Chapter Text
The slender figure of the priest moved through the small church in Gravity Falls, Oregon. He was lighting all the blessed candles as the sun started showing its first rays of light. The stained windows came to life and the interior started burning in color. Soon enough the people of this quiet mountain town would come streaming in for the morning service. Lighting the last candle, the priest looked up to the cross behind the altar and smiled. Today would be a good day, he was sure of that.
His slender figure moved to the big brown doors, unlocked them and opened them up wide to welcome those who came. Outside of the doors was a small rock trail, surrounded by bright green grass and beautiful white flowers. It was quite a few feet before the tree line announced the woods surrounding the town. He was pulled from the mesmerizing sight by the sound of footsteps on pebbles. With a smile on his face he nodded his head as he greeted the first man coming to his church, every morning it was the same man.
“Father.” The man greeted politely.
“Good morning mister McGucket, how are we today?” He stepped aside from the trail to let the aging man pass.
“Doing good, father. I can feel age catching up but I won’t let it beat me that easily!”
“That’s lovely to hear, please be welcome in the house of god.”
The man took his usual seat in the middle of church, close to one of the pillars. He had been the first of many, every family slowly started coming in while the priest got ready for the service. In came the Corduroy family, the Prestons, the Gleefulls, the Valentinos, McClorkes, Blubs, Durlands, Duskertons, Befufflefumpters and many others. He was surprised everyone still fit into the church.
When he took his place by the altar he noticed something odd, there was a family missing in his church. The Pines family usually came every Sunday and even some days during the week. Certainly worried, he made a mental note to visit them after the service.
The morning service was nothing special and everything went like usual. When the service came to an end, many didn’t leave yet. They all wanted a personal chat with the priest, also typical for Sunday.
“Ah, miss Valentino how are you this week?”
“Glad I don’t have that much work this week! Well, little controverted about that but you know what I mean.”
“Ofcourse, everyone needs a job to do and let me tell you that yours is a very noble one.”
“I’m glad I can guide them in their last journey to God.” Miss Valentino concluded. The conversation died down with a small goodbye and the priest made his way by everyone still present.
The doors of the church were left open, for the priest thought everyone was welcome in the house of God. A last glance at the surroundings on this beautiful day set him on his way to the Mystery Shack. As a priest, he didn’t always agree with their merchandise since he knew the elder Pines meddled with magic. Magic that wasn’t always pure white. But as a normal man, he liked the family, they had never gotten into real trouble and were quite amusing.
At the end of the road he took a turn to the left, into the center of the town. Where, after the service, the shops started opening up like the bakery and butchery. They even had a locksmith, who didn’t quite have a separate shop since he was always home and everyone was welcomed into his house. Passing by the bakery, he decided to stop by inside.
“Good morning father!” A young brunette greeted him.
“Good morning miss McClorke, how are we today?”
“Great father! I can feel the baby kicking already!” when miss McClorke stepped from behind the counter, her belly became quite obvious. He hadn’t gotten the chance to pay much attention to it earlier this morning.
“You’ve grown quite some indeed! For when was it due again?”
“I’m guessing a few more weeks, the little rascal is making me impatient already.” The priest could tell this child had already been welcomed in a warm and protecting family.
“Glad to hear, can I please use your services?”
“Ofcourse father! What would you like today?”
“I’ll have two of your sweeter pastries, I’m on my way to the elder Pines’. I didn’t see them during morning service so am worried they might have fallen sick.”
“Hmm… Now that you mention it, Stanley was here three days ago buying quite some bread. More than he usually would buy, haven’t seen him since.” This seemed to confirm his suspicions of them falling sick. While miss McClorke packed the pastries into a paper bag, the father got out his small leather pouch.
“Oh no father, please! This is on the house!” miss McClorke insisted. He just bowed his head in thanks, accepted the paper bag and made his way back into the streets again. Once he crossed the center of town, he followed down a dirt path. Eventually the Mystery Shack came into view, with their sign surprisingly reading ‘Open’. Stepping inside carefully, the priest looked around but didn’t have to wait long.
“I’ll be right down! Just a minute!” A gruff voice came from above his head. The shop wasn’t all that big but it sure was stuffed with a lot of items. The wall on the left, behind the counter, was loaded with bottles on shelves. They were filled with herbs, ground and some contents he didn’t want to figure out. The wall on the right had a big compartment with smaller shelves which were filled with candles and rich smelling dried herbs. The opposite wall of the one that held the front door had three big bookcases, filled from bottom to top with books. Some books he approved of and some he didn’t approve of as much.
Furthermore the store housed a few tables in the middle which held even more merchandise the priest rather didn’t touch. Heavy footsteps upstairs made his gaze shift to the opening in the opposite wall between two of the bookcases. A black curtain blocked the view further into the home. The footsteps came down the stairs he knew to be not too far from the curtain and soon enough the black mass was pulled aside. He was greeted by the friendly face of Stanford.
“Father! What do I owe this pleasure to?” He smiled broadly as he sidestepped to let the priest into his home.
“I came to check if everything was alright, I didn’t see you during the morning service you usually attend. I was worried you both had fallen sick.” As the priest walked further inside he could see Stanley in the kitchen, smiling friendly and motioning for the priest to join him. As he stepped into the kitchen, he put down the paper bag on the table.
“Good morning Stanley, fit as ever I see.” The priest greeted.
“Good morning Bill!”
“Stanley! You don’t call the man by his name!” Stanford scolded his twin. “I’m sorry father.”
“It’s no problem Stanford, Stanley. I’m glad to see you both well. But if I may ask, how come you couldn’t attend the service?”
“Well you see father, we had a few problems in the family.” Stanley seemed a bit hesitant to continue.
“You know I have a listening ear, my son.” Bill told him soothingly.
“My niece and her husband have recently deceased to a horrible illness.”
“My condolences, may their souls rest in the hands of God.”
“Thank you father.” The elder twins mumbled in choir.
“Take as long as you want to grieve, the church will always welcome you whenever you want to come. Service or not.”
“Well you see father, it’s not exactly the grieving that held us back from coming. It’s uh… what they left behind.” Stanford continued.
“They must have left behind a big hole in your life, no?”
“Not exactly… They gave us even more in life.” Stanley filled in. “They left behind twins.” The priest was obviously taken aback by this statement.
“They had a son and daughter who were left behind, we’ve been making arrangements all week already for them to move in here. They have a guardian who travels with them from Piedmont to here. They actually should arrive tomorrow around noon.” Stanley said. Bills face softened at this.
“I think it’s beautiful what you do for these children. You’re both being the warm arms to welcome them back from a harsh world and they’ll need you more than ever now. Please, if you need anything, let me know immediately. The church will do anything to help.” Bill made a gesture he’d be leaving and the elder twins quickly got up again.
“Thank you father, it was nice of you to visit.” The twins then guided the priest back out and waved him farewell.
Bill started his walk back to the church and inhaled deeply, the pine trees’ scent filling his nostrils. Curiosity took over as he started imagining what the kids might look like, a boy and a girl it would be. Would they be well educated? Would they even have been baptized? He had to make sure they would if they hadn’t yet. When he arrived back he went on with his daily chores, the confession booth and his daily prayers. Once the sun started to set, Bill put out the candles by the doors to show that he would not be available anymore for daily services. He would only open the doors when they would knock, which the townsfolk wouldn’t do unless an emergency occurred. Soon after, the priest got ready to turn in himself. Tomorrow promised to be an interesting day.