Chapter 10

It had been well over twelve hours since Sans left the humans to sleep. The younger of the two was up almost two hours ago, the older still blissfully in dream land. He had told the others that they were expecting a guest, but not the identity of said person. Frisk was the one who told them it was their and Selenia's mother.

Mettaton had only been online for a while again as well, with an upgraded battery and had been fawning over the poor kid since they woke up. They were taking the attention in stride though, happily talking with the star. Papyrus and Undyne were off making everyone breakfast and Alphys was working on getting the Amalgamates home. The only one missing from the excitement was the older human, and the short skeleton was starting to worry about her.

He started walking to the room where she was sleeping, his skull poking through the door. She was sleeping peacefully, the steady rise and fall of her chest signaling that she was alive. A relieved sigh passed his teeth that she was in peace; he had woken up a few times in the past to see she was having nightmares. She wouldn't talk about them to him or said she didn't remember them enough to speak about them. Then again he never talked about his own nightmares to anyone either, but mostly everyone never remembered the past timelines, so he had no reason to talk about them.

"Sans?" Her tired voice broke him from his thoughts. She was sleepily staring over at him, a confused look on her face.

"mornin' kid." He fully entered the room, meandering his way to sit beside her. "we're still in the lab, Frisk is still here and your mom hasn't arrived yet." He counted off on his digits. "oh and Pap and Undyne haven't burnt down the kitchen while making breakfast." The human hummed as he sat on the edge of the bed. An arm wrapped around his ribs, forcefully pulling him back on the bed. She was instantly curled up to him, her head resting just under his mandible.

"Pillow's back, yay…" Selenia murmured.

"heh, cuddly aren't you?" He chuckled, the sound reverberating into her being and making her shiver. "how're your legs doing?"

"Ugh." She groaned. "I don't even want to think about them." He reached down, applying gentle pressure to her outer thigh. Her response was a sharp hiss.

"yeah not looking too good if that was any indication." He frowned. "how do you feel about someone using healing magic on you?"

"If it makes my legs feel almost normal I'm A-Okay with it." She tried to stretch, only to hiss again as she moved her legs. "This means I'll lose my pillow again doesn't it?"

"yeah." He chuckled at her pout. "what makes an old bag of bones like me comfortable to you anyway?"

"Because it's you." He felt her shrug. "You just seem to be able to bring me the most comfort, physically, mentally, all that mushy crap." She was blushing, but he couldn't see it as she had buried her face into his jacket. "I'm weird, okay?"

"okay." He laughed, stroking his phalanges through her hair. "want me to go get pap so he can heal you up now?"

"Yeah, don't want mom to chew me out more for hurting myself this bad." A humorless laugh escaped her as she detached herself from him.

"I'll be right back." The skeleton stood sluggishly and meandered his was from the room to the kitchen. He was shocked that there weren't nearly as many charred spots as he thought there would be. It seemed the two taller members of their group were being more cautious since this kitchen didn't belong to one or the other.

"GOOD MORNING, BROTHER!" Papyrus greeted.

"mornin' what are you two making?" Sans tried to see what was in the pans but got shooed away.

"It's a secret, nerd." Undyne's single eye glared at him.

"alright, alright, I just wanted to steal pap for a bit." His hands were in his hoodie pockets.

"YOU KNOW THAT I CANNOT JUST LEAVE MY COOKING!"

"Selenia needs your healing magic, bro. her legs aren't doing too well." That instantly caught the attention of the taller skeleton.

"Is she alright besides that?" The fish woman looked over her shoulder, concern in her voice.

"seems like, just nervous about her mom showing up." Sans shrugged.

"You take care of her Paps. I've got the rest of this." Undyne waved them off. The brothers then made their way to the room where the older human was staying.

"Oh darling you are absolutely stunning to look at!" The flamboyant voice reached them as they entered the room. Frisk was sitting beside their sister on the bed, watching with a grin as Mettaton fluttered about fawning over her. Selenia had managed to sit herself up right with much difficulty, and was blushing madly from the star's praise.

