A/N: Warning- This chapter has very mild themes and a bit of violence (nothing to extreme).

Chapter 2- Party Time Pt. 1
I slowly came into consciousness as I woke up from the warm and lucid dream. I got up and propped myself against my bed frame, unmoving.

It was the same dream I've been having for the past week. Well it wasn't a dream it actually happened so you can say it's more like a replay of events. The dream/replay, we'll call it a replay, always started off by clinging against a wall with Dipper and myself making our way towards the garage. I don't know why I keep having the same replay over and over again, but I darn sure didn't hate it. I actually really liked having these replays...

I turned my head and eyed my twin brother Dipper who was still sleeping. His chest slowly rose and fell; he looked so peaceful in his sleep. His hair was all messed up with split ends pointing everywhere, but most of all his lips... Oh God his lips opened and closed slightly with every breath he took. They look so soft, like cotton candy and bubblegum...

I felt a pang in my chest and I shook my head. Is it just me, or did the room just rise by a few hundred degree's?

"Mmm, Mabel..."

I flinched at the sound of my name and continued to stare at Dipper. His brows furrowed as he mumbled in his sleep. Was he dreaming about me?

I slowly got up from my bed. Not wanting to make any noise to wake him up, I tip toed- ever so slowly towards my brothers bed. From there, I bend over to look at my Dipper. I touched his face gently and immediately he relaxed. In his sleep, he let out a sigh and smiled. I couldn't help but smile back, he relaxed from my touch...

"Don't worry Dippy, I'm here for you."

I stroked his hair and carefully, I laid down next to him. I allowed my eyes to wander freely and they landed on his closed eyes. Oh how badly I wanted to stare at them again, the way they sparkled against the moon light and the way they reflected the stars. I noticed things I've never really saw in Dipper before. He was adventurous, courageous, brave, smart, curious, and talented in solving mystery's. Just what's not to love about him? No, no wait that came out wrong- you know what? Forget it!

The more I thought about it, the more my heart beat quickened. I thought about the time he saved me from an army of gnomes, when he saved me from a falling tree when we were running away from the Gobblewonker, the time he bravely fought the wax figure of Sherlock Holmes, I can just go on and on!

I stroked his cheek and I knew I was trudging on dangerous territory but I just couldn't resist myself. Ever felt like you saw someone in the time of darkness and he/she shined against the morning light? Well that was Dipper... If he could just give me something I want...

I leaned in closer, his breath was warm against my neck. My heart was racing like a stampede of horses running across a plain. I started to tremble from nervousness but I willed myself to do it.

In a whisper I stuttered, "D-D-Dipper..."

"Uh... Yeah?"

My eyes opened at the speed of light and I stared at the half dazed Dipper. I was merely centimeters away from him and I froze where I was. I just hovered there for a second... His eyes still glimmered and shined, but once he found out what I was doing in his bed...

"M-Mabel?" -He said running a hand through his hair- "Is that you?"

I felt my brain overload. My mind was just screaming 'MISSION ABORT! MISSION ABORT!' Little Mabel's started running around in my head with written papers flying everywhere. A fire erupted in my brain and the computer monitors started to shut down from the heat. The little Mabel's rushed around screaming 'THE END IS NEAR' and I imagined one pushing the one button I only use in an emergency!

"U-u-uh, u-umm..."

Dipper completely opened his eyes and he stared at me, "Mabel... What are you doing in my be-"

"GLITTER CANNON!"

"... What?"

I grabbed something underneath Dippers bed and before I fired it I yelled, "LONG LIVE KING WADDLES!

"MABEL WA-"

I fired with all I got and I screamed in fear. I sprayed everywhere, in my mind the bedroom suddenly turned into a battlefield. Little Mabel's fell over as angry Dipper head missile's fell from the sky.

I felt my glitter cannon empty out and all that was left was a soft *click, click*. I was hyperventilating but I finally came to my senses. I blinked once, I blinked twice. But all I saw was a huge glob of glitter that covered Dipper's bed.

"Mabel..." The glitter man mumbled.

I laughed nervously, "Um... You look bright as the big dipper?"

I saw two eyes become visible from all the glistening glitter that covered his whole body and they didn't look amused, "I call first dibs for the shower..."

