Setting his hand overtop of hers, Stan can see he has her undivided attention. "About twelve years ago, I was in Myrtle Beach, on a very needed holiday. I was in a bar, having a good time, and I overheard something. Something that made me sick to my stomach."

Lexi tries pulling her hand back, fearing what's about to come, but he holds her hands.

"Calm down, kid. I'm not going to hurt you."

She freezes, remembering those exact words.

"That night, I followed some of the people I'd overheard, to a nice house, in a quiet neighborhood. I looked through the windows I could reach, including the basement… It killed me, waiting for everyone to be gone, or asleep, but… I waited. I broke in, stole some very expensive pieces of jewelry, and went into the basement."

She looks into his eyes, her vision blurry from tears, and hiccups, "You cut the ropes…"

"I cut the ropes, gave you that sweater, and got you out of there. I took you to the hospital, and explained where I found you, using the convenient excuse of robbery," he grins. "Then I left."

"There were three police stationed outside my room, and Detective Powers was assigned my case. He said it was pretty cut and dry, as SWAT had stormed the house that very night. Found the…"

"There was more evidence than needed," Stan nods.

Breaking into sobs, Lexi falls forward, but Stan rounds the table, and scoops her up, setting her on his lap, and rocking her in comfort.

"You're alright… You're safe…" he croons, rubbing her back in small circles.

When her crying has faded to small hiccups, and her hands are fisted in his shirt, she informs him, "They were released, when I first got here. That's the phone call you overheard."

He squeezes her close, "I'm so happy I didn't send you away, kid. Don't keep any secrets from me, alright?"

She huffs a laugh, "Same goes for you, old man."

"Not that old," he grumbles. "I'm going to show you something. No one in this world knows about it."

Lexi gets off his lap, and when he's up, she follows him into the gift shop, and blinks as he leads her to the vending machine. He presses the buttons in a certain pattern, and the machine swings open, showing a hidden elevator.

"You have to be kidding me…"

"Not even the best part," he smirks, stepping into the elevator. When she's beside him, he presses the 3, and they descend under the house. "Not everything is safe," he warns, as she walks into the hidden lab.

"What is all this?" she asks, walking in, and turning slowly.

"My twin brothers lab."

She stops mid-turn, and drops her eyes on the senior, "Twin?"

"He's been… missing for the last 30 years. Stanford is a scientist, and this is his home. His lab."

"Who are you, then?"

"Stanley. I faked my death, so I could take on my brother's identity, and keep this place for him. I had to pay the mortgage somehow," he shrugs, walking deeper into the room, to a door at the far end, and opens a door.

Lexi follows him, and blinks in disbelief. There, at the far end of the room, is an upside down triangular portal, blue and white swirling inside it.

"We got into a fight, and… the portal caught him, pulled him somewhere else. I've been fixing it up, and only just got it turned on. I need one more thing, before it's fully operational, and then… my brother will be home."

Lexi swallows the pinpricks of nerves, as she watches the portal spin, her own eye color staring back at her. She slowly turns back to Stan, and offers a tentative smile, "What's the last thing you need?"

"The less you know, the better."

"Is it illegal? Of course it is," she snorts before he can answer.

"You know me so well," he snorts.

Later that night, Lexi sits in her room, knees hugged to her chest, as she stares out the window. The day had been very informative, but she has so many questions she can't even ask. The biggest one, what's Stanford like?

Shaking her head, and ignoring the slight throb from the much smaller bump on her head, the young woman flops backwards onto the sofa, and grumbles. There's a knock on her door, and she grumbles, before the door opens.

"Lexi?"

"Mabel? What's up?" the woman asks.

"I… I started my, erm…"

"Have you had your period before?" Lexi asks calmly.

Mabel nods, but winces before walking further into the room, and shuts the door. "I don't have anything, and I can't ask gruncle Stan… I messed up the bed," she adds, clearly embarrassed.

Lexi gets out of her bed, and goes to her bag, pulling out dark jammy shorts, and a pad. She hands the items to the girl, with a soft smile, "Get changed. You can sleep in here, and I'll handle your bed."

"Thanks, Lexi," she says softly, blushing.

Lexi pads out of the room, and up the stairs. Opening the door quietly, she peeks in, and finds Dipper just waking up.

"Mabel?"

"She's in my room, kiddo," Lexi reassures. "I'm just doing a load of laundry," she says lightly, going to the younger girls bed.

"She doesn't have to be embarrassed about that," Dipper states. "We all have accidents."

Lexi stops, blinking, then turns to look at him, "Do you know what a period is?"

"Like, punctuation?" he asks.

"You're serious. Alright then, guess we're doing this," she grumbles, sitting on the bed. She explains the birds and the bees, and how both sets function. She uses her calmest voice, seeing as how Dipper is pale, and shaking. "You okay, kiddo?"

"Mabel's a woman… She hit puberty before I did! What am I supposed to do?"

"Stop freaking out, for a first," Lexi snorts. "It happens to everyone."

He looks at her, "Have you had sex?"

Lexi licks her lips, suddenly embarrassed, "Yes… but I wasn't happy about it."

The boy is clearly embarrassed, but asks anyway, "I thought it's supposed to be good?"

"If both people are willing, it can be. If one of the people isn't willing… it's painful, and humiliating."

"That happened to you, didn't it?"

Fighting her blush, Lexi nods, "Yeah. It's called rape, when someone is forced."

"Is the guy in jail?" he asks, knowing he's walking on thin ice here.

"Some of them are still in jail, yes. But, some have been released, for having served their sentences, and some for good behavior."

"It… wasn't just once?" He blanches at her stiff nod, "I'm sorry, for asking."

"It's alright, Dipper. There are people in this world that are cruel, just because they can be. Sometimes, they get punished, but not always. The most cruel, can sometimes be the closest people to you," she adds softly.

Dipper gets out of bed, and sits down beside the woman, leaning his head on her shoulder, "I'm sorry that happened to you."

"It can help to talk about. Not always, but it can."

Dipper nods, not moving otherwise, and is rewarded by her own head falling onto his, He finally says, "How are you so brave, when something so terrible happened?"

"I'm not. I'm scared every day," she admits.

"What do you do, to get through?"

"Honestly? I read it in a book, and it's helped. I say it aloud, whenever I'm feeling scared."

"What is it?" he asks, curious about it.

"My name is Lexi Amero, and I will not be afraid. The more I say it, the more I believe it," she chuckles.

"I like that," Dipper nods. "Hey, being Mabel's sleeping in your bed, and you need your sleep, why don't you sleep up here tonight?"

"You wanna roomie with me? I hope you know I snore. Loudly," she jokes.

Dipper yawns, returning to his bed, "Good night, Lexi."

"Night, Dipper," she smiles. Getting up, she gathers the soiled bedding, and heads down the stairs, putting it into the machine, and turning it on.

"Well, I don't think I can sleep. Too many emotions in one day," she sighs, stretching her arms over her head.