Chapter 4

Bianca smiled, staring down at the baby boy in her arms and gently running her fingers through his cheek. His brown eyes were wide awake, his hair having grown longer and his small lips were curled up in a smile. His birthmark was more defined, and she smiled even wider just thinking about just how much it resembled the little Dipper.

She turned to her side and looked at her husband, who grinned down at the baby girl giggling in his arms. ''I swear, I'm falling even more in love with them every day''

Jason cracked a smile, leaning his back against the couch. ''Yeah, I know. I never thought I'd love anyone as much as I love them''

Bianca raised an eyebrow, causing him to chuckle. ''And you, of course''

She pulled Dipper closer, planting a kiss on his forehead. His eyes weren't directed to her, though; no, they were directed at his twin sister who was now reaching for him.

She turned to Jason, who simply watched in amusement. ''Wow, these two are going to be the best of friends when they grow up''

''Yeah, tell me about it'' his eyes suddenly turned serious, as he turned to look at her. ''Bianca, do you regret making the deal?''

The words hit her too hard, and she snapped her head to stare down at her baby daughter.

For the past six months, she had been far too occupied with handling her twins and had used that as an excuse to throw the haunting thought to the back of her head.

Yet, she couldn't help but admit, that at night the memory of what she had done haunted her. She loved Mabel with the purest love she could possibly offer, and knowing her daughter would end up belonging to a demon, consumed every single piece of her.

But her little girl was alive, the baby she had waited for with anticipation was alive and that was enough to tame her motherly heart.

So with her head held high, and a firm look on her face, she finally responded. ''No, Jace, I don't''

''But doesn't it scare you? Knowing that the moment she turns eighteen, she'll be taken from us?'' he stared down at Mabel, leaning his forehead against his little one.

Bianca could only sigh, playing with Dipper's small fingers. ''Of course it does, but all I know is that she's safe and sound for now and that's enough for me''

Jason placed an arm around her shoulder, staring down at the twins on their laps, who held their arms out for each other. ''You're right. Plus, we'll be there to protect them both through it all''

She smiled, leaning her head against his shoulder and staring down at her two children. ''Yeah we will''

Mabel was bored, extremely bored, as she walked around the Mystery Shack store for the hundredth time. Her feet had grown rather tired of doing so, and she often let out a grunt, watching her shoes take each miserable step.

Dipper remained behind the counter, his head resting on his palm as he flipped through an old magazine with the same bored expression on his face. He didn't say anything, though; just continued to look through the pictures and long storylines as if they were actually interesting.

It was a Thursday after all, so it wasn't like there were going to be any customers to attend to. But their great uncles had asked them to watch the store while they left to get groceries, and they felt a responsibility to do so; even if they would end up dying from boredom.

''Hey, Dip'' Mabel spoke, walking up to her brother and leaning against the counter. ''How do you think Soos and Wendy are doing?''

Soos and Wendy had been previous employees at the Mystery Shack and had been what had made their shifts so easy going. But they were gone now, and she was just beginning to realize just how different working was without them.

Dipper shrugged, closing the magazine and pushing it away. ''Well, Wendy's off in college having the time of her life like she always said she would. Wouldn't surprise me if she found herself a boyfriend''

She smiled at that, thinking back to the laid back, red haired girl. Dipper had developed the biggest crush on her the summer they had first visited, and it had been so entertaining to watch him struggle through it. Mabel had seen it from the very beginning though (she knew her brother like the back of her hand), and it broke her heart knowing Wendy would never see Dipper as anything other than a friend due to their age.

Now hearing him mention her again just made her realize just how she missed the girl.

''Miss her?'' she sang, with a grin.

She could see a light shade of red appear on Dipper's cheeks. ''What? No, of course not!''

''If you say so. What about Soos?''

''I'm not sure, probably still off in New York with Melody. Grunkle Stan told me yesterday that they're planning to visit soon''

''Really? Oh, I can't wait!'' Mabel jumped up, clasping her hands together. ''I felt so bad when we couldn't come to the wedding''

''I know. I still don't know why mom and dad wouldn't even let us come to that! I mean it was Soos and Melody!''

