I wasn't going to include the plot to this chapter until chapter eight, but I feel it might work better now, especially after Stan has his conversation with Priscilla.
By the time I brought in the SuStan ship in Bonded, half of Rescuing Pacifica had already been written, so for this story I had to come up with a reason that Susan was missing throughout this whole series. In this chapter Pacifica will get to experience a kinder mother figure.
Thank you to Smiles1998 for your review. You'll get to find out what Stan has to say, and Stanley is going to tell it like it is.
Just as a warning, Stan is pissed off at Priscilla at this point, so he's not going to hold any punches. There are a few swears in the beginning of this chapter, but I tried to keep it to a minimum. But for that reason alone I'm going to have to up the rating to T.
Stan drummed his fingers while he waited for the call to reach Priscilla. Five rings passed until he finally heard white noise in the background. He heard coughing followed by the greeting of a woman's voice.
From the first word Stan could tell that Priscilla was under the influence of alcohol. Pacifica had once mentioned that her mother often took drinks when she thought no one was looking. While her father knew, he didn't care as long as it didn't interfere with her public conduct were it needed.
"Priscilla Northwest," Stan growled.
"Who is this?" Priscilla asked with a sniff.
"Stan Pines, your daughter's guardian," Stan spat.
"Oh," Priscilla said. "Is everything alright with Pacifica?"
Priscilla tried to control her tone and voice so that the drink wouldn't leak into her words. While that would have fooled anyone else, Stan made his money off of using that same technique.
"Listen, honey, do you even know what today is?" Stan asked.
Priscilla pulled at her hair as she thought it over. She would die of humiliation if anyone happened to look upon her in her current state of messy hair, a makeup less face, and dressed down. Fortunately she locked her door and all the servants had retired for the night.
"I'll give you a hint, you missed your daughter's birthday," Stan snapped.
"Oh," Priscilla said. She sniffed again. "You called this number just for that?"
Stan listened as Priscilla brought the half empty bottle of wine to her lips. He recognized the sound of the liquid sloshing along with the deep swallows.
"Is that all? Look, ya little bitch, Pacifica's been waitin' for you all day," Stan yelled. "And where were you? Off gettin' drunk off your ass. Well, I can see why she ain't got no respect for you."
"Mr. Pines, how dare you speak to me in this manner?" Priscilla replied.
"What? You think 'cause you got all that money everyone's supposed to bow down to ya?" Stan retorted. "Well I got news for you, you good for nothin' lush. No one's fooled by you and don't no one like you."
"I-I have not been drinking," Priscilla barked. "And I don't find this conversation appropriate."
"I'll tell ya what's not appropriate, you wastin' away your liver in that mansion, and all she wanted was for you to show up just to let her know you thought about her. Hell, a phone call."
Priscilla listened with her mouth agape. She wondered why she hadn't hung up yet.
"Your daughter's all you got left, but you chose to abandon her on a day she needed you," Stan continued. "You're a crappy person and an even crappier mother."
"That is enough," Priscilla roared.
"Well, I ain't finished," Stan snapped. "If Pacifica don't ever wanna talk to you again after what you did to her today, well I don't blame her. And you can burn in Hell with your rotten husband for all I care."
A moment of silence passed over the phone. Priscilla stared at the end call button wondering why she didn't just press it.
Softly Stan added, "She deserves a better mother."
With that Stan slammed the phone down on the receiver. He removed his glasses and rubbed at the space in between his eyes.
Stan turned to see Soos standing there wide-eyed.
"Go home, Soos," Stan ordered and pushed by him.
"Are you okay, Mr. Pines?" Soos asked.
"I feel much better now," Stan answered.
He sat down at the table and Soos followed. Soos cut two slices of the leftover cake then handed one to his boss and kept the other for himself.
"Just so you know, if I ever see that turd that dares to call himself your father, I'll have some words for him too," Stan said.
Soos smiled. He brought the fork to his mouth and delighted in the sweet frosting.
"You know I kept all his letters," Soos said. He swallowed another piece of cake. "Even now I still want to meet him." Stan scowled at the younger man. Soos held his fork in the air with the next bite of the dessert on the prongs. "But he'll never be my dad." He smiled at Stan. "I already got one of those."
Stan smiled for a brief second. He waved his hand and replied, "Don't be gettin' all sappy on me, Soos."
Soos laughed and finished the rest of his cake. Stan leaned back in his chair while poking at the dessert with his fork. His whole life he knew it was for the best that he had never taken on a fatherly role, but considering Soos and the girl asleep in the other room, perhaps he had.
The next morning ran as normal. Ford drove Pacifica to school while the others opened the Mystery Shack.
