Chapter Text
September 2012
There's a small town on the west coast in Oregon, a real blink and you’ll miss it kind of place. You won’t find it on any maps and other than some tourist brochures there’s not many written records of the town. Thousands of people have driven past it's signs and continued onwards, but a few decide to stop. Decide to turn in for a day or two, an itch telling them to stay, an itch that mostly isn’t caused by the mosquitoes. Those who do find themselves different when they leave. Slightly changed, slightly weirder, hopefully happier. It's small, and secluded, but that’s just how the locals like it. Sheltered in a valley is Gravity Falls, and it’s just about as close as you can get to magic this side of the country.
It looks just like how you left it. Driving over the threshold into the town sends a shiver down your spine. It may look the same, but it feels so different. Like the whole town has a scab that’s just starting to heal, like they’ve just broken a fever. The woods welcome you home with a light breeze picking through your hair as you lean your head out the car window. The diner off the side of the road looked a little beaten up; but you’re sure that if you were to go to the second booth from the back- your name would still be sloppily carved into the table.
The town seems weary, happy but weary. As you wind through the town making your way to the edge of the woods, you catch the eyes of some townsfolk. Faces that you can faintly remember suddenly becoming clear as 26 years of aging catch up with the people from your childhood.
‘Jesus Christ is that boyish Dan?’ You think, looking at the shed of a man with a shock of red hair. He’s walking down the street with one kid in his arms and another holding his hand. Two more red headed teenagers follow behind him grumbling, but they still look pleased to be there.
More townsfolk litter the street, stopping to chat between their errands. All their conversations seeming purposely banal.
“The weather sure is nice today, ain’t it?” You recognise Susans voice instantly as she stands talking to Daryl Blubs who- ‘is he sheriff now?’ – seems to be aware of your presence.
“Sure is! Some nice NORMAL weather for a nice, completely NORMAL town.”
The side eye he gives you is quite something.
“Normal!!” A skinnier man, also in police uniform screeches next to him while he buzzes a taser above his head.
They look at your car chocked full of all your worldly belongings with jittery unease. You suppose the mattress tied to the roof with haphazard rope and cord does look a little odd, but how else were you supposed to move it?
eyes sliding to Tyler- who is apparently the mayor now? Go figure.
You let out a small sigh as he approaches your car, rolling down the beaten-up window to poke your head out. He’s wearing a blazer with a sash that has ‘Mayor’ written across it. A part of you smiles when you see the same hat and cowboy boots, he wore as a kid. Still being worn despite his newfound position. You can see him puff out his chest and scrunch up his nose in an attempt to look serious. You smile.
“Hello there stranger, may I ask what you’re doing round these parts? Are you lost?” The last question is phrased much more kindly, it’s clear he doesn’t remember you but then again it has been nearly three decades. So, you suppose you’ll let it slide.
“Hey Tyler- “You watch as he looks surprised before suspicion sets in. He crosses his arms and looks at you with a slight frown. He studies you for a moment before joy overtakes his face.
“Well, I’ll be damned. Marigold Spencer it’s been years.” He leans into your car and gives you a one-armed hug, the best he can manage while you have plant pots balanced on your lap and half a library behind your head. You pat him on the back as he moves backwards.
“What are you doing back in Gravity Falls, and- “His eyes tilt downwards as he fiddles with his hands.
“I’m so sorry about your grandmother, sh- she was a great woman.” You blink, surprised by his sincerity. Tears bite at your eyes but you swallow them down for the moment.
“Thanks Tyler, I- uh, I’m moving back actually. Gran- she left me the cabin and I just felt like I needed a fresh start. Well, an old start- well- You know what I mean.” You choke out a small laugh in spite of your jumbled words, and he chuckles along with you. He rests a hand on your shoulder, looking at you kindly. You can see now that he must be a great mayor, even as kids he was kind. Always checking up on you if you tripped in the woods or if you fell behind. You’re still surprised though; he really doesn’t seem like the politics type.
“That’s great news! It’ll be lovely to have you back around town- especially with Halloween coming up. Do you think you could help with the fireworks like you used too?”
Gods the Samhain fireworks. The whole town used to go bananas for your grans fire displays, as did you. How she made the lights dance across the sky like that still baffled townsfolk to this day, but you knew. You’re not quite sure what happened to this place over the summer, but based on the weariness in Tylers eyes you feel like you’re not going to find many answers asking around. You could sense that he was exhausted, if you focused you could tell they all were. You’ve seen what people look like when they’re trying to ignore something. They’re all desperately looking for something else to focus on, anything else to occupy their time. Tyler seems to have chosen to occupy his time by planning the Halloween festivities two months in advance, but who are you to deny a man his coping mechanisms.
Halloween couldn’t come fast enough it seemed, the further time marches away from this summer the better.
“Thanks, I’m happy to be back. Feels like the place has hardly changed! I’ll have to see about the fireworks, can I get back to you once I’m settled?” You could see his face fall slightly when you asked to get back to him, but he quickly got over it.
“Of course! I’ll let you get on- “He says taking a step back from your car, waving-
“It’s great having you back Marigold! Hope to see you ‘round!”
Waving as you drive off you deflate a little. You forgot just how social this town was. Normally you loved it, it got you out your shell and it meant that you didn’t have to overperform in social situations, but today you had driven for around 15 hours, and you were kaput. You wanted nothing more than to collapse on your mattress and sleep for the next four days.
Reaching the edge of the woods you stopped again, something telling you to wait for a moment before you drive on. You see two ancient looking trees, covered in moss and lichen. They stretch into the treeline, and you watch them for a moment. The great Oaks crack and bend under the pressure of movement as you see, what appears to be great knots in the wood are actually knees. As the trees (legs) turn and amble back, deeper into the forest you poke your head out and shout-
“Thanks Steve! Good to see you too buddy!”
A loud grunt is echoed in response, making the ground quake and birds fly off the trees. Time to venture onward, pushing the car further into the deep woods.
If you thought the town looked the same, it paled in comparison to the immovable nature of the forest. You felt like a little kid again as you saw the branches you used to swing off and stumps you used to jump on. The woods moved around you like it was welcoming you home. Encased within the trees you felt a sense of safety that has been gone from your life since you were 8. The light that broke through the leaves left the woods feeling golden and nostalgic. Dappled light bouncing off the last vestiges of summer flora telling you that ‘we haven’t changed, but you have’.
Eventually you found the clearing where your grandparents Cabin rested. Your car rolling off the dirt road and onto soft grass. Stepping out you watched the house, the dark walnut wood looked just the same. Two floors filled with memories of your grandparents. The front deck was littered with overgrown plants and dozens of windchimes rattled in the breeze as you stepped closer. The stained glass in the windows almost seemed to shine with glee as you took another step, the shutters on the windows shaking. The old brass doorknob on the front door turned and opened, it seems the house was already expecting you.
Running your hand up the wooden handrails of the porch the steps creaked as they took your weight. The wisteria you had planted so many years ago had crept over the sides of the house and purple flowers dangled down from the porch’s slanted roof.
The Iron horseshoe nailed over the door peered at you as if to say ‘Well? What are you waiting for?’ as you lingered before the threshold of the house. A wind catches you from behind, pushing you into the cabin further as you laugh. Small tears gathering in your eyes you brush them away as you step inside the door closing behind you.
“Hello, I’ve missed you too.”