Y/n and the Crystal Gems were still standing in front of the burning wreckage of the Gem ship and looking out to sea, after Malachite dragged herself into the ocean. Steven is still on his phone with Connie.

"That could have gone... a lot worse." Pearl smiles trying to be optimistic.

"Tell that to my ribs..." Y/n says.

"Y/n's right it could have gone a lot better too." Garnet says as she looks at the burning broken pieces of the warship scattered all around the Lighthouse hill and the Crystal Temple.

"Steven? I got your message." Connie could be heard through Steven's phone. "...Steven? What happened?"

"We won!" Amethyst celebrates as she grabs Steven by surprise and twirls him around in joy. Lion inches in and nuzzles Steven.

"Is that Amethyst?" Connie asks. "Ah... what's going on? You said that there's some kind of giant space hand and you all may die?"

"Wooohooo! Ye-he-he-he!" Amethyst yells through the phone and she noogies Steven.

"Connie! You're not going to believe what happened. Where do I even start? It's been a madhouse over here." Steven says on the phone to her.

Lion walks away from Steven now as he moves towards Y/n and sits down besides him.

Amethyst hugs Pearl over-exaggeratedly. "Amethyst! That's enough celebrating." Pearl tells her.

The sound of horn is heard however as everyone looks to see Greg then arrives around the corner in his van with Y/n's dad in his car."

"Huh?"

"STEVEN!" Greg cries.

"Y/N!" Y/n's dad cries.

"Dad!" Steven calls back before he raises his phone back up a moment. "Connie I..I have to go. I promise I'll call you back." He hangs up his phone. "Dad's back! Dad's back!" Steven runs towards Greg as Y/n starts to slowly walk behind.

Greg starts running to Steven. "Oh! Thank goodness you're okay!" He hugs Steven tightly. "Mmmmm! I saw the spaceship start to leave and then it crashed so I came back and..." He sees Steven's black eye now. "Ohhh... Your eye... But you're okay! I guess those jerks were no match for the Crystal Gems!"

"No way, they were super strong!" Steven tells him.

"But you were able to beat them back?" Greg asks.

"No. They totally stomped us! This warrior, Jasper, was super beefy, She punched Y/n is the chest and head butted me knocking us both unconscious." Steven says and Y/n lifts his shirt a little to show his own injuries to Greg.

Y/n's dad catches up to the group however now and his eyes widen as they look at the injury. "We need to take you to a hospital immediately!" He says.

"Yeah, It's probably better I get checked up." Y/n says in agreement as he lowers his shirt.

"I'm sorry Y/n. If I had my healing powers this wouldn't be happening..." Steven says looking down.

"Steven this is not you're fault." Y/n tells him now as he puts his hand on Steven's head. "I made my own choice to look after you, and I would do it again." Y/n tells him now. "You'll get your powers back eventually I'm sure." Y/n assures him. "Can you tell the Gems that I've gone to get checked up?" He asks and Steven nods his head. "Thanks Buddy, I'll let you all know how it goes when I get back." Y/n says before he leaves with his dad now.

"So what Happened after that?" Greg asks Steven continuing on from their earlier conversation.

"Oh, Then they abducted us onto the ship because they wanted to take us away forever. And then we crashed the ship and I almost died!" Steven says.

"What did they want with you?" Greg ask as he increasingly begins to become worried and panicked by what Steven had just told him.

"They think I'm Mom." Steven says.

"A...are more Homeworld Gems gonna come after you?" Greg ask Steven stammering.

"I..." Steven starts but it makes him think. "Uh... I don't know. Maybe?"

Greg now looks clearly distraught. "Steven. I-I'm supportive and very proud of you. And I'll be right back." Greg says as he runs back into his van. "Got to calm down. Where's my..." He picks up lots of CDs from the back of the van. "Where's my relaxing music CD? This one?" He puts a CD in the radio, and death metal music starts to play. "Wrong one! Stop! Eject!" He punches the radio and starts to hyperventilate as he tries to calm down

Steven watches the commotion becoming worried as his dad tries to calm himself down, when his phone starts to ring again, realizing it is Connie. He looks back at his clearly-panicking dad as his van breaks down.

