AN: WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I'm back!
And DO NOT WORRY. Matthew's story is far from over, a few of you were worried about that so, I'm clearing that up :3.
To answer the question of The Stargazer, it takes me roughly two to four days to complete a chapter, but as of now I'm going to go back and edit out all the EMBARASSING typos from previous chapters.
Also, to answer Roxanna Rose, "D Man" is Bill's nickname for Damion.
Anyway, I'm going to bring Matt out again because he got some B-day presents!
Matthew: Wait…I have Birthday Presents?
Me: Um, yeah. You have a fanbase dude, as both Bill and Matthew
Matthew: Sweet
Me: Okay, the first gift is from Roxana Rose. *opens yellow and black present and takes out note* she gave you an iPod with infinite battery and earphones!
Matthew: What? Hell yes!
Me: And Oooh! There's songs already on it. *scrolls through iPod, blinks twice* Lips are Moving by Meghan Trainer…Jar of Hearts by Christina Perry…How to be a Heartbreaker by Marina and the Diamonds, and Primadonna Bill/Girl by Marina and the Diamonds/Knitting Giant Beanies and—wow that's a lot of Taylor Swift songs. Good Lord Matthew
Matthew: Hey, hey! For the record, Rosie, I'm NOT A HEARTBREAKER. I never dumped a girl in this life—I dumped some as Bill Cipher, but that doesn't count because I never really loved them—and this is a different life! Just because girls dig me, doesn't mean I collect "Jars of Hearts" or lie! Yeesh!
Me: You were flirting with like, a dozen at your millionaire party
Matthew: So, WHAT?
Me: Oh, she also got you…a propeller hat?
Matthew: Um…
Me: Oh, it's not for you, it's for your kid
Matthew: I don't have a kid…I don't do I?
Me: *smiles mysteriously*
Matthew: Fantasy Fan… *narrows eyes*
Me: What? *puppy dog eyes*
Matthew: *huffs and leans back in chair* Continue
Me: This gift is from MordecoolBlueJay! *Picks up blue and white present and shakes it* I think there's a lot in here! *opens box* Oooh! Hey, Matt! You got a pen with infinite ink, heart stacked papers, and a jar with a hole in it.
Matthew: What does that do?
Me: *takes out note* It says to write something to a loved one and when you put in the jar, they get to read it, hmm, creative!
Matthew: So…it's magic?
Me: That's what I'm guessing
Matthew *nods in content* cool
Me: They also say they'll get your kid a gift when the Baby Shower happens
Matthew: WHAT kid? WHAT Baby Shower?!
Me: *smiles mysteriously* Anyway, this gift is from Alison Gumballs, she gave you FOUR infinite ink pens, and they all can double as a pen knives. She also doesn't know what to get your kid
Matthew: I'm not even going to comment on the kid thing
Me: Well done. As your final gift, from MLGbilcipher89, a card! It's also on her DeviantArt page
Matthew: Huh, good for someone who's not a demon…
Me: She also thinks you're cute
Matthew: Um, well duh. But thanks anyway MLG
Me: Well, there you have it folks! Matthew opening the presents you all so nicely gave him! I'll have them in the actual story, you're welcome!
Onward to the next chapter!
…C-I-P-H-E-R…
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Charlotte Paige Pennrowlington
In the middle of the night, Dipper heard the unmistakeable shuddering breath of his brother.
"Matthew?" He murmured turning over, he saw Matthew gritted his teeth, breathing hard and mumbling something under his breath.
"Matt?" Dipper crept closer to the bed.
"…I'm the thing with information galore," Matthew whispered, grunting as a bead of sweat slid down his forehead.
"Wanted by demons, witches, dragons and…uh…more…"
"Hey, Mattie?" Dipper whispered shaking Matthew gently.
"In the place of truth, doubts, and lies I will be…waiting for you to come find me…"
"Matthew…?"
Matthew's eye snapped open and he shot up, panting for breath.
"H-hey, Matthew? Are…you okay?" Dipper asked.
"Harrison Manor… Charlotte Paige Pennrowlington…" Matthew whispered in realization.
"Um, Matthew?" Dipper pressed.
Matthew looked at his brother and shook his head.
"S-sorry," Matthew murmured. "I was—nothing."
Dipper frowned skeptically.
"Really, I'm okay," Matthew insisted. "Just a bad dream."
Dipper nodded slowly but still looked skeptical. "If you're not okay, you'll tell me?"
Matthew smiled. "Of course."
As Matthew waited for Dipper to fall asleep once more, he looked at the wooden beams of the ceiling.
