Mabel had begun preparing the bird preparing some of the ingredients like mashed potatoes. She diced the potatoes and soaked them in salt water in the fridge overnight. She diced up the ingredients for a lot of dishes too, prepping anything that didn't need to be prepared fresh. Then she cleaned up the kitchen. It was quick work and Pacifica helped her clean up in minutes.
Mabel was grateful for the help. She watched Pacifica as she washed her hands in the sink. She marveled at how far this young woman had come from when they were teens. Pacifica looked up her striking blue eyes catching Mabel's large brown eyes watching her as she dried her hands off on a Thanksgiving-themed hand towel Mabel had handcrafted years ago. Pacifica gave her a questioning look. "What is it?" She asked her voice sounding curious with just a hint of concern.
Mabel smiled at her disarmingly. "I was just reflecting on how much you have changed. It's like I got a sister back from the dead. One I never knew I had," said Mabel. Emotion tugged at her but she tried to push it back down. Pacifica smiled at her. "And you are like the sister I never had." Then she smirked. "You know if she had gone a little bonkers and was addicted to sugar and adorable cute animals." Mabel laughed grateful for the levity chasing away the deep tide of emotions.
Mabel smiled at her, "You have made Dipper happier than I can ever remember. Just that alone means the world to me. When I first met you I would not have guessed in a million years you could have made him that happy." Pacifica looked back at her with a soft smile on her face. "You and me both sister. I mean do you remember how much of a dork he used to be?"
Mabel grinned from ear to ear, "What do you mean 'used to be'?" She said snarkily. Dipper entered from the living room feeling slighted. "I heard that!" he said with indignation. Mabel and Pacifica laughed. Pacifica walked over to Dipper placing her hands in his. "Who knew he would turn out the way he has." Pacifica's eyes looked on in admiration while Dipper chuckled nervously. "Yeah like a nerd that works in a lab with his Great uncle like a basement dweller. Pacifica's face changed to a more serious one, her blue eyes commanding in their solemnity. "No Dipper..." She said softly. "That's not how I see you. I see a man who puts his family's life above his own. A man who brandishes courage in the face of terrifying odds. A man who protects the ones he loves at any cost." Her eyes flashed softly and warmly now pools of rich deep sapphire blue. A deep passion lay in those depths as Pacifica continued. "A friend that sees the life in the seed while it has yet to break the surface. A friend whose relentless love taught me how to not only believe in myself again but in others as well. That's the man I fell in love with."
Dipper softly wiped the tear that had begun to roll down her cheek. "You were worth the wait. You are worth every trial and fight, those in the past, and those yet to come. You are my winter flower, my rose among the thorns. Your beauty is somehow more rich having been pressed and tried and yet still found true. I love you Pacifica Northwest." Pacifica stepped upward on her heels as her hands pulled on the lapels of the leather jacket he wore. As she kissed him Dipper cupper her cheek kissing her ever so softly and tenderly cherishing the moment. Mabel sighed contentedly. She hopped a certain someone might work up the courage to do the same.
As the two broke their kiss resting their forehead on each other She hugged them both saying, "I love you two so much. I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight." They turned to face Mabel. "Goodnight Mabes," Dipper said turning to hug her before she could get away. "Thanks for all your hard work in the kitchen." Mabel smiled. "The real work begins tomorrow. But honestly, I have been looking forward to this and theory crafting recipes and dish symmetry ideas in my mind all month. I'm can't wait to start!" Dipper smilled at her. "Get some rest and sleep well then." Mabel smiled at him lovingly. "I will."
As she headed for the stairs and then got ready for bed she contemplated her meal plan ideas in her mind. She was so preoccupied she ran into Gideon who had just come out of the bathroom his hair still damp from the shower in his pajamas. Mabel's eyes sunk lower taking in the sight of his chest before snapping back upward to his face. He smiled at her. "Hey, beautiful. How..how are you," He said clearly nervous. Mabel smiled wide not used to seeing the commanding Gideon she had come to know as 'Julian' over the school year.
Mabel took a step closer to him savoring the deep rich aftershave and cologne smell that was wafting towards her mixed with the smell of his hair. It was intoxicating. Her heart beat faster. A wave of hunger began in her belly. It was a flame that grew and spread to her heart as it captivated her sending waves of hot and cold coursing through her veins. He must have seen the look in her eyes as it took him off guard. Gideon took a step backward. He was not used to a Mabel that took charge like this anymore. She had tamed out over the years and this was not the Mabel he had come to expect. He backed into the door with a start of surprise. Mabel smiled as she got closer but not touching.
Her eyes looked up at his longingly. The brown saucer eyes and wavey brown hair framed her soft pale white face that was softly peppered with freckles. Gideon trembled at her fair beauty as he took her hands in his. "Hold me," Mabel said simply. Gideon wrapped his arms around her compliantly as her face was pressed softly against his chest. She could hear the beating of his heart constant and steady at just a slightly higher pace than normal right now. Mabel's heart fluttered much faster in her chest like the wings of a bird beating against the cage of her ribs.
