The blur of trees ground to a halt as the cart pulled up outside the Shack.

It looked a lot like how Mabel remembered - logs stacked up on top of each other in a way that seemed haphazard, but at the same time had that weather-worn look that somehow reassures rather than deter any onlookers. The roof had been cleaned, with weeds pulled out of the cracks between wooden shingles, yet the moss that almost covered the very crest still perched in the harder to reach areas. Ratty old porch chairs had been replaced with sturdier looking wooden benches on the landing, but the Pitt Cola machine - that had a bit more rust on it than Mabel remembered - was still in its spot beside the gift shop entrance. The details had been polished, and it was made to be more 'consumer-friendly' (although Mabel didn't think it had enough pastel colours to be up to her exacting standards), still, it kept that oomph that it always had.

Mabel still had butterflies when she looked out into the forests that surrounded the place, thinking of all the different kinds of weirdness out there. She chuckled to herself - she had almost sounded like Dipper just then.

The smile faded as her brother's face replaced barfing pixies in her mind's eye. She didn't know what to think about his delay, but she knew that something was up with him. His message sounded cheerful enough, and sure, if the Grunkles or Mom and Dad got it it would have just seemed like a small bump in the road. But she knew better. She felt in her gut.

Or that could've just been the Road Trip Taco that she ate on the bus. It was probably that. At least, she hoped so.

Either way, he wouldn't be here for her to interro- a tactful and emotionally respectful talk to about any problems until tomorrow, so she may as well enjoy herself until then.

Stan helped with Mabel's suitcases whilst Stanford led the group up the steps. 'Steps that still creaked as you walked up them', she thought to herself with a smile. Some things really do never change. She rested her bags next to the gift shop sign and opened the door.

Dipper collapsed onto the bed in his motel room and felt himself melt into the covers. He wanted nothing more at that moment than to finally get some rest after two flights and a taxi ride. He could never sleep on planes, his ears always popped just as he was nodding off, and there was no way in this dimension that he was falling asleep in a strangers car - one way or another that ended badly. So he would give anything for just one hour of sleep in an actual bed.

But he couldn't. During the UK-New York flight he wrote the politest emails he could to caterers, planners and wedding guests asking for forgiveness (or in some cases, refunds), which he needed to send off before he turned in, and on the New York-Portland stretch he had been filling out all kinds of forms for his unexpected residence in his home country. It amazed him how it took more paperwork to sort out a car moving from England to America than it did to re-apply for his citizenship, but in any case those also needed sending.

An hour later (his paranoia kept him from sending anything out with anything less than perfect grammar and spelling) he finally managed to get under the sheets thathad been taunting him since he entered the motel on the edge of the city. But before he could set off for his own little dreamscape, he quickly shot a text over to Mabel.

'This is the first time in years that I'll send her a text while in the same time zone', he thought with a smirk. Sure enough, as soon as he sent the text - "Mabes. Just got into Portland. Need sleep. Will be in GF by Lunch tomorrow. Send everyone my love!" - he got a reply of "AWESOME" peppered with smiley faces and confetti streamers, followed by a photo of everyone in the Shack's kitchen cheering. The Grunkles huddled in the back, Soos and Melody sat next to each other at the table with a small baby between them, and Mabel, Wendy and Pacifica all together up close to the camera.

He slept soundly for the first time since he left his house the day before, and with a smile on his face.

Mabel was also getting ready for bed when she got Dipper's text. She was staying in the Shack for the summer, Soos was kind enough to offer the attic room to her while she stayed. She'd finished unpacking her cases just as she got it, and was overjoyed to know her brother was close by- relatively that is. He was still miles away, but that was better than an entire continent between each other. She sent back her usual fare of emojis and all-caps enthusiasm, and decided to include the picture they all took earlier.

Seeing everyone was great. More than great, it felt like she had been recharged after just looking at them all in one place. They all met in the Gift Shop but eventually gravitated to the kitchen as Eliza (Melody and Soos' baby, or 'Little Bundle of Cuteness and Baby Fat' as Mabel had described her) got a bit hungry. She was already staying up past her bedtime as it was. The conversation had mainly centered around Mabel herself, the ride up from Portland, and the conspicuous absence of one Mystery Twin.

"Hey, where's Dipper by the way?" Wendy questioned, curiosity lacing her words. "I thought he was meeting up with you in Portland?"

Everyone save the Grunkles (she had already explained the situation to them on the ride up from the Bus Stop) looked at Mabel quizzically. She shrugged. "Left a message on my phone this morning saying he would be a day late. Something about a delayed flight."

Everyone looked saddened by this news, but understood, and the night resumed. As it got late people started having to head home, but not before making plans for dinner tomorrow at Greasy's to welcome Dipper back home, and taking the picture that Mabel sent to her brother as a covert pick-me-up. Something told her he would need it.

Ey! Less than a years gap between now and my last upload. I don't wanna jinx it, but I'm feeling good about more regular uploads. Didn't get around to that third character, but next chapter for sure. Anyway, PLEASE give feedback, whether it be through a PM or a review - it's the best way for me to get better and give you a better story. Especially about the characters themselves, and whether Im being true to the original or not (to a reasonable degree, that is; it's an aged up fic).

ANYWHO, thank you again for reading! -J.K.B-D