Archive of Our Own

“I just wished summer had last forever.”

“But it can’t Mabel. Look things aren’t gonna stay frozen this way…it’s part of growing up—things change, summer ends.”

Sniffling and wiping away the uncontrollable tears that escaped from her eyes, Mabel sighed. Out of anyone, why couldn’t Dipper understand how she was feeling? He was her twin unidentical brother for crying out loud!

So much for twin telekinesis…or was it twin telepathy? Whatever. What’s the point of being twins if they couldn’t understand each other?!

Maybe this is how Grunkle Stan felt with his own twin brother…

Mabel suddenly gasped as the horrible memory came to her, the one when one night she asked Dipper after learning about their great uncle Ford and how a fight between him and his twin brother lead to his imprisonment in the portal for 30 long years…the lingering fear that made Mabel lie awake thinking, would she and Dipper ever end up like their great uncles?

“Don’t be silly! We never let anything get between us.”

She could still hear Dipper’s voice ring out in the darkness of their small, misfit room that Stan built into a room for them. Since then, she tried so hard but the little voice in the back of her mind would slowly eat away at her conscious until it would explode and overflow right at this moment.

Dipper was staying here in Gravity Falls with their great uncle Ford, while she had to return to California and be all alone. No one—no Waddles, Stan, Grenda, Candy, Wendy, or Soos would be there with her as she navigated through the horrors of middle then high school. The nightmare she witnessed at Wendy’s school completely stabbed a knife right through her delusions of a magical school experience…one she had hope to share with Dipper.

But Dipper had other plans and none of them included her in them. Dipper wasn’t like her; he had a purpose here in Gravity Falls. And as much as she tried to hide it, he had a connection to Ford that she just didn’t have. They were both super smart, adventurous, and their love for the supernatural just wasn’t something Mabel possessed, which was probably why Ford didn’t seem to care for her as much as he did Dipper.

He would be so much happier here, Mabel thought miserably.

“Ooh party chocolate,” She grabbed her backpack that she grabbed as she ran out the Mystery Shack earlier and took out the bar of delicious chocolate. “You have never steered me wrong before…you’ll make me feel better.” She quickly ripped off the wrapper and tossed the big piece into her mouth, when tears suddenly weld up her eyes again and fell down her puffy cheeks. “N-nope…sniff…looks like party chocolate has failed me too.”

The brunette continued to cry silently trying to get chew through the chocolate, with tears and snot running down her face but no longer caring. She wrapped her arms around her knees and rested her head on them, trying to catch her breathe.

Guess Dipper was wrong after all…they became exactly like Stan and Ford.

Hours later, when the sun had long since set did Mabel returned to the Shack.

Not feeling any better but having no other choice, the girl didn’t bother wiping her tears or the remains of chocolate on her lips as she made her way to her room. She walked passed the living room, where Stan was propped up on his recliner fast asleep, snoring loudly as a random show blared from their old television and Waddles sleeping by his feet. With no other noise in the house, Mabel figured Ford and Dipper had disappeared for another one of their nerdy adventures or hid away behind the vending machine again.

Her suspicions were proven correct when she walked into her empty room, dark and empty. She noticed Dipper’s backpack was missing and his walkie talkie laid on his bed.

She didn’t bother turning off the lights as she crawled into bed and under her comforter, suddenly feeling exhausted. She was glad Dipper wasn’t here to see her like this, and now she had a few hours to herself to really get herself together with what she had to do next. She hoped she wouldn’t regret this, but deep, deep, way deep down she knew it was the correct thing to do.

The next day, Mabel was forced out of her dreamless slumber by a loud bang of their wooden door hitting the wall, following an excited scream of her name.
“Mabel!”

“Wah!” Mabel shrieked as she jumped up from her bed. If it wasn’t for Waddles who must’ve sneaked into their room as she slept and cozied up on her lower body, she would’ve for sure leaped out of bed and onto the floor. “Wha-? D-dipper?” She looked around their room, the sleepiness still in her eyes. “What time is it?”

Dipper in all his excitement, did not wait for a response and instead grabbed his sister’s arm and yanked her out of bed. “It’s over! We-we did it!”

“H-huh?”

