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Chapter Text

Chapter Text

It was a crisp, clear Autumn day, the sun shone gently through dappled leaves, with only the barest breeze to disturb the stillness of the overgrowth; the perfect day for a walk in the woods. As such, Frisk and Sans had taken advantage of the pleasantly balmy weather, to have a day out in the nearby forest, accompanied by Toby, their little white dog friend, often described as “annoying” by a vexed Papyrus.

Coming across a patch of various mushroom species, growing in the shade of a large mahogany tree, the couple paused for a while to admire the different fungi.

“Aww, look at this one’s little hat,” Frisk gushed, crouching down to poke at the squishy cap of a small, blue-hued mushroom. “Meep! Hee hee~”

Sans remained standing, idly nudging a cluster of tiny, round mushrooms with his foot.

“yup. it sure looks like a pretty fun-guy, heh.”

Frisk giggled at the pun, to which Sans offered an appreciative wink. However, the light-hearted atmosphere was broken by a loud bark. Turning towards their canine companion, the couple found an anxious, fidgety Toby whimpering insistently at them, clearly desperate for them to follow him. Concerned, the two of them allowed the dog monster to lead them to a nearby tree, where he began nudging purposefully at the leaf litter covering the forest floor. Instantly, a pigeon leapt out from beneath the foliage, startled by the disturbance. At a glance, it was obvious what had caught Toby’s attention: one of the pigeon’s wings hung awkwardly at its side, obviously broken.

“Oh no! Poor little guy hurt its wing,” Frisk began to fret, bending down to observe the injured bird more closely, but nonetheless taking care to keep her distance, wary of frightening it further. “Sans, we have to help it.”

Knowing better than to deny his wife when she was determined to help a soul in need, Sans merely nodded his skull in acceptance, before shrugging off his hoodie.

“sure thing, sweetheart,” he held up his jacket, motioning to the pigeon. “if you distract it with some food, i can use this to capture it.”

“Ok, I’ve still got some leftover bread from our lunch,” she reached into her backpack, frowning worriedly. “Just be careful! We don’t want to hurt the poor creature any more than it already is.”

“yeah yeah, don’t worry, i got this,” he lightly rolled his eyelights, smiling indulgently at his wife’s fussing.

Ripping off small chunks from the baguette slices in her hands, Frisk gently tossed them towards the pigeon, hoping it would take the bait. Thankfully, it did, as it cautiously approached the offered food and began pecking hungrily at it. With the bird’s attention focused on the bread, Sans shortcutted behind it, swiftly, but very carefully, bundling it up in his hoodie, and holding it firmly to his ribcage to prevent too much struggling.

Task accomplished, the pair immediately made their way towards the nearest veterinary clinic, to get the injured pigeon checked over. After careful examination, including an x-ray, the vet had deemed the fracture to be simple and clean, informing the couple that it should heal in about two weeks and, after securely wrapping the broken wing up, had instructed them to keep the wing immobile, and the bird warm, comfortable and well-fed. After being given some tips on pigeon care, Sans and Frisk returned home with their new feathered friend.

The following two weeks passed by all too quickly. The pigeon didn’t take long to warm up to his human and monster saviours, and had proven to be surprisingly affectionate, even clingy, despite his wild nature. His immobilised wing didn’t seem to bother him overmuch, as he took to following the two of them around the house, pattering away behind them on the ground. He was a fairly speedy walker, despite his diminutive size, and both Frisk and Sans were charmed and amused by the little guy’s baby duckling-like behaviour. The pair often found him asleep beside them on their bed, when they awoke in the morning, and the bird enjoyed riding around on Frisk’s shoulder, or nesting in the soft hood of Sans’s jacket. They’d also taken to calling him “Baguette”, after the bread Frisk had fed him, that fateful day out in the forest.

All too soon, however, their time together came to an end. When Baguette’s wing had fully healed and no longer needed to be kept wrapped up, Sans and Frisk had reluctantly decided that he was ready to be released back into the wild. And so, with heavy hearts, the couple brought their tiny friend back to the spot where they’d first found him.

“It’s been wonderful having you with us, baby boy, but it’s time for you to go home. Farewell and good luck,” Frisk whispered sadly to him, stroking his soft plumage and leaning down to place a tender kiss on his little head. Baguette cooed at her, nudging her finger insistently with his head, demanding more pets.

Sans chuckled, before reaching over to gently take the bird in his bony hands, knowing how hard it would be for his wife to carry out their next, painful task.

“okay, buddy, time to go. enjoy your freedom, breadstick, and take care of yourself. we’re both really gonna miss ya.”

With those parting words, Sans lightly tossed the pigeon into the air, the little one using the momentum to spread his wings and take off, soaring through the trees. In no time, he had disappeared behind the leaves and the branches, the sound of flapping quickly fading away. Gazing after his vanished form, Sans and Frisk cuddled together, the skeleton monster slinging his arm around his sniffling wife, nuzzling his skull into the side of her head in comfort. But their quiet mourning was cut short, when a familiar bird re-emerged through the trees. Making a beeline straight for the stunned couple, he landed directly inside Sans’s hood, where he proceeded to snuggle down, resting from the exertion of flight.

“uh, what-… what’re you doing back here, buddy?” Sans blinked, craning his neck to attempt to peer at his impromptu passenger.

“Baguette… Don’t you want to go home?” Frisk gently nudged the bird, but it only let out discontented coos, annoyed at the disturbance.

“heh, maybe he is home, babe,” Sans smiled softly, taking his wife’s hand and entwining her fingers with his phalanges. Frisk squeezed his hand in return.

“You think he wants to stay with us?” she smiled hopefully at her husband.

“seems like it. i don’t blame him, who wouldn’t want to live with a punny guy like me, or a frisky gal like you?” he winked at Frisk, who graced him with a sweet smile and quick kiss on his cheekbone.

“Well, I can’t argue with that. Guess we’ve got ourselves a permanent roommate. Welcome officially to the family, Baguette. I promise we’ll take good care of you.”

“yup. glad to have ya, i’m sure we’ll ba-get along well, bud,” Sans concurred with an easy grin.

Baguette only cooed sleepily at his new pigeon “parents” and dozed off, content to slumber peacefully after an exciting day out.

Chapter Text

The sun had only just started peaking over the horizon, washing the world in warm hues of pinks and oranges, however, this enchanting sight was lost on the monsters, still trapped Underground by the Barrier, created long ago by human mages to imprison their violent race beneath Mt Ebott. In the perpetually frozen town of Snowdin, while most of its residents were still clinging to sleep, one monster in particular had risen with the unseen sun, wasting no time as he began his morning ritual, putting on his sharp, crisp Royal Guard uniform with meticulous efficiency, and expertly preparing himself a steaming cup of coffee. Seating himself primly at his kitchen table, he carefully raised his mug to his wide, sharp-fanged mouth, taking a deep drag of the dark liquid and inhaling its aromatic fragrance with an appreciative sigh.

“Of course, you like black coffee. It goes perfectly with your black heart,” a haughty, feminine voice shattered the temporary peace of the early morning, its tone full of mocking condescension.

Sans, feared and respected Lieutenant of the Royal Guard, heaved a deep, aggravated sigh, as he set his cup down and reluctantly turned to face his intruder.

“MUST YOU PESTER ME SO EARLY IN THE DAY, PRINCESS? DON’T YOU HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO DO?”

The ghostly form of the deceased human princess of monsters, Frisk Dreemurr, glided down from where she’d entered through the ceiling, to hover besides the irritated skeleton monster.

“Like what?” she scoffed, a resentful frown marring her lovely face, “I’m a ghost, in case you haven’t noticed. I can’t interact with anything, or anyone, apart from you. Trust me, prissy pants, if there were anyone else besides you who could see me, then I’d go grace them with my glorious presence, instead. But since there isn’t, you get the honour of keeping me entertained.”

“LUCKY ME,” Sans grit his teeth, turning away from her and trying to ignore his unwelcome companion, as he took another deep pull of his drink.

Annoyed at his attempt to ignore her, Frisk placed herself directly in front of him, floating in a relaxed manner, barely an inch above the table, and crossing her arms imperiously.

“I don’t get how you can enjoy that disgusting stuff,” she shot the mug in his hand a disdainful sneer. “It’s so bitter!”

“LIKE YOU?” Sans smirked at her affronted squawk. “I ENJOY THIS BEVERAGE, BECAUSE OF ITS RICH FLAVOUR AND INVIGORATING EFFECT. BUT I DON’T EXPECT SOMEONE AS PUERILE AS YOURSELF, TO BE CAPABLE OF APPRECIATING SUCH A REFINED TASTE.”

