Work Text:
Pacifica hated mopping.
Watching a dirty floor become clean was sort of relaxing on its own. It was therapeutic, in a way. A fresh start.
But the bucket always ended up full of gross water that she hated looking at, customers often walked right through wet spots on the tile (even when she put up a sign), and the mop itself was heavy and unwieldy. The result was worth it once she was finished, but she detested the actual chore. She much rather would have bussed tables, but Sandy was already doing that, and it was Pacifica's turn to mop, anyway. No getting out of it.
Maybe she could convince Susan to invest in a Swiffer. It would eliminate the aforementioned problems – most of them, at least. Nothing would ever get rid of rude, clueless customers.
Her upper lip curled involuntarily as she pushed the mop under one of the booths. Customers . She would mop a million floors if it meant she never had to deal with the public again. The restaurant was empty right now, since the lunch rush was over and it wasn't quite time for dinner, but it was only a matter of time before someone else waltzed in.
Just that morning, she'd waited on an elderly couple who cursed her out after receiving the wrong kind of butter, a family with five kids who left their table a chaotic, syrupy mess, and a gaggle of teenagers who thought that seeing a Northwest in a waitress uniform was the funniest thing in the world (never mind the fact that she’d worked at Greasy's for years , and the irony of her situation had long since grown old to the town's residents – they must have been tourists who recognized her from Instagram).
And to top it all off, not a single one of them had tipped over five percent.
Every new unpleasant interaction worsened her mood more and more, and her obligation to smile and play nice wasn't helping. If she wasn't on the clock, if she was a few years younger, she could have made every last one of them cry like a baby. Pinpointed their insecurities with alarming accuracy and pounced on them like a tiger, tearing at the metaphorical soft spots with her metaphorical teeth.
But she didn't do that anymore, and it wasn't just because she was afraid of getting fired. Her conscience told her to save her nastiness until she was able to call Dipper after her shift. She could vent to him as much as she wanted, and tell him all the creative insults she'd left unsaid, so her talents weren't completely wasted.
Pacifica just had to make it to the end of this day. This shitty, shitty day.
Once she made it through the next two days, she could tell Dipper about all of her braindead customers in person , because that was the day he and Mabel were coming back to Gravity Falls.
And this summer was going to feel a lot different, because this time, they weren't leaving .
As she cleaned around and in-between the bar stools, she couldn't help but feel her spirits lift a bit. Not even the twins' parents had been surprised when they made the decision to move up here. Even if they hadn't both been accepted to Ponderosa Gulch University, which was a thirty minute drive west from the Gravity Falls city limits, they would have ended up here eventually. They loved this place too much to settle anywhere else, and it loved them right back.
She dunked the mop in the bucket to rinse it off. Her bad mood wouldn't completely go away until she went home, but at least she had something to look forward to.
And at least ‘home’ wasn't the Manor anymore. She felt a heady sense of relief at the reminder that she was estranged from her family now. If she still had to deal with her father's disapproval or her mother's passive aggression after work, she might have already gone to the supply closet to have a quick breakdown.
But she didn't, and she hadn't. So now, she was just a normal person having a normal bad day at their normal customer service job. It was its own kind of strange – one she was still getting used to.
The former heiress went on autopilot for the rest of the task. Her mind idly filled itself with an assortment of thoughts. What would she wear on Friday? She should ask Dipper out to the county fair. Wait, wasn't that Fleetwood Mac on the radio? She kind of liked them. Maybe later, she would ask Susan to put on one of their records before bed.
…God dammit, there was still syrup on the floor from that fucking kid.
She tried to rinse the mop again, but used a bit too much force in her reawakened wrath, and some of the water from the bucket splashed back up onto her apron, leaving a gray spot behind. She stopped in her tracks, staring at the blotch, and sighed heavily.
Sandy shot a glance in her coworker’s direction when she heard the commotion, but said nothing. She knew better than to try and talk to her when she was in a mood .
About ten mind-numbing minutes later, Pacifica finished mopping, and felt absolutely no pride in a job well done. What was the point? It was just going to get dirty again, because people constantly walked in with shoes caked in dirt and mud. They were fighting a losing battle. No sense in being happy over something they had to do every day.
Just when she thought she might get a few moments of peace and quiet before the dinner rush, the cowbell over the door rang, signaling the arrival of a new customer. (Susan had replaced the old bell with a cowbell ages ago. It didn’t trigger Pacifica, and it was kitschy and fun. Mabel's idea.)
