The day had begun without consequence. Dipper and Mabel scampered from their attic bedroom, jumping over one another in a race to the bathroom. Downstairs Stan stood at the stove, calloused feet hidden in his slippers. Instead of Stancakes, breakfast was scrambled eggs. That had been the only change in routine.

Things had been, all in all, uneventful.

Of course, things rarely stayed that way in Gravity Falls.

Mabel and Dipper had run off in search of adventure, respectively taking a break from hours watching television and working in the lab. Stan was busy giving tours and Ford had holed up in the basement again, muttering about important work that Dipper best not help with.

Mabel had been eager to reclaim her twin from his 'nerd work', and the two children were soon running out the door without a destination in mind. It looked like a boring day lay ahead of them. Wendy and Soos were working, and Ford had taken his journal back under the guise of 'reference purposes'. Really, they both knew he was just trying to keep them out of trouble. Luckily, or perhaps unfortunately, trouble gravitated to the Pines twins.

It had been sitting in the middle of the sidewalk, innocent and not worth the attention of most passerbys. Mabel and Dipper recognized the device instantly. Mabel rushed forward, scooping it into her hands.

"Dipper! It's the time travel tape measure thingy!"

"Careful," he hissed. "You remember what happened last time."

Her excitement deflated. "Oh yeah," she looked at it longingly and sighed. "So what do we do with it?"

Dipper touched his chin thoughtfully. "Give it to Grunkle Ford? He can put it somewhere safe."

"But someone dropped it, they'll want it back."

Dipper frowned. Mabel was right. It was unlikely that the tape measures absence would go unnoticed. Unless... unless it had been left for them to find. But why would anyone do that? It had been in the exact middle of the sidewalk, impossible to miss but inconspicuous to anyone not privy to its real power.

"I think we should leave it here."

Mabel's brow furrowed. She opened her mouth to question him, but his serious expression had her agreeing. "Yeah, okay. We'll leave it." She knelt to replace it, jerking away with a yelp when energy sparked from the device. It crackled hotly and a tangible light emanated from the tape measure, forming a dome around the siblings.

She was distantly aware of Dipper calling her name, grabbing her arm over the disorienting roar of static and the heart stopping sensation of a vertical drop. It was like an airless vacuum had consumed them. The other times they had time traveled it had felt unnatural, but not this way.

They were going to suffocate.

Had the tape measure malfunctioned somehow? She was certain she hadn't caused it to do this.

The light encompassing them faded, revealing vastly different place. They huddled together, holding onto each other fiercely, matching honey brown eyes wide.

"When are we?" Dipper whispered.

"Where are we?" Mabel echoed.

Stanley Pines had courted lady luck tonight. He'd hit a hot streak and now he had enough money to make it another month if he was careful.

A gust of wind carrying raindrops blew back his unruly hair and he pulled his hood down, pace quickening to avoid the coming storm. He needed to get back to his motel and leave this state. His hot streak was, in part, thanks to the house not noticing his card counting. And Stanley knew better than to wear out his welcome in illegal gambling parlors. Someone would come looking for him, that was assured. It was also assured they wouldn't chase him down to another state. A few hundred dollars wasn't worth the expense.

He was in the homestretch when lightning illuminated the dark sky. Thunder boomed, rain pattering onto the cityscape. Headlights cut through the night and the sound of tires screeching on pavement rushed past him. The man managed to hold his composure, but his heart hammered against his ribcage. The car continued on, however, uninterested in him.

Stan exhaled a laugh, relief pouring over him like the drizzling rain. It wasn't Rico's goons, or the losers from that nights game; it was just some guy turning a corner to quickly.

He was about to break into a jog when something made him pause. Was that… crying? Listening, he heard the sobbing interrupted by a hiccup and a girl's fearful voice. She sounded young…

Stan steeled himself and kept walking, telling himself that it wasn't his problem. He couldn't afford to get caught up in any drama; he was pretty sure he was banned from this state. The crying continued and his weak resolve broke.

