She swallows.

"You have both Peridot and Bismuth invited here, having fun with everyone. Oh, but I cannot imagine the road to here.

And so many humans, too. The Crystal Gems really are a proper part of the town, now."

"Yeah. The future really does get better. It gets wonderful."

He waits for her to finish murdering her plate, picking bits and pieces from the table here and there.

Rose looks much better, of course.

But you'd be foolish to imagine that she really is suddenly alright, deep inside.

"Hey, mom."

"What is it, Steven?"

"This wedding was just a couple weeks after we all found out you were Pink Diamond."

If she were eating right that moment, she'd choke.

This is not very painful to her to hear, somehow, but it is very... surreal.

She knows not how to respond. She stares at Steven for a while, then looks over the surroundings, attentively.

Everyone is having fun, saluting Garnet and chatting with each other. No one seems to be discussing Rose right at that moment.

"Things get better, mom. Things get even better than this.
Almost nobody hates you; almost everyone misses you; and most of those who knew you personally? Love you.

You were a miracle, too. You still are. And don't you forget it, mom."

She cries.

But it's good tears.

He does't hug her. But he fetches her a napkin, and beams at her.

"Thank you."

"Hey, mom. Before we go back to my story... there's a thing I want us to do."

"Of course! What is it?"

"Could you, for a moment... shapeshift back?

I just want to ineract with you for a bit with you while you look like that, nothing more."

"Ah. Um. Of course, Steven."

"Hi.

It's me, your mom, the conquering alien empress."

She tries to smile, but doesn't quite succeed.

Steven himself shapeshifts, taller and pinkier. 

Then he hugs her.

It's a bit like My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love, but it's not a kiss, it's a hug; and it's not between two socialist leaders, it's between an ex-colony-administrator and an unofficial interracial liason, and it's not ugly, it's beautiful.

So, really, nothing like that.

It's also the sixth hug in the thread, if you were counting. And even if you weren't.

"You know how perky your voice is, when you're like this, mom?"

Now, she smiles, and even giggles.

Her giggling sounds perky too.

Steven shrinks back.

"You always told everyone basically the same thing, mom - 'you are who you make of yourself'. And you were right.

A conquering alien empress is not something you made of yourself."

"No, just a dubious rebel leader and a questionable mother."

"Maybe. But a true visionary. And an unquestionable ally. To the Crystal Gems, and to the humans of Earth, and, really, to everyone."

"Well, if it wasn't for me, that forced fusion made from my shattered friends wouldn't be a thing, and Earth wouldn't be endangered..."

"If it wasn't for you, mom, voluntuary fusions wouldn't be a thing, and Earth would be long-converted into a wasteland. This entire conversation would not be a thing."