Mabel and Gideon sat across from one another. He watched as Mabel was brought her food. She thanked the one that brought it, but still was unnaturally quiet. There was another problem too. Mabel was alone. Gideon had never known to travel alone. She always was in the company of Dipper, Grenda, Candy, Grunkle Stan, hell even Pacifica at times. Then there was the problem of her missing pig. Waddles had not been seen traveling with her, had not arrived with her. Mabel loved Waddles and Waddles loved Mabel. They where kindred spirits. She lifted her head and he smiled reassuringly. Quickly looking down she began slowly picking at her food.

That quietness, "No a Silence," Gideon realized.

Something had stolen his Mabel's voice. He began eating. If he was right he should be getting to the bottom of things in the next couple of moments. Mabel was assuredly safe. When he had founded this place for those like him that were never going to fit in, he had told them all about the incredible girl that had put him on his better path. Mabel didn't know it, but she was smack center in a refuge for human monsters, ones that wanted a chance to be better and knew they were not going to get it out in the world. Yes, everyone here, including himself, was a monster, and each of them loved her.

"How is your dinner Mabel, Dear?"

"Fine, Thank you."

"Did Dipper reach Pacifica?"

Mabel shot back away from the table, her plate and silverware clatttering to the floor.

"How did you know Dipper would..."

He held up his hands. "Simple logic, My Dear. The only way you could be in this much distress is if Dipper and you were separated by circumstance. Since you came here, he would therefore go to Pacifica. I may be your personal monster, but Pacifica is his. Please sit. No one will harm you here."

Mabel glanced at the door, she was sure she could reach it, but then she glanced back at Gideon, not the fat young man he had been. Now he was slender and tall. She remembered summers after Weirdmagadden. He had been her first kiss, then the summers would end and he would just let her go. After that first summer he never again tried to control her in any way. But, even after he decided to mend his ways, she still knew that he was a monster. It didn't stop her from loving him, nor him her. He never tried to force her to stay. She knew that even if he lied, he would never harm her, never betray her.

Slowly she sat back down, "This place is safe?"

Gideon Chuckled, "Of course," Then checked his watch. "In fact I will prove it, count down from ten for me, will you dear?"

Mabel looked at him a moment more, then nodded, she began to count. "10,"

Mabel's spilled plate and silverware were taken "9,"

Buford, the man that had attended to her, entered the room and stood by an empty chair. "8,"

A whip thin Hispanic man, in a well tailored white suit entered and stood on the side of her, nearest the empty chair "7,"

The man in the suit touched his ear and nodded "6,"

The door behind Gideon opened and two large, square shouldered women took positions on either side of it "5,"

The Older woman that had taken Mabel's dish took a place standing next to her "4,"

A commotion was heard at the end of the hallway, as two very scary looking men escorted a third. "3"

Mabel recognized the third man and almost bolted, but the older woman laid a hand on her and Mabel suddenly felt safe "2,"

The man, one that had inflict tremendous horror on Mabel was made to sit in the chair. "1"

Gideon smiled, ever the showman. "See Miss Mabel, here you are surrounded by those that want only to protect you. For you see each of these individuals in this room, with the exception of you of course, used to be very bad. It was just in our inclination and nature to be so. But, being around you inspired me to teach others what you taught me. That just because that my inclination was to be a monster did not mean that I had to be monstrous. It is that lesson that I taught to all of them. Without you these people would have never found the family that they did. They would still be wandering lost in the dark and the wilderness. But here they are, with people that understand, and we all help each other redirect those bad impulses to accomplishing positive things. So you see, since without you they would never have had those things, each and every one is grateful to you. Sometimes Mabel it is good to be beloved of the devil, he tends to get more done."

As he finished, Mabel knew she was safe. Safe and surrounded by the scariest people ever and each one of them wanted to protect her. Wanted to keep her safe. A smile formed on her lips and she eased back in her chair. The elder woman stood behind her and just let Mabel rest.

The man in the chair, the one that had been a constant source for her nightmares, laughed. "I see she has you all going, huh. She's just pitting you against us. She's using you. Return her to us, and you'll never have to see her Duplicitous being again."

Mabel's smile vanished, is that what she was doing? Was she really that shallow? Her racing thoughts were halted as Gideon and all his followers started laughing. Mabel looked up and saw the older woman smiling down on her, Mabel again relaxed back in her chair, only this time the matron leaned over and wrapped her arms around the younger woman and cooed soothingly to her.

"Of course Mabel came to us for that reason." Gideon answered as his followers stopped laughing and began to glare at the man before them. "None of us care about that, Mabel is here, and you DARE want to take her from ME. I care not why she is here, if she needs protection she has it, if she asks me to wipe your filthy little family from the face of this world I will do it with nary a thought, nor a bit of guilt. If any of yours come for her, I will return them in Mason jars, POD. You would be amazed what Granny Yaga over there can do with preserves."

The woman holding Mabel nodded to Gideon, Mabel didn't care, even as she noticed that the old woman had iron fingernails, she felt safe as she snuggled in deeper.

Gideon continued, "I do have one question for you, one that I was afraid to ask Mabel. I had no wish to risk upsetting her till she was reassured of her safety, but where is Waddles?"

Mabel tensed, tears began to stream done her face. She pulled Granny Yaga as close as there positions allowed, as she began to sob.

"Waddles? Oh, you mean the Pig? He was good eating, made plenty of bacon." Gideon's eyes widened, but it was Bufford who spoke.

"You what!?" The thunderous growl, silenced all in the room. Bufford placed a hand on the Man in the chair. "You ate Waddles? Mr. Gideon I would like a moment alone with this thing."

Gideon glanced back to the Hispanic man, "Emanuel, do you have an issue with Bufford's request."

Emaneul shook his head, "No sir, this room is secure, plus we have cameras placed to monitor Buffords' conversation."

Gideon smiled then turned back to his Second. "Before I leave you to the tender mercies of Buford here, I would like to know your name."

"Heh, My name is Ezekial of the family Malachite."

Gideon shrugged, "Thank you, and before I and the rest of us leave, I feel I should inform you that Buford in the past had a Pet Pig and reacted badly when it was slaughtered. He had been quite looking forward to meeting Waddles."

The man looked back at Buford and for the first time realized that exactly how screwed he really was. He turned to Mabel fear clear in his eye.

"Mabel, you gotta help me."

To the surprise of no one other then him, Mabel's answer was devoid of mercy. "Oh, Like you helped me and my brother, like when you forced me to eat Waddles or starve, do you mean like that. or when your older brother forced me to marry him at the price of Dipper's life, then tried to kill him anyway after I went through with it all, even the wedding night.

Granny Yaga held Mabel tighter as everyone in the room looked to Gideon. For a second eyes that where not his own, famaliar to Mabel appeared on his face. Then he stopped, closed his eyes, and upon opening them they were his again.

"Everyone I think it would be wise if we all left Buford to his conversation, before I do something regretful."

As they all left Mabel waited for Gideon, outside. As he exited she wrapped her arms around him and began crying again. "Gideon, I am so Sorry, I..."

Mabel felt as Gideon pulled her in tight. Again he kissed her on the top of her head just as she liked, then he spoke, his confident voice banishing her fears. "Mabel, I told you before, I don't care why you came, you're here. That is what matters. Now why don't you and I go to the Kitchen and get some snacks, I meant it when I said that Granny Yaga is amazing when it comes to preserves of all sorts."

Nodding, Mabel allowed Gideon to lead her away, never once letting go of him.