Chapter 1

Two weeks time trickled past since the Pines twins had returned home. Dipper sat at the kitchen table, his spoon slowly bringing the Choc-Ohs to his mouth. His mind was focused on his most recent encounters and adventures while staying with his familiar family and new friends in Gravity Falls that Summer's past. Soos, Pacifica, both Grunkel Stans, Wendy...even ol' man 'not-as-crazy-as-we-all-thought' MaGukket had a flash of memory dedicated to him.

Mabel, Dipper's bubbly twin sister, bound into the dining area wearing a long pajama top and thick socks, humming a happy tune and smiling while doing a little half dance, half parkour routine as she made her entrance. Quick as a flash & without warning, Mabel planted a quick kiss on his bare cheek. His eyes went wide in surprise, the rose colored blush very evident on his face. Then the young man gave a slight smile and put a hand to the kissed area.

"Morning, bro-bro! Happy to not be trapped in an alternate dimensional dreamscape today?"

"Mabel, shhh, shush! What if Ommintae and Addinae hear you?"

"Hmmmm..." Mabel lifted a finger to her chin as if she were deep in thought. "I think, THEY'LL think...that I've been hanging around YOU too long! Hahaheh!"

Dipper scowled a little at the remark, knowing it to be nothing more than the truth wrapped in a slightly insulting package.

"Fair enough, Dream-Queen!"

"I am dreamy, aren't I?" Mabel gushed as Dipper sighed, his meaning going completely over her head and missing the mark that he intended. She then looked around and noticed the quiet. "Saaaay...where are Mon & Dad?"

"I-unno! Maybe they went shopping and decided to let us sleep in? It is a Saturday, y'know!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Dipper, Dipper, Dipper! Mom-dog and poppa Frank have been without

their two loving, favorite children-"

"Only children."

"-in the whole world for almost an entire summer! Of course they wouldn't leave us home alone!"

Mabel and Dipper were standing under the note taped to their parents bedroom door. 'Gone shopping. Will be home before 1pm.' They both looked at the clock; 0853. The female twin threw her hands in the air, the righteous indignation evident in her tone.

"Ugh! Mom and Dad and their stupid 'early-bird' mentality! Why didn't they take us with them!?"

"Sigh. Mabel, don't you remember what life was like around here BEFORE we left for the Summer?"

Mabel smiled. "Yeeeeah. Dad called me his 'little bear'-"

"Because of the persistent loud snoring!"

"-and Mom called you 'Dipper-Dipper, caterpillar' because it was so hard to wake you up from your blanket cocoon!"

"Heh heh, Yeah. I don't think they know how much we've changed over these past few months!"

"Bro, after all the nightmare challenges we've faced, I can say for a fact that we're BOTH light sleepers now!"

Both children chuckled at the thought. It was at that moment that the house felt a tad too quiet, the light rain plinking on every window and the misty day shadows keeping very still in those morning hours.

"Ehh. I'm going back up to my room and let my cereal digest. Maybe stare at the ceiling and think about school starting next week." He turned and looked at Mabel, a slight look of sadness on her face. He smiled at her and held out his hand. "Wanna keep me company?"

Mabel rushed into his arms and held him tight, her body pressed close to his. A single tear rolling down her face, she kissed him twice on the same cheek from earlier that hour. He remained motionless while still in light shock...and then let his arms encircle her waist, hands resting at the small of her back. A flood of emotion suddenly came from her mouth in a half-sob.

"I knew you wouldn't abandon me, Dipper! Not after all we've been through!"

Dipper smiled. "Never, Mabel. Never."

They both stood in that position a moment longer than necessary and then, hand in hand, moved toward his room. Their foot-falls were silent on the carpeted stairs as Dipper, and the unintentional bulge in his shorts, led the way. Mabel moved along smiling silently behind as an unfamiliar but not unpleasant warmth started in her belly and moved downwards, spreading with each step and every strawberry pop-tart scented breath that she took. The heavy, oaken door to his room shut with a 'ka-lunk' and the latches clicked noisily into place, securing the two within. A light giggle, the rustling of bed linens and a girlish 'moan' precluded the anxious silence that followed.