The next day, the birthday party was in preparation.

Mabel made sure everything was according for, from invitations, to confetti canons. She was currently instructing the group in the kitchen.

"OK, everything is almost finished," She said. "I just need someone to put up the black light posters."

"Wendy and I can do it," Will said, with the redhead nodding in agreement.

"Will, I don't want you to work on your birthday," Mabel said.

"It's fine," Will smiled. "It's the least I can do with you throwing us a party and all."

Mabel smiled back. "Well alright, just be sure to finish once we have our turn on stage. Love Patrol Alpha for the win!"

"I still never agreed to that name," Bill remarked.

"Too late, it's on the board, it's happening."

Bill sighed and laid his head on the kitchen table. He only looked up, when Dipper placed a hand on his back.

"Bill, I've been meaning to ask you something," The brunette said, gingerly. "Can I borrow the journals for a while?"

Bill blinked. "I thought you didn't want to look at them."

"I didn't," Dipper admitted, quietly. "But, I have this itching feeling that there's something I'm missing, and that I'll be able to find it in the journals."

The blond hesitated, before smiling at the brunette softly. "Sure. After the party, I'll let you borrow them. Just promise me you won't pull another all-nighter, you look pale as a ghost already."

Dipper rolled his eyes. "Thank you, you are very considerate," He remarked, sarcastically.

"That's what best friends are for," Bill grinned.

"You're more like a best annoyance to me."

Bill leaned closer to the brunette. "But, I'm still the best, right?"

Dipper chuckled softly. "To me, perhaps."

Bill blushed, and Dipper did too, once the brunette realized what he said. The two quickly looked away from each other, while the rest of their friends watched awkwardly. The relationship between the Guardian and the blond was indeed a complicated one.

Will decided to spare the two lovesick males, and change the subject so the attention wasn't directed on them. "So, when is this party starting?"

"As soon as the sun goes down," Mabel replied. "Just wait, we're going to have a blast."

"I believe that," Will smiled.

So, for the rest of the day, they finished last minute preparations, just when the sun descended.

❇❇❇

At the beginning of the night, everyone was gathering by the shack. Invitations travelled every corner, and almost half of the town showed up. Mabel was there to greet them at the entry.

"Welcome to the Cipher Birthday Bash," She smiled. "Have fun, and remember to sign your name on the karaoke list."

The crowd eagerly stepped on the premises, and indulged themselves in the food and drinks that were placed neatly on tables. Wendy's group of friends stood in one corner, wearing casual clothing.

"Aw man, I thought this was gonna be a rave," Thompson complained.

"Take off your shirt, and make it a rave!" Lee exclaimed, while Nate nudged him playfully.

"I'll do anything for your approval!" Thompson said, tearing off his shirt. Tambry instantly snapped a photo of him. "Tambry, come on."

"I promise I won't send it to anyone," Tambry said, before pressing the Send All button on her phone.

Meanwhile, at the other side of the shack, Wendy and Will were still putting up posters. Wendy was playing with one of the black lights, shining it in her face, making her teeth neon.

"Dude, it's like a crime scene in my mouth," She laughed, before putting the light down.

Will chuckled. "Good one, Wendy."

Wendy turned to him curiously. "Why are you still working? You have a party to enjoy."

Will shrugged. "Parties were never really my thing. Also, I like spending time with you."

Wendy ruffled the boy's hair affectionately. "Aww, that's great to hear. But, it wouldn't hurt to relax a bit, it wouldn't be a Cipher Birthday Bash if one of the birthday boys are missing."

Will sighed heavily. "In all honesty, I have a lot on my mind."

The redhead looked at him worryingly. "Like what, exactly?"

"I can't stop thinking about those two agents," Will admitted. "I feel like they could help us."

"I don't know," Wendy said, with uncertainty. "You seen Kill and Jill in action, they're way more powerful than some government agents. Also, people outside of this town aren't allowed to know about the Weirdness."

"You're right," Will agreed. "But, I feel like talking to them at least once, to see what they know so far."

"If you want to, you can just use that card they gave you."

"Bill took it away," Will sighed.

"Then, steal it back," Wendy said.

Will stared. "I could get in a lot of trouble."

"Yeah, probably," Wendy said, then grinned at the boy. "But that's what makes it fun, dummy."

Will smiled up at the redhead.

❇❇❇

"You should be enjoying the party, Bill."

The blond was sitting at the kitchen table, with Gompers resting by his feet. Bill turned around, to see Dipper standing behind him.

Bill shrugged. "I'm not in the party mood."

Dipper arched a brow. "That's surprising, considering you're supposed to be the outgoing twin."

"What can I say, hours without sleep does that to a person," Bill chuckled.

Dipper didn't laugh, instead, he wore a worried expression. The brunette moved forward and sat beside Bill at the table.

"Is something wrong?" Dipper asked him.

Bill should've kept his mouth shut, now Dipper will be suspicious. Underneath the table, the blond could practically sense Gompers giving him the stink-eye. Oh boy, the goat was going to give him one hell of a lecture later.

"I'm fine, Pine Tree," Bill reassured. "It's just that...I can't stop thinking about what happened a couple days ago. I got my mind invaded, the Guardians were kidnapped, I discovered my powers, it was a lot..."

Dipper nodded. "I completely agree. I think all of us are still processing the situation. Even Grunkle Stan seems distant after that whole fiasco, he's been visiting the shack less and less."

"To be honest, I don't really mind that," Bill point out. "At least, the old man isn't completely emptying our snack cabinet anymore."

The brunette chuckled. "What can I say, he really likes those cheesy puffs."

