**Howdy and welcome! You get sushi for making it this far!

Just reminding you this is a prequel to a Parapines fic coming up soon, so stay tuned or maybe comment if you want me to PM you when its out :D**

Thanks to:

I own no characters from ParaNorman nor Gravity Falls**

~ Thursday Afternoon ~

Norman physically felt better the closer he got to Aggie's tree. The conifer had become a haven for both psychics over the years, providing solace for both Aggie and Norman.

"Aggie?" Norman called softly. No ghosts had bothered Norman on the way there, not only because no one except Norman and Aggie ever approached the tree, but they all knew to steer clear of the medium when he'd been beaten up. By now, they'd all learned you didn't want to give Norman Babcock an opportunity to take his anger out on you.

A graceful, black-clad figure stepped out from behind the tree, long, dark hair fluttering in a nonexistent breeze.

"Norman?" Agatha's voice instantly brought a grin to the teen's face. He mumbled a 'hey' and awkwardly made his way over to the tree, wishing he had a fringe to flick over his face.

Agatha was smiling as he approached, but her smile fell when she saw the bruises.

"Norman," She said sternly, to which Norman waved a casual hand. "It's nothing, Aggie, don't worry about me."

"I do worry about you," She said quietly, then louder, "It's not like I have much else to think about." Agatha's fingers, quite literally, ghosted over Norman's black eye. All the boy felt was cold pressure, but unlike most people, he didn't shiver. He wished he could lean further into her touch, but Agatha caught herself as she remembered her upbringing.

"Norman!" She said, a little too loudly, as he hand flew back to her side in a green blur.

"Yes,?" Norman asked, a calm and smug smile on his face. Agatha's spirit was technically at rest, but she would spend a lot of time on the physical plane, around her tree, even five years after that night. Norman had aged, quite visibly, but Norman never asked why Agatha was steadily changing her physical appearance to match his pace.

She glared at him for a second before walking back to the base of the tree. She sat down, smoothed out her skirts, and presented Norman with a huge grin.

"What news do you bring me?" She asked cheerily. Norman went over and sat down to her left, in his usual spot. Leaves rustled as he adjusted himself.

"Well, actually, I have a question for you." Agatha gave Norman an incredulous look.

"You do realise I was raised before anything you're learning was taught to us by governesses or schools, yes?"

Norman was quiet for a moment before he realised she thought he was asking for help with homework. She joined his laughter.

"No, Aggie, I have a topic a little more dismal for you." Agatha knew what was coming with that tone of Norman's.

"You know I inherited your powers, right?" Agatha nodded. "Well, I'm… I need to know why they're recharging so much faster, now." Norman explained what 'recharge' meant after a moment but Agatha didn't answer his question.

"Why didn't you tell— ask me about this earlier?" Norman shrugged. "I figured I could deal with it myself, and I didn't want to remind you of those darker times." Agatha scoffed, something she rarely did, and had inherently learned from Norman.

"Also," Norman added, "I was a little embarrassed since you kind of mastered these stupid powers all by yourself, and I'm still frying myself after five years." Agatha's laughter was nervous.

"You… Norman, I… You don't think I really mastered my powers, do you?" Now Norman shot Agatha an incredulous look.

"Says the spectre that was—" Norman paused to wave his hands around dramatically, "Duplicating herself and transporting us to other dimensions and raising the dead?!" Now Agatha laughed properly, and Norman was glad his outburst didn't make things awkward. Agatha soon sobered up.

"No, Norman. 'Those powers'? They were using me. I never mastered them at all. I let my emotions rule me, and it was actually quite hard to break not only my mentality but… My… What's that word for your sister and strong-man magazines?"

"Addiction?"

"My addiction to the power." Agatha let that sink in while Norman considered how long it had been since they'd talked about that night.

"You mean, there's nothing I can do? I'm gonna be consumed?!" Agatha's cool hand against Norman's head instantly calmed him down.

"No, Norman Prenderghast—" Agatha insisted on acknowledging their however-diluted connection, "—you will not be consumed. I know you better than to give up."

Norman realised how close they were leaning in to each other. Pulling back, Norman cleared his throat and muttered his agreement.

