Until Next Summer: Welcome Home

Chapter 1: Welcome Home

"Piedmont! All off for Piedmont!"

Dipper slowly opened his eyes to see a sign reading 'Piedmont' out the window. "Home." Dipper poked his sister. "Mabel, we're here."

Mabel mumbled to herself. "Yes I will marry you, Captain Muscle Chef."

"Mabeeeel." Dipper smiled as he shook her harder. "We're back."

Mabel opened her eyes. "We … We are?" She gazed around the empty bus that pulled into the bus station. "Well, are you ready?"

The kids sat up and took their belongings. "No, now let's go."

The kids and Waddles stepped out of the bus and walked around, looking for their beloved parents. It wasn't long before they found two adults holding a sign that reads 'Welcome Home'

"Dipper, Mabel!"

Seeing their parents in person filled the twins hearts with joy. "Mom, Dad!" Mabel rushed in and tackled the dad to the ground, which he predicted.

"OHMYGOSHMOMANDDADIMISSEDYOUSOMUCH!"

"Woah, settle down you raskle." Mabel's dad, who kept the family resemblance, gently set her down. "So I take it your fresh air in Gravity Falls did great for your young minds?"

"Oh you wouldn't believe it!" Mabel shouted. "Mark my words. Dipper and I have got to go back next summer."

"I knew you'll say that." Mrs. Pines said. A tall woman with black hair and few characteristic features of Mabel. "We're read all your letters …. Even about that second Grunkle?"

"Loooong Story." They turned their attention to their son, who hugged both of them. "It's great to see you again."

They all shared a traditional family hug. Until the parents noticed Waddles.

"…..Riiiiiiiiiight." Mrs. Pines took a deep breath. "We've already looked up everything about pigs. I think we'll be O.K. with him."

Mabel pressed her cheeks together with glee, causing them to have a gentle laugh.

"Hey Dipper, where'd you get the lumberjack hat?" Dipper paused when his dad asked. "Heard you lost the first cap and got a blue and white one with a pine tree on it."

"Oh this?" Dipper jester to the hat Wendy gave him. "Well it's a goodbye gift from … from…"

"A Giiiiiiirrrrrrrllllllllllllllll!"

Mr. and Mrs. Pines gasped playfully, causing Dipper to panic.

"Mabel, shut up about Wendy!"

"Wendy, eh?"

Dipper froze again. "Well she's technically a teen. I'm too old for her, I mean she's too young for Wendy, I mean."

"Teen?" Mrs. Pines asked. "Wait, I remember her. Mabel mentioned a Wendy. Tall, red hair, and freckles." She leaned down to Dipper, giving him an 'I'm embarrassing you for fun' look. "Super awesome."

Dipper pulled the hat down to block his face.

"You're growing up." His father patted him on the head. "Come on, we have dinner planned already."

They loaded all of the kids' luggage into the car and drove off. During the ride, Mabel and Dipper looked around the familiar landmarks such as the park, school, mall, and even a broken stop sign that Mabel named Bob.

Seeing their suburban home for after almost three months made the kids feel right at home, yet still different than how they feel in Gravity Falls. Mabel rushed out and immediately rolled in the grass with Waddles. "Get used to this, Waddles. This is your new home."

The parents opened the doors and the kids looked around. Same old furniture, same old walls, same old smell. All giving off a welcome aura.

The kids dropped their bags and sat on the couch. "Wow, just wow." Dipper made himself comfortable as he gazed around the room. Then a familiar looking cat walked by.

"Snake Eyes!" Mabel hopped off and hugged the cat. "I forgot you existed! I wonder why?"

Snake Eyes then noticed Waddles. The two animals circled around each other, ready to attack.

"No no no!" Mabel's worries died when Waddles just lay down and Snake Eyes gently sat on top of him and the two took a nap together. "Awwwwww." Mabel snapped a picture and placed it in her photo album. "Can't wait to make more memories of the future!"

"Hey, did you get any good pictures from Gravity Falls?" Their parents sat next to them and their kids were very happy to tell them all their adventures, minus the dangerous paranormal stuff. They all laughed at some moments like when Soos got caught in a manhole, Stan chasing after money, and Manly Dan eating a rock.

After looking through Mabel's Summer Romance fails (which Mr. Pines wasn't a fan of), Mrs. Pines noticed a picture of someone that looks like Grunkle Stanford, but different. "Weird, your uncle looks different in this photo. As if he could be a twwwwwwiiiiii-" Mrs. Pines trailed off when she and Mr. Pines noticed two Stans in one photo.

"See, I told you!" Mabel smiled as Dipper looked worried.

"Heh, it's a reeeeeaaally long story." Dipper softly laughed, hoping for the best.