Gideon spoke softly. "After all the years I'm finally getting a chance to make things right." Mabel looked up at him. "There is nothing left to forgive Gideon. It's in the past now." Gideon looked into her eyes as something transpired within him as he smiled. "How can I possibly be this happy?" Mabel smiled feeling the same. Gideon brushed her cheek tenderly with his thumb while gazing deeply into her eyes. Mabel shivered again involuntarily. Gideon said barely above a whisper. "If I may miss Pines, I think I might just have to kiss you." Mabel's heart about exploded with excitement. She tried to play it off as she casually said, "You may." Her lips trembled though as her eyes darted rapidly between his. He tilted her back ever so slightly and leaned in over her stopping just shy of her lips letting her take the initiative.
Mabel pressed upwards softly. His soft lips felt like a cascade of warmth and intensity that sent shivers down her whole body as she kissed him softly. He kissed her tenderly and then leaned back to look into her eyes. "You are beautiful Mabel Pines," he said softly his eyes and voice both filled with richness and joy.
They said goodnight and Mabel floated on a cloud of joy back to her bed. Exactly how she got there she was not sure. Somehow she fell asleep. In her dreams, she drifted away to a soft place overlooking the sunrise as the moons rose in the sky and the distant planets overlooked the horizon. She was overlooking a valley from high on the mountaintop. She opened her mouth and a song came forth. It echoed in the valleys and rang in the mountains. The sound was harmonious with a clarion ring. It spoke all the emotions her heart had not the words to articulate. Even in her dream a tear of joy formed on Mabel's cheek as she slept.
The next morning was a bustle of activity as Mabel prepared dishes and started throwing things into the oven. She put on quite the show of culinary expertise. She had done the turkey first preparing it and then handing it off to Grunkle Stan to cook in the kamado or ceramic smoker grill. It would come out soon before they ate which worked out perfectly. The twelve-pound turkey needed six hours to smoke. Stan would baste it every half hour. His phone monitored it on an app as it watched the remote temperatures of both the grill and the bird as it cooked. Mabel saw Dipper, Gideon, and Ford as they grabbed coffee in the morning. She was moving in a blur of a pace though and had little time to chat.
Mabel prepared sweet potato pie, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie getting them ready for baking. She made green bean casserole as well as rutabaga, Yukon gold, and buttermilk mashed potatoes. She made cornbread dressing for the turkey. She would make a gravy from the trappings from the turkey in the smoker. It would be divine. Wendy had vouched to bring the cranberry sauce. Mabel had ginger ale ready. She would add the rainbow sherbet scoops of ice cream to the punch bowl when they served it. She had set out the fine dining ware from the glass cabinet in the hallway that they seldom used. Pacifica helped her to set everything to adroit perfection.
Mabel however was stopped in mid-stir of the turkey gravy she was mixing when Gideon walked into the room. He was wearing a nice pair of blue jeans that fit him well along with a navy shawl-collar pullover sweater that was appropriate for the holidays. Mabel gawked over his body for a moment realizing the ladle had fallen into the gravy. She blushed in embarrassment as Pacifica snickered.
After Gideon left the kitchen with his coffee Pacifica descended upon the brunette who had nowhere to hide. The pretty blonde smirked at Mabel. "So...you two have some alone time last night?" Mabel blushed furiously her face splotched with red patches even all her hair could not hide if she had bothered to cover her face with it. "W-we um...we talked." Pacifica grinned while raising a questioning eyebrow. "Uh-huh...yeah...I'll buy that one," she said sarcastically. Mabel grinned slightly still bright red. "It...it was my first kiss." Pacifica now looking ecstatic and she leaned closer to the brunette and pressed her saying, "And?!?" Mabel smiled. "And it was like being swept away into a fairy tale. It was magical." Pacifica smilled triumphantly. "So was he a good kisser?" Mabel made a face of disgust. "Ewe Paz, he's your cousin! B-besides I have to get the gravy ready to serve." Pacifica watched her retreat back to the table with the gravy grinning with her teeth wide in an amused grin.
Wendy arrived with the cranberry sauce just at the right time. Dipper and Gideon came to say hi. Pacifica had filled Wendy in on the scoop with Gideon after they had announced it to family. Wendy teased Gideon in good nature while Pacifica laughed. Then Wendy asked, "By the way which masochist wanted me to get the cranberry sauce?" Everyone laughed while Dipper frowned. "Hey I like the cranberry sauce," he protested to which everyone else who didn't care for it laughed all the harder.
As everything came together at just the right time Mabel called everyone in and had Pacifica scoop the rainbow sherbert ice cream into the punch bowl with the freshly poured ginger ale. She added a deep serving ladle next to the crystal mugs for scooping the punch. Stan had the carving knife and had begun carving the splendid-looking perfectly golden glazed-looking turkey. It steamed as the tender soft white meat gave way readily to the serrated knife. Mabel began to pass the dishes around. Once everyone was served Grunke Stan said grace. Everyone smiled at each other taking in that special moment of family memories. Mabel caught Gideon's eye. He had been watching her with a softness in his eyes. Her love for him felt like it would burst from her heart.
Everyone dug in and began to converse. Mabel took a special joy just in watching her family bond. It was made all that more special this year watching Dipper and Gideon begin to bond as they shared hilarious stories with Wendy. Wendy was the best at telling stories with animated charisma. The Stans shared stories with Gideon about Gravity falls and began to fill him in on some family secrets as he sat listening with rapt attention. The clinking of the silverware and crystal mugs and champagne flutes was like a symphony of joy filling the air and mingling with laughter as Mabel joined in the merriment. She had advocated and fought for many things over the course of her life but nothing quite as precious and meaningful as her family. Gravity Falls would always hold a special place in her heart.