This thought bothered him as soon as he woke up, and stayed as he made his way downstairs. What he hadn't been expecting was the smell of something cooking, which momentarily knocked him out of his thoughts. Walking into the kitchen, he saw Gaster, with his back turned to him.
"Wha-" Sans said sleepily, unable to make a coherent sentence at the moment. However, it got Gaster's attention, and he turned around. With a smile, he said, "You're up early for once."
"What time is it?"
"About nine in the morning."
"Wow," Sans said, his voice sounding just as surprised as well. His eyes wandered to the window, and he noticed little white flakes drifting in the air. He hurried over, getting a better look outside, and saw it was snowing. Apparently the weather was now cold enough to bring in snow, but not enough to cover the ground, so the snowflakes melted as soon as they hit the grass or pavement.
"Snow shouldn't be that big of a surprise to you," Gaster said in amusement, turning back to the stove.
Sans shrugged, turning away from the window. "Never seen it up here. What does surprise me is.. you can cook?"
Gaster nodded, letting out a small laugh. "I just don't have time to, nor can I make anything overly complicated. Pancakes, however, I'd say I'm good with."
Sans let out a small noise is recognition, and finally he sat down at the table. A few moments of silence passed by, before Sans was hit with a moment of realization. "Is Pap still asleep?"
"Of course not, I don't think he can sleep past ten. He went out with Undyne after he saw the snow, saying he's going sledding. He should be coming back shortly."
Speaking of the devil, suddenly the door slammed open, and instantly the sound of yelling was able to be heard.
"I TOLD YOU WE COULDN'T!"
"IT'S BECAUSE YOU GAVE UP SO EASILY THAT WE COULDN'T!"
"PAPYRUS WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T IT'S NOT EVEN STAYING ON THE GROUND!"
"THERE MUST'VE BEEN A PERFECT SPOT-"
And on and on the shouting went, along with noises that sounded like marching upstairs, or one of them slamming their feet on the ground. Sans knew better than to think that this was actual fighting, because the two of them frequently had these sort of yelling matches whenever something didn't seem to go right for one of them. In fact, it was rather amusing, if you could get past the fact it gave you the most head splitting headache after a while of it.
Thankfully, they stopped shouting when they finally noticed the smell of food, and Papyrus dashed into the kitchen.
"Oh my gosh! Dad, you never cook!" He exclaimed, hurrying over and looking over him to the pan on the stove, and Gaster let out a light chuckle. "I have some free time today, so I decided to make breakfast."
"Pancakes?!" Undyne shouted, hurrying into the kitchen as well with a wide, toothy grin. "Can I have some?!"
Gaster nodded, and said, "Of course, I made a lot, and it would be rude to torment you with food you couldn't eat."
Sans chuckled lightly. Papyrus and Undyne got plates and filled them to the max with pancakes, drenching them in syrup and butter, quite possibly seeing who could put more of it on until the pancakes became a sloppy, sticky mess. However, before Papyrus started eating, he quickly got up, and got Sans his own plate of pancakes with a wide grin. "Oh, thanks Pap," Sans said, as he had zoned out and his mind wasn't even on the thought of eating.
"It's so rare I get to see you without a mask!" Undyne suddenly said, looking up and over at Sans as if it was the most fascinating thing ever.
"It's not that big of a deal," he said, removing the medical mask from around his ears and placed it on the table. "See? No big deal."
"Yeah, but it's rare!"
"My brother has a great smile! That's why we drew that smile on his medical mask, so he could always share it with the world even when it's on!"
Sans laughed, blushing a bit in embarrassment. Well, maybe it was a big deal to Undyne, but he couldn't see why it should be. Eventually, Gaster sat with them at the table to eat as well, and conversation broke out in between eating. Sans kept asking if he could put ketchup on the pancakes, which only grossed all of them out, but it made him laugh every time.
It was moments like these that made him feel normal. It didn't matter that he and everyone here had once been a monster. In moments like these, it was only there and now that mattered, it was only the conversation and the fear of getting syrup everywhere that mattered. Nothing else. His old memories didn't matter, his fake ones didn't matter, and for once, he felt normal.
After eating, it turned out that Gaster actually did have almost the whole day to waste at home, and after a while Alphys came knocking at their door, with Mettaton and Napsta following behind.
"Oh, this is a lovely home," Mettaton complimented as he walked in, his cousin following close behind as usual, but had nodded in agreement.
Gaster introduced himself to the cousins, not at all surprised that a famous actor had just walked into his house. Or perhaps he was surprised and was just really good at keeping quiet about it. If that were true, he should become an actor himself.
Sans was also relieved that the house was large enough to hold this many people in it at once. It was a little surprising as well, and they would've been out of luck if the house was any smaller. How was Gaster okay with this many people coming into the house like this? So far everyone had only ever came over when Gaster wasn't in the house.
It was energetic, with Papyrus and Undyne being the loudest, however sometimes Mettaton seemed as if he was challenging them because he'd get loud as well before quickly calming down. Alphys had brought a set of anime, which she so deeply loved along with Undyne, however this turned into an argument with Mettaton calling it garbage, and Sans could have sworn he saw Undyne ready to kill him. The poor guy.
