Is it cool if I hold your hand?

Is it wrong if I think it's lame to dance?

Do you like my stupid hair?

Would you guess that I didn't know what to wear?

I'm just scared of what you think

You make me nervous…

First Date – Blink-182

Chapter 14: The Date?

"SO, I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT OUR DATE-"

The sound of abrupt choking and coughing had interrupted Papyrus.

The fact that it was me who was choking on the first bite of the spaghetti he had prepared, right when he had said this statement, was nothing more than a coincidence.

After I had managed to swallow my bite and catch my breath, I cast my gaze over to the tall skeleton, a faint warmth in my cheeks giving evidence to the blush now there. "W-what?" I set my fork down on the table as I stared at Papyrus. "What are you talking about?"

We were currently in the dining area of their home. In the center of the table was a pet rock that was currently covered in sprinkles. Papyrus had just emerged from the kitchen carrying plates of spaghetti for Sans and himself when he said this and he had paused after he had set a plate down in front of his brother. He focused his gaze on me, his bright ever present smile never wavering.

"OUR DATE," Papyrus repeated, ignoring the chuckles that were coming from his brother, as he took his own seat and set his plate in front of him. "DURING OUR EPIC BATTLE, YOU TOLD ME THAT MY SCARF WAS NICE ON ME. A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF FLIRTING! NOT THAT I BLAME YOU HU- AH- AMI. I AM VERY GREAT, WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO DATE ME? I WAS THINKING YOU COULD SHOW ME HOW TO BAKE ONE OF YOUR SPAGHETTI PIES, A LAZANEEYA I THINK YOU CALLED IT? IF NOT, THEN I DID TAKE OUT A BOOK FROM THE LIBRARY ON DATING AND I HAD BEEN RESEARCHING ON THE TOPIC WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING AND-"

He just went on and on and on and all I could do was sit there and stare at this sweet and naive skeleton monster. I looked at his brother and blinked at him, the flabbergasted look on my face was telling. Sans didn't say anything but continued chuckling under his breath as he watched me, more than likely waiting to see what I would do. Deciding that this had gone on for much too long, I took in a breath and focused my gaze back on Papyrus. "I didn't flirt with you Papyrus," I said, "I was complimenting your scarf, trying to be nice, but that didn't mean I wanted to go out on a date with you."

He stopped his rambling and looked at me, a slight look of hurt appearing. "SO… YOU DIDN'T LIKE MY SCARF?"

Oh my heavens…

"That is not what I meant," I said, trying to say this delicately without hurting his feelings. "Sweetie, a date is something two people, or monsters, do when they are interested in each other as more than friends. It's the start to something hopefully romantic. I was giving you a compliment, which is what friends do, not flirting. There were no romantic feelings involved. I just wanted to be your friend. Do you see me as a friend or something more?"

Papyrus looked stunned at first and then he frowned as he thought over my question. He looked at me and then at his brother and then back to me. I wondered if I just confused him more.

"WELL, I SEE YOU AS A FRIEND," he began as he continued to study me, "I THOUGHT THAT IF YOU WERE FLIRTING WITH ME THAN THAT MEANT I HAD TO GO OUT ON A DATE WITH YOU. BUT YOU WEREN'T FLIRTING, YOU WERE COMPLIMENTING ME? THAT MEANS YOU SEE ME AS A FRIEND AS WELL?"

I smiled as as I gave him a nod, "Yes Papyrus, I do see you as a friend."

The energy behind his smile had emerged again as he straightened up in his seat. "WOWEE! WE HADN'T EVEN HAD OUR FIRST DATE AND I ALREADY HIT THE FRIEND ZONE!"

