Prologue
Lana Pines knew something was wrong with her three year old daughter, Mabel. It had started off with Mabel being really fussy and uncomfortable. Lana thought that by giving Mabel some children's Tylenol and keeping an eye on her twin boy, Dipper, everything would be fine. Then it evolved into Mabel having pain in her legs and her skin taking on a very pale color. This led to an immediate rush to the emergency room with Mabel in the stroller and Dipper being held in the other arm. At the hospital, the doctors immediately admitted Mabel and once they checked her symptoms and vitals they had their answer. When Lana was called from the waiting room by the doctor she knew that the news was anything but good.
Lana's ears rang as the doctor explained the situation. Only certain words such as intense fever, meningitis, and a low chance of survival Lana registered. The mother held Dipper numbly in her arms and refused to acknowledge the physical world around her. The toddler cooed softly and stared up at his mother with wide, curious eyes. Lana smiled softly and ran a hand through Dipper's soft curls and lifted up his bangs to gaze upon his birthmark. The birthmark was of the big dipper constellation, which inspired Lana and her husband to call him that as a nickname.
Oh god, her husband. She did not even call her husband to give him the news. Joseph Pines worked as a structural engineer which required him to be away from his family on business quite often. Lana did not have the energy or the heart to tell her husband that their daughter might be dead by the time he came home.
Sobs racked her body as emotions found their way back inside and drowned out the numbness. Tears fell from the woman's face and racked her body into sobs. Lana held Dipper close to her chest as though he was a life preserve until he began to squirm. Numerous nurses and patients walked by the sobbing woman and gave her pitiful glances. Lana didn't care, her daughter was dying and she was going to have a cry if she damn well pleased. She felt like a failure of a mother.
Once Lana cried until she was hoarse and there were no more tears left, she took Dipper and went inside Mabel's hospital room. Lana bit her lip and urged herself to be strong for her children. The three year old was asleep in the bed hooked up to an IV. Her face was relaxed but Lana knew that the medication was helping Mabel asleep. The entire week was filled with Mabel crying because she was in pain or feeling sick. Her skin tone was now a sickly pale, a far cry from the healthy peach color she once had.
Lana sat in the recliner near the bed with Dipper in her lap. The boy leaned against his mother's chest while she ran her fingers nervously through his hair.
"Mabie sick?" Dipper asked with curious eyes.
Lana sighed and stroked her son's face. He was so young and did not understand the gravity of the situation. All he knew was that sissy was sick and he wanted to help.
"Yes baby, Mabel is sick", Lana said to her son softly.
Dipper climbed out of his mother's arms and walked to the bed. Seeing his sister hooked up to the scary machines and not waking up frightened him. Dipper took Mabel's limped hand and held on tightly.
"Please get better Mabie", he pleaded with tears in his eyes.
Lana left the siblings alone in the moment. The twins had a relationship that went beyond simply being brother and sister, they were best friends. Mabel played with Dipper when none of the other kids did and never left his side as babies. There was always an indestructible line keeping them together. Now Lana could see that line withering away into dust.
Lana arranged to spend the night at the hospital with Mabel. The doctors had Mabel on a respirator so that she could sleep through the night. Dipper refused to leave his twins' side and Lana did not have the heart to forbid him from spending one last night with his sister. Thankfully Lana had kept Mabel in a private room so there was room for a blow up cot to put on the floor. That night Lana had to coerce Dipper to come with her to pick up an overnight bag dinner for themselves that night but Dipper was not having it. Lana offered to let Dipper pick where they would eat and promised that they would come right back. Dipper finally relented but not before planting a kiss to Mabel's hand.
Fifteen minutes later Lana and Dipper returned to the hospital with an overnight bag and McDonald's in hand. Lana set up the meal on the bedside table and allowed Dipper to sit and eat in the bed with Mabel so long as he did not get any food on the sheets and was to be careful of Mabel. Mother and son ate their meal in content silence with the television playing softly in the background. Once the meal was finished and cleaned up, Lana took out Dipper's pajamas and tooth brush and helped him get ready for bed. Once her little boy was dressed for bed, Lana slipped on her pajamas in the bathroom. Soon enough, Lana and Dipper were curled up in bed with Mabel in between them. Lana made sure to grab Dipper's favorite movie, The Sword in the Stone, from home in an attempt to make him comfortable. She knew that it was a longshot but it was worth a shot. Dipper had nodded off fifteen minutes until the end. Lana got up carefully to turn off the movie and get some sleep herself. The room was plunged into complete darkness, making Lana feel small and timid.
"Well, well, well, isn't this a pretty picture?" a high pitched voice spoke.
Suddenly, the room turned gray and dismal. Everything was now deathly still as though time seemed to stand still. Lana quickly looked over to Dipper and saw that he did not even stir this relieved her but also brought worry. In the area separating the bed from the door a flash of light followed by numerous little cubes that joined together to from a pyramid. The pyramid cackled maniacally while a pair of legs and arms crawled out from its body. In a flash, the pyramid was now completely visible.
"What the hell?" Lana said softly.
