five years later

chapter 8

who knew it would be of one of the last normal meals we would have that week.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

dipper's pov:

dear journal:
its been weeks studying the statue, Gideon and I haven't left the lab, not even to sleep. the statue shows no signs of magic itself but there is energy radiating from it. if only great uncle ford were here to help. its hard doing this with just the two of us and ford's journals. we have barely any information on bill and his abilities and even less on his physical form. im hoping to catch a break soon.

I closed the book and put it away sighing. Ive been pouring over the journals with the black light but ive found absolutely nothing of use. its been weeks and nothing. im starting to thing we really have no chance of finding either of my uncles. i turned around in my chair and stood up stretching. "maybe some coffee will help" I walked to the elevator and went up, soon I was back in the gift shop where Waddles and Mabel were sitting on the register counter, Mabel was swinging her legs back and forth looking really bored. "Hey sis, watcha up to?" she looked at me tears appearing in the corners of her eyes, my eyes widdened and I went over to her wrapping my arms around her "Mabel what's wrong?" she sniffed and hugged me back "I miss grunkle Stan and great uncle Ford" I sighed and let her go walking to face her and wiping her tears away with my thumbs "hey hey Mabel, It's gonna be ok, we're gonna find them and bring them home safe and sound ok?" she sniffed and nodded and I took a tissue out of a box behind the counter and handed it to her "im going to the diner to get some coffee ok? I need a break from the statue" Mabel hopped off the counter and spoke "ok, ill be here when you get back" I smiled and headed out the door.

When I got to the diner there were lots of faces I recognized. Mayor Tyler was having his usual breakfast at the countertop by the kitchens, Wendy's dad and brothers were in a booth eating stacks upon stack of pancakes. families all around sat eating and having a good time together. I sat down at the table we always sat down when we first came here and waited, lazy Susan walked up to the table and smiled down at me, I smiled back "hello lazy Susan, nice to see you again" she laughed a bit "it sure is! what can I get for you?" I thought for a moment "just a large black coffee please" she nodded "comming right up!" she walked away and I sat and waited for my coffee.

The sky started to turn a little grey and i check my phone, it's going to rain soon. a cup was set down infront of me and I looked up "thanks lazy susan" she smiled and went off to serve other customers. I blew on my coffee to cool it down a bit and took a sip. I coudn't wrap my head around the statue, I had just as many questions as I had when I first got here. Why did the statue still exist? Why wasnt it taken away with the rest of the weirdness? did this mean bill was somehow still alive? where are my uncles? I sighed moving my cup to the side and putting my head down on the table with a bang.

"you look horrible"  I looked up,  it was Willow "can i sit?"  I nodded and she sat in the booth across from me.  I took a sip of my coffee and looked at her "want something to drink?"  she shook her head "nope,  just wanted to see what you were doing here all alone and not down in that basement thing at the shack"  I shrugged "I needed some air,  Giddeon and I haven't caught a single break since we found that statue"  she sighed "I wish i could help you guys,   I looked through those journals your great uncle wrote like you asked me to,  but it doesn't look like he knew much about the demon dorito"  I laughed  probably for the first time in weeks  "demon dorito?"  she laughed with me "yeah,  you said he was a yellow triangle,  and that made me think of doritos"  we were both silent for a moment before bursting into laughter again. 

~time skip~

Willow and I sat and talked for what seemed like minutes but next thing I knew the sun was setting and the diner was closing. we got up and walked out still talking. "so-"  willow looked at me "I have a question ive been dying to ask you"  I raised a brow "what is it?"  she stopped walkingn as did I  "your sister told me about your little thing you used to have for my cusion"  my face went bright red and hot,  I tried to speak but it just came out in jumbled words "I-  I umm, I-"   she laughed and began walkinng again,  I followed  "dont worry Im not trying to tease you over it,  I was just wondering if you still did or not"  I thought for a moment,  did I still have feelings for Wendy? I was lost in thought when Willow spoke again "or is it maybe that Northwest girl?"  I stopped a few feet away from her "P..Pacifica?  what makes you think I like her?"   willow shrugged "It just seems like whenever you guys are hanging out together you relax alot more"  My eyes widdened,  I did feel alot more relaxed with Pacifica than with Wendy.  I was about to speak again when heavy footsteps came from behind me,  it was Mabel, Logan and Gideon,  they were out of breath. "Mabel?  guys?  whats wrong?"   Logan was the first to catch his breath and spoke,

"we found your uncles"