HAT: 5,844 words of pure story on this one chapter... read... just read.
(Edited)
Disclaimer: I own nothing aside from the plot and OCs.
It was a nice dream. Pacifica can't remember what it was, but she knows that it was nice enough that she didn't want to leave it when it was rudely interrupted. She finds herself thrown over some Stan's shoulder- it's hard to tell when she can't see the back of their head- and she can't believe that even though it's Christmas break that she still has to wake up early. There should be some law against waking students up before noon if there isn't an emergency.
"It's too early," Pacifica whines as she closes her eyes and goes limp on Stan's shoulder.
"It's never too early to get food."
Stanley. Of course Stanford wouldn't be up this early if he didn't have to take her to school or something of the like. Stanley was the half-earlybird. He woke up earlier than the rest of the family, but later than the rest of the population. Most Pines- and this also includes Pacifica- sleep until about noon at the earliest and four at the latest no matter how early they go to bed. Stanley was that rare Pines that woke up at ten at the earliest and noon at the latest.
"Did you wake up everyone else?" She demands while mentally creating a plan to escape and go back to bed if he hasn't.
"I had Stanley grab Mabel and had Dipper get into the car."
That wakes her up. "Where are we going? And why aren't you letting us change before we go somewhere?"
"We're going to the diner at... seven-"
"Why?! It's open all day, I'm sure we can catch breakfast at three like everyone else," Pacifica insists.
"Because after that we're going boxing and it'll be Dipper and Mabel's first time," he informs. "All of your clothes are in a duffel bag in a car."
She processes this for a few minutes and then something takes her by surprise. "Wait... you got Uncle Stan up before noon? And none of us have to go to school? How?"
"Let's just say, I have my ways," Stanley chuckles.
She's tossed into the back seat and then soon Mabel's tossed into the back seat half-asleep beside Dipper who is asleep. Pacifica buckles both sleeping brunettes safely and glances towards the front to see a dark gray head of hair in the driver's seat, which assures her that she can get some more sleep until they get to the diner. After buckling herself she leans against the window and falls asleep.
...
"Hey, Pacifica, wake up."
At first said girl is confused, no one really calls her Pacifica anymore, it's always "Pep," but then she remembers being put in the car beside the twins so that they could go to the diner. She opens her eyes and finds that she's resting on someone's shoulders and when she looks she finds that it's Dipper.
"S-sorry," she stutters as she quickly sits up and tries to get her seatbelt off.
"'S'no problem," he assures with a light pink tint on his cheeks.
Oh, gosh, this isn't starting out well, Pacifica thinks as she closes the door behind her.
"Get cozy in the back seat?" Stanford asks with a small smirk.
"Shut up," she snaps and stuffs her hands in her pockets while picking up her pace.
Gosh, he's so annoying... For the longest she'd been trying to decide what exactly Stanford reminded her of. He certainly acts like an uncle, but there's something to it that especially irritates her in a way that none of her favorite uncles had ever done- but then again, in her family that's not exactly accurate on the normal family. It isn't until she sees him mess with his brother in a similar manner that she realizes that he's a lot like an older brother- much older brother, but a brother nonetheless (A/N: Or are all of my uncles just weird and act like that and no one else's?).
"Mabel, don't you dare touch that!" Stanley orders.
"Awww!"
"I'll cut your hair if your try one more time," Stanford grunts as he watches the raccoon scurry closer to Mabel.
Mabel immediately catches up with the group and pouts. "But it was so cute!"
"And dirty, I can get you one that's nice later if you want," Pacifica mutters.
"Thanks," Mabel whispers.
They get into a booth and Pacifica ends up sitting against the wall with Mabel beside her and Dipper on the outside and the Stans across from them.
"It's so early, why couldn't we have come here in a few hours?" Dipper demands while resting his chin on the table.
Mabel glances around and then a lightbulb goes off over her head.
"They should really fix that," Stanford grumbles while looking at the light bulb.
