August 2012
I stared as the edge of Ford's trench coat vanished out the front door with a sense of urgency.
He certainly seemed to be in a hurry, wherever he was going and whatever he was doing.
"Wonder what's got Poindexter so hopped up." Stan grumbled as he came down the stairs.
Before I could reply, there was the patter of feet and Dipper came running down the hall, hot on Ford's trail.
"Gottago!HelpingFord,byee!" He yelled, jerking to a stop as Stan grabbed his backpack and lifted him into the air.
"Whoa kiddo! Just what do ya think you're doing?" Stan demanded as Dipper twisted futilely in his grip.
"Great Uncle Ford asked me to help him today. With... You know, stuff?"
Stan looked furious and ready to blow up.
I decided to intervene.
"Ok hon. Just stay safe and don't let Ford get into anymore trouble." I patted Stan's arm before working his fingers lose from Dipper's backpack.
"But, but-" Stan protested as Dipper got free.
"Dipper my boy, let's go!" Ford called from outside.
"Bye guys!" Dipper waved as he ran out of the house quickly.
"What the heck was that about Carla?!" Stan rounded on me instantly.
"If we want things to get better in this house, we're going to have to show Ford that we trust him." I said calmly, all while feeling like a complete hypocrite.
I didn't trust Ford to keep Dipper out of danger, but Dipper had proven, more than once, that he knew how to handle the type of danger found in Gravity Falls (except for choosing to use those damn ties). I trusted Dipper to do the right thing.
"But we don't trust Ford!" Stan pointed out, apparently reading my mind.
"I know, but maybe we should try-"
"WHAT?!"
"Stan, has it ever crossed your mind that there may be a reason Ford's not telling us everything?" I tried, remembering the promise I'd made to Ford not to tell Stan about the threat from Bill Cipher. I was starting to think I'd have to break it if tensions didn't ease soon.
"Yeah, it has. And the only reason I know of is that he still hates me and it would kill the giant nerd to ask for help." Stan snorted derisively, and I fought the urge to give him a slap around the ear.
"Besides, he clearly trusts the kids, and ya clearly taking his side," Stan continued, "this is all about how much he hates me."
"Oh, Stan!" I huffed in frustration, "This is really not all about you! Don't be so selfish. I know how you feel about Ford but-"
"Selfish? SELFISH?!" Stan's voice rose scarily and I instantly regretted my choice of words.
"Maybe selfish wasn't exactly what I-"
"Oh no! You said selfish! And ya right. It is selfish, so selfish of me to have to deal with a rotten brother who hates me! I'm sorry to bother ya with my SELFISHNESS!" Stan yelled before stomping off in the opposite direction.
I groaned, covering my eyes as I heard him start to aggressively rearrange the shelves in the gift shop.
"GRAUNTIE CARLA!"
Mabel came sprinting down the hall in her usual cloud of glitter, arms overflowing with a bundle of paper.
"Can you help me deliver the party invites?" She asked, eyes wide and begging.
I rubbed my eyes tiredly.
"Sweetheart, it's not a great time right now."
Stan chose that moment to storm out of the shack, the slam of the door reverberating through the walls.
"Oh." Mabel chewed her lip.
I sighed, walking through the lounge with Mabel at my heels.
"Do you think they'll work it out soon?" Mabel asked as we reached the door to the gift shop.
"I don't know Mabel." I entered the gift shop, only to find it predictably empty.
"Well! No point moping around here while Grunkle Stan gets all mopey and grumpy!" Mabel announced cheerfully. "Let's get cracking on delivering these invitations for the biggest birthday bonanza ever! Everyone comes together to celebrate a big birthday!"
"Mabel, honey, really. It's not a good time." I said, wanting to go out and search for Stan before he could do something stupid... Like following Ford.
"But, Grauntie Carla, Dipper's not here and I need someone to help-"
"Go and ask Soos." I suggested.
"But, but-"
"Mabel, please!" I cried out. "Go and get Soos to help you. I don't have time to help! I need to sort out Stanley and Stanford!"
Mabel took a step back, wide eyed and looking hurt.
I immediately covered my mouth with my hands.
"Mabel, sweetheart..." I said apologetically, reaching out gently. But Mabel turned and ran back out of the gift shop, several flyers fluttering from her hands as she left.
