Description: After a year of separation, you return to Gravity Falls to finalize the divorce your husband has long drawn out, but instead of finding Ford Pines, you come face to face with the stranger who's taken his name.
Stanley Pines x f!reader, reader is a teacher, strangers to friends to lovers, slow burn, angst, fluff, eventual smut (?), allusions to Billford/Fiddauthor
Status: In-Progress
Word Count: 25.0k
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So I'm still writing my "Not Jealous" Stan x Reader fic but I figured I'd build up the hype and also share another snippet
No real warnings or anything, just suggestive.
Was gonna share some of the smut but I want y'all to be able to read it in full when I'm finished for the full effect. Shits gonna hit you like a ton of bricks.
Soon you could see the familiar visage of your house illuminated by the headlights of the Stanmobile. Stan gave you a half smile when he put the car in park and admonished you when you went to let yourself out. Turning the key in the ignition to turn off the car, he got out and around to the passengers side to open your door for you, offering a hand to help you out of your seat. How chivalrous. He walked you right up to your door with a hand on the small of your back, waiting as you moved to retrieve your keys from your purse to unlock it. Gosh he was being such a gentleman about all of this, it was extremely charming and incredibly endearing. It almost made you feel bad about planning on wrecking it. Almost.
You turned back to face him, leaning against the now open doorway with a hand cocked playfully on your hip, holding back a smile. He stood there somewhat awkwardly under your porchlight as he waited for you to dismiss him. Gosh what a sweetheart.
“What are you waiting for? A kiss on the cheek?”
That got the reaction you were hoping for, a big grin manifesting itself on Stan's face as he shook his head lightly at you using his own turn of phrase against him. He stepped forward and brought his hands around your waist.
“Something like that.”
You let him pull you against him to kiss you again, hands sliding up to the collar of his shirt. Despite the kiss that Stan had initiated being slow and sweet and oh so wonderful you still had other plans.
Going in for the kill, you nipped at his bottom lip with your teeth before swiping your tongue against the seam of his lips teasingly. You felt his hands tighten around your waist as his mouth snapped open and his tongue slid hotly against your own in a filthy open mouthed kiss.
A thin trail of saliva connected your mouths when you moved back, needing to breathe. Stan was panting lowly against you, chest rising and falling with the effort as he stared unwaveringly at your lips still shining with your saliva. His eyelids drooped low behind the thick frames of his glasses as his eyes made their way back up to meet your own equally desperate expression.
【 A/N: i was meaning to write something for forduary but never gotten around to it. as a ford pines simp i am ashamed. apologies apologies. hopefully this one shot will make up for it. started as mostly a vent but ended up way longer than i had intended.
TW below the cut for self harm, self loathing and general stangst. mind those tags and stay safe out there. title is from in the wings by mother mother b/c stan has those mother mother vibes.
CROSS-POSTED TO AO3! 】
STAN WATCHES the deceptively tiny flame in his hand. He watches as it dances and flickers in bright hues of yellow and orange and he can hear his mother's words in his head. 'My little spark of light' as she would call him back then. Burning brightly despite the darks of the world around him. A fighter. A protector.
But that night, huddled in his beaten old car around the tiny flame of his lighter whilst the blizzard outside continued it's merciless rampage, those words couldn't have felt farther from the truth. Whatever fire burned in Stanley Pines now felt more like dying embers, desperately trying to fight for any sort of spark.
And Stanley was so, so tired of fighting. And nobody was there to protect him.
As the winds and snow wrought all hell outside his Diablo, so to did Stan's mind seem keen on attacking him. Memories of painfully familiar beaches, days of rebuilding broken down boats and sunburns and nights of reading comics under the flashlight. Memories of laughter with someone who he'd thought would be by his side forever. Memories that used to be filled with happiness, now only tinged with a deep sense of longing for moments long lost to time.
Nights like those where he would have given everything just to see his brother one last time. To have his brother tell him that he missed him. That his time on the streets fighting for scraps was over. That his home was by his side.
'But who would want some worthless screw up like you around?'
These thought would hit him like knives directly in the chest.
'Face it, Stanley Pines is nothing but a leech. Ford knew the truth, it's why he wanted to get away from you.'
His free hand grips the steering wheel in a white-knuckled grip, chest heaving and throat tight with emotion the owner dare not release. 'Men don't cry' a voice sounding like his father reminds him. But the sea of emotions inside him only rages harder. A mix of anger and sorrow and a gnawing sort of loneliness that threaten to swallow him whole.
Like many times before, he would turn to the flame of his lighter. The sting of the hot metal against the skin of his arm would distract him from everything wrong with his life, albeit temporarily, as a new burn mark begins to set in among the ever growing collection.
Stanley couldn't help but look at them with a twisted sense of accomplishment. The pale marks on his arm feeling almost like a strange proof of everything he was going through. That the pain he was in was real.
Feeling a comfortable numbness set in, he lets himself drift into an uneasy rest. For a moment everything causing him pain seemed pleasantly distant. Even the roar of the blizzard just outside the car seemed to fade into darkness as sleep took hold.
✲ ✲ ✲
HIS SELF-DESTRUCTIVE coping mechanism would be something that stayed with him for a while. A release he'd turn to every so often during his days living like a stray. Until one day he gets a post card from someone he'd never thought he would hear from again and just like that he's making tracks to some nowhere town called Gravity Falls with barely more than his car and the clothes on his back and a feeling in his heart that almost resembles hope.
Somehow things take a turn even worse than he could've imagined. It's as if the universe took a look at Stan's worst fears and decided to top them and his brother's now empty home feels even colder than his car had.
The still stinging burn on his back feels like punishment. A reminder that Stanley Pines was worth nothing and this is what happened when he tried to believe otherwise. Stanley Pines would soon after meet his untimely fate in a car crash, with nothing left of his life but a smoldering wreck of metal.
At least as far as the rest of the world was concerned.
Meanwhile, the man known now as Stanford Pines attends a funeral in a suit that wasn't his, trying to ignore the way the foreign fabric itches against his growing amount of scars.
Some of them from his habit. Others were from his time working on the portal as he often did so with very little concern for himself.
As the years pass something begins to change. His false persona in Mr Mystery becomes less of a means to an end and slowly becomes something that he enjoyed. Something that he was good at. Along the way he meets the naive yet kind to a fault Soos Ramirez and the rebellious red-head Wendy Curdoroy. He tells himself they were just employees yet their presence in his life brings something different. A spark of light in an otherwise cold heart. A spark that later on becomes a flame when one summer he finds himself with the care of Shermie's grandchildren. Two brown haired twins that fill Stan with an almost painful sense of nostalgia that somehow worm their way into his heart in no time at all.
Without thinking about it, his habit slowly starts to lessen over these years until that summer when it stops. And while he never shakes the sense of longing for his own twin and wherever he may be, for the first time in his life since Glass Shard Beach the con man feels a sense of belonging somewhere. He had a home and people who cared about him.
But that was Stanford Pines. Stanley Pines didn't belong anywhere. And like life enjoys reminding Stanley, all good things must come to an end.
✲ ✲ ✲
IT FELT like a dream. After decades of toiling away in the shadows of the basement on a thin hope of fixing his mistakes, the moment of actually seeing his twin there in the glow of the portal felt almost too good to be true.
But, somehow, it was real. His brother, despite being much older as he himself was and dressed in some Mad Max-esque outfit, was back. Against all odds, Stanley Pines had managed to do at least one good thing in his life.
And Ford hated him.
He thinks to himself, bitterly, that of course he would. He may have brought Ford back but that didn't change all the wrong he had done to him, including pushing him into the portal in the first place. But even knowing this didn't make the sting of it all hurt any less.
And now, lying in his bed and failing to fall asleep, it seems like the adrenaline of everything that had happened that day was starting to wear off and the abuse he put on his old bones during it all had begun to make themselves known. He almost wanted to list all the places that hurt but he figured it'd be easier to list what didn't hurt.
He sighs as he raises a hand to his cheek. That was definitely going to be a nice bruise later on, and while it didn't hurt as much as the rest of his body it still managed to be the most painful thing that happened today.
In hindsight he didn't know why he assumed that would have gone any better, yet in the moment it felt all to natural to try and hug Ford. Like an old instinct buried deep within, the need to make sure his brother wasn't hurt. But instead he got a six fingered fist to the face.
And to top it all of he was going to lose everything once summer's over. The place he'd come to call home would be taken from him. And the kids... even if living on the streets again didn't do him in he'd doubt that their parents would let him anywhere near him once they learned the truth of who he was.
Soon there won't be any Mr Mystery, just Stanley Pines again. The man who had destroyed his brother's future. The man who destroyed his family. The man who pushed his brother into a portal. The man who had lied to everyone, who took his brother's identity and staged a ruse three decades running.
'The man who should have died back in that car crash.' A dark voice whispers in his mind.
Suddenly he finds himself feeling very small. No longer a man with a home and a family, he feels like he's the abandoned teen from the night it all went wrong. The first night of many where he'd spent huddled in his car. Unwanted. Unloved. And utterly alone.
Moving on autopilot, his hands begin to rummage through his bedside dresser until they clasp around an all too familiar object. Buried underneath other knick knacks and papers. Unused.
'Looks like old habits die hard.' He thinks with a pained smile.
It feels wrong doing this again. 'What would the kids think?' his mind chides him. But he knows that soon enough none of it will matter anyway.
The white hot sting of the lighter feels like an old friend.
✲ ✲ ✲
'You punched him. Your brother spend years of his life trying to save you and that's how you repay him.'
'He put the whole world in jeapordy doing so. It was stupid and reckless, did that knucklehead not read any of the warnings I left him?'
'If he hadn't then you wouldn't be here now.'
'Well maybe it would've been for the best. Saving me isn't worth putting the universe in danger.'
'Obviously Stan didn't agree.'
Ford put his head in his hands in exasperation. This mental back and forth had been going on for the past hour or so he'd been trying to spend dismantling what was left of the portal. It had started when, while taking apart the scattered pieces, he couldn't help but admire just how well put toegther they were for having been made by a single man with, presumably, little more engineering experience than fixing his car.
He tried to shake it off. Impressive or not didn't change the fact that he had endangered the whole world by doing so. And while punching him may have been overkill, Stan's reckless behavior just infuriated him to no end. It seemed like the past few decades had done nothing to change that about him.
And yet try as he might to focus on the task at hand there was that nagging feeling that had attached itself to Ford and refused to let go. Guilt. And no amount of trying to convince himself that he was in the right seemed to chase it away, his mind continuing to wander to the last conversation they had. To how just as he finished explaining the terms of their arrangement he saw a flicker of something in his twin's face before Stan had told him to stay away from the kids.
Ford didn't pride himself as someone who was well-versed in reading the emotions of others but his twin had suddenly looked small. Scared even? Whatever it was, it felt wrong to see on the face of his usually strong and fiery brother.
He supposed he didn't really know this version of his brother at all. Gone was the sun burnt youth from their childhood, replaced by this grey haired man who looked far too much like their father for either of their comfort, the old fez and suit not helping. They were twins and yet with the years of anger and strain they might as well be strangers. 'When did we become old men?' indeed.
And as much as he tried to hold onto the anger over the years, and stars did he try, there was always that part of Ford that missed his twin. The same part that insisted on keeping the photograph all those years. And though he wouldn't admit it out loud, he truly was glad to see Stan again.
'So glad that you're going to take his home away.' His brain chided.
He wasn't wrong for wanting his life back. And taking his house back didn't mean Stan had to leave.
'But did Stan know that?'
Stan knew he wouldn't kick him out... right?
'Have you given him any reason to?'
Stanley knew he would never do what...
'What your father did?'
Ford pulled his overcoat closer, suddenly feeling a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature of the basement crawl up his spine. And with a sigh he knew that the only way to put these thoughts to rest would be to talk to his brother again.
'Right, like that went so well last time.'
Decidedly ignoring that last thought, he left the dank basement and entered the warmth of the shack. Trying to shake off the surreal feeling of seeing what Stan had done to his home, he quietly made his way to his brother's room. A soft light spilling out from underneath the door told him that the occupant was probably awake.
'Perhaps I'm not the only one lost in thought.'
"Stan...?" He says after a moment of deliberation. When his only response is silence he pushes forward. "Stanley, I..." Pausing for a moment, Ford realizes that he didn't prepare what to say. "...I know that our conversation earlier didn't go as well as it could've, but..." Understatement of the century. "...for the sake of the children, we should at least try and be friendly towards one another."
A beat of silence passes and he can hear a scoff on the other side of the door.
"Stan, are you even listening to me?" A feeling of indignation is quickly replacing Ford's guilt. To think that he came all this way to try and fix things and his brother didn't even have the decency to respond!
Acting on frustration, the scientist pulls open the door with the intention of scolding his brother. Once he sees the state of his brother any words of annoyance died in his throat.
"Holy shit, Ford, haven't you ever heard of knocking?!" His brother snaps out before turning his back to him. Not in time to stop Ford from seeing the painful looking burns on his arm.
"Stanley! Your arm, how- what happened?!" He sputters out. He almost thought the burns could have been from something in the portal room earlier, but the burns looked fresh. Almost as if they've happened just now...
"The kids aren't around, Ford, you don't have to act like you give a shit." Stan's response, muttered low enough that he had almost missed it, had lacked all of the heat his brother displayed earlier. Only a tired sort of resignation, like all the fight had left him.
Seeing Stan in this state - looking like he's given up - it made Ford's stomach churn with how wrong it was. And yet it feels like he's seen him in a similar state long ago. The words 'some brother you turned out to be' echo in his head.
"You... you don't really believe that, do you?" He finally manages. For once his mind is blank, grappling to find anything to say to make the situation better. His brother let out a hollow sounding chuckle.
"'The first worthwhile thing in your life' you said. Well, I guess you were right. Stanley Pines never did anything worthwhile. His whole life was just him lying and cheating to get by." Ford was stricken by the amount of vehomence in his twin's words. 'Is this how he really sees himself?'
"But don't worry. Once the summer is over you'll get your life back and you'll never have to see your worthless brother ever again just like you want."
Keeping his gaze locked on the floor, the only reaction he could see was his brother's fists shaking at his sides before turning and walking out of the room. Smiling bitterly to himself, he tries to ignore the hurt he feels at his brother leaving.
...Only to be surprised to hear the same footsteps return a few moments later. A glance from the floor reveals Ford standing at his doorway holding a jar of some substance in his hand and some peroxide and the expression of a lost owl. Even more surprising was what he said.
"I never wanted you to leave, Stan." With the caution of someone approaching a startled animal, the scientist comes to sit next to his brother and took a deep breath to steel himself.
"Don't get me wrong, I figured you would probably want to leave once summer was over and I'm not comfortable with you running a mockery-" He coughed into his hand. "-the Mystery Shack in my home. But I wouldn't- I would never just throw you onto the streets!" The words 'unlike father' went unsaid, but the brothers both thought it.
"Why not?" Stan asked softly, looking hopeful but uncertain. "Is it cause I'm just an old, crusty man?"
"Stan, that's not-"
"Or maybe you just want somebody around to do the grunt work. Clean up and dust an' shit. Guess that's the only thing I'd be good fo-"
"It's because you're my brother!" The shout makes Stan halt his rambles, leaving the two in silence before Ford continues. "Even when I was angry with you...even when I wanted nothing to do with you...even when I told myself that I hated you I never being your brother. And not one moment did I ever stop missing you." It takes all his willpower to keep his voice mostly steady as he speaks the truth he had denied to even himself all these years. Even now he can hear a shake enter his voice but he knows he can't stop. Not just for his brother, who was taking in his words like a drowning man to oxygen, but also for himself.
"And while I'm still angry about everything - Westcoast Tech, rebuilding the portal, ignoring my warnings about the dangers - I still love you. Always have. And I'm so...-" He feels Stan's hand on his shoulder as he chokes back a sob threatening to tear it's way from his throat. "so, so sorry that I wasn't there to tell you that when you needed to hear it most."
Just as he felt himself start to choke up, a pair of strong arms wrapped around him and pulled him into a tight hug. Minutes that could've been hours pass by like that. Ford's shoulders shaking in a silent breakdown while Stan simply held him steady despite tears gathering in his eyes as well.
Once he finally manages to pull himself together it came time to treat the burns on Stan's arms. Opening the jar of what he explained was a highly potent burn cream he'd come across in the multiverse, Ford thought he might've cried again when he saw just how scarred his brother's arms were. Most seemed to be similar looking burn marks, albeit most looking older, but there were some that looked like cuts or road burns.
"Stan, are these burns self inflicted...?" 'Please don't let it be true.' he thinks, but Stan looking away is all the answer he needs.
Forcing away the guilt that threatens to eat him up, Ford focuses his efforts on treating the fresher burns on his twin's skin.
It seemed like he wasn't the only one feeling guilty, either. Stan hadn't seen his brother cry since they were young and hated to be the reason why.
"I'm sorry." His twin's words make Ford look up from his work, eyebrows drawn in concern.
"Stan..." His brother continued on as if not having heard him.
"I'm sorry I fucked up your future, I'm sorry I didn't just tell you what happened. I'm sorry I was so obsessed with that stupid fucking boat that I couldn't see I was holding you back. Pops was ri-"
"Don't." The single word was spoken with barely restrained anger, though this time none of it was directed at Stan. Upon seeing Stan look up with an expression of worry the scientist forced himself to soften his tone. Despite how much he wished he could give a few choice words (and hand gestures) to their late father, right now he needed to be there for his brother. "Don't say things like that about yourself. Please."
A silence settles over as Ford finishes treating his brother's arms. It's not too long until the burns are properly treated, the burn cream already doing its job. He's about to ask his brother how he's feeling when he sees Stan is leaning against the headboard and practically drifting off but looking happy for the first time since their not so great reunion in the basement.
Feeling pretty tired himself after the long and emotional night and seeing the glow of a nearby clock reading 4am, Stanford decides to take his leave.
"Goodnight, Lee." He whispers to his dozing off brother as he leaves.
Both of them knew things weren't perfect. One night wouldn't be enough to heal the decades of wounds between the two of them, but it was a start. Many nights of healing would follow soon after. Having two niblings armed with glitter and notebooks certainly helped.
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So I know I’m like two years too late to this fandom.... But I just recently fell in love with Gravity Falls, and Hunkle Stan! I don’t like the x reader format so I just made an OC. Well here it goes. Enjoy!!!
CHAPTER ONE: Not What He Seems.
“Mabel! Hurry! Shut it down!” Screamed Dipper. Mabel nodded. She pulled herself along the wire towards the button.
“No! Mabel, Mabel, wait! Stop! Aah!” Soos knocked Stan away from Mabel.
“Soos, what're you doing?! I gave you an order!” Stan struggled in Sooses grip. Hitting his head.
“Sorry, Mr. Pines - if that is your real name - but I have a new mission now! Protecting these kids!” Yelled Soos. He was going to protect the pines twins at all costs. The big lovable muffin kept his iron grip on Stan. Both were struggling against one another.
“Soos, you idiot, let me go!” Yelled a desperate Stan. Dipper flung himself towards the two men, joining the fray.
“Go! Mabel, press the red button! Shut it down!” Shouted Dipper. Stan shoved Dipper out of the way.
“No, you can't! You gotta trust me!” Stan cried out reaching towards Mabel. Mabel was clinging to the button. Tears streaming up her face.
“Grunkle Stan, I don't even know, if you're my grunkle! I wanna believe you, but--” Stan’s heart broke seeing Mabel like this.
“Then listen to me. Remember this morning when I said I wanted to tell you guys something?”
‘T-minus twenty seconds.’ The computer counted down. All scream as the portal flashes and pushes Dipper, Stan, and Soos against the opposite wall. Mabel prepares to push the button.
“I wanted to say that you're gonna hear some bad things about me, and some of them are true, but trust me. Everything I've worked for, everything I care about, it's all for this family!” Said Stan.
“Mabel, what if he's lying? This thing could destroy the universe! Listen to your head!” Stammered out Dipper.
“Look into my eyes, Mabel! You really think I'm a bad guy?” His eyes filled with sincerity.
“He's lying! Shut it down NOW!” Yelled Dipper.
“Mabel, please!” Cried Stan.
‘Ten. Nine.’ counted down the Computer. Mabel looked and away from them, lowering her hand towards the button. She looked at her Grunkle.
“Grunkle Stan…” She whispered.
‘Six. Five.’ Steadily the computer counted down. Mabel lifted her hand.
“I trust you.” Said Mabel. She let go of the button and began to float up in front of the portal.
“MABEL, ARE YOU CRAZY?! WE'RE ALL GONNA-” Started Dipper.
‘One’ The computer finally finished counting down.
Dipper, Stan, Soos and Mabel all disappear in an explosion of light as each of them screamed.
Their screams filled the basement. A huge flash of blinding light engulfed all of Gravity Falls. Then, suddenly everything came crashing down to earth. The portal, was now a mess of tangled wires and metal. It was glowing a bright blue color. Two figures emerged from the portal. The blue light faded behind them. The smaller one walked forward,and placed a six-fingered hand on the cover of the first journal. Then he picked it up and placed it into the inside pocket of a long, dark coat.
“What...? Who are they?” Stammered dipper.
“One of them is the author of the journals…” the mystery man pulled off goggles, revealing his face. He looked nearly identical to Stan, slightly younger though. ”...my brother.” finished Stan.The taller figure behind him pulled off their hood to reveal a fair faced young woman with three eyes. She had short white hair with two long braids at the back of her head. (imagine padawan braids)
“Is this the part where one of us faints?” Whispered Mabel to Soos.
“Ohoho, I am so on it, dude.” Laughed Soos, them promptly fainted.
“Finally! After all these long years of waiting, you're actually here! Brother!” Exclaimed Stan as he walked towards Ford with his arms open. His face was swiftly punched by Ford.
“Oh! Ow! What the heck was that for?!” yelled Stan, nursing his bruised cheek.
“This was an insanely risky move: restarting the portal! Didn't you read my warnings?!” Yelled Ford. The woman held his arm back slightly with a worried expression on her face.
“Warnings, schmarnings. How's about maybe a thanks for saving you from what appears to be, I don't know, some kind of sci-fi side burn dimension?” Smirked Stan.
“Thank you? You really think I'm gonna thank you after what you DID THIRTY YEARS AGO?!” Ford blew up! He could not believe the risks that Stan took, all the lives he put at risk.
“What I did? Why, you ungrateful...“ Stan tried to punch him but Ford ducked and grabbed him. “Don't expect me to go easy on you, just because you're... family.” Ford slammed him to the ground. Ah!” Screamed Stan.
