Luck

Stan rubbed his eyes as he stepped out onto the deck. The sun was high in the air, a bit blinding. Once his vision adjusted he looked like around. He wasn't really expecting to see anyone. He knew his brother was still asleep, but he couldn't help but take a view of the ocean.
Stan wore a small smile as he walked up to the edge of the ship, putting his hands on the railing. The vast blue sea was calm, small ripples flowing outward. Normally they'd still be sailing, but since the sea was strangely calm last night, they decided to anchor the ship and take a break. Stanley knew his brother especially needed it. Ford had been at the wheel for a while, sometimes staying up all night.
They'd normally take shifts, but at night Ford would let Stan sleep in. Stanley smiled at the thought. Ford had been strangely nice to him. Especially after...the incident. It had been at least 3 or 4 weeks since the kids went back to California. Stan seemed to miss them with every passing day.
He missed everything about them. From Dipper's shy, nerdy awkwardness to Mabel's hyperactive, boy crazy attitude. Stan let out a chuckle. It's funny to think how he completely lost his memory, but never truly forgot about them. He'd do just about anything for those kids. Even if it meant erasing his mind.
"SCREE SCREE!"
A loud noise instantly made Stan jump, heart pounding in his chest. His eyes darted everywhere until they landed on a bird. The bird was white with black feathered wings. It had a small head, beady black eyes, and its beak was long, almost hooked at the end. The bird seemingly drifted, staring at him with those black eyes. Stan growled.
'Wonder if I can hit you with that harpoon.' He thought.
Stan looked around before finally spotting the spear-like object. He picked it up and pulled his arm back.
"This'll teach you for squawking at me ya dumb bird!"
"Stanley wait!"
In an instant the harpoon was pulled out of his grasp. Stan turned around to see Ford standing not so far away from him, the harpoon now in his hands.
"What's the big deal Sixer? It's just a stupid bird." Stan said.
Ford set the harpoon down before shaking his head.
"That's not just any bird. It's an albatross."
Stan only raised his eyebrow, curious as to why the bird was so special in the first place.
"An alba-what now?"
A small smile crept up on Ford's face as he stepped up by Stanley, leaning against the railing. He stared up at the bird.
"It's an albatross. Haven't you read The Rime of the Ancient Mariner?"
Stanley only kept quiet, staring at him blankly. Ford cocked his head a bit, wearing his smile.
"I figured you haven't." He said, sort of laughing.
"Being followed by an albatross is generally an omen of good luck."
Stan grew surprised.
"Whoa, hold it. You're a scientist. You're all about logical explanations and what not. I didn't think you had your own superstitions."
Ford raised his eyes to him, letting out a short laugh.
"Just because I'm a scientist doesn't mean I don't have my own beliefs. Besides, after all we've seen and been through why shouldn't I believe? For all I now that bird could be good luck, or magic, or anything really."
What Ford said instantly got Stan thinking. He does have a point. They've seen all sort of strange things from unicorns, to gnomes, to Weirdmageddon. How could a bird that brings good luck be any different? Stan felt a small smile on his face as he stared up at the albatross. It flew in a small circle, staring down at them in some sort of happy manner.
"Stanley?"
Stanley instantly froze at the voice. He turned his head to Ford, only to see him smiling. Ford was a bit quiet before saying,
"Thank you."
Stan stood there a bit confused. He looked around, an awkward smile on his face.
"Uhhh, what for?" He asked, awkwardly laughing a bit.
Ford only stared at him with soft eyes, wearing a soft smile.
"Thank you for getting me back home."
Stan froze, sort of surprised. Ford's smile seemed to fade as he continued speaking.
"I know I never got to properly thank you for what you did. You...you spent thirty years trying to bring me back, and what do I greet you with? A punch to the face. Looking back on it now I...I feel terrible."
Stan felt an awkward smile.
"Hey, don't get yourself worked up about it."
Before he could say anything else, Ford spoke up.
"But it's true Stanley! You...you spent so long trying to bring me back home. Even after the way I treated you. I never called you. I never visited you. I never even gave the time to try and work things out with you. And I'm supposed to be some genius huh?"
It grew quiet as Ford stared down at the rippling water. Stan thought about the incident with his brother. He looked back on the day he visited the school. He realized a long time ago that if he'd never broke Ford's machine then none of that would've happened. All the years of hatred, sadness, and loneliness could've been prevented. Stan felt a frown on his face as he leaned towards the railing.
