Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dipper took down one supernatural problem today, but while he ate his second slice of pizza after a long day's work, his mind took off with thoughts of his other mysteries.

Both of which had family at the center.

The simpler yet somehow stranger one involved Grunkle Stan. The only reason there was a mystery was because his weird great uncle was acting, well, weird. Like a bizarro version of himself!

Okay, so buying everyone pizza for all their free labor in fixing the gift shop after an anomaly destroyed it wasn't too weird. But offering free merchandise? Not just once but twice!

He tried to rationalize it the first time around, especially since Penelope was the one to rally everyone together and get them fixing everything. But afterwards when she tried buying her younger sisters their bribe for helping out, he kept trying to say it was on the house too! 

The only reason he didn't end up covering it was because she insisted on paying, said she didn't want to take advantage - although she did accept a discount. Grunkle Stan didn't push the issue but Dipper wasn't sure what to make of the way he looked afterwards. Glum? Disappointed? There was just something sad in his eyes he couldn't pin down. He just didn't get why, his favorite type of customer was a paying one!

(It was easier to think of things as a mystery instead of wondering why his grunkle seemed so sad.)

Mabel poked him whenever Stan and Ms Flores were interacting with one another during their dinner. Saying things like “see Dipper, he's just being nice to her kids so she'll like him” and “scrapbook-urtunity!”

It's amazing how she was able to sneak all those pictures while announcing them.

Ultimately he could admit she had a point and yet he couldn't shake the way Stan looked…

And then there's the other one, the more complicated mystery was definitely the one surrounding Grunkle Ford. Dipper thought things were back to ‘normal’ in the shack but it didn't last long at all.

“I… Maybe it's better if you ask your uncle. I don't think I can explain it now.”

Yeah, it can't remain a mystery, even if Grunkle Ford tries to keep it that way. He didn't stick around long, Dipper wasn't sure if he even grabbed a slice of pizza before hiding out in his lab. The lingering thoughts left behind kept taunting him: What happened between his new friend and Grunkle Ford? What new info from that cursed book made them react like that?

Those questions kept playing on loop throughout as they finished up working in the giftshop, while they ate their pizza dinner, and as the Flores family eventually left their residence, giving Wendy a ride back to her place. As soon as it was just him, his twin, and Soos left at the kitchen table, Dipper had to speak up.

“Guys, I know I brought it up before but have you noticed, it feels like there's something going on.”

“Hmm,” Mabel said, considering. She made a face scrutinizing him, as if trying to see if he was hiding something. “Have you been worried ‘cause of Stan's memories?” 

“I,” Dipper started, then cut himself off. “I didn't think about that but now I am.” That's such a huge variable and he didn't consider it! It's not like Stan would ever be honest and tell them but he definitely remembered some stuff with Ms Flores.

“Well don't worry Dipper! I thought of it and I'll keep my eyes peeled for anything,” she exclaimed self-assuredly. “Besides, I'm sure that Ms Flores is a really nice lady. Grunkle Stan would be fine if they started dating.”

“It's not that I don't think she's not a nice lady,” he trailed off. It's really not that at all, he doesn't actually have a real opinion on her. They haven't spoken yet either. The last thing he's heard her say from a broader conversation was her insisting on helping out in ‘Operation Fix The Giftshop Again’ - while Stan and Penelope kept telling her she didn't have to.

So she probably is a nice lady, and  Grunkle Stan did seem happy reuniting with her. (That was until he started getting that sad look in his eyes, not just around Penelope but her mom too now that he thought about it.)

“Maybe writing some fanfiction would help dudes,” Soos added, chipper as usual. “It'll turn all those worries into creative writing and help you think through everything that's possible. I'll have to add her to my Stanfiction if things really become serious between them.” He looked like he was thinking about where to fit her in whatever storyline he already created.

“Oh I've been thinking about the possibilities alright! Picture this Dipper,” his sister said. “If we get a new grauntie, our family gets bigger. I don't think they can have babies ‘cause they're old, but that's still four new cousins we'll get! And one of them is already your friend that likes nerdy stuff too.”

“The idea of it sounds nice,” he responded, which was sort of true but he still felt unsure of it - but that didn't matter now. “What I'm trying to say is that some things aren't making sense to me. I know you guys will say I've been focusing too much on this but I think there's something upsetting Grunkle Stan. And something else might've happened with the curse because-”

Just as he was about to mention how off things were with his friend after talking to their grunkle, and how Ford just shut himself away so suddenly, he appeared again. It was just his uncle popping through the doorway. There probably wouldn't be an issue if he did overhear, but it was embarrassing how often he'd been caught today. 

