Pointdexter: A Swooning Over Stan-fiction

Chapter Eleven

Alice and the twins jumped at the sound of Stan's voice at the edge of their table, her hand flying to her chest. When she looked up, there were Ford and Stan, grinning down at them, expressions nearly matched in amusement.

"We were wondering where you went once we came back to a suspiciously quiet house," Ford said with a chuckle. "If it weren't for Dipper's note we would have been worried."

"Sixer would've been worried," Stan corrected his twin. "I tried to tell 'im you kids pull this kinda stuff all the time. Headin' out unannounced, putting stress on your poor old grunkle's heart."

Alice rolled her eyes as Stan placed a hand over his heart, dramatically if she said so herself.

"All those missing hours of unpaid child labor!"

"Actually-" Dipper piped up, giving Stan a skeptical look. "That note wasn't me- Well, I wrote it. But Alice's the one who said we should so that you'd know where we went."

Both Ford and Stan turned to look at her, surprise written across their faces. Alice let out a light laugh, turning her attention back to her plate of pancakes.

"I'd want a note if I was watching these two-" She joked, cutting into the pancakes.

"Really?" Stan asked, his brow raised. "Figured these two knuckleheads dragged you hear."

"Why not make breakfast at home?" Ford asked, glancing between the twins. "This place is at least a fifteen-minute walk from the Shack."

"Well..." Alice said, leaning back into her chair. She glanced at Dipper, his finger swiping across Mabel's cheek and licking the syrup off, and Mabel with a pancake in her mouth, chewing it like a grazing sheep. "I wanted to treat them to something. It's the least I can do- You're letting me stay in your home and fixing my car... I figured since you were gone, I'd take these two out for a change."

She wasn't going to try and explain the fiasco with the pancake mix and Mabelcakes, it wasn't worth the effort now that they were already here.

"Also Mabel was gonna make Mabelcakes again," Dipper added.

Apparently, Mabelcakes were worth the effort.

"You're just mad you can't even make toast right-" Mabel shot back at her twin, waggling her sticky fingers at him. Alice felt the urge to try and clean them again, but that would have been hopeless.

"Wh- Yes, I can!" Dipper squeaked out, holding his syrup-tipped fingers in the air, indignant. "I burned it ONE TIME. One time."

"Well-" Alice cut in before the twins could start bickering. "Mabel wanted you guys to enjoy her Mabelcakes too, and since there wasn't much food, I figured I'd take them out."

Stan leaned across the table, nearly snatching a pancake from Mabel's mouth and taking a bit out of it, letting out a cackle when she stood and tried to grab it back. Alice snorted, holding her hand over her mouth as Mabel clambered over her twin to reach her Grunkle, shouting slander and her foot came down on Dipper's shoulder and she launched herself at Stan. She glanced at Ford, smiling, before she realized, he'd already been staring at her.

As soon as he realized she was looking at him, he quickly set his gaze elsewhere, looking over her head and out the window. She could have made the excuse that he was trying to avert his gaze from his family's pancake battle, but his fingers hooked under the hight neck of his sweater, tugging at it.

"Well, Alice," Ford suddenly started. "I really appreciate you looking after Dipper and Mabel or m- Us. It was very kind of you to bring them here."

"Oh," Alice smiled warmly at him, despite the sudden heat spreading across her face. Maybe it was just hot in Greasy's- Ford looked close to the shade of his sweater. Mabel glanced between her and her Grunkle, smirking and throwing a theatrical wink to Alice. "It's no problem at all."

"Well-" Stan said, clearing his throat and nudging Dipper with his elbow. "If you're payin'- Scoot over, Dipper, I want breakfast too!"

"Stanley," Ford said seriously. "It's at least twelve-thirty now."

"Grunkle Ford," Mabel groaned, tipping her head back. "That means it's time for brunch. DUH!"

"See that?" Stan chuckled, pointing at Mabel and giving his brother a knowing look. "This kid gets me. Now lemme in so I can get some grub."

Dipper slid along the booth to Alice's side of the table as Stan slumped down next to Mabel. Alice pressed herself against the wall, wedged between Dipper and the wood as Ford took the seat next to his nephew. After a few moments, Lazy Susan wandered back to the table and took the order for another round of food and drinks, including Mabel, who decided she wanted another round of pancakes.

Alice almost regretted her offer to pay, but as Stan and Mabel tried their hands as the syrup-dripping race, Dipper cheering them on, Ford watching with a wide grin on his face, she found herself not minding. Even Alice joined in on the fun, and Mabel's challenge to the syrup race was met with a loss in what felt like seconds.

After the group had their fill, Alice paid, watching as the twins raced ahead of them. She meandered, hands in her pocket as a fresh afternoon breeze hit her face as she walked. Ford mozied next to her, Stan brought up the rear as they walked back toward the shack.

"They are quite the dynamic duo," Ford chuckled, his gaze set on the teens as they raced each other. His shoulders were tense, Alice wasn't sure why she noticed that of all things, as he stiffed his hands into his jacket and turned his gaze from her. "Alice, can I ask you something?"

"Of course," Alice smiled, mimicking the motion and settling her hands into her jean pockets. "After every question you answered for me? I'm sure I can spare you one."

He relaxed, a hesitant smile crossing his face. His steps slowed slightly as they continued down the path.

"May I... May I ask you a personal question?" He asked again, his voice lowering to a murmur. Alice raised a brow at him, shifting slightly and walking backward, her eyes flickering over her shoulder periodically so she didn't trip.

"Go ahead," She said with a small nod. "I'm a big girl, I can handle the hard questions."

Ford nodded, slowing his pace until he had fully stopped, Alice followed suit, tipping her head to him. He looked like he was searching for something, maybe for the words he wanted to say.

"I have to ask," His words were careful, his body still as he rocked forward unconsciously. "You don't have to answer it... If it's too personal. But... Why did you get divorced."

Alice hadn't been expecting that one. She straightened slightly, pausing like a deer in headlights. She had mentioned it when they'd hunted for the Mothman, if she was being honest, she hadn't thought about the settlement since she'd arrived in Gravity Falls. That was strange on its own.

"My ex-husband..." Alice started hesitantly, now searching for her own words. "He was a... Very controlling and bitter man. I left and tried to take my daughter, but Ella was always a daddy's girl and he won custody. So I packed up and left town... And then landed here."

"I'm... I'm sorry," Ford muttered, his expression and voice softer than before. "I didn't mean to bring it up."

"Don't be-" Alice said, taking an involuntary step forward. "It's over now. I- haven't thought about it since I got to Gravity Falls... I've been a little distracted."

That was true, and she felt a light flush cross her face as she shoved her hands deeper into her pockets. Ford blinked, surprise flicking over his features as he turned red as his shirt once more. He seemed to force his shoulders to relax.

"Oh..." He replied, a nervous chuckle leaving him as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Distracted, huh?"

"Yep," Alice managed to choke out, turning back toward the racing twin teens, slowing her pace to match his once more. "With everything you've shown me here, how could I not be?"

She tried to think too hard about the blushing or his nervous chuckle as they walked, in silence, back to the shack. It was just a conversation, right? She wasn't overthinking that conversation, was she?