Twisted Falls AU

Worst Idea Ever

Present...

Mabel drummed her fingers across her knee nervously. The wind blew through her hair, sending a chill up her spine. Her eyes turned to Dipper, who was staring off bored. They'd been waiting on the grass for maybe an hour. Together they sat atop the hill that overlooked Gravity Falls. The sun was starting to set. Mabel frowned. She was sure she had slipped the note under Stan's door. So why wasn't he here for their picnic?

Dipper let out a breath of air and glanced down at the PB&Js she had made. They were probably soggy or stale by now. "Can we eat yet?"

"Just a little bit longer?" She smiled, hoping her wouldn't't just get up and walk away. Trying to get this family to cooperate was like trying to pull teeth.

"Why not?" He ran his hand through his hair and then leaned back on his elbows. "Gosh, you're killing me."

She rolled her eyes at how dramatic he was being. She could stall him a little bit longer. Once Stan got her she would make them make up and all would be right with their world again. At least that was the plan. What was she worrying about? It was a great plan. A great plan that would only work if a certain semi-old man got here soon.

"Are... you waiting for someone?"

"Hmm?" Mabel turned her attention back to her cousin.

He gave her a deadpan look. "Mabel, who are you waiting for?"

"What? I'm not waiting for anyone." Putting on the most convincing smile she could, she tugged at a few pieces of grass.

Dipper rolled his eyes. "It's Stan, isn't it?" She didn't answer, avoiding eye contact. "Yep. Well, I'll be leaving now." He got up and started walking back down the hill, towards the woods.

Mabel jumped up to her feet and went after him. "Wait! Dipper, don't go yet!"

"You're little 'parent trap' or whatever this is isn't go to work. I don't know why you're so set on trying to make everything perfect." He shoved his hands in his pockets and picked up his pace a bit.

She caught up to him. "Okay, fine, I was waiting for Stan, but I only set this up to help you guys!" They were coming up to the edge of the trees now.

"Typical he didn't even come," he grumbled under his breath. Then he went on to say, "Look, Mabel, I get you want to help or whatever, but there's nothing you can do, so just leave it."

"He told me what happened!" she blurted before she could stop herself.

He stopped walking. There was moment of pause before he sighed. He turned to face her. "So then you understand why you can't help?"

"I- I guess. But I don't want to give up on you guys." Mabel took in a deep breath. "I know it must've been hard to lose your dad. But Stan is sorry and he-"

"If he's so sorry, why didn't he show up?"

"I don't know, I told him to come. But, Dipper... I think you should forgive him." A moment of awkward silence passed between then.

"You would say that, huh?" Dipper glared at her, causing her to take a step back. "You think you can come here, impose yourself on my problems, and then just fix everything with a stupid picnic? You're crazy."

Mabel clenched her fists, her cheeks turning red. "First of all, rude. Secondly, what did you want me to do? Just live here awkwardly for three months, ignoring the VERY OBVIOUS elephant in the room? It's like you want people to know you've got issues! The Dipper I know-"

"Mabel , you don't know me! We haven't hung out in over 5 years! The last time we saw each other we were kids! So, no, you don't know me. And you don't know how to fix this! You are so immature to think that you can fix 3 years of lies and deceit in three months? You want me to forgive him?" He began laughing in a "I'm so angry, I'm gonna laugh" sort of way. "Stan might've ruined my life and 'accidentally' possibly killed the only person who ever understood me, and now I'm legally considered an orphan, but whatever! Forgive and forget, right?"

Mabel's eyes began to water, heart thumping in her chest. "I'm not saying what he did was right! You're too wrapped up in yourself, locked up in your room, that you don't even care about what anyone else might be going through! Stan lost his own twin, and it seems his nephew too!"

"Mabel."

"And I've been basically neglected all summer, because you're too busy doing who knows what! And another thing-"

"Mabel, shut it."

"No, I will not 'shut it'! I think-"

Dipper slapped a hand over her mouth. She tried to pull it off, outraged by the act, but stopped when she noticed his eyes weren't on her. They were directed to the woods. She stopped fighting and listened. "There's something out there," he whispered. She scanned the forest over, trying to find out whatever he thought was there. That's when she heard it. The growl.

3 years ago...

Dipper stared over Gravity Falls, knees tucked close to his chest. Tears rolled down his cheeks, remembering all the times he'd come up her with Ford. And now they would never come to CSO together again. All thanks to the man who claimed to be Dipper's uncle. He might as well be lying about that too.

Dipper didn't know how long he'd been out here. The sky was beginning to darken. He should head back right about now. But he couldn't bring himself to do it. He couldn't face Stan again. Dipper shuddered at the thought, pulling himself closer. There was an ache in his chest, and it felt like the whole world was crashing down on him. Where would he go from here?

Crying silently, he shoved his hands into his coat pockets. In the left pocket, he felt a boxy think. He pulled the object out and frowned when he saw it. The walkie-talkie his dad had given him. He sighed, pain in his chest. An idea came to mind, but he thought it would be pointless. And yet he did it anyway.

He pressed the button on the side of the speaker. "Hey dad." With his free hand he wiped his eyes. "So I met your brother. It wasn't under great circumstances, but... yeah." There was a moment of quiet, the only sound was the shaky breathing in and out from Dipper. "I- I... Miss you, dad. I'm sorry we didn't even get a chance to say goodbye"

...

Off in another dimension, Ford stood on top of a house (at least he thought it was a house), trying to get a better signal on his radio. A rush of worry and excitement filled him when he had first heard it make noise, though staticky. "Come on, stupid thing! Work!" He frowned, almost pleading with it. He would give anything for at least one more chance to talk to his son.

Ford's face lit up when words finally came through. "-met your bother. It wasn't under great circumstances, but... yeah." Ford's heart raced and he pushed the button, maybe a little too hard.

"Dipper? Dipper! Is that you?" Static came though, and he hit it against his hand a few times. "Dipper!" His gruff voice cracked for a moment. He stared at the device sadly when he realized it wasn't sending his message through. Only Dipper's.

"I- I... Miss you, dad. I'm sorry we didn't even get a chance to say goodbye"

"Oh, Dipper." Ford sat down, his feet dangling off the edge. All he could do was listen.

"If I could do it all over again, I would've never gotten on that bus. I would've stayed, and maybe even helped you on your project. I don't know. Just anything to keep you from leaving."

"I didn't mean to push you away," Ford sighed. He just wished he could tell him it would be alright. That he was still alive. But there was nothing he could do. He had to accept that he would probably never see his son again. And that broke him.

The silence was broken by the speaker. "I- I guess this is goodbye. Love you dad." Then the static cut out.

"Dipper come back!" But Ford knew the attempt was idle.