So in the last chapter Dipper and Mabel's parents arrived ready to take them home. What will happen?
Thank you to Energy witch, Abigail Rose V, Fantasy Fan 223, Quickest Secret, PIZZA564738, BrentFox99, and FrostbittenBear for your reviews on the last chapter.
Both sets of twins and Soos stood in silent surprise at Daniel and Madison's words. Mabel looked over at her brother, up at her grunkles, then back to her parents; surely this was some horrible nightmare, and she'd wake any moment in her bed in the Mystery Shack attic.
Were the clock on the wall not damaged in the recent raid it would have announced passing time with a steady ticking. No one spoke for a few seconds more until the female twin could no longer handle the silence.
"Mom, Dad, it...it was just a misunderstanding," Mabel said. She looked at the others in the room. "There's-there's no need to."
Daniel lifted his hand and spoke silencing his daughter's words, "Mabel, your mother and I already made this decision."
"Surely you don't need to be hasty," Ford said.
"I agree, come on inside and let's talk this over," Stan added. "You two been drivin' all day, you can make this decision when you rested up."
"We saw a motel back in town," Madison said and pointed her thumb towards the door.
"Right, that man will overcharge you for the roaches," Stan replied. He slipped the jackets off of both of his relatives arms and hung them by the door.
Daniel and Madison exchanged glances. Both had exhausted themselves by both driving and worry, and realized they hadn't the energy to fight with Stan.
"Soos, go tell Blondie to move to the couch tonight," Stan whispered to the handyman.
"He, uh, he's not gonna like that, Mr. Pines," Soos said while twiddling his thumbs.
"I don't really care," Stan snorted. He put his arms around his nephew and niece-in-law's shoulders then led them further into the shack.
Madison's eyes widened at the broken exhibits and furniture. Daniel noticed the gaping hole once masked by the vending machine. A spider crawled up the wall causing the woman to shriek and grasp hold of her husband's arm.
Stan led them to the living room that for the most part had been cleaned up. Fiddleford sat in a chair strumming the banjo. He greeted the guests who gave a nervous laugh then Stan forced them down onto the folding chairs.
"Soos is gettin' the guest room set up for ya," Stan said.
"Really, it's kind of you to put us up," Madison said.
"Uncle Stan, please, we appreciate you taking care of Mabel and Mason," Daniel added. "I know they can be a handful, especially Mabel."
The younger set of twins sat down on the carpet.
Stan waved dismissively. "No trouble at all, they give this boring place some excitement."
"Yes, boring," Madison said as she spied a fragment of what was once police tape.
Dipper and Mabel noticed what caught their mother's eye. The girl brought her legs in and Dipper rubbed at his arm.
"I understand things look bad, but it was all a misunderstanding," said Ford.
"What even happened?" Daniel asked.
"A federal agent got ahold of my journal," Ford explained.
"Stories," Mabel interjected. "Grunkle Ford's been writing that nerdy science fiction stuff Dipper likes to read."
"Yeah," Stan said. He patted Mabel on the head. "And the governement agents thought it was real and seized the place."
Ford sent Stan a glare to which the latter shrugged with a smirk.
"Still I don't like the thought of the police raiding the place and taking my kids into custody," Madison argued. She smiled down at the teens. "I can't imagine how scared they must've been."
"Oh, that ain't nothin'," Fiddleford absently said while strumming. "You should see the kinds a things they run into on a daily basis."
The old man realized what he said too late and looked up from his instrument to see the twins' parents staring wide eyed. He then shrunk at the Pines brothers' glares. The parents then turned to Stan and Ford raising their brows for an explanation.
"The woods can be dangerous if you go out alone, but don't worry we do everything we can to keep the kids safe," Stan replied. He looked over at Ford who nodded. "They're in good hands."
Madison hummed.
"We really are, Mom, you just came by at a bad time," Mabel pleaded.
Dipper nodded in agreement.
