This summer had been the longest summer Dipper had ever had. Every day all he did was stay inside the Mystery Shack, sometimes locked in the attic, sometimes working at the gift shop. It felt like it was never going to end.

Stan and Ford begged him to come out, just for some sunshine, but he declined every offer. At some points he was forced to go out, just to make him feel better, but he always kept his chin down.

The day that Dipper absolutely refused to get out was on his birthday. He didn't want to talk to or see anyone, he didn't even come out to use the bathroom. He stayed locked in the attic all morning, shunning everyone away.

"Dipper please come out!" Ford begged as he banged his fist on the door.

"Yeah kid!" Stan said, trying to make him feel better, "We can go out to the town and eat as much cake as you want and maybe get something special for you."

Dipper gave no response.

On the other side of the door, Dipper was sitting down against the door, hugging his knees.

"Happy birthday Mabel." he whispered under his breath.

He looked up at Mabel's bed with his wet eyes and saw...

"Mabel?"

"Hey bro-bro!" she responded.

Dipper stood up and walked towards her, "Ma- Mabel?! You're here!" he smiled.

He ran towards her and tried to give her a hug, but his arms just went right past her.

"What?"

"Dipper," 'Mabel' said, "You're going crazy about all of this. You need to let it go!"

"N- NO!" Dipper responded, "I WON'T let it go, and I'm NOT going crazy!"

"Dipper, you're literally hallucinating me right now."

Dipper sighed and sat down next to her on the bed, "Mabel, I TRIED to stay strong for you. But that's not me. I'm just a weak nerd who can't do anything right without his sister."

"How hard is it just to go outside of the Mystery Shack?" Mabel asked.

"I- I don't know. Is- is that all you want me to do?"

"It shows you're strong Dipper, strong for me." Mabel said as she put her hand on his shoulder, "Now go have some cake with our grunkles. And tell them I said hi."

Dipper sniffed and laughed, "Ok, bye Mabel."

"Goodbye Dipper." Mabel said as the hallucination withered away.

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"Please come out Dipper..." Stan said, trying one more time.

The door slowly cracked open and out came a sixteen year old boy in his pine tree cap.

"Can we get chocolate cake?" he asked.

The two Grunkles smiled and hugged their nephew, "Of course." Ford answered.

Dipper embraced the hug and whispered into their ears, "I also want to become stronger."