Edit 9/30/2015 Well after much procrastinating I've finally finished fixing the backstory to contain the Stan-switch. It was far more problematic than I realized and while I wanted to stick with my original plan/backstory, it just plain made no sense anymore now that the identity switch was included. It's now closer to the show's backstory but with a few differences here and there. Sorry for taking so long to fix I had a lot going on but it's done now. Yay! The rest of the chapters will be fixed soon, so forgive the continuity errors for now.

A/N Holy Royal Order of the Holy Mackerel Batman! I am getting through these chapters QUICKLY! It usually takes me much, much longer to get a chapter finished and posted but hot dang it I am on a roll! Part of it is thanks to you guys making my muse all happy, plus I actually for the first time in a very, very long time have free time to spare, so that helps, and I just really need to fill the void between episodes, y'know? I simply can't WAIT to see what Alex has in store for us! I can't even begin to guess what he's planning, I've got a ton of theories, a couple of them are addressed here in this story, even though they're probably way off, but I know whatever Alex has planned is going to be awesome. He hasn't failed us yet! Even at it's worst "Gravity Falls" is the best cartoon on television right now, heck best show period. Just had to throw that out there. Also, you guys need to check out the you tube channel "Royal Order of the Holy Mackerel" if you haven't already, as a spoilerphobe, it's the only GF related you tube show I watch. I think I had too much caffeine, I'm babbling again...

Shout out to gravityfalls22 for such awesome reviews that always make me smile. I love your musings, they're fantastic! Also to skyler02 and xfallenangel13x for reviewing (almost) every chapter despite being newcomers to this story. Loved reading your thoughts as you read through my story so far.

Thanks to EVERYONE who has read, reviewed, favorited and followed this. It means the world to me!

Reality

Everyone watches Stan pace back and forth in the kitchen as he seems to try and come up with the right words to explain what he had been up to.

"Anytime now," Dipper frowns impatiently and Mabel elbows him in the arm glaring at him sharply. He shrugs as if to say "What?" but he gets the message and backs off. She can tell he's kind of torn, because Stan did betray them and hiding the other two journals from Dipper was a low blow that cut deep, but on the other hand, it's hard to be furious with a man who has lost all hope. Even without the details, the admission that it was all to save his brother seemed to strike a chord with Dipper, she could see it every time he let his gaze rest on her, his eyes full of concern. She would mouth the words, "I'm fine" when he did, but it's not enough to convince him. But mixed with everything else they had discovered, he seems to be on the fence about how he should feel about anything.

"How much do you know about your family tree on your dad's side?" Stan asks finally.

"Not much," Dipper replies with a shrug, "Dad never really talks about grandpa or anything. We never even heard of you until mom and dad said we were staying here."

"Well, that's kind of messed up," Stan quips, "well…I have two brothers, your grandpa Shermy and then there was my twin brother, Stanford."

"Stanford?" Dipper looks confused, and if Mabel wasn't already aware of this she might've had a similar reaction, "But I thought you were…"

"Like I said kid, it's a long story," he sighs.

"If you're not Grunkle Stan then who are you?" Dipper demands, looking a little betrayed. Mabel puts her hand on his elbow to calm him and he starts to shrug her off but then he sighs, glancing at her with a concerned and sympathetic look as Stan waves his arms in defence.

"I'm still your Grunkle Stan," he explains, "my real name is Stanley. My parents were never really creative when it came to naming us, dad had the name Stan picked out and when we turned out to be twins well—we're both Stan, but my brother, Stanford always went by Ford, trust me it was easier that way."

"So you stole his identity? Why?"

"That's also a pretty long story, and I'm getting to that," Stan sighs, "but in a nutshell, I didn't live the most, how should I put it?—law abiding lifestyle and after my brother disappeared, faking my death and taking up my brother's identity was the easiest way to stay here without having to worry about the long arm of the law coming to get me as well as a few shady characters I worked with in the past, the kind you don't want to mess with… And if I was to save my brother, I had to stop running, I had to stay here…but I'm getting ahead of myself…"

"The newspaper article, it…it makes sense now," Dipper muses.