He had finally solved Damion's weird poem.
…C-I-P-H-E-R…
Wendy woke up the way she always did, to the sound of guys tromping around the house and of course,
"OW! Who moved the doorway! OW! Why does this exist?! I WILL DESTROY YOU!"
There was another smash and Wendy got up with a yawn, subconsciously picking up her phone from the nightstand and sighing.
She had written texts to Matthew over a million times and he hadn't answered, a part of her wondered if he was even serious about taking the next step in their relationship.
Just as she thought that, her phone buzzed.
'Sorry I hadn't answered, I had an…incident' Matthew's text said.
Wendy smiled and wrote a text back. 'Do I want to know?'
'You might not believe me'
'Try me'
'Grunkle Stan has a portal in his basement and I fell through and found his long-lost brother who tried to kill me twice'
Wendy laughed and wrote a text back.
'I know you and your siblings go through crazy stuff, but this is really jumping the shark dude'
'You don't believe me?' Matthew said, followed by a crying emoji, causing Wendy to laugh again.
'But really, it's the truth, come over and I'll show you.'
Before Wendy could text back he wrote, 'And maybe we'll be able to sneak in some make out time, *wink, wink*' followed by a sly emoji face.
Wendy smiled just as the door was slammed open. Her brothers stood there with large grins.
"What did I tell you guys about knocking?!" Wendy demanded.
"Nothing," Wyatt said, and Wendy rolled her eyes.
"What do you, dorks want?"
Will ran to Wendy's bed and tugged her down by her nightdress, looking straight into her eyes.
"The secret is OUT!" He yelled, Wendy pulling back abruptly at how loud her brother was being. "We all know you like Matthew Pines! So, admit it!"
Wendy huffed. "Yeah, I like him, we're even dating, so there."
Wendy's brothers stared at her for a few seconds.
"She opened up pretty fast," Will muttered.
"Like a flower," Wyatt said.
"Told you we didn't need the proof," Walter said.
"Oh well," Will shrugged. "We'll show her anyway!" Will dug into his jean pocket and Wendy's jaw dropped as he pulled out a strand of all too familiar blonde hair.
"Behold! PROOF!"
"Did you guys literally sneak into my room and steal 'proof?'" Wendy demanded.
"Yup," Will said.
"Cool, now OUT!" She barked, just as her stomach gave a lurch.
"Ugh…" she moaned.
"Um, are you okay, sis?" Walter asked with a frown.
Wendy put a hand over her mouth, running to the bathroom and heaving all the contents of her stomach.
She then staggered against the bathroom wall, breathing in and out slowly.
She stumbled back to her room, collapsing against the bed and sighing before texting, 'Sorry, my brothers were being annoying. I'll come over later. Tambry's having a Summerween party.'
'CRAP I forgot that holiday existed! And I didn't even bring my Whinny the Pooh costume!'
Wendy laughed lightly before texting, 'See you then?'
'Yup.'
…C-I-P-H-E-R…
Matthew smiled, slipping his phone into his pocket, getting up from his bed and walking into the kitchen where the twins along with Stan and his brother were eating breakfast.
"Good morning," Matthew announced.
"'Morning," Mabel and Dipper said in unison. Stan grunted while Ford nodded in acknowledgement.
"Good morning, young sir," an unfamiliar man said as he placed a hot plate of hash browns and scrambled eggs on the table before pulling out a chair and gesturing for Matthew to sit.
"Um…" Matthew slowly took the seat as the man pushed him in as if he were a two-year-old. "Hey, uh, guys? Who is this dude?"
"Oh, he's our butler, Laurence, I hired him two days ago and he came last night," Stan responded. "I figured we had cash to burn so why not burn it? Laurence, my mouth's dirty!"
Laurence walked over with a napkin in hand, wiping away the food from Stan's mouth.
"Your drink, sir?" He placed a can of Pitt Cola in front a grinning Stan. "Ha! I love this guy!"
"If money is making you this lazy, Stanley, then I can now see why you are unfit," Ford said.
"Hey, I'm not unfit!" Stan protested.
Ford poked Stan's belly and Matthew and his two siblings laughed at the look of annoyance and offence on Stan's face.
"Um, hey, Matthew?" Mabel said, turning to her brother.
"Uh, huh?"
"I never asked, where'd you get those wounds from?"
Matthew cleared his throat. "Uh…the shoulder wound I got from that gummy dragon thing…"
"And the head wound?" Dipper asked.
