It was no surprise to Wendy that the Pines twins had a few unique holiday traditions of their very own. On Christmas Eve just the night before, Dipper had explained to her about how Christmas mornings in their house always began. Every year without fail his sister would wake him up at the crack of dawn by barging into his room to bounce on his bed while making the biggest happy racket that she possibly could until finally he got up. He had also told Wendy with extreme confidence that this was the year that particular tradition was going to end. Dipper excitedly went on and on about his plan to set his alarm to go off extra early and then sneak off somewhere else in the house, leaving nothing but an empty bed for Mabel to attack later on. He even thanked his friend for keeping her survival shelter up in the back yard, as that would make the perfect refuge for him to avoid his annual rude awakening.
The redheaded teen almost felt bad for him as she snuck into his room the very next morning a few minutes ahead of his schedule. Almost. He really should have known better than to tell someone he knew fully well could employ extreme stealth when she wanted to. Mabel chomped down hard on her lip while she stood in the doorway and gleefully watched her friend in action. The redhead moved like a shadow as she first turned off his alarm and then silently slipped under the bed.
Mabel now had to resort to biting down on the sleeve of her nightie to keep from blowing their cover. Wendy flashed a thumbs up, then rammed her knees up against the bottom of the bed. Dipper was launched half a foot straight in the air.
"I'm up! I'm up!" He yelped to no one in particular. The boy then reflexively rolled over and grasped for his alarm.
"IT'S CHRISTMASSSSSSSS!" Mabel hurled a handful of green and red glitter at the back of his head as she charged in full-speed. He turned around just in time for his epic annual holiday pounce. After hugging the breath out of his body she then jumped around and around him, sending his scrawny body knocking about. The bedsprings squeaked loudly as she finally sat down next to her sibling to cheerily sing, "Good morningggg!"
After Wendy reemerged she flopped back-first onto the foot of the bed, sending both twins rocketing briefly up into the air. Mabel snorted with laughter as she landed on her side while Dipper was flipped over onto his stomach. When the dazed boy looked up he found himself gazing directly into his best friend's smirk.
"Sup, dude." She cheekily greeted. "Can you guess what day it is?"
Dipper grabbed a pillow and proceeded to throw it over her head. "Well, looks like I'm never telling you anything ever again."
The remorseless teen chuckled as she tossed it right back. "You know you love it."
"Boop!" Mabel prodded him in the back until her twin turned to face her. She then asked sweetly, "So...cocoa?"
"Cocoa." He repeated with a yawn and a nod.
As they headed out into the hall towards the stairs, Wendy noticed that her friend went through an incredibly speedy transformation. In nearly no time he went from dazed and drowsy to jittery with nervous excitement.
"You okay?" She chuckled. Dipper looked up and grinned anxiously.
"Just hoping it's good. That's all."
"What's good?"
"Hold onto your socks and get readyyyy!" Mabel had turned into ecstasy personified as she bounced down the steps two at a time.
Wendy couldn't exactly explain what happened next. The tree was exactly where they left it, as were all the ornaments and other decorations adorning it. Also also the presents that had been accumulating under it over the course of the last few days were still in the same place too. Literally nothing had changed since when they all went to bed just the night before. But as she now laid eyes upon the scene before her in the living room, she found herself unexpectedly taken aback. There was something inexplicably…..beautiful about it. Something that she couldn't quite put her finger on, what whatever it was it made her stop halfway down the stairs to gawk like she had just stepped into the heart of a treasure chamber.
"...Whoa."
"So….you like it?" Dipper asked with a hopeful smile. The older teen continued to gaze wordlessly for a few moments more. Eventually she snapped back to the present with a slow nod.
"I think I'm starting to get what you see in this holiday…."
They had to wait in the kitchen with near-overflowing bowls of cereal and steaming mugs of hot cocoa, where the twins told stories of past Christmases while Wendy in turn regaled them with anecdotes from winter apocalypse training. Despite her best efforts, eventually Mabel couldn't take it any more. She rushed upstairs and returned with two sleepy parents shuffling along in tow. Once Mr. and Mrs. Pines had brew up a pot of coffee it was then time for one of the best parts of the whole day, or at least so Wendy had heard.
Everyone assembled in the living room and started to exchange presents. At first the family's redheaded guest was just happy to sit back and watch the sweet scene, especially when the twins traded gifts with each other. Mabel had thoughtfully bought a new vest for her brother (Wendy almost wanted to thank the little brunette out loud when Dipper first took it out of its box; his old vest had been getting a little too grungy even by her standards). Dipper in turn had gotten his arts-and-crafts-obsessed twin a brand new paint set. His sister gave him such a big thank-you hug that it was a miracle none of his ribs were broken.
