I'm From Another Dimension

Stanford: 1981- California

Ok, he wasn't home, that was for sure. The temperature and time hadn't seemed to change drastically. So maybe California? That seemed right.

Ok, so Stanford knew where he was (kinda), but not how to get back to Gravity Falls. If he remembered correctly, Oregon was about nine hours away, and that was when you were driving. Ford didn't have any money with him, so a bus was out of the question.

"Hello? Are ye ok?"

Ford spun around. There was no mistaking the southern accent, but Fiddleford and the others hadn't landed with him. Yet there he was, except he was older and wearing hippie-type clothes.

"Uh..." Ford tried to think up an excuse, but the hippie Fidds (Ford would call him HF for convenience) spoke first.

"Hey, ye look kinda familiar," HF observed, "What's yer name?"

"I'm, uh, Stanford Pines," Ford answered, hoping that maybe this version of his boyfriend might somehow understand how he had gotten here and help him back home. After all, Fiddleford was smart. Maybe HF was, too. Ford held out his hand and HF's eyes widened, reaching out to shake Ford's hand and count the fingers.

"Stanford?" HF murmured, "How in the world...? How are ye Stanford? Yer... young."

"Yes, um, there's an explanation for that," Ford assured, "It might sound crazy, but I'm not from this dimension."

"Yer not..." HF frowned in thought, "Hold on. Stanford said somethin' about a transdimensional portal."

"Yeah yeah yeah!" Ford nodded quickly, "I didn't come through that, but dimensional travel is apparently possible without it, although I can't get home."

"Well, I'm goin' up te Gravity Falls in a couple days," HF began, "Maybe ye could come with me an' we could figure out how to get you home."

"Yes! Thank you so much," Ford sighed in relief. At least he figured out a way to get to their meet-up spot. Maybe the others would be able to as well.

"C'mon, you can stay at my home until we leave," HF invited, leading Ford to his car. He opened the door to sit up front and Ford sat in back next to a young boy in a car seat, "Hey Tater-tot, this is Ford. He'll be with us te rest of the ride."

"H-hi!" The three-year-old gurgled, waving at Ford.

"Is his name really 'Tater-tot'?" Ford asked. He knew Fiddleford's family had some odd names, but that was extra odd.

"It's actually Tate, but sometimes Ah call him that," HF explained. Ford blinked in confusion.

"Really?" He asked, "Huh."

"Why? How is it in yer dimension?" HF asked.

"Um, well, Tate is your dad in my dimension," Ford said. HF chuckled.

"Well, te way my Stanford explained it, there's infinite dimensions, so I suppose it makes sense that there's one where Tate's my dad," He mused.

"Yeah," Ford nodded, "So, uh... is Tate, um, adopted or...?"

"He's my biological son," HF raised an eyebrow, "Why, am I adopted in yer dimension?"

"No, I don't think so," Ford shook his head, "But, ah, my Fidds and I, we're dating, so I thought..."

"Oh," HF's face seem to fall, "Me an' my Stanford used to be datin', back in college, but we kinda grew apart. I got married, but we split up two years ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Ford frowned, "I hope that doesn't happen to me and my Fiddleford."

"So ye already know yer Fidds then, hm?" HF asked, "That's different. I didn't meet Stanford til college." He pulled into a driveway in front of a house, "Sorry, I'm droppin' Tate off at his aunt's house since I'm heading up te Oregon."

"Oh, that's alright," Ford nodded. He watched as HF picked Tate up out of his car seat and carried a bag and a blanket into the house. Ford waited quietly, looking around. Of all the things to happen today, he never expected 'Being in another dimension' to end up on the list. He hoped Stan, Bella, and Fiddleford were able to find a way to Gravity Falls.

HF soon returned, stepping back into the car. It was silent as he pulled out of the driveway and drove home.

"And here's where I live," HF spoke, parking in front of the house, "If ye don' mind, the garage is off limits."

"Ok," Ford nodded. He stepped out of the car and followed HF into the house, "Wow, this house is pretty nice."

"Thank ye," HF grinned, "Pardon fer the mess, my best friend was here earlier today, and she's a bit of a tornado."

"It's ok," Ford shrugged.

"Would ye like somethin' to eat?" HF offered, "All I've really got at the moment is some Cup O' Noodles."

"That sounds good," Ford nodded. HF heated up two cups and gave one to Ford. They ate at the table, talking about differences and similarities between their two dimensions. 

"It's gettin' pretty late," HF said after a few hours, "Maybe ye should get te sleep. If yer anything like my Ford, you'll need it. He forgot to sleep sometimes."

"That sounds like me," Ford laughed. HF gave lead him to the guest bedroom and let him sleep. It took Ford a while, but eventually he fell into a restless sleep.

Ford looked around at the empty beach surrounding him. In the distance was the Stan O' War and the swing set, but he couldn't find the ocean anywhere. Suddenly the sand around him shifted, clearing a hole in the shape of a very familiar demon. Ford felt his heartbeat speed up as a cackling was heard, and none other than Bill Cipher appeared in front of him.

"Well well well, if it isn't little Stanford Filbrick Pines!" Bill grinned maliciously- well, as well as he could with just an eye, "What are you doing in this dimension? What was yours, again? 64,/?"

"Bill!" Ford cried, trying to appear brave, "What do you want from me?!"

"Ha! You don't have anything I want, kid!" Bill laughed, circling the small boy, "Just thought I'd give you a visit. If I remember correctly, you were my puppet back in your dimension!"

Ford visibly paled, rubbing the fork marks in his arm that had never quite fully healed.

"Y-you can't!" He yelled, "You died! I know you did!"

"Relax, kid," Bill rolled his eyes, "I can't possess you in this dimension! It wasn't me who made the deal with you. But that doesn't mean I can't visit your dreams!" 

Bill snapped his fingers, making a clear bubble appear next to Ford. The boy cautiously looked inside, seeing an older version of himself. He was in the Mystery Shack, except it wasn't the Mystery Shack. It looked like the shack back when his Great Uncle Dipper was living in it. The older Ford was looking at a sleeping figure in a room before closing the door. The bubble shimmered and slowly faded.

"You don't belong here, Sixer!" Bill tsked, "And neither do your friends! I have big plans, and I'm not about to let you ruin them!"

Three more bubbles appeared, showing Fiddleford lost in the forest, Bella crying in an alley, and Stan stuck on a beach.

"Do you really think you'll find your friends again?" Bill asked, "They're all spread out across the country. How do you expect them to all get to Gravity Falls?"

"They're smart!" Ford defended, trying and failing to hide the dread pooling in his stomach, "They'll figure it out! I know they will!"

"Desperation really isn't a good look for ya, kid!" Bill cackled, "No matter! I can take care of all of you anyways!"

"NO!" Ford screamed as his surroundings started to melt.

Ford cried out as he woke up, sitting up in bed and panting.