Chapter Text
Sans was pacing again.
Muffet had learned that pacing meant agitation, bottled-up fear, and frayed nerves. Over the past four days, she'd discovered that the same held true for the young skeleton.
That wasn't good.
"Sans," Muffet called gently, catching the boy's attention and bringing his repetitive circuit of the kitchen to a halt.
The young skeleton looked at her with anxious eye lights as he rocked nervously on the balls of his feet.
"Is something wrong, dearie?"
"The Healer's Coming," Sans said quietly, his hands trembling ever so slightly. "Nervous."
Of course.
Doctor Ononokusu was coming to check on the boys' well-being today. Muffet had told them yesterday, and Sans had been noticeably more anxious ever since. He'd spent most of the time pacing, startling at the smallest noises, and keeping Papyrus and A-3 close enough that they were rarely more than an arm's length away from him.
When Hopps and Rabbot had stopped by for a short visit earlier that morning, Sans had bolted before they'd even finished knocking on the front door, taking his younger brothers with him. The three of them hadn't emerged from beneath the guest room bed until both rabbits had left.
"That's okay, dear," Muffet said, turning away from the cookies she was baking to give Sans a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "But I assure you, Mister Ononokusu isn't going to hurt you. He's helped me more times than I can count."
Sans looked up into the spider monster's eyes, searching for any trace of deception. When he found none, he relaxed ever so slightly.
"He... Won't Hurt Us?" he asked in a small voice.
Muffet nodded. "He definitely won't. He's a healer, dearie. It's his job to make people feel better, not worse."
"Will You... Um..." Sans hesitated before gently tightening his grip on her hand, as though anchoring himself. "Will You Stay There With Us?" His voice was still laced with nervousness.
"Of course I will." Muffet gave the bony hand a gentle squeeze in return. "I won't leave you and your brothers alone, dearie."
"You promise? Really promise?"
"I promise."
Sans relaxed a little at that. Not much, but enough to let some of the tension leave his shoulders. He was still clearly nervous, but he managed to give Muffet a small smile in return.
Muffet reached over and gave him an affectionate pat on the head, carefully avoiding the scratches that still marred his skull. Sans accepted the gesture with a soft giggle, his fears temporarily put at ease.
For now, it seemed best to refer to the doctor as a healer, at least until more of the children's past came to light.
"Now then, why don't you go and play with your siblings while we wait? I'll prepare some snacks for you little ones, too," Muffet suggested as she gently ushered the oldest child into the living room, where his brothers were waiting.
Stepping into the living room revealed that the two younger boys were simply playing. Papyrus, who still seemed very tired and listless after last night's nightmare, had shifted into his beast form, a distinctly canine variant. He lay on his belly atop the carpet, propping his head up on his forelegs as he quietly watched his younger brother.
A-3, on the other hand, was the complete opposite, practically vibrating with pent-up energy. He was in his alternate form, racing around the room as fast as his short, puppyish legs could carry him, occasionally bumping into Papyrus or the side of the couch.
Papyrus didn't seem to mind. If anything, he looked perfectly content just watching his little brother have fun.
Both children looked up when Muffet and Sans entered the living room, earning a tired smile from Papyrus, while A-3 immediately made a beeline for his oldest brother and wrapped him in a hug.
"I'll leave you three for a little while while I bake some cookies, alright? If you need me, I'll be in the kitchen, dearies," Muffet tittered.
The children responded with a confirming chirp, bark, or nod, making the spider monster smile warmly.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, Muffet noted that, even after letting the children sleep in, it would still be a few hours before the doctor arrived. They had some time to relax and play before they would have to undergo an examination. That was, of course, assuming they could handle being around a stranger.
She didn't know how any of the three children would react, but regardless of what happened, she would help them through it.
Just as Muffet set the tray of freshly baked cookies on the counter to cool, a polite yet firm knock at the front door caused all three children to freeze.
Even A-3 had caught on that something was wrong, pausing halfway through eating one of the carrot sticks Muffet had given him as a snack.
"Hide!" Sans hissed, quickly gathering his younger brothers and herding them behind the couch. Muffet had deliberately moved it ever so slightly away from the wall so they would have enough room to hide behind it if any of them ever felt threatened.
It had helped.
Although Muffet didn't stop them, she made sure they were safely tucked away before going to answer the door.
Standing on the doorstep was a stout, yellow-scaled monster who resembled a lizard. Short, chubby, and friendly-looking, he wore a pair of thin-framed glasses perched upon his stubby snout, held in place by the feathery green crests on either side of his head.
