We're coming to an end guys! There's still some chapters left but yeah, I'm excited :D Thank you for the reviews and all the support. You're awesome.

Ever since that night Papyrus' nightmares had been of daily occurrence. He'd wake up with a start, not screaming but just simply crying, and not being able to fall back asleep. It was only that first night that he'd allowed Sans to comfort him; after that he wouldn't mention them, acting as if they never happened. Unfortunately Sans' room was right next to his so he'd hear him crying at night, woken up by the sudden sobs.

It killed him. It killed him not being able to do something about it. He'd tried talking to Papyrus but he wouldn't say anything, acting nonchalant and even cheerful just to change the topic. Once he'd even gotten angry and stormed out of the living room to lock himself in his bedroom. Sans didn't attempt talking it out ever again.

He'd also tried getting Grillby to talk to his brother, but the elemental wasn't lucky either. The most he'd been able to do was reassure the kid that he was loved and could talk to them anytime, but that didn't change the situation: Papyrus still had nightmares, and still didn't talk about them.

During the day he seemed to be fine, his usual excited self, still nagging Sans about being lazy, loving spaghetti and going to school. It was just during the night that his vive changed, even before going to bed. He would try to get Sans to let him be up for more time than they had agreed on, suggesting movies, long books and board games. Sans couldn't find it in him to say no to that hopeful face, so he complied. Maybe he didn't get as much sleep as he needed –or wanted– but he didn't know how else he could keep his brother as happy as possible.

Grillby suggested getting Papyrus a therapist –and implied Sans needing one too– but when he tried talking about it to him the skeleton had been furious, going on and on about being fine and being tired of Sans nagging him about it all the time. Admittedly, that hurt. Sans didn't try that again.

He was worried. His brother acted like nothing was wrong, and he did very well at school, had a friend, told everything about his day to Grillby when he came over; but Sans was the one who heard how scared and sad he really was at night. And he could see it in his brother's eyes too every morning when they got up and every night when they went to sleep.

"I just don't know anymore" he complained to Grillby one night while they were getting laying the table before Papyrus got out of school "He barely even sleeps anymore. It's bound to take a toll on him someday"

The fire elemental handed him some plates to lay on the table "I'm worried about him too, Sans, but you know he's been through a lot. Maybe it's better to give him some space, like how I gave it to you at first when you needed it"

Sans frowned "It didn't take me a whole month to open up! It even looks like it's gonna go on for longer!"

Grillby placed a hand on his shoulder "You and him are not the same, Sans. You're calmer, older, and much more mature. He's still a kid. He doesn't know how to handle this, and no matter how much he's improved in the time you've known him he still is a kid and will act like one" he sighed and crouched to look Sans in the eyes "I'm sorry that you have to deal with this after what you've been through, both of you, but you knew it wasn't going to be easy"

"Yeah, I know" Sans' shoulders slumped "I just hoped…Well, he was doing so well! It's my fault he's sad again. I should have watched my mouth" he frowned and rubbed at his eyes trying to get rid of the tears that had started welling up.

"It's not your fault, Sans. It was going to happen sooner or later. It might have triggered the nightmares, but you're not the reason. Something was going to trigger them someday. Come here" he took the plates from the skeleton's hands and placed them on the floor before hugging him "You're a really good brother, Sans. You care about Papyrus so much, I'd never seen someone love a sibling as much as you love him"

"I still can't help him" he protested returning the embrace, tears now falling free. He hid his face in Grillby's shirt, for once letting himself be comforted.

"I know. And I'm sorry I can't help him either. You shouldn't have to worry about things like that, but your situation is not the best. I wish I could do more. But we can't force Papyrus to do anything, so we just have to wait until he feels ready" the monster turned so that he could wipe Sans' tears "Ok?"

Sans nodded "Yeah. I better go fetch him though. Sorry, I didn't help at all with the table" he smiled apologetically.

He managed to distinguish Grillby's flames curling up to smile "That's fine. Go get him, dinner will be ready by the time you get here."

After that conversation Sans had tried taking things easier. He still got woken up in the middle of the night but tried to go back to sleep, and during the day he tried to act as normal as possible around his brother, trying to show him he wouldn't bother him anymore. At first Papyrus hadn't appeared to have noticed, but then Sans started catching the skeleton looking at him with a frown, as if confused. Of course once he was discovered he turned his head to try and dissimulate but Sans knew his brother had noticed the change. What he wasn't sure of was if Papyrus was happy about it or not.

He ended up finding out the answer by accident. And he was not pleased.

