For all of you who didn't archive this story, congrats! You are now rewarded with this off-the-rails bonus chapter. Let's get started!

First off, there are two people I need to thank:

Gelpenlover: Where to start.  Without you by my side as my INTERNETEDITORBESTFRIENDMOUTHFULTHING™, this story would be dramatically different. You were always there to see this book in its cringiest, unedited form, and offer advice when I needed it (which was very often). I can't thank you enough for what you've done, my friend.

echogem: Without you, HIH wouldn't exist in a zillion different ways. From getting the release date pushed forward a full month to making the cover to dealing with my spammy questions at midnight, you've been a part of this band wagon since before it was published. This story would probably be an unorganized mess in my drafts right now without all your support along the way, my friend.

And now for what you've all been waiting for: The Questions and Answers part!  Give me a second to assemble your crew, and you'll have your answers shortly. 

*All six people, including Y/N and Jackie, are squashed on the couch*

Mabel: *narrows eyes at Jackie*  Who are you, exactly? 

Jackie: Uh, that's not important.  The readers want to ask all you some questions.

Dipper: READERS?!

Jackie:  It's a long story.  Like, a thirty chapter long story.

Stanford:  Let's get this over with.  What's the first one?

Jackie:  The first bleventeen are from Gelpenlover

What makes Y/N attractive?

*Mabel and Jackie raise their eyebrows suggestively and sip coffee*

Stanford: Uh, well, um... do I have to answer this one?

Y/N: *slightly nudges him*  Relax, Stanford, it's not the end of the world.  I promise I'll answer any questions they give me, if that helps. 

Stanford:  Well... If I'm being honest here, it's not so much her looks, it's her personality.  Not that her looks are bad!  She's smart, for sure, but also stubborn.  Sometimes that's a good thing, but when she doesn't tell you everything...

Y/N: *stares at the floor and fidgets*

Stanford:  ... you know it's because she cares about you.  She's always been there for me, through high school, the apocalypse, and beyond. 

Y/N: *slowly smiles*  Thanks, Stanford.  You don't know how much I needed to hear that. 

Stanley: I've had enough of this lovey-dovey stuff.

Dipper: *gags* Agreed.  Next question? 

Dipper, why don't you wash your clothes?!

Dipper: *blinks*  I'm a busy guy, I don't have time to wash my shirt in between mystery hunts. 

Mabel: *coughs* inbetweenstalkingwendy

Dipper: *crosses noodle arms*

Stanford: It... might be slightly hereditary...

Jackie: *pokes Stanford* So long as you wash that lab coat of yours every month or so, you're fine. 

Stanford: ... next question, please. 

Jackie, what inspired you to write this story?

Jackie:  *freezes as everyone stares at her*

Stanley: *casually shines brass knuckles*  This is the first I've heard of a story, care to explain?

Jackie:  *laughs nervously*  Trust me when I say you don't want to know.  To answer the question, though, I read a Stanford x Reader a while back out of curiosity, and it was AWFUL.  The whole thing was devoid of grammar, the reader and Stanford hit off right away, and I do mean right away.  The plot went nowhere, and it made me so angry to see a fanfic done so sloppily.  It was so bad, I thought even I could do better than that.  And so, Hand in Hand was born...

Stanford: What's an "x Reader," exactly?

Jackie: *sighs* There's no good way to put it.  It's a love story between a charact- person.  I meant person, and the reader of the book. 

Stanford:  ...

Y/N: You wrote one of these?!

Jackie:  I live a sad life. 

Dipper:  Oooookay then.  I'm going to pretend I never heard that. 

Mabel: NEXT QUESTION PLEASE!

What did you think when this story quickly became your most popular? 

Stanley: *is triggered*  WHAT STORY?!

Jackie: *ignores him*  To put it lightly, I freaked out.  I was being a sap and searched "Stanford x Reader," and saw this:

5,000 reads, 500 votes, AND number one hit for "Stanford x Reader?!"  I quite literally fell off of my bed.  Huge thanks to those who read this all the way through!  Wouldn't be here without ya. 

Stanford:  Hold up, let me get this straight.  You wrote a story romantically involving me, and more than 5,000 people have read it?!

Jackie:  More or less. 

Stanford:  *buries face in hands as Y/N wraps an arm around him*

Stanley:  Please move on to the next question.  Immediately.  As soon as humanly possible. 

Jackie:  Gladly. 

Do you know the Muffin Man?

Jackie: You bet.  *finger guns*

What's your favorite chapter and why?

Stanley:  You, with the blue hair.  You know more than you're letting on.  Chapters of what?! 

Y/N:  I'm curious, myself. Who's asking all these questions, anyways? 

Jackie:  *holds hands up in surrender*  Alright, I haven't been completely honest, I admit it.  But answering the question should explain some things. My favorite chapter would have to be Chapter 12, when Y/N gets engaged, and immediately after is pulled into the portal.  I've been planning both plot twists since the start, and releasing them at the same time was extremely satisfying. 

Stanford: Wait, that isn't a chapter of a book, that's an event that happened in real life.  You said you planned that out?!  You weren't even alive in 1982!  How could you know about that?  Unless...

Jackie:  Keep going. 

Stanford:  Oh, no. 

Y/N:  It can't be.  Are you telling me this sarcastic underweight teen wrote out our existence?!

Jackie:  This sarcastic underweight teen has ears, you know. 

Dipper:  *hyperventilates*  Wha-?  How does-?  Jackie-!

Y/N:  *stands up and angrily points a finger at Jackie*  So you're the reason I don't have a hand, went through a portal, and nearly died?!

Jackie: pleasedon'tkillme

Y/N: and Y/N?!  What kind of a name is that?!  Why-en?  It sounds like a toddler trying to say "Ryan." 

Jackie:  That's the funny part, actually.  You are actually multiple people.  Y/N is just a stand-in for "your name."  Anyone who reads the story is you. 

Y/N:  My head hurts...

Jackie:  Don't think about it too hard. 

Mabel:  *holds hand out to slap Jackie*

Jackie:  If you want to slap me, get in line.  *gets up from the couch and opens the window to reveal a mob of angsty readers, most of whom are holding their phones and a box of tissues in their hands*

Dipper:  Okay then.  Looks like you're not the most popular person in the room. 

Jackie:  Nearly killing off the main character multiple times is not a good way to earn friends. 

Stanley:  Consider me confused.  Please move on the the next one before I get a migraine. 

Jackie:  At least we can agree on that.  From yesburnthechild

Jackie:  I first started writing when I was three years old.  On the wall.  With crayons.  My parents didn't appreciate that, and soon I adjusted to paper.  First fanfic?  When I was in third grade, Harry Potter all the way.  The notebook it was written in has since been thrown out, but I still remember the plot.  First Gravity Falls fanfic?  "Decipher," started April tenth.  It's been deleted for obvious reasons (translation: it sucked).  And finally, I started this fanfiction in early July. 

Jackie:  From @Yance123

Will you do more Stanford x Reader?

Stanford:  *prepares for the worst*

Jackie:  No need to worry, Stanford.  I won't be making another, you've been through enough pain. 

Stanford:  *exhales* Thank the good Lord. 

Jackie:  From echogem, the great and powerful

What was your inspiration for giving the reader a prosthetic hand?

Y/N: *glares at Jackie and resists giving her the middle robotic finger* 

Jackie:  It's mostly symbolic, in all honesty.  It shows the reader feels like an outsider, but building a relationship with Stanford makes her feel whole. 

Stanley:  That's cheesier than than the bowl of Mac and Cheese I had for lunch.  That's seriously the best you could come up with?!

Jackie:  *crosses arms*  When you have a better idea, tell me, wise guy. 

Mabel:  Did echogem call you "Jackbean?"

Jackie:  Yeah, I think that makes me her "colorful smol bean."  I like it~

From @JanePines83

Will Stanley and the twins find out about your tattoo?

Jackie: This is an interesting development...

Stanford:  They weren't, until you brought it up. 

Mabel:  CAN I PLEEAAASE SEE IT?!

Stanford:  There's a reason I wear this turtleneck.  *rubs shoulder where tattoo is hidden*

Stanley: Heh.  I guess we match now.

Stanford:  Shut up, Stanley. 

Jackie:  Moving onward, from @Moongazell14

How does the robotic hand work?

Y/N:  I'll give you the shortened version.  When your brain tells a limb to move, it sends out electrical impulses through your nerves to carry out the action.  The main thing the prosthetic does is translate the biological electricity to binary code, so my hand can work as a replacement. 

Jackie:  And finally, from @gravityfalls618fan:

Favorite story you've written so far?

Jackie: Easily this one.  It was a ton of fun to write this out as I went, and I never really was stuck with writer's block.  Sure, it showed up from time to time, but I always had an idea where the character development, plot, and subplots were going.  Out of nostalgia, I reread the story, and I couldn't help but stop at some points. Most prominent thought: How in the blue heck did I write these feels?! It was like reading someone else's book, I completely forgot I typed it out.

The most common question I've gotten is, what's next?  And I'm excited to announce I've actually got something up my sleeve.  Jackie productions presents:

MATTER OF TIME || BILL x READER

Y/N is Blendin Blandin's replacement on the Time Anomaly Prevention Squad, tasked with the biggest mission known to 207̃012: eliminating Bill Cipher.

Accidentally pulling her time tape measure too far, she finds herself in Gravity Falls, Oregon, before the dream demon has physical form. Y/N plans to bide her time to take him out, but a certain one-eyed man emerges in her dreams, changing everything she thought she knew...

The first chapter is launching in approximately twelve hours, and I'm excited to see readers from this book carry on to the new one. I hope it meets all of your expectations. A word of warning: Matter Of Time is going to have a darker and more mature theme, so while there's no sexual content, if you're uncomfortable with violence and minor strong language, it might not be the best choice for you.

That's all for Hand in Hand, my friends. The journey was a roller coaster ride I won't soon forget, and I can't thank you all enough for the comments, votes, and follows I've gotten along the way. Stay weird, fellow fallers, stay weird.

~ Jackie, 9/30/17