Chapter Text
Bones ached, really badly. From the skull, to her phalanges, to even her tailbone. She doesn't know what time it is, or what day. She... she knew earlier, she did!
Her and the little ones crossed the days off every morning. Their eyes were always so curious, taking everything she did in. Which is why she couldn't be tired.
She couldn't let them know anything.
They were too young for that, to worry. So, she straightened her aching back, rubbed her tired eyes, brushed off the dirt from her hands the best she could, and kept on going.
She could've asked Riverperson for a ride, but she didn't want anyone to see her like this. Not the Riverperson, not her coworkers, especially not Grillby. The man fretted about her frequently.
But that wasn't the point. She didn't want anyone to worry. She had to be strong, unwavering. She treads through the snow, now close to her home. She could see the shed.
Where she grew their personal garden. Just theirs. Where her boys watched her care for something, trying to show them that being patient and loving towards something pays off.
She passes the shed and walks towards the door. Her hands tried to lock up when digging into her pockets for her keys. She winces and clutches her metacarpals and tendons.
They ached. Almost burned even. Her sharp phalanges, both pointer and middle, dig into the magic of her hand. Although it was invisible, she herself could feel her magic.
It was buzzing, uncertain in its flow. It was stiff to the touch as it was uncomfortable to touch. But, she massages her magic for a bit, her hand slowly loosening.
She managed to grab the keys and unlock the door. She really did want to work on that patio situation. Papyrus could be outside more while he kept himself busy. It would be good for him.
She opens the door, her eyelights softening at the sight. Both boys, sleeping on the couch, curled up next to one another. Peaceful as two energetic boys could be.
Sans was holding Papyrus, the youngest boy having one of his pacifiers in his mouth. The most likely fell asleep while waiting for her to come home.
The sight both warmed her, as it made her feel guilty. She was working. She knew that, they knew that. She didn't always leave them by themselves. They were always taken care of.
So, why did she feel so g u i l t y about it?
She swallows down the emotion, crouching down in front of the boys. No matter how her spine screamed at her for doing so. She cups their faces, Sans squirming at the touch.
"Sans, bub. Wake up,"
She coos softly to the older boy, her thumb softly caressing his zygomatic bone. It was still soft, as he was still growing. The boy's eyes slowly flutter open, his white eyelights landing on her.
He instantly brightened up.
"Hi, ma,"
She smiles at him. His expression, his excitement, his eagerness for everything, his little heart, him as the little being he is made her soul warm. Both of them did.
And that, is what made her love them even more.
"Hi, bub. Why are you two on the couch?"
"Well, it was time for Papyrus to take his nap. But he didn't want to because he wanted you to tuck him in. He fell asleep anyway waiting. I did, too..."
He trails off, sheepish. She sighs, turning to Papyrus, before turning to the clock above the dining room table. Ah, so that's what time it was. She hums.
"Well, let him nap for a little bit more. Come on,"
She helps the boy slowly slip from under the younger boy without waking him. He was quite the light sleeper. She adjusts the blanket on the boy and pecks his skull.
She stands, her spine aching in desperation. Pleading for her to sit down, take a break, anything. She hides her discomfort, her wince, and turns to Sans.
"I got you something, love,"
She reaches for the bag on her shoulder, rummaging through it. Having multiple inventories on her made things easily misplaceable.
The tiny ones that were her pockets on her work apron, her bag. But, it was mostly things for the boys rather than her own items. So, she didn't mind it much.
She pulls out a book, offering it to him. He eyes the book, curious as well as confused, taking the book and looking at the cover. She chuckles at his confusion.
"It's a book about the stars. It's not the exact one you wanted, but it's a start."
The boy gasps, his round eyelights turning into stars. He hugs the book to his chest, bouncing in place. His grin being so big and so genuine.
She was almost afraid that his soft and still forming skull would get stuck like that.
"An astronomy book!"
"Right. Astronomy, that's what it's called."
The boy squeals, hugging her neck. She chuckles, shushing him all the while, hugging him back. She kisses his skull.
