A/N:

Credit to CraveFanArt for the cover art.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gravity Falls. Gravity Falls was created by Alex Hirsch and Disney owns it.

Episode 3: The Last Wish - Act 2: Dipper the overthinker.

Important: I'm doing a complete rewrite/revision before uploading the last chapter.

This chapter is: [Rewrite finished for all chapters 08/03]

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[Chapter 6: Milkshakes and Prophecies]

[Act 2 - Monday: Part 2]

The couple walked their way to the funfair. Pacifica had suggested that they called a cab but Dipper was not about to let her pay for it and he couldn't pay for it himself. He insisted that they should walk to town instead. Pacifica, rolling her eyes, had finally agreed. The fresh air helped them clear their ideas about what had happened in the manor.

Dipper was deep in thought while walking beside the heiress on the sidewalk. What had happened an hour ago in the manor couldn't get out of control ever again. It's not that he didn't find Pacifica attractive, but the implications of what she had attempted to do were too big to be taken lightly. One could say he was a little mad at the heiress, but he didn't know why. Dipper couldn't stop thinking about where their relationship was going and what was the depth of it. In his eyes, the only apparent thing binding them was physical attraction and he was looking for something more.

Pacifica, on the other hand, was very excited about going to the funfair. Unwilling to stain her trademark purple dress, the heiress wore white jeans and a light purple shirt with her usual dark purple jacket. She hadn't told Dipper, but she was carrying enough money in her pockets to buy half of the funfair. The heiress found cute that Dipper always insisted in inviting her like a gentleman but, if she had something to spare, that was money. She was looking forward to have a great day at the funfair and forget the previous embarrassing morning. She was hoping to make it up to Dipper for what had happened earlier. Pacifica had lost control of her actions and she had made Dipper uncomfortable, and that was the last thing she had intended.

The heiress glanced at Dipper and noticed how he was staring ahead of them, clearly lost in thought.

"Are you alright?" She asked as she grabbed his hand.

Dipper was snapped out of his thoughts. When he saw Pacifica's worried expression, he knew he had been frowning for too long.

"Yeah, I was just… distracted."

"Are you mad me for what happened earlier?" Pacifica asked warily.

"Of course not." He eased his frown instantly and gave her hand a squeeze. "I was just thinking, that's all."

It had sounded sincere to her and she relaxed a little.

"What are we going to do in the funfair?" She asked excitedly.

"We'll try out a few rides and games." Dipper shrugged, opening his wallet and having a look inside. "Mind that I said 'few'."

"I'm going to invite you to the rides whether you like it or not, Dork." Pacifica giggled and took his arm.

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The first thing they did when they reached the funfair was getting cotton candy. Then, they had a look at all the attractions. Pacifica deliberately avoided the terror themed attractions and Dipper didn't feel like getting in the rides that shook you until you vomit, so the list was quickly reduced to just a few options.

"I wanna ride the bumping cars." She pulled at his hand in that direction.

"Wait until we're done with the cotton candy." Dipper countered and had a look around. "Let's try the Train of Terror in the meantime."

The heiress tensed up and Dipper felt it.

"I… don't feel like getting on that ride now." Pacifica averted his gaze and pushed a bang of hair out of her face. "How about the carousel?"

"Sure." Dipper agreed without hesitation. He didn't want Pacifica to have a bad time at the terror themed attraction.

The couple sat in the back of a carriage at the carousel while they finished with their cotton candy. Pacifica's eyes widened and sparked at all the detail of interior of the carriage. She grinned happily and squeezed Dipper's hand as the attraction spun slowly.

"You genuinely wanted to ride this, didn't you?" Dipper smiled at the face she was making.

"I like all this princess stuff." Pacifica continued staring dreamily.

Dipper saw it as a good opportunity and threw one arm over her shoulders. Pacifica was impressed for a second and then she leaned her head on the boy's shoulder, rejoicing in the scene. After a few more spins, the ride stopped and the couple left the ride holding hands and with broad smiles.

"Hey, Junior!" A voice called.

Dipper turned around and saw Robbie and Tambry approaching them.

"Sup, Junior? You came with your girlfriend to the fair?" Robbie commented in a mocking tone.

Dipper knew from his experience that it was best to ignore the teen, so he just shrugged and nodded.

"And you just rode the carousel? That's so childish! Tambry and I come from the Train of Terror." Robbie puffed out his chest. "That's a good attraction, right Tam?"

Tambry sighed and continued typing on her phone.

"Status update: Stuck watching my childish boyfriend mocking nine years olds." She said, rolling her eyes.

"Whatever. See you around Junior." Robbie chuckled, tapped Dipper on the cap and walked away with his girlfriend.

Dipper sighed heavily and hid his hands in his pockets as he kicked a pebble on the ground.

"I'm so sorry, Dipper." Pacifica read his reaction. "It was my idea to get on that ride."

"Don't apologize. Robbie is just a jerk." He shrugged and attempted to make small smile.