"It's always been like that, I think they're as cheap as Grunkle Stan," Mabel replies. And then an internal lightbulb goes off and she smiles deviously toward her great uncle. "Wait a second... I know why we're here so early!"
"No you don't," Stanley quickly replies.
"Because Lazy Susan's not here!"
"Lazy Susan?" Stanford asks his brother with a raised eyebrow.
"Can I take your order?" The waitress asks.
"Yes," Stanley says quickly.
As soon as the waitress walks away Pacifica leans forward with her elbows on the table and chin resting on her interlocked fingers. "Do tell about why you're avoiding Lazy Susan, Papa Pines."
"Yes, 'Lee, I'm quite curious," Stanford pushes as he leans away and against his palm to get a better view of his brother's reddening face.
"Well- uh- I had a thing for her and I got her number..."
"Aaand? What, did you knock her up while drunk or something?" Stanford asks.
"Ew, please don't put those vile images in my head," Pacifica shudders.
"Please," the twins beside her insist.
Stanford rolls his eyes and then turns his gaze to his brother. "So? What happened?"
"Well, I got her number- like the player I am- and..."
"Aaaaand," Pacifica mutters, gesturing with her hand for him to go on.
"She had me talk to her cats and she talked forever and then she wouldn't stop calling when I stopped answering. I had to change my number and everything to avoid her. That's why I haven't been in this diner in so long."
Stanford guffaws and ends up pounding the table with his fist until he manages to catch his breath. "Really, 'Ford? Even I knew she was gonna be a crazy cat lady thirty years ago."
"Shut up!" Stanley growls as he shoves his brother.
Pacifica smirks at this scene and finds herself content- even if she's uncomfortably shoved against the wall because she's trying not to make physical contact with the female next to her. That seems to be the most that she really ever feels: content. Happy moments are quickly sapped away and her sad moments last longer than she would want them to, but most of the time she finds herself content. She's just glad that content is something that she can still achieve.
"Hey, Pep, got a crush on Toby now?" Stanley jokes.
Pacifica finds that she's been staring at Toby and makes a disgusted face. "No. I was just thinking."
"Penny for your thoughts?" Mabel asks, holding out a penny.
The blond looks at the penny and then pushes it away. "No thank you."
"Dollar for your thoughts?" Dipper offers, leaning forward onto the table so that he can see past his twin.
"I don't see a dollar," Pacifica snaps and then crosses her arms and looks out the window.
Dipper scoffs and sits back. "Not much has changed, I see- ouch! What was that for?"
Stanford takes a sip of his water before answering. "Why do you think you would deserve it?"
Ha! At least he doesn't pull that stupid trick just on me, Pacifica thinks.
Their drinks are placed in front of them and Pacifica slowly drinks her chocolate milk and observes Stanley. The cheapskate must be planning something otherwise they wouldn't be having anything, but the complementary water and-
Do I smell bacon?
"What're you up to, old man?" Dipper demands.
The fez wearing man glares at his nephew. "You're just like your father..."
The boy huffs and drinks his soda with a pout.
As soon as the food is placed in front of them Pacifica is amazed that they're having pancakes, hash browns, sausage, eggs, and bacon- and the most shocking thing? It's not all on one place for them to share, they each have their own.
Pacifica is not the only one to look up at him in confusion because her two peers look up at their well-known cheapskate uncle with wary eyes. Quite frankly Pacifica is wondering whether or not they should take this man to a mental hospital to get his mind checked out because this is abnormal beyond any paranormal activity that she's seen so far with living with the Pines- who seem to attract them like metal to a magnet or stingy people to money (aka Stanford).
"Do you know what's going on, Great Uncle Ford?" Dipper asks.
Stanford shrugs. "Don't ask me, just eat before he changes his mind."
