"You will take them, won't you?"

". . . Ma'am, will no one else take them?"

". . ."

". . . I see. I, uh, ah geez. I'm a stickler for kids, you know? My sister had tons of them."

"I'm sorry, my friend."

"Don't sweat it, queen. They don't look so threatening wrapped in a Hello Kitty blanket, anyway."

"Hehe, they do look adorable."

". . . Hey, will this be alright for you? You're technically giving your kid away, whether they know it or not."

"It wasn't my intention, but . . . Alphys has suggested they accommodate themselves before we give them the news."

"I see. Ah, alright. I'll take them. You're okay with this?"

". . . I don't believe I'll ever be okay with this, I'm afraid. But it must be done."

"I'll take good care of them, ma'am."

"Thank you, Fran. You don't know how much that means to me."

The queen turns and walks away, not before giving the sleeping child in Fran's arms one last longing look.

.

.

I woke up to the sound of gentle tapping on a keyboard.

The noise itself sounded so familiar and soothing that any troubles that would have come to mind never stood a chance. The bed I was tucked in was nice, the comforter was large and fluffy, and I felt like I could sink into these pillows forever. My clothes weren't heavy anymore, they were soft and carried the scent of fresh cleanliness. I didn't want to open my eyes. It felt like I'd be accepting the inevitable.

"Ah, um, are you awake?"

The voice startled me, not because it was sudden, but because I knew it. I blinked awake, staring straight ahead. The overhead lights blinded me for a moment, before I saw a small, yellow lizard monster perched on a stool.

They were slouching, curled into a little yellow bouncy ball with wide frightful eyes hidden behind thick rimmed glasses. A big teal jacket was around their shoulders, with little happy face pajamas as their bottoms. I had to blink again, because I knew them.

"Oh, g-good." The lizard monster smiled happily. "You were, uh, one stage away from hypothermia. N-Not that Undyne took her time getting you here, or anything. It happens."

"Oh." I breathed. "Okay."

She paused, pushing her glasses up her snout, "Uh, why were you out in the, um, rain?"

". . ."

I exhaled, staring down at my hands. They were paler than usual, but my stomach twisted itself into knots. I didn't know those hands anymore. They weren't mine.

"Doctor Alphys." I said.

She started. "Oh! Um, it seems you already know my name. T-That's okay? I didn't think I was so p-popular."

"Doctor Alphys." I repeated, meeting her gaze. "Why did you make me a body?"

Her face went slack. She glanced around, desperately not looking at me, a slight tremble in her shoulders. She bit her lip.

"Th-They didn't tell me you knew . . ."

"I don't." I told her quietly, burying myself into the blankets more. "I don't know anything."

"Oh. Um, am I still talking to, uh, Leo? Or . . .?"

The question was cautious and I had the feeling she was afraid. The thought had me choking on a giggle, unable to help myself at the hilarity and stupidity of it all. It was downright sickening.

"Who knows?" I covered my head with the blanket. "Whoever it is, they're just a big fake freak."

"Uh . . . Chara?"

The name sent shivers down my back. The memories creeped up like a bad omen, grinning a smile that bled blood. I viciously shoved them away, becoming desperately afraid. The line between two people was being crushed and I couldn't find who was who in the madness.

I am Leo, I thought helplessly, but I'm also Chara.

"No." I told her, my voice hitching. "I don't want to be her."

". . . Th-Then, will it be alright if I call you Leo?"

I closed my eyes and said, "I don't know who that is anymore."

"I see."

She was silent for a while, and I got the sense she was fidgeting. Her chair creaked and then I felt a weight on the bed. She was sitting there, awkwardly tapping her feet on the tiled floor. She cleared her throat.

"Do, uh, you want to talk about it? I'm not v-very good at comforting people, but," I got the impression she was smiling, "I can give some advice."

"Shoot." I grumbled. "All along I've been getting the best advice in the world from my killer. I think your advice might just be the grace of god."

She actually laughed, however weak it was, "O-Oh, that Sans. He's been giving you a hard time?"

"No one knows."

She went silent.

I peeked above the covers, noticing her slightly alarmed look, "Uh, that's okay. I won't tell, if you don't want me to."

My eyes widened. There she was, awkward and out of place, but offering me something that seems almost criminal. Like she wasn't harboring a manic. Like I hadn't killed her before.

She jumped, "Ah! I d-didn't mean to make you cry! Here, I'll put on my f-favorite show. You might like it, it calms me down a lot."