After the sweet sibling spectacle finished up, Wendy finally felt brave enough to reach for several roughly-wrapped gifts lying grouped together under the tree. She plodded across the room and handed the largest one to Mr. and Mrs. Pines.
"I wasn't really sure what to get so….I decided to bring this from home with me." She murmured. "Uh, I hope you like it."
Despite the reassuring smile she flashed, Mrs. Pines couldn't help but be visibly on guard as she very tentatively opened up the box. She and her husband found themselves looking at four neatly packed jars, each one tightly lidded and filled to the top with a thick black substance.
"Oh! It's...it's….." Mr. Pines picked one up and curiously watched its contents slowly ooze about inside. After the array of surprises they had over the last few days, neither one was sure what to make of this.
"It's blackberry jelly." Wendy was showered with surprised looks from the whole family. The girl shrugged their understandable reactions off. "What? We have a lot of blackberries that grow near town. There's a place on Main Street that makes this."
"Is that so? Then I know what I'm overloading my toast with for the next few weeks." Mr. Pines cracked as he flashed the teen a playful wink. "If I let it last that long, at least."
Mrs. Pines gasped in relief before she gave Wendy a small hug. "It's lovely. Thank you."
"No problem. It's just something local from home." She tried to coolly downplay her gift. Okay, so far so good. One down, two more to go. Unfortunately now she was in the center of attention. Even Waddles seemed to be curiously watching her from his makeshift nest in a pile of wrapping paper.
Sensing that the girl was feeling anxiously out of her element, Mrs. Pines quickly reached for another gift and presented to her husband with a smile. "Here's a little something for you."
"Yes!" He whooped like a kid at the sight of a new cookbook. It was one of his inevitable presents every single year, and it never failed to excite him. He wore an enormous toothy grin as he affectionately joked, "How'd you know?"
She rolled her eyes and teasingly answered back, "I'll admit, it was pretty tough. You're always so difficult to shop for…."
Now that the parents were busy sharing their own private moment together, Wendy felt a little better. She took a deep breath and knelt down in front of the twins. "Sooooo, these are for you guys."
"Awww, but you shouldn't have! You're already our present, remember?" Mabel reminded her with a sweet smile.
"Thanks, but I'm not going to let all this work go for nothing." Wendy chuckled. Without further ado she handed them a little box each. Both twins made short work of the crude wrap jobs and opened the presents up in near-unison. Inside each box was a small wooden question mark, hand carved to look exactly like the logo of the Mystery Shack.
"Wow." Dipper gasped and looked incredulously to her. "Did you…."
"Uh-huh. My Dad's taught me more than just how to shoot and chop things." His friend said with no small amount of pride.
"Dipper, look!" Mabel squealed as she compared her little carving to his side by side. "They're like twins too!"
"More like triplets." Wendy felt a little cheesy saying that, but she didn't know how else to put it. She reached underneath her shirt and revealed a third identical wooden question mark that hung on a string around her neck. "So, you know it kind of sucks living in totally different states, right? Even though we can just call whenever, I was thinking….if we all have one of these, it's kind of like….you know, we're all a little bit closer."
The teen coughed and shifted the conversation. "These don't have to go on your neck. You can use it as like, a bracelet charm, or on a keychain, or whatever you want."
"Thank you." Dipper handled his like a precious relic. The sight got a laugh out of her.
"Dude, it's just wood."
"Nuh-uh! It's one of the most thoughtful things ever! Thank yoooouuuu!" Mabel's eyes were lit brighter than the nearby tree.
"Glad you like them." Wendy smile's hid her relief.
"Like it? Ooohhhhh, no, I love it!" In the blink of an eye she snatched Dipper's question mark away and gathered some nearby ribbon.
"HEY!" He protested.
"Just a sec!" In no time the arts and crafts master had fashioned him a temporary necklace that she shoved down over his neck (with a little more force than he would have liked). She used a shorter piece of ribbon and quickly fashioned herself a bracelet. Now that they were both properly wearing their gifts, she clapped her hands and excitedly announced, "Okay, now it's your turn!"
"Huh?" Wendy was immediately confused. "Wait, what do you mean my turn?"
"Wait, what do you mean?" Dipper asked back. Now the twins were confused too, and together they shot her identical looks of bemusement.
"Do you mean like…. presents? But…..hold on, isn't this already it?" She waved her arm and gestured around the room.
"What is?" He cocked his head.
"You know, this whole having-me-down-here thing?" She explained.
"Oh, that's right! That's totally enough for-NOPE! One million percent wrong!" Mabel decalred before she attacked. The older teen was suddenly blinded as something was thrown over her head.
