Hey guys! A gift for my very good friend, @jackyjackdraws ! I hope you like it!
After all is said and done, Stan accepts Ford’s offer to sail the Arctic Ocean. Initially, Stan’s husband is ecstatic, but as the fact that they will be apart seeps in, emotional chaos ensues.
~~~~~~~~~~
Kevin made some excuse about a shower so the twins could talk alone, and in the time it took for the old Irishman to undress, shower, and redress in pajamas, the brothers were talking in the hall. Some of his husband’s cons and sneakiness must have rubbed off on him, because he couldn’t help himself and he leaned against the bedroom door.
“… my house back, you give me my name back, and this whole Mystery Shack nonsense is over forever, you got it?”
There was a pause, and Kevin used the silence to ask himself if he really just heard that.
“Are you kidding me?” Stan asked darkly.
“No, I’m not. I don’t think I’m being unreasonable, Stanley.”
“So asking an entire family to leave their home, asking my husband to leave the home we’ve shared for thirty years, to tell our kids they can’t come back to the home we raised them in, is reasonable?” Stan asked, taking a step forward, making Ford dip back a bit.
“Well, it’s not my fault you dragged your family into this.” Ford gritted his teeth with a red face.
“What else was I supposed to do?! Abandon my family to try to bring you back?! Leave you out there to die, or worse?!” Stan growled in his throat and waved a hand, batting the topic away. “Whatever, the point is, we’ve both paid the mortgage, raised our kids here, and have built a life for ourselves, more than you can say you did in the six years you were here! No one even cared you were gone!” Stan harshly reminded his brother, and while he regretted the addiction comment a little, for once he was glad he told the truth.
“So, no! We’re not leaving! I’m not having my husband go homeless cuz my own brother doesn’t care about his family!”
And Ford turned his back as Stan marched away, heading for bed.
Kevin quickly laid in bed, his back to the door, so his husband could have a moment to collect himself.
In the darkness, Stan took a heavy breath, threw his suit off, and climbed into bed. His back was to Kevin, but the bearded man knew someone needed snuggles, so without a word he turned Stan into a little spoon, and they both fell into a less-than-peaceful sleep.
~~~~~~~~~
After watching his own husband forget who Kevin was - hell, forget Stan Pines himself - then slowly regain it over a few days, volunteering to help rebuild the town, making repairs at home, and attending a big birthday party, Kevin was emotionally drained and exhausted beyond belief. Maybe a quick smoke would give him enough strength to finish the party, and then collapse into bed with Stan.
So when Kevin was around the house, puffing a cigar, he heard footsteps and voices, and quickly put his cigar out in case it was one of the kids.
“I didn’t want to say anything with everyone listening, but we’ve got a problem.” Ford stated. Kevin was a little tired of eavesdropping on their private conversations, so he shook his head and walked around the other side of the house to rejoin the party, trusting the love of his life would share this interaction with him if it was important.
“Weirdmageddon has been contained,” Ford explained. “But I’m detecting some strange, new anomalies near the Arctic Ocean. I want to go investigate it, but Ithink I might be too old to go it alone.” He hinted at, with a small, hopeful smile.
“Are you sayin’ you need someone to help you sail around the world on the adventure of a lifetime?” Stan asked, just as hopeful, but life had taught him that if something was too good to be true, it definitely was. Then again…
“I don’t just want someone to come with me, Stanley,” Ford corrected gently, pulling an old picture out of his trenchcoat. “I want it to be you. Will you give me a second chance?”
Stan accepted the picture, grinning, and asked to lighten the mood, “You think we’ll finally find some treasure?”
Ford chuckled and punched his shoulder. “I’d say there’s a high probability.”
Stan returned the quiet laughter and said, “Yeah, I’ll do it. I’ll go sailing with you. Just lemme talk to Kevin about it and settle a few things.”
“Of course!” Ford said. “It’s not like we’re leaving tomorrow. Take as much time as you need making arrangements.”
Stan nodded, handed him the photo, and turned to rejoin the party, but his brother placed a six-fingered hand on his shoulder. “And Stan…”
The conman looked over his shoulder, and he was surprised to find his brother the happiest he looked in… well, his memory wasn’t the greatest, but he swore he never saw Ford look so happy.
