It was the end of another beautiful day. Crickets chirped in the long grass and fireflies started blinking in the air as the sunset into a cushion of pink and orange clouds. Bismuth was working late on a project, but she had stopped to sit on the porch of her workshop. It was one of those perfect endings at the end of a summer day that couldn't be ignored.

She glanced over at Peridot, who was having a conversation across the yard with the farmer that rented their farmland for planting crops. The three of them leased out the land next to nothing as their own occupations made more than enough money to support themselves.

Bismuth made metal artwork and shoed horses for Lapis. Lapis owned the large animal vet clinic that resided in the barn (the largest in the area to boot). And Peridot was the resident tech and green thumb. Which was why she was talking to their neighbor farmers; they were good at growing crops before. After Peridot moved in and started consulting, every harvest was a bumper crop.

It was a good life, dull but good. It beat being in prison. Bismuth shook off a chill despite the late August heat. She shifted in her camp chair and rested her booted feet on the railing of the porch. The bad old days, she was so angry back then, but not so much now.

Garnet was the one who pointed Bismuth in the veterinarian's direction. Lapis needed help shoeing horses at her clinic, and Bismuth was a skilled blacksmith. The rest is history.

Time passed, and the blacksmith began doing more with metal then just shoeing horses. Both Lapis and Peridot encouraged her metal sculptures and even built her a workshop on their land. Now she was a successful artist with a studio. (With a home, and family.)

Mary J. Blige's Real Love played on an old radio on the window sill, Bismuth turned it up and hooked her thumbs into her overalls. She was a sucker for 90s hip-hop.

Rustling grass turned the blacksmith's attention to the approaching Peridot, proceeded by the stout and sassy Pembroke Corgi, Pumpkin. The dog clambered up the steps and greeted Bismuth with a sharp bark and a nudge to the leg for attention. "Alright, man, you are pushy!"

"Ah, working late, the hallmark of many a true artist. Salvador Dali was rumored to have worked late at night, you know." Peridot carefully climbed the three steps up to the porch, her cane helping to keep her balanced. She was missing her right leg just below the knee. An injury from an op gone wrong with the Authority. She now had to wear a prosthetic to get around.

"Yeah, but the man also had issues with the ladies and his dad. I like to think I'm more even than that, tiny." Peridot flashed a quick grin at the nick-name and sat in the other available camp chair.

Bismuth watched as the petite woman seemed to hunch down in her seat a little. Her hand brushing through medium bed-head haircut. "Hey, tiny, I'm sure it's nothing; Greg will call tomorrow, and it'll just be something ridiculous."

"Lapis doesn't think so, and I have my own doubts." Peridot sighed heavily.

Greg Universe had called about four days ago and said Steven was missing, along with the Gems. At first, the trio thought it was just an over-worried dad. Steven, (poor little meatball) was in a car wreck on his birthday. The party was called off just as they were leaving the farm for Beach City. Bismuth figured with Steven still on the mend it was unlikely the Gems took him anywhere, and Greg was just overreacting. But, it had been four days now…

"Lapis was crying in the shower this morning. She's so worried." The technician added. It was rare for Peridot to talk so openly about her and Lapis' relationship, they were a very private couple. Even around Bismuth, and she'd been living on the farm with them for ten years now.

The corgi left the blacksmith's side and pawed at Peridot's leg. "It's okay Pumpkin, I'm sure this will sort itself out."

Bismuth leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees, dreadlocks falling over her shoulders. "Hmmm, you weren't expecting any clients, were you?"

"No, I don't make appointments this late for viewings. An emergency visit?" The blacksmith stood and peered over at the dirt road that led to the vet clinic. Bismuth leaped over the porch banister and whistled.

"That van, though! I'd bet you all the money in the bank that that's a 1970-something Volkswagen bus. A real blast from the past!" Bismuth couldn't help but smile.

"Nyeh, we should probably see if Lapis needs help, this has to be an emergency vet visit," Peridot said before making her way down the steps to the gravel pathway where it was more comfortable to walk.

Bismuth moved a little more quickly with Pumpkin nipping at her heels. She watched as the outside light on the side of the farmhouse flicker on. Lapis stepped out in a pair of yoga pants and a v-neck t-shirt with some sneakers. (It looked like she was getting ready for a quick run.)

The blacksmith got within yelling range of the veterinarian. "Hey, you expecting someone?"

"No, I didn't get a phone call or anything." Lapis moved her blue colored hair and bangs out of her face as she spoke. The pair met up in the center of the long driveway up to the barn, they were both being a bit cautious now. Emergency vet visits were usually proceeded by a phone call.

"Lapis! It's us!" Steven barreled around from the side of the van.

"Steven! Where have you been!?" Lapis Lazuli fell to her knees as Steven ran into her arms.

"Hey-hey, Steven! You had us all worried to death, your dad called and-" Bismuth stopped as the blood ran cold in her veins.

There was Yellow Diamond holding Blue Diamond with Garnet assisting. Amethyst came around the front of the van as Pearl stepped out of the driver's side door.

