It had been only around a half hour, and Ben was already getting very annoyed with Mabel. It was simply never-ending pestering of what his powers were, what other Dream Demons were like, and what the Dream Dimension was like. Eventually, Ben unceremoniously turned Mabel to Zace and said, "Ask him."

Despite the glares his older brother gave him for that, Ben found it much more peaceful this way. Besides, Zace had the most experience of his brothers being a normal Dream Demon. Ben didn't want to be reminded of the whole growing-up-in-the-Nightmare-cult. The "clan" itself was a nightmare to just think about. He'd left that part of himself behind when Bill found him on the streets. Well, for the most part.

~~~

"What's a kid like you doing out here?" He asked, looking down at the five-year-old. The boy had tucked himself away, wanting to be by himself. You don't run away from a bunch of Dream Demons just to be around a bunch more. It wasn't like he had anyone left to care about him. After Vixen...

He turned away angrily, though the anger wasn't directed toward the man talking to him. The man came closer and reached over to him. "I'm not gonna hurt you..." There was something about his voice that made the child believe that. Carefully, the man brushed aside the bangs shielding his face.

That revealed his scar.

The man could see the kid hated that thing. "So, you were a part of those Nightmare-guys?" He asked. "The Nightmare Clan." The boy corrected. The older beckoned him closer.

"They aren't good to you, I see. Got any family? Anyone to go to?"

The boy shook his head. "I had a sister. Twin. She's..."

The man nodded in understanding. "I see... Well, how about you come and stay with me for a while? Who are you?"

"Salem Smoke."

The man tilted his head. "Is that really who you are?"

He took that into consideration for a moment. "No..." He finally decided. The man smiled kindly. "Well then, what name do you want?" He asked.

"I kinda like the name Benjamin. Maybe Castor?"

The man thought for a moment. "How do you feel about Benjamin Castor Cipher?" He asked. The boy tilted his head. "Cipher?" He inquired.

"My last name. Just if you'd like."

The boy stood up, walking carefully to the man. "I think I'd like that."

~~~

That was the day his life actually began. No, he wasn't like other Dream Demons, with two eyes from that stupid Nightmare cult magic, but he was a Cipher.

Elizabetta hadn't explained what they were doing at what he could've only imagined was four in the morning. She just went over to him, told him to get his brothers, and follow these two kids through the woods. Ben had no idea why these humans were at the cottage, why they were following them, or what they'd told his mother.

'If Mom thinks it's worth it, it must be.'

Speaking of Elizabetta, the woman had gotten back into her plain white dress, and her hair was still in its braid (though, it looked a bit messy now). His mother was a reasonable woman, surely this would all make sense soon.

Right?

As William held onto his mother's hand, his eye never left the humans. They were the first he'd ever seen. There were none at the orphanage, since, sadly, humans were a bit underdeveloped compared to most other dimensions. They didn't have the type of magic or technology to be able to get lost in different realms.

One of the humans, the boy who called himself Dipper, was watching him closely. It was like he was a bomb that would go off if left unsupervised. Which, in truth, he kind of was.

Zace was taking all of Mabel's questions pretty well. Asking about his family, what it was like growing up, everything. He gave brief but satisfying answers, even to questions he felt went too personal. When she asked him what flavor of ice cream was his favorite, the demon just gave her a quizzical look and asked, "Ice-what?"

Mabel seemed to take personal offense that he didn't know what ice cream was. She audibly vowed that the next day, they'd be going into town and getting some at a place called "Greasy's."

The poor boy had practically no clue what most of that meant.

"What's behind your eyepatch?" She asked, jumping off topic faster than William.

"Void."

Mabel looked at him and asked, "Void?"

He removed the eyepatch, revealing a swirling black void where his right eye should've been. Mabel seemed caught off-guard by that. "Why does that one have two eyes?" She asked, nodding to Ben.

"Oh, a certain magic thing that happened to him when he was a kid." Zace said, muttering vaguely. Ben looked at his brother with a glance of appreciation.

Mabel seemed fine with that answer.

Finally, the group reached a shack with big letters nailed to it. A smaller sign read "Under the ownership of Soos, dudes."

