Everyone gathered around the lonely bus stop a mile or two down the turn off from the shack. "Damn, this is itchy." Stan scratched at the goodbye sweater Mabel had made him. He only wore it cause he'd feel terrible if he didn't.
"I wanted to make you one too, Grunkle Ford. But I ran out of yarn." She said, shrugging.
Ford chuckled. "Its alright, Mabel. You can make me one next time." She grinned up towards him.
Her brother was over with Wendy, recollecting on what went on this summer. She suddenly would swap hats with him. His face flushed when she said it was to remember her by. He would move down to them at some point, recognizing that Alma had a new accessory. "That ring looks ancient." He commented on it.
Alma lifted her hand, revealing it to the others. "Whoa, are you two engaged?" Wendy pushed her way to them. "Congratulations." She hugged Alma without much consent to.
"Wha? And you didn't tell me?!" Mabel snapped her fingers. "I knew it! That's why you went and hid." Her snap turned to a point towards Ford.
"Alright, you caught me." Ford admitted with a surrender before stuffing his hands back in his pockets. "And yes, Dipper. It is a very old ring. It actually came from our father's pawn shop." Dipper, Mabel and Wendy all admired it.
"You went to go visit mom without me?" Stan scolded.
Ford shook his head. "No Stanley. I had asked her to send it over. She does want us to stop by though on our way to the dock."
"Oh alright. But never visit her without me." Stan said stern, poking at his chest.
"Fine." Ford replied with a scowl. He stopped poking at him and turned away with his arms crossed.
"So when is the date?" Mabel asked while holding Alma's ringed hand, bouncing a little bit as she spoke.
They both just shrugged. "Who knows. But I'll be sure to let you know once we decide." Alma reassured her with a ruffle of her hair. She acted as if she had never been to a wedding before, which was very possible being the age she was.
"Most likely before Stan and I head out." Ford inputted with a finger up. "So a couple months at the most."
"Where are you going to put a wedding party though?" Stan gestured with one of his hands.
Alma thought for a second before it hit her. "We can do it outside the shack. Its nice and open – lots of space."
"That'd be so cool." Dipper empathized excitedly.
"Save us money on a venue, hence your name is on the deed." Alma pointed out.
"Sounds like a plan." Ford replied.
The bus rolled up to the curb. Both Mabel and Dipper realized it was time to go, their faces altering quickly to frowns. "Well, this is it." Dipper said, sharing a glance with everyone before them.
They'd start going around hugging everyone. They both hugged Stan and Ford together. Stan was fighting back tears very hard from what she could tell. Ford would attempt to ease him with a hand on his back. They shared a glance that made them both smile towards one another. Alma was the last in line.
They both threw themselves into her arms. "Thank you, Alma." Dipper whispered into her. They stepped out of the hug as she got one last good look at them.
"You two have been great in your own ways. Never change." She began, the others around her sniffling behind them. "Dipper, I want you to keep drawing in your journal like I showed you, ok?"
Dipper nodded with tears in his eyes. "I will."
"And Mabel?" Alma smiled brightly towards her. "Always be happy." She smiled back as the tears streaked her face. She pulled them in again, kissing their heads. "Now, hop on that bus with your heads held high. We'll see each other again soon." Her face was sincere when they both watched her rise and join the others.
They shared a glance with each other before trudging towards the bus doors. Wendy handed an envelope to Dipper and winked. "Open this once you are moving." Dipper went in first, followed by Mabel.
Waddles suddenly came running up to them, pausing at the steps as if asking for permission to follow. "No Waddles. You can't come home with us." Mabel broke. She lowered to his level and rubbed his head before kissing him. "I love you, Waddles. But you have to stay here." She then picked him up and handed him to Stan. She returned to the bus, as they both had stopped at the top step to look back at their summer family.
Stan held Waddles, looking down at him, then back at the twins. "Screw that." He snapped. He then put Waddles on the bus step. "I had to deal with you all summer. Now your their parents' problem."
"Hey, no animals allowed on the bus." The bus driver yelled.
Stan pulled out his brass knuckles and Ford showed his gun at his side. "You take that damn pig with you – or I swear to god."
"Alright. Alright. Calm down." The bus driver panicked. "The pig is fine."
Mabel's face lit up as she squeezed Waddles tightly. "You're the best Grunkles ever!" She grinned.
"To California we go." The bus driver said suddenly. They both glanced through the faces one last time, each one was one they'd never forget. It didn't take them long to head inside and choose a seat.
All of them outside the bus, smiled towards them through the window, waving as the bus started moving. Once it was passed the speed sign, they were gone. Dipper admired the forest as it streamed by. Mabel was beside him, doing the same with Waddles asleep on her lap. He took out the envelope from its pocket, opening and pulling the piece of paper out of it.
It read: See you next summer. Everyone's signatures surrounded it.