And they did just that. They eat quickly, stuffing their faces with as much manners as they can muster with an actual plate of food in front of them at the diner. Pacifica looks down at her empty plate and comes to the realization that her appetite has grown immensely during her stay with the Pines because she's tempted to grab whatever Dipper and Mabel don't finish. She can kind of understand that she needs more food because she's near constantly either running or boxing and food is the energy she needs.
"Want the rest?" Mabel asks, holding her plate out to Pacifica.
Was I really staring that obviously? Pacifica thinks with a ghost of a blush coming to her cheeks. "N-no, you're good."
"You sure? I'm pretty full."
"Um... sure, I guess," Pacifica replies as she takes the plate from the other female. That's gone within a minute. "Thanks, Mabel. And thanks Papa Stan."
"Don't mention it," he replies with something that's a mixture of a grumble and pride. "Alright, if everyone's done eating, we can go."
They get out of the booths and Pacifica walks normally while the two brunettes sluggishly move behind her.
She allows a small smile of amusement and says, "What's the matter? Stuff yourselves too much?"
Mabel playfully shoves her. "Shut up! Not everyone can put away like you." Pacifica gestures to both Stans. "Like I said, not everyone."
The Pines family clambers into the car and buckles up. Stanley drives and Pacifica glances to her right to see the younger set of Pines Twins falling asleep on one another. She feels something in her chest, something that leaves her a little jealous. She has McGucket as a confident and the Stans, even Wendy and Soos, but none of them are her age and most of them are more uncle figures than anything while the other two are more like admirable older friends. She doesn't have any peers that she can consider her best friend. These two will have each other to lean on if they have no one else at school- and she has no doubt that they'll have friends in no time if they had lost their previous friends- she has no one there.
She shakes this off and focuses on the fact that the car has stopped.
"Let's go boxing!" Stanley cheers.
Pacifica smirks and gets out of the car- in her pajamas, but that's besides the point- and leans against the car.
"Bet I can get there before you can," Stanley says with a smirk as he tosses the duffel bag towards his twin.
"Nuh-uh!"
"Put your money where you mouth is! 'Ford, starts us off."
Stanford rolls his eyes. "On your mark... get set... go."
The two take off and stay side by side the entire time. It's only a few yards away from their starting position and the door so with Stanley's leg length he could take the lead. She touches the door a split second before he does and she whoops in victory while Stanley pants at the physical exertion and puts his hands on his hips.
"Okay, kid, you win."
"Why do we have to learn how to box?" Dipper asks.
"It relieves stress and help you learn a little self-defense," Stanley insists.
"Plus it can finally get you some exercise," Stanford grunts as he pushes his nephew with one finger and making him teeter.
"Hey!"
Pacifica grabs her clothes and gear and rushes into the changing room. Mabel walks in right when she starts putting on her gear.
"You really like boxing?" Mabel asks.
A shrug. "Eh, I more like getting out my anger this way."
"What do you have to be angry at?"
Pacifica grows quiet and glares at the ground, but what she sees isn't the floor, but- instead- her "parents," Dan, and all the students and teachers that treated her like dirt because of who she used to be and whose blood that she shares.
Silently she finishes putting on her gear and walks out without her cousin. She walks out and finds both Stans trying to get Dipper into a ring. With a roll of her eyes she figures that she could have a match with one of her peers that are hanging around.
"Hey, Pacifica."
Said girl turns around and sees Travis Woods standing there with a shy smile and hesitant hazel eyes. He's wearing basketball shorts and a muscle shirt and his black hair pushed back by his helmet and hands inside of gloves already.
"What do you want?" She asks a bit more sharply than she had intended.
He grimaces and lowers his eyes to his shoes. "I- uh- I wanted to say hi and..." He looks up at her with a sincerity in his eyes that leaves her taken aback. "I'm sorry about what happened to you... I mean- I know I didn't do it, but... I could've warned you about that guy or something and... I wish that I could've done something to help you."
She observes him for a few moments before frowning. "Why take so long to say anything? You've had months."