"Anyway, my brother Ford, he…he was a genius. He was always obsessed with the paranormal and weird, and as you know, this place is just crawling with weird. He knew this area was a hotspot for the paranormal, so he moved here determined to study and document and figure out the mysteries of this town, and the universe," Stan sighs, "but it turned him into a very paranoid man."

Dipper squirms in his seat, his eyes going wide and his mouth opening as pieces of the puzzle he had been obsessing about all summer start to fall in place. Mabel rests her hand on her brother's shoulder, giving it a squeeze because Dipper looks like he can really use an anchor right now. He muscles are tense and looks like he's going to lose it any moment now, for better or worse.

"Meanwhile, I got into some things I shouldn't have. I screwed up bigtime, got kicked out of the house and lived for many years as this nobody drifter. Lived out of my car, did some questionable things in my lifetime…Ford and I had a falling out and it…it was messy, let's just put it that way. Neither of us really approved of each other's lifestyle. I thought Ford was wasting his talents, and I…well I was always one big disappointment and with the poor choices I made in my life, can't blame him for not supporting my path in life…" Stan sighs. "We hadn't spoken in years, but one day I received a note from my brother, asking me to come see him. I thought, hey, maybe he's ready to reconcile but I was wrong. He wanted to give me this," Stan pauses and pulls out Journal #1 from his coat pocket.

Dipper leaps from his seat, "Wait, wait, wait…are you saying that…? How'd he get that? Are you saying he…he…?"

"He wrote the journals, kid," Stan says bluntly.

"Wait! So all this time…the author of the journals was your brother?! Our Grunkle!" Dipper jumps up from his seat, excited, bewildered and momentarily forgetful of everything that had happened earlier. Mabel clutches his arm to help keep him grounded because he looks like he's about to start hyperventilating from excitement.

Stan nods, leaning heavily against the counter as he looks out the window, deep in thought. Far in the distance they can hear the wailing of sirens, reminding them that they need to leave.

"Why didn't you say something? What happened to him?"

"Maybe we should start thinking about getting out of here before the government guys get here?" Mabel suggests, cutting Dipper off.

"Yeah, you guys need to go," Grunkle Stan nods in agreement, "Soos, can you do me a favor? It's a big one. I need you to look after these kids for me, take them home to their parents. It's not safe for them here and…"

"Uh, Grunkle Stan, we're not the ones who are wanted by the Agents, you're coming with us," Mabel shakes her head, not accepting the possibility of history or alternate timelines to repeat themselves. The other Grunkle Stan had no intention of escaping Gravity Falls with them either.

"I'm not going to incriminate you for harbouring a fugitive," Stan says. "Besides, as I said, what's the point in me running now? It's all over. I failed."

"Well, I'm not going anywhere without you so don't you dare talk like that Grunkle Stan," Mabel insists, "Who's with me?" she looks around the table at Dipper and Soos and is surprised and disappointed when they can't seem to look her in the eyes. Of course just because they're not as furious as they were in the other reality, doesn't mean they're completely forgiving either. No matter the outcome, Stan did betray them with his secrets. "Seriously?"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Dipper asks, all the excitement escaping him like air from a balloon as it hits him once again just how much Stan kept from them, "Ever since I showed you Journal #3, you knew I was trying to find out the identity of the author. It was driving me nuts! Why didn't you tell me? Why did you keep all of this a secret? Maybe if you just told us…"

"Dipper, there were some days when I wanted to tell you," Grunkle Stan confesses, "believe me, it's so hard keeping something this big from everyone you care about. Living a lie takes a toll on you, and I wanted so badly to be able to share the burden with someone but I couldn't. What I was doing, it was dangerous. I had to keep it a secret from everyone because I needed to protect you."

"Then why do it?"

"Because of what happened to my brother. Stanford he…he was obsessed with the paranormal and discovering the mysteries of the universe to the point of madness. See, he had a birth defect where he had an extra finger on each hand, so being an anomaly himself, he was fascinated with them. It's why Gravity Falls was so appealing to him.

