A/N: I do not own Gravity Falls.

Chapter 2 – Countdown from 10 To 1

Prisoner #10618, also known as Gideon Charles Gleeful, was sitting in his prison cell, doing absolutely nothing (unless you consider plotting revenge against the Pines family as something), when bright blue light flashed in front of him, forming a triangle. A familiar laughter echoed through the air, filling Gideon with horror. He stepped back. "W-what do you want, demon?" he yelled, trying to hide the panic in his voice. "I thought I told you the deal is canceled!"

"You can't cancel a deal with a demon until it's finished, kid!" Bill announced. "I did my part, now it's your turn to do yours."

Oh, crap. "Fine. What do you want?"

"Hmm, let's see… I... want… you."

"What!?" But before Gideon could react, Bill flicked his fingers and the boy disappeared.

The dream demon smiled.

The Glasses and the Star were both in his hands.

"Thirty years…"

"…I was trying to-"

"…Chasing and fighting Bill…"

Dipper wasn't paying much attention to the argument between the long-separated brothers. His mind was full of questions. Was Stan lying again? Was he even Stan? And who was this man? Was he really the Author?

"Hey," he whispered to Mabel. "You okay?"

"No," she admitted. She turned to their great uncle. "Grunkle Stan," she asked. "What's going on?"

The stranger raised a brow at Stan. "Grunkle?"

Stan sighed. "You better sit. We have a lot to talk about."

"Not now," the Author interrupted. "We have to get out of here. Besides," he looked at Stan. "It sounds like you have guests. Again."

"Yeah, but dudes," said Soos. "The agents are still out there. We can't get out."

"They won't leave until they'll get what they want," stated Stan. He glanced at his brother. "Give me ten minutes. Then get in the car and drive as far as you can from the Mystery Shack. And don't follow the cops."

"Wait, Grunkle Stan," cried Mabel. "What are you gonna do?"

He sighed. "Sorry, kid." He murmured as he left the lab.

And though Mabel didn't realize what Stan's up to, Dipper did. He's gonna turn himself in, he thought.