"Why didn't we see you after you did your heal-y thing?"

(Y/n) (L/n)'s Perspective

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"Must I say anything, Stanford?" I ask with a sigh of disappointment.

"I know (Y/n), I was being too careless." Stanford grumbled, cleaning up the papers on the ground. Releasing a sigh, I shake my head and begin to help.

"That is not what I was going to say." Ford pauses and looks up at me, egging me on. "Stanford I am happy you're having fun, but—"

My vision suddenly got blurry and I stumbled backward, Stanford quickly catching me. My ears were ringing as I went out of reality, my vision turning white, being forced into a dream. This was Bill, I knew it was Bill. But I fought and woke up quickly, steadying my feet in the ground once more.

"Are you alright?" Ford asks, eyes filled with worry, his annoyance completely gone.

"I am fine. I just... I am glad you're getting along with Dipper. He's good for you." Pushing away from him, I carefully walk over to the table where my bag was and carefully lay out the items. "When the potion is activated I need to be the only person in the room it's activated in. If not there can be an adverse effect."

"If this potion is so dangerous, why are you making it?" Stanford asks, that protective tone returning.

"It's... it's not like that. The adverse effect would be returning me to my dimension. Nothing serious."

"Nothing serious?! If that were to happen then you might as well have stayed!" Stanford's voice raised and my brows furrowed.

"Do you want me to dissipate?!" I snap without thinking, quickly covering my mouth. "Stanford I was cursed the moment I was born. It took me a while to find out, but I know what is wrong. If I do not activate this potion in the next week, I will dissipate and the only way I will survive there is if I killed my father again. And I was barely able to do it the first time."

"Wh-what?" Stanford asked, sounding surprised.

"Didn't Rick tell you? I had to kill my father. And believe me when I say that I didn't want to, but he was planning on overthrowing Bill. And though that sounds a lot better than than Bill ruling, my father could be a lot more brutal and he didn't need something as minuscule as a portal to take over this dimension as long as he was alive. So I had to. I didn't want to and it literally destroyed a part of me. However, if I didn't I— well I don't even want to think about what could have happened."

"(Y/n)..."

"Stanford. I followed you here in a selfish act to make something more of myself rather than a pathetic excuse of a guardian between realms." I sigh, placing my hand on my head, trying to stop the spinning of my head. "I lost the only person I cared about to the demon who created me. I've wasted my entire life hiding from him and mourning my mother until the Oracle made their demand. There are a lot of things you clearly don't know about me Stanford. But I promise you nothing I do is without any thought. I just need a few hours alone. And everything will be fine."

The basement went silent. My arms crossed over my chest. Taking a glance at Stanford, I watch his frown shift into an awkward smile.

"I know you and Rick were a thing for a short while." Stanford said with a small laugh. Embarrassed, I blush.

"Uh... yes. It was only for a couple days. We decided we were better off as friends. Or as Rick called it 'emergency couple'? He only returned once when he was drunk and upset over his daughter." I explain, sitting down on the chair.

"I also know you saved a different dimension from being destroyed by your father, only, when he told me, I didn't know he was your father." Stanford stated, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Grunkle Ford!" Dipper's voice called from the elevator. A smile came across my lips at the sound and I rewrapped my items.

"You take care of him and I'll get back to work." I whisper, placing a kiss on his cheek before walking into the room where the portal once stood.

"Hey there, mystery-lady. What are you doing up here? Thought you were busy making out with my brother." Stanford's brother's voice caught my attention. I turn around on my heel to find the man leaning against the counter. He wore a white tank top and no pants, just a loose pair of boxers designed to look like shorts, along with two slippers.

"My apologies, Stanford said that I was welcome to the kitchen." I apologize, ignoring his statement.

"You're not in trouble, I was just wondering why you were up here and not back in the basement. Haven't seen you up here once besides the other day." Stanley explained, motioning to the fourth cabinet, inside were the cups I'd been looking for.

"Thank you... but uh. Yes, I've been staying in the basement. I wanted to make sure I didn't obtain any side effects from the portal and transfer them to anyone. I'm fine now, but I'll be staying down there till everything is settled."

"Sooo... are you like an alien or something?" He asks, looking me up and down. I laugh at the question.

"Depends on your definition of alien. Different? Yes. From space? No." Stanley nodded. He looked as if he had hundreds of questions for me. "You are welcome to ask me anything, as long as you don't mind me eating as you do so."

"Help yourself." He says before contemplating on what to ask first. "How long have you known my brother?"