He was dressed in a gaudy blue sweater and a green polka-dot bow tie, the two colours clashing so spectacularly that they made Muffet's eyes sting, along with a pair of tan trousers.
Nothing protected his feet from the cold.
"Good afternoon, Mister Ononokusu," Muffet greeted calmly, stepping aside to allow the lizard monster inside. No one had accompanied him.
"Hello there, my girl!" the monster replied in a cheerful voice.
Muffet knew she had called the right healer for the job. The chubby monster seemed to radiate good cheer and positivity wherever he went.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice, D— Mr. Ononokusu," Muffet said, quickly correcting herself. She had to remind herself not to use the 'd' word... at least not yet.
"Oh, Muffet, we've known each other for years! Let's just be Frank with each other," Ononokusu said with a broad grin. "No formalities, please. Just call me Frank."
Muffet couldn't help but laugh at the pun. Frank Ononokusu had one of those infectious personalities, you couldn't help but smile whenever he did.
"Very well then, Frank," she chuckled, stepping aside once more to let him fully into the house.
Frank gave a good-natured chuckle as he entered, taking a moment to shake the snow from his scaled feet before stepping inside. Muffet promptly closed the front door behind him, keeping the warmth from escaping into the cold outside.
"This way please," she said, leading the healer toward the living room.
Muffet could hear Sans shuffling nervously behind the couch and Papyrus grumbling about something. A moment later, Sans's head cautiously peeked out from behind the back of the sofa. The instant Sans spotted Frank, he ducked back down again.
A few muffled shuffling noises confirmed that the three children had somehow managed to wedge themselves into the narrow space between the couch and the wall.
"Ah, don't worry," Frank said, giving Muffet a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You warned me they'd be afraid. We just need to be a little patient, that's all."
The healer glanced toward the hiding place before lowering his voice to a whisper. "Just let them get curious. They'll come out on their own."
"I suppose," Muffet replied.
The two monsters settled onto the couch. Frank made himself comfortable, carefully arranging his large tail before opening his medical bag.
Muffet searched for something to say, but struggled to think of any suitable small talk. She could almost feel the children's nervousness from behind the couch.
Fortunately, Frank beat her to it.
"Did I ever tell ya about one of my patients?" he asked with a grin. "He was a ghost who absolutely loved riding elevators."
"Really now?" Muffet replied, intrigued to see where this was going.
"Yes! He said he wanted to lift his spirits."
Muffet giggled at the pun, but Frank wasn't finished.
"Well, in other news, there was a robbery in the Capital. The thieves stole a whole shipment of soap. The guards say they made a clean getaway."
A soft chuckle drifted from behind the couch. Frank smiled and gave Muffet a subtle wink. "Uh-oh... sounds like some skeletons think my jokes are humerus."
The chuckle blossomed into laughter, joined by an exasperated groan and a bout of high-pitched giggling. The children shuffled a little more behind the couch.
"Looks like I may have a critic here!" Frank continued cheerfully. "Unfortunately, I can't tickle everyone's funny bone."
Sans burst into outright laughter alongside A-3.
Apparently, Papyrus had had enough of the terrible puns, because the rustling of blankets and clothing grew louder. A moment later, he poked his head out from behind the couch and looked directly at Frank with a deeply unimpressed expression.
"no!" he yelled, before Sans abruptly yanked him back behind the couch.
"Well, tibia be honest, not everyone likes my skele-puns," Frank shrugged, thoroughly amused.
Muffet had to hold back her own laughter at that one. She knew they'd have to coax the children out eventually, but using terrible puns? That was a stroke of brilliance on the healer's part.
And it worked. Muffet could hear the children tussling behind the couch as Sans no doubt tried to keep his brothers hidden with him. In the short time she'd known them, she'd already learned that both Sans and A-3 were incredibly active children, and keeping either of them still for long was almost impossible.
Though now she had discovered one exception. Bad skeleton puns. Papyrus eventually managed to wriggle free from his protective older brother and marched out from behind the couch with determined little steps.
Sans emerged a moment later, carrying a giggling A-3 as though intending to retrieve him, but the instant he caught sight of the unfamiliar monster, he froze. His courage evaporated, and he shrank back instinctively, clutching the toddler a little tighter.
Unable to move any closer, Sans could only watch from where he stood as Papyrus stopped beside Muffet's dress. Peeking out from the safety of the spider monster, the younger skeleton fixed Frank with one hell of a stink eye.
"Aww, you don't like my jokes?" Frank asked, making no move to approach as he looked down at Papyrus with a broad smile.
