(Immediately following the previous chapter...)

Dipper starts asking the question. "I have... one important question to ask, Bill... What...?"

The demon beats him to the punch with a stare of obviousness. "I know... You wanna know what I think of Sixer, don't you?"

The boy gasps, shocked that he was able to correctly guess. Meanwhile, Sammy is off the loop. "Who's Sixer...?"

Mabel answers as Dipper is still staring at Bill. "One of our grand uncles, Stanford."

Samuel knows that Bill gives nicknames, but still asks. "Why is he calling him like that...?"

His friend is a bit embarrassed to answer. "Because, um... I'll explain later, don't worry."

Dipper reacts in disbelief. "How did you...?"

Bill once again cuts him off. "You're painfully predictable, Pinetree!"

The boy realizes something. "Wait, Mabel... You don't know about this story, right?"

His sister looks at him in confusion. "What story? About grunkle Ford leaving the portal?"

Samuel keeps getting more and more confused, but he knows answers are coming, so he stays shut.

Bill is once again annoyed, so he gets the other two off to speed. "One day, Sixer decided to research on me and tried to summon me, which allowed us to get into contact through a dream of his. I saw how intelligent he was and thought he could help me reach my sinister goals. So I lied to him by saying I was a muse helping the gifted ones, for my own benefits, and we made a deal of partnership that also gave me control of his body periodically."

Mabel reacts angrily. "You lied to him..."

"Isn't that my trademark thing? Use your brain, Shooting star!" She keeps that stare as Bill continues. "After some time, he ended up finding out what I was up to and decided to undo the deal." He reacts angrily. "This despite me offering him to rule by my side. This goody two-shoes decided to decline and try to stop me... And then you know the rest. The fight between twins, him getting trapped for 30 years, me only returning when Gideon summoned me..."

Mabel and Samuel are speechless, but a detail really peaked Mabel's interest. "Wait, if I got this right... You are angry that... he declined to join you in evil?"

Obviously, the topic is very sensitive, so Bill reacts with an angrier tone. "Of course!"

With that knowledge, Dipper asks. "... You... wanted him to stay by your side? So you... actually cared about him...?"

Bill giggles like he heard the stupidest thing. "Yeah, I cared alright. He was my most competent pawn ever!" In this statement, he speaks what's mainly on his mind, but then, he speaks a little more truthfully. "Sixer is a smart one, so I felt some genuine thankfulness for him helping me so much. Before that falling out, we did hang out a while, either for work, intellectual games, exchanging knowledge... I recall being honest in some of my flatteries, even if they were done mainly to have him help me. And when he found out, my proposal to have him rule the dimension together with Weirdmageddon was genuine. And is one I did repeat on several occasions when the day finally arrived." He thinks and says, to gain their trust. "And know that if this fool accepted, your family would've been spared. And maybe your friends too..."

The only thing Mabel takes back from all of these informations is something that gives her a giant smile. "Oh my gosh, you were friends!"

Everyone else in the room looks at her with stares that scream "isn't that kind of a stretch...?"

Bill drops to sit on the floor with his cane. "Surely you are kidding? Me, being friend with him?" He denies it completely.

She doesn't get discouraged. "Of course, it really sounds like it. It seems like you were much alike, and you enjoyed working together and hanging out. That's what friends do!" This small speech does make Dipper and Samuel consider that she actually makes some good points, but still... The situation is a very unique one.

She concludes. "And with how you are today... More open and willing to recognize and admit your faults... I'm sure Grunkle Ford would be proud of you."

Bill's eye heavily focuses on her after these words, and he speaks in disbelief after some silence. "He would...?"

Dipper gets worried. "Are you sure about that, Sis? You know the history is complicated, and..."

Mabel doesn't wait. "Of course I am! Have you seen how genuine Bill has been? I'm sure it would go fine."

Samuel is concerned too. "Well, I'm not all too familiar with this whole story, but... I don't really know if this seems like a good idea..."

Bill suddenly takes the boys attention by answering with complete honesty. They no longer pay attention to what Mabel is doing. "Yeah, I agree with you two... Although I must say, I slightly wish I could invade his dreams... And try to talk to him. Maybe... a part of me... really wants to know about that..."

As the boys look at each other, trying to know what to make up of those informations, Mabel, without saying a word, had the time to pick up the computer, open it, and... "Okay, I'm calling him!"

All the other living beings in the room yell. "WHAT?"

Far away from the Pines residence... in Gravity Falls, Oregon, at the Mystery Shack. Ford is thankfully awoken at this time. The man has always been smart and tech-savvy, but he did spend 30 years away from his dimension. Thankfully, Wendy and Soos were here for him to explain how much technology has evolved from the ones he knew when he left. So he has learned how to answer a video chat on a computer and he answers, he's alone in his room.

The camera from the kids' computer only shows the twins for now. And their uncle is very glad to see them. "Oh hey kids, how goes it?"

Dipper doesn't really know how to approach things. "Hey grunkle Ford! Hope you're doing well! As for us, we're fine, but..."

Mabel answers so he doesn't get worried. "Sorry if we bother you out of nowhere, but we got something... something important to share with you."