“Hah!” she snorted, a mocking smile on her lips. “As if a pompous windbag like you could ever be a proper judge of good taste. Your taste buds, or whatever passes for them in that big mouth of yours, must’ve been burned off long ago from drinking that awful sludge.”

Sans heaved an aggrieved sigh, leaning back in his chair and crossing his legs in affected nonchalance and sophistication.

“WELL THEN, PRINCESS, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DRINK OF CHOICE?” he drawled enquiringly at her.

Frisk paused at the question, looking taken aback at the fact the arrogant, pretentious monster had actually asked for her opinion on something. She fell quiet, as she gave the matter some consideration, causing Sans to raise his browbone at her suddenly serious demeanour.

“Well, I guess if I had to choose… I’d pick hot chocolate,” she eventually replied, her tone a little hesitant.

Sans blinked in surprise, not expecting an honest answer from her. He gazed at her in contemplation.

“WHY HOT CHOCOLATE, IF I MIGHT ASK?”

He sounded genuinely curious and Frisk wasn’t sure what to make of it. It didn’t help that it’d been so long since she’d had a meaningful conversation with anyone… She fidgeted awkwardly, looking uncharacteristically timid. Sans stared, astonished at her bizarre behaviour.

“It has a soft, gentle sweetness, if you add just the right amount of chocolate, and, most of all… it’s warm…” her tone was sincere, devoid of its usual teasing edge.

Sans raised his browbone in bafflement.

“WARM? IF HEAT IS WHAT YOU SEEK IN A BEVERAGE, THEN WHY DO YOU SCORN COFFEE? I ASSURE YOU, ITS TEMPERATURE IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO CHASE AWAY THE CHILL FROM ONE’S BONES.”

But Frisk merely shook her head insistently, once more regaining her confidence.

“That’s not what I meant! I don’t want a hot drink, I want a warm drink. It’s not the same thing. And it has nothing to do with temperature, either. It’s a feeling you get when you drink it.”

Sans looked utterly perplexed at her explanation.

“WHAT NONSENSE ARE YOU SPOUTING NOW?”

Frisk made a disgusted noise, frowning at him in frustration.

“Ugh, you don’t get it!” she spat out, before wilting in a discontented sulk. “Oh, forget it. You’ll never understand until you experience it for yourself.”

With that, she drifted off through the walls, disappearing to parts unknown. Sans could only shake his head in bewilderment, still lost as to what sort of warmth she was talking about. What he was aware of, though, was how much colder the room felt without her near-magnetic presence. Gritting his teeth in self-admonishment for the thought, he quickly downed the rest of his now lukewarm coffee and stood up, trying to dismiss that entire conversation from his mind. He had another long and busy day ahead of him, after all, and he couldn’t waste his valuable time pondering the words of an annoying, long-dead human, no matter how alluring she was.

Neither party brought up that conversation again until much later, after Chara, the final human to fall into the Underground, had miraculously broken the Barrier and freed the monsters. It had taken some convincing, and a few bribes and subtle threats, but eventually Undyne, the current Royal Scientist, had been persuaded to construct artificial bodies for both of the long-lost adopted royal children, though her initial suggestion of “giant mecha bodies” was instantly shot down, much to her disappointment.

It had been several weeks since Frisk had found herself back amongst the living, in a corporeal form, and she was currently sat on the porch, at the back of the house she shared with Chara and her adoptive siblings, gazing at the gentle snowfall. Sans was sat beside her, and both of them were cradling steaming cups of hot chocolate in their gloved hands, although Frisk’s was covered in a generous helping of whipped cream, a large drizzle of caramel sauce, and several tiny marshmallows. Blowing softly on her mug, Frisk took a tentative sip of her drink, moaning slightly in delight at the flavour.

“Wow, it’s even better than I remember.”

She took another sip and sighed happily, a blissful smile on her face. Sans couldn’t restrain his own smile, as he gazed at her fondly. Taking a sip from his own mug, he felt a deep warmth suffusing his soul.

“I THINK I FINALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEANT BY WARMTH,” he said, humming appreciatively.

Beside him, Frisk turned to shoot him a triumphant grin.

“See, I told you! Hot choccy’s the best, especially when you lavish it with plenty of whipped cream, caramel and marshmallows.”

She giggled in unrestrained glee. Sans merely smiled indulgently at her childishness, too entranced by her rare, uninhibited joy to tease her for it. Well, too much, least.

“FOR SUCH A BITTER PERSON, YOU HAVE A SURPRISING SWEET TOOTH,” he couldn’t resist the playful jab.

“Whereas your love for black coffee suits you perfectly, Black Heart,” she immediately shot back, though her words lacked any bite to them and her smile hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

Taking another sip of her hot chocolate, Frisk leaned into Sans’s side, thankful he had forgone his Royal Guard armour, with its many spikes and sharp edges. Again, Sans felt a delicious, soothing warmth fill his soul. He refrained from telling the woman at his side that he had drank hot chocolate a few times Underground, whenever she wasn’t around, and had failed to experience the warm feeling which now permeated his body. He also didn’t tell her of his suspicion that that warmth didn’t come from the hot chocolate, but from her warm, solid presence next to him.

Chapter Text

All told, Sans would have to say that life was pretty great right now. The monsters had gotten their long-sought-after freedom, thanks to his new human friend, Chara, and were slowly, but steadily being accepted by humanity, the Surface was every bit as wonderful as he’d dreamt it’d be, his assistance in monster-human integration initiatives had earned him more and more friends, of both species, and, most importantly, his little brother, Papyrus, was happy. Genuinely, truly happy, for the first time in a long while. Sans wasn’t sure what exactly had caused his younger brother to lose hope and become so lethargic and unmotivated, but it was all in the past now, and Papy was finally excited for the future once again.

So yes, Sans would have to admit that his life had never been better. Everything was going exceptionally well. Everything, that is, except for one.

Princess Frisk’s revival, thanks to Chara and Dr. Undyne’s joint efforts, had come as a huge shock to everyone, not least of all her adoptive family. The death of both of the king and queen’s adopted children had been the catalyst for major change in the Underground, and had set in motion the events which had led to the deaths of six humans, but also the breaking of the Barrier keeping monsters trapped Underground. So, suddenly having Frisk and MK back amongst them, alive and well once more, was a most unexpected, yet welcome, surprise. All of Monsterkind, especially the king, queen and crown prince, Asriel, had rejoiced at their return, and had welcomed them back with open arms. And yet, for some reason, neither Frisk nor MK seemed too pleased by their easy acceptance. Both were very reluctant to engage with anyone, choosing instead to keep their distance, despite everyone’s best efforts to befriend them.

Most concerning of all, Papyrus had shown an uncharacteristic hostility towards the both of them. Sans had never seen his normally so laidback and mellow little bro, so aggressive before, and he had no idea what had caused this odd behaviour. Despite all of Sans’s prodding, Papyrus refused to elaborate on the reasons for his inexplicable dislike of the newly-revived royals, dodging all of his questions with lazy grins and terrible jokes. Nevertheless, Sans was determined that they should all get along and, thankfully, Chara was of the same mind. And through their combined effort, unwavering persistence, along with Asriel’s enthusiastic assistance, the both of them had eventually managed to get past Frisk and MK’s defences, and befriend them. After constant offers of friendship, and repeated attempts to include the both of them in their activities, Frisk and MK had gradually warmed up to them and slowly started to open up their hearts.

Over time, MK had regained his lost confidence and cheerfulness, reforming the close bond he’d once shared with his adoptive family, and Frisk, although still more taciturn and withdrawn than she’d been before her untimely death, had demonstrated the love she held for monsters, hidden beneath her aloof personality, through her steadfast devotion to monsters’ rights. Sans himself had witnessed her many, surreptitious acts of kindness, and her unyielding defence of monsters in the face of opposition from more sceptical and resistant humans. Moreover, Chara had steadfastly insisted that Frisk’s aid and support at the monster embassy had proved indispensable to furthering their cause, and even Papyrus had, very begrudgingly, come to accept her as part of their group. Sans could say, with confidence, that Princess Frisk was a good person, one whom he admired and respected, and whom he didn’t hesitate to call a precious friend.

And yet, despite everything, Frisk had never smiled, not genuinely, not even once, since she’d been brought back from the dead. Therein lay Sans’s greatest problem, one he was determined to fix. He couldn’t explain it, not even to himself, but something in him demanded that he do all within his power to help her. And so, he did.

