Steven reached for the knob for the radio as it changed to a few different songs.

"It's good looking out! It's what we're about..."

"Isn't it amazing when you know?"

"Just a little time...just a little something else instead."

Steven stopped at this song. Something about it felt...nostalgic? He wasn't sure. It still seemed like the perfect drive from the hour he still had left to Empire City. He glanced down at his phone.

"Maybe now would be a good time for another one?" Steven said as he grabbed his phone and opened his voice recorder for a new diary log.

"Hey, Diary. It's, uh, it's been a while, huh? It's been nice being out on my own for the past few years. I've finally made it a whole year without turning into Mom or going through another Diamond transformation. Therapy has helped a lot. I still keep up with the gems and stuff. Although, I haven't heard from them in a few months...Garnet and I usually have been having a monthly yoga routine...But, she hasn't called for a bit. I wonder if everything's all right at Little Homeworld? I am just a 30 minute drive away from Beach City...I could surprise them with a visit! And I'd still have time to meet up with Sadie, Shep and Dad! Alright, I'm gonna do it. Beach City, here I come!

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Steven smiled as he closed the door to the car and jumped up to the front door using his floating powers and knocking on the door. Peridot answered and immediately tears began to fall from her face.

"S-Steven?! You're back!" Peridot said, full of glee and immediately jumping onto him, knocking him down.

"Peridot! It's been a while! I've really missed you. Are the other gems here too?"

"Hm? Oh, no." Peridot stood up and wiped the tears from her face. "I'm here due to the gems having to work at Little Homeschool today. I guess they haven't told you there's been a few burglaries recently and Garnet saw there could be one while they were working." Peridot told him.

"Oh, well, what about Bismuth and Lapis are they here too?"

No, actually, Bismuth and Lapis are using their vacation days to check out one of the new Meep Morp attractions and Sparring sessions on Homeworld, so it was up to me to keep the place safe for them."

"Oh, that's really thoughtful of you, Peridot. Mind if I go visit the gems at Little Homeworld? As soon as I'm done, I'll come back here to hang out!"

"Yeah, sure. I'll be here!"

Steven ran over to the Warp Pad over by the Gems rooms and warped to Little Homeworld.

He looked around to see Spinel talking to a Jade.

"Spinel...I guess my therapist did tell me I should..." Steven mumbled. "Hey, Spinel!"

Spinel turned to look at Steven and quickly said bye to the Jade, running over to see Steven.

"Heya, Sunshine! It's been a while!" She said wrapping her arms around Steven, however, this time, Steven hugged her back.

"It really has! I think the last time we saw each other was when I visited Homeworld to thank you for helping me out of my monster form. But, what're you doing in Little Homeschool?" Steven asked.

"Oh, well this is my first week of classes. The Diamonds think I need to get out and find out who I am. I mean I was in a garden for 6000 years...maybe getting a better sense of who I am from here will be good for me y'know?"

"That's...really great, Spinel. I'm proud of you. That's actually what I'm doing. Hey, um, you got a phone yet?"

"Yep. Got one my first day!"

"I'll give you my number. Let's stay in touch. I haven't always treated you great, because you tried to kill me...But, so did Lapis and Peridot and Bismuth. I usually become good friends with the people who tried to kill me." Steven said with a chuckle. "Maybe we can try and be good friends."

"Ok. Let's do it!" Spinel said, reaching into her gem and pulling out her phone.

Steven grabbed her phone and typed his number into it, putting his name in and giving it back to her.

"Thanks, Steven." Spinel said with a smile.

"No problem. Hey, do you happen to know where my friends are?"

"Well, classes are on break right now...So they're probably in the teachers lounge."

"Ok, thanks, Spinel. Let's catch up later." Steven said as he waved to her and jumped into the air, landing at the door to the teachers lounge.

Steven smiled as he heard Pearl and Amethyst talking from inside. He knocked on the door.

"Teachers only!" Pearl's voice yelled from inside.

"Okay, but I only have so much time before I have to head back to the temple to meet up with Peridot!" Steven yelled to them.

The door immediately sprung open with Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl rushing to hug Steven.

"Steven, dude, it's been so long!"

"Oh, Steven. Classes are about to begin again but we can cancel the rest for the day to spend time with you!"

"Steven, I'm sorry I haven't made plans for yoga. There's been a few burglaries and our phones were taken and I may have...forgotten your number. We all did." Garnet said with a grin.

"Aw, that's alright, guys. Why don't we catch up a bit here and then I can help out with classes for a bit before I go catch up with Peridot?

"Oh, yeah, totally. You could join baseball today!"

"Oh my stars, Steven! Would you want to fuse into Rainbow today? Rhodonite was supposed to be our guest fusion today, but, she cancelled due to some unforeseen circumstances.

"Yeah, I'd love to. But, after that and I give you my number again, I'll have to head back to the temple. I only have so much time before I have to go to meet Sadie, Shep, and Dad."