"Er…concussion," Matthew said, forcing a grin. He did not need more Ford drama. He'd tell the truth when things settled down more and there wasn't a %100 chance of the Stan twins getting into a fight-to-the-death. He wouldn't admit it, but he really wanted their bond to rekindle.
He saw Ford give him a questioning look which Dipper caught. He frowned slightly but decided now wasn't the time to grill his brother for answers.
…C-I-P-H-E-R…
Wendy walked to the Mystery Shack in a dress and boots while drinking from her water bottle to keep the bile at bay.
"Oh, God. What are you wearing?" A voice said.
Wendy spun around and glared at the familiar face of Penelope Evergreen, wearing a look of mock horror. She was wearing short dress with gold sequins and matching wedge heels. On her face was a golden mask covering her eyes.
"Dearie, who does that belong to? Your Grandma?" Penelope continued, crossing her arms.
"It was my mother's," Wendy growled.
"Let me guess, is mommy dead?" Penelope asked with a mock frown.
Wendy clenched her fists.
"Really, sweetie, if you're trying to woo Matthew then, ha! You're doing an awful job."
"I don't need to," Wendy said smugly. "We're dating."
She grinned when Penelope squawked, "What?"
"Oh yeah, we made out a few times…ah, we even had a special night together!" Wendy continued as Penelope angrily ripped her mask off. "Out of all the people he could've chose he chose a red-headed witch like you?!"
"A red-headed witch who has moral qualities," Wendy said calmly.
Penelope bristled for a few moments before her lips curved into a smirk. "Yes, well, so does Matthew. And one of his traits is kindness, I bet he only dated you because you were following him around like a lost puppy."
Wendy's grin turned into a scowl and she stepped in front of Penelope. "Matthew wouldn't date shallow dim-wit like you!"
"And Matthew won't stay with a ruffian who lacks in female hormones," Penelope sniffed.
"What?! I don't lack female hormones!" Wendy snapped.
"Honey, you're wearing boots with a long dress, your hair's a mess, and…" Penelope put her hand inside of Wendy's short sleeve and lifted her bra strap before letting it slap against Wendy's skin. "…sports bra. Of course."
Wendy flushed red with anger before clenching her fists tighter.
"No come back? Exactly. Because you know as much as I do, that Matthew Pines deserves better, than you," Penelope said with a smirk before grabbing Wendy's dress collar and tugging it sharply.
She cried out in surprise and horror as the stiches and cloth tore. Wendy covered herself as Penelope snapped a photo. "Tee hee, I'll make you internet famous. Ciao sweetie! Might want to change!" Penelope called over her shoulder as Wendy gritted her teeth in anger.
"A downright dog, isn't she?"
Wendy turned to the voice, a nine-year-old boy with dark hair and brown eyes, a smile on his face. "Say, I think you can have Matthew smitten with the right look."
"What do you mean?" Wendy demanded. "Matthew's fine with the way I am!"
"Well, he definitely won't be okay coming over with a ripped dress. You think he'll take you seriously after that?" The boy asked.
"Well…"
"Tell me you want my help, Wendy Corduroy, and we'll leave it at that."
…C-I-P-H-E-R…
"Ta-da!" Stan said as he parked the car. "Here we are! The Summerween—Stanford take your nose out of that book for one second, will you?!"
Ford ignored his brother and smiled. "Dipper, did you make these changes?" He asked, showing Dipper Journal 3 from the front seat.
"Um, yeah," Dipper said.
"You truly are a bright boy," Ford chuckled before turning back to the journal, Dipper glowing pink at the light praise.
"Anyway," Stan said, getting out of the car along with the twins, Matthew, and Soos.
"This is the Summerween super store!"
"Summerween?" Dipper repeated.
"Halloween in the summer," Matthew explained.
"The people of Gravity Falls like Halloween so much they celebrate it twice a year!" Stan said, holding up a calendar.
"Do you keep that in your pocket?" Dipper asked.
Stan blinked twice. "Yes. Hold on—Ford why are you still in the car?!"
"Stanley, I have no interest in participating—."
"Too bad! Out you get!" Stan barked, opening the car door and dragging his grumbling brother out.
"Aw, those two are cute!" Mabel gushed with a little giggle.
"Well, what are we all waiting for?" Soos asked with a grin.
"That's what I was wondering!" Matthew said. "Race to the store?"
"Ha! You're on!" Dipper said as they ran towards the store.
Matthew laughing before stopping and turning to see a girl singing and playing an acoustic guitar, a few coins in her open music case.