Not a day went by where Sans didn’t try his best to make her smile. He’d cooked his best tacos for her, which she’d accepted, albeit reluctantly, he’d paid her numerous, entirely sincere compliments, all of which she’d awkwardly shrugged off or flat-out denied, he’d even tried to show off his trap- and puzzle-making skills, none of which had seemed to particularly impress her, despite her (somewhat lacklustre) praise. The closest he’d managed to get to a smile, had been when he’d gifted her a bouquet of pretty, blue forget-me-nots, like those that the King enjoyed growing in his garden. That had earned him a soft, almost sad look, and the most genuine “thank you” he’d ever heard from her.

However, one positive outcome of his many failed attempts, was how much Sans had come to learn about Frisk. Such as the deep well of compassion within her soul, hidden behind her guarded and stand-offish demeanour. While she may have been cold and blunt towards others, including him, Sans could sense no real malice in her words, only an underlying concern which betrayed the genuine care she felt for him, even if she wouldn’t admit to it. And she more than proved with her actions what her words refuted, like how she’d all but taken over Chara’s ambassador paperwork, despite her grumbled complaints, or how she’d bake little honey cakes for Papyrus, even as she insulted and disparaged him, or how she’d offer various suggestions for improvements to Sans’s puzzles and riddles, in between her criticisms. Sans had noticed how Frisk didn’t even hold any real animosity towards the humans she claimed to disdain so much. In fact, the only genuine hatred Frisk ever seemed to really exhibit, was towards herself; an observation which made Sans all the more determined to get her to open up to him and finally smile.

Sans’s big breakthrough came unexpectedly one day, when he’d gone over to her house to invite her to watch a popular superhero movie with him at the cinema. Chara had let him in, distractedly informing him that she was in the kitchen, before rushing off to go meet with Papyrus, undoubtedly to plan more ridiculous pranks together, Sans assumed. Shaking his head in exasperation, he dismissed his concerns as he eagerly made his way to the kitchen. He slowed his pace as the sweet scent of caramel reached him. Sniffing appreciatively at the air, he peaked into the kitchen, finding Frisk stood over a cooling plate of little caramel candies. He was about to call out to her when he paused, noticing her expression.

Frisk’s normally cold, apathetic mien was nowhere to be found, instead replaced by a look of excitement and happiness, her keen interest in the sugary confections more than apparent. More importantly, her mouth was turned up in the most dazzling smile Sans had ever seen, like the brightest sunshine. It made her whole face light up, filled with pure joy, especially as she picked up one of the sweets and plopped it into her mouth, unaware of anything but the coppery delights in front of her.

The rest of the world seemed to fade away, until only Frisk’s brilliant smile remained in Sans’s vision.

“WOWZERS…” the skeleton monster whispered, his voice lower and quieter than it’d ever been before, afraid as he was of disturbing his princess’s enjoyment of what was obviously her favourite snack.

Sans felt his soul shudder at the sight in front of him, a strange warmth he’d never experienced before suffusing his soul and flowing through every bone in his body, making him feel a little light-headed. He’d never seen anything as mesmerising as Frisk’s truly radiant smile. He knew then, that he’d do anything to have that smile directed at him. OH, I SEE, he thought, his soul starting to pound in stunned realisation, THIS MUST BE LOVE. I’M IN LOVE WITH THE PRINCESS. I… I LOVE FRISK.

Slowly retreating from view, Sans returned home, unusually silent as he contemplated this new development. Clearly, he needed to up his game if he had any hope of winning his fair lady’s heart. He’d have to plan his next actions far more carefully and try even harder than he had before! But no matter how difficult it might be, Sans knew that it’d be worth it, just to see Frisk’s beautiful smile once more.

Chapter Text

With some trepidation, Sans knocked on Frisk’s front door. Barely a second passed, before her lovely voice called out to him to enter. Letting out a small sigh of relief, Sans let himself into his girlfriend’s house. The two of them had been dating for a while now and, despite Frisk’s many assurances of her love for and devotion to him, Sans couldn’t help fearing that she might one day come to her senses and realise what a horrible, irredeemable wretch he was, and how she was better off without him, and finally throw him out of her life for good. Sans didn’t think he’d be able to survive the heartbreak.

His pessimistic thoughts faded away as the enticing smell of Frisk’s cooking reached him. Inhaling the wonderful scent, Sans felt his mouth water and eagerly made his way towards the kitchen. Even now, years after having been freed from the Underground, and being provided a constant and plentiful supply of food by various charitable human organisations, he still felt like a rabid beast in front of even the tiniest scrap of food. After seven agonising years of starvation, he would never take food for granted ever again.

His advance was halted as Frisk stepped out of the kitchen to greet him. Her whole face lit up as she smiled warmly at him, her eyes trailing lovingly along his features, purposely avoiding the conspicuous hole in his skull, knowing how sensitive he was about his injury.

“Hi Sans, I’m glad you could make it,” she slowly reached out towards him, carefully wrapping her arms around him and placing a delicate kiss on his cheek. He hugged her back just as gingerly, ever mindful of how fragile human bodies were. This was the one human, besides Aliza, whom he would not allow himself to harm, even accidentally.

“i’m always happy to see ya, sweetheart. ‘specially if i get a meal outta it. an’ you look good enough to eat,” he immediately winced at the pun, deeply uncomfortable with associating the one he loved with food, given his past.

“Thank you, Sans. You look like quite the dish, yourself,” Frisk joked back smoothly, dispelling any awkwardness. Sans gave her a grateful smile.

“I’ve prepared mashed potatoes, green beans, and there’s steak and kidney pie in the oven, which should be ready in about ten minutes,” Frisk informed him, leaning back to guide her bone-friend into the dining room. “In the meantime, I’ve prepared a little something special for you, which I hope you’ll like.”

She shot him a nervous, yet hopeful smile, and rushed out of the room as he took a seat at the table. Leaning his skull on one hand, the other resisting the urge to rhythmically tap against the table top, Sans gazed at her departing figure. Frisk, thoughtful and generous soul that she was, was always offering him little gifts, generally snacks or interesting treats she’d come across and thought he might like, so he was intrigued by what she’d got him this time.

Frisk returned quickly, clutching a large glass jar filled with a very familiar red substance that Sans would recognise anywhere: ketchup. Hesitantly placing the jar in front of Sans, along with a spoon, Frisk took a seat beside him and nervously cleared her throat.

“I know how much you like ketchup, so… I made some for you,” she began to fidget, anxiously toying with the ends of her hair, her eyes darting around the room. “I looked up different recipes and chose the one I thought you might like best. I practised it several times in advance, so I’m sure I didn’t make any mistakes this time. Oh, and all the ingredients are fresh from my garden! And-”

Sans interrupted her jittery rambling by twisting the lid off of the jar and, completely ignoring the offered spoon, tipped the entire glass container towards his wide-open mouth. Once all of the contents had disappeared into the darkness of his jaws, his magical tongue licking up any lingering ketchup residue, he set the empty jar back onto the table. After a beat, Frisk spoke up.

“Um… H-How was it?”

In response to her question, tears started gathering along the edges of Sans’s eye sockets, before quickly spilling over in rivulets down his face. Frisk let out a panicked squeak.

“Oh no, that bad?! I’m so sorry Sans! Please don’t cry, I promise I’ll do better next time, I-”

“it was perfect,” Sans spoke in a low, croaky voice, thick with emotion. “better’n perfect. it was the best thing i’ve ever tasted.”

“It… It was?” Frisk blinked in confusion.

Sans nodded, his mismatched eyes fixed on the ketchup jar grasped tightly in his hands.

“yup. no competition.”

“Then why are you crying?” Frisk’s voice was soft, as she hesitantly placed a hand on Sans’s shoulder.

“because it’s too good for the likes ‘o me,” he turned his skull towards her, gaze serious. “you’re too good for me, frisk. ya do so much for me, all the time, while i can’t do a thing for you, broken as i am, and… you’re so kind and patient and forgiving, despite everything i did to you. to the other monsters.”

“Sans, that’s all in the past,” Frisk tried to reassure him, her heart breaking for him.

“see what i mean?” Sans snorted, his mouth set in a self-deprecating sneer. “it’s the same with my friends and papyrus. they don’t blame me for what happened. but they should. ‘cause it was my fault. the core woulda been fixed if i hadn’t destroyed it. and it was my idea to kill all the humans who fall, to eat them. i deserve to be rottin’ in jail, just as much as ex-queen un-dick. and… and maybe if i had been a better friend to you, back then… maybe you woulda-”

Frisk placed her hands on Sans’s cheeks, firmly turning his skull to look her head-on.

