Hello. I'm back.
*pies gets thrown and hit Forrester's face*
Hey, hey! Okay I'm sorry for the super late update. What can I do? Life treats me not too good. Okay, I promise to make it up to you guys after this.
Anyway, the new chapter arrived and I finally faced my writer's block. Still, I'm not satisfied with this chapter though, lots of it I wrote using mobile, so forgive me for not proofreading it and I can assure you, there will be a hella lots of grammar error in it.
Another announcement is that "A Shattered Star" will be updated real soon. I planned to focus on that story after I finish with this one.
Shout-out to Princess Dia and Nurse Medua for their awfully constant positive review. I also like to thank you guys for sticking with me all this time. This story is arguably the best one I've written so far and I intend to keep it that way.
Enough rambling, let's get to the story!
It was very awkward for Stan and Ford to sit together at the kitchen table. Dipper was just staring at these older twins with a sense of amusement. Mabel however was annoyed these Stan and Ford didn't making any progress. Ford shifted his eyes a little bit to Dipper, signaling for some help. Dipper face palmed and immediately mouthed him "say you're sorry." On the other hand, Mabel was nudging Stan with her elbow to make Stan say something.
"Uuugghhh, I can't believe you two. Just say it already!" Mabel snapped after waiting for so long. Ford and Stan stunned a little bit hearing the little girl's voice. Immediately, Ford took the first move.
"Look Stanley, it's been a long, long time since I've spoken to you, and I just wanna say that I'm sorry." Ford said.
Stan smirked a little bit. "Well, that's a first. 10 years and you didn't even bother to call me."
"Oh boy." Dipper and Mabel both murmured in unison. This will not end well.
"Hey, I kept in touch with your progress and your whereabouts. You're really a pain in everyone's butts. You literally pissed everybody in every States with your stupid products and you conned some of the biggest mobs in Vegas!" Ford shot back.
Stan didn't like what he just heard. "Yup. Unlike you, I tried to make a living on the streets. Ever since dad kicked me out, and you just stared at me from the window and leave me hanging, I've been working my butts off trying to survive a day. I've been living in a car for almost half a decade and you, oh hohoho, you're really special you know that?"
Ford scowled at Stan. "You don't even understand what I've been through Stanley."
"No no, YOU don't understand what I've been through! I've been to prison in three different countries! I once had to chew my way out of the trunk of a car! You think you've got problems? I've got a mullet, Stanford! Meanwhile, where have you been? Living it up in your fancy house in the woods! Selfishly hoarding your college money, because you only care about yourself."
"I'm selfish? I'm selfish, Stanley? How can you say that after costing me my dream school?!"
"That's right, all you care about is your dream school. Even when I'm gone, even if I'm alive or dead this entire time. All you care is that dream school. You still don't realize yet do you, Stanford?"
"What's that?"
"You're my brother, I cared about you. But you don't." At that moment, Ford was taken aback. But he didn't said anything. He was frozen thinking of the next sentences he could say.
Stan let out a sigh. "Enough of this, I need some fresh air. I'll be outside if you need anything." Stan pushed himself away from the table and left the kitchen. Ford just stared at his empty seat, trying to process what Stan had said. Dipper and Mabel looked at each other and nodded in agreement on what they should do. Mabel will talk to Ford and Dipper will talk to Stan.
"Stupid Ford. Always thinking of himself. Why am I here anyway?" Stan muttered outside the Shack. He was sitting at the porch, thinking about what just happened inside. He didn't want to start an argument with him, but Stan was angry, and he needed to release it somehow. He just couldn't hold it back anymore.
"Hey there." A voice greeted him from behind making Stan jolted a little bit. He turned around and saw Dipper smiling at him.
"Oh, it's you. You're Mabel's brother. Dipper isn't it?" Stan said.
Dipper nodded. "Yup, that's me. Did Mabel told you about me?"
"Yeah, she told me about you. You guys from the future huh?" Stan asked raising a curiosity in his thoughts. Dipper's eyes widened when he heard that.
