"That night," Sere told them. "Dipper and Wendy have an impromptu victory picnic on her secret spot on the Mystery Shack's roof. As they eat, the aftereffects of Bill's attack on Wendy are made even more apparent."

The three noticed as Wendy ate, the food in her hands trembled as if she was in the middle of an earthquake. The bags beneath her eyes had become larger and an even-darker purple. The howl of the night wind made the usually steady ginger jump, looking every which way for an upcoming threat.

"It's like…" Dipper said. "It's like he…broke her spirit."

"This is what cements that Dipper's decision. He wished to spend every last second with her until – "

"Last…second?"

Before Sere could answer, Wendy's stammering voice came from the portal.

"But, Dipper…why does it sound like you're saying good-bye?"

On the other end of the platform, a remorseful Dipper drew something out of his vest pocket.

"A…tape measure?" The Wendy watching the window examined.

"It's the Time Tape!" Dipper recognized. "But how?"

"In this dimension," Sere told him. "Soos the handyman was able to repair the broken time travel device Dipper took from Blendin Blandin, but due to his lack of knowledge of such sophisticated technology, it would only allow for backwards travel to up to three days in the past."

"Because…" They saw Dipper pull back on the tape as he answered Wendy's question. "…I have to…"

"No! Wait!" Dipper cried out at the screen at the same time as the Wendy on the roof. She dove towards her boyfriend, her hands outreached as the world slowed to a crawl. Her lips slowly parted before becoming frozen in time:

"Please…don't…leave…me…"

As existence broke down around him in a brilliant white light, a tearful Dipper crawled forward and gave Wendy a tender, farewell kiss on her freckled forehead.

"I'll miss you, Wendy…I really will!"

Sere let out a moisten snuffle, "And by using his limited time-travel abilities, Dipper is able to go back in time and inadvertently, prevents Wendy from leaving the Shack with her friends, avoiding getting her caught up in the fateful accident that led to the best three days that they will ever share together."

As the screen came to a close, Dipper wiped the tears from his eyes. "That – That was…I don't even – "

A breeze passed through Dipper's thick hair as his trucker hat was tugged right off his head. He spun around to find Wendy, angrier than he had ever seen her, holding the blue cap well high up in the air.

"Wen – "

*WHACK!*

"Ow! Wendy!"

*WHACK!*

"Oh, boy…" Sere hopped back, wanting to avoid being the victim of collateral damage.

"You rat!" The seething lumberjane shouted between blows. "You cur! You fink!"

*WHACK!*

"Wendy, stop!" Dipper tried to hold up his hands for defense.

*WHACK!*

"You had no right to make that decision alone! No right at all!"

*WHACK!*

"Wendy, please!"

Dipper noticed that her anger had turned to sorrow, her emerald eyes now watery and glassy. The tears flowed down her dimpled cheeks as she grit her teeth harder.

"How could you do that to her?! How could you do that to me?!"

*WHACK!*

"Wendy!" Dipper finally caught her between shots and held her arms down. "Wendy!"

"WHAT?!" She screamed directly back in his face.

"That's not me up there! That wasn't us up there! Remember what Sere said?"

"Oh…" Wendy gradually pulled back as she let out a sniff. "If – If it were you, would you have done the same thing?"

"Well…"

*WHACK!*

"You rat! You cur! You fink!"

At last, Sere stepped between the two, separating them with an arm's length. "As amusing as all of this is…"

"You found this amusing?" Dipper said, rubbing his numerous sore spots.

"…you're essentially crying over spilled milk." Sere gently took the rolled-up hat from Wendy's hand and passed it from behind, back to Dipper. "Everything that you have witnessed has already happened in some part of space and time, and no matter how angry you get, or how much you cry, it simply cannot be changed."

"But…" Wendy wiped her eyes with her flannel. "But, Sere…"

The guide gripped Wendy's hand. "Dipper was right about what he said a second ago. You did forget what I told you about the multiverse…"

"W-Which part?"

Sere led Wendy across the hall towards another window, as Dipper trailed behind at a safe distance. "The part about how it breaks off into a trillion different branches. And in some cases, it's like flipping a coin. Sometimes, it lands heads, and other times, tails."

"Okay…"

They stopped at another portal displaying that same night on top of the Mystery Shack, just as Dipper stuck his hand into the lining of his vest.

"Wait," Wendy resisted. "I don't wanna see it again – "

Sere planted a comforting hand against Wendy's back. "And where there's an universe where Wendy doesn't reach Dipper in time, there's bound to be one where she – "

"Does…" Wendy finished, gradually forming a weak smile.

"Because…" Once more, they bore witness to Dipper holding the extended tape measure in front of his Wendy. "…I have to…"

"No! Wait!"

With an Amazonian's fury, Wendy swooped forward, meeting Dipper head on; her left hand held his right over the Time Tape; her right hand pinched the extended measuring tape before where Dipper's fingers held it, preventing him from let it snap shut.

"She…" Wendy gave a relieved sigh, holding her hands together as she looked to her still-mending Dipper. "She caught him!"

"Don't…!" The other Wendy tried to wrestle the tape measure away.

"Wendy," Dipper lowered his head, so he didn't have to look her in the eye. "You…don't know what you're doing…"

"And you do?" She yelled back, her eyes filling with tears. "I know exactly what you're thinking. You're going to use this stupid time-thingie to go back and stop the accident from happening!"

"But, how –"

"Believe me, kid; I've gotten very good at guessing what you're thinkin'…"

"Then, you know why I have to do this." Dipper wrestled in vain against his much bigger and stronger beau. "I have to keep you safe! It's my fault all of this happened to you!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Think about it, Wendy!" Dipper strained even harder. "You would have never been put into Bill's crosshairs if it wasn't for Gideon. Gideon only did that to try to hurt me. It's the same with your friends at the Diner. Robbie went and stirred up the hornet's nest because he hates me! Don't you see? Everything bad that happened to you is because of me! Now, please let me go!"

"Never!"

Locked in a never-ending stalemate, Wendy silently thought on how else to reach her boy.

"Dipper? Is this really what you want?"

