It was hard to believe, but the hallowed halls of The Authority HQ had been around for well over 60 years now. It was arguably one of the most secretive US Government agencies there was. It had grown from a relatively small group of 150 agents and assets to roughly 10,000 operatives over three divisions.

It was a legitimate working branch of the United States. It had its own museum, memorial ceremonies, awards, and medals. Statues and plaques of dedication. All the benefits of working for the Government were there too; retirement plans, financial aid, student loan repayment plans, healthcare benefits. It even had a gift shop and salon on the first floor.

The Authority HQ was nestled between E Street NW and F Street NW, just catty-corner from FBI building. The pair had made it in record time. But of course, even before they arrived, White Diamond had rescheduled. Yellow Diamond was furious.

"How long has she been this way?" Blue asked softly from the leather couch in Yellow's office. Blue no longer held an office here; this was her first appearance at HQ in years.

"For a long while now." Coffee had been placed on the nearby conference table; she poured a cup for Blue, who graciously accepted. Then she went by the windows and paced a bit, hands clasped behind her back.

"I can't accurately say what's on White's mind these days, she hardly tells me anything," Yellow admitted. She wasn't sure why she was saying this to Blue, the norm for her was manically depressed and grief-stricken.

But there was a shift in her wife today. For one reason or another, she felt as if a part of the woman she used to be had resurfaced. Yellow was clinging to it like flotsam from a shipwreck. Between White's distant attitude and her wife's drinking, life hasn't been easy.

There was a ring, and Yellowed jumped for the phone, "General Diamant, the director is headed for your office now!"

Yellow slammed the phone down and quickly motioned at the door with a jerk of her head. Blue choked on her coffee as she stood up and straightened her skirt. (She'd have to remember to give Amber a raise. She was more partner in crime than assistant these days.)

"Ah, here we are!" Of course, White didn't knock before she entered, she was the director (and she was White Diamond).

"White, we were expecting a more formal gathering than this." Yellow probed cautiously, she was so damn hard to read these days.

"Well, sunbeam, I considered certain aspects of our situation and thought it best to start in private." The director said, looking specifically at Blue.

"Moonbeam, it's good to see you up and sober." It was a barbed comment delivered in a saccharine voice.

"I have to say you've looked better…" Blue stiffened at the remark, and Yellow clenched her jaw.

"I'm here White, just tell me what needs to be done." Pride bloomed in Yellow's chest; Blue was trying so damn hard.

White strolled over to the front of Yellow's desk and leaned against it, regarding the pair for a moment. She was 95 years old now but only looked like she was maybe in her early 60's standing there in a bone-colored pantsuit and perfect makeup. (Longevity was a trait of having her genetics altered.)

"I'm going to be blunt, Blue. I'm not happy with you, I haven't been for some time. You're an alcoholic and a liability in the field when you do decide to pick up an assignment." Her silver eyes targeting Blue like a hawk would prey.

"Mother! This is hardly the time or pla-," Yellow Diamond began, her fury bursting through a well-disciplined façade. But she was suddenly stopped when White Diamond put up a hand and gave her a warning look.

"However… You are still the best damn investigator and interrogator we have on the books. There isn't a single agent to date that comes close to the results you've gotten when gathering information." She walked over to Blue, completely disregarding Yellow as she passed. Her eyes cutting into the Lt. Colonel.

"That and you have more than a vested interest in capturing this fugitive. All three of us in this room can agree that we're after White Pearl for far more than just stolen information." The director said in a soft icy tone.

"You have three days to get cleaned up. I'm assigning two agents to accompany you to Beach City. They are at your disposal, of course, but they are also there to keep tabs on you. There's a formal briefing at noon in my conference room, don't be late." She gave a final warning glance to Yellow before turning on her heel and striding out the door.

"Blue?" The general walked over to her wife and placed a comforting hand on the small of her back. Blue was staring at the floor, her hand covering her mouth; she was trying to digest the situation.

"It's fine, I'm fine." Blue looked at her watch, avoiding Yellow's gaze.

"There's only fifteen minutes before the meeting starts, we should start heading over." Blue went into Yellow's private restroom to freshen up.

The general couldn't help but think that this assignment was going to be quite the ordeal, and she was only marginally involved.

… … … … … … … … …

Steven sat in bed with about 500 pillows propping him up so he could watch TV. That was an exaggeration, but his dad pretty much grabbed every free pillow in the house and made sure Steven was using all of them.

It was both endearing and kind of annoying. But the boy understood why his dad was doting on him so much; his life could have ended last night, and it scared the living daylights out of his father.