"Mabel told you? So… you knew that you and Ford are…"
"Your Great-Uncle. Yeah. Kinda hard to believe that, but hey, when it came from Mabel, I thought, why not?" Stan shrugged as he stared at the snowy forest.
"Yeah… that's kinda complicated to explain." Dipper nervously chuckled.
Stan just chuckled. "You don't need to explain anything kiddo. It's best not to know about your future." Dipper stood silently as he heard that statement.
"Uuuhhh… anyway. What's with you and Ford back there? You guys seems not liking each other despite that you guys are twins." Dipper asked as he sat beside Stan.
Stan sighed. "That's the problem. I guess I'm still holding grudges after all these years. But I can't be mad at him. The funny thing is, I didn't blame him for dad kicking out from my house that day. 10 years passed, he didn't call me or anything but… he's still my brother." Stan turned to look at Dipper. "Seeing you and Mabel being reunited this morning, make me wish that our relationship are still like that. But… it won't be anymore."
"Stan. You shouldn't be too hard on yourself. Ford realized what he had done. He just wanted to apologize back there, but you didn't gave him a chance to explain." Dipper told Stan.
"I know, kid. But sometimes these things get on my nerves you know?"
"Who hasn't? The point is, both of us have a twin. We are half of them. I mean, can you live without him if one day, you find out that he's… gone?" Dipper hesitantly asked. "What would you do?"
Stan sat silently, gazing at the snowy road. He never thought of that before. Maybe he's being too hard on himself, and maybe on Ford too. He realized that this is partially his fault… and Ford's too. He turned to Dipper and stared long at him.
"If one day he's gone… I guess, I'll find him, even if it takes my whole life."
Dipper patted his shoulder. "I know you would."
Mabel approached Ford who was still sitting at the kitchen table, sighing alone in frustration. Mabel mentally frowned when he saw that. I need to do something. Mabel's mind was set that she would help Ford.
"Hai there!" Mabel greeted. Ford startled from his deep thoughts. He looked up and the little girl was pulling a chair near to him and sat.
"Uuhhh… Hey. You're Dipper's twin sister, Mabel right?"
Mabel put on his widest grin. "That's right! My name's Mabel it rhythms with table."
Ford chuckled a little bit. "Heh, you're weird. I like you already."
"So am I! You're weird too with that extra finger!"
"You… noticed?" Ford help up his hand and stared at his six fingers.
"Of course. You have six fingers, that's one finger friendlier than normal!" Mabel excitedly told Ford with a widest smile any girl could ever give.
Ford was amused by this little girl's attitude. She reminds him of Stan when they were kids. Stan always be the one who always talked first and he's the one who smart-mouthed everyone when they were in trouble.
"I know I've been wronged with Stan, and he has all his rights to get mad at me like that." Ford sighed. "I blamed him when I knew he screwed up my science project, and I wasn't thinking through when I let dad threw him out that night. What I cared about that he destroyed my future career, my dream and my life. But after that, I realized…" Ford paused. "I was the one who destroyed not only his dream, but partially his life too. He… wants us to sail around the world with this boat we salvaged once from this cave. But… heh... It was just all a dream."
Mabel frowned when she heard Ford's confession. It must have been terrible for him to live through years without his brother. She couldn't imagine if she had to go through what Ford had been.
"Uncle Ford, you shouldn't blame yourself. People sometimes… get stupid and did something stupid. But, in time, when you realize what's right and wrong, others will forgive you." Mabel said with a reassurance smile. "Uncle Stan is a good man. He took care of me well. He still misses you, but he didn't told that to anyone. But I know."
Ford smiled when he heard that. That was the most heartwarming thing he heard since forever. He ruffled Mabel's head in a gentle way.
"You're good kid, Mabel. Thank you."
"Anytime!" Mabel grinned widely. But suddenly, the grin vanished and was replaced by a worrying frown. Ford noticed this and he asked.
"Something wrong?"
"Grunkle Ford, since you are the one who fixed the tape measure device, I assume that you know about our true identity right?"