"How could you even ask that?!" He barked, as his tears could no longer be contained. "Of course it's not! But *SNIFF!* But I don't know how to fix this! Bill said he'll wait until I have to go back home before he'll come for you again. And look what he's done to you in only a few hours!"

Dipper closed his eyes to free up more tears. "And….And I remember what you told me at the fire on the lake. But your life is worth more than a stupid risk to me, Wendy!"

Wendy paused again, "Dipper, you need to understand something. That stuff about "stupid risks?" It's a part of who I am. I've lived like that before I met you. Dude, you can send yourself back in time, or even to the freakin' moon, and it's never going to change that. And that goes double for some magic-triangle-man. Sure, I'm a little spooked, but that'll pass soon enough."

"Oh, Wendy…" Dipper sobbed harder.

"And the same goes for everyone else: Gideon, Robbie, Tambry, and the rest of the guys. I'm not going to hide in a corner and let someone else dictate to me how I'm going to live my life. And you know something else, Dipper?"

He remained silent.

"There's no one else in this world I'd rather take stupid risks with than with you. After all, you're the only guy I know who knows how to show a girl a great adventure…"

Despite her words, Wendy found Dipper with his weeping face tightened shut. His grip on both ends of the Time Tape never faltered in the slightest.

"Dipper, look at me…"

When he refused, Wendy released her left hand from the Time Tape, while still holding on the actual tape along with Dipper. She used her free hand to prop his chin upwards to face her.

"Dipper. I said look at me."

He finally reopened his eyes, as another salty stream released.

"Do you love me, Dipper?" Wendy earnestly asked.

"I just said – "

"I want to hear you say it again. Do you love me, Dipper Pines?"

He stared deep into her eyes. "With everything I have…and more…"

She held his face closer, wiping his tears away with her thumb. "Then love me enough to make my own decisions. And I choose to fight with you, Dipper. Not just against Bill, but against anyone that would dare get in our way. You said you'd do anything to keep me safe? Anything that'll ensure I'll be able to conquer even the deadliest enemy?

"Yes!" He nodded in her hand. "Anything! Yes!"

Wendy's green eyes shimmered in the moonlight.

"Then please, don't leave me…"

Dipper turned away from Wendy to look at the still-extended tape, before returning to his girlfriend. Instead of releasing his grip, he pulled harder on the measuring tape until it reached its limits. Guided by Wendy's hand, they gradually let the tape recoil back into its original position.

"Slowly…" Wendy coached. "Easy does it…"

With the tape back in the measurer, a defeated Dipper let the half-fixed Time Tape stumble from his fingers. It slid across the Mystery Shack's rooftop until it fell off. It exploded into a million pieces upon smacking the concrete parking lot below.

Still in disbelief of his own actions, Dipper sat back to see a tear-eyed Wendy waiting for him with arms wide open and a budding smile. He leaned forward, releasing another wave of sobs upon Wendy's shoulder. She wrapped her arms around him, rocking them both to a gentle calm.

"I almost – I almost – "

"Shh…" The redhead whispered in his ear.

"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…"

"It's okay…" Wendy held him tighter. "We're okay…"

"You must - *SOB* - You probably hate my guts now…"

"Not even for a second…" Wendy reassured him. "But I'd be lying if I said you didn't scare the living crap outta me. Even more than that Bill guy could have ever done…"

"Sorry…" He looked up from his snuggle with a realization. "Wait a sec. I just noticed something: Wendy, you've stopped stuttering! And your eyes! The markings; they're lighter!"

Wendy reached up and felt under her eyes. "Yeah, I guess so." She glanced down at Dipper full of pride. "Guess it helps when you give a girl something important to focus on."

"Probably…"

She pulled Dipper back, "Can I ask you for one more thing?"

"Name it…"

Wendy lowered her eyes, "Can we finally go eat? It's been a heck of a day and I'll starvin'."

Dipper exploded with a barrage of much-needed laughter, to which Wendy joined in. They shared another hug as their giggles filled the night air.

"Yeah…" The boy agreed, as the picture faded to black. "It really has, hasn't it?"

"I can't believe it!" Wendy held her head with amazement. "Those two dorks are really going to be okay!"

"Much, much more than okay." Sere said. "As Dipper and Wendy grow even closer, she becomes more involved in his supernatural pursuits – "

"Hey! I wasn't before?"

"Not as much as you could have been." Sere added. "For example, instead of running away from the FBI agents as they raided the Mystery Shack – "

"I didn't run away from the feds!" Wendy pledged, taking a quick peek down at Dipper. "It's more like someone with my...um…particular background…wouldn't be wise in pulling on that thread."

"Well, in this dimension, Wendy ends up freeing the Pines twins from captivity before they have the chance to free themselves. Together, they are able to discover the clues that lead to Stan's hidden portal gateway under the Mystery Shack."

"So, I actually get to see the portal instead of hearing the blow-by-blow from Soos in the middle of the night? Awesome!"

"You play a bigger role than you could ever suspect. When Dipper finally goes to confront Stan about his lies, Wendy is the one that serves as mediator and establishes a sense of trust between the two. With the family united, the portal is activated and your Great-Uncle Ford is brought to back to that realm of reality without incident."

"Hmm…" Dipper murmured.

"As in your world, Dipper and Ford instantly hit it off, but Wendy gradually sees a dark side to their relationship. She notices how the elder uses the apprenticeship to have Dipper weaken his familial binds. As Wendy acts as the anchor keeping her boyfriend grounded, this often puts her at odds with Ford…"

"At odds?!" Dipper was shocked. "With Grunkle Ford? I don't think – "

"I can see it." Wendy said. "Hate to say it, Dip, but you do have a sorta Hero Complex when it comes to ol' Stan no. 2 there."

"Yes, but in the end, you all are able to put asides your petty differences and come together to squash Bill Cipher's dreams of invasion – "

"Hold the phone!" Wendy interrupted. "Are you saying that in this world, there's no such thing as Weirdmageddon period?"

"Correct. Neither Gravity Falls nor the living world will ever suffer the dream demon's living insanity."

