CLICK! FLASH! The two Stans turned to the sudden light and sound to see Brin holding her old Polaroid camera and her cellphone. "Scrapbookortunity!" the sick girl exclaimed with a bright smile as she grabbed the picture and shook it. "Brinley, what are you doing down here?" Ford questioned as he approached the teen. "You should be resting." "I had to make sure you kept your promise... You did forgive each other, right?" Brin questioned, setting her things down on the table. "Yeah, Kid, we did." Stan smiled, ruffling the girl's hair as he handed her the cups of medicine and pink lemonade he had poured for her. "Thank you." Brinley smiled, taking the medicine. Wrapping her arms around the older men and hugging them as tightly as she could, Brin sighed happily. "Your welcome. I should probably go back upstairs now, huh?" "You want me to bring you?" Ford asked, running his hand across the teen's tense shoulder blades. Though she leaned into the hand, Brin shook her head. "I'll be okay. I'll go rest and let the meds kick in. If I feel better by the time I get up, I'll come let you guys know." Brin smiled before turning back toward the stairs. "Oh! And, Grunkle Ford, you can keep the letter. I have many more that I have to give you, but that'll have to wait." "Thank you, Brin. Goodnight." "Goodnight. Goodnight, Grunkle Stan." "'Night, Kid." Stan replied, smiling as the girl left the room. "She really is a lot like you, y'know." "That may be, but she is a mirror of you." Ford replied, lightly shoving his brother's shoulder. Stan chuckled, "No, Poindexter, that would be you." "Ha ha ha." Ford drawled sarcastically. Brin smiled as she listened in to the conversation from her perch on the staircase. Moving to Ford's room, she noticed a tape measure resting on some boxes next to Ford's bedroom door. 'Odd.' Brin thought to herself, 'Soos doesn't usually leave his things all over the place. I'll just hold on to it for him until he gets back.' Grabbing the yellow tape measure, Brin entered the room and set it on the table next to the bed. Brinley settled herself on the bed before grabbing the tape measure and toying with it. She didn't know what it was about playing with other people's things, but it always seemed to make her feel happier. Whether it was the fact that it was someone else's or that she probably wasn't supposed to use it, she wasn't sure, but it always had made her feel better. Now was no exception to that. As she pulled out the metal hook, the teen noticed that, instead of just inches and centimeters, there were words on it too. Reading the different words, Brin realized that they were numbers for different measures of time. Reading anywhere from a couple minutes to a couple decades, Brinley realized the tape measure wasn't a normal one that could be bought at a Home Depot. 'This can't be real. Soos may be a great handyman, but there is no way he created a time machine.' Brin thought to herself, 'It's not like it could work anyway; that would require years upon years of hard work and technology.' Brin rolled her eyes before letting the tape measure retract back inside itself. Quicker than a blink, Brin was bathed in light. It was gone just as quick as it came. Brin rubbed her eyes before looking around. 'Psh. I knew it wasn't real. That was probably just the light coming in through the window or something.' Brinley sighed to herself before getting up to go get some more pink lemonade. Leaving the room, Brin noticed that the boxes, stickers and sparkles that had previously been strewn across the floor had disappeared. Though very suspicious, Brin shrugged, heading down the stairs to the kitchen. Nobody was in the room. Brin knew that Grunkle Stan had probably returned to the Shack to trap tourists again and Grunkle Ford had, more than likely, gone back to the basement to continue his research. Humming to herself subconsciously, Brinley opened the fridge which was now void of all Pitt Cola, pink lemonade and Mabel Juice. Brin peered at the fridge in confusion an ridicule; how could Grunkle Stan or Grunkle Ford get rid of Mabel's special concoction?! Besides, Grunkle Stan knew to never get rid of the Pitt or lemonade when anybody was sick. Why get rid of it now of all times? Grumbling, Brin shut the fridge and headed toward the gift shop to chew out her Grunkle only to find it also void of all things that made it the Mystery Shack. The crazy attractions and tourists ere gone and replaced with chalkboards and paperwork all over