Ben looked over to Dipper, and felt the boy's nervousness. After all, it hit him like a rock. Holy Axolotl, sometimes he hated having that stupid telepathy.

It was hardly even useful. It wasn't like he could just read minds. It was just more of messaging people back and forth with his thoughts, and being able to read emotions. Even then, he could only do the first if the other person let him see their thought-message.

He tried anyway. 'Who is Soos?' He thought, hoping it reached Dipper's mind.

The latter's expression told Ben that he'd gotten it. 'He's our friend. We're just staying for the summer.' He thought, letting Ben see into the internal dialogue.

'I see. That sounds nice.' Ben thought, looking ahead to the shack.

That was it. Finally, someone now knew about his telepathy. He hadn't even told his father about that. Now, this random human knew.

Ben had to admit that Zace's comment about being able to sense his nervousness that night had frightened him. He didn't like his telepathy, and he didn't think he was ready to tell his family. It was a scary power, and it wasn't too fun to have either.

"I'll go get him," Mabel said, her voice quieter. She ran off into the Shack, a smile growing further on her face.

"Bill?" She called. The demon peeked his head out from the doorframe. He'd stayed for a bit longer to try and figure out where the twins might've gone.

"They're back." He said, supposedly to her grunkles.

"Bill, there's someone we need you to see."

The demon looked at her in confusion, trying to think of who would want to see him. It wasn't like he had any family left. "Who?" he asked, trying to read Mabel's expression.

Mabel waltzed over and grabbed Bill's sleeve, then dragged him over to the door like he wasn't a dangerous demon or anything. Ida followed close behind, eyeing Mabel suspiciously.

The three got to the door and Mabel gestured over to the wood line, where Dipper and the three following him had emerged.

For a moment, Bill didn't recognize any of them.

Then, it registered.

Her dark hair and moonlight skin, and that midnight eye he'd seen a thousand times in his nightmares of guilt. The three following, with the same color schemes as them. He turned his attention to the woman, as a gentle breeze rippled through the air.

Lizzy.

His Lizzy.

With the speed of Hermes, Elizabetta rushed over to Bill and practically flung herself into him. "BILL!" She screamed out in joy, clinging onto him like he'd disappear if she let go. Tears welled in their eyes as the two held onto each other, refusing to let go. For a moment, the others could've sworn it look like the Sun and Moon were floating in the sky together.

They could've stayed like that forever.

However, Bill lifted his head to see the boys standing closer. Ben and William immediately flew into the hug, tears now all around. Bill couldn't care what humans saw this. All that mattered was them.

When the hug finally pulled apart, Bill saw the oldest. The one who had stayed behind, almost afraid to hug. Wordlessly, the man opened his arms, letting his son know... something. Something that was assuring. None of the others could really tell.

Whatever it was, Zace ran forward. He melted into the hug, burying his face in his father's shoulder and letting himself cry.

It came out as strangled, painful hiccups of sobs. He never really was used to crying after all.

After what seemed like eons, Zace's cries quieted. He seemed nearly peaceful.

Ben looked over to the Pines twins, where they'd collected on the porch with their grunkles. Wendy had stayed inside. 'Thank you.' He thought into Dipper's mind. He received the message and nodded slightly.

"Oh, there- there's someone you need to meet." Bill suddenly said, letting his son pull from the hug. He turned over to the door and called, "Kiddo," to whoever he was looking for.

William tilted his head. He'd never heard his father call anyone "kiddo." They watched as the Judge stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the new demons. Her grip on her rabbit was tight, but her other hand seemed aware of the knife in her belt.

It wasn't a personal dislike of these new demons, it was more just personal instinct. Her wings were raised only slightly, some sort of move to show she wasn't afraid.

Elizabetta was the first of the new demons to step forward. Ida felt an aura from her that she had only felt once before. Her Judge's sense was swirling around the aura, picking at traits and actions she could see or feel. Guilty or Innocent.

She couldn't tell yet, probably from the fact Elizabetta was a demon. She could sense Bill's place on the scale either. Definitely something about Dream Demons. Still, there was a cutting awareness of caution from the woman. "What's your name, dear?" She asked, giving Ida a kind smile. Ida knew better than to trust someone by the smile.