I nodded, "Fair enough."

(*, My Big Dipper ,*)

"I can't believe you kids took the golf cart, when I said you can't take the golf cart!" Grunkle Stan shouted.

At this point, Dipper and I weren't afraid of our uncles ranting. We got used to it. He didn't even look the least bit threatening when he only wore his undershirt and boxers.

"The next time the both of you even LOOK at the garage, you're both dead! Do you know how much it's going to cost me to buy a new golf cart AND have the garage door fixed!?"

He continued to go on and on but I drowned out the sound by staring at my oatmeal. I chewed happily as I added a few more bits of fruit into my bowl. Beside me was Dipper who was reading the local newspaper, not even focusing on his toast.

"Hey, Dipper?"

He didn't even look up but responded, "What is it?"

"You should eat your breakfast, it'll get cold soon."

He merely nodded and he put his focus back onto his newspaper. I just sighed heavily and stirred my oatmeal with my spoon. The morning routine was the same thing over and over again for the past week. Grunkle Stan, which was our uncles real name, placed us under house arrest. We couldn't go outside until we finished all of our work in the Shack. We even had to do a little extra work in the Shack to make up for some more of the damage we've caused. I didn't mind of course since it was light work, but it's also because I got to work along side with Dipper...

"You got that?" Said Grunkle Stan, finishing his rant.

I just nodded as I started to space out, I knew what I was feeling in my gut might be true, but I can't accept them. The risk was just to great, I just got to keep them out of my heart but I can't ignore them either.

"Glad that you accepted my offer!" Grunkle Stan smiled.

"Wait, what offer?" I said shaking my head.

Grunkle Stan look puzzled, "What? Didn't you both hear a word I said? You're both going to work for me during the party. You know the both of you still owe for the damages!"

We both groaned in misery. We both knew that working for Grunkle Stan in one of his 'scams' is one of the worst ideas ever.

"Grunkle Stan, is it going to be like one of those other 'make money to pay back the damages' jobs again? Just like family bonding day?"

Grunkle Stan placed a finger on his chin and began to think.

(*, Flash Back ,*)

The both of us sat down together in a dimly lit room with ink and paint. Strips of paper stacked near the walls and the air smelled of moss and dust.

I just finished painting a hundred dollar bill and set it to dry on a clothes dryer. I had no idea what I was doing but Grunkle Stan said it was for a good cause.

He came up to the hundred dollar bill and flipped his eye patch, "You call that Ben Franklin? He looks like a women!"

Suddenly police sirens rang from the outside and with an "uh oh" from Grunkle Stan, the doors busted open with S.W.A.T teams surrounding us. They all pointed their guns at us and we surrendered our only weapons, which were paint brushes.

"FREEZE IN THE NAME OF THE LAW!" One officer yelled.

"PLEASE OFFICERS, IT WASN'T ME!" Grunkle Stan cried as he fell to his knees, "IT WAS THE KIDS! THEY FORCED ME TO DO THIS HORRIBLE, UNLAWFUL THING!"

The officer looked at me, "Were you the one behind all this missy?"

I held up the Ben Franklin that I painted and giggled, "Our uncle said that it looked like a women!"

The officer's eyes narrowed...

(*, End of Flashback ,*)

I shivered, "The county jail was so cold..."

"Yeah well, it's nothing illegal! We're just gonna scam the kids, now you'll start working right now!"

"But we didn't even finish eating breakfast yet!" I complained.

"Well by the looks of it, Dipper's looking at a stupid newspaper and you're just stirring your oatmeal while spacing out. So take these flayers and make some copies of it, also hand them out to the stupid kids."

Grunkle Stan handed us a flayer each and I read it. It looked like a normal party invitation but the only thing that was off was a small 'Free?' at the bottom of the page.

'This is going to be stupid...' I thought to myself.

But then it hit me, like a speeding bullet train. I felt myself grin from ear to ear and started formulating a plan. Exactly what do you do at parties? You guessed it, you dance! And what's a better opportunity then to ask out your crush to a dance when he's forced to go to the party anyway? I was going to be working with Dipper, side by side. We'll laugh, tell jokes, flirt, then we'll dance on the dance floor, we'll hold hands and go outside to lay down on the grass, we can look at stars... And for the finally, we'll kiss... Lips to lips and he'll hold the back of my head, pressing his warm body against mine!