''Oh we were so mad at them!'' Mabel laughed, but it was only half sincere. ''We didn't talk to them for a week''

Dipper laughed too, but his laugh was even weaker as he rubbed the back of his neck. ''Yeah. Can't believe that was just two years ago''

Mabel was about to speak, but was cut off by the door to the store opening. A tall, curvy blonde girl stood there; her dark blue eyes staring between her and her brother, and her golden hair reaching down to her waist. She wore a baby blue dress that reached halfway down her thigh, with a white belt to show off her waist and a pair of blue boots.

She almost hadn't recognized her, but suddenly it clicked and she let out a yelp that snapped the stunned look off of Dipper's face. ''Pacifica?''

The blonde girl nodded her head, grinning. ''Hey, Mabel''

Mabel wasted no time running to her and pulling her into an embrace. It was a few seconds later that she felt Pacifica hug back, but she didn't mind; she knew it had been hard for her to do something as simple as that years ago.

''How've you been? We haven't seen you in forever!" she shouted.

Pacifica laughed, and she could tell it was a sincere one. ''I see you haven't changed one bit. I've been good, still trying to be a better person every day'' she flipped her hair over her shoulder. ''How are you, Mabel? I just heard yesterday that you and Dipper moved here to Gravity Falls''

Her eyes flicked to Dipper, who was awkwardly making his way next to Mabel.

Mabel nodded, chuckling to herself. ''Yeah, we did. Our parents died, and they left our great uncles in charge, so here we are-''

The atmosphere had changed the second she had said that, and she saw Pacifica's eyes twist with sympathy. She was used to it from her friends back in Piedmont, so she simply decided to shake it off.

''Hey, Dipper! You haven't even said hi to Pacifica yet!'' she said, elbowing him in the rib.

Dipper smiled, and she noticed the way his eyes were looking at everything but at the girl right in front of him. ''Oh, um, hi Pacifica''

Pacifica smiled back, probably at how low Dipper's voice had gotten. ''Hey, Dipper. You look great''

''Thanks, you look good too'' he said, sheeply, much to everyone's amusement. ''Not that you never looked good! I remember how you looked like years ago. Am I still talking? I should stop talking''

Mabel smirked at him, while Pacifica simply giggled. 'Well, I'm flattered. I thought surely the Mystery Twins would've forgotten about me by now''

''After everything we went through when we were twelve?'' Mabel waved away her hand, huffing. ''Never''

''Well, I'd really like to catch up. Do you guys have time to go get some pizza?''

Dipper and Mabel both turned to each other, thinking the same thing. ''That sounds great, but we're currently stuck here taking care of the mystery shack'' Dipper let out.

Pacifica frowned with her perfectly glossed, pink lips. ''Aw, that sucks. Any way you guys can sneak out?''

''I thought you said you were trying to be a better person'' Mabel joked, crossing her arms.

The blonde sent her a sly grin, flipping her hair over her shoulder once again. ''I'm a Northwest, what can I say?''

After much time trying to convince Dipper to go (''Come on, Dipping Sauce! Let's go get pizza!'' ''Mabel, our uncles are counting on us!'' ''Same old Dipper strikes again'' ''Hey, I heard that, Pacifica!''), they settled to wait until their uncles returned. Grunkle Stan and Great Uncle Ford arrived only half an hour later, carrying in bags and surprised to see a Northwest in their home.

However, they made no hesitation to let them go out and ''Get used to the town again'', or so they said. It was after that they finally arrived at the mall in Pacifica's car that many flashbacks flew through Mabel's head.

She laughed to herself, thinking back to the time when she and Dipper had attempted to help Soos get a date. It was a disaster, but she was just glad that he had found his true love. Was it weird if she thought about who hers was?

''I remember this mall,'' Mabel sighed happily, taking a seat next to Pacifica and setting down a large peperoni pizza in front of them.

Dipper took a seat across from her, handing each of them their drinks. ''Yeah, the same people still go here, including us''e

''Yeah, there's really not much else to this town. I mean, besides the whole apocalypse and strange happenings and crap'' Pacifica smirked, taking a bite of her slice of pizza.

At that moment, Mabel could've sworn she heard Bill's dry laugh far too close to where she was sitting. But as she looked around, and only saw everyone else sitting in the food court chatting, she could only wonder why the paranoia from what had happened in the wood days ago, still followed her.

''So how's life treating you, Pacifica?'' Dipper asked, sipping form his drink. ''Your parents still giving you a hard time?''

