Preston made the executive decision to leave the mansion before the kids arrived back at the ground floor, and hoped to do so unnoticed. He was feeling particularly over-challenged in the Pines' company, and was fairly sure his continued presence was… providing little comfort to his daughter.

It was probably the first time in history that a Northwest had realised they'd outstayed their welcome.

"Leavin' so soon, slick?" Stan's voice pierced the darkness with its usual lack of subtlety.

Preston froze in place just as he was straddling the broken window frame. "Y-yes, well, I figured-"

Stan's meaty hand gripped his shoulder. The aging millionaire blinked, but decided not to insist he remove it. It was clear the old man in the fez had something to say that was important.

After the night his family's actions had given them, even Preston's corrupt mind figured that Stanley deserved the time of day. Even if he was fairly sure the old criminal had very little of value on his mind.

The last thing he expected was an attempt at understanding.

"Look, Preston, I get that you'd prefer Blondie to be in company with other rich kids. Alright?"

The magnate rolled his shoulders. "Well, I-"

"I get it. I wasn't entirely pleased with Dipper hanging out with her either." Stan continued. "But these kids, they uh… they're happy together. They like eachother. They support eachother. An' I think that's something we've gotta be pleased for.."

"Pines, I don't know what manipulation you're trying-"

"Preston, I'm being serious. I know this has prolly been a lot to unpack tonight for you and her. I get it. But can ya really say we're the bad ones? Can ya really say we're doing a crummy job?"

There was a pause. Preston wordlessly wrote his phone number down on a slip of fine, silken paper and tucked it into Stan's chest pocket.

"...Look after her, Stanley. And keep me informed, won't you?"

The multimillionaire refused to make eye contact with the old man - while Stan was no supreme intellect, he was more than used to making deals - and more than competent enough to understand what Preston was getting at. He adjusted his fez and smiled, giving the Northwest patriarch a wink and a shot with a finger gun.

"You got it, chief."

"And after summer, you have to let me know who's taking charge. I won't intrude, but I do want to keep up her schooling at least ." Preston added. "If I have to help them financially, so be it. But you'd better make sure she's damned well happy."

"If we can't do it, pal, you can get her back whenever you want."

"It's a gentleman's agreement." Preston nodded, offering his hand.

"I don't think any of us are gentlemen here." Stan laughed as he clasped his hand. "But sure. No strings attached."

"Thank you, Stanley." Preston smiled as he climbed through the window. "But do me a favour, ey?"

"Huh?"

"If the boy's going to be in public with my daughter, at least make him shower a bit more often."

"I'm a Grunkle, not a miracle worker. HA!"

Preston gave his ancestral home another proud, loving glance, before climbing out through the broken window and going back home, content that - for the first time in his life, he might have actually brought some good to the world. At least, to the world that mattered most - his daughter's.

It was a stirring feeling of clarity. Even if he was already thinking about how to profit from the back of a new, more positive persona.

Stan watched proudly, his hands on his hips, as his brother stepped alongside. "That guy's gonna be an evil jerk again the moment he gets back home."

"Agreed." Ford chuckled. "But you handled it well, Stanley. Hopefully, this arrangement will last."

"Still need to think about after Summer, Sixer."

"Not our decision, Stanley. For now, I think we need to give those kids a wide berth. I don't think even we could have expected what's gone on in this building."

"No kiddin'. Do you think Cipher's actually kicked it?"

"I'd like to think so." Ford sighed, plunging his hands into his pockets. "I'd be curious as to what actually happened to his arms. I've not seen anything like that before."

Stan shrugged and patted his brother's shoulder. "Must be a good thing, though. Right?"

A knock at the door startled the two old men. They shared a glance and gingerly approached it.

"That depends. What if the force that hit him so hard is even more chaotic?" Ford continued. "Even more terrifying? Even more capable of bringing disaster?"

They fiddled with the door's elegant brass handle and slowly pulled it open, so they could peer out over the battered El Diablo that sat astray the building's elegant stucco doorsteps. Perhaps it was the tension in Ford's words, or his potential alluding to a greater doomsday on the horizon - but they found themselves somewhat fearful of what may lurk beyond.

Perhaps it was the feds, following the doubtless countless reports of chaos upon Northwest hilltop.

Perhaps it was Fiddleford, rightfully wondering why there was a car jammed into the building's facade.

Perhaps it was their next adversary. Something so haunting, so terrifying, so disastrously powerful that it had successfully removed Bill Cipher's very limbs.

What monster could have hurt one of the universe's most powerful entities so heavily?

There stood Mabel and Kevin, leaning on axes atop the battered automobile, holding a tiny glass jar triumphantly like a trophy. Inside, there was the unmistakable shape of a cracked limestone thumb.

Ford grinned from ear to ear. "I might have guessed. I told you both to stay out of trouble."

"She's a Pines." Stan grinned, picking her up and perching her on his shoulder. "Good luck with that, right sweetie?"

"Right!" Mabel beamed proudly.

Kevin stood there awkwardly and smiled at the Grunkles. He was still - really - not meant to be with Mabel at all, especially not at this time. He was just hoping they wouldn't tell his Dad.

"Welcome to the family, kid." Stanley beamed. "Ya did good."

Ford cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses. "Well, you certainly know how to make an impression…"

"Especially on Bill's stupid hands!" Mabel laughed excitedly. "What happened while we were gone?"

"Nothing too exciting." Ford smiled.

"Promise?"

"Well, I-"

The family was interrupted by the arrival of the elevator.

Dipper chuckled dumbly as he staggered out, smothered in rich hues of ruby red that blended almost perfectly with his complexion.

"This stuff is meant to be smear proof." Pacifica grinned smugly, walking out after him. "Can you believe that?"

Mabel tried not to laugh. "You should probably get a refund, girl."

"I know, right?" the blonde smiled, wrapping an arm around her bewildered boyfriend. "I think Dipper likes it otherwise, though. What did we miss?"

Stan and Ford glanced at each other, then the stone thumb in the jar, then the broken window, then the power couple who had apparently spent the entire ten minute elevator trip testing lipstick.

"I think we're prolly gonna need a bit of a catch up. Who wants breakfast?"

"Sounds good." Ford laughed. "After that I'm going to need to set up a dating profile or something. This is getting ridiculous."

"Pretty sure everything we've done this summer is ridiculous." Pacifica sighed, adjusting her hair. "I could murder for a cup of coffee."

"You'll get a babyccino and like it." Ford replied sternly as the family made their way to the mansion's kitchen. "Of course, that's if McGucket's diet has expanded to involve more than bacon."

So ended one of the most chaotic nights of their lives. Not with a bang, nor a whimper, but with bacon and pancakes.