He followed the sounds to a dirt lot, empty save for two children clinging to one another. Lights from the surrounding apartment buildings faintly lit the courtyard enough for Stan to see that they were too young to be out alone. The girl, dwarfed by a vibrant pink sweater, sat curled into herself, tears streaming down her face. A boy wearing a baseball cap and a backpack was pressed to her side, concentrating on something in his hands. He said something that made her cry harder. Guilt flashed across his face and he shook his head vehemently, drawing her into a hug.

It worked and her cries tapered into sniffling.

They probably lived in these apartments, and their parents would be down any minute to call them in for supper. But what if they were alone? It would be so easy for some pervert to pull them into a van and no one would be the wiser.

Stan's legs decided before his mind and he was crossing the distance to the children. He stopped short, realizing he would paint an intimidating picture.

"H-hey, are you kids okay?"

Their heads whipped up and the boy leapt to his feet, standing protectively between Stan and the girl. Stan held his hands up placatingly, wind blowing his hood back. "I'm not going to hurt you."

The boy glared at him, mistrustful expression melting into one of shock. He staggered on his feet, face paling. The girl, his sister, if Stan had to guess, fixed red rimmed and eerily familiar eyes on him. She gasped, miserable expression transforming to one of delight.

That was… a good sign?

Stan stopped a few feet from them and knelt, mustering his friendliest grin. "It's pretty late, you kids probably shouldn't be out here, and in this weather." He scanned the lot again. No parents had emerged to collect them. "Do you live around here? Is there someone you can call?" He had some coins he could spare, provided there was a payphone nearby.

They didn't respond, equally intense stares bearing into him. The girl was bright eyed, like she'd happened across an old friend. The boy stepped further between them, narrowed gaze examining Stan from head to toe suspiciously.

"I promise, I'm not going to hurt you." Stan opened his arms in a vague shrug, doing his best to appear nonthreatening.

The boy still looked skeptical, but the girl darted past him and tackled Stan in a hug.

"Grunkle Stan!"

"What?" He pulled back, but she followed his movements to stay pressed against him. Her grip tightened, her face burying in the crook of his shoulder and neck.

Stan wrapped her in an awkward hug, despite his brain screaming that this was too weird. That hugging a random kid was not acceptable, but a larger part of him remembered being seventeen and needing comfort.

"Hey, uh, sweetie. It's okay." He gently pushed her away, keeping her at arm's length. Tears had left trails on her dirt smudged face and her hair was a tangled mess.

"Your uncle Stan, do you know where he is? Do you know his phone number?"

She shook her head, tiny balled hand moving to wipe at her wet cheeks. Stan felt sympathy blossom inside him.

"Okay." he thought. "Do you two live around here?" She blinked, looking around. The boy moved closer, looping his arm around hers.

"Where are we?" he asked, stare not leaving Stan.

He glanced to the nearest street sign. "Corner of Cherry and Elwood."

"No. What State?"

Stan forced a laugh. "You're joking, right?" He hoped the kid was joking, because he wasn't entirely sure what state they were in, either.

This was not good.

"What happened to you two?"

The girl dragged the boy away from him, whispering. Their foreheads were pressed together as they argued, shooting glances at Stan throughout the conversation.

What weird children. Cute, but definitely weird.

The girl waved her arms, tone pitching high. The boy sighed and nodded reluctantly. They spoke for a few moments more before exchanging a meaningful look. God, that was familiar.

"We, uh, aren't exactly sure, sir." The boy said, stepping forward.

"Do you know where you live?"

If the kids didn't know what state they were in, it was a long shot they knew their address.

The boy shook his head. "We, uh," he glanced to the girl, searching her face for approval. "We don't really have a home, per say."

"You're homeless?" God, they were so small. Helpless. What bastard excuse for a parent wouldn't want these kids?

"But were twins, so we have each other!" The girl exclaimed, throwing her arm over her brother's shoulder and dragging him closer. "I'm Mabel, and this is Dipper."

Twins. Sympathy transformed into empathy and Stan stood.

"Names Stan," the kids caught him in another hug before he could get out more. He chuckled, laying a hand on each of their shoulders. Affectionate little things. It wouldn't be right to hand them over to child services. He'd met so many kids who'd run away from homes the system put them in, heard stories of children being abused and neglected. These kids deserved better.