"You just have to treat them as what they are." That caught Norman's attention again.

"Which is what, exactly?" Agatha blinked at her companion. "Life force, Norman. Spirit. The more you spend around ghosts, the more… 'Charged' you get. The more you involve yourself in supernatural work and used them bit by bit, the more control you'll find yourself possessing."

"I thought you never understood the powers—?"

"I've had plenty of time to think over and figure out the details."

"… Sorry about leaving you alone so much."

"It's fine, Norman. It's not like you're a ghost with all the time in the world. I'm a fan of my own company, anyway."

Norman smiled, but it was a little forced.

"There's another thing, Norman."

"When is there not?" The sarcasm was lost on the ghost. Agatha caught Norman's gaze and held it in all seriousness.

"The more you pull away from people, and stop involving in life, and push everyone away, the power will feel those emotions and will react likewise. It will disagree with your life force, which could prove dangerous. It will try to pull away from you, but it can't, because you're tethered." Agatha lay a hand on Norman's heart.

"What emotions do you mean?" He breathed.

"Frustration, anxiety… Hatred, anger." Agatha lifted her gaze to Norman's.

"Fear."

The two subconsciously leaned closer to the other.

"Loneliness."

The moment was dead-silent, then Norman sprang back with a forced laugh.

"Well… You're just a little fortune cookie, aren't you?" He hastily got to his feet, heading for the path back to town.

"It's way later than I texted my mum— I'll come back soon, but bye, Aggie." He awkwardly hurried off into the forest.

"Norman?" He skidded to a halt and turned around. Agatha could see he flustered he was and doubted she looked any different.

"It's okay to use the powers, you do know? As long as you don't let them consume you."

Norman gave her an actual smile, and headed off home.

~ Saturday ~

Norman had missed so much school, that by the time he found himself at the weekend, he had no idea what to do with himself, and found himself almost wanting to go back to the horrid place.

Deciding to —finally— clean out his very-funky-smelling backpack, Norman came across a letter form the school he'd received a few days prior. He left it on the kitchen table and retreated to his room, which was blissfully empty— Jeopardy was blaring downstairs. Nobody questioned anymore when Norman turned the TV on and to a certain channel, then left the room.

Taking out his computer, Norman checked the net for some palliatives to distract him from the fact he'd burned Salma a week before the end of school. She'd insisted on doing tests about his powers, and he'd simply become frustrated about what she was asking him to do. Neil wasn't talking to Norman (upon his request, of course) and Alvin and his gang were leaderless for the holidays, and were therefore leaving him alone.

Near lunchtime, Norman was called downstairs for food.

"What's this, honey?" Sandra asked as Norman dropped into a kitchen chair. Norman spotted the letter from his bag in his mother's hands.

"I don't know— the school gave it to me." Sandra's raised eyebrow was all the response Norman received. She opened the letter and after a second of reading, let out a yelp of joy.

"What? What is it?" At least this meant it wasn't a "We'd appreciate it if you didn't re-enrol Norman next year" letter.

"Remember the students Blithe Hollow is getting from Oregon? Gravity Falls?" Norman's stomach dropped. This could end up worse than being 'kindly' expelled. "Yeah?"

"Well we got one!" Yup, this was worse.

"Who?" He managed.

"A kid your age, for six weeks." Sandra squinted at the text, "Dipper? Like the constellation? Dipper Pines. From Gravity Falls— how about that." And like that, Norman's mother dropped the letter back onto the kitchen table and resumed cooking. Norman didn't feel hungry anymore.

How could she be so calm about this? There was not only going to be a whole new bunch of kids for Norman to inadvertently freak out, but one of them would be living with him for one and a half months. Great, Norman gets to live with someone new to totally creep out. The worst part was, if the kid was from Blithe Hollow, this Dipper guy would know all about Norman. But no; this kid, Norman thought with a sigh, would be totally normal.

**Hehe, we all know a little different. What do you want to happen between Dipper and Norman? They're both sixteen, btw ;P Still, suggestions and reviews are cherished like golden idols!

Sushi for all, and keep an eye out for the upcoming (for now) story!

-TJ**