Heya! Been a bit again, sorry. It took me a bit to get this sorted. Hope you enjoy and as always, tell me what you think! Okay?

Nightmare was scared.

He knew that Cross didn't mean any harm. He knew this. If the skeleton did, then he would've attacked them already. They would already be dead. So, he had nothing to fear, right?

Yeah. Still…

He couldn't help but imagine. If Cross did actually intend to cause them harm, that he just wanted to lull them into a false sense of security. That the moment they returned home, to their base, he would turn on them and destroy everyone there too.

God, he was a horrible person for thinking these things. He knew, on some level, that Cross was a good person. That he wouldn't do anything like that.

But the guilt…

He knew Cross was good. Just like he knew that people who carried guilt knew that they did something bad. Just like Cross did. Nightmare felt his own guilt for thinking like this, but he just…couldn't let it go.

He trusted Template, he really did, but sometimes the other reminded him too much of…of Dream, before he ate the apples. The innocence, the happiness, the smile, everything reminded him of his brother. This also meant that the Pixelian possibly shared the same naivety that Dream did.

Which made it Nightmare's job to protect him.

Before his thoughts could stray even further, Template shouted behind him. Nightmare's eyes widened and he whirled around, his thoughts going wild.

He was right. Oh god, he was actually right! Cross was just manipulating them, and now Template was dead. He was next and then who knows what will happen. No, he couldn't die. He had to stay alive to fight Dream. Focus—

Joy.

The feeling coming from Template in waves was joy, not fear.

First, Nightmare sagged in relief. Then he tensed back up with annoyance. Then, to top it all off, he facepalmed, laughing quietly to himself.

He glanced back up at his friend. Template was bouncing in place, a grin stretched wide across his face. Cross was looking at Template with wide eyes. He clearly didn't expect this reaction. Then, something seemed to come to mind and he smiled a bit, which made Template happier.

"You mean it?" Template asked, as if he couldn't believe what he had heard. "Like, really?"

Cross glanced at Nightmare before looking back at Template, speaking with a quiet voice. "…Sure."

Template's grin widened even further. Nightmare didn't think it was possible. The Pixelian shouted again and seemed to finally remember Nightmare existed too. He turned and bounced up to him.

"Nightmare," he said, voice giddy from excitement, "Guess what?"

Nightmare raised a brow bone. He decided to play along. "What?"

"I asked Cross to join us and he agreed! Isn't that great?" Template paused, leaning back. "I mean, he is allowed, right?"

Nightmare hesitated. He was afraid of this.

Template already made up his mind about inviting Cross, just like he suspected. Which was…quite the feat, actually, as it hadn't been that long since they returned to the skeleton in the first place. And because he already asked, and Cross already agreed, Nightmare had to agree as well, or else he would be seen as a jerk.

He looked at Template, who was looking at him with some version of puppy dog eyes. It was a struggle to resist them. He glanced back at Cross, who was also looking at him with a hesitant hope in his gaze.

Well, he can't just let them down now, now can he?

Nightmare sighed and smiled slightly. "It's fine by me, if Cross joins."

He got two smiles in return, one full and bright and the other hesitant and thankful. Template shouted for a third time, this time actual words, thanking Nightmare and then ran off. He could still feel the joy, even as Template disappeared from view and hearing.

He shook his head at the door and sighed again, his thoughts drifting.

He just…he had to make sure. If Cross did destroy his own kingdom, murdering his own family and friends, then he had to make sure that Cross won't do the same to them. To Template. Hell, even make sure he won't do the same to Dream!

(They may be a bit…angry with each other right now, but Nightmare doesn't want him dead.)

He glanced over at Cross, studying him. The other was also looking at the door, longing radiating off of him. He seemed to be remembering something. He was still wounded and Nightmare made a mental note that if Cross does indeed plan to be a better person now and does intend to join them, then once they get home, they should treat his injuries.

First, though, he had to get his answers.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself. "Hey, Cross?" He waited until the other looked at him. "You…you don't plan on doing to us, the same thing you did to your kingdom and friends, do you?"

Cross was…happy.

It felt surreal, but he was. Maybe not as much as he was before. He doubts that he'll ever return to that stage of happiness without cheating, but maybe he could become close. Maybe he could even forgive himself.

