Note: There is more chapters to come to this fanfic. I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I do writing it. Your reviews mean the world to me, the good/bad. I like to learn and improve. Also, this fanfic takes place after the episode, "Change Your Mind".

White diamond ripping out his gem- his life support, was one of the most traumatic things he has ever gone through. Steven didn't want to worry his family or his friends about the whole situation, even though Connie witnessed it and was very traumatized herself.

"Hey…Steven?" Connie looked over at Steven who was sitting on the grass looking up at the night sky while holding his ukulele.

"Yes Connie? Steven replied, forcing a smile upon his face.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Connie could see right through that smile. She was his best friend after all.

"About what?" He tried acting clueless.

"Steven, you know what I am talking about. I was there." Connie rubbed her shoulder feeling a little uneasy about the whole thing. "I witnessed it happen to you."

"I'm sorry Connie. It's just that I should be happy." Steven admitted feeling a little embarrassed for getting caught in his lie.

"What makes you say that?" She looked at him, feeling a little confused and sat down next to him.

"Every problem is fixed. The diamonds aren't a threat anymore, the corrupted gems are healed, and everyone is happy." Steven half smiled. "We have come so far."

"All of those things are great. They really are, but it doesn't mean that you are not allowed to not be happy." Connie was worried about Steven.

"I don't want to ruin their happiness." Steven turned around and looked at his family enjoying themselves without any worries for once. "Just look how happy everyone is. I wouldn't ruin that for anything."

"They love you Steven. I think they would be much happier if you opened up to them about what happened to you." Connie was trying her best in supporting her best friend.

"I think it's better that they don't know about it. Even though they were there, they still have no idea about it." Steven refereed back to when everyone was under White Diamond's control.

"I think it's better if they do know." Connie stated her opinion.

"I have already caused enough. I brought them to space with me when I should've made them stay here." Steven looked down at his gem. "I put everyone in danger, even you." He looked over at Connie.

"What are you talking about Steven? We weren't going to let you go alone with them. We wanted to protect and be there for you." Connie stood up in shock. "Also, it was an eye opening experience."

"We almost died of dehydration and starvation." Steven honestly stated. "The gems could have been shattered all because of me."

"It's okay to worry about everyone, but it's not okay to blame it all on yourself. I'm the one who wanted to dance with you which made us fuse." Connie did feel bad about her actions.

"I'm the one who agreed." Steven stood up and looked at Connie in her eyes.

"You don't get my point." Connie felt saddened by Steven's look on things.

"I'm sorry." Steven realized how he was hurting Connie. "I'm sorry to have put you through all of this."

"You don't need to apologize Steven." Connie only wanted to make him smile. "I want you to be happy."

"I am happy." He opened his arms for a hug.

"I want you to really mean it." Connie went in for the hug.

"I do, I just need some time to process everything that has happened." Steven admitted while still hugging her.

"Promise me that when you're ready, you will come and talk to me about how you feel." Connie did respect Steven's space and knew that he needed more time to think about everything.

"I promise." Steven smiled and let go of the hug.

"The hotdogs are ready!" Bismuth called out in the distance.

"We should join them now. They're probably wondering where we are." Steven started walking towards the temple.

"Plus, you love hotdogs." Connie giggled to herself.

"Of course I love hotdogs. Who doesn't love hotdogs?" Steven laughed along with his friend. He missed this.

"Stu-ball, I've been wondering where you were." Greg smiled knowing that Steven was okay. "I thought the smell of hotdogs would bring you back." He jokingly said.

"I am your son after all." Steven laughed while Greg handed him and Connie a hotdog. They all gathered around on the grass watching the stars in the night sky.

"That was quite a trip." Pearl broke the silence and slightly giggled.

"You call that a trip? I call it a mission." Amethyst scarfed down her plate of hotdogs.

"That's for sure." Peridot chimed in. "I kicked some major robot butt!" She laughed.

"What are we going to do with all this time on our hands?" Lapis asked.

"Relax." Garnet smiled.

"We really do not have a lot left to do like we once did. The gems are healed, the diamonds don't mind us living here, and Bismuth is almost done fixing the house." Pearl also answered.

"Does that mean no more crystal gems?" Peridot panicked. "I just got my new form!"

"Don't worry Peri." Amethyst reassured peridot. "I'm sure something will turn up."

"There is a lot to do around here still." Garnet explained. "We have a lot of things to repair around here. There are still pieces of their ships scattered around."

"I almost forgot about that." Pearl looked out at the ocean where most of the pieces were.

"So much has happened." Connie spoke looking at Steven.

"Yeah." Steven agreed, hoping that Connie wouldn't mention anything about what happened with White Diamond.

"We could use a break." Garnet smiled and sat next to Steven.

"It was quite tiring pretending to be mom." Steven joked.

"She thought it was tiring too." Pearl smiled seeing a lot of resemblance of Rose in him.

"I'm sure turning into Rose Quartz was even more tiring." Steven thought.

"But she knew she was doing it for a good cause." Pearl interrupted Steven's thought.

"I guess you're right." Steven smiled, feeling lucky to be surrounded by everyone he loves.

"Thank goodness you guys made it back home safely." Greg looked around at everyone. "I was worried."

"Steven and Connie are the ones that saved us." Garnet gave credit to them. She felt so proud.

"Hey! What about me?" Peridot felt offended since she didn't receive any credit.

"I didn't forget about you." Garnet smiled and stood up. "I want to thank all of you for coming to our rescue in such a time in need. I thank you from the deepest places of my gems."

"We were honoured to." Answered Bismuth. She felt so happy to be surrounded by all of her friends once again.

"Sorry to interrupt everyone, but I'm feeling a little tired." Steven stood up. "I think I'm going to head to bed." He smiled.

"Don't be sorry Stu-ball. You probably haven't slept well in a while." Greg understood.

"You guys should continue the barbecue." Steven suggested. He didn't want to ruin everyone's time.

"It's getting late. I should probably go home too." Connie looked at her phone and realized she was going to arrive home later than she told her parents.

"Want me to drive you home?" Greg offered.

"It's okay Mr. Universe, I don't want to ruin your time here." She replied gathering her things.

"It's really not an issue. It would be a pleasure." Greg didn't want Connie to walk alone in the dark. She was almost like a daughter to him.

"If you insist." Connie smiled feeling loved. She jumped in the passenger seat of his van.

"I'll see you in the morning Steven." Greg waved to his son as he got into his van.

"Bye." Steven waved back.

"We will meet you up there in a little bit Steven." Pearl smiled feeling a little protective of him.

"You can take your time." Steven smiled as started to walk towards his half-built house. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Steven." The others called back watching him walk to the house.

Steven stopped at the front door of his house. Half of it was covered with a tarp while the other half was fixed by Bismuth. He stood there for a moment and then entered his house.

"It's good to be back." He felt relieved as he looked around at his home. "I missed this place." He made his way to his bathroom so he could get ready for bed.

Steven brushed his teeth and began to change his clothes. He looked down at his gem and he froze.

"I almost forgot about this." Steven had realized when he was swimming earlier in Rose's fountain, that his gem was flipped into the diamond shape. He had hid it from everyone in fear it would raise questions. "If they see my gem flipped, they'll know something happened to me."

He quickly put a shirt on and went to the edge of his bed. He jumped in and situated himself under the covers. He closed his eyes, finally being able to sleep.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned!