"Dear Dipper and Mabel Pines,

We are writing to you because our son, Robbie, has been in a horrific car accident and is now paralyzed from the neck down. We've been trying to give him all the love and support we could, but even with all we could give him, he's still struggling with his current condition. We are asking the both of you to come back to Gravity Falls to help in being Robbie's emotional caregivers and we believe that of anyone we knew, you two would be the best at it.

With thank and regards,

Greg and Janice Valentino."

It was so weird getting that letter in the mail. We didn't even get to know the Valentinos that well when were there outside of Robbie and most of our interactions with him were mostly negative. Mabel, I can at least understand them wanting her to help cheer him up since she helped him get a date with Tambry, but me? He's hated my guts since we first met. Plus, it didn't help that I essentially broke him and Wendy up and had Rumble McSkirmish try to beat him into a pulp. Even if I tried to make it up with him, Robbie would probably be too stubborn to accept my apology.

Mabel and I arrived at the funeral home. We saw that the Valentinos had installed a ramp in the front of the entrance, which I assumed was for Robbie's wheelchair. Mabel walked up and rang the doorbell, which played Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.

"You ready, Dipper?" asked Mabel.

"Nope." I replied.

Mr. and Mrs. Valentino opened the door with rather unsettling smiles for parents who's son had recently become quadriplegic.

"Dipper, Mabel, so glad you two could come."

"Thank you, Mrs. Valentino." I replied.

"Come in."said Mr. Valentino.

We went inside. The house was filled with kitschy home decor along with funeral urns and a glass casket coffee table with a preserved body inside. It reminded me of being at someone's grandmother's house, only much more morbid.

"So how has Robbie doing?" I asked.

"Oh, he's had his difficulties here and there." said Mr. Valentino, "Robbie has been talking about you, Mabel."

"Really?" Mabel asked.

"Yup. He was upset that you spiked his chili fries with love potion when you set him up with Tambry and wishes he never let you pick a blind date for him."

"Oh."

Mabel looked down at the floor in disappointment. I knew she had regrets about the love potion incident and hearing this news clearly didn't help her doubts.

"Come on up. Robbie is in his room."

Mrs. Valentino lead us upstairs. I don't know exactly how Robbie is suppose to get downstairs, but than again, knowing our history together, maybe that'd be a good thing him not to get downstairs in case I need to run away. Mrs. Valentino then opened the door.

"Robbie, Dipper and Mabel are here to see you."

I never saw Robbie's room before the accident, but from what I've heard from Mabel describing it, it seemed vastly different from before. The blacklight had been replaced with regular lights and everything seemed clean and sterile now. Robbie's hospital bed was in the very middle of the room with a sling attached to a crane next to it.

Robbie was laying on the bed listlessly. His roots had grown out of his head, leaving a brown streak over his black dyed hair. A ventilator tube was sticking out of his trachea and I noticed a clear plastic bag with some yellow substance inside that was attached to the side of the bed.

"Umm... Hey Robbie." I said nervously.

Robbie said nothing and averted his eyes. I frowned, realizing he probably didn't want me or anyone seeing him this way.

Mrs. Valentino walked up to her son and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Robbie, Dipper and Mabel are going to be staying here for a while to help cheer you up. So be a good patient and be nice to them, okay?"

Again, Robbie said nothing.

My sister, Mabel, walked up to him.

"Hey Robbie, maybe later I can help you touch up your roots."

Robbie said nothing still, turning his head away.

"Well, I'll leave the three of you alone. I gotta go downstairs and help Greg with an upcoming funeral."

After Mrs. Valentino left, that was when Robbie finally spoke.

"Well, go ahead."

"Go ahead what?" I asked.

"Go ahead and make fun of me."

"We're not here to make fun of you; we're here to help you."

"Why?" asked Robbie, "Neither of you like me. The only reason you two would come is to see me and then brag to your friends about how much of a freak I've become."

"You're not a freak, Robbie."

"Oh yeah? Do you know anyone else who has to have a tube in their throat to breathe or a straw up their urethra so they can pee? People use to make fun of me all the time just for having acne, so why wouldn't you want to make fun of me for being a cripple?"

"Because that's not who we are." my sister replied, "When someone is hurt, we lend them a hand."

"Like how YOU tried to lend me a hand by spiking me with love potion? The next time you try that again would probably be with poison instead."

Mabel's eyes widened in shock and perhaps a hint of sadness. I couldn't just let Robbie have the last word, especially after snapping at my sister like that.

"Listen, Robbie, like it or not, we're gonna stay and help you, not because we like you, but because your parents want us to. You can wallow in your own self-pity all you want, but that doesn't give you an excuse to be a jerk. GOT IT?"

Robbie made know response. I was so angry with his behavior that I stormed out of the room, fuming. God, I can't believe that guy.