"Oh, great." I muttered, crouching to pick up a flyer. "Now everyone's upset. What were you thinking Carla?"
I stood up, staring softly at the flyer.
Mabel had drawn her and Dipper jumping out of a large cake with the number thirteen iced on it.
She'd been so excited.
How could I have snapped like that at her? She just wanted help. And now she'd probably go and hide in Sweater Town for hours again, or worse, jump into the Bottomless Pit while she cried.
God! I was doing terribly at keeping this family together still. Stan and Ford had been at each other's throats since Stan and kids came home from their road trip, Mabel and Dipper hadn't been as close lately (something I was ready to blame on Ford), Dipper had been more jumpy than ever, and I was yo-yoing between Stan and Ford... trying to keep a 30 year relationship from crumbling, and trying to preserve the fragile peace between Ford and myself after only just coming to an understanding...
I walked out onto the front porch with the urge to scream, only to see Mabel climbing into Soos' truck. I was happy to see she wasn't crying, trusting Soos to keep her spirits up while I went and slapped some sense back into Stan.
And when Ford and Dipper got back... I was going to sit everyone down and force them to sort this.
This tension had to end, today.
"There you are." I sighed, finding him behind a small clump of saplings growing just outside the clearing.
"Go away." He scowled.
"No." I walked up and rested a hand on his shoulder. "You don't get to just storm out like that."
"Why not? Who cares?"
I exhaled sharply through my nose, forcing myself to be patient.
"I care Stan. I know you're hurting right now, especially after what Ford said, but we have to try and work this out."
"There's nothing to work out!" Stan finally looked at me. I wasn't surprised to see the tears in his eyes. "Nothing is ever gonna change. At the end of summer, I'm gonna find my old, wrinkled ass back out on the street with nothing but my car and the clothes on my back."
"Better make sure you wear the expensive suit then." I muttered absently.
"What?"
"Nothing sweetheart. Let's go back inside ok? I think we need to talk." I threaded my arm through his and tugged slightly.
"Talk? What about?" Stan gave in to my tugging easily.
"About Ford. I realised that I've been telling you to make exceptions for Ford's feeling, making it all about him again and pushing your feelings to the side. And that's not fair." I said as we walked back to the shack. "But there's things going on that you don't know about and once we're back inside that magical barrier of his, I'll tell you what they are."
"Wait... what do you know? What did he tell you?" Stan demanded as we approached the porch.
"Once we're inside. I don't want to risk anyone finding out." I insisted.
Stan glanced at me uncertainly, but waited in a very impatient silence until he was sitting in the old yellow recliner.
I grabbed one of the chairs from the table and placed it in front of Stan before sitting.
"You remember that creature, Bill Cipher, that was in your head?" I asked, trying to organise my own thoughts.
Stan nodded.
"Well, the reason he was written about in Ford's journal, with all those warnings, is because he came to Ford over 30 years ago. It was Bill Cipher that gave Ford the idea of building that damn portal-"
"We already know that Carla." Stan pointed out, folding his arms with a frown.
"I know. I'm just trying to work my way up here." I fidgeted with my wedding ring. "Ford's crazy paranoia when you arrived here, that was because of Bill. And the stealing his eyes craziness? Bill sort of, created this partial blindness in Ford's right eye. I don't really know why."
"What?" Stan's hands clenched and I saw his jaw tense.
"It's not the most important thing right now ok? Bill would actually possess Ford, while he was sleeping, so that the portal could be worked on around the clock. Remember how the journal said that Bill would use the portal to destroy our world? Now imagine you're an almost omnipotent dream demon who was so close to taking over a new dimension, only to have it ripped away at the last second? How angry do you think you'd be?"
"I don't understand where're ya going with this." Stan said gruffly.
"Ford's worried. When the portal broke after he came back, it apparently did some massive damage that is somehow related to Bill still being able to get into this dimension. Ford told me he has a plan to deal with Bill, whatever that is. He's been kinda tight-lipped about it, but he tried to assure me it would work. That's what Ford's been working on. He's trying to prevent the end of the world. Which I guess we may be partially responsible for."
"What? Why the hell didn't the idiot just say that?" Stan fumed, unfolding his arms and leaning forward. "I'd have listened to him then!"