The astounded lumberjack princess took a step back. "Whoa…"

"And with Bill's threat limited to the dreamscape, you two are able to enjoy life to its fullest…"

"Wait!" Dipper stopped her. "You mean…we'll get to see each other again after this summer?"

Sere laughed. "I think the better question is "when don't you two get to see each other?"" She began to count off using her fingers. "You come back to Gravity Falls each and every summer. Wendy joins you in California during Winter and Spring breaks. And in-between, there are dates, dances, graduation parties, proms; you name it! Heck, you even convince her to setup a webcam so you can check in with each other every other day."

Dipper gave Wendy an excited look. "I know, I know!" She replied. "I'm thinkin' about it. I didn't say it was a bad idea…"

"All of this culminates as you both finish College at the same time together…"

"College? Phhhesh!" Wendy stuck out her tongue, waving the notion away. "Now I know that's far-fetched!"

"Well, you pick up classes between the occasional odd-job here and there…"

"But at the same time?" Dipper didn't understand. "How can that happen?"

"Simple." Sere said. "You like the idea of College, but find the whole process drawn-out and actually…boring."

"This nerd right here?" Wendy prided over Dipper, playfully rubbing his cap into his scalp. "I don't believe it."

"To get around this, Dipper takes as many standardized tests as possible to knock out his prerequisites."

"Prerequisites?"

"Required classes." Wendy explained. "They're like beginner courses you need to take in order to get to the good stuff. You'll learn all about that in High School."

"Between the tests and AP classes taken, Dipper is able to bypass two years' worth of work, bringing him to Wendy's level in a short amount of time."

"And pray tell," Wendy poked. "What is it that we are studying?"

"Parapsychology." Sere answered with a grin. "Dipper follows in Ford's footsteps as a researcher, documenting all of the strange phenomenon that you two encounter as paranormal investigators. You on the other hand, use this as a way to whet your appetite for adventure. His brains and your brawn make up the perfect team."

"Huh. Sounds about right." Wendy thought it over. "Wait. Are you saying I'm dumb in a round-about way?"

"Uh-uh!" Sere said. "Where'd you get – "

"She means…" Dipper placed a settling hand on Wendy's shoulder. "That I'd be way over my head without your mad skills to back me up."

"Bingo!" The tour guide pointed both index fingers at Dipper.

"But what about Bill?" The inquisitive teen brought up. "Does he ever bother us again?"

"Not…exactly…" Sere waved her hand against the portal, as a new scene promptly formed. A tender red light displayed a well-furnished bedroom. An adult couple lied on a queen-sized bed covered with a thick blue comforter. A smaller, thinner throw-blanket was tossed aside by their feet. On the right side, a young man brushed his long, shaggy hair up with his hand, moving down to itch his pencil-thin goatee, before adjusting his glasses as he read from a hard-bound book set on his stomach.

To his left, a young woman with long auburn hair tied back, sat upwards against the bedpost, with a television remote drooping out of her right hand. Hints of the show she was watching reflected off the lenses of her glasses.

All of a sudden, the woman let out a roar-like yawn as she raised her arms over her head. She checked the digital alarm set on the nightstand to her right. She elbowed the male next to her. "Hey, Professor. It's getting kinda late. Why don't you call it a day already?"

He looked past the woman to check the time. "Good call." He set the book on his own stand to his left, along with his spectacles before turning off the nearby lamp. "It has been a dragger, hasn't it?"

The woman removed her eyeglasses and undid her tied hair, letting it flow over her shoulders and down her back. She turned off the TV with the remote. Together, they slid under the blankets like small children, turning to face each other.

"Good night, Dip…"

"Sweet dreams, Wendy…"

They shared a short, but sweetened kiss before lowering their heads onto their pillows.

Outside of the portal, Dipper and Wendy's jaws promptly dropped.

"That's…"

"…us?!"

They looked at Sere, who proudly replied. "About ten years in the future."

"Dang!" Wendy admired. "I look good! But what's with the glasses?"

"What can I say?" Sere said. "You guys read a lot more in the future."

"Kinda called it with still having the noodle arms." Dipper bemoaned. "I think it's funny I still wear the same type of pajamas."

"Hey, don't underestimate the oversized T-shirt and short combo." Wendy said. "It's a classic. Heck, it's why I wear the same thing. Even up there I do, too."

"But I keep my socks on…"

"And I don't…"

"Because I get too cold at night…"

"And I get way too hot…"

They shared a laugh. "It's nice to see some things stay the same."

"It's weird to see them in the same bed though…" Dipper commented, receiving another shove from Wendy.

"Dude, don't make it a big deal. I mean, you and I have been on my bed before."

"But not under the covers…"

"And I'm not touching that one with a ten-foot pole!"

A voice came out of the portal. "Wait a sec!"

The adult Dipper sat up in bed, tapping his night-light on. He looked down at his partner. "Did you remember to take your medicine?"

The adult Wendy's eyes shot open. "Crud!"

She reached into a half-open drawer in the nightstand, retrieving a small, red prescription bottle. Sitting upwards, Wendy struggled with the child-proof cap until a tiny white pill landed in her palm. She popped it into her mouth, taking a sip from her half-empty Pitt Cola to wash it down.

"You take pills with soda?" Dipper asked Wendy as they watched the window.

"I have to, man. If I try with water or milk, it makes me gag. You know; "a spoon full of sugar…" and all that stuff."

With the pill swallowed, Wendy leaned back on her pillow. "Thanks for the reminder, dork."

"Anytime, my lumberjack princess…"

"He does not call her that." Wendy complained to her host.

"Oh, he does." Sere chuckled. "He's the only one you'll let say that except for… "

"…my Dad…"

As the happy couple snuggled together, Dipper's curiosity was piqued. "What was that medicine Wendy had to take?"

"Call it a peace offering from Ford." Sere clarified. "When he learned about Wendy's predicament with Bill, he helped create a special dream suppressant to prevent the demigod from invading her mind ever again."

"Least it beats getting a hoof in the face over unicorn hair…"

"Why does that sound so familiar?" Dipper rubbed his chin. "It's like it's from a bad horror movie. Oh, I should know this!"

"So, that Wendy never ever dreams? Like at all?" Wendy pitied her older self. "Doesn't it drive her batty?"

