What Happened Last Summer (18+) Chapter 9

What Happened Last Summer (18+) Chapter 9

Pretty proud of this one, idk

Start at Chapter 1 here and read Chapter 10 next

As always, this series is 18+ for mind sexual content - this chapter has a bit of fluff :)

Enjoy! You know the drill by now

18+ [Minors do not interact]

“Well Stan, I’ll admit I was wrong. This old tent should fit us all comfortably.” Ford and the kids took a few steps back to admire their work. 

Stan glanced up to see the newly erected canvas structure, and the sun getting low in the sky behind it. “Told ya so,” he said, before returning to the pile of wood and kindling in front of him. Kathy added the last camping chair to the circle around it.

“Grunkle Stan, is it almost time?” Mabel was practically bouncing up and down.

“Just one more thing.” Stan headed for the trunk of the car and grabbed two items. “Dip, you wanna do the honors?” He held one of them out to Dipper - a propane torch with a long neck, the one Soos often used to burn weeds outside the shack.

“No fair! I want to help!” Mabel complained. In response, Stan gave her the other item, a bottle of lighter fluid. “Cool!” She poured it onto the wood with a grin.

Dipper took the torch excitedly and approached the fire pit. “Stand back!” With a soft woosh, the flames ascended into the pink sky. Kathy was surprised at how much Stan and Ford trusted these children with such tools, but they did seem resourceful for thirteen-year-olds. 

“Sit down everyone,” Stan patted the canvas chair next to him, “Kathy, we have a story to tell you.”

Mabel dragged a duffel bag across the ground until it sat between her and Dipper’s chairs. Once unzipped, it revealed several books, some sock puppets, and strangely enough, a grappling hook. Expecting a cute story from Mabel’s imagination, Kathy smiled in anticipation and looked at Stan. His expression was gravely serious.

Dipper stood and took a deep breath, holding a thick stack of index cards. “Kathy, this is the story of what happened last summer. It’s a story about all of us, but mostly about Grunkle Stan - the man that saved the entire world.” He paused and looked at Kathy, waiting for her reaction.

Kathy laughed, “Is this a true story?” She looked around, expecting anything other than the solemn faces that peered back. 

Stan grabbed her hand and squeezed it, “I swear on my life, sweetheart.”

Ford cleared his throat, “Kathy, do you believe in the supernatural?”

She nodded hesitantly, and looked back to Dipper.

“See when we first came to Gravity Falls, it was just Grunkle Stan - we didn’t even know Great Uncle Ford existed…” The story continued and the sky became darker. Dipper did most of the talking, with several pauses for visual demonstrations from Mabel and occasional clarifications and flashback sequences from Stan and Ford. A few times the fire had to be rekindled, and blankets and snacks fetched from the tent. It seemed that everyone learned something new that night…

… “Ya filled my house with clones, kid? Some observant grunkle I am.” 

… “So Grunkle Stan, you did have money to get a hotel when Gideon took the shack, you just had to find an excuse to send us home so you could sneak back to the portal? I knew it!”

… “Wait, Dipper, you were cognizant while Bill was in your body? I always seemed to black out and forget what happened. Incredible.”

By the time midnight rolled around, Kathy had been handed several journals and had learned more about Stan’s life than she had after over a dozen dates with him. 

“Need a break, sweety?”

“No Stan, it’s okay. What happened, were you able to secure the rift?”

Mabel chimed in, “Not exactly…”

The hours continued to creep by, and as the sun rose over the campsite, the fire was still burning, and Kathy’s eyes were filled with tears. It seemed that everyone else was crying, too. The final speech was given by Stanford, who, through crooked glasses and a choked up voice, thanked his brother once again for everything and recounted a few highlights from their sailing adventures. He pulled Stanley into a hug, along with the kids. After a moment, Ford dismissed the exhausted Dipper and Mabel to the tent, and approached Kathy. “I know you have questions, but we can deal with that later. You two should take a walk.” And he headed for the tent himself. 

Kathy and Stan found themselves in the car. Neither of them were too sure what to say. She placed a hand on his cheek and his hand followed to rest over hers. 

“Stanley, you’re shaking.”

“I’m just tired, doll.” He let his face relax into her touch. “You alright, after all that?”

“It was a lot to take in, but I’m so glad you told me. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met.” She gently kissed him on the forehead and he gave a weak smile in response. She asked, “Could I see it?”

“See what?”

“The burn.”

“Oh,” Stan started working on the buttons of his shirt, “yeah, of course.” She helped him pull one arm out and get it around his back in the tight quarters of the car. Next came the white undershirt, which he pulled off as he turned to face the driver’s side window so she could see his back.

