Longer chapter again guys! Starting to get stuff started aha. Enjoy! Comments always help, and are super encouraging so drop me one if you liked it? Thank you so much for reading! 3

Dipper lay in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling with tired eyes. After the tour he'd given the brothers he couldn't help but note how hesitant the oldest was. It was sad to see someone so against the supernatural, but still have a deep seeded interest in it. Clearly Wirt wanted to be interested, he liked learning! But there was some deep dark secret that was holding him back.

And because it was bothering him, it bothered Dipper. He wanted to know what was going through that guy's head, but how was he supposed to figure that out if the boy stayed so damn closed off? He was like an impenetrable fortress. Few people actually had an in to his inner thoughts. All Dipper knew was that he wanted to be inside that fortress.

He couldn't even say why. There was just something about him that intrigued Dipper's curiosity. Both the brother's had for that matter. They were both interesting and new and… Well they were exciting. Even if they did tell him their dirty secret, Dipper had a feeling that he wouldn't even go to Ford about it. If he had his way, they would be friends now and Dipper always maintained and confidence with his friends. He would keep their secrets in a safe in his mind.

Besides if their secret was as interesting as he thought it was there was no way he wanted Ford getting his hands on them. He loved his Grunkle but there were times when he could come on a little stronger. When he could be a little intense. He'd been predicting the end of the world for years now, but each summer passed as mundanely as the last… Or as mundane as you could get in Gravity Falls. Dipper could only imagine what would happen if Ford found out about some super-secret that the brothers had. He would scare them off for sure.

No, this would be Dipper's personal task. Get to know the brothers, become their friend. Gain their trust so he could discover why Wirt was so damn resistant to how cool this town was! From the way Greg had been talking, there was something that had brought them here. Their parents had just decided to pick up and go on vacation one day. And who the Hell just chose Gravity Falls? It was usually the last place on someone's list. Or just a pass through, no one actually made this their final destination!

There was something bigger going on here. Something that even Dipper couldn't comprehend yet. His mind was going a million miles an hour trying to decide how to best bring up the subject with one of the brothers. His mind told him Greg would be more likely to tell him what he wanted to know. But every other part of him was eager to question Wirt. The one who could give him cognitive answers, who could speak in a language to Dipper understand and help put all the pieces together.

His lips spread into a bright smile at the thought of solving a mystery with the older brother. He couldn't figure out why though, there was just something about him that made Dipper giddy. Even after only knowing him for one day. Since when did he get this excited about meeting someone? Even with Wendy his mind hadn't gone into this hyper speed until a few weeks into the summer. All those years ago… Not seeming to be so long ago really. And yet so much had happened since that first summer. The summer that changed his point of view on the world forever.

"What'cha smiling about Dipdop?" Mabel asked, bouncing on the bed across the room from him. Even after all these years the two couldn't bear the thought of not sharing a room. They had been given the option, but they had separate rooms at home and this just felt safer. Especially since they knew the hell that could just suddenly happen in Gravity Falls.

Dipper glanced over at her with red cheeks and shook his head quickly "N-nothing, just thinking about how great it's going to be to have Wirt and Greg here with us this summer…"

Mabel grinned and nodded "I know right! They're so cool, and totally into anything! I know I already love them! And you like them too, which makes it so much easier! I just know Candy and Grenda are going to adore Greg! And I can't wait to see how much they swoon over Wirt. My mind has already played it out a million times."

"How do you know they're going to like Wirt?"

She tilted her head at him "Because why wouldn't they? Have you seen him?! He's got that whole silent mysterious stranger about him!"

Dipper smiled to himself "Yeah… He does, doesn't he?"

His twin smirked at him "You like him don't you?" She bounced eagerly "I haven't seen you this head over heels since the whole Wendy fiasco. I saw the way you eyed him today! You were trying to hide it so much!"

"Shut up!" Dipper replied, but he couldn't help the blush and small laugh that escaped him "Sure I think he's cute, but it's not like I want to date him. I mean he barely knows me, and the chances of him being single are like a million to one." He played with the blanket in front of him and added "I'm not going to get my hopes up just to have them squashed again."