Just by thinking about it, I felt my face burn up for the 50th time today.

"Well get the move on you cluts!" Grunkle Stan yelled, sipping his coffee.

Dipper set down his newspaper, "Looks like we're going to the copier store, come on Mabel!"

"But we need money Dipper."

"Hey Grunkle Stan, can you give us some cash?"

Our uncle laughed, "After the way you destroyed the golf cart and the garage door, you got a head for asking for cash. The answer is no, and I got that problem covered. You know the old copying machine in my office? Well, I managed to fix that sucker up! She's as good as new!"

(*, My Big Dipper ,*)

Dipper pulled the cloth off the copying machine inside Grunkle Stan's office. The minute he did, a family of spiders and little butterflies escaped the dusty and weary thing.

"He calls this new?" Dipper complained.

It sure as heck didn't look new. It still looked busted up and hammered with dust sticking against its sides; cobwebs also stuck out from end to end.

Dipper opened the copying machine and pressed the print button on the copier. For a few seconds, there was nothing. No machine sounds or printing noises. Just the rapid tapping of Dipper pushing the print button.

"I don't think this works Mabel," -Dipper placed his arm on the copy machine- "I mean it doesn't even print!"

"It'll print someday Dipping Sauce, you just got to believe!"

"Mabel, when was the last time Grunkle Stan fixed anything? And I mean ANYTHING?"

I tried to remember something that Grunkle Stan fixed or at least tried to fix. All I got was a blank mind and an empty space. I guess all my little Mabel's are still in vacation.

"Nope!" I said as I leaned on the copy machine next to Dipper.

Dipper sighed, "This sucks... Well, off to the copier sto-"

At that moment the thing started to rattle and fart out gas. An ominous green light went back and forth, scanning our hands. I yelled out loud in surprise as I backed away quickly. However, Dipper seemed excited.

"Yes!" -He screamed- "Finally we don't need to go to the annoying copier store!"

A nice color printed picture of Dipper's arm and my arm rolled out at the end of the copy machine. I blinked for a few seconds before I picked it up and lifted it in the air.

"Haha, you got a funny elbow Dipper!" I giggled as I wiggled the paper around.

"Quit fussing around and help me print these out Mabel, you can play with the printed pictures AFTER we're done with work."

I moaned, "Awww, but Dipping Sau- AHH!"

I yelled out load and dropped the printed sheet of paper onto the ground.

"Mabel, what's wrong?"

"THE THING SHOOK! IT SHOOK!" I yelled out loud.

Dipper raised an eyebrow and turned to the picture and sure enough, the paper did shake like it was cold. I quickly hid behind Dipper and peeked over his shoulder to look. The picture of Dipper's arm and my arm shivered violently until shockingly, the images came to life. First the hand cut out of the page, then the wrist, then the rest of the arm came to life. They crawled towards us, like worms and I shrieked.

Dipper frantically looked around the room for anything he can use as a weapon. The nearest thing he could find was Uncle Stan's Genuine Coffee, which wasn't really coffee at all, and raised the pot high in the air.

"S-S-Stay back! I'm warning you!"

The arms continued to slither and move like mindless zombies and continued to approach us. I shivered at the thought of what one evil arm can do. It could hide in the vents till it's night and when we're all asleep, they can choke us to death or even worse...

"They're going to replace our arms!" I yelled.

"AHHH!"

One of the arms jumped on Dipper's face and started slapping him repeatedly. I started laughing out loud until karma got the better of me. The other arm crawled up my leg and went underneath my sweater. I wiggled and giggled as I felt it tickle me. I started to laugh harder and I felt myself losing my breath. I saw Dipper getting punched repeatedly in the face as he desperately fought back.

Dipper groaned as the arm punched his right eye, making it swell.

"I said, GET OFF!" Dipper yelled.

Dipper grabbed the arm with both hands and threw it across the room, making it go limp. I continued to laugh and I felt myself running out of breath.

"D-Dipper!" I said between giggles, "H-H-Help me!"

