Ford's mind was in a frenzy— it always was. His thoughts were swirling around his head, bringing up possibilities and what if's. He wanted to eradicate the scenarios forming, and fast, but he needed a way to open the conversation first.

Interpersonal communication wasn't his best suit even before, so he knew that he would be having a hard time talking to his assistant and great nephew. Just how is he going to start the counseling?

"Dipper?"

Said boy met his Great-Uncle Ford, who looked earnest with his hands intertwined together. "Great-Uncle Ford? What are you doing here?" He couldn't help but ask, and the older man understood his question. It was unlikely to see the author on the floors of the living room, especially in this hour.

Nevertheless, Dipper gave him his undivided attention, and he was ready to comply with whatever his cool uncle would ask of him.

"Can we talk?"

The younger Pines had a very unreadable face, as he didn't try to hide his confusion. "Okay..." the tone of his voice was unsure, but Ford proceeded, leading him towards the table they sat on a few days ago. It was the same table they shared a soda, after the events of Dipper destroying the mind-reading device, after Dipper told the girl downstairs that he couldn't trust her at the moment.

Ford cleared his throat, choosing what he thought was the right word to start. "Can I ask you some... hypothetical questions?"

"Uh, sure! Go– go ahead."

He brought his six-fingered hands together, placing his chin on top of his intertwined fingers. He exhaled. Here goes nothing.

"Can you describe Y/n for me?"

Dipper looked up, startled by the question. He hesitated, his mind racing through the tangled web of emotions he felt towards her. Anger, confusion, and something else he couldn't quite name.

The gears in his head began to turn. Well... he can describe the girl, but... would he?

https://youtu.be/X2DUpDxFJyg

"She's... she's something else," the brunette finally said, choosing his words carefully. "I mean, she's smart, really smart. Probably the smartest person I've ever met, besides you, of course." He tried to keep his tone neutral, but a hint of admiration seeped through.

Ford nodded, encouraging him to continue. "But?"

"But... she keeps secrets," he admitted, frustration creeping into his voice. "She knew things, important things, and she didn't tell me. I thought we were a team. I thought we'd always have each other's backs."

Ford leaned back, considering his nephew's words. "I understand why you're upset, Dipper. Secrets can hurt, especially when they come from someone you trust. But have you ever thought about why she kept those secrets?"

Dipper sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I guess. She probably thought she was protecting us, like you always do. But it still hurts. I trusted her."

"And you still do, don't you?" The older man pressed gently.

Dipper looked away, a blush creeping up his cheeks. "I guess I do. I mean, she's always been there for us, for me. Even now, I can't bring myself to think badly of her. I'm just... hesitant. Embarrassed, maybe. I don't know."

Ford smiled softly, placing a reassuring hand on Dipper's shoulder. "It's okay to feel that way, Dipper. Trust isn't something that can be easily fixed once it's broken, but it can be rebuilt. Give it time. And give her a chance."

The boy nodded slowly, processing the author's words, albeit still being confused for the entire conversation. But his advice slowly melted the anger in his heart, replaced with a glimmer of hope.

Ford watched him for a moment, feeling a mix of pride and concern. He stood up, giving Dipper's shoulder a final reassuring pat before heading towards his private study.

Once alone, Ford's expression turned serious. He leaned against the cluttered desk, staring at the array of papers and artifacts scattered across it. His mind raced with thoughts of the future, of the dangers that still lurked in the shadows of Gravity Falls.

"Bill..." Ford muttered to himself, the name alone sending a chill down his spine. The dream demon had already caused so much chaos and pain, and Ford knew that he wouldn't hesitate to exploit any weakness, any crack in their defenses.

Emotions. They were powerful and unpredictable, often leading people to make rash, dangerous decisions. Dipper's conflicted feelings about Y/n were a prime example. Ford couldn't shake the worry that Bill would seize upon these emotional vulnerabilities, twisting them to his advantage.

Ford ran a hand through his hair, sighing deeply. He knew that they had to be vigilant, to strengthen their bonds and ensure that their trust in one another remained unbroken. But he also knew that it wouldn't be easy. They were all human, after all, prone to mistakes and misunderstandings.

As he sat down at his desk, Ford pulled out a blank sheet of paper and began jotting down notes. Plans, strategies, ways to protect his family and friends from Bill's manipulations. He had to think several steps ahead, anticipating the demon's moves and countering them before they could wreak havoc.

But amid his calculations and precautions, a small, nagging thought lingered at the back of his mind. Could they truly outsmart Bill? Could they prevent him from driving wedges between them, from exploiting their deepest fears and insecurities?

Ford shook his head, banishing the doubts. He had to believe that they could. Because if he didn't, then all hope was lost.

He decided to look through Journal #3, where he knew it was already filled with Dipper's own observations and theories. He had only been skimming through the pages, but he knew that if he wanted to find more without asking directly, he had to read between the lines. After all, a man's journal is a window to his soul, revealing his innermost thoughts, fears, and dreams.

He would know that.

And so, Ford began flipping through the pages of Journal #3, absorbing every detail Dipper had meticulously recorded. The entries were filled with observations, discoveries, and personal notes that provided invaluable insight into the mysteries of Gravity Falls. But one recurring theme caught Ford's attention: Y/n's sacrifices.