“Bill!” He exclaimed, a huge grin across his face. “We never have to worry about Bill Cipher ever again. Grunkle Ford was able to use some alien super glue we found….it can never be opened by any kind of human interference…saved the universe!…machine almost killed us…”

His voice trailed off in her head as Mabel drifted in and out of the conversation, still feeling drained from the night before. “Y-yeah, sounds great Dipper…” She mumbled, her eyes going back to her bed, not feeling the exact excitement as Dipper was at the moment. “I’m going back to bed.”

Dipper’s eyes widen, surprised by Mabel’s total disinterest. Was she still upset about the night before? ‘No, she couldn’t be…? …Could she?’ He knew his sister, and she would never hold a grudge against him forever; a good night’s sleep was all she needed to go back to their usual selves.

He watched her go back under the covers, feeling a sharp sting as she turns her back to him. “Look, Mabel…” He started, braving sitting on her bed close to her. “The whole thing about staying here with Ford, I still haven’t decided what I want to do.”

“Mm-hmm,” Was the only response Mabel gave.

“I mean it’s an amazing opportunity that I might never get to have again, since ya’ know—Ford isn’t exactly in his prime anymore and-and…um,” He scratched the back of his head, baffled by Mabel’s lack of response. “Mabel? Please…” He pleaded, his voice becoming a sad whisper. “I can’t do this knowing you’ll be upset.”

Mabel glared at the wall feeling irritated. Of course she was still upset! She was being left behind by your closest friend and twin sibling for crying out loud! She thought she had valid reasonings for being upset. Never ever had she and Dipper been separated for longer than a day or two before, so how can he expect her to be ok?

‘How can he be so ready to be without me so easily?’ She thought sadly.

The girl let out a sigh, repressing her emotions and putting up a fake smile. Just because she wasn’t ready to grow up without Dipper, it didn’t give her the right to shatter his dreams like hers has been.

“I’m sorry, Dipper.”

The boy looked crestfallen for a moment, the deep feeling of disappointment settling in before Mabel next sentence caused him to pause in surprise.

“I shouldn’t have said what I did. If you want to stay here with Ford…I won’t stand in your way.”

Dipper blinked with a black expression as he processed his sister words. “Wait…wha—R-really?!” He still didn’t believe it; it was too good to be true when Mabel smiled at him with a nod. He was too caught up in his own excitement that he didn’t notice the dullness in Mabel’s eyes and her smile didn’t reach her eyes like it normally does.

“And you’re absolutely sure?” Dipper had to confirm, grabbing his sister’s hands.

“Omg, Dipper, yes!” Mabel rolled her eyes with the same grin plastered on her face. “Just promise me you’ll call once in a while.”

“I promise! Every day, every night! I-I’ll email, message you during school, and we’ll facetime every night!” Dipper continued to ramble as he gripped his pine cap in disbelief as he walked back and forth across their room as ideas raced in his mind. “Oh! Maybe we can ask Grunkle Ford to make a teleportation machine so I can visit every weekend!”

At Mabel’s doubtful look Dipper let out an awkward chuckle, “Hey, it could happen.”

“No, yeah…totally. Ford can do anything, I guess.”

“Exactly!” Still oblivious to his sister’s slight sarcasm, Dipper turned to Mabel, a grateful smile tugging his lips as he stretched his arms towards her. “Thank you, sis, really. Awkward sibling hug?”

“Oh…um,” Mabel was sad that for once, she really didn’t want to. Pushing her feelings aside she slowly got out of bed and weakly returned the hug. “Awkward sibling hug.” She felt even guiltier as she felt him fondly squeeze and patted her back, feeling the happiness radiate from her brother. She could only look down at the floor waiting for Dipper to release their one-sided hug before giving that forced smile when he pulled away.

“I can’t wait to tell Grunkle Ford! He’ll be so excited too.” He blinked when he suddenly noticed something on the floor. He picked up the colorful flyer with a hand drawn caricature of the both of them—their 13th birthday invitation.

That’s it! Dipper grinned as an idea popped into his mind. “Mabel, the party!”

“Oh, right about that…” Mabel started slowly, remembering the disaster of a party planning she attempted yesterday. “I don’t think-!”

“We’ll have the greatest birthday party ever!” Dipper waved the flyer in his hand. “Now that Bill has no chance of taking over our world, I can help with the party planning—we can anything you want!”

