"H-hello?" I asked, seeing if anyone answered back. The only response I got was the echoing of my voice. Darkness was the only thing I could see, which made me wonder where I was. I looked behind me and saw a figure in the distance, surrounded by the vast blackness. My footsteps echoed as I started the trek towards the mysterious figure. As I moved closer, I realized that the figure was a woman. Even closer, I noticed that she had light brown hair, that went down to the middle of her back, hazel eyes, and she was wearing a white gown. My eyes widened as recognition overcame my senses.

"M-mom?" I saw her smile and open her arms to me, seeming to want a hug. I ran to her, wrapping my arms around her. I never wanted to let go, I wanted to be happy again. Happy with her.

"I love you, Charley." I heard her soft, angelic voice tell me. All of a sudden, her body started turning to dust. Her legs started turning to dust, blowing away like there was a large gust of wind. I looked at her with a look of shock and horror, to only see that she only had a calm smile.

"It's okay, my son. I will always be with you," she said, not even worrying that her body was slowly blowing away.

"No, I don't want to lose you again! Please!" I tried to hug her tighter, but she was ashes up to her waist now, slowly getting higher by the second. Tears started flowing down my cheeks, I finally let my bottled up emotions go. Before she completely turned to dust, she planted a kiss on my forehead, wrapping her arms around me. I felt her arms dissipate, the dust of her once solid body getting all over my shirt. I looked down at my hands, which were covered with the grayish substance. I balled my fists in sorrow and anger, upset that my only happiness was taken from me, tears were still flowing down my face.

"Why? Why? WHY?"

...

I shot up, my eyes trying to adjust to the darkness of the room I was in. I was drenched in sweat, tear stains were on my face. Panic started to rise up on me, not remembering where I was at first. I calmed myself, the memories of the previous night flooded my mind. I ran away. I ran away from him. I escaped that hellhole of a place, but now I'm the burden of two more people. 'How can you be so selfish?' I mentally scolded myself. 'You just made yourself at home in these nice skeletons' house, and you didn't even bother to thank them. You're a horrible person.' I was too busy scolding myself that I didn't notice a certain short skeleton come into the room.

"Hey kid, you okay? You look like something 'rattled your bones'." He gave me a smirk, to which I responded with a sad smile and a chuckle.

"Y-yeah, I'm good." My smile soon faltered, my previous mental scolding coming into mind once more. "Thanks for helping me, but I think I should get going. I've bothered you two more than enough." I said, standing up. I pulled out my small flip phone to check the time, which read 7:35 am.

"You weren't bothering us, kiddo. But, if you need to go, I guess I'll see you around." Sans told me as he held out his hand. I gave him a smile and shook his outstretched appendage. I grabbed my backpack from the couch, carelessly swinging it over my shoulder. I walked to the door and opened it, feeling the cool, early morning air hit me. I closed the door back up, shivering at the temperature change. I reached the sidewalk and started walking, not too sure on where I wanted to go, or where I could go.

3 Days Later...

[Sans' POV]

I haven't seen that kid since he came to our house a few days ago. Papyrus said that his name was Charley, which was nice to know, since he didn't tell me. Papyrus got worried when he didn't see Charley the next morning. He said that he wanted to make another friend, but now he couldn't. I told him that we'll see him again, and that he shouldn't worry. I worry about that kid. I could see a lot of hidden pain behind those hazel eyes of his. Not to mention how he had that nightmare when he was on the couch. He kept talking in his sleep about his mom, and yelling why. I wanted to ask him about it, but he seemed that he had somewhere to be. I just wonder where he is now.

"SANS! CAN YOU GO DOWN TO THE MARKET AND GET SOME MORE SPAGHETTI NOODLES?" I heard Papyrus yell from our kitchen. I groaned and sank further into the couch, my famous laziness taking over me.

"Why can't you go get it, Paps?" I yelled back. Papyrus emerged from the kitchen, a white chef's hat in his head.

"BECAUSE SANS! I NEED TO TEND TO THE STOVE FOR RIGHT NOW." Papyrus crossed his arms, not seeming to be in the mood to argue with me.

"I can watch it for you, bro." I told him, hoping to get out of walking the oh so long 2 blocks to the store.

"SANS, LAST TIME I LEFT YOU ALONE WITH THE STOVE YOU ALMOST BURNT THE HOUSE DOWN!" Papyrus started tapping his foot in annoyance, which made me believe that he wasn't gonna change his mind.

