Bonus chapter: Quarantine
October had rolled around, and Mabel and Pacifica had begun to show, they greeted Soos, Stanley, Wendy, and the Gleefuls who all came up to the common area of Ixcia with boxes of old baby things for the expectant mothers, "Guys you didn't have do all this, we can afford our own stuff." Pacifica said,
"Nonsense!" Bud said as he put a box down.
Soos agreed. "Yeah dudes, this stuff was just gathering dust in the attic at home."
"And with four kids coming your way you'll need all the help you can get and it's not like Amelia needs this stuff anymore." Wendy said.
Dipper began looking through Wendy's box. "We appreciate this, all of you." Dipper found something strange in the box and pulled out a face mask with a camo pattern.
"Oh, that's cute." Mabel said,
"Did you wear that while changing Amelia's diapers?" Gideon asked.
"So that's where it went." Wendy shook her head, "No I got this after the outbreak of Covid-19."
"What's Covid-19?" Mabel asked.
Soos snapped his fingers. "Right you dudes weren't here for that. Maybe one of the few good sides of being stuck in space."
Darla explained. "In 2019 the Chinese government covered up that a one of their labs researching bat corona viruses messed up and caused an outbreak in the district of Wuhan. By 2020 it became a global pandemic."
Bud continued for his wife. "Covid-19 was the official name given but people called it things like Corona Virus, Wuhan Virus, the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) Virus. Everywhere was under quarantine for months! Most people were stuck in their homes or staying at least six feet apart! With no one driving I couldn't sell any cars! Erika couldn't go to school for a lot of the year!"
Wendy took the mask, "I had to where this mask whenever I went on patrol. People tried to make these things more festive, which now that I think about it, Mabel I bet you would have made a ton of these things most would probably have smiles painted on." Mabel nodded. "But it was a hard time for all of us, there was one thing that really made Grey and me frustrated about the whole situation."
Eight years ago,
"We still can't book our wedding?" Wendy asked on the phone sitting in her patrol car.
Grey sighed on the other side, "No, the chapel said they couldn't hold it with the number we have because social distancing couldn't be maintained. My parents can't even come until the state lifts it's lockdown like Connecticut has.
"This really blows! We were all set to get married then this stupid thing comes around and I can't even kiss my fiancé! And I have to wear this itchy mask everyday I'm out at work!" There were times while on patrol Wendy wished she could scratch her nose,
"At least you can go outside. I must go online to teach the few of my students that I can; and being stuck inside has given me a horrible case of artist block. I've read every book I own and watched everything I wanted to watch. I am hoping you find some supernatural thing that you'll need my help to stop just to stop this boredom."
"No promises, most of the creatures in the forest are afraid we'll infect them. Grey, I'm going to check on Soos, Stan, and Ford before my patrol is over. When I get back home, we can chat online."
"I can't wait for these quarantines to be over so we can marry and move in together."
"Me too, I love you."
"I love you too."
Shortly after that Wendy pulled up to the Mystery Shack and knocked on the door. Soos opened the door wearing a question mark mask, "Wendy! I am so glad to see someone come!"
Soos tried to give Wendy a hug, "Soos! Social distancing man."
"Sorry." Soos said dejectedly,
"I know it's hard, how is the family taking all this?" Wendy asked,
Soos looked over his shoulder, "I don't want Stanley to hear but Wendy, Melody and I are in trouble! Since the lockdowns started, we have had zero customers! If I don't find a way to make $9,000 soon, the Mystery Shack will never open its doors again! We'll have to find new jobs and probably move out of Gravity Falls! Eight years ago, Mr. Pines trusted me to keep this place going and now I failed him and my family."
"Soos this is not your fault! When Stan came back last year and saw what you did with the place, he said you made the Mystery Shack better than he ever did! You can't help that this happened!"
"But what am I going do?"
"We'll figure something out. In the meantime, is there anything I can do to help a former coworker?"
"Could you help me get Waddles inside? It's been getting harder to make him move lately."
