Chapter Text
What happened in the six years since you got together?
Well, you graduated, you figured out long distance, you both ended up bridging the gap and moving to Gravity Falls to live in the mystery shack together while you did school, and other research or ghost hunting endeavours. Things were good.
Until about two weeks ago, on a random summer night, when Dipper got weird.
The first time it happened was in the woods after your tracked down a moth man type creature. After documenting it, on the walk back, Dipper looked at you, and then promptly went silent for most of the walk back, only speaking in one word answers. Why? You had no idea.
And it only got worse from there. You’d be on the couch watching a movie, and he’d clam up and leave the room, even if you were sitting on him and he had to throw your legs off to get there.
He’d get so nervous, and you knew all his tells, you could sense it even before he’d leave. One one occasion, you could see it in his eyes even before he seemed to notice. While you had a close look at his him when he pulled away from a kiss, you could see his pupils shifted smaller and the fear that crossed them before he left.
So that was pretty weird.
In truth, you were surprised when he suggested a date. It didn’t seem like he was… up for it.
All was normal on the way there. A meteor shower was set to pass overhead tonight, and you were headed to a clearing in the forest.
Dipper set down the blanket, and you happily sat down beside him, feeling the grass blades fold beneath you and the fabric. “Think there’s aliens on them?” You asked, laying your back on the ground. “Oooh, maybe one lands in Gravity falls, and it has some crazy face hugger like from Alien,” you said, kicking your feet in the air.
The sky was clear overhead, not a single cloud. And in the forest, no light pollution, meaning the stars and moon were bright enough to see by, and entirely visible. No shooting stars yet, though.
Dipper snickered. “You sound too excited, would that really be a good thing? Don’t they die in that movie?”
“Well, we’re built different from those guys,” you declared with a grin, “I’d fight it off.” For a dramatic flourish and punctuation to the promise, you kicked your feet wildly in the air, and pumped your first up at the moon.
You turned your head on its side to look at Dipper as he laughed. Meteor shower be damned, sometimes the sky was prettier in the reflection of his eyes.
He met your gaze, smiling slightly as a blush crept onto his cheeks. Oh no. The dreaded blush. His eyes flickered across your face, and he turned back away from you, pursing his lips as he looked up at the sky. Not again.
You waited for him to say something, react, continue the conversation. Just anything, please. But he didn’t, and your patience was finite. As you scanned his face, you could see the but of sweat starting on his forehead. Not this. Again.
You frowned, crossing your arms over your chest as you turned your head back up to look at the sky. The first of the meteor shower caught your eye, and for a moment you forgot you were upset. But the feeling was fleeting. He still hadn’t uttered a single word.
Why was he pulling away so much? The question echoed angrily in your mind. No words, no explanation, just this. The silence of him next to you looking vaguely uncomfortable.
With a sigh, you sat up, and looked down at him. The fear was palpable on his face. You jaw tightened as you spoke, “okay, what’s up with you?” You asked firmly, the annoyance and bit of worry built up over weeks bubbling up. “Spit it out.”
Dipper blinked a few times. “What?” He asked, voice cracking. His hands moved to his pockets as he sat up with you, to see eye to eye.
Meteors passed overhead, but you were having this conversation. “What is this?” you asked, gesturing vaguely at his whole self, trying not to sound mad. “For like, weeks, you’ve been…” you looked at the ground.
Distant. That was the word you were thinking, but didn’t want to say. He’d been distant. Anytime he was close, he’d pull back. Do this. Go quiet. You weren’t sure you wanted the answer, but the weight of the question was sinking a pit into your stomach. You had to ask it.
Your fingers curls hard around the blanket, enough that you could feel the dirt and grass roots tear underneath. The stars above were far too pretty for the ugly conversation you were prepared to have. Deep breath. “I just- what has been going on with you?” You asked, setting all bits of pride aside.
Dippers eyes widened as he stuttered a moment, before clearing his throat as he scrambled to come up with an answer. As usual, he was sweaty, and your heart fell at the look of distress over his face.
A sigh escaped your lips. Figures. Your jaw clenched shut as he managed meaningless half sentences. Fragments of denials and apologies crept out as you saw the panic spread across his face.
Oh god. Was he actually going to break up with you?
“I’m sorry,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair and carelessly knocking his hat off behind him.
Holy shit he was for real? Instantly, you leaned back, and recoiled away. “Sorry?” You managed, wide eyes curling into a glare, more out of bafflement than anything. Before two weeks ago, you were fine. Was… was he actually for real? You blinked a few times to avoid tears, and scowled to repress them back.
Dippers arm raised to follow you back, but they froze and fell as he got close. Oh god, he was for real, he didn’t even want to touch you. His brow raised with the pitch of his voice. “Y-yeah?” He sputtered. “What- what’s going on, here?”