So, Steven sat in the house watching re-runs of Crying Breakfast Friends and caught up on the latest mods for Minecraft. It was a half-hearted attempt to keep himself busy, though. All he could think about is the discussion Garnet was going to have with him and the family tonight.

He turned off the TV and sighed at the thought.

"You doin' alright, buddy?" Greg was sitting out on the deck of the beach house, silently tuning his guitar.

"I'm good, dad," He yelled down the stairs. He wasn't, but he didn't want his dad worrying any more than he already was.

"Okay, Schtu-ball, try and take a nap." The boy gave another sigh and removed some of the pillows he was lying on.

A small chime, then a buzz from his nightstand, made him jump. Incoming text, finally something to break up the day.

Connie M: How are you feeling?

Steven U: I'm okay my dad is fussing too much! :/

Steven U: You okay?

Connie M: Just scrapes.

Connie M: Steven, if you didn't push me out of the way…

Steven U: It's okay, don't worry about it.

Steven U: Just get better so we can go to school in two weeks!

Steven U: 7th grade! :0

Connie M: Steven, you're my best friend! 3

Connie M: I'll come over later this week!

The boy smiled from ear to ear as he put his phone down. Connie was his best friend too. Steven started to settle in again when two familiar voices filtered in through the screen door.

"Uh, I had everything on the list covered." The scratchy exasperated voice was unmistakably Amethyst's.

"We don't need three boxes of Crying Breakfast Friends fruit cereal!" Of course, the emphatic, slightly nasally voice was Pearl's. True to her word, she managed to get out of work a little earlier, it was just before noon.

"Hey'a ladies, what's going on?" Greg said amicably as Steven's guardians drew closer.

"P messing up my grocery shopping, that's what." It was good to hear Amethyst sound like her usual self. She was very subdued before she left to go to the store.

"How's Steven? Has he been resting?" The boy could almost see Pearl wringing her hands.

"I'm fine, Pearl!" Steven finally spoke up. (Finally, they were back.)

He watched as the door opened, and Pearl's head poked in. A gentle, relieved smile spread across her face and light blue eyes as she looked up the stairs. She stepped through and held the door open for Amethyst.

"Yo, Ste-man! You got enough pillows there?" Amethyst chortled as she carried in three bags of groceries. She was followed by Greg who brought in one more bag and a couple gallons of milk.

Pearl let the door close behind her as she hung up her windbreaker and umbrella. She then climbed the stairs to where Steven was.

"Steven, check it out! I got cereal for days bro!" Amethyst said with gusto holding up a multi-colored box with crying fruit caricatures on the front. Steven just laughed at her, he loved when everyone was home.

"Mac n' cheese for Lunch?" The stout woman yelled up to the loft.

"Yes please!" Pearl would make Amethyst cook vegetables along with it, but it was a small compromise.

"How are you doing?" Pearl said softly as she finally made it to the boy's bedside and put a hand on his forehead.

"I'm okay, really." The willowy woman looked at Steven appraisingly. She then carefully carded her hand through his dark curly hair and scratched the back of his head.

"Garnet should be here soon, she texted me on the way home." Pearl picked up some of the pillows that had fallen off the bed and then plucked a few more from the pile behind Steven.

"This is ridiculous." Pearl finally looked properly at all the pillows.

"Dad said he wanted me to be comfortable?" Steven shrugged and the fussy woman sighed as she carried an arm-full of pillows down the stairs.

"Everyone can relax, I have arrived." Garnet stepped into the house and dropped her gym bag and racket on the bench by the door. Amethyst and Greg greeted her in their usual easy fashion; Pearl was in the other room putting pillows away.

Steven couldn't sit in the loft any longer, everybody was home. Everyone came home for him and he was finally going to get some answers about what happened the other night. He gingerly slipped out of bed and made his way down the steps.

"Steven." Garnet regarded the boy from behind mirrored sunglasses, a soft smile splayed on her plump lips.

"Garnet, when can we start talking about what happened?" He latched onto the tall woman's leg as she affectionately placed a hand on his head.

"It's been bothering you all day." It was a statement, not a question. It caught Steven's attention immediately. She lifted the glasses from her eyes and set them on top of her head.

"Let's sit on the couch for a minute, I want to share something before we all settle in." She easily walked over to the couch with Steven clinging to her leg. He chuckled as he let go, and the pair took a seat behind the living room table. Garnet rested her hand on the boy's shoulder and he leaned into her. She smelled like sunblock and soap.

"Greg, is going to go out onto the deck in about a minute and put his guitar away. Amethyst is going to start boiling water for macaroni and cheese, but she's going to get salt and water all over the stovetop." The dark woman was saying all of this into Steven's ear as if it was some sort of conspiracy.

