Warm. Safe. Those were what Hope felt when she woke up. For the first time in a few days, she had woken up without help from a nightmare.

The reason? She was holding a skeleton to her. And he was hugging her back. And he looked quite adorable with his skull pressed to her heart.

She was perfectly content to stay like she was, so when he woke only a few minutes later, she was almost disappointed. Not fully awake, he nuzzled into her chest. The moment his ear brushed over her heart, however, he stopped completely. He listened to her heartbeat, an expression of confusion blooming on his face.

"That's my heart. It has been beating since before I was born, and will beat until I die." Hope said, lifting a hand to stroke the other side of Sans' soul.

"It's so strong..." Sans murmured, causing Hope to let out a sad sigh.

"It's the strongest part of the human body. We tend to associate strong feelings to it. They say that when someone you love hurts you, they break your heart. It feels like the world has stopped, like nothing could ever be right again..." Hope took a deep breath before adding, "I need to tell you something. I should have told you before, but... I guess I was trying to live up to my name. Hope that it wasn't true."

Hope sat up, leaning against the wall with her legs drawn up to her chin. "I used to be married. It was wonderful, we loved eachother so much. But when our child was six, things started to go wrong. They were born as a girl, but they decided that they wanted to be non-binary. I'll admit, I didn't like it one bit. I talked it out with them for hours, though, and we decided that I'd support them.

"My husband however... When he learned of it, he got very angry. He refused to even let them try to be non-binary. He replaced of of their pants with skirts. Called them Emily instead of their long time nickname of Lee.

"It led to fights between us. Eventually, I felt like he was going much too far. I filed a divorce against him. It was agreed that I would have Lee for the summer and breaks. I would come up here to live during my time with them. They hated the city because ihe/i lived there. They asked me to call them a name that wasn't related to their birth name at all. And then, about eight months ago, on the last day before they had to go back to their father, they disappeared.

"They left a note saying that they were climbing farther up the mountain. Around here... that means that they probably went to die. T-The top of the mmo-mount is a common suicide spot, because anyone that climbs too far up... Is never seen again.

"Except that they were found again. L-last night, we found my dear Frisk."

Hope started to sob, the sound muffled by the hands she held over her mouth. Sans sat up across from her, pulling her hands away from her face. He placed them on his chest, before drawing them back again. A small red heart came out of his chest, with a white upside-down right behind it. Hope stared at it like the monsters had stared at the sun when they first saw it.

"They refused to talk about almost everything from before they fell. The only thing they would talk about was you. They would talk about how you would stick up for those close to you, even if you didn't agree with what they thought. They taught every monster an important lesson. Don't judge someone by the people that came before them. They taught us to forgive humans, because how could any race be all bad if they produced such a kind person. Such a perfect soul."

Sans pushed the soul back into himself, before crawling to lean on the wall next to Hope. "The way that they were so sure about their identity was an inspiration to so many people. Due to the way monster reproduction works, some monsters are born without any gender at all. These monsters are forced to pick which they want to be at a young age, and are forced under that gender for their entire life. Frisk changed that. Mettaton was able to reveal that he was transgender. He had abandoned his cousin so he could keep the image of a guy, but thanks to Frisk, he was able to reconnect with Napstablook.

"Papyrus feels similar to how Frisk did, and finally was able to gather up the courage to tell me. Undyne started to go out with a girl she really liked, despite having identified as a girl when she was young. Oh, and Napstablook finally stopped getting harassed about being non-binary, and has even gotten some more self-confidence."

"I guess what I'm trying to say, "Sans finished, "Is thank you. The way you supported Frisk's choice really helped a lot of people's lives."

Sans held his right hand in front of him, seeming to examine it. He then felt at the bone around his eye. Tears started to stream down his face.

"Even now, they are helping improve a life. Usually when a monster absorbs a human soul, they gain unsurmounted power. In my case, however... Its given me life itself. I was born with a magic-soul disorder. It prevented my magic from circulating through my body properly. In recent years, no new magic has entered my body at all, resting completely in my soul. And monster bodies are made of magic. I had maybe a year left to live before Frisk fell into the underground."

"He was almost dust" Papyrus said from the pillow, surprising Hope enough that she jumped.

"Dust?" She asked, confused.

"When a monster dies, they turn to dust. Most of our bodies are made of magic, so when we die, all that is left is the few physical bits that we have. I'd... I'd already lost the past two fingers on my right hand, and half of that foot. And my eye was horrible. Not blind, exactly, instead I got weird visions at times. I've seen things that... I wish I ever knew." Sans' eyes were dark, not a hint of the usually cheerful white pricks.

"What sort of visions?" Hope asked warily.

"My magic is that of space and... Time. I saw so many timelines overlapping. Ones where I knew a human had fallen, but only saw them as they were killed by my best friend. Ones where they killed my best friend. So many where they died. I had to protect them from so many things. A-and I had to watch one where Frisk got away from those men alive, knowing that I wasn't as strong as the other me. I wasn't strong enough to save your child, and yet I saw them walk away with just a scratch on the arm because that other me wasn't so horribly PATHETIC." Sans shouted out the last word.

Sans' hands rose to scratch at his skull. "And it's driving me insane." He whispered, starting to sob. Hope pulled him into a gentle hug.

"It's alright Sans. You did your best. I don't blame you. You didn't ask to burdened like this. Let me protect you, let it all out. I've got you." And Hope found that she truly believed her words. She didn't blame Sans.

AN: That was a rollercoaster of a chapter to write. Lots of things were learned.

EDIT: I feel like it needs said.

I do not agree with Transgender, non-binary, or gay actions. I'm saying it here.

BUT! It's not my life to live and not my choise to make. And so I HEAVILY incourage you to do as Hope did here. If you don't agree, talk it out. Be kind in your words and actions. If they decide that they were mistaken, great! But don't hurt your family and friends for that choise.

You don't have to accept it-I never will, but don't be mean or hurtful. Let them decide who they are. Give advice, not orders.