A few days had gone by since Christmas day and the reveal of Frisk's wonderful gifts for their monster friends: six kittens. It was quite a snowy day on the surface, and everyone was huddled in their homes seeking warmth from the cold, save for Sans and Papyrus who were out shopping having been used to the cold thanks to living in Snowdin Town in the Underground.

Small balls of fire magic floated in the living room where Toriel sat in a chair writing in a notebook. It was currently winter break for the children who attended the school where she taught, but it was quickly coming to a close. She had to be prepared with lesson plans for Monday.

It was difficult being a teacher sometimes, but it was still completely worth it if it meant educating and befriending the innocent youth of humanity and monsterkind alike. It was a small school she taught at for the little village she and the other monsters lived in - the village Frisk previously lived in before they climbed Mount Ebott - and the student body was very small compared to other towns and cities a few miles away. Toriel didn't mind, though. She was grateful for the help of Undyne, Alphys, and Mettaton who taught physical education, science, and electives, respectively. Toriel herself taught Monster History.

The goat monster went on with her writing and planning, stopping every once in a while to sip at a cup of buttercup tea that her ex-husband Asgore, the king of all monsters, always used to make for her. Toriel had finally decided to forgive him for his murderous acts in the Underground, but of course she had to move on from him. Asgire was find with that so long as they stayed friends.

After taking another ginger sip of the tea, Toriel turned her attention back to her work. She prepared to resume when a little white ball of fluff leaped up into her lap, startling her and causing her to yelp.

After getting over the startle, Toriel giggled sweetly before stroking her kitten's soft fur. "Well, hello there, Cinna-Scotch. I'm afraid I must tend to my lesson plans; school starts Monday."

Cinna-Scotch only seemed to cuddle up closer to the goat monster's abdomen, soothed by her gentle words in which she didn't understand. She began to purr loudly at the strokes of her new other's fuzzy white paws, her filed claws scratching and massaging her back.

Toriel only giggled a bit louder as she went to slide her paws under Cinna-Scotch. The white kitten let out a mew of protest and wriggled out from under her hands to curl up on her side, her head leaning against the chair's arm.

"Oh, Cinna-Scotch, I must work," Toriel laughed. "Come now."

The kitten refused to move from her spot, only lifting her head to lick at her chest and forepaws on occasion. She nuzzled her tiny pink nose against the goat monster's arm, demanding affection.

"Oh, I just can't say no to such a little sweetheart!" Toriel glided her hand across Cinna-Scotch's back again, causing the kitten to purr much louder. She arched her back as it was scratched and rolled over on her back when Toriel reached a paw under her to pet her chest. The kitten wrapped her forearms around her owner's fingers and began to groom her claws, purring up a storm. This made Toriel giggle louder.

"Oh, you are such a jewel," she commented lovingly. She gently lifted the kitten up into an arm and let her rest on her chest so she could plant a tender kiss on her forehead. Cinna-Scotch began rubbing her cheeks against Toriel's muzzle, causing the goat monster to grin widely as the tiny whiskers tickled her snout.

Suddenly, Toriel let out a yelp of surprise as she felt the kitten gently nip her lips. The kitten stared back at her owner with widened green eyes, startled by Toriel's outburst. Her ears tilted back to the fast-paced sound of socked feet padding against the carpet, which grew louder as someone approached. Frisk appeared in the doorway, their face filled with concern.

"Mom, are you okay?" they asked quickly. "I heard you shout."

"I'm fine, I was just startled," Toriel replied reassuringly with a sheepish smile. "Cinna-Scotch just nipped my lip, that's all."

"Awww!" Frisk cooed loudly, their face immediately lighting up. "That was a love bite!"

"A love bite?"

"Yeah! I read that cats will sometimes nip their owner's face to show they love you. Personally, I like to call them kitty kisses."

"Oh, my heavens! So Cinna-Scotch was telling me she loves me?"

"That or she wants to be left alone," Frisk giggled as they walked over to their adopted mom. "She doesn't look very irritated, so in that case it was indeed a sign that she loves you."

"Oh, cats are absolute gems!" Toriel commented with a little squeal, careful not to startle the kitten in her arms, and she kissed her head again. The kitten's purrs grew louder once again as she lay down in her arms and closed her eyes.

"By the way, aren't you supposed to be doing school planning or whatever it is teachers do?" Frisk asked.

"I was, mind you, until Lil' Miss Kitty Kiss here leaped up and bit me," Toriel teased with a playful glare at her pet, who flicked an ear dismissively in response. "Leave me to a few more minutes when her, then Ill continue."

"Okay." Frisk prepared to leave before they turned back to their adopted mother. "By the way-"

"For the last time, no, you are not excused from homework just because I'm your mother," Toriel interrupted with a good-natured growl. She giggled as Frisk playfully pouted and walked out before turning her attention back to her kitten.