"Papyrus is still sleeping, bub. We need to keep it down,"
"Sorry,"
He sheepishly smiles before looking down at the book's cover again. He was absolutely smitten with it already, despite not opening its pages yet or reading the description that was on the back.
He looks up at her, his excited eyes warming her heart and demolishing her hesitance on whether or not he would like it. He definitely liked it. That was good, she did good.
"Can you read it with me?"
She chuckles in response, rubbing her tired eyes.
"Maybe later before bed, bub. But I can't promise I'll read any of it correctly."
"That's okay, we can learn together!"
She hears a whine from the couch, turning towards the noise. She does nothing for a while, not knowing if he was just making noise in his sleep or waking up.
It was confirmed when her eyelights met his. He was awake, already sitting up. His little eyes glossy as he raises his arms, whining again. She smiles softly, walking to the couch.
"Hi, darling,"
She coos softly to the babe, picking him up finally like he wanted. He instantly nuzzles into her, his small hand tightly clutching onto her shirt. She rubs the boy's skull gently.
"Did you miss me, huh?"
She asks playfully and rhetorically, knowing that he obviously did. She playfully made a motion, as if she was going to put him down. He instantly squeals around his pacifier.
His hands clutching onto her harder, pouting up at her. He was used to her teasing, and was not in any mood for them. He just wanted to be held a bit, that's it!
She chuckles, kissing his skull gently.
"Okay, okay. Mama's sorry, I'll stop being mean."
She holds the babe close, bringing Sans into her side, not wanting him to feel left out. The boy instantly hugs her, both boys not having any plans of letting go anytime soon.
Her boys.
She ignored her exhaustion, her discomfort, her pain. They're all that mattered right now. Her children, her light, her hope. Her boys. They kept her going. Everything else was a blur.
"So,"
She starts, both boy's gaze and attention going to her. That is, as if she didn't have it already. Constantly, without having to ask. They were as infatuated with her presence as she was with theirs.
"What do you boys wanna do?"
Chapter Text
The Core, the magic ran machine in charge of running the underground's electricity. Just the thought of it made her roll her eyes at the machine.
Or, rather, the person in charge of creating it.
The underground was dark at night, the new Core of the underground in its early stages. The pitch darkness of the world outside of many homes unsettled many people.
Even with the lanterns that the people of Snowdin created, it still felt like a ghost town, something out of a nightmare or a horror movie. Which, is why she was woken up at 12 o'clock.
Unexpectedly.
She jumps awake at the sound of her door opening, her eyelights flickering a deep blue before she relaxed. It was just Sans, holding Papyrus.
"Bub, what are you two doing up? I put you two down about-"
She cuts herself off, seeing their expressions. Sans, although he tried to hide it, was distraught. His face stiff, his mouth and hands trembling as he clung onto his baby brother.
Papyrus wasn't any better. The babe was ready to burst into tears, his skull a soft shade of orange as he hiccups. He clung onto Sans, his small body shaking as he looks to her.
Desperate for comfort, the both of them.
"Come here, it's okay,"
She coos softly to the two boys. Sans instantly rushes over, climbing into her bed clumsily. She takes Papyrus from his arms and into hers, as well as placing the boys in her lap.
She holds them close, kissing both of their heads. Papyrus, now in the comfort of his mother's arms, allowed himself to cry. She let him, ignoring as Sans shedded a few tears.
She wouldn't mention it.
"I'm sorry, boys. I should've known. It's okay. Everything's okay."
She rocks them as the dark underground outside tried to get to them. She wouldn't let it. Not while her SOUL was pumping and still together.
"It's just dark, hun. There's nothing to get you. Not when I'm here. I'm right here,"
She holds them tightly, both boys doing the same. She shushes them, rubbing their backs and arms, trying to get them to stop shaking. It made her feel... inadequate?
Like she was failing them somehow.
"The dark scared me too, when I was your age."
She admits to the boys, with no shame. Shame, would teach them that their fears or anxieties were something to hide or be ashamed of. There was nothing to be ashamed of.
Everyone has fears. Everyone gets scared of something, no matter how insignificant it seemed to others. Someone's fear should never be swept to the side, ridiculed, or mocked.
