Title: Insecurities

Rating: k

Characters: Mabel Pines, Stanford Pines

Word Count: ~980

Summary: Mabel gets her grunkle to spend some quality time with her through arts and crafts, though in the end results in some insecurities arising. However with some comfort and encouragement from your great niece, that was all it took to be in higher spirits.

A/N: jUST GOT SOME MOTIVATION AND WROTE THIS ON A WHIM. Based on a precious headcanon sent to me on my tumblr, I decided to write a little something over it. It doesn't exactly follow the whole headcanon, but hey. I wrote what I felt like writing, haha. I may write some more stuff based on the headcanons sent to me on my tumblr recently, so be prepared! :D Hope you enjoy reading. :)

As always I'm always up for suggestions, and I may or may not use them in the future!

Disclaimer: I don't own Gravity Falls!


"You know what, Waddles? I think I'm in a painting mood today!" Mabel declared triumphantly, placing her hands on her hips. Her pet pig only snorted lightly in response.

"But who to recruit…" She trailed off with a perplexed expression, lifting a hand to her chin as she pondered. Her face brightened as soon as she thought of the perfect candidate.

Grunkle Ford. He'd surely be up for making some art with her today. He was always up for partaking in certain activities with her, and how would this time be any different?

"Grunkle Ford!" Mabel chirped optimistically as she swiftly hoisted a variety of painting supplies into her arms and sprinted down the stairs, on the hunt for her grunkle.

Mabel took a quick glance into the living room. No grunkle. She also spared a peek while Mabel dashed past the kitchen and gift shop, and also found no signs of Ford. She figured he was in the basement, as usual. While making her way to the vending machine she dropped her supplies off on a nearby table, figuring the items would weigh her down. Her small footsteps could be heard from miles away as she ecstatically descended the staircase to the elevator with ease, pressing its button impatiently as she waited for the elevator to ascend to her level. Before the elevator's doors could open completely Mabel was already inside, pushing the desired button that would take her down to her grunkle's lab.

"Grunkle Ford, Grunkle Ford!" Mabel called out enthusiastically as she exited the elevator and dashed over to the desk where her grunkle was hunched over, absorbed in whatever books lied across its surface and currently unaware of his niece's calls.

He didn't break his focus with his studies until he felt something grasp onto his sleeve, briefly astonished before he glanced down to find his great niece staring up at him with a hopeful gleam in her eyes. Ford smiled as he reached down and affectionately ruffled her hair, appreciating the abrupt visit Mabel decided to pay him.

"Hello there, Mabel. What brings you down here at this hour?" He questioned curiously as he allowed his great niece to climb into his lap, and wrapped his arms securely around her.

"Well, I've come down to recruit you for a very special painting mission!" Mabel declared with a wide grin, wrapping her own arms around Ford's neck affectionately. "And I just remembered that you promised you'd spend some time with me today!"

Ford paused and glanced to the side while he pondered, smile widening. "Ah, yes. I believe I did agree to that the other day, didn't I?"

"Don't even think about trying to get out of it because there's no way Mabel here is gonna let you back out on hanging out today, Grunkle Ford!" She giggled as she felt herself be brought up by her grunkle, who stood up out of his seat and strolled towards the elevator.

"So, what's on Mabel's agenda for today?" Ford asked as they ascended the elevator and brought his niece back into the gift shop, briefly hugging her tight before gracefully setting her down on the floor.

"Painting!" Mabel cheered with a grin, throwing her hands up into the air. "Lots and lots of painting!"

Ford laughed as he opened the 'Employees Only' door for his niece, watching her dart past the doorframe and to the table in the back of the room where her art supplies lay. "All right then. Painting it is." He agreed while he trailed not far behind her, and eventually took a seat at the table.

Mabel wasted no time in getting the paper plates out and squirting piles of assorted colored paints in each one. When she felt satisfied with the colors she selected, she pulled out two sheets of paper: one for herself, and the other for her grunkle.

"Okay! First thing's first is that I'm gonna need you to put one of your hands in any of the paints you see here on these paper plates." Mabel instructed while pointing to the plates filled with paint on the table before them.

Ford quirked a brow in confusion. "I don't follow."

"Here, I'll show you." She replied while taking hold of one of her grunkle's hands, then dipped it in the plate that had red paint. Before Ford could protest, she already brought his hand down onto the paper she gave him, leaving a six-fingered handprint when he pulled his hand away.

"Your hands are so awesome and unique, Grunkle Ford!" She gushed as she brought the paper containing her grunkle's handprint up to observe it.

"…You really think so?" Ford mused hesitantly aloud, more to himself than his niece as he brought his hands up near his face to study them for what seemed like the millionth time. "These extra fingers on my hands have only brought me mixed reactions. And not in a good way." He finished with a sigh.

"More fingers just means even more possibilities!" Mabel affirmed in reply, swinging her legs back and forth in her chair as she added, "You just need to think of things that you're able to make even better with your extra fingers. Positive thoughts, Grunkle Ford!"

"Hmm…" Ford hummed as he thought, and slyly smiled when his mind came across an idea. "You mean like tickles?"

"W-Wait, I didn't mean—"

"Gotcha!" Ford declared triumphantly with a laugh before reaching under his niece's sweater, his fingers rapidly brushing back and forth across her tummy, which resulted in sporadic giggles erupting from his niece. After a few minutes of tickling and constant pleads of defeat from his niece, Ford stopped, allowing Mabel to catch her breath.

And as soon as Mabel regained her composure Ford brought her back into his arms, pressing his forehead against hers with smile while he said softly in an appreciative tone, "Thank you, Mabel."


A/N: And that ends the next drabble! Hope you enjoyed reading! Any comments, follows, favorites are appreciated!

Thanks for reading. :)

-Syd