After a while, Sans had to step out of the house. The energy was nice, but it was a bit too much at once, so he decided to make a trip to Grillby's. It had a calming atmosphere, and the smell was something he couldn't get enough of. It was warm, and overall just relaxed him. The sky was a dark grey, and the snow drifted downwards gracefully until it reached the ground. There was only a little covering surfaces here and there. Sans put up his hood as he began walking in order to keep out some of the cold.
Suddenly, the world around him changed. He was no longer in the small town surrounded by silent snow. Instead, it looked to be a long corridor, with him standing on one side of it, however it was a side he wasn't used to. He had just entered, and in his place where he normally stood at the far end was Frisk and the girl named Alex.
"H-Hey, what're you-"
"Just go back, Sans," said Alex, her back faced to him. Her hand was currently in one of Frisk's, who was turned to him and looking at him with a sad, almost guilty expression. "Just... Go back."
It took a moment before he could say anything, and what came out first was a nervous chuckle. "You know, if.. If you go through there... Then, Asgore.."
"I know what Asgore will do."
"Then just come back, Papyrus is-"
"Please, go back, Sans. I don't want you or Papyrus seeing this."
He took a few steps forward, and only stopped because he saw Alex finally turn around and face him, however she was refusing to look at him, at his face. "I said please. Just go."
"I don't know what you're doing, but you aren't thinking it through."
"I've had a lot of time to think things through... If you won't go back, then..."
She raised her hand, and he didn't fear her attacking him, she had no fighting stats to do so, and no magic that could be used offensively. Instead, a black, magical barrier appeared between them. Sans panicked, and ran straight to it, hitting it with his hand.
Finally, Alex looked at him, and her expression could have killed anyone. It was sad, almost pained, as she smiled at him. "I'm sorry, but I have to do this. It's the only way. Sans... I know you don't like to, but can you promise me something?" She didn't wait for a reply as she continued. "If I'm brought back, and you remember... Please... Can you find me..? I don't want to be alone again..."
He didn't know what those words meant. Brought back? What on Earth could that even mean? And if he remembered? Why wouldn't he remember, he remembered every RESET that went on, every time a new save point was loaded. He remembered everything!
Finally, after a few moments of silence, she once more turned her back to him. "Goodbye, Sans," she said, her voice sounding strong, but it was clearly fake, and without waiting for a reply once more, her and Frisk walked on.
Once more he pounded heavily on the barrier, but knew it would never break unless she made it, and he couldn't go around it because of how strong her soul was. He began shouting, hoping for a way for her to hear, to come back and forget whatever it was they were doing. It must not be a good idea if she didn't plan on coming back.
The scene changed once more, and Sans fell to his knees, panting heavily. He was shaking, as he wrapped his arms around himself tightly. Never had he had that happen while awake, and it didn't help that it was so emotionally intense. He felt like his throat was closing up, and the feeling of complete panic lingered in him, and the feeling of dread.
Now he was left with more questions. Why had she decided to go see Asgore when she knew it would only lead to her death? And after so many RESETs, it was just suddenly thrown in here, she had never had the thought or spoken about going to see Asgore, let alone leave the Ruins. She had promised Toriel and him that she wouldn't, so why would she suddenly go and do that?
Lucky for him, there was no one around at this hour, so there was no onlookers to see him and think he was completely crazy. Well, he guessed he was, but he didn't want others to think so. It was just so... strange. Why did that happen while awake? It was so vivid too, as if he had been standing there right at this moment. The person he was searching for was within reach, right there, and he cursed himself inwardly that he hadn't gone and done more to stop them. Maybe it he was just a little quicker, a little more convincing, but he was panicked and had no clue what to say or do. He didn't even know how her and the kid were able to even make it that far, since Undyne would have speared them as quick as she could to at least bring one soul to Asgore.
Nothing made sense. Sans finally stood up, collecting himself, and caught his breath. He didn't need another incident of passing out, this time in the streets while snowing. That would've looked bad, and just made everyone worry. Once more he cursed inwardly, but now at whatever anomaly that decided it'd be best to give him the poorest health they could think of without killing him. He started walking again, this time looking down and his heart feeling much heavier.
Sometimes he would think searching for this Alex person was pointless. He hadn't found her yet, so why continue? It was just so much easier for him to give up than to either not end up finding her at all, or her not knowing who he is and wanting nothing to do with him, or Papyrus. She didn't even seem sure that she was going to come back, so why bother? ... But then he saw things like this, where she just looks so pained, and sad and lonely, and he's suddenly filled with determination to find her, no matter what. He made a promise as well, and he really hated promises, but this was one he was intending on keeping, for her sake. She never said anything about her life on the surface anyways, so he didn't know what kind of situation she was in. Just maybe he'd be able to help her out, and he'd finally be able to get a good nights sleep for once.
But just maybe this is where they cut ties. Maybe it was only something that lasted in the Underground, and here she no longer needed them, if she was here. She'd be looking for them too, right? Well, if she did even remember, and if she did end up coming back with the rest of them. He'd be real mad if she didn't.
As he was walking up to a bridge that went across a small stream of water, he noticed something peculiar. There was a figure standing on the top of the flat, cement railing, wearing a hood to cover their face, or whatever could be seen. He could only see their back, and he knew they hadn't seen him, or possibly heard him either. So, quietly he walked over, confused as to why they were standing there.
And then they fell forward...