"We didn't have the Core or as much electricity as we have now. We had nothing but our magic."
She says to them, showing them her palm. Slowly, it started to glow a soft white. Both boys stop shaking at the sight, curious as well as enthralled.
"Our magic, the culmination of our being. Often confused for SOULs. It's what makes us, us. You two, have much more stronger magic than me, in my eyes."
Sans tilts his head.
"How, mama? You do all kind of strong things! Like, lifting up trees, or fire magic, and healing!"
"There are many types of magic that's essential for skeleton monsters. Something I don't have. Bone attacks,"
The soft white glow of her hands forms into a shape. A bone. Papyrus coos, and tried to grab it, only for his small hand to go through it, like smoke almost.
She chuckles as he checks his small hands for the bone. Empty.
"I can't do them. The only strong skeletal attack I have is our blasters, which is dangerous for me to even use. I have nothing on you two."
She kisses their heads, letting the shape form into shapes, stars, anything that would calm then down. That would distract them from the dark, from their fears.
To remind them that she was there. Sans scrunches up his nose, thinking.
"How do you know, mama? We haven't even practiced magic yet!"
She smiles.
"Because I know you two. You two will be extraordinary, you already are."
She says, leaning down and brushing her nasal bone with theirs. Sans groans at the feeling, leaning away and covering his nose while Papyrus just giggles.
She smiles at their reactions.
"It will save you two, one day. When I'm not here. But, I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon. You're stuck with me,"
She brushes her nose against theirs again, getting the same reactions. Sans groans a complaint, while Papyrus reaches up and grabs onto the bone.
She playfully nibbles on his hands, making the babe giggle even harder.
"I'm not going anywhere. Mama's right here, always and forever."
She lays down with both boys in her arms, their heads laying against her sternum and clavicle. She rubs their spines and cups their skulls, her touch warm and gentle.
The touch would stuck with them for a long time, reminding them that she was there for them. If they were afraid, frustrated, confused, overwhelmed, vulnerable.
Or, if they simply wanted or needed comfort. Mama would be there.
✌︎●︎⬥︎♋︎⍓︎⬧︎📬︎
Chapter 3: H I M . . .
Summary:
T r a i t o r . . .
Chapter Text
Working for the Capital had its perks. Her sons would get extra food deliveries, she could save up a lot of money for them, for their future. But, there were a lot of disadvantages too.
The constant exhaustion it brought, the stress, the weight of the responsibility providing for the entire underground. But the worst in her honest opinion? Was seeing him.
She didn't hate him. She didn't think she was capable of hating anyone. But she entirely and genuinely l o a t h e d him. He was a coward, a liar, a two-faced good for nothing t r a i t o r.
Everything had to be linked back to him, and it annoyed her to no extent. The attack, the language, the damn mention of their existence. It all fell on him, on what he's accomplished.
Nothing but him, him, h i m.
And as much as the monsters of the underground believed it, he just accepted it for what it was. He just ate it up, too. He became arrogant, a façade.
Nothing but a shell of how others perceived him.
Her SOUL burned at the sight of him, his presence, his s t u p i d v o i c e even. But, she wasn't trying to be that type of monster. What example would that set for her boys?
To despise despite how it can hurt your SOUL, how the burning and the weight it adds to it. No. Rage and loathing wasn't worth it, it will hurt you even more in the end.
It could hurt your loved ones even more.
She was caressed out of her thoughts when she felt a warm hand rub at her arm, and grab her hand. She could feel the magic, the worry through his being.
Grillby.
"Hey, are you with me still? Are you alright?"
She blinks, looking up at him. She smiles softly, the weight of his package still in her hands.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Grillby. Here's your food delivery-"
"I'm not worried about that right now."
He interrupts, which he rarely did. He takes the wooden crate from her aching hands, places it down on the counter behind him, and takes her hands.
He looks down at them, his thumbs caressing her palm.
"Your hands were shaking, you were holding onto the box tightly. Like you were angry."
