The woods came to life the next morning as woodpeckers pecked and the insects chirped. Alma and Ford were startled awake after hearing Stan yelling something in the hallway. They both moaned, wanting to go back asleep. It seemed like it was going to happen, until Mabel and Dipper came running in. They jumped on them in excitement.
"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!" Mabel sang song.
Alma and Ford were reluctantly trying to push them off. Didn't work very well. So they slid themselves topside, rubbing their sleep away. "Wha – what time is it?" Ford groaned, putting his head in his hands. His head almost felt like it was splitting in two.
"It's birthday time! That's what time it is." Mabel replied happily.
"Oh, happy birthday you guys."Alma replied tiredly.
Mabel and Dipper started pulling them by their hand. "Come on, we can't have cake without you!"
They both forced themselves to stand, Ford pulling his hand away. "I need some aspirin first, sweetie." He put his hand up to his head.
"And some coffee." Alma added.
"That too." Ford agreed. They then proceeded to exit the room and to wherever they were going. Alma went to the kitchen to pour them some coffee while Ford rummaged through the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. He made his way to the kitchen as Alma offered him a freshly brewed cup. He would take it, leaning up against the counter with her and popping down the aspirin.
"Look who finally decided to wake." Stan stood in the doorway with his arms crossed. "The freaken kids been driving me nuts." He commented, pushing his way to the coffeemaker and pouring a cup himself.
Alma and Ford glanced at each other. "You don't say." Alma replied with a brow cocked. "They were the ones that woke us up." Ford was squeezing his temple beside her when Stan turned back.
"I didn't give them any sugar if that's what you're thinking." Stan insisted while taking a sip.
Dipper and Mabel came in at that moment. "You three in here bickering with each other?" Mabel asked. Waddles was following her around like he usually did. He made his way up to Alma and start rubbing against her leg for attention.
"And morning to you, oink." Alma said, leaning over and rubbing his ears.
"You two are so cute together." Mabel commented. They weren't sure if she meant with Waddles or with Ford.
"Are you two going to settle down for a minute? Cause I need a break." Stan said, pointing to them both. "And you better not have any hidden stashes."
"Psh, relax Grunkle Stan." Mabel replied.
"Sorry. We'll chill, Grunkle Stan." Dipper added.
Stan seemed relieved. "About time. If anyone needs me, I'll be in my chair." He was about to wander off into the living room when Alma stopped him.
"Did you happen to get the cake?" She asked.
"Soos was grabbing it." He replied. "Soos?" There was no answer when he called him out. "Gonna just hope that's where he went."
"I'd offer to make one otherwise." Alma said.
"You can cook too? Now you're double as great." Mabel grinned.
Alma smirked. "Yeah, my mother taught me." She touched her scarf when she mentioned her. "Speaking of which, you still want me to show you a few drawing tips, Dipper?" She remembered that he had asked her last night to teach him.
"Oh yeah. That'd be great." Dipper empathized, pulling out his journal from his vest. He then would move to the table in the parlor.
Alma handed her cup to Ford who took it without much resistance. She pecked him on the cheek before joining Dipper in the next room. Mabel noticed him smirk blissful and giggled to herself. It seemed Stan had noticed too, only for Ford to clear his throat after he felt his eyes on him. He turned his attention towards the sink and started washing the cups.
Stan came up beside him and nudged him. "Look at you. She hasn't been – distracting you, has she?" He teased with flirtatious brows.
Ford just rolled his eyes. "Distracting really isn't the right word."
"Are you two going to get married?" Mabel asked, joining her uncle in the love tease.
Ford kind of tried to phase them out. He knew what they were doing. "Stan, have you been teaching her to be like this?" He asked out of Mabel's concern.
"What? No. That's all Mabel. I'm just here." His brother replied.
"He isn't lying – at the moment." She said. Stan kind of shunned her, mumbling something under his breath.
"Either way, it doesn't matter." Ford replied. "There is something I must do. Call me when its time for cake." He said empathized the cake part in excitement. He proceeded to exit the room and disappeared down into the basement.
