Okay, so I was wrong about this chapter coming out sooner than the last. Sorry about that...

All I can say now is that I'm definitely going to do better about getting on a proper upload schedule, and I hope you like this installment!

And just a heads up, I may start putting little cryptograms in these AN's, like the kind in the show. They're pretty fun and if you figure them out, it might give a little hint towards certain plot points in the fic.

Chapter Four: One Of Them

Pacifica didn't think her world could be turned upside down twice in one lifetime, but the Pines twins have a knack for proving her wrong.

The first time had been when Dipper opened her eyes to change, assuring her that she could be different from her parents if she wanted to.

The second time had been when she saw them both sitting in that diner a year later.

It hadn't occurred to her until that moment how much she missed them. Once she got a taste of how interesting and spontaneous life could be, they up and ditch Gravity Falls to go back to wherever they came from, leaving her high and dry. For a year, Pacifica did things differently than what her parents would want. She tried to get to know more people, get out of her comfort zone, and even humble herself enough to learn the value of a dollar. She actually grew to respect Lazy Susan, interacted with Mabel's friends Candy and Grenda whenever she saw them, and in general, did her best to ditch the uppity, snobby rich girl act her father taught her.

It was almost like fulfilling an unspoken promise. To two people that weren't even around anymore, no less.

But now they were back, and Pacifica hardly knew what to do with herself. When they left last time, she wasn't sure if they would ever return. For all she knew, that visit was a one-time thing. She was worried she'd never get to experience the feeling of having real friends again.

But they were here, just as she'd hoped.

And one of them was currently stuck in a werething hole.

"Dipper!" Mabel shouted worriedly. No answer.

"Do you think he hit his head?" Pacifica asked, horrified at the thought of Dipper getting hurt all because of something she asked him to do.

"I don't know!" Mabel leaned further into the hole, "Dipper, can you hear me?! Please, say something!

A few more moments of fear passed between the girls, until an echoed groan travelled up the tunnel and into their ears, making them sigh. He was alive.

"I think I'm okay..." Dipper croaked, "I can't see a thing, though. The cell phone light doesn't reach very far."

Pacifica poked her head in the hole, careful not to get herself dirty. "Don't worry about that! We need to get you out of there!"

"Just wait a second! It's like an underground cave down here!"

"Don't be an idiot! A werething could be waiting to eat you!"

Dipper's tone seethed with annoyance, "It's werewolf, Pacifica! And they only transform during the full moon!"

The blonde huffed and turned to Mabel, "You need to talk some sense into your brother. He might get us all killed!"

The other Pine twin just grinned in her direction, a knowing look in her eyes. She was enjoying the banter, which only frustrated Pacifica further.

"Mabel, do something!"

Mabel shook herself out of the trance, "Right. Dipper, maybe we should just come back another day when we have the right tools! Like the grappling hook! Next time I won't forget it!"

He continued to protest, "But we're in their lair! This is our only chance to confront them outside of a transformation!"

Pacifica was about to shout at him again, but Mabel beat her to it, "You're at a huge disadvantage down there! You don't have a flashlight or a weapon! It's smarter to come back up and you know it! Grunkle Ford would tell you the same thing!"

Pacifica didn't have siblings, or any relatives her age, but she'd heard of other children using a parent's presence to persuade their brother or sister. She guessed since Dipper looked up to their other uncle so much, the trick usually worked for Mabel.

And she wasn't wrong. Not ten seconds later, Dipper reluctantly caved. "Fine. But how are you guys gonna get me out? Like you said, the grappling hook is still at the Shack!"

A lightbulb flickered over Pacifica's head. She smiled, "I have an idea." Reaching behind Mabel, she carefully picked up the shiny sword Dipper brought, holding it up proudly. "We can use this!"

Mabel beamed, "Good thinking!"

"Wait, use what?" Dipper asked, oblivious. "What are you guys talking about up there?!"

Taking the sword by the hilt, Mabel crawled into the hole without a care in the world, "Here Dipper, grab on!"

"Grab on to what? I can't see a thing!"

"Pacifica get in here! I need your help!"

"Wha-I can't go in there! It's all dark and disgusting!"

"What happened to 'After working at a place called Greasy's for the past ten months, I can handle a little dirt'?"

"I...didn't think you were listening to that!"

"It doesn't matter! Dipper's life hangs in the balance! So either you let him get eaten by a bunch of wolf men, or you help me pull him out! Which is it?"