Grunkle? A seconds ago Uncle, now Grunkle? And what is Grunkle? Is that even a word? Ford's intellectual thoughts processed the word before he realized he was off topic. "Y-yes. Dipper told me before I had a chance to put a bow through his head." Ford said with a flat, but a slight regret tone.
"And did Dipper told you about what supposed to be happening right now when Grunkle Stan met with you?" Mabel asked again. Ford shook his head.
Mabel sighed. "Grunkle Ford… The day Grunkle Stan came here, both of you were-" before Mabel could tell Ford any further, Stan and Dipper came into the kitchen.
"So, what are you two knuckleheads talking about? Are you telling some nerd things to her, Poindexter?" Stan chuckled as he said that. Ford glared at him. Stan noticed his glare and immediately cleared his throat.
"Stanford, look. I've been starting off the wrong foot. I want to apologize for yelling at you earlier. I… was mad and it went through over my head. I'm here for you, and you know it."
Ford's eyes widened hearing that. "Th-thank you Stan. I… I don't know what to say… I…" Ford's stuttering made Stan groaned.
"Just say you're sorry too." Stan folded his arms.
"Alright, I'm sorry for everything. I called you here because I need your help. But, that can wait for a while I guess." Ford rubbed the back of his neck as he extend his other hand. Stan saw this and gesture back. Mabel smiled from ear to ear when she saw this. She was about to yell something when Dipper pulled her out from the kitchen.
"Hey, hey! What the hey-hey bro-bro? I was gonna make them hug and you pulled me away."
"Mabel listen, did you tell Stan who we really are?" Dipper asked in a concern and worrying tone.
"Uuuhh, yeah."
Dipper groaned. "Why did you tell him?" His voice raised a little bit and made Mabel jolted a little bit. She knew her brother wasn't happy that she had told Stan about who they really were.
"If I didn't tell him, he would call me crazy for wanting to come here and knowing so much about this town. And not to mentioned that he's suspicious of me from the day he found me in Philadelphia." Mabel head went down when she said that. She was still horrified when she was separated that far from his brother. What would she have done if Stan haven't found her sitting on that curb?
Dipper felt sudden guilt for raising his voice like that. Mabel had been through worse than him. He thought it was necessary for Stan to know what was going on. He sighed and held his twin's shoulder.
"Look, I'm sorry for yelling at you like that. I wasn't thinking straight just now."
Mabel lifted her head again and smiled. "It's okay Dipper, you must have been worrying for me all this time didn't you?"
Dipper let out a small laugh. "Yeah. I can't sleep that much thinking my sister was stranded somewhere away from me." Dipper then remembered another thing he needed to ask.
"Mabel, did you tell Great-Uncle Ford about what will happened between them?"
"I was about to but you two came in and…"
"Don't tell him." Dipper cut her off.
"What?"
"If you tell him, you will alter the future. It's been damaging enough that we told them who we are. If Ford knows about the truth, the timeline we knew, will change. You understand that?" Dipper tried his best to explain these things in a simplest way for Mabel to understand. He knew if Mabel spilled out these things, the future they lived in will be altered. Who knows, maybe Ford decided to shut down the portal and he didn't get sucked into it. Will they be born or come to Gravity Falls? Will the events that they'd went through all this time will still be as same as before?
Mabel stared him in disbelieve. "But Dipper, isn't that a good thing? If we tell them what happened, they wouldn't have to fight. Grunkle Ford will not be sucked into that portal and we will have two happy Grunkles!"
"I know that's a good thing, but we wouldn't wanna risk more of our future. Sure, we can help them make amends now, but what about the future soon? I mean, do we exist like we were now? Do our lives are same as we lived?"
Mabel did not know how to reply to that. Her mouth gapped a little bit as she was about to say something, but she couldn't. Dipper was right, this is too much damage they've done now. Maybe keeping all these things under their noses are the best option for now.