“Ah, good you're all together,” Ford said. “Just wanted to say make sure you're all in one place. We're having a family meeting in a brief moment so stick around.” He didn't even fully enter the room when he spoke to them, just left once again presumably to look for Stan.

“Whoa, Ford called for a family meeting and it sounded like I'm included too,” Soos said, awestruck. Of course he would be, he's practically family, no one would expect him to just go off to his side of the house. “Do you think it's about what you were talking about?”

“I guess so?” Dipper really couldn't believe it - he imagined himself snooping, eavesdropping, maybe even interrogating before considering either of his grunkles just tell them without being asked. “Unless there's some secret third thing going on.”

“I'm sure there's nothing else happening,” Mabel replied, her normally cheerful expression changed to a more thoughtful, considering one. “Is something really upsetting Grunkle Stan?” Her brows furrowed, she hadn't noticed at all and felt bad for not seeing it herself.

“Hey, I'm not even sure exactly what's going on with him. You know how he is, he doesn't even believe he has feelings!” Dipper quickly said to cheer up his sister. He only just happened to notice something but he still couldn't pin down what that something is. “Whatever the family meeting is about we'll ask him point blank.” 

She nodded back, but Dipper could tell she still had some doubts in mind. Doubts she couldn't hold back when a few minutes later she blurted them out, once both of their grunkles were sitting right in front of them at the kitchen table.

Grunkle Stan wasn't looking all that confident in whatever he was planning to say, until hearing Mabel's blurted out question: “Is Ms Flores making you sad?!” It took him by surprise but whatever was making him hesitate left him, and he answered her with a grin.

“Were you two knuckleheads worried about me?” He spoke in his gruff yet reassuring way, “You kids don't gotta worry about a thing, I just got a lot on my mind. And as for Mari- Or well, Ms Flores, no she hasn't done anything to make me sad.”

When he said her name, it almost looked like his cheeks got a little red before he turned his face away. If Dipper wasn't paying so much attention he probably wouldn't have noticed. 

“Really?” Mabel asked, she definitely saw that their grumpy old grunkle blushed.

“Then what's been on your mind, did you remember something bad or did something happen?”

The mystery he thought he found couldn't just be old people relationship stuff right?

“It would be good to disclose some details about the past Stanley, it'll better explain the matter at hand,” Grunkle Ford said gently, yet it still sounded like it was part of a conversation they've had before.

“Yeah, yeah,” he sighed in response. “I can't remember everything in the middle but my memories's good enough for this conversation at least.”

“You're seriously gonna tell us?!” 

Dipper wasn't as excited as his sister to hear about his grunkle's dating life, he thought the topic was dodged yesterday but it looks like it's back. I guess this family meeting is a ‘our family is going to be different now’ type of conversation.

He supposed this was better than the last time this happened.

“So I met Marisela way back at a diner she worked at. We became friends, helped each other out- Well it felt like it was mostly her helping me out, but still we watched each other's backs,” Grunkle Stan recounted. “Anyway, I won't bore you all with the details but we ended up dating, actually got pretty serious together.

“As serious as we were about each other, both of us had problems outside our relationship. We tried but I didn't want my problems to become hers so… we separated, lost contact with each other. I ended up coming to this town a couple of weeks after that and yeah that sums up our history.”

“Oh, Mr Pines, that's awful.” Soos looked like he wanted to comfort him after hearing that, but Grunkle Stan didn't look like he'd want that now. It was almost like he was being hard on himself but Dipper didn't understand why. 

He gets that his grunkle simplified his story by a lot, was it because of whatever problems he had in the past?

“Are you two going to try again? Both of you found each other, so you can be together now and everything will be okay,” Mabel practically insisted. She definitely agreed with the sentiment that it was a terrible situation; maybe she could also feel the reminder of what's happening back home.

“Sweetie, it's not that simple,” Grunkle Stan said, gentler than he usually is. Maybe he can tell where their minds were going with this conversation.

“Why not? It can work this time!” 

“We're getting a little off topic from the family meeting,” Ford said firmly yet still soft, trying to take control of the conversation. “It'll make more sense after we reach the topic at hand.” His face looked like he was hoping things wouldn't escalate.

“But don't you two like each other still?” She hadn't meant to raise her voice and it showed with how unusually meek her response now was. At that point Dipper honestly wanted to stop whatever this family meeting was about and go back to the attic with his sister.

“We do, I can't see us being together like that but we're still friends,” Stan reassured, before looking a little more serious, like he was about to rip off a proverbial bandaid. “Kids me and Ms Flores have been talking since we met again, and there's more to the story I told. I've been trying to find the best way to phrase it.