"I know," he sighs as he looks down at the ground. "I'm just not the bravest person in the world, okay? You're a strong person to be able to go through what you're going through and I- I admire you for that because you're braver than I could ever hope to be."
Me? Brave? "Really?"
"Well, yeah," he shrugs and gives a reluctant smile. "I- uh- I was wondering if you wanted to- um... hang out sometime? A-as friends- er- I mean, we're not friends yet- um-"
"Let's box," she interrupts, finding his stuttering to be slightly annoying, but his words to be tested.
"Huh?"
"If you mean what you say about wanting to become my friend, box with me- and no holding back," she says.
He shifts from foot to foot. "My dad told me not to hit a girl."
"This is boxing- and we're fighting fair. If you don't you won't ever get the chance to be my friend."
He glances towards the ring and then to her and then smiles confidently. "Okay... you're on."
She smiles and turns to find an open ring and slips into one. Travis follows her and gets into his corner across from hers. They walk forward and touch gloves before getting into a fighting stance with their fists up in front of them so that they won't get hurt in the face right off the bat.
"Pep's got in a fight with a boy," Stanford notes loudly towards his brother.
Oh, no, please don't draw attention, Pacifica thinks, but when the silent bell goes off she dodges a punch aimed for the left side of her head.
"Get him, Pep!" Stanley shouts.
Pacifica focuses on her opponent and makes a strong right hook onto his briefly exposed left side. He takes a step forward and she's left on the defense until he slows his movements down just the tiniest bit and she makes a few jabs at his head and torso before backing up on her toes and circling him again.
"You're really good," Pacifica compliments.
"I should be, I've been boxing for almost a year," he replies. "How about you?"
"Started a few weeks after I saw you in the Shack," she admits and then sees an opening on his face and hits his jaw with her left fist.
He turns back and gets her exposed left side and quickly getting her jaw once and twice. She gets backed into a corner and she's left hunched over and trying to defend herself, but he's relentless and every hit leaves her thinking that there is going to be a bruise. She takes a forceful step forward and hits his chest and then his cheek and left side rapidly in succession without any hesitation. He backs up to the middle of the ring and she tries to push him to the ropes, but he gives a good clip to her jaw that leaves her on the ground.
1... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6...
"C'mon, Pacifica," Travis says. "I know there's more fight left in you."
9...
Pacifica pushes herself up and stumbles to the side a few steps before getting her balance again. Her sapphire eyes light with excitement and wonder. She's had some good times in her life, but nothing seems to get her so excited than a match with someone that she hasn't ever fought before. It was like some sort of inner warrior- or she'd even go as far as to call it a beat- were unlocked inside of her when she puts her dukes up one more time. And then she comes back with a fury, her punches a bit harder than they were before with more ferocity.
He backs up a few steps before trying to counter her hits with his own. She gets backed into a corner and he punches her hard enough that there are black spots dancing in her vision. She lands on her stomach and ends up blinking rapidly to try and get her vision back. She tries pushing herself back up, but she ends up stumbling back onto her rear end with her head swimming. Then suddenly there's something that is warm on her shoulder, but she can focus quite yet.
"...fica... Pacifica, are you alright?" She looks up at Travis who kneels in front of her panting with sweat trailing down his worried face. "Are you okay?"
She grins. "That was a great fight."
He chuckles breathlessly and sits back on his heels. "You're really something. Here, let me get you a water."
"I can get it," she says and stands up.
"That was good, Pep, but next time lower your chin," Stanley advises when she gets out of the ring. "And move around a bit more, don't want to get backed into a corner."
She nods and glances towards the ring where she last saw Dipper and finds him and Mabel getting instruction from Stanford. They're struggling, but already Pacifica can see that the feminine part of the duo has a bit more physical leverage compared to her brother.
Pacifica walks to the water cooler and Travis follows while taking off his gloves and he gets her a water despite her previous statement.
