Ricky and Billy finished their conversation and kissed each other good night. Then, Billy conked out. It was kind of startling given the state he had been in before finally finding sleep, but the heiress had to admit that she was glad.

Now she curled up herself. The only thing rotten about the situation was that Billy wasn't awake to distract her from her own worries.

But sleep did come, eventually. Ricky's dreams were confused, full of road trips, doctor's offices and eyeless people. For a few minutes, she dreamt she had been cut in half, and she was looking at her hips and legs across the room, sitting in a chair, crossed casually. It didn't hurt at all.

She woke before Billy did, and went to the bathroom to freshen up. Ah, indoor plumbing! As much as she liked living with Billy, she did not wish to get used to not having running water. That was one reason to be was glad they had made plans to leave. Maybe the Shack would have running water one day, but that would be someone else's issue.

She luxuriated in the shower until the water got cool and unbearable to stand in. Then she dried herself off and combed her hair. Her hair was short, but she still liked it a certain way. She applied her make up. She didn't really look that weird without make up, she decided- Billy just wasn't used to seeing it. After getting dressed, she was hungry, and wolfed down some of the Pent-o-Grams. Billy still wasn't awake. She went outside and had a smoke, then peeked in on her boyfriend. He was still unconscious.

Oh well, he probably needed the sleep.

So she occupied herself by tidying the hotel room and getting their things together and doing little things so that they could make a swift departure. But at around eleven AM, Ricky finally decided to wake him. Checkout time was at 12 noon. Not that Ricky really minded paying the extra expense. She had been brought up surrounded by so much wealth that money was like air to her- what were a few dollars lost here and there? But she was getting impatient, and checkout time seemed like a good excuse as any.

Just before rousing him, she wondered he would remember anything they had spoken about last night, or if he would have folded it into one of his dreams and forgotten. She shook his arm gently and cooed "Rise and shine!" The magician groaned and rolled over in bed. He was now on his back with his arm over his eye. He moved said arm and regarded the heiress. He smiled.

"There's my maybe fiancé."

Ricky exhaled with relief. Well, that part, it seemed, had made an impression. "Did you have sweet dreams, Baby?"

Billy scoffed "Whadya think?"

Oh right. Billy didn't dream, did he?

They got their things together, checked out, and hit the road. Heading, in all directions, southeast. They had talked some more that night, and both decided that they would at least have to swing into Gravity Falls before they departed for good. It would so much fun and so romantic to just hit the road and drive off into the sunset together, but that just wasn't realistic. First, the sun set in the west, a direction they couldn't go far in without running into the Pacific Ocean. Second, Ricky's father would absolutely cut her off from her finances once she eloped with Billy. She would need capital once they were on the road.

Which was why her plan was to go back home and make up with her father. State the Billy had done some horrendous thing that the young teenage boys usually do- Ricky hadn't decided what yet, but she hoped wanted it to be something that made him seem idiotic and tactless rather than sleazy. She'd spend an evening bridging the relationship with her father, and even spend the night to make it even more convincing. Of course, the next day, she would be gone, and she would have all of her jewelry with her. Selling those expensive pieces she give them some spending money, at least until their traveling act became successful.

It seemed two faced, maybe even cruel, but her father had lost her respect the day he had but Billy in the stocks.

Billy, too, had his own reasons for wanting to return, if only for one night. He said he wanted to put on a special finale performance for the Billy Mischief Carnival of Wonders. "Something fallers will never forget!" Ricky could only hope he didn't leave Gravity Falls with another giant monster rampaging through it.

"I don't understand, Billy."

They were sitting in the living room, which connected to the store through a door. The door was open, and the door customers came through had changing bells attached to it, so they weren't anxious about missing a customer. They were free to talk as much as they needed.

Gus went on "You're leaving Gravity Falls? Why? Because you had some bad dreams?"

"I don't dream, Gus. Ya should know that, by now." Billy said peevishly but Ricky hushed him.

"Gus, I know it's a shock to hear this. Believe you me- it wasn't an easy decision for Billy to make. But he simply can't stay here. It's impossible for him to sleep here." Billy made a face, but said nothing. Gus put his hands on his own face- a nervous gesture.