"You're right Dipper. We just have to keep it to ourselves for now." Mabel finally admitted to his brother. Dipper nodded. "Yes we should. We'll just have to wait and see what happened next. Now come on, let's go meet them back in the kitchen."
Dipper turned around and made a beeline to the kitchen while Mabel followed suit. When they arrived at the kitchen entrance, they heard laughter and a merry conversation happening in it. They took a peek and saw Stan and Ford were sitting at the table, laughing, teasing and converse with each other. The little twins stared in awe when they saw the scene. It was so surreal to them. Stan noticed both of them at the entrance.
"You two. Come here. Ford made some hot chocolate for both of you." Stan called them as he lifted his cup of hot chocolate to show it to them. Both of them slowly entered the kitchen and joined them at the table.
"So, Dipper. I guess we can start sorting the attic room now since your sister arrived." Ford glanced at Dipper who was sipping the hot chocolate. The boy glanced back at him and nodded. Mabel squealed excitedly when she heard the attic room being mentioned. Stan, Ford and Dipper covered their ears by the high-pitched voice made by her. Stan just laughed looking at the girl's excitement.
Ford chuckled a little bit. "Alright, alright. We finished the hot chocolate and we'll go upstairs to sort the room." Ford said.
Four of them quickly finished the drink and later went upstairs to the attic room. Mabel and Stan stared in awe on how big and messy the room was. Ford flicked the switch at the wall and the lights beamed on. Stan slowly ventured into the attic room, trying to avoid every equipment and junks on the floor.
"Jeez Ford, what the heck are all these?"
"Just my unused stuffs… for my research and experiments." Ford said as he lifted a small generator. He then put it inside a small store room outside the attic room. "Also, be careful with the ion energizer. That thing is not-"
Stan lifted a peculiar object that seemed to have a digital meter and two antennas. "You mean this thing? This looks like a jun-OOWWWW!" A sudden electric spark came out from the device, stinging his hand, made Stan jolted and dropped the device. He rubbed his hand to ease the pain. Ford chuckled as he saw Stan grumbled in pain.
"Told ya." Ford gave a smirk.
Stan scoffed. "Whatever. These stuffs are dangerous for children. You should get rid of it." Stan said as he walked passed by a fairly large windmill. "And what's with this windmill?" Ford just shrugged and muttered "I don't know" to him. Truthfully, he didn't even know what that windmill does. Fiddleford just left it in the attic and never mentioned it again.
A few hours cleaning and sweeping up the room, it was finally neat and tidy. Since Ford doesn't have any extra bed, he reluctantly gave the twins a sleeping bags, a pillow and blanket.
"I'm sorry kids. I don't have extra bed for you guys. But I hope these sleeping bags could made you enough comfortable for you to sleep."
"Don't worry Uncle Ford. We're satisfied enough to get this room and we're gladly to sleep with this sleeping bags." Mabel announced. Since she arrived at the house, Ford felt a very bright and positive vibes are being let out by this little girl. She grew fond of her attitude and cheerfulness. Ford look at his watch and it was already time for dinner.
"Well, look at the time. It's dinner already." Ford looked at Stan who was still inspecting the windmill. Why would Stan inspect that windmill for so long? Ford shrugged it off and cleared his throat.
"Stan, since you're the one in the family who actually can cook besides mom, how about you make something besides pancakes?"
Stan turned around and raised a brow. "Me? I-I haven't cook for quite a while." Stan replied with an uncertainty. Ford knew Stan's cooking skills were not that rusty. He could make a delicious soup and rice. He glared sharply at Stan. He noticed this and sighed.
"Alright. What have you got in the fridge?"
Ford smirked. "Well, how about we go downstairs and see for yourself?"
Stan shrugged and followed Ford from behind, exiting the room. Mabel and Dipper followed suit, exiting the room.
"You have all of these, but did you actually cook?" Stan asked when he saw the fridge were stuffed with meat, vegetables, fruits and a carton of milks and orange juices.
"Well, my colleague, Fiddleford used to cook for us before he left. But now, I'm sort of having a way with pancakes, porridge and oatmeal."
