Toby Fox owns Undertale and all associated characters. The Humans belong to Petalthorn

Time was starting to slip by quietly for the secluded Monsters. Mettaton was outside, working on the finishing touches of a small building that he had constructed around the Rift. Due to its location, and the fact that his Humans had magic, Mettaton had started on it soon after the Beast Monsters had been dealt with.

It wasn't anything fancy, as Mettaton was rushed, and his normal creativity was absent from his lack of powering down. As he shut the door to the metal building, he rested his head against it, closing his eyes briefly. He just wanted to rest.

"Mettaton?" a voice asked in surprise.

Mettaton jerked and turned to find Michael, and leaning on him, was a weary William. "What are you doing?" the younger Human asked in confusion.

The robot folded his arms, tiredly scanning them. "I should be asking you the same thing," he replied. "Why are you two all the way up here?" He pointed at the red-eyed Human. "Especially you. You've been in emergency care for the past several months."

"I'm faring much better now," William assured. "The walk is just longer than I remember…"

"Cause you haven't done it in ages," Michael muttered.

"If you wanted to talk to us, you could have called us down," Mettaton reasoned as he leaned against the building. "So why were you so inclined to come up here yourself?"

"A few reasons," William replied as he opted to lean against a tree to give Michael a reprieve. "My scientists picked up a strange energy on the mountain a while back."

"They wanted to come up here right away," Michael added. "But Leader insisted on holding out unless it spiked again."

"They're suspicious as always," Mettaton murmured. "Even when we're sharing the same enemy…any word on that?"

Michael shook his head, while William looked up. "You seem to know a thing or two about whatever happened…and if I had to guess, you're building this here because of it."

"…yes," he carefully replied. "I am."

"Mind telling me?" William asked.

"…if I do, I'd prefer if you didn't spread word," Mettaton replied. "This is dangerous to Monsters and Humans."

"All right," William agreed. "But, if it's that dangerous…"

There was a dull clanking as Mettaton knocked on the metal door. "Nothing short of a bomb is going to get through this," he assured. "Not without me knowing. I'm not taking any chances."

"But…what is it?" Michael asked.

"You'll have to take my word," Mettaton replied. "But…it's a rift."

"A…rift?" they asked in confusion.

"A…doorway to another world would be the best explanation."

Seeing that he was only confusing them further, Mettaton went about explaining it the best that he could, answering questions, and explaining, though he left some crucial details out.

At the end of it, William nodded slowly. "…but if that ever opens," he murmured. "You let me know."

"But Daddy," the pups whined to Dogamy. "What do you mean he can't come?"

"Yeah!" Beowulf exclaimed. "He came last time!"

"Uh-huh!" Dogtanian folded her arms unhappily. "Why can't he watch us!?"

"Because he can't come," Dogamy replied, his ears drooping.

"Then can't we go to him?" Dogmatix whined.

"Please, Dad?" Lupus begged. "We like him…"

Canis looked up with a yawn, and then let her ears droop down as she pulled the puppy face out. "Daddy…want Pappy. I like him."

"We all want Papyrus!" the other pups exclaimed.

"Children, if I could, I would most definitely ask him," Dogamy managed, his stressed tone impossible to hide. He wanted so very much to please them…but the Rift was closed, and Papyrus was no longer in reach.

The pups didn't understand that, and instead, kept insisting to find Papyrus again. Even though they had only met him once, he left a good impression—even on Canis, who usually hid away from strangers. It actually caught Dogamy by surprise that she was voicing an opinion on the matter…or anything, as she was usually quiet, never speaking unless needed.

They whimpered, begged, and pleaded, but there wasn't anything that could be done. They didn't understand the rift, and why it stopped their new best friend from visiting…nor could they comprehend why their father couldn't somehow fix the issue. And the poor canine felt horrible that he couldn't help.

Especially when even his littlest was upset about the thing…she was so quiet, never wanting anything, and now, when she did, and it was the one thing he couldn't get.

"Pups," Dogamy murmured, ignoring the unhappy and mostly unfounded accusations that were being flung at him. He knelt to their level, his expression soft. "Would I really deprive you of someone who could make all of you so happy?"

The pups grew quiet, staring at the ground. "I don't like this anymore than you do. The pack is still stretched thin, and I would have appreciated his help. But…I can't reach him anymore. I'm sorry, my little ones…if I could find a way to change it, I would."

