A/N: Some foreshadowing of my Lovecraftian chapter.

Chapter 21

Time Flows Ever Onward

The summer passed and the three eventually found themselves back in LA starting their second year of college. Dipper was taking a lot of easy classes this semester so he was left with a lot more free time for his fiancée and his supernatural detective work. Even though Pacifica had only teased him about being the supernatural godfather the more he worked and the more word got around the more she seemed to be right. Dipper never asked for money or even a favor but people gave it to him anyways. It was rare that Dipper called in a favor, but it did happen occasionally. Like one time he helped this guy with an infestation of gremlins and it turns out the guy managed a very high class restaurant, he said if Dipper ever needed anything to just ask. So a week before Valentine's Day he called in the favor. A table and two complimentary meals for him and his fiancée on Valentine's Day. Pacifica had a hunch how he got all of it but never really brought it up.

Pacifica and Mabel continued with their art school constantly competing for the top spot in class. Pacifica found it funny that they had put away one rivalry for another; at least this one was a friendly competition. Pacifica worked hard and was always rewarded when she laid her head down at night next to her fiancée's. It always reminded her of why she was doing it all. Eventually Dipper convinced Pacifica to get her own car. She wasn't very confident in her driving skills then again there were really only a handful of people in this city that were good drivers. So she eventually caved and bought a small white sedan. Dipper inspected the car after Pacifica brought it home.

"It's got four tires, a steering wheel, and some seats," he said inspecting the car, "Guess what Cif. I thing you bought a car."

Pacifica just rolled her eyes. It didn't take long for her to hone her driving skills. She adjusted as she always does and became a fairly decent driver.

Mabel had started dating again, but not like in the old days when she would chase after any guy that had a heart beat. She brought a few dates home some of which hair spontaneously combusted and were never seen from again, and the others couldn't really handle her energy level all the time. Dipper felt for his sister he knew she longed for what Pacifica and he had. He even tried to set her up with a guy from his class that he thought would mesh well with her. They went on a couple of dates, but once again he could only take so much Mabel at one time. Pacifica told Dipper those two would never work out, but he felt he knew his twin well enough. Fact was that he did he just didn't know the other guy well enough. Mabel even went into a slight depression she felt like something was wrong with her since the guys were the ones who always broke it off. Dipper did his best to console her, but sometimes there is only so much a person with unconditional love can do. Pacifica stepped in and took her out on a girl's night. Where they just trashed talked every guy that walked by. It improved her spirits greatly.

One day Ford called Dipper. "Dipper you'll never believe what we've found," Ford said ecstatically.

"Well Grunkle Stan said you guys found some kind of ancient structure buried under the ice caps," Dipper explained.

"You're right Dipper, but my team and I have excavated a large room it's covered in weird carvings. When you look at them it's like your whole body tells you it's unnatural. Look Dipper as soon as you get your bachelors you have to join us this could be the greatest find in the history of mankind."

Dippers heart sank low. He didn't want to leave Pacifica, but he wanted to be a part of this discovery. His heart was in a state of ambivalence.

"Dipper hello are you still there?"

"Yeah I'm still here."

"So are you in?"

Dipper thought. "Yeah… Yeah. I'm in," he said half heartedly.

"Great I can't wait to work side by side." Ford said and hung up the phone.

Dipper still torn turned to leave his room. He found Pacifica standing in the door. Dipper knew better than to act dumb with her so he just came right out and said it.

"That was Grunkle Ford, he said—"

A finger on his lips quieted him. "Look Dipper I heard it all, and I want you to know that I've been thinking about what I said over the summer. I think I was being selfish. I know you have two great passions in this world this mystery stuff and me, and to deny you one would be to deny you of a part of yourself," Pacifica spoke from her heart, "I know you will miss me as much as I'll miss you so as long as you promise me that you will never skip any kind of safety precaution I won't guilt trip you into staying."

Dippers face brightened. Dipper grabbed Pacifica's waist and pulled her closer to him and kissed her. She cupped his defined jaw and kissed back.

"I promise I'll never ever skip on any kind of safety precaution because I want to come back to the woman I love."

Pacifica smiled. "I like your exercise of the artistic license at the end."

Dipper planted another kiss on her lips and smiled "I thought you would."

Eventually the school year was coming to a close Dipper's teachers noticed that it seemed like he had gained some kind of new motivation. They didn't know anything about Ford's Arctic Circle expedition, or that he had been officially invited pending his graduation. Dipper was highly motivated especially with his fiancée's blessing.

Pacifica and Mabel finished up the school year as the two top students in the program. They knew it wasn't a true art school, so they came together to make a plan. Once they had graduated and they had both seen Dipper off they were going to move to New York and join the prestigious fashion design school there. By the time Dipper came back they would both be fashion designers. Their end goal was to open their own boutique and make their own clothes. They planned on just getting two year degrees and taking separate classes in order to maximize their efforts. Where one failed the other would succeed.

"It's fun being in cahoots," Mabel giggled.

Pacifica smiled "Partners in crime?"

"Partners in crime," Mabel agreed.