“Stop,” Frisk demanded, her voice strong and steady, her tone unyielding. “We’ve been over this, Sans. You can’t keep blaming yourself for difficult decisions you can’t change. We’re all at fault here, but we can’t afford to sacrifice our future by drowning in the past. You’re free, you have food, you’re safe. Paps is safe, all monsters are safe, and humans are falling over themselves to help you, so that they can feel good about themselves for once. Or to improve their public image. But point is, you’re okay. You’re alright. Everything’s alright.”

Frisk’s tone had softened towards the end, her hands gently caressing Sans’s skull. He gave her a helpless, lost look.

“am i? look at me frisk. i’m just a shell of who i once was. you could do so much better than a damaged monster like me.”

And Frisk did look at him, making a show of taking in all of the rips and blood stains on his clothes, which no amount of washing could remove, the large, jagged hole on his skull, and finally his eyes, both his red, engorged, stolen eyeball, and his white, recovered magic eye.

“You are damaged, there’s no denying that,” she conceded, before giving him her own sad smile. “But let’s face it, am I any different? After everything I’ve done, and everything I couldn’t do, I’m also just a shell of who I used to be. I’m just a weak human, haunted by her failures, both Underground and on the Surface. I couldn’t save anybody, not even myself.”

Frisk let her hands fall back down, onto her lap, but Sans quickly snatched them back up, leaning forward, his expression fierce.

“that wasn’t your fault!” he insisted, a low growl in his deep voice. “you were alone and scared, traumatised after all the shit you’d been through underground, so you did the sensible thing and tried to get help. if only people’d listened to you instead of locking you up, drugging you and convincing you ya were crazy. you did what you thought was right. not your fault it didn’t work out.”

Frisk smiled gratefully at him, giving him a soft peck on his cheek, upon which he finally stopped growling, though he still looked furious on her behalf.

“And it’s the same for you, love,” Frisk leaned forward, lightly rubbing her nose against Sans’s nasal bone. “You did what you thought was right. And there’s no shame in that, no matter the consequences. At the end of the day, we’re here, we’re safe, and we’re together. And that’s all I could ever ask for.”

Sans gave her a doting, affectionate smile, his magical eyelight now an adoring heart. He nuzzled her back, just as tenderly.

“heh, same, sweetheart. though, uh… there is one more thing i’d like to ask for.”

Frisk made an inquisitive noise, raising her eyebrow at him, to which he shot her wink, his grin wide in an achingly familiar cheeky grin.

“can i have more of that ketchup? please?”

Frisk blinked in surprise at him, before bursting into unrestrained laughter. Sans chuckled at the sight, her joy warming his soul, the way only she ever could.

“Of course, Sans!” still struggling to contain her mirth, she rubbed at the tears forming at the corners of her eyes. “I’ll make you all the ketchup you desire! And more! I promise you, love, I’ll never let you go hungry, ever again.”

Sans could feel himself getting emotional again at her sincere vow, so he covered it up with a sly grin, yanking on Frisk’s arm to pull her onto his lap, as she let out a surprised squeak. His arms wrapped around his lover’s warm, soft body, as he possessively held her close.

“well, ya know how i feel about promises,” he growled lowly once more, his expression amorous. “so you’d better keep yours. even if i’m hungry for you.”

Frisk giggled playfully, her smile coy and teasing.

“I’d say you seem more thirsty than hungry, but I hope to satisfy you either way.”

She leaned forward, before a loud beep caused the two of them to jolt in alarm.

“Oh, the pie is ready!” as the realisation dawned on her, she reluctantly left Sans’s embrace, getting to her feet. “Sorry, bone boy, you’ll have to make do with lunch for now. Gotta feed your stomach first, after all.”

Slumping back in his chair, his skull once more resting in his hand, Sans shot her retreating back an easy-going grin, shrugging his shoulders.

“eh, the rest can wait. i’m a patient monster, after all. i’d wait for you forever, sweetheart.”

Chapter Text

As Frisk slowly drifted back into consciousness, she realised three things. One, she was sitting upright in a chair. Two, she was securely strapped to said chair. And three, she was not alone.

With a sigh of mild exasperation, she turned towards the other presence in the dark room.

“Sans, what is it this time?”

The monster in question beamed brightly at her, a doting, lovesick expression on his face, his cheeks tinted blue and his eyelights little blue hearts, faintly tinged purple.

“MWEH HEH HEH! I’M GLAD YOU’RE FINALLY AWAKE, MY LOVE, I MISSED LOOKING INTO YOUR BEAUTIFUL EYES,” Sans gushed happily.

Frisk levelled a flat look at him, her now crimson eyes narrowed in irritation. Sensing her obvious impatience, Sans cleared his non-existent throat.

“I’VE BROUGHT YOU HERE TO KEEP YOU SAFE FROM ALL OF THOSE DESPICABLE INTERLOPERS SEEKING TO TEAR US APART!”

Frisk looked distinctly unimpressed at his explanation.

“This is about that waitress yesterday, isn’t it?” she guessed.

Sans bristled in anger at the mention, his expression full of outraged loathing. Frisk sighed again, looking mildly annoyed at this entire situation.

“Sans, we’ve been over this, you bonehead,” she said, her tone as dry as her expression. “She only flirted with me as part of her job. All serving staff are trained to be affable and flirt with customers, to sucker them into tipping them better. She wasn’t serious or anything. There’s absolutely no need to feel threatened.”

Sans wasn’t appeased in the slightest by her words. He clenched his gloved fists, and grit his teeth as his eyelights narrowed in aggravation.

“YOU DON’T KNOW THAT FOR SURE! I SAW THE LOOK ON HER FACE. THE DESIRE. SHE HARBOURED INAPROPRIATE FEELINGS FOR YOU. I’M CERTAIN SHE HAD ROMANTIC DESIGNS ON YOU! AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE, YOU ARE MY SOULMATE! I’VE WAITED FOR YOU MY ENTIRE LIFE. AND NOW THAT I’VE FOUND YOU, NOW THAT WE’RE FINALLY TOGETHER, I WON’T ALLOW ANYONE ELSE TO TAKE YOU FROM ME. I’LL KILL ANYONE WHO TRIES.”

He growled threateningly at that last part, his eye sockets dark and empty. Frisk sniffed dispassionately, her face impassive, utterly unconcerned by her boyfriend’s indignation or his dark vow.

“No one’s going to take me away from you, my silly mate,” she huffed, her tone betraying her annoyance. “You said so yourself, we’re soulmates. Two people tied together by fate, destined to be the perfect partners. We were literally made for each other.”

Sans crossed his arms, seemingly mollified by her easy acceptance of their relationship, his expression more petulant than murderous, now.

“EXACTLY, BELOVED! YOU AND I ARE BOUND BY FATE ITSELF, AND ALL MONSTERS CHERISH AND RESPECT THAT SACRED BOND. WE’D NEVER FLIRT WITH SOMEONE ELSE’S DESTINED SOULMATE! BUT HUMANS AREN’T AS IN TUNE WITH THEIR SOULS AS WE MONSTERS ARE; YOU CAN’T FEEL THE BOND LIKE WE CAN. SO EVERY TIME A HUMAN TRIES TO GET CLOSE TO YOU, COMPLETELY DISREGARDING OUR PRECIOUS BOND, THEY’RE A THREAT TO OUR HAPPINESS. AND I WON’T TOLERATE ANY THREATS.”

Frisk’s stony expression didn’t budge in the slightest at Sans’s impassioned speech. If she could, she would’ve flicked his forehead. Or stabbed him. Perhaps it was for the best that her arms and hands were tied firmly (but still comfortably) to her chair.

“Sans, my charming, little fool,” Sans quailed slightly at her frosty tone and her neutral face of displeasure. “Do you really think a mere human could ever get between us? Do you honestly believe that I would ever, for a moment, even consider choosing some pathetic, loathsome waste of space of a person, over my loyal, devoted, caring, considerate, excessively affectionate boyfriend?”

Sans all but melted at her words, his ire having completely abandoned him. He smiled delightedly, if a little bashfully, at her, his eyelights back to being enamoured hearts. Frisk ignored his change of mood and continued briskly on.

“If you do, then you’re as much a fool as your idiot brother,” she deadpanned. “And do you know why I will always pick you, over everyone else? It’s not because we’re soulmates, not because of some pre-determined bond I can’t feel. It’s because I love you. Despite everything, I’ve fallen for you, for better or worse. And that love is worth more to me than anything else in the universe. No matter what, I will always choose my love for you. So, regardless of whether or not we’re soulmates, I’ll always be with you. If anything, I’m glad we’re soulmates because it means I can be reasonably certain your own feelings for me won’t waver.”

