This is the third chapter I've written in one night. Do I have a problem-?
Well anyway, here is chapter 3 of "Welcome Home"!
Bill felt decent, to his surprise. He was mainly wondering why that the lady at the donut shop hadn't poisoned him with the free treat. Perhaps she was a new employee, or had recently moved to the strange town that was Gravity Falls. Bill was currently walking back to the same bench he had been previously sitting on earlier in the day. And many days before this particular one. It's not like he had anything happening in his new, pathetic life he loathed having to call his own. What was he to do now?
Meanwhile, back at the Mystery shack, Stan pines was sitting on the yellow one-seater couch in the living room, watching a game show on the TV in front of him. He laughed mockingly at how the TV host had tripped over his own ankle. Stan had closed the gift shop earlier that morning, not bothering to dress into his ordinary work attire. He was still recovering from his memory being wiped after the events of Weirdmageddon. Specifically when his brother had to take such an action in order to save the town of Gravity Falls, as well as the universe from the awful Bill Cipher that once was. And while Stan was doing much better as of recently, he felt especially strange the past few days for reasons he couldn't quite explain.
Ford walked into the living room with a tray in hand. On the tray were stacked pancakes and a bottle of maple syrup. Stan looked up at his brother as he walked towards him and gave an approving nod towards his brother as a gestured, 'Thank you'. Ford offered him a small smile and picked up a magazine from off the floor after setting the tray of breakfast atop Stan's lap.
Stan turned down the TV's volume and set it over on the skull beside the couch. Ford looked up. "Are you feeling any better, Stanley?" He asked.
Stan nodded his head at the question as he dug in to his pancakes. "Closed the shop today," Stan informed. "Figured it'd be easier to have less on my mind for the day and focus on rememberin' stuff. Some smaller memories, ya know?" He continued.
Ford set the magazine down on the couch. "That's a nice idea." He replied, not bothering to bring up the fact that he had been suggesting Stan take that action for the past week. "Though you could always let Soos run the gift shop for the days you don't feel like working. You did give him the job, after all." He reminded, folding his arms.
Stan looked up at his brother and grunted. "If we're not takin' that trip on sea, I don't need to keep him on the Mr. Mystery job." He replied. Ford furrowed his brows slightly, but said nothing. "Now less talkin', more remote-givin'." He commanded, just barely extending his arms out in a poor attempt to reach the remote. Ford rolled his eyes and handed Stan said remote.
Ford left his brother there in the living room for the time being and walked over to the kitchen instead. By the table sat Dipper and Mabel, flinging rubber bands at each other. Mabel unintentionally hit Dipper in the eye with one of her rubber bands. She gasped and apologized, followed by a giggle. Dipper looked back at his sister with an almost evil-like grin. "Oh, you've done it now, sister!" He chided with a laugh.
"Bring it!" Mabel shot back, giving a wide grin that showed off her braces as Dipper chased her out of the kitchen. The twins disappeared through the back door to head outside.
Ford gave a small smile at the children's behavior. Regardless of his strict warnings he had given on the portal being restarted, a part of him couldn't help but feel grateful that Stanley had brought him back to Gravity Falls. After 30 long years of surviving in other dimensions across the multiverse, this family was a silver lining. Ford was glad that he hadn't been too late to see his great niece and nephew in their childhood. He cherished the time with the young twins whenever possible. They had just turned 13 a few months ago, and he had to make the best of the time that he still had. He knew better than anyone how much time can fly. Especially in one dimension he had visited in his travels where clocks and hourglasses had literally flown.
I'm glad they're safe. Ford thought to himself. Who knows what would have happened had Bill harmed my family any more than what had been caused by Weirdmageddon in general. Stanford was relieved it was all over. It was finally over. The awful demon Bill Cipher was no more, a feeling that Ford knew he would be forever grateful for. Finally, he could lay back a bit more and spend some much-needed quality time with his family.
Ford looked out the kitchen window to see the twins playing. Mabel fell down, and Dipper laughed before helping her up. That's when Ford had an idea.
I'll take everyone out to town tomorrow, now that there's been no signs of Bill. Perhaps it would help Stan remember some of the other residents of the town. Ford still wasn't sure if Stan had come across any of them since his brainwash. Maybe it would be good for him to find some people he once knew. After working the Mystery Shack for so long (And running for mayor of Gravity Falls) surely lots of people were familiar with him.
Dipper ran back inside after Mabel. Their war was coming to an end. Stan walked into the kitchen and began cheering on the children to begin a wrestling battle when they scrambled to grab more rubber bands than the other.
Ford sighed. His family was crazier than ever since Bill had been stopped. Not that such a thing was so bad. As long as they were all having fun, that's what mattered.
Stan yawned and scratched his back. "I think I'm gonna get some sleep before The Ducktectve Movie begins." he announced. Dipper and Mabel nodded. The young twins ran off towards the living room. Grunkle Stan waved goodnight, and started towards his room. Ford stopped him once Stan was out of earshot from the kids, grabbing his wrist. Stan groaned, showing his annoyance, and turned around. "What's the deal, pointdexter?" He asked his brother.
Ford looked at Stan with a much more serious expression than the one he was given. "Stanley, I've noticed that lately you've been twisting and turning when you fall asleep ever since Weirdmageddon, Until the past few nights, where you finally looked more at peace. is everything alright?" He asked Stan, folding his arms.
Stan scratched his head for a moment. "Uh, I don't know..," He started, scratching his head. "I kept having these weird dreams about Bill trying to leave my whole... mind place, or something." He said, holding onto his forehead.
Ford thought for a moment. No logical explanations came to him. "Perhaps you're in fright of him returning? After everything that happened, there's a high probability of that." Ford suggested.
"Hm, maybe." Stanley responded. "Eh, nevermind that. Night, Pointdexter." He said, walking down the hallway.
Ford said his farewell before folding his arms, looking down at the carpet. He shook his head in thought. He couldn't think of an idea for how to help his brother. Surely something would come to him.
That's it for this chapter! My plan is to have Ford and Bill bump into each other on the Pines trip to town in the next chapter, just to be evil and give Ford something to worry about. Thanks for bothering to read this far into the story, by the way! I hope you enjoy what is yet to come.