She gently traced the bluish-purple patterns of scar tissue with her fingertips. “Does it hurt?”

“Nah, not for a long time. First few weeks hurt like hell, though.”

“I bet.” 

Stan chuckled, “It gets to itchin’ pretty bad sometimes.”

“Yeah? I can help with that.”

Stan let out a soft groan as Kathy started to scratch his back. His torso relaxed and he let the side of his head rest against the seat of the car. He lifted his head again a few minutes later when she yawned.

“C’mon, we’re both tired.” Stan pulled his undershirt back on. “Let’s go to the tent.”

What Happened Last Summer (18+) Chapter 10

Last chapter of the main story but there's still more to come :)

As always, the series is 18+ for mild sexual content.

Start with Chapter 1 here if you're new and read Chapter 11 next

Enjoy! Thank you to everyone who has stuck through with this series, it's been super encouraging!

18+ [Minors do not interact]

“Can I put the code in, Grunkle Ford? I’ve never gotten to do it.”

“Go ahead, Mabel. Do you know it?”

“I think so,” Mabel tiptoed to see the panel on the vending machine in the dim light of the closed gift shop. With a few beeps, the large machine swung open to reveal a passageway, and Stan’s grip on Kathy’s hand tightened slightly. Ford led the way with the small flashlight he always kept in his pocket, with Dipper and Mabel close behind.

“Watch your step, pumpkin.” The light wasn’t quite bright enough to be useful for Kathy and Stan, who brought up the rear. Still, he confidently led her along, as if he knew the passageway like the back of his hand. 

____

“Don’t get too close,” Ford held an arm out in front of the twins, “it still isn’t completely stable.” The sheer enormity of the thing was incredible. Kathy stared in awe at the massive chasm that surrounded her, and the giant triangle that stood as the focal point of it all. Even with chunks missing, and cables strewn about the concrete floor, it was still impressive.

“You built all of this, Stanford?” She asked.

“Hardly,” Ford placed both hands into his coat pockets, “Bill designed it, Fiddleford assembled most of it, and Stanley here perfected it. My job now is just to clean up the mess I started.”

The group fell quiet again as they all gazed around the cold room.

Ford broke the silence once again, “I could use some help, you know, Stanley. Removing some of the larger pieces will require both of us.”

Stan scoffed at him, “Sixer, you got ‘em up there yourself.”

Dipper cleared his throat and stared at Ford, as if to remind him of something they’d previously discussed. The latter sighed, defeated, “And, I suppose things would go faster if you could explain to me a few of those final calculations you did.”

Stan perked up. He slapped a hand onto his twin’s shoulder and leaned an ear in, close to his face. “Sorry, didn't quite catch that. You said you need my help with what?”

“With math,” Stanford rolled his eyes, “I need your help with some math.”

Kathy and the kids giggled.

Stan continued to relish in the moment, “Oh, I know what’s goin’ on. You got me confused with my brother – see, he’s got all these fancy degrees, but I never made it through high school.” He inspected his fingernails casually. “Course, that wasn’t my fault.”

Ford took the hint. “Stanley, I’m sorry I got you kicked out, but I could really use your help. I’m a little… rusty after thirty years.”

Stan slapped his brother playfully between the shoulder blades, “Why didn’t ya say so, Poindexter? Course I’ll help you.”

What Happened Last Summer (18+) Chapter 11

This is the last chapter I have written for now - I'll probably keep writing stuff for this fic but it will be more spraced out and hey, if not, I'm pretty happy with this as an ending

As always, the whole series is 18+ for mild sexual content, but this is just a little angst

Find the beginning here: Chapter 1

Enjoy!

18+ [minors do not interact]

“Thanks again for closing up for me, dudes.”

“Yeah yeah, Soos, go home before I change my mind.” Stan began counting the cash in the register. Kathy picked up a broom, and Soos was out the door. 

“How’s business at the motel? Are you makin’ enough just bein’ open on the weekends?”

“Oh yeah, it’s been great. We’re always full.”

He continued to flick through the cash, "And you’re putin’ money away for the off season, right?”

“As much as I can. I’ve heard winters here can be pretty slow.”

Stan chuckled, “Not just slow – dead. I’m sure Greasy’s does fine with the locals, but for places like ours, it’s not even worth payin’ to keep the lights on.”

Kathy paused her sweeping, “Stanley, can I ask you something?”

“Anything, toots.”

“What did you do all those winters up here by yourself, if the shack was closed?”

Stan shrugged, “Well I had the portal to work on, of course. Had to learn all that math stuff, and needed all the time I could get. Still get nightmares about doin’ derivatives.” He chuckled, but Kathy stayed quiet. She knew better than to interrupt Stan when he talked about this – it didn’t happen very often. When the time came around to let her in on the family’s past, Dipper and Ford had done most of the talking. 