Dipper completes. "Yeah, turns out... Someone who is with us right now would need to join this call. And... you might not believe it..."

Samuel, who is usually a little nervous about meeting new people, catches his breath and enters the frame, fearing it wouldn't be right to let him wait. "Hello, Sir... My name is... Samuel, and... I'm a very close friend of... your grand nephew and niece. It's... nice to meet you!"

"Same for me, kid! My name is Stanford, but you can just say Ford!" The man gives a wave and as he does, Samuel realizes. "Oh, so that's why he calls him Sixer..." He doesn't make any comment about it, because he fears it could be disrespectful. "So, did you want to introduce yourself because you had something to tell me?"

Samuel is bothered about revealing what's to come. "Kind of, I do have something important to show you, but I'm not the one who's gonna do the talking... Here's the thing..." He looks out of frame to speak gently. "Come here..."

Bill just floats there outside the camera's point of view, nodding his refusal. If he had an organic heart, it would be beating out of the body. He almost acts like a puppy who doesn't want to take a bath.

Ford is confused. "Um, what's going on...?"

Sammy feels a bit ashamed from making him wait. "Sorry... I'll... I'll show you..." He then just grabs Bill's arm to drag him into the frame.

And this gets the expected reaction from the old man. "HOW? Kids, get away!"

However, both Dipper and Mabel look at him in silence. With their stares alone, they're able to reassure him that they don't fear him. So Ford doesn't insist for now, he trusts the kids too much.

Bill, who has made a big reputation for himself as someone loud, boastful and confident, speaks in his shyest, quietest voice ever while looking away. "... ... H-h-h-hi... ... S-S-Sixer..."

Ford is in complete awe about what he sees, and he barely even comprehend the whole thing. So he starts answering without being sure of what to say. "Cipher...? How are you...? Why are you...?"

Bill once again feels too ashamed, so to disappear, he fuses with Samuel again, and opens the eyes to show the effect of his control.

"NO, DON'T...!" Ford's reaction is completely justified, but once again... Dipper and Mabel look at him with confidence, knowing Bill wouldn't harm either their friend or themselves with what he just did.

Bill leaves out all his emotions at once, making the human body he borrows bursting into tears. He yells out of desperation. "I'M SORRY! Sorry I tricked you! Sorry I scared you! Sorry I tried to torture you so you would help me! Really, really sorry I pretended to threaten the kids' lives to convince you to accept helping me! For everything..." His speech is drowned in his sobbing, but he still concludes... "I'M SORRY! ..."

The twins look at each other with sadness at the sight, and Bill is still making Samuel tear up heavily with struggles to keep a solid, consistant breath. Ford stays silent in shock for a little bit. But he thinks of something and gives Bill a small challenge. "Cipher, if you mean what you say... Let that kid go... right now!"

To his surprise, Bill obeys immediately, letting Samuel have his will again while he sits on his knees. So Ford is surprised about it, taking this obedience as proof that he's sincere. Next he asks, carefully. "So, you truly mean what you said...?"

Since he started showing weaknesses to him, Bill decides that it's too late to act prideful and continues, even with his true form. "I don't expect your forgiveness, Sixer... Nor do I deserve it... But I needed to tell you this... I never intended to harm your family... And had you simply ruled by my side during Weirdmageddon instead of objecting... Maybe I would've treated them like my own family..."

Ford is still silent, once again. But... He feels hopeful from these statements. Much like Dipper, he knows Bill can't fake sadness and sorrow while possessing a human body. And the way the kids silently nod to him when he's unsure is another thing he needs to take into consideration. Just like Dipper, he isn't completely convinced, but he says. "For now... I believe you!"

Bill continues to speak as if nothing important was said. "I wanted to invade your dreams so we could have this talk... But it's impossible, so Shooting star decided to..." He then realizes what he heard "Wait, WHAT?" He stares at Ford, who has a faint, but hopeful smile. "How can you possibly be willing to forgive me after all the things I did, Fordsy? Are you insane?"

The man stares at his disbelief and explains. "You were speaking honestly... As honestly as possible for you, at least... Truth be told, I don't entirely trust you, but... if the kids are willing to believe you... Then I will too. I'm willing to try to forgive you if it turns out with time that these feelings are genuine..."

Bill is genuinely lost. Despite all his knowledge and all-seeing powers... He's unable to understand why all of his sworn enemies so far ended up believing it.

"I see, well I thank you for telling me that and listening to me, Sixer... If you don't mind, I'll be off..." He floats away from the camera, only to fall face first on the floor, not moving at all. His mind is racing between many confused thoughts. Too much for him to do anything else.

Mabel looks at that and theorizes. "I think all this kindness... It's too much for a being finding pride in evil since forever..."

Dipper admits to his grunkle. "I also struggle to completely trust him right now, but... He has shown some behaviors... that are unlike anything we know of him."

Ford looks bothered by something, however. "Listen kids, thank you for the call, but I'm gonna have to get rest right now, so I can't stick around. Promise me that if anything wrong happens with Bill, you use your knowledge to fight back."