"I met him 30 years ago at a bar in my dimension. He was almost killed by an enraged toadesque man who was upset he'd taken his usual spot at the bar. I had to push him to the ground in order to stop him from being crushed." I explained, finding some eggs and sausage, as well as some green onion. "I took him to my home and gave him food in order to help his body adjust to the new environment. It has been my job for a 100 years to guide the lost. I would've offered him to stay, but with Bill after him, I knew it wasn't possible."

"You probably couldn't have kept him there anyway." Stan snorts, getting a pan out for her and turning on a light to help her see. "A hundred years huh? How old are you?"

"246. I don't remember my birthday so I add it by year." I answer, earning a whistle from the older man.

"You look good for a 246 year old. If I was 246 I'd be a pile of bones." The man laughed, making me smile. "So what made you follow my dorky brother here?"

"Well... when I first met him, I thought he'd just be like any other man of dimension 46'\. A lost cause with his head in the clouds. But... 15 years after my first meet with him, there he was. Still alive. He gave me hope for the first time in a very long time."

"Ah. So you are in love with him." Stanley states with a wide grin. My cheeks flushed with warmth as I let out a slight cough.

"Am I that obvious?" I ask, losing focus on my cooking only momentarily before getting back to it.

"Well, it is to me. Your probably the first woman I've seen so adamant to stay by his side." Stan said with a shrug before grinning. "You know, back in high school, he asked a girl to dance with him at prom and she spilt her punch all over him. I didn't want him to be too embarrassed ya know, so I spilled punch all over myself. Man, I woulda done anything back then to make my brother smile."

"That is very sweet of you Stan. And if it helps, I know your brother loves you very much." Stan scoffs at that.

"I cant believe that lady, but as long as your making him smile, I'll be happy." Stan says, patting my shoulder.

"Well, if I can offer companionship in his place, I will gladly be your friend Stanley. I admire your home and your efforts." I offer, plating my food. "Would you like one?"

"If your offering, sure." I hand the one I just played to him and get another plate before making another. "So, you're 200 years old, yet you look entirely human."

"I am human, but my father was a demon. My mother was just like Stanford, a genius in her time and a witch. My father tricked her into making a water portal to the Nightmare Realm, before the village could kill her for associating with 'the devil' she jumped in and found herself with my father. He manipulated her into believing she loved him by gifting her with knowledge, care, and shelter. But as soon as I was born, he became cruel. Focusing mainly on me and imprisoning my mother to 'watch her rot' away, only returning me to her when I needed care, which was a lot considering my father had a gambling addiction. When I was five years old, she finally had gained the strength and confidence to speak to him again. Instead of keeping her cool to try and persuade him, she lost it on him and he killed her. I lost everything that day. My mother, my freedom, and even my father. He never wanted to kill her, but when he got mad, he got homicidal. So, I got my mother's looks and my father's binding and curses. As well as cypher my mother gave me when I was born." I brush my hair back to reveal the dark symbols on my forehead. "Blessing."

"Wow, that's a lot. I'm so sorry to hear that." Stanley said, sounding shocked, having not have touched his food once since I started speaking. "Me and Stanford's father was a little abusive, but nothing compared to that."

"I'm sorry to hear, that explains a lot." I respond, thinking about the way the two of them always became so defensive.

"Well, I think I'm out of questions, got anything you want to ask me?" Stan asks.

"Yes, what was your inspiration for the Mystery Shack. It was enjoyable to look at." Stan got a big smile on his face. Clearly, he liked this topic.

"Well—"

"(Y/n), I found— oh. Hello Stanley. What are you doing up?"

"Just talking to your mistress here. She's pretty interesting." Stanley says, sounding slightly annoyed he was interrupted.

"Mistress? Stanley, we're not married." Ford sighs, sounding annoyed.

"Oh, then you're just dating." Stanley says with a smug look on his face making me laugh.

"Stanley, I'm just his companion." I speak up, not wanting Ford to get all upset at his brother. "I'm sorry if I confused you, my English can be odd."

Stan, realizing what I was doing, frowned. Of course he should've known I was hiding it.

"Really? You two looked cute together." Stan said, earning a blush from me, and without my knowledge, Ford as well. "Well, I'm gonna go finish this and watch some tv. You two lovebirds have fun."

Shaking my head I finish plating my food but offer it to Stanford. He shakes his head and I shrug and clean up.

"What did you find?" I ask, thinking back to what he first said when he came up here.

"I found... never mind. What were you talking to Stanley about?" Ford asks, helping me clean up.

"Mostly about myself, he told me a few things about you as well, but it was mostly things he wanted to know about me." I answer, before finally taking a bite of my food. "Did someone really pour fruit punch on you?"

"Of course Stanley told you about that."