Another Pines Family Christmas

by AnimationNut

It's that time of year again! It's another 26 Days of Gravity Falls Christmas, a series of holiday-themed one-shots with prompts that follow the order of the alphabet. The winter holidays are never boring when you're the Pines family, especially when you live in the most magical place on Earth. It's time for more festive antics and family fluff.

25. Youthful Spirit

I do not own Gravity Falls.

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone!

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Prompt: Youth

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Youthful Spirit

There came a time in one's life when age was no longer ignorable, but a very real fact of life. This was a realization that came more particularly around Christmas. Stan knew that climbing up a two story ladder to string lights around the perimeter of the roof was generally a terrible idea. Taking a fall from that height meant that there was a good chance he wouldn't get back up. Ford knew that taking part in ice skating had odds that were against him. He wasn't as steady on his feet as he used to be, nor were his instincts as finely tuned.

They knew that running around in the snow throwing powdery projectiles meant they would feel the aches in the morning. They knew that dragging a full tree home to prop up in the living room would wear on their muscles. They knew that eating great amounts of holiday treats wasn't wise on their health. They knew faring the rush of Christmas shoppers would result in high stress levels and increased blood pressure, as they had never been particularly patient people and it gotten worse the older they got.

It was getting slightly harder to complete the Christmas tasks. But they did them anyway.

Mabel's face would light up as bright as the glimmering Christmas bulbs that decorated the exterior of the Shack. Dipper wasn't a great skater but he tried anyway, laughing with each tumble he took. Their faces would be red with cold as they bombarded their great-uncles with snowballs, wide grins on their lips. They would speak excitedly when the tree was brought home, discussing who got to put the star on top and sorting out their favourite decorations to hang on the sweet-smelling branches. Mabel would bake dozens of different Christmas treats, face dusted with flour and singing at the top of her lungs. Dipper would taste test all of the cookies, squares and cakes with contentment sparkling in his eyes. Their beaming expressions at the sight of the brightly wrapped presents underneath the tree, the childish delight that they displayed when they tore them open on Christmas morning.

Yes, Stan and Ford could feel the aches and pains that old age brought. But they were able to forget about it. Because in the youthful energy of their niece and nephew, they forgot just how old they really were.