She chuckles tiredly, looking up at him. Yes, she ached. Yes, she was full of irritation and hesitance of not calling off just not to see that man's s t u p i d f a c e-
"How do you know I'm angry?"
"You clench your hands, your jaw,"
He lists, his voice low and gentle. Like he was trying to calm her and was cautious at the same time, not wanting to offend somehow.
"Your nose flares up and twitches sometimes too, like a bunny monster."
"Hush,"
She says, scrunching up her nose in distaste, making him cackle a bit at the motion. He squeezes her hands gently, grabbing her attention again.
"I know you hate to see him or be around him. I won't even say his name,"
She sighs at that. So, her loathing was noticeable. That wasn't good, she really needed to work on that.
"But it's only for a moment. Don't let it ruin your day or your pretty face,"
She scoffs, swatting at him at the small playful jab. He chuckles, his shoulders shaking with the warm sound.
"My point is, don't let him have that power over you. It's only for a little while. Then, you can push him to the back of your mind."
She sighs, squeezing his hands. Sadly, she pulled away from the warmth of his hands and magic, the cold from the happy town nipping at her fingers.
"You and your words."
She sighs, getting another chuckle. He grabs his crate, grinning down at her.
"I know, I know. I'll see you later, the boys are napping in the back."
She nods.
"Alright, give them kisses for me."
"I will. Go."
She waves, adjusting her scarf as she walks outside the warm restaurant. To the Capital we go, she guessed.
She straightens her stiff spine and began walking. She walks through Snowdin, through Waterfall, and stopping at the entrance of Hotland.
She takes off her long sleeve, revealing a soft cream undershirt. She carefully folds her sweater, and places it in her inventory, and goes to walk into Hotland before pausing.
She... she contemplated on 💧︎✌︎✞︎✋︎☠︎☝︎, but decided against it. She hadn't done it in years. She was fine. Besides, some of her progress did it automatically.
She doesn't know why this happened or why it started when she had Sans. All she knew was that it was a curse. The whole cycle was.
She was stopped by a guard.
"Hello, miss. I need you to show some identification."
She looks up from her dirt covered boots to see a guard she had never seen before, and Gerson. She tiredly blinks and looks down at her apron.
Oh, it wasn't pinned today. She forgot that she'd let Papyrus play with the chain. She hums and gives the young man a smile.
"Identification?"
She asks, the young man nodding seriously. Gerson cackles, making the man look at him in question and confusion.
"Is... there something wrong, sir?"
"Son, you are picking at the wrong tree. Don't you know who this is?!"
"It's alright, Gerson."
She interjects softly, smiling.
"I'll show him. It's not a problem."
She digs through her apron's pockets, trying to remember which one she had the card in. She huffs when she couldn't find it as quickly as she wanted to.
"So many inventories... ah! Here we are."
She hands the young man the card. He takes it, examines it for a bit, before sweatdropping when he realized who the woman was.
"I... I'm so sorry! It's my first day, and I wanted to make sure that everything went right! So when the king told me to make sure no one but faculty entered today, I-"
She shushes the young man softly, her soul warming at the anxious ranting. Sans did that sometimes when he truly felt guilty about something. It was a sense of deja vu.
"It's alright,"
She smiles softly, reassuring him and placing a hand on his chest. She could feel his heart beating through his chest.
"We all make mistakes, and we all don't expect each other to know one another. Yes, there are only a few of us in the whole Underground, but there are many people who don't travel outside of their cities. No one's at fault."
She gives him a motherly smile, the young man faltering a bit at the smile and her reassurance. He slowly nods and hands back the card, clearing his throat.
"Y-You may enter."
She smiles softly as he tries to brush off his embarrassment and put up the wall he had.
"Thank you."
She nods, walking past them.
"Don't tease him too much, Gerson!"
"No promises!"
The man cackles, holding onto his stomach as he starts to laugh. Hard. She shakes her head and chuckles.
Gerson...
She enters the elevator, letting the smile stay on her face until the metal doors close. She sighs, letting her exhausted facial muscles relax.
She leans on the wall, placing a hand on her forehead. Her body ached, her SOUL trying to burn with distaste.