"Wait a second. That was Robbie?" She asked. "Robbie Valentino from the Valentino Funeral Home?"

"Yeah." Dipper nodded. "Why?"

"Be right back." She walked towards the teen couple.

"Pacifica, wait!" Dipper attempted to stop her. "I don't want you to mess with Robbie because of me. It isn't worth it."

"He has messed with me too." She snapped. "I have all the rights to mess with him, and I will make it worth it."

Pacifica was angry, but she wasn't angry at neither Dipper nor Robbie. She was angry at the situation. The heiress knew that Dipper was a nice kid whose friends had nicknamed him Dipper to help him overcome his issues with his birthmark, and he would never begin a fight over something so silly. Dipper would just kick a pebble and forget about it in an hour because he was a good person, but Pacifica couldn't do that. Pacifica couldn't let go of it so easily because, deep down, she knew she wasn't a good person. She knew time wouldn't ease her anger, and she felt the need to humiliate the teen to give him a taste of his own medicine. Pacifica felt the need to defend, not only her own pride, but Dipper's too because she knew that Dipper, being goodhearted, wouldn't give it any importance nor do it on his own. Pacifica smiled as she thought they complimented each other, and then she finally reached the teens.

"Hey, Stacey!" She yelled at the couple.

Robbie stopped for an instant and then he continued walking. Dipper stared curiously at Pacifica.

"I'm talking to you, lanky pimpleface!" She continued.

"Me?" The teen turned around and raised an eyebrow at the heiress.

"Yeah. What's your problem with us?" Pacifica gestured Dipper and herself.

Robbie glanced first at the girl and then at Dipper. He didn't recognize Pacifica since he had always said gossiping was for women, and that made him hesitate before insulting her. Robbie turned to Dipper instead.

"You need your girlfriend to defend you, Junior?" Robbie mocked the boy who he knew better, and Dipper blushed.

"Oh, you're afraid of a little girl, Stacy?" Pacifica pouted and got Robbie's complete attention. She interrupted him before he had the chance to reply. "Spare me the chitchat. What's your problem with us?"

"I…" Robbie looked around himself and noticed how a small crowd of people had formed around them. "I have nothing against you."

"Why did you mock us then, huh?" Pacifica noticed the crowd too. She placed her fists on her hips and raised her voice. "You're so bored with your girlfriend that you have to poke your nose into other people's lives?"

Robbie glanced at Tambry in search of support.

"Hey, don't look at me." Tambry stopped typing in her phone and stared at the scene in amusement. "You got into this mess on your own."

Robbie grumbled and bent over so that only the heiress heard her.

"Keep this up and you and I will meet again when nobody's around." He threatened by showing her a clenched fist.

Pacifica's eyes went from his fist to his face and then she burst into laughter.

"You have no idea who I am, have you?" Pacifica looked at him defiantly.

Robbie shook his head in confusion, and Pacifica laughed even harder.

"I'm Pacifica Northwest! If you do as much as raising your hand, I'll sue you to the bones! Your parents and you will be cleaning my shoes for years!" It was her turn to approach and whisper menacingly. "I can even make it up. Who are they going to believe anyway? The town's most prestigious heiress or the problematic teen?"

Robbie's already pale skin became the color of milk as he suddenly recognized the girl. He instinctively took a few steps back and stammered.

"I-I gotta go. See you, Dipper. C'mon, Tam." He babbled as he grabbed Tambry by the shoulders and hurried away.

After Robbie called him 'Dipper' instead of 'Junior', Dipper thought nothing else would surprise him today. The crowd, disappointed after realizing nobody was getting punched, quickly dispersed and left the couple alone. Pacifica walked back to Dipper's side and grabbed his hand.

"Meh, I don't know about you," Pacifica smiled. "but I don't think Robbie will be messing with me anytime soon."

"How did you know his middle name was Stacey?" Dipper blinked a few times and stared dumbfounded at Pacifica.

"All bullies know each other." She waved her hand dismissively. "I guess it is a competition thing."

Dipper gave her hand a squeeze and released it.

"Don't move. I'll be right back." He left while peeking into his wallet.

Pacifica seized the opportunity to scratch her nose, which had been itching for an hour. She quickly stopped when she saw Dipper coming back. He was carrying a crown made with yellow balloons.

"Is that for me?" Pacifica asked with a curious smile.

"Yup. I thought it was appropriate." He said as he gave the crown to the heiress.

Pacifica rubbed the crown with her thumbs. She had been worried that Dipper hadn't taken well what she had done to Robbie, but he just had a detail with her that proved otherwise. Dipper however interpreted her state of deep thought as hesitation and he sighed.

"Oh, you don't have to wear it if you don't like it." Dipper murmured as he rubbed his arm nervously. "I thought it was a nice idea but now I see how ridiculous it was."

"No, Dork. I like it." She gave him a reassuring smile and put on the balloon crown. "Why a crown?"