"Ida." She said plainly, her voice monotone. Mabel had a bit of a hard time believing that this was the same chipper girl she'd been speaking to a while ago.

Elizabetta nodded, stepping closer. "Are you friends with Bill here?" She asked.

The girl forced her feet to not move her back. "Yes. Very much so. Friends since- was eight." Her sentences her becoming a bit disjointed. Curse her anxiety. Obviously, this was someone Bill trusted, so why couldn't she? Her mother had really messed her up that badly?

"And how old are you now?" Elizabetta asked, not able to see Ida's mind storm.

Ida shifted a bit. "Old."

The woman's expression asked for more information. "I was born in the 60s." Ida explained. "Late 60s." She added. "Very old. Fourteen. S'pposed to be."

Ida looked away from Elizabetta in embarrassment. "Fourteen." She felt like an idiot.

"Well, it's very nice to meet you." Elizabetta said, still smiling pleasantly. "I'm Elizabetta. A pleasure to make your acquaintance." The demoness said, giving a small bow. "These are Bill and I's sons; Zace, Benjamin, and William." She said, motioning to the boys. Ida waved a bit, glancing over to Bill.

"I..." She paused for a moment, thinking. "I wouldn't want to ruin a family moment. I'll be in the woods. I'm so very happy for you all." She said, giving a gentle smile. Before anyone could say anything, she turned invisible and ducked deep into the woods. She found her way back to her little cardboard tent and sat down.

Bill blinked a few times, concerned. "She's usually not like that..." He assured, looking at his family. "Don't worry, she'll be alright. For now," he grabbed Elizabetta's hands, staring into her eye solemnly. "We can make a life of some kind here."

Ford spoke up, saying, "Cipher, you do realize that if you attempt to make a life in the town, the people here will riot... After all you did."

Elizabetta looked at her husband, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion. "What did you do?" She asked. Bill winced a bit. "Long story, and not one I think I can tell you yet. But, he is right. We'd need to live in these woods. Need to have even more human-looking disguises, too." He said, thinking.

Zace looked over to Ben and shrugged. "We've got those. We'd be covered. And, I can create an illusion over Will, so he'd be fine." The older said. William nodded eagerly.

Elizabetta smiled, looking at Bill. "Well then, looks like we just need to find a clearing in the woods." She said, hugging him tighter.

~~~

"You did," he spread his arms out. "All of this, in fifteen minutes!?" Zace was very impressed with how his father's manifestation power. As he said, Bill had managed to create an entire mansion for his family in just fifteen minutes.

An entire mansion.

Fifteen minutes.

Bill nodded absently, looking to the woods. "Well, it's the least I can do." He said. Elizabetta noticed how off he seemed. Despite not having seen her husband for so long, she was still very good at identifying when Bill was off.

"I'll be right back, dear." She said, kissing his cheek. He nodded, smiling at her as she walked off.

The woods were dark, and crickets chirped at her like they knew who she was. Deer and bears saw her and scampered off. She radiated danger. But there was still a kindness to her.

At least, that was what Ida sensed from her aura. The Judge peeked her head out of her cardboard tent, her eyes wide. She honestly hadn't expected Elizabetta to come and try to find her.

The demoness sat down on her knees, looking at Ida curiously. "The woods can be very cold at night." She said. Ida nodded. "I know. I've been in them for years."

Elizabetta sighed sadly. "That must've been hard, dear." She said. To Ida's nervousness, the woman offered her hand. "Why don't you stay the night with us? I'm sure the boys would love to know you better. And Bill seemed quite worried."

Idainternally facepalmed. Of course Bill would be worried. How could she be so blinded by her stubbornness? Of course, she was happy that Bill finally had his family back, but there was emotion in Ida that barred her from being overjoyed.

Jealously. That and fear.

Now that Bill had his real family, would he let her go? Break his promise?

Leave her all alone?

God, it hurt her to think about it. But, without really thinking, she reached out and took Elizabetta's hand. "Yea... yea, that would be nice." She mumbled absently.