"Thanks," she murmurs and drinks the water greedily.
Travis bites his bottom lip and looks at her with his big hazel eyes with a slight hesitancy- back to being shy again. "So- um... are we friends now- er- almost friends or-"
She covers his mouth with her hand with a little annoyance. "You're not my friend... but you can be my acquaintance or something."
He nods and when she removes her hand from his face he gives a small smile. "I like that. I don't think we ever properly introduced ourselves." He wipes his sweaty hand on his shorts and then holds out his hand with a smile. "I'm Travis Woods. I just turned thirteen two months ago and I like boxing."
Pacifica smiles in amusement and wipes her own hand on her shorts and shakes his hand. "I'm Pacifica Pines. I'm twelve and I like running and boxing."
The boy makes a confused face. "Really? I thought-"
"Pacifica! Hit the showers and lets go!" Stanley calls.
"Be right there!" She turns to Travis and smiles apologetically. "I guess I'll see you later or something."
"Okay. Bye, Pacifica," he says.
"Bye," she replies and rushes to do as ordered by her guardian.
Soon she's clean and she puts on some jeans and a purple long sleeved shirt that she found in the bag for her- she figured the sweater was for Mabel- and throws on her jacket- after all, it is winter. Once she's out of the locker room she rushes to the entrance and waits for Mabel and Dipper with the Stans. A few minutes later Mabel and Dipper come out in their respective clothes and the five get into the car and head back to the Shack.
"That was shorter than normal," Pacifica notes. "I thought we'd be there all day."
"Nah, we've got stuff to do back at the Shack," Stanley grunts.
Pacifica grows quiet and notices the twins to her right are too tired to take note of anything. They look ready to pass out at the drop of a hat. She rubs her sore jaw and figures that closing her eyes for a little while won't hurt so she leans against the door and closes her eyes.
Apparently naps are not sacred anymore because not long after this happens she ends up being shaken gently.
"Pep, wake up." Stanley because Stanford would've just dragged her out of the car and made her relearn how to use her legs after being so groggy. She peers at him through her bangs and then holds up her arms to silently ask for him to carry her. "C'mon, Pep, I'm gettin' old. I can't carry you forever."
"Please?" She asks, her body sore and her mind groggy.
He lets out a sigh as he unbuckles her and picks her up form under her armpits and puts her on his shoulders. She ends up leaning forward and resting her arms on his head and her own head on her arms while he keeps a firm grip on her ankles.
"Y'know, you'd better be lucky it's your birthday," he grumbles.
I forgot all about that. Guess I'm thirteen now, she thinks as she gives a small smile.
"Surprise!"
Immediately awake. Pacifica sits up on her guardian's shoulders and looks around at the decorations- balloons and streamers thrown everywhere, a banner that says "Happy Birthday Pep!" and under that is a table full of presents and food with a cake off to the side. Standing there- the cause of her brief panic- are McGucket, Wendy and Soos.
"Happy birthday, darlin'," McGucket says with a fond smile.
She smiles softly and feels tears well in her eyes.
"What's wrong? Don't you like it?" Wendy asks with worried green eyes.
"N-no, I love it," Pacifica assures, wiping one of the tears that escaped out of her the sliver hair in front of her. "It's just... I didn't really think that you'd all do this for me..."
"Why wouldn't we?" Stanley asks. "You're family that we... don't... hate."
One thing that both Stanley and Stanford had in common above all else is the fact that they don't show affection like most- in fact, they have more of an immature, big brother kind of way of showing their affection towards the people they have a remote care about and often disregard people that they don't have a care for.
"What're we waiting for?" Mabel asks with a broad grin. "Let's get this party started!"
Pacifica smiles a little. "Yeah, yeah, I guess."