I quickly covered my mouth with my hand as a choking laugh escaped me. Don't laugh at him, don't laugh at him, don't laugh at him…

Sans' deep laughter erupted from him as he sat back in his chair, throwing an arm over his face to cover it from view. Papyrus looked affronted as he cast his gaze to his brother. "SANS! WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING? THIS IS A SERIOUS DISCUSSION WE ARE HAVING HERE." He turned his attention back to me. "I AM SORRY AMI, MY BROTHER TENDS TO HAVE BAD TIMING." He cleared his throat as he started digging into his breakfast spaghetti. "NOW, DATING IS FOR TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN EACH OTHER AS MORE THAN FRIENDS." He took a bite of his spaghetti and chewed thoughtfully as he cast his gaze from me to his brother, who was still chuckling, and back to me.

I couldn't help but stare at the tall skeleton as he chewed his food and swallowed it. Since he was nothing more than bones, I could see the food rolling around between his teeth, getting chewed up before rolling to the back of his throat as if there were an invisible tongue moving it. When he had swallowed, the food completely disappeared from sight… I wondered if their food down here was affected by their magical bodies. They didn't seem to have toilets down here like humans did… In fact, now that I thought about it, I hadn't had the urge for the toilet myself since I left Toriel's…

"I GOT IT!" Papyrus slapped his fork down on the table and pointed a gloved hand at me. "SANS! YOU CAN TAKE AMI OUT ON A DATE!

The sudden coughing that erupted had not been from me this time. I looked over at Sans, who sat on the side of the table to my left, looking as if he had just choked on his own chuckle. He got a hold of himself before he looked at Papyrus, a deep blue hue showing on his cheekbones. "Bro, I don't know what you're talking about..."

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SANS?" Papyrus asked as he focused his gaze on his brother. "YOU WERE JUST TELLING ME LAST NIGHT THAT IF YOU WERE TAKING AMI ON A DATE, YOU WOULD TAKE HER TO THE WATERFALLS TO SEE THE ECHO FLOWERS. REMEMBER? I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF A PLACE TO TAKE AMI AND COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING SO I ASKED YOU AND-"

"I gotta get to work," said Sans as he quickly got up from the table, the blue hue on his cheekbones had gotten even deeper. He didn't look at me as he stuffed his hands in the pockets of his deep blue hoodie.

"SANS?" His brother called out him but the shorter skeleton didn't say a word as he walked through the living room and left the house, the front door slamming behind him.

I winced at the loud boom that echoed through the living space and I looked at the tall skeleton with a gentle smile. Something was going on with Sans and whatever it was, his brother was not privy to it. I couldn't help but feel guilty. The topic of dating seemed to have a hit a sore spot for Sans… I wondered if it had brought up some unwanted memories? Did he lose someone special to him? I could understand that feeling all too well.

"I'll go talk to him Papyrus," I said as I got up from the table as well. "Do you know where he's headed?"

"HE HAS ANOTHER SENTRY POST EAST OUT OF TOWN, DEEPER INTO THE CAVES ON THE WAY TO WATERFALL," he said in reply, the sad look on his face was not one that I liked. "I HOPE I DIDN'T MAKE HIM TOO UPSET… HE'S NEVER LOOKED LIKE THAT BEFORE… SO SAD..."

"Do you think..." I could feel the blush in my cheeks as I paused, trying to gather my thoughts, before I looked to the front door. "Do you think he would've really wanted to go out on a date?" I looked at Papyrus. "I like your brother. He's funny and sweet." I had to make this right. I didn't like the sight of both skeleton brothers being upset but seeing Sans had cut something deep in me. Sans has been nothing but helpful since I first met him and I knew I needed his help further if I wanted to get to my son in one piece. It also helped that I finally acknowledged my growing affection to this charming and lazy skeleton. After the battle with Papyrus, it was like my very soul had focused itself right onto Sans from the moment he touched me...

"DO YOU LIKE MY BROTHER AS MORE THAN A FRIEND?" Papyrus asked, his gaze focusing on me as he studied with renewed interest.

I looked at him in turn, mulling the answer to that question over in my head, before I have a single nod. "I… do," I said, the answer that came out surprising even me.

Papyrus blinked before the frown that had been on his face disappeared. "THAT EXPLAINS WHY YOU DIDN'T WANT TO DATE ME! YOU ALREADY WANTED TO GO OUT ON A DATE WITH MY BROTHER! THOUGH I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD, HE'S A LAZYBONES THAT SLEEPS ALL DAY..."