“You see, she started looking for me around the time I started going by ‘Stanford’, it wasn't easy to find me”, he explained, then spoke faster before he was cut off. “It took her until now to see me but it was too important to forget about. She- She wanted to tell me that we have a kid together, I have a daughter.”

Nobody would've cut him off anymore, it was like you could hear a pin drop. The only one that wasn't surprised was Grunkle Ford, who seemed to be quietly assessing everyone. Mabel definitely looked shocked. And Soos always had his heart on his sleeve, but whatever he was feeling he was still processing, his face expressionless. 

Dipper was likewise also shocked and processing, the gears in his mind rapidly spinning. “Wait, you mean Penelope?! But hold on-” He thought about the adult he had technically met just yesterday but only started to know this afternoon, trying to see if there were similarities.

So maybe Penelope was bossy like Grunkle Stan, and kinda sarcastic, and their attitudes were- “Okay, I can sorta see a resemblance now.” He didn't even notice that they sort of did look alike until now, before yet another puzzle piece fit in place. (If it was even a puzzle to be solved given his grunkle just gave the answer.) “And that's why you gave a gift to her in the shop earlier, you were trying to be nice to her!”

He was trying to not feel vindicated for being right there was something more going on. The look his grunkle had earlier with her was more obvious now, like something bittersweet being able to spend some time together.

“Why didn't she say anything before,” Mabel asked. Prior to all this she got along well with the woman they now knew was their cousin. Did she not want to say anything to them?

“I've spoken with her for a brief moment and I've, well, I also overheard her mother's conversation with Stanley. Penelope doesn't seem to know yet,” Ford said, speaking up for his twin that didn't quite hide the hurt from his own confession. In hindsight, Dipper could now see that Grunkle Ford was trying to be a sort of mediator/emotional support.

“Are you going to see her?”

“Of course I'm going to,” Grunkle Stan said, with no pause to even think about Soos's question. “I want to anyway,” he self-corrected. “Her ma said she's gonna tell her tonight, will let me know how it goes, what kinda pace Penelope wants to take. Heh, Mari would strangle me if I don't let her set her boundaries.”

Dipper didn't get why he kinda smiled at that last sentence, but he'll take it as his grunkle still being his usual weird self. It was kinda comforting to know that whatever changed afterwards at least that's still the same.

“So we're not seeing her again tomorrow?” Mabel sounded like she really wanted to see her as quick as possible, meet once again but now with the context of knowing they were family.

“Possibly,” Ford said, with Stan saying ‘hopefully’ at the same time. “This is very big news so let's give some time and not overwhelm her.” 

He says that but Dipper overheard him ask Penelope if she had any interest in the paranormal. Dipper wasn't sure how to respond to that immediately - he's gotten better with his ‘hero worship’ but not to the point of challenging him that way - when Stan added on.

“I can see you thinking from over here and whatever it is, drop it. It wouldn't be fair to hide all this from you kids, just like how it wouldn't be fair to bombard her with too many questions right off the bat. Let's try not to scare her off- Scratch that, both her and Ms Flores, this situation is hard enough for them as it is.”

“Yeah, I get it I won't go overboard,” Dipper agreed to the firm boundaries his grunkle put up. He hadn't started formulating any questions for either of them, at least nothing too bad. If they have a conversation anytime soon he'll try to take it easy. He did want to know more about his long lost relative after all.

It was at least easy to promise right now; he didn't even know what he would want to start asking. Dipper just started realizing how tired he was, even if the time wasn't that late at night. The conversation may have been a bit of a rollercoaster, but he and his sister did also deal with some magical stuff and cleaned up after.

Their grunkles did notice, as they promised if there were any other questions or thoughts, they could talk more the next day. Ford was getting the younger twins to go upstairs, when usually it was Stan that did that, or both. 

Instead Stan stayed behind at the kitchen table, asking Soos if he had an extra minute to stick around. 

Dipper didn't get to hear the answer, and he wondered what they would talk about. Soos had taken on a seriousness that didn't fit him. He could feel both him and Mabel wanted to continue being there for both of them.

But ultimately he knew that they couldn't be there, so he continued his march up the stairs, getting himself ready for bed. Even as tired as he was, and he was sure his sister was as well, he didn't think either of them would immediately fall asleep.

“My dear, are you sure you want to do that now?” 

Mabel was sitting on her bed and had taken out her knitting needles and yarn, he could guess easily what his sister was about to start making now. She answered Ford's question, “It helps me think clearly. Grunkle Ford, you think we'll see her again right?”

