A/N;

Disclaimer on profile.

umm... hey. this is definitely AU now. Also, i haven't watched the last ep of gravity falls yet, so none of the stuff that happened there. this is sort of my idea of what could have happened in the interlude between dipper and the rest getting to the shack, and whatever happens next in the plot. when i finish this, i will be watching the last episode, and if this gets relatively good feedback/i just feel like it/someone votes on my poll, i may possibly make a sequel using info from that episode and such. with twists because i like to warp cannon to its limits or blatantly ignore it when it comes to me writing fanfiction.

You have been warned - There is also very mild dipfica hinted at in here. just as a warning, in case that shit disgusts you.

For some reason.

It had – seemingly, there was no way to tell the time during weirdmageddon, but the innate feeling of time passing still happened – been at least a few hours since Dipper, Mabel, that lumberjack girl and the handyman (I should probably learn their names. What was her name again? Gwen? No, umm... Wendy! Yes, Wendy. No clue what the man's name is though. Not like I'd ask.) and I can still hear the voices of the others down below, probably in the living room, or the kitchen – I can never quite tell when in the Twins' attic bedroom – conversing, arguing about a plan of action. Since Dipper, and... uh... Wendy that's it – and the Handyman had been 'living' out in the Weird Zone – the handyman had somehow survived the Weirdlands; barren wastelands that seem to never end when in them in certain places, places that look like cartoons, and places that no-one ever comes back from - since the start – and apparently Dipper had actually survived, completely unscathed - save for a few cuts and bruises but nothing major - a meeting with Bill Cipher, and she'd never admit how impressed she was at that, but someone else didn't? Or something, Dipper said he was alive, at least there was that. Mr. Pines seemed relieved when he told him that. I think that was his emotion, it's kind of hard to tell with him – and so they'd told them of other safe places, and the fact that that Gideon kid had switched to their side so they could save Mabel, and they have no idea if he survived his front-on attack of The Pyramid Palace; Mabel feared the worst, for some reason – hadn't that kid tried to kill her or Dipper? Or something, Dipper didn't seem too worried; there were worse people to lose to the Weirdness, Mabel being one of them. (though I did pay attention to them throughout the story and, ouch, she replaced Dipper, yikes. Not cool, Mabel. Not cool. Wendy got round to telling her off about that, and no-one else looked impressed, but Dipper insisted she was a good sister – and, boy did she look guilty when he said that, I wonder why. (sarcasm, obviously.)) And -

well, so much has happened in such a short amount of time I needed a break. To, you know...

Think.

About...

Things.

Like...

ugh. Right. Just go out and say it, Pacifica.

Dad. And Mom.

Oh god dad and mom dad and mom dadandmomdadmomdadadadadadadad -

His face.

Dear lord his face.

Right. Breathe, in, out, in, out, in out in out in out in out inoutinoutinoutwhyamInotbreathingwhyohgodtheorificesinhisfacewhydidhedothatitwasevilhetriedtojoinhimevilbutdadbutbellbutfaceno-onedeservesthat-buthedid-buthedidn't-ohgodIcan'tbreathe -

"Pacifica!"

a voice. I recognise that voice.

"Pacifica! Hey – oh god she's not breathing – um stories! Right soothing okay, okay, right – um – oh god – um -"

I knowknewrecognise that voice.

Dipper.

"- so I decided that I didn't want my sister to be all depressed, and um, used the time-travel device to, uh, go back to the original time line – hey, actually, now I think about it, how did she remember anything about time travel; was it because I expected her to? Huh, anyway – um, next story -"

Dipper. Mansionghostsavedmesavedushatesmedoesn'thatemeknowsmethinksheknowsmehelpedmewhenIneededitsabotagedmylifeshowedmethetruth -

friendfoefriendfriend

Friend.

"- and that was one heck of a day, I'm telling you -"

Aww. That was kinda nice of him. Helping me. I guess.

Wait, was I having a panic attack?

Well. That - I'm lucky he found me then.

"Hey - You can stop now. But - ah - thanks. I guess. Uh - how's everything going - you know, with the plan."