But he wasn't exactly in a position to offer them that. He was scraping by as it was, surviving on scams and gambling. These kids didn't know that, didn't know who he was, yet they smiled at him like he'd hung the moon. He wanted to earn the warmth they so freely gave.

What the hell was he doing? He should not, could not, take care of these children. Someone had to be looking for them, and if he took them with him they'd put him away for life. No. This was a bad idea.

What was that saying? The road to hell was paved with good intentions?

Fuck. Stanford had always been the smart one. Stanley made big decisions with his heart. Why stop now, when he had the chance to really help these kids? He could not, in good conscience, leave them here in the rain. How different would his life be if someone had extended him the same kindness?

"I don't know about you kids, but I'm starving. Why don't we get some food and figure this out?"

Mabel's face brightened instantly, and Dipper looked more at ease. "Alright, onward then, little lady, young sir." They each took one of his hands in their smaller ones, holding it as they walked.

The diner, the only place Stan could see was open at the late hour, was mostly empty. A few drug addicts, a drunkard nursing a steaming cup of coffee, and him with two kids in tow. A waitress led them to a table, scurrying off to get their drinks.

They almost looked normal, Stan mused. A dad and his two kids eating dinner, or would it be breakfast?

"Mr. Stan?"

"Huh? What did you say, sweetie?"

Mabel smiled at the nickname, which was coming out every other time he addressed her. Were those braces? What parent springs for braces and then decides they don't want their kids? Or maybe, he thought, they didn't have parents. They could be orphans. He almost missed her question again in the whirl of his thoughts.

"What can we get?"

That was a good question. He hadn't bothered looking at the menus, too busy trying to think things through.

"Look Mabel, pancakes." Dipper pointed to the menu and she bounced eagerly.

"Ooh, can we get pancakes, Stan?"

He followed the boys finger and saw that it was one of the cheapest items. A kid after his own heart.

"Of course you can, pumpkin."

Dipper snickered, "what are you going to start calling me?"

"Booger brain, if you aren't careful."

The boy's mouth quirked into a fond smile, reminding Stan of the smile he'd seen on his own twin years ago. A lopsided twist of the lips that made his eyes crinkle, a quiet kind of smile unlike the toothy grin Ford got when he solved a particularly difficult equation.

"Are you guys ready?" the waitress had returned, pencil pressed to paper expectantly.

"I'll have a cheese burger with fries, and the gremlins will have pancakes." Stan handed her the menus.

"More coffee, sir?"

"Thanks."

"And can your kids have some hot chocolate," she winked at the twins. "On the house, of course."

These kids were proving to be good karma already. "That would be wonderful, thanks honey, er, wasp." He flashed his woman-winning smile, the one that usually got him slapped in the end. She laughed.

Their food arrived soon, Dipper and Mabel inhaling their syrup drenched pancakes. Stan felt a pang of sadness. When was the last time they'd had a proper meal?

He'd normally dine and dash, but the two faces watching him from across the table stopped him. Grumbling, he threw a few bills on the table and the three of them made their way back to his motel.

Dipper tangled his fingers with Mabel's as they followed Stan. He knew that Stan was ultimately a good person, foolish if he was going to let them accompany him in his nomadic lifestyle, but a good person nonetheless. Stan was in a bad place during this part of his life. It wasn't safe to be around him, but the alternative was being stranded by themselves.

They needed to convince Stan he was their best possible option before he wised up and turned them over to the authorities. What was the best way to do that? Tell him they were his great niece and nephew from the future? This Stan wouldn't have the openness of mind their Grunkle had from living in Gravity Falls. He'd think it was an elaborate scam or have them locked in a looney bin.

Mabel squeezed his hand, bumping her shoulder into his. Her mute way of assuring him that everything would work out. She probably believed it, too. She also probably wanted to prevent the fight that separated Ford and Stan for thirty years.

