"A-Alphys? What happened, are you alright?" Gaster asked, kneeling down.

"I-I… I,uh, t-told my parents about… my job…" Alphys said quietly. She sniffled. "And th-they, um, c-called me a liar. W-we got in a huge fight a-and…and…" No… "And th-then they told me to leave." He wouldn't say it. "S-so I… I did. F-for good." He would not say it, she couldn't make him. "And, um… I-I don't really have anywhere else to stay…" She could not guilt him into it! "C-could I stay here with you? P-please, I know it's inconvenient, b-but you… you could cut my pay, a-and I can sleep on the couch! Please, Gaster, I-I know I'm asking a lot, but-!" He just had to look her square in the eye and not say-

"Yes, you can stay with us," Gaster said kindly. Dammit, he said it! Why did he have to be such a good person!? Alphys blinked and looked up at him. "H-huh? Th-that easily?" she asked. "Y-you agree that easily?" Yes, rub it in… "W-well…" Gaster said, standing back up and wringing his hands. "Of course. Alphys, we may not have known each other for very long, but… we have talked extensively and I consider you a friend. Well, perhaps not quite a friend just yet, but… something close to it. Very close. And besides, you did say you have no other place to go, right?" Alphys smiled brightly and threw herself around his waist. "Th-thank you! Thank you so much! I-I never expected a yes to sleeping outside your house let alone in it!" she cried. Gaster blinked. Outside his house? Did… Did she have social anxiety perhaps? She'd almost have to, to think of that as barely a likely outcome.

He stood there and let her hug him silently, feeling too awkward about everything to hug back. After a while, he tapped her back. "Um, Alphys? I'm very glad you're happy, but… this is excruciatingly awkward for me." he said. "Huh? O-oh! Of course, I-I'm so sorry!" she shouted, backing away with an extremely red face. Gaster almost laughed at how red it was. Almost. "So, um… wh-where should I put this?" Alphys asked, holding up her suitcase. "The couch is fine. It is your bed now, after all," Gaster said.

"Oh, r-right," Alphys said, walking over and setting it down. Opening it, she went through it to make sure she had everything she'd need. Toothbrush, two extra outfits, notebook, spare glasses, gold coins, that book on astronomy she'd found at the dump… Yup, everything she owned was there. Everything except for her bed, of course. Or any other furniture. Maybe she should've at least grabbed a pillow and blanket, though…? Alphys shook her head and closed the suitcase. "S-so, uh, mind if we start work early?" she asked, forcing a nervous smile. Gaster blinked.

"What do you mean? Wouldn't you rather have a day off, get used to the house?" he asked. Alphys bit her lip. "I-I mean… Maybe later? Right now I'd rather do something that'll make me feel useful," she said. "Ah… Okay then. I don't mind at all, Alphys," Gaster said. Alphys smiled and followed him down to the lab. Maybe today would be a good day after all.

00~oo~00~OO~00~oo~00

Charlie heard someone shout something before thudding up the stairs. He froze when someone grabbed the doorknob, but they quickly left and went into the next room. Papyrus's room. He wasn't entirely sure if this was better or not until Papyrus shouted, "UNDYNE!" Charlie grimaced a little, but he relaxed. Charlie hadn't gotten another chance to see the young skeleton since the incident in Waterfall, but because his bedroom was directly beside Gaster's he heard him quite often talking to himself. It was actually a bit sad sometimes, hearing the kid all alone, but he loved when Papyrus got really excited about something. He loved hearing him happy. And he loved when Undyne came over because he could hear that happiness all the way from downstairs. Charlie shook his head and tried to focus on the biology book he'd picked out earlier. Emphasis on tried. Papyrus and Undyne were both naturally very loud and he couldn't help but be distracted.

"Undyne, where were you!? I got really worried!"

"I know, and I'm sorry, Pap. It's just… somethin' came up with my brother."

"W… What happened? Is he alright?"

"Yeah, he's fine, it's just…" There was a long pause. "Pap, can you make me a promise?"

"Um… Sure?"

"Promise me you won't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you, okay?" Her voice dropped lower for that statement, so Charlie, curiosity piqued, quietly walked over to the wall diving the bedrooms.

"O-okay…"

"No, I gotta hear you say it. Promise me."

"…Okay, Undyne. I promise not to repeat whatever you say."

"Good…" She sounded so relieved… Charlie inched up against the wall to make sure he'd hear her. He was just making sure it was nothing terrible, like she was a murderer or anything. At least that's what he told himself. He didn't really believe him, though,

"W-well, um… I was getting my brother to the surface. We needed to hide his monster features so he wouldn't be attacked, so I was helping disguise him."

"W-wait… the surface? Don't you need a human soul to get up there?" Another pause as a chill runs down Charlie's spine.

"How did you know that?"

"My dad owns lots of books. Sometimes when I'm real bored I'll read some of 'em."

"Oh." Yet another pause. "W-well, uh, yeah, Pap. You're right."

"Then how did he get to the surface?" Again, silence.

"Pap… I-I can't tell you that."

"Huh? But I just promised-!"

"I know, but that was just so my bro and I won't be battered with questions. I'm sorry, but-"

"Please, Undyne! I really really really wanna know and I swear I won't tell anyone else! Pretty please?" There was a long pause before Undyne sighed.

"Fine, I'll tell you. But if you don't keep that swear, we can't be friends anymore, got it?"

"I would never do anything so vile!" Charlie could practically see his hero-esque pose as he said that and smirked. Undyne actually chuckled slightly.

"Okay then. Let's start with some basic-knowledge questions, just to make sure you'll understand everything I'm about to tell you…"

Finally, the suspense part of my categories! Out of curiosity, what do you guys think Undyne's going to say? I may or may not say whether or not any of the ideas are correct… *wiggles eyebrows to entice you* *ahem* Anyway, hope you enjoyed the other half of this update! And I hope to see you for the next one, too! Which will hopefully be tomorrow, but that depends. My parents are trying to talk me into digging through my closet if I'm feeling better… Ugh, I haven't touched that thing in years… I wonder how many cobwebs there are now… I'll just try not to think about that and start on chapter 8 now. Bye!