Chapter 20

The late Frisk Dreemurr put her arms around Chara's waist, resting her head on his back. He stared out the window, looking out on their field of hopes and dreams.

"You were here all along." His voice cracked and his head fell forward, tears dripping down his face. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm dead, Christopher. I died fifteen years ago."

"But you're here! And I… your studio… Oh God!" His lips pressed tight to keep from crying out, eyes squeezed shut.

She squeezed him tightly, her softness pressing against all his hard edges. "It's all right, My Love. Shhh." She reached up with one hand and ran her fingers through his hair. "I stayed. I was waiting."

"For what?"

"You know what. Stop pretending you don't." She let go of his waist and walked around to face him, taking his head in her hands. "It is not an affront to me that you love someone else. It won't be the same. It will never be the same. But it will be beautiful."

She went up on her toes and kissed his lips, tasting the salt of his tears.

"Don't douse that tiny flame with tears," she whispered.

The front door slammed and Chara's eyes snapped open. Sitting up on the couch, he looked out the windows. Frisk and Susie had run out into the snowfall with the dogs. He wiped at his face and sighed, looking for the book he'd been reading before he'd nodded off. It lay at his feet; one of his favorite textbooks from art school, a long treatise on art history and philosophy. He'd thought it lost, but it had been on his wife's book shelf, waiting.

His phone rang: Gabriel.

Chara swiped up. "Yes, Captain?"

"I've got news for you. It's not good," Gabriel said.

Chara found his feet and went over to the windows, watching Frisk and Susie pelt each other with snowballs in the field, the dogs running between them, barking happily. "Hit me."

"The Acernath angle is back. Keep an eye out for anything even slightly unusual in Nightrest," Gabriel said.

"What tipped him off?" Chara asked.

"Extracting Frisk's mother from Andorini didn't go quietly. Lady Aramita is safe, but we lost a guardsman. We're keeping Aramita at the palace for the time being."

Chara's unoccupied hand clenched into a fist for a moment before he sighed deeply, his shoulders dropping. He leaned his head against the cold glass, letting winter seep into his skin. "When should I bring Frisk to see her?"

"Not anytime soon. Lady Aramita doesn't want to come into the picture until you and Frisk are well bonded. According to her, your adoption of Frisk was part of the deal you and Chrissy made with the Fae Queen in exchange for giving up the search for your mother and protecting Frisk."

"I... what?" Chara pushed away from the glass to stand up straight. "Wow. Okay. I'm a bigger asshole than I thought I was."

"Az theorizes that Chrissy foresaw the adoption as important to saving Frisk. Take a deep breath, Chara. No one's taking Frisk from you. When things are settled, we'll move Aramita to Nightrest so she can be close, but Frisk is your daughter. She stays with you."

Chara breathed out relief. "So where do we go from here?"

"I'm sending Muffet out to Nightrest to give you some extra back up. She's sworn to Aramita and Frisk."

Gabriel went silent, waiting for a response.

"Chara?"

"I heard you." Chara closed his eyes, listening to Frisk's laughter. "I'm just trying to figure out how to tell Frisk about her mother."

"Hold off for a bit," Gabriel answered. "I'll tell Muffet to keep it under wraps for the moment. Christmas isn't far away."

"I don't know…"

"Has she called you 'Dad' yet?"

"No."

"Then we definitely need to wait. I'll call when I have more information."

"Thank you, Captain."

Chara hung up and shoved the phone in a pocket. He opened the front door, stepping into his boots before stepping onto the snowy patio. North Star trotted up on the concrete and lifted his snout, nuzzling Chara's cheek.

"Stop that. You're not supposed to like me."

The elk bumped Chara with it's shoulder. He sighed and patted the elk's neck, eyes scanning the edges of the field, feeling out his wards. There was a fae hidden in the trees on the other side of the ward line, which wasn't unusual anymore. Just another person keeping an eye on Frisk.

"I should name you 'Sausage.' You'd make a good one."

North Star snorted.

"Do you know the fae in the tree?"

North Star shook himself out and sauntered across the field to the tree line, silver bells ringing and flower petals showering the snow. He disappeared into the forest near the fae.

"I'll take that as a yes." He followed North Star's tracks across the field.