Pacifica could recognize that she wasn't as germophobic as before, but working in a diner and crawling in a nasty tunnel were two different things. And this shirt looked so good on her, it would be a nightmare to get it muddy.

But if it's to save Dipper...

Ignoring her conscious, she held her breath and crawled behind Mabel, "What do you want me to do?"

Mabel smiled at her change of heart, "Grab me by the waist so I can pull Dipper up without falling."

Pacifica cringed, "Grab you by the what now?"

"The waist. Don't be shy, Paz, I don't bite!"

"Don't call me Paz!"

Mabel giggled, "Okay, okay, I won't. Just remember to keep your feet planted. If we all fall down there, we'll have to call somebody else to get us out, and I'm not sure my phone will get service from here."

"Promise you won't call me Paz again."

"Cross my heart. Now grab on!"

Against her better judgement, Pacifica wrapped her arms around Mabel's midsection, trying to keep the rest of her body as far from the brunette as possible. She waited for Mabel to move forward, but felt her vibrating with laughter instead.

"Heh, that tickles!"

"Mabel!"

"Right! Sorry!" Moving forward a few more feet, Mabel pushed the sharp end of the sword down the drop of the tunnel, "Can you see it, Dipper?"

"Yeah, I see it! But...wait, is that the sword? I can't grab onto that! What if I cut myself?!"

"It's your only option, dork!" Pacifica cried, "Now grab on so I can let go of your sister!"

Dipper didn't say anything else, but a heavy weight began pulling against she and Mabel, so he must've complied.

"Alright, keep your feet planted!" Mabel ordered, "Now pull!"

Pacifica tugged against Mabel's stomach, with the other girl doing most of the work, and her just acting as a stabilizer. Pacifica had to hand it to her, Mabel was stronger than she appeared. With just a few momentous tugs, they began making their way backwards while Dipper made his way up. She could even see the top of his hat emerging from the darkness.

"Now just...put some...back into it!" Mabel heaved one more time, and yanked Dipper out of the hole completely, falling against Pacifica and both of them losing their balance. They ended up on their backs, facing the sky.

Pacifica pushed herself up to see if Dipper was okay. Aside from throwing a coughing fit and being covered in dirt and spider webs, he seemed fine. It looked like he used his vest to protect his hands from being cut by the sword, as it was now lying beside him, feathers and stuffing poking out of newly made holes.

She scowled, "I can't believe you. Your first instinct when you fall down a dangerous tunnel is to go exploring?"

Dipper looked at her, narrowing his gaze, "What?"

"I said you shouldn't be so reckless! What if one of those things got you?"

"That's the entire reason we're here! We wanted to find them so we could work something out!"

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean get yourself killed!"

Dipper stood up, dusting himself off and shaking his head, "You're unbelievable. First, you ask me to come help get rid of your monster, and then when I try to do that, you yell at me! What's your problem?!"

Pacifica wanted to tell him the truth. That she missed both of them, and this little werething hunt was more than just getting rid of a monster, but a way for her to spend time with them. That the idea of especially him getting hurt was enough to drive her crazy.

But she didn't say any of that. Her stupid pride wouldn't let her. "Right now, you're my problem!"

"Oh yeah? Well you can-"

"Guys, stop!" Mabel intervened, stepping between them, "This isn't how friends act around each other!"

"She's not my friend!"

Pacifica's eyes stung, but she managed to keep a straight face. She couldn't show how much that comment hurt her.

"Yeah, well...you're not my friend either!"

"Enough!" Mabel shouted, "You guys are acting crazy! Dipper, she was just worried about you. She's not yelling for no reason. And Pacifica, Dipper may have been reckless, but he was only doing it to help solve the problem you asked him to fix."

Mabel said exactly what both were feeling, but neither wanted to acknowledge it. Dipper and Pacifica locked eyes, and for just a second, an apology seemed to be on both their tongues, but some unknown force seemed to hold it back. Either the history between them, or, as Pacifica feared, he truly never thought of her as a friend in the first place. Even when he helped catch that ghost at the old manor.

Pacifica crossed her arms, glaring at the ground. "I'm ready to go back to the cabin."

"And I'm ready to go back to the Shack," Dipper grumbled, "This was a waste of time."

In her peripheral, Pacifica saw Mabel look between them helplessly, her shoulders slumping when she realized it was no use.

"Okay..."

From that point on, nobody said a word. Dipper gathered his things and steered clear of Pacifica, and vice versa. This time, she made sure to sit on the back of the golf cart, letting Mabel ride shotgun.