"Of course, Steven. We understand." Garnet assured him.

"Hello, gems! Welcome to our short fusion lesson." Garnet announced to the class. "As you can see, Rhodonite is not here today. However, we have brought in another fusion to help demonstrate the rights and wrongs of fusion. But, first, our villain for the demonstration will be..." Garnet waited as Amethyst jumped out in front of the class. She was shapeshifted into a Amethyst-sized Malachite.

"Rawrrr! I'm Malachite. I'm made purely of hate!!!" Amethyst yelled doing her best to imitate Jasper's voice.

"Oh no! What am I..." Garnet quickly unfused.

"Or rather, we, to do?" Sapphire said.

"We're just a poor innocent couple!" Ruby said.

"Not to worry! Rainbow is here!" Rainbow shouted as he flew in on his Parasol.

The gems in the audience clapped.

"No, a fusion made of gems who care about each other, my only weakness!"

"That's right, Malachite. Now say goodbye!" Rainbow yelled as he gave a small hit on Amethyst's head with his parasol.

"Ahhhhhhh! I'm poofed!" Amethyst said, falling to the ground and eventually shapeshifting her arm over to the baseball field to go start her baseball game.

Ruby and Sapphire fused back into Garnet. "And that is the right way to fuse. You fuse out of care or because of loving the other gem. Not out of hate."

"Any questions?" Rainbow asked.

A Ruby raised her hand.

"Yes, Ruby?"

"What if you wanna fuse so you can get to know if you're, um, loving someone?"

"Yes, well when Ruby and Sapphire first met only same-gem fusion was allowed. I realised Ruby and Sapphire loved each other after fusing and it really helped me gain the perspective of who I was and who they were. Fusion can be like what humans call dating. However, it's up to the ones who are fusing to really decide on that relationship."

"Ok, thank you, Garnet." Ruby said, glancing towards a Skinny Jasper who glanced back at her.

"I suppose that's it then. Class dismissed!"

Rainbow unfused with Pearl and Steven giggling as they fell apart.

"Wow, I haven't fused with anyone other that Connie. That was really fun, Pearl."

"It's been years since me and you fused Steven. It was quite a time to do it again after so long."

"Yep, well I really enjoyed that. But, here let me write my number down for you, Garnet." Steven said as he grabbed a pen and a scrap of paper out of his gem. He wrote it down and handed it to Garnet.

"Thanks, Steven. I'll text you for another yoga meetup." Garnet said, grinning and ruffling his hair.

"I'll call you later tonight, Steven." Pearl said as she hugged Steven.

"Oh, let me say bye to Amethyst." Steven jumped into the air and shafeshifted his arm to the baseball field and gave Amethyst their special handshake. "Bye!" He yelled and landed back softly on the ground and ran towards the warp pad, waving to them as he warped back.

Steven returned to the temple to hear Peridot screaming. "Peridot?"

Suddenly, a familiar gem appeared in front of him. "Well, well, well. If it isn't, Steven Universe?"

"Bluebird? What are you doing here?"

"The better question is what are you doing here? I thought you'd left this place permanently." Bluebird said twirling her sword in the air.

"I'm here to see my friends, who's house you had better leave right now." Steven said threateningly as he summoned his shield.

"Yes, I know I can't win in a fight. Not after I heard what you did to Jasper. But, mark my words." Bluebird said as she flew in front of Steven's face. "I'm getting a team together. And once it's complete...you'll never get in my way again. Got it?" Bluebird said, menacingly.

Steven grabbed her by her legs, threw her onto the warp pad and put his hand on the warp pad, warping her to Pink's old garden.

He ran over to Peridot who was hiding in the trash can. "I'm sorry, Steven. I couldn't stop her."

"It's ok. But, I'm sorry I have to leave now. You still have my number, right? Let's plan to meet up again sometime."

Peridot pulled herself out of the trashcan and stood to give Steven a hug. They embraced and as Steven let go he put his hand on her shoulder. "You can't win them all, Peri. Especially not alone. I'm glad you were able to protect yourself. Let me heal you with my spit before I go." Steven quickly kissed her forehead and waved goodbye as she waved back.

Steven stepped into the Dondai and drove off. A pair of wings visible flying over his car as he drove.

Steven glanced as he got a text from the 3 Crystal Gems in their group chat.

Yo dude Heard what happened with Peridot Everything alright?

Steven, oh my stars!!!!!. Bluebird is back??? Are you okay?????

Steven hope bluebird didn't mess everything up with your powers again I know u were proud to have that streak ;) love u see u for yoga soon

Steven quickly pulled over 10 minutes out of Empire City to text back.

Dont worry guys I took care of bluebird rlly quickly it all worked out

Steven opened his voice recorder and began finishing up his diary from earlier.

"Hey, Diary...um, Everything is Great..."