Dipper instantly felt a sense that something was wrong pang inside his chest the minute he walked up the stairs and noticed the attic bedroom he shared with his twin sister was shut.

Creeping forward, he gently pushed the door open and was surprised to find that, though the door was closed, it wasn't locked. Relief washed over him, but Dipper still couldn't shake the feeling that something was definitely wrong.

'Mabel?' Dipper called over the creak of the door, pushing it open further. He peeked his head around it, his eyes immediately falling on his sister wrapped in the covers of her bed like a caterpillar in its cocoon.

Tentatively Dipper entered the room fully and closed the door behind him, encompassing him and his twin sister in their own space. Sometimes Dipper laughed when people asked, 'So can you two, like, feel what each other's feeling?' Sometimes Dipper began to think maybe he could. Maybe he did have such a connection with his sister that even their feelings were linked.

'Mabel…' Dipper repeated in a softer tone of voice, shuffling forward to her bed. Mabel untangled herself from her shield and turned to face her brother, her cheeks glistening with tears. Dipper felt his heart fall just a little heavier seeing his cheerful sister in such a state.

Without hesitation, Dipper sat on the edge of the bed right next to Mabel in her cocoon.

'Hey, you alright?' Dipper asked, never taking his eyes off her, even when she diverted her gaze and sniffled. After a short pause, Dipper continued, 'Stupid question. Why are you crying? It's not like you to cry.'

Mabel instinctively wrapped her duvet around herself tighter, the sheets totally engulfing her. Dipper noticed immediately how secure she seemed to be, even if her mind must have been all over the place.

She didn't reply, her lip trembling every time she tried opening her mouth and fresh tears welling up in her eyes.

Dipper ran his thumb across her cheek, catching all the tears threatening to fall. 'Mabel. Do I need to kick someone's butt?'

Mabel cracked a smile at that, looking up at her brother. He was so protective of her, and she had no idea how to thank him enough for just being there for her no matter what.

'Did a boy hurt you?' Dipper lowered his voice, tilting his head to the side. Mabel's feelings weren't easily hurt, but it didn't mean she wasn't as vulnerable as any twelve year old girl would be.

Biting her lip, Mabel nodded. Dipper raised an eyebrow, surprised his guess was right. The heavy feeling in his chest still hadn't been lifted. It had, however, been replaced with a need to punch that boy square in the face.

Dipper placed his arm across her back, even when it was tangled up in the bed covers. He started to rub her shoulders as the duvet fell back, Mabel revealing herself to him.

'You're the best, Dip,' she complimented, looking up at him with sparkling eyes and shifting closer to him. The duvet had made her feel safe, but it was nothing compared to how secure Dipper could make her feel by just holding her close.

'I don't know about that, but…' Dipper let out a little laugh. 'Anyone who breaks your heart is gonna have to deal with me breaking their nose.'