"Then Pearl is going to come out of the bedroom and start fussing at Amethyst about the mess. By the way, we're having broccoli with our macaroni today." Steven looked up at Garnet completely confused.

"Garnet? How did you know we were having macaroni-"

"Just wait and watch." Her breath brushing over Steven's ear.

Events unfolded just as Garnet had said they would. Greg made for the front door (giving Steven some finger guns as he walked by) and began to put his guitar in its case.

Meanwhile, Amethyst filled a pot with some water. She didn't quite clear the sink, and water sloshed out onto the electric stovetop. The stout woman then began to put a few pinches of salt into the water, but more of it got on the counter than in the pot.

"Oh, good, you're home!" Pearl said to Garnet when she popped out of the back bedroom. She had put a more comfortable outfit on; khaki pants and a V-neck shirt with some scuff slippers. She then looked at the mess Amethyst had made.

"Amethyst, really!? You're boiling water, you haven't even gotten to the actual cooking part yet, and you've wrecked the kitchen." The willowy woman said as she put her hands on her hips.

"Jeez P! Do you want to do this? I can just go sit on the couch y'know." Pearl just made an exasperated growl while she went to the freezer and dug out a large bag of frozen broccoli.

Steven sat up and swallowed. He slowly looked up at Garnet, who was simply staring back at him with a knowing expression.

"How? How did you know?" The boy grabbed at the bottom of his pajama shirt. It was a habit of his when he was worried or nervous.

"You know how you always tease me about seeing the future? I can see it in a way." Garnet wasn't whispering anymore. Both Pearl and Amethyst were looking at the two of them sitting on the couch.

"I can see into the immediate future. Events that could happen a couple minutes from now up to a few hours. Nothing is for certain, though, circumstances change constantly." The tennis instructor turned slightly in her seat, placing both hands on Steven's shoulders.

"We all have abilities similar to this. Some of them are the same to one degree or another, some of them unique." Garnet looked over to Pearl. The thin woman set down the broccoli and disappeared! Or so it seemed to Steven.

"Where!?" He then felt a tap on his shoulder; light seemed to bend as Pearl re-appeared. She was crouching right next to him. There was a pause as he looked into his guardian's pale blue eyes.

"W-what can you do, Amethyst?" The stout woman just smiled, her violet eyes lighting up. She looked at the door as Greg walked in.

"Hey, gang, it got pretty quiet in here; what's going on?" Amethyst quickly leaped over to Steven's father and lifted him up over her head with seemingly no issue.

"Wha-wait!" It surprised his dad, but it seemed like he was familiar with situations like this to begin with. Amethyst then jumped back over to the kitchen counter and easily set Greg on one of the stools.

"Take a seat, Greg!" She said with a toothy grin.

"You've started talking to Steven about who you guys really are." Steven's dad gave a nervous smile and shrugged.

"Do you have powers, too, dad?" The boy's eyes were wide with wonder and curiosity.

"No, buddy, I'm just a regular guy. I don't know how this works exactly, but I think you get your powers from your mom's side." He rested his hands on his knees and looked warmly at his son.

"Ah, well, that's what we're guessing too. Steven, usually only woman can be gifted the way we are, that's why we're a bit confused at the moment." Pearl chimed in, her fingers scratching Steven's back reassuringly.

"Steve-O, think you can do what you did last night? Make that shield?" Amethyst said, leaning on the counter next to his dad.

Steven got up and padded over to the center of the room. He looked at his family: Garnet nodding confidently at him while Pearl knelt nearby, her hands clasped to her chest in concern. His dad on the stool scratching the thick stubble on his chin and Amethyst with her warm, playful violet eyes.

What did he do exactly? It happened so fast; the truck screeching, Steven seeing his surprised face in the chrome of the bumper. He put up his hands, he was going to get hit…

Like before, he threw up his hands in defense, and a pink colored barrier materialized before him. It was bright, and he could see through it! Steven also instinctively knew that nothing could easily penetrate it. Everyone in the room was gaping at him.

"Whoa, Steven," Amethyst was closest, and she was in awe. She walked in front of him and rapped on the bulwark with her knuckles. He looked at the others, surprise and worry painted on his face. Pearl and Garnet had gotten up and were now looking at what was going on.

"It looks like Rose's shield," Pearl said, tears falling from her eyes.

Steven felt something in the back of his head, almost like a muscle being pulled. He dropped his hands, and the shield blinked out of existence.

"What does this mean?" Steven said with a shaky voice. He had tears in his eyes (he hated to see anyone in his family cry).

"It means that you're a Gem Steven." Garnet finally said after a long moment.