“NEVER!” Sans rushed to reassure her. “I LOVE YOU TOO, FRISK, AND THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE! I PROMISE! I WILL SWEAR MY UNDYING LOVE FOR YOU IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE WORLD, IF YOU WISH. AND ONCE OUR SOULS ARE PROPERLY BONDED, YOU WILL NEVER BE IN DOUBT OF MY FEELINGS FOR YOU!”

“Stop right there,” Frisk frowned at him. “You are not proposing to me whilst holding me captive, tied to a chair.”

Sans gasped, slapping his gloved hands to his mouth.

“OH NO, OF COURSE NOT! SUCH A MOMENTOUS OCCASION DESERVES ONLY THE MOST ROMANTIC OF CIRCUMSTANCES! I’VE MADE SURE TO PLAN FOR IT EXTREMELY WELL. I AM CERTAIN YOU’LL BE SUITABLY IMPRESSED BY MY EFFORTS. OH WOWZERS, I CAN’T WAIT!”

Frisk’s cold look softened against her will, at her mate’s giddy, excited look, and she failed to suppress the faint smile tugging at her lips. She could never seem to hold onto her icy stoicism in the face of Sans’s genuine and sincere love for her. And his joy was altogether too infectious. Given how difficult it was for her to show her emotions, she’d always, quietly, admired how easily Sans wore his heart on his sleeve. He expressed his feelings so freely, while she could barely muster a smile. No wonder he’d managed to win her heart so quickly, despite her initial resistance. Still, she made an effort to appear unaffected, as she shot him an imperious look.

“And Sans?”

“YES, MY LOVE?”

“If anyone does try to come between us? I’ll be the one to handle them, got that? We both know that I’m more than capable of, and willing to deal with anyone stupid enough to stand in my way.”

Even while tied down to a chair and unable to move, Frisk’s threatening aura was fiercer and more dangerous than Sans’s had been, as her eyes glowed an ominous red, her dark look promising unspeakable violence on her foes. Sans only sighed lovingly at her, a tender, besotted look on his skull.

“OF COURSE, MY LOVE.”

“Good. Now untie me before I kick your ass.”

“MWEH HEH HEH! ANYTHING FOR YOU, MY DARLING LOVE.”

Chapter Text

Life in the skeleton-human household had settled down over time, inasmuch as was possible within a house filled with wildly different personalities. Arguments between the skeleton monsters remained frequent, particularly amongst the more abrasive characters, but their shared goal of fixing their father’s broken machine, and returning the extradimensional visitors to their home universes, had kept them all focused on their task. Perhaps a little too focused, on occasion, as the girls had found out. As such, they’d decided that on this special day, Valentine’s Day, everyone would take a break from work of any kind, to celebrate the romantic holiday with their respective partner. Some of the males were easier to convince than others, with Blue and Vanilla being especially taken with the idea of a Valentine’s date with their beloved, however not even the most stubborn soul could deny such determined humans for too long.

And so it was that, on the morning of Valentine’s Day, all of the mansion’s residents split off into pairs, to spend the day as a couple, in their own preferred way.

~~~

Comic and Topaz had immediately retreated to the privacy of their shared bedroom, choosing to spend their date at home, enjoying the rare peace and quiet inside their nearly deserted house, though with some hesitation on Sans’s part.

“you sure about this, babe?” he questioned, letting his wife tug him down to lie beside her on their bed. “today’s a special day, after all. you really sure you wanna waste it indoors, doin’ nothing?”

Despite his doubts, he nonetheless made himself comfortable on the bed, wrapping his arms around Frisk and cradling her tenderly to his rib cage. She wrapped her own arms around him in return, resting her forehead against his.

“We are not doing ‘nothing’, Sansy,” she pressed a kiss to the corner of his grin. “We’re relaxing together, in our nice, comfy bed, enjoying each other’s presence. What more could a girl need, than her hus-bone by her side?”

Sans chuckled lightly, rubbing his nasal bone gently against the tip of Frisk’s nose, in the skeleton version of a nose nuzzle.

“heh, well you know how much i love taking breaks, ‘specially with my lovely wifey,” he hugged her close for a moment, relishing the feeling of her soft warmth in his arms, before drawing back slightly, to fix his suddenly serious look on her, his eyelights dimming slightly. “look, i know i’m a lazybones a lotta the time, and things’ve been really hectic ever since our otherworldly copies showed up, but… it’s valentine’s, the most romantic day of the year, an’ our very first since getting married. don’t you wanna do something special?”

Frisk withdrew one arm from around Sans, to cup his skull in her hand. She gave him a warm smile, as she affectionately caressed his cheekbone.

“Sans, any time I spend with you is special, it doesn’t matter what we’re doing. And now that our house is so full and our lives are so busy, what with the machine, our housemates and our jobs, our alone time is extra important to me. We rarely get to have any time with just the two of us, so I want to enjoy this moment together.”

Sans sighed, closing his eye sockets. He pulled Frisk close again, carding his phalanges through her hair.

“i feel the same, sweetheart. the machine needs a skele-ton of work to fix it, and it’s kept all us boneheads really busy. not to mention, havin’ red workin’ at the lab, even if he’s in a different department, hasn’t been easy. i get a lotta complaints at work about his crappy attitude. guy sure has a bone to pick with the world.”

Sans let out another, deep sigh, burying his skull in his wife’s hair as he held her tightly. Frisk ran her hand along his skull in a gentle caress, hoping to ease his tension.

“Well, he is from a ‘kill or be killed’ Underground, after all,“ she pointed out reasonably. "I guess he still isn’t used to having to play nice with others. Have you mentioned this to Edge? Maybe he can do something about Red. They are brothers, after all, and Edge works as a security guard at your lab, right? I’m sure he wants to keep the peace as much as you do.”

At his wife’s suggestion, Sans snorted, shaking his head tiredly.

“nah, he only makes things worse,” he grumbled, a disgruntled, aggrieved look on his skull. “according to alphys, edgelord often interrupts his patrol to come berate red when that jackass is bein’ disruptive, but he always ends up causing an even bigger scene. if the two of ‘em weren’t so good at their jobs, the higher ups at nasa would’ve kicked ‘em out on their coccyx ages ago. and can you believe that they were apparently a lot worse underground? how the hell their girls put up with em’ i’ll never know.”

Frisk gave him a commiserating smile, rubbing soothing, placating circles along his cervical vertebrae, causing Sans to let out a low, satisfied groan, as he pressed his forehead against his wife’s.

“ah, forget about those two numbskulls. this is valentine’s day and i’ve got my warm, wonderful wifey in my arms. i don’t wanna think about anythin’ but you today, babe. our valen-time’s precious enough as it is, without wastin’ it on others. and… i’m sorry i’ve left you feelin’ bone-ly. i just wish there was some way to make it up to ya, frisky.”

In response, Frisk drew herself up, to pepper kisses all over her husband’s skull.

“There is,” she whispered between kisses. “All I want is to take a break with you. I know how hard you and the other guys have been working to fix things. And I’m grateful, honestly, and so proud. That’s why us ladies decided that today isn’t just a chance to celebrate our love. It’s also the perfect excuse to give our bone boys a break. You deserve it.”

Sans felt his soul warm up from both Frisk’s words and her loving kisses. His eyelights dilated, growing fuzzy around the edges, as he smiled adoringly at her.

“well, i have been working myself to the bone for a while, now. and, tibia honest? i could really use a nap. i’m bone-tired, heh.”

The two of them shared a laugh, clutching each other tightly.

“Well, come on then, hubby,” Frisk grinned brightly at Sans, mirth shining in her eyes, a finger tapping, teasingly, on his sternum. “Stop overthinking things and relax. Let go of all of your worries, and focus on the here and now. Today is all about us.”

“heh, welp, you don’t have to pa-tell-a me twice.”

With Frisk’s answering giggle ringing in the air, Sans finally allowed himself to fully sink into the mattress of his bed, as all the tension left his body. He hugged Frisk close, entwining their hands and hearing the clink of their wedding rings. Ignoring all else, he focused on the softness of her skin, her familiar warmth, the sweet smell of her favourite shampoo. He listened to her gentle breaths, watched the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest, and felt, deep within his soul, the answering beat of her own soul, pulsing in time with his.

“happy valentine’s day, frisk.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Sans.”

~~~

With neither quite sure how best to have a romantic date, given their lack of experience with romance, Red and Ruby decided to have a fun day out at the amusement park. Ebott Cit’s fun fair was large, colourful and loud, boasting a wide variety of attractions, stalls, rides, and games of chance and skill. As such, on a popular holiday like Valentine’s Day, it was currently packed full of visitors, both monster and human.