Ugh, I hate it when I'm caught off guard. And it just had to be the same person. Twice, now. Ugh.

Dipper blinked, then smiled for a second, before registering my question and becoming serious.

"Okay, so, so far we've just been gathering all the intel we have and separating out jobs between us all. Putting people into groups they can work with, and all that. We've got scavengers, defenders and scouts set up, but I had to mediate far too many arguments between species for us to get much further - I had to set the Manotaurs up as the guards to stop them punching holes in the walls; they destroy stuff when they feel... well, any emotion, really. So, to be honest, not much, tensions are far too high to get any real planning or work done. So yeah, so far? It's not looking so good... but we'll see. Right now, I'm more worried about the person I found not breathing on the floor in our room, rocking back and forth. Are you alright, Pacifica?"

He genuinely seems worried...

Alright then.

"so, you know when weirdmageddon started, and Cipher demonstrated his power to the masses? Well... my family, we were in town when that happened - front row seats."

Dipper winced. Looks like he knows what I'm getting at here.

"So that was something. Well, Dad decided... he decided it would be a great idea to join bill andinreturngotalltheorficesinhisfaceswitchedround. So yeah. Mom disappeared... I don't know what happened to her. I don't really think it'd help to know, to be honest. Then I came across Mr. Pines, Grenda and Old Man McGucket, and... well. Here we are now."

Dipper's eyes had widened at the reveal of what happened to Dad; seems he managed to catch that.

"Woah, Pacifica - I - I'm sorry you had to see that."

No, I'm sorry that happened to your dad, no, Have you seen him? is he alive still? No stupid questions or false condolences - he knows how terrible a person dad iswasis and cares more about me than him. Obviously. So that's what he's sorry about. That I suffered.

Maybe it's messed up. Maybe it's wrong.

But give us a break, the world ended. We can act like we don't care andaren'ttraumatised until it's no longer over.

I prefer what he said and what he means by it anyway.

I'm pretty sure we're all messed up people right now.

"Y-yeah. That - it. It happened. And, and it's over, now. Mostly. So yeah, I had a breakdown, it won't happen again. It can't. You know that. It - mostly, its over. And now it's your turn. Tell me the stuff you censored out of your story - since I told you mine."

and told you a bit more than the others got. Before I ran off again.

Dipper took a breath.

"Yeah. Okay. Um, I guess I should start at the beginning, Right?"

"That would make sense. Or, you know, start at the end. Whatever works." I said, hoping it came out as dry sarcasm. Too much emotional... stuff, happened. I need to get in control again. He cracked a small smile - not much of one, nobody thought now was a time for laughter. But hey, I still got a smile, so score for me, right?

"Okay. So, this morning, Mabel and I were exited - her more than me - about our birthday, coming up in a weeks time. We'll be thirteen, just so you know."

"Happy Birthday. Get on with it."

What? Mine was short and concise, it would take at least twenty-ish minutes at this speed.

"Okay, okay. Umm, fast forward, and Mabel has gone out - we both have walkie-talkies so we can communicate - she's gone out to invite people to the party and find a place to host it. And, um, me and Ford, my other Great Uncle, we went to go to this alien space ship -"

I gave him a disbelieving look.

"-Hey, don't look at me like that; the world has literally ended and you question aliens? Anyway, we were going to find this adhesive, to glue the container for the rift that is now up in the sky - see that cross, up there? yeah, that, where all the demons came from -"

I nodded, impatient.

" - Right. so, um... complications happened, the alien security was activated, Ford was taken by this alien pod thing, and I... kindofusedanincrediblypowerfulmagnettoattachmyselftothepodthingandbringitdownwhilstinmidairandthenfoughtitonthegroundandwowsayingthisoutloudmakesitsoundcoolerthanitwas and Ford offered me to be his apprentice - discovering the secrets of gravity falls and the supernatural, and working for... well, basically my idol, and... well, I said yes."

I nodded. Makes sense, of course he would take it. Dipper's good enough to get in the news and for my family to even consider going to him for help with that ghost problem. I don't see why he shouldn't have taken it.

