Six months.

It had been six months since Ford first felt something was wrong. And 5 months since a private investigator has started looking for Stan. The private investigator was able to track Stanley to a Boston prison, but after that, no trace of Stan could be found. It was like he disappeared into thin air after being released.

"I'm sorry Ma'am, but I cannot find any trace of your son in the United States."

"I-it's not your fault" Caryn sniffed "Is it possible for him to be outside of the States?"

"Yes, but there's no way for me to track him if he is."

"Thank you for your time. I'll send your final check shortly."

"Thank you, ma'am. I hope you find your son."

Caryn hung up, tears coursing down her face.

"I-It's no use, Fil. He couldn't find our boy."

"We'll figure something out, Caryn. We just need to keep up hope."

Ford hung up his phone, and let his head drop to the table in front of him. The investigation had reached a dead end, and all traces of Stan had vanished, shortly after his last call to his mother.

"Stanford? Is everything alright?" Fiddleford asked, walking into the room.

"The PI lost Stan's trail, there's no trace of him."

"I'm sorry, Stanford."

"So am I. I don't know what to do…"

"Best we can do is hope for the best, right now."

"I guess so…"

To distract himself, Ford threw himself into his work, cataloging the species of Gravity Falls. He found new and wondrous things every day, but every new discovery was tinged with sadness and regret. Stan would have loved all of this.