someone finally noticed that the story is repetitive! (seriously, it was even in the warnings! and all of the last five-ten or so chapters all happened in LESS THAN A WEEK!) that's good, because first of all, i need to know that, secondly, i'm so glad i wasn't the only one who felt that. the problem was that for the past two weeks i have been in a great writer's block and had terrible mood swings and sickness, so i just couldn't think of a way to advance the story.

but i finally got it! woohoo! time to get frisk back to business! at last! stupid me!

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO HAD READ, REVIEWED, FAVORITED, AND FOLLOWED MY STORY! I LOVE YOU ALL!

ENJOY ^^

warning:

Keep rocking, you guys.

A Step Forward

When they opened their eyes, they were nestled in Toriel's reading chair, still wrapped in the same blanket. Something crackled and they lazily moved their eyes to see the fireplace filled with bright flames hungrily consuming the darkened wood as food, the noise adding to the serenity of their predicament.

They blinked groggily, trying to remember the last time they actually felt awake, and raised their head slightly, not wanting to risk leaving their warm cocoon.

Toriel was sitting on one of the dining chairs, reading a book too far away for Frisk to read, her eyes heavy with dark fur lines behind her spectacles.

They yawned, the action alerting the weary boss monster. Toriel looked up and immediately placed down her book and took off her glasses. "My child, you are up."

She stood up and approached them, crouching when she reached them and placing a warm paw on their head. "How are you feeling?"

They shrugged, their body like jelly in the warmth. Toriel chuckled sadly and stroke their hair, wet strands brushing their cheeks, which meant that their mother had washed them beforehand.

They looked down and as they thought, they were in proper pajamas. They gave a small smile to their mother and cuddled into the chair, having more than enough room on the giant furniture.

Toriel hummed. "Sans told me what had happened. Do you want perhaps to tell me your side of the story? What had spooked you?"

Frisk tensed, scared with the fact that they had gotten into another attack. They… they thought they finally could put it behind them… a hand was placed on their shoulder and they looked slightly to the side to see Chara smile in relief at them.

*Afternoon, wimpy. You okay?

Frisk sighed. I… hate the fact that I can't remember… what being awake feels like. The panic attack… everything… feels so far away…

*I guess that's better than the previous times… Chara pointed to their side and Frisk turned to see a worried expression on their mother's face. They blinked and smiled sheepishly, having forgotten that she was in the room.

"What is wrong, my child?"

They shrugged and hesitantly took out their hands, making a motion of writing and their mother nodded, producing a pencil and their notepad as if she had waited for them. They smiled softly and scribbled on it.

'I don't know what happened. One second I was eating the pudding, then I was scared and saw some memories.'

They were about to show their mother what they wrote when suddenly it hit them what they wrote.

They were about to confess to their mother about their attacks.

Their hand begun to tremble and their thoughts begun to swirl.

*Frisk, you want to tell her? Chara asked them, shock and acceptance mingling in their words. It seems that Frisk wasn't the only one tired of the past few days' horrors.

"My child, what had you written?" A paw was placed on their trembling hand and gently drew away the notepad, the mother turning to read it.

Frisk screwed their eyes shut and looked away, prepared for anything.

Yet they still yelped when Toriel engulfed them with a big embrace and rubbed their back as she spoke. "I'm so sorry, my child. I'm so sorry that you had to go through this. I don't know which memories you saw, but I can deduce that's it's about how we hurt you, wasn't it?"

Frisk, wide eyed, nodded without thinking. Toriel sighed and Frisk tensed. "As I thought. Nothing we do will ever erase the fact that we had hurt you… but I want you to know this," Here Toriel drew back and held Frisk's shoulder firmly, the child looking up uncertainly, "I will do everything in my power that you will not be hurt by any of us ever again. Do you understand, my child?"

Their eyes widened in awe at the firm way their mother spoke but they nodded. Toriel's gaze softened and she sat on her knees on the floor so she could be in the same eye-level as them. "Asgore and I had been talking about how to care for you since it is obvious that we are lacking in that department."

Frisk stared at her as if she fell from the sky and the boss monster chuckled. "Strange, I know. But a stern talking from Sans had put us in our place."

Frisk picked up the notepad. 'Sans?'

An amused glint sparkled in the dark red eyes. "Yes, my baby. Your dunkle can be quite overprotective when he wants to be."

Frisk giggled. 'Sans named himself that way.'

