The mansion's return to normality was a welcome relief to a family who had to hand the keys back at some point. However, it was now a damned sight more awkward to be there now that they had - seemingly - reached the natural conclusion of their little adventure.

It didn't take very long to extinguish the flames. The underground lair's almost constant, amphibious atmosphere made it difficult for a fire to burn. It was far from exciting - more akin to cleaning a floor than it was to fighting back an inferno.

Pacifica never thought she'd get bored stopping a fire, but here it was, plain as day. Idly splashing old lumps of brick, stone, tapestry and iron with water from a hosepipe as if she was watering a rose garden.

Her head was still swimming with what she'd learned. The fact her father had said sorry. The fact she and Dipper had taken all of this on together, just as she had wanted. The fact Dipper had kept his word - and trusted her.

Part of her couldn't help but notice that, to an extent, her father had voiced a certain approval of them. After all, he hadn't enforced the Marius stuff. Since the OregCo crap, he'd let them be.

Maybe, to an extent, Preston has realised his daughter was happy with the scrappy, dorky little hero.

Maybe. Just maybe.

Just as well. She kind of couldn't stand Marius. She cringed at the thought of being with that long haired, handsome little creep with the beauty mark on his cheek and the perfect hair who smelt like freshly cut maple wood- If she kept saying that it might convince even her subconscious. Right?

She looked at Dipper and couldn't help but smile. Yeah. Right. She had made her choice and that worked fine for her. The two stepped a little closer, linked hands and shared a nervous, shaky, albeit sincere kiss.

Pacifica giggled and rested her head on Dipper's shoulder. She was tired. Dead tired. But she felt… Strangely content. Like she was at peace.

At least until the PTSD hit. She'd make sure Preston would pay for the damned therapy bills.

They left the scalded cathedral quietly, Pacifica and Dipper glancing up as that giant tapestry finally rescinded into nothing more than smouldering ropes and wire, hanging from the ceiling.

It was a pretty pertinent spot of symbolism. Sort of a personal triumph.

With only two people barely fitting in the old elevator, it was naturally a very slow, awkward departure, with the Grunkles, Preston, Pacifica and Dipper all travelling in separate journeys respectively.

It was the Grunkles who went first. They perhaps figured that Pacifica might need more time alone with her estranged father. Realistically, it was a pretty damned dumb and tone-deaf decision.

The two kids and the greying multimillionaire stood together in stony silence as they waited for the cage to return to them. The humming of the old lanterns and shallow dripping of moisture was the only soundtrack to the moment, save the rumbling of the ancient cogs, belts and weights that operated the vintage cage-lift.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Pacifica thought she was going to go insane if it kept being so damned quiet. She was almost relieved when her dad opened his oblivious, arrogant mouth.

"This was a... well, another invention of the Wentworths." Preston explained as it clattered back down to meet them. He seemed almost proud in his tone, which would have been comical had the reality not been made clear. "Ingenious, really. Befitting of the rest of the mansion."

"Especially considering he didn't even know he was doing it." Dipper mumbled bitterly.

Preston twitched. "Yes.. ahm. Well. I Suppose-"

The old metal elevator car reached the bottom with a hollow clunk, the iron door swinging open to welcome its next recipient. Preston didn't bother finishing his sentence. He simply stepped on board, nodded to the two kids and ascended back to the surface without another word.

Pacifica and Dipper exchanged a warm smile as they spent their last few minutes under the mansion together, their hands clasped firmly. While it had undoubtedly been a traumatic experience, they both felt… well, better for it.

Not just for having destroyed another of Bill's entrances into the human world, nor simply for sending the scourge that was Cankerblight away in the same manner. Instead, they simply felt closer. More understanding towards eachother and - perhaps crucially - had learnt once again how much their little partnership could be trusted.

They had, after all, effectively done it together. This time, with Pacifica's personal circumstances firmly on centre stage.

"Do you think you'll be okay?" Dipper ventured.

"I think I'll be fine, Dip." She smiled and tapped his nose. "This needed to happen sooner or later."

Dipper could tell it was a show of bravery rather than a firm self belief. He decided it best not to pursue it for now. Instead, he looked around and gesticulated vaguely. "Well, what should we do after all this?"

"Realistically? We have to tell Toby and Susan. They deserve to know. Especially if Curzon's curses and stuff are why they're both so… y'know."

"Bonkers?"

Pacifica paused as she thought it over, before nodding in agreement with some marked enthusiasm. That seemed like a fitting weird. "Yeah. Yeah, bonkers."

"Yeah. I guess. But I kinda meant… right now. Y'know?" Dipper smiled and twisted his foot awkwardly. "Like, me and you?"

The elevator reached the bottom with a scraping clank, and the two squeezed in together. Pacifica gave a broad, cheeky grin and tapped her boyfriend's nose with her usual attitude.

"Guess we'll find out." she beamed, rifling through her pockets.

"What? What are you hiding in there?"

"New lipstick." she winked as she applied it. "Figure it's time to test it out. Don't you think?"

The elevator began its juddering ascent - as Pacifica threw her arms around her boyfriend, and locked lips with him happily. They suddenly found themselves remarkably grateful for the low speed of the elevator's shuddering climb towards the surface world.

For at least that ten or so minutes, nothing else mattered. They forgot practically everything else in their minds. Everything else of the evening. It was just Pacifica and Dipper - and, right now, that was exactly what they wanted.