Everest perked up when he heard Momma moan with Pain. He was laying by her side when she was reaching over the edge of the couch for something. He nudged her to try to get her attention, but Momma was in too much Pain. Everest could tell. He could hear it, see it in her face, even smell it in the air. Momma was in Pain, and there was nothing Everest could do about that. He didn't like that.
Everest then ran to the closed door and scratched and barked at it. He knew he probably shouldn't bark, but how else was he supposed to get Papa's attention? Everest used to think of him only as the Man, but he liked him a lot, so he now called him Papa. He had seen the way he cared and loved Momma. Everest loved Momma, and ever since he first met Papa, Everest grew to love him, too. But Papa wasn't coming. No one was coming!
"Everest! Hush." Momma commanded, so Everest sat by the door and whimpered quietly. He was Sad. Momma was in Pain and no one was coming to Help.
Everest walked back to the bed and watched as Momma leaned against the side of the couch and ate something and drank something. Everest could tell that she needed to do that to feel better. Papa made her do it earlier to get rid of the Pain. Everest rubbed his head against Momma to remind her that he was here for her, and then he tried to help her lay back on the couch, putting his big head under her chest and pushing her upward slowly.
Momma chuckled and laid on the couch all by herself. She held out a hand to Everest and he laid his head on it. "You're a good boy, Everest."
Everest's tail wagged. He knew he was a Good Boy, Momma told him that all the time so it must be true, but it was still nice to hear it. Momma then slowly sat on the edge of the couch so her foot was on the floor, and then she grabbed her neat new stick. Everest knew he wasn't supposed to bite that stick, but it was hard not to. Everest sat and watched as she used the neat stick to get up.
"Ya wanna go for a walk?" Momma asked when she stood up on her leg.
Everest stood up. Walk? He loved Walks! He hadn't been out for a Walk in forever! Everest ran to the door and hopped around. Momma laughed, so he knew he wasn't doing anything Bad, and then she opened the door.
Hephzie walked slowly down the hall. Not just because she was struggling to walk so differently, as true as that was, but she was also slow in order to be quiet. It was seven o'clock or so in the morning, and though Ford may be awake, the rest of the Pines very well may not be. And Hephzie wasn't in the mood to talk to Ford yet, anyhow.
She was careful to try to have her cane replace her missing leg. Her underarm ached after awhile and her remaining leg soon grew sore from carrying her entire body alone. Hephzie paused at the front door and opened it slowly. Everest ran across the porch and out into the yard, barking happily and enjoying the fresh air. Hephzie smiled at seeing her dog so happy and slowly followed, closing the door behind her and walking like the cripple she was off the porch and into the yard.
She took in a deep breath and revealed in the crisp morning air. She suddenly felt much better, like her spirit had been lifted, and so she went ahead with her original plan and began to walk around the edge of the yard to think clearly and to get her body used to this new way of walking.
Ford woke up around eight o'clock, and after popping his aching neck and shoulders from sleeping on his desk, he went upstairs and turned on the coffee pot. While waiting for his java to brew, he decided to check on Hephzie, just peek into his room to see if she was sleeping well. His eyes widened to find his couch empty. He was first surprised but then irritated when he thought of where she was. He went to the porch and sighed to himself to find her right where he thought she would be: circling the yard and walking with her stick.
His anger demolished itself and he could understand Hephzie's drive to do something. That was another thing they had in common. Ford walked down the porch steps and up to the crippled woman. She looked up and smiled at him before looking down again. Everest, who had taken to walking next to his master, nudged Ford with his head and the old scientist petted his head in greeting as they walked.
"Slept well?" Hephzie asked.
"Fine, my dear, thank you." Ford responded. "How did you sleep?"
"After I took the pills I was out like a light." Hephzie informed him.
"Good. I'm glad to hear that." Ford replied and then fell silent. What now? What was there to address? Maybe a simple conversation about anything but there uneasiness would be nice. Ford opened his mouth to make a comment about the beautiful morning when Hephzie spoke first.
"So… I've been thinkin' 'bout your offer."
Ford looked at her. "And?"
Hephzie looked up at him as they continued to walk. "Is it too late to take ya up on it?"
"Of course not!" Ford jumped at the question happily. "What made you change your mind?"