"There's a good chunk of his life where I wasn't a part of it, but somehow during that time he built the Portal. When he asked me to come and gave me the journal, he was crazy. He said it was dangerous and that I had to hide the journal where no one could find it, because it held the key to making the portal work. I didn't understand," he says regretfully, "I was so foolish and angry and we got into a fight. Long story short, somehow in all the kerfuffle, the Portal was activated and it opened. It was much like it got down there today. Gravity shifted, we were floating and…and…I was thrown back but Ford he…he was sucked right into the portal." Stan has to stop a moment, his eyes getting misty with guilt and regret, "Ever since that day I've vowed to do whatever it took to get my brother back," Stan's expression is grim and he bows his head sadly, "but I failed."

"Well, maybe we could try again?" Dipper suggests much to Mabel's surprise.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple, it's dangerous and there's so much more to it," Grunkle Stan explains with a weary sigh, "Timing is everything, and it was risky enough trying to open the portal and save my brother when the timing was right, but to try again when the timing is all wrong would definitely be catastrophic."

"And potentially tear the universe apart?" Dipper's shoulders sag with understanding and a new sense of anger.

"I always felt Ford's warning was a little exaggerated," Stan frowns, "I mean, the portal opened thirty years ago, and the world didn't end. But you saw how dangerous it was, even simply trying to shut it off was dangerous!"

It didn't end because Grunkle Ford went through it, which probably somehow kept those Wraiths or something else from coming to our world, Mabel thinks.

Dipper's face darkens, "Yeah, it was. That thing almost sucked Mabel through it, she was right in front of it, directly in the line of fire! If she let go just one second sooner, she'd be gone just like your brother! As it is, she got hurt because of you!"

"Dipper…" Mabel murmurs, trying to calm him down. She's a little unnerved by how all over the place he is emotionally, but she can't blame him either. It's definitely a lot to take in. She's actually impressed with how much she herself has managed to keep it together, especially considering all that she knows. But the need to keep it a secret and the need to keep Dipper from going off the deep end helps her remain calm, though she's not sure how long that will last.

"That's one of the many, many reason why I had to keep it a secret! The last thing in the world I ever wanted is for you kids to get hurt," Grunkle Stan exclaims, "you three weren't supposed to be there!"

"Can you imagine what would've happened if she was too late? Or if she actually chose to listen to you?" Dipper is practically tearing his hair out and Mabel feels dizzy at his words.

Oh Dipper, you have no idea!

"I would have my brother back!" Stan snaps back, "If you kids just stayed out of this, I would have my brother with me right now!"

True, but not quite like you expected.

"Yeah? And if you just told us, maybe we could've worked together at saving him!" Dipper hisses.

"Dudes, maybe now's not the time," Soos interjects as the sirens get louder, "the government dudes…"

"Grunkle Stan, please don't let yourself get caught," Mabel begs, "I know it seems hopeless, like it's all over but you can't just give up!"

Stan seems to think a moment, "OK, come with me. I've got an idea on how we can ditch them."

"So do I," Dipper says, and before anyone can say anything he starts to run off.

"Dipper wait!" Mabel exclaims. She tries to follow him but her injured ankle won't cooperate and she lets out a cry as a sharp pain shoot up her leg and she stumbles. For a second she had forgotten about the injury and her startled and pained cry stops Dipper in his tracks. The only thing that saves her from faceplanting on the floor is two strong hands catching her mid-fall.

"Easy there, kiddo," Stan says, hoisting her up in his arms, "Dipper, what are you doing?"

"Trust me," he replies, eyeing Mabel to make sure she's OK. She can't hide the wince from crossing her face but she nods, motioning him to hurry with whatever he's up to.

He returns right away and when Mabel sees what's in his hands she gasps, "Dipper you kept that?"

"What? I thought it might come in handy," Dipper shrugs, typing in STAN PINES into the memory erasing gun, "and I was right."

"Where did you get that?" Stan gapes with surprise.

"Long story?" Dipper smirks.

"That's not going to stop them forever, not with all the evidence they've collected," Stan says.

"But it'll get them off your trail long enough for us to get away," he points out. "Wait, how do you know about this?"