But that wasn't what creeped him out. Ever so often, her form would appear to glitch and turn into a girl with platinum blonde hair and dark violet eyes. There was another glitch and she turned back to the brunette girl, only to once more turn into the blonde girl, who looked up and smiled at him, her eyes becoming blood red.
Matthew felt something cold pierce deep inside of him…he felt as if she was stabbing his very soul. His breathing hitched and he staggered backwards, before collapsing, vaguely hearing multiple voices calling his name, barely feeling his head come in hard contact with the road.
Matthew then found himself in a fixed up and beautiful version of Harrison Manor, sitting on the ground in front of a dollhouse and a large teddy bear and brushing its fur, was none other than the five-year-old Clara Harrison, singing,
"Charlotte Paige Can trap your soul, put it in a jar,
Can make you see horrible things, can turn your bright soul dark.
Say her first name, once, twice, say her name at all,
And suddenly your sanity, will begin to fall."
Matthew sucked in a sharp breath. He recognized that song all too much. He had taught it to her when they had first met.
Matthew whispered, "Oh no…"
Matthew's eye snapped open, panting heavily as he looked around, seeing his family, along with Soos and a few strangers looking down at him with worry.
"You're alright!" Mabel cried in relief, wrapping her arms around her brother's neck, Dipper sighing in relief and quickly following suit.
"I—what happened?" Matthew muttered.
"You just collapsed!" Mabel exclaimed. "You were out for about thirty seconds."
The weird dream he got caused Matthew to tense. "Charlotte Paige Pennrowlington…"
"What?" Ford demanded as Stan helped Matthew stand, the scientist's face paled considerably.
"Do you know who Ch—?"
"Don't say her first name!" Matthew said quickly.
Ford didn't answer, and turned to Matthew. "What did you see that caused you to pass out?"
"A girl…with white-blonde hair and purple eyes," Matthew muttered.
"Oh no…" Ford said with wide eyes.
"She's after me, Paige is after me," Matthew whispered.
"Why is the real question," Ford said. "You must've said her name."
Matthew groaned. God, I'm so stupid.
"Um, can somebody tell me who this Paige lady is, because she sounds hot," Soos said as everyone turned to him. "Nobody else thinks that? Okay."
"But really, who is she?" Stan said. "And why does Ford look like he's going to piss his pants?"
"Digging for information is pointless, even for Bill Cipher." Matthew said. "It'll never work."
…C-I-P-H-E-R…
"Didn't Matthew say that digging wasn't going to work? And he's an all-knowing demon!" Mabel said as Dipper typed furiously on his laptop back at the shack.
"I need to try," Dipper claimed as he typed in 'Charlotte Paige Pennrowlington,' In Google Search before furrowing his brow. "Zero results?"
"Now I'm curious!" Mabel said jumping on the bed next to Dipper. "Google has everything!"
"But not anything on—."
"Don't. Say. Her name," Matthew said as he opened the door. "It'll give her power over you. Just call her Paige or Pennrowlington, don't say her first name. Even Bill Cipher doesn't do that."
"Bill's scared of Paige?" Mabel asked. She didn't think anything could scare the demented triangle.
"Not scared per say, wary, yes. Even he knows that Paige isn't his play thing," Matthew said darkly.
"What does Paige do that scares everyone so much?" Dipper asked.
"Lots of things," Matthew said. "While Bill has control over the mind, Paige has dominion over the soul—your very life essence—and your heart…emotions, morals…you name it."
"Does Bill even have a soul?" Dipper demanded with a scoff.
"He did," Matthew said.
Before Dipper could ask his brother to elaborate, Mabel asked, "Then why's he scared? he has no soul to lose!"
"No, but he has a life essence. Piss her off, and she can screw with him, which she did once." Matthew said seriously.
"So, what's going to happened to you now that you've said her name?" Dipper asked worriedly.
Matthew frowned. "I'm not…" his voice trailed off as his head cocked back violently.
"Matthew?" Mabel asked as their brother looked down on his siblings, his mouth curved into a smirk and his blue eye now dark violet.
"Paige…" Dipper whispered in horror.
"Trying to dig deep, are you?" Paige said with a giggle, using Matthew's voice. "Hm, don't bother."
"What do you want with our brother?" Mabel asked crawling away from the possessed teen.
"I have a little job to complete," Paige said, calmly. "It involves making your brother Demon King material."
"Demon King…I heard that. That's why our uncle kidnapped Matthew!" Dipper said.
"Smart boy," Paige said calmly. "Just take this as a little…hm, intro to my powers." Paige giggled once more before Matthew's body shook with spasms.