“Thank you.”
Stan smiled and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, well… you’re welcome.”
As Stan was walking back to the crowd of the party, he saw Kevin chit chatting with McGucket, but the old hillbilly was distracted when Mabel ran up to him, thanking him for her birthday present, and so Stan stole the opportunity to strut up to the man he loved like a proud peacock.
Right as Kevin saw him and waved, Stan grabbed his raised hand, dipped him as much as their old backs would let them (which wasn’t much), and kissed him.
Most of the folks at the party were too distracted by their own small worlds to notice, but Pacifica made a face before correcting herself, smiling and shrugging, and Mabel awed with shining eyes.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” Kevin laughed as Stan stood them up straight. “Who gave you a hundred pounds in gold?”
“C’mere!” Stan, like a excited child, pulled Kevin by the hand over to the snack table, where it was a tad more private, and said with a huge radiant smile, “Ford’s asked me to go sailing with him!”
Kevin stared, but then smiled back and held his husband by the forearms. “Really?”
“Yeah! He asked me to go sailing to the Arctic Ocean with him, to check out some anomaly sightings, and I said I’d go.”
“Dead on! It’s what you’ve wanted since you were a kid, right? I’m gonna take a shot in the dark and guess since he’s asked you to sail with him and you said yes that you two have made up?” He clarified, raising an eyebrow.
Stan beamed, grateful that his life-partner was taking the news so well, and shrugged. “Well, yeah. I guess there’s some things you can’t come out of and not make amends, and defeating an all-knowing, one-eyed triangle is one of them.”
“Well, I’m happy for you.” Kevin said, moving his hand down to his palm and squeezing his hand. “Soos and I can hold the fort while you’re away.”
“That’s another thing… I think Soos is due for a promotion.”
“I agree.”
~~~~~~~~~~
And so the old twins scheduled to leave for the sea two weeks after the young twins left Gravity Falls. After a family meeting with Soos to tell him that Kevin would be training him to take over the Mystery Shack someday and that Stan was leaving for the Arctic Ocean and wouldn’t be back until the next summer, reality of the sudden change was seeping in.
Packed boxes, covering more tours so Stan could plan with Ford, short dinners or some split in half, bringing the brothers their food in the basement as they poured over maps and satellite readings, it was slowly dawning on Kevin that his husband was leaving.
He had been honest at the birthday party! He was happy that Stan and Ford had made up, and were finally fulfilling their lifelong dream! But bitter thoughts were crawling into his skull the longer he was alone with his thoughts.
How long have you two been together? What all have you been through together? And he’d still rather leave with him than stay here with you? Bullshit.
He hasn’t seen his brother in thirty years! If Stan wants to go sailing around the world with him, he should.
But how long will he be gone? Will he even come back?
He’ll come back. He always comes back.
Kevin smiled at the sleeping form of his husband, watching him sleep in the dim light of the moon.
Okay, but still. Stan’s really gonna go with that… that asshole?! Stan put you and your family through hell to get Ford back, and what did he do? Punch him in the fucking mouth!
They’ve made up! If Stan can forgive him, so can I.
It isn’t fair! You’ve given everything up for this man! And he’s leaving you! He’s abandoning you!
That’s not true! Just because we’re married doesn’t mean he has to be glued to my hip! I’ll support him in anything he decides to do.
Bullshit! We’ve supported him for THIRTY! FUCKING! YEARS! He owes you this! Don’t let him go!
Kevin sat up and rubbed his forehead. This was bullshit. He was never going to get any sleep like this. He decided to silently creep to the kitchen for water.
He mentally scolded himself, as if he was scolding a child who was throwing a tantrum. We don’t say things like that, we don’t think things like that. He knew Stan loved him very much, and if the tables were turned, Stan would be happy for him and want him to go, be supportive every step of the way, so that is what he is going to do.
Now the inner voice was pitiful and sad. As Kevin reached for a glass, he thought to himself, But I’ll miss him. And he could shake that sinking, lonely, dreadful feeling away.
He went to the sink, but a shiny bottle on top of the fridge caught his eye. Maybe a little drink to make him sleepy.
