Once the government agents were all taken care of, thanks to the kid who introduced himself as Dipper—That really is one incredibly bright young boy; he reminds me of myself—Ford ascended the stairs with the girl in his arms, holding her safely against his chest. Her name was Mabel—that's what Stanley had said—and she was Dipper's twin.
She was a brave girl; Ford had never seen her conscious before, and yet he could see that much about her. She had the aura of a girl who never gave up, who loved unconditionally, who would give herself without hesitation to the right cause.
Ford was angry at Stan; of course he was. He could never forgive his brother for what he's done, first ruining his chances at his dream school, then pushing him into the portal, then risking the safety of the entire universe by reactivating that portal... But despite his anger, Ford felt himself placated in some way by the girl's presence, as if she were able to keep him grounded and remind him what about the universe was so worth protecting.
He hardly knew these kids, but they were clearly excellent children, and what's more, they were family. That was enough for Stanford to feel connected to them, to feel a desire to protect them, to appreciate reentering this world despite how many times he told himself he never wanted to come back.
When he reached the attic, he set Mabel gently on her bed and sat beside her, ruminating on the impact these little niblings had somehow already had on him as he stroked her hair and thanked the multiverse for bringing her into his arms, for giving him the opportunity to save her, for allowing them both to exist.
It wasn't long before Mabel blinked her eyes open, squinting up at the figure above her. She recognized him; in that split second before everything turned black, she saw his figure face as it rushed to save her. She hadn't been able to get a good look, and his face wasn't even visible when she saw him, but somehow, she knew. She felt the connection, felt his fingers brush so softly against her face, felt the way his breathing seemed to soothe her. To Mabel, that was enough to know for sure that this man was her savior.
She squinted up as she took in the details of his face. "You look like Grunkle Stan," she mumbled, confused. "But you're not."
Ford, who had lost himself in his thoughts, jumped when she spoke. He looked down at her with a mildly surprised expression.
"Ah, you're awake," he observed. "How are you feeling, dear?"
Instead of a verbal response, Ford was suddenly hit in the chest by a small girl throwing herself into a full-force hug.
His immediate reaction to the contact was panic, but he swiftly reminded himself, This is Dimension 52. I am on Earth. Mabel is my great niece. Hugging is a sign of affection. He hesitantly wrapped his arms around her to return the gesture, patting her awkwardly on the back.
"I don't know who you are, or what happened, but you saved me," she smiled, her voice muffled by the old man's chest. Then, she looked up at him with bright, sparkling eyes. "You're my hero."
Ford chuckled, stroking her cheek fondly. "Indeed," he smiled, voice soft and comfortable. "And it appears that you're mine."
