Ten years is a long time. A lot of things can change in that time. Stanley Pines understood that. After all he lost track of the number of time she had to change his identity in that time. Not to mention the fads and trends. A lot of things change in ten years.

He just didn't expect his brother to change that much.

That wasn't the only thing on his mind. Nor was it the first. No when he first received that postcard that urgently called him to Gravity Falls his first thoughts were worry. Sure he wished that Ford had called out to him BEFORE this, but if his brother needed him, he would be there no matter what. Though after driving for hours with little to no sleep, he didn't expect to find a lone shack in the middle of the woods. Nor, did he expect to his brother wild eyed and armed with a crossbow.

Which brought him to now. Sure his brother was still the genius he knew. How else did you explain the crazy transdimensional portal thing. Or all the mumbo jumbo. But apparently he was also a few screws loose. How else did you explain the crazy questions and the yelling about someone being after his eyes. Seriously.

But it did feel good to be told that Ford still trusted him. Despite everything. Only to hurt even more when he was told to go as far away as possible. That kind of deep betrayal on top of all the stress of his life was NOT doing him any favors.

Stan wasn't a complete idiot, but he was never very good at holding his anger at bay either. Something that got him in trouble many times over Hell it was how this whole mess started ten years ago. So it was very understandable that he exploded.

"THAT'S IT!? You finally want to see me after ten years, and it's to tell me to get as far away from you as possible?"

"Stanley you don't understand what I'm up against. What I've been through.

Oh that was priceless to hear from the spoiled one. The one that could get whatever he wanted. The one that hadn't had to scrape by for the last decade. Stanley wanted to much to just rip into his brother. To challenge him. And in many instances he would.

"Oh yeah? Then why don't you tell me wise guy." However this time he wanted to hear what his brother had to say first. Hear what minor problems Ford had gone through so that he could throw it all in his twins face with his OWN troubles. Real troubles.

Ford seemed to hesitate for the slightest of moments then he took a deep breathe. "I made a deal with a demon."

Okay, that was straight outta left field. Like a strong left cross to the chin when you expected a straight jab. Did ford deal with the mob too? Is that why he was out here? "Umm Stanford, I think the term is a deal with the devil."

"No, I didn't talk to a devil. I talked to a demon. From another dimension." Another.. Stan looked over his shoulder at the giant triangle gate thing. Right.

"Okay, why would you do that? Demon's are a bad guys right? I'm pretty sure you're smarter than that."

Ford sighed deeply, and it became obvious to Stan just how tired his brother looked. When was the last time he had even slept? His twin reached up with a six fingered hand and massaged the bridge of his nose.

"I should have been. However I wanted knowledge. Knowledge he was willing to trade for brief periods of control over my body. I had hoped that…" Another sigh. Depressed and defeated. "I made a mistake Stanley. A terrible mistake. The entire universe is at stake if I don't fix this."

"And you need me to take this book so that you can?" Stan asked. He didn't like this. He wanted to be with his brother, but if this was what he was good for…

"Yes Stanley. Like I said, you are the ONLY one I can trust with that book. Please Stanley."

Stanley closed his eyes. His fingers became white from his hard he gripped the worn book in his hands. This hurt. This really really hurt. However…

"Fine but on one condition."

"What condition?"

"When you are done saving the world, you send me another postcard and we meet up to sail around the world on a boat. Deal?" he held out his hand to shake and Ford flinched and stared down at the hand like it was a cobra ready to bite him. His hand flinched to his coat in a way that was very familiar to Stanley. Why the hell would Ford want to pull a gun just because he offered to shake hands?

However Ford seemed to rally, but even then he hesitated. He could see it in his brother's eyes. He was weighing his options. Judging if Stan's help was worth the cost. It was such a small cost though. What was so important that Ford would consider fulfilling their childhood dream as potentially too big a cost?

However the moment passed. "After I saved the world and gotten my affairs in order. Then we will set sail."

"I'll take it."

With a deep breath and a soul examining stare Stanford took his hand and shook it. "Then we have a deal."

Stanley's face broke into smile as he used his grip to pull Ford into a bear hug. "Then I will leave you to it. Just don't take another ten years sixer."

"I'll try not to Stanley."

With a laugh pulled away from his twin and lifted up a hand saying words he hadn't uttered in ten years "High six!"

Stanford smiled and even chuckled a bit as he responded "High six."

He hadn't felt this good in ten years.

Hours later found Stanley sitting back in the driver seat of his car on some secluded forest trail. He didn't really have the money to rent a room at the moment. And it was fairly late anyway. However with everything that had happened he just couldn't find it in himself to sleep yet. He needed something.

After a minute of thinking he reached into the back seat and dug around until he found an old flashlight. Then he cracked open that journal Ford gave him. It couldn't hurt to see what exactly his brother wanted him to hide right?