HAT: There was a mix-up sooooo... read the previous chapter if you want to see what I forgot to put up... *sigh* I thought we were over these mistakes.
Disclaimer: I own nothing aside from the plot and OCs.
Stanley spent the entire day in denial. He refused to even check for the children out the window and convinced himself that this is an ordinary day and that they will return by the end of the day like they always do. He does so well at burying his worry that even his employees who were watching for anything out of the ordinary were convinced that his weirdness over the past few days was just a phase that he was going through and he was over whatever it was that cause him to be so weird. He even did so well with his mask that he's completely convinced that the dream never happened.
Back to normal, he convinces himself and glances at the clock. Three hours until he has to close which means two- three tours tops before he has to leave.
Plenty of time for a certain pair of twelve year olds to go down and get information from their other great uncle.
"Okay, when Grunkle Stan goes into the next tour and Wendy takes her break, we'll go into the vending machine," Dipper whispers to his sister.
"Right. We've got about two minutes," she says while looking at the clock on the wall.
The two wait in the security of the branches of the bush outside of the Mystery Shack. They have to know what's going on with their great uncle because- knowing him- he'll keep everything to himself and will refuse any help they try to give. At least if they know they'll know how to try and help during their remaining time in Gravity Falls.
As soon as the two minutes are up they hear the door open and watch their redheaded friend walk towards her spot on the roof. They take their opportunity and rush inside without hesitation. Dipper punches in the memorized code in the vending machine while his sister keeps watch behind him. They'd done this sort of thing before on a smaller scale with trying to steal a few cookies or get a few extra snacks in the kitchen. By the time they were ten they'd become pros at this.
They get inside and close the vending machine door behind then securely and then punch the button that would take them to the portal where their great uncle is working. They hardly ever see him outside of meals- per Stanley's request- and even then he's usually in and out with little to no words exchanged. Still, they have to do whatever they can to get something out of him about their Grunkle Stan even if they have to tie him down and interrogate him.
"What're we gonna ask him?" Mabel asks quietly.
"Just leave it to me," he assures.
She nods slowly. "Okay..."
When the elevator doors open the two see Stanford working on the controls, but he's paused and his shoulders are tense. "What do you want, Stan?"
"Not quite, but that's who we want to talk about," Dipper says.
Stanford turns around in surprise. "What're you two doing? I thought we agreed you two weren't allowed down here."
"Those were under different circumstances. We've got some business to take care of," Dipper says.
"We want to know what's happening with Grunkle Stan," Mabel adds.
The gray haired man frowns. "I don't know what you're talking about. Please, elaborate."
"We know you know something about what's making Grunkle Stan different. He's been acting weird the past three days and we want to know why."
"Stanley's just a weird guy, I thought we'd established this a long time ago."
Mabel frowns. "Well, yeah, he's weird, but this is weirder than usual. He's scared isn't he?"
Stanford still keeps his mask on, not giving away that he even knows a thing. "And what would make you think this?"
"There was the way he was the first day when he came up with that 'Hug a Pair of Twins Day" or something like that, then there was the increase in physical contact," Dipper lists off, holding up a finger for each point.
"He also cried for no reason when I talked to him about going monster hunting and he came up with an excuse that it was to get 'sympathy money' from the tourists," Mabel adds.
"And we heard him when he came into our room last night saying something about how we're safe," Dipper says, watching they great uncle's face carefully- he had a hint of surprise when his sister mentioned him crying for no reason, but otherwise he had no reaction. "We know he's having nightmares! So tell us everything that you know about what's going on."
Stanford sighs and turns his gaze to the side of the desk where his brother got burned- to the mark that is now on his twin's shoulder. "To be honest I know about as much as you do... I think this is brought on by stress, though I'm not sure what could be stressing him. I think the dream was brought on again because he was stressed about the dream the first time... I think he's gonna be fine, now. He's never held down by nightmares for very long- no matter how realistic."
"You mean this has happened before?" Mabel questions.
"We were kids then. He had a dream where our mom died and he was cuddled up to her side for about a day or two and cuddled up with me at night for a week," Stanford reluctantly answers. "He's a tough guy and I'm sure he'll get over it soon... just promise that you won't go on any monster hunts by yourself. If you were to disappear or go missing he would lose his mind... heck, even the town's dangerous. I think it'd be best if you stuck around the Shack or stayed with Wendy and Soos when you go out anywhere. Just until you go home to set him- and quite frankly myself- at ease."