She's set on the ground and the party begins. There's a water balloon fight- she had the great satisfaction of getting Stanford in the face twice and catching Dipper off guard four times- and a llama shaped piñata that is filled with candy- surprisingly the good stuff. It's different than any other birthday she's ever had and she couldn't be happier. Her birthday parties usually consisted of being shown off to all the rich people and given lavished gifts that she'd end up discarding a few months (at most) later or reuse at future parties while she acts like she's God's gift to man and without her the world might as well just end right then and there. This time she gets to have fun and not have to worry about her image- she was soaked to the bone with her hair thrown back in what would have caused her a panic attack just the beginning of the summer. All she has to do is have fun with the people that are her family now.
And then came present time.
"This is frooom... Mabel," Stanford grunts and tosses the box towards his newest niece.
Pacifica catches it and glances towards Mabel. "I thought you had no idea it was my birthday?"
"I made this before I found out, I think Grunkle Stan had Wendy do wrap it up," Mabel replies.
"Oh, okay," she murmurs. "Thanks."
"You haven't even opened it, silly!"
Instead of continuing with that small conversation she opens the present and finds a sweater- no a crocheted blanket! She takes it out and sees that it is hot pink, purple, and light blue with her name spelled out on the bottom right hand corner. She crocheted once- her parents thought it was something that only old ladies should do- and knew that it was difficult for her to make. It's big enough to fit her bed to her surprise so she knows that this girl worked on it for at least a month (A/N: Crocheting anything takes time, I know... I do it and so does my mom... blankets that big take months to finish, especially if you have arthritis (my mom) or get distracted easily (me)).
"Thank you Mabel, you didn't have to," Pacifica chokes out, trying not to let any tears of gratefulness seep out.
"I wanted to. Now you can stay all warm and cozy!"
The brunette hugs the blond who stiffens, but gives a half hug back anyway.
"Here's a present from me, dude."
"Thanks, Soos," she says and opens the present with care, the wrapping paper was of her favorite anime Naruto, and she was going to hang it up on her side of the attic. She swears, Soos is trying to shove his love of anime onto her because it's working way too well. First episode and she was hooked and now she's just beginning Naruto Shippuden. She opens it and finds a Kakashi plush doll. "Oh, my gosh! Soos, you're the best! How'd you know Kakashi was my favorite character?"
"It's Kakashi, dude, everyone loves Kakashi," Soos replies.
She gives him a fist bump of gratitude. "Thanks."
"No problem. Happy birthday."
"Yo, open this!" Wendy says, tossing a box. Pacifica reaches up and barely catches the present with her fingertips. She opens the small box and brings out another box- a jewelry box? "Open it."
The birthday girl opens the box and finds that it's a music box that plays a short, quiet lullaby that she can't help, but adore. "Thanks, Wendy, I love it!"
"You're welcome, birthday girl!"
Dipper walks forward and holds out a present hesitantly with what seems to the the start of a formation of a shy smile. "Um... here."
She opens the book and sees that it's her favorite book- and the book she got finished with months ago- The Outsiders. "Thanks, Dipper..."
"No problem," he replies awkwardly and backs away as his grunkles walk forward.
"We got ya something together," Stanley says excitedly and holds out a paper bag that contains her present.
"Hope you like it, Pep," Stanford says with a smirk.
She is dismayed to find pads inside of the bag and she glares at them while clamping the bag completely shut. "You two suck, you know that right?"
Stanley shrugs. "You have been complaining about there not being enough of that in the house."
"That's not the point!" She declares with embarrassed blush on her face.
"Yeah, but that's just a gag gift!" Stanford reassures.
I should hope so, this is embarrassing, Pacifica thinks as she glares at her guardian and his brother.
"Your real gift is something you've gotta be real careful with and can't play with," Stanley growls while narrowing his eyes at the girl.
That makes her a little giddy because she feels that she knows what it is. Stanford hands her a small hand-carved, wooden box that has "Pep" elegantly written on the top with a grunt. She opens it and finds a hot pink handled switchblade with a black blade with pink swirls decorating the sides of the blade. Needless to say she was speechless. Sure, she had the habit of playing with her other switchblade (which is in her room at the moment) by flicking it out and putting it back repeatedly, but this is too beautiful to ruin in such a way.
