Chapter 1

Deep into the dark basement of the Mystery Shack sat Stanford Pines. He was flipping through the pages of his journal, pausing to look at the rift.

" How did you get in here without it," he whispered outloud then squinted his eyes.

The old man jumped and turned around to the sound of a grunt. It was Stan, who was looking down at him with his arms crossed, eyebrow raised.

" Aren't you going to say good-bye to your great-nephew," he questioned. " Now that the bus station is back up and running, he'll be heading back home today."

" Today," Ford asked, widening his eyes. " I thought he wasn't supposed to leave until the day after his birthday."

" He was going to, but he really just wants to go home," Stan uttered, shrugging. " His parents also want to spend some time with him, before he goes back to school. Make sure he's going to be okay."

" I'm going to miss him," Ford sighed as he stood up. " He would have made a great apprentice."

" No kidding," Stan chuckled then punched his twin on the shoulder. " He's a mini version of you, only sweatier and dresses like a normal person."

" You take that back," Ford snapped, pointing a finger. " At least I don't walk around in a wife-beater and boxers all day."

" I wear a tux when out and about," Stan retorted, rolling his eyes. " That is classy. Never out of style"

" Stanley, you wear a fez with it," Ford scoffed, looking him dead in the eye. " Who does that? Oh, you…I better get up there."

Ford began heading upstairs. Stan followed, snickering about Ford wearing sweater-vests. Soon, the older twins reached the living room. Dipper had his luggage placed in front of the stairs leading up to the attic. The boy was sitting in the chair, watching TV. Ford stood in front of him then kneeled down, holding his arms out. Dipper lunged forward and wrapped his arms around his neck, squeezing tightly. Ford did the same to his torso.

" Goodbye, Great Uncle Ford," Dipper uttered. " I'll miss you."

" I'll miss you, too, Dipper," Ford replied then glanced over at Stan. " Well, aren't you going to join us?"

" I already told him goodbye this morning," Stan stated.

" He did it the moment I woke up," Dipper peeped as the two parted. " Claimed he was checking for property damage."

" Now to say goodbye to your friends," Stan ushered.

Eventually, all goodbyes were exchanged with everybody, except for one. It was Pacifica, who was locked up in her room, after her parents found out she left the mansion and put her life in danger to save a bunch of peasants. They also grounded her for turning them into bell-like monsters. They waited until she got back from helping her grieving friend before punishing her. Stan pulled up to the gate and pushed a button on a nearby post.

" Welcome to Northwest Manor," a stuffy voice spoke. " What is your name and whom are you here to speak with?"

" Stan, Ford, and Dipper Pines," Stan retorted. " We are here to speak with Pacifica Northwest. It's important."

" I am terribly sorry, Sir," the voice retorted. " Miss Northwest is grounded and can't see or speak to anybody right now."

" Look," Stan started. " My nephew, Dipper, is friends with her. He is leaving Gravity Falls for home today and wants to tell her goodbye."

" Move over, Winston," a female voice huffed then began shouting. " What do you mean you're leaving? Dipper, the summer's not even over, yet. What the heck."

" Pacifica, I just want to go home and be with my parents," Dipper retorted. " I need them and they need me. Please, try to understand."

" Winston, open the gates and let them in," Pacifica commanded.

" But, Miss Northwest," Winston started.

" Do it," Pacifica shouted.

" Very well, Ma'am," Winston retorted.

The gates opened and Stan pulled through, stopping in front of the steps to the main entrance. Pacifica ran outside and toward the back passenger's door. Dipper opened the door and closed it behind him.

" What do you mean you need to go home and be with your parents," Pacifica questioned, glaring. " There is only a few weeks left of summer. Can't you hold out?"

" I'm sorry, Pacifica," Dipper sighed, frowning at the ground . " I can't. Mabel is gone, I really want my parents, and I really want to go back home."

" Dipper," Pacifica started.

" Do you have any siblings," Dipper asked, looking back up.

"I," She went to snap at him then stopped, looking away. " No. No, I don't."

" Have you ever lost somebody close to you, while away on a trip," Dipper questioned.

" Yes, I have," Pacifica uttered then made eye contact with him. " I just wanted to go home after that. Oh…"

She wrapped her arms around Dipper, squeezing tight enough to knock the air out of his lungs. Dipper gasped then Pacifica loosened her grip. He breathed then wrapped his arms around her.

" Well, I guess this is goodbye," Pacifica sniffled. "Promise you'll visit next year."

" I can't make any promises" Dipper muttered. " After losing my sister, I just don't know now. I can promise to keep in touch with you, though."