During the weekend Sans liked to go to Grillby's. He loved his brother, but he knew that the only way he could have all the junk food he wanted without someone complaining about it the whole time was if he went on his own. Sure, Grillby always advised him to eat as healthy as possible, but he didn't nag him about it, so he usually went there for a few hours before going back home.

Meanwhile Papyrus liked staying at home. He was eager to go out, too, but he didn't dare do that without his brother, yet. He made up excuses for it, but Sans knew he still felt insecure about being outside on his own. And so while Sans was out, Papyrus was happy to stay at home and solve some riddles and puzzles Sans found for him.

Or so Sans thought.

One Saturday he got back from Grillby's, satisfied after a nice meal. He was home earlier than usual, but he had been talking to Grillby and arrived to the conclusion that maybe Papyrus didn't talk to him about what was bothering him because he thought Sans would judge him, and so he had decided that if his brother didn't tell him about his problems, then maybe Sans could tell him about his –not all of it, of course. He wasn't thatselfish.

Once he had closed the door he called out for his brother, expecting to see him in the living room, perhaps watching TV. He wasn't. He wasn't in his bedroom, either.

Sans' ever present smile tightened, his brow furrowed. He searched through the whole house but there was no trace of his little brother. When he was just about to panic he went outside, deciding the best thing he could do was get Grillby and ask for help, but stopped dead in his tracks when he heard some noise from the back of the house. It wasn't loud, in fact he wasn't even sure he'd actually heard it, but then he heard it again and quickly turned to run that way to find out what was going on.

When he got there he gasped, his mind going through all kind of emotions: relief, confusion, anger, disappointment, more confusion, suspicion, protectiveness.

Was that his brother with…a little flower? That little flower? The one he had only once got his brother to talk about, who tricked him into following him to the woods, lied to him, made him doubt the love of his family? Of course, Papyrus hadn't said all of that; in fact the skeleton was sure the flower had good intentions. But Sans knew better. Papyrus was too nice for his own wellbeing.

"Papyrus? Who is this?" he asked trying to keep calm, appear unaffected.

At the sound of his voice his brother turned around, obviously surprised and seeming even a little afraid. Sans hands balled into fists. What had that little shit told his brother?

Papyrus started stammering, obviously nervous. "O-oh, Sans! I thought y-you were with dad-Grillby!" he corrected himself, glancing briefly at the flower, who nodded almost imperceptibly.

Sans breathed out through his nose.

"I got home early. Wanted to see you. Who is this?" he asked again, his patience running out faster than usual.

"Uh-he's a friend"

"A friend, huh?" Sans smiled dangerously "Is he that friend I told you not to be around?"

Papyrus was about to protest but the flower spoke up "Howdy, I'm Flowey! You're Sans, right? Papyrus has told me a lot about you"

Sans fought the urge to stomp on it just because he didn't want Papyrus to see. "Yeah, that'd be me. Papyrus told me a lot about you too. I didn't like what I heard" he said, the warning obvious in his voice.

"Oh, that's too bad. Too bad Papyrus doesn't care about that, right?" Flowey turned to look at Papyrus, smiling.

"Uh"

Sans didn't let him even start. "He does care. And even if he didn't I wouldn't let him be around scam like you" he stepped forward threateningly "Now, if you don't mind, I'm gonna ask you to stay away from my brother, or you can bet you're gonna have a bad time. Ok?"

"Interesting" was the only thing the flower said, now smiling smugly.

"Sans, don't be like that! Flowey's not bad" suddenly interrupted Papyrus, his expression angry "I am fine! Don't scare away my friend!"

Sans looked scandalized "What? Papyrus, he's obviously just playing with you! Who knows why, but you know as well as I do that there are wicked monsters out there"

"Yeah, I know that more that you do" was the reply. Sans frowned, realizing the hidden meaning behind that answer. "So just…go, ok? I'll go home in a bit" the skeleton turned around, apparently deciding that was the end of the conversation.

"No. You don't get it Papyrus, and I'm not gonna let that jerk take advantage of you"

Flowey laughed "Well this is the most fun I've had in a while." The comment got lost in between the brother's argument.

"He's not taking advantage of me! He listens! And he doesn't treat me like I'm stupid, he tells me the truth!"

"Oh, so you're saying I don't!?"

"Yes! You never do! You lie so I won't be upset but I'm not an idiot, Sans, I notice things too!"

"Well apparently you're stupid enough to be around that thing!" he pointed at Flowey, who watched the argument with a satisfied expression.

