Dipper woke with a start. He looked around in a panic. He was expecting some horrible thing to come after him, gnashing at him with bloody teeth. He soon came to his senses, snapping fully awake.
"God what a horrible dream," Dipper said to himself. It had been years since he had a nightmare like that. For a while after that summer at Gravity Falls, Dipper had persistent night terrors. It had worried his parents so much they had sent him to a psychiatrist. They nightmares faded after a while, replaced by the normal nonsensical dreams most people have. But he had just had an old school nightmare. He dreamt that he was in a forest, being chased by some horrible thing. It was a cross between everything Dipper feared. It was trying to kill Dipper, trying to eat him. Dipper had woken up right before the thing had got him. Dipper moved out of his bed, and looked through the bedroom window. He could see his reflection in its surface. Dipper's face was flushed, and covered in sweat. He put his head in his hands. "Please don't let me dream like that anymore," he whispered. He felt just like he had all those years ago. Scared, powerless. Just a little kid in a big, nasty world. He turned towards the empty bed. Back then he and his sister had shared this room. They were too old to do that now, but in a weird way Dipper missed it. It was comforting to be able to see his sister, knowing that she would help keep him safe. Now all he had was himself.
Dipper pulled a robe over himself, pulled out a clean set of clothes from his luggage, and wandered out towards the shower. He was pleased to find it empty. As he opened the door, he saw someone coming down the hallway.
"Hey Mabel," he said, waving to his sister. She grunted and went down the stairs, still half asleep. She was also in a robe, although hers was pink. She was also wearing her favorite pair of bunny slippers (Dipper knew that she owned six pairs, but this one had blue ears and little buckteeth.) She mumbled to herself as she worked her way down. She passed through the living room, into the kitchen. She found some cereal, poured herself a bowl, and got some milk. She sat down, and stared at her breakfast.
"I hate you!" she said to her cereal. "Stupid cereal. I wanted bacon."
"I don't have bacon, but I have something pretty close," someone said. She turned around, and gasped. It was Robbie. She pulled her robe tight over herself.
"Robbie! What are you-" when she saw what Robbie was holding, she stopped speaking. Her mouth widened into a huge smile. Modesty forgotten, she let go of her robe and ran over to Robbie. She lifted the thing out of Robbie's hands, and did a happy dance. "Waddles!" She squeezed the pig tight, and gave it a kiss on its forehead. It gave a squeal of delight. "I can't believe I forgot about you! Oh my God, you're just as adorable as the day I got you." She continued to squeeze the pig, tears trickling out of her eyes. It was like she had found a lost best friend. She turned towards Robbie. "Thank you so much," she said.
"Don't thank me," said Robbie. "Soos was the one who took care of him when you left for home. I just picked him up on the way to work." Mabel felt a surge of gratitude towards Soos. "But I'm glad you got him back. Soos said he missed you."
"Not nearly as much as I missed him," said Mabel. She looked at Robbie, and suddenly realized her robe was hanging open. She slept in her underwear, and hadn't bothered to put anything else on. She blushed so hard she turned purple. She set Waddles down, and covered herself up. Robbie turned away bashfully.
"I'm gonna go do work now," Robbie mumbled.
"Yeah, you should do that, yeah," said Mabel. Robbie wandered into another room, and Mabel sat back down. Waddles jumped up on her lap, and curled up like a cat. Mabel absentmindedly scratched the pig behind its ear. "Don't think this lets you off the hook cereal," she said. She poured some milk into the bowl, and stuck her tongue out at it. "You still suck. I'm gonna go out, and by some bac-" she looked down at her pet. "... waffles. I'm gonna go out, and buy some waffles."
"Talking to your cereal again?" asked Dipper. He had just gotten out of the shower.
"More people should have conversations with their breakfast," said Mabel. She took a bite of cereal. "It's quite illuminating."
"Don't talk with your mouth full," said Dipper. He grabbed a bowl, tossed it on the table, and made himself some cereal. He sat down, and began eating. The two ate in silence, until Dipper suddenly jumped up in fright. "What the hell is that?" asked Dipper. He looked down, and burst into laughter. "Waddles!" He bent down, and hugged the pig. "You need to watch where you stick your snout buddy." He rubbed the pigs belly, and sat back at the table. "Where did he come from?"
"Soos was taking care of him," said Mabel. "Robbie went by Soos's house on the way to work and picked him up."
"That was nice of him," muttered Dipper. Mabel put her spoon down, and glared at Dipper.
"You still hate him, don't you?" asked Mabel.
"Hate who? Robbie?" Dipper asked. "No, no way."