The pyramid was as yellow as the sands of Egypt. A black top hat and bow tie were worn as though he were a man with flair. His size was also downgraded but was now floating. In the center of the triangle stood a single eye. Though he did not look intimidating, Lana kept her guard.
"Evening toots, name's Bill Cipher and I think I can help you out" he said with the suaveness of a car salesman.
"What are you?" Lana asked in a hard voice.
Bill rolled his eye in slight annoyance as though he had said this mantra more than once.
"I'm a dream demon, isn't it obvious?"
"You just look like a floating pyramid that has a thing for old fashioned accessories" Lana said crossing her arms.
Bill lightly chuckled at Lana's answer.
"You've got spunk mama bear, but it won't help you or your daughter. I can save her if we strike a deal" Bill said and conjured up a black cane to lean on.
Lana narrowed her eyes at the demon. She climbed off the bed and stepped closer to Bill. The triangle was giving off a glow that seemed to brighten up the room.
"What kind of a deal are you thinking of?" Lana asked crossing her arms.
"I will make it so that Mabel is completely healed, as though she were never sick to begin with. In return, I will take something that you have for myself" Bill explained.
Lana considered the conditions but she was still not convinced.
"I don't own anything incredibly valuable that you would want".
Bill chuckled softly but Lana could feel goosebumps forming on her arms.
"You do own something valuable that I need. My price is Dipper" Bill said pointing to Dipper's sleeping figure.
Lana's eyes widened and she instinctively wrapped clenched her fist.
"No, you're not taking my boy. What else can I give you?" Lana practically growled.
Bill crossed his arms and Lana swore that if Bill had a mouth he would be smirking.
"Easy there mama bear, I just want to negotiate this with you in a business-like manner" Bill said.
"I'm not negotiating shit with you. You're not taking my kid just so you can do whatever the hell you want with him. As a matter of fact, why do you want my boy? What use if he to you?" Lana asked.
"I have my reasons that aren't any of your business. Besides, you're not in much of a position to be asking questions", Bill drawled.
"What do you mean?" Lana asked.
"Meningitis can be treated if you catch it early enough. If only you saw the symptoms sooner and had taken Mabel for treatment, your little family would be all warm and snuggled at home", Bill said.
Lana felt like she had been kicked in the gut. Bill was right, if only she had gotten Mabel checked out when the signs were early none of this would be happening. The horrible truth clung to Lana like tar and she truly felt the world's worst mother.
"My god, I'm a horrible mother" she said softly while falling to her knees.
Bill flew down to her level and lifted up her chin to look him in the eye.
"You can redeem yourself with this deal. Shooting star will be healthy and grow into a perky, happy kid" he said in a calm voice.
"Shooting star?", Lana questioned the nickname.
"Oh, let's just say I'll be seeing her and Pine Tree in the future" Bill said winking his eye.
Lana considered her options. Her daughter was on sitting on the brink of death. The faces of the doctors telling Lana the news flashed. Expressions of pity were etched across them and a tombstone made of marble in a graveyard made itself known. Dipper was on his knees while Joseph had his arm around Lana, silent tears falling down his cheeks. This was Lana's future and the mother now knew her decision.
"Al right" Lana said straightening up.
Bill brightened up with happiness.
"Excellent! Now the terms of this agreement are as followed. I will cure Mabel of her disease and in return I will collect my payment in –",
"Dipper" Lana said stern voice.
"Excuse me?" Bill drawled.
"His name is Dipper, not payment as though he were money" Lana's voice was growing stronger and a little more defiant.
"Fine then, I will collect Dipper, in sixteen years. By then he'll be ripe and mature for the taking. The one other condition in this deal is that you are forbidden to tell anyone about this deal. Not your husband and especially not your children. If you break this condition, I will be personally see to it that Mabel ends up right back in the hospital and does not survive the hour, depends on my mood" Bill said with a cackle that froze Lana's blood.
"You're insane" Lana hissed with narrowed eyes.
"You're just figuring that out now? Do we have a deal?" Bill asked and stretched out his hand.
Blue flames encased Bill's little hand which bathed the gray room in a blow glow. Lana's face was illuminated and Bill could see every expression she was giving. He knew that Lana was a strong person but her maternal instincts were the weak link. Any person could be swayed if the life of their child was on the line.
"Fine", Lana forced herself to say though gritted teeth and shook his hand.
Once they released hands the fire died down. Bill snapped his fingers but nothing happened, confusing Lana.
"When you wake up, Shooting Star will be healthy as a horse. The doctors will think of it as a miracle of god, and the three of you can go home to find your husband back early", Bill said leaning on his cane.
Lana stroked Mabel's hair with her fingers but did not look at Bill.
"Well, now that my work is done I'll be off. See you guys in a few years. Remember, reality is an illusion, the universe is a hologram, buy gold, bye!" Bill exclaimed before he disappeared in a flash of light.
The room was thrust back into color and the clock changed as though only a minute had gone by. Dipper and Mabel were still sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of the conversation. Lana rubbed her face with her hands in exhaustion. Strands of her brown hair fell to the outside of her hands but she did not move them back.
"What have I done?"
Author's Note: constructive criticism is accepted but absolutely no flames.