the place. "Grunkle Stan? Grunkle Ford?" Brin called out, wandering carefully through the massive piles of paper. "What happened to the Shack?" Brin was about to head outside to check if they were there when she noticed a light coming from the entrance to Ford's basement lab. Deciding she had nothing to lose, Brin took out her phone and lit up her path with the screen light. Heading down the stairs, she noticed the walls weren't cracked and the stairs didn't creak on the seventh step like they had whenever she went down to visit Ford. Brin pushed the button for the elevator and waited as it brought her down to the lab. Brin shrieked as the doors opened and a crossbow was put to her head. Her eyes fell on the six fingered hands holding the weapon and she gasped, "Grunkle Ford! It's just me! Put the crossbow down." The younger Ford watched the girl with curious scrutiny. "Who are you and why did you call me 'Grunkle'?" "Great Uncle Ford, please. It's just me, Brinley." Brin pleaded, squeezing her eyes shut and attempting to push herself further into the elevator. "Please just put the weapon down! What has gotten into you?! You were fine a couple minutes ago!" "'Uncle'?" Ford questioned, stunned. "I-I'm not an uncle." "Yes, you are!" Brin exclaimed before thinking it all through. "W-Well, you will be. I-I came here from the future. Please don't kill me with a crossbow." "If you really are from the future, show me something from the future." Ford bargained, watching the young girl with a look of interest and, oddly enough, hope. "Alright." Brin nodded slowly, opening her eyes and reaching for her back pocket slowly. "Only if you lower the weapon." Ford nodded, taking a step back and putting the crossbow on a nearby console. "There. That okay?" Brin nodded before pulling out her iPhone and putting it gently on the floor, sliding it over to her younger uncle like she had seen people do on crime shows all the time. "That's my cell phone. I can call or text anyone in the world with it. I can even go on the internet and watch videos or read books on it. That's the newest model. I'm from 2012. Please, Grunkle Ford, you gotta believe me." Ford picked up the device before pressing the front button, turning it on. "I believe you." Ford claimed simply. "What is it like in the future?" Brin sighed in relief before slowly making her way over to her uncle. "It's nice so far. No flying cars, but we do have some cool junk. I live next door to you and Grunkle Stan. My cousins, also your niece and nephew, Dipper and Mabel are living here for the summer." "Did you just say Stanley is living with me?" Ford asked in disbelief as he handed his newly discovered niece her phone back. "Yep!" Brin exclaimed triumphantly, "You and Grunkle Stan live together in the future. I also have something huge to tell you. It could change the future for the better, but first, I need to know what day it is." "It's February seventeenth, why?" "Something is about to go down tomorrow, but, if I tell you what might happen, that could change." Brin smiled and nodded to herself. "Let's go upstairs. The fact that the portal is in the next room and I can't see it, is kinda creeping me out." "How did you-?" "I've been helping to work on that darned thing for a decade; it isn't exactly a secret to me." Brin shrugged before heading back to the elevator. "Well, you comin' or not?" "So, if I tell Stanley to take my journal and get as far away from here as possible..." "He will get totally ticked and accidentally shove you into the portal?" Brinley questioned, nodding in answer to her own question. "Yeah. Then he works on it for thirty years with my additional, but not entirely necessary, help for the last ten." "If I tell him that I need his help, there is only a small chance that that could still happen?" "Yep. If it all goes well tomorrow, there shouldn't be any further sibling rivalries in my future." Brin sighed. "I really want to go check, but I also want to stay here to make sure everything goes well. Grunkle Ford, what should I do?" "Go check. I'll try to keep things from going badly. This will be our little secret from Stanley, okay?" Ford asked, placing a hand on the teen's head affectionately "Okay. I'll see you sooner or later, Grunkle Ford. I love you." Brin smiled, hugging her Grunkle. "I love you too, Brinley." Ford replied, hugging his niece before she stood and pulled the tape measure from her pocket. Setting the time machine to the future and pulling the metal