Its been a while since my last GF tale, and even longer since the last Stan twins story I've written. But I was recently rewatching Weirdmageddon, and this idea came to me during the scene where Stan and Ford are discussing what they can do to beat Bill. I feel like this would be a pretty poignant moment for Ford, to finally see just how selfless his brother truly is.

Enjoy!

"Do you really think he's gonna make good on that deal?"

Ford looked over at his brother, eyes wide and desperate for another way. He had to look away; he knew Bill wouldn't make good on that deal. The demon had proved that time and time again. But if there was even a chance that the kids and Stan could be safe, he would take it. He'd already messed up so many times, and this was his chance to fix it…

"What other choice do we have?"

Stan glanced down, looking more defeated than Ford had ever seen him before. What happened to the overconfident, arrogant man Ford knew? Was it possible that maybe, just maybe, he really did care?

"I'm sorry, Ford. I can't lose you again." Stan stepped back, removing their father's fez and overcoat.

"Stanley, what are you doing?" Ford said, grabbing a hold of his brother's arm.

"I'm letting Bill into my mind. I can't… I can't let you do it. I may not know that demon like you do, but I'm not going to stand here and let him take over the world with you as his pawn."

"But that's insane! Once he finds out you're not me, he'll kill you!"

"Not if we kill him first."

Ford stopped. "What… what are you saying?"

"You said that monster is only weak in the mindscape." Stan reached out and took Ford's cloak from him, searching through the pockets until he found what he was looking for. With a resigned sigh, he pulled it out.

"Stanley, no…" Ford said, his voice coming out as more of a whimper than he wanted it to. But Stan just pushed the item into his brother's hands.

It was Ford's memory gun.

"If I can trick that beast into my mind… you can erase him. Then, the kids'll truly be safe… And so will you."

Ford looked his twin up and down, unable to even form his feelings into words. He'd been so bitter, so angry, for so many years because of this con artist. His life had been ruined by his carelessness, back when they were seniors, and back when the portal was created, and even just that day. But now, there was something else, some other feeling in him.

Shame.

Because maybe Stan was never the one who he should have been angry with. Maybe… maybe it was himself.

Here, locked in a cage of energy while his great niece and nephew were fighting to fix his mistake, he was finally beginning to see that maybe he was the one that was wrong the whole time.

"I'm… I'm so sorry, Stanley. I should have trusted you, all those years ago… it's my fault we're in this mess."

"Hey, we're both screw ups when it comes to trust," Stan replied, smiling slyly.

"You're not a screw up, Stan. You've never been one…"

"I've done a lot I ain't proud of, Ford. Things I don't know if I'd ever have the courage to admit. But this is a chance for me to make up for it. Because those kids deserve it. We coulda learned a lot from them… they're better people at twelve than I could ever be."

"And… and so are you."

Stan looked over at his twin, shaking his head. "I'm just an old conman." Then, he returned his attention back toward where Dipper and Mabel had gone. "But I'll do anything for my family."

Ford looked at his feet. Stan was wrong; Dipper and Mabel weren't the ones he needed to learn from. It was him.

And if Ford was ever going to fix what he'd started, he needed to be the bigger person and follow his brother's lead. With a sigh, he furrowed his brows, and began pulling off his boots and sweater. Wordlessly, Stan traded his clothing with his brother.

Stan had told Ford about the day he came back through the portal, about how Mabel had gone against her own twin's pleas and trusted Stan. Without her, thirty years of Stan's work would have been for naught. And what had Ford done to the two people who made his return possible? He'd shunned them. Their loyalty was unwavering, despite everything that had been thrown at them, while Ford had cowered and let the angers of the past control him. And he said Stan was the one who had trust issues…

What was wrong with him?

"Ford?" The man turned to see a concerned look on Stan's face. "We forgot about one thing…"

"What?"

In response, Stan put his hand up to his brother's, highlighting the obvious difference. "What do we do about that?"

"Well… I think I'll be okay since Bill will be focused on you, and…" Ford fished around in the pockets of his cloak for a moment before finding his special gloves. "This should work for you."

Stan nodded, slipping the gloves on. "We're really doing this, aren't we?"

"I guess we are."

"Just promise me one thing, Ford."

"Anything."

"You can't back down. You have to shoot. The only thing that matters is killing that demon. Promise me you'll go through with it no matter what."

Ford took one of Stan's hands in his, shaking it firmly. "I… I promise."

"Good." Stan smiled determinedly, though his eyes betrayed his fear.

A bang rang through the Fearamid, and from one of the corridors came the shrill sound of Bill's voice.

"Alright Ford, times up!" The demon stepped back into the room, holding a struggling Dipper and Mabel in his fist. "I've got the kids!"

Stan tapped Ford on the shoulder, getting his attention briefly. He gave him a slight affirming nod.

"Now let's con this monster."

Ford nodded back, then turned back toward his enemy.

No, Stan was never the screw up. Ford just wished he didn't have to lose him to finally see that for himself.