Hello there, my peeps! :)

This fic is completely and utterly based off of this one picture I saw on Pinterest. I have, actually, managed to track down the owner; a lovely artist who goes by the name sailorleo. All story credit idea belongs to this wonderful human being. However, I haven't managed to figure out how to get in contact with her and ask her permission for this fic; if anyone out there can give me any advice or can ask the artist yourself, that would be greatly appreciated! :)

PLEASE GO CHECK SAILORLEO OUT! :D :D :D

I saw this picture and my hands just flew to life. It was really powerful. (And depressing.) I love Gravity Falls, and so to see something like this kind of broke my heart, but only because my love for the characters and their bond is so strong.

TRIGGER WARNING! THIS FIC INCLUDES A PANIC ATTACK AND POSSIBLE PTSD; IF THIS CAN HARM YOU IN ANY WAY PLEASE TAKE CARE; I DON'T WANT TO UPSET ANYONE! (Also if this triggers you in any way I hope you know you are absolutely amazing and that I love you and that I hope that whatever you're going through gets better.)

Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy!

...

"Ok, just breathe… What's your name?"

The air was catching in his throat, getting broken and stuck and tearing it apart into pieces. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, because it was so wrong, wrong, wrong. His heart was stuttering in his chest and every scar, every bruise, everything that had ever happened in that summer because of that terrible demon burned. Everything was burning with blue fire and he wanted it off, he wanted it to go away.

Blue fire, like when his stupid, stupid younger self had reached out and grabbed that hand, grabbed it and watched as it burst into flames, grabbed it and watched as his life burned down around him.

He choked, blinked back tears. There was no Bill Cypher; there was just him. Just Dipper and Mabel. He was okay.

"Dipper P-Pines."

The hands around his fingers gave a quick squeeze, and he tried to swallow again because he could still feel all control of his body abruptly leaving him. Could still see himself, could see Bill, taking over his body and could still feel the absolute hopelessness of not being able to do anything and he was trapped, trapped in his own mind and-

"How old are you?"

He had been twelve. Twelve. Too young, too stupid, not smart enough or strong enough or brave enough. Still wasn't. He had almost gotten everyone he loved killed, or worse. He had almost ruined everything, and it was all his fault, all his fault. Everything was his fault. He had been so, so young and he had been so, so lost and why did he ever have to find that stupid journal and summon that stupid demon. Why was he so stupid?

He blinked.

He suddenly wasn't in Gravity Falls anymore. He was in a small cramped kitchen sitting on a simple wooden dining chair at a simple wooden dining table. The counters were a mess and the kitchen clock read 2:43 AM. His loose pajamas were somehow scratching at his skin and the world was a blur though his tears. Someone's hands were holding his, fuzzy pink sleeping shirt softly brushing against his wrist, and it was Mabel.

Mabel.

He could trust her.

TRUST NO ONE!

But he could trust her.

"Fifteen."

Breathe in, breathe out. He was here, not there. He was okay. He was fine.

"Where's Bill?"

Immediately, he began shaking. Breaths coming fast and hard and choked, but there was no air in those breaths, only the ghosts of memories long past and nightmares of blue fire.

He was a wimp. He was stupid. He was vulnerable, and any minute Bill was going to appear behind him, was going to start speaking and was going to hold out his hand, blue fire sparking into life, and he was going to take it like the idiot he was and ruin everything again.

He could feel the burning once more, except this time it was everywhere, and it was burning him alive.

He squeezed his eyes shut, fought back the tears, one breath and then another, opened them. Stared at his hand that his sister was holding so tight, so carefully- as if he would shatter at any given moment- reminded himself that he was here. He was here and he was alive- they were all alive- and Bill had no power over him anymore. They had won.

"H-He's gone, he's dead."

He knew, logically, that he was safe. That he was okay. That Bill Cypher was long gone and that would never come back. He was safe. He was okay. Bill Cypher was dead. Bill Cypher would never be able to harm him again.

But he still saw him. Saw him in his dreams. In his nightmares. Glowing red eyes and burning blue fire, cackles echoing throughout his consciousness and watching himself- watching Bill in his body- pretend and pretend and pretend. Watched as he set up every demise of every loved one. Watched, helpless, as they died and screamed and cried.

Mabel.

Grunckle Stan.

Great Uncle Ford.

Soos.

Wendy.

Mom.

Dad.

All of them, gone. Dead. By his own hand.

Over and over and over, the eerie laughter playing like a demented theme song in the background.

And then Bill turning on him, reaching out and grabbing his hand and shaking him, shaking him and telling him- telling him the truth- that it was his fault, all his fault…

He always woke up screaming.

His hand was pressed to his mouth, he realized, and he was shaking like a leaf as the tears streamed down his face.

Mabel was squeezing his hand. She was okay. She was fine. Bill hadn't gotten to her. He hadn't gotten to her.

"Yeah. It's okay. You're safe."

He swallowed. Safe. He was safe? He didn't feel that safe. Because what if? What if Bill came back? What if he had escaped? Bill was a dream demon. Bill had been in his dreams, torturing him in his sleep; did that mean he was back?

It did. He was back and he was coming for him and he was going to make all the wrong choices and he was going to get everyone killed for real this time and-

Mabel was looking at him, rubbing circles into his numb hand, and her large brown eyes were shining with worry and fear, but they were real, they were alive, and she was okay. She was safe.

If she was okay, Dipper could be okay, too. He could.

Tentatively, he forced his fingers to move. He closed his eyes and blocked out the rest of the world, focused only on the two warm hands holding his own.

There was no demons. No monsters or deals or terrible mistakes that he could never take back. No more nightmares turned reality.

There was no Bill Cypher.

His fingers twitched, curled around and grasped Mabel's hands like a lifeline. Slowly, his other hand lowered and joined the limbs on the table. His sister grabbed that one as well- gently, so gently- and gave it a quick squeeze.

He was in control. He was okay.

"I'm safe."

And Mabel gave him a smile, stood up- still holding his hands- and gently pulled him down the corridor.

"Exactly. You're safe. We're all safe."

And they sat on the old green sofa and watched silly children cartoons until the sun was high in the sky and the world started to wake up, pretending that they were young again and that everything was simple and normal and perfectly fine.

He fell asleep with his head buried into the crook of Mabel's neck and his eyes blurring the bright shapes on the TV into a kaleidoscope of colors, finally able to breathe.

Because he was okay. He was safe.

And he knew that tomorrow would be another day. Another battle to live through and fight through and survive through. Another war.

But right then, right then... he was okay. There were no dreams of triangular demons and blue fire. There was no death or doom. He was okay.

He was safe.

...

And so, there you have it! I hope everyone enjoyed! :D

Thank you in advance for any reviews or favorites or follows; it means so much much to me that people take the time to leave a little note or a little show of support, and it makes writing an even more wonderful experience. :)

So long!

-Mashpotatoe Queen