The older human looked up, noticing the skeleton brothers standing just inside the door way and smiled over at them. She waved them over and grinned at the star struck look that passed over the taller brother's features. "Have you met these two yet, Mettaton?" She watched the robot shake his head as he glanced at the two. "The shorter one is Sans, and the taller is Papyrus, who is one of your biggest fans."

"Oh my, truly?" Mettaton beamed at them. "It is nice to meet you, darlings!"

"N-nice t-t-to meet you as well, M-Mettaton." Papyrus was stuttering, tangerine lighting up his cheek bones. They were staring at one another for a while before Sans cleared his nonexistent throat.

"uh, pap, healing?" The shorter skeleton reminded.

"OH RIGHT!" His whole facial area was glowing now as he knelt down in front of the humans. "This may be slightly uncomfortable." He warned, delicately touching the older human's shin.

"I trust you, Paps." Selenia smiled reassuringly.

"Just hold still, human." The taller brother instructed as his hands started glowing that same orange color that was on his face. As the magic touched her it sent a burning sensation the whole way through her. She bit her lip to keep any sounds of pain from escaping her. She felt tendrils of the magic slipping through her skin and worming their way along her bones and muscles. In wake of the burning was a cooling sensation, like slipping from a sauna into a freezer.

Selenia whimpered as she felt the magic recede, opening her eye that she had unconsciously closed. A sigh of relief left her as she looked to the skeleton in front of her. "You were right, that was kind of uncomfortable." She grinned at him. "Thank you though, I feel a lot better." She glanced at her knees, where there was once brush burnt flesh was now simply, pink, almost fully healed marks. At a distance one could probably not even tell the difference.

"YOU ARE MOST WELCOME, HUMAN!" He beamed back at her as he stood.

"They look and feel good as new Paps, you really are the greatest!" She pushed herself to her feet.

"AH-" The tall skeleton squeaked out before she stumbled, her legs acting like wet noodles, knocking herself into Mettaton. The star held her steady. "They may be a bit numb…"

"Sorry." She tittered as she righted herself.

"It's no problem, darling." The robot was watching her in a coquettish manner. Sans was glaring at him, jealousy spiking.

"You look a lot better, Lenna!" Frisk came up and took the older human's hand, having noticed the look the shorter brother was giving the star. "Come on! Let's go see what Alphys is doing!" The child pulled their sister from the room, not giving her a choice in the matter.

The three males stood in silence for a moment before Papyrus slipped out to resume helping Undyne. Sans continued to glare toward the robot, who seemed very nonchalant. Mettaton had a hand rested on his chin as if in thought, but turned his magenta optics toward the skeleton. As he noticed the glare, he smirked deviously, making the older brother fume even more.

"Now what is that look for?" The star had false hurt in his voice.

"I'm warning you now, rust bucket, stay away from her and my brother." Sans' eye lights were pinpricks.

"Are you jealous darling? Afraid I'll steal away something you don't have?" Mettaton's smirk turned malicious as he turned on his heel and sauntered out of the room.

Sans growled lowly to himself; no matter what time line he was in he always had an extreme dislike for Mettaton. The only reason he would even watch any of the rust bucket's shows was to make his brother happy. He shook his skull and buried his hands deep into his jacket pockets, his mood sour. He slowly made his way to exit the room and put up a façade of being his usual comic self.

Selenia smiled as Endogeny curled up to her one last time, the creature's family having come to collect it. She had been surprised that its family was made up of most of the dogs she had met in Snowdin, and had to dish out many pets to them as well. She pat the large amalgamate on its squishy head, wishing it well before it and its family wandered their way back home. She was saddened to see them go but continued to smile and wave until they vanished from sight.

The older human turned and watched as Frisk flitted between all of the monsters, smiling and chatting with them constantly. It was obvious the kid loved every monster they came in contact with, and how easily they were able to talk with them. They were a natural speaker, she knew this and it made her dismayed that they didn't like what they were so good at.

She then continued to mingle with the rest of them as well. She was nowhere near the excited conversationalist that her sibling was, but still enjoyed getting to know more people. As the last few monsters filed out she waved them off and wished them well. Frisk was standing at her side doing the same.