It was later in the day now. Y/n was sat in a doctor's office with his dad as the two waited for the doctor to arrive. It came as a small shock to Y/n when they did however.

"Dr Maheswaran?" Y/n asks.

"Y/n?" Dr Maheswaran asks surprised to seem him herself. "What are you doing here?"

"I got hit in the chest and we thought it best to get it checked out." Y/n tells her.

"And how did you come by this injury?" Dr Maheswaran asks.

"I...uh..." Y/n stammers. "Fell from a tall height and landed on my chest?" Y/n says unsure.

"Hmm." Dr Maheswaran hums as she takes out a stethoscope from her around her neck now. "I'll need you lift you're shirt so I can listen to your breathing." She instructs and Y/n does so. Dr Maheswaran places the stethoscope on Y/n's chest lightly and he flinches with the cold touch of metal on his torso.

"Does it hurt to breath?" Dr Maheswaran asks him as she listens to his breath with through the stethoscope now.

"Just when I try to run mainly." Y/n answers.

"It sounds likes you may have some bruised, possibly cracked ribs. We'll take need to take an X-Ray to be sure."

Y/n nods and does as he is instructed as Dr Maheswaran does several test now including taking an X-Ray. Some time passes when she returns to her office with Y/n's X-ray in hand. She sets it up on display and both Y/n and his dad look at it.

"As speculated before you do indeed have some bruised and cracked ribs." Dr Maheswaran explains as she she points to them on the X-ray. "Thankfully you won't need surgery and can go straight home." Dr Mahsewaran says as she turns off the display of the X-ray now. "I'll prescribe you some painkillers. Other than that it's simply about getting rest and letting your ribs heal naturally."

"Does that mean you need to bind them?" Y/n's dad asks.

"No. Ribs cannot be easily splinted or supported like other bones and we do not wrap bandages around the area as it can stop the lungs from expanding properly as they need too." Dr Maheswaran explains. "You'll also have to avoid any strenuous activities for that time as well." She comments as she writes out an order on a prescription pad. "If the pain persists for more than a few weeks or gets any worse then come back and we will check again."

"Thank you Dr Maheswaran." Y/n says pleased with this news.

Y/n and his dad were walking about of the hospital now as they headed back to the car park.

"Well, that went better than I expected." Y/n says as he looks at the results written down on paper.

Y/n's dad stays silent for moment as they reach the car now but he then decides to speak his mind. "I don't think you should be hanging around those people if these are the sorts of things that are going to happen." Y/n dad comments as they reach the car now and he unlocks it.

Y/n just stops as he watches his dad climb into the drivers seat. "We've been here for months and now's when you decide to take an interest in what I'm doing?" Y/n asks his dad annoyed.

"I..." Y/n's dad starts but his brow furrows and his eyes close as he groans to himself unsure what to say. "I'm concerned about you that's all."

Y/n opens the passenger side door now as he gets in the car.

"Are you?" Y/n asks his dad unsure. "These past few months It's like...I don't exist to you anymore." Y/n says as he leans his head against the window of the car door. "All you do is work during the nights and sleep during the days. It's like you've become a robot with no feelings." Y/n says now and he looks down now. "I know you miss mom..." Y/n starts and his dad clenches his fist. "I miss her too...But you still have me dad, so why does it feel like I lost both of my parents." Y/n sighs and rubs his eyes.

Y/n's dad looks to the side for a moment to see the sight of his downtrodden son and he turns to look at the steering wheel.

"Losing you're mother...broke me." Y/n's dad begins. "The choices I made after she was gone, picking up our life and moving us without even asking for your opinion." Y/n's dad says knowing how selfish he sounds when he reflects back on it. "I know it wasn't the best option. But I just couldn't stay there anymore. Everything I looked at kept reminding me of her and it was killing me."

"If you had told me this when were moving dad it might have been easier for me to take at the time." Y/n tells him.

"You're right. I should have told you I wasn't coping well." Y/n dad nods his head in agreement as he looks down at his lap. "I just...didn't know how to. Didn't want you think less of me. Though I've done a great job of that these last few months." He then sighs and starts up the car now.

"So... why'd you pick Beach City?" Y/n asks now.