"That he did." The boss monster's eyes softened and she inhaled deeply, placing her hands on her lap. "Frisk, we had made a call to your therapist."

Frisk froze and Toriel shook her head immediately. "We didn't ask him about your visit, though he wishes to talk to you tomorrow instead of Tuesday in light of this morning. Is that alright with you?"

Frisk took a moment to answer, but then nodded. The first visit was nice and it had made them lighter and helped them in that time after they had died. Maybe it'll help them again.

Toriel smiled in relief. "That's good. But back to the matter in hand. He said that perhaps we should have some sessions as well about being parents. Some sessions will be together. Some each of us by ourselves… and some with you."

Frisk blinked in confusion. 'Why?'

"Because you are the one who knows best what you need," Toriel replied. "And your father and I want nothing more than to fulfill what you wish for. We want you to be happy after all."

Frisk blushed and burrowed into their blankets. 'But you need to be happy too.'

"Oh, my child," Toriel exhaled lovingly, "There is nothing that makes a mother more happy than to see her child happy. When I had lost Asriel and Chara, I had thought that I won't ever be happy again—"

Frisk's ears perked up, feeling Chara tense next to them.

"—But when you asked me to be your mother, I couldn't help but feel so overjoyed that you wanted me. I have made so many mistakes yet you still call me 'mom'. You have no idea how much it gives me joy.

So now… now I want to give you the same feeling," Toriel placed a hand on Frisk's, staring into their wide eyes, "I am going to do everything in my power to keep you safe. Even if it meant cuddling you forever."

That made the child giggle at the unexpected joke and the boss monster chuckled. "I couldn't save you from dying. But I can save you from dying again.

Please trust me, my baby."

Frisk immediately nodded at that, spreading their arms and reaching for their mother. Toriel relaxed and drew them once more into a warm hug, nuzzling their hair in a kiss.

"I love you so much, my child. I love you so much, my heart hurts at that."

Frisk clutched to their mother and nodded, tears dropping and wetting the orange sleeve from the robe their mother was wearing. Toriel smiled and laughed softly, body slackened in relief.

"I'm so glad. I'm so honored to be the mother of such an incredible child."

Frisk blushed and hugged their mother tighter, the tears drying up quickly.

They stayed this way for a moment before they separated and Frisk picked up their notepad.

They knew what they needed to do now.

'Mom?'

"Yes, my child?"

'Can I visit the underground?'

Papyrus, wearing a simple pink hoodie and long red slacks and boots was blinking in confusion when Sans brought him over to Toriel's and Frisk's house.

"IS FRISK IN NEED OF A FRIEND AGAIN?" He asked his brother, who had hesitated in front of the front door, having shortcutted there for once. "BROTHER? WHAT'S GOING ON?"

Sans took a deep breath and turned to him. "frisk wants to go to the underground."

Papyrus stared at him for a moment before brightening up. "BUT THAT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA!"

"...why?"

"BECAUSE I HAVE SO MANY MORE THINGS I WANTED TO SHOW THEM THAT I DIDN'T BEFORE. AND THE UNDERGROUND IS THE PLACE WE ALL MET SO IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO GO TO AND RELAX! OUR MEMORIES ARE THERE!"

"huh… didn't think of it that way…" Sans shrugged and grinned easily. "you're so cool, bro."

Papyrus normally would have basked in the praise, but Sans sounded… nervous. He tilted his head and placed his gloved hands on his hips. "BROTHER? WHAT IS THE MATTER?"

His brother shrugged again. "frisk asked you to accompany them. i don't know why, but i don't like it…"

"YOU DON'T TRUST THEM?"

Sans shook his head. "i do. it's what's there that i don't. just be careful, okay?"

"ALRIGHT, BROTHER. IF THAT WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER." Papyrus patted his brother's shoulder and knocked on the door, striking a pose when Toriel opened the door.

"WORRY NOT, LADY TORIEL, FOR I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS HAS COME TO SAVE THE DAY."

Toriel chuckled wearily as she let them in. "I appreciate it, Papyrus. Frisk is in the living room."

"THANK YOU! I WILL NOW PROCEED!" The tall skeleton marched into the house, choosing not to comment when his brother and Toriel stayed behind since he had some matters of utmost importance to attend to.

He stepped into the living room, noticing the blazing fireplace and the small wrapped bundle in the reading chair. He took big steps and crouched before the chair.