"That's something that her Dipper asks her constantly." Sere revealed. "And that Wendy always says, "My life already kicks enough butt. I couldn't dream of any way to make it better than it already is.""

"That's…sorta sweet…"

"However…"

They noticed that after a few minutes, the adult Dipper began to stir. Not wishing to disturb his girlfriend, he slowly slithered out of her grasp and out of bed. With his unread novel in hand, he softly padded in stocking feet around the bed, to a small armchair tucked away in the corner.

Seated comfortably, Dipper resumed his nighttime reading, taking periodic glances at the redhead slumbering peacefully in the bed before him.

"What is he doing?" Wendy probed.

"Despite Ford's medication, Dipper insists on keeping a constant vigil over Wendy as she sleeps. It's his own way of ensuring that the dream monster will never torment his loved one ever again."

"And he does this – "

"Every night. That is, until…"

They saw the adult Wendy roll over in her bed. Still half-asleep, she patted the empty spot of the bed, where her boyfriend would normally be. With eyes opened, the ginger looked over to confirm her suspicions, turned back around to the corner of the room.

In his reading chair, she found Dipper fast asleep, his fingers wrapped around the armrests as if he was ready to leap into action at a moment's notice. The book had fallen from his lap to the floor beneath his seat.

Wendy could only shake her head. She crawled out of bed, making sure to untangle her legs from the sheets before lowering her feet to the floor. The drowsy redhead walked to the chair and helped her mate up out of his chair.

"Wha – " He was startled by her touch. "Wendy?"

"C'mon, sleepyhead." She mumbled, walking him over to the mattress. "Time to get your keister back in bed."

"But, Wendy…" Dipper slurred, unable to resist her guidance. "I have – I have to watch out – "

"And you did. You made sure there aren't any bad guys out to get me. Now, come back to bed."

As soon as they were both under their blankets, the dozy Dipper wrapped his arms around Wendy as her eyelids grew heavy again. She held the back of his head as she heard a muffle:

"Love…you, Wendy."

She beamed as sleep took her once more. Wendy leaned forward and kissed his birth-marked forehead.

"Love you, too…my brave little dork…"

As the picture faded away, Wendy went to address Sere, "I – I'm not sure what to say. I mean – "

She stopped, as the lanky high-schooler could make out the sound of hushed sobbing at her feet.

"Huh?"

She gazed down to find her Dipper Pines on his knees, his hands covering his face as he quietly wept.

"Oh, no…"

Keeping Sere at a distance, Wendy knelt down to Dipper's level and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, buddy…" The clerk gave another uneasy look to Sere before focusing solely on Dipper. "What's going on? You alright?"

With a loud, wet snort, Dipper withdrew his hands, wiping them across his shirt.

"You – You were right, you know. All of you were right…"

Wendy's brow rose. "What are you talking about, Dipper?"

He lowered his head further, "The Wendy at the lake? She was right in telling that Dipper that some stupid risks were worth taking. A-And you?"

"What about me?"

Dipper turned to face Wendy, his brown eyes wet and glistening. "And you…you were totally right about me. I would have thrown all of -" He threw his arms towards the empty portal with frustration. "all of THIS away in a second if – " His lips trembled as he merely thought about it. "Who knows what else I ruined by being – "

"Oh, Dipper…"

No longer able to fight against his feelings, Dipper sunk further to the ground as he cried aloud.

"You had every right to beat me with my hat-t-t-t-t!"

As Dipper hid his face behind his hands again, Wendy tried to calm him. "Dip, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to – I just got caught up in the moment." She took the trapper cap off her red crown and offered it to him. "Here. If it'll help, you can smack me around with that baby."

He peeked through his fingers. "That won't change anything! Besides, it'd be like hitting you with a pillow-w-w!"

Wendy knew this was serious. The last time; the only time she'd ever seen him like this was when she found him all alone at the Gravity Falls Mall during Weirdmageddon. She hoped she'd never have to find him in such a rough condition.

The troubled older teen looked to Sere, who simply shrugged in response. Wendy rolled her eyes and took a deep breath, as she looked deep down to find the right words to make things right.

Without warning, the cashier took hold of Dipper's shoulders and spun him towards her.

"Dipper, you need to listen to me…"

Hearing the firmness in her voice, Dipper slowly lowered his arms.

"Okay…" Wendy took another breath as she steadied her nerve. "We saw a ton of amazing things today – things I can't even begin to wrap my head around. A lot of it was cooler than I could ever imagine. And some parts – some things I can't unsee even when I close my eyes."

She noticed Dipper was staring directly at her. His tears had finally dried. Using a soft touch, Wendy held his chin in her hand, just as her counterpart did on the rooftop a dimension away.

"But when everything is said and done, I would never trade anything from our world for theirs."

"H-How can you say that, Wendy?" Dipper held her wrist in his grasp. "Everything here is so much – "

"But it's not, Dipper." Wendy contended. "And do you know why, kiddo? Because it's not us. It's like Sere keeps sayin' over and over. As neat as all of this was, I couldn't tell you how many times I wanted to rip my hair out at what those other Wendys were doing."

"R-Really?"

"It's the truth, Dip. I would have just talked to my Dipper instead of having Mabel come up with a scheme to turn me into cougar chow. And do you think I'd want to be eaten alive by a video game machine? Heck, I would have kicked your scrawny butt up and down that Arcade for letting me hang like that."

Dipper let a laugh escape, "Heh. You probably would…"

"And the whole thing with Robbie and the others at the Diner? They'd be eating their meals through straws if they tried pullin' that garbage. And the same goes for Gideon. No way in heck I'd let you confront that creep. I would have known his fat hide was up to something."

She stopped to wonder, poking her chin with her index finger. "Did I forget anything?"

Dipper nodded, "The tickle-torture one."

Wendy became even more wound up. "Oh, don't get me started on that one! If Stan even as much thought of a nasty trick like that, that old man would have to sleep with both eyes open!"

"Wendy…" Dipper laughed even harder at her lividness.