"Because…" He cleared his throat and blushed. "Well, you're like a princess to me."

The comment made Pacifica melt. She sighed happily and pulled Dipper into a kiss, much to the boy's surprise. When they broke the kiss, Dipper kept his eyes closed and displayed the silliest of slimes. He was still getting use to the pleasant tingling of the new experience.

"C'mon." Pacifica gave his hand a tug to wake him up. "Let's find some private place."

Dipper was still a little dizzy and he staggered after her. The couple entered a hedge maze that had been installed for the fair. Pacifica was walking faster and faster, urging to find a secluded place, while Dipper noted mentally each turn they took inside the maze. They finally reached what apparently was the center of the maze. It was an open space with a few benches around a fountain in the middle. The sound of the water running was relaxing.

"Whoa, this is bigger than I expected." Pacifica praised the maze. "I don't think I know the way back."

"Don't worry, I've got that covered." Dipper tapped his temple as he smiled slyly.

"Really?" Pacifica sat on the bench and Dipper sat beside her. "Let's see if you still remember the way back after I do this."

The heiress pulled Dipper closer by the neckline of his t-shirt and kissed him hungrily. Dipper exhaled, tilted his head to the side and began opening and closing his mouth as he returned the zealous kissing. After a few seconds, Pacifica parted the kiss and licked her lips.

"Mhmm, cotton candy." She giggled at the taste Dipper's lips had left on hers.

Pacifica went for another kiss by cupping Dipper's face. She pressed his cheeks so hard that Dipper accidentally made a fish mouth and she burst into giggles as she released his face. Dipper blushed and cleared his throat. Up until now, Pacifica had been the one leading the kisses and Dipper was looking forward to take the lead too. He pushed her gently to lean back against the hedge maze and kissed her. Pacifica snickered at how Dipper tickled her lips with his tongue and relaxed against the bush.

BAM!

Pacifica was startled at the sudden sound of the balloon crown exploding at the contact with the bush twigs, and she shoved Dipper on the chest, sending the boy to the ground. Dipper landed with a grunt and stared back at the heiress with his tongue still outside his mouth, causing Pacifica to burst into giggles.

"It's not funny." Dipper grumbled and Pacifica laughed even louder. "Alright. Next time you try to top I'll shove you to the ground and we'll see who laughs."

"C'moooooon, Dipper." Pacifica whined playfully. "It was an accident!"

"Really? I find that hard to believe, seeing how every time we're making out I end up on the ground." Dipper raised an eyebrow.

"You're exaggerating." She giggled, even though she inwardly thought Dipper was right about that. "C'mon, get up."

"Nah. I think I'm going to stay here and save us time. You're going to shove me to the ground again eventually anyway." Dipper teased, knowing how Pacifica wasn't going to get near that dirty floor anytime soon. "Convince me to get up."

"Hmm…" She smiled, enjoying the teasing. "What if I agreed on going to the Train of Terror with you?"

"Well..." Dipper feigning pondering about it for a few seconds. "Fine, but I'm paying."

"Nope. I'm paying." She chuckled.

"Race you to the attraction!" Dipper ran away. "First one to get there pays!"

"Hey! Not fair!"

The heiress chased the boy. She felt she could easily overtake him, but she needed Dipper ahead to show her the way out of the maze. Once they were out, Pacifica caught, overtook and left him behind, much to Dipper surprise. She reached the stand and put her money on the counter.

"Two for the Train of Terror!" She ordered happily and turned towards Dipper, who arrived panting.

"How… uff… how did you outrun me like that?"

"You may do short sprints in your monster hunts, but I go jogging twice a week." She shrugged as she took the two tickets. "It's cute that you want to invite me, Dork, but I've money to spare. Save yours to give me gifts, like the crown."

"You mean the one that blew up?" He commented halfheartedly.

The car arrived and they got in.

"It's the thought that counts. I liked it." She added as she grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze.

The car began moving in the rail and got into the attraction. It consisted of a dark tunnel with a few turns. Pacifica was glancing left and right worriedly, tightening her grip on Dipper's hand with every second they were in the horror attraction.

"You know it's fake, don't you?" Dipper nudged her shoulder to calm her.

"Of course. I knew that." She attempted to put a smug smile but her trembling lower lip ruined it.

The car stopped abruptly and a cardboard ghost popped up in front of them. Dipper rolled his eyes and smiled, but Pacifica had been so on the edge of her seat that she shrieked and buried her face on Dipper's shoulder. After a few seconds, she realized what she had just done, frowned, and stared in disbelief at the cardboard.

"Wait, that's it?" She asked in astonishment.

"Well, yeah." Dipper shrugged. "What did you expect exactly?"

"I don't know. A crazy ghost with an axe or something like that, but definitely not this." She pointed at a maintenance guy who was fixing a light bulb of a ghost on a corner.

"Most scary rides are like this." He chortled at how naïve Pacifica could be in some topics. "You can stop gripping my hand like that now."