Ricky had known Gus since they were toddlers, and had been like a sister to him for, it seemed, almost as long as that. They had played in the same woods together, dined at the Northwest table together. Ricky had looked after Gus when he had been sick. When he had enter high school, she has used the influence of her position to subtlety build a network of other bullies that made sure Gus was never himself the victim of bullying. She knew the boy incredibly well. Putting his hands on his face like that meant that Gus was shocked, and in pain, and angry, and trying not to yell, because Gus was good and didn't yell.

"And you're going with him, Ricky?"

Billy grinned and grabbed Ricky's hand "We're getting hitched! Maybe!"

Billy and Ricky had decided not to plan on matrimony. It was, after all, the 20th century now, and people did things differently from their parents. Ricky and Billy were in love and that was all that mattered. If they passed a chapel on their adventures and happened to be in the mood to make it official, so be it.

Gus knew Ricky fairly well, too "What are you gonna do?" He asked incredulously "Get married if you pass a chapel and happen to be in the mood to make it official? Ricky- what happened to your plans of your dream wedding?"

Ricky waved, as if batting away a fly "I made those plans when I was a little girl, Gus! I'm different now. I'm older. It doesn't matter anymore if I have a real swan pond or if the cake is Belgian chocolate or if I have a cake at all. I'm in love! That's all that matters!"

But Billy had got to snickering now, "Lemme get this straight- when you were a kid, you planned your wedding, and you planned on having a swan pond?"

Ricky smiled at Billy "They're beautiful animals! So picturesque!"

Billy snorted "Actually, they're monsters!" He said cheerfully "And that's coming from me! I'd rather walk in on a whole prida lions than a single swan!"

Through this exchange, Gus had been quiet, his hand on his chin, contemplating. Now he looked up "Can I go with you guys?"

Billy and Ricky exchanged glances. If Gus had asked this the night before, Billy would have said, absolutely, without a doubt, yes. Let's bring Gus along with us! That had been his stance back then, but Ricky had artfully talked him out it. It was a little tricky, but it had had to be done.

In the present, Gus went on "You guys are gonna have a show, right? Well I can help with the show! I can make costumes for you guys, and build sets, and talk to venue owners, and sell tickets and- jeez- everything! It'll be the three of us again- going places and having adventures! Us three pals!"

Ricky and Billy paused for a moment before replying.

"Sorry, kid," Billy spoke up "but no can do."

Gus's jaw fell out of place, and he looked to Ricky, then back to Billy "What?"

"He's right," Ricky said "you can't come with us."

"But- why?" His eyes opened wide "Doncha want me to come along?"

"It's not that," Ricky said "it's just that you have the store here, and besides, you're still in school."

"But this is Billy's store too!" Gus protested "He's even got the deed!"

"Oh," Billy raised a finger, got up, and ran into the other room. He came back and with the wooden lacquered box the deed to 618 Gopher Road had been found in. He shoved this into Gus's hands "the deed- for you kid! It's in your hands now-literally! That makes it official! Congratulations on being full owner ah the Shack!"

Surprised, Gus popped open the box, finding that the crumbling piece of paper was still there. The fair haired boy tried to hand the document back to Billy, extending his arm straight and holding onto the corners of the box with his fingertips as if it was on fire, but Billy crossed his arms "It's too late for that, Angus! Finder's Keeper's, remember? It's legally yours now!"

Gus gave up and let his arms go limp. He set the box on the freshly cut wood table between them. "This isn't fair!" Gus exclaimed, and gestured to Ricky "You're quitting school! I can quit school too, if I want to!"

"That's college," Ricky interjected "college doesn't matter."

"High school doesn't matter, either! I'm still in high school and I'm half owner of a costume shop!"

"Full owner!" Billy corrected him.

Gus stood up and put his fingers in his hair. He looked like he was going to pull his hair follicles out "Billy!" He whined, "I can't keep running the Emporium! Not all myself!"

"Have some faith in yourself, kid!" Billy stood as well, and put a hand on the shorter boy's shoulder "You're clever. Really clever! You don't need crazy ol' me to keep this business afloat- ya got all ya need up there!" He said, tapping the other boy on the noggin.

Gus shook his head "You don't understand. We're so in dept..."

"Get a loan!"

"But I don't wanna get a loan! Then I'll just owe someone else!"

"You can always make a buck or two on the stock market," Ricky suggested.