"T-that went really s-smoothly." Alphys came up to them, a happy, relieved smile on her face. "Thank y-you both for talking with everyone."

"It's no problem, Als."

"We were happy to help!" The younger human was still excited.

"You did wonderfully, darlings!" Mettaton beamed as he strolled out to meet up with the trio. "I didn't even have to make an appearance to put everyone at ease! Marvelous job!" He wrapped an arm around both the doctor's and older human's shoulders.

"Some of them would have loved seeing you though." Selenia deftly pulled away from the star, a bad feeling sitting in the pit of her stomach from just being near him. He pouted at her retreat but turned to grin down at Frisk.

"And you my little starlet! They adored you!" He lifted the child up, who was grinning ear to ear at the praise. "You would be a fabulous talk show host!"

"No, I couldn't possibly." They shook their head with embarrassment.

"You're pretty amazing at talking with people, squirt." She winked at her sibling. "I know you're not fond of talking but you really are great at it."

"Thanks Lenna." They beamed at her.

"Hey, nerds!" Undyne called from the door, making them all turn her way. "Food's ready!" They all filed in after her, moving to the kitchen. Inside was a folding card table, loaded with different kinds of food; some which the humans had never seen before. There were enough chairs and stools littered around it to seat everyone.

Selenia immediately took a seat next to Papyrus, and smiled up at him. The hair on the back of her neck stood up as she tensed when Mettaton took the chair on her other side, a little too close for her comfort. Warning bells were going off in her head, but she kept her face neutral to not worry anyone. A plate was handed her way and she graciously accepted it.

Sans was sitting at the corner of the table beside his brother and had been carefully watching the whole situation play out. He saw how tense the older human was sitting beside the robot; how she tried to ignore his presence beside her. As everyone started to talk and laugh as they ate, the skeleton watched how the star snaked an arm around the female's shoulders, making her tense further.

Frisk had taken the seat beside the shorter brother, noting the way he was keeping vigil on their sister. They also noticed how flirty Mettaton was being with her and disliked it greatly. "Lenna?" The child's voice instantly made the woman look over at them. "Can we trade seats? I want to sit beside Mettaton."

"Of course, squirt." The star reluctantly removed his arm, a small pout on his lips. The human quickly swapped places, leaving Selenia feeling a ton more comfortable as she sat next to Sans. She smiled thankfully at her sibling, the tenseness leaving her body in waves.

"kid's perceptive." The skeleton leaned over to whisper to her.

"I am so thankful for that right now." She whispered back. "I just don't like the vibes I'm getting from Mettaton." She confessed.

"bad as in how?" His eye lights were switching from her to glance at the robot.

"Just a bad feeling, I don't trust him. I can't really explain it." She shrugged. "I don't want to be around him at all, especially since he keeps trying to cling to me." A shiver crawled up her spine.

"want me to stick close then?" She nodded subtly, bringing a perk to his ever present grin. The rest of the meal went by smoothly, though there was still a cloud of tension hanging about. As everyone finished, the humans volunteered to clean up, Sans saying he would stay to help as well.

As soon as the others left the room, Frisk rounded on their sister. "Mettaton makes you really uncomfortable, doesn't he?"

"Extremely so." Selenia was collecting empty plates to put in the sink. "I don't like that, since you introduced me to him, that he's been touchy feely." She shivered again.

"he's been touching you since then?" Sans was leaning against the counter, hands in his pockets with a scowl on his features.

"Mostly just an arm around the shoulders, but the flirtatious looks he gives me…" She shook her head. "I really don't like him. Heck, I still haven't forgiven him for trying to steal your soul either, squirt. How did you forgive him so easily?" She questioned, looking toward her sibling.

"He apologized to me when he woke up." They shrugged. "I don't blame him for it since we know everyone else wants to get out of here as well. And you're pretty good at holding grudges, Lenna. No offense."

"None taken, but he wanted to kill you. Not only that but he wanted to do it on air, where everyone else would see and think it was okay to kill others." The older human sighed, dropping the dishes into the sink. "I really just don't like being near him."