I couldn't explain the reason why either but there it was as plain as day. I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me. "He makes me laugh," was all I could say in response.

"HE DOES?" Papyrus looked absolutely aghast at the thought. "WELL… YOU'RE STILL MY FRIEND, EVEN IF YOU HAVE BAD TASTE IN JOKES."

I could only chuckle as I looked at the table. "I'm sorry I didn't finish my plate, would you mind if I pack it up in my basket? I could take it for the journey."

"REALLY?" He looked absolutely delighted as he got up quickly and reached over to snatch my plate before I could grab it. "I'LL GET IT PACKED UP NICE FOR YOU! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, AM A GENIUS AT ORGANIZING!" He disappeared into the kitchen before I could get another word in. I simply smiled and went to get my basket from the guest room upstairs.

-o-

After Papyrus had packed the spaghetti in some Tupperware (Mettaton branded and approved) and stuffed it into my basket among the other items, he had quickly given me his cellphone number. He was amazed to discover my smart phone and, after discovering that it did get a signal down here with whatever technology they used, he programmed it into my phone. "SO THAT WAY YOU CAN CALL ME WHENEVER YOU WANT! AS FRIENDS!"

I had given him my number as well and, with a call you later exchanged, I made my way east out of the town of Snowdin. The very same path on which I had my battle with Papyrus was still filled with fog. As I made my way down the path, it began to get warmer and warmer until finally the fog lifted and the snow began to disappear. Ahead of me was a large dark opening leading further into the caverns. Taking a deep breath, I set my basket down and pulled off my green hoodie, already beginning to feel the warmth seeping in and making me sweat. Stuffing my hoodie into the basket, I just barely managing to close the lid and latch it closed. After that, I straightened out my blouse as well, which was a paler shade of green than my hoodie.

Picking up my basket, I proceeded down the path and deeper into the caverns. I kept an eye out for a sentry post as I made my way down the path that followed a river. Several waterfalls fell from above me, splashing down to the river and helping to continue in its flow. As I walked, I noticed several large blocks of ice were floating down the river only to disappear around the bend, away from where the path led. I kept on walking until the path led me to what looked like a corridor. Once I made it to this corridor, it was to find two monsters lingering around the area. One looked to be a child, a little yellow reptile with spikes on its head and a wearing a yellow striped shirt that looked like it had no arms. I wondered if the monster kid itself did not have arms or if it was just the shirt itself…

The other monster was an adult monster wearing a sleeveless turtle neck with a gold fish emblazoned on the front. He was standing on his own fins and smiling away as he watched me walk by with interest. I could only assume he was watching me because his head was turning as I passed him, his eyes were hidden behind a pair of shades. I simply smiled at the monster before I focused my attention back to the corridor. The walls looked like they had been shaped and formed over the years by the dripping water from above. Several glowing crystals were imbedded in the walls, either by the monsters or a natural occurrence. Up ahead, snuggled cozily against a corner of the corridor, its roof covered in snow and looking much the same as the one before it, was the sentry post Papyrus had pointed me to.

Behind the counter of said sentry post was my favorite skeleton, snoring away on the job. My affection for this monster had seemed to grow since I had last seen him and I couldn't help the smile on my lips as I walked over to the sentry post and stood in front of him. He was still sleeping, his eye sockets closed, as he maintained a well balanced pose of leaning his chin in his hand. Not being able to help myself, I reached out and knocked on the counter to get his attention.

His snoring stopped and he slowly opened one eye socket. "Who's there?"

"Pasture," I said, a bright smile playing on my lips as his gaze focused on me.

A flicker of something passed his face before he closed his eye socket let out a yawn. "Pasture who?"

"Pasture bedtime, isn't it?"

His eye sockets snapped open and his gaze focused on me, the look in those pin pricks was enough to make my heart almost stop in surprise. It was so intense… His gaze was still focused on me and the fact that he didn't laugh made me feel self conscious. I shuffled from one foot to the other as a deep blush filled my cheeks. "I guess there are some jokes even you won't find funny, huh?"

