Unexpected Love

11.

After Liv put the twins to bed, she lingered in the hallway for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Dipper had been quiet, not asking any of the questions she knew must be swirling in his mind. She appreciated that, but she also knew it wouldn't last. The truth would have to come out eventually, but not tonight.

As she turned to leave, she felt a small hand tug at her sleeve. Looking down, she saw Mabel, her wide eyes full of concern. "Liv?" Mabel asked softly. "Are you mad at Grunkle Stan?"

Liv knelt down to Mabel's level, giving her a gentle smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "No, Mabel, I'm not mad at him," she replied, her voice calm but tinged with sadness. "I'm just... disappointed."

Mabel tilted her head, trying to understand. "Because of the secret he was keeping?"

Liv nodded slowly. "Yes, because of that. But more than anything, I just wish Stan would trust me enough to be honest with me. I care about him—and about you and Dipper—a lot. But it's hard to feel like I'm really a part of this family when he's keeping such big secrets."

Mabel's eyes softened with understanding. "Grunkle Stan is kinda stubborn," she said with a small, knowing smile. "Maybe that's why he chose you, because you are soft on the outside and he's tough on the inside."

Liv's heart warmed at Mabel's words, and she pulled the girl into a gentle hug. "Thank you, Mabel. That means a lot."

As they parted, Mabel gave her a hopeful look. "Do you think things will get better?"

Liv smiled, more genuinely this time. "I hope so, sweetie. I really do."

__________

Liv lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep as her thoughts raced. The day's events kept playing in her mind, leaving her feeling uneasy. She heard the door creak open softly, and even though she didn't move, she knew it was Stan.

He stood there for a moment, watching her, sensing she was still awake. "Liv," he began, his voice low and hesitant, "I'm willing to tell you the truth about everything. No more secrets."

Liv didn't respond, but she listened intently, her heart aching with the weight of what she knew he was about to say.

Stan took a deep breath and walked over to the bed, sitting down at the foot of it. The silence between them was heavy. He glanced over his shoulder at her, though she remained still, her eyes closed as if she were asleep. "Liv, are you... mad at me?"

For a moment, there was only silence. Then Liv finally spoke, her voice soft but steady. "No, Stan. I'm not mad... just hurt. I thought we trusted each other."

Stan's heart sank at her words. He knew he had messed up, and now he was faced with the reality of how deeply he had hurt the one person he cared about most.

_________

The next morning, Stan and Ford sat in the kitchen, each nursing a cup of coffee. Ford glanced around, taking in the sights of the kitchen. His eyes landed on the refrigerator, where colorful, glitter-filled papers were proudly displayed, alongside the twins' recent school grades. It was a stark contrast to the usually cluttered and gruff atmosphere Stan had always kept.

"Are Dipper and Mabel your kids?" Ford asked suddenly, curiosity in his tone.

Stan was mid-sip when the question hit him. He sputtered, nearly choking on his coffee before managing to spit it out. "What? No, no, they're not mine!" he stammered, trying to recover from the shock.

Ford raised an eyebrow, looking more confused than before. "But then, who...?"

Before Stan could even attempt to form a coherent answer, Liv walked into the kitchen. She was still in her pajamas, her hair slightly tousled from sleep. She gave them both a warm smile as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

"Good morning," she greeted, then noticed the tension in the room. "Everything okay?"

Ford turned to Liv, still puzzled. "Morning, Liv. I was just asking Stan if the twins were yours and his. Are they your children?"

Liv blinked in surprise, then let out a soft laugh. "Oh, no, they're not our children," she explained gently. "Dipper and Mabel are Stan's great-niece and great-nephew."

Ford nodded slowly, processing the information. "I see. That makes more sense. They seem very attached to both of you."

Stan, finally regaining his composure, nodded in agreement, grateful that Liv had handled the question so smoothly. "Yeah, they're good kids," he added, still a bit flustered.

Liv smiled warmly at Stan, sensing his lingering awkwardness. "They really are," she agreed, taking a seat beside him. "We're lucky to have them around."

Ford took another sip of his coffee, still curious about this new dynamic but deciding to leave the subject alone for now.

As Ford took another sip of his coffee, he looked between Stan and Liv with a thoughtful expression. "So, Liv," he began, his tone casual but his words pointed, "do you plan on having kids with Stan? Time is ticking, and Stan isn't getting any younger, you know."

Stan nearly choked on his coffee again, his face turning bright red. "Ford!" he sputtered, completely flustered. "What the hell kind of question is that?"

Liv's eyes widened, and she quickly brought her hand to her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh. The sight of Stan, usually so composed, turning red with embarrassment was too much for her. She could see how uncomfortable he was, and while she knew she should answer Ford's question seriously, she couldn't help but find the situation amusing.

"I... uh... well," Liv started, trying to suppress her laughter. "We haven't really talked about that yet." She glanced at Stan, who was still beet-red, and bit her lip to keep from giggling.

Stan shot her a helpless look, his heart pounding. "Ford, that's—" he stammered, searching for words. "That's not something you just ask!"

Ford, oblivious to the tension he'd stirred, simply shrugged. "It's a reasonable question, Stan. After all, if you two are serious, it's something to consider."

Liv finally let out a small laugh, unable to hold it back any longer. "Ford, we appreciate your concern, but maybe let's save that conversation for another time."

Stan exhaled, trying to regain his composure. "Yeah... another time. Much, much later."

Ford nodded, satisfied with the answer, while Liv gave Stan a playful wink, still amused by how flustered he'd gotten.

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Is it cringy? Bc I feel like it is💀

-Lanii🤍