She didn't turn around, but she reflexively called, “Welcome to Greasy's Diner,” in an unenthusiastic tone. “Have a seat and we'll be with you shortly.”
Sandy caught Pacifica’s eye as she stood the mop up in the bucket, which made her pause before she wheeled it to the back. She looked a bit surprised, which was weird, because Sandy was typically pretty unflappable. She could deal with even the brattiest of customers through the power of sheer indifference.
Before Pacifica had any time to wonder who the offending patron was, before she was even able to look, someone with a very familiar voice cleared their throat.
She whipped her head towards the door, and was treated to the sight of Dipper standing at the entryway, hands in his pockets and a lopsided grin on his face.
If she had still been holding the mop, it would have fallen from her hands at that moment. “Dipper?!”
He gave her an awkward wave. “Hey.”
“Dipper!”
She bounded across the restaurant in her enthusiasm, and her path ended when she practically leaped into her boyfriend's arms. Her arms wrapped around his neck and his wrapped around her waist as he lifted her up and stumbled back a few steps. Their laughter mingled as they embraced.
These reunions never got any less exciting. They were the only thing she would miss after he moved up here for good.
Pacifica leaned back slightly and moved her hands to cup his face. “You’re early!”
“Well, classes ended yesterday, and Mabel and I didn't wanna wait any longer to come home.”
She smiled for the first time that day – not her Instagram smile, and not her customer service smile, either. This was the real deal. “You missed me that bad? Wow, Pines.”
“Yes, actually.” He tilted his head. “Sad, isn't it?”
As she began to pepper his face with giddy kisses, her boss poked her head out of the kitchen window. Dipper's arrival had drawn attention; he and his sister were pretty well-liked by the locals. Sometimes, Pacifica forgot the twins weren't locals to begin with.
Susan shouted across the building in greeting. She'd never had trouble projecting her voice. “Is that our Dipper I hear? Hey there, hon!”
The couple broke the hug momentarily in preparation. The other employees at the diner would also want to say hi, and they couldn't do that if the two of them were occupied with one another.
A moment later, Susan exited the kitchen and made a beeline for Dipper, her arms outstretched like an affectionate grandmother at Thanksgiving. “Come here, come here!”
He conceded and surrendered to her maternal embrace, but Pacifica took note of the fact that his smile didn't fade or wane. She knew that Susan's hugs were second to none, and he liked her plenty, despite her eccentricities.
Pacifica took a step back and watched the interaction with a subtle smile. She kind of wanted Dipper all to herself, but it was still comforting to know that two of her favorite people were friends. If her psuedo-guardian and her boyfriend liked each other, she must be doing something right. Maybe Dipper felt the same way when he saw her interact with Stan and Ford.
When the older woman pulled away, she gave the boy's shoulders a few pats. “How’ve you been? How's your sister?”
“She's great.” He nodded in emphasis. “She's at the Mystery Shack right now, probably trying to steal Inez from her parents.”
“Can you blame her?” She laughed, loud and unapologetic. “I'd do the same thing if I could get away with it!”
(Inez was Soos and Melody's three month old infant, and she was the chubbiest baby any of them had ever seen. It was hard not to fall in love with her.)
“You back up for the summer, honey?” she continued.
He made a non-committal noise. “We're gonna drive back to Piedmont for graduation in about a week. And we still gotta rent a uHaul for some of our stuff. But other than that–”
“Oh, geez, I forgot!” She lightly smacked herself in the forehead. “You'll be full-timers soon!”
“Yeah.” Dipper reached for his girlfriend's hand and squeezed it. “It's been a long time coming.”
“Well, isn't that exciting?” Susan laid a hand on Pacifica's shoulder and smiled at her warmly. “In that case, sweetie, why don't you take the rest of the day off?”
That gave her pause. “Wait, what?”
“You heard me! Go have fun with your friends.”
“But what about work?”
“It's a Tuesday. Tuesdays are slow.”
“Yeah, but I haven't even worked a full shift yet.”
She shook her head dismissively. “We've got things handled here. Don't worry your pretty little head about it any more, okay?”
Pacifica blinked in mild shock, and made eye contact with Dipper. He gave her an encouraging look and bumped her shoulder with his.
She bit her lip as she looked back. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.” The woman plucked the notepad and pen from the girl's pocket. “You're only young once. Go enjoy it before you lose your eyesight or develop a trick knee.”
“Well… okay!” Pacifica bounced a few times and wrapped her in another quick hug. “You’re the best, Susan!”
