"Phoebe, you ever think about that dating advice that people give - you know, never be friends with your exes?" Ken looked over his shoulder to assess Phoebe's reaction.
Phoebe looked back at him with curious eyes. "I mean, sure, I can see the merit in that, but I already know one example where this isn't such an issue - Robbie and Mom are friends, despite Robbie basically being the worst boyfriend she'd ever had."
"Yeah, after seeing Thompson get beat up by concert security as I recall," Ken shook his head. "Your family has some weird memories."
"Your words say you hate it, but your body and everything else about you say you love it."
Ken squirmed. "Erm...hung jury?"
Phoebe laughed. It was good to hang out like this. "So, why ask?"
"I just find it even weirder that said ex then becomes close friends with the ENTIRE family of the new boyfriend who eventually becomes the husband."
"I mean, he knew Mabel and Stan for a while even before breaking up with Wendy. But yeah, when you put it that way it sounds like the plot of a horror film."
"It probably is. You know Hollywood - making it a story about revenge against the new boyfriend or whatever."
Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Well, at least in THIS case history proved there was no malintent. Heck, some of Dad's visits when dating mom involved getting together with Robbie and Tambry at the same time."
Ken smiled deviously. "Two date couples, both alike in dignity?"
Phoebe decided to humor him on this one. "In fair Oregon where we lay our scene."
The two of them laughed together as the memory of the story itself came washing down on them….
##############################################################################################################################
"Wendy!"
"Tambry, what's up!?"
The two women hugged together in front of the entrance to the Greasy Diner. It had been a few months since they'd seen each other, what with one of them now taking classes for arborist certification. But they weren't alone at the diner that day. Shortly after breaking the embrace, the two turned to the men on either side of them as they walked up to face each other.
The black-haired goth spoke first. "How's it been, dweeb?"
The brunette opposite of him, looking at eye level for the first time, replied. "I could ask the same, punk jerk."
Tambry tensed a little and nearly stepped forward to stand by her significant other, but Wendy just put a hand on her shoulder and gave a small grin with a reassuring nod. Tambry turned her attention back to the two men.
"Still chasing down ghosts and whatnot like some freak collector?"
"Depends, still writing songs that just scream 'copyright lawsuit?'"
For a moment the two of them stared each other down, maintaining their authoritative gazes. Finally the black-haired one broke and laughed. "Alright, you win."
Dipper smiled and offered Robbie one hand to shake while pulling him close by the shoulder for a half-hug using the other. "Five to zero, my favor, I think."
Robbie chuckled as he accepted the greeting. "Alright, Pines, off the high horse. That's like, five wins in three years, nothing special."
The four of them had a bit of a group hug that was apparently initiated by Wendy, as she cracked, "Look at my boys getting along….literally years after I tell them to." She then turned to Tambry. "I kinda figured they'd do something like that."
Tambry laughed. "Some things never change. Ready to grab a table?"
#########################################################################################
The four of them were soon munching down on pancakes and coffee omelettes together, taking a minute before talking to just enjoy the food - Lazy Susan was always good with food, but she seemed to improve over time.
Robbie cracked, "Not the most romantic place for a double date. We're all a bunch of weirdos for this, eh?"
Dipper grinned apologetically. "Well, I'd say that's what makes it make perfect sense for us to be doing this. Besides, we were a bit busy last night."
His opposite number raised an eyebrow jokingly. "Really? How many B-movies did you veg your way through this time?"
Wendy grinned. "Well, you know us too well, clearly."
Tambry put down her glass as she spoke, "It was a team effort, actually. I'm the one who figured you two would hold onto whatever made your friendship special from old times."
Robbie added "and I'm the one who remembered that Wendy would talk about that being some of the highlights of that first summer."
Wendy laughed. "So you were listening."
Robbie became sheepish. "Only when he was involved - jealous of the pipsqueak and all. I've gotten better though."
Tambry raised her hand. "I'm witness to that. Anyway, Wendy, how many did you guys watch last night?"
"Um, three. Why?"
Wendy was a bit confused at the question until Robbie unceremoniously pulled a five from his wallet and gave it to his girlfriend. Tambry smirked as she leaned on Robbie, saying "I told you she'd be laughing too hard to make it to five."
Dipper decided to take his opening. "What about you? Listened to an entire album of screamo?"
"Half of one, actually."
After an awkward silence, Dipper silently got a five from his wallet and gave it to his girlfriend. Wendy chuckled and pecked his cheek. "Thanks, doofus."