“Dipper…” Mabel tried stopping the boy who seemed to be hyperactive by the lack of sleep seeing as though he stayed up all night with Ford most likely.

“-Oh! Better yet, why don’t you let me plan this party?”

That surprised Mabel, knowing Dipper wasn’t a huge fan of parties. “What? You plan it? You actually want to plan a party?”

He nodded. “Yea! Let me do this as a surprise for you.” Let me plan this going away party to lessen the guilt he felt for deciding to stay in Gravity Falls. “It’s the least I can do after…ya’know, everything you’ve done for me.”

“You don’t have to Dipper; I’m actually not looking forward to turning 13 not much anymore.” Mabel confessed, tugging the end of her sweater. She immediately felt guilty when Dipper frowned, his eyebrows curved in concern she quickly backtracked. “I-I mean--! It’s just all so kinda lame, you know. I read on Tween to be Seen magazine that 13 is so overrated; it’s all about the sweet 16 birthday!” She tried sounding aloof, which Dipper apparently bought.

“Umm…well if you say so. But then please, for my peace of mind, let me do this for you—for us!”

Mabel blinked. “For us?”

Dipper nodded grasping the flyer in his hand tightly. “Yea! I’ll throw us the best birthday party ever, so you’ll have a great memory…before you have to leave.” He finished off slowly, afraid his words would trigger Mabel again.

Mabel noticed his hesitation and quickly comforted him. “Y-yeah, okay! That’ll give me plenty of time to hang out with Grenda and Candy before they leave and pack up all my stuff.” She gave him a pointed look. “But I better be blown away, mister! I hear the birthday girl throws the greatest, most amazing-est, spectacular-est parties in all the world.”

Dipper couldn’t contain the relief laugh that escaped him. The crushing guilt he felt the whole night at hurting Marbel’s feelings and his desire to not returning with her back to California, was lifted off him. But this birthday party/ going away party was the perfect opportunity to make it up to her!

And he would make nothing, absolutely nothing will stop him from giving Mabel the amazing birthday party and the best day ever!

August 31st.

“This is the worst day ever.” Mabel mumbled, sniffling against her arms trying to contain her tears.

Since the morning after making up with Dipper, the days leading to Mabel’s final day at Gravity Falls and hers and Dipper’s birthday party—went by terribly fast for the girl. Since Dipper refused to let her help with the planning of the party at all.

“It’s a surprise, Mabel!” or “Nope! No peeking: it’ll ruin the surprise.”

After a day or two, Mabel gave up trying to help and instead focused her attention on spending time with Grenda and Candy before they left Gravity Falls themselves. Their final goodbyes a few days ago still made her tear up; she would often look at the amazing scrapbook they both pitched in to gift her for her birthday before they left. On the first page of her scrapbook was a photo of the three of them together this summer.

She tried spending time with Dipper after her friends left town, but he was always rushing out the door as soon as the sunsets and often come back to the Shack after she had gone to sleep. She figured he was busy planning the party. Never had her brother spend so much time and energy for any kind of party before. So, was it wrong for her to raise her hopes that this might actually be an amazing birthday party beyond her wildest dreams?!

Maybe Mabel’s last day in Gravity Falls wouldn’t be so bad…and maybe being on her without Dipper back home wouldn’t go so terribly wrong.

Oh, how wrong she was.

The moment she awoke on the morning of her birthday, silence welcomed her in the cold and empty Shack. She called his name, hoping he just woke up earlier than her like usual and was waiting for her downstairs. After getting ready with a meticulously planned birthday outfit, she made her way down to the kitchen with Waddles following suit, she was welcomed with a wonderful sight of a table covered with breakfast items that could feed all of Gravity Falls!

“Eeeee!” Mabel squealed as she jumped up and down in excitement. The table has multiple plates of pastries such as waffles, pancakes, muffins, croissants, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, harsh brown, cereals, milk and orange juices. Everything was drowned in bright pink and purple edible glitter with little birthday hats on toothpicks on them. “Aww, Dipp-!”

“Whoa-! Hey, good morning birthday, girl!” Stan walked in from behind her, carrying a large rolled up tarp. “You got up earlier than expected; I haven’t even finished setting up yet.”