Stan noticed that Ford was a little bit skinnier than usual, at least what he remembered 10 years ago. He let out a sigh and began to pull meat, some vegetables and some fruit from the fridge.
"You're lousy cook anyway." Stan grumbled, making Ford chuckled.
"So, you're going to cook?" Ford asked.
"Instead of dying from starvation in this house? Yeah." Stan shot back. "Look, go see the kids in the living room what they want for dinner. I'll start sorting this out."
Ford nodded and went for a beeline to the living room. Upon arriving, he noticed that Dipper and Mabel were trying to watch the television but all of the channel they switched on were nothing but a static screen.
Mabel groaned in annoyance. "This TV is stupid. Could Grunkle Ford put on some channel or something?"
Dipper hushed her. "Don't say that. Just… clicked until we found something." Dipper then noticed that Ford was standing at the living room entrance. Dipper nudged Mabel with his elbow and both of them were now staring at him.
"You guys wanna see the TV? Unfortunately, I don't have local channel." Ford went on to pick up another remote on top of the television. "But I do have foreign channel." He pointed the remote and clicked on it. The channel then changed from a static screen to a channel with a talk show speaking different language. Mabel and Dipper stared the screen in awe as Ford switched on different channels.
"Grunkle Ford, do you really watch all of these?" Mabel asked.
"Some of it." He chuckled. "I was testing the satellite dish I installed a few months ago for my relay communication radio and I found out that it also broadcast TV channel. So I thought, why not?" Ford clicked the remote to change the channel. The channel was now showing a B-movie showing a Darth Vader lookalike fighting with Superman that did not look like Superman at all. As a fan of comic books and sci-fi, Dipper and Ford cringed looking at this monstrosity show. Mabel just snickered when she saw them cringing in disgust. Ford immediately change the channel into a foreign news. Both of them breathe a sigh relieve when it was over.
"So, Stan's making dinner. What do you guys want?" Ford asked as he gave the remote to Mabel. Both the twins grinned widely when they heard that Stan was cooking. They shared a brief glance before turning back to him.
"Since Grunkle Stan is cooking, just let him do the magic." Dipper told Ford. He raised a brow when he heard the boy's answer. He turned to Mabel, who was also nodding in agreement with her twin brother. Ford just shrugged.
"Alright then, I'll call you guys when dinner's ready." Ford said as he made his way back to the kitchen. Mabel and Dipper continued to browse every channels and finally they decided to settle for a Turkish Superhero B-movie that was very bizarre to Dipper. But at least it something than nothing.
Mabel burped loudly when she finished her meal. The steak Stan made was really something. The others just laughed when they her burping.
"You like my steak?" Stan smilingly asked Mabel who was still full from the steak she just ate. Mabel just groaned and nodded as she was too lazy to reply. Dipper and Ford was still savoring every pieces of meat slowly as they both haven't eaten anything besides pancakes and some leftover sandwiches. Stan happily sighed at the scene he saw.
Maybe everything will be back to normal again. Stan had that thought ever since he stepped on the porch of the house. He was quite keen to meet his twin brother back. Sure it was pretty awkward and weird for a while, but Ford is still his brother, so there's nothing to be awkward for long. Stan could feel tears welling up his eyes. He couldn't hold it back.
"Stan, are you crying?" Ford stared into his eyes. He was curious that he saw tears brimming down his twin's face. Stan jolted a little bit, regain his thoughts and immediately wiped his eyes quickly before others noticed.
"No, it's just dusts flew into my eyes." Stan stood and brought his empty plate to the sink to wash it. "You should clean the house more often Poindexter."
Ford twitched a smile on his lip hearing that. Stan often tried to avoid anyone noticing that he's crying by giving a non-specific excuse. He too, once was glad to be reunited with his brother again. Maybe things will be different now. With Stan back to his side, maybe they will continue to pursue their dream of sailing around the world, remodeling this Shack into some sort of shop or just hanging out together in this town until they became an old fart. But… he needed his help first. The journal must be ensured safe with him. Not now. This isn't a good time. I just met my brother. Give it a few days, and I'll ask him.
