This one was also quite long, but fun to write. :)

Guest review replies;

Zeditha: Eh, it's cool, I get that. I'll be back on the inside in February, myself. :) Thanks for reading!

Chapter XIII: Something New

"...he's waking up...Dipper, can you hear me?"

Dipper opened his eyes, his head swimming. He could see a blurry face over him, a mass of brown hair flowing from her head. He blinked and his vision steadied, revealing the face to be Mabel's.

"...five more minutes, Mabel," he muttered.

"He's awake!" boomed Mabel, grabbing her brother in a hug. Dipper was immediately shaken out of his drowsiness, both by shock and by pain in his abdomen.

"Agh! Mabel, not so tight!" he said.

"Oops, sorry," nodded Mabel, dropping Dipper back onto the bed.

Dipper looked around. He was in a small hospital ward – one of those small, single-room ones. There was a drip next to him, but it didn't seem to be attached. He had several bandages under his blue hospital gown, and large parts of his body were somewhat sore.

"The hospital?" quizzed Dipper, "How did I...the manor! Mabel, is Wendy okay?!"

"She's fine," replied Mabel, grinning, "She's just down the hall. Woke up this morning."

"Wait...this morning?" asked Dipper, "How long have I been out?"

"Three days, kid."

Stan walked into the room, followed by Soos. The big handyman walked over to Dipper's side, arms outstretched.

"Dude, you made it!" exclaimed Soos.

"Wait, Soos, not healed, not heal-ow ow ow..." Dipper winced as Soos embraced him.

"Eh, suck it up," shrugged Stan.

"So," asked Dipper as Soos put him down, "When do I get to go home?"

"Not for another twenty-four hours," replied Stan, "The doctors wanna make sure you're not gonna collapse in on yourself before you go."

Dipper nodded.

"You okay, Grunkle Stan?" he asked.

Stan sighed.

"I've been better," he replied, "I've been dealing with a lot. But I'll be alright."

"Good lord, man, you're crowding him!"

A bearded doctor walked into the room, holding a clipboard as he glared at Stan, Soos and Mabel.

"Two visitors at a time," he said, sternly, "One of you is going to have to leave."

"Eh, somebody's gotta look after the Shack," nodded Soos, "I'll drop by later on, Dipper. Get well soon, bro!"

Dipper waved as Soos walked away. The doctor shook his head and tutted to himself as he handed Dipper the clipboard.

"I'd hate to force this on you, son, but the Feds want a statement on what happened," he said, "Some guy named Powers. You know him?"

"Ugh, please tell me we don't have to talk to that guy," groaned Stan.

"No, he's already left," replied the doctor, "You'll have to mail it."

"Good," said Stan.

The doctor nodded and walked away.

"Hey," asked Dipper, "Where's dad?"

"He went to pick up mom," replied Mabel, "And explain why you're in the hospital."

"I'm really glad that I'm not him right now," said Stan, "I mean, he is a dead man..."

Mabel visibly deflated and she looked at the wall.

"Aw...aw dang it, shouldn't have said that," cursed Stan.

"Is this about Eddie?" asked Dipper.

"His father called," replied Stan, bitterly, "He didn't take it well."

"He didn't blame you, did he?" demanded Dipper.

Mabel shook her head.

"No, he blamed you," she replied, "But it wasn't your fault, and you don't deserve that..."

Dipper sat up and put a hand on Mabel's shoulder.

"Mabel," he said, "Whatever his dad said to you doesn't matter. We know the truth, Grunkle Stan knows the truth, and that's all that matters."

He smiled at his sister. She smiled back.

"So, anything interesting happen while I was out?" asked Dipper.

Stan groaned and Mabel's smile widened.

"Soos pushed his..." grunted Stan.

"Soos pushed his wedding forward!" exclaimed Mabel, "Before semester starts! I'll get to go!"

"Ugh, he thought we'd need cheering up after everything that happened," said Stan, pinching the bridge of his nose, "So now I've gotta close down the Shack for that. Great..."

Dipper grinned and sat back as Mabel excitedly explained the plans for Soos' wedding. All seemed right with his world at the moment – there was just one thing he needed to do.

"Why don't I get a window?" asked Dipper.

Wendy shrugged.

Not long after Stan and Mabel had left, Dipper had been reluctantly allowed to get out of bed and limp down to Wendy's ward. He was now sitting next to her on her bed, looking out the window at the setting sun.

Wendy was a little better for wear then Dipper, having not had to fistfight a vengeful former enemy. She was still very bruised and rather dishevelled, though, and the doctors had insisted an overnight stay for her, too.

"So," asked Wendy, "Did you hear about Soos?"

Dipper nodded, sighing.

"I think I'm leaving after that," he replied.

"Why?" asked Wendy.

Dipper shrugged.

"Everything's different now," he replied, "After all the things that happened with Stanley and Mabel and the All-Seeing Eye, I just...I don't wanna dwell on it. I think it's time to move on."