“Setting up?” Mabel repeated confused.

Without another word, Stan walked over behind the dining table where the birthday breakfast bash was and unrolled the tarp and hanged it to the ceiling, revealing a banner that had the words “Double Congratulations, on the birth of TWINS” with a drawing of a baby girl and boy on either side.

“I’m pretty sure that’s for baby showers.” Mabel giggled pointing at the banner.

Stan grinned pulling out a black marker, “Nah, you’re just not seeing the vision. Look’it here.” He crossed out “On the birth” and wrote “Happy Birthday” and wrote Mabel’s name under the pink baby and Dipper’s under the blue baby. “Aaand voilà! Birthday banner complete.”

“Aw, I love it…thank you, Grunkle Stan.” Mabel smiled gratefully. “So, wait, did you do all this?” She motioned towards the amazing breakfast on the table.

Stan walked over to the girl and affectionally mushed her hair before putting on a birthday cone on her head. “Sure did, sweetie. Now c’mon, let’s get our grub on before it goes cold.”

Mabel frowned before noticing something missing. “W-wait, where’s Dipper? Shouldn’t we wait for him?”

Stan shrugged a shoulder and grunted. “He went with my brother last night in a hurry. No idea where they were headed, but Dipper shouted something about returning later in time for some surprise or something…?”

Mabel gasped in delight, no longer feeling the initial disappointment of Dipper not planning the breakfast knowing a bigger surprise was waiting for her later. “Our super-secret, surprise birthday party!”

“Oh yeah, I think I remember him rambling something about that all week.” He passed a paper plate to his niece and began filling their plates with food. “You sure you wanted him to plan your guys’ birthday party? You know he kinda can be a party pooper when he wants to be.”

“Hehe yeah,” Mabel grabbed the bottle of syrup that was had tiny dinosaur toys inside, making it look like they were trapped in the tar pit. “But he promised to do this for us, and I trust him to know how important this is to me.”

“Hmm,” Stan scratched his stubbled chin. “You two remind me of Ford and me…well, back in the day when we were close. Do me a favor and be sure to cherish that, okay, kid? You don’t wanna end up like your uncles.”

Mabel knew what he meant. “Oh, yeah, pssh! Dipper and I are the two amigos! The mysterious Pines! We’ll have each other’s backs no matter what.” She said, hoping to feign confidence.

Everything will turn out okay…Dipper promised her, and he has never broken a promise to her before.

Stan noticed the slight change in Mabel’s usual demeaner and the furrowed eyebrow that obviously showed her concern gave it away, but he didn’t mention it. “Yeah, you’re absolutely right, sweetpea.”

Mabel went back to her food, taking a bite (of mostly glitter) of her pancakes, blinking at the taste. “These are great!” She suspiciously side-eyed her uncle. “There’s no way you cooked this; where did you get it?”

Stan gasped, appalled by the accusation, “Hey I can cook!” At the Mabel’s doubtful look, he grumbled. “Fine, fine. Greasy’s was booked by the retirement home for a breakfast palooza for their residents, so I thought I could buy some homecooked food for your birthday.” Mabel still didn’t look convinced. “Okay, fine. I may have borrowed it, not that those old folk will notice it missing.”

At that exact moment, a diner filled with senior citizens were complaining at the empty plates and cups at their tables as Lazy Susan looked around confused.

Stan and Mabel shared a laugh as they enjoyed their breakfast together. Mabel getting a good laugh when Stan choke on a mouth full of the edible glitter clogged his airway.

“Did Dipper say when he’ll be back?” Mabel asked as she and Stan cleaned up the kitchen, making sure to save the leftover food for their brothers for later.

“Nope, he and point dexter rushed out last night talking in their nerdy language. Couldn’t understand a word they said.”

“Oh,” Mabel looked down, fidgeting with her sweater.

Stan noticed her worry and quickly tried to comfort her. “Don’t worry about it, it’s Dipper we’re talking about. He won’t disappoint ya’.” Mabel gave him a smile with a small nod. “Good, now why don’t you get your stuff packed so you don’t have to worry about it after the party?”

“Okay! C’mon Waddles.” Mabel grabbed the chunky pig who gave a happy squeal as she made her way upstairs. Before she made it out the kitchen door, she paused for a moment making Stan tilt his head. She quickly turned around and flashed him a smile. “Thank you for the best birthday breakfast, love you Grunkle Stan!”

