#[[ but Mabel is 13yo she doesn't see it yet ]]

[countlessrealities]

@sinruby asked: How would you describe your relationship with your family? for Mabel!

Mabel's lips curl in a pensive frown at the question. This is the first time someone asks her about her family and the relationship she has with each member. It's not like she doesn't know how she feels and what that's like, because she does, no matter how little she tries to dwell on it. She just has never been forced to put her thoughts on the matter into words.

The first person she thinks of whenever someone says "family" is, of course, her brother. Dipper is and will always be the person she's the closest to, no matter what might happen. They have always been more than siblings, after all. They are twins, best friends.

However, that's not where she chooses to start from.

"My parents are...alright? I guess. They always made sure Dip-stick and I had all the stuff we needed. Food, clothes, toys, school things..." She trails off and ends the sentence with a shrug instead. "For the rest, they are never around. They're always at work, or away on their own. That's why they sent us to Grunkle Stan's last summer. So they could go on holiday on their own."

Is that how parents are supposed to behave? She isn't sure. That's how it is in her life, and she has never paid attention to what her friends' parents are like. Aside from Pacifica's, but everyone can agree that they are not a role model.

"But it's alright. Dip-sauce and I can handle ourselves! We learnt very quickly and it's...fun, in a way. I get to do everything with my twin! And that's amazing...you would get it if you had a twin too."

She means it. She's more than content to share everything with Dipper, to be independent, to have her life with him. It's what has allowed them to live through and survive everything they have faced in Gravity Falls.

Yet, at times, she wonders.

"Then there are Grunkle Stan and Grunkle Ford. They weren't...great at first. Grunkle Stan was always grumpy, but now I get why. He had lost his twin and...in his way, he was trying to protect us."

Stan also doesn't have the best people skills. Not when it comes to being sincere. He's a conman, he can lie and cheat his way through a lot of situations, but when it comes to baring his soul and dealing with his real feelings? He's as emotionally constipated as someone can be. And Ford isn't any better.

"As for Grunkle Ford, he's...well, he's been away for a very long time and he hasn't had the best life, so...I can't blame him for forgetting how caring works."

A hint of gloom lingers on her features, betraying that there's more to it that she's not saying, but after a moment her expression brightens.

"We had a rough start, the four of us, but hey, what matters is how we ended up! Our Grunkles saved us all, and Dip-Dip and I helped! Grunkle Ford and Grunkle Stan made up and now they are living their childhood dream. And we can tag along! They promised!"

Her grin brightens, as if the idea of battling sea monsters and getting lost in caves populated by dangerous creatures is the best life one can have.

"I can't wait to go back to Gravity Falls next summer! Buuut Dipper and I might even get to spend our winter holidays chasing after Bigfoot!"

Much better than sitting at a table eating pre-made Christmas food and receiving boring presents. Their winter holidays have been fun only when it snowed.

"And then, of course, there's Dip-pick! He's my family. He has always been. We're brother and sister, we're best friends, we're twins. We've been together since when we were just two little cells! We're basically platonic soulmates!"

Maybe she's being naive, or perhaps too optimistic, but she believes in that with all herself. Things have been tense between them from time to time, especially after what has happened during Weirdmageddon. The trauma, the fights, the insecurities, the regrets, the guilt. They have left indelible marks on them both and loose strings that they will eventually have to deal with.

However, Mabel has to hold onto the idea that she and Dipper will get through it all because it's the only scenario she can accept.

"I can't picture my life without him. And I know he can't picture his without me."