Warning: I brought some of my cringey headcanon into this story, mostly involving the twins' parents, so there's that... Um, enjoy the angst and sibling love!

"Mabel!" Mrs. Pines called up the stairs. Her daughter came running around the corner and down the stairs.

"Yeah, Mommy?" Mabel responded.

"Come over here for a second." Mrs. Pines motioned her over to the couch. She leaned closer to Mabel and whispered, "Do you know what's been going on with Dipper? He's been acting weird lately."

Mabel looked down; she'd noticed the same thing, but every time she asked him what was wrong, he just said 'nothing'. "I don't know," Mabel whispered back. "He won't tell me."

"Can you please find out? I need to know if something's wrong, and he trusts you more than anyone else."

"I will. Promise."

THE NEXT DAY

The second the door opened when the twins got home, Mrs. Pines knew it was bad.

"Dipper!" She called as her son tried to sprint past to get to the stairs. She grabbed his hand before he could make it very far. "Dipper- Dipper look at me." Finally, he looked up at her, his face wet with tears. "Honey..."

"I- just want- to lay down," he said, wiping his eyes, trying to calm his breathing.

Mrs. Pines looked to the front door, where Mabel was standing, her face almost as pained as her brother's. She sighed, stroked his hair, then let him go.

Once he'd disappeared upstairs, Mabel threw herself into her mothers arms, breaking down herself. "It's bad, Mommy."

"What happened to him? Is he okay? Are you okay?" Mrs. Pines felt Mabel shake her head 'no' against her chest. "What's going on?"

Mabel pulled away and looked at her. "It's these two boys at school. They- they keep making fun of Dipper. They're being so mean- they think he's messed up!" Mabel was getting louder, her anger taking over. "I have to go," she said suddenly, before bolting for the stairs. "Dipper! I'm sorry!"

Mrs. Pines pressed her hand to her eyes. Poor Dipper. Of course, when he was born, she knew this might happen; there are always those who are mean enough to make fun of others. But she had always believed his birthmark made him unique. Unfortunately, not everyone will see it that way...

Her attention was recaptured when she heard the front door open; Mr. Pines had returned from work.

"Are you okay, Lynn?" He asked, seeing the stress on her face.

Mrs. Pines sighed. "I don't know Reid. Something Mabel told me today is really bothering me." Mr. Pines sat on the couch beside his wife, waiting for her to go on. "I mean, Dipper's been acting so strange lately, and today Mabel told me that some kids at school are making fun of him."

"Why? I thought everyone liked the twins."

"So did I!" She shook her head. "But from what Mabel said, it sounds pretty bad."

Mr. Pines started to say something to console her, but was silenced by the sound of the stairs creaking. He and Mrs. Pines looked up to see Dipper slowly coming down the steps.

"Mom, Dad," he said, his voice still tight from crying. "I need to grow my hair out. And I'm not going back to school until I do. I can't." He took a deep breath, willing himself to stay calm.

"Now, son-" Mr. Pines started, but choked at the miserable look on his son's face. He tried again. "You know there's nothing wrong with you, Dipper."

"Yes there is!" Dipper yelled at them, not being able to stop the tears this time. "And that's not my name! I- I hate this!"

Now Mrs. Pines was really hurt. This was affecting him so deeply, even the nickname he loved was just a source of pain. So, even though she couldn't think of him as anyone but her Dipper, she said, "What we mean is, Mason, you have no reason to hide. But," she said, "if you feel like you need to do it, we won't stop you."

He looked up at her. "And I don't have to go back?"

"Honey, you have to go to school-" Dipper looked down- "but, what if I made you a little something to make it easier?"

He perked up. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, you'll have to wait and see." Mrs. Pines winked, and Dipper smiled a little. Then he jumped up and hugged his parents.

"I love you guys," he whispered.

"We love you too, Mason," Mr. Pines said. Dipper walked back upstairs.

Still confused, Mr. Pines asked his wife, "What did you mean by a 'surprise'?"

"Oh, I was thinking..." she picked up her sewing needles and yarn. "A hat, maybe?"

Mr. Pines chuckled. "I think he'll love it."

The two were interrupted yet again by the stairs creaking, only this time, it was the other twin coming down.

"Mommy? Is Dipper gonna be okay?" Mabel asked. "I'm scared for school tomorrow."

"Mabel, can I trust you with something?" Mrs. Pines asked; Mabel nodded. "If I'm honest, sweetie, it probably won't be much better tomorrow. But Mommy and Daddy have something to ask of you..." Mrs. Pines looked at her husband, unsure if she should go on.

"I'll make sure he's okay." Mabel said, startling both parents.

"Mabes, you don't ha-" Mr. Pines was cut off.

"No. I have to. I'm gonna fix this."