Chapter Text
Mabel and Pacifica woke up about three hours later than usual, their hair a mess and the twins’ room covered in pizza. Dipper was glad to have missed out on it. The two girls were reminiscing on what they’d been up to for most of the day, with Mabel’s relentless teasing continuously evoking laughter and red cheeks. The two of them barely registered the fact both of the Grunkles were away.
They didn’t even notice the Mystery Shack was closed and that both Soos and Melody had left them to their own devices.
What they did notice was Dipper being surprisingly excited for the 4PM news report, and made a point of shoving Pacifica into the armchair to watch it.
“He-hey! What’s gotten into you, Dip? You better have washed your hands before touching my shirt!”
“Watch. This is going to be really interesting.”
And in other news, Toby Determined voiced his plans to begin a boudoir photography studio in Gravity Falls, advertising the service with his own shots in the following presentation. Viewer discretion is advised. The following images may not be suitable for the weak of heart, mind, or those with a sincere wish to maintain their innocence, but we need to fill in the broadcast time somehow.
Pacifica and Mabel stared at Dipper.
“Not that! Not that! That was not what I meant!”
And in other other news, Greasy’s Diner has started reconstruction due to a generous grant provided by local town inventor, Fiddleford Hadron McGucket, who paid the cost in cash to proprietor, Lazy Susan, this afternoon. Reportedly McGucket found the money required down the side of his armchair during a meeting with Stanley and Stanford Pines, twin adventurers.
The diner on the site will be reconstructed in an almost exact replica in order to preserve the town’s image and prevent the cost of printing new postcards, according to Mayor Cutebiker, who arrived at the ground-cutting ceremony only to realise there wasn’t any foundations, negating the requirement of ground cutting in the first place.
The new Diner shall be sponsored by famed local attraction, The Mystery Shack, thanks to a sponsorship provided by proprietor Stan Pines and the attraction’s beloved Mr. Mystery, Jesus “Soos” Ramirez. The site will also include a memorial plaque for the victims of the Great 1883 Train Crash that took place at that very location.
Reportedly, Preston Northwest, disgraced Estate owner of Gravity Falls, has given Lazy Susan complete control of the land required by the Diner free of charge, scrapping initial plans to take back the plot. He was not available for comment.
In other, other, other news, the person responsible for writing my teleprompter is due to be fired after writing the explicit message that just appeared on my screen-
Clck.
Pacifica blinked.
Dipper grinned. “Huh? Huh? Like... Again, without the whole Toby Determined... thing. Pretty sweet, right?”
A smile crept along Pacifica’s face as she looked at Dipper. Without warning, the Northwest grabbed his vest, pulled him close and locked their lips together, throwing her arms around his waist.
The only sound other than Dipper’s murmur of surprise was Mabel’s camera clicking repeatedly, until her finger got tired.
Pacifica smiled, tapping his nose and holding his bright, red cheek in her hand, gazing straight into his eyes.
“Pretty sweet.”
Mabel promptly ran around the Shack screaming at the top of her voice, while Dipper just sat there, no less shell-shocked than if a bomb had just gone off in front of him.
Awkward and sweaty. That was Dipper Pines. Who had just got his first kiss.
(Apart from Mermando!! – Mabel.)
The Diner, all in all, didn’t take very long to rebuild. Marilyn was a pretty strong redwood and was still in one piece from the ordeal, and – well, the railroad wagon had managed to survive falling from a railroad bridge in the past, so a few spooks wasn’t quite enough to smash it to bits. It was the internals that needed work, and, with the Corduroys providing their craftsmanship, that wasn’t really much of a difficult job. Manly Dan wanted his breakfast back.
The whole town got together for the reopening only a week or two later. Greasy’s Diner was no less – or more – glamorous than it had been. It was scrappy, it was weird and it was a part of their home.
The opening ceremony was a pretty grand affair, complete with a ribbon cutting, a short set from DJ Soos and some balloons. Not bad at all for the weird little pimple of Oregon.
Pacifica swept down her uniform nervously and adjusted her hair as the crowd bustled outside, the Diner filling with smells of freshly brewed coffee and gently frying bacon.
“Do I look okay?”
“You look beautiful, Pacifica.” Gushed the older woman as she pinched Pacifica’s cheek. “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather open us back up.”
Pacifica beamed up at Lazy Susan, proudly wearing the “Trainee Manager” badge on her shirt.
“Now what are you waiting for? Go out and cut the riiibboonnn!”
Pacifica hesitated. She looked through the window and gulped – then walked out of the door quietly, a giant pair of golden scissors in her hand. She briefly wondered if people were going to laugh at her. A Northwest. A Northwest opening a cheap diner. A Northwest being the face of opening a cheap diner.
Then, people cheered for her. The crowd clapped.
Up front, there was the Pines family - And, practically leaning over the barrier, applauding within an inch of his life – there was Dipper Pines.
He was sweaty, he was awkward, and he was hers.
The Pines family was weird, slightly criminal and crooked. But they were her family now. And they were applauding her. They were proud of her. And they cared about her.
It was, all in all, shaping up to be a pretty sweet summer.
In the back, she could swear she spotted her mom and dad. Seeing where she had gotten to with the support of her new home.
Preston and Priscilla Northwest clapped - then walked away.
If you ever take a trip to Gravity Falls, Oregon, try and explore a little. If you keep an eye out, by the side of the newly rebuilt Greasy’s Diner, you’ll find small plaque commemorating the Great Train Crash of 1883. Legend has it, if you place a silver mirror there overnight, writing will appear on it by the next day:
Peace at Last.