Light streamed through the cracked living room window as the sun began to set, the sound of squeaking floorboards breaking the silence that filled the otherwise silent room. A set of twins sat on the sofa, watching intently as their nephew paced in a straight line in front of them; an activity that he had been doing for the past hour or so. 17 year old Dipper Pines glanced at his great uncle's, his brown eyes glazed with anxieties. As much as he tried not to he tended to wear his heart on his sleeve. He drew his eyes away from the pair on the couch and instead favored watching the door. He forced himself to take a deep breath, the air filling his lungs and settling the knot in his stomach.

Any minute now Mabel would walk through those doors. It feels like it has been years since he had talked to his sister, their conversations that once were a frequent occurrence fizzling out after the first few months of their parting. They used to talk every night; Mabel curled up in her brothers old room a with a cup of tea that tastes like home and Dipper seated in the living room chair, both reliving their adventures to the other in hopes of retaining some familiarity in their lives. It had been four years since the agreed to part ways, giving up all that they knew in order to find themselves as people instead of a unit. Four years and Dipper can still remember the conversation that sealed their fates.

The pair was sitting on the cool wood of the attic floor, the chilly temperature against Dipper's legs making him frown. He was going to miss this. His eyes watched his as she pulled her sweater closer to her, making her feel small. Dippers words seemed careful and calculated as he spoke, trying to figure out how to perfectly express the crushing feeling in his chest. "I thought this was what I wanted… But what I really want is you."

Mabels eyes grew sad as she gave him a smile. "Dipper… This is everything you could have dreamed of! It's time that you put yourself first." In seven words Dipper blurted out the fear that had been eating him alive since their grimm conversation started. His voice was barely above a whisper, unsure of if he was talking to himself or to his twin.

"I don't want to be like them."

Mabel rose to her feet wordlessly and enveloped her brother in a hug. He held her tightly, his mind racing at the thought of what may become of them. She pulled away but stayed close to him, their knees touching as Dipper fought to meet her gaze.

"We won't be like them. No matter what happens, we aren't like them." Mabel smiled at him, hoping to bring him comfort as she held out a pinky and wiggled it in front of him. She made her voice all silly.

"Piiinnnkkkeeeeyyy."
Dipper finally caved and let a small laugh erupted from his chest as he looped his small finger with hers. He looked down at their interwoven fingers and felt something. Still fighting to keep a smile he looked up at here.

"This isn't goodbye."

"It's 'I'll see you soon.'"

With that Dipper hugged Mabel tighter then he ever hugged her before, taking in everything about her so he could lock it away in his memories. The feeling of her arms around him, her voice, the softness of her sweaters, every little detail he took in like his life depended on it. Finally he let her go, and she gave him a joking punch to the shoulder.

Dippers movements finally slowed to a stop as he ran his fingers through his hair, the curly chestnut waves slightly longer than it was years ago. He turned to face his uncles and rubbed the stress from his eyes. "What if she's changed?" His voice took him by surprise, his thoughts voicing itself on its own accord. Ford smiled at him reassuringly. The truth is, the entire aura of uncertainty revolving their great niece had been eating away at both Stan and Ford since they scheduled her stay with them a few months prior.

"I am sure she has. But I am also sure that she is still your sister, changes and all. We all change Dipper but it is the fact that we-" Ford's speech was cut off by a loud knock at the front door. The three men looked at the door and Dipper took a deep breath before going over to answer as the light knocks struck the door again. The door swung open and his sister stood before him.

The smile that adorned her face was the same as before and the twinkle in her dark brown eyes took his breath away. He drank in her appearance; her hair that was cut short, hanging just above her chest in the same curls that he had. The mustard yellow sweater she wore had shown signs of change in her knitting, the fabric woven in a way he didn't recognise. A white collared shirt stuck out the top of the sweater and tucked into the black skirt and leggings. She was still an adorable little dork but in a more mature sense. He didn't realize just how much he missed her until this moment.

Without saying a single word she pulled him into a warm hug, which was immediately returned. They stood on the front porch, locked in a tight embrace for a solid 3 minutes just reveling in each others presence before Stan decided it was his turn. His voice was exactly how Mabel remembered it, breaking through the peacefully silence the twins had created.

"What, no hug for you 'ol Grunkle?!" Mabel laughed brightly as she latched onto him, hugged him tightly. Mabel noted that was still quite a bit shorter than him, the older man holding a good 4 inches on her. "We missed you pumpkin."

"It's good to be back." She smiled brightly at him and he ruffled her hair. Everyone was happy to hear that her laugh sounded just the same. Her eyes drifted beyond Stan to find Ford standing a few feet behind him, his hands laced awkwardly in front of him. Seeing as his arrival was late summer he didn't know Mabel long before she left. It was one thing he always regretted. He never really knew Mabel so he felt unimportant to her, deciding to linger behind the others as they greeted her. His anxiety dissipated when her eyes met her and he caved, opening his arms for a hug and sighing with content as she wrapped her arms around him.

"It's good to see you again Grunkle Ford."

He smiled as she pulled away. "It's good to see you too darling. Now, let's get your bags and we can start dinner." She nodded at him and lead the three to her car, which was parked besides Stans. Dipper was impressed, her car looked really nice. Their parent's had never been wealthy people but with one less child to pay for it seemed feasible.

"Birthday gift?" Dipper asked grabbing a suitcase from the trunk. She had about five bags, 3 bigger trunks and two duffle bags. She smiled and rubbed the back of her neck, a nervous habit that everyone in the Pines family had.

"Yeah, a good friend of mine got it for me. We actually made a lot of customizations so it is pretty nice. We should go for a drive sometime."

"I would like that."