Dipper looked at me and rushed towards me. He grabbed underneath my sweater and pulled the arm out. I felt myself blush madly from Dipper's action, but he did save me from passing out. I was just a second away from my last breath!

He took the arm and smashed the pot of coffee on its hand. Some of the coffee leaked out and spilled over the arm. Just before Dipper was about to slam the pot against the arm one last time, the arm started to sizzle and dissolve like smoke. It evaporated and disappeared into the air. Dipper got up and hurried towards the other arm.

He screamed and threw the pot of coffee at the arm that was still limp against the wall. In an instant, the arm also started to bubble up, creating blisters that popped within seconds. The arm dissolved into the puddle of coffee and disappeared. Dipper and I breathed in heavily and we released sighs of relief.

"Nobody, hurts my sister!" He yelled.

"Dipper!" I screamed, "You saved me again!"

Dipper shrugged and chuckled, "Y-Yeah I guess so..."

Dipper patted the printer and turned towards me with his eyes stern, "I think this printer makes things come to life... Do you know what this means!?"

I stared at Dipper, "Yeah..."

I took a step closer to Dipper and gave him a half grin, I made my eye lids close half way and I poked his chest.

"W-What are you doing M-Mabel?" Dipper said nervously.

"This..." I replied, leaning in closer.

I felt my cheeks grow hot, I might never ever get a chance like this again. I could finally kiss Dipper and he'll be mine! He has to be because I kissed him, right? But what if it's to early? Sure we've known each other for years but does he really have feelings for me? Oh no, what if he hates me? What if he already hates me and will regret this for the rest of his life! No, stop! Mabel stop, mission abort, mission abort!

I placed a hand on Dipper's cheek, "You know who I am...?"

"Um... You're Mabel?"

"Not just Mabel, I'm also the girl of your dreams..."

Dipper looked stunned for a minute and then his mouth gaped open, "W-Wha-"

"Just kidding!"

I smashed my hand against Dipper's cheek and made him fall down. I heard him let out a loud 'oompf' and I think I made him get another bruise. I laughed evilly and started rushing upstairs. But as I did, I felt my pace become slower, and slower, and slower... Until I felt my body slump against my bedroom door. What was this feeling in my chest? I know I'm happy with Dipper, but after I couldn't kiss him I'm just...

I turned the door knob and entered the room. I trudged slowly to my bed and sat on it. I pulled my pink sweater up over my head and I rocked back and forth.

"Does Dipper even like me?"

I asked myself that and I felt a tear run down my face. I felt like I was a nothing, and what could I even do for Dipper? He saved me countless of times1 I'm just a useless damsel in distress...

I hugged myself as dark thoughts started to wash over... I was in my own thoughts, my own world. Sweater Town... Oh Sweater Town...

(*, Flash Back, *)

It was a cold winter night and it was almost time for Christmas. Snow was falling down from the sky as the chilly winter winds whistled outside. Snowmen and children just filled the streets, along with snowballs and snow angels. The winter time just can't be beat.

"Hey little Dipper!" -I made a snow ball- "Catch!"

"No, you catch first!" Dipper laughed.

The both of us threw snowballs at each other while we ran around. The battle was a blur. We both kept getting hit and there was nothing to protect ourselves. We both ran in circles, striking each other down, until Dipper jumped onto me and we both fell on the snow covered lawn; laughing.

"I just LOVE the winter!" I said making a snow angel.

Dipper got up and laid down beside me, "Same here, nice fight captain Mabel!"

I got into attention and saluted Dipper and smiled, "Thank you general Dipper! The battle is now clear and now we can make a peace treaty with the greatest thing in the world!"

"What's the greatest thing in the world captain Mabel?"

"A cup of hot chocolate! Race you to the kitchen!"

At the time I was wearing my favorite sweater which was a 'Meow Wow' sweater. While I was running back inside; taking the lead, my sweater got caught in a bush that was next to the door. I heard a loud RIP and I fell on the ground, sobbing.

Dipper stopped and hurried over to me. "Are you okay!?"

I sniffed, "M-M-My favorite sweater!"

I sobbed and sobbed, it seemed like it was going to be the worst Christmas ever! I've finally been able to wear this sweater even if it was still big on me.

"M-M-Mom i-is going to be s-s-so mad at me for damaging the sweater!"