“Hey, hi. Mabel here. Quick question: WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE?!” Yelled Mabel.
“Stan, you didn't tell me there were children down here. And some sort of large, hairless gopher?” Ford eyed Soos with skepticism.
“Heh heh. I get that a lot.” Said Soos nonchalantly with a shrug.
“They're your family, Poindexter. Shermy's grandkids.” Stated Stan.
“I-I have a niece and nephew?” Ford began to shake Mabel's hand. ”Greetings. Do kids still say greetings? I haven't been in this dimension for a really long time.”
“Whoa, a six-fingered handshake? It's a full finger friendlier than normal!” Mabel’s eyes were filled with excitement.
“Heha, I like this kid. She's weird. What do you think Lottie?” Ford said to the white haired lady.
“Hello Child,” her voice was very soft, soothing. She softly patted Mabel's hair. “My name is Lottie.” Mabel looked at the three eyed woman with star eyes.
“I-I can't believe it. You're the author of the journals!” Dipper was star struck.
“You've read my journals?” Questioned Ford. He wasn’t quite sure if he was comfortable with a child so young reading the horrors in his Journals.
“I haven't just read them; I've lived them!” He began circling. “I've been waiting for so long to meet you, I-I don't know what to say I have so many question I” He began to hyperventilate. “Oooooohhh I think I'm gonna throw up.” Mabel came over to comfort him. “Hmmpf! No-no, false alarm. Hmmpf! Just gotta ride it out!” Both Ford and Lottie looked at the child with concern. Lottie quickly ran over to make sure he was okay. Examining every inch of him.
“Listen, there'll be time for introductions later. But first, tell me, Stan: are there any security breaches? Does anyone else know about this portal?” Questioned Ford. He jabbed Stan in the arm.
“No, just us. Also maybe the entire U.S. government.” Shrugged Stan.
“The what?!” Shouted Ford. Lottie and the kids looked over at the Stans. Lottie had Dipper’s mouth open inspecting his teeth. The Security camera showed Agent Power
“Fan out! We're not going anywhere till we find Stan Pines and those kids!” Ford pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Okay. It's all right. We've got a while before they find this room. We just need to lay low and think of a plan.” Sighed Ford. “ Lottie here.” He snapped his fingers
“Yes Master Pines.” Lottie let go of Dipper and shuffled over to Ford’s side.
“Well, it looks like we're stuck down here for a while. Who wants to tell us their entire mysterious backstory?” Mabel gave the air side nudges.
“Yes, I have some questions about this myself, Stanley.” Ford said pointedly at Stan.
“Stanley?” Dipper said in disbelief.
“But your name is Stanford.” Whined Mabel.
“Wait, you took my name?! What have you been doing all these years, you knucklehead?!” Ford moved to grab Stan. Lottie held him back once again.
“Master Pines I don’t-” She was drowned out by Dipper.
“Yeah, Grunkle Stan, no more lies! You owe us some answers: What's the deal with this portal? Why did you keep this a secret?” Dipper was seething.
“And what happened between you and your brother?” Mabel looked concerned. She didn’t want the two brothers fighting.
“I hope all this aligns exactly with my fanfic, Stan. If not, I will be very disappointed.” Stated Soos. He seemed very serious about this.
“Okay okay okay, I have a lot of explaining to do. It all started... a lifetime ago... nineteen sixty something. Glass Shard Beach, New Jersey.” Stan began to tell his side of the story. The group had settled down on the ground. Mabel and Lottie we cuddled up together absolutely enthralled with Stan’s tale.
“I traveled the whole country, sometimes outside of it, always one step ahead of the law, looking for something that would be my big break.” Ended Stan.
“Whoa. So that explains all the fake IDs.” Breathed out Mabel.
“That is so sad.” Mumbled Lottie. She had some tears in her eyes.
“But, wait, what about you? Did you end up going to your dream school?” Dipper asked Ford.
“Not exactly….” Ford entered his own story. Lottie had heard it all before. Ford told her a little while after they came together. But now she had heard Stan’s side of the story too. She knew a lot of their problems could have been fixed if they had just communicated. Every so often Ford would be interrupted by Dipper screaming about the journals. Soon it got to the point where their stories converged. Each Brother telling his side of the story. Learning that Stan had faked his own death to help find Ford .
“So all this time you were just trying to save your brother. Grunkle Stan, I'm so sorry I didn't believe you.” Dipper sounded sincere. He really felt bad. This was his Grunkle. He should have trusted him.
“That's okay, kid. I probably wouldn't have believed me either.” He patted Dipper’s head.