"I get that," nodded Wendy, "You need to get away from it all, right?"

"Pretty much," replied Dipper, "Except I'm gonna need to buy a car. I should talk to Stan about that...or maybe Soos..."

"So do I start packing now or when you find some wheels?" asked Wendy.

Dipper turned to face Wendy.

"Look, Wendy," he said, "About what happened in the basement, before Stanley and McGucket...did you mean what I thought you meant?"

Wendy put a hand on Dipper's shoulder.

"Dip, it's probably gonna sound kinda dumb, but I think we have something," she said, "And I don't know if it's just a thing or if it's true love or whatever, but I wanna try it – see how long it lasts."

"And how long do you think it's gonna last?" asked Dipper.

"If we're lucky, man," replied Wendy, "The rest of our lives."

She smiled at him. Dipper's heart skipped a beat as he returned the gesture.

"Alright, I guess I'll just say it," he nodded, "I love you, Wendy."

"I love you, Dipper," replied Wendy.

They leaned in and kissed.

It was not the first time Dipper had kissed someone, in the proper sense of the word. He had done it a few times with Candy during their ill-fated relationship a few years prior. But this was the first time it had felt right, that it had real. That in itself was a feeling like no other.

After a few seconds, they pulled out of the kiss, looking into each other's eyes.

"Yeah," nodded Wendy, "I think it's gonna last."

Dipper and Wendy were both discharged from the hospital early the next morning. They returned to the Mystery Shack to a hero's welcome – although only Stan, Soos, Mabel and Dipper's parents were there, there was enough cheer and elation for twenty. Of particular note was Diane Pines, Dipper's mother, who had thrown herself at her son and embraced him so tightly that he nearly ended up back in hospital for asphyxiation.

A few days later, they received word from California that Eddie Hohenbecker had been laid to rest in absentia, as his body had never been found. It had been a quiet affair, attended only by a solitary priest and his father, Lieutenant Edward Hohenbecker Senior. In a way, Dipper felt that it was what Eddie would have wanted.

August faded slowly away, and with it did the summer. The weather became noticeably cooler and it rained more often. Dipper was now spending the majority of his time preparing to leave – by now, he had informed Stan, Soos and Mabel of his decision, but not his parents. That time would come later.

Finally, on the last day of summer, the day of Soos' wedding came.

It was not in any way a traditional affair.

For a start, it was conducted entirely in the front yard of the Mystery Shack. The original plan was for Stan to marry Soos and Melody, but he was overcome with emotion halfway through and had to be replaced by Mrs. Pines (Stan would later claim that he had had a hay fever attack). Dipper had served as best man, and since Melody's parents had been unable to make it, Mabel had volunteered to give her away. Due to the short notice of the wedding, it was mainly restricted to the Pines family, Wendy, Blubs and Durland (acting as agents of the state), Candy, Grenda and Soos' cousin Reggie – Soos' grandmother had unfortunately passed on a year earlier.

Nevertheless, it was a success, and the congregation had moved on to a reception inside the Shack – with one notable exception.

Dipper sat in the attic next to a large backpack, flipping through Journal 4. He smiled to himself at the memories contained within, before closing it and packing it. He reached onto his bed at the last thing he had left to take – the old, ragged Journal 3.

He flipped it open, turning to a particular page. He looked over the old, scarcely legible scrawl from what felt like an age ago.

This journal told me there was no one in Gravity Falls I could trust, but when you battle a hundred gnomes side-by-side with someone, you realize that they've probably always got your back.

Dipper sighed and closed the book, slipping it into the front pocket of the backpack. He zipped it up and locked it with a padlock.

"I can't stop you, can I Dipper?"

Dipper jumped and turned to the door. Mr. Pines was standing in the doorframe, his arms crossed.

"Dad, I have to do this," replied Dipper, "This is my calling, y'know?"

Mr. Pines nodded solemnly.

"Can I at least ask you to consider this?" he asked.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small scrap of paper, handing it to his son. Dipper looked it over – it was a flyer for online college courses.

"You don't have to do it, but I just you to think about it for me," said Mr. Pines, "Can you do that, son?"

Dipper looked up from the flyer into his dad's eyes.

"I can do that," he replied, smiling.

His father smiled back.

"So, when are you going?" he asked.

"First thing tomorrow morning," replied Dipper, "Heading inland. The map says there's a few hotspots around eastern Oregon, so we'll be following..."

"We, eh?" interrupted Mr. Pines, "Let me guess. Wendy?"

"How'd you know?" asked Dipper.

"You're not very transparent, son," replied Mr. Pines, "So, if you're not going until tomorrow, surely you've got time to come down for the reception?"

Dipper glanced back towards his pack, then at his father.

"You know what?" he shrugged, "That's not a bad idea."

He got up and followed his father down the stairs to the party.

Morning soon came, and with it came autumn.

Dipper looked out the window of the attic at the brilliant red and gold of the sky. He took a deep breath, picked up his backpack, and headed downstairs.

