Hey guys! Here is my next chapter! I really encourage you guys to review if you feel compelled! I am always looking for tips, and honestly this is turning into one of my favorite plots that I have written, so I would love if you guys gave some input on how you want the story to go! I kind of have an ending planned out, but I would love any help getting there! These next few chapters may also be a bit shorter, classes are just starting up, but I am determined to stick with this! It gives me something fun to do! So without further hesitation here is chapter 3!

The next morning Stan awoke feeling weak, groggy, and overall more miserable then he was when he went to sleep last night. For a long time he really debated getting up at all, after all what was even the point? He was dying, and he couldn't tell anyone. Outside of his family he didn't really have "friends", and he just couldn't put his family through this. They were far too important to him.

It was the thought of his family that finally convinced him to get up and try to live. He thought that if he could get up and moving he could at least stay a little longer. Maybe walking around an hour or two a day and eating better wouldn't cure him, but maybe it could keep him here long enough to see Mabel in the school play and to open Christmas presents with his family all around him It would without a doubt be a huge battle, but was a battle Stan Pines was determined to win.

He got up and headed downstairs. He found Ford drinking coffee while reading through the morning paper. "Good morning Stanley!" Ford said pleasantly, "You know I never thought I would say this, but without Bill this town has almost gotten boring! I mean the front page story is about how lazy Susan changed the drapes in the diner!" Ford said with a laugh.

Stan let out a slight chuckle as he poured himself a cup of black coffee (he may be trying to be healthier, but coffee was one of the joys in life Stan Pines wouldn't give up for anything) "Well personally, I would much rather be bored then have to deal with that again!" Stan said as he took a sip of coffee. He had to admit it was cheering him up slightly just having a casual conversation with his brother. After all of their adventures at sea, Stan had forgotten how nice it was to just talk with his brother. "I wonder if this is what all of those motivational speakers are talking about when they say crisis makes you more sentimental to the little things in life?" Stan thought to himself.

They continued talking for a good long while, about everything and nothing all at the same time. After a while Stan finally looked up, and really looked at his brother. His twin and spitting image, not once during those 35 plus years had he ever considered Ford to be less than his best friend, and better half. They had been though their fair share of challenges, both separately and together, but when Stan really thought about it there was no one else on earth he wanted to be his brother more than Ford. "Hey sixer, remember when you told me I grew up to look like dad?" Stan said with a slight smirk.

Ford nodded with a mix of sadness and confusion, "Yes, Stanley I want you to know that I'm sorry if that comment hurt you. I had allowed myself to forget your relationship with our father, and it wasn't fair to you. I should have been more sensitive," Ford admitted. He thought it was odd for Stan to bring this up now out of the blue, but he did understand how his words may have hurt Stan. "Why do you ask?" he inquired, curiosity getting the best of him.

"I was just thinking of how you remind me of mom," Stan said plainly. Ford laughed out loud thinking that it was Stan's way of backhandedly insulting him. "I mean it Ford, like obviously you don't look like an old Italian new jersey woman, but you do remind me of her, you have the same gentle demeanor and wisdom that she always had," Stan said softly. "Mom was prettier than you though," Stan said with a laugh.

Ford laughed right back, but he really was touched by Stan's comment. Even after they had made up and mended their relationship they still rarely complemented each other like that. "Well Stanley, to be fair you may have some of father's physical features, but for the record I want you to know that I sincerely believe you are a far better man than he ever was," Ford said with true sincerity in his voice.

Stan smiled as tears formed in his eyes. His heart really didn't know how much it needed to hear those words from Ford. He had begun coming to peace with not pleasing his father. He knew deep down that his dad wasn't the type worth pleasing, but hearing Ford say he was a stronger man then his dad gave him full closure. Who cares if their father went to his grave thinking Stan was a screw-up? Stanford Pines thought that he was a better man than him, and he would rather die a man in his brother's eyes then anything in his father's eyes.

Both Stan and Ford wiped their respective tears and continued with lighter conversation mainly consisting of Dipper and Mabel and how pleased they were that the children appeared to have their relationship built on such a firm foundation. After a while Stan got a great idea. "Hey sixer, would you be up for a game of golf? It's been so long since we played, and by played I of course mean it's been a long time since I had the pleasure of kicking your butt," Stan said with a light chuckle.

"Ummm dear brother I'm afraid we may have done a pretty poor job of restoring your memory if you can't remember that it was I who was always beating you! Haha remember I have the six finger grip advantage," Ford said proudly wiggling his fingers in Stan's face. Stan got up and fetched their clubs from the closet, "Well what's say we settle this like the amazing men we have established each other to be?" Stan said with a smile. Ford nodded, giving his brother a signature high six as they headed for the door.