I hardly even realizing I was crying until I sniffled, feeling the hot tears down my cheeks. I rubbed them away with the motivation of a rock, feeling drained. Alphys had sprinted for her computer, coming back and nearly pile driving the bed. She made herself comfortable next to me and hastily played whatever was open on her browser.

I had never seen anime before, only briefly from some classmates. The animation had me furrowing my eyebrows in confusion.

"Is the cat ears really necessary?"

Alphys tapped my leg with her foot, an impatient reprimand for interrupting. Her head was bobbing excitedly, "Don't worry! It gets better. The pilot episode is always terrible."

I couldn't help the bark of laughter, propping myself up and deciding to tolerate what was being thrown at me. The first episode wasn't bad, but the general summary was a girl with the power to make anyone fall in love with her with a single kiss. Apparently it got much more in depth, according to Alphys.

"S-See." She giggled as we pulled up episode two. "Mew Mew Kissy Cutie is the best. Seeing her solve her problems, despite how ridiculous it becomes, is really inspiring! She's my idol."

I grinned lazily, watching the cat girl struggle to fend off her enchanted best friend, "I get it. It's funny. Thanks, Alphys. This, uh . . . this just means a lot."

She practically beamed, the sun rays in the background and everything, "Thank you! Oh my gosh, we can hang out all the time. I have all four seasons, and, and, and I know all the head cannons and theories and there's so much detail-"

"I get it." I snickered, burying my head in the pillow from her onslaught. "I get it."

Before she could respond, the door the room flew open with an excited yell. I peered up over Alphys, not surprised to find a familiar red haired fish lady. She was wearing a large, almost two times her size, white winter coat with camo cargo pants. She almost looked ready to take over Russia with the way she was dressed. In her arms and above her head was a pile of logs that seemed inhumanly possible to carry.

"Hahaha!" She roared. "Catch dweebs!"

"Undyne, no!"

The logs were airborne, but luckily landed safely on the other side of the bed. That still didn't stop me from shrieking like a girl. They looked like they could cut me in half.

"Nyaaah!" Undyne made a show of jumping on Alphys desk. "What's with this sleeping in bed business? You two are being lazy!"

"Uh, um, Leo just wanted to know what anime was." Alphys defended, sending Undyne a look. The fish got the message and sheepishly got off the desk. Two seconds later she was leaning over me ominously.

"You," She said, "Don't know what anime is?"

I mutely shook my head, beyond words at this point.

That seemed to be the final straw as I was forcefully moved to the other side of the bed, "Scooch the booty! We're having a marathon! Babycakes, get the popcorn. We're going all in!"

Alphys saluted with a sudden adrenaline, nearly skipping around the room in a frenzy, "I got it ready, I got it! Move over!"

I found myself squished against Undyne, Alphys on her other side as an anime much more intense then Kissy Cutie came on. I got enraptured in some bits, and annoyed at the parts Undyne got so excited she threw me off the bed. Alphys seemed used to it, merely rushing back to stare at the computer screen in awe.

I found myself gazing at the two, one accepting and the other who likely knew but didn't give a care. Both sitting in bed with me, like an average day. Like nothing bad ever happened.

I don't want to be Chara, I thought, making myself comfortable next to Undyne, I feel like Leo is the only thing keeping me on the ground.

The thought of losing Leo was unthinkable and almost catastrophic. I didn't want to lose the half I liked better. But Chara couldn't be so bad, if Alphys still wanted to be friends? If Undyne wasn't worried about me being nestled right into her side?

They didn't care.

I felt myself grinning the largest in a while, content with things as they were.

"This is awesome." I said.

And then Undyne suplexed me into the floor.

.

.

"Kid, it's chocolate. You like chocolate?"

". . ."

"Heh. I'll take that as a yes. Let's see if they have any fudge."

". . ."

"Hm? What's up? Do you need to go to the bathroom?"

". . . Leo."

"Huh?"

"I think my name is Leo."

Fran smiles widely down at a dark haired child, who shyly looks away.

A/N

TheKursed : Muahaha. I am the master of cliffhangers. They just fall all over the place.

Cyrus67 : Waaah sorry about the short chapters. This is going to be a real short story, so I made the chapters a five page minimum so it won't end too soon. I'll try to hurry up with updates so you don't drown in salt!

DarkFoxKit : I'm glad you found this interesting!

Frisk Dreemurr : You're back! And with an army of gold stars! Everyone now wears them with pride. Except Asriel, he has standards. Thank you!