I do not own Gravity Falls.


Prompt: Family


Warmth in the Cold

The wind howled outside, causing the old, wooden shack to creak and moan. Up in the attic Dipper and Mabel were bundled up with blankets, attempting to sleep through the raging blizzard. But the attic was not well-heated, despite Ford's attempted modifications to the furnace. The twins huddled together in Dipper's bed to try and share body heat.

"D-d-do we have a-any m-m-more blankets?" asked Mabel through chattering teeth.

Dipper cast a glance at Mabel's bed across the room, which was stripped bare, as all pillows and blankets had been moved to his bed. "No."

They were currently weighed down with several layers of sheets and blankets, but Dipper's toes were still frozen. He shivered and rolled over, fingers curling into the fabric of his dark red wool blanket. Mabel curled up against him, sticking her cold hands underneath her armpits.

"W-w-we're going t-t-to freeze to d-d-death," she said solemnly.

Waddles, who was snuggled comfortably at the end of the bed, seemingly unaffected by the drafty and cold attic, oinked softly and nuzzled Mabel's feet. She giggled and tapped him lightly with her toe. "That tickles!"

Dipper stared at the ceiling, listening as the window rattled in its frame. "I think i-i-it's time to g-g-go to Plan B."

"Grunkles?"

"Grunkles."

The twins wrestled their way out of the bed, dragging a few blankets with them. Mabel snagged her pet pig with one arm and the two hurried downstairs, where they were immediately bathed in warmth from the softly-humming heater.

When they reached the end of the hall they split off, Dipper heading into one room and Mabel going into another. She crept across the wooden floor and put Waddles on the end of the bed. The mattress sagged slightly with the additional weight. Waddles circled a few times before settling down contently over Stan's feet.

"Ugh," grunted Stan, disturbed from sleep by the pig. "Wassamatter?"

"We're cold," said Mabel softly, crawling beside her great-uncle. "Can we sleep with you?"

Stan groaned softly and rolled over, staring at her through narrowed, bleary eyes. "There's a couch, runt."

"But I don't want to sleep on the couch." She burrowed her way under the blankets and was engulfed by the cozy warmth of the sheets and covers.

"What, you left your brother to freeze?"

"No, silly. He's going to sleep with Ford. I'm gonna have a sleepover with you. Please?"

"Fine," grumbled Stan. "But if you snore, you're out of here."

She laughed softly and cuddled against him, almost immediately falling asleep. A smile curled across Stan's face and he wrapped his arms around her small form.

"Goodnight, squirt."

Across the hall, Dipper was lingering in the doorway of Ford's room. He studied the man's sleeping form and hesitantly entered the abode. Not wanting to wake him, he carefully climbed onto the bed, laying down at the very edge. He tried to keep as still as possible and closed his eyes.

"You can't be comfortable."

Dipper nearly fell out of the bed in surprise. He turned over and found himself face-to-face with Ford, who was regarding him in sleepy amusement. "Sorry," whispered Dipper. "I didn't want to wake you. It's really cold in the attic. Mabel's with Stan and I thought…"

He trailed off, and Ford said, "Of course you can sleep here, Dipper. Just try not to hog the blankets. And get away from the edge before you fall out and crack your head open."

Beaming, Dipper rolled into the middle of the bed and snuggled under the blankets. He was on the brink of slumber as he felt a hand move gently through his brown locks, and then he was out like a light, no longer feeling cold.