Papyrus shook his head.
"Well, your brothers seemed to like them!"
Papyrus remained beside Muffet's dress, seemingly a little braver than before. "that's because he likes bad jokes," he shouted.
"Well, I'm sure he does his best," Frank replied with a chuckle.
Moving slowly and carefully so as not to frighten the child, he crouched down to Papyrus's level. The little skeleton stood his ground, watching the healer with cautious curiosity. "You must be little Papyrus."
Papyrus tightened his grip on the fabric of Muffet's dress while Sans continued to watch the interaction in silence, A-3 still cradled securely in his arms.
From the corner of her eye, Muffet noticed Sans's blue eye lights glowing brightly with active magic as he observed the healer with eerie, unwavering focus.
"You've got something behind your head there," Frank said, pointing toward the back of Papyrus's skull.
Papyrus immediately reached back with one hand and began patting the back of his head, thoroughly confused.
"Oh no, you won't be able to get it like that. Hold still, and I'll get it, okay?"
Papyrus immediately tensed before slowly looking up at Muffet.
"It's alright, Papyrus. I won't let anything bad happen to you dear," Muffet reminded the child gently.
Papyrus steeled himself before giving a small nod.
Frank slowly and carefully reached behind the little skeleton's head before withdrawing his hand to reveal a brightly coloured lollipop between his claws. "Oh, look what I found back there!" the lizard monster exclaimed with a grin, offering the sweet to the confused child.
Papyrus accepted the lollipop cautiously and stared at it as though it were the strangest thing he'd ever seen. He reached up and patted the back of his skull again, trying to work out where it had come from.
Sans looked equally astonished. He even found himself inching a little closer from the side of the couch, while A-3 eagerly wriggled in his older brother's arms, trying to get closer as well.
"Go on, you can eat that one," Frank encouraged with an encouraging smile before turning his attention to Sans, who still lingered a short distance away.
"Goodness... children have some strange things hiding behind their heads, don't they?" he chuckled. With another practiced flick of his hand, he produced a second lollipop and held it out toward Sans.
Sans accepted it slowly with a trembling hand and wide, disbelieving eye lights.
“How?” he asked, barely above a whisper.
“With magic, my dear boy!” Frank said, sitting back before flicking his wrist. A funduscope appeared in his hand as if from nowhere. Sans, Papyrus, and A-3 watched with awed expressions.
The stocky little skeleton was quick to dart behind Muffet's dress after she scooped little A-3 onto her lap.
“And you're Sans, eh?” Frank asked warmly.
“H-Hi...” Sans stuttered, his voice almost inaudible.
“Hello, Sans,” Frank replied, his smile becoming less cheeky and more reassuring. “I take it you've been doing alright?”
“Y-Yeah... I've Been Okay.”
Sans buried his face in Muffet's dress. Whether it was because of fear or simply shyness, Muffet couldn't quite tell. His blue eye lights darted from Frank to Papyrus, then to A-3, then to Muffet, before repeating the circuit all over again. He was clearly frightened of the unfamiliar monster, yet he still trusted Muffet's judgment enough to remain where he was.
“Now then,” Frank continued gently, “since you're Sans, and this one is Papyrus, I'm guessing the little one here is A-3, correct?”
At Frank's question, both older children nodded reluctantly.
Frank then leaned down with a warm smile. “Muffet told me you three weren’t doing so well before she took you in, and you've got quite a few scratches there! Well, I'm here to make sure you three are alright... if you'll let me, that is.”
A small whine was the only sign that Sans had acknowledged Frank's words.
In an effort to calm him down, Muffet turned to face the child properly and gently coaxed him into a hug. The embrace was reciprocated without hesitation, and she wasn't surprised by the strength of the younger skeleton's grip. Fear heightened far more than just one's senses.
“I Trust You,” Sans whispered unsteadily, repeating the words over and over like a terror-fuelled mantra.
Muffet didn't try to stop him, knowing it would likely push him further into panic.
“I Trust You... I Trust You...” His words dissolved into weak sniffles and quiet sobs, and Muffet could do little more than hold the child close and softly reassure him, all the while feeling the eyes of the younger skeletons and her guest on her back.
Fresh tears soaked the front of her purple dress once again, but she didn't say a word.
“I know, little one,” Muffet muttered, rubbing Sans's back in the familiar circular motions she knew would help calm him down. “It's okay.”
Frank was polite enough to wait until Sans had calmed down and Muffet had settled him on the sofa before beginning the check-up.