"Hmph." She released his hand. "Why do people get in these scary rides if they aren't scary then?"

"Because they can do this."

Dipper threw an arm over her shoulders and pulled her closer. He kissed her temple first and her cheek next. Pacifica blushed terribly at the public displays of affection and glanced around herself, but nobody could see them. The ride was too dark for anybody to see what they were doing.

"Ohh! Couples come here to make out!" She exclaimed in realization.

"Yup, that's pretty much—Whoa!"

Dipper yelped when Pacifica pulled him closer and began pecking his lips zealously. The thrill of the public place had excited her and she wanted to make the best of the ride. Once the car exited the attraction, a grinning Pacifica and a crimson red Dipper got out of the car. Pacifica however felt she had been cheated by the attraction and began threatening the man in the stall with sues until Dipper dragged her away.

"How about some milkshakes?" He suggested.

"Sure, I'm thirsty." Pacifica smiled and followed the boy.

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The couple sat in front of each other in a table while they enjoyed their meal. Pacifica was slurping idly her chocolate milkshake while Dipper toyed with the straw of his lemonade milkshake. The recent experience in the terror attraction had brought the doubts back to his mind again. Dipper wondered how to find out if their relationship was just physical. Everything they did somehow ended up in a make out session. However, he couldn't complain. He had liked it after all. A silly smile crept over his face when he recalled every spot of his face Pacifica had kissed earlier.

"What's on your mind?" Pacifica asked, seeing how the expression on his face changed.

"I uh… I can't tell you about it." Dipper sighed and his smile vanished.

"Is it about us?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Who better to talk about it than me then?" Pacifica switched seats and sat beside him. "I'm your girlfriend. You can trust me."

"Girlfriend?" Dipper realized people had called them a couple before, but this was the first time they referred to each other like that. "I like how it sounds." He smiled again.

"Yeah, I'm your girlfriend and you're my boyfriend. You know, relationship stuff." She rolled her eyes. "Now tell me what was on your mind earlier."

"It's… about what happened earlier in the manor." Dipper fiddled with his thumbs.

"Oh." Pacifica glanced around at all the people in earshot. "I don't think this is the best place to discuss that."

"I'll get to the point." He sighed to calm himself. "Do you feel our relationship is just physical, or you think there is… something more?"

"Really?" The question had left Pacifica dumbfounded. "You're kidding, right?"

Dipper shook his head very slowly.

"C'mon, Dipper! Don't be silly!" She giggled. "Sure, I think you're pretty hot but that doesn't mean I'm thinking about your biceps all day." Pacifica quickly covered her mouth with her hands and blushed.

"What biceps?" Dipper asked in complete confusion and pulled up his short sleeve to have a look at his upper arms. "Oh my gosh, when did this happen!?"

The boy was far from being considered muscled, but the outlines of his biceps had begun to be noticeable in his upper arms. Dipper touched them in completer disbelief and grinned.

"You probably got those after chopping so much firewood in the Shack." Pacifica bit her lower lip, desiring to touch it too. She looked away to control herself.

"How do you know I do that? Have you been spying on me?" Dipper narrowed his eyes at the heiress, who tittered. "Nevermind. See? This is what I was talking about. We always end up being physical."

"But Dipper, that's normal! We're curious about each other." Pacifica stroked his forearm up and touched his upper arm muscles. "And of course there's more than just the physical stuff! I went with you to those monster hunts things, where for some reason I always get hurt, by the way." She added a joke in between and earned smile from Dipper. "We eat together, we play together… we even sleep together! I like spending time with you, Dork, and it's not because of your wiry musculature."

"But…" Dipper tried to find something to counter her statement, and he failed. "…you're right! Haha! I was so worried!" Dipper exclaimed happily, grabbed Pacifica's hand and squeezed it. The relief of the heavy weight being taken off his chest left him joyful. "I guess I'm a total dork, right?"

"You're my dorky boyfriend." Pacifica grinned. "And I like you just the way you are."

The boy huffed in relief and smiled.

"I was so needlessly worried thinking that we weren't going anywhere because we didn't have anything in common!" He commented casually. Dipper's eyes widened and the smile fell from his face when he thought through what he had just said. "Because… you like mini-golf and I suck at it, and you like fashion and I have no idea about it."

Dipper frowned and Pacifica raised an eyebrow at him.

"But!" He quickly added. "We like teasing each other! That's something! We also… like each other and doing-physical-stuff-which-is-great-by-the-way, and of course the… uh… You liked our mystery hunting adventures, right?" Dipper babbled as he began sweating profusely.

"Dipper," She placed her hand on his to calm him. "I wouldn't be with you if I wasn't having fun. Do you really think that with my body and my wealth I couldn't be with whoever I wanted?" Pacifica sat upright, proud as a peacock, and earned a nod and a gulp from Dipper. "And that's exactly what I'm doing: I wanna be with you. So when we're back at the manor, I want you to show me exactly how great you think the physical stuff is." She smiled sultrily.