Mabel frowned at her brother "You're ruining my whole happy dance. You don't know what his deal is. He might surprise you."

"Yeah or it'll be like every other crush I've ever had." Dipper replied "I'd rather just focus on enjoying this summer. Working with Ford. Showing them around town. Friends would be nice. Don't you think?"

"I guess so." Mabel agreed reluctantly "But yo-"

"Nope." Dipper cut her off "This summer is going to be about me."

Mabel let out a "humph" of disapproval and lay back on her bed, arms spread eagle "Fine. That's cool too…"

"Then it's settled, you won't do anything crazy like you tried to do with Wendy." Dipper said. He didn't need any of that drama this year. He just wanted to have a "normal" summer for once. Monsters were allowed, but the normal monsters would be nice for a change. He didn't need a giant conspiracy. Well the only one he wanted to focus on was the one the brothers were hiding. That was different though, he had a curiosity there that couldn't be denied.

"We should get some sleep." Dipper said, lying back in his bed "It's getting late and we have a long day tomorrow."

"Are you ready to show those boys the time of their life?" Mabel asked with a wide grin, getting under the covers of her bed. "I think Greg was really excited. Especially after the show we gave them today. He's such a sweetheart."

Dipper laughed and nodded "Yeah I'm so ready. They aren't going to know what hit them. I've already started planning what we should do."

"Me too." Mabel admitted, giggling softly.

Smiling to himself Dipper closed his eyes and said "Goodnight Mabel."

"Goodnight Dipper." She replied and turned off the light.

"Aren't they cool?!" Greg cheered bouncing on Wirt's bed. Wirt was letting him get his energy out before their parents came home. They'd had dinner together but then the two had decided to go have a date night. Leaving the boys home alone at the motel.

Wirt was fine with that, he wanted some time to talk to Greg about what they should and shouldn't say to the Pines siblings. They were nice enough, but he didn't know how much they should tell them. There were some secrets that should just stay a secret…

And the Unknown was certainly one of them. Greg had a tendency to babble and they could afford for that to happen this time round. He didn't want the two to see them as freaks. Sure they would probably be interested, they dealt with this kind of stuff all the time. Or at least they claimed they did. But how much could Wirt and Greg really tell them before it was too weird? After all the Unknown had been a strange even and if they thought they were weird then Wirt knew he'd be bored for the rest of their time here.

Greg would be so put out too. He really liked the siblings. Already the young boy didn't have too many friends and he didn't take people leaving well. Not being able to say goodbye to Beatrice had really put a damper on the boy's happiness. For the first little while at least. He seemed to be better now… At least Wirt hoped so.

"Yeah they're great Greg." Wirt agreed, crossing his legs in front of him "But there's something we need to talk about."

"What's that Wirt?" Greg asked and stopped bouncing to sit next to his brother.

Wirt sighed and said "We can't tell them about the Unknown… Not yet at least. They'll ask too many questions. Questions we can't answer. I don't know how much they really know about the paranormal. We don't know how much weird they can really handle. Do you understand?"

Greg nodded "I think so. But I don't think they're like the other people. They're nicer. And they really do know their stuff. Didn't you hear all the stories Dipper was telling us?"

"Yeah I heard them." Wirt agreed "Doesn't mean they'll understand our situation."

"You're too much of a worrier brother."

Wirt frowned "I worry just enough, for the both of us. Or else who will?"

Greg shrugged and swung his legs back and forth "I understand Wirt, I won't tell them anything until you give me the a-okay. Then I can tell them everything right? I really want to tell Mabel about Beatrice. I think they would have really gotten along."

Wirt smiled at the thought. Beatrice had been so cynical all the time, or at least she'd tried to be. He'd gotten to see through that a little near the end. She really did care about people. About them. More than she'd like to admit too.

He missed Beatrice, every day. She had been one of the first people he'd really considered a friend. Sure other people thought of him as a friend, but Wirt hadn't really known. Not until he'd come out of his coma. After he'd known that bluebird. Or girl who was turned into a bluebird… Both were accurate.