"I saw it on a postcard once, Thought it looked pretty." Y/n's dad says as he pulls out of the hospital parking lot.

"And becoming a fisherman?" Y/n asks next.

"I always liked fishing. I find it's find it's a good way to escape for me. Just sitting on the waters focusing on the line and nothing else." His dad explains.

"Hanging out with the gems has been kind of been like an escape for me too. At least at the start." Y/n says feeling a small bit of understanding. "Going on adventures with them has changed my life. I used to think I was going to just go to college and get a dead end up job. But They've shown me there's a whole universe out there that I haven't even scratched the surface of it yet." Y/n says with a smile as he thinks back on some of his adventures.

"Y/n. You're at the age where I can't really tell you what choices to make anymore." Y/n's dad sighs. "You're started to become a man so quickly. The fact you were able to take care of yourself so well these past few months while I've been...unable shows that. If you want to hang out with these people then I won't stop you, I just want to be happy at the end of the day. But I also want you to be safe."

"I...I know dad." Y/n says now.

"If they are willing too, I'd like to meet these "Gems" As you call them." Y/n's dad says now.

"I'm sure they'd be okay with that." Y/n says.

"Maybe I could cook. I'm sure I am still pretty good at it." His dad suggests and it manages to get a chuckle out of Y/n. "My cooking is not that bad...Is it?" His dad asks.

"No." Y/n shakes his head. "It's just the gems don't really eat. Well Amethyst does but dinner would just be very awkward. Why don't I just bring you to the temple some time and I can introduce you properly."

"I'd appreciate that." Y/n's dad says.

"It might be a little while till I can though." Y/n admits. "Things are pretty hectic since Jasper and Peridot's attack on the town."

"Right..." Y/n's dad says unsure of who he is talking about. "I'll talk to Yellow Tail and start switching some of my weekends out at work so you can organize it ahead of time and... so we can spend some time together again." Y/n's dad says and Y/n nods.

Y/n then leans back in his seat as he closes his eyes. "I can't remember the last time we talked like this."

"It's been quite some time." Y/n's dad admits.

"Dad..." Y/n says getting his dad's attention and he turns to look at him for a moment. "Welcome back." Y/n says with a content smile upon his face.

It was the next morning and Steven is walking along the beach, staring at Connie's contact on his phone and mumbling to himself. "Now Connie. Please don't freak out. But a giant laser hand tried to steal me into space. But it didn't, it didn't. I'm back and everything is fine... now..."

Steven approaches the Big Donut and realizes the glass door and windows are all shattered. He starts running away when his phone rings again. He continues mumbling to himself, not picking up the call.

"Um... Connie. Funny story. As it turns out, there's a lot more Gems out there than we thought. And I think they wanna... kill me? Aghhh! Ughhh!"

Steven walks along the boardwalk when he accidentally trips over a broken parts of the Gem ship. He looks around and see the boardwalk area littered in rubble and pieces of the warship. His phone rings again, startling him.

Steven chuckles nervously. "Hey Connie that... that message I left you was— was just a dream." He chuckles again before he sighs. "Eh, she's too smart for that..."

Steven runs away from the scene. He starts treading up a hill overlooking Beach City, panting heavily and irritated by his phone constantly. He then looks around the hill and observes the broken wreckage of the Gem ship on the beach in discomfort.

Ronaldo appears from behind him now as he climbs the hill. "Yooo!"

"Oh!" Steven jumps a little before he looks to see who it is. "Hey Ronaldo."

"Didn't you hear? Mayor Dewey is calling everyone back into the city. We can go home now." Ronaldo says as he looks at the sky in the distance.

Steven just looks at Ronaldo sadly and he notices it.

"Oh! I see... you come up here to brood too." Ronaldo comments.

"Brood?" Steven repeats.

"Yes, Steven. That's just what people like us do. Suffer quietly, shouldering the knowledge no one else can bear." Ronaldo tells him.

"Hm." Steven hums.

"As an aficionado of the weird yourself, you've probably noticed ordinary people fear the cold, leaded anchor of the truth. The abyss is no Sunday swan drive." Ronaldo says to him now.

"I know! My dad flipped out when I told him." Steven say back.