######################################################################################
An hour later, the four were at Wendy's apartment sitting randomly about. Dipper decided to ask the now satiated Tambry a burning question. "That was great and all, but I know you chose today for a reason. And I think I know what it is."
Tambry looked at him in shock. "How did - ?"
Dipper gestured to her hands. "You worked hard keeping that hand hidden under the table so we wouldn't see it's gloved...but that was your dominant hand, so it gave it away."
Wendy was at first lost herself. "Dipper, what are you - " suddenly, as she turned from Robbie to Tambry to Robbie to Tambry again, she put it together. "No way. You're not - ?"
Tambry smiled broadly as she gleefully whipped the glove off to reveal a ring on the hand. "We're engaged!"
Wendy jumped up. "That's awesome, guys! Man, I really hope the best for y'all!"
As the girls hugged, Tambry replied. "Thanks. I haven't forgotten our deal, by the way, so get ready for a bridemaid's outfit."
Wendy groaned in half-horror. "God, no..."
While the two celebrated, the boys laughed from watching them before Robbie said, "Dipper, man, mind if I check your schedule outside? We want to make sure you'll make it." However, he gave a subtle enough nod to tell Dipper that what he really wanted was privacy.
The two trooped onto the patio, Pitt Colas in hand, and leaned over the banister.
"So, Robbie, what's really up? Worried a little?"
"About the wedding, no. But there was something I had to do first." Robbie looked at him dead in the eye before continuing. "Thank you."
Dipper looked surprised. "For what? It was Mabel who - "
"Yeah I know, and she'll get her thanks soon enough - or you can pass it along for me, I don't care. But if you hadn't busted me for the song - or shown me how much of a jerk I was that first summer when we were kids..." Robbie looked at him dead in the eye. "...I wouldn't be who I am today. I definitely wouldn't be man enough to propose to Tambry, and she wouldn't have said yes even if I thought I was. Both you and your sister had a hand in this moment. Remember that."
"I, um….thanks." Dipper stared out into the open for a moment before continuing, "All the same, I have to envy you. It takes a lot of courage to pop the question, I imagine."
"Oh, for me, tons. But what about you?"
Dipper looked at him in shock. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that I saw your reaction when Tambry announced the engagement. You looked at Wendy - not just to see her reaction, but to think about another day in the future..."
Dipper ran a hand through his own hair. "I'm just worried about messing up or scaring her off."
"Scaring her off? Come on, punk." Robbie teased. "We both know she eats fear for breakfast."
"This is a different kind of scare, though….we've only been dating for eleven months..."
"Maybe, but you two have known each other for years, and all that time you were nothing but mature. Tambry had to first see a bad side of me. Wendy has never seen a bad side of you - not one that repelled her, anyway." His eyes reflected some sense of shame as he finished that sentence.
Dipper looked at him with disbelief. "You don't mean to say that you think I should go for it, do you?"
Robbie looked at him knowingly. "I'm just saying that you have less reason than me to be afraid of taking that chance if you want to."
Dipper's hand went into his pocket and clutched tightly something inside. "I guess I do...Thanks, Robbie. And again, congratulations."
Robbie went back in, reverting briefly to his teenage self as he said, "Whatever." But then he smiled. "Something tells me I'll be saying that right back soon enough."
As he went inside, Dipper pulled the box out of his pocket and smiled. "You just might, Robbie...you just might..."
########################################################################################################################################
"Well, we all know how well that went" Ken cracked, referencing a story he remembered about Soos and Mabel trying to help Dipper propose, only for the entire gang to get attacked by wolves.
"Oh yeah," Phoebe laughed. "Typical plan-gone-awry, I suppose. Still, I can't help but admire Robbie and Tambry. I hear they're marriage has been stable."
"Despite the...um, less-than-savory method your aunt used to get them together?"
Phoebe shrugged. "You'll never hear me say that she was right, but sometimes people need a push. It wouldn't have lasted if they weren't meant for each other. Besides, they made great double-date partners, based on what we just saw."
Ken looked at her and snorted. "You make it sound like their happiness is secondary to that of your own parents. Selfish much?"
"Hey," Phoebe shot back, throwing a couch cushion at him. "You're the one co-hosting this with me. It's WenDip week, not Tambrobbie week."
Ken raised an eyebrow. "Tambrobbie? Really?"
Phoebe relented. "Yeah, OK, that name needs workshopping…."
