Frankie couldn't sleep. He hugged Sir Barkley with all his might, counted echo flowers, sang some lullabies, and stroked Justice for sometime, but sleep never came. He even turned out his light and lay in the darkness. He watched snow fall outside his window, and he stared at his hand, counting each bone in his fingers and palms. Despite the last few days being so fun (school so far was fantastic, he and Frisk and Ella has become good friends, and all of Frankie's homework was getting done and turned in on time), he was a little afraid that if he fell asleep he'd slip into some terrible nightmare. And as hard as he tried to dismiss the thought, he couldn't. And tomorrow I have school again. He would be exhausted tomorrow and he didn't want to fall asleep during class! He groaned, gripping Sir Barkley tighter, and kicking his legs in frustration. Justice jumped up, a little shocked at Frankie's sudden movement.
"Sorry, kitty." Frankie apologized by pulling the poor cat into his lap and hugging her tightly. He sighed, after a few moments, and let her go. The animal dashed out of the room, probably to hide under the sofa. Frankie fell back onto his pillow, watched the snow for a few more minutes and then pulled himself out of bed. He carefully made his way out into the hall, his toes tapping on the wood floor. He looked down towards the living room and kitchen and then turned the other way to where Sans' room was. Sans' door was slightly ajar. This was something Frankie knew the older skeleton had only begun doing after Frankie came. It was so he could hear when Frankie was having a nightmare. The little boy was extremely grateful for this. Frankie, clutching Sir Barkley, pushed the door gently with one hand.
The hinges squeaked softly, but Sans didn't seem to stir. Frankie stepped over a pile of socks, and side-stepped a tipped over trash can before coming to San's double bed. The Skeleton was sleeping on his side. Frankie could make out the outline of his body underneath a thick quilt. Poor Sans always fell asleep so fast after the hard work he did during the days at school. At least this kept the nightmares away.
"Sans?" Frankie whispered softly, he leaned forward and gently shook the skeleton. Sans barely moved, but answered as if he were fully awake.
"Yup?"
"I can't sleep." There was a pause, and then Sans rolled over slowly with a sigh so that he was staring up at the ceiling.
"Climb in, kiddo." Frankie crawled over Sans' legs, and pulled himself under the quilt, setting Sir Barkley just above his head on the second pillow on Sans' bed. They lay there in silence for a minute and then Sans murmured, "Bad dreams?"
"No." Frankie shook his head. "I just can't sleep."
"Me neither." Sans replied with a shrug. "But… who needs sleep anyways? There's a nap for that now."
"Saaaannnsss." Frankie giggled.
"C'mere, kiddo." Sans pulled Frankie into a hug. "You know what?"
"What?"
"I'm glad you fell asleep on my sofa."
"I'm glad I did too." Frankie replied.
"And I'm glad I found you when you ran away."
"Me too." Frankie nodded, hugging Sans tightly. They lay there for a moment longer before Frankie whispered with a grin, "Do you wanna hear a joke, Sans?"
"Me? A Joke? Never." Sans replied.
"Saaaaannnsss."
"Okay, if you insist."
"What do you call a sleeping bull?"
"I dunno. What?"
"A bulldozer."
"I am over the moooooo-n because of that pun." Sans said. Frankie giggled. "You'll have to tell that one to Papyrus."
"Papyrus doesn't like puns." Frankie said.
"I know." Sans nodded. "It's hilarious."
"We should tell him while we're playing monopolop." Frankie said. Sans chuckles.
"I can hear him now." And then Sans proceeds to imitate his brother, making Frankie fall into a fit of laughter. "'SaANS! yOU HAVE waY TOo MAaNY HOTELS ON THIS PROPERTY. SaNS! IT'S RIDICULOUS!' 'You wanna hear a joke, Paps?' 'SaNS, NO.' 'What do you call a sleeping bull?' 'SANS. NO!' 'A bulldozer.' 'SANS! FOR THE LOVE OF- JUST-'" Frankie could hardly breath he was laughing so hard.
"Jeez, kiddo, that one really hit your funnybone, huh?" Frankie nodded with a grin.
"You do the best impression of Papyrus ever."
"Papyrus is the best, isn't he?" Sans said.
"Besides you, Sans. To me, you're the best." Sans didn't answer for a minute, but Frankie didn't mind, he was already beginning to feel tired again.
"You know what, Frankie?"
"Hmm?"
"I love you, kiddo."