Sans felt exposed and vulnerable in such a large crowd, uncomfortable with being surrounded by so many strangers while in a new location, and stuck close to Frisk, one arm slung around her shoulders, keeping her pinned to his side possessively and protectively. Every time someone happened to bump into him, from distracted couples to excited children, Sans would fix them with his single, burning, crimson eyelight, glaring menacingly at the offender until they ran away in a panic, Frisk’s desperate “sorry!” called out to their retreating backs.

“Sans, please stop frightening the other visitors!” Frisk pleaded with Sans. “This is a peaceful universe, remember? No one’s going to attack us out of the blue here. Everyone just wants to have a good time, same as us. We’re supposed to be on a date, so let’s just enjoy ourselves, please.”

Sans huffed, turning his skull away from his girlfriend’s upset frown.

“yeah, yeah, i know, sweetheart…” he grumbled sulkily. “old habits die hard, but i’ll try ta keep a lid on it. fer your sake.”

Frisk beamed brightly at him and leaned towards him to plant a firm kiss to his blushing cheekbone. Sans ducked his skull, beads of magical sweat rolling down the sides, trying, in vain, to hide his burning face.

“Thank you, Sans!”

“… anythin’ fer you, sweetheart…”

Despite his promise, Sans still kept a vigilant, glowing eyelight on his surroundings, unable to truly lower his guard in such a busy, unfamiliar place, though with everyone giving the intimidating skeleton monster with the violent aura a wide birth, there were no further incidents. At least, not while the couple were walking around the fair.

The two lovers occasionally stopped at the various stalls dotted all over the park, admiring the displayed merchandise, but unable to buy anything, since the vendors seemed too terrified by Sans’s fearsome appearance and gruff demeanour to properly serve him. One young rabbit monster had squeaked upon his approach, ducking underneath their stall to cower out of sight, causing Frisk to hastily drag Sans away, apologising profusely to the hidden stall owner.

Things were much the same wherever they went. Even when Sans used his magic to discreetly (and sometimes not-so-discreetly) cheat at the fair games, winning several prizes for a mortified Frisk, who could only bow her head contritely, none of the attendants or other participants dared to call him out on his underhanded tactics. At every amusement ride the pair chose to try, the seats closest to them remained empty, the other fair-goers preferring to wait for the next go, or avoiding the ride entirely.

Sans’s breaking point came when a small human child accidentally ran into him. Looking up, the youngster’s apology died on their lips once they caught sight of Sans’s wide, sharp-toothed grin, with his one glinting, golden fang, and his sole, brightly blazing, blood-red eyelight, the other eye socket a dark, vacant void. The child promptly burst into tears, and was quickly scooped up and carried off by their worried parents, while Frisk’s own anxious apologies fell on deaf ears.

With a low growl, Sans grabbed Frisk’s arm and took a shortcut straight to a quiet, deserted corner, at the edge of the fair.

“i’m sick o’ this bullshit!” his voice, already deep and gravelly, was little more than a furious snarl. “fer once, i’m actually tryin’ ta play nice, but these spineless cowards keep ruinin’ our date!”

Sans exhaled forcefully, before seeming to wilt, his anger leaving him as he turned his despondent gaze towards Frisk, both of his eyelights back to normal, if noticeably dimmed.

“i’m… i’m really sorry, sweetheart,” he mumbled pitifully, voice soft and repentant. “i didn’t mean ta spoil our date, honest. i really wanted today ta be special, an’… an’ i was really hopin’ ta give ya the kinda valentine’s experience ya deserve. but i keep screwin’ everythin’ up… as usual…”

Frisk gently cupped his skull, turning his downcast eyelights to her kind smile, her eyes warm and full of compassion.

“Oh Sans,” she breathed out in a light sigh, “you haven’t screwed anything up and our date is most certainly not ruined. I don’t blame you for being a little… tense. You’ve had it rough, your whole life, and coming to this strange new universe hasn’t been easy on any of us. We’re all a bit on edge, frankly. But that’s why I wanted us to have fun today! Because you deserve to have a good time, more than anyone I know. So please, forget about everyone else! It’s our special, romantic date, and all I need is you by my side.”

Sans practically melted at her words and her touch, a doting, adoring smile on his bright red skull, his two fuzzy, heart-shaped eyelights fixed on Frisk’s face. There was no hint of the dangerous killer he was Underground, only an infatuated skeleton, harmless as a puppy.

“yeah, ta hell with the rest o’ the world,” he purred, gathering Frisk up in his arms and nuzzling her face affectionately. “yer all i need ta be happy, sweetheart. so long’s i got you, i’m havin’ a great time.”

Frisk gave her besotted boyfriend a deep, tender kiss, causing him to melt further in her embrace. When she pulled back, however, her soft, sweet smile had been replaced by a devilish smirk, a wicked glint in her suddenly sharp eyes.

“There’s my good boy,” she praised, tracing a finger along the edges of Sans’s smile, heedless of his sharp teeth, before lightly scratching at his mandible, causing him to let out a soft groan. “Don’t you worry about anyone else here, okay? You’re safe. I’m with you. No one’s going to hurt you, not here in this alternate world, and not back in our own world. I promise you, love, I won’t let anything or anyone lay so much as a finger on you, got it? And if they try, then I’ll just have to show them the error of their ways. Just like I did back Underground. So, you just concentrate on having fun, because for today, nothing else matters except us.”

“heh, whateva ya say, sweetheart,” Sans agreed easily, obedient as a loyal lapdog, his skull aflame in a bright red blush. Even though Frisk now wore his dog collar, it was obvious that she was the one who held Sans’s leash.