She quickly hurried to her room before she could see the older man tear up slightly, grasping his shirt over his heart feeling the unfamiliar warmth growing there.

After packing her suitcase with her clothes and all her belongings she accumulated during her stay here in Gravity Falls. She avoiding looking over Dipper’s side not wanting the reminder of their upcoming separation soon…

“Nope!” She shook her head, shaking all negative thoughts and feelings especially on this special day. “None of that, right Waddles?” She laughed uncomfortably when her friendly companion stared at her wide eyed from her now bare bed. She blinked as she noticed a piece of paper next to her pet pig. “Oh, that reminds me.” She grabbed the envelope and a reasonably large box and placed it over Dipper’s misshaped bed, hopefully her brother would be able to see it through all the clothes and supplies scattered around.

“There! Now everything I have to do before I go…is done.” Mabel trailed off sadly before forcing herself to perk up. “Now we wait!” She jumped up on her bed and wrapped her arms around Waddles deciding to wait there for Dipper. “I can’t wait for our party; it’s going to be so much fun!”

Minutes turned into hours and before she could realize it, it was almost time for her bus to Piedmont was due to arrive.

She could hear Stan’s voice booming from downstairs frustrated when he tried calling every single person they knew from town asking if they’ve seen Dipper anywhere—which unfortunately, came up negative. He would occasionally check up on her who was sitting on the bed, with her head between her knees, not answering when Stan would ask her anything. It only fueled his anger further when he realized that Ford was most likely responsible for keeping Dipper away with his stupid adventures again. He wanted to go out and search for his idiot brother and nephew in person, but he refused to leave Mabel on her own like this.

“When I get my hands on that idiot I swear I’m gonna strangle--!” Stan paused as he realized his language wouldn’t be appropriate for a kid as he made his way back into the room with Mabel. “What I mean is, uh…nevermind all that.” He awkwardly took a sit next to his niece, feeling horrible to see her shoulders shake as she tried containing her cry but didn’t know what to say or do to makes things right.

“You can blame Ford if you want.” He said, patting Mabel on the back in what he hoped was comforting. “I knew he’d be a terrible influence on you guys.” He then noticed Dipper’s side of the room, a complete mess but laid out and nothing packed. “Wait, why is Dipper’s stuff still here?”

Mabel sniffed into her sweater’s sleeve but didn’t look up at Stan. “Dipper’s staying in Gravity Falls with Ford…permanently.”

“…What?” Stan eyes narrowed at her words.

“Didn’t he tell you? Ford offered to be his teacher or something here and Dipper will be his apprentice or whatever…” Mabel jumped and looked up as Stan abruptly stood from the bed.

“That son of a bit-!”

RINNNNG-!

Both Mabel and Stan froze as the old grandfather wall clock downstairs set off a loud alarm. Stan winced knowing it was the alarm he set to remind them—it’s the kids’ time bus to arrive to take them back to California.

Dammit! He was so consumed with finding his brother and Dipper he didn’t realize how fast the time went by.

Before he could say anything else, Mabel wordlessly jumped off the bed and grabbed her suitcase and headed out the door, Waddles following closely behind.

“N-no wait, hold on-!” Stan chased after his niece, unsure what to do. Frantically, he looked around hoping and praying Dipper would pop up in some nerdy fashion and fix all this! He panicked as he stayed one stepped behind the girl as she made her way out of the Mystery Shack and out towards the bus stop near the road.

Stan felt his stomach drop as the feeling of that familiar feeling of defeat overcome him as the grey bus arrived and stopped in front of them. The automatic doors opened with a loud hush and revealed an annoyed bus driver and no passages in the colorless automobile.

“Now you wait a one second!” Stan tried one more time to desperately search for his other family members. “J-just give us a few more-!”

“Grunkle Stan?”

Stan’s heart dropped at the broken girl in front of him, not the usual bubbly and full of life niece he knew. With eyes red, brimming with tears she looked so small in her large sweatshirt and messy hair.

Mabel reached up and removed the birthday hat Stan had placed there earlier and looked at it sadly before giving it back to him. “It’s time for me to go.”

