Chapter 19

Disclaimer: Alex Hirsch owns Gravity Falls, not me. Brief mention of how a suicide could of occurred, (not actually graphic, but I wanted to warn you all none the less) after Dipper's dream.

Mabel blinked as she opened the fridge. She frowned, realizing this wasn't right. She observed the kitchen and frowned deeper. She stared intently at her hands and found there was an difficult to place scent in the air. Hadn't she just been slee-Oh, Mabel Juice. She smiled to herself as she pulled the pitcher out. As she began to pour the juice into her cup, it occurred to her that it was unusual for Dipper not be up at 9:00 AM and couldn't recall if his bed was empty or not when she had rose this morning. The brunette nearly went upstairs to investigate, when a more important concern occupied her mind. Mabel headed for the storefront, needing to know Stan's decision. When she came into the store, she discovered that surprisingly Stan stood at the register, instead of Wendy. She had never seen him stand there before, so it felt nearly surreal. "Grunkle Stan? Where's Wendy?"

"Didn't come in today. And I pay her more than Soos! Kids these days are so lazy! I had to send Dipper over to her house to get her!" Stan groused, throwing his hands up into the air.

Mabel found that odd; Wendy may always be late, but she never didn't just show up. "Maybe she's sick?"

"She's only been sick once and she called in to tell me-well Soos, since he picked up-but she hasn't even bothered to do that!"

"Oh."

He frowned at her. "Why you sound so down?"

"I...I feel like...I don't know." Mabel realized, honestly not knowing why. That difficult to place scent seemed to linger throughout the air and she couldn't help but wonder where it was coming from.

"Look, Mabel, if this is about the whole fostering thing, then I can't."

She gazed up at him, with large chocolate eyes, fully distracted from the scent now. "You did it for my dad though."

He gulped and avoided her gaze. "That was a mistake."

"...you regret helping my dad?"

What Mabel was unaware of though, was her great-uncle's guilt for his family. He regretted not being there when his own father had a heart attack and died, while he decided to play at the junkyard with his long forgotten friends, instead of hanging out with him on his own birthday. He regretted that he hid from his mother after he moved from the house, though she attempted many times to reach out for him, and she passed in her sleep. He regretted never loving his brother more and actually telling him how much he loved him. He regretted letting his sister-in-law take Alex away and not helping her heal from her lost. One that seemed to hurt more than anything was waiting too long to get to know his nephew and ending up having the teenager hate him and be bitter with the world. He mucked up that year horribly, never quite knowing what to do, except to tease him in an effort to be the fun uncle, which backfired. "Kid, I never helped him."

"But, he's ok. He never died and my dad is happy. If you never helped him, then he would of never been happy. Losing grandma could of ruined my dad, but it didn't, because you were there Grunkle Stan, you were there."

"Your pops being happy and not dead is all his own doing. In fact, he's the reason I'm not dead. I nearly died, but he saved my butt."

"What? You almost died?" Mabel asked, clearly stunned.

He rolled his eyes. "More times than I can count. But, this time there were these freakin' teenagers during the Woodstick Festival that nearly ran me down, but your pops saved me from becoming roadkill."

"Wow..."

"Yeah, yeah, anyways I think I'm actually going to close, cause it's raining and no one ever comes when it is."

As Stan went to the door, opening it and taking the sign down, lighting struck distantly in the forest. Moments later, power went out. "Honeysuckle! Must of hit that generator..."

When he turned, to address Mabel in the dimmed area, he realized she was gone. "Mabel?" There was no reply and Stan was left wondering if had made the the right decision in denying the notion of fostering Gideon Gleeful. And in his wondering, he suddenly realized it was the anniversary of Melissa Corduroy's death. He pressed his face into the palm of his hands, groaning softly. "Why the hell did Alex save my sorry ass?"

~!23-8-25/1-13/9/19-2-9-12-12/23-18-9-20-9-14-7/20-8-5-19-5!~

When Dipper had decided to return to the Mystery Shack, despite the Corduroy's insisting of him staying at least until the storm to passed, he went anyways. With a borrowed flashlight and jacket in tow, he hurried home through the rain, knowing Stan would wonder where he was. The sky was illuminated by the flash of lighting and a few moments later, a rumble followed. Dipper wiped at his face, finding it increasingly difficult to see. He didn't know much about how heavy the rain could become in Oregon, but it seemed worse than California storms at the moment. He wished he accepted the umbrella Wendy offered him, knowing it was foolish to not believe the rain would become thicker. His vision was so encumbered, that he never saw the log in front of him.

