Unexpected Love

9.

Liv was sitting at the kitchen table in the Mystery Shack, a cup of tea in hand as she browsed through a catalog. The Shack was quiet for the moment, with Stan out front tending to some tourists and the twins busy with their own activities. She couldn't help but smile as she thought about the past month—moving in with Stan, getting to know the twins even better, and settling into life at the Shack. It felt like home now, and she was happy to be part of this quirky, loving family.

But there was one thing on her mind. The twins' 13th birthday was coming up in just a few days, and she wanted to get them something special. The problem was, while she had a pretty good idea of what to get Mabel, she was completely stumped when it came to Dipper.

When Stan walked into the kitchen, Liv looked up from her catalog and gave him a warm smile. "Hey, Stan. Got a minute?"

"Sure thing, honey," Stan said, grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting down across from her. "What's up?"

Liv sighed, closing the catalog. "It's the twins' birthday coming up, and I really want to get them something they'll love. I think I've got Mabel figured out—I'm planning to get her some art supplies and maybe a new sweater with a design she'll love. But Dipper... I'm not so sure. He's a bit harder to read."

Stan chuckled, nodding. "Yeah, Dipper's always been the more serious one. He's into science, mysteries, stuff like that. You can never go wrong with something that gets his brain working."

Liv tapped her fingers on the table thoughtfully. "That's good advice. But I still want it to be something that feels personal, you know? Something that shows I've been paying attention, even if I haven't known them for very long."

Stan leaned back in his chair, thinking. "Well, if there's one thing Dipper loves, it's figuring stuff out. Maybe you could get him something related to the weird stuff around Gravity Falls. A journal, or a kit for exploring. He'd eat that up."

Liv's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea, Stan! Maybe I could put together a little explorer's kit for him. Something he can use on his adventures."

Stan smiled, reaching out to squeeze her hand. "He'll love that, Liv. And Mabel's gonna go nuts over those art supplies. You're doing great, you know that? They already think the world of you."

Liv blushed slightly, feeling a warm glow in her chest. "Thanks, Stan. I really care about them. I just want them to have a great birthday."

"They will," Stan said with a grin. "Especially with you around. You're part of this family now, Liv, and the twins know that. Whatever you get them, it's gonna mean a lot."

Liv felt a wave of affection for Stan and the twins. She knew that this birthday would be special—not just for Dipper and Mabel, but for all of them as they celebrated together as a family.

_______________

As Liv prepared the birthday presents for Dipper and Mabel, she noticed how often they were out with their friends, giving her plenty of time to get everything ready without spoiling the surprise. She felt a growing sense of excitement as the twins' birthday approached, eager to see their reactions to the gifts she had carefully chosen.

Meanwhile, Stan seemed more distracted than usual. Liv noticed that he would occasionally slip away to his office, muttering about "research" or "old business." She didn't think much of it at first, but there was a subtle tension in his demeanor that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Little did she know, Stan was wrestling with a secret that weighed heavily on him—a secret about his twin brother, one that he hadn't shared with anyone, not even Liv or the Pine Twins.

Stan had been working tirelessly, trying to figure out how to bring his brother back. Every time he thought he was close, something would go wrong, leaving him frustrated and anxious. He didn't want to burden Liv or the twins with this, especially not with the twins' birthday coming up. But the pressure of keeping this secret was growing, and Stan knew it was only a matter of time before it all came to a head.

___________

Stan had been searching for years, and now, finally, he had the answer. The research, the sleepless nights, the endless scheming—it had all led to this moment. He found the way to bring his twin brother, Ford, back. The excitement and fear collided within him as he stared at the final piece of the puzzle. He knew what he had to do, but the thought of revealing this secret to Liv and the twins was daunting.

Returning to the Shack, Stan paced in his office, trying to figure out how to break the news. Liv had been so understanding and supportive, and the twins looked up to him, trusting him with their lives. How would they react when they found out he had been hiding something so huge from them? Would they be angry? Hurt? Or would they understand why he had kept this from them?

Stan knew there was no easy way to do this, but one thing was clear—he couldn't keep it a secret any longer. Ford's return was imminent, and his family deserved to know the truth before it happened. He had to prepare them for what was to come, no matter how difficult the conversation would be.

Taking a deep breath, Stan decided that after the twins' birthday, he would gather everyone together and tell them everything. It was time to come clean and face whatever consequences would follow. He just hoped that his family would forgive him and that they could face the future together, no matter what it held.

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I noticed I saw there was gonna be cussing in this story...
There's barely any💀

I'll fix that🫡

-Lanii🤍