Frisk paused to watch only to take a snowball in the face and she returned to the battle renewed.

His phone rang as he got to the edge of the field. He pulled it out and looked at the unlisted number. "Hmm… Local." He moved to dismiss it and decided last second to answer.

"Chara? It's Natalie. I'm sorry. I looked up your number in Mabel's records. Um… Where are you?"

Chara frowned. "At home."

"You're sitting at the booth across from the counter." She let out a relieved breath. "I knew it couldn't be you. This guy ordered coffee as soon as he came in."

Chara's heart froze, and his training kicked in. "Is Mabel there?"

"Yes."

"Good. Don't engage him. When I hang up, call the Sheriff's office. Talk to Sheriff Undyne directly. Let her know that you've already called me."

The sound of the cafe bell ringing loudly came over the speaker. "Oh… Oh no," Natalie breathed. "I have to go!" She hung up suddenly.

Chara dialed Sans. "Pick up, Comedian. Pick up."

"*yo."

Chara started across the field and back to the house. "There's an imposter wearing my face over at Brew Ha Ha. And something came in the door that had Natalie scared. Where's my mother?"

"*it's a tori and gorey day at the palace."

"Where are you?"

Sans was suddenly standing next to him. "*wherever you need me, bud."

"Stay with Frisk and Susie. I'm heading into town."

"*no can do. stay here with the kiddo and call dyne." Sans disappeared.

Chara huffed and called Undyne's personal number.

She picked up before the first ring finished. "What's up, Chara?"

"I got a call from Natalie at Brew Ha Ha Cafe. A man wearing my face is in the cafe. Just as I was telling her to call you, something came through the door that scared her. I called Sans and he teleported to the cafe."

"Mabel there?"

"Yes."

"Stay with Frisk. You'll hear from Sans or I soon." She paused before hanging up. "Your girlfriend will be fine."

"She's not my-" The call dropped in the middle of his sentence.

A voice like chimes on the wind caressed his ears. "Yes, she is. For all the things you have suffered, both those you remember and those you do not, you are entitled to some happiness, Isilvarne."

Chara stepped beyond the tree line, looking for the fae and seeing nothing. "Who are you?"

"Tarisse." A soft sigh carried on the wind. "I am not a fighter. I will not be of any use should someone attack Frisk. But I can watch and give you advance warning of danger. You should head back and put some water on for tea. You are going to have visitors soon."

But not soon enough.

Chara paced in front of the windows, eyes on the snow as it continued to fall softly. After checking his phone for the fortieth time in a row, he put it on the kitchen counter to prevent himself from texting and potentially ruining Sans' or Undyne's work.

Frisk and Susie came in through the back door, hanging wet snow gear in the mudroom and toweling off the dogs before traipsing into the kitchen. Frisk paused when she saw Chara.

"You are going to wear a rut in the floor doing that." She frowned. "Did something happen?"

Chara stopped and sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked over his shoulder at the girls. "Someone wearing my face showed up at the cafe."

"That's totally not cool," Susie said.

"And?" Frisk asked.

"And what?" Chara responded.

"And what else? I'd expect that someone who had it out for me would try to impersonate you at some point. We already know that this Farrath-thing likes to look like other things. So it's not super upsetting. But you look ready to run into town and potentially put a knife in someone."

Frisk walked across the living room to stand next to him. "Did someone hurt Miss Bridges?"

Chara gave her a sour frown.

Frisk smiled, looking just a little too smug from her deduction. "Called it."

"Frisk." A warning.

"Oh please," she pushed. "I have never seen you two not flirt with each other. When she's in the cafe, 'Prince Charming with a side of Rogue' is on full blast."

"Is she okay?" Susie asked.

Chara's shoulders dropped and he found a seat. "I don't know. It's been an hour and I've heard-"

His phone rang and he snapped his fingers, teleporting it to his hand. "Chara here."

"You cool to have someone in the guest house for a bit?" Undyne asked.

"Uh, yeah." Chara blinked, confused. "Dyne? Who am I putting up?"

"As soon as we know that things are clear, Sans and Mabel will be around with your girlfriend."

"What's going on?"

"You'll get deets as soon as we get up there." Undyne hung up.