She swallows the feeling, forcing her body to stand up straight and pressing the button. Down... down... down. Whatever direction it was. She couldn't think about it right now.
The door open, her heavy eyelids following her eyelights as her face was blank and cold. There they stood. There h e stood. She doesn't greet him.
She doesn't greet anybody.
She stands up straight, ignoring her aching spine and uneasy SOUL. She knew the pain that was coming her way, she knew that she'd die doing this.
But it was either this, or her being ripped away from everything. Her kids, her life, her very being. H e ' d l i k e t h a t, w o u l d n ' t h e?
Y o u ' d l i k e i t t o o.
"... so?"
She prompts dryly, taking off her boots, apron, and her scarf, revealing many fractures and old wounds. She looks at the group coldly.
"Are we ready, or what?"
Chapter Text
She laughs at the boys as they run around in the snow, belly hurting as she cackles. Papyrus waddling quickly after his older brother, Sans running away and constantly falling on his face.
She can't even remember which prank the older boy did to the toddler, but it didn't matter. Moments like these didn't reason. All that mattered was the strumming of their SOULs.
Happy. They were happy. Despite the fussing, the running away, the slipping and falling, her boys were happy in this moment.
And that's all she needed.
Her smile slowly drops as a few guardsmen walk over, grim expressions on her face. She gazes at them, knowing what those expressions meant.
... f u c k.
She hums.
"What else do they need?"
"Nothing else, ma'am. We were just told to relay the message."
She nods, sighing. She rubs her eyes, hand on her forehead. Her SOUL burned, her eyelights showing this.
"I don't need this."
She says lowly, stressed and irritated, the men flinching and nodding in response, their head bowed.
"I know, ma'am. We're sorry for all of this."
She huffs, her body tensing as she thinks, mind running as her eyes and SOUL burns. She takes a deep breath, before grinning up at the guards.
"It's alright. Not your fault."
She straightens up, smiling warmly, burying the b u r n i n g f e e l i n g in her SOUL.
"You two go home after going back. I'm not going anywhere, so you shouldn't have to worry about the capital, alright?"
"Um, ma'am-"
She cuts the nervous man's anxious protest her eye sockets going completely blank.
"I ' m n o t g o i n g a n y w h e r e. I ' m n o t g i v i n g t h e m a n y t h i n g r i g h t n o w."
The two tense at the cold feeling that suddenly surrounded them. She then sighs, relaxing, the cold and piercing air now just cold.
"Sorry, guys. Just... not today. I'm gonna stretch my days off as long as I can."
She leans back, turning back to her oblivious children, snorting as Papyrus squeals and tackles Sans' leg, making the older boy fall.
The knights nod quickly.
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Right away, ma'am!"
The two knights rush off.
She chuckles at the sight if the guards nervously rushing away, before turning back to her boys as Sans groans and calls out for her.
Papyrus is sitting on Sans' back, repeatedly bonking his head. The older boy's face smothered in the snow as he tried to protect the back of his head.
"Mom! Help me!"
"Pyrus, baby,"
She cackles, standing up from her rocking chair and walking over. She scoops up the toddler, grinning at his still swinging and kicking limbs.
She turns to toddler to face her, pouting in a scolding manner. Papyrus slightly falters at this, but keeps his upset and irritated expression.
"Hitting isn't nice, darling."
"P.. P'ank!"
"I know bubby probably played an annoying prank on you, but hitting doesn't solve anything."
She sets him on her hip bone.
"I know that you two roughhouse, and that's different. But you should never want to hurt another monster out of frustration or anger. Okay?"
The toddler's eyes water as he processes his emotion as he gets (softly) scolded. She smiles softly at the sight, letting him figure it out, kissing his zygomatic bone.
Turning to Sans, she grins at the sight of him sitting up, trying to blink out the snow from his eye sockets.
"Having fun, bub?"
"Ha ha, ma. Very funny."
She smiles softly, before wincing visibly, sitting down in the snow. She couldn't hide her pain as well as she used to, and it made her worry.
Because how would the boys react? Knowing them, they would be putting on a unnecessary responsibility on their shoulders.