"Well hey, look at it this way. If I would've just stayed away from your science project none of that would've happened. We would've never gotten in that big fight in the first place. I knew how much you wanted to go to that college, but I just...I just didn't want to lose my brother. Yet as usual, I screwed everything up." Stan said.
It was quiet, making Stan curious. He looked up only to see his brother staring at him with concern. Ford let out a sigh.
"I...I should've known. I should've known that you didn't want me to go. Especially after all the things we went through as kids. It was stupid of me to overlook it until now. In fact...it was stupid of me to pick a dumb college over my own family. Especially my twin."
Ford raised his eyes to Stan, wearing a smile. Stan of course felt grateful for what he said, but he also felt...off. Stan shook his head.
"No. Ford, I shouldn't have been so selfish about it. I should've been supporting you. I knew it would've made you happy to go to that college." Stan said.
Ford leaned forward a bit, getting Stan's attention.
"Family makes me happy too Stanley." He said.
The two sort of stared at each other before both of their eyes went wide in realization. Stan and Ford suddenly wore soft smiles. Stan finally broke the silence.
"I guess...it's kind of-"
"Both of our faults?" Ford cut him off.
Stan stared, a bit quiet before speaking again.
"Heh...I guess you're right." He said.
"We're both right." Ford corrected, setting a six fingered hand on his shoulder.
In almost an instant Stan felt two arms wrapped around him in a hug. He was only surprised by Ford's sudden move. Stan hadn't had a hug from his brother in a long time. He hasn't truly seen his brother in a long time, 30 years to be exact. To be honest, he hasn't seen his true brother in a long time. The Ford he used to know as a kid had finally showed up again. Stan could already feel a warm, happy feeling rise inside him, and he wrapped his arms around his brother in a hug.
"I missed you Stanley." Ford spoke.
Stan noticed something about his voice, and it also didn't take long for him to notice the way Ford's body shook. Stan felt his heart sink.
"Hey Sixer? Are you alright?"
Ford only hugged him tighter, hiding his face in his shoulder.
"I...I was scared. I was scared that I would never get back to this dimension, and...and that I would never see you again." Ford said in a shaky tone.
Stan instantly felt a pain in his chest at what his brother said. All that time he felt the same. All that time when he was trying to start the machine, he felt like nothing would ever go back to normal, and that he would never see Ford again. He was scared that he would never get the chance to make up with him. Scared that his brother was gone forever.
Stan already felt tears rising in his eyes. He kept his head low. Even during those years of frustration, sadness, and loneliness, he couldn't help but be grateful that he managed to bring Ford home safely.
"I...I missed you too brother." Stan said, trying to smile.
The two pulled away from each other, awkwardly moving their hands under their glasses to wipe away any tears. The two stared at each other for a moment in appreciation. One twin stared at the other, a peaceful silence until,
"SCREE SCREE!"
The two instantly looked up at the familiar bird. The albatross still seemed to be flying in the air, drifting in small circles. The bird seemed almost fascinated with them. Stan got a quick glance at Ford to see him wearing his smile. That one smile was so familiar to him. Stan's known it ever since they were kids. What's almost interesting is that fact that he's probably wearing the same smile as his brother. Ford looked back at Stan before saying,
"W-we should probably start traveling. We need to figure out the best route to the Northern Pacific."
Stan gave him a nod while Ford seemingly turned on his heels and started walking towards the cabin of the ship.
"I'll be inside analyzing the map when you're ready to come in." Ford said.
With that he went inside. Stan sort of stared.
'Typical Ford. Always looking for adventure.' He thought.
Though he didn't blame him. After all the life threatening things that've happened, he too wanted to live life to its fullest. Stan, truthfully, couldn't wait for the adventure that lies ahead of them, and he couldn't wait for next summer to come. He wanted to have some interesting stories to tell the kids, Soos, and even Wendy when they return to Gravity Falls. A smile crept on his face as he walked towards the cabin.
Yet he suddenly stopped in his tracks. Stan looked back at the albatross, who was now sitting on the railing of the ship. It tipped its head at him a bit, staring at him in an almost happy, curious manner. Yet instead of yelling at the bird, or trying to kill it, Stan only returned his smile.
"Thanks." He said.
With that he turned around and went into the cabin, feeling that their luck was about to change for the better.