Dipper's POV:

On our way to the stairs, I was about to go into the bathroom to take my medicine, when Bill suddenly stopped me.

"Hey! What gives man?!" I yelled at him.

"Don't you want to see all the creatures in Gravity Falls again?" he asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You won't be able to see any of them if you keep on taking those pills." he explained.

"How could those pills prevent me from seeing things that are ACTUALLY there?"

"I think this is how you're affected by the spell. For some reason, you're the only one who remembers everything. So the best thing it can do is make you THINK that it's not real."

"Ok, makes sense. But I'm still taking it."

"What?! Why Pine Tree?"

"Cause I promised Ford. Plus I've seen enough super natural stuff for today."

"What do you mea-" he looked down at himself, "Ohhhh, right. Me."

I gave him a nod, took my pill, and went downstairs to the kitchen.

"Hi everyone!" I said as I walked in.

"Hey bro bro!" said Mabel with her cheery smile.

"Oh, why hello Dipper!" Ford said as he looked up from his newspaper. "Was everything taken care of?"

"Yup!" I lied, "I just ignored him until I took my medicine. After that, he was gone."

"You know Dipper, you can't always rely on your pills right?" Ford said sternly.

"Yeah, I know..." I replied sheepishly.

"But I'm glad that you were able to see past through him." Ford said with a smile, "So I'm proud of you Dipper."

"Thanks Grunkle Ford." I said as I sat down at the kitchen table and Bill rested his arms on the back of the chair.

Once Mabel put down a plate of pancakes for me, Stan walked in ready for work.

"You better eat fast Dipper! Because as long as you're living under this roof, you're working!"

"I know, I know." I said as I started pouring syrup on my pancakes.

"Geez, even after four years Fez still hasn't changed has he?"

"Nope." I answer, as I stuff pancakes down my mouth.

"Did you say something Dipper?"" Mabel asked, turning her head towards me.

Uh oh.

"N-no. I just said 'Nom', c-cause these pancakes are just so good." I said nervously, stuffing them down my mouth.

"Alright, if you say so bro bro." Mabel said.

I sighed of relief.

"Hmmm," Ford said as he was staring at me, "Are sure you're ok Dipp-"

"YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M FULL!" I said awkwardly, interrupting Ford, "I'm just gonna go and get ready for work!"

I got up from my seat and started walking up the stairs, with Bill hot on my tail.

"Alright, and hurry up Dipper!" Stan yelled at me, "Wendy and Soos are also gonna be here today and you probably want to see them!"

My face lit up with excitement, "Ok, I'll be right there!"

time skip~

After getting dressed (I kept Bill outside of the room), I rushed to the gift shop and saw Soos and Wendy.

Without any warning, I came over and gave them a big hug.

"Ah! What the- Dipper?!" Wendy said as she turned around to see who was there.

"Dude! You almost gave me a heart attack!" Soos said as he took in some deep breaths.

Embarrassed, I backed away, "S- sorry guys, I just really missed you and-"

"Hey, no need to apologize dude!" Wendy said as she took her hat off my head, ruffled my hair a bit, and gave me my blue pine tree cap, "We missed you too!"

"Yeah dude! It's been like four years!" Soos said after catching his breath, "Where have you been all this time?"

I combed my fingers through my hair nervously, "Well, I- uhhh....".

I looked at Stan, Ford, and Mabel who then gave me a thumbs up.

I smiled back at them and looked back at Soos and Wendy, "Oh you know, family vacations and summer camps."

"Oh yeah, totally get you dude." Soos said, nodding his head.

I sighed of relief, turned to Stan, Ford, and Mabel, and mouthed, "thank you."

===============================

For the rest of the day, well I was forced to work at the Mystery Shack. But it wasn't all that bad to be honest. I got to talk to Soos and Wendy for most of the time and we got to catch up on what's going on in life.

Some familiar faces came through the door and I was happy to see them again. Even Candy, Grenda, and Pacifica came by to say hi.

Mabel and Pacifica had exchanged phone numbers before we left that summer. They've been texting each other since then and I think they're good friends now.

At around seven p.m., Wendy had to go to the bathroom and Soos went to go talk to Melody (she still works there and is still Soos's girlfriend), so it was just me and Bill.

He had just sorta been following me all day, not saying anything, so I felt kinda bad.

"So, uh, Bill? How've you been?" I asked awkwardly.

"Huh? Oh, P-Pine Tree!" Bill said, a little startled, "I- I'm doing just fine!"

"Did the all powerful Bill Cipher just stutter?!" I ask while laughing a bit.

"N- NO!" he yelled back.

I got a little startled and stepped back.

"Oh no Pine Tree! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to startle you!"

I took in a deep breath, "It's fine, it wasn't your fault Bill. I just get startled easily, that's all."

"But that's still my fault." he said, shamefully, "I terrorized you so much that summer, and I know you have trouble sleeping because of it."

After hearing that, I felt really bad. I just can't believe that the all powerful dream demon Bill Cipher, was apologized to ME. He even looked like he was going to cry a little. I just-

I walked up to Bill and tapped his shoulder, "Bill, it's ok. That's all in the past now." I said with a smile, "If it weren't for you, I probably would've continued to BELIEVE in that fake summer. I would be living a lie if it weren't for you."

And then out of no where Stan came in, "Hey Dipper who you talking to?"

"AH!" I screamed, startled from him randomly dropping in.

He gave me a confused look.

"Oh, uh, no one. Just thinking about... something." I awkwardly chuckled.

"Ok..." Grunkle Stan said suspiciously, "Well we'll be closing up soon, so if you want to say bye to Soos and Wendy, do it while they're still here."

I chuckled while rubbing the back of my neck, "Oh, ok. Will do!"

And with that, he left.

"What is with Grunkle Stan popping out of random places?!" I ask annoyed, not talking to anyone in particular.

Bill laughed, "You're probably gonna have to get used to it!"

"Yeah, I probably will." I said laughing and smiled at him.

He smiled back at me and then made a nervous face. "Hey, ummm, Pine Tree?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we- maybe, if you want, be friends?"

That was unexpected. I thought about if for a second, "Hmmm, let's give it some time."

And so we did.