Hello, everyone. Thank you for reading the sequel to Bonded, a BillFord drama and Bill Cipher redemption fic. Before beginning the story, I will included a prologue that contains a recap of the two previous stories: Bonded and The Swing.

This prologue is included as a brief summary for those who read the other story, as well as cluing everyone who has not/doesn't want to read what occurred in those stories. Both Bonded and The Swing are on my author/member page. If you have read Bonded and The Swing, you can skip the first few paragraphs of the prologue and go on to the actual chapter further down on the page.

Please note that Bonded follows canon up until the end of Weirdmageddon Pt. 2. Weirdmageddon Pt. 3: Take Back the Falls never happened in this timeline.

The four established pairings at this point in this story are: BillxFord, StanxSusan, WendyxRobbie, and SoosxMelody.


Prologue:

After rescuing Mabel from her prison bubble of eternal summer: Dipper, Mabel, Soos, and Wendy hurried back to the Mystery Shack where Stan sheltered the few remaining refugees. Stan gave Dipper the photocopied journals. Soos stayed behind to help Stan while the other three went to rescue Ford who had been taken captive by Bill.

Once they saved Ford from Teeth and 8-Ball, The four made their way to Bill's Fearamid where they fought Bill's henchmen. Using themselves as bait, Dipper and Mabel managed to separate Pyronica and Kryptos from Bill, and Dipper used a spell to seal them back in their dimension. Meanwhile, Ford cast a risky spell that cost him half his life energy to bind Bill into human form. In addition they were both marked with a tattoo ring of black weaves across their pinky fingers. The spell kept Bill from using more than a tenth of his magic at a time, while keeping him within a ten mile radius of Ford at all times. Ford then used the memory gun to make the rest of the town forget Bill and Weirdmageddon.

With no other choice Bill was forced to live at the Mystery Shack. Despite several escape plots including attempting to chop off his own finger, Bill was never able to successfully leave. Eventually he received a job as a weekday cashier, as Wendy was expected back at school, in addition to helping Ford with his research.

During their research Ford and Bill visited a witch who had information on the spell. It turned out to be a trap so that the witch could bind Bill to her so she and her husband could gradually steal away Bill's magic for immortality. Bill discovered when protecting Ford he was granted an extreme power boost for a short period of time, and after which his weakened and exhausted body fell into unconsciousness.

Later they encountered other dangerous mythical creatures, corrupt carnival owners who desired to force Bill into slavery for their business, as well as rescuing Bill from his former friends in his own Mindscape. Kryptos announced that he and the rest of his gang would return during the summer of 2013 to complete their previously failed mission.

Through the eight months of hardships Ford learned to trust Bill again, and they both realized their love for one another.

Ford and Bill searched for a way to win against Kryptos and the other inter-dimensional invaders due to arrive within the next few months. In addition, the Pines family was being watched by a supposed social service worker who had a specific interest in Bill.

A few weeks before Dipper and Mabel were due to return to Gravity Falls, Stan and Ford received news that their older brother Shermy passed away and that they were to inherit the family pawn shop. The brothers along with Bill headed out to New Jersey for Shermy's funeral and the following day the twins sold their portion of the shop, and spent one last day on the beach (and the swing set) where they had spent the better part of their childhood.


Chapter 1: Home Again

Fifteen minutes until noon the RV pulled around back of the Mystery Shack. Soos, dressed in Stan's usual work attire, said goodbye to his most recent tour group. He locked the front door along with switching the sign to closed. Rushing to the back door, Soos yelled for Wendy to take a break.

Soos flew out the back door. His grin fell when he remembered the reason the three had left in the first place. Stan was the first off the RV. He pushed Soos out of the way speaking his immediate need for the bathroom. Ford and Bill were slower about vacating the vehicle. Bill's face sported a red indention from having been asleep against the window for the past two hours.

Bill slightly leaned on Ford as the two made their way to the shack. Two sets of eyes met with Soos'.

"Hey, Mr. Ford," said Soos. "How-how was the funeral?"

"Good," Ford answered.

Soos suddenly kicked himself for asking something so heartless. His doubts were pushed aside when Ford nodded and gave him a soft smile.

"We needed it," Ford answered. He glanced through the door that his brother had pushed his way into. "The both of us."

Ford thought over the time they spent in the graveyard the day following the funeral.