Dipper speaks. "We will!"

Mabel confirms. "I actually kept some unicorn hair as a souvenir. I'd use that if needed."

Sammy is surprised. "You met an unicorn...?"

The twins realise that they forgot that part. Mabel says "yeah, sorry, I forgot about that detail. And maybe more..."

"Thanks for the talk, Grunkle Ford!" Dipper concludes the call.

Before leaving, Ford still takes a moment to say. "And Samuel... Nice meeting you."

"Oh, um.. Thanks, Sir..."

"Take care, kids!" Ford closes the video chat.

The three kids look at each other with a mix of relief and concern in their faces. And they turn to Bill, who is just laying on the floor. So they help him stand up again.
Samuel asks. "Are you okay?"

Bill turns red, bigger, and reacts furiously. "STOP IT!" The bedroom then gets surrounded by blue flames, which makes the kids really scared and willing to call him out, but then they feel...

"Wait... It doesn't feel hot in here... And... It's not damaging anything in the room..." Notices Dipper. As it turns out, the fire is meant to represent his state of mind.

"Bill, why...?", asks a concerned Mabel.

"SHUT UP!", yells Bill with a deep voice. "I DON'T DESERVE THIS! I DON'T DESERVE THIS! I DON'T DESERVE THIS!" He starts shooting fireballs from his hands for emphasis on his words. "I... DON'T... DESERVE... THIS!"

"Bill, please calm down...", begs Samuel.

"SHUT UP, FUZZBALL! IT ALL GOT WORSE WITH YOU!" The kids get confused. "BEING AROUND YOU CAUSED ME TO LOSE MY FLAIR!" The demon is in a complete state of disbelief about all that has happened, unable to think straight about anything that's going on, and he lets out to them the feelings he had deep inside without realizing it in his fury. "I WAS ALREADY HUMILIATED BY BEING DEFEATED AND LOSING MY DREAM, BUT NOW...!" Everyone is confused so he continues. "NOW I LOST MY EVIL PRESENCE BY BEING FORGIVEN BY ALL OF YOU! AND I'M UNABLE TO DO EVIL ANYMORE! I HATE IT! I... HATE... IT!" He sounds like he's an immature child throwing a tantrum, but still... It feels... just wrong coming from him.

Dipper and Mabel look at each other in sadness and try to approach Bill, but... "GET AWAY! YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT BE A DETRIMENT TO MY LIFE!"

Samuel approaches Bill from the side, causing him to yell. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" He then uses his magic to do a very tight grasp. "I WON'T HURT YOU, BUT I WANT YOU TO FEEL THAT TERROR! I'LL..." His rant in interrupted because Dipper and Mabel separately grab his hands while he wasn't looking.

Dipper holds the left hand. "Bill, stop!"

Mabel holds the right hand. "This isn't right!"

Samuel falls on the ground as the grasp stopped. Thankfully, it was barely a fall as he was in jumping distance from the ground.

The twins speak one after the other while Bill fights back. "You have to calm down!"

"We know you feel... lost!"

"But this isn't the way to go!"

"You're better than this, Bill!"

"If you fear for not enjoying evil anymore..."

"Then we'll help you go through it and find different ways to have joy."

The two kids join together in front of him while still holding his hands.

"You can still be who you are, even if being evil will be a thing of the past!", states a serious and logical Dipper.

"You can find other ways to express that joy! And maybe help you discover new feelings!", states a serious and hopeful Mabel.

"We'll help you!"

"We'll be here for you!"

They're a bit concerned at what they're about to say, but nod to each other because they know it's important. And so they speak in unison...

"IT'S A DEAL!"

The statement... This one sentence... It gets to Bill's spirit... While it's not an officially sealed deal with him... The fact that they put it this way... It caused a spark in his mind... And so, the flames vanish, Bill turns yellow and smaller again and he stares at them silently, in big shame for what just happened...

"... ... ... Awkward demon hug...?"

The two kids look at each other with a smile, and then answer Bill.

"Awkward siblings & demon hug!" ... "PAT, PAT...", says Bill alongside the two kids. They laugh at it while a part of the demon feels ashamed for that, but at the same time... He also feels a lot of relief.

Samuel fakes offense. "Hey, you never let me into one of these before. That's not fair!" He gets them worried, but then, he just can't help but laugh at his own act.

"Sorry to you too, Fuzzball... I really lost my cool... I just... I cannot understand how all of you can just..."

The kids grabs Bill's hand again... And Samuel... he grabs a third hand that the demon grew out of nowhere for the occasion. They look at him with genuine smiles.

"We'll help you through this... It's all gonna be fine...". Mabel tries her best to be reassuring and hopeful, and Bill... just nods, fairly unconvinced.

Author notes: On top of being the final piece of setting the very odd situation of (guess I really cared about showing how each character feels about it), this chapter has something I thought I'd need to be careful about.

I really don't want my OC to seem more important in the story than the actual protagonists, and I don't want them to feel sidelined just because Bill is linked to Samuel. This is the main reason why I made that final scene the way it played out, and I intend to try my best to have them remain very important to the whole thing.

Thanks for reading!