"Really? Would you have listened to him? Ford's been haunted by Bill for 30 years! Bill possessing him got to the point where Ford couldn't even trust his own mind, let alone trust someone he hadn't talked to in years. I mean, he panicked just the other day when I barely mentioned possession around him, a full blown panic attack. Just like you used to get after the..." I grimaced, " the 'Rico' incident."
Stan stared, blinking dumbly. I took it as an opportunity to carry on.
"He made a mistake, all those years ago. He trusted the wrong person and he paid for it. More than we truly know. Sound familiar?"
Stan scowled guiltily, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yeah, I guess. I just wish tha' knucklehead had told me. I coulda been there for him. That's what I did ya know? Protected him from the kids who wanted ta hurt him."
"I know sweetheart, I know." I sighed and got up from my chair to sit on Stan's lap, placing my arms around him. "But I think Bill's going to be bigger than Crampelter ever was."
"You and the kids got rid of him though, right? So if you can do that, so can I."
"In your head we did, but the journal mentions something about never letting Bill gain physical form, otherwise he's basically unstoppable. And if he ever gets into our world, he gets physical form."
"Ya know, that information would've been handy a few 30 years ago." Stan mused, rubbing his chin.
"Sorry I didn't tell you all of this when I found out. Ford really didn't want to tell you he needed help." I apologised. Stan waved a hand.
"Ah, ya know me baby. I can't hold a grudge."
"Except against your brother."
Stan grimaced.
"Guess I shoulda known he had a reason... that didn't revolve around me that is. And I should've listened to ya. I'm still mad at him though!" Stan claimed quickly.
"I think you're allowed to be. He threatened to throw you out again." I couldn't help but feel a lot more relieved now Stan knew everything I knew, despite the mountain of information we still didn't know.
"Yeah..." Stan deflated slightly. "We're gonna have to help get him out of this too aren't we?"
"Probably." I agreed. "I don't know what he has planned, but we should have a backup plan. Or at least pin him down and force him to tell us what he has planned."
"Probably won't get a thanks for this either." Stan grumbled.
"It's not that bad," I tried to placate, "it could be worse."
"Oh yeah? How?"
"It could be the end of the world."
X
I was curled up in the recliner when, several hours later, a bruised and bloodied Ford was helped through the door by a battered and tired Dipper.
"What on Earth-?" I gaped, up on my feet and hurrying across to take Ford's other arm and his weight off of Dipper.
"We were-" Dipper hesitated, "there was this-"
"Strange, freak accident?" I supplied.
"Buried UFO."
I almost froze, barely remembering to get Ford sitting on the recliner before turning back to Dipper.
"A what now?"
"A UFO Carla, the boy said it was a UFO." Ford groaned, gripping my hand tightly.
"I heard him Ford, I just don't believe him." I said, catching sight of Dipper racing from the room. "Dipper! Come back here! Are you alright?!"
When I got no response, I sighed and turned back to Ford.
"What happened to not putting the kids in danger?" I demanded, anger only slightly eased by the sorry state of the man before me.
"Wasn't, wasn't-" Ford coughed harshly, drawing a rattling breath. "Wasn't supposed to be active."
"What's all the commotion? Kid's barging around like a- Whoa. What the heck happened to you?" Stan paused, soda can halfway to his mouth as he stepped into the lounge.
Ford went to get up and I pushed him back down.
"Oh no mister. You're staying here until I've gotten a good look at those cuts and scrapes." I insisted.
"And until we've talked." Stan added, effectively cutting off the doorway.
"I don't have time for this!" Ford protested, "I have to go and fix the-"
"Fix what?" Stan asked quickly. " The portal?"
"No you knucklehead!" Ford snapped, wincing as I fussed with the mark on his head. "Carla! Do you mind?!"
"Shut up and listen to your brother."
"Carla told me everything Ford." Stan came closer, a cautious eye on his brother.
"Everything?" Ford echoed, eyes darting between me and Stanley.
"Everything you told me and what I'd figured out from the journals." I confirmed.
"Ford, why didn't ya just tell me, all those years ago, that ya were in trouble? Did ya really think I wouldn't understand?" Stan asked.
"You wouldn't have believed me. No one would've."
"I coulda helped!"
