"Grunkle Stan, why don't you want us calling anymore? Don't you still like us?" Mabel's voice was cracking, a sure sign she was on the verge of tears. Stan felt awful, he was so worried that it had been the doctor. He had to think fast, after all the kids were the main factor in him not wanting to tell anyone. Of course he didn't want Ford and Soos knowing, but they were adults (at least Ford was). They would be worried, but they could handle it. The kids on the other hand had enough to worry about with school, and the general nightmare that was puberty for them to worry about him. Stan thought very carefully before he spoke again.

"Of course I still like you pumpkin! It's just this darn election season! If I have to hear Trump talk about making America great again one more time I'm going to personally find him and make him see red white and blue!" Stan said, trying to insert enough political humor to get Mabel to giggle. He loved when she laughed, and when she made others laugh. He wanted her to always keep things light…she would make the world all the better for it.

"So how's your brother?" Stan asked after a few moments of small talk. Mabel explained that Dipper was gone for the weekend with a science club from school. For a moment Stan detected a small hint of sadness from his niece. He knew all too well how it felt to be left in the shadow of someone, just because they had a skill that you didn't. After today he knew that with the time he had left that he had to make sure Mabel understood how special she was. He had to make sure she and Dipper wouldn't go down a similar path to Ford and himself.

"Guess what Grunkle Stan? I just found out today that I've been cast as Eliza Hamilton in our school's production of Hamilton. Remember, it's the musical I told you and Grunkle Ford about? I get to kiss a boy and everything! We end up having 8 kids together and after he dies I outlive him by 50 years! How cool is that?" Mabel said, as she chatted excitedly. Stan couldn't help but smile as she spoke. He wasn't much of a musical person himself (though after Mabel had forced him to listen to the soundtrack he did find himself humming the song that King George sung about killing people to remind the colonies of his love). He was proud to see that even though Mabel wasn't the science wiz that Dipper was she was still finding her own way to shine.

She rambled on for a few more minutes basically recounting the whole story line (Stan may have failed high school history, but after the number of times Mabel had told both Ford and himself the story he was confident he would never forget the "10 dollar founding father without a father"). Stan listened more patiently this time though, even though she had spoken about this particular show many times before this was probably the first time he truly listened. "That's great pumpkin…..I really am proud of you, you know that right?" Stan said, clearing his throat trying to shake the lump that was forming there.

"Of course I do Grunkle Stan! So opening night is right before Christmas Break, and I was hoping sense we are spending Christmas with you guys maybe you and Grunkle Ford can come down and see it, and then take Dipper and I back with you! We can have a road trip in the stan-mobile! Just like old times!" Mabel said. She sounded so excited and optimistic that it made Stan want to curl up in a ball and just sob, but he had to be strong.

"Well pumpkin…..I can sure try," Stan said choking back tears like his life depended on it.

"Promise?" Mabel asked her voice full of innocence and hope.

"I promise" Stan said gently, He couldn't help it, he was like puddy in her hands.

"Cross your heart, and hope to die, stick some glitter in your eye?" Mabel asked playfully completing the childhood saying with her own twist.

"Cross my heart," he said plainly.

"Hope to die, stick glitter in your eye!" Mabel said, blissfully unaware of the deep meaning that those words now held to her Grunkle.

"Yeah, yeah" Stan said, trying so hard not to completely break, but feeling himself fail with every passing moment.

"Can I talk to Grunkle Ford? I want to tell him all about the show, and see if he can give me any historical tips for how to make my character more convincing!" Mabel said, knowing that Ford would naturally have more basic knowledge of the mannerisms of Eliza Hamilton then he would.

"Sure sweetie, hey Mabel….I love you, you know that right? No matter what I may have said this summer or how grumpy I got or how many times I said you knuckleheads were driving me crazy you and your brother mean the whole world to me, and I consider myself very lucky to have been able to look after you two this past summer," Stan said knowing that it absolutely needed to be said, even if he was the only one hearing it.

"Wow Grunkle Stan! Haha you should work with me at hallmark one day making greeting cards!" Mabel said just laughing. Stan felt like a damn about to burst, so before Mabel could say anything else he quickly handed the phone to Ford, who was focusing on a sci-fi film on television. He paused it once he heard Mabel's voice on the phone, and as Stan climbed the stairs to his room he heard them begin to talk and laugh about Mabel's junior high debut.

Stan threw off his work clothes and climbed onto his bed, and then curling up under the covers and in the silence and safety of the darkness Stan Pines allowed himself to completely break down sobbing, and for the first time in a long while Stan cried himself to sleep.