"Mr. Pines… thank you for taking the time to sit with me." Shandra Jimenez said. She adjusted in her seat and smiled to the camera. A big sign behind her said "Straight talk with Jimenez"

"You're welcome, Shandra." Dipper said with a smile. "It's always nice to see a familiar face."

"Yes, we're very interested to hear your story! You've been something of a mystery to us. Coming from humble origins only to become a leader of industry and technology, and even marrying Pacifica Northwest who is practically American royalty!" Shandra said with a grin.

"It's not as crazy as it sounds. I've known Pacifica since we were kids… I really owe my success to her. She saw something in me and made sure I made something of myself." Dipper said. He waved to the audience and the camera panned to Pacifica. She smiled and waved, and the camera came back to Dipper.

"So… we've heard crazy stories about your youth…" Shandra said with a grin.

"I think you were the one who broke the story nationally when I was on trial for a misdemeanor during your local news days in Gravity Falls, Oregon." Dipper said. Shandra's plastic smile cracked slightly.

"I've interviewed some of the residents of Gravity Falls, your hometown, and they had some interesting things to say about you." Shandra said.

"I'm sure you didn't have to dig too deep, You covered most of my exploits on the local station." Dipper said with a wink.

"Ah-hem." Shandra feigned clearing her throat.

"Basicly, I was a local sleuth for the town… It was more of a debunking mindset than anything. I did discover and document an unknown species of bat. I have found several new species of mycelium and plant, and even helped locate and direct clean up efforts to an abandoned and forgotten government facility. The toxins were leaking into the water supply, causing the town to suffer one of the longest cases of mass hysteria and hallucination ever documented."

"Well. I know the people of Gravity Falls must be pleased with you for all your hard work." Shandra said. "Can you tell me what you're plans are for the future?"

"Well, After Pines Consolidated merged with Northwest Industries… and I don't mean our wedding." Dipper said with a grin. "We've rebranded ourself to be Northwest-Pines. We found this rebranding tested well and fits our company's mission."

"And what's that?" Shandra said.

"Well, Like the pine trees that cover our state, we would like our company to be a household name. All of our products are green and eco friendly, and we've taken a hard stance with our globalization efforts to help revitalize the countries we've planted our trees in… sorry, that's a company term. What I mean is the plants, offices, and other business ventures we establish outside our borders will focus on bringing higher paying jobs to the workers. It's like planting a tree, you need to tend to it and watch it grow."

"What about Cube Consolidated?" Shandra asked. "In the last five years, this small startup exploded onto the scene, led by none other than your father in law. They seem to be nipping at your heels in many of your dealings."

"Mr. Northwest has my deepest respect. He took the time to teach me what he knows and I've worked with him since I was 14. He taught me everything about this business and I'd not be the man I am today without his guidance and wisdom." Dipper said with a smile. "We've had a difference of opinion on how to run Northwest-Pines Industry. His direction and mine split ways, so I bought him out. Pacifica took the reigns as the CEO while I focused on the technology." Dipper chuckled. "If you've ever been in a negotiation with me… I'm a lamb when it comes to staring her down."

The audience chuckled.

"So… We've heard rumors of a secret project you're working on… what could you tell us about that?" Shandra said.

"Well, It's not all that special… You, as a fellow Gravity Falls native, know how special the community is. The Northwests have made it their home for generations, and as part of that family, I plan to revitalize the community. I'm in the process of establishing a wildlife sanctuary in the forest around the town. This will prevent urban sprawl and deforestation from destroying a very delicate ecosystem that I wish to protect."

"Well, our time is almost up… is there anything else you'd like to add?" Shandra said.

"Yes, I just wanted to say to my sister that I love her, and hope to see her soon!" Dipper said into the camera.

"What a load of crap!" Mabel screamed and shut off the TV.

"HEY! I was watching that!" Stan yelled.

"Bla bla bla.. I'm so perfect… I live in a big house… I'm going to save the trees… Why don't he just dig up Doctor Seuss and give him a big kiss!" Mabel said and threw the remote to her Uncle. It slammed into his chest and bounced off, landing on the floor. He looked down at it, and then to her. She let out a sigh, stormed over to pick it up and dropped it in his lap..

"I'd get up and get it myself…" Stan said, and pointed to his wheelchair. "But I'm kinda stuck in this damned thing."

"I'm making dinner. What do want?" Mabel shouted from the kitchen.

"I want my great niece to calm down is what I want!" Stan said. He pushed the lever and wheeled himself out of the living room.

"I can't! Every time I see him… I just get so… I know it's been a long time since Tyrone's accident… but I just… can't let it go." Mabel said as she slammed the cupboard. She microwaved some chicken soup and grabbed toast as it popped out of the toaster. "And when I think I'm past it… I see his face on the newspaper, or find out he's giving a speech and all I can feel is loathing. He's off saving everyone in the world… and I'm here."

