Papyrus was waiting for Frisk outside your home. It had been four hours since their fight. You laughed with his eagerness. You knew that until then he'd already borrowed a date guide from the Librarby and read it. After he informed Frisk that he would take her somewhere he liked spending a lot of time in, you waved goodbye giggling. Frisk was eyeing you suspiciously but she didn't suspect she'd be back in the same place in five minutes.
You laid on the couch opening the TV right as Papyrus was reaching the house and shouting proudly "MY HOUSE". You realized Frisk was having a hard time containing her laughter as she was trying to answer seriously. "That's uhm, very thoughtful of you".
They entered the living room. You pretended not to notice them, but you were certain Frisk would detect the tiny smile on your face. You had lived through this date a few more times, but you couldn't keep you amusement back at the awkwardness of the girl when your brother asked her to date in his room. "Hey Frisk how's it going?" you waved from the couch and Frisk appeared to brighten up a little.
"Long time no see, Sans" she answered with a playful tone.
"HUMAN. ARE YOU OKAY? YOU WERE WITH SANS FIVE MINUTES AGO"
"Yes, but I've been feeling bonely during this time" she said blinking to you and you tried hard not to laugh when your brother threw his hands on the air.
"OH MY GOD SANS YOU ARE CORRUPTING THE HUMAN".
"No, she's just humerous" you said and Frisk chuckled while Papyrus was hitting his leg on the floor.
It was nice. Just like the old times.
Frisk looked around the living room and kitchen, asking about everything she saw. She petted your pet rock, browsed your physics and jokes books and then informed Papyrus she was ready to have their date. "Have an ice time" you shouted as they were climbing the stairs and Papyrus shot you a murderous glance.
You teleported in your room and placed you skull on the wall which separated your brother's room and your own. You always had fun spying on them during their date. It didn't make much of a difference anyway, since your brother's voice sounded loud and clear all the way to the living room. But it was fun hearing Frisk try to compliment Papyrus's look or gulping at the terrible taste of his pasta.
You leaned against the wall. These moments… that was what kept you going on. Daily things, as your brother's enthusiasm about entering the Royal Guard or his cute friendship with Frisk. Joking with them, eating horrible pasta in front of the TV. Building gigantic snowmen outside your house. If it weren't for these moments, you would've given up long ago.
Before Frisk fell in the Underground, you thought life was worthless. Flowey had reset so many times, you'd lost the count. You had fought him so many times, you finally gave up. Using laziness as an excuse, you gave up on everything except your brother and the old lady. Then, Frisk came and changed everything. Suddenly, you cared. You wanted to make her happy any way you could. She made you happy again.
"PLEASE HUMAN, DON'T CRY BECAUSE I WON'T KISS YOU, BECAUSE… I DON'T EVEN HAVE LIPS" your brother shouted. You did hear Frisk taking in a deep breath, but it was probably because she was trying very hard not to laugh. Anyway, that was your cue to teleport back in the living room. You sat on the couch in front of the open TV and didn't even blink when Frisk and Papyrus descended the stairs.
"Did you have a nice time?" you asked, too innocently. Frisk raised her eyebrow suspiciously at your tone.
"SANS THE HUMAN AND I HAVE DECIDED WE ARE NOT MEANT TO BE ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED. BUT I HAVE PROMISED TO HELP HER SETTLE FOR SECOND BEST"
For some reason, that seemed really amusing to you. During Frisk's last timeline, your brother always managed to leave you two alone or make you do things together. It was pretty funny. And, actually, convenient too.
"That's nice of you buddy. Anyone in mind?". You noticed Frisk avert her eyes from you. Her cheeks had an adorable shade of pink.
"I DO ACTUALLY. JUST WAIT AND SEE". You smiled. You knew exactly who he had in mind.
"Well, I guess I should go" Frisk said, heading to the door. "Thank you for your hospitality.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING, HUMAN? YOU ARE STAYING FOR DINNER"
"I am… what?"