Frisk giggled, a bold smile on her face, showing no trace of her earlier gentleness or meekness. With a confidence she rarely exhibited, she led Sans back into the crowd of eager, excitable park visitors. The rest of the date went by smoothly and without a hitch, as not one soul in the whole amusement park was afraid of the dopey, lovesick skeleton monster, utterly smitten with his seemingly delicate, human girlfriend.

~~~

After much discussion and many rejected ideas, Blue and Sapphire had eventually decided to go to the cinema, to watch the latest sci-fi film Sans had been eager to see, given both his fascination with space, and the film’s many positive reviews. With it being Valentine’s Day, most people had elected to watch romantic movies, therefore the auditorium was almost deserted, save for Sans and Frisk themselves, allowing the excited skeleton monster the luxury of being as noisy and vocal as he pleased.

Throughout the entire runtime of the film, Sans’s gaze remained glued to the screen, his running commentary echoing loudly in the vast, dark, near empty room, his enjoyment of the movie plain to see (and hear). By contrast, Frisk’s own gaze was firmly fixed on her boyfriend’s excited face, more than content to watch the play of emotions on his skull, and listen to his exclamations of amazement, or his complaints regarding the scientific inaccuracies portrayed in the film. She was also more than happy with her caramel-covered popcorn, digging into her large bucket periodically, and pouting sadly when she’d finished it all, to which Sans instantly gave her his own bucket (having gotten the same as her, in anticipation of this moment), much to her delight.

At the end of the movie, as the credits rolled, Sans turned to Frisk, almost bouncing in his seat, and continuing to voice his opinion, whether it was praise for the visuals and the action, or criticism of the pacing and characters. Frisk smiled indulgently at her boyfriend’s impassioned rant, leaning her head on her hand, her elbow propped on her seat’s armrest.

“I’m glad you liked the film, despite its flaws.”

Sans beamed brightly at her, blue, star-shaped eyelights glowing in the dim light of the auditorium.

“MWEH HEH HEH! SO AM I! I SHALL DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE TO THE OTHERS, I’M SURE THEY’LL ENJOY IT TOO!” then he paused, frowning lightly, “WELL, MAYBE NOT RED, BLACK AND EDGE. THOSE THREE GRUMPS DON’T SEEM TO ENJOY ANYTHING. OR, AT LEAST NOT ANYTHING GOOD.”

Sans stuck his tongue out, grimacing at his and his brother’s alternate selves’ poor tastes. Frisk giggled lightly. At the sound, Sans perked up again and leaned forward.

“NEVERMIND THOSE GUYS, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE MOVIE, PRINCESS?” Sans asked, his grin wide and enthusiastic.

Caught off guard, Frisk faltered, hesitating as she struggled to come up with an answer.

“Um, uh, well… it… it was all right?… I suppose…? And the popcorn was delicious,” she shrugged helplessly.

Sans blinked at her halting response, an uncertain look crossing his face.

“YOU… SUPPOSE? DID YOU NOT ENJOY THE MOVIE?” his browbones furrowed in worry, his previous excitement dissipating.

“No, it’s not that!” Frisk rushed to reassure him. “It’s just, well… I wasn’t really… paying all that much attention. To the film, that is. I was, uh, more preoccupied with watching your reaction, than anything else. You’re far more interesting than any film.”

Sans blushed brightly, dipping his skull in embarrassment.

“MWEH HEH HEH…” he smiled bashfully. “I’M GLAD TO HEAR THAT, SUNSHINE. BUT STILL! I WANT YOU TO ENJOY YOURSELF JUST AS MUCH AS I DO! SO NEXT TIME, WE’LL WATCH A MOVIE THAT YOU CHOOSE.”

Frisk smiled softly, a fond look on her face as she shook her head.

“No need, Sans. Let’s just go with whatever you want to watch,” she took one of his gloved hands in hers, squeezing it lightly. “All I care about is spending time with you. It really doesn’t matter to me what we do, as long as we do it together.”

Sans got a complicated look on his skull, torn between warring emotions.

“I FEEL THE SAME. I CAN HAVE FUN DOING ANYTHING IF IT’S WITH YOU!” he shot her a brief grin, squeezing her hand in return, before his expression turned serious once more. “BUT, STILL… IT MATTERS TO ME THAT WE DO SOMETHING THAT YOU ENJOY. I DON’T WANT TO BE THE ONLY ONE HAVING A GOOD TIME ON OUR DATES.”

Frisk sighed, an exasperated, yet undeniably charmed smile tugging at her lips.

“I’m serious, Sans,” she assured him, tone firm and insistent. “I really could not care less what we do on our dates. Being with you… that’s enough. It’s more than enough, honestly. Every moment I spend alone with you is… magical. Especially given how rare they are.”

Sans flinched at her last statement, wincing at how casually she’d said it.

“FRISK… I’M SO SORRY,” he gave her a guilty look, eye sockets wide and eyelights unnaturally dim. “EVER SINCE WE ARRIVED IN THIS UNIVERSE, I’VE BEEN WRAPPED UP IN HELPING TO FIX THE MACHINE AND GETTING US HOME. BUT! THAT’S NO EXCUSE FOR NEGLECTING YOU!”

Frisk leaned forward, giving him a tender kiss.

“It’s fine, Sans, I know how important your task is,” she smiled warmly at him. “And I’m not mad or upset or anything; I’m not a child, no matter what my parents say. And you’re a busy monster with a lot of vital work to do. I get it. You do what you have to do, okay? Don’t worry about me, I’m fine, really. I’ll be patient, I understand, just like back home.”

“WAIT, ‘JUST LIKE BACK HOME’?” Sans’s eye sockets widened in alarm. “WERE YOU FEELING LONELY BACK HOME AS WELL?!”

Frisk recoiled with a start, squirming uncomfortably in her seat at her panicking boyfriend’s urgent enquiry.

“Well, I mean, um, a… a little?” she looked away from Sans, hunching her shoulders a little, feeling awkward. Sans’s face fell, and Frisk rushed to console him. “But it’s fine! Really! Look Sans, back home, you’re a very important monster and a lot of people rely on you, all the time. And, you’re so friendly towards everyone, and sociable, and so charming and likeable, always willing and eager to help others… You have so many friends. So, I can’t be selfish and hog all of your attention. I know that it’s wrong to keep you all to myself, when so many others need you, I know that I need to share you with everyone else. So, I’m satisfied with whatever time I get with you. I truly mean it when I say that just being with you is enough for me.”

Despite her words of reassurance and her intent to comfort him, Sans grew more and more disheartened. Frisk bit her lip at his lost, crestfallen look, unsure what to do or say to cheer him up. Dejected, Sans turned his gaze down, frowning to himself, his fists clenching, before looking up, fixing Frisk with a determined a stare.

“WELL, THAT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR ME!” he declared, startling Frisk. “I WANT MORE! LOTS MORE! MORE TIME! MORE SMILES! MORE HUGS! MORE KISSES! MORE EVERYTHING WITH YOU! AND I DON’T CARE IF I’M BEING SELFISH!”

Frisk gaped at him, a fierce blush spreading across her cheeks. Sans breathed heavily after his outburst, and took his girlfriend’s hands into his own to ground himself. After a moment, he gave her a sheepish smile.

“TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I WAS ALSO FEELING A LITTLE LONELY,” Frisk blinked in surprise at his confession. “YOU’RE A LOT MORE POPULAR THAN YOU REALISE, FRISK. A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT YOUR ATTENTION, FOR PLENTY OF REASONS, AND YOU DO SO MUCH FOR OTHERS, EVEN IF YOU WON’T ADMIT IT. THAT’S WHY, SOMETIMES, I GET A LITTLE… JEALOUS… I DON’T WANT TO ADMIT TO SOMETHING SO UNCOOL, BUT… THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I WISH YOU WOULD IGNORE EVERYONE ELSE AND JUST FOCUS ON ME…”

“Sans… I had no idea you felt that way,” Frisk laid her hand on Sans’s arm, tone gentle and sympathetic, despite her astonishment. Sans rubbed the back of his skull, letting out a quiet chuckle of embarrassment.

“I KNOW, THAT’S NOT VERY MAGNIFICENT OF ME, HEH… BUT IT’S THE TRUTH. AND IT’S ALSO WHY I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL. AND I’M SORRY I DIDN’T NOTICE IT SOONER,” then Sans drew himself up, placing one hand atop his sternum, his eyelights blazing brightly and his gaze more solemn than Frisk had ever seen him. “THEREFORE I, THE SANS-SATIONAL SANS, HEREBY PROMISE YOU, PRINCESS FRISK DREEMURR, THAT I’LL BE A MUCH MORE ATTENTIVE PARTNER IN THE FUTURE! AND! I’LL MAKE MORE TIME FOR YOU! I DON’T WANT YOU TO EVER FEEL LIKE YOU DON’T DESERVE ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY IF IT’S MY TIME AND ATTENTION! BECAUSE YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, AT ALL TIMES! YOU’RE MY SUNSHINE, FRISK. MY HEART AND SOUL ARE YOURS ALONE. SO PLEASE, BE AS SELFISH AS YOU WANT, SINCE I’M GOING TO BE MORE SELFISH TOO! BECAUSE, SUNSHINE, WHILE I LIKE SPENDING TIME WITH OTHERS, I’M THE VERY HAPPIEST I CAN BE WHEN I’M SPENDING TIME WITH YOU.”

Sans finished his speech with a bright smile, full of all of the love he felt for his girlfriend. Her face hotter than ever, Frisk threw her arms around him, burying her face in his blue bandana, trying to conceal her tears.

“… Thanks, Sans…” voice thick with emotion and muffled by his kerchief, Frisk barely withheld a sniffle. Sans happily returned her hug, his arms tightening around her as he felt his soul fluttering pleasantly.

“MWEH HEH HEH… MY PLEASURE, SUNSHINE.”

~~~

Black and Amethyst had wasted no time when deciding where to go, both immediately agreeing to visit their favourite café, now that they both finally had some time to spare. It was a small, cosy, out-of-the-way place, that catered to both humans and monsters, owned by an elderly gentleman who had devoted his youth to the pursuit of financial security, to the detriment of his social life, and who, in his twilight years, had found himself without any friends or family, and had, thus, used his pension to open up a café, in the hopes of easing his loneliness by interacting with his customers and his employees. As such, the café had an intimate, welcoming atmosphere, which had attracted many monsters.

Upon entering the establishment, Sans and Frisk were greeted by one of the servers, a spider monster, one of Muffet’s many cousins, who led them to their usual table in the corner, the one with the best vantage point of the rest of the room, and took their orders. He returned soon after, with their chosen drinks and a tray of little cakes, before sauntering off with a sly wink at the couple, promising to give them some privacy.

“THAT ONE IS IMPERTINENT AS ALWAYS,” Sans glowered at the retreating waiter’s back, raising his mug to his face to savour the rich, heady aroma of his coffee.

Frisk hummed noncommittally, peering into her own cup of hot chocolate to examine the little heart-shaped, pink and white marshmallows floating in her drink.

“The old man really went all out for Valentine’s, huh?” she cast a disparaging eye over the various pink and red, heart-shaped decorations festooned all over the café.

“HE CERTAINLY SEEMS RATHER PLEASED WITH HIS HANDIWORK,” Sans agreed, glancing at the café’s proprietor over the rim of his cup. Frisk looked towards the man as well.

“Yeah, though I doubt he’s going to be able to chat with any of his customers. Guy’s too nice and polite to play third wheel to happy couples,” she noted, taking a delicate sip of her hot chocolate. “I’m glad Greater Dog is keeping him company, at least.”

“WELL, IT’S NOT AS IF THE BIG BUFFOON CAN LOITER AROUND THE DOGI RIGHT NOW,” Sans remarked drily.