"I'm not foolin' around, Dipper. It's like I said before: that favorite recliner of his? Covered with thumbtacks! Suddenly, he can't find the remote for the TV? "Sorry, Stan, you must have misplaced it." His private bathroom's locked and the key's missing? "Don't know what to tell ya, man." That old coot would be the one lined up for the loony bin; not yours truly!"

"HAHAHA! Wendy, stop!"

She smirked, deciding to take things back to a serious note.

"But above all these things, I would never trade my Dipper for any other one in the entire multiverse. I mean, I couldn't even imagine where I'd be right now without him. Trapped in the Dusk2Dawn for eternity like Sere showed us? Stuck at my cousin's logging camp upstate because Gideon took over the Shack? Or holed-up at the Mall waiting for Weirdmageddon to end?"

"You really mean…" Dipper didn't realize how much of a difference he actually made in her life. "I really did all of that, didn't I?"

"Not just that." Wendy added. "There's the trust factor alone. I love my friends, Dip, but most of them are huge blabbermouths."

"Even Tambry?"

"Especially Tambry." Wendy scoffed. "You never ratted me out to your Uncle about the secret spot on the roof. You didn't tell anyone about my pic in my wallet, or how I used to look when I was your age. There's a reason I take you with me over anyone else for all of the pranks and stunts I pull. Or why you're the only person I can watch my awful B-Movies with; because you'll laugh with me and not at me for doing so. And – "

Dipper noticed a sense of hesitation with Wendy's pause. "And – "

Wendy waved for him to come closer with her fingers. Dipper drew nearer as the redhead took hold and whispered in his ear:

"And there's a reason you're the only person I trust enough to walk around without my boots on…"

Dipper pulled back and upon understanding the hidden meaning in Wendy's secret, gasped aloud. She held a finger over her lips. "Shh! That's sensitive information you have there. And if you were to ever betray such a thing, chances are you'd end up with a kick in the mouth."

The sleuth chortled, promising his silence by motioning zipping his lips shut and throwing away the key. Wendy laughed as well, swooping in for another embrace. "That's my boy…"

Sere finally spoke up. "Y'know, you guys don't have to whisper. I know the majority of your secrets already."

Wendy flicked a wad of hair from her face. "Way to ruin the moment, Sere."

Dipper held on to Wendy's hands over him. "For what it's worth, I'd never trade you for any of those other Wendys either."

"Well, I would hope not." She kidded. "Why, with dealing with switching Wendys around, the red tape alone would drive you bonkers."

"Man, Wendy." Dipper cleared his eyes further. "You make it sound like someone's trading in a car or something."

Wendy fell back on the balls of her feet. "You hear that, Sere? That's why I love hanging out with him. The maturity!" She helped Dipper back up. "Let me tell you something, Dip. There are boys older than you that believe girls are nothing more than exactly that."

"That's – "

An ear-splitting screech filled the astral plane as the invisible floor beneath their feet quaked violently. Dipper and Wendy held on to each other for support. For some strange reason, Sere seemed unaffected by the tremors.

"What's happening?"

Sere looked at her watch, "And we've arrived…just…about…now."

The friends were jolted forward one last time before the universe came to a halt.

"Are – Are we home?" Wendy asked.

"Just about." Sere waved to her guests. "C'mon, guys. Follow me back."

Wendy and Dipper trailed behind their host, as they walked back the way they came.

"Whoa…" Dipper looked over the countless portals as he passed. "I can't believe we passed through all of these worlds."

"Well, I can." Wendy stopped for a second to wince. "My dogs are barkin' up a storm."

"YAH!"

"AH!"

*CRASH!*

One of the portals gave off the sounds of a kung-fu movie. Body blows rang out from the window, attracting Dipper's attention. He stopped to peer inside, marveled by all of the action occurring within.

"Uh oh!" Wendy said, as she and Sere stopped. "Looks like we lost someone back there."

As Dipper became mesmerized by the sight, Wendy and Sere approached him from both sides. Inside of the gateway, they found that world's Dipper and Wendy standing back-to-back inside of an abandoned building.

"That's the old lumbermill at the edge of town!" Wendy recognized. "Dad showed me around that place a ton of times when I was a little kid."

The duo found themselves surrounded by a group of teenage boys ranging in age and cliques. Some were dressed as jocks and others as preppies. Some of the guys were older than Wendy and some were as young as Dipper.

"Who are they?" The Dipper at the portal asked. "And what do they want with us?"

"I dunno." Wendy admitted. "But something about those jerks looks awfully familiar."

"Ooh!" Sere said. "Now, this story is unique among the others you two watched. For you see, this world is linked with all of the other tales you have witnessed so far."

"You're saying that in this dimension, those poor dopes experienced all of the crazy stuff that we've seen in the bubbles?" Wendy began to namedrop. "The Hero thing, The Arcade thing; even…that other thing I don't like talking about?"

"You betcha!"

"But that's impossible, right?" Dipper said. "I mean, how was there enough time to…"

"They had a busy schedule this summer." Sere answered. "Just like how you haven't really had an uneventful day in the last three months."

"Hmm…good point."

"This event takes place six months in the future." Sere started to narrate. "Dipper is lured back to Gravity Falls to help Wendy confront an evil gang made up of her ex-boyfriends who want – "

Wendy's eyes promptly lit up. "Oh, no, no, no, no, no! We are so not going down that road! Let's go, kid…"

"But, Wendy." Dipper protested. "I – HEY!"

The infuriated lumberjane pushed her pal away from the embarrassing sight with both hands. Dipper tried to drag his heels into the floor, but he was no match was his crush's might.

"But, wait! I didn't even see Robbie there!"

"Robbie's fine." Wendy seethed through her teeth. "He sends his love."

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather see how the story ends?" Sere asked.

"Would I rather?" Wendy came to a stop. "I'd rather work double-overtime for Mr. Pines with no extra pay! I'd rather be strapped into the worse tickle-torture machine science could muster up! I'd rather Bill Cipher turn me back into a carpet and throw me in the wash at double-spin-cycle with extra soap!"

"So, I'll take that as a hard "no…" Sere shrugged off, following the co-workers along.

