"You are indeed the loveliest of creatures..."
"Get away from me!"
"You'll never escape me, My Dove...!"
With a startle, Faith sat up in her bed. Her nightmare having finally ended and she woke up.
"Hm..."
As she sat in her bed, trying to shake off her nightmare, she thought of her close friend's kindness for letting her stay with him and his brother in this house, a tourist trap called the Mystery Shack. Stanford and Stanley Pines were truly her heroes as when she woke up, she had no where to go. Along with Soos' permission, of course (as he did own the establishment now).
She sighed and stood up. She hadn't a clue who the disembodied voice in her head was in the slightest. Though the strange voice was oddly familiar...
As she thought of her dreams, she heard the person in bed next to her own shift around. She looked over to see her closest friend and partner in science awake and looking at her in worry. His name was Stanford, though he preferred the nickname Ford.
"I thought you might be awake, 'Teri." He said softly, as he got up and sat down next to her on her bed.
Faith smiled fondly though it looked dull and sad at the nickname though shrugged at his question: "I had a nightmare."
"I've noticed. You seem more sluggish lately." He replied, though suddenly he looked curious. "About what, if I can ask?"
Faith hesitated before answering: "I'm running away from someone. Though I can't see them, their voice follows me and chases me."
Ford nods slowly. "I see."
The two sat in a comfortable silence afterwords. Faith thought about her short amount of time spent here. She had been found by Stanley in the forest, passed out and looking beaten and bruised up. He had recognized her from their younger years and brought her back to the Mystery Shack.
She had been here for almost 2 weeks, healing her injuries and having Ford be befuddled and confused as to how she retained her young late 25-year-old appearance. When the brothers asked her where she had disappeared to over 30 years ago, Faith had no answer. All she could tell them was that she went for a walk in the forest and then she somehow got unconscious. When she woke up, she was in the Mystery Shack.
They decided she would stay with them, considering her last remaining family, her mother, was dead and she had no where to turn. Besides, what sort of friend would Ford be if he didn't help one of his best friends?
"Still no memory of your disappearance?" He asked curiously and Faith shook her head nimbly.
Ford could only nod with a contemplative look on his face. Then he turned to Faith and smiled. "Well, you'll get to meet my great niece and nephew Mabel and Dipper when they come next week."
Faith smiled fondly. From what she had gathered from Ford's description of the twins, made her think about the closeness both Stan and Ford had when they were children. And they sounded like very good and wonderful chi- uh, teenagers. She also found it amazing that they had stayed here last summer and had experienced all sorts of weird things in the lazy yet peculiar town of Gravity Falls.
Weirdness that she and Ford were quite eager to continue studying.
She suddenly reached out and embraced Ford, hugging him tightly. "Thank you for letting me stay, Ford..."
Ford was surprised at first but then his expression turned to one of endearment and he returned the hug. "You're very welcome, 'Teri."
When they parted, Faith smiled and laid back down on her bed. Ford got up, knowing she didn't need his help and walked to his own bed, laying in it. "Goodnight, 'Teri."
Faith smiled. "Goodnight, Ford..."
With a smile, he turned around and went back to sleep (rather quickly) and Faith covered herself once more and fell back asleep, no more voices tormenting her...
YROO HFXPH
A week passed and Stan and Ford had gone out to the bus stop via car as it was pouring. Faith, had to stay at the Mystery Shack because of the lack of space in Stan's car. And Soos was in town for the day, spending time with Melody, who had come to visit for the summer. So, Faith took her time to admire the tall trees and forests out the window of her now shared bedroom with Ford. It was just like she remembered it, all those years ago.
It was only by sheer luck that Stan found her when he did, as the twins had recently got back from their sailing travels on their Stan O' War II ship. Faith smiled fondly as she thought about the brothers. She remember they had a falling out in Highschool because (supposedly) Stan had ruined Ford's science project for the Science Fair. When Faith heard that from Ford after Stan had been kicked out, she didn't believe Stan did that on purpose. But now it seemed as though the two got along much better.
They also told her about the events of last year and about how Ford had come back home after 30 years of inter-dimensional traveling, due to Stan accidentally pushing him into the portal she, Fiddleford and Ford were making. Ford also told her about Bill and his deal with him, as Faith had no prior knowledge of Bill Cipher. She hadn't even known he existed when the trio were working on the portal and studying Gravity Fall's weirdness, so the news about how Ford, Stan and their great niece and nephew defeated Bill last summer was surprising.