School was pretty uneventful the next day. Not boring, but not ridiculously exciting. Frankie and Ella worked on their Charlotte's web board. With silver glitter glue they drew out a web reading 'Some Pig'. Lunch and all recesses, much to Frankie's relief, were also uneventful. After standing up to Brendan the other day, Frankie had been afraid that the older boy would at some point get his revenge. But fortunately, Frankie was with Frisk most of the time, and so the bully kept his distance. He really did seem afraid and intimidated by Frisk.
At the end of the day, Frisk and Frankie once again found themselves waiting on the empty playground for Toriel and Sans to finish up their extra work. Sans had to finish cleaning the bathrooms, and Toriel had some extra paperwork.
Ella's pretty cool. Frisk said.
"Yeah! But, haven't you made lots of friends here? Everyone likes you. Except Brendan."
Well… I don't know. I haven't really connected with anyone like I did with everyone else. You know, Toriel, Papyrus, Sans…. I guess… Being a celebrity isn't want it's cut out to be. Not that I'm saying I'm a celebrity. Just, everyone knows me, but they only know what they see or hear. They don't try to know me better. You know? Now… Mettaton… He's a celebrity.
"Yeah! I've seen Mettaton on TV. He's super cool."
Maybe sometime he can come and visit and you can meet him.
"You know METTATON?!" Frankie gasped.
Yeah. I met him Underground. Frisk replied.
"That's so cool!"
He's pretty neat. But he's very, very dramatic.
"Frisk, Frankie. We're all done!" Toriel called from the door to the school. Frisk and Frankie eagerly hurried into the building to grab their backpacks and get ready to go.
"Heya, kiddo, how was school today?"
"Good!" Frankie nodded.
"Alright. I had an idea while I was putting away my supplies." Sans said. "How would you like to go visit Luis today?"
"Grandpops?! Sure!" Frankie cried.
"Alright! We can head over there right now, just let me get this uniform off."
"Awesome!"
"See you tomorrow, Frankie." Frisk said, giving Frankie a big hug.
"Yeah!"
"Goodbye, Frankie, dear!" Toriel waved. Frankie was left alone in the hallway for only a few minutes before Sans came back, and so they made their way to downtown. Sans couldn't remember where Grandpops' house was, but Frankie recalled where he had been when Luis had found him, so they didn't have to look long before they found the old man sitting on the steps that led up to his house. Grandpops looked overjoyed to see Frankie and Sans again.
"Franklin!" He called. "Look at that! I was almost afraid I wouldn't see you again!"
"Grandpops!" Frankie grinned. He gave the old man a hug. "You didn't think I would forget about visiting?!"
"'Course not! Hello!" Grandpops addressed Sans. "It's good to see you again too. Sans, wasn't it?"
"Yup." Sans nodded. "How are you doing? I hope we aren't interrupting anything."
"Of course not! Come on inside." Grandpops stood, using his cane as support. He led them into his little living room. Frankie and Sans were offered the couch to sit at, and Grandpops sat in the old rocking chair by the fireplace. Grandpops' house was very small, and quaint. He had old photographs of his family here and there. Above the fireplace was what appeared to be a little shrine. A black and white photo of a beautiful woman with dark hair and a mysterious smile was set right at the center. On either side were two vases of red roses. That must be Grandpops' wife, Eleanor. Frankie remembered the story Grandpops told him about how Eleanor loved red roses. He wondered what happened to Eleanor.
"How are you two doing?" Grandpops asked.
"I'm going to school again now, Grandpops!" Frankie exclaimed excitedly.
"That sounds wonderful!" Grandpops smiled. "How is it?"
"Well, we're learning lots of stuff, and I've made a new friend in my class! She's really nice. She's my project partner! And Sans bought me a stuffed puppy. I called him Sir Barkley Bones."
"Sir Barkley." Grandpops laughed. "That's a very good name, kiddo!"
"And we have a cat now."
"A cat?!" Grandpops nodded. "I was always more of a dog person myself, but my Elli loved cats. What'd you call it?"
"Justice." Sans replied.
"Justice. What an interesting name…" Grandpops murmured. "How would you two like some tea?!"
"Tea?" Frankie frowned.
"Yes! I've got some good peppermint."
"Sure." Sans nodded. "Do you want me to help you with-"
"Nonsense! You two relax." Grandpops prepared the tea while Frankie told him all about the different things they'd been doing at school. He told him about how Sans got a job at the school.
"I get to see Sans even when I'm at school, Grandpops!" Frankie exclaimed as Luis brought out the tea cups and put and set them on the coffee table along with the sugar and milk. "And… I'm really happy about that because…. I would miss Sans a lot if I didn't see him all day."
