Hey friends! Sorry for the late upload, fun fact I had written this last chapter and then somehow managed to lose it! I wanted to just give up and go to bed, but then I came across a video of Stan calling Mabel pumpkin and it gave me the much needed motivation to finish up this story before bed….inspiration can come from really weird places huh? anyways I know this is a shorter story, but I am pretty happy with it! Reviews from you guys give me life, and you all can look forward to lots of fun uploads this summer (and then grad school will start and I will drop off the face of the earth! Haha) anyways summer is just getting started so for now enjoy the final chapter of I Love You Waddles

Mabel sobbed into her Grunkle's arms for what felt like an eternity. She soaked his shirt as well as her own sweater with her salty tears. Stan didn't care, this was an impossible decision for his young niece, and while it broke his heart this was a decision she had to make for herself. All he could do was hold her and try to comfort her through the decision no matter what it was. It felt as though the two of them were alone in that vet office, but while she sobbed people did come in and out and one of those was Lazy Susan who had been called to the back of the clinic to check on her cat after the operation. She felt terrible for Mabel and Stan, but the reality was there was nothing that she could do. After what felt like years Mabel managed to calm herself enough to speak, "Grunkle Stan….do you think that pigs go to heaven?"

Stan honestly didn't know what to say. To be honest despite a modest Jewish upbringing he had not carried a great deal of faith into his adult life. Sure the idea of a kind and loving father who would one day welcome all of his children into paradise was a comforting one, but when you grow up with a father as cold and distant as his earthly father, faith was hard to come by. On the other hand, after what Dipper and Mabel had been through these past few months he had to at least try to hold onto some form of hope that at the end of all the pain and suffering of life we would be reunited with the ones we love in a better world. "You know pumpkin…I don't know much about the souls of pigs, but I gotta imagine a pig as special and well loved as Waddles would have a pretty darn important spot in heaven. A place where he can roll in the mud, eat whatever he wants, bother your ma and pa endlessly, and send em the message that their little princess is doing well," Stan said gently. He knew it was idealistic, but after what Mabel had been through sometimes a little idealism was just what she needed.

She took a moment to think and then finally spoke up, "that seems like it's much better than suffering and being in pain…..Grunkle Stan….I think I need to go say goodbye to Waddles," Mabel said as her voice began to crack and tears flowed anew. Stan embraced her tightly, not ever wanting to let her go. He wanted more than anything to protect her from the harshness of the world and keep her safe in his arms, but he knew he had to let her go face this. She pulled away from the hug and he held on to her hands as he spoke, "want me to come with you sweetie?" Mabel shook her head as she turned to head through the double doors to the room that held her best friend. As Stan watched her go he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at how strong his niece was.

When Mabel entered the small room that held her beloved pet she could feel her heart break in two. Lying on the cold table was her sweet Waddles. He had an I.V. tube in one stubby leg and a cast over another one and was covered in sores and scars. The vet gave Mabel a sympathetic look. Gravity Falls was the kind of small town where everybody knew everybody else, so he was aware of the pines family tragedy from this summer, and while he hated this part of his job he lost pets on a daily basis and his heart had a fence around it for these things. "I will be right outside if you need me sweetie," the vet said gently as he left the room, Mabel hardly heard him though her mind was elsewhere.

She slowly approached the table where her pig lay and began gently talking to him, "hey Waddles, how ya doing? I'm not doing so great either…..Thank you for saving my life earlier…..I know that you are in a lot of pain, and….and I don't want you to hurt Waddles….The vet….he's gonna give you something to stop the pain, and when you wake up….you'll be in heaven…..say hello to mom and dad when you see them…you'll be able to recognize them just look for people who look like Dipper and I…..Dipper's sorry he couldn't say goodbye….he's on a trip with Soos, but….but he loves you too, and Grunkle Stan does too…..but they don't love you nearly as much as I do…..oh Waddles I can't give up on you! I won't give up on you! You never gave up on me! Oh Waddles please wake up! Please wake up!" Mabel pleaded as she wept into his hair. She wept for several minutes before she heard something truly miraculous, Waddles began to slowly open his eyes.

"WADDLES!" Mabel cried as she hugged her pig, "GRUNKLE STAN COME QUICK!" Mabel said overjoyed. Stan and the vet rushed in and sure enough Waddles was awake and aware. The vet couldn't believe his eyes and instantly started checking the pig's vital signs and reviewing charts. Stan walked over and put one arm around Mabel and another around the pig and embraced them in a happy group hug. Suddenly they noticed Lazy Susan standing in the doorway looking an odd mix of happy and heartbroken.

"Aaron Purr has died," she said plainly. Stan and Mabel immediately looked at each other and Stan stepped forward, "aww Susan I'm sorry, would you like us to give you a ride home?" he asked sincerely. Susan shook her head, "no thank you Stanley, I think i'll walk," she began to head for the door when Mabel ran over and embraced her. She smiled at the girl and ruffled her hair before walking back towards the lobby.

Stan followed her out of a sense of obligation to make sure she is alright, "Hey Susan….I'm really sorry about your cat…." Stan said gently. Susan turned and managed a small smile, "It's alright Stanley, Aaron Purr lived a long and wonderful life, and I have plenty more cats at home….but that poor little girl only has you, her brother, and that pig, so I'm glad for her…." Stan smiled at her, "That's kind of you Susan….you know we aren't your traditional family, but I love those kids, I didn't really understand what love was growing up, but I really realized once I became responsible for those kids that I would be willing to die for them….kind of like what that pig did today…..haha guess you can learn lessons from those animals after all,"

Susan nodded, "they are wonderful teachers, and just for the record Stanley I think you are a wonderful guardian….those kids are lucky to have you," Stan blushed slightly, "I'm the lucky one Susan…..so ummm hey…..if you are ever free, maybe you would like to come by for dinner sometime? I'm still not the best cook in the world, but the kids say I'm gettin better," Susan smiled as she grabbed her coat, "I'd like that Stanley," she smiled and waved as she walked into the cold Oregon night.

Stan smiled as he turned back into the room where Mabel was sitting with Waddles. The vet handed him a prescription for pain medicine and instructions on how to care for Waddles at home, and left the two of them alone again. Mabel walked over and sat in Stan's lap, "Grunkle Stan I have another question," she said.

"Of course pumpkin, anything" he said gently. "Why did Waddles get better but Aaron Purr didn't? Ms. Susan loved him as much as I love Waddles," Stan thought for a long time, "You know pumpkin that's one question I can't answer, probably won't be able to in this life, but ya know Susan has lots of people who love her just like you do, and somethin tells me that she will be just fine,"

"Just like us?" Mabel asked innocently.

"Just like us pumpkin," Stan said hugging her.