"Saving two old men and a catatonic brother." Stan said. "I understand, but you've turned down everything he's offered. We could be living up at the mansion right now, Tyrone could have the best care money could buy. You've built your own prison and the only guard you can complain to is yourself. He's been nothing but nice and has tried to help you so many times..."

"I KNOW THAT!" Mabel screamed. She stabbed the butter knife into the stick of soft margarine and raked it across the toast. "I know that… That's why it's so frustrating. He's always nice… he smiles, and wishes me well. He's kind, and loving and does everything a good brother should do."

"What do you want from him?" Stan asked.

"To be HERE! So I can watch him struggle with Tyrone to get him into bed. So I can see his face having to feed Grandpa. To have him worry every night if his brother is breathing ok, and I want the panic to grip his chest when you don't see him for an hour… or heaven forbid go out to a movie and wonder the whole time if he's going to be dead when you get back, because… stealing away a moment of my life for myself is selfish, and he's selfish!"

Stan didn't say a word as Mabel set the soup and bread on a tv tray. "I need to go check on Grandpa…" Mabel said and stormed upstairs.

Stan closed his eyes and sighed. He'd felt it an hour ago… but he couldn't tell her. He grabbed the phone and called Dipper just as he heard the sound of dishes breaking from up stairs.


Dipper hung up the phone and closed his eyes.

"Everything alright?" Pacifica said. She took off her earrings and set them in her jewelry box.

"I… I need to clear my calendar next week." Dipper said. Pacifica nodded and walk over to him and wrapped her arms around him.

"We knew it was going to be soon." She said softly.

"I tried to prepare myself… it's just still hard." Dipper said. Pacifica laid him in bed and rubbed his temples as he buried his face in her chest. She shushed him as he broke down his walls. She was his sanctuary, and only person in the world he can be like this with.

"My strong Dipper… I've known Stanford most of my life, and he lived a good one. You've seen to that. He was happy, and was with his brother and your sister, surrounded with love."

"I just… should have been there." Dipper said. "He should have been in the hospital, he should have had more done to help him."

"He was almost a hundred years old, DIpper. Yes modern medicine is doing wonders… but he lived a full life. It's time to pass the torch." Pacifica said.

"It's just… It means Stan is not too far behind." Dipper said softly. "He's not going to want to be alone… and Tyrone is surviving by some miracle, but a fever or infection… She's going to be all alone."

"She won't be, even if she doesn't like it, you're there protecting her." Pacifica said. "Did you know Stanford's wishes?"

Dipper nodded and grinned.

"Oh god… I don't want to know do I?" Pacifica said in horror

Dipper shook his head.

"Lets just say it's totally Grunkle Stan."


"I'm not going to work here looking at that… I love Stanford, but to have him stare at me… and to come alive once a month? Dipper, we've done some weird crap in this shack… but this is too much." Wendy said.

"It's what he wanted." Dipper said.

"How did you even find that thing? He buried it somewhere on the property when we were kids!" Mabel said. "I swear it's looking at me."

"I dunno, I think I like it… it's really him." Soos said.

"Soos… I love you, but I think I'm going to have nightmares." Melody said.

"Guys… we all know Grunkle Stan… He took us in and loved each one of us. His last wish was to be able to greet the tourists of the shack as they come in.

Soos, Wendy, Mabel, Pacifica, and Dipper stood in front of the old wax figure Mabel made of him when she was twelve. Wendy had found Larry King's head in the vent. Mable reshaped him to the Stan she knew and loved and melted his ashes inside.

"Just… triple check the locks before you leave at night Wendy? We don't want him getting out." Dipper said. Wendy nodded.

"He is really creepy." Melody said. "Soos honey, I'll be in the car. I'm going to try and forget what I saw here."

"But honey! Can we wait till midnight and then we can talk to him!" Soos said, following behind her.

Pacifica leaned against the front counter and twirled a display of keychains.

"What are you laughing about?" Wendy said, and took her position behind the register.

"Oh… it's just we haven't all been together like this for a while. It was kind of nice." She said. "How's Lee?'

"He's doing good. At home with the kids." Wendy chuckled.

"That must be nice to have a family." Pacifica said and looked sideways at Dipper. Dipper walked over and leaned on the counter.

"I'm ready when you are." Dipper said. Pacifica's face turned red and Wendy burst out laughing.

"Oh boy, you're timing is always perfect." Wendy said.

"So… how's business?" Dipper asked.

"You're losing so much money here… I'm probably the highest paid slacker in this town." Wendy said with a grin.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Dipper said with a smile.

"So, I saw your interview the other night. I couldn't stop laughing." Wendy said. "Seriously everyone's buying that government lab toxin thing?"

"People want to believe what they want. Just like when I tried to bring a monster into the shack and show the folks, they said it was fake."

