you wanna visit, stu-ball. Whenever you're free, I'm usually doing just about nothing. Even if not me, I'm sure somebody would hang out with you if you asked. You don't need some occasion to see us." Steven smiled and nodded, leaning against Greg's side. Greg put an arm around his shoulder in a side hug, his other hand passing the joint back. Steven took another hit without moving, seemingly happy to sit like this for the moment.
"Thanks, Dad. I just used to see you guys all the time. It's nice to have more breathing room, but so much has changed. Gosh- Now I'm just rambling, I'm sor-" Greg shook his head quickly, smiling at him reassuringly.
"No way, kid, it's totally fine. I'm glad you're talking about this stuff now. You've come a long way. I'm proud of you, y'know. You seem like you're getting to be way happier and more open. Hell, you're even starting to set up a life for yourself! That's way more than I'd done at your age!" Steven nodded at that, face briefly burying into Greg's shirt. It was obvious he was trying not to cry, but Greg just sat there and hugged him. He pulled away after a moment, clearing his throat and offering the joint back.
"Alright, pops, we've been all vulnerable, but there's important things that need attending to. We can't get off task." Greg nodded, taking his hit with a smile. It was obvious that Steven was trying to change the subject, and he wasn't going to push it. He had a point, after all!
Chapter 2: Greg's Baking
Summary:
Greg brings treats to a hang out with Vidalia and Amethyst. Things don't go as planned!
Chapter Text
Knock knock! Greg was late, as always, but he doubted that Vidalia or Amethyst would care. Not when he's bringing gifts! Edibles, home made. His cookies were well known amongst the admittedly few friends he had in beach city. Of course, he'd eaten his before coming, just to get a head start. Not to mention the pregame bowl he had out on the beach. It's wild how much you can get away with in beach city, what with basically no law enforcement being around. Greg, of course, took advantage of this.
Amethyst was the one to open the door, and before Greg could get any words out the plate was out of his hands and- Oh shit. Oh no. Rose is going to kill him.
"Yoooo, the 'Dalia, Greg brought cookies!" She cackled and shoved a decent amount into her mouth. Greg moved forward quickly, attempting to wrestle the plate out of her hands. "Dude, chillax, I'm leaving one for Vidalia!" Greg finally got the plate out of her hands and held it away from her, panting. Man, he's getting out of shape.
"No, these aren't normal cookies! They're edibles, y'know, weed?" Amethyst tilted her head, a puzzled expression crossing her face. She clearly didn't understand. He stepped all the way inside and closed the door behind them just in case. "They get you high, make you feel weird, giggly, and really hungry. If you have too much it really sucks, though. Shit makes you feel like you're in another dimension."
"Dude, I'm a gem, your weird human cookies won't do anything to me." Oh, that's.. He really hopes so! "So c'mon, let me at 'em! I'm hungry!" She reached out again, just in time for Vidalia to come into the living room.
"Yo, Greg, those your cookies? You didn't tell me you were bringing any, I would've ordered a pizza or something." She walked over, and Amethyst settled down. Well, as settled as Amethyst gets, which is to say she bounces in place, giggling to herself.
"Pizza! Pizza! Pizza! I need somethin' to go with all those cookies I just ate!" Vidalia glared at Greg immediately, and he felt himself shrinking back into the door.
"I tried to stop her, but she thinks since she's a gem it won't matter! It's totally fine!" Amethyst glanced between them, letting out a low whistle at the tension, followed by the popping of Vidalia's gum that she always seems to be chewing. "So.. Pizza? I'll give you the leftovers if you stop plotting my murder," He paused for a moment, then added on, "And I want pepperoni and green olives."
"Dude, you're pushing it. Give me the cookies and you get half with olives, deal?" She held out a hand, and he passed over the plate, grinning.
"Deal! So, you recorded the new episode of little butler, right?" She nodded, taking a bite of a cookie and turning around to head to the kitchen. Probably putting them on a shelf Amethyst can't reach. He heard her call Fish Stew Pizza just as Amethyst flopped onto the couch, grabbing the remote and starting the episode without her. The only reason they watch it here is because nobody else they know owns a TV, and Vidalia couldn't care less about the show. Greg flopped down in the middle of the couch next to Amethyst, grinning wide.
It didn't take long for Vidalia to get back, and she sat down inbetween Amethyst and Greg, shoving Greg to the other side of the couch in the process. He didn't complain, but he did kick his feet up onto the coffee table as subtle revenge.
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It was a good episode without a doubt, and Greg was starting to feel his edible once it was over. Amethyst was.. Oh, huh, her head is in Vidalia's lap and and Vidalia is running her fingers through her hair, looking at her with an expression that can only be described as soft, especially for her. Wait.. Hold on.
"Vidalia, Amethyst, and you guys like... A thing?" Vidalia snapped her head up to glare at him, which quite frankly could've been enough confirmation on it's own.
"What, like you 'n Rose?" She paused, seeming to zone out for a moment. Her speech was slow enough that Greg was starting to worry a bit about the cookies. "I mean we've kissed or whatever." Vidalia looks away from Greg quickly, face flushing just a bit.
"What the fuck? Since when!" He gaped, glancing between them in shock. He'd figured this would happen, obviously, but he didn't think it would happen without him knowing!
"Since Marty left, dude, drop it, it's like.. no biggie." Vidalia huffed, and Amethyst sat up. Her movements were jerky, and she ended up just leaning against Vidalia's side when there was suddenly a knock at the door. That seemed to startle Amethyst, and she scrambled up, pausing for a second to catch her balance.
"Woah... Fucked up cookies, Greg, you were right." She flopped back down onto the couch, holding her hands out in front of her and staring intently at them. "Pizza." Greg and Vidalia glanced and one another, and Greg shrugged, getting up and answering the door. When he got back with the pizza Amethyst was doing grabby hands for it. He set the box down, and she grabbed a slice impressively fast, chowing down without another word.
"Greg you totally owe me, I'm gonna be on baby sitting duty all night now." She huffs, grabbing her own slice of pizza and taking a bite. "Do you wanna smoke a bowl? Might as well get blasted if Amethyst is."
"Yeah, same place as usual?"
"Yup, go get 'em errand boy." Greg wanted to argue, but instead went and got her lunchbox stash from under her bed, setting it down on the table in front of her and sitting back down in his spot. Amethyst had evidently eaten half the pizza, and was now back to laying in Vidalia's lap. Vidalia packed a bowl surprisingly quickly, took one of the longer hits he's seen her manage, and passed it over to him.
"Greg. 'S this the other dimension shit you were talkin' about?" Amethyst muttered, looking up with him while he took his hit. "Shits weird, man." She starts to laugh, then falls into a fit of giggles for seemingly no reason.
Amethyst passed out soon after that, and Vidalia and Greg didn't take long to finish their bowl, along with the rest of the pizza.
"You can crash on the couch, man. I know that's probably a bit fancy for your tastes, but it's pretty late." She gets up, managing to pick up Amethyst and head to her room. "Night, Greg."
"Yeah, goodnight!"
lapisurinal on Chapter 1 Sun 28 Mar 2021 11:04AM UTC
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lapisurinal on Chapter 2 Sat 03 Apr 2021 08:24AM UTC
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