As Wendy continued to force Dipper down the hall, the sound of joined laughter made her look left. Inside of the nearest portal, she found another version of herself sitting in a booth back at Greasy's Diner. On the other side of the stall, an unfamiliar boy joined in on sharing her favorite treat, an extra-large platter of chili cheese fries with extra chili.

With his short-cut blue hair tucked beneath a dark beanie, the gray-flannelled-dressed teenager reached across the table to snag a French fry, barely striking the meal with the spiky black bracelet on his hand. He went to take a bite, only to launch over and poke Wendy's nose with the fry, marking it with cheese and chili.

Now challenged, Wendy returned the favor, snatching a coated fry and launching it at the stranger's forehead with a splat. Within seconds, they partook in a mini-food fight set within the borders of the booth, their mirth attracting all eyes in the Diner on them.

"Who is that?" Dipper wondered. "I've never seen him in town before."

"I'm not sure." Wendy said. "But whoever he is, he's kinda cute."

The pangs of jealously quickly stung Dipper. "Hey Sere? I thought all these windows were about Wendy and me. So, who's this bozo?"

Sere walked up to confirm his identity. She chuckled at the sight of the newcomer.

"You really don't know, do you?"

For some reason, Wendy couldn't take her eyes off the hipster-looking boy. There was something off about him; something that staring her right in the face, but she couldn't figure out what.

After a moment to reflect, Wendy took a glance down at the confused Dipper and back, only to gasp aloud. She covered her mouth with both hands, instantly regretting the compliment she paid the moment before.

"Wendy?" Dipper shook her arm. "Wendy, are you okay? What's wrong?"

"Dipper…" She managed to choke out. "I – I think I know who that is…"

From behind them, Sere started to nod. This only made Dipper more anxious. "Who is that, Wendy? Who?!"

"Dipper…that's you."

"What?!" Dipper hurried to the portal's edge, examining his other self from head to toe. "There's no – how could – how do you know, Wendy?"

"Because, Dip," Wendy prided. "I'd know you anywhere, no matter how you looked or acted."

As they shared a warm beam, Sere stepped up to provide the missing parts. "That's kinda what he was hoping for. That Dipper is a time-traveler from a reality where Wendy dies protecting her Dipper from a revival of the Blind Eye Society – "

"Time out!" Wendy crossed her hands. "I actually die?"

"And what Blind Eye Society?" Dipper's voice cracked. "We took care of them at the Museum!"

"Not all of them, I'm afraid." Sere said. "The horrific event scars Dipper for life, the layers of survivor's guilt and shame sitting upon his mind prompting him to form a several-year-plan to right this terrible wrong. Now, a young adult in his upper-teens, Dipper stalks and captures the time traveler, Blendin Blandin, forcing him to participate into a Globnar contest for a chance at a time wish."

"And he wishes Wendy back to life?" Dipper guessed.

"No, this Dipper is more world-weary. The way he figures it, if he wishes Wendy out of danger's way, she'll end up dead a second later. He doesn't want to leave

anything to chance."

"So, what does he do?"

"He wishes to travel back in time to the point before his younger self was captured by the Blind Eye. Using a disguise similar to how Wendy's friends look, he calls himself "Ash," and – "

"Just a sec." Dipper interrupted. "A time-traveler named Ash? You mean, like – "

"That's right." Sere confirmed. "Named for "the B-movie king" himself."

"Groovy…"

"Like I was saying," Sere continued. "Ash uses his training in electronics to pose as an apprentice repairman. He meets Wendy while repairing all of the damage that was caused when the gaming characters escaped, and – "

"Wait, Sere." Wendy said. "This place runs in the same…uh…timeline as that of that killer arcade nonsense?"

"You got it! Anyways, Ash and Wendy hit it off instantly. To her, he seems like an old friend who makes her feel comfortable in her own skin."

"Imagine that." Wendy gave her Dipper a love tap for good measure.

"Together, they are able to stop the original kidnapping that leads to Wendy's cruel fate. But afterwards, Ash is left baffled. He still exists in their reality. This makes him believe that Wendy is still in danger."

"The boy's gotta be more specific, Sere." Wendy bragged. "You can put me behind the wheel of any kind of moving vehicle and we can call that "danger.""

"Ash tries to convince Dipper to abandon his crusade against the Blind Eye to no prevail. It is during this that Dipper, Mabel, and Wendy realize the teen is not what he seems. As they go to confront him at the Arcade, the Blind Eye strikes, whisking Dipper away, and Ash is left to blame. Despite Ash's pleas, Wendy insists on leading the charge against the Blind Eye, just as she did in his timeline."

"But," Dipper paused. "Why doesn't he just tell Wendy the truth?"

"Because he's afraid that she'll get hurt again." Sere said. "No matter how much or how hard Wendy chews him a new one, Ash refuses to reveal the truth even if it means that he or his younger self would perish as an end result. He would rather that than to see Wendy murdered for a second time."

"That's…" A weary Wendy rubbed her throbbing temples. "That's way deeper than I'd thought it be, Sere."

"Wendy and the rest of the Mystery Shack gang are able to fend off the Blind Eye and save Dipper, but as they go to escape, Wendy and Dipper are separated from the rest of the team, just as what happened in Ash's timeline. Once more, they are cornered by the Blind Eye as Ash arrives on the scene and takes the bullet for Wendy.

"Yeesh!"

"With his goal ultimately fulfilled, Ash begins to flux out of reality. As a baffled Wendy tends to his wounds, she notices Dipper's birthmark on his forehead and realizes the truth. Ash begs for her forgiveness, explaining that his sorrow and pain was just too great to leave things be. He asks for her help, that she keep the truth from her Dipper in fears that he'll try to change the timeline. A reluctant Wendy agrees, sealing their promise with a goodbye kiss as Ash dissolves away in her arms."

"Geez…" Wendy had to step back from the window. "I just – not gonna lie, Sere, at first, I thought the story was gonna be sorta creepy, er – no offense, Dip."

The boy frowned.

"But in the end, it was just…sad."

"Heck," Dipper rubbed his itchy elbow. "I'm more surprised that it's the one instance that time travel didn't backfire on us."

"Guess the whole "save Wendy's life" didn't faze you, eh?" Wendy teased.