But that was in the future. Way, way in the future.

He watched Template leave, a half-smile still on his face. There was a tight feeling in his chest. He thought for a minute that the overwhelming sorrow had returned, but this felt different. It felt…like…

Longing.

Or, what it's closer to, nostalgia.

Template was so much like his brother, Xapyrus. Their energy was almost the exact same and the way Template ran off in excitement just then…well, it just brought back a few painful memories. Good memories, mind you, which made them hurt even more. The memories flooded his mind and he struggled to not get lost in them.

It would get better. They would still hurt, probably, but it would get better. They wouldn't pain him as much. He just had to keep his head above the water for it to happen.

He took a breath and let it out slowly.

That was enough worrying to last him a few days.

"Hey, Cross?" Nightmare's voice shook him out of his state. Cross gathered up his feelings into a loose control and turned to the other, who hesitated a bit before continuing. "You…you don't plan on doing to us, the same thing you did to your kingdom and friends, do you?"

Cross froze.

His heart dropped.

No…

All the happy feelings from before were now cold, just a memory themselves. It felt like someone had dumped cold water over his head, shocking his body. There was also a very faint ringing in his ears, though it was dull enough that it didn't affect him that much.

No, no, no…

This couldn't be happening.

He thought he could hide it. How did Nightmare find out? Did…did Template know? What did they think of him? They probably hated him. They should hate him. He doesn't deserve mercy after what he did.

Cross opened his mouth and chocked a bit, nothing coming out. His mouth felt very dry. He swallowed and tried again. "H-how did…" He couldn't finish, but he didn't need to.

Nightmare apparently noticed his fear and smiled sheepishly.

"I can feel emotions." He started to explain, shifting his feet. "Technically. So, I felt the suppression of your sorrow and mourning—which is very unhealthy, by the way." He gave Cross a look before looking to the ground. "I, uh…I sort of manipulated your emotions until they were in front of everything. So then, you could mourn your family in full."

Cross stayed silent.

That…that made sense.

He didn't really understand, not yet, but it did make sense. Nightmare was the reason his sorrow had appeared so suddenly. That was good to know. Now he knew who to thank.

Nightmare started to continue and Cross forced himself to refocus. "Then, underneath all of that, there was guilt. Which made me a bit suspicious." Nightmare looked Cross in the eyes, the sincerity a bit overwhelming. "I don't want to believe you're a bad person, Cross. In fact, I think you're a very good person! However, I…I just need to confirm, okay?"

Suddenly, Cross was calm.

He understood what Nightmare was saying. If their situations were reversed, he would be doing the same thing. So, he wasn't mad with Nightmare, or even offended. He was rather grateful, actually.

It meant Nightmare was a really good leader.

"Cross?" Nightmare's worried voice brought him out of his thoughts.

Right. He had to reassure Nightmare that he could trust him.

Cross looked down and said, quietly, "…I won't."

"What?"

Cross looked back up and met Nightmare's eyes, a new resolve within him. "I won't screw up again. I promise." His voice was confident this time. "This all happened because I was foolish enough to believe Xhara." He gained a bit of a pained expression. "My…my friend, I suppose."

Nightmare was silent, though his look softened a bit.

Cross looked away, his throat threatening to close up again. "My father wasn't a good man. He got too wrapped up in his idea of perfection, which made him neglect me and Xapy, my brother." He narrowed his eyes at the far wall. "I hated him because of it. So, when Xhara approached me and told me about…" He couldn't talk about that, not yet. "things…I…"

Nightmare was still silent.

Cross shook his head again and looked back to Nightmare. "The point is, I won't screw up again. You can trust me. I promise."

Nightmare gazed at him and Cross shifted.

Panic began to well up as the silence stretched on for a bit longer them was comfortable. He couldn't stop his thoughts from running wild. What if…

What if Nightmare didn't believe him?

What if he told Template everything?

What if Template began to hate him?

What if they left him alone here?

What if—

Nightmare laughed and Cross looked at him in surprise. Nightmare looked…relieved. The purple-clad skeleton smiled at Cross. "I trust you."

Cross relaxed as well and smiled back.