He kept the three children entertained with sleight-of-hand tricks, pulling more lollipops from behind their heads (they were definitely going to have a sugar rush after this) and making medical instruments appear out of nowhere with a simple flick of his wrist.
The doctor chalked it all up to “magic” whenever the wonderstruck children asked how it worked or begged him to do it again. Unsurprisingly, he was endlessly patient with all three of them.
Of course, there were still moments when the children became frightened, especially when they had to remove their sweaters so Frank could properly assess their physical condition. However, the doctor seemed to have a natural talent for turning fear into curiosity. More often than not, he let the children hold and examine the medical instruments themselves before using them.
Frank used healing magic to mend the scratches on Sans's face and soothe the damage to his voice, and whenever the oldest child grew anxious, Frank countered it with another dreadful joke. If any of the children became particularly overwhelmed, he relied on his innate silliness to coax smiles back onto their faces.
His remarkable ability to transform fear into curiosity gradually enticed even Sans out of his timid shell. The three siblings remained unimaginably tense, especially whenever they were introduced to an unfamiliar medical instrument, but after being allowed to hold and inspect the tools first, they became noticeably calmer and far more cooperative.
After the three skeletons had finished their examination, with several stickers decorating their skulls (courtesy of A-3 and his eagerness to stick them onto anything) and a lollipop each, Muffet felt her SOUL swell with pride.
They'd done so well.
Everything had gone smoothly. The only thing left was to examine their SOULs. Frank pulled another device from his sleeve (of course he did), one that resembled a flat smartphone. He smiled and allowed Sans to hold it.
“What’s This?” Sans asked curiously.
“That, my boy, lets me examine your SOUL without actually having to pull it out,” Frank replied with a wink. “It's very simple to use. You just point it at a monster and press this button.” He tapped the button with one claw.
Sans carefully turned the device over in his hands, inspecting it from every angle before quietly handing it back. “Thank You.”
“You're very welcome!” Frank said cheerfully. “Now, this is the last thing I need to do, so I need the three of you to stay as still as you can.”
The children nodded.
Frank first aimed the device at Papyrus. The little skeleton sat perfectly still, clearly relieved that the examination was almost over. Once he'd finished, Frank took a reading of Sans's SOUL, and finally A-3's.
When Frank got to Sans and A-3, Muffet caught the briefest flicker of shock crossing the doctor's features. It vanished almost as quickly as it had appeared, masked behind his usual cheerful smile as he slipped the device back into his medical bag.
Muffet shot him a concerned look.
Frank met her gaze and silently mouthed, Later.
Muffet pursed her lips. That did not sound good at all.
“Well!” Frank said, all smiles once again. “You three have been such wonderful patients! I've finished much faster than I thought I would!”
“Yes, I am very proud of you three, dearies,” Muffet said, gently patting each child on the head and earning tired smiles in return. “Now then, how about you three take the cookies I left on the counter earlier and go play upstairs until lunch, hmm?”
The children nodded.
As much as they seemed to like the doctor, the examination had clearly been mentally exhausting for all three of them. They were beginning to tense up again, their tolerance for being around a stranger wearing thinner and thinner by the minute.
Muffet carefully scooped all three children into her arms and carried them upstairs. The moment they reached their room, the siblings let out a collective sigh of relief before immediately crawling beneath the bed. They didn't seem especially frightened anymore, they simply needed some space to themselves for a while.
Smiling softly, Muffet handed them a few pillows and blankets. They accepted them gratefully and quickly built themselves a little nest beneath the bed.
Content to let them recover from the ordeal in peace, Muffet quietly left the room, gently closing the door behind her before making her way back downstairs.
Frank was still sitting solemnly on the couch, his expression having changed from his usual joyful visage to one of grim resolve. It was the kind of face someone wore before delivering terrible news.
Muffet swallowed hard and took a seat opposite him. “I apologize for forgetting to offer you some tea earlier, Mr. Ononokusu. Would you like some? I think we both need a cup before we discuss the children's examination results.”
Frank let out a weary sigh, leaning back against the couch and draping one arm over his eyes. “It's... probably for the best, Muffet. Yes, I'd appreciate a cuppa, if you don't mind.”
Without another word, Muffet made her way into the kitchen and prepared a pot of tea. It didn't take long before she returned, carrying a tray with a teapot, two teacups, a sugar bowl, and a plate piled high with freshly baked cookies.
She set the tray carefully on the coffee table before pouring them both a cup. “So...” Muffet began quietly, bracing herself. “How bad is it?”
