A/N: No warnings, enjoy!

Chapter Two

Frisk got to know the Dreemurrs fairly well. Asriel, despite his hulking appearance, was one of the kindest people Frisk had ever met, her intuition had been spot on. He was as pure as his fur coat. He often had trouble looking her in the eye and his bashfulness always added to hers, their conversations were filled with stutters and giggles.

Her conversations with Chara were much different. They were full of silence and eye contact. He rarely made comments, but when he did Frisk was left speechless. Willfully so, she simply had nothing to say to him. He carried himself with such pride, chest forward, head up, brown locks flowing, golden highlights glowing. His red eyes reminded Frisk of the forbidden fruit.

She vowed never to be tempted.

He wasn't her type anyways.

As disgusting as having a type was.

Asgore and Toriel were as kind as their eldest son, though not always to each other. They constantly bickered, Frisk could sometimes hear them from their bedroom, loud hearty voices bouncing down the halls. Still she could tell they loved each other and she had a sense that the bickering was just how they showed it, sometimes.

Toriel was the best baker Frisk had ever met. In the three weeks she'd been there, Frisk had tasted more pies than she could imagine. Breakfast pie, blossom pie, berry pie, chocolate pie, butterscotch pie, cinnamon pie, and (a personal dislike) snail pie.

Frisk still isn't sure just why God had her fall down here, she asks him every night in her prayers. He hasn't answered, but she is beginning to think that whatever she's meant to do in this second chance… she's doing it.

All she's received are rewards. In the forms of laughter, embraces, warm meals, and hot showers.

In the form of… a family.

Frisk had never known a family, really. She'd been an orphan for as long as she could remember. A smile had broken out on her lips when she thought about the possibility of this being God's way of making up for that, a reward to her for keeping the faith despite how her life has been.

Frisk was on her tip toes, struggling to place a mug she'd just cleaned onto the top shelf of the cabinet where they belonged. She and Asriel were doing the dishes tonight, Chara was supposed to help, but like every other night he skipped out. Frisk didn't mind (much) though and Asriel wasn't the type to complain.

"Need help?"

Frisk looked over her shoulder and found Asriel looking at her with a happy expression, he was wearing a dark green sweater with a single yellow stripe, the exact same as Chara's. Frisk had learned it was custom for youth to wear stripes in the Underground, the official title of where she'd fallen. Frisk hadn't had a chance to leave the Dreemurr's home, but Toriel promised to take her shopping in a nearby town soon enough. Until then Frisk alternated between her sweater dress (conveniently striped) and Asriel's shirts as pajamas (his shirts were long enough to be dresses on her).

"Oh, uh, that would be nice, thanks." Frisk gave him the mug and he put it as well as a few others away for her.

Frisk started putting away the silverware, opened a few wrong drawers before finally finding the correct one.

"Hey Frisk," Asriel said. She mumbled 'hm?' with her back turned to him, organizing the forks, spoons, and knives

"Who is it you talk to every night, beside your bed?"

Her fingers faltered, but she giggled slightly, "God," she said.

"A god?" Asriel's voice pitched, "Which one?"

Frisk finished up and closed the drawer with her hip, leaning back against the counter and looking at Asriel.

"The only one," she said simply.

Asriel tilted his head, "The only one?" he echoed, lower part of his muzzle between his thumb and index finger.

He looked adorable with that bemused expression on his features.

Frisk stepped forward, "There is only one true God, Asriel. He may just be the culmination of every one of the gods you know… but he is very real."

"God's a he?" Asriel inquired.

Frisk paused. She'd only heard god referred to as a he, though he isn't a man per say. "I suppose it's irrelevant… though, I can't say I know really. No one can, his form is incomprehensible to minds like ours." She tapped her temple for emphasis. A variety of questions flitted over Asriel's face, but he only asked one: "What is he like, then?"

Frisk supplied an extensive list of adjectives: Kind, forgiving, merciful, strong, loving, intimidating, wondrous…

Asriel seemed amazed and somehow they had made themselves comfortable on the kitchen floor, sitting on the cool tile, across from each other. Frisk told Asriel all about God and he compared her tales to stories of the old gods of the Underground. Frisk concluded that the twelve gods were fragments of her one God, just split into simpler parts.

Asriel liked that idea.

Frisk liked it too.

It gave them a common ground.

