Unexpected Love

13.

The Pine Twins were buzzing with excitement. Mabel and Dipper could hardly contain themselves as they practically pushed Stan, Liv, and Ford out the door, urging them to hurry. The promise of rides, games, and an endless supply of junk food had them ready to burst.

"Hurry up, Grunkle Stan! We don't wanna miss anything!" Mabel called out, bouncing on her toes as they approached the entrance.

Dipper, though trying to maintain his usual composure, was equally excited. "Yeah, we need to get there before the lines get too long!"

Stan chuckled, feeling a bit of their excitement rubbing off on him. "Alright, alright, we're moving!"

Once they arrived at the fairgrounds and got their tickets, Liv gathered the twins close, her tone gentle but firm. "Okay, you two, listen up. You're with Ford, and you'll stay with him until we meet back at the entrance when it's time to leave. And remember—no accepting things from strangers, no matter how cool it seems, got it?"

Mabel gave a mock salute, grinning. "Aye-aye, Captain Liv!"

Dipper nodded, a bit more serious. "We got it. We'll be careful."

Stan stood off to the side, watching Liv with a warm smile. He couldn't help but feel a swell of admiration for her. The way she cared for the twins, the way she made sure they knew the rules, it all just clicked. Seeing her like this, he could easily imagine her as a mother—and it made his heart ache with a new kind of hope.

Liv noticed Stan's gaze and gave him a quick smile before turning back to the twins. "Alright, go have fun! And don't forget—we meet back here when it's time to go home."

As the twins dashed off with Ford, chattering excitedly about which ride to go on first, Stan moved closer to Liv, taking her hand in his. "You know, you're really great with those kids."

Liv blushed slightly, shrugging it off. "I just want them to be safe and have a good time."

Stan squeezed her hand, feeling more certain than ever about how he felt. "You'd make a great mom, Liv. I mean it."

Her blush deepened, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned into him a little, smiling softly. "Thanks, Stan. That means a lot."

As they walked through the fairgrounds, hand in hand, Stan couldn't help but show off Liv to the people at the fair

__________

As Liv and Stan strolled through the bustling fairgrounds, the lively atmosphere surrounding them, Liv's eyes suddenly lit up when she spotted a booth filled with plush toys. Among them was a particularly adorable, oversized stuffed bear that instantly caught her attention.

"Oh, look at that one, Stan!" Liv exclaimed, pointing at the bear with a wide smile. "It's so cute!"

Stan followed her gaze, his eyes landing on the plush bear. A determined glint appeared in his eyes as he saw an opportunity to impress her. "You want that, Liv? I'll win it for you," he declared confidently.

Liv chuckled, knowing how stubborn Stan could be. "You sure? Those games can be tricky."

Stan puffed out his chest. "Please, this'll be a piece of cake."

He handed over the cash to the game attendant, who set up the game—a classic ring toss. Stan grabbed a handful of rings, sizing up the bottles and preparing for his big moment. However, as the first few rings clattered harmlessly off the bottles, it became clear that this game was going to be more challenging than he'd anticipated.

Minutes passed, and Stan's frustration grew with each missed toss. He muttered under his breath, determined to win that bear no matter what. He didn't just want to win it—he wanted to show off for Liv, to prove he could still impress her.