hook until she reached the thirty year mark, Brin smiled at her younger Great Uncle for the last time before letting go with a small wave. The bright light once again blinded the brunette as she was taken back to 2012. Expecting to be back in the Mystery Shack with everybody looking happy and everyone loving one another, Brin smiled happily as she rubbed her eyes before opening them. Stunned, Brinley glanced around the room she was in. This definitely wasn't the Mystery Shack she was accustomed to. There were only a few things in the room that looked like the Shack and they were family pictures and some small things like the glass full of eyes. The room was just that, a room. It looked more inviting than the paper filled main room Ford had in the past, but it was less inviting than the Mystery Shack. She noticed Ford standing in front of a chalkboard, writing something on it with the white chalk. Running over to him, Brin hugged her Uncle tightly. "Grunkle Ford, did it work? Are you and Grunkle Stan not fighting anymore?" Ford turned to the teen and put his hand on her arm with a sad expression. "Brinley, you know Stanley died a couple months ago. I'm sorry, Sweetie, but you need to face it before you are driven to insanity." "But, Grunkle Ford-" "Sweetie, you can't bring him back. I know how much he meant to you, but things like that happen. We just have to pick ourselves up and get back on the horse." Ford sighed, bringing his niece into a hug. "I'm sorry." "No." Brin choked, pulling out of the hug and bringing the metal clasp of the time machine out and letting go. "I will fix this!" So worried about her family's future, Brinley didn't check to see how far the timeline was before she was surrounded by light and was sent to the time period she chose. Brin threw her arms over her head as she felt herself fall. Soon, she felt herself pound into something she landed harshly on something. Opening her eyes, Brinley realized she was on the beach and had fallen into a now destroyed sand castle. Looking around, she noticed the tape measure resting on a rock a few feet away. Picking it up, Brin sighed; it was broken. Taking a look around, Brinley saw a broken boat with two kids playing on it not far from her. Getting to her feet, Brin took off toward the ship, hoping they would be able to tell her where she was. "Excuse me!" Brin called as she got closer to the boat. The two kids turned to her before climbing down from the ship to meet the new girl. As she got closer, Brin noticed the kids were boys and they were closer to her height. "I'm not sure where I am. Can you please help me?" "Sure!" the boy without glasses exclaimed. "My name's Stanley. You're in Glass Shard Beach, New Jersey." "New Jersey?!" Brin exclaimed, "But- How?! I was just in Oregon a little while ago!" "You're from Oregon?" the boy with glasses asked. "I'm Stanford by the way." 'Stanley and Stanford?' Brin thought to herself, 'Those are- oh my PIE! IT'S GRUNKLE STAN AND GRUNKLE FORD! Okay, B, be cool. Subtly mention your name and say that you need help finding your family. They have to help a lost girl, right? Maybe I should say that I'm a Pines; they'd want to help me more then.' "Yeah, I am from Oregon. My name is Brinley, Brinley Pines." Brin smiled, holding her hand out to the young versions of her Grunkles. "Pines?!" the boys exclaimed in shocked wonder. "That's our last name!" "Maybe we're family!" Brin exclaimed excitedly even though she knew they were. The boys looked at each other before they each took one of Brin's hands and led her up to the road. "Come on!" Stanley exclaimed as he pulled Brin to the left. "Where are we going, Stanley?" Brin asked as she and Stanford were dragged by Stanley. "To our house. Ma and Pa can help you." Stanley replied before Stanford slowed him down. Stanford let go of Brin's right hand and stood in front of Stanley. "Ley, you're gonna pull Brinley's arm off if you keep draggin' her like that. Go easy on her." "Okay, okay. Why don't you take the lead then, Poindexter." Stanley suggested as he stopped. Brin held her hand out with a smile. Ford glanced at the hand before slowly putting his hand back in Brin's. "Six fingers?" Brin asked, knowing the answer, but still wanting them to like her. "That is so cool! Y'know, I have an uncle with twelve fingers too! I think it's awesome!" "A lot of people think it's weird and call me a freak." Stanford admitted rubbing his neck with his free hand as a blush rose to his cheeks. "You definitely