Frisk found out that the Dreemurrs didn't actively participate with the local church, she was a little shocked, but she'd figured as much. Not once was she taken to a gathering.

"So your God… he created everything?"

"Yes," Frisk explained, "Land and sea, dark and light, man and beast-" Frisk saw hurt flash over Asriel's face. She furrowed her brows, "What is it?" She asked.

"Beast?" Asriel mumbled, head dropping slightly, Frisk could see his horns better at this angle and found herself more confused as to why he was offended.

"Do you… see a beast when you look at me, Frisk?"

Frisk's eyes widened. She shook her head vigorously, waves of hair flying. Without thinking, Frisk leaned forward and pressed a hand onto Asriel's knee. He was like a furnace.

"No! Absolutely not! I will admit… I was frightened when I first met you…" that didn't seem to make him feel better, Frisk spoke quickly. "But… when I look at you, I just see Asriel. Not a beast. You're kind, kinder than many humans I've met…"

He looked up and Frisk smiled. Her smile twitched as his hand covered hers. Frisk began blushing furiously.

"I think you're kind too, Frisk. And, uh—" He glanced to the side, "—very pretty. Prettier than Chara, too."

Frisk laughed at that, head falling back. She laughed so hard that tears came to her eyes. Chara often prided himself on his looks, he was in the mirror at the end of the hall very often, far more than Frisk.

She heard Asriel laughing along with her and when she reopened her eyes, she found him gazing at her with a cordial green gaze. "Thank you…" She said.

It was double sided though.

Frisk was also thanking God.

She thanked him for bringing such an amazing person into her life.

x-X-x

The Dreemurr home was much bigger than it appeared on the outside and oftentimes it felt huge because Toriel and Asgore were constantly away. Frisk still wasn't sure what it was they did. Frisk was given bed in the guest room, right across from Asriel and Chara's room. She found it cute that they shared a room; Asriel had been embarrassed about it, especially since the walls were covered in childhood drawings.

"Check out this one!" Chara laughed, untacking a paper from its spot on the wall. Frisk honestly wasn't sure what she was looking at, but there was an arrow that pointed to it labeling the blob of gray and orange 'mom.'

"Chara! Don't show her that!" Asriel said.

Frisk laughed and took the paper from the younger Dreemurr, chuckling with him. Their fingers brushed, she hardly noticed.

"Frisk!" Asriel exclaimed from the other side of the room, "It's bad, I know."

It was even worse up close, if she were being honest. "What's all the orange?" Frisk asked, walking away from Chara to sit by Asriel on his bed.

"It's probably Ma's magic," Chara supplied, leaning back against the desk across from his bed, legs crossed, arms folded.

"Magic?" Frisk asked. She saw Asriel nod beside her. "Monsters are made of magic and they use it to do some pretty cool stuff. Ma's manifests itself in fire, so does my Dad's… Though he can enchant objects too," Asriel said. He leaned towards Frisk and she felt his shoulder against hers, for a second her entire right side was on overheated. He circled the orange area with a claw, "That's what all the orange is… Hah… fire, y'know?"

Frisk was hardly listening, she leaned against him slightly and (in the most subtle way she could) smelled him. He smelled like cinnamon and soap. "Can you… do magic?" She asked, batting her lashes a bit.

Chara scoffed loudly. "He just said—"

"Chara…" Asriel chided, smiling at his brother happily, "This stuff is confusing, I don't mind explaining it, really. Remember when Ma and Dad taught you all about it?"

Chara rolled his eyes and Frisk smirked, quickly dropping it when Asriel turned back towards her. She stared at his teeth as he spoke, wondering how they would feel on her skin.

She didn't pinch herself though, quickly distracted by the bright display of white fire in Asriel's large palm. Frisk squeaked and backed away. Asriel's boisterous laugh was music to her ears, "It's not too scary, I hope?"

Frisk relaxed and shook her head, "It's not, no. I was just surprised."

"He counted to three," Chara stated from across the room, he was lounged across his bed now, reading quietly. Frisk's eyes widened—had he? She shot Chara a 'butt out' expression and turned back to the bright white flame, a small prism of colors seemed to dance deep inside.

"My parents aren't really sure what to call it yet, it's still fire magic, but it's not hot, see?" He nudged the flame towards Frisk and she hesitantly poked it. It didn't feel like much, though it tingled slightly. "It's like light," She stated.