Dipper looked at me, then stared at the ripped area where he placed a finger on. He looked at the threading and smiled, "It's nothing we can't fix. Just leave it to mom, she'll patch that for you and teach you how to knit!"

I sniffed, "R-Really?"

Dipper nodded his head, "Yes really. And do you know how to make your problems disappear?"

"N-No?"

"Then lets go on an adventure!" Dipper took the collar of my sweater and placed it above my head.

"There!" Dipper said, "Now do you feel better?"

I rocked back and forth like I was on a rocking chair, "Y-Yeah I guess..."

"Well welcome to Sweater Town! A place where your troubles disappear! We got darkness, and sweaters... But I guess that's about it!"

Dipper sat down next to me and wrapped an arm around me.

"Mabel it's okay, it's just a sweater. It could've been worse, like... The entire sweater could have gotten ripped, and then it goes boom, pow, ka-ching! DAH DAH DAH DAH! BOOOM!" Dipper over exaggerated the last part by lifting up his hands.

I felt my head poke back out and I looked at Dipper, smiling. He got up, stretched out a hand and I graciously took it. He helped me up and holding hands, we walked towards our mother. It was going to be tough, but I needed to be strong.

That day I learned how to knit sweaters and learned how to fix them. I tried making Dipper one but he never wore it. I think he keeps it in a box somewhere, but other then that, Dipper was always a caring brother to me. Always helping me out. He even made up Sweater Town.

When ever I was in Sweater Town, I always imagined a happy place, a place where all my happy thoughts came true.

(*, End of Flashback ,*)

But that was the past, and this is now... The Sweater Town I knew, was now really dark.

There was a knock on my door and I didn't even bother to look up. I heard the door open without a reply and the sound of footsteps got closer. A hand wrapped around my shoulders and a head rested against my head.

"Hey sis..." Dipper started, "Why're you in Sweater Town?"

I rocked back and forth, "Mabel's not here, she's in Sweater Town..."

For a few seconds there was an awkward silence. I kept rocking back and forth feeling sorry for myself, what was my purpose in life anymore? What was the objective to accomplish this summer? There was none, it was all gone. Dipper doesn't even like me and he doesn't care about me. All my feelings, they were made from lies.

I felt a tear roll down my face and I heard Dipper let out a sigh of defeat.

"Mabel I'm going to be honest with you. Sometimes you're so hard to understand. One minute you're happy, the next you're crying..."

I just rocked back and forth.

"It's okay, whatever it is you'll get through it. We'll get through it..."

I still remained silent.

Dipper sighed, "You know, life isn't easy... And sometimes when you're down, you just make things up. Sometimes you just make lies to make yourself even more hurt. That pang in your heart when you think everything is gone? That everything is lost? Not all of it is gone, never."

He pulled down the collar of my sweater and Dipper got me out of Sweater Town. His face was still bruised and sure enough, I did leave a purple mark on his cheek. Even though he was all busted up, his face glowed like a star.

"When mom and dad... Passed, I thought we lost everything you know? At the time, I couldn't believe it. I mean, why did it happen to me? I thought I lost everything, but nope. Look who came to my rescue?"

Dipper embraced me with a tight hug, "I love you Mabel... I know you're in pain. If you're just mad about something, or you're just having your... Monthly thing, or whatever it is. There's no need to cry!"

I sniffed loudly while Dipper patted my back. Hearing him say "I love you" brought my spirits back up. He was right, sometimes when I do get hurt I just make up lies. I couldn't give up, and today I was going to try my hardest to win Dipper's heart. If not just a little!

We both released from the embrace and I smiled, "You're right. Dipping Sauce, I can't give up now."

"That's the spirit!" Dipper patted me in the back.

We both got up and dusted off our clothes. I was really glad that Dipper helped consul me, he was like a shield. Always there to get me out of the darkest of places. Guess that's what lovers- I mean siblings do, right?

Dipper started heading out of the room before he turned around, "Oh by the way, you're calling me Dipping Sauce a lot lately. Is there something going on?"

I instantly started to get nervous, "I-I uh, w-what's wrong? I- I mean, what's it matter to you? I just like dipping sauce okay!?"