"I'll admit it, I kinda said 'no' haphazardly." Hephzie said as she looked out at the woods they were surrounded by. "I told myself the minute I agreed to move in that I wouldn't be a burden to ya. I'd get out of your hair as soon as I could. I wouldn't tie ya down."
"You don't!" Ford said quickly and put ah and to his forehead. "Why does… Hephzibah, you're not…"
"Let me finish." Hephzie interrupted. "I can't very well be of any help to ya or your family like this." She gestured down to her body and went on. "I'm useless to ya like this. I did what I had to do to save your life n' to give ya an opportunity to kill Bill, but now I can't fight, I can't even walk properly anymore! How am I supposed to help ya n' your family like this? How am I supposed to carry 'round my own weight if I literally can't carry my own weight from the kitchen to the livin' room without help?"
"Hephzibah, you're not useless." Ford said firmly as they reached the road in front of the gift shop and crossed it. "You're a strong, intelligent, beautiful woman who has done so much for me and my family already. I can't put into words how much I appreciate you and all that you've done. That's why I want to do this. I want to try to repay you in some small way of just how much you've done for me."
"This isn't payment."
"Nor is it a charity case." Ford made clear and stopped walking in the middle of the road. Everest and Hephzie stopped as the sun rose next to them. "This is me helping someone I love."
Hephzie blushed with a shocked expression on her face like a teenager, her cheeks rosy and her eyes round and sparkling. She looked away, her face shadowed by the rising sun, and she distracted herself by scratching Everest behind the ear.
Ford lowered his gaze to try to meet her eyes, but she was looking downward too much for it to be possible. "I… I heard what you said to Bill." He said sheepishly and bit his lip before asking timidly, "Hephzibah… do you really love me?"
Hephzie head snapped up so quickly her neck ahced, but she did nothing about it. She met his eyes and her lips were parted slightly. "Of course I do. Had I ever done somethang that convinced ya otherwise?"
"No, but I had never heard you say it."
"Well, then I'll say it again. I love you, Ford. I have for over thirty years n' I ain't plannin' on stoppin' anytime soon." Hephzie said boldly with her posture straight, but there was no smile on her face. She was serious, but seemed hesitant to express joy. "Even if ya don't love me back."
Ford was floored by what she had said. She was immensely bold about her proclamation for loving Ford. Perhaps her age aided in that regard; she'd gotten to the point where she didn't care anymore if Ford loved her back or not, but that was still a concern for her. Well, that didn't have to be a concern any longer. He may not have loved her the same way she loved him back in the day, but now he had found that he had completely and hopelessly fallen in love.
Ford smiled and gently lifted a hand to her left cheek, the one facing the sun. Hephzie smiled and rested her cheek into his hold slightly.
"Of course I love you." Ford said quietly, kissed her lips, then pulled back to add, "I love you, Hephzibah, and, if you'll let me, I want to help you in the best possible way."
Hephzie chuckled and then requested, "Say it again."
"I want to help…?"
"No, before that." Hephzie interrupted.
"If you'll let me?"
"No, before that."
Ford smiled when he understood what she wanted. "I love you."
"Yup, there it is." Hephzie said blissfully and closed her eyes peacefully. "I've waited to hear ya say that for thirty-five years."
God, thirty-five years. Was that how long ago their first date was or how long since she first fell in love with him? Who cares. Ford kissed her again and she kissed back happily. She wrapped an arm around his waist, still leaning on her cane. With laughter in their throats, they seperated and continued their walk around the clearing the Shack stood in. They made it to the otherside of the road and started to pass the gift shop entrance when they picked the conversation back up where they left off.
"So, ya really think ya can build the automail?" Hephzie asked.
"I can." Ford said proudly. "I'll need a few parts from the alien spacecraft, but I'll have Dipper help me gather the materials I need. It should take a week or so to build it, then we can attach it and begin the rehabilitation and training."
"What do I need to do?"
"Not only do you need to recover from the blood loss and the life threatening-injury you sustained, you need to be at your best health for the surgery. Get plenty of rest, eat well, small exercises are alright as long as you don't over do it."