The woman laughed again and patted the girl’s back. “And don’t you forget it, darlin’.”
Fifteen minutes later, Dipper’s truck was parking outside of Susan Wentworth’s house.
The dwelling was about the size of Abuelita Ramirez’s old place, and it was located in the same neighborhood, but its front yard was a bit tidier than hers had been. Susan had never married or had kids of her own, so instead of old toys strewn across the lawn, there were numerous lawn flamingos.
As Dipper placed the vehicle into park and switched off the engine, Pacifica unbuckled, but waited in her seat. Her boyfriend had been on a mild chivalrous streak ever since they started dating, and while she sometimes teased him for it, she had absolutely no problem indulging him. It was nice to be treated like a princess by someone who wanted to do that.
He circled the front of the truck and arrived at her window, pulling the door open and offering his hand like she was exiting a stagecoach or a limo. She rolled her eyes at the gesture, but played along, pressing a sweet peck to his lips once her feet were on the ground.
“I won’t be long,” she explained, pretending to ignore the goofy smile spreading across his lips, and the subsequent butterflies appearing in her stomach. “Just gotta get a new outfit.”
“It’ll be good to see the girls again.”
Dipper had met Susan’s cats only once, and at the time, he hadn’t had much of a chance to bond with any of them. But he’d picked up a few of their names and faces over video calls, so maybe he wouldn’t be completely hopeless.
Pacifica led him to the front door as she fished for her keys in her purse. “They’ll love you. Diva is the only mean one, but she’ll run and hide when she sees you, anyway.”
A chorus of meows in varying pitches sounded from behind the door as soon as the cats heard the incoming people.
“She doesn’t like strangers?”
“She doesn’t even like me yet.” She pushed the worn, bronze house key into the deadbolt. “But sometimes, she’ll sit in the same room as me, as long as I don’t make any sudden movements. That’s progress.”
The door was pushed open in a slow and deliberate manner by Pacifica, who stuck her leg forwards to block the opening. The welcoming committee began to poke their heads into view, yowling loud protests at her and Dipper. She beckoned him in quickly, closing the door before any escape attempts were made by the rebellious new addition to the pack, Roxy.
She quickly fell into a brief routine, greeting each cat by name and giving them the exact type of pets they all wanted. Daisy loved having her chin scratched. Barbie was very particular, and wanted exactly five strokes from her forehead to her tail, no more and no less. And Pepper needed a few good belly rubs before she would shut up.
Dipper watched each interaction in slightly amused interest. If he didn’t know better, he would have guessed that she’d grown up with these cats; she knew them all by heart, and they clearly adored her as much as she adored them.
He made a mental note to check out local pet adoption listings later, and daydreams of surprising Pacifica with a new kitten of her very own began to materialize in his mind.
“Looks like you have an admirer,” she said, snapping him out of his brief daze.
He followed her eyes, and saw an orange tabby lightly nipping at his shoelaces. Chuckling, he asked, “What’s her name?”
“Angel.” Pacifica gave one final pat to a tortoiseshell and walked over to the portable closet on the other end of the living room. “You can pick her up if you want. She’s really sweet.”
Dipper knelt down to give Angel a few head scratches and to let her sniff his hand. “How are you liking it here?”
“Honestly?” She undid the zipper in a single motion, revealing her massively downsized wardrobe. “I’m really happy.”
Based on her tone of voice, she was being sincere.
He carefully scooped Angel up, and she readily relaxed into his arms, laying on her back like a baby.
His eyes drifted to the pull-out couch, which had been in ‘bed mode’ for months on end now, and he frowned in spite of his girlfriend’s positive answer. He knew he could trust Susan, but moving out of the Manor had to be a big adjustment for someone like Pacifica to make, and he didn’t want her to downplay any complicated emotions she might have.
As he idly gave the tabby more scratches, he asked, “You sure?”
She turned around, a couple shirts in each hand, and noticed him looking at the couch. Shaking her head, she confirmed, “Really, it’s great. It’s a good mattress.”
“Okay. Just checking.”
“And Susan’s a really good roommate.” Her gaze returned to her clothes, focusing on choosing something that would fit the day's summery vibe. “She makes cookies every Saturday, and she listens to me talk and stuff.”
He nodded. “Cool.”
She pulled out two tank tops, one green and one white, and a pair of denim shorts. “I promise, I’ll tell you if something’s wrong.”
“Well, you know me. I worry.”
“You? Worry? ”
“I know. Crazy, right?”