Stan continued, “If the snow wasn’t too bad I’d go out to get firewood and look for the other journals. Always told myself I should get away for a few weeks and go somewhere warm. Went to Vegas a few times but it never lasted, guess I felt guilty for leaving Ford behind too long. Felt weird spending all that money too. Livin’ in your car for a couple years will do that – you just never feel like you have enough.” He continued to focus on the money in front of him. She wondered if he could really count and talk at the same time, or if he was just keeping his hands busy. “I guess the only time that was really hard was the… y’know, anniversary.” Stan coughed, “And the holidays. ‘Course I was already used to spendin’ them alone, even before comin’ to–” 

The broom slipped from Kathy's grasp and clattered to the floor. She scrambled to pick it up, hoping Stan wouldn’t notice the tears starting to form in her eyes – but to no avail. He dropped the money half-hazardly and hurried over to her.

“Hey, why’re you cryin’?” He gently lifted her chin, bringing her eyes to meet his. With the other hand, he pulled the broom away and let it fall back to the floor. 

He pulled her into a hug. “I didn’t mean to make you cry, pumpkin. It’s all okay now,” he reassured her. But at the same time, he squeezed her tighter, like she might run away if he let go. “I’m okay now, don’t cry.”

They held each other for a long, quiet moment. Finally, Stan loosened his grasp around her and wiped a few tears from her cheek. 

“Hey, did I ever tell you about where Ford ‘n I docked on Christmas?” 

Kathy shook her head with a few sniffles and they both resumed their tasks.

Stan made a slow, dramatic sweep of his hands overhead, “Picture it: the beautiful little seaside town of Sitka, Alaska, white with snow…”

Author's note: I know Stan was raised Jewish, so I tried to be vague and just say "the holidays" and "on Christmas" instead of "for Christmas." but y'know...

So I was rereading my journal 3

And got to the part where Dipper was writing about what he saw while in Stan's mind

WHY IS THIS NOT TALKED ABOUT????

LIKE??? THAT'S SO CUTE

I HAVEN'T SEEN A SINGLE PERSON MENTIONS THIS

RAAAAAAHHHHHHH

I NEED FANART OF THIS OR A FIC OR SOMETHING-

New Playlist! This one is songs I think Stan would actually listen to. Very dad/grandpa vibes

A continuous work in progress ofc

What Happened Last Summer (18+) Chapter 7

Another shorter one, but I think it's important. As always, the series is 18+ for mild sexual content, although this chapter is really just some angst.

New to the series? Start at Chapter 1

Read Chapter 8 next!

Enjoy! Press 'keep reading'

18+ [Minors do not interact]

“Stanley, we can’t keep doing this.” Ford’s voice cut through the tranquility of the night. The two brothers sat on the roof, watching the stars – a regular habit they carried over from nights on the boat. 

“I know, I know, you’re gettin’ too old to keep climbing that ladder.” Stan playfully punched his twin in the arm.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Stan. It was fine when we all just got dinner or played minigolf, but if Kathy’s going to be at the house regularly, we can’t keep up this charade.”

“I know I gotta tell her, Sixer, there just hasn’t been a good time.”

“How long are you going to wait? It isn’t going to get any better – you see how the kids are around her, Dipper has nothing to talk about. And I can’t keep dodging the question of what I was doing for thirty years.” 

Stan peered at the ground below. He could feel his face getting hot.

“Stanley, the longer you wait the more suspicious she’ll be. I was there the other night when she said it – she may have been drunk, but she loves you. She won’t for much longer if you keep lying to her.”

Stan got to his feet and towered over Ford. He practically yelled, “And what would you know about love, Stanford? All you ever loved was your precious research.”

Ford returned the gesture, and they were face-to-face once more. He pointed at the Dipper and Mabel’s window. “I know I love those kids, Stan, and I’m not going to make them hide the truth all summer after a year of hiding it from their parents. If you don’t get this situation handled soon, I will.” He made his way toward the ladder, before turning around.

“Stanley?”

“What now? Still not done yellin’ at me?” Stanley clenched his fists. “I’ll do it, Stanford. Just go.”

“Stan, I love you.”

Stan’s fists relaxed and he found himself looking at his feet.

Ford continued, “I just want you to be happy.”

Stan made his way back to the edge of the roof and sat down. He gestured for Ford to follow, and his brother obliged. 

After a few moments, Stan said quietly, “I love ya too. And you’re right y’know, I gotta tell her the truth." He laughed, trying to hide the anxiety welling up inside him. "I think Mabel might explode if she goes another day without pullin’ out that scrapbook.”