“I'm certain we will Mabel,” he answered confidently. “And for the record, Stanley and his old girlfriend think so too. Are you two alright?”

She nodded back but had her eyes glued onto the big sweater she was knitting. “Yeah, but Grunkle Stan's story- Everything that happened was so… tragic.”

Ford looked back at Dipper, who shrugged for his own response and said, “I'm fine but I don't even know what to say about everything. I'm still sort of thinking about it.”

Their grunkle just sighed, “Things will be better tomorrow, you two just need to rest.” He was bidding them both goodnight; it seemed obvious he was trying his best but still unsure what else to say, before Dipper spoke up again.

“Grunkle Ford, I actually wanted to ask you something, it's not really about the family meeting at all. Could we talk about it tomorrow?”

His great uncle didn't look surprised and a little glad he's not asking to talk about it now before he agreed then left their room.

It almost slipped Dipper's mind that he had another mystery before the one surrounding his Grunkle Stan was solved, or well, straight up just told to him. He couldn't forget that there's another one centering a different family member. Dipper rested his head on the pillow, not sure what to say if he decided to speak up about all this to his sister. Mabel likewise was busy at work with her needles, he started paying attention to the sound of it to try to fall asleep.

Maybe this other mystery will be as easily answered as Stan's, at least it'll take his mind off of the rest of the family drama. That's the hope anyway.

Chapter Text

“EW! What the heck!”

Penelope just wanted to read one chapter of her romantasy book. Just relax for one second before she breaks the news to her mom that there's an evil, cursed book in their midst that's probably plotting (heh) something. She just had to figure out how to say all that but then it went and did something new.

She learned her lesson when she touched it yesterday, the bandages covering her injury on her palm proved it. So she took a bunch of paper towels to not touch it directly, grabbing it and whatever the mess it made is. Lupe went to show it to her brother, the only one around that both knew about it and was relatively fine handling it.

“King, this thing murdered my book!”

Maybe murdered was an exaggeration but what else could she call it? Some black, goopy something had come from that book and into hers. Oh god it's moving! She dropped both books onto the floor in an instant. 

Lupe was apparently brave enough to face off against the supernatural, but this thing felt the same way as seeing a giant, creepy roach in the house. She did not want whatever that was near her.

Before she could try to find something random in the room to smash it with (hell no she wasn't going to stomp it with sandals on), her brother quickly grabbed a plastic bag and snatched her messed up book. Whatever that is seemed pretty contained in there, although the inky black tendrils still moved inside. So gross.

“Good thinking King,” she praised. “It's too late to go all the way back now, but when we do, Dr Pines can check it out.” Lupe doubted he'd be available now; he wasn't old old, maybe a few years older than their mom, but people around their age did tend to go to bed early.

That statement seemed to make her brother shrink into himself, and her brain rewinded itself to see if she said something wrong. He'd been like this since before leaving the Mystery Shack and it just wasn't right to see. His normal was constant restless energy, some sort of movement even when he sat down reading, drawing, or completely locked in while playing a videogame. 

Now he was just still, no fidgeting, not bouncing his legs, nothing. He must be depressed about this cursed book stuff not having a quick fix, Penelope thought.

“It's a shame Wolfman Bare Chest didn't make it. Was really looking forward to reading it again.” No response. “You know that goopy thing kinda looked like that one villain guy, you know, from that comic book you read!”

Yeah, still nothing. She thought it was easy bait for him to talk trash on her book. Or correct her with some comic book lore or whatever. Any other time there'd probably be some sort of back and forth between them. 

Okay, I guess he needs sincerity and not a distraction. 

“King, you know you can talk to me about this right? And anything else really.”

“I know.”

It doesn't really sound like you do, but she kept that thought to herself. “Well, even if you have nothing to say, it might help to talk about it before we bring up everything to mom.”

That might've still been the wrong thing to say, he just nodded in response. The angsty teenage phase is no joke.

“Alright, you don't have to say anything now Joaquin,” she conceded. “Just remember this thing won't last forever and everything will be okay.”

“What if it doesn't go away and nothing's normal anymore?”

A full sentence at last, but where'd this come from? He was at least hopeful before. “It will. Maybe it's not an instant fix, but you happened to meet people that know all about this kind of stuff! Give it time, we can deal with whatever comes.”

“I don't think they can help with this,” he murmured.

Penelope raised her pierced eyebrow at that, something definitely happened there but she doubts he'll open up about it now. “Then we'll figure it out,” she exclaimed confidently. 

She doesn't often talk with her hands, she just happened to do it at that moment to emphasize the point. That thing could destroy all her books, do whatever weird shit it wants, and she'd still be there to protect her family. It was basically her job after all.