"My Dad keeps saying stock market is a fool's game."

"Your dad obviously doesn't know much about money." Ricky crossed her arms.

But Gus shook his head "You're changing the subject! Guys," he looked between Billy and Ricky with a desperate, pleading expression "will I ever see you guys again?"

Billy and Ricky exchanged glances, then Ricky exhaled roughly "Probably not. With Billy's condition-"

"Condition," Billy scoffed under his breath "that's a dumb word!"

"Right, well," Ricky said, moving on "Billy shouldn't even be here right now, but he has some unfinished business. Which includes saying goodbye to you, Gus! Anyway, we'll send you lots of post cards from the places we go. Maybe even a photo or two!"

But Gus still wasn't ready to say goodbye "Why can't Billy just, yanno, get rid of his magic or something? Then he could pretty much live wherever he wanted- triangles or no!"

Billy looked at Gus like he had just suggested blowing up an entire country. "Gus!" He gasped, appalled "How can ya even suggest such a thing?"

Gus rolled his eyes "Look, Billy, I-"

"No, really!" Billy said, puffing himself up "I told ya what my magic means to me!"

"It's NOT your magic!" Gus exclaimed suddenly, "It's that demon inside of you!"

"Gus, how many times do I have to tell ya, the demon is me!"

Gus shook his head "No Billy, you're wrong! You're just wrong!" He ran his fingers through his hair, and switched to a different approach. "I just can't believe this, Billy. You can't just leave! Come on, Pal! We built this thing together-" he gestured around the room, but he meant the building.

"Actually," Billy said dryly "I built it. But I just gave it to you. Consider it a gift!"

"I don't want your gift!" He stood up, and slid the box across the table to Billy and stood up. His arms were straight at his sides and his hands were in fists, his face a shade of hot pink. He turned around on a heel.

"Hey, Gus, where ya headed to?"

Gus stomped across the room to the back door "Don't follow me, Billy! I need to be alone!"

"Gus!" Ricky cried "Come back here! We need to explain!"

Gus turned, standing in the doorway "You two explained enough!" He opened the door and exited, slamming it behind him.

Ricky and Billy exchanged glances after Gus had departed. For once, there was no grin or even a smirk on Billy's face as he said "I'll go after him," and he got ready to teleport away, but Ricky put a hand on his arm.

"No, he'll come around himself." She sighed "I should have explained things better...I hope, at least, he comes back to say goodbye! I hate leaving on bad terms."

Billy frowned "Yanno- we don't have to leave. I could- I dunno- rent a permanent room at the Sleepy Pine Motel..."

"And what?" Ricky questioned "How are you going to get there and back? It's already an hour and a half's journey in the Model L- you can't get there that fast with a horse!"

Billy sighed "I can't rida horse. Ya can't ride something that wants to kill ya. Isn't there a train that goes to Portland?"

"Yeah, and it leaves and come back once a week!"

Billy's face became pained and gazed at the door Gus had exited through "Still though, it's a shame...I hate leaving the kid."

Ricky's heart did a belly flop in her chest. I know. She thought I hate to too. But I don't have a choice...

Gus didn't get it. Billy didn't get it either, thankfully, because if he did, he would either be highly disturbed or unwilling to go through with this plan. Probably a bit of both. But Gus was a huge reason Ricky was leaving Gravity Falls. And it wasn't because she had any lack of love for the boy. Quite the contrary- her motherly love and protectiveness was as strong as ever.

But she loved Billy too. And Billy wasn't wicked- he wasn't some shyster out to con her out of her fortune. Billy was deserving of her love. Oh, if only Billy were wicked. If only he were the mustachioed villain in a bad movie where Gus got tied to the railroad tracks and Ricky saved him in the nick of time. But Billy wasn't that guy. He cared about Gus almost as much as Ricky did. But he had hurt Gus, and Ricky could never let that happen again.

Hence why she needed to separate the two of them. For good. Ricky was not foolish enough to believe that she could protect Gus whenever Billy had a manic episode. She barely understood how his demonic powers worked, and it might just be all she could do to protect herself. Which was fine. If Billy ever hurt her while the phase of the moon or some cut on his arm was making his magic go crazy, that was one thing. If Billy hurt Gus, that was unthinkable.

