It is raining in Beach City. Y/n was with Steven and Greg as the three were having a jam session inside Greg's van, parked outside the car wash

"Woo! Go Dad!" Steven cheers as he and Y/n watch Greg finishing a small song.

"See? What'd I tell you? I may be losing my hair but the magic's still there." Greg says as he takes a drink from a can of soda as a photo, that was stuck to the bottom of the can, falls off. "Hmm?"

Steven catches the photo as he look at it to see a younger version of his dad with another man who had blonde hair. "Who's with you in this old picture?" Steven asks.

Greg looks at the photo now. "Haha. That's my pal Marty."

"You've never told me about him." Steven says.

"Yeah he's just an old amigo from way back when..." Greg smiles. "He's dead to me."

"Sounds like bad blood." Y/n comments. "Who was he?"

Greg tunes his guitar. "He was my manager back when I first met Steven's mom. I've told that whole story haven't I kiddo?"

"Not the version with Marty...and Y/n hasn't heard how you met mom either." Steven says.

"Yeesh, well then it's story time. Sit back you two and get comfy!" Greg says and Steven lays down on a mattress. "I didn't mean that comfy..."

"Story for Y/n and Steven!" Steven excitedly cheers.

"Okay, okay..." Greg gives in. "This is the tale of how your father met your mother... Now including Marty." Greg starts playing his guitar, as he retells the tale to Y/n and Steven, setting a flashback

The tale begins with a younger Greg, holding a solo concert on the beach of Beach City, playing and singing "Comet".

♫ Some... say I have no direction, that I'm a light-speed distraction, but that's a knee-jerk reaction Still... this is the final frontier, everything is so clear, to my destiny I steer. This life in the stars is all I've ever known, stars and stardust in infinite space is my only home. But the moment that I hit the stage, thousands of voices are calling my name. And I know in my heart it's been worth it all of the while. And as my albums fly off of the shelves, handing out autographed pics of myself. This life I chose isn't easy but sure is one heck of a ride. At the moment that I hit the stage, I hear the universe calling my name. And I know deep down in my heart I have nothing to fear. And as the solar wind blows through my hair, knowing I have so much more left to share. A wandering spirit who's tearing its way through the cold atmosphere. I'll fly like a comet. Soar like a comet. Crash like a comet. I'm just a comet. ♫

As Greg finishes his song, he finds only a single large woman with pink hair attending his concert, clapping for him.

"Thanks for coming everybody, I'm Mr. Universe." Greg says into the microphone. "If you like what you just heard go check out our merch table! My manager Marty can hook you up with CDs, and t-shirts..." Greg looks to the side to see it unattended. "Oh, wait, he's not there... I guess I'm going over there now..."

Greg walks and sits at his merchandise table. The woman approaches it now and picks up a CD.

"Space Train to the Cosmos..." She reads the albums name.

"Yeah!" ♫ One way ticket and I'm ready to ri~ide! ♫ Greg sings a preview.

The woman chuckles. "How will you get back?" She asks.

"Back?" Greg repeats.

"Back to Earth?" The woman asks.

Greg leans back on his chair. "I'm NEVER coming back."

"Oh! That's awful! This is your home." The woman tells him with a smile.

"Uhh... you want that? You can have it..." Greg points at the CD now.

"Hm?" The woman ponders.

"Oh, and it comes with a free T-shirt!" Greg says as he holds up a small "Mr. Universe" T-shirt. "You'll probably need a bigger one... I've got an extra extra large in my van! Stay right there!"

Greg gets up now as he opens the back door of his van, and Marty and young blonde haired woman jump out.

"Star child! Meet Vidalia." Marty says.

"Nice van." Vidalia comments as she blows a bubblegum. "Really livin' the high life."

"So, how was the show?" Marty asks.

"It was great! One person showed up!" Greg says before he remembers what he had come to the van for. "Oh!" He quickly grabs I have to give her this free..." But he sees the woman was gone. "T-shirt..."

"Greg! You can't give stuff away for free! What about my 75 percent? 75 percent of nothing is nothing. Are YOU worth nothing?" Marty asks him.

"No..." Greg says lowly.

"That's right. I'm going to make us both rich." Marty says as hl eans forward to whisper into Greg's ear. "And as far as these salt water saps know, we already are." He backs off and puts his arm around Vidalia. "So let's live it up before we hit the road, alright? Next stop, Empire City!"

Marty and Vidalia walk away.

"Y'know, I'll catch up with you..." Greg says as he walks down the boardwalk, approaching a fence along the beach, with a sign that says 'KEEP OFF BEACH'. Below is a sign that reads 'Please' in neat cursive. Greg looks past the fence and sees part of the Crystal Temple. Maybe she's over there?" He wonders.

A purple owl perched on the fence hoos at Greg.