“No, w-wait, kid—”

Waddles tried pulling Mabel back and away from the bus, as though he sensed Mabel’s upcoming departure. Mabel affectionally hugged the pig for the last time before handing him over to her surprised uncle. “Look out for him for me, please?”

Stan looked desperately between Waddles than back at Mabel, before he could say anything he felt little arms wrapped around his neck.

“Thank you.” Mabel mumbled against his shoulder. “I love you so much, Grunkle Stan.”

Stan teared up as he slumped, knowing there was nothing else he could do. There was nothing else he would do but be there for Mabel…like he wished someone could be there for him all those years ago.

He tightly hugged her back. “Love ya’ too, kid.”

Stan stared over the horizon of the road where the bus long since departed.

He, and even Waddles couldn’t seem to leave the same spot where they and Mabel said their goodbyes, taking a seat on the cold ground. Waddles seemed to sense the despair coming off the older man and flopped onto his lap for comfort.

Stan rubbed his redden eyes as he placed back his spectacles, looking over the sadden pig and gave it a pat on his head. “That’ll do pig…that’ll do.” Just as he was prepared to stand and head back to the Shack, a sudden blast caused him to lose his footing and tumbled back towards the ground.

“Ouch! What the-!” Stan cursed the supernatural haunting these town as he rubbed his head where he felt a lump already forming. “What’s the big idea?!” He turned around ready to fight the newest abnormal threat.

But instead of some abnormal creature facing Stan, there was his brother alongside his nephew coming out of some sort of interdimensional portal, with bright blue and white lights surrounding their figures. Their combine laughter as the portal diminished behind them only pissed off Stan further. How dare they have the times of their lives as Mabel suffered the worse of hers?!

“That was amazing, Uncle Ford!” Dipper cried, unaware of the angered older man stomping towards them. “Using a time wish to seal and banish the interdimensional rift was genius.”

“Yes,” Ford grinned proudly, almost forgetting how much enjoyed getting praised on his intellect. “Time baby is probably the one in our universe that can hide the rift in a place that even Bill wouldn’t be able to reach.”

“Instigating a fight with one of those time cops was--!” Before Dipper would continue, Stan managed to push him out of the way and land a pretty hard blow to Ford’s surprised face. “Uncle Ford!”

Not expecting a fight from his brother this time, Ford fell hard against his back. Grunting, he pressed a hand against his throbbing cheek then looked at Stan with bewilderment. “What was that for?!”

“That’s for being the dumbest geek that’s ever lived!” Stan readied another punch. “And this-- this is for Mabel!”

“What on earth are you rambling on about?” Ford stressed, just barely avoiding another swing from Stan.

Instead of giving the baffled scientist an answer, Stan continued his assault. Unfortunately, due to fighting for his life every second in the thirty years he spent in the portal, Ford was a lot more agile and was able to avoid Stan’s punches.

It was only when Dipper stood between Ford and him that Stan finally stop. “Uncle Stan, stop!”

“And you!” Stan turned his glare towards his nephew. “How can you do that? To your own sister no less!”

Dipper raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Huh? W-what are you talking about?”

Stan didn’t bother giving him a response and continued. “I expected it from him!” He pointed at his brother who frowned in annoyance. “But to break a promise to your own twin sister? That’s something I never would have pegged you for.” At Dipper’s concerned but still confused face, Stan clarified. “It your birthday today, kid! The party?? Or don’t you remember you promised to throw one for you and your sister?”

“Wait—What?!” Dipper turned to look at Ford. “I thought you said we had plenty of time! T-that we would travel back days before the party!”

“I said we ‘more than likely’ make it,” Ford replied casually, seemly more concern how he could’ve made such an amateur error. “Time relativity is an unstable mechanism that can’t be completely controlled…” He rambled, oblivious to his nephew who was looked to be on the brink of a mental breakdown.

“W-what day is it today??” Dipper turned back to Stan; his voice distressed. “No, no, no-! Mabel!” He rushed into the Shack, praying to see her in their room and beg for forgiveness.

Stan didn’t bother letting him know that his sister was already far away from Gravity Falls. Instead, he glared down his younger brother, feeling completely appalled.