"GAH! Hey what-"
"Don't fight it! We're almost done!" A few seconds later she finished successfully getting her friend into a brand new hand-knitted sweater. "Ta-daaaaa!"
"I so should have seen this coming." Wendy remarked as she brushed the hair back out of her face. At the very least she was expecting her new garment to have a blizzard of glittery snow and a polar bear in sunglasses high-fiving a dancing Christmas tree. But to her surprise it was a stylishly simple emerald green affair.
"Do you like it? Pffft, what am I even saying? Of course you do!" Mabel scoffed. "See how I didn't give it a seasonal design? That way you can wear it whenever it gets a little too chilly! And check out that color. Nice, right? Now, I know what you're thinking, why didn't I go with red? Well duuuuuh, because this goes so well with those gorgeous locks of yours! And it really matches your eyes too, don't you think?"
"This is actually….wow." Wendy moved her arms about as she got used to the feel of the new sweater. It was extremely comfortable, and already she could tell that it was going to serve her well as soon as she returned home to her snowbound hometown.
"You're welcome." Mabel tittered proudly without any need for thanks.
"Speaking of, here's another one for you...I mean, not another sweater, but something for when the weather is….you get it, right?" With his usual smoothness, Dipper handed her a finely wrapped box. Inside the teen found a set of beautiful red flannel pajamas.
"Whooaa-hoooo, baby." Part of her wanted to rush upstairs right now and switch out of her current T-shirt and sweats.
"You keep talking about how much colder the winters are back in Gravity Falls." Dipper grinned with relief. "So I thought maybe this would make the nights a little better."
"Compared to here, it's like the north pole." She cracked. They shared a laugh before her friend turned and wordlessly gestured to his parents. The twins' mother got up and joined them.
"Okay, last but not least…." She handed over a small box. Wendy opened it to find a key waiting for her inside.
"Oh, uh….thanks?" She tried to be polite, but only a second second later she forced herself to admit, "I literally have no idea what I'm looking at right now."
"It's a spare house key. For this house. It's to let you know that you're welcome back here whenever you'd like." Mrs. Pines welcomingly explained.
"As many visits as you want, whenever you want!" Mabel encouraged her. " Summer's too far away to wait that long to see our Wen-Wen again!"
The fifteen-year-old had just been bombarded with holiday generosity. She hugged the new PJ's close with one arm and and smiled at the key now sitting in her hand. "I….I don't know what to…..thank you."
No one was able to get in a reply in before she abruptly reached down into her sweatpants. "Wait hold on….sorry, phone's vibrating."
She took it out, scanned the screen and shook her head. "Oh, man…. leave it to my Dad to really mess things. I got a call coming in from home. Is it okay if I go take this?"
"Oh, sure!" Mr. Pines smiled forgivingly. "Don't leave them waiting!"
"Thanks." She put her presents down and quickly headed upstairs.
The parents had been fooled, but Dipper didn't buy the admittedly convincing act for a moment. Thankfully, shortly after she left his dad presented his mom with a new robe while Mabel showed Waddles his new pillow-bed (and his brand-new light-up sweater, of course). It was the perfect opportunity for the boy to quietly slip away from the festivities.
Just as he expected, he heard sniffling as he approached the guest room. Wendy wasn't talking to her anyone on her phone. Instead she was busy wiping her watering eyes. The boy took a deep breath and cautiously knocked on the door.
"Wendy?"
The teen definitely looked a little embarrassed, but also didn't seem to be surprised in the very least. She chortled hoarsely. "I knew it probably wouldn't be long until you showed up."
"Sorry." Dipper blushed and stepped back a few paces out of sight.
"It's okay." She gestured for him to come in. "I'm just not a huge fan of tearing up with an audience, that's all."
"Is it the key that did it?" Dipper winced. Even if it was for a perfectly happy reason, he still didn't like accidentally reducing anyone to tears. Especially not a friend, and least of all his best friend. "Sorry. That was probably a little too much at once, huh? We probably should have waited a little for the key thing….but just to let you know, we all definitely mean it. After everything you did to make us feel at home in Gravity Falls, it's only fair. You know, if that's our home away from home, why can't this be your home away from home? And I know it's a long bus ride down and back, but you're definitely free to…..I mean, if our spring breaks happen at the same time, then maybe you could…."
As he awkwardly babbled on, Wendy didn't need long until she was able to put two and two together.
"...Not that I'm saying you have to come down, I'm just saying that we'd be okay if you...um…." He stopped when he noticed the fat smirk that was rapidly stretching across her face.
"The key was totally your idea, wasn't it?" She called him out.