"YOU ARE STAYING FOR DINNER. I HAVE PLANS"
Frisk looked at you for a second, but turned her head away when she caught you noticing her reactions. "Well… I guess… I'd like to stay if it isn't a big deal". She was looking at you when she said this. You couldn't stop yourself from grinning.
"Not a big deal at all, kid". She smiled back.
"Then, I'd be happy to. Hey Paps, since you like spaghetti so much, I remember this awesome recipe… Not sure why this is one of the few things I actually recall clearly, but it is really good. Do you want me to show you?"
"OF COURSE HUMAN. THE GREAT PAPYRUS IS ALWAYS OPEN TO NEW SPAGHETTI RECIPES"
She gave him a quick hug and headed to the kitchen, Papyrus following closely behind her. You sighed with satisfaction. You hadn't done that in quite a lot of time. During other timelines, you used to gather at your house with Undyne and Alphys every two nights and watch Alphys's favorite anime. Papyrus would cook and Undyne would… well, usually break something. You would tell awful puns and Frisk would try to compete with you about whose jokes were better. It was good.
"SANS COME HERE, DINNER IS READY" Papyrus shouted after a while. You didn't teleport this time. You avoided showing Frisk your teleportation skills. People tended to be a little afraid of you when you revealed some of your powers.
The kitchen actually smelled nice for a change. The food looked very good, too. Frisk had never cooked for you before. Papyrus insisted that you two sat and then served you. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something.
"OH DEAR! I HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. EXCUSE ME" he said and leapt through the window, shattering it to pieces. Very smooth Papyrus, thanks, you thought. Frisk was speechless. She kept looking from the window to you back and forth, her lips forming a perfect O. You couldn't keep yourself, you burst into laughter. The situation was too ridiculous.
"Does he do that often?" she managed to ask after a while. You thought about Undyne's window. He had broken that in a few timelines.
"Sometimes" you answered honestly. She goggled her eyes but didn't seem to find anything to say. "So… I guess it's just the two of us. I you don't mind". You actually felt you were sweating as she was thinking about the answer.
"No… No I don't". Her cheeks were pink again.
You chatted casually as you ate your dinner. The spaghetti was pretty damn good. You commented her on her cooking skills and she was rather pleased by it. She asked you about your relationship with Papyrus and you were more than happy to tell her. You felt very relaxed talking to her, which was weird to you. Usually when Frisk reset you felt awkward trying to reestablish your friendship, feeling you were dealing with a completely different person each time. But you were actually cool this time around, talking about stupid things and loving making her laugh.
It's because she came back for me, you understood. After the fight with Chara inside her mind, when she managed to win and come back because of you, you felt surer about your relationship with her and you were certain about how much you cared for her this time. No going back now- you had admitted to yourself you would do anything to make her happy.
But the night was over too quickly. Would you ever get bored of looking into her brown eyes, watching as they lighted up by a joke you told her? You didn't think so. She stood by the door for a while, chatting for a while longer. "I should go. It's late, I don't want to bother you".
"Goodnight, Frisk" you whispered. She smiled.
"Goodnight, Sans"
She turned your back to you. Memories hit you- her body laying cold on the floor of the judgment room, her eyes full of tears as she was dying, you begging her to come back. Life was too… short. Happy memories were precious. You should make them while you had time. Because there was someone planning to take this happiness away again. You grabbed her hand before she exited the door. "Wait, Frisk". Your voice was low. You knew she could hear the pain in it as well. She turned to you again, her eyes full of worry.
"What's wrong?". You tightened your grip on her arm. You just couldn't let her go. Not yet. You just needed… five more minutes.
"Stay with me. Don't… Don't go yet".
You were too embarrassed to look her in the eyes. You preferred facing the floor instead. But she raised your chin gently and stared into your eyesockets. Her gaze was so warm and thoughtful. Full of kindness and… love? You didn't know. You could just hope.
She smiled. "I will stay".