She didn't want that.
"Come here."
She says softly to Sans, ignoring how his carefree expression falters at the sight of her brief painfilled expression.
Sans walks over and plops down next to her, looking up at his mother with concern. He allowed her to hold them close, breathing in her warm scent.
No matter what, it was always warm.
Dirt, and something sweet. He never knew what it was specifically, but he loves it nevertheless. It was just.. her.
His ma.
She kissed their heads, breathing them in.
Sans smelled of wood, snow, and.. she almost snorted at the smell. Sweet ketchup. Of course he did. He drowned everything in the dang sauce.
Papyrus smelled of a babybones still. Milky, chalky, but he was developing his own scent. Slightly like pine, snow, and something sweet. Probably from her.
She pulls away slightly to take in both of their faces. She smiles softly, sighing fondly.
Her boys.
"How about we go inside and get something to eat, hm?"
Papyrus grins, babbling excitedly, forgetting to actually pronunciate his words. They understood him anyway.
Snorting, she turns to Sans.
"Any requests, bub? And don't say burgers. We've done that 3 times in a row."
The boy pouts.
"What if I really want it, though?"
"Then I'll feel offended and I will start to cry."
Sans squints at his mother, trying to figure out if she'd actually do it out of spite to prove her point. She has before, and it's always funny how fast he falls for it.
... he gives in.
".. fine. How about.. fish?"
She thinks, rubbing his head gently as her zygomatic bone rested on Papyrus's skull. The said toddler grins, nuzzling up into her.
"Hm.. I think I can do that."
Chapter 5: P L A C E S. . .
Chapter Text
The cold door slams open, a cold air entering the lab despite the outside heat. Everyone tenses, almost struggling to breathe with how cold her magic was.
"W h a t t h e f u c k i s i t n o w?"
She spits, no amount of joy or mercy evident. The head man isn't fazed, staring down at her blankly.
"IT DIDN'T WORK. THE EXPERIMENT-"
"I'm not giving you this shit to fiddle around with!"
"I'M NOT FIDDLING WITH ANYTHING."
"Obviously, y o u a r e-!"
Asgore steps in, nervously clearing his throat.
"Everyone, just calm down."
He requested to be present for every step she was involved in for this specific reason. He knew that she didn't hate anyone and she was always tired and in pain.
But it was a very close feeling when it came to this whole... situation.
"It did work until it started sputtering when it's closer time for curfew."
Asgore steps in front of the blank man, hands out nervously. A silent plea for peace.
"We just need to find an alternative solution for curfew. Other than that, everything was a success-"
"I mean no disrespect when I say this, fluffybutt. That's not a success."
She sighs, rubbing her tired eyes. She was exhausted, being stretched thin from every direction, it seemed like.
"F.. fluffybutt-?"
"YOU NEED TO LEARN YOUR PLACE IN ALL OF THIS."
Her carefree body language immediately drops.
"E x c u s e m e?"
"YOU HEARD ME CLEARLY. I AM GLAD TO REMIND YOU THAT I AM HEAD OF OPERATIONS IN-"
"And where would you be without me? Huh?"
She stares him in the eye, her eyelights small but piercing. She never breaks eye contact.
"Every part of my being runs the whole underground. Me. Not you."
She takes a step closer.
"My blood, my tears, my SOUL, my magic. Without me, you'd be nothing. Without me, you wouldn't even have this stupid babybones project job. You want to talk about roles and places? B e c a u s e I h a v e a l l d a y, R o m a n."
Roman stares back at her before simply humming in response. Then, h e stumbles in, smiling nervously and sheepishly.
"Um.. the machine is.. um,"
H e falters as h e feels her cold stare. He nervously gazes at Roman.
".. are, are we not-?"
"No. We aren't."
She said coldly, turning back to Roman.
"... for curfew, switch back to the extract recycle thing. That way, we have power 24/7."
The older skeleton stares down at her, thinking.
"... IT COULD WORK. HOWEVER, WE STILL NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE POWER DURING STORMS. WHILE WE HAVE THE FOOD, WE NEED THE MEANS TO SURVIVE. NOT EVERY MONSTER CAN USE FIRE MAGIC."
