The Distance Between (A Relativity Falls Story)

1912

In a mansion in California, twelve-year-old twins sat in the nursery, reading a newspaper. Well, only Dipper was actually reading it, and his sister was occasionally inquiring into its contents.

"Is anything interesting in there?" Mabel asked, glancing up from where she'd been playing with her dolls.

"I'm reading about Harriet Quimby, the first ever female pilot." Dipper replied, "She just flew a plane across the English channel."

"Ugh, I was supposed to be the first ever female pilot! You know, once we build our plane, when we're older!" Mabel exclaimed. Ever since the twins had learnt about the Wright brothers, they'd been planning to build their own plane and fly around the world. Dipper, who was the more studious of the two was going to be the one to study engineering and learn how to build the plane, and Mabel, the more adventurous one, was the dreamer, who'd be the one to learn to fly, and would plan their itinerary (a compromise they'd reached after much debate; Mabel had been in favour of making it up as they went, while Dipper had wanted to be in charge of the planning, knowing what his sister's forward-thinking skills were like).

"Well, just because you're not the first doesn't mean you can't be great!" Dipper told her, and she brightened up, "Besides, I'm sure we'll get to fly so many places that no-one's been before, and I can write all about them!"

"Of course you'd be dull like that, Dipper," Mabel sighed, but it was friendly, "One day we'll be famous as the incredible travelling twins! There's nowhere they have not been! No place too dark, too foreign, too dangerous for them to venture!" Mabel was now dancing about the room, arms flung wide, dress swishing. Dipper watched her with a smile, hesitant to break her joy by mentioning any of the realities that he had recently realised, that it was very unlikely their father would allow either of them to make good on this plan. He, like many fathers, was not very keen on the idea of his daughter learning to be a pilot, and he already devoted a significant amount of time to trying to quell Mabel's boundless energy for getting into scrapes. Dipper, meanwhile, being the brains of the family, was intended to go to medical school, and become a doctor. He didn't mind this idea, as he loved to study and learn new things, and he liked helping people, but it hadn't quite trumped the dream of flying around the world with his sister, although their dreams differed slightly. Mabel dreamed of seeing the world, falling in love, and having adventure for adventure's sake. Dipper, meanwhile, dreamed of discovery, finding things never before seen, solving mysteries, and investigating unusual things. Dipper had always been drawn to the odd, and the unusual, given that he himself was rather unique, as he had an unusually detailed birthmark on his forehead, shaped like the Big Dipper, hence his nickname. He'd too often been teased for this odd birthmark, leading to Mabel trying to avenge him in schoolyard fights to the utter horror of their parents, who had reminded them countless times that Dipper needed to man up and stand up to bullies, and that it was unladylike for Mabel to get into fights.

"Whatcha thinking about there?" Mabel asked, seeing her brother's pensive expression.

"Oh, nothing," Dipper said quickly, knowing that it wasn't wise to verbalise his thoughts.

"Nonsense. You never stop thinking," she shook her head, sending her brown curls bouncing, "Your brain is always going, going, going. Lemme guess what you're thinking!"

"I don't think I can stop you," Dipper grinned at his sister's enthusiasm.

"Let's see, you're thinking about...school?"

"Not really,"

"Hmm...whatever Tyrone is doing far away in New York?" Mabel guessed again, referring to their older brother.

"No, I wasn't thinking about that either," Dipper replied.

"Hmm...the pretty redheaded girl who works at the general store?"

"NO!" Dipper shook his head violently. He hadn't been thinking about her, but this guess was a little too close to home for his liking, as she was on his mind not infrequently these days.

"Oh, you do fancy her, Dipper!" Mabel chuckled, while he buried his blushing face in his hands, "Don't get your hopes too high, though. She'll be good and married by the time you're old enough to court her. Besides, Father likely won't let you have anything to do with a poor Scottish girl whose family's not been here a generation." Their father, David Pines was the very first Pines born in America after his parents had moved from Poland. His parents had been desperate to assimilate into American culture, and to move up the ranks in society, through hard work and good marriages for their children. David had kept up this work, and between being promoted to manager, and later owner of his factory, and marrying Helen Richmond, daughter of one of the richest families in Piedmont, he'd made a name for himself, and he was determined that his children would too.

"Of course," Dipper said, hoping that Mabel would move off the topic of his feelings.

"There's so many things that Father won't let us do," she sighed, "I mean, I'm supposed to just marry some nice rich man, and have children, not be a pilot and go on adventures. Do you think I could do both, Dipper? Because I'd love to fall in love, and babies are sweet, but surely I can have adventures AND a husband and children. That's what I want."

"Maybe you can," Dipper said, "Times are changing, who knows? Besides, whatever happens, I promise you'll have me on your side."

"Thanks, Dipper," Mabel threw her arms around him, "You're right. CHANGE IS IN THE AIR! ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE! And we are going to go out and see it–together!"

"Together," he agreed.