"Oh I know all about the Blind-Eye Society," Stan frowns, clearly not on good terms with them, "Don't know who all the members are, but I know what they're about. How did you get that from them because I highly doubt you're a member?"

"Maybe once we're all safe from the Agents we can all swap stories and stuff, OK?" Soos chuckles nervously as the sirens close in. The black cars are visible now, heading towards them.

"Dipper, give me that," Stan instructs, gently setting Mabel back down where she grasps Dipper for support. Dipper hands Stan the memory erasing weapon and slides his arm across Mabel's back to help keep her balanced while on her feet, "Thanks kid, I know I don't deserve the help…"

"Yeah well…I'm pissed off at you, but you're still our Grunkle and you meant well. If anything happened to Mabel, I would probably do the same thing," Dipper admits.

Mabel gives him a sharp look, remembering with clarity the other Dipper being so furious he was completely closed off to considering Grunkle Stan's motivation, so much that even when Mabel confronted him with the idea that he would've done the same thing for her, it wasn't enough to help him see it from Stan's point of view. But then he had been so mad at her too, but despite that she had no doubt in her mind that the other Dipper, no matter how angry and upset he might have been with her, would've done everything in his power to save her from the Wraiths that had been feeding off her soul and trying to possess her had he known about them.

I may not have agreed to any deal, but Dipper has given up so much for me so at least I don't have to worry about the other Dipper making any deals for me.

Her thoughts are interrupted by the sound of familiar laughter ringing in her ears that startles her. Her eyes dart around the room but judging by the confused faces of Dipper and Soos, it's clear that she's the only one who hears it.

"What's wrong?" Dipper asks, looking around. Stan had already left to make the Agents forget all about him, and they can see through the window Stan firing the memory-erasing gun at them and a lot of confused men in black suits climb back into their cars and start to drive away.

"Nothing I…"

Oh Shooting Star, you are so gullible! Did you know that's not in the dictionary? Look it up!

"Wait, is this all even real?" she asks as the room begins to spin and she's overcome with a strange feeling of weakness, so much so that even with Dipper's support she can't hold her weight anymore and nearly slides from his grip as she descends toward the floor. She might've collapsed completely if not for Dipper who tightened his grip on her and deliberately followed her to the floor, maneuvering her so her head rests in his lap.

"Mabel!" Dipper exclaims as her eyes flutter closed. She doesn't lose consciousness, but she flinches when images flash in her mind. They move too quickly to make sense of, but she can see the swirling vortex of colours and light, and the starry void within.

No, no don't send me back there!

Let go…Let go…

She gasp in pain as the all-too familiar and frightening energy tingles through her nerves, sending a chill of terror up and down her spine.

She opens her eyes to see everything is in black and white, and time seems to be put on pause. She looks around and watches Bill Cipher appear. "What did you do to me?" she hisses.

"Relax," Bill scoffs, "why do you keep assuming I'm the one who did this to you?"

"Hmm, let's see, where do I start?"

"OK, OK, so what you experienced just now with the fainting like a damsel thing, is a side effect."

"Side effect? Of what?"

"Of our deal! You created a whole new timeline with this new choice of yours, and you were in such bad shape in the other timeline that this is your body and mind's way of trying to keep up with this new reality, of course," Bill explains, "It happens sometimes, but you'll be fine."

"Deal? What deal? I don't recall agreeing to make any deal with you," Mabel scowls.

Bill raises his stick arms up in mock surrender, "What? Really? Oh my mistake! Come here so I can send you back to the other timeline then."

Mabel backs up in horror, her heart tightens in terror at the mere thought of going back to the other timeline. She didn't agree to any deal, but now that she's here she can't bear the concept of returning to a reality where she's dying and trapped in the middle of nowhere, completely isolated while powerful entities struggle to take over her body to destroy everything. At least this reality has hope. She bows her head in shame and submission, "What do you want?"

"Hmmm, let's just say you owe me a huge favour."

"What kind of favour?" Mabel asks, her stomach twisting in knots as she frets about what he could possibly want from her in return.