"He's the only one who understands me! If I talk to you just say something so I'll feel better but maybe I don't want that, maybe I want to be sad for a while! Is that bad?" Papyrus looked like he was about to cry, and that was the only thing that made Sans stop lashing out. He stopped and processed what his brother was saying, but before he could try to explain Papyrus started talking again "Besides, it's not like you care…." he trailed off "–that much" he added when he saw his brother's expression.

"W-what do you mean – You know what? Come, let's talk inside. I don't want this guy to hear a private conversation" he turned to glare at Flowey. Papyrus was about to protest when he spoke again "Please." And Papyrus couldn't say no.

He waved goodbye to Flowey, who didn't seem at all troubled to be left outside of the conversation. Sans didn't know whether it was because he'd heard enough to be satisfied or because he'd find another way to hear the conversation. He didn't care either way.

The brother went inside, not daring to step close to the other. Sans walked to the couch and Papyrus followed, sitting at the other corner.

"Now, wanna tell me why you think I don't care?

"Are you going to listen to me or just say 'oh Pap, you're great, everything's fine'?" the boy mocked in an irritated tone.

Sans breathed out trying to stay calm. "I'm trying to talk to you, Papyrus."

"I just – I'm just tired. Sorry. Well, not sorry, I'm still angry, but I'm snappy and – That." He rubbed his eye sockets.

"I know. And I'm sorry about that. But you never talk about it so I never know how to help, and if I try to you just get offended, and apparently I don't care enough so I'm at a loss here, Papyrus. Just – What do you want from me?" he asked, feeling completely helpless.

"I – I just don't think you'd understand" his brother replied quietly.

"Well try me"

Papyrus fiddled with his fingers, then rubbed his hands, then pulled his legs up the couch. "Uhm. Well, you know I have nightmares and…they're about, well, him."

Sans nodded "I figured."

"Well, it's not just one dream, there's many of them but basically they all end up with him…telling me he's coming back. To –get me" he finished with a shiver.

"But, Paps, you know they're just dreams." Sans frowned. He could get that his brother was scared of the dreams but not that he thought they were actually real.

His brother looked like he was at the verge of tears. Maybe even a panic attack. "No, no! You don't get it! It's so real! And –And when I wake up it's like…Like he's around there. I can't see him but – And how would you know? He just disappeared one day and never showed up again! He could be back any day!"

Sans shut his eyes, mentally punching himself. Of course. In all these months he'd been with his brother it had never occurred to him that he actually didn't know what had happened to Gaster, and Papyrus was probably too scared to ask.

"Oh, Pap–"

"Don't – Don't lie to me, ok? I'm tired of you just telling me not to worry, because I do worry!" he hugged his legs tightly to his chest.

Sans shook his head "I wasn't gonna lie. Paps, he's dead. The Doctor died in an accident." Papyrus eyes widened, incredulous. Sans thought he'd probably stopped breathing. "A week later when I went to the lab to throw out all his stuff I found you there. And – Well, I was too worried making sure you got the life you deserved back and…Didn't tell you about this. I'm sorry" he closed his eyes, furious with himself.

"So – He's not out there?" was the only thing the little skeleton could muster.

Sans shook his head again and stayed quiet, not knowing what else he could say. After a few seconds of silence he heard sniffing and quickly scooped up his brother, placing him in his lap.

"Don't cry, Paps, really, you're safe, I'm not lying" he tried to reassure the boy.

"I know" he sobbed wetting his brother's hoodie "But – I'm a bad monster"

"What? Why would you think that!?" Papyrus shook his head. Sans hugged him tighter "Please, tell me, Pap"

Papyrus hid further into his brother's chest "Because I'm glad…I'm glad that he's dead" he cried.

Sans didn't know what to do with his emotions. He was only thirteen, how was he supposed to deal with all of this? He wished Grillby was there to help. He'd know what to do.

"I – I don't know how to make you feel better, Paps. Just know that – I feel the same way."

Papyrus lifted his head, surprised "Really?"

"Yeah. And I feel bad about that, too. But you need to know that you're the best monster I've ever known, and – Sorry, I'll stop" he interrupted himself. He didn't want Papyrus to think that he was just saying that to make him feel better. Although he was. But he couldn't help it, he hated seeing his brother cry.

"It's ok, Sans. I know you mean it. I'm just tired of acting like it makes me feel better. It does!" he added quickly, noticing the way Sans tightened his hold on him "But…It's not enough. I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize" the older skeleton placed his skull over his brother's "I hope now you know the truth you'll sleep better."

"Maybe" was the only response.

They spent a few minutes like that, trying to calm themselves and the other. In the end they decided to turn on the TV to distract themselves, though they ended up falling asleep.

Sans was woken up a few hours later. The nightmares didn't stop.