“I'll be honest with you,” Frank replied as he picked up his teacup, taking a slow sip as though gathering his thoughts. “Someone hurt those kids, Muffet,” he said gravely. “I'd call it domestic abuse, but some of those wounds were far too... precise. Surgical, even.” He lowered his cup and looked her directly in the eyes. “My best guess is they've been experimented on... used like lab rats.”
Something... cold... settled deep within Muffet's SOUL. “Are you serious?” she asked, her voice frighteningly calm. “If that's your best-case scenario... then what's your worst?” She gripped her teacup tightly, struggling to keep her temper under control.
Frank lowered his gaze. “My worst-case scenario?” he repeated quietly. “That someone was deliberately torturing them.” He let the words hang in the air for a moment before continuing. “Muffet... to be perfectly clear, if you hadn't taken them in, Sans would have been dust by now. I'm afraid A-3 would have followed not long after... and Papyrus would have gone soon after that.”
Muffet swallowed thickly. She had known it was bad, but... to be this bad?
“No...” she whispered weakly. “I... I knew Sans probably had it the worst, but... Papyrus and A-3 as well?” She looked at Frank in disbelief. “A-and why would A-3 die before Papyrus? Wouldn't Papyrus turn to dust first?”
Frank turned to meet her stunned expression. “Sans has less than ten HP,” he said quietly, staring into his teacup. “I've seen adults with dangerously low HP because of severe trauma, and, on rare occasions, children as well. But... for a child to have so little left...” He shook his head. “Quite possibly the only things keeping him alive are you... and his brothers.”
“He's... very determined to take care of them,” Muffet murmured. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. Less than ten HP? Had Sans truly been living on the very brink of death these past few days? She had suspected he was in terrible condition... but this?The thought alone sent a chill through her very SOUL.
“Not to mention the severe malnutrition,” Frank continued, adjusting his glasses. “The children are all deficient in calcium and vitamin D3, but Sans is in far worse condition than the other two.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “Sans's SOUL is... better than I anticipated, but it's still a mess. Papyrus has injuries as well, but his SOUL is much more intact.” Frank let out a weary sigh. “I'd also suspect medical abuse. Those marks on their arm bones are from repeated needle injections, and they weren't administered gently, either. Then there are the marks on their ribs and spine. Some of those cuts were far too precise. Surgical, even.”
He shook his head.
Silence settled over the room for a long moment before Frank spoke again. “I'm going to be honest with you. It's going to take time to get them well again.”
“I know,” Muffet replied quietly.
Frank hesitated. “...Muffet, there's also something else we need to discuss.”
She looked up immediately.
“The youngest one's SOUL.”
A knot formed in Muffet's stomach.
“There's a reason I said A-3 would turn to dust before Papyrus.”
“What?” Muffet asked, worry tightening her voice. “Why? Is there something wrong with his SOUL?”
“Muffet.”
The firm tone of Frank's voice silenced her at once.
He met all five of her eyes. “My girl... that youngest skeleton...” He drew in a slow breath. “...he's a Shifter.”
What?
All five of Muffet's eyes widened in shock.
“The reason I said the child had a chance of turning to dust before Papyrus is because he's a Shifter,” Frank said, setting his teacup down as he looked straight into Muffet's eyes. “You, my dear, are familiar with how mentally fragile Shifters are. Now think about how young A-3 is... and everything he's endured before those three children escaped from whatever place caused them so much misery.”
He paused, letting the implication settle.
“How do you think a child like that would react to watching one of his brothers dusting right in front of him?”
Silence.
Muffet couldn't bring herself to answer. Of course she knew how fragile a Shifter's mental state could be. She was the daughter of one, after all.
But... a Shifter as young as A-3?
Frank sighed as he watched Muffet fall silent. Truthfully, he was still struggling to process the revelation himself. The last known Shifter among monsterkind had died fighting alongside them during the Great War. And now Fate, it seemed, had quite the twisted sense of humor. The daughter of a Shifter had unknowingly taken another Shifter under her protection.
“What in the blazes happened to these kids?” he murmured.
“I-I don't know...” Muffet whispered, letting out a weary sigh. “Sergeant Hasenberg was the one who found them. I imagine the Royal Guard is already investigating.”
“Muffet...” Frank called, drawing the attention of one of his oldest friends. “Sadly, all three of them are going to need a long, long time to recover, and it won't be easy, especially mentally.” He let out a quiet sigh. “Unfortunately, I can't heal injuries that have already healed incorrectly. Their bones have mended poorly, mind you, and there isn't much that can be done to undo that. I can, however, give you a supplement that will help fill in the dents and strengthen their bones, but... most of those scars will probably always remain.”