He got up from his seat and cleaned the remaining plates on the table. Dipper and Mabel were just finishing their drinks and Ford took a liberty to pick up their glasses too to be cleaned.
"Alright, kids. It's time to go to bed." Ford commanded as he turned his way around to the sink, joining Stan who still washing his plate. Mabel groaned when she heard this.
"But Grunkle Ford, I wanna watch some TV." Mabel pleaded as she stared into Ford's eyes. She gave him the widest, innocent eyes to him. Ford was quite confused by the way she look at him, but somehow he felt a certain sympathy for her to let her watch the television.
"Yeah, Grunkle Stan let us watch TV until midnight." Dipper added. Ford quickly turned to Stan when he heard this. He gave him a 'how could you' gaze to him. Stan felt uneasy when he saw this.
"W-what? Hey, don't look at me like that. I didn't know nothing. I mean, they're obviously talking about the 'future' me, no the 'now' me." Stan defended himself.
"But would you gave them the pleasure to watch the television until midnight?"
"Well, considering they're my grand-niece and grand-nephew, yeah." Stan acknowledged. "The Pines should stay up late for some mindless entertainment. Unlike you, Brainiac." Stan gave him a smirk while nudging him with his elbow.
The six-fingered man groaned in annoyance. "Well fine." Ford looked back to the little twins who were standing behind him. "Until midnight. When the clock strikes 12, the TV off, and you're all have to go to bed."
Mabel was so happy when she heard this, ran and gave him a hug. Ford was shocked when he felt sudden arm wrapped around his waist. He was so stunned that Stan chuckled at him. Ford didn't know what to do and look at his twin brother.
"She often do that, a lot." Stan said. Ford then turned his head to Dipper. The boy just shrugged his shoulder and gave him a smile. "Yeah, she's a hugger. Can't do anything about that." Mabel then released him from his hug and gave him a wide grin.
"Thanks Grunkle Ford." She said while pulling his brother's hand, leading him to the living room. Dipper yelped to the sudden pull. As they vanished, Stan happily sighed and turn to Ford. Ford was still stood froze there, still can't comprehend the hug. Stan swatted his head half-heartedly to snap him out of his trance.
"Oww, what?" Ford said while rubbing the back of his head.
"She just gave you a hug. What's so bad about that?"
"Well, it's nothing I guess…"
"Heh, you're acting weird, Ford." Stan walked pass by him to the kitchen table. He took a sit while sipped the remaining coffee left in his cup. Ford approached the table and pulled a chair to sit. He tapped his fingers on the table as he wanted to ease his nervousness. Stan noticed the tapping he made on the table.
"Something wrong?"
"No, nothing's wrong…" Ford paused. He was thinking the next sentences he wanted to say.
"…but?"
"It's just… It's hard to believe that those kids are our grand-niece and grand-nephew." He looked at the little twins who were sitting in the living room. Both of them were laughing at the show they were watching.
Stan smiled. "They're adorable. Besides, I kinda like them, especially Mabel. The day I found her, she was bawling her eyes out on the curb. I couldn't just left her there, so I might look after her for a while until he found her brother. Couldn't believe that she brought me straight to you." He said while sipping his coffee. Ford's chuckled when he heard that.
"That is kinda sappy coming from you."
"What? I can't be sentimental now?"
"Well, you're always grouchy and being a pain in the ass to everyone." He snickered when he said that. Stan grumbled as he finishes his coffee and stood up.
"Whatever you say brother. I need some sleep. Any extra room that I can use?" Stan asked while washing the cup at the sink.
"The last room I have is the attic. Tell you what, just use my bedroom."
"You mean sleeping with you in the same room?"
"Well, any alternatives you can suggest?"
Stan shrugged. "A couch?"
"Stan, I'm giving you the opportunity to sleep on a comfy bed and you chose to sleep on the couch."