"Lapis, Bismuth, we need your help," Garnet said while draping Blue Diamond's arm around her shoulder. The Diamond was bleeding profusely from her left side.

"Garnet, you got a lot of explaining to do." Bismuth made a fist so tight her nails were biting into her palm.
… … … … … … … … …

"I can explain everything, but I need you to trust me," Garnet said, taking off her sunglasses.

Steven watched as a range of emotions played across the blacksmith's face. Anger, fear, disbelief a whole rainbow of emotions. He felt Lapis' hand tighten around his shoulder, the boy turned his head and looked at her.

"Lapis, we need you, please!" Steven begged in a rough whisper. Dark blue eyes stared at the 12 year-old uncertainly. She sighed deeply and gave Steven one last quick squeeze before getting up. She pulled a set of keys out of her pocket and jogged over to the office entrance of the clinic.

"Hey, did the back exam room get restocked and sanitized today?" The question was directed at Peridot who had just ambled over, her jaw was hanging. Steven clutched the bottom of his shirt; there was so much bad history between the Diamonds and the Gems. He didn't know the whole story, but it was intense.

"Dot!?" The technician visibly jumped at veterinarian's impatience.

"Uh, err, yes, everything is set up and ready to go. The volunteers cleaned it up before they left for the day." Peridot moved over next to Steven, Pumpkin following. The corgi nuzzled Steven's hand with her cold nose, and he sat down on his knees and hugged her.

"So, we're going to help the damn Diamonds!?" Bismuth was hot.

"This is our family, they trusted us in the past when there was no reason too," Lapis said as she unlocked the glass door. "We're supposed to be Crystal Gems, we might as well act like it." The vet held the door as Yellow and Garnet ushered Blue inside. It never occurred to Steven that Peridot, Lapis, and Bismuth may be Gems too…

"I'll be in my workshop if someone wants to come and explain what the hell is going on!" The blacksmith stomped off in the other direction, swearing under her breath. Amethyst shrugged at the remaining group and ran after her.

"I'm going to go in and see if I can help. Can you keep an eye on…?"

"But of course, I am an expert at watching boys named Steven!" Pearl gave a halfhearted smile and turned to go into the building. The technician placed a warm hand between Steven's shoulder blades. She looked down at the boy, her glasses glinting dully in the dim light.

"What, is going on, Steven?" He didn't know why, but the question opened a floodgate of emotions. He stood and slammed Peridot into a hug.

"Aw, shucks…" The woman dropped her cane and wrapped her arms around Steven. It was unusual, Peridot wasn't big on physical affection.

"It's been horrible! I-I don't know where to start…" He sobbed.

"Come on, let's go over by the tree. You can recount everything for Pumpkin and me." Peridot was doing her best, and Steven loved her for it. She was patting him on the back, somewhat mechanically trying to comfort him.

The boy pulled out of the embrace and wiped his tears as he picked up Peri's cane. The duo then made it over to "the tree." It was a grand old oak near a worn wooden fence. When Steven visited the farm, he would usually make it a point to climb its sturdy branches. (Much to Pearl's annoyance.)

The duo sat down next to its gnarled roots, and once again, the floodgates opened. Steven spilled his guts about everything that happened. Blue Diamond, Aquamarine chasing them, the prison. The abandoned barn in South Carolina, Yellow Diamond, and the hotel. And of course, Steven's newfound abilities.

"Wow." It was the only thing that Peridot could say, her green eyes wide.

"I know… it's hard to believe."

Steven wandered a couple feet away from where the technician was sitting. "So, you have powers… You're a gem?"

"Yeah, I'll show you." The boy widened his stance and felt a strange power within him. Then a familiar magenta bulwark appeared.

"Steven! That's amazing!" Peridot scrambled to her feet and hobbled over, seemingly forgetting her cane.

"The genetic implications… A male Gem!" Her face was washed in the pink light the shield gave off. Her hand hovered carefully in front. The scientist in Peridot was enthralled.

"So, it's true!" Bismuth was walking up, mouth gaping.

"Uh, duh. What, you didn't believe me?" Amethyst said, following after the larger woman.

"I mean, it's not that I didn't but, man… It looks like the one Rose used to summon." Bismuth crouched next to Peridot in front of the shield.

"Are you guys Gems too?" Steven released the light construct. When he was tired, it was harder to use his powers.

Bismuth gave Peridot a knowing glance, and the technician nodded while adjusting her glasses. The blacksmith pointed to her back, and Steven climbed on; whenever he visited, he always got a piggy-back ride from the large muscular woman.

"To answer your question: yes. We are all Gems, and we all worked with the Authority at one point or another. Me, Bismuth and Lapis." Peridot said, her green eyes softly glowed in the darkness behind her glasses. She looked back at the old oak and reached out with her right hand. Peridot's metal cane was summoned from several feet away into the technicians waiting hand.

"Whoa…" Steven was amazed.

"I should probably get you cleaned up and put to bed little man." Amethyst walked closer to him and Bismuth.