To her surprise, Dipper answered in a calmed state. "Well, no. Because if anything, that would be a given. I wouldn't be able to rest until I knew you were alive and well."

"Sounds like a plan, kid. But a small favor: if ever the case, no ghosts or zombie spells, please. I wouldn't eat raw flesh for my dad during his hunting trips; I'm sure as not doing so for you. Deal?"

Dipper chuckled, "It's a deal."

The friends took one last look at the portal, as Ash and Wendy left the ruined booth arm-in-arm , leaving behind a diner full of dismayed staff and patrons.

"Still, it is nice to see, right?"

"Yeah," Dipper said. "For everything that happened, they did manage to make up some of that lost time together."

Wendy spun around, "Maybe we should – " She froze in mid-step, "WHOA!"

"Wendy, wha – " Dipper followed along with her. "Wow…"

Across the aisle, they could see a portal much larger than anything they had come across so far. Unlike the other dimensions, the world inside appeared to be straight out of a cartoon. They found Dipper and a strange brunette girl sitting together on top of a bed in a room that was covered with a reddish-pink shade.

They were surrounded by fluffy pillows as the sun's light was filtered by an old, torn drape hanging in the window. A splintered acoustic guitar sat at the foot of the bed, while a dreamcatcher was set above the bedpost.

For some reason, the Dipper inside the portal was a bit slimmer and appeared more athletic than his counterparts. Longer, curlier brown hair stuck out of his blue and white cap. His nose was no longer a bright red. The boy sported a red and white shirt instead of his usual blue vest and orange tee combo.

"I…" Dipper blinked again. "I look so…different."

"Yep." Wendy said. "There's not an ounce of baby fat to be found on that kid."

"WENDY!"

The mischievous redhead laughed. "But then, who's the girl?"

The teenager sitting in front of Dipper was nearly double his size. A gray and white snow beanie with matching pom covered her long brown hair. Her face was long and drawn out with a sharpened chin. A golden locket was wrapped around her neck.

Despite it being blistering hot outside, the young woman donned a heavy green sweater with yellow tips. Dark green tights led into polished hot pink boots.

With her brown eyes focused on Dipper, their fingers met on the space between them, a pile of papers, as the pre-teen blushed with embarrassment.

However, from his vintage point outside the portal, Dipper recognized the comforter beneath them: a magenta spread littered with pine-tree emblems.

"Wendy," he said. "That brown-haired girl? That's supposed to be you."

"What?!" Wendy stormed up to the portal and turned around. "Look at that chick, Dipper, and then, look at me!" She moved her arms up and down, highlighting the whole of her gangly body. "You're telling me that this looks like that?!"

"Of course not, but Wendy, that's your bedroom." Dipper pointed out. "Everything's different colors, and some things got moved around, but we are on your bed. Who else would I be there with?"

"But – But – " Wendy took another disbelieving glance at her vastly different doppelganger. "But, that hair? And that ugly sweater? You couldn't even wear that ironically at Christmas, man! And those boots? They're the worst of all! You wouldn't catch me dead in anything hot pink!"

"Not to mention the chin." Dipper joked. "You'd be able to sharpen your axes on that thing!"

*TWHACK!*

"Ahh!" Dipper waggled his arm to regain feeling in the spot Wendy slugged him one. "So, you can make fun of my baby fat, but I can't – " He stopped himself. "I know, I know. Double standard."

"In this universe," Sere introduced. "Wendy is not the daughter of the local lumberjack, but a quiet loner with a taste for the mystical arts. Before Dipper even meets her, she is well aware of the strange happenings in Gravity Falls. Together, though Dipper's researching, the two become friends and kindred spirits, finding solace in each other where others would simply ignore them."

Wendy and Dipper stepped forward towards the portal.

"They're totally different from us…" Wendy said.

"And yet, they're still the same." Dipper noted.

"And like all the others, no matter what…"

"They're always able to find each other…" The words lingered in Dipper's mind until at long last, he finally understood. "Wait!" He shouted, clapping his hands together. "I've got it! I've finally got it!"

Wendy shifted to the side, "What? What do you have, Dipper?"

"The answer!" He opened his arms towards the astral plane. "I understand the point of all this stuff!"

"I hope so." Wendy grew worried. "Because you're kinda wigging me out."

Dipper took Wendy's hand. "It's like what we said a second ago. All of these Dippers and Wendys are different in several ways, and yet, they always manage to find each other and create their own bond, rather it be platonic or romantic or whatever."

"Yeah, I got that so far…"

"But why, Wendy? What makes sure that all of these crazy situations and chance encounters happen to ensure that a Wendy and Dipper become linked in some fashion?"

Wendy searched her mind. "No clue, Sherlock."

He turned Wendy as he pointed towards a stunned Sere. "She does, Wendy. Serendipity is the thing that gives that extra push, rather it be good or bad, to help us out. She works it out so we can form that bond and make it grow on our own."

"But Dipper. That's insane! How can – I mean – "

"Think it over." Dipper persisted. "In the one story, Wendy suddenly gets her foot caught in the rope so that Dipper would have to come back and help her with the cougar. In the story about the arcade, that Dipper and Wendy are always able to help each other out of a jam even without the other person knowing! With the one story where Dipper lost his body, only Wendy could hear his voice from the spirit world. And even in the story where – " His expression soured briefly. "Sere made sure that Dipper found the Time Tape so that Bill could never hurt Wendy again."

"It's not about making things perfect." Wendy concluded. "It's about making them okay." She thought for a moment. "Wait. All of the stories? Even the tickling one?"

Sere approached her. "At the end of the story, where Wendy and Dipper have the Shack to themselves, and Wendy pretends to be caught in the display, she slaps a pair of trick handcuffs on her wrists to add to her story. The only problem is that she puts them on backwards, so when Dipper initially refuses to help her out, Wendy discovers that she no longer has the slack to let herself out of the trap nor is able to remove the cuffs."

"Meaning," Wendy finished. "If Dipper never came back for me, I would have been stuck in there until who knows when?"

Sere shook her head.

"Okay," Wendy took off her hat and fanned herself off with it. "I'm convinced."

"But why, Sere?" Dipper said. "Why go through all of this trouble?"