As if a switch had flipped, his entire demeanor changed from intense and focused to laid back and nonchalant. "Heh… Good one snow angel..." was all he said as he slumped himself back over his counter. "Sorry, can't talk much right now, I gotta work. I'll catch you later..." He closed his eyes and apparently went back to snoozing.

I could be mistaken but he seemed to be even more aloof than he had been this morning. I didn't know what I had said but something told me that joke I just gave him was more than just bad… Had he heard it before from the person who he missed? The memory I had experienced at Grillby's flashed to the forefront of my mind. I felt a stab of empathy in my heart of hearts and even more, dare I admit it, a twinge of envy. I envied this person who held this monster's heart, this person whose memory I had somehow became privy to. There was something about him that pulled at me, my strange affection for him making no sense but there it was. I was envious of this unknown person, be they monster or human, who held his affections. There was something there… Something missing… It was important, I knew it was… Something to do with him, with my son, with this place...

Not truly thinking about what I was doing, I leaned over the counter and pressed my warm lips against his brow. That snapped him to attention faster than the knock knock joke did and his elbow slipped, his chin connecting heavily with the wood of the counter. A deep blue blush was in his cheekbones as he let out a groan, straightening himself out while he rubbed his chin. "W-what was that for?"

The blush was in my own cheeks but determination was filling me, some unknown feeling welling up from deep within me as the sense of deja vu strengthened. "That was to get your attention," I said with bright smile. I set my basket on the counter and leaned on it, "So, about that date, I was thinking that taking a look at those flowers would be lovely. Are you going on a break soon?"

"Look snow angel, I get it, I'm not-" he paused and looked at me, his gaze studying me intensely. "What?"

I blinked at him as he studied me. I simply leaned my chin against my closed fist as I smiled at him. "You, me, a date? I rather liked the idea but if you are really busy..."

"T-that's my… But I always... I-" was all he could get out in reply, the look of utter shock was no joke. He genuinely looked surprised at the thought of me wanting to go on a date with him. I didn't understand what he was trying to say but I didn't comment on it. I simply waited for him to say yes or no.

It took him a minute as he studied me, looking for something, for what I don't know but I'm sure the warmth and affection in my gaze was a given. He must have found what he was looking for because he leaned forward over the counter and reached out a finger to gently tuck an errant curl behind my ear. "Are you sure, snow angel?"

I shivered at his touch, I could sense the magic rolling off of him. He was strong, much more stronger than he let on. The instinctual part of me had always been well aware of this fact and I couldn't help but lean into his touch. "Always for you," was all I could say.

The answer had touched something deep in him because the pin pricks of his gaze disappeared and a deep blue hue appeared in his cheekbones once more. I wondered if he sensed the same things I did… That all of this was becoming achingly familiar…

"G-gimme a minute, I'll be back in a jiff." He pulled away from me almost hesitantly before he turned and disappeared on the spot. I wasn't surprised at the sight of it. I always knew he had a unique way getting around this place. I grabbed my basket and turned around, my gaze taking in the sight of the corridor and of the monster kid kicking rocks into the waterfall nearby. A few moments later, Sans appeared right in front of me. He was wearing the same style of clothing as before- his blue hoodie, his black shorts- but they looked like they had been washed and dried, no wrinkle in sight. He was even wearing shoes, a pair of sneakers with the laces untied, but it was a step up from the pink slippers.

"Just had to let the boss know I was taking the rest of the day off. Ya ready?" he asked as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, the warmth in his gaze and the nervousness in his ever present smile made me feel slightly better. Whatever his memories held of this unknown person who held his affections, at least he was giving me a chance. I couldn't help my smile as I gave a nod and tucked my basket into the crook of my elbow. I think, that after everything I had been through since Sully had disappeared, it would be all right for me to take a moment and do something that made me… really happy. Just this once, I didn't want to feel the guilt, the blame, nor the sadness. I wanted to be… happy.

"Lead the way."