Stan knelt down next to his mother's tombstone. He placed a handful of lilies he stole from another woman's grave atop of hers. For the first time he regretted not having called home once during those forty years. No doubt she had desired to hear his voice one last time.

"Sorry I made ya worry, Ma," Stan said. He imagined her smiling face looking down on him from Heaven.

Next the twins looked over at the headstone that read: Filbrick Pines. Neither one knew what to say to the man who had tore their family apart. Stan stood with clenched fists.

A firm hand on his shoulder made Stan look back into the face of his twin. In that glance Stan understood what his brother wanted to convey: it's time to let go. In that moment, without speaking a word, Stan forgave his father's actions that fateful night.

Next to their graves was the fresh one belonging to their late brother. For a second Stan returned to his ten-year-old self. He and Ford returned home after a long day in town to greet their brother who returned home from his shift on the dock. Shermy placed a piece of toffee in each of his younger brother's hands.

"Goodbye, Shermy," Stan said at last.

Ford nodded his brother's sentiments.

"Let's go home, Stanford," Stan said and clapped his brother on the back.

Ford watched Stan head off in the direction of where the RV was parked. Bill stepped up next to Ford. The author greeted his boyfriend with a soft smile then slipped their hands together.

Pleasant weather guided the decision that they walk to the campsite rather than take the bus. They passed by the pawn shop. For a second both twins considered breaking into the old family property that they had recently signed away ownership to. Stan turned his head and kept walking-sometimes it's best to keep ghosts locked safely away behind impenetrable doors.

The old sign for Glass Shard Beach still stood proud with the decades of wear present. A sour hint of nostalgia fell over the Pines men. Stan tightened his jacket then boarded the RV.

"Is this the last time you'll come here?" Bill inquired.

Ford sighed. "I can't say," he answered. A sad smile crept across his face. "I didn't think I'd be here today."

Nonetheless he took in his hometown for a possible final time. So much had changed and a part of him wished he still had the right to the memories of how his teenage self recalled before all the development to the beach town.

Soos noticed Ford's vacant look. It looked as though the author watched a silent black and white film that only he had access to.

"I'm sorry," Soos finally offered and teared up. Although he never met Shermy and Stan had only mentioned him in conversation thrice during their fifteen year friendship, he still felt connected to the deceased.

"There wasn't anything any of us could've done," Ford said and placed a hand on Soos' shoulder. He did regret that he and Stan never made it back to New Jersey for one last visit with their older brother while he was still alive.

Stan stepped out on the back porch where the other three congregated. With a click of his tongue Stan ordered Soos to retrieve the luggage from the RV while he reopened shop.

"You shouldn't work, you just got back from your trip," said Soos.

"And you did drive the last leg," Ford added.

"What am I, a wimp?" Stan grumbled. He headed back inside to dress.

He stared out the door where he watched his trusty employee stumbling with the suitcases in hand. Bill grabbed his from the handyman and the three walked towards the entrance. Stan hurried along before anyone caught him watching.

"Well, I'm not working," Bill stated.

Soos laughed. "Don't worry, we got Wendy on the case today."

Bill glanced up at the roof where he knew the teenager sat with the lunch provided for her that afternoon. He excused himself from the others and climbed up the secret pathway to the roof. Wendy heard the door open, but figured either her regular or temporary boss came to check on her.

The redhead lifted a brow when the man she once considered her greatest enemy sat down beside her. The wind brushed gently through Bill's gold curls.

"Had a good vacation?" Wendy asked without taking her eyes off the clouds.

Bill laid down with his arms folded up under his head. He crossed his legs at the knees.

"I've seen it before," Bill said with his hand out in front of him. He grinned. "But it was fun to see it through my own eyes instead of just Sixer's memories. Although I think his memories are skewed."

While Ford seemed to prefer Glass Shards Beach from the sixties and early seventies, he actually liked the recent progression. He could still taste the ice cream's sweetness on the tip of his tongue.

"Dipper told me he met you guys there," said Wendy.

Bill nodded with a hum. "It was hard to see Pinetree and Shooting Star so sad."

"No offense, but it's strange hearing you say that," Wendy commented.

Bill shrugged. A year ago he would have reveled in seeing the Pines twins crying their eyes out. In fact he himself had preyed on the female twin during her weakest moment. In hindsight he wasn't too proud of his actions. Bill frowned and cursed stupid human emotions. Once he figured out a way to remove the bond before his former friends arrived within the next few months he no longer would be tied down to ridiculous bouts of remorse.