"It's just what I do." The modest guide spoke gently. "That's my purpose in the universe. I can't get to everybody, but I do what I can for those I can reach. And like I said before, in some cases, I do play favorites…"

"Well," Dipper took another step towards her. "In that case, I want to say, thank you. Thank you for always keeping an eye on Wendy and me. It's okay that things aren't perfect; it's more than enough that we're okay as it as."

"What he said." Wendy reclaimed Dipper's hand. "You have my thanks, too, Sere. For me and for the little guy."

"Wow…" The mystic was astounded by their gesture. "I don't think anyone's told me thanks before. I appreciate it, guys. I really do…"

The sound of giggling made Wendy and Dipper turn back towards the cartoon portal. As they watched their alter-egos enjoy each other's company, Sere snuck up from behind and hugged her guests, placing a hand on their shoulders.

"Now that your trip through time and space is almost over," she said. "Tell me; do you both feel better about this whole "summer is over" thing?"

"A ton better."

"Definitely…"

"That's great…" Unware to the teens, a shade of guilt spread across Sere's face. "With that said, there's one last tiny-teeny-weeny thing that we have to take care of before you two go home…"

"Sure, Sere."

"Whatcha need, girl?"

"NERVE PINCH!"

Before Dipper and Wendy knew it, the small host pinched a pressure point between their necks and shoulders. Their eyes rolled into the back of their heads as the friends came crashing down on top of one another at Sere's sneakered feet.

"I'm glad I made you guys feel better. " Sere expressed her regret to the unconscious forms. "I really am. And I'm sorry about the sneak attack. But I told you earlier: there are certain things that mortals should not know about their own fates. But don't you worry. Ol' Sere will make everything alright, and you'll be back home before you know it."

The guide reached down for Wendy and Dipper and hesitated, finding that even after the sudden blow, they still held each other's hand in a near death-grip.

"That's so…" Sere wiped her eye from behind her glasses. Not wanting to disturb the sign of shared affection, the tiny girl took hold of her guests' free arms, carefully dragging them down the hall at a steady pace using near-superhuman strength.

"That's the kind of thing I was talking about, guys. That's why you're my favorites…"

"JAH!"

Dipper raised his head with a jolt. His cap lied on the Gift Shop's counter. The sun's rays caressed his sweaty face from the window to his left. He could hear the rolling summer breeze against the worn-down door leading outside.

"GAH!"

He looked ahead to see Wendy rebounding up from her stool in a huff. Her red hair was tangled across her face and forehead. Her brown trapper hat rested next to Dipper's on the splintered desk. She smacked her dry lips as she found Dipper in the seat on the other side of the counter.

"D-Dipper?"

He offered a wave, "Hey…"

"Oh…" She reached for her cap and placed it back on her head. "What – What happened?"

"I think…" He followed her example and tucked his messy hair under his trucker hat. "I think we fell asleep…"

Wendy let out a disappointed groan, "Well, there goes that "one last adventure" biz."

"Yeah, but it was such a weird dream, Wendy." Dipper told her. "You were there, and we were somewhere far away – "

"Hey, yeah!" Wendy recalled. "It was like we were flying through outer space or something…"

"And we weren't alone. There was another girl there, and – "

"Another girl?" Wendy questioned. "You had a dream about me – and another girl?" She flashed a smile, "My, aren't we growing up fast, Dipper Pines?"

"Wendy – "

"It better not be than spiffy blonde snob that was here giving you the goo-goo eyes the other day!"

"Wendy…" Dipper couldn't help but laugh at her over-the-top expression.

"I'm serious, buddy. If I hear that kid so much as utter the word, "Dipperkins" in my presence, she's going in the Bottomless Pit. First class! My treat!"

"Wendy, it's not like that –"

"I know. I'm just teasing ya." Wendy turned serious. "If it's anything like my dream, there was a hipster girl there with framed glasses."

"Yeah! But I can't remember what we were doing…"

"Me, neither. It's like a total blur to me, man."

Dipper took a moment to reflect. "But you wanna know something weird, Wendy? I…feel better about everything…"

"That's so strange. That's exactly what I was thinking." Wendy admitted. "It's almost like a small voice inside is telling me that it's going to be all right…"

*HONK!* *HONK!*

"Kids!" The gruff, stern voice of Grunkle Stan blared from outside. "Get your keisters out here pronto! Or else, you're going to miss the bus home!"

"Oh, give 'em a minute, Grunkle Stan." They could hear Mabel's voice besides him. "Dipper's alone in there with Wendy, and they're probably…" Her pitch turned into unintelligible whispers.

"I don't care what they're doing!" The old man bellowed once more. "All I know is that if that little egghead's not out here in exactly two minutes, I'm sending him back home to California in a crate! With no air holes!"

Wendy let out a sighing laugh as she stepped off her stool. "I think that's our cue…"

Dipper hopped down from his seat. "I think so, too…"

Together, they walked side-by-side to the Gift Shop's exit. Dipper opened the door and held it open for Wendy as she hit the switch for the overhead lights.

"After you, Miss Corduroy."

"Thank you, Mr. Pines."

As Wendy walked through the doorway, Dipper paused to take one last look at the empty Gift Shop where he spent countless summer days and night alongside his crush. A warm hand on his shoulder brought him back to reality.

"Hey…"

Dipper gazed up to see Wendy beaming down at him, her emerald eyes filled with an unknown hope.

"You know…this isn't the end, right? This isn't good-bye…"

He returned her smile, "I know. It's never good-bye…"

Dipper glanced back at the Gift Shop; at their counter.

"It's just "so long for now…""

And with Wendy's hand against his neck, Dipper closed the door to the Mystery Shack, illuminated now by the sun's rays alone, as they headed into the unknown with a silent, but definite…

*CLICK!*

(February 7, 2020 – December 20, 2020)

Thank you to anyone who has read this story as well as all of my others. They would not exist in this world if not your support, your encouragement, and your love. I can only wish and hope that you all have enjoyed these small pieces of fiction as much as I did making them for you.

As Dipper and Wendy said themselves: it is never good-bye, but merely, so long for now.

-ddp456