Mabel Pines lay restlessly in her bed. She didn't know why she couldn't get to bed. The young girl sighed softly, glancing over at Dipper. The way he was snoring so easily made her just the tiniest bit irritated. It seemed like a total role reversal. Usually he's the one who can't get to sleep, overthinking things. Now here she was, curled up, trying to get over what just happened. But how could Mabel?

Stan was someone they loved, and even though he explained everything, it was too much to process. How could her bro-bro be sleeping so peacefully?

How could Stan expect them to just 'hit the hay', when someone we knew and cared for turned out to be such a huge liar? She's even considering wearing a black sweater tomorrow. Mabel sighs again and tries to go to sleep.

(Five minutes later)

I'll go get some milk downstairs, She thinks. Dip-Dip says it helps.

She silently opened the door and crept downstairs. Halfway down Mabel heard someone. Grunkle Ford?

No.

The perky twelve-year-old ran down the remaining half of the stairs and tiptoed towards the kitchen. Then she hid behind the wall like it was a tree and peeked in.

Stan was sitting in the kitchen table, his back turned to her, clutching a newspaper, the headline reading "STAN PINES DEAD."

He sighed. "Well, you did it, Stanley," he muttered huskily to himself. "You faked your own death and took on your brother's identity…"

Ring, ring

"Hello?"

"Um, hi," A raspy voice. "I'd like to speak to Stanford Pines, please."

Mabel held back a gasp as she watched Grunkle Stan's eyes widen and try to hold back tears.

"Okay, let me just get him on the line."

He covered the phone with a hand and started coughing.

"Hello, this is Stanford Pines speaking."

He's imitating him.

"Did you hear about your brother's death?"

On the other side of the line, Filbrick Pines closed his eyes on his hospital bed, clutching with one hand the telephone and the other the family picture he kept so close to his heart, letting go of it momentarily to wipe his tearstained cheeks.

She held myself back as she saw the guilt and surprise written on Grunkle Stan's face.

"Um, y-yeah, I mean, it was like, thirty years ago. Of course I have."

"Oh. Um…"

"Dad?"

"I'm a horrible father."

"What?"

"I mean, he might still be alive if it weren't for me. I'm the one who kicked him out. I'm to blame, Stanford. And now look at me, in the hospital, moments away from dying of my cancer. Pathetic. I wouldn't be that surprised if I died right now. I wish I could tell him how much I love him."

Stan's eyes widened.

"He loved you, Dad. So goddamn much. And, I-I think h-he already forgave you."

Filbrick didn't answer. He just kept on sobbing until he took a deep breath.

"You better hang up, son," He croaked. "Before I see the light."

"What do you mean?"

"I love you."

"…Love you too."

"…"

The sound of a telephone being dropped.

"Dad?"

"DAD!"

Silence.

Stan slammed the receiver back on the phone and started crying. He didn't say anything, just sobbed hard. He didn't hold anything back. It was due thirty years, after all.

Mabel didn't even realize she was behind her grunkle, her eyes starting to water.

"Grunkle Stan?"

Stan's eyes widened as he realized that Mabel had heard the whole goddamn thing.

He sobbed even harder and threw his arms around her, sobbing into her shoulders.

"I'm sorry."

He lifted his tearstained cheeks and grimaced. "It's not your fault. Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"Too much on my mind."

"You and me both, kid."

"Grunkle Stan?"

He realized she just called him her grunkle again. He felt even more guilt for lying to them.

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, sweetie," He murmured, and gave her a hug.