"I um…" Dipper giggled nervously. "We'll see about that. Sorry for overthinking it that much."

Pacifica gave him a warm smile and squeezed his hand. She then closed her eyes and parted her lips slightly. Dipper named that expression as 'Kiss me, Dork. I'm waiting' and he would see it many times. He closed his eyes too and approached happily to comply. They lips, however, were pressed against wool instead of against each other.

"Did somebody almost screwed up his relationship by overthinking it too much just like I told him not to do?" Mabel came out of nowhere, sat between the couple and threw her arms over their shoulders, interrupting their kiss with her sweater. "Ew, Pacifica. You're drooling all over my sweater.

The couple pulled back and blushed.

"Mabel, what are you doing here?" Dipper asked.

"I'm meeting Grenda at noon."

"It's not even eleven yet." The annoyed heiress protested after checking her watch.

"I know, I like being early." Mabel shrugged. "How're you doing, lovebirds? By what I've heard earlier I'd say someone has messed up a little." She glanced at Dipper with a teasing smile.

"We both messed up a little." Pacifica smiled sheepishly.

"Oh, my. I can't leave you two alone. What did you do, Paz-Paz?"

"I did nothing!" She was caught off-guard. "I just wanted to… n-nevermind." Pacifica stammered as her cheeks became crimson red.

Mabel glanced at her brother, saw how his face turned the same shade of red and she began to snicker.

"Alright, alright." Mabel raised her hands in a calming gesture. "I won't ask, but only under one condition."

"You want to hang out with us in the funfair, don't you?" Dipper guessed.

"Yup." She chirped happily. "As long as Pacifica pays for everything."

"You ask for so little." Pacifica commented sarcastically.

Mabel gave Pacifica the best of her smiles and Dipper, who secretly wanted his sister to come along too, also gave her the best of his smiles.

"Fine, you can come with us." Pacifica rolled her eyes. "But no teasing!"

The first thing they did was going straight to the bumping cards. When the lights turned green and signaled the start, Dipper and Pacifica began bumping their cars with the other kids in the ride. The heiress quickly spotted Mabel and a shiver went down her spine. The cheerful brunette was avoiding every collision and gaining a threatening speed. Pacifica's instinct told her Mabel was definitely going after her, so she turned towards the opposite direction and put as much distance as she could between Mabel and herself.

A sudden collision broke her train of thought. Dipper laughed and attempted to drive away after startling her, but Pacifica displayed her competitive smile and chased him. After she cornered him and bumped his car on the side, the couple began laughing happily at the relived tension the attraction granted them. Dipper's laugh was interrupted however, when he spotted a car coming at its top speed behind Pacifica's.

"Watch out!" He pointed behind the heiress.

Pacifica glanced over her shoulder just in time to see Mabel's mischievous smile and jump from her car into Dipper's, landing on his lap. Mabel then bumped Pacifica's empty car with so much strength that the car rose a few inches from the floor.

"You owe me one for this, bro-bro!" The cheerful brunette yelled triumphal and drove away as she waved at the couple.

The heiress wondered what Mabel had meant with that, and glanced at Dipper. She realized then that when she had landed on his lap, Pacifica had thrown her arms around his neck and she was pressing the side of her chest against Dipper's face, which was rapidly flushing red.

After being ejected from the ride for excessively aggressive driving and leaving the car while the lights were green, the trio of preteens searched for an inflatable castle to pass time. There were all kinds of castles, from the simple platforms to the inflatable gigantic animals with slides coming out of their mouths. They couldn't agree on a ride until they saw an inflatable castle that stood out among the rest. It was a huge slide resembling a breaking water wave of 30 feet tall that ended in rectangular shore with inflatable palm trees. The slide was divided in two parts: One for climbing up with a rope and the other for sliding down.

"Soos!" Mabel chirped happily and ran to the man handling the ride.

"Hey, sup hambone?" Soos bumped his fist with the brunette.

"Is this yours? Where did you get this ride!?" Mabel asked, amazed by how big the slide was.

"I bought it on the Internet for personal use, but I grew tired of it so I brought it to the fair." He patted the side of the ride.

"Can we get on it?" Mabel asked eagerly.

"I dunno, dude. The instructions said you had to be this tall to ride it." Soos placed his arm a few inches above Mabel's head.

As Mabel tried to convince the handyman, Dipper glanced at Pacifica. Her eyes were sparkling and stuck on the slide.

"You want to ride it?" Dipper asked.

Pacifica nodded and smiled sheepishly.

"C'moooooon, Sooos." Mabel whined.

"We'll be careful." Dipper added to support his sister.

"Hmm… It's a pretty steep slide and you aren't tall enough." Soos countered doubtfully. "I don't think—"

"The height thing is a guideline." Dipper interrupted him. "You don't have to take it to heart. Besides, it's just an inflatable slide. It doesn't matter how steep it is because we're landing on an inflatable platform anyway."