"Uh…." Dipper's immediate pause gave her exactly the confirmation she needed. Wendy cracked up with a snort. The boy scratched the back of his neck and nervously chuckled. "Did I make it that obvious?"
"Yes." She didn't mince words. "And there's probably no way that you can be that good at picking out girl's pajamas."
"Definitely not…." Seeing as she was going to get the rest of the truth out of him no matter what, he decided to make it easier for himself and fess up. "Mom took care of all of that. I just thought if she gave my gift instead, it'd make you feel better about….you know, all that other stuff. But even if she didn't, she'd still want you to come back here too, just as much as we would. Now it's not like you have to come back here before the summer or anything, we just-"
He probably would have kept right on jabbering if the snickering girl hadn't knelt down and swept her best friend into a tight hug. Dipper could feel the red heat radiating off his face as she briefly nuzzled the top of his head.
"Thanks, Dipper." She whispered her gratitude.
"Thanks for being here." He was more than happy to wrap his noodle arms around her and return the warm embrace.
"Awww…..." Came a muffled coo from just outside the room. Dipper's blush immediately started glowing at double the intensity.
"Mabel?" He groaned. "How much of that did you-"
"She probably heard everything. Just accept it, man." Wendy rolled with it.
"Heard it all, saw it all, and got some photos too!" Mabel announced shamelessly as she revealed herself. Wendy mischievously held onto her embarrassed doofus for a little while longer.
"Make sure to get our good sides!" She requested while the little brunette happily snapped a few more pictures with her phone. "Sweet. Send them to me later?"
"Already on it!" Mabel enthusiastically texted them off. "And don't worry bro-bro, the happy memories are being sent to you too!"
"Thanks a lot." Dipper mumbled sarcastically.
"No problemo, Dippingsauce! But I'm not here just to creep around. Well, kinda, but mainly I come up because Mom's helping Dad start to throw breakfast together, sooooo I thought maybe would be a good time to…..you know….." Mabel hinted to her twin. "With the thing?"
As soon as Dipper caught on he snapped to attention. "Oh, right!"
Together they hustled out of the room, leaving behind a curious redhead. They soon returned carrying what appeared to be nothing more than Dipper's telescope case. But when they opened it up they revealed that there still had one last present for her.
"You didn't…." She couldn't believe her eyes. Despite Mabel's excellent wrapping job, she could immediately tell what it was thanks to its obvious shape. "How'd you even get this?"
"Stan helped! He bought it for us during Thanksgiving break after he convinced mom to let you come down." Mabel explained.
"Well, after we tried to buy it on our own." Dipper grimaced at the memory of that unsuccessful first go. "We definitely didn't think that through first time around."
"What are you waiting for?" His sister bounced up and down on her toes, "Open it! Open it!"
Just as she expected, it was a brand new hatchet. But what wasn't expected was the sight of her own name emblazoned into both the handle and the leather sheath that covered the blade.
"Oh, wow." She ran her fingers over the letters. "Guys…"
"It's so your brothers know not to take it." Dipper thoughtfully explained. Wendy held it for a couple wordless moments, and even did a few experimental twirls in her hand. She looked to her friends, and despite her best efforts to fight it she erupted with a loud sniffle.
"Wendy?" Mabel chirped concernedly.
"You okay?" Dipper asked.
"I'm fine. It's just…." As her eyes watered up fast, she reassured them with a chuckle. "The sweater didn't do it...the pajamas didn't do it….the key to your house didn't do it….but this axe….this stupid axe….oh man…."
It was all too much, and in the very best way possible. She croaked out a hoarse laugh as she finally lost it. While the tears began to flow down her pale cheeks, Wendy dropped down to her knees and opened her arms wide. The twins gladly obliged her, and they all joined up for a hearty group squeeze. However, it wasn't long until something occurred to Wendy.
"Wait a sec. So how come I got busted after just a couple days here, but you were able to hide this thing for a whole month?"
"Probably because we kept moving it to new hiding places." Dipper confessed. "Like, every couple days. We kind of developed a system."
"First Dipper's room, then my room, then the garage, then the attic, then repeat!" Mabel enthusiastically went into finer detail.
"Oh my God. You….you dorks." Wendy chuckled and wiped her tears in the younger girl's hair. The little brunette flashed a hundred-watt smile.
"But we're YOUR dorks!" Mabel happily declared, then promptly proceeded to tighten her loving crush. "And you're OUR Wen-Wen, and we wouldn't want anyone else with us here this year! End of story!"
"I know, I know." Wendy half-sniffled, half-snickered. "Merry Christmas, guys."
Dipper lit up with a grin that managed to outshine even his sister's as he felt their friend gratefully clasp them both as close to her as she possibly could. "Merry Christmas, Wendy…."