The only way Ricky could convince Billy to leave Gravity Falls was if she went with him. Or maybe that was the only solution she could think of because some part of her wanted to leave her father's two-faced town.

In any case, she tried to think of the positives of the situation. She had watched over Gus like a mother bird ever since they had both been very young, but Gus was growing up. He kept telling her he disliked her motherly fussing, and that he wished Ricky would treat him like a man instead of a boy. It was time now to stop babying him.

Besides, she had someone else she could fuss and worry over now. It was funny- you would not think so to see them, but once you got to know Gus and Billy, you realized that the latter was, in some ways, more dependant than the former. "Gus is going to be just fine," Ricky said, trying to convince herself as much as Billy "we can get a PO Box somewhere and he can send us letters. And you know how smart he is. He'll get along just great here." Billy still looked unconvinced, so Ricky started to rub his shoulders "Don't worry about him. He's fifteen- people are emotional at that age! Do you remember how you were when you were fifteen?"

The smirk finally came back to Billy's face. Ricky had to admit to loving that smirk and all of his different grins. There were subtle differences between his shit-eating grin and his maniacal grin and his goofy grin that had taken Ricky a year to figure out. Billy could probably have a whole conversation in grins.

"Yeah I do- I was a real monster!"

"Oh, Billy, do you mean to tell me you were a swan when you were fifteen?"

The smirk wavered and Billy looked at Ricky confused for a few seconds before he got it, then he laughed, "Sure I was, doll! You shoulda seen me in my molting phase!"

How could they? How could they?

Gus had left 618 Gopher Road. The boy had charged up the driveway- what was popular called Cemetery Lane by the townsfolk, even though it was not a proper road at all. He turned onto Gopher Road and began south. He walked with his hands in he pockets, his eyes on the ground, and his flax colored bangs over his down-turned face. There were tears in his eyes- hot, shameful things, and he was angry at their presence, but he dare not wipe them away lest someone see him and know what he was doing. And so the boy walked, half blinded by hot tears and not really navigating himself that well.

How could they just leave him?

How could Billy just get up and walk away when he had put down so many roots here? The house and the business he had built- did those things mean nothing to him? What about Gus? Was Gus nothing to him?

And Ricky...

Ricky had always looked out for him. And she had always been there for him. Her presence was always felt, even if it was subtly, like the warmth of the sun on a cold but bright winter's day. Lately he had found her overbearing- sure. But there were a lot of reasons for that. Ricky was such a pretty girl, and so smart, and so kind. He had a crush on her. And yet Ricky always just wanted to be his mom. That was so frustrating.

Now she was even taking that away from him.

Oh, what was he kidding?

It was all Billy's fault.

Billy was the one who had stolen Ricky's heart from him just when Gus was on the verge of convincing the heiress that he was boyfriend material. He had known Gus had held a candle for her. He hadn't cared as he had swooped in and swept her off her feet. How she had fallen for the nasally voiced, fashionably challenged know-it-all Gus didn't have a clue. Maybe Billy had put a spell on her.

Gus was finally starting to accept that his best friend and his new best friend were in love with one another, and that Ricky would never look at Gus the same way she looked at Billy. He didn't like it, and it still hurt to think about, but he accepted it as a truth. He had nothing against Ricky or Billy individually; it was just when they were together and all dizzy with one another that they became unbearable.

But now?

Now, Billy had decided that wasn't enough to steal Ricky's heart. Oh no. He had to take Ricky away from Gus entirely. Never again would Ricky muss his hair, or take him in rides in her car, or bring him food simply because his father was still working in the mines and unable to cook for him. All those simple, loving things would be gone.

And it was all Billy's fault.

Why couldn't Billy just get rid of the demon? If the demon wasn't around, Billy wouldn't have to worry about wearing that amulet all the time, and those weird visions wouldn't keep him awake. Gravity Falls wouldn't have to worry about another gigantic monster appearing, Ricky's Dad wouldn't have to worry about his store being torched, and Ricky and Gus wouldn't have to worry about their empowered friend accidentally levitating them into the Bottomless Pit or something.

It would make things so much easier! Billy could stay in Gravity Falls, they could keep running the store, and everything would go back to normal. Better than normal. Did Gus really believe that Ricky was so enchanted by Billy because of his personality? No- it was clear she only liked him because of all the fancy tricks he could do. If Billy couldn't make pretty blue flames to distract any her more, Ricky would see what a selfish, arrogant, lying, sarcastic jerk Billy really was.

