Chapter Text
Steven Universe had spent the past four years taking his time while traveling across the United States. He spent lots of time at every national landmark, park, and attraction he could and had to make stops on occasion to get the Dondai fixed up. He was living off of the money his dad sent to him from being a millionaire, as well as any small odd job that he took on in his travels. Most of those jobs entailed helping with carrying things, moving things, fixing things, and other small miscellaneous things. He did find many places that he enjoyed and would like to go back to for a visit someday, but nothing really stuck for long. He did still have his loved ones though.
Every night, he and Connie would exchange texts, along with the occasional cat video. Connie sent pictures of Lion.
Every week he would call back home, talking to the Gems about the week he had, and other general catch ups.
Every two weeks, he’d have a video call with his therapist, and would meet up with Connie and Lion at either a nearby diner or would have a picnic. They would generally have a picnic, as most people weren’t too welcoming or receptive of Lion, for understandable reasons.
The time had been both flying by and stayed at a standstill while he was on this trip. He had moments where he felt very homesick, but the days seemed to fly by with every new experience he came across in his travels.
After finally making it to California; his first stop on the West Coast, he had spent some time there in Hollywood and some of the parks. The parks reminded him of FunLand but bigger. He found it fun and interesting, and like usual, he was having a great time. Things were going great again. He was generally doing much better.
But it had been a long past week for Steven Universe.
After finding an old Gem artifact on one of the theme park rides, the ensuing chaos had gotten him and many other people banned from the park for various reasons. Seems that the park didn’t appreciate anyone taking a ‘display item’ for the themed rides.
The struggle to find a nearby warp pad almost got him pulled over. Almost. He was able to find a warp pad with luck, and send the Gem, a Jade, back to Little Homeworld.
At a diner he stopped at, a dropped and shattered plate sent him into a subtle panic, that luckily no one caught. He had gotten better about it over the past couple years, but this was something to talk to his therapist about later.
He almost missed his meet up with Connie and Lion.
——
“Steven..?”
He had been zoning out during that meeting, and Connie had noticed; “Are you alright?”
“I guess so. It’s just been a long week. I never really caught a chance to catch my breath.”
“Well, maybe you should take a break? You have been on this trip for a long time…” Connie took a bit from her toast. “It might do you some good to truly relax in one place for a while again.”
Steven found himself conflicted rather fast- “But what about you?”
“Don’t worry about me. We can still do our visits! I do have Lion.”
Said lion was currently sunbathing a few yards away from their picnic.
“That’s true…” Steven seemed a bit worried still. Something was nagging at him. Something felt off.
“Don’t worry about me, Biscuit. I’ll always be here. You worry about yourself right now, okay?”
Connie gave him a gentle smile. After a moment, Steven returned that soft smile.
“Okay, Strawberry.”
——————
Dipper and Mabel had turned 18 last year.
Despite all of their asking for the past five summers, their parents wouldn’t let them go back without their Grunkle (Grunkles, little to their knowledge) in town, and even then it was thin ice, considering the mental state that the twins returned with after Weirdmageddon. Both were jumpy, and more anxious than they were, and their parents didn’t like that.
They still wanted to return to Gravity Falls.
Dipper had his letter from Gravity Falls still, and Mabel had her scrapbook. Both of them often kept their memories close, as they were missing their home away from home and their friends more and more as time went on. They managed to become penpals with the entirety of Gravity Falls, but it wasn’t the same as actually being there. They both knew that they wanted to move there once they could.
Waddles had grown. Not too much, but enough. Luckily, it turns out he is a KuneKune, the smallest breed of pig. Normally a useless fact, but it helped Mabel in keeping Waddles back in California. Just barely.
Dipper had the opportunity to go to a nice college elsewhere in the world. Mabel had her own opportunities with articles. Their parents wanted them to take those opportunities. However both of the Mystery Twins wanted the same thing. They wanted to move to Gravity Falls, perhaps start their blogs and do their own things. Soon enough they found their chance.
Dipper and Mabel had received letters from their Grunkles, stating that they were back from their trip on the seas on the Stan O’ War II. They were out much longer than expected, due to the various anomalies they had crossed out at sea. That, and a nearly crashed boat on an island that isn’t on a map and loaded full of treasure and mystery would keep anyone busy longer than usual.
Their Grunkles were back, their friends were still back in Gravity Falls for the most part, and they were 18. They were going to move to Gravity Falls.