Frank began rummaging through his medical bag before pulling out a glass jar filled with shimmering green powder. He handed it to the spider monster. “You'll need to mix this into their food or drinks. Two spoonfuls, twice a day. It'll help strengthen their bones, improve their calcium levels, and give them a bit more energy. Don't worry, it doesn't have any taste.” He smiled reassuringly. “Let them eat normally, and don't let them skip any meals.” His smile softened. “As for their SOULs... they need love, patience, and somewhere they truly feel safe.” He looked Muffet straight in the eyes. “Whatever you're doing... it's working.”
“Thank you,” Muffet whispered, carefully cradling the jar in both upper pairs hands as she looked down at the glittering medicine inside.
Frank reached over and gave her shoulder an encouraging pat. “Don't worry, old friend. I'm confident they'll recover with you looking after them.” A warm smile spread across his face. “They already seem to care about you quite a lot.”
“Well, I'd better do my best not to disappoint them, then.” Muffet felt a little warmer at Frank's words.
Until now, she'd felt as though she were walking on eggshells around the children, always worrying that one wrong word or movement would frighten them. But today had shown her just how much they had already come to trust her. She never would have imagined she'd be on the receiving end of such affection from children she'd only known for a few days. Aside from her late parents and her friends...
It was a very nice feeling.
“I'll drop by tomorrow with some more medicine for them,” Frank said as he stood up and packed away his medical bag. “And don't hesitate to call me at any time.”
“I will... Thank you very much, old friend...” Muffet sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. “When will you be able to see them again?”
“I'm fairly heavily booked at the moment,” Frank replied, “but I can come back in about two weeks.”
Muffet nodded thoughtfully. “That's fine. Thank you. I'll see you then, dear.”
Frank smiled warmly. “Good luck.”
Muffet let out a watery laugh. “I think I'll need it. Thank you.”
After the doctor left, Muffet remained seated in the quiet living room, taking a long moment to process everything she'd just learned.
Sans was apparently in an extremely fragile state, and the only way to help him was to provide a safe, stable environment. It would be tricky, given Muffet's own mental state, but she was confident that, in time, she would be able to help Sans cope with his past trauma and perhaps even find a way to move beyond it.
Papyrus was doing better, but only by a slim margin. True, he seemed more adjusted than his older brother, but it had only been a few days. It was far too early to tell how he was truly coping beneath the surface.
And then there was A-3... Oh, where to even begin? Being a Shifter meant his mental state was even more fragile than both Sans's and Papyrus's combined. The fact that he had become a Shifter at such a young age was perhaps a blessing in disguise. Being only a toddler didn't spare him from the trauma of dying as a human, but it may have dulled the full weight of it. He simply wasn't old enough to fully comprehend everything that had happened to him.
That thought brought Muffet little comfort.
In the end, she decided to give the children some space while she prepared lunch. Mushroom cream soup seemed like the best option, warm, gentle on their stomachs, and easy to eat. She deliberately left the medicine out for now. Later, she would explain what it was and why they needed it. She wasn't about to deceive them now, not after spending days painstakingly earning their trust. If she damaged that trust by slipping medicine into their food without telling them...
Muffet tried very hard not to think about the consequences.
After the food was ready, Muffet carried it upstairs on a tray, along with a plate of cookies after noticing the children had no taken any earlier, a bottle of honey, and three glasses of milk. The children seemed to enjoy variety, often reacting with surprise and wonder to different flavours and textures. She intended to let them try as many new things as they liked. The more choices they had, the better.
When she entered their room, she found them quietly giggling to themselves beneath the bed. It was a relief. She had half expected them to be upset after being around a stranger for several hours.
Carefully setting the tray on the floor, she peered underneath the bed.
Sans and Papyrus were both lying on their stomachs in front of A-3. Papyrus was encouraging the toddler to arrange cardboard cut-out letters in order, while Sans looked as though he'd drifted off for a light nap. A-3, of course, was doing his own thing and was instead trying to fit the letters together like puzzle pieces.
The moment they noticed Muffet, and, more importantly, smelled the food, the three children turned toward the spider monster with bright smiles.
"Hello, dearies. It's time for lunch," Muffet said with a gentle smile.
The children quickly crawled out from the safety of the bed to inspect the meal she'd brought them. They settled down around the tray, studying the bowls, cookies, honey, and glasses of milk with quiet curiosity.