"So, well... it turns out that my walkie-talkie was on for the whole conversation. Mabel... heard everything. I don't really know what happened on her side of things, but it was enough for her to be... to be even more upset than she normally would have been, and the way she heard about it was... not ideal, and everything went wrong from there. Next thing I know, she's running off into the woods, taking a backpack with her, and I'm having a conversation with Great Uncle Ford, and then we realise she took my bag, with the rift inside -"

Oh no. She could easily see where this was going. The fear/horror whatever emotion she was feeling was surely painted across her face right now.

Dipper grimaced.

"Yeah, it's as bad of a mess-up as it sounds. So Mabel ran off into the forest, and next thing I see is Bill Cipher corporeal, in our reality, floating up to the sky and fully opening the rift, letting thousands of horrors into our world and my sister is nowhere to be seen, and Ford is already planning how to get rid of Bill, and we go off to the clock tower and he shoots this one-time-use bill defeating gun - I know that it's annoying that its one shot only, truly - but misses, freaking misses, and there's a temporary hole in Bill's top hat, and Ford's tossing me his journals and I'm hiding and ford's being turned into a freaking gold statue and I can't bring myself to tell anyone this -"

He's ranting now, probably momentarily forgotten I'm here. I'll let him, people say this sort of thing is cathartic.

"and then I'm standing in front of Bill, and there is nothing I can do, and I think, 'you know what? fuck it.' and I punch him in the eye."

I blink. What.

"Well that was a stupid, desperate move. I'll give you that not many'd have the guts to do it though."

Maybe that was too harsh? was that too harsh - it probably was -

"Sorry. That was harsh. You tried, and this guy is an immortal, all powerful demon - and, ugh, don't tell anyone, but -"

I exhale harshly. Why is this so hard?

"Ugh, I'm impressed, okay?! You - you stood up to that- I could never do that, I can hardly stand up to my parents and a stupid... bell of all things. You're far braver than I gave - than anyone gives you credit for. Don't ask me to say that all again, it was difficult enough the first time - how do you people make it look so easy to do that? Ugh don't answer just... just continue, we can talk after if you want. Just..."

Ugh. I feel emotionally drained.

"Just continue."

Wearily, I rub my hand down my face. Dipper just nods, once, warily flicking his eyes in my direction, and continues.

"Well, obviously that backfired, luckily not as much as I expected, as I am standing here now, talking about the event - so I got repelled backwards. Skipping a little of me running away from two of his 'gang' members, and trying to find anyone whilst talking into my walkie-talkie - as if that'd help anything - and to after I found Wendy."

Yes! I was right about her name. Great.

"So, Wendy gets my spirits up with a pep talk and the last box of food she had and some Pitt cola, and we made a plan to get to Mabel's bubble - her own little prison away from the terrors of the apocalypse. Soon, we find ourselves captured by Gideon and his Warriors, but, after a chase, I convinced him to give us the key to the bubble, and - now with Soos-"

Oh! So that's his name. Ah.

" - all three of us enter the bubble while Gideon and his fellow prison escapees front-on attack the Pyramid, and well... the next part is... something."

I snorted. What else would we expect? This is Mabel, a prison wouldn't hold her, it'd have to be something...

Creative.

Hmm...