They found themselves packing every and anything they would want and need to move to Gravity Falls. Their necessities. They were going to be jumping back into adventure in a place they truly missed. Now they just needed a ride, and fast. Their parents were going to stop them if they didn’t act quickly.
——————
Steven was worried. He had a feeling something big was going to happen, but nothing was happening. He brushed it off for the time being, he figured he could deal with it when he got to it if it turned out to be something bad.
After driving through back roads for an hour, he noticed something. More like two someones? But he noticed nonetheless. They had a good handful of bags with them, and a pig? That was interesting. They seemed nervous, and seemed like they were trying to get someone to stop and pick them up. The girl seemed super excited about this idea, while the boy seemed to think that this was a horrible idea.
Nonetheless, Steven stopped. They seemed like they needed some help, and maybe he could help? Perhaps they were going in the same direction? He had no idea that hitchhiking could be a red flag in any way. Unlike Dipper.
Dipper saw the Dondai that Mabel was trying to stop slow down, and he felt the panic starting to rise. He didn’t think anyone would actually stop.
“Mabel- I don’t think this is a good idea-”
“Oh don’t worry Dipper, if the driver seems untrustworthy and you really think so, we can find another way.”
Dipper seemed ok with that.
Steven would pull over slowly and carefully beside the twins, before rolling down his window. He smiled sheepishly.
“Uh- Hi! Do you need any help?”
“Yup! We need a ride! Where are you headed?” Mabel cut right to the point, gently leaning on one of her suitcases.
“I’m not headed anywhere in particular-”
“That’s not suspicious-”
“Dipper!”
“What?”
Steven seemed a bit confused at this exchange, before trying to elaborate. “I’m really not headed anywhere in particular? I’m on a road trip and I’m sort of going wherever I want. I am heading north though. Are you going that direction?”
Mabel would instantly jump on that answer before Dipper could interrupt. “Yep! We’re trying to get to Gravity Falls, Oregon!”
Steven looked a bit perplexed. He doesn’t remember any place like that on his map. However, Mabel’s enthusiasm made him curious. They were headed in the same direction anyways, and a place not on the map would likely be an interesting and fun next stop. “Gravity Falls?”
“Yup! It’s an awesome and fun place! We can give you directions there!”
Steven smiled, finding great curiosity in this new place. “Sure! Sounds like a lot of fun! I can take you there!”
Dipper himself was perplexed. Steven was nice. Too nice. He didn’t seem untrustworthy, but was definitely unusual. There was definitely something unusual about him.
Mabel had to stop herself from getting too hyped about their luck. “Oh! Would you be ok with us bringing my pig, Waddles?”
“Waddles?”
——————
They had been on the road for a few hours. Mabel, Dipper, and Waddles all sat in the back together, some of their bags in the trunk while the rest in the passenger seat. It had been an awkward drive at first after introductions, until Mabel decided to start playing car games between Dipper’s directions, and Steven playing music to help pass the time. It was more fun than Dipper expected, and the couple hour car ride flew by before any of them realized.
They had made it to Gravity Falls.
Steven thought it was a sweet and nice little town, and tried to suppress the feeling that something big was happening that only grew the moment he drove into the town. With some more directions, he managed to find the Mystery Shack. He was curious about this building, but it was late. He dropped the twins off and promised he’d stop by tomorrow, and they split up for the time being.
——————
Everyone in the Mystery Shack was surprised by the sudden arrival of Mabel and Dipper after so long, and even more surprised to hear that they were wanting to move in for real. Stan and Ford were back in the Shack as well, and had just moved back a few days prior. Mabel and Dipper were welcomed back with open arms, and given their room up in the attic. Dipper and Mabel felt refreshed. It felt great to be back.
Soos, the new Mr. Mystery, and Melody, who now works at the Shack with Soos, began to plan a surprise Welcome Home party for the duo of twins for the next day.
——————
Steven was driving down the road, the nearest motel was just outside of Gravity Falls. He had the address open on his GPS.
Just as he was about to cross the town border, he nearly crashed the Dondai thanks to some unknown force. He had to back up and park, before getting out and trying to find the source of that force. Within a minute of searching, his hands rested on an invisible wall, ripples coming from where he had his hands rested. He pushed. More ripples, but nothing happened.
He was trapped. After a few more minutes of trying, he returned to the Dondai and sat down, staring up at the starry sky.
Welcome to Gravity Falls.