Their parents gave each other one long confused look, trying to wrap their heads in all of this. "I …. I think I'll give Uncle Stan a call about this." Mr. Pines sat up and walked to the nearest phone.

The twins and Mrs. Pines listened carefully as Mr. Pines spoke.

"Hi Uncle Stan …. Yes they got here safely ….. yeah, we're O.K. with Waddles. I just want to ask you about this second uncle of mine …. You're not Stanford? You're Stanley? And he's Stanford ….. Put him on line please … Uncle Stanford?"

The conversation went on and on as Mr. Pines asked about the portal, Stanford's research, and his grandparents.

"Grandpa threw him out just like that? Wow …. But you two are on good grounds, right? ….. That's nice to hear ….. really? Well I'll call you later …. Yeah, that's a good idea. Bye Uncle Ford, bye Uncle Stan."

Mr. Pines turned to his family. "Well I just learned a deep secret to my family. I think I'll stare at wall and rethink everything."

"He told you about the paranormal stuff?" Mabel asked, which she received odd stares from her parents, and a furious one from Dipper.

"If you mean that portal, then yes."

"That Portal?!" Mrs. Pines shook her head. "Kids, why don't you check out your rooms, we'll start dinner and talk about this privately."

Feeling that anything they might mention could ruin their chances of returning to Gravity Falls, the twins picked up their things and head toward their individual room.

Mabel looked around her over-the-top Mabel room. With arts and crafts on one side, posters of cute animals and boys, along with a bed with stuffed animals around. She smiled and greeted all her stuffed animals and buttons lying around. She jumped onto her bed and forgotten how soft it was.

Waddles and Snake Eyes walked in and jumped right on her bed.

"Come here, cuties!" She hugged the two adorable animals. "Welcome home."

Dipper was lying silently in his bed. His room was very simple looking. He did have his own book case and desk, and a few paranormal related posters were hung on his bed. He also a telescope next to a chemistry set. But nowhere near as crazy as Mabel's room.

He couldn't help but worry what his parents will say about Gravity Falls. They'll probably think this was all too crazy and all the times he almost died. He was shocked in general that no one mentioned Weirdmageddon on the news or any newspapers. He knows it was near the end of summer so tourists were dying down, but at least someone would have notice a giant dome containing the apocalypse in the middle of the forest.

He dug through his bag and took out a few photos of everyone from Gravity Falls, even one of him and Wendy.

"Kids, Dinner!"

Feeling their stomachs growling, they rushed downstairs and all sat together at the kitchen table. "Mmmm, worms and blood!" Mabel smiled at her mother's special plate of spaghetti; that she nicknamed herself.

Just the sweet smell of it made them realize just how much better cooks their parents are compared to Grunkle Stan.

Despite the wonderful dinner, the atmosphere felt quite. An awkward silent surrounds everyone until Mrs. Pines spoke.

"Kids."

Dipper and Mabel looked at them, feeling dreadful.

"Your father and I talked about both your Grunkles." Seeing the worried look on their kids, she smiled. "We won't be stopping you from going back to Gravity Falls."

The kids looked at them with disbelief. "R-really?"

"Right." Mr. Pines patted the kids head. "Grunkle Ford sounds like a nice guy. He said there's no need to worry about that portal, and we'll talk to them more about coming to Thanksgiving when they come back on their research trip. Which reminds me, we'll going to Gravity Falls for Thanksgiving!"

Dipper and Mabel jumped with joy. "Yes, yes! You hear that Grenda and Candy. I will be back next summer!" Mabel gasped. "And Thanksgiving too! I have to find the best recipes."

Dipper was just as happy as his crazy sister was. "For a moment I thought you wouldn't let us go back! I can still hang out with Grunkle Ford and learn his research, hang out with Soos, and spend time with Wendy."

"Of course you'll say that." Mabel boop Dipper's nose. "We are getting a girlfriend at school. One your own age!"

Everyone laughed together as they enjoyed dessert and talked more about Gravity Falls.

Bedtime finally arrived and Mabel was tucked in her own bed. She said good night to all her plushies, to Waddles and Snake Eyes; and finally, "Good night, Dipper!"

Hearing no response, Mabel realized they weren't sharing a room any longer. "Right….."

A knock was heard and in came Dipper with a sleeping bag. "Mabel, wanna have a sleepover?"

Mabel smiled brightly. "I got the mini-golf set!"

The two enjoyed the night playing golf in their own home. After everything that happened in Gravity Falls, they can still see a bright light into the future.

End of Chapter

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A/N: Heads up, not all chapters are gonna be happy.
Also these ciphers were recently added on this site as of 2/23/17. Instead of three letters back, it's three letters forward.