''Actually my parents divorced a year after you left. Turns out the whole 'end of the word' thing scared them more than I thought, and my mom decided she didn't want to stay here any longer. So one day she just threw divorce papers at my father, grabbed her suitcases and left''

Pacifica didn't seem affected at all as she spoke, taking another bite of her pizza. The same emotion she had seen in her friends' eyes back when she had told her their parents had died, was now in her own, and Mabel saw the same with her brother.

Except Dipper's face was even sadder, as he watched Pacifica's every move. ''I'm really sorry, Pacifica''

She only shrugged, sending him a small grin. ''I'm not. She was a nightmare, and ever since she left, my dad's been trying to fix our relationship. I mean, I don't see him much, but when I do he always makes sure to spend time with me''

''Well I'm happy you and your father are better now, Paz'' Mabel turned to her, in uncertainty. ''Can I call you that?''

''I don't see why not'' she laughed, grabbing ahold of her drink. ''It's just weird you know? I mean at the time I had no one to talk to about it. I was even tempted to ask your Uncles for your number, but somehow I managed to get through it''

''Give me your cellphone'' Dipper demanded, holding out his hand.

Pacifica raised an eyebrow. ''Why?''

''Just trust me''

She pulled a new phone out of her purse, and handed it to him. It was about a minute later that he returned it to her, much to Pacifica's confusion.

''I put mine and Mabel's phone numbers in there. If you ever need anything, just call''

Mabel stared between the two, clearly seeing something strange. Pacifica's face was brighter, obviously having been touched by her brother's kind act. Dipper still looked at her, his eyes staring straight into hers with a small grin on his face. If it wasn't for the fact that she knew about the bumpy history the two had had years ago, she would've thought for sure that the two had something going on.

And right now, she definitely felt like a third wheel. That was, until her eyes laded on a guy sitting at a table alone only a few feet away.

His dark eyes were staring at her in intrigue, his blond hair combed back and his built body leaning against his chair. He wore a red football jacket of some sort, and he grinned at her when he saw her looking at him.

He was handsome, without a doubt, and she could feel her cheeks burn up.

''Are you alright, Mabel?'' Dipper asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

Pacifica's eyes turned to where she was looking, letting out a loud gasp. ''Oh my gosh! Mabel, Joshua Alton's looking at you''

She turned to Pacifica, nervously tugging on a strand of her hair. ''What? Who is he?''

''Talk about the most popular guy at school. Trust me, if he's looking at you, it's for a reason'' she said, winking.

Mabel could only let out a gentle squeal, while Dipper rolled his eyes. ''A reason? What reason would he have to be looking at me?''

''Uh, are you blind? You're hot!'' Paz said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

She could only blink at that, refusing to stare back at the guy's obvious gaze. ''What are you talking about?''

''Look at you, Mabel, you're gorgeous! I mean you've always been really pretty, but you've gotten even more beautiful''

Mabel still couldn't get the thought through her mind. Sure her dark hair had grown longer, her body had developed, and they had finally taken her braces off; but that didn't mean she had gotten ''hot''. She'd always thought she was pretty in her own unique way, and now knowing some random guy thought so too, made her feel strange.

''Why are you so surprised? You got asked out hundreds of times back home'' Dipper growled, and she wasn't sure if it was because of the guy or because of the compliments Pacifica was spitting out.

''Yeah, I know, but I thought it was because of my mad knitting skills!'' she screeched, pointing to the pink sweater she was wearing. ''I never thought it was because someone actually found me attractive!''

''Quick! He's coming!'' Pacifica said, watching as the tall guy made his way to them.

He flashed her a smile, standing at her side with his hands in his pockets. ''Hey, I'm Joshua''

Suddenly it was like the twelve year old in her took over, as she found the flirty side to her start to come out. ''Hi I'm Mabel, but you can call me the girl of your dreams''

He chuckled, Pacifica leaned back watching in amusement, and Dipper smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand.

''Cute and witty, I like that. How would the girl of my dreams like to go out this Friday?''

Mabel pretended to think. ''I'd say she'd love to.''

''Great, do you think maybe I could get her phone number?'' he handed her his phone, as she nodded.

She typed in her name and number, before returning it back to him. ''There you go''

''I'll text you'' he winked, grabbing ahold of her hand and kissing it.