"You will, of course, reside in your usual spot on the sleeper sofa in my office." Peridot began to amble back to the farmhouse.

"Deep cut, you can crash on my couch in the workshop loft if you like." Bismuth purposely bounced a couple times, eliciting a chuckle from the 12 year-old on her back.

"That sounds awesome, Bis." Amethyst looked exhausted.

"Amethyst?"

"Steve-O."

"What about the others in the barn?" Steven was careful how he phrased the question, he could feel the tension in Bismuth.

"Let'm do their thing, little man, we'd just get in the way."

Steven squeezed Bismuth's neck, and she gave him a quick squeeze back on the legs. Hopefully, things would be better tomorrow. (Hopefully, Blue would be better tomorrow.)
… … … … … … … … …

Yellow Diamond had been pacing up and down the hall. White Pearl had left some time ago. But Garnet stayed the entire time; they had spoken about what happened. There was evidence, an opportunity to put things right. A fragile truce made for the time being.

So many questions remained, though, and Garnet wasn't willing to speak of them at the moment. The boy, her daughter…

"That's it. That's the best I can do, I'm not an MD." Lapis Lazuli said as she walked out of the back exam room.

"Will she be alright?" The general asked.

"No, she needs to be admitted to a hospital. Not a veterinarian clinic. The reason why she was hemorrhaging so much was because Blue Diamond was shot three times. Not two as she thought." The vet had brought out an orange biohazard bag with her, no doubt filled with medical waste from the ad hoc surgery.

"By the way, hollow-tipped armor-piercing bullets? Isn't it illegal to have that kind of ammunition for rifles?" Lapis walked up to the Diamond and held out the offending object. The general took the warped piece of metal and regarded it coolly.

"Performing a medical procedure on a person without a license, isn't that illegal?" Yellow had very little patience left, but the situation was dire.

"It tore her up pretty bad internally. I stitched up what I could and removed the bullet, but there's probably additional shrapnel. Looked at Blue Diamond's shoulder, that was a clean shot. Sutured that up; she needs to have her arm in a sling. She's stable for now."

Garnet, who had been sitting crossed-legged on the floor, now got up. "That's better than before. We should call it a night."

"May I stay with her?" Yellow's voice was hoarse, the situation was entirely out of her control, and she hated every second of it.

"Yeah, she's resting. I've got an IV of fluids going. I'll come back in…" Lapis stopped and looked at her watch in surprise; it was early. "I guess in a couple hours to move her. I can't have a senior member of the Authority hanging out in the back exam room of my vet clinic."

The vet turned to leave, and Yellow grabbed her arm, "Thank you."

"We're not friends, I didn't do this for you." The fine line in the sand was still there.

"No, we're not." Yellow let go and watched as Lapis took a step back. "That fact doesn't diminish your actions, nor my appreciation."

Garnet raised an eyebrow and nodded, "We'll be back later." The pair left Yellow alone in the dark, with Blue.

The general stepped into the room carefully, she didn't want to disturb her wife. She lay on a stark steel table with a rough wool blanket covering her with another one folded up underneath her head. The only light on in the room was a small florescent one that hung over the sink.

Yellow had to remind herself this was a vet, a place for animals. Not a medical hospital. She peeled off her black leather gloves while walking to the side of the table. Her hand found its way into Blue's right hand. Arctic eyes slid open slowly as soft fingers squeezed Yellow's.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have attacked you, this is my fault." The general was in tears, what had she done? The damage might be irreparable.

"Yellow, no…" Blue murmured, she pulled on Yellow's arm, and the general complied and bent closer.

"I attacked first, this is not your fault." Linna nuzzled her cheek and tenderly kissed Melena.

"I should have stopped, I put the boy in danger!"

"Melena, stop." Linna pulled away and looked into the general's eyes. "It's over now, we have to find a way to move forward. His name is Steven, by the way, he prefers it over 'boy.'"

Melena caressed her wife's long silvery locks. After everything that happened at the hotel, she was lucky this woman was even speaking to her. "You're very attached to him."

"Very… There's reason to be." Linna began stroking the back of Melena's hand with her thumb.

"We can talk later, get some rest." Melena reached behind her without letting Linna's hand go and pulled a nearby stool over and sat down. She settled in, resting her arms on the steel exam table.

"You should talk to Steven, he said he wanted to meet you." Heavy pain medicine began dragging Linna's conscious mind away.

"Oh really? I wonder why?" Melena said acerbically.

"He's a good lad, and none of this is his fault. He has as many questions as we do, more even." Linna's eyes closed, and Melena listened as her wife's breathing became even and slow.

The statement struck Melena in the heart. All this bad blood and history and the boy (Steven) had zero culpability in the entire affair. It wasn't fair at all.

As far as Yellow was concerned, she had a new mission. Stop Aquamarine; she was a rogue agent in the general's mind. Once that was taken care of, then everyone could take a breath and start figuring things out. The Crystal Gems, Steven, everyone.

Yellow laid her head down on her arms and allowed herself to drift away. There was a reasonable path forward, and she would see it to the end.