Chapter Text
Today was important.
About a week ago twin brothers Stanley and Stanford Pines had returned to the tiny town from nearly 6 months at sea. While great, and definitely bringing the two closer together, it was nice to be able to stand on solid land and not worry about a random hole they found on the hull of the Stan’o war. Now, back to why today was important. Their niblings, Mabel and Dipper were returning for the summer, this time with Ford, as the previous summer they didn’t get much time with him for… rather obvious reasons. Stan and Ford were waiting outside of the shack for the truck. They had to take the bus again, as annoying that probably was. They were supposed to be here soon, the drive being about 5 hours. They left at about 7 according to Mabel, who texted them on the cell phone she insisted him and Ford get. Ford personally was more interested in taking it apart and seeing how it worked than actually using it. “It would be cheaper if I could simply make it myself!” Ford would exclaim when Stan told him not to. Cheaper DID sound alluring…
Stan kicked up some of the gravel, kicking it up onto the paved road. Him and his brother had been living in the Old RV. For an RV, it was pretty roomy. Still, neither of them enjoyed staying in there. Especially Stan, who had no idea what to do with himself now that he wasn’t working. The stan’o’war was one thing, as there was always something to do. But now? Nothing. No dice. Geez maybe he really should he some more friends…
“Stanley, stop kicking the gravel.” Stanford said, looking up at him from the novel he was reading. Now that he was back in this universe, he had a lot to catch up on. Including books. He was currently reading ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho. He was roughly halfway through the novel, a colorful bookmark (made by Mabel of course) tucked between his hand and the book.
“I ain’t.” Stan lied for no reason. He walked away from the pavement, standing next to Stanford and peering over his shoulder into the book. Blah blah, something about hawks, blah blah blah.
“Dunno why you’re readin that, looks boring.” He shrugged.
Ford rolled his eyes, taking his bookmark and carefully marking his place in the book. “Its actually rather interesting, Stanley, philosophically derivative, but compelling. With rather interesting commenta-“
“Uh huh yeah okay pointdexter- Aren’t we waitin’ for the twins? Put the book away they’ll be here any second.” Stan chuckled, giving his brother a light elbow. Ford tried not to, but he smiled a twinge, shaking his head.
“You’re insufferable.”
“At least ya know we’re related!” Stan snorted. Before Ford could retort, there was the growing rumble of an engine.
Stan, as much as he tried to act like he wasn’t excited, quickly rushed to the pavement, peering past the sign for the gray bus.
Sure enough, the bus crawled closer, slower than it had any right to be. Stan jumped back, standing next to Ford. He stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets, plucking at the strings inside of his pockets.
Ford smiled at him, watching as the bus approached before coming to a loud, screeching halt.
The sound of rushing steam emerged from it as the doors opened with a squeak that sounded a hundred years old. Then it was silence. The only movement was the bus driver looking down at his watch.
Did they get the time wrong? Was it later? Ford, his hands tucked behind his back, picked at his knuckles.
Finally, there was a sound. The oink of a certain pink pig.
And as quickly as they had heard it, Waddles (who was double the size he was the previous year) let out a loud pig shriek, bounding out of the bus and straight to Stan. Stan was barely able to yelp before the pig had him tackled. “AUGH- WADDLES YOU-“ Stan was stuck under the pig who was licking his face. Was it because he liked the taste of old man, or because he recognized Stan, who knew.
Ford chuckled at the sight before turning to the open door of the bus. “EE GRUNKLE FORD!!” Mabel squealed from the bus, jumping out from the second step. Dipper let out a loud ‘Mabel!!” behind her as she had just… dropped her stuff in the doorway.
Mabel ran out, near tackling the other Stan twin, who staggered. “Mabel! It’s lovely to see you!” The old man chuckled, hugging her back. She certainly looked different from what he remembered. She was taller, and not wearing a sweater! Instead it was tied on her waist over her pleaded skirt. Her shirt fell off of her shoulder, and was a bright cyan, along with pink leg warmers. Her hair, while still incredibly long, was pulled into a big side ponytail. But she still had the same big grin that was iconic for her.
After a bit more squealing from Mabel, her magenta duffle bag was kicked out from the bus, landing with a thump on the gravel below.
Dipper then came down the stairs, dragging his own overstuffed duffle. You can never be too prepared! The first thing one noticed was his hair was longer, and his jacket was different. His hair reached more down his neck and looked a bit messier. His jacket was a brown and tan letterman jacket, a big ‘P’ stitched onto the left breast.
Stan finally managed to shove the pig off himself, sitting up and rubbing his back like the old man he is. Waddles snorted, waddling over to Ford and sniffing around his legs. Stan only got a moment of relief before he was caught in a headlock-hug combo by Mabel, squeezing him.
“M-mabel, pumpkin-“
“GRUNKLE STANNNN, I MISSED YOUUU” she said loudly, causing him to wince.
Dipper dropped his bag down, finally walking over to Ford. He looked like he was trying NOT to look incredibly excited.
