"I love him"

"Wait, really?" came the response, but by two very distinctive voices with two different tones.

The first one was obviously Mabel, sounding somehow sarcastic as if she hadn't already managed to get that. This one wasn't a problem for Dipper.

But the second one made him freeze, looking towards the edge of the forest, Bill coming out from it, dropping the two weirdly shaped pine cone he was bringing back for some reason. There it was going now, him not wanting to tell him.

The demon was quick to be close to the young man, capturing his face by putting his hand on his cheek, looking in his eyes. "Say that again" he asks, somehow wanting to make sure he didn't hear it wrong. "Say what?" asked dumbly Dipper, an anxious laugh escaping from his lips, tears still stuck at the corner of his eyes. He stops laughing when he saw what glance Bill was giving him, clearly not wanting to laugh about all this.

"I... I love you" he finally said again, trying not to look away from the attentive eye of the demon. Something seems to flash in Bill's eye as if he was just now putting in order some things. He wanted to ask the human if he was serious about this or if he was joking, but Dipper wasn't the kind of person to joke around like this.

Dipper wasn't sure what he should be thinking of Bill reaction. Was it good? Did it mean he wouldn't reject him? He had a response to the latter question when he felt arm wrapping around him tightly. He turned to Mabel, the young woman trying not to start giggling at them for finally going with what they were feeling.

Bill was somehow feeling so relieved to hear that, overly happy from the inside. Why was he so happy to learn Dipper was loving him in a way more than a friend? Was he in love with the human too? It was so weird for him to think he could feel such feelings since it never happened before. But it could explain why he was so protective and possessive about Dipper, it would make sense to him. He wanted the young man all to himself because he loved him.

Dipper finally felt confident enough to loop his arm around Bill's torso. It was feeling good not to be rejected by the one he loves. He couldn't tell yet if the demon was feeling the same, but it was looking close to it, he wouldn't force him to put it into words.

"I know it all happy and hugging time" commented Mabel with an amused smile, "But we are in the middle of the road so we probably should keep on moving" she then suggested, looking at Dipper violently blushing at the comment. Bill didn't let go of him for that, just taking his hand to gently drag him with them back to the town where Mabel was proposing to eat something at Lazy Susan restaurant to celebrate them finally stopping being blind.

Dipper was looking at Bill, barely listening to his sister saying it was finally time for them to go forward with what they were feeling because it was starting to be so frustrating to see them be so oblivious to it. He just couldn't wrap his mind around the fact the demon wasn't rejecting him like he believed he would. He was sure a being like Bill might not want such emotion directed towards him, that he would simply go with something completely platonic.

He closed the gap between them, their shoulder gently bumping into one another, catching the demon attention. Bill's grip on his hand tightens a little as he gave him a smile, keeping this closeness as they keep on walking towards the Greasy's Diner.

The following day, Mabel and Stan were looking at Ford walking in circles in the basement, the table full of papers. They were both worried the man was going to exhaust himself over Dipper not listening to him about the demon. And he now was also claiming that there was something more to it, that he was missing something.

He was able to talk with Stanley the day before, the man agreeing with him over the fact it wasn't a good idea for Dipper to stay around a demon. He didn't have fond memories about dealing with demons so he wasn't really comfortable with the idea of one running around his family. But something was still tugging at him somewhere, telling him Dipper knew what he was doing and that they should trust him more, though he couldn't say that to his twin. Problem was, they hadn't even had the time to hear Dipper's side of the story, as he ran away under Ford insistence.

Mabel, on the other hand, had talked some more with her brother once they were back at Pacifica's house and alone. She had come to the conclusion she would trust him fully, though promising she wouldn't hesitate to change her mind if she ever heard the demon harmed him. She was ready to trust Dipper, knowing well he wouldn't mess with demons if it was dangerous, he had his lesson years ago. She was feeling like her twin was still hiding something, but forced herself to trust him fully, that what he needed right now, for at least one of them to trust his judgement.

"Grunkle Ford don't you think you should trust Dipper a little more?" asked Mabel, uneasy from all the tension there was in her family right now. This made the man stop in his track to turn back towards his great-niece. He was going to say something about Dipper not trusting him either, but she cut him off before he could do "Yeah, but why are you expecting him to blindly trust you when you won't even try to listen to him and trust him?". She started to sound a little irritated, having to listen to the same arguments over and over again, which surprised the two men.

Ford didn't answer to that, only watching the young woman huff from this lack of response before hopping off the counter she was sitting on to get out. Clearly, there wasn't much she could do to try and change the old man mind. Stanley stayed a little longer, watching his twin trying to figure out what he was missing. After some time he sighed, standing up to get out too, telling his brother that if he needed him he would be with Soos.

Ford finally stop pacing around when everyone was out. There was only one place he could find more information about the demon and he needed to be alone for that, knowing even Stanley would be against it. He then went back to the ground level, making sure not to catch anyone attention. When he was sure Mabel was in the living room he went upstairs, going directly for Dipper's room.

He knew the young man was like him and was taking note of everything, so he must have some things on that demon. He wasn't stupid, if Dipper was still doing his research and exploration in Gravity Falls, he must be taking note somewhere. Though it wasn't sure they were still here since he was now living with the Northwest family.