Gus couldn't go any farther, because a wall of sorts was on his way. He finally wiped his eyes and looked about himself. The fair-haired boy was in his old yard; on his father's porch. He was surprised, because he hadn't stepped foot on his dad's property since the man had thrown him out. His feet must have brought him here, following some base instinct.

I should go. Gus thought I should turn around. Dad doesn't want me here.

Instead, he knocked on the door. He could really use someone to talk to, and couldn't talk to either of his only two friends.

The door opened from within and his dad stood inside. The man regarded the pale haired boy on the porch. With his beard the way it was, covering as much of his face as it was, it was hard to figure out what he was thinking. It always had been, for Gus. Gus father lived behind a wall- an invisible wall of aloofness and secrets, and he allowed no one on the other side- not even his only son.

"Well, boy." His dad said.

Gus stood straight on the porch, his feet spread evenly. There were no longer tears in his eyes, so he need not worry about that. "Hi Dad." He said.

His father did not respond.

"Can I come in?"

"I recall telling you not to come back." Fuller Gleeful said.

Gus felt like he had just been stabbed in the abdomen, and the knife had angled up, sliced his heart, and then drew all the breath out of him. He should have been expecting his father's tight-lipped refusal, but...he hadn't.

Gus struggled to keep his face impassive "Dad, please? Billy is leaving town. I don't know what the do. The store is struggling and I think I'm gonna lose it! I could use some help."

"Be a man," Fuller said, "you chose to live independently. Well, welcome to the real world, boy. Figure it out." And with that, he shut the door in Gus's face.

The pale haired boy simply stood on the step, staring at the pattern of the wood the door was made of. Physically, he was just fine. He was still breathing and his heart was beating. But emotionally, he was breathless.

His hand tried the nob. Of course, it was locked.

The wooden door had a knot in the middle that resembled an eye. Gus had never noticed it before- that is if it had always been there.

Gus couldn't help but to think of Billy, and the weird phenomenon that had been happening to him over the past few days. Billy could see out of the eyes that sometimes appeared in birch tree bark. Could he see out of this two-dimensional eye?

Probably. He was probably looking at Gus right now and having a giant laugh.

Gus's face twisted in rage. "This is all your fault!" He screamed at the eye. He stepped of the porch briefly searched the ground. He found a fist-sized stone, partially buried and with a jagged edge. He dug it out of the soil, raced back to the door and started to smash it into the symbol.

"I hate you! I hate you I hate you! STOP WATCHING ME!"

I'm on my knees, in the grass in front of the shack, making kissy faces to the fat old goat who had just decided to put his forequarters into my lap. He's turning his neck, pretty much begging for me to scratch the underside of it, and how can I resist? "Who wants a Gompy-Wompy? I do! I do!" I say in sing-song way, scratching him under his chest "Yeah, dat's my guy! Dat's my Gompy-Wompy widdo guy!"

Ricky steps out the door of the shack "You two are so adorable," she says, shaking her head.

An idea suddenly comes to me "Ricky!" I exclaim "We have to bring Gompers with us! We can make him our- yanno, m-"

"Mascot?"

"I was thinking more like 'manager', but same diff!"

Gus let the stone fall out of his hand. No. This wasn't doing him any good. Billy was just laughing at him so much harder right now.

He turned around, stepped off his father's porch, and walked into the street.

It truly was Billy's fault. All of it- including his dad. After all, hadn't it been Billy who had talked him into following his dream? If Billy hadn't put all those ideas into his head about being who he truly was and demanding his own freedom, Gus would never have left his father's home. Sure, he would be exploding dynamite instead of using a sewing machine, but at least his father would be proud of him.

All. Billy's. Fault!

He didn't go far- turning right back into the next walkway. Gus rang the bell and waited. It took a while for someone to respond, as it was a large house, but he knew better than to ring twice. Finally the door opened from within, and he saw the round, mousy face of Wendy the maid.

"Hi, Wendy. Can you fetch Mr. Northwest for me? I need to talk to him about something." Wendy looked skeptical, so Gus added, "Please? Just tell him it has to do with Triangulum and he'll understand."