The brunet released a yelp as he lurched forward, flashlight flying from his hand, and falling into the mud, the side of his head hitting an exposed tree root. Though it darkened as he lost consciousness, his dream began in a blink of an eye.

He was leaving his room in Piedmont, home alone, heading down the hallway. He had been hearing strange noises inside his room, similar to those he's been hearing in the house for a couple of months. They had been louder than ever before though and he desperately wanted to call his parents, even though he knew they would be busy at work. And, with Mabel at Art club, nobody was there to make him feel safe. As he headed down the hall, intending on using a phone, he thought he heard distant, old timely music. He was so distracted by it, he never saw the whisper in his ear coming. "Die."

Dipper jerked forward, spun around on his heel, and observed the area behind him. Nothing was there, which terrified Dipper even more than the idea of seeing anyone there in the first place. What he couldn't ever been prepared for, was the scratch across the face that followed. He screamed, staggering back, clenching at his bloody cheek. "DIE."

He ran, as fast as he could, but an invisible force grasped his ankle and he fell, face first, in the carpet. He immediately shot up, sprinting down the hall, glancing over his shoulder, and halting as he realized he had arrived at the staircase. Dipper gazed back to them and he was abruptly shoved.

As he fell backwards, his eyes caught glimpse of a golden glow, and his back slammed in the first steps of the wooden staircase. His body was flipped over moments later and he had the wind completely knocked out of him as his chest hit the stairs. When he flipped over once more, his leg was caught in the metal railing and he screamed as his leg bone was snapped in half from the force. He reached out instinctively, for the railing to cease his fall, his hand firmly grasping hold. His wrist popped out of place from the rest of body, which had continued to move, and when his hand was flung from the railing, it smacked into the wooden step and he cried out from the crack it produced. He missed the final few steps, and fell onto the floor, back first. His head bounced off the title, and stars were in his vision.

He stared up the stairs, knowing nothing be there, though the image of a bluish glow burned before his eyes and he thought he heard a whisper. "...ruined everything!" His head sluggishly turned to his left side, finding blood pooling around his face, warm and thick. He gasped for breath, finding it difficult to absorb air into his lungs. The brunet's body was battered from head to toe, tears welling as he felt every bit of it. Knowing he would always be alone, his eyes closed, tears slipping down his cheeks.

Dipper opened his eyes, finding himself on his chest, cheek pressed against the mud, face staring to the the unsaturated forest, he spotted the frozen rain, frozen as though someone had paused its movement. A golden glow caught his attention and he realized it was the same one from the staircase. "...You pushed me down the stairs."

Bill Cipher seemed eerie in the darkened forest and he couldn't help but wonder how long he had been out. "I needed you to stop Jill."

"I could of died."

"You were going to anyways. Your destiny was to die at 16-years-old, hanging yourself with your dad's necktie from your bedroom's ceiling fan."

Dipper's eyes welled with tears. "W-Why?"

There was a chuckle. "You know why; you were unnecessary to my wheel, though your death would kick start it."

"I d-don't u-understand."

"Pine Tree, destiny called for you to die at that age and for Mabel to leave for Gravity Falls, her destiny to unfold."

"I n-never came to G-Gravity F-Falls?"

"No, you were never meant to set foot in this town, yet Jill messing with my wheel caused me to intervene to cease her own plans. If I never made you fall, you would of continued on how you were, never stepping foot in the hospital, and killed yourself."

"But, I-I...I don't f-feel...I d-don't think I w-want to k-kill myself a-anymore." Dipper choked out thickly. Bill didn't reply to that, black pupil boring into his own eyes. Then, it occurred to Dipper. The dream demon wasn't supposed to care about him, yet...yet...It nearly seemed as he did, in his own twisted way he seemed to care. He was using Dipper, but he actually cared about him. He didn't want him to die, he wanted him to actually live. He was using him, but he never wanted him to die in the first place. When he disappeared though, that was when Dipper realized it wasn't so dark out after all, the forest's lost saturation had made it seem all much more so.

~!-?-!~

"I'll do it."

Mabel blinked, finding herself laying on her bed in the dark. She frowned and turned her head to the left, finding a lantern glowing, held by Stan. "Grunkle Stan? Do what?"