They walk over to the porch where Waddles waited for Mabel every day. He had grown so big it took at least two people to pick him up, "Okay big boy time to move." As Wendy gently shook the large pig, she noticed that he didn't even look at her or Soos.
Soos looked into Waddles eyes and just knew he was gone, "Oh no…"
After helping Soos lift Waddles into his truck Wendy asked, "Do you need me to come with you?"
"No Wendy, you need to get back to work. I can get him to the vet and then we figure out what I should do next." Soos said glumly, "I can't help but think this is a bad omen."
As Soos drove away Wendy called Grey. "Grey you wanted something to do, well Soos needs $9,000 or he'll have shut down the Shack. Think you can raise that much money?"
"I'll see what I can do." Grey said,
When Wendy got to Shady Meadows, she rang the doorbell and then walked over to a nearby window. "Wendy it's good to see you." Ford said through the glass,
"How you two holding up?" Wendy asked,
"Getting a little stir crazy to be honest." Stan said,
"I get that but you two are more vulnerable to this thing."
"At the very least this has given me the privacy to work on my trans-dimensional biodetector." Ford held up a blueprint,
"But that thing didn't work the last time you built one to find Dipper and Mabel."
"I think I figured out the flaw in the design but to be sure I'll need certain materials that I can't get in the house."
"So, we're stuck waiting." Stan said, "At least I stocked us up on toilet paper." Stan said,
Wendy wondered who cleaned out the market. She then cleared her throat, "Guys I do have some bad news Soos may have to shut down the Shack."
Stan knew why right away, "Of course, no travel means no tourists to pay the bills. Even I can't sell anything without customers."
"Don't worry Grey is trying to raise the money keep the Shack afloat."
Meanwhile Grey was on the phone with someone, "Is that really all you can give?"
"Sorry Mr. Frost I do feel for your friend, but I have to save what I can to keep my own business open after this is done. You're my daughter's favorite teacher so you have to understand that I have to think of supporting her first." The man on the other side of the line said,
"I understand, thank you for your donation." Grey sighed and hung up, "Just like the others, we'll never save the shack at this rate. There may be one person I could try."
Wendy entered the sheriff's department and found Sheriff Blubbs and Durland looking over a Colorado brochure. "Next year, we just have to wait until next year. Of course, the last one would have to be one of the hardest." Blubbs said,
"Hey guys I got some sad news, Waddles passed away.'' Wendy said,
"Oh no! Did the virus get him?" Durand asked,
"I don't think pigs can get Covid Durland, no he was just old. Soos has an idea for a memorial but the Mystery Shack isn't making any money right now so if any of you can donate to the fund my fiancé has set up that would be awesome."
"I got a way he could make some cash right now." Mathews said, "I'll pay good money for that huge porker. It would be great for a barbeque." He then started laughing.
"Not cool Mathews!" Wendy said, "That pig was Mabel's pet and for years he waited for her to come home! This is painful those who knew her!"
"Alright, I was only kidding sheesh!"
"I'm not sure how much we can raise." Blubbs said, "But right now we need to talk about increasing patrols in residential area to deter these thefts of peoples' deliveries."
"Dang porch pirates." Wendy groaned.
A few days later up in thier penthouse apartment Preston and Priscilla Northwest heard a video call coming in on the computer in the office. "Who is and how did you get our private number?" Preston asked.
"My name is Grey Frost, a local schoolteacher, one of you employees suggested you might be able to help me help someone through this difficult time." Grey said.
Priscilla gave an annoyed sigh, "Everyone is asking us for money these days. I understand that most can't work with the lockdowns, but we have already set aside a sizable part of our fortune to support our employees until this all passes."
"But the longer these lockdowns last then the less money we'll have to keep our company afloat. If it goes down, then our employees will have to find work elsewhere." Preston said.
