Ford and Mabel arrived early the next morning. When she arrived Stan pulled her into a tight embrace like he never wanted to let her go. Last night had made things so real to him, she was going to hopefully be saving his precious son's life...even if it meant losing her own.
The nurses checked both Dipper and Mabel's temperature, blood pressure, and other vitals to ensure their bodies were healthy enough for this. Mabel joked about wanting to get this show on the road because she was upset about missing breakfast. The reality was she only made the joke to keep her family calm. Her stomach was too full of butterflies to eat anything.
Dipper and Mabel were presented with a contract. He explained he would need both them and their fathers to sign it (the hospital staff had discovered very quickly that referring to Stan and Ford as anything but fathers won't fly).
Mabel didn't even bother reading it before signing it. There was nothing that could be written on that contract to sway her.
Dipper forced himself to read the words before signing it. He wasn't the type to blindly go into anything. He was very thankful that Mabel didn't read it though. He thought that the words would even unnerve her because they unnerved him. This contract was basically saying they all understand this surgery could lead to complication or death. Dipper had always assumed he and Mabel loved each other enough that they would die for each other, but to actually see it written in black and white that Mabel was really willing to do it gave him chills. He forced his shaking hand to sign it.
When the contract was handed over to Stan and Ford they could hardly keep the paper still enough to read it. With this contract, they were handing over their precious children, their entire world, over to something that could lead to one or both of their deaths. It was a responsibility no parent wanted to accept. The power of a signature was something both Stan and Ford were familiar with. With one signature they had gone from great uncles to fathers. It became Stan's and Ford's job to protect those kids, keep them from harm, and love them with the fierce loyalty only parents can love. This paper made them feel they were doing exactly the opposite. They wished they could take their places. They wanted to break down in tears, but remembering their pact, forced smiles as they signed what could be the equivalent of Dipper's and/or Mabel's death certificates.
The doctor tried to force a reassuring smile at Stan and Ford. He was a father too, and he could only imagine their fears, but this was the best option. He was certain of it.
"Please, just let us speak to them. Just for a moment," Ford pleaded.
The doctor offered a small smile and ushered the nurses and specialists outside of the room. The family deserved a bit of privacy during this time.
"We know you guys are gonna do great," Stan started.
"Just know that we love you both very much, and we're so proud of you."
"We love you too, Daddies," Mabel said.
Stan and Ford made sure to give each child a kiss on their forehead.
Mabel forced herself to smile at her brother. "Ready for this, bro-bro?"
"Ready as I'll ever be." Dipper still couldn't believe his sister was going to do this for him. He had long given up on talking her out of it, but he wanted to show his gratitude to her. "I just hope that getting your kidney means I get to be more like you."
Mabel blushed, proud that someone as amazing as Dipper wanted to be like her. "Yeah, maybe having a part of me inside you will make you less of a dork!"
The whole family shared a small laugh together.
The anesthesiologist came in and put breathing masks on Dipper and Mabel as the medicine pumped into their tiny bodies.
Stan held Mabel's hand, while Ford held Dipper's. They assured the kids that they were with them, and they would be there the moment they woke up.
They held their hands until they felt them go limp. Stan and Ford knew they needed to leave now, but they felt like their feet were bolted to the side of their kids' beds.
The anesthesiologist gave the men a reassuring smile. "Try not to worry. They won't even remember being put under. The last thing they'll remember is you two holding their hands, and you'll be with them when they wake up. It'll be like you never left their side."
Stan and Ford tried to feel reassured by the thought that their kids won't be awake and, therefore, won't be scared that they can't find their daddies. But no anesthetic will be given to the terrified fathers; they'll have to spend the whole surgery anxiously waiting for the outcome.
As soon as the doors of the OR closed behind Dipper and Mabel as they were wheeled in, Stan and Ford plopped down on the waiting room chairs and cried. Now that they didn't have to be strong, they could let the weight of what their babies were going through sink in.