"I'll foster the kid."

Mabel shot up and stared at him in awe. "W-What?"

"You heard me. When the storm passes, I'll go to the hospital."

She jumped off the bed and all but flung herself at the elder man, who stumbled back a step. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thankyou, thankyouthan-"

"Ok, ok! Now, get off me!" He grumbled, attempting to shove her away.

Mabel released her grumpy great-uncle and began to giggle. "Sorry, I'm just soooo happy! Oh, Gideon is going be like another brobro an-"

"I'm fostering him, not adopting him, and I'm your uncle, so that wouldn't make him your broth-"

"-d were gonna read magazines and talk about boys an-"

"You do realize he's a boy, right? And, I'm pretty sure the kid likes girls, not bo-"

"-d we're gonna hang out in the forest with Dipper a-Oh! Where is he? Is Dipper still trying to find Wendy? I have to tell him!"

Stan frowned, looking down at his wrist watch. "Actually, he's been gone for a couple of hours."

"Wait, what time is it?"

"12:02 and I sent him out around 9."

"What? What d-"

They heard the front door open, letting in a thunderous rumble of lightning from the front door, then it slamming shut. Mabel bolted from the room and Stan followed, at a slower pace. By the time he arrived downstairs, she was helping a drenched Dipper take off his mud caked coat. There was a trail of blood dripping down from his forehead, which irritated Stan. "How do you keep getting yourself hurt?"

Dipper smiled, which was a mystery in itself, and he began to take off his vest. "I guess it's my payment for longer life."

"What the heck are you talking about?" Stan asked, looking at him as though he had lost his mind.

The brunet didn't answer though, simply began to take off his waterlogged shoes and socks. Mabel stared at the jacket, wondering where had come from, and then at her hands, as though they were drenched in anything other than water. "Where did you get this, Dipping Sauce?"

"Wendy's brother lent it to me. I did have a flashlight, but I fell and lost it."

Stan figured the blood was from his fall and stepped out of the room, heading to the downstairs bathroom for first aid supplies. He could hear the twins continuing the conversation. "You scared me, Dipper."

"Sorry, I was talking to Wendy though."

"Where is she anyways? Grunkle Stan says she didn't show up for work."

"Oh, well, uh, her mom d-died today a few years ago, so..."

"Oh my god, no wonder she didn't..."

Stan cringed, feeling awful about forgetting that event in the first place. The whole town had buzzed about it and there was even rumors that Manly Dan had done it, considering his temper at times. There were many things Stan had regretted in his life, but telling off anyone he had overheard saying that weren't one of them. Sure, he had gone to jail overnight for getting in a fight about it, but it had been worth it. He wouldn't ever admit, but he had a soft spot for Manly Dan, recalling those times he had been Little Danny and gone around swinging his ax at Stan. Stan paused as he grabbed the first aid kit from underneath the sink. One of the jugs of wooden floor cleaner was missing a lid and he found that odd, considering he always properly sealed them. He pulled the heavy jug and peaked inside, discovering it to be completely empty, when he had sent Soos to buy it at the store about a week ago. "What the hell?"

He scratched at his chin, frowning. Stan had no excuses to explain how this had happened and he exited the bathroom, empty jug and first aid kit in hand. "Either of you two touch this floor cleaner?"

They gave him puzzled looks and Mabel answered what both had been wondering. "What would we even do with that?"

"Hmmm, you're right...anyways, I should check if that needs stitches."

He placed the empty jug on the ground and removed a wipe from the kit. He squatted down before Dipper, knees creaking in protest. Stan removed the soaked hat pushed his bangs to the side, revealing his birthmark. He wiped at the forehead, while Dipper hissed in protest. "Ow! You're pushing too hard!"

"Stop you're whining," He replied, revealed the cut on his forehead. It didn't appear that deep, but the the first layer of skin seemed to be missing in that area. "Not too bad..."

He pressed a band aid over it. "Now, go take a shower."

Dipper frowned. "Ugh, do I have to?"

"Go!"

He moaned and began his trek up the stairs. He froze halfway up though and turned his head to Stan. "Wendy didn't come in, bec-"

"I remember and I ain't mad her. Now, go take a shower," Dipper swallowed thickly and nodded once, before heading up the rest of the staircase. Stan gazed to the the diamond shaped window of the door beside him. "Looks like it stopped raining. Gonna head over to the hospital."

