Genuine1
Part 1 of Grandfathers
Chapter 1
Not beta-read.
Cross-posted to Ao3.
Author's Ramblings - Well, here I am starting another fanfic (even though I have several others I should finish first). After binge watching Gravity Falls and looking over a lot of ideas on tumblr, I was inspired to write. Here is my version of the Grunkle4Grandpa theory, written after the episode AToTS, but before Dungeonsx3. I hope you guys enjoy it! (By the way, technically I'd like to write this in parts, but due to organization I would rather make this one long story).
"Stan, he looks just like you," Carla said softly, tenderly holding the baby.
Stan's brow furrowed. "Yeah, I guess he kinda does," he agreed.
-000-
"WHAT!" Mabel yelled, leaping up to her feet.
"Your, your our…" Dipper stuttered.
"Ha! I knew it!" Ford said, triumphantly. "Sherman is too young to be a grandfather."
A flash of lightning lit up the room and a boom of thunder followed. However, the weather did nothing to deter the Pines' from this new revelation. Mabel ran in place, unable to contain herself. Dipper continued to sit on his place on the floor, eyes wide, staring at what he thought was his Grunkle Stan. After the first exclamation, Ford had calmed down and started eyeing his twin with curiosity.
"It's not what you think! Settle down." Stan said.
Mabel did no such thing, and proceeded to her Grunkle's (or Grandfather's?) side. "But Grunkle Stan-"
"No." He interrupted.
"But-"
"Mabel. Dipper." Stan sighed. "This isn't- it's not-" The twins looked at him expectantly. Stan felt his resolve crumble under their stare. And he didn't even want to know how Ford was looking at him. Stanley sighed again. There was no way out of telling this story.
"Fine," he said flatly. "Move the candles over and let me sit down."
The twins hurriedly moved the candles over, so that their Grunkle could sit on the floor next to them. Stan gingerly sat down and propped his back against his arm chair. Much better. If he was going to tell this story, he wasn't going to tell it to them sitting above them. Once he was settled, Mabel gingerly curled up next to him. Dipper scooted close to Mabel and laid on his stomach. The two of them stared up at him innocently.
Stanley involuntarily looked at his brother, Stanford.
His twin was.. not happy, but not angry either. He was curious and his curiosity was overwhelming any other reactions that Ford may have. He would stay quiet and let Stan finish the story.
There was another flash of lightning.
"How did you guys convince me to talk about this again?" Stan grumbled.
"Wellllll," Mabel started. "This mysterious storm started which caused all the electricity to go out, which meant that we couldn't open the Mystery Shack and made it so Great Uncle Ford couldn't work downstairs. Then you called Soos to come fix the Shack, but we don't know if he got the message, so we had to break out the candles. Then you, Grunkle Stan, were talk about how you wished this could have happened during the Woodstick Festival. And I was like, 'why do you hate the Woodstick Festival, Grunkle Stan?' Then you revealed that Carla had a baby that looked like you!" Mabel finished all in one breath. She took a few deep breaths before before continuing, "and now here we are. The four of us all together like a big happy family, and you're about to tell us the story about how you may not be our Grunkle Stan."
"Again," Dipper added.
Stan felt a stab of guilt. He shook it off.
Stan used one hand to pull Dippers cap over his eyes and used the other to mess up Mabel's hair. Dipper swatted at his Grunkle's hand with a smile and Mabel giggled. "Before you go making any accusations, know that I'll always be your ol' Grunkle Stan. Nothing's going to change that," Stanley said with a soft grin. Mabel and Dipper grinned right back.
"But you kids.. you guys deserve to know the truth. So I'm gonna start at the very beginning. And don't interrupt me this time." Stan settled back and let his memories take him elsewhere.
"It started thirty years ago, after I had just lost Ford to the portal…"
-000-
"The Mystery Shack, or the Murder Hut as it was called back then, was doing well. I was making enough money to keep the place running and I had earned my reputation for being a mysterious and solitary man.'
But at night, I wasn't having any luck with getting the portal running…"
"WHY WON'T YOU WORK!" Stan bellowed. He messed with the lever again, but nothing changed. He kicked over the tool box in frustration and the tools went flying. It did nothing to temper his anger and he threw his head back to yell at the portal.
Again, nothing changed.
Stan snapped and charged at the portal.