As Dipper socialized with the cats, Pacifica continued her search for another minute or two, but eventually settled on layering the tank tops. Green was a fresh, lively color, and it symbolized new beginnings. Plus, it brought out her eyes.
She quickly changed in the bathroom, folding her uniform for her next shift and pulling her hair out of the ponytail she’d been wearing. After a comb and a mascara touch up, she was ready to go.
When she exited the hallway and returned to the living room, she found her boyfriend cradling Angel in one arm and Pepper in the other. Both cats looked completely relaxed, and he had the same look on his face that she often saw him give Waddles when he thought no one was looking.
The sight made her butterflies return. He was so damn cute .
“Did you have anything in mind for today?” she asked as she rounded the corner.
To her surprise, he didn’t change his expression when he realized she could see him, which, of course, made the butterflies swarm harder.
He rocked the cats as he said, “No, not really. Did you?”
“Actually, yes.” She walked up, stopping a couple feet away from him. “The fair’s in town. We should text Mabel and see if she and the girls want to go.”
“Oh, shit, the fair’s already here?”
“Yep.” She planted a kiss on Angel’s forehead. “It’s opening day. I think there's gonna be fireworks.”
Dipper kissed Pepper on the same spot, and she meowed as her face was squished down. “Let’s do it, then. I'll rally the troops.”
Thirty minutes later, the two of them were walking into the Roadkill County Harvest Fair with their friends, and Pacifica's face already hurt from smiling.
The event was a feast for the senses – the tinny music was nostalgic, there were bright shades of red, blue, and gold everywhere, and the delectable scents of popcorn and deep-fried everything made everyone hungry for something unhealthy.
There were six of them in the group today: the twins, Pacifica, Candy, Grenda, and Marius. The prince was in town for the month, having just arrived the day prior. His beloved was excited to show off low-brow American pastimes to him, which was a sentiment that he shared – he'd even dressed down to just a t-shirt and a pair of jeans for the occasion.
They'd decided to start by getting some cotton candy. It was light and airy, and would leave plenty of room for more sweets later.
As the six of them walked through the crowd, working on their treats with varying degrees of neatness and speed, they took stock of the activities offered this year. There was a pie eating contest, and a small petting zoo, as well as the same midway they had every year. It was all very familiar, but in a good way.
Pacifica plucked a piece of cotton candy off of her stick and carefully put it in her mouth, trying to avoid getting any sticky melted sugar on her skin. “I think I'm ready for the drop tower this year.”
“Really?” Mabel took a large bite directly from hers. “Thought you were too chicken.”
“I mean, I'll probably hate it. But then I can say I did it.”
“What is a ‘drop tower’?” asked Marius.
“It's a tower, and you drop from it,” explained Candy.
He grimaced a little, his eyes widening. “And this is safe?”
Dipper shrugged. “Probably. You'll be fine.”
Grenda wrapped her arm around her boyfriend's shoulders and squeezed. “Yeah, nobody's died on any of these rides yet!”
“Who's gonna be lucky number one?” said Pacifica in a deadpan, looking to Dipper as he shook his head and chuckled under his breath.
“Hey, don't talk like that!” Mabel pouted and wagged a finger in Pacifica's face. “It's the first day of summer, so stop being a bummer, okay?”
“Do you practice saying shit like that in the mirror?”
“Not always. That one was a happy accident.”
“That's what your mom said when she had you.”
“WOOOOAH!” Mabel chortled in surprise. “Good one, Paz!”
Pacifica smirked and accepted the high five that her friend offered her. She appreciated the slightly competitive dynamic they retained after all these years – Mabel had hit her with just as many snarky comments in the past, and it was fun seeing the other girl's meaner side sometimes. It was all in good fun.
“But if anyone's the accident here, it's Dipper, cause I came out first,” Mabel added with an impish smile.
He sighed the sigh of a beleaguered brother who’d had this conversation a million times before. “We're not doing this again, it was five minutes –”
The impending bickering was forgotten when Grenda yelled, “ZIPPER!”
Confused, the others looked where she was pointing, and saw what she was referring to: a shiny, brand-new ride, standing several dozen feet tall and commanding attention with blinking lightbulbs. It was in the process of whipping carts around like they owed someone money. The whole thing was a bit frightening to behold, but alluring just the same.
Candy nearly dropped her cotton candy as her head tilted back to examine the structure. “Oooh, scary!”