He started with his shelves where books were neatly placed, but nothing other than novels and encyclopedias on the supernatural. He took a quick glance at the wooden chest, but there were only clothes. The best he found was at the desk, in a drawer. He then took place on the chair he took a look at them.

Most were loss notes he made on spell the demon had taught him or observation he made about said demon. Really, not much to help him, even if some information were sounding familiar. Then he notices one where Dipper was trying to figure out the name Guillaume. This made Ford frown, so Guillaume wasn't that demonic being real name, or at least not the one he was going by with Dipper.

There were quick notes made on the paper, some crossed out and further on the paper he was going, clearer it became. He was slowly catching up with all the information, apprehension building up in him as he didn't like where it was going. Then the result was clearly written and underline a couple of times.

Guillaume is french for → William which can be shortened with → Bill

He notices underneath that conclusion another handwriting, clearly not the one from Dipper, writing 'Good job Pine Tree, I knew you were smart enough to find out'.

Ford needed to reread those two last information a couple of times more, as if he couldn't believe what he was reading.

Dipper was dealing with Bill Cipher since the start of this summer and he never told them? Even worse, he was blatantly lying to there faces since the first time they meet with Bill? How was he even back? Had Dipper done it, with that tattoo he was feeling like it was sure he did, but why would he do that?

He was feeling both furious and confused, knowing he needed to take care of that before Bill could do more damage than he must have already done. After all, there was no way Dipper was listening to him willingly, he must have done something to the young man.

He went out of the room, taking the paper with him, doubting the young man would notice since he was never coming here anyway. He would need to be alone with the demon to do what he wanted to do to protect his family. He couldn't let that demon harm any of them again, but for that he needed him to be alone, so he would need to wait.

Didn't Mabel mention she was going out with them in the forest? They were most likely going to come to the shack before or after, that when he needed to act since Bill couldn't get in.

As expected, the day after Mabel was going with them on some kind of expedition in the forest to find some rare plants. They had to come to the shack first so she could change, having passed the whole night with Pacifica and hadn't brought clean clothes with her. Dipper took that chance to fill his water bottle and search for some x-file DVD he had so they could watch some later.

Outside, Ford was coming from the front of the house, finding Bill quite easily as he was just waiting near the forest edge. The demon spotted the man quickly, arching a brow as he starts smiling a little. "Came to make peace with me?" he asks in a joking tone, knowing very well it wouldn't be that.

"No, I came to finish business with you Bill" he said, seeing the demon eye suddenly snap back to him at his name, his smirk dying down a little, knowing this was a little more serious. "Oh?" he asked, "And how are you going to do that little Sixer?" asked the demon.

He quickly had his answer when he saw the man taking out from his coat the Memory gun, making the demon suddenly look more serious. He was really not joking when he was talking about taking care of him. He didn't wait to see if Ford was really going to shoot, sprinting back into the forest where he could more easily lose him.

Dipper had notice Ford getting in the backyard through the window, but only supposed he was going to argue with the demon. His blood froze in his vein when he saw the Memory gun, dropping everything he had in his hand to run back out of the shack, bumping into a startled Stanley asking where he was going in a hurry as he catches the kid from falling.

Mabel was back, running as she heard the commotion downstairs, asking what was going on. Dipper quickly yanks himself from the loss grip, spluttering some vague response about Ford doing something stupid as he starts running into the forest. The two other Pines were quick to follow.

Adrenaline was keeping him on his run, not slowing down a notch, nearly falling down a couple of times but managing to catch himself back every time. the fear fueling his adrenaline wouldn't die down until he was sure nothing bad would happen.

Father in the forest the demon had finally stopped running, sure his illusion had stopped Ford, trying to catch his breath. This stupid human body wasn't good for sprinting on long distance. He froze and suddenly turned when he saw the man finally catching up to him, annoying him that this time the man had seen right through his illusions.

"What did you do to make Dipper follow you?" asked harshly the researcher, not believing there could be more than manipulation in their relationship.

Dipper was not far, tracking anxiously where they went, his heart drumming in his chest, forcing his body to keep running like this. He wasn't giving attention to Stan and Mabel running after him, calling for him to explain what was wrong. He couldn't be too late, he started running after them so quickly, he couldn't be late.

"I made your precious boy fall in love with me" respond the demon as he was straightening his pose, an amused smirk on his face. He couldn't not say it like this.

It only made the older man madder, pointing back the Memory gun at him, ready to take care of the demon once and for all.

Dipper could see both silhouettes, he was so close yet was feeling like he would be there too late.

The demon wasn't really surprised, but his body was still exhausted from running like this - stupid mortal body with no physical endurance - but was going to try anyway until he heard his name being called from behind Ford.

Ford looked quickly behind him, he needed to do that quickly or else it would be too late. Ready to pull the trigger.

"NO!" screamed Dipper, suddenly passing ford and going in front of Bill.

Ford was too slow to react and stop his movement, the trigger was quickly pulled and the blow was fired.

Then two bodies fell to the ground.

The two new spectators had stopped running abruptly.

The silence was dominating the place, all eyes on the body laying on top of the demon.

It was as if time had been stopped.