Wendy jerked her head at the sound of her corn chip bag crinkling to see Bill pulling a few salty treats from inside. Despite her glare he shoved the snack in his mouth.

"Try that again and I will push you off the roof," Wendy threatened.

Grinning Bill reached for the bag again only for Wendy to toss an empty can at his arm.

Sure he had the majority of his powers stripped away, but it could have been worse.

After Wendy's break ended the Corduroy girl jumped onto the nearest pine tree then used her weight to move to the next. The third tree landed her safely on the ground. The teenager grinned at the sound of applause from the roof.

Bill disappeared from her view and she shrugged at the thought of him using the safe exit. Green eyes widened as the shadow of Bill covered her from overhead. She stood with her mouth gaping at Bill in the open air with his arms spread apart. Before the redhead could scream for Ford, Bill flipped and with the help of his limited magic landed slowly and gracefully on the ground.

Wendy could barely speak when he bowed before her.

Gold eyes gloating and a grin covering his face he said, "I think I win."

All fear for her co-worker's life faded. A small bit of heat lifted in her face. "That's only 'cause you used magic, or you'd be vulture food right now."

Bill laughed. "As hilarious as that would be, I don't think I can put Fordsy through two funerals in one week. It would just kill him." Bill laughed harder. He held the side of his face. "Then poor Stanno will suffer three deaths."

Wendy shook her head. Although she'd never mention it outloud, she had missed Bill's morbid sense of humor.

"Hey, Soos is letting me off early, you wanna go to the flea market with me and the guys?" Wendy offered.

"Sure, sounds like fun," Bill replied. "But I better get permission first. As amusing as it can be to annoy dear Fordsy, I don't feel like being scolded right now."

Bill hurried into the house. Soos and Stan to look at the two.

"Good, you're back, those halfwits aren't gonna rip themselves off," Stan said to Wendy and pointed to the register.

The teenager rolled her eyes then took her spot. She reminded herself of the logging camp and that the twins would be in town in only two week's time.

After receiving confirmation that Ford was indeed in the lab Bill darted into the basement. He arrived on the bottom floor to see his boyfriend unpacking the last few items in the suitcase. He heard footsteps and smiled at the sight of his approaching boyfriend.

Bill threw himself on the bed, nearly knocking the suitcase to the floor. Ford merely ignored him, but a hint of amusement stayed on his face.

"Fordsy, would you hate it too much if I went with Red to the flea market this afternoon?" Bill asked.

"Not at all," Ford answered. He put away the last sweater. "In fact I'll come with you."

"She invited me, not you," Bill replied.

"I don't think she'll mind," Ford argued.

"All the other teenagers are going," Bill said. He laughed then added, "They like me." He pressed his finger against Ford's nose. "But you'll just be like a chaperone."

"Too bad," Ford said then zipped up the empty suitcase.

The suitcase was stored in the nearby closet along with the Christmas decorations. The drive to New Jersey had been their first real road trip since he and Bill traveled to Washington back in October. He looked over at Bill who had selected a book from the shelf then laid back down on the bed with his sock-clad feet kicking in the air.

A part of him felt guilty for keeping his boyfriend trapped in a single location for so long. Bill always eagerly stared out windows on their scarce trips. Not to mention Bill's voice held a hint of envy whenever he spoke of the tourists who stopped in the Mystery Shack being able to travel wherever they wanted.

Although he had traveled through vast dimensions, Ford had seen very little of his own world. Perhaps with the approaching summer he, Bill, and the kids could take a mini vacation. Nowhere far, but a town or nearby state for a few days. Once Dipper and Mabel were in town they could decide on a destination together. He chuckled at the look on Bill's face when he announced the news.

"What's so funny?" Bill asked. He peeled his eyes from his book to see the small smile on his boyfriend's face.

"It's nothing," Ford replied.

Bill pursed his lips and cursed the harsh fate that allowed him to lose his ability to read minds.

You'll know soon enough, Ford thought.


Well, this is the first chapter of the sequel. I actually rewrote it three times, trying to figure out which direction I wanted to take. As it is the opening chapter, I thought I'd start out light, then add the drama and heavier stuff as the story progresses.

Thank you for reading.