She groans, almost in a bratty way, scratching at her pounding skull.
"Man, I don't really care right now. I have 5 projects I have to worry about."
Roman stares down at her, his yellow and orange eyelights soft despite his regular "asshole face and tone", as she liked to put it.
She squints at him.
"Don't do that."
"I HAVEN'T THE FAINTEST IDEA OF WHAT YOU MEAN... GET SOME REST, FLOWER. YOU NEED IT."
"Ugh, you suck."
She grumbles at the soft tone, knowing that she always felt too guilty to ever say no. Is this how Sans felt when she guilt tripped him?
She needs to buy the kid a cake or something.
The man ignored her, turning back to his charts. Huffing, she turns around and walks off.
"Stupid old guy with his one-legged-"
"✋︎ ☟︎☜︎✌︎☼︎👎︎ ❄︎☟︎✌︎❄︎📬︎"
"☝︎□︎□︎♎︎✏︎"
She huffs in response as the elevator doors close.
Once she's gone, Roman turns to h i m, making h i m flinch at the look, bowing h i s head.
"YOU."
"Y.. yes, sir?"
"TURN THE MACHINE OFF. WE DON'T NEED TO RUN UNNECESSARY POWER FOR THAT LONG. ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE NOT USING IT."
"Yes, sir."
Roman stops h i m before he can get far.
"ONE MORE THING."
"Yes, sir?"
"DON'T EVER DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAIN WITHOUT MY PERMISSION... UNDERSTOOD?"
Their eyelights meet, one cold and brewing while the other was cold and challenging.
"... yes, sir."
"GOOD."
H e n e e d e d t o l e a r n h i s p l a c e.
Notes:
Asgore at the end: 🧍♂️
"Good.. well, um.. I'll be going now."
"GOODBYE, FLUFFY BUTT."
"Not you too, Roman!"
Chapter 6
Notes:
Not proof read.
Chapter Text
Today was not a good day.
"Pyrus, darling, please,"
She groans, skull pounding and spine burning as she stands with her fussy toddler. She didn't know why he was so fussy, and he wouldn't talk to her.
And Sans, bless his heart, wasn't helping the situation at all. He followed her around like a duckling, reading his astronomy book, asking her questions.
"Ma, is Pluto a planet?"
"Was."
"Is... Saturn a planet?"
"What does it say?"
"Um... yes!"
"Then yes."
"Ma-?"
It was like this since she woke up. She normally didn't mind their constant questioning and clinginess, but she wasn't in the mood today.
She wasn't in the mood for work, to cook, to clean, to parent. To even breathe at this point.
But, the underground needed their food delivered, the boys were going to get hungry, the house was a mess from last night, and the boys couldn't be left by themselves.
And although they didn't have to, her stopping her breathing would freak the boys out.
She tries to set Papyrus down, getting a louder squeal.
Pounding, pounding, p o u n d i n g.
"Papyrus."
She groans in frustration, her sharp phalanges threatening to dig into her eyesockets.
"Maybe he's just sleepy? Or... hungry?"
Sans speaks up, trying to help her by trying to give her another insight. It didn't help.
She takes a deep breath, trying not to snap. Her voice, not rude, was still blunt and dry. Almost sarcastic.
"Thanks, bub."
"You're welcome! Hey, what's a star?"
She groans, trying to ignore the toddler's crying as she began to cook breakfast. Her grip in the skillet was a bit tight, but she didn't care.
She moved around the kitchen, mentally calming herself everytime she was about to bump into Sans... again.
"Ma, what does... c... con... const..."
She huffs, looking down at his book momentarily.
"Constellations. They're star patterns. Kinda like connect the dots."
"Oh..."
She turns back to the stove.
"... hey, ma-?"
"F u c k!"
She curses, eyelights growing hazy and blue, growling as she burned her hand on the hot skillet. Sans jumps, tense as he shuffles away slightly. Papyrus still cries and squeals, louder if possible.