Deep down Wirt wished he'd been able to get to know Beatrice as a human. He had a feeling she would have been just as fun. Just as entertaining to talk to and be around. She always knew what to say to push his buttons. To make him think. Exactly what to say when he needed a friend the most. He couldn't help but wonder, if he'd stayed in the unknown would they have been closer? Would he have forgotten about Sarah? Stayed for Beatrice?

It almost scared him that the answer was yes…

He didn't regret coming home though, if he'd stayed Greg would have died. There was no way Greg would have been able to wake up and get himself out of that lake. Wirt had been the only one who was conscious. The only one who had been able to grab Greg and pull him to the safety of the lake side.

Honestly that was one question Wirt still had. What was the Unknown? Why had they been there when they'd been on the brink of death? Was it some sort of waiting place? Was it purgatory? Hell, there were times when he wondered if it was even real.

The only real reason that he knew it was, was because Greg remembered every single event just as clearly as Wirt did. If it weren't for his half-brother, Wirt was sure he would have gone mad thinking about that small fact months ago. One of the only good things about the Unknown was that the relationship between him and his brother had been mended. Had been strengthened. It made the whole family dynamic easier and enjoyable for the entire family.

Wirt turned his attention back to the younger boy in time to see Greg yawn widely. He curled into Wirt's side, closing his eyes. Content to stay there for the rest of the night.

Laughing softly Wirt asked "Finally tired?"

Greg nodded, mumbling incoherently.

"Alright sleepyhead." Wirt whispered "You need to go brush your teeth still and get in your pyjamas. And then we can get you to bed."

"Okay…" Greg replied, yawning again and stretching his small arms into the air. The small boy sat up and sluggishly moved toward the bathroom.

Wirt watched him amusement and stood with him to get ready for bed. After the intense day they'd already had he needed as much sleep as he could get. He already knew that tomorrow was going to be just as insane. The Pines siblings were going to give them a very interesting vacation.

He had no doubt about that.

Getting out of the bed he followed Greg into the bathroom. The two brushed their teeth and Wirt made sure Greg brushed them for an appropriate amount of time. When the younger sibling was all ready for bed, Wirt tucked him into the bed. He'd join him later, but he wanted to try and write some poetry before sleeping.

Besides someone needed to be up when their parents got home. They would want a report on how Greg had been tonight. They always wanted to make sure their younger son was doing alright. That he wasn't having anymore nightmares like he did after the events in the Unknown.

Greg wiggled down under the covers and smiled up at Wirt. His toothy smile bright and filled with childlike innocence. His small hands just peeking up over blanket.

Smiling, Wirt bent and kissed his forehead gently "Good night little brother. See you in the morning."

"Good night Wirt." Greg hummed softly, closing his eyes and falling into a deep sleep.

Wirt straightened up and took a seat at the desk in the far corner. He pulled out his notebook and tapped a pen against his chin. He wanted to write a short poem about his first day here in Gravity Falls. He placed his pen on the page and jotted out a draft:

Magic swirls on the wind, bringing great mystery to the mind. The secrets of the world, suddenly brought to light in the blink of an eye.

But none of the words he wrote gave him enough inspiration to continue the poem. The only other line he could get out was:

Oh what foul beast shall I find?

Sitting back in his chair he stared up at the ceiling. His eyes watching the shadows flicker against the white paint. They narrowed as he noticed a strange shape forming in the dancing light. He sat up and kept his eyes fixed on it.

It was definitely his shadow, but there was something warped about it. There was, what he could have sworn, were antlers coming from the top of his head.

Wirt bolted up out of his seat and stumbled backwards. His whole shadow had morphed into an entirely new shape. It seemed to leer at him as the two stared at each other. It moved every time he did, proving that it was his shadow… So why did it look like… Like the Beast?