"I assure you, you have nothing to worry about," Stan pressed.
Madison sighed and said, "You don't know how scared I was to get that call." Daniel put a hand on his wife's knee. She managed a smile despite the bloodshot eyes and heavy lids. "It's been a long drive, please tell me you have some sodapop in the fridge."
"Yeah, go help yourself," Stan said as he settled into the armchair.
Madison rose from his chair and made her way to the kitchen. Dishes from a few days ago still piled in the sink. She ran a hand over the counter to feel the collection of crumbs stick to her fingers. She glanced out the window and gasped at the sight of an opposum on the back porch.
The woman slowly backed away then turned to the refrigerator. She opened the door to be hit in the face with a stench of rotting food. With a hand over her mouth and nose Madison surveyed the cans of soda and beer on the top shelf. A near empty carton of orange juice sat on the bottom shelf along with a few slices of cheese, a half filled carton of eggs, and a container of lunch meat.
She opened the crisper only for the foul odor to grow. She wrinkled her nose at the molding cucumber out of its wrapping. The half head of lettuce wilted and the carrots started to brown. She slammed the crisper shut, grabbed two Pitt Colas off the shelf, then shut the door.
On the way back to the living room Madison picked up raised voices. She changed her direction and peered around the corner that led to Bill's room.
Through the cracked door she heard the room's occupant shouting at the handyman who did his best to keep his voice hushed. The door swung open nearly smacking Madison in the face. She dropped the open can of soda on the floor, its contents splashed on her socks and shoes when it hit the floor.
Bill's eyes met with Madison's.
"Hey, you're Pinetree and Shooting Star's mother," Bill said.
"Oh, Bill, good to see you again," Madison said with a fake smile, although the tiredness still seeped into her voice.
"Stanny Boy is giving you my room for the night, so enjoy," Bill said. He patted Madison on the shoulder then stomped on into the kitchen.
Soos stood in the doorway. He gave an awkward laugh then said, "Just give me a sec to change the sheets and it'll be ready for you, Mrs. Pines."
"You're too kind...um, I'm sorry I forgot your name," Madison said.
"Soos," he replied and held out his hand. Madison shook.
"I tell you, your kids are two of the coolest people I ever met," Soos said with a laugh. "Everyone around here loves 'em."
"They seem to really love all of you," Madison returned.
Soos went back inside the room. Madison peeked inside and gasped at the mess within the four walls. Soos busied himself picking up Bill's discarded clothing. He threw them on the bed then stripped the linens from the mattress. Everything collected into a ball Soos turned and nearly gasped at the guest's presence.
"Bill, he uh, he's kind of a slob," Soos said. He looked over his shoulder at the trash that littered the floor. "Kind of ironic, it's the one place Mr. Pines don't make him clean."
Soos left the room with the ball of laundry in hand. Madison put her hand against the doorway then leaned in again. A plate with cookie crumbs sat near the pillow. Cans, plastic cups, papers, and candybar wrappers covered the wooden floor. She feared what insects nestled under the bed.
When she returned to the living room she found Daniel engaged in conversation with Stan and Fiddleford. Ford leaned against the wall, although he looked on the edge of drifting off. Before Daniel could speak his wife shook her head.
"Hey, kids, why don't you let us talk to your great-uncles for a moment," Daniel said. Mabel attempted to protest, but her dad lifted a brow which silenced her arguments at once.
The younger set of twins moved into the other room. Fiddleford jumped up from his seat. He thanked the group for hosting him and promised to call another time. Ford lifted a hand in a curt wave, but remained silent.
"Uncle Stan, I really appreciate you taking them in, and they love being here," Daniel began. "Really it's all they talked about since they came back from spring break."
"But I don't think this is the best environment for them," Madison interrupted.
"What're you saying?" Stan asked.
"I think it's in the best interest for the kids that they go back home tomorrow," Madison answered.
"At least for this summer," Daniel added.