The flame vanished and Asriel grinned, "Like sunlight?"

Frisk basked in the rays of his smile and nodded slowly.

"Yeah, just like sunlight," she said. Her heart was thumping in her chest.

Three knocks on the door sent both Frisk and Asriel into a panic. She heard Chara groan and then move to the door, opening it, "Hey, Ma."

"What's going on in here?" Toriel inquired. Frisk saw the top of her white furry head peeking through the door, over Chara. She smiled, "Did you show Frisk the new joke book I bought?"

Asriel was the one groaning now, "Mom, no one likes those stupid jokes…"

Toriel giggled, "I very much disagree! A dear friend of mine recommended it—"

"Mom!" Both Chara and Asriel exclaimed in unison.

"I think jokes are nice, actually," Frisk said in a small voice.

Both Asriel and Chara looked at the girl, who reflexively stared at her lap.

"Where's the book?" Chara asked.

"I guess they aren't that stupid," Asriel said in agreement.

Toriel giggled and shook her head, eyelids lowering knowingly. "I'll fetch it from the shelf after dinner, how about you all set the table, hm?"

"Sure thing, Ma," Chara said as he moved away from the door. Toriel smiled, looking the three over before leaving the room. Frisk heard Asgore yell something at her and she shouted back. She heard them laugh too.

Their marriage was so strange to her.

"Alright," Chara began once Toriel's footsteps retreated, "have fun setting the table and all that-"

"Really?" Frisk interrupted. She noticed Asriel's green eyes widening.

"Really… what?" Chara challenged, hand on the door knob. He cocked up and brow and tilted his head, silky short hair moving with him.

Frisk sighed, simmering slightly before speaking again in a calmer tone. "Come help us with the table. Please?"

Chara stared at her with a blank expression, his red eyes looking to Frisk, then to Asriel. "Us?" he said. He gave a half-wave and opened the door before leaving out of it.

Frisk grumbled and laid back on the bed. She took Asriel's pillow and shoved it over her face. She screamed words into it.

"What?" Asriel said, falling down beside her, laid on his side, head resting on the palm of his hand.

Frisk brought the pillow away from her face and looked over at Asriel, his nose much closer to hers than she realized. "I said he's such a brat!" Frisk exclaimed.

Asriel laughed, it was deep, she could tell the sounds barreled right from his chest. His broad, muscular chest. She swallowed.

"You know… come to think of it," Asriel mumbled, "He totally is a brat."

He looked at Frisk and she stared at him.

They both burst into giggles.

Frisk felt Asriel's dull claw poke at her side and she squealed, curling away from it.

She loved the way he smiled at her.

"We'd better go set the table anyways before my mom barbecues us." He sat up and then stood, reaching a large hand out to Frisk. She took it, fingers curling around his. He pulled her to her feet.

She hesitantly let go of his hand as the made their way to the dinner table.

Frisk was good with chores. She had to do them constantly at her old home, though she'd never thought of the orphanage as a home. She scrubbed floors, wiped down baths, cleaned dishes, washed laundry, made beds, and most frequently, her and the others set the long dining room tables.

Doing simple chores in the Dreemurr home were a breeze compared to that.

Chara didn't vacate the premises, surprisingly. He simply watched Asriel and Frisk set the table from Toriel's comfy reading chair. Frisk could feel his eyes burning on her back and she constantly threw glares over her shoulder.

She could hear his airy chuckles right in her ear, like she were perfectly attuned for them.

Toriel and Asgore sat at the ends of the table. Chara and Asriel sat beside each other and Frisk sat across from them, alone. Frisk was surprised they weren't having pie. Toriel had whisked the cover off of the container and revealed: three enormous snails. Her face scrunched up and she decided maybe the garden salad wouldn't be the worst main course in the world.

"Hand over your plate, Frisk. I'll serve you."

Her brow twitched, she met Chara's dark red eyes. "O-Oh, uh…" She looked around, everyone's eyes were on her expectantly. She cleared her throat, "How kind of you," her voice was lame. Asriel stifled laughter and Chara's grin grew. She handed over her plate. She watched his hands as he lifted the knife. She jumped, knees bumping the table as he cut into the cooked snail with ease, tip of the knife clinking the tray from the bottom of the escargot.

