CHAPTER THREE
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING
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It was a weak after Bill had appeared. Ford was about to head down into the lab when he was grabbed from behind and dragged into the living room.
"You're joining forces family fun," Stan said gruffly. "Forced by Mabel."
"Hi!" Mabel said cheerfully, poking a half asleep Dipper in the cheek. "We're going to watch Ducktective."
"Really, Stan, I should get back to the lab-"
"Cipher will be fine for one night," Stan drawled, though he understood his brother's caution. "Besides. You and Dipper haven't been sleeping lately, so this is an intervention. Mabel and I are going to watch Ducktective while you and Dipper go to sleep in the attic. And don't think Mabel and I won't catch you coming down the stairs."
Ford groaned but took a look at Dipper. The boy needed it. Sighing, Ford nodded in agreement.
"Alright, suit yourself. Come on Dipper."
Dipper mumbled something in response before slowly getting to his feet and following Ford up the stairs.
As soon as the two of them were in the attic, Dipper collapsed face first onto his bed, fast asleep.
Ford tried to make the younger boy as comfortable as he could, before he too flopped down on the floor and was out like a light a second later.
As far as he could tell - and from what Bill had told him - the dream demon would be drawn to Ford or Dipper's minds more often than others because he had possessed the two of them.
Ford could only hope this meant the demon would leave Mabel alone. With that in mind, he fell into a much needed sleep.
Meanwhile, Mabel and Stan were talking quietly in the living room. "Is Bill doing this to them?"
Stan sighed quietly and tightened his grip on the thirteen year old in his arms as he lied through his teeth.
"I don't know, sweetie," he said quietly. "But I'm sure it's all okay."
"Would Great Uncle Ford tell us if it wasn't?"
Stan sighed again. "Truth be told, kid, I don't know. Ford keeps secrets worse than I do and that's saying something. But if we're in danger-"
Mabel shook her head and wormed her way out of Stan's grasp. "Thanks Grunkle Stan," she said quietly though there was no sincerity in her voice. Stan watched her go before sighing quietly.
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Mabel didn't really know what had possessed her to do this, but soon enough she found herself in the lab, standing in the doorway and watching Bill.
The dream demon was sitting cross legged in the middle of 'his room' with his back to her. But he had clearly heard her come in, because he inclined his head in her direction without turning around.
"It's rude to stand and stare, Shooting Star."
Mabel shuddered but came a little farther into the room. "Are you really Bill?"
Bill turned slightly in order to face her and give her a gentle smile. "Who else would call you Shooting Star? What are you doing down here? Where's Sixer?"
"Have you been preventing Great Uncle Ford and Dipper from sleeping?" Mabel demanded. She crossed her arms over her chest, lips turning down into a small pout.
"Not intentionally," Bill said quietly, standing but keeping his hands where Mabel could see. "They made the choice not to sleep. I am not in control of whose dreamscape I visit."
"You've never visited mine," Mabel said quietly.
Bill gave her a small smile. "Because I've been trying not to. You're afraid of me. And…"
He dropped his head back and let out his old cackle again, barely noticing how Mabel backed away in fear. When he finally calmed himself down, he grinned at Mabel who was staring at him from the doorway.
Seeing her fear, Bill held his hands out in front of himself as he slowly moved towards her.
"Sorry Shooting Star," he said quietly. "I didn't mean to scare you. I've been trying not to enter your dreamscape. Because I know you're afraid of me and I'm trying to...I swear, I hate human emotions."
Seeing that Bill was telling the truth, Mabel slowly came back into the room, noting the chain on Bill's ankle for the first time.
"Does Great Uncle Ford not let you leave?"
Bill followed her gaze, giving a small laugh. "No, he doesn't. Rightly so, he doesn't trust me."
"You did try to destroy our family," Mabel said quietly.
"Listen, Mabel," Bill said quietly. "I understand that you hate me but...let me make a deal with you. And before you say no, just hear me out."
Mabel was hesitant, but she nodded anyway. She didn't want to make a deal but her curiosity did.
"What is this deal?"
Bill gave her a small smile. "Keep me company. In exchange, I'll keep you updated on everything Ford is keeping you in the dark about."
Mabel frowned. "Great Uncle Ford isn't keeping me in the dark about anything. Is he?"
"Do we have a deal, first?"
Mabel eyed Bill before making her choice and grasping his flaming blue hand, giving it a firm shake.
"It's a deal. Now what do you mean, Great Uncle Ford is keeping things from me?"
Bill raised an eyebrow. "What has he said to you about Weirdmaggeddon 2.0?"
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When Ford woke up the next day, he felt more rested than he had in weeks despite sleeping on the floor. He sat up and cracked his back and knuckles, glancing over at Dipper who was still fast asleep.
Chuckling quietly, Ford walked downstairs to find Stan reading the paper and Mabel glaring into her pancakes.
"Morning Stanley," Ford said, yawning. "Morning Mabel. How did you two sleep?"
"Fine," Stan answered gruffly. "No Bill."
"That's good to hear. He left me alone as well. Dipper's still asleep so I doubt Bill visited him. What about you Mabel? Did Bill visit?"
When the cheerful girl didn't answer, both Stan and Ford looked up.
"Mabel?" Stan prompted. "Pumpkin?"
"I'm not hungry," Mabel declared, sending a glare towards Ford as she left the room and trudged upstairs, Waddles following close behind.
Ford and Stan stared after her for a long time.
"What's her deal?" Stan demanded after a moment or two. "She's been grouchy ever since she-Bill visited her, didn't he?"
"It's hard to say," Ford mused quietly. "But...maybe. By the way she glared at me-"
"Why is Mabel so upset?" Dipper asked as he walked into the room. "She used her grappling hook to hide up in the rafters and won't talk to me."
Ford and Stan shared glances before Ford stood. "Dipper, this is important. Did Bill visit you last night?"
"No," Dipper said slowly, before realization spread in his eyes. "Did he visit Mabel?"
"Maybe," Ford mused quietly. "Did she say anything to you?"
Dipper shrugged. "She just shouted 'grappling hook' which woke me up. I tried to get her to come down, but she wouldn't say anything. Waddles all but pushed me out the door."
"I'm going down to interrogate Bill," Ford declared. "Stanley, please join us soon. Oh, and bring you brass knuckles."
Stan froze before a dark grin spread across his face. "Now this is a moment I've been waiting for."
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Bill knew the moment Ford walked into the lab that Mabel had told.
"In my defense," Bill said as Ford stalked towards where he was sitting cross legged in the middle of the floor. "I'm not in control of whose-"
He didn't even see the fist flying for his face before his long limbs were tangled in one another and he was lying on the ground, clutching his cheek.
"You stay away from Mabel," Ford said darkly as Stan walked into the room, a smile on his face and brass knuckles on his hands.
"Now, come on, Stanford," Bill stammered. "I'll stay away from Mabel. I swear, it was an accident! A one time thing!"
Stan made to step forward but Ford stopped him, a dark look his eyes. "You have one last chance, Cipher."
Bill nodded, swallowing thickly as Ford and Stan turned away.
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A little shorter than the others but I've had a rough day and I'm tired.
Anyway, please review and let me know what you think.
Thanks!