The Boy Who Cried Werewolf

Party Time

By the time they arrived back at the Mystery Shack, the party was already getting underway. All the lights were on, giving the place a warm, welcoming glow in the deepening twilight. Soos and Melody were out front grilling burgers, chicken, sugar corn, and frankfurters, while Grunkle Stan sat in a chair on the porch next to a cooler full of beer and soda. Mabel was sitting on the old couch with her friends, Grenda and Candi. Wendy's friends stood around outside, or sat on the edge of the porch, chatting. Wendy's father and brothers were there. In fact, almost half the town of Gravity Falls seemed to be there to greet the Pines family on their return for the summer. Even Pacifica Northwest was there, sitting with Mabel and her friends. Grunkle Ford was standing at the open door, chatting with Fiddleford McGucket. Glancing up, he spotted the approaching couple and waved.

"Hey, kids! Just in time!" Ford called.

Heads turned in Wendy's and Dipper's direction, and voices and drinks were raised in general welcome.

"There they are," Mabel's voice sang out next. "Hey, guys!"

"Hey, Mabel," her brother greeted her.

"S'up, dudes," Wendy called to her friends.

"Hey, Wendy!" Her friends called back. "S'up, Dipper!"

"You're late!" Stan yelled from his seat by the door. "Where were you two? Your Grunkle Ford and I didn't fight our way bare-handed through sharks and orcas out of the Kraken's lair under the great North Atlantic Maelstrom just so we could come here and not see you!"

"We didn't do that," said Ford. "That never happened."

"Well, it could've!"

The crowd then noticed that Dipper and Wendy were holding hands.

"Sorry, Mr. Pines," Wendy apologized. "I was giving Dipper a little welcome-home make-out session."

Mabel's eyes went wide as her mouth dropped open. "I knew it!" she squeaked as she high-fived Candi and Grenda. "You guys were smoochin'!"

"You called it," Grenda said.

"I was foolish to doubt your discernment," Candi agreed.

Manly Dan looked over at his daughter and her boyfriend and smiled bemusedly. "Kids," he murmured to himself, shaking his head.

Dipper went pink but continued to grip Wendy's hand.

"Hah! Well, in that case- Way to go, kid," Stan smiled as he winked at Dipper. "And you, you little hussy," he addressed Wendy, still smiling. "You have no shame!"

"Shame is for the weak!" Wendy cried. Then, like Fred Astaire in an old musical, she yanked Dipper to her, dipped him low, and planted a kiss on his lips, to the delight of all.

"Whoa," Dipper laughed as Wendy put him back on his feet.

Wendy's friends all hooted and cheered.

"All right, Wendy! Get you some!"

"Way to go, Doctor Fun-Times!"

Wendy's eldest younger brother Marcus rolled his eyes as Gus, her youngest younger brother, made kissy noises, teasing them.

"The food's ready," Soos called out. "Anyone want a hamburger or somethin'?"

Soon, everyone was eating and chatting and catching up with one another. Stan and Ford held forth on their adventures sailing around the world, keeping everyone spellbound with their tales. Grenda, Candi, and Pacifica shared all the latest Gravity Falls gossip with Mabel. Dipper caught up on the goings-on of Wendy's old squad. Robbie played his guitar for the crowd, with Old Man McGucket joining him on his banjo. Tambry even led a few sing-alongs as they did. Toby Tenacious flitted about like a manic butterfly, working on a 'human interest story' for Gravity Falls public access news.