He encountered Stan in the kitchen, sitting at the table with a mug of coffee. Mr and Mrs. Pines sat with him, the former looking at a newspaper while he talked to his companions.

"...you know what I don't get?" he said, "The Bill Cipher Wheel. We never found out what that was! I mean, is it still important now Bill's gone? And why those specific people? And..."

"Simon, you're turning into your father," grunted Stan, "Let it rest. If it comes up again, it comes up again."

"Morning," said Dipper, clearing his throat as he did so.

All eyes fell on him.

"Guess this is it, huh?" sighed Mr. Pines.

"Guess it is," nodded Dipper.

"Did you sort out a car?" asked Mrs. Pines, concerned, "You can't just hitchhike..."

"It's being worked out," shrugged Dipper, "Stan, you said you had something?"

"Soos is just getting it ready, kid," replied Stan.

"This is legal, isn't it Uncle Stan?" demanded Mr. Pines.

"Sure it is!" replied Stan, offended, "What do you take me for, some kind of crook?!"

"Yes."

"Trust me, it's completely legal," continued Stan, "Or at least it better be, or I'm asking Durland for my money back..."

"Is Dipper still here?"

Mabel walked into the room, rubbing her eyes and yawning. Dipper grinned and turned to face her.

"Course I am," he replied, "I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, would I?"

He extended his arms. Mabel smiled back and hugged her brother.

"You'll call, right?" she asked.

"Every time I can," replied Dipper, "I love you, Mabel."

"I love you too, Broseph," said Mabel.

There was a knock at the door. Dipper let go of his sister and they went to answer it.

Wendy stood on the doorstep, her own backpack over her shoulders. She grinned at Dipper.

"You ready, Dip?" she asked.

"Almost," replied Dipper, "We've just gotta wait for Soos to..."

There was an odd-sounding horn from around by the gift shop. Dipper glanced at Mabel, who merely grinned broadly.

"...he didn't, right?" he said.

"Oh, he did!" replied Mabel.

The three made their way through the Shack to the porch outside the gift shop, where Stan and Dipper's parents had already gathered. Dipper shook his head in disbelief.

Soos stood next to the car recovered from the All-Seeing Eye cache, grinning and giving a thumbs up. The car was almost unrecognisable – it had been repainted, re-tyred, re-engined and completely refurbished.

"He actually did it," breathed Dipper.

"Of course he did, he's Soos!" exclaimed Mabel.

"So," asked Soos, walking up to Dipper and Wendy and putting his arms around their shoulders, "What do you think, dudes? Did I Soos your ride enough?"

"Soos, that's amazing!" exclaimed Dipper.

"Nice work, man," nodded Wendy, "Very nice work."

"Thanks, dudes," said Soos.

He scooped Dipper and Wendy up into a hug. Mabel took the cue to jump in herself.

"Aw, I'm gonna miss you guys so much!" he exclaimed, "I-I promised myself I wouldn't cry..."

He began to cry despite himself.

"Good luck, guys," said Mabel, "We'll be behind you every step of the way. Like ghost friends!"

"I'll call you every day," assured Dipper, "I'll call you so often it'll annoy you, alright?"

"And if he forgets, I'll annoy him until he does," added Wendy.

They pulled out of the hug, and Dipper turned to his parents and Stan.

"Keep safe, Dipper," said his mother, embracing him, "If you ever need us, we're right here."

"And we're proud of you," added Mr. Pines, "Never forget that, alright?"

Dipper swallowed and glanced over to Stan.

"Give 'em hell, kid," he said, nodding.

"I will, Grunkle Stan," replied Dipper, "I promise."

Dipper pulled out of his mother's hug. Soos threw him the keys to the car, trying to give him a reassuring grin through his tears. He took a deep breath and turned to the car.

"Well," he said, "Here we go."

"Right behind you, man," reassured Wendy, putting a hand on his shoulder.

He walked down to the car and put the keys in the door. For a moment, he glanced back. Mabel waved, her eyes watering slightly as she smiled regardless. Dipper smiled and waved back before climbing into the car.

He turned on the ignition as Wendy climbed into the passenger seat.

"You ready?" asked Dipper.

Wendy leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

"Ready when you are, Dipper," she nodded.

Dipper grinned.

"Then let's do this."

He drove out of the parking lot and onto the open road, due east into the dawning sun. As they left the Shack and Gravity Falls behind them, Dipper felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, as though his path onwards was clear.

It was a new day and a new life, and Dipper Pines could not wait to get started.

Yeah, I'll gravitate toward you,
Or you'll miss me when I'm gone,
'Cause things are getting creepy in this sleepy state of Oregon,
And I'm gonna set things straight again,
I'm gonna prove them wrong,
I'm gonna show the world the Supernatural...

- Ken Ashcorp, 'Supernatural'

WKDQN BRX IRU DOO BRXU VXSSRUW.

AN: I reckon I might give the wedding it's own oneshot. What do you think?

We're not quite done yet, by the way, there's still an epilogue to be done.