But then again, it had been over 30 years since she had last seen everyone so naturally things must have changed.
An engine stopping cut off her thoughts and she turned to see that Stan, Ford and the twins had arrived back home. They quickly grabbed the teenagers' bags and raced inside the house. Smiling, Faith was already on her way downstairs.
She quickly found the front door and saw Ford and Stan, along with Mabel and Dipper. She walked up to them and when Dipper and Mabel noticed her, Dipper looked puzzled while Mabel looked ecstatic.
"A new friend!" She cried out happily. Faith blinked before laughing slightly.
"I guess you could say so." She replied, a full-hearted smile at Mabel's enthusiasm.
"Um, Grunkle Ford, who's this?" Dipper asked, curiously. Ford smiled before walking up to Faith and wrapped a friendly arm around her shoulder. He looked down at her and gave her a grin, while Faith just rolled her eyes at his gestures.
"This is Faith Aria Peristery. She is my good friend from my younger days before the portal and we just recently found her again!" He said happily. Dipper blinked before approaching her and Ford released her.
"Um, hi." Dipper said, a bit nervous, yet in his eyes you could see the excitement of meeting someone who personally worked with Ford. Then a look of confusion crossed his face. "If your his friend from 30 years ago, how come you look so young?"
Faith smiled unsure, not knowing how to explain it. "Well... I don't remember really. I am his friend though why I still look so young is unknown."
Dipper looked shocked but he was certainly interested in knowing more. Mabel gasped dramatically. "Wow! Really? You must be a time traveling wizard thing!" She concluded and Faith giggled.
"I don't think so, Mabel." Faith replied jokingly. Dipper even cracked a smile at her response.
Another gasp from Mabel. "How do you know my name, lady-time-traveling-wiard?!" She demanded playfully.
Faith laughed evilly, deciding to joke back. "It was the knowledge bestowed upon me by your grunkles! His unending power and might knowing no boundaries!"
Mabel burst into laughter as Ford gave Faith a fake look of betrayal and anger. Faith merely grinned back haughtily. Dipper chuckled as Stan made bunny ears behind Ford and Faith. When everyone's eyes turned on him, he pointed behind the two. Faith and Ford turned around and gave Stan an amused look. Stan grinned and laughed slightly.
"Though in all seriousness, Ford told me all about you guys and your adventures from last summer, especially all about Weirdmageddon." She clarified. Mabel and Dipper traded looks before turning to her, having taken a certain liking to her.
"But enough about me, let's eat something!" Faith said happily. Mabel and Dipper cheered as they followed her into the kitchen to raid the fridge and make some food.
Ford and Stan traded looks and both smiled gratefully. In the past two weeks, Faith looked very depressed and dull for most of the time. They had hoped the twins would lift her spirits, and apparently it was working.
They followed the happy trio into the kitchen. Though when Faith saw them, she rushed over to them and began pushing them back out.
Stan gave her a slightly upset look. "Hey, what's the big idea?" He asked, demanding to know why she was pushing them out.
Faith giggled before answering: "I'm making my special and I'm going to teach the twins how to make it!"
Ford at this point also looked rather crestfallen. "So you're telling them but not us?"
"Yeah, we've wanted to know for years now!" Stan replied and Faith gave them a fake evil grin.
"Yeah, well..." She trailed off dramatically, before continuing: "You'll never know!" Before bursting into fake evil laughter. And then slammed the door in their faces.
Ford smiled slight while Stan looked a little upset. "Why are you smiling?" He asked.
Ford's smile only grew. "Just glad she finally looks happy. And is like her old self again."
"Yeah, that gloominess had me going sad too." Stan replied, a smile now also growing on his face.
"Oh, don't worry, Stan. We'll get that recipe some day." Ford said with a smile. Stan grinned back and nodded.
"Oh yeah," He replied. "We will..."
Then Ford smiled nicely with no pretending maliciousness. "Movie?" Ford asked, deciding to do something with his brother while the trio cooked. Stan smiled and nodded.
"Sure thing." He replied.
UZRGS RH NRMV
As Ford and Stan watched a movie, Mabel, Dipper and Faith cooked in the kitchen. More specifically, they cooked Faith's all-time favorite meal – Mac and Cheese. Though she was teaching them her ultimate cheese mix she used with the pasta.
"...And that is how you make homemade Mac and Cheese!" She exclaimed and Mabel and Dipper took their spoons and tried some of the cheese mix she made. Their faces went from skeptic to amazed.