He didn't respond verbally once again, he just openly looked at her hand. Any stranger would've been staring at her extra digits, but it was instead honed in on the bandages over her injury. 

Like that was already enough said.

“Joaquin-”

There was a knock at the door that connected between the other family room. “¿Está todo bien allá dentro?”

The door cracked open a little and both of them simultaneously looked down where the cursed book was left on the floor. The only one that got bagged up was her now messed up copy of Wolfman Bare Chest, but the source of all their problems wasn't touched. She would've kicked it under the bed, keep it out of sight for the moment.

But now it's gone. Again.

This thing is going to drive her crazy, she thought. It had a mind of its own and she had no clue why it left suddenly or where, but at least it'll buy enough time before she has to explain it.

“Lupita? Quino?” Their mom looked at them as if wondering what was going on between them. Penelope didn't think they were that loud but maybe she was already headed there when she overheard something. Or it's just that obvious.

“Everything's fine mami, we were just talking,” Lupe said.

“Yeah, we just finished.” Her brother took advantage of the interruption and left the room, going into the adjacent one. She didn't think King would leave the B&B and sulk outside, he could do that just fine in the other bedroom. 

Their mom didn't go after him, she just went further into the room, walking up to her instead. The expression she gave was pure: ‘Spill it and don't lie this time around.’ Even as an adult Lupe was weak to prolonged exposure.

“Okay, okay, I'll talk. King's a little overwhelmed right now. Doesn't want to talk about it.” 

Her sharp eyes definitely detected that there's way more to the story than she's letting on, but she didn't push it in the moment. “Tu te preocupas demasiado mija,” she said reassuringly. “That is my job. Give him space, I will talk to him tomorrow.”

Tomorrow, she sighed. Penelope knew she had a point to give her brother space. Maybe she can use her mom magic to get him to feel better. Heck maybe her little sisters are currently doing that now, they don't butt heads nearly as often.

But that still meant she had until tomorrow to explain the whole paranormal situation they're stuck in. She should probably do it now, it'd be one less thing weighing on them and maybe she'll even have some ideas on how to deal with it. 

What if I do a terrible job explaining it, and it reminds her of some past trauma? Or it stresses her out too much? Torito isn't even in the room with them, her little sisters were probably playing with the old service dog. Maybe she should have the dog with her before-

“Lupita, do you have a moment to talk?”

“Of course mami.” Maybe she didn't show it physically but on the inside she definitely was thinking, Oh snap does she already know something is going on. Her mind couldn't help going in that direction, her mom tends to keep her feelings to herself but Lupe could tell she something was weighing on her.

“Ay mija, I wanted to tell it to you yesterday- Don' make that face it is nothing bad.”

Yeah, contrary to what her brother might believe, she definitely did worry about things - and her mom could always see through her. “Ma it's okay, I was really tired yesterday anyway- And hey, this is good news then right?”

“I think it is great news Lupita-”

Midsentence, text notifications were calling out, from her phone. Her mom looked like she was going to ignore it but Penelope definitely wasn't going to.

“It's your mystery man right,” she said teasingly. “¿No le vas a contestar?”

She had to be right on the money when she got called payasita in response, her mom checking on her phone. The embarrass mom button was still there- Penelope just had to use it while it lasts! 

She wasn't planning on hounding her mom to see what they were saying - she could plainly imagine how it'd look. Terrible misspellings everywhere, maybe photos of adorable cartoons with little sayings on them from her mom. Possibly the occasional picture of her dog looking cute at a bad angle. As close as they were, and as oddly endearing it was that her mom had been texting this guy so often, Lupe isn't planning on taking a peek at that chat. Better not do that in case I see something I can't unsee later.

Whatever message she was sending to her mystery man, she looked away, instead directing her attention to the photo that accidentally slipped out of her mom's cardigan pocket.

Dad. She's seen this old polaroid and a few others over a million times in her life, and it's gotten more bittersweet with time. Especially after she'd turned officially older than the 27 year old man in the photo, flexing his muscles at her mom holding the camera. It's too young to her now for him to be, well, gone.

Her mom was the sentimental type, so it wasn't the biggest surprise to see this on a trip so far from home. It still begged the question of why she currently had it on her. They only talk about the topic in the rare quiet moments nowadays, and that was purposely done on Penelope's part. Her younger half-siblings have enough with their own daddy issues, she didn't want to remind them of that fact with hearing her own.

It's been a while since they've had a quiet moment to talk. Did she just want to tell her a story about him? Or maybe some sort of segue into maybe trying to date again? Lupe wasn't planning on asking outright, she just glanced at her mom who's already looking at her. 