“But wait where do you come in Miss Lottie?” Asked Mabel, who was in her lap. Lottied moved to answer but Ford beat her too it.
“I found Lottie on one of my adventures. She was being held captive on a ship. Her species the Bubalini are very sought after for their life restoring properties.”
“HA! SO THAT'S WHY YOU LOOK SO YOUNG! You look exactly the same since you were sucked into the portal” Exclaimed Stan. Ford laughed slightly.
“Yes, Lottie has been kind enough to share her powers with me as a gift for saving her. But I do say it is weird to see you so old.” He turned to Lottie. “Lottie if you don’t mind?” She nodded.
“Yes Master Ford.” She scooched over to Stan.
“I’m sorry if this is a little invasive Master Stan.” Lottie apologized softly.
“What are you gonna-” Stan was cut off by Lottie who cupped his cheek with one hand while she placed her other over his. She guided his hand to the middle of her chest. Stan’s face grew red and hot. Soon she began to glow. The glow flowed through her into Stan. Soon his features began to soften, his hair began to get it’s color back. Even his wrinkles were gone. He felt his clothes get tight with his old muscles returning. Then the glowing stopped. Lottied slumped, her hands falling away from Stan. Ford began to clap.
“DO ME! DO ME!” Screamed Mabel as she danced around.
“Now now my little one, If i were to do you you would be no more than a babe, We don't want that now do we?” Chuckled Lottie
“Good show Lottie it is always impressive to see you like that.”
“Thank you Master Ford,” She wiped the sweat from her brow. “You know I am to do your every bidding sir.
“Hot Belgian Waffles! I’m not fat an old anymore!” Stan began to dance in victory. Mabel had to join in.
“Yes, Lottie is very effective. She is one of the more powerful of her race. I sure did cause quite a stir when I rescued her. I mean the conditions she was in! It was the only rational thing to do. Unfortunately her race is enslaved so she had no home to go to, like me.” He patted her head. “She appointed herself as my serv- I mean assistant. Willed her life to help me. I have been grateful. Poor thing knowing nothing but servitude. Naturally we had to make her not stand out so we cut her hair. The Bubalini are known for their long white hair.”
“Lottie I am so sorry that all this happened to you!” Mabel threw herself into the woman with a huge hug. Lottie hugged the small child back.
“Now now my child, now that I am here with Master Ford there is nothing wrong. And now I have you wonderful children to look after. My race are all female and do not have the ability to have children, so I would be so honored to take care of you.” She grabbed Dipper also into the hug she and Mabel shared. Soos came from behind to join the hug as well.
“I heard talking! It was coming from downstairs!” A muffled voice said. Breaking the moment.
“Oh no, it's too late, the agents are comin' for us!” Stan was almost in full panic mode.
“What do we do?!” Asked Mabel as she clung to Lottie.
“Aw, man. I was so spellbound by your dramatic tale I forgot all about those dudes.” Said Soos. That's when the light bulb went on in Dipper's head.
“Wait, forget. That's it! I think I know a way we might be able to defeat those agents!” He took Fiddleford’s Memory Gun from his bag and handed it to ford. Ford took it gently horrified that a child was in possession of this weapon. Then the lightbulb dinged in his head too.
“Of course! I don't know how you got a hold of one of these but, this is perfect! If I can just amplify the signal to a radio headset frequency…” He plugged some wires into the gun and looked through some viewing glasses to see the agents running into the shack.
“There. Now everyone PLUG YOUR EARS! GET DOWN! NOW!” Lottie grabbed the children and covered them and her ears. Everyone followed,plugging their ears. Two agents stood outside.
“Sir! Looks like there's a hidden door behind the vending machine!”
“Excellent! Get me Washington on Line 1! I've been practicing sounds of excitement for this very occasion. Hey, do you hear that?” Said Agent Powers. A wave of sound suddenly passed over all the agents. The agents recovered. Feeling very disoriented.
“What? Where am I? Why am I standing in front of some sort of goofy fun knick-knack house?” Asked Powers. Ford came out on the front porch.
“Stand down, gentlemen! I've been sent with the latest intel from Washington.” He flipped through some of Mabel's drawings she had made for the mock report. “According to this very real report, the power surges in Gravity Falls were actually due to radiation from an unreported meteor shower. A total embarrassment for your whole department. Luckily I'm here to take this mess off your hands, but I'll need of all your... floppy disks, and 8-tracks...right?” The agents still looked confused but went along anyways.
“Uh, everything about this case is contained on this drive.” Powers motioned to Trigger to give Ford the flash drive.
“Well, what are you waiting for, a kiss on the cheek? Get out of here before I have your butts court-martialed!” Said Ford, in his best authoritative voice.