Matthew inhaled sharply, his eye once blue.
"Paige was talking to us…through your body," Mabel said. "It was super creepy."
"Sorry about that," Matthew said. Though his siblings seemed a tad shaken up. "Let's not worry about creepy ladies anymore. We have Summerween to look forwards to! Right?"
The twins forced a smile and Matthew sighed, putting a hand on each of their shoulders. "It's going to be alright, okay?"
The twins nodded. "So, what costume did you two pick out?"
"Peanut butter and jelly!" Mabel said, instantly perking up.
"Hope to see you in it, not sure what I'm going to wear," Matthew said. "And again, it'll be alright, okay?"
"Hey, Matthew!" Stan called from downstairs. "Wendy wants to see you!"
"Wendy?" Dipper said pausing in taking out his suit.
"Dipper, she won't judge you if you go trick-or-treating, it's not her personality," Matthew said, instantly telling what his younger brother was thinking.
"Yeah, come on bro-bro! Get in costumes!" Mabel said cheerfully.
Dipper sighed as Matthew left the room and walked downstairs.
"Wendy? You're here…?" Matthew's voice trailed off as he saw his girlfriend in a strapless blue dress that swept down to her ankles, barely covering light blue heels. Her red hair pulled into a neat bun and a smile on her face, giving her green eyes the effect of glowing brightly.
Matthew's jaw dropped while Wendy laughed. "What? Do I look that gorgeous to you? C'mon it's just a Cinderella costume."
"Didn't think that was your style," Matthew said, finding his voice and grinning.
"Oh, it's not, I um, just thought you'd like it—do you?" Wendy brushed a strand of hair from her eyes.
Matthew stepped in front of her, sweeping the strand over up to her ear. "You didn't have to do this for me…not that I'm complaining though. You're the cutest red-headed Cinderella I've ever seen, and I would know, I dated the real one."
"Wait, what—?" Wendy was cut off as Matthew pressed his soft lips on hers, closing his eyes and tangling his fingers in her hair as Wendy kissed back.
"Matthew?"
The two pulled apart and turned to Dipper in his peanut butter costume, his jaw dropped.
"Dipper…" Matthew began, only for the boy to turn around and dash up the stairs.
"I…sorry, um, hold on Wen—Wendy?" Matthew turned to see Wendy groaning and stagger into the counter.
"Wendy? WENDY!" Matthew screamed a she collapsed, only for Matthew ro catch her.
"Matthew?" Mabel ran down the steps in her jam costume.
"Mabel, quick, the ambulance!" Matthew called as he held Wendy to his chest. Wondering if it'd be a thirty-second pass out like what he went through.
Though she didn't so much as stir.
…C-I-P-H-E-R…
Wendy groaned as several voices were heard.
"Ah, you're awake," a woman said with a smile.
"Where am I?"
"The hospital, dear, you gave your boyfriend quite the fright…he is your boyfriend?"
"Um…yeah, he is, wait, where is he?" Wendy asked.
"The waiting room. I can call him in if you would like," the woman, presumably doctor said.
"No, that's fine," Wendy said.
"I have a question for you Ms. Corduroy," The doctor said. "Have you had any bedroom activity recently?"
Wendy blushed slightly. "Well, yeah."
"Hm, that explains it," The doctor said.
"Explains…"
"Well, Wendy Corduroy, It would appear that you are pregnant."
Wendy said nothing, just stared at the woman with an open mouth.
…C-I-P-H-E-R…
AN: DUH, DUH, DUH, DUH!
Yes, Wendy is carrying Matthew's demon/something-else-but-I-won't-tell-you-because-spoilers-child!
Good on you Roxanna Rose for getting suspicious of that! And good on you MordecoolBlueJay for getting the foreshadowing on my other chapter when Wendy thought, Matthew would be a good dad. Well congrats, Matthew! NOW YOU'LL EXPEREICNE IT!
I'm not sure if the child should be a boy or girl, I'm leaning more towards girl, since I think it'll be cute for Matt to have a daughter but nothing's set in stone! I already got two name suggestions, Mirage for a girl and Illusion or Will for a boy, maybe not Will because I already named Wendy's brother that but, we'll see!
Some light being shed on the mysterious "Paige" and Penelope being a dog like always :3. And of course, brother banter between Stan and Ford (I really enjoy writing those scenes).
Now I wonder what connection Paige has with Ford…?
Hope you enjoyed! Happy Early Easter and,
Fantasy Fan OUT!