She wasn't sure how long she'd been staring at the old photo, lost in her thoughts, for her mom to look at her that way.

“Penelope I found him.”

“What?” She had great hearing, but she couldn't immediately process what she meant-

“Mija, I found your dad.”

She may as well have been one of the computers she works with, with the way she froze processing what her mom said. Penelope didn't have a joke on hand to distract from how she must've looked. Or felt. All she could do was try to reboot her brain and make sense of it.

As silly as it may have sounded, there was some videogame her brother used to rave about all the time that came to mind. A big chunk of the plot involved Schroeninger's Cat as some sort of explanation or metaphor for alternative time lines. At the time and even now, she couldn't help comparing after hearing it. Open the box and you find out whether the cat had died tragically or stayed alive miraculously; while it's closed it's practically in limbo, an in-between state. 

She's lived her whole life in limbo, having to accept the alive-missing, dead-lost, ultimately gone father, not able to get answers. Now her mom managed to find that box and wants to show her what's inside.

“Where is he,” she asked, stilted. “Is he- Is he alive?”

The melancholic way her mom looked made her look older than she actually was, and she didn't want to ever be the cause. She shouldn't ever feel that way. “Lupe, look closer at his face,” she said pointing at the photo.

It took her off guard not expecting that answer but she did it. The photo wasn't the highest quality, it wasn't like her mom could afford a professional camera back in the day. At least she did currently have her glasses on so she can try to see what the heck her mom was-

Wait. Maybe she's lost her mind, but she's seen that face before and not just in a small picture. It could just be the idea that he's gotta be alive combined with her mom saying she's somehow found him after all this time- She's seen two different and way older versions of that face today.

“Those twin guys- No, your mystery man.” Holy crap I met my dad today. No, yesterday. She was suddenly mortified that practically the first thing she did was try to hook her mom up with a date with him- Why the heck did that have to be her first impression!

“Ustedes dos tienen las mismas muecas y todo,” her mom said, almost to herself. “He was very surprised too but he wants to see you. We have been talking a lot about you.”

“He really wants to see me?” Penelope hated how her voice sounded when she repeated it, she didn't mean to but it sounded like something that'd come from a younger version of her.

“Ay, claro mi tesoro,” her mom reassured, hugging her like she was still that little kid. She didn't mind hugs from her but she couldn't help feeling like she's screwing up being the strong one in the family. “He just told me he let his family know about you. Whenever you're ready you can visit.”

Whenever I'm ready? When would that ever be? It'd be the smart choice to mentally prepare, mom's always been more strategic minded. But frankly as nervous and sweaty as she was, she had half the mind to make the crazy choice and drive there now, dressed in her sleep clothes and all.

Definitely can't do that, it's bad enough being seen as a freak right off the bat by half the people she meets but… Her dad and his side of the family didn't seem like that. Dipper and Mabel, her little cousins apparently, weren't at all phased, and meeting her uncle she can see why. And her dad… 

“I think I'll go tomorrow,” she said, still nervous but trying to psych herself up. Perhaps not that discreetly she wiped her sweaty hands on her shorts.

Her mom could definitely tell that she isn't actually ready, but wouldn't ever dissuade her. “If you are sure. I can be there if you want me,” she said, patting her back.

“Ama, of course I'm sure! I can handle anything life throws me! I can definitely go see my dad I've presumed dead my whole life.”

“I know you can do anything, mija. Just know it is okay to ask for help,” her mom said. “Do not worry, your dad can be a sweet man. But if you want me to handle him I will.” She didn't say it as a joke but she just had a way of saying serious things that come out silly, it even got a surprise chuckle out of her. I guess if things go bad, her mom would fight for her honor, or something like that. 

Penelope wasn't going to think about how up until that point she thought those two were about to start dating, from the definite flirty vibes she saw. Best not to have that idea now, it's gotten way too complicated and she wasn't sure how to feel about it.

No, she just had to focus on what she knew - her dad didn't seem like a bad guy. Good intentioned at least, she thought as she shot a glance towards the beanie he gifted her, set on top of the clothes she'll wear tomorrow. Her mom never said a bad word about him through her stories either, at any part of her life.

But Penelope also knew her mom wouldn't trash talk anyone as honest as she was, even if she was done wrong. She's held grudges over things her mom just tries to move past.

No, the proverbial box is open now and he's alive, so now she can get her answers - not just for her sake but for her mom too.

Her mind was trying to formulate the lifetime of questions she had, but didn't know where to begin, when both her and her mom heard a noise from the door connecting the two rooms.

