Stan wasn't quite sure how he ended up hovering outside the attic door again.
Hadn't he just proved to himself that it was a terrible idea only hours ago when he'd overheard the twins contemplating their chances of running away from him? Or nearly forty years ago while listening in on the principal going on about his and Ford's futures? Or rather, Stan's lack of a future...
Still, he just wanted to peek in on the kids. Make sure they were still there and hadn't disappeared into thin air on him.
Like his parents. Like his own twin.
Fool me twice...
The floorboards creaked beneath his feet as he stepped inside. Stan winced, holding his breath.
It didn't seem to matter.
Dipper and Mabel were out like lights, the younger twin snoring quietly like all Pines men did. A reluctantly fond smile curled his lips at the sight of them.
What were their parents thinking, sending them into his care? Probably that he really was Stanford. He'd never given them the opportunity to assume otherwise.
He took the chance to tuck Dipper back beneath his blankets, settling the boy's new hat on the bedpost, before moving on to his great-niece. Stan smoothed her unruly curls away from her face tenderly, marveling at her baby face and long lashes.
Dipper reminded him of himself at that age, all suspicion and brash emotions. He worried about the kid.
But Mabel reminded him of Ford, all curiosity and a desire to do everything with a flourish. She saw the world in a way he'd never be able to and fit into Gravity Falls like a glove.
And didn't that terrify him? The chance that she - that either of the twins - might be swallowed up by the weirdness of the town one day.
Just like Ford.
Stan shuddered at the thought as he tucked Mabel in.
The movement dislodged one of her toys, the ball rolling from the covers and bumping against his foot
A magic 8-ball.
Don't tell him that's how they decided to stay?
He chuckled humorlessly at the very idea.
Still, it seemed that the 8-ball's answer had worked in his favor.
"Whaddya think?" he muttered, giving the cheap plastic a gentle shake. "Think I'll have a chance to do better this time around?"
If the stars so align
Huh. That was a different kind of answer. Magic 8-balls really changed over the years.
Stan shook his head and left the toy at the end of Mabel's bed.
If only answers really did come so easily...