Mabel, meanwhile, was sitting on her bed, cross-legged, with her pig in her lap. She petted Waddles' head and sighed to herself quietly. How many nightmares was she going to have to take? They had never been this bad, ever. Even after Weirdmageddon, her nightmares hadn't been this frequent. Flashes of the horrible apocalypse, reliving that horrifying moment her Grunkle Stan didn't remember her, her mind imagining the worst happening to her family. Mabel had experienced it all before only a few times, her nightmares quickly chased away by hugs from her brother and encouraging texts and emails from her great-uncles. They had almost gone away until the guilt started to resurface. Then they had come back, only once a week or so, but ever since Bill… ever since Hephzie got hurt, Mabel had been having a nightmare every night.
This time, she had woken up just as the sun was rising, and so rather than try and fail to go back to sleep, she sat up and contemplated getting dressed for the day, but Waddles had left Dipper's bed and snuggled up with Mabel. Now she found it hard to leave her bed. Maybe she should just lie back down and go to sleep. What was even the point in getting out of bed?
Waddles lifted his head and scampered off the bed to the window too high up for him to see out of. Mabel got up to see what her pig was trying to see. She smiled a little when she saw Grunkle Ford and Hephzie walking by the edge of the forest together, talking, with Everest trailing behind them. Mabel was happy for Hephzie and Ford. Maybe they'd finally start dating officially. Or maybe they already had and hadn't told anyone. Old people get weird about that sort of thing.
Waddles went to the door and scratched at it, probably so he could go downstairs for food, and the thought of breakfast made Mabel get dressed for the day. Maybe they could go down to the diner! No, Hephzie couldn't do a lot of walking. Well, maybe she could. Maybe she'd like to get out of the Mystery Shack. Mabel picked out her old Shamrock-sweater and slipped it on to bring them all good luck today. With a matching skirt and headband, she quietly closed the bedroom door so Dipper could sleep and she went downstairs.
Mabel instantly smelled coffee and when she saw the pot full of the caffeinated drink, she guessed her great-uncle had brewed it before going on a short walk with Hephzie. Mabel wandered to the fridge and pulled out the carton of orange juice. As she poured herself a glass, the old couple walked in slowly and Everest ran ahead to lick Mabel in greeting.
"Good morning, Mabel." Ford said as Hephzie sat down at the table. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah, slept great!" Mabel lied a little too easily. She used to hate lying, but she seemed to have learned a thing or two from Grunkle Stan and now it was second-nature. "How did you two sleep?"
"Just fine. Hephzibah, would you like some coffee?" Ford asked as he got down a mug for himself.
"Please." Hephzie replied and scratched Everest behind the ears as he laid his big head on her lap.
"Grunkle Ford, can we go to the diner today?" Mabel asked as she sat at the table and sippd on her glass of juice.
"Hm." Ford gave the idea some thought as he poured the coffee. "I don't know, Mabel. Is your brother up?"
"Nope, but Everest and I can fix that! Dogpile!" Mabel yelled and ran out of the kitchen with Everest and Waddles at her heels.
"Goin' out sounds great to me!" Hephzie said optimistically as she accepted Ford's offered mug of coffee.
"Are you sure?" He asked as he placed the creamer and sugar on the table. "You're still recovering and I'd hate to see you overwork yourself."
"Stanford, we're goin' out for pancakes, not runnin' a marathon. I can take a quick drive to the diner n' back." Hephzie reasoned as she sweetened her cup of caffeine.
"Alright, but the minute you feel any pain or the least bit tired, we're returning home." Ford made clear as he sat down.
Stan walked in with his maroon robe on over his boxers and undershirt, and grunted good morning before pouring himself some coffee.
"Stan, do you wish to join us and the kids on a trip to the diner?" Ford asked.
"Sixer, there is a gun in the nightstand next to my bed." Stan grunted before sipping his black coffee. "If I ever say no to food, I want you to use it on me, cuz it ain't me."
"Duly noted." Ford said with a roll of his eyes.
An hour later and Pines family plus Hephzie walked into the diner. It was busy with people getting pancakes for breakfast. Wendy and her father were at the bar; the redheaded teenager threw a wave to the gang as they passed by. They sat at a booth with Mabel, Dipper, and Hephzie crammed on one side and the elder twins on the other side. Soon they were approached by a old woman with a lazy eye.
"Oh my gosh, if it isn't Hephzibah Cece!" Lazy Susan gasped and Hephzie smiled back at her. "How long has it been?"
"Too long." Hephzie said. "How's business?"