Keeping a close watch on the shadow, Wirt felt his eyes begin to water with the need to blink. But he didn't want to take his eyes off the form. He couldn't lose sight of it now, not when he felt petrified with fear. If he closed his eyes, would it disappear? Would it attack him? Wirt felt his breath being pushed from his chest as the shape appeared to get bigger with each passing second.

It was inky black, darker than any other shadow in the room. Leading Wirt to believe that there was no way this was his shadow. This was a much more sinister presence in the room with him and Greg. His first thought was, naturally, the Beast; even it was that didn't make sense. Wirt knew for certain that the creature had been destroyed when the lantern had undoubtedly been extinguished.

Finally not being able to hold his eyes open any longer, Wirt felt his eyelids close in a blink. When he snapped them back open a second later the shape was gone. His shadow was normal. The room was quiet and there was no sign that anything else had ever been around him.

Laughing it off, Wirt rubbed the back of his neck and sat on the edge of his bed. It was only his mind playing tricks on him. There hadn't ever been something in the room. It had to be the new environment, he was just paranoid. Especially since they were in a town with evidence of the supernatural clear for everyone to see in it.

A shiver ran down his spine and he quickly turned off the desk lamp, walking over to crawl into bed. He'd talk to his mom and step dad in the morning. If his mind was already playing tricks on him, then he had to be really tired. It was best if he got a good night's sleep and just gave them the status update on the evening tomorrow morning. Besides, there hadn't been any problems so there was no point in staying up for nothing.

They would understand.

Closing his eyes Wirt curled under the sheets into the fetal position. He burrowed into his pillow, ready for a peaceful sleep. He wished for a dreamless sleep, but he doubted his prayers would be answered. They never were. His mind always found a way to make him cringe and wake up in a cold sweat.

They were less frequent they had been several months ago, but still plagued him from time to time. And after tonight's scare he already knew there would be unwelcome guests in his mind.

When he finally fell asleep, he found himself in the thick woods of the Unknown. His heart jumped to his throat as he realized where he was and he fought to keep calm. He was alone this time. No Greg, and no Beatrice. The only familiar sounds around him were the whistling of the wind and the loud operatic singing of the Beast.

Of course he was there.

Wirt turned around and sprinted away from the sound. Hoping desperately that he was fleeing in the right direction. When it came to the Beast there was no telling where he was. The chances of him being right in front of him were very likely.

The forests looked the same as Wirt dashed down the hard packed dirt road. The trees overhead had leaves falling from their branches and the colours were warm reds, oranges, and yellows. Painting a sense of false beauty and security.

Wirt's breathing began to become laboured as he sprinted away from the ever growing singing. He knew it was behind him now, but the faster and farther he ran the closer it resounded behind him. Wirt couldn't ever escape, the Beast had claimed him for his own. There was no going back now. He was trapped in the icy grasp of a centuries old creature.

A creature, as far as Wirt was concerned, who was the Devil himself.

That had to be the answer.

"Come wayward souls, who wander through the darkness…" Wirt heard the Beast croon from behind him. "There is a light for the lost and meek, sorrow and fear are easily forgotten! When you submit to the soil of the earth."

"No!" Wirt shouted, his breath coming in fast pants. He sprinted as fast as he could into the dense forest, doing his best to avoid any obstacles that presented themselves in front of him. He leapt and tripped but never lost his footing as he felt his body begin to tire.

He wasn't going to make it. The Beast was going to catch him and he knew that meant he would be dead. He knew he was going to die…

"Come now, my lost friend… We can save this world together… You don't have to be afraid… You can live forever in this forest…" The Beast's deep whispery voice invited him "Join me Wirt… join me…"

"No…" Wirt whispered, desperately trying to escape that voice. That imploring voice that made him want to stop and do as he asked.

It was no mystery why the Woodsman had been under the Beast's control for so long. That voice could convince someone of anything and took all one's willpower not to give in to it.

"Stop fighting. You've fought for so long…" The Beast whispered in a pitiful voice.

Wirt panted hard, feeling his will fading with each passing moment. He felt his foot catch on an upturned tree root and he face planted into the ground. Behind him he could almost feel the black shadowy tendrils that always surrounded the monster.