“We're doing that first.” Mabel blindly reached to grab the wrist of the person closest to her, which happened to be Pacifica. “We're doing that a dozen times.”
“Is that safe?” said Marius in a meek voice.
“Who cares?!” Mabel nearly broke into a full sprint, throwing her empty cotton candy stick in a nearby garbage can as she passed it.
“Seriously, guys, is that safe?”
“You're more likely to die on the way to an amusement park than at one.” Candy finished off her snack with a shrug. “It's true.”
Pacifica gave the ride a wary once-over. “Going on that probably isn't helping our chances.”
“What's the worst that could happen?” Dipper took her hand and began to lead her towards the Zipper. “If we get hurt, Stan can just file a lawsuit.”
“Then we'd all be rich,” she teased.
“Grenda, my dove, are you sure this is a good idea?”
“Come on, babe! Live a little! You know I'll keep you safe.” Grenda pulled her boyfriend along, but was gentle about it, no doubt sensing his hesitation.
Pacifica eyed Marius, and she couldn't help but notice that he looked like a fish out of water. His casual clothes did little to hide his royal upbringing, and he looked like he didn't know how to hold his arms and legs. He'd eaten his cotton candy in tiny, bird-like nibbles, like he was afraid of it just because it was unfamiliar.
It all hit a little too close to home for her, and she got irritated and upset when things hit close to home. It was getting exhausting. Maybe doing something about it would help.
“Hey, Marius,” she called to her left.
He looked up at her, caught a bit off guard – the two of them didn't speak very often. “Yes?”
“I’ll go on it if you will.”
“Weren't you going to drop off the tower?”
“I can do that later.” She jerked her head in the direction of the Zipper. “Mabel’s gonna give us hell all night if we don't get it overwith.”
“But…”
“Listen, all of that stuff about dying was just us joking around.” She gave him what she hoped was a lowkey, reassuring smile. “American teenagers like to joke about stuff like that.”
“So do Austrian teenagers.” He bit his lip nervously. “It's just a bit different when you're face to face with it.”
“Seriously, dude, it wouldn't be running if it wasn't up to code,” Dipper said with convincing authority.
Pacifica nodded. “Yeah, but you might walk away with a bruised ego.”
Grenda’s brow furrowed defensively. “I wouldn't even let that happen. You're safe with Grenda.”
He sighed and looked back at the glowing lights. “...Very well.”
“So we have a deal?” Pacifica asked.
“We have a deal, if only for the sake of not disappointing my friends.”
The prince offered his hand to the former heiress, and she shook it firmly, the way her father taught her, as someone on the ride began screaming bloody murder.
Before long, all six of them were in line for the Zipper together, awaiting their uncertain fates with trepidation.
Mabel had been watching the ride intently for the last few minutes, analyzing all of its movements and drinking in the screams of the riders. Her bedazzled heart yearned for chaos.
Grenda and Marius were making goo-goo eyes at each other – she was playing with his hair, and he was looking at her like a lovesick fool.
“You can sit next to me, cutie,” she said with a wink. “If you get scared, you can scooch into my lap.”
“Doesn’t look like there’s much room for lap sitting in there. Everyone’s side by side,” Dipper observed.
“Ooh! Ooh! I call Paz! I’m sitting with Paz!” Mabel bounced over to Pacifica and hugged her arm tightly. “I haven’t had any Paz time since we got here.”
“Do I get a say in this?” her friend asked.
“Nope!”
Dipper nodded at Candy. “Looks like it’s you and me, then, Chiu.”
“Bring it on.” She gave him a very serious fist bump.
According to what he’d told Pacifica, he and Candy had a bit of a rocky start to their friendship several summers ago, but any awkwardness between them had long since evaporated, and they now loved to talk about games like Warhammer (which Mabel and Pacifica enjoyed making pieces for, but didn’t enjoy playing).
Truthfully, there were reasons why any seating arrangement between the group would have worked. They all got along pretty well, considering.
Before they knew it, they were being ushered onto the ride; Dipper and Candy first, and then Mabel and Pacifica. Grenda and Marius would go after them.
Pacifica approached the car with knees that had suddenly grown a little shaky, and was quickly pulled into her seat by Mabel. It was too late to back out now. Besides, she always made good on her deals, and this would be no exception.
The ride operator closed the door and secured the lock, and Mabel giggled manically and grabbed the bars in front of them. “You ready to meet your maker?”
“Please.” Pacifica wrapped her hands around the bars as well, holding on a bit tighter than what was probably necessary. “We’ve all been to literal hell and back. We can handle some stupid carnival ride.”
