Gravity Rises (S3)

CW: Part Twenty

Things had felt like such a whirlwind since Pacifica had first run into her grandmother's arms. Neither Pacifica nor Ellie had even moved that much, as focused as they were on talking, but the things they had talked about. . . and the wonderful new possibilities for the future. . . It was all so overwhelming.

Pacifica and Ellie were still together, but now they were walking behind the Pines, Gideon, and Grace. After Gaston had been arrested an hour ago, Gideon had gone back and forth from the Northwest Manor to set up this meeting. So, with swinging flashlights and electric lanterns, the group walked through the trees and knee-deep snow along the outside of the barrier. They were going to meet Lincoln in secret before he. . . left.

It hadn't quite hit Pacifica that Lincoln was really going to be gone. To be fair, she hadn't really processed anything that had happened since getting home. She moved through the deep snow in a daze, not speaking, only vaguely listening to the conversations around her.

Gideon was telling Grace about how she lost her memory. "Apparently one of our ancestors — named Gabriel, but it wasn't our grandfather; this was way back in the nineteeth century — well, apparently at seventeen he was powerful enough to create this spell with the amulet that automatically wipes memories. And the spell only kicks in when a Northwest moves out of Gravity Rises."

"So this has been happening since then?" Grace asked. "To all of our great-aunts who were married off?"

"Exactly. It happens to the males too, but they don't leave nearly as often, of course."

"Does that mean it'll happen to you, when you come with me?"

"Probably. But I'll just break it before we leave. Since the spell was made with the amulet, it can be broken with the amulet. I bet it's complicated, though. A spell that activates when a Northwest is leaving for good, like you were, but doesn't activate when we leave temporarily, like Father going on a business trip or me coming out to see you? That's impressive magic. But if I'm not powerful enough to break the spell, I can ask Andrew to help. He can offer his power to me, like as a reserve."

Grace was quiet for a moment. "Is that how you managed to get Greg out of his own body? And how you'll get Lee out now?"

"Yeah," Gideon said softly.

The Pines, on the other hand, were talking about the time bubble. Mabel and Dipper were trying to explain to their parents that while the parents hadn't seen the twins for three and a half weeks, the twins hadn't seen them for months. Camille and Sam were struggling both to walk through the snow (they'd never been in snow so deep) and to wrap their minds around their children's magical experiences. As a result, they were pretty slow.

But so was Grace. She got tired quickly. Because—

"You're pregnant?" Earlier, Grace had been telling Gideon about her husband and two sons and a daughter on the way. Gideon somehow couldn't comprehend this. "You're a mom? I'm an uncle?"

"Yes," Grace had said with a big smile, "and my boys are going to be so excited to meet you, I'm sure. Prepare to play with a lot of Legos."

Gideon seemed different after Gaston had been arrested. More talkative. More open. For example, Pacifica had overheard Gideon earlier saying to Grace, "The whole custody thing is kind of ridiculous. I'm fourteen. Only four years before I'm an adult, and anyway, I'm already pretty independent. And I did just help save the entire multiverse."

Grace had given him a side hug. "Sorry, bud. Even fourteen-year-olds who save the world need a legal guardian."

And Gideon had sighed dramatically. Pacifica had heard dramatic sighs from him before, of course, but they were never so. . . lighthearted.