"Frisk?" Asriel asked, tilting his head.

She blinked a few times. She smiled. "Hah, sorry about that…" She looked at Chara, who was still putting pieces of snail onto her plate. She watched the greyish meat slide off the knife and fall onto her plate, metal dripping. Her mouth went dry. "Uh, may I be excused from the table? Bathroom."

Asgore and Toriel lifted their brows. "There's no need to ask, Frisk," Asgore said. "Go on, dear," said Toriel.

Frisk scooted back from the table and quickly made her way down the hall, her hair blowing behind her shoulders. Frisk closed the bathroom door behind her and exhaled shakily.

What is going on with me?

All she could think about was the closet in Asriel and Chara's room. Being inside of that closet. She turned on the faucet and splashed her face with water, then washed her hands a second time, just to busy herself. She glanced at her reflection and smiled a little.

She'd never seen herself looking this healthy.

Asriel was before her when she opened the door, fist raised as if he were about to knock. He dropped his hand and scratched the back of his neck, "Ah, sorry… I just wanted to see if, uh… You were…"

"I'm okay," Frisk said. She smiled at him, forgetting her little moment. "I'm okay now."

They returned to the table together. Her eyes were glued to Asriel's back. The shirt he was wearing was almost too tight, she could see the divots the muscles of his back made, his broad shoulder stretched the yellow fabric. She pinched her inner thigh, she shouldn't think about her nails dragging down the soft fur there.

Disgusting, disgusting…

Frisk noticed the frown on Chara's face when her and Asriel sat down. She tried not to. The plate wasn't solely snail, like she believed Chara would make it (just to grate her nerves). In fact, it was portioned perfectly. A wave of nostalgia hit Frisk when she looked at the salad. There were seeds and strawberries mixed into the greens.

Frisk prayed over her food quickly, then dug into the salad first and grinned, cheeks full of fresh leafy greens. "This is… delicious!" Frisk exclaimed after swallowing.

"Chara said you would like it," Toriel chimed, "He recommended it! Fruit in a salad? I thought the idea was a bit silly, but," She took a bite and chewed, "It's delectable!"

Frisk raised a brow and looked to Chara. He shrugged, "You liked this type of thing on the surface, right?"

Asriel looked to Frisk too.

"Yeah, I really did…" She said.

How did you know that? She thought, asking Chara with her eyes. She saw him grin a little.

The rest of dinner went without any strange incidents. The entire Dreemurr family was chatting and Frisk was too. Asriel and Chara's eyes sparkled when Toriel brought chocolate pie to the table for dessert. Frisk wasn't too fond of chocolate, it was a bit heavy, but a small slice was perfect to sate her sweet tooth.

Toriel told jokes that brought Frisk to tears. Asgore told stories that made his sons groan. Frisk loved every minute.

Then dinner ended and, much to Frisk's amusement, Toriel assigned cleanup to Chara alone. She and Asgore retired downstairs to the study they had in the basement. Frisk had never been into the basement. It looked dark… ominous.

Time worked a little differently in the Underground. There was a general consensus on when to sleep, but no actual night or day like she was used to. Just a 'lights out', whenever things got slow and sleepy.

Asriel hung back with Chara in the kitchen, telling Frisk he'd catch her later. He just needed to make sure that Chara wouldn't slack.

Frisk realized that meant Asriel would end up doing everything.

It made her smile. He was so generous and giving.

Naive.

Frisk grabbed a pen and some paper before going outside into the yard. She sat under the tree and sketched the area around her. Her hand cramped halfway through, it had been so long since she'd drawn. Even on the surface, she scarcely got to do it. The mistress found it unnecessary. Frisk reckoned the woman found Frisk unnecessary too.

She leaned her head back, she could feel the rough bark through her waves of brown hair. If only the mistress knew what God had done for her. Frisk smirked. Frisk reckoned she had a better life now than that prude ever did.

And better yet... her eyes closed.

She had Asriel.

Still, she was restless.

In the back of her mind, she feared the day his smiles wouldn't be enough. She hoped some of that boyish pureness of his would rub off on her before then; that her despicable second-nature would be smothered by his good.

She prayed that God would give her strength.

Frisk fell asleep under the tree, unaware of the youngest Dreemurr who watched her from the window. His eyes narrowed, fingers resting on the cool glass.