Dipper's eyes narrow at that and tilts his head. "Did his dream ever come true?"
"No... but she got in an accident and had a miscarriage with our little sister a month after his dream- a cause for caution."
That was enough to put a bit of fear into the twins' hearts. Something could happen to them in a month and their Grunkle Stan's dream could've been a warning of that. That could also explain a lot of the paranoia that the man exhibited when he was so insistent that they didn't go on monster hunts.
"So... does it always come true?" Dipper queries.
"I don't know. It's only happened once."
...
Boy, that sure was a long day, Stanley thinks as he trudges up the stairs to go to bed. The twins sure were acting funny at dinner. I wonder what's up with them.
They had been glancing at him warily for the entire time that they were eating and he had asked why, but they refused to answer despite how he persisted. He decided that it wasn't worth it and gave up, finding the task to be tedious. He just wanted to go to sleep and have a nice, dreamless sleep... or a dream where he has a lot of money- either way was fine with him.
He walks into his room and cries out in alarm. "Stanford?! What're you doing in here?!"
Stanford is sitting on his bed with his back propped against the headboard and a book in his hands and the covers covering his legs. He looks like he's getting ready to go to bed and- by the way he was positioned on the bed it reminded Stanley of when their father was in the bed waiting for their to settle down so he could go to sleep- there was no such thing as sleep for their father when their mother wasn't already asleep.
The darker haired twin looks up from his book at his brother. "What's it look like I'm doing? I'm sleeping in here with you."
"Ooooh, no you're not. You haven't reclaimed your house yet!"
"You're not gonna make this easy for me, are you, knucklehead?" Stanford sighs while snapping his book closed with one hand and look at him head-on. "Remember last time? It took a week of cuddling with me to get you to calm down again. I figured a few nights would be enough."
"I'm fine," Stanley assures.
"Then why are your hands shaking?"
He hadn't even realized, but his temper was already starting to rise. "Because I'm angry, poindexter! I want you outta my room!"
"I'd believe you if I didn't know that you don't shake that lightly when you're having a tantrum."
Damn it, Stanley thinks as he makes himself stop shaking. He is scared of having the dream again, but he doesn't want to admit to the weakness. If he does then that means he hadn't conquered his emotions like he thought he has and that he isn't strong enough to do it on his own. Still, this is his problem to deal with on his own.
"If you're gonna sleep here, I might as well go to the living room," grunts the lighter haired man.
"Then I'll come join you there."
Stanley deadpans, "You're gonna follow me no matter where I go until after tomorrow night, aren't you?"
"Yep, pretty much."
With a sigh Stanley submits to his brother's stubbornness and undoes his tie. "You gonna leave while I get changed or what?"
"Or what. Its not like you're going to get buck naked or something," he grunts.
He's got a point. Stanley gets undressed into his casual attire and then he tosses his fez onto the bedside table. "Don't kick me in your sleep."
Blush covers his twin's face. "That was over fifty years ago!"
"Mhm," grunts the man, subconsciously trying to push the true message into his brother's mind.
It's been decades since the their feud began and his brother won't let anything go. It's like he doesn't realize that despite his negative thoughts towards his brother and everything his brother did to him, Stanley spent thirty years- thirty years that could have been spent doing other things- trying to get his brother back. It was long past time to bury the hatchet, but- like Stanley expected- Stanford either didn't understand or chose to ignore the message.
"Goodnight, knucklehead."
"G'night, poindexter."
Stanley lies down under the covers while putting his glasses on the nightstand on his side and has his back to his brother and the light from the lamp. Stanford turns it off and settles into the bed while putting his glasses on the other nightstand and lies on his side so that his back is to his brother's, but he makes sure that their backs are touching so that his brother will have the assurance of physical contact.
I can live with this for one more night, then it's back to my own bed, Stanley thinks and then finally drifts off.
HAT: Looks like his family's willing to help him whether he wants them to or not.
Stanford: Stan is pretty stubborn.
HAT: Like you aren't? *glares at him*
Stanford: You're still mad at me for experimenting with your bacon aren't you?
HAT: Yes! Just say it and no more experimenting on my stuff... meanie.
Stanford: *rolls his eyes* Very mature behavior... review, everyone.