Mabel smiled, not able to hide her excitement. "I forgot to tell Dipper!"

She bolted up the stairs and a moment later there was a yelp. "MABEL, GET OUT OF HERE! I'M NOT WEARING A SHIRT!"

~!-?-!~

When Stan arrived at the hospital, sitting in the Stanley Mobile, he nearly pulled out of the parking lot. His hands were tightly gripping the wheel and the image of a teenaged Alex Pines swam before his eyes. A voice he hadn't heard in over 20 years screamed throughout his mind. "I hate you! I hate you and I hate my deadbeat father! If it wasn't for you two my mom would be alive and happy! I HATE YOU SO MUCH!"

He laid his forehead on the top of the steering wheel and muttered to himself. "What am I getting myself into...?" Stan entered the hospital and approached the lady at the front desk. "You know where Dr. Thompson is?"

The desk lady, plump and young, didn't even look up from the computer she was typing on, as she picked up the phone next to her and dialed a number. "Dr. Thompson? Yes, Stanley Pines is here and he wants to speak to you...alright."

She hung up and returned to typing. "He'll be up in a moment; he's currently with a patient."

Stan nodded and leaned against the counter, patiently waiting. A few minutes later the doctor showed up. "Stan."

"Dick, uh, Mabel told me Gideon Gleeful needed a foster parent."

Dr. Thompson appeared surprised. "Uh, yes. Please, let's go to my office."

As the pair headed down the hallway, Stan felt a pair of eyes watching him, and he caught view of frightened blue eyes as they passed Gideon Gleeful's room. Stan was left wondering how long it would take the jury to decide the fate of one Barney Grievous. And after being in Dr. Thompson's office for an hour, Stan had done it; he had filled out the application and within two hours of turning it in, the child services agency called him and approved of it. He couldn't help but wonder if it had to do with the fact that he had Richard Thompson on his side with the matter or that he had simply had luck on his side, but he had done it. He just hoped this wouldn't end up with Gideon screaming his hate at the world.

The hospital would be keeping the 10-year-old one more night, for them to prepare him to move to the Shack and for Stan to get it ready. He had thought it would be difficult locating bed space for him, but Mabel offered to be in his brother's old room, which he hesitantly agreed with. He could barely tolerate Soos in there, but Mabel being in there made it much more difficult to accept, knowing her to be too curious for her own good. Dipper and Gideon would be sharing the attic, which surprised him how readily his great-nephew had agreed with the arrangement. The best part of this whole fostering arrangement, was that the child services decided to give him support stipend for each month Gideon was to be there. He had been sent up with the same affair back in 1992, when he had fostered Alex for a year, so he already knew what he could and couldn't do with the money.

What was really concerning him at the moment, was the way to treat him after everything that had occurred. In the beginning, Gideon had basically been Little Danny all over again, but after awhile he nearly seemed obsessive with one-uping Stan. In the end, he assumed this Jill Rephic demon was the one influencing him to do so, but Stan had never met her until that night, so why she wanted to mess with him was beyond any reason, but he guessed that was one more mystery to add to his life. Gideon may still see Stan as hostile though and that concerned him. That, and the fact that he's nearly as tall as Barney Grievous, making him seem as more of a threat due to his size.

The twins though, they seemed excited to be able to live with Gideon. He could tell even Dipper was excited about it, since there seemed to be a cheery light in his eyes, not tainted with that typically anxious look. He supposed if they were happy, then he could deal with the situation. Now all he had to do to make their lives better, was to figure out how to pull them from their contracts. What he was unaware of, was that Bill knew perfectly well what he was thinking at the moment. He floated, invisibly near the man, who was flipping through the recovered journal from Wendy's house, for an answer. The dream demon knew no answers were held in there and that he would never find them on his own. Stan rubbed at his chest and frowned. "...Cipher?"

The elder man would usually do that if he lingered too long in a certain distance to him, as though his heart could feel the presence of who had inhabited its body once before. "Cipher, if you don't leave those kids alone, I swear to God..."

Bill didn't respond and didn't intend on doing so. What was more important at the moment, was that Stanley Pines was trapped in a single room in the Reverse Shack, barricading the door against what wished to eat him. Technically speaking, he could halt this, but didn't need to break destiny anymore. He was already going to receive punishment for Dipper, he just knew it...What the dream demon would do instead, would to be lead the siblings to the portal, so that the process may be sped up. All he would have to do is wait for that Northwest child to show up, before he would make his move for the wheel...

