Pearl precariously perched the fussy toddler on her lap as she peered out the van's window. She watched the snowflakes dance in delicate swirls until they accumulated on the glass. Pearl bounced baby Steven up and down until he started to laugh. His cheeks turned a rosy pink and little spit bubbles escaped from his toothless mouth. To Pearl's left sat Amethyst. Her lilac hair was stuffed under a beanie hat with one too many holes in it.

"Pearl, did you pick a spot yet? We've been traveling forever and I'm hungry!"Amethyst complained.

"Not yet," Pearl sighed. "We need the perfect spot."

"We couldn't do it at the temple?" Amethyst asked. She kicked at the front driver's seat, must to Greg's discomfort. "I'm bored!"

"Amethyst, you're being difficult. Pearl wants to do this with Steven," said Garnet. She sat in the passenger's seat, watching the flurries stick to the windshield.

Pearl adjusted in her seat, moving Steven to her left knee. Steven reached over to Amethyst, pulling the beanie off and proceeded to chew on it. Steven kicked his chubby legs in glee.

"Greg, when is Steven gonna stop eating everything?" Amethyst inquired.

"Steven just started teething, so not for awhile."

"Teething, what's that?!"

Garnet interjected "It's when a human's teeth push through their gums"

"Gross!"Amethyst laughed.

"Stop!" Pearl screamed. Greg stopped the van; the car's old axel screeched in pain because of the sudden stop. Pearl, with baby Steven in tow, jumped out the van.

The spot was what would have been a grassy clearing during the spring. The way the sunlight reflected off the mounds of snow in the spot gave it a warm, friendly glow.

"Here!" Pearl exclaimed. She stood in the middle of the spot, waving the rest of the group over with the arm that didn't cradle Steven to her hip.

"Here?" asked Greg. Despite being clad in a well-worn sweater that had lost its ability to keep the person wearing it warm, Greg was still sweating.

"Yes, here. Take out the camera Greg." Pearl delicately placed Steven in the snow. His rounded body was stuffed in a thick sweater and his legs were weighed down by heavy plastic boots. Then she kneeled next to Steven; he waddled over closer to her, leaning against her. The sun beamed off of the gem placed on Pearl's forehead. The reflection shined brightly, giving Pearl an iridescent halo of light.

"Ok, get closer,"Greg held the camera in one hand as he directed Pearl with the other. "Say cheese!"

"Cheese!" said Pearl. Greg snapped the photo on the polaroid camera. Garnet and Amethyst gathered around Greg as they waited for it to develop.

Pearl scooped up Steven from the ground and rubbed her nose against his soft, baby powder scented black hair.

"How's the photo?" Pearl asked anxiously.

The photo popped out the camera. Greg, Garnet and Amethyst looked at it earnestly.

Garnet beamed at Pearl. "It's beautiful".