It reminded her too much of her encounter with Bill, and as soon his lips pulled away, she did the same with her hand.

''Until next time, my lady'' he said, and with that, he walked off.

Mabel and Pacifica turned to each other grinning, as Dipper let out a growl. ''I don't like that guy''

''Why? He seems sweet'' Mabel sighed dreamily, looking down at her half eaten pizza. She wasn't obsessed with finding a boyfriend the way she had been at twelve, neither did she flirt with just any guy like she used to, but it felt nice to do so again.

Joshua did seem nice, and it was after all, a brand new start for her here in Gravity Falls.

''Yeah, but there's something off about him.'' He said, with the same look on his face he usually got when he dealt with a mystery.

Paz smirked, letting out a huff. ''Oh, please, the only thing off about him is that he's going on a date with your sister. You're just being a big baby about it''

''Am not'' Dipper argued back. ''I just think it's too soon for you to be going out with a guy you literally just met a few seconds ago''

''Aw, come on, Dipper! Don't be a party pooper! Who knows? Maybe you'll end up finding yourself a girlfriend here''

The girls had no mercy, laughing at her twin brother's blushing face.

.

.

.

She was in her darkened room; she sat at the edge of her bed and she could see Dipper sleeping just a few feet away from her.

The moonlight was the only thing that lid up the room, and the sound of distant crickets were the only sound that filled the silence.

She looked around, feeling eyes suddenly on her, but she saw nothing that hadn't been there.

At least, she thought she hadn't.

''Shooting Star, so very nice to see you again'' she heard his booming voice cry out from a darkened corner of the room, and his figure stepped out of the shadows soon after.

He was in his human form again, a smirk on his thin lips and his hands held behind his back. Mabel turned to Dipper, waiting for him to wake up and realize just who was there. But nothing happened, and instead her brother continued to sleep with his back to her.

''You're in the mindscape, he can't hear you'' Bill spoke, probably reading her thoughts.

She stood from the bed, glaring at him. ''What do you want, Bill? Why do you keep coming after me?''

''I told you this already. I'm here to spend time with you, shooting star''

''I don't want to,'' she shouted, stomping her foot. ''Just leave me alone''

The dream demon examined her, his eyes staring straight at her and she realized just what she had done. She should've remembered just how short his temper was, and she knew that getting him mad meant no compassion towards anything he ended up doing to her.

But instead of getting red like he usually did when he was angry, he simply let out a curious noise.

Grabbing a strand of her hair and tucking it behind her ear, Mabel cringing the entire time, his lips curled up into a smile. ''Wow, you really are Bianca's daughter''

At the sound of her mother's name, her head shot up to stare at him. ''How do you know my mom?''

''Oh you'll find out soon, but I totally called it when I said you'd be killer''

She was more confused than ever, trying to get her head together. ''What?''

''You have Jason's eyes and hair, but you definitely have your mother's beauty. Wow, was she attractive for a human''

''You met my parents?''

She was practically chocking on air at this point, and hanging onto each of his words for dear life.

Bill smirked, tilting her chin up to meet his eyes. ''Met them, made a deal with them, what's the difference?''

''What was the deal?'' she asked, nervously. Her parents had never talked about a Bill Cipher, or even knowing the truth about Gravity Falls.

It didn't make sense, nothing made sense.

''Let's not talk about that. I want to know why you accepted to go on a date with that stupid football player'' this time his eyes had changed to more cynical ones, his words spitting out venom.

She was stunned at the sudden change of subject and attitude, as she took a step back. ''Wait, how do you know that?''

''I know everything, shooting star. Don't forget that'' he grabbed ahold of her wrists, pulling her closer. That's when she saw her hands begin to disappear, and as she looked down at the rest of her body, the same was happening.

Bill only let out an annoyed growl, cupping her face into his hands. ''I'm watching you, even when you think I'm not. This will all make sense to you soon, I promise''

He planted a kiss on her forehead, and suddenly, Mabel sat up from her bed with sweat dripping from her forehead.

She was breathing heavily back and forth, her eyes roaming around the room looking for any sign of the demon. She didn't see one, and as she finally began calming down, she realized just what had happened.

She had thought about awakening Dipper and telling him about it, but this was something that she needed to talk about with Stan tomorrow.

Needless to say, she didn't sleep for the rest of the night.