“Whatever you say, sister.”
Suddenly, the car lifted, and began swinging. The movement made her heart skip a beat, but she quickly got used to the way they were rocking freely in the air. She had time to collect herself as the operator let their friends on the next car.
She turned to Mabel and tried not to look terrified. “But if we die, I’m gonna kill you.”
All of the hard work her body put into relaxing was thrown out the window as the Zipper was switched out of Boarding Mode and into Ride Mode.
The machinery whirred louder as they were pushed forward and their car did two full spins, flipping them upside down and assaulting them with G forces. Pacifica screamed at the top of her lungs as her knuckles turned white. “I’m gonna KILL YOU!”
Beside her, Mabel shrieked and cackled, obviously enjoying herself immensely. Either she didn’t hear Pacifica’s threat, or she was having too much fun to care.
They had a brief moment of respite as the car just rocked for a moment, but soon, they were back to being shaken, flipped, tumbled, and other thrilling verbs.
Somewhere along the way, she wasn’t sure where, Pacifica found herself laughing, too. It was exhilarating . Her stomach jumped over and over again, each time less scary and more fun than the last. Once she knew for sure that it was safe, she quickly started to like the feeling of falling and being swooped back up. It was giving her an insane head rush.
Just as she was starting to see the merit in dumb nonsense like this, the Zipper slowed down, and the cars began to still. Pacifica’s heartbeat didn’t ease up to match, pounding in her chest long after the ride was over.
She looked over at Mabel, who was pushing her wild curls out of her face. She looked about the same as Pacifica felt: crazed and high on adrenaline.
The girl made eye contact with her and grinned. “Wanna go again?”
Pacifica nodded frantically. “Yes.”
After three more rounds, Pacifica knew for a fact that she loved thrill rides. Marius, however, did not.
Upon exiting the Zipper, he'd had to lean on Grenda for support, and he looked faint and pale as a ghost. The only thing he agreed to go on from that point forward was the carousel – no more excitement for him for the rest of the evening.
But while he and Pacifica still gave each other props afterward for taking the plunge, he still made her promise to never make him do anything like that again. They shook on it.
Now, it was a few hours later, and she had snuck off with Dipper for a ride on the ferris wheel. The girls had gotten engrossed in the carnival games, as was tradition, and the couple probably would have stuck around if not for wanting to spend a few minutes alone. The group was meeting Wendy’s crowd soon for the fireworks, so they may not have gotten another chance.
The ferris wheel cars were far from romantic; there was graffiti done in permanent marker, there was no cushioning on the seats, and the gate looked a bit less secure than the Zipper's. But neither of them planned on jumping out, so it was probably fine.
As soon as they'd sat down, he'd wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she relaxed into his side. It was kinda humid, but it didn't bother her. No amount of uncomfortable weather could dampen her mood.
Their car was slowly lifted by the wheel, and the world became hushed and hazy. All at once, Pacifica was overwhelmed by the realization that she felt completely and utterly relaxed.
She’d been let off work early to go to the fair with the boy she loved and her other best friends. She hadn't seen her parents in months. And once the night was over, she got to go watch Wheel of Fortune with Susan and her cats.
She felt like a kid. She actually felt like a normal teenage girl. There wasn't so much as a shred of anxiety in the back of her mind, not an ounce of dread in her heart.
The absence of fear was, by itself, a little offputting. She was used to keeping her guard up at all times, and letting it down was still a brand-new feeling for her. But if she was going to let her guard down around anyone, it might as well be Dipper Pines.
Her head rolled to the left to look up at his face in the warm light of the sunset. The metallic paint on his forehead shimmered as it caught the orange rays. (They'd all stopped by the face painting stall, and while she'd just gotten a simple, white flower on her cheek, Dipper had let the artist outline his birthmark in navy blue and embellish it with even more stars in vivid gold. And some of them went all-out; Candy insisted on being transformed into a T-Rex. Pacifica was kind of jealous – she'd have to opt for a more lavish design next time.)
She was reminded of the night they shared their first kiss; it had been around the same time of day, and he'd been holding her just like this. The memory soothed her nerves about her nerves. She needed to just let herself feel happy. She was safe now.
He noticed her movement, and met her eyes. “Everything okay? You having fun?”
Pacifica nodded and sighed with a subtle smile. “I’ve literally never felt better,” she reaffirmed.
“Good.” His thumb began gently stroking her skin where it rested on her upper arm. “I'm really glad we came back to town early. This was a great idea.”