I know that we always go through danger, but it was a horde of zombies! She's treating her life like it's nothing, and that frustrates me. So. Much.

She was always willing to keep us out of harm's way, and though I couldn't have thanked her more, I'm always worried that she might be careless and something bad might happen.

"She's invulnerable to pain," he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing as he scanned Dipper's writings. "Of course, she would do that."

He slammed the journal shut, his mind racing. Y/n's behavior made sense in a twisted way. She didn't feel pain, so she didn't fear it. But that didn't mean she was immune to the damage she caused, to herself and to those who cared about her.

He stood up, and his resolve hardened. He would find his assistant and have a serious conversation about the possible end of the world. She needed to see that her sacrifices, while commendable, were causing more harm than good.

But the moment he stepped out of the vending machine, he was faced by his twin brother, who seemed to be waiting for him to go up. Had Ford not gotten the mission to go upstairs and confront the girl, Stan would have waited at the gift shop for the entire night.

"Stan," he regarded him, "What are you doing here?"

"Hey, it's my house too, you know," he grumbled before approaching him. Ford stood his ground as the two were face to face. "I'm just here to let you know that it's me and Y/n's annual Tourist Trap Revenge Day tomorrow. We're hitting the road for a bit."

The smarter twin visibly cringed at the grammar, but decided not to comment on it. He didn't want to cause a ruckus so late in the evening. He simply wasn't in the mood for Stan's outburst. But once he processed his sentence, Ford raised an eyebrow. "What? You can't just leave. I need to talk with Y/n. There are important matters we need to discuss."

Stan smirked, easily ignoring the 'important' part. "Yeah, well, I wasn't asking for your permission. We've had this planned for months."

"Stan, you don't understand," Ford replied, frowning. "The fate of the universe might be at stake. I need Y/n here."

The other twin crossed his arms, matching his facial expression. "Listen, Ford. I get it, you've got your world-saving stuff, but this is important too. Y/n and I need this break. It's our thing. And besides, it's not like we can't come back if there's an emergency," he assured him.

Ford's shoulders sagged slightly. As much as he hated to admit it, Stan had a point. They'd been running on fumes for weeks, and a break might actually do some good. Still, the thought of being without Y/n's help, even for a short time, made him uneasy.

"Stan, you can't be serious. We don't have time for this," he said, furrowing his eyebrows.

Stan leaned in closer, his tone softening. Ford could see the sincerity in his eyes. Despite their differences, he noticed that his brother always had a way of getting to the heart of the matter.

"You know, bro, sometimes saving the universe means taking a break. Y/n's been through a lot, and so have you. A little road trip could do wonders. Recharge the batteries, clear the mind."

Ford sighed deeply. He knew Stan was right, even if he didn't want to admit it. A break might be what they all needed, and maybe, just maybe, it would help Y/n and Stan bond further. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that time was slipping through their fingers.

So, with a sigh of defeat, he closed his eyes as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Just... be careful. And make sure Y/n is back soon. We have much to discuss."

Stan's grin widened, and for a moment, Ford envied his brother's ability to see the silver lining in any situation.

"Don't worry, we'll be back before you know it. And who knows, maybe we'll bring back some ideas that'll help save the world." He began to walk away and leave the gift shop, probably back to his bedroom with a pep on his step.

Ford shook his head with a small smile, watching Stan walk away. He couldn't help but admire his brother's persistence and optimism, even if it drove him crazy sometimes. "That man could convince a fish to fly..." he muttered to himself.

"You know it, Poindexter!" Stan shouted from the hallway.

He sighed again, turning back to his notes. Despite his frustration, a small part of him was relieved. Maybe this break was exactly what they needed, even if he couldn't fully understand it.

And still, even after that banter between him and his brother, the recurring thought passed by his mind. The small smile on his face faded immediately. Ford returned to his study room, his resolve strengthened.

He sat down at his desk, the weight of his suspicions pressing heavily on his shoulders. He couldn't afford to be complacent. Y/n had been a loyal companion, but the stakes were too high to ignore any potential threat. The memory of Bill's sinister grin haunted him, a constant reminder of the chaos that could ensue if he made the wrong move.

As the hours passed, Ford's study filled with pages of observations and hypotheses. He would be vigilant. He would be prepared. And when the time came, he would do whatever it took to safeguard the world from the impending threat, no matter the cost.

***

So the next morning, Stan busied himself by putting multiple bumper stickers at the back of his RV, finishing the look. Soos had just left the Shack with a few more sleeping bags in his arms, carrying it inside the vehicle.

Dipper walked out, curiosity and amusement in his eyes."Whoa. An RV? Camping gear? Are you running from the law again?"

"Dude! It's the ultimate Oregon road trip adventure!" Soos exclaimed from the top of the RV.

"Y/n and I call it, "Tourist Trap Revenge Day"," Stan told them, as if revealing a new invention to the kids. "Every year, we visit every tourist trap along the Redwood Highway, and we come up with plans to prank every single one."

Soos climbed down. "Last year, they duct taped me to the ceiling," he retold the story excitedly. "It was a fun 78 hours!"

Dipper's head went back and forth, listening to their quips. He noticed the way Soos' expression shifted to confusion.

"Eh, but Mr. Pines, where's Y/n?" She was supposed to be here. It was a yearly tradition, but she seemed to be a no-show. Even Dipper, who was supposedly meant to be mad at her, looked dismayed.