~!-?-!~

Around four or so, the rain had picked up once more, though not as heavy as before. From the forest, emerged a fashionably dressed preteen, with a clear umbrella in tow. Her maroon pea coat went well with her dark tights and her rain boots. The first time she had come by the house, she had attempted to hide her face with a bandanna and sunglasses, but this time she didn't bother to do so. She no longer cared if someone saw her blonde locks and green eyes, identifying her as Pacifica Northwest, in such an area of town. As she approached the porch, she closed her umbrella and tapped her boots against the wooden floor in an effort to remove the mud caked on them. She undid the first few buttons of the coat and revealed the journal she had found underneath her pillow, pulling it out. Pacifica had read it from cover to cover, finding it fascinating that Gravity Falls was stockful of the supernatural and wondered how she had missed so much of it. She wished she had discovered it earlier, so she could have more time to explore, but it was all too late now.

The blonde knocked upon the door, and a few moments later it was swung open, revealing Dipper. He frowned at her and then his eyes widened as he saw the book held to her chest. "Is tha-?"

"I found it in my bed and I don't really know how it got there." She told him awkwardly, handing it to him.

He studied and seemed to deflate. "This one was my Grunkle Stan's, not mine."

"Wait, there's more than that?"

"Yeah, didn't you see the number?" Dipper teased.

Pacifica didn't seem to want to tease back though and she shifted from foot to foot awkwardly. "Oh."

He frowned. "Pacifica, what's wrong?"

She seemed nervous and unusually unconfident. "I...I'm leaving."

"Uh, ok? I'll see you around then?"

"No, I mean I'll be leaving for awhile."

"Are you going on vacation or something?" He questioned, clearly confused by her behavior.

"No, I..." She gulped. "My parents are sending me away to a boarding school. In France. They don't like my 'attitude'. So, I guess this is the last time I'll see you for awhile."

"What? Wait, you're like leaving to another country?"

"Uh yeah, that's what France is." She teased lightly.

The brunet was clearly upset though, no longer in his previous teasing mood. "Your parents don't like your 'attitude'? Is it because you're actually realizing how wrong your parents are?"

"Dipp-"

"Ugh, this is actually my fault, isn't it?" He groaned, feeling self-loathing.

"No, Dipper, it's not. I would of probably ended up realizing they were wrong later, even if you weren't here. It's not your fault and I guess I'll just have to accept the fact that I'm going."

"But, they can't do this to you!"

"Yes they can; they're my parents," She replied, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Look, Dipper, you can't help everyone."

"You're my friend though, Pacifica, and I can't just let this happen!" He cried, anxiety flaring.

"Well, you're going to have to, because there's no way out of this," She informed him, then hesitantly reached out for his hands. He gave her a startled look, then let her grasp hold, anxiety somewhat reduced. She squeezed them and smiled. "I wanted to thank you, Dipper."

"Thank me? I can't even help you! Why are you thanking me?" Dipper asked, feeling angry at himself.

"For you and your sister opening my eyes. If...If it wasn't for you guys I may of gone a long time, before I realized how wrong my parents are. I also wanted to thank you two for...for wanting to be my friends for me, and not just for my money." Pacifica informed him, eyes welling with tears.

"I-I'm sorry."

"I'll be ok. I'll just send you Pines some letters and maybe I'll call."

She tugged her hands away from his own and began to leave. "W-Wait! Don't y-you want to say b-bye to M-Mabel?"

The blonde paused in mid-step and glanced over her shoulder at him, an indescribable look on her face. "I-I can't."

Dipper watched as she disappeared in the damp forest, feeling a sense of anger towards Gravity Falls. He tightly squeezed the journal, before slamming the door shut, against the town, and against the thickening rain. He was unaware of the dream demon floating in the yard, staring after the young Northwest in the forest. "Little Miss Llama will discover her true potential in France, as will Gideon with the Pines..."

Chapter 19 End

I'm on a roll with these updates! Honestly, I'm becoming excited for the new episode coming up in July and it seems to be motivating me to update new chapters as soon as possible. The next chapter will feature Gideon settling in and Bill Cipher further involving himself in destiny.