#sherm spawn

In a different world, Dipper and Mabel are Shermie's kids, and they're born very shortly after Ford finishes college. Shermie makes him his next of kin because his wife has no living family and he never, never will let his father around a pair of twins again. The only reason he hasn't gone no contact is because he still wants to be a part of his mother's life.

A few months later Ford has just settled into his cabin in the woods and his routine as a researcher, only to learn of horrible news from his father. His brother and his wife have both died in a car wreck.

(Ford refuses to acknowledge that he feels a sickening sense of relief when his father clarifies its Shermie who died and not Stan)

Now Ford has to take care of two babies by himself. It's horrible. He has no idea what he's doing, he's all alone since there's no Fidds with him yet (literally started living in his shack like two weeks ago he hasn't even finished moving in yet) he has to take care of the kids, he has to do his work because if he doesn't he'll lose his grant and the house and won't be able to take care of the kids, he doesn't want to ask his mom for help because that would involve his father.

There's only one person he can trust.

He tracks down and calls Stan, begs him to help him raise the kids. Stan is there by the end of the week.

Cue the intense slow burn yearning and pining.

On August 31st, 1981, Stanford Pines is there when his older brother Sherman and his wife Ruth Ann welcome their twins Mabel and Mason into the world. On September 4th, both Shermie and Ruth are killed in a freak car accident. Ford takes the newborns to Gravity Falls, but finds himself unable to care for both of them on his own. There's only one person he can trust.

So first thing's first, I think that the twins would work through their resentment pretty quickly. We see that in canon when Ford called him over and Stan thought it was so that the two of them could go sailing he was immediately one hundred percent down. And I've mentioned it before, but I believe Ford's long lasting resentment over Stan breaking his machine was less just that he ruined Ford's chance to go to college but moreso that he didn't seem to be at all apologetic for what he did. It really wasn't Stan's best look and could easily make Ford feel like Stan doesn't care about him.

But that's clearly not the case, since as soon as he gets the call Stan comes to help him. Ford is aware that he's the only one who is in writing responsible for the children, Stan doesn't have to be here, and he sure as hell doesn't have to stay after Ford gets a bit more on his bearings.

But he does.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/83513171

First off extremely funny way to word it. Second of all Mabel is his sweet little angel. I don't subscribe to the notion that Ford "prefers" Dipper, he very clearly adores his weird little niece in canon. And he's even more adoring to her in this au! That's his baby girl!!

They're very close. Mabel might be less interested in reading and research than Dipper, but she still loves going on adventures in the woods. Ford takes her on hikes to visit the more friendly oddities like the plaidypus and scampfire, and when the gnomes try to make her their queen he blows them up violently and teaches her how to use a grappling hook for protection. (He wanted to give her a more traditional weapon but she really wanted the grappling hook and he finds it hard to say no to her)

He does a bunch of "self care nights" with her because she worries about him working so hard! He also always lets her paint his nails because since he has six fingers she can do the FULL RAINBOW on them!!! She always talks about how great his hands are for that and that they make her feel happy and safe and Ford definitely has cried about it once or twice (or more)