I woke up to a pitch black sky.
"Wh-what?" I murmured, moving into a sitting position as I squinted at the sky. Maybe my glasses weren't on...?
I put my hand up to my face, frowning as I felt the rim of my glasses.
They were most definitely on.
"Hello?" I called, wincing as I heard my voice echo endlessly.
Where was I?
"Oh, what a looker." a voice snickered from somewhere above me. "Definitely worth Cipher's immortality."
I groaned and rolled my eyes. "Yes, yes, how extremely un-cliche. At least Bill was a good villain."
Keeping an unimpressed face, I turned to see...
Nothing?
"No need to see what I look like." the voice said, and I cursed myself about letting my guard down. "All I need you to do is listen, after all."
"Are all demons like this? 'Cause Bill was at least new at first, but after him and Felicia and now you, the whole 'make-a-deal-with-me-or-else-your-loved-ones-will-die' is getting pretty boring."
My main goal here was to get him as annoyed as possible of me so I could figure out how to defeat him - it had worked on Bill before, it might work again.
Instead, the voice only let out a low chuckle, and I had to suppress a shudder.
Even if this new guy wasn't freaking me out, his evil laugh was a pretty good one. The kind that sends shivers down your spine.
"Oh, no, Hayden, you've got the wrong idea. Like you, I'm starting to think it's time to leave old traditions behind." There was a loud snap, and in front of me appeared what seemed like a galaxy - except it throbbed with life.
I could hear whispers, words I couldn't quite catch, and they sounded like they were beckoning me to come closer.
Another loud snap and the galaxy was gone.
"You've got so many questions, don't you? Ones much more interesting than your father's, much more valuable to you. He's got questions about a place he's known for only about a few years, but you, oh." Another chuckle. "You never did know your mother, did you?"
I froze.
Mom?
The demon must have read my mind, because he continued on with a hint of smugness to his voice, "Ah, yes. Lady Miranda Canterbury! Or should I say Pines? Your father and her were married, after all. The wedding was a splendid one, although secret. And your parents were so happy - pictures won't be able to do them justice."
"Why are you telling me this?" I stuttered.
"No, no, no, Hayden. The question is why your father doesn't tell you this."
My hands curled into fists, breath coming in shallow breaths. "He has the right to grieve my mother, and nothing you can say will be able to make me see otherwise."
I could almost hear the shrug that came after. "Suit yourself. He is, after all, your father. I see why you'd trust him. But does he trust you?"
"Of course he does." I scoffed. "I'm his daughter."
Snap.
In front of me were three reddish-black words, written in either anger or fear.
'TRUST NO ONE!'
"Words your father wrote in his journal as a warning to himself and other people who might come across it. He didn't trust Stan, he didn't trust Dipper and Mabel - who's to say he trusts you?"
"I'm his daughter." I repeated, but now it sounded like I was only trying to reassure myself that Dad trusted me.
He had to, right?
"Your mother died shortly after giving birth to you. She's been dead for eighteen years, Hayden. I don't know, wouldn't you be able to move on?"
"She was murdered. No, I wouldn't be able to move on." I growled between gritted teeth.
"And who told you that, huh? Didn't you just hear that from one of the soldiers at your past dimension?" the voice taunted.
"You're not supposed to know about that." I whispered, genuinely afraid at that moment. And I wasn't doing a good job of hiding it, either.
"Ever since you were little, I've read your thoughts, saw into your mind. It's the biggest question in there, echoing over and over in different ways, but always the same question: Who's Mommy?"
All in a sudden, different voices - my voices from different ages - echoed throughout the place, bringing tears to my eyes as I was forced to listen to my unanswered question.
"Where's Mommy?"
"Do you know what happened to my mom?"
"What was my mom like?"
"Why isn't Mommy here?"
I shut my eyes, frantically covering my ears with my hands, sobbing as I screamed, "Stop! Please stop!" over and over.
The voice only laughed. "Poor Hayden." it murmured, over and over.
Still I sobbed on the floor, eyes still shut as I begged for silence, begged for everything to stop.
But mostly, I was begging for my mother. "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy." I sobbed, over and over.
That was how I was for what felt like hours.
Imagine my shock when I felt hands on my shoulders. By instinct, my fist went out to punch whatever I could without opening my eyes.
"Hayden, calm down. It's Bill! I'm not going to hurt you!"
I opened my eyes and sure enough, gold eyes looked straight at me with concern - and all at once I noticed the side of his face starting to bruise.
"Holy fuck! I swear, I didn't mean it this time!" I explained frantically, still sobbing as I said this.
"No, it's fine!" Bill said, looking somehow relieved. "I wanted to call Ford, but by the way you were screaming I knew I had to wake you up first."
A...dream?
That was a dream?
"Do you want me to go get him? 'Cause I can -"
"Stay with me for a while. Please."