"We'll see," Madison argued. She crossed her legs then locked eyes with Stan, daring him to question her judgment.
Ford sighed. "To be honest, I agree," he said. All eyes landed on the man standing by the wall. He rubbed his thumb and forefinger in between his eyes. "After all that's happened and..." he looked at Stan. "Other things." He held up his marked pinky and Stan instantly understood. "I think it's best for them that they go with their parents."
Stan recalled Handrina's warning. He sighed and hung his head. "You have a point," he said. He almost lost the kids last summer and this time they might not be as lucky.
"Really, you're sending us home?" Mabel exclaimed as she busted into the room. She, Dipper, and Fiddleford had been listening in from just outside.
Stan stood from the armchair. "Mabel, sweetie, it's for your own good," he said with a sad smile.
"How-how can you decide this without even consulting us?" Mabel cried. She looked around at the others in the room.
"Because you're children," Ford spoke. "It's our job to keep you safe, so I think it's best you go home, at least for the remainder of this summer."
"Grunkle Ford, how can you say that?" Mabel shouted. "After me and Dipper helped you out last year. If it weren't for us, this town-"
"Mabel," Dipper said in a low voice. His gaze on his shoes he continued, "Just let it go. Okay."
"Dipper," she gasped. "You should be on my side."
"Just let it go," he repeated then walked towards the kitchen.
Fiddleford reached out and gently took hold of Dipper's arm. "Kid, what's got you all down? You love this place more than anyone."
"I already caused enough damage for one summer," Dipper said so low Fiddleford's ears barely caught the words.
Bill entered the living room with a half empty bottle of whiskey in hand. The sight pulled Ford out of his exhausted daze. He tilted the bottle back, its liquid splashing against the glass as he downed half of its remaining contents in three large gulps. The blond groaned as it burned his esophagus.
"Ugh, that's disgusting," Bill commented. He tilted the bottle towards his mouth. "But it's good."
Ford hurried over to Bill and yanked the bottle from the smaller man's grasp.
"Are you seriously drinking on your antibiotics?" Ford scolded.
"Don't act like you suddenly care for me, you treacherous bastard, you don't give two sh-s about me," Bill snapped. He reached for the whiskey only for Ford to hold it out of his reach.
"I think you've had enough," Ford stated. He looked over his shoulder then whispered, "Now's not the time."
"Shove it, Sixer," Bill spat. "If I have to be on house arrest with your sorry ass, I should at least be allowed to drink my cosnciousness away." He reached for the alcohol a second time.
Mabel gasped while Stan shut his eyes and groaned.
The anger and fatigue built up inside of Ford. He hurried to the kitchen with a swearing Bill following after.
Ford stopped in front of the sink. The bottle upside down he watched the liquor pour down the drain much to Bill's protests. Bill reached across the sink to grab the bottle and Ford let it fall in the sink where it shattered on contact.
Ford gripped the edge of the sink. He felt Bill's glare on his back.
"I suggest you go to bed and sleep it off," Ford said trying to calm his boiling blood.
"Screw you, Sixer," Bill spat.
Ford turned to face his ex only to see Dipper seated at the table. The child held an unopened can of soda in his hands. He wiped away the condensation on the lid. Ford walked away from Bill and sat on the opposite side of the boy.
"I know you're upset," Ford began. "You have every right to be. We all do."
"Not me. I don't," Dipper said. "It's my fault any of this happened," He sniffed. "I don't know how I could've been so stupid." The boy lowered his head on the table. "I understand why you're sending me home."
"Dipper Pines, I'm not sending you home because of that," Ford said. "We'll find a way to defeat Kryptos, but I don't want you and Mabel involved in it, not if you don't have to be. Last year you didn't have a choice, but this time you do. In fact they're putting in plans to evacuate everyone when it does happen."
Dipper lifted his head. Ford saw the teenager's eyes strained not to cry.
"And as for Powers, she tricked you," Ford said.