You shook your head, sadness for the moment ceased and replaced with annoyed confusion. Your jaw hung open, “Fucking what do you mean what’s going on here? I don’t fucking know,” you were getting animated with your hands now as you stared him down. “Are you breaking up with me or not, spit it out,” you said, his waffling helping you stay annoyed rather then sorrowful.
“What?!” He shouted, recoiling back the same as you, and nearly falling over, barely catching himself to lean on his arms. “No! No I’m not, what?”
“What?” You shouted back. “What the fuck else is this the set up for!?”
He flushed red, and his hands flew to cover his face. Without them to lean on, he fell on his back with a groan. “I’m sorry, I’m an idiot,” he said, muffled.
What? The fuck else? You stared at him skeptical and slack jawed for a few moments as he laid there in lament. What was he on?
With a sigh, he sat up, his face still completely painted red. He looked at you, grimacing. “Okay, firstly, I’m sorry for making you worry,” he said, putting his hands together and pointing at you.
This man was going to be the god damned death of you.
“Secondly,” he sucked a breath in through his teeth, and paused. His face fell back into his hands and he groaned again. Great. More of this. You stayed silent, waiting for some justification for all this. And by god, if it wasn’t good, you might get more annoyed at him for the last two weeks. “Secondly-“ he started again.
Shooting stats passed you both by behind him, but you couldn’t take your eyes away.
It took another pause and another groan for him to try a different approach. “It’s… this is so hard to say, you don’t even know,” he managed, raising his head from his palms to look at you.
Your brow was raised in your skepticism, but you were going to hear him out even if his intent was to waffle for the entire night. “I can tell by looking,” you said, shaking your head.
“No, dude, you don’t know the half of it,” he complained, tapping his fingers against the ground. His hand found his discarded hat behind him, and started to fidget with its rim as he spoke. “I’ve been trying to say this for like, weeks, but I just haven’t been able to.”
“Yeah I can tell that, too.”
He heaved a sigh, and took a stance. He crossed his legs, fully facing you as he steadied himself on his arms and dug his palms into the blanket.
“Okay, so…” he took a breath, and didn’t break eye contact. Or… more or less eye contact. His gaze wasn’t fixed on your eyes, but seemed to be jumping between and scanning your features. For what, you couldn’t be sure. “I’ve been waiting for the right moment, but like-“ he suppressed a smile as he shook his head. “-most moments feel like the right one, and so I panic and yeah… I guess I have been avoiding you,” he admitted.
Oh god. Where was he going with this. Your heart was pounding in your chest, and you head was complete empty.
“Because it’s just… I don’t know, it’s scary,” he laughed dryly. “It still is. But, uh- I’ve been meaning to ask-“ he sighed, chewing the inside of his lip as he stalled. He pursed his lips, seemingly going through every emotion under the sun.
After one more sigh, he reached a hand into his sweater pocket. Oh god. “I’m sorry I had you so worried, Y/n,” he said, pulling something out. “It’s the opposite, I’ve been meaning to ask..”
He opened his hand, and inside was a box. Your breath stilled. He opened the box, and inside was a ring. Your heart stilled.
“If you’d marry me.”
Your jaw fell stupidly open, probably making you look like a moron. You weren’t entirely sure you heart was beating, but you were alive, so that was a pretty good indication. Unless you were dead, and this was an oxygen starved brains fever dream. But considering you didn’t recall getting into any life threatening accidents on the way here, you’d have to move forward with the assumption that you were alive and this was happening. For real.
You blinked a few times. With that context, the last two weeks made more sense. You glanced at Dipper, then at the ring, then at Dipper. The ring was pretty. A smile crept onto your lips, and you watched distress slowly melt from his face. “You’re a huge idiot moron,” you grinned, starting to feel your heartbeat creep back into your chest.
“Huh?”
You saw the fear start to creek back into him, but you squashed it like a bug as you tackled him in a hug. His back his the blanket, and your face landed square in his chest, where for a moment you could hear the hummingbird pace of his heart. “Dipper,” you grinned, feeling him hesitantly wrap him arms around you. “In what universe would I ever say no?”
“Does that mean you’re saying yes?” He asked hopefully, and you could feel his breath hitch.
“Yes,” you laughed, eyes pressed shut to stop the tears you definitely felt coming. This moron.
“Oh my god, really?” He asked, genuine surprise lacing his tone.
You laughed again, sitting up to wipe your eyes and look down at him still laying there, your legs sweeping to his side. “Fucking yes, Dipper!”
He looked up at you with a shocked expression, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open. “Woah, thanks,” he said stupidly.
This man was going to be the god damned death of you. You grinned, wiping your eyes as your vision blurred and cleared to keep seeing his surprised face beneath you. “Of course I wanna marry you, Dipshit, I’ve been in love with you since we were fourteen,” you laughed, half a choke.