aren't a freak, Stanford!" Brin smiled, swinging her hands back and forth as they walked and talked. "If anything, I think it makes you unique and cool. If it makes you feel any better, you aren't the only one that was born with something weird." "What'dya mean?" Stanley asked, watching the girl with curious eyes. "I have a learning disability." Brinley answered honestly, "I have a really hard time focusing in school. I think it gets better with every day, though. At least you got something cool." Brin watched the road in front of her as they got to a slightly more populated street. Brin could feel the boys watching her as Stanford led them across the street. As they walked, Brin had a strange feeling like something bad was going to happen. Subconsciously seeking protection from her uncles, Brinley tightened her grip on their hands and glanced around them cautiously. "Are we almost there, Stanford?" Brin asked softly, watching every person who walked by. "Yeah, it's just up the street here, why? What's wrong?" Ford asked, turning back the girl in worry. "I don't know why, but I just don't feel good." Brin watched her Grunkle's face as his worried brown eyes connected with her matching ones. "My head really hurts and I feel like somebody is watching us." The twins looked around Brinley at each other before they both pulled her down the sidewalk. "We'll be there quicker if we run." Stan explained as he took the lead again, weaving them through the people on the side of the road. As they reached the pawn shop, Stanley swung the door open for his two relatives before slamming it shut behind them. Stanford turned back to Brinley again, crouching down to sit next to her on the floor. "Are you alright?" Brin folded her arms over her over her face as she laid back in the middle of the floor with a slow nod and a cough. "I feel a little better now that we're inside, but my head still kinda hurts." "'Ley, can you stay with her while I get Ma and Pa?" Ford asked, letting his twin take his place next to Brinley as he stood. "Sure thing!" Stanley smiled toothily as he put his hand on Brin's arm. "So, what d'ya wanna do?" "I don't know... Do you have any music players?" Brinley questioned, figuring she might as well have some fun until she could get some tools to fix the time machine. Stan's eyes lit up as he nodded and pulled Brin to stand. "Of course we do! C'mere!" Brin giggled as she was dragged across the room to a record player. "Oh my gosh! I haven't seen one of these in a while." "You've had one o' these before?" Stanley asked as he watched Brinley play with the needle. "No, but my uncle did. He had this one vinyl that played a really neat song to dance to, but I don't think you guys would have it." "What's it called?" Stan asked with a smirk as he popped open a small bin of record cases. Brin's eyes glowed as she started sifting through the sleeves. She noticed a few Beach Boy albums and some Elvis Presley records before she finally found what she was looking for: a seven inch, Roy Orbison vinyl. "Yay! You do have it!" Brin exclaimed before pulling the disk from it's sleeve and putting it on the record player. Brinley carefully set the needle on the record, attempting to remember how to make it play. "Here," Stan started, reaching over and starting the record, "I know it can be pretty hard, but you'll get it!" "Thanks, I haven't tried that in quite a while." Brin admitted as the music started and "Oh, Pretty Woman" filled the building. Stanley nodded before laughing and pulling Brinley to dance with him in the middle of the room. As they danced and jumped around, Stanford brought his parents in. He watched his twin and Brinley with an upset face as Stanley twirled her in a circle as she giggled. Brin smiled as she looked over to Stanford and waved. Stanford waved back as Stanley turned off the music and Brin walked over to him and gave him a hug. "What did you think of our dance?" "I liked it." Ford smiled as she released him. Brin gave a small "Yay!" before the boys introduced her to their parents. Brinley made up an explaination that she had lost her family on vacation, fallen on the beach, hit her head and the twins had brought her back to make sure she was okay. Luckily, both Ma and Pa had accepted the story; even to the extent that Ma was concerned for the little girl's safety. Brin could see where her Grunkles had gotten their brash yet caring natures. After they let Ma check on Brin's fake injuries, the parents had