"Dipper." Mabel said. Her arms were crossed and was tapping her foot. "Do I need to make an appointment to talk to you?"

Pacifica sighed and Wendy shot her an icy glare. Dipper walked over and put his arms around Mabel. She stood there, and didn't move. When he let go she glared at him.

"I can't believe I'm going to ask you this… but we need to get some handicap ramps installed in the shack. I don't have the time to get that done, so you're going to have to. Stan wants to be able to come in and see Grandpa. And pave that damn driveway! The gravel keeps getting into the wheels."

"We just had a sidewalk put in last year from the house to the shack… that's not working?" Dipper asked.

"IF it was, I wouldn't be asking you this would I?" Mabel said.

"I'll get a contracter out here in the morning, just tell him what you want and he'll do it." Dipper said.

"Sure… I'll try to find the time.' Mabel snapped.

"If you want me to do it I can, it's just, I want to be sure it's what you need." Dipper said.

"Fine… I get it. Send over one of your minions, I'll play princess and order him around. Just get it done. I'm going to have to muscle Stan in tonight so he can be here when that thing wakes up." Mabel said

"Anything you need." Dipper said.


"I love your sister… but I swear every time we see her I want to throttle some sense into her!" Pacifica shouted. "Oh… she pissed me off!"

"I don't ever expect her to forgive me." Dipper said. "I took her brother away from her."

"You… Don't you start feeling self loathing. That whole situation was messed up to begin with. You did what you thought you had to and don't think I didn't forget how quickly Wendy bolted."

"I meant what I said." Dipper said with a grin.

"What's that?" Pacifica said, checking her phone.

"About what you and Wendy were talking about. I've been thinking about it a lot actually." He said. He waited for her to say something, but she remained quiet. "Pacifica?"

"There's a hotel at the next exit."


Dipper woke up and checked his clock. It was 3am. Pacifica slept next to him soundly with her arm over his chest. After all these years, she still never wanted to let him go. He rolled over and kissed her forehead and slid out from her.

"It's too late… must you go?" She said. "You know... most wives will kill their husbands for sneaking out of bed and running to another woman."

"I just want to run some tests. The labs in Tokyo may have some of the bugs fixed." Dipper said and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll come down if I can't go back to sleep. I have a meeting in the morning." She said sleepily.

Dipper put on a robe and left the master bedroom.

He walked the halls of Northwest Manor and looked at the large paintings and murals. After flatly drawing a line in the sand when Mr. Northwest startup Cube Consolidated, Dipper made his move and took the house. Mr. Northwest had it listed as a company property, and as a historic site. The Northwests have been claiming it as a tax write off for years. When Dipper took his company, the house fell under assets he managed. He sold it to himself, and got the deed in his and Pacifica's name. She stared down her father when she kicked him out of his own home.

Dipper had warned Mr. Northwest many times over the years, but he never listened. His family fell apart when his wife left him. Pacifica resented everything he stood for and took an almost perverse pleasure 'redecorating' his trophy room and other places she was told never to go.

Dipper found the painting that covered the room Pacifica and he fled to when they were younger. He put his hand on a pad that was hidden under a panel, and a laser scanned his bioprint. The painting slid back to reveal an elevator.

Dipper stepped in and the painting closed behind him.


"Stan?" Mabel said. She walked into the Library to find him writing in a dusty leather book. He quickly shut the book and turned to smile at her.

"What'cha doing?" She asked.

"Just… collecting my thoughts." Stan said.

"Tyrone is in bed. I'm going to watch a movie with Candy… you want to join us?" Mabel said.

"Nah, you two have fun." Stan said and went back to his journal.

Mabel walked to the TV room and flopped down on the couch. Candy covered her with a quilt they worked on together.

"You seem mad." Candy said.

"I just saw Dipper today, we… Well, you know grandpa died and we entombed his ashes… I guess is the delicate way to put it." Mabel said.

"Poor Mabel." Candy said. "Hey, I found some Smile-Dip online! Want to eat some while we watch rom-coms?"

"Normally, yes, but right now I'm just not in the mood." Mabel said, flipping the channels. Candy grinned and Mabel felt her foot rub her leg. "Candy! Stan's still awake."

"So?" She said and laid on Mabel "I don't want to watch TV."

Mabel smiled and looked down at Candy. She'd have such a hard time over the years with boyfriends. No one understood her, and with her time devoted to Tyrone, most of her relationships felt jealous she spent so much time with her brother, and never understood he came first in her life. Candy had understood for years, and after a crazy night involving sock puppets, Mabel juice and Smile-Dip; she found someone who accepted who she was and loved her unconditionally.

"Smile-Dip?" Candy said, and shook the bag. Mabel grinned and kissed her forehead. "Lets make some Mabel juice to go with it."