“Niños, abran la puerta,” her mom said after not even looking in that direction for two seconds.

Sheepishly, it seemed all three of younger siblings were piled next to the door that her youngest sister Phoebe just opened. Looks like all of them, even the dog, had been listening in. She was probably starting to form a headache from the whole situation, not just from hearing her mom chastising them. 

A lot's on her mind but she couldn't ever imagine sitting on this information for a few days. She couldn't forget what's already on her plate either, that stupid cursed book thing. Maybe after meeting her dad she'll figure out how to tell her mom…

Does her brother look like that because the book did something else or what?

Chapter Text

It was another day of Soos working his dream job as Mr Mystery and yep, that dream hadn't changed one bit even after last night's family meeting.

(And how awesome was it to be included in a family meeting!)

Soos couldn't lie and say that he wasn't affected by it, though he supposed he should've seen it coming. Family meetings were always serious business on tv and this one was no exception dude. The whole situation definitely brought up thoughts regarding his own biological father. But Mr Pines wasn't anything like that man. 

Even if he'd never openly say it, he clearly felt deeply about it. Like, it was basically written all over his face! If Stan had his own time wish he would've wished to have his daughter in his life level of regret. He didn't have a time wish, and Soos couldn't go back and give him his own, but he knew that Mr Pines would do anything for her.

That was especially clear in their man to man talk.

“The kids are too young to hear about my past, and even then there are things I still want to take to the grave. I don't want you to think differently about me either but- If you got any questions, any details you want me to give, I'll give it.”

Mr Pines was still the same man he respected and admired.

The man he considered to be like his father cared not just about the twins’ feelings and his daughter's but his own. He was already trying to not let his own situation cloud his judgment, and that offer sealed the deal for him.

“You don't have to do that Mr Pines! I understand what's going on plenty,” he had said reassuringly. “For what it's worth I know she'd want to see you as soon as possible.”

There weren't any hugs or anything last night like in any of the sitcoms he's watched, but Mr Pines definitely appreciated the words. And it turned out Soos was right! Literally minutes after their talk last night he received a response from his old girlfriend. 

As soon as possible indeed.

“Hmmmm, I think after this last group we can go on break dude.”

Wendy looked relieved, he may have kept her up late telling her what happened at the family meeting. “It's unusually early but I'm not complaining boss. You're not gonna change your mind if I ask why right?”

“Nah dude, I just think there's something I gotta do,” Soos said cheerfully, heading back out there for one last tour before their mentioned break.

Sure enough as he went to gather the tourists for the museum tour he saw her again. Penelope had been hanging around but hadn't gone up to the building. Each time he's seen her, she looked nervous, and kinda sweaty, even from a distance. 

He didn't think she'd leave anytime soon, or at least he hoped not. It was the first time he hoped a tour would go by fast, even if he didn't show it with his natural enthusiasm. 

Soos did his part in his job then led them to the giftshop before heading outside, and luckily she was still there. This time around she sat under a tree and was definitely in a contemplative mood. He didn't think anyone else would've known to look for her. It was almost like she planted herself in a spot she wouldn't be noticed!

“Hey there dude!”

Penelope was startled not having heard him coming, but seemed to recover quickly, trying to not look surprised. “Oh, hey man. What's up?”

“Nothing much, I've just been seeing you around and thought I should come talk to you.”

“Oh, sorry," she said, eyes wide and embarrassed. “I didn't mean to loiter or anything-”

“You're not in any trouble, dude. I just thought you needed to talk to someone,” Soos said, sitting down alongside her.

“Oh. Have you heard about me already,” Penelope asked, trying to gauge how much he knew about her or if he was just trying to be nice to someone he'd met the night prior.

“Yeah, everything was explained last night,” he said, not sure if he should call it a family meeting now. Whatever was on her mind seemed heavy.

“Oh. Are you my dad's- I mean, his son?”

It always made his day whenever he was called that, and it especially made him happy when Mr Pines didn't correct people who said that. Now though, he didn't want to accidentally upset her by pointing out that he had her dad in his life and not the other way around.

Soos also wanted to make things a little more fair. He knew those kinds of details about her, but she didn't know anything about him, even if he preferred not talking about it.

“Actually, I started working for him when I was a kid. Made my way up to manager here! And well, I do honestly see Mr Pines as a dad, he um. I didn't have mine around when I was growing up so…” His sentence awkwardly tapered off, he wasn't sure if he even phrased everything well considering he wasn't planning on talking about it. 

“Hmm,” she vocalized. “I guess we got something in common, kinda. For what it's worth, you don't gotta worry about upsetting me or whatever. I just got into my own head about everything. It's nice to know he was there for you.”

