Toriel prepared the table for dinner. She looked at the window to see if Frisk was still outside, but then the door was opened. The child arrived, already giving Toriel a big smile.

"There you are." She said, smiling back. "I was busy and I haven't really seen what you have done the entire day. What did you do today?"

"Ah, y'know... I watched TV, talked to Papyrus, walked around the garden, watched the sunset..."

"You just... stayed home then?" Toriel asked.

"Yes, pretty much."

Toriel felt a bit suspicious. Frisk wasn't someone who liked to stay home the entire day, specially on weekends. They usually called some of their friends to play, or hung out with Papyrus, Undyne and Alphys. The child still seemed happy. Somehow nervous... Toriel wondered if that had to do with the supposed imaginary friend.

"Can I talk to you about something?" She asked.

"Sure, about what?" Frisk sat on an empty chair. Toriel approached the table, but didn't sit on another chair.

"Earlier today, I noticed you were talking to... someone." She said, going straight to the point.

"Really? Oh, I was... talking to myself, actually."

Toriel sighed. "Frisk, don't be ashamed of telling me. I know you weren't talking to yourself." With that, Frisk cleaned their throat, nervously. They didn't know what to say and looked at the wall. It seemed like they were waiting for an answer from... someone.

For real: what should they say? They hated to lie, specially to Toriel. She was their Goat Mom, she was the best. She didn't deserve a lie after everything she had done for the child. But Frisk knew Toriel wouldn't believe in them if they said they were talking to a real man. She would probably go along and pretend Gaster was real by thinking he was only an imaginary friend.

Frisk glanced at Gaster, who didn't say anything. Then they faced Toriel again. She held her own hands and waited for an explanation.

"Okay, I... I have made... a friend." Frisk admitted.

Toriel's concern faded a little. "Really?"

Frisk nodded, smiling nervously. "Yeah, but, uh... nobody else can see him."

"Oh. Anyway, I'm glad you have made a new friend. What's his name?"

Frisk glanced at Gaster again, looking at him like they were saying "should I reveal your name?". He responded with a sad shrug, as he knew nobody would even remember him if they heard his name.

"His name is, uh... Gaster." Frisk said. Toriel didn't seem to record this name.

"That's a nice name. Did you spend some time with him today?"

"Yes, yes, we had a lot of fun today."

Toriel smiled but sighed. After a while, she said: "You know... you shouldn't be afraid of telling me you have made a friend. I can see you are very happy with that and I'm glad for you."

Frisk looked away. "I know, sorry."

"Don't apologize... I just want you to know you can tell me anything and that you shouldn't be afraid, okay?"

The child smiled at Toriel. She was simply the best mom they could have ever asked for.

"Thanks." They said.

"Oh, you should take a shower... dinner will be ready soon."

"Okay, mom."

Toriel smiled again. Frisk smiled in return before going upstairs, arriving quickly at the bathroom. Gaster stayed in the corridor.

"I'm taking a shower, so, uh... you can watch TV with Papyrus or... maybe just wait." The child suggested. Gaster nodded in response.

Frisk closed the bathroom's door, leaving Gaster alone.

That Mettaton had an interesting design...

Gaster watched the Mettaton's TV show with Papyrus, while the skeleton didn't have any idea that his father was sitting right next to him. The robotic TV star was posing dramatically over... everything. He didn't even know what was that program about. Gaster didn't see much appeal from it, except for Mettaton's design; that robot had some nice legs... Despite the show not being that pleasant, Papyrus still enjoyed it.

"OH, HE'S SUCH A DRAMA QUEEN." Papyrus said, rolling his eyes with a smile. "BUT HIS SHOW IS THE BEST!"

Gaster chuckled. He was only watching a lousy TV show because Papyrus was happy. He liked how his son reacted to what was happening in the program.

"OH MY GOD, HE DID NOT DO THAT!" Papyrus yelled after Mettaton's grumpy assistant say something very mean. The scientist could hear Toriel giggle at Papyrus while she was making dinner. Gaster just gave him a warming smile.

"She thinks you're an imaginary friend... I'm sorry for not telling her that you're real. She wouldn't believe me..."

After dinner, Frisk and Gaster were in the child's bedroom. He didn't seem to mind about Frisk not revealing his existence to Toriel. Instead, he gave the child a small smile.

DO NOT APOLOGIZE, FRISK. I UNDERSTAND. AND... I GUESS YOU HAVE DONE THE RIGHT THING. EVEN I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW I SURVIVED A GRAVE ACCIDENT... ASIDE FROM LIVING IN ANOTHER DIMENSION. IT WOULD BE REALLY CONFUSING IF YOU TRIED TO EXPLAIN.

Frisk sighed, staying silent for a while. Then they said: "I wish I could help you get out of the Void."

I APPRECIATE IT, BUT... YOU KNOW HOW IT IS. HONESTLY, THOUGH, BEING YOUR FRIEND IS ALREADY HELPING ME. THANK YOU.

Frisk couldn't help but smile. They loved to help people.

"Thanks." They said.

The two stayed in silence for a while. Gaster looked around the room while Frisk sat on their bed, staring at their own feet. Then someone knocked on the door.

"FRISK? ARE YOU AWAKE?" Papyrus asked.

"Yes, why?"

"CAN I COME IN?"

"Sure!"

Papyrus opened the door, sneaking his head.

"I WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU'D LIKE TO, UH... WATCH CARTOONS?" He asked. "THERE'S GOING TO BE A MARATHON!"

"A marathon? Of course! I won't miss it for anything in the world!"

"GREAT! I WILL GET SOME POPCORN!"

Papyrus went downstairs. Frisk almost rushed to the stairs when they looked back at Gaster.

"You coming?" They asked.

I'D RATHER... STAY HERE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

"Oh, I don't mind at all." Frisk smiled and murmured: "I'll be back later... hopefully, I won't sleep on the couch."

Gaster smiled. HAVE FUN.

The child then ran downstairs. They could smell the popcorn coming from the kitchen.

Gaster felt like he needed some alone time. He was very thoughtful after what Frisk told him earlier - about Sans and Papyrus being sure he loved them since they were always there for him. That made sense... But Gaster didn't deserve to have wonderful sons like them.

How would they react if they saw him again? Would they be happy? Would they be sad? Or even angry? Gaster still didn't doubt that they probably hated him, but after opening up to Frisk, his view on that was changing. Slowly, but changing for the better.

Gaster really appreciated Frisk for being a great friend; they were very smart, despite still being a kid. He also appreciated the fact that Frisk trusted him enough to tell him about their past parents. He was still surprised - in a positive way - at the sudden change in his life. He made a friend and wasn't alone anymore.

He sighed happily. For the first time in forever, he didn't feel the sadness and the regret taking complete control over him anymore.

This chapter ended up being shorter than the previous ones... oh well.

What do you think about the story so far?