"Wow!" Mabel said through her cheesy teeth. Dipper took his time to swallow before he too replied: "That does taste really good, Faith!"
Faith smiled happily before starting to boil the Macaroni. "So you guys are from California, right?" She asked and Mabel and Dipper nodded.
"Yup!" Mabel replied, "Where are you from?"
Faith smiled, "I was born in London though my mother and I moved to the United States when my dad ditched us."
Dipper gave her a puzzled look. "So... how come you don't have an English accent?"
Faith giggled. "That's easy. I was 4 months old when my mom and I moved. I learned how to speak American English instead of British English."
Mabel then cut in, with a slightly teasing smile: "So... you and Grunkle Ford seem awfully close..."
Faith blushed when she realized what Mabel was insinuating. "N-No! We're friends! But we're not romantically involved!" She retorted, stuttering slightly.
Mabel only gave Faith a slight grin. "Keep telling yourself that..." She whispered sneakily with a giggle.
Faith rolled her eyes as her blush subsided and she checked on the pasta, stirring it before lowering the heat.
"Are you sure?" Mabel asked, and Faith turned to see her right next to her. Faith jumped back, surprised but blushed even more.
"N-No! I'm sure! B-Besides, he's just my friend!" Faith replied, her blush deepening.
"I knew it! You love him! You love him! You really, really love him!" Mabel sang at the top of her lungs. Faith immediately put a hand to Mabel's mouth, cutting her off.
"No, I do not love Ford romantically! But I do see myself as his sister or something! So none of the romantic notions you have!" She clarified, though wasn't mad, in fact, she was rather amused at Mabel's antics. Mabel smiled under the hand and nodded, not believing her though when Faith removed her hand, Mabel stayed quiet.
"Um, Faith?" Dipper decided to say something to make sure Mabel doesn't bring up anymore love stuff.
She turned to him and nodded. "Yes, Dipper?"
"How was it like being Ford's partner back in the day?" He asked. Faith paused.
"Well, it was never a dull moment. He would always try to convince me to stay here in this very house as he explored though I never listened and we ended up doing a lot of the research and documenting our encounters in the journals. In fact, a lot of illustrations were done by me." She explained, her expression turning to one of reminiscence.
Dipper's interested face told her to continue.
"And then when Ford enlisted Fiddleford to help us build the portal, it was much more exciting! We were building a portal to see if there was an explanation to Gravity Fall's weirdness. However, at the time, all the way until last week, I hadn't been aware of Bill Cipher's deal with Ford..." She continued.
Dipper looked surprised. "You didn't know?"
"Well, I suppose I thought something weird was up but Ford never told Fiddleford or I anything. Though when Fiddleford left, Ford became more distant and he seemed very lost. And then one day, I decided to go investigate... something..." She paused as she struggled to remember.
"Something..?" Dipper questioned, confused.
"I don't remember. All I remember is leaving the shack and then waking up in the shack again. And seeing Stan and Ford looking very concerned and shocked. What was even more surprising to me was their age. And them telling me I was gone for over 30 years..." Faith smiled sardonically. "I believe I passed out when they told me that."
Dipper had a slightly smile on his face as he said: "I actually studied the journals last year, though they were burned by Bill during Weirdmageddon..." He trailed off ashamed.
Faith looked sad though smiled. "Yeah... I still can't believe it's been over 30 years since I last saw Ford and Stan... And they also have a great-niece and a great-nephew..."
Dipper and Mabel, who had been listening the whole time, looked at her with sadness and sympathy. They felt very sad for her. She missed so many years in both Stan's and Ford's lives. And she hadn't even known they had more family until now. Faith was also scared she'd be the one to have to see the two elder twins die before she did, this made her even more depressed.
"Wow, Faith, that is really sad." Mabel replied and Faith smiled sadly at them. Then she leaned down and hugged the two tightly, who both returned the hug. "You'll be here for the summer right?" Mabel asked softly and Faith smiled.
"Of course I will. You think you had adventures last year? Well, we're going to do all sorts of weird things!" Faith exclaimed cheerfully. Mabel and Dipper both grinned before Faith heard the pasta water boiling over and raced to go check on it.
"The Macaroni!" She cried out before lowering the heat more and stirring it again, making the twins laugh at her silliness.
RG RH NV
Deep the forest, though not too far away from the Mystery Shack, the statue of Bill Cipher began to crack.
And familiar laughter echoed through the forest...