"I don't think I'd make it without you, kiddo," Sans smiled, "Though, I could chai." Grandpops served them their tea, and they sat chatting happily for a long time while drinking it. After a while Grandpops smiled.
"I'm glad you came, Frankie, because I have something to give you."
"You do?!" Frankie was surprised, but also excited. What sort of thing would Grandpops be giving him?
"You stay right there, I'll be right back." Grandpops disappeared down the hallway.
"What do you think he's got for me?" Frankie asked Sans.
"I don't have the slightest brew."
"Sans." Frankie groaned.
"That bad, huh?"
"Here we are." Grandpops returned to the living room holding a little box tied up with blue ribbons. "I always make a little something for anyone who stays in my house before they move on to be with their new family. You were only with me for one night, Frankie, but I couldn't imagine breaking tradition and not giving you a little present." Grandpops set the box in Frankie's lap. "Go ahead and open it." Frankie waited until Grandpops was sitting back down in his rocking chair before he began untying the ribbons. Sans had to help with some of the knots, but soon enough the box was free and Frankie was able to open it. Inside was fairly large wooden train! Frankie pulled it out quickly, in awe of it almost instantly.
"You made this?!" He spun one of the six wheels excitedly.
"Yup. Just for you." Grandpops nodded. "That used to be my trade, years ago. I was a carpenter. I worked with wood."
"It's soooo cool! Thank you so much Grandpops! I'm gonna call it… Mr. Rails."
"Seems like a fitting name for a train, that's for sure." Grandpops replied.
"This is awesome! Thanks, Grandpops!" Frankie spent most of the remaining time at Grandpops house, rolling the train across the coffee table while Grandpops talked to Sans about his family, and his wife Eleanor, about his son and little granddaughter. And Frankie listened. Grandpops told them how he took in children who were living on the street and helped them establish a new life for themselves. He said he did it because of his son, but he didn't say much else about his son. Just that he never saw him, or his granddaughter.
"My son made some mistakes early on in his life. Landed him in a mess of trouble." Was all he said. "My little granddaughter, Lily, she's a couple years younger than you Frankie. I never see her. Christine, that's my daughter-in-law, she had to move in with her mom because of what my boy did. But… I suppose it will all work out in the end. I keep busy by helping kids who need help and by building these little things." Here he gestured to the train with a smile.
When it was a while past dark Sans decided it was necessary for them to leave, and Frankie agreed. He remembered now that he had homework to do before school the next day, and he was beginning to feel their lack of sleep from the night before.
"Thanks for the train, again, Grandpops!" Frankie smiled, hugging the little wooden toy tightly.
"You two come over anytime you'd like!" Grandpops called.
"Oh! Let's exchange phone numbers." Sans said.
"I don't have one of them new cell phones, but I have a home phone. I'll give you that number."
On their way home Sans chuckled, watching Frankie play with the train's wheels. "You sure like that train, huh, kiddo?"
"Yeah! I've never been on a train before, Sans. Do they go very fast?"
"You've never been on a train? We'll have to fix that sometime." Sans nodded, "Yeah, they go pretty fast."
"You mean it! We can actually go on a train sometime?"
"Sure. But tonight we've gotta focus on your homework."
"Oh… you're right." Frankie sighed. Than a grin came to his face again. "If we go on a train, Sans, can Frisk come with?! We could sit by a window and watch all the buildings go by really fast! Like at lightspeed, and we'd see lots of different people, and…."
It had been a week since Riley had seen her friends, a week since Riley had seen Sans. She had informed the police of the 'Red X' letter and they said they'd look into it. Riley was beginning to suspect they didn't care, because a week later, they'd done nothing to help.
Today, she was going to a part time job interview that a friend of hers mentioned at work. Riley's current job wasn't very supportive, and she'd been thinking of quitting for quite some time. So, she thought she'd take a look around.
It was apparently a library assistant position at a school, which sounded alright. It definitely paid more than her minimum wage job. Riley sighed as she brewed her morning coffee, making the excuse for not going to Spaghetti night had been tough for her.
It physically hurt her to say no to Sans and everyone, but she couldn't take risks, could she? She grabbed a red scarf and matching hat, and was out the door. She managed to get most of the red paint off, but the haunting outline of the red X still remains.
The school was only a 5 minute drive away, so that was pretty convenient. Her heart sank as she read the name of the school, "Toriel's School for Monsters". Toriel? That's one of Sans' friends. I can't be here. But something compelled her to go anyways. She pulled into the parking lot, finding a spot.