Bill ignores her, "When the time comes that I need to cash in on this favour you will do as I say no questions asked. If you don't deliver then it's back to Limbo for you and the other reality will play out as it was meant to and it's not going to be pretty, especially for Pine Tree."

Mabel stumbles, she feels as though she's going to faint which is odd considering technically she's already fainted. The idea of returning to the Void for even a minute terrifies her. She doesn't know how long she spent there last time, but every second was torture and felt like forever. But the idea that Dipper would also suffer a terrible fate frightens her even more.

"What do you have to gain from this?" Mabel asks quietly, although deep down she's seething at how dirty he's playing because he's not really giving her any choice, either she agrees and is obligated to do something, most likely something awful lest she return to the other reality, or she doesn't agree and ends up back there anyway. But she can't go back. This reality at least has hope, it's not perfect, but so far its way better than the alternative. But who's to say that won't drastically change? Who's to say that once Bill comes to collect it won't lead to a reality far more horrible than what she had left behind when she was given the do-over?

"Well, for starters, I basically own you, Shooting Star," Bill laughs, thoroughly amused, "at least for now. But for what purposes well, that's all for me to know and you to find out, eh?"

"Why even bother with this new timeline? Why are you so eager to—"

"Talk to you later!" Bill waves cheerfully and suddenly time starts up again and Mabel's lying on the floor in Dipper's lap.

"—help me?"

She blinks up at Dipper, he looks so frantic and worried and she can feel her eyes well up with tears, "Dipper?" she whispers, her lower lips quivering. What have I done? What have I done?

"Oh man, Mabel!" he exclaims, "Didn't I tell you not to scare me like that?"

"I'm sorry," she whimpers.

She can see Soos standing over them, his face full of concern. "Dude are you OK?"

"I…I'm…"

"Don't say you're fine, Mabel when you're clearly not," Dipper says, his voice shaking. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Mabel can't answer, but she shakes her head, 'no' and then bursts into tears, clutching at Dipper's vest to pull herself up in a sitting position and she sobs into his shoulder. Clearly taken aback Dipper gently puts his arms around her and rubs her back comfortingly, "Mabel? Hey, it's OK…it's OK…" he murmurs gently, completely at a loss, "What's wrong, sis? What's the matter?"

"Dipper I…I…" she tries but she chokes out a sob and shakes her head again, unable to say anymore as the tears fall relentlessly.

"Hey, hey…it's OK, shhh…it's OK..." he soothes.

She can vaguely hear Stan come in and ask what happened and she wants to answer but she can't stop crying long enough to say a word. "Don't know," Soos explains, "She passed out or something and when she came to she just started crying."

"Mabel, honey…I know a lot has happened today," Stan tries awkwardly, "but…jeez kid…it's gonna be OK."

No, it's not. It's not going to be OK…what have I done? What am I going to do? Why do I feel like I've doomed us all no matter what choice I made down there?

"I'm s-sorry, Gr-grunkle Stan!" she manages to get out. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"Woah, sweetie, it's OK. You did what you thought was right, you didn't know! I forgive you, honey, I forgive you. Does that help?"

No, it just makes it worse!

"I'm s-so, so sorry!" she cries over and over, unable to stop no matter how much she tries.

"Man, I've never seen her like this," Dipper muses in worried awe as he holds her tight, "Mabel, you gotta calm down, it's OK. You're going to make yourself sick…come on, what's wrong? Talk to me, what's going on?" She gasps for breath as she keeps crying, wanting to stop, wanting to calm down but she can't, "Mabel, please, you're scaring me…"

"I'm sorry!" she cries, wearing herself out. In the back of her mind she can hear Bill Cipher's amused laughter, and the beckoning call of the Wraiths tempting her to let go. Shut up! Shut up! Go away! You're not real…you're not supposed to exist here in this reality…

Meanwhile, not knowing what else to do Dipper just rocks her back and forth soothingly, rubbing circles into her back until she exhausts herself completely and finally cries herself to sleep.

A/N As always, thanks for reading! Now, don't forget to be awesome and please let me know what you think! It brings me and my muse such joy to read your thoughts and theories and comments. Y'all are the BEST!