Chara threw up his hands. "That doesn't help!" He let out a long breath, hunching over in the chair.

Frisk leaned over the back of the chair a bit and rubbed his shoulders. "Do you want me to go over to the studio and make sure it's good? I mean, I doubt Aunt Claire left it a mess. I kind of have Uncle Asriel pegged for that."

Chara sat up with a wry smile, snorting. "He's actually a clean freak and hyper organized. I'm a bit surprised he didn't hang around to help clean your mother's…" He trailed off.

Frisk hugged him around the shoulders, resting her face against his neck. "I can still lock it back up."

Chara turned his head and kissed her cheek. "It's yours now."

She lifted her head a little to look him in the eyes. "Do you want me to go check?"

He booped her nose with his. "I checked it after Claire and Azzy left. It's perfect."

"Did I miss somethin'?" Susie asked.

Frisk straightened. "Oh yeah! Come check this out." She skipped over to the stairs and Susie followed her up, Toby racing up after them.

Niko padded over to Chara, laying his head on Chara's knee. Chara reached down, petting his dog.

"I still want to know what's going on." He stood, careful not to knock Niko's jaw. He stared out the windows. "The snow's really coming down."

He put his boots back on and stepped outside, but Niko stayed behind. Chara shrugged and grabbed the snow shovel hanging on a hook just outside the door. He cleared the patio of the main house, the studio, and the path between them. He'd cleared half the little parking area next to the big A-frame just as an unmarked black van came up the driveway; Undyne's black sedan following behind.

The van turned around to back up to the edge of the patio and parked. Mabel jumped out of the driver's side and Sans opened the back of the van to jump down. Inside were a few hastily packed boxes and a pile of clothing on hangers wrapped up in a sheet body bag style. Undyne got out of her car and went around to the passenger side door, opening it for Natalie who sat in the car hugging herself, her mascara running where it wasn't smeared.

Chara hung up the shovel and went over to Natalie, offering her his hand and a gentle smile.

Natalie sniffed, sighed, and took the hand, stepping out of the car and into the snow.

Chara put his arm around her. "Come inside. I'll get you some tea before moving your things into the guest house."

"*there isn't a lot to move. it'll take mabel and i about ten minutes. fifteen if we hang everything in the closet."

Natalie shook her head. "You don't have to do this. I can just leave. He's only here for me."

"No. He may have gone to the cafe for you, but that's not all he was there for," Undyne said. "Mabel watched him and the imposter talk and it wasn't a 'hey, we're the only two humans in the building' kind of conversation. Sans was in plain clothes and both men bolted when they saw him. They knew he wasn't some random monster. This isn't a domestic. This is a royal guard issue."

Chara rubbed her arm. "If you really don't want to be here, I'll take you to the capital in the morning and Captain Havel will safe house you."

Natalie looked at him, eyes searching his. "If you're okay with me-"

"Yes. I am." He led her in the house and held her steady while she kicked off her shoes. "The bathroom is down the hall, second door after the kitchen."

"Thank you." Natalie disappeared down the hall.

Undyne came in behind Chara. "Sans and Mabel are moving things into the guest house."

"Give me the rundown."

Undyne stepped into the kitchen and rummaged around for a mug and tea bags. "A human with serious magical training is running around with your face. He went to Brew Ha Ha, ordered coffee, and chatted with Mabel for a few minutes. While Mabel was keeping him busy, Natalie called you."

"And her ex entered the cafe while she was on the phone with me."

Undyne nodded. "And sat down with the imposter. Sans said he came in and both of them scrammed. I have Paps and a few of the local cops out looking for them." She found the tea and dropped a bag into her mug.

"So is this an issue of an ex-husband attempting to get at Natalie? Or is this a more complicated plot to get to Frisk?"

"I don't know." Undyne poured hot water from the kettle. "What I do know is that when I escorted Natalie back to her apartment, the place was wrecked. Everything was torn apart. Someone was searching for something."

"Why did you bring her here?"

Undyne snorted. "Because you have a ward line around the inner circle of your property and a bunch of fae hanging around, Lover Boy."

Chara huffed and Undyne's smile grew wide.

"Besides, I figured she'd be more comfortable here than in a safe house."