Stan had been in good spirits ever since he received word that morning that his wife would be returning home around noon. Therefore he instructed his employees to clean the place better than usual. Soos took the orders to heart while Bill performed at his usual pace.
Mr. Mystery looked forward to seeing his wife after she had been absent for almost two months. He had quite a lot to fill her in on at her return. Susan had mentioned on several occasions that she had hoped for a child in her youth. Stan was excited to tell her that in a strange way her wish had been granted.
Once noon rolled around Stan started pacing. Without a tour group in front of his house he didn't have anything to keep his mind from wondering what could have went wrong.
"Don't worry, Mr. Pines, it's probably just a late bus," Soos said.
The handyman was dressed in a suit similar to Stan's due to the fact that he would be taking over Stan's position once Susan arrived.
"Maybe I should check the TV to see if there are any reports," Stan said.
"Stanley, calm down," Ford replied. "Soos is right."
"Oh yeah? Well whenever your boy isn't on time you start to panic," Stan argued pointing to the blond man leaning his arm on Ford's shoulder.
"That's because this fool is most likely chasing something dangerous," Ford replied.
Bill scowled at Ford and stuck out his tongue.
A few minutes later the local bus pulled up in front of the shack. Stan grinned at the sight of his beloved stepping off the vehicle. With a suitcase in one hand she waved to the driver then rolled her luggage up the gravel pathway.
Stan jumped out the door and picked up the woman, spinning her around three times. With a pained cry Stan let her down harder than he intended then reached for his aching lower back.
Ford approached his in-law and held out his hand. Susan rolled her eyes then pulled her husband's twin in for a firm hug.
"Look at you lookin' sharp," Susan said when she eyed the approaching Soos.
"Haha, thanks," Soos said. He offered to take her suitcase. "How's your sister?"
"She got released last night," Susan answered. "I got her all moved in and she's good to go."
They walked in the back door. Susan stood in her home with her hands on her hips. "You know, it was good takin' care of Gladys, but I'm happy to be back here."
"The place hasn't been the same without you, sugar pot" Stan said and kissed the plump woman on the cheek.
"So what's this I hear about you adopting a kid while I'm gone?" Susan asked.
"Where did you hear that?" Stan asked.
"Mabel told me you took in the Northwest girl," Susan answered. "She told me the whole story, and it makes me so proud to know my man has such a big heart." She poked his chest.
"Yeah right," Stan said dismissively. "You know how Mabel exaggerates."
"Too bad you weren't here last night for her birthday party," said Soos.
"Oh, I missed her birthday?" Susan gasped. She shook her head. "Well, that won't do. When she gets home, I'll have a special surprise planned for her."
Overjoyed students fled at the sound of the final bell. Whether they scurried to after school activities, fun plans with friends, or just to relax at home-everyone wore a smile.
Among the group was Pacifica. The natural high from last night's party still lingered. When she ran into Gideon, Jessica, and Marius at lunch she thanked them again for such a wonderful surprise.
Marius walked alongside Pacifica. While Marius was not as intimidating as Gideon, Pacifica still felt safer with him by her side.
They walked through the main gate to the academy then turned the corner.
"Thanks for waiting with me," Pacifica said.
"It's nothing," Marius dismissively replied. "I have to wait on my ride too."
"You're going out with Grenda's family again?"
Marius nodded. "Some buffet restaurant they all like." He laughed then added, "Her appetite is as big as mine."
Pacifica chuckled. The one time in her life that she had been allowed to go to a buffet for a charity function, her mother forced her to only eat a small amount on a large plate, and going back for seconds was out of the question. She decided she would ask the twins to accompany her to a buffet when they came for their summer stay. With a smirk she would go back for a second plate.
A familiar vehicle other than one belonging to the Pines brothers pulled to a stop. The window rolled down and the two were greeted by the waving Lazy Susan. Marius waved back.
"Come on, I'm picking you up today," Susan said.
Pacifica was taken aback from the sudden news. She said goodbye to Marius then opened the passenger seat door. The vehicle smelled of onions, however Susan was too excited of her plans that she never noticed the teenager wrinkle her nose.
"Oh boy, I'm so happy you're staying with us," Susan said. She glanced over at the girl then returned her attention to the road.
"Yes, Mr. Pines was nice enough to take me in," Pacifica replied.
"That's my Stanley, he thinks with his heart instead of his head," Susan said with a laugh.
The radio didn't work which left plenty of moments for awkward silence. Pacifica looked over at Susan. She had never spent much time with the woman, although she recalled seeing her with Stan a few times. From what Mabel told her Stan truly loved that woman.
They passed the road that would lead them to the Mystery Shack. Holding onto the back of the seat Pacifica turned and looked out the back windshield.
"I think you missed the turn," Pacifica said.
"Oh, we're not goin' home, not yet," Susan responded.