“Welcome home.”
She caressed Dipper’s jawline in her hand and guided his face towards hers, pulling him into a slow, tender kiss. He melted into her, and she shivered. His lips tasted like sugar and freedom.
Once she was sufficiently dizzy, they stopped to breathe, and he rested his forehead against hers, reached for her hand, and laced their fingers together.
“I miss you a lot when we're apart,” he said, too low for anyone but her to hear.
“Poor thing,” she cooed, trailing her fingers down his cheek comfortingly like she didn't miss him just as much. “I can't imagine how miserable it must feel to be dating someone like me and live so far away.”
“I really love how humble you are.”
The use of the word ‘love’ made her stomach do a giddy backflip in spite of (or maybe because of) his sarcasm. She continued, acting like she hadn't heard him. “But you don't have to worry about missing me anymore, do you?”
“Nope,” he replied. She could hear his grin through his tone.
Pacifica gave Dipper a few more kisses, and she would have been content with smooching until the ride was over, but evidently, her boyfriend had other things on his mind. Before much longer, he pulled away to press a kiss to the top of her hand, which was a gesture he knew would catch her off guard.
He avoided her eyes, staring at her hands instead. There was a slight red tinge to his cheeks now. “So, uh… Mabel and I are gonna go apartment hunting this weekend.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled nervously. “Can't stay at the Shack forever, can we?”
Pacifica shrugged “No, I guess not.”
Soos and Melody would have let them stay as long as they wanted, of course, since they were family, but it was starting to get a little cramped. Inez’s crib was by her parents’ bed for now, but eventually, she'd need her own room. And the grunkles still lived in the house when they weren't at sea. With the family expanding and the twins moving to Gravity Falls full-time, the attic was becoming prime real estate. It only made sense that Dipper and Mabel wanted to get their own place.
“Besides, none of the dorms at Ponderosa Gulch are co-ed. Can't split up the Mystery Twins.”
“You two would be insufferable if you had to live in different buildings,” she teased.
“Yeah, I don't know if we're quite ready for that yet.” Dipper cleared his throat and looked out towards the people below them – they were pretty high up now. “Anyway… we were, um, gonna go do a couple tours. Make a day of it.”
She caught his chin between her thumb and her pointer finger. “You told me that already, doofus.”
“I know.” The red tinge darkened. “I'm trying to work up the nerve to ask you something.”
After hearing that, Pacifica's own cheeks suddenly started to grow warm. Oh. Why would he get so nervous while talking about apartment hunting with her? Why else would he need to work up the nerve for that, if not for…
There was a pretty obvious reason, but she didn't want to jump to conclusions until she could coax a more concrete answer out of him. She'd be humiliated if she was wrong.
All of her nerve endings started to feel floaty, and she had to make a conscious effort to breathe. Stay cool, Pacifica. Manage your expectations.
“You can ask me anything,” she said in a near-whisper, hoping she sounded more soothing and approachable than desperate.
Dipper squeezed her hand, nodded, and exhaled. “I know. But it's a big ask.”
She tried to steel herself. “I bet I can handle it.”
“I wanted to see if you… well, Mabel and I both wanted to see if you wanted to…” He coughed. “...if you would like to come along with us.”
A pause.
“To the apartments,” he added.
She tried to keep her hands steady. “You want me to go with you guys?”
“Uh-huh.” His voice cracked. “It might be fun. Right?”
“I mean, sure.” Pacifica tilted her head and bit her lip. “But are you just asking me to tag along because it would be fun to spend the day together, or are you trying to ask me something else? Cause I don't think hanging out is a big ask.”
“No, it's not.”
The former heiress waited patiently for him to continue. He normally wasn't this nervous around her; typically, they were on pretty even ground. The only other time she'd seen him act like this was when he confessed his feelings for her. Was that a good sign or a bad sign?
She leaned forward, suddenly feeling a bit bold. Maybe he just needed a reminder of how much she liked him. “So spit it out, Dipper,” she said, mirroring her response to his trepidation on the morning they became official.
His eyes lit up, and he finally made eye contact with her, obviously recognizing what moment she was referring to. His face began to shift from red to a soft pink – still flustered, but in a different manner now.
Re-adjusting his grip on her hand, he sat up a little straighter. “We wanted to know if you’d like to move in with us, once we find a good place. Well, good enough . I doubt it'll be a high rise.”
Pacifica’s stomach did a backflip as soon as the words left his mouth.
