Chapter Text
Chapter 84
~*~
Sitting on the couch, you looked around at your family as everyone got together for the holiday season. Giftmas was coming soon, all the kids coming home to spend time with you and Sans. Papyrus was in the kitchen cooking while Mary sat happily holding one of the grandkids. Life had… you knew that you had lived through what could be called the worst time in human history, the over all death tole was higher than all the plagues that had been recorded prior to the rising. The walking dead were gone, hunted to extinction and the corruption had all but been eradicated thanks to Sans’ hard work. A few of those that took the cure and couldn’t accept kindness had lived out their lives, still dying sooner than they would have otherwise. Those that accepted kindness into their souls were still around, at least for the most part.
Humans and monsters had worked together, the world coming out of the whole ordeal in a better place. While numbers were nowhere close to what they had been before the rising, people were kinder, they helped their neighbors, made connections with those around them. Roads had been rebuilt, old relics of the world before had been repaired or repurposed. Cars were a thing again, the engine that Lawrance and Sans had created was the standard, the use of magic leaving no mess for future generations to deal with. Some people had even worked on getting ocean travel back up and running, though it was mostly for exploration and reclaiming resources that were less common near your city.
The little town that had grown around the homestead was now a proper city, one that now functioned as a world center where most people came to trade ideas, to grow the population and the world into something that was far better than had been before. Government wasn’t what it had once been, people working together for a true peace and equality among all peoples. Sure, there were still issues that were discussed, arguments over little things were normally handled by those closest to the conflict, though those that needed more insight. Or those that needed an outside perspective, were brought to your city.
You never did take to the whole leader role, though that wasn’t due to people not wanting to have you lead. For the first few years after things started growing, till about the time Estella and Pollux were two or three, everyone looked to you for guidance, asking you to officially take up the mantal of leader. You didn’t mind guiding and helping, wanting people to thrive and the world to be a better place for your kids. But honestly, you wanted that time with your kids. Eventually people realized that it didn’t have to be you, just that people had to follow your example, learn to lead with kindness and in a genuine interest for others and the future they wanted for the world.
“Mom, do you want to hold little Asher?” Castor brought his and Sam’s youngest over to you, breaking you out of your thoughts. The baby skeleton looking up at you with striking green eye lights as you opened your arms to hold your grandbaby.
“How’s grandma’s little munchkin?” Cooing down at Asher, you accepted a hug from Castor as he dropped a little kiss to the top of your head. Your oldest son now as tall as his uncle was before the famine, a bright smile on his face as he watched you with his cub.
“When does yer old man get a turn with the baby bones?” Sans pouted beside you as he leaned over to look into Asher’s face with a soft look in his single eye light.
“Lover, you know everyone wants to meet the newest members of the family. Oh, Castor dear, how is Sam holding up after the birth?” Chuckling, Castor blushes a deep blue as he shakes his skull.
“Asher isn’t even a month old and already she wants another one, how the hell did you and dad manage with four of us? We have two already and I think Sam is trying to get a set of twins out of me.” Giggling at your son’s problem, you shift Asher in your arms before reaching out to pull Castor into your side.
“Honey, you know that Sam isn’t a mage like your old mom. Poor girl is going to be stuck going one at a time.” Planting a kiss on Castor’s cheek bone, you smile at your son fondly.
“Heh, least ya get to have fun makin’ the cubs son, can’t tell me ya didn’t enjoy yerself with two little ones already.” Deep blue blush making a reappearance, Castor whines at his dad for teasing him, hands covering his face as you giggle.
“How’s our other little grandcub?” Mary moves to sit on the chair across from you with Carys, Jess and Estella’s youngest cub, a little mage with pretty blue eyes like her grandma Mary’s and white hair like her uncle Pollux’s , in her arms.
“Not nearly as grumpy as his daddy was at this age, are you little sweetling?” Cooing down at Asher as he giggles up at you, little fist trying to grab your hair as you expertly move it out of the way with a head flip.
“Oh my stars, do you remember how Castor would only ever smile at you and Sam? We should have guessed back then that the two would end up with a bit more than a friendship.” Giggling, Mary bounced little Carys on her knee as Pollux came over with the walking flame, his daughter Cynder, and his equally fiery mate Ember who was Grillby and Sasha’s oldest daughter.
“Mom, are you teasing Castor again?” Pollux shook his head as he nudged his older brother in the ribs playfully, Castor reaching to ruffle his much shorter brother’s white hair.
“Can’t be mad at her though, I think I always had a crush on Sam, just didn’t realize till I was much older what it meant.” Sam hearing her name came over with her and her and Castor’s older cub, Dillon. A big smile sitting on her face as she reached Castor and tiptoed to give him a soft kiss to his cheek bone.
“Honestly it’s kind of cute, mom told me you probably loved me from the first time you saw me.” A groan came from Dillon as you pinched the bridge of his nasal ridge in frustration, shaking his skull.
“Mom, please don’t be gross with dad, we’re supposed to be having a nice family gathering.” Grumbling, Dillon squeezes between his mom and dad to keep them from getting all lovey dovey like the petulant little gremlin he was.
“Dillon, if your mom and dad didn’t love each other, you wouldn’t be here. Isn’t that right Asher, you and your big brother wouldn’t be here if your mommy and daddy didn’t love each other very much?” Finishing your statement in a singsong voice, you spoke down towards the little bundle of bones in your arms with a bright smile on your face.
~*~
Happy, that was something Sans had never really thought that he would be. Happy to be alive, happy to have been through everything life threw at him, happy with the way the world was going. But Sans was, Sans was happy to be alive, to have his mate by his side, to have his cubs and grandcubs surrounding him as another Giftmas rolled around. Sure, the kids moved out and made lives for themselves, sure, he didn’t get to see them as much as he wanted to. But Sans could honestly say that he was happy with how his life and the world had bloomed around him.