With this new tension between them, the ride felt longer than it really was. The entire time, Pacifica stole glances at the boy, wanting to say something to clear the air while she could, but never going through with it.

By the time they reached the cabin, Dipper hadn't looked at her once, and kept it that way, stopping the cart without even parking it, waiting for her to get off.

Pacifica did, turning her head to look at the side of his face. If she wanted to say something, now would be her chance. But what were the right words? Sorry? Northwests never apologized.

There it was again. Her old thoughts coming back to the surface. It went to show how little she had truly changed. And if she hadn't, then why should Dipper accept her apology? She'll just mess up again and push him away like before when he found out she knew about the lumberjack haunting.

All because of my stupid parents.

She sighed sadly and offered Mabel a little wave before walking up the steps of her front porch. Immediately after, the golf cart revved up and drove off, the sound slowly fading with distance.

Pacifica sluggishly entered the cabin, closing the door softly behind her. She hoped her father wasn't inside. If he heard her, she'd no doubt get a lecture she wasn't in the mood for.

"Pacifica, is that you?"

She rolled her eyes. Of course he was in here.

"Yes, dad. I'm back."

"Come here for a moment. I'd like to speak with you."

Dreadfully, she crossed the short hallway and entered the massive living room. Dark oak wood surrounded every crevice, littered with fancy decorations like old intricate paintings and the stuffed heads of wildlife. Above a Persian-style velvet rug and next to a blazing fireplace, sat a variety of furniture. From a coffee table to a ten-thousand-dollar couch that was too stiff and not at all worth the money.

Her father sat in his recliner directly next to the fireplace though, reading a magazine about businesses. His favorite spot. Once he saw Pacifica, he beckoned her over.

"Where were you?"

"With Dipper and Mabel."

"I know that. Where were you specifically?"

Pacifica averted her gaze, "In the woods."

"Why on Earth would you go out there? It's bad enough you have grease stains every other night, and now you want to add mud and filth to the list?"

"It's not a big deal, dad! We were just trying to find one of those werethings!"

Preston put his magazine down, "That is not your job, dear. The one thing the Pines family is good for is finding monsters and freaks! It doesn't mean you have to stoop to that level as well!"

"But they're only doing this because I asked them!" She left out a fraction of the truth that it was only Dipper she asked and Mabel just tagged along, "The least I can do is help them! Besides, wasn't it you that told me to do what our family couldn't and touch the hillbilly?"

Her father scoffed, "That was a desperate situation. This is different."

"How? We're getting attacked by monsters!"

He ignored that, "Pacifica, those children are a bad influence. As long as they're back in town, who knows what kind of crazy things will happen. I don't want you anywhere near it when it does, is that understood? Once this werewolf thing is over, you aren't to contact those two anymore."

Pacifica's eyes widened in horror. Now her father was telling her to stay away from them the second she got them back?

Remembering what Dipper said though...seeing them again wouldn't happen anyway.

"Yeah, well you don't have to worry about that. They aren't my friends and they never were!" Abruptly, she left her father and ran off upstairs to her room, fighting back tears.

Pacifica shot into her room, closed the door behind her and fell onto her bed in one fell swoop, burying her face in her arms.

Why did she have to be so stubborn? Why couldn't she just tell Dipper the truth about how she feels? If she opened up to them, they would understand and accept her.

Sometimes, she felt like two completely different people. The Old Pacifica and the New Pacifica. One was much older and bleaker, a product of everything her father had taught her. While the other was newer and brighter, a product of everything Dipper and Mabel had taught her. They possessed equal strength and fought each other day and night. Sometimes, the new one would prevail, and other times it was the opposite.

Pacifica was tired of the old her winning though. She wanted more than anything to completely change and embrace this happier side of herself. A side that enjoyed going on weird adventures, talking about how she felt, and forgetting all of the high-class society rules she was forced to learn.

Throwing her legs off the side of the bed, she got up and went to her closet, which was almost as big as her bedroom itself, with everything neatly separated by item and season.

Pacifica knelt down and put her hand inside one of her winter boots, pulling out a small picture from last summer. It was a group photo of the Pines family, their redheaded friend, their employee that wore a W-neck to the golf tournament, that psychic kid with the weird hair, and just about everyone else they helped and affected. Herself included, next to Candy and Grenda, smiling at the camera. It had been taken during Dipper and Mabel's thirteenth birthday party.