Bill looked shocked, then relieved, as he nodded and sat down next to me. "Sure."
It had been a week ever since Bill had turned human. So far Mabel was the only one who had fully trusted him. Dipper was halfway there, especially after learning that he and Bill liked (read as: nerded out) the same things.
Uncle Stan was neutral about him, acting around him the same way he acted around most teenagers.
Dad was okay with him too. Bill and him had even spent one whole day talking about how he had become mortal again - something I was keen on finding out too.
So far, even if Bill was sleeping in the same room with me, I hadn't learned to accept his presence. So I understood why he would act so surprised.
"Um, Hayden?" Bill asked out of nowhere, breaking the nostalgic sound of the rain pattering onto the roof.
Sniffle. "Yeah?"
"Maybe I should get Dipper, Ford, or Mabel. Maybe even Stan. You look like you'll need someone to comfort you." he sighed, standing up and making his way to the door.
I bit my lower lip, observing Bill silently. There was a look on his face I knew I had caused, and I didn't like it.
I'd seen the same look before, when Dad and I had first come out of the portal.
It was the same look Uncle Stan had given Dad when he thought he was going to kick him out of the Shack.
Just one look, but it had multiple meanings: one of which was that the person bearing it knew that he'd never be forgiven.
Over the days, I had been observing Bill to find out if he really had changed like he was saying. Even if I wasn't looking, he really was kind and acted like he had changed. I even had a camera installed in our shared room to check what he was doing when he thought nobody was looking, and all he was doing was sleeping and chatting with Mabel.
But the look on his face now, even if he knew I wasn't looking, he looked like he regretted everything he'd ever done.
"Wait!" I called out, and I heard the creak of footsteps on the wooden floor stop.
I hesitated, taking in a breath before continuing. "Stay. Please, Bill."
Faster footsteps, and then the door creaked slowly open. Bill looked at me hesitantly through the doorway.
I fidgeted with my fingers, biting my lip again (nervous habit) as I looked up at Bill again. "Could you...uh - that is, I'd feel safer if..."
"If...?" Bill prodded.
"It's just...there was a dream demon and-"
Suddenly, Bill was by my side, gripping me by the shoulders. "What did he look like?!"
"I-I didn't see him." I gulped, looking into Bill's eyes, trying to read his expressions, but as soon as I tried Bill had hurriedly let go of my shoulders and apologized profusely.
"I can't protect you in the Mindscape, Hayden." he murmured, running a hand through his hair. He looked at me with sad eyes - sort of like a puppy's. "I'm not a demon anymore, I don't have those powers."
"Still." I stated. "I think I'd feel better if...um, actually let me do this. Lie down."
Bill looked startled. "On your bed?"
"Well, I don't want to sleep on the floor."
Bill sent me a look, then lay down on my bed, almost letting out a sigh as he felt the softness of my pillows.
"Are you okay with giving me a hug?"
Bill suddenly sat up, looking at me weirdly. "Hayden, is that you?"
I arched an eyebrow at him. "What are you talking about, demon. Of course it's me."
"Then why are you acting nice to me?"
Talk about ouch.
"Bill..." I started. "I'm sorry for being a jerk. I just...Felicia acted like you two were working together to repeat Weirdmageddon...I just want my family to be safe."
I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and turned to see Bill. "I understand. Hey, look. If I forgive you, will you give me a chance to show you I've changed?"
I grinned, an idea forming in my head as I clasped Bill's hand in mine, shaking it enthusiastically. "It's a deal."
The grin on my face grew wider, and I pounced onto him, falling onto the bed. I was facing the ceiling, using him as a sort of pillow.
He was pretty warm.
"Flirt." he murmured, and my eyes immediately snapped open, sending a glare to the ceiling which was meant for Bill.
"Don't push it, Cipher."
He let out a chuckle, and I found myself smiling.
Maybe Bill wasn't so bad after all.
A/N: Fun fact: I had to rewrite this chapter three times because it didn't turn out like I liked it. At first it was a continuation of Chapter 10, then it was Ford leaving Hayden to investigate about Bill, and now it's this.
Gravity Falls has officially ended. My heart sort of feels numb, it's like the show didn't end at all.
Also! Talking about Ford, his voice actor, J.K. Simmons, voiced a character in the new Disney movie Zootopia! I actually watched the movie just to hear Ford's voice again, but I stayed for one of my newest OTPs (which I may be posting a fic about, so if you're a fan of the movie, stay tuned!).
But the characters have a really good canonically platonic relationship, and the message of the movie is just...wow. You'll have to watch it to see what I mean.
That being said, please do watch the movie! And if you can bring kids along, please do. It will teach them (and maybe you) lessons in life in such good ways.
(I don't own any of these characters, I only own Hayden).
-psychopathicdorito
