Bad Habits (An Adoption AU story)

Chapter 7: Intervention

As Mabel ran into the kitchen, she had completely forgotten what had just transpired. The feeling of heartbreak she had right after Stan hit her had been replaced with a feeling of fear that she hadn't felt in a while. It was the kind of fear she only had when she felt truly in a state of panic. It was a fear that brought back all kinds of terrible memories. But she fought to keep them at bay as she threw open the cabinet doors, and picked up the first glass she spotted.

Her hands trembled in fear as she turned the tap on and watched the water pour into the glass. It took only seconds, but Mabel felt that she'd been waiting for a lifetime. She raced outside, careful not to spill the glass's contents (though some water did spill as she reached Stan).

Mabel quickly handed the glass to Stan, who still was coughing. She watched as he downed its contents faster than it had taken her to fill it up.

"Oh, man," he said, "That wasn't pleasant."

"Are...are you okay, Grunkle Stan?" asked Mabel.

"Yeah," said Stan as he coughed again. Suddenly he remembered once again what he had done to Mabel right before his coughing fit began, "Are you okay, pumpkin?"

"I...I'm fine," she said, while still holding her cheek.

Stan could tell she wasn't telling him the truth. He watched as she looked down at the cigarettes that had dropped. The one he had started smoking when his coughing fit began was still smoldering. The fowl scent of the smoke made her cover her nose. Stan too looked over at the bag of candy that Mabel had dropped to the floor as she ran to his aid.

"I'm so sorry, Mabel," said Stan as he tried to break the ice between them, "I didn't mean to hit you. I...I was just..."

Stan couldn't think up a reason. Even though his rage had been due to his smoking, it was no excuse for what he had done to Mabel. He tried to act calm about it, but truth was, Stan felt ashamed he put his adoptive daughter through that. She had only just begun to recover from the trauma of what Brad had done and of almost losing her brother, and now he'd subjected her to yet another traumatic event.

"It...it's okay" replied Mabel, "I...I'm sorry I said that stuff to you. I was just really mad."

"Yeah," he replied, "Me too."

Upon seeing her shivering, Stan decided the two should get inside quickly. He also knew that the two of them were not going to be getting to sleep anytime soon. The two walked back inside, where Stan decided to make some hot chocolate for both of them. He figured that by now, Mabel wouldn't protest against it given they both had pretty much broken their promises, and if anything, the warm beverage could help calm their nerves.

He gestured Mabel to sit with him at the kitchen table. She still looked hesitant, almost afraid to get near him. It hurt the old man a lot to see her like that. He wouldn't blame her if she never wanted to be near him again, but nothing on this earth could ever convince Mabel not to trust her Grunkle...her adoptive father, so she soon snuggled up to his side. Stan tried to change the subject by telling Mabel a light-hearted story.

"You know, when you and Dipper were little, your parents would always send me photos of you two so that I wouldn't feel left out. You know, back when they thought I was Ford, and back when everyone used film cameras."

Mabel smiled a bit at hearing that, "Really?"

"Yeah. One time they sent me these photos of your house after they set up the Christmas decorations, and I noticed that you couldn't see any stars in the night sky."

"Yeah, living in the city meant you never could see stars unless you were maybe in the park," said Mabel.

"Yeah. I always thought about how if one day you two came to visit, I could show you the wonders of the night sky uninterrupted. Though, I didn't think that would be a permanent affair."

"Neither did I."

Stan looked and noticed Mabel had put her hand off her cheek to hold and sip her hot drink, but that tears were flowing down them...Stan felt guilty again, it was often a kind of toss-up to tell stories from the kids childhoods, some days they would happily reminisce and smile and laugh and remember the happy times...but other days the fact that their parents were dead would weigh heavily on their young minds. Stan should have known a day like today would bring more of the latter feelings. He sat silently beside her rubbing her back before she spoke.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you quit smoking, I just wanted you to be healthier and happier. I know these past few years have been hard on you too, but I thought-" her voice caught for a moment.

"I thought that after you adopted Dipper and I that you were happier and that if you were happier you wouldn't need to smoke anymore, I try not to cause trouble cause I know you didn't have to do what you did for Dipper and I but I guess-" Mabel couldn't even finish.

Stan was stunned at her confession. truth be told, he thought she had just wanted him to quit because it was "after school TV special don't smoke PSA" that told her smoking was bad and everyone smoking would blow up and die or something stupid like that. He had no idea how self-aware and self-conscious she was about his happiness.

"Oh pumpkin, I am happy, I'm happier than I ever dreamed I could be...my smoking has nothing to do with you or Dipper or any of that...I've just depended on it for so long..." his voice trailed.

"And I'm sorry I couldn't help you cut down your sugar intake. I know how hard you're been trying to quit. I'm not used to being responsible for anything, much less kids. I mean, I know I looked after you squirts over the summer, but I never dreamed that I would have to actually be a parent. It's the best thing I've ever been, but I guess I still suck at it," Stan admitted.

Mabel looked at him shocked, "Grunkle Stan that's crazy!! You and Grunkle Ford are the best adoptive dads Dipper and I could ever have! Just because I failed to kick my habit doesn't mean you failed me."

Stan gave a watery smile, "Remember to take your own advice when thinking of me and my smoking sweetie."

"I guess you and I are just slaves to our addictions at this point," said Mabel.

Stan found it rather strange to hear a phrase of defeat coming from someone like Mabel. It didn't feel right to him. His Mabel was a fighter...someone who never gave up. Though he felt he already had failed her, he didn't want his smoking habit be Mabel's first loss.

"Who says we have to be?"

Mabel looked up at him confused, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, why do we have to give up now? Maybe we've been taking this on the wrong way. Maybe there's a simpler method to overcoming our bad habits."

Mabel pondered at the statement, "Like?"

"Well, we tried to quit by doing it immediately. What if instead we do it gradually."

"So, like, I slowly limit my sugar consumption rather than all together?"

"Yes," said Stan, "And I'll cut my smoking down day by day until I'm down to nothing."

"Yeah, I guess that could work. Wendy did tell me that I didn't need to quit all together, and that I had options. But I don't know, Grunkle Stan. I mean...I don't want you to be suffering through all of this again."

"Mabel...I'd suffer more knowing I made you give up on a goal of yours, than I'd ever be from smoking. You promised to help me quit, and I don't want to be the reason you break it."

Mabel teared up as she hugged him as tightly as possible.

"I'll never give up on you Grunkle Stan. You never did on me, even when things really weren't in our favour. I'll be there for you every step of the way, I promise."

Though Stan knew he had a lot of work ahead of him, the fact that Mabel still believed he could do it was all he needed to hear. It made him feel like the luckiest person alive. Even after what had just transpired, Mabel still believed he could do it. And as long as she did, he would not stop believing in her ability to curb her sugar addiction as well.

They both had been slaves to their bad habits for far too long. But with each other's help, and renewed confidence, they felt that they were finally ready to break free, and start anew.