"This is beautiful! Thank you two," she says as she checks the spring and finds that it's easy enough to flick out, but won't flick out on accident by being in her pocket because it is so sensitive. "It's great."
McGucket walks forward with a smile and holds out a small box with a button on top. "Here's yer present, Pep. Hope ya like it."
With a press of a button it slowly expands and before her is a full piano. "Whoa! That's so cool!"
"I rememb'red ya like ta play the piana so I built a pocket sized one," he informs.
She grins. "Thanks McGucket."
She could tell that he knew that she meant more than just for the present. He also saved her the day she was disowned and provided for her and put her in the Pines' home where- and she won't admit this if ever asked by the Stans- she has people that she absolutely loves.
"Go on and play it and see if it works," he insists.
She blushes. "I-I dunno. I trust you got everything right- you're a genius."
McGucket chuckles. "Awright, sweetheart- I won't push ya."
"Well I am!" Stanley says. "Go on, Pep, give it a try."
"Okay, okay, fine," she replies, rolling her eyes in amusement.
The presses one key to find remind her muscles and mind which key will play which note. After that her fingers graze against the ivory keys while she thinks about what she wants to play. It could be anything from classical to the anything composed in the present. Then it hits her and she begins to play, her fingers almost clumsily going about the keys. She feels more out of practice than she's ever been- even the first time she played in the junkyard (but that was a simple song that her muscles remembered long ago)0 but as she keeps playing her fingers become more sure of their movements and the notes flow together less choppily and more with a smoothness that comes with her two years of practice. Soon comes the emotions that come with playing and her fingers hit the keys sharply and quickly when the emotion of anger comes and gently and longly when sadness comes while happiness comes with the sharp, short movements. It's a relief to let out any and all emotions that she has pent up inside of her because at the end of the song she feels nothing but pure relief.
"That was beautiful!' Mabel cheers.
Pacifica smiles. "Yeah, I had lessons when I was younger... um... McGucket, how do I put it back to pocket-sized?"
"There's a butt'n right there," he answers, pointing to one that is above the keys to the right.
She presses the button and it quickly folds into itself and becomes the small box that she saw to begin with.
Pacifica places it into her bucket and punches her first (technically second) guardian's arm with a grin and then gives him a quick half-hug. "Thanks, McGucket."
"D'aww, shucks, it was just usin' light metals an' gettin' the order of foldin' in the proper order just right ta make sure it won't be bulky an' awkw'rd an' the other c'mponent's had ta werk else it woul'n't open up right," he explains.
If she were honest she would tell him that she knew nothing of mechanics other than the basic ones that he let her do when building things of mass destruction or some other doohickies that could be useful in some way, but he put it in a simple way that allows her to understand what he was talking about- better than how he started out when she started asking how he did things since he would go into complicated explanations with words that meant nothing to her.
"Cool," she replies simply.
"Cake time!"
That was all that had to be said to get everyone's attention.
"Make a wish," Stanford says with a grin while adjusting the fez on his head.
I wish... She doesn't know what to wish for. She glances around her and finds that her company- even Dipper- is better than what she was surrounded with before and she's grateful. What more can she ask for? I wish... I wish for peace in our lives.
And then she blows out the candles.
HAT: That was a long chapter... It was just so hard to find a spot to stop the chapter so it ended up this long and... yeah. Anyway, I decided to put Pacifica's birthday during December (Christmas Break) because... well, why not? Not a lot of things going on with Dipper and Pacifica's relationship, but they'll warm up to each other... eventually...
Soos: How long is this story going to be?
HAT: ... very... at least twenty chapters... how many chapters do I already have?
Soos: Including this sixteen.
HAT: ... *brain breaks*
Soos: I can fix that! Um... review, everyone! *