Pacifica turned around and folded her hands in her lap. She figured Susan needed to run a few errands after being gone for so long. After the woman had come to pick her up, she had no right to complain of a detour.
The car pulled into the parking lot of a small plaza. Susan grabbed her purse and stepped out, Pacifica followed her lead. The teenager walked behind the older woman. She was shocked to see Susan open the door to the nail salon. Pacifica and her ex-friends were monthly customers at that shop. While the place was always busy, Pacifica never recalled seeing Lazy Susan among the patrons.
The receptionist welcomed Susan and informed her that the stylist would be with her and her guest momentarily.
"You called in an appointment?" Pacifica asked.
"Of course," Susan replied. She placed her hands on her hips. "Otherwise you could be sittin' here for hours."
Pacifica never had that problem. She wondered if it was her wealth and status that permitted her to jump ahead of the other customers. Blue eyes glanced around at the others in the building. Every other person avoided eye contact. Perhaps she never was as popular as she was led to believe.
A manicurist waved the two over. Susan and Pacifica sat down together at the table. A second nail technician grabbed a hold of Pacifica's hand. The blonde recognized the slim woman who had worked on her hands and feet plenty of times before.
"How would you like your nails, Miss Northwest?" she asked, although the enthusiasm she usually greeted her with was missing.
Not wanting to admit the truth Pacifica told herself the manicurist probably endured a bad day.
"Just French tips," the teenager answered.
Next to her Susan selected her usual fiery red.
"It's been so long since I had a girl's night out, even if it is still daytime," Susan said then laughed at her own joke. She stopped laughing and a hint of seriousness crossed the older woman's face. She didn't have many female friends her age.
The manicurist massaged lotion on Pacifica's hands. It pained her to know her hands weren't as flawless as they once wore due to her being assigned chores at the Mystery Shack. Relief came in knowing that her mother would freak out at seeing the small calluses at the top of her palm.
Before long the two admired their fresh nails. Pacifica reached into her purse to pull out the cash she had saved up from her time working at the shack. Before she could pay Susan handed the cashier her debit card.
"I could've gotten my own," Pacifica said.
"It's your birthday present," Susan replied.
Pacifica's jaw dropped. When she could finally speak again she thanked the woman.
"I wish I could've been here," Susan said as she and the teenager left the salon.
"You were taking care of your sister," Pacifica reminded her.
Susan nodded. The two made their way back to the car. The doors shut and the seatbelts were fastened.
"You know, I used to dream about having children," Susan said as she turned on the car. "Obviously that wasn't meant to be." The car reversed and merged onto the road heading for the Mystery Shack. "But I guess in a way you and Mabel and Dipper are like my kids. Not really, but kind of."
Pacifica nodded. Her own mother hadn't remembered her birthday, or she just didn't care. She smiled down at her nails then up at her new guardian.
Their home came into view. Pacifica's eyes widened at the sight of a limousine in the driveway.
"If that's another of Stan's surprises," Susan laughed.
Pacifica shook her head. She recognized that licence plate.
As soon as the car came to a stop Pacifica threw open the door and dashed up the stairs. She nearly tore down the door to get inside. There in the museum stood her mother. A police officer stood in the corner of the room with her eyes on the two Northwests.
"Mom," Pacifica gasped.
With a huge smile Priscilla moved forward and wrapped the teenager in a tight embrace. Pacifica inhaled her mother's lavender scent.
While on one knee Priscilla said, "Pacifica, darling, I'm so sorry I missed your party." She glanced over at Stan. "I had other business to attend to."
Pacifica could have swore she heard Stan's knuckles crack.
"So I thought I'd surprise you with a visit today," Priscilla added. "You were an hour late, I was getting worried."
"Mrs. Pines took me to get a manicure," Pacifica explained and showed her mother the fresh nails.
Priscilla grinned at the other woman, although her eyes spoke a different story. "Thank you for looking after my Pacifica."
"Of course not," Priscilla said. She pulled a wrapped box from her purse. "I got you a present."
Pacifica opened the box to reveal a set of diamond earrings and a matching necklace. The teenager threw her arms around her mom and thanked her.
"Are you staying for dinner, Mrs. Northwest?" Susan asked.
Priscilla stiffened. "No, I have somewhere to be."
Pacifica knew her mother lied. Too often she spoke that a Northwest would never fall so low to accept free food from a commoner.
Priscilla hugged her daughter one last time then she and the officer left the shack. The chauffeur opened the door for the two women then the vehicle took off back into town.
"I hope my mom didn't offend you," Pacifica said to Lazy Susan.
"No way," Susan said with a wave of her hand. "I actually feel sorry for her because she didn't get to spend the afternoon with you."
Pacifica smiled. She turned away from the window and went to set the table for dinner.