She had to resist the urge to immediately grab him by the collar and attack him with kisses again. She also resisted the urge to lean over the side of the car and start shouting at the other fair patrons about what a perfect day she was having. Instead, she settled for watching him with soft eyes.
She was so lucky.
“It’d be cool to see you every day, you know?” he continued as he visibly became more relaxed. “And you're already so close with Mabel, so she’d love it, too. She actually kept bugging me to ask you earlier today. I was gonna wait til tomorrow, but she insisted.”
“That is a big ask,” she said with a grin.
A last-minute thought flashed across his face. “But you don't have to if you don't want to. I know you're pretty happy living with Susan right now, and I know you just moved out before that–”
She shushed him. “Hey, I love Susan, but, like…” Undeniable excitement danced at the edges of her eyes. “Living with you guys sounds like a total dream come true.”
He perked up. “Really?”
“Really really.”
She left out the part where she'd been fantasizing about her and the twins getting their own apartment for years . She could tell him that another day – she had to save some sweet nothings for later.
Her hand tightened around his. “My answer is yes.”
He giggled – actually giggled – and pulled her into a celebratory hug, which she happily reciprocated.
This was happening. This was actually happening.
Pacifica was going to share a home – a real, proper home – with two people she loved more than words could express. They were gonna buy furniture together, and choose their own decor, and cook dinner for each other, and…
And she could get a cat. Or maybe a bird. She missed the peacocks that used to run around the Manor’s courtyard, but while the local landlords might permit a budgie or a cockatiel, she doubted any of them would allow a pet peacock. For that matter, would any of them allow a pet pig ?
Whatever. They could worry about all that later. Besides, not many people could resist the combined charm of Mabel and Waddles.
Dipper leaned back and kissed her forehead with enthusiasm. “Oh, this is gonna be so great! We can start looking online tomorrow. Is that cool?”
“Sure!”
“That's not too fast, is it?”
“Nope.” Over the years, she'd browsed nearby rentals countless times. She wondered if he had done the same. “Way ahead of you.”
The last sentence had slipped out without a second thought, and once she realized what she said, her blush returned.
But Dipper didn't seem to mind. All he did was nod and say, “Me, too.”
Ohhh. He loves me, doesn't he?
Right as they were about to lean in for another kiss, the ferris wheel stopped on the ground with a groan, and the ride operator opened the door for them, which snapped them out of their happy little bubble.
Dipper twisted his head around to silently plead with the employee to let them stay on for another round. The man glared at him with an expression that showed he'd gotten the same look from a million other teenagers in the past.
Despite that, he rolled his eyes and pressed a big green button on the control panel. There was no line right now, anyway, so he probably figured it wouldn't hurt anything. Either that, or he didn't care enough to fight them on the issue.
The car began moving again, and Dipper called, “Thanks, man!”
He earned a grunt and a half-hearted wave in response.
She watched a blackbird land on top of a nearby tent and stretch its wings. It tilted its head at her, nearly making direct eye contact, and stretched its feathers outward. She took its shiny, black wings, accented with a splash of red, as a positive sign from Abigale. A bit of grief and longing for her grandmother returned for a moment, but it was laced with love and warmth. Other people had cardinals; Pacifica had blackbirds.
Pacifica snuggled even closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder, sighing in contentment. “Let's go look at couches first.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Couches?”
“Yeah. I want to save up for one of those really big, comfy ones you can take a nap on.”
Dipper shrugged and rested his head on top of hers. “Okay, then.”
“And I want it to have room for all three of us to be lazy, plus extra.”
“Have you thought a lot about couches before?”
“Yes, actually” She would have pulled his hat down over his face if he was wearing it. “None of the antique seats at the Manor were comfy, and the Shack just has a dinky little armchair. I want us to have a proper couch.”
“In that case, we'll be sure to find one that you like. Don't worry.” His fingers idly combed through her hair. “Our couch is gonna be the best couch you’ve ever sat on.”
“I like that you said our couch.”
“I kind of love you.”
“I kind of love you, too.”
They spent the rest of the ride in blissful silence, holding each other and letting the ambience of the fair engulf them like a hand-knitted blanket.
Below them, their friends could be seen celebrating a win at the balloon popping stand. Countless other groups of friends and families dotted the worn-down grass, each of them unique, each in their own little worlds. The sight was both humbling and saccharine.
The blackbird took flight and flew towards the setting sun behind the cliffs, singing as it went.
Pacifica was free.