Stan waved a dismissive hand, trying to look unaffected. "Uh... she won't be able to go this year. Says she has to do this science-y thing with Ford."

It was clearly a lie.

When in fact, the said girl refused to go because she didn't want to face him at the moment. Even Dipper, who was supposedly meant to be mad at her, knew that she wouldn't show up. Part of him felt bad, the other part of him felt guilt, and the other part of him felt pride. What exactly did he need to prove by pretending to still be mad at her?

Even Dipper... didn't know.

"That's why I have these extra hands on deck!" Stan announced, motioning towards the two girls.

"Bow wow! Time to let the road dogs bark!" Grenda entered the scene, along with Candy

"That is us. We are the road dogs," The Korean girl pointed out with a smile.

All of a sudden, everyone heard a slam from the gift shop's door, and there emerged Y/n, who was being pulled by Mabel Pines, who was always known for having immense strength in the morning (especially after intaking large cups of Mabel Juice).

"Y/n's here and she said she's joining us!" Mabel declared with a resonating shout.

She definitely did not say that.

Her eyes caught his, which caused him to avert his gaze to something else. Another pang to the heart that she had to endure.

After making sure that Candy and Grenda signed the non-disclosure agreements and made them repeat the statements that none of their parents were lawyers, it was time to hit the road.

The RV bounded across the concrete path. Stan drove with Y/n sitting up front with him. Candy, Mabel, and Grenda seated in the middle seats, while Soos and Dipper were at the back. As they drove, Stan couldn't help but glance at the girl.

They had the conversation before. He knew the reason for her not going, and although he wanted to respect her decision, Stan was thankful that Mabel forcefully dragged her out despite her protests. He knew that they all needed this break, and just like Ford, he needed Y/n here, too. Although he had the kids and Soos with him, he couldn't imagine doing the yearly tradition without her.

And he wouldn't dare admit that out loud.

He snuck another glance at her to which she failed to notice as she was so busy acting melancholy by the window. She let the wind smack her face and hair while her eyes scanned the trees that were lessening by the second as they entered a different territory.

"Hey. You okay?"

It was a start, Stan encouraged himself, and it was also a good sign when she responded with a meek nod. It was enough.

"I know something's been going on with you and Dipper," he began, trying to be casual. "Mind telling me what it is?"

She finally turned to him, and he saw the man who she knew she could always rely on. He knew her hopes, fears, and dreams, and vice versa. So why stop now?

"He's mad at me for hiding things from him," she confessed, careful to keep her voice low in case someone hears. She definitely did not want anyone to listen in their private conversation. Suddenly, hearing the statement come out of her mouth made her brows furrowed in confusion.

"How come he's not mad at you?" She asked him.

Stan gripped the wheel loosely, shrugging. "Well, maybe because I just told him my life story that night in the portal room? Maybe all you really need to do is explain everything to him." He suggested.

She looked down, focusing on the glove box in front of her. Explain everything? Where would she even begin? What would he even want to know about?

"But, Stan..." she whined, her voice a bit raspy. "He really hurt me too. This wasn't a one-sided thing. He told me he couldn't trust me. How can I tell him everything when he couldn't even look me in the eye?"

His grip tightened, eyes remaining on the road. "I'll talk some sense to him. You know, man on man. I know a handful of stubborn people and that includes you so I know how to crack him," he assured her, a grunt in his voice.

"Stan..." she began with a concerned tone, looking over at him with worry. "You're not gonna scare him, are you? If he clearly doesn't want anything to do with me— if he doesn't want to talk to me anymore, then that's– that's fine. I'll respect his decision."

From the corner of his large ears, he heard sniffling from his right, and from the corner of his eyes, he could see her shoulders shaking from the sob building up from her lungs.

"I can handle it..."

Stan sighed, wanting to end this whole thing. He didn't want to see her crying anymore. So, like his usual self, he wanted to get to the bottom of this. "Kid, I know this is about a whole 'nother thing," he said.

"What?"

"You still think you don't like him with how affected you are by him?"

"Not now, Stan. Please," she practically begged for him not to talk about this. "This isn't about some infatuation for him. It's about trust, and— and our promise—!"

"Hey. Hey. Come on, Y/n. You can forget about this whole situation later. Meanwhile—

"You son of a—

"Look alive!" He yelled, getting the attention of everyone in the vehicle. "We're coming up on the attraction run by the most black-hearted proprietor in all of Oregon..."

The RV pulled up to Granny Sweetkin's Yarnball. An old lady with sparkling eyes and a sweet smile invited them.

"Don't let the face fool you. This woman lit my car on fire on two non-consecutive occasions," Stan warned.

Everyone flooded out of the RV. Candy, Grenda, and Mabel muttered to each other in excitement, while Soos and Stan began to bring out the materials. Y/n lagged behind, not finding in herself to be involved in all of this. Dipper was the same, looking quite disinterested.

The two kept a large distance from each other, and everyone knew. Everyone noticed.

Mabel stared at the two concernedly from her spot inside the large ball of yarn. She pouted, knowing that she couldn't do anything about it.

But she's Mabel. There's nothing she can't do.

Soos began tying the piece of the yarn ball he took from Grenda to the back of the RV.