The pups whimpered and whined, while Canis looked up. His quiet small one, who was always content with someone holding her…the one who never made a fuss of any sort…had her eyes brimming with tears.

It was like a knife to the heart as he came forward. She whimpered at him. "…no more Pappy?"

He scooped her up, nuzzling her to get rid of her tears. "…no," he admitted. "No more."

"But I want him back…"

"I know you do, Dear…I know you do."

However, his action brought the others to him as they clung and attempting to climb his legs, all five demanding his affections to make up for the loss of their new best friend.

That night, Dogaressa returned much later than usual. She yawned, pausing as she saw Dogamy still awake at the table, his head resting on it. He looked at her quietly with a soft sound. She tilted her head, raising a brow. "Dogamy?" she asked softly as she came over. "What's going on?" She frowned. "The last time you gave me that look, it resulted in our troublemakers."

Dogamy covered his face with a grumble. She couldn't help a smile as she kissed his head, taking pleasure in lightly teasing him over his insistence on children to the point he had pleaded with her…though that was just because she was stringing him along to see how desperate he was…and it was entertaining to see what ways he would try to persuade her.

She pulled a chair around in order to sit beside him, quietly bringing an arm around him. "My teasing aside, what is so wrong that you're giving me that look?"

"The pups liked that world's Papyrus," he mumbled. Dogaressa tilted her head. She didn't understand the whole rift thing well, but she had gotten the general story from Dogamy, and so she knew the basics.

"They miss a stranger…"

"That's not surprising for most of them," Dogamy murmured. "They meet someone; they instantly claim them as a friend of sorts. The surprising part is…Canis wants him back too."

Dogaressa paused. "Canis? …Canis." She stared. "Her? She's never liked anyone outside of the pack—not that quickly…Canis wants him back?"

Dogamy nodded. "…and she used that face that she almost never does, but…"

"It breaks your heart each time she does."

He sighed. "Yes…"

Dogaressa licked his forehead. "I'm sorry, Dear, but…maybe something will turn around. You haven't told me everything, Dogamy, so I don't know why the rift has been sealed…but if things work out, then we'll go track down that Papyrus. Because…someone who Canis has learned to like, and shows energy for…"

She breathed out. "I would very much like to meet that person."

"He's not much different from our own, though…"

"Yes, but our Papyrus can't exactly come and fix this issue…" she replied.

"Sadly," he agreed.

The woman nuzzled him quietly. "Cheer up, Dogamy. We'll find a way to make them happy again."

"I didn't want them not happy in the first place though…"

"Yes, but we can't always help that," she replied. "And it's good for them, in some ways. To learn that we're not perfect." She laughed softly. "Kids think their parents are invincible after all." She reached forward, resting her finger on his muzzle, making him go cross-eyed briefly. "That's why they still think you're a wonderful trampoline."

"They need to know they're starting to weigh a little too much for that…"

She laughed. "You can tell them, but that's not going to save you. Just sign your parents up for it. It's not like they can get hurt."

"Throwing everyone else 'under the bus', as the Humans would put it?"

"But of course," she replied, licking his muzzle. "Now…let's fix your moping so that we can cheer up the pups tomorrow."

Months trickled by. Grillby sighed, adjusting his attire, and looked into the mirror quietly. At long last, he had been able to regain his form. His gaze went to his hand, where his wedding ring rested. The color seemed to change due to the flames, as his glow softened. Then, he stepped out of the bedroom, heading over to the living room where Muffet rested on the couch, leaning against Cupcake.

Thankfully, there was still a spot next to her to steal. As he sat down, she stirred, blinking two of her eyes open to look at him tiredly. "Grillby…?" she mumbled, raising a hand to rub at her eyes.

"Apologies," he murmured as he drew an arm around her. "I didn't mean to wake you…" He drew his other hand over her stomach habitually. "…has the little one been causing you trouble?"

Muffet covered her face, and he chuckled softly. Their little one wasn't much of a kicker, but Muffet got hopelessly flustered whenever it happened—or even when it was mentioned. Grillby found it charming as he relaxed, closing his eyes.

For a bit, they just laid there, not even sharing a word. Then, she gave a little gasp, and Grillby felt something against his hand. He smiled as he opened his eyes. "They're at it again," he chuckled.

Muffet simply whined her embarrassment, and hid her face. Grillby's flames dimmed to a soft glow as he pressed close. "Are you going to turn into a little fire Monster?" he teased.