"Ah, just some giant mysterious lady with enormous pink hair. You haven't seen anyone like that around, have ya?" Greg jokingly asks the owl.

"Sure have, pal!" The Purple owls says.

Greg gulps in surprise. "W-where...?"

The Purple Owl chuckles and turns to Greg. "Well, uh... If I told you any more I'd have to KILL YOU!" She flexes her feathers menacingly. "Hoo, hoo, hoahahaha!" It then laughs as it flies towards the temple.

"Hey!" Greg cries as he tries to climb over the fence. "WAIT! Hold on a sec... Whoa, oomph! Greg falls over the top of the fence, landing on the other side, and starts chasing the purple owl. He follows her into the entrance of the temple, where he finds Pearl, with the purple owl perched on her arm.

"This long-haired human was talking to me over by the fence!" The purple owl says to Pearl.

"It spoke to you?" Pearl asks.

"He was asking about Rose." The owl says as she turns her head 180 degreees. "Look, there he is!"

"Yo..." Greg says hesitantly.

The purple owl takes off of Pearl's arm, hitting Pearl in the face with her wing.)

"Ugh, Amethyst, wait!"

The purple owl shapeshifts back into normal, realizing to be Amethyst, whose appearance very different to her current day one as he hair was shorter.

"It's YOU!" Amethyst says as she lands in front of Greg, scaring him. "I've never seen this one around here before..." She crawls around Greg. "Aww... I really like your hair!"

Amethyst crawls underneath Greg's hair and lifts up his shirt, causing him to blush. Pearl jumps over to pull Amethyst away, as Greg pulls down his shirt.

"Amethyst! Leave him be! You don't know where he's been!" Pearl says holding up Amethyst before she awkwardly turns to Greg. "I'm very sorry about this... umm... you.!"

The temple Warp Pad then glows and Garnet warps in, holding two bubbled gems in both hands.

"Woah..." Greg says in awe of the warp pad.

Garnet gasp as she notices Greg now. "Pearl, Amethyst." She sends the bubbled gems away quickly. "You're with a human." She walks over.

"He followed me over the fence!" Amethyst says happily.

"What should we do?" Pearl asks Garnet.

Garnet leans in on Greg and glares at him, reflecting his face on her visor. "State your purpose."

Greg sweats nervously. "Uhh... I was kinda looking for the mysterious pink lady. Kinda really tall... lots of big curly hair?"

"See, he's talking about Ro...mmphhh." Amethyst begins to say but Pearl puts her hand over Amethyst's mouth to muffle her.

"I don't know how to make him go away." Pearl says to Garnet.

"I'll just throw him back over the fence." Garnet says now.

"Huh?" Greg stammers.

Garnet grabs Greg and lifts him over her head. Greg moans in protest as he's carried off.

"Excellent idea!" Pearl agrees. "Humans should stay on the other side of the fence like the sign says."

"Please! No throwing!" Greg begs.

"Wait!" A voice shouts from behind the group and The Gems turn around and see the Pink haired woman known as Rose from before, rushing out of the temple.

"Mr. Universe?" She says.

"It's you." Greg says.

Garnet drops Greg quickly and blushes embarrassed.

"Whoa! Ow!" Greg groans.

Rose then jumps forwards, lands gracefully in front of Greg, and offers her hands to him. "Are you alright?"

Greg takes her hand, and the two exchange gazes at each other for a moment, until Pearl barges in.

"You know this human?!" Pearl asks.

"He was playing a concert on the beach, and I couldn't help myself." Rose says.

"No one can ignore the Universe." Greg grins. "Oh!" He then holds out the XXL T-shirt. "I brought you this. It's the free t-shirt that came with the free CD!"

Rose takes the T-shirt. "Why, thank you!" The other Gems crowd around Rose to look at the T-shirt. "His gimmick is space!" Rose whispers to them and Pearl chuckles at Rose's comment.

"Hey, play something, music man!" Amethyst says to Greg now.

Garnet summons her gauntlet. "Better make it good."

"Aw man, I'm working on this awesome new set, it's gonna kill at my next show!" Greg says. "Next show... Aw jeez, what time is it?" He asks.

Pearl looks up at the sky. "Nnnight... time?"

"Yeah, Marty's probably looking for me. We're supposed to hit the road... Big show in a big city... and I didn't drop out of community college for nothing!" Greg says trying to be impressive.

"What?" Pearl asks confused.

"Well, you better hurry. You don't wanna miss your space train to the cosmos." Rose says kindly to Greg now.

"Okay!" Greg begins to run off. "I'll see you later!" He calls to her then pauses, turns back and shout to Rose . "Uh, I hope the stars will align for us to meet again!"

"I'm sure they will!" Rose says back to him.

"Bye~ music man!" Amethyst waves

Greg waves back and leaves the area. Rose looks at the T-shirt, smiling, when an envious Pearl barges in. "I can sing!"