"But I'm still so mad I fell for it," he confessed. "Why didn't I see through it?" He gripped at his hair. "I'm so dumb."
"Dipper, you're..." Ford began.
"Of course you are," Bill interrupted.
Dipper lowered his arms and looked over at Bill while Ford turned wtih a fierce glare.
With a smirk Bill continued, "It's so easy to trick you, Pinetree."
"That is enough," Ford ordered.
Laughing, Bill moved closer to Dipper. "A deal sounds good and you just eat it up."
"Bill, shut up," Ford growled as he stood.
Bill smirked at Ford then leaned closer to Dipper's ear. "Isn't that right..." His grin increased. "Little puppet?"
Dipper gasped. He lowered his face into his hands and let out a loud sob.
Bill straightened his posture while laughing. He then felt a sharp sting against his cheek. Bill put a hand over the sore flesh and looked up as Ford lowered his arm.
"You hit me," Bill panted.
Ford's eyes widened when he realized what he did. He stared down at his hand. While he had slapped Bill countless times during role play, it was always consensual, and he was careful to never truly hurt him.
"Bill, I'm...I'm so sorry," Ford spoke. "I don't know what came over me." He reached for Bill only for the latter to pull away. "Please, I'm beyond tired, I didn't mean to."
"Oh, you meant to," Bill replied. He squinted his eyes. "You meant to, Fordsy." He planted his legs in a narrow V and held out his arms. On his face he wore a huge grin. "Take another shot at me." Bill licked his lips. "You know you want to."
"Bill, please, just go to bed," Ford begged. "I can't do this right now. We all just need to wait until morning."
The blond laughed. He patted Ford on the shoulder and said, "I bet you're wishing Shooting Star didn't get there in time." He kissed Ford on the cheek then moved out of the kitchen.
Ford stood silent, the only noise being Dipper's soft cries. He heard the door to the gift shop open and close. Ford sighed, at that point too tired to care.
Ford knelt down beside Dipper. The teenager let the older man take him in his arms. Ford sat down in the chair Dipper recently occupied.
"Don't pay attention to what he said," Ford consoled. "He's angry and drunk, he didn't mean it."
"You don't believe that, Grunkle Ford," Dipper said. He wiped at the falling tears.
Ford didn't have to answer for Dipper saw it in his eyes.
"I put the whole family in danger," Dipper whispered.
"And I put the whole world in danger," Ford responded. "So I think I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't forgive you for something much less." He ruffled Dipper's hair. "But please promise me that next time you'll come to me first."
Dipper nodded, although he was uncertain if there'd even be a next time.
Stan, Soos, and Daniel entered the kitchen. Dipper wiped away the rest of the tears on his arms.
"Dipper, go on upstairs and start packing," Stan said.
"We want to get on the road by nine at the latest," Daniel added.
Without a word Dipper slipped out of the kitchen.
Soos turned to the other two. "Does it have to be this way?" he asked.
"Their mother is not going to change her mind," Daniel said.
"We have to do what's right for them," Stan added.
Soos lowered his head and nodded.
Dipper opened the door to the attic bedroom to find Mabel with her suitcase open on her bed. A few loose socks sat inside. The girl had attempted to fold some of her clothes and sat them in a pile on her bed. The rest still laid haphazardly on the floor wherever the agents had thrown them.
Waddles' head rested on Mabel's lap and she absently scratched behind the pig's ears. The girl picked up the presence of another and turned to see her brother. She stared at him for a few seconds then turned her head.
Dipper didn't bother speaking to his sister. He pulled his suitcase out from under his bed and opened it up. Most of his belongings were still scattered about the floor. Not caring to sort clean from dirty he tossed the unfolded clothes into the open luggage.
After a while of absent throwing Dipper noticed the messy pile in the center of his suitcase. He sat down next to the partially packed items and leaned his head against the bed.
