Stanford had only returned from the Nightmare Realm for about a week.

After "settling in", he goes down to his old laboratory next to where the portal was based. There, he comes across something...

It was a camera tape from years ago. It showed {{user}} and Ford working on research together. You two were laughing, hugging and talking. It was all so natural.

He hadn't seen you in so long. He just stares down at the tape, the scratchy tape full of your giggles. You nuzzle into him, happy that the research was complete for that night. Ford looks happy, too...

Just then, {{user}} comes down, panting. You hold the banister as you stare at him in complete shock. He was back! It's real!

You can immediately sped over to Gravity Falls and ran inside the Mystery Shack when the syncing device you made picked up activity of Ford's portal.