A week went on like this, staying away from the shack the most they could, Mabel bringing them things they might need. They were able to go with their motel idea only for two days, as the young woman had obligated them to stay at Pacifica house. Of course, the Northwest girl only accepted because Mabel was the one asking, she made it pretty clear. But Dipper wouldn't spit on that, he was still happy to have somewhere better to stay at, even if it was literally just for the night, going out early in the morning and getting back late.

They also tried to see if Bill finally had enough power to open a portal back to his how dimension, but it was still not enough and for the brief moment he managed to it was too small and was exhausting him quickly. So they were passing nearly all their time at the pond, which wasn't that bad with the good weather they had.

Dipper was also happily surprised to see himself heal a little quicker because of it, the dream demon trying to show him some spell that could help too in the future. More he was practising, better he was getting at it and more magic he could keep with him. They supposed it was because his body had never needed it before but since he was now using magic he should have more in reserve.

He was even able to keep on doing some research since other creatures were coming to the pond. He was even able to approach some of them, often helped by Bill so they wouldn't be too scared of the human, though a lot of them were more scared by the demon presence. It was really annoying to Bill, but he could probably not do much about it, so in those time he was letting Dipper run around, taking note for his journal, it was still pretty entertaining to watch.

As for the present time, they were both laying on the grass, letting the sun warm them as they were charging up from a little fight they had for fun. Obviously, Dipper knew the demon wasn't using most of his power nor was he using any of his skill to fight him. Sure the human was getting good at it, but he wasn't even close to being able to beat a demon that was created way before his family lineage was started.

"You're getting good at it" commented Bill with a laugh, playfully ruffling the human hair. "You will be able to explore the forest of Gravity Falls even more" he added. "I doubt being that powerful, but thank you for the compliment" chuckled Dipper.

"Then you will just have to call for me and I will come for you" said the demon without really thinking, Dipper suddenly a little quiet at the suggestion. He turned towards the demon, looking at him unsure "And what tell me you would actually come back to me if I call for you?" asked Dipper with uncertainty in his tone.

The Demon looked back at him, surprised by the turn this conversation was taking. Well, he guesses he could see where this was all coming from, he was a demon after all and since he was back all he wanted was to get back to his dimension, or at least it was what he wanted, he wasn't sure anymore. "Of course Pine Tree, I'll be there to protect you" he said with a small smile.

But they both knew he couldn't say for sure. Bill had never felt any emotions in all his life and he had the feeling all those emotions he had towards Dipper would go away once back in his original form. They stayed quiet for a moment, looking at each other.

No, truly he wanted to stay here, but he couldn't do that, he had a job to do and Dipper wouldn't be on earth forever. This thought was somehow making him feel even sadder and angry at this situation. Maybe he could find a way, but for now, it was looking so impossible.

He was taken out of his thought by the arm of Dipper suddenly dragging him in a hug, the younger one going to hide against his neck. "Hey don't look so sad" said Dipper feeling as if he should be the one about to cry here. He didn't even know why this whole situation was making him cry, why it was hurting so much to think about Bill going away.

"Pff, you're one to talk, YOU sound like you are about to cry" retorted the demon with a laugh, feeling like he needed some humour to not cry himself, hugging the younger Pines back. "Don't laugh at me!" asked Dipper "I just... I don't want you to go away anymore" he admitted, staying hidden in the crook of his neck, not sure what kind of face he was making.

Bill was taken aback by that statement, really not expecting for him to not want the demon to go away. Sure, they had gotten really close over the past weeks, but he would never have thought Dipper wanted him to stay now. He hugged him back, closing his eyes. "I don't want to go either... by I can't stay forever Dipper" admitted the demon. "Then stay for me!" asked the human.

Dipper quickly shut his mouth, surprised just as much as Bill was by his demand, hiding against the demon even more. He was waiting for the demon to refuse, or even just make a joke to dismiss the idea, but it never came. The demon was staying quiet. "Bill?"

"I could do that" finally came his respond, surprising Dipper. He then separated himself from Bill, looking at him, trying to see any sign that he was lying. But nothing, he was telling the truth about saying he could stay here with him.

"Why are you cry then!" asked Bill surprised as he was sitting up, making Dipper realised that he was, in fact, crying. He sat up too, feeling warm ungloved hands trying to wipe his tears. "I don't know, I just... I feel so happy about that... I don't know where this is coming from, I'm just happy that you said you would stay" respond Dipper with laughter coming too, trying to calm himself. "Don't cry if you're happy then" said Bill, clearly confused as to why he was crying if he was happy, but still chuckled, happy to see Dipper this relieved.

He kept his hand on Dipper's cheek, as they slowly were calming their laughter, looking at each other. After a couple of seconds, Dipper realised how close they were now and what position they were in, blushing. He turned his head away, trying to shake away that warm feeling in his chest, instead, he felt a hand ruffles his hair even more.