"And who's fault will that be?" she muttered.

"Mine."

She spared a hand to lightly smack his shoulder.

"And I'll have no regrets."

"Cupcake, go eat him for me."

The monster jerked his head up with a confused sound of surprise. He looked to the elemental, and then at Muffet, before letting out a pitiful whine at her. He wasn't about to bite something on fire!

"Traitor," she grumbled.

Grillby chuckled. "Poor you, you've been betrayed."

"Indeed I have," she stated, folding her arms. "By all three of you."

"And we all still love you."

He laughed as she tried to push him away. "Shoo!"

"But I'm comfortable…"

"No!" But he heard laughter. "Go away!"

"I think not," he replied. "I want time with our currently stirring child too. Seeing as you hog them all the time."

"Do I look like I have a choice in the matter!?"

"Mmm…no, but it's fun to tease you about it."

"Oh! You can be so…so…oh, there are no words for you when you are like this, you horrible, horrible, Sir!"

"If I'm horrible, why am I still labelled as Sir…?"

"Oh you just—" She paused.

He tilted his head. "…Muffet, dear?"

"…Grillby…"

"Yes…?"

"…uh…um…I think we'll need a doctor."

He paused. "Are you saying they're…"

"Yes…" She looked timidly up at him. "…they're coming."

"…oh dear gods."

The next hour was a chaotic rush of calling the others, and being instructed to come to the lab, as Mettaton had cleared up Alphys's room for them. Dogamy was swift, bringing the Snowdrake doctor over as quickly as he could.

There was another hour of agonizing waiting for the others, who waited downstairs, aside from Grillby. Mettaton ended up being the one pacing back in forth in a frantic state, while Dogamy sat calmly at the desk, with Napstablook resting on his shoulders.

Eventually, Muffet's pain filled cries subsided…only to be replaced by another's. The three sighed their relief, and a few minutes later, the Snowdrake came down, smiling. "It went well, but please let them have some time to themselves first…"

Muffet looked down tiredly at the little one in her arms, while Grillby leaned forward, both staring in wonder at the little miracle she held. "…a little girl…" Muffet managed, smiling. The child was made entirely of flames, making their figure hard to distinguish.

Her flames were like Grillby's, bits of red, orange, and yellow dancing among her. Her eyes were different, as they were three orbs of purple light. Like Muffet, she had more than one pair of arms, though, instead of six, she merely had four. However, each hand was grabby as she reached around, trying to hold onto something.

One hand found a free hand of Muffet's. "…she's warm to the touch," Muffet murmured.

Grillby smiled as his daughter found his hand as well, her whole hand wrapping around a lone finger. "She'll stay like that for her first few months, anyhow. After that, she'll start being able to change her temperature…meaning you will have to be careful with handling her."

"With you around, I'm not too worried," Muffet assured.

Grillby's flames crackled as he peered at their little one. "Now, Muffet…what name shall we give our little one?"

Muffet gave a hum. "I've had a general idea of what to think for with names…"

"It's always ingredients with you, though," he half teased. "Or bakery products."

"And your family tends to have names related to or reminding you of 'fire'," she pointed out. "And yours is a way of cooking."

"Huh…" Grillby shrugged, and looked down. "Well, she's a perfect blend, don't you think? Of spider and her element? Perhaps the name should be so as well…"

"Part your trait and part mine, hmm?" Muffet paused. "What kind of name would that be…"

Grillby thought it over. A term to blend their naming styles…where to start? "Rotisserie…"

Muffet paused. "Rotisserie?" she asked in confusion, frowning. "As a name?"

"Just a starting point," Grillby assured quickly. "It's a style of cooking, but also in the name of a few things…"

"Rotisserie…that one doesn't work," she murmured. "…oh!" She looked up, smiling with her little fangs gleaming. "…Rotisa. What do you think of Rotisa?"

Grillby smiled. "Well, it'll definitely be a unique name."

"Of course it would," she grumbled. "Look where you were fishing around for the name," she muttered. "In cooking, mind you."

"What were you expecting?"

"Honestly, I have no idea anymore." Grillby shook his head in amusement as Muffet held their daughter close…their little Rotisa. He drew his arms around both of them. It wasn't perfect just yet, but for now, the hurt and the worries had been numbed by the new bundle of life they held.

Author's note: See? we still know how to do nice things!