It took them a few hours to sort through the clothes they had been given. The pair of them just ended up eating toast on the floor, while Sans tried on, and showed off every shirt and pants he'd been given. Gaster was able to put aside maybe a quarter of the clothes for Sans.

And after that, Sans helped him unpack the house. Not that it took very long; Gaster didn't have many possessions. Sans had been quick to point out this fact as well... in a very judgemental manner for a seven year old. Gaster was made to feel oddly guilty about his rather pathetic living arrangements by his tiny remarks.

To be fair, Gaster wanted to see Asgore anyway. After what he saw last night, he couldn't just sit back. He needed to know what the Barrier was.

Which is how life found them stepping off the boat into Hotland.

Sans clung to Gaster's leg.
[Sans, what's wrong?] Gaster wondered.

[Th.. this place… has lava everywhere!] He squeaked.

[It IS called Hotland, Sans.] Gaster chuckled. [And, Mount Ebbott is a volcano, after all.]
[A volcano!? They pushed me into a volcano?!]

Gaster blinked. [Do you….remember?]

Sans nodded quickly, but then paused, and shook his head slowly. [I… thought I did…]

Gaster smiled sadly. [I understand.] He reassured him. [It happens to me all the time.]

[Where are we going…?] Sans asked.

[Well, you will need a bed of your own…. And we will probably need a dining table…. All these things I never would have considered, really.] He paused and then added, [And, I want to speak to a friend of mine. I have… questions. And, they have a son, about your age.]

Sans pulled a face. [I don't know… I don't…. really get on well with….. kids my age…]

[I'm sure you will get along with Asriel just fine. He's a very kind boy.] Gaster said.

[If….If you say so, sir…]

Gaster frowned a little. [You don't have to call me 'sir'.] He said. [You can call me by my name, if you like.]

[Your name?]

[Gaster!]

Sans looked up at him. [Mister Gaster.]

Gaster sighed. [Just Gaster is fine, I really don't mind!]

[But all adults want to be called Miss, or Mister.] He said.

[They do?] Gaster wondered. [What about your parents?]

Sans looked away.

[...Oh.] That meant one of two things, and Gaster was not really sure which he prefered. [Well, don't worry about it, okay?] He said. [If you don't call me Mister, then I won't get angry.]

Sans nodded, but still did not seem willing to try it.

Gaster led Sans by the hand through the streets of the big city. It was far more pleasant for their kind than when Asgore had first brought him through… the people no longer looked at him as if he was the strangest thing they had ever seen, or as if he were going to go on a rampage.

Which was good for Sans. The child was nervous enough without having to face that kind of scorn.

Thinking that it would be better to speak with Asgore before going and purchasing large furniture pieces, he led them up to the castle gate.

Sans stared up at the huge gate and the castle behind it. [W…..we're…. Going in there?!]

[Yes!] Gaster responded. [This is where my friend lives.]

[In a Castle?]

Gaster smiled at him. [He is king, after all.]

[KING?!]

"Halt!" One of the guards shouted as they approached. "Who goes there?"

Gaster smiled. "I moved out yesterday, and you have already forgotten me?" He asked.

The guards looked him up and down. "Oh… Doctor Gaster…." They looked a little sheepish. "Sorry… We weren't expecting you today. And…. the Captain has had us on edge today."

Gaster raised an eyebrow. "Today?"

"More than normal, I mean." They explained. "He seems…. Agitated."

Not that Gaster thought him to have ever been any other way, but, the guards spent more time with him than the scientist did, so, perhaps there was something more subtle at play.

"Well, you know you have nothing to fear from me." He said. "May we come in?"

That made the guards blink. "We?"

Gaster turned slightly, to reveal Sans, who had been hiding behind his legs. "I have someone I wish to introduce to the king."

"Oh!" They smiled at the boy. "We didn't know you had a son, Doctor!"

Sans blushed, smiling a little.

"He's only come into my care as of yesterday…" Gaster said, not blind to how happy being called his son seemed to make Sans. "I wanted Asgore to meet him."

"But of course, Doctor! Do you need an escort?"

Gaster gave Sans' hand a squeeze, and started to walk through the door. "No, thank you. I think I can guess where he will be, at this hour."

"Good to see you again, Doctor!"

Gaster couldn't help but feel a sense of safety, back inside the castle walls. It was hard to imagine he only left yesterday… it felt like years of adventure had been crammed into one night.

[Those guards… let you in with hardly a thought.] Sans remarked.

[Well, this is where I used to live.] Gaster explained. [Before moving into the house we're in now.]

They walked together through the halls, before coming to the grand set of doors that lead to the throne room. As Gaster had supposed, there was a Chamberlain outside, which meant the King was meeting with ministers and other such people.

"Ah, Doctor! You've come back!" The Chamberlain exclaimed.

Gaster smiled. "Just because I live somewhere else, does not mean that I will never come back into the castle!" He said. "Not when I have so many friends here!"

The other creature smiled. "Good to hear. There were a few tears here yesterday afternoon, when his Majesty told us that you were leaving."

Gaster blinked at that. "There… were?"

"You had lived here for such a long time, and left so suddenly! It was quite a shock!"

Gaster blushed. "I…. didn't realise…"
Sans looked up at the ash coloured blush on the older skeleton's face. [...You really DO blush in grey! How weird!]

[Oh shush.] Gaster huffed. [No teasing, Sans!]

The Chamberlain looked down at the child. "Oh!... Doctor, who is this?"

Gaster smiled. "This is Sans." He explained. "I had brought him to meet Asgore… as he is living with me now."

"Ahhh, I see! So that is why you have come back so soon."

Gaster nodded. "Is he free? I also had something I needed to discuss."

The Chamberlain looked at his notes. "Well, I believe the next person who had arranged to see his Majesty isn't here yet. So, I will slot you in next." He said. "Take a seat… he won't be long."

Gaster smiled. "Thank you." And with that, he led Sans over to the seats against the wall of the antechamber.