The coast was clear, and the prank was set. Everyone flooded back to the car and the vehicle sped away, unraveling the yarn ball completely. Granny Sweetkin was just behind the ball, cursing Stan as she took a nail out of the ground and throttled it towards the RV.

"I'll get you, Stan Pines!"

30 miles of traveling later, they arrived at Upside-Down Town, where there was— well, an upside down house.

"Ah. Upside-Down Town. The nausea capital of the state. Whatever you do, don't use the bathrooms," Stan warned them just as they got off the ride.

Mabel, Candy, and Grenda shared a determined gaze and nodded. On the way to the upside-down house, they were conducting a plan on how they will get Dipper and Y/n to talk with each other again. The random blank sheets of paper they found inside the RV were already filled to the brim with plans and strategies all in various colors.

"Okay, girls, we need to create situations where they have to work together and talk." Mabel whispered, glancing between ends of the RV, knowing who sat on their respective seats.

Candy nodded. "We should start with something simple, like having them pair up for games."

Grenda grinned. "And if that doesn't work, we can always lock them in a room until they talk it out!"

Mabel giggled at the suggestion, rolling her pink, sparkly pen around her fingers. "Let's save that for Plan B."

Their faces were serious, but their eyes gleamed with mischief.

They put on shoes with Velcro on the bottom, running towards the human-sized hamster wheel that turned them upside-down. The ceiling was carpeted, helping them stick onto walls. The trio of girls cheered as they walked into the house, laughing.

Dipper and Y/n trailed behind, though the girl went on ahead of him to avoid close contact. It was pathetic, she knew, but she just couldn't handle such small talks.

Upon entering, Candy was the first face she saw. She was holding on to her glasses, which was obvious since it might fall off due to gravity. "Hello, Y/n! How is the view?"

"It looks... different, to say the least," she answered, shrugging. She was thankful for Candy for distracting her.

She giggled, but doing so made her slightly dizzy. Y/n noticed, and she reached out a hand towards Candy. "Are you okay?"

Candy tried to explain, but she struggled speaking the words, so she assisted her to the gift shop where Grenda was standing. She looked confused, like she wasn't expecting Y/n to be there at all. "What...?"

"I think Candy's not used to the upside-down surroundings," the girl smiled sheepishly, giving Candy to their other friend in the pink shirt.

"Oh!"

The three girls whipped their heads and saw Mabel coming out of the attraction. It looked like she had just accomplished a mission, but upon seeing Y/n, she looked like a deer in headlights. "Y/n, you're here!"

Said girl felt like she wasn't supposed to be here from the sound of Mabel's tone. "Yeah... I am..." she said slowly.

The silence was too loud between the four of them. Meanwhile, Dipper was still inside of the attraction, anticipating something great that Mabel talked to him about. "Um... Mabel? Where's that 'cool thing' that you wanted to show me?"

Mabel pursed her lips in the other room, having heard his question. Internally, in her head, this plan was a bust, and now that Stan and Soos had done their prank, they ran out of time.

They successfully rolled the house and turned it right-side up. The gang ran to the RV and drove away. "Not so upside-down now!" Stan shouted, laughing maniacally.

They proceeded to go to more various tourist traps, including Log Land and Corn Maze. Throughout the sabotage, Mabel and the gang made subtle efforts to get Y/n and Dipper to talk, but even then, all their efforts were fruitless. Someone asks Y/n for directions, Dipper takes interest on a random keychain, Y/n had to tie her shoelaces, Dipper had to help Soos...

Everyone was getting tired.

Even Stan, who was watching the entire thing, had gotten tired of the entire fiasco.

For the night, they stopped by a small inn called 'Septic Ridge RV Park'. There was a hot tub which Stan immediately took it for himself and Dipper, while the girls went to the other side and decided to set up a campfire.

Y/n didn't have the appetite for roasted smores, and simply stretched an arm towards the fire, letting the heat lick her skin. She remained still, not flinching at all. The girls all stared at her in concern.

The brunette sat on the pool, shirtless and sad after Stan had urged him to join and relax in the water. But the pre-teen was just not in the mood, letting his body drown in the pool. Stan simply looked at him both in pity and awkwardness.

"Come on, Dipper," Stan grumbled, running a hand through his hair. "You're killing the mood here. What's eating at you?"

Dipper surfaced from his thoughts, shaking off the water. "I don't know what you're talking about," he replied, avoiding eye contact.

"Kid, it's obvious to everyone. You've got issues with Y/n," Stan pressed, his tone blunt as ever. "Why aren't you talking to her? Can't you see she's trying?"

"Why should I?" Dipper shot back defensively. "Y/n didn't trust me enough to be honest. What's she going to say now?"

Stan leaned back, giving Dipper a serious look. "That's pretty harsh, even from you. Look, kid, you trusted Ford despite his shady past. Why's Y/n any different?"

"Because Ford is my Great Uncle," Dipper muttered, frustration evident in his voice. "Y/n and I made a promise to be open with each other, to protect each other."

Stan sighed, trying a softer approach. "Maybe she was trying to protect you in her own way. Y/n's a good person, Dipper. She's helped me out since I got here. I trust her, and maybe you should too. She and I kept a secret for years just to keep you safe."

Dipper's thoughts churned as Stan's words sank in. He hadn't considered Y/n's perspective before, his anger clouding his judgment. Maybe he was being too hard on her. But the fear of betrayal lingered.