"Where will you be sleeping if I use your bed?"
Ford stared tentatively at Stan for a moment. He can sleep in his lab for all he cared. It didn't bothered him as he was used to it. The chair wasn't that comfortable, but comfy enough for him to sleep.
"I'll just be at my lab." Ford said as he wiped his glasses with his handkerchief.
"Uuuuhh, where are you lab supposed to be?" Stan raised a skeptical brow.
"Basement."
"You have… a basement?"
"Yeah, what am I supposed to do with my college money if I can't spend it on some secret underground lab?" Ford retorted as he let out a light laugh.
"Ppffttt, yeah right. Whatever you say. We'll talk more soon." Stan said as he made a beeline towards the living room. "See ya tomorrow morning Sixer."
The TV didn't served any good channel except for some mindless Japanese game show, some more Turkish nonsense B-movie and a Chinese news. Dipper started to yawn for a few times, struggling to keep his eyes open. He looked at the clock that was hanging on the wall. It was 5 more minutes before 12. He decided that they should head upstairs to bed.
"Hey Mabel, I think we should go to sleep now." Dipper spoke sluggishly as he was sleepy and tired already. She didn't reply, instead what he got was Mabel's head fell onto Dipper's shoulder. She was already asleep and snoring. He let out a sighed. He switched off the TV and slowly moved Mabel's head away from his shoulder.
"Mabel, come on, wake up, let's go upstairs." Dipper gently shook her.
"Ummpphh… No… Let me sleep… forever…" Mabel mumbled as she brushed his hands away.
"Oh boy…" Dipper groaned. He knew what he needed to do. Piggyback her up to the room. So, with his last ounce of strength, he picked her up and placed her onto his back. Slowly, he walked out from the living room just to bump into Stan who was on his way to Ford's bedroom.
"Heading to bed kiddo?" Stan asked when he saw Mabel was being piggybacked by Dipper.
Dipper nodded. "Yeah, the TV's boring anyway, and Mabel's dead asleep."
Stan shrugged. "She had rough days. Living with me wasn't that… spacious or comfortable."
"Yeah, I understand." Dipper said as he struggled to hold Mabel on his back.
"Here, let me help you." Stan said as he lifted Mabel away from his back and clutched her onto his shoulder.
"Thanks. She's heavy though." Dipper replied as both of them made their way upstairs. "Where's Great-Uncle Ford?" the boy asked as he didn't see him in the kitchen.
"He wanted to stay in his lab. I don't even know this house got a basement."
"This house is full of things. You know that there's a trap door hidden in the living room?"
"Huh, that's interesting." Stan replied while both of them climbed the stairs. "I'll check it out tomorrow." He said as he rubbed his stubble chin.
As both of them reached the room, Stan slowly put Mabel down onto the sleeping bag and tucked her with the blanket. She then mumbled something that both of them couldn't understand.
"Goodnight sweetie." Stan said to her. Then, he turned to Dipper who was also getting ready to sleep. "Goodnight kiddo."
"Goodnight Grunkle Stan." Dipper yawned as he put aside his cap.
Stan watched both of them drifted into sleep before heading out from the room. Descending down the stairs, he decided to watch the TV as he couldn't sleep anyway. Stan took a seat on the couch and started to click the remote he's holding. He browsed various channel until he decided to watch some British Soap Opera called "The Duchess Approves". Half an hour into the movie, Stan was already asleep on the couch.
The next chapter would be a big one. We're nearly at the end of the story! And it's just only 9 chapter, wow... I oughta write more.
*Mabel crashed into Forrester's room*
Mabel: Hey Forrester!
Uurrgghhh, Mabel, I told you to knock before coming in.
Mabel: No time for that!
*Mabel ran into the kitchen*
What are you doing now?!
Mabel: Mabel Juice!
Haven't you got any other things to do? Where's you brother anyway?
Mabel: He's on his way!
Oh boy... Does that mean he would not be here?
Mabel: Yup!
Oh this is going to be a long night...
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