The Distance Between (A Relativity Falls Story)

1922

"Ha, guess I did beat you in the end," Dipper grinned cheekily at Candy, "You can't argue with the valedictorian." Although the two were firm friends, they'd kept up a fierce competition, and it had now all culminated with Dipper graduating at the top of the class.

"Touche," Candy said, "Congratulations, though. It has been a good time trying to embarrass you by getting better marks."

"Likewise," Dipper said, giving her a friendly shoulder shove. They were the only two at their commencement ceremony with no-one to meet them, and so had stuck together, though neither mentioned it, Candy knowing that Dipper had no living family to come and see him, and Dipper knowing that Candy's parents spoke so little English that they avoided social gatherings.

"So, where are you going from here?" Candy asked him, as they watched the room.

"Up north," Dipper replied, "To Oregon. Specifically a tiny little town they call 'Gravity Falls'. My research tells me that a lot of paranormal sightings have been close to there. I leave next week."

"Do you still want a research partner?" Candy asked, "Because I am very willing to come with you. My offer from two years ago was not a false promise."

"But doesn't your family need you on the farm?" Dipper asked. As much as the idea of having this witty, intelligent, and tough woman by his side as they investigated the paranormal, he knew that her family should come first.

"Eh, I have brothers," Candy said, "And they are strong and smart, although not as smart as me. Few are, you know." Dipper loved the way that Candy would so honestly state her superior intelligence, not in a triumphant way (except aimed at him) but simply as someone laying out the facts. "My family will be fine with them. Besides, I can do better than just working on a farm, and I cannot think of anything that sounds more worthy of my intellect than working with my best friend." The two exchanged a smile, and not for the first time, thought how lucky they were to find one another. The question of a romance arising between the two of them had been broached once or twice by outsiders, but between Dipper and Candy it was a question unasked and unanswered. They were very close, closer with each other than anyone else, but they'd never considered a romance, which amongst other things, was probably wise, considering a marriage would have been illegal, but they were very happy as friends.

"I'm your best friend now, hey?" Dipper chuckled, "How very sentimental of you, Candy."

"Yes, because after all, I'm not your closest friend either," Candy's sarcasm was potent, but friendly, although there was a little more truth in her words than Dipper was strictly comfortable with. It was true that Dipper had really only had one other very close friendship, with another boldly honest, energetic, funny and gutsy girl (albeit in a very different way from Candy), and she had been his sister. Was his sister. There was something doubly painful about knowing that, unlike Tyrone or his parents, Mabel was still alive, still out there, and the distance between them was imposed by Dipper himself. Maybe it's time to fix that. I should reach out, try and heal that rift.

So that evening, while Candy wrote exhaustive lists of things that they might need, Dipper sat down, attempting to work out what to say to his sister. Eventually, after much grappling, he'd written something that he was happy with, and slipped it into an envelope, addressed to the flat where she lived with her friends.

Dear Mabel,

I know it's been years, but it felt right to try and write to you now. After all, now that I've graduated college and finally have a science degree, it really makes our fight all in vain, so I forgive you. Candy (my best friend) and I are leaving for Oregon next week, to do research into the paranormal. If you want to write back or even visit, the address is below. I'm sorry I let you be thrown out all those years ago, and I'm sorry that I blamed you for ruining everything, especially since what I have now turns out to be a significant improvement on what Father ever wanted for me. Please consider this my formal apology, and let's let bygones be bygones and be twins once more.

Your brother,

Dipper Pines

***

Mabel meanwhile, was lighting up Los Angeles. The police in her hometown had started to get a little suspicious of how frequently the young woman was making her way around the darkest parts of town, and how she seemed to have a very reliable source of money, with no stated source of income. And they were very suspicious of the bottles of 'Mabel Juice' she seemed to have stowed in her handbag at all times, which she cheerfully claimed were nothing but a sugary pick-me-up tonic. So she'd picked up and left, and had picked up where she'd left off in San Francisco, and now here she was in LA. It wasn't exactly the most honest source of income, but Mabel thrived on the excitement, and money was money, right? And sure, it wasn't quite what she'd dreamed–well, it certainly wasn't she'd dreamed, but it would do. But sometimes, especially before she fell asleep, she couldn't help thinking back to the dream that she'd held for years–to fly around the world with her brother. I wonder if I should write to him? She contemplated as she bustled around her kitchen, whipping up the latest batch of 'Mabel Juice', as she called her particular brand of moonshine. Would he be willing to forgive me after all these years? He was always better at holding a grudge than I am, but it's been years. Besides, what if he's getting married, and I'm about to miss his wedding. No, that seals it. I'm writing him tonight.

So she sat down, pulled out her pen, and began to write. Unlike her brother, she didn't waste time contemplating for just the right words, but just wrote, slipping the finished letter into an envelope, addressed to the mansion in Piedmont where she'd grown up, the house that now belonged to Dipper.

Dear Dipper,

It must be so odd hearing from me after all this time, but surely it's good to hear from me but I just wanted to say I'm sorry about burning your papers, and everything. What are you doing? Do you like doing it? Are you getting married soon, and can I come to the wedding? I hope you'll forgive me for my stupid mistake I made all those years ago, and write back, at this address, because I live in Los Angeles now. I just thought I should write you because you will always be my twin, and twins come in a pair and are supposed to stay that way I miss you I wanted to hear from you

Your favourite sister,

Mabel Pines

P.S: If ever you decide that you'd like to discover the unknown in a plane with your sister, I'm always ready

P.P.S: I know I struck this out earlier in the letter, but I must know–ARE YOU GETTING MARRIED? IS SHE PRETTY? I simply INSIST on being invited to your wedding, so don't think you'll ever get out of that.

***

If Dipper had ever received Mabel's letter, he would have written back immediately. He would have chuckled over her dramatics, possibly even making a joke or two at his own expense, regarding his ability to find a pretty wife, and in all his perceptivity would have detected her loneliness.

If Mabel had ever received Dipper's letter, she would have written back immediately. She would have thanked him solemnly for his forgiveness, and told him that he was being overly formal for writing to his sister, and likely would have decided to inquire further about this 'Candy', and may even have taken him up on his invitation to visit in Oregon.

But each letter was left in a mailbox in Piedmont, one outside a block of flats that had once housed a group of energetic suffragettes, and one outside the mansion house that had belonged to the once great Pines family, and neither was ever read. 

A/N: Are people enjoying this? Lmk if you are!