It was just past 5:50 a.m., and I was jolted awake by a loud, persistent knocking at the front door of the Mystery Shack. Groggily, I threw on a pair of boxers and stumbled down the stairs, trying to ignore the fact that my hair was a mess and my eyes felt like they were glued shut.
As I reached the front door and opened it, I was met with a sight I hadn’t expected: Preston Northwest, Pacifica’s father, standing on the doorstep with an air of haughty impatience. He was impeccably dressed, as usual, his tailored suit looking as crisp and pristine as ever.
“Mr. Northwest,” I said, rubbing my eyes and trying to sound more alert than I felt. “What—what are you doing here at this hour?”
Preston’s expression was one of stern authority. “I’ve come to collect my daughter, Pacifica. I’m here to return her to her rightful place.”
I blinked, my brain trying to catch up with the situation. “Uh, Pacifica? I’m not sure where she is. I didn’t see her—”
“I already have proof that she’s here,” Preston interrupted, holding up a photo on his phone. It showed Pacifica in her baggy shirt, looking very much like she had just woken up. “And I’m prepared to make this easy for you. I’ll pay you to return her to me.”
I stared at him, feeling a surge of indignation. “She’s not an object to be bought, Mr. Northwest. She’s a person.”
Preston’s face twisted in disgust. “Nonsense. I just need her to come home.”
Just then, Pacifica appeared at the top of the stairs, her hair tousled and wearing a shirt so oversized it almost reached her knees. She looked adorably disheveled, and for a split second, I couldn’t help but think how cute she looked without all her usual makeup and fancy clothes. But I shook off the thought and focused on the situation.
“Dipper?” she said, her voice filled with a mixture of sleepiness and confusion.
“Pacifica, you don’t have to—” I started to say, but Preston stepped forward, his hand reaching out to grab her wrist.
“Come along, Pacifica. We’re leaving.”
Pacifica winced as Preston’s grip tightened. Without thinking, I stepped between them. “Hey! Let go of her!”
Preston sneered, trying to push past me. “This is none of your concern. Step aside.”
Fueled by a mix of protectiveness and anger, I swung a punch. It wasn’t my finest punch, but it did the trick—Preston staggered back, looking stunned. I gently pulled Pacifica back to me by her waist, making sure to avoid hurting her.
“Are you okay?” I asked urgently.
Pacifica nodded, though her face was pale and her eyes betrayed a hint of distress. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
I wrapped my arms around her in a comforting hug, feeling her body relax against mine. Her scent—a mix of champagne and flowers—filled my senses, and for a moment, everything else faded away. I was just focused on her, making sure she was safe.
As I held her, I thought I heard a faint camera shutter sound, but I chalked it up to my groggy state and the adrenaline pumping through me. It was probably just my imagination.
Preston, recovering from the punch, was now glaring at us from outside. “This isn’t over, Pines! I’ll be back for her!”
Without another word, I slammed the door in his face and locked it. I turned back to Pacifica, still holding her close. Her arms wrapped around my waist, and I could feel her body trembling slightly.
“I’m really sorry about that,” I said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I didn’t know he’d show up like this.”
“It’s not your fault,” Pacifica said, her voice muffled against my shoulder. “Thank you for standing up to him.”
I sighed, holding her a bit tighter. “Of course. You don’t have to deal with him alone.”
After a moment, I reluctantly let go, though I still kept her close. “Are you sure you’re okay? I mean, really okay?”
Pacifica gave a small, grateful smile. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just... a bit shaken.”
I nodded. “Alright. Let’s get you some breakfast or something. We’ll figure this out together.”
As we made our way to the kitchen, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of more challenges to come. But for now, I was just glad Pacifica was safe, and that we had managed to get through the early morning showdown together.
