Pacifica had also been the first to sign Dipper's cast - with her favourite ruby red lipstick before promptly smothering him in it. She also vowed to break his other arm if he ever dared hug Wendy before her again. Concussion or not.

Dipper had returned the favour by telling her that if she did decide to go out to sea with his Grunkles, she had better keep videocalling him. Every day. And every night.

They figured, ultimately, it was a pretty good deal - if it did come around to such an arrangement.

The news was all over the newly developed… 'sinkhole' on Gerron Street, with mass confusion as to how the town's main pipe had managed to rupture so… explosively.

The giant pit was quite a sight to see; a huge cavern that seemed to burrow off into an elusive tunnel network, deep under the bizarre little Oregon town leaving only a pile of asphalt, brick, slag and concrete - with, at the very bottom, a thick, black, shadowy smear.

It was quickly written off as nothing more than a standard scale Gravity Falls calamity. Beyond a few gnomes, nobody really had any clue of people being hurt or injured - though people did glance occasionally at Dipper Pines in a sling and Mabel's knowing grin as she gathered with them behind the police tape and pointed at the remains of what was once Curzon Cankerblight.

Tyler couldn't help but feel a slight sense of deja vu whenever he was near the hole, and was all too glad to see it filled in within the next few days.

Oh yes, The Crawlspace was most definitely no more - though rumour has it the Supernatural elements of Gravity Falls have already started a crowdfunder to rebuild it, sans the giant darkness millipede.

"Preston, you had better read this, dear."

"What is it, darli- oh. A minor repair job, I take it?"

"Not quite."

Preston adjusted his lapels and put on his spectacles as he looked over the bill.

His face dropped.

The cost of rebuilding Geron street was astronomical, even with his insurance payout for that gas explosion. The fact it should happen in the dead centre of one of his biggest rentals - and he had been assured by that said tenant that allowing underground construction wouldn't lead to any damage? He was furious. Another hurtful fist into the face of his profit margins - and, worse - no sign of his daughter coming back home to her rightful place.

He fumed and poured himself another Scotch, gripping his glass so firmly it was in danger of breaking.

"Well, we can cover it. Let's just hope it's the end of the trouble for this month, my darling…"

"I think it's time we paid our dear little Prestie a visit."

Deep in one of those many tunnels, there was a familiar pittering. A familiar hiss. A familiar, black, shadowy trail that seemed to lead outwards, towards the McGucket's Hootenanny Hut. Towards what had once been the Northwest Residence.

A pair of glowing, red eyes and a pale blue grin flashed in the darkness.

"Lead on. My eyes will be back in no time."

"I hope you'll have the voice back in order, dearie. He wouldn't like the surprise, you know."

"Oh aye, don't worry about it, duckie. 'E'll not 'ave a clue owt's up. Luvly job..."

FIN.

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN

With thanks to Kyo, my fiancee, for story suggestions and proofing, and the brilliant PK1247 of the Dipcifica subreddit for proofing, too.

Please visit jamooneyart on deviantART or 'Return to the Falls' on AO3 to see the tie in comic strips, title cards and more!