There was silence for a while as the trio cleaned; the humans doing most of the work as Sans was lost in thought. "so… how do you plan on staying away from him?" He finally questioned.

"I guess just ignoring him or sticking with everyone else but as far away from him as possible." A smirk started to form on her lips. "Or you know, spill a drink on him to make him short circuit."

"You're terrible, sis." Frisk laughed.

"What can I say? I'm a bit of a sadist." She was sniggering as well.

"I wonder when mom's going to get here."

"Crap… I forgot she was coming." Selenia groaned. "Think we still have time to run away, squirt?" The child giggled at her suggestion, but shook their head. "Darn, looks like we're getting grounded then."

The sound of a door slamming open and loud shout of 'where are my children?' made the trio jump. The kitchen door also crashed open not too long afterwards, an unsettled Toriel looming in front of them. As her magenta orbs landed on the humans she calmed ever so slightly.

"Hi, mom." The two got out, both looking sheepish.

"What exactly are you two thinking?! Have you lost your minds?!" The goat woman raged as she came within arm's length of them, her height intimidating.

"We just want everyone to see the sun…" Frisk tried reasoning.

"One of you would have to die to do that!" She was infuriated and terrified at the same time.

"That's why we wanted to talk to the king, to see if we could help find a way to free everyone without giving up our souls." The older human was trying to remain calm, but nervousness was bubbling just under the surface.

"That barbarian wouldn't have listened to you! He is a stubborn old fool that won't budge once he's made a decision!" Toriel was scowling, her arms crossed over her chest. "He didn't listen to me when I told him not to go through with this in the first place, that's why I left him!"

"Wait… so that means you knew the king way back then?" Selenia's eye was wide. "Does that mean…"

"I am the former queen." The goat woman sighed. "I know how Asgore is the best, and that is why I am worried."

"You're going to be there with us right mom?" Frisk had gone up to her and was clinging to her violet robes. They were also giving her their best puppy dog eyes.

"Of course I'll be there with you! I'll not sit idly by and watch that whelp take my children from me!" Toriel swiftly lifted the child up, cradling them to her.

"Then we'll be alright." Selenia let a smile slip onto her lips.

"me and everyone else will be there to back you guys up too." Sans lightly touched the older human's hand, her fingers happily grasping his as she beamed at him.

"Oh, so this is the Sans I've heard so much about?" A sly look crossed over the goat woman's eyes. "It is nice to finally meet you face to face." She held out the hand she wasn't using to hold Frisk up out to him.

"nice to meet you too." The skeleton slid his unoccupied hand into hers, and as they shook a whoopee cushion let out its signature peel. All four of them were laughing and as soon as they calmed, the older human swatted at his shoulder.

"Sans have you no shame?" She was grinning at him through her words. "Even using that on the former queen?"

"it never gets old." He shrugged, but was beaming. They then carried on to introduce Toriel to the others she had stunned in her arrival. Undyne and Alphys kept their distance from her, due to their friendship with Asgore, but eventually warmed up to the motherly goat woman. Papyrus seemed to take to her as well, except for when she told him a pun about skeletons, in which he was distraught. Mettaton was thrilled to meet her as well, but was once again standing too close for comfort for Selenia.

As the robot went to snake his arm about her shoulders again, the human back handed it away, a stern glare decorating her face. "Could you not touch me?" Her voice was harsh toward him.

"Whatever is the matter, darling?" The star was put off his game at the way she reacted, but tried to keep his cool.

"After what you did, I'm not happy with you." She didn't go into detail as to not make Toriel angry with him as well. "I have not forgiven you for it and with you being buddy, pal, flirty with me is not going to swing!" Everyone had gone silent at her outburst, but Sans was smirking as he looked on.

"Darling, a beautiful face like yours shouldn't hold such a scathing look." The robot pouted.

"Oh a beautiful face huh?" A spiteful grin marred her lips. "Is this beautiful?" Her fingers raked away the hair from the left side of her face, exposing them all to her scarred flesh and missing eye.