Alright, deep breath, Riley. She stepped out of the car, holding a stack of papers. These papers mostly consisted of her résumé and information about her past experiences as a library assistant. Riley figured she may as well be thorough.
I shouldn't be here. It wasn't too late, she could turn around and- no. I can't live in fear. I was stupid to leave my friends- to leave Sans, her heart pounded as she reached for the door, pulling it open.
A nice monster lady, who looked like a rabbit, showed Riley the general direction of the library. Riley nodded, thanking her as she walked down the empty halls.
Alright. It's just an interview and then I can leave. At this point, Riley wanted to make a run for the door, thinking of the red X. But she didn't. She did, however, pick up the pace, speed walking down the hall.
She was about to turn the corner, when someone ran directly into her.
"Crap- I'm so sorry!" Sans gasps, bending over to pick up the papers that had flown from the person he ran into.
"I-it's alright! I shoulda looked where I was going!" She scrambles for papers as well. As soon as Sans had gathered all of the paper, he glances up to look at the woman,
"Riley?" She looks up, surprised.
"Sans!?" There was something in her eyes, was it… Fear? Relief? Horror?
"It's been awhile." Sans says, handing her back the papers.
"Y-yeah! Uhm… How've you been?"
"Oh, y'know. Business is brooming." He gestures the the broom he was holding in his left hand. Riley laughs. Oh, how he missed that ridiculous laugh.
"S-same old Sans, huh?" He chuckles,
"Yup- so what're you doin' here?" She shrugs,
"M-my friend told me a-about a job interview for the library h-here and I thought i'd check it out!" Sans nods,
"Cool. Ya gonna join us for Spaghetti Night next Tuesday?" The red scarf around her face blocks her true emotion, but Sans can read her eyes… Sorrow? Fear?
"I…" She trails off, "I really W-want to but…" She's shaking. Something's wrong.
"Riley… Is there somethin' wrong?"
"I… It's… Can we t-talk? L-later? I… I can't do this- not right now…" Sans nods in understanding.
"'Course. Want me t'walk you to the library?" Riley nods, her eyes to the floor,
"Y-yeah. That'd be great. Thanks, Sans."
Sans sets his broom against the wall, walking beside Riley. The trip to the library was silent, but thankfully, it was only down the hall.
He opens the door for her, and she steps inside, at the front desk of the library is dragon-like monster, his eyes light up as soon as he sees them,
"Heya! Are you here for the interview?" He asks Riley, happiness in his yellow eyes. Riley nods,
"Y-yes, I am!" The scaled monster gets up and offers her a hand, she takes it, shaking.
"The name's Iro!"
"Riley!"
"Nice t'meetcha!" Iro looks over at Sans,
"I don't think we've formally met, you're the janitor, right?" Sans nods,
"The name's Sans." Iro smiles, exposing his sharp white teeth,
"Nice to meet ya!", he turns back to Riley, "now uh- you wanna continue this interview in my office?" Riley nods, turning to Sans,
"U-uh, thanks. For walking me h-here, Sans!"
"No problem. I'll talk to ya later, alright?"
"Y-yeah…"
Sans waves goodbye, leaving the library and heading back to find his broom, lunch time was almost over- and he would be needing it. But what was wrong with Riley? Something is bothering her…
Sans shrugs it off, and moves on to finish his job. The lunch room was a disaster, but that's to be expected. It takes about an hour, but once it's clean- he gets to take a break. Riley would be done with her interview by now, so he shoots her a text, sitting at one of the cafeteria tables.
Heya.
Hi!
Do u wanna talk?
Could we maybe meet somewhere?
Sure. Got any place in mind?
There's a coffee place right by my apartment, does that work?
How BOLD of u. Sure, sounds great
You and your puns. Alright, are you free tomorrow?
I get off at 4, how's 4:30
Works for me! I guess we could just meet at the bench?
Alright. See ya then.
See ya!
REVIEWS FOR CHAPTER ELEVEN:
MechaSniper51: Is this after true pacifist or soulless pacifist?
Definitely true pacifist.
StarBee24: if the Brandon kid isn't carful he is gonna end up having a bad time..
Oh yes. Definitely: if you mess with Frankie, you mess with Sans.
Frankie: U-Um...That kid is mean...and...um...H-Hi...
Yes, he is! But don't worry, Frankie. You're stronger than you think!
I guest as much: Sounds like Frankie better watch out if he doesn't want to get schooled, but seriously, this is a nice story!
Please stop. JK! Thanks so much! I'm glad you like it. :)
Thank you all for the reviews! See you on the next chapter!
