Whenever he saw the Baby Gems and Baby Steven getting along very well, being the cutest group of babies he'd ever seen, Greg Universe would just smile in complete awe, which made him the luckiest father in Beach City. His heart would always melt whenever he saw them helping each other, playing together, sharing their stuff, giving each other hugs all around the room, or even supporting each other whenever something happened to one of them. So Greg decided that this day… would become a special one.
It all started when he returned home to the Beach House after shopping for groceries. He had a grin on his bearded face as he walked in and saw his cheerful son, Baby Steven sitting on the living room couch as if he were waiting for his dad to come home.
“Heyo, Schtu-ball!” Greg greeted as he closed the door behind him.
“Hi, daddy!” Baby Steven replied as his father placed down the groceries and an unusual looking package. “What's that thing?”
“Oh, this? It's a rental movie on VHS.” Greg answered as he picked up the small box. “I thought maybe you and the Gems could watch a movie together. I even brought my old TV in the van, and popcorn too.”
Baby Steven squinted his eyes as he tried to read the title on the front cover of the slip-sleeve VHS box.
“Hmm… Dog-Copter and the Treasure Thieves.” Baby Steven read while looking as he looked upon the very Dachshund and the many evildoers he'd face on the cover.
“Yep! I know how much you love Dog-Copter, bud. So I got the new film for you and the Gems to watch.” Greg stated as he put away the groceries in the cabinets and fridge. “And cheaper than going to the theater!”
“This is going to be fun!” Baby Steven exclaimed, holding the movie up in his little arms.
Some time later, when it was getting close to sundown, Greg was working on connecting the cords and adjusting settings for the TV to allow everything to function properly. The Baby Gems were getting themselves ready for their little movie night in their playroom, collecting pillows, soft comfy blankets, bottles of milk and juice to drink, and their favorite stuffed animals, so they can have the best movie-watching experience ever.
“MAN... this is gonna be amazing!” Baby Amethyst smiled happily as she plops onto the pile of pillows that were gathered. “And I think I heard from the slide that there will be popcorn!”
“In a bit, Amethyst.” Greg chuckled as he messed with the wires and cords behind the TV. “Just got to… connect here… but from the red… and the white… but where does this… and…”
The television's bright-blue screen flashes on, showing that Greg's hours of fiddling with the wires have worked in the end. The Baby Gems applauded at his accomplishment.
“Waytago, daddy!” Baby Steven cheered happily. “Now we can watch the movie!”
“You better believe it, Schtu-ball!” Greg chuckled as he placed the VHS tape into the player.
Suddenly, loud beeping was coming from downstairs. It was the microwave. The popcorn was done popping and ready for the Baby Gems to enjoy while watching the movie.
Greg went downstairs and came back up with small bowls of popcorn for the Baby Gems to snack on during their movie. As he handed Baby Pearl her small light-blue bowl, she seemed confused.
“Greg, don't mind me asking but… why did you bring out your old TV and this movie for?” Baby Pearl asked as she placed down her bowl. “And out of the blue for that matter.”
“Well, Pearl, you and the rest of the Gems have been staying by one another's side through thick and thin for the past few months.” Greg explained with a small smile on his face. “I'm proud of you guys, so I wanted to reward you for that.”
Baby Pearl was stunned by his response but looked at all her friends and Baby Steven. It was true, they've been through some ups and downs, but they still had each other. She didn't say it but she responded with a small smile on her adorable face. Later on that evening, as Greg was downstairs taking care of washing the dishes, ranging from bottles, bowls, spoons, plates and sippy-cups, Baby Steven and the Baby Gems were enjoying the movie. Dog-Copter went all out, more action, more amazing explosions, thrills and plot-twists.
All the Baby Gems were fully focused on the movie as it continued to play right before their little eyes. Some of them watched the movie while snuggling up in their blankets either with themselves or with each other, and Baby Amethyst was firing away on munching the buttery popcorn and sipping her bottle of milk while on the edge of her pillow pile.
“This is getting very good!” Baby Amethyst excitedly jittered as she ate another handful of popcorn.
“Watch out, Dog-Copter!” Baby Peridot shouted as a shadowy figure appeared behind the canine hero on the screen.
But eventually, things would begin to get a bit… SCARY for the Baby Gems, as another scene came up on the television screen.
“Well, well, WELL, DOG-COPTER… you've escaped my loyal Thieves, did you?!” The figure grinned deviously as it emerged from the darkness. “Let's see how special you are!”