"What's this?" Papyrus asked, picking up the bottle of honey and turning it over in his small hands. A-3, meanwhile, didn't even wait, immediately reaching for the soup.
"That is honey, dearie," Muffet explained. "You can put it on the milk to add a little extra sweetness, or you can eat it on its own."
"And This, Miss Muffet?" Sans asked this time, carefully picking up one of the cookies from the plate.
"That's a cookie, my dear. It's a tasty little snack." Muffet smiled at him. "I noticed you didn't take any upstairs with you earlier, so I brought some for the three of you to try. You can have one after you've finished your soup, alright?"
Sans nodded obediently and set the cookie back on the plate.
Meanwhile, Papyrus continued examining the bottle. He unscrewed the lid and cautiously took a sniff.
When Muffet looked back at him, the little skeleton abruptly tipped the bottle upside down and took a long swig straight from it.
Muffet's eyes widened.
Straight honey. Stars above... she wasn't even sure someone could drink that much in one go. Papyrus, however, didn't seem to mind in the slightest. He lowered the bottle and stared at it thoughtfully for a moment before taking another generous gulp.
This time, Muffet had to suppress a smile. Apparently, Papyrus had just discovered his new favourite food. "This is really good. I like it." Papyrus grinned, clutching the bottle of honey. Muffet could almost see little stars shining in his orange eye lights. He looked so delighted that the spider monster immediately abandoned any thought of taking the bottle away from him.
This was, after all, a child who could transform into some sort of canine-like lizard. The fact that he liked honey was far less strange than any of that.
"Oh! This is good!" another voice piped up.
Muffet turned to see Sans happily munching on a cookie while breaking off tiny pieces to feed A-3. She didn't even have the heart to scold him. Fine then. She would let Sans get away with eating dessert before finishing his meal. Considering his dangerously low HP, the boy had likely spent a long time simply trying to survive. If eating a cookie first brought him even a little happiness, then so be it.
Muffet would make sure he had plenty of reasons to keep living.
That evening passed quietly, the children choosing to stay in their room and unwind after the examination.
Sans spent most of the time helping A-3 solve a simple puzzle, while Papyrus dozed peacefully nearby. A-3, however, was still at the age where he seemed far more interested in putting the puzzle pieces into his mouth than actually fitting them together.
Muffet helped where she could, but once A-3 decided to do something, there wasn't much anyone could do to change his mind.
Even so, it was a peaceful, joyful evening.
The children didn't seem to have any lingering fear or anxiety from the doctor's visit earlier that day, something Muffet was immensely grateful for. She dearly hoped it would stay that way. They had spent far too much of their young lives living in fear already.
No one, especially children, should have to grow up believing that terror was normal.
Not wanting to burst the bubble of safety the three children were experiencing, Muffet decided to bring dinner upstairs again. She left them alone only long enough to whip up some macaroni and cheese, a relatively quick meal to prepare, along with three glasses of chocolate milk.
She figured it would be a good time to introduce the powdered medicine to them.
True to form, Sans examined the glittering powder with a critical gaze. Once again, Muffet found herself proving that it was safe. She sprinkled a spoonful over her own portion of macaroni. As soon as the powder settled onto the food, it was quickly absorbed, the green colour fading away and leaving behind only the faintest shimmer across the surface.
Muffet took a bite.
Frank had been true to his word. The medicine was completely tasteless.
With the children's fears eased, she stirred the powder into their glasses of chocolate milk instead. That proved to be an entirely new experience for them, as they apparently had never tasted anything so sweet before.
It was such a success that Sans shyly asked for a second glass, his voice quiet and hesitant. Muffet was more than happy to oblige. It was a small request, but it meant the world to her. Sans was finally becoming comfortable enough to ask for something he wanted, a remarkable improvement considering where he'd been only a few weeks ago.
Seeing his older brother do the same, Papyrus timidly asked for another bowl of macaroni and cheese as well. Muffet happily served him a second helping. It seemed the second-youngest had a particular fondness for pasta. Muffet quietly filed that information away for later.
Meanwhile, A-3 seemed perfectly content with the meal he'd already been given, happily eating every last bite without a hint of fussiness.
She found it strange just how easy it was to settle into a domestic routine. It was something she'd always believed she'd never get to experience, especially whenever the children looked up at her with bright, trusting smiles. She had never imagined herself raising children before, but now...
Well... The house had always felt somewhat empty and lonely. Once, she'd been perfectly content with the quiet solitude. But now? The sound of children's laughter had spoiled her. She doubted she could ever go back to living alone again.