"Dipper," Mabel finally said. Waddles lifted his head for a second, then laid it back down. "This might be our last time in Gravity Falls."
The thought never occured to him. Again he stayed silent.
Mabel laid back on her bed. Waddles snuggled up next to her. The girl looked over at the picture of Candy and Grenda she taped to the wall. At the very least they deserved to know of her abrupt leaving.
Mabel pressed the speed dial for Candy's number. It rang three times before the girl picked up. Mabel greeted her then turned her head to see Dipper packing for their early departure.
"Hello, Mabel," Candy called.
The brunette looked again at the picture on the wall and she smiled. "Hey, Candy, there's something we need to discuss."
The next morning everyone woke feeling more rested, but still anxious. Ford and Stan met in the kitchen at seven, both certain they had made the right decision. If everything worked out to their will, the kids could come back the following year without an apocalypse on the horizon.
Soos spent the night on the couch and at seven thirty walked into the kitchen to see the Pines brothers each nursing a mug of coffee.
By eight everyone except for Mabel congregated in the kitchen. Bill, who had fallen asleep on the porch, arrived looking paler than usual, with messy hair and bags under his eyes. He winced and whined at every noise.
"Now we're just waiting on Mabel," Daniel said, trying his best to sound chipper. "Should we put your things in the trunk? Maybe we can get an early start."
"No, Dad, Wendy texted me, she said she's on her way over," Dipper explained. Wendy had to wait until her dad left for work to hop on her bicycle and trek over to the Mystery Shack.
"Okay, but if she's not here by half past nine, we're leaving anyway," Daniel responded.
Ford moved over towards Bill who sat down at the table holding a bottled water to his pounding forehead.
"Do you want to apologize to Dipper before he leaves?" he asked.
"Do you want to shut your mouth?" Bill grumbled. "I got nothin' to say to him and nothin' to say to you either."
Another twenty minutes passed and Wendy arrived. She announced her stay would have to be a quick one, so no one found out her whereabouts and blabbed.
Soos pulled out a chair for her and insisted three times that she take a seat. The redhead rolled her eyes, but knew Soos' heart was in the right place.
"I'm sorry to be leaving like this," Dipper said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Hey, don't sweat it, parents have no chill," Wendy said with a shrug. She looked down at her belly. "Guess I'll know about that soon, huh?"
"Keep me posted, you'll send me pictures when its born, right?" Dipper said.
"You know it," Wendy assured. She leaned back in her chair. "I just hope I'm not one of those moms who post pictures of my kid twenty four seven on Facebook."
Dipper laughed. "I think Tambry will do it for you."
The two shared a laugh.
"I'm going to miss you," Dipper said.
"Ditto," Wendy replied and gently punched the boy in the arm.
"Okay, seriously what is taking her so long?" Madison said.
"She wasn't really packed when I woke up," Dipper revealed.
Madison rolled her eyes. "Stalling won't change anything," she stated.
The brunette strolled over to the staircase and began her ascension. Dipper followed after her hoping to offer his sister support if she still sat with an unpacked bag.
"Mabel, let's get a move on," demanded Madison as she threw open the door.
The two witnessed the majority of Mabel's things still in place. The woman tapped her foot with her hands on her hips. "Is that girl still in the bathroom?" she questioned. She turned to her son. "Well help pack up her things."
Dipper sauntered over to the unfolded sweaters, figuring Mabel already packed up the ones from the pile. He realized her suitcase was missing. He picked up the first sweater and a sheet of paper fell to his feet.
"Hey, Mom," Dipper called when he read the contents of the letter. "Mabel's not here." He handed over the note.
Madison gasped then bolted down the stairs. The others looked up when she returned to the kitchen.
"Mabel ran away," Madison revealed.
Gasp! We all know Mabel wouldn't be defeated so easily.
Credit for Bill taunting Dipper about being tricked so easily goes to Energy witch. Thanks for the suggestion.
I hope you all enjoyed chapter 39!