"Ever think that maybe her experience with that demon scared her into keeping things to herself?" Stan continued gently. "I... didn't know," Dipper admitted quietly, finally meeting Stan's gaze.

"That's why you two need to talk it out," Stan urged, his tone earnest. "Or you'll end up like me and your uncle Ford."

The younger boy noticed a hint of sadness in his eyes, but dared not comment on it.

***

The next day, the RV continued its journey, with Stan at the wheel, heading towards the last tourist trap on their road trip: Mystery Mountain. Despite Mabel's best efforts, her plans to get Dipper and Y/n talking had all failed, but still, she won't give up.

As they arrived, Stan spotted a woman by the reception and confidently strutted his way towards her. Meanwhile, Mabel saw one final opportunity.

"Alright, guys," she whispered to Candy and Grenda. "This is our last chance. Let's make it count."

The plan was in motion. The three girls invited Y/n and Dipper for a stroll around the attraction. And to make things interesting for the two of them, they said it was a group effort to find anything interesting inside the cave to take home for the Shack.

The five walked around the attraction, pretending to be spooked by the mummies surrounding them. Y/n looked indifferent, while Dipper was mainly bored.

Mabel spotted a small, dark room at the end of a hallway. She motioned for Dipper and Y/n. "Hey, you two, can you check out that room? It looks like it might have some cool stuff in it."

The two parties, still avoiding each other's gaze, reluctantly agreed. Despite having a feeling that this might be a prank from them, they had no energy to argue.

They walked down the hallway and entered the room, which was filled with old furniture and cobwebs.

Suddenly, the door slammed shut behind them, locking with a loud click.

"What the—?!" Dipper exclaimed, rushing to the door and jiggling the handle. "We're locked in!"

Y/n tried pushing the door open, but it wouldn't budge. "Great, just great," she muttered, pacing around the room.

Outside, Mabel high-fived Candy and Grenda. "Yes! Plan B is a success!"

Inside, Dipper and Y/n sat in an awkward silence, avoiding eye contact and fidgeting with their hands. The atmosphere between them was heavy and uncomfortable, each moment stretching out with unspoken tension.

"Y/n, we need to talk," he began, his voice tinged with frustration and hurt.

She sighed, knowing this conversation was long overdue. "Yeah, we do."

He took a deep breath. "I just don't understand why you would never say things."

Y/n looked down, feeling the weight of his words. "Dipper, I... I didn't want to keep secrets from you. I thought I was protecting you, keeping things from getting more complicated."

"Protecting me?" Dipper echoed, his voice rising. "You didn't trust me enough to handle the truth. I thought we were a team."

Y/n looked down, avoiding his gaze. She knew this was coming but still felt unprepared. "We are a team, Dipper. That's why it was so hard. I didn't want to drag you into something dangerous."

He felt a mix of anger and sadness. He had trusted Y/n, and her secrecy felt like a betrayal. "But keeping secrets only made things worse. I didn't know what was going on, and I felt like you didn't trust me."

Y/n's heart ached hearing the pain in his voice. She wanted to make it right but didn't know how. "I do trust you, Dipper. More than anyone. But sometimes... it's just easier to keep things to myself."

He still wasn't convinced, but he didn't seem to want to reply anymore. Y/n took a deep breath, feeling suffocated. The smallness of the room didn't help her either. If he wanted to know more, she'd tell him. "Dipper, I—"

STATIC! 🗝

The sound captured both of their attention, as the brunette brought out his walkie-talkie. "Stan?" He spoke to the device, knowing who it would be at the other line.

"Heeey, buddy boy. I, uh, could use a little help here." Stan's voice came in.

"Where are you?!" Dipper asked in a frustrated tone.

"The good news is, I've solved the mystery of where Oregon's mummies come from. The bad news is... I'm about to become one. Turns out Darlene is one of those spider people. But beyond that, the date's been okay."

The two shared a worried glance. "Wait, wait, wait. Darlene's a spider person?! How is that possible?" Dipper replied, bringing the walkie-talkie close to his mouth.

"I don't know. One minute we're having the perfect date, and the next minute she's growing extra legs and encasing me in webbing. Women, right?"

Y/n forcibly took the communicator from the brunette. "Very funny, Stan."

There was a brief pause from the other end of the line. "Y/n! You're there? With Dipper?"

"Focus. That's beside the point," she insisted. "Where are you?"

"I'm up the mountain at Widow's Peak."

Dipper came up from behind her, urgency in his voice. "Alright, I'm gonna find you. Stay put!

"You got it."

And the transmission was off.

The boy was already on his way to the door when she looked at him angrily. "What do you mean 'you're gonna find him'? I'm coming with you!"

He rolled his eyes from out of her sight, his hands on the knob. "Stay out of this."

"You're not really seeing the bigger picture here," she argued, stepping forward. "Stan is in danger, and we need to work together to come and save him from that spider lady!"

"Wow, that's huge coming from you," he swiveled around to meet her eyes. "Last I checked, we were supposed to be partners, not you trying to baby me every time we face danger."

"I didn't try to baby you! I was protecting you because you're my friend. That's different."

"Keeping secrets from me and leaving me out of the dark?" He laughed sarcastically. "Ha! Thanks for being such a great friend." His tone was laced with both sarcasm and venom.