All of this wouldn’t have been possible without Bridget, his sweet, amazing, kind mate. All this wouldn’t have been possible without her being hell bent on becoming a part of Sans and Papyrus’ lives. Even though Sans had resisted at first, even though he hadn’t trusted Bridget, hadn’t wanted her anywhere near Papyrus. Had actively tried to frighten her off and even tried to kill her on their first meeting… Bridget was too kind to give up on Sans, too kind to just walk away. Not just kind to Sans and Papyrus, but kind to herself in her own loneliness.
Because of Bridget, Sans could sit here in a happy world with his brother, his cubs, his grandcubs, and the most amazing mate Sans couldn’t have ever dreamed of finding in his dizziest daydreams. A soft smile spread over Sans’ face as he focused on his family, watching his cubs with their own little ones ad Bridget shined, the center of the little universe she had fought to create with the kindness monsters had almost lost from the famine. This was a life more than worth living, one that Sans couldn’t help but be thankful for, the perfect gift.
~*~
Being a father had been something Papyrus hadn’t ever thought about before meeting Mary and her cubs, too focused on other things. First it had been the drive to join the royal guard, then it had been the fight to survive when food was something scarce and more than precious. Finally it had been simply surviving in the new world of the surface, struggling with the constant pain left from the way the famine had twisted him, struggling to even see. Bridget had been the one to help him see the world again, something he would always be thankful for. But Mary was the one that gave Papyrus the most precious gifts he could ever imagine. Mary had fixed Papyrus’ teeth, giving him the confidence he had once had back to him, taking away the pain that made even the simple act of smiling hurt. Mary had been the one who had blessed Papyrus with the gift of being a father, first to Sam and Jess, then giving him his own cubs born of his magic and her soul. Danny was so amazing, his sweet little girl who had grown into such an amazing young monster.
Mary hadn’t been kidding about wanting another cub after Danny, little Cassidy being born about two years after his big sister once Papyrus had enough stored up magic to support another pregnancy for his mate. Honestly, Mary had pouted for the whole of the second year, always trying to tempt Papyrus into creating a second cub. Seeing all four of his cubs with their mates and their own cubs… Papyrus couldn’t help but remember the realization he had when Danny had been born, that he really did have the life he had always dreamed of, the love, the popularity, the morning kisses of his mate. That was still more than true, new family and friends entering his life over the years as the world was rebuilt. It honestly warmed Papyrus’ soul.
~*~
Falling in love with life every day was something Mary couldn’t help but do, the pain of her past was just that, in the past. Every day Mary was so thankful for every blessing that had found her, her wonderful mate, her amazing children, her adorable grandcubs, the best brother and sister in law that she could ever ask for. Friends that looked to her as someone strong, someone kind, someone capable.
When Mary had first gotten to know Bridget, she had honestly been a bit jealous of how strong the older woman was. Wondering what made Bridget have that drive to be strong enough to make the old homestead, how she had charmed and tamed the big skeletons who… honestly Mary had been a bit scared of Sans and Papyrus when she first met them. It was hard not to be intimidated with just how big they were, not to mention anyone who could survive the sort of damage they both sported… Mary hadn’t wanted to cross them, that was for sure.
Getting to know both Sans and Papyrus, though especially Papyrus, Mary realized how alike they were, how life had delt them a bad hand. It had honestly taken Mary more time than she wanted to admit to realize the blessing Bridget really was, first to the skeleton brothers, and then to her and her kids. Sure, having a place to stay, food to eat, at least a measure of safety was always nice, but Bridget had given Mary more than that. Bridget had taught Mary, helped her realize her dream and gave her the tools she needed to help Papyrus. Bridget had given Mary a real home, a real family that loved her for who she was. Not because Bridget wanted something in return, but because she wanted this, a better world for everyone. It was more than amazing to be a part of that, to be at the center right there with Bridget, Sans and Papyrus as the four of them worked together to slowly build the world they now lived in.
~*~
Sitting under the tree, there were gifts for everyone you cared about, all of your family. Both those that were here in the room with you and those that were with their own families on this day. Sans, Papyrus, and Mary, Castor and Sam with their sons Asher and Dillan, Astra and her mate Tinder who was Grillby and Sasha’s son along with their son Cyrus, Estella and Jess along with their little son Apollo and daughter Carys, Pollux Ember and their daughter Cynder, Danny and her mate Phoenix and their son Aiden, Mary and Papyrus’ other daughter Cassidy, her mate Riel, and their Daughter Doe, You even had gifts under the tree for Phoenix’s brother Ignatius, his mate Calico who was Azalia and Felix’s daughter and their son Aslan. A giggle bubbling from you at the reminder of Felix’s old nickname from the underground, the one the pair of monster women, Catty and Bratty had told you about, Burger pants. You even had presents under the tree for Grillby, Sasha, James, Fuku, Teddy and Bunbun who were Riel’s mom and dad, Aliza and Felix as well as a few gifts for Toriel though she couldn’t be there as she was traveling for the holiday.
Honestly, the pile of presents under the tree was so tall that you couldn’t even really see the tree, just the very tip that still sported the old paper star that had been made on that first Giftmas what felt like a lifetime ago, were showing. Everyone gathered around you as you took your spot on the soft cushion Sans had gotten out for you, waiting patiently for you to pass out presents. Though for you, the best present was having all of your family here with you, the love and joy they brought to your life when you had once been so lonely that you wondered what the point of surviving really was. A bright smile sitting on your face as you started passing out packages, watching as you were able to give just a little bit of that joy back to the people you loved with all of your heart and soul.