"Um… I guess you are right." Soos shrugged.

Pacifica fished out a wad of cash from her jeans back pocket and handed it to Soos.

"We're renting the whole ride for the next hour or so." She said smugly.

Dipper bent backwards and glanced in astonishment at Pacifica's backside, wondering where she had kept such a big wad of cash without him noticing earlier.

"Dude, this is enough to buy the ride." Soos attempted to hand the money back to Pacifica but she waved her hand dismissively.

"Keep the change then." Pacifica shrugged and took her shoes off. If she had something to spare, that was money.

A few minutes later they had climbed to the top of the slide using the rope tied there. The three preteens sat on the edge. Pacifica was a little wary of dropping through the slide.

"This… this is very high." She commented, a little nervous.

"I guess. I have jumped from higher, though." Dipper shrugged.

Dipper jumped and fell on his back, sliding down the slide. He reached the ground level at top speed, bounced on the platform and stumbled forwards, keeping himself from falling by grabbing an inflatable palm tree.

"C'mon! Jump!" Dipper gestured to the girls.

"Your turn, Paz-Paz."

"Why don't you go first?" Pacifica asked the brunette, still hesitant to jump down.

"Because I'm wearing a skirt, so it is either I go first or I go last while you two are climbing back." Mabel said matter-of-factly. "I don't want you to see my underwear." She giggled.

The heiress gripped the edge of the slide with her hands, unsure of dropping herself.

"You don't have to do it if you don't want to." Mabel reassured the heiress.

Pacifica nodded slowly and loosened up her grip on the edge. She had made up her mind. She wasn't doing it.

"Just kidding!" Mabel yelled as she pushed Pacifica on the back.

"MABEEEEEEL!" Pacifica slid down the slide at top speed, shrieking in a mixture of horror and excitement as the air hit her in the air.

Once she reached the bottom, she bounced on the platform and landed on top of Dipper, tackling him to the floor with such strength that they bounced on the platform again.

"Haha! Match made!" Mabel yelled jubilantly, pumping her fist. "I could be a pretty good bowler."

Pacifica did not have time to consider the implications of tackling Dipper to the floor nor what part of her body his hands were touching at the moment. She angrily stood up and rushed upslope using the rope.

"I'm going to throw you head first!" She yelled at the brunette.

Dipper, thinking it best not to interfere and with the palms of his hands burning, stood and leaned against a palm tree. He saw Pacifica struggle with the rope, and flustered at the sight of her tight white jeans. Once Pacifica reached the top, the heiress began to wrestle with Mabel. Pacifica's anger soon turned into laughter as both girls finally fell down the slide headfirst. Dipper saw them coming this time and got out of the way before they bounced and crashed on the palm tree he had been leaning against.

"Are you girls okay?" Dipper asked with a smile, amused by the whole situation.

Pacifica sat up straight.

"I wanna do it again." She said with a grin.

A few more drops down the slide left the three friends laughing heartily. They got their shoes and left the inflatable slide, saying their goodbyes to Soos.

"Well, it's almost noon. I better go." Mabel waved a hand at them and turned to leave.

"Wait." Pacifica stopped her. "I… I want a picture of the three of us." She pointed to a photo booth behind her.

"Alright." Mabel raised an eyebrow. "But first admit you like me!"

Pacifica rolled her eyes and lowered her voice so that only Mabel heard her.

"You are a nuisance and always get on my way. But yeah, I like you."

"Fair enough." Mabel giggled and grabbed her by the hand, dragging her into the photo booth while Dipper followed them.

They took a few good photos and each of them kept one. Pacifica decided to keep one where she was between Dipper and Mabel, their cheeks pressing as they displayed broad smiles to the camera. She sighed in contentment and put the photo inside her jean's pocket. Dipper and Mabel had moved away from her to discuss what they had labeled as 'sibling issues'.

"You did what!?" The heiress heard Mabel yell.

"I know, I know! But it is a gift for Pacifica!" Dipper excused himself.

"Ugh, fine. But I hate those little creeps."

Mabel got into the photo booth and made three photos of herself. She handed them to Dipper, and then she turned away to leave and search for Grenda.

"What was that about?" Pacifica asked.

"It's a surprise." Dipper smiled mysteriously.

"You mean like the balloon crown?" Pacifica playfully asked, remembering how that had ended.

"Something like that. I can guarantee you this one won't explode, though." Dipper chuckled.

The couple walked holding hands through the competition area of the funfair. There were shooting games, hoop throwing games, and finally the ball throwing games. Dipper had a look at what he had left in his wallet, and then he made up his mind.

"C'mon, I'll get something for you." Dipper tugged at her hand.

"You don't have to do that, Dipper. I can buy any of this stuff myself." Pacifica smiled warmly.