It was one of Dog-Copter's worst foes, the Jewel Jaguar, a large greedy cat of the jungle who craved to take any treasures of any value, especially gemstones. This Jaguar had necklaces, bracelets, rings, and anklets of silver and gold, embedded with precious colorful jewels. However, when they were revealed on-screen, it caused the Baby Gems, except for Baby Steven, to be utterly horrified.
“G… G… Garnet, hold me.” Baby Pearl stuttered in fright as she gripped her bottle tightly.
“Aww, dude…. That’s messed up!” Baby Amethyst shrugged as she stared at the scene in disturbance.
She then figured that another handful of popcorn would take her mind off it. But as she was trying to reach for them. She sadly discovered her lavender-colored bowl was empty. Luckily, Baby Steven noticed them feeling worried and wondered what was wrong.
“What's wrong?” Baby Steven politely asked them when he heard their whimpers and turned around. “Why are you guys shaking?”
Baby Bismuth snapped out of her fear-filled state, and cleared her throat so she could explain to Baby Steven why they were all shaken up. The jewels on this Jaguar character made the Baby Gems remember… the shattered gems, which they read about in Rose Quartz's journal, which was kept after she gave up her form to give birth to Baby Steven, who paused the movie and looked at his scared friends, but someone was missing, and that someone… was Toddler Garnet.
“Garnet? Garnet!” Baby Steven called out as he walked around the room to find her, but there was no answer.
“I didn't know she could run off that fast so quietly.” Baby Peridot stated as she looked around, trying to spy the square fusion toddler.
Baby Lapis looked around before noticing the supply closet with the door slightly open. Which would've meant that Toddler Garnet was hiding inside.
“I think… I may know where she went.” Baby Lapis said as she pointed at the supply closet door.
“Who do you think should talk to her?” Baby Bismuth questioned with a concerned expression on her face.
“I'll do it.” Baby Steven volunteered as he raised his hand.
They all allowed him to do just that as Baby Steven calmly stood up and waddled his way toward the closet, slowly hearing the faint whimpers of Toddler Garnet, and gave a gentle knock on the door.
“Uhh… Garnet?” Baby Steven asked in a soft voice as he peeked inside through the door crack. “Mind if I come in?”
“Sure…” Toddler Garnet answered, then Baby Steven crawled into the empty space next to her in the closet.
“Bismuth told me why you and the Gems were scared.” Baby Steven said as he sat closer to her.
“I know…” Toddler Garnet replied looking down at her gems, which were embedded in her little magenta-colored palms. “I'm worried that we all might end up getting our gems taken and being used for jewelry, accessories and for worse… very much worse things.”
“Oh…” Baby Steven understood as he tried to lean closer to her. “Well, Garnet. I don't think that will ever happen to us, because nobody will ever take our gemstones. Nobody would remove the gems out of a bunch of babies.”
“But there are those who would!” Toddler Garnet explained while a tear appeared in her three eyes under her visor. “But… they're…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Baby Steven suddenly hugged Toddler Garnet into a warm embrace and reassured the scared fusion that they are all going to be safe and sound, and nothing can hurt them as long as everyone stuck together and never split up the team. And the power of that heartfelt comforting hug, Toddler Garnet wiped away her tears and smiled a little bit.
“Tiny hands…” Toddler Garnet chuckled as she pulled back, to look at Baby Steven with a smile on her face. “…my only weakness. Thanks, Steven.”
“Anytime, Garnet.” Baby Steven smiled back as they both made their way out of the closet.
“Garnet! You're okay!” Baby Pearl said as she stood up hugging her pillow worried.
“Yep. Just needed a little help from cutie pie over here.” Toddler Garnet as she ruffled Baby Steven's hair, making him giggle a little bit.
“Now that everything's been fixed up…” Baby Lapis added in relief. “Let's get back to watching our movie!”
As they turned to get back to watching their featured presentation… they all realized that someone had decided to eat all the popcorn.
“AMETHYST!!!” The Baby Gems gasped in shock.
Baby Amethyst then passed out on the wooden floor below her, completely stuffed from all the buttery and crunchy popcorn she ate and was unable to move. She was okay, but this silly shenanigan caused Baby Steven and the Baby Gems to share a group laugh together, but learned that things that might happen in a movie, won't ever happen in real life, and that if they stuck together and protected each other, then NOTHING would ever harm them, because of the power… of FRIENDSHIP!!!