"You kids can take the bed, I'll sleep on the floor." Stan told them, turning the key in the lock. Inside he shed his jacket and shoes, thumb jerking to the bathroom. "You'll probably want to shower," he left out that the commodity of running water was not something he had often.

Dipper motioned for Mabel to go ahead of him. "Save me some hot water!" he yelled after her, the girls response a cackle.

He shuffled awkwardly, torn between speaking and silence. Should they tell him? Would Stan believe that they were from the future? Would he help them? Dipper flopped back on the bed, pulling the tape measure from his pocket.

A crack had splintered its casing, revealing intricate hardware-like circuitry inside. It was either broken or had lost its charge, and whichever it was they weren't getting to their present anytime soon.

If they ever did.

What an astronomical stroke of luck that they had stumbled upon Stan, and that he seemed prepared to help them. Did the tape measure have some kind of biological detector? Did it deposit them in this year in Stan's proximity on purpose, or had it been coincidence? Had the device accidentally done this, or had it been manipulated? If so, who did it? Were Mabel and Dipper meant to find it, or had that been a bad stroke of luck?

As intriguing as those questions were, he had no way of answering them. The most productive thing to do right now was focus on the facts. Fact: he and Mabel were in the past, a Stanley in his late twenties caring for them. Fact: the tape measure was broken.

It was possible Ford could fix it, but would Stan agree to take them to Gravity Falls? Would their meddling in the past cause harm in the future? Was their responsibility as time travelers to leave things unchanged or to warn the elder Pines twins of the dangers that lurked ahead?

"Thinkin' some thoughts?" Stan asked casually, sitting on the mattresses edge.

"I just… don't know what to do." Dipper admitted, hugging the tape measure to his chest.

"What do you have there?"

Dipper opened his cupped hands to show him. "A tape measure?" He plucked it from Dipper's grasp, examining it curiously. "Huh, that's high tech." he handed it back, expression friendly.

Dipper's heart ached. Stan was so nice. His mistakes didn't warrant the reaction they'd gotten. Kicked out at seventeen, his twin lost to him for decades.

"Kid?" A warm palm on his shoulder jostled Dipper from his thoughts and he met Stan's gaze. "Wanna talk about it?"

Dipper shook his head, blinking away tears he hadn't noticed forming. Stan would do anything for them. Shouldn't they return the favor?

"C-can I have a hug?"

Stan's face, unwrinkled but recognizable anywhere, softened. "Come here." He spread his arms, grunting as Dipper aggressively hugged him. He wrapped an arm around the boy, other hand petting his hair the way his mother did when he or Ford were upset.

"Kid… I'm really glad I found you before some scumbag did, but you two can't stay with me. I can barely take care of myself. There has to be someone missing you two."

There was. Stanley and Stanford Pines, thirty years in the future. In this year-1970 something?-they hadn't been born yet.

"No, there really isn't." Chin quivering, Dipper swallowed the lump that had risen in his throat. "I don't know what to do, Stan. Mabel's counting on me. I can't let her down. I have to make things right. I just… don't know how I'm going to do that."

Stan was taken aback by the confession.

He smiled. Dipper was a good kid. Protecting his sister. He could get a real job, give up on bad scams and make an honest living. The kids even looked like him; anybody would believe they were his.

No. He was getting ahead of himself. No matter how irrationally attached he'd grown to them, these kids weren't his to keep. They had to be runaways; but kids didn't run away for no reason. If they were runaways, their living situation must have been unbearable. If the streets were better than their home, what did that say?

"Hey, want to know why people call me Dipper?"

Stan grinned indulgently at him and he flipped the lid of his cap up. Flabbergasted, Stan made his decision.

If no one else wanted these kids, he would take care of them.

Notes: Timestuck AU. I was on Tumblr and found some great art and stories about timestuck and thought I'd try my hand at it. I don't know the creator of this AU, if anyone knows please tell me so I can credit them. Seriously, Mabel and Mullet Stan is my favorite thing right now. This is a little different from what I've seen, by having both Mabel and Dipper transported back together. The writing is somewhat more informal from my typical style, but go with what works I suppose. Thank you for reading, and please let me know if you liked this chapter!