She gasped. "Dipper-!"

"Whatever. What we need to do is get out of this room and save Stan." He knocked on the door loudly. "Mabel, let us out! Now!" He yelled.

Mabel, who was on the other side of the wall, leaned against the metal door. "Are you guys okay now?"

"Did you two kiss yet?!" That was Grenda.

The two people inside shared glances. Y/n brought her voice into a whisper. "For the purpose of the mission, let's call a truce. Deal?"

Dipper gazed at the outstretched arm, and it was a strange reminder. He blinked once and he was looking at her once again.

"Deal."

They shook hands.

Once they let go, she cupped the side of her mouth. "We're good now, Mabel! You can let us out!"

Mabel slid open a hatch from above them, revealing her eyes. "I have to see it to believe it. Hug it out."

The two froze. "But, Mabel, we—"

"Hug it out!"

They shared a look once more, resisting the urge to display expressions of distaste and hesitation. With one last swallow, they summoned all the courage and faced each other.

Here goes nothing.

His body made contact with hers. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders while his hands were placed on the small of her back. Pat.

They parted as they looked at Mabel for approval. Her eyes were narrowed once more before she disappeared.

An unlocking sound was heard, and internally they breathed a sigh of relief.

They were greeted with big smiles from Mabel, Grenda, and Candy. Dipper turned panicky. "Guys, we need your help. Stan is in trouble!"

"Well, why didn't you say so sooner?! We could've let you out the moment you said that."

There was a pause between them, but the silence was cut off with Y/n facepalming as hard as she could.

***

The five kids ran up the trail with Old Reliable going off in the background. They go past other attractions such as the gigantic Paul Bunyan statue and the Trambience.

Eventually, they reached the cave at the mountain, and they saw Stan Pines wrapped up in webbing. "Mr. Pines!" Grenda called out to him, climbing up and tearing the silk holding Stan in place. His wrapped body fell to the ground with a thud.

"Quick! Before the rest of the venom sets in!" He ordered them to claw the webbing so that he would be free.

They ran out of the cave together, but Darlene waited from the entrance. Easily, they ran past her, and she screamed as she turned herself to a full spider.

The race to the exit was on, with a rabid spider lady chasing close.

"The sky tram!" Candy pointed out. "Everybody on, I have a plan!"

They hopped on the ride, expecting it to go fast so that they could gain a long distance from her.

But it was Trambience.

"The world's slowest treetop tram ride. Enjoy the sights at 0.1 miles per hour." A recording played out.

The gang was bummed out, trying to make the tram go faster. But it can't. It was Trambience.

"Enjoying the view? Take a picture!"

Darlene's head appeared in the window, causing everyone to scream in panic. She began coating the tram in webbing.

"We're doomed!"

"We're all gonna die!"

Candy was busy reading a pamphlet, and suddenly she gained an insane idea. "Listen carefully! This sky tram has an emergency drop switch. Below us is Oregon's largest Paul Bunyan statue! And Old Reliable goes off in 5..."

She glanced at her watch. "4..."

"3..."

She grabbed the emergency lever.

"Candy, wait! Don't pull that lever!"

"Kid, are you crazy?!"

"Now!" Candy pulled the switch, making the tram disconnect from the rail, sending it and Darlene down to the ground. An Old Reliable went off, pushing the tram into the air. It bounced and rolled across Mystery Mountain, barreling through the ticket booth below the Paul Bunyan statue.

Darlene was severed from the webbing and lay beneath the statue as its foot crashed down on her. She struggled to break free.

"My only weakness! A giant boot! A giant newspaper or a giant cup would've also been pretty bad."

Everyone stumbled out of the tram, some dizzy, some lightheaded.

"Staaaanny~" Darlene's human mask was back on, and she wore a pleading face. I'm sorry. I dunno what came over me. You'll let me out, right?"

"What?! After all that? Seriously, do I look like an amnesiac?"

She smiled, sickeningly sweet. "You're so funny. Have you ever considered becoming a comedian?"

"You know, I actually have. Comedy is too subtle these days. My style involves more oversized props." He began walking towards her, about to assist her. "Here, let me get you out from there—"

The kids pulled Stan away from Darlene as she turned back into a spider and reached out to bite him.

"Oh yeah. Right."

After getting away from the spider lady, everyone ran back to the RV, ready to kiss this tourist trap goodbye.

It was a long way back to the Mystery Shack, and when the girls announced that they wanted to get a good nap at the back of the van, Y/n took advantage of the opportunity to talk with Dipper.

The truce was only temporary, they both knew that. And after all the monsters they bravely faced together, including this spider woman, then Y/n shouldn't have to be so afraid of this conversation with him.

She decided that no matter how much he tries to shut her out, he will hear her explanation.

Stan was having his own moment of reflection with the wheel when she stood up from her seat and made her way to the middle section of the van.

There sat Dipper, with his chin on his palm as he watched the forest zoom past his window. The sun was coming down, casting a soft warm glow against his curls, making it golden.

Dipper moved slightly, noticing her presence, and she realized that she had been standing there doing nothing. With an awkward cough, she was about to leave, until he stopped her with a pat on the seat beside him.

She looked up, but his head remained fixed looking out the glass.