"GIVE ME MY BROTHER BACK YOU FUCKING MACHINE!"
He threw his arm back, then slammed his fist into the portal. Pain blossomed against his knuckles. He didn't care and threw back his other arm to punch the portal. Despite the pain, Stanley kept at it, screaming and punching the portal until his knuckles were red and numb.
He didn't know for how long he was punching the portal. Whether it was from the frustration, the pain, the lack of sleep, or the hunger, Stanley could feel himself flagging. His punches began to gradually slow, but he continued until he was too tired to lift his arms. Panting, he stumbled forward and let his forehead hit the portal with a dull 'thunk.'
Then he slammed his head against the portal.
Stanley felt hot tears start to spill down his cheeks and pretended the liquid was from the blood running down his face. He tried to bring his hands up to wipe his face, when he was hit with vertigo. The world tilted and Stanley was stumbling backwards as his sense of balance shifted. Unfortunately, he tripped over one of the tools lying around. Unable to catch himself in time, Stan's head slammed against the floor and everything went dark.
Stanley Pines might have died that night, alone, bloody, and in the dark, but in this dimension, there was someone with enough power and need for Stanley to stay alive. As soon as Stan's head hit the ground, another being popped into existence to save him.
"Sheesh," Bill said, examining Stan's injured body. The triangular demon poked Stan with his cane. Stan didn't respond. "You Pines' brothers are so alike, so eager to throw away your short lives for things that aren't even worth it."
-000-
"BILL CIPHER! You've met Bill Cipher before!" Dipper cried out. "But- but-"
"How on earth did you come across Bill Cipher?" Stanford interrupted. "I find it hard to believe that Cipher would have come waltzing in to help you with the portal," he said, eyes narrowed.
"What did I say about interruptions!" Stan snapped. "Anyway, Cipher comes in when I'm having trouble with the portal and offers his help. That's what happened, end of story."
"Grunkle Stan…" Mabel said, gently.
"And since when did you kids meet Cipher?" Stan threw back.
Dipper and Mabel traded a guilty look.
"That's what I thought. Anyways, should I continue with the story, or not." Stan said flatly.
"Yes, Grunkle Stan," Mabel and Dipper mumbled softly.
Ford nodded rather stiffly, but gave Stanley a look that said that the conversation would be continued some other time.
"Anyways, where was I? Oh yeah, Cipher had just popped out of nowhere…"
-000-
Stanley groaned in pain. He was sore, tired, and it felt like he had just been run over by a truck. He would know. At least nothing felt too broken this time. And what was poking him?
"Wake up, Sunshine!"
His eyes snapped open and he was greeted with Bill Cipher in his face. Screaming he tried to back away, but the pain from his throbbing head stopped him.
"Well, that's no way to treat a pal," the demon said. "Name's Bill Cipher," he offered a hand. "I knew your brother."
Stan stopped trying to get away. "You knew my brother?"
"Well, of course! He summoned me to help him with the place, including this!" Bill threw his arms back, gesturing towards the portal.
"You can, you can work the portal?" Stan said, hope coloring his voice. The floating triangle had thrown him for a loop, but if it could help him get his brother back, then he could deal with it.
"No." Stan's face fell. "My power doesn't work that way, unfortunately-"
"Wait, powers?" Stan interrupted. "Do you have some way to bring my brother back?"
"Wellllll…." Bill turned away, pretending to think about the question. The front of his body flashed, showing images of a child, a woman with flowers in her hair, and a fire. "I could try, I mean. I don't know if I have the power, to do that."
"I'll do anything!" Stan offered, scrambling to his feet.
The yellow on the demon's front returned, and he around. "Great! All I need is full use of your body! Do we have a deal?" Bill's right hand blazed with blue fire and Stan didn't even hesitate to take it.
"Deal."
-000-
"GRUNKLE STAN~!"
"Stanley!"
"Shhh- you- stop interrupting and let me finish the story!"
-000-
At first, Stanley thought nothing was happening.
Then the whole world tilted. Bill Cipher started laughing maniacally in front of him and kept laughing. Stanley couldn't help but scream, as he was met with excruciating pain. However, he kept his eyes open, determined to stay conscious and make sure Bill kept his end of the deal. He hadn't noticed before, but the world was void of color. Now, the gray was bleeding away in front of him, coalescing into one spot.
Then, there was a flash of light and in front of him was..
"A baby?"