A/N: I'm coming out and saying it now, this started as an RP. I wasn't sure if it was meant to be a genocide, but it ended up being one of the shippiest RPs I've ever done, causing me to really start shaming myself. Are ya'll ready to go on a feels trip with me? I'm gonna take you down the road I've already traveled, and I'm, as my friend puts it, going to toss your feelings into a salad... With extra dressing.
Rating: T (Shit's gonna get dark, feelsy, and just a little bit steamy.)
Word Count: 1,591
Summary: Sans was tired of going through the resets, tired of watching his brother and his friends get killed over and over, knowing he could do absolutely nothing about it. He decided he would give it one final chance, hoping - praying - he could talk some sense into her. He had never expected to fall in love with her.

The Last Timeline
Chapter 1

He didn't know what had prompted him to go to Grillby's early that day. They had played this game countless times before, and by now he had known the rules by heart. But he didn't want to play by the rules this time. The sound of snow and ice crunching under his slippers relaxed him, a sound he had grown accustomed to in his many years of living in Snowdin. His hands were shoved deep in his pockets as he walked, everything seemingly normal.

But nothing would be normal about today.

He knew that going to Grillby's an hour earlier than usual would cause him to run into her, and he knew he would take her by surprise. It had become an unspoken agreement between them to let the timelines play out the same way, the events falling back in to place each time. He knew he could just kill her and restart the timeline the moment he'd see her at the sentry station, but the strain of repeated resets on the In Between could cause a break, sucking everything into the Void. It was almost like it was a cool down period, the time before the small stretch between the Dimension and the Void would strengthen, similar to a rubber band very slowly decompressing after being stretched taught to it's limit. So, he lets her past the sentry station, if only to allow the In Between it's 'cool down period,' his only hope of her stopping this madness was everyone - anyone - else. Maybe this time, someone would be able to convince her?

But it always plays out the exact same way, everyone doing the exact same thing except for him. Chara had stopped SAVING, having memorized the patterns. He wasn't sure why she had never SAVED in the Judgement Hall, why she always forced herself upon a TRUE RESET. He had a feeling she could sense the strain against the In Between like he did, but he wasn't sure how she would know what it meant. He idly wondered if she took enjoyment in his torture, in forcing him to relive the same days, over and over.

200 some resets in, he had lost hope, in himself and in Chara. He was tired of reliving everything, though he had become numb to the feelings that had once coursed through him. He no longer mourned over his brother's dusting, no longer felt rage towards Chara, no longer felt remorse after killing the child he could just feel wasn't truly in control of herself. He wasn't going to play by the rules anymore. He was resorting his final option, playing the last card he had in his hand, and hoping it would trump hers. He would talk to her, try to understand why she was doing this. He wanted to know, truly, and he wanted to take away the pain he knew she felt. He had already decided, if he couldn't break through to her, that he'd give up entirely. Perhaps he wouldn't feel the regret and sense of failure if he was dusted.

So perhaps, he did know what had prompted him to go to Grillby's early.

Everything was the same, as it always was. Chara sat at the same stool at the bar, Grillby had told her he couldn't serve her for the same reason, the same couple was playing the same card game at the same booth. It was all the same, and it was boring. But it also almost gave her comfort, knowing that she could easily predict everyone's actions. There wouldn't be any surprises, and that was good. Chara hated surprises.

So, when the bells hanging above the door chingled at a time they never had, she could almost feel the loathing pouring out of her.

She knew only one person could alter the events of the timeline, who's behavior changed each RESET, never exactly doing or saying the same thing. So when her head whipped around towards the door, she was not at all surprised to see the short skeleton staring back at her, his grin wide and his eyesockets large. Great. Now everything was going to be different.

He had taken a seat next to her, causing her to recoil, scooting to the very edge of her seat. "Sans," she shot him a glare. "chara." he responded in the same dry tone, with a soft lilt to his voice in fake mirth.

"What are you doing? This isn't how this plays out." her voice was a low hiss, and his only reply was a shrug, taking the bottle of ketchup Grillby had passed him. "did i surprise 'ya?" she only grunted distastefully in reply, staring forward and doing her best to ignore him. "did i rattle yer bones?"

"You're not funny," is her immediate reply. He chuckled at her, taking a long sip of his ketchup, looking over at her as he did so. "you're right. i'm humerus." he winks at her, grin widening even more, if that was possible. She only narrowed her eyes at him. "Have I ever told you I hate you?" she seethed.

"loads of times. 'specially when your bleeding out in the judgement hall." it was a low blow, and he knew it, but the emotions that were running through him, he hadn't felt in a long time. For the first time in what seemed like forever, he was so unbelievably raged at her, and at the same time felt remorseful for his actions. He hadn't felt in so long, he had grown numb. The feelings that coursed through him made him feel alive again.

She grew silent, staring ahead blankly. This wasn't part of the plan, reminding her of everything that had happened in the past. That's exactly where it should stay, the past, whether or not she decides to stop the Genocide route she generated. "sorry," he murmurs, staring straight ahead. She doesn't respond, only getting up to leave. "where you goin?" he looks up at her, eyes twinkling with curiosity.

"If you're changing the timeline, then so am I." she hotly replies, walking away from the bar.

No one would care about her walking through Snowdin. Going so early meant that she wouldn't be noticed by Papyrus, which meant Undyne wouldn't be called, which meant she could go wherever she wanted. And she wanted to go to Hotland. She wanted to get out of the miserable cold. She'd take being overheated than shivering cold any day of the week. But, in all honesty, she wanted to explore the laboratory. She had been there many times, yes, but never truly got a good look around. She only saw the parts Alphys wanted her to see, and Chara knew there was more hidden rooms and trap doors. Science always had interested her, and if she was going to be handed the opportunity to change the timeline, she was going to take it.

She could tell she was being followed.

It wasn't hard to sense the presence behind her, hiding near random objects whenever she'd turn around. She knew it was Sans, and she only ignored him, hoping he would go away. He didn't. They were halfway through the cave when she'd had enough. She turned around suddenly, her arms crossed. "Are you just going to follow me everywhere I go?" No reply. She let out an exasperated sigh, her eyes scanning the musty rocks for him. "I know you're there, Sans," he sheepishly stepped out from behind a stalagmite. "Why are you stalking me?" he simply shrugs.

"you call it stalking, i call it escorting."

"Call it what you want, it's still creepy." she spat, her mood only worsening. "Why are you even following me?"

"call me curious. you said you were changing the timeline, i'd like to know how."

"You've already changed the timeline, whatever I do won't make a difference," she pointed out. "i went to grillby's an hour early, you left snowdin without killing anyone. big difference there." he retorted. She rolled her eyes, turning her back to him. She started walking again, her angry footsteps reverberating off the cave walls and ringing in her ears. Her footsteps weren't the only ones echoing, and she looked to her side, she was only half-surprised to see Sans walking with her. "Could you stop following me, please?" her voice was a mock niceness, 'please' coming out somewhat strained. "i told ya, i'm escorting ya."

She could scream. He was so annoying! She let out a frustrated growl. "Why? Wanna make sure no one hurts me so you can kill me all by yourself?" she shot him a glare, her breath coming out in angered puffs through her nose.

He faltered, looking at her with his eyes wide. "i.. no.. that's not.." he sighed. "chara, it's been completely unfair of me to ignore you. everyone has a reason for why they act, and you're no different. something happened, something you've never told anyone. i want to understand, chara, i want you to talk to me."

"No you don't. You don't care. No one does. No one ever will." they were both silent after that, neither even glancing at each other as they made their way to Hotland.