“Uhh, yes sir. Apologies, sir.” Powers gave a whistle. “False alarm, everyone!” He saluted Ford on his way out. Soon the government agents had all left. Ford gave the goat the flash drive, and the goat ran away with it in his mouth. Everyone joined Ford on the porch. Lottie falling at his side.
“Great uncle Stanford, that was amazing!” exclaimed Mabel.
“Let's not go crazy; it was serviceable.” Shrugged Stan. He wasn’t impressed, he could outwit any government agent. Ford chuckled.
“Thank you, kids, but please, call me Ford.”
“Sure! Thanks, Great Uncle Ford. So, uh,” He held up a pen and notepad and clicked pen excitedly. “would you mind if I ask you a couple billion questions about Gravity Falls?” Ford rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
“Um, well I-uh…” He began.
“Alright, kids, it's been a long day and me and my brother have a lot to talk about. Why don't you hit the hay, huh?” Stan interrupted.
“But, it's the author!” Even more clicks erupted from the pen.” I've been waiting so long to ask questions about-”
“I said. Hit. The hay!” Said Stan. It was final. Lottie touched the kids backs.
“Here children, How about I tuck you in and tell you a story before you go to bed.” Lottie smiled and guided the children into the house.
“I'll just... let myself out.” Soos said awkwardly. He sidestepped away, and then when he was out of sight the he called wendy.
“ Wendy, I've got something amazing to tell you. Clear the next fourteen hours!”
The brothers went back inside. They spied their reflections in the mirror.
“Look at us. When did we become old men?” Stan said softly.
“You look like Dad.” Stated Ford.
“Ugh, uck, don't say that.” Stan said with mock disgust. They both erupted with laughter. Lottie just had come down the stairs to join the men.
“Okay, Stanley, here's the deal. You can stay here the rest of the summer to watch the kids. I'll stay down in the basement and try to contain any remaining damage. But when the summer's over, you give me my house back, you give me my name back, and this Mystery Shack junk is over forever. You got it?” Said Ford with a sigh.
“You really aren't gonna thank me, are you? Fine. On one condition: you stay away from the kids; I don't want them in danger. Cause as far as I'm concerned, they're the only family I have left.” He walked into the kitchen. Ford went to his room and slammed the door. Lottie wasn’t quite sure which to follow. She decided to follow Stan into the kitchen.
“Master Stan, the children are tucked in tight into bed. Um, since this is your home as of now may I ask where I can sleep.” Stan who was sitting on the kitchen chair. He wiped his hand over his head.
“Uh you can take my bed, I can sleep on the couch.” Said Stan.
“OH, No, no Master Stan I can’t take your sleeping spot! I shall sleep on this couch!” She quickly said. She would hate to take the man’s bed after he had opened up his home to her.
“Look Lottie, It’s just Stan. No need for all this master crap.” He got up to make some coffee. He knew he wasn’t going to sleep much tonight anyway.
“Maste- I mean Stan. I’ll make that for you, sit. I don’t mind doing all the work, trust me.” She smiled at him and took over making the coffee. Stan grumbled and returned to his seat. Soon Lottie had joined him. Two hot, steaming cups of coffee on the table.
“So, Poindexter saved you, huh.” Stan said trying to break the awkward silence between them.
“Yes. I remember like it was yesterday. I was being held on a federation ship. Being loaned to high-end clientele. As you saw my power can be quite intimate. Ford helped me to get it to where I don’t have to be physically intimate anymore. This one particularly rough client was…” She paused. Stan looked at her with concern. “Master Ford heard the noises and rushed to my aid… He saved my life…According to the laws of my people I am life bound to whoever frees me. So with Master Ford I stayed. He has been good to me, a little tough but good. So I stay.”
“You’ve definitely had it rough lady.” Stan said softly as he sipped his coffee. She made some damn good coffee.
“But Master Ford has delivered me to my wish. I have two beautiful children to care for now. He knows that was my greatest wish.” She smiled fondly into her coffee. Stirring it slowly.
“That must be really sad for you. But if you can’t have kids how does your race continue to exist?” Stan was just curious now. He gazed into her third eye. It was in the middle of her forehead. Her eyes were blue, but the middle one was a nice green color. It was different, but Stan didn’t mind. It didn’t take away from her beauty.
“Well to put it as simply as possible, There is a hive of sorts. We are grown by a singular Queen. Even we don’t know how it works, since we are ripped and sold right after our ‘birth’.” She shrugged.
“Well Stan, Just Stan. I will be off to bed. I will see you in the morning.” She touched his shoulder before walking into the living room. Stan stayed there for a moment. He knew life was going to get very different here soon.