Natalie came out of the hall, face washed and looking cleaner if not better over all.

"Would you like some tea?" Chara asked.

Natalie nodded and sat at the peninsula.

Chara poured out some hot water for Natalie and put the mug in front of her. "Do you want to talk or do you want to pretend that nothing's wrong for a little bit?"

"I doubt the Sheriff is going to let me pretend nothing's wrong." She sighed and it came out an angry huff. "My ex husband is William Davis. He was using my competition winnings to support a mistress. When I served him divorce papers, he took me to court. And being a lawyer with lots of friends in the St. Canard circuit, he arranged it so that the case was heard out by a judge who was a friend."

She took a sip of tea before continuing. "The judge ruled that I was making more money in the baking competitions than my husband was in his law practice and therefore, I was supporting him. In order to avoid having to pay him alimony, I agreed to sign over the house, the car, and all the money in our joint bank account minus the fees I owed my lawyer which would be auto deducted from the account."

"How much money are we talking about?" Undyne asked.

"A little over three million, including the house and car."

"That's a decent chunk of change. If he got the money, why is he chasing you?" Undyne asked.

Natalie shrugged, both arms coming up with it. "I honestly don't know. In every encounter before I left St. Canard, he's never said. He's always just torn my place apart, looking for something."

"How many encounters is that?" Chara asked.

"This would be number five."

"You've picked up and moved to avoid him four other times?"

Natalie frowned sourly. "In St. Canard, yes. Moving out to Nightrest gave me six months of peace. That's the longest stretch by a mile."

"Why do you think he's doing this?" Undyne asked.

"Best guess is my inheritance. My dad passed away just before I found out my ex was cheating on me. I didn't find out until after the divorce that my father had left me a portion of his investments. Which shocked the heck out of me because I was sure he'd left everything to my brother. My brother is the one with kids, so it makes sense that he gets all the money. Turns out my brother was holding the inheritance as long as he legally could so Harry couldn't take dad's hard work as well."

Undyne made a face and then held up both hands in surrender. "Forgive me, but I have to be an asshole and ask the asshole questions: While his reaction to everything is completely unjustified, do you think you did anything to spark this behavior? Did you cheat on him? Did you lie about the money or where it was going?"

Natalie gave Undyne an amused smile. "I'm a baker, Sheriff. I work from three in the morning till three in the afternoon. And in those days, when I wasn't sleeping or at work, I was in a competition or preparing for one. I didn't even have time to enjoy the money." She waved it off. "My story is easy to corroborate. I haven't changed my name. I have all of my background checks and clearances. And Mabel said the guard had me on file."

"Do you ever talk to your brother?"

"I have gone out of my way to keep him out of this. He's married with kids. He does not need a crazy man tearing up his life."

"Why not cash out the investments and run?" Undyne asked.

"Run where? Andorini? Pfft. I'm keeping them so I can have a decent retirement. Being a baker doesn't come with a pension unless you're paying into one."

Sans and Mabel came in the door.

"Everything's moved," Mabel said. She slid up onto a stool next to Natalie. "Feeling a little better?"

"A little."

Chara leaned back against the counter. "Susie's here with Frisk. First door on the left at the top of the stairs."

Undyne stared at him. "First door."

Chara pulled out a mug and a tea bag. "That's what I said."

Undyne put her mug down and went up the stairs.

"*first door."

Chara nodded once.

The Bone Man smiled wide. "*did she pick the lock?"

"She has the key."

Sans went silent and then shrugged. "*i got nothing."

"Will the guest house be all right?" Chara asked.

Natalie nodded. "Yes. Thank you. Can we work out rent tomorrow?"

"It's a guest house, not a rental property. It's fine. And you'll be putting up with how loud carving stone gets."

"If it gets too bad, you can just come over here and sleep in his bed," Mabel teased.

Chara rolled his eyes.

"*besides, you won't be working for a few days. i need to make it look like you skipped town so davis doesn't hang around. i got a suspicion that he's living on credit and we can track him through card usage."

"Christmas is right around the corner!" Natalie exclaimed.

Mabel patted her shoulder. "It's fine. Sans will have this squared away in time for Christmas orders to be done."