decided to let the girl stay until she found her family once again. Brin had seen her reflection in the bathroom mirror when Ma was putting Band-Aids on her arm (which had actually gotten a couple small cuts from broken glass on the beach) and had noticed that she had been returned to an eleven or twelve year old version of herself. Brin shook it off and decided to go with it for the time being. While the parents were working in the pawn shop or on the phone with people looking for Ma's psychic help, the boys were up in their room with Brinley, showing her everything from their toys to Fort Stan. The boys had snatched a spare piece of paper and had made Brinley a handprint to tape up with their own. With Brinley's signature gracing the paper, Stan and Ford taped the new addition onto the original, beneath their own handprints. A few hours later, Ma had taken Brinley to her and Pa's room to get changed for the night. Since Brin had no pajamas with her, Ma gave her one of her old sweaters and let her get dressed in the bathroom. After getting out of her red and black dress and into the warm, fuzzy sweater, Brin spent a couple hours with Ma. Ma had always wanted a little girl to do things with, but she had instead received the twins; this was like a dream come true for the woman. Ma had done the tween's hair in a bunch of curlers, painted her nails in a delicate pink to match the sweater that went down to the middle of her calves, and had decided that the girl was going to share a bedroom with the twins. The time they spent together was not a one-sided joy. Brin had never really gotten to spend time with her grandmother with them living on opposite sides of the country. She had visited a couple of times, yet her Great Grandma was never as lively and excited as she was with her there now. Brin was elated to spend the amount of time she did with her Grandma. She felt like she could get to know her a bit better, but, as the 5:00 o the clock slowly turned into 8:30, Brin realized that it would have to wait a little longer. After they had set up Stanley's bed for Brin, the kids stayed up until nine o'clock just chatting away and getting to know each other. When Ma and Pa came in telling them it was time for bed, they all groaned. "Goodnight, Ma. Goodnight, Pa." The twins claimed, giving their nightly hugs before going up to Stanford's bed. "Goodnight, Mr and Mrs Pines." Brinley smiled, hugging her grandparents before climbing into her bed for the night. Snuggling under the blankets, Brin smiled as Ma and Pa shut off the lights and closed the door. After a while of tossing and turning, Brinley sighed quietly in frustration. No matter what she tried, she couldn't get to sleep. She didn't know if it was the light congestion or the fact that she felt out of place, but she just couldn't relax enough to go to sleep. "What's wrong, Brin?" Stanford's quiet voice asked from the top bunk. "Can't sleep?" "No, I can't. I just- I don't know... I guess I'm just worried." Brin admitted in a whisper. "Would you like some company?" Ford asked, putting his head over the side to see Brin. "'Ley and I usually talk it out when one of us can't sleep." Brin thought over it for a minute before nodding, "Sure." Stanford smiled before jumping down from his bunk. Climbing in next to his new friend, Ford gave the girl a little hug. "What's buggin' you?" Brin sighed. "I can't go home." "What? Why not?" Ford asked as Brin shifted to put her back against the headboard. Brinley reached under her pillow an pulled out the broken tape measure. "This is my ride home. This is the only way I can get back to where I'm from." Ford looked at the tape measure with curiosity. "How is this gonna help you?" Brin pulled the metal tab a little. "This is from the future. It can make me go anywhere in time. In fact, in the future, I am nineteen and you are my great uncle." "I am?! Does that mean Stanley is your grandpa?" Ford asked, very intrigued about this new information. "Sure," Brinley lied, "but you have to keep this a secret." Brin claimed, a nod from Ford as her answer. "I need to find tools for this in order to get back to my time. Do you know where I can find some?" "Pa keeps some downstairs in the pawn shop. I'll go get them. I can help you fix it." Ford smiled brightly before getting up and quietly leaving the room. It didn't take long for Stanford to come back with the toolbox. He set it up on the blankets before turning to Brinley with an excited smile. "Let's do this."
