Diamond had told Peridot to take time off work until the issue with Steven was resolved. Since Steven wouldn't speak to anyone else, she and Lapis became his temporary caregivers.

Only three days after Steven was told he had to stay they got a message that the First institute was ready for him. Which Peridot felt was ludicrous; they would never be truly able to prepare for a half human. Young gems were rarely wild, energy being distributed to them from their gem at the same rate as their elders, they never reached the state of hyperactivity Steven did.

Steven would always be rapidly telling them some story or another, stopping to tear up occasionally when his family was mentioned. He never named any of them, aside from a human friend named Connie who he appeared to have a crush on. It was too painful, Lapis had suggested to Peridot.

Peridot had never truly lost someone, not in the way Lapis had so she just agreed without saying anything.

Steven didn't wish to attend the institute, in reality all he wanted to do was go home. He didn't protest though, not wishing to offend his new carers who were much nicer than Lepidolite. Following the authority order's he was brought to the institute by Lapis, Peridot said she had to go help her assistant Ruby calibrate an instrument, Lapis couldn't recall exactly what.

"How many kids are there?" Steven asked, wide eyed.

"499, although with you it makes 500" Lapis said "Ten for each year group"

"What happened to the other number 500?" Lapis faltered, not wishing to repeat the story that Peridot told her "She moved planets"

Once they had moved around the small gems (Lapis had to explain to Steven that the gemlings aged normally until they were mature or could control their gems) they came to a small pink gem and a tall, thin gem. The gemling held a sign that said Steven in her small hands.

"Hi, I'm Steven Universe" Steven introduced himself "and this is Lapis Lazuli"

"I'm the principal and this is the gemling under my care, she is in the 11th group, the age group you will be going into." The white and grey woman said.

Lapis and the other women, revealed to be Tree Agate (AN-This is my favourite gem ever) started discussing enrolment information and pick up times plus other things that Steven stopped listening to. He smiled at the pink gem that was his height.

"What's your name?" Steven asked excited, having never met a gem his own age before.

"Rose Quartz" The little gem looked at the ground, shy. Steven gasped,

"My mother's name was that too!" He informed Rose.

"What is a mother?" Steven frowned at this. Gems didn't have mothers, just like him. He decided to forgo explaining, he didn't exactly know what a mother was either. Besides from the basic dictionary definition which wouldn't feel right.

Steven decided to change the subject "So your gem is a Rose Quartz?" Rose nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah, I'm getting good at controlling it. I can already summon my weapon!" She bragged. "What's your gem?"

"Same as yours" He told her.

"Really?" She looked happy, their gem wasn't precisely rare but the closest Rose to her was in the 22nd class and they had never talked

Lapis, apparently finished with her conversation told Steven she would pick him up in eight hours and left.

…

After the revelation that Steven was likely on the gems home world and that there was nothing they could do, everything was strangely normal. Steven's disappearance had been reported to the authorities in case he was still on earth and the gems continued to go on missions.

Connie continued to attend school, tennis practise and violin lessons as usual. Under this whole charade, though, there was a broken family. Several times over the past few days, Connie had been found by the gems while sitting on Steven's bed. She had been comforted by the gems, which were eerily good at it, despite the fact that their eyes were duller than when Rose had disappeared.

Lion wasn't coping at all though; he had only been seen rarely throughout that past few days. Whenever he was, he had another corrupted gem, defeated on his back for the gems to bubble. Connie had never thought she would see the day a lion was overworking.

Connie sighed as she went to the big donut to buy something, she didn't care what her parents would say if they found out. She needed something to remind herself of him. She smiled as she remembered the first time she ate donuts.

Flashback

She peered into the picnic basket after Steven had finished his latest story, about Pearl's failed attempt to reached space. Admittedly she had cried at the end, Steven was a talented donut.

She curiously pulled out the paper bag at the bottom, unrolling it. She was surprised at what she saw. Two chocolate donuts greeted her with their delicious smell, making her mouth water.

"Steven" She said sternly "You know I'm not allowed to..."

She was interrupted by the pinkish gem shoving a donut in her mouth. She was surprised, slowly chewing the sweet as a smile stretched across her face.

"You like it?" Connie nodded

"Don't tell my parents" Steven smiled at this, running away. Jokingly and slow though, so Connie could catch up. This somehow descended into an all-out war of tips between Steven, Connie and Lion. Amethyst and Garnet joined when they heard the commotion, Pearl thought it was silly.

End of flashback

"Hi Sadie, two of Steven's usual please."

…

Steven stood in front of the class of 11 gemlings including him. "My name is Steven Quartz Universe, a half gem from Earth" A few gasps were heard before the teacher told them that rudeness was a bad way to stick to the path.

"We will walk the path"

Steven was seated beside a green gem, her former desk mate, Marble had moved reluctantly but politely. He reintroduced himself to his partner to which he got the reply.

"I am a Jadeite gem, please can you be quiet. The lesson is about to start." It wasn't rude but it also wasn't kind in the tone she presented it.

Steven glanced wistfully at Rose, wishing he was assigned to her desk.

"Now Gemlings, what is the most important thing to remember as a gem?" Many of the gems rolled their eyes at the ridiculously easy question that was only there for the newgem's sake.

Steven eagerly put his hand up "To protect people from monsters" This caused many of his classmates to burst out laughing. Steven slid down his seat to hide, blushing.

Jadeite raised her hand "To walk the path away from corruption" She smirked at Steven when her answer was correct.

AN- Hey, another chapter for you guys, I was inspired even though there isn't much content here. I was so excited to introduce my new Rose Quartz. I thought her having that name would be cute. Oh, has anyone seen the test? I think it was the best episode yet. I didn't cry as much as in Lion 3 though. That one left me bawling in geography class (I wasn't being naughty, our teacher let us do anything that lesson).