He started to smile, laughing with you as he covered his eyes with the heels of his palm. “I thought you’d say we were too young, or that you just didn’t want to, or that you didn’t… I don’t know, want to commit, or something.”
“We’ve been together for like six years, none of that makes any sense,” you laughed, tears beginning to stream down your face.
“Well I’m realizing that now,” he laughed.
“Oh, you are the dumbest smart guy I know,” you sniffled.
Dipper paused, pulling his hands from his eyes as he sat up, his face a foot from yours. “Oh, you’re crying,” he said gently, his own eyes glistening.
“Yeah, my boyfriend just proposed to me, I don’t know if you heard,” you managed, wiping your eyes on your palm.
Dipper laughed, his own tears staining his cheeks. “I did hear, actually.”
Wow, you were actually going to marry this dweeb. This big idiot moron. You grinned, shaking your head, hesitant still to believe this was real, even if you were alive. Would you want his last name? Probably, even if you ended up hyphenating it. Being a Pines sounded… you giggled at the thought. “I’m gonna be like, married to you, I’ll be a Pines for real.”
He smiled softly, “You’ve always been an honorary Pines.”
You grinned, pulling him closer by the nape and leaning in. Your forehead rested on his, and you could feel the heat radiating off his face. Even with eyes softly shut you could tell he was blushing. “I cannot believe you, man,” you said, practically grinning against his lips. “And you had me worried you were dumping me.”
He laughed, shaking his head gently. “And you say I’m the idiot,” he teased. “Because in what universe would I do that?”
”Dude, you were acting crazy,” you managed, tucking your fingers under his shirt by his neck to keep them warmer in the night air.
“Still, though,” he laughed, finally closing the smallest gap between you and kissing you. You could taste the salt from the tears on the bridge of his lip, and could guess he noticed the same on you. “I think that you’re the idiot here, not me,” he laughed when he pulled just slightly back.
You sighed as you pulled away too and got a better look at him. He was backlit by the moon, and a whole mess. You probably were too, the worry and joy overwhelming entirely. You took a breath, and wiped your face again.
Yeah, you were alive. You could feel your heart again, and the blanket beneath you and the texture of the grass beneath that. Your body was warm, blood flowing, lungs breathing.
Dippers eyes widened. He whipped his head around, scanning the blanket and the grass around it. “Oh god, where’d the ring go?” He asked, starting to stand up to check underneath him.
You giggled, “Oh, you dropped it when I knocked you down,” you said, scanning the ground with him. You lifted your knees to look underneath. The light of the stars and meteors and moon wasn’t amazing for finding a small black box.
Your eyes landed on a black blob in the darkness at the corner of the blanket. While Dipper looked around, you grabbed it silently, fingers curling around it. The box with the ring. You could only imagine how heavy it was in his pocket this whole time, however light it may seem.
His back was turned as he searched somewhat frantically. Grinning, you opened the box at him. “Will you marry me?” You asked cheekily, watching the way he relaxed when he saw it in your hands.
“Of course,” he sighed, sitting back down across from you.
Your heart flickered as he gently took the ring from you, and his hand softly brushed up against yours. His eyes briefly fluttered to yours before he smiled, and looked back down.
He took your hand in his. Oh wow, it’s happening. His slightly calloused fingers against yours may as well have been a defibrillator the way each touch sent a small shock to your system. His hands were warm, a stark contrast to the cold of the metal he slipped onto your ring finger. Hey, that’s what the fingers for, it’s in the name.
You grinned stupidly at him as he finished, eyes lifting from your engaged hand to your engaged eyes.
”There, now it’s official,” he smiled.
“Official,” you echoed, scooting closer to him.
“Mabel’s been calling me a pussy for weeks.”
”You are one,” you grinned, gently cupping his cheek and closing the gap to kiss him again. In a second one of his hands was around your waist, and one at your nape.
And when he pulled back he pressed his lips gently to your forehead where a faint scar still stuck around from that time you almost died.
Dipper smiled. “Pretty good proposal, though, right? There’s like, a meteor shower.”
You shook your head, laughing, “It’s been hard to focus on that.”
He chuckled softly. “Yeah,” he said, his hands still holding you well. He thumbed gently over the spot where your hair begins on the back of your neck. Grinning, he wrapped you in a hug and laid back on the ground.
You fell back against the blanket, and curled into his side, looking up at the sky, and the streaks of white light scaling across it. His arm tightened around you, being enough of a pillow, and a soft one at that with his sweater around it.
And that’s where you’d stay. Your dumbass boyfriend was going to be your dumbass husband. Mabel would be your sister in law. Weird.
And you thought he was going to breakup with you. Maybe you were the dumbass, even if you’d never admit it. It really could be either of you. The ring on your finger banished any thought of either of you ever wanting to be anywhere else.
You could almost laugh at the question. Of course you’re getting married, and of course this is how it went. It was baked into the skeleton and foundation of your relationship. You never, never, could escape the bittersweet.