Carefully, she sank down beside him, the atmosphere being accompanied with a clink of the seatbelt. Y/n's eyes looked everywhere but him, not knowing how to break the silence. How would she be able to continue the conversation from an hour ago?

"Okay, listen," Dipper's voice cut through her train of thoughts as he finally faced her. "I'm giving you a chance to explain whatever you want to explain. I guess I'll try and hear you out this time." His voice was monotone and serious, but if he was willing to make himself look interested in whatever she had to say, she'd say it.

But the way he was so forward and cut-throat, made her want to step back and shut him out again. Why did he have to do that?

"Do you have any... questions?" She decided to ask. She didn't even know where to start.

He stared at her, pensive. He let out a sound that was a mix of a groan and a whine. "It feels... wrong, to pry the secrets out of you when they're supposed to be secrets," he began saying, crossing his arms. "You didn't tell us about the Ford and the portal, you've been 13 for I don't know how many years— I mean, what's that about? And Ford told me that you've got a glimpse of Bill's true plans when you tested the portal. I need answers.

Y/n pursed her lips, understanding his frustration. She sighed. "It's true. Bill and I have spoken before."

Dipper's expression was unchanged, urging her to continue.

"He visited me for the first time after the portal test, while I was unconscious. I don't have the perfect memory for the encounter, but he told me about our dimension learning how to party. And I have a feeling that he was the reason I stopped aging.

He made me forget about the meeting and the vision inside the portal. That's why I couldn't tell you what I saw. We didn't speak to one another again until years later when we fell asleep on the chair and he visited my dreams again, revealing his plans to help Gideon with stealing the deed to the Shack.

Weirdly, every time he makes an appearance, he'd always visit me first. Because I saw him in my dreams again when he made a deal with you and took your body."

Dipper avoided her gaze. Seemed to still be a sensitive subject for him.

"But he only warned me about how 'everything's going to change'. He'd tease me and play with me... he was always ambiguous and vague, it was just so confusing for me..." she admitted, facing him. "It's 100% the truth. I just hope you'd believe me. He never struck a deal with me and even if he were, I would never shake his hand. Ever."

He noticed the way she went quiet after that, and he had assumed from the sobs she was letting out that talking about this had taken a toll on her.

Y/n sniffled, slouching over the table. All of this fear for the unknown was giving her major anxiety, and she just wanted to get rid of it. What if Bill's warnings were true? What if there will be a day where everything she cared about would be taken from her and fall in his hands?

It was beginning to sink in, and she felt it coming. But she was brought out of her stupor by someone grabbing her hand and holding it tightly.

Her eyes shifted to meet his.

He never realized how pretty her eyes were. Glassy and pure.

He lost the staring contest, looking away as he tried to hide the blush coloring his face. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to—"

"No. I want to apologize. I jumped to conclusions and let my anger get the best of me. I should've listened to you and tried to understand instead of just assuming the worst."

Y/n started to respond, but Dipper held up his hand. "Wait, please, let me finish. I know I hurt you by not trusting you, and I'm really sorry. I didn't think about how hard it must've been for you to keep those secrets and protect us. I was too caught up in my own stuff to see that."

Her eyes softened.

"I just want us to be okay again," Dipper confessed.

"Me, too," she replied, squeezing his hand.

The RV finally arrived in Gravity Falls, and from the back of the vehicle, they heard screams, causing them to quickly let go of each other's hands. "Woo! We're here!" The girls cheered.

Everyone piled up to the front of the RV, standing beside Stan. "I still feel a little bad about wrecking those tourist traps."

"Ah come on," Stan assured. "Everyone loves my pranks! And the best part is, I never have to face any consequen— SWEET LORD!"

Stan hit the brakes and jumped out to see the owners of the tourist traps he pranked ruining the Mystery Shack.

"Aw, come on!"

A Corn Maze worker ran up and smashed one of the RV's headlights with a baseball bat. "That's what you get! That's what you get!" He said, before running away with the other tourist trap owners.

"I don't understand. I completely don't deserve this!"

"Oh, man." Dipper sighed. "Are we gonna have to help clean this up?

"Nah, I'm sure Soos will take care of it."

But nobody answered.

"Oh my gosh, where is Soos?!" Y/n exclaimed, searching for him everywhere.

***

Dipper and Y/n found themselves going down the elevator towards the basement. They saw Ford busying himself in his workspace, which he paused on doing when he realized that he wasn't alone anymore. "Ah! I suppose you two have made up already? You seem closer now than before."

As if on cue, they leaned far apart from each other, making Ford raise an eyebrow.

"Okay..." There was an idea that formed in Ford's mind. He figured that after their misadventures, it was time to tell Dipper everything he knew about Gravity Falls. He sat Dipper down, as Y/n was situated somewhere else.

Even though none of the two admitted it, Ford felt that the atmosphere between them had loosened, and he was grateful for that. "Come on, Dipper. It's just the two of us now. You can ask me any question you could think of about this town."

Dipper contemplated for a moment. There were just so many questions to choose from! This was his one chance from wanting to know the answers to his uncertainties.

"Great-Uncle Ford," he started. "Why is Gravity Falls so weird?"

The particular question seemed to beam Ford with pride. There was an immediate smile on his face, ready to provide him with an explanation.