"Don't need to tell me, he literally wrestled me once for it."

The two laughed softly, and afterwards, there was an eerie silence. The humor faded from Dipper's face, until he had a serious gaze.

"Bill, whatever is troubling you, please don't hesitate to ask me for help."

Bill felt a rush of heat surge to his face. "Pine Tree, since when are you this protective over me?"

Dipper didn't answer, as though unsure on to say or how to phrase it. In the end, he stood up from the table and began to move towards the exit. However, before he left, he turned towards Bill.

"I...I.." Dipper stuttered, turning pink.

Bill watched intently, and noticed the Guardian was clutching the hem of his shirt tightly. "Pine Tree?"

Dipper looked at him, a tinge of anxiety in his eyes. "Do you remember...when you tried to kiss me?"

Bill felt he would die with embarrassment. He answered without thinking. "No! I didn't try to kiss you!"

Dipper had a look of confusion, and something that looked close to...disappointment. "You didn't?"

Bill laughed nervously. "Of course not, it was just a little prank, I was only teasing."

What was he saying? He couldn't control the words coming out of his mouth, as his fear grew.

Dipper frowned, then forced a smile. "Of course, I should've known...I hope you join the party soon."

Then, the Guardian left, leaving Bill wallow in his own shame. The blond fell facedown on the table, and groaned.

"You are very incompetent when comes to love."

Bill rose his head, and glared down at the goat. "I'm not in love with him! It's just a crush."

Gompers gave him a tiresome look. "Trust me, I know what love looks like. I speak from experience."

Bill looked at him curiously. "You were in love?"

"Yes."

"Wow, what kind of romance was that?" Bill questioned, jokingly. "Did you fall in love with a pig from a different petting zoo or something?"

"I rather keep their species classified," Gompers said. "But, I will confess that they are very intelligent...most of the time."

Bill regarded the animal thoughtfully. There was so much he was yet to know about the goat, and his curiosity grew every moment he spent time with Gompers.

"Enough about me," Gompers said, obviously returning to the previous subject. "When did you start catching feelings for the Guardian of the Mind?"

The blond was reluctant to answer, but he also grew tired of having to handle his love troubles by himself most of the time.

"I don't know," Bill answered, truthfully. "Maybe, I started crushing on him way earlier, but just didn't realize it. I've grown to accept these feelings, but I don't know what to do with them."

"Usually, a relationship between a Demon and a Guardian is forbidden," The goat said. "However, Dipper seems to be fond of you despite your heritage. You're lucky to have someone so open-minded, not everyone could have that..."

Bill thought he heard a hint of sadness in Gompers's voice, and debated whether to ask the goat what was wrong. He decided against it, since Gompers might keep it a secret like always, or it would just be too complicated for Bill to understand.

"I think you should confess your love," Gompers said. "It's evident, that Dipper might feel the same way towards you, so what's the use of hesitating?"

"You're probably right," Bill admitted, then groaned. "I can't believe I'm taking love advice from a goat."

"Either that, or you're mentally unhinged."

"Don't sass me," Bill remarked.

Gompers chuckled softly, then stood up and stepped out from underneath the table. "So, are you going to return to your celebration of when you exited the womb?"

"Please call it a birthday," Bill sighed. "And no, I'm going to stay inside for a while, anything to avoid singing karaoke."

"Very well," Gompers said, trotting out of the kitchen. "If you need me, I'll be joining the party guests, biting their ankles until they drop their snacks into my mouth."

"You have a disturbing habit of biting ankles, and it needs to stop," Bill noted, but Gompers ignored him.

After he left, Bill spent a couple of minutes staring at the table, before eventually standing up. He decided to take a quick nap, before rejoining the party, since his eyelids felt heavy from his lack of sleep. With that, he walked away from the table, before exiting the kitchen.

❇❇❇

Meanwhile, Will and Wendy were by the attic. Wendy was tasked on guarding the door in case Bill arrived, while Will snuck around his brother's side of the room.

Will looked through Bill's backpack first, but couldn't find anything except for loose change and a very explicit magazine (there goes Will's innocence for a hundredth time in a row). He gave up looking in the backpack, and looked around Bill's bed next.

He checked under the pillows, and found nothing, and then the mattress. Will was struck with luck, when he pulled out the government card. He smiled triumph, but that was short lived, when he noticed something else.

There was more paper peaking out from under the mattress. At first, Will thought it was the letter, but then he recalled that Bill gave the letter to Dipper to analyze. Confused, Will reached out, and pushed the mattress up. What it revealed underneath, were a pile of pages, all with strange markings on them.

The markings almost looked like...blueprints. The same one from the journals.

Bill, not again, Will thought.

Was the blond keeping secrets again? After they promised not to!?

Will furrowed his brow at the blueprints, and what he did next, he did without thinking.

He looked at the card in his hand, regarding the number. Then, he pulled out his phone and dialed it without hesitation.

After a couple of beeps, there was Agent Powers's voice. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's me, that blue haired kid from the shack," Will explained. "Can you come here please? I have something I want to show you."

"Will, what are you doing...?"

Will froze, before slowly turning around. Standing before him, was Bill, and Wendy was shrinking back behind him.

Will shot Wendy a look, and she flinched. "Sorry Will, I got distracted." She held up a phone, with a picture of Thomas shirtless.

Bill's angry gaze seared into Will, then he repeated. "What are you doing?"

All the fear faded from Will, and he returned his brother's hard gaze. Fast as a whip, he flung his hand underneath the mattress, before pulling out the pages and letting them crash to the floor.

As Bill stared, Will glared at him and said. "I can ask you the same question."