Work Text:
At sixteen, Steven had asked Connie to marry him.
She'd rejected him. It had stung so much back then, and it still isn't one of Steven's favorite memories, but he could understand why now.
At twenty-three, Steven was ready to try again.
But, uh, where was he to begin?
As soon as Steven got to his room, he placed the phone up to his ear.
"Okay," Steven breathed. "Garnet? Um...so, I'm thinking of..." He glanced towards the door, making sure Connie wasn't just outside. "Proposing to Connie. Again."
"So I saw," Garnet hummed.
Steven swallowed, already getting jittery at the thought of doing it again. "S-So, any tips? A-And, can you use your future vision to see if she'll say yes?"
"Well, I'm not going to use my future vision to predict an unpredictable outcome," Garnet replied. "There's always a possibility that Connie says yes or no, no matter what path you take. But...I will give you some tips. I would suggest a romantic setting. Maybe at a place you both love."
Steven pulled up the Notes app on his phone and typed that in. "Okay, thanks! Bye, G—"
"Is that Steven!?" Pearl's voice exclaimed in the background. "Can I speak to him!?"
"Sure," Garnet replied, and Steven blinked slowly.
"Hello, Steven!" Pearl greeted. "How are you? How's Connie?"
Steven sighed. "I'm good. Connie's good. Look, um..."
Steven thought for a moment. Pearl probably had some good romance advice—after all, she most likely had feelings for his mom—but she could be a bit...well...
"...Never mind," Steven muttered.
"Nonsense! Tell me what's on your mind. I thought your therapist said that talking to someone is good?"
"They did," Steven mumbled. "Okay, so, like...um...Garnet, can you fill her in?"
"Steven wants to propose to Connie," Garnet explained.
Pearl gasped. "Oh my goodness! That's wonderful! I'm guessing you called for advice?"
Steven nodded, then remembered that they couldn't see him. "Yeah. Have any for me?"
"Well, definitely get the ring beforehand," Pearl laughed. "If you don't, then the proposal would be awkward, especially if Connie accepts."
"Alright...don't...forget...ring," Steven muttered, typing it in his Notes. "Thanks, Pearl. Thanks, Garnet."
"Call again soon!" Pearl said.
"Will do. Tell Amethyst I said hi." Steven hung up, then dialed his father. Again, he had some experience.
"Hey, Schnoo-ball!" Dad chirped. "How are you doing?"
"I'm alright," Steven smiled, tearing up at the lifelong nickname. "I was just wondering if...um...you had some advice."
"Okay...? Advice about what?"
"I'm thinking about...uh...okay, so I looked up human customs for this thing, and I already asked Mr. and Mrs. Maheswaran for their blessing, and—"
"HOLY CRAP, STEVEN! YOU'RE GOING TO GET MARRIED TO CONNIE!?" Dad screeched, causing Steven to flinch and pull his phone away from his face.
"Well, er—not yet," Steven admitted. "I need to propose, first, and I don't know how."
Dad gasped. "Okay, so here's what you gotta do..."
The box in Steven's box felt heavy, despite the fact that Bismuth was sure to make it precious and fairly lightweight.
Tonight has to go perfectly, Steven thought, swallowing and glancing at his watch.
The same watch Connie got for him on their third date.
Steven smiled to himself, feeling a little better.
He was now waiting outside the diner.
You see, Steven decided to do a typical cliché: a dinner, and then some alone time on the beach.
He was just waiting for Connie to finish using the restroom.
Finally, she stepped out of the bathroom, and Steven had a moment to stare at the beauty which was his girlfriend.
"Alright, where to next?" Connie inquired, and Steven blinked out of his haze.
"U-Um, how about we go to Beach City?"
Connie's eyes widened, but she smiled and nodded. "Okay! Let's go!"
As soon as she placed her hand in Steven's, he almost went weak in the knees.
Soon...he'd have to ask.
It was now or never.
"The place we first met!" Connie gasped, placing the gifts from the townfolk in the sand. She turned to Steven with shimmering eyes and a wide smile. "You...also..."
Steven laughed awkwardly. "Yep. This is also the place I proposed to you, seven years ago."
Connie chuckled.
"So, it was also this beach that..." Steven trailed off, then swallowed, taking Connie's hand and leading her out to the open sand, and Connie's eyes sparkled with recognition.
"We fused for the first time," Connie whispered.
Steven nodded. "So, Connie..."
Steven got to his playlist, put the music on full blast, and placed the phone in the stand, stepping a few steps away and holding out a hand.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is..." Steven averted his eyes, giving a shy smile. "Come dance with me."
Connie giggled and took Steven's hand. "Okay!"
Steven pulled Connie close, and he was a little kid again.
They knew this song.
They knew this dance.
But, before they could finish the song—
"No! Stop!" Steven exclaimed, ripping himself away from Connie. "W-We can't—we can't fuse. Not now. Not right now."
Connie's expression became one of hurt and confusion. "Oh."
"I-It's not that I don't want to fuse!" Steven mended. "I-I just—oh geez, this is coming out all wrong... This is going wrong...I'm messing up..."
It was like vines were gripping at Steven's lungs, and he fell to the ground, hugging himself and trying to calm down.
The box tumbled out of his jacket pocket.
"Steven," Connie whispered. "Steven, you..."
Steven looked up, feeling pathetic. "Look, I-I just—I don't want to mess this up again! I'm just—I'm—"
"Hey, hey." Connie's voice was soft, comforting. "Listen to me. It's okay. You don't have to say or do anything until you're ready." Connie carefully took Steven's hand, and Steven pulled Connie in for a hug, trying to calm down.
"I...I want to do this. But now...I-I..."
"Steven, look at me."
Steven pulled away from Connie, who was smiling kindly.
"I absolutely adore you, and nothing you do or say will ever change that. I want to be with you for as long as forever can take."
Steven blinked slowly. "H-Huh?"
Connie picked up the box, and she placed it into Steven's palm. "Here. That way, you can do it properly, if you want."
Steven froze, then burst out laughing through the tears. "B-But, I—the surprise is ruined!"
"Weeell," Connie dragged it out, grinning sheepishly, "I kind of found out, with the box and all that."
"And...I-I want you to be completely honest with your answer," Steven murmured, wiping at his eyes.
"I will."
"You won't just agree out of pity?"
"I promise I won't agree out of pity."
Steven took a deep breath. "Okay. Okay, could you stand?"
Connie stood, brushing off her dress and smiling.
Steven got up on one knee and opened the box, the ring facing Connie. "Connie Maheswaran—my best friend, the love of my life—will you do the honor of staying by my side forever by marrying me?"
Connie's eyes shimmered again. "Steven Quartz Cutiepie Demayo Diamond Universe—"
Steven and Connie laughed in unison at how long Steven's name was;
"—the answer is yes. Yes, I will marry you!"
Steven blinked, then let out a happy laugh, barely able to see as he stood and slid the ring onto Connie's finger. He placed his forehead against Connie's with a smile.
"I love you," Steven whispered.
"I love you, too, Steven," Connie replied softly.
And Steven believed it.
Was it worth the wait?
Yes.