"So basically, Bill had her trapped inside the perfect, Mabel World - where summer never ends. And it's heavily inspired by the 80's. And 90's. It knew what you wanted - whatever you wanted, before you even knew you wanted it; and that should have been a clue that Mabel wasn't in complete control, she only thought she was - oh, right, yeah, everyone there treated her as if she were the ruler. and just, like, lots of her was the jury, and all her creations were there, and all her crushes as if they returned her feelings - The perfect Mabel world, right down to... to a better me. Which, by the way - not a better me, not at all, I hated that guy - was called..." he exhaled forcefully "... right. It was called "Dippy Fresh". Just... why?" And he honestly looks so confused right now. I laughed a little. "It's Mabel, Dipper. There is no rhyme or reason to her imagination, nor the things she does. Which can be great - or terrible, judging by the great big hole in the sky. And the fact that she replaced you. Ehrm, sorry." He is her brother, after all. And maybe that was a bit too blunt - It's not like I've had anyone to help me learn how to be nice, it's only been a few days and I hadn't even seen the Pines family or friends 'till today. Sorta. Maybe yesterday? Hard to tell. He half winced, half smiled. "Yeah, everyone's pretty disappointed with Mabel for that. And, yeah, I see why, but haven't any of them wanted to replace family members with better versions of them when they're angry at them? I just - I guess why I'm not refuting it completely is because... because I don't know what I'd do in her place. What my bubble would be like. I just don't know and - yeah. That's why I don't. Refute it, I mean." Hmm. he seemed almost... scared, of not knowing what his bubble would be like. I don't think he wants me to know that though, so I'll let it slide for now. But yeah, I can see where he's coming from. Not that I have any siblings of my own, but wanting to change a family member? I can get behind that. "Yeah, okay. I get it." He glanced at me, and with a thoughtful tone and expression said "You would, wouldn't you? Anyway-" oh, good he's going back to the factual retelling of events of not long ago. Why did I think it like that - whatever . I'll just pay attention "-So she tried to make an argument to stay, and I showed her why leaving, and fighting for our world would be way better than hiding in a fake one." damn, missed a bit. Oh well, doesn't seem too important. "And we awkwardly hugged as siblings do, the world fell apart into nightmares around us as we rode to the outside walls of the bubble on waddles, the giant version, and Mabel stood on the back of his head holding a giant needle, and popped the bubble. We made our way back here, and you were present for the rest. So yeah, that's my apocalypse story." Wow. That was intense in a completely different way to mine. Way more dangerous for him than my story was for me. "Well done on not dying, dork." Because. Just because. Because after hearing that I am actually surprised he's here and I'm covering that up. Damn. Can't hide in my own head. Forgot that. He blinked. "Thanks, I think." He looked concerned again. Curses, I thought he'd have forgotten about that by now. No such luck. "You know it's not stupid to be afraid of that bell, right? When it rang, it never meant anything good - and, you seem to forget that this is a tried and tested method, an inhumane method, of controlling a dog. It has been used on people in the past, and, just like you, even though they were afraid they stood up to the owner of the bell, eventually, and hey - the definition of courage is being able to do something, even in the face of fear. Like when you saved everyone when you stood up to your dad and the bell to free your family from the curse, and, more importantly, free the people who were turned to wood. Thanks for that, by the way." and there it was - a brief, genuine smile, however small, flashed in her direction. Her cheeks grew warm. (Great. She was blushing. There was certainly no reason for that. Nope.) "Uh - yeah. Thanks. And - you too? In return - oh whatever. Just - it was something I did, because - because it was right to, do so. I guess." Wow. Pacifica, today is not your day to be making eloquent speeches, is it? Dipper's gaze turned soft, and he placed a hand on my shoulder like he did that day in the mansion, when I'd had a... small, minor, little teeny-tiny breakdown. Why is it always him? I have no clue. He removed his hand and smiled softly at me (which was kindamaybe a bit cute, but now was so not the time). I have the urge to hug him again. But like, not pay him to forget/pretend it never happened, this time.

There must be something in the air.

Aw, hell to it. The world has ended; a hug is probably like, good for you or something. Not like I'd know, is it?

So I hugged him.

arepeoplesupposedtofreezewhenyouhugthemhedidbackatthemansionandhedidnowamidoingthiswrongamisqueezingtootightaremyarmsintherightplace-

he put his arms around me, awkwardly.

Oh. Okay. That -

That's nice.

Right.

I should let go now.

(Exhales softly)

Maybe just a little longer...

So they sat there, just hugging slightly, listening to the sounds of the end of the world, the people in the house, and just sitting. Hugging. Thinking.

And yeah, maybe their eyes are damp.

But they'll ignore that when they stop.

later.

Later.

A/N:

So, hey guys, hope you liked that. um, this was just me realising i should probably spell check and just check in general a story made at one in the morning. Duh.

Thanks for the favs! :)

you'll maybe get a new chapter to this, possibly in Dipper's pov, but eh. Exams are coming/already here and i'm pretty busy, so just, like, cross your fingers or something.

you're all great.

thanks.