“Ugh, those two are even more sickeningly sappy than usual,” Frisk made a disgusted grimace at the very public displays of affection of the dog couple seated at a nearby table. “But, speaking of sappy,” Frisk cast a considering glance around the café, “I should take pictures of this place and post them to the Monster Embassy’s social media pages. It’s the perfect opportunity to drum up some excitement for some upcoming events I’ve got planned. Oh, and ‘encourage monster-human integration’ and ‘foster positive sentiments between our two species’, as my two other, soft-hearted selves would put it. Those two are so serious when they’re on the job. I wish they’d at least let me redecorate the office.”

Frisk sighed dramatically, bemoaning her alternate selves, Topaz and Sapphire. Sans raised a browbone at his girlfriend.

“AREN’T YOU THE ONE WHO’S ALWAYS COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW MUCH I DISCUSS WORK?” he pointed out with a wry smirk.

“Speaking of work,” Frisk carried on, nonchalantly ignoring Sans’s question, to which he let out an amused snicker. “How’s yours going? Third other me’s mentioned that the school has also gone with the Valentine’s theme, and that loads of the little brats keep trying to give her Valentine’s gifts and cards. Hah, bet Red loves that!”

Frisk giggled wickedly at the thought of a disgruntled, jealous Red. Her own Sans chuckled as well, though he sported an annoyed frown.

“INDEED. THE OAF HAS BEEN GRIPING TO ME ABOUT THIS MATTER FOR A WHILE NOW, DEMANDING THAT I DO SOMETHING TO STOP THE CHILDREN. AS IF I WOULD, EVEN IF I COULD. I AM IN CHARGE OF THE SCHOOL’S SECURITY; IT IS NOT WITHIN MY DUTIES TO POLICE THE STUDENTS’ ACTIONS, SO LONG AS THEY REMAIN HARMLESS. THAT RESPONSIBILTY FALLS TO THE TEACHERS AND SUPERVISORS, SUCH AS RED’S PARAMOUR HERSELF, WHO HAS CHOSEN TO REJECT THE OFFERINGS AND DISMISS THE MATTER ENTIRELY. AS HAVE I, WHENEVER I AM THE RECIPIENT, I ASSURE YOU MY DEAR.”

“You actually have admirers?” Frisk interrupted, barely containing her laughter.

“NUMEROUS,” Sans sniffed, holding his head high. “NOT THAT IT MATTERS. THEY ARE ALL MERELY CHILDREN, EASILY AWED BY SOMEONE AS IMPRESSIVE AS I. BESIDES, MOST OF THE OVERTURES OF AFFECTION WERE MADE TO THE QUEEN. HER MAJESTY IS, WITHOUT QUESTION, HER SCHOOL’S MOST POPULAR TEACHER.”

At the mention of the monster queen, Frisk’s expression grew cold and pained. Sensing the change in his girlfriend’s mood, and all too aware of the old hurts he’d unintentionally dug up, Sans placed a gloved hand over one of her own, squeezing it lightly. Clearing his non-existent throat, he hurriedly tried to change the subject.

“BUT ENOUGH ABOUT WORK, TODAY IS MEANT TO CELEBRATE LOVE! AND, SEEING AS WE HAVE FOUND OURSELVES IN AN… UNUSUALLY PEACEFUL UNIVERSE, WHERE MONSTER-HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS HAVE PROGRESSED TO A TRULY ASTONISHING POINT, I MUST SAY, LET US ENJOY THIS RARE CHANCE AT AN UNDISTURBED DATE.”

Shaking off her melancholy, Frisk tried to dismiss any unpleasant thoughts of the past, and focus on the new topic.

“Yeah, you’re right, this universe is a lot more peaceful and amicable towards monsters. Probably because the monsters here aren’t as violent as ours are. Their ruler didn’t instate a ‘kill or be kill’ law,” her voice became harsh and resentful at that last part, before she shrugged, purposefully casually. “So, we’d best make the most of this unexpected opportunity. Who knows for how long we’ll be able to enjoy a little peace and quiet while on a date. Or when we’ll be able to do so again, once we’re back in our own universe.”

Sans frowned at that last remark, and fell into a pensive silence. Finishing off the last of his coffee, he turned his full attention to Frisk.

“THAT TIME WILL NOT BE FAR OFF, I PROMISE YOU FRISK,” he vowed. Frisk blinked at his solemn tone and expression. “ONCE THE FOUR OF US HAVE RETURNED HOME, I WILL DEDICATE MYSELF EVEN FURTHER TO THE TASK OF BUILDING A PEACEFUL, WELCOMING WORLD FOR BOTH MONSTERS AND HUMANS, JUST LIKE WE’VE FOUND HERE. NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT THAT GOAL IS, I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THE BOND BETWEEN OUR TWO RACES HAS BEEN MENDED, AND THE TWO OF US CAN GO ON DATES LIKE THIS ONE, WITHOUT FEAR OF VIOLENCE OR HATRED, FROM EITHER MONSTERS OR HUMANS.”

Frisk’s face softened, a rare gentle smile on her lips, as she gazed with fond affection at her boyfriend.

“Then I guess I’d better step up my game as well,” she winked at Sans. “Can’t let you show me up, after all.”

“PERISH THE THOUGHT,” Sans grinned wryly. “HOWEVER! DON’T THINK THIS MEANS THAT I WILL NEGLECT MY OTHER DUTIES, TO YOU. WE ARE, AHEM, LOVERS, AND NOW THAT WE CAN FINALLY BE TOGETHER, AS A… COUPLE, I DON’T INTEND TO SLACK OFF IN THE SLIGHTEST WHEN IT COMES TO BEING AS FLAWLESS A BOYFRIEND AS I AM A SOLDIER. I WILL ENDEAVOUR TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS AWARE OF MY FEELINGS FOR YOU, AND THAT YOU ARE NEVER LONELY. MY TIME AND ATTENTION ARE YOURS, ABOVE ALL ELSE, AS ARE MY HEART AND SOUL. NEVER DOUBT THAT, FRISK.”

The human ducked her head as a fierce blush blossomed across her cheeks, torn between wanting to tease Sans for his mushy, corny words, and wanting to kiss him for being so charming and flattering her so sincerely.

“… N-Not like you to be so honest and… romantic,” she mumbled, her tone bashful.

“I CAN BE A CONSIDERATE BOYFRIEND WHEN THE TIME CALLS FOR IT!” Sans crossed his arms, posture defensive and arrogant, before deflating slightly and turning his skull away, reluctantly conceding, “THAT AND, WELL… THE MUTT MAY HAVE MENTIONED, ONCE OR TWICE, THAT YOU SEEMED A LITTLE DOWN AS OF LATE, AND THAT I SHOULD BE A BIT MORE ATTENTIVE.”

“Aw, that boy…” Frisk shook her head, a warm smile on her face. Sans definitely did not pout at his girlfriend’s obvious fondness for his little brother, platonic as their relationship was. He was not the slightest bit jealous of how effortlessly the two got along, and how lenient and protective Frisk was towards Papyrus, while she snarked and teased him constantly. Absolutely not. He was above such petty childishness.

“REGARDLESS,” he said out through gritted teeth, “I INTEND TO INCREASE MY EFFORTS TO MAKE YOU HAPPY AND I SWEAR TO TAKE YOU ON MANY MORE DATES IN THE FUTURE.”

“You better,” Frisk tried to smother her delighted smile with a mock pout, but her blush gave away her true feelings. “It’s been a nice change of pace, coming to this alternate universe, where monsters are so friendly, and the other me’s are really cool and all, but… no one can replace you. You’re still the most fun to be around, so… s-so you’d better make more time for us!”

“HEH, YOU REALLY DO SAY THE CUTEST THINGS, SOMETIMES,” Sans felt his soul flutter and, unbeknownst to him, his purple eyelights had turned into little hearts.

“Ack!” Frisk’s face exploded in a bright red blush at the adorable sight, her heart hammering in her chest.

“WHAT? WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?” Sans raised his browbone in confusion. Frisk tried to cover her burning cheeks with her hands, bowing her head to hide her embarrassment, but she couldn’t help peeking at her boyfriend’s eyelights.

“Y-You’ve got… heart eyes, again, d-dork,” her voice came out, muffled by her hands.

“WHAT?!” Sans took out his phone to confirm that his eyelights were, indeed, heart-shaped. Letting out a strangled shriek, he buried his skull in his arms. “NOT AGAIN! D-DON’T LOOK AT ME!”

With the romantic mood effectively shattered, it took a while for the couple to overcome their embarrassment and resume their date. Despite that, the tender feelings of love the two shared remained with them throughout.