Last chapter! I see I didn't get many responses…no biggie. The next piece I will post will definitly be for HtbH, so get ready for that!

Now that the shameless self-promotion is over, please enjoy and review!

o~O~o

Stevonnie sits up on the cliff, her back to the lighthouse. She closes her eyes and breathes in slowly, savoring the salty air.

So, any particular reason you wanted to fuse and come up here?

…I just wanted to let you know I love you.

Stevonnie's eyes open abruptly. Without realizing it, her face twists into a half confused, half sad expression.

What do you mean?

I love you. I just wanted to tell you that.

Well, yeah. I get that. But you could've done that at the Temple. Why come all the way out here?

…

Connie? Are you okay?

…Please don't ever forget that. I love you so, so much.

Stevonnie's eyes widen. She stands up quickly, turning to go back down the hill.

You're scaring me, Connie! What's wrong?

It's my time, Steven. I can feel it.

Feet pound the grass. Stevonnie's running now. Her hands are clenched into fists swinging back and forth, nails digging into her palms.

But-but you said…you said the tests went fine! That there was nothing wrong!

Steven…

You lied! Why?! Why didn't you tell me you were sick?! That you were DYING!

Because I knew you would do this!

Stevonnie sucks in deep, halting breaths. Tears blur her vision. Everything comes in and out of focus, colors mixing and disappearing. She doesn't know if it was from the disease or her two halves arguing, trying to stay fused.

She hopes it's the latter.

Do what? Worry about my wife? Try to find a cure? Help you?

No, act like you could stop death! Steven, you may be a Crystal Gem, but I'm not. I didn't stay young for longer like you, and I'm not going to outlive a human! I AM a human!

Maybe my healing spit…or my tears…maybe they can…

NO, Steven.

Stevonnie's sprinting now. She's at the bottom of the hill. The grass beneath her feet turn to pebbles, and gradually into sand. Pushing herself harder, she lets out a strangled cry. "Garnet! Pearl! Amethyst!"

You have to let me go.

No…

"Peridot! LAPIS! JASPER!"

If you love me, you'll let me go.

I can't….

"SOMEBODY HELP!"

Please, Steven.

"Stevonnie?" Pearl rushes around the corner of the cliff, the rest of the gems behind her. "Are we under attack?"

"Pearl…" Stevonnie chokes out, before falling onto her knees and gasping for air.

Pearl makes to go to her, but Garnet pulls her back. "Wait," she murmurs.

Stevonnie clutches her chest. There's a dull ache near her heart, and she knows what it is.

I'll always be with you. You know that, right?

…Yeah. Yeah, I do.

A pink glow surrounds Stevonnie, and she unfuses.

Connie shakes with pain, her shawl askew on her shoulders. Steven hurriedly crawls over to her, pushing his long, curly hair away from his face. He helps her to her knees, and Connie looks at him.

She's smiling.

And Steven knows he's doing the right thing. But that didn't change how hard it was.