You held a gloved hand to your chest to calm yourself after the horrifying encounter. One choice to decide who lived and who died? One choice playing with the strings of fate? What could it mean?

You shook your head. As much as you wanted to blow it off as something inconsequential, you knew Bill wouldn't be so foolish as to deceive you after you read the journal. You would think about it once the phantom was safely captured.

CRASH!

You turned on your heel to see Dipper and Pacifica shatter a window and tumble into the courtyard, protected by a velvet curtain. The pair looked at a silver hand mirror in shock, then bubbled into nervous and relieved laughter. With no warning, Pacifica hugged the brunette tightly, making his eyes widen and cheeks flush red.

You bit your lip and smiled to yourself, turning away so no one would see a tear slip from your eye. You knew coming here was a poor choice, but you came anyways, and for what? Everything was a constant reminder of the pain, searing hot and deep. But did the thing you were mourning ever really exist? You loved his dry wit, charming aura and irresistable smirk. All were ploys to gain your trust, and oh, how they worked.

They re-entered the mansion, laughing with one another as Dipper held the mirror. You made your way over to them as Mr. and Mrs. Northwest walked down the gilded staircase.

Dipper put his hand to his forehead, inadvertently revealing the edge of a birthmark. "I can't believe we did that!"

Pacifica laughed, a delicate sound like the chiming of a bell. "What do you mean, "we?" That was all you!"

You coughed into your hand and kept your head down. Dipper glanced at you and realized how close he was standing to Pacifica. He stepped away awkwardly. "Hey, where were you, Y/N?"

"Something came up," you mumbled, subconsciously tracing the scars on your arm. "I don't want to talk about it."

Dipper frowned but didn't have time to question as the Northwests came up to you three. "Well, Pacifica, you really found the right man for the job," he said, pointedly ignoring you and your lack of contribution. You scowled but said nothing as a snappily dressed monkey shook his hand.

"We can't thank you enough," Priscilla said. She narrowed her eyes at the monkey still shaking Dipper's hand. "That's enough."

"Hey, just holding up my end of the deal."

He turned to leave, but Pacifica placed her hand on his shoulder. "Wait, leaving already? You're at the world's best party, dummy."

He smiled and rubbed his neck. "I'd love to stay, but I've got a Category Ten ghost to dispose of." He tried to make a smooth exit, only succeeding in ramming directly into a support collumn. You held your hand over your mouth to suppress a laugh as he turned back to Pacifica. "Category Ten."

You bit your lip, unable to stand one more moment of their dynamic. "It was nice to meet you, Pacifica, but I'll be going home too."

She opened her mouth to speak but stopped when she saw your watery eyes, awkwardly wrapping you in a hug. "Heartbreak?" She whispered.

You nodded, not daring to speak. Pacifica smiled. "I could tell. Love can't hide from me."

It took a surprising amount of effort to keep your poker face as she pulled away. Bold talk from someone who wasn't able to sense the obvious connection between her and Dipper. "Thank you," you said quietly. "The dress?"

She was confused for a moment, then waved her hand. "I have plenty, keep it. It suits you."

You smiled to yourself as you started the walk home, your footsteps echoing on the cobblestone. A loud shattering sound came from the manor, but you ignored it and continued into the woods. Whatever was happening back there, Dipper could handle it.

It wasn't long before you found yourself back in your dimly lit room, flipping your time tape measure over in your hands. This had gone on for too long. Bill was still trapped in your mind, as soon as you were back to the future - or rather, the present - the Time Police could sort it out.

The short note you had left Mabel, Dipper, Stan, and Pacifica laid on the table. Everything was in order.

You clenched your teeth and pulled the metal, stopping on the line for two hundred thousand five hundred years. "Goodbye, Gravity Falls." You shut your eyes and let go, letting it spin back in the box.

Opening your eyes, you found yourself in the same place, same time, with Dipper's shadow covering your eyes.

He stumbled back, eyes wider than planets, hand running through his hair. "Y-You're a time traveller?!"

You frantically shushed him. "Announce it to the world, would you?!"

"Excuse me?!" He sputtered. "Wha-"

Mabel shuffled down the hall, eyes half shut and still in her fluffy ball gown. "Guys, what's going on h-"

She stopped as she took in your frightened expression and the tape measure concealed by your fist. "Y/N? Is that... what I think it is?"

You sighed, sensing a migraine along with a tidal wave of guilt. "We need to talk." Flipping on the rusty light switch, you sat down on your bed and held your head in your hands. "Yeah, I'm a time traveller. Whoo-hoo," you muttered, voice trembling along with the rest of your body.

Mabel examined your tool. "What were you doing here? Even on the day we met?"

"There's no good way to put this. I was sent to eliminate Bill," you said simply.

Dipper crossed his arms. "So that's why you wanted to come along in Stan's mind. But that doesn't explain why you stayed."

You looked away, choosing your words carefully. "He... got away. I needed another opportunity."

"Which you got during Mabel's play," he pressed.

"That was different. He was possessing you, there was no way for me to get to him."

Mabel looked hurt. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Sworn to secrecy. If I said a word, I'd be killed on the spot." You tossed the tape measure from one hand to another. "But since this thing's apparently busted, nothing they can really do about it now."

Dipper took the box and popped open the side to look at the mechanics. He winced at the sight. "I've fixed one of these before-"

"You have?! When and whom?"

"With your employer's "kill on sight" policy on identity, I don't think that's the brightest idea."

"Was it Blendin?"

"It was Blendin."

You rolled your eyes. "The idiot. Continue."

"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, this one can't be fixed. The workings have been so badly tampered there's no hope." He hesitated. "It looks like someone sabataged it."

A shiver went up your spine as you saw what he said to be true. "Guess I'm staying in Gravity Falls a bit longer," you laughed nervously.

"I knew there was something off about you," Dipper grumbled.

Mabel shook her head in frustration. "It doesn't matter, okay?! She's still the same Y/N we met a month ago. She's been there for us and helped us out, it doesn't matter where she's from." She stood up angrily. "I'm going to bed, you both should too." Mabel stormed out of the room, flicking off the light.

Dipper lingered for a moment longer. "Liar," he said, so softly you could have imagined it. "You're no better than Bill."

With that, he left, leaving you alone for another sleepless night.