"Don't you want a plush toy? Your bed seemed very empty." Dipper suggested. "Mabel has lots of plush toys on her bed."

Pacifica paled a little. Her parents had gotten rid of all her bed plush toys when they had decided she didn't need them anymore because she had grown up.

"I… don't need a plush toy. That's for children." The heiress said smugly. "But... I'll let you win me a big one if that makes you happy."

Dipper smiled and approached a ball throwing game. With the last money in his wallet, he ordered a ball.

"Try not to give me a black eye with that." Pacifica teased the boy, remembering when he had told her about his time traveling adventure.

"Only if you promise not to leave with the first guy that comes with ice cream." Dipper playfully replied.

Pacifica clicked her tongue.

"Can't promise that." She smirked. "What if he is a dorky brown haired boy and says he comes from the future?"

"Bah, I know the guy. You are wasting your time." Dipper waved his hand dismissively. "He is all sweaty and awkward, with noodle arms."

"Maybe. But maybe he is also brave and caring, and he can make you laugh using only his hands." Pacifica smiled warmly.

Dipper tittered and blushed. Now he felt he really, really needed to get the bigger price no matter what. The boy took aim and raised his arm over his head.

'Just imagine you are chopping wood.' He thought, and launched the ball with all the strength he could. The ball hit the pyramid in the base, and all the cans fell off the table.

"You have knocked down all the cans. Choose a toy from this row." The stall manager instructed.

Dipper gestured to Pacifica to choose. She had a look at all the push toys and finally decided for one.

"This one." She pointed with her finger. The man gave her a big plush golden llama. The heiress took the huge toy in her arms and cuddled it.

Dipper raised an eyebrow at the irony. 'Bill called Pacifica llama.' He thought and grimaced a little.

"Why did you choose that one?" Dipper asked in a measured tone.

"I don't know; I just liked it. It is so fluffy!" She wrapped her arms around the plush animal which was almost as big as her whole torso.

"We'd like a plastic bag." Dipper told the staff manager, who node and gave him one.

"I can carry it in my arms, Dipper." The heiress complained.

"I know, but if we are going to stay in the fair for a little longer, you'll want your hands free." Dipper raised an eyebrow and gave her the bag. The heiress reluctantly placed the llama in the bag.

"Just so you know, you have been demoted to second place in my cuddling list." Pacifica commented, happy with the plush toy.

"Really? That's so cruel. You are the worst." Dipper feigned being upset.

"Oh but don't worry, you are still the first in my kissing list." Pacifica added and gave him a peck on the cheek.

The couple chuckled and walked to another section of the funfair. Dipper felt the spot where Pacifica had pecked him burning, but it was not only because of her small kiss. He was having fun with her at the fair and, if the talk hadn't been enough to convince him before, the way he felt by her small display of affection had definitely convinced him. He wanted now to take a step forward in their relationship, to pull at her hand and kiss her then and there in front of everyone so that all knew who his girlfriend was.

But he wouldn't do that. He wanted to feel the pleasurable sensation of her kisses on his cheek every day, but there was still something in the back of his mind. 'The faster things go, the quicker they end'. He kept thinking. They didn't have that many things in common and Dipper thought Pacifica was driven by lust. Once they did everything, she would grow bored of him and they would have to break up. Dipper didn't want that. He didn't want their relationship to be a meaningless crush. He wanted their relationship to be something more.

:: ::

:: ::

After having some more fun in the attractions, the couple was finally ready to leave, but then something caught Pacifica's eyes.

"Look, Dipper! A fortune teller! Let's go, I wanna try it."

"Those are always a fraud." Dipper rolled his eyes.

"I'm trying it regardless. It's my money after all." She dragged him into the tent by his arm.

The couple entered the tent. It was filled with all kinds of mystical items. Tarot cards, some bird bones on a table, plants and strange feathers on strings hanging from the ceiling. There was even a crystal ball. The supposed soothsayer was sitting in a round table in the center of the tent.

"Who comes to have their future read? Is it you, young lady?" The supposed soothsayer pointed at the heiress.

"Yes!" Pacifica said eagerly.

"Sit down on the chair, dear. Lay your hand on the table and I will begin my prediction."

Pacifica did as told and the soothsayer grabbed her hand in hers. Dipper was not sure if it was a man or a woman by the physical aspect, but he guessed it had to be a woman by the voice. She was lanky with untidy hair and what was a most probable fake wart on her cheek.

"I'll read your hand." She said opening Pacifica's palm. "Hmm…. Yes, I see it now. You are very rich, and have recently begun a relationship with a boy."

Dipper snorted loudly. 'Everyone can tell she is rich by her clothes, we entered the tent holding hands and there is also the plush toy to tell we are a couple. Another fake as I guessed.'

"What else do you see?" Pacifica urged.

"There… seem to be some interference... There is a nonbeliever nearby clouding my sight." The soothsayer placed a hand on her forehead as if she was dizzy.

Pacifica glared at Dipper.

