A few days passed, and Pacifica was beginning to adjust to life with the Pines rather well. She really wasn't as averse to the chores as she and the others thought she might be, and being able to investigate the mysteries of the town with Dipper and Mabel had proven to be more fun than she could have imagined. It might have had something to do with Dipper being there with her and insisting on being a gentleman whenever he could, or Mabel allowing her brother and Pacifica space to enjoy such things, but she was having the time of her life at the Mystery Shack.

Pacifica was not ignorant however. She was well aware her parents would find her, and try and take her home. She didn't know what she would do if that were to happen. She couldn't exactly not go with them, could she? They were her parents after all, and the wealthiest people in Gravity Falls, possibly even in the entirety of Oregon. There was no way anyone would be willing to help her, not with either a threat or a bribe. No, she knew that she'd have to return to Northwest Manor eventually. Pacifica would have to make the best of her time with Dipper and the Pines family.

Pacifica sighed as she swept the floor of the gift shop. Dipper was absolutely amazing. For the first time in her life she actually felt that someone not only cared about her for her, but actually loved her. The smile that crept on Pacifica's face every time her boyfriend told her he loved her, accompanied with the warm feeling in her chest, made leaving her home and parents worth it.

Of course, Preston and Elise Northwest would not abide by their relationship. A commoner like him with a Northwest? Absolutely not! They would find the entire concept of their daughter dating Dipper absurd and most likely would forbid her from ever seeing her beloved Dip. That alone would hurt Pacifica more than any other punishment that her parents could conceive of. And that was what she was afraid of. Losing her boyfriend. Especially after only just getting him.

"Why the long face, Pacifica?" She was shaken from her thoughts as she felt a hand on her shoulder, soon followed by a light poke of her nose. "Womp!" Mabel was in front of her, wearing her brand-new sweater with a pine tree the same as Dipper's hat, a shooting star over the tree and a llama in the leaves. Pacifica had laughed the first time she saw it – her friend certainly had creativity.

Pacifica was used to plastering on a fake smile, and as such immediately put up her usual mask. "Oh, nothing Mabel. Just thinking about that creature yesterday."

Mabel seemed unconvinced for a moment if the small frown on her face was any indication, and the blonde girl was afraid her friend could see through her lie. She hated lying to her friends, but she refused to show any weakness to them. She was unsure why she had kept this part of her parents' lessons, but she felt wrong opening up to Mabel and even Dipper.

Mabel however quickly smiled again and nodded. "The spriggent? Yeah, he was weird. He was all," she then puffed up to look like a giant, and failing as she put on a ridiculous deep voice, "stay out of my forest! You have been warned, flesh people! Begone, lest I slay thee!"

Pacifica couldn't help her giggle at her friend and her over-the-top acting. Mabel's smile grew wider, knowing she had calmed her friend down. "Here Pacifica, let me finish that. You should go hang with Dip!"

Pacifica shook her head almost immediately, still giggling slightly. "No, I promised Mister Pines that I'd finish sweeping the floor."

Mabel winked. "Who did you promise? Grunkle Stan or Grunkle Ford?"

Confusion flooded the blonde's face. "Uh… Ford?"

Mabel laughed and took the broom. "Puh-lease. Stan would be disappointed if you didn't break his promise. Now go," she told her friend conspiratorially. "Say hi to Dipper for me!"

As she walked away, Pacifica looked back at her friend. "Weren't you just up there with him?"

"Yup!"

Pacifica just scoffed. Despite everything, she had resolved that she would never figure out how Mabel's brain had worked. She climbed the stairs to the attic where she heard Dipper talking to himself softly.

"No, no. Can't be that. Maybe fire? No, that'd be too easy. Should ask Ford, he might know…"

Pacifica opened the door and sat next to her best friend, and boyfriend. He didn't even notice, too enthralled to even notice her beside him as he tried to figure out whatever issue was plaguing his mind.

"What am I missing? What is its weakness?" Dipper's voice was almost a whisper, as he chewed his pen. She smiled softly. Dipper was trying to figure out the weakness of the spriggent they had encountered.

Dipper was right. A creature completely made of wood and leaves that was alive would have some form of natural defence against fire. From what she knew of the monsters in that Journal he had, it was never too easy. So, she decided to try and help.

Looking back on the encounter, Pacifica found she was hardly able to remember anything. She had remembered that they had been looking for a certain flower that supposedly allowed the person who picked it to see the future – an Orachid – and had stopped in a grotto type area. She had been leaning against a rather mossy tree that had suddenly began to move. They had moved back towards the entrance, Dipper stepping in front of the terrified Pacifica.

The living tree had begun to threaten the children. The scared girl didn't hear what it said, but held onto her boyfriend's sleeve tight as she shook slightly. They had ran for the entrance which had begun to overgrow with vines and roots, and they managed to escape. The vines followed the trio for a time but retreated as they got too far.

As she was reminiscing the somewhat harrowing experience, she realized two things. One, the danger and fright of the situation was thrilling. Her heart didn't race that fast unless she was kissing Dipper. She loved it!

And two, she connected some dots. The grotto the spriggent lived in was dark and damp, and had been long enough to build up moss. The vines and roots seemed to stop chasing them when the area got brighter. And she figured it out.

"Sunlight!"

Dipper jumped in shook and Pacifica blushed, but chuckled at his shocked expression as he looked at her. "Paz! W-when did you get here?"

She smirked at him. "A few moments ago, Dip. But I figured out your problem for you! The spriggent is afraid of sunlight!"

Dipper's stunned look faded into one of thought. "The darkness, the moss… The chasing stopped at the sunlight!" He grabbed Pacifica by the face. "Paz, you're a genius!" He kissed her cheek and smiled. "I love you!"

Her subsequent smile and repeated pecking kisses all over his face made Dipper smile even more. "I love you too, Dipper!" Pacifica almost yelled as she covered him in kisses.

Yes, Pacifica could get very used to this life, even if she knew it would come to an end sooner rather than later.


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OHG VF GUR YYNZN URER GB FGNL?