Sensing the fury coming off Stan, Ford sighed. “Look Stan, I did not mean to hold Dipper back and miss the party on purpose—it just happened.” He tried to explain. “I’m sure Mabel will understand, the fate of the world took priority over some birthday. The kids will have many more to celebrate in the future.”

“God—Ford, just…STOP.” Stan shouted in frustration. “You just don’t get it, do you?”

“Excuse me?” Ford raised a bushy eyebrow, feeling a bit insulted as though his intellect was being called into question.

“You might have no problem leaving me behind…but Dipper and Mabel are not like us, they actually cared about each other-- and you ruined that.” Before Ford could retort, Stan continued. “Why did you invite Dipper to stay here in Gravity Falls?”

Ford blinked. “To help me study the supernatural and, one day continue my work with the journals, of course. He has great potential! He would waste it if he went back to California.” He rolled his eyes. “I can homeschool him, or if he really wanted to interact with other kids his age, he could always attend the local high school.”

“Then why did you offer the same for Mabel?”

Ford winced, feeling a pang of guilt. “W-well, because…um…I honestly didn’t even consider it before.”

“Of course you didn’t, your head is so far up your ass you didn’t even notice how much Mabel tried getting you to like her as much as you do Dipper.”

Seeing his brother’s eyes widen in realization, Stan huffed, deciding not bothering to waste his breathe at a worthless cause. Ford never understood how important family was to him and the kids, and he isn’t the one to teach him. “I’m outta here.”

“W-where are you going?” Ford called out as Stan roughly pushed past him and headed towards the Shack.

“Leaving.” He answered simply, never breaking his stride. “You’re the one who told me to leave once summer’s over, remember?”

Once he reached the doorway, Stan stopped and looked back at his dejected looking twin.

“You just ruined yet another part of our family, Ford…and this time, you can’t blame me for doing so.”

“Mabel!!” Dipper rushed into the attic-room they shared. “Mab-!” He desperately looked but immediately grimaced at the half bare side that once was his sister’s side of the room. “Oh no…”

The dull beige of the mattress and empty walls was a stark contrast to the bright colors and glitter of bedding and artworks that was now missing. Guilt and remorse overfilled the boy as he slowly walked over to her bed, looking at the emptiness with a sharp pang n his chest.

He has really, really messed up this time.

Just as Dipper blinked when he felt tears begin to build up, he noticed a bright green on the corner of his eyes. He turned towards his side and saw a forest green box with a purple glittered bow on top of it; a small envelope right next to it with his name in bright pink ink scribbled across it. Without a further thought, he opened it suddenly feeling nervous at what Mabel had to say to him.

Something to remember me by,

Mabel ~

Dipper felt his heart drop. It was short…totally unlike the Mabel he knew.

His hands shook as he dropped the letter on his bed and hesitantly reached for the present. Opening it, he pulled out a dark blue, handmade knit sweater; it was perfectly crafted and obviously made with a lot of care. Looking over the warm clothing, he became confused and flipped it over, scanning the material. There was nothing extra, no patches, stickers, glitter, rhinestones, or images on the sweater—nothing that Mabel would always add to her creations.

“She wanted to make something you would wear.”

Dipper jumped before turning around and coming face to face to a glaring Stan at the doorway. “U-uncle Stan…?” He trailed off, blinking when he noticed a duffle bag hanging off his shoulder. “Where…where are you going?”

Stan shrugged a shoulder. “Just like your sister, I’m not welcomed here, kid.”

“That’s not what happened!” Dipper hastily shook his head. “I-I know I messed up! He— we, I mean, I was supposed to turn back enough time and…and I would’ve! B-but…but…” Dipper felt tears wield up in his eyes, his voice cracking as he tried holding them back.

Dipper could barely feel as Stan’s rough hand push back his hat back and patted his head comfortably.

“Final words of advice from your uncle? Don’t let Ford come between you and Mabel. Being on your own sucks more than you think.” At Dipper’s nod, Stan continued. “And take care of your Uncle Ford for me, will ya? I know you can watch out for him more than I ever could.”

Stan could see how Dipper’s shoulders shake as silent tears could be seen down his face. He blinked and dropped to one knee as Dipper suddenly leaped into his arms.

“Do you really have to go?” Dipper whispered against his chest.

Stan sighed. “For now…I’ll be back to visit.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”