"Fine." He rolled his eyes. "I'll wait ouside."

"Yes… now I see clearly again." The soothsayer continued. "You… you like animals, yes."

"Tell me about my future. I know enough about myself." Pacifica urged.

"Let's see… Hm. Your future is uncertain, but… what is this?" The soothsayer then collapsed on the table.

"Um… are you okay?" Pacifica asked warily.

Dipper peeked into the tent and approached the table when he saw the soothsayer asleep.

"Just what I guessed." He shrugged. "She is drunk. Let's go, Pacifica."

The soothsayer suddenly sat up straight and grabbed both Dipper and Pacifica by the arms.

"You are a fool if you hope to keep this from falling apart, Dipper Pines!" She said in a deep and monotonous voice. Both Dipper and Pacifica were frozen in surprise and fright. "The time of contempt is upon you. The time when the ground will be wet with tears and you'll regret not choosing the lesser evil!"

"What?" Pacifica managed to ask.

Dipper's eyes bulged out, recognizing some of what she was saying.

"How! How do I prevent it from happening!?" He shook the woman.

"Being bound by fate is not enough. You will need… something more." The soothsayer collapsed again on the table, letting go their arms.

"I-I think we should go." Pacifica suggested, a little disturbed by what had just happened. Dipper nodded and they hurried out of the tent.

They made a beeline towards the exit of the funfair.

"Dipper… you are the expert on the paranormal. Was she prophesizing?" Pacifica asked with a small tone of fear in her voice.

Dipper studied the heiress before answering.

"Of course not!" He giggled. "A prophesy always rhymes. That woman was just drunk."

"But she knew your name. How was that?"

"I… guess Mabel came before we did. She probably said she had a twin and the fortune teller recognized me." Dipper made it all up. It was so good he was beginning to believe it himself while telling the lie. "Then, when she saw I was kind of disrespectful towards her, she decided to prank me." He guessed.

"Yeah, that makes sense." Pacifica agreed. She calmed a little.

The very moment they abandoned the funfair, it began to rain.

"Great, and he I am wearing these clothes that go transparent when they are wet." Pacifica muttered.

Dipper chuckled and flustered terribly. Then, he took off his vest.

"Put this on over your head and let's hurry back to the manor, Princess." He threw the vest over Pacifica's head as if it were a raincoat, and earned a grateful smile from her.

Dipper was thankful the plush toy was in a plastic bag, since that way it wouldn't get wet, and he was also thankful that due to the vest Pacifica couldn't see his face now. He was frowning, his trained mind doing the detective work and tying up all the loose ends he could find. The soothsayer, Bill, his dream, his knowledge of the Journals and Pacifica. They all seemed to be giving him hints about something that was about to happen, but he didn't know what.

The rain became a downpour and Dipper was snapped out of his thoughts. Vest or not, Pacifica was getting soaking wet, and Dipper was even worse. They ran the rest of the way to the manor but, right when they were at the fence gate, a car passed through the road and splashed mud at them.

"HEY!" Pacifica, her designer clothes covered in mud, yelled at the car and waved her arm manacling at it.

Dipper was similarly covered in mud. He gave the heiress a funny look.

"I guess we ran to the manor for nothing." He smiled.

"Let's get inside." Pacifica sighed heavily at their bad luck.

:: ::

A/N:

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Guest Reviews:

Chris Walken: I was referring to the tears because of what the soothsayer said in this chapter. It was a most curious coincidence. Although they will be attacked in the forest by a pair of cowards and that sounds similar to cougars.

Rob Lowe: Don't worry. If people aren't happy with the overreaching ending I'll add something more. I always update Mondays and Fridays so, assuming I don't have to split the prelude to the finale in two, because so far it is a 9k chapter in progress, there should be only 5 chapters left.

Guest: That really depends on the couple and on the cultural and religion influences, also known as social stigmas. I'd say Dipper and Pacifica's relationship is going pretty smoothly considering how different they are in many aspects. For example, Pacifica always gets hurt in their monster hunts and I don't see Dipper playing mini-golf with her anytime soon. Luckily they are focusing in what they have in common rather than in what differences them. The key to success is that they both know this: Love is not only taking, it is also devotion and dedication.

FYI:

· I wanted to make this three chaptered act Mabel-free but I couldn't resist the slide joke. We won't see Mabel again until the prelude to the finale.

· Right now they are having a tug of war. Pacifica wants to go fast because she knows that once her parents are back everything will be over, and Dipper wants to go slow because he wants to enjoy the relationship. Both of them are pulling from the same rope in different directions. If either Dipper or Pacifica surrendered to the demands of the other, they will stumble and fall. Just like Dipper can't suddenly agree and do something he isn't comfortable with, Pacifica can't simply say "Alright, let's just peck and nothing else" because one of them would be unhappy. However, if they keep on with the tug of war the rope will eventually snap. They must reach an agreement and let go of the rope at the same time.

copy&paste:

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