She sat on the carpet and brought her knees to her chest, staring at the photo. Sometimes she would look at it just to remember all the faces, and the fact that for once, she wasn't just part of some boring wealthy family that only cared about themselves, but that she'd been a part of something special.

But now, she was afraid it would never happen again. More than anything, she didn't want to fall back into her old pattern. If she did, she'd be miserable for the rest of her life, knowing there was something better out there.

Deep down, she just wanted to be one of them.

As Dipper turned the golf cart onto the trail leading to the Mystery Shack, he finally addressed Mabel's unspoken judgement.

"We're not talking about it."

"We have to. You went overboard with her and you know it."

"Oh, I went overboard? What about her? Remember all those times she insulted you? Or when she embarrassed you at the Shack party? And again on Pioneer day? Or how about when she knew about the lumberjack ghost the entire time, yet still had me run around in circles trying to catch it? Heck, she probably knew about the werewolves and lied to me again!"

Mabel frowned, "You're being unfair. You and I both forgave her for that stuff a long time ago. Trust me, I know how girls think, and she was just scared you were going to get eaten! We get like that when someone we care about is in trouble!"

"She doesn't care about me," Dipper mumbled, old insecurities rising. The same sinking feeling whenever he saw Wendy with Robbie had returned, leaving him more irritated than ever.

Irritation turned to embarrassment when he felt Mabel's sympathetic aura oozing towards him. Next thing he knew, a comforting hand touched his shoulder. "Come on, Dipper, of course she does. Why else would she ask you to help her?"

"Because I'm the only one semi-qualified for the job?"

Mabel shrugged, "Well yeah, but also because she missed you!"

"No way."

"Yes way! My romance senses tingled a little when you two bonded during the manor party last summer, but it just went through the roof when you fell down that hole!"

Despite his mood, Dipper couldn't help but chuckle at his sister's antics, "I'm glad that was so entertaining for you."

"It was! Pacifica's face..." Mabel bounced excitedly in her seat, "It was so cute! She was so scared that you were gonna die!"

"Oh, so she was actually worried about my safety while you were completely carefree?"

Mabel rasberried, "Oh please, after all we've been through, I knew it would take more than a little tumble to kill you. But Pacifica didn't, which is what made it even better!"

"Okay, well you can fantasize all you want, it's not happening. And before you say it, I'm not apologizing first! She started it, so if she makes the first move, then I'll consider it."

Mabel audibly groaned, "Ugh, boys are stupid."

"What was that?"

"You heard me!" She stuck her tongue out at him and turned her head towards the trees. Dipper raised an eyebrow. Did Mabel take her 'friendship' with Pacifica that seriously? Come to think of it, back home, she never tried to call the rich girl, and only mentioned her a couple of times in passing conversation. But then again, Mabel doesn't like arguing, or rather, negative emotions at all, so he figured that could've been what set her off.

Or Mabel actually noticed something in Pacifica that would lead her to believe...

No, it couldn't be. Dipper was sure that Pacifica didn't feel that way towards him. Last summer felt so long ago, and she probably didn't think of either of them the entire time. She's Pacifica. She has better things to do.

But even that sounded wrong. Dipper knew it wasn't true. It was clear she wanted to separate herself from her family bit by bit, and taking a job at Greasy's was proof of that. So why did he get so agitated earlier? To the point where he claimed she wasn't his friend at all?

Were they really friends in the first place? Or just...allies? Frenemies? There wasn't a proper term for it. If Dipper narrowed down the bullet points of his positive thoughts on Pacifica...well, he thought she was pretty, of course, and he liked her confidence, her independence, her willingness to get dirty if necessary, and he liked the mystery surrounding her. With Wendy, everything is upfront. She is who she is and no digging is required to find out more than you already know. Pacifica on the other hand...wears a mask. She hides who she really is behind a rude, uncaring persona.

But Dipper has seen the mask crack before, and when it does...he likes what he finds. He wishes he could remove the mask once and for all.

Eyes flicking between the trail and Mabel, Dipper lets out a short breath through his nose. "Look...maybe I overreacted a little back there. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you."

Mabel kept her eyes forward, "It's not me you should apologize to."

"I know. I'm still gonna help her with the werewolf stuff, so the next time I go over there, I'll tell her. Fair enough?"

Mabel glanced at him, the corners of her lips twitching to make a small smile. "Fair enough."

Dipper smiled at her and reduced the speed of the cart, realizing they were coming up on the Mystery Shack. As it got closer, Dipper saw that the place was nearly vacant.