“Hi, great uncle Ford.” Finally Ford noticed he was taller, and lankier.
Ford smiled at him, “Dipper, my boy, its nice to see you.” Ford replied. After a few moments of mildly awkward silence, Dipper finally found his resolve and hugged his great uncle. Ford paused, hesitating, before hugging the young man back just a bit tighter than he expected he would.
Mabel’s giggling cracked through the air before she finally freed Stanley. The old man huffed, before chuckling. “Missed ya too.”
He said, finally standing up with a grunt. “this summer is going to be SO great-“ Mabel grinned. “I can feel it in my elbows,” She said, emphasizing her point by rubbing her elbows.
“I made a structured list- well, more like a categorized plan- of things we didn’t get to last summer.” Dipper said, fumbling for his journal. It was blue, with a big pinetree on the front and what looked like a hundred tiny little notes sticking out of it.
Mabel gasped loudly “GRUNKLE FORD YOU NEED TO MEET THE GIRLS!!” She exclaimed suddenly. Ford’s brow rose up as she looked down at her.
“Oh boy. Ya might need hearin’ aids too, Six.” Stan said, slightly leaning into Ford.
“GRUNKLE STAN” Mabel huffed at him. “You’re gonna love them, Grunkle Ford.” She grinned again.
“I’m sure I will.” Ford matched her smile. Stan smiled at all of them.
Finally, he piped up again. “Alright alright, lets get ya two settled before ya run off.” He walked over to the bags picking one up with a grunt. “Moses kid, what did ya pack?? Dictionaries??”
“Only one!!” Dipper squeaked. “And a thesaurus...” He mumbled that last part. So WHAT if he wanted a vocabulary more like Great Uncle Ford’s over the summer; it didn’t hurt to feel smart. Then again, it was that kind of thinking that had stan calling him a smart ass the year prior so… You win some you loose some.
“You’re such a nerd, dip-dop” Mabel giggled, poking him in the shoulder. Dipper poked her back vigorously.
“Six, help me with this will ya?” Stan barked playfully, jerking his head back to the other bag. Waddles was sniffing said bag, before chewing on the side of it. Ford stood like a statue for a few moments, as if trying to understand Stan’s request. Then it finally clicked with a quiet ‘oh!’ before walking over to the bag, gently shooing the pig out of the way. He picked up the bag, surprised by how dense it was despite it not being nearly as overstuffed as Dipper’s.
The younger pair of twins were whispering amongst themselves as they began to follow the Stans to the RV parked in the lot of the shack, a long cord attached to it for electrics. Stan was at least a little grateful Soos was willing to help the two of them out, especially cause the twins were coming for the summer again. Though, Stan didn’t want to rely on it forever. Theres an old cabin in the woods he was lookin at- after him and Ford’s identities were swapped back to normal, he would see about getting it…
After a few moments of walking through the lot, the sun beating down on everyone, they came upon the tan and old RV.
With a bit of struggle, Stan managed to pull the door open. However, before anyone could make their way inside, Waddles rushed in ahead. Stan huffed at the pig. Mabel giggled, following not long after her pig, then Dipper, then Ford, and then finally Stan.
The RV was on the bigger side for an RV, but it was still an RV. It was a tight fit, but it would be good for a temporary stay. Mostly because Stan had a feeling the twins would be staying just about everywhere else. Soos had offered to let the twins stay in the attic again. Saying something like “Dude even their beds are still up there, its no sweat.” Stan said no, though. Endless the twins went there themselves but that was their choice.
Ford carefully set Mabel’s bag onto the upper area of the TV, just above the actual drivers seat. It had a thin mattress up there and could be used as a bed of sorts. Stan grunted as he hoisted up Dippers bag of possible dictionaries and thesauruses, placing it on the pull up table that was rickety and probably needed to be removed permanently soon.
Mabel helped waddles up onto the upper area of the RV, a smile on her face. “We need to get some steps for waddles. OH OH OR- What about a-,” she pulled herself up onto it as well, “A pig elevator. A pig-e-vator?”
“I don’t think that would work… at all..” Dipper said, his brow raising as he looked up at her.
“BOO you’re no fun dipper. GRUNKLE FORD!! What do YOU think?” She said, suddenly pointing at Ford accusingly.
“Well- I mean, I could fashion some kind of pully system? But your brother is right. It would, at the very least, take a month or so for me to create.” Ford replied matter-of-factly, adjusting his glasses on his face.
“We don’t need more junk in the walkway either," Stan piped up, glancing at his watch. It was only around 3 pm.
“Well then, Grunkle Stan that means YOU need to help me push him up.”
“No thanks.”
“GRUNKLE STANNNNN” She whined, earning a far too smug grin from her Grunkle. Ford chuckled, shaking his head.
He truly was excited for this summer. Having actual time with the twins would be lovely. Also Stan somewhat banned him from staying in his lab for longer than two hours so... there was that. He was worried, sure. What if something went wrong again? What if Bill suddenly returned? But… He wouldn’t let that bog down their summer. It was going to be great.