Rose smiles, and Garnet and Amethyst begin to laugh.

"What?" Pearl blushes.

Later that night It had started to rain, as Marty drives Greg's van, with Greg in the back, out of Beach City.

"Man, Greg, you really missed out. Vidalia's friends were wild and crazy. Glad that town wasn't a total waste." Marty says.

"I met some wild ladies too. They changed shape and appeared out of beams of light..." Greg starts to say.

"Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, save the poetry for Empire City, Star Child. We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow." Marty cuts him off.

"I'm serious, Marty. Something's goin' on back there." Greg says now.

"Are you nuts? Just wait 'till you see what's ahead of us. It's FAME!" Marty says and he presses the 'Play' button on the car radio, but nothing happens. "Hey, what's jammed in your tape deck? You been putting pennies in here, you weirdo? Play something for me, Star Child."

Greg obediently strums his guitar and begins to sing.

♫ Do you believe in destiny?

Close your eyes and leave the rest to me..

"Snore!" Marty cuts him off. "You're gonna put people to sleep with that. Where's the schlock coming from?"

Greg blushes. "I..I just can't stop thinking about that woman at the show."

"Oh, here we go, how big was she?" Marty asks.

"Eight feet tall... massive hair..." Greg begins to say

"See, Greg, this is your problem. You want one huge woman, when you could have multiple small ones." Marty tells him.

Greg groans. "Ugh, Marty, women are people."

"Just follow my lead. I'm gonna get you everything you want." Marty says ignoring him.

"What if I want to go back?" Greg says now.

"What?!" Marty cries.

"What if I want to go back and be with her?!" Greg says.

"No one cares about your feelings, Greg!" Marty says as he turns to Greg in anger, letting go of the steering wheel. "They're making you lose sight of what's really important!"

"WATCH THE ROAD!" Greg shouts as headlights become visible in the windshield of the car as a truck approaches. Marty quickly swerves the van out of the way and stops it beside a billboard.

Greg was breathing deeply in the back of the van. "Why do you always decide what's important?"

"Because I'm your manager, and you're just some spaced out kid. I'm taking you to the city, and you're gonna play, and you're gonna like it. Maybe you'll even make me some money for once." Marty tells him.

Greg starts to get angry now as he gets up. "Get out of my van."

"Sit down, Greg." Marty says.

"I said... GET OUTTA MY VAN! Greg yells as he kicks Marty out of the van onto the rainy roadside, and drives off.

"What are you doing? You're making a HUGE mistake!" Marty shouts out to him.

Greg, driving recklessly, drives back to Beach City and runs over the fence surrounding the Crystal Temple. He runs up to the temple entrance and knocks on the Temple Gate.

"Hey, are you in there? I can play for you now! I even revamped my awesome set!" Greg runs and jumps onto the warp pad, and prepares to play his guitar. "This one's for you, mystery woman!"

♫ Do you believe in destiny?

Close your eyes and leave the rest to me.

Do you believe in fantasy?

I have to when it's right in front of me.

Oh, what are you doing here, in the real world?

What are you doing here, so close I could touch you.

What are you doing here, And what are you doing to me?! ♫

A bright pink light shines upon Greg as the temple gate opens, and Rose steps out, wearing the T-shirt Greg gave her.

"Ah! You're wearing the... shirt." Greg says.

Rose looks visibly worried. "... Please, go away."

Greg blushes. "I'm sorry. Did I...?"

Rose sighs. "You're awfully cute... and I really wanna play with you, but your life is short and you have dreams. I won't let you give up on everything you want."

"That's gonna be a problem." Greg bows his head.

"Huh?" Rose asks.

Greg looks up at her and smiles. "You're everything I want!"

Rose turns starry-eyed and starts giggling in joy.

The flashback then ends, returning to present-day Greg, Y/n and Steven.

"What are you two smiling about?"

Steven grins. ♫ You loved her! ♫

"Come here, you!" Greg says as he reaches out to tickle Steven, causing him to laugh, and ruffles his hair. "Nrrgh!"

Y/n chuckles at the two as he picks up the photo of Greg and Marty again now. "I can see why Marty is dead to you, He really was the worst."

"Oh, yeah, he was awful." Greg agrees as he takes the photo from Y/n and looks at it again. "But I guess I owe him a lot. He made it easy for me to stay."

"I'm glad he did." Steven says now.

Greg places the photo next to the picture of him and Rose. "Yeah, me too."

And that's the chapter! Now I know Y/n was not really in this week one but I felt it was kind of a n important episode to see how Greg and Rose met, Plus you get a look at how the Crystal Gems used to behave. If you liked this chapter or just the story in general then don't forget to leave a vote and a comment below as it really helps! I shall see you all next week in...

The Message!