"Right. Sure, just like you helped fix my science project?!"
"Hey! If there's one thing I've learnt, family helps each other! They help each other out and don't abandon them when they make a mistake! No matter what happened in the past!"
"You've made more than just one mistake here Stanley! And now I have to fix it! On. My. Own!"
"Why?!"
"Because it was my problem!"
Still trying to check the extent of Ford's injuries while he and Stan yelled at each other, I mildly registered the shock of hearing Ford finally take the responsibility for starting all the portal nonsense in the first place. But Stan seemed oblivious, bull-headed to the end, as he tried to get Ford to understand why he wanted to help despite the past.
"And your problem became my problem!" Stan yelled back. "30 damn years Ford! 30 years! And ya still trying to keep me out instead of letting me help!"
"You can't help me!" Ford finally pushed me away, clearly not as injured as he seemed. Stan caught me as I stumbled back, Ford pulling himself to his full height and glaring at us both.
There was a sudden pounding of feet, Mabel sprinting down the stairs and throwing herself out the door with loud sobs, lugging her backpack after her.
"Mabel, sweetheart?"
"Pumpkin!"
"Mabel, wait! I didn't mean it like that!" Dipper yelled as he ran down the stairs after his sister. "Mabel, come back!"
"Dipper, what happened?" I asked, forgetting Ford and headed towards the heartbroken boy in the doorway.
"We, we had a fight." Dipper gulped sadly.
"That's not important right now," Ford interrupted loudly. "We have the glue, we just need to fix the rift-"
"Not important? Not IMPORTANT?!" Stan rounded on Ford. "The last time a twin in this family decided something wasn't important, I thrown out on the street!"
"What happened Dipper?" I asked, crouching down to rest a hand on Dipper's shoulder.
"Ford, he, he offered for me to stay here, but Mabel- she didn't take it well, she heard over the walkie talkies, oh man! I- I need to think about this."
"You did what?" Stan shouted at his brother, all earlier concern gone. "You involved the poor kid in your mess and then tried to pull him away from his sister?! What the heck is the matter with you Stanford?!"
I squeezed Dipper's shoulder softly, trying to reassure him as best as I could as he chewed his lip in concern for his sister. I glanced back at Ford who had set his face sternly and was glaring at Stanley.
"Nothing is the matter with me Stanley. I'm trying to protect this world from something far worse than a sibling's quarrel. Dipper, give me the rift. Once I glue it, we can all argue later. The fate of the world rests on this!" Ford snipped angrily.
Dipper reached for his backpack where it had landed by the door.
"What's a rift?" I asked, sighing angrily when he didn't reply. "Stanford! What is this rift you're talking about?"
"Oh no!"
We all turned to Dipper as he cried out. He was holding up a crumpled birthday flyer with a look of pure shock on his face.
"The rift!" He whispered, eyes wide as he held what was clearly not his own backpack.
There was a sudden rumble under our feet, the house shaking.
"No." Ford's face went pale right before he sprinted out of the house, Dipper following him.
I shared a worried glance with Stan before we ran after them.
Steeping out onto the back porch, Stan and I froze.
The wind was whipping around the shack, leaves and debris flying through the air as the trees began to bend. But what caught our attention most was the garish, multi-coloured, giant cross currently splitting the sky.
A triangle appeared in front of the colours, cackling manically as it grew larger, its frame being wrapped in thick bands of muscle and bricks.
"At last! At long, long last! The gateway between worlds has opened! The event one billion years prophesized has finally come to pass! The day has come! The world is finally mine!"
My blood froze as I heard the all too familiar scream of Bill Cipher's voice above the wind.
I stumbled down the steps towards Dipper and Ford, Stan grabbing my arm desperately.
"Carla! NO!"
"We have to get them!" I protested.
"What's going on?! What is that?!" Dipper yelled as I fought with Stan to reach them.
"We're too late! It's the end of the world." Ford announced flatly, staring defeated up at the newly made demon cackling above us.
Oh god.
Ford had been right.
Bill continued to laugh as we all stared up at the sky hopelessly.
We couldn't stop him now.
"RUN!" Stan yelled, my feet reacting on instinct and I began to race back to the safety of the house.
I didn't know what we were going to do, but I did know one thing.
Everything was about to change.