She turns off the stove and throws off her bandana, revealing the old cracks in her skull. She slides to the floor, burned hand to her chest as the other grips her skull.
"... mama?"
She ignores him, curled up. Her head was pounding, her spine burning, her hand throbbing, she was hungry but was in no mood to eat, she had to work in an hour, she couldn't find her apron, her boots were still dirty-
Small arms wrap around her neck. She didn't move for a while. She didn't feel like it. But, she eventually pats the boy on the back.
He pulls away, looking around at the messy kitchen. He shuffles in place, walking off. She didn't know where... she didn't even care right now.
She just... wanted to stay in bed.
Sans picks up the fussy toddler, grunting at his weight. He was getting taller and somewhat harder to hold. He didn't care. Mama needed a break right now.
"Come on, Pap,"
He wraps his brother up in a scarf and put socks on him. He puts on his own coat and hat, strutting out of the house. It was still dark outside, the Core not running up all the way yet.
It was still pretty early, after all.
Sans walks to the shed, unlocking it with the keys he snagged. He opens the door, eyeing the boxes inside.
... they were bigger than imagined.
But, that's okay! One box at a time. Mama does it, and she wasn't too much taller than he was (a whole foot taller). He could do it!
... until he couldn't.
He grunts as he pushed and pulled the heavy box towards Grillby's. How did she do this everyday?! Without blue magic!? He finally made it to Grillby's, huffing.
He knocks on the door, adjusting a squirming and hiccupping Papyrus. When he didn't hear anything, he knocks again.
"Um... capital food delivery! Helloo-?"
Grillby opens the door, a confused expression on his firey face. He takes in the scene in front of him, peaking outside for his mother.
"Sans?"
She grunts when she feels someone shake her. Opening her white eyelighted sockets, she blinks in confusion at the sight of Grillby's face.
"Uh... hi?"
"Hey. You sleep pretty hard for a little thing."
"Ha ha, I'm not in the mood."
She winces as she stretched her body out.
"What-?"
"10 o'clock-"
"What the hell, Grillby!?"
Her eyes widened, scrambling to get up when he stops her.
"Hey, hey- hello? Flower, listen!"
He grabs her shoulders.
"Grillby-"
"We did it already."
She stares, not comprehending what he said or what he meant.
"... what?"
"Me and the boys did the deliveries already."
Her bone brows furrowed, still not understanding.
"Uh, okay... what?"
"And cleaned the house, and your boots, and we hung your apron by the door."
"How did you-?"
"Sans says you were mumbling about it."
The man helps her up, his warm hand supporting her back. She eyes the clean house as he sets her down into her brown recliner chair.
She eyes a now happy Papyrus, who was playing with his wooden blocks.
"He just wanted a bath. Apparently, whatever you three did last night left him dirty."
"... I put him to bed dirty?"
"Mhm."
She groans softly, a hand coming up to her skull. That... that wasn't good. His warm hands held her wrists, bringing her hands to her lap.
"Hey."
She looks up at him, her eyelights white and rounded compared to their regular green. Tired. His expression was soft and warm, just like his hands.
"You're doing great."
She said nothing, her eyelights on him, his expression never wavering.
No complaints, no advice, no suggestions, no judging... just him. She sighs, her skull thumping into his chest.
One of his hands cup the back of her head with a soft chuckle.
"You're doing great."
Minutes later, Sans walks in, handing her a plate. He looked guilty.
"Sorry for following you around and making you irritated and making your head hurt more. I was just excited about my book but I completely forgot about letting you wake up, and-"
She takes the plate and set it aside. She kisses his head, cupping his zygomatic bones, before resting her skull on his.
"You perfect boy, there's no need to apologize. I'm sorry."
His shoulders relax as he gazes up at her in awe, his eyelights soft.
"It's okay, ma."
"No, it's not."
She brings him into her lap. And he stays there.
She eats her breakfast, watching Grillby entertain Papyrus, her eldest in her lap.
"... don't say any of those curse words, okay?"
"Okay, ma."
She nuzzles into the boy's skull, breathing him in and sighing.
... she reaches out.
[File SAVED.]
Chapter Text
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