"That's weird. No customers."

Mabel rose in her seat to get a better look, "I mean, it was a slow day."

"No, no, this is different. It only looks like this when it's closed. Why would Soos close early?"

As soon as he said the words, his eyes scanned the area, falling to the right side of the Shack. Under a long tree branch, sat a vehicle he hadn't realized he missed so much. The old 1965 El Diablo convertible with a license plate that read STNLYMBL.

And if that was here, then it could only mean one thing...

Mabel came to the same realization and locked wide eyes with Dipper, both of their faces breaking out into equally massive grins, both of their bodies trembling with excitement.

"They're back!"

Dipper didn't even put the cart in park. He leapt off the moving vehicle with Mabel and made a beeline for the building's entrance. The pair used all their momentum, nearly blasting the door off its hinges to reach their Grunkles.

Before them, in the living room of the Shack, was a scene that filled both twins with pure joy. Grunkle Stan and Grunkle Ford had finally returned from their long trip to the Artic Ocean. Soos had Stan locked in a tight hug, weeping on his shoulder, while Ford shook hands with Wendy, his mouth moving a mile a minute, no doubt recanting the details of the sea monster that made them a few days late, and on the outside, Melody watched with a small smile.

Mabel burst into tears, while Dipper just laughed with delight. But both ran to their Grunkles, arms wide for a hug.

"Grunkle Stan! Grunkle Ford!"

It was Stan that saw them first. And while he looked a bit weird not wearing his usual Mr. Mystery outfit, instead opting for a beanie and a thick black coat, he was still the same old man they loved.

"Kids!"

The poor ex-conman couldn't have prepared for what hit him. By the time he knelt down to their level, both Dipper and Mabel collided with his shoulders, knocking him off balance and on his back, with them on top of his chest laughing loudly.

"You're back!" Mabel cried, "You're actually back!"

Dipper was close to tears himself. The last time he saw his Grunkle had been on the side of the road when that bus drove away. "And I don't even mind that you smell like fish and saltwater!"

Stan wrapped two thick arms around their necks, completely smothering them, "Ah, I missed you little knuckleheads! You've grown so much!"

Mabel squirmed out of Stan's iron grip and grabbed Ford by a six-fingered hand, "It's great to see you too, Grunkle Ford!"

Ford bent down and ruffled Mabel's hair, "It's good to be back, Mabel. It's nice to see that you haven't changed a bit! You're still as jubilant as ever!"

Mabel probably didn't know what the word meant, but she still smiled at the flattery, "Oh, stop!"

Dipper climbed off of Stan and stood in front of his former idol and mentor. He and Ford spent a long moment just taking each other in, all of the memories of their short time bonding together coming at Dipper in a massive wave of nostalgia.

"Grunkle Ford..." He started nervously, "It's really good to see you."

Ford just laughed, shrugging off Dipper's shyness, "Dipper, my boy!" He ruffled his hat the same way he did Mabel's hair, "How was the school year? Did you get good grades?"

Dipper nodded proudly, "All A's!"

"Excellent! And you, Mabel?"

Mabel shrugged, "More or less. I made a lot of cool art projects!"

The paranormal chaser sighed, looking at both Dipper and Mabel fondly, "I'm proud of both of you. I must say, after spending nearly a year on a boat with my brother, you two are a sight for sore eyes."

Stan sat up from the floor, a gray eyebrow raised, "Hey, we're twins too, pal. You call me ugly; you might as well be calling yourself ugly."

Ford rolled his eyes behind the glasses, "Sure, Stanley, there are no clear differences between us at all. I too wear a girdle."

Stan's ears went red, "It helps my bowel movement! That's why I wear it, people! No other reason!"

Everyone burst out laughing, filling the room with glee. Since they've come back to town, it's been great, but Dipper always felt like a piece of the puzzle was missing. Like there was one last fragment left to find and bring back that old atmosphere. Now that Stan and Ford were back...Dipper knew that fragment was in place. The summer would only get better from here.

"So when did you guys get here?" Dipper asked, hoping they didn't miss too much.

Stan stood up and reached inside his coat to scratch an itch under his arm, "About a minute before you guys did. Heh, you should've seen Soos. I thought he was gonna pass out. Even Wendy was tearing up!"

Wendy didn't even try to deny it. "Ah, what can I say? We missed you, you old codger!"

Stan smirked, glancing around the living room, "Hasn't changed a bit. In fact, it actually looks a little better! Did you have the place renovated, Soos? Must be raking in cash to afford that!"