The few standing there that didn't know about her face stared on in shock, some gasping at the revelation. The older human winked the damaged eyelid as best she could at the star, who looked horrified. "Isn't my face just the most beautiful sight you've ever seen?" Her words were filled with venom.

"D-darling…" Mettaton was speechless from the glare she shot his way.

"Go ahead, tell me I'm pretty. Tell me how sorry you are that this is what I have to live with. Pity me if you dare. It won't make a difference. I don't care for you." Selenia released the hair, letting it fall back over the scarred flesh.

"Hey punk." Undyne wore a solemn look, before breaking out into excitement. "That's so cool! You've got to tell me the story of how you got that!" The human was stunned into silence.

"Not all humans are as nice as Lenna and I." Frisk was by their sibling's side, sadness and concern on their face.

"Another human did this to you, my child?" Toriel seemed filled with more worry, and just a little bit of outrage.

"Most humans aren't nice creatures." Selenia sighed, turning away from them. "They tend to like hurting one another, physically, mentally, it doesn't matter. They kill their own, ridicule people for being different and make fun out of serious matters. Just remember that if we ever do get to the surface; you guys are bound to be drawn into that stuff as well." She then wandered back into the kitchen to finish cleaning up the dishes. The group watched her go before returning to what they were previously doing.

Frisk gently tugged on Sans' jacket, earning the skeleton's attention. They motioned for him to follow them to a different room, having to tell him something important. The child made sure the door locked after they entered one of the examination rooms before turning to the skeleton.

"what's up, kid?"

"I remember why Lenna has never been in any of the other timelines." Their gaze was distant.

"Do tell." Sans sobered as he took a seat in a nearby chair.

"This timeline is different… be glad you're sitting down." A sigh escaped them. "This is the first timeline she's been in and lived."

"what… do you mean?" His eye sockets were wide.

"In some of the timelines she dies in the same attack that killed her mother. In others, where she did end up babysitting me and a few other kids she would be extremely depressed… when I'd go to find her she would have…" They choked on the words, but the skeleton knew what they were aiming for. "That's why I was so surprised when I saw it was her Sans, because she's alive." They had large tears trickling down their cheeks. "The last time I saw her she was in that extremely depressed state… but since she's been down here with all of you she's changed. She's so happy… so please, take good care of her?"

"wait, what-" Sans sighed, the child had already left the room. This revelation was also a lot for him to think about. What did all of this mean? How was her presence going to affect the outcome of this timeline? He pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind as he stood and wandered out of the room.

Selenia sighed as she finished off the dishes; her previously good mood had been shattered and cleaning helped to work out her foul mood. She crossed her arms against the counter and rested her head on them. Her mind was telling her how badly she had over reacted about the whole situation before hand. She felt mentally spent. A familiar hand rested on her back and rubbed at her spine soothingly.

"you okay, kid?" Sans was cautious with his touch. He was also leaned against the counter in the same position.

"I will be. Sorry you had to witness that outburst of mine." She craned her neck to look at him, her face drawn.

"don't worry about it; that rust bucket needed to be put in his place." He smirked, but let it fall into a gentle smile. "If it counts for anything, you look pretty to me." His cheek bones flushed at the way she stared at him.

"You really think so?" Her own cheeks were heated.

"well, yeah… you're kind, honest, maybe a bit broken, but you're here and you're you. Guess that's why I like you so much, kid."

"Oh… um…" Her blush deepened as a thought came to her mind. "I like you a lot too, Sans." Feeling emboldened, the human shifted her position, leaning forward and placing her lips to his brow bone in a chaste kiss. "And thank you again." She then pulled away from him and wandered off to join the others in whatever they were doing.

A/N~ Hello lovelies! It's been a week again and this is chapter 10! I'm about half beating my head into the desk at this point, trying to move the story along and stay away from filler as much as possible but I just really, really, really, really like writing all this fluffiness between Sans and Lenna . Anyway, don't hesitate to leave feedback! I really do enjoy hearing from you guys =D If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask! And have a fantabulous day!