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It was 4am in the morning, at least two days passed since Weirdmageddon ended, Ford couldn’t sleep, he just couldn’t. With 30 years of PTSD, and the fact that he had trusted Bill Cipher and caused the apocalypse, and having to erase his brother’s memory to stop Bill, Ford just can’t sleep like he used to. Ford sat in Stan’s chair, the chiming of the clock raised his anxiety and made him flinch. Ford felt ready to have a heart attack, that’s when Mabel came downstairs, finding Ford still awake. Mabel Pines: “ Grunkle Ford?” Ford snapped out of his anxiety when he heard Mabel speak. “ It’s… really late. And I thought I heard you down here and-, I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Ford didn’t know what to say, he didn’t want Mabel to worry about him. Ford Pines: “ You should be asleep. Like your brother… and Stanley.” Ford turned his head away from Mabel. “ You need your rest. I’m fine.” Ford can feel the fingers in his left hand clenching. “ I’m just… having trouble falling asleep.” Ford clenched his hands, Mabel felt her heart beating fast, she grasps her sweater, she too has anxiety that she can’t overcome, which is why she’s still awake. Mabel walked toward Ford, then she gently reached for his left hand, he flinched, but realized the touch was from the small hand of his sweet niece. “ W-what-“ Mabel smiled sweetly to Ford. “ What are you doing?”
Mabel Pines: “ Holding your hand.” Mabel touched Ford’s hand with both of her own hands.
Ford looked down at Mabel when she held his hand, his tension began to slowly ease up, Ford turned his worried eyes into a soft smile. Ford opens his arms out for Mabel. Ford Pines: “ Come here.”
Mabel happily climbed up into Ford’s lap, Ford holds Mabel in his arms, and embraces her close to his chest. Mabel leans her ear on Ford’s heart, it was beating fast. Mabel Pines: “ Wow. Your heart is beating fast.”
Ford Pines: “ *inhale*exhale* Sorry.” Ford tries to slow down his heart rate.
Mabel Pines: “ What’s been keeping you awake?”
Ford Pines: “ *sigh* Everything… It’s my fault… everything is my fault. *sniffs*” Ford felt the tears fill his eyes.
Mabel had something she kept to herself, she just didn’t know when to say it, she was afraid of what her family would think of her. Mabel Pines: “ It’s my fault, too.”
Ford heard what Mabel said. Ford Pines: “ What do you mean by that?”
Mabel’s eyes started to flicker with tears. Mabel Pines: “ I gave the Rift thingy to Bill, and that’s how Weirdmageddon started. It was all because of me.”
Ford was in shock, he didn’t know what happened with the Rift, other than Mabel accidentally took Dipper’s bag by mistake with the Rift still inside. Ford Pines: “ Mabel, don’t beat yourself up-“
Mabel Pines: “ And then Blendin the time traveler came to me and offered me to have a little more summer, in exchange for the Rift.” Tears flickered from Mabel’s eyes.
Ford couldn’t believe what Mabel had told him. Ford Pines: “ Mabel… if anyone is to blame for that, it’s me, not you.”
Mabel Pines: “ But… *sniffles* I wasn’t even thinking. I caused the end of the world, I’m the reason Grunkle Stan had his memory erased.” Mabel couldn’t hold back her tears anymore, the flood gates opened, and Mabel buried her face in Ford’s chest. “ *cries*sobs*”
Ford wrapped his arms around Mabel for a tight embrace, to see her so sad, it hurts Ford. Mabel is so happy and bubbly and full of life, he can’t imagine seeing Mabel so sad like this, and being hard with herself. Ford Pines: “ Oh, Mabel. Oh, pumpkin.” Ford caresses her head. “ Shh. Shh-shh.”
Mabel Pines: “ *sobs* I never realized how selfish I had been until I did that. *sobs* I was so scared of losing Dipper and everything changing so fast, I didn’t think it through! *sobs* I only wanted more summer, I was so scared of leaving everything I cared for behind! *sobs*” Mabel buried her face in Ford’s sweater, he didn’t care if she soaked up his chest, just by feeling her crying on his heart, it hurts him to see Mabel this way.
Ford gently rocks Mabel side to side. Ford Pines: “ Shh, shh-shh. I’m here. It’s okay, pumpkin. I’m here.”
Mabel’s cries began to slow down, she started breathing slowly, and she sniffed a couple times, till she lifted her face off of Ford’s sweater, her eyes were red and puffy, her dried tears stained her eyes, and her tears soaked that chest part of Ford’s sweater. Mabel Pines: “ *sniffles* I’m sorry I ruined your sweater.”
Ford Pines: “ It’s okay. It was already ruined by my careless attempt to clean it.” Ford kissed Mabel’s forehead, and laid his forehead on hers. “ Mabel, everything that happened all started because of me. I made a deal with Bill, I gave him the way into our World, and I’ve done nothing but tear our family apart. All of it is my fault, not yours. You were caught in the middle, and paid the price for my foolishness. So I’m sorry, Mabel. I only trusted Dipper about the Rift and I didn’t even think to tell you or Stan. You didn’t know what it was or what it could do. Ever since I came back, I’ve been an ungrateful jerk. You deserve better than me.”
Ford’s eyes flickered with tears, Mabel reached up to Ford’s face to wipe away his tears. Ford smiled softly for Mabel’s gentle touch, he took both of her hands on kissed them. Mabel Pines: “ I’ve been the worst sister all summer. All I’ve ever cared about was having a summer romance, and I wasn’t supportive to Dipper in all of my romantic drama. I even thought of replacing him in my prison bubble with some weird version of him. I’m stupid.”
Ford Pines: “ We’re both stupid.”
Mabel showed a smile. Mabel Pines: “ *giggles*sniffs*”
Ford Pines: “ Have you told Dipper or Stan about what happened?”
Mabel Pines: “ I’ve been afraid to. I’m afraid of what they’ll think of me. What if they hate me?”
Tears streamed down Mabel’s face, Ford wipes her tears away, and kisses her forehead to keep her from crying. Ford Pines: “ I don’t hate you. I could never hate you. I love you so much, pumpkin.”
Mabel lays her head on Ford’s shoulder where she cried. Mabel Pines: “ What about Grunkle Stan and Dipper? What would they think of me when I tell them the truth?”
Ford wrapped his arms around Mabel in warm embrace, holding her like she’s his baby. He gently sways Mabel and caresses her head. Ford Pines: “ I’ll be right by your side when you do. We can tell them together.”
Mabel felt better for that. Mabel Pines: “ Thank you, Grunkle Ford.” Mabel wrapped her arms around Ford’s neck. “ I love you. And I forgive you.”
Ford smiled and felt a single tear stream down his cheek, he leaned his head on Mabel’s. Ford Pines: “ I love you, too, pumpkin. And I forgive you.” Ford was finally able to fall asleep, with Mabel in his arms. Both Mabel and Ford were able to sleep peacefully that night. By 10am the next morning, they find themselves wrapped in a blanket.