Soos stepped in front of his former boss and removed the fez timidly, "Speaking of, Mr. Pines...I just wanted to say, I didn't take you trusting me with your business lightly, and I've tried to do the best I could. If you guys are back for good, then you'll see how hard I've been working! How many customers we've been getting! I-I've actually created a lot of cool knick knacks and attractions, so-"

Stan firmly placed his hands on the big guy's shoulders, effectively stopping his ramble. "Soos, listen to me. I don't need to spend another second here to know that you've taken good care of the business."

"But you haven't even seen-"

"I don't need to see anything. I wouldn't have given it to you in the first place if I didn't trust you. I knew the second that Ford and I left that you'd make a great Mr. Mystery."

Soos's lip quivered at the praise, "Mr. Pines...that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me!" Before Stan could backstep, Soos pulled him in for another tight hug, engulfing the older man and wetting his shoulder with joyful tears, "This is the greatest moment of my life!"

Stan awkwardly patted him on the back, "Uh yeah, no problem, Soos." He let his hand fall, probably expecting the hug to end, but it didn't. Soos wasn't planning on letting go anytime soon.

"Okay, this is getting weird. Guys get him off of me!"

The entire gang made a group effort of grabbing a piece of Soos and prying him away, which proved to be just enough. Dipper realized then that Soos was a lot like Mabel, in that if they got you in a hug, it was nigh-impossible to remove them.

"Yeah, if anything, I'm working twice as hard for Soos than I ever did for you." Wendy joked.

"Yeah, and what does that mean? You've reduced your slacking off to only half the shift?"

"Yes, actually."

"What kind of adventures did you guys have?!" Mabel peeped, staring up at Stan and Ford with sparkling eyes, her fists clenched. Dipper knew that she would tune out the details the second they started. She just wanted to hear their voices. "Was there really a sea monster?!"

"There was!" Ford said, getting fired up at prospect of talking about the supernatural, "Fifty feet long with thirty tentacles! The suckers on each one adhesive enough to drag the ship! In fact, when we managed to blast off part of a tentacle, I developed the adhesive liquid into a glue so powerful, it can replace all bonding tools worldwide! There'll be no need for tape, nails, bolts, or even-"

"Alright Poindexter we get it!" Stan interrupted, "I think there's probably a way to tell the story without boring them to death! And trust me, we'll have plenty of time for all that, but I haven't had a Pitt cola in ages, and that fridge better be full Soos, or I take back everything I said about you."

"No need to worry, sir. It's fully stocked."

"Alright then, if you'll excuse me..." Stan turned around and went into the kitchen, everyone following suit. But Dipper and Mabel stayed behind, with the former thinking aloud.

"Now that everybody's back, it looks like the setup for a perfect summer is complete. Right, Mabel?"

Mabel kept her eyes to the group, scrunching her face with uncertainty, "Almost complete. There's still something missing."

"What could be missing? Stan and Ford are back. That's...kind of the whole gang."

His sister walked backwards in the direction of the others, putting her hands in her pockets and saying, "You may be the mystery solver, bro-bro, but you're pretty dense. Guess that's why you've got me!"

With that, Mabel trotted off to the kitchen, where chatters and laughs were being shared amongst everybody. Dipper couldn't figure out what she meant. But to be honest, right now, he didn't really care. Worrying about whatever she was plotting could come later. Right now, he just wanted to enjoy the night with two of his favorite people and listen to stories.

But in the back of his mind, he couldn't help but acknowledge the passing realization that while he's here, having fun with the people he loves, Pacifica is in that cabin all alone with no one to share this kind of celebration with. Despite the argument earlier, the idea tore at his heart.

He hoped she was okay.

The golf cart ended up free rolling to the edge of the woods, where the hooded figure was waiting.

They reached into the cart to find the silver-tipped sword mistakenly 'dropped' earlier that morning. Dipper Pines had taken the offering, just as they'd hoped. With a few more breadcrumbs like these, the boy would make significant progress in finding out the truth. And by the time that happened...he'd feel no reason not to trust them.

But with the two old men back, it could prove a bit more challenging. Ford was of course, formidable, and Stanley wasn't to be underestimated. But as long as they could keep everyone separated, the plan would work like a charm.

They just had to keep themselves on alert.

"We'll meet one day, Dipper, but not anytime soon. First, I need to gain your trust a little more."

The figure tucked the cloak around their body and disappeared in the night.

-x-