" And I'll come visit you using my private jet when you are unable to come here," Pacifica replied.

The two chuckled then pulled apart. Pacifica pecked Dipper on the lips then blushed, turning around. Dipper stood in shock, eyes wide. She cleared her throat.

" You, uh, you better take care then," Pacifica murmured, asked to pay him to pretend the kiss never happened, and began walking back toward the mansion.

Dipper went back into the car. Stan began driving to the bus stop. The ride there was silent. There was no talking and the radio was turned off. Ford shifted glances between the window, Stan, and Dipper. Dipper was staring out the window, resting his cheek against it. Stan was glancing back at Dipper, all the while keeping an eye on the road. Soon, the car came to a stop. Stan got out and opened the trunk of the car. Dipper got out of the car and grabbed his luggage as Stan handed it to him. A few minutes later, the bus arrived. Dipper approached it then stopped to turn around. His vision swept toward his uncles. He gave a small smile and a nod. The uncles did the same thing back. Dipper hopped into the bus. Several hours later, he was back in Piedmont.

" Dipper, you're home," his mother exclaimed as she ran over to Dipper, bear hugging him and crying. " Thank goodness. How's my baby boy doing? Do you have a fever? Any broken bones? Any scratches?"

Mrs. Pines checked him over thoroughly. The boy chuckled, smirking.

" I'm doing fine, Mom," Dipper retorted. " I'm just glad to be home."

" Son, you made it," his dad chimed as he put him in a headlock and rubbed his fist on his hat, hard. " Nice hat. What happened to your other one?"

" I lost it," Dipper replied. " Grunkle Stan gave me a new one to replace it."

" Come on," his mother beamed. " Let's go inside."

The family went inside the house. A few weeks later, it was his and Mabel's birthday. Dipper did not celebrate. He did not even open his presents. His mother, however, forced him to go with her to back-to-school shopping.

" Here's a nice outfit for you, Dipper," his mother chirped as she held up a pair of denim overalls with a striped sweater underneath it. " And it's in just your size."

" Mom, I'm thirteen," Dipper scoffed, gesturing toward himself. " Don't you think I'm a little too old for that? Can I pick out my own outfit, just this once?"

" Dipper, the last time I let you choose, you chose that shirt, vest, and shorts," his mom retorted, scanning his current attire. " Not to mention that green hat."

" Hey, look at that," Dipper tweeted as he stared at a shirt with tears where the sleeves used to be and baggy cargo pants.

" Oh, no," the mom said, firmly. " You are not wearing that to school."

" But, Mom, all the other guys at school wear them," Dipper argued.

" I don't care," his mom retorted, shaking her head. " No teenaged son of mine is going to be walking around school, looking like some gang banger."

" Fine," Dipper uttered. " I'll just opt for last year's outfit."

" That's my boy," the mom squeaked as Dipper gathered some clothes and put them into the cart. " Now for your sister's…"

She slapped her hand over her mouth and began sobbing. Dipper's jaw dropped and he hugged her. She glanced down and hugged him back, grinning.

" We should head home, now," she uttered then headed for the checkout lane, sniffling.

Soon, they were home. The mother went into her sewing room, while Dipper walked into the living room, carrying the shopping bags. His dad was asleep on the couch. The tv was left on. Dipper approached the tv and turned it off. His dad woke up.

" Huh," he mumbled. " Dipper?"

" I think you should check on Mom," Dipper started. " She's in the sewing room."

" What's wrong," his dad asked, sitting up and widening his eyes. " Is she hurt?"

" While we were school shopping, she began crying about...Mabel," Dipper replied.

" You go put away your school stuff," his dad uttered, placing a hand on his shoulder. " I'll go speak to your mother. Okay, Sport?"

" Okay," Dipper shrugged and went upstairs to his room.

The father entered the sewing room. His wife was sitting in a chair, crocheting. She was still bawling. He put his arm around her shoulders. She looked up, wiping the tears from her eyes.

" Honey, I didn't hear you come in," she uttered.

" I came here to check on you," he retorted. " Dipper's worried about you. And when our son worries about you then I worry about you."

" I miss our little girl," she replied. " I can't believe she's gone and we didn't even get to go to her funeral. She shouldn't have had a funeral before us. This isn't fair."

" I know," he responded, rubbing her on the back. " I miss her, too."

" And what did Uncle Stan say about how she died," she asked. " She jumped off a cliff?"

" Something like that," he shrugged. " Makes me wonder about Dipper. That's why we brought him home early. To make sure he does nothing stupid, too."

" True," she sniffled.