"Okay, okay. I'll go. Don't get your armor in a twist." I said, getting up and stretching my bones. I opened the door and walked out, the sun beaming in the sky. Good thing I can't feel the heat, or I'd be cooking in this hoodie. I counted the cracks in the sidewalk as I walked towards the shop, taking my time. As I neared the shop, I heard someone coughing in the alleyway. Curious about who made the noise, I cautiously walked down the alley, and what I saw shocked me.

"Charley?" I asked myself, eyeing the sleeping figure next to some trashcans. 'I thought the kid had somewhere to go.' I walked up to him, quiet so I didn't wake him. He was laying on his backpack, using newspaper to cover himself up. 'Did he not have a home?' I bent down and picked him up, careful not to wake him up. I can't just leave him here. I quickly teleported home, landing in my room. I placed the kid on the bed, to which he immediately clutched the blanket that was messily put onto it. He seemed so peaceful, which I never saw him be before. Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I went downstairs to tell Papyrus the news. I saw him watching over his pot of almost completed spaghetti, tapping his foot with impatience. He turned around right as I entered the room, seeming to sense my presence.

"BROTHER! WHERE ARE THE NOODLES? I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, NEED NOODLES TO FINISH MY MASTERPIECE!" He proclaimed, seeming annoyed that I didn't get them.

"Sorry bro, but I found something that might be more important than pasta." I told him, which made his expression change right away.

"WHAT DID YOU FIND?" Papyrus asked, tilting his head in confusion.

"I found the kid, Charley, sleeping in an alleyway. I don't think he has a home. So, I brought him here." I said, the image of the poor kid laying in the alley popping up in my head once again.

"Oh dear, is he okay?" Papyrus seemed genuinely worried, quieting his tone.

"Yeah, he's fine. He's sleeping in my room now. We have to be quiet, okay Paps?" I told him, the kid needed his rest. Who knows what he's been through. Papyrus nodded, but seemed to just remember something.

"WHERE- er, sorry. Where are my noodles!" Papyrus asked, remembering the spaghetti pot on the stove.

"Don't worry, I'll go get some okay, bro." I assured him. I wanted to teleport to the store and back, but teleporting home took a lot out of me. Man, I really need to get more in shape. I sighed and started my trek towards the store again.

...[Charley's POV]...

'Why do I feel so comfortable? What am I laying on, and why is it so soft?' I asked myself. The memories of where I fell asleep came into my mind. I passed out in an alleyway near a supermarket, not caring who saw me. But, where I was at now didn't feel like the cold hard ground I was asleep on. My eyes snapped open, and I found myself in a bedroom, one that I didn't recognize. Fear and confusion was that the only emotions that registered in my mind. 'Where am I?' I asked myself, looking around. It was really messy, and I mean really messy. It looked like a sea of dirty clothes on the floor, garbage was thrown everywhere. I mean, if I was able to leave my room messy, I would. I'm not gonna judge. But right now, I was too scared out of my mind to even think straight. The door across the room opened slightly, a skeleton's head popping in. It was Sans.

"Hey kid, you're up." He said to me, fully entering the room.

"H-how did I get here?" I asked, freaked out by the fact that I got back to his house without remembering a thing.

"I brought ya here." Sans walked over and sat on the bedside, a look of worry on his face. "Why didn't you tell us you don't have a home?" My eyes widened in shock. He, this random person I met the previous night, cares about me? More than my dad ever had?

"I...didn't think you guys would, I don't know, care." I explained, confused by Sans' kindness. It was weird to receive more kindness at once than the past 8 years combined.

"Why wouldn't I care. I'm not going to let a kid live out on the streets, knowing that I could've helped." He explained to me, which surprised me even more. He cares about me, he actually does.

"Anyway, my brother made dinner if you want some." Sans asked me, to which I shook my head.

"N-no, I'm fine." I told him, still weary about the whole situation. He nodded his head and stood up, sticking his hands in his blue hoodie's pockets.

"Just tell me if you want anything, okay kiddo?" He looked at me, the pinpricks of light in his sockets looking at me.

"Okay." I nodded. Sans gave me a smile and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him, leaving me alone to my thoughts.

'Is this what I've been missing out on?'

...

~hey guys, hope you enjoyed this chapter of my story. Sorry if it took longer than usual, I have a bad habit of procrastinating...a lot. But that's besides the point. If you want me to continue, please leave any sort of feedback, as it is always appreciated. Thanks!