Kevin poured himself a small splash and swallowed. The taste was bitter, like his thoughts. So for good measure he took another mouthful and sat at the table to wait for the drowsiness to settle in.
I don’t want him to go. I love him. I’ll miss him.
Too bad.
Kevin scrubbed at his stinging eyes. This was stupid. He was stupid. He just had to hold it in until Stan was gone.
“Wanna share some of that?”
Speak of the devil. Stan stood at the doorway, shirtless and in his boxers, smiling with a bit of confusion and concern on the edges of his face.
Kevin smiled and jerked his head to a chair. “It ain’t black stuff, but help yourself.”
Stan sat and stole Kevin’s glass, pouring himself a swallow and asking, “What made you open the bar so late?”
“Couldn’t sleep. Just wasn’t tired.”
Stan took his shot, then offered smugly, “We don’t have to sleep in bed, y’know.”
Kevin looked away with a roll of his eyes.
Stan grabbed his hand, kissed it, then started kissing down his arm, scooting his chair closer as he worked to his shoulder, hoping to kiss his neck. “Mm, you did always look…”
“Stanley,” Kevin warned, freeing his hand from his grip, and Stan sat up straight. The Irishman cleared his throat, and attempted to sound calm and normal. “M’sorry, m’just not in the mood, lad.”
“That’s okay.” Stan assured, a hand on his shoulder. “We could watch a movie, or go back to bed and cuddle, or… if you wanna talk…”
“What’s there to talk about?” He asked calmly. A little too calmly.
Stan raised an eyebrow, his eyes unable to meet Kevin’s, as he was refusing to look at him. “Well, it’s not like I’m an expert at reading people or anything, or have been with you nearly all our lives, but I think you’re mad at me. So I’d like the chance to fix it if you’d let me.”
The Irishman finally turned and looked at Stan, and he was a bit taken back to see such fire in his eyes, a furious scowl over his beard. “Oh please, what would I be mad at you for?” Kevin asked sarcastically. “That you saved the world? That I nearly lost you? Nah, stay on your rocker, lad.”
Kevin stood up, grabbed the bottle, and put it back on top of the fridge.
Stan sighed. He figured this would happen. “Look, babe, I’m sorry you had to see me like that…”
“It’s fine. I’m not mad.”
“Are you really trying to lie to me?” Stan asked, amused and trying to lighten the mood.
“I’m not mad about that!” Kevin shouted, turning to face him again, feeling a little better that he was standing and his husband was sitting, making it easier to scold him. “I understand why you did what you did! And it all worked out! You’re back! It’s fine! I’m not mad about that!”
“But you’re mad about something.” Stan reminded the room.
“WHY?!” Kevin yelled. “Why did you have to agree to go sailing with him, why, Stanley?!”
Stan was surprised for a moment, but then ashamed for his miscalculation. “Oh.”
“Why, Stanley?! I mean, really?! The Arctic Ocean?! Lord knows you’ll freeze or get eaten by a whale or get lost at sea or fall in love with a siren or some other bullshit! And you didn’t even ask me! You just told me you were going!”
“I thought you said it was stupid for couples to ask for permission to do stuff?”
“It is! But I still want you to ask me permission for important things, like, huh I dunno, LEAVING HOME FOR MONTHS!”
“Sweetheart, I’ll be back by June, and Ford’s been working hard on making sure we can text and call you and the kids whenever we want.”
“That’s another thing!” Kevin went on with his rant. “Just, what, after all that, he thinks he can make it better with a boat and a never-ending guys’ trip?!”
Stan stood up. “Babe, I fucked up, too.” He reminded him firmly. “And this isn’t some…”
“But goddamnit, Stanley Pines!” Kevin yelled, tears pricking his eyes. And he mumbled through his gray beard. “I’m gonna miss you like hell.”
Every so often, in the quiet moments, in between making plans and cracking jokes with his brother, right before bed, Stan had thought about how much he was going to miss his beloved husband, but the excitement of his childhood dream coming true easily distracted him. He had to realize that, unfortunately, Kevin didn’t have such an accessible distraction from his pain.
“Aw, Kev…” Stan stood and Kevin allowed him to bring him into a hug. Kevin only allowed a tear or two to dot Stan’s hairy shoulder, but damn it, if he wasn’t going to cling to Stan like he was a life-preserver out at sea.