"Booming, as usual. Gotta say, it's nice to have my favorite kind of pine back in the diner." Lazy Susan added with a makeshift wink at Stan.
"Good to see you, too, Lazy Susan." The old conman said as he paid close attention to the menu he knew like the back of his hand.
"And look at you, you Man of Mystery!" Lazy Susan teased as she elbowed Ford's shoulder. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were afraid of this old place!"
"Good thing you know better, Susan." Ford greeted with a smile. "I'll start off with a coffee, please."
"Same." Stan grunted
"Hot tea with lemon, please." Hephzie said.
"Just some water." Dipper added.
"Hot chocolate!" Mabel said excitedly and Susan left to place the order.
"Mabel, it's already 78 degrees and it's supposed to be 92 later today." Dipper pointed out.
"So?" Mabel asked. "It's never a wrong time for hot chocolate!"
"Amen, sister." Hephzie teased as she ruffled the brunette's hair.
Lazy Susan came back with a tray full of hot drinks apart from Dipper's water and then left to give them more time to decide what to order. Stan and Ford had their backs to the door, so they didn't see the young blonde enter the diner in a pink dress and an apron, but Dipper and Mabel saw her.
"No, WAY!" Dipper gasped.
Mabel stood up and waved. "PACIFICA! PACIFICA! OVER HERE! IT'S ME, MABEL!"
Pacifica turned bright red and signaled for Mabel to sit down as she approached the table. "Geez, keep it down, will you, Mabel? I can't people know I actually talk to you to weirdos." Her words were cold, but her smile was warm and she gave a playful smirk that reassured her true intentions.
"Good to see you, too, Pacifica." Dipper said sarcastically with a roll of his eyes.
"We haven't seen you all summer, not since the big Start of Summer Party!" Mabel commented. "Where have you been?!"
"Here in this hovel, mostly." Pacifica said with a shrug. "How have you guys been?"
"We're okay." Dipper answered and then gave a playful snicker at Pacifica's work uniform. "Nice apron."
"Hey! I look great in everything, including an apron!" Pacifica snapped. "At least I still have better fashion sense than you!"
"How do you like working at the diner, Pacifica?" Ford asked politely.
Pacifica blushed a little bit and rubbed the back of her neck. "It's okay, I guess. Better than sitting around at home."
"Hey, at least your rolling in the dough." Stan commented.
"Yeah, whatever." Pacifica said with a small smile. "Susan and her friends are really nice."
"Hey!" Mabel gasped as she had an idea happening. "Candy and Grenda want to have a sleepover at the Shack. You should totally come!"
Pacifica shrugged, trying to hide the small smile on her lips, but she was failing. "I don't know, I'll probably be working."
Susan came up behind her and said while the girl jumped, "I'll make sure you get the night off! Just say the word!"
"Thanks, Lazy Susan!" Mabel thanked.
Pacifica rolled her eyes with a small smile and said, "Alright, I'll go. Just text me, okay, Mabel?"
"Ya got it, P!"
Pacifica left to take another table's order and after Lazy Susan took her table's order, Ford brought up a new topic of conversation.
"You know, I need to make a special expedition to the alien spacecraft. There are two ways we can go: the day-trip I took Dipper on, or the two-day hike I went on with McGucket. We could make the adventure a multi-day long task and you could have your sleepover with your friends, Mabel."
"That'd be perfect, thanks Grunkle Ford!" Mabel said optimistically, hiding the fact that she really wanted to go on an adventure with Ford to the spacecraft and prove she could handle it.
"Wait, we're going back to Crash Sight Omega?!" Dipper said excitedly. "That's so cool! But why?"
Ford opened his mouth to answer by spilling into a magnificent speech about his new project and how he was going to build the greatest automail this world had ever seen, but he saw the look on Hephzie's face. She had been sipping her hot tea quietly and lowered her cup to shake her head slightly so no one else would catch it. Ford's voice got caught in his throat and he quickly changed direction.
"Well, I'm running low on some supplies for inventions and experiments, and I'd like to replenish as soon as possible."
Dipper seemed to take that an an acceptable answer, and so he sipped his water and then pulled out his phone to scroll through the internet while waiting for their food.
Not long at all, Lazy Susan came back with five tall stacks of pancakes and an extra side of bacon for Stan. The group munched on breakfast happily and endured Mabel's babbling about the ideas she had for the latest sleepover.