"Haha, alright sis. I get it, sorry. Just that you never really call me that. You know, I think I'm sorta like it!"

I smiled and felt my heart warm up to the comment.

'He likes it when I call him Dipping Sauce...' I thought.

Dipper started going downstairs, "Come down whenever you're ready. I'm just going to Stan's office for something."

I nodded my head and gave him a big smile.

As he disappeared, I slumped down again and I hugged myself. I felt so warm and comfortable again, Dipper was like hot chocolate. Hmm, hot chocolate...

(*, Flash Back, *)

"Ouch!" Dipper yelped as he touched his hot cocoa.

I laughed, "You better watch it! Or else you're gonna get burned!"

"WORD!" We both said at the same time.

We laughed and chuckled like little kids which we were. Drinking our hot chocolate, planning our snowball assault in the upcoming snowball tournament, and talking about Santa Clause. It was the good life.

"I bet Santa's going to give me a BIG rainbow unicorn for Christmas!" I said making a rainbow with my hands.

"Yeah, well I bet Santa's going to get me a classic set of Detective Swan!"

"Psh yeah right, you just deserve a lump of coal!" I said taking a sip of my chocolate.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah really!"

We started to argue back and forth for a minute or two, until we both couldn't take it anymore.

"How about we have a contest, last person to down their cup of hot chocolate has to ask Santa for a lump of coal!" I proclaimed.

Dipper flinched and seemed taken aback. "You want to bet on something like that?"

I nodded my head, "What? Is Dipper a little chicken?"

Dipper shook his head, "I-It's not that. It's just that we've been really good kids this year. If we do this, won't it be a waste of a-"

I started flapping my arms like a chicken and chanted, "Chicken Dipper on the clock, Chicken Dipper's out of the flock!"

Dipper started losing his temper and slammed his fists down on the table.

"Fine!"

We both evened out our chocolate and we readied our mugs.

"Ready?" Dipper said.

"Ready!" I nodded.

Dipper counted down to three and like a bullet, I started chugging down my hot chocolate. The hot liquid burned against my throat and I wanted to gag. But I wasn't going to lose to my brother and get a lump of COAL for Christmas! That just sucks big time!

I started to drink faster and after a few seconds, I slammed my mug down and fist pumped the air in victory.

"Yes!" -I pointed my fingers at Dipper- "In your face brother o! Looks like you're getting some nice coal for Christmas tomorrow!"

Dipper snapped his fingers and jumped out of his seat. I watched him put both hands into his pocket as he walked away, his face grimaced. I just basked in my victory and I laid my hands back on my head.

"Yep! Nothing feels better then winning a bet with Dipper. What can get any better then..." I looked over at Dipper's mug, "This...?"

I scooted over towards Dipper's seat and looked inside his mug. The cup was still full, it seemed untouched. It was like he was pretending to do the contest... But why?

For a second I pondered on the thought, then I shrugged.

"More hot chocolate for me!"

I downed Dipper's mug and let out a satisfying 'ahhh' along with a loud bleaching BURP.

(*, End of Flashback ,*)

Back then my little girl brain couldn't process what my brother did for me. Now as I recall, I realize what he did. He purposely LET me win. That Christmas he actually did get a lump of coal. But it was really sweet of him... Hot chocolate really warmed my throat and chest. But just thinking about the past, the bet. The bet that Dipper lost for me, was like hot chocolate. It's steamy and painful if not drank carefully. But it's warm and soothing, and that warm and soothing feeling went into my heart.

I hugged myself and for a second I felt like I was feeling the cold winter nights. True that winter time can be better with a steaming cup of hot chocolate. But there's something better then hot chocolate. Do you know what it is?

I got up and started heading downstairs towards Dipper, happily skipping along the way. I went into the office and saw him heading out the door with his hands stuffed in his pockets. He waved a hand over and I went by his side. So what's better then hot chocolate you ask?

I felt myself smiling as I walked with him.

Yeah... I think that explains for itself.

A/N: Just a quick note, for the hot chocolate part I would like to thank my mom. Through the harshness of the winter and very tough times, thank you for being there for me. Thank you for giving me that hot steaming cup of chocolate. My light that made me realize, "In the darkest of times, there's always a glimmer of hope".

I love you mom, and thank you.