"HELLO THERE, TINY HUMAN. YOU WISHED TO SEE ME?"

The bundle shifted and Frisk's head peeked up, a relieved smile blooming on their face. They took out their notepad and wrote on it.

'Hi, Papy.'

Papyrus grinned. "HOW ARE YOU FEELING?"

'Better. I sleep too much lately…'

"OH NO, HAS MY BROTHER'S LAZINESS RUBBED ON YOU?" Frisk giggled and shook their head.

'I don't like sleeping so much. How are you?'

"I AM VERY WELL, THANK YOU VERY FOR ASKING ME. NOW I HEARD YOU CALLED FOR MY SERVICES?"

Frisk nodded shyly. 'I want you to accompany me to the underground…'

The child looked hesitant but Papyrus placed a hand on his white t-shirt covered ribs. "WHY OF COURSE! THE GREAT PAPYRUS IS ALWAYS HAPPY TO HELP!"

Frisk giggled and beamed tiredly, heavy bags under their eyes. 'You're the best, Papy…'

Papyrus grinned and patted the blanket. "SO WHEN DO YOU WANT TO GO?"

Frisk mulled over it for a moment before nodding to themselves. 'It's still quite early so how about after I get ready?'

"OF COURSE! I AM READY WHENEVER YOU ARE." Papyrus gave thumbs up and the child smiled, giving back the same gesture to him. He helped them out of the chair and carried them up the stairs, seeing Toriel gazing at them with relief and worry.

"DON'T WORRY, LADY TORIEL. I WILL MAKE SURE FRISK IS ALWAYS SAFE." The boss monster relaxed and gave a smile, nodding to him and heading towards the kitchen.

Papyrus marched to the human's room and helped them search for their shoes, hearing them make airy giggles as if they had heard a joke. He grinned and produced the shoes from under the bed, showing his findings happily to the entertained child.

Frisk clapped and took the shoes gratefully, quickly pulling them on and snatching a heavy coat from the closet, yawning and stumbling a bit over themselves, as if they had to relearn how to walk again.

Papyrus watched them and grinned happily when the child looked back. "ARE YOU READY TO GO?"

They nodded and extended their hand to him. He grasped it gently and led them out of the door, finding Toriel just out of the door, who was holding a paper bag.

Frisk took a deep breath and released his hand, raising their notepad. Toriel sighed. "I know I can't stop you. But you had a panic attack today and I don't want you to suffer another one. Papyrus is capable, but unless you're staying at Hotland, which I get the feeling you won't, you're going to be cold and this morning…"

Frisk wrote something and she nodded. "I trust you. Just be careful, alright?"

Frisk shrugged. Toriel chuckled. "A mother can worry, my baby."

The boss monster then turned to Papyrus, giving him the bag. "Please look after them, alright?"

"OF COURSE! LEAVE IT TO ME!" Papyrus exclaimed, taking the bag, and the human clutched his free hand again, leading the two away from Toriel, the child giving her a wave before approaching Sans, who stood by the staircase.

"you sure 'bout that, kiddo?"

Frisk nodded. A shadow passed over Sans' skull, but the skeleton shrugged and patted the other's shoulder.

Frisk smiled and wrote something. Sans chuckled. "alright, i will. but just because my bro will smack me if i don't."

Frisk giggled and he turned to the tall skeleton. "they're all yours, bro."

"BROTHER…?" Papyrus eyed him suspiciously. "WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO LAZE FROM?"

"nothing." Sans shrugged. "just giving you a shortcut."

Papyrus raised a bone brow, but decided to let it go. "ALRIGHT THEN. BUT IF I FIND OUT THAT YOU DID LAZE OFF, I WILL HAVE TO TAKE EXTREME MEASURES."

"'course, bro." Sans nodded gravely, taking his place between the tall skeleton and the small human, looking even tinier next to the two, grinning widely to the worried boss monster and the three disappeared.

and i thought writing in sans' pov was hell... papyrus is a freaking mystery! *sigh* someone help me write him!

And this marks the end of the thirtieth installment. if you have any criticism or anything to add, i would be happy to hear them.

please read and review so i could do better or be happy that people enjoy my writings ^^

p.s. for those who didn't understand.

'Something written' - Frisk's written words.

Something in italics - is frisk talking to chara in their head.

*something in italics - is chara talking.

something in bold - flashback