Once she put Waddles down, he instantly took off down the stairs. How his stubby legs did so well on them, she'll never know. She never entered Ford's basement often. There was always something interesting going on though seems for Dipper spend a good chunk of his time down here. She was starting to feel that he was spending more time with their uncle over her.
"Waddles, what are you doing down here?" She heard a female voice which caught her off guard. Who was that? And why were they down here? She quietly sneaked a peek. There was a woman with dark brown hair laying on the cot, Waddles was atop the bed with her as she smiled and rubbed his head. He was enjoying her affection.
He started nibbling and yanking at her red scarf. Mabel recognized it from a few days ago! It wasn't Ford's scarf at all – it was hers. "That's where it came from!" Mabel said, slapping her fist down on her hand. She shook it off after realizing she hit it too hard. "Ouch, that was smarts."
Alma stopped rubbing Waddles, rising carefully from her spot and approaching the corner. The pig followed her as she turned the corner, meeting the smug, braced expression of Mabel. "Hi there." She smiled cheekily towards her. She had a different sweater on today, but seemed like she always changed them up.
"How you doing, Mabel?" She asked, Waddles coming up in the rear and plopping down.
"I knew I'd see you around. Just wasn't expecting here." Mabel replied, excited.
Alma knelled down to her level. "Think it is time to formally introduce myself. I'm Alma." She put her hand out towards her as she shook it without another thought.
"Mabel." She showed her braces in all its glory. "So you're the scarf girl." She pointed towards the notorious red scarf wrapped around her neck. The one Waddles was playing with a second ago.
Alma put her hand on it, feel its weaved threads between her fingers. It was always so soft for she tries to clean it every other day. It was a gift from her mother, who fought hard against a rare cancer. The day she handed it over to her, she knew it would be her last. Alma accepted it as her mother's dying wish and has kept it close ever since. It was her reminder.
"Yeah. This is my scarf." Alma replied, glancing down at Mabel. "Sorry if your uncle had lied. He was only trying to protect me."
Mabel looked discouraged but understanding. "No biggie. I know why he did it – you get me?" She teased with a nudge of her elbow as if pointing something out. Alma lifted a brow.
"Come on, Great Uncle Ford." They heard the infamous squeak of Dipper as he tailed Ford in. Dipper's eyes instantly went to his sister who smiled brightly towards him. "Mabel! Wha – what are you doing down here?" He said in shock, pulling on his hat.
"Yo Bro Bro. I just followed Waddles down here and found Alma." She gestured with her sweater sleeve.
"Oh no – no. I'm so sorry, Alma." She raised her hand towards him as to cut him off nicely.
"Relax Dipper, it wasn't your fault." She glanced over to Mabel. "Mabel was the one who found me. Which means you still kept your promise."
"Doesn't change the fact that Stanley shouldn't know." Ford added.
"Psh, Grunkle Stan wouldn't come down here." Mabel scoffed.
"You never know with my brother, sweetie." Her uncle replied, crossing his arms. He stood there for about a second before wandering off, Dipper watched him walk away, wanting to join him.
"So what's in your journal?" Dipper always wondered what was inside hers, as it never leaves her side. Similar to how his great uncle handles his.
Alma put her pen off to the side, shutting it and offered it to him. "Open it and find out."
He took the spot opposite her sister as he started flipping through it. It was cocked full of realistic sketches of people, places and things. Mabel peered over his shoulder, Waddles taking her place as Alma rubbed his head softly. He would stop on the scene from the diner just a few days ago. She had perfectly drawn out all the locals that day, including Lazy Susan nearly dumping Gleeful's coffee.
"Hey, that's us." He said, pointing them out sitting in the booth.
"Pretty awesome sketch Mabel if you ask me." Mabel commented.
Alma hummed to herself with a smile. "Thanks. Unlike your uncle, I like to keep track of my memories by sketching what I'd seen." She stared forward. "My mother use to say I had a perfect photogenic memory."
Dipper kept going through the pages, find the one with Ford over the fire. "Where was this?" He asked.
"That was one of the multi-dimensions." She simply said.
"Really?" Dipper added.
Alma nodded. "You two should know, I've known your uncle for a long time." She watched as Ford briefly had glanced up towards them from his writing. His attention turned back to it just as quick. "Me and him have been places you can't even imagine." She frowned. "Half of me wants to return to those days. Both of us are from here, but I think we are sharing the struggle to mend."
The twins shared a glance. "That's deep, girl." Mabel replied. Dipper nodded in agreement, flipping to the sketch of their game of Dungeons, Dungeons and more Dungeons. Ford was rolling the dice in between his fingers. Even motion was realistic.
He closed it, before sliding it back on her lap. "You know, it'd be kind of cool to learn some things from you too. Mean, Great Uncle Ford is awesome – but he says way too many big words." Dipper chuckled, scratching the back of his hat.
Alma turned towards them, seeing the glint of hope in the young twelve year old's eyes. She finally was feeling like she was accepted. Even if one of them didn't know of her existence – well yet. Maybe these were the days she had been longing for. The multi-verse wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
She seemed in deep thought by the time a wide smirk grew across her face. "Alright. For you, Dipper, I'll try my best."
Dipper smiled back as Mabel let out a cheer. "Gonna be the best school ever!"
That is when she felt their arms wrap themselves around her. They were hugging her. They were actually hugging her. Alma let her overjoy spill out in chuckles. "Now I see why your uncles love you two kids so much."
"Even though Grunkle Stan doesn't really like hugs." Mabel joked as they laughed together.
Alma had failed to notice that Ford actually was watching their interaction. He felt all warm inside seeing his niece and nephew smile alongside her. But there was still worry in the back of his mind. He knew somewhere out there, Bill was waiting. There was no doubt with what Alma had experienced. He got up suddenly and opened the compartment. He pulled out the rift, noticing a rather small crack forming on the one side. Just as he feared – their days are numbered.