“I get why you have to go.” Kevin muttered. “I really get it. And I want you to go. But… fuck. I love you, Stan. And I’m gonna miss you so bad…”
“I’ll miss you, too, babe.” Stan kissed the top of his head and mumbled against his skin. “You’re my family, my entire world. I love you. You know that. And I know you know I have to go. And I’m sorry. I’m sorry I put you in this situation. I’m sorry I scared you.”
“Maybe my life would’ve been… simpler without, that’s true.” Kevin admitted with a tiny smile.
“But I’ll never say sorry for being in your life.” Stan said, also smiling, almost cocky-like. “I have to be with you.”
“Good. I don’t want your apology.”
“Good.” Stan loosened his grip to look at him. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” And Kevin kissed him, a hand on the back of Stan’s hand, fingers in his gray hair.
And they stood like that. For only five minutes, or half an hour, or eternity. Who’s to say? The old couple just held each other and reminisced the blessing in even having someone to love like this. But eventually their old legs were becoming sores, their energies were running low, and they surrendered themselves to cuddles in their small bed.
~~~~~~~~~~
After a four hour drive from their hometown, stopping at Eugene for lunch, Soos, Stan, Ford, and Kevin arrived at Coos Bay, where a lovely, brand new Stan O War II stood proudly on the water, waiting to be taken away. Unloading Soos’ truck of scientific tools and supplies, and the Stanmobile of luggage and personal belongings, it took about an hour of all four men working to pack up the ship and have everything settled in nicely.
It was nice to see the boat in all it’s glory. Kevin saw the comfortable couch nailed to the floor, fully-stocked kitchen, cozy bunk beds, working shower, and anything else the twins would need while out at sea. It was also easier when he saw Stan running around as joyful as a child. Easier, but still hard to let him go.
At long last, they had to say goodbye.
Ford held out a hand to Kevin while Soos tearfully hugged Stan so tightly his feet left the ground. “Well, it was nice to meet you, Kevin. Thanks for the chess games. And of course for keeping an eye on my brother.” He added, hoping things were wel between them.
Kevin smiled and shook his hand. “Yeah, o’course, lad. Just make sure ya take good care of him.” He joked, but there was a hint of a plea behind his beard.
“I will.” Ford said seriously, with a kind smile. “I promise.”
Kevin made a manly pat on his shoulder, and Ford turned to climb onto the ship, and give Stan a minute to say goodbye to his loved ones.
“Alright, alright! Lemme go! Kev! Got a crowbar?” Stan called.
Soos put him down and grabbed his cap. “S-Sorry, Mr. Mystery.”
Stan smiled, took off his fez, and placed it on Soos’ head. “You’re Mr. Mystery. You just make sure Kevin doesn’t burn down the place.”
“Oy!”
Soos, blushing, saluted his boss. “You got it, Mr. Pines!”
Stan and Kevin looked at each other, then hugged each other tightly.
“I’ll call you every Friday. And text you every day.”
“Yeah, I know you will.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Kevin ruffled his exposed hair. “I’m really proud of you.”
Stan blushed. “You’re a good man. I won’t be mad if you go up with a hot babe or two while I’m away.”
Kevin laughed and made a face. “Nah, you’re the only pain for me.”
Stan snorted, stole a kiss, but Kevin dragged him into another long hug.
“I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too.”
They let the moment last as long as possible, but all good things must come to an end. So new good things can begin.
Kevin let Stan go, and he climbed up onto the boat and released the rope, just as Ford started the engine, and the boat started to glide away from the dock as Kevin and Soos waved it away.
“Oh, Stan,” Ford said, almost in a scolding manner, and pulled out a red beanie from his coat and placed it on Stan’s head. “You’ve got to keep your ears warm.”
“Alright, Ma, but I don’t see your hat!”
“Well if you don’t want the beanie I picked up for you…”
“I didn’t say that, keep your hands off me!”
The twins playfully bickered as they slowly became tiny dots out at sea. Kevin laughed, already missing his husband’s banter, quirks, laugh, smile, whatever have you, but somehow, magically, seeing him so happy on that boat, seeing him well taken care of and safe, it was easier to let him go.