"Let get back to training" suggested Bill, standing up as he was putting his glove back on, ready to help to younger one in his training. They went with this, even if both of them were silently wishing they could have stayed like this a little longer, but didn't asked for it since they were sure the other one wouldn't want to.

They did that up until it starts to rain, caught completely of guard as they hadn't paid attention to the weather. And they had a long way to do to get to the Northwest mansion, they could have crashed at the shack to get Dipper's umbrella, but he was stubborn and didn't. Instead, they ran all the way back to Pacifica's house, laughing the frustration away once they were finally inside.

"What were you doing out there in the rain?" asked a surprised Mabel following Pacifica to the main entrance. "Mae, don't bother, your brother and his boyfriend are idiots" commented Pacifica as she was handing them dry towels. "B-boyfirend?!" asked Dipper, suddenly all flustered, Mabel giggling happily beside the young woman.

"Come on Dip-dop" said Mabel with a smile "You two are totally dating behind my back" she affirmed. "You should see how they always are stuck to each other even if the house has the place to be apart" added Pacifica as she was turning towards Mabel, even though she couldn't talk since the two women were always close to each other too.

Dipper felt an arm looping around his waist, feeling suddenly pulled toward the demon. "Darling! Didn't you tell your dear sister about us? I thought you would do it" said the dream demon playfully and jokingly, only making Mabel laugh even more at the embarrassment of her brother. Yeah, everything just to enter Mabel game and giving her more reason to continue.

Dipper was just confused as to why suddenly everyone was sure they were a couple. But the more confusing was why the idea was pleasing him. He didn't love Bill that way, did he? That when it all clicks in his head: he did love Bill that way. He was in love with the triangle demon who had tried to kill them all a couple of years ago. No... Bill wasn't like that anymore, or at least not for now with him. It wasn't sounding as bad as it was.

Dipper freed himself from Bill grip, saying he needed to take a shower now, ignoring his sister saying not to get angry at them, that they were just joking. Bill was confused as to why Dipper comportment had suddenly changed, following closely behind him, joining him in their room as the human was fishing some dry clothes out of his bag.

"You're okay?" asked Bill, making Dipper jumped since he hadn't heard him coming in. "You can always ask Mabel to stop if it really bothering you, I'm sure she will listen, I can stop too if you need to" suggest the demon with a concerned smile, not wanting for Dipper to flee from him all the time because of some dumb joke.

"It's not that" answered Dipper with an awkward smile "I'm just cold and need to take a shower, you don't need to worry" he tried to tell him, walking towards the connected bathroom. He needed the be alone for at least a couple of minutes, so he could fully process the realisation he had not even five minutes ago.

He went in the shower quickly, feeling the warm water on his cold skin, relaxing slowly. He wasn't sure if he should be surprised by the fact he was now in love with Bill, he never had a crush on another man. Or well, he knew in the past he had found other man... attractive, but never really looked into it. He wasn't like his sister, Mabel was pretty opened and seemed to have accepted since forever she doesn't give a crap about what gender the person has. Not that he never questioned himself either, he just never really went far in his questioning and never had the experience to tell him anyway.

"So... I love him" whispered Dipper to himself as if he needed to hear it from himself to believe it. He was happy to finally put a word to all the weird feeling he had in the past days, but feeling a little crushed when he thought it couldn't by mutual. "As if a demon could fall in love" he sadly laughed to himself.

I sighed before getting out of the shower, drying himself and changing. He looked himself in the mirror, forcing himself to smile and go as if nothing had happened. Yeah, he was used to his crush not being mutual, he could live with that, he just needed some days for the hurt to pass.

"You can go now" he said with a smile, passing by Bill to go and get his computer so he could write down in his numeric journal the notes he accumulated in the past days. Bill seemed unsure about the sudden change of attitude in the human but felt like Dipper wouldn't tell him unless he was cornering him, which wasn't something he wanted to do

He didn't take long in the shower, just time to wash off the sweat and warming himself a little before he could get out in clean and dry clothes. I jump in the large bed, laying next do Dipper and looking at what he was writing, leaving for another time his worries.

The demon helped with some more information he knew about the creature Dipper had studied, also reminding him about part of spells when the human was working on those. They had put the earlier event at the back of their mind, focusing on that, Dipper admitting that he might ask Mabel to bring his journal so he could put everything in it, those were just back up in the first place.

They didn't notice Mabel opening quietly the door, giggling silently to herself when she saw them sitting against each other as they were working on somethings, or rather arguing about some information. "Hey! love birds" she said to catch their attention, Bill turning first as Dipper was getting yet again all red in the face. "Dinner is ready and there are plates for you two" she said with a smile.

The boys took the lead, still arguing about whatever they were arguing about, Mabel smiling at them. There was something new in her brother's eyes and it was making her happy, feeling he finally understood something. She joined them quickly after, linking her arm with theirs, stopping the childish fight so they could go eat.

Maybe she could finally see her brother have a happy ending with someone he loves.