When it was party time, it seemed like everyone in Gravity Falls had arrived. The front yard was full of the faces from the Bill's throne. All happy and well it seemed. They wanted to help celebrate their heroes. What a birthday it was.
The family gathered around the cake as Dipper and Mabel took front and center. The twins said their wishes out loud, Mabel's being that she wanted to shrink everyone and bring them home in her pocket. She turned to Ford, asking if it was possible. He just gestures a fifty fifty with his hand. Everyone yelled 'Happy Birthday' in union as they blew out the thirteen candle. They moved on to present time.
Alma noticed Ford pull his brother off to the side. It probably was a family matter, so she pretended to ignore it. Ford pulled a photo out of his coat and saw Stan's face light up when he handed it to him. It seemed he didn't ignore Alma's suggestion. He was thinking about what Stan wanted. She smiled towards the two brothers newfound happiness.
Stan had apparently said he was going to close the shack. But he reconsidered once Soos inspired him, handing him his fez and the shack with it. Soos was now the official manager. She was surprised though that Ford had no say in it. It was his property after all. They both initially decided though that they'd be Soos' landlords as his rent went to them. Soos promised he would take good care of the place.
"Enjoying yourself?" Ford approached Alma with his arms behind his back. She had been staring into her paper cup.
"Oh hey. Yeah, mean it is nice to see everyone again." She replied, watching Mabel dancing with her two friends. Stan even joined in.
Ford put his hand out towards her. She didn't hesitate to grab it as he guided her into the woods. The chatter and booming music all faded away. They admired the way the sun streaked the shadows across the dirt path they walked. She walked by his side, holding onto his arm as he whispered sweet nothings into her ear. This was how she imagined their relationship being.
They arrived at the outlook Ford had taken her and Dipper the day before the chaos. Now she couldn't look at those two floating rocks without thinking aliens. He lowered them into the grass patch below their feet, pulling Alma in his lap. It was nice to get out of the shack for awhile. It was starting to feel like they'd never leave.
"It is beautiful." She commented, her head resting next to neck.
He nodded. "That it is. One of the reasons I wanted to bring you up here."
"Oh?" She replied, their eyes meeting in the middle.
"I wanted to tell you that Stan agreed to join me for my research." He started. "We'll be coming back though by next summer."
Alma smiled. "I figured that was what happened. It'll give you both a chance to readjust from here and with each other."
"You aren't upset?" Ford questioned.
Alma shook her head. "No. I don't see a reason I should be." She watched a few birds fly into the distance. "I get why you're doing it." It seemed he wasn't expecting her to accept it as well as she did, as he went silent. "I think I want to go see my sister anyways." He heard her say out of the silence.
"You have a sister?" He acted as if he never knew. But Alma didn't really talk much about her family, besides her parents. He didn't put it past her for not sharing.
"Yeah, a younger one." She replied, rubbing her nose. "We never really got along. But seeing you and Stan – I think you two inspired me to try and make up lost time." Ford smiled hearing that their broken relationship had actually helped with something.
It seemed they stopped to admire the world around them the next few minutes. The wind blew around them, ruffling at their hair and coats. Alma's scarf was probably the most red Ford had seen in a long time. He wasn't sure if it was his infatuation with her or just the light. He knew he'd have to get serious very soon, for the twins were leaving in less than two hours.
He dug into his coat pocket, pulling out his journal 1 and whatever else. Somehow, his journals had survived. Soos apparently had found them completely unharmed, shocking Dipper for Bill had lit them on fire – legitimately. And both Dipper and Alma watched them burn. When he finally told Ford what had happened, he too was in disbelief. Ford suggested that everything Bill had done was due to a paradox, which once its owner was killed, it reverted back to its original state.
To his relief, the small, leather box was still on him. He let out a sigh before his eyes landed on Alma. It took them this long to find their feels for one another. He didn't want that to happen again. When he left the teasing duo of his brother and Mabel, he ventured into the basement to gather his journals, but also to play out what was about to happen in his head. Saying goodbye to Mabel and Dipper will be hard. But this – this was going to be the hardest. He ran it through his head, in this exact spot, in this exact time.
His blood was starting to run cold, he knew it was time. He bit his lip before letting out a deep calming breath. This is it, Stanford. Concentrate. And don't freak out. He slid out from under Alma as she looked over at him as he stood confidently before her. He offered his hand to her again, pulling her up to standing. The look on face was reading a bit of confusion. That soon would change.
"Alma," He started, taking one of her hands and sharing direct eye contract. "There is something I've been meaning to ask you." His hand slid into his pocket as he pulled out the small, leather box. He fell on one knee and opened the box to her, revealing a rather stunning antique diamond ring. Alma held her breath as she realized immediately what he was doing.
"Will you marry me?" Nailed it.
Alma was still in utter shell-shock. It took her a minute to process that Stanford Pines was proposing to her. This was the man that she spent traveling around the multi-verse with, the one that keep her warm in the freezing cold, the one who welcomed her into his life, the one that she survived an Armageddon with. And that whole time, they had feelings for one another that was about to be a reality. His family was falling for her also, especially the great niece and nephew. Ford wanted her by his side for the rest of his days.
Alma felt a heavy happiness flow over her as the tears started just flooding out. It was like time had stopped at this point for her. It was a dream come true in a way. She just smiled through her waterworks toward Ford still knelled before her. "Yes." She said finally.
