Unexpected Love

10.

Plz ignore Ford in the pic
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The day of the twins' 13th birthday had finally arrived, and the Mystery Shack was buzzing with excitement. Liv had spent the entire morning preparing for the celebration, setting up decorations, wrapping presents, and baking a cake. She wanted everything to be perfect for Dipper and Mabel, knowing how much this milestone meant to them.

Stan, on the other hand, was distracted. He tried to help Liv whenever she needed a hand, but his mind kept drifting back to the portal and the impending return of his brother, Ford. The thought of what was about to happen filled him with both anticipation and dread. He knew he should be focusing on the twins, but the weight of his secret was too much to ignore.

As Liv placed the final touches on the decorations, she noticed Stan standing by the doorway, looking distant. She walked over to him, gently placing a hand on his arm. "Stan, is everything okay? You seem a little out of it today."

Stan forced a smile, trying to shake off his worries. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just got a lot on my mind, that's all."

Liv studied him for a moment, sensing that something was off, but she didn't press him further. "Well, if you need anything, just let me know. The twins are going to love everything we've put together."

"Thanks, Liv," Stan said, his smile becoming more genuine. "You've really outdone yourself, toots"

As the day went on, the twins returned from hanging out with their friends, and the Shack was soon filled with laughter and excitement. Liv made sure the celebration was just what they wanted, from Mabel's favorite cake to the explorer's kit for Dipper. The twins were thrilled, and even Stan managed to relax and enjoy the festivities—at least for a little while.

But as the party continued, Stan's mind kept drifting back to the portal, knowing that soon, everything was going to change.

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After the twins had sung "Happy Birthday," blown out their candles, and opened their gifts, the Shack was filled with a warm, joyful energy. The twins were grinning from ear to ear, their excitement infectious as they showed off their new treasures. Liv took plenty of pictures, capturing every moment of their special day. The joy on Mabel and Dipper's faces made all the hard work worth it, but she couldn't help but notice that Stan's mind seemed to be elsewhere.

As the party began to wind down, Liv started tidying up the room, gathering wrapping paper and clearing plates. Stan, who had been distant all day, turned to Soos and said, "Hey, Soos, can you give Liv a hand with the cleanup? I've got some business to take care of."

"Sure thing, Mr. Pines!" Soos replied cheerfully, moving to help Liv.

Stan gave Liv a quick nod before disappearing into the depths of the Shack, leaving her standing there with a growing sense of unease. She watched him go, her worry deepening. Something was bothering Stan, and whatever it was, it seemed serious. He had been distracted all day, barely able to enjoy the twins' birthday, and now he was off on some mysterious "business" without so much as an explanation.

As Liv continued to clean, her thoughts kept returning to Stan. She wanted to trust that everything was okay, but deep down, she knew something was wrong.

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As Liv and Soos worked together to clean up the remnants of the party, Liv couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The more she thought about Stan's behavior, the more her concern grew. Finally, as they were stacking dishes in the kitchen, she turned to Soos.

"Soos, can I ask you something?" she said, her voice laced with worry.

"Of course, dude! What's up?" Soos replied, pausing from his cleaning to give her his full attention.