"I had spent my young adulthood obsessed with that question, Dipper," Ford said, leaning down. "Bill Cipher told me that the weirdness in town leaked in from another dimension— but this was a lie. Bill was simply trying to trick me into opening a door so he could claim Gravity Falls for himself. The truth is a bit stranger."

Dipper tried to close his mouth, preventing it from opening due to shock.

Ford stopped speaking, but he looked like he wanted to say more. "You know what? You two, come with me."

He racked his convincing skills to persuade his brother to let him borrow his car. Stan almost didn't allow it until Ford brought up the fact that he let him take the kids out for a road trip. He shrugged and said, "Fair enough. But don't scratch it. It's my baby."

"Where are we going, Great Uncle Ford?" Dipper asked once they were in the car. It felt like they were about to go on a road trip again. Ford drove the vehicle straight towards the edge of the town border, parking it on the large patch of grass.

The three jumped out. Dipper looked to Y/n for an answer, but she merely shrugged, motioning over to Ford as it looked like he was about to demonstrate something.

He brought out a bag of jellybeans out of his pockets and began to explain. The two kids leaned forward to observe closer. "Everything in the universe is like a jelly bean— made of the same basic materials, varied in color and flavor, but all more or less conforming to an expected pattern." He rummaged through the bag, scooping a handful. There were a few 'normal' jelly beans.

"But every now and then, by chance, a bean comes out deformed... odd... weird," he described, and with his one hand, he pulled an especially strange bean out of the bunch to show them.

Ford trudged closer to the edge of a hill, looking down to see a slope. On cue, he dropped the group of jellybeans and the rest of the bag at his feet. The beans began to tumble downhill, but one bean, the deformed one, almost magically rolled backwards., up the hill, up to the town border!

Dipper's eyes widened. From beside her, she could see him beginning to understand. Why had this one bean rolled uphill?

"Oddness is strangely, mysteriously drawn to this place, from misshapen jelly beans, to gnomes and fairies to dinosaurs, interdimensional tears, clones, crazy ex-presidents, even me with six fingers and boys with strange birthmarks." He stole a glance at Dipper, whose eyes were beginning to fill with wonder.

Ford continued, "I felt in my bones that my arrival at this town, and perhaps yours, too, was not an accident. We might be part of some greater fate that the town had in store for us." He placed his hands on his hips as he gazed out at the beautiful view that Gravity Falls had to offer.

Y/n was so caught up in her own thoughts, looking at the invisible barrier from the town's border. She remembered being here a few times, some visits were with Ford. The author of the journals acknowledges that she herself couldn't get out of the specific border. The weirdness magnet was naturally strong, as it attracts all the oddities including her.

Ford faced his nephew. "You and I are some of the strangest beans this town has ever seen, Dipper," he told him.

"Mason," the boy blurted out. He seemed shocked by what had come out of his mouth, and then deliberately repeated it. "My real name is Mason." He glanced at Y/n for her reaction, but her face didn't change. "Dipper is just a nickname. But everyone got used to it, and now it feels too late to tell everyone the truth. And it's kind of a dumb name anyway. Don't tell anyone."

His great uncle tousled his hair while Y/n placed an assuring hand on his shoulder. "Your secret's safe with us, Mason," the older man guaranteed.

"And I think it's a great name," she added. "The Masons are a great secret society, you know."

Ford chuckled aloud, agreeing with his assistant. He watched as Dipper and Y/n smiled at one another, realizing how much trust they had for one another. What a shame that he was leaving at the end of the summer...

After a moment, they decided to leave. Ford and Dipper were talking about molecular theories on the way back to the car while Y/n lagged behind. She glanced back to the barrier, stepping back and observing it once more.

Carefully, she extended her hand to where she believed the barrier was, but nothing impeded her. She moved a bit further, feeling only air. Her expression changed from confusion to determination. Pulling her arm back, she reached out again. Her eyes widened as she felt it—a force stopping her. Her fingers pressed against what seemed like invisible glass.

"Y/n, you coming?"

Her head whipped around to face Dipper, her hand clutched to her chest. She felt like she'd been caught red-handed. Quickly, she shifted back to her sociable self, smiling at him. "Yeah, I'm coming."

As she returned to the car, she tried to shake off the unsettling feeling. She didn't want anyone to notice her discovery.

Ford glanced at her through the rear-view mirror. Bill's words echoed in his mind: her being the key. He knew the dream demon was a master manipulator, but what if, this time, he was telling the truth?

***

***

UKAVS VZX CHLG, MGRTDGD MHX SGQ

The two adventurers made amends,
Their connection strong, no longer bends.
A new idea in the thinker's brain did start,
Blind to the doom that would soon depart.

***

CONTINUES IN CHAPTER 30!

[author's note]: sorry this took suuuper long! school had been so loaded, but finally it's my break! still, lots of brainstorming happened in this one y'all. i came up with so many options and plots, and this is the better ones i have picked. there was a MAJOR plot hole that i almost overlooked, but hopefully i got around it and figured out a way to add more character for y/n! 

i'm SO excited to share you guys my headcanon of y/n. i'm going to prepare a character sheet that i will reveal to you guys SOON! thank you guys so so much for the patience, and shout out to the people who pointed out the major plot point :D

i love you guys a lot. i always read your comments, and i appreciate you theories/speculations. at the end of the book, i'm going to post a special chapter containing ALL the fanarts!  <33

kimmiepines
8483 words