"Sounds typical." Ronaldo says sternly. "But it's a good reminder. This is no easy path we've chosen here. There are... sacrifices. Look at them all down there, Steven." He points towards Beach City. "It's our duty to let those simple people live out their simple lives, without ever knowing the burden of being friends with us."

"At least we can be there for each other." Steven says hopeful.

"Is that giant hand from the sky sitting right in the middle of the beach?! I gotta get some of this for my blog!" Ronaldo cries as he runs off now. Steven continues staring out from the Brooding Hill and he starts to sing.

♫ Everybody told me Gem stuff's dangerous. I guess I didn't believe it until now.

Dad always seemed apprehensive, And now he's really freaking out,

What do I do? I don't want that for you. ♫

Steven's phone then starts ringing again. Steven quickly retrieves it from his pocket and places it away, covering his ears. The phone eventually stops ringing, and Steven keeps singing.

♫ Everybody tells me life is precious.

On the planet Earth, and that means you.

And I have to protect you. / What if somehow you get hurt too?

What do I do? I don't want that for you. ♫

Steven's phone rings again, and Steven, dropping his phone in panic, keeps singing to the tune of his ringtone.

♫ Wo-o-o-o-oh...

Wo-o-o-o-oh...

Wo-o-o-o-oh...

Wo-o-o-o-oh... ♫

Steven keeps staring from the Brooding Hill in deep stress, as he thinks back about the events that happened on the ship and on the beach.

♫ What am I gonna tell you?

You're better off not knowing the trouble I'm in.

I don't want you to worry about what I've just seen, /About where I've just been.

You don't have to be a part of this, I don't think I want you to be.

You don't need this. You don't need me... ♫

Steven's phone starts ringing again.

♫ Wo-o-o-o-oh...

Wo-o-o-o-oh...

Wo-o-o-o-oh...

Wo-o-o-o-oh...

Wo-o-o-o-oh...

Wo-o-o-o-oh...

Wo-o-o-o-oh...

Wo-o-o-o-oh... ♫

As Steven's song concludes, he picks up his phone, stares out to the Gem ship wreckage, and finally decides to swipe the "Decline" icon on his phone, ignoring Connie's call. He then puts on a determined face and walks off the Brooding Hill.

Y/n had showed up to the temple now as he could see the Gems all inside. "Hey, how you guys doing?" Y/n asked them.

"Ah Y/n!" Pearl cries out as she rushes over to him. "Are you okay? What did they say?" She asks beginning to fret over him.

"Thankfully it's nothing too serious, just some bruised and cracked ribs." Y/n explains to the gems as he lifts his top and shows them them the bruising and swelling that formed on his torso. "I've got to take it easy for a few weeks while they heal but other than that I'm going to be just fine."

The gems lets let out a collective sigh of relief.

"I'm glad you are okay but you were far too reckless. What were you thinking charging at Jasper like that?" Pearl asks him.

"You were all knocked back by Jasper, and I made a promise to protect Steven." Y/n says. "I just got lucky she didn't do anymore damage."

"No." Garnet says and Y/n and the gems look at her. "Jasper could have done far more damage to you if she had wanted. She held back in order to take you back as a prisoner alive." Garnet explains.

"Oh Y/n..." Pearl says a little worried as she looks at the injuries again.

"It doesn't matter. We won this time." Y/n says as he lowers his shirt now not wanting to brood on the subject.

"Heck yeah we did!" Amethyst cheers. "I can't hug you, so up top!" Amethyst holds out her hand for a high five and Y/n gives her one. He keeps his hand up for Garnet and Pearl who both give in.

"Oh, alright." Pearl smiles as she give Y/n a small high five.

Garnet just smiles as she high fives Y/n.

"You did well standing up to Jasper like that despite knowing you weren't going to win." Garnet compliments Y/n now.

"Huh? Well I said I would look after Steven no matter what, though I definitely need more training." Y/n admits.

"You want to continue training?" Pearl asks.

"Of course. Just because I lost to Jasper doesn't mean I will give up, if anything I want to get better." Y/n says.

"Oh how wonderful!" Pearl cheers. "I'll be sure to get the Sky Spire ready for our sparring sessions."

"Well there's no rush." Y/n chuckles at Pearl's enthusiasm. "I still need to recover first."