He was relieved hearing that, although he did consider that Penelope might've inherited the same part of Mr Pines that made him dismiss his own feelings. “It sounds like you've got a lot on your mind. If you want, it won't bother me to listen! I've been told I'm great at it.”

Penelope half-smiled at that, “If you're sure. I guess stop me if it sounds like I should go to therapy instead.

“I wasn't able to talk all my feelings out or whatever last night, not with my little siblings around. And I don't like worrying my mom so I just, you know, set off to come here today as soon as I could. But I guess the closer I got, the more real everything became. This is something I've had literal dreams about! I guess I'm still wrapping my head around it, trying to work up the nerve to go.”

“It sounds like you're taking on a lot on your own,” Soos said sagely. He started getting up and helped her stand, offering her a hand up.

“Sounds like something my mom would say,” she snorted. As much as she was trying to seem positive, she still looked like she had a lot of doubts. Penelope accepted the help, she hadn't been hiding her six fingered hands after the previous night, but crossed her arms afterwards in thought.

“I keep feeling like I'll make a bad impression, or maybe I already did. I don't even know how to ask him everything I want to ask if that makes sense. Heck, I don't even know if I could call him dad now that he's an actual guy and not an idea!”

“I don't think you've made a bad impression at all! And between you and me, Mr Pines doesn't like to show it but he's definitely nervous. He's worried about the same thing dude!”

“He really is huh,” she said, a small smile on her face, not sure from his wholehearted honesty but the idea that her dad also wanted to leave a good impression.

“Of course he is, you're part of the family! Actually, everyone's pretty excited to meet you now that they know you are too.”

“Okay,” she exhaled, then she looked like she was trying to fire herself up. “Alright! Thanks for hearing all that! I'm still nervous but I think I can march up there now.”

“No problem! And you know, I can walk you there so you're not doing it by yourself.”

“Well, if it's not that much of a bother. I guess it's not that out of your way, you do work there. And live there,” she said, the last part an afterthought she seemed to remember last minute.

“I don't mind at all dude.”

They started walking not towards the museum entrance, but Soos was directing her towards the entrance of the house instead. There was a moment of quiet before she spoke up softly.

“Thanks again. Talking to you made me feel like everything's gonna be fine. Like, I've sort of talked with my little cousins, an uncle, and another brother, it can't be that bad talking to my dad again- Uh, dude?”

She had nearly walked into him when he had stopped in her path, looked at her with practically stars in his eyes. 

Soos had always wanted to be a part of a big family. But his mom passed away when he was little and his biological father isn't part of his life, so he'd grown up an only child watching all his cousins be a part of big families instead. He didn't think he'd ever meet someone who'd consider him their brother.

He offered a hug to her, and Penelope smiled and accepted it. She had even patted him on the back which he also returned.

Oh wow, his first sibling hug!

“Dude trust me, it won't be bad at all,” he said enthusiastically before their hug ended, continuing their walk. “Mr Pines is rough around the edges but he's a great guy. People still call him the hero of the town around here!”

“A hero? Really?”

He probably wasn't allowed to explain why ‘cause of the Never Mind All That law, but in this case it should be fine! Soos was sure that it'd all be explained later anyway. Everyone's basically introducing themselves after all. 

They were already getting to the door and Soos didn't even have to get his keys out when Mr Pines immediately opened it for them. He knew he'd been hanging around the first floor nearby for her arrival, so some of his surprise might have been for Soos being there with her.

“Hey Mr Pines! Just thought I'd bring a surprise guest over, she's really nervous to see you.”

“Wha- Hey!” Penelope didn't look as betrayed as she sounded, she was more embarrassed having that called out then anything else.

He smiled at her, a rare soft one that he started doing more often since taking care of the kids last summer. “You know kid, you're not the only one that's been feeling nervous.”

“I’ve heard.”

“Hah!” Mr Pines let out a brief, short bark of a laugh; she was still capable of making teasing comments even if she was anxious. “Alright, don't be shy, come on in.” 

Soos was ready to go to his actual break before going back to work. She wasn't alone outside anymore and he felt both of them could handle their conversation. Before he did though, Mr Pines looked at him proud and patted him on the back. “Thanks Soos for bringing her here. Pop back over when you're free.”

There probably weren't words Soos knew to describe how much that meant to him. He said that so sincerely, it was another rare thing for him to witness. And seeing Penelope, as out of place as she still felt, also look like she agreed with the sentiment- Soos could only respond with a brief yet heartfelt, “It was no problem at all, I'll see the two of you later!”