It felt as though this was the one thing her life had been missing all along.
It was late by the time she tucked the three children into bed and read them a story. It didn't take them long to fall asleep. One by one, they shifted into their alternate forms so they could curl up together in a warm, protective pile.
After making sure they were comfortable, Muffet switched off the lights, leaving both bedroom doors open just a crack before retiring to her own room.
It felt as though she'd only been asleep for a few moments when a soft whimper stirred her from her dreams.
Her eyes snapped open.
Reaching over, she switched on the lamp on her bedside table, its warm glow spilling across the room. Just then, she saw her bedroom door being nudged open ever so slightly. Another quiet whimper drifted through the silence.
It sounded like Sans.
Oh, dearie... it's alright. You can come in." Muffet sat up in bed, her voice gentle and reassuring.
Slowly and nervously, Sans nudged the door open a little wider. He was trembling, fresh pearly blue tears streaking down his face. A-3 was sprawled across his back, having apparently been carried all the way over. The toddler's eye sockets were watery with pearly purple tears as well, tiny sniffles escaping him every few seconds. Papyrus trailed behind his brothers, his eye sockets glistening with orange pearly tears of his own.
Sans whimpered again.
"Did you three have a bad dream, dearies?" Muffet asked softly.
The children sniffled and nodded.
In response, Muffet patted the empty space beside her on the bed. "How about the three of you sleep in here with me tonight, hm?"
Sans blinked and looked toward the bed.
His gaze drifted down to the threshold separating the hallway from Muffet's bedroom. He rubbed one of his eyes with a paw before letting out another quiet whimper while Papyrus shuffling on his feet behind his brother.
Muffet frowned thoughtfully.
Perhaps their more canine instincts were coming into play? Even if Sans's alternate form was more feline and A-3's was more dragon-like, she wondered if it might be some sort of territorial instinct.
She would have to ask one of the shopkeepers tomorrow. Surely someone would know whether beast-form monsters had habits like that.
"It's alright, dearests," she repeated, patting the bed again. "I'm sure you'll feel better in here. I promised I'd make sure the three of you were safe, remember?"
Still trembling, Sans slowly stepped into the room, with Papyrus following close behind. They made their way to the side of the bed and looked up at Muffet with tear-filled eye sockets.
Muffet offered the three little pups an encouraging smile before reaching down to pick them up. They were still too small to climb onto the bed by themselves, and all three willingly let the spider monster lift them up.
She couldn't help but smile.
They felt just a little heavier than when she'd first carried them.
It seemed the regular meals were already beginning to help.
Once they were on the bed, the three children immediately crawled into Muffet's lap.
Wrapping all six of her arms around them, she pulled them into a warm embrace, gently wiping away their tears as she soothed them. Having three pairs of arms certainly came in handy at times like this.
Gradually, the trembling subsided.
Soon, the three little skeletons simply lay there, basking in the warmth and safety of the embrace.
"Do you want to talk about it, dearies?" Muffet asked softly, looking down at Sans and Papyrus.
Sans blinked before quietly shaking his head, a faint murmur escaping him. Papyrus answered by burying his skull against Muffet's stomach instead.
Understanding all the same, Muffet smiled warmly and gently stroked both boys' skulls while softly rocking A-3 until the drowsy toddler drifted back to sleep.
"Alright then. Remember, I'm here whenever you want to talk, alright, dearies?"
Sans responded by wagging his tail and gently nuzzling her hand, while Papyrus gave a sleepy hum of agreement. A-3 was already half-asleep again from being rocked, letting out a tiny, adorable yawn.
His brothers yawned in response.
Muffet couldn't help but smile. "Let's get you three back to sleep, hm?"
She gently lifted Papyrus from her lap. The little skeleton simply closed his eyes and went limp, trusting her completely as she moved him.
Muffet laid A-3 down on one of the pillows before pulling the blanket up to tuck him in. Sans and Papyrus immediately moved to join their youngest brother, curling around him as they always did. Sans wrapped both smaller skeletons securely against his chest, instinctively shielding them even in his sleep.
With a fond smile, Muffet tucked the three children in and gave each of them an affectionate pat on the skull.
They must have felt safe.
Within moments, all three had drifted back to sleep. Sans lay quietly, his tail giving the occasional sleepy twitch beneath the blanket. Papyrus let out soft little snores, while A-3 curled into a tiny ball and released a contented sigh.
Muffet switched off the bedside lamp and settled beneath the covers herself, soon lulled to sleep by the gentle rhythm of the children's breathing.
The rest of the night passed peacefully.