I do not own Gravity Falls.

Prompt: Cold

Warmth of an Embrace

Stan reacted to the power suddenly cutting out in a manner he considered appropriate, considering the snow was howling so fiercely out the window that it seemed like there was a pure white sheet covering the glass. But his loud curse was hastily reprimanded by Ford, who cast a quick glace towards the living room entryway to see if the kids were within earshot of the crude language.

"Relax, Poindexter. They go to public school. I'm sure they've heard much worse."

Ford shot him a look. "You are the adult, Stanley. As difficult as it is for you, at least try to be somewhat of a good example."

Rolling his eyes, Stan got up from the armchair and approached the light switch, experimentally flicking it a few times. It came as no surprise when the house stayed plunged in darkness, the walls shaking from the winter wind.

"Blackout! Blackout! Blackout!"

"Watch it, kids!" called Ford. "Take it easy on those stairs!"

Mabel's chanting paused as she and her brother carefully moved down the creaky wooden steps. The lack of light made it a little trickier to navigate, but they eventually made it to the first floor without any mishaps. Dipper shook his head in exasperation when Mabel continued, "Blackout! Blackout! Blackout!"

"Yeah, this is real great," he grumbled. "No heat, no television and we're going to freeze to death."

Mabel squinted at him. "I'm not sure if I should be concerned that 'freezing to death' is last on your priority list."

"Relax, runts," interjected Stan, "we'll be fine. The stove runs on gas, so we won't starve." Stan cast a glance out the window, noting that what little daylight they could see was rapidly diminishing. "But we won't be able to do much if we're stuck without any supplies when it gets dark."

"Mabel, get as many blankets as you can find," instructed Ford. "Dipper, gather all the flashlights with any spare batteries. I'll get the fireplace going. Stan, see what you can make for food."

"Will do, General," quipped Stan.

It did not take long for the cold to seep into the house. Teeth chattering, Mabel arranged a pile of pillows near the fireplace and set all the blankets on top. She tucked her hands into the sleeves of her sweater and watched her breath form clouds in the air.

Dipper entered the den with his arms loaded with flashlights. He started setting them around Mabel's makeshift bed and turned them on. The multiple orbs of light in addition to the roaring fireplace were more than enough to penetrate the darkness, allowing the two to properly see each other.

"I-I-If I w-w-w-weren't so c-c-cold I would m-m-make a j-j-joke about the light l-l-letting me see your u-u-ugly f-f-face," chattered Mabel.

Dipper sneered, tucking his numb fingers underneath his armpits. "F-f-funny."

Stan and Ford entered a few minutes later, each carrying two bowls of hot soup. Not missing the way their bodies trembled fiercely, Stan ordered, "In the blankets, dorks. What are you tryin' to do, freeze your limbs off?"

The two wasted no time in diving under the thick wool covers. The elder Pines twins joined them and Mabel eagerly accepted the bowl Ford handed to her. "Whoa," he exclaimed when she took a large gulp with no hesitation. "You're going to scorch your tongue. Take it easy."

"Don't care. Feels good," she returned, words slightly slurred thanks to her now brunt tongue.

Shaking his head, Ford wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close to his side. Mabel rested her head against his shoulder, a contented smile on her lips at the surge of warmth that dispelled the cold from her system. Dipper took cautious sips of his chicken noodle soup, curled securely under Stan's left arm. The flames in the fireplace crackled gently, a soothing heat adding to the peaceful atmosphere.

The wind screamed and the snow pounded against the Shack as hard as it could. But with the Pines family snuggled together, the cold could not penetrate their solid embrace.