Autumn was in full swing in Gravity Falls. Since moving here, it became Mabel's favorite time of year because it was ideal sweater weather. She didn't get to experience much sweater weather in Piedmont. She loved the colors, the leaf piles, the pumpkin-flavored everything.

And before the surgery, she had been looking forward to cheerleading at the school's football games.

She had zero regrets about agreeing to donate her kidney and would do it again in a heartbeat. All the fear beforehand and the pain of the recovery process was worth it to see Dipper healthy again.

Mabel never had any doubt she did the right thing. She thought that would mean she should never feel bad about it. What was there to feel bad about? Both she and Dipper survived. They were both thriving and looking forward to many more years side by side. This should be more than enough to make Mabel happy, but she learned quickly it wasn't so simple.

"Not only is it perfectly acceptable to feel sad from time to time, Mabel, but it's quite common and normal," Tad had assured her during one of their post-opt sessions.

"But it shouldn't be! I shouldn't be sad!" Mabel protested. "Dipper is healthy again! That should be enough for me to be happy! I am happy that he's better! I don't regret what I did, so why do I feel so sad?"

"Because you lost something, Mabel. You lost your kidney. It's okay to mourn that. It doesn't change how much you love your brother, and it doesn't diminish the very brave thing you did. It's okay to be sad."

She was sad. That's why she said initially no when Dipper invited her to the homecoming game.

"Come on, Mabel," Dipper coaxed. "I know it'll be hard seeing the cheerleaders, but it's our first homecoming. I know you want to go."

"I know homecoming is supposed to be a lot of fun, but I…I just don't know if I can face them with a smile...besides I'm too tired anyways," Mabel said as she pulled her bed covers over her head.

"You don't have to face them with a smile, Mabel. You can be as cranky as Stan if you want." Dipper tried to pull the cover off her.

Mabel just pulled them back over.

Dipper sighed. No wonder she and Stan were always compared to each other; they were both stubborn as mules.

A light bulb went off in Dipper's head figuring out how to coax his sister from her cocoon. "You know, I was thinking of maybe asking Pacifica to the homecoming dance after the game. Too bad I'm such an awkward dork without my wing girl…"

Mabel peaked out from under her covers. One thing that was both a pro and a con of having a twin was that no one on earth knew her weaknesses like Dipper did.

She sighed as she smiled at him and quickly got dressed to go out. "Remember, bro-bro, I'm just going to help you ask Pacifica out. Thenen I'm going home to watch Duck-Tective and eat ice cream."

"Of course, sis. We won't be here long," Dipper said with a sly grin knowing his sister was in for a little surprise.

When they arrived at the stadium, several of their friends greeted them warmly, happy to see the twins healthy again. Mabel had to admit that it felt good to be out and about with her friends again after being bedridden for so long.

The first half of the football game was pretty uneventful. Dipper and Wendy shared a hearty chuckle watching Robbie get clobbered as he attempted to show off. Mabel grinned; Pacifica may be Dipper's age and most realistic choice for a girlfriend, but she still found her brother's hopeless devotion to the beautiful redhead endearing.

At first, Mabel couldn't even look at the cheerleaders, but as time went on, her former teammates' infectious spirit spread to her as she cheered right along with them. Watching their dance moves, she had to admit Pacifica was pretty talented. She must have practiced hard after getting her spot from the waitlist.

"She's still not as good as you were," Dipper said as though reading her mind.

Mabel smiled back. It felt good to have Dipper compliment her. She held her brother in such high esteem. She had always felt insecure by all the abilities Dipper had that she didn't, so it filled her with pride to be commended by him for something.

At halftime, Pacifica broke away from the rest of the cheerleaders and went to the microphone. "Hello, ladies and gentlemen! Thank you all for coming out tonight!"

The crowd cheered.

"We want to take a moment to recognize someone who should be down here with us…actually, she should be down her instead of me."

Mabel's eyes widened in shock. Was Pacifica really…?

"My spot on the team was supposed to belong to Mabel Pines, but her brother got sick and needed a new kidney, so Mabel donated hers." Pacifica became misty-eyed. The once cold-hearted girl who didn't even like the Pines twins at one time couldn't help but be touched by her friends' story. "Because of that, Mabel couldn't do cheerleading anymore."

Everyone turned to smile at the twins. Dipper grinned with pride for his sister. Mabel could only blush at all the unexpected attention.

Pacifica finished with, "Mabel, you may not be a cheerleader, but you are a hero."

The crowd erupted into cheers as they gave a standing ovation. Mabel smiled and wiped her eyes. Dipper gave his sister and savior a tight embrace.

"Look at that, Mabel," Dipper said softly in her ear. "Now they're cheering for you."