"Yes you do!" insisted Mabel. "I know that look. That's the look you give to all my boyfriends when you meet them for the first time. You think he sucks."
"Well Mabel, it's hard to just forgive someone, you know?" Dipper took a bite of his cereal. "He made my life a living hell." "If I can't talk with my mouth full, neither can you," said Mabel. "And I know, but he's different now. He's nice."
"Just because he got some muscle and combed his hair doesn't make him a nice person," said Dipper. "For all we know, he could be the same old Robbie. He might be being nice to us so Grunkle Stan will stay off his back."
"I wish you would give more people the benefit of the doubt," said Mabel. "I think he's really changed. People do change, you know."
"I know," said Dipper. "Just give me some time Mabel. I'm sure I'll get over it."
"You better," said Mabel. "Because I can only deal with so much grouchypants Dipper."
"Fine, I'll take my grouchypants off," said Dipper.
"Not here you won't," said Mabel. "I'm still eating." The two shared a laugh at that, and hurriedly finished their cereal. They tossed the bowls in the sink, and Dipper began washing them. Mabel wandered up to take a shower, Waddles following close behind. After he finished drying the dishes, Dipper walked outside. He let the sun hit him, smiling as the rays poured their heat on his skin.
"Maybe I'll go for a drive," said Dipper.
"Or maybe you'll give me a hug!" said a deep voice. Dipper turned, and saw a six-foot and a half tsunami of flesh come towards him. It pulled him into a backbreaking grip.
"Grenda," Dipper squeaked. "Nice to see you again."
"You too!" said Grenda. She let Dipper go, and smiled. Dipper took her in. She had grown incredibly tall, especially for a girl. She had lost some of her baby fat, and it was now replaced by muscle. She had cut her hair short. She wore jeans and a purple shirt that read, "bodybuilder." She was imposing for sure, but also cute. "You look great!"
"Thanks," said Dipper. "You look good too."
"I should," said Grenda. "I started lifting weights. Check it out." She bunched her arm muscles up, showing off biceps that put Dipper's not insignificant ones to shame. "I can bench three hundred pounds."
"That's freaking incredible!" said Dipper.
"Really?" asked Grenda. "A lot of people think it's kinda weird."
"No way dude. That's mad cool," Dipper said.
"Thanks kid," said Grenda. She slapped Dipper on the back, and Dipper had to dig his feet in to keep from flying away. "Where's your sister?"
"Inside getting ready and stuff," said Dipper. Dipper looked around, and scratched his head. "Where's Candy?" Wendy frowned. "Off at college. She went back to Korea for it, so she had to leave early."
"That really blows," Dipper said.
"Yeah," Grenda agreed. "But at least Mabel's back! Now I'll have someone to hang out with!" That last phrase stuck Dipper. He may have had it hard with his parents, but he had always had friends. He couldn't imagine what it was like growing up with only one friend, and having her leave the country. "I'm gonna go inside and catch up with her. I'll see you later Dipper."
"See you later Grenda," said Dipper. Grenda rushed inside the house, and Dipper felt pity for her.
"Thank God we came," said Dipper. He walked towards his car, unlocked it, and got in. He started it up, and moved towards the highway. He didn't know where he was going yet. This was something Dipper did often. He loved to just get in the car and go. He flipped on the radio, and rock music began to blare from it. He bobbed his head to the beat, and played air guitar during the solos. As he turned on an exit, the radio suddenly went silent. He was about to mess with the dial, when it began to hiss.
"Dipper..." a voice from the radio groaned. Dipper pulled his car over with a screech. He felt the blood drain out of his face. His heart began to pump, and his mouth went completely dry. "We're coming for you, Dipper. You may have forgotten about us, but we have not forgotten about you. You will never be safe. We're watching you, day and night. Waiting. We will destroy everything you hold dear, Pines. And then, when you see your life burning, we will rip out your heart and feast on it." The voice began to laugh. It was somehow both high and low pitched, screeching and crying. Dipper slammed his fist into the radio, and the rock music started back up. He looked around the car, panting.
"Was that real?" he asked himself. "There's no way that was real." But it had been. There was no denying it. He pulled out from the shoulder, and started back down the exit. Maybe it was a prank. Some guys at the radio station being stupid. "But then how did they know my name?" He shook his head, and tried to block out the memory. "I'm not going crazy, not going crazy," he whispered manically. But the memory would not leave him. As he pulled into Gravity Falls proper, he felt more and more that someone was watching him. He parked in the Smokey Toes Diner lot, and took a few deep breaths. He shut his car off, and got out. He was finally starting to calm down. Maybe it had just been one of those weird waking dream things.
"Dipper?" someone asked. He recognized the voice immediately.
"Wendy?"