The Beast was right behind him now. If Wirt were to turn around right then he would see the terrifying kaleidoscope eyes of the terrifying being. A being made up of pure shadows. Of nightmares. His eyes hypnotized you until all you could see was his way of thinking. When you realized once and for all that his plan was the only true way of surviving.

But if he didn't turn around, then he would never wake up from this nightmare. Turning around would definitely help him wake up.

Steeling his nerves, Wirt spun around to stare at the Beast. As his eyes locked onto the shadowy figure, Wirt felt his brain stop. His blood ran cold. As if he was right there with him, in the dream. No, in his room. His whole body felt like an avalanche had crashed into it. The cold hard pressure pressing into every part of his skin and bones.

"Welcome back Wirt…" The Beast whispered and his fingers reached out to grab hold of him.

Just as he felt them wrap around his body a shout from behind the Beast pulled him free of the creature's evil clutches. But the figure he saw behind him, didn't make sense. It couldn't have been, there was just no way.

"Wirt!" Dipper's voice broke through the Beast's control. He was standing behind the creature, much shorter but somehow just as menacing. "Wake up! Wake up Wirt!"

He felt hands on his shoulders shaking him and as Dipper continued to scream at him, Wirt's eyes snapped open to find Greg's small hands around his shoulders and calling out his brother's name "Wirt! Wirt! Please Wirt wake up!"

"Greg?" He muttered sleepily "What're you… Did I wake you up?"

Greg nodded "You were calling out in your sleep again. Mom and Dad aren't home yet. But they sent you a text saying they were on their way."

Wirt nodded groggily, still trying to make sense of his dream "Thanks for waking me." He said "Sorry for disturbing you…"

"Aw I don't mind none." Greg smiled "I was worried about you."

"Don't worry. I'm alright, just uh… Just a bad dream" Wirt assured him, wrapping a comforting arm around his little brother. "Go back to sleep. You know mom and Jon will be upset if you're not asleep when they get home."

Greg smirked and nodded "You got it Wirt. It'll be like I never woke up!"

Wirt rolled his eyes but smiled as Greg rolled over and fell back into a deep sleep. He watched his little brother for a few minutes. He didn't think he'd be getting much more sleep tonight. Not after that dream. He knew that if he had one, chances were very high that he'd have another one and another for the rest of the night.

His mind wouldn't stop going over and over the dream. The Beast himself had been strange and terrifying enough, but seeing someone who he'd only met that day in his normally unchanging nightmare? That was the strangest part of it all.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't find a logical explanation for it. There was nothing he could think of that possibly made sense. The only thought that kind of made sense but made him weary about ever seeing Dipper again was that somehow the boy had gotten into his mind. Found a way into his dreams. Through some kind of witchcraft…

Ridiculous, obviously, and yet he still found himself entertaining the idea. He'd have to keep a close eye on Dipper tomorrow. See if Dipper made any sign that he knew about the dream. That he knew their secret. Wirt had no intention of telling the boy until he was absolutely sure that the Pines were trustworthy.

And after his dream tonight, Wirt wasn't sure if they could be trusted. He knew he was probably jumping to conclusions, but he couldn't be too careful. His friends didn't know about the Unknown. Hell, Sarah hardly knew and she was his girlfriend!

Which reminded him… He should probably text her tomorrow and give her a heads up about how they were doing. He'd promised to keep in touch while there were almost a country apart. She would be wondering if they had arrived alright.

He heaved a long sigh, he was so bad at texting… He didn't really see the point of it when you could just call someone. Sarah, however, was getting him in more into what she called "normal teenage behaviour" and apparently that included texting.

Promising himself he'd do that tomorrow, Wirt leaned against the headboard and cleared his mind of any thoughts that were troubling or upsetting. This vacation's purpose was to stop him from thinking about the Unknown. Not create more problems!

Sighing loudly, Wirt crossed his arms and waited for his parents to come home. Or, realistically speaking, he was waiting for the sun to rise.

It was going to be a long rest of the night.