Gold Dust Woman (Stanford Pines x OC)

18.) Summer, Highland Falls

they say that these are not the best of times, they're the only times i've ever known

"Hey, oh, I've missed you guys so much." Celia smiles as the kids run to her at the end of Soos' grandma's driveway.

"Silly, so much has happened! And- and-" Dipper starts frantically before she places a hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay, Dipper, we can debrief later but I need to talk to Stan." She says softly and he nods.

"Three weeks is too long to leave us! So many adventures have happened since you've been gone." Mabel pulls at Celia's shirt sleeve.

"You better tell me all about it later tonight, little lady." Celia smiles at the two as she begins to walk to the front door.

She walks in and greets Soos and his abuelita, a nice old lady. She pinches Celia's cheeks with a grin before she walks over to see Stan sitting at the table.

"Well, if it isn't my darling wife!" He chuckles as he stands up and she slightly cringes.

"How's it going, Stan?" She reaches up to hug him and she feels him loosen up for a minute. His shoulders are tense and something about him feels off.

"Great. Well, as great as it can be after that little freak took our home." He sighs.

"See, they never even kiss," Dipper whispers but they can both hear it.

"Fuck my life," Celia whispers and gets a small smile out of Stan before she cups his face, putting her thumbs on his lips and leaning up to kiss her thumbs.

"What the fuck was that?" He says quietly.

"I was a theatre kid in high school, I did that for a show one time." She shrugs.

"You look like you were a theatre kid."

"Shut up."

"Wait, dudes, why is he grunkle and she's not graunt?" Soos asks from the doorway.

"Graunt doesn't sound as cute as Grunkle does." Mabel shrugs.

"Silly is enough of a nickname for me." Celia jokes.

Stan grumbles as he sits back down, but there's a glint of amusement in his eyes. Celia pulls up a chair next to him, settling in as Soos and the kids file into the living room, the sound of the TV soon filling the small house.

"I'm glad you made it back. I was losing my mind here by myself." He complains.

"Well, I had to check on my least favorite husband." She jokes.

"Maybe next time we can give everyone a show and kiss for real." He winks, leaning in slightly.

"You're disgusting." She laughs.

"And you look twenty years younger than you are." He snorts.

She feels him tense and pretends to busy himself with adjusting his hat.

"Stan, we need to call their parents."

"What? Why?" He shakes his head.

"We can't leave them in the dark." She tries to reason.

"I just...maybe they're safer at home but I'm selfish and I want them here," He sighs. "Their parents are on the brink of divorce and fighting nonstop, I don't want to send them home."

"I know." Celia takes a breath.

"I don't want to send them home but how can we provide for them when we don't even have a house?" He asks.

"I don't know."

There's silence for a second and Celia taps her fingers on the table. This week has been too much for her mind and all she wants to do is go back home and lay down and not get up for a week.