"Mr. and Mrs. Northwest, I know this is hard on everyone but my fiancée who works in the sheriff's department told me about your daughter. She disappeared along with two of her friends, but a journal found at the sight said that she wanted to try to help you be better people. This is for the Mystery Shack and the family that depends on it. The man who runs it was close to your daughter's friends. Ask yourselves, is this something Pacifica would want you to help with? I already raised about $1,500 with donations from around the town but we are still $7,500 short."
The Northwests looked at a photo of Pacifica on the desk holding her first paycheck from the diner. It was one of the last times they saw her smile. "We could pull from our vacation account." Preston sighed.
"I doubt we can go the Bahamas this year anyway with the travel restrictions." Priscilla said.
"Thank you, I'm sure your daughter would be proud." Grey said.
"Yes, yes, who do I make the check out to?" Preston asked.
The next day Wendy was eager to give Soos the news. As she drove along however, she saw little Erika Gleeful and Stanley Ramirez playing outside without masks on. "Hey what are you doing?" Wendy said after making sure she had her mask on.
"We were bored staying inside all day!" Erika whined. "We set up this ramp to jump our bikes off of."
"We saw some big kids doing it before everyone was stuck at home and Erika wanted to try it herself." Stanley said.
Wendy sighed. "I get it. This whole thing has been unfair for everyone but for you kids most of all, not able to go to school or see your friends face to face without masks. Everyone is worried about getting sick, but we can't let it stop us from living. Still you both need to go home for two reasons first, Erika you are never going to jump a ramp if you are still using training wheels also you should start on a much lower one until you get the hang of landing. Start small."
"Mom and Dad are too scared that I'll fall and hurt myself if they take them off." Erika complained.
"Second, Stanley I have good news for your dad, and it will mean a whole lot more if you're there." Wendy smiled behind her mask.
"Okay." Both children said.
After dropping off Erika, Wendy was back at the Mystery Shack. "Soos great news! Grey was able to get donations from all over town including from the Northwests! This should be plenty to keep the Shack in business and you guys in town until this whole thing is over.
"Wow, I don't know what say Wendy. Thank you." Soos said tearing up.
"Hey, it wouldn't be Gravity Falls without the Mystery Shack."
Eight years later,
"True, it wouldn't be home without it." Mabel said rubbing her belly. "Isn't that right little ones?"
"I glad to hear that Mabel. That virus was the hardest time in my whole career running the shack." Soos said.
"I just hope these kids never have to go through something like that." Pacifica mused. "Still that was one of the turning points for my parents wasn't it?"
"I guess, it was just a few weeks after that that the state relaxed some of the restrictions and I was finally able to have my wedding." Wendy said. "Helping out Soos really connected Grey to the community."
"I'm glad to have heard this." Gideon said looking at his family. "We weren't the only ones to struggle while we were away."
"Honestly, I don't remember much from that time, but I guess I always wanted to be a daredevil. Thanks for getting me on the path sheriff." Erika said with a wink.
"Don't remind me." Wendy groaned.
"Well with the data in Ixcia hopefully we can avoid pandemics like that." Dipper said look through some more of the baby things. "I still can hardly believe it. I'm going to be someone's dad."
"Well it's getting easier for us to believe it Mason." Pacifica pointed to her and Mabel's bellies.
"And in about a month you should be feeling kicks, trust me." Wendy said.
"Wow, I've seen the rainbow colors of the Kaidoti Nebula from the crystal spires of Todvi 5 and faced an almost all power dream demon but nothing is filling me with both more wonder and fear then that there is going to be four lives that are completely dependent on us in just a few months. Fifteen years lost in another galaxy will be a cake walk compared to eighteen of having normal kids under our roof." Dipper mused. "And I can't wait to hold them in my arms.
Authors note: I hope you all enjoyed this bonus chapter. I felt like I had to make something that reflected our times. The $9,000 was the real amount of money that Gravity Falls fans raised to save real world inspiration of the Mystery Shack Confusion Hill. Here's to a time when this Pandemic is just a distant memory and thank you for supporting Gravity Galaxy, it has been a great ride that just has one more chapter to put up before it's over. Thank you.